Valley News - July 14, 2023

Missing 14-yearold girl found in barracks at Camp Pendleton

Associated Press Special to the Valley News

SAN DIEGO — A 14-year-old girl was found in the barracks at a California Marine Corps base last month, two weeks after her grandmother in San Diego reported she had run away from home, and a Marine was detained for questioning, officials said Monday, July 10.

see page A-6

Supervisors approve funding for Murrieta Innovation Center

Joe Naiman

Writer

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved $2,560,580 of American Rescue Plan Act funding for the Murrieta Innovation Center.

The supervisors’ 5-0 vote June 27 approves the ARPA funding for the facility and also approves an agreement with Impact Riverside County for the use of the ARPA funding. The funding for the Murrieta Innovation Center will be distributed over a three-year period.

see page C-6

San Jacinto City Councilman Brian Hawkins faces alleged misdemeanor child endangerment charges

Tony Ault Staff Writer

San Jacinto City Councilman

Brian Eugene Hawkins was arrested on Sunday, July 2, according to Riverside County Sheriff’s reports, and initially charged with several alleged felony assault charges which were reduced to misdemeanors.

Sheriff’s deputies arrested him in his home. He was charged on two counts of suspicion of assault on a person with the intention of doing great bodily injury according to the booking records. He was scheduled for arraignment on July 7 when the charges were reportedly reduced to misdemeanor counts of endangering the health of a boy, 10, and a girl, 11, according to District Attorney Mike Hestrin. He pleaded not guilty on both charges Bail was set at $5,000 but he was still in custody on July 7. It was not known if he posted bail.

The next court date for Hawkins will be a Trial Readiness Conference and has been set for Aug, 17 in the Banning Superior Court. A criminal protective order

see HAWKINS, page A-5

Flags fly high in Old Town at the Temecula 4th of July parade

photo

All six victims identified in plane crash near French Valley Airport

Valley News

The investigation continued Sunday, July 9 into the crash of a Cessna business jet near the French Valley Airport that killed all six people on board, the second fatal crash near the airport in four days.

The crash was reported at 4:15 a.m. Saturday, July 8 near Auld and Briggs roads, the Riverside County Fire Department reported. Deputies found the aircraft fully

engulfed in flames in a field. Six occupants were pronounced dead at the scene. They were identified late Saturday by the Riverside County coroner’s office as follows:

Riese Lenders, 25, of Rancho Palos Verdes; Lindsey Gleiche, 31, of Huntington Beach; Manuel Vargas-Regalado, 32, of Temecula; Abigail Tellez-Vargas, 33, of Murrieta; Ibrahem Razick, 46, of Temecula;

Alma Razick, 51, of Temecula.

According to Eliott Simpson of the National Transportation Safety Board, the person sitting in the pilot seat was a certified commercial pilot, though it wasn’t specified which of the six victims it was.

The flight departed from Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, according to Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson Mina Kaji.

Shortly before the twin-jet plane was scheduled to land, a marine layer enveloped the area with low

visibility, said Simpson.

“The pilot reported to air traffic control that he was going to perform a missed approach, which generally happens when a pilot can’t see the runway,” Simpson said at a Saturday evening news conference.

The Cessna Citation C550 business jet crashed about 500 feet short of the originally intended landing runway, and most of the plane, with the exception of the see CRASH, page A-3

San Jacinto City Councilman Brian Hawkins.

Valley News/San Jacinto City Council photo

Members of the Old Town Temecula Gunfighters wave a large American flag during the 4th of July parade in Old Town Temecula, July 4. See more photos on page A-4. Valley News/Shane Gibson

Cornhole Summer Series comes to Soboba Casino Resort

Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians Special to the Valley News

The Cabaret Lounge at Soboba Casino Resort has been transformed into a playing field for cornhole players of all skill levels. The Soboba Cornhole Summer Series through Aug. 16 will pit players, 21 years of age and older, against each other with 100% payouts each week.

Each Wednesday, from 7 to 10 p.m. players will be eligible to win the prize money available for this Game of Throws. There will be plenty of space and accommodations for spectators to cheer on their favorite players, adding to the excitement. Up to 128 players will be paired randomly based on a preliminary scoring round.

SCR Chief Marketing Officer Martin Moore said the series was created due to the demand for experiential activities and more social activities. “Cornhole is a game that provides both experiential and social aspects,” he said. “It’s a game that everyone can play, and it is a game that is growing exponentially in popularity throughout the country.”

Players must register online to reserve a spot and check in between 6:15-7 p.m. to play. If they do not show, their spot will be released and others may sign up at the event. Buy-in costs $15 and includes $5 free slot play and one raffle ticket. Drawings will be held after each weekly tournament at approximately 10 p.m. Winners must be present to win.

The total weekly prize pool will be determined by the number of participants. There will also be a raffle for all players to have a chance at Free Slot Play at the end of the night. Each week three players will win either $100, $200 or $300 in Free Slot Play. The top three players will win a percentage of the prize money, which will be $1,920 if the maximum number of players participate.

The first-place finisher will receive 50% of the money taken in, 30% will go to second place and 20% for the third-place winner Marketing Operations Manager Mario Ramos explained that the weekly tournament will follow the rules of the top-rated Switcholio format. This consists of a blind draw round robin in which players get a new partner for every game and get ranked on an individual basis. The organizer will use that leaderboard to recognize and reward the top finishers. All is done and managed through Scoreholio software.

Ramos said top players love Switcholio because they aren’t always paired with a newbie for every game every week. Second, because over the course of an evening they should be able to do better than an average player, earning themselves a higher spot on the leaderboard. If the organizer ranks the leaderboard by total points, without factoring for win/loss record, which is recommended, top players always have the opportunity to earn valuable points even if their partner can’t

Players will compete on Wednesdays at SCR’s Cabaret Lounge to win cash prizes at the

hit the board.

New players love Switcholio because it’s less intimidating than a regular blind draw and they don’t need to feel self-conscious or like they might be holding a better player back all night.

Tournament organizers love Switcholio because they never need to worry about making sure they have an even number

of players for randomization or designating a “walker” that plays alone if they don’t. Organizers also love the fact that they can add players late, or let players take a break for a little while, and either way Scoreholio will automatically “catch them up.”

Finally, if people leave early for whatever reason, they’re not leaving a partner in the lurch.

This is not a cumulative tournament. There will be top winners each week, although players are eligible to play more than one night. Everyone can play and anyone can win. It’s bound to be a “hole” lot of fun!

For more details, please visit https://scoreholio.com/switcholio.

Supervisors renew fire department dispatch and communications services agreement with Cahuilla

by email at jnaiman@reedermedia. com.

CORRECTION

In the July 7 edition of Valley News, the location of the Hula Hoop event sponsored by the Murrieta Public Library on Friday, June 30 was actually held at the Town Square Park Amphitheater located in Murrieta, not Menifee. The Valley News apologizes for the location error.

William Howell, a certified official with the American Cornhole Organization, will oversee the Soboba Cornhole Summer Series through Aug. 16. Valley News/Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians photos

Soboba Casino Resort’s Cabaret Lounge takes the game of cornhole from the backyard to the bright lights as part of summer series.

Soboba Cornhole Summer Series, through Aug. 16.

Adriana Moreno named as new CEO for SAFE Family Justice Centers of Riverside County

The SAFE Family Justice Centers of Riverside County Board of Directors announce that Adriana Moreno, BA, MPH, will serve as the new Chief Executive Officer, leading the organization as it continues to serve children and families. SAFE Family Justice Centers (SAFE FJC) provide a safe place for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, elder abuse, child abuse and youth who are at risk from four regional locations located in the cities of Riverside, Murrieta, Temecula, and Indio within the County of Riverside, California.

About SAFE Family Justice Centers Riverside County

SAFE Family Justice Centers of Riverside County are committed to providing comprehensive colocated services that help protect families, seek justice, and promote SAFE futures for children, youth, and families who have been affected by violence. SAFE FJC is an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing support services to individuals both within and outside the criminal justice system, who have experienced domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, child/elder abuse or are at-risk youth. Centers are located in Temecula, Riverside, Murrieta, and Indio. SAFE FJC was established in 1998, originally as Safe Alternatives for Everyone (SAFE) in Temecula, California, as a domestic violence service provider supporting the Temecula Valley and surrounding areas as a standalone domestic violence nonprofit organization.

resources to survivors of domestic violence, child abuse, and elderly abuse.

“I value the opportunity to be an agent of change to improve resources that will positively impact the well-being of families in our communities,” says Adriana Moreno, CEO SAFE FJC. The need to grow and expand these services is great and we need them to reflect our family values and how we value our children’s future.”

Moreno graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Literature

from the University of California, Irvine and later obtained a Master’s degree in public health from the California State University of Fullerton. In 2013, she completed a fellowship with The Women’s Health Policy Institute, which teaches public policy to women grassroots leaders and increases policy formation and implementation. As an ardent supporter of the vision to strengthen collaborations across sectors to create a more collective impact, in 2015, Adriana f ounded D.A.R. Public Health Consulting, a consulting firm that

specializes in supporting nonprofit organizations and collaboratives.

Services include Strategic Planning, Coalition Building, Meeting Facilitation, Focus Groups, Community Outreach and Non-profit Coaching. She also has the distinction of being chosen as one of OCMetro’s “40 under 40” honorees in 2014 as one of Orange County’s young Movers and Shakers in the health industry. Adriana is a wife, mother, friend and an advocate for collaborative solutions to make exponential impact.

In 2005, SAFE expanded services with a partnership with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office’s Family and many community based organizations to create a local multi-disciplinary “Family Justice Center” framework to serve victims of abuse as well as youth who have experienced adverse childhood experiences. In 2017, SAFE and the nonprofit Friends of the Family Justice Centers merged into what is now the SAFE Family Justice Centers, or SAFE FJC. For more information, visit https://safefjc.org.

Christmas in July: ‘Blizzard’ of passport fairs to hit post offices

25 fairs across San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Imperial counties on July 15

With the 4th of July barely in the rearview mirror, it may seem a little early to be thinking of Christmas, but that’s not the case if individuals are thinking of international travel during the holidays.

Due to extremely high demand, the current processing time for new passports is three months or more. Passport Agency officials advise those planning international travel to submit their passport applications as far in advance of their departure dates as possible.

The U.S. Postal Service is doing its part to help those planning holiday travel by hosting a blizzard of passport fairs at 25 post offices across San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino and Imperial Counties on Saturday, July 15.

One additional post office, in North Palm Springs, will be hosting a passport fair on July 22.

Postal employees at all 26 locations will accept applications for new U.S. passports during these events.

“The purpose of this one-day blizzard of passport fairs is to make the process of applying for new passports easy for our customers,” said San Diego Postmaster Justine Valadez. “A lot of people, especially those with schoolchildren, don’t have the time during the week to visit a post office to submit their passport applications.”

Saturday, July 15 passport fairs at these area post offices:

Alpine, 2127 Arnold Way, 9

“With more than two decades in leadership on the front lines of advocacy for some of the most significant issues that impact the well-being of families, we are thrilled to have Adriana lead the next chapter of our organization,” said Dennis Vrooman, President of SAFE FJC. Moreno has devoted her career to improving life outcomes for children and families in some of the most under-resourced communities in Southern California. She is a longtime advocate for increasing access to preventive and other public health resources and to making a sustainable impact. Her strong, independent and collaborative spirit over her 23 year track record in leadership roles in the non-profit sector, has led to many successes focusing on improving community health. As the new CEO of SAFE FJC, she will champion its mission to provide direct victim assistance, empowerment, and prevention tail, was consumed by the fire.

Tellez-Vargas was a real estate agent, according to her Instagram profile, and Vargas-Regalado was her husband and a pilot. Lenders was also a pilot, according to his Instagram profile.

In an Instagram post, one of Lenders’ friends with username @hanroeck said, “Riese, you were such a bright light in my life the last 12 years,” adding, “I’ll always think of you when I see an airplane up above.”

A friend of Tellez-Vargas and Vargas-Regalado, Bre’Andrea Jones, uploaded a post on Instagram saying, “Some people, I don’t know, I guess I expect them to live forever.

“My heart continues to ache

El Cajon, 401 W. Lexington Ave., 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Encinitas, 1150 Garden View Road, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fallbrook, 747 S. Mission Road, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Jamul, 13961 Campo Road, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

La Mesa, 8064 Allison Ave., 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

La Quinta, 79125 Corporate Center Dr., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Moreno Valley, 24040 Postal Ave., 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Otay Mesa Annex, 2960 Fern Ave., 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Palm Springs, 333 N. Sunrise Way, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Redlands, 201 Brookside Ave., 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Riverfront, 2600 Camino Del Rio N., 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Riverside Downtown, 3890 Orange St., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tecate, 441 Tecate Road, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Temecula, 30777 Rancho California Road, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Thermal, 87200 Airport Blvd., 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

with pain for the kids, I don’t even want to believe that this unfortunate situation happened to y’all,” Jones added.

Tellez-Vargas and Vargas-Regalado leave behind five children with the youngest being a oneyear-old, according to TellezVargas’ Instagram profile.

The NTSB planned on spending possibly two days investigating at the scene along with representatives from the FAA and Cessna.

A preliminary report was expected in 14 business days, and a final report was expected in 12 to 18 months, Simpson said.

On July 4, a student pilot was killed and three other people were injured when a Cessna 172 crashed while departing the airport. That crash also remains under investigation.

University City, 3298 Governor Dr., 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Victorville, 16333 Green Tree Blvd., 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Winchester, 28453 Winchester Road, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Yucaipa, 12460 California St., 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. One additional Passport Fair will be on July 22 at the North Palm Springs post office, 64117 Dillion Road, from 7 to 11 a.m. Customers attending these events will be served on a firstcome, first-served basis. Registration is not required.

Routine and expedited new passport applications will both be accepted. Payment of U.S. Passport Agency fees must be made with cash, debit cards or money orders.

Applicants are advised to complete their DS-11 new passport appl ication in advance, print it and bring it unsigned to the event with an acceptable passport photo, fees, and documents. The DS-11 application form can be found at https://travel.state.gov/content/ travel/en/passports/how-apply/ forms.html

Valley News/Adobe Stock photo

For information on new passport application requirements, forms and fees, go to www.travel. state.gov or call the toll-free National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778.

The Passport Agency reminds travelers to submit their passport applications as early as possible, far in advance of planned travel to avoid problems with receiving their passports.

Submitted by the U.S. Postal Service.

Adriana Moreno, BA, MPH. Valley News/Courtesy photo

CRASH from page A-1

Flags fly high in Old Town at the Temecula 4th of July parade

Krieger & Stewart to design Calle Pina Colada and Menlo lift station rehabilitation

Krieger & Stewart received the Eastern Municipal Water District contract to design the rehabilitation of the Menlo Lift Station and the Calle Pina Colada Lift Station.

Eastern’s board voted 4-0 July 5, with Stephen Corona absent, to award a $107,600 contract to Krieger & Stewart for preliminary and final design to rehabilitate the two lift stations. The board authorized a total of $234,000 of appropriations which will also cover coating analyses, an asbestos survey, EMWD staff time costs, advertisement for bid expenses, and a $9,200 contingency.

The Calle Pina Colada Lift Station at the intersection of Calle Pina Colada and Del Rey Road in Temecula was constructed in 1991. The Menlo Lift Station at the intersection of Cawston Avenue and Seattle Street in San Jacinto was constructed in 2008. Both lift stations are showing signs of corrosion. The discharge piping in both lift stations is nearing the end of its useful life and requires replacement. The replacement discharge

piping will be constructed from a high-quality stainless steel which will be a more resilient material and lengthen the infrastructure service life. The associated support brackets will also be replaced to meet current seismic standards. The planned improvements also include assessing the condition of the wetwell coating with replacement or repair if needed, replacement of the guide rail system and pump base, replacement of the valve assembly, addition of a flow meter, and design of a temporary bypass system during construction.

On April 13 EMWD staff solicited proposals for preliminary and final design for the lift station rehabilitations. Three proposals were received by the May 2 deadline. Krieger & Stewart, which is headquartered in Riverside, had both the lowest proposed fee and the highest-ranked proposal. The Krieger & Stewart proposal includes a schedule. The design will be completed within 26 weeks after the Notice to Proceed is issued.

Joe Naiman can be reached via email at jnaiman@reedermedia. com

Members of the Chaparral High School cheer squad march in Old Town Temecula during the 4th of July parade. Valley News/Shane Gibson photos

Isla Mora, 5, rides a bike with a club in the Temecula 4th of July parade.

Young color guard members march with United States Submarine Veterans during the Temecula 4th of July parade.

A miniature horse from the Sugarplum Zoo trots down Old Town Front Street during the Temecula 4th of July parade.

George Wuertz drives a vintage tractor in the Temecula 4th of July parade.

Dog Maximus dressed in patriotic colors greets guests watching the 4th of July parade in Temecula.

Horse riders dressed in patriotic colors trot down Old Town Front Street during the Temecula 4th of July parade.

Temecula 4th of July participants wave American flags to guests attending the parade in Old Town.

Joe Naiman Writer

Temecula’s 2023 Fourth of July Parade winners announced

TEMECULA – The City of Temecula announced the winners from the 2023 Fourth of July Parade. For the Animals category, the winner is The Gentle Spaw.

For the Autos category, the winner is Honor Flight San Diego.

For the Commercial Autos category, the winner is Moke & Wine Tours.

For the Equestrian category, the winner is Sugarplum Zoo.

For the Floats category, the winner is Trieste Base Submarine Float.

For the Marchers category, the winner is Temecula Glitz Cheer. For the Commercial Marchers category, the winner is Old Town Bicycle Co. For the Specialty category, the winner is Rampage Junior Roller Derby.

Further details released regarding ery crash that killed three in Murrieta

City News Service

Special to the Valley News

A fiery crash that killed three and severely injured another in Murrieta was likely the result of speeding and loss of control, authorities said.

The single-vehicle crash occurred just after 11 p.m. Saturday, July 8 in the 39400 block of Whitewood Road, according to the Murrieta Police Department.

Agency spokeswoman Dominique Samario said the Tesla was traveling in an unknown direction when it went out of control and

crashed in the parking lot of Alta Murrieta Elementary School, catching fire.

“One male occupant was discovered outside the vehicle with severe injuries,” Samario said.

“The male was transported to a local hospital. Murrieta police and Murrieta Fire & Rescue personnel discovered three occupants inside the vehicle after the fire was extinguished. The occupants were pronounced deceased at the scene.”

Their names have not been released. One of the decedents was the driver of the sedan.

HAWKINS from page A-1 of Mistletoe Ave. in San Jacinto.

was issued for the two alleged victims. It has not been determined if the children are his or in his custody, but have been heard in past teleconferences.

The misdemeanor charges state the alleged defendant did willfully and unlawfully cause the children to suffer and did inflict unjustifiable physical pain and mental suffering and permitted the children’s health to be endangered. To those charges he pleaded not guilty.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s report by Sgt. Anthony Pelato said on July 2 the dispatch center received a call of a domestic violence issue on the 400 block

The call reported that Hawkins had committed an assault on two children at the location. Deputies were dispatched and after the initial investigation placed Hawkins under arrest In the sheriff’s complaint it was noted that Hawkins had several different aliases including Steven Smith, Brian Hankins and Brian Eugene Edwards. Hawkins, 44, is currently a candidate running against U.S Representative Ken Calvert from California’s 41st Congressional District. If anyone is convicted of a felony charge, according to state law, he or she cannot run for any elected office. Misdemeanor

“Investigators’ preliminary findings suggest excessive speed was a collision factor,” the police spokeswoman said. “Investigators do not currently have any toxicology information. Any data obtained will be analyzed and considered in the investigation.” The man located outside the car was taken to Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar in critical condition. There was no word on his status Monday, July 10.

Anyone with information was asked to contact the police Traffic Bureau at 951-461-6306.

counts are not cause for dropping a candidate’s run for elective office.

Hawkins was elected by a majority of San Jacinto voters and has been serving on the San Jacinto City Council for several years. San Jacinto City officials said they are unable to comment as the case remains under investigation. He is a senior pastor of a local church, the Divine Appointment Worship Center.

Anyone with information on this case is urged to call lead Investigator Ruben Martinez at the Hemet Sheriff’s Station at 951-791-3400.

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

For the Religious category, the winner is Padre Pio Assembly Knights of Columbus.

To view photos of all parade entries, please visit Flickr.com/ CityofTemecula . For information on all upcoming Temecula Community Services Department

events, activities, and programs, please visit TemeculaCA.gov/ TCSD , and follow @TemeculaParksandRec on social media for updates. Submitted by the city of Temecula.

Lake Elsinore Storm invite fans to pack military care packages

Valley News Staff

Thunder Cares, the charitable arm of Storm Baseball, and local nonprofit MilVet are inviting baseball fans to help pack military care packages with Storm staff and players on July 22 at Storm Stadium.

The event takes place at the Diamond Taproom and runs from 12 to 2 p.m. Reservations are required and space is limited. There is no cost to attend, but attendees are encouraged to bring selections from the list of desired items to place in the packages.

The list of items include snacks, such as beef jerky, sour gummy bears, chewing gum, nuts, and dried fruit; drinks, such as coffee, powdered drink mixes like Crystal Light and Gatorade, and 5 Hour Energy Drinks; and hygiene products such as mens and womens deodorant or antiperspirant, travel-size cotton swabs, Wet

Wipes, and shower gel. Please do not bring aerosol items, anything with alcohol, or expired items as they cannot be shipped. RSVP online at www.milvet. org/storm23 . Storm Stadium is located at 500 Diamond Drive in Lake Elsinore.

About MilVet

MilVet is a nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to connecting the community to local, low-cost and free comprehensive resources through community organizational outreach and providing philanthropic programs to enrich the lives of veterans, seniors, and families in the community. Our programs include military care packages, veteran support services, veteran fitness programs, programs for youth, assisting other nonprofits, Holidays for Heroes, and Santa Toy Drive. To learn more, please visit https:// milvet.org.

A colorful pup is decked out in patriotic colors while marching with the Gentle Spaw, the winning parade entry under the “Animals” category. Valley News/Shawna Sarnowski photos The Trieste Base Submarine Float featured a replica submarine as participants sit on the float and wave to the crowd.

Gold pom poms sparkle in the sunlight as Temecula Glitz Cheer members shake them about during the parade.

The mini horses of Sugarplum Zoo strut down the parade route.

COURTS & CRIMES

Councilwoman Clarissa Cervantes seeks treatment after DUI arrest

City News Service

Special to the Valley News

Riverside City Councilwoman

Clarissa Cervantes, who was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence earlier this month, has decided to enter an alcohol recovery program, the Riverside Press- Enterprise reported.

“The events of (July 1) spotlight a personal failing that I must immediately address,” she said in a text message to the newspaper Saturday, July 8. “I am currently in the process of entering an alcohol recovery program. This is a deeply painful moment for myself and my

family. We will need some time and privacy to heal, and for me to work on myself.

“I will meet this challenge head on and with no excuses. I am committed to doing better and will work diligently to rebuild the confidence placed in me.”

Cervantes, 32, was arrested by the California Highway Patrol at 1:23 a.m. on July 1 on Eighth Street and Interstate 10 in Banning, according to jail records.

She was booked at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility on $5,000 bail and was released the same day.

“Last night, I made an irrespon-

sible decision that I deeply regret,” Cervantes said in a statement provided to the Southern California News Group following her arrest. “I take full responsibility, and I want to apologize to my family, my community, and the residents of the district that I represent.”

An Aug. 30 court date has been set.

On May 9, Cervantes filed a petition in Riverside Superior Court seeking dismissal of a 2015 misdemeanor DUI conviction stemming from an arrest in Moreno Valley. In that case the she was arrested by the CHP at 2:20 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014, on the eastbound

San Gabriel River (60) Freeway at the Frederick Street off-ramp in Moreno Valley, about a mile from the apartment she listed on the citation as her home address, according to media reports.

Cervantes pleaded guilty and admitted to a sentencing enhancement stating she had a blood alcohol level of 0.15 or greater. She was sentenced to three years probation, 10 days of electronic monitoring and ordered to attend a three-month first-time DUI offender’s class. She was also fined $2,541.

Judge Timothy Hollenhorst granted her request for dismissal

on May 19. Cervantes has held the Ward 2 seat on the Riverside City Council since 2021. Ward 2 includes the UC Riverside campus and Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Park. She is currently a candidate for the 58th District seat in the state Assembly. On her campaign website, Cervantes describes herself as “a mom, businesswoman, and longtime community leader who currently represents Ward 2 on the Riverside City Council.”

US military police find missing 14-year-old girl in barracks at Camp Pendleton Marine Corps base

Associated Press

Special to the Valley News

SAN DIEGO — A 14-year-old girl was found in the barracks at a California Marine Corps base last month, two weeks after her grandmother in San Diego reported she had run away from home, and a Marine was detained for questioning, officials said Monday, July 10. The Marine has since been

released to his command while federal law enforcement officials investigate, said Marine Capt. Charles Palmer of the 1st Marine Logistics Group at Camp Pendleton, about 40 miles north of San Diego.

It was unclear how the girl and the Marine came into contact before military police found her in the barracks during the daytime on June 28, Palmer said.

According to the San Diego Sheriff’s Department, her grandmother reported her missing on June 13 and told authorities she had run away from home four days earlier. The grandmother told the deputy who interviewed her that the girl had run away before but only for brief periods.

The teen’s information was entered into multiple missing person databases, including the National

Man arrested on suspicion of Perris business burglary

City News Service

Special to the Valley News

A 33-year-old man from the Romoland area was arrested on suspicion of burglary, law enforcement authorities announced.

The burglary was reported around 7:35 a.m. Wednesday, July 5, in a business in the 300 block of Mapes Road in Perris, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

The owner reported to deputies that his business was burglarized and numerous items were stolen overnight including a bobcat,

trailer and numerous tools and equipment.

The Menifee Police Department assisted in the investigation, and the stolen property was found at a residence in the 27000 block of Ethanac Road in Menifee, authorities said.

The suspect was identified as Rigoberto Plasencia, and he was arrested and booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center on suspicion of multiple felonies including violation of his post release community supervision, Sgt. Dave Tinker said.

The sheriff’s Perris Station

Robbery Burglary Suppression Team recovered $50,000 in stolen property belonging to the business owner, and an additional $12,500 in Milwaukee tools that were stolen from a Home Depot store, according to deputies.

Information on Plasencia’s previous arrest was not immediately available.

Anyone with additional information regarding the alleged robberies was encouraged to contact Deputy Nicholas Ramirez at 951776-1099.

Center for Missing and Exploited

Children, the sheriff’s department said.

After she was found on base, authorities returned the girl to her grandmother, according to the sheriff’s department.

Military officials say they could not release any other details, including the age or rank of the Marine. The case has been handed over to the Naval Criminal Investi-

gative Service, the federal agency in charge of investigating Navy and Marine Corps criminal cases. NCIS spokesman Jeff Houston said no one has been arrested or charged in the case. He said the Marine was detained for questioning and released back to his command. The sheriff’s department and the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force are assisting the investigation.

New trial date for trio accused in burglary-murder at Anza marijuana grow

City News Service

Special to the Valley News

An Oct. 2 trial date was confirmed Monday, July 10 for three convicted felons accused of killing a 64-yearold man who interrupted a break-in at his Anza home, where he was cultivating cannabis for sale.

Jody Lynn Came Miller, 48, of Rancho Cucamonga, James Max Robinson, 42, of San Bernardino, and Jesse Robert Thurbush, 32, of Victorville allegedly killed James Cidney Brown in 2019.

All three are charged with murder, attempted murder, burglary, attempted robbery and false imprisonment, with special circumstance allegations of killing in the course of a burglary and killing during the commission of a robbery.

Miller is additionally charged with sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations.

The trio was originally slated for trial in April, but one of the defense attorneys declared an undisclosed conflict that required a postponement. During a status hearing Monday at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta, Riverside County Superior Court Judge John Monterosso conferred with the prosecution and defense regarding a new schedule for proceedings, and all sides agreed on the first week of October.

Miller is being held without bail

City News Service Special to the Valley News

Trial proceedings began Wednesday, July 12 for two men accused of killing a 36-year-old Hemet resident during a botched kidnapping.

Alberto Franco, 27, of Hemet, and Christian Anselmo Gomez, 46, of Homeland, were arrested in November 2020 for allegedly killing the victim, identified in court documents only as “S.C.”

Bot h defendants are charged with first-degree murder, assault resulting in great bodily injury and attempted kidnapping, as well as sentence- enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations. Franco is additionally charged with attempted carjacking.

During a status hearing at the Banning Justice Center Monday, July 10, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Jorge Hernandez conferred with the prosecution and defense regarding scheduling, and both sides agreed to be prepared to proceed with pretrial motions starting Wednesday.

Each defendant is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta.

According to Hemet police Lt. Nathan Miller, the duo confronted

at the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning, while her two co-defendants are each being held without bail at the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta.

According to sheriff’s Sgt. Wally Clear, the trio, and possibly others who have yet to be identified, allegedly forced their way into Brown’s home in the 39000 block of El Toro Road on the night of Nov. 3, 2019. When the victim confronted them, the defendants allegedly opened fire with handguns, killing him on the spot, according to investigators.

Clear alleged Brown was using his property to illegally cultivate marijuana, and the defendants evidently intended to steal raw and processed product. It is unclear how much they allegedly carried away. The victim’s remains were discovered hours later.

After Central Homicide Unit detectives searched the grounds, the illegal grow was razed, and all remaining cannabis was seized and destroyed, according to Clear.

The investigation spanned almost 18 months before Miller and Thurbush were identified as alleged perpetrators and arrested in April 2021. Robinson was taken into custody weeks later.

According to court records, all three defendants have prior burglary convictions.

the victim in an alleyway in the 200 block of East Stetson Avenue about 6:30 p.m. Nov. 2, 2020. Miller alleged that the pair corralled and pummeled the man before he was able to break free, running to a nearby strip mall, where he sought safety outside a pizza parlor.

“The suspects chased the victim, cornered him ... and then one of them shot the victim several times,” the lieutenant said.

He said as witnesses called 911, Franco and Gomez jumped into a white SUV and sped away. However, moments later, the vehicle slammed into a brick feature outside a residence in the 1400 block of South Palm Avenue, causing the SUV’s engine to stall, according to Miller, adding that the defendants ran away southbound.

Patrol officers converged on the location and initiated a search for the pair, which ended in the predawn hours the following day, when both were located hiding on Coral Avenue, where they were taken into custody without further incident.

Authorities did not disclose why they allegedly targeted the man.

Neither defendant has documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County

New ZEV charging stations coming to the Whitewater Rest Stops

and others

on I-10 freeway

Tony Ault Staff Writer

With the hot days of summer now upon us, the California Department of Transportation will begin work on a $4.9 million project to install Zero Emissions Vehicle Charging Stations (ZEV) on Interstate 10 near Banning, Blythe and Yucaipa, weather permitting.

With more drivers moving into electric vehicles, the addition of the new ZEV charging stations will be highly welcomed at the rest stops, especially those on longer trips with their somewhat limited mileage vehicles. Especially welcomed will be those drivers coming through the desert communities to and from Los Angeles on their vacations at the Interstate 10 Whitewater rest area just outside of Palm Springs.

T he project was awarded to Kanaan Construction, Inc., of Azusa. Crews will be working in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties at the east and westbound Whitewater rest areas, westbound Wiley’s Well rest area and the eastbound Wildwood rest area on the I-10. Construction begins in July.

Hours of operation will be from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. No lane or ramp

closures on I-10 are expected on a regular basis but may take place intermittently to move equipment into the rest areas. The new ZEV charging stations will utilize a portion of the existing parking lot.

Use caution when around the work area. Watch for signage alerting motorists of “potential” closure of the rest areas.

The project is expected to be complete in the Summer of 2024.

To stay on top of roadwork in the Inland Empire visit the Caltrans District 8 website at https://dot. ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-8 and sign up for commuter alerts.

For the latest information on Twitter, follow @caltrans8, and on Facebook, visit https://www. facebook.com/caltrans8.

Bridge projects

Caltrans will begin work on a $3.7 million bridge upgrade project on State Route 74 (SR-74), State Route 79 (SR-79), State Route 86 (SR-86), State Route 111 (SR-111), State Route 243 (SR-243), and I-10. The project will take place in various locations throughout Riverside County.

Construction is scheduled to begin this month, weather permitting.

The project was awarded to Truesdell Corporation of CA, Inc. The project will include concrete overlay, replacement of joint seals on the bridges, and repair and/or

replacement of approach slabs. Work will take place in multiple locations in and near the cities of Riverside, Beaumont, San Jacinto, Perris, Hemet, Palm Springs and various unincorporated areas.

Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. One-way traffic control with flagging operations will be in effect at each end of the bridge locations throughout the duration of the project

Idyllwild Caltrans will soon begin work on a $470,000 emergency project to rehabilitate and repave State Route 243 in Idyllwild within the boundaries of Mount Jacinto State Park. Crews will begin working on SR-243 from just south of North Circle Drive to just north of Pine Crest Avenue. The schedule is dependent on weather and materials availability. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Crews will be paving the roadway and replacing the pavement delineator markers and striping.

Hemet

Beginning July 24 Caltrans will begin work on the $51.6 million corridor improvement project on State Route 74 (portions of Florida Ave, in Hemet) mostly at night. This project will repave and rehabilitate 49 lane miles, install

Traffic Management Systems, upgrade curb ramps, sidewalks and driveways to ADA standards, enhance bike lane signage and striping and upgrade 29 bus pads within the project parameters, weather permitting.

Crews will be working on SR74 from Winchester Road to Fairview Avenue with a project length of 11.2 miles. Work will occur Mondays through Fridays from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., with occasional weekend work.

San Jacinto

Caltrans is finishing up its work on the $4 million safety project constructing a median concrete barrier and rumble strips on State Route 79 (Sanderson Ave.) near San Jacinto. The remaining work will require some inside and outside (alternating) lane closures and shoulder closures for installation of dike, roadway signage, and pavement delineators, in both directions.

However, at least one lane will remain open in each direction at all times. Use caution. CHP will be on sight to assist with traffic safety. Watch for signage alerting motorists of upcoming construction locations and remember to reduce vehicle speed in and surrounding the work zone.

Palm Springs

Caltrans continues work on a

$5.5 million project to construct and upgrade curb ramps to ADA standards modifying signal and lighting systems on SR-111 in Palm Springs. Work is weather and temperature dependent.

Crews 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.

Desert Center

Caltrans continues operations on a pavement rehabilitation project from Desert Center to west of Wiley’s Well Rest Area on I-10, weather permitting.

Westbound I-10 lane 2 may be closed from west of Beehive Ditch to Desert Center.

Crews will be performing both concrete and asphalt paving operations within the work zones and lane closure limits.

Other work will take place at various locations throughout the entire work zone which spans from Wiley’s Well Road to Desert Center. Slope protection work is also taking place, in the median, between Wiley’s Well and Alta Ditch.

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

Customs and Border Protection welcomes Chief Patrol Agent Patricia McGurk-Daniel to the U.S. Border Patrol’s San Diego Sector

SAN DIEGO — U.S. Cus -

toms and Border Protection is announced the selection of Patricia McGurk-Daniel as the Chief Patrol Agent in charge of the U.S. Border Patrol’s San Diego Sector. CPA McGurk-Daniel is the first woman in the sector’s history to hold this Senior Executive Service position.

CPA McGurk-Daniel entered on duty in 1999 and graduated from the 406th session of the U.S. Border Patrol Academy. She was initially assigned to the Nogales Border Patrol Station in the Tucson Sector.

Throughout her career, Chief Patrol Agent McGurk-Daniel served in numerous sectors along the northern and southern borders including the Tucson, El Paso, San Diego, El Centro, and Spo-

CBP selected Patricia McGurkDaniel as the Chief Patrol Agent of the U.S. Border Patrol’s San Diego Sector. Valley News/Courtesy photo

kane Sectors. She also completed assignments at the U.S. Border Patrol Academy, U.S. Border Pa-

Monitoring reports to be improved for San Bernardino National Forest

Public input sought for administrative change to reporting format of forest land management plan

SAN BERNARDINO

–The San Bernardino National Forest proposes to update its land management plan monitoring program by making reports more concise and easier to read. The change would continue to satisfy requirements of the Southern California National Forests Land Management Plan (LMP).

Public input is requested and comments about this administrative change will be accepted up to 30 days from June 29. Comments can be emailed to Evan Surek, a National Environmental Policy Act Planner for the San Bernardino National Forest, at evan.surek@ usda.gov with the subject line “San Bernardino NF Monitoring.”

The 2006 Forest Plan monitoring program informs forest management of resources on the plan area, including by testing relevant assumptions, tracking relevant changes, and measuring management effectiveness and progress towards achieving or maintaining t he plan’s desired conditions, goals and objectives. The monitoring reports indicate whether a change to the plan, management activities or the monitoring program, or a new assessment, may be warranted based on the new information. The program was updated in 2016 to conform to the new direction from the USDA For-

est Service 2012 Planning Rule.

The reports can be found on the forest website under “Monitoring Reports” at https://www.fs.usda. gov/main/sbnf/landmanagement/ planning.

The update would narrow the scope of the biennial reporting to include only questions that make up part one, which fulfills eight monitoring requirements of the 2012 Planning Rule plus social, economic and cultural sustainability through a series of 20 questions. The proposal would eliminate parts two and three from the LMP monitoring program and take effect beginning with the recently published 2019-2020 biennial report, while eliminating parts two and three from all future monitoring reports.

Changes to the monitoring program, excluding plan revision or amendment, can be accomplished through the administrative process. Altering a question or an indicator is considered a substantive modification to the monitoring program and may be made after notification to the public and consideration of comments.

For additional information, contact Surek at evan.surek@usda. gov or (909) 361-7564.

Submitted by the Forest Service, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.

trol Headquarters, CBP’s Office of Intelligence, and CBP’s Office of the Commissioner. Chief Patrol Agent McGurk-Daniel served in several critical roles such as Commander of the CBP Migration Crisis Action Team, Patrol Agent in Charge of the Brown Field Station, Deputy Chief Patrol Agent of the U.S. Border Patrol Academy, acting Chief Patrol Agent of the Spokane Sector, and Deputy Chief Patrol Agent of San Diego Sector. She most recently served as the Chief Patrol Agent of Yuma Sector. Chief Patrol Agent McGurkDaniel holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Phoenix and is a graduate of both the CBP Leader-

ship Institute and the Department of Homeland Security Executive Capstone Program.

“I am honored to serve the Border Patrol agents and mission support staff of the San Diego Sector who have dedicated themselves to protecting our great nation,” said McGurk-Daniel. “San Diego Sector has one of the most complex and challenging border environments in the United States, and partnerships with local, state, federal, tribal, and foreign agencies are an integral part of securing that environment. I look forward to working with those partners to create a unified front against the transnational criminal organizations that operate in the California

corridor and beyond.”

To prevent the illicit smuggling of humans, drugs, and other contraband, the U.S. Border Patrol maintains a high level of vigilance on corridors of egress away from our Nation’s borders. To report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol, contact San Diego Sector at 619-498-9900.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the comprehensive management, control, and protection of our nation’s borders, combining customs, immigration, border security, and agricultural protection at and between official ports of entry.

Judge denies DOJ’s request for stay in social media censorship case

Jack Phillips

The Epoch Times

A federal judge on July 10 denied the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) request to stay a ruling that places limits on government communications with social media firms, rejecting the White House’s argument that such an order could put a damper on law enforcement activity online.

U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty wrote that his order last week had created exceptions for communications for cyberattacks, election interference, and national security threats. The DOJ and Biden administration, he wrote, didn’t provide any specific examples that “would provide grave harm to the American people or our democratic processes.”

“Although this Preliminary Injunction involves numerous agencies, it is not as broad as it appears,” Mr. Doughty wrote on July 10. “It only prohibits something the Defendants have no legal right to do—contacting social media companies for the purpose of urging, encouraging, pressuring, or inducing in any manner, the removal, deletion, suppression, or reduction of content containing protected free speech posted on social-media platforms.”

The judge further wrote that Republican attorneys general who brought the suit are most likely going to prevail in proving that federal agencies and officials “significantly encouraged,” “coerced,” or “jointly participated” in allegedly suppressing social media posts that included information critical of COVID-19 vaccines or questioned the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.

In response, lawyers for the Biden administration’s DOJ filed an emergency stay of the injunction at the 5th U.S. District Court

of Appeals. They argued that Mr. Doughty’s ruling was too vague and broad.

“The district court identified no evidence suggesting that a threat accompanied any request for the removal of content. Indeed, the order denying the stay—presumably highlighting the ostensibly strongest evidence—referred to ‘a series of public media statements,’” the administration wrote on July 10.

It came as the attorneys general for Missouri and Louisiana have submitted a petition to oppose the Biden administration’s motion to stay an injunction against its efforts allowing it to contact social media firms about a range of online content, including its efforts to flag so-called misinformation.

Ove r the weekend, the two states filed a memorandum of opposition to the administration’s motion, coming days after a federal judge partially granted an injunction that blocks various Biden administration officials and government agencies such as the Justice Department and the FBI from working with big tech firms to censor posts on social media.

It came in response to a lawsuit filed by the attorneys general, who accused the White House and various federal agencies of putting pressure on social media firms to take down posts or suspend accounts.

“ Evidence in this case overwhelmingly shows that the way the G overnment supposedly ‘prevent[s] grave harm to the American people and our democratic processes’ is to pressure and induce social-media platforms to censor disfavored viewpoints on COVID-19, elections, and other core political speech,” they wrote on July 9.

“In the end, their position is fundamentally defiant toward the

Court’s judgment. It demonstrates that the Government will continue violating First Amendment rights by censoring core political speech on social media as soon as it can get away with it. The motion to stay should be denied.”

Mr. Doughty ruled on July 4 that the Biden administration must cease contacting social media companies about a broad range of online content, including the administration’s efforts to flag alleged misinformation. The judge said that some of the administration’s past communications with social media companies violated the First Amendment and that during the pandemic, the government assumed a role similar to that of “an Orwellian Ministry of Truth.”

A Trump-appointed judge for the Western District of Louisiana, Mr. Doughty wrote on July 4 that the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, the Department of Justice, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can’t take a range of actions targeting social media posts, companies, and users.

Several officials are specifically named in the order, including Xavier Becerra, Secretary of Health and Human Services; Dr. Hugh Auchincloss, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy; and White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

Some of the social media companies that were included in the lawsuit are Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, TikTok, and WeChat, the last two of which are linked to the Chinese Communist Party. The GOP attorneys general brought their lawsuit against the administration in 2022, accusing the government of trying to censor

The ruling marked a win for Republicans, who sued the Biden administration, saying it was using the COVID-19 pandemic and the threat of alleged misinformation as an excuse to target views that went outside the mainstream narrative.

“This could be arguably one of the most important First Amendment cases in modern history,” Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry told The Epoch Times ’ “American Thought Leaders” in an interview after the ruling.

“If you look at the opinion that the judge lays out, he takes from our argument that this is basically one of the most massive undertakings of the federal government to limit American speech in the history of our country,” Mr. Landry, a Republican, said. “The things that we uncovered, in this case, should be … shocking, appalling, and concerning for all Americans.”

Last week, the DOJ filed an appeal of the ruling and sought to lift the injunction in a filing made to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. U.S. officials have previ-

ously claimed they were aiming to tamp down alleged misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines to curb preventable deaths, which h as long been decried by free speech advocates, conservatives, and doctors who promote alternative therapies for COVID-19.

Ms. Jean-Pierre told reporters on July 5 that the Biden administration “certainly disagree[s] with this decision” and will “continue to promote responsible actions to protect public health, safety, and security when confronted by challenges like a deadly pandemic and foreign attacks on our election.”

“Our view remains that social media platforms have a critical responsibility to take action or to take account of the effects of their platforms are having to the American people but make independent choices about the information they present. They are a private, as you know, entity, and it is their responsibility to—you know, to act accordingly. And so, we’re going to continue to be responsible in that way.”

Tom Ozimek contributed to this report.

Attorney General reports crimes surging in California while arrests declining

Travis Gillmore

The Epoch Times

Crime statistics for 2022 show violent and property crimes increasing year-over-year in California, according to an Attorney General report released June 30.

With crime increasing across many categories, homicide and driving under the influence arrests each decreased 5.9% and motor vehicle theft arrests fell 8.5%.

“While crime rates remain significantly below their historical highs, property and violent crimes continue to have devastating consequences for communities across the state, and gun violence remains a major threat to public safety,” Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a press release announcing the report. “My office is committed to confronting these crimes head-on by holding lawbreakers accountable, providing victims the resources they need to heal, and working proactively to prevent crime from happening in the first place.”

While below historic highs seen in 1992, property and violent crime both spiked more than 6% for the second consecutive year in 2022. Arrests for robbery jumped 14.4% for the year, burglary 9.4%, and theft 12.2%.

Petty theft skyrocketed 21.3%, with critics pointing to Proposi-

tion 47—passed by voters in 2014 reclassifying certain drug offenses and thefts under $950 as misdemeanors—as contributing to a rash of shoplifting that has become so prevalent some retailers, including Nordstrom and Walgreens, have fled downtown San Francisco. While criminal activity plagues municipalities across the state, arrest rates decreased by 2.7% from 2021 to 2022, representing the 18th year in a row that arrests declined.

The report attributes some of the declines to a pattern of changes in criminal law and prosecutorial efforts that mean some infractions no longer result in arrest.

A reduction of full-time law enforcement officers by 1.3%, prosecutors by 0.3%, and probation personnel by 3.6% were noted in the report as factors leading to the drop in arrests.

“Sadly, we are not surprised to learn that California’s violent and property crime rates increased in 2022,” state Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego) said in a Senate Republican Caucus’s press release responding to the report. “This report echoes the immediate need for California to ditch its soft-on-crime and catering to criminals approach, and prioritize real public safety by enforcing the law.”

The senator highlighted the actions of the Assembly and Senate Public Safety committees, suggesting members of both are failing to address issues impacting Californians.

“It’s almost an embarrassment that the Legislature’s ‘Public Safety’ committees aren’t addressing the issue they are assigned,” Mr. Jones said. “Instead, Democrat lawmakers are finding ways to let criminals get away with committing heinous crimes and facing minimal consequences.”

Fellow Republicans echoed the sentiments and noted the need to address public safety, as rampant vagrancy and open-air drug use seen in some areas is impacting children.

“Families across this state have very real concerns about public safety,” Sen. Brian Dahle (RBieber) said in the press release. “My children, and all of California’s children, deserve a bright future in this state that includes

being able to safely walk to school or visit their friends without fear of violence.”

Earlier, while debating California’s 2023–24 fiscal year budget on the Senate floor June 27, Mr. Dahle rattled off statistics showing that violent crimes, including rape, have spiked over recent years.

“Folks, crime is going up in California, and that’s why businesses are leaving, and that’s why people don’t feel safe.” Mr. Dahle said. “The number one thing this Legislature is supposed to do is keep people safe, and they’re not safe.”

One lawmaker on the other side of the aisle told her colleagues that crime reports seen in headlines are “nothing new,” and some are missing the bigger picture.

“People perpetuate a myth about this big crime increase,” Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) said on the Senate floor following Dahle’s remarks. “If you look at the data for the past decade, the rates are down, and if you look since the 1990s, the rates are down significantly.”

Some experts say the disruption of normal activity in 2020, due to the pandemic and associated state and local lockdowns, marked a turning point and suggest looking at the last three years for a better snapshot.

“The overwhelming trend has been a rise in many forms of violence,” Elliott Currie, professor of criminology, law, and society at the University of California–Irvine. “People are hurting each other on a level higher than even in the past.”

Observing that while homicide rates might be down year-overyear, he points to a 24% increase over the past 10 years with aggra-

vated assaults spiking 42% over the same period.

“These are huge increases,” Mr. Currie told The Epoch Times. “This is pretty much an unprecedented increase.”

Noting the significant change that occurred during 2020, he said the key to understanding the recent rise in criminality is in social connections—relationships and routines built through work, school, and extracurricular activities—that failed to materialize or were broken by the COVID isolation periods, with low-income communities suffering the most.

“These connections are really important with holding down rates of violent crimes,” Mr. Currie said.

Numerous studies of incarceration and recidivism rates at the state and national levels reveal those holding full-time jobs are less likely to become criminal offenders.

Schools and support systems being shut down for lengthy periods of time exposed juveniles to pressures that would have been absent in a school setting, according to experts.

“They’re out there by themselves, and that’s very likely to increase that disconnection with the absence of supervision and absence of social control that simply being present in school can help accomplish,” Mr. Currie said. “That syndrome of disconnections hitting very hard at these already hard-hit, devastated communities, probably has something to do with the historic increase in violent crime.”

Reprinted with permission. Copyright Epoch Times. To subscribe, go to Subscribe.theepochtimes.com

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre speaks during a press briefing at the White House on June 26, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times) conservative viewpoints.

A man is arrested by a law enforcement officer in Yucaipa, on Aug. 1, 2020.

(John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

A family uses a playground near a homeless man in Santa Monica, on June 2, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Tony Suraci’s ‘The Highwayman Show’ takes the pavilion stage at Santa Rosa Plateau

Tony

leading the Highwayman Show sings Waylon Jennings “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Be Cowboys” leading off the second Live at the Plateau 2023 Summer Concert Series and Art Show, July 8. The show is a fundraiser for The Nature Education Foundation.

The Highwayman Show featuring Tony Suraci with songs from the timeless music of Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson made a fun-loving two-steppin’ country dancing evening for young and old at the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Center’s outdoor Pavilion stage Saturday, July 8.

Suraci and his county band entertained the sell-out crowd at the second “Live! @ the Plateau” 2023 Summer Concert Series and Art Show presented by nonprofit The Nature Education Foundation. Guests appreciated the plateaus’ cool breezes and tale-telling country music, with adults enjoying the beer and wine on sale. Popcorn and soft drinks were also available. A wildlife art show treated the nearly 300 western-dressed supporters of TNEF and its mission to “educate and empower you to appreciate, preserve and protect nature.” Miles of trails, rare trees and flowers on the 9,000 acre reserve, managed by Riverside County Parks and Open Space, surely attracted many to return for further hiking adventures. Adding a little bit more to the country music tribute group was vocalist Makayla Phillips, a former America’s Got Talent and American Idol contestant, singing some of Patsy Cline’s best songs like “Crazy” and “Walkin’ after Midnight” in part to celebrate her own 21st birthday.

Fallbrook Music Society presents season opener Aug. 27

FALLBROOK – On Sunday,

Aug. 27, the highly acclaimed TAKE3 will take to the stage to open Fallbrook Music Society’s 46th concert season. From this genre-defying trio where pop, rock and classical fusion collide to the Season Finale with the muchanticipated return of Fallbrook’s favorite, Redlands Symphony, the 2023-2024 program promises to be one of the best, most diverse seasons in Fallbrook Music Society’s history.

“As an organization, we’re constantly searching to find and bring performances of excellence to our community, and this upcoming season is no exception. As always, we will present programs featuring the highest levels of classically trained performers – but with a few twists,” said Bob Freaney, President of Fallbrook Music So-

ciety. “In addition to the standards of Bach and Beethoven, most programs will feature music outside of the classical music genre, and almost all are free admission,” he added.

Here’s a lineup of the upcoming season:

Sunday, Aug. 27 – 2 p.m.

– TAKE3 – Mission Theater –Admission charge

With their unmistakable style, rock star charisma and incredible range of music from the Beatles and Leonard Cohen to Beethoven – TAKE3 is the Music Society’s most requested reprise group ever. These world-class artists are much more than great entertainers; with their infectious joy in musicmaking, they connect with their audiences on an emotional level.

Tony Ault Staff Writer

Suraci

The Highwayman Show lead guitarist Jim Goldi performs his own music piece on the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve Pavilion Stage with Suraci as Johnny Cash.

Bass guitarist Matt Romero, drummer Dave Beransky and a harmonicist accompany Tony Suraci in his Highwayman Show at the Plateau. Valley News/ Tony Ault photos

Guests at the Tony Suraci Highwayman Show do a little country twostep dancing to the country music of Waylon Jenning and other classic country stars in front of the Plateaus Pavilion Stage.

TNEF’s “Live! @ the Plateau” 2023 Summer Concert Series with The Highwayman Show emcee John Hunneman presents ReMax One Realtor Dave Weldon the 50-50 drawing winner $975 on the Plateau Stage. The other half helps the nonprofit TNEF education programs. Weldon is a strong supporter of TNEF.

America’s Got Talent contestant Makayla Phillips joins talented singer Tony Suraci from the Highwayman Tribute Show singing some Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash songs on the Pavilion stage at the Plateau.

known musical artists TAKE3 (piano, violin, cello) take center stage for Fallbrook Music Society’s

Opener Sunday, Aug. 27, in the Mission Theater.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

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

CHILDREN’S EVENTS

July 14-15 - 3 p.m. Menifee

Family Campout at Lazy Creek Park at 26480 Lazy Creek Road in Menifee. Meals provided. An event especially for children. Sign in at 3 p.m. Friday, July 14. Presented by Menifee Community Services Dept. Contact hellomenifee.com or cityofmenifee.us/ specialevents

July 21 - 5 p.m. LEGO Derby Family Race. Bring your brains and skills. We provide the chassis and LEGOs for you to create the ultimate racing car. This event is open to 120 families. Prizes for the top finishers. Event is at the Murrieta Public Library’s Carol Carson Garden of Verses, located at 8 Town Square in Murrieta.

July 21 - 6 - 10 p.m. Menifee

Amazing Animals at Moonlight Markets at Centennial Park, 31161 Shire Horse Way, Menifee with the movie Puss & Boots.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Now to July 27 – 7 p.m. Temecula’s Summer Concert Series begins with a great lineup of local bands at the Temecula Amphitheater, 30875 Rancho Vista Road.

Gates open Thursdays at 5 p.m. with the final outdoor concert at Temecula’s Civic Center, 41000 Main Street, starting at 6:30 p.m. Bring blankets, lawn chairs and snacks.

July 14 - 7 p.m. Line Dancing in the Park. Dust off your boots and join the city for an exciting night of line dancing. Event is for all ages and skill levels. Located at Murrieta Town Square Park Amphitheater, 11 Town Square, Murrieta.

July 15 – 7-9 p.m. Murrieta

Concerts in the Park. Join “Toga Party” as they perform party favorites at Town Square Park Amphitheater. Admission is free. Bring chairs or blankets. Located at 11 Town Square, Murrieta.

July 17- 21 - 3 p.m. School of Rock Summer Camp. 30630 Rancho California Road, Suite 501F, Temecula. Come learn the music of 60s and 70s rock icons such as The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones in our Classic Rock Rewind summer camp. Information and tickets at Schoolofrock. com.

July 21 – Movies in the Park at Town Square Amphitheater will be showing Top Gun Maverick. Movie begins at dusk. Bring chairs or blankets. Be the “best of the best” in your Top Gun costumes! Admission is free. Located at 11

Town Square in Murrieta.

July 22 – 7-9 p.m. Murrieta Concerts in the Park. Experience the sounds of the greatest Rock ‘n Roll band of all time, Led Zeppelin, performed by Stairway to Zeppelin. Admission is free. Bring chairs or blankets. Event is at Town Square Park Amphitheater, located at 11 Town Square in Murrieta.

July 22 12-2 p.m. MilVet puts together CARE packages for troops overseas with members of the Storm staff and Players at the Diamond Taproom at the Diamond Stadium. 500 Diamond Drive, Lake Elsinore. A joint care package packing event with MilVet and Thunder Cares, a charitable arm of the Storm baseball team both nonprofit 501c3 agencies. RSVP required see milvet.org/storm23.

July 26 to Aug. 23 – 5-9 p.m.

Sunset Market every second and fourth Wednesday of the month. The market will feature live entertainment, a gourmet food court and some of the finest artisans and craftspeople in Southern California. The family friendly event is located in Town Square Park in Old Town Temecula.

July 28 – Movies in the Park at Town Square Amphitheater will be showing The Goonies. Movie begins at dusk. Bring chairs or blankets. Admission is free. Located at Mapleton Park, 28586 Poinsettia Street in Murrieta.

July 28 to Aug. 11 - 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. City of Temecula’s

16th Annual Ralph Love Plein Air Competition begins. Local artists are invited to enjoy two weeks of painting scenic Temecula locations. The city honors him, and emerging local artistic talent, with this annual competition between Plein artists. Plein Air artists are invited every year to paint different locations around the city. Those locations include Old Town Temecula. Temecula Wine and Temecula Parks. New to the competition is the Youth Category. Artists aged 17 and under are encouraged to participate for a chance to win a large prize basket of art supplies!

Stamps for canvas submissions are available inside the Temecula Valley Museum (closed Mondays)

July 29 - 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. See Disney’s The Little Mermaid at Old Town Temecula Community Theater 42051 Main St, Temecula. Beautiful mermaid Ariel should be a happy girl – she lives in an enchanted undersea country, her father is a King, and she has the most beautiful singing voice. Tickets $5 to $65. See https://tickets. temeculatheater.org/eventperformances.asp?evt=1459

July 29 – 4 p.m. Water Lantern Festival at Elm Grove Beach, 500 Lakeshore Drive, Lake Elsinore.

July 30 - 3 p.m. Temecula Wine and Beer Garden Rock, 28464 Old Town Front St. , Temecula

ONGOING – 5-9 p.m. Murrieta Market Nights. First and third Thursdays, year round. Located at Washington Ave. in Murrieta. For more information, visit https:// www.downtownmurrieta395.com/ market-nights.

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 – Line dancing classes are held Wednesdays from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at Lake Elsinore/ Wildomar Elks Lodge, 33700 Mission Trail, in Wildomar across from the Animal Friends of the Valleys. Classes have a DJ with learning levels beginning to intermediate. Have fun and exercise at the same time at $5 per lesson. Contact Joyce Hohenadl at 951674-2159

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

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 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 the California Department on Aging at 800-510-2020 for help.

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 allowed.

WORKSHOPS, MEETINGS, NOTICES

July 13 - 6 a.m to 5 p.m. Riverside County Southwest AntiHuman Trafficking Awareness Conference at 41000 Main St, Temecula. This free event will educate you on how to identify possible victims of human trafficking and how to report that information to RCAHT.

July 15 1-3 p.m. Dorland Community Arts Center conducts Table Manners readings at the center, Highway 79 36701 Temecula Parkway, Temecula. RSVP please dorlandartscolony.com.

July 16- 2-4 p.m. Call to Artists by Dorland Community Arts Center off Highway 79 in Temecula. Associate Artist Reception and sale Sunday, July 16, 2 - 4 p.m. email to reenierin@gmail.com with any questions and with title/ medium/price.

July 18 – 6 p.m. The Temecula Valley Republican Women Summer Soiree will present talks form Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and Assemblyman Essayli focusing on Public Safety at RJ’s Sizzlin Steer, 41401 Kalmia St. in Murrieta $35. Reservations limited to 18. RSVP by July 12. See tvrwomen.org or email at tvrwomen.org

ONGOING – Want to help deployed American troops remotely? Help shop for the most needed items without leaving home as 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 http://www.milvet. org/military-care-packages.

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

ONGOING – Menifee Community Services offers online driver’s education courses for a $21.95 fee. The course includes animated driving scenarios, instructional videos, sample tests, 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 – 10-11:30 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.

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 781932-6300, 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 http://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 http://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, at-risk veterans. Chat is confidential for veterans and friends. Visit http://www.va.gov/homeless.

Los Lonely Boys to perform at Pala Casino Spa Resort in August

PALA – Pala Casino Spa Resort is excited to present Texan rock band, Los Lonely Boys, on Saturday, August 12, performing live outdoors at the Starlight Theater. The show will start at 7 p.m. Tickets prices are $35, $65,

and $85 and are on sale now at the Pala Box Office, www.palacasino. com, or www.etix.com. This show is just one of the impressive lineup of headliner and tribute concerts that will be held at the Starlight Theater and Events Center.

Suraci himself put the voices and actions of Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and even some of Merle Haggard’s best acoustic guitar accompanied songs to the crowds pleasure like “I Walk the LIne,” Ring of Fire,” “On the Road Again,” “I Don’t Know a Thing About Love,” “Always on My Mind,” “Whiskey River,” “Good Hearted Woman,” and “Okie from Muskogee,” and other top country classics including “Ghost Riders in the Sky.”

Accompanying Suraci, known in the Temecula and Murrieta Valleys for frequently performing on the winery circuit, was his band, including Jim Goldi (lead guitar), Matt Romero, Phil Norris, Dave Beransky, Michael Emory, and Don Zagami. Vocalist Makayla Phillips also joined them for the evening.

This Saturday, July 15, TNEF will be presenting “Private Eyes,”

the premier tribute to Hall & Oates on the plateau pavilion stage behind the Visitor Center at 39400 Clinton Keith Road in Murrieta.

Tickets are on sale for the event online at $55 per person. Other tribute bands performing this summer will be “Uptown,” a tribute to Motown, soul and R&B on July 22; “Surf’s Up,” a premier Beach Boys tribute band on July 28 and “Bee Gees Gold,” a Bee Gees tribute band on August 5. VIP tickets for the outdoor performances are available at premium prices, with TNEF suggesting visitors bring their own lawn chairs, a warm jacket and hard toed shoes since they are outdoor performances. VIP visitors are offered tables for their groups at special prices. Call 951-319-2998 or email info@srpnef.org for more information and membership offers. Beer, wine and soft drinks are offered for sale.

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

Family has always been at the center of things for Los Lonely Boys. Henry, Jojo, and Ringo Garza have been playing and touring together since they were teenagers. Three years ago, they decided to take a break to focus on their own growing families. But Summer 2022 saw them back at it again, returning to life on the road alongside The Who. The Boys have been making music together for seventeen years now, and they show no signs of slowing down or losing inspiration. Today, you’ll find them in the studio, working on their newest album.

The three young brothers formed a band, got signed to a major label, and had a hit single that propelled them to stardom. They sold 2.5 million records, won a Grammy, and received five more Grammy nominations in the span of their career. The story of how the Garza brothers rode their bluesy “Texican rock & roll” sound from San Angelo, Texas, to worldwide fame is one of rock’s great Cinderella tales. The sons of Enrique “Ringo” Garza Sr. are a second-generation sibling band; their dad and his brothers played conjunto as the Falcones before the elder Garza formed a band with his sons.

They were still teens when he moved them to Nashville, hoping to hit career paydirt. But their big break came after they returned to Texas and began playing Austin clubs in the early 2000s. One day, Willie Nelson’s nephew heard some demos. Next thing

Texan rock band Los Lonely Boys are making a stop at Pala Casino Spa Resort during their latest tour.

they knew, Willie showed up at a gig. Then he showcased them at Farm Aid, fronted recording time at his famed Pedernales Studio, and guested on their album. Released in 2003 on startup label Or Records, Los Lonely Boys got picked up by Epic and re-released. Propelled by the No. 1 single, “Heaven,” it wound up selling over 2 million copies, spending 76 weeks on the Billboard Top 200 album chart, and earning them

Valley News/Courtesy photo

a Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group. 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 Casino Resort.

SHOW from page B-1

Movie review: ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’

Bob Garver Special to the Valley News

It has been 15 years since famed archeologist/adventurer Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) was onscreen in “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” and even longer since he was onscreen in a decent movie. Fans were worried if that creative flop would be the last they’d ever see of Indy, but now he has a second chance to make a last impression. With new director James Mangold at the helm, I suppose there was a chance that this franchise could have dug itself even deeper into the hole, but I’m pleased to say that this entry is not an embarrassment. It’s too bad I can’t say anything better than that, but it’s more than I could say for the last movie.

An opening sequence sees a younger Indy (using not-perfect but not-distracting digital de-aging effects on Ford) rescue an artifact from Nazis at the tail end of World War II with the help of bumbling colleague Basil (Toby Jones). This sequence takes place on a moving train, so there are seemingly endless opportunities to throw bad guys off screaming. It’s fun, if a bit overlong, which can be said of all the action sequences in this movie. Flash forward to 1969. Indy is in his twilight years, and it seems the world has left him behind. His wife

Marion (Karen Allen) has left him, his neighbors wake him up with loud rock music, he can’t keep his students’ attention in class, and the university is forcing him into retirement. The only pleasant surprise in his day is a visit from Helena (Phoebe Waller-Bridge), the late Basil’s daughter and his goddaughter. She has a proposal involving the Dial of Destiny, the artifact Indy and her father rescued from the Nazis. He’s not up for another adventure, but he can help her in simple fashion, and this ironically gets him pulled into an even bigger adventure.

It turns out that the duplicitous Helena just wants to steal the Dial and sell it. She’s being tailed by the CIA and renowned scientist Jurgen

Voller (Mads Mikkelsen), a Nazi leftover who knows the Dial’s true power. Indy just wants the Dial to be safe, and if that includes protecting Helena and her kid sidekick

Teddy (Ethann Isodore) and stopping the bad guys, then so be it.

The rest of the movie is mostly just an elaborate treasure hunt where Indy and Helena navigate clues, booby traps, and conflicting loyalties in various cities, with Voller usually showing up to get everyone into an action sequence.

Old friend Sallah (Jonathan RhysDavies) shows up along the way, as does Renaldo (Antonio Banderas), a diver Indy enlists for an

underwater mission. The film’s climax sees Voller try to exploit the time-travel capabilities of the Dial. As evil as he is, I had a laugh at the idea that Voller’s master plan is technically the same thing that every time traveler wants to do.

Until the time-travel conclusion (which is at least handled with more dignity than those aliens from “Crystal Skull”), “Dial of Destiny” is just perfectly average for Indiana Jones. Certain visual components look a little too polished to be natural, but otherwise a familiar sense of fun is still in play. Indy’s wit is as quick as ever, and of course any character played by Waller-Bridge is going to be pretty sharp too. The charm of 1981’s “Raiders of the Lost Ark” is never quite matched, but that may be too high a standard. Some will say that putting a character as iconic as Indiana Jones in a justokay movie is a disservice to his cinematic legacy, but I choose to focus on the upside of this movie being a satisfactory end note for the character compared to what it would have been otherwise.

Grade: B-

“Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” is rated PG-13 for sequences of violence and action, language and smoking. Its running time is 154 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@ nyu.edu.

Fallbrook Propane Gas Company seeks artists for ‘My Hero, OUR HEROES’ Art Competition

Who’s your hero? A “hero” is defined differently by most everyone. A hero could be someone in the military, a family member, a pet, a friend, a role model, even a “Superhero” or a heroic act. It can be someone or something significant in your life. The “My Hero, OUR HEROES” Art Competition invites artists to create their special “hero” themed work of art. Fallbrook Propane Gas Company continues its sponsorship.

office by Saturday, August 26 between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The office is located at 111 South Main Avenue, Fallbrook. The community is invited to vote for the “People’s Choice Award” during the month of September at the Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce office. A reception will be held to announce the winners on September 23.

SEASON from page B-1

Expect a brilliant performance.

Sunday, Sept. 24 – 2 p.m. –Santa Barbara Trio – Mission Theater – Free

No stranger to the Fallbrook stage, world-renowned pianist Jacopo Giacopuzzi brings a new sound with violinist Tony Navarro and cellist Katrina Agate. This exceptional threesome will leave an indelible mark on the audience as they present a unique sound that crosses over classical and popular selections in a program that will inspire audiences of all ages.

Sunday, Oct. 22 – 2 p.m. –Rastrelli Cello Quartet – Mission Theater – Free

This group from Germany is visiting Fallbrook as part of their North American tour, and to say their performances are breathtaking is an understatement. The four cellos have such diverse sounds that they almost sound like an old piano playing ragtime, a saxophone of the Glenn Miller Orchestra – or perhaps, Piazzolla’s bandoneon. This concert is a must-see!

Sunday, Nov. 12 – 2 p.m. –

Yu&I – Mission Theater – Free

These two exciting artists have dazzled audiences throughout the United States and Europe. This guitar and violin duo’s arrangements vary from traditional to boundary breaking. Whatever is beautiful and lends itself to a soaring violin and intricate guitar might be played at this performance – from Argentine tangos to Spanish and German dances, mountain songs and Scottish airs to haunting gypsy songs.

Sunday, Dec. 3 – 2 p.m. – Scott Wilkie Quartet – “Joy” – Mission Theater – Admission charge

This concert will officially put everyone into the Christmas spirit!

Best-selling contemporary jazz keyboardist Scott Wilkie returns by popular demand with his wildly popular “Joy” program. With Scott’s unique arrangements of

holiday favorites and his fresh interpretations of traditional season classics, the group’s renditions of familiar songs gain new life in a dynamic program.

Sunday, Jan. 21 – 2 p.m. –“Back to Beatles” – Mission Theater – Free

This talented trio of renowned San Diego based musicians, Fred Benedetti, Peter Sprague and Mackenzie Leighton, will present a varied program of creative jazz arrangements of Beatles songs, some folk and rock, many original compositions, and even a little flamenco! These exceptional artists bring a level of precision and discipline to their music-making that will all add up to an inspirational listening experience.

Sunday, Feb. 18 – 2 p.m. –Quarteto Nuevo – Mission Theater – Free

This group merges Western classical, eastern European folk, Latin and jazz with an organic feel that packs a wallop with soundscapes that represent very different world cultures. For this special concert, they will be joined by Grammy Award-winning Jazz Pianist and Arranger Bill Cunliffe. Their unique instrumentation richly colors their wide-ranging repertoire, in a not to be missed concert experience.

Sunday, April 7 – 2 p.m. –

Redlands Symphony – Four Seasons – Bob Burton Center for the Performing Arts – Admission charge

Fallbrook’s favorite symphony is back after a 10-year hiatus!

This is a tour de force program that pairs the old world Baroque style of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons with the Argentinian tango and South American dance rhythms of Piazzolla’s Four Seasons of Buenos Aires. For more information and tickets, go to www.fallbrookmusicsociety.org or call (760) 451-8644.

Submitted by the Fallbrook Music Society.

Submissions will fall into two categories: 2-dimensional and Photography. Cash prizes in the 2-dimensional category will be: first place - $300, second place - $200, and third place - $100. Photography category will be: first place - $150, second place - $125 and third place - $100. One additional award in each category will be presented by the Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce. Artwork must be delivered to the Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce

Crossword Puzzle: Idioms

ACROSS

1. Nebraska city on Missouri River

6. Not her

9. Earnhardt of

To register or request the rules and entry form, contact Anita Kimzey by calling 714-222-2462 or emailing fpgcartcompetitions@gmail.com

The rules and entry form can also be picked up at Fallbrook Propane Gas Co., the Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce (or downloaded from their website fallbrookchamberofcommerce.org), The Gallery FAA (300 N. Brandon) and the Green Art House (1075 S. Mission Road, Ste. D).

Submitted by Anita Kimzey, Event Coordinator

Dunya Shaw’s piece is titled, “My Hero Gives Me Unconditional Love.”

Mike Adams’ piece is titled, “On Guard.” Valley News/Courtesy photos

Family conversations about advance health care directives

Dr. Leslee B. Cochrane

Special to the Village News

We all understand the importance of planning. We plan for graduations and weddings, we plan for retirement and we love to plan for vacations; but most Americans do not consider the importance of planning when it comes to medical decision making. Talking about your healthcare wishes with your family is a gift. If you become critically ill and cannot communicate, your loved ones and medical team must make important decisions

about your care. These decisions will have serious impacts on your end-of-life experience.

Creating an advance directive and learning how to discuss endof-life care with your loved ones will help to ensure your wishes will be honored and, more importantly, spare your loved ones from guessing about your preferences. The best time to have this discussion is when you are well and long before you are facing a medical emergency. Tne of the most important decisions is to select whom you will

name as your Health Care Power of Attorney (HC-POA). Your HCPOA will be the person who you designate to act on your behalf, should a medical condition incapacitate you from being able to do so. You will also want to select an alternate should your first choice be unavailable.

An excellent resource to help facilitate a discussion with your family regarding advance directives is known as “The Five Wishes.” This easy-to-use self-guided document allows you to complete an advance directive, select a Health

Freedom of living at home during the aging process

better idea, you can decide whether to hire a professional caregiver. Services can be arranged weekly, biweekly, or monthly depending on their needs.

Transportation is a significant concern for older adults. Driving can be challenging, especially at night, limiting their ability to go places and stay socially connected.

In-home care providers often offer transportation services as well as travel companionship options.

Home care agencies can provide door-through-door service and

Care Power of Attorney, and have the peace of mind to know that it meets the State of California’s legal requirements when completed as directed.

If you would like to receive a complimentary copy of “The Five Wishes” for your family, contact Kristi Necochea- Director of Community Relations at Hospice of the Valleys, 951-200-7800 or visit https://www.fivewishes.org

Leslee B. Cochrane, M.D., is the executive medical director of Hospice of the Valleys.

help with shopping arrangements and medical appointments. If a client is homebound or prefers to stay home, the aide can shop for them. These activities are essential to maintain a high quality of life, whether it’s helping someone with dressing, bathing, transportation, or meal preparation. In-home care services are available from a few hours daily to around-the-clock live-in care. These skilled professionals can make a difference in the lives of those who need them.

Pros and cons of reverse mortgages

Personal care services promote independence, maintain personal hygiene, and ensure a safe and comfortable living environment, enabling adults to stay in their homes as they age.

As we age, we all want to stay in the comfort of our own homes as long as possible. This is what aging in place is all about. It means staying in the familiar surroundings of your home instead of moving to a long-term care facility or retirement home.

If your loved one only needs a little help with their daily activities, has a supportive network of friends and family, and can access the right home care services, staying at home could be an excellent option. It’s essential to explore all the available services to determine if aging in place is the best way for them to maintain their independence and enjoy their golden years.

It’s no secret that the home care industry has grown significantly in recent years. With more than 3.4 million workers across the United States, these dedicated individuals provide critical personal assistance to older adults and individuals with disabilities in both in-home and community-based settings. This shift towards aging in place has meant that long-term services and support are more personalized and effective.

It can be tough to admit that our loved ones need some help. We’re used to them being independent and taking care of themselves, but as time passes, it can become more and more difficult for them to do so. In-home care services, includ-

ing various helpful services, can help them stay home for as long as possible.

In-home care refers to a range of supportive services for individuals who require assistance with daily living activities but wish to remain in the comfort of their own homes. These services can include assistance with personal care, meal preparation, medication management, transportation, light housekeeping, and more. In-home care is typically provided by trained and experienced caregivers who work for reputable and dependable agencies.

When people and families need help with long-term care, one of the biggest challenges is finding a homecare worker compatible with their needs and resources. Many rely on their networks for referrals.

Finding reliable care is the most crucial factor in hiring home care workers, with most consumers reporting this as a top priority. The emotional aspect of this work is significant, with the importance of a worker’s demonstration of love and care. Ensure the caregiver agency you choose properly screens their caregivers.

Personal care services are specifically designed to cater to the individual needs of seniors who require assistance with daily activities. These services promote independence, maintain personal hygiene, and ensure a safe and comfortable living environment.

Personal care services encom-

pass assistance with various activities of daily living (ADLs) that may become challenging for seniors. These include bathing and grooming, dressing and mobility, toileting, incontinence care, and medication reminders.

One of the top areas of concern in aging is a decline in healthy eating for seniors making proper nutrition essential. Maintaining energy, weight and synching dietary needs to support medical conditions are factors in establishing a healthy quality of life.

Professional caregivers are a great resource to help facilitate a healthy diet.

There are many ways to improve nutritional health during the aging process, such as consuming more liquids, meal planning, minimizing the use of salt, reading all dietary labels, taking note of recommended serving sizes, reducing consumption of sugar, and aiding in consuming “healthy” fats. Hiring trained caregivers helps ensure a healthy diet.

If you have a loved one who needs help with chores like light housekeeping and laundry, hiring a caregiver to help can be a great solution. It can take a lot of pressure off you and your loved one and allow you to use your time more effectively.

One way to decide if hiring out this task is worth it is to calculate how much time you spend performing your loved ones’ housekeeping chores. Once you have a

Favors for Neighbors

Favors for Neighbors is a 501(c) (3) certified Non-Profit focused on helping the senior community AT NO COST to them and to help them avoid getting ripped off, scammed, and have less risk of injury. One lady was charged $100 just to change smoke alarm batteries, another $120 to change HVAC filters. We help seniors with things they can’t do for themselves or can’t afford - like home repairs, weed abatement to minimize fire, home cleaning, household organization, incorrect billing issues and much more. We provide a repair service, but what we’re really delivering is KINDNESS, companionship, compassion if only for a few hours – to change their state from isolation and depression to A BIG SMILE OF GRATITUDE - every time

Too good to be true – Yes, it is. We do it anyway!

But we need your help with Donations and Volunteers. Nobody else does this at no cost to the senior. Please take the opportunity to build something special with us.

Donations Needed

Please open your hearts and help cover the costs. Use the QR code below.

Volunteers Needed

We cannot do it alone,

need help to help others.

Reverse mortgages have gained popularity as a financial tool for senior homeowners looking to access their home equity. While these l oans offer several advantages, they also come with certain drawbacks. This article aims to provide an objective analysis of the pros and cons of reverse mortgages to help individuals make informed decisions.

Pros of reverse mortgages:

Supplement retirement income: One of the significant benefits of reverse mortgages is that they can provide additional income during retirement. These loans allow homeowners aged 62 and above to convert a portion of their home equity into tax-free cash, which can be received as a lump sum, a line of credit, fixed monthly payments, or a combination of these options. No monthly mortgage payments: With a reverse mortgage, borrowers are not required to make monthly mortgage payments as long as they continue to live in the home, pay property taxes, insurance, and maintain the property. This can provide financial relief for retirees on fixed incomes.

Flexibility in loan distribution: Reverse mortgages offer flexibility in how borrowers receive their

Valley News/Adobe Stock photo funds. Homeowners can choose the payment plan that suits their needs, whether it is a lump sum to cover immediate expenses or a line of credit for future use. The availability of different options allows borrowers to customize their loan to meet their unique financial goals.

Ownership and residence: Contrary to popular misconception, reverse mortgage borrowers retain ownership and can live in their homes as long as they fulfill their obligations under the loan agreement. This provides peace of mind and security, allowing seniors to age in place.

Cons of reverse mortgages:

Accumulating interest and fees: One notable drawback of reverse mortgages is the accumulation of interest and fees over time. Since borrowers are not required to make monthly mortgage payments, the interest and fees associated with the loan gradually increase the outstanding balance. As a result, the overall debt can grow substantially, potentially impacting the equity remaining in the home.

Former Fallbrook resident Anna Mullen said, “I had a reverse mortgage until a conventional mortgage took over and it was financially see MORTGAGE, page B-5

Felicia Horton AdvanCare

Valley News/Courtesy photo

Valley News Staff

MORTGAGE from page B-4

43.5

Avoid foreclosure Potential risk of foreclosure: If a reverse mortgage borrower fails to meet their obligations, such as paying property taxes or maintaining homeowner’s insurance, the lender may initiate foreclosure proceedings. It is crucial for borrowers to understand and fulfill their responsibilities to avoid the risk of losing their homes.

The homeowner may need to continuously live in the home if it is part of the agreement. If the homeowner needs to live in a care facility or with family or friends for an extended period of time, it may violate the reverse mortgage agreement, risking foreclosure.

High upfront costs: Reverse mortgages generally entail higher upfront costs compared to traditional mortgages. These costs include origination fees, closing costs, mortgage insurance premiums, and appraisal fees. It is essential for potential borrowers to carefully consider these expenses when evaluating the feasibility of a reverse mortgage.

Weigh pros and cons

Conclusion: Reverse mortgages can be a viable option for senior homeowners seeking additional income and financial flexibility during retirement. However, it is important to weigh the pros and cons carefully, considering individual circumstances and longterm goals. Seeking advice from financial advisors, counselors, and family members can help in making an informed decision about whether a reverse mortgage is the right choice for a particular situation.

million

2015 2020

NEARLY ONE IN FIVE (19%) ARE PROVIDING UNPAID CARE TO AN ADULT WITH HEALTH OR FUNCTIONAL NEEDS.**

More Americans are caring for more than one person.

18%24%

More family caregivers have difficulty coordinating care.

poor. 19%26%

family caregivers

REAL ESTATE

County pays off lease for French Valley Airport terminal building

Joe Naiman

Writer

The County of Riverside has paid off the lease for the French Valley Airport terminal building.

The lump sum payment allows the county to end the lease and sublease it had with FVA Terminal Partners, Ltd. On June 27 the Riverside County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to approve the

Answers for puzzle on page B-3

sublease termination agreement.

French Valley Airport is classified as a general aviation reliever airport, which means that it is primarily used by private pilots for recreational or personal business flights but may also provide temporary capacity for cargo or other flights if the primary commercial airport needs the capacity for larger aircraft. More than 240 aircraft are based at French Valley

Airport, and approximately 92,000 operations each year (including touch-and-go exercises) occur on the airport runway.

In December 1991 the county and FVA Terminal Partners entered into a lease for a parcel at French Valley Airport. The 30-year lease, with an option to extend the lease for an additional five years, allowed FVA Terminal Partners to obtain the financing to construct a terminal building for the airport. In July 1992 FVA Terminal Partners as the sublessor and the county as the sublessee entered into a sublease for the terminal building. The lease and sublease had the same periods, and the commencement date for the 30-year lease and sublease was based upon the completion of the terminal building.

FVA Terminal Partners completed the construction of the terminal building, which is 11,807 square

feet, in mid-1992. The lease and sublease began on July 1, 1992, and the initial term expired on June 30, 2022. FVA Terminal Partners exercised their five-year option which took effect on July 1, 2022.

The sublease included a clause which gave the county the option to prepay the rent at the current rate in exchange for a reduction in time for the extended term.

The most recent monthly rent for the sublease was $58,918.97. The county’s Aviation Division chose to provide a one-time prepayment of $2,828,110.56 to FVA Terminal Partners to pay off the remaining four years on the sublease and lease. The sublease is subject to annual Consumer Price Index increases ranging from 4 percent to 8 percent. The prepayment is expected to save the Aviation Division approximately $612,710.44 for the remaining four-year term of

the sublease.

The prepayment created a termination date for the sublease and lease of June 30, 2023. The Aviation Division and FVA Terminal Partners negotiated the termination agreement of the lease for the parcel and the sublease for the terminal building.

The termination agreement was reviewed and approved by County Counsel. The county’s Aviation Revenue Fund will reimburse the county $1,500 for those County Counsel staff time expenses. An additional $50 from the Aviation Revenue Fund will cover the cost of the environmental Notice of Exemption; the supervisors’ June 27 action also found the project categorically exempt from California Environmental Quality Act review.

Joe Naiman can be reached by email at jnaiman@reedermedia. com.

Christensen Brothers given El Rancho Road pipeline construction contract

Joe Naiman Writer Christensen Brothers General Engineering, Inc., has been given the Eastern Municipal Water District contract for the construction of the El Rancho Road Pipelines Project.

Large Commercial Lot Must Sell Today!

The EMWD board voted 4-0 July

of $3,204,000 which will fund surveying and testing, inspections, EMWD staff labor, and a $235,000 contingency.

The pipeline replacement project is in the Sun City area within the Menifee city limits. Eastern’s routine potable water pipeline replacement program includes identifying key segments which have experienced multiple leaks and line breaks in past years. A capital program prioritizes replacement of these pipelines on an annual basis. The next phase of replacement will be the pipelines near El Rancho Road generally located south of Cherry Hills Boulevard, north of Newport Road, east of Bradley Road, and west of Interstate 215. Approximately 2,400 linear feet of 12-inch diameter pipeline will be replaced consisting of approximately 1,500 linear feet on El Rancho Road, 600 feet on Thornhill Drive, and 300 feet on Piping Rock Road. In November 2022 the EMWD board awarded a $118,614 design engineering services contract to Ardurra, which is headquartered in Tampa and has an office in Temecula.

The construction contract was advertised for bid April 26. Eight companies submitted bids by the May 24 deadline although two of those were considered non-responsive. Christensen Brothers, which is headquartered in Apple Valley, had the low bid of $2,345,000. The engineer’s estimate for this project was $2,780,000.

Offered at $32,000

acres of very private land. Zoned A-2! Bring a mobile home, modular, manufactured home, or traditional build. Enjoy the tranquility and great views for a great price. They will also allow a SOLAR farm (with approved CUP).

of potential here!

Offered at $50,000

EMWD staff negotiated a scope of work and a $60,230 fee with Ardurra for engineering services during construction. The Ardurra tasks include project management, administration, meetings, site visits, review of submittals, requests for information, potential change orders, and preparation of record drawings. EMWD staff will negotiate with as-needed services consultants for construction survey, geotechnical observation, geotechnical testing, and other related support services.

The construction is expected to be complete in March 2024.

Joe Naiman can be reached by email at jnaiman@reedermedia. com.

Area pros hit the sand for the AVP Hermosa Beach Open

JP Raineri

Sports Editor

HERMOSA BEACH – The AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour made its second appearance in California the second week of July, bringing some of the world’s best beach volleyball players back to the South Bay hot spot. The AVP Pro Series Hermosa Beach Open was held Friday, July 7 through Sunday, July 9 at the Hermosa Beach Pier featuring many of the game’s top players and emerging stars competing over three days for a $125,000 purse, which included two locals in the field.

2014 Great Oak graduate Jessica Gaffney teamed up with Kelly Reeves on the women’s side of the beach, while Fallbrook’s Billy Allen and partner Alison Cerutti represented the men. Allen and Cerutti looked like they would make the finals when play resumed early Sunday morning, but when the dust settled, they finished

well enough to finish third overall after defeating Olympian Phil Dalhausser and Avery Drost 2523, 18-21 and 15-8. Gaffney and Reeves were eliminated on Saturday in the contenders bracket after falling 2-1 in their first match on Friday. They lost 2-0 in that contenders match.

“Beach volleyball is such an integral part of Hermosa Beach, and we feel honored to be back competing in the heart of such a vibrant area that deeply values the sport of beach volleyball,” said Al Lau, CEO of the AVP.

Overall, the top tier tournament this past weekend featured 16team women’s and men’s fields competing in a double-elimination bracket across three courts with the women’s and men’s brackets each consisting of 10 teams automatically entered based on AVP ranking points, two wild cards and four teams who earned see BEACH, page C-2

2023 MLB Draft brings about excitement for local baseball players

JP Raineri

Sports Editor

SEATTLE – As this article was set to go to print, the first two rounds of the 2023 Amateur MLB Draft, held in Seattle to coincide with the MLB All-Star break, were in the books. While no local players were touted to be taken high in the draft ranks this year, we are only one year removed from Menifee’s Mikey Romero being selected in the first round to the Boston Red Sox (24th overall). A contract that made the then 18-year-old a multimillionaire just after graduating high school days earlier.

As the 20-round 2023 draft continues through the week, there are some semi-local players that could hear their names called, but none from the immediate area that the Valley News covers, of course, one never knows what an MLB team is thinking in the draft room, so you never know what could happen. As for the semi-local

players, that list includes Grant Grey and Cameron Kim of Norco High School, as well as Eric Bitonti of Aquinas, and Luke Scherrer of Yucaipa.

The first two rounds of the draft, plus competitive balances rounds, took place Sunday, July 9, while Monday saw Rounds 3-10 before the draft wrapped up with Rounds 11-20 on Tuesday.

While the wait was on for the local players, let’s start at the top, because the team on top of college baseball as History was made with LSU teammates Paul Skenes and Dylan Crews going No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, to the Pirates and Nationals. Fresh off a national championship, LSU became the first school to produce the top two picks of a draft.

Here’s the top five, with grades and analysis from R.J. Anderson of CBS Sports.

Former Great Oak standout Jessica Gaffney goes up for a shot at the AVP Hermosa Beach Open.

Valley News/David Canales photos

Fallbrook’s Billy Allen gets a point over the outstretched hands Olympian Phil Dalhausser.

Recent Norco graduate, Cameron Kim, was all smiles at the recent 2023 MLB Draft combine held at Chase Field in Arizona from June 20-24. Valley News/Courtesy photo

see DRAFT, page C-3

F45 tops list of California’s highest rated commercial gyms

JP Raineri

Sports Editor

The F45 franchise is still on the rise, but with names like Mark Wahlberg behind it, and with dedicated owners, it’s no wonder the Murrieta location has become so popular. While their location didn’t crack the Top 20 of California’s highest rated commercial gyms just yet, quite a few locations did. But, as their popularity rises, it’s only a matter of time before Murrieta owners Brad and Cara Coonradt will add their location to the list.

As an actor, producer and entrepreneur, Wahlberg is the chief brand officer for the fledgling company and has visited locally a number of times. Prior to the Temecula location closing last year, which happened due to personal reasons from the site’s previous owners, Wahlberg would pop in at announced and unannounced times, in order to get a workout in before attending local equestrian events his daughter would participate in.

As for the F45 Training facility in Culver City, that location was found to be California’s highest rated commercial gym, achieving a five-star Google rating across 425 reviews. 24 Hour Fitness achieved the lowest user rating of 3.51 stars on average across 281 locations. Whether an individual is just starting out on their fitness journey, or is a long-time gym goer, the quality of the gym experience is likely to influence a person’s fitness goals over the long term.

Murrieta F45 owners, Brad and Cara Coonradt, were visited by Mark Wahlberg last month, who helped run an early morning class for many of the gym’s long-time clients. Valley News/Courtesy photos

Online fitness resource Total

Shape crunched the numbers to see how 13 of the largest commercial gym franchises stack up against one another in terms of user ratings.

“Commercial gyms are a great way for both novice and seasoned gym goers to stay fit, as they are often more conveniently located and offer more affordable payment plans than privately owned gyms,” says Isaac Robertson, Co-Founder and Chief Editor of Total Shape.

They looked at the ratings of each commercial gym location to find the average user experience for each major fitness franchise, as well as the 20 highest rated gyms

CIF Southern Section Commissioner Rob Wigod bids farewell

in different states.

California’s 20 highest rated commercial gyms is a long one, so here, the focus will be on the Top 5. When looking at 1,010 commercial gym locations in California across 13 major franchises, these were found to be the highest rated gyms with a minimum of 100 reviews.

1. F45 Fitness

Securing the top spot is F45 Fitness, which achieved a near perfect Google review score of 4.94 out of 5 on average, across 742 of its locations.

F45 fitness centers take their members through a series of functional high intensity interval training (HIIT) exercises and circuits focused on everyday movement. The ‘F’ in F45 stands for functional, while ‘45’ refers to the number of minutes it takes to perform any given workout. Membership prices vary from location to location and are likely to be out of most people’s price range, with members paying upwards of $300 dollars per month to join the F45 community. The majority of F45 gym locations were found to be in Texas, with 107 locations (14.4%), followed by California with 103 locations (13.9%) and Florida with 87 locations (11.7%).

2. Orangetheory Fitness

In second place is Orangetheory Fitness which achieves an average Google rating of 4.81 out of 5 across the 1,329 locations analyzed.

Orangetheory Fitness, ranked as California’s second highest rated commercial gym, offers more of a workout class than a standalone gym, with sessions revolving around group HIIT training.

Prices are charged based on the number of classes you wish to attend per month. Their oncea-week Basic membership costs around $59 per month, while the Premier membership will set members back a $159 per month if they want access to unlimited classes.

Despite being established in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Orangetheory has most of its franchises located in California (12%), followed by Texas (9.4%) with Florida taking the third spot (9.3%).

3. Snap Fitness

Coming in third is Snap Fitness which scores an average Google rating of 4.44 out of 5, across 546 locations in the US. Offering a selection of free weight and cardio equipment, Snap Fitness is open to members 24 hours a day and memberships can be purchased for $39.95 per month in a number of locations.

The majority of Snap Fitness gyms can be found in Minnesota, which offers 78 locations (14.3%), followed by Texas with 49 locations (9%) and Ohio with 33 locations (6%).

4. Planet Fitness

Taking the fourth spot is Planet Fitness, which achieves an average Google rating of 4.38 out of 5 across a staggering 2,322 locations. With its recognizable purple branding, Planet Fitness promotes a judgement free zone that encourages people of all ages and ability to get fit, with many easy-to-use resistance machines.

respectively.

5. Anytime Fitness

Rounding off the top five is Anytime Fitness which achieves an average Google rating of 4.37 out of 5 across 2,339 locations in America.

The 24-hour health and fitness club founded in Minnesota, offers each new member a free personalized training plan when they sign up, and memberships average around $41 per month according to their website.

The largest number of Anytime Fitness gyms can be found in Texas, which has 267 locations (11.4%), followed by Florida with 144 locations (6.2%) and Minnesota with 140 locations (6%).

“While the analysis did not include an exhaustive list of every gym in America, it does provide a level of transparency as to which gym chains are the highest rated among its members,” added Robertson. “User experience plays an important role in the longevity of your fitness goals, so if your workout environment isn’t up to scratch or is poorly managed, you are unlikely to want to return.”

Rob Wigod, who has been the CIF Southern Section Commissioner for the past 12 years, sent his final message to member schools last week.

JP Raineri

Sports Editor

LOS ALAMITOS – Not only was he the commissioner, but he has also been the face of the CIF Southern Section, especially regarding communication, for the past 12 years. With one final message, Rob Wigod says good night, and goodbye. Last week, in the last message he wrote before retiring, Wigod had the following to say:

“Over the past 12 years, I have enjoyed the opportunity to utilize this vehicle to communicate with you. On a monthly basis, I tried my best to focus on current issues, keep you updated on recent developments, provide food for thought on ideas for the future, and touch on topics of interest relevant to you and to our organization. Sometimes these messages were about celebrations, sometimes they were about challenges, and others on all things in between.

In this final one, I want to express my gratitude to all of you who embrace the importance of education-based athletics and have devoted so much of your time in service to young people.

I am so thankful for the spirit of cooperation and collaboration that has resulted in significant changes to the way we have administered to our student-athletes, and I am extremely proud of what we have been able to accomplish by working together.

Included at the end of this message is a look back at the years I have spent with you in this office, highlighting some of the advances we have made in the effort to be the very best we could be. I hope you will enjoy the trip down memory lane. As I move on, I would like to offer my sincere thanks to the

Valley News/Courtesy photo following...

Member Schools – To our principals, athletic directors, coaches, and school communities.

I have traveled the length and breadth of our section in the 23 years I have worked here, and the number of people I have met who are doing outstanding work with students and student-athletes is incredible. It was so inspiring to meet so many great people, doing great things, all over our massive geographic footprint.

The friendships and relationships I have been able to forge with so many of you are treasured memories that I will take with me forever.

Executive Committee – To our Executive Committee, present and past, for their leadership, vision, and oversight of our organization. The contributions that our Executive Committee members make by representing their constituents are invaluable to us in identifying what needs to be done, engaging in meaningful discussions on the direction we want to go, and then implementing the plan to see those ideas come to fruition. The Executive Committee has helped me tremendously as mentors, sounding boards and sources of knowledge. I am indebted to them for doing so.

Staff – As I have said many, many times, whenever I speak of them, our staff is second to none.

I am so grateful to them for their dedication to our membership and to our organization. They are much more than loyal and trusted colleagues, they are family to me and to my family, and we have been through so many things where their unwavering support has meant everything to me. I have been see WIGOD, page C-8

Similar to F45, Orangetheory offers more of a workout class than a standalone gym, with sessions revolving around group HIIT training. During each hour session, members alternate between three main exercise groups: rowing, running and strength training exercises.

entry through the AVP Tour Series Virginia Beach Open.

The 2023 AVP Tour schedule includes 12 tournaments across the country, offering more than $1.5 million in prize money. Four Tour Series events feature 16 or 24-team brackets competing over three days for a $20,000 purse, and four Pro Series events each offer a 16-team draw playing for $125,000 over three days of play. The three AVP Gold Series tournaments are three-day events with 16 or 32-team brackets and the highest purses of the season at $300,000, and the two-day Championship event invites the top six teams per gender to compete exclusively at the end of the season.

While the pros competed for the honor of becoming the next champions of the Hermosa Beach Open, youth volleyball athletes from across the country played on the same sand in hopes of someday emulating the stars that they look up to as role models. The AVP Junior Nationals was held July 5-9, bringing hundreds of girls and boys ages 12-18 to Hermosa Beach.

The US Beach Club Championship, a tandem between USA Volleyball and the AVP, returns to the South Bay for the second time and will take place following the Hermosa Beach Open, July 9-11. Youth athletes from the top beach volleyball clubs in the country will compete in a traditional college format style tournament. The 16 and 18 age groups will compete on Sunday and Monday and the 14 age group compete on Monday and Tuesday.

“To be able to have the AVP Juniors Nationals running

It offers one of the cheaper pricing options, with users picking up a basic membership for just $10 per month or the option of upgrading to a Black Card to unlock unlimited location access for $24.99 per month.

The majority of Planet Fitness gyms in the US can be found in California, Texas and Florida

concurrently with the Hermosa Beach Open, and have the US Beach Club Championship to follow, provide an amazing opportunity for young players who aspire to reach the top level of the sport watch and learn from the best of the best,” added Lau. “We’re looking forward to an exciting

Article contributions and research conducted by Total Shape, which is a fitness resource site providing information about workouts, supplements and fitness to help reach your goals. The locations of individual gyms for 13 major gym franchises were scraped from each website’s location directory. The latitude and longitude of each gym location was then sent to Google Maps nearby search API, returning the rating and total review count for each gym. More information can be found at https://totalshape.com.

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

week in the South Bay.”

Follow all the action with local and national stars on the AVP’s website for full details at www. AVP.com.

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

2014 Great Oak graduate Jessica Gaffney (left) and partner Kelly Reeves compete at the AVP Hermosa Beach Open. Valley News/David Canales photos

Billy Allen, of Fallbrook, digs the ball to help defeat the team of Phil Dalhausser and Avery Drost at last weekend’s AVP Hermosa Beach Open.

BEACH from page C-1

Three local players announced to USA Baseball 2023 Women’s National Team training camp roster

37 athletes named to the roster following the Women’s National Open

JP Raineri

Sports Editor

MESA – USA Baseball recently announced its roster for the 2023 Women’s National Team Training Camp, which included three local names from Southwest Riverside County. Women’s National team veteran, twenty-five-year-old Kelsie Whitmore (OF/RHP), who hails from Temecula and who just celebrated a birthday last weekend, was joined by newcomer Alyssa Zettlemoyer (Catcher) of Murrieta, as well as previous National Team Development Program participant Peyton Coria (RHP/INF) of Perris. Thirty-seven athletes were named to the roster following

the conclusion of the Women’s National Open, the primary identification event for the Women’s National Team. Training Camp began Monday, July 10, and consists of workouts and a series of three intrasquad games at Riverview Baseball Complex – the Spring Training facility for the Chicago Cubs in Mesa, Ariz. The final 20-woman roster will be announced on Thursday, July 13, and will travel to Thunder Bay, Ontario, for the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC)

Women’s Baseball World Cup group stage from August 8-13.

The top three teams from the group will advance to the IX WBSC

Women’s Baseball World Cup

Finals in 2024.

“We are very pleased with the selection of athletes chosen for Training Camp,” said Women’s National Team Program Director Ann Claire Roberson. “Narrowing down the field to 37 was a tough endeavor, but we are excited to see this group of talented players continue the process of competing for a spot on the Women’s National Team throughout the week.”

In total, 19 alumni of the Women’s National Team will compete for the chance to don the uniform once again in 2023, including 18 that helped the team take home a 3-2 friendship series victory over Canada last year.

Highlighting the roster is Anna

Kimbrell, who has made 10 appearances on a USA Baseball national team over her career.

Additionally, Jade Gortarez and Kelsie Whitmore have played on seven national teams, and Meggie Meidlinger has been featured on a national team roster on six separate occasions.

The Training Camp roster includes six players: Sarah Edwards, Cameron Ely, Akira Kopec, Jacqueline Reynolds, London Studer, and Zettlemoyer, who are brand new to the Women’s National Team program in 2023, and 26 others have participated in a Women’s National Team Development Program in years past.

LSU’s Paul Skenes and Dylan Crews made history when they became the first pair of teammates to be selected first and second overall in the 2023 MLB Draft.

This year’s Women’s National Team manager is five-time Team USA player Veronica Alvarez. She will coach alongside assistant coaches Alex Oglesby and Malaika Underwood and pitching coach Reynol Mendoza. In addition, Tamara Holmes, Tanner Vesely, Tim Esmay, and Calvin Pickering will serve as coaches for the Women’s National Team Training Camp.

The 2023 Women’s National Team Training Camp Roster is as follows:

(Name; Position; Hometown)

*^Jillian Albayati; RHP/INF; Anaheim, Calif.

Sierra Baldwin; C/UTIL; Lawton, Mich.

*^Jamie Baum; RHP/UTIL; Los Altos, Calif.

^Paloma Benach; LHP/INF; Washington, D.C.

*^Denae Benites; INF/RHP; Las Vegas, Nev.

Valencia, Calif.

Maggie Foxx; C/INF; Bedford, N.H.

*^Amanda Gianelloni; INF/OF; Gretna, La.

*^Jade Gortarez; INF/RHP; Riverside, Calif.

^Beth Greenwood; C/UTIL; Amherst, N.H.

*^Alex Hugo; INF/OF; Olathe, Kan.

*^Alexia Jorge; C/INF; Lyndhurst, N.J.

*^Anna Kimbrell; C; Fort Mill, S.C.

Akira Kopec; RHP/INF; Kingston, Penn.

*^Kylee Lahners; INF; Laguna Hills, Calif.

*^Ashton Lansdell; INF/RHP; Marietta, Ga.

*^Alana Martinez; INF/OF; Cooper City, Fla.

^Meredith McFadden; C/UTIL; Charlotte, N.C.

*^Meggie Meidlinger; RHP/ INF; Sterling, Va.

Luciana Moreno; INF/UTIL; Sun Prairie, Wis.

^Maggie Paulovich; INF/C; Albany, Calif.

Valerie Perez; INF/UTIL; Corpus Christi, Texas

*^Olivia Pichardo; RHP/OF; Forest Hills, N.Y.

Jacqueline Reynolds; RHP/ UTIL; Woburn, Mass.

^Aspen Robinson; OF/UTIL; Folsom, Calif.

^Naomi Ryan; LHP/INF; North Chesterfield, Va.

*^Remi Schaber; INF/RHP; Cordova, Tenn.

London Studer; INF/LHP; Blacklick, Ohio

Recent Aquinas graduate, Eric Bitonti, runs the 30-yard dash during the 2023 Draft Combine at Chase Field in Arizona last month.

DRAFT from page C-1

1. Pirates: Paul Skenes, P, LSU -- “It’s incredibly risky to take any pitcher No. 1 overall. ... Still, you can understand why the Pirates were enamored enough with Skenes to make him the pick.

Grade: B”

2. Nationals: Dylan Crews, OF, LSU -- “Crews was considered to be the best overall player in the draft. The Nationals should be thrilled to get him at No. 2.

Grade: A”

3. Tigers: Max Clark, CF, Franklin Community HS (IN)

-- “He’s a surefire center fielder with a strong arm. He also has legit offensive upside thanks to above-average bat speed from the left side. Grade: B”

4. Rangers: Wyatt Langford, OF, Florida -- “Langford would have been a good get at No. 1 most years, so landing him at No. 4 is a great value. Grade: A”

5. Twins: Walker Jenkins, OF, South Brunswick HS (NC) -- “ Jenkins was regarded as a safer bet to hit than Clark by scouts, though the latter is certain to offer more defensive and baserunning value. Grade: B”

Neither the Dodgers or Mets had a first-round pick in this year’s draft. They both had their first pick pushed back 10 spots for clearing competitive-balance tax thresholds last year. The Mets’ first pick is No. 32; the Dodgers’ first pick is No. 36.

In all, 614 players will get drafted this year when all is said and done. To follow along, visit www.mlb.com and look for local updates from the Valley News online at www.myvalleynews.com JP Raineri can be reached by email at sports@reedermedia.com

*^Elise Berger; RHP/INF; Shelburne, Vt.

*^Kate Blunt; RHP/INF; Ladera Ranch, Calif.

^Olivia Bricker; LHP/OF; Cincinnati, Ohio

*^Janelle Calvet; UTIL/RHP; Deerfield Beach, Fla.

^Peyton Coria; RHP/INF; Perris, Calif.

*Niki Eckert; LHP/OF; Englewood, N.J.

Sarah Edwards; INF/LHP; Bay Shore, N.Y.

Cameron Ely; RHP/OF;

*^Kelsie Whitmore; OF/RHP; Temecula, Calif.

Alyssa Zettlemoyer; C/INF; Murrieta, Calif.

* Denotes National Team alumna

^ Denotes National Team Development Program participant

Fans can follow along with the action by following @ USABaseballWNT on Twitter and @USABaseball on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok as well.

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

Valley News/Courtesy photos

Highlighting the USA Baseball 2023 Women’s National Team training camp roster is Temecula’s Kelsie Whitmore, who has made 7 appearances on a USA Baseball national team over her career. Valley News/USA Baseball courtesy photos

Murrieta’s Alyssa Zettlemoyer was announced as one of the Thirty-seven athletes named to the USA Baseball 2023 Women’s National Team training camp roster following the Women’s National Open last week.

Previous National Team Development Program participant Peyton Coria of Perris was named to the USA Baseball 2023 Women’s National Team training camp roster.

Menifee Valley area names Student of the Year winners

Five Perris Union High School District students were recently honored by the Perris Valley and Menifee Valley Chambers of Commerce. Students competed in a rigorous scholarship application process that included two essay questions and each winner received a $3,100 scholarship donated by community organizations and businesses. They also received many gifts and certificates donated by local businesses, organizations and dignitaries. Students shared what it meant to receive this award and expressed their thanks and appreciation for the support they received from family and their community.

Abigail Nering

Perris High School Student of the Year is Abigail Nering. Abigail was number one in her class and the 2022-2023 valedictorian. Abigail has been involved in numerous activities including ASB and Future Farmers of America where she served as an officer. She also took quite a number of AP courses and graduated with a 4.3 GPA. According to Assistant Principal Doug Cousins, there was no doubt that Abigail is deserving of the Student of the Year award as Abigail led by example. He described her as quiet and very intelligent. Earlier in the year Abigail shared how she was working through some social anxieties at the time. A large part of getting through that was taking an AP psychology class. Taking this class was not only an academic learning experience, but it also was therapeutic and became a safe place where she was able to work through some of her issues. “Every day we would have the most bizarre conversations and even sometimes just a therapy session,” she said. Abigail is still working through some of those issues and looks forward to taking what she has learned to college. She will be attending UC, Irvine majoring in nursing to become a traveling nurse.

Cherylann Burke

Perris Lake High School’s Student of the Year is Cherylann Burke. Cherylann was February’s Student of the Month and at that time she shared how she had struggled in school and was told by a couple of different teachers that she would not graduate and would not amount to anything. However, attending Perris Lake became a turning point for her, both academically and personally. She was welcomed by a loving staff and through their encouragement and the support of her family, she not only graduated high school early, but was also the valedictorian for her class. Cherylann expressed her thanks and gratitude to those who

Institute;

helped her through her journey, including Principal Lee Alfred, who praised Cherylann for her accomplishments and being brave to face the challenges she’s had in her life.

“We don’t learn by how smooth the road is, but by how rough the challenges are that we go through in life,” he said. Cherylann is an exceptional example of having perseverance and experiencing the fruits of her hard work. Cherylann will continue her education attending Mt. San Jacinto College for two years and then transferring to a four-year college to study veterinary medicine.

Carlos Santana Ayala California Military Institute’s Student of the Year is Carlos Santana Ayala. Carlos has spent the last five years attending CMI starting out as a shy eighth grader to eventually becoming the 9th Brigade XO in charge of more than 1,000 cadets. It has been an amazing journey for Carlos, especially coming from a different country not knowing the language, and learning a new culture. Carlos shared back in March of the challenges he and his family experienced with an unstable father and eventually being able to settle in the United States. Carlos has worked hard to get where he is today and in the process earned the respect of other cadets and staff.

Principal Nicholas Milosavljevic had commented on Carlos’s extraordinary character stating that he was not only someone who earned everyone’s trust, but is also someone they all look up to. Carlos expressed his thanks to everyone at CMI for helping to shape and mold him. Carlos will be attending Riverside Community College for two years and then transfer to Cal State San Bernardino to major in computer science. He would like to enter the field of cybersecurity. In addition, while attending CSSB, he will also be participating in the Air Force ROTC and commissioning as an officer.

Meagan Macatangay

Meagan Macatangay is Paloma Valley High School’s Student of the Year. With over 500-plus community service hours, involvement in numerous clubs and organizations, and taking a multitude of AP and Honors classes, it’s amazing that she’d been able to maintain a 4.4 GPA. One of the activities that Meagan shared she was passionate about is dance. She believes that art is the purest form of self-expression and this has been a great benefit to her. “Dancing has helped put my emotions into movement and has helped me further understand myself and my understanding of others,” she said. Another passion of Meagan’s is

being able to help others, which she has been able to do through some of her activities. Meagan expressed her gratitude for the support she’s received, especially from her parents. She understands the sacrifices they made coming to the United States working hard to live a better life. Meagan will be attending her dream college, UC Irvine, as a biological science major with the intent to switch to nursing. She plans on working as a registered nurse to help pay for medical school. In the long term, Meagan plans to become a neonatologist and would like to join medical missions that visit third world countries to help with medical needs for people in those countries.

Alice Pitts

Alice Pitts was Heritage High School’s November’s Student of the Month, and now its Student of the Year. Alice has been involved in a number of organizations including the National Honor Society, Students for Change, AVID, where she also served as president, and tennis. In addition to her extracurricular activities, she has taken multiple AP and Honors classes graduating with a 4.3 GPA. One of the most influential clubs that Alice participated in was AVID. She shared how this organization had been a major part of

Everything you need to know about student loans

this fall, consider these tips and insights:

Exhaust all options

Before turning to private student loans, first exhaust other sources of financial aid. Complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid to be considered for grants, scholarships, work-study programs and federal student loans. If your selected school is one of the 400 institutions that requires the CSS profile, submit that too to qualify for institutional aid. Finally, search for private scholarships offered by companies and nonprofit organizations. One easy one to apply for is the College Ave $1,000 monthly scholarship sweepstakes.

If you do need to borrow, turn to federal student loans in the student’s name first, which generally offer the lowest rates and come with additional benefits. They don’t depend on credit scores, and offer longer deferments and forbearances, income-driven repayment plans and student loan forgiveness.

StatePoint Media Special to the Valley News

More American families are borrowing for college. At the same time, merit aid and the use

of personal income and savings is falling.

That’s according to an annual College Ave Student Loans survey of college students at four-year universities, conducted with

Barnes & Noble College Insights. The survey also found college affordability is top-of-mind for the majority of students (57%). Despite financial concerns, 81% of students report that a college degree is crucial for their future.

“The mix of methods that families use to pay for college has shifted, however one thing remains consistent: students and families value the investment in higher education,” says Angela Colatriano, chief marketing officer of College Ave. To borrow smart for college

Private student loans

Federal student loans have annual and aggregate loan limits.

If you find yourself needing to borrow parent or private loans to cover remaining costs, consider these factors:

Costs: Compare costs of different loans by looking at the actual interest rate you’ll be charged, not the lowest advertised rate.

Understand the difference between variable and fixed interest rates, and be aware of any fees and available discounts, such as those

her success during her high school career. Alice had been involved in AVID since the sixth grade, and it has guided her through the years helping her find her goals. In as much as AVID has been a great influence on Alice, according to her principal Lindsay Chavez, Alice has been a major influence to others. Chavez commented that Alice has been an inspiration and mentor to not only the younger Heritage High Patriots, but to her senior class peers. Last November, when Alice was recognized for Student of the Month, her AVID teacher Sara Huerta shared how much she admired her character. “Alice always has integrity, it didn’t matter who was watching,” she said. Alice will be attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo as an accounting major, focusing on business administration.

All of these students demonstrated a desire to work hard and have a drive to exceed others and their own expectations. The Perris Valley Chamber and the Menifee Valley Chamber congratulate them on their scholarship awards and wish them the best in their endeavors. If you would like to learn more about the Student of the Month Program, please contact founder Sally Myers at 951-506-8024. Contributed content.

offered for using autopay.

Cosigners: A creditworthy cosigner doesn’t just increase the odds of loan approval, even if the student can qualify on their own, cosigning may yield a lower interest rate, reducing the overall cost of the loan.

Total Debt: Borrow only what you need. With private loans, you can usually borrow up to the total cost of attendance. However, borrowing less than the maximum can help you save over time. A simple rule of thumb you can use to determine how much student loan debt you can afford: If total student loan debt at graduation, including federal and private loans, is less than the student’s annual starting salary, you can likely repay the loans in 10 years or less.

Repayment: Look for repayment flexibility to match your needs.

For example, College Ave Student Loans offers 5-, 8-, 10- and 15-year repayment options, along with the choice of deferring payments until after graduation or beginning payments right away. No matter what option you select, understand the terms.

For more resources, including an online student loan calculator, and to learn more about paying for college, visit CollegeAve.com.

Private loans for college can play an important role in financing your education. By researching your financial aid options, applying for scholarships and comparing private student loan options, you can minimize college costs, so you can better manage your finances after you graduate.

Student of the Year winners, from left, Abigail Nering, Perris High School; Cherylann Burke, Perris Lake High School; Carlos Santana Ayala, California Military

Meagan Macatangay, Paloma Valley High School; and Alice Pitts, Heritage High School. Valley News/Courtesy photo

© Fabio Camandona / iStock via Getty Images Plus

Beat the heat - check that back seat

Sam DiGiovanna

Special to the Valley News

With hot weather comes a special kind of danger. Cars can turn into death traps, with temperatures rising 20 degrees in as little as 10 minutes, according to the National Weather Service. And every summer, we read about children dying when they are trapped in hot cars, whether because the driver forgot the child was there or because the child got into an unlocked car without any adult knowing it happened. Within minutes, they can be in danger.

These deaths are tragic and heartbreaking. They’re also completely preventable.

As we enter the dog days of summer, it’s a good time to revisit some basic tips to avoid the dangers of hot cars. The National Weather Service calls this “Beat the Heat, Check the Back Seat!”

Never leave a child alone in a hot car, even briefly.

If you’re driving with a child in the back seat, use a cue to

prevent you from accidentally leaving them behind. Place your purse or wallet by the car seat, or place a stuffed animal or other toy prominently on the front seat so you’ll see it and be reminded that a child is in the car.

Always lock your car when you leave it unattended, so curious children can’t inadvertently become trapped inside.

If your child is missing, check any nearby swimming pools first, then check cars. Look in the back seat and the trunk. Teach children that vehicles are never to be used as a play area.

Remember: “Look before you leave.” Always check the back and front seats before exiting the vehicle.

Some car deaths have been the result of distracted parents driving to work and forgetting to drop children off at school or childcare. Ensure your child’s school or childcare provider has a policy in place to contact you if the child is absent.

For more information visit: https://lnkd.in/gyQPmyej

Salad dressings for summer

Spinach Citrus Salad

• 2 bunches fresh tender spinach

• 3-4 oranges, sectioned

• 1 sm all red onion, thinly sliced

• Desired dressing Wash and trim spinach leaves. Dry thoroughly. Peel and section oranges. Put ¼ cup salad dressing in the bottom of a salad bowl. Toss well with ingredients just until greens are lightly coated, adding a drizzle or more of salad dressing

as needed. 4 servings.

Salad dressing #1 for Citrus

Salads

• 1 tablespoon honey

• 1 teaspoon poppy seed or celery seed

• ¼ teaspoon salt

• 1 cup Daisy sour cream

Combine all ingredients.

Refrigerate at least one hour before using. Makes 1 cup

Salad dressing #2 for Citrus

Salads

• 1 tablespoon honey

• 2 tablespoons orange rosemary vinegar

• 6 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil

Combine ingredients in a blender container or small Cuisinart. Blend until oil and vinegar are well combined. If made ahead of time, shake well before using. Makes ½ cup

Judith Bell

Food Editor

Every season has its attraction for cooks. Summer seems to call for salads, salads and salads. One of my favorites is Salad Niçoise. While your version and my version may differ, both will require a salad dressing. Methinks homemade is best.

Let your creativity and palette reign supreme using the listing of ingredients and choose one of the two similar yet different salad dressings. It’s simply a personal choice.

Perhaps the only suggestion is to lightly marinate the green beans and potatoes with just enough salad dressing so they “glisten” about an hour before assembling the salad.

There aren’t any “wrong” ways…except maybe not to venture forth. I’d say, like Nike, “Just Do It.”

Salad Niçoise

• Lettuces *Romain, iceberg, Red or Green leaf

Green beans cooked ‘al dente”

Cooked red potatoes, peeled and sliced or quartered

Hard cooked eggs, halved or quartered

Pitted ripe olives

Albacore tuna, drained

• Slivers of cooked ham

• Red onion, thinly sliced and quartered or halved

• Anchovies, cut into bite-size pieces

• Ripe tomatoes, quartered

• Salad dressing

Provencal salad dressing # 1

• ¼ cup white wine vinegar

1 teaspoon salt

Fresh ground pepper

½ t easpoon each freshly chopped tarragon and chervil

1 teaspoon minced parsley

1 tablespoon minced chives

¾ cup olive oil

Combine ingredients in a pint jar with a tight fitting lid. Shake until well-blended.

Makes 1 cup

Provencal salad dressing #2

• 1 ½ tablespoons Dijon mustard

• ½-1 teaspoon salt

• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

• 3 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons minced parsley

Valley News/Adobe Stock photo

1 teaspoon dry “herbs Provence” (thyme, marjoram, oregano)

Blend salt with mustard. Beat together with red wine and olive oil.

Chop parsley with dry “herbs Provence.” Beat herbs into mustard mixture with a fork or whisk.

Makes about ¼ cup.

A citrus salad can be an attractive accompaniment to grilled chicken, fish, seafood and unadorned pork kabobs. You don’t want the salad to “fight” with BBQ sauces or intensely flavored marinades. Here is a good bet for many occasions.

Valley News/Adobe Stock photo

Sam DiGiovanna is a 35-year fire service veteran. He started with the Los Angeles County Fire

Department, served as fire chief at the Monrovia Fire Department and currently serves as chief at

the Verdugo Fire Academy in Glendale.

Supervisors approve funding for Murrieta Innovation Center

Joe Naiman

Writer

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved $2,560,580 of American Rescue Plan Act funding for the Murrieta Innovation Center.

The supervisors’ 5-0 vote June 27 approves the ARPA funding for the facility and also approves an agreement with Impact Riverside County for the use of the ARPA funding. The funding for the Murrieta Innovation Center will be distributed over a three-year period.

The Murrieta Innovation Center is in the 26400 block of Beckman Court and supports start-up companies focusing on healthcare technologies including medical devices. Impact Riverside County is a nonprofit organization with 501(c)3 status and focuses on positively impacting Riverside County through education, resources, and programs which elevate all businesses and residents. The regional partners in the collaboration include the University of California, Riverside, the Riverside Community College District, and Mt. San Jacinto College.

Technical assistance programming at the Murrieta Innovation Center is designed to assist growing companies with

marketing, financial, and strategic business advice. Both the mentors and the companies agree to a series of goals and milestones culminating in a “graduation ceremony” during which the company will make a presentation to a group of investors and stakeholders. Life science grants to existing and future tenants in good standing are tied to metrics such as completion of the specific technical assistance programming. The expectation for most start-ups is that after three years they have graduated out of the Murrieta Innovation Center and started a fully functioning and self-sustaining business within the community.

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 included $350 billion of Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds allocations for eligible state, territorial, tribal, and local governments. The funding addresses the public health emergency and economic impacts of the coronavirus epidemic and can be utilized for four eligible categories: mitigation of negative economic impacts, premium pay for eligible workers performing essential work, provision of government services lost revenue would have eliminated, and necessary infrastructure investments including water, sewer, and broadband. The Board of

The Murrieta Innovation Center is currently home to 14 medical technology-based businesses that are incubating there to grow out of that space and into the business community.

Valley News/Adobe Stock photo Supervisors approved $82 million of ARPA funding for infrastructure projects and another $36 million for economic recovery programs.

The Murrieta Innovation Center will use the ARPA funding for technical upgrades which will help the center support Riverside County businesses. The upgrades

EMWD approves preliminary design contract for Simpson and Patterson Booster Pump Station modifications

Writer

The Eastern Municipal Water District board approved a preliminary design contract for modifications to Eastern’s Simpson and Patterson Booster Pump Station.

The board’s 4-0 vote July 5, with Stephen Corona absent, approved a $178,619 contract with Black & Veatch Corporation for preliminary design engineering services. The board authorized total additional appropriations of $226,100, which will also fund $29,100 for EMWD engineering branch labor and an $18,400 contingency amount.

The Simpson and Patterson Booster Pump Station was originally designed and constructed to convey 42 million gallons per day (mgd) of water from the 1627 Pressure Zone to the East Valley 1719 Pressure Zone. Water service to the Winchester Hills area is currently provided by a pipeline connection to the East Valley 1719 Pressure

Zone transmission mainline at the intersection of Simpson Road and Patterson Avenue. Recent development in the Winchester Hills area has increased demand on the East Valley 1719 Pressure Zone water system.

EWMD staff is working on the preliminary design of a new water storage tank with a capacity of approximately 3.4 mgd, and that new pressure zone which will be known as the 1719W Pressure Zone will supply water to the Winchester Hills area.

The Simpson and Patterson Booster Pump Station is currently underutilized due to water supplied by local wells and from the Hemet Water Filtration Plant. EMWD staff desire to utilize that booster pump station to pump water to the new 1719W Pressure Zone, which will require modifications to meet the 1719W Pressure Zone hydraulic requirements. In addition to the modifications the preliminary design will include the installation of a new pipeline and associated

connections between the East Valley 1719 Pressure Zone and the 1627 Pressure Zone, which will allow conveyance of flow and the control of pumping direction by isolation valves.

Three firms submitted proposals for the preliminary design work including the Murrieta office of Black & Veatch. That proposal not only had the lowest proposed base fee but was also the highest ranked among the three. The scope of work will include project management, meetings, quality control, data gathering, site reconnaissance and analysis, hydraulic surge analysis, preparation of a preliminary design report with drawings and specifications, and coordination with developers and property owners.

The schedule in the Black & Veatch proposal calls for the preliminary design plans to be submitted by September 15.

Joe Naiman can be reached by email at jnaiman@reedermedia. com

will help create a modern space to complement the wet and dry lab sections of the facility. The upgrades include updated video, audio, and smart equipment to accommodate virtual presentations and meetings and to assist with outreach and collaboration with international businesses. The funding will also

provide additional equipment, maintenance, and management to assist the life sciences and health technology companies which are growing or relocating to Riverside County.

Joe Naiman can be reached by email at jnaiman@reedermedia. com

County soliciting pre-qualified contractors for Clinton Keith Road landscaping

Naiman Writer

The extension of Clinton Keith Road included permit approvals issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Regional Water Quality Control Board. The permit requirements included onsite restoration to mitigate project impacts, and on June 27 the Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved the solicitation for pre-qualified landscaping contractors.

The supervisors’ 5-0 vote authorized the county’s Transportation Department to issue the pre-qualification package for landscaping contractors for the Restoration and Enhancement Project associated with the Clinton Keith Road Extension Project. All submittals by contractors seeking to be pre-qualified must be received by July 27.

Construction of Clinton Keith Road between Interstate 215 and State Route 79 was separated into four phases to optimize available funds, although the county’s Transportation Department was able to combine two of the phases. Phase 1, which was completed by the City of Murrieta in 2011, provided a six-lane road between Interstate 215 and Whitewood Road.

Phase 2 was a four-lane extension from Whitewood Road to Leon Road. Due to cost savings from favorable construction bids Phase 4, which constructed two additional lanes and a median to bring Clinton Keith Road to its ultimate six-lane arterial highway configuration, was concurrent with Phase 2. Phase 2 and Phase 4 were completed in March 2020. Phase 3 from Leon Road to State Route 79 is the final phase in the project. That includes construction see LANDSCAPING, page C-7

Joe

Joe Naiman

Kicking it

Special to the Village News

Here is what has been rolling around between my ears. It’s the 4th of July.

“And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country.” You’ll recall this famous excerpt from John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address.

My fellow Americans, for me, that plea rings truer today than in 1961.

As for now, let’s all settle back and enjoy these next few months of summer and the bounty it provides like sweet watermelons, lush

strawberries, red ripe tomatoes and delicious corn on the cob. Here at our house, we celebrated the 4th by initiating our new BBQ grill. Even while this year’s summer was slow to arrive, it is very likely here to stay. Which simply means, finally, the kitchen bay window is sparkly clean. It is such an impossible window to clean in the first place, that we wait (and wait) until the last threat of rain is off the radar before VJ pulls out the ladder to first wash the retractable awning across the back of the house and then second, to wash the outside kitchen bay window panes under that awning outside of the kitchen sink. It’s a whole big thing.

Are you standing for God?

“By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Women received their loved ones back again from death.

Zachary Elliott

Special to the Valley News

The Bible is filled with accounts of men and women who stood for God against massive cultural pressure. Among them would be Abraham, Moses, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Esther, Ruth, Rahab… and the list goes on and on.

LANDSCAPING from page C-6

of a bridge over French Valley Creek, installation of traffic signals at the intersections of Clinton Keith Road and Leon Road and at Clinton Keith Road and Porth Road, a signal modification at the intersection of State Route 79 and Benton Road, and a double-arch storm drain culvert and retaining wall system just south of Leon Road. The Phase 3 construction is expected to be complete this summer.

The Environmental Impact Report for the Clinton Keith Road Extension Project was adopted in 2000. A 2006 supplemental EIR

But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. They were too good for this world.”

(Hebrews 11:33-38)

addressed design modifications in the alignment and the requirements of the Western Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan. An addendum to the supplemental EIR was approved in June 2015 which addresses the phasing of construction and minor changes between Whitewood Road and State Route 79. The 2015 addendum also updated the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program.

The restoration activity includes various enhancement sites adjacent to project improvements such as the arch culvert structure east of the Leon Road intersection,

Another indicator that summer is here is the constant need to refill the hummingbird feeder. It’s now feeders. Plural. I had to add a second one since our Oriole population has increased to from two to three mating pairs plus countless numbers of freeloading hummingbirds. Meanwhile, VJ continues to feed birds and bunnies in the backyard. It’s like looking into a fairytale back there. Since VJ wasn’t interested in taking a few days away, I grabbed the grandkids and their mom to join me for a quick jaunt across the San Pedro Channel to Catalina Island on the last Tuesday in June. When we left home the morning

fog still hugged the ground, yet by the time we arrived in Dana Point to check in, the sun was out and we could almost see Catalina. Our ferry left the dock at 2:45 p.m. and after 90 minutes of bone-jarring, gut twisting pounding, we made it to Avalon. Naturally, once on terra firma, we all felt better. It was a short walk to our hotel allowing us just enough time to scoot back to South Beach for bingo at 6 o’clock. Lucas was the only winner, a $10.00 ice cream card.

After breakfast, we spent Wednesday exploring the gift shops, the arcade, the waterfront, the ice cream parlor and the beaches. Even though the water

was too cold for my toes, both grandkids jumped in without pause!

As vacation often does, it ended too soon. Next thing I knew, I was putting my dirty clothes in the laundry basket back at home.

The question now is what to do with the rest of the lazy days of summer? Everyone is encouraged to write and tell me what your plans are, where you are going or even what you’d like to do if money was no object. Dream a little.

Elizabeth can be reached at eyoungman@reedermedia.com

This doesn’t include the countless people through the centuries who were abused and martyred, all for the sake of Christ. What are you standing for? Is it culture, your feelings, your fun, your success? Or is it the Lord Jesus Christ? It’s a question we all must answer.

Jesus said, “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.” (Matthew 12:30) Which one are you? If you did an audit on your life, would it show you’re working with Christ and not against him? And just to be clear, knowing about Jesus and working with him can be drastically different.

The Bible says to “examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.”

the French Valley Creek bridge structure, and a segment of the Briggs Road realignment. The establishment of native plants will be followed by hydroseeding which will provide the basis for ecosystem restoration. The restoration will reduce downstream flooding, decrease erosion, increase soil moisture retention, remove non-native plants, and increase native vegetation and habitat for dependent flora and fauna within the watershed. Those improvements will enhance water quality in the watershed and biological efficacy and will ultimately restore and protect the environment for local residents.

(2 Corinthians 13:5)

If your faith is genuine and more than just knowledge, it will be shown by what you stand for and work for in your life because it will be a Christ-centered life that stands for God, his Son, and his truth. No one wants to work against God. I know you don’t. But I also know how easy it is to get distracted by the things of this world. Maybe it’s time you recalibrated your life.

It’s time to start standing for God. As the scriptures say, “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13) It’s a life to be unashamed of.

Zachary Elliott is the lead pastor of Fusion Christian Church in Temecula. For more information, visit http://www. fusionchristianchurch.com, http:// www.encouragementtoday.tv or find them on Instagram.

The landscaping contractor will enhance and restore areas by preparing the sites, removing invasive species of plants, obtaining seeds and plant material from reliable native plant nurseries, proper planting, irrigation, and monitoring native plants to ensure successful establishment. The prequalification process will ensure that companies which submit bids for the actual project have a record of experience in native plant restoration and ecosystem enhancement.

Joe Naiman can be reached by email at jnaiman@reedermedia. com

Elizabeth Youngman-Westphal

fortunate to be able to come to work every day with people who I know truly care about what we do, but even more they care about who we do it for. You are Superstars!

I leave you with this...In 1978, the acclaimed film director Martin Scorsese made a movie called, “The Last Waltz.” It was a documentary about a group known as The Band, who were very accomplished musicians, but got most of their notoriety as the backup band for singer/songwriter Bob Dylan. This was a concert film from their last live performance in San Francisco and they were joined onstage by several famous artists that night who celebrated with them. As the last song ended, the final note was played, and the crowd was cheering, the leader of the group, Robbie Robertson, summed it up by simply saying, “Good night, Goodbye.” As my service with the CIF Southern Section comes to an end, I say to all of you, Good night, Goodbye.”

A look back 2011-2023

Since becoming the Commissioner of Athletics for the CIF Southern Section on August 2, 2011, working together with the member schools, the Executive Committee, and staff, Wigod was able to accomplish many things that have moved the Southern Section forward. Since he began 12 years ago, here are some goals that have been achieved.:

- Expanded communication with all stakeholders through social media, specifically Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, which have seen their followings on those platforms increase over 120% in the first year and continued to show significant increases in our social media presence each year after.

(2011-12 and subsequent years)

- Significant growth in coverage and revenue distribution to member schools through television and webcasting rights. Each year, the CIF-SS has over 300 events broadcasted over television and the Internet, and they distribute over $200,000 in rights fees to member schools. (2011-12 and each year after)

- Sold out the Champions for Character Golf Tournament, approximately 150 golfers, for the first time in 2011-12 and have continued to do so each year since.

(2011-12) (Tournament not held in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic.)

- Created new Commissioners Committees such as the Athletic Trainers Advisory Committee and the Private School Leadership Advisory Committee to open a dialogue with these specific groups and establish relationships with them in the effort to be proactive regarding relevant issues involving the Southern section. (2011-12)

- The CIF Southern Section celebrated its 100th Anniversary, highlighted by the 100th Anniversary Gala, held on April 13, 2013, the publishing of the 100th Anniversary Yearbook and the selection of 100 Athletes for 100 Years, a collection of the finest athletes that have attended CIF Southern Section member schools. Also, through the incredible work of historian Dr. John Dahlem, the CIF-SS has created a historical library in their office which includes a written history, films from their past that have been transferred to DVD’s, information on All-CIF Southern Section teams through the years and Championship Game programs from various sports, among other items. Their library is available to all member schools, the media, and the public in assisting them in their research.

(2012-13)

- Implemented a web-based communications system for our member schools called CIFSS Home, which has enabled them to accomplish virtually all their processes electronically: membership directory information, payment of membership dues, transfer paperwork, input of schedules, rosters, and scores, submitting playoff information and entries, etc.

(2012-13)

- Established scholarship program for student-athlete Champions for Character Award winners (2012-13, we began by awarding $500 to each studentathlete. It grew to $750 for each student-athlete in 2013-14 and 2014-15 and is now $1,000 for each student-athlete award winner in 2015-16 and each year since.)

(2012-13)

- Facilitated 6-year extension of the Fox Sports West partnership resulting in increased revenue and expanded coverage of CIF Southern Section events on live television and on the Internet. (2013-14)

- Enhanced championship experiences for student-athletes, coaches, fans, and communities by conducting their inaugural CIF Southern Section Girls Wrestling Championships, and for the first time, combining their Individual Golf Championships and Team Golf Championships into one showcase event. (2013-14)

- Implemented League Compliance Officer position for the 86 leagues within the CIF Southern Section to serve as a liaison between the CIF Southern Section Office and each league focusing on better communication, training and education related to the CIF Southern Section Constitution and Bylaws. (2013-14)

- Established CIF Southern Section Hall of Fame/ Distinguished Service Awards Luncheon to honor Hall of Fame and Distinguished Service Award Winners. The event has grown each year. (2013-14)

- Returned the entire amount of membership dues from the 20142015 school year, approximately $475,000, to member schools.

(2014-15)

- Returned record playoff revenue from the 2014-2015 school year, approximately $1.4 million, to member schools. (2014-15)

- Implemented credit card process for all CIF Southern Section Championship events, making it much more convenient for people attending. (2014-15)

- Instituted the Athletic Administrator Summit, with 431 attendees in the first year. (201516). (A record number of 634 attendees in 2022-23)

- Established the CIF Southern Section MVP AD Certification Program with 163 athletic administrators taking the inaugural MVP AD Exam. (2015-16)

- Implemented Competitive Equity Playoff Groupings for select team sports: Baseball, Boys/ Girls Basketball, Football, Boys/ Girls Soccer, Softball, Boys/Girls Tennis, Boys/Girls Volleyball, Boys/Girls Water Polo. (2016-17)

- Doubled travel reimbursements to member schools: mileage, meals, and lodging, in all playoff sports. (2016-17)

- Introduced the Principal’s Track at the Athletic Administrator Summit, with 171 attendees in the first year. (2016-17)

- Launched online ticketing option for select Southern Section Championships events. (2017-18)

- Developed mobile version for CIFSS Home. (2017-18)

- Entered state-wide Marketing program with CIF Sports Properties, resulting in guaranteed revenues and revenue sharing for the CIF Southern Section. (201718)

- Implemented Digital Media Coordinator position. (2018-19)

- Conducted inaugural Traditional Competitive Cheer

Championships. (2018-19)

- Conducted inaugural Unified Sports Track and Field Championships. (2018-19)

- Achieved revenue share in Year 3 of the state-wide CIF Sports Properties Marketing Program. (2019-20)

- Conducted inaugural Boys and Girls Lacrosse Championships. (2020-21)

- Conducted inaugural Girls Dual Meet Wrestling Championships. (2020-21)

- Implemented Competitive Equity model for Boys and Girls Team Golf Championships. (202021)

- Implemented Competitive Equity Championships model for an Individual sport for the first time. (Swimming/Diving, 202021)

- Instituted online ticketing requirement for all sports and all rounds. (2020-21)

- Implemented current year data for the first time in formulating Football Playoff Divisions. (202122)

- Conducted inaugural Girls Wrestling Masters Meet Championships. (2021-22)

- Approved a landmark threeyear Official’s Fees Agreement, restructuring the format and creating new formulas for the payment of officials. (2021-22)

- Returned the entire amount of membership dues from the 2021-

2022 school year, approximately $750,000, to member schools. (2021-22)

- Waived membership dues for the 2022-2023 school year, approximately $750,000 in savings for member schools. (2022-23)

- Implemented an updated and modernized CIFSS Home system called CIFSSHome 2.0. (2022-23)

- Conducted inaugural Beach Volleyball Team Championship and inaugural Beach Volleyball Individual Pairs Championship. (2022-23)

- Added Girls Flag Football as a CIF-approved sport for implementation as a Fall sport in the 2023-24 school year. (2022-23)

- Waived membership dues for the 2023-2024 school year, approximately $750,000 in savings for member schools. (2022-23)

In closing, Wigod said, “Thank you very much for your continued help and support, it is truly appreciated.”

Mike West, the principal at Riverside King High School and president of the Southern Section Executive Committee during the pandemic years from 2020 to 2022, has been selected to be the 10th commissioner of the Southern Section and succeed Rob Wigod beginning July 5.

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

WIGOD from page C-2

Anza Days 2023 celebrates ‘the best in years’

The annual Anza Days festivities were an entertaining, exciting, colorful and fun combination of events put on by local civic

organizations and a great number of volunteers Saturday, July 1. The Anza Community Hall hosted a dinner and dance Friday, June 30, with live music provided by the Barnyard Boyz band and a meal of meatball or chicken

Roadside memorial vandalized again in Aguanga

subs with all the fixings. Couples, friends and children danced the night away with a marriage proposal occurring on the dance floor later in the evening. She said yes. Saturday morning at 8 a.m., the

Thimble Club ladies took control of the Anza Community Hall, offering pancakes accompanied by a scrambled egg casserole, sausage links, coffee and orange juice. Always a success, the charity event was a great start to the day’s

Early Saturday morning, floats, equestrians and other parade entries appeared on the Anza thoroughfares, heading for the

see DAYS, page D-3

Anza Valley Chamber of Commerce announces installation of rearing stallion statues

Diane Sieker Staff Writer

Diane Sieker Staff Writer

A grieving mother’s roadside memorial is vandalized again in Aguanga. Anza Valley Outlook/Courtesy photo Barksdale’s son Jon perished in a single car accident at the site of the memorial six years ago.

Grieving mothers Kim Szymanski and Deborah Barksdale discovered the roadside memorial dedicated to their sons was vandalized for the second time in more than 6 months, the damage having occurred this month.

Szymanski’s son Jacob and

Officials investigating the scene in Aguanga, June 13, 2017, found that Jacob Szymanski, 26, and Jonathan Barksdale, 28, both of Anza, died before dawn, when their 2007 Mustang failed to negotiate a

A pair of rearing metal stallion sculptures will be placed at the corner of Contreras Road, across from Minor Park and Fire Station 29 by the Anza Chamber of Commerce. Anza Valley Outlook/Courtesy photo of Anza Gas Co., also on Hwy. 371. This third project will be the installation of the two metal horses accompanied by wagon wheels in the busy Anza downtown area. The statues will be easily visible from either direction on Hwy. 371. Security cameras and lights will be in place and in working order to help keep an eye on the artistic equine creations.

The Anza Valley Chamber of Commerce is revealing the groundbreaking on the long awaited project to install two rearing horse metal statues at the corner of Contreras Road, across from Minor Park and Fire Station 29 in Anza. The installation is slated for the coming weeks, at an exact date yet to be announced.

“This project has been delayed due to the lack of a proper, protected and visible location. But that hurdle has been overcome and we are ready to move forward.”

This is the Chamber’s third Anza beautification project to be accomplished under the direction of Clark. The first project was the cleanup of the western motif and hitch at the Once Upon a Thread thrift store on State Hwy. 371.

“We ask that all persons respect this work of art that is being placed for everyone to enjoy for many see VANDALIZED, page D-2 see SCULPTURES, page D-2

“The Chamber bought the statues for the town of Anza,” said Chamber president Tish Clark.

The second endeavor was the Temecula, Hemet and Idyllwild mileage signs with a propane pig and steel wheel that sits in front

Diane Sieker Staff Writer

The Hemet Jeep Club gives a patriotic showing at the Anza Days parade Saturday, July 1.

Anza Valley Outlook/Diane Sieker photo activities.

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.

Friends of Anza Valley Community Library – Anza

Valley Community Library is located at Hamilton High School, 57430 Mitchell Road. The library is open to the public, but not during school hours. Hours are 4-7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and 12-4 p.m. on Sunday. Closed Monday through Wednesday.

Hamilton High School – Find out what is happening using Hamilton’s online calendar at 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 www.hamiltonmuseum. org. Find them on Facebook at “Hamilton-Museum-and-RanchFoundation.”

Backcountry Horsemen

Redshank Riders – Meetings 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 951-763-4226.

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 951-551-2826.

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.

VANDALIZED from page D-1

curve on State Highway 371 near Barbara Trail. The car crossed into the opposing westbound lane and went off the north roadway edge. It struck the boulder about 25 feet off the roadway and overturned onto its roof.

A well-tended and decorated memorial dedicated to the young men was built near the crash site and is visible from the roadway. The memorial, consisting of two crosses decorated for every season and holiday, was vandalized last December. Carefully arranged

SCULPTURES from page D-1 years to come,” said Clark. The statues pay homage to Anza’s history and western heritage. According to Clark, it has taken the cooperation of several notable people to make sure this project moved forward.

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, Anza. For more information, 951-7634759.

Food ministries

F.U.N. Group weekly food ministry – Deliveries arrive by 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’s Sunday Sacrament is at 10 a.m.; Sunday School is 11 a.m. Priesthood/Relief Society meets at 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, 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.

Christmas decorations had been stripped from the crosses and were gone.

Szymanski and Barksdale were devastated by the holiday desecration, friends said. The friends of the pair redecorated the crosses. They hoped this senseless crime would never happen again. But more vandalism was discovered in the first days of July.

“Once again someone came and took everything just weeks after I put out a new wreath for Jacob and new flowers for him and Jon to mark the six years since they

“I would also like to thank the other members of the Anza Chamber of Commerce - Joyce Stone, Caren Smith and Phil Canaday, for their encouragement and approval of this project. The Chamber would also like to thank Heritage Well Service for the safekeeping of the metal horses

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 (6 to 12 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 a Seniors’ 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 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 www.facebook. com/LionsofAnzaValley. For more information, email president Greg Sandling at President. AnzaLions@gmail.com or Chris Skinner at Secretary.AnzaLions@ gmail.com

were killed,” said Szymanski. “This was the last place they were alive. This is where they took their last breaths. I can no longer honor them here like they deserve. The pain and intense anger I feel will not defeat me. To all of my friends, I will no longer be decorating the crosses. I will honor them in other ways.”

Many community members are shaking their heads as to why anyone would have damaged the roadside memorial.

“They don’t ever take it all, just some of the stuff and leave some behind,” said Szymanski’s friend

without charge to the Chamber. I also wish to thank Kathy Agostino, whose property the horses are to be installed upon, and last but not least, a hearty thank you to Cuco’s Landscaping for the dedication to see this project come to fruition.”

The Chamber welcomes any ideas from the public for future

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 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 www.redshankriders. com or call Carol Schmuhl for membership information at 951663-6763.

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, 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 on 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 the 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 www. anzacivic.org.

Heidi Mann. “Like this time, they took Jacob’s wreath but not Jon’s.”

The mothers, their families and friends cannot comprehend why anyone would desecrate a roadside memorial in this way.

“Jonny’s and Jacob’s spirits and love were shared with family and the community. Their spirits will never be gone. No one can take that. We will always honor them,” said Barksdale.

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

beautification projects. Those interested in joining the Anza Chamber of Commerce may visit their new website at https:// anzavalleychamberofcommerce. org

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

Citizens warned to prepare to evacuate from a wildfire

Diane Sieker Staff Writer

Wildfire season is upon the Anza Valley and it is well past time to formulate an evacuation plan in case the unthinkable happens. The lessons of the Fairview Fire last year made it obvious that most residents still have some work to do to perfect their fire emergency strategies, according to Cal Fire officials.

As Cal Fire, Riverside County Fire Department, and the US Forestry Department deploy resources to attack a wildland fire, they release information that is accurate, timely and trustworthy. If an evacuation is imminent, residents will be alerted and law enforcement agencies will go door to door to ensure everyone clears out safely.

It is wise to come up with a plan before things get hot. Everyone in the home must be aware of the actions to be taken and prepared in an instant to implement the plan.

The strategy should include a meeting place outside the danger area, and all routes to this place from your home need to be familiar to all persons involved, fire officials say.

Make considerations for livestock and pets. If you do not have a trailer to be used to move large animals, coordinate with friends and neighbors before disaster strikes to use their equipment or obtain their assistance. It is not advised by any agencies to turn animals out to fend for themselves during a wildfire.

For small pets, ensure that you have travel accommodations for each animal. Crates for dogs and cats are excellent, but make sure there are enough to go around. Be prepared to load up food, water and medications for your furry friends at a moment’s notice.

Collect all important papers such as passports, birth certificates, insurance policies

DAYS from page D-1

staging and judging area on Barham Road.

The parade started promptly at 11 a.m., but had an unexpected delay as a Life Flight helicopter landed in front of the Community Hall to attend to a medical emergency. Parade participants then made their way to the judges stand, a 48-foot step deck trailer donated by Sandvik Trucking for the event. Kathy Blair performed the National Anthem, accompanied by the Hamilton High School band. Water guns squirted, people cheered for their favorite entries and candy flew as little children scrambled to gather it up. The excitement was contagious. Almost 50 parade participants made for the special community event.

A water war erupted as parade fans set their squirt guns and water balloons against parade floats. The ladies on the Anza Thimble Club float responded with water gun armaments at the ready. Most parade floats met the attacks by throwing more candy, much to the merriment of onlookers and participants.

Anza Electric Cooperative, Inc. general manager Kevin Short was named the Grand Marshal of the event.

The floats and groups were judged and the winners announced as they were introduced at the judge’s stand by Blair.

Grand Prize - Hamilton High

School Football & Cheer

Best Of Theme - Lorraine’s Pet

Supply & Grooming/Lightening

J’s Saloon

Best Equestrian Entry - Michael

Lewis, BCHC Redshank Riders

Best Individual Entry - Tad

Wuertz’s 1969 Dodge Super Bee

Best Float Entry - KOYT 97.1

LPFM Community Radio

Best Youth Entry - High Country

Recreation

Best Group Entry - AxleBenders

4x4 Club SoCal

Most Unique Entry - Anza

Thimble Club

Judges Special Award -

Splitcreek Equine Rental Program

Best Unique Vehicle - Chilli

Ainsworth’s 1951 Willys Jeepster

Best Vehicle Entry - Bob

Sandvik, Sandvik Trucking 1998

Peterbilt 379

see ANZA, page D-4

and car titles and have a plan to secure them with you when you leave. Medications and special items also need to be considered.

Phones, laptops, tablets and other devices need to come with you and so do their power sources, cases, accessories and plug-ins.

Make sure that everyone in the household understands how to shut off gas or propane service. Have fire extinguishers at the ready and know how to use them.

Back your car into the driveway with the vehicle loaded and all doors and windows closed. Carry your car keys with you. Don’t forget other keys, wallets, glasses, changes of clothing, family

photos, medical devices, shoes, jackets, blankets and special need items like diapers and wipes. Know simple first aid and have supplies on hand in case of injuries. Prepare your home by shutting all windows and doors, and leaving them unlocked. Remove flammable window shades, curtains and close metal shutters. Move furniture to the center of the room, away from windows and doors. Shut off the gas and air conditioning. Leave lights on so firefighters can see your house in smoky or nighttime conditions. Gather up flammable items such as patio furniture, toys, door mats,

and trash cans from the exterior of the house and bring them inside. Move propane barbeque appliances away from structures. Connect garden hoses to outside water valves or spigots for use by firefighters. Fill water buckets and place them around the house. Don’t leave sprinklers on or water running, as that can affect critical water pressure. Have a ladder available and place it at the corner of the house for firefighters to quickly access your roof. Patrol your property and monitor the fire situation. Don’t wait for an evacuation order if you feel threatened.

Check on neighbors and make sure they are preparing to leave. No one wants to have to leave their home in the event of a disaster, but it is important to follow official orders. By doing so, you help them to help you. Firefighters do not want to have to worry about saving you if the fire comes upon your home. They would much rather fight the fire and concentrate all resources to that task.

For more information on evacuation plans, please visit http://www.readyforwildfire.org/ Go-Evacuation-Guide/ .

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

Flames erupt violently during a wildfire that ignites in dry brush.

Anza Valley Outlook/Diane Sieker photo

Kathy Blair performs the National Anthem accompanied by the Hamilton High School Bobcat band at the Anza Days parade judge’s stand Saturday, July 1. Anza Valley Outlook/Diane Sieker photos

Michael and Pebbles Lewis represent the Redshank Riders and win Best Equestrian Entry at the Anza Days parade.

Anza Thimble Club volunteers serve a hearty pancake breakfast at the Anza Community Hall to kick off the Anza Days festivities Saturday, July 1.

John Knori and the Barnyard Boyz Band provide energetic entertainment during the Anza Days kickoff dinner and dance at the Anza Community Hall Friday, June 30.

Mark Huston and his band provide rock and country tunes during the Anza Days party in Minor Park Saturday, July 1.

Children enjoy getting sprayed with water by the fire trucks at the Anza Days parade Saturday, July 1.

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Six Miss Anza Days were seen throughout the events. From toddlers to teens and adults, the girls spent the day sporting their new sashes and tiaras and socializing with residents.

After the parade, people moved to Minor Park where the vendors, food and entertainment were located. Various civic organizations and businesses had booths featuring arts, crafts, sweet treats, games and more.

The Lions Club of Anza Valley hosted an Anza Days Gymkhana and AK Bucking Bull event at the Lions Field starting at 5 p.m. and running late into the night. Local favorites competed in horse games and then professional mutton busters and bull riders rode for points in exciting exhibitions of skill.

“I need to thank everyone that helped pull off the Anza Days parade,” said organizer Bud Elmore, who arranged for the parade permitting. “You know who you are because you cared to keep this tradition alive. This was the best Anza Days in years.”

The Anza Days festivities have been a highlight in the community for generations. Diane Sieker can be reached by email at dsieker@reedermedia. com

1998 Peterbilt 379

GeriLyn Blanton Mellin creates balloon characters for the kids during the Anza Days party in Minor Park Saturday, July 1.

The Lions Club of Anza Valley’s gymkhana attracted talent from near and far during the Anza Days festivities.

Anza Valley Outlook/Diane Sieker photo

[Left] Lorraine Elmore and Tabitha Dawes walk the parade route handing out Otter Pops to the children at the Anza Days parade Saturday.

[Right] The ladies of the Anza Thimble Club’s Most Unique Entry winner fight back against the water balloon barrage at the Anza Days parade Saturday, July 1.

The Chair Boundless Self Defense float featured actual self defense moves by real students and teachers at the Anza Days parade. Anza Valley Outlook/Diane Sieker photo

Jonathan Ingram, candidate for Riverside County Supervisor, rides in an antique car at the Anza Days parade Saturday, July 1.

Anza Valley Outlook/Diane Sieker photo

Best Group Entry, the AxleBenders 4x4 Club SoCal stack on each other, to the delight of the crowds at the Anza Days parade.

Anza Valley Outlook/Diane Sieker photo

Best Vehicle Entry winner Sandvik Trucking’s

working show truck entertains the crowds with loud honks from the truck’s train air horns at the Anza Days event.

Anza Valley Outlook/Diane Sieker photo

USMC Retired Gunnery Sgt. Pat Truxillo rides his 12-year-old purebred Knabstrupper mare, Xantippiav Drommarna during the Anza Days parade. Anza Valley Outlook/Elaine Miller photo

Muttonbusters and bull riders prepare for their performances at the AK Bucking Bulls event during the Lions Club of Anza Valley’s gymkhana during the Anza Days festivities Saturday.

Anza Valley Outlook/Janae Good photo