No Cage Fights?

Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin is following through on her compaign pledge to move "cage fights" out of Woodward Park.

There were 2 fights held there last year and some residents complained about them being held in a public park.

Fresno City Council failed to block them in November. But the city now says it won't authorize any future fights in the park.

The promoter of the fight, Rick Mirigian, says that violates his rights because there is no city policy barring fights at the park.

He is talking to attorneys and is deciding whether to sue. I'm sure the lawyers are working overtime on this...

Stop Wasting Money!

tells Obama to not only Fresno mayor Ashley Swearengin but to 60 other mayors in Friday morning meeting's with Obama and his Cabinet secretaries.

"If a federal agency proposes a project that will waste that money, I will not hesitate to call them out on it and put a stop to it," Obama said. "And I want everybody here to be on notice that if a local government does the same, I will call them out on it and use the full power of my office and our administration to stop it."

Swearengin agreed that "you have to be careful" in how new federal dollars are phased in.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, in an interview, likewise agreed that "cities must take care to spend the new money wisely and not fritter it away on "ridiculous" wish lists."

Let's hope they stay focused on this path.

It's not yet clear how much money Fresno or any other city will get from the 1,473-page stimulus bill.

Swearengin said she invited Education Secretary Arne Duncan to visit Fresno, and she reported getting a positive response.

Supposedly he said, 'E-mail me. I'm coming to California, and I'll stop on by,'

Amgen Tour of CA comes to Clovis

The Amgen Tour of California starts Stage 4 today. They will start off in Merced at 11am and end up in Clovis at estimated 3.19-4.29pm.

Here are the details:
ROUTE DETAILS
Day: Wed, Feb 18
Start: Merced
Finish: Clovis
Start Time: 11:00 AM
Miles: 115.4
KM: 185.7
End ETA: 3:19-4:29 PM

A free shuttle service will be offered 12:00 noon to 6:00pm between the Sierra Vista Mall Bus Stop and Clovis and Fifth Streets. Parking is free. Sierra Vista asks that you park on the south side of the mall. There will be signs posted on 168 and Shaw advising of the shuttle service.

Valentine Trivia

Like it or not, Valentine's Day is tomorrow. Here are some interesting Valentine trivia:

• England's King Henry VIII declared February 14th an official holiday in 1537 for the first time.
• In Wales, love spoons of wood were carved and given as gifts on Valentine's Day. Hearts, keys and keyholes formed the favorite theme of spoon decorations, which together symbolized- "You unlock my heart!"
• In the middle Ages, people believed that the 1st unmarried person of the opposite sex you met on the morning of St. Valentine's Day would become your spouse.
• Valentine cards were 1st handed out in the 17th century.
• ~ 1 billion Valentine's cards are sent each year! (Christmas is highest with 2.6 billion cards sent)
• 110 million roses, the majority red, are sold within the Valentine 3-day time period.
• ~ 85% of all valentines are purchased by women
• oldest known Valentine card is on display at the British Museum
• 1st commercial Valentine's Day greeting cards produced in the U.S. were created in the 1840s by Esther A. Howland who is known as the Mother of the Valentine She made elaborate creations with "scrap" of real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures.
• In 1866, candy manufacturer NECCO made the first "Conversation Hearts" — then called "Motto Hearts." NECCO says they sell 8 billion "Conversation Hearts" between January 1st and February 14th.

New review for Campagnia Restaurant

Fresnohub reader Chuck just submitted a review for Campagnia Restaurant.

Please do check out his review at Campagnia Restaurant review. Thanks, Chuck!