After six years, Matthew Liesemeyer is leaving the Menifee City Council behind a legacy of seeing his District 2 grow significantly along with the rest of the now 105,000 resident city. The businessman, contractor has served the city well seeing hundreds of new homes, businesses and parks spring up.
TEMECULA – Friends and supporters of Mt. San Jacinto College gathered at the Temecula Valley Campus Thursday, Dec. 8, to celebrate the facility’s dedication and to honor the district’s longest-serving trustee.
For the past few years, Cora and Jackson Catcho surprised homeowners of The Collection community with handmade cards that commemorate their holiday displays. The children, ages 8 and 5, walk the neighborhood with their mother, Catherine Catcho, and decide which homes are the most well decorated.
or’s position Tuesday, Dec. 20, in special ceremonies at Murrieta City Hall and council chambers.
“I am proud to call you my friends and family,” Ingram said
Enrique and Rayna Loza have long known that a sensory garden would be something their 15-yearold son Henry would enjoy. Thanks to a huge team effort by Make-AWish Orange County and the Inland Empire and BrightView Design Group and Landscaping, that dream was fulfilled on Dec. 16 in the backyard of their San Jacinto home.
Rayna said the Make-A-Wish request was made when the family realized that Henry needed additional space around the house to enjoy. Representatives from the local Make-A-Wish chapter, including
President and CEO Gloria Crockett, were joined by BrightView employees to help celebrate the wish unveiling that took a few days to install but was years in the planning.
“I submitted the application just before the pandemic and regrettably, the pandemic put a hold on Henry’s wish,” Rayna said. “Our home is Henry’s world so this is now another place he can enjoy. Unfortunately, Enrique’s attempt to construct a pond was unsuccessful as maintaining it costs money and it wasn’t in our budget. Due to the fact that only one parent can work while caring for a child with special needs,
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After six years, Matthew Liesemeyer is leaving the Menifee City Council behind a legacy of seeing his District 2 grow significantly along with the rest of the now 105,000 resident city. The businessman, contractor has served the city well seeing hundreds of new homes, businesses and parks spring up.
But, most of all, according to his fellow council members, he is best remembered for being the first on the previous council to consider bringing on its own Menifee Municipal Police Department, now coming into its third year. He too has been a mentor and advisor to all his colleagues on the council, yet remaining quiet and thoughtful with each suggestion.
Council member Lesa Sobek said she remembered Liesemeyer when they were both on the planning commission and talked about forming a city police department.
“It was the heart of Matt that started that whole process,” Sobek said.
Former Mayor Pro Tem Dean Deines said, “It was Matt’s knowledge and experience and the way
OLIVET from page A-1
labor trafficking.
The 911 call was made by 22-year-old Rebecca Singh, a student who immigrated to the U.S. from India to attend the university, the Mercury News reported.
According to a sheriff’s dispatch report, Singh said she was living in a camper on the 1,000-acre Anza campus at 36401 Tripp Flats Road and had not been allowed to leave for months.
She also told the dispatcher there were “300 Asian men and women” living five to six people per room in campus buildings.
By the time a sheriff’s deputy arrived, Singh had enlisted the assistance of Olivet’s former kitchen manager, Anza resident Melissa Sims, and escaped the university property.
Olivet denied the allegations.
Some of the students, according to Newsweek, a New York-based weekly online news magazine with former ties to the Olivet organization, said they had been offered full scholarships to attend the school, but when they arrived at the remote Anza campus, they were informed that they owed the college money and had to work to pay off their debt.
he asked questions and picked out the things that no one else would notice. That is what made our city better.”
Council member Bob Karwin, who is soon to be appointed mayor pro tem for 2023, said, “It was great listening to you. I am thankful you were here to guide us through.”
“We are thankful for your years of service,” Mayor Bill Zimmerman said, shaking his hand.
He also said the city council had something special for him and named Dec. 15 as “Matt Liesemeyer Day.” He also was presented with his own “Matt Liesemeyer Way” street sign.
A smiling Liesemeyer said, “It was hard to get there by myself,” and praised the entire council’s efforts in making the city one of the fastest growing in California and the nation.
“It takes hard work and patience and dedication to do it,” he said. “It has been my honor and privilege to serve.”
Presenting Liesmeyer with certificates of appreciation were Menifee’s 3rd District Riverside County Supervisor Chuck Washington and Crystal Ruiz from the Western Riverside Council of
Anza’s Olivet University campus, as well as other Olivet campuses nationwide, are being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, as to whether the university was part of a scheme to launder money for criminals in China and the United States and was labor trafficking.
Additionally, according to a report by Newsweek earlier this year, New York shut down Olivet University’s operations in the state, saying the Christian college was still largely run by a group of David Jang disciples linked to a 2018 criminal conspiracy.
Guilty pleas
Unrelated to the current federal investigation, Olivet University pleaded guilty to money laundering, as did several of Jang’s followers and the companies they ran. Olivet University also paid a $1.25 million fine. In February 2020, Olivet University representatives pleaded guilty in New York to one count of conspiracy and falsifying business records in a scheme to fraudulently obtain $35 million from lenders, as reported in the Mercury News.
Jang, a Korean American cleric, founded Olivet University in 2000, and the 1,000-acre site in Anza was purchased in 2014. The
Governments and the city of San Jacinto along with retired county Supervisor Marion Ashley from Riverside County’s Fifth District.
Following the ceremony, the council swore in his replacement, Eric Estrada for District 2, who took his seat on the dais. In his welcoming comments, Estrada said he was grateful for those who elected him in the district and made a promise that he listened to them speak about the traffic woes, homebuilding, protecting the rural communities and keeping the small town feel with a strong police force and now is “beholden to you and all the residents of the city… I am here to fight for every one of you.”
Deines was sworn in for another four-year term and promised to continue to bring great things to the city.
“I am looking forward to that,” Deines said.
Karwin as the city’s newest mayor pro tem will work alongside Zimmerman for the remainder of his term. Zimmerman, who is now reaching his term limit, was elected mayor by the city residents and is a council member at large.
The council discussed changing the board and commissions left by Liesemeyer with Estrada joining
school serves students that are mainly from China, offering full scholarships to prepare students for missionary work and ministry.
The New York education department’s decision to close the Olivet University campuses in Manhattan and Dover, New York, after a two-year review, was made weeks after Newsweek reported that DHS investigators had searched the premises of Olivet’s headquarters in Anza, as part of an ongoing criminal investigation.
Search warrant served Agents from Homeland Security Investigations, the principal investigative arm of DHS, searched Olivet’s campus in Anza along with Riverside County Sheriff’s Department and district attorney investigators in 2021, officials said. Homeland Security Investigations confirmed to Newsweek that the search warrant was executed on the school’s Anza campus. The warrant remains under seal, however, and the government has not disclosed any additional information since that time.
The Mercury News reported that the federal agents who raided the campus were looking for any evidence of “force, fraud or coercion” in relation to international students who were primarily from China
or South Korea, according to a former senior DHS official who was briefed on the case.
Olivet University emailed a statement to Newsweek, saying, “The DHS visit was based on misinformation. In fact, the raid ended with agents apologizing. The money laundering charges and all felony charges have been dismissed and the case is fully resolved as a misdemeanor matter.”
Richard Beam, a Homeland Security representative in Los Angeles, said the probe is ongoing, according to the Mercury News.
University President Matthias Gebhardt said that investigators have not interviewed any administrators or students, as far as he knows.
Newsweek ties?
The Olivet University investigation has ties to Newsweek ownership. According to the Newsweek website, Newsweek was sold in 2013 to IBT Media, a company with ties to the Rev. David Jang, leader of the World Olivet Assembly and founder of Olivet University.
“Newsweek journalists report news about their owners with the same vigilance they apply to other interesting business owners. In 2017, when IBT Media’s owners came under investigation for fraud by the Manhattan District Attorney and investigators raided Newsweek’s newsroom in January 2018, the newsroom covered the case and Newsweek’s owners fired several journalists including the editor-in-chief, another editor and a reporter. Current Global Editor-in-Chief Nancy Cooper agreed to stay only after receiving guarantees of total editorial independence.
“When criminal charges were brought against one of IBT Media’s principals, Olivet and others in 2018, Chief Executive Officer Dev Pragad purchased a 50% stake in Newsweek. The other IBT Media principal, Johnathan Davis, retained his half of the company and became a silent partner, no longer involved in the management of Newsweek.
No charges were brought against Newsweek as a result of the Manhattan fraud and money laundering probe. Olivet University, along with several of the other defendants, pleaded guilty to felonies.
“A boardroom dispute broke into public in April 2022 when Pragad, Newsweek’s CEO and president, announced that he had left Olivet and wanted to protect the company from ‘interference’ by Olivet members.
because of his experience.
The next Menifee City Council meeting will be held Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023.
Tony Ault can be reached by email at tault@reedermedia.com.
institutions they control, claiming that they owe Newsweek more than $30 million.
“While the case is underway, the Newsweek newsroom has continued to publish journalism, including work documenting news about IBT Media, World Olivet Assembly and Olivet University. The editorial team operates with total independence and a rigid divide is maintained between editorial and management/ownership.
“We are in active litigation with Newsweek’s executive team and you should presume that their reporting does not have any factual basis, and is purposefully damaging the reputation of our university,” Gebhardt said in an email. “We have been working with our regulators to set the record straight and the courts to defend our reputation, and will continue to do so,” as reported in the Mercury News.
A warning issued
To add to the university’s troubles last month, the Association of Biblical Higher Education placed the university on warning status through February 2024 for failing to demonstrate “integrity in all of its practices and relationships with strict adherence to ethical standards and its own stated policies,” according to the agency’s Wednesday, Nov. 9, letter to Gebhardt.
Olivet University’s failure to resolve the deficiencies could result in action ranging from an extended warning status to withdrawal of its accreditation. An ABHE evaluation team is planning to inspect the school in spring 2023.
Improvements made
“Olivet University has identified areas of improvement already and is working diligently towards implementing them this year or early next year,” Gebhardt said.
In February 2019, the state Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education, a division of the Department of Consumer Affairs, served Olivet with a notice to comply after the school failed to provide it with essential student data for tuition recovery. The university, according to the notice, failed to provide student identification numbers, email addresses, mailing addresses, courses enrolled in and the cost of the courses, among other things.
Olivet subsequently provided the information and paid a $5,000 fine.
Olivet also has a K-12 school at its Anza campus, Olivet Academy, which Gebhardt said is accredited by the Association of Christian Teachers and Schools, or ACTS.
offer
Joseph and his wife Summer and their two young sons went mysteriously missing from their home in Fallbrook in February 2010. Doors for the event will open at 11:30 am, with a light lunch at noon. After lunch the author will speak about her books and answer questions, followed by a book signing. Copies of the author’s books will be available for purchase at the event.
Questions about the Community Read may be directed to either Nancy Javier at banar@roadrunner.com or Helen McHargue at foodsmarts@gmail.com.
“IBT Media CEO Davis later sued Pragad in New York State Court, demanding he return all shares of Newsweek. Pragad and Newsweek countersued Jang, several of his followers and the
Apart from the campus in California, Olivet operates the Jubilee School, a performing arts and music school, in Nashville.
Diane Sieker can be reached by email at dsieker@reedermedia. com.
The newly sworn 2023 Murrieta City Council convened for the first time Tuesday, Dec. 20, with only a short consent calendar and discussion item with newly appointed Mayor Lisa DeForest taking the gavel.
The reorganization of the fivemember elected council took place after former Mayor Jonathan Ingram left his termed-out post with honors and a celebration.
Taking over after Ingram’s formal leaving was Mayor Pro Tem DeForest who is next in line as mayor. A formal swearing in ceremony was held for the newly e lected council members: Ron Holliday from District 2; Jon Levell from District 1, who was appointed Aug. 24, and recently reappointed Council member Cindy Warren who ran unopposed in District 5 for the Nov. 8 election.
Following the swearing in, Holliday, Warren and Levell took their respective seats on the dais and held the mayor and mayor pro tem council election. In Murrieta, the office of mayor and mayor pro tem is usually held in succession according to time served on the council. Since DeForest was the previous mayor pro tem, she was unanimously elected to serve as the city’s newest mayor for a oneyear term, while Councilmember Lori Stone was tapped as the next mayor pro tem.
Holliday and Levell gave statements to Murrieta residents, thanking them for putting them in office for the next four years.
Levell said he was taking his new council seat on the suggestion of
Ingram, and he thanked Ingram for the opportunity.
“I am looking forward to the many things to come and the headaches that go with it,” Levell said.
Levell served on the Murrieta City Planning Commission before running for the District 1 seat. He is a businessman in the community.
Holliday said he appreciated serving on the council, but he said, “I thank God first and the support by my wife and family.”
He thanked the residents of Murrieta who voted him into office.
“You are a great group of residents,” he said.
Warren, who has served on the council since her appointment and ran unopposed in the recent election, said she had so many residents to thank for their support, but she said she gave thanks “first to my Lord and Savior and my late husband.”
She said she hoped to be a part of the vision for the “growth of our city.”
The council business included the consent of five regular items and a discussion on appointing members of the council on the Southwest Riverside County Women’s Elected Leaders Collaboration. The RCWELC is made up of women members of the Murrieta Council along with other women who serve on elected posts, including city councils in the surrounding cities.
T he appointments to the collaboration were approved in the 5-0 vote of the new council.
The next regular meeting of the Murrieta City Council will be held Tuesday, Jan. 17.
Tony Ault can be reached by email at tault@reedermedia.com.
At the most recent regularly scheduled Council Meeting, incumbent Joseph Morabito (District 3), incumbent Ashlee DePhillippo (District 5) and newly-elected Carlos Marquez (District 1) were all sworn in as Council Members after which Joseph Morabito and Bridgette Moore (District 4) were appointed to Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem, respectively. Council voted that these changes would take effect immediately.
The City Council appoints a Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem each December, with the effective date of appointment typically being Jan. 1 of the following year. However, Council can decide to make the changes effective immediately and not wait for Jan. 1. The Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem will serve through Dec. 31, 2023.
Morabito, who was elected to Council in 2018 and reelected in November, was sworn in once again as a Council Member and appointed by the City Council to hold the position of Mayor for the next calendar year. Morabito has served as Mayor Pro Tem for the past year.
DePhillippo was originally appointed to Council in March 2022, when Marsha Swanson retired
from the District 5 seat, and ran unopposed in the November election. Marquez was recently elected in November’s election to the District 1 seat and will serve his first term as a Council Member for the City of Wildomar.
The District 1 seat was up for reelection in November and incumbent Ben J. Benoit was elected to Riverside County Auditor-Controller and therefore did not run for reelection in Wildomar.
“We have a great team assembled that is guiding the city,” Morabito said. “Wildomar is in a good spot, with a lot of things coming together very soon. I’m honored to be taking the lead as Mayor in 2023.”
Wildomar is located in Temecula Valley Wine Country, along Interstate 15 in Southwest Riverside County. It is a growing community with a population of just over 37,000, comfortably nestled in a valley bordered by a mountain range on the west and rolling hills to the east. For more information, visit www.cityofwildomar.org.
For additional information, contact Kimberly Davidson at 951-677-7751, ext. 215, or kdavidson@cityofwildomar.org
The law enforcement services agreement between the County of Riverside and the San Jacinto Unified School District has been amended to add an additional Sheriff’s deputy.
A 4-0 Riverside County Board of Supervisors vote Dec. 13, with Manuel Perez absent, approved the amendment to the contract to add the deputy and an amendment to the county’s Salary Ordinance for the additional position. The school district will reimburse the county for the position.
In July 2020, the county supervisors approved a five-year law enforcement services agreement between the county and the school district to provide two Sheriff’s deputies to the San Jacinto Unified School District. The agreement became effective July 1, 2020, and will expire on June 30, 2025. The amount the school district pays for the law enforcement services is
based on hourly rates and mileage rates over the life of the contract.
The Sheriff’s deputies will have a presence at all SJUSD schools. Their duties will include patrol and maintenance of order on school campuses, investigation of crimes, class presentations about law enforcement activities, counseling of students and parents, and acting as liaisons at school sites. The liaison activities will also include interaction with other law enforcement officers, attendance review board members, and Probation Department personnel.
The school district requested an additional school resource officer, so the county supervisors approved an amendment to the contract to add a third Sheriff’s deputy. For Fiscal Year 2022-2023 the estimated additional reimbursement will be $96,000 which will cover $67,200 for salary and $28,200 for benefits. The Salary Ordinance amendment notes that the pay range for the deputy being added is $67,481 to $103,182.
PERRIS – Eastern Municipal Water District board Vice President Randy Record, who is widely considered one of the leading water policy makers in California, announced Wednesday, Dec. 21, that he would be stepping down from his position as EMWD’s representative on The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California board of directors.
The move is effective Dec. 31. Record will remain on EMWD’s board of directors.
On behalf of EMWD, Record served on MWD’s board of directors since 2003. His father, Clayton Record, was also a director for MWD and EMWD.
Record is also a former chair of the MWD board where he stewarded the country’s largest water agency during California’s previous drought. Under his leadership, MWD invested over a half billion dollars in the removal of nonfunctional turf. He served as MWD chair from 2014-2018.
During his tenure on MWD’s board, Record was a leading voice in bringing together water users
INGRAM from page A-1
looking at the council chamber filled with dozens of colleagues, residents, family and many, many friends that evening. “Thank you for letting me serve this community. It has been a pleasure serving you.”
As he left his mayor’s seat for the last time, Ingram said jokingly, “I’m outta here,” He said he wanted those to remember him, especially “for having the shortest 21-minute meetings,” that he often conducted.
Yet, along with the touch of humor there were many who appeared with him giving him touching praises and plaques for his longtime service to Murrieta and to the entire southwest Riverside County community. Standing with him on occasion was his wife Melody Ingram who is also well known for her community service. There were those in attendance
from urban and agricultural backgrounds to find common solutions to California’s water challenges. His focus was on building coalitions and advancing long-term solutions such as the California Water Fix and the Regional Recycled Water program.
“After nearly two decades on the board at MWD, I feel that now is the right time to step aside,” Record said. “I am incredibly proud of the accomplishments we have made during my time on the MWD board that have paved the way for a more sustainable water future for all Californians.
“I have asked EMWD to appoint a new delegate so that I may focus on my other passions, including my own farm and my broader pursuit of regenerative agriculture,” he said.
Jeff Armstrong, who represents the Menifee and Perris areas on EMWD’s board of directors, was chosen as EMWD’s new delegate to the MWD board of directors, effective Jan. 1. Armstrong has more than three decades of experience in the water industry and
who remembered when he first moved into the city and when he first became a member of the Murrieta City Council in 2014. One of the most touching moments for him came when Murrieta’s former Mayors Rick Gibbs and Kelly Bennet called him forward to at first praise him for his long-time selfless services to the city and then took the time, arm-in-arm to pray for him in his future endeavors. With them stood Melody Ingram.
In yet another special moment, Ingram stood with an arm over the shoulders of Third District Riverside County Supervisor Chuck Washington, who honored him with a certificate from the county. Ingram and Washington may possibly become future rivals for a seat on the county Board of Supervisors, but they are long-time friends.
Washington said of Ingram, “He poured his heart and soul in the community… He made Murrieta
is the former general manager of Rancho California Water District in Temecula.
Record is a San Jacinto native and has been active in the agricultural industry for decades. He owns a family vineyard in Paso Robles.
Record said that he plans to devote more time to his family and his passion for sustainable agriculture, including partnerships with California State University Chico.
“On behalf of not just our board of directors, but the entire water industry, we would like to thank Randy Record for his time on the MWD board,” EMWD board President Phil Paule said. “Randy is a pillar in our industry and has brought together water users from across the state in ways that few others could. MWD is better for the leadership and vision that he has brought to their board, and EMWD is appreciative of his presence at MWD for the past 20 years.”
Submitted by Eastern Municipal Water District.
a better place.”
Many compliments were given to Ingram, not only for his service to Murrieta, but also to the other surrounding communities, including Temecula.
Dr. Matt Rahn, outgoing mayor of Temecula, was on hand to present him a certificate of honor and praised him for bringing both of the cities together for their mutual benefit in solving serious traffic problems.
“You broke down the barriers to our cities,” Rahn said. “Thank you for your partnership in bringing the $156 million I-15 corridor to our communities.”
Ingram, who served on several county road commissions and Western Regional Council of Governments worked tirelessly to help finance the Interstate 15 corridor.
Those county commission representatives were also on hand to present him certificates of appreciation.
Ingram’s influence reached the
future outside of Murrieta as state Sen. Kelly Seyarto and Sen. Jeff Stone’s representative presented the former Murrieta Mayor Certificates of Appreciation. Ingram was also the area Republican chair at one time. Both Stone and Seyarto served on city council’s before their government terms.
Ingram was also presented awards from the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District and the Western Municipal Water District.
Murrieta City Manager Kim Summers presented Ingram with a green and white “Jonathan Ingram Street” sign, and former council members – Mayor Pro Tem Lisa DeForest, who is currently mayor; Lori Stone, who is currently mayor pro tem; Council members Cindy Warren and Christi White, who was absent that eventing – gave
“This is not goodbye. Thank you for your mentoring and support,” Warren said.
“You are a staunch advocate for our community particularly for our fire, police and homeless,” Mayor Pro Tem Lori Stone said. “You have a memory like an elephant. You are pro-property rights and fight for the underdog. He befriends everybody.”
White was not onhand that evening after leaving her seat in District 5.
A 15-minute reception followed. Tony Ault can be reached by email at tault@reedermedia.com.
It is hard to believe the year of 2022 is gone. Our team has had some great accomplishments and realized goals this year. We hope you have too. If you are planning a move or investment in the coming year...we look forward to discussing the possibilities with you.
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the household income is affected.”
The Loza family, which includes Henry’s sisters Starr, 19, Sky, 12 and Sunshine, 11, moved to San Jacinto in 2010. They heard about Make-AWish through a friend whose son had benefitted from the nonprofit.
“Henry and his family met with Make-A-Wish volunteers virtually and discovered Henry’s wish to have a sensory garden in December of 2020,” Crockett said.
“From there, our team worked to find landscapers and design companies to bring Henry’s dream to life. When Mark Carlos joined our Board of Directors in October of 2021 and heard about Henry’s wish, he stepped right up to help.
In February of 2022, Mark Carlos and BrightView Design Group provided the design and material list. BrightView Landscaping brought the design to life in just three days in Henry’s backyard.”
Henry, 15, has cerebral palsy and his cognitive development has remained at an infant’s stage due to a lack of oxygen to his brain during delivery. His mother said he also is legally blind and doesn’t walk or speak, consumes all food through a G-tube and not by mouth and uses a trach to aid with his breathing.
“I am passionate about giving back to children who are experiencing unforeseen health challenges,” Crockett said. “Our mission is to grant life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. In many cases, the allure of a wish experience is a source of inspiration for children undergoing difficult
medical treatments and a positive force that helps them overcome obstacles.”
Crockett said funding to fulfill wishes comes from individual donors, corporations and foundations. In the case of Henry’s sensory garden, it was a combination. When Carlos was voted onto the nonprofit’s board, his goal was to impact Make-A-Wish families’ lives by using his professional and personal network to help with granting wishes and making a difference. He has been a landscape architect at BrightView Design Group for 25 years.
Long sought wish
“The Mission Delivery Committee brought to my attention that Henry’s family had been waiting for some time to get this wish granted and the pandemic had also made it difficult to get this wish moving,” Carlos said. “I knew BrightView would be a perfect match as it had to do with the backyard landscape at the child’s home. I knew BrightView Design Group could prepare the vision for the garden and that our BrightView Landscape Services team was looking for an opportunity to give back to the community. This was a perfect fit for us as a company but more importantly our culture.”
There were specific needs that were part of the request to make this a sensory garden and Carlos said they knew that the choice of plant materials would be important to stimulate the senses. The design process began in February.
“Texture and scent were important factors as the plant material was being selected,” he said. “We also
knew that the buzzing of birds and insects would play a role during the flowering season of this material.”
Along with raised plant beds, at a height that Henry could reach from his reclining wheelchair, the group added a solar-powered water fountain, chimes and a sensory wall that includes different sounds and textures. Everything Brightview provided was in-kind.
“Our design team knew that amenities that could stimulate the senses would also play an important role,” Carlos said. “The use of these would all be important elements that Henry would take comfort in hearing and touching when he was in the space.”
He said the best part of the unveiling was watching the Loza family’s faces as they saw the space for the first time.
“The highlight for me is always the ability to impact a family’s life for the better,” Carlos said. “Together, Make-A-Wish and BrightView delivered. I’m proud of both teams but was most proud of the BrightView team as we worked together as a company to create a space for Henry and his family that will be cherished daily.”
BrightView is a nationwide company, with 290-plus locations in 34 states and Steve Pratt, branch manager of the Murrieta location, was involved with Henry’s wish fulfillment. While the company’s primary markets are commercial in nature, such as business parks, golf courses, resorts and more, the company has worked with Make-AWish in the past across the country.
Design approved
“I took the lead in coordinating the installation so that we could make the conceptual design a reality,” Pratt said. “This started with an onsite meeting with Make-A-Wish and the family to review the design and get their approval for installation. Then we sourced all of the materials and assigned managers with various tasks to complete during an established schedule. Most of this project was completed by our management staff and we did get assistance from our Riverside and Fontana branches. All costs associated with this project were covered by BrightView.”
Katelynn McDougall Leguizamo has been part of Make-A-Wish OCIE for about a year and said she
has been lucky to be part of eight unique and magical wish reveals during that time. The local chapter has about 470 volunteers, a staff of 24, 22 board members and “countless community members and corporate partners who support wishes in our local communities.”
A cherished smile Vice President of Mission Delivery Melissa Gallagher said this was a wish that was very special. “In nine years, I have participated in tons of wishes. One thing that stands out to me with Henry’s wish is that when we grant a wish for a child that is nonverbal, he wasn’t able to tell us what his wish was, but when you see the pure joy of him being with his family in his new sensory garden there is nothing like it. I will cherish Henry’s smile on his wish day.”
She said the nonprofit had been looking for a landscaping company to assist with this project for quite some time and were grateful to have BrightView agree to take on the project.
“BrightView was amazing from the start,” Gallagher said. “They understood that this was a wish that was very special and would bring so much happiness to Henry. They made sure that the family’s vision was accomplished.”
The entire Loza family will benefit from Henry’s wish as it will expand his world while enriching the lives of others.
“We now have additional space where we can all spend quality time with Henry, thanks to his sensory garden,” Rayna said. “Additionally,
sensory gardens aid with mood, cognition, health and physical fitness. Children’s gross and fine motor skills are developed through gardening and plant care. The children’s general physical health is greatly benefited by spending time outdoors, with clean air and sunlight.”
Crockett said, “We granted an amazing 247 wishes in fiscal year 2022. But we need the communities’ help to ensure that wishes like Henry’s don’t wait. Right now, we are in need of volunteers in Riverside and San Bernardino counties and especially those that speak Spanish.” To learn how to get involved, visit wish.org/ocie/volunteer
She said that through the end of 2023, Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire is celebrating 40 years of granting wishes to children with critical illnesses by bringing the community together to inspire hope within the three counties it serves, with various activation opportunities.
“Our plan includes wish-inspired murals in the place that most people and families need it most, within their local community,” Crockett said. “These murals will be created and inspired by our wish kiddos, families, volunteers, donors and partners. The aim is to bring awareness to the over 500 wishes waiting on funding to be granted while also celebrating the over 7,700 wishes we have granted these past 40 years.”
For more information, www. wish.org/ocie
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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.
TEMECULA – Friends and supporters of Mt. San Jacinto College gathered at the Temecula Valley Campus Thursday, Dec. 8, to celebrate the facility’s dedication and to honor the district’s longest-serving trustee.
As the first permanent campus of higher education for Temecula, Murrieta and the surrounding communities, the building first opened its doors to students in the 2021-2022 academic year. The 350,000-square-foot facility will serve up to 15,000 students at its capacity. It is the size of all the buildings on MSJC’s Menifee Valley Campus.
The college purchased two fivestory office buildings at 41888 Motorcar Parkway in Temecula March 16, 2018. The city of Temecula helped facilitate the purchase to expand higher education access to its residents.
MSJC used voter-approved Measure AA funds to purchase the $56.5 million facility to save taxpayer dollars and expedite the district’s ability to provide access to quality higher education much sooner than needed for new construction.
During the ceremony, officials also honored outgoing MSJC Trustee Ann Motte, who served
the district for nearly 30 years.
Those speaking about Motte’s service and dedication to the district and its students included Menifee Mayor Bill Zimmerman, a past MSJC trustee; current MSJC board Chair Tom Ashley, and Roger Schultz, superintendent/ president of MSJC. Motte did not seek re-election this year after serving the district since 1992.
Her vacated seat will be filled by Jhalister Corona, who took the Oath of Office at the Thursday, Dec. 15, meeting.
Mt. San Jacinto College serves nearly 24,000 students annually in a district covering 1,700 square
A. Rhodes Special to Valley News
The Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber of Commerce Student of the Month program, celebrating its 27th season of honoring students who make a difference, held its most recent recognition on Dec. 6 at the Lakeside High School Lancer Round Table Café. Lunch was prepared and served by members of the Lakeside Culinary Academy.
Chamber president and CEO Kim Joseph Cousins, serving as emcee, welcomed everyone to the local high school recognition program which acknowledges and honors college or trade school bound seniors for their character, their love of learning and commitment to academics in addition to participation in athletics, school activities and community service. It also commends them on their ability to persevere and overcome difficult life circumstances, all in a setting that honors God, country, family, community and free enterprise.
Large bags filled with gifts, certificates of recognition and much more donated by the program’s sponsors were given to the award recipients. Each student received a medallion and was invited to the podium to share their personal story, past challenges and future goals with a room full of supporters that included principals, teachers, peers and family members, as well as community and school district dignitaries.
December’s students of the month are Elsinore High School’s Ryan Brodeur and Angie Villaseñor Fernandez, Keith McCarthy Academy’s Brigitte Gonzalez Patino, Lakeside High School’s Ethan Gonzalez and Galilea Jimenez Lopez and Temescal Canyon High School’s Summer Nee and Jacob Susanka.
Ryan Brodeur
Ryan Brodeur was chosen to represent Elsinore High School for being a leader by example. After an injury sidelined his participation in the sport of cross country, Ryan turned his attention to the school’s advanced sports medicine
program and began focusing on helping other
“Throughout my past 11 years of school, my success has not come easily to me as I’ve constantly been stuck in riptides that took me further away from reality,” he said. “Panic attacks are my riptide, and my parents are the lifeguards who have saved the day.”
Seeking professional help, the outstanding scholar has been able to control his anxiety with medication and keep negative thoughts at bay. He has learned several techniques to cope, basically helping him swim out of a riptide.
“Because of my experiences with mental health, I want to be able to help those struggling, as there are too many who have discreetly slipped under the water,” Ryan said.
Angie V. Fernandez
Principal Robin Hamilton introduced Angie Villaseñor Fernandez as an outstanding band leader who
participates in school-based and community service projects. She has been a school band member all four years and in marching band for three.
Angie said music is a significant part of her life but she always enjoys learning and is proud to be recognized as an AP Scholar as well. She wants to become an educator.
“I’ve overcome many challenges, including the passing of my brother,” Angie said. “Because of the losses of family members, I’ve learned not to take any moments for granted. I’ve learned to cherish all the moments we have with one another.”
Nominating teacher Annette Betts said Angie is “meticulous” and finishes anything she begins, always with high-quality results.
Brigitte G. Patino Brigitte Gonzalez Patino was singled out at Keith McCarthy Academy for this month’s honor.
She was cited as being a hard worker who is determined, positive and an optimist who is on track to graduate early. She plans to major in marketing at college.
“As someone who has physical impairments, I’ve learned if you put effort into it, and perseverance, you will get there,” Brigitte said. “A lesson I will take to college is that no one can stop you if you don’t want to stop yourself from achieving your dreams and goals.”
She said that regardless of background, ethnicity, physical or mental disabilities, everything is achievable.
Ethan Gonzalez
Ethan Gonzalez was one of two exceptional Lakeside High School Lancers recognized by principal Henry Romero, who said Ethan continues to excel in AP and AVID and as a student-athlete as one of the star football players. His plans
As the only program of its kind in the California Community College system, students will get hands-on experience in MSJC’s newly remodeled GIS lab, on stateof-the-art computers and with an expansive fleet of drones.
Job opportunities as a drone or unmanned aerial systems pilot are popping up throughout the region and state. These cutting-edge skills will launch students into versatile careers in several industries, all the while commanding an entry-level annual salary of about $60,000.
There are a variety of industries adopting these drone-related positions including construction, surveying, real estate, agriculture, law enforcement and more.
Registration is open now for the new certificate program that takes only eight months to complete.
“There are many, many job opportunities out there,” Professor and GIS Chair Dr. Roy B. Mason said. “That’s why we’re really honing in on this. We want to get an inroad into that market.”
encourages
to register for new drone programathletes. SAN JACINTO – Mt. San Jacinto College is launching a Drone Application Certificate program in the spring that will teach students the basics of drone operations in the Geospatial Information Science field. MSJC is launching a Drone Application Certificate program in the spring that will teach the basics of drone operations in the Geospatial Information Science field. Valley News/Courtesy photo
To submit an upcoming community event, email it to valleyeditor@ reedermedia.com, put “attention events” in the subject line.
COMMUNITY EVENTS Dec. 31 – 6 p.m. to midnight. Attend the New Year’s Eve Grape Drop at the Temecula Civic Center, 41000 Main St. in Temecula. Jan. 4 – 6:30-8 p.m. Attend Community Drum Circle at Center For Spiritual Living Menifee Valley, 26805 Murrieta Road, in Sun City. Bring an instrument to use or borrow one. The recommended donation is $5. For more information, contact 951-679-6622 or cslmenifee@gmail.com
Jan. 6-8 – 5-8 p.m. Pechanga Pow Wow will be held at Pechanga Resort and Casino parking lot, 45000 Pechanga Parkway, in Temecula. Enjoy fireworks Friday at 7 p.m.; grand entries Friday at 8 p.m, Saturday at 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. and invited drums: Black Otter, Cozad, High Noon, Indian Hill, Motown and Southern. For more information, visit Pow Wow Calendar at http:// PowWows.com.
Jan. 24 – 8-10 a.m. Menifee Moves Community Walk is held the second Saturday of each month at Spirit Park, 25507 Normandy Road, Menifee. Pets are welcome. For more information, contact 951-723-3880 or contractclasses@ cityofmenifee.us
Jan. 24 – 6-8 p.m. Attend Business Law and Tax Updates for 2023 at Temecula Valley Entrepreneur’s Exchange, 43200 Business Park Drive, in Temecula for a collection of events presented by The Law Offices of Rosenstein & Associates to educate the local business community on business-specific legal matters.
Jan. 26-28 – 5-10 p.m. Help build a playground at Community First Church of God, 31371 CA-74, in Homeland with 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. The All Chamber Mega Mixer will be held at the Storm Stadium, 500 Diamond Drive, in Lake Elsinore. The networking extravaganza is powered by local chambers. Come mix, mingle and connect. For more information, visit http://www.MurrietaChamber.org.
ONGOING – The city of Menifee offers in-city or out-of-city
special event vendor applications online or at Menifee City Hall to apply for signature and other special events. Contact Menifee City Hall, 29844 Haun Road, 951-6726777, or online at businesslicensing@cityofmenifee.us
ONGOING – Riverside Transportation Commission is offering Park and Ride lots to connect with carpools, vanpools and transit systems in Beaumont at 600 E. Sixth Street, in San Jacinto at 501 S. San Jacinto Avenue and in Temecula at Grace Presbyterian Church, 31143 Nicolas Road, open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. but not on weekends.
ONGOING – Sun City Civic Association Monthly Square Dance sessions are held Sundays from 1:30-5 p.m. at 26850 Sun City Boulevard, in Sun City.
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 800-5102020 for help.
ONGOING – The Riverside County COVID-19 Business Assistance Grant Program is accepting online applications for business grants up to $10,000 at http:// 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 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.
Jan. 1 – Apply for $500,000 in grants which are available to Temecula brick-and-mortar businesses through a Mainstream Digital Grant Program to create a digital presence and drive traffic through paid and non-paid advertising. Deadline to submit is Saturday, Jan. 2, at 5 p.m. Visit https://ociesmallbusiness. org/temecula-digital-bootcamp/ or contact Mary Cervantes, TVE2 manager, at 951-506-5187 or Mary. Cervantes@TemeculaCA.gov
Jan. 1 – Save the date: Miller Jones Menifee Memorial Park and Mortuary, in partnership with the city of Menifee and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1956, will bring the replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall to the city Tuesday, April 4, under escort and parade. Volunteers may be needed; contact Miller Jones Mortuary or cbollinger@ cityofmenifee.us Jan. 1 – 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. Requires mandatory check-ins. Contact infoie@gridalternatives.org Jan. 1 – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Home Instead office serving Vista and Temecula will be distributing free new hearing aids to older adults with hearing impairments by visiting either Home Instead location Monday through Friday to pick up their hearing aid. For more information, contact Sarah Currinder at sarah.currinder@fleishman.com or call 314-974-4582.
Back in 2009, director James Cameron gave the world “Avatar.” The film about a human going undercover as a member of the Na’vi race on the planet of Pandora only to side with the Na’vi against his greedy fellow humans brought the movie blockbuster to new heights. It was the first movie to gross over $2 billion at the worldwide box office. In fact, it currently sits atop the chart of all-time worldwide grossers, if they factor in the four subsequent re-releases.
Creatively, critics and audiences alike were blown away by the film’s look, which was made with groundbreaking CGI, and the film won Oscars for its visual effects, art direction and cinematography. But there was some grumbling about the story, with unfavorable comparisons to “Dances with Wolves,” among other sources.
Over time, those quibbles have only magnified as the luster of the look has faded away while the story remains the same. Now after 13 years, there’s a chance to return to Pandora with “Avatar: The Way of Water,” but is it a trip worth taking? Was the original even a trip worth taking? My answer is a resounding “Yes!” It was then, and it is now.
The new film follows Jake Sully, played by Sam Worthington, who is now fully a Na’vi, and the family he has started with wife Neytiri, played by Zoe Saldaña. They have two teenage sons, played by James Flatters and Britain Dalton; a biological daughter, played by Trinity Jo-Li Bliss, and an adopted daughter, played by Sigourney Weaver, whose mother was the late Dr. Grace Augustine, played
by Weaver, from the first film. Actually, they might as well have five children, because a leftover human named Spider, played by Jack Champion, follows them around everywhere.
The family’s life on Pandora is going great until humanity returns. No longer content to take the planet’s natural resources, this time the humans want a new place to live since they’ve made an irrevocable mess of Earth. Apparently asking the Na’vi nicely to share the planet is out of the question, so the humans’ mission is to neutralize the natives. Leading the charge is the Na’vi avatar of Quaritch, played by Stephen Lang, who was the villain from the first movie. Apparently he made a backup of himself before his human body was killed. The movie basically asks, “Do you want Stephen Lang back as the villain or not?” I do, so I’ll forgive the convoluted explanation.
Jake knows he’ll be targeted by Quaritch and the humans, so he and his family decide that they can no longer live in their ancestral home. They bid farewell to the tree tribe and go to live with a reef tribe. They aren’t exactly welcomed by the new tribe’s leaders, played by Cliff Curtis and Kate Winslet, but they are at least allowed to stay, even though they are all treated like outcasts. Still, it’s only a matter of time before they are hunted down by the humans with the help of a captive Spider, Quaritch’s biological son.
The story is strictly secondary in “Avatar: The Way of Water.”
The real star is once again the breathtaking visuals, this time with an emphasis on sea creatures and underwater plant life, though there’s plenty of eye candy on land as well. After years of filmmakers
getting complacent with sometimes-shoddy CGI effects, it’s nice to see Cameron bring them back to their full potential. The film is sure to win technical Oscars again, and it might play in the big categories as well. It’s already nominated for Best Picture – Drama and Best Director at the Golden Globes. The script is… fine, with an emphasis on long-term storytelling, meaning some mysteries go unsolved in this movie so they can come into play in a sequel down the line. We’re going to be getting several more “Avatar” movies in the coming years, and I look forward to seeing if the franchise can redefine the blockbuster all over again.
Grade: A-
“Avatar: The Way of Water” is rated PG-13 for sequences of strong violence and intense action, partial nudity and some strong language. Its running time is 192 minutes.
Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@ nyu.edu.
Jan. 3 – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Shakespeare in the Vines’ Technical Theater Workshop: Beginner Level will be held at the Old Town Temecula Community Theater, 42051 Main St., in Temecula. Take an in-depth look behind the curtain to learn first hand how the magic is made in the theater. Bring lunch. Contact info@shakespearinthevines.org for details.
Jan. 21 – 9:30 a.m. Menifee Valley Historical Association and Museum presents “Homesteading the San Jacinto Valley – a history of the Lambs family (Lambs Canyon) and their transition to Menifee in the 1950s.” Available on Facebook Live as well. Call 951-708-6842 or visit http://menifeehistory.com.
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 http:// www.milvet.org/military-carepackages.
ONGOING – Multiple Sclerosis Support Group Meeting meets the third Monday of each month at the Mary Phillips Senior Center, 41845 6th Street, in Temecula from 10 a.m. to noon. For more information, email gaugustin206@gmail.com or join the meeting.
ONGOING– Sons of Norway/ Scandinavia meets at noon the first Saturday of every month, September to June, at the Heritage Mobile Park Clubhouse, 31130 S. General Kearny Road, in Temecula. A potluck lunch is followed by a cultural program and short business meeting. Please come and enjoy company with fellow Scandinavians. Call 951-309-1597 or 951-849-1690 for more information.
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 Commu-
nity 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-the-wheel instruction or a California driver’s permit. Contact 951-723-3880 or visit the city of Menifee to register at http://www. city of menifee.us.
ONGOING – 10 to 11:30 a.m. Michelle’s Place Cancer Resource Center and The Elizabeth Hospice host a virtual support meeting for caregivers every second and fourth week of the month via Zoom. Get helpful tips and learn from others who are also dealing with similar challenges. For more information and to register, contact The Elizabeth Hospice Grief Support Services at 833-349-2054.
ONGOING – Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous, a free 12step recovery program for anyone suffering from food obsession, overeating, undereating or bulimia, has meetings throughout the U.S. and the world. Contact 781-9326300, or for local meetings, call 925-321-0170 or visit http://www. foodaddicts.org.
ONGOING – The Murrieta Garden Club meets each month at the Murrieta Community Center, 41810 Juniper St. Anyone who likes to garden or is interested in plants is welcome. Membership is $10 per year. Find more information about the monthly event or project on Facebook.
ONGOING – Temecula Valley Rose Society meets each month. For more information and new meeting dates and places, visit http://www.temeculavalleyrosesociety.org.
ONGOING – Menifee Toastmasters meets every Thursday at noon for one hour at a designated place to have fun, enhance speaking capabilities, gain self-confidence and improve social skills. For new dates, call 760-807-1323 or visit http://www.MenifeeToastmasters. org for more information.
ONGOING – Homeless veterans can receive free help by dialing 877-424-3838 for 24/7 access to the VA’s services for homeless, at-risk veterans. Chat is confidential for veterans and friends. See http:// www.va.gov/homeless.
Jess Ranch Fish Hatchery will once again be stocking rainbow trout in Lake Skinner.
The Riverside County Regional Park and Open-Space District board members are the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, and on Dec. 13 the supervisors voted 4-0, with Manuel Perez absent, to award Jess Ranch Fish Hatchery the contract to stock live rainbow trout at Lake Skinner, Lake Cahuilla (in La Quinta) and Rancho Jurupa Regional Park. Jess Ranch Fish Hatchery, which is based in Apple Valley, will be paid $6.25 per pound and the maximum total amount of the one-year contract is $103,125.
Approximately 5,500 pounds of trout will be stocked at each lake.
More than 45,000 anglers annually patronize the Riverside County Regional Park and Open-Space District lakes. Prior to 2021, the district had contracted with Jess Ranch Fish Hatchery but in October 2020 Jess Ranch notified the park district that a bacterial outbreak which has plagued hatcheries throughout the state would render Jess Ranch unable to supply the park district’s rainbow trout needs. The park district issued a request for quotes in November 2020 and received one bid. The Calaveras Trout Farm Inc., bid was deemed responsive and responsible. In January 2021 the Riverside County Regional Park and Open-Space District board awarded Calaveras Trout Farm, which is based in the Merced County town of Snelling, the contract to stock rainbow trout in Lake Skinner, Lake Cahuilla and Rancho Jurupa Regional Park.
The contract with Calaveras Trout Farm was for a one-year term but allowed for four additional one-year options without board approval. However, Calaveras Trout Farm has been
affected by drought conditions and is currently not able to provide trout. Jess Ranch Fish Hatchery is now able to provide rainbow trout, and as the only nearby company with that ability, a sole source contract rather than the competitive bidding process was used to select Jess Ranch.
The price for the fish will not exceed $6.25 per pound for the first year of the agreement. Increases of up to the Consumer Price Index amount will be permitted in subsequent years, contingent upon a written agreement. If Jess Ranch Fish Hatchery offers lower prices to another governmental entity, that decrease will automatically extend to the Riverside County Regional Park and Open-Space District.
Each lake will be stocked eight times annually beginning in midDecember and ending in late March. Additional orders may be placed for trophy fish used for a fishing derby or other special event. The regular fish orders will be a minimum of 825 pounds per delivery with the fish weight being calculated utilizing the sight displacement method. All fish will weigh at least 12 ounces, and the trophy fish will weigh between two and seven pounds.
The fish must be alive, in good physical condition, and free from disease and harmful pests. Jess Ranch Fish Hatchery shall remove all dead and dying fish from the load during delivery, and the weight of those fish will be deducted from the total weight on the weight statement. A district supervisor will oversee the unloading and inspection of the fish at each delivery location.
The schedule, which is subject to change, calls for Calendar Year 2023 deliveries to Lake Skinner on Jan. 4 and 18, Feb. 1 and 15 and March 1 and 15.
MilVet,
veterans
to
families, hosted the annual Holidays for Heroes Toy Event Sunday, Dec. 18, at Four Shores Ranch in Winchester.
The special event surprised 135 children of U.S. service members who are deployed overseas, providing food, desserts, hot cocoa, photo booth, photos with Santa, crafts, costumed children’s characters, snow, petting zoo, raffles, live music, DJ and gifts for the children.
Each child with big grins received four to six gifts from a wishlist filled by many people in the community who helped shop for them. MilVet invited two adults from each military family to attend the festivities free of charge. The families included active duty service members and veterans who are facing hardships such as a parent deployed, homelessness, parent who has died or financial difficulties.
MilVet volunteers put the event together with the help of many vendors and sponsors, including Which Wich Superior Sandwiches; Shot in the Dark BBQ: Pizza Guys, Raising Canes’ Chicken Fingers; The Steer Saloon; The D41s Acoustic Band; Wildomar Library; Grand Canyon University; Temecula Toyota; TapSnap photos; photographer Jenee Spencer and Barnyard Buddies. The event sponsors were Paradise Chevrolet, San Diego Gas & Electric, Temecula Lexus, Temecula Toyota, JAGS, PWR and Antelope Ridge and Grand Canyon Education.
For information about MilVet and how people can help, visit http://www.milvet.org or contact Raven Hilden at ceo@MilVet.org or call 951-902-968.
Tony Ault can be reached by email at tault@reedermedia.com.
It was a memorable 2022 for the Southwest Valley. While the area continues to rate as one of safest areas for residents from crime, there was a deadly Fairview Fire and a Cyanobacteria algae bloom shutting down Lake Elsinore.
However, there were many celebrations, including Murrieta’s 30th Anniversary of becoming a city, the Menifee Police Department celebrating their second year in existance, many July 4th celebrations, live concerts, and even Circus Vargas performances.
There have been hospital expansions, another Costco, an Amazon Fresh and Soboba opened Legacy Bank. The Murrieta Hot Springs project was celebrated after it was purchased by Olympus Real Estate to create a future Wellness Center that has been touted as a future jewel for local residents and tourists alike.
are to attend Long Beach State or UC, Santa Cruz with a goal of working for the National Forest Service, protecting and conserving the national parks.
Ethan feels his greatest contribution to his family is twofold. “I spark debate,” he said. “I’m ever mindful that meaningful discourse is a fundamental part of our society. Lately, we seem to be drifting from this pivotal ideal. I also have an empathetic attitude. I listen objectively and I’m mindful of other people’s opinions. With the guidance of my teachers, family and mentors, I have grown into a well-balanced individual who’s prepared to take on a journey into the unknown.”
Nominating teacher Michelle Henricks said Ethan has the ability to make connections, understanding things at a deeper level, which is a rare characteristic for such a young man. “He has a willingness to listen before he speaks,” she added.
in AP classes and especially in French classes, which she has taken for the past three years. She dedicates much of her free time towards helping her younger sister, Lupita, who has Down syndrome, and is also a Lakeside student.
Galilea wants to attend UC, San Diego with hopes of assisting students with special needs. She then would like to become a social worker.
Galilea said her family moved to Lake Elsinore in her freshman year and that the COVID lockdown was anxiety inducing, making her feel so alone. “I tried taking my life,” she said. “But I persisted for my family and community. I wanted to do more, especially for my little sister. Everyone here at Lakeside helped me.”
She said students with disabilities often get overlooked and she said there are some amazing students in her sister’s class who are friendly and enjoyable.
“I want to be a social worker and focus on children with special needs because I want to help them,” Galilea said. “I want to rise them up in this community and
I hope that me showing love towards my sister out loud – hugging her in front of everyone – will help show others they should not be ashamed of who their siblings are.”
Summer Nee Summer Nee was introduced by Temescal Canyon High principal Joshua Hill as the captain of the school’s competitive dance team, an active member of the Leadership program, ASB, LINK leader, National Honor Society and California Scholarship Federation as well as holding down a job in the community. She hopes to study statistics, perhaps at Boston College.
“I wouldn’t trade my hectic life for the world,” Summer said.
“Making my campus a better place throughout high school has become my top priority. Despite the glory of the many leadership positions I have on campus, it has not always been easy. Unfortunately, I lost my mom in fifth grade. The absence of a female role model in my life has taken an unimaginable toll on me. I am a known perfectionist and having anything but a perfect life made me
feel unworthy. I constantly felt the need to be a people pleaser, hoping they could look past my situation.”
In high school, Summer realized all she could do is try to be the best version of herself and said she will always cherish the bond she formed with dance coach Colleen Stevens, who described the senior as being self-motivated and inclusive. “Her school spirit is second to none,” Stevens said.
Jacob Susanka Jacob Susanka has made the most of his time at Temescal Canyon High by being a member of the Titan Engineering Academy, Key Club and Titans for Christ.
He wants to pursue engineering or aeronautical science, ideally at Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University. His career goal is to serve in the military after preparation through the ROTC program at college and eventually work for the space program.
“I do my best and motivate others to do their best as a way of giving back for the freedoms and opportunities I’ve been given in this country,” Jacob said.
He said nominating teacher
Robert Parks, “is the best teacher I’ve ever had and has been more of a mentor than just an engineering teacher. Mr. Parks taught me how to get my foot in the adult world, be successful and live an admirable life.”
Parks said that the Titan Engineering Academy was founded on three core values: attitude, effort and respect. “I could not ask for a better student that embodies all three of these than Jacob,” he said. “We have 16 teachers in the academy and every one raves about him.”
Cousins closed the event in honor of two well-known community leaders who recently passed away: Ruth Atkins of the Lake Elsinore Historical Society and Phil Williams of Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District. “Because of our recent losses, I just wanted to close this program out wishing everyone a happy holiday and remind everyone to hug them a little extra harder because you just don’t know when it’s time.”
For more information on the program, please contact Kim Joseph Cousins at 951-245-8848.
For more information about MSJC’s Drone Application certificate program, visit http://catalog. msjc.edu/instructional-programs/ geospatial-information-science/
the cost of living rose. But if you can cut back in some areas, you may still be able to invest in your retirement plans.
Also, try to control your debts. With rising interest rates and inflation, your credit card debt could increase. If you can pay your bill fully each month, you can avoid getting bogged down in debts, and you’ll have more money to invest.
And if you haven’t built an emergency fund, try to do so. It’s a good idea to keep three to six months’ worth of living expenses in a liquid, low-risk account.
Finally, review your investment portfolio to help ensure it’s still appropriate for your goals, risk tolerance and time horizon.
TEMECULA – Temecula launched its Mainstreet Digital Grant Program which will provide training and funding to brickand-mortar businesses located in Temecula. The program is is designed to assist with the creation of a digital presence while driving traffic through paid and non-paid advertising. Businesses that meet the criteria and fulfill all requirements will receive a $10,000 grant.
“It is an exciting time for our city to announce that a half million dollars in grants has been dedicated to our business community,” Temecula Mayor Zak Schwank said. “Small businesses
are the heart of our local economy. The purpose of this grant is to offer an opportunity for business owners who stayed afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic to receive invaluable education on drive sales and achieve overall growth in the digital age.”
The Mainstreet Digital Grant Program will be hosted in partnership with the Orange County Inland Empire Small Business Development Center. OCIE SBDC will administer the applications and training program. Program is based on availability of funds, program guidelines and submission of all required information and supporting documentation.
The grant application opened Monday, Dec. 19, and the deadline to submit is Saturday, Jan. 21, at 5 p.m. Complete applications that meet the general criteria will be contacted by the OCIE SBDC and registered for the required training portion of the program.
To view the full program description, eligibility and requirements, visit https://ociesmallbusiness. org/temecula-digital-bootcamp/ For questions, contact Mary Cervantes, TVE2 manager, by phone at 951-506-5187 or via email at Mary.Cervantes@TemeculaCA. gov Submitted by city of Temecula.
TEMECULA – It’s that time of year when many people promise they’ll go to the gym more or learn a new language. But when making New Year’s resolutions, why not also consider some financial ones?
First, don’t let inflation derail your investment strategy. Last year, some people may have stopped contributing to their 401(k)s as
These resolutions can be useful –so try to put them to work in 2023.
This content was provided by Edward Jones for use by Nima Helmi, your Edward Jones financial advisor at 27555 Ynez Road, Suite 204, in Temecula. He can be reached at 951-972-3071. Member SIPC.
Submitted by Edward Jones.
Joe Naiman Writer
tion contract to resurface Girard Street in unincorporated Hemet.
The supervisors’ 5-0 vote Dec. 6 awarded a $5,592,526 contract for the work to All American Asphalt, which is based in Corona. The supervisors also approved two addenda to the plans and specifications, and since those addenda added areas to the resurfacing work the board action also found those projects to be categorically exempt from California Environmental Quality Act review.
The project will also include drainage repair for Acacia Ave.
On Sept. 20 the county supervisors authorized the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors to advertise the project for bids, approved the plans and specifications for the resurfacing and the drainage repair, set an Oct. 12 deadline for receipt of bids, and found both the resurfacing and the drainage repair to be categorically exempt from CEQA review.
The Girard St. resurfacing will be for 1.75 miles from the Ramona Bowl entry gate to Florida Avenue. The Acacia Ave. drainage repair, which will include resurfacing, will be for approximately 0.15 miles from approximately 580 feet west of Marlo Court to 225 feet east of Marlo Court. The construction contract combines the two projects to obtain cost efficiency both by eliminating a second bidding and administrative procedure and by the expectation of more favorable bids due to larger bid quantities.
The county’s general plan classifies Girard St. as a secondary highway. Girard is a two-lane road ranging in width from 22 to 26 feet. The deteriorated pavement has created the need for resurfacing which will involve two treatment types. The first treatment consists of removing the existing asphalt concrete pavement and underlying material and placing back an aggregate base designed to compact firmly along with hot mix asphalt pavement. The second treatment will grind down a portion of the existing asphalt concrete pavement and then overlay that with hot mix asphalt. The work will also include placement
of an asphalt concrete dike, driveway construction, construction of curbs and gutters, cross gutters and spandrels, construction of curb ramps meeting Americans with Disabilities Act standards, placement of safety edge to protect the outside edge of the pavement, traffic striping, pavement markings and installation of traffic signs.
The Acacia Ave. drainage repair will construct a storm drain system to convey stormwater from the south side of Acacia to an existing ephemeral earth channel on the north side of Acacia, east of Marlo Court. The contractor will install 18-inch and 24-inch high-density polyethylene storm drain pipe with watertight joints, a 36-inch by 36inch precast drop inlet, a concrete headwall, wing walls, an apron and an energy dissipator.
The initial bid package was structured with a base bid for the resurfacing and associated improvements and three alternative bids which would become part of the contract if the alternative bid sections of the low responsible bid were approved by the agency or utility which would reimburse the county for the work. The first alternative bid was for the Girard St. portion within the City of Hemet, the second alternative bid was for Eastern Municipal Water District manhole adjustments, and the third alternative bid was for Frontier Communications facility adjustments.
During the bid period, it was determined that the work might also include combining the resurfacing of Rosalie Ave. and Caroline Court in East Hemet and paving the Valle Vista Library parking lot. Two addenda were issued, and the bid deadline was extended to Oct. 19.
Rosalie Ave. and Caroline Court are both cul-de-sac roads. Rosalie Ave. has a width of 31 feet and Caroline Court has a width of 36 feet. Both roads have curb and gutter along their entire roadway segments. The resurfacing for those streets will remove the top portion of the existing pavement and place back new hot mix asphalt
RESURFACING, page B-7
MURRIETA – When Mrs. Beam’s fifth grade class at Avaxat Elementary School in Murrieta made holiday cards for residents of a local memory care community, the older adults who received them decided to thank the students with a virtual holiday story time recently. Via Zoom, the older adults at Vineyard Place, an Anthem Memory Care community, read “Twas the night before Christmas.”
“It’s more important than ever for our seniors to sustain connections and interact with the younger generation,” Melissa Williams, community relations director for Vineyard Place, said. “We got creative so our residents could continue to enjoy the holiday sea-
son with some new friends despite the tripledemic.”
Vineyard Place is located at 24325 Washington Ave. in Murrieta.
Anthem’s core purpose is to protect, engage and love people living with memory loss and is committed to provide understanding and significance to people with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. Anthem, based in Lake Oswego, Oregon, operates and develops memory care communities in California, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Utah and Washington. The company’s website is http:// AnthemMemoryCare.com.
Submitted by Anthem Memory Care.
pavement. Because that work will not create additional traffic lanes or expand the use of the existing roadway and associated facilities, it was found categorically exempt from CEQA review.
The Valle Vista Library is in the 25700 block of Fairview Ave. The parking lot is currently unpaved and is approximately 3/10 of an acre. The parking lot work will grind the existing aggregate base and underlying material of the unpaved parking lot area, compact it in place and overlay it with new hot mix asphalt pavement. The improvements will also include painting parking lot stripes, installing parking bumpers, constructing a retention basin, and installing a steel railing fence with swing gates along the perimeter of the parking lot.
The Rosalie Ave. and Caroline Court resurfacing became a third base bid while the library paving also became a separate base bid. A fourth alternative bid to cover Lake Hemet Municipal Water
District manhole adjustments for Rosalie Ave. and Caroline Court was also added to the package.
All American Asphalt had the low bid of $5,922,999.41 which covered $4,747,034.96 for the Girard Street resurfacing, $325,972.45 for the work within the Hemet city limits, $1,500 for Frontier Communications manhole adjustments, $4,500 for EMWD manhole adjustments, $473,749 for the Acacia Avenue drainage repair and resurfacing, $133,594 to resurface Rosalie Avenue and Caroline Court, $4,500 for the Lake Hemet Municipal Water District manhole adjustments, and $232,149 to pave the library parking lot. Calmex Engineering Inc., which is based in Bloomington, submitted a $6,452,265.10 bid which was the second-lowest amount.
Frontier Communications and the Lake Hemet Municipal Water District accepted their alternative bids. The City of Hemet and the Eastern Municipal Water District rejected their alternative bids. The director of the county’s Transpor-
tation Department has the authority to sign reimbursement agreements of up to $100,000 without Board of Supervisors approval, so the Frontier and LHMWD reimbursement agreements will be approved administratively.
A combination of revenue from the Road Repair and Accountability Act, which raised the tax on gasoline by 12 cents per gallon effective November 2017 and vehicle registration fees between $25 and $175 depending on the vehicle’s value effective spring 2018, Highway User Tax Account revenue derived from the sales tax on gasoline, and Unincorporated Communities Initiative funding will be used for the expenses which are the county’s responsibility.
The construction work is scheduled to begin this winter. The project will be phased so that the road can remain open during construction as much as possible and will take approximately 2-1/2 months to complete.
SACRAMENTO – California certified the passage of Proposition 31 Wednesday, Dec. 21, ending the sale of most flavored tobacco products, including all flavored e-cigarettes, e-cigarette liquids as well as mint and menthol cigarettes in the state, making it the second U.S. state to take such an action. Now that these products are illegal to be sold in the state, the American Lung Association is offering resources to help residents who are ready to quit tobacco for good.
“Following the overwhelming passage of California Proposition 31 by California voters, we are delighted to see this important law take effect in the country’s most populated state. This law will protect millions of California youth from lifetime addiction and potential death from tobacco products and will encourage many people who use these products to quit,” Michael Seilback, national assistant vice president of state public policy for the American Lung Association, said.
For people ready to quit smoking or vaping, the American Lung Associations offered these tips and resources.
Contact the Lung helpline. Not sure where to start? Call the Lung Association’s free Lung Helpline and Tobacco Quitline at 800-586-4872, which is staffed with licensed registered nurses,
respiratory therapists and certified tobacco treatment specialists.
Talk to your doctor. Talking to a doctor about your plan to quit smoking is an important step. With your doctor’s help, you can include cessation medication into your tobacco treatment plan, which can double your chances of quitting successfully. There are seven FDA-approved medications that are proven to help you quit.
Get help from a proven resource. The American Lung Association, http://www.lung.org, offered resources to help adults and teens to quit all tobacco products, including “Freedom From Smoking,” which helps individuals create their own unique quit plan, as well as tips and techniques to stay successful in the long run.
“Not-On-Tobacco,” or “N-O-T,” is a teen smoking, chewing and vaping cessation program for teens who want to quit. The 10-session program provides the tools, information and support for teens to end their addiction to tobacco.
And “Quit. Don’t Switch.” Ecigarettes are tobacco products, and the FDA has not found any e-cigarette to be safe and effective in helping smokers quit. Switching to e-cigarettes does not mean quitting. Quitting means ending your addiction to nicotine.
Submitted by American Lung Association.
American Lung Association applauds new flavored tobacco law in California, offering resources to help residents quit tobacco
Naiman Writer
The Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved a general plan amendment and a rezone for a 10.2-acre French Valley parcel.
The supervisors voted 4-0 Dec. 13, with Manuel Perez absent, to approve the general plan amendment and rezone. A tentative approval of the general plan and rezone accompanied an Oct. 18 Board of Supervisors vote which approved a plot plan and tract map for the property. The Oct. 18 action also adopted an environmental Mitigated Negative Declaration, and the Dec. 13 vote
included findings that no further California Environmental Quality Act action was required.
The general plan amendment changes the land use designation from Low Density Residential (CD:LDR) to Community Development:Medium Density Residential (CD:MDR), which allows a density range of 2 to 5 dwelling units per acre. The rezone changes the property from R-R (Rural Residential) to R-4 (Planned Residential).
The land is north of Pat Road, east of Slough Road, south of Ruft Road and west of Pourroy Road. Signature Realty Corporation currently owns the parcel and
plans to develop 48 residential units with the tract map also including six open space lots for landscaped slopes, a community park and a water quality basin. The CD:LDR land use designation would have allowed for 13 dwelling units.
The property is within the Southwest Area Plan and the Highway 79 Policy Area. The Southwest Area Plan only allows for 20 dwelling units but also allows additional density or units if it can be demonstrated that there has been an equivalent or greater reduction in density or units elsewhere in the policy area. Signature Realty Corpora-
tion provided an analysis noting that three neighboring lots which are all presently developed with uses other than residential are available as “donor” sites to accommodate the proposed increase in density. The Dec. 13 rezone and general plan amendment creates a density similar to other subdivisions in the vicinity, and the tract map and plot plan create development complementary in form, scale and style to existing dwellings in the surrounding neighborhood.
The plot plan stipulates future right-of-way improvements in the form of expanded dedication or widening of roadways
Joe Naiman Writer
The Riverside County Board of Supervisors set a Tuesday, Jan. 24, hearing date for the potential creation of a community facilities district for the Siena development.
The supervisors’ 4-0 vote Tuesday, Dec. 13, with Manuel Perez absent, adopted a resolution of intention to establish the CFD and authorize the levy of special taxes, set the Jan. 24 hearing date, directed the clerk of the board of supervisors to publish appropriate notice of the hearing and directed the clerk of the board to sign and record the boundary map. Siena
would create 529 single-family residential units in Winchester east of Washington Street and south of Keller Road.
A community facilities district includes a special tax, which is sometimes known as mello-roos taxes due to the state legislators who created the option for services on new development to be funded by an annual assessment, to fund the services and/or infrastructure.
A Joint Communities Facilities Agreement stipulates the collection and distribution process for the taxes. If the 1% property tax is not sufficient to pay for maintenance, fire protection and other services a CFD may be formed for those
services and that CFD would be perpetual. A CFD may also pay for infrastructure including capacity fees which are charged to developers to cover the new development’s share of existing infrastructure, and that assessment ends when the bonds are paid off. The CFD will also pay for the reimbursement to government agencies for their staff time and other expenses to form the CFD, the cost to issue bonds and the annual costs to administer the CFD. An assessment must be approved by a majority of property owners, although a developer who owns an undeveloped parcel may vote in favor of the CFD, and once the property is subdivided, those
which will occur as surrounding properties are developed. The site improvements also include a 14,375 square foot community park along the Pat Road frontage, playground equipment, a multipurpose lawn and barbecue dining area, new landscaping located throughout common lots and along street frontages, and a water quality basin at the southeasterly corner of the development which will facilitate site drainage and infiltration.
The Sept. 7 Planning Commission meeting included a 5-0 vote to recommend approval of the project.
property owners are responsible for the assessments.
Taylor Morrison of California LLC owns the four legal parcels which are slated to become the Siena development. The assessment for fiscal year 2023-2024 would be $215 per taxable parcel for residential property and $1,813 per acre for multi-family residential and non-residential property, and the annual tax would be increased a minimum of 2% up to the cumulative percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for urban consumers.
Joe Naiman can be reached by email at jnaiman@reedermedia. com.
JP Raineri Sports Editor
Heading into the magical month of December, Temecula Valley High School’s girls’ soccer head coach Jennifer Guinn received news that would help end 2022 with a bang. After receiving the United Soccer Coaches award for the California State ‘Coach of the Year’ for large public schools this past August, she was just named as the Spring Mountain West United Soccer Coaches’ large public school ‘Coach of the year’ for the West Region.
Not only did Guinn get honored, but her assistant coach Laura Witz was named as the United Soccer Coaches West Regional ‘Assistant Coach of the Year’ for large public schools. United Soccer Coaches is a nationally recognized soccer organization. Colleges, high schools and club organizations all value them and mention them regularly, which makes this award that much more meaningful to the two coaches.
“To end the most magical year ever with these amazing awards is beyond an honor,” Guinn said. “To be nationally recognized throughout the United Soccer Coaches’ organization is overwhelming and I am extremely honored to be chosen by them.”
Guinn’s current squad is 10-3-2 on the season and ranked No. 3 in the CIF Southern Section coaching polls. With the success they had earlier this year, winning their fifth straight Southwestern League
title, a CIF-SS Division 1 title, and a CIF State
for themselves.
“Both awards are incredible, yet I know for sure that many hats wear these accomplishments,”
she said. “The girls first and foremost created an incredibly driven environment with some huge goals, and they rose to
everything that I, as well as my incredible staff, placed in front see COACHES, page C-2
The Vista Murrieta girls’ basketball team hosted the 2022 Bronco Varsity Classic last week, where they were edged out of making it to the finals by a strong Beaumont squad. In their final game of pool play Monday, Dec. 19, with both teams garnishing 2-0 records in the tournament, the Cougars went on attack mode. Led by senior Janelle Pilao, who had 26 points in the game, Beaumont got out in front of a tight game in the second quarter, outscoring Vista Murrieta by 15 points to lead 40-25 at the half.
While the Broncos nearly answered the Cougars point-forpoint in the third quarter, a 22-4 run in the fourth quarter would put Beaumont in the final game the next day with their 81-43 win over the host school. King High School, who also went undefeated in the Pool A bracket, would join Beaumont in that final game where the Wolves would go on to take the tournament title with a 67-57 win.
This year’s brackets consisted of King (10-2), Heritage (3-5), Kaiser (8-5) and Murrieta Mesa (7-6) in Pool A, and Tri-City
Christian (4-5), Orange Vista (38) and Beaumont (6-0) in Pool B (as well as host Vista Murrieta). Games tipped-off Thursday, Dec. 15, with pool play taking place through Monday, Dec. 19, and the championship round ensuing the next day on Tuesday, Dec. 20. Here is a look at the breakdown of the week:
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, 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: Tri-City defeated Orange Vista 36-33, TriCity was led by Busch with 18 points; Heritage defeated Murrieta Mesa 84-40, Sierra Maxwell (H) led all scorers with 26 points, Agatha Alba and Sarin Newkirk both had 8 points for Murrieta Mesa; King defeated Kaiser 6325, no stats available; Beaumont defeated Vista Murrieta 81-43.
Tuesday, Dec. 20: Championship games
5th place game: Kaiser – 31, Orange Vista – 27: no stats available
4th place game: Murrieta Mesa – 57, Tri City – 32: Trimble (MM) led all scorers with 21 points
3rd place game: Vista Murrieta – 80, Heritage – 50: no stats for VMHS; Maxwell (H) 29 points
Championship: King – 67, Beaumont – 57: no stats available
Full game results for the tournament can be found on the Broncos Athletics website at www. vistamurrietaathletics.com/classic All local teams returned to action earlier this week and those games will be featured in upcoming
JP Raineri can be reached by email at sports@reedermedia. com
It has been a long year for San Diego Padres’ shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. Not only was the two-time Silver Slugger Award winner kept off the diamond for the entirety of the 2022 season with an off-field wrist injury and a PED suspension, but the Padres just made a big splash by signing all-star shortstop Xander Bogaerts to an 11-year deal.
It’s no secret the Padres were disappointed by how Tatis Jr. had a blatant disregard for the rules and regulations that he vowed to uphold for the club over the last year. His absence greatly hurt a team that was going all-in for 2022, making it the furthest they have in the postseason in 27 years. On top of that, his general lack of maturity was called out by teammates and analysts alike.
The 23-year-old native of the Dominican Republic has played just three seasons of Major League
Baseball. Along with his batting accolades, Tatis Jr. has finished top 5 in NL MVP voting twice, and was an all-star in just his second season. So yes, he is really, really good. He is also very young, the frontal lobe is still maturing, and yes, his bank account is ginormous. But those cannot be excuses to neglect professional priorities.
So, what will the Padres do now that they have added Bogaerts, a four-time all-star and five-time Silver Slugger winner? San Diego says they intend to keep both players, but certainly, one of the Padres’ all-star shortstops could be moved. Tatis is signed through 2034 at a total cost of $337 million, Bogaerts through 2033 at $280 million. Manny Machado, the 3B, is inked for the next six seasons at $30 million annually.
If the Padres decide to move Tatis, will he buck up and do what is best for the team? Will he demand a trade? If so, plenty of teams could be interested in adding a potential franchise player to their infield. According to Bookies.com, there are some hypothetical odds as to which team Fernando could end up on for the 2023 season.
San Diego Padres/-135/57.45%
LA Angels/+400/20.0% Boston Red Sox/+550/15.4% New York Yankees/+750/11.8%
Atlanta Braves/+1500/6.3%
The Field/+1100/8.3%
*This hypothetical MLB betting market is for entertainment purposes only and does not reflect any market that may be available on betting sites and betting apps.
While the Dodgers could use a shortstop, there is zero chance the Friars want to have any type of discussion with their top rival. Now, the Braves are in need of a big name at the shortstop position with Dansby Swanson signing a huge deal with the Cubs this past Saturday, but Tatis Jr. would be unlikely to go to that NL contender as well.
The Bogaerts-less Red Sox have pieces to sell, money to spend, and now a massive hole at the position. Boston checks all the boxes to think eye-for-an-eye and at least inquire about Fernando. A Red Sox signing would also ensure the Yankees do not get their hands on him. New York could use a new toy to play with and the left side of the infield needs some spring cleaning, more so than the rest of their roster.
In 2021, Tatis Jr. led the NL with 42 home runs to go with 25 stolen bases and a .975 OPS, so he would be a significant upgrade over Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who hit four home runs with a .642 OPS last season.
How about the Angels? That could make for an intriguing place to land. San Diego reportedly
really wants to make a push to land Shohei Ohtani when the L.A. superstar becomes a free agent after this next season. But maybe if they can negotiate a new long-term deal, a sign-and-trade involving Tatis might be a best-case scenario for the Angels and increase their fan base with another power player. However, all this trade talk is just that. Talk. For now, it seems the Padres want to stick with the young star and build a lasting contender. Currently the New York Mets are the heavy favorite to win it all in 2023. Their odds of winning the 2023 World Series are 7-to-1 (+700) at BetOnline.com. Those
are the second-best odds behind the Astros, who are +625 to repeat as champions.
The gambling site has the Mets and Dodgers with the same odds (+350) to win the National League and advance to the World Series, followed by the Braves and Padres (+500). In the American League, the Astros and Yankees are a cut above the rest with the Astros at +275 to win another AL pennant and the Yankees at +325. The next closest team is the Blue Jays at +750.
JP Raineri can be reached by email at jp@reedermedia.com
JP Raineri Sports Editor
The Temecula FC Quails, the valley’s premier professional soccer team, are closing out the year on a great note. Temecula FC has won four matches in a row scoring 17 goals and only conceding 4. After a come-frombehind 3-2 victory, top group C in the Raul Briones Cup, the Quails earned three more
points in its victory at Patricia H. Birdsall Sports Park last Saturday night.
“In football, the better team doesn’t always win,” head coach Ignacio Gachuzo said. “The first half score proved that, but in the end the team showed their grit and did everything they had to do to take the three points and finish top of the group.”
DJ Wilson collected the ‘Man of the Match’ honors as Temecula
of them. All three of us on the sideline throughout the three titles earned in 2022 were instrumental in every step of the way. Coach Brittani Alfaro is passionate, knowledgeable, and was with us last season every step of the way. She deserves recognition as well and we are blessed to have her.”
As for Laura Witz, she has been an integral part of the Golden Bears program since Guinn became the head coach in 2014. Witz specializes in the psychological side of the athletes and supports them without bringing down the program from within. The extreme knowledge of the game comes from her past play, as well as coaching and supporting her five daughters who have all played at the college level.
“Without a doubt I recommend Coach Witz for her award. She has believed in my vision, and taught me many things as well,” Guinn admits. “I believe that assistant coaches can make or break a program, and Laura has always made it. Her compassion off the field as well as during matches has been a source of comfort for my athletes and she is someone they will look for and ask about if she was not present.”
The success Witz has had with the program lies in the results with participation in multiple league championships, three CIF Southern Section titles and two CIF State titles. Guinn also says she is always the one to let the girls know to rise to the occasion when it matters.
“I am beyond honored to receive this award,” Witz said. “I have always felt that I am the one blessed to be able to coach the
game I love. I see the best in each player, find their strengths and let each one know how valued they are. Because every single person has something special to offer.”
“Coach Laura comes with so much encouragement and love that the girls strived to reach for the big moments that seemed far-fetched,” Guinn added. “She balances a lot in this program and I am blessed to have worked alongside her for the last nine years. Four huge titles together since 2018 is pretty awesome and I would not want to do it without her by my side.”
The awards will be handed out at a ceremony Friday, Jan. 13, in Philadelphia, which Guinn and Witz won’t be able to attend due to their season being in the second week of league play. When discussing this year’s squad, Guinn says they are mixed with several returners that understand what it takes, and some very young talent that is getting a taste of Division 1 high school soccer.
FC came from 2-0 down at halftime to win the match.
“Moving into 2023 and our 10-year anniversary we are working hard to keep the results coming,” the club exclaimed via social media.
“We know the work in front of us, the target on us, and with that, what it feels like to accomplish everything we did last year,” Guinn said. “We want to take all those emotions and channel them into hopefully the best 10 weeks ever. With that being said, we are taking everything one step at a time.”
The Golden Bears will open league play with a home match against Great Oak this week and have high hopes of winning a sixth straight title when the regular season ends Friday, Feb. 3, at Murrieta Mesa High School.
JP Raineri can be reached by email at sports@reedermedia. com
“The girls all come from very high-level club teams and are developed by some of the best that this state has to offer,” Guinn said. “We are excited to see how they rise to all of the challenges faced in front of them. We had a great preseason run with our first plane ride and trip to Northern California. We learned a lot about each other and are excited to implement everything into the season and hopefully carry that throughout a playoff run.”
Highlight players to watch include Elizabeth Ludwig (senior GK, committed to Westmont); Zoe Willis (senior Center Back, SWL Defensive player of the year, committed to Cal State Long Beach); Cassidy Drago (sophomore Forward, leading in goals scored with 13 tallied); Sloane Phillips (freshman Middle, starting every match and coming in the middle creating some amazing build ups towards goal tallying multiple goals and assists).
The holidays came a few weeks early for 400 of the most underserved children and their families from the Inland Empire. Thursday, Dec. 8, hundreds of children from Lake Elsinore, Murrieta, Temecula, Menifee and the surrounding communities were welcomed by special invitation to enjoy a 40,000-square foot winter wonderland-themed holiday extravaganza inside the Pechanga Summit Events Center.
During Pechanga’s sixth “Holiday of Hope” event, the guests of honor enjoyed nine different holiday activities including photos with Santa, watching holiday movies by a fire, enjoying a traditional holiday meal, riding a train, listening to Christmas singers from local high school choirs, playing holiday bingo and more. They even got to say hello to Los Angeles Lakers Legends AC Green and Robert Horry who were volunteering
for the event. Each child and his or her family were identified by the Temecula, Lake Elsinore and Murrieta School Districts as inneed individuals. According to a May 2022 report, there are 3,316 homeless children and adults in Riverside County, up from 2020’s count of 2,884.
“The Holiday of Hope event is something we look forward to hosting each year. So many smiling faces show us the event brightens a lot of people’s lives here in our region,” Andrew Masiel Sr., President of the Pechanga Development Corporation, said.
“We understand how important holiday memories are for children as they grow up and how special they can be. The Temecula Valley is our home so to be able to give back and to partner with our local school districts to show these children and families that people are out there who care a lot about their well-being, this is what the
holidays are all about.”
Lakers Legend AC Green said, “Every year I come, it’s just fantastic. Just seeing what they’re doing and how Pechanga has done just great in the community. Understanding people, their needs, knowing it’s the season, yes, but all year round. They are always reaching out seeing how they can help and do more. So I always love coming here, and working with them throughout the year.”
Each of the 400 children attending the Holiday of Hope event got to choose his or her very own, age-appropriate gift. Their families were also each given a $100 gift card. Pechanga also provided shuttle service to some of the families who live in Murrieta and Lake Elsinore so they could be sure to get to the Holiday of Hope event.
The children and families also enjoyed musical performances by the Chaparral and Great Oak
have been staples at The PAS for years and they are all extremely competitive. Last year we added the IMCA Sport Compacts. They got off to a good start, but their numbers fell off for a variety of reasons late in the year. We expect them to have bigger fields in 2023 as we have heard that some people are building cars to join the class. The pits are going to be full on the PASSCAR/IMCA nights in 2023.”
Fans can start making their plans now for the 27th season of PAS racing as the season opener is only weeks away at the Lake Perris Fairgrounds (home of the Southern
California Fair), one hour east of Los Angeles and one hour North of San Diego. To get to the track, take the 215 freeway, exit on the Ramona Expressway, and go three miles east to the fairgrounds. For directions online, the address to enter is: 18700 Lake Perris Drive and the zip code is 92571.
Perris Auto Speedway wants to thank the following corporate partners for their continued support. Ahern Equipment Rentals, Anderson Chevrolet, Battery Systems, Chris’ Hauling, City of Perris, Communication Innovations,
Daytona Boat & RV Storage, Ed Moore Bullet Proof Driveshaft, Flowdynamics, HD Industries, Heimark/Anheuser Busch, Hoosier Tires, Inland Rigging, Living Waters Hospice, LKQ Pick Your Part, Luke’s Transmission, Moose Racing, Pepsi-Cola, Performance Online, Pole Position Raceway, PrintItNow.com, Rainbow Bolt & Supply, Rene’s Bar & Grill, Rugged Radios, Shaver Specialties, Square H, Sunoco Race Fuels, Trench Shoring, Upland Rock, Varner Construction and Vista Paint.
Submitted by Perris Auto Speedway.
Even though it is the first week of winter, Perris Auto Speedway promoter Don Kazarian is reminding race fans of warmer days with the release of the 2023 schedule. The 23-event calendar will commence Saturday, March 11, when LKQ Pick Your Part presents Night of Destruction. Eight months later, the famous track will close its 27th season with a night of Sprint Car racing headlined by the popular USAC/CRA Series.
All told, there will be eight Nights of Destruction, eight sprint car programs and seven PASSCAR/ IMCA Stock Car shows. While it sounds the same as years gone by, fans will notice some changes to the 2023 programs. First off will be a change in the Night of Destruction.
Joining the Figure 8, Demo Cross, Mini Stocks, and of course the crowd favorite Double Deckers, will be Mini Stock Figure 8 racing. The Mini Stock Figure 8 will replace Trailer Figure 8 races on the nights of never-ending crashes.
“We had been contemplating adding a Mini Stock Figure 8 race for a while,” Kazarian said. “During last year’s fair, there was a Mini Stock Figure 8, and the crowd loved it. It was exciting and it featured a good size field. So, this year we are adding it to every Night of Destruction. We think it may become one of the most popular portions of the crazy show.”
Powerful 410 cubic inch Sprint Cars, what the track is most widely known for, will hit the famous halfmile oval for the first time at the annual Sokola Shootout on March 18. As has been the case since 2004, the USAC/CRA Series will headline each sprint car event. Joining the series at every show will be The PAS
Senior and Young Gun Sprints. The POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series made its PAS debut last September and has been invited to race on the sprint car card four times in 2023. In addition, the PASSCAR Super Stocks and Street Stocks will each race with the sprint cars two times and the American Factory Stocks will join the open-wheel action only once.
In addition to the Sokola Shootout, other special races for the 410 sprint cars in 2023 will be the annual Salute to Indy on May 27, the 2nd Annual Bubby Jones/Ray Scheetz Memorial on June 10 and the Glenn Howard Classic on Sept. 23. The sprint car season ender on Nov. 11 is normally the prestigious Oval Nationals. However, at this time, that race has been put on ice.
“At this time, due to the cost of litigation with the Department of Water Resources regarding their future construction in 2023, plus the lack of major sponsorship presently, the 2023 Oval Nationals will not be on the schedule,” Kazarian said. “It is more important to ensure the speedway continues to concentrate on the #saveperris efforts.”
Rejoining the Super Stocks, Street Stocks, Factory Stocks and the Sport Compacts on the PASSCAR/IMCA nights will be the IMCA Modifieds. In 2022, the modifieds raced on the same card as the USAC/CRA Sprint Cars. After a year away, they will be returning to their traditional shows with the stock cars in 2023. The season opener for the PASSCAR/ IMCA races will be on April 8.
“For those who have not been to one of our stock car shows, the racing is extremely good,” Kazarian said. “Super Stocks, Street Stocks, Factory Stocks, and Modifieds
March 11 – LKQ Pick Your Part
Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION I - Demo Cross, Figure 8s, Mini Stock Figure 8s, Mini Stocks and Insane Double Deckers March 18 – “SOKOLA
SHOOTOUT” AMSOIL USAC/ CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS Senior/ Young Guns Sprint Cars, PASSCAR Super Stocks and Street Stocks Plus “Power of Purple Night” benefiting the American Cancer Society Relay For Life Riverside County East April 8 – PASSCAR - Super Stocks, Street Stocks, American Factory Stocks, IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Sport Compacts April 15 – AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS Senior/Young Guns Sprint Cars and Southwest Lightning Sprints Plus “Power of Purple Night” benefiting the American Cancer Society Relay For Life Riverside County East April 22 – LKQ Pick Your Part
Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION
II - Demo Cross, Figure 8s, Mini Stock Figure 8s, Mini Stocks and Insane Double Deckers April 29 – PASSCAR - Super Stocks, Street Stocks, American Factory Stocks, IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Sport Compacts May 20 – LKQ Pick Your Part
Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION
III - Demo Cross, Figure 8s, Mini Stock Figure 8s, Mini Stocks and Insane Double Deckers Plus “Power of Purple Night” benefiting the American Cancer Society Relay For Life Riverside County East May 27 – “SALUTE TO INDY” AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS PAS Senior/Young Guns Sprint Cars, Southwest Lightning Sprints and PASSCAR Street Stocks
Plus “Power of Purple Night” benefiting the American Cancer Society Relay For Life Riverside County East June 3 – LKQ Pick Your Part
Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION IV - Demo Cross, Figure 8s, Mini Stock Figure 8s, Mini Stocks and Insane Double Deckers June 10 – “BUBBY JONES/RAY SHEETZ MEMORIAL” AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS (40 Lap Main Event) and PAS Senior/ Young Guns Sprint Cars plus “Power of Purple Night” benefiting the American Cancer Society Relay for Life Riverside County East June 17 – PASSCAR - Super Stocks, Street Stocks, American Factory Stocks, IMCA Modifieds And IMCA Sport Compacts
July 1 – LKQ Pick Your Part
Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION
V - Demo Cross, Figure 8s, Mini Stock Figure 8s, Mini Stocks and Insane Double Deckers plus “Power of Purple Night” benefiting the American Cancer Society Relay For Life Riverside County East
July 15 – AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS SENIOR/ YOUNG GUN Sprint Cars and PASSCAR Factory Stocks Plus “Power of Purple Night” benefiting the American Cancer Society Relay For Life Riverside County East July 22 – PASSCAR - Super Stocks, Street Stocks, American Factory Stocks, IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Sport Compacts
Aug. 5 – LKQ Pick Your Part
Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION
VI - Demo Cross, Figure 8s, Mini Stock Figure 8s, Mini Stocks and Insane Double Deckers
Aug. 12 – PASSCAR - Super Stocks, Street Stocks, American Factory Stocks, IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Sport Compacts Aug. 19 – AMSOIL USAC/ CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS Senior/ Young Guns Sprint Cars, Southwest Lightning Sprints and WRA Vintage Cars on Display Plus “Power of Purple Night” benefiting the American Cancer Society Relay For Life Riverside County East Sept. 16 – LKQ Pick Your Part
Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION
VII - Demo Cross, Figure 8s, Mini Stock Figure 8s, Mini Stocks and Insane Double Deckers Sept. 23 – “GLENN HOWARD
CLASSIC” AMSOIL USAC/CRA
SPRINT CARS PAS Senior/Young Guns Sprint Cars, PASSCAR Super Stocks Sept. 30 – PASSCAR - Super Stocks, Street Stocks, American Factory Stocks, IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Sport Compacts
Oct. 21 – LKQ Pick Your Part
Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION
VIII - Demo Cross, Figure 8s, Mini Stock Figure 8s, Mini Stocks and Insane Double Deckers
Oct. 28 – PASSCAR - Super Stocks, Street Stocks, American Factory Stocks, PAS Modifieds and IMCA Sport Compacts Nov. 11 – AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS (40 LAPS), PAS Senior/Young Guns Sprint Cars and Southwest Lightning Sprint Cars This schedule is subject to change. Fans can stay up to date on track and driver news on the PAS social media efforts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and online at http:// perrisautospeedway.com.
Caltrans, Riverside County Transportation Commission and southwest Riverside County city public works departments will resume their work on the local streets and highways after Tuesday Jan. 3, following the holidays. Motorists are warned to be careful as the work resumes.
Meanwhile, RCTC in partnership with Caltrans announced they will begin building the Interstate 15/State Highway 91 Express Lanes Connector, which will link the I-15 express lanes to the Route 91 express lanes. A new connection will be provided from the eastbound Route 91 express lanes to the northbound I-15 express lanes and from the southbound I-15 express lanes to
the westbound Route 91 express lanes.
The I-15/SR-91 Express Lanes Connector is designed to provide a seamless transition between these Riverside County tolling systems for reliable, convenient travel for residents of Corona, Norco, Jurupa Valley, Eastvale and points north in San Bernardino County, as well as express buses.
The project also will extend both the eastbound 91 outside general purpose lane and the eastern end of the Route 91 express lanes approximately one-half mile east to Promenade Avenue to help with vehicle merging in this area.
The Riverside Transit Agency offers micro transit rides in the Hemet-San Jacinto area since ridehailing apps have revolutionized how commuters and leisure
travelers move around in the cities and communities. With a few clicks, riders can request a car to pick them up for medical appointments, dinner with friends or to go home.
The on-demand project will use the GoMicro service.
The RTA will offer the shared rides within the Hemet-San Jacinto microtransit zone that overlays existing RTA fixed routes.
Booking a ride will be as easy as downloading the RTA GoMicro Transit App, creating an account and requesting a pickup. Unlike other ride-hailing apps, riders can only be dropped at bus stops within the microtransit zone. Riders will be required to reserve rides in advance and should expect a minor wait time.
The app also allows ridetracking and reserving rides up to
The Riverside Transit Agency provides public transportation for western Riverside County, operating 33 local fixed routes, three commuter express routes and Dial-A-Ride service. RTA’s service area spans 2,500 square miles, among the largest in the nation. For bus route and schedule information, contact RTA at 951-565-5002 or visit http://RiversideTransit.com.
seven days in advance. Fares will be the same as regular bus service, with the option to pay on the bus
“We appreciate this event and are here to give our support,” Cifuentes said.
And support they did. Before the popular Unstuff the Bus events could take place, Walmart team members shopped, rang up and ensured toy inventory to help accomplish the mission. They also provided manpower to load 1,000 toys onto the Soboba bus for each day of delivery.
“It’s always the season for unity, inclusion and giving,” Vallejos said. “We are grateful to all those who said yes and asked how they could help.”
Foundation members were on hand, as well as Soboba Fire Department personnel, working alongside other volunteers as toys were passed down the line. Tribal members were there to help, too.
“It filled my heart to see so many wonderful people come out and jump in to help and be a part of such a huge community giving event,” Carla Adame, family and community engagement specialist, for SJUSD’s Student, Community and Personnel Support Department said.
with cash or through the app. Tony Ault can be reached by email at tault@reedermedia.com
Salgado, who is dearly missed,” he said.
Some of the special guests that were acknowledged with a round of applause included Soboba Tribal Council, Soboba Foundation and Tribal members, Hemet/San Jacinto Valley Chamber of Commerce members and Walmart team members who helped make event possible by providing the toys that were purchased by the Soboba Foundation and Soboba Casino Resort.
In collaboration with the Hemet and San Jacinto unified school districts, the Soboba Foundation and Soboba Casino Resort provided toys for local students just in time for Christmas. Diverging from past years of toy drives held in conjunction with the Soboba Casino Resort, this year’s event enlisted the help of the San Jacinto Walmart to fulfill the wish list of
5,000 toys for young children.
The Soboba Foundation reached out to a few department stores to help them with this large endeavor, and special elves from the San Jacinto Walmart stepped in to help out. Walmart’s store manager Sandy Cifuentes, academy lead Lisa Flores and general manager and coach Irma Hernandez worked closely with the Foundation’s coordinator Andrew Vallejos in the true spirit of community and Christmas.
The first event took place at San Jacinto Unified School District’s main office parking lot Monday, Dec. 5, where hundreds of community members waited for the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians’ bus to arrive. Forming a “toy brigade” from where the bus parked to the entrance of the district office’s warehouse, gifts were passed along one at a time. SJUSD’s School, Family and Community Liaison Sheila Blythe helped members of the San Jacinto High School cheer team and other volunteers sort each gift onto tables labeled for age groups and gender located inside the huge warehouse.
“We love to see everyone out here working together,” Blythe said.
Soboba Tribal Council and
She explained that each year, the school site family liaisons work with their principals and staff to identify worthy students. There were about 350 families who got selected this year. Plus, they always save a small stash for last-minute needs so there will be close to 400 SJUSD families that Soboba helped this Christmas with their generous donation. The toys were distributed during a Christmas-themed event Saturday, Dec. 10, and Adame said she was thankful to all the amazing liaisons, principals and staff who helped make it a great event by decorating beautiful stations.
“Soboba has been one of our biggest and most consistent blessings by far,” Adame said. “It’s never about anything else for them other than to help. They are always asking us how they can help so in turn our district works hard to be the best stewards we can with what they give us for our students and families; we implement equitable systems into each step of our process. We make it fun for our families because at the end of the day we’re all here for them and seeing their grateful, happy faces is what it’s all about.”
Vince Record, SJUSD’s director of CTE and Special Programs, welcomed all the volunteers and guests at the Unstuff the Bus event and thanked the Soboba Foundation for 13 years of giving back to the San Jacinto district’s families and community.
Soboba Gives Back toy
program started in 2009
San Jacinto Unified Board and Cabinet members, students, staff and families and Riverside County Office of Education’s Superintendent of Schools Edwin Gomez, Ed.D., were also introduced before everyone got ready to unstuff the bus. Hot chocolate and fresh cookies were provided by the district’s Nutritional Services Department and the holiday music was turned up as the crowd cheered the arrival of the bus, led by a Soboba Fire engine.
Cathi Hill and Billie Jo Williams from the American Cancer Society said they were happy to help out at such a great event.
“We are always happy to support Soboba because they do so much for the American Cancer Society and the community,” Hill said. Soboba Tribal Chair Isaiah Vivanco said, “We are thankful to be in a position to help out others. The Tribe has had its ups and downs this year but we’re still in a position to give back and that’s a good feeling.”
Then the Soboba bus was stuffed with another 1,000 toys at the San Jacinto Walmart store in the morning Thursday, Dec. 8. That evening, at Tahquitz High School, it was unstuffed for distribution to children within the Hemet Unified School District. Christmas lights shined over the heads of a long line of volunteers who made sure all the toys were safely stored at the school while joyful Christmas music played on loudspeakers.
“We are continually overwhelmed by the generosity of the Soboba Band
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) —
The ghostly form floating in a large jar had been the robust reddishbrown of a healthy organ just hours before. Now it’s semi-translucent, white tubes like branches on a tree showing through.
This is a pig liver that’s gradually being transformed to look and act like a human one, part of scientists’ long quest to ease the nation’s transplant shortage by bioengineering replacement organs.
The first step for workers in this suburban Minneapolis lab is to shampoo away the pig cells that made the organ do its work, its color gradually fading as the cells dissolve and are flushed out. What’s left is a rubbery scaffolding, a honeycomb structure of the liver, its blood vessels now empty.
Next human liver cells -- taken from donated organs unable to be transplanted -- will be oozed back inside that shell. Those living cells move into the scaffolding’s nooks and crannies to restart the organ’s functions.
“We essentially regrow the organ,” said Jeff Ross, CEO of Miromatrix. “Our bodies won’t see it as a pig organ anymore.”
That’s a bold claim. Sometime in 2023, Miromatrix plans firstof-its-kind human testing of a bioengineered organ to start trying to prove it.
If the Food and Drug Administration agrees, the initial experiment will be outside a patient’s body. Researchers would place a pig-turned-humanlike liver next to a hospital bed to temporarily filter the blood of someone whose own liver suddenly failed. And if that novel “liver assist” works, it would be a critical step toward eventually attempting a bioengineered organ transplant — probably a kidney.
“It all sounds science fiction-ey but it’s got to start somewhere,” said Dr. Sander Florman, a transplant chief at New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital, one of several hospitals already planning to participate in the liver-assist study. “This is
probably more of the near future than xenotransplantation,” or directly implanting animal organs into people.
More than 105,000 people are on the U.S. waiting list for an organ transplant. Thousands will die before it’s their turn. Thousands more never even get put on the list, considered too much of a long shot. The number of organs we have available are never going to be able to meet the demand,” said Dr. Amit Tevar, a transplant surgeon at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. “ This is our frustration.”
That’s why scientists are looking to animals as another source of organs. A Maryland man lived two months after receiving the world’s first heart transplant from a pig last January — an animal genetically modified so its organs didn’t trigger an immediate attack from the human immune system. The FDA is considering whether to allow additional xenotransplantation experiments using kidneys or hearts from gene-edited pigs.
Bioengineering organs is markedly different -- no special pigs required, just leftover organs from slaughterhouses.
“That is something that in the long term may very likely contribute to the development of organs we can use in humans,” said Pittsburgh’s Tevar. He’s not involved with Miromatrix -- and cautioned that the planned outsidethe-body testing would be only an early first step.
The Miromatrix approach stems from research in the early 2000s, when regenerative medicine specialist Doris Taylor and Dr. Harald Ott, then at the University of Minnesota, pioneered a way to completely decellularize the heart of a dead rat. The team seeded the resulting scaffolding with immature heart cells from baby rats that eventually made the little organ beat, garnering international headlines.
Fast forward, and now at university spinoff Miromatrix sit rows of large jugs pumping fluids and nutrients into livers and kidneys in various stages of their metamorphosis.
Stripping away the pig cells
Taer The Daily CallerKeeping a major Trump-era border policy, known as Title 42, in place is not the blanket solution to America’s illegal immigration crisis, two former Trump administration officials told the Daily Caller News Foundation.
The Biden administration attempted to lift Title 42, which was put in place under the Trump administration to expel certain illegal immigrants to prevent the spread of COVID-19, in May before Republican states sued. The order remains in place and the latest court battle with Republican states awaits Supreme Court intervention.
Title 42, however, is ultimately a bandage for a bigger problem, former Border Patrol Chief Rodney Scott told the DCNF.
“Title 42 is almost a distraction at this point. I’m not saying it
should go away, that there’s no impact. There will be an impact. It’s a little bit more marketing right now for the cartels and the total number of people crossing,” Scott told the DCNF.
Federal border authorities encountered more than 2.3 million migrants at the southern border in fiscal year 2022, a new record. Fiscal year 2023 has also been marked by monthly surges of more than 230,000 migrants.
The Republican states have argued that lifting the policy will only worsen illegal immigration.
“We are already in the midst of the worst catastrophic Border Security crisis in our lifetime,” Former Acting Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Chief Mark Morgan told the DCNF.
“This administration’s open border policies have resulted in more than 6 million total encounters and known got aways from 160 different countries in less than 24
“decelled”
removes some of the risks of xenotransplantation, such as lurking animal viruses or hyperrejection, Ross said. The FDA already considers the decellularized pig tissue safe for another purpose, using it to make a type of surgical mesh.
More complex is getting human cells to take over.
“We can’t take billions of cells and push them into the organ at once,” Ross said. When slowly infused, “the cells crawl around and when they see the right environment, they stick.”
The source of those human cells: donated livers and kidneys that won’t be transplanted. Nearly a quarter of kidneys donated in the U.S. last year were discarded because hospitals often refuse to transplant less than perfect organs, or because it took too long to find a matching recipient.
As long as enough cells still are functioning when donation groups offer up an organ, Miromatrix biologists isolate usable cells and multiply them in lab dishes.
From one rescued human organ the company says it can grow enough cells to repopulate several pig liver or kidney scaffolds, cells responsible for different jobs -- the kind that line blood vessels or filter waste, for example.
In 2021, researchers with Miromatrix and the Mayo Clinic reported successfully transplanting a version of bioengineered livers into pigs.
That set the stage for testing a “liver-assist” treatment similar to dialysis, using bioengineered livers to filter the blood of people in acute liver failure, a life-threatening emergency. Doctors now have little to offer except supportive care unless the person is lucky enough to get a rapid transplant.
“If you can just get over the hump, then you might actually recover” -- because the liver is the only organ that can repair itself and regrow, said Mount Sinai’s Florman. “I’ll be excited when they get their first patient enrolled and I hope that it’s with us.”
It’s not clear how soon that
(AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King)testing can begin. The FDA recently told Miromatrix it has some questions about the study application.
If the outside-the-body liver experiment works, what’s next? Still more research aimed at one day attempting to transplant a bioengineered organ — likely a kidney, because a patient could survive with dialysis if the operation failed.
While regrowing kidneys isn’t as far along, “I was completely stunned” at the progress so far, said Dr. Ron Shapiro, a kidney transplant expert at Mount Sinai.
He treats many older patients on dialysis who “will wait for years and years to get a kidney and likely die waiting on the list who would be perfect” for such experiments -- if they come in time.
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
months.”
“And that’s with Title 42 being in place. Of course losing Title 42 will make the crisis worse, but make no mistake, with or without Title 42, every aspect of our country’s safety and national security is being jeopardized as a direct result of this administration’s ongoing assault on the constitution, rule of law and their sworn duty to secure our borders,” Morgan said.
The Biden administration should be moving away from its priorities of aiding illegal immigrants, Scott argued, citing a recent asylum rule that can give approval without an immigration judge, and the funding of nongovernmental organizations and localities caring for illegal immigrants released into the country.
The asylum officers are there to vet asylum claims in addition to immigration judges, but the process favors those who come illegally, Scott said.
The Biden administration implemented the rule in March to hire asylum officers to approve or deny claims before illegal immigrants faced an immigration judge to speed up a backlogged process. The funding for asylum officers, however, could be used to keep more illegal immigrants in detention, Scott proposed.
There are more than 787,000 pending asylum cases in fiscal year 2023, according to Syracuse University’s Transactional Access Records Clearinghouse (TRAC).
Applicants wait an average of 1,572 days before their hearing in court.
“If they shifted the money that they’re currently using through FEMA to all these NGOs and the money that CBP is diverting from operations into these processing centers, you diverted that to detention, this problem would go away overnight because 80 to 90% of these claims traditionally are
connecting with the community at these events.
bogus,” Scott said.
“Now the only other catch to that is that they have changed the asylum rules. Basically they watered it down and asylum officers make adjudications, which is not how it should be. And then if the asylum officer rules in the negative, the individual still gets to go see a judge, so they’re giving them two cracks at it instead of one,” Scott added.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@ dailycallernewsfoundation.org
of Luiseño Indians and their support of our children and families,” Emily Shaw, HUSD’s director of wellness and community outreach, said. “Through their generous toy donation this year, more than 1,000 children will receive a toy who may otherwise not have gifts. We are extremely grateful for their ongoing support and commitment to our community.”
Miriam Ortiz, HUSD’s coordinator of school, family and community partnerships, said Hemet families continue to express gratitude for the toy donations.
“The toys provide our parents relief during the holiday season and allows them to sprinkle joy into the lives of their children!” Ortiz said.
Soboba Tribal Vice Chair Geneva Mojado said she looks forward to
“To see so many people take time to come out to help us secure Christmas gifts for the neediest children in our valley always makes me smile,” she said.
An additional 3,000 toys purchased at Walmart were made available to local nonprofits that serve the mission statement of the Soboba Foundation and had
requested the donations. More than 300 Starbucks cards in the amount of $20 each were given to each district as gifts for students 14 and older in selected families receiving toys for their younger siblings.
Soboba Foundation President Dondi Silvas said, “It’s a blessing to be able to help bring some joy and cheer to kids, especially at this time of year.”
It may be painful to think about your funeral, but it doesn’t have to be painful to pay for it.
Solving America’s border crisis doesn’t solely depend on keeping a key Trump-Era policy, former officials sayVolunteers sort 1,000 toys as they arrive at the San Jacinto Unified School District warehouse during Soboba’s Unstuff the Bus event. Valley News/Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians photo
For the past few years, Cora and Jackson Catcho surprised homeowners of The Collection community with handmade cards that commemorate their holiday displays. The children, ages 8 and 5, walk the neighborhood with their mother, Catherine Catcho, and decide which homes are the most well decorated.
Catcho explains that their holiday tradition was conceptualized during the COVID pandemic. At the time, Cora and Jackson were so eager to get out of the house, and seeing the Christmas lights outside encouraged them to participate in evening walks. She recalls some of their walks exceeding 30 minutes in length, just to go around the block. Both of her children would always appreciate the details seen on display.
Cora’s and Jackson’s cards are festive, as they are crafted with care. Catcho lets her children sign with their first names, out of the desire to humanize their cards. She labels them natural extroverts, as they thrive on any opportunity to speak with others. This was especially the case during the pandemic, when the children yearned for connections outside of their mother and father. Those that were given a card have responded in a warm and gracious fashion, as most enjoy knowing that their decorations were loved by the children.
Even though the cards are left
Cora and Jackson hugging each other while walking throughout the neighborhood.
anonymously, Catcho explains that those within their network are aware of who is leaving these unexpected gifts. Some neighbors have reciprocated the generous acts through gifting the children with chocolate or stuffed animals. For those outside of their court, it’s a different deal.
“I heard from a mutual friend, people were asking if anyone knew the kids who wrote the card. A couple times on a walk people made the connection and they were so happy to put faces to names,” Catcho says.
The children take everything into account when observing the decorations of a home. Whether that
be the wreaths, lights or inflatable lawn ornaments, all factors are taken into consideration. Even a car parked in the driveway, one that might be adorned in festive decorations, is acknowledged by Cora and Jackson.
“My little one is so loving, even if the evening timers weren’t on when we passed them out, he made sure they got a card. I can only imagine what those ring doorbells captured,” their mother laughs.
Catcho claims that her mother, Jeannie Kolod, is the creative mastermind. Kolod used to be a docent at the Detroit Institute of Arts museum for children, and loves to work with them on design
and production. She conjures up a one-stop craft station and all of the cards are completed throughout November, across many sleepovers. It has quickly become a bonding subject for them, as the children always adore doing arts and crafts with their grandmother.
Due to the increasing number of cards created each year, per the request of Catcho, Kolod believes that they should start the creative process in October next year. During their first year, the children dispersed 20 cards. Then, by the following year, they left behind 40 cards. This year, that number reached 60.
Catcho claims that it always feels
like a large amount, yet they always run out of cards before their walk concludes. The children received help from their cousins and father this year when creating the cards. But should they wish to have 75 to 80 cards for the next year, the entire family might be called in to help. Catcho hopes that by starting off this tradition at an age where the children are still young, they will consider this task as important as decorating the tree or baking cookies.
Ava Sarnowski can be reached by email at valleystaff@reedermedia. com
RIVERSIDE COUNTY – Join the Department of Waste Resources for a refreshing revised online program – Zero Waste Hero. This virtual experience will challenge residents to become more active in reducing waste, recycling more and becoming a less wasteful consumer. Residents will have the opportunity to complete challenges on Instagram and Facebook. As participants complete the challenges, they earn an entry into a drawing for eco-friendly
prizes. No registration is required for the free, virtual program which may be accessed it on any computer, tablet or smartphone. For more information, visit https:// www.rcwaste.org/CommunityPrograms/Community-Outreach/ Zero-Waste-Hero.
Zero Waste Hero is a monthlong social media campaign geared toward helping Riverside County residents learn about waste reduction or improve their current waste reduction efforts through
fun, educational challenges. Participants will be entered into a weekly drawing. This effort, occurring in January 2023, is meant to increase awareness of proper recycling and methods a family can implement at home to reduce waste.
Zero Waste Hero challenges will focus on a different part of the home each week, like the kitchen, bathroom, office, bedroom, garage and yard. Each Sunday, the week’s theme and prize will be announced.
The simple daily challenges can be completed from Monday to Friday. The drawing closes each Friday at noon. On Saturdays, the winner will be announced for the week.
The winner will be chosen through a virtual drawing; participants can enter by completing the challenges for the week. The more active a participant is, the more entries they will earn for the prize drawings. At the end of the month, a drawing with all participants will be conducted for the grand prize.
The grand prize will be a kitchen countertop bin and either a GeoBin or a vermicomposting bin. While anyone can participate, prizes will only be awarded to Riverside County residents.
For more information, call a recycling specialist at 951-4863200 or visit https://www.rcwaste. org/Community-Programs/ Community-Outreach/ZeroWaste-Hero.
Submitted by Riverside County.
A 48-year-old former U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent from Riverside who sexually assaulted two women was convicted of federal charges Wednesday, Dec. 21.
Following a nearly two-week trial at U.S. District Court in downtown Riverside, a jury found John Jacobs Olivas guilty of three counts of deprivation of rights under color of law.
U.S. District Judge Jesus Bernal scheduled a sentencing hearing
for Saturday, March 11. Olivas, who had been free on bond, was remanded into custody and placed in a federal detention center.
The defendant faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
He was indicted in 2018 following an investigation that began three years earlier.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Olivas was an ICE agent from 2007 until his resignation in 2015, working most of that time in Homeland Security Investigations.
According to the indictment, in January 2012, he assaulted and attempted to rape a woman, telling
her during the encounter that “the police would not be responsive” to any allegations she might make against him because of his status as a federal law enforcement officer.
He further claimed that he was “‘above a cop,’ ‘untouchable’ and ‘invisible’ to police due to his position as a federal agent,” according to the prosecution.
He told the victim that he could arrange for child welfare workers to take custody of her children if she tried to inform on him.
Olivas raped a second woman in September 2012 and again in
Authorities identified a 48-yearold man on Monday, Dec. 26 who allegedly shot at several residences in Murrieta with two semi-automatic firearms.
David Carr of Murrieta was arrested Sunday, Dec. 25 and
booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center in Riverside on suspicion of assault with a semiautomatic weapon and shooting at an inhabited dwelling. He was being held on $1 million bail.
The Murrieta Police Department responded to numerous 911 calls at 8 a.m. Sunday regarding gunshots heard in the area of Calle San
Clemente and Calle San Vicente. Police closed off the Las Brisas area and advised residents to remain in their homes.
An investigation revealed the shots originated in the 24000 block of San Vicente and were fired by someone experiencing a mental health crisis, police said.
At around 12:20 p.m., a SWAT
November of that year, prosecutors said.
The victim testified that “Olivas made it clear ... that police would not respond to any report she might make about attacks by him, causing the victim to believe that he was ‘invincible’ to the criminal justice system,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
According to the witness, the former lawman pointed his gun at her before attacking her.
Olivas told the victim on both occasions that she would not gain anything by going to the police because they would believe
whatever he told them and reject her claims.
Prosecutors wrote in court documents that both women felt hopeless in the face of the defendant’s “violent, escalating, controlling and intimidating behavior, which included his repeated brandishing of (Homeland Security) credentials and asserting that he was above the law.”
At the time of his arrest, FBI agents believed there might have been other women victimized by the defendant. But none but the two came forward.
team arrived on the scene to deescalate the situation, and the arrest was reported at 1:46 p.m.
"After several hours of attempted communication with the male and other de-escalation and intervention techniques, the male exited the residence and surrendered without further incident," police said.
A search warrant served by
Murrieta police detectives allegedly discovered that the suspect was in possession of two semi-automatic firearms, one handgun and one rifle, along with 30 spent bullet casings. No injuries were reported. Anyone with information about the incident was encouraged to contact Murrieta Police Detective Jason Calvert at 951-461-6359.
For the past 11 years, lower Aguanga has been graced by a large lighted star nestled atop
a hillside, accompanied by a brilliant 13-foot-tall cross made of bright white lights. The star glows down upon the Hwy. 371 and 79 South junction, bringing joy and smiles to many drivers during the
Christmas season.
The festive star measures 16 feet tall and 16 feet wide, and is easily seen from across the valley. Lovingly created by Aguanga homeowner Lee Morgan, the star
is lighted after Thanksgiving and turned off Jan. 2.
“There’s a 60-foot star in the foothills of Upland, where Lee grew up and where I worked at Upland High School,” Lee’s wife
Sieker Staff Writer
The Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Anza hosted a fun, delicious, creative and educational Gingerbread Nativity Party Saturday, Dec. 17. Materials were provided and participants decorated cookies and houses with colorful icing, candy beads, gumdrops and candy canes to create Nativity manger and adoration scenes.
“It was fun,” church member Tara Butchart said. “I think some of the older teens came in and were not too excited but then totally got into it. Some got so creative and
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.
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/
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.
information, contact Borrego Health’s Anza Community Health Center, 58581 Route 371, in Anza. For more information, call 951763-4759.
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.
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.
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.
REEDER, Publisher MALINA GUGEL, DistributionEditorial
STEPHANIE PARK, Copy Editor
J.P. RAINERI, Sports Editor
SHANE GIBSON, Staff Photographer
TONY AULT, Staff Writer DIANE SIEKER, Staff Writer
Production KARINA RAMOS YOUNG, Art Director FOREST RHODES, Production Assistant SAMANTHA GORMAN, Graphic Artist Digital Services MARIO MORALESANZA VALLEY OUTLOOK MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. BOX 391353, Anza, CA 92539 PHONE: (760) 723-7319 PHONE: (951) 763-5510 FAX: (760) 723-9606 Copyright Valley News, 2022
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
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.
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
could see it each night.
“The star and cross are pretty cool,” Lake Riverside Estates resident Thaiz Jahelka said. “I love that they make me smile whenever I see them.”
The cross also serves during another holy season in the spring every year.
“We’ve had an Easter Sunrise
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.
Service every year here since 2009,” Sharon said. Motorists can see the star and cross before they are turned down at the conclusion of New Year’s celebrations on Jan. 2. Diane Sieker can be reached by email at dsieker@reedermedia. com
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
Naiman Writer
Riverside County accepted a $380,000 grant for the San Jacinto Mountain Region Outdoor Alert and Warning Project.
A 4-0 county Board of Supervisors vote Tuesday, Dec. 13, with Manuel Perez absent, accepted the grant from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and authorized the director of the county’s Emergency Management Department or his designee to sign any allocation documents, including agreements and amendments, related to the administration of the award. The grant covers route identification, planning, public outreach and
education.
The grant utilizes funding from the California Fire Safe Council Wildfire Evacuation Planning and Development Grant Program. The grant program assists counties with evacuation route identification and planning, evacuation routes, public outreach and education.
The San Jacinto Mountain region includes Anza, Fern Valley, Garner Valley, Idyllwild, Mountain Center, Pine Cove, Pinyon Pines and Poppet Flats. The San Jacinto Mountain communities are surrounded by national forest and wilderness which have been severely impacted by drought conditions. The major highways in the region are state Route 243 and state Route 74, and those highways
are not sufficient to provide a timely mass evacuation of people unless a system allows for communication and coordination in the event evacuation is necessary.
The county completed the initial planning phase of an outdoor alert and warning system project for the San Jacinto Mountain region. The system would provide people with early, real-time information on how they can protect themselves from imminent dangers and hazards identified in the county’s Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. The system will have the ability to be activated using Riverside County’s alert and warning system or from one of its local sites by a partnering public safety organization and
will use Geographic Information System software to determine the location of a fire or other hazard, vulnerable populations, the best evacuation routes and staging locations. The system will also provide enhanced coordination and communications among public safety providers and the public for timely notification using outdoor high-decibel speakers located in 41 strategic locations throughout the region.
The system will also integrate with and expand upon the existing WNKI 1610-AM radio station. It will allow public safety personnel to provide updated information to travelers and evacuees through WNKI. A public outreach and education program will include
road signs advising travelers to tune in to 1610-AM for updated evacuation information.
In addition to the 41 outdoor warning speakers, the system will also have four traveler information stations. The locations of those 45 sites were determined based on funding, construction requirements, and their proximity to population centers.
The grant covers the period from Sept. 1, 2022, through Feb. 29, 2024. The grant allows for satellite fees, software setup and pre-paid annual testing as well as for equipment.
Joe Naiman can be reached by email at jnaiman@reedermedia. com
in
“This is the first year in a while we’ve tried something like this with the youth and families and we are hoping to make it a yearly tradition,”Butchart said. “I truly loved that whole families came, not just the kids. It was great watching families work together to create their masterpieces.”
For more about the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, www. facebook.com/Sacred-Heart-ofAnza-172200349497797/
Diane Sieker can be reached by email at dsieker@reedermedia. com
RIDE from page D-1
“We had 18 participants and rode around the lake twice,” organizer Sabrina Drake said.
The crisp temperatures and excitement seemed to make the horses and ponies eager for a ride. Young riders, as well as seasoned professionals, enjoyed their time bonding with their mounts and each other.
A costume contest was held, with the Grinch coming in first, and Michelle Robinson earning a close second.
Hopefully this is the start of a Lake Riverside Estates equestrian holiday tradition, Drake said.
Diane Sieker can be reached by email at dsieker@reedermedia. com
art knowledge, I thought they might be worth a few bucks. For a young father of four at the time, any money was a big deal, and Christmas wasn’t too far off.
I called an art dealer to come to take a look at what I had. When he showed up, he looked carefully at every piece, rubbed his chin, sighed deeply and said, “I’m sorry to tell you this, but your pieces aren’t worth anything. They are hotel art.”
How many times have you treasured something that had zero value?
If you’re going to treasure anything this Christmas, you need to have a heart that treasures Christmas. Here’s why.
and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart,” in Luke 6:43-45.
What’s in your heart? The quickest way to tell is by looking at what’s coming out of your life.
Jesus taught us, “It is what comes from inside that defiles you. For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you,” in Mark 7:20-23.
Another great “fruit” to look at is your words. What you say is an excellent barometer of what’s rooted in your heart. So spend the day keeping track of your conversations, even those you have with yourself. It will tell you where the treasure of your heart is.
If the treasure of your heart is wrong, it’s time to make a change.
Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field,” in Matthew 13:44.
world so you can have what’s most important?
There’s going to come to a point in your life where, at the core of your being, you choose what’s most important. Jesus taught us that he is the treasure for which you’ve been looking all your life. Is he going to be your greatest treasure and your life’s joy?
What if the treasure you think you’ve found in life really isn’t a treasure at all?
Some years ago, I was given several pieces of art that were about 50 years old. I was excited because, as a person with zero
Your heart represents your life.
Jesus said, “A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes,
You can often tell what’s in a person’s heart by looking at their checkbook and calendar. Those two things often represent the makeup of a person’s life. So what does yours look like?
In this short parable, Jesus compared people to the man in the field. The field is the world, and Jesus is the priceless treasure that is found. The question is, are you going to dig for it and what will you do when you find the treasure of Christmas: Jesus?
Will you do whatever it takes, forsaking all other treasures of this
PASADENA – For more than a century, families and spectators from all over the world line the streets of Pasadena to view the Rose Parade at the start of each new year. It is a family tradition that fills the air with optimism and hope.
“We’re finding that a lot of people are just excited to get back to some normalcy,” Mark Plomaritis of Lake Forest said.
Another tradition is also returning this year. For the first time since 2020, Jehovah’s Witnesses will again be seen along the parade route, standing next to mobile carts displaying positive and hopeful messages for families.
“People are looking for happiness and answers, and want to make changes. They are hoping that the next year might be better than the last,” Gene Beltran, local representative for Jehovah’s Witnesses in California, said.
The theme of this year’s Rose Parade is “Turning the Corner.”
Parade organizers said they were hopeful that the nearly 800,000 expected attendees will mark this event as a fresh start for the community.
At 35 locations along the 5 1/2 mile parade route, more than 250 Jehovah’s Witnesses have been preparing to share a positive message with all in attendance.
“People are eager, more eager
than ever, to hear something positive,” Kathryn Plomaritis said.
Along the sidewalks, families bundle up against the early morning cold. Some camp out overnight, make s’mores and secure their best spot to view the breathtaking floats. Despite the heightened excitement, there remains a lingering mindfulness of safety, security and the way times have changed.
“People are now very sensitive to what has happened,” James Villanueva, who assists in organizing this volunteer event for Jehovah’s Witnesses, said. “I think our presence at the parade will be instrumental in giving people a real hope that these problems are just temporary.”
In September 2022, Jehovah’s Witnesses resumed their public ministry. Out of concern for the health and safety of the community, Witnesses had suspended their activity in March 2020.
“The pandemic gave people the opportunity to reorganize their priorities in life. Many feel it’s important to get in touch with their spirituality,” Zila Rodriguez of Los Angeles said.
Returning volunteer, Crystal Jones from Carson said, “The carts are like a cup of coffee on a cold day. They are so warm and inviting.”
Volunteers stand beside mobile
“My goal is that you may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that you may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that you may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,” in Colossians 2:2-3.
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.
of representative democracy, the age of science, the supersedence of reason over superstition, and the establishment of individual liberties to live according to one’s values.”
They write, “Although postmodernism openly rejects the possibility of the foundations that have built modernity, it has nevertheless had a profound impact on the thinking, culture and politics of those societies that modernity built.”
subjectivism or relativism; a general suspicion of reason; and an acute sensitivity to the role of ideology in asserting and maintaining political and economic power.”
to be activists. Enter Social Justice Warriors.
but it seems those who preach against it are bringing it back into fashion.
Julie Reeder PublisherThis is the second in a series on Critical Race Theory. It is reprinted from Village and Valley Newspapers in May 2021.
Last week we focused on the Marxist/neo-Marxist roots of Critical Race Theory (CRT) which are strong, but where neo-Marxism left off, postmodernism took over, making the way for CRT today.
Postmodernism has its roots in Marxism and concepts written about by French Theorists in the last century, including Michel Foucault, Jacques Derrida and Jean-Francois Lyotard who were Marxist sympathizers.
Postmodernism is a hard concept to describe but it represents a set of ideas and modes of thought that came together in response to specific historical conditions. Like its predecessor Marxism, it was more about groups – owners against workers, proletariat against the bourgeoisie, etc. Postmodernism was a critical reaction to modernism, including the Enlightenment. In the Enlightenment it was the opposite. The individual was paramount, the proper unit of analysis, a fundamental reality, capable of rational thought and independent speech and could weigh arguments according to evidence, logic and reason with independent sovereignty, free will, etc. Postmodernists are skeptical of all grand narratives, like religions, including the grand Enlightenment narrative.
Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay, co-authors of the book “Cynical Theories,” explain that Postmodernism is a reaction to and rejection of modernity. Modernity is “the profound cultural transformation which saw the rise
Since there were no successful governments based on Marxism and in fact, they were catastrophically bloody, resulting in 100 million dead from tyranny and genocide. It was no longer intellectually credible to promote those ideas as an intellectual. People were responding to the World Wars and the widespread disillusionment with Marxism. They were also questioning religious worldviews in light of the post-industrial times and the rapid advance of technology.
But because postmodernism is also a radical skepticism of objective knowledge, it challenges our social, cultural, and political thinking with intentional disruptive ways.
Normally, as a culture, we would welcome the debate and work these ideas out in the open. However, it is part of the postmodern/CRT doctrine that if you disagree, the response is not to debate, it’s censorship or cancellation. Free speech and open debate can be considered aggressive and maybe even dangerous, or possibly even “hate speech.”
One important thing that postmodernism does not do, is give credit to advances in science, culture, etc. It radically rejects the foundations upon which today’s advanced civilizations and cultures are built and consequently has the potential to undermine them. That is one reason why the preference is for revolution. Destroy and build the utopia up from nothing, rather than recognize progress and build on that.
Postmodernism was prominent within the fields of the humanities and the social sciences, including psychoanalysis, linguistics, philosophy, history and sociology.
The Encyclopedia Britannica defines postmodernism as “a late 20th century movement characterized by broad skepticism,
This is relevant because of the rejection of science, tradition, identity, (example: no one can tell you if you are a male or female). Relativism of moral and ethical matters: Morality is made. It is not based on cultural or religious tradition, or law. Morality is constructed by dialogue and choice because it is believed that all forms of morality are socially constructed cultural worldviews subject to the person’s view, feelings and ever changing disposition.
Steinar Kvale, professor of psychology and director of the Center of Qualitative Research, says, “The central themes of postmodernism include doubting that any human truth provides an objective representation of reality, focusing on language and the way societies use it to create their own local realities, and denying the universal (2+2=4). These, he explains, resulted in an increased interest in narrative and storytelling, particularly when “truths” are situated within particular cultural constructs, and a relativism that accepts that different descriptions of reality cannot be measured against one another in any final – that is, objective – way. Therefore, knowledge, truth, meaning and morality are, according to postmodernist thinking, culturally constructed and relative products of individual cultures, none of which possess the necessary tools or terms to evaluate the others.”
This is why it’s dangerous in our schools. Gone is objective truth, including math, science, history, etc.
Postmodernism in rejecting modernity, including Enlightenment thinking, posits skepticism that objective reality can be known through reliable methods, like the scientific method, and math. Two plus two therefore, does not always have to equal 4 according to postmodernism. Objective knowledge or truth isn’t really obtainable, and you also have to have a commitment to cultural constructivism.
They want to not only change what people believe, but how they believe and then encourage them
Then after objective truth is rejected, it is taught that society is formed by systems of power and hierarchies which decide what can be known and how. Usher in political correctness.
If it doesn’t quite make sense to you, don’t feel bad because you aren’t alone.
So first we reject reason and all the advances brought by the Enlightenment and the scientific method.
We blur all boundaries of society, gender, nationality, family, etc. with cultural constructivism.
We fixate on language to the point of neurosis and reject free speech and cancel those who may disagree or try to understand. Then if the conversation gets a little tough or complicated, it descends into name calling, especially the favored “racist” tag. We are seeing this locally at varying levels of government.
What follows is an obsession with oppression, activism and identity politics which divides people into groups primarily by race. Gone are the standards fought for peacefully by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. of judging someone by the content of their character rather than by the color of their skin. You have to first consider someone’s race and this is also what is being taught to children in school. CRT turns it around so that if you don’t first consider skin color, you are racist. And if you speak up about it or disagree with the principle, you are racist. And if you are “white” you are automatically a racist and an oppressor, no matter who you are or your upbringing.
The two books most read and recognized right now supporting CRT are “White Fragility” by Robin DiAngelo and “How to be an Anti-Racist” by Ibram X. Kendi. A good book explaining the dangers of CRT is “Cynical Theories” by Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay.
In this new world, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced that she will no longer take interviews with white people. Can you imagine if a caucasian mayor did that? This is only one of many openly racist actions. It is reverting us back to considering people for school, grants, etc. by race, which is racist. I never thought we would revert back to systematic racism,
untouchable here, not because I am fragile, because I am FIERCE.”
I should first tell you about Pechanga Pu’eska Mountain Day. It is always key to cement the context before dipping a toe into the quicksand of thought and words.
Pu’eska Mountain is one of many sites in a vast region that are sacred to the Pechanga tribe. But it is holier than most, as Tribal members say it is the home of their creation story. It has been likened to Bethlehem’s stable, Moses’ burning bush and Islam’s Holy of Holies.
The Pechanga Tribe, which operates one of the most successful gaming complexes in the nation, purchased the quarry site for $20.35 million in the eleventh hour of the controversy. The purchase unfolded just as the project opponents had feared a twist of fate had caused the government’s wheels to grind them into dust.
warrior parading through the Senate grounds after a hard-fought battle against the barbarians who had dared to storm the gates of that iconic city.
Some of this cadre of chums welcomed my return with open arms.
Journalist Christopher Rufo reports having 1,000 stories from across the country about CRT. Here are a couple. “The Treasury Department held a training session telling staff members that ‘virtually all white people contribute to racism’ and that they must convert ‘everyone in the federal government’ to the ideology of ‘antiracism.’ And the Sandia National Laboratories, which designs America’s nuclear arsenal, sent white male executives to a three-day reeducation camp, where they were told that ‘white male culture’ was analogous to the ‘KKK,’ ‘white supremacists,’ and ‘mass killings.’ The executives were then forced to renounce their ‘white male privilege’ and write letters of apology to fictitious women and people of color.”
Former Department of Justice Attorney General William Barr recently argued that “the greatest threat to religious liberty in America today” is “the increasingly militant and extreme secular-progressive climate of our state-run educational system.”
He said that “this indoctrination in public schools may well have reached the point of being unconstitutional and laid out a case for a legal challenge to the… brainwashing based on the First Amendment.”
So, why are we taking the time each week to look at Critical Race Theory and start at its roots? We are finding it in some of our schools and certainly in local, state and national government. An “ethnic studies” framework for K-12 was just passed by the California legislature. On May 27, the California Assembly passed a bill to make Critical Race Theory (dubbed “ethnic studies”) a high school graduation requirement. The vote was 58-9. We have to understand it before we can really report on it and we are taking you on that journey of discovery with us. As parents in school board meetings across the country fight it and state governments outlaw it, we better do our research and at least have a basic understanding since the next generation will be affected by it one way or another.
A few other leaders accepted my abject apologies for my many years of being an arrogant and sometimes verbally-abusive newspaper reporter.
Tim O’Leary Special to Valley NewsHello, again, dear reader. Until recently, I simply could not grasp the concept of being ‘Born again.’ Now I understand. A new day has dawned.
I finally have an inkling as to how Rip Van Winkle felt when he awoke from his deep sleep. I think I know how Lazarus felt when Christ summoned him from the tomb. I have a recollection of how I felt when I burst from my mother’s womb.
I felt that reawakening during the recent fete in which the Pechanga tribe and the city of Temecula marked the 10th anniversary of Pechanga Pu’eska Mountain Day. I now understand the meaning of those two words: ‘Born again.’
I will elaborate below. But first let me share a quote that was on a poster distributed at the event. They are words we all, especially women, should live by. The quote is attributed to Pechanga Tribal leader April Bouchard and apparently extracted from the 1995 Yaamay: An Anthology of Indigenous Women’s Voices of Southern California.
“I AM like nothing they’ve seen and cannot be contained. I am
Pu’eska Mountain is known to the Luiseño Indians, a grouping of sister Native American tribes that once claimed a huge empire, as “the Mountain that Weeps.” Pu’eska Mountain is also the former site of the proposed Liberty Quarry, which many credible sources have accurately described as “Riverside County’s most contentious land use controversy.”
I can confirm that moniker, as I served as a humble and objective witness to the drama as it unfolded from start to finish.
Liberty Quarry pitted a massive mining and construction company against a rag-tag coalition of environmental, civic and government groups and agencies. The battle unfolded over many years and dozens of public hearings that often lasted eight hours or more.
I wrote about nearly every one of those meetings, which were held in Riverside, Temecula and Fallbrook.
The 310-acre quarry site was perched high above Temecula, Fallbrook, Rainbow, De Luz and Bonsall. It looked down upon the pristine, free-flowing Santa Margarita River, two state highways and one interstate highway.
The purchase of the site was announced at an impromptu gathering atop a parking garage located a stone’s throw from the Pechanga casino. I was honored to have been invited to that historic and enthusiastic afternoon party.
Now, if I may indulge you kind reader, may I shift to my far-moremundane saga? We pick up my story as I marked my 42nd year in this crazy, beautiful business of journalism.
In this chapter of my life and career, I had just finished a decade of caring for my beautiful, whipsmart wife who had sadly been afflicted by, and suffered deeply from, dementia. We have since moved my beloved wife to the Boston area, where she will be close to her extended, loving family.
Next we fast forward a few weeks, which is when I suffered a total health collapse that landed me in an Oceanside ICU for eight days and its medical/surgical floor for another two.
Those adventures finally led me to the Nov. 15 Pu’eska Mountain Day Celebration. Now I have the liberty to say I felt reborn there because I had the joy of crossing paths with dozens of friends and former colleagues, sources, critics and treasured companions whom I accompanied on this quixotic yet epic journey.
They welcomed me back like Lazarus, the man risen from the dead, or a victorious Roman
“I’m glad you’re back,” whispered Maryann Edwards, a Temecula schools and civic leader who will soon step down after serving more terms as a council member and mayor than anyone since that sprawling, fast-growing community coalesced into a city in 1989.
“It’s all good, Tim,” said a forgiving Mark Macarro, a longtime Pechanga Tribal chairman and spokesman who shook off my screeching tendencies many times, many years ago.
It’s so good to be home, my dearest readers and friends. May we all live long and prosper. May we all revel in the spoken and written word.
CALIFORNIA – Prosecutors in California strongly object to Senate Bill 58, written by state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, which seeks the wholesale decriminalization of many dangerous hallucinogenic drugs.
“This proposal recklessly puts policy before science for numerous psychedelic drugs that have proven to be highly unpredictable and have even been connected to violent crimes,” Greg Totten, CEO of the California District Attorneys Association, said.
Unfortunately, the authors of this bill are charting a path that would allow these dangerous hallucinogenic drugs to be legalized before they have been fully understood by the scientific and medical communities.
“If the proponents want more research, that’s one thing,” Totten said. “And if they are advocating for therapeutic use under medical
supervision, that is also worth considering. But science does not fully understand these drugs and that’s why this bill is so reckless, because it advocates for skipping that scientific scrutiny altogether.”
“As for dealing with drug cases involving users of hallucinogens, as prosecutors our focus has long been to seek treatment, not jail,” Totten said. “We know that we can help people get on the right track by compelling them into treatment for drug addiction, and that is only possible if there are laws that govern these controlled substances.”
The California District Attorneys Association is a statewide training and advocacy organization representing elected district attorneys, city attorneys with criminal divisions and more than 3,500 prosecutors.
Submitted by California District Attorneys Association.
California prosecutors: Allowing hallucinogenic drugs can lead to more violent crime
Jones Statement
of
County on 12/09/2022 NOTICE—IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920, WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE).
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT
File Number: R-202215815
The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: GOOD SHEPHERD COUNSELING 31630 Railroad Canyon Rd, Canyon Lake, CA 92587
Mailing address: 33590 Skylark Dr, Lake Elsinore, CA 92530 County: Riverside Susan Marie Kell, 33590 Skylark Dr, Lake Elsinore, CA 92530
This business is conducted by an Individual Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious name listed above on 10/25/2022
I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).)
Registrant: Susan Marie Kell Statement was filed with the County Clerk of Riverside County on 12/08/2022
NOTICE—IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920, WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION.
THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE). I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS COPY IS A CORRECT COPY OF THE ORIGINAL STATEMENT ON FILE IN MY OFFICE.
PETER ALDANA RIVERSIDE COUNTY CLERK. LEGAL: 3758 PUBLISHED: December 23, 30, 2022; January 6, 13, 2023
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT
File Number: R-202216196
The following person(s) is (are) doing business as:
ELEGANCE GENERAL CONTRACTING 11420 Arizona Ave, Riverside, CA 92503 County: Riverside Hussein Ali Bataineh, 11420 Arizona Ave, Riverside, CA 92503 This business is conducted by an Individual Registrant has not begun to transact business under the fictitious name listed above I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).)
Registrant: Hussein Ali Bataineh Statement was filed with the County Clerk of Riverside County on 12/16/2022 NOTICE—IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920, WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE). I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS COPY IS A CORRECT COPY OF THE ORIGINAL STATEMENT ON FILE IN MY OFFICE.
PETER ALDANA RIVERSIDE COUNTY CLERK. LEGAL: 3759 PUBLISHED: December 23, 30, 2022; January 6, 13, 2023
File Number: R-202216311
The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: FITNESS PARTS 33175 Temecula Parkway, Suite A638, Temecula, CA 92592
County: Riverside Juan Carlos Mejia, 28545 Felix Valdez Ave, Temecula, CA 92590
This business is conducted by an Individual Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious name listed above on 01/01/2022 I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).)
Registrant: Juan Carlos Mejia Statement was filed with the County Clerk of Riverside County on 12/20/2022
NOTICE—IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920, WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE). I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS COPY IS A CORRECT COPY OF THE ORIGINAL STATEMENT ON FILE IN MY OFFICE. PETER ALDANA RIVERSIDE COUNTY CLERK. LEGAL: 3763 PUBLISHED: December 30, 2022; January 6, 13, 20, 2023
ORDER
NAME Case Number: CVSW 2208271 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS Petitioner: JOURJ HANNA Filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present Name: JOURJ HANNA Proposed Name: GEORGE HANNA
THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.
NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 2-9-23 Time: 8:00 Dept: S101 The address of the court: Southwest Justice Center, 30755-D Auld Road, Murrieta, CA 92563 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: Anza Valley Outlook Date: DEC 20 2022 Signed: James F. Hodgkins, Judge of the Superior Court LEGAL: 3764
PUBLISHED: December 30, 2022; January 6, 13, 20, 2023
NOTICE TO DEFENDANT: TAVIXAI TOU LEE PLAINTIFF HAS NAMED AS DEFENDANT, “All
unknown, claiming any legal or equitable right, title, estate, lien, or interest in the property described in the complaint adverse to plaintiff’s title or any cloud upon plaintiff’s title there to.”
YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF: TAVIXAI TOU LEE
NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below.
DATED 03/12/2019 , UNLESS
TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT
A
NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF
PROCEEDING AGAINST
SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER On January 11th, 2022 , at 10:00 AM the undersigned, as duly appointed Trustee under and pursuant to: Deed of Trust recorded 04/05/2019, as Instrument No. 2019-0115762, in the Official Records of the County Recorder of Riverside County, California, and executed by Charles Lor, a Single Man WILL SELL AT PUBLIC AUCTION TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER, for cash or cashier’s check drawn on a financial institution authorized in Civil Code Section 2924h(b), at: THE WEST (MAIN) ENTRANCE TO TEMECULA CIVIC CENTER BUILDING , 41000 MAIN STREET, OLD TOWN, TEMECULA CALIFORNIA all right, title and interest conveyed to and now held by it under said Deed of Trust in the property situated in said County and State as more fully described in said Deed of Trust. The property address and other common designation, if any, of the real property described above is purported to be: 52126 Martindale Dr., Aguanga, CA 92536 APN 580-420-013-9
The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street address and other common designation, if any, shown herein.
TS#2207-527 (52126 Martindale Drive)
Said sale will be made, but without covenant or warranty, express or implied, regarding title, possession, or encumbrances, to pay the unpaid balance of the note(s), secured by said Deed of Trust, to-wit $ 128,244.12 including as provided in said note(s), advances, if any, under the terms of said Deed of Trust, fees, charges and expenses of the Trustee and of the trust created by said Deed of Trust.
Notice of default and election to sell the described real property under the deed of trust was recorded in the county where the real property is located.
NOTICE TO POTENTIAL BIDDERS: If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself. Placing the highest bid at a trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of the property. You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien. If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property. You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder’s office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed of trust on the property
NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may call (951) 694-3903 for information regarding the trustee’s sale], using the file number assigned to this case: TS# 2207-527. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the Internet Web site. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale.
PLEASE CALL (951) 694-3903
If the Trustee is unable to convey title for any reason, the successful bidder’s sole and exclusive remedy shall be the return of monies paid to the Trustee, and the successful bidder shall have no further recourse.
Dated: December 9, 2022
MFTDS, INC. A California Corporation dba MASTER FUNDING CO.
By: Steve Wheeler, President (951) 694-3903 41911 5th St., Ste 202, Temecula, CA 92590 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 2467, Temecula, CA 92593-2467 Published: 12/16/22, 12/23/22, 12/30/22
You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), 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
Notice To Readers: California law requires that contractors taking jobs that total $500 or more (labor or materials) be licensed by the Contractors State License Board. State law also requires that contractors include their license number on all advertising. You can check the status of your licensed contractor at www.cslb.ca.gov or 800-321-CSLB. Unlicensed contractors taking jobs that total less than $500 must state in their advertisements that they are not licensed by the Contractors State License Board.
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