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For tickets visit the Pala Box Office or call (800) 514-3849 Fall Family Fun Fair in Wildomar offers good health, fun and excitement, B-1 Sammon rewrites multiple records en route to second straight league title, C-3

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VISIT THE NEW myvalleynews.com

March 11 – 17, 2022 Volume 22, Issue 10

SERVING TEMECULA, MURRIETA, LAKE ELSINORE, MENIFEE, WILDOMAR, HEMET, SAN JACINTO AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES

Local see page A-3

Local see page A-4

INDEX

Anza Valley Outlook ......AVO-1

Business ...............................B-6

Business Directory...............B-6

Calendar of Events ..............B-2

Classifi eds ............................C-7

Courts & Crimes ............AVO-5

Education .............................C-4

Entertainment .....................B-1

Faith ................................AVO-6

Health ..................................B-5

Home & Garden ..................B-4

Local ....................................A-1 National News ......................C-7 Opinion............................AVO-6 Regional News .....................C-6 Sports ...................................C-1

Lady Golden Bears earn state championship title

Temecula Valley High School’s Lady Golden Bears celebrate their state championship title after defeating San Marcos 4-1 in the CIF State SoCal Regional Division 1 fi nals Saturday, March 5. Story and photos on page C-1. Valley News/David Canales photo Hemet church’s support for Ukrainians is highly

intensifi ed

Home & Garden Diane A. Rhodes SPECIAL TO VALLEY NEWS see page B-4 As Ukrainians continue to fi ght back against the Russian invasion, their local churches and orphanages have become havens for many refugees. One facility near Kyiv has been able to off er shelter thanks to the generosity of parishioners from Hemet’s nondenominational Cornerstone Church. Church elder Jason Baker said that in October, when the congregation learned through Good Samaritan Mission that a Ukraine site was in need of repairs, especially to its furnace, members stepped in to provide fi nancial support. At a recent Sunday service, donors learned that the building is now serving as a temporary home for refugees, keeping them warm as they remain displaced by the war’s devastation to their community. Cornerstone Church has had a Ukrainian fellowship since 1995 Serhii Rybak addresses about 100 worshipers at Hemet’s Cornerstone Church during a “Pray for Ukraine” prayer meeting March 2. Valley News/Diane A. Rhodes photo Michelle Mears SPECIAL TO VALLEY NEWS Students throughout county report verbal, emotional abuse and segregation by school offi cials over masks The number of students practicing their civil rights by protesting and refusing to wear masks in elementary, middle and high schools are growing throughout the Temecula and Murrieta school districts. As a result, schools are allegedly segregating students who refuse to wear masks by placing them outside in inclement weather, unsupervised, alone in a room or sent home. Students said they are emotionally abused in what is described as a toxic environment between staff and students. The protests gained momentum after Gov. Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and San Francisco Mayor London Breed among others were seen maskless at the NFC Championship Game Monday, Jan. 31, and

People protest against mask mandates in front of Temecula Middle School, Feb. 9. A number of parents of students at TMS were rallying in support of the students or their parents having the choice in whether or not their children wear masks at school.

Valley News/Shane Gibson photo

TVUSD board caught maskless, refuses to end mandate

Michelle Gerst SPECIAL TO VALLEY NEWS

After weeks of protesting against mask mandates, a gathering of more than 100 parents, teachers and students addressed trustees at the Temecula Valley Unified School District board meeting in Temecula Thursday, Feb. 24.

Menifee Council holds midyear CIP and Budget

Review

Tony Ault

STAFF WRITER

The Menifee City Council heard a midyear Capital Improvement Update, budget review and suggestions on how to spend some of the American Rescue Fund money provided to the city to off set COVID-19 pandemic costs in a special meeting Wednesday, March 2.

California drought worsens as state records 100-year recordlow rainfall Kim Harris

MANAGING EDITOR The state of California’s drought conditions continue to worsen despite December’s winter storms which dumped more than 130 inches of snow in the Sierra Nevadas, a key component of California Department of Water Resources’ water supply forecast. see UKRAINE, page A-6 see STUDENTS, page A-4

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September 16 – 22, 2022 Volume 22, Issue 37

SERVING TEMECULA, MURRIETA, LAKE ELSINORE, MENIFEE, WILDOMAR, HEMET, SAN JACINTO AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES

Local see page A-4

Local

Firefighters battle the Fairview Fire as it burns and attempts to jump Bautista Road southeast of Hemet, Sept. 7. Valley News/Shane Gibson photo see page A-8 Temecula commemorates the 21st anniversary of 9/11 Entertainment see page B-3

INDEX

Anza Valley Outlook .........D-1 Business ............................B-6 Business Directory .............B-7 Calendar of Events .............B-2 Classi eds .........................B-8 Courts & Crimes ...............C-8 Education ..........................C-5 Entertainment ...................B-1 Health ..............................C-4 Home & Garden ................B-5 Local ................................A-1 National News ...................C-7 Opinion............................D-6 Real Estate ........................B-8 Regional News ...................C-6 Sports ................................C-1

Cal Fire engineer and honor guard member Jason McMillan salutes as he helps present the colors at the Temecula 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony. See more photos on page A-8.

Valley News/Shane Gibson photo

Food pantry in Temecula feeds and fuels healthy living for many Tropical rain helps re ghters battle Fairview Fire

Diane A. Rhodes Special to Valley News

When many people wouldn’t or couldn’t travel beyond their front doors during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Teri Sue Parker reached out to countless people in her community to secure donations and supply healthy foods to those who needed it.

NCFP District captain explains importance of evacuation orders

Ava Sarnowski Intern Writer In light of the recent evacuations due to the ongoing Fairview Fire, Captain John Choi of the North County Fire Protection District spoke about the importance of evacuation orders and how folks can remain prepared. Valley Staff A tropical storm helped firefighters establish containment lines around more than half of the deadly Fairview Fire southeast of see FIRE, page A-6

Haunted

Studio fundraiser creeps back into JDS Creative Academy

Yanessa Hernandez JDS Creative Academy Fall is in the air and the spooky season is creeping around the corner, which can only mean one thing: It’s time for the Haunted Studio to return to JDS Creative Academy. The JDS Creative Academy Haunted Studio, an annual fundraiser hosted by the #JDSFamily, turns the entire studio into a full-scale haunted house and pairs tricks with treats at their bake sale.

Historic, critically endangered horses safe in De Luz

Joe Naiman Writer Sandia Creek Ranch rescued seven Spanish Barb horses. The rescuers learned they may be preSpanish Barbs, called Berbers, that are considered critically endangered by the Equus Survival Trust. The horses, native to Spain, were often interbred, and the quest for a “pure Spanish horse” now centers on the highly bred horses the Spanish explorers took to the Western Hemisphere and the descendants of those Spanish horses who ended up in the wild. Seven of these critically endangered horses see HORSES, page A-3 Monarch’s Wind, a Barb stallion, sports his new fly mask while enjoying a treat. Valley News/Julie Reeder photo

Hemet, but full containment was not expected until the weekend, authorities said Tuesday, Sept. 13. The fi re was 62% contained as of 7 a.m. after burning 28,307 acres, causing two deaths, seriously burning a woman, and destroying at least 21 structures. The resources used to fight the Fairview Fire included 1181 firefighters, 197 engine companies, 7 helicopters, 4 air tankers, 119 overhead personnel, 24 fi re crews, law enforcement, 17 water tenders, utility companies, and the Red Cross, according to Riverside County Fire.

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August 5 – 11, 2022 Volume 22, Issue 31

SERVING TEMECULA, MURRIETA, LAKE ELSINORE, MENIFEE, WILDOMAR, HEMET, SAN JACINTO AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES

Local see page A-4

INDEX

Anza Valley Outlook ...........B-1

Business .............................A-10

Business Directory.............A-11

Calendar of Events ..............B-4

Classifi eds ..........................A-12

Courts & Crimes ...............B-10

Education .............................A-9

Entertainment .....................B-4

Faith .....................................B-3

Health ..................................A-8

Home & Garden ..................A-7

Local ....................................A-1

National News ......................B-9

Opinion...............................A-12

Regional News .....................B-8 Sports ...................................B-6

USPS Postal Customer PRSRT STDUS POSTAGE PAID HEMET, CAPERMIT #234

Business see page A-10 VALLEY NEWS

Potential Menifee Council Murrieta PD celebrates 30 years of service with open house event members can seek nomination until Aug. 17

Tony Ault

STAFF WRITER

Menifee announced it may be extending the nomination process for two city council district seats until Wednesday, Aug. 17, if the incumbent doesn’t seek reelection.

Menifee

Moonlight

Market brings families together

Tony Ault

STAFF WRITER

Spiderman and Wonder Women, in their fi nest regalia, paid a visit to dozens of delighted children at the July 29 Menifee Moonlight Market in Central Park. Jossiah Brown, 4, sits on a MPD dirt bike with Det. Baker during the Murrieta Police Department 30 year anniversary event Monday, Aug. 1. See story and more photos on page A-2. Temecula city council approves construction and infrastructure projects Valley News/Shane Gibson photo

Ava Sarnowski

VALLEY NEWS INTERN Temecula city council members approved a resolution Tuesday, July 26, to establish an amount for the Parks and Lighting Services Special Tax, also known as Measure C, for fi scal year 2022-2023. Measure C was approved by voters in June 1997. It authorized the Temecula Community Services District to assess and collect the Parks and Lighting Special Tax, which was expected to provide for the ongoing operations, maintenance and servicing of the city’s public parks, recreational facilities; recreational and human services programs; landscaped median maintenance costs and energy costs for arterial street lighting and traffi c signals.All property owners pay the tax, and the revenue based on the assessed rate from all taxable parcels within the city for fi scal year 2022-2023 is an estimated see COUNCIL, page A-2 From left, Temecula City Councilmember Zac Schwank, Mayor Matt Rahn and Mayor Pro Tem James “Stew” Stewart listen to the invocation given by Riverside County Sheriff Department Chaplain Richard S. Insalaco at the Tuesday, July 26, Temecula city council meeting. Valley News/Shawna Sarnowski photo Diane A. Rhodes SPECIAL TO VALLEY NEWS Children make edible aquifers with help from Eastern Municipal Water District Educating its youngest consumers about water usage and safety, representatives from Eastern Municipal Water District held a summer children’s activity at Menifee Public Library Tuesday, July 26. The event attracted about a dozen children for an afternoon ice cream break. Or so they thought. When ingredients for a sweet parfait were placed in front of each child, the excitement began to grow. Oreo and chocolate chip cookies, vanilla and chocolate pudding, cups of vanilla ice cream, soda and chocolate chips tempted the children, but they followed directions and didn’t eat before they were told. Emmett Coe, 4, can’t resist tasting his edible aquifer during an Eastern Municipal Water District hosted activity at Menifee Public Library, Tuesday, July 26. Valley News/Diane A. Rhodes photo see WATER, page A-4

October 28 – November 3, 2022 VISITV myvalleynews.com myvalleynews.com Volume 22, Issue 43

SERVING TEMECULA, MURRIETA, LAKE ELSINORE, MENIFEE, WILDOMAR, HEMET, SAN JACINTO AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES

Home & Garden see page B-6

Education Diane A. Rhodes Special to Valley News It was lights, cameras and plenty of action as Lake Elsinore Mayor Timothy J. Sheridan delivered an

see page C-4 Courts & Crime see page D-6

INDEX

Anza Valley Outlook .........D-1 Business ............................C-6 Business Directory .............C-6 Calendar of Events .............B-2 Classifi eds .........................B-8 Courts & Crimes ..............D-6 Education ..........................C-4 Entertainment ...................B-1 Faith.................................D-6 Health ..............................C-5 Home & Garden ................B-6 Local ................................A-1 Opinion............................D-4 Real Estate ........................B-8 Regional News ..................D-5 Sports ................................C-1

upbeat message about the State of the City on Oct. 20. This year’s theme is Spotlight Lake Elsinore and Sheridan said it specifi cally means they have focused a spotlight on what makes the commu-

Spotlight shines on the Lake Elsinore State of the City address

nity special, adding that the list is endless.In a 10-minute video that preceded the mayor’s live appearance, each of the city council members were shown taking advantage of Lake Elsinore mayor Timothy Sheridan presents the spotlight themed 2022 State of the City Address on Main Avenue in downtown Lake Elsinore, Oct. 20. Valley News/Shane Gibson photo some of Lake Elsinore’s many attractions. Council member Robert “Bob” Magee was fi shing, Council member Brian Tisdale was jogTony Ault Menifee’s State of City address focuses on the city’s growing economy and nonprofi ts Staff Writer Menifee’s successes in its economy, infrastructure development and quality of life in the past year was spurred on by the service and work of its residents, claimed Mayor Bill Zimmerman at the Thursday, Oct. 20, State of City address.Zimmerman, honoring many local nonprofits at the morning address at the Fairfi eld Inn, led the “Power Thru Service” theme proposed by Mayor Pro Tem Dean Deines. Attending were several hundred sponsoring Menifee Valley Chamber of Commerce members, business owners, nonprofi t representatives, service club members, city and county and state offi cials and many others. Many city employees and commissioners, including City Manager Armando Villa, department Menifee Mayor Bill Zimmerman gives his 2022 State of the City address Thursday, Oct. 20 at the Fairfield Inn, 30140 Town Center Drive in Menifee. The event is sponsored by the Menifee Valley Chamber of Commerce each year. Valley News/Tony Ault photo

Bluewater’s Renewable Energy Storage Project hopes to benefi t Lake Elsinore

Ava Sarnowski Valley News Bluewater Renewable Energy LLC is touting a solution for cleaning up Lake Elsinore, fi lling it with more high-quality water and stabilizing the electrical grid through their newly refashioned 500 megawatt hydroelectric renewable energy project and battery storage facility, in a recent interview with Valley News.

Former students, now staff , help celebrate Park Hill Elementary’s 30th anniversary

Diane A. Rhodes Special to Valley News see ELSINORE, page A-4 Current and past students, staff and administrators gathered at Park Hill Elementary School in San Jacinto for a 30-year anniversary Jubilee, Oct. 14. The celebration also served as a kickoff for the school’s annual Harvest Festival where students and their family members took part in many carnival-style games and activities.

Parents demand more security at Lake Elsinore schools

City News Service Special to the Valley News Parents are demanding more security at Lake Elsinore schools as Riverside County sheriff ’s offi cials said that a 15- year-old boy arrested for allegedly committing a lewd act on a child was in the parking lot of the same school on two other occasions. see MENIFEE, page A-2 by Lynn Sakamoto-Kay Diane A. Rhodes Special to Valley News Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District hosted its 37th annual Oldlympics Friday, Sept. 16, through Monday, Oct. 3, which culminated in an awards banquet Tuesday, Oct. 4, where athletes received gold, silver and bronze medals for their performances in the games held throughout the San Jacinto Valley. There were 14 sporting categories available for those 50 and older to choose from with swimming and track and fi eld off ering many different events. Broken down by age divisions, there were 530 participants with 101-year-old Walter Brooks as the oldest male athlete who earned a gold medal for bowling with a score of 632, one that bested some other men in much younger age groups. Natica Oldlympics competition produces multiple medals for athletes Oldlympics gold medalist Walter Brooks, 101, is congratulated by Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Hewitt at Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District’s awards ceremony, Tuesday, Oct. 4. Valley News/Diane A. Rhodes photo Anderson, recognized for being the oldest female competitor at age 93, earned four gold medals for track and fi eld events. “It’s been a really great turnout this year. Our track and fi eld events always have the most attending,” Keri Price, supervisor with ValleyWide Recreation and chair for the Oldlympics, said. Bernie Wold of Menifee was competing for his fi fth year, always in the track and fi eld events, which were held at the Hemet High School Stadium’s all-weather track. He was a runner in high school and enjoys the opportunity to continue competing. He said the participants encouraged each other and he had a lot of fun. Wold earned 9 gold and one silver medal for his eff orts in the 60-64 age division. Aside from all the running see OLDLYMPICS, page C-3

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!