State Assembly candidate Jeff Gorell teaches a class at CLU and recently he invited me to speak to his students on a variety of topics including using technology to lobby for issues they are passionate to support. Student Peggy Zherdev believes that we need to promote breastfeeding more and she has started a blog as a way of sharing her thoughts.

Check it out:
Peggy Zherdev's breastfeeding policy blog

Please check out her blog and leave some feedback for her project.

Peggy, have you spoken to any local leaders on what they can do to support your cause? I would be interested in how much you needed to educate them. What local businesses are breastfeeding friendly? The Simi Valley Town Center Mall has great facilities for families. ( No, Mall Spokesperson Keith Jajko you don't need to pay me for that plug.)

Continuing with my one blog Shop Simi Valley First Campaign I want to share with you my favorite local bike shop.

In this era it is easy to get great deals on the internet but the thing that makes a local bike shop great is their service. Whether it is recommending local trails ( Next Campaign: Ride Simi Valley First?), fixing up your bike, or finding out about local events this shop does a great job.

Years ago two of us in our family bought bikes at from them. We could have initially saved money over the internet but over the years the service alone has made it worth it. All of the routine maintenance is free and done quickly to get you riding again. And if you break something you can expect them to see if they can repair it before they try to sell you new parts.

Thanks to All Pro Bikes I have never been able to say my bike is being repaired as an excuse not to ride.

Click here for their website.

Has a local business recently surprised you with a good deal or great customer service? Recommend them and encourage others to Shop Simi First!

( This video above is by a young artist that I know personally. If you need creative print or video done check out his youtube channel for samples of his work.)

Instead of just being critical of the city subsidized "Shop Simi First" Campaign I am going to go on a one blog promotion campaign for our city.

I am going to be reporting on local businesses that I frequent that either surprise me with good deals or great service.If you want to help by writing a guest blog entry let me know.

Here is my first entry in a long series.

I have seen the videos that Mike Chandler, the blogger behind VoteSimiValley.com, has produced but I hadn't bothered to check it out myself.

Well, I finally bothered to check it out. Towards the end of a hot summer day I brought my family in and we ordered a monstrous dish of shave ice ( I feel uneasy not adding the D to the end but I understand it is the custom to spell it that way) that was enough two adults and a little one for under 4 bucks.

That's a great deal from a locally owned and operated business.

Click here for Tutu's website which includes live streaming video ( creepy if you ask me), the menu ( more extensive than you might think), and a coupon ( the place is already inexpensive).

I have been critical at times over the City of Simi Valley spending money on a "Shop Simi Valley First" campaign because I remain unconvinced it is effective use of government money.

This blog entry though isn't on that program. It is to give credit to Simi Valley City Council Member Glen Becerra for using his campaign funds to help local businesses while getting some buzz around his own name.

Glen Becerra is often mentioned as a potential candidate for open seat elections for the state assembly, state senate, and the US House. People might say he is doing this to improve his own standing in the community and I agree. But that shouldn't be viewed negatively. This should inspire other politicians to think of ways of promoting our communities and themselves, instead of the same tired attacks and the same cliches year after year.

Compare Glen Becerra's ad with the recent op-ed by State Senator Tony Strickland titled " Nevada looks pretty attractive compared with California". I do agree with some of State Senator Tony Strickland's arguments but I don't know if we need the constant reminders of how the failure of California State legislators, including him, to compromise continues to drag down our state.

This is the smartest political move I have seen Glen Becerra do in the years I have been paying attention to local politics. It sure beats the time he helped Governor George W. Bush campaign in Oxnard as a new type of conservative.

The Great Timm Herdt, Ventura County Star Reporter, has already reported on this ad. Click here for Timm Herdt's blog entry.

If you want to help bring shoppers to Simi Valley click on the buttons below to share it on a social network like Facebook.

Have you seen "The Most interesting Man In The World" ads by Dos Equis?

The latest ad has at least two scenes filmed in Simi Valley.

The first scene starting at :07 seconds in looks like the hills on the east end of Simi Valley.

The second scene starting at :14 seconds in was filmed at Corriganville Park also on the east end.

Question: If we want to support The Shop Simi Valley Campaign does that mean if we drink beer we should switch to Dos Equis?

Click on the appropriate button below to share this on Facebook or another social network.

( A quick way to convince people to support doing something to halt human influenced climate change.)

Do you have a bag of e-waste that you are waiting to get rid of like me? My bag currently has a bunch of batteries and a few phone chargers. This Friday the Simi Valley Town Center Mall has an event to help you get rid of them in a more environmentally responsible way than throwing them in your trash.

Do people really hold onto batteries until there is an e-waste event? I have a feeling that most people toss the stuff out. What happens to those batteries other people throw in their recycling can?

The Simi Valley Town Center Mall is holding an Earth Day celebration this Friday. Click on continue reading for details, including a list of sponsors and events.

Are you going to any Earth Day events? Post the information as a comment. You don't need to register to comment.

( I am writing a series of reflections on living in Simi Valley. If you have a better title, please let me know.)

Simi Valley is a great place to raise a family. Recently we went to feed a variety of birds by the Duck Pond at Rancho Park. Many people bring bread crumbs but for $.59 a pound Theresa's Country Feed Store has a seed mix that is a great deal.

The park offers pigeons and ducks for the timid, but for the braver people get them to feed a goose directly from their hands. Bring some kids and a camera with you. My Dad took a picture when I was really young standing on a bench trying to get away from a flock of birds at Rancho Park. The photos of children feeding animals comes out great.

Click here for Theresa's Feed Store. I suggest bringing a few sandwich bags to divide the seeds up.

What hidden treasures does your town offer?

Real estate professional Ted Mackel hosted a tech night for local business people recently that I posted the announcement for on my blog. I wasn't able to make it but Mike Chandler, the blogger behind The Simi Show and VoteSimiValley.com, went with his camera. The above video is mostly a summary but after watching it if you are interested in attending the next session leave a comment to help Ted Mackel gauge the demand for his seminars.

Ted, my sister went and said she was going to use many of the ideas you explained. Thanks for offering the free seminar.

On a related note both of you owe me at least 10 comments for all the free plugs I have posted linked to your blogs. You have 7 days or I will Google b-o-m-b you. Just kidding guys. Thanks for reading and commenting on my blog.

Click here for Ted Mackel's blog.

Click here for The Simi Show.

Click here for VoteSimiValley.com

Simi Valley blogger Mike Chandler created the first Barack Obama themed image for me and now I am addicted. Let's make this the official photo of Mayor Paul Miller. Do me a favor and post it on your blog or post links on other blogs linking back to this entry.

Now, back to serious news. Mayor Paul Miller will be giving his annual State of the City address to the Chamber of Commerce. Tickets are $55 for the public. If you don't want to pay or don't have the time I will try to find the text of the speech and post it.

Mike, are you going to go? Any chance you can video it for everyone that wants to see it?

Click here for the newstory with the details.

( Mike how many different projects do you have going? Are you stalking the KFI AM 640 tech guy?)

Mike Chandler, the blogger behind VoteSimiValley.com, has a new entry up on Simi Valley employment and he needs your help.

If you have a few minutes he needs you to take a survey so he can collect some data.

Click here for his blog.

I know Mike Chandler will appreciate your time and participation. If you are going to call him to cover your events or to help your candidate it would be nice if you helped out with his data collection. Mike's technical skills are among the best in the area.

I found this video for the Simi Valley City Council's and the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce's Shop Simi Valley First campaign on youtube.

Does your city have a campaign to get citizens to keep their sales tax revenue in town? What do you call economic nationalism on a local level? Civic pride?

Consider this blog entry a free ad for the Shop Simi Valley First Campaign.