EXTRA EXTRA Read All About It!!!

The McMillin Realty South County edition of DREAM HOMES Magazine March issue will be hitting newsstands soon.

Our feature home is a gorgeous, upgraded gem in Eastlake, but that's for you to check out yourself. It won't disappoint.

Our Chula Vista "highlights" this month are, the South Bay YMCA - Celebrating 50 Years this year; the Chula Vista Elementary School District; the Chula Vista Marina; and our gorgeous Otay Ranch Town Center.

It is McMillin Realty's mission to help educate all of San Diego County the tremendous benefits and amenities our city has to offer. We are no longer the sleepy little border town we once had the reputation of being. We have shopping, dining, schools, parks, golf, hospitals, marinas, country clubs, and it is all new and state of the art.

We are passionate about our community, it's people, and it's future.

At McMillin Realty, we don't just sell homes, we sell lifestlyes. South County Lifestyles - The very best San Diego has to offer!



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McMillin Realty's Annual Easter Egg Hunt

Get those Easter Baskets out of the garage and dusted off, start shopping for your prettiest Easter Bonnet, because the Easter Bunny is coming to Discovery Park!

The sun is blinding us in the morning on the way to work, the days are getting warmer and a little longer... Yep, Spring is coming! For the Chula Vista community and McMillin Realty there has been a long standing tradition at Discovery Park in Rancho del Rey the weekend before Easter. The McMillin Realty Annual Easter Egg Hunt.
If you have ever been to one you can confirm, it starts at 9:00 am SHARP, and is over in about 5 minutes (at least the egg hunting part). Those kids are pros! They mow down the park, in sections by age, and clean out about 6,000 colored eggs in minutes - some with prize tickets in them. The Easter Bunny is there, of course, to make sure all the kids get their share, to take photos, and to wish everyone a Happy Easter.

So be ready, Saturday, March 27th, Discovery Park - Rancho del Rey - at 9:00 am sharp! Remember, those kids know how to hunt eggs FAST!

Discovery Park is also home to our beautiful and talented Bonita Valley Girls Fast Pitch Softball Association. So after the egg hunt, stop on over and check out a game or two. It is really exciting to watch!

I mean... how cute is she?....

Chula Vista Days

Today as I was driving my kids to school I noticed a huge crowd at Heritage Park at 7:00 in the morning. News trucks, classic cars, the Castle Park High School Band. What was going on? I had to stop and find out.

It was Fox 5 in the morning. They were filming their entire Morning Show right here from our gorgeous Heritage Park! It was "Chula Vista Days". How Cool is that! We are finally getting our day in the spot light. Over due?... Maybe, but at least they are taking notice of our fine city.

I parked immediately, and walked over to see what was going on. Shot some pictures with my iPhone of the band and the cars and, didn't know it was him, but had a conversation about our dogs and cars with Loren Nancarrow. I thought is was sweet seeing him walk his beautiful german shepherd around our pond, checking out the ducks before heading back over to the crowd.

What a day for Chula Vista. Then I got into the office, missed their show unfortunately, but did check out their website. I found all sorts of video clips of the morning, and a good one from the Mayor, Cheryl Cox. I am going to share it on my blog.

Hopefully, more news stations follow suit and come to Chula Vista to feature our City. We have so much to offer we couldn't possibly feature it all in 3 hours!

The Blue Bombers Trade a Weekend of Sand for Snow

Our local Little League World Series Champions headed off to the Nations Capitol and met President Obama on Friday, February 5, 2010, but when they arrived they got more than a presidential handshake, they got a whole lot of SNOW!!!

Since we are not so accustom to the beautiful white stuff, the boys enjoyed the afternoon playing in the hip-high snow with their parents looking on. With all the history around them, they seemed more interested in who could make a bigger hole in the snow when falling from a park bench.

They all agreed though, that meeting the President was the thrill of the trip. It was an experience they will never forget.

They did get an extra two days off of school due to being stuck in Washington because of the biggest blizzard the area has seen in years, figures on the weekend Californians go out there! But hey, we have the beach to come back to.

The boys are already back in baseball practice, this time for the Chula Vista Pony League. Parkview has a whole new set of kids moving in their place. It's a new year. Are you ready for some baseball?

Help Make A Difference

The South Bay Family YMCA serves over 35,000 youth, teens, families and seniors throughout the communities of Bonita, Chula Vista and National City. Since 1960, the South Bay Family YMCA has been dedicated to improving the quality of human life and to helping all people realize their fullest potential.

Through a variety of programs like aquatics, camp, childcare, fitness, gymnastics, sports and teen activities, the YMCA provides a safe place where kids can learn about the values of Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility.
Your contribution helps us provide program support and financial assistance to those who need it in our community. Thanks to generous donors like you, no one is turned away due to a lack of funds, ensuring the Y is for Everybody.

Chula Vista Elementary School District Makes the Grade

The Chula Vista Elementary School District’s Academic Performance Index score is 833—placing the District among the highest performing school systems in San Diego County. The results from California’s Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program indicated our students made achievement gains at all grade levels in both English Language Arts and mathematics.

According to the 2008-09 school year results released in Fall 2009, an amazing 31 out of 44 District schools achieved API scores above the state target of 800. The District’s overall index score of 833—a 24 point year-over-year gain! CVESD and Coronado are the only school districts in the South County with API scores above 800.

Other District highlights include:

Thurgood Marshall Elementary posted the highest API score in CVESD at 891, followed by Olympic View at 886, and Heritage and Salt Creek each at 883.
Closely on their heels was Chula Vista Learning Community Charter at 876. CVLCC’s growth over the last several years caught the attention of state leaders, education officials and charter school proponents. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger toured classrooms and held a press conference at CVLCC on August 27, 2009, noting that the school served as a model for education reforms he has proposed.

CVESD’s English learners recorded the fifth highest API score among school districts in San Diego County.

California Business for Education Excellence has named 14 District schools to its 2009 Honor Roll. Schools that receive this distinction from California’s business community have demonstrated consistent high student academic achievement and have made significant progress toward closing achievement gaps among all their students.

Moving and the Impact on Children

Children are going to be a major consideration for anyone considering a move to a different area. Buying a home in a district with a good school system and family-friendly neighborhood will dramatically affect the child's way of life. So bottom line, when searching for a home, good schools are a major consideration for families. Chula Vista fits that bill.

ANDY McMILLIN DIRTSPORTS DRIVER of the YEAR 2009

TAKE A JOURNEY WITH ANDY McMILLIN THROUGH HIS 2009 OFF-ROAD RACING WINNING STREAK, TO BECOME THE DIRTSPORTS MAGAZINE DRIVER OF THE YEAR 2009.

Andy McMillin is the son of Scott McMillin, President of McMillin Realty and the grandson of Corky McMillin, founder of The Corky McMillin Companies. Like grandfather. Like father. Like son. So go the racing bloodlines of the McMillin family - and go they certainly do. When Corky McMillin introduced his family to off-road racing in the 1970's, he probably never imagined what would follow. Three generations of highly esteemed McMillin Racing drivers and Baja winners. A proud heritage of team unity and sportsmanship. A secure place in history as one of the sport's most accomplished racing teams. Not to mention a truckload of victories on the desert racing circuit - including numerous wins by the team and the latest Baja 1000 four-wheel win by Andy and father Scott McMillin in 2009. Now to add to this Andy has been named Driver of the Year 2009 by DirtSports Magazine.

Congratulations Andy, we are so proud of you!!!

ANDY McMILLIN DIRTSPORTS DRIVER of the YEAR 2009 from Jimmy Cook on Vimeo.

Just a fun recipe for Valentine's Day

Red Velvet Cupcakes

What You Need!

1 pkg. (2-layer size) red velvet cake mix

1 pkg. (3.9 oz.) JELL-O Chocolate Instant Pudding

1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened

1 pkg. (16 oz.) powdered sugar (about 4 cups)

1 cup thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping

1 square BAKER'S White Chocolate, shaved into curls

Make It!

PREPARE cake batter and bake as directed on package for 24 cupcakes, blending dry pudding mix into batter before spooning into prepared muffin cups. Cool.

MEANWHILE, beat cream cheese and butter in large bowl with mixer until well blended. Gradually beat in sugar. Whisk in COOL WHIP. Spoon 1-1/2 cups into small freezer-weight resealable plastic bag; seal bag. Cut small corner off bottom of bag. Insert tip of bag into top of each cupcake to pipe about 1 Tbsp. frosting into center of cupcake.

FROST cupcakes with remaining frosting. Top with chocolate curls. Keep refrigerated.

Kraft Kitchens Tips

Variation

Prepare using PHILADELPHIA Neufchatel Cheese and COOL WHIP LITE Whipped Topping.

How to Easily Fill Cupcakes with Frosting

Poke hole in top of each cupcake with handle of wooden spoon before filling with frosting.

How to Make Chocolate Curls

Warm a square of BAKER'S Baking Chocolate by microwaving it, unwrapped, on HIGH for a few seconds or just until you can smudge the chocolate with your thumb. Hold the square steadily and draw a peeler slowly over flat bottom of square, allowing a thin layer of chocolate to curl as it is peeled off the bottom of the square to make long, delicate curls. Use the same technique along the narrow side of the square to make short curls.

President Obama Meets our Blue Bombers!

White House is a hit for Little League World Series winners

By Don Norcross, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

Originally published February 5, 2010 at 1:02 p.m., updated February 6, 2010 at 3:12 a.m.

/ Chuck Kennedy / White House

President Barack Obama shook hands yesterday with Bulla Graft and his teammates on Chula Vista’s Park View All-Stars, winners of the Little League World Series.

On a blustery, wintry day in the nation’s capital, San Diego’s boys of summer stepped out of the cold and into the limelight.

The Little League World Series champions from Chula Vista shook hands with President Barack Obama.

“This is going to be a treasure,” catcher Daniel Porras Jr. said by phone. “I’ll never wash my hand again.”

The 13-year-old Park View All-Stars and their coaches and family members toured the White House yesterday, then met the president in the East Wing. Obama walked down a line, shaking each player’s hand.

“It was pretty cool,” said outfielder Bradley Roberto. “We met the leader of our country.”

Previously, the players appeared on Conan O’Brien’s show, rode in the Rose Parade and were honored by the Padres and the Chargers.

Yesterday, each player — dressed in matching khakis and light-blue polo shirts — introduced himself to Obama by saying his name, the position he played and that it was an honor to meet the president.

Asked what the president said in return, shortstop Andy Rios said, “It’s very good to meet you, too.”

Porras added, “He said that he was proud of us for representing the United States.”

Obama then came to league President Rod Roberto and asked, “Are you one of the coaches?”

“No Mr. President,” Roberto said, “I’m the president.”

After some laughter, Obama replied, “Maybe I should ask this guy for some advice.”

The Park View contingent consisted of about 60 people. The trip was paid for by Southwest Airlines and AT&T.

The team came bearing gifts, including a green-and-white Park View jersey for the president with “Obama” written across the back.

According to Rod Roberto, the president said upon receiving the jersey, “I better save this. It’ll probably be worth some money in the future.”

The team also brought jerseys for Obama’s daughters — Malia, 11, and Sasha, 8 — a signed baseball glove and a baseball cap made of Legos given to the team by Legoland California.

While walking down a White House hallway, the players were asked to step aside for a moment. Along came Malia and Sasha.

“They were dressed like you’d think young girls would be on a cold, winter day,” Rod Roberto said. “In sweatpants.”

After meeting the president, the contingent trudged through snowy, wind-swept conditions to the Capitol building.

“We are walking through huge snow right now,” Porras said.

At the Capitol, the team was given a tour of the House floor by Rep. Bob Filner, D-San Diego.

The team is scheduled to attend the Atlanta Hawks-Washington Wizards basketball game tonight before returning home tomorrow.

Of yesterday’s experience, Rod Roberto said, “There’s nothing like the capital in snow. The trees, the snow falling. It was like sitting there watching a movie.”

Regarding the White House, he added, “It’s very patriotic. When you walk in there, see all the presidents on the wall, I don’t care what political side you’re on, you feel like, ‘Wow, all the decisions are made right here.’ ”

However, due to a blizzard in the area, the team is stuck in the Capitol for a few extra days. Enjoy kids, this is the time of your lives!

Valentinos Grill Lounge and Sushi Bar • Otay Ranch • 619-591-9201

If you are looking for somewhere trendy with good food, excellent sushi, and a great happy hour, right here in Otay Ranch, look no further.

Valentinos Grill Lounge and Sushi Bar on East Palomar and Santa Cora is the place to be these days. Their sushi bar is outstanding, and you must remember to ask for the different dipping sauces! Valentino's does have other items on their menu besides sushi, try the Kobe Sliders with fries, or the Ribeye Tapanyaki, a 10oz ribeye, grilled, sliced and served over roasted potatoes, sauteed onions and mushrooms served on a sizzling skillet. The food plus the top-shelf, full bar makes this the perfect Friday night spot.

But one word of advice... get there early! The place is usually packed - and with good reason.


Valentinos Grill Lounge and Sushi Bar • Otay Ranch • 619-591-9201

HELP! Need Children's Books

Patti McKelvey, Realtor with McMillin Realty, is helping The King Chavez Academy in San Diego Barrio Logan collect "slightly used" children's books and elementary school supplies.

The school is in need of books, art supplies, school supplies, paper, etc. If you have anything laying around the house, or if you are a company interest in donating something larger, please contact someone at the Patti McKelvey Team at 619-409-8505 for more information. The drop off location is Patti's office.

The Patti McKelvey Team is located at the Chula Vista office of McMillin Realty on 320 East "H" Street in the Terra Nova Plaza. You can't miss the big blue "M"!!!

Parkview Little League Expects A Big Season

Saturday was a beautiful day, the sun was out, the weather was perfect. It was the perfect day for baseball tryouts in Chula Vista. I took my son out for his first tryouts ever. He is 8 this year, and 8 year olds and up have to tryout in little league. It's actually more of an assessment of skills than tryouts since they all get to play, but you could still feel the competition to be the best in the air.

With all the rain we've had lately it was nice to get out and see all the kids suited up, with their gloves, bats, warming up, playing catch with dads, getting ready to show the coaches their stuff.

I spoke with a couple of board members at Parkview while I waited for my son to get his chance at bat and was amazed to hear how many kids Parkview was fielding this year. We have so many kids in the association that we will be having games Monday - Sunday this year. I'm not sure if this is in response to our 2009 Little League World Series All Star Winners, or if this is a sign that our economy is rebounding, but it was exciting to hear non the less. More kids getting the opportunity to play!

I can't wait for the season to officially start. Baseball fever is already struck Chula Vista! We are ready!!!