Local Scout earns Eagle rank

Chris Clark recently became the 38th Boy Scout to earn the Eagle Scout rank from Troop 337, which has been active in the Temecula Valley since 1992.

A Scout for 10 years, Chris was a member of Cub Scout Pack 367 at Van Avery Prep and has been a member of Troop 337 for five years.

For his Eagle project, Chris built an informational kiosk for the Western Riverside County Regional Conservation Authority. The kiosk is located on property once known as the Johnson Ranch, near Lake Skinner.

The property, home to several endangered species, will soon be open to hikers and equestrians. The kiosk will provide information on the species being protected in the area as well as information to the public about use of the property.

Chris designed the kiosk and then led his fellow scouts in the more than 400 hours it took to finish construction.

Construction supplies were provided by the authority and Chris raised money to provide lunch to his crews by recycling bottles and cans.

It was the second Eagle project undertaken on the property by Scouts of Troop 337. In 2007, habitats for endangered burrowing owls were constructed and buried on the property by Richard Aldersley.

In reaching the rank of Eagle Scout, Chris has earned 54 merit badges, 33 more than the 21 required. Chris served in every leadership position within the troop, including senior patrol leader and is certified as a BSA Lifeguard.

Chris attended the 2005 National Boy Scout Jamboree in Virginia and plans to continue being active with his troop and hopes to attend the 2010 Jamboree celebrating the 100th birthday of Boy Scouting in America.

WHAT'S HAPPENING

Museum offers youth events

TEMECULA -- The Imagination Workshop and the city have teamed up to offer a series of family events from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Fridays at the Temecula Children's Museum.

Museum-sponsored events:

-- Crystals and Gemstones, Friday. Learn the properties of the many colored beauties while you experiment and identify crystals and gemstones.

-- Food Science: Chocolate, Sept. 12. Learn about the process of making chocolate -- and eat it.

-- Studying Bugs and Reptiles, Sept. 19. Learn about bugs and reptiles and see some live critters.

-- Pennypickle's Science Night, Nov. 7. Messy? Gooey? Astonishing? Scientific wonders will be demonstrated.

Register at www.pennypickles.org.

City-sponsored event:

-- Pirates 3: At Summer's End, Aug. 29. The science of pirates. Activity No. 4000.205

Register at www.cityoftemecula.org.

The fee is $5 per person for each event. The museum is at 42081 Main St. For information, call 308-6376.

Child safety fair planned in Murrieta

MURRIETA -- Easy Life Kids Furniture will be the site of a child safety fair from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

The event will include presentations from the Murrieta police and fire departments. The Police Department will offer kits through which parents can register their children's fingerprints with law enforcement. There will also be a blood drive by the Blood Bank of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.

The event also includes food, face painting, music and costumed characters.

The store is at 39809 Avenida Acacia, Suite C. For information, call 600-1699.

Library offers Wii competition

LAKE ELSINORE -- A Street Fighter II competition using the Nintendo Wii will be held at 2:30 p.m. Aug. 25 at Lake Elsinore Library.

Prizes will be awarded to the top finishers and snacks and drinks will be provided.

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

Water-wise workshop set

RAINBOW -- A water-wise landscape workshop will take place from 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 30 at Southwest Boulder.

Roger Boddaert, maker of natural gardens, will share information about xeriscaping in the garden and how to save water and money.

Participants can learn about planning and landscape design, limited turf areas, efficient irrigation systems, soil improvements, organic and inorganic mulch, low-water use plants and professional maintenance.

The workshop will be at 5002 Second St. in Rainbow. For information, call Boddaert at (760) 728-4297.

Auditions set or 'Christmas Carol'

TEMECULA -- Temecula Valley Players will hold auditions for the 2008 musical, "A Christmas Carol," Aug. 31 and Sept. 2 at the Old Town Temecula Community Theater. Registration will begin at 6 p.m.

Auditioners must come prepared to dance and sing and should bring prerecorded music accompaniment or sheet music.

The show opens in late November.

For information, call 676-6055 or visit www.temeculavalleyplayers.com.

Parent project focuses on teen behaviors

TEMECULA -- Safe Alternative for Everyone, Temecula Police Department and the district attorney's office will offer an 11-week course to help parents deal with difficult teen behavior starting Sept. 9.

Classes will meet from 6 to 9 p.m. be at the Temecula Community Center, 28816 Pujol St. For enrollment or questions, call June Earley at 587-3900.

Music society prepares for season

TEMECULA -- The work of four composers will be featured in "Curtain Up," a performance by the California Chamber Orchestra, which kicks off the 2008-09 concert season for the Golden Valley Music Society on Sept. 13 at the Old Town Temecula Community Theater.

The concert will feature music by French composers Arthur Honegger and Jacques Ibert and American composers Samuel Barber and Ed Wolfe.

Concert tickets cost $30 general admission and $25 for seniors. Season tickets also are available.

For information or tickets, visit www.goldenvalleymusicsociety.org.

Funds available to community groups

TEMECULA -- Applications for the city of Temecula's Community Service Funding Program are available.

Applications will be accepted from community-based, nonprofit organizations and evaluated for funding based on program criteria. Grant funds and other forms of financial assistance may also be available to organizations that serve the needs and improve the well-being of the residents of Temecula.

Organizations can get applications at City Hall, 43200 Business Park Drive, or online at www.cityoftemecula.org. Applications are due by Sept. 15 and applicants will be notified in November.

For information, call 694-6430.

SCHOOL NEWS

Reading volunteers sought

MENIFEE -- The Menifee Union School District is looking for volunteers to help at-risk readers through its GREAT Reading program.

Grandparents and graduates, Reading Enriching And Tutoring utilizes volunteer mentors who work to build comprehension, decoding and fluency skills.

Readers are asked to volunteers one or two mornings a week. Gas reimbursement is available.

For information, call 679-7076.

Youth club offers transportation

TEMECULA -- The Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest County is registering children for morning and afternoon transportation between area schools and their local Boys & Girls Clubhouses.

The program provides bus and van rides from clubhouses to schools in the morning and back to clubhouses in the afternoon.

While at the clubhouses, children can participate in development programs that focus on character and leadership, education and career development, health and life skills, sports and fitness and the arts. Additionally, children can get their daily homework completed in the Power Hour program.

The cost for the program is $275 per month, plus a $20 membership fee. The clubs offer scholarships.

The program runs at all Southwest Riverside County clubhouses, which are in Temecula, Murrieta and Lake Elsinore.

For a list of schools that are serviced, parents should contact their local clubhouse or call 699-1526.

Youth programs offered in Lake Elsinore area

Ortega Trail Youth Centers is offering before and after school child care programs at six campuses in the Lake Elsinore Unified School District .

Camps will be held from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Wildomar, Withrow, Machado, Ronald Reagan, Earl Warren and Luiseno elementary schools.

For information, call 678-5240.

After-school programs offered

LAKE ELSINORE -- Think Together Inc., the largest provider of academically focused after-school programs in California, will provide support to students at nine schools in the Lake Elsinore Unified School District during the 2008-09 school year.

There is no cost to parents, but students must attend each school-day for a minimum of three hours. During that time, students participate in programs with an emphasis on improving language arts and math skills; receive assistance with homework; and take part in physical activity combined with nutrition education.

Participating campuses are: Collier, Elsinore, Railroad Canyon, Wildomar and Withrow elementary schools and David A. Brown, Elsinore, Lakeland Village and Terra Cotta middle schools.

For information, visit www.thinktogether.org.

Homeschool program accepting enrollment

TEMECULA -- Rolling Hills Academy, a home school program through the Temecula Valley Unified School District, is accepting enrollment for the 2008-09 school year. The program is open to students in kindergarten through eighth grade living within the Temecula Valley USD boundaries.

Rolling Hills Academy is a highly structured program run by fully accredited, highly qualified teachers. The program consists of students following a two-week learning packet, prepared by RHA teachers. The parent monitors their child's progress and helps their student move through the curriculum, grading the work using answer keys included with the teaching materials.

If the family learning team hits a snag, a Rolling Hills teacher is available to help.

To enroll or for information, contact Rolling Hills Academy at 506-7908 or visit www.tvusd.k12.ca.us/Schools/Sites/rha.htm.

ELEMENTARY LUNCH MENUS

WEEK OF AUG. 18

Lake Elsinore Unified elementary schools

Monday: Corn dog, macaroni salad, orange smiles

Tuesday: Chicken nuggets, green beans, apple

Wednesday: Hamburger, cucumber slices, peach cup

Thursday: Pancake sausage stick, banana, assorted fruit

Friday: Pepperoni pizza, corn, mixed fruit

Served daily: Assorted sandwiches, yogurt (8 oz), garden salad/baby carrots, cracker snack, milk.

Menifee Union elementary schools

Monday: Bean and cheese burrito

Tuesday: Chicken rings

Wednesday: Piazza pizza

Thursday: Mini cheeseburger

Friday: Chicken fingers

Served daily: Fruit and veggie bar, milk.

Murrieta Valley Unified elementary schools

Monday: Chicken nuggets, rice pilaf

Tuesday: Pizza pocket

Wednesday: Chicken burger

Thursday: Fiesta bean burrito

Friday: Mini cheeseburgers

Served daily: Fruit/salad bar, raisins, fruit juice, milk. Alternate lunch choice: uncrustable PB&J, turkey/cheese sandwich or yogurt.

Temecula Valley Unified elementary schools

Monday: Mini cheeseburgers

Tuesday: Chicken nuggets

Wednesday: Chili cheese dog

Thursday: Popcorn chicken

Friday: Spaghetti

Served daily: Lettuce/spinach salad, baby carrots, raisins, fruit, crackers, milk.

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

Library Advisory Commission -- 6:30 p.m., Monday, City Hall, 24601 Jefferson Ave.

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

Elsinore-Murrieta-Anza Resource Conservation District -- 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Santa Rosa Ecological Reserve Visitors Center, 39400 Clinton Keith Road. Information, Pam 767-2324.

Perris

Perris Union High School District board meeting -- 5 p.m. Wednesday, district headquarters, 155 E. Fourth St.

Riverside County

Riverside County Board of Education -- 6 p.m. Wednesday, Riverside County Office of Education, 3939 Thirteenth St., Riverside.

Sun City

Menifee Incorporation Celebration Planning Committee -- 6 p.m. Monday, Boston Billie's restaurant, 26850 Cherry Hills Blvd.

Temecula

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