Assemblywoman Melendez recognizes VMHS student, A-4
VALLEY
A day in the life of a firefighter, B-1
A
Section
NEWS
February 27 – March 5, 2015
Real Estate
2015 real estate market starts slowly
Little Leagues join forces in Temecula, B-11
www.myvalleynews.com
Volume 15, Issue 9
Cancer survivor’s birthday celebrated with flash mob at Promenade mall
Gene Wunderlich Special to Valley News Those hoping for a jump-start to the valley’s moribund housing market were in for some disappointment in January. Not only were sales down 30 percent from December (865/614), but they were down five percent from last January (649/614), which was the slowest sales month on record for 2014. see page B-7
Motor
Temecula Rod Run to take place March 6-7 Joe Naiman Writer This year’s Temecula Rod Run in Old Town Temecula will take place March 6-7. “It’s right around the corner,” said city of Temecula Senior Recreation Leader Paula Worthington.
The flash mob surrounded Jordi Toy after the surprise dance for pictures and best wishes.
see page B-8
Ashley Ludwig Staff Writer
Sports
Elementary school receives visit from Green Bay Packers Datone Jones JP Raineri Sports / Multimedia Editor
Jordi Toy was a typical Temecula 17-year-old girl and Rancho Christian High School senior when she was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia last September. Temecula residents responded to
her illness on social media with prayers, assistance and support for Toy and her family. Toy was recently given a cancerfree diagnosis. To celebrate the good news and her 18th birthday, o v e r 2 0 0 f a n s, f r i e n d s a n d followers gathered at the Temecula Promenade mall in a flash mob to dance in her honor on Feb. 18.
“I had no idea how many people cared,” Toy said. “Seeing how people practiced, who came to dance for me, it was amazing.” Michele Cormack, a Temecula resident and friend of the Toy family, organized the flash mob weeks before the performance. “I suggested the idea to Christine Toy (Jordi’s mother), who was
Shane Gibson photo
immediately on board with it,” Cormack said, adding that designing the flash mob was a group effort. Natalie Tesko came up the idea, Jada Smith choreographed it and the Temecula Dance Company all were instrumental in making the
see TOY, page A-7
After positive experience, Temecula family works to raise money to grant wish to another Daniel Lane Multimedia Journalist
Helen Hunt Jackson Elementary School was packed with packer fans last week when current Green Bay Packer’s defensive end, Datone Jones, visited the school while enjoying some down time at his fiancée’s house in Temecula.
A Temecula family who was granted a wish for their son by the Make-A-Wish Foundation nearly five years ago is now raising money to grant a wish for another sick child. Adam Allen was just 13-yearsold when he was diagnosed with a non-operable low grade astrocytoma brain tumor, according to his dad Bryan Allen. “It was pretty devastating at first ... it was something that you don’t think is gonna happen,” said Adam, who’s now 20-years-old. “Then you realize that when it does, you weren’t at all prepared for the news that you just received.” “My son Adam has a nonoperable brain tumor, that to this day, he still has to get treatment for,” Bryan, 58, said. “Based on the wish that Adam was given, we then
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see page B-12
Adam Allen stands while holding two picture frames filled with photos from his granted wish by the Make-ADaniel Lane photo Wish Foundation.
see WISH, page A-4
Proposed LEUSD boundaries unfair say Alberhill Ranch residents Kim Harris Managing Editor Like any other parent, Daniel Clausen works hard to ensure his children receive the education they deserve, but a recently proposed change to school boundaries and a yet to be fulfilled promise of a new elementary school in Lake Elsinore has him concerned. “LEUSD is attempting to pass proposal D which would change some of the elementary and middle school boundaries but would keep the community of Alberhill currently zoned for Machado Elementary School,” Clausen said. “Machado
currently has a 3-star rating and is performing barley high enough to meet their requirements.” Clausen, along with a group of parents who have elementary school age children, are against the rezoning which would keep their children at Machado which is the lowest performing elementary school in the district. “Myself and many of the Alberhill residents do not believe this is fair and we refuse to send our children to the lowest rated school in the district,” Clausen said. Under the rezoning, half of the elementary schools and middle school boundaries are affected. High school boundaries will remain
the same. Some elementary schools – currently serving kindergartners through fifth grade – will serve students through sixth grade and middle schools will serve seventh and eighth grade under the proposed boundaries. “High school boundaries are off the table, they are not being looked at, at this time,” Lake Elsinore Unified School District Public Information Officer Mark Dennis said. The move, which was proposed in late 2014 is intended to maximize instructional opportunities for all students, according to Dennis. “One of the things that happened in 2010 was the economy was at a low point,” he said. “We actually
ended up making the recommendation to close two elementary schools and the resulting boundary redraw was done to accommodate those students affected are the boundaries that we’ve inherited. Growth since then has also changed and has somewhat imbalanced the school population throughout the district.” Transportation changes since the last boundaries were drawn and the city’s growth also played into the decision to explore rezoning. “What we really had a chance to look at during this last year and a half was what are our optimal
see ALBERHILL, page A-8