Thousands of Moreno Valley residents came together to celebrate the Fourth of July at the City's parade and Family FunFest.

Crowds lined Frederick Street to cheer on a variety of musical ensembles, community groups, floats, Mayor Yxstian Gutierrez, members of the City Council and other local dignitaries as they made their way down the parade route.

Live bands So Rad, Latin Fusion, and MVP provided the entertainment at Family FunFest while attendees browsed the vendor and food offerings.

Bounce houses and a petting zoo in the KidZone kept children busy until the Fireworks Spectacular lit up the sky with an impressive fireworks display. Radio Station KOLA 99.9 played patriotic music synched to the fireworks show.

The City's Fourth of July events were generously sponsored by Skechers, Waste Management, Les Schwab Tire Center, Duke Realty and The Sares-Regis Group.  

The City’s Hire A MoVal Grad program launched July 1 to encourage businesses to hire Moreno Valley residents who recently graduated from an accredited Riverside County college or vocational training program.

Qualifying businesses can earn up to $5,000 a year.

Hire A MoVal Grad is the third phase of the City’s award-winning Hire MoVal program designed to connect Moreno Valley residents with job opportunities at local businesses.

Participating businesses receive incentives and job recruitment assistance from the City in exchange for hiring Moreno Valley residents.

Under the Hire A MoVal Grad program, local businesses may be awarded a $1,000 stipend for each recent Moreno Valley graduate, up to a maximum of five new hires. Employees must be employed for a minimum of six months for at least 35 hours per week.

How can local businesses apply to participate?

1. Have a current Moreno Valley business license
2. Hire a Moreno Valley resident who has received a degree from an accredited school or completed a comprehensive CTE course sequence of no fewer than three courses through the Riverside County Office of Education within the past two years
3. Retain the employee for at least six months for a minimum of 35 hours per week 

Program details are available on the City’s Hire MoVal website.

For more information about Hire A MoVal Grad, please send an email to hiremoval@moval.org or call 951.413.3475.

The Moreno Valley Animal Shelter saw a 30% decrease in the number of lost and stray animals brought to the shelter over the Fourth of July holiday compared to last year.

The City engaged in an aggressive campaign to warn residents of the dangers of illegal fireworks, including serious and potentially deadly injuries, destructive fires, and the potential for pets to run away from their homes while trying to escape fireworks blasts.

The City also conducted extensive outreach to educate pet owners about how to protect their pets from being spooked by fireworks and prevent them from running away.

The Animal Shelter also held special appointment hours on Monday, July 3 to allow pet owners to pick up their lost pets on a day when the shelter is normally closed.

With the National Weather Service predicting temperatures to reach triple-digits in parts of Riverside County over the next several days, health officials are urging the community to take precautions against the heat.

Moreno Valley residents can take refuge from rising temperatures at cooling centers located at the Moreno Valley Public Library and the Moreno Valley Senior Center.

Moreno Valley Public Library 25480 Alessandro Boulevard

951-413-3880

Monday – Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. 

Moreno Valley Senior Center

25075 Fir Avenue 951-413-3430

Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Officials are urging residents to take the following heat-related precautions:

• Drink water to prevent dehydration
• Avoid direct sunlight and stay indoors when possible
• Close blinds or curtains to minimized the heat
• Visit a mall, library, or restaurant to stay cool
• Do not leave children, elderly or disable individuals, or pets inside unattended vehicles

High temperatures can be hazardous for many people, especially for the elderly and those with medical conditions. Heat-related injuries such as heatstroke, an illness that occurs when the body can no longer regulate its temperature, can strike fast and post life-threatening consequences.

Moreno Valley police officers and explorers have been passing out flyers and educating residents across the City on how to protect themselves against home and vehicle burglaries.

Summertime typically sees an increase in burglaries as windows and doors are left open and unlocked due to rising temperatures.

Some of these thefts can be prevented by following these simple tips.

For your vehicle:

• Always lock your vehicle and take your keys with you
• Never leave your windows or sunroof open
• Never leave property unattended in your vehicle
• Park inside a garage if possible

For your home:

• Make your home look occupied (pick up newspapers, stop your mail when you go on vacation, and keep your lawn mowed)
• Use curtains and lock all doors and windows, including in your garage
• Never leave a key outside in a “secret” place
• Have outside lighting and motion detectors
• Consider a camera surveillance system and an alarm system
  
  

If you see something suspicious call the Moreno Valley Police Department at 951-247-8700.

Call 9-1-1 if it is an emergency.  

Construction of a new culvert on Pigeon Pass Road is proceeding on schedule. The project is part of continuing development of the Meadow Creek Community. Pigeon Pass remains closed to traffic from Old Lake Road to Meadow Lark Avenue.

Pigeon Pass is scheduled to be partially reopened August 8, a day before school resumes.

Construction was scheduled to coincide with the school district’s summer break to limit the closure's impact on neighboring school traffic. Homebuilder Lennar has worked closely with area residents to inform them of the construction schedule as well as alternate routes.

Roadway improvements will include completing the east side of Pigeon Pass Road along the Meadow Creek Community.

We appreciate your patience.  If you have any questions or comments regarding this project, please contact the City of Moreno Valley Land Development Division at 951.413.3120.