Tony Dodie O' Neal's Blog

Win $10,000 at the Reverse Drawing

2011-03-07T07:47:00.000-08:00

REVERSE DRAWING!!!! Willie Ryan's 19th Annual event! Grand Prize $10,000 on Friday, March 11th doors open at 5:30 pm at The Country Club at Soboba Springs. SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND! Call Marcie for details. Tickets on sale this week include a dinner for two and a chance to WIN at the Chamber office (for a $135 donation). Bring in your Silent Auction Baskets. For those in need of basket ideas, we can have plenty, just ask us. Contact the Chamber for more information.please e-mail: info@hemetsanjacintovalleychamber.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or give us a call at (951)658-3211 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (951)658-3211 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

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Top 4 Items associated with Short Sales with us

2010-12-01T07:02:00.000-08:00

1) 81% successful closing rate,
2) Realizing you are only 1 of millions in this situation,
3) No out of pocket money,
4) Relocation money to help you move,

We can help you or anyone you know with a Short Sale,call or email for an appointment,

Dodie 951-533-2252 email dodie.oneal@century21.com
Tony 951-533-0363 email tony.oneal@century21.com

Victory Bell returns to San Jacinto

2010-11-12T07:54:00.000-08:00

The Victory Bell is now in the possession of San Jacinto High School after the football team defeated Hemet 50-7 Friday. It will be painted in school colors and displayed in a case built by the school's woodshop class.

Hemet High painted and polished its treasured Victory Bell, leaving it gleaming with its trailer and frame in a color scheme of red, gold and white. It was ready for the resumption last Friday of its historic football rivalry clash with San Jacinto High.

It was polite for Hemet to bring the bell to San Jacinto in good condition, but it would have been more gracious if the paint had been orange instead of Bulldog red. The bell goes to the winner of the rivalry game. It was claimed by the Tigers on Friday for the first time since San Jacinto won in 1966.

The schools, which began the series in 1929, only had played four times since 1967 and not at all in the last half dozen years because bigger Hemet tended to dominate San Jacinto. Now that they are the same size and in the same league, the rivalry was renewed Friday. San Jacinto crushed Hemet, 50-7.

Garry Packham, the San Jacinto High principal who played for Hemet in the 1960s, said that despite its nice paint job in Hemet's school colors, the trailer and frame will become San Jacinto orange.

The bell is locked away to prevent its disappearance. The team likely will show off the bell at a San Jacinto School Board meeting. It will be displayed in a secure place in a case built by the school's woodshop class. Packham plans to host the bell for at least a few years. If Friday's lopsided contest was any indication, San Jacinto will keep it.

Ramona Bowl Electronic Waste Collection this weekend

2010-10-29T07:41:00.000-07:00

The Green Coalition of the San Jacinto Valley will host an electronic waste recycling event on Saturday and Sunday at the Ramona Bowl parking lot, located at 27400 Ramona Bowl Road, in Hemet.

Among the items accepted will be computers, televisions, phones and other electronic waste items. Batteries, refrigerators, washing machines and light bulbs will not be accepted.

Fore more information, contact 1-877-866-0128 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-877-866-0128 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

Also this weekend;

Hemet Farmers Market Saturday; visit http://www.hemetfarmersmarket.com
Soboba offers fun for all; visit http://www.soboba.com

San Jacinto High Physics connects Worldwide

2010-10-18T07:20:00.001-07:00

Students in the physics club at San Jacinto High School listen to Thomas Ferguson, a professor of physics with Carnegie Mellon University, during a video conference call.

Web cams in a San Jacinto High School physics classroom are connecting students to scientific experts and in at least one case to a classroom of students in Israel also studying physics.

Students come in before or after school or during lunch to reap the benefits of physics teacher Mark Bonnard's summer fellowship to the European Center for Nuclear Research near Zurich, known as CERN.

Scientists there oversee the Large Hadron Collider, a high-energy particle collider that is opening a new frontier in probing matter at the sub-atomic level and understanding the vastness of the universe.

Students in the school's Particle People academic club sat in the class lab last week eating lunch and listening to professor Thomas Ferguson of Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh talk about his summer work at CERN.

The scientists and educators that Bonnard met in Switzerland "see the value of getting the kids interested for the science sake," Ferguson said.

Ferguson is working on experiments with a compact muon solenoid, a particle physics detector.

"Whatever nature throws at us we hope we can measure," he told the students.

When he talked about the hunt for Higgs boson, the students knew he was discussing a particle predicted to exist but not confirmed by experiments. The Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Illinois is hunting, too.
"They want to beat us," Ferguson said of the friendly competition to find it first.

To physicists, Higgs is like a missing link in what is called the standard model of physics, Bonnard said.

"It is a particle that is responsible for giving matter mass," he said.

"It's so cool," senior Diana Sixto said of the competition.

She said she wants to learn more about what the detector can measure. Ferguson answered one of her questions about how the detector he uses differs from one the students use to measure cosmic rays.

"I really do look forward to it," junior Marwan Abushawish said of the webcasts. "It is very enlightening."

Senior Mercedes Jimenez tries not to miss a guest speaker. She said her physics studies are "not as difficult as I thought."

Another webcast will be set up with Ferguson so that the students can ask questions.

The collider, underground near the Swiss-French border, brings people together from all over the world. In a "small world" way, it united Bonnard with a Russian from his past and Ferguson, who is a childhood friend of Diane Mitchell, of Hemet. Mitchell learned last spring of Bonnard's trip and helped arrange for them to meet.

The Russian, who Bonnard knows only as Misha, helps Ferguson with his collider research.

Now his classes start with a look at the lab's website to keep up with the research and learn more.

Students also have had webcasts twice with UC Riverside physics professor Robert Clare.

Future sessions may link the students with those in classrooms abroad, once issues like Internet connections are resolved.

Ramona Humane Society Oktoberfest Saturday

2010-10-15T07:49:00.000-07:00

Dog agility demonstrations will return to the Ramona Humane Society on Saturday as part of its 10th annual Oktoberfest.

Pet adoptions will cost only $25 during Saturday's 10th annual Ramona Humane Society Oktoberfest.

"We have tons of puppies," said Jeff Sheppard, CEO of the San Jacinto shelter that is housing about 400 animals. "We are running out of room."

An all-new kids' zone will offer game booths and activities to keep children busy and also raise funds for the nonprofit to continue its mission of fostering the humane treatment of animals.
Sheppard said there are two big changes this year. One is that there will be no free spay or neuter vouchers given out.

"This is not fiscally viable for us right now," he said. "We gave out over 3,000 last year and it took until July for us to get done (with the operations)."

He said after the first of the year, the shelter plans to implement a pilot program for Hemet and San Jacinto residents that should help with the goal of stemming the pet overpopulation problem in our area.

The other change is that a beer garden will be offered - set up in the fenced off dog park area, across the driveway from the shelter's buildings.

"Our sponsors are very reliable and generous," said Sheppard. "Small Animal Care Center, Bank of Hemet, SJ Medical Clinic/Urgent Care and Soboba Casino are all helping us subsidize the reduced adoption fees."

He said all available animals are still vaccinated, spayed or neutered and go to their new homes with a collar, leash and other items. The revenue that is lost on the discounted adoptions is made up by the sponsors.

Last year's Oktoberfest attracted 5,200 visitors that resulted in 230 adoptions for the day. In conjunction with the ASPCA's National Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog month, adoptions after Saturday will still be discounted at $50 through October. Regular fees are about $100 and up.

Sheppard said a full force of volunteers will be on site to help process adoptions, sell raffle tickets for a state-of-the-art outdoor barbecue grill and help with children's activities.

The shelter is at 690 Humane Way (off Seventh St.) in San Jacinto. Entry is free and parking is available for $2.

The event is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Information, 951-654-8002 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 951-654-8002 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or www.ramonahumanesociety.org

Also Saturday;
Hemet Farmers Market; visit www.hemetfarmersmarket.com
Fair at Perris Fairgrounds; visit www.socalfair.com
Soboba St. Joseph Church 100th Anniversary; visit www.soboba-nsn.gov

Soboba Church to celebrate 100th anniversary

2010-10-14T09:02:00.000-07:00

The Rev. Earl Henley is the pastor/chaplain of St. Joseph Mission Church, which is celebrating its centennial.

Sitting inside St. Joseph Mission Church takes some parishioners back in time to important moments in their lives and memories of family members.

The church on the Soboba Indian Reservation is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its chapel Saturday and Oct. 17 with activities open to the public, including a special Mass, which will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Oct. 17 by Auxiliary Bishop Rutilio del Riego of the San Bernardino Diocese.

The church is publishing a commemorative book to help make the community aware of the church, its purpose and activities and the culture of the Native Americans who helped build the church.

"I had catechism class here, first communion, I got married here," remembered Marian Chacon, 74, a member of the centennial planning committee. "The bus used to drop us off here after school."

In 1888, a Catholic priest established the St. Rose of Lima mission church in a wooden building. It was replaced in 1910 and renamed St. Joseph. Historic accounts indicate that St. Rose of Lima was damaged by an 1899 earthquake, and a crack in the St. Joseph church is a vestige of a 1918 earthquake.

St. Joseph has concrete walls 14 to 16 inches thick, the Rev. Earl Henley, pastor-chaplain for American Indians in the diocese, said. In the past eight years, heating, air conditioning and a stained-glass window have been added
Before the renovations, Chacon remembered a ceiling with exposed beams.

The only other 100-year-old church building in the diocese is St. Bernardine Church in San Bernardino which is celebrating its 100th birthday this year, John Andrews, director of communications for the diocese wrote in an e-mail.
The diocese has many parishes, or congregations, that are over 100 years old, including St. Anthony in San Jacinto and Precious Blood in Banning, which celebrated centennials in 1990.

St. Joseph when packed seats about 100, and Rev. Henley expects another 250 people outside who will be able to hear the Mass from an outdoor sound system. Donna Bergstrom, who is a parishioner of Our Lady of the Valley in Hemet but has experience organizing special events, is the chairperson of the centennial committee.

"Right at the go get, I felt very peaceful, very relaxed," said Henry Gonzales, 69, of San Jacinto, who considers himself the "new kid" because he started attending in 2002. "You feel very much at home in comparison to a very large church." Some people find the mission because it's across Soboba Road from the Soboba Casino.

"My dad sat in that spot," said Hector Flores, 46, whose father, Martin Flores sat in the back of the church

An in memoriam list compiled by the church committee makes a special mention of the elder Flores who died July 22. He had attended St. Joseph's since 1948, worked as custodian at Our Lady of the Valley, and prepared the alter for Mass at St. Joseph's every Sunday, including ringing the outside bell and taking up the collection plate for decades.

The younger Flores remembers sitting at the back with his parents and five siblings. "If we made any noise, there was a pinch from Mom," he said. He brings his wife and three daughters to church where they also sit in the back.

Opera featured at free concert in Hemet on Saturday

2010-10-07T07:18:00.000-07:00

Music@The Library is a free concert series that brings performers to Hemet to entertain and introduce various music genres to the public.

Saturday's performance by soprano Angela Bunea is no exception. The Romanian-born singer was cast in major roles in opera companies and with orchestras and choirs in her native country and Europe.

About eight years ago, she won a lottery that gave her a visa to come to the United States. She gave up her career to have a chance at a better life in America. She has since become a citizen, raised two children and worked hard to rebuild her career.
"She has a gorgeous voice, dramatic chops and a warm personality," said Diane Mitchell, M@TL Chair. "Believe me, I know a really great singer when I hear one."

Bunea's program will include some Romanian folk songs as well as familiar works by Gershwin, Sondheim and Puccini.

"I know that the American public likes this kind of music more," said Bunea, of Lake Elsinore. "I didn't want to sing only pieces from the opera."

She will be joined by local mezzo-soprano Gretchen Herndon for the "Flower Duet" from Delibes' opera "Lakme." Mitchell said most people will recognize the tune due to its use in British Airways commercials.

Pianist Steve Sivcovich will accompany the singers and also play a few solo selections.

Bunea said she finds American and European audiences different and said she was surprised when she first visited the library venue.

"I didn't know that Hemet had that kind of library -- big, very beautiful and also a concert hall," said Bunea, who said she had never visited America before she moved here. "It is very difficult for Europeans to be (allowed) to come to this country."

The music series is sponsored by the Friends of the Hemet Public Library.

The program starts at 2 p.m. but doors to the upstairs concert venue open at 1:30 p.m. The Hemet Public Library is at 300 E. Latham Ave.

Information, 951-927-1775 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 951-927-1775 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or 951-765-2440 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 951-765-2440 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

A@TL

"Another interesting but under-appreciated feature of our concerts is Also @ The Library, a selection of Hemet Public Library resources that relate to each concert," said Diane Mitchell.

The list, with commentary on a few items, is researched and prepared by Sasha Moore, who has been a M@TL committee member for about five years. She started the companion addendum three years ago.

Moore researches materials on various topics and sub-topics for each performance and includes history, travel, music, reference and even children's books on her list.

There is something for everyone -- from different age levels to various interest levels.

"It's a lot of fun because I love research," said Moore. "Sometimes the researches are far and wide but that's what I think a library is all about: you find specific topics and then experience the joy of learning about related areas."

The informal and selected list of books, films and music available at the Hemet Public Library gives visitors a chance to take home more from a performance than just good memories.

"We have received glowing feedback from people who use it," said Mitchell. "Each time Sasha sends it to me I am once again amazed at the wealth of books and recorded materials available at our library."

A@TL lists are available at the concert.

Also Saturday;

Hemet Farmers Market, visit www.hemetfarmersmarket.com
Golf at Soboba, vist www.sobobasringscc.com

Tour Saturday features eco-friendly gardens in Hemet

2010-10-06T07:13:00.000-07:00

For several years Valley Beautiful sponsored an annual competition to find the prettiest gardens that utilized drought-resistant plants and landscaping. On Saturday, five gardens will be offered on an equal playing field and everybody is a winner, especially those who view them.

"We found many interesting gardens whose owners were not comfortable with being judged in a contest but were happy to be part of a tour, so we decided to simplify things and let everyone relax and enjoy the gardens without the bother of the competition," said Diane Mitchell, a member of Valley Beautiful for several years.
Another change is having the tour headquarters at Pilgrim Congregational Church from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The church has a recently completed garden and will have tour guides to help visitors learn about the Mediterranean vegetation. To defray costs, parishioners "adopted" plants and rocks and were asked to baptize them with a cup of water during Sunday's dedication ceremony. A contest to name the biblical garden connected the members inside the church with the work done outside.

Thomas Herder, 10, entered the winning name of "Pilgrim Peace Garden" and also baptized his family's variegated myrtle. Joan and Russ Jacobs adopted a tree to honor their 60th wedding anniversary.

"I like it because it attracts lots of bees and butterflies," said Russ Jacobs, of San Jacinto.

The garden project brought together several parishioners and master gardener Katherine Botts, who donated hundreds of hours to research the plants of the Holy Land and find about 50 that would be suited to Hemet's climate and soil. She also designed the layout.

"As our plants mature, bloom and go through their seasonal changes, the good Lord will use our garden in many ways to inspire, teach, comfort and please the senses of more people for more years than we ever imagined," said Jerry Uecker, who created the project.

Valley Beautiful is dedicated to the beautification of the San Jacinto Valley and uses its annual tours to spur others to be water wise at their homes and businesses.

"This is our planting time and we want to draw attention to that," said Botts, who joined the group after serving as a docent.

Maps to the four residential gardens will be distributed at the church at 41861 Acacia Ave. in Hemet. Each garden site will have docents and information on water-wise gardening. Botts said tour participants will also receive a bonus list of several gardens that are visible from the street. They can drive by to see those, either on Saturday or another time.

"People can get some really good ideas from them," said Botts, of Hemet.

Tickets cost $12 in advance or $15 on tour day. Any profits will be used to purchase trees to donate to various sites in the valley as a way for the group to express its mission.

Also Saturday;

Southern California Fair in Perris, visit www.socalfair.com
Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, visit www.autoclubspeedway.com
Rod Run in Temecula, visit www.rodruntemecula.com
Art-Wine walk in Idyllwild, vist www.artinidyllwild.com

Soboba Needs a Hotel

2010-10-05T07:15:00.001-07:00

Soboba will be able to accomadate the players and spectators in the near future with "The Hotel at Soboba".
SAN JACINTO - For someone who hadn't won a tournament in five years, Australian Steven Bowditch looked mighty comfortable holding the lead Saturday, maintaining and even extending it during the final round at the Soboba Golf Classic.

And then, with spectators in the grandstand surrounding the 18th hole shouting, "Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! Oi! Oi! Oi!" the 27-year-old from New South Wales parred his final hole to win the second-year PGA Nationwide Tour event at The Country Club at Soboba Springs.

"It feels pretty good," said Bowditch, who carded a final-round 3-under-par 68 to finish at 19-under-par 265, a tournament record. "From the ninth tee, I thought it was brilliant. I hit the right shots that I needed to hit."
After tying a Nationwide Tour record with an 18-putt round Saturday, he finished the tournament with 96 putts, one off the tour record.

"I didn't make many putts (Sunday) but I didn't miss any," said Bowditch, who finished 3 strokes ahead of runner-up Daniel Summerhays, who also closed with a 68. "Short game is really the key to winning out here when you've got a lead."

In his career-high sixth consecutive tournament, Idyllwild's Brendan Steele fought fatigue and timing issues en route to an even-par 71. That left him 11-under for the tournament and tied for 16th.

With the victory and the tour-best $180,000 winner's share of the tournament's million-dollar purse, Bowditch vaulted from 76th to 11th ($244,283) on the money list. That's an especially big deal considering the 25 leading money winners will earn PGA Tour cards following the Nationwide Tour Championship in a month.

Steele improved his stock from 37th to 34th ($140,032) thanks in large part to a textbook eagle on No. 18.

Hitting from 148 yards out, the former UC Riverside standout stuck it within a foot of the pink flag and tapped in to a nice round of applause from the hometown gallery. He also eagled his final hole at the event last year.

"It was the one thing that went right," said Steele, who bogeyed three holes on the front nine and failed to create many birdie chances thereafter.

"There was a lot of pressure with it being his hometown tournament," said Steele's caddie, Nick Wilkins, also a former Highlander. "But considering, I think he did pretty well."

No one, of course, did better than Bowditch, whose lead increased to 4 shots after he bounced in a chip shot for eagle on No. 6.

"I was watching (the leaderboard) every step," said Bowditch, whose last win was at 2005's Jacob's Creek Open in Australia. "It actually looked nice, not scrolling down, but looking up."

That'll hold true when he's checking for his name on the all-important money list, too.

Soboba Tribe steps up to help library

2010-08-11T09:17:00.000-07:00

Soboba Tribal Chairman Scott Cozart, left, presents new books and $10,000 to Friends of the San Jacinto Library President Ajit Singh as tribal council and Friends board members look on.
San Jacinto Library supporters say a $10,000 grant from the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians will provide new books and a special Native American collection at a time of lean budgets.

Ajit Singh, president of the nonprofit Friends of the San Jacinto Library, said the branch of the Riverside County Library System is not getting any funds from the county this year to buy books and other materials. That prompted the organization's board of directors to seek financial support from other sources.

"The tribe and (Friends) are working toward building a relationship that will not only help the library to grow and expand service but one that will also serve to help the reservation community have better access to library resources," said Mike Madrigal, a board member.
The donation will pay for purchase of popular books and other media, as well as volumes devoted to Native American culture and history.

Singh said Carrie Garcia, director of Soboba's Cultural Center, will meet with the group to advise which Native American-focused titles would be best to add to the library's collection.

"These history and cultural books will be circulated among the 63 branches of Riverside and San Bernardino county libraries," Singh said. "A nation who forgets its history cannot go that far. This is the history of our local culture."

Singh said the organization is discussing the best way to acknowledge the Soboba tribe's donation. He said each book purchased with the funds will be stamped or marked in some way so patrons know which ones they are.

He also said that although the Friends group was established many years ago, it has become more active in the past four years.

"We have a very enthusiastic board now, and we have done some great things for the library," he said.

The group hosts free family movie nights, kids' competitions such as art shows and entertainment such as musicians, magicians and more.

Singh said the branch manager, Diane Smith, has helped the group develop programs for kids.

The Friends also manage a permanent book room of used items for sale; it's located inside the library. Singh said they are always collecting books to add to the shelves.

A staff member from the juvenile detention center in Murrieta recently visited the book room and purchased a box full of paperbacks to start circulating among the youth.

"People go to church, mosques and synagogues to seek blessing from their gods and go to the library to seek the blessing of knowledge and education," Singh said.

The San Jacinto branch library is at 500 Idyllwild Drive, near the northeast end of the San Jacinto High School campus.
Information: 951-654-8635 or www.rivlib.info/san-jacinto-library

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Give Blood get Ice Cream

2010-08-02T08:07:00.000-07:00

Ice Cream from LifeStream

Summer's here and we all scream for ice cream from LifeStream! Donate blood at any LifeStream donor center or mobile blood drive at The Simpson Center 305 E. Devonshire Ave. Hemet. Today August 2, 2010 from 1 to 6p.m. and you'll receive a coupon for a complimentary "Pint for a Pint" of ice cream courtesy of Baskin-Robbins.
Also Donars will be entered into a drawing for gift cards to Lowe's and T-Shirts courtesy of the Hemet City Firefighters Association.

Healthy donors age 15 and older may donate blood with LifeStream.

Fifteen- and 16-year-olds need a signed LifeStream parental consent form available at www.LStream.org. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids and bring photo identification with you.

Schedule your lifesaving donation today at www.LStream.org or call 1.800.879.4484
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Grant to keep Hemet Fire Station Open

2010-07-30T08:43:00.000-07:00

Feds award $2.6M for staffing

FIRE DEPARTMENT: Hemet council needs to OK two-year grant.
The Hemet Fire Department may not have to close a fire station after all.

The federal Homeland Security Department has awarded the Fire Department about $2.6 million, enough to avoid station closure for two years, said Fire Chief Matt Shobert.

The $1.3-million-per-year allocation comes through the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response program, a federal financing mechanism to keep communities from having to close fire stations.

“It’s a miracle at our darkest hour,” said Shobert.

He said the grant will also allow the department to avoid the lesser alternative of a rolling brownout in which each of the four fire stations would be closed in rotation to reduce costs.

The grant will not be enough to reopen station five on the east end of town, Shobert said.

Before the money becomes available officially, the City Council must vote to accept it.

The question is on the July 27 council agenda.

In announcing the grant, Rep. Mary Bono Mack said, “As a result of this award, the Hemet Fire Department will be better equipped to continue its mission of keeping the people and property of Hemet safe from the devastating effects of fires.”

Shobert said the city applied for the grant nine or 10 months ago, even before the financial news coming from budget deliberations got to the point that a station closure became a certainty.

In fact, said Shobert, at the time the application was filed, he had hopes of not only avoiding a station closure and rolling brownouts, but of reopening station five, which was closed about a year ago.

Since then, however, the city’s finances have continued to decline and there is no longer any hope of reopening station five, Shobert said.

“Our firefighters put themselves on the line every day to protect our citizens and communities, and I am honored to be able to support their courageous efforts with the awarding of these funds,” Bono Mack said.

Hemet is also home to a Federal Emergency Management Agency truck.

It is distinguishable from locally purchased equipment by its light green color.

That truck is bought by FEMA and staffed and maintained by the city department at FEMA’s expense.

FEMA also pays all costs of sending out the truck with a city crew when it becomes necessary.

In exchange, the city must put a crew on the truck whenever FEMA calls it out.
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Great Grampa with Wyatt

2010-07-29T07:49:00.001-07:00

Great Grandpa "Big PaPa" with Wyatt 2 days old,Amanda,Kody,Kylee and Austin welcomed Wyatt 7/23/2010
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Happy Birthday Tonia

2010-07-16T07:13:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday T,Love You
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San Jacinto Rotary Scholarship Dinner Everyone Welcome

2010-07-15T07:33:00.000-07:00

Monday evening, July 19th,6:00pm at Emilio’s,There will be Great Food,Raffles,Silent Auction and Fun(maybe a soft drink or two)
All monies support San Jacinto Student Scholarships.
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San Jacinto weightlifter to compete in world junior championships in Bulgaria

2010-06-11T08:30:00.000-07:00

Spencer Moorman, 18, of San Jacinto, lifts under the watchful eye of coach Greg Schouten. Moorman is part of the U.S. team for the World Junior Weightlifting Championships in Bulgaria.

Last month in Norwalk, 18-year-old Spencer Moorman threw a shot put 62 feet, 5¼ -inches at the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section's Division 2 finals, breaking a 31-year-old record for shot put distance set by a San Jacinto High school teammate of his father, Keith Moorman.

Since then, Moorman has crammed in competing in the statewide CIF meet, visiting Disneyland with relatives and singing with his twin sister, Katie, in the San Jacinto High choral group at their graduation Thursday.

He hasn't had much time to celebrate. He and Katie, both competitive weightlifters, are back in the weight room of trainer Greg Schouten in San Jacinto this week, with four sessions left before Spencer Moorman heads to Sofia, Bulgaria, on Tuesday as part of the U.S. team for the World Junior Weightlifting Championships. He competes June 20.

Growing up in the valley, Schouten competed in the Pan Am games and was the first alternate on the 1996 U.S. Olympics weightlifting team.

"He is kind of on the same track that I was at that age group," Schouten said of Moorman.

Moorman competed in the Pan Am games in Peru in 2008. He will take this expense-paid trip with the team while his family stays home.

Athlete and trainer agree, lifting is 85 to 95 percent mental -- visualizing a successful lift. Training lasts about three hours, four to five times a week.

In February, the Moorman twins competed in the USA Weightlifting National Junior Championships in Rochester, Minn. That competition earned Spencer Moorman a gold medal and a spot on the team headed to Bulgaria. He has earned two other golds, a silver and a bronze in previous competition.

Katie Moorman has won four silver medals and one bronze in lifting, and is training for collegiate competitions.

Their father, Keith, commutes to teach in Malibu, but is a frequent coach in the weight room too.

Spencer started lifting at age 8, when the family lived in Colorado. He said he was influenced by watching his dad lift weights and seeing the "big lifters" at the Olympic training center in Colorado Springs.

His personal best is 180 kilos -- about 396 pounds -- in the clean and jerk, where the barbell is lifted to shoulder height and then above his head, and 147 kilos -- just over 323 pounds -- in the snatch, where the barbell is lifted overhead in one motion.

This summer the twins are looking at colleges with weightlifting programs.

With about 22 months to the 2012 Olympic trials, mom Kristene Moorman said, "His choice might be to train for the Olympics."

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San Jacinto names New Police Chief

2010-05-25T07:15:00.001-07:00

The city of San Jacinto has a new police chief this week as Lt. Sue Trevino takes over.

The former chief, Lt. Bill Tyler, is transferring to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department's Moreno Valley station. The city's law enforcement is provided under contract with the county.

Sheriff's Capt. John Pingel of the Hemet station introduced Trevino to the San Jacinto City Council on Thursday.
Trevino joined the department in 1987. As a deputy, she worked in patrol, narcotics and special investigations. As a sergeant, she worked in patrol and the jail before being promoted to lieutenant four years ago.

She worked in the Coachella Valley before being assigned about 1½ years ago to oversee the western county forensics bureau out of the Perris station.

"She is a great people person," Pingel said.

Trevino described herself as very personable, but also told the council, "I do say it how it is."
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San Jacinto native recognized for accomplishments

2010-05-19T08:33:00.001-07:00

When gasoline was 20 cents a gallon and a postage stamp cost 3 cents, Robert "Bud" Roberds was graduating from San Jacinto High School with the Class of 1938. While FDR ran the White House, Roberds focused his attention on music and prepared for a career as an educator.

On May 6 he was honored as the 2010 distinguished alumni by the San Jacinto Education Foundation during its annual recognition reception.

Roberds joined his family's orchestra at age 9, and the group was well-known throughout the San Jacinto Valley playing for various lodges' installation dances and other events. His parents and siblings formed The Roberds Family Orchestra, and Bud's brothers also became music teachers.
"I was in a little band in high school, too," said Roberds. "We had noon dances -- I think they were monthly -- and I can still see Beryl Andrews out there dancing."

Calling themselves "School Kids," Roberds' younger brother came over from the grammar school to play drums for the band.

"In those days I played the trumpet, guitar and accompanied others on piano," said Roberds.

Roberds met his wife, Jewell Tripp, when they were eighth-graders at San Jacinto Elementary, and they started "going together" during their junior year of high school. Both have historic ties to the valley.

Roberds is the great-grandson of Jose Maria de Necochea, who settled in the area with the Estudillo family in the 1860s. Jewell is the granddaughter of Judge S.V. Tripp, who was part of another prominent pioneer family. The couple married in 1941 and had two children, Bill and Lorraine.

Jewell was valedictorian of their class of 24 graduates and because both of them were firm believers in the value of education, they continued on to college; Bud attended Long Beach Junior College and then transferred to UCLA.

They became the second couple to wed in San Jacinto's new St. Anthony's Catholic Church. Roberds continued his education until he was drafted for a three-year tour of duty with the U.S. Army. Even though he had earned his teaching credential before he was drafted, he started his career at San Jacinto Unified School District as a school bus driver.

Soon he was teaching music at his alma mater and stayed there for nine years before he was offered a position in Fallbrook. Roberds retired in 1979.

Jewell finally kept the promise the couple made to themselves and returned to San Diego State to finish her education. She graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree and then earned her teaching credential in 1966.

The San Jacinto Education Foundation was founded in 2001 to enhance the educational experiences of students through funding and programs.

Information, 951-929-7700 ext. 4530.

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Contest to reward people with water-wise landscaping

2010-05-17T11:38:00.001-07:00

Less is more when it comes to water in the garden, and those who do it most efficiently could win up to $1,000 in this year's Western Water-Wise Landscape Contest.

The competition aims to raise awareness of just how beautiful drought-resistant landscapes can be, organizers said.

"With lingering dry times and the continuing water crisis, if we can recognize folks that have embraced water-efficient landscaping, then it helps us not only to save water for the region but ... shows other residents what you can do and still have a beautiful yard," said Michele McKinney Underwood, spokeswoman for Western Municipal Water District in Riverside.

The contest covers 1,000 square miles served by Western Municipal; Eastern Municipal Water District in Perris, which covers an area from Moreno Valley south to Temecula and east to Hemet and San Jacinto; and Inland Empire Utilities Agency in Chino.

The contest also is open to customers of Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District, Rancho California Water District in Temecula, Corona Department of Water and Power, Riverside Public Utilities and the city of Upland.

The contest, which started in 2008, has grown in popularity as the drought persisted and conservation became a priority. There were a dozen entries the first year and 97 last year when it was extended beyond Western's retail service area.
Winners are judged on the curb appeal of their front yards and the efficiency of irrigation systems; use of mulch and low-water, California-friendly plants; and limited, functional grass areas.

The top three winners are eligible for prizes of $1,000, $750 and $500, plus there is a $500 prize in each of the districts.

David and Leanne Austin, of Riverside, won a $500 local award last year from Western. They installed their own landscaping after they bought a new two-story Wood Road home in 2002.

The yard is packed with salvia, rosemary, dramatic red grevillea and South African natives. But there are also roses and a small area of grass -- all of which are watered two times a week with drip irrigation, or three days a week when it's over 100 degrees.

"It's a deep, long watering so it promotes deep root growth," Leanne Austin said. "I've also minimized turf areas. They are designed more as a place for the eye to rest. It's not all cacti and rocks."

landscape contest

For more information, rules and entry forms, go to www.westernlandscapecontest.com or call 951-789-5036.

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Discard old Prescription Drugs at Valley Wide Tuesday

2010-05-10T07:07:00.001-07:00

Pill Drop-Off Day will take place Tuesday at four locations in Riverside County, allowing people to drop off prescription drugs.

An announcement of the event states the drugs can be turned in "with no questions asked."

The event is being organized by school resource officers at various locations, along with youth accountability teams, local school districts and the Riverside County Office of Education.

There has been a "considerable increase" in overdoses among students just since January, according to Raquel Marquez, senior deputy district attorney.

Marquez said in the announcement that one drug singled out by authorities is oxycodone, a prescription narcotic pain reliever best known by the trade name OxyContin. "This prescription drug is substantially similar to heroin and yet we wouldn't leave heroin in a family's medicine cabinet," she wrote.

Riverside County sheriff's Lt. Charles Wilhite said law enforcement is seeing a rising number of young people in Riverside County who began using narcotics by popping pills from the family medicine cabinet -- and who have now become heroin addicts.

Prescription medication should not be thrown away, rinsed down a drain or flushed away because they create substantial environmental contamination.

Drop-off points from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday:

Lake Elsinore -- Lake Elsinore Unified School District, 565 Chaney St.

Hemet-San Jacinto -- Valley-Wide Regional Park, 901 W. Esplanade Ave., San Jacinto.

Murrieta -- Murrieta Police Department, 24701 Jefferson Ave.

Temecula -- Ronald Reagan Sports Park, 42659 Margarita Road.

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Soboba tribe elects new chairman

2010-04-29T09:21:00.000-07:00

The Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians has elected a new tribal chairman, ending more than 30 years of leadership from former Chairman Robert Salgado.

The tribe elected Scott Cozart as its new chairman Friday. Salgado stepped down last year following a federal indictment on bribery charges. His trial is now scheduled to begin Oct. 15.

Cozart last served as vice-chairman until he was voted out of office in 2006. He previously served as tribal chairman from 1986 to 1988.

Also elected to serve on the tribal council were former council members Geneva Mojado and Edward Soza, defeating former Vice-Chairwoman Rosemary Morillo and councilmember Gordon Placencia.

Council members Rose Salgado and Steve Lopez have one more year remaining on their two-year terms.

Tribal council members declined to comment this week until they convene for their first tribal council meeting since the election scheduled for Tuesday.

"We've always had our goals set and we keep moving forward," Rose Salgado said.

Cozart's election ends Salgado's tenure on the council since he was first elected chairman in 1976. Salgado served on the council and was re-elected off and on as chairman for more than three decades, at times resigning unexpectedly before returning to office.

Salgado led the tribe to landmark legislation with the U.S. government to secure the tribe's water rights. He also was visible in media accounts in 2008 after a monthslong standoff with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department over law enforcement access to the reservation.

In October, the U.S. Attorney's office charged Salgado with 36 counts of accepting bribes and forging tax forms. The charges are related to allegations that he took money in exchange for awarding capital improvement contracts to vendors on the reservation and at the Soboba Casino.

If convicted, he faces 10 years in prison for each bribery charge, five years for the conspiracy charge and three years for each income tax charge. Authorities said the charges did not apply to the Soboba tribe or the casino as a whole.

The tribe placed Salgado on leave in November pending the outcome of the charges before he stepped down. He was hospitalized in intensive care earlier this year with an undisclosed medical condition.
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"Ramona" Begins Saturday

2010-04-13T07:07:00.000-07:00

Performance Information
Click here to purchase tickets to the 87th Season of Ramona! Click here for group order form (For groups of 20 or more)
2010 Ramona dates: April 17&18, 24& 25 & May 1

April 17 & 18 2:00 – 4:30p.m. Gates open at 11:00 a.m.
April 24 & 25 4:00 – 6:30p.m. Gates open at 1:00 p.m.
May 1 4:00 – 6:60p.m. Gates open at 1:00 p.m.

With an artists vision and a writers passion for justice, a rocky hillside tucked away in a remote valley gave birth to RAMONA in 1923. A classic love story of life in early California during the 1850's, RAMONA authentically depicts the cultural diversity of emerging settlers and native peoples.

Each year, the communities of Hemet/San Jacinto join together to share their love of theatre arts and bring RAMONA back to life. Showcasing art & theatre performance treasures, San Jacinto Valley history, photography and native archaeology!

The Ramona Bowl Museum has been operated since 1953 by the Ramona Pageant Association, which has produced the annual Ramona Pageant since 1923. The Museum gives the history of the local Tribes, the Pageant and the story of Ramona.

Back by Popular Demand
A special tour of the museum and behind the scenes for only $10.00 per person. This walking tour will cover the property grounds, backstage visits with the performers and special views and historical points. Book your tour early as space is limited.

Exciting entertainment beginning two hours before show time:

Arias Troubadours

The Arias Troubadours have a long history of association with the Ramona Pageant which is California's official Outdoor play.

In 1924 Jose Arias and his Troubadours were invited to perform for the Ramona Pageant. That relationship continues to this day as during April, 2010 his sons, nephews, grandchildren and now even great-grandchildren will again be the Ramona Pageant Orchestra and Dancers!

For more information on the Arias Troubadours please visit their website.

The Arias Troubadours perform during "Ramona" in 2009

Folkloric Dancers Gunslingers

Lion's Club Deep Pit BBQ Lunch
BBQ beef, seasoned beans, coleslaw, hot tortillas, chips, salsa, dessert & beverage $13.50 per person. A long standing tradition prepared by the Lion’s Breakfast Club of Hemet served in our Cottonwood Corral with the best view of the valley. Don’t miss out!

Purchase your lunch tickets early.

plus assorted Vendors, Food & Concessions, Sage's Gift Shop and More ~ Something for everyone!

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San Jacinto will switch to Ramona Humane Society as its animal services provider

2010-04-06T09:51:00.001-07:00

San Jacinto will switch from Riverside County to the Ramona Humane Society for animal services in May, following City Council approval last week.

"They're excited to get into this new adventure," Humane Society Executive Director Jeff Sheppard said Monday of his board of directors.

The city's attorney has sent a letter giving notice to the county. The nonprofit Humane Society will take over service May 18, Interim City Manager Tim Hults wrote in an e-mail.

The Humane Society, based in San Jacinto, also has submitted a bid to the city of Hemet, which currently has a contract with Riverside County.

Ramona has sheltered animals from San Jacinto and Hemet and the unincorporated area for years, but this will be its first venture into providing an animal control officer and vehicle for field services

The council members cited lower costs and an expectation of better service because Ramona is headquartered in the city.

The Humane Society proposed providing field and shelter services for about $194,838 for fiscal 2010-11. The county proposed a $515,264 contract but if the city agreed to a three-year deal, the initial rate would be $313,819, increasing in subsequent years.

The county, which has used the Humane Society for shelter services for years, is opening a new shelter around the corner from the Humane Society shelter in San Jacinto in July. If the city stayed with a county contract, it would have to use the county shelter.

Riverside County Animal Services officials attributed part of the higher cost to operating the new building.

Hults told the council his recommendation to contract with the Humane Society was made to keep costs down. He said he had no complaints about the county service.

The city paid for the services of a full-time county animal services officer. But two council members at the meeting said they didn't see the officer in town that often. "Every once in a while you see them, and then you don't," said Councilman John Mansperger. Of Sheppard, he said, "We know how to contact him" if there are service issues.

"No one has sent us e-mail or correspondence," about any service complaints, said John Welsh, county Animal Services Department spokesman, by phone. If there were specific complaints, the county could follow up, he said. He noted that some county animal services officers live in the city.

A number of Humane Society supporters addressed the council. "We're local people. You know us. If there is a problem, we'll fix it," said Connie Hall, a member of the group's board.

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Killer Bees take Silver Medal at State Championships,

2010-03-29T07:15:00.000-07:00

WINNERS: American Youth Soccer Organization’s under 10 soccer team, the Killer Bees, was one of four California teams to play in the State Finals. The State Finals were March 27 in Bakersfield where they took the Silver Medal.

The Killer Bees soccer team has done something no other American Youth Soccer Organization soccer team from Hemet has done — it was going to the State Finals in Bakersfield.

“I don’t know if it’s really hit me yet,” Killer Bees coach Ramon Benz said.

The Bees — which is made up of 8- and 9-year old girls — solidified their spot among the four top teams in California when they swarmed the competition at the Southern California Section I Championship nearly one month ago.

The girls represented Orange, Riverside, San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino counties in the state finals.

Benz said the Bees’ 26-0 record was not been easy to get.

“Those wins have not come easy. We’ve had to face some tough teams,” Benz said.

He said the girls proved how badly they wanted the state championship when they braved hard rain and won despite the weather.

“We played in the rain, and our girls prevailed,” Benz said.

He said their previous game was tied 3-3 in double overtime. The game went to a shootout. After three kicks each, the teams were still tied, 6-6.

“I made a keeper change to make a psychological move, and we stopped those kicks. I thought, ‘Oh my goodness, we have a chance to do something that no one has ever done (in Hemet).’” Benz said.

Benz said he doesn’t make excuses for his girls simply because they are young.

“I don’t treat them like they are 8 or 9 and incompetent,” he said. “If you tell them they can only do something small, that’s what they will accomplish. But if you give them big hopes and dreams, that’s what they are going to accomplish. I push them.”

Benz said one of the most extraordinary things about his team is that the players are at different skill levels. He said AYSO puts teams together to make sure no team is stacked with the most highly skilled players.

At the end of each season, coaches rate their players. The following season, the players are distributed so that there are players of every skill level on each team.

“Other regions that we play don’t do this. Some of them group all of the highly skilled players on one team,” Benz said.

He said each girl adds to the success of the Bees.

For example, he has two daughters, Glory and Cherish, who play on the team. He said that, although they are sisters, they couldn’t be more different. Glory is the leader, he said.

“She’s the toughness of our team,” Benz said.

Cherish is a shy player.

“She’s the sweet one out on the field (who encourages others),” Benz said.

Meanwhile, Jocelyn Guiterrez is dangerous, said Benz.

“Everytime she has the ball, we all hold our breath because she’s probably going to score,” he said.

Benz said that dispite being young Kylee Evans shut down the opponents number 10 player from scoring any more points. "That was amazing"

Benz said Morgan Bond is the work horse. She makes plays happen, and, Benz said, although she doesn’t always get the limelight, she works her hardest.

He said his players work hard and they have heart — and that is what makes them successful.

He also said parents have played a key role in the success.

“It’s a good combination that includes the support of the parents. They support the way I coach. They allow me to push the girls,” Benz said.

He said he encourages parents to be positive with the girls.

“I tell the parents to let me be the bad guy,” Benz said.

Benz said the most important aspect of his coaching is to make the girls believe in themselves.

“What these wins mean is that we have talent and anything is possible. If you believe in yourself and you play as a team, you can do anything. When you play as a team, you’re dangerous. A team is hard to beat,” Benz said.

The Killer Bees is made up of Haylie Bustamante, Cherish, Alexia Hadad, Kylee Evans, Morgan, Jocelyn, Madelynn Smudde, Diana Alva, and Glory.

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'Ramona' Dress Rehearsal Special Saturday Only

2010-03-26T07:33:00.000-07:00

This special dress rehearsal performance of Ramona will be open to our winter visitors and the general public.

Gates open at 12:30pm

Cost is $10.00

Out of state visitors and Canadian citizens can show their drivers license to take advantage of a free rental cushion during this performance.

Tickets can be purchased at the box office before the 2:00p.m. performance.

Box Office Hours: Tuesday thru Friday 10am ~ 4pm and Saturday 10am to 2pm

Ramona Bowl Amphitheatre
27400 Ramona Bowl Road
800-645-4465
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Dresses wanted to make ‘Prom Possible’

2010-03-22T07:43:00.000-07:00

There’s no screening. No forms to fill out. No income requirements. No costs to pay.

All the girls have to do is pick the prom dress they like best, and it’s theirs.

Sunwest Village retirement community in Hemet is holding its second “Prom Possible,” which gives prom dresses to teenage girls.

“We had such a great response from last year, and the girls were so happy,” said Carrie Compton, an organizer of the gown drive.

The Prom Possible program relies on donations of dresses, and about 200 were donated last year — more than Compton had expected.

“I was hoping for 100,” she said.

Nearly all the dresses found a taker.

“It was usually the first one (they tried on) that would fit perfectly,” she said.

Those who want to help out can drop off gowns at Sunwest Village, at 1001 N. Lyon Ave. in Hemet, between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. any day of the week.

Prom dresses in all sizes and colors are wanted. Last year, donations came from all segments of the community, such as teenage girls who no longer needed the previous year’s dress to parents whose children had left for college.

Girls will be able to select dresses in April and May.

Compton has already been to the high schools and California Family Life Center to let teens know they have a source for dresses. And they’re invited to bring their girlfriends with them.

“I like our program because they can come at any time and they don’t have to run into their peers,” she said.

She recommends that teenagers call 925-0822 to set up a time for selecting dresses.

Having grown up in Hemet, Compton finds gratification in helping local teenagers.

“It’s nice to do something for your own community, especially kids.”

Last year, the girls were invited back for a fashion show.

“They walked down the stage and said what they were going to do after graduation,” she said.

Sunwest Village’s residents loved it, and so did the girls, said Compton, who remembers their smiles.

“They said we made prom possible for them.”

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Restaurant of Week-Arturo's Grill

2010-03-17T11:30:00.000-07:00

Great Family food we have enjoyed for years that has been passed down from generation to generation.You can enjoy the relaxed atmosphere with your family.
Also the catering is excepional.

Details;
Cuisine: Mexican, American
Atmosphere: Family / Children
Reservations: Not Required, , Suggested for parties of 10 or more.
Specialneeds: Children's Menu, Booster/High Chairs, Wheelchair Access
Meal Services: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Price Level: This restaurant's average entree cost is InExpensive
Parking: Parking on Site
Attire: Casual
General Amenities: TV, Wi-fi
Bar Info: Beer, Wines

4280 East Florida Avenue, Hemet, CA 92544-5094
(951) 927-2298‎
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Hemet DMV Reopens!!

2010-03-16T07:17:00.000-07:00

Olga Moczygemba renews her driver's license.
Customers at the newly-renovated DMV office in Hemet found a new look but the same old long lines on Monday.

After being closed for about two months, the office reopened to hundreds of people renewing licenses, registering vehicles or taking driving tests.

Juan Rayas arrived at 5:45 a.m. to be first in line when the doors opened at 8.
Rayas has been trying for about a month to renew his driver's license that expires on his birthday next month.

A San Jacinto, resident, he went to the Banning office while Hemet was closed and found such long lines he decided to wait for Hemet to reopen.

New flooring and a seating are complemented by updated data cables, installed to allow the DMV's queuing customer service system to work more efficiently.

One corner of the room contains cubicles for processing driving and written tests.

The 100 chairs filled fast as customers flooded in.

Within an hour all seats were taken and Inter-Con security officer Carol Armstrong stopped people at the door because there wasn't adequate seating left.

"Sometimes it's like this all day, but I think today is busier because it just opened up again," said Armstrong, of San Jacinto.

DMV spokesman Steve Haskins said 160 customers had been served in the first two hours of operation.

"As of 10 a.m., 65 more were waiting in the office with tickets and approximately 100 were waiting to get into the building," said Haskins.

He said a lot of the wait could be avoided if people would make appointments.

Kent Inducta, of Murrieta, was one of only a handful of customers who had scheduled an appointment.

"I went online last week and researched which one was the earliest," he said.

After checking Temecula, San Diego and other offices, he found the Hemet office offered the earliest date.

He said he kept hearing about making an appointment and after seeing the line wrapped around the building he was glad he did.

According to the DMV Web site, the Hemet office reported a wait time at 10 a.m. of six minutes for those with a scheduled appointment versus one hour and 10 minutes for those who didn't.

1200 S. State Street
n
Hemet, 92543
(800)777-0133
Office Hours
Mon., Tues., Thurs., Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Services Provided:

Driver License and ID Card Processing

Vehicle Registration

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Temecula Rod Run 2010

2010-03-11T10:13:00.001-08:00

March 12th & 13th Featuring pre 1974 Vehicles
Welcome to the new Temecula Rod Run website. We hope you find it easy, informative and fun to use. Thanks to the help from Web Editors, Inc. in Temecula we have a custom website for your ease of use.

A little bit about the P & R Foundation; we are a non-profit organization founded in April of 2003 by three gentlemen that wanted to make a difference in our community and the Inland Empire in doing what they knew best, car shows. We are proud to say that the P & R Foundation Board has grown by a few members who have the same love and focus as the three gentlemen that started it all out. As being a non-profit no one is paid for all their hard work and commitment. Thanks to all the volunteers P & R Foundation was able to pledge $175,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of the Southwest County for their new club house. The Boys and Girls Club have assisted thousand and thousands of young kids and adults with their lives during troubled times. We support our United States Marines to ensure they can attend their Marine Corps Ball with a donation. The Progeria Foundation, The Veterans, Boy Scouts of America is all very near and dear to our hearts with donations.

A special Thank You to the City of Temecula for all their support, understanding and guidance over the past few years, without them our show couldn’t have been possible. To our sponsors through the years Paradise Chevrolet, Casino Pauma, and the local businesses that support and come to our events, Thank You!

Last but not the least Thank You to the Drifters Car Club members for all the dedication, hard work they do, they give up vacation time twice a year to help us, working long hours and never ask for anything. They are the Best!

Friday Night Cruise

Come visit the Temecula Rod Run for our famous "Friday Night Cruise" and see hundreds of classic vehicles from all over the country cruise Old Town Front Street. The City of Temecula locks down Old Town from Arch to Arch to allow these classic beauties to run wild. Come watch while these classic vehicles roam around, rev up their engines, honk their horns and show off their stuff like never seen before.

This show attracts thousands of automotive enthusiasts and spectator's year in and year out. Over 500 entries are accepted every year and this year we are featuring pre-1970 vehicles. The Cruising starts at 5:00pm and goes on till 8:00pm; so come to Old Town Temecula and see some of the west coast finest street rods cruising Old Town. The event is FREE to the public, music and entertainment are always a big hit, as well as great food, community vendors and much more. Do not miss the party of a lifetime.
Saturday Show & Shine

This is the day where you can get a close look at these classic vehicles and take a peek under the hoods. The City of Temecula locks down Old Town from Arch to Arch from 8:00 am till 4:00pm and during these times these classic beauties are parked waiting for you to get an up close a personal look at them.

The vehicles are freshly detailed and polished to "Show and Shine"... they are just waiting around calling out to you to come see some of the finest street rods on the west coast. As always, the event is FREE to the public. Be sure to bring all of your friends and family for a great time to remember - expect great family fun! Music and entertainment are always a big hit, as well as great food, community vendors and much more. Do not miss the family event of a lifetime.

log on to http://www.rodruntemecula.com

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After 72 years, note in a bottle is back in Crawford family's hands

2010-03-10T07:03:00.000-08:00

"I knew it was his handwriting," said Dimpy Skinner. "It’s an eerie feeling."
They arrived in ones and twos and threes, by plane, by car, from Utah, from Oregon, from Santa Rosa, from other neighborhoods in Hemet. Crawfords, Kennedys, Kaelins, Hulls and Wilhelms, some carrying plates of food as if they were offerings.

All came to see the note.

Seventy-two years ago, Jack Crawford and Watson Gilmore Jr. wrote and left the message in a corked bottle in the rocky hills above western Hemet in Riverside County, near where Tahquitz High School now stands. In January, four middle school boys and a father found it. The discovery prompted an overdue reunion of Jack Crawford's relatives, including his daughter and widow.
Monday, they gathered at the home of Jack's niece, Gail Wolny, and her husband, Dennis, in anticipation of the boys handing over their discovery. Chairs were arranged in a circle in the living room of a small, older single-story house on the wide-open land dotted with horse ranches east of Diamond Valley Lake. Some of the 20 people had to stand in the dining room or kitchen.

Finally, the moment arrived. Nick DiCarlo, 12, presented the bottle to Evelyn "Dimpy" Crawford Skinner, 82, of Vernal, Utah. She had apologized for not standing to greet another visitor, citing her frailty, but when Nick held out the bottle, she rose quickly to accept it.

Phil Rico, father of one of the boys, gently unrolled the note that Skinner's husband had written as a 17-year-old and placed it in her hands. She read it silently and stoically:

Hemet, Calif.

Jan. 22, 1938

Watson Gilmore Jr. and I (Jack Crawford) on the night of Jan. 21, and 22 of 1938, at midnight climbed this hill, to dispose of "good luck charms." On the night of Jan. 22, 1938, at this same hour, we retrieved our "Good Luck Charms."

Sighned (sic) by

Jack Crawford

Watson Gilmore Jr.

P.S. Blame Foolishness!!!!

Foo + Goo

"I knew it was his handwriting," said Skinner, who remarried after Jack's death in 1973. "It's an eerie feeling."

"It's my dad's signature -- I knew that," Laurie Crawford said, noting a double-looped capital J.

Family members gave the note celebrity status, photographing if from several angles, and they snapped pictures of Nick, his brother Victor, 13, and brothers Dominic Rico, 14, and Alex Rico, 12, with Skinner.

"I think it's pretty cool that we were able to find this," Nick said.

The note in the bottle will stay in the family for a couple of months, going on the show-and-tell circuit with the family's school-age grandchildren, until it is presented to the Hemet Museum.

Crawford had driven her mother two days through rain, hail and snow for this moment, to see the note and to visit relatives they hadn't seen in 10 years. Since Crawford and her mother arrived Thursday, the days have been filled with brunches where family members caught up on each others' lives and retold old family stories, such as when Sullivan first met Jack on a train in 1944, and he offered her a seat next to him so she wouldn't have to sit on a suitcase in the aisle.

"We've been nonstop," Laurie Crawford said.

Irene Komopasek, a cousin of Jack Crawford, flew in from Salem, Ore. "I hadn't seen Dimpy in 30 years," she said. "I thought 'I have to go there. I owe it to her to be there.' "

Monday, family members pulled out albums of photos showing them and Hemet in their youth, pointing out Jack Crawford and Gilmore, who is 89 and still living in Hemet. He declined to attend Monday's gathering.

Surveying the bustle, Laurie Crawford waved her hand toward her reunited relatives.

"It (the note) did all this," she said.

The arc of her hand continued to her face, where it wiped away a tear.
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$100,000 Reward offered after Third attack attempt on gang officers

2010-03-09T06:55:00.000-08:00

A bomb-sniffing dog checks the grill of an unmarked car belonging to a member of the Hemet-San Jacinto Gang Task Force on Friday. A potentially deadly device, which authorities declined to describe, had been attached to the car and fell off in the parking lot of a convenience store in Hemet.
A Hemet gang officer's vehicle was booby-trapped Friday with a device that police described as "designed to kill" -- the third assassination attempt since New Year's Eve against task force officers.

A member of the Hemet-San Jacinto Gang Task Force parked at an am/pm convenience store at Sanderson and Acacia avenues in Hemet about 8 a.m. Friday and went inside to buy coffee. When he came out, he saw a suspicious device on the pavement next to his car and called for help, Hemet police Lt. Duane Wisehart said.

"It's like war," Wisehart said, standing next to yellow crime scene tape as the device was being inspected. "Somebody's going to get lucky eventually -- or what will be unlucky for us."

Police declined to describe the device but said it was designed to kill the officer when he approached the car and got in, or when he got out, Wisehart said.

Police are not sure whether the device was attached to the plainclothes officer's black, unmarked Crown Victoria at his home or some other place where it was parked. The device was on the car when he drove to the am/pm market, and it fell off there.

"The first thing you think is if they're following you," Wisehart said. "They may be watching us as much as we're watching them."

The investigation shut down city streets for blocks in south Hemet and prompted the evacuation of several businesses near the market. Hemet police called the Riverside County sheriff's Hazardous Device Team.

Bomb technicians, one wearing a black mask, inspected the car with the aid of a bomb-sniffing dog. They determined the device was not explosive.

Hemet police will send it to the Department of Justice to be tested for fingerprints and DNA. The officer's car will be stored as evidence. Police are studying surveillance footage from the store.

"For our guys, the message is that you're not safe anywhere," Wisehart said.

The gang task force was targeted twice before -- on New Year's Eve and again last week -- at its office near the Hemet police station. After the second attack, the team moved to a new site.

In the first attack, someone cut a hole through the building's roof and rerouted a line to fill the office with natural gas, intending it to explode when a person turned on a light or computer, causing a spark.

Last week, a rolling gate was booby-trapped with a firearm that would fire a bullet at anyone opening it. The bullet narrowly missed an officer.

No suspects have been identified, but police think it may be a gang under investigation. Before the Dec. 31 incident, police had cracked down on outlaw motorcycle gangs, and a white-supremacist gang was dismantled last year. None has been linked to the attacks.

No gangs or suspects have been ruled out, Wisehart said.

Each incident is being investigated by Hemet police, the gang task force and the FBI.

"We will get them," Police Chief Richard Dana said.

Hemet police have declined to state what specific measures are being taken to protect officers. Dana said officers may seem less friendly in interacting with the public, out of concern for their safety.

The gang task force is made up of seven officers from Hemet police, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, the district attorney's office and probation and parole departments. It is one of eight units in the county. Police have not said which officers from which agencies were involved in the incidents, but said it was a different officer each time.

Gang task force officers aren't uniformed, but wear black bullet-proof vests.

The San Jacinto Valley has about 2,000 gang members who either are locals or have moved there from Los Angeles, said Hemet police Lt. Mark Richards, a one-time task force leader.

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors last week offered a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to a conviction in the cases.

Hemet City Councilwoman Robin Lowe said she would seek assistance from state legislators to restore staffing that the Hemet Police Department lost to budget cuts.

"This is a domestic terrorist attack on our Police Department and our community," Lowe said.

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Opera, dinner in Hemet will benefit Ramona Bowl

2010-03-08T07:17:00.000-08:00

A night of opera will be held on March 19 in Hemet to benefit the Ramona Bowl.

The event takes place at Dattilo's Ristorante Italiano at 2288 E. Florida Ave. Cocktails begin at 6 p.m. with dinner at 7. The cost is $50 per person. Cocktail attire is requested.

Entertaining will be sopranos Michelle Caravia and Megan O'Toole, tenor Josh Shaw and pianist Paul Jarski.

RSVP is requested by March 15. Information: 951-658-3111, ext. 100.
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Killer Bees make it to state, A San Jacinto Valley First

2010-03-06T08:31:00.000-08:00

WINNERS: American Youth Soccer Organization’s under 10 soccer team, the Killer Bees, is one of four California teams to play in the State Finals. The State Finals are on March 27 in Bakersfield.

The Killer Bees soccer team has done something no other American Youth Soccer Organization soccer team from Hemet has done — it is going to the State Finals in Bakersfield.

“I don’t know if it’s really hit me yet,” Killer Bees coach Ramon Benz said.

The Bees — which is made up of 8- and 9-year old girls — solidified their spot among the four top teams in California when they swarmed the competition at the Southern California Section I Championship on Sunday.

The girls will represent Orange, Riverside, San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino counties in the state finals.

Benz said the Bees’ 25-0 record has not been easy to get.

“These wins have not come easy. We’ve had to face some tough teams,” Benz said.

He said the girls proved how badly they wanted the section championship when they braved hard rain and won despite the weather.

“We played in the rain, and our girls prevailed,” Benz said.

He said their final game was tied 3-3 in double overtime. The game went to a shootout. After three kicks each, the teams were still tied, 6-6.

“I made a keeper change to make a psychological move, and we stopped those kicks. I thought, ‘Oh my goodness, we have a chance to do something that no one has ever done (in Hemet).’” Benz said.

Benz said he doesn’t make excuses for his girls simply because they are young.

“I don’t treat them like they are 8 or 9 and incompetent,” he said. “If you tell them they can only do something small, that’s what they will accomplish. But if you give them big hopes and dreams, that’s what they are going to accomplish. I push them.”

Benz said one of the most extraordinary things about his team is that the players are at different skill levels. He said AYSO puts teams together to make sure no team is stacked with the most highly skilled players.

At the end of each season, coaches rate their players. The following season, the players are distributed so that there are players of every skill level on each team.

“Other regions that we play don’t do this. Some of them group all of the highly skilled players on one team,” Benz said.

He said each girl adds to the success of the Bees.

For example, he has two daughters, Glory and Cherish, who play on the team. He said that, although they are sisters, they couldn’t be more different. Glory is the leader, he said.

“She’s the toughness of our team,” Benz said.

Cherish is a shy player.

“She’s the sweet one out on the field (who encourages others),” Benz said.

Meanwhile, Jocelyn Guiterrez is dangerous, said Benz.

“Everytime she has the ball, we all hold our breath because she’s probably going to score,” he said.

Benz said Morgan Bond is the work horse. She makes plays happen, and, Benz said, although she doesn’t always get the limelight, she works her hardest.

He said his players work hard and they have heart — and that is what makes them successful.

He also said parents have played a key role in the success.

“It’s a good combination that includes the support of the parents. They support the way I coach. They allow me to push the girls,” Benz said.

He said he encourages parents to be positive with the girls.

“I tell the parents to let me be the bad guy,” Benz said.

Benz said the most important aspect of his coaching is to make the girls believe in themselves.

“What this win means is that we have talent and anything is possible. If you believe in yourself and you play as a team, you can do anything. When you play as a team, you’re dangerous. A team is hard to beat,” Benz said.

The Killer Bees is made up of Haylie Bustamante, Cherish, Alexia Hadad, Kylee Evans, Morgan, Jocelyn, Madelynn Smudde, Diana Alva, and Glory.

The team will play in the state finals on March 27.
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San Jacinto Valley's "Yesteryears"

2010-03-05T06:50:00.000-08:00

Mary Whitney has authored books about Hemet's founding fathers and other famous people and events that profoundly shaped San Jacinto Valley history.

Her ninth offering, "Yesteryears," is dedicated to the everyday men and women who were important to the region's fabric yet received little notice other than when they were born, married or died.

The book, researched largely from the old Yesteryears columns in the Hemet News, serves up nuggets of did-you-knows from 1893 to 1989 alphabetized by subject or name and is complemented by an index.

For instance, the entry for "Covell, C.B." tells of Clarence B. Covell, a manager and cashier at Farmers and Merchants Bank for 51 years. "During his employment, he insisted on being the lowest salaried regular employee. Twelve days after his retirement, he died of a stroke -- January 1959," the book said. A subsequent entry noted the contribution from a fund he set up of $250,000 to build a library in 1971.

"That's an example of what I wanted to do," Whitney said. "Little-known people who did so much."

Whitney set out to write a book to commemorate Hemet's 100th anniversary. She decided to include "what I thought was relevant to us today and perhaps relevant to people 100 years from now."

She will speak to the Hemet Heritage Foundation on Monday at 6 p.m. at Diamond Valley Middle School, 291 W. Chambers St. in Hemet. The public is invited. Books will be available for $15.

Among the vignettes she might mention:

Hayes "Happy" Walker, who at the same time was Hemet chief of police and a bounty hunter. He was fired for allowing liquor to be sold during the Prohibition era of 1920-33.

In 1957, the California Water and Telephone Co. announced that at 11:01 p.m. on Nov. 2, all Hemet phones would be switched to a dial system from the operator system.

As many as 20 Indian settlements existed around the San Jacinto Valley or within Rancho de San Jacinto. "War and bloodshed were not uncommon," the book adds, citing the 1888 San Jacinto Register.

In 1942, $370,000 worth of dried apricots was shipped out of the valley.

Whitney's parents, Alma and Earl Hudson, who moved to Hemet in 1957, went out shopping for two hours one day and as usual, left their doors unlocked. They came to find Walton Sears, who lived a quarter-mile down the road, sitting comfortably in their home reading a newspaper.

Whitney's books

"Bring Me a Windmill"

"Valley, River and Mountain"

"Whittier, Fuller & Co."

"Vignettes of the Valley"

"Pieces of the Pas"t

"Hemet and the Brudins"

"Hemet"

"Fortunes Favor the Brave"

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San Jacinto High School physics students compete in international exercise

2010-03-04T09:57:00.000-08:00

Last year, the physics students from San Jacinto High School were uncontested international champions. This year, much like the world of particle physics they are studying, things were uncertain.

This was the third year in a row that a group of about 40 San Jacinto students traveled to UC Riverside for two days to learn how subatomic particles are detected, how some of them behave and how to identify several of the particles, in particular, the Z particle.

On Tuesday afternoon, the students spent about two hours in front of computer screens analyzing trails left by the particles spawned in proton collisions. They were asked to estimate the probability of Z particles decaying into other particles.
Wednesday morning, they participated in a teleconference with students from Italy, Poland, France and Portugal. The group that came closest to the accepted probability was supposed to win bragging rights. Unlike last year, when the San Jacinto group came out on top, this year's results were too close to call.

But Mark Bonnard, 53, the physics instructor at San Jacinto High School, said the most important part of the event is getting youths turned on to science.

The annual exercise has been going on in Europe for many years, Bonnard said. He learned about it three years ago. He contacted CERN, the Geneva-based scientific organization that heads the Large Hadron Collider, and was put in touch with Pedro Abreu in Portugal. Abreu is in charge of his country's participation in the student exercise.

In an effort to get his youths involved, Bonnard made a trip to Portugal, at his own expense, to meet with Abreu.

"It was a pretty hair-brained idea," he said.

His team has been competing ever since.

Elizabeth Aguilar, 16, is a junior at San Jacinto High School. She said the physics students who came to UCR have been meeting once a week after school since the school year began in order to prepare for the exercise.

'the real thing'

She was excited about being in a university setting.

"This is work a lot of college students are doing," she said of the analysis she and her fellow students engaged in. "I think it goes a bit deeper than what you would learn in a (high school) class."

That exposure is the point of participating in the exercise, Bonnard said.

His students, he said, "get to come here and it's the real thing. They see that what I'm talking about is real. It gives validity to my whole program."

It also gives them an idea of the possibilities that are open to them in the sciences, he said.

Senior Victor Adame, 17, said he had never considered pursuing a science career before taking Bonnard's physics class.

"Before, it seemed like more science fiction," Adame said of the things he has been studying. "It opened my eyes. Now I'm trying to think about going more into physics."

UCR physics professor Bill Gary, who coordinates the exercise, said so far San Jacinto is the only Inland school involved.

"We want to grow it, but principals are reluctant to let their students come for two days," he said.

Still, with the single school participating, he already has seen a payoff.

"Some of Mark's kids have matriculated here and have been in my class," he said.

He motioned to the group on hand. "In a class of 40, if you can hook one, that's great."
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Historic Estudillo Mansion was built by San Jacinto's first postmaster

2010-03-03T07:10:00.001-08:00

The stately Estudillo Mansion with the white wrap-around balcony is framed by picturesque bushes, awaiting regular use.

The brick mansion, which was built in 1884, now is the location of some city events, including the annual Fourth of July Celebration. But otherwise, the mansion is not open to the public.

The home was built by Francisco Estudillo Jr., San Jacinto's first postmaster and an appointed Mission Indian agent for the federal government. In that role, he was responsible for 32 reservations in Southern and Central California.

He also was elected to the local school board and served as San Jacinto's second mayor from 1890 to 1892, according to information from the city of San Jacinto, which owns the building.

The mansion is built on land that was part of a 35,000-acre Mexican land grant given to Estudillo's father, Jose Antonio Estudillo, in 1842.

Through the years, the mansion has had several owners. It was purchased by Riverside County in 1992 because of its historical significance and value to the San Jacinto community. The building was severely damaged by the Landers-Big Bear earthquakes in June 1992. The county turned over ownership of the mansion to San Jacinto in 1997.

Since then, the house has seen improvements, including an earthquake retrofit and stabilization.

The work has been funded primarily by state and federal historic preservation grants. In late 2008 and early 2009, attention was turned to the interior, including the removal of more recent modifications to the house. Damaged plaster and missing planks also were replaced. The goal, ultimately, is to restore the house to its late 1800s heyday.

The mansion is typically only open to the public at San Jacinto's annual Fourth of July celebration. The grounds of the mansion, known as Francisco Estudillo Heritage Park, are open to the public Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

The San Jacinto Museum is located on the mansion's grounds, along with a picturesque water conservation garden. The garden, parking lot and other improvements were completed last spring.

The Estudillo Restoration Association sponsors a number of fundraising efforts. The group meets the third Saturday of each month at the mansion.

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Desert Wildflowers Blooming

2010-03-02T06:47:00.001-08:00

Spring color has erupted in the lower elevations of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and is beginning at Joshua Tree National Park. The display, sprinkled with red chuparosa and delicate pink sand verbena, is expected to intensify in the coming weeks.

Some wildflower watchers say this spring's blooms could be less spectacular because September, October and November lacked rain needed to kick-start germination. But others disagree and say the regular blasts of winter rain will make for a better-than-average wildflower season, once the weather warms.

"We had ample rains in January. What that will do, and what we're going to see, is widespread bloom," said botanist Jim Andre, director of UC Riverside's Sweeney Granite Mountains Desert Research Center in the Mojave National Preserve. "You can't really lose this year."

Predicting the success of a wildflower season is tricky, he said, because so many factors influence the plants' behavior.

Besides rain, the flowers need warm temperatures and depend on the bank of seeds stored by each plant. Those in the Colorado Desert, which includes Anza, the Coachella Valley and the eastern part of Joshua Tree, require autumn rain, but the transition zones covering other parts of Joshua Tree, Death Valley and the Mojave National Preserve do not, he said.

Andre and other experts agree that this season could be slightly later than usual because of the winter storms.

Andre expects Joshua Tree will have one of the most spectacular displays this year. The area received 10 inches of rain in some spots, more than an average year's total. But germination could be slowed by future rain and snow because the seeds could rot or wash away, he said.
Here what's happening now:

In Anza, pockets of verbena and desert lilies are blooming outside Borrego Springs. At the peak of the season, look for carpet-like blooms of those and desert sunflowers along Henderson Canyon Road and Coyote Canyon, said Jim Bremner, who tracks sightings on his Web site, DesertUSA.com. Wildflowers to come include brown-eyed primrose, Arizona lupine, desert lavender and California trixis. The peak: now to late March.

On the warmer, low-desert side of Joshua Tree, near the Cottonwood Visitor's Center, chuparosa, bladderpod and ocotillo are starting to bloom, ranger Joe Zarki said. This month, expect to see the blooms of yuccas, nolinas, beavertail cactus, wooly marigolds, sunflowers, desert dandelions, blue-flowered heliotrope and poppies at the park and Amboy Crater. The peak: the second week of March to early April.

In the higher-elevation eastern Mojave Desert and Mojave National Preserve, blooms haven't started yet. In the next few weeks, look for desert pincushion, Canterbury bells, desert gold, Bigelow's monkeyflower and apricot mallow. Some of the best spots are the Cima cinder cones outside Baker and the Kelso Dunes. The peak: mid-March to mid-April.

In Death Valley, wildflower sprouts have started to appear in the lower elevations of the park. Though still a long way from flowering, the most growth is in the central part of the valley, lending a green tint to the alluvial fans and hillsides. Expect to see the pink blossoms of beavertail cactus, rock nettle, globemallow and Bigelow coreopsis. The peak: late March to early April.

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Ramona Outdoor Play-Back to Roots

2010-03-01T07:27:00.000-08:00

BACK TO ROOTS

The operators of the Ramona Bowl say they are trying to reconnect with the community and focus on their core event -- the Ramona Outdoor Play -- after the venue almost went broke last year amid declining attendance and the staging of other events that failed to produce much revenue.

"Ramona" is part of the fabric of the San Jacinto Valley. Generations of Inland residents have played cowboys or Indians or volunteered as ushers or food sellers.

The play, which opened at the Ramona Bowl near Hemet in 1923, is based on a book written by Helen Hunt Jackson that illustrates the struggles of Native Americans in Southern California during the 1850s.

The venue's board of directors is bringing back service clubs to sell refreshments, eliminating events such as children's theater and battle of the bands, and has sat down one-on-one with potential donors.

Already, group ticket sales for "Ramona" are ahead of last year's pace, board President Andrew Kotyuk said, after the Ramona Pageant Association teamed on marketing with other regional attractions, including the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway and the Temecula wineries.

"It's baby steps," said Kotyuk, 34, who joined the board last June and became president in October. " 'Ramona' is going to survive. We're out to convince everybody one at a time."

That survival has not been guaranteed. The association lost $123,995 in 2007 and $158,243 in 2008, according to tax records. Officials considered canceling the 2009 performance because of financial troubles.

Attendance for the five annual performances of "Ramona" declined from 21,336 in 2000 to 9,035 in 2009. The decade's lowest attendance was 8,560 in 2008.

A $100,000 gift from the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians allowed "Ramona" to be staged in 2009. Soon after, the association asked Riverside County to buy the site in Hemet for $1 and spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on renovations. But the sides could not agree on other terms, according to Verne Lauritzen, chief of staff for county Supervisor Jeff Stone.

The association used a grant last year to bring in a new operations director, Paul Jacques, and produce a battle of the bands, concerts, children's theater and a Renaissance Faire. Most were not financially successful. Although income from the Renaissance Faire exceeded projections, the event lost $50,000, Kotyuk said. A decision has not been made on its future, he said.

Many other events -- and Jacques -- will not return this year after the grant ran out.

BACK TO ROOTS

Al Cordova said he has seen positive signs.

He is president of the Ramona Bowl Music Association, which has staged summer concerts at the bowl for 63 years, though it is not affiliated with the bowl. This offseason he had been looking at new venues amid uncertainty about the bowl association's financial status.

However, he was in negotiations last week to return to the bowl, where eight of the current 10 Ramona Pageant Association board members have joined since January 2009.

"It's a healing session for everybody," said Cordova, who has volunteered during "Ramona" for 46 years. "This new group ... instead of being a commercial deal, they are trying to get back to the community roots."

Larry Minor, owner of Agri-Empire, a potato-growing giant in San Jacinto, said his grandfather was a caretaker at the bowl. Minor remembers that every town in the area used to erect a banner, businessmen grew beards and parades were staged in honor of the pageant.

"This should be one big event with the whole community behind it," Minor said.

For some, that has been difficult.
BROKEN LINKS

About a dozen years ago, bowl operators cut ties with the myriad service groups that had sold food and refreshments during performances to make money for their organizations, in favor of a single professional concessionaire.

Hal Brown, secretary of the Hemet Lions Club, said his group had the soda and water concessions, and that friends would come from out of town to visit club members and attend the play. When the Lions were let go, the friends no longer came.

"There were a lot of things that have occurred like that that have caused the community to become disconnected," Kotyuk said.

But the concessionaire's contract has run out and the service clubs will be back this spring when the bowl stages five performances April 17-18, April 24-25 and May 1. Kotyuk also reached out to the clubs this year when he asked them to help fix up the bowl.

"I think the pageant needs to do a better job of local outreach like those things," said Eric Gosch, co-owner of the Gosch Auto Group in Hemet and a longtime financial contributor to the association.

The association has found success with the personal touch.

Minor said he hadn't contributed in several years but donated $5,000 this year after a visit from board member Lori VanArsdale.

"It's a lot different when someone comes in and sits in your office, instead of sending a flier," he said.

expenses slashed

The bowl will run a leaner operation, Kotyuk said. Expenses for 2010 have been cut by 20 percent, but unlike last year, Artistic Director Dennis Anderson and the actors playing the lead roles of Ramona and Alessandro will be paid.

The events Jacques produced "were too similar" to those in Orange and San Diego counties, Kotyuk said. The play with its Native American theme, meanwhile, is not duplicated anywhere else, he said.

"Our focus now is really shifting heavily to update, modernize and expand that historical significance," Kotyuk said.

Jacques said he "was very satisfied" artistically with his productions. The Riverside resident said when the association wanted to cut back his hours this year, he decided to focus instead on teaching theater and film at three Inland colleges as well as directing "Music Man" for the Redlands Bowl and raising his children, ages 4 and 5.

The bowl association wants to increase donations and build an endowment with contributions from "Ramona" participants and attendees so it doesn't have to depend so much on ticket revenue. Kotyuk said the Soboba tribe donated $15,000 this week.

The association is shifting to a fiscal year that will run from July 1 to June 30. Kotyuk estimated expenses of $250,000 and revenues of $280,000 for the first six months of 2010, so the bowl appears to be on the right track.

"It belongs to the community," Cordova said. "If Hemet and San Jacinto lose the bowl ... it would be a major hole in the history of the community."

WHERE;
Ramona Bowl Amphitheatre
27400 Ramona Bowl Road, Hemet CA. 92544
Toll Free: 1-800-645-4465 / 951-658-3111or email: ramona@ramonabowl.com

2010 Ramona dates: April 17&18, 24& 25 & May 1

April 17 & 18 2:00 – 4:30p.m. Gates open at 11:00 a.m.
April 24 & 25 4:00 – 6:30p.m. Gates open at 1:00 p.m.
May 1 4:00 – 6:30p.m. Gates open at 1:00 p.m.

2010 Ramona Ticket Prices
Lower Level: Online: $34 for all ages*
Box Office: $32 for all ages, Locals: $19
(Local zips: 92543, 92544, 92545, 92546, 92548,
92549, 92581, 92582, 92583 and 92596)

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Upper Level: Online: Adults $34*, Box Office: $32
Online: Seniors (62+) $32*, Box Office: $29
Online: Children (-12) $21*, Box Office: $19
Local Discount: $19
Family 4-Pack: $99 Includes 4 tickets
Free Parking
One Souvenir Program

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Shaded Box Seats: Online: $49* for all ages, Box Office: $47

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1 free ticket for every 20 paid
Whole Enchilada package: $45 per person includes
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Saturday Feb 27 at North Mountain Hambuger Bash

2010-02-26T07:40:00.000-08:00

For more than 20 years the San Jacinto Community Builders has hosted an annual Hamburger Bash to raise money for local youth to pursue their academic dreams.

This year's event will be co-hosted with the San Jacinto Education Foundation. It will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 27 at North Mountain Middle School, 1202 E. Seventh St. in San Jacinto. For $5, diners will get a hamburger with all the trimmings, potato salad, chips and salsa, dessert and a beverage. Take-out is also available.
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2 Jazz Concerts at Mt. San Jacinto College

2010-02-25T09:50:00.000-08:00

"I am tasked to tell the story of the Army to America," says trombonist-vocalist Jeff Adams, a Hemet native who performs with the U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors.
A musician for the U.S. Army, Jeff Adams has played for audiences from all over the country. On Saturday and Sunday, he will be playing at Mt. San Jacinto College for people from his hometown.

Adams, 42, is a trombone player and vocalist for the U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors, a prestigious band based in Fort Meade, Md., outside of Washington.

He spends about 100 days each year, traveling around the country to tell local communities about the Army through music.
"I am tasked to tell the story of the Army to America," Adams said. "To put a human face and touch to the Army uniform."

Adams graduated from Hemet High School in 1985, received a bachelor's degree from Cal State Long Beach in commercial music and taught at high schools in the San Jacinto Valley in the mid 1990s.

This weekend, Adams will be playing with the MSJC Golden Eagles Big Bands directed by Bob Waner, who was Adams' music teacher and the person who introduced him to the trombone in elementary school.

"He was one of the students who did everything I asked him to do," Waner said. "And it paid off. He turned out to be a great musician."

Some of the music Adams and the Golden Eagles plan to perform include "Fly Me to the Moon" and "It Had to be You."

As a part of his visit back home, Adams has been conducting band clinics at high schools in Hemet and San Jacinto this week.

Though Adams is not foreign to talking to students about music and the Army, he said it's nostalgic to visit the schools where he once learned and taught.

"I want to paint a realistic picture of being a musician for the kids," Adams said. "It can be really tough. And you have to hustle. But the payoff is very rewarding."

The concerts are set for 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the theater of Mt. San Jacinto College, San Jacinto Campus, 1499 N. State St.

Tickets are $10 for general admission, $8 for seniors, $5 for students in the college's Associated Student Body and free for children under 18. Reservations: 951-487-3790.
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11,500 Home Project OK'D west of San Jacinto

2010-02-24T07:04:00.000-08:00

Riverside County supervisors on Tuesday again will consider a plan to build 11,150 homes in a scenic valley between Perris and San Jacinto, creating a new community of some 30,000 people on what is now mostly farmland.

The supervisors held a public hearing in December but postponed a decision on the proposed Villages of Lakeview. They asked staff to answer questions about a buffer zone between the homes and the neighboring San Jacinto Wildlife Area, where hunting is allowed, and to gather information about the county's existing stock of homes and approved developments.

Randall Lewis, executive vice president of Upland-based Lewis Group of Companies, expressed confidence in the development.
"This project has gone through many public hearings and significant reviews," he said.

The 2,786-acre development is opposed by environmentalists and some Lakeview-area residents, who say it would ruin the rural character of the area and harm the state-owned wildlife area.

Sue Nash, a member of Friends of the Northern San Jacinto Valley, said Thursday that the noise, traffic, lighting and stray cats and other pets from the new community would not be compatible.
"It would destroy the wildlife area," she said.

California Department of Fish and Game officials have said they are concerned that a portion of the project would put 1,780 homes between the wildlife area and Ramona Expressway. Future residents there most likely would be uncomfortable with hunting so close and could lobby to ban it, the department said in a comment letter.

The developer and Riverside County Supervisor Marion Ashley, who represents the region that includes Lakeview, have countered that a 500-foot buffer zone between homes and the hunting area would adequately separate the two land uses.

The development proposal is on the supervisors' afternoon agenda, starting at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Riverside County Administrative Center, 4080 Lemon St., Riverside.
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Ramona Bowl enlisting volunteers

2010-02-23T06:36:00.000-08:00

FIX-IT LIST: Wish list of repairs compiled for 163-acre property
The Ramona Bowl has made a call for volunteers that isn’t just about getting people to make repairs. It’s about getting people involved at the Bowl. Period.

“How many people in the Valley have never been up here?” said Bob Fifield, a member of the Ramona Bowl board.

Fifield and longtime volunteer Al Cordova recently spent four hours walking the Bowl’s 163 acres and taking photos of the fixes that need to be made.

“We had a walkabout of the Bowl,” Cordova said.

The photographs were divided by area, such as cast house, seating, and hacienda, and are being used as an enlistment tool in presentations to service groups.

Repairs include replacing broken tiles, repairing damaged ceilings, and installing new doors. Floors need to be redone, sunshade fabric in the sky boxes replaced, and wheelchair signs refreshed.

It’s not only individual volunteers and service groups that can help. Cordova said the projects would be ideal for potential Eagle Scouts.

Over the years, “I’ve had about 15 to 20 Eagle projects up here,” Cordova said.

Among the projects Scouts have worked on was the installation of an area where people in wheelchairs could watch shows at the amphitheater.

The wish list is part of a tradition of the community helping at the Bowl, Fifield and Cordova said.

“The Bowl belongs to the community,” Fifield said.

That ownership extends to new residents.

“We want to make new people in the community feel like this is their heritage also,” Cordova said.

Though the two found much to repair in their walkabout, Fifield said they didn’t discover anything overwhelming.

“What surprised me was we don’t have anything big,” he said.

The walk had another benefit. Though the two have volunteered at the Bowl over decades, their search for repairs introduced them to areas they don’t normally work in.

“You get a different view of what it takes to keep this thing going,” Cordova said.

To sign up for a project on the wish list, call the Ramona Bowl at 658-3111. Financial donations for repairs are also welcome.

Ramona Bowl Amphitheatre
27400 Ramona Bowl Road, Hemet CA. 92544
Toll Free: 1-800-645-4465 / 951-658-3111or email: ramona@ramonabowl.com
The Ramona Bowl Amphitheatre is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable corporation Federal Tax ID #95-1132365
Copyright © Ramona Bowl

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Little Lake Refilled

2010-02-22T06:55:00.001-08:00

Little Lake is full again thanks to recent rains. It was drained for renovation by the Lake Hemet Municipal Water District.

Little Lake is brimming again.

This month's rain dumped so much water in the San Jacinto Mountains that the Lake Hemet Municipal Water District was able to fill the renovated and very pretty reservoir. The five-acre Valle Vista lake is part of the agency's historic irrigation flume system.

Little Lake was drained after district officials opted to end its longtime fishing concession in 2008 to remove junk that accumulated on its banks, dredge muck and improve a pumping system so it could be used to irrigate Valle Vista citrus groves.

"Little Lake is full," said Tom Wagoner, the district's general manager. "We're going to figure out what to do with it now."

Little Lake was called Anglers Lake by its amiable operators, Scot and Robyn Hochstetler, because they thought out-of-town fishermen would be reluctant to travel to a lake with little in its name. They stocked catfish in the summer and trout in the winter until the district ended fishing to clean up the lake.

Fishermen used to line up at its gate before dawn to claim parking spots at their favorite places on the lake's eucalyptus-shaded shore.

Fishermen complained loudly when it closed. District officials listened.

They hired a consultant to outline possible uses for the lake that is on 30 acres of district-owned land. It could be managed by a park district or as a private concession.

In March, they expect to review options such as fishing and a suggestion by Coral Hawley to create a walking path around its shoreline. Establishing callisthenic stations with equipment on the path also was suggested.

The lake was dry before winter, but was able to be filled because of the heavy flow of the San Jacinto River caused by recent rains. The district's flume system draws water from the river.

I, of course, have a better idea for recreation use of Little Lake. I won't charge even a penny as a consultant fee, though I might consider a free margarita.

Metropolitan Water District's much-larger Diamond Valley Lake was declared a no-touch reservoir of drinking water. Perhaps Little Lake, which holds only irrigation water, could fill Hemet's aquatic recreation void.

I suggest that the Lake Hemet district install a beach on its banks, including a tiki bar featuring reggae, Jimmy Buffet and Kenny Chesney tunes.

Besides fishing, sports such as windsurfing and beach volleyball could be offered.

Twin brothers Dave and Dennis Washburn of Washburn Ranch, who seem capable of having more fun than any farmers I've met, would be ideal managers of what could be known as Tiki Bar Beach.

Not only could the lake be a fun place, the water district could become the most profitable, and popular, public agency in the world.

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Season of Scholarships in the San Jacinto and Hemet area

2010-02-18T07:21:00.000-08:00

Yvonne Pope, top left, Wanda Souza, right, and Betty Barney of the Valley Quilters Guild put finishing touches on "Floral Fantasy," the quilt that raised money for scholarships for local students. Each year the guild awards five $1,000 scholarships.
With winter coming to a close we can look forward to the next season. Spring? Nope, it's scholarship season. This is the time of year when students in our valley can reap the opportunities harvested by local nonprofit organizations.

For more than 20 years the San Jacinto Community Builders has hosted an annual Hamburger Bash to raise money for local youth to pursue their academic dreams.

This year's event will be co-hosted with the San Jacinto Education Foundation. It will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 27 at North Mountain Middle School, 1202 E. Seventh St. in San Jacinto. For $5, diners will get a hamburger with all the trimmings, potato salad, chips and salsa, dessert and a beverage. Take-out is also available.
I have attended the bash several times in the past and always enjoyed the food, the atmosphere and the opportunity to see familiar faces, such as co-chairs Nancy Warneke and Dee Cozart.

I have watched the kitchen bustle with activity as volunteers dish out potato salad and cooks stand over a hot grill flipping burgers at a fast pace. Bob Schroerlucke will serve as head hamburger chef again.

Kitchen supervisor Sharon Terracciano and dining room supervisor Cathy Schroerlucke will definitely have their hands full.

Bash traditions of opportunity drawings and boutique tables with handmade items for sale will be back, along with live music by the Biscuit Hill Band led by Rick and Sandy Van Der Linden. Table coordinators are Joan Rhodes and Sandy Weedman and Betty Garcia will coordinate the drawings.

Rose Salgado will supervise the dessert table. In the past the choices were cakes and pies of all kinds. It was very hard to decide on just one.

"This is a wonderful time for the community to come together and support the youth of our area," said Warneke.

Information, 951-654-4550.

Stitching for students

The recent Valley Quilters Guild 30th annual Quilt Show displayed "Floral Fantasy" -- an 88-inch by 88-inch quilt created by guild members during the past several months. Each year the group sells tickets for a chance to win a philanthropic quilt and the money goes into its scholarship fund to award $1,000 each to five students.

"Last year our totals were down because of the economy and we only had enough for four scholarships," said Valley Quilters Guild president Rose Rhoads. She said a guild member anonymously donated $1,000 so the group could continue its tradition of giving out five.

"We accept scholarship applications from local public and public charter schools in the Hemet-San Jacinto area," said Rhoads. "A 3.0 or higher scholastic average is expected. Applicants must be majoring in art, textiles or teaching."

The win-win opportunity quilt drawing will help local students keep on track with their education and it will also keep the winning ticket holder warm.

"The husband of a guild member won the quilt," said Rhoads. "It's always exciting when someone we know gets the quilt."

This year's Opportunity Quilt winner was James Fidler, of Hemet. His wife is Mary Fidler, a former guild president and past quilt show chair.

It will be May before we know which students win -- or rather earn -- scholarships awarded by Valley Quilters Guild.

Information, www.valleyquilters.org

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TV Commercials becoming popular at local venue

2010-02-17T06:29:00.000-08:00

Advertisers are increasingly using the Western Science Center, designed by Michael Lehrer and Mark Gangi, for photo shoots. Companies include Allstate, Chevrolet, Lexus and Toyota.
The museum formerly known as the Western Center for Archaeology and Paleontology and its twin water-museum building continue to be photogenic.

The stunning museums near Diamond Valley Lake by Hemet provided the setting for a Cadillac photo shoot that wrapped up Friday.

A photographer shot pictures of several new Cadillac models at the museum campus.
The archaeology and paleontology museum's name was changed to the Western Science Center, which reflects its exhibits from a wide range of scientific fields. Its archaeology and paleontology collections of artifacts found during the construction of Diamond Valley Lake remain highlights.

Metropolitan Water District changed it admission-charging Water Education Center in the adjoining building to a free visitors center for the lake.

Photo sessions, often staged in the dramatic courtyard between the museums, are not just a matter of photographers arriving with a big set of cameras.

The productions involve semi trucks hauling cars, lighting experts and other members of a location crew, including a catering service. Last week's caterer took advantage of nice weather and barbequed.

Sue Tatosian, special events coordinator at the museum, said that photo shoots for cars are becoming more frequent.

It is a welcome activity because it garners income in location fees and provides exposure for the Western Science Center and the MWD building.

She said the crews told her they found the museums by surfing the Internet to view projects by architects they like.

Michael Lehrer and Mark Gangi designed the museum, making dramatic use of rectangle shapes and towers.

Other photo sessions included the Chevy Volt, Mercedes, Lexus and Toyota.

Allstate recently shot a commercial featuring the familiar, deep-voiced spokesman for the company, actor Dennis Haysbert.

"Oh, what a doll he is," said the slightly star-struck Tatosian, who was too bashful to chat with the approachable Haysbert. "He was congenial to everyone around him."

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Mt. San Jacinto class focuses on solar panel design

2010-02-16T06:38:00.000-08:00

The sun is one of California's greatest assets and a new class at Mt. San Jacinto College will help students tap into it.

The course, titled "Renewable Energy: Photovoltaic Employment Training," will teach students to design, build and install solar panel systems, said Mark Hedges, who will teach the class.

Each student has a different reason for taking the class.
"The younger group, they're into the green movement. The older students, they need an industry that's going to carry them for the next 15 year," said Hedges, the president of UManageIt & Associates.

Students completing the 80-hour course will receive a certificate of knowledge.

The class is based on curriculum designed by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners, an organization that aims to standardize renewable energy credentialing programs, Hedges said.

Kazen Sharifan, a Temecula resident and one of nine students in the course, said he wants to help people be energy independent.

That reason brought him to the United States from Iran in 1976. He came to learn how to run Iran's then-newly nationalized oil industry, he recalled.

Then the Islamic Revolution happened, and he decided to stay in the U.S. Now, he wants to rid the U.S. of its dependence on his former home's oil, he said.

"When I see somebody in a big SUV pumping gas, I just want to grab the nozzle," Sharifan said.

Other students hope to help the environment.

"We need to do it for ourselves, for the planet, for the future," said Fernando Cortez, a student from Menifee.

Cortez, who likes nature and hiking, said he has "always been green-minded."

He has a hybrid car and has a solar panel system on his 1,400-square-foot home.

Cortez said he has paid nothing for electricity since he put 32 photovoltaic panels on his roof.

"I know it works. It's 100 percent viable," he said.

Hedges agreed.

"For Californians, for us, it's a hot industry -- no pun intended -- but we got great sun," he said. "We're wasting one of our greatest resources."

Hedges, a retired Navy construction battalion chief, has been teaching classes on renewable energy for private companies and Riverside Community College for the last two years. He got involved in the business five years ago.

The class will meet twice a week for four hours at 6 p.m. and finish with a daylong field trip to a solar panel project site. The field trip will not only let students see what they learned in use, but it will help them make connections.

"A lot of them, because of the reputation we have and because of the site visits, the contractors will ask for a resume and (students) go to work for them," Hedges said.

The teacher's goal is to help students create resumes highlighting their skills with renewable energy technology.

Not only are designers and installers in demand, but other contractors with knowledge of renewable energy technologies are too, Hedges said.

"Like any business, it has a ripple effect," he said.

Chris Smith, a Moreno Valley contractor and a student in the class, is counting on the demand to help him get work.

"In California, you can't find a job with anything right now," he said.

Smith said he thinks renewable energy has a promising future and he hopes to be part of it.

"I don't want a job," he said. "I want a career."

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NHRA Winternationals in Pomona hope to set Records

2010-02-12T07:28:00.000-08:00

San Jacinto's own EJ Veenstra says this is the year for Record Breaking.

POMONA - It was probably appropriate that Doug Kalitta picked up the win when the skies finally cleared over Auto Club Raceway. There's been a dark cloud hanging over him and his family for long enough.

Last June, Kalitta's cousin Scott Kalitta died when his Funny Car crashed during a race in Englishtown, N.J., triggering a wave of sorrow throughout the sport.

But when Doug posted an elapsed time of 3.822 seconds in the Top Fuel finals of the NHRA Winternationals on Tuesday -- besting Antron Brown's 3.847 and earning his first event victory since Scott's death -- it signaled, at least to some extent, a new beginning.

"I think of Scott when I'm up there on the line. Those thoughts are the ones that motivate you to get behind the wheel," said Doug Kalitta, who joined Scott and Scott's father, Connie, as the third Kalitta to win at Pomona. "I think he's proud that all three of us have won at the Winternationals. He's looking out for us for sure."

With rain plaguing the event since Thursday (the top two classes completed only one round of qualifying), the Winternationals concluded two days after the originally scheduled date. The top classes completed one round Sunday and three Tuesday.

But the delay probably didn't bother the winners too badly, considering how long it had been since their last victory.

Kalitta hadn't won since October 2007. As for Funny Car driver Ron Capps? Try May 2007.

But after cruising past Jim Head in the finals with a time of 4.154, the Carlsbad native's 2009 got off to a particularly auspicious start. Even so, his thoughts were with Kalitta.

"It was emotional, especially with Doug winning in front of me," Capps said. "I could imagine the emotions Connie and that whole group was going through. I was fighting back tears watching that."

To reach the final, Capps, 43, downed Funny Car power Robert Hight in the previous round. It was an intriguing semifinal, but perhaps not as compelling as the one between Head and Gary Densham, who were each competing without sponsors.

And had Head gone on to win the event, it would have been his first career victory. He's 60.

Kalitta's road to the final Tuesday included a win over Cory McClenathan in the quarterfinals and Upland resident Morgan Lucas in the semis. Five-time defending Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher lost to Brandon Bernstein in the quarters.

Jason Line won the Pro Stock division, beating Mike Edwards in the final. But the day belonged equally to Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson, who set a national record with an ET of 6.528 seconds in the quarterfinals.

2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Schedule
50th annual Kragen O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals Feb. 11-14 Pomona

Full Event Tickets
Top Eliminator Club (Best Value) $325.00
4-Day Reserved Seat (available via phone only) $150.00
4-Day General Admission $130.00
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Adult General Admission $25.00
Junior General Admission (6-12 years) $10.00
Friday, February 12, 2010
Adult General Admission $30.00
Junior General Admission (6-12 years) $10.00
Adult Reserved Seat $40.00
Junior Reserved Seat (6-12 years) $15.00
Child Reserved Seat (5 years & under) $10.00
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Adult General Admission $50.00
Junior General Admission (6-12 years) $10.00
Adult Reserved Seat $62.00
Junior Reserved Seat (6-12 years) $20.00
Child Reserved Seat (5 years & under) $10.00
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Adult General Admission $50.00
Junior General Admission (6-12 years) $10.00
Adult Reserved Seat $62.00
Junior Reserved Seat (6-12 years) $20.00
Child Reserved Seat (5 years & under) $10.00

Children 5 and under admitted FREE
to general admission areas.

EVERY TICKET'S A PIT PASS!
Upgrade to the Top Eliminator Club!
The Top Eliminator Club is the ultimate way to enjoy NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. Upgrade to the Top Eliminator Club and enjoy prime starting line seating, access to the members-only TEC Hospitality Center, daily complimentary refreshments, complimentary catered meals on Saturday and Sunday and a special gift bag. Top Eliminator Club members also enjoy special appearances by drag racing stars of today and legends of yesteryear. The Top Eliminator Club is the best value in drag racing. Capacity is limited. Call 800-884-NHRA today or click the TEC logo to purchase your Top Eliminator Club tickets.

Group Tickets Start at $17.50
A day at the races is a great way to entertain clients, employees or friends. Ticket discounts of more than 30% are available to groups purchasing 20 or more tickets for any single day of the Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals presented by Valvoline. To place your group ticket order or for more information call Mike Fornataro at 626-250-2210 or email Mike at mfornataro@nhra.com.

How To Purchase Tickets
Individual event tickets may be purchased by calling the NHRA Ticket Office at 800-884-NHRA, on-line at Ticketmaster.com or at any Los Angeles area Ticketmaster outlet including Macy’s Stores.

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San Jacinto High Fox Club

2010-02-11T10:19:00.000-08:00

More than 50 years ago, Fox Club members included from left, Blayne Wilson, Jim Quast and Wayne Wilson.
Schools offer students lots of opportunities to get involved in extracurricular activities. In 1955, a group of friends at San Jacinto High School formed an informal club to "bring together the young men that had the same interests in athletics and cars."

The Fox Club required its members to belong to the high school's Letterman's Club.

Ron Chapman, said they were also expected to maintain an acceptable grade point average and attend weekly meetings and study sessions.

"The new inductees that were invited to join each year were required to go through a rigorous initiation and had a probation period before becoming a full-fledged member," said Chapman, of Glendora.

Jack Bloggit was the club's sponsor who oversaw its activities with help from elected officers. The group disbanded after the class of 1958 graduated.

"Everybody was in the sports program so that was one of our big things," said Frank Lunsford, of Colton. "We helped each other see how good we could get -- and we ended up pretty good."

Lunsford said the club was named -- and formed -- on the day a group of them found a fox stole by the side of the road. Not recognizing it as a fashion item worn by women of that era, they picked it up and decided to become a club they would call The Fox Club. The Foxes' emblem adorned members' jackets and car plaques.

Although the club doesn't hold official reunions Chapman said many of them meet annually at "The Old Jocks Luncheon," an event open to anyone from San Jacinto and Hemet. He said club members, coaches and friends still in the area get together almost every year.

Several members attended the recent induction of Lunsford into Edward Hyatt Athletic Hall of Fame held by the San Jacinto Education Foundation/Alumni Association. Past members who received the same honor were Stanley Bottom in 2007 and Blayne and Wayne Wilson in 2008.

Original Foxes included Walt Chapman, Don Goforth, Jim Quast, Albert Reed, Woody and Larry Rodriguez and Eldean Rose, along with Lunsford and the Wilsons. Later members were Leroy Bailey, Ron Chapman, Jerry Curtis, Jerry Daniel, Martin Flores, Robin Hoffman, Roy Howe, Bob Moore, Bob Roenicke, Leo Rose, Jerry Towner, George Wright and Bottom.

Anyone interested in contacting the group can e-mail Chapman at chapmanrd@msn.com.

Staging Memories

San Jacinto High School Principal Garry Packham is looking for residents who can contribute ideas to the advanced theater class for a play about the city of San Jacinto.

It will start with Juan Bautista de Anza's discovery of the valley and bring it to current times.

"We are in the process of gathering information and creating a timeline of events in San Jacinto," said Packham. "What we still need are the stories that go with the events that can make the scenes real and entertaining. We need the names and events with real people so that we can put humor or drama into the scene."

This school year will be spent writing the script and the play will be produced next year. Deadline is March 1.

Information: 951-654-7374 ext. 2998 or gpackham@

sanjacinto.k12.ca.us

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West Valley beats Hemet High in Academic Decathlon

2010-02-10T07:21:00.000-08:00

RIVERSIDE - The topic was the French Revolution, and West Valley High in Hemet kept its seat on the throne in this year's Riverside County Academic Decathlon.

West Valley's team of nine students scored an overwhelming victory in the county's 27th annual decathlon, which concluded Tuesday with an awards ceremony at the Riverside Convention Center.

With shouts of joy, team members and coach Billy Valenzuela accepted their medals and trophies for the second year in a row.

West Valley scored 41,798.4 points to beat Hemet High, which had 39,916.1 points. Elsinore High School was third at 36,115.1.

Before last year, Hemet High had won 10 county decathlons in a row.

The most decorated and boisterous student was West Valley's Kaylee Felguim, the only returning participant from last year's county champions.

Kaylee, a senior, scored 11 medals in the 10 events held over the previous two Saturdays.

"Last year I only got 10 medals and I didn't get a trophy," Kaylee said. "This year I got almost all gold except for one bronze."

West Valley will receive a $1,000 stipend from the county for its trip to the state competition next month.

"From the principal down to the janitors, the whole school worked for this. I feel like a million dollars," Valenzuela said.

Hongyu Chen, a senior at North High in Riverside, received a perfect score for his interview and won the economics contest, both in the honors division.

Pam Desert High senior Tanushree Vernia presented her winning speech. She spoke against keeping animals in the confined quarters of zoos.
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Quilters from San Jacinto and Hemet mission for Troops

2010-02-09T06:38:00.000-08:00

Maze Stone and Valley Quilters Guild members Suzanne Wade, left, Rose Rhoads and Gayle Asebedo display their work.
A joint effort by Maze Stone Quilters and members of the Valley Quilters Guild has resulted in lots of patriotic quilts being donated to the Quilts of Valor Foundation program.

"We have a specific mission and that is to cover our wounded warriors," said Suzanne Wade, who has been involved with the program for about five years. She is the Quilts of Valor Region Coordinator serving California, Arizona, Utah and Nevada.

"We tell veterans: you served, we're grateful and this is our piece of gratitude."
Wade collects the names, rank and branch of service of veterans in her Hemet neighborhood for inclusion on the list of quilt recipients. She also offers them as raffle prizes at veterans events to increase turnout.

"I've sent quilts all over the world," said Wade, who moved from Maryland about a year ago. "The soldiers themselves usually request red, white and blue patterns."

Wade said she loves to quilt but her family was overwhelmed with all her handiwork and crafts. Once she found out about the foundation she could quilt to her heart's content. She has made about 275 quilts, each measuring 50 inches by 60 inches.

Community members who want to contribute their time and sewing talent to the cause are invited to join the two groups at Valley-Wide Recreation Center at 901 Esplanade Ave. in San Jacinto on Mar. 1 from 1 to 4 p.m. and the San Jacinto Senior Center at 625 S. Pico Ave. on Feb. 16 and Mar. 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For donations of fabric, batting or money contact Maze Stone President Rita Silvas at 951-260-0504 or Valley Quilters President Rose Rhoads at 951-301-6169.

Information on the national program can be found at www.qovf.org

Members of the Valley Quilters Guild are also preparing for its 30th annual quilt show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Admission is $6 for the event at Valley-Wide Recreation Center, 901 W. Esplanade in San Jacinto.

Nancy Williams is in charge of quilt acquisitions.

"We have 126 quilts at this year's show -- and there are a lot of big ones," said Williams, of Hemet. She has been a guild member for about three years and as the show's organizer she helps decide where the quilts will hang.

"We group certain colors or types together to complement each other," she said. "We have art quilting which is more contemporary but also lots of traditional works. We have a lot of hand quilters which is rare to see at most shows."

An opportunity drawing for the group's annual philanthropic quilt will fund five scholarships to local high school students.

"This is a big part of what we do -- trying to give back to the community," said Williams. "And I love every minute of it."

Information, 951-927-4348 or www.valleyquilters.org

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Highway 74 from Hemet to Idyllwild washed out

2010-02-08T06:58:00.000-08:00

Highway 74 took a wallop from flooding and slides in the San Jacinto Mountains. The highway was shut down Saturday from Hemet to Route 243 west of Idyllwild after the road washed away over Strawberry Creek, leaving a gaping hole about 40 feet wide and 30 feet deep, said California Highway Patrol spokesman Officer Scott Beauchene.
Drivers traveling between Hemet and Idyllwild will need to loop through Banning on I10 on Highway 243

It was not immediately clear how long it would take to repair the damage.
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Hemet council to be updated on air ambulance

2010-02-05T07:31:00.000-08:00

Hemet Fire Chief Matt Shobert will update the City Council on Tuesday about negotiations with Medical Air to base an air ambulance at a Hemet fire station, according to the council agenda.

Shobert previously said Mercy Air's decision to relocate a helicopter from Banning to Thermal left a void in the region. Bringing a helicopter to Hemet would improve some transport times and provide additional income from renting a spot for the aircraft.

Shobert will provide the update in a work study session immediately after council members' reports.

The meeting will be at 9:30 a.m. in council chambers at 450 E. Latham Ave.

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San Jacinto considers skate park design

2010-02-04T07:14:00.000-08:00

San Jacinto City Council will meet at 7 tonight to evaluate what could become the design for the city's first skate park. One San Jacinto skateboarder, Carlos Aquino, said that when he heard about the proposal last year, "To be honest, I didn't think they were serious."
Input from young skateboarders and parents at two community forums led to designs that the San Jacinto City Council will consider tonight for the city's first skate park in Sallee Park.

The city hired Grindline Skateparks Inc. of Seattle, Wash., last year to come up with conceptual designs based on results of one community forum.

At a second forum last month, lead designer Micah Shapiro of Grindline presented three alternatives.

Based on skateboarder feedback, Shapiro came up with a hybrid design that incorporates a bowl with what are called "street elements," like rails, stairs and a quarter-pipe ramp. The proposal is for a 6,700-square-foot design near Sallee Park's Jim Conner Youth Center on Idyllwild Drive.

"Because it's all street, there's a lot more ledges and rails. I think it will be fun for everybody," said Kevin Valenzuela, 17, of San Jacinto, at last month's forum. Shapiro and users talked about incorporating features to appeal to skateboarders with different levels of experience.

Valenzuela and his friend Carlos Aquino, 19, of San Jacinto, skateboard at skate parks in Chino, Palm Springs and Riverside. They use streets in town but at places like Valley-Wide Regional Park and San Jacinto High School, he said, "We get kicked out of some spots."

Aquino is encouraged by the city effort. "To be honest, I didn't think they were serious," he said, when he heard about the proposal last year.

The council has about $100,000 in the 2009-10 budget for the skate park, and Riverside County 3rd District County Supervisor Jeff Stone committed $10,000 in assistance, according to a staff report by Mike Emberton, public works director.

Depending upon the elements chosen, the skate park is expected to cost between $150,000 and $200,000, Emberton noted in the report. Additional money would come from a city redevelopment account.

The council meets at 7 p.m. at San Jacinto Unified School District offices, 2045 S. San Jacinto Ave.

The park will be the only one in the San Jacinto Valley. The cities of Beaumont and Banning opened skate parks in 2007.

The design alternatives can be seen on the city's Web site: www.ci.san-jacinto.ca.us. The hybrid design is a part of the online council agenda.

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Restaurant, jazz club envisioned for Odd Fellows Temple in downtown Hemet

2010-02-03T06:59:00.000-08:00

Hemet restaurant owner Greg Rich, left, talks with Matt McPherson inside the Odd Fellows Temple in Hemet that is under renovation. McPherson and his friend, Jason Strain, want to convert the building to a restaurant and music club.
Jason Strain and Matt McPherson sat side by side as saxophonists in the Hemet High School jazz band.

Now, years later, they are a duet hoping to reinvent a historic Hemet building and bring soul to downtown.

Strain has his sights set on a summer opening for the Allegro Eatery & Music Venue in the Odd Fellows Temple on Harvard Street.

Strain said downtown really needs something.

"If you live in Hemet, you have to go to Temecula or Riverside to listen to music or have a good meal," he said.

Even though the Hemet residents are longtime friends, their collaboration began only last year and was formed out of separate and symbiotic agendas.

Strain, 34, has worked in the restaurant business and played in bands -- he is a member of three in the San Jacinto Valley -- since he ended his seven-year hitch in the Air Force in 2001. He is the general manager of Romano's Macaroni Grill in Corona and has toyed with opening a place that would combine his two passions.

He had been looking for a building to lease or buy when he reconnected with McPherson, whom he had not seen in 10 years.

McPherson, 34, had become a school teacher in Hemet. He had seen the Odd Fellows building for years "and finally decided to see what it was about."

He learned that the Odd Fellows group was formed in 17th century England when, according to the Odd Fellows Web site, it was odd to find people organized for the purpose of giving aid to those in need and of pursuing projects for the benefit of all mankind.

McPherson said his family practices those tenets. When he discovered last October that the local Odd Fellows lodge was in danger of losing its charter because it was down to three members, he recruited two dozen friends and relatives to join.

"Here's an organization that represents what we have already been doing," McPherson said.

Soon he became the Noble Grand in charge of the Hemet order, which occupies a building that was constructed in 1927. It is in physical decline and is being used only twice a month for meetings. Not long after, McPherson learned that Strain was looking for a building to lease.

McPherson said he had just the place.

The restaurant and jazz club would be built in the 4,000-square-foot downstairs. Odd Fellows members would still meet on the second floor, which could be rented out to groups.

Permits are needed and wiring, plumbing, drywall and the ceiling still must be repaired. Strain said he expects to spend $2 million and is seeking private and corporate investors.

Steve Harding, an assistant city manager and a jazz enthusiast, has said that entertainment would lead any awakening of Hemet's sleepy downtown.

"What a beautiful area it is," Strain said. "It just needs a little TLC to come back."

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Gold against emerald means water savings for Soboba golf course

2010-02-02T06:59:00.000-08:00

Swaths of turf have turned golden brown at the Country Club at Soboba Springs golf course, but broken sprinkler heads aren't to blame.

The color, which became noticeable in December, is intentional, part of a multiyear plan by the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians, who own the course.

The tribe is trying to conserve water by reducing the irrigated acreage at the course, converting some areas to more water-efficient Bermuda grass and switching from lush turf to native plants in other places.

The look will be reminiscent of the PGA West course in La Quinta, according to Bryan Addis, club general manager. The conversion at the 160-acre course will be gradual.

"I think the process is going to be over the next few years," he said.

The tees and fairways will continue to be seeded with rye grass in the winter for that lush emerald green look but the rough areas will be allowed to go dormant in winter, he explained. When finished, it will look "like you're playing a golf course out in the Coachella Valley," Addis said.

In a previous project about three years ago, about 25 acres of the fairways were converted from a hodgepodge of grasses to Bermuda grass. Bermuda uses less water than other grasses and thrives in hot, dry summers.

Now about 90 acres of rough areas, that are bordering fairways, will be converted this summer by hydro seeding with Bermuda.

"That will take us through the summer to the Soboba Classic," Addis said. The Classic is a PGA Nationwide Tour event, now in its second year, scheduled Sept. 27 to Oct. 3.

The tribe does not have a projected time to plant native plants but tribal leaders have visited some courses in the desert to get ideas, Addis said. About 50 acres eventually will feature native plants.

The course has mature cottonwood and olive trees, man-made waterfalls at bridge crossings and a lake that attracts waterfowl.

Officials studied the course to determine which areas could be converted because they would be out of the playing area. "We definitely didn't want to introduce cactus in an area where guys are going to hit golf balls in," Addis said.

The plant conversion will also mean going from 30 gallon per minute sprinklers to a drip system.

Officials don't yet have an estimate of the cost savings from using less water, fertilizer and chemicals.

"It will be a nice change that will allow us to cut back a ton on our water," Addis said.

He said the Soboba tribe is committed to creating a model of conservation in the forefront of golf.

"I think it's a model not only for the environment, but the economy that we're in," said Jennie Hanks, acting tribal administrator.

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'Ramona' puts out call for community's help

2010-02-01T06:56:00.000-08:00

Cesaria Hernandez and Duane Minard will return as Ramona and Alessandro in the 87th presentation of the play "Ramona" at the Ramona Bowl in Hemet. They're married in real life.
As the principal actors were announced Saturday, leaders of the Ramona Outdoor Play called on the community to pitch in to prepare for the 87th presentation of its signature play.

The request was made as more than 50 people, including representatives of the San Jacinto Valley's service clubs, attended a luncheon where Ramona Bowl President Andrew Kotyuk said the organization is seeking funding to expand what is available at the bowl, possibly a component highlighting California history.

"We have a group out pushing for corporate sponsorships," Kotyuk said.
It also was announced Saturday that Cesaria Hernandez and husband Duane Minard will portray the lead roles of ill-fated lovers who meet on a Southern California rancho in the late 1800s in this year's presentation of "Ramona".

It is the fifth time that Hernandez will take on the role as Ramona and the second time Minard will portray Alessandro. Hernandez said she and her husband, both of Hemet, were asked to reprise their 2009 roles for this year's presentation.

"It is quite an honor," Hernandez said.

The play is scheduled for April 17-18, April 24-25 and May 1 at the Ramona Bowl Amphitheatre in Hemet.

During the luncheon, Al Cordova, president of the Ramona Bowl Music Association, called on residents to look for ways to help by doing everything from painting the seats in the amphitheater to repairing concrete. Several such projects were on a list handed out to the audience that included photos showing the years of wear on the bowl.

"Everything we do to the bowl needs to be repaired," Cordova said. "Take these projects back to your clubs."

In calling for help, Cordova pointed to the long history the bowl has in the area and how that history includes many years of community support.

"The bowl belongs to the people of Hemet and San Jacinto," Cordova said. "The bowl needs you."

Hernandez cited the history of the play in calling on the community to resume its supporting role as a way of paying it back for drawing tourists to the area.

"The play was started in the 1920s specifically to draw visitors in the valley," Hernandez said.

Where:
Ramona Bowl Amphitheatre
27400 Ramona Bowl Road, Hemet CA. 92544
Toll Free: 1-800-645-4465 / 951-658-3111or email: ramona@ramonabowl.com
Web site http://ramonabowl.com

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DMV in Hemet Closed

2010-01-30T08:34:00.001-08:00

The Hemet Department of Motor Vehicles office will be closed until March 15.

The office was closed for major renovation, including a new floor, installation of modular furniture, updating of the data cable system, and other improvements.

DMV officials said in a news release that the Hemet office has had no substantial renovation since it opened in 1989.

It is one of several offices slated for maintenance or repair projects during 2010.

The DMV usually schedules about a dozen office closures each year for varying lengths of time to improvement infrastructure or install equipment.

While the Hemet office is closed, the DMV recommends that San Jacinto Valley residents use the offices in Banning at 1034 W. Ramsey St., #B; Temecula at 27851 Diaz Road; east Riverside at 6425 Sycamore Canyon Blvd.; Redlands at 1659 W. Lugonia Ave.; or Palm Springs at 950 N. Farrell Drive.

DMV officials said in the news release they will move employees among the offices to accommodate customer flow.

The Hemet office has 22 full-time and six part-time employees who handle 187,000 transactions each year.

Customers may also use the mail, Web, or telephone.

Instructions for mailing license or registration renewals are included with the notifications sent out by the department.

The DMV accepts checks or money orders to renew by mail.

Online services are available 24 hours a day and include making appointments for written and driving tests, vehicle registration, and driver license renewals.

Some functions can be completed online, including choosing personalized license plates, changing addresses, and payment of fees with a debit card.

There is a fee for debit card transactions.

The Web site is at www.dmv.ca.gov.

The telephone number is (800) 921-1117 and can be used for registration and driver license renewals for customers who have their six-digit renewal identification number that accompanies the renewal notice.

Automated phone services are also available at (800) 777-0133.

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Horse-drawn hearse at San Jacinto Valley Cemetery?

2010-01-29T06:55:00.000-08:00

Juan Molina-Soto, 75, of Lake Elsinore, is taken to the San Jacinto Valley Cemetery in style with a horse-drawn hearse. "Dad loved to play the horses, and this was his last race," daughter Laura Molina says.
The late Juan Molina-Soto took an unusual and fitting final ride Wednesday to San Jacinto Valley Cemetery.

His casket was loaded aboard an ornate, red-and-white, horse-drawn hearse that led a funeral procession of headlight-beaming cars and trucks through San Jacinto neighborhoods and on to the cemetery along Santa Fe Avenue.

Jack Gerbl, owner of San Jacinto Valley Mortuary, said he only used a horse-drawn hearse one time before, but never in the San Jacinto Valley. Carol Griese, general manager of the cemetery, said she can't recall a carriage used to bring a casket to a gravesite in San Jacinto.
Laura Molina, Molina-Soto's daughter, had a ready answer when asked at the funeral why the family chose horse transportation. "Dad loved to play the horses and this was his last race," she said.

Her father was an Orange County resident who retired to Lake Elsinore four years ago after a career as a sales manager. He succumbed to lung cancer Jan. 21 at age 75.

He spent Sundays at horserace tracks or the off-site wagering facility at the Southern California Fair by Lake Perris. Relatives in San Jacinto suggested the San Jacinto Valley Cemetery as a pretty place for a burial. Linda Molina thought it was appropriate because her father was regular at Soboba Casino too.

The horse-pulled carriage cost only a little more than a conventional hearse. George Liblin, owner of G & F Carriages in Bloomington, handled the reins. He wore a bright red coat and a black top hat and slacks. He said he provides the carriage to about 15 services a year, normally meeting a motorized hearse at the entrance of the cemetery. The company's carriage assignments included the Bachelorette television show and the Rose Parade.

Molina-Soto's casket was loaded onto the carriage a little after 1 p.m. The carriage was pulled by a pair of gorgeous, white Percheron-Morgan mix horses. Grandsons Amed Molina of Fullerton and Alexes Molina of Lake Elsinore rode on the coach.

The procession moved smoothly. Liblin said he was impressed by people who saw the funeral procession roll by. As a sign of respect, as soon as they spotted the unusual hearse, they took off their hats.

Visit the Cemetery website at http://sjvcd.org

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Lightning P-38 to visit Palm Springs

2010-01-28T07:05:00.000-08:00

Bob Cardin led a four-month expedition to Greenland to recover and restore Glacier Girl, a Lightning P-38 forced down in bad weather in 1942. "Doing something that had never been done before and that most thought impossible was my motivation," Cardin said.
With only seven of the planes remaining in the world, this weekend provides an opportunity to see a rare Lightning P-38 aircraft in action.

The Palm Springs Air Museum is hosting a special two-day event based around the P-38 fighter Friday and Saturday. First up is a special reception with Bob Cardin's PowerPoint presentation on the recovery and restoration of Glacier Girl Friday at 6 p.m. That specific P-38 will not be on display, but another will.

In 1942, two squads of P-38s landed on Greenland because of bad weather and low fuel. The pilots were picked up, but the planes were left behind and later buried under the snow and ice. In 1992, Cardin led an effort with 40 people to recover the planes. The team dug through 268 feet of ice to reach one of the planes and brought it up piece by piece.

Cardin said he was in Greenland on the glacier for more than four months. His favorite moment of the recovery was being able to sit in the cockpit on the surface.

"The expedition was a great adventure and very challenging," Cardin said. "Doing something that had never been done before and that most thought impossible was my motivation."

After 10 years of work, the recovered P-38, named Glacier Girl, took flight once again.

The configuration of the plane prevents Cardin from enjoying the fighter aircraft in the air.

"Unfortunately, Glacier Girl has only one seat and no provisions for passengers," he said. "So I get to watch her fly around."

Since only one plane was recovered, there is an opportunity to recover the other aircraft in the Greenland glacier.

"We can only work on the glacier during the good weather times," he said. "Simply speaking, we ran out of time."

Following the presentation there will be a meet and greet along with hors d'oeuvres and wine tasting from Middle Ridge Winery. Music will be performed by Heatwave: Jazz and Show band of the Boys and Girls Club of the Coachella Valley.

On Saturday, Cardin will repeat his presentation at 1 p.m. And there will be a flight demonstration by a visiting P-38 piloted by Jeff Harris, of Newport Beach.

Where: Palm Springs Air Museum

745 N. Gene Autry Trail

When:

Friday: Presentation and reception

6 p.m. $15-$25

Saturday: Presentation

1 p.m. $5-$12 (Children under 6 and active military free).

Information:

760-778-6262 Ext. 221

www.palmspringsairmuseum.org.

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Western Science Center gets $150,000 from Hemet for improvements

2010-01-27T07:19:00.000-08:00

The Western Science Center will receive $150,000 from the city of Hemet to build new exhibits at the museum and expand classrooms and laboratories.

The Hemet City Council on Tuesday approved releasing the money from its park development account, which comes from developer fees. The city had pledged a total of $1 million to the museum in 2006. The vote was 4-0. Mayor Eric McBride, at work with the San Bernardino Police Department, was absent.

The museum at Diamond Valley Lake will also use the money to build shelters against sun and rain over the instructional dig site, and to install tables and benches outside, City Manager Brian Nakamura said.

The museum has a collection of almost 1 million artifacts from prehistoric sites and offers educational activities for students. It is not owned by the city but is eligible for money because it is considered a public park within the city limits, Nakamura said.

The city has a stake in the success of the museum; Nakamura has said he envisions the museum and nearby ball fields, and perhaps someday camping and golf courses, as a destination for tourists and their dollars.

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Hemet Theatre, saved from fire, is still threatened

2010-01-26T07:13:00.000-08:00

One of the Inland Empire's oldest movie theaters has been as significant a part of growing up for San Jacinto Valley residents as their first kiss, first taste of independence and first job.

And so when Oneida Montemayor-Barrera heard a rumor that the 442-seat Hemet Theatre on Florida Avenue had burned down Wednesday, "I felt like I lost someone," she said.

But thanks to firefighters and the concrete used in its construction in 1921, the single-screen theater survived the fire that claimed three adjacent downtown businesses.

That survival, however, is threatened by new enemies: the economy and competition. The theater is paid for, but co-owners Dave Bernal and Emerson Bixby barely have enough cash to keep the heat and lights on. They spent most of their money -- about $315,000 -- on the building. And ticket sales are poor for their mixture of year-old first-run movies, black-and-white classics and cult films.

So the Hemet was put up for sale before the fire, even as the owners attempted to raise enough money to keep their childhood dream of co-owning a theater alive.

Bernal said Monday that the Hemet will be closed while smoke and water damage is repaired. He expected to receive estimates today. The fire destroyed Ellen's Nails, Elite Florist and Document Solutions, along with antiques stored by Salwa Greco, the owner of the building that houses all three shops.

Hemet Fire Chief Matt Shobert said his department received thanks from "10 different folks from 10 different walks of life." The initial investigation points to faulty wiring in the near-century-old building, he said.

Bernal said he has heard from worried Hemet patrons across the country.

"We're on the ropes," he said, "but we're hoping for a comeback."

ONE CITY, ONE SCREEN

For decades, the Hemet was the only show in town.

William Martin opened the first Hemet Theatre in 1915. After an earthquake damaged much of downtown in 1918, he constructed the current building using reinforced concrete.

Theater chain Krikorian opened a 12-plex in Hemet in 1994 and Metropolitan opened 12 screens in San Jacinto the next year. Regal now operates both. Holiday Cinemas operated three screens for years until it closed in 2000.

The Hemet, bowing to competition, showed its last movie under the Martin family ownership in 1995. Bernal and Emerson Bixby reopened the Hemet in 2004.

Rich Loomis, 73, knew Harold Martin, grandson of William Martin.

"This was the greatest place to go when we were kids," said Loomis, a former turkey rancher who still lives in Hemet. "The movies were real good, and the loges were the place all of us studs made out with our girlfriends."

He enjoyed "War and Peace," which debuted in 1956.

Montemayor-Barrera, 48, fondly remembers sitting in the ornate theater and watching "Planet of the Apes" when it debuted in 1968.

"It was the first movie I was ever allowed to go see," the San Jacinto resident said. "Being a little girl, it seemed so big to me. It seemed grand."

Her memories of the loge section, with its thick, padded recliners, are different than Loomis'.

She said sitting in the more-expensive loge offered moviegoers a certain status, but she lamented that she couldn't afford those tickets.

Tom Wilson, 57, cleaned the Hemet in the late 1960s when he was a student at San Jacinto High School.

"They had refrigerated air conditioning and it was really a pleasure to go in there," Wilson recalled.

He also remembered the heavy curtain that separated the smoking room from the rest of the theater. Touching the curtain would produce a puff of smoke, Wilson said.

TROUBLED TIMES

Although the Hemet survived the fire, the theater won't endure on sentiment alone.

To make money to keep the theater, the owners have hosted weddings, birthday parties and held screenings for groups that used them as fundraisers. Bixby, 47, who writes and produces sci-fi and social satire films, is hocking his vintage movie poster collection.

And they have brought a staple of the small screen to their screen: video games.

On Saturdays, customers can play "Left 4 Dead 2," "Modern Warfare 2," "Lego Batman" or their own video game on the theater's Xbox system and the approximate 50-foot-by-20-foot screen. The cost is $5 for 10 minutes, or $45 for an hour. Customers can also rent the theater for video games on weekdays.

"So far the response has been pretty good. The kids seem to like it," said Bernal, 44, who makes a living selling movie memorabilia and running Internet businesses.

Last Saturday, the marquee announced free gaming that day. No one showed up the first hour, and eventually a few people -- "actually a couple," Bixby said -- trickled in.

That's how it has been for the Hemet.

Before the fire, the theater was averaging 80 customers for Disney's 2009 animated movie "The Princess and the Frog," even though tickets were only $5 -- "Free if you bring Halle Berry," Bixby added.

He said 56 people turned out for "Wild Hogs," a 2007 tale about suburban biker wannabes that starred Tim Allen and John Travolta. But he lamented that only seven people showed up -- "one for each Oscar," Bixby said -- for "Lawrence of Arabia".

THE FUTURE

Bixby said before the fire that he wanted to fix some seats, improve the sound system and paint the place.

"It was built in 1921 but it looks like it was built in 1921," he said.

At the time the Martins were selling, there was talk about leasing the theater to community drama groups through an agreement with the city.

Hemet Mayor Eric McBride said last year that stage shows could help invigorate the downtown by drawing restaurants and coffee shops.

Bernal said he would like to do live events, but permits and insurance are too costly.

Recent happenings show there is hope for the Hemet, with the right plan.

Riverside's Fox Theater, built in 1929, reopened last week as a performing arts center that hosted singer Sheryl Crow on Friday. Banning's three-screen Fox Cineplex Theatres, built in 1928, was renovated in November and its owners report improved business.

Meanwhile, that "For Sale" sign sits ominously in the window of the Hemet, beneath the posters of coming attractions.

HEMET THEATRE

Address: 216 E. Florida Ave., Hemet

Phone: 951-658-7123

Web site: www.historichemettheatre.com

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Hemet starts its centennial celebration with party

2010-01-25T06:22:00.000-08:00

Barbara-Jean Del Rico, 16, right, and Jasmine Alvarez, 14, both of San Jacinto, warm up before a performance by the Red Tail Spirit Dancers during Hemet's 100th birthday celebration Saturday. Thousands filled Front and Harvard streets throughout the day to enjoy the festivities.
As a bright sun shone on downtown Hemet during Saturday's 100th anniversary kickoff party, Linda Krupa said she couldn't help but think of the bright future she feels is just around the corner for the city.

"I believe the strength of this community is its people, and we have gone through a lot but we've always come through it in the end," said Krupa, a member of the city's centennial committee. "Times have been hard with the economy, but I think our better days are still to come."

A number of people shared Krupa's sentiments during Saturday's festivities, the start of the city's centennial anniversary of incorporation. The block party included speeches by elected officials, performances by a number of groups, street vendors, and the cameo appearance by the sun, the first in nearly a week after storms battered the region.

Thousands filled Front and Harvard streets throughout the day to enjoy the festivities, including Elizabeth Borders, one of five finalists for Hemet's Miss Centennial pageant. Borders, 19, had not been born when 130 people voted in favor of Hemet incorporating.

But she said she could feel the spirit of the town's founders in the air Saturday.

"It's really great to be here as our city turns 100," Borders said. "This is a great town and I think we can only progress."

U.S. Reps. Mary Bono Mack, R-Palm Springs, and Connie Mack, R-Fla., joined a host of state and local officials to celebrate the occasion.

Fire Chief Matt Shobert ran the anchor leg of a five-person run between Diamond Valley Lake and the Hemet Public Library, holding a baton that contained a proclamation that will be placed in the city's centennial time capsule later in the summer.

Shobert said the two-mile run was "chilly to start, but got warmer as I got into it."

"It was a very surreal experience to be here... I was honored to be a part of it," Shobert said.

Speaking about the down economy's impact on Hemet, Shobert said the centennial celebration serves as a reminder of many of the issues that faced the town's founders, Edward L. Mayberry and William F. Whittier.

The stage play "Remembering When: The Story of Mr. Whittier's Hemet," which had been presented throughout the weekend, highlighted those parallels, he said.

"We have a strong community," Shobert said. "We just have to use this down period to plan for the future, so it can be a success."

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Hemet Firefighters save Historic Theater

2010-01-22T07:37:00.000-08:00

A blaze destroyed several downtown Hemet businesses Wednesday, but firefighters were able to save one of the city's oldest landmarks.Flames that erupted at 4:20 p.m. at the corner of Florida Avenue and Carmalita Street tore through at least three businesses, possibly four, and came within inches of the downtown Historic Hemet Theatre.

The cause of the fire was unknown. Hemet Fire Chief Matt Shobert said investigators likely wouldn't have information about the cause or damage estimates until at least today, after they had chance to get inside.

The fire started inside Elite Flowers and -- despite Wednesday's torrential rain -- quickly spread next door to a jewelry shop, Shobert said. Like many blocks in downtown Hemet, all the buildings are connected.

Bright flames danced inside the building as billowing gray-brown smoke rose high in the sky. Firefighters battled the inferno for nearly three hours, keeping the flames from the 89-year-old theater.

"After drawing our line in the sand at the theater -- all things considered, we could have easily lost this whole block," Shobert said.

Hemet and Riverside County firefighters attacked the blaze from inside the burning row of buildings for a half-hour before much of the century-old architecture became unstable. At that point, firefighters had to start using hose and ladder trucks from the street.

Dave Bernal, a theater co-owner, watched as the flames crept closer. "We're still standing. The fire is literally right next to it and they're trying to hold back the flames," Bernal said.

The attic of the theater has original movie reels, lobby tickets and old movie posters left from the original owner, he said.

"I would hate to see such a landmark be lost," Bernal said. "I feel for all the businesses affected and the families that are going to take that loss."

The theater has suffered financially for years and was recently put up for sale, Bernal said. Though the fire caused no significant damage, the theater will be closed temporarily.

At 8 p.m., however, with fire crews still at the scene, there was a sign of hope: The theater marquee remained lit up, displaying its current movie -- "The Princess and the Frog."

"I give everything to God and the Hemet firefighters for saving us and the businesses there," Bernal said. "I'm relieved the lights will shine again."

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Can't dampen Hope's spirit

2010-01-20T07:13:00.000-08:00

Murrieta's Rickie Fowler will tee off at 8:57 this morning at the Palmer Course at SilverRock Resort.

LA QUINTA - Forgive the Bob Hope Classic if it doesn't have the carefree feel that it so often does.

In its 51st year, the tournament is pressing on without a title sponsor, operating on reserve funds after losing a bankrupt Chrysler from its name.

On Tuesday, PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem expressed support for the long-running celebrity pro-am during a conference call introducing the new McGladrey Classic.

"The Hope has a long history with the PGA Tour," Finchem said. "I'm very bullish about it for next year.

"In the event that we struggle with title sponsorship for another year because of the economy, we will figure out a way to bridge it and work with it for a period of time, because it's an institution on the Tour."

But even that backing didn't do much to brighten the horizon in La Quinta this week, where it's the actual weather forecast that's immediately scary. The weather report calls for rain, showers, wind and more rain over the next few days before clearing up this weekend.

Still, tournament president John Foster expressed optimism.

"We don't get real soggy out here, our courses drain pretty well," Foster said. "We'll probably get some sprinkles. The option is to play until the courses can't take it. If we lose a day, then we might go into a Monday, but it's not really a big worry, it's more of an inconvenience.

"More of a concern is the fans, if everyone hears it's flooding, no one wants to come out. It's more of a psychological problem for us."

Only twice has the tournament -- typically a showcase for the idyllic wintertime conditions in the Coachella Valley -- been delayed on account of weather. In 1978 and 1980, the five-round event ended on Monday.

The subtext to all the drama swirling around the tournament is the golf itself, which will be played on four La Quinta courses -- SilverRock Resort, La Quinta Country Club, the Palmer Private course at PGA West and the Nicklaus Private Course at PGA West.

Former Murrieta resident Rickie Fowler will play his second tournament in his rookie season, teeing off at 8:57 this morning at SilverRock.

Fowler will play in the celebrity rotation, paired today with John O'Hurley, an actor and television personality who had a recurring role in "Seinfeld" and is recognizable as the voice of the Progressive Insurance TV spots.

Defending champion Pat Perez also is back, as is Scott Verplank and Justin Leonard. David Duval returns to the tournament where he famously shot a final-round 59 to win in 1999. Arnold Palmer's grandson, Sam Saunders, makes his second PGA Tour start.

But there are no players ranked in the top 25 in the field this week, and only six -- Mike Weir, Tim Clark, David Toms, Ryan Moore, Brian Gay and Michael Sim -- rank in the top 50.

La Quinta resident Anthony Kim opted to play the Abu Dhabi Championship, as did such other top players as Camilo Villegas, Geoff Ogilvy, Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Rory McIlroy.

"We're short on the top 10, but we have some great players," Foster said "We love the field. It's always interesting to see young talents like Rickie Fowler; it's going to be fun to see how they compare."

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Temecula museum is hub for local history - Ramona

2010-01-19T06:43:00.000-08:00

Darrell Farnbach is president of the Vail Ranch Restoration Association, which runs the history center. Volunteers are restoring a 19th-century coach, and arranging hundreds of books in a Native American library.

Wedged into a corner plot next to the Kohl's store, a parking lot and Redhawk Parkway, the red barn that houses the Little Temecula History Center looks like the last holdout of old Temecula in a sea of suburban development.

Since it opened in June 2008, the center has attracted some 4,000 visitors.

The center is a replica of a barn, now demolished, that was originally located on a nearby portion of Vail Ranch, which once spanned more than 87,000 acres.

"This is where Temecula started," said Darrell Farnbach, president of the Vail Ranch Restoration Association, which runs the history center.

Until the railroad came through town in the 1880s, the area was the hub of Temecula, with a stagecoach route stop and the Wolf Store. American Indian rights activist Helen Hunt Jackson visited store owner Louis Wolf and his wife, Ramona, who was of American Indian descent. Ramona and the property apparently served as inspiration for the 1884 novel "Ramona," which is credited with helping the Pechanga tribe get a reservation.

From 1905, when the Vail family purchased the property, until it was sold to a land-development company in 1964, Temecula was sparsely populated cattle country.

Farnbach said the history center's mission is to educate locals about local history.

The center has been a popular destination for scout troops and summer camp groups. Displays including stage coach and covered-wagon replicas and a Model-A pickup like those that would have been used decades ago on Vail Ranch liven up local history lessons for children.

Farnbach said the association has a few loyal volunteers who help run the history center, but is looking for more.

"There's always something to do," he said.

Over the past year, volunteers have been refurbishing a 19th-century coach donated by a Wildomar resident. They have also been working to shelve and catalogue a 750-volume Native American library at the center.

The association is still waiting to see the culmination of its efforts to preserve a portion of the former Vail Ranch and surviving buildings that comprised its old headquarters. A group of Temecula residents came together in the 1990s to begin lobbying to save the site.

"We saw all the vestiges of this old ranch just being obliterated by construction," Farnbach said.

Now, a development that will include restaurants, shops, office space and historical exhibits and preserve the remaining Vail Ranch buildings on the 4-acre site is planned. Farnbach said the Pomona-based developer slated to build the project is still trying to obtain financing. It is unclear when construction might begin.

Anyone interested in volunteering at the Little Temecula History Center may call Farnbach at 951-552-3516.

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Hemet police wear new centennial badges with honor

2010-01-18T07:23:00.000-08:00

At left are the special Hemet police badges and shoulder patches that mark the city's centennial and will be worn this year. At right are the traditional badge and patch.

Police officers in Hemet are taking a nod to the past and a look to the future out on the streets.

Officers on Saturday began wearing badges reminiscent of the days of Wyatt Earp and shoulder patches that evoke the city's past while foreseeing sunny days.

The silver-and-black badges, which feature a star on top of a circle, commemorate the city's centennial that is being celebrated this month. They will be worn this year only. The word "Centennial" graces the upper circle. A stylized "Police" is on a black background in the star's middle. At the bottom of the circle are the dates 1910-2010.

"We wanted to do something special for the year," Police Chief Richard Dana said Friday. "It looks a hundred years old."

Dana said he wanted the public to see the new badges and patches so there wouldn't be any confusion as to whether those wearing them were legitimate officers.

The chief said the department couldn't find a photo of a Hemet police badge from 1910, so a committee worked on this design.

He said the badges cost about $85 apiece and were paid for by donations from the public, the police officers association and the officers themselves.

The shoulder patches don't bear the Indian heads, peace pipe, feathers and drum that are part of the city seal. They are replaced by a depiction of the downtown Hemet train depot and, in the background, Diamond Valley Lake and the sun rising over the San Jacinto Mountains.

"We're looking at the rising sun as the future of Hemet," Dana said. "A bright future."

Seventeen people helped design the patch, which Dana said cost 87 cents apiece.

The department also plans to display photos of past police chiefs and old badges in public areas of the building this year in honor of the centennial, he said.

Voters approved Hemet's incorporation on Jan. 11, 1910, and the state signed off on the paperwork on Jan. 20.

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Playwright captures city's history

2010-01-15T11:05:00.001-08:00

Playwright Michael Tennant directs John Guminiak, center, and Josh McLendon in "Remembering When: The Story of Mr. Whittier's Hemet." The play tells the story of how and why Hemet became a town.

Even though playwright Michael Tennant is a lifelong resident of Hemet, he wasn't sure if he was the right person to write about its beginning years for the city's centennial celebration.

He had more than 10 plays to his credit when he was approached to write "Remembering When: The Story of Mr. Whittier's Hemet."

Most of his works were historical dramas based on notable figures such as Abraham Lincoln, Jackie Robinson and Amelia Earhart.

"The first time I wrote a play for a paying audience was about nine years ago," said Tennant. "It is very artistically satisfying to see something you write come to life but it is nerve-wracking wondering how people will react."

Tennant said his latest play takes place between the years of 1885 and 1917 and tells the story of how and why Hemet became a town. He describes it as an informative historical drama with some lighter moments.

"It's such a huge responsibility trying to bring people back and tell their story," said Tennant. "One of the reasons I'm playing Mr. Whittier is that I felt like I knew him and I want to be the one to tell his story."

He said the script focuses on Whittier and Edward Mayberry and their plan to start the Lake Hemet Water Company and sell land and water to those moving into the area. He hand-picked a cast of good actors he knew well.

Josh McLendon plays Whittier's personal assistant. The 17-year-old is a student at Baptist Christian School in Hemet, which Tennant graduated from and now teaches drama and music classes.

John Guminiak plays dual roles of Sam Temple and Mayor Brown.

"I always love performing with John," said Tennant, who also directs the show. "He is definitely a specialty actor -- you bring him in and you will win the crowd."

Also in the play are Lauren Campbell and Casey Frass, both of Hemet, and Clarice Gerbl, of San Jacinto.

Tennant said books didn't provide the kind of information he needed to help him understand what the people of the past were thinking. Then he contacted local historian Mary Whitney and she shared papers from the Lake Hemet Water Company, which turned out to be his greatest resource.

"I made every effort to help him with his history, not his play, and the outcome is wonderful," said Whitney. "Most importantly Mike grasped W.F. Whittier's essence: the way he put two and two together, the way he handled people, the two sides of his development of Hemet -- first for money and then slowly out of love for what he eventually realized was his legacy."

"These people's fingerprints are still all over this town if you know where to look," said Tennant.

The play will debut at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 22 at the Hemet Public Library. Advance tickets for $30 include wine, hors d'oeuvres, a special Hemet keepsake and a first edition copy of Tennant's script. Members of the Whittier family are expected to attend.

During the Centennial Celebration ceremony on Jan. 23, the first 100 visitors to the Centennial booth at the street fair will receive free tickets to a special performance of the play later that day at the Simpson Center.

Information, www.cityofhemet.org/centennial

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2010 Elite Martin Luther King Tournament OAKS SOBOBA

2010-01-15T07:31:00.000-08:00

JANUARY 16-18 2010... Open to all Current High School Players 2010 grads and younger
All games played @ the Oaks .. NCAA field! Stadium seating with player announcers,music between innings and field crew
4 game GUARANTEE $495 per team and 3 balls per game per team. (balls will be returned after every game).. 2-Umpires .. 7 inning games !!

awards to the champions..... ROOM FOR 8 TEAMS!

No Gate Fee and a Full Snack Bar!
Plenty of parking bring your RV Camping is OK!

Contact Info. Shawn Cell 562-841-1811 or e-mail mrbaseballdad@verizon.net to reserve your spot!

Tournament hosted by the So Cal Angels www.leaguelineup.com/socalangels

BRACKETS FOR 2010 MLK! everyone please e-mail to confirm... mrbaseballdad@verizon.net

Pool A...............................Pool B
1.So Cal Angels................1.Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
2.Inland Terror..................2.Colton Nighthawks
3.ABD Red Dogs...............3.Bonita Legends (san diego)
4.Valley Warriors...............4.So Cal Elite

Due to several teams game time request we have redone the BRACKETS wed.1/13/10 6:15 pm FINAL

Saturday 1/16
Pool Games
8:45 am A2 vs A3 @ oak's
11:00 am A1 vs A3 @ oak's
1:15 pm B1 vs B3 @ oak's
3:30 pm A2 vs A4 @ oak's
5:45 pm B3 vs B4 @ oak's
8:00 pm B1 vs B2 @ oak's

Sunday 1/17
Pool Games
8:45 am A4 vs A1 @ oak's
11:00 am A3 vs A4 @ oak's
1:15 pm A1 vs A2 @ oak's
3:30 pm B2 vs B3 @ oak's
5:45 pm B1 vs B4 @ oak's
8:00 pm B2 vs B4 @ oak's

Monday 1/18
PLAYOFFS 2 field locations!
Game#1 8:00 am 2seed A vs 3seed B .
Game#2 8:00 am 2seed B vs 3seed A
Game#3 10:15 am 1seed A vs 4seed B .
Game#4 10:15 am 1seed B vs 4seed A
Game#5 12:30 pm WG#1 vs WG#4
Game#6 2:45 pm WG#2 vs WG#3
Game#7 5:00 PM Championship Game WG#5 vs WG#6

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Artist contributes to church, community

2010-01-14T07:30:00.000-08:00

Leigh Ann Whitley started sharing her artistic aptitude with Trinity Lutheran Church a few years ago when she was asked by the pastor's wife, Connie Bunge, to develop a project.

"It was the first time I'd done glazed tile," said Whitley, who has been a member of the Hemet church since moving to the area 13 years ago.

With help from Pat Relth at All Fired Up Ceramics, Whitley created the mosaic tile display for the wall outside the sanctuary.

For her first big project, she designed and painted a mural inside the youth room. She has also painted butterflies on the windows of the Celebration Center and a grapevine border on the sanctuary walls, as well as other murals. "I enjoy the color of acrylics, and it's not as intimidating as painting on canvas," Whitley said.

Her latest creation, dedicated last month, is a mural inside the Celebration Center.

"It is very structured because Pastor John (Bunge) wanted it to look like stained glass," she said.

The Rev. Bunge became pastor at the church nine years ago. "She has been a part of our youth program for years and of course she is in charge of face painting at all of our community events," he said. "She is the artist in residence at Trinity. Her talent is apparent throughout our facility; she has an incredible vision."

The church's music director, Hattie Hedrick, has known Whitley for about three years. "Once I saw the quality of her work, I hired her to do some personal artwork for my home," Hedrick said. "I have been very pleased with her work and the praise I get as a result of her work."

She has been commissioned to paint many murals throughout the San Jacinto Valley, including at DeAnza Elementary and World Harvest Church in San Jacinto. But she paints at Trinity because she wants to.

"I enjoy sharing my gift with the church," Whitley said. "There are a lot of people here that share their gifts. When the economy is low sometimes all people have to share is their time and talent."

Inland People

Name: Leigh Ann Whitley

Residence: Hemet

Age: 48

Family: Husband Ron and daughters Jessica, 23, and Nicole, 15

Accomplishments: Known as the "artist in residence" at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hemet, Whitley has left her brush strokes throughout the San Jacinto Valley.

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Traveler 8 being groomed in Hemet

2010-01-12T06:52:00.000-08:00

She's calm, obedient, smart and even at 5 years old, she's majestic.

In other words, she has the ideal qualities to fill some very big horse shoes.

Her registered name is Betica, but this Andalusian filly is waiting in the wings on a Hemet ranch for her debut as Traveler, one of the most celebrated college mascots.

Trainer Diane Dodd is grooming this sweet-natured purebred to be Traveler 8, the white horse that performs at all USC home football games with a Trojan warrior astride.

The school is so serious about its good-luck symbol, the name Traveler is a registered trademark. Many fans swear that the animal's noble presence affects the outcome of games.

"I have high hopes for her," said Dodd, 48, who gives lessons, rehabilitates abused horses and works with show champions. During her 20 years in the business, she's trained one of singer Sheryl Crow's horses to become a winning trick horse.

Obviously, the reign of Traveler 8 won't be under the leadership of Pete Carroll, USC's head coach who resigned this week to become head coach of the Seattle Seahawks.

There's no way to predict when the equine heiress apparent will be ready to set hoof in the Los Angeles Coliseum, said her owner, Nadine Tilley, who keeps 28 horses at the Hemet ranch on Los Rancherias Road.

After all, the horse's gray coat must whiten, which could take years. And she must outgrow her skittishness and mature a bit. "We'll just know when she's ready," Tilley, 62, said. "Young horses can be silly and flighty and have short attention spans."

Then there's the matter of the incumbent. An active 18-year-old Andalusian gelding, owned and trained by Joanne Asman in Burbank, Traveler 7 won't be put out to pasture anytime soon, Tilley said. After all, horses can live into their 30s.

It's not merely chance or coincidence that several of the 28 horses she's raising are poised to become future Travelers. Her husband, William Tilley, 70, an accountant and USC alumnus, endowed his alma mater with $2 million four years ago to maintain the mascot in perpetuity, his wife said.

The tradition started when school officials persuaded a man named Richard Saukko, who rode his white horse in the 1961 Rose Parade, to appear at the Coliseum during USC games.

Ever since, whenever the Trojans score, the band plays "Conquest" and Traveler gallops around the arena. The breed of horse has changed over the decades, but the required color has remained white.

As part of Traveler 8's education, Dodd must expose and desensitize her to honking cars, screaming fans, aggressive children, barking dogs, blaring music and covered arenas. "I take her out of her comfort zone," Dodd said. That means street riding and lots of horse shows.

Dodd works with Betica in Hemet and at her Moreno Valley training center on Locust Avenue. She's also trying to transform another of Tilley's horses into a Traveler. This one's a 7-year-old Andalusian gelding, registered as DiMaggio, whom Dodd calls Joe.

She said it will take awhile before he's ready for prime time as Traveler.

"He can be nippy," she said.

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100 years ago today, voters brought forth a new city -- Hemet

2010-01-11T05:20:00.000-08:00

A farm stretches across the landscape in this undated photograph of early Hemet. The construction of Lake Hemet Dam allowed mountain runoff to be used to irrigate crops.

One hundred years ago today, 177 residents went to the polls in a town that owed its existence to Edward L. Mayberry and William F. Whittier directing runoff from the San Jacinto Mountains into their Lake Hemet Dam.

The water allowed farmers to grow apricots, carrots, citrus, walnuts, grain and potatoes, and to raise cattle and establish dairies. The newly fertile land also made wealthy men of Mayberry and Whittier, owners of the Hemet Land Company, Hemet Water Company and the town bank.

Eventually, as the population grew, the town needed more sidewalks, more firefighters, a library and more schools. It also needed a way to pay for them when the founders wouldn't. The solution: a city with a built-in tax base.

So on Jan. 11, 1910, exactly 130 people -- mostly working men who hoped a new city would create more jobs -- voted to incorporate. The 33 votes against came largely from landowners who feared increased taxation, according to newspaper reports. Fourteen votes were thrown out on technical grounds, and despite that hiccup, Hemet was born nine days later when the state certified the vote.

Today, as Hemet looks ahead to its next 100 years, many of the issues would be familiar to those southeastern Riverside County pioneers: jobs and population growth, services and how to pay for them. But there are differences: Farms have been disappearing for years, and the city evolved into a retirement community that is now evolving yet again into a community of families, requiring a shift in thinking among city officials. And why, many would ask, is someone trying to blow up a police building?

"Cities live," City Manager Brian Nakamura said. "We grow, we get hurt, we feel pain. As a living organism, you have to adapt."

Marc Searl's grandparents arrived in the Hemet area in the 1880s and farmed 7,500 acres.

When Searl graduated from college with an economics degree, he took over the cattle operation. Today, that land is owned by the Metropolitan Water District and is underwater at Diamond Valley Lake.

Searl, 61, a former Hemet city councilman, now owns BJ Sporting Goods downtown on Florida Avenue.

"I was a college-educated cowboy," he said, "and now I'm a jockstrap salesman."

The city had 1,482 residents in 1920, said historian Mary Whitney, who has written seven books on Hemet. Estimates now put the population close to 80,000.

As a result, Searl said, the sense of family that binds Hemet residents and helps them work together to find solutions has eroded.

Beryl Penacho, 92, has lived on 5 acres in eastern Hemet since 1963 after moving to the city with husband Victor in 1950. The land used to be covered with apricot trees, but she pulled them out in 2000 as they died and the income diminished. The widow lives across Mayberry Avenue from Saratoga Ranch, a development of new homes.

"I don't think we have the community feeling we used to have," Penacho said. "We need to have more interest in what happens in town."

Nakamura, though in his first year as city manager, also has seen that problem.

To that end, he said, cities have a responsibility to reach out to residents on topics such as safe driving, recycling, school safety and conservation.

Nakamura said he was heartened Friday, however, when he turned out for sign-ups for the Citizens Emergency Response Team -- volunteers who assist during earthquakes or fires -- and saw 30 people apply and a waiting list of 28 more.

"I was blessed to see citizens so eager to want to help," Nakamura said. "I think it makes our community a great place to live and work and educate."

TODAY'S ISSUES

Even so, the city is showing its age.

Water and sewer pipes are nearing retirement, and the city is working on plans to replace them before they make headlines with spectacular collapses. An inadequate stormwater drainage system is being modernized with the below-ground drains that most other cities have had for years.

The city has had to close a fire station and cut positions because of the economy.

Three December incidents that police say involved gang members -- a pursuit that left a bullet hole in a police car, a young man chopped into pieces and then burned in a bonfire, and an attempt to use natural gas to flatten a gang task force building in a ball of fire -- made regional or national newscasts and reminded residents that urban ills are creeping into the city as it grows.

Nakamura characterized that spree as "blips" and said the city is focusing on reducing crime.

Of course, all those improvements take money, and just as the area sought to expand its tax base 100 years ago, the city is trying to do the same today.

Commercial and residential development, and improving transportation will all play a part and are inextricably linked.

Penacho noted the shift in development to the west in the 1970s and '80s. That's where most of the open land is, and where the city hopes to grow revenue on land that once produced food.

Industrial development would provide jobs that would allow Hemet residents to work locally instead of commute to western Riverside or Orange or Los Angeles counties, and it would encourage outsiders to move to Hemet. More rooftops would increase the need for service businesses, which would hire workers.

Highway 79 will be realigned about three miles to the west, from downtown to west of Warren road, with much of the cross traffic eliminated. The old highway will become basically a city street. The new highway, which is in the environmental review process, would bring motorists traveling from Beaumont to Temecula to San Diego through the city and provide opportunities for the types of businesses that normally sprout near offramps.

A Metrolink line -- Hemet wants stations downtown and to the west -- would make the city more attractive to visitors as well as potential residents.

A Hemet line "is part of the vision," said Riverside County Transportation Commission Project Development Director Cathy Bechtel, but as long as there's no money for it, that's what it will remain.

All would bolster the city's sales and property tax accounts, money that can be used to improve buildings and public services.

So, too, would increased use of Diamond Valley Lake, a popular fishing spot south of the city.

Nakamura said he doubts Metropolitan will ever allow water skiing or other recreational uses that could pollute the water that is delivered to San Diego. But he said he hopes camping, golf courses and other activities can be developed to complement the softball fields under construction. Those fields will host a national tournament this year that is expected to be a boon to the local economy.

Such development would "create a destination for tourism," Nakamura said. "We should have something to offer year round."

THE FUTURE

Whether it's asking the federal government for millions for rails, or asking the city for thousands for a sidewalk, there is agreement: The louder and more united the choir, the better.

Some have suggested that merging the cities of Hemet and San Jacinto -- a proposal that has generated more buzz than action -- would give the region of about 160,000 people more political clout in addition to saving money on public services.

Nakamura, while not taking a stand on a merger, said regions typically have an easier time getting federal funding than cities by themselves.

Whatever Hemet looks like 100 years from now, it will have to confront issues that today are both well-known and unimaginable.

Technology is sure to provide dazzling advances and puzzling policy issues -- Edward Mayberry and William Whittier never had to ponder flight paths at Hemet-Ryan Airport -- for residents and city leaders.

Regardless, there will be stories to tell in 2110 of those who shaped the second 100 years, just as the cowboy-turned-jockstrap salesman Marc Searl shared tales of his grandparents.

"I see a great future for the valley," he said. "Otherwise I wouldn't be here."

Centennial events

Official play

What: "Remembering When: The Story of Mr. Whittier's Hemet," a play about Hemet Water Company co-founder William F. Whittier.

When: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 22

Where: Hemet Public Library, second floor.

Cost: $30 in advance, $35 at door. Includes wine and hors d'oeuvres

Information: Wayne Disher, 951-765-2441

Kickoff celebration

What: Speeches, street fair with vendors and community groups, music on two stages on Harvard Street, child dancers, crowning of centennial queen.

When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 23

Where: Hemet Public Library

Information: Wayne Disher, 951-765-2441

Whisker-ino contest

What: A contest will award prizes for longest, grayest, best handlebar style and best-looking mustache.

When: Winners will be announced Jan. 23 at the kickoff celebration and chosen via a vote of applause. Entries are open.

Information: Joy Ward, 951-658-4478

Baby contest

What: Babies born Jan. 20, 2010, at Hemet Valley Hospital will receive a commemorative centennial birth certificate signed by the Hemet mayor, a goody bag and a centennial teddy bear.

When: Announcement of the babies' names, arrival times and parents' names will be made at the kickoff celebration.

Information: Wayne Disher, 951-765-2441.

Relay run

When: 9 a.m. Jan. 23

What: Five runners pass a relay baton with a Hemet proclamation in it.

Where: From Diamond Valley Lake to Hemet Public Library.

Who:Hemet High running champions Raven Harrison and Meredith Beattie, Habitat for Humanity land-donor Joe Ziegler, Mayor Eric McBride and Fire Chief Matt Shobert.

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Hemet resident drives Chargers on

2010-01-10T06:19:00.000-08:00

The San Diego Chargers, that NFL football team that hopefully won't tank in the playoffs again this year, should pay Jeramie Duguid a promotional fee.

Duguid, a 29-year-old Hemet resident and an ultra-enthusiastic Chargers fan in good and bad years, drives what amounts to be a rolling billboard honoring his beloved team. When he heads down Interstate 15, his Ford F-250 truck with high-lift suspension is one of the most noticeable examples of Chargers spirit that game-bound fans will see.

His towering, shiny pickup already was a yellow that matched the Chargers familiar lightning bolt insignia. He added a giant, Charger-blue decal called a skin. It covers about half his truck.

The decal, which looks like a custom-paint job, outlines a big, yellow lightning bolt and displays the Chargers name and sky filled with bolts.

The theme continues on the back of his truck, where a barbecue for tailgate parties is mounted in a trailer hitch receiver. The grill was professionally painted yellow and blue with the Chargers name.

The big truck, with its oversized cab loaded with his football-loving buddies, is quite the sight when it ventures into San Diego County for a day at Qualcomm Stadium. They tailgate in the parking lot before watching the games.

"Usually people stare at you and tell you they like it," he said. "They give you the thumbs up."

Duguid was a Lakers fan until around the time he graduated from San Jacinto High School in 1998. His attention shifted south to football and the San Diego Chargers. He began buying tickets for games.

Two years ago, he bought season tickets with Albert Aguilar of Menifee, Julio Marquez of Temecula and Eddie Navarro, who operates his family's east Hemet location of Arturo's Grill. Besides their steady San Diego attendance, they have flown to Chargers away games in Pittsburgh, New England, Dallas and Kansas City.

Typically, they venture south for tailgate parties complete with steaks or Navarro's fine Arturo entrees. Duguid keeps a giant ice chest strapped inside the back of his Chargers truck along with a propane tank to fuel his barbecue.

He also carries a television and satellite dish on board so he can watch football games in the parking lot while waiting for the Chargers kickoffs.

He said he would enjoy going to the stadium to tailgate even if he couldn't get inside.

After the games, they, as Duguid calls it, "re-tailgate" for about 90 minutes while the parking lot clears out.

Duguid isn't the only one who should be paid a promotional fee. His very cute 18-month-old daughter, Sophia, wears her second Chargers uniform. She already grew out of her first uniform.

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Police Athletic League is a program helping kids in San Jacinto

2010-01-09T05:30:00.000-08:00

Victoria Martinez, 17, of Hemet, plays indoor soccer with Sandy Flores, 12, of Hemet, and Luis Camacho, 12, of Valle Vista, at the Police Activities League in Hemet recently.

At 17, Victoria Martinez is getting a start at counseling, which she is considering as a career and leadership as a Police Activities League volunteer while she has fun in sports after school.

On a recent Friday, children of all sizes clamored for a jersey from her and a chance to play indoor soccer at the Hemet Police Activities League drop-in after school recreation program.

She calmly divvied up the jerseys, insisting that teams had to be balanced. Then inside the dimly lit former beer distributor warehouse with a concrete floor, the fun began as Victoria, a West Valley High girls' soccer team member, kicking the first ball.

Victoria is a product of both the San Jacinto and Hemet activity leagues, called PAL for short. The free program offers elementary and middle school children a drop-in recreation program that includes sports, arts and crafts, homework tutoring, field trips, "cops and kids" events and a chance for community service. Teens help as volunteers.

Victoria said she got involved when she was 12 or 13 and living in San Jacinto.

"I used to go to the after school program at Monte Vista (Middle School), but my friend told me PAL was a real cool program," she said.

Like other children interviewed in San Jacinto, she said if it weren't for PAL, she likely would "just be at home, doing nothing." She said she might have gotten into trouble and gone "the wrong direction."

Now living in Hemet, she is on PAL's Youth Directors Council helping plan activities for the two sites. Recently, she was chosen as one of 13 members of the California PAL statewide council.

"I love being around these kids, they listen to me," she said.

Statewide there are about 8,000 children involved in PAL chapters, according to Gregg Wilson, California PAL executive director. The youth council is responsible for planning a three-day leadership training event for their peers in Sacramento and a four-day life after high school program at Cal State Fresno.

"Part of the leadership program is about giving back to the community," he said. The teens advise adult leaders about activities

"I'm proud of her. It has really set her on the right track," said Victoria's mother, Mary Martinez. "A couple of my co-workers bring their kids here because of her," she said. "They know that the kids are safe."

In the San Jacinto Valley, cities and law enforcement support PAL, with staff provided by Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District at the Hemet site on Buena Vista Street and the San Jacinto site at Sallee Park.

"They're here because they want to be here" and have fun, said Valerie Florez, executive director for the two sites. The program draws mostly from nearby schools. "I think the biggest problem we have is transportation."

Parents or guardians must register their children for the free program, which attracts almost 200 children between the two sites.

San Jacinto Police Chief William Tyler, chairman of the San Jacinto PAL board, said, "Both programs are going strong," in part due to the partnership with Valley-Wide and the counselors. "They just have a heart for the kids," he said by phone.

Police officers stop by daily to help develop positive relationships with youth and chaperone field trips, he said.

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New Riverside County animal shelter will open in San Jacinto in summer

2010-01-08T06:41:00.000-08:00

A new Riverside County animal shelter is expected to open this summer in San Jacinto around the corner from the nonprofit Ramona Humane Society, which has housed animals from the region for years and will continue to operate as an adoption shelter.

The construction site is on South Grand Avenue just north of West Seventh Street in the city's industrial area.

The 10-building complex has separate buildings for strays that are in protective custody or isolation, and for dogs that are up for adoptions, according to Doug Austin, Riverside County Department of Animal Services operations chief for field and shelter services. Cats will have their own building with indoor and screened outdoor areas.

For the first 11 months of 2009, live impound strays, owner-surrender animals and confiscated animals from county areas or contract cities totaled 13,648 at the Ramona shelter, according to county statistics.

Some animals brought to the shelter may be transferred to a shelter operated by the nonprofit Animal Friends of the Valleys in Lake Elsinore because of where they were found, according to John Welsh, spokesman for county animal services.

The county supervisors awarded a $13.85 million construction contract to Tovey/Schultz almost a year ago. The approximately 43,000-square-foot complex of buildings will house animals from the midcounty area, including the San Jacinto Valley, Winchester and Homeland, and contract cities. Cities currently served by the Ramona shelter are Hemet, San Jacinto and Menifee.

The county currently contracts with the humane society to house animals. The cities contract with the county for field and shelter services.

The complex incorporates the latest in design aimed at keeping the animals healthy.

"Illness is the biggest challenge in kenneling any animal," Austin said. A special-coated block is being used in the construction of the building walls. Buildings have an air exhaust system so air is not recirculated. There is radiant floor heating, kennel floors that slope to drains and skylights for natural light.

"We're trying to make the cleaning process as quick and easy as possible," Austin said.

There will also be corrals outside for horses.

The working title for the facility is San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus, said Welsh. Third District County Supervisor Jeff Stone, whose district includes the shelter, will recommend a permanent name for the facility for approval by his board before the facility opens.

Animal Services Director Robert Miller expects the new shelter to open in July. He said the county facility will serve the legally mandated role of taking in strays or owner-surrendered animals and become a primary source of animals for the Ramona Humane Society as an adoption shelter.

The humane society operates an onsite spay/neuter clinic, which the county would utilize.

The humane society will continue operating its shelter on Humane Way just off Seventh Street. "We're looking at all options in animal services," said Jeff Sheppard, humane society executive director. "We'll be talking to the county and the cities."

Although Sheppard expects that some animals still may not find homes and be euthanized, "We would like to achieve that status of no-kill."

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San Jacinto Planning Commission seeks applicants

2010-01-07T05:22:00.000-08:00

San Jacinto is accepting applications from people interested in serving on the city Planning Commission.

The terms of incumbents Andrew Kotyuk, Andy Seitl and Russ Utz expired Oct. 31, 2009, but they will continue to serve until the City Council makes appointments at its Jan. 21 meeting.

The commission advises the council on development matters and typically meets once a month.

Applicants for the four-year terms must be residents of the city or its adopted sphere of influence, which is the area outside the city limits that the city expects to annex some day.

The application deadline is 5 p.m. Monday.

The three commissioners each had been appointed to fill vacancies created by the resignation of previous officeholders. Seitl was appointed in September 2008, Kotyuk last February 2009 and Utz last June, according to a city staff report by Rick Miller, the interim city clerk.

The other commissioners, whose terms will expire Oct. 31, are Steve Warneke and Larry Pellerin.

Applications are available at the city clerk's office or online at: www.ci.san-jacinto.ca.us

Information: 951-487-7339.

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Palm Springs International Film Festival

2010-01-06T12:28:00.000-08:00

Tuesday evening got a little brighter in the Coachella Valley when the 21st annual Palm Springs International Film Festival kicked off with its awards gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center.

When stars such as Morgan Freeman and Clint Eastwood stepped out of limousines, flashes snapped and fans cheered from behind barricades across the street.

Irenne and Don Tarnowski, who winter in Cathedral City and are from Vancouver, Canada, came back to the gala for a second year to try their luck at seeing honoree Mariah Carey. They met Dustin Hoffman, Ben Stiller and Dakota Fanning at last year's gala.

"You can't do this in Toronto. You can't do this in Hollywood," Don Tarnowski said.

The gala kicked off the festival, which runs through Jan. 18 and will feature almost 200 films.

Among them is the premiere of "Shoot the Hero," by Palm Springs director Christian Sesma.

"It's great to come full circle," he said as he walked the red carpet.

He was excited to see one of his inspirations, director Quentin Tarantino, who was among the evening's honorees.

Tarantino said he had an awards area in his home and joked that he was making room for more after the acclaim of his film "Inglourious Basterds."

Diablo Cody, who was honored for "Juno" two years ago and presented Tarantino with his award Tuesday night, said the weather was another bonus of returning.

"It's really exciting, a really amazing, refreshing event," said Cody, who wrote "Juno." "I couldn't be more excited about presenting to Quentin Tarantino."

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Tuskegee official discusses possible cooperation with UCR's archive

2010-01-05T07:09:00.000-08:00

As manager of the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site in Tuskegee, Ala., Deanna Mitchell said she couldn't miss this year's Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena.

West Covina's entry in the New Year's Day parade was a float honoring the Tuskegee Airmen that featured a bald eagle, two fighter planes and 16 members of the famous fighting group, including Riverside's Harlan Leonard.

Mitchell said she also didn't want to return home without visiting the Tuskegee archives at the UC Riverside library. On Monday, she spent several hours with Tomas Rivera Library's Director Ruth Jackson, surveying material from the archive and discussing possible cooperative efforts between her National Park Service museum and the university.

More than 1,000 black pilots were produced by the training program at Moton Field and Tuskegee University during World War II. The segregated program and the men's contributions while fighting for the United States went largely unrecognized for many years after the war.

Mitchell said although her visit was unofficial, she hopes ties might eventually be established between the UCR archives and the historic site.

"This is a great opportunity for us to connect," Mitchell said. "I'm very impressed with what I've seen."

The Riverside collection was started in 2004, originally as an effort to document the history of the Tuskegee veterans living on the West Coast. Now, Jackson said, the archive takes material from all over. The collection has military records, letters, documents and artifacts, including many items not stored at the national site.

"Some of the items like goggles and hats and flight jackets, we don't have," Mitchell said.

"I'm very excited about some of these new items," she added, thumbing through the pages of a booklet titled "The Tuskegee Airmen Story" for the first time. "They have kind of hit me in the face."

The UC Riverside archive is one of several, including collections at Maxwell Air Force Base, near Montgomery, Ala., and the National Archives.

"It stands side by side with the others," Mitchell said of the Riverside collection. "They've done an excellent job."

Jackson said most of the archival material has been gathered from the pilots, support personnel and their families. Because most of the veterans are in their 80s or older, time is critical.

"You have a special moment in time to get the archive," she said. "And when that moment is lost, the archive could be lost."

Gathering such material should be a cooperative effort, Mitchell said. She plans to speak to the people she works with about the need for collaboration.

"The more information we can collect," she said, "the easier it will be to reconstruct the history."

Visit library.ucr.edu/?view=tuskegee for more information on the UC Riverside Tuskegee Airmen archive.

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San Jacinto veterinarian reaches 100,000-surgery milestone

2010-01-04T07:05:00.000-08:00

Lounging in a crate, the small mostly white dog was a bit woozy from surgery but became the center of attention as the 100,000th spay-neuter patient of Dr. Don Popa, the veterinarian for Ramona Humane Society's low-cost clinic in San Jacinto.
Dr. Don Popa, the veterinarian for Ramona Humane Society's low-cost clinic in San Jacinto, cradles his 100,000th spay-neuter patient. Popa keeps a record of surgeries he has performed in his career. He says he might perform 40 to 50 surgeries in a day, operating on both dogs and cats.

The 1½-year-old pup came to the shelter as a stray picked up in Hemet on Nov. 7. But after a party Dec. 22 for Popa, humane society supporters and staff, dog No. R133640 was headed to a new adoptive home in Riverside, according to society Executive Director Jeff Sheppard.

Popa, 53, keeps a record of surgeries he has performed in his career. He said he might perform 40 to 50 surgeries in a day, operating on both dogs and cats.

There continues to be a need to educate people about pet overpopulation. But in recent years, Popa said, "People are more willing to come in" to get their pets altered, with increased regulations and the incentive of price breaks on licenses for altered dogs and cats.

Sheppard said it has been an honor to work with Popa, whose care and dedication extends to teaching the shelter staff how to administer medications and address the needs of the animals.

Popa was born in Romania and studied at a university in Cluj. After coming to the United States in 1985, he took exams to qualify for a state veterinary license. He worked at a number of clinics in Riverside County and became a relief veterinarian at the Ramona shelter clinic about six years ago, where he now works full-time. He has specialized in spay-neuter surgery for 12 years.

Dr. Don Popa, the veterinarian for Ramona Humane Society's low-cost clinic in San Jacinto, cradles his 100,000th spay-neuter patient. Popa keeps a record of surgeries he has performed in his career. He says he might perform 40 to 50 surgeries in a day, operating on both dogs and cats.
His record day was 105 surgeries a year or two ago. "I have very good support staff and a lot of coffee and cookies," he said.

Riverside's Lorena Chavez, 24, who works in telecommunications, adopted No. R133640.

Chavez spotted her new dog on the Petfinder Web site. "Actually I was looking for a small dog, no breed in particular," she said by phone. "I saw her picture and I thought, 'She's really, really cute.' "

Chavez came to the shelter Dec. 16 to meet the dog, which reminded her of a Jack Russell terrier, a breed that can sometimes be jumpy and hyperactive, she said.

The mixed-breed dog has a curled tail with some tan and dark splotches on her face.

"I came and I played with her and she was really, really calm," Chavez said. The match was made.

Chavez had to work and missed the party, but said, "I was telling everyone at work my dog is going to be famous."

She understands the importance of spaying and neutering to control the pet population and said that when she hears friends contemplating buying a dog from a breeder, she tells them to check out the shelters first.

Chavez has a couple of names in mind for her new pet, but said, "I do want to get to know her a little" before picking a name.

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Ring in the New Year at Soboba's AC's Lounge

2009-12-31T07:37:00.000-08:00

SOBOBA CASINO: New Years Party in AC's Lounge with favors, drink specials, a balloon drop and live entertainment. Thursday, 9 p.m.-1:30 a.m. $10 per person or $15 per couple. 23333 Soboba Road, San Jacinto, 866-476-2622

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Riverside County Libraries relax renewal policies,but

2009-12-28T07:52:00.000-08:00

People are spending more time at their local libraries these days, and libraries are trying to encourage return visits.

Both the Riverside County library system and the San Bernardino County library system have recently tweaked their renewal policies. The county systems are separate from city systems.

Riverside County's 33 library branches are now allowing patrons to renew their books and audio materials for a longer period, as long as no one else has requested the same item. Readers can hang on to a book for 10 weeks maximum instead of six. The system is allowing four two-week renewals after the initial check-out period of two weeks.

"It doesn't arbitrarily force someone to give back the book if no one wants it," said Mark Smith, library administrator for the Riverside County system. "It's an opportunity to keep it longer."

But the county system has also decided to take back videos and DVDs sooner.

Patrons can no longer renew such items, which must be brought back after two weeks. Smith said this change allows people quicker access to videos and DVDs, which can be viewed and returned in a short amount of time. The system has fewer videos and DVDs than books -- 81,000 versus 1.4 million -- and the new policy allows people to get their hands on movies faster, Smith said.

The San Bernardino County system, which has 30 branches, now allows patrons to renew all VHS videos one time. There's less demand for videos than DVDs, and the system decided to offer patrons an extension, said Nannette Bricker-Barrett, collection management coordinator.

Most other items, including books, can be checked out for 21 days and can be renewed for another 21 days if no one has placed a hold on them.

The changes are not meant to imply that people are reading less, said Smith and Bricker-Barrett. They're probably reading more these days.

"We are having a lot of holds," Bricker-Barrett said. "People are purchasing fewer books and our circulation is going up. ... In the past, people only had print books and today they have more options -- audio books and e-books."

The San Bernardino County Library has downloadable books as well. Patrons can download audio books from the library's Web site to their computers and MP3 players. They can also download e-books to their computers or electronic reader devices.

CIRCULATION RISING

Smith said it's well documented that libraries are seeing increases in circulation during the downturn in the economy.

Circulation has skyrocketed in the Riverside system in recent years.

The number jumped from the 2006-07 fiscal year to the 2007-08 fiscal year by about 39 percent, Smith said. The circulation number went up by about 5.5 percent in the 2008-09 year to about 3.5 million. Non-print items -- the bulk being DVDs and videos -- make up about a quarter of the circulation.

"People are reading more or at least checking out more books," Smith said.

During the same time, the system has been attracting patrons by offering more cultural events, programs and bilingual story hours in Spanish. The number of people who attended a program jumped from 40,827 in 2006-07 to 127,717 in 2008-09, Smith said.

San Bernardino County system has also seen a spike in circulation. During the 2008-09 fiscal year, circulation increased by nearly 17 percent to 3.1 million. The large increase is unusual but part of it can be attributed to a Fontana branch that opened in 2008, Bricker-Barrett said.

For the first five months of 2009-10, the circulation is about 5 percent higher than the same time period last year, Bricker-Barrett said. She said she's seeing a general trend -- people are reading more books and requesting more titles from the libraries.

"Our gut feeling is that there's a general increase in usage," Bricker-Barrett said. "People are not purchasing their own books. They're placing them on hold more."

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Recycle Christmas Trees, Not the Landfill

2009-12-26T07:05:00.000-08:00

It's Dec. 26. The presents have been opened, the fruitcake consumed -- mostly -- and the eggnog drunk.

Now it's time to do something about the brittle tree standing in the corner that was so fresh just a couple of weeks ago.

The easiest way to dispose of a tree is to set it out with the trash, where the local hauler will take it away for recycling.

"We don't want them to take up landfill space," said Diane Christensen, program administrator for Riverside County's Waste Management Division.

Christensen is backed up on this by the division's assistant chief engineer, Joe McCann.

"It's a shame to put into a landfill something that can go to better use," McCann said.

The mulch made from ground-up Christmas trees is used for garden fertilizers, trail beds, landscape decoration and as fuel for power plants.

The tree must be stripped of all its decoration, including tinsel, or most haulers won't pick it up, said representatives of county waste management departments and trash haulers.

A flocked tree is not a candidate for recycling. It will have to be cut up and disposed of in a landfill, they said.

For those who don't have curbside pickup, trees can be taken to a county landfill or to a private recycler.

Christmas tree disposal has become a major operation in the United States, said Steve Kanow, operations director for Waste Management Inc., a major trash-collection contractor in the Inland area.

"Most people don't realize that, as a nation, we generate about 5 million additional tons of trash during the holiday period between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day," Kanow said in a news release. "Locally, recycled trees will have a second life as mulch for gardens and fuel for electricity."

He said 40,000 tons of Christmas trees are disposed of each year in California.

Tree disposal

All trash haulers will begin collecting used Christmas trees for recycling or disposal beginning today and end the program two to three weeks later. Check with your local hauler to be sure.

To prepare trees for recycling:

Remove plastic or metal stands

Remove lights, tinsel and ornaments

Cut the tree into 4-foot sections

Flocked trees cannot be recycled. Cut them into 4-foot or smaller sections and place in your regular trash bin.

In Riverside County, those who can't or don't wish to leave their trees at the curb to be picked up can take them to two landfills, where they will be collected and taken to recyclers:

Badlands Landfill, 31125 Ironwood Ave., Moreno Valley

Lamb Canyon Landfill, 16411 Lamb Canyon Road, Beaumont

Trees can also be dropped off at the following recyclers:

A. Lua Wood Recycling, 18938 Mermack Ave., Lake Elsinore

B.P. John Recycling, 28700 Matthews Road, Romoland

Robert A. Nelson Transfer Station, 1830 Agua Mansa Road, Riverside (this recycler will take trees only from residents of Riverside)

For more information, call 951-486-3200 or go to www.rivcowm.org

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Christmas Season in Idyllwild California

2009-12-24T06:44:00.000-08:00

Idyllwild California's Directory and Info Site
Including Lodging, Hotels, Rentals, Real Estate, Weather, and the Arts.
We can help you find your way to hotels in idyllwild, a cabin for
the night, or a home to buy. From a place to eat, to an art show. Plus where to go camping, hiking, biking, fishing, Pacific Crest Trail
conditions, nature photos / pictures, even computer support.
"Going into the woods is going home"--John Muir

Log on to www.idyllwildcalifornia.com

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Off-road dog has need for speed, owner says

2009-12-23T08:31:00.000-08:00

TRICK DOG: A man has trained his Australian shepherd to ride in motocross races with him.
Sit. Stay. Pop a wheelie. Good dog.

A southwest Riverside County man has trained his 8-year-old Australian shepherd, Opee, to ride motorcycles and endure the jumps, turns, dust and mud pits of motocross.

Opee is "an extreme dog," said Mike Schelin, 41, explaining that the dog rides in front of him on their dirt-bike in competitive motocross races. Opee is not attached to the bike in any way, but wears a helmet, protective goggles, and motocross jersey. Schelin says they have never won a race, but they've never come in last either.

Together, Opee and Schelin have ridden in the Harvey Mushman 100 at the Lake Elsinore Grand Prix and the Baja 500, he said.

Plenty of coastal dog owners have trained their pets to surf, Schelin said. Now the Inland area, a mecca of motocross, has its dirt-bike racing dog.

"We want to be the goodwill ambassadors to the sport," the Perris resident said, adding that he also likes to take Opeeto visit children with disabilities.

For the most part, Schelin said riders and audience members seem delighted by the sight of Opee in his motocross gear at events. Occasionally people accuse him of mistreating Opee when they see him on the sidelines in his helmet, and some riders dismiss them as "a circus act," he said.

For the record, the Humane Society takes a dim view of involving dogs in potentially dangerous sports such as motocross racing.

Schelin said Opee removes the helmet on his own if he wants to, and if Opee isn't in the mood to ride, they don't.

"This dog has been over 150 mph and absolutely loves it. He just looks like he's having a blast. The faster we go, the more fun he has," Schelin said.

Motorcycle dogs

In his garage next door to the Perris Raceway, Schelin showed off Opee's various modified while the dog and the family's latest addition, Marty, an Australian shepherd puppy and motocross dog in the making, romped around a pile of old dirt-bike tires. Schelin recently started a business, Area 74 Cycles, buying "ugly motorcycles" and breaking them down to sell for parts.

Schelin said the dog came before the motorcycles. Schelin took up motocross riding about 10 years ago after he got divorced and abandoned his office job. He hadn't ridden since he was growing up in Escondido in San Diego County.

Schelin said he didn't like leaving Opee behind when he went riding in the desert, so he decided to try bringing him along on a four-wheeler. Then one day, Schelin said, Opee jumped up on his street motorcycle and they were off.

"I thought, 'My god, he rides better than my ex-wife," Schelin said with a grin. "He's totally into it."

"It was just such fun riding with him and seeing the expressions on people's faces," he said.

The idea to race was suggested by some "old timers" who remembered John McCown, who was known for racing with his dog Kookie in the 70s, Schelin said. They appear in the 1971 paean to motorcycles, "On Any Sunday," which also shows the actor Steve McQueen riding in the Elsinore Grand Prix.

Schelin said he had never raced at all before he took it up with Opee.

"It had always been a dream of mine," Schelin said.

Schelin said he and Opee have developed their own riding style. Going around turns, the dog and the bike lean in, but Schelin has to lean out to see around Opee. They have experimented with various items for Opee to grip, such as carpets and pillows, but he learned to ride with nothing at all, Schelin said.

In some respects, having 80 extra pounds of dog and gear on board helps, Schelin said - the added weight acts as a stabilizer. He is so skinny, Schelin joked, that "together we make one real rider."

He also gives Opee cues when they are approaching a difficult spot. At jumps, for instance, he says, "Set it up," and Opee will duck down and hold on.

Asked whether Australian shepherds make good motorcycle dogs, Schelin said, "As far as being smart and always wanting to be your friend, yes. But he's too big...He takes up half the bike."

Schelin said that while it might seem crazy to ride with his dog, having Opee around lets him share the experience of riding.

"I talk to him like a human. He's my best friend," Schelin said.

Cathy Tonkovich, of Corona, who became friends with Schelin while spending time at Perris Raceway, said his dogs are like his family.

"He's got a big heart," she said. "I just get a kick out of him every time I see him and those dogs. He's something else."

Frank Loaiza, of Lake Elsinore, a paramedic who has known Schelin for several years, said that while people in the motocross community might not know who Mike is, they know his dog.

"Opee is famous."

Home in Hemet is a special Christmas present

2009-12-23T06:44:00.000-08:00

About 75 people gathered for the dedication ceremony of the 14th house completed by Habitat for Humanity's Hemet/San Jacinto affiliate on Saturday. It is the first of six homes that will be built on adjacent lots donated by Hemet.

Volunteers started building the Hemet house in May and the Salgado family worked beside them as they put in their required 500 hours of sweat equity for the nonprofit organization. A grant pays for the salary of construction supervisor John Cosselman, who is onsite each day to oversee the workers.

Residing in the four-bedroom, two-bath house will be Sammy Salgado, 24, his wife Juanita, 30 and children Xavier, 17, Ezekiel, 7, Josiah, 3 and Estherlynn, 2. They will move from their a two-bedroom apartment into the home as soon as they receive the certificate of occupancy, which was expected today.

These homes are not free -- we are helping people who are trying to help themselves," said Lakshman Koka, president of the local affiliate. He said the family's 30-year interest-free mortgage was calculated on the actual cost of construction and will be $358 per month.

A dedication ceremony has several key elements. A loaf of bread is given so "the family will never know hunger." A candle will assure that their home "will never be dark." A Bible is presented to the family so they will take possession of the house and instill values and morals to make it a home.

"It's unbelievable," sand Sammy Salgado after the house was blessed. "I just want to thank God, all the supporters and the volunteers."

The Salgados started the application process about two years ago.

"What a wonderful time of year to deliver the gift of this home to your beautiful family," said longtime supporter Supervisor Jeff Stone. "You now have the American dream of home ownership."

Double-paned windows and high-grade insulation will help keep the 1,280-square-foot home energy-efficient. A large front porch and back patio will be a feature on all six of the homes. The exterior's concrete material is styled to look like wood.

"We're very eco-friendly," said Cosselman, of Idyllwild.

In August of 2008 he stopped in at the affiliate's office and gave up his plans to retire. He has worked on residential projects in California and Florida.

"Now this is the way to finish a career -- to see them out here working every Saturday," said Cosselman.

"This is the most beautiful thing, and so close to Christmas," said Juanita's mother Esther, who lives in San Jacinto. She baby-sat the children so Sammy and Juanita could spend as much time as possible helping to build their new home.

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Healthy Hannah shares tips with San Jacinto students

2009-12-22T07:08:00.000-08:00

San Jacinto Unified has enlisted a superhero to teach children about fighting germs by washing their hands and living healthy lives by eating right.

Sherrie Martineau, the school district's director of nutrition services, came up with the idea for the character, "Healthy Hannah".

Hyatt Elementary cafeteria manager Bree Laird and her mother designed the costume that Laird wears at school assemblies.
The message Laird, aka Healthy Hannah, is delivering in elementary schools this month and next is about proper hand washing and use of hand sanitizers.

Already, hand-pump sanitizer dispensers are common sights at schools. Now the district is distributing free-standing hand sanitizer machines, according to a news release from Jayne Christakos, assistant superintendent of business services.

The sanitizers on stands will be placed in multi-purpose room and cafeteria locations just before the lunch line. "Just before they put their hands into their mouths, they will have virtually germ-free hands," Martineau said.

At one assembly at Hyatt Elementary earlier this month, Healthy Hannah called up a group of students as she explained proper hand washing: 20 seconds of soaping up, equal to two verses of the song "Row, Row, Row Your Boat," and the children sang along. Another student demonstrated how to use the new sanitizer stand.

"That's pretty much a kindergarten song," said fifth-grader Kody Denny after the assembly. But he's sure he has the technique down to fight germs. "At recess, I dig (on the playground) so it makes sense to wash longer," he said.

Future topics may include fruit and vegetable choices, food portions, nutrition and exercise.

Laird's costume has a blue mask, tights and top, a big "H" emblazoned on a gold mid-section and a shiny red cape and gathered skirt. Laird, who is studying nutrition at Mt. San Jacinto College, said the children have been "very enthusiastic" about the programs.

The aim is to convey healthy habits and nutritious eating to help students make choices "for the rest of their lives," Martineau said. "We wanted something that would relate to students and pique their interest."

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