Southwest Valley Sourcebook - 2023

Publisher Note

In the Greater Southwest Valley Sourcebook, we are once again celebrating the abundant and wonderful life our region has to offer. Pleasant year-round climate, economic vitality, bustling businesses, active nonprofits, attainable upscale housing, abundant water, hiking and biking recreation, award-winning public safety and the arts and theater make southwest Riverside County one of the best places to retire or raise a family in the entire country.

As if all that wasn’t enough, higher wages and a strong job market combined with strong home sales, make southwest Riverside County the place to be for families young and old, alike. There are higher wages and a job market that is hungry for more laborers, skilled and unskilled. Housing sales are up this year, breaking records with more demand than supply.

You will read in this issue how the award-winning De Portola Wine Trail, a group of 10 independently owned wineries, proves that all good wines become better when surrounded by good friends and family, a stunning landscape and beautiful rolling hills.

You can read about locals providing promising medical breakthroughs for degenerative diseases and about a private investigator who helps to find lost young people. Discover nonprofits who feed the hungry, clothe young people, teach job skills and walk to support veterans, and volunteers whose therapy animal teams make visits to help people benefit from the presence of an animal.

Learn about the hidden nonprofit gem, JDS Creative Academy, with its mission to inspire, educate and enhance achievement in video production and workforce development by providing job skills and hands-on training in the visual, performing and digital arts.

You may not have heard that our local Mt. San Jacinto College has opened their new five-story, 350,000-square-foot facility in Temecula. It features state-of-the-art labs and technology offering a variety of programs so students can earn associate degrees, transfer to four-year universities or participate in certificate programs in a vast cross section of trades.

Read about the expansion of local award-winning hospitals to provide state-of-the-art health care and medical services to residents whether it’s emergency services and heart attacks or ongoing wellness care. Getting top-rate physical therapy throughout the valley is easier than ever with All Star Physical Therapy’s 30 locations, and a plethora of alternative medicine clinics.

Just for fun, we caught up with the owner of 33 McDonald’s restaurants and the CEO of Wienerschnitzel. You typically wouldn’t read about these legacy brands, so we thought it would be interesting to take a peek inside their businesses with stories about them.

With everything southwest Riverside County has to offer, it’s clear the area is a great place to live, work and play.

Julie Reeder

Publisher

P.S. To keep abreast of local news you can’t find anywhere else, go to myvalleynews.com/subscribe.

Volume 2 • 2023

Published by Village News, Inc.

Publisher

Julie Reeder

Managing Editor

Kim Harris

Editorial

Tony Ault

Rebecca Marshall Farnback Karen M. Ossenfort

Julie Reeder Diane A. Rhodes Lynn Sakamoto-Kay Ava Sarnowski

Staff Photographer Shane Gibson

Contributing Photographers

Andrez Imaging Betti Cadmus Shawna Sarnowski D.L. Starkey

Advertising Sales

Christa Hoag Cindy Davis

Josephine Mackenzie Brian Cabulagan

Graphics & Production

Samantha Gorman

Karina Young

Support

Samantha Cokeley Anna Mullen Jenna Ortiz Chuck Reeder

111 W. Alvarado Street, Fallbrook, CA 92028 | (951) 763-5510 southwestvalleysourcebook.com | villagenews.com | myvalleynews.com valleyeditor@reedermedia.com | sales@reedermedia.com

Cover

Please note: Village News, Inc. has made every attempt to verify and document all of the information contained in The Greater Southwest Valley Sourcebook. If you have information or comments that would help us improve our 2024 Sourcebook, which is now in its planning stages, we ask that you contact our office at (951) 763-5510. We welcome your comments and suggestions. The Greater Southwest Valley Sourcebook and all content is copyright 2023 by Village News, Inc.

photo by Shane Gibson.

Julie Reeder

Shane Gibson photo • Temecula Wine Country

Southwest Riverside County is a great place to live, work and play

Rancho Springs Medical Center is pleased to announce significant expansion and renovation plans for Women’s and Children’s Services, the Emergency Department, and Robotic Surgery.

New and renovated areas will feature private patient rooms, installation of industry-leading clinical technologies for minimally invasive procedures, along with globally sustainable infrastructure enhancements. 951-696-6000

Physicians are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Southwest Healthcare System. The System shall not be liable for actions or treatments

Inland Valley Medical Center is pleased to announce significant expansion and renovation plans that include an all-new 7-story tower featuring modern, state-of-the-art private patient rooms, installation of leading-edge clinical technologies for minimally invasive procedures and advanced therapies, and globally sustainable infrastructure enhancements including energy-efficient LED fixtures and solar panels.

provided by physicians. For language assistance, disability accommodations and the non-discrimination notice, visit our website.

Riverside County Premier Personal Injury & Wrongful Death Trial Lawyers

Former Riverside County Deputy District Attorney

Former Riverside County Deputy District Attorney

For over two decades, The Zucker Law Firm has represented and advocated for individuals and their families, who have been injured or killed by the negligence of others. We work closely with our clients and ensure they are informed of the status of their case at all times. Our attorneys work diligently to seek full compensation for all medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and any other damages.

The firm handles a very limited number of claims each year, so that its attorneys can give each case the individualized attention it deserves. Attorney Andrew Zucker has personally tried over 40 jury trials throughout his career and the firm has handled some of the largest cases out there. They are a small firm by design so that they can heavily work up each case, as it needs.

The Zucker Law Firm is also well funded, in

order to bring in the best of the best experts, and see a case all the way through to trial if need be.

The firm was honored to have one of its recent jury trials reviewed by the California Supreme Court, who unanimously upheld the verdict in a multi-million dollar jury trial. The firm particularly maintains a high regard for the men and women in law enforcement and is proud to have represented them, both in and out of the line of duty.

Andrew Zucker

Valerie Zucker

Colorful Parrots In The San Jacinto Valley

Fly Free

by Diane A. Rhodes D.L. Starkey photos

aying SoCal Parrot Free Flight is for the birds is an unfair statement. It is just as much for the people who enjoy help ing their feathered friends do what comes naturally. Ryan Birke has been training parrots for five years and currently has five ma caws and one cockatoo.

“I would consider parrot free flight training a hobby/lifestyle,” the San Jacinto resident said. “Basically, we train the birds to fly around and return to us. There’s nothing more satisfying than watching your pet happily cruise the skies like nature intended, then returning to your hand.”

He and other bird owners believe captive pet birds should nev er have their wings clipped. He said the practice is outdated and unnecessary and that the birds end up overweight, susceptible to disease and have emotional issues like feather plucking.

“I learned about parrot free flight on YouTube,” Birke, 33, said. “A trainer that I look up to would regularly post videos of his fly ing macaws. I knew when I bought my first house that I would get a macaw. They need way more room than an apartment offers, not to mention how loud they are.”

A few months after he moved into his home in 2017, he took an online free flight course and purchased two macaws from a reputable breeder.

“Training a bird for me is super easy; it’s training the human to train their own bird that’s the challenge,”

Birke laughingly said. “The most rewarding aspect of teaching is that first day outside when the parrot circles back to their owner’s hand. Both the owner and the bird are so excited. It’s comforting to know I can help people start down the path toward better par rot ownership.”

Training begins with indoor recall training, meaning the bird will fly to its owner on cue. Once the bird is ready, they go outside through a series of locations that are designated by Levels 1-5, with 1 being for beginners and 5 the most challenging.

“By slowly going through each location, the bird learns the necessary skills to move onto the next,” Birke said. “I have seen people take a year to free flight train their parrot and I have seen birds outside flying through the different levels in a month or two; it depends on the individual bird and owner. Five out of my six parrots are able to fly at a Level 5.”

Free flight training could be compared to dog training in that since a dog has the ability to run away, a collar and leash is put on them. A parrot can fly away so a harness and leash are used on them.

“You train your dog to come to you by their name; we train our parrots to fly to us. So much time and effort is spent training dogs but people don’t realize you can do the same thing with our par rot companions,” Birke said. “We typically use the bird’s name to recall them.”

He said parrots in the wild do a lot of fighting and bickering; it is no different in his flock and those who are involved with SoCal

[Top] Those who have trained their parrot pets in proper free flight regularly meet up to share their enjoyment of the hobby and lifestyle, including from left, Ryan Birke, Courtney Calleja, Heather Stevenson, Sydney Vanderham, Tim Schutz, Danielle and Barry Horton.

[Left} Pappy, a blue-and-gold macaw, rests on a perch during a recent free flight outing.

Parrot Free Flight. He added that some birds are super aggressive with the others and some are social butterflies.

“We do not handle anyone’s birds but our own,” Birke said. “Un fortunately, if a parrot is friendly with other people or strangers, they will get stolen so we train our birds to avoid and even be aggressive to anyone except the owner.”

Hawks, falcons, eagles and other birds of prey always pose a threat. “We keep our flyers very well trained and physically fit so if there is an encounter, the parrots know exactly how to handle it,” he said. “Parrots live among birds of prey in their nature habitat, and they learn to out maneuver them. A hawk will give up pretty quick when they see it’s not worth the effort. We even have some macaws that will turn around and chase the hawks out of the area where we are flying.”

Free flight times vary.

Birke said, “Sometimes the birds do a quick boomerang back to us and sometimes they enjoy a five-minute cruise through the skies. The parrots always want to go to the park and fly. We take them out as many days a week as we possibly can. I go to the park two or three days a week; more if I can. We take the entire flock to the park on fly days.”

His birds sleep indoors in a dedicated bedroom and spend the day outside in an aviary whenever someone is home with them. Birke ad mits that bird ownership is not for everyone, but he personally loves their complex nature and watching how they problem solve.

“Parrots are extremely challenging pets. They are loud, louder than you can possibly imagine and they will be that loud every single day. I’m talking screams of over 100 decibels. They use these loud calls to communicate for miles across the rainforest in the wild,” Birke said. “They are super intelligent so they need a lot of enrichment. They are destructive by nature. In the wild they hollow out large holes in tree trunks to make their nests. In a human home you can bet they will do the same, but straight through your drywall.”

He said parrots are very expensive to keep. The sale price of the phys ical bird only scratches the surface. Food, toys that have to be replaced regularly because the parrots will shred them, cages, aviaries and vet visits all add up to an extremely expensive hobby/lifestyle. He recom mends researching where the closest avian veterinarian is since not all of them work with birds.

“You have to have a lot of patience in general just to own a parrot, let alone free fly one,” Birke said. “They can make great pets for the right owner so long as that person understands training is extremely impor tant, just like with dogs. You must be confident enough to train out bad behaviors and reinforce the good ones.”

He said accepting the fact that parrots can and will bite but that there’s always a reason, usually human/trainer error, is important. The noise level is a big consideration, not only for the owner but for family members and neighbors as Birke said, “no amount of training will com pletely quiet a parrot.”

Lifespan needs to be considered with plans of where the bird will go if it outlives the owner. The lifespan differs for each species of parrot, but a macaw can live anywhere from 40-80 years. Birke’s birds are cur rently 1-5 years old.

“Since much is still unknown about parrot behavior, I feel like I am constantly learning new things about how they perceive the world,” he said. “Each parrot also has their own unique personality. Their colors and beauty are an added bonus.”

Birke posts regularly on social media as SoCal Parrot Free Flight and offers meetups for those that want to learn more.

Ryan Birke of SoCal Parrot Free Flight lets his birds fly free during a recent outing.

Maui, a Catalina macaw owned by Ryan Birke, perches during a recent free flight outing.

One of Ryan Birke’s macaws returns to his hand during a free flight outing.

Heidi and Ralph Bowser REALTORS®

Live, love, play in the Valley

Heidi and Ralph Bowser of Bowser Realty Group, backed by the No. 1 Century 21 franchise in the world — C21 Award/ Affiliated — have a passion for all things Temecula Valley.

In fact, one of their mottos — “Live, Love, Play in the Valley” — bleeds into ev erything they do.

“When a family member told us about Temecula, we decided to take the drive and check out the area,” Ralph Bowser said. “We immediately fell in love with the location, the scenery and the friendliness of the people.”

And so, for the past 13 years, the Bows ers are proud to have raised their three children, Kyle, Lauren, and Peyton, in the Temecula Valley and all three are attend ing or have graduated from Temecula’s highly-performing high schools, and are moving on to college.

The family-oriented, thriving communi ties here in the valley are some of the safest in the country and there’s far less conges tion than many Southern California cities and towns.

As they say, “location, location, loca tion,” it’s a big reason why the Bowsers settled here. The proximity of the Temecula Valley lends itself easy access to three ma jor counties in less than 90 minutes — San Diego, Los Angeles, and Orange County.

The valley’s location provides a pleth ora of opportunities as a base to venture throughout the Southern California region with world-class beaches, mountains for hiking and skiing, and trekking into the desert just a short car ride away.

You can even visit another country in less than two hours.

Of course, right in our own backyard is the fast-growing Southern California Wine Country, with nearly 50 wineries just

minutes away from Old Town Temecula, with top quality wines, live entertainment and fine dining just around the corner.

With onshore breezes in the late afternoon that cool temperatures down into the 70s and 80s in the summer months, the microclimate of Temecula Valley is a selling point for potential homeowners. Not only is it a comfortable environment to live in, but the weather contributes to the successful wine industry that thrives in the area.

That’s why the Bowser’s champion the uniqueness of the Valley to everyone they meet.

Over the years, the Bowsers have weaved themselves into the fabric of the community by volunteering with many local organizations, such as Rotary, and supporting Michelle’s Place Cancer Resource Center as well as Oak Grove Center, a residential, education and treatment center for atrisk children.

Professionally, Heidi has enjoyed a long and successful career in real estate. When Ralph retired from the business and technology consulting industry, he joined Heidi in building the real estate team into one of the top performing teams of agents not only in the valley, but in all of Southern California.

Bowser Realty Group has achieved Century 21 Double Centurion status, which means they are ranked in the top half of one percent of agents globally. As the No. 1 agents in their office, they have consistently ranked among the top agents in the Temecula Valley for the past 4 years.

It is the passion they have for the Valley, combined with the unparalleled industry

Heidi and Ralph Bowser REALTORS®

Temecula, CA 92592

Heidi 951-200-4669 ext.1 Ralph 951-200-4669 ext. 2

www.bowserrealtygroup.com DRE #01902263, DRE #02024016

www.bowserrealtygroup.com

knowledge, business and sales acumen, and diverse expertise they possess that sets their team apart in the marketplace.

They have integrated elite-level negotiating and sales skills into their real es tate business, ensuring their clients receive the best pos sible outcome, whether buy ing or selling. They are flu ent in the art of developing a win-win-win strategy for all parties involved.

At the forefront of everything they do is the Client Experience. Their goal is to as sist as many families as they can to achieve their real estate dreams while maximizing their return on investment in buying or selling a home.

For homebuyers, the Bowser Realty Team likes to sit down with buyers and truly understand what is important to them as they look to establish roots here in the Valley.

For sellers, they employ a proven push-

pull marketing plan that leverages the 16 locations within C21 Award offices in Orange, San Diego, and Riverside counties to attract buyers selling and moving to our unique area.

In today’s real estate mar ket, it’s all about the expo sure your home gets, and the Bowsers leverage every single tool and technology available to them in order to accomplish the best possible result — global, national, re gional and local exposure. Southern Cali fornia has a big military population, that’s why it is important to note that the Bows ers are certified military relocation real estate agents in the RealtyPlus program, sponsored by NFCU and Realogy. The Bowsers take pride in helping to support military and first responder families.

The Bowsers know that each transaction is an opportunity for their clients to invest in their future and build wealth over the long term. Even after the transaction is

long completed, they ensure each client understands that if they have a question, the Bowsers will always pick up the phone.

“We say what we do and we do what we say, our word is our honor” is the team’s main professional motto and their analytical and consultative approach to real estate is grounded in that statement.

“We are proud to call the Temecula Valley our home and we hope that after reading our story you feel inspired to call it your home too,” Heidi Bowser said. “If you’re looking to buy or sell, we would welcome the opportunity to earn your trust and your business.”

The only thing missing in Temecula is you and your family! Experience the Difference, give the Bowsers a call at 951-200-4669 or visit www.bowserrealtygroup.com.

Supporting

www.bowserrealtygroup.com

The Bowsers have raised their three children, Kyle, Lauren and Peyton, here in the Temecula Valley.

Proud to support the stars and stripes in the Temecula 4th of July Parade.

Marines at Camp Pendleton through Temecula Rotary.

Award

Helping local businesses thrive

Conscientious

consumers who want to help local entrepreneurs thrive may not need any extra incentive to support small businesses in their communities, but a positive reputation is paramount for those local businesses to flourish.

Remember, those local businesses pay taxes to the cities and counties they are located in, benefiting the entire community.

Consumers can help local businesses in their community succeed and attract more customers by leaving a positive review for those businesses online.

The overall star rating a business has on online review sites can go a long way toward compelling prospective customers to patronize a business and more customers means a significant amount of the money spent (The Small Business Association estimates $48 out of every $100) at local businesses is ultimately going to the community at large.

Unlike online or out of town stores, local businesses tend to hire local residents, who

pay taxes on their incomes and those taxes also benefit the towns and cities where those employees live and work.

Marketing experts at BrightLocal found that 85% of consumers indicated overall average star rating was an “important” or “very important” factor in determining whether they would patronize a business in their 2022 Local Consumer Review Survey.

With that in mind, star ratings can be especially valuable when consumers are trying to choose which business to support. More than three-quarters, 76% to be exact, of survey respondents indicated their decisions would be influenced if one business had a higher average star rating than another they were considering.

Positive business reviews don’t only bring in more customers, it creates a ripple effect of supporting the local community through providing jobs which leads to increased tax revenue, which in turn leads to better roads, better services and better public safety for the community the business is located in.

DOWNTOWN MURRIETA MARKET NIGHTS

As the sun sets, artists, artisans, food trucks, and musicians are setting up a oneof-a-kind experience for visitors. Community members enjoy an evening under the stars, listening to live music, shopping for unique treasures, and tasting savory foods, and they leave full of memories and community spirit. What was once a quiet downtown is turning into a vibrant cultural hub in the heart of Murrieta. Supporting the City’s Downtown Master Plan to revitalize the area, shops and restaurants continue to put down roots and flourish. With historic sights to see, places to shop, excellent local restaurants to dine in and opportunities to create community, the downtown is on its way and the Downtown Murrieta Market Nights in partnership with the City of Murrieta are just the beginning.

DOWNTOWN MURRIETA

NIGHTS, hosted on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month, have quickly become a community favorite and the place to experience music, shopping, and the distinct Murrieta community.

MARKET

A

CITY CONNECTED BY COMMUNITY

The City of Murrieta is a premier destination in southwest Riverside County to purchase a home, open a business, shop, dine, explore, and live a high-quality life! Bordered by the picturesque Santa Rosa mountains on the west and vibrant master-planned communities on the east, Murrieta is connected by community.

Hosting dozens of annual events, Murrieta offers plenty of ways to connect with friends and family.

From the City’s memorable annual Birthday Bash celebration and Veteran’s Day parade to concerts in the park and the Murrieta Rod Run on Historic Route 395 in downtown, Murrieta is a dynamic place to experience for residents and visitors alike.

MURRIETA CONSISTENTLY RANKS AS ONE OF THE SAFEST CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. AND A SAFE COMMUNITY LAYS THE FOUNDATION FOR A CONNECTED COMMUNITY.

Public safety is a top priority for Murrieta. With its own City-run police and fire departments, Murrieta’s first responders partner with the community to provide excellent customer service while protecting and serving.

Privately owned for nearly 30 years, the Murrieta Hot Springs Resort will once again open to the public with a variety of activities to support health and wellness destination. Boasting over 43 acres and its own restorative hot springs, the property is set to be a top tourist attraction in the region. The Murrieta Hot Springs shares a rich history as a wellknown location for people from throughout the world to visit and enjoy the healing waters contained in the hot springs. After extensive renovations, the resort is planning to open once again in 2023.

COMING SOON! The Murrieta Hot Springs Resort is reopening to the public as the premier southwest Riverside County destination health and wellness resort.

STUDIO 395 Gives Artists Space to Explore and Exhibit

by Diane A. Rhodes

TUDIO 395 arts cooperative in Lake Elsinore is a non-membership nonprofit that works to incorporate local artists into everything that it does. The group’s activities include classes at the Village On Grand Lakeland Village Community Center, cultural events such as the annual Lake Elsinore Dia De Los Muertos Celebration, exhibits, experiences and many wide-ranging

“Our mission is to provide local artists a means to create, teach, sell and contribute to their local community,” Rebecca Esquibel, CEO and director of STUDIO 395, said.

STUDIO 395 hosts a variety of art exhibits throughout the year, usually inside the Gallery at the Outlets at The Outlets at Lake Elsinore, 17600 Col lier Ave, Unit H185, in Lake Elsinore. Themes typically showcase many genres including pho tography, traditional visual art, sculpture/3D art, digital art and more.

“We believe it is vital for artists to have a venue and voice to be able to express themselves in a creative, collective environment,” Esquibel said.

STUDIO 395 has been operating in the Lake Elsinore area since 2011 and received its nonprofit status in 2013. It was founded by a group of local artists. The initial founders included Grace Sandlin, who died in 2020 and was the last of the original group. Others included videographer John Larsen and muralist Robin Golden. Esquibel joined the group in 2013 to primarily assist with administrative structure and grant writing.

“The founders had experiences in other areas, like L.A. and Orange County, where there are gallery locations, shows, formal schools, etc. This area did not have a whole lot of that sort of structure for artists looking to become professionals,” Esquibel said. “Because of a lack of that sort of structure for artists, there was a lack of opportunities for local residents just looking for classes, showings and more, and that concerned them. Most had moved into this area in the ’90s and 2000s and wanted to see creative vibrancy here as well. And while there were pockets of

Shane Gibson photos

STUDIO 395 creates an immersive art viewing experience of a variety of local artists at the Lake Elsinore Outlets.

A sculpture created by Matthew Sandoval on display at STUDIO 395’s in the Gallery at the Outlets in Lake Elsinore.

art areas, like downtown Riverside and Temecula wine country, those were either formal galleries or high-ticket sales areas and neither were very accessible to the hobby artists or lower income community members.”

Esquibel said she is not an artist, but she joined because in 2013 STUDIO 395 was joining the Lake Elsinore Chamber of Commerce, while she was joining for her personal business, which happened to be the first and only winery in Lake Elsinore.

“STUDIO 395 was looking for space to hold a monthly arts night and I had space,” she said. “I stayed with STUDIO 395 because I quickly saw the value of arts to this area where I made my home and owned my business. Art is an economic influencer, a means to learn about culture, a way to express both positive and negative emotions, and it beautifies, inspires and challenges us. I had a print journalism education

at USC and had spent close to 30 years in the corporate insurance world writing or responding to RFPs or creating member materials. I knew how to write and once I saw what STUDIO 395 wanted to do, I figured I could help with grant writing, marketing, administration and business structure. At this point, I call myself the last man standing since none of the original group is still involved. When Grace passed away, I decided to keep moving forward because I knew it would be what she would want me to do and because I still think we have positive things to contribute to any local artists and all of the community.”

Since 2017, STUDIO 395 has been the contracted operator of the county’s venue, Village On Grand Lakeland Village Community Center. The center, 16275 Grand Ave. in unincorporated Riverside County, offers classes, events, space rental and recreation space. The location was the former Butterfield

A diorama created by John Schacht [above] and a mural by Shila Butler [below] are on display during a recent show in the Gallery at the Outlets in Lake Elsinore.

Elementary School and was opened as a community center in 2016 by the county.

“STUDIO 395 responded to the RFP for an operator and we have worked to build this location as our own home but also a community hub for local activities like vaccine clinics, polling places, quarterly Community Advisory Council meetings, neighborhood clean-ups and other meetings that would impact local residents,” Esquibel said.

The STUDIO 395 name is a reference to Highway 395, which runs through the area

“The idea was to be a support to all the artists in this southwest Riverside County area to encourage their growth and provide a structure that would allow them to contribute to the improved creativity of the community,” Esquibel said.

The coalition has had a secondary location at the Outlets since 2019 that was originally designed to be a venue for interactive art experiences. It is currently used as a workshop for projects and is utilized for gallery shows.

“We have a cadre of volunteers, some long term and some that we call on for specific projects based on our needs and their skills. Some are professionals, others are local high school students or even just those that hear about us or a specific project and just give us a call,” Esquibel said. “Bottom line, we will fit in any volunteers wherever we can. Part of our marketing is always that call for contributors or volunteers. Those that want to get in further are always welcome and we have current board members that simply showed up to our events over and over. If you think art should be an important part of your community, we want you to contact us.”

Although there have been arts groups in Lake Elsinore in the past, there aren’t any current groups that provide what STUDIO 395 offers.

“We do call ourselves the ‘Outlier Art Organization’ primarily because a number of the past and current art groups in the area are more focused on membership that will hold a showing only for their own members,” Esquibel said. “We definitely are focused on spreading the art around, primarily to the underserved audience in this area. That even extends to our efforts to get grant funding that we see as opportunities to attract local youth to art or for cultural events.”

She said STUDIO 395 is pleased with the positive relationships it maintains with other art groups in the area and artists within those groups. They are delighted to see the great success that Murrieta Arts Council in the Murrieta area has had recently with its Thursday night events in their downtown area. She said STUDIO 395 is, and will always be, a partner to art lovers of every kind and is more than happy to share its knowledge and experience with others.

Another exhibition opportunity available at the Outlets at Lake Elsinore is the Windows Art Walk, which is seeking new artists. Artwork is displayed in the windows of vacant storefronts with a bio and contact information for the artists. When a piece sells, the artists give STUDIO 395 a percentage of the sale as a donation.

“We attempt to do things that locals can participate in and will expose them to a potentially life-changing art experience. Art is a verb to us, not just something that hangs on a wall,” Esquibel said. “We are so excited to see the recent focus on art in Riverside County with The Cheech (Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture) opening. We know a rising tide floats all ships.”

For more information, visit http://www.STUDIO395.org, http://www.villageongrand. com or 951-471-4407.

From left, Matthew Sandoval, Peter Skotnica and STUDIO 395 creative director Ricardo Lopez discuss art and progress of the arts coalition at STUDIO 395’s in the Gallery at the Outlets in Lake Elsinore.

Painting by artist Jesse Schenck is displayed at STUDIO 395.

Artwork created by Gabe Orellana is on display at STUDIO 395.

Woodwork art created by Peter Skotnica is on display at STUDIO 395.

Home Perfect Restoration

Home Perfect Restoration was started in 2012 by owner Scott Peterson, a United States Air Force veteran. Scott moved to Temecula in 2012 and through the support of his wife, Shannon Peterson, built his company around the same core values he lived by in the USAF – Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence in all we do.

Scott considers himself extremely lucky to have long-standing employees as a huge part of his team. Office Manager Dorrae Humphrey and carpet and tile cleaning Su

pervisor Elidio Higinio were the first two people hired back in 2013, the inaugural year of Home Perfect Restoration. Scott’s mission is to be an advocate for the com munity during a disaster situation and help them recover as quickly as possible while protecting their home and office values.

The restoration business while challeng ing, is very rewarding when working for the client’s best interest when they file a claim with their insurance company, Scott said. Home Perfect has built a solid repu tation as a company that does impeccable

work and a company that you can trust.

As a veteran-owned company and having a child with special needs, Scott understands the importance in supporting the community and offers special rates to military and families caring for someone with special needs.

Home Perfect Restoration offers a range of residential and commercial cleaning services, including 24/7 water and fire damage clean up, construction, carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning, tile and grout cleaning, and more.

GOOD SAMARITAN PROJECT Continues to Provide for Those in Need

by Diane A. Rhodes

When the COVID-19 pandemic blanketed the nation with shutdown orders, Teri Sue Parker wondered how that was affecting her senior and at-risk Temecula neighbors who were unable to shop for groceries. In March 2020, she launched Good Samaritan Community Food Pan try, a nonprofit to help those most vulnerable residents.

While many employees were given the option to work from home during the pan demic, Parker began work ing from her home to provide food, essentials such as paper goods and hygiene products and pet food. She said the re quests have not ended and that starting her nonprofit gave her insight to the extent of the needs of those in her own backyard.

Her original intent was to or ganize a food drive, but she quickly realized that wouldn’t supply enough to meet the demand. She began with focus ing on isolated seniors and shut-ins who were not familiar with how to use online shopping services for groceries and food deliveries or were on a fixed income.

“I figured I could collect food at home, wipe everything down, deliver it and make sure it was safe,” Parker said. “I would keep posting (on my social media) for food to help

the elderly.”

Whenever she saw or heard about a need, she posted it and if there was no response, she would take care of it out of her own pocket, especially if it was for a pet, a senior cit izen or a veteran. She began posting a wish list and items would appear from generous donors.

“We had gained trust and faith in the community; we built it and they came, so we just kept pushing and grow ing,” Parker said.

As word spread and the movement grew, both in need and responses, Teri Sue’s hus band, Bruce Parker, started the paperwork to become an of ficial nonprofit organization, enabling them to apply for grants. As founder and CEO of the organization, Teri Sue con tinues to serve isolated seniors, veterans, families affected by cancer and other serious diseases, foster families, those with disabilities and all pets with fresh, healthy food boxes and pet food, as needed.

During the height of the pandemic, Parker easily found those that needed help due to children being home from school and not able to utilize free lunches or seniors who couldn’t go to community centers for meals. But she took

Teri Sue and Bruce Parker turn their garage into the Good Samaritan Community Food Pantry in Temecula where they provide food for seniors, veterans, cancer patients and anyone else in need. Shane Gibson photos

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things a step further and searched out people that she felt must be hurting due to the sudden loss of income because their employer had to shut down their business.

“It seemed people were falling through the cracks, and you would be surprised the people that we were feeding and in need that were too embarrassed to ask for help or even knew how since they had always worked,” she said. “It was a whole new group of families in need and we were not turning anyone away.”

Parker operates Good Samaritan Community Food Pantry 24/7. She left her job in home care and marketing when her hours went from 60 a week to 20. She felt she could do more in the community on her own.

“It now is a hardship on my own household, but I don’t see how I could work another job due to the fact I’m a one-woman show doing all the marketing, food bags/boxes, drop-offs, speak ing engagements and fund- and food-raising,” she said. “It’s a lot, but I love it. Physically, it is a lot also so we’re always looking for good helpers to take on some of the burden. Going from two in comes to one and that one being Social Security, I’m amazed how we have been able to keep going at times. Our infrastructure and utilities alone cost a lot, but we just keep praying for grants and someone to write them and donations from our community, most all of which go right back to food and supplies.”

Utilizing their three-car garage as a home office for the non profit, the Parkers have installed wall-to-wall shelving and about a dozen donated refrigerators and freezers to house all the fresh food donations Teri Sue is able to pay forward. She can provide

meat, poultry, vegetables and fruits thanks to her many connec tions in the area she has called home for more than 15 years.

“I collaborate with other food pantries, gardens, local farmers, citrus farms and orchards. We really wanted to do healthy food boxes full of fresh items from the five food groups,” Parker said.

Organizing food items into boxes by breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, pet food and essential supplies, along with some for specific diet restrictions, has allowed for less food waste. People get what they need and will use.

“Outreach Farm Project was a godsend with a fresh weekly harvest they shared with us as well as Sale Ranch Animal Sanctuary who shared their harvest,” Parker said. “Epic Dog Academy donated thousands of pounds of dog food that we picked up weekly also.”

She is extremely grateful to others who have shared their time, along with huge donations of food to support the cause.

“Michael Shirley with Murrieta Rotary ‘adopted’ 60 seniors and supplies and shops for all the essential items for seniors monthly along with taking me shopping for chicken and meat every month,” Parker said. “Lisa Schrauth, who is still donating hundreds of dollars in fresh foods and helps me share our cause through fliers and more, has been here through it all.”

The nonprofit is reaching out to local corporations to hopefully increase donations of fresh meats, poultry and dairy products which go fast. She said recipients, which she refers to as “our people” are often surprised at the quality of the food provided.

“They say it’s like Christmas in a box, and it’s food!” Parker

Teri Sue Parker prepares a food box to distribute through her and her husband’s Good Samaritan Community Food Pantry. The Good Samaritan Community Food Pantry provides pet food for those in need.

Teri Sue Parker grabs miscellaneous items donated from Murrieta Rotarian Mike Shirley.

Teri Sue Parker holds a variety of food items in several refrigerators in their garage.

Teri Parker, a member of 100 Women Who Care.

said. “We really feel the quality of the food is more important than the quantity. Yes, we want to feed as many people as we can but we want it to be healthy, good quality food so we focus on that. People should be proud of what they are putting on their dinner table.”

She said the global pandemic, displacement during the Fairview Fire near Hemet in September and inflation have caused people to change their way of thinking about food pantries and what they are providing to families in the community. She said the past two years have created an increase of interest and involvement in the group’s Adopt a Family and Adopt a Senior holiday programs.

One recipient that sent a heartfelt thank you message wrote, “At Christmas when I did not expect to be opening even one gift, my family and I had several gifts to open, thanks to the generosity of the wonderful people who adopted a family. Same at Easter, when we hadn’t planned a special dinner, I opened my door to a honey-baked ham and a lovely vase of flowers. Neighbors helping neighbors, thank you Temecula.”

Parker said it’s surprising what can be accomplished when your passion is put into a project, adding that seeing people and families get back on their feet just by sharing food and supplies makes a huge difference. A note of inspiration goes into every fresh food bag as the nonprofit strives to spread hope, love, faith and inspiration for tomorrow.

Thankful recipients have responded to the Parkers’ messages. One, from B and family, said, in part, “Teri Sue is such an amazing person, and we feel so lucky and grateful to her and our commu nity that came together to help us. She put cards in the food boxes with uplifting messages that filled us with such emotion. I never thought a food box and a note could mean so much.”

Around Thanksgiving of 2020, a 94-year-old veteran sent a handwritten message to Good Sam that read in part, “Thank you so much for your giving spirit and the perseverance and caring in seeking out those of us in need during these troubled times. Our community is very fortunate, and we are all truly blessed by your personal efforts.”

While Parker keeps busy collecting and delivering fulfilled requests, she hopes she can do more as word spreads about her efforts. Although pleased by the public’s generosity, she realizes the need is great and continues to grow.

“Exposure means more people in the community will receive help to get back on their feet,” she said. “The most amazing thing is that we are doing all this from our home/office/garage and feeding hundreds. Imagine what we could do with a facility; that is next on the list of goals.”

She is quick to remind everyone that the organization was start ed from one single thought and taking action from the heart at a time of complete confusion, fear, panic and uncertainty.

“Every single donation matters, every single dime goes right back into the community and to our people. We do not take a salary and lifting up those most vulnerable right here locally is a true passion,” Parker said. “We do not care what color you are, what religion you are or what your political status is. Nobody deserves to go hungry.”

For more information, 951-415-5731, goodsamaritancommunity.org or goodsamcommunityfoodpantry@gmail.com.

Successful Entrepreneur Serves Up Fast Food Throughout The Temecula Valley

Dick Shalhoub is one of Riverside County’s most notable business owners. As the owner of 33 McDonald’s located throughout Riverside County, Shalhoub is known as not only a successful entrepreneur, but also as a generous philanthropist and community activist.

Shalhoub, who began his career with McDonald’s in 1984, was raised in Los Angeles and is a graduate of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles with degrees in Finance and Management. He also holds a degree from the prestigious Thunderbird School of Global Management in Glendale, Arizona.

Shalhoub said he was persuaded to go through the McDonald’s training program by some of the company’s executives and the rest, as they say, is history.

Upon completing his training, Shalhoub was sent to the Coachella Valley where he operated three McDonald’s restaurants, one in Palm Springs, one in Cathedral City and one in Palm Desert. Now, nearly 40 years later, Shalhoub owns and operates 15 McDonald’s throughout the Inland Empire, along with 18 in the desert.

While he resides in Indian Wells, some of his McDon ald’s restaurant locations include those here in Temecula and Murrieta where he is directly responsible for all phases of operations including training, administration, marketing, finance and project development.

Shalhoub said he learned a lot from McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc and CEO Fred Turner who both stressed the importance of goals and values in creating successful long-term businesses.

McDonald’s franchisee Dick Shalhoub at one of his McDonald’s locations in Temecula.

Shane Gibson photos

Shalhoub visits all of his restaurants regularly, knows most of his employees by name and chats with regular customers. He is very motivated to help the next generation to improve continually and to think and act creatively.

“ ”

He used those lessons to further his own successes which have allowed him to generously give back to the community by supporting numerous organizations through leadership positions on boards and commissions on numerous nonprofit organizations including the Palm Springs Air Museum, the Palm Desert Living Desert & Zoo, the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center and Dogs For Our Brave.

In addition to serving on several McDonald’s boards and committees, Shalhoub, who is the current president of the McDonald’s Operators’ Association of Southern California, has also spent time serving on boards and commissions with numerous organizations including as Board Member for Palm Springs Art Museum, Director of Canyon National Bank in Palm Springs, Chairman of the Audit, Compensation, Compliance and Marketing Committees and as Vice Chairman of the Agua Caliente Development Authority which owned and operated the Spa Hotel in Palm Springs and various other Tribal investments.

Shalhoub has also served as President of the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce and the Palm Desert Chamber of Commerce. He was also a member of the Palm Springs Desert Museum Board of Trustees, the Palm Springs Main Street Association, the City of Palm Springs Budget Committee, the Palm Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau Board of Directors, the Olive Crest Foundation, F.I.N.D. and was vice president of the City of Palm Springs 50th Anniversary Committee, just to name a few.

Shalhoub once told Coachella Valley Weekly that what keeps him engaged is the challenge of working in a complex population of all ages with differing regional tastes, economic disparity and food preferences, complicated by a difficult legislative landscape.

He visits all of his restaurants regularly, knows most of his employees by name and chats with regular customers. He is very motivated to help the next generation to improve continually and to think and act creatively, he said, adding that he rewards those who share their creations with him.

Shalhoub is the winner of numerous awards for his exceptional store operations. In 1990, Dick received the prestigious Ronald Award and was awarded Citizen of the Year by the Palm Desert Chamber of Commerce

Dick Shaloub, owner of over 30 McDonald’s restaurants has been a franchisee with the fast food chain for nearly 40 years.

The Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival has been an enduring staple of the Inland Empire, highlighting all the beautiful things the Temecula Valley has to offer for nearly 40 years.

The first Balloon & Wine Festival was launched in the spring of 1984 and was a monumental success for a town of only 9,000 residents and six wineries. That year, a little over 4,000 people were in attendance as the festival launched 35 balloons from Rancho California Plaza. While the hot air balloons flew over the serene pastures surrounding the area, guests attended quaint wine tastings in what is now the parking lot of Tower Plaza, and a wonderful community tradition was born.

Over the years the festival grew in popularity and size. Music was added and the event was moved to the Ronald Reagan Sports Park to accommodate the steady increase in attendance.

By 1989, just five short years after its inception, the Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival relocated once more to

Lake Skinner, where it is still held today.

The festival offers fun for everyone with the finest sights, tastes and sounds of the Temecula Valley set against the pictureperfect backdrop that is the heart of the Southern California Wine Country.

The annual event has expanded greatly on its namesake features, with up to 40 hot air balloons taking flight at sunrise to compliment the gorgeous Temecula landscape, along with at least 18 wineries from the surrounding areas showcasing a vast selection of varietals and the mastery of the valley’s best winemakers. That is only the beginning of what the Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival has to offer crowds that now average around 30,000 throughout the three-day weekend event. While Temecula Valley is known for its wineries, the area is quickly becoming the destination for craft breweries as well. These local brew masters have perfected their craft without losing their drive for innovation and with these skills have created a popular niche within the festival for beer drinkers. The spacious new craft beer garden not only coexists with, but compliments the established winery row, helping to round out the festival experience.

Along with the spotlight on local wineries and breweries, there is an abundance of amazing community businesses to highlight. The Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine festival

is consistently expanding to include over 100 retail vendors and local businesses, a sprawling food court with a diverse collection of snacks, treats and meals and two different stages with top local and world-renowned musical artists. The bands and musicians that have stepped onto the stages within the festival grounds have continued to be a popular draw for guests each year. The event has hosted many fan favorite artists over the years on their Main Stage, such as Blake Shelton, Train, 3 Doors Down and most recently Bret Michaels, to name just a few. The sprawling festival grounds can accommodate more than just the Main Stage venue, offering the smaller scale Wine Stage for ambient music and intimate showcases of immensely talented local artists as well. The Wine Stage, perfectly placed among the multitude of winery and brewery tents, provides the perfect location for a variety of hot air balloon events.

Hot air balloons are an essential part of this unique festival, lifting both spirits and actual spectators every year. Guests can choose not only to watch the balloons lift with the morning sun, but also to be a part of the skyline along with them, with the option to choose between a 45-minute balloon flight over wine country. A five to eight-minute tethered ride that resides within the festival grounds is also available. Not many know that hot air balloon flights can be affected by the smallest change in weather, even a little too much morning haze can affect their ability to launch, which can make those launch locations and times slightly spontaneous but doesn’t detract from the magic of their flight. So, weather permitting, flights are offered Saturdays and Sundays at dawn for the early risers, balloon enthusiasts, and those looking to enjoy a once in a lifetime experience. Luckily however, for those that don’t quite make it up by sunrise, there’s more than one way to enjoy the wonderous sight of rising hot air balloons with the option of the festivals evening balloon shows on Friday and Saturday nights.

These Balloon “Glows”

provide a close-up view of the hot air balloons and a spectacular light show set against the inky black of the night sky.

During the glow, up to eight balloons tether to the ground in front of the wine stage, inflate their canopies and then ignite their burners in sync with one another. The colorfully illuminated canopies of the balloons all nestled together provide an unforgettable illuminated experience for the crowds gathered in the warm summer night air of the festival. These shows can last 15-30 minutes depending on the balloons taking part and offer festival goers an up close and personal interaction with the hot air balloons while remaining firmly planted on the ground.

Throughout the years this event has been able to grow and thrive with encouragement from the tight knit community that surrounds it and enthusiastically supports its success. With each festival comes the opportunity to expand on the guest experience and offer a foundation for unforgettable memories. This upcoming year will be no exception as festival organizers have set out to put on the most fun filled festival yet to celebrate the Temecula Balloon & Wine Festival’s 40th anniversary.

This monumental year for the festival has its team behind the scenes looking to expand and book exciting new entertainment, bring back the children’s fair, unveil new hot air balloon experiences, and increase the inclusion of community cultural groups among many other possibilities. Planning for the 2023 Festival is officially in full swing and everyone is excited to see what this milestone year holds for the Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival.

Follow us on Facebook for updates on the 2023 festival!

The Bank

A cornerstone in Temecula for over 100 years

by Rebecca Marshall Farnbach

When the railroad came to the Temecula Valley in 1882, it prompted many changes. In fact, it made the center of com merce, and literally the entire town, move 2.5 miles from its previ ous location around the Wolf Store to establish what was called “New Town,” which is now known as “Old Town.”

Frederick Thomas Perris was the chief engineer for the construc tion of the California Southern Railroad through the area. He not only surveyed the train route, but he also surveyed lots and street lines for the new town site. These lots and streets are still closely maintained to his original measurements.

Few buildings graced the landscape for the first few years of the new settlement. Early structures east of Murrieta Creek from the train depot included the Machado Store – now 1909 Temecula res taurant, the Welty Hotel – now known as Hotel Temecula and the Escallier Hotel and billiard parlor at the location of Be Good Res taurant today. A little later Phillip Pohlman won a lottery for his lot across from the Welty Hotel and built the Mercantile Store with bricks discarded from a brick factory in Wolf Valley.

When coming to town on the train, a man would need to rent a horse and maybe a buggy or wagon to proceed to his destination, much as travelers rent cars at airports these days. For that purpose, Hugh McConville’s livery at the northwest corner of Main and Front streets had a thriving business. That is, until automobiles be came readily available and livery businesses became a thing of the past. The livery closed in 1912.

During the heyday of the livery stable, corrals for rented and boarded horses extended north along Front Street. Photographs of the time show a large water tower atop wooden supports north of the building, alongside the street. The pot-bellied stove inside the livery building was a place where men of the community would

gather on a cool late afternoon and swap stories.

Upstairs meeting rooms provided facilities where parties and dances gave diversions to families in the fledgling little town. In a Fallbrook Free Press account by Helene Seay in the 1960s, she said, “The dance floor was kept smooth and polished by spreading wax on the floor, then dragging bales of hay across it until it shone like glass.” Vail Ranch foreman Louie Roripaugh said there were dances in the upstairs hall every Saturday night.

Frank Hall helped run the livery stable and witnessed the first phone lines installed in Temecula. In a back corner of the livery, he used a tiny switchboard to connect the few calls coming in and going out of Temecula.

After the livery business closed, the rough wood building occu pied the corner where the main road in and out of town intersected with the road from the train station and someone had an idea. With the growing successes of both the Vail Ranch and the granite in dustry south of town, it became increasingly difficult for the two businesses to obtain cash for payroll, often traveling to Riverside or other cities to a financial institution.

The idea occurred to Mahlon Vail that Temecula should have its own bank. He was joined by Albert Nienke in promoting the insti tution and in 1914, it became a reality. Construction was done by the Remington Company of Los Angeles of the fortress-like twostory concrete building. Solid, 18-inch-thick walls of cement were poured by laborers pushing wheelbarrows up ramps and along scaffolding. The building was reinforced with steel rods anchored into steel plates.

Photographs taken during the construction show the Escallier & Winkels General Merchandise Store to the west of the building on Main Street with signage advertising hay and grain. Hitching posts

Shane Gibson photo [Top] The Bank of Plates as seen circa 1917. Current day sign. Courtesy photo

in front and an early gasoline station across the street demonstrate the era of change from horse to mechanized transportation.

Photographs taken after the bank was finished show the Escallier & Winkels store was no longer in that location. There were empty lots to the west and north. Later the Halls moved the telephone switchboard into the café and bus depot they built next door to the north. The framework of those buildings is still standing, support ing the adjacent store.

When the First National Bank of Temecula opened in June 1914, local merchant Eli Barnett was president. Hugo Guenther, the proprietor of the Guenther Murrieta Hot Springs Resort, was vice president. These served as bank managers: C.P. Shumate, Green field, Jack Chisholm, John Booge and Bob Sartain. The following served on the board of five directors at times: John McSweeney, Hugo Guenther, Mahlon Vail, Alexander Borel, Joe Nicholas, Ru dolph Brown, Albert Nienke and Frank Burnham.

There are a lot of stories that can be told about both the livery stable and of the bank, including ones about the explosion at the livery stable and the one and only bank robbery, but those stories can be told at a later time.

A less well-known story was when “Hooley” Freeman, a funloving prankster whose father was foreman at the Vail Ranch and whose sister Agnes was the teller during the robbery mentioned above, made a bet that he could ride his horse into the bank. Instead of making a withdrawal, his horse left a deposit on the bank floor before it bucked and reared and gave everyone a scare. Hooley end ed up in jail and when he was presented with a bill for the horse’s feed while they were in custody; he sued the bank for it and won the case.

Mahlon Vail controlled the majority of the bank stock and re ferred to the bank as his “hock shop.” Loans were at times made on collateral, like a pawn shop. In the early days, loans were limited to $2,500 regardless of the status of the applicant or his collateral. During the years the building served as a bank, there were meeting rooms upstairs, and for a while in the early 1930s, Paul Strelner operated the Hotel Paul in three upstairs apartments.

Erle Stanley Gardner wrote in a 1967 issue of the High Country magazine that the bank went through the depression without fore closing on any ranch in the community. But in 1941, a new man ager extended several sizable loans to a friend who was “just on the verge of making huge dividends.” The man’s business failed and that ended the legacy of the banking institution in the heart of

Old Town. The First National Bank of Elsinore took over its assets.

In 1965, the year after the Vail Ranch sold the 87,500 acres of land encapsulating the island of land of Old Town, a Security Pacific Bank opened across Main Street from The Bank, in a building ad joining today’s Be Good Restaurant. As time passed and the popula tion grew exponentially, one bank after another was established in Temecula, until now, when we have more banks and credit unions than can be easily counted and there are three Bank of America branches alone.

In 1949, Herbert Leatham bought the bank building and reopened the upstairs hotel. After Herbert died, his nephew Joe Leatham and his family used the downstairs as a residence. In the 1950s, real estate agent Frank C. Cotter had an office in the building. In 1965, Bob and Jean Reininger bought it and opened it as an antique shop “Sign of the Pitcher” advertising “Antiques and Rare Books.”

Finally in 1978, Dave Covarrubias and his family brought it to its current status as The Bank of Mexican Food. When he sold the business in 2007, Craig and Christy Puma bought the restaurant. They opened a patio area for outdoor drinks and dining. Tourists, vintage car enthusiasts began to frequent their business where the dining room is decorated with memorabilia celebrating the build ing’s past.

At 5 p.m., June 10, 2014, the Pumas celebrated the 100th anniver sary of the opening of the bank with the Old Town Temecula Gun fighters reenacting the robbery of 1930. Although the Pumas have moved on to other enterprises, the building still houses a restaurant and bar, now called The Bank of Plates and Pours where a diner can still find good Mexican food.

There have been many changes in Old Town through the years. In 1935, the railroad tracks were removed, and the depot was torn down. Old Town Temecula remains intact, and the solid bank building is standing strong as a cornerstone in the community for over one hundred years after it first opened. The Temecula Valley Historical Society salutes all those who have kept the legacy of the bank alive through over a century of service.

Rebecca Marshall Farnbach is a member of the Temecula Valley Historical Society and is an author and coauthor of several history books about the Temecula area. The books are available for purchase at the Little Temecula History Center or online from booksellers and at http://www.temeculahistoricalsociety.org

Visit Farnbach’s Amazon author page at http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B01JQZVO5E

The Little Temecula History Center Museum, the red barn at the corner of Redhawk Parkway and Temecula Parkway in Temecula is open on Sundays from noon to 5 p.m.

The Bank of Plates and Pours, shown in 2022.

Postcard from 1974 of a painting portraying The Bank in Old Town by artist Roy Morrissey. Shane Gibson photo Courtesy photo

Local Dining

Garage Brewing Co.

Garage Brewing Co. was established in 2013 and has evolved into one of the most award-winning craft breweries in Southern California. Our Tap Room and patio is open every day with 32 different craft beers on tap, as well as packaged to-go. We are well known for our Mango Hefeweizen, one our most popular beers, followed by our Inline IPA, Belgian Style Tripel and our Marshmallow Milk Stout. Stop by to enjoy a refreshing beer or take some to-go!

26015 Jefferson Ave Suite D, Murrieta, 951-290-0254 www.garagebrewco.com

Mon-Fri 3:30-9pm • Sat 1-9pm • Sun 1-6:30pm

MURRIETA BOUTIQUE DINING

SCAN FOR LOCAL COUPONS

When you Shop Local you create local jobs, you support local entrepreneurs, and you generate local tax revenue to support our community development. When you Eat Local you make your hometown chef’s dream a reality.

It’s a do good, feel good thing. Shop Local Temecula Valley! Learn more at Temecula.org

DISHcover Murrieta Boutique Dining Guide Now

Available Online!

Murrieta is the place to discover unique dining options in Southwest Riverside County. From family-run restaurants to boutique dining establishments, you can dine in or take away meals from a wide variety of cuisines. This is what makes Murrieta special. We are the comforting home of foodies and those who seek options when they choose where to dine.

Check out Murrieta’s digital dining guide and get ready to enjoy what Murrieta has to offer at www.MurrietaCA.gov/Dining

Local Murrieta restaurant and want to be included? Email us: jwurtz@murrietaca.gov

Did you know?

FOOD FLAVORS

No

matter the culture or the cuisine, the heart of many delicious dishes is a solid flavor base. This flavor base goes by many names. “Mirepoix” is crucial in France and French-speaking nations, while “soffritto” is the name for a version relied on in Italy, Spain and Latin America. In Germany, chefs may say “suppengruen.” These flavor bases are essentially a combination of vegetables that are minced and sauteed in butter or oil to add a unique flavor profile to a dish. Flavor bases often include celery, carrots, leeks, peppers, and onions. They may give tomato sauce added depth or gumbo a little extra zest. Flavor bases are the building blocks of many dishes that simmer or braise over long periods of time, such as soups, stews, sauces, and gumbos.

FALLBROOK RESIDENT

J.R. Galardi continues the Wienerschnitzel family legacy

The 33-year-old continues his father’s legacy and oversees all brands under the Galardi Group Inc. umbrella

by Julie Reeder

“It’s beautiful here,” J.R. Galardi said. “We were looking for some space for our family and nature. We moved from our home in San Clemente most recently, but originally both me and my wife’s families are from Colorado and we continue to maintain a home there. In Fallbrook, we were able to buy a home with some land with avocado trees and we aren’t on top of our neighbors.

In San Clemente, each home is on top of the other,” he said. “You could literally look out your window and see into your neighbor’s home. We just needed some space. You couldn’t find space there like we have now.”

In February 2022, Galardi, who is the youngest sibling, was appointed as CEO of Wienerschnitzel. The title was added to his position as company president which he has held since 2017.

In his expanded role, Galardi oversees all Galardi Group Inc. concepts, including Wienerschnitzel, Tastee Freez, and Hamburger Stand. Having grown up with the brand, he brings two decades of unique insight and experience to the role. His first job with Wienerschnitzel was as a janitor. Over the years he has touched nearly every facet of the business, from the fry station and drive-thru window to marketing, operations, community relations, and business development.

It’s not just a job, Galardi said. He’s carrying on the family legacy of his father, John Galardi, who founded Wienerschnitzel in 1961 with a single hot dog stand in Wilmington, California. At the age of 19 with just a few dollars in his pocket, John Galardi took a bus from Missouri to California. He walked the streets looking for a job and landed one at Taco Tia in Wilmington, near Los Angeles. He worked with Mary Bell at the taco stand and grew to love the business so much he wanted to start his own. He did not want to compete with his friends the Bells (yes, the Bells of Taco Bell) so Galardi started his own hot dog stand.

Today, Wienerschnitzel is the world’s largest hot dog chain. Based in Irvine, Galardi Group franchises nearly 350 Wienerschnitzel restaurants in 10 states. It serves more than 120 million hot dogs annually.

“I’m honored to continue my father’s legacy and have the opportunity to build upon the brand he created over 60 years

ago in addition to the extended portfolio of concepts he believed in,” Galardi said. “We say this is a family business, but that isn’t defined by name or relation. Today it’s also an unwavering commitment to our extended family of franchise partners in providing them with the tools to thrive while also delivering a consistently enjoyable experience to our loyal guests.”

Galardi’s mother, Cindy Galardi Culpepper said before he was named CEO while he was still serving as president of the company, J.R. Galardi was “instrumental in driving doubledigit increases, growing digital sales by more than 400%, and establishing the company’s international division.”

“Same-store sales increased 42%, and digital sales grew 400% while all areas of service improved significantly,” she said.

Galardi said he is excited to expand the brands into untapped territories and has signed new franchise area agreements throughout the South and Northwest. He is also spearheading the creation of Wienerschnitzel’s International Division to expand trademarks outside the United States.

Under Galardi’s leadership, Wienerschnitzel successfully lowered the average age of its customer base while maintaining the loyalty of its legacy guests. Through engaging brand partnerships, innovative marketing initiatives, and guest-friendly digital upgrades, Galardi turned the more than 60-year-old brand into one with multigenerational appeal.

“Today, Wienerschnitzel is a nostalgic and iconic restaurant where guests continue to pass down their love of the brand’s legendary hot dogs, chili dogs, and corn dogs to their children and children’s children,” Galardi said. “New memories will be made, and traditions will live on as Wienerschnitzel evolves to meet the changing demand of today’s consumer while staying true to what made the brand a household name more than six decades ago.”

Cindy Galardi Culpepper who served as the CEO before her son and now serves as executive chairperson for the company is proud of J.R. Galardi’s successes at the helm of the company.

“J.R. is a passionate visionary whose innovative ideas have already proven successful in bringing Galardi Group and our concepts into the future,” she said. “He’s extremely forwardthinking when it comes to strategizing for what’s next, but also has the self-assurance and determination to see his ideas through to the end. I have every confidence he will uphold his father’s vision to instill Wienerschnitzel’s place in the heart and minds of generations to come.”

In addition to the international expansion by the end of 2022, J.R. Galardi said he also plans to embrace new industry disruptors like virtual kitchens, product licensing and other nontraditional ways of serving its popular menu creations both domestically and abroad. Along with focusing on the profitability of all brands, Galardi is expanding efforts under Wienerschnitzel’s “Serving food to serve others” mission to provide even more resources and financial aid to for-cause organizations primarily benefiting children in need and the homeless.

To learn more about the brand and the benefits of owning a Wienerschnitzel franchise, visit http://www.wienerschnitzelfranchise.com

Why would J.R. Galardi, CEO of the major nostalgia brand Wienerschnitzel,  move his family to Fallbrook?

Courtesy photos

Murrieta Market Nights

Harpist Kylene Evans plays for guests.

Bob Red displays and sells his handcrafted wood pieces during a recent Market Nights in Murrieta.

Judy Mohler, left, owner of Chocolate Forest sells her handcrafted sweets at Market Nights in Murrieta.

Seven-year-old Lunita Mendez, left, and her sister Ruby Mendez help sell flowers and handmade soap from their family’s Runa Farms in De Luz during a recent Market Nights in Murrieta.

The “All You Knead” bakery sells a variety of breads at Market Nights in downtown Murrieta.

Driftwood succulent arrangements are displayed and sold by Dawn Patrol Creations.

People enjoy the outdoor shopping experience from a variety of vendors and artisans during Market Nights in downtown Murrieta. Market Nights in Murrieta takes place on Washington Avenue the first and third Thursday of every month.

Shane Gibson photos

MASSAGE

Did you know?

Amassage may be seen as the ideal way to unwind at the end of a long week. However, massages provide more than just a relaxing way to cap off a hectic week.

According to the Mayo Clinic, massage is a component of integrative medicine that is increasingly being offered along with standard treatments for a host of medical conditions and situations. Massage has long been associated with helping to reduce stress, pain, muscle soreness,

and tension. And massage also can help improve circulation and lower heart rate and blood pressure. Various studies also have suggested massage can be utilized to treat a range of additional conditions, including anxiety, headaches, fibromyalgia, and nerve pain.

The Mayo Clinic notes that more study is needed to confirm the benefits of massage for treating such conditions, but massage can remain a beneficial component of wellness regimens.

M

urrieta Day Spa has been flourishing in the MurrietaTemecula Valley for more than 30 years. Located in Historic Downtown Murrieta, this hidden gem is an oasis of tranquility providing a plethora of wellness opportunities. Swedish Massage, European Facials, Brazilian Waxing, medically advanced skin therapies, hydrating body wraps and scrubs are just a sample of treatments offered.

Murrieta Day Spa features a beautiful backyard where visitors can lounge poolside or by the firepit, rent a cabana and savor a healthy

lunch with champagne or a handcrafted cocktail at the Abundance Cafe and Bar. Additional amenities include a dry sauna and locker rooms with showers.

The intimate garden and covered patio can serve as an ideal location for your next special occasion, wed ding, shower, birthday party, or corporate appreciation. Group areas can be rented during regular busi ness hours for smaller gatherings, or the entire venue can be rented for a truly spectacular event.

The trendsetting boutique offers fashion forward clothing and resort wear, accessories, name

brand and specially formulated high-end skincare and wellness products, gift items and one of a kind original artwork by local artists.

Memberships are available to experience selected spa services at discounted rates. Day passes are available Monday through Thursday. Prices and full de scriptions of spa treatments, cabana packages, food and beverage menus and venue rental information can be found online at www.mdayspa.com. Gift certifi cates and reservations are available online or by calling (951) 677-8111.

Murrieta Resident Walks 2,022 Miles To Honor Fallen Veterans

by Ava Sarnowski

U.S. Veteran Administration statistics confirm that “every day, 22 veterans will commit suicide on American soil.” That is one veteran every 65 minutes.

According to the VA, “the total number of those losing their battle grows larger with each day research and treatments are not able to be done,” and everywhere, folks are trying to spread awareness on the matter.

Jill Byers is one of those individuals wishing to honor fallen soldiers who have succumbed to their internal and unspoken troubles. On July 22, at the Murrieta Veterans Memorial in Town Square Park, she completed her goal of walking 2,022 miles this year to represent each one of the 22 veterans who will take their life every day. She was accompanied by Mac Byers, her husband, City of Murrieta Councilmember Christi White, fellow veteran and Ambassador for “Misson22” Jerry Merrit and many others.

Byers is no stranger to the issues that plague veterans, especially when so much of her own family consists of deployed Marines. She has previously been involved with organizations “Run For The Wall” and “WalkForVets,” and has heard countless stories pertaining to the veterans lost from self-inflicted harm.

“It’s a big issue. Knowing our kids and what they’ve gone through. One of our kids was wounded in Afghanistan and was medically retired. They go through hell and they hold so much of it in. Some people handle it great, some people don’t, and it’s very important,” Mac Byers said.

Jill Byers said she felt a deep calling to do something in her

community after taking on the Virtual One Life challenge of running 2,022 miles in 2022. She had completed her 300 miles in the past but choose to devote this goal specifically to the 22 veterans that commit suicide every day.

While walking, Byers carries the American flag on her back and the names of veterans lost to suicide around her neck, in an effort to spread awareness of the mental issues these soldiers fight through.

“The military will acknowledge it, but kind of not, because if they fully acknowledge it, then they have to do something more than what they’re doing,” Byers says. “That’s why it’s so imperative to help these organizations. They rely on our generosity and our kind hearts to help them. They are not going to get too much from the government.”

The impact of her devotion has rippled across the community and reached the hearts of many onlookers. Byers has experienced several accounts of individuals rushing to approach her and thanking her for her efforts. Whether they be retired soldiers still battling their own inner turmoil, or a family member helping a loved one fight from the outside, her work cannot be understated.

Today, Byers continues to raise money for the “Wheelchairs For Warriors” organization. The night before she surpassed her 2,022 miles, she also reached her donation goal of $5,000. The funds obtained will be given back to one veteran injured in the line of duty, in the form of a custom wheelchair.

Mac Byers made sure to stress the importance of a veteran’s

Veteran Jerry Merritt, Mission22 Ambassador, rides his bike holding a donation box for Mission22.com

Jill Byers and Murrieta City Councilmember Christi White lead families, community members and veterans on one final lap around the Veterans Memorial at Murrieta Town Square Park, united in the war against veteran suicide.

[Top] Jill Byers completes her 2,022 mile walk July 22, for Veteran suicide awareness at the Murrieta Veterans Memorial in Murrieta Town Square Park.

Shawna Sarnowski photos

City of Murrieta Councilmember Christi White congratulates Jill Byers on finishing her 2,022 miles-long walk in 2022 for veteran suicide awareness.

mobility, or potential lack thereof, after they return home from war.

“The mobility is what causes a lot of depression in the men, which causes suicidal tendencies,” Mac Byers said. “When they get wheelchairs that have mobility to them, and special functions where they can go off-road, it just changes their outlook.”

To help Byers collect more funds to give back to injured veterans, donations can be made online at give.wheelchairsforwarriors.org/ fundraiser/3685149,

Byers’ challenge may be complete but the mission to prevent further veteran suicides continues. While awareness of their mental issues may be prevalent, it remains an almost taboo subject of discussion, to not only some families, but the military itself.

“Nobody hears this stuff,” Mac Byers said while discussing the matter. “There’s no awareness, and we hear constantly through our groups about the suicides. This stuff is hidden and boiling inside of these guys. A lot of them just have to be the tough Marine. You suck it up and hold it in, but it destroys them from the inside.”

The couple said that it is crucial that action be taken to prevent further tragedies from occurring. There are countless organizations devoted to seeing that veterans find the help they need. Even if donations cannot be made, spreading the word remains most impactful, they said.

Wear “red on a Friday,” send a prayer when faced with the number 22, Jill Byers said, adding that each action counts toward expanding the cause.

To help in the fight against veteran suicide visit fightthewarwithin.org, walkforvets.org, www. wheelchairsforwarriors.org, rftw.us, mission22.com, www.hfotusa.org, milvet.org, www. ridefor22.org, www.22untilnone.org, www.22toomany.com, wedefyfoundation.org, militarychild renscharity.org, projectrollcall.org/phone/index.html, www.carrytheload.org, allsecurefoundation. org and www.hicksstrong.org

Center for Rejuvenating Medicine

NeoMed Spa and Testosterone Clinic is a Medical Spa operating in the the Temecula Valley. Locally owned by Dr. Mehrdad Soleimani and Kayla Bratton, PAC, NeoMed specializes in the most cutting edge, minimally invasive aesthetic treatments available today.

NeoMed’s mission is to customize each treatment specific to the patient, always have their absolute best interest in mind, to be honest, and to treat each patient as if they were NeoMed’s own family.

The staff at NeoMed is dedicated to providing top tier customer service with an emphasis on high-quality care, safety and discretion in a warm, inviting environment that NeoMed hopes its clients find comfortable and relaxing.

At NeoMed, there is always a physician or physician associate in-office to make sure the client has the best treatment plan and outcomes, since client safety is of the utmost importance. It is imperative that every person seeking treatment makes their own informed decision and feels confident with the services they receive.

NeoMed, offers services from Hydrafacials, Neuromodulators, Dermal Fillers, Laser Hair Removal, Radiofrequency Microneedling, IPL Photofacials, Biote Hormone Therapy and much more.

NeoMed’s injectors and aestheticians are continually receiving training on the latest techniques and protocols, so clients can trust their expertise.

Aesthetics is continually growing and evolving, and NeoMed Spa promises to deliver the best medical grade products and services for both men and women. Their goal is to provide natural-looking results in harmony with each client’s personal aesthetic and make them feel their best from the inside-out.

Give NeoMed a call to schedule a free consultation; they look forward to welcoming you to the NeoMed Family.

Mission22 Ambassador Jerry Merritt congratulates Jill Byers for completing her walk.

by Diane A. Rhodes

The Dresses and Dreams Project, founded by Dawn Schultz, offers young women opportunities to make their dreams a reality. Operation Prom Girl, typically held in April each year, is its signature annual event that serves as a prom and graduation dress giveaway and celebration.

The theme for 2022 was “Dignified” and was set around crowns and pearls. Each year, a theme is chosen, and up to 100 girls with any type of hardship or challenge are invited to apply to be part of the full-day event. The agenda consists of a continen tal breakfast, inspirational and motivational speakers, lunch and sweet treat table, fashion show, drawings for prizes throughout the day, socialization, photography, on-site resources and infor mational tables. Each girl leaves with her choice from about 1,000 new or gently worn gowns, accessories and a “swag bag.”

Any young woman with a financial hardship or challenging circumstance who would like to apply for a dress, can do so on line by visiting http://www.thedressesanddreamsproject.org to complete an application. There is no residential restriction.

Roots are planted

The Wildomar-based nonprofit was established in 2014 when Schultz, a disabled single mother of three children, moved to the area.

“I could not afford to send my daugh ter to prom and someone stepped up to help,” she said. “I wanted to pay it forward; it started with intentions of helping a few girls get to their prom. I used social media as a platform to tell area residents who I was, what I planned to do and where they could find me if they wanted to donate a dress. I placed a rusty rolling rack on my porch that would serve as a 24-hour drop off and went to areas and businesses to answer the call for dress pickups.”

“I realized my dream was smaller than God’s plan, and that first year, 19 girls were served gowns (and some shoes too) after the VFW Wildomar offered us a room to have what would be our very first Operation Prom Girl event,” she said.

Originally starting out as a dress program that first year, Schultz’s vision grew to offer teens with challenges a way to find their value, overcome their obstacles and live life to their full potential. As a makeup artist for 25 years, Schultz said she remembered all of the girls and women who sat in the makeup chair and shared their stories.

“No matter the demographic, they all had similar stories. The only thing that changed were the faces,” she said.

After starting her organization, she would hear stories from the young women about insecurity, abuse, addiction, unworthiness and despair. Schultz realized that many needed more than just a dress, they needed hope. The organization operates on a year-round basis by offering workshops on real-life and raw topics as well as resourc es, referrals and advocacy.

“As a survivor of violent crimes, some of the subject matter we cover are subjects I’m passionate about,” she said. “These include human trafficking, teen pregnancy, suicide, domestic violence, healthy relationships, addiction and life skills.”

I realized my dream was smaller than God’s plan.

– Dawn Schultz, founder

Within a month Schultz had collected more than 100 gowns and dresses, and a couple of months later in springtime right be fore prom, she had 300.

Lives begin to bloom Schultz said most of the young women she meets through the program do not feel valued or know what their purpose in life is.

“While the dress is the main attraction, we are able to offer them so much more,” she said. “We want these individuals to know who they are after the makeup and the dress are gone and they are looking in the mirror with their reflection star ing back at them. Many do not even know that they too have a right to dream, and that dreams can come true no matter what kind of crisis or challenges one has experienced.”

”

She lets them know that it is never too late for them to live their dream and with the proper support, lives can be drastically changed.

“Part of my own testimony includes a young life full of hard ship and heartache,” she said. “When no one is there to support and guide us through the dysfunction, we become vulnerable, an easy target for prey, and things happen. We want a girl to under stand that she is beautifully and wonderfully made and that we are here to help.”

Support is intertwined

Schultz said connecting with other organizations and profes sionals to offer additional resources and advocacy is key to ad dressing a variety of needs. The Dresses and Dreams Project regu larly partners with groups such as SAFE Family Justice Centers, Elsinore Valley Pregnancy Resource Center, Abundantly Authen tic, Generations Rise, Million Kids and Alcoholics Anonymous.

The volunteer-led organization offers different opportunities for volunteers to share their time, talent and treasures. The group is also seeking dependable hair and makeup people for the fash ion show segment and cosmetology students are welcome.

“Those interested in volunteering can start by filling out a form at http://www.thedressesanddreamsproject.org,” Schultz said.

Grounded in service

Schultz said her year-round dedicated staff of volunteers in cludes Reanna Ritter, accounting; Keisha Montfleury, author, speaker and social media contributor; Natalie Morgan, fashion show and ministry lead; Teresa Meier, volunteer coordinator; Catherine Walsh, décor; Bridgette Moore, community support; Aiko Holdaway, speaker, victim advocacy and admin support; Rosie Lovato, photography and life skills; and Kathy and Brady Sutton, dress team managers.

The project is also seeking financial donations, food donations for the luncheon and dessert table and swag bag items. She hopes local restaurants and businesses can help. Since all programs are free for participants, donations are critical to the success of these events.

“Though we are a small yet mighty nonprofit making a differ ence, we have less exposure and are sometimes overlooked by philanthropists and donors who choose larger and more familiar names when investing their resources,” Schultz said.

To date, more than 2,000 girls and women have been served be tween the Operation Prom Girl program for teens with hardship or difficult circumstances and the Dresses for Heroes program for military women in California. Recipients are found through word

of mouth, area networking, social media and schools. Schultz said one of the organization’s ongoing challenges is partnering with point persons at school districts to get the word out about all their programs and the annual Operation Prom Girl event.

“I am currently invested in The Dresses and Dreams Project full time,” she said. “I am also a mother of three adult children, a grandmother of a five-year-old and devote time to speaking out on subject matter that I have fiery passion for.”

For more information, visit http://www.thedressesanddreamsproject.org/donate, dressesanddreamsproject@gmail.com or on Instagram.

Dawn Schultz, left, founder and president of The Dresses and Dreams Project, poses for a photo with Rita Wears of Elsinore Valley Pregnancy Resource Center, one of the nonprofit’s partner organizations.

Participants “shop” for the perfect dress at the 2021 Operation Prom Girl event, sponsored by The Dresses and Dreams Project.

About 1,000 formal dresses for prom and/or graduation were available at the 2022 event. Courtesy photos

TEDxTemecula delivers inspirational speakers and stories

Featuring a diverse slate of speakers from the Temecula Valley and beyond, the 11th annual TEDxTemecula presented a day of captivating talks and entertainment Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, before an engaged audience of 200plus at the Old Town Temecula Community Theater.

“Our speakers poured their hearts and souls into preparing for this day, and it really came through,” Jim McLaughlin, the event’s founder and lead organizer, said. “Our community of volunteers, the organizing team and the audience were there to support them and be inspired. The event never fails to deliver.”

Beckett William Bayan, a 12-year-old violin virtuoso, opened the event with a performance, fresh off his Walt Disney Concert Hall solo debut this summer. He also delivered a brief talk about the importance of practice when it comes to perfecting any skill, and gave parents in the audience tips for how to get their kids to actually look forward to practicing.

Waleed Soro, who fled Saddam Hussein’s Iraq after his father was murdered, and years later in 2009, opened Soro’s Mediterranean Grill in Old Town Temecula, talked about confronting life’s adversities and offered suggestions for overcoming them. Soro is the author of “I’ve Never Had a Bad Day: The 5 Cornerstone Choices to Help You Build Your Best Life.”

Choreo Cookies, an award-winning hip-hop dance team from San Diego, also performed.

“One fellow told me he really only came to see the last speaker, his son Scott Greenberg, and thought he’d have to suffer through all the other talks. To his surprise, he told me that he was moved by each and every speaker,” McLaughlin said.

All of the talks were recorded and are being edited by JDS Video & Media Productions Inc., and will be available for viewing via the TED website at www.ted.com, YouTube and the TEDxTemecula website, www.tedxtemecula.com

TEDxTemecula is organized and staged entirely by volunteers. Sponsorships and tax-deductible donations are welcome. If you’re interested in being part of the 2023 event, tentatively set for early fall, contact McLaughlin at jim@tedxtemecula.com

EDUCATOR BELIEVES Words AREWings

TO THE CHAINED SPIRIT

by Diane A. Rhodes

Murrieta Mesa High School’s Assistant Principal and Athletic Director John Broussard wrote “Letters from an Educator: The Child You Didn’t See,” a book about empathy in education, to inspire adults who serve young people. His own desire to be a mentor to youth, whether they are on a sports field or in a classroom, stems from his atypical upbringing that was his normal as he didn’t know anything else.

Born into a communal environment, he lived and attended school with a select group of children where athletics was an important part of their everyday life. His father, Eldridge J. Broussard Jr., was a former college basketball star who founded the Ecclesia Athletic Association in the Watts area of Los Angeles in 1975. It was described as an athletic training center for underprivileged inner-city youth, but some critics called it a cult.

The EAA relocated to Oregon in 1987 and the following year seven-year-old John Broussard witnessed the death of his sister, who was 8 at the time. Three individuals who worked at the center were charged with murder in her fatal beating. All the children, including John and his three remaining siblings, were placed into foster care or reform schools.

“In life, the mess always comes before the message and the storm before the triumphant story,” Broussard said in describing his personal journey. “I think for many of us, our greatest pain turns into our greatest passion if we let it. We either shut it out and ignore our experiences or we embrace it fully and try to find ways to make sure certain things never happen again. For me I did the latter.”

He said his upbringing has made him passionate about improving the lives of other people, especially those who find themselves down and out.

“Helping hurt people really speaks to my heart. I understand their pain and want to show them a way out,” he said. “Everyone who knows me feels the intense drive I have for young people, but I’ve always protected the full details as to why. My older brother has said for years that I have more to offer but it will never be realized unless I come to terms with my past. He was right. With this book and the conference, both my past and my future clashed.”

Broussard said writing the book was very cathartic, in some ways therapeutic, but the journey was a mixed bag of positive and

Courtesy photo

Twelve-year-old violin virtuoso Beckett William Bayan speaks about the importance of practice when it comes to perfecting a skill.

negative emotions. The feedback he has received since the book’s release has been very humbling, he added.

“This was the scariest part of my journey; fearing how others would accept my authenticity,” he said. “But the truth is, this book and my messages have allowed for conversations with friends and families that I haven’t had in 40 years. Which goes to show being transparent not only frees you but also allows others the license to be freed as well. It’s literally impacted every relationship I have for the better. I didn’t expect that.”

Broussard is not just letting the book share his message. With his publishing company, he has built a Social-Emotional Learning e-course that can accompany the book and he has made presentations to impressed and impacted audiences. He was grateful that he was able to share his story with a room full of difference makers that would take the message back to their campuses when he was the keynote speaker at the fifth annual School Climate Conference in Temecula.

Kathi Eiseler, principal at Vail Ranch Middle School, attended with members of her school’s Equity and Acquisition Team and staff members. After his touching presentation, she facilitated the purchase of a copy of his book for each staff member to read during the summer. Broussard gave an in-person presentation at the Temecula middle school shortly before classes resumed for the new school year.

“I love how John speaks from the heart,” Eiseler said. “He struggled in his youth, saw and experienced things no child should have to live through, and still sees life through positive lenses. He was able to take his challenging experiences, and his

sorrowful background, and use them as a tool to touch so many students. He truly believes in empathy, teaching with empathy and living life with empathy. Instead of being angry and hurt by his upbringing, he feels that his struggles have led him to empathize with the youth of today, and for him to be a role model for all of his students.”

She said Broussard’s book came at the perfect time, when everyone has been seeking a restart, after dealing with the pandemic for the past two years.

“He retaught us, reignited our passion for teaching students and remembered that we all have stories that impact our lives,” Eiseler said. “Our students need our empathy, they need us to hear them, they need us to see them and then they need us to teach them. However, I think John could speak to any and all individuals who work with children. We all need to listen to his message and learn from his story and his growth.”

Brennan Burns, Chief Growth Officer with Seity Health, wholeheartedly agrees. Focused on business development and strategic partnerships for an innovative wellness company, he has had every leadership resource available to him and recognized Broussard’s book as being applicable for every leader, regardless of the business or pursuit.

Seity Health was founded by physicians who worked with an interdisciplinary team of experts to create a three-stage process to simplify how people can improve their lives in a holistic way that includes that person’s world, body, mind and spirit. Burns said the science behind this is, “when you define your core values and work to live them out in healthy ways, in every aspect of your life, you increase wellbeing,

I think for many of us, our greatest pain turns into our greatest passion if we let it.

– John Broussard

“

Andrez Imaging photo

Author John Broussard shares a smile for the camera at his book signing at Pechanga Resort Casino.

reduce psychological distress and improve performance. In short, we work to help people, ages 12 and older, live and pursue their best life.”

Burns said Broussard is an incredible human being whose passion and drive to make a difference will inspire even the most indifferent.

“John is on a path to change the world,” Burns said. “Most impressive to us has been his decision, through all the tragedy, through all of the uncertainty, through all the resistance, to use his experience to help others. His empathy platform and approach to life mirrors exactly what we are trying to accomplish, but his book also speaks to developing trust, culture, resilience.”

Broussard, who has lived in Murrieta since 2009, began his teaching career in 2003 as a first-grade teacher and spent a few years at elementary schools and then several years at middle schools. The last seven years have been at the high school level. He is a two-time nationally recognized top 10 Athletic Director Award recipient, author, poet and philanthropist and uses all these ways to champion his purpose in life, which is child activism. Had he not chosen the field of education, Broussard knows he would have worked with children in some capacity.

He started writing poetry in college as a form of therapy but eventually became intrigued by the art form and the ability to paint pictures with words. His philanthropic endeavors involve youth and his nonprofit Hope Service, on Instagram @hopeservice3030, has partnered with other nonprofits to better the lives of people in the community.

“Young people are my passion,” he said. “In life, the thing that breaks us and gives us our greatest pains usually ends up being our vocational purpose in hopes of giving someone else the experience we were robbed of. That’s our chance to rewrite chapters of our past, however futile for us, but life changing for others. Even now, I work with many different nonprofits in the community serving young people and foster children.”

Broussard said athletics was always an outlet for him as he was growing up and it was the one space where he felt like he had control. He said sports taught him about life and how to handle tough situations.

He said he wants readers of his book to be able to see oth ers as themselves by identifying and shar ing similar emotions. Despite different jour neys, emotions are the same for everyone and he wants the reader to become their most em pathetic self through self-introspection and self-discovery. But it isn’t just colleagues that Broussard hopes will learn from his ex periences. He tries to incorporate the same lessons into his role as a father.

“My son is 8. He is my world and every day with him is a chance at a relationship I never had,” he said. “I want him to know he’s strong and powerful and that his greatest strengths are designed to make others’ lives better. He loves the book and he’s so proud of me. It touches my heart that I can give him a great example of perseverance, hard work and blessings. It’s the greatest gift for me in this whole journey. He’s literally my everything.”

Broussard chose the title “Letters from an Educator: The Child You Didn’t See” for multiple reasons. First, it is a call to action, challenging readers to see the whole child, even the layers behind their behavior.

“In order to connect emotionally with the child, the person has to find similar emotional spaces that would aid such a journey,” he said. “The title also points to my journey as a passionate educator who serves as a beacon for child humanitarianism. Many have seen me cry but few really know the history behind the passion; the title points to that.”

He said that in hindsight he wouldn’t change anything about the book from an authenticity standpoint. “The stories and perspectives are mine and I own them,” he said. “I know inside that the uniqueness of my story has and will touch every educator and child humanitarian who reads the book or hears my message. To know whenever my time is up here on earth, I completed ‘the’ assignment I was called to complete is so fulfilling.”

Broussard said that if readers only get one takeaway from reading his book, he hopes it will be that “although we live in a society that asks us to hide and tuck away past experiences, especially the painful ones, I want to challenge us all to embrace all of who we are in hopes of providing aid to someone else in a way that brings peace and reprieve to their storms. Better is always possible.”

For more information and to order his book, please visit www.johnbroussard3030.com

John Broussard autographs a copy of his book at his signing at Pechanga Resort Casino. Andrez Imaging photo

Murrieta Mesa’s John Broussard speaks about his recently released book, “Letters from an Educator: The Child You Didn’t See” at the School Climate Conference in Temecula April 27, 2022. Courtesy photo

MSJC Serves Students in Temecula Region with

New Campus

Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC) opened its new Temecula Valley Campus – the first permanent campus of higher education serving Riverside County’s southwest region – in Fall 2021.

The five-story, 350,000-square-foot facility features state-ofthe-art labs, technology and classrooms and offers programs so students can earn associate degrees, transfer to four-year universities, or certificates that directly support the region’s economy.

The campus includes a veterans’ resource center, health center, dining hall, bookstore, career center and other support services. Students can meet with counselors, receive assistance from financial aid, and more.

MSJC Superintendent and President Dr. Roger Schultz said the new campus is making an immediate impact on students in the area.

“It has already made a difference in its first year, saving time and gas money for students by providing them closer access to college in southwestern Riverside County,” he said. “The energy for higher education in this region is just going to grow exponentially.”

The new campus is at 41888 Motorcar Parkway, Temecula. It is on the corner of Margarita Road and Solana Way.

Founded in 1963, Mt. San Jacinto College serves nearly 24,000 students annually in a district covering 1,700 square miles from the San Gorgonio Pass to Temecula, with campuses in San Jacinto, Menifee, Banning and Temecula. The college offers in-person, online, and hybrid courses to serve students where they are and in ways they want to learn.

MSJC offers numerous courses and programs that satisfy the transfer requirements of four-year colleges and universities and vocational and technical programs that prepare students for fulfilling careers. Along with the college’s traditional programs, MSJC’s Community Education department offers contract education and not-for-credit programs for personal and professional development.

MSJC awarded 3,157 degrees and certificates to a recordbreaking 2,185 graduates in May 2022.

Prospective students can register at www.msjc.edu/enroll and see the schedule at www.msjc.edu/schedule.

Courtesy photos

To meet the workforce needs in the high-growth sector industry of con struction in southwest Riverside County, Mt. San Jacinto College and Habitat for Humanity Inland Valley teamed up to offer a pre-apprenticeship program to bring qualified workers into the fold.

“This class was an opportunity for MSJC Adult Education to offer free shortterm vocational training to adult learn ers,” instructor Sterling Davenport said. “Our construction pre-apprenticeship program was one of the first non-credit CTE training opportunities offered at MSJC. It paved the way for other free short-term vocational training programs such as Introduction to Business Com munications, Child Development, Digital Media and Culinary Arts.”

Introduction To Construction

Program

Hammers Home The Importance Of Skilled Labor

by Diane A. Rhodes

Davenport has been at MSJC since 2010, working for its Adult Education program teaching GED, computer and construction classes.

No cost class

The no-cost introduction to construc tion class is held every spring and fall for approximately 12 weeks. It has been held in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity Inland Valley since fall 2020 and with the city of Temecula about two years before that. The program teaches basic construction and carpentry skills, terminology, blueprint reading, cost es timating, applied mathematics for con struction and more. Students can earn their CPR and OSHA-10 certifications.

“Habitat has been a great opportunity and partnership that we are truly grate ful for in terms of what their service means to the community. It has even led to developing other career classes like our Introduction to Nonprofit Indus tries and Employment taught by Tammy Marine, Executive Director at Habitat,” Davenport said.

For almost five years, Eric Bunge was the Director of Community Outreach for Habitat’s Inland Valley chapter. He helped connect people and resources to the nonprofit’s mission through his role as a public figure. He oversaw several notable projects which is how he came to be recommended to work with the MSJC construction course. Fall 2022 marked his fourth semester teaching the class.

“We have had the privilege of working with students with a wide range of skill levels, backgrounds, ages and future as pirations,” he said. “People take the class for various reasons, but it brings me joy when students take that knowledge and apply it. We have had a few that have

taken the next step and entered into the Carpenters Union program, and we even have one person from the very first class on staff as a key furniture builder at our Design Center. Some have even ex pressed interest in purely volunteering on our job sites.”

He said the students have an indirect but significant impact on Habitat’s mis sion.

Job site training

“Habitat for Humanity is built on the premise of volunteers and donors coming together by providing a pathway to homeownership for hardworking families. There is no better example of this than on a Habitat job site,” Bunge said. “However, there is a national shortage of skilled labor in the construction trades. This shortage affects our ability to get skilled volunteers and donated services from contractors. These deficits have a direct impact on our homebuilding program but more importantly, on homeownership affordability for all our residents. By serving as a collaborative partner in the Construction Pre-apprenticeship program, we are, in essence, promoting the construction trades as a viable career path for participants. Our goal with this class is to excite people about the

Students from MSJC’s adult education construction class work on a project in Temecula, November 2021.

MSJC’s Introduction to Construction program gives handson experience to adults interested in entering the trade.

Students work together to complete the Introduction to Construction class project in May 2021.

construction field, provide them with basic knowledge of the industry, train them in tool usage and safety and introduce them to potential employers to help them transition into the field. We are also grateful for our partnership with the Carpenters Union and that our students have the opportunity to earn hours toward their pre-apprenticeship program.”

Davenport agrees as he said not every student is bound for a four-year college degree and construction is a field that is always in need of employees. The job is physically and mentally reward ing and makes an excellent high-paying career for anyone who wants a career change or is fresh out of high school. He said every cohort graduates up to 20 students and typically transitions two to three students to employment opportunities each semester.

Bunge said the fall 2022 class was working on a unique project where they will be building a shed structure.

“This is designed to have the similar layout as a home build, just on a smaller footprint,” he said. “The sheds will even be equipped with ventilation and a solar fan for cooling. The stu dents complete one each semester and in the long-term, we hope to build a total of five or six. Habitat IV’s Design Center will use these as storage for their programs and merchandise that are cur rently in rented containers. The money saved from the rental fees will be cycled back to support Habitat IV’s housing programs. We have already built two and will complete the third one this fall.”

Just like most successful construction projects, Davenport has been able to build the class to meet current trends in the industry so that students are learning about the most up-to-date and ap plicable methods and techniques.

“When we first created the class, the Carpenters Union helped guide our curriculum development to match the core skills and certifications of the industry. However, as the semesters went on and we started to incorporate an employer panel of local busi nesses to give our students the opportunities to meet profession als in the field, we added new skills, certifications, and content to match what the local industry needed,” he said. “One of the most consistent types of feedback we get from students is how surprised they are at how much construction pays without the need for a college degree and how many different areas a person can specialize in besides just framing and working with lumber: drywall, plumbing, electrical, etc. Our employer panel also com ments on how awesome it is for the college to invest in the trades since it is in such a high-demand industry with job openings all over the place and many of the local high schools have stepped away from the trades in favor of sending kids to college.”

No experience needed

Classes are targeted toward adult learners who are 18 years or older that are not currently enrolled in high school. No prior ex perience in the field is required. Since construction is a vast field with various job openings, specialties and skill levels, the ideal candidate is an adult learner who wants a job in the area and needs the skills or knowledge to jump in.

“Our end-of-the-term employer panel gets students in direct contact with professionals hiring in the community. Our partner ship with the Southwestern Carpenters Union also allows any

student to join the union right after class and get work,” Daven port said.

MSJC also offers an embedded counseling component to sup port students with developing necessary soft skills specific to this industry and skills for resume writing/overall access for employ ment within this industry.

“We want anyone from those who have no experience to those with lots of experience domestically or internationally,” Daven port said. “If you don’t know how to swing a hammer or need the knowledge to succeed in the construction industry in Southern California, we are interested in you.”

For more information on all free MSJC Adult Education classes, call 951-487-3707 or visit www.msjc.edu/adulted

MSJC offers adult learners the opportunity to break into the construction trade through its free course, now offered in the Temecula and San Jacinto valleys. Courtesy photos

PD celebrates 30 years of service with open house event

Spotlight shines on the Lake Elsinore State of the City address

Valley News

by Lynn Sakamoto-Kay

Arecent episode of “60 Minutes” shed light on the rapidly diminishing number of local newspapers, calling them the “soul of a community,” saying they cannot become “yesterday’s news.” Temecula Valley News is doing everything it can to hold off the tide, resolute in its commitment to serve the southwest Riverside County community.

“We began publishing in 1997 after the Press Enterprise bought several local community papers and assimilated them into the PE. Later the Californian and North County Times would be sold and assimilated into the Union tribune,” said Publisher Julie Reeder. “There was limited space afforded to our local news and events.”

According to Julie, the Valley News and its two sister publications - The Village News and The Anza Valley Outlook – each week dedicate half their editorial content to include press releases from community organizations and non-profits, and the other half are unique stories generated by paid staff.

“The more we can do to publicize our invaluable non-profits, the more our residents will understand their value and this, in turn, can stimulate donations that will enrich the entire community.”

Equally important is their sports coverage and the good things happening in our towns.

Also, Reeder publications consistently covers meetings at all the City Councils, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, the water districts, and keeps watch on numerous other agencies and boards. In addition to breaking news, the Valley News staff spends about 400 hours a week monitoring activities in Southwest Riverside County. “Statistically, people who read newspapers are typically more informed and are influencers in their communities, more so than TV or radio. It’s just hard to get documented information any other way than in a well-rounded regular newspaper delivery,” said Reeder.

“We feel it is our responsibility to keep our people in the loop,”

added Julie. “Our duty is to serve as a hub of communications and education.”

Between all three community papers, they have earned well over 200 Society of Professional Journalists, Press Club, and community awards. They reach over 300,000 readers each month.

“We have built a reputation with our news as being fair and unbiased and we are really proud of that. The Editorial and Opinion section is where anyone can voice their opinion regardless of political or social bias. It’s an important service to serve as an outlet for community members to voice their concerns or praises on any topic they feel is important.”

Despite a decline in advertising income due to COVID-19 shuttering businesses, the Valley News found ways to use its limited resources to fill information voids where needed. This included a Spanish language edition in April 2020 that focused on COVID information and resources.

It also published a Cancer Guide Resource Directory of local services, that is still distributed to hospitals, doctor offices, imaging centers, Michelle’s Place, and health facilities throughout Riverside County. In addition, each year Reeder Media/Valley News, publishes the Greater Fallbrook Area Sourcebook, a highquality publication featuring profiles of local businesses, local dining, non-profits, health-related articles and historical insights into the area.

The Village News also provides 24-hour emergency and breaking news on its website, which proved particularly important during local fires.

The bottom line, says Julie, is “we are here to serve our community and as long as the Valley News residents and advertisers support us, we will be here for a long time.”

Editor’s note: To support the Valley News, go to MyValleyNews. com/subscribe to subscribe for as little as $5 a month. We depend on our community for support to pay our writers and photographers!

Temecula commemorates the 21st anniversary of 9/11

Menifee’s State of City address focuses on the

Oldlympics competition produces

medals for athletes

The Difference Along The Experience

The wineries along the De Portola Wine Trail offer a unique experience for those visiting Temecula Valley Wine Country by capturing the true essence of what wines and wine tasting is about, great wines and great times.

De Portola Wine Trail wineries stick to their roots when they say that all good wines become better when surrounded by good friends and family. The award-winning wines created in the wineries, all located within a stunning landscape full of lush plants and beautiful rolling hills, creates an exciting and enthralling atmosphere that should accompany any good wine tasting event.

Featuring varietals from numerous countries including Italy and France, visitors to the 10 wineries along the De Portola Wine Trail won’t be disappointed when they visit the area that has become known as Temecula’s “Wine Row” and are sure to find numerous wines that are pleasing to the palette.

For more information on all the wineries along the DePortola Wine Trail, read on or visit www.deportolawinetrail.com

Somerset Vineyard & Winery

37338 De Portola Road, Temecula 951-365-5522 | www.somersetvineyard.com Open Mon-Wed 11am-6pm, Thurs 11am-8:30pm, Fri-Sat 11am-9pm, Sun 11am-7pm

Fazeli Cellars Winery

37320 De Portola Road, Temecula 951-303-3366 | www.fazelicellars.com Open Daily 11am-6pm

Leoness Cellars Winery

38311 De Portola Road, Temecula 951-302-7601 | www.leonesscellars.com Open Mon-Thurs 11:30am-5pm, Fri 11:30am-6pm, Sat 11am-6pm, Sun 11am-5pm

Danza Del Sol Winery

39050 De Portola Road, Temecula 951-302-6363 | www.danzadelsolwinery.com Open Daily 11am-6pm

Robert Renzoni Vineyard & Winery

37350 De Portola Road, Temecula 951-302-8466 | www.robertrenzonivineyards.com Open Daily 11am-6pm

Frangipani Estate Winery

39750 De Portola Road, Temecula 951-699-8845 | www.frangipaniwinery.com Open Daily 10am-6pm

Gershon Bachus VintNers

37750 De Portola Road, Temecula 877-458-8428 | www.gershonbachus.com

Open Mon-Thurs 12-6pm, Fri 11am-6pm, Sat-Sun 10am-6pm

Oak Mountain Winery

36522 Via Verde, Temecula 951-699-9102 | www.oakmountainwinery.com Open Daily 11am-5pm

Cougar Vineyard & Winery 39870 De Portola Road, Temecula 951-491-0825 | www.cougarwinery.com Open Daily 11am-6pm

Masia De La Vinya Winery

40230 De Portola Road, Temecula 951-303-3860 | www.masiadelavinya.com Open Daily 11am-5pm

Somerset Winery is the only winery in Temecula that specializes in the art of winemaking using both ancient Terra Cotta vessels as well as traditional Oak Barrels during the aging process.

The earliest evidence of winemaking started in Georgia, a small European country that borders the Black Sea. Evidence of their use of clay jars, known as “Qvevri,” goes back about 8,000 years. Wines were made for nearly 7,000 years in Terra Cotta vessels before Oak Barrels became the modern standard.

If you want to experience wines like the ancient Romans, Egyptians or Greeks enjoyed, come out to Somerset Winery where you will love the smooth mouth-feel of our amphorae wines which offer unique earthly and mineral creaminess on the palate.

Enjoy a tour that you can pre-purchase on our website at https://shop.somersetvineyard.com/Reservation-Events available at select times daily. Our handmade collection of Terra Cotta Amphorae vessels that were custom made in Italy can also be viewed online. The Owners and staff love to share our Amphora program with wine enthusiasts.

Somerset offers live music Friday and Saturday evenings, and Sundays during the day. Come and enjoy our beautiful outdoor gardens – a perfect place on the DePortola Wine Trail to relax, enjoy fine wines, and celebrate the good things in life. Cheers!

Courtesy photos

At

Fazeli Cellars, a valley jewel located in one of Southern California’s most majestic travel getaway destinations, wine tasting and dining are enjoyed in a luxurious setting where panoramic windows overlook Temecula’s spectacular vistas.

Grand-scale events are presented with exquisite flair in Fazeli Cellars’ extraordinary banquet facilities and wedding ceremonies – a Fazeli Cellars and Winery mainstay – are lovingly conducted in magnificent park-like surroundings against a backdrop of Temecula Valley’s dazzling splendor.

The winery also houses Baba Joon’s kitchen, Fazeli Cellars’ A-rated Persian FusionMediterranean inspired lunch destination.

Visitors to Fazeli Cellars will find exquisite, award-winning world-class boutique wines, superb dining in an airy atmosphere, luxurious settings for an unforgettable wine-tasting experience, unparalleled wedding grounds and wedding event facilities and a state-of-the-art banquet hall for large-scale private or corporate events to public concerts.

Courtesy photos

Robert Renzoni Vineyards

Robert Renzoni Vineyards is a remarkable estate, nestled in the heart of the Temecula Valley. Purchased in 2006, it was one of the last great undeveloped properties in Temecula and has all the characteristics of a great wine estate, rolling hills and different microclimates, three distinct soil types and multiple elevations. The property provides an ideal growing climate as well as scenic vistas from which to enjoy the beautiful Temecula landscape.

Although a Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard existed on a portion of the estate, the majority of the property was virgin soil, ideal for the planting of several varietals, including Pinot Grigio, Barbera and Sangiovese. It was the diversity of the land that convinced Robert Renzoni and his family of the potential for the property to become a truly great wine estate. The picturesque estate includes beautiful olive trees that add to the lush landscape. The vineyards are set among rolling hills and along a creek that flows through the lower vineyard and a smaller creek that flows through the picnic grounds at the rear of the property. Join them in the afternoon and experience the beautiful sea breezes that sweep through the Rainbow Gap and across the estate. Few vineyards provide such a picturesque setting.

Courtesy photos

Gershon Bachus Vintners

37750 De Portola Road, Temecula | (877) 458-8428 | www.gershonbachus.com

Gershon

Bachus Vintners is an exclusive, private fine wine producing Estate in the Temecula Valley with spectacular views of mountains, horse farms and surrounding vineyards.

Catering to weddings and special events alike Gershon Bachus Vintners strives to create truly unforgettable experiences. From an intimate getaway for an afternoon of wine tasting to a corporate retreat for your company to include a menu paired with Gershon Bachus wines, the winery strives to create a one-of-a-kind, fun experience that you and your guests will talk about for years to come.

In addition to hosting your event, Gershon Bachus also offers assistance with planning and has several trusted partners that can cater specifically to your entertainment and decorating preferences.

The winery also has an exclusive chef that caters all of its events with a menu that will impress any palate. Contact us today for more info on pricing, availability and menu offerings. Call (877) 458-8428 or email info@GershonBachus.com.

Courtesy photos

Oak Mountain Winery

Oak Mountain Winery is a fun, family-owned winery on the De Portola Wine Trail in Temecula Valley Wine Country. Home to Southern California’s only mined wine cave, Oak Mountain offers tours and tastings daily with our friendly and knowledgeable staff.

We are known for our famous raspberry and strawberry champagnes and offer over 30 award winning wines. Dine underground at our Cave Café or host your wedding or special event with us. Our climate-controlled pavilion overlooks one of the most spectacular views in the valley. Oak Mountain winery is dog friendly and we offer our guests free Wi-Fi.

2022 saw the opening of the 36522 Distillery, open Thursday through Saturday from 2 to 8 p.m. with a speakeasy vibe.

These wines, vineyards, and winery are a true reflection of the relaxed and classic beauty standing timeless in Temecula Valley Wine Country.

Oak Mountain Winery and Cave Café are open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Courtesy photos

Leoness Cellars

38311 De Portola Road, Temecula | (951) 302-7601 | www.leonesscellars.com

Leoness prides itself on making the highest quality wines Temecula Valley has to offer. Their passion for farming, since 1972, is conveyed in the winery’s warm hospitality, a culinary experience with the freshest ingredients and fun, educational experiences.

Leoness Cellars offers stunning views of our vineyard and the surrounding mountains, providing picturesque backdrops for wine tasting, wine education and tours, exceptional dining and special events. With multiple wines rated 90-plus points by Wine Enthusiast Magazine and other major wine publications, the vision and philosophy at Leoness is simple – farm high-quality vineyards, produce award-winning wines and to accommodate members and guests with warm hospitality.

Through a variety of hosted tours for both large and intimate groups, our staff of certified wine educators and sommeliers consistently strive to bring our valued members and guests the perfect wine experience.

In addition to the winery, the open-air setting and seasonal menu offerings in The Restaurant at Leoness Cellars, voted Best Winery Restaurant in 2016 and 2017 by USA Today, pair beautifully with the award-winning Leoness wines.

Led by their executive chef, the team at The Restaurant at Leoness Cellars continues to provide an exceptional dining experience for all who come to dine with them.

Experience for yourself all of what Leoness Cellars has to offer!

Courtesy photos

Nestled in a 40-acre vineyard, Danza del Sol Winery is located on the De Portola Wine Trail in the heart of Temecula Valley, just 50 minutes from San Diego. Reflecting the spirit of “The Valley,” Danza del Sol is owned by Temecula residents Ken & Tina Smith and is a part of the Kentina Hospitality Group. The rustic, authentic and bold winery is one winery not to miss on the De Portola Wine Trail.

Danza del Sol Winery’s story is deeply rooted in Temecula Valley’s wine history. The 40-acre property was originally planted with Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc in 1972, making the Sauvignon Blanc vines, at 50 years old, the oldest in the Valley. Since then, Danza del Sol has continued to produce handcrafted Mediterranean-style award-winning wines by winemaker, Justin Knight.

Two things visitors immediately notice when visiting the tasting room is the rustic and authentic setting, and the friendly and knowledgeable staff eager to guide them through a memorable tasting experience.

From casual or group tastings, guided tours, or private events, Danza del Sol Winery, who’s philosophy is “wine brings people together,” has created experiences for the social wine enthusiast to enjoy.

Come taste with us!

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Frangipani Estate Winery overlooks its vineyard on the De Portola Wine Trail where guests are treated with breathtaking views of the estate vineyard and surrounding valley from their choice of wine tasting in the boutique tasting room or patio overlooking the vineyard.

Visitors will experience a unique wine tasting here at Frangipani Estate Winery. We offer a secluded and peaceful setting, and our patio service allows guests to enjoy and relax all while being served Reserve Style wines. Our Friendly staff welcome guests with enthusiasm and knowledge of our wines as well as knowledge of the Valley.

Family owned and operated since 2006, Frangipani Estate Winery offers a dynamic selection of wines with a passion for reds. Our wines are crafted to challenge the seasoned palate or entice the developing appetite. The feeling of the tasting room is one of Old-World Heritage where Family and Friends are first. Then, being met by hand crafted Red and White wines showcasing what the Estate is all about.

Varietals grown on the Frangipani Estate include Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petite Sirah, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Verdot and Syrah.

Come join Frangipani and enjoy our Estate Winery grounds where you can picnic, play bocce ball, or just relax while sipping our Estate Wines.

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39870 De Portola Road, Temecula | (951) 491-0825 www.cougarwinery.com

Tasting

Rick and Jennifer Buffington caught the winemaking bug more than 25 years ago and suffice to say, the couple have chased what was then a hobby to create one of the most unique and authentic wineries in Southern California Wine Country on the De Portola Wine Trail.

Cougar Vineyard & Winery, established in Temecula in 2005, is a boutique winery that specializes in handcrafted wine featuring rare Italian varietals on a property that resembles the beautiful Italian vineyard countryside.

Not only winemakers, but farmers as well, most Cougar’s grapes are grown on the estate and owned associated vineyards, though they do purchase some of their grapes from premium growers in the region.

Cougar Vineyard & Winery has established five varietals rec ognized by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau in the United States, all of which produce wines not found anywhere else in the country.

With handcrafted wines, breathtaking views, a dog-friendly policy, and Sangio’s Deli, producing dishes perfectly suited to es tate wines, Cougar offers visitors an experience unlike any other in Temecula Valley Wine Country.

Open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, Cougar Vineyard & Winery is at 39870 De Portola Road in Temecula. Call (951) 491-0825, visit www.cougarwinery.com or follow them on social media using @cougarwinery.

RK Green Studios photo

Courtesy photos

Masia de la Vinya Winery

At

Masia de la Vinya Winery, visitors are encouraged to come to the trail less traveled for an intimate wine tasting experience.

Located on the De Portola Wine Trail in the valley of Temecula, California this 10-acre property is owned by Temecula residents Ken & Tina Smith and is a part of the Kentina Hospitality Group.

Masia de la Vinya, (roughly translated as ‘manor house of the vineyard’) is a boutique winery with a heavy Spanish influence in the wines and a Southern California ambiance, beautiful panoramic views, and a friendly and knowledgeable staff.

With an Old-World approach, Masia de la Vinya is passionate about producing wines that are filled with tradition and simplicity, while incorporating new-age techniques to ensure great, high-quality wines.

Masia de la Vinya offers live music every weekend on the stunning patio overlooking the vineyard for visitors to while sipping on award-winning wine.

Shop for the latest in the gift shop located just off the tasting room or book a private seated tasting experience like no other in the valley.

Make plans to discover this hidden gem soon.

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FEATURED LOCATIONS:

Churon Winery

33233 Rancho California Rd., Temecula 951-694-9070 www.innatchuronwinery.com

Open Mon 11-5, Wed-Sat 10-5, Closed Tues

Lorimar Vineyards and Winery

39990 Anza Road, Temecula 951-694-6699 www.lorimarwinery.com

Open Mon-Wed 12-5, Thurs 12-9, Fri-Sat 11-9, Sun 11-5

Live music 7 days a week!

Miramonte Winery

33410 Rancho California Road, Temecula 951-506-5500 www.miramontewinery.com

Open Mon-Thurs 11-6, Fri-Sat 11-8, Sun 11-7

Lorimar Winery

39990 Anza Road Temecula, CA 92591 (951) 694-6699

Lorimar Loft 42031 Main St. Ste C Temecula, CA 92590 (951) 240-5177

The Olive Plantation

36511 Pauba Road, Temecula 800-220-1702 www.theoliveplantation.com Open Sat & Sun 12-4

The Olive Plantation Celebrates 12 YEARS OF SUCCESS

Twelve years ago, The Olive Plantation was started on a whim to satisfy a county regulation for building the family farm. Dave Fenton found the 10 acre parcel that now houses the popular Olive farm off Pauba Road, back when it was still just a dirt road. Since the land was comprised of two steep hills, once the grading was complete and the home was built, they were told to plant all the graded soil back for erosion control.

This was a very large task that the family

did not expect. Not realizing what would happen to them in the near future from this requirement, they planted 1,000 little olive trees and Fenton’s two daughters, Jenna Kofler and Megan Schultz, began watering them.

With great success, only a few years later, they had enough olives to harvest. Ironically, olive oil was never part of the plan, but Fenton did some research and decided to have the olives milled, creating just enough olive oil for family and friends to enjoy.

The Olive Plantation Farm Blend.

Seven years into growing, the olive trees produced several tons and with that amount, it meant the family needed to start selling the oil, never realizing they had been given what the family calls “liquid gold.”

They had the olive oil lab-tested and started entering competitions to see if they had something special. Much to the Fenton’s delight, their Olive Oil was not only delicious, but their extra-virgin olive oil also won Gold at the California State Fair, the Orange County Fair and a Silver at the largest competition in the world, New York International Olive Oil Competition.

Kofler fell in love with the trees and the farm, she received her degree from Cal Poly Pomona as a Plant Scientist with honors.

A mill was purchased from Italy. Having their own mill led to greater control of the final product by being able to harvest at the optimal time, milling quickly and only allowing the best olives to create the final extra-virgin olive oil. In 2022, the Olive Plantations two Ultra Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oils, including the Farm Blend and the Bella Di Cerignola Oil, won Gold awards from the New York International Olive Oil Competition.

The Fentons said they “feel overwhelmed and overjoyed since most farmers never receive this kind of recognition in their entire farming lives.” This year’s milling was mostly done by Kofler and her husband Hayden since Dave Fenton works full time in construction.

The requirement to plant the trees 12 years ago changed the

Fenton, and now Kofler, families forever.

Their belief in prayer and faith led them all the way, Lori Fenton said. Their farm sales room is now open every weekend for extravirgin olive oil and vinegar sales. Life at The Olive Plantation is full of fun, laughter and music for all to enjoy. Come visit their farm just off the De Portola Wine Trail and see for yourself this little piece of farm heaven in Temecula.

If you have ever dreamed of having your very own farm, visit Jenna and Hayden Kofler’s company Kofler Consulting which handles start-up farms for new landowners and local farm management at www.koflerconsulting.com

Farmer Dave with daughter Jenna Kofler. 1893 Old Mission Bell at the plantation. Courtesy photos

Habitat

for Humanity

Inland

by Diane A. Rhodes

Habitat for Humanity Inland Valley has served families in southwest Riverside County for more than 30 years. The affiliate improves living conditions by building and providing af fordable homeownership opportunities and through a variety of other housing programs that include critical home repair, minor repair, neighborhood revitalization and education.

In 2008 and 2009, it opened two ReStore retail outlets that also improve living conditions by providing home improvement items and furnishings at a fraction of retail value. Additionally, the Temecula and Lake Elsinore ReStores have diverted more than 10,000 tons of trash from local landfills while allowing consumers to purchase gently used items.

“The ReStores are a community resource that help the environ ment and are consistent with Habitat for Humanity’s commit ment to sustainable practices,” Tammy Marine, executive director of Habitat for Humanity Inland Valley, said.

The 35,000-square-foot Design Center has been thriving since it opened in June of 2020, providing a low-cost solution for shop pers on a fixed budget. Its primary focus is on brand new home furnishings. Commonly sold items are couches, tables, outdoor furniture, vanities, rugs, barbecues and more.

“The store is different every day based on donations received. It also has a nice selection of smaller items including tools, paint, linens, pans and more,” Marine said. “Our prices are amazing, and the ever-changing selection makes it an exciting place to shop. All of the proceeds support families in southwest Riverside County so the Design Center offers inspiration and obtainability for a feel-good cause.”

Marine has been at the affiliate’s helm for 17 years and said the Design Center emerged due to a large donation received from “the most significant online retailer in the world.”

“We needed extra space to accommodate this large donation and thus the Design Center was conceived,” she said. “Over time, we dedicated the new space to brand new materials and now re

Valley

Helps Repurpose for a Purpose

ceive donations from a wide variety of donors. The store is a trea sure hunter’s dream and offers new items at a fraction of retail cost. Discounts are as deep as 70% and our frequent sales drive the prices down even more.”

Like the ReStores, the Design Center is consistent with Habi tat’s mission of providing a way for individuals to improve their own living conditions by purchasing items at huge discounts.

“While we appreciate the wide array of shoppers from about every demographic, we know that a portion of our shoppers are relying on us to help them improve their own living conditions through our affordable prices,” Marine said. “If we don’t have what you were hoping for when you come in, keep coming back. Eventually you will find what you want.”

With full-time and part-time professional staff, all stores have contributed to creating jobs in the communities they serve. Vol unteers, groups and individuals are also introduced to the centers through workforce development groups.

“All of our stores represent a combination of many people com ing together to do some good,” Marine said. “The proceeds go to support our many programs.”

Recent construction projects include a one-house project in Lake Elsinore and a six-house project in Temecula. Marine said the affiliate has done larger multi-house projects in the past but the homes were not located together so the Temecula project will be its largest development to date.

“The county of Riverside approached us right before COVID-19 and asked if we would be interested in partnering with them on a Temecula project,” Marine said. “The city of Temecula quickly jumped on board with the project, offering land and additional resources. We were delayed due to COVID-19 but are now in the developmental phase and once the agreements are signed, we will start moving quickly and turning the vision into a reality.”

Marine said there has never been a time when housing is more important with affordability, housing shortages and rising costs

Shane Gibson photos

forcing families to make challenging decisions that have the po tential to compromise their quality of life.

“While subsidized programs are needed for some, for others it holds them back,” she said. “Habitat for Humanity Inland Val ley is committed to finding innovative solutions to the affordable housing crisis while providing a responsible option that bolsters families and sets them, and their children, on a trajectory for suc cess. I am so proud of our holistic long-term solution that elevates families into self-sufficiency.”

Marine said now is the time for everyone to get involved and become a part of the solution.

“Volunteering or donating to Habitat feels good and the ex posure you gain makes it a good business decision,” she said. “We have fun events that make you want to come back for more. Ask about our upcoming Women’s Build, Golf Tournament and Christmas Tree Lane events. Together we are more than we ever thought possible.”

The Design Center, 28410 Vincent Moraga Dr., in Temecula, is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ReStores, 27479 Enterprise Circle West in Temecula and 570-I Central Ave. in Lake Elsinore, are open the same days and hours. More infor mation can be found on Instagram @habitatrestoreiv and on Face book at “HFHIVTemeculaRestore.”

Anyone wishing to donate items to either of the ReStores should call the donation line at 951-676-1221. Drop-offs are preferred but someone will pick up items if possible.

A variety of couches for sale at the Habitat for Humanity Inland Valley ReStore Design Center in Temecula.

The Habitat for Humanity Inland Valley ReStore Design Center open to the public is located at 28410 Vincent Moraga Drive in Temecula sells new and gently used home improvement and furnishing items donated to the nonprofit.

Volunteers can contact Kasey Abrahamian at kasey@habitativ.org or sign up on the website to receive updates when a project needs volunteers.

For more information, visit http://www.habitativ.org or 951-296-3362.

Ed Bush

Paws 4 Healing Members Improve Human Health Through Bonding

by Diane A. Rhodes

Paws 4 Heal ing is a local chapter of Pet Part ners whose therapy animal teams visit a variety of locations to help humans of all ages. From juvenile detention facilities to veterans’ organizations, nursing homes and schools, visits can help a variety of individuals in many ways. Pet Partners is a national organization dedicated to improving human health and well-being through the human-animal bond. Found ed in 1977 as the Delta Society, its Therapy Animal Program screens and registers vol unteer therapy animal teams to make visits to settings where people can benefit from the presence of an animal.

Carol Betzer serves as coordinator for the Temecula Valley Paws 4 Healing chapter and has been a member for more than 15 years. She adopted Skittles, a 10-year-old Golden Retriever, after the pooch was released from a service dog program.

“I thought she was too sweet to just sit around the house, so I decided to test to make her a therapy dog. We passed the test and became a member of Paws 4 Healing about five years ago and off we went visiting,” Betzer said.

There is a difference between service dog and therapy dog programs. Therapy animals are screened and registered to provide interactions with people other than their owner or handler in settings where their presence can have a beneficial effect. Service animals are specially trained to provide specific functions for the people they live with. Pet Partners registers therapy animal teams, not service animals.

Betzer and Skittles, who live in Aguanga, are working at reading programs at Anza and Idyllwild libraries and Skittles loves to visit the children at Southwest Juvenile Hall.

“She loves the attention the kids give to her,” Betzer said. “The boys make her do tricks and the girls lay with her and brush and braid her fur.”

Temecula’s Mark Drake and his dog, Mimi, started participating with Paws 4 Healing about eight years ago after his wife, Nancy, became registered with their other dog, Columbo. He loved what she did, so he followed in her footsteps with Mimi, a 10-year-old Labrador Retriever/ Golden Retriever mix.

Mark and Mimi have participated in the Paws to Read program at the Ronald H. Roberts Temecula Public Library and the city of Menifee Summer Camps. They have visited seniors at Vineyard Ranch at Temecula Assisted Living and students at Hans Christensen Middle School in Menifee. Drake said the administrators consistently get feedback from Mimi’s clients, saying they enjoyed her visit so much and cannot wait until she returns.

“Mimi enjoys all her visits with children as well as seniors,” Drake said. “Mimi’s whole body wags when I put on her vest as this signals she will be going for her visits. She prances into the library, wiggling and wagging the whole way.”

Bari Boersma and Star, a blue merle Australian Shepherd with some black and red thrown in, joined the Pet Partners organization in 2015 and have been with Paws 4 Healing since 2017. The duo are also members of HOPE Animal Assisted Crisis

Three Paws 4 Healing therapy animal teams visit Hans Christensen Middle School in Menifee Oct. 10, 2022. From left, Mark Drake/Mimi, Carol Betzer/Skittles and Bari Boersma/Star.

Paws 4 Healing member Mimi at a recent library Paws to Read event in Temecula.

Mark Drake takes therapy dog Mimi for regular visits to Vineyard Ranch at Temecula Assisted Living.

Betti Cadmus photo Courtesy photo

Courtesy photo

Response and Riverside County Fire Peer Support teams and have visited schools, hospitals, fire stations and other locations throughout the years.

Most recently they have been busy with deployments such as Operation Purple Camp for military families and a visit to the McKinney Fire site to support those affected as well as first responders.

“Star is also a voluntary member of Riverside County Fire K9 comfort team,” Boersma, of French Valley, said. “We have been very busy visiting the Dispatch/911 center and fire stations when needed. All of this is possible through my involvement with Pet Partners.”

Skittles is also a HOPE AACR dog. Betzer said she has been to local high schools for their “Every 15 Minutes” programs where Skittles is with the students that participate in the program providing them with unconditional love and comfort as this program is very stressful on the students that participate.

Boersma said Star is great with children so any visit with them is good for Star, who also visits local schools and recreation programs.

“I feel she is at her best in our crisis work because she is very empathetic and calm which helps others at times of stress,” Boersma said. “Doing my therapy and crisis work has been an honor to me. Each time Star and I go out is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us to give back. I am very blessed to have Star and be her leash holder.”

She said feedback they get is always one of thanks and gratitude for bringing the dogs and sharing them with others.

“So often we are told the whole room lit up as soon as the dogs walked in,” she said. “I have had people tell me this is the best they have felt or the first time they have smiled in a long time! It is always an honor to be asked to visit others, whatever the need is.”

A Pet Partners therapy animal team consists of one human handler and one animal working together to provide animal-assisted intervention visits to people who can benefit. While the focus is on the animal, the handler guides the interactions to make sure the visit is safe for both the animal and the people. Pet Partner teams undergo a skills and aptitude screening and follow a number of health and safety criteria to make sure they can provide visits with minimal risk.

For those interested in finding out if their dog has what it takes

Therapy dog Star.

to be part of Paws 4 Healing, Drake said the dog needs to have a calm and confident demeanor, be well trained and friendly. Betzer agrees, adding they need to be socialized to handling unpredictable situations. Boersma said, “My advice is to discuss with an experienced therapy team handler about what it takes in both the handler and the dog to do therapy work. If it seems like a good fit, the team should enroll in training classes to get the required Canine Good Citizen Certification to be eligible to evaluate for a therapy organization. Pet Partners has the highest standards to pass their evaluation, you need to put in the time and be ready.”

For more information, 714-585-1628, www.paws4healing.info, paws4healing@aol. com or www.petpartners.org

Skittles has been a Paws 4 Healing member with her human partner Carol Betzer for more than five years.

Mimi Drake interacts with children at a recent city of Menifee Summer Camp event.

Courtesy photo

Courtesy photo

Courtesy photo

All Star Physical Therapy Expands to Aid More

by Diane A. Rhodes

When Bill Atkins opened his first physical therapy clinic in 1984, he was eager to serve Temecula resi dents with their needs in overcoming injuries, recovering from surgeries and more, he said.

“I outgrew my initial facility and moved several times and added several facilities,” he said. “I added two part ners, John Waite PT and Greg Smith PT, who greatly assisted in our expansion.”

Since partnering with occupational therapist Paul DiMeglio at All Star Phys ical Therapy in 2015, they have opened many facilities that have provided solutions for patients in several communities. There are currently almost 30 All Star locations.

Atkins, 66, said the most common reason patients seek help is for musculoskeletal injuries such as low back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain or knee pain from injury or for post-surgery rehabilitation.

“We also see patients for balance problems, general weakness and deconditioning problems, fall prevention and TMJ disorders,” he said. “More recently we have acquired a therapist with expertise in pelvic floor dysfunction. We have specialists in hand therapy who are occupational therapists as well as speech therapists.”

Although most of the patients who go to All Star are from physician referrals, California is a direct access state which allows many patients to self-refer and be covered by insurance such as Medicare and private insurance.

“HMO referrals come by physicians and require authorization; we also take workers compensation patients,” Atkins said. “We are fortunate to be contracted with almost every insurance carrier in our area.”

Atkins said Waite has been in Murrie ta continuously since 1989 and his son Aaron Atkins PT, worked under Waite for several years. Aaron is now director of the newest All Star office on Hancock Avenue in Murrieta. His other son, Andrew Atkins PT, runs their largest of fice in Temecula on Highway 79.

“I feel our newest office in the Hancock location will be very exceptional with an outdoor turf field, plus the ability to treat all forms of physical therapy with a focus on sports medicine, wom en’s health and pelvic floor dysfunction and pain, hand therapy and balance disorders,” Bill Atkins, of Fallbrook, said.

Collectively, more than 350 employees see a wide variety of pa tients in need of physical therapy. He said that while many of the

Shane Gibson photos Aaron Atkins, PT, DPT, (right) director of the All Star Physical Therapy location at 25136 Hancock Avenue, Suite D, location in Murrieta, assists strength training with Christian Madgay.

The All Star Physical Therapy team at the new Murrieta location.

therapists have been with All Star for a long time, the business is constantly adding to the team as they grow.

“The biggest challenge of a large company is knowing all the people who work with All Star and being able to connect with them in a personal way,” Atkins said. “We have a mission state ment and values that give us a common core belief but knowing everyone in a more personal way is difficult. Technology and vir tual meetings have helped connect us, but nothing is as good as a one-on-one meeting.”

During pandemic-related shutdowns, All Star was deemed an essential service. Although they had to scale back significantly, they were able to keep all the offices open with a limited staff.

“While the initial threat of COVID is mostly over, it still causes some disruption in business,” Atkins said. “We learned a lot dur ing that time and I feel we are a stronger company because of all we went through together.”

He explained that physical therapists are certified by the state of California, and at a minimum, they are very highly trained and have to pass a state board exam to become a doctor of physical therapy.

“Physical therapists are also required to take continuing educa tion every year to stay current in the science and practice of physi cal therapy,” he said.

Atkins is a physical therapist, orthopedic certified specialist and a certified strength and conditioning specialist, who decided on his career choice in 1976. In college, he majored in biology and physical education. Although he excelled academically, he had not decided on a profession until he discovered physical therapy.

“I was looking at a magazine and saw injured people and re habilitation and said that was for me. I really believe it was a di rection that God put in my mind,” he said. “I initially worked as a physical therapist at Fallbrook Hospital in 1981. While I was in physical therapy school, I worked in different hospitals and worked one summer for the Los Angeles Rams football team.”

Nowadays, Atkins is primarily an administrator, serving as the CEO of All Star Physical Therapy. He still sees patients one day a week but spends most of his time managing and building the business.

“We are heavily involved in student education and training for multiple universities in Southern California,” Atkins said. “Men toring and clinical advancement of the newest members of our profession is also very important and a focus of our company and the profession as a whole. Physical therapy is an expanding part of the medical model as it is very efficient and a low-cost alterna tive to opioids and surgery.”

He said All Star’s extensive student program is focused on con tinuing education and learning for physical therapists as well as occupational therapists and speech pathologists.

“I truly love what I do as I have always been in awe of the func tion of the human body and the way we are wonderfully made by our Creator,” Atkins said. “Anything that can be done to heal, strengthen, improve or restore these bodies is always very fulfill ing. I also love the way that learning never stops in our profession and the way we organize and build our business.”

For more information, call 951-200-3620 or visit http://www.all starphysicaltherapy.net

Christian Madgay does strength training at the new All Star Physical Therapy location in Murrieta.

Cheyenne Spencer Atkins, PT, DPT, doctor at All Star Physical Therapy, works with patients at the new Murrieta location.

Matthew Medina, DPT student at All Star Physical Therapy, works with a patient at the new Murrieta location.

Emergency Heart Care Gives Temecula Man a New Lease on Life

by Temecula Valley Hospital

It was 2015, the Sunday of the Thanksgiv ing holiday when Temecula resident William Richard son and his wife Connie decided to head out in the cooler weather to hike one of their favorite local trails

It was midway through the hike, about 20 miles east of Temecula, that William, having until that moment shown no symptoms of a heart issue, collapsed and Connie realized they had left their cellphones at home.

Connie, a retired healthcare professional, had CPR training about 35 years before that day but had never used it. She found no pulse, so she immediately started CPR and hoped for a miracle. Soon afterward, a retired firefighter hiking the same path came upon the scene and immediately called 911 from his cellphone and assisted Connie with deep chest compression CPR. Since they were in a remote location, a helicopter arrived to airlift Richardson to Temecula Valley Hospital.

Richardson coded twice in the helicopter. At the hospital, doc tors determined he had suffered a heart attack and rushed him into emergency cardiac surgery.

After receiving a stent his artery was opened up, and he spent four days recovering in the ICU.

“The Temecula Valley Hospital staff are a team of rock stars,” Richardson said. “I received nothing but the best care. Despite it being the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, the entire staff stayed late and came in extra shifts to keep me alive.”

It took Richardson, who is also a retired healthcare professional, several months of recovery to get back on his feet.

“After getting another chance to have the breath of life, I want to live life to the fullest,” he said. “Temecula Valley Hospital is the absolute best, and I recognize that their tremendous staff helped me live through a cardiac story of survival.”

Darlene Wetton, CEO of Temecula Valley Hospital, knows the importance of CPR.

“We have had so many amazing lifesaving stories of patients

coming into our hospital after receiving CPR in a medical emer gency, from a spouse, a community member, a friend or family member. Even hands-only CPR can save someone’s life,” Wetton said. “William’s story is a true example of how crucial CPR can be to protect someone’s life.”

Today, Richardson and Connie are enjoying retirement. They spend time searching for European antiques and traveling to different states looking for treasures. They fly fish, maintain their succulent garden and bike ride in the sunny California weather. Richardson meets with Dr. Niraj Parekh, his cardiologist, regularly and continues to eat healthy and exercise. Despite always living a healthy, active lifestyle, Richardson has a family history of heart complications, so he now takes medication to keep his heart strong.

“William takes his health very seriously,” Dr. Parekh said. “I call him my 1%, because he was so critical when he had his heart attack. Our patient-physician relationship is so important to keep him healthy and strong. I am proud of our communication and to be his physician.”

When Richardson recently had shortness of breath, he urgently made an appointment with Parekh. He had a checkup with a car diac angiogram at Temecula Valley Hospital.

“I received the report that all of my pipes are clean and I have a clean bill of health,” Richardson said. “It is truly amazing. Temecula Valley Hospital provided the care that saved my life. I couldn’t be more pleased to have so many wonderful years ahead of me. I want to continue to maximize every moment.”

Reflecting on his experience, Richardson offered some parting thoughts.

“Everyone should be trained in CPR, regardless of your age,” Richardson said. “Don’t ever leave your cellphone behind for any reason. If you have any cause for cardiac concern, there is only one institution I would recommend and that is Temecula Valley Hospital. Finally, thank you TVH, the outstanding cath lab team and Dr. Parekh for giving Connie and me an additional six years of life together and many more to follow.”

For more information on heart care at Temecula Valley Hospi tal, visit www.temeculavalleyhospital.com/heart.

Physicians are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Temecula Valley Hospital. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians. For language assistance, disability accommodations and the nondiscrimination notice, visit TVH online at www.temeculavalleyhospital.com

CEO Darlene Wetton with William Richardson. Courtesy photo

“Their tremendous staff helped me live through a cardiac story of survival.”

Tom Casey Creates Hope for Age-Related Disease Sufferers

by Julie Reeder

When Rainbow resident Tom Casey’s much beloved moth er passed away from Parkinson’s disease in 2001, his fam ily’s grief was furthered by their sense of frustration that noth ing of any enduring effectiveness was able to be done to halt her steady decline from vibrancy to involuntary movements, depres sion and then, with her facial expressions long frozen, her death.

Now 20 years later, Tom is the initiator of the first Institutional Review Board approved placebo-controlled study to prove in 205 years that the ‘Shaking Palsy’ James Parkinson described in 1817 can be significantly reversed.

Casey explained, “Previous to my study, Parkinson’s was pri marily treated using medications targeted ‘at’ the motor dysfunc tion that enables the patient to physically perform as best as pos sible while the disease progresses.”

His study is currently undergoing peer-review prior to its pub lication. He doesn’t believe there has ever been anything preced ing his plasma treatment that could provide so much hope to literally 10 million sufferers to safely and simply restore their lives back to a semblance of normalcy.

While his present achievement is personally unprecedented in its positive impact, Casey’s path to this point has been filled with amazing accomplishments.

Casey entered medicine via the IV business after graduating from the University of Connecticut, becoming McGaw Laborato ries’ product manager (now B. Braun Medical) for IV, wound and urological irrigation, dialysis, pharm ad-mix, and small volume parenterals.

He then left McGaw at the age of 26 to co-found the world’s largest compounding pharmacy/home infusion business that came to be known as Caremark. It is now known as CVS Coram. Coram currently administers 20,000 out-of-hospital infusions a month.

While Casey’s time at his infusion company was relatively brief, he went on to become involved in the development of the world’s first pulsatile heart-bypass machine and then served as an officer and director of an infection control division of Kema Nobel, Swe den, before spending over 20 years as the CEO and chairman of a public applied intelligence development company whose soft ware was honored by placement in the UCSD Engineering time capsule (to be opened on the University’s 100th anniversary). That same company in 1991, became the second highest gaining stock on NASDAQ.

Although Casey has been twice nominated for Entrepreneur of the Year and served 10 years as a member of the UCSD Industrial Liaison Committee and a member of the UCSD Chancellor’s Ad visory Council, he also found time for Fallbrook.

Casey served as a member of the Executive Board of Directors of the Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce. During his two years as the Chamber’s chairman of Government Affairs Committee, he developed a “Historic Initiative” economic revitalization strategy by authoring, documenting and legislatively passing California’s designation of Historic Route 395. He worked with local jurisdictions to install more than 120 signs along the 395 route in Southern California, including those that guide enthusiasts from San Diego to Riverside, traveling locally through Vista, Bonsall, Fallbrook, Rainbow and Temecula.

Casey established an alliance with the Fallbrook Historical Society in reaching an unprecedented agreement with the county to create a new classification of historic registrations that included 23 historic sites and buildings in and around Fallbrook, many of which form the core of the Historic Downtown District.

Additionally, while serving as the acting chair of a San Diego North Economic Development Council public policy hearing, Casey initiated a Transportation Impact Fee review that resulted in a reduction of the cost to open a new business within the County of San Diego.

It was the launch of UCLA’s stem cell research program in 2005 that started his long journey towards addressing Parkinson’s.

Our plasma donors are volunteers, although we do reward them with e-cards for their time to donate. U.C. Berkerly recently proved that frequent donations of plasma, once a week, promotes both neurogenesis and longevity.

Courtesy photos

Unfortunately, after many years of closely fol lowing the research to the point of almost estab lishing a stem cell clinic on the site of the former Santa Ysabel casino, Casey said it became under stood that adult stem cells are tissue-specific and can only duplicate themselves, so their useful ness in disease fighting is, at best, limited.

Casey said, “At that very moment of abandon ment of my stem cell clinic, I read a research paper in May 2014 that turned it all around. It was titled ‘Young Blood Reverses Age-Related Impairments in Cognitive Function and Synaptic Plasticity in Mice’.”

He said, “The publication in Nature Medicine pulled together research by Stanford, Harvard and other prestigious institutes in proving what many had often thought about for centuries, that young blood (plasma) may be a fountain of youth.”

“In that paper, the researchers revealed that old plasma injected into young subject animals made their cells functionally old and plasma from young donors injected into old subjects made their cells functionally young,” said Casey.

“Plasma, the most versatile component of hu man blood, contains an organically perfected mix of over 10,000 individual proteins, 5,000 dif ferent peptides, 1.8 billion exosomes per ml, 50 different gender specific hormones, 45 cytokines, enzymes and minerals.” He continues, “The sci ence of understanding the plasma proteome has advanced so far it is now understood that while we are physically programed to age at very spe cific stages in our life’s journey starting at 26, then reaching peaks at 34, 60 and 78, our plasma changes profoundly to control that aging to the point that it has now been shown that your age can become identified to an accuracy of within three years simply by reading its present compo sition, regardless of your size, shape or race.”

He concludes, “By simply infusing plasma from young sex identified donors between the ages of 18 and 25 into the sex and blood-type matched aging (the proteins most strongly associated with age also change significantly with sex), all the cells in their older bodies immediately respond by actively regenerating

and restoring lost function, just as they did when young.”

Casey states that the benefits have been report ed to last as long as two years.

Casey’s background in the IV business made him immediately recognize that not only has plasma been in use for 100 years, with the United States currently transfusing approximately 6,500 units per day. “Unlike stem cells,” he adds, “plas ma is an FDA approved biologic with an extraor dinary history and record of safe use.”

The FDA published in 2021 that in 2019 (their most recent data) only one plasma related and completely avoidable fatality occurred out of 2.1 million transfusions.

In Nov. 2017, with his knowledge and experi ence, Casey opened the world’s first and pres ently only FDA registered and Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies (AABB), and CLIA fully accredited blood bank that exclu sively collects young plasma.

While Casey continues to live in Rainbow, his business, Spectrum Plasma, Inc., is located in San Marcos, Texas. His blood bank adjoins the very large campus of Texas State University from which it recruits its volunteer donors.

“Spectrum Plasma has now filled prescriptions for hundreds of patients, including supplying young Fresh Frozen Plasma (yFFP®) to the Par kinson’s disease study conducted at the Texas Medical Center: Young plasma infusions signifi cantly improve clinical symptoms and UPDRS scores in patients with Parkinson’s disease,” not ed Dian J. Ginsberg M.D., Principle Investigator.

The Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) is the most widely applied rating in strument for Parkinson’s disease as it includes 31 items contributing to three subscales: (I) Menta tion, Behavior, and Mood; (II) Activities of Daily Living; and (III) Motor Examination.

While this success is hopefully the first of many age-related advancements to be supported by Spectrum Plasma, this study, which Casey has dedicated to his mother, Ellen, will always be the dearest to his heart.

For more information email Tom Casey at tom@ spectrumplasma.com.

Cynthia Wade and Tom Casey.

Spectrum Plasma, Inc. in San Marcos, Texas is located on the town’s historic downtown square. Texas State University is one block away, shown in the background.

By simply infusing plasma from young sex identified donors between the ages of 18 and 25 into the sex and blood-type matched aging... all the cells in their older bodies immediately respond by actively regenerating and restoring lost function, just as they did when young.

”

Private Investigator Tony Campbell Finds Lost Loved Ones

by

There is never a dull moment in Anthony Campbell’s life.

The licensed private investigator searches every day for someone or something throughout California and Mexico. It could be to help solve a homicide, provide high risk process serving, follow a cheating spouse or find lost loved ones.

Recently, Campbell worked to locate a father’s missing daughter after 36 years. Dennis McCarthy had not seen his daughter, Shannon, since she was 4 years old, Campbell explained.

“I stopped at Rainbow Oaks for gas one day, and someone there told this older guy that I was a PI,” Campbell said. “He started talking to me telling me he hadn’t seen his daughter since she was four.”

After a painful split with Shannon’s mother, McCarthy took off and came to San Diego where he found success in the car and boat building and racing industry, Campbell said.

“I got the information and attempted to find her. It was very difficult with the information provided. It took me a week and a half before I made contact with the daughter in the state of Florida,” Campbell said.

When he called, Shannon answered and he said she was so overwhelmed she couldn’t talk, but she did say she had been looking for her father for 30 years. While they were talking on the phone her husband was checking out AC Investigations online and vetted him as the real deal.

Shannon called her father and made a recent trip out to reunite with him.

“ ”

“One of the most beautiful things in this case is that Dennis showed me a 1957 wooden speed boat he refurbished decades ago, and named it ‘Shannon,’” Campbell said, adding that Shannon had always been in her father’s heart.

Campbell’s family came from a rough Long Beach neighborhood and moved to Fallbrook where he went to school.

“I grew up in Fallbrook and on the Pala and Rincon Indian Reservations,” Campbell said, “I grew up in diverse neighborhoods, and it was my normal. I grew my hair long and was poor, and the Indian kids had long hair and were poor at that time. We got along well. It was a challenge being accepted, but after 40 years it works. I love it here.

“My family was pretty rough,” Campbell said. “Some of my family was involved in the Hell’s Angels. You’d see 30 to 40 of them roaring down my neighborhood. It was quite a sight.”

Campbell believes his tough upbringing helps him in his present work and taught him “street smarts.” He’ll venture into some pretty tough neighborhoods and does whatever it takes to get the job done.

After high school, he took jobs in Tribal Law Enforcement on Pala, Rincon and La Jolla Indian Reservations. Campbell practiced private investigations under other companies from 1997 to 2014 when he earned his private investigator license from the state of California. He’s lived between Fallbrook and the reservations for the last 48 years.

“I couldn’t be happier,” he said.

Work comes his way through word of mouth, attorneys, and the marketing he does through Village and Valley News, Yelp, Google and Facebook.

He says his greatest successes are when he brings loved ones together.

Not all of his cases have a happy ending. A recent case involved a male tribal member who had been missing more than six years from Pala Reservation. Campbell knew going in that the man had a heroin and methamphetamine addiction and had signs of mental illness. Initially he met with the man’s family, tribal council and members, law enforcement and detectives.

The case was a hard one and not many U.S. leads were coming in, Campbell said.

“Because I’m a private investigator, I could put more into the case because I’m investigating that one case, whereas the

Karen M. Ossenfort

Anthony Campbell. Courtesy photos

detectives and law enforcement were investigating many, like hundreds of cases,” Campbell said.

When leads dried up stateside, Campbell focused on Tijuana, Mexico, and took work partners and interpreters with him to start the search across the border.

Campbell related a gritty, sordid story of running into lewd acts, engrossed druggies and alcoholics in the canal and houses of ill repute in Tijuana.

Finally in 2018, while walking the streets in Tijuana he came across a homeless shelter and showed a poster of the missing man. One man came forward. He said the man told him he knew ”El Indio.”

It was the son of a father who used to date the missing man’s sister, who recognized the man in Campbell’s flier, “I know Joe very well,” the man told Campbell.

“My witness who saw my subject stated that (Joe) looked mentally ill and was going through trash cans,” Campbell said. “He had $1 million in the bank from Casino money over the years and didn’t know it. That is how far out he was, didn’t even know he had money.”

Campbell was then able to inform the detectives stateside that the missing man, Joe, was alive in Tijuana.

Asked how he detaches from such heartbreaking tragedies, he said, ”As I speak it I’m still living it.”

Though he’s good at finding people, he’s seen things the average man hasn’t even imagined.

Another recent investigation involved a client from out of state who reached out to Campbell to find their daughter who had been enticed away at 16 years old and taken from the state of Texas. Campbell was able to track, surveil and locate the young lady in Hollywood. She was with a 45-year-old director in the pornography business.

Unfortunately, when she was approached she chose to stay, but at least the parents had some peace that she was located,” he said.

Anthony Campbell can be reached online at acinvestigation. com, by email at acinvestigations@icould.com or by text at 760-828-1423.

Graduating virtually: Local schools move ceremonies

Will Fritz ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Great Oak High School seniors line up to begin their virtual graduation ceremony process.

subsequentrestrictions.

Two watched

New Menifee police department know people in the community

Many Menifee residents from Romoland to Sun City find themselves more surprised than fearful when numerous police cars with red lights and sirens blazing roll into their neighborhoods. Children run out of their homes and parents stare, but all those fears and concerns quickly turn to smiles and laughter when friendly waves from the police cars’occupants greet the families. The visit is often a welcome break from the stay-at-home orders and closed schools brought on by the novel coronavirus.

The parade of the shiny black police SUVs sporting Menifee’s newpolicedepartment’sbadgeand insignia is a signal to the residents thatinonlyafewweeksthegrowing city of 92,000 residents will

see POLICE, page A-5

Menifee police Chief Pat Walsh new police department.

Melendez wins 28th

oath of office

District

Shannon McCarthy, pictured here with her husband Eric, reunited with her father thanks to the efforts of Fallbrook PI Tony Campbell.

Tony Ault STAFF WRITER

mation for 2020-2021 in a workshop Wednesday, May 13, and subsequent city council meeting Thursday, May 14. Deep revenue losses were projected due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the threat of a Measure DD repeal in the November elections.

tells Newsom, ‘it’s time to open’

Jeff Pack STAFF WRITER

Menifee Sets Sights High

Situated in the heart of Southern California, along Interstate 215, Menifee is a burgeoning, vibrant city of more than 112,000 residents who enjoy a pleasant year-round climate, abundant recreational offerings, attainable upscale housing, award-winning public safety and convenient proximity to some of Southern California’s premiere attractions and employment centers.

As a relatively new city, Menifee’s business, retail and entertainment outlets are taking shape in forming the city’s character and have contributed to Menifee’s strong financial position. Menifee City Council recognizes the importance of sustaining growth and in turn has invested over $577 million in infrastructure in the city’s recent Capital Improvement Program to address the booming growth today and prepare for the influx tomorrow.

Menifee has set its sights high and strategically planned for its future. Investing in the prospective and current workforce and businesses, the city completed a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, Jobs Blueprint Plan and most recently initiated the Smart Cities and Broadband Master Plan, the first city in Southwest Riverside County to implement these cutting-edge plans. Completing these guiding documents solidifies Menifee’s commitment to a positive outlook on growth, job creation and forethought to set Menifee up as a top tier place to EAT, SHOP, PLAY and STAY!

Menifee understands how difficult and costly it is to do businesses in California. To help businesses succeed, the City Council’s strategic plan implemented “Streamline Menifee,” an initiative to get businesses in and out at the speed of business. The initiative features a zero-stop shop, flat fees for better projections, an updated development code, enhanced technology and mapping services, as well as ombudsman services to assist businesses with saving time and money.

All these elements are working together to support the city’s strategic vision to make Menifee a safe, thriving and premier place to be!

Courtesy photos

Menifee’s All-Inclusive Programs Are Mighty Popular

by Diane A. Rhodes

M

enifee’s Community Services Department established its “Mighty Me” program in 2019 in response to requests to provide socialization programs for local children and adults with special needs. Open to all ages, the monthly events focus on games and activities for the groups to enjoy in a safe environment.

“Be Mighty” was developed shortly after the original program and is open to adults 18 and older. With meetings twice a month, it is designed to be a more social program with crafts, game nights, painting, karaoke and themed dances. Both programs have been a popular addition and even when they had to be held virtually during the pandemic, the participation was strong, especially with the adults.

Michael Rinehart has worked for Menifee’s Parks and Recreation Department for 11 years and began his role as community services coordinator six years ago. He recalled attending the city’s programs when he was in preschool and volunteering throughout high school to meet his community service hours requirement. His first job was working at the department’s summer camp and when he went to college with the plan to become a teacher, he switched his major to recreation management.

“The reason we offer Mighty Me for all ages is to give everyone a chance to be involved regardless of their skill level,” Rinehart said.

Community Services leader Lety Alegria works with Rinehart for all youth programs. She said Mighty Me is designed for those with special needs to meet others and she said some have formed friendship groups outside of the program.

“I’m very passionate about wanting them to be included rather than excluded,” she said. “It’s also for the parents as they can learn about available resources from each other.”

With a college degree in kinesiology, Alegria said her current position is helpful for her future career goal in occupational therapy. She wants to work with clients who have special needs and her current position allows her to observe and see where needs are at different ages and levels of development.

“This whole program is a team effort,” Alegria said. “We want this to be a welcoming place where everyone can hang out together.”

Menifee’s Be Mighty program welcomes adults with special needs to socialize, dance, listen to music, play games, do crafts and more while interacting with the city’s Com munity Services Department team members.

Parker Richotte of Menifee and Sara Zerr of Sun City work on some Valentine’s Day themed crafts at a recent Be Mighty event at the Kay Ceniceros Senior Center in Menifee.

Be Mighty program participants socialize at a recent event sponsored by Menifee’s Community Services Department.

The “Mighty” programs require registration but participants do not need to be Menifee residents. A large part of the department’s direction comes from what the community wants and needs. The dances are particularly popular and typically attract more than 20 people, plus many parents who visit with one another during the events.

Community Services leader Miriam Barragan is new to her position but has a strong background in the recreation field, mostly in Moreno Valley. She said she likes working with those with special needs because they are so honest.

“Yes they have challenges, but at the end of the day they just want to be treated like everyone else,” she said.

Ariana Martinez has been a community services leader for about a year and said a parent committee provides input on programs such as this one.

“They said there was nothing in Menifee and they had to drive to Temecula or Murrieta; they expressed a need for this type of program where they live,” she said. “The parents are very supportive of everything we’ve done and provide honest feedback and offer great ideas.”

Martinez said many of the participants attend for the crafts but enjoy coming together as a community and getting to know one another.

“For the dances, they come to us with song requests so they can sing along,” she said. “The parents tell us they love this program and are super grateful for it; we always get good feedback.”

From the heart

Most recently, Be Mighty visitors were treated to a Valentine’s Day themed dance and crafts Friday, Feb. 18, and it didn’t take long for the laughter and camaraderie to start once the first adults started arriving at 6:30 p.m. Many came dressed up with men in suits and women in fancy dresses and Rinehart said that he likes to see everyone get so involved, adding that they went all out with their costumes at the last Halloween party.

Parker Richotte, 35, said he attends because “it’s fun and there’s not too much for people with disabilities to do.” He enjoyed the music, especially reggae musicians such as Nattali Rize and Rebelution. He has lived in Menifee since 2016.

Karen Ritter’s daughter Rebecca English, 40, has been attending

since the program started and Ritter said she thinks it is a wonderful opportunity for the kids to get out.

“Rebecca says ‘thank you for taking me’ because she enjoys seeing all her friends here,” Ritter, of Lake Elsinore, said. “I tell her she doesn’t have to thank me. I’m just happy she has fun.”

Hilda Bojorquez of Menifee is on the parent committee and said many of the attendees have been together for a long time, knowing each other from school or similar programs such as High Hopes in Temecula.

“They are a close-knit group and we are thrilled to have Menifee support all this for us,” she said.

Valerie Raecke is new to the area, having moved to Menifee in July 2021 from West Hills. She said her daughter, Andrea Burnett, 30, found the Be Mighty program after doing some research and they have been pleasantly surprised with it since they started attending the regular events.

“She loves it and I like the fact everyone is so open to having parents participate,” Raecke, a retired special education teacher, said.

Michelle Brayley said her son Billy, 35, loves music and dancing.

“And he loves to be with his friends,” she said. “We are so thankful it’s in Menifee. We used to have to go to Temecula or Murrieta for programs like this.”

Sara Zerr, 40, was attending her first dance but saw a lot of familiar faces when she arrived, said her mother, Linda Zerr of Sun City.

“I love it; it brings out their imagination and freedom of space. I love this, it’s excellent,” Linda said.

The department also has many other recreational youth programs available year-round and staff enjoys working to make sure all children have a good experience when participating.

“To say that Menifee’s Community Services team is dedicated to youth would be an understatement,” Menifee Mayor Bill Zimmerman said. “These professionals have a heart for our children. They are mentors and role models, showing our kids how to be the best they can be.”

For more information, contact 951-723-3880, mrinehart@cityofmenifee.us, lalegria@cityofmenifee.us or visit http://www.cityofmenifee.us.

Menifee Community Services Department team members who oversee the Mighty Me and Be Mighty events are, from left, Lety Alegria, Michael Rinehart, Miriam Barragan and Ariana Martinez.

Billy Brayley and Rebecca English share a dance at the Be Mighty Sweethearts Dance Friday, Feb. 18, 2022 in Menifee.

Be Mighty program participants, their parents and Menifee’s Community Services Department staff work together to provide enjoyable socialization activities.

Lake Elsinore’s Planet Youth Provides Many Opportunities

When young people arrive at Planet Youth in Lake Elsinore, they can expect to be greeted with a wide variety of options that will help them determine their future path. Whether it is the GED program that assists them in securing a high school diploma or an internship to learn about a career in a highly sought-after field, the Youth Opportunity Center in Lake Elsinore is there to help.

Managed by California Family Life Center since 2004, Planet Youth serves approximately 200 youths annually. Paid job training, connections to education for completing high school, which about 75% require, assistance with college enrollment and classes to learn more about financial literacy and other life skills are all available to members.

“Each youth attends pre-employment and job retention work shops to learn important job skills,” Program administrative coor dinator Lenore DeJesus said. “The center also offers art programs, community service and leadership and mentoring opportunities. Every youth is given support services to cover things like work clothes, background checks and bus passes.”

The center also offers creative programs to help youths develop a strong and healthy work-life balance. Jay Stewart teaches members at the Lake Elsinore and Rubidoux youth opportunity centers how to read music and provides voice and instrument lessons.

“I put the music and multimedia program together for CFLC par ticipants 16 years ago so that everyone could have the opportunity to learn instruments and write and record their own songs,” Stewart said. “Since many of the arts programs have been eliminated from public schools, I feel CFLC has filled that void by offering this pro gram. I also feel that it helps to get youth involved in our centers as

by Diane A. Rhodes

all our youths love music.”

Michele Worth has served as art instructor for nearly 20 years and has created an inspirational curriculum. She has also developed a partnership with Mt. San Jacinto College’s art gallery to exhibit the youths’ artwork created during her A.R.T.E.R.Y. program. Art, Recognition, Transition, Education, Reciprocation, Youth combines sculptural art and personal journaling to soothe the transition to higher education for community at-risk youth, specifically those currently out of the school system.

This past summer, job training youth from CFLC centers, includ ing Planet Youth, flexed their creative muscles as they learned to work with clay. This project not only taught them a new skill but allowed them to mentor and teach younger children that are part of CFLC’s Kin Care program.

“We also do a quilting program called nappy quilts to give to Child Protective Services for foster kids, dresses for little girls and pants for little boys in Africa and a mentor program called Eclipse, allowing our youth to be mentors to younger youth and seniors adults,” DeJesus said.

Planet Youth’s Program Coordinator is Ruth Stanton, who is re sponsible for the Lake Elsinore center. She began working there in 2013 as a career navigator and has held every position at the center before starting her current role.

DeJesus, who lives in Hemet where a third Youth Opportunity Center is located, has worked at CFLC for 27 years and has been at Planet Youth for the past 18 years. She said the most significant changes she has noticed during that time has been the ability to work with more homeless youths and those with mental health is sues. She said the maximum age was increased to 24 years, which provided for more young people to be served. The minimum age remains at 16 years old.

Upon entering the program, most youth are interested in learning more about employment in the retail, computer graphics and construction fields. But CFLC’s Youth Opportunity Centers’ unique connections with local industry leaders that offer internship programs have given them the chance to explore other meaningful careers.

Gavin Banks helps stitch quilts for a community service project at Planet Youth in Lake Elsinore. [Left] Michelle Worth (left) leads Miranda Busch in sewing for a community service project at Planet Youth Lake Elsinore.

Members of Planet Youth use the computer room job training.

Planet Youth is located at 400 West Graham Avenue in Lake Elsinore.

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“Eastern Municipal Water District and CFLC have had a partner ship since 2013 as part of our Youth Ecology Corps program, which introduces young adults to potential career opportunities in the wa ter industry,” EMWD Public Affairs Officer Kevin Pearson said. “It has been a fantastic partnership and we are currently on our 24th class of Youth Ecology Corps participants. Multiple program par ticipants have gone on to secure full-time employment in the water industry because of the experience they received as part of this re lationship.”

EMWD Board President Phil Paule has been pleased that the part nership with CFLC has brought awareness to public service careers.

“One of the biggest challenges our industry faces is finding the next generation of employees,” Paule said. “We are incredibly proud of the collaboration between our organizations, and we look forward to that partnership helping further prepare our future workforce for opportunities to serve their community.”

DeJesus said the YouthBuild Plus grant offers education and train ing in construction, logistics, phlebotomy and the MITA masonry industry training program for those that have dropped out of high school and need to get back on track. The decision on what classes, programs and workshops to offer at the center is determined by the local Workforce Development Board as well as requests from the program participants and current industry trends.

Paid job training and support service items are made possible through the U.S. Department of Labor Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funding. The Riverside County Workforce Devel opment Board provides oversight for the WIOA programs in the

county. The WDB acts as a catalyst to provide seamless services among various workforce programs and provides community lead ership around workforce issues.

Another advantage for youths who participate in the County’s WIOA youth program is the opportunity to be selected for the annu al Jamil Dada Character Excellence Youth Award and scholarship. Honorees are chosen based on character traits such as trustworthi ness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. Four of this year’s 10 winners were from CFLC Youth Opportunity Centers.

“Each center is different in its size and layout,” DeJesus said. “Planet Youth is the smallest, but it offers all the same services. However, the classes differ by demographics.”

For more information, cflckids.org and rivcoworkforce.com

Career navigators help Planet Youth members with job training.

Lake Elsinore Garden Harvests A COMMUNITY CONNECTION

by Diane A. Rhodes

The Rosetta Canyon Community Garden offers seven by three foot plots for individuals and organizations to grow items for themselves or others. The fenced-in garden area is approximately 3,380-square feet, consisting of 16 raised beds. The area is accessible for members year-round, seven days a week from sunrise to sunset.

Linda Perez, who is the administrative assistant to Lake Elsinore’s Community Services Director, was officially chosen to be in charge of Community Garden duties in March. She oversees the upkeep and maintenance and is the point of contact for plot members regarding any concerns or questions they may have.

During the summer months, she watched gardeners growing kale, herbs, peppers, tomatoes and squash.

“From what I’m learning, there are a lot of different factors that go into what or how many things can successfully grow together but I currently have a plot member that has about 16 different herbs and vegetables in her garden,” Perez said. “I don’t have much of a green thumb but seeing everything that’s been growing in the garden has given me the motivation to possibly start a garden myself.”

She said that weather conditions such as wind and heat can do serious damage to the plot structures and soil but that the Public Works department does an amazing job of quickly and efficiently making any necessary repairs.

Gardeners do not have to be Lake Elsinore residents to become plot holders, but many are. Nikishia Garrett has lived in the city for the past seven years and joined the Rosetta Canyon Community Garden in July. She said she decided to become a part of it because her two boxer dogs loved to get into the vegetables and herbs at her home garden.

“I saw an opportunity for my herbal apothecary to have a safe place to start,” she said. “My goal is to grow herbs used for teas and herbal remedies. This will be beneficial for the health of my family and my community. I have found that herbs can assist with healing from the inside out.”

Garrett is currently growing herbs and a few vegetables.

“I actually do have a green thumb; my mother and father are both gardeners,” she said. “I am currently planning on

becoming a master gardener and my husband and I are working on becoming a micro farm. We currently have planted a small orchard in our backyard.”

She said her overall experience at the community garden has been very positive, having already learned so much about proper food to plant, based on the local area. In the future, she would like to see a small greenhouse for starter plants.

“That way, when we have the chance to teach the kids in the neighborhood or become an education center, the garden will have all the tools it needs,” Garrett said. “This way we can make sure that the next generation of agriculturists will have a great start.”

Plans are already underway to teach young children about gardening. Perez has reached out to nearby Earl Warren Elementary School about possibly managing a “KinderGarden” plot which will be donated by the city of Lake Elsinore.

Perez said other requests she has received is to add shade over the seating areas and to set up an event for gardeners to get to know each other. A request for a compost bin has recently been fulfilled.

“Composting is the natural process of recycling organic matter, such as leaves and food scraps, into a valuable fertilizer that can enrich soil and plants,” she said. “There are lots of good reasons to compost. It saves money, saves resources, can help to improve the soil and can reduce our impact on the environment.”

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Raised garden bed plots are available for a fee of $30 the first year and $20 each renewal year.

[Top] Lake Elsinore resident Nikishia Garrett tends to a garden plot at the Rosetta Canyon Community Garden located at the Rosetta Canyon Sports Park in Lake Elsinore.

The original garden began as a 3/4-acre plot in Rosetta Canyon Park. It was started by Sylvia Monaco in honor of a family member who passed away. She received the assistance of some local residents who wanted to create a location to grow organic vegetables, herbs and more to offer to food banks and those in need in the community. Unfortunately, it did not have the raised beds, irrigation and other necessities for a successful garden.

“In March 2018, the city opened the renovated Rosetta Community Garden that was relocated next to the tennis courts and included fencing, water, raised beds and tools for plot holders to use,” Lake Elsinore’s Director of Community Services, Johnathan O. Skinner, said.

He said the purpose of the community garden is to give residents a location to express themselves and use their “green thumbs” in a secure location.

The cost is $30 per plot for the first year with an annual renewal fee of $20 per plot. Fees charged to plot holders help offset general garden facility costs such as water, maintenance and repairs. Donations of gardening equipment, such as hoses, hand shovels, wheelbarrows and mulch, are always welcomed and appreciated. These types of items are kept in a shed that all gardeners can access.

The Rosetta Canyon Community Garden is at 39423 Ardenwood Way in Lake Elsinore. For more information and an application, www.lake-elsinore.org/ RCCommunityGarden or 951-674-3124, ext. 268.

Lake Elsinore Mayor Timothy Sheridan talks with Nikishia Garrett about her garden plot at the Rosetta Canyon Community Garden.

Lake Elsinore special events manager Jovanny Huerta (left) records Mayor Timothy Sheridan as they produce the city’s weekly Monday Minute video highlighting the Rosetta Canyon Community Garden.

Diane Strand founded and launched the nonprofit JDS Cre ative Academy in Temecula in 2014 with her husband and business partner Scott. Its mission is to inspire, educate and en hance achievement in video production and workforce develop ment by providing job skills and hands-on training in the visual, performing and digital arts.

“There was such a need for the arts in the community,” she said. “We were teaching acting classes and getting calls to teach more classes like script writing, video production, backstage produc tion, music, art and musical theater for those that have never done a play before.”

Strand said she knew there weren’t enough hours in the day to do it all and that neither she nor Scott had the skills to teach all that was needed so they called upon some industry professionals to help out.

“One day I called a meeting with a stage manager and set de signer, a musician and a script writer with Scott and I representing video, acting and producing,” she recalled. “We all sat around my kitchen table and JDS Creative Academy was formed.”

JDS established

The Strands had established JDS Video & Media Productions Inc. in 2003. In 2010, they started a Drama Club program which began in the Temecula Unified School District. The response was so great they decided to create a program for all ages to learn the technique and craft of acting, which evolved into the JDS Actors Studio.

“When we started the actors’ studio, it was because we devel oped an after school drama club at Ysabel Barnett Elementary School in 2009 in TVUSD and expected 10-15 kids to turn out. In stead, 55 kids turned out and we immediately got calls from three other schools to come there as well,” Strand said. “Within four years, we launched the nonprofit. The need was evident.”

JDS Creative Academy offers video production training pro grams that serve adults, not only K-12 students. The nonprofit also works with adults with developmental disabilities providing hands-on training with the level-up opportunities to do paid in ternships that can turn into direct hires.

JDS Creative Academy Fills an Artistic and Productive Gap

by Diane A. Rhodes Shane Gibson photo

Apprenticeship program

“We also have an apprenticeship program for higher learning adults looking to find a pathway into building good resume cred its before moving into the LA/Hollywood market,” Strand said. “Our photography class for adults and teens covers some video. I believe that the digital arts touch everything and every industry and someone may have a drive for other things in high school but still need the skills we teach in our classes to make them stronger in their Career Technical Education program in the K-12 space.”

Although many local high schools have theater departments, JDS’ Musical Theater program is a class where everyone gets a part they can handle and are not just part of an ensemble.

“There are those that would never get cast in their high school’s play or have the courage to even audition,” Strand said. “We also get a lot of middle schoolers who work with us so they are ready to step into their high school years confident and make it into ad vanced drama at the high school level.”

One of the organization’s more popular fundraisers is the Haunted Studio hosted by the #JDSFamily. The event begins with classes where students collaborate, design, build and help imple ment a full-scale haunted house.

“Participants learn storytelling, concept development, logistics, timeline and feasibility, special effects, sets and makeup, costuming, prop making, character development, acting, community fundraising, collaboration skills, technical skills and leadership skills,” Strand said. “We have all ages participating from young, young youths to senior citizens.”

Offered since Halloween 2016, Strand encourages all ages to visit the annual event. They offer a code word so younger audiences can enjoy the Haunted Studio without the scares others may enjoy.

The fundraiser also includes a bake sale to assist with raising scholarship funds for students with financial limitations or at-risk youth who want to learn more about the visual, performing and digital arts.

DigiFest founded

Always looking for ways to meet the needs of her students and

JDS Creative Academy nonprofit cofounder Diane Strand (center) helps job training program participants Tyler Perone (left) and Jordan Wood on the camera in the academy’s green screen room in Temecula.

public demand, Strand founded the DigiFest Temecula Event in 2017 and created and launched the web series program Spectrum of Innovation in 2018 through JDS Creative Academy. The non profit partners with high school CTE programs for its annual Di giFest event and offers help with curriculum to keep students up to date with industry standards and to provide job shadowing. They also work with charter schools and home-schooled students to provide the Visual and Performing Arts Standards required by the California Department of Education. Scott Strand was asked to head up the VAPA programs in 2011 when it became part of the California education code.

Although a wide variety of classes keep the studio busy, the facility is available for hourly rentals to be used for workshops, events, meetings and more within its 7,000 square feet of flex space.

The facility includes a 40-ft. green screen, creative makerspace, production/multipurpose room, make-up/dressing rooms and a Black Box theater space with control room and stage that can seat 100 people comfortably, a mini kitchen and four bathrooms. If any additional expertise and equipment is needed, JDS is an award-win ning, full-service video production multimedia solutions company.

The Strands’ three children, Joseph Daniel, Jordan David and Jasmine Diane have grown up with their parents’ programs and have contributed to many aspects of it, most notably serving as namesakes with their initials all being JDS.

“My oldest loves the backstage technical things and he did all the lights and sound for the productions; he is still helping when he is able,” Strand said. “My middle son is an actor and has per formed in the shows since he was 10 and in his senior year, not only did he perform but he also assisted, directed and mentored some of the special needs interns. He returns from college to help when he’s able. My daughter, 14, is my youngest and she has been acting since she was nine months old. She per forms in all the shows and volunteers for com munity service.”

Strand brings a strong background in the enter tainment industry to JDS with prior career credits from A-list shows such as General Hospital, Friends and Veronica’s

Closet. She assisted with building the high-definition control room at the Staples Center, worked for HBO pay-per-view producing Eric Clapton and Barbra Streisand concerts and pre-show events for Oscar De La Hoya fights. She worked for the Disney Channel for three years as a writer/producer and helped launch Playhouse Disney. She also worked at Universal Creative for two years which is tied to the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park, creating behind-the-scenes videos of the movies they represented and the making of their rides.

She said her 15-plus years working in television is where she learned what the industry expects, how it works on the inside and how to break into the field. Scott Strand is a professional actor and director in film, television, theater and commercials.

The JDS goal

The goal of JDS Creative Academy is to give youths and adults opportunities to socialize, gain confidence and learn job-ready skills. Strand said, “The arts provide so much, from learning to work in collaboration with a team to hands-on training in a spe cific skill or craft. Plus, it provides creative enrichment, leadership skills and builds self-confidence. We also help to provide opportu nities for a career pathway.”

For more information, http://JDSCreativeAcademy.org, 951-296-6715, info@jdsca. org or follow on social media.

JDS Crea�ve Academy’s mission is to advance educa�on with hands on training in visual, performing, and digital arts. For youth, teens, and adults from mainstream to special needs.

JDSCrea�veAcademy.org 951-296-6715

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JDS Creative Academy lead program instructor Alex Suarez (left) helps job training program participant Brian Hoang with a project.

Cast members prepare for a past Haunted Studio event. Classes for this year begin Sept. 28. Courtesy photo

Fun Around the Valley

Temecula Cowgirls member Judy Taylor performs with a lasso while marching during the 2022 4th of July Parade in Temecula.

Trapeze artists perform high flying moves during the 2022 Circus Vargas show in Temecula. Circus Vargas holds a show in Temecula annually in April each year.

Artist Susi Wilkinson arranges her wood carvings for sale during the Fall Festival presented by Made Local Market in Menifee Oct. 1, 2022.

Armored fighters battle against each other using a variety of blunt weapons in a 5 vs. 5 melee during the Historical Medieval Battle event in Temecula. Participants at the event, held Feb. 5, 2022 at the California Ranch Company, are covered in real metal armor and blunt metal weapons are used in an effort to prevent injury and damage to armor.

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Old Town Temecula Gunfighters perform on Front Street while marching in the 2022 Temecula 4th of July Parade.

Temecula Mayor Pro Tem Zak Schwank, center, rides a bike through check ered tape with other cyclists in the community to celebrate the completion of the Santa Gertrudis Creek Interconnect Trail construction, Oct. 1, 2022.

Three participants get hydrated after finishing the 2022 F.I.T. Fun Color Run at Ronald Reagan Sports Park in Temecula on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022.

A parade of breast cancer survivors are celebrated at Town Square Park in Murrieta during the opening ceremony of the Susan G. Komen More Than Pink Walk, Oct. 9, 2022. Murrieta hosts the event annually in October. For more information, visit Susan G. Komen, Inland Empire website at www.komen.org/community/california/inland-empire

Irene White dances to live Greek music during the Temecula Greek Festival Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. The Temecula Greek Festival, held at the Old Town Temecula Civic Center and Town Square, is an annual event sponsored by St. Nicholas Greek orthodox Church.

The Chris Lozano Band performs for guests attending the Way Out West fundraising event benefiting the Charity for Charity nonprofit at Peltzer Winery in Temecula, Sept. 17, 2022. Charity for Charity’s mission is to make a significant difference in the lives of those in the community and inspire others to accomplish incredible things by fulfilling wishes of those with either a life-threatening illness or traumatic injury.

Hugo Vecchi wipes the dust off his ‘57 Chevy during the Murrieta Father’s Day Car Show at Cal Oaks Park, June 18, 2022.

Digital artist Idaly Jorge displays her artwork at the Kay Ceniceros Senior Center in Menifee during the Art-A-Faire event showcasing local art hosted by the city of Menifee and the Arts Council Menifee, Friday, May 20, 2022.

Diego Flores, 4, lifts a tower of blocks he built at Lazy Creek Park in Menifee during the city’s youth fair, March 19, 2022.

Shawna Sarnowski photo

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Southwest Regional Economic Forecast’ sees continued economic growth

by Tony Ault

The Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the University of California Riverside School of Business Center for Economic Forecasting presented their annual economic forecast for Southwest Riverside County Aug. 18 providing the good news of continued economic growth for the region.

Hundreds were in attendance at the event at South Coast Winery Resort and Spa which included video presentations from the city managers of Temecula, Murrieta, Lake Elsinore, Wildomar and Menifee, touting the successes of each of their cities, before hearing from keynote speaker, Christopher Thornberg, PhD, and director of the UC Riverside School of Business for Economic Forecasting and Development.

Thornberg saw the main need for continued prosperity in the region as housing with the secondary need to take measures to increase the labor force. He did warn, however, things will be changing in the next few years because of

continuing inflation, supply chain problems and the “very false narrative” by much of the media headlines spelling recession and depression.

“That false narrative that continues to be there,” Thornberg said, “is the most dangerous thing our economy is actually facing.... Be aware of the narrative, you know.”

He said he saw himself somewhat of a historian, but as an economist he pointed out that people should look at the world’s history of booming and failing economies. He said there have always been ups and downs.

Southwest Riverside County

Thornberg urged the audience to take a closer look at reality, particularly in the Inland Empire and southwest Riverside County as he used graphs and other visual aids, showing that since the end of COVID-19 everything in the area, from housing to jobs, has moved continuously upward, despite the record-breaking national inflation rate reaching almost 10%. The reason for the inflation

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Dr. Christopher Thornberg, Director of the UC Riverside School of Business Center for Economic Forecasting gives a presentation about local and the national economy during the 2022 Southwest Regional Economic Forecast at South Coast Winery.

Dr. Christopher Thornberg walks to the stage as he is introduced for his presentation at the 2022 Southwest Regional Economic Forecast at South Coast Winery.

‘2022

rate record increases since COVID was because more money has been pumped into the nation, mainly by the U.S. government, he said

Thornberg looked at the region which saw a drop in the unemployment rate to just over 3.5%, something that has never been seen before as he cited higher wages and a job market that is now screaming for more laborers, skilled and unskilled.

He saw the housing sales up to just the last month breaking records with more demand than supply.

With the housing demand on the rise, costs are increasing in the area, he said, adding the trend was good for those who own their home due to the increase in home values, but not so good for those aspiring to buy a new home.

“In Riverside County, it’s only 3.6%,” he said of interest rates. “It has never been below 4% in the Inland Empire. Clearly, it is not a recession. This economy is operating at full capacity.”

Inflation cooling off?

The Federal Reserve has reported that as interest rates increase, inflation should decrease.

Thornberg discussed southwest Riverside County where new homes are still selling at almost record rates until just the last month, when there was a slight drop in sales.

“You’re going to have good years because there is a lot of pentup demand… but there are not enough people to meet these demands,” he said, adding that was the problem being faced by many today. “That is the problem we are facing right now. There is a problem out there much like it was in 2004 but it didn’t reveal itself.

“The ultimate answer is very simple, don’t jump into your bunker. It’s way too early,” he said, citing the supply and demand problems amid the economy remaining in “good shape.”

Thornberg said he saw two courses of action for continued growth of the local economy suggesting the need for more laborers to be hired to meet the demand and more housing, not necessarily single family homes but multi-family homes to attract more of those laborers and service people with lower incomes. He pointed out the desperation that the local schools are facing with the need for more qualified teachers as part of that needed labor force, calling them “critical jobs.”

Thornberg said the housing market is sustaining the region’s economy.

“The most important thing out here is to keep the housing going,” he said.

Thornberg said he saw it as the upside to the local economy, but with it came a 30% increase in the cost of homes. The rental market also increased, but people are still renting because the new home prices for many are now out of reach with higher interest rates, he said.

He noted these things show a demand problem exists, not a supply problem. He said the most critical problem now in southwest Riverside County is the lack of multifamily housing that is affordable for lower income families, families most in demand in the job market.

“If you need more laborers here now, you need more multifamily homes,” he said as he cautioned that bringing in more multi-family homes and increasing the labor force will take more water. “Water doesn’t cost any more than it did years ago.”

Most water usage in the area goes to agriculture, but that industry is exporting more of its products out of the country than in the country, he said and he discussed Imperial Valley, where crops like hay are grown, only to be sent overseas to countries like Saudi Arabia. Thornberg questioned growing “grass in the desert,” when water is still needed to meet local demands and future economic growth.

Thornberg said he saw that inflation, though decreasing slightly over the summer months, will still be a problem in the future for the local economy. Even with that he encouraged people not to look at the narrative of a diminishing economy and look at where we are economically compared to 10, 20 or 30 years ago.

“It may be weird,” he said, “but it’s all in our heads.”

Thornberg called attention to the trend pushing toward more politically partisan views instead of economic views, looking very critically at the recent Federal Reserve actions increasing the interest rates to record highs, fueling the negative politics that are “ignoring the data,” and encouraged all attending to continue to work to resolve today’s economic problems that are not as bad as the narrative concludes.

Dr. Christopher Thornber’s presentation urged the audience to question the narrative of a grim outlook about the economy that has been widely reported in mainstream media.

Members of the community from various industries and dignitaries listen to Dr. Christopher Thornberg give a presentation at the 2022 Southwest Regional Economic Forecast.

Rings Up Clothing and Other Necessities For Youths

by Diane A. Rhodes

embers of the Assistance League of Hemacinto were at the San Jacinto Walmart Supercenter to make sure participants in 2022’s Operation School Bell were getting muchneeded items to help them feel comfortable as they returned to school for the 2022/2023 school year, Oct. 17, 2022.

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About 1,200 students from Hemet and San Jacinto unified school districts met with Assistance League members after their school day on a dozen different afternoons to ensure all the registered elementary school children were served. Families were given a two-hour window of time to shop but most didn’t need that much time. Adults knew what their children needed, and the young ones knew exactly what they wanted. From favorite color choices to popular cartoon character emblazoned T-shirts, each child was allocated $75 to spend.

Each school site is provided with 50 slots and two schools are assigned to shop on one of the 12 days in late September and early October. About 100-150 children were on hand to shop daily. Approved purchases included shoes, socks, undergarments, pants, shorts, dresses and skirts. Items not allowed were those that depicted sports teams and no baseball caps, bandanas, pajamas or backpacks could be included.

Three siblings who attend Hamilton School drove from Anza to pick out some new clothes. Their mother said the program really helps out because between growth spurts and seasons, her children constantly need new clothes. She said her family members provide lots of hand-me-downs, which helped her children get through the first several weeks of the new school year but added that it gets expensive to replace clothing they wear out with all the playing they do. Their father said two of their children participated last year and the program is a huge help to those on

a limited budget.

Some families were planning ahead for cooler weather by purchasing long-sleeved shirts, winter hats, jackets and sweaters, also on the list. Parents and guardians received eligibility notification through a letter that explained the free program that has clothed more than 35,500 children since Hemacinto became the 64th chapter of the national organization in 1979. Operation School Bell began as an in-house shopping experience for families at the chapter’s Hemet store but was moved to the San Jacinto Walmart when that partnership was formed in 2011.

It was all hands on deck as Assistant League members took turns staffing tables at the rear of the store for check in. On Sept. 27, it was Gloria Egger Madrid and Rose Marie Rohrbacher who were in charge of the initial check-in process. Families provided the letter received by their school and Egger Madrid found their name on the checklist. Rohrbacher, who has lived in Hemet for 64 years and has been an Assistance League member for 14 years, made out a name tag for each child that included a designated number and sent them off to shop.

Egger Madrid joined the nonprofit about five years ago to give back to her community. She said the group works closely with school district liaisons who

in need

they are identified by teachers or other staff members

after the new school year begins. While the program is for younger students, Rohrbacher said if there is a sibling who just entered

recommend students

after

shortly

[Top of page] Assistance League of Hemacinto members Rose Marie Rohrbacher, left, and Gloria Egger Madrid check in families who qualified for participation in the 2022 Operation School Bell program. Diane A. Rhodes photos

Sue Watt, an eight-year member of the Assistance League of Hemacinto, assists families at the 2022 Operation School Bell program at the San Jacinto Walmart.

middle school who is also struggling, they can be added to the Operation School Bell list.

After the items were chosen and kept separate for each student, families met with Sherry Cupp, Judy Owens and Sue Watt who calculated the amount they spent per child, confirming it was under, or near, the $75 limit. Once that was determined, shopping carts were wheeled to a checkout stand that was designated for Operation School Bell shoppers.

“I enjoy this program a lot; I enjoy seeing the kids’ faces and can tell they really love the items they got,” Owens said.

Cupp and Owens joined the organization several years ago after both retired from teaching. Cupp was a second-grade teacher and Owens taught fourth graders at San Jacinto Elementary.

“We were career teachers and we saw the benefits of this program firsthand through our own students,” Cupp said.

Watt has been part of the group for the past eight years and enjoys this project the most. When the pandemic kept children out of the classrooms, the program had to be put on a temporary hold. Rather than holding its annual shopping event at the start of the 2021-2022 school year, it was held in spring 2022. Clothing is needed all year long and this allowed the organization to stay on track with its mission and requirements before the end of its fiscal year. All the helpers were happy to get back on track and welcome the students at the start of the current school year.

Meg Stuart was put in charge of this year’s campaign and was the holder of the debit card for final purchases to be made. She said the biggest challenge is getting all the paperwork in order. Once she has collected all the information from each of the districts’ 24 schools, she has to create a master list based on the current budget for the program.

After a Walmart employee scanned and bagged the items, Assistance League member Jennifer Goff stapled it shut and put it into the shopping cart for the families to take home. The organized process produced smiles and grateful comments from children and parents.

“I love it when they want to hug you,” Goff said.

She and Stuart both joined the group about two years ago. Goff said she was a single mother who utilized yard sales to keep her own children clothed and enjoys seeing Operation School Bell participants get brand new clothes they like.

While Operation School Bell is its signature event, members of the local chapter also embrace its other programs, which are designed to assist those in the community who need it most. The Assistance League Scholarship Program encourages applications from men and women who have had their college plans interrupted due to family or health issues. Its Teen Parents Support Program supports teens who are earning their high school diploma while raising their infants and toddlers and who are enrolled in the Riverside Office of Education Cal-SAFE program.

While the nonprofit receives financial donations from individuals and others, the majority of revenue for all its programs and projects comes from sales at the nonprofit’s upscale thrift shop at 180 N. Girard St. in Hemet. It includes its annual Christmas Store that offers holiday decorations and gift items collected throughout the year. The thrift shop is open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Christmas Store seasonally opens in October.

Donations of new and gently used items are also welcome during business hours. For more information, contact 951-652-8307 or ALHemacinto@verizon.net or visit http://www.assistanceleague. org/hemacinto,

Judy Owens, left, and Sherry Cupp total purchases families made as part of the Operation School Bell program sponsored by the Assistance League of Hemacinto.