Anza Valley Outlook

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Anza Events Calendar, A-2

Hamilton High School awards thee staff members with Good Apple awards, A-5

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Volume 17, Issue 37

Anza Summer Nights closes out season with family-friendly party

Kim Harris ANZAEDITOR@REEDERMEDIA.COM

Here in Southern California, wildfire is always a risk. But, this year thanks to soaking rains that brought the region out of the worst drought in the state’s history, the area has even more combustible materials than in previous years as new growth sprouted and took hold all throughout Anza Valley Outlook’s coverage areas. see page A-3

Local

HUSD to appoint trustee to vacant seat Kim Harris VALLEYEDITOR@REEDERMEDIA.COM

The Hemet Unified School District will appoint a trustee to the vacant seat for Trustee Area 3 on the governing board during its Sept. 19 meeting. see page A-4

Local

ACIL paves the way to honor veterans with paver fundraiser Diane Sieker ANZAEDITOR@REEDERMEDIA.COM

Priscilla Mukora, foreground, and friend wait for the band to start at Anza Summer Nights, Sept. 2, at Minor Park in Anza.

Diane Sieker ANZAEDITOR@REEDERMEDIA.COM

Russell Kitchen of The Soil Kitchen and Kids of Anza hosted another Anza Summer Nights event at Minor Park in Anza, Saturday, Sept. 2.

The free family-friendly party featured a live band, food, raffles, vendors and a gaming trailer. The last Anza Summer Nights event of the season was well attended. The highlight of the evening’s entertainment was the band “Natural Selection.” In their second

appearance at Anza Summer Nights, all their new fans came to hear them play classic rock tunes. They played many crowd favorites that got toes tapping and feet dancing. “Russell Kitchen did our little town right when he put on Anza

Diane Sieker photo

Summer Nights,” Belinda Blanco said. “The people had a great time. I hope to see the same next year.” Susie Rodriguez handed out glow sticks while children scrambled from the gaming trailer to the

see NIGHTS, page A-4

Traveling Tarantulas Riverside County Code wander the countryside Enforcement reminds citizens that marijuana cultivation is still illegal

The Anza Civic Improvement League is taking donations from the community for specially imprinted paver bricks to be permanently displayed at the Little Red Schoolhouse at Minor Park.

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID HEMET, CA PERMIT #234

see page A-5

Illegal cannabis cultivation investigations make up 4 percent of the total Code Enforcement investigations of the 2016- 2017 fiscal year.

Anza Valley Outlook

Diane Sieker photo

Diane Sieker ANZAEDITOR@REEDERMEDIA.COM Local resident Judy Schultz holds a gentle tarantula without fear. Scott Schultz photo

Diane Sieker ANZAEDITOR@REEDERMEDIA.COM

It’s tarantula time again. Male tarantulas are marching forth, looking for mates among the canyons, deserts, scrub lands and yes, even neighborhood backyards. The California Ebony Tarantula, or Aphonopelma eutylenum by its scientific name, and the Desert Blond Tarantula, or Aphonopelma chalcodes, are the most common Southern California tarantula species whose males are now on the move. Each tarantula is about 2 inches in length, which is pretty big for a spider. Fortunately, none of the North American tarantula species are dangerous to people, but they are capable of inflicting a nasty bite if mishandled or if they express an irritating barbed guard

hairs as a defense. But generally tarantulas are peaceful animals, local reptile and creepy critter expert Johnathan Schmidt said. “Tarantulas are amazingly docile creatures,” Schmidt said. “I have been handling them since I was about 4-years-old. It’s a lot like a dog. If you pester and prod it enough, you may have a bad encounter, usually in the form of a bite or very itchy rash from the discarded hairs from the abdomen, but if shown respect, you can enjoy them from up close or from afar.” From September to October, the eight-legged Romeos take to the road, wandering in search of their Juliets for the purpose of procreation. And in plenty of time for

see TARANTULAS, page A-3

Riverside County Code Enforcement officers cover a lot of ground in the unincorporated parts of the county. Despite reductions in staffing levels and budget, they have investigated everything from nonpermitted construction, junk vehicle and rubbish abatement to roadside vending violations and illegal grading. They also enforce Riverside County Ordinance 925, which deals with marijuana cultivation in Riverside County’s unincorporated areas. These cases make up 4 percent of the total investigations for the fourth quarter of the 20162017 fiscal year. The cultivation of marijuana is still illegal in unincorporated Riverside County, with some exemptions for qualified medical marijuana patients as allowed under Proposition 215 and Proposition 420, as well as now permitted under Proposition 64. In 2015, in response to citi-

zen complaints of huge cannabis “grows” or farms, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved Riverside County Ordinance 925. The ordinance prohibits marijuana cultivation in the unincorporated areas of the county, but includes a limited exemption from enforcement for qualified medical marijuana patients and their primary caregivers, who may grow up to 12 plants on a parcel where the patient or caregiver resides, for medical purposes only. A maximum of two “cards” giving medical permission to grow are allowed per parcel, bringing the total plants allowed to 24. California voters legalized the recreational use of marijuana Nov. 8, 2016, by approving Proposition 64, the Adult Use of Marijuana Act. According to this proposition, each county and city in the state may place reasonable restrictions on cannabis cultivation for personal and recreational use, but may not

see CULTIVATION, page A-6


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