WHAT'S HAPPENING
Students to perform opera selections
MURRIETA -- The Murrieta Valley High School Choir, band and soloists will perform selections from their favorite operas Friday in a free concert.
Jacklyn Johnson directs the choir and Rick Lorenzen directs the band.
The open-air concert will kick off at 7 p.m. at the Murrieta Town Square Park Amphitheater. Attendees need to bring a blanket or folding chairs. A snack bar will feature Chick-fil-A sandwiches, snacks and drinks.
Town Square Park is at Jefferson Avenue and Kalmia Street in downtown Murrieta. For information, call Lori at 951-764-3347.
Museum hosts talk by history buff
TEMECULA -- Temecula Valley Museum is hosting a gallery talk and book signing Saturday by James E. Thomas, author of a historical fiction work titled "Corps of Discovery -- Lewis & Clark."
Thomas, an enthusiastic history buff, used true events of the famous expedition, much of it taken from participants' journals, and added fictional dialogue.
The talk will begin at 2:30 p.m., at the museum, 28314 Mercedes St. A $2 donation is suggested.
For reservations or information, call 951-694-6450.
Motor Madness roars into Menifee
MENIFEE -- The Rotary Club is presenting the Menifee Motor Madness car show Saturday at Mt. San Jacinto College, featuring classic cars from 1974 and earlier.
Proceeds from what organizers hope will be an annual show will benefit the international club's clean water projects.
The cars will be on display from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the college, 28237 La Piedra Road.
For information, call Chuck at 951-302-5281.
Armed Forced Day celebration set
MENIFEE -- A community celebration to honor members of the armed forces will be held Saturday and feature a carnival and child safety fair.
The carnival will run from 2:30 to 7 p.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran School, 26800 Newport Road in Menifee.
Carnival tickets cost 75 cents.
For information, call 951-672-6675.
Woman's club plans chili cookoff
LAKE ELSINORE -- The Lake Elsinore Woman's Club will hold its fourth annual chili cookoff from 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday.
Tasting cups will be sold for 25 cents and a dinner of barbecued steak, salad and a roll will cost $10 for adults and $5 for children younger than 12.
The chili cookoff and dinner will be held at the clubhouse, 710 W. Graham Ave. in Lake Elsinore. For information, call Holly at 951-674-5567.
Garage sale helps children at risk
MURRIETA -- Proceeds from a garage sale Saturday will help send at-risk kids to camp this summer.
Community Outreach Ministry will hold the sale from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 38669 Clearbrook Dr.
Donations are welcome and some pickup service is available.
For information, call Rita at 951-760-4712.
Rally set on Saturday
TEMECULA -- SOS Hills will host a free rally Saturday to generate support for Temecula's push to annex land south of the city.
The rally will run from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. at The Merc building in Old Town.
Temecula is seeking to annex nearly 5,000 acres that includes much of the land on which the San Diego State University's ecological reserve sits. The proposed annexation area also includes the site where Liberty Quarry is proposed to be built. The Local Agency Formation Commission will consider the city's request on June 4.
Features speakers at the rally will include Temecula Mayor Maryann Edwards and Matt Rahn, director of San Diego State's field stations.
The event will include live music, entertainment, appetizers and light refreshments.
For information, call Kathleen at 951-676-6912.
Community band festival set for Saturday
 TEMECULA -- The eighth annual Wine Country Community Band Festival will be held Saturday at Maurice Car'rie Winery.
Hosted by Valley Winds Community Concert Band of Temecula, it will feature two local bands and six others from Poway, Riverside, Long Beach, San Diego and Victorville.
Bands will play each hour, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free and food and beverages will be available for sale. Lawn chairs are suggested.
The winery is at 34225 Rancho California Road.
Outdoor jazz concert planned
MURRIETA -- Calvary Murrieta Christian School's Jazz Department will present an outdoor concert at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
Admission is free; hamburgers and hot dogs will be sold along with raffle tickets.
Attendees are asked to bring their lawn chairs to the concert at the school, 24225 Monroe Ave. in Murrieta. For information, call Christa at 951-834-9190, ext. 1136.
Commission exec to speak at meeting
SUN CITY -- George Spiliotis, executive director of Riverside County's Local Agency Formation Commission will speak when Riverside County Unincorporated Communities meets Saturday.
The group will meet for breakfast at 8:30 a.m. at Boston Billie's restaurant, 26850 Cherry Hills Blvd. in Sun City. The talk will begin at 9:30 a.m.
For information, call Thelma at 951-657-9319.
Show features working quarter horses
TEMECULA -- The third annual Sherri Gilkerson Memorial Spectacular, a show for working quarter horses, will be held this weekend at Casner Ranch.
It will include tests of horses' abilities in dozens of different classes. Show times are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, at Anza and De Portola roads.
The Southern California Reined Cow Horse Association is hosting the show, which is approved by the American Quarter Horse Association.
The ranch is at 34520 De Portola Road in Temecula.
Fundraising concert set for Thursday
MURRIETA -- The Robert Holts Orchestra will perform a live concert at 7 p.m. Thursday to raise money for the Vista Murrieta High School band program.
The 19-piece orchestra will perform big band music. The Vista Murrieta High School band under the direction of Donald Wade also will be featured, as will Jay Mason, the saxophonist from the Gordon Goodwin Big Phat Band.
Tickets cost $5 and can be purchased at the door. The concert will be in the performing arts center at the school, 28251 Clinton Keith Road in Murrieta.
For information, call Robert Holts at 951-926-9824.
Church to host gospel concert
 MURRIETA -- Gateway Church of the Nazarene is hosting a Southern gospel quartet in a free concert on May 24.
Evidence, an Orange County-based quartet, will perform at 6 p.m. in the church' s celebration center, at 23650 Jefferson Ave.
For information, call (951) 461-0221.
SENIOR NEWS
Senior driving classes offered
The AARP offers an ongoing driver safety program for mature drivers. The eight-hour course is offered for drivers 50 and older at various locations throughout Southwest County.
The course, which costs $12 for AARP members or $14 for non-members, can help participants save money on auto insurance.
Upcoming classes run from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on:
- May 27, Sun City Civic Association, 26850 Sun City Blvd. Register after 1 p.m., 951-244-7513
- June 4, Lake Elsinore Senior Center, 420 Lakeshore Drive. Register, 951-674-2526.
- June 9, Kay Ceniceros Senior Center, 29995 Evans Road in Sun City. Register, 951-672-9673.
- June 24, Sun City Civic Association, 26850 Sun City Blvd. Register after 1 p.m., 951-244-7513.
A two-day class will be offered from 12:15 to 4:15 p.m. on June 17 and 18 at San Diego National Bank, 31990 Temecula Parkway. Register, 951-312-4120.
Also, a four-hour renewal course is offered for those who have completed the full eight-hour course in the last four years. Those class dates are noon to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Murrieta Senior Center, 41717 Juniper St. Register, 951-304-7275.
Seniors group schedules trips
TEMECULA -- Seniors' Golden Years of Temecula Valley is planning a several excursions over the next couple of months.
On June 11, the group will participate in a Federal Reserve money tour and eat lunch. The cost is $56. In July, participants will travel to Viejas Casino and the outlet mall in Alpine. The cost is $6. Then, the group will be off to the Del Mar Races and lunch on July 23. The cost is $61.
For information, call Esther at 951-694-6466 between 9 a.m. and noon weekdays.
Senior singles group to meet
TEMECULA -- Half Century Singles will meet for lunch at 3 p.m. Sunday at Gourmet Italia North.
The group is a dining club designed to help single men and women 50 and older find companionship. Members meet for dinners and parties at restaurants in Temecula and Murrieta.
The restaurant is at 40711 Murrieta Hot Springs Road in Murrieta. To reserve a seat at the lunch, call 951-237-2783.
Senior center plans excursions
MURRIETA -- The Murrieta Senior Center is planning a May 28 trip to Descanso Gardens in La Canada.
Participants will visit the garden, which features a spectacular array of flowers that are in bloom year-round. The trip also includes a 40-minute guided tour through the 165-acre grounds. That same day, attendees will visit the Norton Simon Museum. The cost is $44.
For information, call the center at 951-304-7275.
Senior center to host bingo
LAKE ELSINORE -- The Lake Elsinore Senior Center hosts a variety of classes, events and programs, including a weekly bingo game on Tuesdays.
Bingo is held from 1 to 3 p.m. with a basic buy-in of $6, plus specials. Cash and door prizes and refreshments are available.
The center also provides lunch at 11:30 a.m. daily, with reservations required by noon the day before.
A monthly newsletter is available that lists the center's art and exercise classes, pool games, computer lab times and more.
For information, call (951) 674-2526 or stop by the center at 420 E. Lakeshore Drive.
HEALTH NEWS
Dyslexia group hosts workshop
RIVERSIDE -- The Inland Empire branch of the International Dyslexia Association will host a free workshop and presentation on Monday.
The workshop "Advances in Technology for Reading and Writing," will start at 6:30 p.m. at the Riverside County Office of Education Service Center, 3958 12th St. in Riverside.
Ellen Cutler, the director of the High-Tech Training Center at Santa Monica College will be the featured speaker and she'll demonstrate various technology and software.
For information, call Regina at 951-784-2569.
Two blood drives set this week
Two blood drives are scheduled in Murrieta this week.
The drives will be held from:
- 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at Powerhouse Gym, 25389 Madison Ave.
- 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at Murrieta Valley High School, 42200 Nighthawk Way
Donors must be 16 years old, healthy and weigh at least 110 pounds; the process takes about an hour.
Free glucose screening planned
LAKE ELSINORE -- The city of Lake Elsinore will offer a free glucose screening and a diabetes awareness program at noon Wednesday.
The service is being provided by Prime Care at the Lake Elsinore Senior Center and is open to everyone.
Glucose screening is a simple test to determine if an individual is at risk of developing diabetes. Nearly 25 percent of people over 60 have the disease.
The senior center is at 420 E. Lakeshore Drive in Lake Elsinore. For information, call 951-674-2526.
Laugh your way to better health
LAKE ELSINORE -- A free workshop on the benefits of laughter will be held at noon on May 22.
Kati Ford from the Senior Services Division of La Vista Prevention Service will present "Laughter is the Best Medicine" at the Lake Elsinore Senior Center.
The presentation will focus on living healthier and feature games and a clown. All adults are welcome to the free workshop.
The senior center is at 420 E. Lakeshore Drive in Lake Elsinore. For information, call 951-674-2526.
