SMART program under way

TEMECULA -- The annual Summer Mobile Activities and Recreation in Temecula program -- known as SMART -- is under way, and this year it's going mobile.

The drop-in recreation program for youths 7 to 15 will be traveling through town providing free supervised group activities that will include a variety of arts and crafts, sports, water games and themed events.

SMART is not a child care program. Staff members will provide supervised activities, but participants are free to come and go as they wish.

The program will run until Aug. 15 on the following schedule:

Monday -- 10 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., Crowne Hill Park, 33203 Old Kent Road; 1:15 to 4 p.m., Wolf Creek Park, 45850 N. Wolf Creek Drive.

Tuesday -- 10 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., Temeku Hills Park, 31367 La Serena Way; 1:15 to 4 p.m., Harveston Community Park, 28582 Harveston Drive.

Thursday -- 10 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., Pala Community Park, 44900 Temecula Lane; 1:15 to 4 p.m., Ronald Reagan Sports Park, 30875 Rancho Vista Road.

Friday -- 10 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., Temecula Duck Pond, 28250 Rancho California Road.

Special dress-up days are planned from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. some Wedenesdays. July 2 will be Red/White/Blue Dress at Temeku Hills Park, July 16 will be Silly Hat Dress at Crowne Hill Park and July 30 will be Pirate Dress at Harveston Community Park.

The week of Aug. 11 to 15 will feature a daily carnival at various parks to wrap up the program.

SMART also offers excursions, which depart from the Temecula Community Center, 28816 Pujol St. The cost for each is $50 and the deadline to register is the Wednesday prior to each trip.

Trips will be: July 9, Petco Park for a San Diego Padres game; July 23, Wild Animal Park; and Aug. 6, Knott's Berry Farm.

For information, visit www.cityoftemecula.org/Temecula/Residents/Activities_and_Classes/SMART.

Fishing Derby winners noted

LAKE ELSINORE -- Winners were announced recently from the ninth annual Just for Kids Fishing Derby held June 7 at Lake Elsinore.

With more than 70 fish caught, children won prizes ranging from poles and tackle boxes to fishing vests and specialty lures.

Nathan Gallegos won in three categories, catching the heaviest overall, longest in length and biggest carp.

Other winners were: Logan Hathaway, most fish caught; Dylan Chadd, first fish caught; Michael Ramirez, smallest fish caught; Evan Magoffin, youngest fisherman; Ricky Miller, biggest catfish caught; and Max Ladd, most excited fisherman.

-- The Californian

What's happening

Vail Ranch activities conclude

TEMECULA -- The Vail Ranch Restoration Association will conclude its celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Butterfield Stage and the grand opening of the Little Temecula History Center on Sunday.

Activities will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Historic Vail Ranch headquarters site, next to Kohl's on Temecula Parkway.

The event will showcase the work of Anne Miller, who drafted specific route points of the stage line through Temecula, Murrieta and Lake Elsinore.

There will be a replica stagecoach and recreations of the historic past with gunfighters, the cavalry and old-time carpentry and laundry gadgets that children can try using.

Local artists will show and sell Western and other artwork, the Pechanga Cultural Department will present a display of Native American baskets and other items and the Temecula Valley Genealogical Society will do free online research.

The gates will be opened near the Vail Ranch headquarters to give visitors a look into the property that is usually obscured by a security wall. A second event locale is in the nearby red barn.

For information, call Darell Farnbach at 699-5148 or 552-3516 or visit www.vailranch.org.

Christian concert planned Wednesday

WILDOMAR -- Michael Schroeder, a contemporary Christian recording artist, will perform at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at California Lutheran High School.

Schroeder will perform songs from his recordings, "Fuel for the Soul," "A Witness" and "The Way."

An offering will be taken to defray the cost of the tour.

The school is at 31970 Central St. For information, call 805-1353.

Murrieta to celebrate birthday

MURRIETA -- The city of Murrieta will celebrate its 17th birthday with the annual Birthday Bash from 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday at California Oaks Sports Park.

Activities will include entertainment by the bands Felguard, Yard Sale, Silver Beatles and Papa Doo Run Run. There will also be a carnival, vendors and the evening will end with fireworks starting at 9:30 p.m.

Admission is free. An unlimited use wristband for the carnival costs $5.

For information, call 304-7275.

Library offers language course

The Riverside County Library System is offering an online-based program where patrons can learn seven languages.

The program can be accessed from a computer using the library system's Web site. The service is also available on computers at all county library branches.

Lessons in Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Latin America Spanish are available.

For information, visit www.riverside.lib.ca.us and click on the "Learn a New Language" link.

Military career fair upcoming

RIVERSIDE -- The RecruitMilitary Career Fair, a free hiring event for job seekers who have military backgrounds, will be held from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. July 10 at March Field Air Museum.

The fair is open to veterans who already have civilian work experience, men and women who are transitioning from active duty to civilian life, members of the National Guard and reserves and military spouses.

A team of veteran-friendly organizations will conduct interviews with the job seekers, including law-enforcement agencies and other government employers, educational institutions, veterans service agencies and veterans associations.

March Air Reserve Base is east of the Van Buren Avenue exit from Interstate 215.

For information, visit www.recruitmilitary.com.

Quarter horse event to be in Temecula

TEMECULA -- The VQHA Firecracker Circuit, an American Quarter Horse Association-approved show, will take place July 11 to 14 at Southern California Equestrian Center.

American Quarter Horse shows test horses' ability in dozens of classes.

Southern California Equestrian Center is located on Los Caballos Road off Highway 79 South about six miles east of Interstate 15. For information on the event, call Shana Shaver at (805) 929-4782 or visit www.aqha.com.

Newsman to lead jazz fest parade

TEMECULA -- The Temecula Valley International Jazz Festival will kick off with a mini-parade at 3 p.m. July 12 in Old Town.

The parade will be a tribute to Dixieland, led by grand marshal Hal Eisner, an Emmy Award winning journalist for Fox 11 television. He'll be joined by a host of city officials, beauty queens, stilt walkers and local musicians.

Organizers Jon and Jane Laskin are inviting anyone who plays an instrument to participate.

The parade will begin at Chuck Niles Stage near the bridge on Main Street and head east for about one-quarter mile, where the Stewart Undem Dixieland Band will perform.

Guests can visit the Main Street Art Faire, finding artisans, crafters and jazz inspired art displays by local students.

On the Chuck Niles Stage on Main Street, there will be free concerts beginning at 3:30 with Musicians Workshop's youth bands, followed by the Chuck Niles Jazz Singer and the Chuck Niles Be-Bop Competition finalists, continuing throughout the evening.

There also will be a performance by Herb Jeffries, with the Gerald Wilson 18-piece Big Band Orchestra, in the Old Town Theater, following the Henry "Skipper" Franklin Quintet.

For information, call Jon or Jane Laskin at 678-2517 or visit www.TemeculaJazzFest.com.

Wine society plans gala

TEMECULA -- The Temecula Valley Wine Society will hold its fourth annual Temecula Days of Wine and Roses competition and awards celebration July 30 at Weins Winery.

All wineries in Riverside and San Diego counties can enter. Judging will be held in private earlier that day at Maurice Car'rie Winery.

Admission for the dinner, which will include tastes of the winning wines, is $50. Proceeds will help fund scholarships for university and graduate students studying viticulture, enology, wine marketing and related sciences. Last year, the wine society presented $13,500 in scholarships.

For information or tickets, call Vicki Nelson at 926-1160 or e-mail dalenvicki@msn.com.

The winery is at 35055 Via Del Ponte.

Martial arts classes offered

LAKE ELSINORE -- Tae kwon do classes for ages 4 to adult are offered Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at Lake Community Center. New sessions begin the first week of each month.

The Olympic-style classes, from 4:45 to 6:45 p.m. Mondays and 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays, are taught by Master Tom Vo, a fifth-degree black belt.

The fee is $20 for one day a week, $35 for two days and $45 for all three.

The center is at 310 W. Graham Ave. For information, call 245-0442.

School district offers parent program

LAKE ELSINORE -- The Lake Elsinore Unified School District's Parent Participation Program is accepting applications for classes at Luiseno, Cottonwood Canyon and William Collier elementary schools and Heald Academy.

The program offers a twice-a-week class for parents with children up to 5 years old, in which children and parents work together and with other families to prepare for preschool.

Parents study a different topic each week, using arts and crafts, music and other learning activities.

Applications must be turned in between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Lake Elsinore Unified School District Children and Family Services office, 520 Chaney St.

For information, call Leticia Zaragoza at 253-7000, Ext. 2134.

Meetings

Lake Elsinore

City Council -- 7 p.m. Tuesday, Cultural Center, 183 N. Main St.

Menifee

Menifee Union School District -- 4 p.m. Tuesday, District Headquarters, 28237 La Piedra Road.

City council-elect - 7 p.m. Wednesday, Paloma Valley High School Theater, 31375 Bradley Road.

Murrieta

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

Community Services Commission -- 7 p.m. Thursday, City Hall, 24601 Jefferson Ave.

Murrieta Valley Unified School Board -- 7 p.m. Thursday, district support center, 41870 McAlby Court.

Riverside

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

Local Agency Formation Commission -- 9:30 a.m. Thursday, County Administrative Center, 4080 Lemon St.

Temecula

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

Public Traffic and Safety Commission -- 6 p.m. Thursday, City Hall, 43200 Business Park Drive.

Wildomar

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