Local musician wins award

TEMECULA -- Antonio Pontarelli, of Temecula, won the People's Voice Award of the recent International Songwriters Competition.

More than 15,000 entries were received from 100 countries and Pontarelli received the most votes from fans.

A classically trained violinist and pianist, Pontarelli has brought those elements into alternative rock.

He has won awards as a songwriter and a performing artist, including his first national championship at age 13, when he became the grand champion of "America's Most Talented Kids," which included "American Idol" winner Jordan Sparks.

In January, Pontarelli won the 2008 Inland Empire Music Awards for Best Rock Band.

For information, visit www.antoniomusic.com.

WHAT'S HAPPENING

City to dedicate park

TEMECULA -- A dedication and grand opening of Wolf Creek Park will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday.

The 6-acre park includes a tot lot, basketball court, picnic gazebo and tables, restrooms and walkways.

A short dedication ceremony will be followed by refreshments.

The park is at 45850 North Wolf Creek Drive. For information, call 694-6480.

Youth art club offered

TEMECULA -- The city's Teen Art Club will start a new session Tuesday. The club, for youths ages 11 to 17, will meet from 5 to 6:30 p.m. each Tuesday through June 3 at the Community Recreation Center,

Students will work on a variety of projects from the world of art. The cost is $65, with supplies included.

To register, call 694-6480 or visit wwwcityoftemecula.org.

The CRC is at 30875 Rancho Vista Road.

Human behavior topic for group

MURRIETA -- Human behavior will be the topic when the Murrieta For You Network has its monthly luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. The meeting will be at a new location, Sidelines Grill.

Angelica Angel will talk about the Disc Model of Human Behavior, which helps people read personality profiles and understand themselves and others.

Angel is a certified human behavior consultant who, with her husband, founded Latin American Ministries.

For You is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help women grow personally and professionally.

The cost is $10 for members and $15 for others. Lunch can be ordered from the menu for an additional charge,

Sidelines Grill is at 24910 Washington Ave. For information or reservations, call Lee Crowe at 301-1133 or e-mail Brandy5198@verizon.net.

Libraries offer events

TEMECULA -- The Friends of the Temecula Libraries will hold its annual meeting at 1 p.m. May 20 at the Temecula Public Library. For information, call 302 1257.

Other highlights this month:

Temecula Public Library, 30600 Pauba Road, 693-8900.

Family Programs:

I Love My Pet craft program, 4 p.m. Wednesday, Children 4 to 12 can create a keepsake photo scrapbook of their favorite pet. Participants should bring five to seven photos.

Teen Programs:

Magic Card Tricks Revealed, 4 p.m. Thursday. Children 13 to 17 can learn magic card tricks and explanations on how they are done.

Grace Mellman Library, 41000 County Center Drive. 600-6262.

Adult Programs:

PC/Internet Basic Class, 2 p.m. Friday. An introduction to basic computer use. Register in advance.

Teen Programs:

Mellman Idol, 4 to 6 p.m. May 19. No talent required for this hilarious competition for children 13 to 17.

GOP candidates forum set at MSJC

SAN JACINTO -- Mt. San Jacinto College will host a forum for Republican candidates running for the 37th Senate District from 6 to 8 p.m.Wednesday at the San Jacinto campus.

Candidates are Assemblyman John Benoit, former Assemblyman Russ Bogh, and Hemet Unified School District trustee David Peters. All three have confirmed they will attend, according to forum organizer Willie Hamilton, a professor of political science at MSJC, who will serve as the moderator.

The winner of the June 3 primary will run in the November general election for Sen. Jim Battin's seat.

The event is scheduled at the theater, room 1500, on the San Jacinto campus, 1499 N. State St.

For information, call Hamilton at 487-3685.

Vista Murrieta jazz band plans concert

MURRIETA -- The Vista Murrieta jazz band will perform at 7 p.m. Thursday in the school's Performing Arts Center.

The concert will feature Eric Marienthal, one of the most recorded saxophone players in contemporary jazz.

Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for students.

The school is at 28261 Clinton Keith Road. For information, call 894-5750.

Club to install officers

SUN CITY -- The Menifee Valley Woman's Club will install officers for 2008-09 when it meets at 11 a.m. Thursday.

Lunch costs $8.50. This will be the club's final meeting until September.

The club meets at Sun City Methodist Church, 30220 Carmel Road. For reservations or information, call 246-4213.

Lake Elsinore Citizens Committee to meet

LAKE ELSINORE -- Rolfe Presidenze, community development director for the city of Lake Elsinore, will speak when the Lake Elsinore Citizens Committee meets at 7 p.m. Thursday at Tuscany Hills Recreation Center.

Presidenze will discuss the city's General Plan update, which is expected to be voted on by the City Council this summer and will be in effect to 2030.

City Council members and city planning commissioners have been invited to answer questions.

The committee meets quarterly with a mission of keeping residents informed about the progress and events taking place in the city.

The meeting is at 75 Summerhill Drive. For information, call 674-1989 or 674-2159.

Free poetry class offered

LAKE ELSINORE -- Richard Gordon, an artist and photographer, will lead a free poetry class for adults at 4 p.m. Friday at the Lake Elsinore Library.

He will discuss how to write and publish poetry and share some of his works.

The library is at 600 W. Graham Ave. For information, call 674-4517.

Rotary Rumble set for Saturday

LAKE ELSINORE -- Motorcycle enthusiasts can participate in the second annual Lake Elsinore Rotary Rumble starting at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.

The ride starts at 520 Chaney St., and will tour the Santa Rosa Plateau area, ending at Quaid Temecula Harley Davidson for lunch and drawings. Many prizes will be offered, including a 2008 Harley Davidson Roadking motorcycle, valued at $22,611.

Tickets for the drawing are $20 and are available at the Lake Elsinore Chamber of Commerce or from any Lake Elsinore Rotary member. For information visit, www.rotary.org.

Soccer group seeks donations

TEMECULA -- The Temecula Valley Soccer Association has developed a program to distribute used equipment to those in need.

Through a group dubbed Temecula Outgrown Game Attire, the association will collect new and gently used equipment such as uniforms, cleats and balls for distribution to less fortunate players, organizations and leagues.

The next donation day will be Saturday at Pala, Ronald Reagan, Harveston and Patricia Birdsall parks.

For information, call Don Maurer at 506-0373.

Equestrian trials upcoming

ANZA -- The third annual Trail Trial, an equestrian competition for trail riding preparedness, will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday at Little Creek Ranch.

The event is presented by Redshank Riders Unit of the Backcountry Horsemen of California to encourage gentle use techniques on the trail, and to generate new members for the unit.

The entry fee is $45 and the schooling fee is $20.

To register, call Paulette Johnson at 767-7099 or visit cricandthree@aol.com. For information, contact Stacy Kuhns, (909) 633-1705 or visit stacykuhns@aol.com.

Temecula Valley Master Chorale plans benefit

TEMECULA -- The Temecula Valley Master Chorale will present its eighth annual gala auction and dinner at 4 p.m. Saturday at South Coast Resort and Winery.

The event will feature live and silent auctions as well as dinner and a performance by the chorale. Nico Ayala and Raechele Hans, winners of the Temecula Valley Master Chorale 2008 vocal competition, will also perform.

Proceeds will benefit the chorale's educational outreach program, which provides scholarships to graduating high school seniors, sponsors the annual vocal competition and assist programs in several area elementary schools.

Tickets are $60 and are available by calling the chorale office at 302-1652.

For information about the Temecula Valley Master Chorale, visit www.temeculavalleymasterchorale.org.

Household waste collection Saturday

TEMECULA -- Temecula residents can dispose of household waste such as motor oil, batteries and computers and large and bulky items that won't fit in trash bins at a citywide cleanup day from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Chaparral High School.

Gently used items, such as furniture, clothing and sports equipment will be collected by the Assistance League of Temecula Valley.

Proof of residency will be required.

Items such as chemicals, paint, pesticides, empty drums, solvents, gasoline, tires and other hazardous waste will not be accepted.

The high school is at 27215 Nicholas Road. For information, call the city's Community Services Department at 308-6393, or CR&R recycling and refuse services at (800) 755-8112.

SERVING THE FLAG

Air Force Reserve Airman 1st Class Jonathan P. Garcia has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.

During the six weeks of training, the airmen 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.

In addition, airmen who complete basic training earn credits toward an associate degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

Garcia, who earned distinction as an honor graduate, is the son of Eulogio and Edelwina Garcia of Temecula. He is a 1993 graduate of St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower.

Air Force Airman Jarrod A. Bricker graduated from the Utilities Systems Apprentice Course at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas.

The course is designed to train students in water processing, analysis, operating principles of water treatment plants, maintenance of water and waste water, fire suppression and backflow prevention systems and components, and maintenance and repair of water supply, waste and natural gas systems.

Bricker will be assigned to the 554th Red Horse Squadron, Andersen Air Force Base, in Agana, Guam.

Bricker is the son of Jeff and Patricia Bricker of Winchester. He is a 2007 graduate of Chaparral High School.

MEETINGS

Canyon Lake

City Council -- 7 p.m. Wednesday, municipal building, 31512 Railroad Canyon Road.

Lake Elsinore

City Council -- 7 p.m. Tuesday, cultural center, 183 N. Main St.

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

Menifee

Menifee Union School District -- 4 p.m. Tuesday, district headquarters, 30205 Menifee Road.

Murrieta

Community Steering Commission -- 6:30 p.m., Monday, City Hall, 24601 Jefferson Ave.

County Board of Education -- 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, 24980 Las Brisas Road.

Planning Commission -- 6 p.m. Wednesday, City Hall, 24601 Jefferson Ave.

Quail Valley

Quail Valley Municipal Advisory Committee -- 7 p.m. Tuesday, Volunteer Firefighter's Hall, 23980 La Bertha Lane, at Goetz Road.

Riverside

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

Sun City

Citizens Against Cityhood -- 1:30 p.m. Monday, Boston Billie's Restaurant, 26850 Cherry Hills Blvd.

Temecula

Old Town Local Review Board -- 9 a.m. Monday, City Hall, 43200 Business Park Drive.

Community Service Commission -- 6 p.m. Monday, City Hall, 43200 Business Park Drive.

City Council -- 7 p.m. Tuesday, City Hall, 43200 Business Park Drive.

Temecula Valley Unified School Board -- 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, conference facility meeting rooms, 31350 Rancho Vista Road.

City Budget Briefing -- 10 a.m. Friday, City Hall, 43200 Business Park Drive.

Wildomar

City Council-elect -- 7 p.m. Wednesday, Elsinore High School, 21800 Canyon Drive.