Temecula Valley News

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Knee Deep in the Hoopla, A-3

VALLEY

Red, White and Brew Festival benefits Boys & Girls Clubs, A-7

Gatorade names VMHS’ Norman as Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year, B-1

A

Section

NEWS

July 3 – 9, 2015

www.myvalleynews.com

Local

Vaccination bill signed into law Kim Harris Managing Editor

Volume 15, Issue 27

Temecula annual street painting festival warms hearts with sentimental theme

Much to the chagrin of those who spoke out against it, California Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 277 into law on Tuesday, June 30. The controversial new law requires all children to be vaccinated against childhood diseases before being allowed to attend a public school. see page A-3

Entertainment

Seven heavenly ways to travel with kids this summer Ashley Ludwig Staff Writer It’s officially summer now. Travelling with the kids is an inevitablecould-be nightmare. Often times, parents tuck a mobile device under their children’s noses, but so much is missed when eyes are trained on Disco Bees or Minecraft. Getting there can be a great way to learn about your family and have a blast doing it. see page A-12

Education

Chef teaches Oak Grove students that ‘Cooking can be a family affair’ Paul Bandong Staff Writer The enticing smell – garlic, oregano, basil, onion, and tomato reducing in a red wine sauce – filled the air and activated salivary glands as three young cooks displayed their talents in the kitchen at the Oak Grove Center for Education, Treatment & the Arts in Murrieta.

Joyce Hatzidakis works on her psychedelic chalk piece during the 2015 Temecula Street Painting Festival on June 27.

Ashley Ludwig Staff Writer Summerfest continued in Temecula over the weekend, with the 15th annual Temecula Street Painting Festival. Town Square was filled with vendor tents, visitors, and artists, many trying their hand at creating temporary 100-squarefoot chalk masterpieces from June 26-28.

One hundred twenty muralists descended upon the asphalt canvas of Main Street, around Town Square Park and fountain, to paint 84 large-scale murals with the theme, “My Favorite Memory.” Artists began their work Friday evening and continued through the day on Saturday. With the heat, blowing winds, and extreme humidity more akin to climates in the South than the Southwest, some

Father who saved child from abduction shares story, warns others of Internet dangers

tents did blow away during a freak windstorm, Saturday afternoon. Rain stayed away from Southwest Riverside County, and all artistry halted by 3 p.m. Sunday, for votes to be counted. Murals surrounded the street in front of the dry Town Square fountain. 2014’s Best of Show category winner, Lisa Owen-Lynch, held the prime spot at the gateway to City

Shane Gibson photo

Hall, with her Nutcracker ballet inspired work. “I miss the water splashing, but it’s a great spot, looking at City Hall all day,” she said. Against a background of blue, Owen-Lynch’s characters await the waking of the Nutcracker, shown in front of a Victorian Christmas tree. “These are all original designs,”

see CHALK, page A-5

Murrieta’s 24th birthday bash a hit with residents

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see page B-8

Fireworks light up the night sky at Murrieta’s 24th Birthday Bash on Saturday, June 27. SKYPHOTOS photo

VALLEY NEWS

Shelli DeRobertis Writer

Scott Stilwell lays knocked out on the sidewalk near Tim LeBlanc’s home. The father of five said he subdued Stilwell after he tried to abduct LeBlanc’s daughter early Monday morning. Tim LeBlanc photo

Kim Harris Managing Editor Tim LeBlanc is thankful that he doesn’t sleep well at night. The veteran’s insomnia proved to be a lifesaver, when early Monday morning he discovered his daughter’s bedroom window cracked and her missing from the room instead of sleeping in her bed. LeBlanc’s 12-year-old daughter had been chatting online with Scott

Stilwell, 27, of San Diego on two social media sites, Omegle and Kik Messenger, when Stilwell convinced her to sneak out of the house at 2 a.m. on June 29 to meet him. Luckily, LeBlanc was up and checking to ensure the house was locked up for the night when he discovered her missing. “I’m up all hours of the night, in and out and checking locks,” the

see ABDUCTION, page A-3

Thousands of people anchored a spot on the lawn at California Oaks Sports Park on June 27 to listen to the bands and prepare for the fireworks show in celebration of Murrieta’s 24th birthday. The annual birthday bash featured food and business vendors, a kid zone, entertainment and fireworks. Charlotte Davis, a 20-year resident, sat beneath two awnings that shaded tables and chairs, pizza boxes, blankets, coolers and such for her group of about 10 friends and family members. “I’ve been coming for the last six years,” Davis said. “We came early at 7:30 to set up.” They had a nice view of the stage, and by 5 p.m., ‘70s soft rock and ‘80s music filled the air as the first band, AM Gold, began performing. Mayor Pro Tem Randon Lane was among the crowd of community members who showed up to celebrate nearly a quarter-century of growth and establishment for

Murrieta. The “Gem of the Valley” officially became a city July 1, 1991. June and Gary Helton remember back to when there weren’t the 107,000 residents that Murrieta last reported as their population. “There were only nine-thousand people when we moved here,” June Helton said. “We’ve seen it change a lot.” The Heltons have been residents for 27 years and June said that she has been to every birthday bash celebration hosted by the city. Their prime spot on the field was even decorated with a birthday banner, as June and the city each share the same birthday. “It was my husband’s idea to put up the birthday banner,” she said. She said this year’s kid zone attraction didn’t seem to feature as much of a carnival atmosphere as years’ past, and added that she also remembers when the city brought in a money machine to the annual event. But the highlight of the birthday bash begins at night for June.

see MURRIETA, page A-9


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