Category Archives: California News

FREE Admission Day to National Parks – 1/16


NPS

The National Park Service just turned 100 years old! Celebrate the start of our second century by visiting a park in 2017. During ten days of the year, all National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone.

Mark your calendar for these entrance fee–free dates in 2017:

  • January 16: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
  • February 20: Presidents’ Day
  • April 15-16 and 22-23: Weekends of National Park Week
  • August 25: National Park Service Birthday
  • September 30: National Public Lands Day
  • November 11-12: Veterans Day Weekend

National parks are America’s Best Idea, and there are more than 400 parks available to everyone, every day. The fee-free days provide a great opportunity to visit a new place or an old favorite, especially one of the 124 national parks that normally charge an entrance fee. The others are free all of the time. Plan your visit and enjoy our country’s history and nature.

The fee waiver includes entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees. Other fees such as reservation, camping, tours, concession and fees collected by third parties are not included unless stated otherwise.

Fee-free days make parks accessible to more people. However, national parks are always economical, with entrance fees that range from $3 to $30. In addition, any fourth grade student can get a free annual pass through the Every Kid in a Park program, and active duty military and citizens with a permanent disability can also get free passes. For more information about the variety of discounted passes available, please visit the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass page.

Yosemite Great Falls, US

This includes some of the most stunning places on earth including:

  • FREE Admission to Denali National Park in Alaska
  • FREE Admission to Yellowstone National Park
  • FREE Admission to Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
  • FREE Admission to Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona
  • FREE Admission to Yosemite National Park in California
  • FREE Admission to Olympic National Park in Washington
  • FREE Admission to Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming
  • FREE Admission to Zion National Park in Utah
  • FREE Admission to Acadia National park in Maine
  • FREE Admission to Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado

View list of participating National Parks HERE

*Fee waiver includes: entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees. Other fees such as reservation, camping, tours, concession and fees collected by third parties are not included unless stated otherwise.

For more information, visit www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm.

FREE Admission Days to National Parks for 2017


NPS

The National Park Service just turned 100 years old! Celebrate the start of our second century by visiting a park in 2017. During ten days of the year, all National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone.

Mark your calendar for these entrance fee–free dates in 2017:

  • January 16: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
  • February 20: Presidents’ Day
  • April 15-16 and 22-23: Weekends of National Park Week
  • August 25: National Park Service Birthday
  • September 30: National Public Lands Day
  • November 11-12: Veterans Day Weekend

National parks are America’s Best Idea, and there are more than 400 parks available to everyone, every day. The fee-free days provide a great opportunity to visit a new place or an old favorite, especially one of the 124 national parks that normally charge an entrance fee. The others are free all of the time. Plan your visit and enjoy our country’s history and nature.

The fee waiver includes entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees. Other fees such as reservation, camping, tours, concession and fees collected by third parties are not included unless stated otherwise.

Fee-free days make parks accessible to more people. However, national parks are always economical, with entrance fees that range from $3 to $30. In addition, any fourth grade student can get a free annual pass through the Every Kid in a Park program, and active duty military and citizens with a permanent disability can also get free passes. For more information about the variety of discounted passes available, please visit the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass page.

Yosemite Great Falls, US

This includes some of the most stunning places on earth including:

  • FREE Admission to Denali National Park in Alaska
  • FREE Admission to Yellowstone National Park
  • FREE Admission to Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
  • FREE Admission to Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona
  • FREE Admission to Yosemite National Park in California
  • FREE Admission to Olympic National Park in Washington
  • FREE Admission to Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming
  • FREE Admission to Zion National Park in Utah
  • FREE Admission to Acadia National park in Maine
  • FREE Admission to Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado

View list of participating National Parks HERE

*Fee waiver includes: entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees. Other fees such as reservation, camping, tours, concession and fees collected by third parties are not included unless stated otherwise.

For more information, visit www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm.

7 Absolute Life Changing New Year’s Resolutions


The New Year is always a time for reflection.  It is a time to decide what we would like to improve in our lives.  This New Year, we should all vow to take a closer look into our lives and to choose to live consciously, intentionally and more authentically than ever before.

Check out these important, practical and life changing resolution:

1. Spend time and nurture relationships with individuals that WANT you in their lives. Life is too short and your energy is too precious to expend it on people who do not value you and recognize your worth. Period. If nothing else remember this, “You should never have to fight for a spot in someone’s life, they should make room for you.” If they value you, they will make room. If they do not, wish them well and send them off and go on your way. There are plenty of people out there that love you and like you simply because you are you!

2. Get out of debt NOW! Currently the number one threat to this country is it’s debt. Debt equals slavery and you don’t want to be in debt to anyone! For more information on debt bondage, click here. We also recommend you watch Maxed Out (Netflix) and In Debt We Trust (Youtube).

3. Reduce your expenses. Getting out of debt is considerably easier when you have control of your finances. Don’t waste your time and money trying to keep up with the Jones. Chances are the Jones’s are most likely in debt and struggling too. It’s much wiser to save money for investments as opposed to wasting money on unnecessary expenses to impress others. Next time your tempted ask yourself “Do I really need this?”.

4. Ditch the clutter! Having an abundance of stuff requires a lot of time, money, and energy to keep it, clean it, store it and maintain it. Worst of all, most people are unaware that this stuff causes mental, emotional and sometimes physical damage to it’s owners. Have a garage sale! By selling extra items you will have less stuff to distract you from what’s really important. Plus clean, organized environments often increases the happiness and productivity of it’s occupants. Walk through your home and see what can go. To avoid getting overwhelmed go slow. Pick a section or a room at a time. Set daily goals.  Tip: Set out a laundry basket and as you come across items add them to the basket to sell or donate. You will feel great when you have some extra cash and a more open space.

5. Save money for an emergency fund. In a recent study it was discovered that most family could not come up with $1,000 cash (not credit or debt cards) if they needed it for a disaster or emergency. Could you? Having a stash of cash at home is safety net that will help keep your family going in the event of a long term power outage when ATMs are unavailable. Make it a goal to have enough cash to keep your living situation afloat for minimum of 30 days. 

6. Life’s too short to worry, so quit it. DO NOT WORRY. Worry comes from insecurity. It is born of an insecurity and disbelief that all will be well. You can’t predict the future but you can prepare for it. By preparing for it and facing it head on you will be able to say with confidence “I got this!”.  Remember, Now is all that there ever is. If your head is in the future, who is taking care of your now? It’s the now that sets you up for the future!

7.  Be good to yourself! The world can be harsh to ourselves. Make sure to take time and take care of you. You will be no good to anyone if you can’t take care of yourself. Sometimes, people are hard on themselves for past issues. Learning to forgive yourself and understanding that you are worthy of love will allow to you heal and grow from your experiences. Be gentle with yourself. You are a unique and incredible person and no one else can offer the world what you have to offer. Spend time on yourself, doing things that are renewing to your spirit and rewarding to your body like taking a bath, going for a walk, hugging a friend etc. Life is short. Cherish every moment and be grateful for it all!

Do you have any resolutions that should be added to our list? What is your New Year Resolution? Got any tips or tricks for keeping your resolution? We would love to hear it in the comment section below!

AAA Offering Free Tipsy Tow Services Tonight


tipsy

AAA’s “Tipsy Tow” initiative will be offering New Year’s Eve partygoers a FREE ride home tonight. No membership required. The company offers this in the hope of getting people home safely on one of the biggest party nights of the year.

Anyone who has celebrated the New Year with a little too much to drink will be able to catch a free ride with Tipsy Tow rather than risking more dangerous ways to get home.

The Tipsy Tow program is open to everyone. You do not need to be an AAA Member to take advantage of this service to the community.

AAA typically offers the service to drinking drivers from 6 p.m. on the holiday to 6 a.m. the following day in Northern California, Nevada and Utah. For specific dates and times, see the list below.

aaa-tipsy-tow

During the period Tipsy Tow is available, drivers, potential passengers, party hosts, bartenders, and restaurant managers can call 800-222-4357 (AAA-HELP) for a free tow home of up to ten miles. Just tell the AAA operator, “I need a Tipsy Tow,” and a truck will be on its way.

The service will provide a one-way ride for the driver and vehicle to the driver’s home. If there are additional passengers who need a ride, they will be taken to the driver’s home as long is there is sufficient room for them to be transported safely in the tow truck. You cannot make a reservation.

Whatever you do, please don’t drink and drive.

AAA offers the following tips to stay safe and keep others safe on the roads:

  • Drive only while drug and alcohol-free
  • Plan ahead and designate a non-drinking driver before a celebration begins
  • Don’t let your friends drive impaired. Take their keys away
  • Never ride in a car with someone who is impaired
  • Plan to take a cab or stay with a friend

We hope you all have a fabulous (& safe) evening!  HAPPY NEW YEAR!

May You All Have A Very Blessed Christmas


MerryChristmas

On behalf of everyone at the Diablo Reporter, we would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas. Thank you to our readers, wherever you are, and we wish you and yours all the best this festive season. Merry Christmas!

Don’t Drink & Drive – Ride For FREE With Uber


uber-free-first-ride

Want to drink and get around safe? Ride free with Uber tonight!

11th Annual Ice Cream For Dinner Day – Oct 15


icecream

A Concord resident has created the most wonderful tribute to her father and in the process created a day of joy for many around the world! If that wasn’t enough, this tribute has been carried on for over a decade! We were lucky enough to get an invite and we are passing along that invite to all of you!  Join her for her 10th Annual Ice Cream For Dinner Day on, October 15, 2016! It’s purpose is to share in the awesomeness of life! Check out the 411 below and click on the link below to RSVP. No need to go anywhere. Just celebrate at home with your family!

Here’s the back story:

On October 15, 2005, my father’s life was cut short after a very brief battle with cancer. While he was in the hospital, the doctor cleared him to have any food he wanted. I called and had my brother bring a small cup of Haagan Daas Vanilla ice cream brought in for him – his favorite. Dad never got to eat that ice cream.

As a tribute to my father, ice cream for dinner day was born.

Ice Cream for Dinner Day is an opportunity to reevaluate your priorities. Celebrate spontaneity. Realize that life is short and unpredictable and that sometimes you don’t get the opportunity to do things that you put off until later (like dessert). Remember those who have left us. Acknowledge the idea thatwatching the excitement on your children’s faces when you tell them you’re having ice cream for dinner is way more fun than trying to force them to eat their veggies, and for one night out of the year it truly will not kill them. Join in a tradition. Live a little.

Every year, there is always a group of people who reply “I would NEVER feed my kids ice cream before dinner!” This year, challenge yourself to break out of that mentality.

Invite everyone you know! I am always amazed and my heart is so warmed that this event spreads the way it does every year. In the past, Ice Cream for Dinner Day has made it to Australia, British Columbia and Israel! Every year the response is overwhelming and so touching. Raise a spoon and spread the love!

Click here to RSVP & Join in the fun!

Will your family participant? What’s your favorite flavor of ice? There are so many awesome flavors to choose from! Enjoy!