Ramona Humane Society Oktoberfest Saturday

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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