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Summer Fun - Camping, Concerts, Bazaars Summer Concert Series in Temecula Temecula – CRC Amphitheater – 30875 Rancho Vista Road Concert 7:00-8:30pm (gates open at 6:30pm) Registration is required. CityofTemecula.org July Thursday, July 8 - Crowd Theory Thursday, July 15 - Eagles/Rondstadt Experience Thursday, July 22 - Bodie Thursday, July 29 - Escape Journey Band
Sunday Funday at Vail HQ Every Sunday from 11am to 4pm What is a Sunday without some fun? Starting March 7th, Sunday Fundays will now be held EVERY SUNDAY from 11AM-4PM at Vail Headquarters. This family experience will be brunch-themed and is aimed at putting Vail HQ on the map as a new Sunday brunch destination for our community! Eat, shop, and enjoy our DJ, train rides, creative activities and more. More details to be added soon! Plenty of outdoor dining areas Family-friendly & Dog-friendly Vail Headquarters is located at 32115 Temecula Parkway Temecula, CA 92592 events@vailhq.com
August Thursday, August 5 - Pulp Vixen Thursday, August 12 - Bad Chemistry Thursday, August 19 - Chris Fast Blues Band Thursday, August 26 - Undercover Live
Menifee Moonlight Markets
Starlight Bazaar is Back
Menifee Moonlight Markets are back for the Summer at Central Park (30268 Civic Plaza Drive, Menifee, CA 92586). Bring your friends and family for a FREE, fun Friday night filled with family activities, themed nights, costume contests, community movie choice, vendors, and so much more! Remember to also vote for your favorite movie for each one of our themed nights at www.cityofmenifee.us/moonlightmarkets. Menifee Moonlight Markets begin at 6:30 p.m. Bring your lawn chair or blanket and enjoy our Campfire Program hosted by your local Park Rangers! Located at Spirit Park (25507 Normandy Road, Menifee, CA 92586), this program will feature interactive, interpretive activities for youth and families to learn about the natural habitats right in their own backyard. Events take place from 7 p.m.to 8 p.m.
Last Friday of every month AT Vail HQ from 6pm to 10pm
Family Camp Out in Menifee The Family Camp Out is for residents to come and enjoy a fun overnight experience at Silverstar Park (30054 Thunder Court, Menifee, CA 92584) Friday, July 9 –Saturday, July 10. For $15 per participant, enjoy family activities and games, crafts, nighttime campfire, along with s'mores, dinner, and breakfast. Activities include a scavenger hunt, family competitions, moonlight movie, campfire and s'mores, and picnic games. Space is limited. Tickets are required for participants ages 3 and up.
Starlight Bazaar is back early this year at Vail HQ! In The Loop and historic Vail Headquarters present a night time festival in the spirit of showcasing local music, art, food and culture! Families can enjoy food & drinks from our restaurants & bars, train rides, shopping, and other seasonal attractions.
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MSJC to Welcome Back Students with Face-to-Face Classes This Fall Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC) announced it is preparing to welcome students back to campus for classes for the Fall 2021 semester and now offers in-person appointments for student services such as registration, counseling and financial aid. MSJC is scheduling a robust offering of face-to-face, on-campus classes and online classes for Fall 2021 and continues to monitor state and county guidance related to COVID-19 for any changes over the coming months. The Fall 2021 semester starts Monday, Aug. 16. MSJC reopened the San Jacinto and Menifee Valley campuses for student services earlier this month and is following state and county guidance. MSJC has implemented health and safety measures as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and CalOSHA to ensure a safe learning and working environment for students, faculty, classified professionals, administrators, and other visitors. MSJC is also welcoming students for the first time to the new Temecula Valley Campus for classes on Aug. 16. All campuses will continue to expand face-to-face, on-campus services and classes as student demand and state guidance related to COVID-19 allows. Students who schedule appointments for registration, financial aid, counseling, and the Student Health Centers can now meet with MSJC professionals in person on the San Jacinto and Menifee Valley campuses. Online appointments will still be available as well. Students can schedule appointments by visiting the Student Support HUB. The MSJC libraries and learning resource centers are also open to students now. Students can search the MSJC Fall Schedule of Classes to find faceto-face or online classes. Priority registration begins Tuesday, July 6. Mt. San Jacinto College serves about 27,000 students in a district covering 1,700 square miles from the San Gorgonio Pass to Temecula, with campuses in San Jacinto, Menifee, Banning and Temecula. MSJC awarded a record-breaking 3,848 degrees and certificates to 2,173 graduates on May 27, 2021.
Mt. San Jacinto College is excited to announce it is preparing to welcome students back to campus for registration appointments and classes for the Fall 2021 semester. Photo courtesy of Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC)
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Celebrating the
4th of July – Lake Elsinore Display Celebrating Cityhood Party in the Park will be held at 18505 Malaga Road, 10 am to 1 pm • Bike parade starts at 10:30 am • Children can decorate their bikes, trailers, wagons, and ride with pride. • City will have decorating supplies available • Kid Fun Zone • Rotary Sponsored BBQ (available at a low cost)
4th of July – Temecula
NEW! Light Up the Lake Boat Parade • 8:00 pm
The event will take place at the park located at 30875 Rancho Vista Road, Temecula with music and activities from 2-10pm, The Fireworks will be launched off at 9pm on Sunday, July 4, 2021. Music will be simulcast on 101.3 KATY.
If you own boat and you enjoy decorating, then you can certainly participate for free (must have a valid nighttime lake pass) You can view the parade from shore at such locations Elm Grove Beach • Whiskers Fishing Beach • Launch Point (at a cost)
Pechanga Announces July 4 Fireworks Show The free fireworks display will begin at dusk (approximately 8:45 p.m.) on July 4. Technicians expect the show to run for 20 minutes, according to Pechanga officials. Guests will be allowed to park in designated areas at Pechanga Resort Casino. Directional signs will be posted, officials said. The show will be visible from many vantage points across south Temecula, according to Pechanga. RV parking is prohibited on Pechanga grounds except for within the Pechanga RV Resort. No day camping, grilling, open flames, glass, alcoholic beverages or illegal substances will be permitted at the fireworks viewing on Pechanga property.
View by Boat Experience the fireworks show from the Lake! Pre-sale package for the 4th of July. Extreme Experience - $100.00 (includes Day Use, Launch, Parking, & Night Lake Pass) To purchase tickets: https://secure.rec1.com/CA/lake-elsinore/catalog Passes and parking are limited • Single vehicle parking $60
Fireworks Spectacular The Fireworks show will begin at 9:00 pm shooting off from the TPeninsula! The show will be paired with a Sky Concert which will be synchronized to KOLA's Radio Station (99.9 FM). Viewing locations include Lakepoint Park, Summerly Park, Swick & Matich Park, Whiskers Fishing Beach, and a portion of the levee system. Paid viewing locations include all commercial campgrounds, Launch Pointe, Diamond Stadium, and by boat.
Murrieta’s July 1 Fireworks Display Celebrating Cityhood Due to weather conditions, the fireworks display has been moved down to a lower vantage point. Los Alamos Hills Sports Park will afford spectators the best viewing options. Residents in the area will be able to view the display from their homes. Parking will be available at Los Alamos Hills Sports Park lot. The show begins at dark (about 9 p.m.) and will last about 20 minutes. The fireworks will honor the City’s incorporation on July 1, 1991. There will be no vendors or food trucks at the site; we’re saving that for the Birthday Bash in the fall. But enjoy synchronized fireworks music by tuning into 101.3 KATY.
4th of July – Canyon Lake Fireworks 4th of July is one of the biggest and most anticipated events of the year. Fireworks can be enjoyed many of the beaches and parks around the community, but some of the best spots are Happy Camp, Holiday Harbor, and Sunset Beach. The fireworks show begins at approximately 9 p.m. and they are launched from Skipper’s Island. Spectators can tune into 99.9 FM to hear music synchronized to the fireworks show from anywhere around the lake. From the Lodge patio area, Mike Shroyer of Good Time Entertainment will also be playing music leading up to the show, including a live performance of the American Anthem right before the show.
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EST. 1859
Live, In-Person Performances Begin at The Merc on Saturday, July 3, 2021 …After One Extra-Long Intermission OLD TOWN TEMECULA
The Merc at the Old Town Temecula Community Theater is opening its doors to the public after The Extra-Long Intermission as a result of the global pandemic. Temecula’s Theater Team has been working behind the scenes to reopen all the performance spaces safely and responsibly with live performances beginning Saturday, July 3, 2021 at The Merc. The City of Temecula along with local producers offers an array of performances for the entire family at The Merc and Courtyard (located at 42051 Main Street, Temecula). Performances will resume on Temecula Theater’s Main Stage in September of 2021 with Mamma Mia presented once again by the Temecula Valley Players (September 2 through 19, 2021). TCSD President and Council Member Zak Schwank stated, “The City of Temecula thanks you for your patience and patronage as we welcome you, our Temecula Theater Family, back along with the talented performers, long-standing partners, and producers. On With The Shows!” July 2021 July 3 & 17 Country Live! at The Merc (1st & 3rd Saturday monthly) July 10 Speakeasy at The Merc (2nd Saturday monthly)
July 15, 22 & 29 Jazz at The Merc (Thursdays at 7:30pm weekly) July 23, 24 & 25 [title of show] presented by Bohemian Arts (The Merc) July 30 & 31 Edges presented by the Fine Arts Network (The Courtyard) July 31 Stand Up Comedy (The Merc)
August 2021 August 1 Edges presented by the Fine Arts Network (The Courtyard) August 5, 12, 19 & 26 Jazz at The Merc August 6 First Friday (The Gallery at The Merc & The Lot on Main) August 7 & 21 Country Live! at The Merc August 14 Speakeasy at The Merc August 14 & 15 Miscast presented by the Fine Arts Network (Courtyard) August 22 Classics at The Merc (Courtyard) August 28 Stand Up Comedy (The Merc) The Ticket Office will reopen to the public on FRI, JUL 1, 2021. Tickets are on sale now online at TemeculaTheater.org or you may call 1.866.OLD.TOWN.
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EST. 1859
Student Art Mural Celebrating Juneteenth City of Temecula 41000 Main Street • Temecula, CA 92590 951-694-6444 • TemeculaCA.gov
OLD TOWN TEMECULA The City of Temecula, Community Services Department, Temecula Valley Unified School District, and the Temecula Valley Museum announce a new Student Art Mural in Sam Hicks Monument Park (28300 Mercedes Street). This temporary public art piece celebrates Juneteenth, a holiday celebrating the emancipation of those who had been enslaved in the United States. Originating in Galveston, Texas, it is now celebrated annually on June 19th throughout the United States, with varying official recognition. It is commemorated on the anniversary of the announcement by Union Army General Gordon Granger, proclaiming freedom from slavery in Texas on June 19, 1865. This month, in honor of Juneteenth, Temecula high school students, facilitated by Great Oak High School's Black Student Union Media Director, Phylicia Joseph, took their inspiration from Jane Hartman, Distinguished Fellow and President Emerita at the Wilson Center, a non-partisan policy forum for tackling global issues. Ms. Hartman said, “True justice and equality continue to be a distant dream for too many in this country, and we must not allow the important progress we have made to blind us from the struggles that still persist.” These sentiments inspired the students to create a mural commemorating Juneteenth celebrating the progress that has been made while still respecting the struggles that persist, by showcasing the talents of African-American students and residents in our community and their part in the "important progress" towards equality and representation. The Student Art Mural Project is organized by Temecula Valley Museum. Local art students are invited to paint murals on canvas that will be displayed in Sam Hicks Monument Park.
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Cowboy Jubilee on the Santa Rosa Plateau Benefit event for the Santa Rosa Plateau Nature Education Foundation The Cow Boy Jubilee will be held at Campo Caballo at Rancho De La Jolla – Tenaja Valley Santa Rosa Plateau Murrieta August 21, 2021 from 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm. Tickets $135/person and can be purchased at www.srpnef.org. Tickets are limited so please purchase them early. It’s time to break loose, bring out your dancing boots, bangles, a BBQ appetite and mosey on down to the Santa Rosa Plateau Cowboy Jubilee being held at a 20acre horse ranch estate in Tenaja Valley
Rhythm on the Vine Sunday, July 18 South Coast Winery Vintner’s Garden with Guitarists Paul Brown Pianist Gregg Karukas 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Doors open at 6:15 pm Southcoast Winery Resort and Spa presents Grammy Award winning Guitarist/ Producer Paul Brown https://www.paulbrownjazz.com Gregg Karukas http://www.karukas.com 12 solo CD's over a three decade career, with many #1 radio hits. VIP | $150 per ticket VIP level tickets are closest to the stage and include a table for your comfort & enjoyment. Also included is access to the Meet & Greet. The Meet & Greet includes light bites and wine prior to the performance. Preferred Seating | $95 per ticket Preferred Seating includes a table behind VIP seating. General Admission $65 per ticket General Admission includes chair seating only, behind Preferred and VIP seating. *Due to COVID restrictions, we are unable to sell pre-assigned seats at this time. Table seats will be assigned on a first come first serve basis. The earlier you purchase, the closer you will be to the stage. If you purchase two table seats you will be seated with other couples. Tables seat 4 - 6 people. South Coast Winery Resort & Spa 34843 Rancho California Road,Temecula, CA 92591 951-764-1726 Email: saxhawaii@aol.com https://www.apauloproductions.net
on the Santa Rosa Plateau in Murrieta. Complete with cowboys, a Garth Brooks tribute live concert, classic cars, and a Texas BBQ, join us at 5pm on August 21, 2021. The BBQ will be provided by Calhoun’s Family Texas BBQ. The Jubilee is a “cowboy celebration towards recovery” event benefiting the Santa Rosa Plateau Nature Education Foundation as it begins to resume its youth nature education programs in our community. The concert performance is by “The Ultimate Garth Guy Tribute Show”, staring Dean Simmons. The show is part of the “Legends In Concert” Las Vegas show. Limited tickets are available. Deadline to purchase is August 19. Tickets at www.srpnef.org.
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Kids
Princess La-De-Da By Professor Kidsbrary© Princess La-De-Da was the most pleasant princess you could ever want to meet. Every morning she would get out of bed, walk over to the window and say, “My, what a beautiful day!” even if it was raining. She never complained that the marble floors of the castle were ice cold or that she had to eat Brussels sprouts for dinner because the Queen loved them. In fact, when anything unpleasant ever happened to the Princess she would just say “LaDe-Da!” and go on her merry way. Yes, she was a real princess right to the top of her golden crown; calm and most agreeable. Nothing ever seemed to upset Princess La-De-Da, until one fateful day when everything changed… The Princess was about to celebrate her 21st birthday, and the whole kingdom had been invited to attend a party in her honor. The Queen had been planning for this special day for months and was so excited. As the party was ready to begin, Princess La-De-Da stood poised at the top of a very tall staircase, ready to make her grand entrance. She looked down at her loyal subjects as they waved and cheered. Dressed in a breathtaking gown designed by the queen’s master seamstress, she was a vision of perfection. As a hush fell over the ballroom, Princess La-De-Da prepared to make her way down the stairs. But just as the princess went to take her first step, the royal cat spied a piece of cheese by her shoe and pounced on it—knocking the princess off balance. What happened next was not to be believed… She tripped over the cat and rolled down the stairs, Her gown once so perfect, now ripping with tears, Towards the trumpeters like a large bowling ball, In one felt swoop, she knocked down them all! The guests now all speechless had no where to hide, As the princess grew closer, turning each on their side, Then into the dining room she just missed the chairs, But instead tripped the servers, once standing in pairs. She just had to stop, so she grabbed what she could, Unfortunately gripping a long piece of wood, Which, just happened to hold up a large canopy That fell on the musicians, till you just saw a knee! The princess now quite out of control, Watched her golden crown fly into the punch bowl, She whipped past the king, now stunned by her plight, Jumping over the food prepared for that night! Next, landing on a carpet, like magic she sailed, Right past the queen whose face had now paled, The queen thought “Help!” But no words could she speak, As guests covering their eyes now, snuck one last peek! Missing piles of presents through the castle she flew, Till it dawned on the princess what she must do, She yelled “La-De-Da!” until her voice became sore, And stopped within inches…of hitting a door! She picked herself up and smoothed her torn gown, Walked over to the punch bowl, retrieving her crown, Apologized to her subjects with a wave of her hand, Then turned to the servants and gave a command. “Let the music start playing and the party begin,” “We’ll have a great time!” she exclaimed with a grin. Don’t worry about me, I’m noy filled with gloom, It was the fastest way ever… I entered a room! The king and queen stared at one another not knowing what to say or do. Everyone grew silent. Suddenly, the Queen began to laugh…and laugh. She laughed so hard; she could not stop. Why, this was the funniest thing she had ever seen! The king started to laugh too. He laughed so much; he got the hiccups! Then, the royal subjects and servants started laughing too. They laughed themselves right onto the floor! One by one, each of the party guests started to laugh, until the entire ballroom was filled with uncontrollable merriment!
Finally, the queen, managing to collect herself, returned to her throne, picked up her glass of royal punch and toasted to the crowd, “La-De-Da!” The king, next followed suit as did all the royal subjects. Then, just as the princess had requested, the servants returned to serving, the musicians returned to playing, and the guests returned to eating and dancing the night away. Oh, yes everyone did have the best LaDe-Da time ever! The End
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SENIORS
Interested in the History of Menifee? As homes continue to pop-up and families continue to relocate to Menifee from all over Southern California, most of Menifee’s new residents are unaware of the rich history of the area and the historical families that pioneered the land
to establish a new community in Southwest Riverside County. The Menifee Valley Historical Association has been busy creating a Historical Museum, Historic Monuments as well as a series of 12 videos highlighting prominent families that are the framework of the community. The fourth of twelve videos has been released featuring Walter Zeiders and his family of five generations. These videos will continue to be released over the next months and will be available for viewing on YouTube as they are released. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoPn7H_YPd7NaMwJuXIizSg. The Zeiders’ Family Historical Monument can be seen on Zeiders Road, south of Scott Road. The Historical Museum will reopen in August. Go to www.menifeehistory.com to find up to date information about the opening and programs that will be offered to the community. So, if have just moved into your new home in Menifee and want to know more about those that came before you, enjoy the series of historical videos as they become available.
Shakespeare In The Vines – Tickets Now on Sale We are excited to join everyone again under the stars for another season. This season, all tickets must be purchased in advance on our website. No ticket purchases will be allowed on location. For Tickets: www.shakespeareinthevines.org Performing July 22nd - 31st The Tempest Performing August 5th - 28th The Taming of the Shrew
About SITV... Shakespeare in the Vines is now celebrating its sixteenth anniversary season of staging award-winning outdoor theatrical productions. SITV is the only theatre company in Southwest Riverside County dedicated to producing the works of William Shakespeare. SITV strives to create exciting experiences that reach current and future audiences through illuminating interpretations in the scenic vineyards of Temecula. All proceeds and donations benefit SITV's educational and theatrical programs and are tax deductible. Shakespeare in the Vines is under the parent corporation of HaFTA (Havens for the Arts), a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation. Tax I.D. No. 330364524. To volunteer for or make a donation to Shakespeare in the Vines, please contact: info@shakespearein thevines.org
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SENIORS
Health Tips for Men Knowing what to look for at each stage of a man’s life is important, and many men tend to put off seeing their doctors for routine physicals and preventive screenings. Schedule your physical today and consult with your doctor on the appropriate screenings for you.
• Cardiovascular disease/high blood pressure • Stress/anxiety/depression Men Age 55 and Up Chronic diseases are the leading causes of death in people ages 65 and older.* If you have a personal history of any of these diseases, see your doctor or specialist regularly. • Heart/cardiovascular disease
• Cancer • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) • Stroke *Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) **The National Institutes of Health From the health professionals at Temecula Valley Hospital.
Boys Age 12 - 17 Boys are twice as likely as girls to be diagnosed with ADHD, behavioral or conduct problems, anxiety, autism spectrum disorders and cigarette dependence. *Consult a pediatrician or qualified mental health professional if your child needs help. The major health concerns of this age group include: • Anxiety/depression
• Alcohol or drug use • Stress • Eating disorders Men Age 18 - 39 The highest rates of alcohol abuse are in men 25 to 39 years of age. * Other health concerns of this age group include: • Sexually transmitted disease
• Testicular cancer/lymphoma/melanoma
• Tobacco use • Anxiety/depression Men Age 40 - 55 The following baseline screenings are recommended:** • Prostate cancer – Annual exams at age 50 unless you’re at high risk; then age 45
• Colorectal cancer – Colonoscopy every 10 years starting at age 50; sooner if you have risk factors
• Diabetes – Screening every three years starting at age 45; sooner if you have risk factors Additionally, the following health issues can be of concern to men in this age group:
• Erectile dysfunction/enlarged prostate
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theGoodnews
“Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’[ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” ~ Matthew 22 36-40 NLT
Be a Neighbor this Week! "That's what's wrong with the world today. If we'd learn to love each other there'd be no war ... no killing ... no raping ... no fighting. People would be loving one another and that's what we human beings got to learn: how to love one another." So says Johnny Barnes. Johnny rises at 2:00 a.m. every morning, eats his breakfast, and takes his place from 4:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. at the Crow Lane roundabout in Hamilton, Bermuda. One day in 1984, he stopped at the roundabout and started waving at the passing commuters. Due to the unique layout of the island and its roads, nearly all drivers at rush hour coming from the western and southern areas of the island pass Barnes at the roundabout. He doesn't merely wave, though. As people drive and walk by, he keeps up a constant chatter: • "Have a lovely day." • "Good morning!" • "God bless you." • "I love you!" • "God loves you!" He's talked to people who have told him no one had ever told them they were loved. He tries to make sure they at least hear it from him. "People need to know that love is important," he says. What would move an 88 year-old man to get up before dawn every day
and stand for six hours with his message for the crowds? Perhaps the same thing that caused Jesus to mount a colt and ride into Jerusalem. The multitude of his disciples would rejoice, praise God, and say: "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" (Luke 19:38). He did not do it, however, for the acclaim. Jesus knew that in a short time he would be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, be condemned to death and hung on a cross. He had predicted it explicitly three times to his disciples. He knew where he was headed. What would cause him to endure this extreme punishment voluntarily? So, love your neighbor this week. Love! When asked what the greatest commandment was Jesus summed it up in one word. "Love!" Love God with all that you are and love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:29-31). "Neighbor" means "one who is near." However, when Jesus tells us to "love our neighbor as ourselves," he redefines neighbor for us. Your neighbor can be near: • Next door. • Across the street. • In the next cubicle. Your neighbor can be far: • Across town. • In another subdivision. • On the other side of the world. Neighbor is not merely the one who is near. Neighbor is the one who needs God's blessing (Luke 10:29-37). So, love your neighbor this week. Johnny Barnes will. He will sacrifice some sleep, journey to his roundabout post, and stand on his 88-year old legs for six hours. He does not have a degree in philosophy or physics, but he is convinced that he knows the secret of life. "The world is made for love," he tells Bermuda visitors curious or brave enough to stop in traffic and shake his hand. Love your neighbor this week. Jesus did. He rode into Jerusalem and sacrificed his life by hanging on a cross for six hours. And because he loved his neighbors, multitudes still follow him 2,000 years later. Love your neighbor as yourself. It can change someone else's life. And it will definitely change yours. "Be a Neighbor this Week!" by Rick Brown is licensed under a Creative Commons License. http://www.heartlight.org.
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theGoodnews
Though the Lord is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud. ~Psalm 138:6 NLT
A Lesson in Humanity By Max Lucado
Jesus…made Himself of no reputation…He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. ~Philippians 2:5, 7–8 Deflating inflated egos is so important to God that he offers to help. He helped me. I recently spent a week on a book tour. We saw long lines and crowded stores. One person after another complimented me. For three days I bathed in the river of praise. I began to believe the accolades. All these people can’t be wrong. I must be God’s gift to readers. My chest puffed so much I could hardly see where to autograph the books. Why, had I been born two thousand years earlier, we might read the gospels of Matthew, Max, Luke, and John. About the time I wondered if the Bible needed another epistle, God shot an arrow of humility in my direction. We were running late for an evening book signing, late because the afternoon
Victory Is Mine By Joni Eareckson Tada
"In me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." ~John 16:33 There have been many Olympic athletes who have captured the attention of Americans. Jim Thorpe, Carl Lewis, and Mary Lou Retton are just a few. But there is one Olympian who has captured more than our attention. His story has gripped our nation's wonder and imagination: Eric Lidell. Lidell was a true athlete and a true Christian. He followed his calling to the greatest detail, even to the point of forfeiting a chance for a gold medal when he refused to run on Sunday. It would be his British partner who would win that race, leaving Lidell to win the second race later in the week. What captures our imagination so is not Lidell's athletic prowess. Eric Lidell was a man who knew the outcome of life's race and ran accordingly. He placed his Master's voice above his coach's advice -- God above country and ambition. He even placed his Lord above personal disappointment because he knew that: "In me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Eric Lidell was a man at peace with God and the world. Imagine the pressure his fans and peers pushed on him to race just ten mere seconds on that Sunday. But to Eric those ten seconds would bring toil and unrest in his soul. The victory was not Lidell's to win. Christ had said, "I, not you Eric Lidell, have overcome the world." In that promise, Lidell lived at peace and won a crown brighter than any medal. Lord, let me see the finish line of eternity and run the race on Your terms. Let me play out the race of life as if the tape were about to snap across my chest. You have won the victory, and I praise You for it. Blessings, Joni and Friends Printed with permission Joni and Friends Disability Center
signing had seen such long lines. We expected the same at the next store. Concerned, we phoned ahead. “We are running behind. Tell all the people we’ll arrive soon.” “No need to hurry,” the store manager assured. “What about the people?” “Neither one seems to be in a hurry.” Neither one? By the time we reached the store, thankfully, the crowd of two people had tripled to six. We had scheduled two hours for the signing; I needed ten minutes. Self-conscious about sitting alone at the table, I peppered the last person with questions. We talked about her parents, school, Social Security number, favorite birthday party. Against my pleadings, she had to go. So I sat alone at the table. Big stack of Lucado books, no one in line. I asked the store manager, “Did you advertise?” “We did. More than usual.” She walked off. The next time she passed I asked, “Had other signings?” “Yes, usually we have a great response,” and kept going. I signed all the books at my table. I signed all the Lucado books on the shelves. I signed Tom Clancy and John Grisham books. Finally a customer came to the table. “You write books?” he asked, picking up the new one. “I do. Want me to sign it?” “No thanks,” he answered and left. God hit his target. Lest I forget, my daily reading the next morning had this passage: “Do not be wise in your own eyes” (Prov. 3:7). When you’re full of yourself, God can’t fill you. But when you empty yourself, God has a useful vessel. From Cure for the Common Life by Max Lucado Copyright (W Publishing Group, 2006) Max Lucado Printed with Permission. www.maxlucado.com
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Family
The Best Waterparks in Southern California A Personal Favorite Water Park in Southern California – Aquatica A personal favorite water park in Southern California is Aquatica. While, not the biggest water park it really has some amazing slides and, the grounds are kept immaculate. Located near San Diego, this waterpark has some incredible slides and a super fun wave pool.
The Best Waterslides at Aquatica
The Biggest Variety of Water Slides Raging Waters – San Dimas Raging Waters is the biggest water park in Southern California. There are an incredible number of slides, so if you are looking for bang for the buck, this is definitely your spot.
The Best Water Slides at Raging Waters – Aqua Rocket The only water coaster in Southern California shoots you up and down and around in a 2–4-person raft. • High Extreme – You head up a tower (it’s good exercise) to race down a 600 ft. mat slide. You hit approximate speeds of up to 35 miles per hour. This ride is a ridiculous amount of fun. • Dark Hole – Dark Hole is a 2-person raft that shoots you down a 500 ft. flume with drops as big as 52 feet. (The line for this ride does get long. So, head here early) • Dragon’s Den – This two-person bowl slide shoots two people down a 45-footdrop through a fully enclosed flume and then you spin around a 35-foot bowl.
Pro Tip These 4 rides tend to have the longest lines so hit them up first and then do the racing slides, drop out, wave pools and lazy rivers Kids Areas Raging Waters also has the most amount of kid areas. You can take your little ones too. • Volcano Fantasea – a giant volcano towering forty feet. Children and parents alike can climb through the volcano and glide down twisting slides to the water below • Splash Island Adventure – Five water slides, water cannons, web crawl tunnels, spiral cargo nets and swinging bridges. Splash Island’s also has the classic 1,000-gallon bucket t tips hundreds of gallons of water over the whole attraction every few minutes. • Kid’s Kingdom – 30,000 Square foot water play area with slides, waterfalls and a maze of tunnels. • Tassie’s Twister – A Family Funnel Slide with a 6-foot drop – Hit this ride first thing or in the morning or late in the day as the line gets super long. • Walhalla Wave – This 78-foot ride is for the whole family to enjoy as well. Not as fun as Tassie’s Twister but still a blast! • Hoo Hoo Run – This is the big drop slides which drop you 80-feet down two enclosed and two open-air slides.
Fastpass - H2Go Pass The H2Go Pass is Raging waters version of a fast pass. You pay $25 or $40 and it gives you a watch to use to get return times. With the $25.00 pass, you get a return time equal to the time of the current wait time. You can go on other slides as you wait and then return at the given time. The $40 premium pass does the same thing but cuts the wait in half. Either package only works on 8 rides. • Aqua Rocket
• Taumata Racer – This is by far, the best racing slide. Rather than just a straight shot, you twist and turn through the slide before heading down the final straightaway where you try to beat your friends and family.
• Thunder Rapids
While at Aquatica, you can also see some Flamingos, turtles and other animals and there is a fun kid’s area for the little ones. The Park is always kept so clean.
• Dragon’s Den
Pro Tip
• Neptune’s Fury
The Unlimited Quick Queue is pretty inexpensive compared to most waterparks (starting at $20 and it makes your day at the waterpark 100 times more fun
• High Extreme
• Raging Racer • Dark Hole • Dr. Von Dark’s Tunnel of Terror
Pro Tip Do not put your shoes in the locker as the ground is very hot and you do not want to have throbbing feet like I did after a full day at the water park. Just leave your sandals at the beginning of the line as they all have a shoe bin.
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Family The Only Indoor Water Park and Only Water Park Open 365 Days a Year! Great Wolf Lodge Garden Grove! Taking your family on the 4th of July may seem crazy but keep in mind that Great Wolf Lodge only allows hotel guests to be in the water park, so it is never too packed. Some of the best features of Great Wolf Lodge Water Park include:
• Wolf Tail – Drop slide where you step into a vessel and you hear the
Legoland is excellent for the little ones for a few reasons.
1. Tons of Lifeguards – Everywhere you turn there are multiple lifeguards ensuring your kids safety.
2. Tons of Kids’ Areas – The number of kids areas at Legoland is great so there is always something to keep your kiddo entertained
3.
Lazy River – The lazy river is tons of fun for the little ones as there are giant soft Lego blocks floating throughout the river for the kids to play and build with.
4. More Lego Areas – There are also other Lego areas where kids can create Lego vehicles and have them sail in some fun interactive areas
What About Older Kids? Legoland water park definitely does have some slides for the older kids and even a water ride, but if you only have big kids then I would head to nearby Aquatica or Knott’s Soak City.
sound of a heart-pounding as you wait for the floor to drop out from under you
• Howlin Tornado – The ultimate family fun water slide which drops four people into a giant funnel that goes outside the waterpark and then whips you back inside.
Amazing Southern California Water Parks with a Theme Park Right Next Door If you want to hit up both a theme park and a Southern California water park, then the next two waterparks are right up your alley as you just walk a few steps from the water park and voila, you are at a theme park.
Knott’s Soak City
• Wolf Rider Wipeout – A flow Rider machine to practice your boogie boarding and surfing skills. Make sure your pants are on tight!
• Chinook Cove – A Great Area where you can play basketball in the pool and also do rope climbs and lily pond jumps
• Fort Mackenzie – This is an awesome area for the little ones; there fun slides for kids, water cannons and of course the giant bucket
Pro Tips • Sign up for Great Wolf’s newsletter and if you book 180 days in advance you get 50% Off
• Stay just one day and you get two days of water park fun as you can begin using the water park at 11 am on the day of check-in. The say 1 pm but we have always got in at 11 am
• Free puddle jumpers & life vests – There is no need to pack a life vest for the
Located next door to Knott’s Berry Farm is Knott’s Soak City. They have a ton of waterslides they even just added a whole new area with a bunch of drop slides that I absolutely loved. They also have a great lazy river that is super long to take you throughout the park, plus some super fun family water slides (Please note the family slides have the longest wait, so head to those first).
Best Rides at Knott’s Soak City • Shore Break • Malibu Run • Old Man Falls • Pacific Spin The one downside to Knott’s Soak City is the wave pool, it is small and often very crowded.
little one as there a plethora of free ones.
Best Waterparks in Southern California for Little OnesLegoland Water Park! Legoland Waterpark is a great waterpark located in beautiful Carlsbad. The one thing to note about the water park is you have to pay for an admission to the regular Legoland Park to get into the water park. Basically, the water park is considered an add-on to the existing park. It is recommended that you buy a 2-day ticket so you can have time to enjoy both parks.
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Just outside Los Angeles in Valencia, Ca. is Six Flags Hurricane Harbor. Right next to Hurricane harbor is Six Flags Magic Mountain which has some of the most intense rides. Hurricane Harbor has some pretty intense water rides as well but also a great kid’s area.
Best Rides at Hurricane Harbor • Black Snake Summit • Bonzai Pipelines • Castaway Cove • Lightning Falls • Lost Temple Rapids Overall, Southern California has some of the best waterparks around. There are many great waterparks in Southern California, the tough part is deciding which one to go to. In my opinion, if you love rides, hit up Raging Waters. If you hate lines visit Great Wolf Lodge. From your friends at Globalmunchkins.com
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Family
Parenting: Anxiety in Children By Traci L. Williams According to the Center for Disease Control, 4.4 million children in the United States have been diagnosed with Anxiety Disorder. The most shocking part is it starts at age 3! What is wrong with this picture, and what can parents do? Let’s explore that.
What is Anxiety? The Merriam Webster Dictionary says anxiety is “apprehensive uneasiness or nervousness usually over an impending or anticipated ill.” Translation: worrying about something that is coming up. Let’s take a look at what it’s like growing up today, compared to years ago: After looking at this list, it’s no wonder kids are stressed. In truth, everyone gets anxious at times, but chronic stress/anxiety is extremely unhealthy. We need to see anxiety as a message and be grateful for it, instead of trying to quiet that voice with medication.
If we don’t change our conversation to “What do you need? How can I support you?” (And acting on their responses), we will suck the life right out of our kids, and they won’t know how to breathe it back in to the next generation. Anxiety can mean they need food, rest, a break, sunshine, a walk, water, sleep, etc.; or it can mean there is simply too much to do and they need an adjustment. A carefree childhood has value. Where did it go? Where is the joy? We each get one shot at being a kid. It’s up to you, the parent, to make sure your child gets theirs. You’ve got this! Traci Williams is the Owner of A Loving Way to Parent. For questions or support, she can be reached at 951-240-1407 or traci@alovingway.com. (www.alovingway.com).
When a person is dealing with too much, or things are moving too fast, they get overwhelmed/anxious. The body is saying “stop”. However, when kids have no way of changing the pace and/or nowhere to turn for support/relief, it often feels like being buried under an avalanche. When teachers and parents both say “get it done” instead of having compassion and evaluating whether the demands are even reasonable, kids feel alone; no advocate, no voice, no hope. We label and medicate our children, rather than changing their environment.
What Parents Can Do As parents, we need to teach our children how to understand the message of anxiety, and how to respond accordingly. Some questions you can explore: 1.
Is your child worrying about something happening today, or in the future?
2.
What can s/he do about it right now (if anything)?
3.
What can’t be handled right now?
4.
How can they pause on items that don’t need to be addressed right now? (calendar a reminder, for example)
5.
What can be broken down into smaller pieces so they are making progress, but not biting off the whole thing at once?
6.
Would partnering with a friend or parent help? (Jumping in to one project at a time, with some yummy treats)
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Family
A Few Hours of Learning - A Lifetime Benefit By Karla Young, Academic Associates
Today I had the pleasure of attending the graduation of a group of Homeschool students advancing from Kindergarten to First grade. What a joy it was to see the sweet faces of those 5- and 6-year-olds as they received their first diploma, their first certificate of achievement recognizing the work they have done to progress from one stage to another. The beaming smiles (along with a few tears) of the parents/teachers of these precious children showed their excitement at being the ones who directed their children’s introduction to “formal education”. One theme was consistent with many of the parents’ comments; along with how much they loved their son or daughter, they spoke of how proud they were of their child’s learning to read. As a reading teacher, that caught my attention. It spoke to the fact that reading is still, and has always been the foundation of education. Many of us have seen the results that occur when a student does not learn to read, they will certainly be set up for a difficult time in life to say the least. Now, I am aware that it is possible to function in society without being able to read; but why would you when reading is a skill that, when taught correctly and systematically, can be acquired in a few hours. Learning the letters of the English alphabet, along with the sounds each letter makes, the rules that govern those sounds, along with the exceptions to those rules can be accomplished in as little as 60 hours of study time. A few hours of learning is certainly worth the lifetime benefit that will be gained by being able to read for yourself. I have taught the Academic Associates Reading Course since 2007. Academic Associates is a complete phonics-based reading course. In the past 17 years I can say by far my favorite moment in teaching is still when I see a student’s eyes light up as everything comes together and they finally get it. There is nothing like knowing that the child you’re teaching understands and is now ready to take on any word that comes across their sight, in a book, on a billboard, across the closed caption of the television, anywhere! Parents, I encourage you to make sure your child knows that reading is the priority in their education; and that they learn to read phonetically, with all the sounds, all the rules, and exceptions. While there are many methods that can accomplish this, make sure that the one you choose includes those vital elements. Allow your children to see that reading is important to you by reading in front of them, reading to them, allowing them to read to you. Show them how to choose and enjoy reading good books. Remind them that a book has the ability to transport them anywhere, and teach them so much. Good books also expand our vocabulary and rescue us from using the same words over and over. Congratulations to all of the parents who were the primary teachers for their children this year and to those whose children were in private school or public school. Just remember Mom and Dad, you are your child’s first teacher. Make the maximum impact, give them the gift of reading.
Karla D. Young, Reading Instruction Specialist Learn2read@verizon.net
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PETS
Pets for Adoption PETS Retrievers and Friends
Meadow is a beautiful, 4 year old Queensland Heeler. She’s an amazing dog with an excellent temperament. She’s a great size, about 35 lbs. She walks on a leash, is house trained, friendly with other dogs and wants to please.
Abby is a 3 year old Lab - Border Collie mix. She came to RFSC from Mexico. She smiles when you talk to her. She is good with other dogs, walks on a leash, is gentle and humble. She’s about 35 pounds.
Marilyn is an 8 year old English Bulldog. She’s a sweetheart, walks on a leash, wants to please, loves attention and is friendly with everyone. She’s a small girl, good with other dogs, but the best match if there’s another dog in the home would be with a male dog.
Beauty is an 18month old Shepherd-mix with the most beautiful blue eyes. She is the mother of 5 pups who are also available. She was dropped off at the rescue's gate and gave birth the next day!
For more information on these and other pets available for adoption or to fill out an online application, please visit www.retrieversandfriends.com.
Calling All Fur Family and Friends Animal Friends of the Valleys need supplies!! • Wet Kitten & Adult Food Fancy Feast or Friskies • Cat Litter – Tidy Cat Skoopable Packages are accepted from Amazon Smile, Chewy or Walmart. Thank-you for you help! 33751 Mission Trail, Wildomar animalfriendsofthevalleys.com
Animal Friends of the Valley Bouncy (ID #594678)- Nicknamed by the shelter volunteers, Bouncy is a female 3year-old Pit Bull mix. Found as a stray and left in our Night Drop, Bouncy has definitely made her mark with our staff while here and our volunteers alike. She is full of energy and love and is great on walks with our volunteer dog walkers. Overall, she is a very sweet and happy-go-lucky girl, who is eager to meet her new forever family! Faith (ID #592714)- Faith is a 1-yearold female Husky mix. She used to be a ranch dog, and has a very friendly and playful personality once you take the time to get to know her, as she can be shy at first. Faith is recommended for families with older children, as she needs patience and time in order for her to blossom. She is a sensitive yet caring dog, and for the right family, she would make an excellent gentle companion.
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The Strands - Putting Their ‘Spirits of Innovation’ to Work for So Many When you think about a nonprofit, you probably think of giving back to the community, helping others, donations, etc., but what about a television show structured to train adults who have autism and developmental disabilities and have an interest in video production? Probably not…..While JDS Creative Academy (JDSCA) is dedicated to all the above, it’s all part of the nonprofit’s mission, to advance education, training and career pathway opportunities in visual, performing and digital arts. The story behind where it all started might surprise you, and to fully understand what JDS Creative Academy is all about, we need to rewind a bit. Meet Scott and Diane Strand. They’re a couple with over twenty-five years of experience in the entertainment industry, video production and media marketing, who started their production company, JDS Video and Media Productions, Inc., out of North County San Diego in 2003. They did so after leaving behind their high-level entertainment industry careers in Los Angeles. Within five years, the Strands and JDS had established themselves and incorporated in Temecula. As the business continued to rapidly grow over the next two years, mostly by wordof-mouth, Scott and Diane launched a Drama Club program in the Temecula Unified School District. After the overwhelming response, they decided to create an Actors Studio for all ages to learn the technique and craft of acting, which is now known as JDS Actors Studio. As they got JDS Actors Studio up and running, the community began asking for other arts education opportunities. This is when the Strands realized that the area really lacked opportunities for the arts. In response to this request, they sought after the idea of helping students, specifically homeschooled and independent study students, fulfill their Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) requirements per the California Education Core Standard. By opening their services to different populations, the Strands were able to not only allow students to chase their passions and accomplish education goals, but help them find pathway opportunities for a career in several different creative mediums. In return, this helped put the Strands a bit more on the map. In 2014, the Strands and a Board of Directors, consisting of media and business professionals, founded the nonprofit 501(c)(3) JDS Creative Academy (JDSCA). As if running a nonprofit, a video production company and an actors studio wasn’t enough, Diane also sits on the Board of Directors for Workforce Development for Riverside County. This year will be her eighth year. Her involvement with Workforce led to meeting an individual who received services from the county’s In-
land Regional Center (IRC). This person was in a Paid Internship Program (PIP), and JDSCA was asked to bring him on as an intern at no cost or training time of the JDS Staff. This caused an epiphany. JDSCA could provide opportunities to more individuals in the region and offer quality work experience in a safe, structured environment. To that end, JDS Creative Academy set out to write a Title-17 video production job-training program. After getting approved, they recruited a group of talented industry professionals who could train and mentor, and the jobtraining video production day program began May of 2018. The organization has come a long way since its inception in 2014 and continues to expand. JDSCA is gearing up to have a PIP program of their own. Everyone at JDSCA is thrilled their efforts are being rewarded and recognized, garnishing nine international Communicator awards for their television program Spirit of Innovation, the training program’s show the SOI Update, and a radio news program on 102.5 The Vine called the JDSCA News Update. In 2019, they were also the recipients of six Telly Awards with one being in the category of Diversity and Inclusion! Diane, Scott and the entire #JDSFamily hold a special mantra and it truly speaks volumes as to what JDSCA aims to do: Provide H.O.P.E, Helping One Person Everyday.
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Buyers and Sellers Need Someone to Help Make Home Buying a Dream Come True By Carl Thompson, RE/MAX Vanguard
Carl Thompson has one main goal - to help clients obtain their dream home whether they are selling their current home or buying a home for the first time. Carl’s background is diverse, equipping him for the fast-paced, competitive environment that exists in today’s market. Carl received his B.A. in Fine Arts from the University of Memphis and M. S. degree in advertising and Public Relations form the University of Tennessee. In his spare time, he enjoys theatre, movies and exploring the great state of California. With over twenty years of marketing, advertising, public relations and sales experience, Carl can successfully help clients achieve their home buying or selling objectives. As a full service RE/MAX United realtor whose offices include Escondido, Fallbrook and Temecula, Carl will guide clients through the process of competitive marketing analysis (CMA) to help achieve the best pricing possible, lead a multifaceted marketing campaign that will bring in the most exposure and competitive offers, help buyers and sellers make and manage completive offers, and guide them through the escrow and closing process. All off this will be backed by a team of industry experts who will be with each client every step of the way. See Carl Thompson’s RE/MAX Vanguard ad on page 32.
About RE/MAX Vanguard RE/MAX Vanguard is a full-service Real Estate Brokerage serving all of Southwest Riverside County, North San Diego County and Orange County. They bring the full power of the #1 brand in Real Estate. RE/MAX Vanguard agents can handle Residential, Vacant Land and Luxury properties. Whether a buyer, seller or investor, we focus to best achieve the clients’ goals and objectives. We believe in establishing the relationship with our clients to best understand and support their needs. RE/MAX Vanguard is comprised of likeminded, entrepreneurial professional REALTORS.
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JULY 2021
Walk This Way! How to Optimise Your Stride and Focus Your Mind to Get the Most From Your Daily Stroll Lockdown has reminded us of the pleasures of walking. But making small changes can boost its benefits to our health, mood and creativity, too. By Amy Fleming , The Guardian As a form of physical activity, it is easy to dismiss walking as, well, pedestrian. But now its benefits, both physical and mental, are being appreciated once again. Under lockdown, daily walks became sacred. Now they are the safest way to commute, and, for those stuck at home, there is little place else to go other than to wander the streets, forests, towpaths, cemeteries and eerily deserted business quarters. We have become nosy tourists in our own neighbourhoods. We seek out lesstravelled backwaters, eyeing curiously the fragments of human and animal lives that we pass, gazing on seasonal changes like besotted new parents. But are we walking to the best of our abilities? Possibly not. Sports scientist Joanna Hall has dedicated her career to coaching people in how to walk the way their bodies were designed to, which no longer comes easily in this sedentary, screen-based era. “I approach this as you would do if you wanted to get better at tennis,” she says. She developed her Walk Active programme to enable people to ease their aches and pains as they exercise, rather than exacerbate them. Lifestyle, ageing and injuries mean that when we put one foot in front of the other, the way we use our muscles may be, she says, “suboptimal for improving our posture, or reducing joint strain and getting the most out of walking”. According to Hall, there are four common aspects we get wrong, and each has knockon effects on the body. Firstly, instead of propelling ourselves forwards by pushing off with the back foot, like an ice-skater, we try to use our stepping foot to power us along. This is because sitting down too much has made our hip flexor muscles short and tight. Hall describes the necessary adjustment as the subtle difference between stepping into a space (wrong) and pushing off from a space, which will recruit the right muscles up the backs of your legs. “You use your glutes and you open up the core,” says Hall. The second problem is what Hall calls a passive foot strike. The movement provided by the joints in our feet offers suspension and balance but we often plod along flatly instead, leaving us compromised. “That’s what causes knee discomfort,” says Hall. “It can create slight misalignment of the back, stiffness of the shoulders.” The third thing to watch out for is letting your head hang forwards. Screens, reading and desk work have made this the default position, which is a bit of a disaster. “When the head is slightly forward,” says Hall, “the muscles of the upper back and the shoulders have to contract to hold it there. The shoulders come forward and can stiffen. Back mobility becomes restricted and you will not be able to rotate your spine from the hips.” Try lifting your head before looking over your shoulder and you may discover, as I did, that you can turn your head much further all of a sudden. Finally, our arms tend to hang awkwardly or we force them into tense, power-walk movements, when what they want is to dangle freely. If you get steps one to three right, this should happen naturally. Hall has devised various drills to help correct these bad habits, such as measuring with your hand the gap between your bottom rib and your hip, and between your collarbone and your earlobe, and then adjusting your posture to lengthen those gaps. Walking with her tips in mind has made me feel lighter; more gazelle than galumph. Now that lockdown rules have eased, we can get some desperately needed time with friends or family members. Yes, not being allowed to hug is painful, but physically distanced walking together is the next best thing. This is because when two people walk together, they unconsciously fall into step. As a 2012 study by US and Japanese researchers found, when people move in sync together, their neural activity synchronises too. The more in sync we are, the deeper our social connection, so walking in step is pretty much a physically distanced hug. Walking has long been hailed as an aid to creativity, too, by big thinkers from Aristotle to Wordsworth to Stanford University behavioural scientist Marily Ann Oppezzo. In 2018, Oppezzo and her colleagues, who study creativity, published research that set out to demon-
strate this lightbulb effect. Participants who brainstormed while walking thought of significantly more valid ideas than those who tried to do the same while sitting. So if you have to attend a (socially-distanced) brainstorming meeting, says Oppezzo, “go think about ideas beforehand while walking.” Brainstorming in groups, she says, is far less productive. If you need to maximise the potential of a creative walk – perhaps you are finally starting that novel while quarantining – she suggests picking a problem or topic beforehand and thinking about potential new perspectives on it while you walk. Rather than taking a “deep dive”, she says, walking is great for taking a stroll around a subject, seeing it from different sides and coming up with new ideas. She recommends travelling at a comfortable pace, so your physical exertion needs minimal attention, and coming up with as many ideas as you can, rather than trying to lock on to the first one you have. And if the ideas aren’t flowing, don’t force it. Come back to it another time. Crucially, in the study, she had participants record their ideas, rather than write them down, “because the idea of writing something down is already a filter – is this good enough to write down? You can put your headphones on and record through your phone.” And if you are feeling self-conscious, the headphones allow you to pretend to passers-by that you’re having a phone conversation. As well as percolating the cerebral juices, there are powerful mental-health benefits to be gained from walking. Half an hour of walking per day has been found to be as helpful as more intense 20-minute workouts in treating depression. Hugh O’Donovan, a psychologist based in Cork, wrote about the beneficial effects in his 2015 book Mindful Walking: Walk Your Way to Mental and Physical Well-Being. Walking provides what he calls “natural meds”, and there are no rules. Do you want to walk alone or with others? Do you listen to music or the outside world? Right now, enjoying the variety of options is key. “You have different locations and different routes,” says O’Donovan. “You can pick up the pace when you like, or you can slow down and be a bit more mindful. It doesn’t really matter. It’s just the fact that you’re doing it.” To reinforce the positive effects, he suggests “experimenting with noticing how you’re feeling. Is it lifting my mood? Am I meeting people and socialising a little?” However you prefer to walk, he invites you to “come to your senses. This is profoundly important because much of the time we’re on autopilot. We’re unconscious, unaware of what’s going on around us. There’s magic all around us all the time but we’re too busy.” Coronavirus has slowed life down, perhaps making it a little easier to pay attention. “What are you seeing, smelling, tasting?” he asks. “The world looks like a completely different place when you bring this quality of curiosity to everything you do. People underestimate its value.” While walking helps oil the cogs of the mind, and can help you get perspective if you’re struggling with something seismic such as grief, a job loss or the uncertainty of life under Covid-19, it pays to be aware of the risks of rumination. Namely, says O’Donovan, “the error and bias that’s associated with thinking, which lead us down a slippery slope into catastrophising and predicting the future negatively.” How can you avoid repeating the unhelpful and yet perfectly natural response, “why me?” or “why this?” Ask instead, says O’Donovan, “what now?” Walking can help with this. “The world opens up in a different way when we lift our mood, when we don’t fall into the hole. “Your best chance to stay in contention, as I call it, is to be mindful about what’s going on in the world,” he continues. “It might seem like it’s very dark at the moment, but there’s lots of good stuff going on too. Focus on what kind of a story you choose to tell. And, by getting out, moving and keeping your energy up, you have the possibility of telling a more positive story.” Amy Fleming is a freelance writer and former Guardian staff journalist. Follow her on Twitter @amy_fleming.
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DINING
Chocolate-Chip Oat-Coconut Skillet Cookie A guaranteed crowd-pleaser, this big, chewy cookie is chock-full of oats, coconut, and chocolate. Cut slices and serve warm with ice cream. Yield: Serves 10 to 12
Ingredient Checklist • 2/3 cup unbleached all-purpose flour • ¼ t baking soda • ¼ t kosher sale • 5 T unsalted butter, room temperature • ¼ C granulated sugar • ½ C packed light-brown sugar • 1 Lg. egg • ½ t pure vanilla extract • 2/3 C instant oats • ¼ C sweetened shredded coconut • 1 C semisweet chocolate chips • Vanilla ice cream for serving
Instruction Checklist Step 1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Beat butter with sugars on medium speed until creamy, about 3 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla. Beat in flour mixture, then oats, coconut, and chocolate. Step 2 Spread mixture evenly into a 10inch ovenproof nonstick skillet (preferably cast iron). Bake until just set in center and golden around edges, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes then serve warm with ice cream. Cook's Notes You can sprinkle an additional two tablespoons of coarsely chopped chocolate, or chocolate chips or disks, on top before baking. www.MarthaStewart.com
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JULY 2021
DINING
Crab Cakes with Broccolini Instructions Yield: Serves 2 Crab • • • • • • • • • • •
Cakes ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil ¾ lb (12 oz) lump crab meat ¼ red onion, minced 2 stalks celery, minced 1 teaspoon dijon 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt 1 egg 1 ½ teaspoons old bay seasoning ⅓ cup panko breadcrumbs
Sauce • 1 cup plain greek yogurt • 1 teaspoon mustard • zest of 1 lemon • 1 sprig fresh theme • 1 teaspoon black pepper Brocolini • 1 bunch broccolini • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 1 tablespoon extra virgin • olive oil • ½ cup water
1. First, make the sauce: Combine all ingredients in a bowl, and refrigerate until dinner time.
2. Next, make the crab cake mixture: Combine all ingredients except olive oil in a bowl and mix gently to combine, without breaking up the crab too much. Shape into golf ball-sized balls, and chill until ready to cook.
3. Cook the broccolini: heat the olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add broccolini, and sear until bright green. Next, add garlic and cook until golden brown. Add water to pan and cook, covered, until tender.
4. Cook the crab cakes: Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat with olive oil. Flatten crab cakes into hockey puck shape and cook 5 minutes on each side, until golden brown.
5. Serve 2-4 cakes per person with broccolini and yogurt sauce. 6. Enjoy! (On special occasions, these go fantastic with champagne.)
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Movements of Goodness Usually Begin With a Dream By David Baker & Cathy Cook Templeton, Board Members of Dream Center Lake Elsinore In 2004, a tiny army of seven individuals dreamed that their city of Lake Elsinore--where they saw worn out buildings, weed covered lots, a city park where children could not play safely due to drug paraphernalia and homelessness--could be radically transformed. Together this team walked and prayed the city streets and neighborhoods for one entire year. With the assistance of the Free Methodist Church in Southern California and the favor of the City Council and Mayor, they were able to open the Dream Center of Lake Elsinore, modeled after the original Dream Center of Los Angeles. Immediately, the team started “Adopt a Block”—a ministry designed to go into the neighborhoods and be a blessing to the community every single Saturday of the year. This effort grew with the combined energy of other churches in the area. The outreach has successfully changed lives by meeting immediate needs like food, clothing or furniture, and coming alongside people who need resources to combat addiction or other challenges. Although these activities had to be severely scaled back in 2020, the Dream Center was able to hold a City Serve event in late October where more than 300 volunteers from local churches, businesses, service organizations and city government came together to complete 25 community projects. Some of these included building a wheelchair ramp for an elderly woman, beautifying apartment complexes that were neglected and needed sprucing up, removing litter, and paying for and helping residents wash, dry and fold laundry. In addition, Adopt a Block has led to the development of Street Level, a ministry directed precisely to the homeless population, and Case Management, a program where we meet individuals one-on-one to assess their current situation and find solutions that will enable them to have the life that God intended them to have. Although Adopt a Block is the building block of the Dream Center, other ministries are critical, including the DC Pantry, Youth Programs, and Prayer Ministries. DC Food Pantry During 2020 and the challenges it presented as Covid 19 remained a threat to the health of the community, our DC Food Pantry quickly adopted a “no touch” method of delivering food and hygiene supplies to our clients. In addition, steps were taken to protect our valuable volunteers by requiring masks and temperature checks. The school district, closed for normal operations, offered refrigerated space for the foods that were coming in rapidly to serve the ever-growing needs of the community. All in all, the DC Pantry fed over 2,000 individuals per month, an increase of 75% from the previous year. A volunteer with the pantry for nearly three years, Russ Barrie commented, “Our previous policy was to have people come once a month to receive food and hygiene items. Once the pandemic hit, we changed that policy to allow people to come weekly so that their food was always supplied and they wouldn’t have to worry about it. I had several people break down and cry right in front of me because they were so thankful!” Youth Programs As the local public schools closed due to the pandemic, the Dream Center was poised and positioned to uniquely respond to this challenge, offering a “Distance Learning Program” within a few short weeks at their headquarters. Up to 20 children, many with special needs attended this program where volunteers became tutors who assisted with Zoom instructional sessions and supervised completion of homework
assignments. Recently, as schools began to reopen, this program has transformed into an after-school program or “tutor club.” The Dream Center is about to kick off their annual DC Athletics program, which is a free sports program to underprivileged local youth who do not have the opportunity to participate in other sports programs. These kids are mentored by incredible coaches and grafted into their community of peers, thereby making friends they would not ordinarily meet. Many of the children voiced their thankfulness for the program when the distance learning center began, because they knew their fellow classmates through sports--without ever sharing a classroom setting with them before! Youth Program Pastor Dave Snow stated, "Stepping out in faith to offer love and care for students during this unique time was an adventure for sure. Teachers, parents and school district officials all agreed that the Distance Learning Program kept several students from falling through the cracks. It is incredibly rewarding to serve our community during such difficult times". One of the parents who had two children attend the Distance Learning Program said, “I knew my children would have difficulty learning during 2020 once the schools went to virtual learning. When the Distance Learning Program began, I was excited to know my children would get one on one help with their classes and homework. In fact, I offered to work as a volunteer because I could see such joy in my own children as they progressed. To top it off, my children have received recognition from their schools for doing exemplary work during this season. I can only attribute that to the caring they received at the Dream Center’s Distance Learning Program.” Prayer Ministries Prayer never slept during 2020. Whether volunteers combed the streets praying over businesses and homes (without personal contact) or met through Zoom calls, prayer remained the underlying strength of the work that has been and is being accomplished. A long-time volunteer and leader for the Dream Center, Cheri Allen, said, “We as a community prayed for mothers wearing even more hats, teenagers isolated from friends and activities, hungry children, isolated elderly with limited contact with their doctors, and first responders putting their lives at risk to serve others. We began to see fear turn into faith, despair turn into hope, single mothers being cared for and housed. Teenagers showed up to serve their communities. People came together to pray for and witness amazing physical healings and many people returned to faith in the Lord. Prayer brought unity where there was division, peace to the chaos, hope to the hurting, and strength to push through one day at a time knowing they were never alone.” From 2020 to 2021, as the Dream Center continues to serve the community, they see a huge revitalization in the downtown area and nearby homes, which currently is their main area of service. Hundreds of people have been inspired to join in and discover how they can be a part of the community to serve and find solutions to the problems in their own neighborhoods. As the Dream Center of Lake Elsinore adapts its efforts in order to continually serve the City and surrounding communities--no matter what comes--the mission remains the same: to find a need and fill it, to find a hurt and heal it.
This is where goodness lives.
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Murrieta Unveils State-of-the-Art Outdoor Amphitheater A long-held vision came to life when the City of Murrieta unveiled its new, state-of-the-art Amphitheater at Town Square Park earlier this month. The facility, which can hold more than 750 in its built-in tiered seating and 5,000 total, is now the largest outdoor Amphitheater in the region and has big plans for the future. “This site will be a gamechanger for the City and a real boost for the downtown corridor,” says Murrieta Mayor Scott Vinton. “It provides an accessible, community gathering place to enjoy special events, concerts, performances, and so much more. It’s a venue that will amplify the arts in our city and bring people together.” The Town Square Park Amphitheater will host its first public event on June 19, 2021, with a free concert by Beach Boys tribute band Surf City Legends at 5:30 p.m. after the Father Day Car Cruise. On Tuesday, June 29, the State of the City Address will be live from the Amphitheater stage at 7 p.m. July and August will bring two free City concerts and two free outdoor movies to the site. Event details
Bohemian Arts Presents’ inaugural live musical theatre production debuts with three performances of [title of show] at The Merc on Friday & Saturday, July 23 & 24, 2021 @ 7:00 PM and Sunday, July 25, 2021 @ 2:00 PM. All Tickets are $20 and are available at BohemianArts.org. Purchase Tickets online early as there is limited seating and shows sell out quickly for The Merc (42051 Main Street, Temecula, CA 92590), located in front of the Old Town Temecula Community Theater. ABOUT [title of show]: This one-act musical comedy follows Jeff and Hunter, two struggling writers, who hear about a new musical theatre festival. However, the deadline for submissions is a mere three weeks away. The show sees their trials and tribulations of putting on their own original musical with their actor friends. [title of show] is, above all, a love letter to musical theatre -- a uniquely American art form -- and to the joy of collaboration. [title of show] is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals. ConcordTheatricals.com. Note: This show is intended for audiences ages 13 and up. Due to use of adult language, viewer discretion is advised. ABOUT Bohemian Arts: This is the first live, fully-produced musical presented by non-profit arts organization, Bohemian Arts, although The Bohemians have presented original content online throughout 2020 including Quarantine Cabaret; The Theatre Project; and 24 Hour Plays, among other arts education videos all accessible on INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK, and YOUTUBE.
are available at www.MurrietaCA. gov on the City’s homepage calendar. While the Amphitheater is launching with City-sponsored events, the City has plans to make the site available for additional outside events later in the year. These may include both free shows and performances requiring paid admission. Funding for the Amphitheater was dedicated back in 2007 through targeted redevelopment dollars. The recession put the project on hold, only to be revisited a decade later. On November 6, 2019, the City broke ground on an updated Amphitheater project, supported by an additional gift from Waste Management. Despite a few supply slowdowns due to the pandemic, construction moved smoothly toward the June 2, 2021 unveiling. The Amphitheater sits in Town Square Park adjacent to the Murrieta Library, City Hall, the Police Department, and Fire Station 1. The centrally located park, a block from Downtown Murrieta, houses the Veterans Memorial, which will soon include a Vietnam tribute. It draws thousands for events like the Annual Rotary Field of Honor and the Holiday Tree Lighting. Town Square Park is open to the public during daylight hours and for special evening events.
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Community News & Events Audio/Video STEAM Summer Camps Ages 7-18 These full- and half-day weeklong camps cover Podcasting and Video Production. Kids and teens get a boost to their writing and public speaking skills this summer, while learning fun digital media skills. Camps take place in July, run by the nonprofit Jennifer Smart Foundation in their Find Your Voice Center, conveniently located in the Outlets at Lake Elsinore. For dates, pricing and more info, visit FYVcenter.org/camps.
MSJC Selected to Participate in Urban Institute’s CTE CoLab Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC) is among 12 colleges nationwide to be selected by the Urban Institute’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) CoLab to participate in its College Community of Practice. MSJC’s efforts will focus on its Water Technology program, which helps students earn a degree and certificate that can lead to in-demand careers at water districts in the region. The college will receive a $30,000 grant to support its participation for two years. The Urban Institute’s CTE CoLab aims to reduce inequities in academic and career outcomes for students of color — especially students who are Black, Latinx or Indigenous — enrolled in online postsecondary Career Education programs.
Multiple Agencies Embark on Study to Improve the Long-Term Health of Lake Elsinore U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District, Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District, City of Lake Elsinore, and Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District partner to identify restoration projects for Southern California’s largest natural freshwater lake. To mark a step forward in the effort to restore the aquatic habitat in Lake Elsinore, California, Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District (EVMWD) met virtually with partners and stakeholders to commemorate the signing of the Feasibility Cost Sharing Agreement for the Lake Elsinore Continuing Authorities Program 206 Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration. This agreement is between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District, with additional local partnership from the City of Lake Elsinore and the Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District. Lake Elsinore, the natural body of water that shares the name with the city, serves as both a recreational and environmental asset in southwest Riverside County. It is home to more than 250 bird species, sport fish, and native flora and fauna.
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Rep. Ken Calvert of California’s 42nd Congressional District also spoke during the virtual meeting and communicated his excitement about the project in a follow-up social media post. “The lake is already home to a number of recreational activities today and there are tremendous future opportunities that would follow ecosystem restoration efforts,” Calvert said. “I’m confident we can all work together to benefit the lake’s water quality, ecosystem, and improve this tremendous asset for the future of Lake Elsinore.”
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Lake Elsinore is a shallow lake and is subject to significant evaporation and algae blooms, especially in the warm summer months. The lake is fed by runoff from the surrounding watershed. Rainfall in this semiarid region can fluctuate year to year, and lake levels can decrease significantly if rain is not consistent.
To offset evaporation, EVMWD and the City of Lake Elsinore add more than 5.5 million gallons each day of highly treated and regulated recycled water to supplement the lake levels. This helps maintain the lake’s water levels and the water quality. The study is estimated to be completed in the next two years. Based on the results of the study, the agencies will determine an appropriate project for future construction, which could take place in the next three to five years.
Animal Friends of the Valleys Chosen as a 2021 Nonprofit of the Year Animal Friends of the Valleys proud to announce it has been selected as a 2021 California Nonprofit of the Year by Assemblymember Kelly Seyarto and California Association of Nonprofits! Animal Friends of the Valleys is one of the nonprofits that will be honored by their state senators and assemblymembers for their tremendous contributions to the communities they serve. Animal Friends of the Valleys is a nonprofit animal shelter that serves the cities of Temecula, Murrieta, Wildomar, Lake Elsinore, Canyon Lake, Menifee and surrounding rural county areas. AFV is dedicated to promoting humane care of animals through education, and proactive animals service programs. AFV’s vision is to be recognized as the leading shelter by providing a safe haven for all small animals while becoming a full-service animal care facility that offers quality and affordable care. Through community involvement and education, AFV will reach our vision to help end pet overpopulation and find a loving home for every adoptable pet in our shelter. Last year, AFV opened its doors to over 8500 animals and are pleased to report we are at the highest adoption rate in our 30 year history. AFV works closely with all local cities and chambers to provide services for our community members.