Valley News, December 23, 2022

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New TVUSD board bans CRT in Temecula schools

Julie Reeder Publisher

The newly elected TVUSD Board of directors voted to ban Critical Race Theory (CRT) in Temecula schools during a raucous meeting on Dec. 13. It was the first meeting for Dr. Joseph Komrosky (President), Danny Gonzalez and Jen Wiersma, who make up the new majority on the TVUSD board of directors. Wiersma said they were making good on campaign promises.

The five-hour meeting was loud with students, parents and community members giving public comment for four of the five hours regarding the ban. However, a former TVUSD board member Barbara Bosch had previously stated that CRT was not actually being taught in Temecula. Wiersma said many parents have disagreed.

The next day, hundreds of students walked out of their classrooms in protest of the ban, carrying signs with messages against censorship.

CRT has been hotly debated across the country. Other districts have banned it, including Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified, according to EdSource.

TVUSD board member Steven Schwartz said Friday, Dec. 16, that he will ask board members at the next meeting to rescind the resolution and one that condemned racism until they can be vetted by an attorney.

President Komrosky said, “In response to the last school board meeting, there was a clear dilemma: on the one hand, it was great to see the civic engagement of the students who came to the event to share their thoughts on the

California Indian Education Act Roundtable is rst step toward implementation

Center

California Native American serving in the state’s legislature, is a lifelong member and former Chairman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians in Highland.

Placentia Avenue Interchange with Interstate 215 is now open

Leadership changes for Lake Elsinore City Council

Sheridan and Council Member Brian Tisdale were sworn in with the constitutional oath of office to continue serving on the council. Council Member Robert “Bob”

City

stalled along a stretch of Riverside Drive to honor community activist Chris Hyland, who passed away in 2019. Many heartfelt comments were made throughout the meeting about Hyland’s contributions that made a huge impact. She was remembered as a strong advocate who fought hard for decades to

make positive changes to the city she called home.

A group of high school students who recently completed the Dream Extreme Future Leaders program were presented with certificates of achievement. The mission of the

ROUNDTABLE, page A-4 see COUNCIL, page A-2

RCTC opened

and offramps which provide an alternative to the Ramona Expressway ramps to the north, pictured

south.

story

page C-4. Valley News/Courtesy photo

Diane A. Rhodes Special to Valley News

Tribal leaders and members, students, education experts and school representatives gathered at the Soboba Casino Resort Event

Dec. 12 to discuss the next steps needed to implement the California Indian Education Act. Assembly Bill 1703, a measure approved by Gov. Gavin Newsom, was authored by Assemblymember James C. Ramos to encourage

school districts, county offices of education and charter schools to form California Indian Education Task Forces with Tribes local to their region, or historically located in their region. Ramos, the first and only

From left, Assemblymember James C. Ramos, students So’a Nelson, Rhianna Salgado and Su’la Arviso, and Soboba Tribal Chairman Isaiah Vivanco at the California Indian Education Act Roundtable, Dec. 12. Valley News/Diane A. Rhodes photo

Diane A. Rhodes Special to Valley News

Natasha Johnson was selected as the Lake Elsinore City Mayor for 2023 and Council Member Steve Manos was named Mayor Pro Tem at the Dec. 13 city council meeting. Former Mayor Timothy

Magee will continue to serve as well.

Manager Jason Simpson shared the plaque that will be in-

Former Wildomar Mayor Ben Benoit honored for over a decade of city service

Tony Ault Staff Writer

With more than a decade of service to Wildomar, former Mayor Ben J. Benoit from District 1 was honored by his many fellow council members, other city councils, state representatives, county officials and friends in special ceremonies in the Wildomar City Council chamber Wednesday, Dec. 14.

Benoit, who stepped down from his longtime leadership role with the city, will assume his newly elected post as Riverside County auditor controller.

No more will Wildomar residents hear him say, “This is Ben Benoit, this has been your Mayor’s Minute, signing off, ” The quote was heard on the city’s webcast every week. City staff thanked him for his 11 years of service and presented a quick video they made of many of the “Mayor’s Minutes.”

The video had Benoit chuckling during his retirement ceremonies.

“It has been so pleasant working for the city,” Benoit said in his

farewell speech, but he promised he would look into the county’s expenditures carefully in his role as county auditor controller.

Taking his place as mayor is Joseph Morabito with Councilwoman Bridget Moore stepping in as mayor pro tem under appointment by the council. The new council members included Carlos Marquez who was elected to Benoit’s former position in District 1. Marquez was elected in the November municipal election along with Councilmember Ashlee DePhilippo from District 4 and Morabito in District 3 who retained their seats on the council for another four years. The three council members were sworn in by friends and family following Benoit’s retirement ceremony.

Benoit received numerous plaques, certificates and awards from other officials, including other city’s council members and staff who presented a bronze gavel and a Benoit’s office desk lamp. Others presenting him honors included state Sen. Kelly Seyarto, Assem-

blymember Ken Calvert, Riverside County supervisors Chuck Washington and Kevin Jefferies, former Murrieta Mayor Jonathon Ingram, Lake Elsinore councilmembers, the mayor of Eastvale, board members of Eastern Municipal Water District, Riverside County Transportation Commission, Riverside Transit Agency and Western Riverside Council of Governments represented by San Jacinto Councilmember Crystal Ruiz.

Benoit, who stepped into his father’s shoes, the late county Supervisor Ben Benoit Sr., was a member of almost every Riverside County commission in his decades long public service with Wildomar.

Morabito will be taking over many of Benoit’s commission positions either as a voting or alternate member. Marquez will also hold several positions as the council’s newest member. A listing of those new positions will be available soon on the Wildomar city website.

Wildomar City Council business continued following the handover

with the approval of the minutes and a question on the consent calendar about the Bundy Canyon Road widening project that was explained. The contractor, according to the report, is in the resurfacing phase of the project. Some intersections and one lane are temporarily closed, but everything should be completed by February or sooner depending on weather conditions.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Riverside County Fire Department and library provided quarterly updates to the new council. The sheriff’s department representative said that in the past three-month period the 29-member contracted officers responded to 168 Priority 1 calls – threat to life –that were resolved with no murders reported. The representative said they are still working to reduce the homeless population in the city but noted that many of those contacted still “wanted to be there” after refusing help. The council encouraged them to keep trying.

The fire department said they re-

sponded to 571 calls in the quarter. They said the sheriff and the fire departments worked together on a structure fire on Peggy Lane and rescued a woman in a wheelchair, evacuating her from her home with the sheriff’s department’s help and saving her home from a serious fire. The representative said the department responded to calls on an average of 5.2 minutes, which was acceptable, but they were working to reach the goal of 5 minutes or less to each call.

The library said it had strong growth during the time period with 300 new people receiving cards and 15,000 visits to the library in that time.

The next city council meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, city manager Daniel York said. He indicated that the next council meeting will have many items to act on in a full agenda.

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

program is to provide an avenue for the youth in Lake Elsinore to engage in city government by instilling the importance of civic values and developing civic skills. Almost all 16 students attended the city council meeting where they were recognized for their eight weeks of dedication and service while learning about various positions within city government. Those who participated, and the roles they served in, were City Attorney Briannah Asay Trujillo, Police Captain Freddy Cisneros, Fire Marshal Angelina Deleo, Community Services Director Dulce Diaz, City Manager Isela Hackney, Engineering Director Connor McEvilly, City Clerk Assistant Annika Phipps, City Clerk Assistant Jaimie Phothisen, Community Development Director Manuel Rodarte, Public Works Manager Amanda Romero, Mayor Pro Tem Jamie Scheil, City

Council Member Katelin Shipp, Mayor Savannah Waddell, Community Services Director Hanna Wedeking, Management Analyst Chase Weiland and City Clerk Jonathan Woodroof.

City Council Consent Calendar Items No. 13 and No. 14 were continued to the next meeting on Jan. 10, 2023 and Magee pulled No. 17 for further comment. The rest of the items, 4-12, 15, 16 and 18-25, were then approved unanimously. A staff report was requested for Item No. 17 to outline the plans for the demolition of the old Coco’s restaurant that Magee said has been a source of “blight and discontent in the area.” He wanted residents to know that steps are finally being taken to improve the area with a new business replacing the old building, at no cost to the city. The item was then approved 5-0.

Successor Agency Consent Calendar Items 26-32 were passed unanimously. Item No. 33 was

passed with a 4-0 vote after Sheridan abstained from voting.

Public Hearing No. 34 had staff present the AB1600 Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2021-2022 and recommend approval, which was given unanimously. Public Hearing No. 35, a request for approval of a zone change to construct a two-story, 25,449-sq. ft. industrial building and related site improvements for an off-road vehicle manufacturing facility, was approved 5-0.

Business Item No. 36, regarding emergency disaster relief and No. 37, about updating FilmLE fees, were both approved. Business item No. 38 was the selection of the next mayor, who then presided over the remainder of the meeting.

Sheridan said it has been an honor and a privilege to serve as mayor in 2022. He thanked the staff and all the citizens for their support. Sheridan was honored by his colleagues for his outstanding job this past year and awarded with a framed memento of press clippings that highlighted some of his public accomplishments.

City Council comments applauded the success of this year’s Winterfest, which attracted about 20,000 residents on Dec. 3 with an extended parade route.

Sheridan acknowledged the recent passing of long-time city employee, Joyce Teyler. She began her career with Lake Elsinore in 2006 as an Office Specialist I and rose through the ranks to Community Development Technician II in the Code Enforcement Division, prior to her retirement in September. “She was a very sweet individual; she will be missed,” Sheridan said.

Magee was given the floor to close the meeting in honor of Phil

Williams and Ruth Atkins, who both recently passed away.

Phil Williams, a lifelong resident and Elsinore High School graduate, was the EVMWD Board of Directors Division 4 representative for 21 years, including serving as its board president seven times.

“Our community lost a valuable member of a pioneer family,” Magee said, adding that Phil was a contractor, Realtor and a broker in his professional career but he was a large part of the city’s growth and progress due to his devotion to public service. He will be remembered as a “supportive, strong advocate, leader and exceptional public servant.”

Ruth Atkins, a resident of Lake Elsinore for more than 30 years, served on the board of its Historical Society for more than 20 years, including nearly 18 years as president. She was named 2022 Woman of the Year for the 67th Assembly District. As researcher, historian, activist and mentor to many, At-

kins was known as the “keeper of all things Lake Elsinore.”

“Local history has lost a giant,” Magee said of Atkins’ passing. “A passionate advocate for studying and protecting our history, she saw a need where others had neglected the treasures of this valley.”

He described her as “the firm and steady hand that guided this city’s historic preservation ordinance” who wore many hats and was one of the driving forces behind the restoration of the city’s first fire truck.

“I promised we would take great care of that truck so that generations to come will come to enjoy and embrace our past, a past that is all the richer thanks to Ruth,” Magee said. “We close in honor of Phil and Ruth. Rest in peace.”

The next regular meeting of the Lake Elsinore City Council and Successor Agency is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023 at 7 p.m. For more information, www. lake-elsinore.org.

Outgoing Mayor Timothy Sheridan explains the plaque held by City Manager Jason Simpson that will be installed on Riverside Drive to honor the late Chris Hyland.

Robert Magee, left, helps thank Timothy Sheridan for his year of service as Mayor of Lake Elsinore. Natasha Johnson will be mayor for 2023, Steve Manos will be Mayor Pro Tem and Brian Tisdale was sworn in for another term. Valley News/Alex Teahen photo

Valley News/Courtesy photo

The Birth of Jesus

– Luke 2: 1-20) –

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.

2 (This was the rst census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her rstborn, a son. She wrapped him in clothes and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the elds nearby, keeping watch over their ocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terri ed. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.

11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to

you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will nd a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried o and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Come see us at our new office at 100 N. Main Avenue, Fallbrook

TVUSD from page A-1

resolution condemning racism and prohibiting the teaching of Critical Race Theory. On the other hand, it was sad to see most of them shout so loudly that it interfered with the school board’s ability to function in an orderly manner.

“Personally, instead of trying to win any particular argument with the public, I seek to understand why there is division over something as clearly defined as the concepts of racism and Critical Race Theory. Racism is wrong anywhere and everywhere. In other words, it is wrong to judge someone based on the color of their skin. Therefore, I was surprised at the response of the majority of students there.”

He continued, “For example, if any student, teacher, administrative employee, classified staff, etc. shamed somebody because of the color of their skin, then it is morally wrong because it devalues the inherent worth of the person. The

person should be judged morally praiseworthy or morally blameworthy because of their character. Thus, there was a disconnect between some in the audience and these two resolutions due to a definitional problem and lack of understanding of what is at stake in our educational community.

“To exhaust this aforementioned dilemma, I will hold true to my promise to the audience that night and plan a robust community forum for the community with expert panelists speaking on the problematic concepts of CRT and racism. We also hope to put together committees to engage and discuss concerns surrounding these issues.

“Together, we will gain a better understanding of the resolutions passed and how we can protect our students, historical integrity, and curriculum requirements within our AP and IB classrooms. Achieving a clear understanding of what social-political impact CRT has within our educational setting and

society at large, will greatly benefit TVUSD and future generations of Americans. Moreover, the students and teachers that shared their concerns regarding this issue, I look forward to your attendance. At this meeting, I will share the motivation behind why I decided to put these resolutionsforward,” Komrosky said.

Proponents of CRT examine and teach the role of institutions in racism throughout history and find institutional racism as pervasive throughout most of America, even in science, math, history, systems of government, etc. One book that made the theory popular was ‘White Fragility,’ by Robin J. DiAngelo, which describes a phenomenon by which all white people are complicit in systemic racism. She makes a case for why “it is incumbent upon white people to accept their individual and collective responsibility for white supremacy – and to do the difficult work of challenging it.”

CRT has been in existence for

decades, but was also made popular by author Ibram X.Kendi, who directs the Center for Antiracist Research at Boston University. He had proposed the creation of a federal Department of Antiracism. It would be completely independent and unaccountable to elected branches of government, and would have the power to nullify, veto, or abolish any law at any level of government and curtail the speech of political leaders and others who are deemed insufficiently ‘antiracist.’ This was widely condemned as unconstitutional.

UCLA law professor and critical race theorist Cheryl Harris has proposed suspending private property rights, seizing land and wealth and redistributing them along racial lines with an emphasis on “equity” rather than equality, earning it the label of reformulated Marxism.

Wiersma said after the meeting that while she liked seeing the students using their free speech rights and participating in the process, she wished they could have

stayed to hear the board members’ side. She said, “I am honored to be representing Trustee Area 3 on the TVUSD school board and look forward to serving as an advocate for parental rights, improving safety and security and defending choice and academic excellence. With the recent board decision to pass resolutions on racism and critical race theory, it’s important for our community to know we defend teaching all aspects of history and celebrating diversity. In doing so, the academic lens should not be one that asks us to critically find racism in every aspect of society, nor should it categorically lump students into an “oppressor” or “oppressed group” based on skin color. Rather, we believe an individual should be judged on the content of their character and choices, while simultaneously celebrating our student’s ethnicity and unique qualities as they pursue an excellent, well-rounded education.”

Robert Levi, a

ROUNDTABLE from page A-1

A longstanding friendship with Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians’ Chairman Isaiah Vivanco, and strong partnership between the two Tribes, led Ramos to having Soboba host the first of many roundtable discussions to help implement AB 1703.

Upon signing the legislation in September, Newsom stated, “As we lift up the rich history and contributions of California’s diverse Tribal communities today, the state recommits to building on the strides we have made to redress historical wrongs and help empower Native communities.”

In addition to encouraging the formation of California Indian Ed-

Valley News/Diane A. Rhodes photo

ucation Task Forces, AB 1703 also encourages Task Force members to develop high quality curricular materials, including the correct and proper depictions of Native Americans; allows Task Forces to submit curricular materials to be forwarded to the county offices of education for inclusion in model curriculum; and requires the California Department of Education to submit an annual report to the Assembly and Senate education committees based on findings of the Task Forces and make recommendations to narrow the achievement gap, including what, if any, obstacles are encountered and what strategies are being developed to deal with the challenges. After an opening blessing from

Wayne Nelson, Vivanco welcomed invited guests that included panelists Riverside Unified School District Assistant Superintendent Jacqueline Perez, San Bernardino County Assistant Superintendent of Education Support Services Miki Inbody, San Jacinto High School students Rhianna Salgado and Su’la Arviso, Cahuilla Band of Indians Chairman Daniel Salgado, Assemblymember James C. Ramos, Soboba Vice Chairwoman Geneva Mojado and Riverside County Superintendent of Schools Edwin Gomez. California Superintendent of Public Instruction Deputy Superintendent Nancy Kim Portillo and San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Vice Chairman Jonathan Hernandez Jr. attended virtually.

Vivanco explained that it has been a two-year battle for this bill to endure the Legislative process so it could be put on the governor’s desk for approval. He thanked Ramos for all his time and efforts to see it through and for all he is doing at the capitol to make a difference in the lives of Native Americans throughout the state.

Ramos said AB 1703 is meant to create a voice for the local Indian people. “Today is the implementation of discussion of how we’re going to implement and work with the school districts in our area and find those that truly want to work with our people,” he said. “This is an exciting and long-awaited step in creating a long-term, sustainable foundation to improve the instruction of California Native American history.”

He said the bill will also im-

prove educational opportunities for children by strengthening parent and school ties and creating a better understanding and respect of California Indian culture, diversity and history.

“It’s that knowledge and history that needs to be shared with school districts so that it can be part of an ingrained curriculum where it’s in the textbooks and being taught to every student within the state of California,” Ramos said. “Without at least a basic and accurate knowledge of Native American history and contributions to the state and nation, it becomes too easy to believe the stereotypes that are out there and that leads to disrespect to our culture and to our ancestors.”

He said that AB 1703 will create outcomes that will be good for both Native American and nonNative American students because when learning about the state’s history it has to begin with learning about California’s First People. He encourages local education agencies to work with local Tribes to form California Indian Education Task Forces.

“This bill, and today’s roundtable, is meant to start the dialogue that hopefully leads to a better understanding of who we are,” Ramos said.

When AB 1703 was being considered for passage, members of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians and the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, including many young students, appeared on the Assembly floor in Sacramento to testify in support of the bill. Mojado said she had the honor of providing a two-minute testimonial, which she read at the roundtable event.

She shared that when she was in fourth grade, the class was taught about the Spanish missionaries who came to “rescue and reform” the Native Americans in California. “They did not teach the true and accurate account of the harsh reality of what had occurred to the Indian people,” she read. “Whether or not the truth is harsh, the truth needs to be told and by the California Indian Tribes who have inherited the rich history and culture.”

Mojado explained that the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians has a very good working relationship with San Jacinto and Hemet unified school districts and that in the past two years, SJUSD developed a Native American Parent Advisory Council that has enabled a bridge to be built between district staff and the parents and students.

“We have quarterly meetings where parents can share their opinions,” she said. “We at Soboba want to help out in any way we can if anyone needs help with their school districts in developing a similar type of council.”

Hernandez also joined a contingent of youths to Sacramento, including some of San Manuel Band of Mission Indians’ elected Youth Council members. He said passage of AB 1703 is a critical and positive step forward that helps to ensure future generations don’t share the same pain Native people have experienced because “the truth about our unique cultures, language and traditions and the factual former atrocities we have experienced” were eliminated from their classrooms.

Chairman Salgado said, “Tribes are depicted in history books as something of the past, but we have recent history too,” Hernandez said. “We’re here now and we’re involved. It’s our inherent right to tell our story. If it’s told in the

true light, our future will be much brighter.”

Ramos said the way to correct how California Indian history is being taught in the schools is by moving forward and correcting it. “The reason we do what we do is for the youth who continue to look to us for guidance,” he said.

Su’la Arviso, from Soboba, is a senior at San Jacinto High and said she was in first grade the first time someone asked her if she lived in a teepee. By the time she was in fifth grade, she co-founded the Four Directions Native American club with her cousins, most notably Ciara Ramos, at Estudillo Elementary School campus in San Jacinto as a way to help educate her classmates about her culture. When she reached high school and her ethnic studies class had a Native American unit, she was thankful that her teacher asked her to share her family’s personal experiences with her class.

“This bill will not only help clear up the misconceptions, but it will also provide a better understanding of who we are and where we come from,” she said. “And hopefully Native American youth in the future will have a better chance of not getting asked those questions we were asked.”

Rhianna Salgado is a member of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians and the Cahuilla Band of Indians in Anza, an area whose schools are within the Hemet Unified School District’s boundaries. More than 10% of the students in those schools are Native American. HUSD Superintendent Christi Barrett was at the roundtable meeting to show support.

“I’m thankful for having been given this platform where our voices can be heard,” Rhianna said. “We all have our own identity, and we shouldn’t be lumped into a blanketed stereotype.”

Perez said RUSD has already updated its resources and made other changes but realizes this is an ongoing process. Inbody said she was impressed with the “courageous and influential voices from our youth.” She said the goal for San Bernardino County is to support its 33 school districts while elevating the intent of AB 1703. Gomez said he also believes there has to be a local voice and wants to help cultivate the voices of the 1,700 Native American students in Riverside County and believes that starts with the leaders at San Jacinto and Hemet unified school districts.

“This bill attempts to restore, reinstigate and revalidate the humanity of the people of this region and this is why the Riverside County Office of Education is completely devoted and committed to the cause of debunking the stereotypes and debunking the mythology that involves our Native American people,” Gomez said.

Ramos thanked the panelists for their input, especially the young students. He then invited public comments, both in person and virtually, to share any thoughts they had about the issues at hand.

Tribal members from throughout the region shared similar comments about how each Tribe has a different history and as educators and parents they need to ensure that the local school districts are creating task forces to help implement the California Indian Education Act. It is seen as the only way to continue the momentum of truth in Native American history due to cultural unawareness.

For more information, https:// a45.asmdc.org.

longtime educator of Advanced Placement U.S. History, is one of many in-person speakers at the AB 1703 Roundtable on Dec. 12.

Social time or down time is always on your time.

At The Linden at Murrieta, the day is always yours. With a variety of classes, activities, and social events, you can play as much or as little as you’d like. Our friendly staff plays friend-maker too, making sure all new residents find the social scene that works best for them.

There’s more to life at TheLindenAtMurrieta.com

Social time or down time is always on your time.

At The Linden at Murrieta, the day is always yours. With a variety of classes, activities, and social events, you can play as much or as little as you’d like. Our friendly staff plays friend-maker too, making sure all new residents find the social scene that works best for them.

There’s more to life at TheLindenAtMurrieta.com

Temecula Jeep & Off Road group roll out a dashing display of lights during parade

Jeep and offroad vehicle owners decorate their rides before participating in a Christmas light parade through Old Town Temecula organized by the Temecula Jeep & Off Road Facebook group, Friday, Dec. 16.

Jeep and off-road vehicle owners decorate their rides before participating in a Christmas light parade through Old Town Temecula organized by the Temecula Jeep & Off Road Facebook group.

A variety of Jeeps and off-road vehicles are decorated for a fun Christmas light parade through Old Town Temecula to spread holiday cheer.

A glowing Jeep floods its surroundings with bright blue light in preparation for a Christmas parade through Old Town Temecula.

Valley News/Shane Gibson photos

An assortment of Jeeps and off-road vehicles decorated in Christmas lights parade through Old Town Temecula spreading holiday cheer.

A young passanger sits in the driver’s seat of a decorated Jeep, preparing for a festive Christmas light parade through Old Town Temecula to spread holiday cheer.

A Jeep Cherokee floods the ground in green light and is ready to cruise through Old Town Temecula.

A colorfully-lit Jeep cruises through Old Town Temecula during the parade.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Dr., Temecula. A collection of events presented by The Law Offices of Rosenstein & Associates to educate the local business community on business-specific legal matters.

CHILDREN’S EVENTS

Dec. 25 – Midnight. Santa Claus to visit many homes in Southwest Riverside County. Contact your parents.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Dec. 24 – 5 p.m. Temecula on Ice is now open on Main Street in Old Town Temecula. See @ TemeculaParksAndRec on social media, and by visiting TemeculaCA.gov/TCSD.

Dec. 31 – 6 p.m.-12 a.m. New Year’s Eve Grape Drop at the Temecula Civic Center, 41000 Main St.

Jan. 4 – 6:30-8 p.m. Community Drum Circle at Center For Spiritual Living Menifee Valley, 26805 Murrieta Road, Sun City. Bring an instrument to use, borrow one of ours. $5 recommended donation. Contact Cynthia Memelka at Hello Menifee.

Jan. 6-8 – 5-8 p.m. Pechanga Pow Wow at Pechanga Resort and Casino parking lot, 45000 Pechanga Pkwy., Temecula. Fireworks Friday at 7 p.m. Grand Entries: Friday 8 p.m, Saturday 1 and 8 p.m., Sunday 1 p.m. Invited Drums: Black Otter, Cozad, High Noon, Indian Hill, Motown, Southern. Read more on Pow Wow Calendar, PowWows.com.

Jan. 24 – 8-10 a.m. Menifee Moves Community Walk (second Saturday of each month). Pets are welcome! Held at Spirit Park, 25507 Normandy Road, Menifee. See Cynthia Nemelka at Hello Menifee.

Jan. 24 – 6-8 p.m. Business Law and Tax Updates for 2023 at Temecula Valley Entrepreneur’s Exchange, 43200 Business Park

Jan. 26-28 – 5-10 p.m. Help build a playground at Community First Church of God, 31371 CA-74, Homeland. A total of approximately 150 volunteers from Community First Church of God, Smile Generation and KABOOM! Work is available for volunteers of all levels of skill. Contact church at 951-926-1345.

Jan. 26 – 3:30-7 p.m. All Chamber Mega Mixer at the Storm Stadium, 500 Diamond Drive, Lake Elsinore. A Networking Extravaganza powered by local Chambers. Come mix, mingle and connect! Read more on Murrieta Chamber of Commerce.

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 800510-2020 for help.

ONGOING – The Riverside County COVID-19 Business Assistance Grant Program is accepting online applications for business grants up to $10,000 at www.rivercobizhelp.org that can be used for employee retention, working capital, personal protective equipment purchases, rent or mortgage payments and paying vendor notices. Eligible businesses, including nonprofits, must be in Riverside County, with a minimum of one but less than 50 employees and operating for at least one year since March 1. For more information, call Riverside

Movie Review: ‘Devotion’

Garver Special to the Valley News

With “Avatar: The Way of Water” opening next weekend, no new wide release wanted to open this weekend with only one week to make money before they got squashed. I’ve already reviewed first-place domestic box office finisher “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” as well as runners-up “Violent Night,” “Strange World” and “The Menu” in second through fourth place, respectively. As much as I’d like to revisit “The Menu” and heap on more praise, this week’s review will be for fifthplace finisher “Devotion.”

The film stars up-and-comers Jonathan Majors and Glen Powell as a pair of heroic Korean War fighter pilots in 1950. Jesse Brown, played by Majors, is the more gifted flyer of the two, but as an African American, he’s held back by the prejudices of the day. He’s not completely shut out though. Things were starting to turn around, especially considering his incredible skill, but there were still many that looked down on him. Tom Hudner, played by Powell, is also a gifted flyer in

Brown’s unit. He’s not as talented as Brown, but he’s seen as more likable, media-friendly and promotable. He wishes there was more he could do for his superior colleague, but Brown and his wife Daisy, played by Christina Jackson, insist that Hudner not fight Brown’s battles for him and just be there for him. Hudner spends the bulk of the movie trying to figure out how to be there for his friend without overstepping.

I’ll come right out and say it – we’ve already had a fighter pilot movie this year with “Top Gun: Maverick,” a film that may end the year as the No. 1 box office performer worldwide. That movie even had Glen Powell, who, between this film, that one, and playing John Glenn in “Hidden Figures” is getting quite the reputation as Hollywood’s go-to guy to play aviators. The marketing for this movie has tried to push it as a sort of successor to “Top Gun: Maverick,” trying to pull in audiences that made that film a hit. But it’s actually having the opposite effect, making this film look like a cheap knockoff that doesn’t need to be seen by audiences that have already had their fill of fighter

County Business and Community Services at 951-955-0493.

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 are allowed.

WORKSHOPS, MEETINGS, NOTICES Dec. 25 – 11 a.m.to 3 p.m. MSJC will join with the Temecula Sunrise, Temecula Noon, Temecula New Gens and Old Town Temecula Rotary clubs to host the 28th Annual Community Christmas Dinner. The free holiday dinner will offer ham, turkey,

dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetables and dessert Everyone is welcome and no reservations are needed. At its Temecula Valley campus. For more information, contact Mark Sitar at 909-3763639.

Jan. 1 – online Grid Alternatives presents a Virtual Installation Basic Training Program with 40 hours of curriculum, videos and quizzes. The program gives training with advanced solar knowledge that will help launch solar careers that will prepare clients for work the first day of graduation with its Virtual IBT who will support recruitment to placement. Providing resume building, soft skills training and job search assistance to help you get the job and keep the job. Mandatory check-ins. Contact infoie@ gridalternatives.org.

Jan. 3 – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Shakespeare in the Vines’ Technical Theater Workshop: Beginner Level held at the Old Town Temecula Community Theater, 42051 Main St., Temecula. An in-depth look behind the curtain to learn first hand how the magic is made in the theater. Bring a lunch.Contact info@shakespearinthevines.org for details.

ONGOING - Want to help deployed American troops remotely? Help shop for most needed items without leaving your home! This is 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 www.milvet.org/military-care-

packages.

ONGOING – Noon to 1 p.m.

Attend Murrieta Wildomar Chamber of Commerce’s weekly business briefing via Zoom or watch live on Facebook every Wednesday. Registration required at https://bit.ly/MWCBizBriefing The chamber business briefing is an opportunity to hear from city, county and business leaders about current and relevant business information.

ONGOING – Menifee Community Services offers online driver’s education courses for a $21.95 fee. The course includes animated driving scenarios, instructional videos, sample test, 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-thewheel instruction or a California driver’s permit. Contact 951-7233880 or visit the city of Menifee to register at www.city of menifee. us.

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 www.temeculavalleyrosesociety. org ONGOING – Homeless veterans can receive free help by dialing 877-4AID-VET (877424-3838) for 24/7 access to the VA’s services for homeless, at-risk veterans. Chat is confidential for veterans and friends. See www. va.gov/homeless.

pilots in 2022. I assure you it’s no knockoff – too many talented people are putting their backs into this effort, and Jesse Brown’s story most definitely deserves to be told – but it is a notch below the superior performer creatively, and it is translating into a terrible performance commercially.

Probably the biggest problem with the film is the decision to dwell too much on this portion of Brown’s life. Don’t get me wrong, this is obviously an important part, and no biopic would be complete without it, I’m just not sure it was a great idea to limit the film’s timeline to just one year. Yes, the film centers around the friendship between Brown and Hudner, and I know the two didn’t know each other until 1950, but Brown has achieved so much success already at the start of the movie

that there are barely any obstacles to overcome. I think a straight-up Brown biopic would have been the way to go rather than focusing on his relationship with the frankly bland Hudner.

“Devotion” is a competent movie with dedicated performances. War movie aficionados will have a pretty good idea of what they’re going to get here: bonding among the officers, family dynamics with Brown, some bullying and heated conversations about race relations, comic relief antics during a shore leave – Brown’s encounter with a celebrity is a highlight of the film and of course, tense flying sequences. It’s a fine choice if you’re into this kind of movie, but it can be tedious if you’re all fighter pilot-ed out for a while.

Grade: C “Devotion” is rated PG-13 for strong language, some war action/ violence, and smoking. Its running time is 139 minutes.

Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@ nyu.edu.

Visit Temecula Valley announces Temecula Chilled Holiday Decorating Contest winners

TEMECULA – Visit Temecula Valley announced the winners of the 2022 Temecula Chilled Holiday Decorating Contest, an annual event designed to encourage local businesses to create a festive atmosphere for travelers and employees.

Judging took place in early December in three categories: Best Decorated Old Town Business, Best Decorated Winery and Best Decorated Tree in a Hotel. Five local businesses were awarded for creating the most spectacular holiday displays.

“There were some fantastic entries this year and the judges had a tough time selecting the winners,” Scott A. Wilson, CEO of Visit Temecula Valley, said. “People are getting out and enjoying all the amazing holiday decorations throughout the Temecula Valley. Congratulations to all the winners.”

In the Best Decorated Old Town Business category, first place and

$500 went to 1909 Restaurant for its rustic décor, dazzling lights and festive atmosphere. The second place winner of $300 was Pretty Paints Mobile Art Studio and third place and $100 went to Bottega Italia. Prizes for this category were provided by Visit Temecula Valley and Old Town Temecula Association.

In the Best Decorated Tree in a Hotel category, Inn at Churon Winery was singled out for its beautiful tree, featuring a creative assortment of hand-crafted ornaments constructed with leftover wine corks, including a starshaped tree-topper, adding a touch of sustainability to the project. As a celebratory prize, the staff received a charcuterie board from Grazing Theory.

In the Best Decorated Winery category, Europa Village wowed the judges with its magical holiday atmosphere and beautiful holiday displays. With its gingerbread village masterpiece near the entrance,

visitors are greeted with the wonderful scent of fresh gingerbread cookies.

This year, the entrees were judged on a volunteer basis by the digital marketing team at VTV as well as four California destinations: Visit Greater Palm Springs, Visit Oceanside, Visit Huntington Beach and Visit Santa Barbara.

Visitors are encouraged to drive around town and enjoy the many spectacular holiday displays throughout Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country. Photos of the Temecula Chilled Holiday Decorating Contest winners can be viewed online at https://www.visittemeculavalley. com/temecula-chilled/things-todo/decorating-contests/.

Visit Temecula Valley is the region’s official tourism and visitor’s organization. For more information, visit http://VisitTemeculaValley.com.

Submitted by Visit Temecula Valley.

Bob

Valley News/Courtesy photo

EMWD features young Menifee artist in ‘Water is Life’ calendar

Diane A. Rhodes Special to Valley News

When Kimber Atchison was in kindergarten at Mesa View Elementary School in Romoland School District, her teacher Eduardo Cornejo encouraged his class to participate in Eastern Municipal Water District’s annual “Water is Life” poster contest. Open to students in transitional kindergarten through fifth grade that attend schools within EMWD’s service area, Kimber produced a winning entry in the 2021-2022 contest that had 8,836 participants.

Ailene Earl, public affairs specialist with Eastern Municipal Water District, said Kimber received a gift certificate and a medallion, plus four mugs and a tote bag that featured her artwork on it. Her teacher received a gift certificate, a tote bag and a class set of pencils. Now a first grader, the Menifee artist learned that her winning

poster is in the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s 2023 Water is Life calendar. Five winning entries from EMWD’s judging were sent to MWD earlier this year, where they were under consideration to be included in the annual calendar. For having her work chosen for inclusion, Kimber received a copy of the calendar and an art kit from MWD.

Rachel Atchison said when her daughter found out her poster was chosen for the calendar she was elated and couldn’t believe it.

“She couldn’t wait to see her art with her name in an actual calendar,” Atchison said. “While MWD was unable to have an in-person ceremony, they did a Zoom celebration, and Kimber was happy to be able to join and see and admire everyone’s art and hear their inspirations.”

Kimber’s artwork, depicting a girl at a sink with the words, “It is good to turn the faucet off,” is

featured for the month of February.

“It’s important to turn your faucet off when brushing your teeth because it can save so much water every day, especially when you have a lot of people brushing every day,” Kimber, 7, said. “It is good for you and good for the entire planet to save water. We don’t want to run out.”

Eastern Municipal Water District Public Affairs Officer Kevin Pearson said posters are judged both on their artistic merit as well as the message conveyed. He was impressed with Kimber having that kind of understanding about water conservation at such an early age, saying it will lead to continued good habits throughout her life.

Atchison said it took her daughter about a week to decide what she wanted to draw and to plan it out and that she had a lot of fun coming home from school to work on her poster. She added that Kimber

has always been a creative child who started coloring at a very young age.

“She loves to draw freehand as well as learning by watching drawing videos; she continues to amaze us with her creative talent,” her mother said. “Kimber loves to express herself via dance as well. She dances with Diana’s Dance Company and is currently dancing her first year with their Competition and Performance Teams. Kimber is also a very talented singer. She sings to her daddy and her big brothers all the time. You can hear her singing wherever she goes. All day, every day, she’s expressing herself creatively in some form or another.”

The poster contest is one way EMWD connects with the area’s youngest residents to help them understand the value of water and using it efficiently. The district has a nationally recognized water education program that engages

students at all levels through classroom presentations, field trips to water and wastewater facilities, online programs, theater assembly programs, an annual contest where students write and illustrate water-themed books and Career Technical Education programs. Every year, tens of thousands of students participate in these programs. EMWD is one of Metropolitan Water District’s 26 member agencies.

“EMWD would like to congratulate Kimber for her creative and inspiring poster,” EMWD Board President Phil Paule said. “Her poster is an example of one of many ways you can do your part to save water. Her recognition is well-deserved, and we look forward to having her artwork in the 2023 calendar.”

For more information, visit http://www.emwd.org.

Eastern Municipal Water District features seven-year-old Menifee resident Kimber Atchison’s artwork in Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s 2023 Water is Life calendar.

Valley News/Courtesy photos

Kimber Atchison of Menifee receives an award for her Eastern Municipal Water District poster along with representatives from her school and EMWD, her former kindergarten teacher Eduardo Cornejo, who is seen kneeling, and her parents, Chris and Rachel Atchison, standing at left.

Virginia joins dozens of US states banning TikTok on state devices

Gov. Glenn Youngkin also orders ban on WeChat

remove, delete, and uninstall them by Dec. 31.

“TikTok and WeChat data are a channel to the Chinese Communist Party, and their continued presence represents a threat to national security, the intelligence community, and the personal privacy of every single American,” Youngkin said in a statement.

“We are taking this step today to secure state government devices and wireless networks from the threat of infiltration and ensure that we safeguard the data and cybersecurity of state government.”

TikTok is owned and operated by ByteDance, which is a Chinese company based in Beijing. WeChat’s owner, Tencent, is a Chinese company based in Shenzhen.

Concerns

Over Cybersecurity, Harm to Children

military devices.

More recently, FBI Director Christopher Wray on Dec. 2 wa rned of possible threats that TikTok poses to U.S. national security, saying the CCP has the ability to leverage the app to manipulate content and carry out “influence operations” and espionage operations in the United States.

Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines recently echoed the warning, saying parents should be concerned about their children using the app.

Youngkin’s order comes after Federal Communications Commission member Brendan Carr said in early November that TikTok should be banned from the United States entirely, saying it’s impossible for U.S. officials to confirm that the CCP doesn’t have access to TikTok users’ data.

Maryland, South Carolina, and South Dakota. They join Nebraska, which banned TikTok from government devices in August 2020.

Legislation to ban the app from operating in the United States was introduced in a bipartisan effort on Dec. 13. Congressional lawmakers condemned what they said are TikTok’s ties to the CCP through its parent company, ByteDance.

Separately, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bill that would ban the use of TikTok on government phones and devices. The bill, first introduced by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) in April 2021, would still need to be passed by the House and signed into law by President Joe Biden if it’s to take effect.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued an executive order on Dec. 16 to ban TikTok and WeChat from state government devices. The move adds Virginia to a growing list of more than a dozen U.S. states that have moved to ban TikTok in recent weeks.

“Applications and websites such as TikTok and WeChat provide foreign governments, such as the Chinese Communist Party [CCP], with the potential to gain access to

the information stored on mobile devices, including location services and browsing history,” the order (pdf) reads.

Youngkin ordered that state employees and government contractors may not download or use TikTok, WeChat, or any other applications developed by ByteDance or Tencent on government-issued devices. They also may not visit the TikTok or WeChat websites on any government-issued devices, “except for public safety purposes.”

Those who have already downloaded such applications must

Youngkin’s executive order states that it’s “increasingly important” to safeguard data such as health records or tax information, which are part of the sensitive information being held on state government servers.

The order also noted that the Department of Defense has “already issued a directive to all service members to remove applications from their government-issued or owned devices.” That “cyber awareness” message was issued on Dec. 16, 2019. It led the U.S. armed forces to prohibit TikTok on

The state of Indiana sued TikTok in two separate lawsuits in early December, accusing it of falsely claiming that it was age-appropriate for children and also accusing it of illicitly sending U.S.-based users’ data to communist China.

US States Banning TikTok

Virginia joins more than a dozen other U.S. States that have also moved to bar TikTok from government devices. These states include Georgia, New Hampshire, Idaho, Tennessee, Iowa, North Dakota, Utah, Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas,

A TikTok spokesperson previously told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement in early December: “We believe the concerns driving these bans are largely fueled by misinformation about our company

“We are always happy to meet with state policymakers to discuss our privacy and security practices. We are disappointed that the many state agencies, offices, and universities that have been using TikTok to build communities and connect with constituents will no longer have access to our platform.”

Copyright 2022. Printed with permission from the Epoch Times.

FDA Study: COVID vaccine linked to blood clotting in elderly

only about 17 million were vaccinated during the period of time studied.

Researchers used probability testing to detect an increased risk of one or more of 14 outcomes following vaccination.

The goal was to see whether vaccination may increase the risk of adverse outcomes, such as pulmonary embolism, or blood clotting in the lungs. If an outcome met a certain statistical threshold, that meant it could increase the risk.

nificant, the researchers said. Pulmonary embolism is a serious condition that can lead to death.

Limitations of the study included possible false signals and possible missed signals due to factors such as parameters being specified wrongly.

The conditions that didn’t trigger a signal included stroke, heart inflammation and appendicitis.

of Pfizer’s vaccine; and 78 reports of post-vaccination intravascular coagulation, including 42 after receipt of Pfizer’s vaccine, have been reported.

Reports to the system can be made by anybody, but most are lodged by healthcare workers, studies show. The number of reports is an undercount, according to studies.

Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine has been linked to blood clotting in older individuals, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

FDA researchers, crunching data from a database of elderly persons in the United States, found that pulmonary embolism, blood clotting in the lungs, met the initial threshold for a statistical signal and continued meeting the criteria after a more in-depth evaluation.

Three other outcomes of interest, a lack of oxygen to the heart, a blood platelet disorder called immune thrombocytopenia and another type of clotting called intravascular coagulation, initially raised red flags, researchers said.

More in-depth evaluations, such as comparisons with populations who received influenza vaccines, showed those three as no longer meeting the statistical threshold for a signal.

Researchers looked at data covering 17.4 million elderly Americans who received a total of 34.6 million vaccine doses between Dec. 10, 2020, and Jan. 16, 2022.

The study was published by the journal Vaccine on Dec. 1.

The FDA said it was not taking any action on the results because they do not prove the vaccines cause any of the four outcomes, and because the findings “are still under investigation and require more robust study.”

Dr. Peter McCullough, chief medical adviser for the Truth for Health Foundation, told The Epoch Times via email that the new paper “corroborates the concerns of doctors that the large uptick in blood clots, progression of atherosclerotic heart disease, and blood disorders is independently associated with COVID-19 vaccination.”

Pfizer did not respond to a request for comment.

How the research was done FDA researchers, with assistance from researchers with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), analyzed data from the CMS database.

They included Medicare Feefor-Service beneficiaries aged 65 or older who received a vaccine within the timeframe, were enrolled when they were vaccinated and were enrolled for a “clean window” of time prior to vaccination. The window was 183 days or 365 days, depending on the outcome.

About 25 million people receive the Medicare Fee-for-Service, but

The initial results of the safety monitoring detected an increased risk of four events, the FDA announced on July 12, 2021. They were the same four outlined in the new paper, which is the first update the agency has given on the matter since its announcement.

As of Jan. 15, 2022, 9,065 cases of a lack of oxygen to the heart — known as acute myocardial infarction — were detected, researchers revealed in the new study. As of the same date, 6,346 cases of pulmonary embolism, 1,064 cases of immune thrombocytopenia and 263 cases of coagulation were detected.

The primary analysis showed a safety signal for all four outcomes. Researchers tried adjusting the numbers by using different variables.

For instance, at one point they adjusted for the variation of background rates, or the rates of each outcome in the general population prior to the pandemic. After certain adjustments — not all — the m yocardial infarction, immune thrombocytopenia and intravascular coagulation ceased being statistically significant.

Pulmonary embolism, though, continued to be statistically sig-

The signals were detected only after Pfizer vaccination. Analyses for signals after receipt of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines did not show any concerns.

Moderna and Johnson & Johnson did not respond to requests for comment.

Side effects Pfizer vaccine

All three vaccines have been linked to a number of side effects. Heart inflammation is causally linked to the Moderna and Pfizer shots, experts around the world have confirmed, while Johnson & Johnson’s has been associated with blood clots.

Other conditions, such as pulmonary embolism, have been reported to authorit ies and described in studies, though some papers have found no increase in risk following vaccination.

Approximately 4,214 reports of post-vaccination pulmonary embolism, including 1,886 reports following receipt of Pfizer’s vaccine, have been reported to the U.S. Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, or VAERS, as of Dec. 9.

As of the same date, 1,434 reports of post-vaccination myocardial infarction, including 736 following receipt of Pfizer’s vaccine; 469 reports of post-vaccination immune thrombocytopenia, including 234 follow ing receipt

The new study states that the FDA “strongly believes the potential benefits of COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the potential risks of COVID-19 infection.” No evidence was cited in support of the belief.

The FDA is set to meet with its vaccine advisory panel in January 2023 about the future of COVID-19 vaccines, as the vaccines have been performing much worse against Omicron and its subvariants.

McCullough told The Epoch Times:

“A shortcoming of the CMS surveillance system is that it did not capture prior and subsequent SARS-CoV-2 infection which accentuate the cumulative risk of COVID-19 vaccination.

“Given the large number of individuals who have been vaccinated, the population attributable fraction of medical problems ascribed to the vaccines is enormous. I have concerns over the future burden to the healthcare system as a consequence of mass indiscriminate COVID-19 vaccination.”

Reprinted with permission from The Epoch Times. Copyright 2022 The Epoch Times

Zachary Stieber is a senior reporter for The Epoch Times based in Maryland. He covers U.S. and world news.

Sen. Ochoa Bogh encourages college graduates to apply to Senate Fellows Program

SACRAMENTO –Sen. Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, R-Yucaipa, announced the availability of applications for the 2023-2024 California Senate Fellows program.

The program allows college graduates to become full-time Senate staff members at the California State Capitol in Sacramento for 11 months beginning in October 2023. Fellows are assigned to a senator’s personal office or committee staff and participate in academic seminars with legislators, staff, journalists and state government officials. The California Senate and the Center for California Studies at California State University Sacramento jointly operate the fellowship program.

Fellows are paid a monthly salary plus health, vision and dental benefits. They earn six units of graduate credit from California State University Sacramento for the program’s academic portion.

“Being a Senate Fellow provides

an excellent opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge of the legislative process,” Bogh said. “The experience and training are valuable assets whether your career goals are in the public or private sector. I highly recommend this program to young adults looking to make a difference and interested in learning first-hand about the state Capitol.”

Former Senate Fellows include current members of Congress, judges, former members of the Legislature and numerous other elected officials and community leaders.

Senate Fellows experience the broad range of activities conducted in Senate offices. Responsibilities include researching public policy issues, helping develop legislative proposals, analyzing and staffing legislation, assisting with constituent inquiries and casework, participating in meetings as the senator’s representative, writing press releases and speeches and performing other delegated tasks.

A seven-week orientation at the beginning of the program provides background on state government, the legislative process and significant policy issues.

Anyone who will be at least 20 years of age and a graduate of a four-year college or university by Sept. 1, 2023, is eligible to apply. Individuals with advanced degrees and those in mid-career are also encouraged to apply. There is no preferred major.

For more information, brochures can be requested online or, to apply, visit the Capital Fellows website at https://www.csus.edu/center/centercalifornia-studies/capital-fellows/.

The deadline for submitting applications is Monday, Feb. 6, 2023, by 5 p.m. Eighteen Senate Fellows will be selected in May after an initial screening of applications and a subsequent panel interview of the finalists.

Submitted by state Sen. Ochoa Bogh.

Mimi Nguyen Ly The Epoch Times

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin campaigns for New York Republican gubernatorial nominee Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) at the “Get Out the Vote Rally” in Thornwood, Westchester, New York, on Oct. 31, 2022.

(Chung I Ho/The Epoch Times)

Zachary Stieber The Epoch Times

Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine has been linked to blood clotting in older individuals, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Valley News/Epoch News image

Pets as gifts and safety tips for the holiday season

which are poisonous if ingested.

Holiday plants such as lilies, holly, mistletoe and poinsettias are known to be toxic to pets and should be kept out of reach. The water a Christmas tree sits in is a breeding ground for bacteria and can be extremely harmful to pets. Keep water covered with a thick skirt so pets can’t get into any trouble.

Hang lights out of reach and tape electrical cords safely to the wall. Tinsel, ribbon, metal hooks, plastic and glass can obstruct or perforate the intestine if ingested. Use an alternative such as paper and hang decorations out of reach from pets.

Supervisors approve ARPA funding for EVMWD projects

Joe Naiman Writer

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 funding for three Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District projects.

LOS ANGELES – ‘Tis the season when people begin to be inundated by images of bow-bedecked puppies and kitten-stuffed stockings. So, it’s not surprising that many families bring pets home for the holidays.

Best Friends Animal Society, a leading animal welfare organization working to end the killing of cats and dogs in America’s shelters by 2025, is encouraging families and individuals who are thinking of getting a new furry friend this holiday season to choose the adoption option from an animal shelter or rescue group.

“Not everyone considers this, but where gifted pets come from can either help or hurt efforts to end the killing of pets in shelters,”

Julie Castle, CEO of Best Friends Animal Society, said. “I encourage everyone to adopt rather than buy a pet from a breeder, pet store or online retailer. Aside from giving a loving home to a pet in need, you are helping to divert money away from the inhumane puppy mill industry that churns out millions of puppies annually for sales through pet stores and online retailers.”

Research done by the National Center for Biotechnology Information has shown that pets received as gifts are not loved less than those

adopted by more traditional means, nor are they relinquished at higher rates. It also showed that “denying adopters who intend to give the animals as gifts may unnecessarily impede the overarching goal of increasing the rate of live-releases of dogs and cats from our nations’ shelter system.”

“A great way to give the priceless gift of a furry companion is to purchase an adoption gift certificate from your local shelter or rescue group,” Castle said. “That way you leave the choosing of a new best friend up to the family or person adopting. Or you can make it an unforgettable experience by making the choice together.”

And what better time to adopt than now?

“Not only do pets bring so much joy to our lives, but right now animal shelters across America are experiencing an overcapacity crisis and there are a lot of great pets who need a home,” Castle said.

Lastly, keep new and old pets safe this holiday season with the following safety tips.

Curb the tendency to give a pet human food. Any change in a pets’ diet may give them indigestion, diarrhea or worse. It is especially true for chocolate, grapes, onions, poultry bones, eggnog and fruitcake

Dispose of wrapping paper, packages and bows after opening presents and put children’s toys out of reach of pets after playtime to avoid accidental ingestion.

Be aware that increased noise and lighting can cause stress. If pets seems agitated, turn down the music or consider placing pets in a quiet, calm room with dim lighting.

Make sure pets’ identifications and microchips are up to date in case anyone inadvertently leaves the door open during the holiday celebration.

Best Friends Animal Society is a leading animal welfare organization working to end the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters by 2025. Founded in 1984, Best Friends is a pioneer in the no-kill movement and has helped reduce the number of animals killed in shelters from an estimated 17 million per year to around 355,000. Best Friends runs lifesaving programs across the country, as well as the nation’s largest no-kill animal sanctuary. Working collaboratively with a network of more than 4,000 animal welfare and shelter partners, and community members nationwide, Best Friends is working to Save Them All. For more information, visit http://bestfriends.org.

Submitted by Best Friends Animal Society.

The supervisors voted 5-0 Dec. 6 to approve the infrastructure funding agreement between the county and the water and sewer district. The agreement will provide up to $10,034,839 of ARPA funding for the Highway 74/Ethanac Sewer Extension Project, the Grand Avenue Lakeland Village Community Center Sewer Extension Project and the Lakeland Village 8” Water Line Extension – Ranspot and Peeler Project.

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 governm ent services lost revenue would have eliminated and necessary infrastructure investments including water, sewer and broadband. In October 2021 the Board of Supervisors approved the allocation of $65,000,000 of ARPA funds for infrastructure projects in Riverside County. On Jan. 6 the United States Department of the Treasury issued its final funding guidelines which broadened the allowable use of ARPA funds to include disproportionately impacted community projects which improve health and safety outcomes including

increased access. On Feb. 8, the Board of Supervisors increased the infrastructure allocation to $82 million which provides for $15 million per supervisorial district and $7 million for the Broadband Affordability Program.

The Highway 74/Ethanac Sewer Extension Project will construct 12,500 linear feet of sewer main from the Rosetta Hills community to Ethanac Road. ARPA funding will provide $8,000,000 of the estimated $10,000,000 cost.

The Grand Avenue Lakeland Village Community Center Sewer Extension Project will construct approximately 400 feet of sewer main and will extend sewer service to the Lakeland Village Community Center and nearby properties. The estimated cost is $500,000 and ARPA funding will provide $400,000.

The Lakeland Village 8” Water Line Extension at Ranspot and Peeler Project will replace deteriorated and undersized water lines and interconnect an older Elsinore Water District (which was dissolved in 2011) water system in Anthony Avenue, Peeler Avenue and Ranspot Avenue with the existing EVMWD system. ARPA funding will cover $800,000 of the estimated $1,000,000 expense.

Because APRA funding is being used, the projects must be completed by Dec. 31, 2026. The Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District will administer, construct and maintain the projects. The funding agreement includes a provision that if construction bids for the Highway 74/Ethanac Sewer Extension Project exceed the estimates, additional ARPA funding of up to 80% of the increased cost, although not to exceed $834,839, would be allocated.

RAIN, WIND, AND FIRE...

“The three menaces to any chimney, fireplace, or stove.”

Every year there are over twenty thousand chimney / fireplace related house fires in the US alone. Losses to homes as a result of chimney fires, leaks, and wind damage exceeds one hundred million dollars annually in the US.

CHIMNEY SWEEPS, INC., one of the leading chimney repair and maintenance companies, is here to help protect you and your home from losses due to structural damage and chimney fires.

Family owned and operated and having been in business for over 30 years, Chimney Sweeps Inc. is a fully licensed and insured chimney contracting company (License # 976438) and they are certified with the National Chimney Sweep Guild and have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

For a limited time, readers of this paper will receive a special discount on a full chimney cleaning and safety inspection package with special attention given to chimney water intrusion points in preparation for the wet & rainy season.

If considering welcoming a new pet into your home this holiday season, consider adopting from an animal shelter or rescue group instead of pet stores and retailers. Valley News/Best Friends Animal Society photo

The Mt. San Jacinto Community College District welcomed new Trustee Jhalister Corona, who took the Oath of Office on Thursday, Dec. 15.

Corona, who teaches advanced placement World History at Liberty High School in Winchester, is familiar with MSJC. He took several courses at the college district

and subsequently earned a bachelor’s degree and two master’s degrees. He replaces Ann Motte, the district’s longest-serving board member, after she chose not to seek re-election. Corona will represent Area 4.

Trustee Vicki Carpenter joined Corona in taking the oath after being re-elected in November. Car-

penter has been representing Area 3 on the MSJC board since 2018.

During its annual organizational meeting, the five-member Board of Trustees also selected Trustee Joshua Rivera, representing Area 2, as the new Board President and Trustee Brian Sylva, serving Area 1 since 2020, as the new Clerk.

MUSD board approves new middle school boundaries

The orange area shows the attendance boundaries for Kathryn

The Menifee Union School District Governing Board held its annual Organizational Meeting on Dec. 13. In a series of actions that demonstrate the district’s growth and progress, the Governing Board approved new attendance boundaries for middle school students.

“This is an exciting milestone on our journey to the opening of Kathryn Newport Middle School,” the newly appointed Board President Morgan Singleton said. “I am grateful to the residents of Menifee, who through their generous support of Measure Q and Community Facilities District funding, made this possible for our students.”

MSJC

With the opening of Kathryn Newport Middle School in August 2023, boundaries had to be reconfigured so as to determine which homes fall within the new school’s attendance area. To do so, the district convened a boundary committee. The committee consisted of district parents, teachers, classified staff, administrators, a member of the superintendent’s cabinet, a community organization member and a city representative.

The district’s facilities department presented various options to the committee. Based on those options, the committee made a recommendation to the governing board.

COURTS & CRIMES

Police investigate bomb threat at Rancho Verde High School

MORENO VALLEY – The Val Verde District Police Department was made aware of a bomb threat against Rancho Verde High School Tuesday, Dec. 13, at approximately 10:15 a.m. The call was received by the Moreno Valley Police Department front desk who in turn immediately notified the Val Verde District Police Department. Val Verde police officers arrived on scene along with the Moreno Valley Police Department and immediately initiated a lockdown of the campus. At approximately 10:25 a.m. the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department bomb squad arrived on scene and once it was safe, conducted an initial search on the exterior of the campus. An

interior search of the campus was also conducted by the Val Verde Police Department K9 unit, and no explosives devices were located.

At approximately 12:03 p.m., the school was deemed safe, and the lockdown was lifted. There is no credible threat at this time, according to the department.

It is an ongoing investigation being handled by the Moreno Valley Police Department. Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact the Moreno Valley Police Department at 951-486-6700 or the Val Verde District Police Department at 951-490-4681.

Submitted by Val Verde District Police Department.

Along with the approval of the new boundaries, the governing board also appointed the new principal of Kathryn Newport Middle School. Nicholas Stearns will be at the helm of the opening of this much-anticipated school. He currently serves as principal at Oak Meadows Elementary and will transition to his new role in February 2023.

Superintendent Jennifer Root said, “Our staff has worked diligently to get us to this point in MUSD’s history, and I am confident that we will make the start of Kathryn Newport Middle School a successful one.”

To learn more about Kathryn Newport Middle School and the new boundaries, visit www.menifeeusd.org.

Capital One agrees to payout, policy changes to settle lawsuit

City News Service Special to the Valley News

Capital One will have to pay Riverside County nearly $400,000 under a legal settlement stemming from a lawsuit over the company’s debt collection practices, prosecutors announced Thursday, Dec. 15.

The McLean, Virginia-based financial institution was sued by district attorney’s offices in Riverside, Los Angeles, San Diego and Santa Clara counties after evidence was amassed indicating Capital One’s representatives had “made phone calls with unreasonably excessive frequency and persisted in calling wrong numbers in an effort to collect debts,” according to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.

Prosecutors determined there had been alleged violations of California’s Rosenthal Act and the Federal Debt Collections Practices Act going back to March 2015.

Capital One did not admit or deny anything under the stipulated judgment, which was reached during proceedings in Los Angeles County Superior Court, where the civil action was filed.

The bank also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

It agreed to pay a total of $1.45 million in civil penalties, $300,000 in investigative costs and $250,000 in victim restitution, according to prosecutors.

The Riverside County D.A.’s office said $362,500 of that sum will be paid to the county.

Under the negotiated deal, Capital One vowed to implement policy changes to prevent intrusive and bothersome debt collection calls over the next four years.

The settlement specifies that the financial concern’s representatives “not make more than seven calls to an account in a consecutive seven-day period, stop all calls to accounts that do not have a valid telephone number and no longer call those people who request verbally or in writing that they not be contacted,” the D.A.’s office stated.

The settlement bears similarities to ones reached in the past few years with Allied Interstate and Synchrony Bank, according to prosecutors.

Nicholas Stearns was appointed to be the new principal of KNMS.

Newport Middle School.

Valley News/Courtesy photos

MSJC Trustees Vicki Carpenter, left, and Jhalister Corona, center, take the Oath of Office from Superintendent/President Dr. Roger Schultz (right) during the Dec. 15 organizational meeting.

Valley News/Courtesy photos

Board of Trustees members, from left, Jhalister Corona, Joshua Rivera, Tom Ashley, Vicki Carpenter and Brian Sylva.

Restaurant serves the community with more than food and drink

A. Rhodes Special to Valley News

As planners were preparing for the opening of a Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers restaurant in Hemet, they researched local organizations that aligned with the chain’s mission and vision. The Soboba Foundation and Hemet Parks and Recreation were designated as signature partners for the new eatery at 3156 W. Florida Ave. Both were presented with $1,000 donations at the VIC, “Very Important Caniac,” ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday, Dec. 2.

Although best known for their chicken fingers, Raising Cane’s philanthropy arm reaches out to support the communities in which it locates its restaurants. The focus on active community involvement demonstrates Raising Cane’s appreciation for the customers and communities that support them.

Through its six areas of focus, which include education, pet welfare, entrepreneurship and more, the company has worked hard to support each community it serves.

The Hemet branch planned for its grand opening celebration in early September, but the Fairview Fire and others made them decide to change course in order to feed first responders and others supporting the community during such a difficult time. A soft opening without the fanfare took place and residents got to know they were there.

The formal grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony, which was led by Hemet-San Jacinto Valley Chamber of Commerce members, began at 8:30 a.m., Dec. 2, with guests greeted by members of the award-winning Tahquitz High School varsity coed cheer team.

Area leader of restaurants Kevin Skoglund provided some history and background of the 26-year-old restaurant chain that was founded by Todd Graves, proving that through hard work, determination and a relentless work ethic, dreams can come true. He introduced the Hemet location’s restaurant leader, Aaron Ciufo of San Jacinto, who he

described as a “passionate servant leader.”

Ciufo said he has enjoyed being active in the community with events such as Hemet’s Trunk or Treat in October, the Mayor’s Ball and the annual Hemet Christmas Parade, and he looks forward to doing a lot more. After Ciufo cut the red ribbon to signal the “official” opening, Chamber Executive Director Cyndi Lemke told him, “Your goals are our goals because your success is our success. Stay connected and let us know how we can help, and let us help you reach the success you’re working toward.”

A large gift basket of Raising Cane’s swag was presented to Lizbeth Alcantara, the first customer who passed through the “Welcome Tunnel” of Titan cheerleaders leading into the restaurant. Customers at the event entered a contest to win free Raising Cane’s for a year and Derek Riley of Hemet was the first of 20 winners.

Soboba Foundation President Dondi Silvas presented the restaurant with a proclamation that read, in part “whereas the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians shares Raising Cane’s philosophy of giving back to the community by support-

Paradise Chevrolet Cadillac is presented with Dealer of the Year award

ing worthy causes” and that “the Soboba Foundation and Raising Cane’s are passionately committed to improving the quality of life for those in the community that will continue to help us all grow and be successful,” the foundation did “hereby congratulate Raising Cane’s on their grand opening.”

After being presented with a $1,000 check, Silvas told Ciufo and Skoglund, “Your generous donation will help us continue what we already do, which is to give back to our community.”

Hemet Public Works Director Noah Rau accepted the $1,000 check for the City of Hemet and said he will ensure it gets to the Parks and Recreation Department after welcoming the restaurant to the community and thanking

them for their donation. Hemet City Councilmember Russ Brown thanked Ciufo on behalf of the entire city council for his leadership and business partnership. Hemet police chief and acting city manager Eddie Pust said it’s exciting to welcome Raising Cane’s to the community, not just because they have great food, but because of all the job opportunities they will provide to the youth.

Raising Cane’s founder Todd Graves said, “Being actively involved in our communities is a part of who we are and dates back to the early days of Cane’s. We are serving more than craveable chicken finger meals; we are serving our communities.”

Raising Cane’s has “one love” and that is quality chicken finger

meals, but its active community involvement is the core of who they are. Along with its 15% of sales offer to qualified organizations, it supports parent teacher associations and student and athletic organizations with sponsorships as well as in-kind donations. To learn how an organization can raise funds with Raising Cane’s, contact http:// CanesAndCommunity.com or ask a store manager.

Drive-thru and dine-in options can be found at the Hemet location at the northeast corner of Florida and Sanderson avenues, which is open Sunday through Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. and Thursday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 a.m. For more information, call 951-484-4939 or visit http:// www.raisingcanes.com.

Chevrolet Cadillac was awarded the 2021 Chevrolet Dealer of the Year award. This award is only given to the “best of the best” Chevrolet dealers, and Paradise Chevrolet Cadillac was among the elite dealers who received this award. Paradise has received Dealer of the Year for eight consecutive years.

The Dealer of the Year program honors dealer partners who have done an exceptional job toward GM’s collective goal of earning customers for life. To receive this honor, a dealer must be a top performer in sales and customer satisfaction. Dealers also must show commitment to these areas on a long-term basis by retaining customers, using only genuine GM parts, participating in standards for excellence, and maintaining

compliance with the essential brand elements program requirements.

Recently, Chevrolet representatives Tom Morrison, Shane McBride, Michael Stinson and Ricardo Borromeo joined the Paradise team at a celebration lunch to congratulate Paradise Chevrolet Cadillac and present President/Owner Terry Gilmore and Executive Manager/ Owner Todd Tracy with their award.

“I am very proud of each and every one of our employees for their efforts in making our dealership one of the best in the United States,” Gilmore said “It is due to their commitment and dedication to excellence that Paradise Chevrolet Cadillac holds this prestigious award.”

Submitted by Paradise Chevrolet Cadillac.

Diane

Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers’s restaurant leader Aaron Ciufo welcomes Lizbeth Alcantara as the first “official” customer at the Hemet store, following its ribbon cutting ceremony Friday, Dec. 2. The Soboba Foundation receives a $1,000 donation from Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers in Hemet with Soboba Foundation president Dondi Silvas, left; restaurant leader Aaron Ciufo and area leader of restaurants Kevin Skoglund, right. Valley News/Diane A. Rhodes photos

Members of the award-winning Tahquitz High School varsity coed cheer team call attention to the opening of Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers in Hemet.

TEMECULA – In 2022, Paradise

From left, Tom Morrison, Shane McBride, Todd Tracy, Terry Gilmore, Michael Stinson, and Ricardo Borromeo celebrate the 2021 Chevrolet Dealer of the Year award. Valley News/Courtesy photo

City of Murrieta wins award for Turning Red Tape Into Red Carpet with the new Murrieta Hot Springs Resort

The City of Murrieta announced that the Murrieta Hot Springs Resort project was selected for the Real Estate Redevelopment and Reuse award at the 10th Annual Turning Red Tape into Red Carpet Awards. Hosted by the Inland Empire Economic Partnership, this award recognizes real estate development or adaptive reuse projects that create jobs or additional tax sources. Winning projects are selected because they will catalyze economic growth and demonstrate innovative partnership approaches, including both the public and private sectors.

Receiving the IEEP award for the redevelopment of the Murrieta Hot Springs Resort was a long time in the making. Murrieta was once well known for its natural, mineral hot springs. The current main artery of the city, Murrieta Hot Springs Road, was named for this amenity. From the early 1900s until the early 1970s, Murrieta was home to a large hot spring resort renowned as one of the first resorts in the region, with many celebrities and visitors passing through. Once the resort was no longer operational, the space was home to a bible college. Yet, after the pandemic hit, they reevaluated their service delivery model at the site and decided to sell the property. The city worked directly with the seller with the goal of bringing in a use that would benefit everyone. After several buyers showed interest, a major hot springs resort group was

selected, and the city got to work entitling the project. Finding that the bible retreat and college space also featured hotel rooms, the City was able to approve a substantial conformance in four months. This allowed the buyer to close escrow and begin the massive work of redeveloping the 46-acre site.

Scott Agajanian, Murrieta’s Director of Economic Development, praised the efforts of the City’s Development Services Department

for the work of transitioning a bible college into what will be the new Murrieta Hot Springs Resort.

“This project is a shining example of how government can work in unison with property owners and developers for the betterment of everyone involved. Everyone at the City of Murrieta who played a role in seeing this project through to the finish could not be more proud of what we accomplished,” Agajanian said. He also noted that

“the project could not have been made a reality without the help of Olympus Real Estate, who had the vision to acquire the property and invest in this community.”

The IEEP works collaboratively with prominent business and government leaders to make the Inland Empire a great place to live, work and invest. With a constant need for change and adaptation, the IEEP strategizes the most successful ways to accommodate regional

needs that succeed today and prepare for what is to come tomorrow.

The IEEP’s Turning Red Tape into Red Carpet event honors agencies that have developed innovative ways to avoid bureaucratic red tape for the betterment of local economies and communities.

For updates on the Murrieta Hot Springs Resort, sign up for the City of Murrieta’s eNewsletter, More Murrieta. To get the latest Murrieta economic development news, sign up for the City’s Economic Development eNewsletter.

City Manager Kim Summers, right, and Planning Commission Staff Liaison Jarrett Ramaiya hold the Turning Red Tape to Red Carpet Award.

Turning Red Tape into Red Carpet Award.

Valley News/Courtesy photo

Bronco boys win Pepsi Holiday Basketball Tournament in Arizona

against Arizona College Prep. Junior power forward Donovan Ford would put up 16 points for Vista Murrieta, as they stayed in front to win the tournament title by a score of 55-48.

“Valley Christian and Arizona Prep were some real quality wins, and to take care of the Trojans in the dominant fashion that we did, and then to come back and win the final that same day was a real morale booster for our team,” Dotson said.

The final day of the tournament had the third-place game go the way of Valley Christian with a 64-51 win over Coconino, and the Consolation Championship went to Mingus with a 52-51 win over Camp Verde. The Consolation third place game went the way of NPA, who beat Winslow 52-38.

“Flagstaff High School put on a great tournament,” Carlin added. “We loved the tournament and our time in the city as well. Hopefully we make it back up one day.”

Gary Dotson was named to the All-Tournament team averaging 17.2 points per game with 5.4

assists and 2.4 steals. Also named to the All-Tournament team was Donovan Ford with his average of 10.4 points per game, 6.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists. After the Christmas holiday break the Broncos will be back in action in the more local Battle of the Oak tournament, which starts Tuesday, Dec. 27.

League play for Vista Murrieta starts in the new year when they open against Murrieta Mesa on Wednesday, Jan. 4.

“Our goal has been to win our league all season,” Carlin stated.

“There’s a lot of great teams in our league, but our time in Flagstaff has definitely helped move us closer to our goal, and as a coach I’m excited by the momentum the trip has given us.”

For the 2022-2023 season the Broncos are competing in Division 2AA of the CIF Southern Section and as of Tuesday, Dec. 13, were ranked No.14 in the polls, along with Linfield Christian who are ranked No. 7 in the same division.

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

JP Raineri Sports Editor

FLAGSTAFF, AZ – The Vista Murrieta boys’ basketball team took to the road earlier this month to see how the competition fared outside of California. Their travels took them to “The City of Seven Wonders,” (aka Flagstaff, Ariz.). The city is often referred to that way because it sits amid the Coconino National Forest and is surrounded by the Grand Canyon, Oak Creek Canyon, Walnut Canyon, Wupatki National Monument, Sunset Crater National Monument and the San Francisco Peaks. While sightseeing wasn’t their mission, performing well in the Pepsi Holiday Invitational was. As an exhibition tournament, the event did not count for standings or playoffs at the end of the season. But, with several games over three days, it was a chance to

try new ideas and get plenty of time on the court early in the schedule before the trials and tribulations of the regular league season comes in January. Game play took place at Flagstaff High School from Thursday, Dec. 8, through Saturday, Dec. 10, with 12 teams competing from three of the different surrounding states.

“It was a great tournament for our guys,” Daniel Carlin, Vista Murrieta head basketball coach, said. “Our guys showed a lot of grit. Driving over 300 miles up to that elevation and playing five games in 72 hours, our guys would have had a lot of reasons to be fatigued and not perform at the level they did.”

Arizona teams included Winslow, Valley Christian, Arizona Lutheran, Mingus Union, AZ College Prep, Coconino, Flagstaff, Camp Verde and Northland Prep. Nevada teams included Green

Valley (Henderson) and Bonanza (Las Vegas) while Vista Murrieta (12-2) was the only team from California.

Day one saw Vista Murrieta defeat host school Flagstaff 5936 behind a powerful 17-point performance by senior point guard Gary Dotson. Day two had the Broncos play two games where they were unstoppable on offense and commanding on defense. After downing Winslow 71-35, as Dotson again led the way with 17 points, Vista Murrieta also took down Bonanza 77-27 behind Nate Padilla’s 20 points.

In the semifinal round on day three, the Broncos would again need to play through two games if they wanted a shot at bringing home the tournament title. A 28-point showing from Dotson helped seal a 60-42 victory over the Valley Christian Trojans, setting up a tough championship game

All-SWL boys’ water polo teams announced, plus AllCIF standouts Chaparral’s Hougland takes league MVP, four locals selected to All-CIF team

Team selections, as did Great Oak (fifth place), and Murrieta Mesa was only given two Second Team selections for their last place finish. The complete list of water polo players selected as All-League for the SWL are as follows:

MVP: Jack Hougland, Chaparral (11)

FIRST TEAM

Nicholas Chavez, Murrieta Valley (12); Titus Elliott, Murrieta Valley (9); Luke Requeno, Murrieta Valley (11); Justin Hougland, Chaparral (12); Aiven Honarvar, Chaparral (10); Collin Crilly, Chaparral (12); Isaac Aguilera,

Vista Murrieta (12); Connor Meeks, Vista Murrieta (11); Ian Manson, Temecula Valley (12); Simon Bricker, Great Oak (11).

SECOND TEAM

Ciarin Delayne, Murrieta Valley (12); Cole Curtis, Murrieta Valley (12); Jack Yendes, Chaparral (9); Tristin Anderson, Chaparral (12); Julian Hoffenkamp, Vista Murrieta (12); Jose Serrano, Vista Murrieta (12); Dominick Palumbo, Temecula Valley (11); Sam Sanchez, Temecula Valley (12); Daniel Nef, Great Oak (12); see POLO, page C-2

JP Raineri Sports Editor

The Southwestern League water polo coaches and Darin Mott, athletic director of Murrieta Valley High School, recently announced the selections for the First and Second All-League teams. The first-place team always hosts the meeting with their school’s athletic director, which went the way of the Nighthawks.

Based on where the SWL team placed also determines how many selections that team will get. Even

though Chaparral showcased junior Jack Hougland as the league MVP, Murrieta Valley won this past season’s title by coming in first place. The Nighthawks were granted five selections overall: three First Team, two Second Team. Chaparral (second place) also got five selections overall: three First Team, two Second Team.

Vista Murrieta (third place) got four selections each: two First Team, two Second Team; Temecula Valley (fourth place) got one First Team and two Second

The Vista Murrieta boys’ basketball team traveled to Arizona earlier this month claiming the Pepsi Holiday Invitational title with a 55-48 win over Arizona Prep. Valley News/Courtesy photos

Vista Murrieta coaches talk strategy with their players during a recent game at the Pepsi Holiday Invitational earlier this month.

The Southwestern League boys’ water polo selections from the 2022 fall sports season were recently released, along with local All-CIF Southern Section selections. Valley News/Courtesy photos

[Below] Division 6 had the only local All-CIF Southern Section water polo selections from the 2022 fall sports season.

Lady Broncos host holiday ‘Classic’ basketball tournament

JP Raineri Sports Editor

Before the holiday break, with an extension into the first few of days of no school, Vista Murrieta (7-1) hosted their Bronco Classic girls’ basketball tournament. This year’s brackets consisted of King (10-2), Heritage (3-5), Kaiser (6-4) and Murrieta Mesa (7-6) in Pool A, and Tri-City Christian (4-5), Orange Vista (3-8) and Beaumont (6-0) in Pool B (with host Vista Murrieta). Games tipped-off Thursday, Dec. 15, with pool play taking place through Monday, Dec. 19. Championship Tuesday (Dec. 20), which took place prior to this article being published, got underway with early games starting mid-afternoon, and the final game being played in the evening.

After three days into the tournament, here is a look at what happened.

Thursday, Dec. 15: Heritage defeated Kaiser 72-33, Sierra

Maxwell (H) led all scorers with 24 points; King defeated Murrieta Mesa 70-17, no stats available for King. LaKaila Trimble was the Rams top scorer with 6 points.

Friday, Dec. 16: Beaumont defeated Orange Vista 58-17, no stats available; Vista Murrieta defeated Tri-City 64-22, no stats available.

Saturday, Dec. 17: Beaumont defeated Tri-City 97-14, no stats available for Beaumont, Tri-City

was led by Katie Busch with 8 points; King defeated Heritage 59-30, no stats for King available, Mariah Logan (Jr) led Heritage with 10 points; Murrieta Mesa defeated Kaiser 46-41, LaKaila Trimble led the Rams with 20 points, no stats available for Kaiser; Vista Murrieta defeated Orange Vista 69-29, no stats available.

Monday, Dec. 19: Games to be played include Orange Vista

vs. Tri-City, Murrieta Mesa vs Heritage, King vs. Kaiser and Beaumont vs. Vista Murrieta.

Tuesday, Dec. 20: Championship games – results pending. Game results for the tournament can be found on the Broncos Athletics website at www.

vistamurrietaathletics.com/classic

All local teams return to action after Christmas, with games starting as early as Monday, Dec. 26, when Vista Murrieta takes on

Lady Wildcats can’t stop Bronco stampede

JP Raineri Sports Editor

The Vista Murrieta girls’ basketball team is off to a great start winning five of their first six preseason games, which includes a non-conference 71-53 victory against Paloma Valley Tuesday, Dec. 13. The Wildcats kept the game close as they were only down 27-25 going into halftime. Vista Murrieta guard Alyson Pulsipher and center Laisha Lazu both knocked down 9 points to lead the scoring in the first half, while trying to keep Paloma Valley’s Ashlee Medrano at bay. Medrano accounted for 13 of the Wildcats’ points in the first two quarters, finishing with 25 overall.

The third quarter is where Vista Murrieta (5-1) put the game out of reach, outscoring the host team, 25-13, and then 19-15

POLO from page C-1

Teagan

As for All-CIF selections, the Southern Section offices released the names for the top student-athletes who made the list. Presented by the LA84 Foundation, as selected by the Southern California Water Polo Coaches’ Association, the list included four local student athletes who were awarded the honor of being a First Team selection in Division 6.

Three of the four selections hail from the Hemet High boys’ water polo team, who swam all the way to the CIF Southern Section Division 6 finals where they fell to Muir 17-16 in the final seconds of the match. The final remaining local selection came from Liberty High School.

All CIF Southern Section First Team

Division 6

Micha Remick, Liberty (10) Josh Dunn, Hemet (12) Gabe Smith, Hemet (12) Adam Formica, Hemet (12)

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

in the fourth quarter. Pulsipher finished the game with 30 points, Lazu had 16, and senior forward, Makena Ching, added 11 points as another one of Vista Murrieta’s top scorers. Senior Christianna Hawkins assisted with 11 points for Paloma Valley, who are now 6-5 on the season.

Neither team was ranked in the latest CIF-SS polls, released Tuesday, Dec. 13, but as far as local teams getting notice, Murrieta Valley did come at No. 7 in Div. 3AA, Rancho Christian was No. 1 in Div. 3A, followed by Great Oak at No.2. San Jacinto Valley Academy was ranked No. 16 in Div. 4AA, California Lutheran came in at No. 11 in Div. 4A, Linfield Christian was No. 13 in Div. 5AA, and West Valley was No. 4 in Div. 5A.

Paloma Valley also took on another Southwestern League opponent when they faced Temecula Valley Thursday, Dec. 15, before going into their holiday break. The Wildcats took down the Golden Bears in that nonconference game by a score of 51-28. Vista Murrieta spent last week hosting their “Classic” tournament, with a recap that can be found in this week’s issue of the Valley News. Both teams return to action after Christmas, with games on Monday, Dec. 26 (VM against San Jacinto Valley Academy), and Tuesday, Dec. 27 (PV vs. Sahuaro

JP

AnzA VAlley

AnzA VAlley

Arnold, Great Oak (11); Jeremiah Ramirez, Murrieta Mesa (12); Joseph Zinn, Murrieta Mesa (10).

San Jacinto Valley Academy (6-1). The SJVA Wolves went undefeated in the South Valley League last year, advancing to the second round of the 2022 CIF Southern Section Division 4A playoffs where they fell to Shalhevet High School (Los Angeles).

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

Mariah Logan (3) of Heritage elevates for the shot in a recent game during the Broncos ‘Classic’ tournament.

Murrieta Mesa player Sarin Newkirk (1) brings the basketball up court against Kaiser Saturday, Dec. 17. Valley News/Action Captures Media Group photos

Vista Murrieta guard Alyson Pulsipher (23) drives past an Orange Vista defender.

Vista Murrieta’s Laisha Lazu (4) takes a jump shot against Orange Vista Saturday, Dec. 17.

Vista Murrieta guard Alyson Pulsipher (23) drives to the basket for a layup during a non-conference game against Paloma Valley Tuesday, Dec. 13.

Valley News/Action Captures Media Group photos

Paloma Valley’s leading scorer Ashlee Medrano (14) drives to the basket.

Vista Murrieta forward Makena Ching (33) shoots over Paloma Valley forward Christianna Hawkins (21). of Arizona).

All stats, schedules, photos and scores, are supplied by local high school athletic directors, MaxPreps, CIF-SS offices, contributing writers/photographers and countless fans of the games

Temecula Valley No. 3 in recent Division 1 girls’ soccer polls Great Oak boys having success in Division 4

JP Raineri Sports Editor

The final 2022 CIF Southern Section polls for soccer were released Tuesday, Dec. 13, and here is a look at the local area teams that have cracked the rankings. Our weekly issue goes to print each week prior to the release of the most updated Southern Section polls, which reflect old polls and are handled by the CIFSS Advisory Committees that oversee each individual sport. The CIF-Southern Section office will be closed for Winter Break starting Monday, Dec. 19, and polls will resume, along with their regular hours again Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023.

The Temecula Valley girls continue to be a dominant force in Division 1, despite falling to Santiago (6-0) by a score of 3-1 this past Thursday, Dec. 15. The match was a showdown between two of three top-ranked teams in the Division 1 polls (Oaks Christian is No. 1). It also was the first time the two teams played since last season’s Division 1 championship match, which Temecula Valley won 2-0.

The Golden Bears got hung up defending the ball more than they could gather themselves on offense against the Sharks, who outshot Temecula Valley 12-3 in the second half alone. Santiago had five consecutive shutout games to open the season, and, according to local media updates, almost became the first team to shut out Temecula Valley (9-3-2) in their last 47 matches.

With a testament to their grit, the Golden Bears capitalized off a penalty kick from Annika Jost in the fifth minute of stoppage time to save them from getting

that dreaded goose egg. Santiago goalkeeper Taylor Clark recorded five saves, while Temecula Valley’s Elizabeth Ludwig finished with seven. After the loss, Temecula Valley packed up their vans and hit the road this past weekend for Northern Californian where they competed in the Tri-City soccer tournament, going 1-1-1 on the road.

The Great Oak boys’ soccer team had the highest ranking of the local teams, coming in at No. 4 in the Division 4 polls. The Wolfpack have a 3-2-1 record on the season with wins over Moreno Valley, Tahquitz (No. 6, Div. 7) and Bloomington, as well as a draw with Palm Desert (No. 3, Div. 5).

CIF-SS GIRLS SOCCER POLLS

(Selected by the CIF-SS Girls Soccer Committee)

DIVISION 1 & 2

No. 3 - Temecula Valley

DIVISION 5 No. 1 - Hemet No. 8 - Liberty No. 10 - Heritage DIVISION 6 No. 9 - San Jacinto CIF-SS BOYS SOCCER POLLS

(Selected by the CIF-SS Boys Soccer Committee)

DIVISION 1/2 No. 16 - Citrus Hill DIVISION 4 No. 4 - Great Oak DIVISION 6 No. 5 - San Jacinto No. 7 - Temescal Canyon DIVISION 7 No. 6 - Tahquitz JP Raineri can be reached by email at sports@reedermedia. com

Former Temecula Valley football alumni Easton Gibbs named First Team All-Mountain West

JP Raineri Sports Editor

The Mountain West college football conference recently announced its 2022 All-Mountain West football teams and former Temecula Valley football standout, and current Wyoming Cowboys linebacker, Easton Gibbs earned a First Team selection. The team was selected in voting by the 12 Mountain West head coaches and media members covering the league and for the fourth consecutive season, Wyoming has a linebacker on the All-Mountain West First Team.

Gibbs finished the 2022 regular season averaging 9.2 tackles per game to rank No. 3 in the Mountain West and No. 23 in the nation, making this the first AllMountain West Conference honor of his career. Along with his top rankings, Gibbs also recorded the first 100-tackle season of his career, with 111. He became only the 61st Cowboy in the 126-year history of Cowboy Football to record 100 tackles in a single season, which ties him for the 29th best single-season tackle total in school history with former UW safety Marcus Epps, who had 111 tackles in 2016.

Gibbs, a high-profile candidate for the NFL draft in 2023, will be able to add to that total in

Wyoming’s bowl appearance later this year. He posted double figures in tackles in five games this season. Gibbs also ranked third on the Cowboy team in tackles for loss, with 8.0. He added 2.0 sacks, four quarterback hurries, one pass break-up and one fumble recovery on the season. His fumble recovery was made in the end zone for a touchdown in a 40-37 double overtime win over Tulsa.

“It was an honor to be recognized by all the coaches in our conference,” Gibbs said of his accomplishment. “We have worked hard to get to this point in the season, and this is just a

testament to the hard work we all have put in. The best part is, we aren’t finished yet. We have an exciting opportunity ahead of us.”

The Wyoming Cowboys, with Gibbs in tow, have been invited to play in the Barstool Sports

Arizona Bowl. Wyoming will be matched up against the Ohio Bobcats from the Mid-American Conference Friday, Dec. 30 at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, which will kick off at 12:30 p.m. This year’s appearance will be

Smith resigns as head coach for Heritage football

Andre Smith took over two years ago as head coach for the Heritage football program, after a quick temporary showing by Adam Contreas in 2020. Last week, Smith announced that he will be stepping down as head coach. Smith had a successful season in 2021 when the Patriots won the Ivy League title with a 3-1 record (5-6 overall) but could not find a way to scratch even one win across the board in 2022.

Smith took over one of the more prominent programs in the

area which saw Kraig Broach leave behind a successful 12-year legacy. Broach took the Patriots from being an 8-man team in the Freelance League (2007-2008), to an 11-man in the Mountain Pass League, the Sunbelt League, and finally, into the Ivy League, where they have remained since 2018.

During that time, before leaving to take over at Liberty High School, prior to the 2020 pandemic year, Broach housed a 106-29 record with multiple playoff appearances during that time, including two trips to the CIF Southern Section finals. In Liberty’s first year as a varsity program this past season,

Wyoming’s 18th bowl appearance in history. The Cowboys are 9-8 overall in bowl games.

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

Broach coached the Bison to a 9-2 season, second in the Mountain Pass League (4-1), and to their first playoff appearance in Division 8 where they fell to Elsinore 28-20.

The Patriots will look to turn things around in 2023 with a new coaching staff, which has yet to be announced. In 2021, under Smith, Heritage did advance to the first round of the CIF Southern Section Football playoffs in Division 7 where they fell to St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy (Downey) by a score of 34-7.

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

JP Raineri

Sports Editor

Temecula Valley’s Annika Jost (9) heads the ball as teammate Zoe Willis and others look on in last week’s game against No. 2 ranked Santiago.

Temecula Valley played in Northern Californian this past weekend where they competed in the Tri-City soccer tournament, going 1-1-1 on the road.

The Great Oak boys’ soccer team was ranked at No. 4 in the Division 4 CIF Southern Section coach polls, released Tuesday, Dec. 13.

Valley News/Jerry Soifer photo

Valley News/Time Stood Still Photography

Valley News/Rob Davis Photography

Wyoming Cowboys linebacker Easton Gibbs, a former Temecula Valley football standout and AllMountain West First Team selection, was ranked No. 23 in the nation this past season.

Former Temecula Valley football standout, and current Wyoming Cowboys linebacker, Easton Gibbs was selected to the All-Mountain West First Team for the 2022 season. Valley News/Troy Babbitt-UW Media Athletics

Valley News/Wyoming Cowboys media photo

Andre Smith, who took over two years ago for the Heritage Patriots football program, announced last week that he will be stepping down as head coach after a winless season in 2022.

Valley News/Action Captures Media Group

RCTC reports Placentia Avenue Interchange with Interstate 215 is now open

Tony Ault Staff Writer

Motorists in the Perris and the San Jacinto valleys now have another option to enter and exit Interstate 215 with the opening of the new Placentia Avenue Interchange.

The Riverside County Transportation Commission opened the I-215 Placentia Avenue Interchange onramps and offramps last week, providing an alternative to the Ramona Expressway ramps to the north and the Nuevo Road ramps to the south. Construction of the $42 million investment began in August 2020.

“We are excited to deliver this important piece of infrastructure for our residents of Perris and neighboring communities,” RCTC Chair and Riverside County 4th District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez said. “This new interchange expands access to work and school and helps with traffic flow in this rapidly growing area.”

The project, which provided close to 400 jobs during construction, added ramps and widened the Placentia Ave. bridge over I-215 with new lanes between Harvill Ave. and Indian Road. Further, the project added

sidewalks, bicycle lanes and a barrier-separated equestrian path along Placentia Ave. Crews also built retention basins to reduce local street flooding.

The interchange is the first construction project of the Mid County Parkway, a planned 16mile corridor between Perris and San Jacinto. RCTC began final design last month of the next Mid County Parkway segment, extending 8.6 miles along Ramona Expressway from Warren Road to about one mile east of Rider Street in the County of Riverside.

The Mid County Parkway/ Ramona Expressway project will address high priority safety needs for this segment of roadway with a history of vehicle collisions. The project also will reduce travel times and promote transportation equity for the Perris and San Jacinto valleys with better connections to I-215, Route 79, Metrolink service and Riverside Transit Agency service.

RCTC and Caltrans reported this week that most of the work now underway in Southwest Riverside County will not be performed during the upcoming holiday weekends, giving the highway workers time with their families. However, be aware of highway

construction signs at the various project locations and follow the instructions. Any emergency repairs will still be done during that time.

Caltrans online reports a Caltrans

Holiday Moratorium, which states that, “There are no scheduled lane changes beginning Tuesday, Dec. 20, at 6 a.m. through Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023 at 6 p.m. in observance of the holidays.” However, it reads,

“Be advised that local events may have closures and closures may be necessary for emergencies such as accidents, weather issues or any other unforeseen issues.”

County advertises Idyllwild public restrooms contract for bid

Joe Naiman Writer

A contract to provide a public restroom facility in Idyllwild has been advertised for bid.

A 5-0 Riverside County Board of Supervisors vote Tuesday, Dec. 6, approved the plans and specifications for the Idyllwild Public Restroom Facility Project and authorized the clerk of the county board of supervisors to advertise the project for bid. The bids must be received by 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12.

The county board of supervisors established the Idyllwild Historic District in June 2011. In October

2020, the county supervisors created the Riverside County Tourism Recovery Campaign to support the restoration of the county’s tourism industry which was impacted by coronavirus restrictions. 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.

A 5-0 county board of supervisors vote May 10 approved the Idyllwild Public Restroom Facility Project in principle, added the restroom project to the county’s Capital Improvement Program, approved a preliminary budget of $450,000, authorized the use of up to $450,000 of American Rescue Plan Act funding for project expenses, authorized the director of the county’s Office of Economic Development to utilize prequalified consultants, authorized

the county’s Purchasing Agent to execute service agreements with pre-qualified consultants for up to $100,000 per consultant and found the construction of a small structure categorically exempt from California Environmental Quality Act review. The restroom facility is expected to be approximately 210 square feet and will be located in the 54300 block of North Circle Drive.

A public restroom will improve the biological safety of tourism businesses. The county will acquire a prefabricated restroom facility which will be installed. A private property owner has agreed to provide a ground lease to the county. The facility will have two restrooms meeting Americans with Disabilities Act standards, and the project will also include site work and utility connections. San Jacinto Mountain Community Center Inc., which does business

Regional

risk factors

Inland Empire business activity rebounded in the most recent quarter, with increasing slack in the residential real estate market offset by growth in commercial development, UC Riverside economists said.

The UCR School of Business’ Center for Economic Forecasting & Development released its quarterly Inland Empire Business Activity Index, showing that the regional economy experienced a 2.8% annualized growth rate during the third quarter of 2022, the most recent data available, a turnaround from the marginal 1.6% expansion in the second quarter.

The latest rate was comparable to the 2.9% increase in gross domestic product for the nation as a whole during the same quarter. GDP had been dropping over successive quarters, signaling the incipient stages of a recession, which some economists believe still looms.

Inflation remains at a 40-year high, and earlier this week, the Federal Open Market Committee announced another half-point hike in the Fed’s benchmark interest rate, pushing it to between 4.25% and 4.5%, a tier not seen in 15 years.

The UCR economic forecasting team did not theorize as to what the ultimate outcome of the hikes might be, or whether they’ll successfully dampen the inflationary cycle by soaking up excess liquidity, or “easy money.”

Despite the gains in regional growth, the third-quarter rate was still well below where business activity registered at the end of 2021, with an estimated 6.4% expansion.

“The Inland Empire has

as Idyllwild Community Center, will provide maintenance for the restroom facility.

The preliminary $450,000 budget provides $326,300 for construction, $18,000 for pre-development activities, $25,300 for design, $10,491 for county administrative costs, $29,000 for regulatory permitting and inspections and $40,909 for contingency.

The successful bidder will install water, sewer and electric utilities to the new building, construct pathways meeting Americans with Disabilities Act standards, remove existing parking lot pavement and resurface the parking lot, prepare the site and construct the building foundation to the requirements stipulated by the manufacturer of the prefabricated restroom facility.

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

experienced a very steady economic recovery, outpacing coastal California along many key measures,” Center for Economic Forecasting Research Manager Taner Osman said. “While we are now seeing some weakness in the residential real estate market, that has been largely offset by impressive growth in employment, the labor force, consumer spending, building permits and commercial real estate.”

Home sales in Riverside County were down 42% year-over-year in October, while in San Bernardino County, they were down 48%. Prices were also lower, but generally less than 5% over the previous year.

The high cost of living in Southern California, exacerbated by accelerating inflation, is a deterrent to drawing workers to the region, unlike other parts of the country, the center said in its first-quarter report.

However, robust commercial real estate development points to ongoing confidence in job growth for the region.

According to the center, building permits for new office space ballooned almost 400% between the start of the year and the end of the third quarter.

“Moreover, many existing firms have opted to improve or expand their space, as illustrated by a 46% annual jump in non-residential alterations and additions,” according to the report.

Forecasters said earlier this year that the region had largely recovered the jobs lost during the coronavirus public health lockdowns of 2020 and part of 2021.

The latest Inland Empire Business Activity Index can be found at https://ucreconomicforecast.org/ wp- content/uploads/2022/12/UCR_

Signage identifies the adjacent equestrian path along Placentia Ave. facing east towards Frontage Rd. in Perris. Valley News/Courtesy photo

City News Service Special to the Village News

economy showing signs of strength, despite

Coping with holiday stress and anxiety to ensure good mental health

TEMECULA – With Christmas and New Year approaching, the holidays are often seen as a time of peace, joy and family gatherings. Families, friends and loved ones create memories of happy moments, eating tasty food and treats, as well as spending time with friends and loved ones.

But that idyllic image is often not a reality for many people struggling with stress and their own mental health during what’s supposed to be a time of joy.

“Mental health challenges do not necessarily increase around the holidays, but everyone experiences this time of year differently,” Dr. Jonathan Kirsten, a psychiatrist with Kaiser Permanente Southern California, said. “This may be the first holiday season without a loved one who died during the COVID pandemic. It may be a time of struggle for those with drug

and alcohol addiction. It may be a time of loneliness. Convention tells us we’re expected to be merry and thankful, but many people may feel very differently.”

In addition, Kirsten said the holiday season brings about unique stressors. They include travel, the financial burden of buying gifts, the pressures of hosting and uncomfortable and sometimes tense encounters with family members.

“These holiday difficulties on top of ongoing personal challenges can have a profound impact on one’s mental health,” Kirsten said.

Maintain good mental health during the holidays with the following tips, according to Kirsten.

Avoid isolating and instead try to spend time with family and friends. Whether you’re a social butterfly or prefer small get-

togethers, any type of socialization improves mental health.

Use alcohol responsibly. Many people celebrate the holidays by enjoying a few drinks; however, excessive alcohol use can cause and worsen mental illness. If intoxicated, get home safely by a car service or a sober friend. Never risk driving while intoxicated.

Avoid marijuana/THC/cannabis. Even though cannabis is legal in California, it actually can worsen symptoms of depression and anxiety. In some cases, it can even cause severe psychiatric symptoms such as hallucinations and mania.

Seek mental health services if you are experiencing depression, anxiety, addiction or other mental health problems. Don’t be afraid to ask your medical provider for help.

“The holidays are a time of joy,” Kirsten said. “However, avoid putting too much pressure on

state-of-mind as we begin the New Year.”

Submitted by Kaiser Permanente Southern California.

State Senator Ochoa Bogh fights the fentanyl epidemic by introducing Alexandra’s Law

SACRAMENTO - State Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Yucaipa) has introduced SB 13, Alexandra’s Law, intended to fight the fentanyl epidemic head-on. SB 13 would enact Alexandra’s Law, which would require an individual convicted of distributing certain opiates and narcotics, including fentanyl, to read and sign a written advisory warning of the dangers such actions pose to human life.

“Fentanyl-related deaths have swept my district and state recently,” said Senator Ochoa Bogh. “As a mother, it’s heartbreaking to listen to families describe the tragic deaths of their loved ones. Meeting with Alexandra’s family and learning about her story compelled me to take action immediately and introduce SB 13 on the first day of the 2023-24 legislative session. We must join together, fight

against these senseless deaths, and hold the individuals who knowingly distribute fentanyl accountable for the irreparable harm they cause.”

In 2019, two days before Christmas, Alexandra Capelouto passed away due to drug poisoning. Instead of the oxycodone she believed she had purchased, she had unknowingly consumed five times the fatal amount of fentanyl.

Home Instead offices receive gift of 1,600 hearing aids

TEMECULA – Two Home

Instead offices serving southwest Riverside County and north San Diego County were presented an anonymous donation of 1,600 new hearing aids to distribute among local older adults. The donation allowed the offices to extend their care for older adults with hearing impairments.

Age-related hearing loss is one of the most common conditions affecting older and elderly adults. The donated hearing aids will allow Home Instead to further address a condition that affects one in three people in the United States between the ages of 65 and 74 and

nearly half of those older than 75.

“We are extremely grateful to receive this donation,” Paul Dziuban, owner of the Home Instead offices in Temecula and Vista, said. “For older adults living with hearing loss it can be difficult to engage in conversation, respond to warnings or even hear phone calls or doorbells. This generous contribution will help to ease the stress of hearing loss for many in our community.”

The free hearing aids will be offered to any older adult residing in southwest Riverside County and north San Diego County. To receive a pair of hearing aids free

of cost, visit either Home Instead office from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday or call the offices for more information. An ID will be required, and hearing aids are currently available.

The southwest Riverside County Home Instead office is located at 43533 Ridge Park Drive, Suite B, in Temecula and can be reached at 951-696-2100. The north San Diego County Home Instead office is located at 901 Hacienda Drive, Suite B, in Vista and can be reached at 760-639-6472.

Submitted by Home Instead.

Synthetic opioids like fentanyl, which can be as much as 100 times more potent than morphine, are now the most common drugs involved in drug overdose deaths in the United States. Preliminary data shows that in 2021, 5,722 of the 10,416 Californians who died from an overdose died from fentanyl.

In the Inland Empire, San Bernardino County saw a 930% increase in fentanyl-related deaths from 2018 through 2021.

The number of fentanyl-related deaths increased yearly, with 30 reported in 2018, 74 in 2019, 227 in 2020, and 309 in 2021. There have been 415 fentanyl-related deaths so far in 2022 in Riverside County.

Overdoses have surged because these drugs are much more powerful and are often laced into other illicit drugs without the user’s knowledge. By advising a defendant of the dangerousness

of their conduct upon conviction, an offender is deterred from such future behavior and conceivably exposed to greater personal accountability in the future, should they opt to re-offend.

SB 13 follows the same warning advisory model established by Vehicle Code 23593, enacted by the State legislature, to require the court to advise a person convicted of DUI of the dangers their actions have on human life.

“The data is shocking. SB 13 is a critical next step in the fight against the drug poisonings sweeping through our communities and hopefully save lives like Alexandra’s,” concluded Senator Ochoa Bogh.

Submitted by Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh who represents the 23rd Senate District that includes portions of Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties.

Hear from doctors in your area about Inspire, a sleep apnea treatment that works inside your body. No mask. No hose. Just sleep.

Additional events added frequently.

Avoid isolating and instead try to spend time with family and friends as any type of socialization improves mental health. Valley News/Courtesy photo yourself that can have an adverse effect on your mental health. Caring for our mental health will help ensure that we are in a good

HOA, homeowners clash at Rancho California RV Resort

Thursday, Dec. 1 in a three-hour standoff for gate access at High Point Road in Aguanga.

The protest was sparked when four Highpoint residents, trying to get home, were denied access

through the resort’s gates. The homeowners depend on the easement to get to and from their properties.

“Ron Merrit, president of the HOA, and a woman in a red vest

stood in front of our vehicles,” Highpoint resident Tommy Gomez said. “We were detained at the front gate by guards, management and HOA board members.”

The standoff caused resort traffic

Hamilton Elementary presents Holiday Open House

Hamilton Elementary School presented their Holiday Open House Thursday, Dec. 15, featuring a Winter Wonderland with hot cocoa and cookies. Students sang holiday songs by grade level at different times throughout the day.

Smiles were seen as children performed, munched cookies,

Anza

“The resort security stated to us

sipped hot chocolate and posed for photo opportunities with their families.

“What a wonderful way to start off the Christmas season,” one parent said.

To learn more about Hamilton Elementary School, visit them at https://hamiltonel.hemetusd.org.

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

From the Heart Christmas Kids giveaway serves 627 children

Sieker Staff Writer

From The Heart Christian Women’s Ministries’ Christmas Kids gift giveaway served 627 lucky children in an organized event Thursday, Dec. 15, at the Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Anza.

Carefully wrapped presents were organized by family and carefully put in large bags. Parents and their children received the bags in order. Smiles and holiday wishes flowed between volunteers and recipients.

Games, gift cards, dolls, plush toys, books, puzzles and other favorites were handed out during the event.

Dozens of volunteers, churches, nonprofits and patrons guaranteed a special night for the hundreds of children.

“Thank you never seems

enough,” organizer Christi James said. “It never feels like it covers the gratitude that we feel when it comes to this endeavor. This year it seriously did take a village. So many groups, churches and individuals gave and gave and gave. Not just financially, but hours upon hours of time. Thank you to all for the support, financially, physically and emotionally.”

Annual fundraisers, donations and gifts allowed the presents to be given to 627 children.

“Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, Living Hope Church, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Lions Club of Anza Valley, Anza Electric Cooperative, Hamilton High School, Hamilton Elementary School, About the Horse You Rode In On, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Cahuilla Casino, Valley

Diane Sieker Staff Writer

Highpoint homeowners clashed with Rancho California RV Resort staff, board members and security

Bob Kubrick, Rancho California RV Resort Owners Association board of directors vice president, consults with Riverside County Sheriff ’s deputies Thursday, Dec. 1.

Valley Outlook/Diane Sieker photo to back up as security tried to reroute cars and golf carts around the fray.

Diane Sieker Staff Writer

Diane

Classes of brightly costumed children sing carols at the Hamilton Elementary School Holiday Open House Thursday, Dec. 15.

Anza Valley Outlook/Diane Sieker photo

From The Heart Christian Women’s Ministries organizer Christi James signs in gift recipients at the Christmas Kids giveaway Thursday, Dec. 15.

Anza Valley Outlook/Diane Sieker photo

Peace and Joy this Holiday Season from Anza Valley Outlook

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 10:30-11:30 a.m. All are welcome. Cal-Fresh 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 951-7634333.

Hamilton High School – Find out what is happening using Hamilton’s online calendar at http://www.hamiltonbobcats.net/

ANZA VALLEY OUTLOOK

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 http://www. hamiltonmuseum.org. Find them on Facebook at “Hamilton-Museumand-Ranch-Foundation.”

Backcountry Horsemen Redshank Riders – Meeting monthly 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 951-751-1462 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 951-5512826.

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.

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, in Anza. For more information, call 951-763-4759.

Food ministries F.U.N. Group weekly food ministry – Deliveries arrive 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 Sunday Sacrament is held 10 a.m.; Sunday School is 11 a.m. Priesthood/Relief Society meets noon; Wednesday Boy Scouts gathers 6 p.m. and Youth Night is 7 p.m. For more information, call Ruiz at 951-4457180 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 951-763-0856.

Living Hope Bible Study 8-10 a.m. Tuesdays at Living Hope Christian Fellowship, 58050 Highway 371, in 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. 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 951-7634622.

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 (6th to 12th 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 Senior’s 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

High Country Recreation Second Monday of the month attend committee meetings at ERA Excel Realty in Anza. For more information, call Albert Rodriguez at 951-492-1624 or Robyn Garrison at 805-312-0369.

HCR Bingo fundraisers – 6:309:30 p.m. second and fourth Fridays at Anza Community Hall.

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 951-7634439 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 http://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 https:// www.facebook.com/ LionsofAnzaValley. For more information, email president Greg Sandling at President.AnzaLions@ gmail.com or Chris Skinner at Secretary.AnzaLions@gmail.com

Boy Scouts Troop 319 – Cub Scouts meet 6 p.m. every Tuesday, and Boy Scouts meet 7 p.m. every Wednesday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Contreras Road, south of state Route 371, in Anza. For more information, call Richard Hotchkiss at 951-551-3154.

Boys Scouts Troop 371 – Boy Scouts meet at Lake Riverside Estates. For more information, call

Ginny Kinser at 909-702-7902. 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 951403-4940. To learn more and see the club’s meeting schedule, visit http:// 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 951-7635611 for information.

Redshank Riders – 7 p.m. Backcountry horsemen meet at the Little Red Schoolhouse in Anza, the second Thursday of each month. Visit http://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 951763-4560.

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, in 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 951595-2400.

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 off 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 951-282-4267.

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 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 http://www.anzacivic.org

AEC announces instant rebate on shade trees

ANZA – As part of its Beneficial Electrification program, Anza Electric Cooperative Inc. teamed up with High Country Nursery to offer instant rebates to its members for the purchase of trees to provide shade, cooling and groundwater retention and save energy and money.

There are many benefits to shade trees, in addition to helping the environment, they can reduce ambient air temperature by as much as 10 degrees, clean the air, buffer noise, provide wildlife habitat, reduce the effects of climate change and so much more, according to AEC.

When planted in the southwest part of a property, they can provide

shade that can cool a house and reduce electricity use.

High Country Nursery has the following 5-gallon trees available at an instant rebate price, tax included: Raywood ash, Arizona ash, golden honeylocust, Shademaster honeylocust, red push pistache, sycamore and bloodwood.

High Country Nursery’s hours of operation are Monday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 34680 Bailiff Road in Anza or call them at 951-837-1905.

For more information, visit http://www.anzaelectric.org or call at 951-763-4333.

Submitted by Anza Electric Cooperative.

Metro Creative Graphics photo

CalFire, Spark of Love donate toys to Hamilton Elementary students

Local CalFire firefighters dropped off boxes of gifts from the Spark of Love toy drive to Hamilton Elementary School staff Tuesday, Dec. 13. The gifts will be distributed to students.

The Spark of Love campaign collects new, unwrapped toys, sports equipment, blankets and gift cards for underserved children in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange, Ventura and Riverside counties. Over the past two and a half decades, the Spark of Love Toy Drive has successfully collected and distributed about 10 million toys.

The fundraiser takes place in November and December each year, with distributions taking place as Christmas approaches.

For more information about the Spark of Love program, visit www. calfund.org/abc7-firefightersspark-love-toy-drive-fund.

To learn more about Hamilton Elementary School, visit hamiltonel.hemetusd.org.

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

Hamilton Elementary presents Holiday Open House

Diane Sieker Staff Writer

Firefighters distribute boxes of

toys for Hamilton Elementary School students Tuesday, Dec. 13.

Anza Valley Outlook/Courtesy photo

Hamilton Elementary School Holiday Open House Thursday,

Anza Valley Outlook/Diane Sieker photos

Students come off the stage and out the back door to greet parents and siblings at the Hamilton Elementary School Holiday Open House Thursday, Dec. 15.

Mrs. Parsons guides

class

presentation at the Hamilton Elementary School Holiday Open House Thursday, Dec.

Parents record every moment of their children’s performances at the Hamilton Elementary School Holiday Open House Thursday, Dec. 15.

RANCHO from page D-1

that under no circumstances were we allowed access to our homes,” Gomez said. “I have the video. We called 911 and requested the Sheriff to intervene.”

After an hours-long standoff, residents were finally allowed through the wrought iron gates.

Also known as The Ranch, Rancho California RV Resort is a 440-acre gated community designed with large sites to accommodate Class A motor coaches, fifth-wheels and Super C coaches. There are over 590 RV sites. The Ranch has two clubhouses, an exercise room, six tennis/pickleball courts, 27 lakes and a golf course.

Issues between the resort and Highpoint homeowners began in 1997, when Outdoor Rancho acquired the property where the RV resort now is located. There are approximately 24 Highpoint properties, each on 1.04-acres to over 40-acre parcels, located in both Riverside and San Diego counties. Residents used existing dirt roads called High Point Road and High Point Truck Trail for access. The developer of the resort closed off the main and only road to Highpoint off Hwy. 79 across from the Aguanga post office that had been in place for decades. They rerouted Highpoint residents through the main resort gates.

In May 2002, residents filed a lawsuit to establish a permanent easement through the resort. At that time, the resort installed gates at the main entrance. Lawsuits were filed by Highpoint residents against the County of Riverside, Rancho California RV Resort and RCRVR HOA among others, to ensure that they had an easement to get to Highpoint.

In January 2003, residents also filed a lawsuit against Riverside County and Caltrans requesting damages and injunctive relief relating to future access to their properties.

In 2004, Rancho California RV Resort and Highpoint came to a mutual agreement to lock the gates so long as residents had access and never to obstruct, impede, nor delay access to their homes. Rancho California RV Resort Owners Association wrote that remote controls for the gates would be provided at no cost to the Highpoint residents, allowing unlimited access through the resort and to their homes.

A recorded settlement was reached in April, 2008.

“In 2008 the lawsuit was settled and we had our easement,” Gomez said. “However, in 2022, Rancho California RV Resort decided to change our 18-year-old agreement and easement settlement without discussion or notice. They were asking us to put RFID stickers (tracking devices) on our vehicles, provide our grant deeds, license, insurance, registration, and much more just to get to our homes.”

According to Gomez, residents allowed these gates to go up with their mutual 2004 agreement so

Highpoint homeowners would never have to show any paperwork to gain access. Owners or guests of Highpoint only needed to identify themselves or use the provided remote controls at the gate to get to Highpoint.

“A builder cannot put up gates and block or landlock access to the community behind the proposed development,” Gomez said. “That is in violation of county laws. Yet that is exactly what is happening here. So where are our rights to unobstructed access to our homes?

Highpoint existed decades before Rancho California RV Resort was developed.”

Additionally, the county acquired the wash where the truck trail partially traversed around six years ago, for wilderness conservation through litigation and bankruptcy, Gomez said. County wilderness areas are off limits to any human activities, including hiking and driving.

“I have had issues with many board members and GMs because of their bullying and harassment. Instead of being good neighbors, they want to start problems with a community that is quietly enjoying life at our ranches and has been for decades,” Gomez said

In February 2022, the Home Owners Association board of directors implemented a new gate access system, called Gateaccess. net, requiring users to install an RFID sticker on their vehicles, to be registered with the association. The first sticker would be free and additional stickers $45 each.

A notice from the resort stated that the RFID stickers will not be issued without copies of the registration and proof of insurance for each vehicle and an applicable lease agreement or grant deed.

All vehicles must be registered in the resident’s name living in Highpoint and registered to the Highpoint address. It added that this will be an annual application and once all Highpoint residents have registered, stickers will be installed by resort staff.

This requirement is not acceptable to Highpoint homeowners, according to Gomez.

“I just want to add that we have four disabled residents back here,” Gomez said. “We have 99-year-old Molly who has owned here for over 40 years. We have elderly and children. When is the county going to step up and enforce the non-compliant gates that are now landlocking us out of our homes? What if there’s an emergency? What if there’s a fire? For the first time in the history of the Highpoint Community they are turning away family and friends that need to see or help the residents. We feel like we are prisoners, really.”

Rancho California RV Resort management did not respond to requests for comment.

For more information about Rancho California RV Resort, please visit them at www.ranchorvresort. com or www.facebook.com/ profile.php?id=100047747995759

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

GIVEAWAY from page D-1 away backpacks to school children and assist those local kids that may be disadvantaged, focusing on families and children in need in the mountain communities of Anza, Aguanga, Mountain Center and Idyllwild.

Gospel Chapel, Calvary Chapel, Rancho Chapel, Hair Studio 371, Anza Valley Christian Fellowship, High Country Youth Center, ERA Realty, Bedrock Hair Salon and a few amazing anonymous donors made it all happen,” James said. “We truly couldn’t do any of this without the support of the entire town. We’re supposed to take care of each other, and this year, we all did.”

The From The Heart Christian Women’s Ministries raises funds to buy Christmas gifts, fill and give

According to James, on the first From the Heart Christmas hosted for the children, they served 13 kids. The first back-to-school backpack giveaway helped six students with backpacks and school-related goodies.

“Every year it gets bigger,” she said.

Now the organization gives out

over 300 loaded backpacks, as well as a pair of new shoes, socks and a haircut as well as hundreds from this year’s Christmas toy giveaway.

Fundraising events are held throughout the year to help collect

money to aid these worthy causes.

Rummage sales, luncheons, raffles and the annual From the Heart’s Holiday dinner.

To learn more about From The Heart Christian Women’s Ministries, visit www.facebook.

com/groups/115200731856938/ about or write to them at P.O. Box 391224, Anza, CA 92539.

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

A representative of the Rancho California RV Resort Owners Association stands in front of a Highpoint resident’s truck to prevent the driver from reaching the entry gate Thursday, Dec. 1.

Highpoint homeowners Rob and Shelley Kuenne wait patiently to be let into the gates so they can get to their home Thursday, Dec. 1.

Tommy Gomez waits to be let through the Rancho California RV Resort gates so he can go home Thursday, Dec. 1.

Anza Valley Outlook/Diane Sieker photos

Piles of toys are wrapped by volunteers at the last minute at the Heart Christian Women’s Ministries Christmas Kids giveaway Thursday, Dec. 15.

Excited children get with the Christmas spirit at the Heart Christian Women’s Ministries Christmas Kids giveaway Thursday, Dec. 15.

Anza Valley Outlook/Diane Sieker photos

Critical Race Theory: What’s the big deal? Part 1

metrics, the rule would have been incentivized with a billion-dollara-year cash infusion.

It’s all around us, yet most people don’t know what it is. If you are an avid reader of Village or Valley News you likely have some idea since we have done several pieces on it. But it’s quickly becoming the new institutional orthodoxy.

What is it exactly and what are its origins?

dream. People could succeed with hard work and education. They had experienced it firsthand. The middle class was too large, too hopeful and too successful.

“social justice,” “diversity,” and “culturally responsive teaching.”

Julie Reeder Publisher

The first in a series unwrapping what Critical Race Theory is, its origin and the cultural revolution it is bringing to America

Why are parents battling school boards across the country over Critical Race Theory? Why did President Trump ban it from government agencies, only to have President Biden reverse the decision? Biden’s administration immediately pushed full steam ahead with what many see as divisive and damaging curricula on race in the classroom through a proposed rule from the U.S. Department of Education.

The rule’s consequences were more than academic. It infused critical race theory into the whole of the federal government’s primary governing law concerning K-12 schools, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. And if Congress standardized state civics

Its foundation is in Marxism/ Socialism and class conflict which ushered in the bloodiest century ever with China under Mao Zedong, the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin, Cambodia under Pol Pot and Cuba under Fidel Castro.

Some estimates are that 100 million people were killed. It was a division built on class conflict. Karl Marx believed that industrial society’s answer to the imbalance of power between capitalists and workers was revolution. Overthrow the evil capitalists, the educated and anyone who opposes and brings in a new socialist society. But all the Marxist style revolutions ended in death and disaster.

After the show trials, executions, mass starvation (they killed the productive farmers), gulags, etc., it was just mass devastation. In the mid-1960s Marxist intellectuals in the West still were drawn to the idea of socialism, but the worker revolution idea didn’t work in the U.S. because of the rapidly improving standards of living. Americans, many immigrant families from all over the world, had experienced the American

So they adapted the revolutionary theory to the social and racial unrest happening in the 60s. They substituted race for class. However, at that time, the rise of Martin Luther King, Jr. provided Americans a path for race inequalities through the Civil Rights movement which promised equality and freedom under the law. Americans preferred improving their country to overthrowing it.

But the radical left socialists have lived on in academic institutions. They’ve never gone away and now their divisive ideas are spreading like wildfire through our educational systems, governmental agencies, teacher training programs, and corporate human resources departments in the form of diversity training programs, human resources modules, public policy frameworks and school curricula.

And a built-in safeguard for CRT is that if you oppose it, you are labeled a racist or an oppressor, or are “canceled.”

No one wants to be labeled a racist or an oppressor, another ironic sign that our culture opposes racism.

Critical race theorists are masters of language, the hardcore Marxist ideologues know that “Marxist” or “neo-Marxist” wouldn’t be popular. But euphemisms that make CRT sound great are words like “equity,”

FAITH

Keeping Christ in Christmas – Part 3

men, three Magi, both or no one knows?

If you answered, “no one really knows,” you would be correct.

Although Jesus was visited by wise men sometime after his birth, the Bible doesn’t tell us exactly how many there were. And to be honest, it doesn’t really matter. What matters is what the wise men came to do.

them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. T hen they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts o f gold, frankincense, and myrrh,” in Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11.

But it’s important to know the definitions. Equity sounds nonthreatening and is easily confused with equality, but they are very different. Equality as defined in the Declaration of Independence, defended in the Civil War, and codified into law with the 14th and 15th Amendments, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, are explicitly rejected by critical race theorists. While these events transformed America for the better, to them, equality represents a minimal effort, “mere nondiscrimination” and provides “camouflage” for white supremacy, patriarchy and oppression.

Christopher Rufo, a writer who documents the phenomena of poverty, homelessness, critical race theory and other afflictions, in a speech at Hillsdale College, said, “In contrast to equality, equity as defined by CRT is reformulated Marxism. In the name of equity, UCLA law professor and critical race theorist Cheryl Harris has proposed suspending private property rights, seizing land and wealth and redistributing them along racial lines. Critical race guru Ibram X. Kendi, who directs the Center for Antiracist Research at Boston University, has proposed the creation of a federal Department of Antiracism. This department would be independent of (i.e., unelected and unaccountable to) the elected branches of government, and would have the power to nullify, veto, or abolish any law at any level of

government and curtail the speech of political leaders and others who are deemed insufficiently ‘antiracist.’”

Rufo continued that “one practical result of the creation of such a department would be the overthrow of capitalism, since according to Kendi, ‘In order to truly be anti-racist, you also have to truly be anti-capitalist.” In other words, identity is the means and Marxism is the end.’”

According to Rufo, “An equity-based form of government would mean the end not only of private property, but also of individual rights, equality under the law, federalism, and freedom of speech. These would be replaced by race-based redistribution of wealth, group-based rights, active discrimination, and omnipotent bureaucratic authority. Historically, the accusation of ‘antiAmericanism’ has been overused. But in this case, it’s not a matter of interpretation, critical race theory prescribes a revolutionary program that would overturn the principles of the Declaration of Independence and destroy the remaining structure of the Constitution.”

Next week we will focus on what CRT looks like in practice. This is the first in a series reprinted from Valley and Village News, May, 2021. To read more about cultural and controversial subjects like CRT, check out Julie Reeder’s book, “Just My Opinion,” for sale on Amazon

Zachary Elliott Special to Valley News

How about a little Christmas trivia? After Jesus was born, who paid him a visit? Was it three wise

The Bible said, “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him…’ After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of

Ready for Christmas trivia question two? Why would the wise men travel so far to see Jesus as a baby? Is it because they loved road trips, bought tickets ahead of time, didn’t want to be late or believed Jesus was the true king?

If you answered, “they believed Jesus was the true King,” you would be absolutely correct.

It was no accident that the wise men came to worship Jesus with

reverence and generosity.

What they knew is what we need to know.

Christmas is about the king being born.

In the Bible, the prophet Isaiah foretold this when he said, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this,” in Isaiah 9:2-7.

Proclaiming Jesus as the king in

your life is an important distinction. If you reject him as king, you choose to live outside his kingdom. But if you receive him as your king, you decide to be part of his kingdom.

The Bible said, “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins,” in Colossians 1:13-14.

Last Christmas trivia question of the day. Is Jesus your king?

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.

Catholic bishop and county superintendents announce partnership

Bishop Alberto Rojas, San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools Ted Alejandre and Riverside County Superintendent of Schools Edwin Gomez discovered this year that they have several key areas of mutual concern, most notably the importance of early literacy to educational success.

The three leaders have committed to work together in providing a program to Catholic families to boost early literacy.

Rojas, who took leadership of the Diocese of San Bernardino in late 2020, met separately with Alejandre and Gomez this year to make acquaintances and discuss mutual priorities. What emerged was a shared desire to give families the tools they need to help their children get off to a good start in their educational journey. Both county offices of education offer the Footsteps2Brillance early literacy program and the Diocese has agreed to help promote it across all its youth and educational ministries.

“We frequently hear from our Catholic families about their desire for resources at home to help their kids succeed in school,” Rojas said.

“By collaborating with Dr. Gomez and Mr. Alejandre, we can offer a great program that helps our little ones learn to read on time. What a blessing and a great new partnership in our communities.”

Gomez commented, “We’re excited to partner with Bishop Alberto Rojas and Superintendent Ted Alejandre to promote reading across the Inland Empire and support literacy for our students and families. As part of Riverside County Office of Education’s Literacy by 5th Grade Initiative, any

child in Riverside County, including our private schools, has free access to Footsteps2Brilliance. We’re excited to work with the Diocese to ensure students in Riverside County Catholic schools can also take advantage of this powerful learning tool.”

Alejandre said the partnership with the Diocese and the Riverside County Superintendent of Schools will strengthen an effort that his office began five years ago.

“Increasing early literacy opportunities for students across the Inland Empire is a primary goal of the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools,” he said.

“To help achieve this objective, we have provided Footsteps2Brilliance to the students of San Bernardino County for free since 2017, and an incredible six million books have been read to date. Together, with Bishop Alberto Rojas and Dr. Gomez, we are thrilled to expand access to this reading platform to even more families through our collaboration with the Diocese.”

To formalize their shared commitment, each superintendent has co-signed a Letter of Agreement with Bishop Rojas pledging to work together on issues of mutual concern. Other issues mentioned in the letters include mental health, college enrollment and high school graduation rates.

“We…share the ongoing belief that parents are critical co-partners in the education and formation of children,” the Letter of Agreement read, in part. “So, we commit ourselves to serving families and providing resources for their success in education and beyond.”

The new partnerships got off

to a great start this fall when representatives from the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools gave a presentation on Footsteps2Brilliance to the Catholic Preschool Directors of the Diocese. As a result, more than half a dozen Catholic schools have already begun to use the program either at school or have provided it to parents as an at-home resource.

St. Hyacinth Preschool in San Jacinto is utilizing Footsteps2Brilliance in the classroom setting. Students are invited to approach a smart board with images and touch the one that matches a word or letter that is being taught.

“It’s an early visual,” preschool director Karla Cortez said. “A lot of the students are really starting to see those words. And it’s a fun game for them. They really seem to enjoy it.”

The Diocese has partnered with the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools for several years to offer a parenting class, “The 12 Powers of Family Business,” at parishes and the Diocesan Pastoral Center. This collaboration was done under the Diocesan Education Initiative, which included collaborative efforts with other educational and civic institutions in San Bernardino and Riverside counties, including California State University, San Bernardino, the San Bernardino Community College District, the Consulate of Mexico and the Alliance for Education.

Rojas expressed his joy that the Riverside County Office of Education is now also part of the collaborative efforts and the renewal of the Diocesan Education

Initiative. He said he would welcome participation from other Riverside County institutions, including the University of California, Riverside and Riverside Community College District.

About the Riverside County Office of Education

RCOE is a service agency supporting the county’s 23 school districts that serve nearly 430,000 students, more than the student population of 17 states. RCOE

services include administrative support to districts, programs for preschool, special education, pregnant minor, correctional, migrant and vocational students. In addition, the organization provides professional training, support and resources for more than 18,000 teachers, administrators and staff throughout the 7,000 square miles of Riverside County. Learn more at www.rcoe.us.

your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court. There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case.

The name and address of the court is: Superior Court of the State of California, County of Riverside –Southwest Justice Center, 30755-D Auld Road, Murrieta, CA 92563

The subject real property as described in the complaint is in the unincorporated area of the County of Riverside, State of California, described as follows: Parcel 109, in the County of Riverside, state of California, as per map recorded in Book 34, page(s) 59 and 60 of record of surveys, in the office of the county recorder of said county, commonly known as 59063 Reynolds Way, Anza, CA 92539 A.P.N.: 575-210-011-0

The name, address and telephone number of plaintiff’s attorney is George Granby, Attorney sbn 64143, 33175 Temecula Pkwy Suite A-130, Temecula, CA 92592, 310-927-9966.

DATE: 11/03/2022 Clerk, by P Kinkade

Legal #3757

Published: December 23, 30, 2022; January 6, 13, 2023

At The Linden at Murrieta, the day is always yours. With a variety of classes, activities, and social events, you can play as much or as little as you’d like. Our friendly staff plays friend-maker too, making sure all new residents find the social scene that works best for them.

There’s more to life at TheLindenAtMurrieta.com

Social time or down time is always on your time.

At The Linden at Murrieta, the day is always yours. With a variety of classes, activities, and social events, you can play as much or as little as you’d like. Our friendly staff plays friend-maker too, making sure all new residents find the social scene that works best for them.

There’s more to life at TheLindenAtMurrieta.com

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