June 3rd Riverside County election results, A-3
VALLEY
‘It’s Tony Time’ at the Merc on June 29, A-10
Kids have a seat at the table with USDA lunch program, B-9 PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID FALLBROOK, CA PERMIT #499
NEWS
June 13 – 19, 2014
A
Section
www.myvalleynews.com
Volume 14, Issue 24
Medley to bring “that lovin’ feelin’” to Temecula Grammy Award-winner to perform intimate concert, tell stories about his experiences on June 22 Debbie Ramsey Staff Writer
Students learn and practice Hawaiian Tahitian dance during one of the dance classes offered at the Jefferson Recreation Center.
Shane Gibson photo
Freeway project nets Temecula a temporary recreation center Tim O’Leary Staff Writer In less than a year, Temecula quietly converted a shuttered warehouse into a bustling community center where science, singing, dancing, drawing and drama are taught and practiced. An initial smattering of classes and other offerings quickly mushroomed to 15 for the current session at the Jefferson Recreation Center. But, at the same time, city officials are cautioning residents against falling in love with the 17,342-square-foot industrial building that hugs the city’s north-
ern boundary at 41375 McCabe the property is needed to finish a $200 million freeway interchange. Court. That’s because the building will, The first phase of the work, a $28 possibly in as soon as three to five million exit ramp on Interstate 15, recently opened to southbound years, be reduced to rubble. drivers. “It really has The new recreopened up an op“When the (future) ation center, the portunity for us project comes along, third to open in that we didn’t the fast-growing have before,” said the building will have city, sits alongJulie Pelletier, the to go.” – Amer Attar side the sloping, city’s recreation curved exit ramp. supervisor. “We definitely know there’s a need for Dirt, concrete and steel are expected to eventually blanket the it as long as it’s available.” That window of availability, 1.1-acre property purchased by city. according to Pelletier and other That will happen when the entire city officials, will depend on when web of 11 bridges, ramps and roads
finally blankets the area. “When the (future) project comes along, the building will have to go,” said Amer Attar, the city’s principal engineer. “It’s really hard for us to determine how long (the building) will stay like that. It took us 14 years to do the first phase of the interchange project.” Like its two other counterparts, the Jefferson Recreation Center came about in an unusual way. A fourth center, which will also fill an existing building, shall boast an equally unique genesis. When Temecula was a sleepy
see REC CENTER, page A-7
Industry, city speakers chart climb out of ‘Great Recession’ Tim O’Leary Staff Writer Southwest Riverside County is continuing to claw its way back from the “Great Recession,” city and industry leaders agreed last week at a regional economic forum. That continuing economic improvement, the eight speakers agreed, signals solid gains over last year and a major recovery over the past five years. “We are proceeding with caution,” Aaron Adams, Temecula city manager, told audience members at the $40-per-person breakfast event. “The numbers are looking very good and we are cautiously optimistic.” Adams’ upbeat analysis was echoed, in turn, by representatives of Murrieta, Menifee, Wildomar and Lake Elsinore. His report – which followed presentations by experts in the housing and retailing industries, was in sharp contrast to his remarks at the same event five
see FORUM, page A-5
Teachers from schools all over Temecula Valley Unified School District (TVUSD) rallied with picket signs in hand before discussing their specific concerns with a proposed pay raise with TVUSD’s board members during a school board meeting that took place Tuesday, June 3. Tensions have been rising between the Temecula Valley Educators Association (TVEA) and the district for several weeks now
see MEDLEY, page A-4
Health
11-year-old girl rescues unconscious boy at Perris racetrack Alex Groves Staff Writer Eleven-year-old Madison Irvin sprung to action to rescue an 8-yearold boy who was unconscious after he fell and hit his head on concrete tubing at a motocross racetrack in Perris. see page B-8
Business TEDx Temecula organizers hold informative salon with talks on how to succeed Alex Groves Staff Writer Sometimes, the best way to find success in a pursuit is to just go for it and take the plunge, even when it’s scary or tough to do so. That was the message that Wes Schaeffer, a business owner and sales specialist, tried to bring home to an audience of business owners during a salon created by the organizers of TEDx Temecula that was held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, May 29. It was held inside the business exchange building located at 43200 Business Park Drive.
Gene Wunderlich (left), government affairs director for the Southwest Riverside County Association of Realtors, moderates a panel discussion answering questions asked by economic forecast attendees on Shane Gibson photo Thursday, June 5, 2014.
Rallies spur as teachers protest retroactive salary pay, class size increase Alex Groves Staff Writer
In keeping with the theme of his Grammy Award-winning song, “(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life,” Bill Medley plans on not only performing the top hits of his career, but also sharing many colorful, personal stories when he performs “An Intimate Evening with Bill Medley” on Sunday, June 22, at the Old Town Temecula Community Theater. It will be Medley’s first performance in the city. “It will be fun and a little bit of everything,” said Medley in a
following the proposal for a retroactive salary increase for teachers that would raise their salaries by one percent through the end of 2014 and three percent for the 2014-2015 school year. Some educators cited Murrieta Valley Unified School District as an example when describing the proposed settlement as unfair. Teachers within that district have negotiated for a four percent retroactive salary increase until the end of 2014 and are still negotiating for
see TEACHERS, page A-6
TVUSD teachers, employees and supporters rally together in protest for a fair contract settlement during the TVUSD board meeting on Tue. June 3, 2014. Shane Gibson photo
see page B-2
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