Thanksgiving Giveaway! $25 gift card to Hair Emporium

We are doing another contest!

One of our members, Hair Emporium, recently moved to a new location. Enter their new address below and you will be entered in to the drawing, to be done on Thanksgiving Day!

Here are a couple places you can find their info:

Hair Emporium’s RelyLocal listing

Hair Emporium’s Facebook page

 

Fill in all fields below and if you answer correctly, you will be entered to win!

Name(required)

Email(required)

Phone (if no email)

What is the new address?(required)

Submit

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Rules:

1. Contest ends at 11:59 pm on Wednesday, November 27, 2013.

2. All correct entries will be put into a random drawing via random.org.

3. Drawing will occur on Thanksgiving Day.

4. Winner will be notified by email or phone and must respond within 48 hours.

5. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, another drawing will occur, and so on, until someone claims the prize.

6. The gift card is valid only for Hair Emporium and is subject to their rules and regulations.

Small Business Saturday is November 30, 2013!

Here are some images you can share to show your support of your local mom-and-pop shops! Feel free to share them on Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, Google+, or wherever you connect with those you love.

Halloween Happenings in the High Desert!

Okay High Desert peeps – its that awesome, spooky time of year again!  We have done some digging and found a lot for families, singles, scary and the non-scary to do for Halloween.  Whether you are looking for haunted houses, church or park events, a costume party or something in between, RelyLocal has the 4-1-1!  And as I am sure this is not a list of EVERYTHING ghoulish going on, please feel free to add your event to our list of fun things to do for Halloween!

APPLE VALLEY

Haunted House at James Woody Community Center
6 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Definitely NOT recommended for children under 8. Cost is $3 a person. Repeat visits on the same night are $1. The center is at 13467 Navajo Road in Apple Valley. Call (760) 240-7880 or go to www.applevalley.org.

Halloween Carnival at St. Timothy’s Preparatory School
6 to 8 p.m. Friday. Games, food, costume contest and giant slide. Tickets are available at the gate. The school is at 15757 St. Timothy Road, East Parking Lot, Apple Valley.

Harvest Fest for Seniors and Children at the Apple Valley Christian Care Center
11 to 11:30 a.m. for seniors and 4 to 5 p.m. for children Friday. Children of the community and children of staff members are invited to attend the candy giveaway and costume contest that will take place on the patio at the center. Costume contest for children at 4:30 p.m, with senior residents observing and judging. Costume contest for seniors at 11 a.m. Free. The center is at 11959 Apple Valley Road. Call (760) 240-8150.

Harvest Festival at Apple Valley Christian School
5 to 9 p.m. Friday. Food, fun, and fellowship for all ages. Dinner will be provided by Pita Stop restaurant. Admission is $5 and  game tickets are available for 25 cents each.  The school is at 22434 Nisqually Road. Call (760) 247-8412.

Halloween Kiddie Carnival at James Woody Community Center
4 to 7 p.m. Saturday. Contests, prizes, food and more. Game tickets are 25 cents each. Check out the new creative arts section and costume contest. Admission is free. The center is at 13467 Navajo Road in Apple Valley. Call (760) 240-7880.
Fall Festivities at Church
of the Valley’s Hansen Hall
4 to 7 p.m. Sunday. Carnival games, pumpkin carving and more. Trunk or treat starts at 5:30 p.m. Costume contest is at 6 p.m. No scary costumes. Categories include funniest, most original and best-dressed family. The church is at 20700 Standing Rock Road in Apple Valley. Call (760) 247-6494.

Hallelujah Night at the Church for Whosoever
6 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday. Games, hay rides, bounce house, face painting, cake walk, hot dogs, cotton candy, popcorn and a chili cook off. The church is at 18628 Seneca Road in Apple Valley. Call (760) 243-3191.

Trunk or Treat at Apple Valley Church of the Nazarene
6:30 p.m. Sunday. Candy, picture booth, bounce house, face painting, Kona Ice snow cones and more. The church is at 12935 Central Road. Call (760) 247-8433.

‘Clowning Around in the House of Terror’
7 to 11 p.m. Sunday. Not recommended for small children. There will be lots of candy, toys and balloons. The house is at 22011 Gayhead Road in Apple Valley. Cross streets are Nanticoke and Thunderbird. Call (760) 953-0106.

BARSTOW

HALLOWEEN FAIR
4 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Barstow Community College. Games and a costume contest. Free. For children 12 and under. The college is at 2700 Barstow Road. Call (760) 252-6702.

CALICO GHOST TOWN

GHOST HAuNT
Friday through Sunday. Calico opens at 9 a.m. Trick-or-Treating is at 6:30 p.m. tonight, 5 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Haunted hayrides, a cemetery walk, trick or treating, costume contest and much more. Admission is $10, $5 for children ages 6 to 15 and free for children 5 and under. Active Military with identification admission is $5; $3 for children ages 6 to 15. Calico is
10 miles north of Barstow, Exit I-15 at Ghost Town Road. Go to www.calicotown.com or call (800) TO-CALICO.

HESPERIA

Harvest Festival at Boulder Creek Ranch
Today through Sunday. Trick-or-treating hours are from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. No scary costumes. There will be a pumpkin patch, pumpkin carving, hay rides, bounce houses, petting zoo and food. Admission is free, but activity tickets are $2 each. Parking is $5 on weekends. The ranch is at 19099 Lemon St. in Hesperia. Call
(760) 244-0096 or go to www.bouldercreekranch.org

Haunted House at old Sheriff’s station on Santa Fe
4 to 9:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday. There will be carnival games, cotton candy, bounce house, face painting, candy and more. Costume contest starts at
7 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $1. Activity prices vary.
Call Deputy Lisa Guerra (909) 644-1392.

Country Harvest fair at Desert Springs Church
5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday. Candy, face painting, drawings, games, hay rides, hot dogs, balloon animals, clowns and more. Featuring a performance by Southland. Free. The church is at 17508 Hercules St., A2 in Hesperia. Call (760) 956-7600.

Fall Festival at Hesperia Christian School
1 to 4 p.m. Saturday. Food, games, prizes and lots of fun. Game tickets are 25 cents each. No scary costumes. The school is at 16445 Olive in Hesperia. Call (760) 244-6164.

Trunk or Treat at Victor Valley Christian Church
2 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Lots of candy and fun. The church is at 11223 11th Ave. in Hesperia. Call (760) 244-4448.

Trunk or Treat at Faith Lutheran Church
5 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Candy, games, prizes, food and fun. Free. The church is at 9600 Seventh Ave. in Hesperia. Call (760) 244-5943.

Trunk or Treat Harvest Festival at New Life Chapel
4 to 6 p.m. Sunday. Food, games, Musical guest band  Vertical, bounce houses and  candy. The church is at 10184 Seventh Ave. in Hesperia. Call (760) 244-9050.

LUCERNE VALLEY

Halloween Party at the Janice Horst Lucerne Valley Library
2 to 4 p.m. Saturday. Trick or Treating, games, prizes. Make your own mask or show off your costume. The library is at 33103 Old Woman Springs Road. Call
(760) 248-7521.

High Desert Nightmare Factory at Pioneer Park
5 to 11 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Teen Scream (tonight): Games, skateboarding contest, “Freddy Vs. Jason” skateboard exhibition, basketball contest, “Zombie Zoo Crew” BMX exhibition, carnival, dance and “Night of the Living  Dead” will be playing in the Cemetery Cinema. Family Fright Night (Saturday): Haunted Hollyweird House and Maze (Cost is $1), games, dance and “Attack of the Killer Shrews” in the Cemetery Cinema. Haunted Hallow’s Eve (Sunday): Haunted Hollyweird House and Madness Maze (cost is $1), games, dance, creepy costume contest and “Nostferatu” and “Phantom of the Opera” will be playing in the Cemetery Cinema. Pioneer Park is at 33187 Old Woman Springs Road. Call (760) 248-7048 or go to www.hdnightmarefactory.com.

VICTORVILLE

Pumpkin Massacre Haunted House at the San Bernardino County Fairgrounds
7 to 11 p.m. today through Sunday. Cost is $10. Text “pumpkin” to 88202 for updates and prizes. The fairgrounds are at 14800 Seventh St. in Victorville.

‘The Asylum’ Hi-Desert Haunted House and Canned Food Drive at the San Bernardino County Fairgrounds
7 to 11:30 p.m. tonight through Saturday and 5 to 10:30 p.m. Sunday in Building 5. Tonight is Extreme Night for ages 18 and over only. Original skits and detailed layout. Admission is $6 with two cans or $8 without cans. Go to www.myspace.com/HiDesertHauntedHouse

Fall Festival at Bible Baptist Church
6 to 9 p.m. Friday. Candy, rides, games and bounce houses, surrounding a carnival style midway games area. No scary costumes. Free. The church is at
12626 First Ave. in Victorville. Call (760) 241-7876.

Lomitas Career Academy Fall Festival
3 to 6 p.m. Friday. Games, snack bar, trunk or treat. Wristbands are $5 each or a family four-pack for $15. The academy is at 12571 First Ave. in Victorville. Call (760) 243-2012.

Penny Carnival at Liberty Park
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Games, prizes and food. Cost is a penny for your age. (5 years old would pay 5 pennies; 50 years old would pay 50 pennies). Costume contest is at 1 p.m. The park is at Amethyst and La Mesa, behind Liberty Elementary School. Call (760) 241-3558.

Fall Harvest Festival at Victor Valley Church of Christ
4 to 7 p.m. Saturday. For children in sixth grade and under. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Carnival games, bounce house, candy and fun. The church is at 13150 Sycamore St. in Victorville. Call (760) 949-3386.

Trunk Or Treat Classic Car Show at Civic Center Park at City Hall
Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday.  Car show registration is $12 on the day of the event. Call (760) 241-1313.

Trick-or-treating at Knolls West Convalescent Hospital
3 to 5 p.m. Saturday. For children ages 2 to 13. Don’t forget to wear your costume. Free. The hospital is at 16890 Green Tree Blvd. in Victorville. Call (760) 245-5361.

Spooktacular at Midway Home Solutions
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Trick or treating, games, bounce house, shopping, face painting, refreshments and Halloween movies in the The Movie Room. Free. Midway is at 14444 Atstar Drive in Victorville. Call (760) 245-3731.

Harvest Festival at Family Life Church
5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday. Nachos, candy, popcorn, carnival games, drama skits and more. The church is at 15384 Tamarack Road in Victorville. Call (760) 241-2333.

Trunk or Treat at Victorville United Methodist Church
6 to 8 p.m. Sunday. Trick-or-treating, games and fun. The church is at 15150 La Paz Drive in Victorville. Call (760) 245-7902.

Harvest Festival at Victorville First Assembly Church
5 to 7 p.m. Sunday. Trunk or treat, race track, pony rides, dunk tank, games, giant slide, food, cotton candy, popcorn, and lots of candy. Tickets are 5 for $1. No scary costumes. Church is at 15260 Nisqualli Road in Victorville. Call (760) 243-4343.

BIG BEAR

Boo in the Zoo at Moonridge Animal Park
1 to 5 p.m. Saturday. Trick-or-treating and more. See the animals receive their treats too. The park is on Goldmine Drive in Big Bear Lake. Park admission is $9, $6 for children ages 3 to 10 and seniors and free for children under 3. The zoo is at 43285 Goldmine Drive in Big Bear Lake. Go to www.moonridgezoo.org.

Halloween in the Village
4 p.m. Sunday. Take a walk through the village seeing all the horrors that it has to offer. Don’t forget your costume or you’ll miss out on the trick or treating! Free. The village is at Village Drive and Pine Knot Avenue. Call (909) 866-4607 or go to www.bigbear.com.

Wrightwood

5 to 7 p.m. Sunday. Visit the shops for candy and treats. http://www.wrightwoodchamber.org/Halloween-Safe-Trick-or-Treat.htm.

2nd Annual VNA Monster Mash 5k Run

October 26 2013, 5:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Join us for the 2nd Annual VNA 5k Halloween-themed Obstacle Run!

Saturday, October 26, 2013

5k Obstacle Run – Scary Mazy and Vendor booths

Bring the family for some Spooky Fun. Kids race, and food court

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If we missed any awesome events, please ADD here!!!

 

Win a $25 gift certificate to Cross Eyed Cow Pizza in Oro Grande, CA!

 

It is time for another contest! Your correct answer could win a $25 gift certificate to local favorite Cross Eyed Cow pizza and subs in Oro Grande!

Look for our ad in the Daily Press Weekender this Friday, 9/20/13. Once you find it, come back here to THIS POST to enter the contest! (You can also find an “as printed” version of the Weekender at the Daily Press website.)

This week we want you to name correctly all 5 companies listed in the Weekender ad and you will be entered into a drawing for a $25 gift card to an AMAZING pizza place less than 5 miles from I-15.

 

Name(required)

Email(required)

Phone

What are the 5 businesses?(required)

Submit

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Rules:

1. One entry per person
2. The answer (naming the 5 businesses participating in the print ad) must be correct to be considered a valid entry.
3. Answers must be posted by 11:59 pm on Sunday, September 22, 2013.
4. All correct entries will be assigned a number and put into a random drawing via random.org. One winner will be drawn.
5. The winner will be contacted by phone and email. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, another winner will be selected. This will continue until someone wants the gift certificate bad enough to get back to us. 
6. After the winner is successfully contacted, we will announce the winner on the blog, Facebook, Twitter, etc.

Thank you for your support of RelyLocal and our locally-owned, independent businesses in the High Desert!

Shop Local with Home and Garden businesses in the Victor Valley

 

As the seasons change, we all want to update the look and feel of our homes. Home and garden decor items are some of the most fun finds when you’re shopping local!

Here are a few locally-owned businesses that can help you with your home:

Santa Fe Trading Company – You have probably driven past this amazing shop as you’ve headed down 7th Street in Victorville. Housed in historic buildings in the Old Town area (undergoing a small business-led revival! Check them out on Facebook!) owner Steve Blech has family roots in the area starting in the earliest part of the 20th century. His grandfather owned the building his store is in when it was a popular gas station on Route 66. You won’t believe your eyes as you explore room after room of unusual and beautiful home decor, gifts, garden decor and more. Spanish colonial, Native American, Moroccan, Indian, Central American, and Southwestern styles all come together to offer you the perfect must-have item for your home. They also offer layaway and gifts and items at all price points.

Desert Solar – Living in the desert, we all know that air conditioning is a way of life. Rising energy prices compound the challenges facing homeowners and renters. Have you considered adding solar energy to your home to take advantage of one thing we have plenty of? SUN! The team over at Desert Solar specializes in helping homeowners and other property owners find a plan that works for them, and walking them through each step of the process. They stay up to date on the current governmental regulations and tax breaks, as well as industry standards. And since we know it is a financial investment, they can also help you figure out your financing.

Carpet Club – Nothing changes the feel of a home faster than flooring! Whether you prefer carpet, tile, hardwood, laminate or vinyl, you can find the options that are perfect for you and your family at Carpet Club. Family owned and operated, they have brought together a team with decades of experience, as well as interior design services to make sure you achieve just the look you want. They are also an official HGTV flooring provider and offer all the latest looks from Shaw, Mohawk and other popular lines. Don’t waste your time and money at the big boxes talking to the guy who covers plumbing, lumber and carpet. Go to the people who can do it RIGHT the FIRST time!

Scentsy with Amy Reyes – Scent is a powerful tool to create a feeling in your home. As the weather (ever-so-slightly) cools down, use warm and cozy scents to transform the feeling of your home. No time to bake cookies? No problem! Amy has delicious fragrances with spicy and sweet flavors. Scentsy also offers a variety of warmers, from full-sized ones to small plugins to match nearly any decor. And there are tons of other products for personal care, for on-the-go living, and more. (And don’t forget Grace Adele purses and jewelry, and Velata dipping chocolates!) Contact Amy today for a catalog, or to set up a party.

Remember, when you shift your spending to a locally-owned business like our RelyLocal members, you keep money circulating in the High Desert THREE TIMES LONGER! You will be shocked by how much money we could keep in our community if we all shifted as little as $20 a month from a national chain to a locally owned business. See how many millions of dollars we could reinvest here at home with our free shift calculator. (Here’s a hint – the population of the Victor Valley is about 415,000!)

 

Toy, Clothing and Food Drives in the High Desert

“Everybody can be great… because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”
~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

People are in a giving frame of mind during the holidays. To accommodate that generosity, several groups are taking on food drives, coat drives, toy drives and more. Here is a list of where you can make some charitable donations:

1) Toy Drive with Swapping Mamas, Victor Valley News Group and Roo’s Indoor Bounce House:

Victorville Toy Drive from Victor Valley News Group, Roo’s Bounce House and Swapping Mamas

2) Operation Blankets of Love Animal Rescue Supply Collection Drive:

HD Operation of love – Collection Drive for Animal Shelters, Abandoned Pets and Homeless Pets

3) American Medical Response Toy Drive

AMR is “Filling the Ambulance” for a local shelter. They will be at Oggi’s and Victorville Walmart every weekend until Christmas or you can drop any off at their main office on 7th Street.

4) Toy Drive in Phelan, CA

Angel Tree Gift drive for children in need. Call 760 868 8088 for more information.

5) Audiotistics and Top Shelf Wellness Center “Make A Difference” Clothing and Donation Drive-Thru

Make a Difference – Donate sleeping bags, clothing, canned food, pet supplies and more!

6) 2nd Annual Spark of Love Toy Drive

Spark of Love Toy Drive in Apple Valley, CA

Big event out in Apple Valley with vendors, bounce house, fire trucks, pet adoptions and more! Sponsored by Kid2Kid Closet and High Desert Pony League.

7) Boy Scout Troop 257 Annual Food Drive

Please donate canned goods and other non-perishable foods to help these young people collect food for those in need. Call 760.813.4044 and/or trobinson69@yahoo.com for more information.

8) Premier Designs Jewelry Toy Collection and Open House

Irene Gaulke is collecting toys at her Open House event this Thursday.

What to do for the holidays

Where to see lights in the HD!

There are so many interesting things to do for the holidays in the High Desert! Here are a few to mark on your calendar. (If I missed something, please send me an email at alyssapenman@relylocal.com.)

Thursday, November 22, 2012 – Monday, December 31, 2012

• Mistletoe Light Show

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

• Victorville Tree Lighting Ceremony

Thursday, November 29, 2012

• Hesperia Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

Saturday, December 1, 2012

• Winter Wonderland Tree Lighting Ceremony in Apple Valley
• 2012 Victorville Children’s Christmas Parade
• Silver Lakes Association Holiday Tree Lighting

Wednesday, December 5

• Santa Claus for the Animals! Pet Pictures with St. Nick

Saturday, December 8, 2012

• Adelanto Christmas Parade
• Silver Lakes Christmas Parade
• Hi Desert Book Oasis Polar Express Story Time

Saturday, December 15, 2012

• Pictures with Santa in Silver Lakes

Friday, December 21, 2012 – Sunday, December 23, 2012

• “The Light” Christmas play at New Hope Church in Apple Valley

Monday, December 31, 2012

• Midnight Masquerade New Year’s Eve Party in Silver Lakes, CA

Happy Thanksgiving!

It’s a Small Business Kind of Day…

Shifting your spending to locally owned businesses doesn’t have to be hard. Do a little urban exploring in your town and get to know new places.

Here is a “day in the life” for me:

Interview with the fantabulous Mike Hong at Hanshik House Korean Restaurant, Catering and Culinary School, on Main Street in Hesperia. (I’m doing an article for The Umbrella magazine on family-owned ethnic cuisine restaurants in the High Desert, and this is one of them.) We will definitely be back for a meal!

Got my car windows tinted at L and R Window Tint on Amargosa Rd in Victorville, current RelyLocal members. My little Toyota looked really plain before, and now it looks SO nice. And my baby will not be fried by the hot desert sun any longer.

While I waited for my car to be done, I walked down the way to see Dr. Sara at Active Care Chiropractic (another RelyLocal member.) I’ve had a pounding headache for days and I wanted to see if she had any space to squeeze me in. She did! (I recommend calling for an appointment though, as they are very busy. I was prepared to be told she couldn’t see me right then.) So I got taken care of there, even got a little time in the massage chair. Ahhh, so relaxing.

After getting adjusted, I moseyed down the street to visit Little Dimples Children’s Clothing on Palmdale and Amargosa Rds. I wanted to see if she had anything for the baby for Christmas. Of course she had some adorable little suits. They were made in America too, which is a double bonus for me.

I still had some time to kill, so I moseyed on back and got some lunch at Rusty’s Cafe. A tasty avocado, bacon, cheese omelette and some coffee. My favorite meal! 🙂 I relaxed at their table until they closed and it was about time for my car to be done.

All those small businesses in such a short time! Great experiences, every single one. I appreciate the service and the personal touch.

Don’t forget that this Saturday, November 24th, is Small Business Saturday. It is the “little guy’s” answer to Black Friday. Try doing some of your Christmas shopping at a local business this weekend!

What locally-owned businesses have you visited recently? 

Facebook Basic Training and Boot Camp!

Facebook for Business Basic Training – Get your Business Page Started the RIGHT Way!

• Is your business using a personal profile right now, instead of a real business page?
• Do you have just a few followers and wonder how to grow?
• Is it tough finding the right things to post?

You need Facebook Basic Training! All done online, with a coach who is patient, experienced and knows how to roll with all of Facebook’s confusing changes. Join today! (Email alyssapenman@relylocal.com or call 760-246-5400 to sign up.)

 

Facebook for Business Boot Camp – Take your Business Page to the Next Level

• Has your page been sitting stagnant?
• Do you feel like no one is hearing what you’re saying?
• Would you like to have a more organized approach to your Facebook business page?
• Have you considered using Insights or paid advertising, but not sure if it is worth it?

Then you need Facebook Boot Camp! Take your existing business page to the next level with a coach who will ask you the right questions, give the guidance and encouragement you need and support your efforts.  Join today! (Email alyssapenman@relylocal.com or call 760-246-5400 to sign up.)