Valley News - February 24, 2023

Menifee mobile home owners assured in a new city rent stabilization ordinance

Tony Ault

Staff Writer

The Menifee City Hall Council Chambers was packed with many senior mobile home owners anxious to hear the city council’s approval of its own Mobile Home Park Rent Stabilization Ordinance at the Feb. 15 meeting.

see page A-2

Residents say they’ve broken out in rashes after E. Palestine, Ohio train derailment

Jack Phillips

The Epoch Times

Locals who live near the train derailment and release of toxic chemicals near East Palestine , Ohio , have complained about various health problems since the incident unfolded earlier this month, including rashes, headaches, and other issues. And they’ve expressed concerns that these new symptoms may be tied to the chemicals that were burned or released.

see page C-6

Trial date set for trio accused of abducting, killing Anza man

City News Service

Special to the Valley News

A March 17 trial date was set on Friday, Feb. 17 for three men accused of abducting, severely beating and fatally shooting an Anza man because they believed he might snitch on them for perpetrating thefts at marijuana cultivation sites.

see page D-3

Anza Valley Outlook D-1

Business B-7

Business Directory B-7 Calendar of Events B-2

Classifieds B-8 Courts & Crimes C-4 Education B-6

Soboba athlete inducted into sports Hall of Fame

Joseph Burton, who currently plays basketball in France, is inducted into the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame.

Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians

Special to the Valley News

Joseph Burton Jr. was recently inducted into the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame

for his prowess on the basketball court. A member of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians, Burton was raised on the reservation and continues to live there during his sport’s off season.

The North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame honors and recognizes the indigenous sport cultures of 27 countries of North America by recognizing outstanding leadership and achievement in

photo

individual and team athletics. By honoring and celebrating the empowered journey of the annually inducted individuals and teams,

Black History Month celebrated in San Jacinto

$138 million French Valley Parkway Phase II to get underway in May

Tony Ault

Staff Writer

With the French Valley Parkway Phase II ceremonial groundbreaking, general contractor Flatiron West Inc., surveyors, city engineers and many other subcontractors will begin work in earnest beginning in May, weather permitting.

Heavy equipment will be moving in for the start up of the more than three-mile project with some traffic control in place along the north side of Interstates 15 and 215 as the project progresses. Some streets may be closed with early notifications for the construction work.

At the groundbreaking ceremony Feb. 14 near Ynez Road and Date St., Temecula City Manager Aaron Adams said, “This project

Valley News/ Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians

From left, Black History Month event emcee Angela McClaron, San Jacinto Leadership Academy Principal Lloyd Sheppard and SJUSD Family Engagement Center liaison Sheila Blythe at SJLA. See the story and more photos on B-1.

Brenda Phillips, with NAACP Branch 1034 in Lake Elsinore, recruits members from the San Jacinto Valley area at a Black History Month celebration, Feb. 11. Valley News/Diane A. Rhodes photos

Menifee mobile home owners assured in a new city rent stabilization ordinance

Tony Ault Staff Writer

The Menifee City Hall Council Chambers was packed with many senior mobile home owners anxious to hear the city council’s approval of its own Mobile Home Park Rent Stabilization Ordinance at the Feb. 15 meeting.

Ordinance No. 760, as amended, takes away the original Riverside County mobile home rent stabilization ordinance the city followed on its incorporation and makes it an official city ordinance. It was the residents of the four senior mobile home communities in the city who made the request in April 2021. Since then, the staff researched the request and brought forward the requested county ordinance change for its first reading that evening. Mobile home residents asked the city to create their own ordinance keeping most of the county tenets intact to assure there would not be changes that would increase their monthly rents in the future.

The residents wanted to make sure the city would encourage fair bargaining between mobile home residents and mobile home park owners to preserve the value of the residents’ mobile homes and the park value as a whole. Especially keeping the annual rent increases at a low percentage rate rather than the constantly changing national Cost of Living increases that at that time was almost reaching 10%, the county consumer price index showed. With those considerations in mind, the city staff and city attorney forwarded an outline of the changes for a city Mobile Home Rent Stabilization Ordinance to the council for their consideration on first reading. The key factor in the new city ordinance notes the annual mobile home rent increase would be 5% or the lower COLA percentage, which brought favor from the mobile home owners. They saw that any higher increase would be almost impossible to pay if they are on a fixed income as many senior residents are. All the

mobile home parks in Menifee are for those 55 years and older.

A representative of the Golden State Manufactured-Home Owners Association spoke to the Council that the homeowners generally favored the city ordinance, but were concerned about any rent increases to new homeowners if they moved into an open space or home in the park.

That issue was not put into the city ordinance. While the current owners wanted to be assured the new owners would only assume the park’s rental rate would not be higher than the average of the three highest rent spaces. The Council agreed with their request and said they will have that placed in the ordinance for approval on the second reading and public hearing.

City Manager Armando Villa was called on by the Council to give a report on his and the city’s progress during the past year. He summarized the city’s accomplishments saying in that time, the city staff got $10 million

in Federal funding, saw the city social services increase, processed 668 requests answered by the city clerk, granted 5,200 building permits, added more sports facilities, reported the success of Citizens Academy, issued 3,924 business licenses, confirmed the upcoming Quail Valley Fire Station, added more paramedics in Sun City, welcomed 128 new employees to the city, implemented a faster technology system, lauded the police department for answering over 75,000 calls for service with 22,000 office visits, added six new Capital Improvements including financing the Holland Road Overpass and achieved many financial quality awards. He reported that the city’s achievements are successful, thanks to his highly qualified staff and the Council’s foresight. The full Council heard the annual financial report from the auditors and finance staff. The audit for the city was seen as without problems and praised by the auditors for the city staff’s

outstanding cooperation that has brought many national awards.

It was reported the city received $123,395,404 in government funds with its expenditures at $97,831,000. The General Fund was set at $80,608,886 with expenditures at $70,825,625. The reserves are where they should be, unlike many other cities around them. The city’s Capital Assets were up by $23 million.

Early in the meeting, presentations were made of outgoing Planning Commissioner Thomas Giedroyce for his outstanding seven years of service to the commission. Anne-Marie Novak was named Citizen of the Month for her help with seniors and others in the community. Baron’s Market was under the city’s business spotlight for the month as an individually owned healthy food store in the community.

A dozen other consent items were approved with few questions.

Tony Ault can be reached at tault@reedermedia.com.

Murrieta Police Department partners to enhance public safety communication in Murrieta

In a continued effort to provide the highest quality police service to the citizens of Murrieta, the Murrieta Police Department is proud to announce that the new Public Safety Enterprise Communication Hollingsworth Tower is now in use and fully functional. This means areas in southwest Riverside County, including Murrieta, that previously lacked radio service for first responders now have 100% communication coverage, supporting the safety of both law enforcement personnel and residents. While getting to this point took many years, the importance of having timely, reliable countywide interoperable communications for all Riverside County public safety agencies and emergency management partners throughout Murrieta remained a priority. The Murrieta Police Department

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joined the Public Safety Enterprise Communication system in 2015. PSEC was commissioned by the County of Riverside in 2007 and went live in 2014. It was built as a countywide, highly redundant, open standard based radio system with a mission to establish a broad network of jurisdictions that could communicate seamlessly with each other, increasing efficiency and safety in the region.

As the first municipal police department in southwest Riverside County to join PSEC, Murrieta PD staff almost immediately detected some coverage issues in the Copper Canyon/Bear Creek area. After multiple attempts to correct the issues with radio upgrades and reviewing the engineering, it was determined that the issues were directly related to the region’s unique topography. With coverage gaps related to the PSEC towers in

place at the time, it became clear that complete coverage was only possible with a significant investment in an additional tower on Hollingsworth Hill. At that time, the city did not have a budget to address the concern, yet the Murrieta City Council decided that 100% coverage was necessary for officer safety. The arduous process of building a second PSEC Tower in Murrieta began in 2018, and the City of Murrieta set aside $800,000 to help resolve the issue. Throughout 2019 and 2020, negotiations began with Motorola, Riverside County and the Hollingsworth family, who owned property where the tower would sit. Cost-sharing agreements were drafted between the city and the County of Riverside, memorandums of understanding were drafted, entitlements were set, and contractor selection was

completed in 2021. Elected officials from the county and city gave final approval for the tower construction at a cost of $1.6 million. The Hollingsworth PSEC Tower was constructed in the fall of 2022, and power was supplied to the site in mid-November. The tower has a direct line of sight to the Elsinore Peak PSEC Tower and is focused on Bear Creek, Copper Canyon and La Cresta.

This January, Murrieta PD completed testing with PSEC engineers and the city is happy to report that the tower is meeting expectations. After years of effort, first responders and residents can now be assured that first responder communications are exceptional in Murrieta.

Murrieta Police Chief Tony Conrad emphasized the priority placed on law enforcement safety when the City of Murrieta decided to move forward with adding a new PSEC tower. “Riverside County is 7,000 square miles and has a population of 2.5 million people. Building and maintaining a robust communication system,

with the topography challenges and the considerable investment required, is certainly a heavy lift for any government agency. Despite those challenges, I feel confident saying Riverside County first responders, both law and fire, have one of the best communication systems in the country. The investment by the City of Murrieta and the county into the Hollingsworth site shows the exceptional partnership we have with our law and fire partner agencies, as well as our elected officials. The Hollingsworth Tower ensures that our Murrieta residents will have public safety communication 100% coverage into the future,” Conrad said.

Murrieta PD has been an active member of the PSEC Steering Committee since 2015, and Chief Conrad currently serves on the PSEC Steering Committee as the Chairperson. City of Murrieta Fire and Rescue has recently signed agreements to join PSEC and will be one of the first Riverside County municipal fire agencies on the system.

The new Hollingsworth Tower provides 100% communication coverage for Murrieta first responders. Valley News/Courtesy photos

The tower has a direct line of sight to the Elsinore Peak PSEC Tower and is focused on Bear Creek, Copper Canyon and La Cresta.

Lake Elsinore City Council members give lake and poppy updates

Diane A. Rhodes Special to Valley News

Mayor Natasha Johnson shared the latest “Poppy Watch” details at the Feb. 14 Lake Elsinore City Council meeting and Council Member Robert Magee reported that the lake officially reopened for recreational activities on Feb. 10.

A presentation of CalFire 2022 fourth quarter statistics from Division Chief Lonny Olson started the meeting. There were 1,829 total calls for service with an average response time of 4.8 minutes. His report included some year-end numbers as well, stating that there were 6,993 total calls for service in 2022 with an average 4.9 minute response time, which is an improvement over 2021 when it was 5.1 minutes. Olson cited the new Medic Squad at downtown Station No. 10 as making a tremendous difference as it responded to 1,345 of the total service calls, reducing the number of calls needing to be answered by the other three stations that serve the community.

Olson presented the fourth quarter and annual Lake Elsinore Fire Marshal Report statistics which conducted a total of 362 reviews and 3,984 inspections for the year. He said goals for turnaround times continue to be exceeded. Automatic Aid Statistics show that Canyon Lake assisted Lake Elsinore 48 times in 2022 and Lake Elsinore units responded into Canyon Lake 96 times.

CalFire’s Public Safety message

focused on home heating safety tips. The public is reminded to be aware of where patio heaters are placed, turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to sleep, make sure fireplaces have a sturdy screen to prevent sparks from flying into the room and never leave any fire unattended.

Members of the Social Work Action Group provided a homeless outreach update that included se veral success stories. SWAG searches out and finds the most vulnerable that are living on the streets and “work to rebuild the individual’s self-worth and desire to obtain a basic right we all deserve, a safe place to live.” For more information, visit theswag.org.

City Council Consent Calendar items

3-13 were ultimately approved unanimously as were Successor Agency Consent Calendar items 14-19. Public Hearing items No. 20 and No. 21, regarding resolution adoptions for annexation proceedings, were approved 5-0 after the waiving of any staff reports.

Warehousing item held

Business Item No. 22, “Good Neighbor Policy” for Warehousing, Logistics and Distribution Uses, was calendared to the March 28 meeting to give residents and the development community more time to provide input about the policy. Magee said that he and Mayor Pro Tem Steve Manos were on the subcommittee that crafted the policy and were satisfied with the verbiage. However, after the agenda was published there were

some comments from people who said they were not consulted or given ample time to provide input.

Magee said that from the time the policy was written in July until now, no comments or recommendations were received.

“ Today was that day to hear input and we have nobody (here) so I’m not sure how high on everyone’s radar this is,” Magee said. “Right now, we have defined mega warehouses as anything over 250,000 square feet. Right now as we stand today, we have no place in our town that would allow that without a change to our General Plan or an amendment to an existing Specific Plan. However, the goal of this policy was to set a higher bar when a project of this size is successfully submitted.”

He pointed out that the policy they are looking to have approved would only apply to those developers wishing to build a mega warehouse near “sensitive receptors,” not in industrial areas. Magee then motioned to have the matter calendared to the March 28 City Council meeting to give anyone interested in the matter yet additional time to ask questions and get answers before it is voted on. The motion was seconded by Manos and approved 5-0.

During final comments, Council Member Timothy Sheridan shared an update about Canyon Hills Sports Park closures due to renovations being done to improve the overall appeal and field quality for youth teams and to draw additional youth sports organizations

to Lake Elsinore. Closures include football and soccer fields, basketball courts, picnic shelters and the playground between the football and soccer fields. Still open are the splash pad and playground near it, restrooms, dog parks, the open grass area at the front of the park and the parking lot nearest the splash pad.

Magee announced that Lake Elsinore will soon be stocked with 48,000 hybrid striped bass, funded by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. He also announced a March 11 Sports Car Club of America event at Diamond Stadium, the SCCA Starting Line Driver School. For more information, www.sdrscca.com.

Walker Canyon closed Johnson announced the completion of the Lakeshore Drive sidewalk project that runs in front of Stater Bros from Del Taco to the Boost Mobile building. She then reminded everyone that the City is still on “Poppy Watch,” working in a unified approach with partner agencies to keep the roads clear and safe. Walker Canyon Trail is closed to all visitors, which includes residents. The Walker Canyon Road access at Lake Street is closed. Parking areas in and around Walker Canyon are closed for anyone hoping to glimpse a poppy super bloom. Johnson reminded everyone that no parking is allowed on freeways, including on and off ramps. RSO will be citing and towing vehicles that are illegally parked. “We appreciate your poppy patience,”

she said.

Johnson closed the meeting in memory of Dep. Brian Haney of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department who resided in Lake Elsinore and died in a Railroad Canyon Road traffic accident on Feb. 9. Sheridan offered his condolences as Haney was one of his constituents, residing in the Canyon Hills area.

“It’s Valentine’s Day and I would love to end on a very sweet message to go home and love on your family members and we’re reminded to do so because we just lost one of our residents,” Johnson said. “None of us wants to continue to close our meetings in honor of any loss of life. It’s been quite difficult for this community. Not only was this gentleman a great community member, he was a new father with a one-month-old child and was returning from his first day back to work. We are devastated and our hearts are broken for his family, the community and his law enforcement family. We are going to close in his honor and I will say, especially on a day like this, tomorrow is not guaranteed, life is super precious, go home and love on your loved ones and with that we will close this evening.”

The next regular meeting of the Lake Elsinore City Council and Successor Agency is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. For more information, www.lakeelsinore.org.

the year with preseason, regular season and playoffs.

He is grateful that his family is able to join him in France often.

Wife DaiseJanay Burton, six-yearold son Joseph Charles Lee Burton and three-year-old daughter Loovi No$uun Burton usually stay for a half or full season.

“They’re with me right now,” he said. “But then the kids start to miss being back home and also the family misses the kids, so they return to Soboba; nothing beats the rez life.”

Burton started playing sports at the age of four, being coached and mentored by his mother Dondi Silvas, his grandfather Charles “BBop” Silvas, aunts and uncles. He played basketball at West Valley High School in Hemet where he was four-time MVP, four-time All Sun Belt league champion, and CIF Champion 2008. He continued on to Oregon State University with a full ride basketball scholarship, known as the first Native American in OSU history to receive a basketball scholarship.

At OSU, he was acknowledged as the first non-guard to record 1000+ points, 700+ rebounds and 300+ assists. While at OSU he visited the White House and met President Barack Obama on several occasions. He also worked closely with Coach Robinson to introduce the N7 games to OSU basketball in honor of indigenous culture, moreover, becoming an ambassador for Nike N7.

“It was a great honor that Sam McCracken, another inducted Hall of Famer, started N7 and came to me while I was at OSU and wanted to have a game there,” Burton said. “Knowing I was Native, he thought it would be a great opportunity and I’m always there to spread awareness and honor my

culture. It was great to have a game in honor of Natives.”

Upon graduating from OSU in 2013, Joseph continued his professional basketball career overseas starting in Denmark playing for Aalborg Vikings. In the past nine years Joseph has played professional basketball in the Netherlands, Japan, Finland and France.

While playing in the French LNB league he has competed at Pro A and Pro B level, being awarded MVP in 2016 and runner-up in 2017.

Burton said there is no language barrier playing in other countries because they have a superb education system where students learn English in elementary school.

When he is able to return to Soboba, Burton stays busy with his Hunwut Clothing line, which he launched in 2019. Hunwut means Bear in Luiseño, his native language. He also gets involved with youth sports. Most recently, he assisted with a basketball camp at the Soboba Sports Complex.

“I would like to hold an annual basketball camp in honor of my grandpa, Charles “B-Bop” Silvas, who was a legend in the valley,” Burton said. Silvas started coaching frosh/soph football at San Jacinto High School, his alma mater, in 1978 and also coached boys and girls basketball and softball teams there. Silvas was one of the first inductees into the high school’s Edward Hyatt Athletic Hall of Fame. He also coached women’s basketball at Mt. San Jacinto College for two years and helped coach West Valley High School boys basketball from 2006 to 2009.

When Burton took a year off from playing, he volunteered to assist West Valley High School Head Coach Kristopher Brooks with the boys basketball team.

“Kris was my classmate and one of my teammates in high school,” Burton recalled. “We won the CIF title in 2008 together. He told me I could volunteer as an assistant coach because I bring a lot to the game and the coaching staff.”

Burton said that opportunity helped him see the game from the coaching standpoint which was very helpful since coaching is something he wants to do when he is done playing the game. He said some of the players he helped coach still write to him and he said it’s tough being so far away. “I still give them tips and drills. You have a bond once you have been with these kids for the basketball season. It’s great to see them growing in their skills, but when I get back, it’s the summer and that’s where the work happens.”

When working with young players, Burton said the best thing they can bring to the game is to be “coachable” and stick to the basics. “They need to keep the same mindset of ‘I’m going to get better today.’ Also it’s a different type of ball now, but I still tell them they all start with basic skills,” he said.

When he was young, Burton played baseball, soccer, flag football, basketball and volleyball in high school. Although really good in baseball and basketball, it was difficult to balance travel ball for both sports so he chose to focus on basketball.

“Also, when I got hit in the side with a baseball I said ‘okay, chuck the bat and pass me a basketball,’” he laughingly said. “But really, my family was a sports family, and the main sport was basketball, so I loved it from the very first time I saw a game.”

For more information, www. naiahf.org and www.hunwutclothing.com.

BURTON from page A-1

Soboba Tribal member Joseph Burton plays in the French FFBB league for Orchies NM1 Basketball.

Valley News/ Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians photos

Joseph Burton has many fans who attend his games.

Spring is just around the corner and our area looks absolutely beautiful. We have some new listings and more coming up very soon...and there just may be that perfect dream home for you among them! If you are considering buying or selling, we will assess your individual situation with you. I am confident we will find you your perfect match within your perfect timeline! Come on in...Let’s Chat.

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31650 Calle Des Las Estrellas, Bonsall

(French Valley) Parkway Phase II

is the largest Capital Improvement Project the City of Temecula Valley has seen, all rolled up, close to $138 million. It has been in the pipeline and planned for over 20 years.”

Many years ago when the concept was first introduced with Caltrans and Adams was still a city analyst, he recalled, “We had to break up the project in three phases. We already did Phase I 10 years ago. This is Phase II with about a three-mile improvement to I-15 North with new lanes and a flyover to the I-215 that will relieve the congestion we experience today.”

According to the Temecula Public Works Department, the huge project will add 2 to 3 lanes to Northbound I-15 from Winchester Road to the I-15/I-215 junction, constructing a concrete barrier to separate freeway traffic from collector/distributor roads, widening bridges at Santa Gertrudis Creek and Warm Springs Creek and construct 10 retaining walls and one new bridge.

Adams explained, “Cities are not usually in the business of building projects of this size. We are fortunate we have had leadership in it for over two decades.” He praised all the government agencies, the city public works personnel, and others who are helping bring the project to fruition.

Guest speaker at the groundbreaking event was U.S. House of Representative Ken Calvert (CA-41) who said, “What a day it is, not only for Temecula but all of Riverside County. Getting to

this point today has been a jour-

ney, years in the making, a major undertaking. It took a team effort.

It took a lot of folks over the years to make this happen.” He praised the city staff and the Parkway team for making it possible to obtain a federal grant of $50 million to move the project forward in 2019.

“There was a tremendous amount of synergy to make this happen,” Calvert said.

The project will be the southern gateway to Riverside County that will be vital to the area’s economic development, he concluded.

Temecula Mayor Zak Schwank, who made the introductions at the groundbreaking ceremony, said the French Valley Parkway Phase III will cost another $150 million and include a bridge at the same location where the groundbreaking ceremony took place in a field at Date Street and Ynez Road.

The French Valley Parkway Phase II should be completed in 18 to 24 months, according to Patrick Thomas, Temecula Public Works Director. He said, “Its a multiphased project that has been in the works for over 20 years…When the project was conceived 20 years ago it was initially envisioned as a simple freeway overcrossing with onramps and offramps at Date Street and Cherry Street, and as you can seen it’s morphed way more than that over time.” He said they thought it would cost about $60 to $70 million for the interchange and has grown into a major freeway improvement, “and there is still more to come after this.”

He said the current project will construct two miles of improvements along northbound I-15 at Winchester Road and the I-15,

I-215 split. It will eliminate the weaving and moving between Winchester Road and the split which causes the backup on the I-15 northbound in the afternoons. He explained there will be barriers to separate the freeways earlier and a flyover bridge entrance to the I-215. He noted there will be other auxiliary lane projects coming to the freeways and a “Smart Freeway” project, providing electronic guidance for getting on and off the freeways.

Riverside County Supervisor Chuck Washington congratulated the city for its achievement in making a freeway project that will benefit the entire region. He said, “Let’s get this show on the road.”

The $138 million French Valley Parkway Phase II project came from Federal Highway Funds, developers in the city, the city’s General Fund, Western Riverside County Government TUMF (Regional highways) funds, reimbursements and Measures A and

5. When completed, the project owner will still be the City of Temecula, until it is turned over to Caltrans. The project designer is T.Y. Lin International. The construction contractor will be FlatIron West Inc. The Construction Manager is TBD with oversight by Caltrans.

More than 100 other Temecula dignitaries and city officials, Riverside County, the State of California, and the federal government attended the unusually chilly groundbreaking day, but they were warmed by doughnuts, other treats and hot coffee provided by Espresso Chauffeur.

Tony Ault can be reached at tault@reedermedia.com.

Peripheral Neuropathy Breakthrough!

“My feet feel like they’re on re.” “Each step feels like I’m walking through wet paint.”

“I live in constant fear that I’ll fall.” “I can’t sleep, my hands and feet tingle all night.”

What do all of these people have in common? ey su er from peripheral neuropathy. It’s estimated that more than 20 million people in the United States have peripheral neuropathy. Unfortunately this gure may be signi cantly higher as the disease is o en misdiagnosed because of its wide array of symptoms.

Sarika Connor, L.Ac, of Soma Acupuncture & Wellness in Temecula shares this belief. “I’ve been treating neuropathy, in all its various forms, for about a decade now and so o en my patients come to me because of the symptoms, not because of a diagnosis. ey see me on television, or read the testimonial of another patient and say to themselves ‘hey, I feel the same thing’.”

Frankie M. of Murrieta testi ed to this. “I remember my husband driving me to my consultation and I saw a woman running just outside our neighborhood. I was so envious - I just kept thinking ‘I would give anything just to walk again’. My primary care doctor told me my troubles with pain and balance were just symptoms of old age and gave me a prescription. I was so depressed.”

Fortunately Frankie would eventually see Sarika on the local news talking about similar symptoms and how she o ers a real solution at Soma Acupuncture. “I just knew I had to see her. She was my last hope.”

“Almost all of our patients come to us with a story similar to Frankie’s.

ey’ve been everywhere else.

ey’ve been told there’s no hope.

ey’ve been told ‘it’s just part of getting older’.” shares Amanda, a Patient Care Technician at Soma Acupuncture. “It just breaks my heart but I know how much we can help people like Frankie so I’m always so happy when they walk through our door.”

ose diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy o en face a very grim reality; Western medicine declares that there is no solution while most alternative therapies carry large price tags and o er little to no resolve. Which is why Sarika and the sta at Soma Acupuncture pride themselves on being ‘the last resort with the best results.’

Peripheral neuropathy is a result of damage to the nerves and this damage is commonly caused by lack of blood ow in the hands and feet. A lack of blood ow results in a lack of nutrients; the nerves then begin to degenerate and die which causes pain ranging from discomfort to debilitation. Because neuropathy is a degenerative condition, once those nerves begin to deteriorate they will continue to do so until they are completely expired, leaving those su ering with crippling balance issues. “In this case, the absence of pain is not necessarily a good thing,” shares Sarika. “ is usually indicates that your nerves are hanging on by a fragile thread.”

So how exactly is Sarika able to reverse the e ects of this degenerative disease? “Acupuncture has been used to increase blood ow for thousands of years which helps to get the necessary nutrients to the a ected nerves. But the real magic happens when I integrate ATP Resonance Bio erapy™. is is tech that was originally developed by NASA to expedite recovering and healing.”

“I just can’t say enough about Soma Acupuncture,” Frankie shared through tears of joy. “My husband and I moved here 3 years ago and he’s gone hiking almost every day. I always stayed home because of the pain and discomfort. Yesterday I walked the trail with him! And next week we’re starting ballroom dancing lessons. I am truly living life these days.”

“According to Frankie’s test results, she has seen a 74% improvement in pain and functionality, which is on par with a majority of our patients.” shares Amanda. “But more important than those test results is the joy she’s expressed being here and hearing

about all the amazing things she’s able to do because she feels great!”

By seamlessly blending the ancient science of acupuncture with modern medical solutions Sarika has achieved a 90% success rate in reversing the e ects of neuropathy. She starts each patient with an initial consultation during which a sensory exam is performed. “ is not only aids in making a proper diagnosis but it helps to de ne just how much nerve damage has occurred” tells the practitioner. “ is is important because if a patient has su ered more than 95% damage, there is little that I can do to help them. I’m familiar with the medical miracle but I know my limits as a practitioner and the limits of my medicine.”

When it comes to treating peripheral neuropathy, regardless of its origin, early detection greatly improves your chances of a full recovery.

If you or someone you love are su ering with chronic pain that presents as burning, tingling or ‘pins and needles’ or you’ve recently been diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy, it’s important to know that there are options. ere is hope.

Call (951) 597–0488 to schedule an initial consultation or visit SomaAcuWellness.com to read more incredible success stories.

SRPNEF offering education grants for grades 6-12

Tony Ault

Staff Writer

The Santa Rosa Plateau Nature Education Foundation (SRPNEF) announced the opening of its annual Nature Education Small Grant Program to support programs and projects for youth in grades 6-12. Middle and high school teachers, nonprofit or agency environmental and outdoor education providers work with middle and high school students in Lake Elsinore, Wildomar, Menifee, Perris, Hemet/San Jacinto looking for these grants. The deadline to submit the grant requests is May 1.

Corona-Norco, Murrieta and Temecula communities are also invited to submit grant requests.

New or existing programs or projects focused on nature, environmental and science education, and climate literacy activities that foster the development of “champions of the environment” will be given first consideration. Grants can range from $500 to $5,000.

Awardees will be required to present their funded project/program before the SRPNEF Board of Directors, members and various sponsors and donors.

The program is funded and made possible by support from the Pechanga Development Corporation and the Woman’s Club of Temecula Valley. SRPNEF will administer the grant process, selection, and the grant awards. Awards will be announced in June 2023.

E ligible projects include collaborative projects or programs with classrooms, school districts, no n-profits, private and charter schools; programs or projects that demonstrate STEM, NGSS or EEI alignment; Field trips, after school, or weekend projects; community gardens, sustainability or conservation activities; project-based staff support and in-class supplies; and projects or activities conducted on or for the benefit of the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve, which will require approval by State, Fish & Wildlife Department and RivCo Parks prior to funding.

Conference fees or political or religious initiatives will not be funded.

Information on how to apply, program eligibility, criteria and the application form can be found at www.srpnef.org/grants-scholarships-2/ . Submit the completed application to info@srpnef.org or mail to SRPNEF GRANTS, P. O. Box 941, Murrieta, CA 92564.

For further questions or information, contact Marianne Lancaster, Education Program Manager, at marianne@srpnef.org.

Temecula mayor Zak Schwank welcomes guests to the French Valley Parkway Phase II project groundbreaking ceremony.

Dignitaries break ground signifying the beginning of construction for the French Valley Parkway Phase II project.

Kurt Wilson, Executive Director for the Western Riverside Council of Governments speaks at the French Valley Parkway Phase II groundbreaking ceremony.

Valley News/Shane Gibson photos

Black History Month celebrated in San Jacinto

Diane A. Rhodes

Special to Valley News

“Let’s Celebrate Together” was the theme of the fifth annual Black History Month event hosted by the San Jacinto African American Advisory Council and San Jacinto Unified School District on Feb. 11 at the San Jacinto Leadership Academy.

Lloyd Sheppard became principal at SJLA this school year after working as an assistant principal at San Jacinto High School. He’s been involved with the districtsupported Black History Month celebrations since they began, mentioning that it was held virtually during the pandemic year. He is involved with SJAAC and helps facilitate the meetings held three times per school year.

“One way to appreciate and recognize Black History Month is to learn about the culture,” he said. He was happy to see a dozen local vendors given the opportunity to spend time with residents to grow connections and bring awareness to their businesses or organizations. Guests were encouraged to interact with each booth/table to get their “bingo” card stamped for a chance to win donated prizes at the end of the day.

Lead K-12 Counselor Angela McClaron served as emcee and invited everyone to sing along to “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” a song written by James Weldon Johnson that has become known as the Black national anthem. After an opening prayer, McClaron introduced keynote speaker Dr. Corey Jackson, 60th District Assemblymember, who brought along certificates of recognition for those involved in organizing and facilitating the celebration.

“It’s important for us to continue to vote, it’s important that we continue to show up and it’s important to participate in events like this as well so that we can continue to form community,” Jackson said. “The African American community has a rich history, a rich history rooted in struggle, activism … not to mention the historic movements of the Underground Railroad, the Civil Rights movement and other

similar movements coming together to speak out against injustice. Continue to be involved, speak out and make sure that our voices are heard. We still have work to do.”

He encouraged everyone to continue their legacy of being involved in this historical time so that when future generations ask them what they were doing during this time and what part they played in it all they don’t want to have to answer that they sat in silence to allow injustices to continue. He told those in attendance that he was honored to be at the event and to represent them in the State Legislature.

“My job is to advocate for you in Sacramento to make sure that our communities are not forgotten,” Jackson said. He provided brochures that outline all the different ways his office can help with consumer issues, state information and legislative services. For more information, 951-943-6054 or www.asmdc.org/jackson.

Sheila Blythe, who currently works at the district’s Family Engagement Center as its School, Family and Community Liaison, said she was invited to be part of the formation of the SJAAAC about seven years ago and is one of the founding team members of the Black History Month celebrations. Currently, about 8% of the district’s student body is African American.

Blythe said the SJAAAC came about as the result of her colleague, Carla Adame, finding a disproportionate amount of African American students facing suspensions and expulsions. A possible reason was that many African American parents said they did not feel welcome at the schools as there were no specific programs set aside for them. Blythe said that while some families still feel the district formed the council just to check a box, other parents thank them and appreciate that they are trying to address issues that affect African American students. “We have about 12 parent leaders and about 30-40 parents who attend the meetings,” Blythe said. “African Americans are feeling more engaged as we are working with the district and the Riverside County

Office of Education to address the achievement gap. We want families to know that the San Jacinto Unified School District values equity.”

She said a San Jacinto High School teacher working with the Black Student Union first approached the advisory council about expanding the Black History Month event so their culture could be uplifted and celebrated. Blythe said it has grown a lot over the years and looks forward to that expansion continuing in the future.

“Today is about building community and respecting the many cultures that we have in San Jacinto,” SJUSD Superintendent David Pyle said. “I’m glad we could do this on a Saturday, so it doesn’t get lost in the shuffle of a school day. Making this happen is a testament to SJAAC. This is really their doing; they spearheaded these annual celebrations. It’s a result of the parents speaking up and speaking out.”

The afternoon event was all about making connections and building relationships. Vendors represented a variety of community entities, from nonprofits who offer resources for families, to entrepreneurs who have started their own businesses in the local area.

Black Voices of the Valley will host its second annual Night of Black Excellence on Feb. 25 in Hemet where they will award scholarships to deserving youth and recognition awards to community members who are making a difference. Executive Director Stephanie Bruce said the nonprofit was founded for the purpose of mentoring and nurturing youths. She said kids need to see themselves in positions of leadership and BVOV is trying to change that narrative in the Black community while also getting others to pay it forward. Tickets are $75 and seating is limited. For more information, www.blackvoicesofthevalley.org.

Beyond Legacy educates on financial literacy, teaching people to examine what impact they are making in their community and what their legacy is to their families. Based in Temecula since 2016, co-founders Jontrice Wells and Ericka Fernandez said they saw a need for their services because students are not learning about money management in school and people are working longer because they are not prepared for retirement. For more information, 951-387-2082, 951-237-6842 or beyondlegacy2@ gmail.com

Queens of Cobbler owner Verdie Dennis was on hand with delicious samples of sweets from her San Jacinto shop. For more information, https://queensofcobbler.com.

Representing Roni Designz was Veronica Griffin and her family, offering a wide variety of colorful jewelry, clothing and other items. Please visit www.ronidesignz. com. Hemet’s Tiera Lomax said her T-shirt printing business ColorfulExpressions is “all about representation.” Two years ago, at the urging of her nine-year-old

daughter Liyah, Lomax began dabbling in finding colorful prints that her child would enjoy wearing.

Mentoring Through Action and members of the San Jacinto High School Black Student Union also had booths.

Sigma Beta Xi, known as SBX Youth and Family Services, is a nonprofit organization that offers a variety of resources to meet its mission to break the cycle of poverty and violence through mentoring, education and community organizing. With its vision “to empower future professional leaders in every community in the world, using yesterday’s influence to produce today’s change,” Chief Operations Officer Dr. Tanisha Robinson said several programs are offered to the Black and Brown communities.

Edward Olmedo, who handles data analysis for SBX, said the group is reaching out to middle schools throughout Riverside County be-

cause “we realize our youths are the next generation who are going to create new ideas.” He said the biggest issue is the fact that youth voices are not being heard. “Parents speak for them, and we want youth to advocate for themselves,” Olmedo said. Robinson added, “It comes down to community participation.” For more information, 951-247-1700 or www.sigmabetaxi.com/blk-empowerment.

NAACP Branch 1034 in Lake Elsinore was represented by its Historian, Brenda Phillips. The chapter was formed in 1977 and Phillips joined in the late 1990s. She was at the Feb. 11 event to build membership in the San Jacinto and Hemet areas. She stayed busy answering questions from those who visited her booth as well as signing up new members. Founded in 1909, NAACP is the

Members of the San Jacinto High School Black Student Union perform for guests at a Black History Month celebration, Feb. 11. Valley News/Diane A. Rhodes photos

Dr. Corey Jackson, 60th District Assemblymember, with San Jacinto Leadership Academy Principal Lloyd Sheppard at this year’s Black History Month celebration.

Tiera Lomax of ColorfulExpressions shows off two of her favorite and most popular designs at the Black History Month celebration at SJLA.

Leandra Henderson, secretary for Let’s Rise Above, explains to visitors what the nonprofit does for youths in the San Jacinto area.

Guests at the Black History Month celebration in San Jacinto on Feb. 11 are greeted by a wall depicting several famous African American women.

To submit an upcoming community event, email it to valleyeditor@ reedermedia.com, put “attention events” in the subject line.

CHILDREN’S EVENTS

March 4 – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Family Day with Cornerstone Church, 34570 Monte Vista Drive, Wildomar. Gale Webb will be in attendance. Free eye exams for children and carnival games. Blood drive with Livestream to 3 p.m. sign up. Car show.

March 19 – 2-4 p.m. The Spongebob Musical at the Old Town Temecula Theater, 42051 Main St., Temecula. Tickets at the box office or for information, www.temeculatheater.org or 866653-8696.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

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Serving the communities of Temecula, Murrieta, Wildomar, Menifee, Sun City, Lake Elsinore, Hemet, San Jacinto, and Anza weekly.

Feb. 23 – 7:30-9 p.m. Bohemian

Queen, a tribute to Queen will perform at Old Town Temecula Community Theater, 42051 Main St., in Temecula. The ultimate Queen show celebrates Freddie Mercury’s Queen in Concert from the 1970s. For tickets and more information, call 866-653-8696.

Feb. 24 to March 3 – 2-4 p.m. Dorland Mountain Arts Colony’s “Harmony 2023” artwork show will feature Dorland artists at the Dorland Community Arts Center on Highway 79 in Temecula. Artworks will be for sale at the show. Call 951-302-3837 or visit www. dorlandartscolony.org.

Feb. 24 – 5-8 p.m. Art-A-Faire in celebration of Black History Month at the Kay Ceniceros Senior Center, 29995 Evans Road, Menifee. A night of live music and art displays by local artists.

Feb. 24 – 6 p.m. Recycled Art Contest in Menifee submission ends. Submit artwork at www. cityofmenifee.us/ylm

Feb. 25 – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Check out The Wellness Market at ValleyWide Regional Park, 901 Esplanade Ave., in San Jacinto for an event dedicated to holistic health and wellness. The live event will have yoga, afrobeats dancing, DJ Skully J, nutritionists, financial literacy courses, poetry and more. Vendors wanted. Contact the organizer on Instagram @brownsugarcoffeellc.

March 10 – 6 p.m. The Human Relations Council’s 19th annual Black History Month Essay Contest Awards Ceremony will be held at the Center for Spiritual Living, 40450 Stetson Ave., in Hemet. For more information, contact Mary Morse at 951-634-4048 or marymorse@humanrelationscouncil. com

March 11 – 1-2:30 p.m. 1885

Murrieta History Walking Tours presented next to the KEA Mill at Clay Avenue in Murrieta. Led by Murrieta Historical Society President Jeffery Harmon. Walk the streets of the original Murrieta town site.

March 18 – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

City of Menifee Park Rangers Present Wildlife Appreciation Day at Central Park, 30268 Civic Plaza Drive, Menifee. Wildlife meet & greet, nature exhibits, live entertainment,opportunity drawings.

items and meals delivered with no contact. Three days of emergency food can be delivered immediately or restaurant meal delivery for those who don’t qualify for food assistance programs. Call 800-510-2020 for help.

ONGOING – The Riverside County COVID-19 Business Assistance Grant Program is accepting online applications for business grants up to $10,000 at www.rivercobizhelp.org that can be used for employee retention, working capital, personal protective equipment purchases, rent or mortgage payments and paying vendor notices. Eligible businesses, including nonprofits, must be in Riverside County, with a minimum of one but less than 50 employees and operating for at least one year since March

1. For more information, call Riverside County Business and Community Services at 951-955-0493.

ONGOING – 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Temecula Winchester Swap Meet continues, 33280 Newport Road in Winchester. Saturdays and Sundays only. The small local swap meet is only 50 cents for entry, and anyone under age 10 is free admission. No dogs allowed.

ONGOING – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Every Sunday, Murrieta Village Walk Farmers Market is at Village Walk Place in Murrieta. The Sunday morning farmers market at Village Walk Plaza is a place to buy fruits and veggies, gourmet food and crafts. Come to the center in the northwest corner of Kalmia/ Cal Oaks at the Interstate 215 exit in Murrieta.

ONGOING – Temecula’s Farmers Markets are offered in Old Town Temecula Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to noon, 4100 Main Street in Temecula; at Promenade Temecula, 40640 Winchester Road, outside JCPenney every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and at Vail Headquarters, 32115 Temecula Parkway, every Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. In compliance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Riverside County Public Health orders, the farmers markets will be restricted to agriculture products only. Follow the Old Town Temecula Farmers Market on Facebook to stay updated. No pets are allowed.

WORKSHOPS, MEETINGS, NOTICES

Mighty Me for Adults 18+ and enjoy performing arts and dance for adults with mental and physical disabilities. The program is free and is designed for all abilities and capabilities. Lazy Creek Recreation Center, 26480 Lazy Creek Rd. in Menifee.

Feb. 24 – 4-7 p.m. Storm Baseball is looking to form a Lightning Band Pep Squad Band at the Lake Elsinore Diamond Stadium, 500 Diamond Dr., in Lake Elsinore with paid positions. If you are a brass, saxophone, percussion instrumentalist or color guard member and 18 or older, contact CBrock@ stormbaseball.com

Feb. 25 – 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Hemet

Woman’s Club is sponsoring the Car Seat Safety Clinic with the California Highway Patrol. Get car seats inspected and learn how to properly install them at this free event, taking place at the Hemet Valley Mall parking lot, 2200 W. Florida Ave., next to Polly’s Pies.

Feb. 26 – 1 p.m. Attend a free concert at Grace Presbyterian Church, 31143 Nicolas Road, in Temecula with The Bell Players Trio with piano, cello and flute.

March 3-4 – 7 p.m. and 2 p.m. respectively. Canyon Lake Community Theater presents “Into the Woods” at Elsinore High School, 21800 Canyon Dr., in Wildomar. Tickets are $20-$30. For more information, visit www.MTIShow. com

March 3 – 6 p.m. Menifee

Mayor’s Charity Gala at the Fairfield Inn, Civic Plaza Drive, Menifee. Tickets at www.eventbrite. com/e/mayors-charity-gala-tickets-503485056357.

March 4 – 8-11 a.m. Terrain Race at the Lake Elsinore Storm Stadium at 500 Diamond DriveLake Elsinore. Jump, climb, roll, and crawl your way through this one-of-akind obstacle course. Spectators? Sold out.

March 4 – 8-11 a.m. Temecula Valley Motoring Enthusiasts meet at the Lazy Dog Restaurant and Bar, 40754 Winchester Road, Temecula on the first Saturdays of the month. Local car group dedicated to friendship with anything on wheels.

gaugustin206@gmail.com or join the meeting.

ONGOING– Sons of Norway/ Scandinavia meets at noon the first Saturday of every month, September to June, at the Heritage Mobile Park Clubhouse, 31130 S. General Kearny Road, in Temecula. A potluck lunch is followed by a cultural program and short business meeting. Please come and enjoy company with fellow Scandinavians. Call 951-309-1597 or 951-849-1690 for more information.

ONGOING – Noon to 1 p.m. Attend Murrieta Wildomar Chamber of Commerce’s weekly business briefing via Zoom or watch live on Facebook every Wednesday. Registration required at https://bit. ly/MWCBizBriefing. The chamber business briefing is an opportunity to hear from city, county and business leaders about current and relevant business information.

ONGOING – Menifee Community Services offers online driver’s education courses for a $21.95 fee. The course includes animated driving scenarios, instructional videos, sample test, licensed instructor available to answer questions, DMV approved certificate of completion with all lectures and exams completed from home. Designed for students and does not include behind-the-wheel instruction or a California driver’s permit. Contact 951-723-3880 or visit the city of Menifee to register at http://www. city of menifee.us.

ONGOING – 10 to 11:30 a.m. Michelle’s Place Cancer Resource Center and The Elizabeth Hospice host a virtual support meeting for caregivers every second and fourth week of the month via Zoom. Get helpful tips and learn from others who are also dealing with similar challenges. For more information and to register, contact The Elizabeth Hospice Grief Support Services at 833-349-2054.

office by e-mail to valleyeditor@reedermedia.com or by fax to (760) 723-9606. All correspondence must be dated, signed and include the writer’s full address and phone number in order to be considered for publication. All letters are submitted to editing to fit the the publication’s format.

Back Issues Available: A limited number of previous issues of Valley News and Anza Valley Outlook (prior to current week) are available for $1.50 each, plus $1.00 postage and handling ($2.50 total cost). Call (760) 723-7319 to order.

AnzA

ONGOING – The city of Menifee offers in-city or out-of-city special event vendor applications online or at Menifee City Hall to apply for signature and other special events. Contact Menifee City Hall, 29844 Haun Road, 951-672-6777, or online at businesslicensing@ cityofmenifee.us

ONGOING – Riverside Transportation Commission is offering Park and Ride lots to connect with carpools, vanpools and transit systems in Beaumont at 600 E. Sixth Street, in San Jacinto at 501 S. San Jacinto Avenue and in Temecula at Grace Presbyterian Church, 31143 Nicolas Road, open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. but not on weekends.

ONGOING – Sun City Civic Association Monthly Square Dance sessions are held Sundays from 1:30-5 p.m. at 26850 Sun City Boulevard, in Sun City.

ONGOING – If you know a homebound older adult, resources in Menifee are available, including grab-and-go, cooked and frozen food for pickup. Courtesy Pantry

nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its mission is to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination. For more information, www. naacpbranch1034.org. Phillips can be reached directly at 951219-4779.

Forever Young ‘n’ Blinged

Feb. 24 to April 4 – Menifee needs volunteers for “The Wall That Heals” coming to the Miller Jones Menifee Memorial Park and Mortuary in partnership with the City of Menifee and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1956. The two-thirds size replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall will arrive in the city Tuesday, April 4, under escort and parade. Volunteers are needed for various work. For more information www. cityofmenifee.us/942/The-WallThat-Heals or Chelsea Bollinger at cbollinger@cityofmenifee.us

Feb. 24 – The Santa Rosa Plateau Nature Education Foundation announces its 2023 Small Grant Program for those engaged in nature, environmental, science and climate literacy education programs and projects. Public, private, charter schools and nonprofits can apply. Grants range from $500-$5,000. Deadline is May 1. Funds awarded in June. Eligibility, instructions and application at https://srpnef.org/ grants-scholarships-2

Feb. 24 – 6:30-8:30 p.m. Attend

March 9 – 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Temecula Valley Hospital and Southwest Healthcare Women’s Expo 2023. Held at the Pechanga Resort Casino, 45000 Pechanga Parkway, Temecula.

March 16 – 11 a.m. Healthy Menifee programs at the North Annex Facility in Menifee at 29995 Evans Road.

ONGOING – Want to help deployed American troops remotely? Help shop for most needed items without leaving your home! This is an easy way to help support deployed men and women by purchasing items remotely and having them delivered to MilVet at designated drop-off locations for packing. All items on the list are special requests from deployed military men and women. MilVet is a nonprofit organization that holds monthly packaging events at different community locations in the area.. For drop-off locations and packaging locations visit www. milvet.org/military-care-packages.

ONGOING – Multiple Sclerosis Support Group meets the third Monday of each month at the Mary Phillips Senior Center, 41845 6th Street, in Temecula from 10 a.m. to noon. For more information, email

ONGOING – Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous, a free 12step recovery program for anyone suffering from food obsession, overeating, undereating or bulimia, has meetings throughout the U.S. and the world. Contact 781-9326300, or for local meetings, call 925-321-0170 or visit http://www. foodaddicts.org.

ONGOING – The Murrieta Garden Club meets each month at the Murrieta Community Center, 41810 Juniper St. Anyone who likes to garden or is interested in plants is welcome. Membership is $10 per year. Find more information about the monthly event or project on Facebook.

ONGOING – Temecula Valley Rose Society meets each month. For more information and new meeting dates and places, visit www.temeculavalleyrosesociety. org

ONGOING – Menifee Toastmasters meets every Thursday at noon for one hour at a designated place to have fun, enhance speaking capabilities, gain self-confidence and improve social skills. For new dates, call 760-807-1323 or visit www.MenifeeToastmasters.org for more information.

ONGOING – Homeless veterans can receive free help by dialing 877-424-3838 for 24/7 access to the VA’s services for homeless, atrisk veterans. Chat is confidential for veterans and friends. See www. va.gov/homeless.

Conference for seventh and eighth grade girls on March 11. Being forced to put the annual event on hold during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 and subsequent aftermath, the members are looking forward to the first in-person conference since 2019. Interested students must register with their school counselors prior to March 6 as seating is limited. For more information, SISJHV.org.

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Jewelry is a home-based jewelry boutique in Menifee operated by Raulisa Young. She sells all her items through Facebook Live events and gets new items daily. She has a huge selection of $5 necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings and more, saying that her favorite is whatever her customer likes best. For more information, www.facebook.com/foreveryoungnblingedjewelry

The nonprofit Let’s Rise Above is dedicated to meeting the needs of the local community. The organization develops conferences on requested topics and presents them

at community venues or school settings. For the past two years it has sponsored a mentoring program at San Jacinto Elementary. Leandra Henderson of San Jacinto serves as secretary for the group and said everything they do is to help build character, with strong leadership being the ultimate goal. Founders Jonathan and Samantha

Drouault are passionate about seeing young men and women step into their God-given purpose by helping them to see their true value and worth. For more information, https://letsriseabove.org or community@letsriseabove.org

The San Jacinto-Hemet chapter of Soroptimist International is hosting the 2023 Girl Power

Game tables were set up around the SJLA campus so friends and families could connect over board games and other fun activities. Lunch was provided by The Habit Burger Grill truck catering. Guests were treated to performances by San Jacinto High School Black Student Union members, the SJUSD Elementary Scholars and students from Monte Vista and North Mountain middle schools. Sheppard said having the vendors set up along the courtyard area of the school campus with seating spread all around provided an open arena and family reunion style atmosphere.

One of several colorful banners on display at the Black History Month celebration at San Jacinto Leadership Academy, Feb. 11.

CELEBRATION from page B-1

Valley News/Diane A. Rhodes photo

Pala Casino Spa Resort presents singer and actress Lea Salonga

PALA – Pala Casino Spa Resort will present multiple awardwinning actress and singer Lea Salonga Saturday, March 18, performing live indoors at the Events Center. The show will start at 8 p.m. General admission tickets are $45, and reserved tickets are $75. This show is just one of a lineup of headliner and tribute concerts that will be held at the Events Center and Starlight Theater.

Lea Salonga is renowned across the world for her powerful voice and perfect pitch. She is best known for her Tony Award winning role in “Miss Saigon.” In addition to the Tony, she has won the Olivier, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Theatre World Awards, in the field of musical theater. She was also the first Asian to play Eponine in the musical “Les Misérables” on Broadway and returned to the beloved show as Fantine in the 2006 revival. Many fans of all ages recognize Lea as the singing voice of Princess Jasmine from “Aladdin” and Fa Mulan for “Mulan” and “Mulan II.” For her portrayal of the beloved princesses, the Walt Disney Company bestowed her with the honor of “Disney Legend.”

Most recently, Lea starred in the critically acclaimed Sony musical-drama “Yellow Rose” and stars in the Netflix animated series “CentaurWorld.” She also filmed the first season of “Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin,” a reboot of the popular series for HBO Max. In August 2021, Lea released her single “Dream Again,” and, in November, “Lea Salonga: Live with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra from Sydney Opera House” aired as part of “Great Performances” on PBS. A live album of the performance was subsequently released by Broadway Records.

Lea has toured all over the world, performing sold out con-

certs in locations such as the Sydney Opera House, 02 Arena, Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, Singapore’s Esplanade, Kuala Lumpur Convention Center, Hong Kong Cultural Center, Queen Sirikit Convention Center in Bangkok and Carnegie Hall in New York. She was also the first artist to sell out two shows at Brigham Young University’s De

Movie review: ‘Magic Mike’s Last Dance’

TEMECULA ─ The City of Temecula’s Community Services Department and the Temecula Valley Museum begin another season of Culture Days monthly on the second Saturday. This event, previously known as Second Saturdays: A Celebration of Culture, began in 2019 and has honored over 30 different cultures with arts, entertainment, and activities. Join other community members this year as the city celebrates even more cultures from around the world.

The museum at 28314 Mercedes St. created this program to

share a full history of the people of the Temecula Valley, one that embraces diversity and celebrates contemporary life in Temecula. Each month will celebrate various cultures with food, music, activities, and arts. Local artist

Tony Moramarco from Bigfoot Art Classes will offer art classes relating to each monthly theme.

Temecula’s museum acknowledges the inextricable link between art, culture, history, and community by continuing to enhance the current offerings and expanding the scope of what can be experienced.

Jong Concert Hall in Provo, Utah, since The King’s Singers in 2009. Tickets are on sale now, with no service charge, at the Pala Box Office, http://www.palacasino.com and 877-946-7252. Tickets are also available at http://www.etix.com and 800-514-3849. Must be 21 or older to attend.

Resort.

Bob Garver Special to Valley News

I had never seen a “Magic Mike” movie before “Magic Mike’s Last Dance.” The franchise’s first two installments both missed out on the domestic box office crown in their respective opening weekends in 2012 and 2015, thus not warranting reviews from me. Ironically, “Last Dance” made less money in its opening weekend than either of its predecessors, but those opened in the more blockbuster-y summer season instead of the void that is Super Bowl weekend. If the first two entries in this series are anything like the third, then not only am I glad I missed them, but I have to wonder why this property was even allowed to have three movies.

The year’s schedule is as follows: Israel on March 11; Macedonia on April 8; Czech Republic on May 13; Iceland on June 10; Portugal on July 8; Colombia on Aug. 12; Philippines on Sept. 9; South Korea on Oct. 14; Nepal on Nov. 11; and Christmas Around the World on Dec. 9. For more information about Culture Days and the Temecula Valley Museum, please visit TemeculaValleyMuseum.org and follow the museum on social media @TemeculaValleyMuseum. For questions, please call (951) 694-6450.

Pala Casino Spa Resort presents Kansas on March 24

PALA – Pala Casino Spa Resort

is excited to present legendary classic rock band Kansas on Friday, March 24, performing live indoors at the Events Center. The show will start at 8:00pm. General admission tickets are $45, and reserved tickets are $75. This show is just one of the impressive lineup of headliner and tribute concerts that will be held at the Events Center and Starlight Theater.

With a career spanning five decades, Kansas has firmly established itself as one of America’s iconic classic rock bands. This “garage band” from Topeka, Kansas released their debut album in 1974 after being discovered by Wally Gold, who worked for Don Kirshner, and have gone on to sell more than 30 million albums worldwide.

Composing a catalog that includes sixteen studio albums and five live albums, Kansas has produced eight gold albums, three sextuple-Platinum albums (Leftoverture, Point of Know Return, Best of Kansas), one platinum live album (Two for the Show), one quadruple-Platinum single ‘Carry On Wayward Son,’ and another triple-Platinum single ‘Dust in the Wind.’ Kansas appeared on the Billboard charts for over

200 weeks throughout the ‘70’s and ‘80’s and played to sold-out arenas and stadiums throughout North America, Europe and Japan.

‘Carry On Wayward Son’ continues to be one of the top five most played songs on classic rock radio, and ‘Dust In the Wind’ has been played on the radio more than three million times!

The band is currently comprised of original drummer Phil Ehart, bassist/vocalist Billy Greer, vocalist/keyboardist Ronnie Platt, violinist/guitarist David Ragsdale, keyboardist/vocalist Tom Brislin,

Valley News/Courtesy photo

and original guitarist Richard Williams. With no signs of slowing down, Kansas continues to perform in front of large and enthusiastic audiences around the world. Tickets are on sale now, with no service charge, at the Pala Box Office, www.palacasino. com and

1-877-WIN-PALA (1877-946-7252). Tickets are also available at www.etix.com and 1-800-514-3849. Must be 21 or older to attend.

Submitted by Pala Resort Casino

The film opens with former exotic dancer Mike Lane (Channing Tatum) bartending in Florida, his relationships and business ventures all having fizzled out since the second movie. Lonely philanthropist Maxandra “Max” Mendoza (Salma Hayek Pinault) hears that Mike can provide certain services, and he agrees to give her a lap dance that turns into much more. Taken by his talent and charm, Max invites Mike to London to become the director of a one-night-only strip show at a theater she owns. Again, he reluctantly agrees, though the relationship has to be strictly professional from that point forward.

The rest of the movie is mostly what you’d expect from the “Let’s Put on a Show” genre. Mike balks at the new setting at first, but he quickly adapts. He doesn’t get along with Max’s daughter (Jemalia George) or butler (Ayub Khan Din) at first, but of course they come to like him. There’s a montage of auditioning dancers and some antics with a stuffy city official (Vicki Pepperdine). It looks like the show will be shut down, but they pull out all the stops and put it on anyway because they just love performing so much. The Mike/Max relationship deepens,

by which I mean there is one, apparently.

Proponents of this film say that the best thing about it is the chemistry between the two leads. I was not picking up on any such movie-saving chemistry. Even with a grand gesture toward the end of the film, I was having a hard time buying that either Mike or Max has commitment to the other in their future. Maybe this belief in their chemistry comes from the lap dance sequence early in the film. They do nail that scene, though it seems to involve a lot of physical exertion from Max. I thought lap dances were supposed to be relaxing for the recipient?

The film is surprisingly restrained on the sexuality front. I’d say that for about 80% of the dances in this movie, the dancers wear pants – that’s fulllegged pants. Mike and a female partner share a dance sequence toward the end of the movie for a supposedly-ravenous, mostlyfemale audience, and she’s way more scantily-clad than he is. The movie’s advertising didn’t exactly promise heaps of male nudity, but it was certainly implied. I’d bet that this movie could clean up its language, make no cuts visually, and get a PG-13 rating. Were the other “Magic Mike” movies this tame?

“Magic Mike’s Last Dance” isn’t particularly funny, romantic, or interesting, nor does it work as a visual spectacle outside of some acrobatic feats that viewers of any sexuality will likely find more impressive than tantalizing. I know it wanted to be a date movie for Valentine’s Day, but it had to contend with yet another rerelease of “Titanic.” That movie may as well be Kate Winslet floating on a suspiciously-roomy door, because this movie is dead in the water.

Grade: C“Magic Mike’s Last Dance” is rated R for sexual material and language. Its running time is 112 minutes.

Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@ nyu.edu

Actress and singer Lea Salonga will perform at Pala Casino Spa Resort Saturday, March 18.

Valley News/Courtesy photo

Culture Days are Temecula’s free, familyfriendly events at the Temecula Valley Museum celebrating culture all year-round

Submitted by Pala Casino Spa

Valley News/Courtesy photo

Southwest Healthcare to host Women’s Health Expo to educate the local community on women’s health awareness

Southwest Healthcare, which includes Temecula Valley Hospital, Rancho Springs Hospital and Inland Valley Hospital, is hosting the Women’s Health Expo on Thursday, March 9, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Pechanga Resort and Casino Summit Ballroom. The event will feature education of heart, stroke, nutrition and gynecological health for women. The event is just $10 per person to attend and features a fabulous Pechanga lunch provided for all attendees. Registration is required and can be completed at https:// www.eventbrite.com/e/temeculavalley-hospital-womens-expo2023-tickets-490774338257.

This expo will provide educa-

tion and resources to assist women in making lifestyle changes that can help them improve their health. Free screenings will be available for women to learn their numbers in terms of measurements that put them at risk. These screenings are available to ensure that every woman who attends knows her numbers.

There will be informational booths providing education on nutrition, exercise, smoking cessation, stroke, heart disease and stress management. Local businesses will be attending and offering healthy lifestyle options to attendees. There will also be opportunity drawings to win fun prizes as well as a grand prize drawing that includes

a spectacular spa experience at the Pechanga Resort.

The lunch portion of the event will include physician speakers who will discuss risk factors, lifestyle changes and the latest healthcare issues related to women of all ages. The speaker panel will conclude with an audience Q & A session.

All women are encouraged to attend this informative event to receive education on their health as well as empower themselves to make lifestyle changes that may help save their life. Seating is limited so please register soon.

About Southwest Healthcare Inland Valley Hospital is the only hospital in the region to offer

Level II Trauma Services, Advanced Primary Certified Stroke Center by the Joint Commission, and is a nationally recognized center for weight-loss surgery by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program, also The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Hip and Knee replacement, visit www.swhinlandvalley.com.

Rancho Springs Hospital features the largest award-winning Women’s Center in the region which includes the Rady Children’s Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Rady San Diego: Ranked 5th in the nation for neonatal care), Advanced Primary

Certified Stroke Center by the Joint Commission, and the da Vinci Robotic Xi Surgical System performing the region’s first virtually no-scar single site procedures, visit www.swhranchosprings.com

About Temecula Valley Hospital

Temecula Valley Hospital brings advanced technology, innovative programs, patient-centered and family sensitive care to area residents. The hospital features 140 private patient rooms; emergency care featuring ER Reserve; advanced cardiac and stroke care; orthopedics; general and surgical specialties. For more information, please visit www.temeculavalleyhospital.com.

Temecula Valley Hospital achieves national certification as a glutenfree food service facility

TEMECULA – Temecula Valley Hospital (TVH) has achieved its certification as a Gluten-Free Food Service program, making it the first hospital in California to achieve this status. The TVH nutrition team met the rigorous standards and expectations for safety required to achieve this honor. The team is proud to serve delicious meals for any diet preference on a daily basis and this designation demonstrates their commitment to provide quality food for patients and the community

The Gluten-Free Food Service (GFFS) audits and validates restaurants and food businesses that serve gluten-free food. The Gluten-Free Food Service validation program is part of a nonprofit organization that has been serving the needs of the gluten-free community for several years. Their mission is to make life easier for everyone living glutenfree and TVH is pleased to be a part of this program.

“We are very proud to have been awarded this designation,” said Darlene Wetton, CEO, TVH. “At

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TVH, it is our mission to deliver exceptional and compassionate patient care and that includes being sensitive to the dietary requirements of those we serve. Our new GFFS certification means that we can proudly support our patients by providing gluten-free food that is safe for their condition.”

Carrie Duran, Registered Dietician, Director of Nutrition Services at TVH added, “It is an honor that TVH is now recognized as a Gluten-Free Safe Spot. We achieved a 100% passing score on our audit, which is a testament to the commitment and dedication of the food and nutrition services team here. It’s exciting to be able to expand our menu offering to meet the dietary needs of our patients and community.”

TVH will be displaying the validated Gluten-Free Safe Spot logo throughout the hospital to represent the independent verification of quality, integrity, and purity of businesses serving gluten-free food. Validation as a Gluten-Free Safe Spot establishes trust with

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gluten-free patrons in the ability of a facility to provide safe glutenfree food.

Established in 2009, GFFS has held its food service establishments to the highest standards. Consumers recognize locations validated as Gluten Free Safe Spots serve gluten-free food that meets the nonprofit GFFS’s rigorous standards and expectations for safety. GFFS validates participating establishments, from restaurants to college dining, senior living, hospitals and more, by visiting locations in-person to ensure they follow best practices for gluten-free food safety and ensure high-quality staff training.

TVH will be displaying the validated Gluten-Free Safe Spot logo throughout the hospital.

Validation as a Gluten-Free Safe Spot establishes trust with glutenfree patrons. Valley News/Courtesy photo

Suggested new 5-year Strategic Plan workshop reviewed by Menifee City Council

Tony Ault Staff Writer

The Menifee City Council met Feb. 15 in a workshop before its regular meeting to review the latest Strategic Plan draft with staff and consultants making presentations. The information presented was taken under advisement, but no action will be taken on it until March when the final draft is reviewed.

The last Strategic Plan workshop in January followed a number of other workshops and community meetings with personal and written surveys taken with a number of city residents.

Four major components of the proposed Strategic Plan were outlined. They included a listing of each component with proposed objectives and goals.

The Mission Statement

A new Mission Statement recommended by the consultants (Berry Dunn) says “The City of Menifee provides essential services through teamwork, leadership,

and transparency to improve the quality of life of our community.”

The major change recommended was adding “transparency” to the statement.

Vision Statement

In the refined Vision Statement, it was recommended to state “Menifee is a safe, thriving and inclusive city that offers vibrant neighborhoods and panoramic scenic vistas with rich history, flourishing arts, cultural amenities and diverse recreational opportunities that make Menifee a desired place to live, work, play and stay.”

In the new Vision Statement it showed why Menifee is a desirable place to live but for others would choose to reside in the community.

Guiding Principles

The proposed guiding principles were broken into four categories. They included: People Focused and Connected; Accountable and fiscally responsible; Responsive and transparent; and SolutionOriented and proactive.

Strategic Priorities

In the next five years, the consultant suggested they be: creating a unique identity; create more community engagement and social infrastructure; provide a thriving economy in a safe and vibrant community; and enhance connectivity and mobility.

Themain goals

Each of the Vision Statements was outlined by the consultants and staff in the meeting with the Council’s recommended main objectives for the next five years as follows: Enhance public safety response times to increase safety in the community.

Develop and implement a citywide safety plan to enhance security and a sense of well-being in the community.

Improve safety infrastructure and technology such as street lighting, speed radar feedback signs, rapid rectangular flashing beacons at crosswalks, and surveillance systems to enhance the sense of se-

curity and well-being in Menifee.

Continue to support ongoing professional training and development of the city’s personnel to deliver high-quality services.

Create a community preparedness plan to ensure the safety of Menifee’s neighborhoods, businesses and surrounding spaces. Make progress towards the Vision Zero goal to reduce pedestrian and bicycle fatalities.

Beautification of the streetscapes in the City’s main transit corridors.

Public comments

The other categories were discussed by the Council and a 3-minute-limited public comment time brought several residents to the podium to comment on the plan following other discussions by the Council. One resident suggested the Council make up the goals for the city to build an indoor recreation center to provide year-round athletic activities for the growing population. The comment was taken under advisement by the staff.

EWMD approves bond issuance for Reserve CFD

Naiman

Joe

Writer

A Community Facilities District exists for the planned Reserve development in French Valley. On February 15 the Eastern Municipal Water District board approved the issuance of bonds to finance EMWD infrastructure in that CFD.

The 4-0 EMWD board vote, with Randy Record absent, adopted a resolution of issuance which authorizes the issuance of up to $6,000,000 in bonds while also approving the bond purchase agreement, the continuing disclosure certificate, and the preliminary official statement.

A community facilities district includes a special tax (sometimes known as Mello-Roos taxes due to

the state legislators who authored the option for services on new development to be funded by an annual assessment) to fund the services and/or infrastructure. A Joint Communities Facilities Agreement stipulates the collection and distribution process for the taxes. If the one percent property tax is not sufficient to pay for maintenance, fire protection, and other services a CFD may be formed for those services and that CFD would be perpetual. A CFD may also pay for infrastructure including capacity fees which are charged to developers to cover the new development’s share of existing infrastructure, and that assessment ends when the bonds are paid off. The CFD may also pay for the reimbursement to government agencies for their staff

time and other expenses to form the CFD, the cost to issue bonds, and the annual costs to administer the CFD. An assessment must be approved by a majority of property owners, although a developer who owns a property before it is subdivided may cast the sole vote in favor of a CFD which will be binding upon subsequent property owners.

The Reserve planned development is south of Thompson Road, east of Washington Street, and north of Benton Road. Approximately 43.9 acres will be subdivided into 154 single-family lots along with non-residential areas. Lennar Homes, which is developing Reserve, plans to have a Windbrooke neighborhood and a Weatherstone neighborhood.

Nearly all of the homes have already been purchased.

The CFD for Reserve was created in 2021. It finances not only EWMD infrastructure but also Riverside County transportation improvements, Valley‐Wide Recreation and Park District facilities, and reimbursement to Southern California Edison for utility undergrounding. The CFD was authorized to issue up to $7,000,000 in bonds, although if refinancing is feasible additional re-funding bonds may be issued.

Eastern has a Comprehensive Debt Policy which stipulates a minimum of 150 lots and $1 million of debt for a CFD along with an estimated minimum value to lien ratio of 4:1 and an effective tax rate of no more than 2.00

Another resident questioned a timeline in the objectives to complete a plan to take over all of Valley-Wide Recreation parks in the city by June of 2028, which was questioned by Mayor Pro Tem Bob Karwin. City Manager Armando Villa responded it was a goal, but could be carried over for the following 5-year Strategic Plan since it was not up to the city to decide the final outcome; it would be up to the voters of the city in an election.

Resident Jesse Marquez said the city should have made a larger survey of the residents in the community before making the final decision on the new plan.

Now, the city council and staff will schedule another strategic plan public hearing and make its final decision next month. With the discussion, a budget outline to work toward the goal will also be discussed.

Tony Ault can be reached at tonyault@reedermedia.com.

percent of the home’s value. An appraisal based on December 5 values established the total value of the development subject to the CFD at $79,276,942, which is a value-to-lien ratio of 15.81:1.

The bonds will have a September 1, 2052, maturity date. The expected interest which will also be financed by the CFD assessment

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Menifee Valley students honored in January

Diane A. Rhodes

Special to Valley News

The Menifee Valley and Perris Valley Chambers of Commerce Student of the Month program, honoring local high school seniors, held its most recent recognition breakfast on Jan. 11 at the Perris Sizzler, 91 W. Nuevo Road.

Sally Myers, who founded the nonprofit, welcomed everyone to the community-supported program which honors high school seniors for their character, their love of learning and how these students juggle numerous activities such as campus events, athletics and/or community service. It also commends those who have persevered through difficult life circumstances; all in a setting that honors God, their country, community, family and free enterprise.

Gift bags filled with certificates of recognition, gift cards to local merchants and much more were donated by the program’s sponsors to the award recipients. Each student was invited to the podium to share their personal story, past challenges and future goals with a room full of supporters that included principals, teachers, peers and family members, as well as community and school district dignitaries. The event was videotaped by members of the Heritage High School Media Arts Club and uploaded to the district’s website.

January’s students of the month are California Military Institute’s Karen Moreno-Alvarez, Heritage High School’s Rileigh Roberts, Paloma Valley High School’s Celi Orozco and Perris High School’s Maya De Santiago.

Karen Moreno-Alvarez Karen Moreno-Alvarez was recognized as California Military Institute’s outstanding senior for January. Principal Nicholas Milosavljevic said, “Karen is somebody who is conscientious, honest, definitely a moral person, a person with integrity and she leads that way at our school.” He thanked the outstanding senior for being an excellent example for all of the cadets on campus. Nominating teacher and Brigade Leader David Sibley described Karen as a “consummate professional”

who is “bright and intelligent.” He said, “Karen sets an exceptional example for others to follow and is well respected.” She plans to major in criminology at college with the goal of becoming a crime scene investigator. She takes dual enrollment courses, is a member of Link Crew, ASB and the yearbook team.

“I want to thank my little sister and older brother for their inspiration,” Karen said, after thanking her parents and many others who have supported her.

Rileigh Roberts

Rileigh Roberts was introduced by Heritage High School Principal Lindsay Chavez as meeting the school’s goal for all its students to build a LEGACY, which encompasses leadership, character and more. This was echoed by Robin Perry, her AP Literature teacher, who nominated her. “At Heritage, we believe in leaving a legacy and Rileigh pretty much emulates that by bringing energy and positivity to our school culture,” Perry said. Rileigh has a rigorous academic schedule but is involved with AVID and the cheer and stunt team. “She is quite literally a cheerleader for so many around her,” Perry said. Rileigh, who said she likes to also go by the last name of Divers, said she has struggled this year to balance everything she has going on. “The most important life lesson I will take with me to college is knowing the difference between selfdiscipline and advocacy,” Rileigh said. “My passion is to one day study forensic psychology and sociology. I know it’s hard to change the world but it’s attainable if you start by influencing the people in it.” Rileigh said watching her younger sister go through serious medical challenges this past year empowered her and gave her a lot of strength.

Celi Orozco Celi Orozco was singled out at Paloma Valley High School for her academic excellence and her outstanding contribution to the girls’ wrestling team. Principal Jennifer Thomasian said the things that really stand out when she thinks of Celi are dedication, integrity, determination and hard work. Celi said, “One life lesson

I’ve learned is that when you are at your lowest, you can’t let that keep you from achieving your dreams. I owe it to myself, my family and my community to do the best I can do with a positive attitude, to get to where I need to go.” She plans to major in biology or biochemistry in college with hopes to continue on to medical school and eventually become a forensic pathologist.

Maya De Santiago

Maya De Santiago was Perris High School’s choice and Principal Juan Santos described her as being “mature beyond her years and very driven to succeed.” Maya has been part of the school’s Army JROTC program since her freshman year and is currently Battalion Commander. She is also a Varsity Cheerleader and member of Interact, Key Club and Link Crew. “My grandpa was, and still is, one of my biggest motivators,” Maya said. “From a young age, he taught me the importance of education. He always told me to aim high and

give my all in school and I did just that. Although my grandpa passed away more than a year ago, his loving and wise words still stick with me today.” Maya feels her greatest contribution to her school, aside from her academic successes, has been her active involvement with spreading school spirit through cheer and other varsity sports. “In this military leadership program, I have been able to work myself up through the ranks and am currently the highest-ranking cadet in JROTC. I am responsible for 200-plus cadets in my program.”

She plans to major in elementary school education and minor in psychology with the goal of becoming a teacher.

Closing remarks

Myers applauded each student and said she was glad the event is videotaped and shared with others because “what you don’t know is how much you might impact someone in your community who hears your story.” She said

someone they may never meet might hear the story “that you shared from your heart and their heart may be changed. You may have saved a life. You just don’t know, so never be afraid to share your story.”

Myers ended the event by sharing a word of the day from motivational speaker John Maxwell’s “A Minute with Maxwell.” The word was intentionality. He said to live an intentional life means to take good intentions and turn them into good actions. “I take what I was thinking about and I start doing it. Nothing happens until we become intentional. Intentionality is almost like a bridge we cross over from where we are to where we want to go.” Myers said all of January’s students appear to already be living intentional lives.

For more information on the program, please contact Sarah Rico at 951-943-6369, ext. 80103 or sarah.rico@puhsd.org

High school students learn about early childhood education

Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians

Special to Valley News

Students at Noli Indian School on the Soboba Indian Reservation have been given the opportunity to take a course in early childhood education. The year-long elective provides classroom instruction four days a week and then a practicum each Friday at the nearby Soboba Tribal Preschool. It is registered on the University of California Pathways as a high school education class.

Noli teacher Jay Dagostino has been making weekly visits to the preschool for a couple of years, providing hands-on science lessons to the kindergarten students there. This is an extension of that program, where his high school students work on a lesson plan during the week and then implement it in person each Friday afternoon. They are required to review the lesson plan afterwards so they can learn what worked, what didn’t, and why.

Dagostino serves as Instructor of Information and a facilitator of lessons for the ECE course. His students do all the hands-on instruction for the kindergarten class. He works closely with the preschool staff to arrange fieldwork assignments and to receive feedback on his students’ performance there.

“I have a few students that want to possibly teach preschool and kindergarten as a career,” he said. “I also thought it would be good for future parents.”

Noli Academic Counselor Elizabeth Lacella was approached by Dagostino last school year about adding this opportunity that would benefit high school students that may be interested in working with young children in the future.

“It’s an introduction to a job field,” Lacella said. “It sets the students on a career path that requires them to further their education. It also allows them to create connections and contacts with job potentials for the future.”

Junior Luisa Rivera decided to take the course because she plans to become a teacher at Soboba in the future.

“I liked Fridays when we were

with the kids, they were always happy and excited to see us,” Luisa said. “I enjoyed being there. They always made my Fridays bright and turned any bad days into good days.”

Although experience with younger siblings let her know what to expect from the young children, she did learn to be more patient since there were about 20 students in class each week. “This class prepared me for becoming a preschool teacher,” she said.

To encourage her classmates to sign up for the class, Luisa shares with them that “you will have so much fun on Fridays; the kids are adorable and have a lot of energy.”

Even those that don’t plan to go into the childcare or teaching field are learning how to organize, implement ideas and problem solve. They also can hone their leadership and attention to detail skills.

Anthony Salgado-Lopez, a junior at Noli, said he doesn’t aspire to go into a career working with children but was encouraged by Dagostino to enroll in the class.

“I like it and it’s rewarding to see the kids learn something new,” An-

thony said. “I feel that being from the same, if not a similar, community from most of the children there, I am giving back in a way that they can say ‘hey, he is like me, we are from the same place.’ Maybe I can be the change and that just makes teaching them worthwhile.”

He added, “It was crazy to me the many connections a child’s brain made and how fast they can learn. I think that was the best lesson I was taught for the simple fact that it’s everything I am learning and putting into action each week.”

Anthony said working with the kindergartners is different than being around his little brothers who are about the same age. With the students, he has learned “how the tone you use to speak to them can change everything they remember about what was said or done.”

He has told his peers that the class is rewarding, fun and takes a lot of patience and compassion. “But most of all, it’s a challenge,” he said.

The Introduction to Early Childhood Education course syllabus describes the main goal as being to introduce students to early child-

Noli teacher Jay Dagostino, right, discusses what Soboba Tribal Preschool students can plant in their outdoor garden for spring. Science and environmental lessons are always incorporated into the process the students participate in year round with the raised beds that Dagostino helped build years ago.

hood education with emphasis on hands-on learning fieldwork, theories, practice and current trends and developments. Early childhood environments for children from birth through eight years of age are to be studied.

Several objectives to be met by the end of the course include students being able to explain the roles

of the early childhood education professional, describe critical issues facing children and families today, explain the importance of the Piaget theory of cognitive development, discuss the implications of diversity on early childhood education and discover why parent, family and see CHILDHOOD, page B-7

Recipients of the Menifee Valley/Perris Valley Chamber of Commerce Student of the Month award for January are, seated from left, Maya De Santiago, Karen Moreno-Alvarez, Rileigh Roberts and Celi Orozco. Standing behind them are student of the month program founder Sally Myers and PUHSD Superintendent Grant Bennett.

Valley News/Courtesy photo

Early Childhood Education student Anthony Salgado-Lopez, left, helps kindergarten students learn the proper way to stretch while Noli teacher Jay Dagostino explains the importance of stretching before beginning any physical activity.

Noli ECE student Anthony Salgado-Lopez, left, helps kindergarten students learn their Xs and Os while learning how to play tic-tac-toe during a recent physical education lesson at the Soboba Tribal Preschool.

Valley News/Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians photos

Considerations for retirees thinking of working part time

Retirement is an opportunity to wave goodbye to the daily grind. Retirees may focus on rest and relaxation, and many make travel a major component of their lifestyle.

According to a 2022 Gallup poll, Americans expect to retire at an average age of 66, up from 62 in 2022. However, most do not hold out that long; the average actual retirement age is 61. Canada used to have a mandatory retirement age of 65, but that mandate was overturned in 2009. Today, the average retirement age for Canadians is 64.4 for men and 63.8 for women, according to Statistics Canada.

Upon retiring, many retirees discover that they sorely miss getting out of the house and being productive through some sort of employment. Others may find it necessary to supplement their retirement incomes. There are a few things to know about working during retirement, particularly if a

person is collecting government benefits.

According to the Social Security Administration, those falling under full retirement age for the entire year (which was raised to age 67 for those born in 1960 or later) will be subjected to an SSA deduction of $1 from your benefit payments for every $2 you earn above the annual limit. For 2022, that limit is $19,560. In the year you reach full retirement age, SSA deducts $1 in benefits for every $3 you earn above a different limit, but they only count earnings before the month you reach your full retirement age. For full retirement age reached in 2022 your limit on earnings for the months before full retirement age is $51,960. After full retirement age, there is no limit on earnings. Keep in mind that if you are on Medicare, extra income could potentially trigger surcharges for parts B and D. It’s beneficial to

Senator Seyarto introduces financial literacy education bill

SACRAMENTO – Senator Kelly Seyarto (R-Murrieta) has introduced SB 342, a bill to advance financial literacy education for California students.

Currently, the Instructional Quality Commission has been encouraged to include financial literacy in its history and social science curriculum. SB 342 would require the inclusion of financial literacy education periodically throughout K-12 schooling, preparing students for real-life scenarios and best practices.

“Addressing financial literacy in the classroom will expose students to basic life skills so they can hit the ground running as young

CHILDHOOD from page B-6

community involvement is important in early childhood development or education programs.

The topics covered each week encompass all subjects the kindergartners are learning, from sight words to reading and writing as well as science and math. On a recent Friday, the students were led in physical education activities that might be put into play should it be too rainy to go outside to play. This leads to another important lesson for the ECE students: how to be flexible and improvise when needed.

Kindergarten teacher Sierra Vivanco welcomes the partnership with Noli as it gives her students new ways to engage with lessons they

adults,” said Senator Seyarto. “Giving them the tools they need to become financially literate and be aware of how finances impact every aspect of their lives will set all our children up for success. Research has shown us that students who receive this type of education have better financial outcomes as adults, with less debt and a higher quality of life.”

Teachers will be able to include age-appropriate information based on their students’ grade levels and proficiency, and can address a variety of topics including personal banking, budgeting, taxes, and planning for college expenses.

are being taught. She said they look forward to the change of pace on Fridays. Vivanco is pleased to see teens get involved in the program.

“They learn pretty quickly that they can’t be shy and that it’s okay for them to be strict with the young kids,” she said. “It’s also a good way for them to get their feet wet in this area and see if they like it.”

Being the first year of the program, wrinkles are still being worked out, but Lacella feels it is a one-of-a-kind opportunity she is pleased to offer to the high school students.

“The littles get the benefit of something different weekly,” Lacella said. “They enjoy having their ‘other teachers’ come in with a new and exciting lesson.”

speak with a financial consultant to weigh the pros and cons of parttime work during retirement. Part-time work does not need to be daily work. Many retirees work according to how they feel. Some options include seasonal jobs, such as driving shuttles in national parks or working during the holidays in retail stores. Or you may use your expertise to consult or start a business.

A number of people work part time during retirement simply to get out of the house. Jobs that help you interact with a number of people can be beneficial, as socialization has been shown to benefit the mental health of seniors. Working during retirement can supplement savings and provide structure that some retirees may be missing.

There are a few things to know about working during retirement, particularly if a person is collecting government benefits.

Valley News/Metro Creative Graphics photo

EMWD approves land exchange with City of Hemet

Joe Naiman

Writer

The Eastern Municipal Water District approved a land exchange with the City of Hemet.

The 4-0 EMWD board vote Feb. 15, with Randy Record absent, will exchange 0.37 acres currently owned by Eastern for a 1.24-acre parcel currently owned by the city. Eastern will pay the City of Hemet the $357,000 difference in property valuation and will also be responsible for transaction costs. The board action declared the EMWD land to be surplus, authorized the land exchange agreement and the escrow process, and authorized

total appropriations of $412,000.

The Cawston Lift Station was built on a 7,000 square foot lot north of Stetson Avenue. The EMWD lift station, which pumped west Hemet’s sewer flow to the San Jacinto Valley Regional Water Reclamation Facility for treatment, operated from 1978 to 2019 and had a capacity of 4.5 million gallons per day (mgd).

In 2021, the San Jacinto Valley Reclamation Integrated Plan report was completed. That report recommended that a lift station with a capacity of 5 mgd be put into operation by 2027 as a replacement for the Cawston Lift Station. The report also recommended that the lift station have

the capability to be expanded to 11.4 mgd. The existing Cawston Lift Station site could not accommodate that expansion.

T hree potential sites for the new lift station were identified.

A property owned by the City of Hemet less than 1,000 feet from the Cawston Lift Station was identified as the ideal site. That property is on the northwest corner of Stetson and Cawston avenues and is next to Fire Station No. 4. The property totals five acres and much of that land is not being used. The City of Hemet expressed willingness to exchange a portion of that property with Eastern, and during 2022 EMWD staff worked with city staff to

identify an appropriate property to exchange for the benefit of both the city and the district. Two legal parcels on the southeast corner of Stetson and Palm avenues were once the site of Eastern’s Diamond Valley Booster Station which was taken out of service in 2009 and demolished shortly afterward. The land totaling approximately 16,100 square feet is adjacent to Fire Station No. 2, so the city could gain operational flexibility and benefit with that property

The two properties agreed upon for exchange were appraised. The larger city-owned parcel was appraised at $486,000. The land owned by Eastern was appraised

EMWD approves new five-year lease with Quality Turf

Joe Naiman

Writer

Quality Turf Inc. leases land from the Eastern Municipal Water District, and a Feb. 15 EMWD board action gave Quality Turf a new five-year lease.

Randy Record was not at the board meeting, but the other four board members all approved the new lease. The lease area encompasses 140 acres adjacent to Eastern’s San Jacinto Valley Regional Water Reclamation Facility.

The land east of Warren Road, west of Sanderson Avenue, south of Ramona Expressway and north of Cottonwood Avenue is referred to as the Buena Vida property. The lease was originally approved in 2014, and the lease area at the time was 190 acres. New leases were approved in 2016 and 2018.

The most recent lease was approved in July 2020 with Quality Turf paying $80 per acre annually.

Eastern expects the completion of five megawatts of solar power generation in the near future as well

as future on-site water treatment facilities, so the lease area was reduced to 140 acres. The 2020 lease agreement included a Feb. 28, 2023, expiration.

The district obtains benefits from the lease other than rental income. The presence of a tenant who uses recycled water allows Eastern to sell some of its recycled supply, and the lease rental amount does not include water purchases. The lease means that Quality Turf, rather than the district, is paying for maintenance and upkeep. In the

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absence of a tenant, Eastern would be responsible for maintenance and upkeep costs and would also be required to provide appropriate security.

EMWD staff solicited bids for a new lease on Dec. 15, 2022. A lease of up to five years was offered. Bidders were advised that over the five-year term the lease area might be reduced from 140 to 75 acres due to construction of the San Jacinto Valley Advanced Water Purification Facility and that if planning, coordination and con-

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at $129,000.

In addition to paying the city the value difference, Eastern will also pay approximately $30,000 for surveying and fencing and approximately $10,000 for title and escrow costs. The $412,000 total appropriation also includes $15,000 for EMWD staff time expenses.

The transaction itself is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act review, although any future use of the acquired property will be subject to CEQA. Environmental documentation will be prepared once enough information on those projects allows for the identification of potential impacts.

struction activities associated with that project impact the acreage available for use the tenant would receive a written notification of no more than six months in advance. Quality Turf submitted the only bid by the Jan. 13 deadline. The lease area has a high alkali level in the soil, so its value is less due to the type of crops which can be grown. Quality Turf plans to grow alfalfa and/or rye on the property. Quality Turf will pay $80 per acre during the first year of the lease, $84 per acre in the second year, $88 per acre for the third year, $92 per acre in the fourth year and $97 per acre for the fifth year.

Eastern’s original acquisition of the Buena Vida property included an existing single-family home on approximately 10 acres of land in the 2700 block of Ramona Expressway. Ralph Daily, who owns Quality Turf, currently leases the 10-acre property under a separate agreement. Eastern does not believe that the house or the surrounding ten acres would be of use to the district in the future. The residence agreement expires on Dec. 31 and the residential home is expected to be razed after the end of that lease period. After the residential property lease ends and the disposition of the house is completed, the 10-acre property may be incorporated into the Quality Turf lease by a written amendment to the lease agreement. Quality Turf will be permitted to farm that area and may also store and stage equipment and appurtenances.

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February 24 – March 2, 2023

Rancho Christian’s basketball programs both bound for CIF Southern Section Finals

Historic seasons lift Eagles through the playoffs

JP Raineri

Sports Editor

TEMECULA – Rancho

Christian’s gymnasium was almost standing room only Friday, Feb. 17, thanks to an overwhelming showing from AGBU fans that made the drive out from Canoga Park. For

almost the first two quarters of play in the CIF Southern Section Division 2A boys’ basketball semifinals, it almost seemed like the drive home was going to be a happy one for the AGBU fans. While the Eagles jumped out to a quick 8-0 lead, the unimaginable happened. AGBU went on a 17-4

run, taking some of the wind out of the Eagles’ sails.

That’s when Rancho Christian head coach Ray Barefield changed things up. The Eagles restored order after changing to a full court press midway through the second quarter, and never looked back. Kevin Patton Jr. dropped 27 points

on AGBU, with Rodney Brows Jr. adding 18 pts for the Eagles, helping their squad advance to the Division 2A finals against La Mirada with a 69-50 victory over AGBU.

The La Mirada Matadores boys’ varsity basketball team is 25-8 overall and defeated Orange

County’s Pacifica Christian 55-37 to advance to finals from their side of the bracket. In this next matchup, Rancho Christian, the No. 1 team from the Ivy League, will face the No. 1 team from the Gateway League. The Matadores top scorer

see EAGLES, page C-3

Murrieta Valley wins CIF-SS Division 2 girls’ water polo title

Raineri

JP

Sports Editor

It is Bryan Lynton’s first season back as the head water polo coach at Murrieta Valley High School. You know, the coach that guided the boys’ water polo program to 19 consecutive league championships and seven appearances in CIF Southern Section title matches. Also, the same coach that led the girls’ water polo program to

15 league championships with six trips to the section finals.

Lynton and his boys won Southern Section titles in 2006 and 2015, and captured titles in 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012 and 2016 with the girls.

Lynton, who arrived at Murrieta Valley in 1998, stepped away from coaching at the high school level after the 2016 season. Over the past five years, he has worked with the USA Water Polo U-18 Men’s National Team and is still

currently the technical director for USA Water Polo’s Olympic Development Program. Chris Boyer, who is now an assistant for Lynton and helps operate the Elite Water Polo club, guided both Nighthawk programs for the past three seasons.

This year, in his first season back, Lynton, and the Murrieta Valley girls’ water polo team not only won another title in the Southwestern League, but swam

their way through the postseason, posting a 20-14 overall record. The Nighthawks were victorious over Centennial (14-4), Woodbridge (10-5) and Downey (6-4) in the playoffs. Murrieta Valley was looking to add that 21st win this past Saturday, Feb. 18, at the Woollett Aquatics Center in Irvine when they faced Millikan High School, who got to the finals with wins over Camarillo (21-6), Riverside Poly (7-6) and Dana

Hills (15-6).

In the first quarter, Murrieta Valley got out to a 3-1 lead with goals from Kristen Alexander, Amy Pearce and Mackenzie Wood, but Millikan would answer back late in the quarter behind an Avery Jensen score. The Rams would then even things up when Faye Garcia and Jensen scored goals in the second quarter. Wood would

see POLO, page C-2

Coach Ray Barefield, standing, leads his Rancho Christian Eagles to the CIF SS Division 2A finals after defeating AGBU 69-50.

Valley News/David Canales photo

Murrieta Valley gets set to take on Millikan for the CIF Southern Section Division 2 girls’ water polo championship at the Woollett Aquatics Center in Irvine Saturday, Feb. 18. Valley News/Courtesy photos

Murrieta Valley team members and coaches celebrate in the pool following their 7-6 victory over Millikan for the CIF Southern Section Division 2 girls water polo title at the Woollett Aquatics Center in Irvine Saturday, Feb. 18.

CIF Southern Section winter sports playoff updates

JP Raineri

Sports Editor

It has come down to the last week for local high school teams that advanced to the winter sports postseason of the CIF Southern Section playoffs. From the basketball courts and soccer fields to the water and wrestling mats, here is a breakdown of who still has a shot to be the last team standing in their respective division. On the basketball courts, for the boys’ division, 12 local teams went into the playoffs, and coming into this week, the only team still left is Rancho Christian in Division 2A. They will be taking on La Mirada in the finals. For the girls’ teams, 16 local teams advanced to the playoffs, and now, no it’s not a typo, Rancho Christian is also still the only team standing, and they will be playing in the Division 3A Finals against Chino. Time, location and date were still TBD for both teams at the time of this article going to print.

On the girls’ soccer fields, 16 local teams began their postseason journey two weeks ago, but only the Hemet Bulldogs, the No. 1 seed in Division 5, remain the last team standing. Hemet advances to the finals for the second consecutive year but have yet to win a section title in their two previous finals appearances. They will travel to face Crean Lutheran

(18-3-3) Friday, Feb. 24, at 5 p.m.

On the boys’ soccer fields there are no local teams that made it past the semifinal round, though there could be some CIF State appearances discussed in certain divisions after this weekend’s CIFSS Finals matches have concluded.

In the water, Murrieta Valley, after winning the CIF-SS Division 2 Finals this past weekend over Millikan, 7-6, the Nighthawks will be the No. 2 seed in the CIF State Division 2 regional bracket, and will host Grossmont from the San Diego Section in a first-round match this week.

Finally, on the wrestling mats,

here is a look at what happened this past weekend for local male and female wrestlers. A new format was put in place, which seemed to be well received. Instead of a two-day event with one individual champion in each weight class being crowned champion, the section went to a one-day meet with two 16-person brackets and two champions for each of the weight classes.

Two local male wrestlers claimed championships at the CIF Southern Section Masters Meet last Friday at Palm Springs High School. Lakeside’s Ryan Lobato advanced to the 126-pound finals in his bracket with two decisions and one technical fall. Lobato beat No. 2 seed Haden Hernandez of Marina in an ultimate tiebreaker to claim the championship. Temecula Valley’s Malikhi Espiritu was the area’s other individual champion as he advanced to the 132-pound final bracket with two pins and a decision. Espiritu beat Elijah Flores of Walnut on an ultimate tiebreaker to win the

CIF Southern Section boys’ volleyball and track and field coaches polls

championship.

The top five wrestlers in each bracket secured a spot for this week’s CIF State championship meet at Mechanics Bank Arena in Bakersfield. Temecula Valley leads the way with seven wrestlers headed to the state meet and were the only local team to finish inside the Top 10, placing fifth with 136.5 points. Lakeside and Paloma Valley both had three wrestlers qualify.

Here a list of the Inland boys’ wrestlers who qualified for the CIF State meet, with their bracket finishes in parenthesis.

113-pound: Steve Corona, Vista Murrieta (Blue, 5); Syruss Flores, Paloma Valley (Gold, 5). 120-pound: Aidan Munoz, Temecula Valley (Blue, 2). 126-pound: Ryan Lobato, Lakeside (Gold, 1); Justin Herrera, Chaparral (Blue, 2). 132-pound: Malikhi Espiritu, Temecula Valley (Gold, 1). 138-pound: Justin Wells, Lakeside (Gold, 2). 145-pound: Isaac Rea, Lakeside (Blue, 5). 152-pound: Elijah Benavidez, Paloma Valley (Blue, 4); Daniel Sterling, Temecula Valley (Blue, 5). 160-pound: Gabriel Barragan, West Valley (Blue, 3); Logan Alawneh, Temecula Valley (Blue, 4). 170-pound: Kameron Phillips, Temecula Valley (Blue, 4). 195-pound: Matthew PorrasDiamond, Temecula Valley (Blue, 2); Noah Bode, Vista Murrieta (Gold, 5). 220-pound: Vaughn Taylor, Chaparral (Blue, 4); Simon Flores, Paloma Valley (Blue, 5). 285-pound: Justice El-Sayad, Temecula Valley (Blue, 4).

Six female wrestlers from the local Southwest Riverside County area also claimed championships at the CIF Southern Section Masters Meet this past Saturday at Palm Springs High School.

In the 101-pound weight class, Hamilton’s Olivia Lopez claimed one title when she pinned Northview’s Lexi Garza, making it her fourth victory by pinfall. Lakeside’s Jillian Wells reached the final of her bracket with two pins and a decision, capturing the

POLO from page C-1

add another goal with 2 minutes left in the half, giving Murrieta Valley a 4-3 lead at the break.

On the opening possession of the second half, Millikan’s Jennine Osorio drew a penalty shot that Jensen would take for a chance to even the score, which she did from about 15 feet out. That’s when Kaili Boyer and Elizabeth Hernandez drew energy from the crowd, scoring goals less than a minute apart to give Murrieta Valley a 6-4 lead after three quarters. Hernandez would score again in the fourth quarter to extend the lead to 7-4.

The Nighthawks were aggressive on defense, limiting Millikan’s shot attempts up close, which forced them to shoot from the perimeter most of the match. Though Millikan ended up outshooting Murrieta Valley 39-21 throughout the match, Nighthawks goalkeeper, junior Jaden Soto, was a force to be reckoned with. Soto had 22 saves (11 in each half), but by far her highlight was when

championship with a 2-1 decision over Marina’s Nathalie Erazo. Paloma Valley’s Karissa Turnwall advanced to the 116-pound final with three pinfall victories and won a championship with a 12-3 major decision over Walnut’s Deandra Meza. Orange Vista’s Addison Ellis claimed a title at 131 pounds by winning all four of her matches via pinfall. Temescal Canyon’s Cara Cheng captured her 137-pound bracket championship with an 8-1 decision over Corona’s Phylicia Sudario, and Elsinore’s Gabby O’Connell claimed the 189-pound title when she scored a 5-0 decision over Schurr’s Isabell Sosa.

Aside from the champions, a handful of local female wrestlers also secured a spot for next week’s CIF State championship meet at Mechanics Bank Arena in Bakersfield. Paloma Valley, who took 70 overall as a team, leads the way sending three wrestlers to the state finals.

Here is a list of the Inland girls’ wrestlers who qualified for the CIF State meet, with their bracket finishes in parenthesis.

101-pound: Olivia Lopez, Hamilton (Blue, 1); Jillian Wells, Lakeside (Gold, 1). 111-pound: Karissa Turnwall, Paloma Valley (Gold, 1). 116-pound: Jiana Alexis Rivera, Paloma Valley (Blue, 4). 121-pound: Makayla Correa, Paloma Valley (Blue, 2). 131-pound: Addison Ellis, Orange Vista (Gold, 1). 137-pound: Cara Cheng, Temescal Canyon (Gold, 1). 150-pound: Andi Albers, Hemet (Blue, 4). 189-pound: Gabby O’Connell, Elsinore (Gold, 1); Diara Pomares, Hemet (Blue, 2). 235-pound: Anna Bozanic, Liberty (Blue, 3).

All postseason brackets and updates can be found by going to the top of the CIF Southern Section website at www.cifss.org. Please email socaltrekkie@gmail.com or sports@reedermedia.com if there are any changes that need to be made.

she blocked a second penalty shot by Jensen with five minutes remaining. The other Jensen in the water for the Rams, Larsen, would score a pair of goals to get them within one point at 7-6, but it wouldn’t be enough for Millikan as time ran out.

The Division 2 title win this past weekend is now Murrieta Valley’s sixth CIF Southern Section title, and first since 2016. Next up, both Millikan and the Nighthawks will focus on winning a CIF State regional championship. Murrieta Valley is the No. 2 seed in the Division 2 regional and will host Grossmont from the San Diego Section in a first-round match Tuesday, Feb. 21. The outcome of that game will take place after this article goes to print but will be updated online at www. myvalleynews.com. Matches are at 5 p.m. unless otherwise noted. (Sites and time are subject to change.)

JP Raineri can be reached by email at sports@reedermedia. com

The Temecula Valley wrestling program, pictured here winning the team portion of CIF-SS individual meet two weeks ago, will be sending seven wrestlers to this week’s CIF State championship meet at Mechanics Bank Arena in Bakersfield. Valley News/Action Captures Media Group

West Valley guard Natalie Derla (13) shoots a jump shot over Oak Park forward Delaney White (10) in CIF Southern Section Division 5A semifinal girls’ basketball action. Valley News/Action Captures Media Group

Vista Murrieta senior Lauren Schwartz scrambles for position in last week’s CIF-SS Division 2 quarterfinal round against Harvard-Westlake. Valley News/Rob Davis Photography

JP Raineri Sports Editor

The CIF Southern Section polls for boys’ and girls’ track and field, and boys’ volleyball were released earlier this week and

Murrieta Valley opens with win over Linfield on the diamond

JP Raineri

Sports Editor

TEMECULA – The Murrieta Valley Nighthawks opened the 2023 baseball season Saturday, Feb. 11 with an extra innings win over host Linfield Christian. The game also marked the return of former Murrieta Mesa head coach Bryn Wade, who took the Rams to the Division 1 CIF Southern Section finals in 2016, beating

Harvard-Westlake for the school’s first and only CIF title for baseball. Wade is now the head coach for Murrieta Valley and is looking to rebuild a program that has not been to the postseason since 2018.

The Nighthawks, out of the Southwestern League, struck first when they put three runs on the board in the first two innings against the Lions, but sophomore Noah Getz was able to keep Murrieta Valley at bay through

the sixth inning. Linfield, out of the Ambassador League, would tie the game up in the fifth inning at 3-3, and then again in the sixth at 4-4, after the Nighthawks scored the go-ahead run in the top half. It would be a pitchers’ duel in extra innings, but a four-run top of the ninth would be too much for Linfield to overcome. Final score: 8-4.

Top performers on offense for Murrieta Valley were Jacob

Loving, who went 3 for 4 with 2 stolen bases, and Jesiah Generoso, who was 2 for 5 with 2 RBI and a stolen base as well. Loving also picked up the win on the mound with his three innings of scoreless work, striking out four batters, and only giving up two hits.

Linfield Christian had two players go 2 for 4 at the plate, Matthew Rezkalah and Luke Waddell, but run production came from Elijah Butler, Jake Valencia and Gavin Malcomson, who all had one RBI apiece. Getz would get handed the loss after his 6.2 innings of work. He gave up three

Rickie Fowler finishes in Top 20 at Genesis Invitational

shower like Sam Ryder’s ace last year, but Fowler definitely gave himself a moment to remember in Scottsdale. It was the second straight year someone made a hole-in-one at the tournament, and someone has received one in six of the last nine years.

Prior to that, we saw Rickie at the Farmers Insurance Open in January, where he finished in a tied 11th, shooting the final round at par and concluded the tournament with a total of 5-under, an 8-stroke difference from winner Max Homa.

JP Raineri

Sports Editor

PACIFIC PALISADES – Rickie

Fowler, a former Murrieta native now living in Florida, participated in the Genesis Invitational this past

is Julien Gomez who averages 26 points per game and five rebounds.

As for the Rancho Christian girls’ basketball team, they have not lost a game at home this season and with the way things are panning out, it doesn’t look like they will. The Eagles (24-6) won their Wednesday, Feb. 15, home playoff game against Torrance’s South High School (1813) by a score of 78-44. The victory marked their 13th straight win on their home court for the newcomers to the Ivy League this season, who also took home the first-place title with their 7-1 record.

South High School was the third-place team from the Pioneer League and were clearly no match for the likes of Aaliyah Stanton, Jada Tiggett and Shaylynn De Yager. The three seniors combined for 67 of the 78 Eagles points on the night. Maddie Tang (10 points) and Maddie Chung (11 points) fought to keep South in the game, but a 17-point second quarter outing from Stanton would make a huge difference. Stanton was sent to the foul line four times that quarter, netting 7 of her 8 free throws. She would finish the game with 39 points and 5 steals while Tiggett and De Yager both ended the night with 14 points apiece. Tiggett also brought down 16 rebounds.

The win helped Rancho Christian move to the CIF Southern Section Division 3A semifinal round this past weekend where they met up with the Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Mary Cardinals (Montebello).

The Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Mary girls’ varsity basketball team was 18-8 overall and defeated Calvary Chapel 48-44 to advance to their side of the

weekend after much consideration. Fowler was last seen in Arizona where he hit a hole-in-one on the seventh hole at the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale Sunday, Feb. 12. It didn’t result in a beer

bracket. The Cardinals welcomed Rancho Christian to their home court Saturday, Feb. 18, in a matchup between the team leaders Aaliyah Stanton and Laila Salazar (averaging 11.1 points per game).

Stanton was the clear standout in a 39-point performance where she outscored the entire CantwellSacred Heart of Mary team in the Eagles 79-34 win. Stanton is averaging 30.7 points per game, with four steals this season, and will now look to help the Rancho Christian girls’ team win their first-ever CIF Southern Section title when they take on Chino in the finals.

Chino (24-5), the No. 1 team from the Mt. Baldy League, was victorious over La Quinta in first round action 54-33, then took down Great Oak in the second round 48-31, beat Anaheim in the quarterfinals 62-49, and this past weekend defeated Campbell Hall in the semifinals, 55-53. On paper, Rancho Christian has the advantage. The Eagles average 79.3 points per game to Chino’s 49.3. The top performer from Chino is Lyndsey Valverde with her 14.7 points per game, as well as her three assists and 2.7 steals per game. Malani Johnson (averaging 8.8 rebounds per game) will have to fight off Eagles rebound leader, Jada Tiggett, to be the dominant girl in the middle. Both teams will play at Colony High School, Saturday, Feb. 25. The Lady Eagles will play at 2 p.m. and the boys’ team will play immediately after at 4 p.m. For more information on remaining games, or to view past results, visit www.cifss.org. JP Raineri

The last few years for Rickie Fowler have been disappointing on the PGA Tour. He hasn’t won a title since 2019’s Waste Management Phoenix Open. However, he has begun his new season with some positives from last season. The 34-year-old Murrieta Valley Nighthawk alumnus brought back his former swing coach, Butch Harmon, and the improvements reflected in his game as well.

Over his last 11 rounds, Fowler

has finished below par six times, while also carding eight rounds with a better-than-average score. He has carded a top-five score three times in his last 11 rounds.

The Genesis Invitational, which is one of the PGA Tour’s new “designated events” for 2023, drew a star-studded field to compete for a $20 million purse, and included the return of Tiger Woods. Nineteen of the world’s top 20 competed at the Riviera Country Club, and for the third time already this year, Jon Rahm prevailed, banking $3.6 million.

Fowler didn’t have the worst of weekends, nor did he have the best. He finished tied for 20th place at 5-under with Sam Ryder, Justin Thomas, Viktor Hovland, Tony Finau, Cameron Young, Tommy Fleetwood, Nate Lashley and Peter Malnati. Each netted approx. $197,666.67.

“Now, it’s nice to be back on the road,” Rickie Fowler told the media last weekend about the new golf season.

earned runs, four hits, had one walk and struck out five batters. Murrieta Valley, at 2-1 on the season thus far, play against J.W. North and San Clemente, this week, with a game TBD on Saturday, which is tournament play. Linfield Christian is also 2-1 on the season and play Bloomington and West Valley this week, and have a game TBD on Saturday, which is also tournament play.

JP Raineri can be reached by email at sports@reedermedia. com

Fowler’s next scheduled event is the Honda Classic at Palm Beach Country. The Florida event will start on Feb. 20, immediately after the Genesis Invitational. If things go as planned, he will be playing straight for the next three weeks. Next comes the Arnold Palmer Invitational, which is scheduled for the first week of March at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Florida.

At the time of this article going to print, Rickie had yet to commit to the API. The final event on the list is Players with a purse size of $25 million, the highest among all elevated PGA Tour events. It should also be noted that PGA Tour players are only allowed to skip one of these elevated tournaments, courtesy of the new rulings for the new season to have more top players competing in these events.

JP Raineri can be reached by email at sports@reedermedia. com

Linfield’s Elijah Butler drives the ball for an RBI against Murrieta Valley Saturday, Feb. 11.

Valley News/Linfield Christian Athletics photos

Drew Taylor beats the throw to Murrieta Valley’s Jacob Loving (9) in their opening season matchup at Linfield Christian school Saturday, Feb. 11.

Former Murrieta native Rickie Fowler finished at 5-under and tied for twentieth place at this past weekend’s Genesis Invitational in Pacific Palisades at the Riviera Country Club.

Valley News/David Canales photo

EAGLES from page C-1

Kevin Patton Jr. (0) drops 27 points for the Eagles as they defeat AGBU 6950 in the CIF-SS Division 2A semifinals.

Rancho Christian’s Martin Gumwel (34) drives to the basket Friday, Feb. 17.

Aaliyah Stanton (1), who had 39 points for Rancho Christian on the night, lays up a shot against South High School Wednesday, Feb. 15.

Rancho Christian’s Jada Tiggett (0) outjumps South’s Maddie Chung (25) for possession of the ball.

Valley News/David Canales photos

CIF Southern Section winter sports playoff updates

JP Raineri

Sports Editor

It has come down to the last week for local high school teams that advanced to the winter sports postseason of the CIF Southern Section playoffs. From the basketball courts and soccer fields to the water and wrestling mats, here is a breakdown of who still has a shot to be the last team standing in their respective division. On the basketball courts, for the boys’ division, 12 local teams went into the playoffs, and coming into this week, the only team still left is Rancho Christian in Division 2A. They will be taking on La Mirada in the finals. For the girls’ teams, 16 local teams advanced to the playoffs, and now, no it’s not a typo, Rancho Christian is also still the only team standing, and they will be playing in the Division 3A Finals against Chino. Time, location and date were still TBD for both teams at the time of this article going to print.

On the girls’ soccer fields, 16 local teams began their postseason journey two weeks ago, but only the Hemet Bulldogs, the No. 1 seed in Division 5, remain the last team standing. Hemet advances to the finals for the second consecutive year but have yet to win a section title in their two previous finals appearances. They will travel to face Crean Lutheran

(18-3-3) Friday, Feb. 24, at 5 p.m.

On the boys’ soccer fields there are no local teams that made it past the semifinal round, though there could be some CIF State appearances discussed in certain divisions after this weekend’s CIFSS Finals matches have concluded.

In the water, Murrieta Valley, after winning the CIF-SS Division 2 Finals this past weekend over Millikan, 7-6, the Nighthawks will be the No. 2 seed in the CIF State Division 2 regional bracket, and will host Grossmont from the San Diego Section in a first-round match this week.

Finally, on the wrestling mats,

here is a look at what happened this past weekend for local male and female wrestlers. A new format was put in place, which seemed to be well received. Instead of a two-day event with one individual champion in each weight class being crowned champion, the section went to a one-day meet with two 16-person brackets and two champions for each of the weight classes.

Two local male wrestlers claimed championships at the CIF Southern Section Masters Meet last Friday at Palm Springs High School. Lakeside’s Ryan Lobato advanced to the 126-pound finals in his bracket with two decisions and one technical fall. Lobato beat No. 2 seed Haden Hernandez of Marina in an ultimate tiebreaker to claim the championship. Temecula Valley’s Malikhi Espiritu was the area’s other individual champion as he advanced to the 132-pound final bracket with two pins and a decision. Espiritu beat Elijah Flores of Walnut on an ultimate tiebreaker to win the

CIF Southern Section boys’ volleyball and track and field coaches polls

championship.

The top five wrestlers in each bracket secured a spot for this week’s CIF State championship meet at Mechanics Bank Arena in Bakersfield. Temecula Valley leads the way with seven wrestlers headed to the state meet and were the only local team to finish inside the Top 10, placing fifth with 136.5 points. Lakeside and Paloma Valley both had three wrestlers qualify.

Here a list of the Inland boys’ wrestlers who qualified for the CIF State meet, with their bracket finishes in parenthesis.

113-pound: Steve Corona, Vista Murrieta (Blue, 5); Syruss Flores, Paloma Valley (Gold, 5). 120-pound: Aidan Munoz, Temecula Valley (Blue, 2). 126-pound: Ryan Lobato, Lakeside (Gold, 1); Justin Herrera, Chaparral (Blue, 2). 132-pound: Malikhi Espiritu, Temecula Valley (Gold, 1). 138-pound: Justin Wells, Lakeside (Gold, 2). 145-pound: Isaac Rea, Lakeside (Blue, 5). 152-pound: Elijah Benavidez, Paloma Valley (Blue, 4); Daniel Sterling, Temecula Valley (Blue, 5). 160-pound: Gabriel Barragan, West Valley (Blue, 3); Logan Alawneh, Temecula Valley (Blue, 4). 170-pound: Kameron Phillips, Temecula Valley (Blue, 4). 195-pound: Matthew PorrasDiamond, Temecula Valley (Blue, 2); Noah Bode, Vista Murrieta (Gold, 5). 220-pound: Vaughn Taylor, Chaparral (Blue, 4); Simon Flores, Paloma Valley (Blue, 5). 285-pound: Justice El-Sayad, Temecula Valley (Blue, 4).

Six female wrestlers from the local Southwest Riverside County area also claimed championships at the CIF Southern Section Masters Meet this past Saturday at Palm Springs High School.

In the 101-pound weight class, Hamilton’s Olivia Lopez claimed one title when she pinned Northview’s Lexi Garza, making it her fourth victory by pinfall. Lakeside’s Jillian Wells reached the final of her bracket with two pins and a decision, capturing the

POLO from page C-1

add another goal with 2 minutes left in the half, giving Murrieta Valley a 4-3 lead at the break.

On the opening possession of the second half, Millikan’s Jennine Osorio drew a penalty shot that Jensen would take for a chance to even the score, which she did from about 15 feet out. That’s when Kaili Boyer and Elizabeth Hernandez drew energy from the crowd, scoring goals less than a minute apart to give Murrieta Valley a 6-4 lead after three quarters. Hernandez would score again in the fourth quarter to extend the lead to 7-4.

The Nighthawks were aggressive on defense, limiting Millikan’s shot attempts up close, which forced them to shoot from the perimeter most of the match. Though Millikan ended up outshooting Murrieta Valley 39-21 throughout the match, Nighthawks goalkeeper, junior Jaden Soto, was a force to be reckoned with. Soto had 22 saves (11 in each half), but by far her highlight was when

championship with a 2-1 decision over Marina’s Nathalie Erazo. Paloma Valley’s Karissa Turnwall advanced to the 116-pound final with three pinfall victories and won a championship with a 12-3 major decision over Walnut’s Deandra Meza. Orange Vista’s Addison Ellis claimed a title at 131 pounds by winning all four of her matches via pinfall. Temescal Canyon’s Cara Cheng captured her 137-pound bracket championship with an 8-1 decision over Corona’s Phylicia Sudario, and Elsinore’s Gabby O’Connell claimed the 189-pound title when she scored a 5-0 decision over Schurr’s Isabell Sosa.

Aside from the champions, a handful of local female wrestlers also secured a spot for next week’s CIF State championship meet at Mechanics Bank Arena in Bakersfield. Paloma Valley, who took 70 overall as a team, leads the way sending three wrestlers to the state finals.

Here is a list of the Inland girls’ wrestlers who qualified for the CIF State meet, with their bracket finishes in parenthesis.

101-pound: Olivia Lopez, Hamilton (Blue, 1); Jillian Wells, Lakeside (Gold, 1). 111-pound: Karissa Turnwall, Paloma Valley (Gold, 1). 116-pound: Jiana Alexis Rivera, Paloma Valley (Blue, 4). 121-pound: Makayla Correa, Paloma Valley (Blue, 2). 131-pound: Addison Ellis, Orange Vista (Gold, 1). 137-pound: Cara Cheng, Temescal Canyon (Gold, 1). 150-pound: Andi Albers, Hemet (Blue, 4). 189-pound: Gabby O’Connell, Elsinore (Gold, 1); Diara Pomares, Hemet (Blue, 2). 235-pound: Anna Bozanic, Liberty (Blue, 3).

All postseason brackets and updates can be found by going to the top of the CIF Southern Section website at www.cifss.org. Please email socaltrekkie@gmail.com or sports@reedermedia.com if there are any changes that need to be made.

she blocked a second penalty shot by Jensen with five minutes remaining. The other Jensen in the water for the Rams, Larsen, would score a pair of goals to get them within one point at 7-6, but it wouldn’t be enough for Millikan as time ran out.

The Division 2 title win this past weekend is now Murrieta Valley’s sixth CIF Southern Section title, and first since 2016. Next up, both Millikan and the Nighthawks will focus on winning a CIF State regional championship. Murrieta Valley is the No. 2 seed in the Division 2 regional and will host Grossmont from the San Diego Section in a first-round match Tuesday, Feb. 21. The outcome of that game will take place after this article goes to print but will be updated online at www. myvalleynews.com. Matches are at 5 p.m. unless otherwise noted. (Sites and time are subject to change.)

JP Raineri can be reached by email at sports@reedermedia. com

The Temecula Valley wrestling program, pictured here winning the team portion of CIF-SS individual meet two weeks ago, will be sending seven wrestlers to this week’s CIF State championship meet at Mechanics Bank Arena in Bakersfield. Valley News/Action Captures Media Group

West Valley guard Natalie Derla (13) shoots a jump shot over Oak Park forward Delaney White (10) in CIF Southern Section Division 5A semifinal girls’ basketball action. Valley News/Action Captures Media Group

Vista Murrieta senior Lauren Schwartz scrambles for position in last week’s CIF-SS Division 2 quarterfinal round against Harvard-Westlake. Valley News/Rob Davis Photography

JP Raineri Sports Editor

The CIF Southern Section polls for boys’ and girls’ track and field, and boys’ volleyball were released earlier this week and here is a

look at the local area teams that have cracked the rankings. The following polls are managed by the committees that oversee each of their respective sports.

Vista Murrieta came in at the No. 8 spot in this week’s CIF Southern Section coaches polls for the boys’ teams.

Highway Update

Caltrans, California Fish and Wildlife working with firm

Tony Ault Staff Writer

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and Brightline West have announced an agreement to design and construct three wildlife overcrossings across Interstate 15 (I-15) and the future Brightline West high-speed rail system connecting Las Vegas and Southern California.

The dedicated overcrossings will provide a sustainable and safe path for wildlife, especially for bighorn sheep, over the existing northbound and southbound highway lanes and the future high-speed rail system to be built within the median.

CDFW has identified three priority locations for the wildlife overcrossing in San Bernardino County. These overcrossings will be built near Zzyzx Road, near Mountain Pass and near Rasor Road, spanning the entire width of I-15 including the Brightline West rail line. Beyond the three wildlife overcrossings, the Brightline West

project will maintain or improve more than 600 culverts and largescale crossings under I-15 that exist today. The project also will restore and install desert tortoise fencing and directional wildlife exclusionary fencing.

Giving wildlife freedom to roam despite the growing infrastructure needed to support California’s robust human population is a top priority for CDFW. San Bernardino County, where these overcrossings will be constructed, is a particularly high-need area.

Additionally, Brightline West is developing a 218-mile high-speed rail system designed to connect Las Vegas and Southern California with a fully electric, emission-free system that will include stations in Rancho Cucamonga, Hesperia, Apple Valley and Las Vegas. It will bring significant environmental and economic benefits, including the projected elimination of 3 million cars annually, the reduction of more than 400,000 tons of carbon emissions each year and the creation of an estimated 35,000 jobs.

Menifee

The Holland Road Overpass, Menifee Capital Improvement Project is well underway and will be closing the roadway between Hanover and Antelope roads for the duration of the project, which is expected to last 18 months. For additional information and to signup for project updates, please visit www.hollandoverpass.com.

The Menifee Road Capital Improvement Project on Menifee Road between Holland Road and Camino Cristal is currently in active construction. Work has begun on the medians and is expected to continue through mid-March. Traffic control will be in place during construction, but travel will be open in all directions.

Mediacom has completed utility installation work within the roadway on Cherry Hills Blvd. between Bradley Road and Sun City Boulevard. Asphalt repairs will be scheduled in the upcoming weeks. Traffic control will be in place during the active project phases. Traffic signal improvement

to

build 3 wildlife overcrossings

work at Garbani and Menifee roads continues with temporary traffic control to remain in place as necessary through February 2023.

Work continues on the traffic signal and median at McCall Blvd. and Ranch Road as part of the McCall Square project. The construction schedule for this project has been extended and is now expected to continue through April. Traffic control will remain in place for the duration of the project.

SoCal Gas Company will continue the installation of new pipeline infrastructure in the vicinity of Evans Road and Lazy Creek Road. Lane closures will remain in place for the next several months to support the project.

Matthews Road is closed at Menifee Road for more SoCal Gas Company work during daytime hours. Work is expected to continue through mid-March 2023. Traffic control will be in place during active construction.

For questions on the project/ construction updates listed, please contact Philip Southard, Public

Information and Legislative Affairs Officer, at (951) 746-0654 or at psouthard@cityofmenifee. us

Caltrans

Caltrans continues work on a $5.5 million project to construct and upgrade curb ramps to Americans with Disabilities Act standards and modify signal and lighting systems on State Route 111 (SR-111) in Palm Springs. Crews will continue work at various locations on SR-111 from Lawrence Crossley Road to West Gateway Drive. A minimum of one lane will be open in each direction at all times through Friday, Feb. 24.

RCTC

Night time closures on the eastbound Highway 60 truck and middle lanes from Gilman Springs Road to Jack Rabbit Trail were canceled last week but new construction work may be rescheduled. Check for any changes at https://www.facebook. com/60TruckLanes/.

Recent derailments don’t signify rail safety threats in Riverside, officials say

RIVERSIDE – A rash of train derailments, one of them resulting in a significant public health and environmental threat, do not reflect an overall breakdown in railroad safety, including along the network of railway lines that run through the Riverside metropolitan area, officials from two major rail operators insisted Friday, Feb. 17.

“Burlington Northern Santa Fe is committed to safely and securely delivering the goods and products the American public depends on every day, including hazardous materials,” Lena Kent, BNSF spokesperson, told City News Service. “BNSF has made a significant investment in infrastructure, technology deployment, rigorous employee and first responder training, improved operating practices and community safety efforts.”

Kent emphasized that BNSF utilizes “specialized rail cars” to

transport hazardous materials,” and that there’s a pre-programmed system in place to “determine the safest rail routes” for hazmat products before they’re shipped.

A nexus of rail lines running in all cardinal directions are operated by BNSF and Union Pacific in Riverside. The lines additionally extend through large swaths of Riverside County, often paralleling freeways.

According to the Riverside Department of Public Works, the transcontinental corridors “carry over 75% of the freight from the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles.”

“Everyday, approximately 128 trains pass through the city,” the agency stated.

Amtrak and Metrolink commuter trains also utilize the tracks.

UP spokeswoman Robynn Tysver said the freighter “shares the same goals as our customers and the communities we serve, to deliver every tank car safely.

“We are required by federal

law to transport chemicals and other hazardous commodities that Americans use daily, including fertilizer, ethanol, crude oil and chlorine,” she said. She pointed out that UP maintains a “24-hour, 365-days-ayear emergency critical center and a robust emergency management plan.

“We also have hazardous materials management teams placed regionally throughout our network to prevent, prepare and respond to emergency events,” Tysver said. “Union Pacific is using new technology and education to reduce variability and risks of derailment, and we are enhancing our training programs and re-emphasizing our safety culture through a joint effort with our union partners.”

BNSF did not have any association with the roughly half-dozen train derailments this month, which involved UP, Norfolk Southern and CSX.

The first and worst of the bizarre

string occurred on Feb. 3, when a 50-car freighter went off the rails and ended up in a crumpled heap in East Palestine, Ohio.

At least 11 cars were loaded with hazardous materials, including vinyl chloride used in construction and other applications. The substances were reportedly set aflame by railroad officials following consultation with federal authorities as part of a clearing process, sending up a chemical plume visible on National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration satellite images. The impacts to water channels, soil and air from the dioxins emanating from the spill and burn-off have yet to be fully assessed in East Palestine and surrounding locations, including nearby Pennsylvania farm country. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said earlier this week that he had “serious concerns” about management of the derailment and that Norfolk Southern would be held accountable for damages.

This past week, cargo trains crashed in Spartanburg, South Carolina; Houston, Texas; and on Thursday, Feb. 16, in Van Buren Township, Michigan. At least one of the box cars in the Michigan crash did contain hazardous materials, but according to published reports, there was no spill.

“Railroads are the safest mode of transportation, delivering more than 99.9% of the hazardous commodities (to) their destination safely, without a release,” Tysver said.

The most catastrophic derailment in the Inland Empire occurred in May 1989, when a Southern Pacific freighter went off the tracks in San Bernardino after losing its brakes in the Cajon Pass, destroying 11 homes, killing two people and rupturing the Calnev petroleum pipeline, causing a massive fire days later, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

Campbell honors Buddy Holly with February 3 skydiving jump

Joe Naiman Writer

Buzz Campbell agreed to join his son for a skydiving jump for his son’s 19th birthday. The earliest date available was February 3. Feb. 3, 1959, is known as “The day the music died.” The Winter Dance Party concert tour which included Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson (also known as the Big Bopper) played at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, on Feb. 2, 1959. After the concert Holly, Valens and Richardson were driven to Mason City Municipal Airport. The plane took off in the early hours of Feb. 3 and crashed shortly afterwards, killing the three musicians and the pilot.

Campbell, who has lived in Temecula since 2004, is a musician and is in a Winter Dance Party tribute band. The day before his jump he realized he would be in an airplane on Feb. 3.

“I thought about canceling, but I thought I need to jump in Buddy’s honor so that’s what I did,” Campbell said.

Twenty years after the crash, a Winter Dance Party concert was held in Clear Lake as a tribute to the 1959 musicians. That Winter Dance Party has now expanded to a three-day concert Thursday through Saturday the first week of February. Campbell is part of the John Mueller’s Winter Dance Party tribute band which played at the Surf Ballroom on Feb. 2, although he is also the guitarist for former Stray Cats bassist Lee Rocker and was not at the Surf Ballroom on the anniversary of the final concert for Holly, Valens and Richardson.

His parachute jump would be Campbell’s most significant link to the tribute. “It wasn’t my idea,” he said.

Campbell’s son Drew turned 19 on Feb. 4. “He likes challenges and he likes different stuff,” Campbell said.

His son wanted a skydiving experience. “I had never done it,” Campbell said. “I wanted to skydive when I was his age.”

Campbell was born in Dallas, Texas, and moved from Chicago, Illinois to the Bay Park area of San Diego when he was seven. He attended the School of the Madeleine, which is the grade school of Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Bay Park, and then attended University High School in San Diego. After graduating from University High School in 1987, Campbell worked at the Price Club (now Costco) in Bay Park for seven years. Some of the other Price Club staff members had been discussing a parachute jump.

“I wanted to go, but it didn’t work out,” Campbell said.

Campbell founded the band Hot Rod Lincoln in 1991. He was later with Sha Na Na. Music and family priorities kept him from skydiving until this year.

On Jan. 31 Campbell’s wife asked her son who was joining him for the skydive. “He said, ‘Nobody. Nobody will go,’” Campbell said.

Campbell’s wife didn’t want her son to jump alone. “She turned and looked at me,” Campbell said. “I can’t let him go alone, so I went.”

A flight out of Oceanside Municipal Airport which left at 9 a.m. Feb. 3 was the next available opportunity. “For the next two days I didn’t even want to think about it,” Campbell said.

A day later Campbell looked at the calendar and realized that he would be in a plane and jumping on the anniversary of the crash which killed the Winter Dance Party musicians.

“It was completely unintentional.

It just worked out that way,” Campbell said.

The original Winter Dance Party tour consisted of concerts in 24 towns on 24 consecutive days. Concert dates were based on venue availability rather than geographic synergy. On Feb. 1 the musicians played at the Riverside Ballroom in Green Bay, Wisconsin, after playing in Duluth, Minnesota, the night before.

“The routing was horrible. The roads were terrible. The weather was terrible,” Campbell said. A colder than normal winter in the upper Midwest combined with the failure of the heating system on the tour bus caused Holly to charter a plane after the Clear Lake concert. Holly’s drummer, Carl Bunch, had to be hospitalized due to frostbite Feb. 1 and did not make the trip to the Surf Ballroom. Waylon Jennings and Tommy Allsup were Holly’s other two backup musicians. Richardson was ill with the flu, so Jennings gave up his seat on the flight to Richardson. Allsup and Valens agreed to flip a coin for the final seat on the flight.

Crash attributions

The crash has been attributed to weather and visibility issues compounded by pilot error. Had the plane left after daybreak it likely would have arrived safely in Fargo, North Dakota, and the musicians would have had time to travel to Moorhead, Minnesota, for the Feb. 3 concert. “I think that’s a fair assumption,” Campbell said.

Dion and the Belmonts and Frankie Sardo were also headline acts. Campbell has met Dion DiMucci, who is originally from New York City. DiMucci told Campbell that the weather was cold from DiMucci’s New York perspective.

Holly and Richardson were from Texas. Valens was from the Los

Angeles County town of Pacoima.

“They were not used to that kind of cold,” Campbell said.

Campbell’s Feb. 3 flight during daylight thus avoided the risks the Winter Dance Party musicians had. Campbell also would have taken a Feb. 3 flight had he played with John Mueller’s Winter Dance Party at the Surf Ballroom on Feb. 2.

John Mueller’s Winter Dance Party has played at the Winter Dance Party in Clear Lake in the past, and Campbell has been part of that. “It’s an amazing event,” he said.

“So many people come from all over the world to it,” Campbell said. “It’s just amazing to see the giant age group.”

Giant mural tribute

A giant mural of Holly, Valens and Richardson faces the stage. “It’s an incredible experience,” Campbell said. “To be able to play in that room and play those songs and keep that music alive, it’s very special.”

Campbell, who turned 54 in January, has enjoyed being in the Surf Ballroom for other events even before joining John Mueller’s Winter Dance Party. “As a 20-something year old it was very glamorous,” he said.

Mueller and Campbell have been friends since the 1990s. Mueller has been re-creating the stops of the 1959 tour. This year the group played at the Riverside Ballroom and in Dubuque, Iowa, as well as at the Surf Ballroom.

Campbell has also been to the site of the crash. “That was a really weird feeling because it really became real,” he said. “It just made it so real. It broke my heart.”

This year’s Riverside Ballroom concert was Feb. 10, and Campbell took a Feb. 9 flight to join John Mueller’s Winter Dance Party.

“That’s a big honor, too, to play the

Riverside in Green Bay,” he said.

The Dubuque concert was Feb. 4, as was Lee Rocker’s concert at The Ranch in Laguna Beach. Campbell thus missed the Dubuque concert as well as the Surf Ballroom concert, but he is usually with John Mueller’s Winter Dance Party. “The only time I’m not doing that gig is if I’ve got something else with Lee,” Campbell said.

Because Campbell was not performing with Rocker on Feb. 3, Mueller was willing to fly Campbell to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport for the Feb. 2 concert. “As much as I enjoy the experience I was not looking forward to flying out there to Minneapolis,” Campbell said.

The concern wasn’t the Feb. 3 return flight date but the round trip for a limited amount of hours performing. Campbell told Mueller that he would be willing to make the trip but if Mueller could find another musician who wouldn’t incur the plane fare Mueller should use that musician.

Robby Vee took Campbell’s place at the Feb. 2 Surf Ballroom concert. “When Robby was available I was very happy that he stepped in,” Campbell said.

That wasn’t just due to Campbell not having to make the trip. The original Winter Dance Party tour continued after the crash. Jennings transitioned from backup musician to headliner. Vee’s father, Bobby Vee, actually made his performance debut at the Moorhead concert.

“How strange is that?” Campbell said of Bobby Vee’s son taking over on Feb. 2. “There’s an incredible amount of history there.”

Holly, Valens and Richardson were driven to Mason City Municipal Airport. Campbell and his son drove to Oceanside see CAMPBELL, page C-6

Paul J. Young City News Service

Residents say they’ve broken out in rashes after East Palestine, Ohio train derailment

Jack Phillips

The Epoch Times

Locals who live near the train derailment and release of toxic chemicals near East Palestine , Ohio, have complained about various health problems since the incident unfolded earlier this month, including rashes, headaches, and other issues. And they’ve expressed concerns that these new symptoms may be tied to the chemicals that were burned or released.

The Feb. 3 derailment triggered officials to initiate a controlled release and burn of various chemicals as they cited concerns that those materials would explode and send out deadly shrapnel. Chemicals carried on the Norfolk Southern-operated train include toxic vinyl chloride gas, which was vented and burned, releasing a large cloud of black smoke that hung over the area for days.

A plume of chemicals from the train derailment was also detected heading down the Ohio River, although some Ohio environmental officials assert that they may largely be fire retardant substances used to put out the fire. Other chemicals carried on the train include butyl acrylate, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether acetate, and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate,

the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said.

Residents of East Palestine were told they could return to their homes on Feb. 8. Since then, there have been reports from locals of adverse health events they’ve suffered amid separate reports of animals, including fish and chickens, dying off.

“When we went back on the 10th, that’s when we decided that we couldn’t raise our kids here,” local Amanda Greathouse told CNN, adding that in the area, there was a smell that “reminded me of hair perming solution.”

About 30 minutes after returning home earlier this month, she developed nausea and a rash, Greathouse told the network. Her house is located about a block from the train derailment site.

“When we left, I had a rash on my skin on my arm, and my eyes were burning for a few days after that,” added Greathouse, who said she has two preschool-age children.

“The chemical smell was so strong that it made me nauseous,” Greathouse said. “I just wanted to quickly pick up what I needed and leave. I only took a few pieces of clothes because even the clothes smelled like chemicals, and I’m afraid to put them on my kids.”

Another local, Katlyn

Civil Support Team members prepare to enter an incident area to assess remaining hazards with a lightweight inflatable decontamination system (LIDS) in East Palestine, Ohio, on Feb. 7, 2023.

Schwarzwaelder, said she and her boyfriend, Chris, returned home to East Palestine earlier this month. A rash broke out almost instantly after she came back, she told NewsNation.

“I undressed to get into the shower, and I had a rash all over the side of my face on both sides and all over my chest,”

Schwarzwaelder said, adding:

“My boyfriend Chris also had a rash on his left side, and I mean to this moment, right now, I have just a really low-grade constant headache.”

Dave Anderson, a farmer in nearby New Galilee, Pennsylvania, told the Washington Post last week that both he and his family have experienced a burning sensation in the mouth, tongue, and lips

about a day after the crash. Other symptoms reported include tongue swelling, runny nose, and watery eyes. Anderson added that “our tongues still feel like they have been scalded—like if you drank something that was too hot.”

Reprinted with permission from The Epoch Times.

Biden makes surprise visit to Ukraine, pledges $500 million more in aid

Tom Ozimek

The Epoch Times

President Joe Biden made an unannounced visit to Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 20, in a major show of support days ahead of the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion.

Biden met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said he and the U.S. president discussed the provision of longrange weapons for Kyiv amid Ukraine’s repeated urgent appeals for more military support.

The U.S. president pledged an additional half-billion dollars in aid and vowed that the United States would continue to stand by Ukraine in the conflict.

“As the world prepares to mark the one-year anniversary of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, I am in Kyiv today to meet with President Zelenskyy and reaffirm our unwavering and unflagging commitment to

CAMPBELL from page C-5

Municipal Airport. Campbell’s wife did not travel to Oceanside.

“She didn’t want to watch,”

Campbell said.

Campbell didn’t think the plane would crash, but he knew he would be leaving the plane approximately 15,000 feet above the ground. “I was never so scared stepping onto an airplane as I was in that one,” he said.

The plane took approximately 15 minutes to reach 15,000 feet.

Campbell and his son were in the second group to jump. They were assisted by staff members who joined them on the jump. “I felt safe because you’ve got really experienced guys,” Campbell said. Campbell descended for about a minute before he pulled the ripcord to open the parachute. “It felt like forever,” he said.

After the ripcord was pulled, the descent took between five and ten minutes. “Once you start falling you settle into a speed,” Campbell said. “It was actually quite pleasant.”

During the descent Campbell was able to see much of San Diego County from the air.

Ukraine’s democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity,” Biden said in a statement.

Biden’s visit comes a day before Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to make a major address, in which he’s expected to lay out Moscow’s objectives for the second year of what he calls a “special military operation.”

Putin has long argued that Moscow’s actions are a kind of preemptive strike taken in selfdefense to neutralize a growing military threat by Ukraine.

The Kremlin claims that Western powers led by the United States have sought to establish a NATO bulwark on Russia’s borders.

Vasily Nebenzya, Russia’s envoy to the United Nations, several days ago accused the West of scuttling a Russia–Ukraine peace framework known as the Minsk Agreements.

“The Minsk process was just a smokescreen to rearm the Kiev

“It’s really a mental thing more than anything,” Campbell said of skydiving.

Holly wore horned-rimmed glasses, and Campbell was able to wear horned-rimmed glasses in his jump in honor of Holly. “I had to do it,” he said.

That ensured that Campbell would remember that he was flying and jumping on the anniversary of Holly’s death. “I couldn’t stop thinking about it all day,” Campbell said. “It was on my mind the whole time.”

The Million Dollar Quartet consisted of Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash. All four of those died of natural causes. Lewis, who passed away October 28, was the last surviving member.

Campbell met Perkins when Campbell was performing with Rocker. Mueller has formed a Million Dollar Quartet tribute band called One Night in Memphis, and Campbell will portray Perkins.

Campbell’s first show as Perkins will take place Feb. 25 in Florida.

“I’m excited to portray him,” Campbell said.

regime and prepare it for war against Russia in the name of your geopolitical interests,” Nebenzya said in a statement.

‘Ukraine Stands’

At a joint press conference in Kyiv, Biden recounted the early days of the invasion and fears at the time that the invasion might spell the end of Ukraine.

“One year later, Kyiv stands, and Ukraine stands,” Biden said. “And America stands with you, and the world stands with you.”

“This is the largest land war in Europe in three-quarters of a century, and you’re succeeding against all and every expectation except your own,” Biden said, adding that he has “every confidence [Ukraine is] going to continue to prevail.”

Biden announced that in addition to the half-billion dollars in aid, the United States would be sending Ukraine howitzer shells, anti-tank missiles, and air surveillance radars but none of the new advanced weaponry that Kyiv has been seeking.

Ukrainian leaders have repeatedly called for Western powers to provide fighter jets.

On the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference several days ago, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba reiterated his appeal for the jets.

The West has been reluctant to send fighter jets into the conflict zone, fearing an escalation that might spill across the border into NATO-allied countries and potentially trigger the alliance’s Article 5 provisions that an attack on one is considered an attack on all.

Zelenskyy said at the joint press conference that he and Biden spoke about “long range weapons and the weapons that may still be supplied to Ukraine even though it wasn’t supplied before,” though he didn’t go into details.

Biden also said that he would announce later in the week additional sanctions against Russia.

Biden Heads to Poland

The U.S. president’s surprise visit to Kyiv comes ahead of a scheduled trip to Warsaw, Poland, which has been a major supporter of Ukraine in the conflict and which serves as a key hub for supplying weapons and other aid.

“I also look forward to traveling on to Poland to meet President Duda and the leaders of our Eastern Flank Allies, as well as deliver remarks on how the United States will continue to rally the world to support the people of Ukraine and the core values of human rights and dignity,” Biden said.

There had been speculation ahead of Biden’s trip to Kyiv as to whether the U.S. president would pay a visit to Ukraine around the anniversary of Russia’s invasion.

The White House repeatedly said that there was no trip planned, though analysts said that security concerns would have made information about such plans tightly held.

Reporters asked White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby on Feb. 17 whether Biden might visit other destinations aside from Poland.

“Right now, the trip is going to be in Warsaw,” Kirby said at the time.

Biden’s trip to Kyiv is his first visit to a war zone as president. Reprinted with permission from The Epoch Times.

It may be painful to think about your funeral, but it doesn’t have to be painful to pay for it.

ONG 52nd

(Ohio National Guard via AP)

President Joe Biden walks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at St. Michael's Golden-Domed Cathedral on a surprise visit, Monday, Feb. 20, 2023, in Kyiv.

(AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)

Isabelle Lee wins Lions Club 86th Annual Student Speakers Contest

Diane Sieker Staff Writer

The Lions Club of Anza Valley announced Hamilton High School student Isabelle Lee as the winner

of their 86th Annual Student Speakers Contest held Thursday, Feb. 16 at the Anza Community Hall.

The topic of the contest was “Social Media: Connects Us or

Winter storm causes dangerous icy conditions on High Country roads

Isolates Us?” Lee presented her talk to a hushed room whose audience followed strict rules controlling cell phone interruptions, chatter and other distractions for the contestants.

Thursday, Feb. 16. Anza Valley Outlook/Diane Sieker photo

Judges Kathy Blaie, Betsy Hansen and Ellen Elmore carefully recorded their impressions and these checklists were handed to Nuview Lion Amanda Wilcox and District 4L5 Treasurer and Nuview

Lion Andrea Green for review. Lee was announced the winner to spectator applause. She won a $100 prize and will now progress

see WINNER, page D-4

Lake Hemet fishermen land dozens of huge trout

Diane Sieker Staff Writer

Lake Hemet has been attracting visitors from near and far recently after word of a huge stocking of rainbow trout circulated in fishing circles across Southern California. Local Anza resident Russell Kitchen has been having great success with fishing in recent weeks.

“Lake Hemet is kicking out solid fish,” Andrew Mack, a longtime fishing expert, reported. He works at Western Outdoor News, writes Mack’s Fish Reports at Angler Chronicles and is the creator of Mack’s Fish Reports. “Russell Kitchen has been putting the smack down on these trout from shore and on a boat. There have been some awesome catches after the first plant of the season went in on Tuesday, Jan. 31. This lake has boat rentals, camping sites and lots of fish swimming around. Definitely a spot to check out. Even the local bald eagles get in on the trout fishing.”

Diane Sieker

Staff Writer

Anza Valley residents were surprised when a quick-moving winter storm blew through the area Wednesday, Feb. 15, leaving snow levels down below 2,500 feet and roads completely iced over by record low temperatures.

Eleni Malandrinos reports that Red Mountain Road just past Sudami and Mesa Drive is covered in dangerous ice with vehicles unable to move without sliding Wednesday, Feb. 15. Anza Valley Outlook/Courtesy photo higher elevations in the Valley, received only a few inches of snow from the windy, frigid weather event, while lower elevations received one to two inches. But the real danger with this storm was the record cold temperatures causing water pipes to burst, freezing livestock water tanks see ROADS, page D-4

Certain areas, mainly at the

The recent trout plant in January resulted in 4,000 pounds of fish, many trophy-sized lunkers. And according to fishing reports, they are hungry.

“We will be planting another 4,000 pounds at the end of February, so make your camping reservations now or come up and visit us for the day,” Hemet Lake Campground reported on social media. After a troublesome bout with a destructive algae bloom recently,

Anza resident Russell Kitchen displays a large trout he caught at Lake Hemet Sunday, Feb. 5. the lake has since been pronounced clear and safe.

“The results are in and our water has no detectable toxic algae. Anglers are welcome to keep any fish caught and kayaking has

resumed without restriction,” the campground reported.

Trout, bass, bluegill and catfish are stocked at Lake Hemet.

Anza Valley Outlook/Courtesy photo see TROUT, page D-2

From left, Lions Club of Anza Valley president Greg Sandling, Lions secretary Chris Skinner, Student Speaker Contest winner Isabelle Lee, contest judges Kathy Blair, Betsy Hansen and Ellen Elmore take part in an awards presentation at the Lions Club 86th Annual Student Speakers Contest

ANZA’S UPCOMING EVENTS

If you have an upcoming community event, email it to valleyeditor@reedermedia.com put “attention events” in the subject line. Readers should call ahead on some listed events for the latest updates.

Regular Happenings

ONGOING – Anza Electric Cooperative and F.I.N.D. Food Bank offers a free mobile food pantry the second Saturday of every month at the AEC office, 58470 Highway 371, from 10:3011:30 a.m. All are welcome. CalFresh application assistance and free community health services are also available. Bring your own reusable bags to take food home. Volunteers welcome. For more information, contact the AEC office at 951-763-4333.

Hamilton High School – Find

out what is happening using Hamilton’s online calendar at http://www.hamiltonbobcats.net/ apps/events/calendar/.

Hamilton Museum – 10 a.m.

to 2 p.m. Open Wednesdays and Saturdays at 39991 Contreras Road in Anza. For more information, call 951-763-1350 or visit http:// www.hamiltonmuseum.org. Find them on Facebook at “HamiltonMuseum-and-Ranch-Foundation.”

Backcountry Horsemen

Redshank Riders – Meeting monthly on the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. Locations change, so please contact Mike by email at stumblinl55@gmail.com or by calling (951) 760-9255.

Health, exercise, resources and recovery meetings

Fit after 50 – 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Tuesday and Friday mornings at Anza Community Hall. Free. Wear comfortable clothes and supportive shoes. Call or text instructor Teresa Hoehn, at 951751-1462 for more information.

Narcotics Anonymous

Meeting – 6 p.m. Every Tuesday at Shepherd Of The Valley Church, 56095 Pena Road, in Anza. Open participation.

Veterans’ Gathering Mondays

9-11 a.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 39075 Contreras Road, in Anza. Men and women veterans come to share and help each other deal with posttraumatic stress disorder and other difficulties. Call John Sheehan at 951-923-6153. If you need an advocate to help with VA benefits, call Ronnie Imel at 951-659-9884.

The Most Excellent Way –Christ-centered recovery program for all kinds of addiction meets Fridays from 7-8:30 p.m. and Tuesdays from 8-10 a.m. Program is court approved; child care is provided. Transportation help is available. The group meets at 58050 Highway 371; the cross street is Kirby Road in Anza.

AA Men’s Meeting – 7 p.m.

Meetings take place Thursdays at 39551 Kirby Road in Anza, south of Highway 371.

Alcoholics Anonymous – 8 p.m. Wednesday evenings at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 56095 Pena Road in Anza. For more information, call 951763-4226.

Bereaved Parents of the USA

– The Aguanga-Anza Chapter of BPUSA will hold its meetings at 6 p.m. on the first and third Wednesday of each month at 49109 Lakeshore Blvd. in Aguanga. For more information, contact chapter leader Linda Hardee at 951-5512826.

Free Mobile Health Clinic

Open every third Wednesday of the month from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. No appointment is needed. Uninsured may only be seen in the Anza Community Hall’s parking lot or inside the hall.

Medication Assistance and Treatment for Opioid Dependence – Get treatment for heroin addiction. Transportation to the clinic is provided. For more information, contact Borrego Health’s Anza Community Health Center, 58581 Route 371, in Anza. For more information, call 951763-4759.

Food ministries

F.U.N. Group weekly food ministry – Deliveries arrive noon Thursdays at the Anza Community Hall. To order a paid box and help feed those who can’t afford to pay, drop off payment and cash donations by Thursday at 1:30 p.m., to ERA Excel Realty, 56070 Highway 371, in Anza. Pay inside or drop off during the day in the red box outside. To drop it off, put name and request on an envelope with payment inside. A $30 box has about $100 worth of food and feeds six people. Half boxes are available for $15. Food is delivered once a week to those who cannot find a ride. For more information, call Bill Donahue at 951-288-0903.

Living Hope Christian Fellowship Community Dinner

1 p.m. Dinners are held the last Sunday of the month at the Anza Community Hall. All are welcome. Donations of time, money, etc. are always welcome.

Food for the Faithful – 8 a.m. The food bank hands out food the last Friday of the month until the food is gone. The clothes closet will be open too. Emergency food handed out as needed at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. FFF is a non-denominational nonprofit. All in need are welcome; call Esther Barragan at 951-763-5636.

Bible Studies

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Anza Sunday Sacrament is held 10 a.m.; Sunday School is 11 a.m. Priesthood/Relief Society meets noon; Wednesday Boy Scouts gathers 6 p.m. and Youth Night is 7 p.m. For more information, call Ruiz at 951-445-7180 or Nathan at 760-399-0727. The Wednesday Genealogy/Family History Class, 5-8 p.m., is open to the public at 39075 Contreras Road in Anza.

Native Lighthouse Fellowship 10 a.m. The group meets the first Saturday of the month, and breakfast is served. All are welcome to fellowship together at the “Tribal Hall” below the casino in Anza. For more information, call Nella Heredia at 951-7630856.

Living Hope Bible Study –8-10 a.m. Tuesdays at Living Hope Christian Fellowship, 58050 Highway 371, in Anza. All are welcome. For more information, call Pastor Kevin at 951-763-1111.

Anza RV Clubhouse – 7 p.m., the second Wednesday of the Month, Pastor Kevin officiates at 41560 Terwilliger Road in Anza.

Monthly Christian Men’s Breakfast – 9 a.m. Breakfast takes place the fourth Saturday of each month and rotates to different locations. Contact Jeff Crawley at 951-763-1257 for more information.

Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church – 10 a.m. Weekly Wednesday Bible study takes place at 56095 Pena Road in Anza. Call 951-763-4226 for more information.

Valley Gospel Chapel – 7 a.m. Saturday Men’s Study meets weekly with breakfast usually served at 43275 Chapman Road in the Terwilliger area of Anza. For more information, call 951763-4622.

Anza First Southern Baptist Church - Begin your week with Sunday School for all ages at 9 a.m., followed by Sunday morning worship at 10:30 a.m. On Sunday nights, the church has prayer on the 1st and 4th Sundays from 6-7 p.m. and Bible study on the 2nd and 3rd Sundays from 6-8 p.m. On Monday evenings, from 6-8 p.m., the youth group (6th to 12th grade) meets for games and Bible study. Anza Baptist Church also offers Men’s and Women’s Ministries, a Homeschool Support Group, Summer Vacation Bible School, and Senior’s Ministry. The church office is open Wednesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The church is located at 39200 Rolling Hills Road in Anza. For more information, contact the church at 951-763-4937 or visit www. anzabaptistchurch.com.

Clubs Anza Valley VFW Post 1873

Capt. John Francis Drivick III Post, the Ladies’ and Men’s Auxiliaries are located at 59011 Bailey Road in Anza. Mail P.O. Box 390433. Request monthly newsletter and or weekly menu by email at vfw1873anzaca@ gmail.com. For more information, call 951-763-4439 or visit http:// vfw1873.org. High Country 4-H Club – 6:30 p.m. Meetings are on the third Wednesday of the month, except February, at Anza Community Hall. 4-H Club is for youth 5 to 19 years old offering a variety of projects. High Country 4-H Club is open to children living in the Anza, Aguanga and surrounding areas. For more information, call Allison Renck at 951-663-5452.

Anza Valley Artists Meetings – 1 p.m. Meetings are the third Saturday of each month at various locations. Share art, ideas and participate in shows. Guest speakers are always needed. For more information, call president Rosie Grindle at 951-928-1248. Find helpful art tips at http://www. facebook.com/AnzaValleyArtists/ Anza Quilter’s Club – 9:30 a.m. to noon. Meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at the Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 56095 Pena Road, in Anza.

Anza Valley Lions Club – The Anza Valley Lions Club has been reinstated and is open to all men and women who want to work together for the betterment of the community. The group is working on securing a new venue for meetings. Meetings and events are posted on the Anza Lions Club of Anza Valley Facebook page at https://www.facebook. com/LionsofAnzaValley. For more information, email president Greg Sandling at President. AnzaLions@gmail.com or Chris Skinner at Secretary.AnzaLions@ gmail.com

Boy Scouts Troop 319 – Cub Scouts meet 6 p.m. every Tuesday, and Boy Scouts meet 7 p.m. every Wednesday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Contreras Road, south of state Route 371, in Anza. For more information, call Richard Hotchkiss at 951-551-3154.

Boys Scouts Troop 371 – Boy Scouts meet at Lake Riverside

Estates. For more information, call Ginny Kinser at 909-702-7902. Civil Air Patrol – Squadron 59 is looking for new members of all ages. For more information, call squadron commander Maj. Dennis Sheehan from the Anza area at 951-403-4940. To learn more and see the club’s meeting schedule, visit http://www.squadron59.org. Fire Explorer Program – 6 p.m. The program meets every second, third and fourth Tuesday of the month at Fire Station 29 on state Route 371 in Anza. Call 951763-5611 for information. Redshank Riders – 7 p.m. Backcountry horsemen meet at the Little Red Schoolhouse in Anza, the second Thursday of each month. Visit http://www. redshankriders.com or call Carol Schmuhl for membership information at 951-663-6763.

Anza Thimble Club – The club meets the first Thursday of the month at Valley Gospel Chapel, 43275 Chapman Road in Anza. The social hour is 11:30 a.m., and lunch is served at noon. Contact Carol Wright at 951-763-2884 for more information.

Organizations Terwilliger Community Association – 6 p.m. Second Monday of the month at VFW Post 1873, 59011 Bailey Road, in Anza. Potluck dinner open to all. For more information, call Tonie Ford at 951-763-4560.

From the Heart Christian Women’s Ministries – Noon. Monthly luncheon and guest speaker are held the second Saturday of each month. The $5 charge covers lunch at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 56095 Pena Road, in Anza. From the Heart helps the area’s neediest children and invites all women and men to join in their mission. Donate or help with the rummage sales twice a year to raise funds for the cause or other events. For more information, call president Christi James at 951-595-2400.

Anza Community Hall – 7 p.m. General membership meetings are held the fourth Thursday of the month. Memberships cost $20 per person or $35 per business, and both get one vote. No government funds are allocated for the Hall, which pays its bills through memberships and swap meets. Voting members receive discounts off hall rentals, swap meet booths and save on propane gas from Ferrellgas. Mail membership to: Anza Community Building Inc. at P.O. Box 390091, Anza, CA 92539. The hall is located at 56630 Highway 371 in Anza. Swap meet held each Saturday of the month, weather permitting, early morning to 1 p.m. Vendors wanted. For more information, call 951-2824267.

Anza Civic Improvement League – 9 a.m. meets the first Saturday of each month at the Little Red Schoolhouse. The league maintains Minor Park and Little Red School House, which are both available to rent for events. No government funds are allowed; the membership pays the bills – $10 a person, $18 family or $35 business membership. For more information, visit http:// www.anzacivic.org.

TROUT from page D-1

Fish take limits are as follows: 5 trout, 5 bass (12-inch minimum), 10 catfish, 25 bluegill.

Fishing licenses are available at the lake. Licenses are required for persons aged 16 and above. No license required for ages 15 and under. Day use is open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Overnight camping is open as well at the campground. The lake is one of the most popular spots in Southern California for camping and fishing.

“Lake Hemet is again on the radar for big fish,” Mack said. To learn more about fishing at Lake Hemet, visit them on the web at https://lakehemetrecreation. com.

Diane Sieker can be reached by email at dsieker@reedermedia. com

CHP says over 50% of fatal crashes are caused by roadway departure

Diane Sieker Staff Writer

The California Highway Patrol has reminded motorists again this year that one of the most common causes of collisions in the state is a violation of California Vehicle Code 22107. Many drivers violate this section when they allow their vehicle to leave the roadway and travel onto the shoulder.

The code states that, “No person shall turn a vehicle from a direct course or move right or left upon a roadway until such movement can be made with reasonable safety and then only after the giving of an appropriate signal in the manner provided in this chapter in the event any other vehicle may be affected by the movement.”

According to the CHP, over 50% of California’s fatal crashes are the result of roadway departure.

For example, if a driver allowed their vehicle to drift to the right onto the dirt shoulder, it could cause the driver to panic and overcorrect, steering violently back onto the roadway. This action may cause the driver to lose control and subsequently cause the vehicle to overturn.

Additionally, drivers typically overcorrect in order to avoid what they believe is a dangerous situation, but they end up putting themselves in more danger by making this error.

To avoid overcorrecting and losing control of your auto, slow down and do not jerk the steering wheel. Don’t slam on the brakes, simply take your foot off the gas pedal and allow your vehicle to decelerate. Keep a firm grip on the steering wheel so you can maintain control. Apply the brakes gently when your vehicle is traveling in a straight line in order to avoid overturning. And most of all, remain calm, CHP suggests.

State and federal transportation entities are working together to create safer roads. Rumble strips provide an audible warning and

physical vibration to alert drivers that they are leaving the roadway.

The deployment of these devices has shown good results in reducing these types of road crashes. Most rumble strips and rumble stripes are milled into the pavement and are installed along both the center line and shoulder and painted over with reflective striping to increase their visibility.

In 2012, the Federal Highway Administration Office of Safety developed a Roadway Departure Safety Implementation Plan that assessed the entire California state highway system and suggested locations for rumble strips, as well as other safety measures.

Carmakers are building road departure warning systems into their new automobiles. Road Departure Mitigation alerts drivers when lane drift is detected without a turn signal in use and can apply mild steering torque to assist the driver in maintaining proper lane position or even brake pressure to slow the vehicle’s departure from a detected lane.

Honda’s Lane Departure Warning system uses cameras mounted near the rearview mirror to detect lane markings. When the wheels of the vehicle move past the lane marker, a flashing indicator and beeping alert warns the driver to move back into the lane. In some cases, the steering wheel and seat vibrate to ensure that the driver is aware that the vehicle is drifting, so the car can safely move back into the lane. This system doesn’t send an alert if the driver uses the turn signal before crossing the lane marker.

Always do your best to drive in an alert, undistracted manner. Know your surroundings and watch the edge of the road carefully. It is much better to make it safely to your destination rather than becoming another highway statistic.

Diane Sieker can be reached by email at dsieker@reedermedia. com

The open road demands a motorist’s alert attention at all times.

Trial date set for trio accused of abducting, killing Anza man

City News Service

Special to the Valley News

A March 17 trial date was confirmed on Friday, Feb. 17 for three men accused of abducting, severely beating and fatally shooting an Anza man because they believed he might snitch on them for perpetrating thefts at marijuana cultivation sites.

George Frank Holley Jr., 39, of Oklahoma City, Joe Anthony Serna, 37, of Anza and Nico Manuel Zahir, 28, of Anza are accused in the slaying of 42- yearold Brian Messina.

Each defendant is charged with first-degree murder, assault

resulting in great bodily injury and a special-circumstance allegation of killing during the course of a kidnapping. Serna and Zahir are additionally charged with firearm assault, making criminal threats and false imprisonment.

During a status conference at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta Friday, Feb. 17, Riverside County Superior Court Judge John Monterosso conferred with the prosecution and defense regarding scheduling, and all sides agreed to work toward clearing their calendars for proceedings beginning the third week of March.

Each defendant is being held without bail at the Byrd Detention

Center in Murrieta.

Sheriff’s investigators allege that the men suspected Messina was secretly gathering evidence against them in connection with multiple armed thefts at illegal cannabis grows in the Azna Valley.

Holley was the first to make the allegation against his former friend, according to an arrest warrant affidavit filed by sheriff’s Detective Lance Stoyer.

He wrote that Holley had witnessed Messina using his mobile phone to record audio of conversations the men had concerning the thefts. “Holley privately spoke to Serna about the recordings and planned

Living Free Animal Sanctuary dog of the week Meet Daphne

to search Messina’s cellular phone without Messina’s knowledge or consent,” according to the affidavit.

The men were ultimately able to access the phone, and while scanning data, “Serna saw a social message that Messina had sent (stating) that if he — Messina — were to go missing or found dead, Serna would be responsible for the murder,” Stoyer wrote.

The three alleged conspirators became convinced Messina was a liability, prompting a confrontation at a residence in the 39600 block of Howard Road in Anza on the night of Nov. 29, 2020, according to the affidavit.

In a later interview, Holley told investigators that a verbal altercation erupted, and Serna and Zahir attacked the victim, with Zahir pistol- whipping him and Serna kicking him multiple times, the affidavit alleged. The defendants beat Messina into submission, then forced him into a Toyota Tundra pickup and drove to a remote section of Bautista Road, where they all got out, at which point Zahir used a shotgun to execute the victim on the side of the road, Stoyer alleged. None of the defendants have documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.

Meet Daphne! She is an 8-yearold female terrier mix. Daphne is a free-spirited girl. She loves people and looks forward to daily walks and playing in the park. Daphne is a spunky, happy dog. She prefers being the center of attention and would do best in a home without other animals.

Daphne would love an adopter that will spend time with her and make her a part of their lives.

Living Free is a nonprofit animal sanctuary whose primary mission is to rescue dogs and cats whose time is up at public shelters.

Living Free Animal Sanctuary is located on 155 acres in the San Jacinto Mountains near Idyllwild, California. A diamond in the rough, the property is home to our kennel-in-the-round, Give Life Park, catteries and protected openair “catios”, breathtaking scenery,

and wide open fields for the wild mustangs and rescued burros to run free.

Open by appointment

For dog adoptions, call (951) 321-9982, for cat adoptions, call (951) 491-1898, and for other inquiries, call (951) 659-4687.

To book a tour, visit www. living-free.org/visit-us . Living Free is located at 54250 Keen Camp Road in Mountain Center.

Anza Valley Outlook/Diane Sieker photo

Valley News/Courtesy photos

WINNER from page D-1

to compete in the Lions Club Zone, District, Area and Final contests for a chance to win a $10,000 scholarship.

Students entering the contests needed to prepare a talk to be as close as possible to, but not over 10 minutes or less than five minutes delivery time. Contestants are allowed to use their notes at the club-level contest.

No watches, identifying badges or school uniforms, prompters, or props are allowed to be worn or used during these events.

For more information regarding the Lions Club of Anza Valley, please email Greg Sandling at President.AnzaLions@gmail.com or visit them at www.facebook. com/LionsofAnzaValley.

Diane Sieker can be reached by email at dsieker@reedermedia. com

From left, Nuview Lion Amanda Wilcox, Lions Club of Anza president Greg Sandling and District 4L5 Treasurer and Nuview Lion Andrea Green oversee the competition at the Lions Club 86th Annual Student Speakers Contest Thursday, Feb. 16.

ROADS from page D-1

solid and creating some of the most dangerous road conditions residents have seen in recent decades.

“You know, it has snowed many times,” Sage resident Eleni Malandrinos said. “I’ve left my house and the roads were always fine, but this time was the most freakiest ever. I have never seen it this bad ever since I moved here in 1996.”

The US National Weather Service San Diego reported Feb. 15, “It sure is chilly out there this morning. Check out the preliminary lows from this morning, with most areas not having seen temps this cold for 2-3 months, and a few seeing their coldest lows of this winter so far. One inch of snow was reported all the way down to about 2,500 feet in San Diego County last night.”

Additional record lows were recorded Thursday, Feb. 16 across Southern California.

Roads that were covered by

sleet and snow iced overnight and created havoc for commuters Wednesday morning. School buses attempting to pick up students were forced to shelter in place temporarily and school called off for the day. Many residents were forced to stay in their homes until the road conditions improved. R2 chain requirements were enacted for Hwy. 371 and 74. Cars and trucks slid off roads, unable to gain traction on the icy asphalt. Officially, Anza experiences an average of just over five inches of snow each winter. This number indicates that some years receive less and some more of the cold snow, resulting in that average mark.

According to records kept from 1943-2005, average precipitation received in the Anza Valley is 12.79 inches per year, with average snowfall totals recorded at 5.8 inches.

Legal Advertising

Anza Valley Outlook/Diane Sieker photo

Diane Sieker can be reached by email at dsieker@reedermedia. com

Dawn Brenner-Plonski shares a photo of a CHP roadblock and closure at Paradise Corner where State Highway 371 and 74 meet Wednesday, Feb. 15.

Adrian Campos snaps this shot as the sun rises on a snow-covered and icy morning Wednesday, Feb. 15.

Anza resident Chrystie Murphy drives carefully on a frozen State Highway 371 Wednesday, Feb. 15.

Anza Valley Outlook/Courtesy photos

‘Finally,’ The Lancet acknowledges natural immunity superior to mRNA COVID vaccines

Brenda Baletti, Ph.D.

The Defender

Immunity acquired from past COVID-19 infection provides strong, lasting protection against severe outcomes from the illness at a level “as high if not higher” than that provided by mRNA vaccines, according to a study published Thursday, Feb. 16 in The Lancet.

Researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 65 studies worldwide, providing overwhelming evidence to support what many scientists, doctors and studies have said since early in the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Lancet is finally acknowledging what doctors and scientists have been gaslit for saying for years — that natural immunity provides superior protection to experimental vaccines,” said Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., chairman and chief litigation counsel for Children’s Health Defense.

“Only the tsunami of propaganda and censorship from the pharma/ government biosecurity cartel and the controlled media persuaded the public that Pfizer and Moderna were better at protecting the human immune system than God and evolution,” he added.

The study found that immunity acquired from infection was often far more robust and consistently waned more slowly than the immunity from two doses of an mRNA vaccine.

The researchers found that natural immunity was at least 88.9% effective against severe disease, hospitalization and death for all COVID-19 variants 10 months after infection.

It also provided 78.6% protection against reinfection for all variants except omicron BA.1, for which protection was 45.3%.

At an October 2022 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices meeting, the CDC presented data showing that vaccine-acquired immunity after two or three injections dropped to zero six months after injection, and then became negative.

The Lancet study stated that “although protection from reinfection from all variants wanes over time, our analysis of the available data suggests that the level of protection afforded by previous infection is at least as high, if not higher than that provided by two-dose vaccination using highquality mRNA vaccines (Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech).”

The study was funded in part by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Authors included Dr. Christopher Murray, director of The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, the Gates-funded institute that was “largely responsible for the notoriously exaggerated mortality calculations that overestimated COVID deaths by 20-fold at the COVID pandemic’s outset,” according to Kennedy.

The authors argued, based on their findings, that natural immunity should be recognized along with vaccines when authorities are considering restricting travel, access to venues and work based on immunization status.

Commenting on these conclusions, Dr. Meryl Nass, internist and epidemiologist, said:

“While framing this as an

acknowledgment that natural immunity confers protection, what it is also doing is providing tacit agreement that governmentimposed policies restricting travel are acceptable. It furthermore provides tacit approval of vaccine passports.”

The ‘cartel’s’ war on natural immunity

In October 2020, The Lancet published an article — “Scientific consensus on the COVID-19 pandemic: we need to act now” — by authors including CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, which was widely covered in the mainstream press. They stated that “there is no evidence for lasting protective immunity to SARS-CoV-2 following natural infection” and that “the consequence of waning immunity would present a risk to vulnerable populations for the indefinite future.”

But in November 2021, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request forced the CDC to admit that it didn’t even collect data on natural immunity.

Then, in January 2022, the CDC was compelled to revise its position on natural immunity, acknowledging in a report that natural immunity against COVID-19 was at least three times as effective as vaccination at preventing people from becoming infected with the Delta variant.

The pharmaceutical companies were also aware of the benefits of naturally acquired immunity, although they suppressed that information, documents revealed.

In October 2021, Project Veritas

exposed three Pfizer officials saying that antibodies lead to equal if not better protection against the virus compared to the vaccine, The Defender reported.

Later, in April 2022, Pfizer documents held by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and released under court order confirmed Pfizer knew natural immunity was as effective as the company’s COVID-19 vaccine at preventing severe illness, journalist Kim Iversen reported.

Most recently, the Twitter files revealed that a Pfizer board member who used to head the FDA lobbied Twitter to take action against a post accurately pointing out that natural immunity is superior to COVID-19 vaccination, The Epoch Times reported.

FOIA requests also revealed that Dr. Anthony Fauci and his boss, National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins, colluded to suppress the Great Barrington Declaration, which argues that natural immunity plays an important role in mitigating public harm from COVID-19, The Defender reported.

The vaccines are failing, which means we need more vaccines

Media that reported on the study, including NBC, ABC and U.S. News & World Report, continue to advocate for vaccination as the more important way to protect against severe disease and death from COVID-19.

This is despite the fact that even vaccine advocates Bill Gates and Fauci admitted that COVID-19

Letter to TVUSD School Board

Dear TVUSD School Board, The election results from last November’s General Election clearly indicated that the voters and the taxpayers of the Temecula Valley Unified School District, by and large, voted for change from the previous School Board’s policies and direction.

The voting public, comprised of tax-paying voters, parents and other valid stakeholders, sought a new direction for the School Board in which greater transparency of policies, reform of school curriculum, and a respectful concern for parents’ interests and their kids’ interests are given greater priority and attention. While the teachers and staff also have their important roles to play, as elected Board Trustees you are

there to represent the voters. The teachers and staff have their own elected representatives in the form of their union officials. If any TVUSD teachers and staff also happen to reside in this district, then each one as well can exercise his or her choice on General Election Day, exactly the same as the rest of us.

Whether you are newly elected to the Board, re-elected to the Board, or already an incumbent of the Board, you should all commit to each other and to the district voters to recognize the desire for change and to work together as a Board to provide safe, sound and acceptable policies as well as the transparency and change sought by the people.

As a reminder, you were all elected to represent the will of the people to

vaccines perform poorly.

In a paper published last month in Cell Host and Microbe, Fauci and his co-authors confirmed that the predominantly mucosal respiratory viruses, including influenza, coronaviruses, respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, and common colds “have not to date been effectively controlled by licensed or experimental vaccines.”

They concluded, “Durably protective vaccines against nonsystemic mucosal respiratory viruses with high mortality rates have thus far eluded vaccine development efforts.”

Nass said that while it is quite significant for The Lancet to publish these findings about natural immunity, the authors’ framing, like the admissions by Gates and Fauci, “is intended to quietly, without apology, veer away from current COVID vaccines, while implying that more money is needed to develop new types of vaccines. No one made any mistakes. No one accepts any blame. Chris Murray never erred with his outlandish estimates. No, just send money and let us do the science.”

Brenda Baletti Ph.D. is a reporter for The Defender. She wrote and taught about capitalism and politics for 10 years in the writing program at Duke University. She holds a Ph.D. in human geography from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master’s from the University of Texas at Austin.

Reprinted with permission from Children’s Health Defense

the school district. Also, and just as importantly, you were not elected to represent the will of out-of-touch politicians, in far-away places like Sacramento and Washington, D.C., to us here in the Temecula Valley Unified School District.

I sincerely hope that today’s workshop helps you as a School Board to meet the voting public’s expectations. Perhaps it is a good omen that you are conducting this workshop on Valentine’s Day. In the meantime, I wish you Godspeed in your endeavors. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Respectfully submitted, Rick Reiss Temecula, CA

that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed of trust on the property. NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may call 800-280-2832 for information regarding the trustee’s sale or visit this internet website http:// www.qualityloan.com, using the file number assigned to this foreclosure by the Trustee: CA-22-940532-AB. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the internet website. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale. NOTICE TO TENANT: You may have a right to purchase this property after the trustee auction pursuant to Section 2924m of the California Civil Code. If you are an “eligible tenant buyer,” you can purchase the property if you match the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. If you are an “eligible bidder,” you may be able to purchase the property if you exceed the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. There are three steps to exercising this right of purchase. First, 48 hours after the date of the trustee sale, you can call 800-280-2832, or visit this internet website http://www.qualityloan.com

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