Shooting at Pechanga Resort, A-2
Review: “The Lego Movie,” A-8
VALLEY
KPBS to feature Valley Center farm, B-8 PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID FALLBROOK, CA PERMIT #499
NEWS
February 28 – March 6, 2014
A
Section
www.myvalleynews.com
Volume 14, Issue 9
Parents upset with district’s handling of autistic child Michelle Mears-Gerst Special to the Valley News
Kindergartner Christopher Martinez’s Valentine’s Day party at Herk Bouris Elementary School was supposed to be a fun day with his classmates. The six-year-old went shopping with his mom, handpicked a box of Angry Birds cards to pass out to his friends, along with treats. However, on Feb. 12, the day before the party, Christopher received a school suspension for having an autism-related breakdown in class. The Martinez family is upset saying their child’s needs are not being met and their concerns are not being addressed properly by the Menifee Unified School District. His father, Clifford Martinez, reported that when he came to school at the end of the day to pick up his son he found him sitting in the office. The annual Rod Run event attracts more than 70,000 visitors to Old Town streets.
see DISTRICT, page A-3 Shane Gibson photo
Temecula sets pair of changes as city preps for its first Rod Run Tim O’Leary Staff Writer Temecula has rolled out a pair of big changes – a youth fun zone and a key parking restriction – for the first Rod Run to be operated by the city. Planning for the annual Rod Run, which will turn Old Town into a sea of chrome and color on March 7-8, is heading down the home stretch. City officials have jumped into the driver’s seat for the first time, but it remains uncertain whether the
The changes – as well as the trial run will be extended beyond uncertainty over the future – are this year. “Honestly, I have no idea as to unfolding as the popularity of the what that (future structure) is go- signature city event continues to mushroom. ing to be,” said “I think it’s getting more “I think it’s Dawn Adamiak, the city’s recrepopular. It’s just a great g e t t i n g m o r e popular,” Alice ation supervisor. family event.” Sullivan, TemecThat recommen– Alice Sullivan ula Valley Chamdation, she said, ber of Commerce will be in the hands of the same committee that president and chief executive, said last year pressed for the vintage car in a recent telephone interview. show to shift to city control for at “It’s just a great family event.” Sullivan said the appeal of anleast one time.
tique and vintage autos remains high, and that enthusiasm is on display at Temecula’s annual show as well as a similar annual event that is held in Murrieta on Father’s Day. The family-oriented appeal is expected to increase this year as the city, for the first time, has set aside a large area for air-filled jump houses, face painting, slot-car and pinewood derby races and other youth activities. Sullivan said the Rod Run
Health
Officials encourage vaccination in wake of possible pertussis upswing Alex Groves Staff Writer Riverside County officials are urging parents to get their young children vaccinated for pertussis after this year’s first confirmed death from the illness. The death marks the first time since 2010 that there’s been a pertussis-related fatality in the State of California.
see page B-5
see ROD, page A-3
3 Doors Down 95-year-old Navy veteran to headline Youth art exhibit introduces street painting and Pearl Harbor survivor Saturday at shares story with West to annual event Balloon & Coast Ammo audience Wine Festival Alex Groves Staff Writer
Alex Groves photo
People young and old arrived in groups to learn the various steps necessary to make an image come to life on an asphalt canvas.
Alex Groves Staff Writer Children’s art was celebrated during the Promenade Mall’s Annual Youth Art Exhibit, which was available to the public from Feb. 3-28 and which featured more than 500 works of art from various area schools. All throughout the mall visitors could see paintings, metal work, photographs and similar items. All of these were made by local students from schools in Temecula, Murrieta, and Menifee, according to Event Organizer Gregory Kimd. Kimd was one of many people who was at the Promenade Mall on Feb. 22, when the exhibit was paired with a special street painting festival which took place in the section of street located between
the front entrance of the Promenade Mall and the Edwards movie theater. This was the first year a street painting event was paired with the art exhibit but not the first year where active performance became part of the display, according to event organizer. He said that last year a student jazz band played in the area, providing visitors with the sound of music as they took in the sites of art. Kimd would know a lot about what’s been done with the event over the years. He’s been involved with it since early 2007, when he first arrived to the Temecula area and became part of the bourgeoning arts council there. The art council has since dissolved
see ART, page A-6
Yeoman Durrell Conner was wrapping presents for his sister’s children on what seemed to be an average, run-of-the-mill day when Japanese forces unexpectedly attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 and torpedoed his ship, the U.S.S California, and others. The day would become what Conner has described as the longest in his life, and it was the events that occurred over the course of that day that he discussed with a group of nearly two dozen individuals who packed a backroom of West Coast Ammo in Temecula at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22. The event was part of a series that occurs monthly and is put on
by The World War II Experience, a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching audiences about the history of World War II by focusing on the stories of the people that were there. The organization was founded by Linda Dudik, PhD., a former Palomar College professor who felt compelled to share the stories of veterans and how those stories fit into a historical context. That’s exactly what she’s been doing since she started a partnership with West Coast Ammo, where speaker events are held. Dudik said that it’s particularly important to hear firsthand accounts of what occurred at Pearl Harbor because such stories shed light on
TEMECULA – 3 Doors Down, the alternative rock band that rose to international fame with their debut album and hit single “Kryptonite,” will headline the Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival on Saturday, May 31 at Lake Skinner. “Kryptonite” was just one of many hits that evolved from their debut album “The Better Life.” The album sold six million copies and went platinum six times. 3 Doors Down furthered their success with the 2002 album “Away from the Sun,” which spawned the singles “When I’m Gone”, “The Road I’m On”, “Here Without You,” “Away from the Sun,” “Dangerous Game,” “Dead Love” and “Wasted Me.”
see VETERAN, page A-5
see FESTIVAL, page A-3
thisweek
Memorabilia from Conner’s time in the Navy was on display during the presentation at West Coast Ammo on Feb. 22, 2014. Alex Groves photo
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