Southwest Riverside County Community News

By: The Californian - 3/22/2006 | Tuesday, March 21, 2006 6:20 PM PST ∞

Ride to benefit children's home


TEMECULA ---- Cruisin' to break the cycle of abuse, a motorcycle event to raise community awareness and financial support for Thessalonika Family Services/Rancho Damacitas, will take place Sunday.

The ride will begin at 9:15 a.m. at the Shell gas station at 26680 Ynez Road. The ride will cover more than 200 miles into North San Diego County. Lunch will be provided for participants around 12:30 p.m., and the ride will end about 5:30 p.m.

The cost to participate is a minimum $50 donation per bike. All proceeds will go to the charity. Prizes will be offered to participants based on donations. There will also be a drawing for all who donate.

As of Monday, five riders had signed up and $815 had been raised. More bikes are expected to register at the event. All the giveaways were donated by local businesses.

Thessalonika Family Services houses and counsels abused and abandoned children.

For information, call Linda at (909) 518-9406 or visit at www.CrucialConversation.info.

Noted author to address AAUW


TEMECULA ---- Le Ly Hayslip, author of two best-selling memoirs about her painful and, ultimately, triumphant journey from a tragic childhood in war-torn Vietnam to her new life in the United States, will speak at a joint meeting of the Temecula and Fallbrook branches of American Association of University Women on April 1. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. at Pat & Oscar's.

Hayslip's books, "When Heaven & Earth Changed Places" and "Child of War, Woman of Peace," were adapted into the film, "Heaven & Earth," directed by Oliver Stone in 1994.

Hayslip arrived in the United States in 1970 and became a U.S. citizen in 1978. Twice widowed, she raised her three sons in Southern California as a successful entrepreneur. In 1986, she returned to Vietnam to care for her aging mother and was stunned by the devastation, poverty and illness left by the war. She founded the "East Meets West Foundation," a nonprofit relief organization that provided housing, education and medical care for tens of thousands Vietnamese children and villagers.

In 2000, Hayslip accompanied a U.S. trade mission to Vietnam, joining President Clinton and his wife at the signing of the historic trade agreement between the U.S. and Vietnam. Later, she established the Global Village Foundation, which honors individuals for humanitarian peace efforts.

Hayslip lectures at universities across the nation and has led veterans back to Vietnam on missions of peace and compassion to heal the lingering wounds of war.

Hayslip's books will be on sale at the joint branch meeting, with a book signing after the program.

Pat & Oscar's is at 29375 Rancho California Road. Continental breakfast includes pastries, muffins, bagels, cream cheese, mixed fruits, drinks for $17.

RSVP to Ann Weston at 679-6728 or email ann3weston@aol.com.

WHAT'S HAPPENING

Four dry land gardens featured in tour


BORREGO SPRINGS ---- Four dry land gardens and the distinctive landscaping of a Borrego Springs Church will be featured on the Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association's eight annual Desert Garden Tour from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Each garden offers a different approach to the challenge of creating outdoor living space in a desert region.

Tickets for the self-guided tour cost $17. There are discounts for association members and volunteers. They are on sale at the Borrego Desert Nature Center, 652 Palm Canyon Drive, For information, call (760) 767-3098 or e-mail naturecenter@uia.net.

FACTS to celebrate anniversary


TEMECULA ---- FACTS, a group for families with autistic children, will celebrate its 10th anniversary Saturday.

The celebration will bring families, service providers and volunteers together to celebrate the achievements of local children with autism, kick off National Autism Awareness Month and commemorate the anniversary of Families & Autistic Children Together Succeed. The day will also include a brunch, silent auction and drawings, family photos and a clown.

FACTS was begun in May 1996 by Cheryl Cisneros as parent action group with a few dozen members. It is now a multifaceted nonprofit organization with more than 180 families from throughout Southwest County. The cost is $5, with proceeds benefitting FACTS.

The celebration will be at the Morgan Hills Clubhouse, 44994 Frogs Leap St. For information, visit www.factsfamilies.org.

CASA adds to staff, plans training


MURRIETA ---- Court Appointed Special Advocates for Riverside County has added Anna Parra to its staff as a part-time case manager in its Murrieta office. CASA serves abused, neglected and abandoned children who are in the county's juvenile court dependency system.

Thanks to the position, which was made possible by funding from BetterWorld Together Foundation, an additional 25 CASA volunteers will be trained. Sessions are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and April 1, 8 and 22.

Parra's background includes work with Riverside County, Perris Union High School District and Mt. San Jacinto College. In her new role, she will supervise volunteers who serve as advocates for and mentors to the children the agency serves. There are more than 4,500 such children in the county and an estimated 430 in Southwest County, according to the agency.

The Murrieta office, where the training will take place, is at 30755-D Auld Road, Suite 1226. For information, call 304-5220 or visit www.casariversidecounty.org.

'Save Our Nation' rally set


TEMECULA ---- Citizen Activists for a Secure America will host a "Save Our Nation" rally from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at Sam Hicks Monument Park. The rally is for supporters of secure borders and legal immigration.

Among those invited to speak are Jim Gilchrist, founder of the Minuteman Project, and Murrieta City Councilman Doug McAllister. There will also be representatives from groups such as California Coalition for Immigration Reform, Mothers Against Illegal Aliens and Latino Americans for Immigration Reform.

Participants are asked to bring signs appropriate for the rally, flags, water and lawn chairs or blankets.

The park is at 41970 Moreno Road. For information, e-mail casa1usa@yahoo.com.

CLUB NEWS

Italian American Club to meet


MURRIETA ---- The Italian American Club of Temecula will meet at 6 p.m. today. The club meets the fourth Wednesday of the month.

For information and location, call Cathy 695-5653.

Women's club plans flower show


LAKE ELSINORE ---- The Elsinore Woman's Club will present its 50th annual Flower Show on Friday and Saturday at its clubhouse.

Hours are 2 to 5 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The event is free for spectators as well as entrants. It is open to all amateurs.

For those who wish to compete: Entries must be at the clubhouse between 8 and 10 a.m. Friday; only one entry in each category per participant; only fresh, nondyed flowers can be used; name of the exhibitor must be on the bottom of the container; entries will be judged from all sides; and entries must not be removed from display until 4 p.m. on Saturday.

The show will be at 710 W. Graham Ave. For information, call 674-3445.

Marine Corps League to meet Saturday


MURRIETA ---- Third District county Supervisor Jeff Stone is scheduled to speak when the Marine Corps League Murrieta-Temecula Detachment 1057 meets at 9 a.m. Saturday.

The league is a U.S. Marines veterans organization and is composed of current and former Marines with honorable service. All qualified Marines are encouraged to join.

For location or other information, call Don Krampe at 600-0542 or Harold Craig at 698-6561.

Group to hold election workshop


RIVERSIDE ---- The League of Women Voters for the Inland Empire will co-host a community outreach workshop for the 2006 election from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the March Field Air Museum.

The goal is to provide nonpartisan election help to new citizens, adult literacy classes, persons with disabilities, new voters ages 18 to 30 or others seeking information. The workshop will cover coalition building, volunteer recruitment, demographics and ethnic media exposure.

Information about the league's election Web site, www.smartvoter.org, and the nonpartisan election booklet, www.easyvoter.org, will also be available.

The coordinating organizations are Common Knowledge, the League of Women Voters California Education Fund and league chapters from Southwest County, Northwest County and San Bernardino.

Parking and admission is free. The museum is at 22550 Van Buren Blvd., just off Interstate 215. To register for the workshop, call Charolette Fox at 302-0180 or lottiefox@verizon.net.

NAACP to meet Saturday


LAKE ELSINORE ---- Paul Van Doren, executive director of the Riverside Community Access Center, an Independent Living Center, will speak when the local NAACP Branch 1034 meets from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. The branch meets on the fourth Saturday of each month in the Lake Elsinore Library's activity room, 600 W. Graham Ave.

Van Doren will discuss the purpose and goals of the center. In addition, he will explain how the disabled can seek help from the center, which is based in Riverside.

Also, the local NAACP chapter will have its annual scholarship banquet at 4 p.m. April 8 at The Diamond Club at The Diamond. Tickets are $40 and include tickets to the Storm baseball game after the banquet.

The theme will be "Education: The Key to Success." In addition, the group will present the winners of the Cesar Chavez essay contest. For reservations, call 674-7146.

For information about the branch, visit www.lakeelsinorenaacp.org.

Ham radio club plans meeting


TEMECULA ---- The Golden Triangle Amateur Radio Club will have its next general meeting Monday at the Rancho California Water District. The group meets the fourth Monday of the month with social time at 7 p.m. and the meeting at 7:30.

Bob Glass, a bloodhound trainer and handler for 10 years, will speak about search-and-rescue dogs. He will discuss the selection and training of dogs, some of the approximately 300 operations he has been involved with in conjunction with law enforcement and fire agencies and will explain the use of ham radio during search-and-rescue activities.

The meeting is at 42135 Winchester Road. For information, call Ed Sherman at (800) 596-0615.

Lions Club to meet


MURRIETA ---- The Murrieta Breakfast Lions Club meets at 7 a.m. the second and fourth Tuesday of the month.

Meetings are in the community room of the Murrieta Police Department, at Jefferson Avenue and Juniper Street.

For information, call 677-8548, 294-0307 or 296-9894.

Women's Roundtable to host expo


TEMECULA ---- The Professional Women's Roundtable Community Expo will host its inaugural Community Expo on March 30.

The free Expo is a chance for community members to mix and mingle with more than 30 local business and service organizations.

The expo will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Hampton Inn and Suites, 28190 Jefferson Ave. Visitors will be eligible to win raffle prizes and receive gifts.

Proceeds will go toward The Professional Women's Roundtable Scholarship Fund for a young woman graduating high school who desires a career in the business world.

For information, call Stacy Nelson at 551-8630 or Rachel Mason at 852-4288.

For You Network gives awards


Barbara Huguenin of Murrieta was given the Shepherd of Influence Award by the For You Network at its recent Have a Heart ceremony.

The For You Network, with 21 branches throughout Southern California, seeks to enrich the personal and professional lives of women. More than 180 nominations were received and 14 awards were given.

The event was chaired by Gisella Thomas of Murrieta. Among her assistants were Margie Cloud of Murrieta and Robbie Motter of Sun City.

The Murrieta chapter meets at 11 a.m. the second Wednesday of the month at California Grill in Temecula.

For information call Rhonda Sher at 894-7765 or visit www.foryounetwork.com.

VOLUNTEERS

Lake Elsinore Senior Center


LAKE ELSINORE ----- The Lake Elsinore Senior Center is seeking volunteers for office work and help at special events, the Hospitality Committee and specialty services.

The center is at 420 E. Lakeshore Drive. For information or to apply, call Jude at 674-2526.

Komen Breast Cancer Foundation


MURRIETA ---- The Inland Empire affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation is seeking volunteers to work in its office, as part of ongoing outreach programs or to provide help at events such as the annual Race for the Cure.

The Komen Foundation works to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease.

Volunteer applications are available at the Inland Empire Affiliate office, 26765 Madison Ave., Suite 108, Murrieta. It is also available online at www.iekomen.org or can be requested via e-mail at info@komen.org. Information is available by calling 304-9500.

Michelle's Place


TEMECULA ---- Michelle's Place, the Women's Breast Cancer Resource Center of Temecula Valley, is looking for volunteers to work in its office.

Michelle's Place provides free resources for women and their families dealing with breast cancer.

The center is open 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

To volunteer, contact Cheryl Lebowitz at 304-1280 or e-mail her at cheryl@michellesplace.org.

Sunshine club


SUN CITY ---- The Kay Ceniceros Community Center has a project called the Sunshine Club, which is seeking volunteers to assist lonely seniors. Volunteers will make at least one weekly visit to a senior who needs some human contact and attention.

People interested in volunteering or who want to refer the name of a senior citizen to receive visits should call 672-9673.

Hospice of the Valleys


SUN CITY ---- Hospice of the Valleys' Transitions program has a need for volunteers to help families by providing emotional support and practical assistance for patients and families coping with life-limiting illness.

For information, call Patrick Melcher or Carolyn Weller at 672-1666.

Senior nutrition


Riverside County Office on Aging offers meals at 26 senior nutrition sites throughout the county. Meals are available to people 60 and older, qualified partners and caregivers for no cost, although a $2 donation is suggested.

Nutrition programs are also in need of volunteers.

For information on volunteering or to find nutrition sites in the area, call (800) 510-2020 or (951) 607-4697.

Sage Canyon Animal Sanctuary


AGUANGA ---- Sage Canyon Animal Sanctuary, a no-kill shelter, needs volunteers from 8:30 to 11 a.m. weekdays.

Volunteers must be able to control large, excitable dogs. Duties consist of feeding, cleaning dog runs, playing and exercising dogs.

The facility is at 44444 Sage Road. For information, call 767-3200 or visit www.sagecanyon.org.

Community service opportunities sought


MURRIETA ---- Murrieta Valley High School requires students to earn 40 hours of community service to help toward graduation. To aid in the process, the school is compiling a list of organizations where students can volunteer.

Nonprofit agencies willing to allow students to volunteer are asked to call Joan Bagwell at 696-1408, Ext. 5296.

Temecula Police, Community Action Patrol


TEMECULA ---- The Temecula Community Action Patrol is also in need of volunteers. CAP activities include patrol of neighborhoods, parks and schools, conducting residential vacation checks and assisting Temecula police officers in activities such as DUI checkpoints and traffic control. CAP is also involved with the Riverside County-sponsored Child Safety Program.

Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and are required to attend a 40-hour training academy.

For information or to volunteer, call Mary Galvan at 506-6478.

Also, the Temecula Police Department is seeking volunteers to assist in administration, logistics, the posse unit and Explorer program. For information, call Cpl. Tony Goss at 696-3000.

Sun City K-9 Adoptions


SUN CITY ---- Sun City K-9 Adoptions Inc., a "no kill" rescue facility, is looking for volunteers.

For information, call 679-6444.

Volunteer drivers


SUN CITY ---- Volunteer van drivers are needed to operate the Hospital Transportation Van at Menifee Valley Medical Center.

A current California driver's license and a good driving record are required.

For information, call 679-8888, Ext. 5261.

First name only. Comments including last names, contact addresses, e-mail addresses or phone numbers will be deleted. Attempts to misrepresent your identity or impersonate any person will not be approved. All comments are screened before they appear online, so please keep them brief. Comments reflect the views of those commenting and not necessarily those of the North County Times or its staff writers. Click here to view additional comment policies.