Southwest Riverside County community news briefs

By The Californian | Sunday, June 1, 2008 12:13 AM PDT ∞

Scout completes Eagle project

His 'Life Cart' will help transport injured hikers'

MURRIETA ---- Christopher Engel, 18, of Murrieta, completed his Eagle Scout project May 16 by designing and building a "Life Cart" for the Santa Rosa Plateau Nature Reserve.

The reserve did not have a way to transport incapacitated visitors who could become stricken while on one of the hiking trails, so Christopher designed the cart, which can be attached to one of the reserve's four-wheel drive vehicles.

The cart is large enough to carry a person who is strapped to a backboard and can also carry medical supplies.

Christopher, who will graduate from Chaparral High School this month, started with the Scouts in 2002. He has registered at Palomar College in San Marcos with plans to work toward associates degrees in fire technology, paramedic and general education with a goal of becoming a firefighter.

Traveling Arts Carnival planned this month

TEMECULA ---- A free Traveling Arts Carnival will visit three Temecula parks this month.

The inaugural event will provide a hands-on visual arts experience along with musical performances and educational activities featuring the city's cultural offerings.

Included will be acts performed by the Fern Street Circus, the San Diego Puppetry Guild and Sean Sheldrake's interactive drum circle.

The Traveling Arts Carnival will also preview and highlight summer park programs, such as S.M.A.R.T., the Art Cart, the Children's Museum and the Temecula Valley Museum.

The events will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Ronald Reagan Sports Park, June 14 at Temeku Hills Park and June 21 at Harveston Community Park.

For information, call Paula Worthington at 302-4119 or Martin Betz at 694-6365 or visit www.CityofTemecula.org .

Volunteers are needed to help with set-up, vendors, crowd control and clean up.

For volunteer information, call 694-6480.

WHAT'S HAPPENING

Deadline to enter parade nears

TEMECULA ---- The deadline to apply to participate in the city's Fourth of July Parade is Wednesday.

Applications for the 16th annual Star Spangled 4th of July Parade are available at City Hall, 43200 Business Park Drive; the Community Recreation Center, 30875 Rancho Vista Road; or online at www.cityoftemecula.org. The deadline to enter is June 4.

The city is also inviting any resident born on July 4 to participate in the parade.

Temecula is also seeking nominees for the Temecula Good Neighbor award, which is designed to acknowledge residents who make a difference in the city, but do not otherwise receive recognition. The deadline to nominate is June 13.

Applications for the award are available at City Hall, the Community Recreation Center, Mary Phillips Senior Center, 41845 Sixth St.; or online.

For information, call 694-6480.

Estate planning topic of talk

TEMECULA ---- A free seminar regarding wills, living trusts, powers of attorney, health care directives and estate planning will be offered at 9 a.m. Wednesday at Falkner Winery.

It will be led by Amy Nett, co-owner of The Law Offices of Nett & Nett, and Jody Nottingham, of Nottingham & Doherty, Certified Public Accountants.

For reservations or information, call 506-2980. Falkner Winery is at 40620 Calle Contento.

Outlets offer program for preschoolers

LAKE ELSINORE ---- The Lake Elsinore Outlets offer Kids Outlet, a free weekly program for preschoolers featuring arts, crafts and other activities from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Fridays.

The schedule for June is: Friday ---- Froggy Friends. Children create a froggy puppet friend; June 13 ---- Furry, Feathery Animals. Pacific Animal Productions provide a hands-on learning experience with furry and feathery animals; June 20 ---- Puzzled Picture Frames. Children construct a picture frame of puzzle pieces; and June 27 ---- Calling the Fire Department. The Lake Elsinore Fire Department will provide fire safety tips for the Fourth of July holiday.

The Outlets is at 17600 Collier Ave. For information on Kids Outlet, call 245-0087 or visit www.lakeelsinoreoutlet.com.

Library friends plan book sale

LAKE ELSINORE ---- Friends of the Lake Elsinore Library will hold a book sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

The sale will be in the community room, located behind the library at 600 W. Graham Ave. Proceeds benefit the library.

For information, call 674-4517.

Gospel concert set for Saturday

TEMECULA ---- The Southwest Gospel Concerts will present a free show at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Southwest Christian Church. The concert will feature The Vintage Gospel Lads and the Gospel Truth Quartet.

No tickets are required, but an offering will be taken.

The church is at 28030 Del Rio Road. For information, call 308-1888.

Monthly art walk is Saturday

LAKE ELSINORE ---- The Elsinore Valley Arts Network's monthly Art Walk will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday in downtown Lake Elsinore.

Local artists are invited to display their works at the event, which is held the first Saturday of the month through October and sponsored by the Elsinore Valley Arts Network and the Downtown Merchants Association.

For information, call Barbara Middlebrook at 245-8890 or Dottie Papin at 203-5150 or visit www.elsinorevalleyartsnetwork.org.

Spots open in environmental program

IDYLLWILD ---- The Mt. San Jacinto College Environmental Studies Program is offering an eight-week summer course in forest management.

The Idyllwild Summer Field Institute will allow students to explore the management of forests and other natural resources. Students will be able to gain hands-on experience and job shadowing opportunities.

The course runs June 9 to July 31. A hybrid of traditional and online study, the course offers students seven weeks of online instruction and one week (July 21 – 25) of field work with the U.S. Forest Service in Idyllwild.

To register, visit www.msjc.edu/environmentalstudies.

Barbecue competition planned

TEMECULA ---- The King of the Best Barbecue in Temecula contest will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 14 to benefit The Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest County.

Participants can sample barbecued food from some of Temecula's finest barbecue chefs and restaurants. There also will be fingerprinting of children at the Temecula Police Department's child safety booth, the Temecula Fire Department's fire safety booth, martial arts demonstrations and entertainment.

The event will be at San Diego National Bank, 31990 Temecula Parkway. For information, call 302-2701, Ext. 6591.

Club to offer soccer camps

TEMECULA ---- The Boys and Girls Clubs of Southwest County will be hosting a British soccer camp this summer at the Pechanga Great Oak Clubhouse.

The camp will consist of age-specific instruction for children 3 to 16 along with elements of character, cultural and nutritional education. Children will be instructed by coaches from Liverpool and London.

The camp will focus on foot skills, technical skills, tactical practices, small-sided games, coached scrimmages and a daily tournament. In addition, the coaching staff helps the children to learn self-discipline, good sportsmanship and respect for others.

The camp will be offered in three Monday through Friday evening sessions: June 23-27, July 14-18 and Aug. 4-8.

Groups will be divided by age and time of instruction. Each child will each receive a camp T-shirt, soccer ball, player evaluation and an end of camp gift.

Costs range from $71 to $114.

To register, call Steve Kittinger at 676-6800 or visit www.challengersports.com. The Pechanga Great Oak Boys & Girls Clubhouse is at 31465 Via Cordoba.

Dinner, auction to benefit church

WINCHESTER ---- A Polynesian event to benefit Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Church will be held July 19 at Monteleone Meadows in Murrieta.

Proceeds from "An Evening in Paradise" will go to the building fund of the newest Catholic church in the Inland area.

The second annual fundraiser will feature entertainment, silent and live auctions and raffles. The cost is $40 per person.

For information, call the parish office at 325-7707 or e-mail BlessedTeresaFrenchValley@verizon.net.

Murrieta library seeks volunteers

MURRIETA ---- The Murrieta Public Library is looking for adult and teen volunteers to work with the 2008 Summer Reading Program.

The program ---- "Catch the Reading Bug" for readers up to 13 years old, and "Metamorphosis" for 14 and older ---- runs from June 16 to Aug. 2.

Volunteer training will be provided at 3:30 p.m. Thursday and 6:30 p.m. June 9 at the library.

Volunteer applications can be found at www.murrieta.org/services/library or at the library, 8 Town Square at Adams Avenue and Kalmia Street. For information, call 304-2665.

Ministry to take youths to camp

WILDOMAR ---- Community Outreach Ministry is seeking donations to help take at-risk youths to Camp Sa Ha Le in Big Bear Lake for a week.

Kids' Camp is from June 23 to 27 for second- to sixth-graders, and July 27 to Aug. 1 for junior and senior high.

To sponsor or register a child, contact Community Outreach Ministry at 698-7650 or visit www.communityoutreachministry.org.

Girl Scouts offer summer camp

The Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Council is taking registration for summer camp.

Camps is open to any girl entering grades 2 to 12. It is not a requirement to be a Girl Scout.

Fees include transportation form the Scouts service center in Redlands, meals and lodging.

For registration or information, call (800) 400-4475 or visit www.gssgc.org.

YMCA offers swim lessons, camps

Southwest Family YMCA is taking sign ups for summer swim lessons for children

Registration also is open for summer camp, which will be held at Temecula Valley High School, Cole Canyon Elementary School in Murrieta and Canyon Lake Middle School.

The camps, which run June 16 to Aug. 8, are geared for children 5 to 12 and feature arts and crafts, songs, games, water play, field trips and theme days.

Hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday.

For details on either program, call 677-9622 or visit riversideymca.org/sw.html.

Group offers services, bingo

SUN CITY ---- Sun City Concern Inc., a community-supported service for Sun City and surrounding areas, offers services such as information and assistance, referrals to community services, outreach programs, telephone reassurance and gatekeeper programs, trips and bingo.

Bingo is held from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays at Kay Ceniceros Senior Center, 29995 Evans Road. Registration begins at 12:45 p.m. and the pot is $100.

Sun City Concern is open from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. weekdays at 29995 Evans Road. For information, call 679-2374.

Sports center offers drop-in volleyball

TEMECULA ---- Rancho Sports Center is offering open gym volleyball for teens and adults Friday evenings, providing six courts for pick-up games.

The courts will be open from 6 to 9 p.m. each Friday, for a $5 fee.

The center is at 28780 Single Oak Drive. For information, call 506-9731 or e-mail troy@ranchosportscenter.com.

MEETINGS

Lake Elsinore

Planning Commission ---- 6 p.m. Tuesday, cultural center, 183 N. Main St.

Lake Elsinore Unified School Board ---- 6 p.m. Thursday, board meeting room, 545 Chaney St.

Murrieta

City Council ---- 6 p.m., Tuesday, City Hall, 24601 Jefferson Ave.

Murrieta Valley Unified School Board ---- 8:30 a.m. Thursday, board room B, 41870 McAlby Court.

Riverside

County Board of Supervisors ---- 9 a.m. Monday, County Administrative Center, 4080 Lemon St.

Temecula

Temecula Valley Unified School Board ---- 6 p.m. Tuesday, board meeting room, 31350 Rancho Vista Road.

Planning Commission ---- 6 p.m. Wednesday, City Hall, 43200 Business Park Drive.

SERVING THE FLAG

Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Damien M. Wieland recently reported for duty at Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Center, San Diego.

Wieland, the son of Catherine and Robert Wieland of Lake Elsinore, is a 1999 graduate of Paloma Valley High School and joined the Navy in August 1999.

Coast Guard Seaman Apprentice Sean P. Byrne recently graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Recruit Training Center in Cape May, N. J.

During the eight-week training program, Byrne completed a training curriculum consisting of academics and practical instruction on water safety and survival, military customs and courtesies, seamanship skills, first aid, fire fighting and marksmanship. An emphasis is also placed on physical fitness, health and wellness.

Byrne, the son of Kathleen and Wayne Byrne of Murrieta, is a 2007 graduate of Murrieta Valley High School.

Navy Seaman Bryan D. Byrd recently completed U.S. Navy basic training and was meritoriously promoted to his current rank at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.

During the eight-week program, Byrd completed a variety of training which included classroom study and practical instruction on naval customs, first aid, firefighting, water safety and survival, and shipboard and aircraft safety. An emphasis was also placed on physical fitness.

Byrd is the son of Mona and Anthony Byrd of Temecula.

Navy Seaman Apprentice Muhammad W. Falah was recently promoted to his current rank upon graduation from recruit training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.

Falah received the early promotion for outstanding performance during all phases of the training cycle, which included classroom study and practical instruction on naval customs, first aid, firefighting, water safety and survival, and shipboard and aircraft safety. An emphasis was also placed on physical fitness.

Falah, the son of Fidiah and Austin Feagins of Temecula, is a 2007 graduate of Orange Glen High School in Escondido.

Air Force Airman Charles M. Foster has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

During the six weeks of training, the airman studied the Air Force mission, organization, and military customs and courtesies; performed drill and ceremony marches, and received physical training, rifle marksmanship, field training exercises, and special training in human relations.

Foster, the son of Erin Crawford of Lake Elsinore and Charles Foster of El Cajon, is a 2007 graduate of Steele Canyon High School in Spring Valley.