Dorland Mountain Arts Colony announces December events, B-2
New guidelines for high school and youth sports could face possible delay, C-1
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SERVING TEMECULA , MURRIETA , L AKE E LSINOR E , M ENIFEE , WILDOMAR , H EMET, SAN JACINTO December 4 – 10, 2020
VISI T
Local Habitat for Humanity Inland Valley opens Christmas Tree Lane
T HE NEW
AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES
myvalleynews.com
Volume 20, Issue 49
Black Friday shopping is not nearly as frenzied this year
Jeff Pack STAFF WRITER
Habitat for Humanity Inland Valley’s largest annual fundraiser, Christmas Tree Lane, returned to Promenade Temecula, and due to an overwhelming response from sponsors, extended into the organization’s ReStore Design Center. see page A-3
Local COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations rise in Riverside County Jeff Pack STAFF WRITER
The last time Riverside County saw COVID-19 hospitalization numbers as high as those reported Friday, Nov. 27, was July 27, at the beginning of a downward trend in hospitalizations due to the coronavirus. This time, the 498 people reportedly hospitalized around the county Friday seemed to indicate a major spike in hospitalizations, according to the Riverside University Health System. see page A-4
INDEX Anza Valley Outlook ......AVO-1 Business ............................... B-4 Business Directory............... C-8 Classifieds ............................ C-6 Education ............................ B-6 Entertainment ..................... B-1 Faith ..................................... C-8 Health .................................. C-4 Local .................................... A-1 National News ...................... C-7 Opinion................................. C-3 Pets ..................................... B-6 Regional News ..................... C-6 Wine & Dine ........................ B-3
Shoppers in Murrieta get deals on purchases during Black Friday, Nov. 27.
Jeff Pack STAFF WRITER
Like the rest of the nation, the typical frenzied rush of shoppers camping out overnight and waiting
widespread adoption of online shopping by the U.S. consumers, Black Friday resembled most other Saturdays during the holiday shopping season. “Shoppers are spreading out
their shopping throughout the holiday season because of concerns about social distancing and the pandemic,” Brian Field of see FRIDAY, page A-2
Temecula City Council appoints 7 members for new diversity commission Will Fritz ASSOCIATE EDITOR
The Temecula City Council selected seven city residents to serve on its new Racism, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Commission. “There are 70-some odd applications that we’re looking through today and only a handful of seats, so it’s not gonna be an easy job in front of us,” councilmember Matt Rahn said at the start of prospective commissioners’ presentations. “But this is a momentous occasion I think for the city, and I just wanted to sort of mark that here and remember how important today is going to be for a shift in our culture here.” After listening to presentations see COMMISSION, page A-4
Temecula City Council members discuss appointments to the new Racism, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Commission, Nov. 18. The council also made appointments to the four existing city boards and commissions. Valley News/City of Temecula photo
After delays due to pandemic-related uncertainty, new Temecula Valley Lexus is 11 months away Will Fritz ASSOCIATE EDITOR
If everything goes to plan, Temecula-area residents will no longer have to drive a half-hour or more out of their way to find a Lexus dealership. A groundbreaking ceremony was held in November at the planned Temecula Valley Lexus, which will be located on a fiveacre site near Dlr Drive and Ynez Road. Owner Tom Rudnai, who also owns Temecula Valley Toyota, said the project is about 11 months away from completion. The Lexus dealership project has had its fair share of delays, though. In September 2019, a formal development plan was submitted for construction of the planned 54,383-square-foot dealership near
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in long lines associated with Black Friday in America didn’t quite materialize in southwest Riverside County this year. Another victim of the COVID-19 pandemic, along with
Valley News/Shane Gibson photo
Construction begins at the site of the new Temecula Valley Lexus on Dlr Drive.
Valley News/Shane Gibson photo
see LEXUS, page A-6