Pilots fly for winning hand

The Californian

FRENCH VALLEY - A poker run Oct. 11 will feature pilots hopscotching around regional airports to collect enough cards for a winning hand.

The run is the 12th put on by the Coyote Country Chapter of the Ninety-Nines, an organization of female pilots.

Pilots and their guests start at any one of six airports - Fallbrook, Ramona, Gillespie Field, Hemet, French Valley and Oceanside - but all must finish at French Valley by 2:30 p.m.

"It's really an exercise in logistics for pilots," Marie Donovan of the Coyote Country chapter said Tuesday. "They have a lot of fun with it."

Fifty-one pilots flew in last year's contest, and Donovan hopes for another good turnout this year. The lion's share of proceeds goes toward scholarships for women pursuing careers in aviation.

The event kicks off at 10:30 am. Oct. 11. In the case of rain, the poker run will move to Oct. 12.

There is no registration fee, and hands cost $3 each. Four hands cost $10. To be eligible for prizes, planes must land at five airports. The highest-ranking hand gets first choice of prizes. More than 100 prizes were handed out last year and included two days of sports fishing, gift certificates to restaurants and artwork.

For details, call Donovan at (760) 728-6568 or Suzanne Lemoine at (760) 451-0115.

What's happening

Yoga, meditation classes to start

MURRIETA - Yoga instructor Atma Khalsa will hold a "Meditation/EZ Yoga" series Wednesday mornings from Sept. 3 to 24. The fee for all four classes is $31.

In addition, Khalsa offers free beginning-yoga classes for first-time students. The days available are:

• 6 p.m. Sept. 3, yoga class open to all.

• 9:15 a.m. Sept. 5, women's yoga.

• 10:30 a.m. Sept. 5, "EZ yoga" open to all.

For information, call Yoga Healing at 696-9063, or visit www.objectrad.com/yoga.

Hobbies expo set at Riverside event

RIVERSIDE - The Riverside Wednesday Night 2003 season showcases a weekly farmers market, arts and crafts, food, entertainment and special expos.

Tonight's exposition will be the Children, Families, and Hobbies Expo. Riverside Wednesday Night runs from 5 to 9 p.m. through Sept. 24 in downtown Riverside between Sixth Street and City Hall on Main Street.

For information, call 715-3439, or visit www.riversidewednesdaynite.org.

Program to cover film adaptations

TEMECULA - The Friends of the Temecula Library will explore "Adaptations: Books and Plays to Film" on Sept. 7.

The program is part of the Sunday Series for Inquiring Minds, and on tap are discussions of "Emma," by Jane Austen, and "Oscar and Lucinda," by Peter Carey. Participants also will share their favorite and not-so-favorite adaptations and discuss what they like and don't like about films based on books.

The program runs from

2 to 3:30 p.m. in the Community Room of the Temecula Library, 41000 County Center Drive. Admission is free. Call 699-7814.

Musicians to present demos at workshop

The Californian

TEMECULA - The Temecula Valley International Film & Musical Festival, slated for Sept. 10 to 14, will complement its movie line-up with industry-insider workshops.

"Record This! The Inside Track of the Music Business" will give attendees the chance to present their demos or CD release or even perform live for a critique. All levels of artists may attend the workshop, at 11:30 a.m. Sept. 13.

Other workshops are:

• "Just Write - Writing the Vision From Ideas to Pictures," at 10 a.m. Sept. 14.

• "Producing Your Film on Highway Catch 22," at noon Sept. 14.

• "Before the Popcorn - How Films Are Made and Managed," at 11 a.m. Sept. 13.

• "Pulling the Reel Strings of Using Music in Media," at 11 a.m. Sept. 14.

• "Can You Picture It? Choosing Your Medium … Hi-Def Vs. Film," at 11 a.m. Sept. 14.

• "Not-So-Silent Film - The Acting Role of Songs," at 10 a.m. Sept. 13.

For complete information, call 699-8681 or visit the Web site at www.tviff.com.

Program targets old cars

Residents in the unincorporated area of the Third District have the opportunity to "Junk Your Clunker" throughout September.

The program allows residents to have inoperable vehicles removed for free.

Tow trucks should be able to access the vehicles. To participate, call the county's Department of Building and Safety at 600-6140.

- The Californian

club news

GOP to discuss illegal immigration

TEMECULA - Republican women will discuss how illegal immigration affects California at their Sept. 15 meeting.

The meeting of the Temecula Valley Republican Women Federated starts at 10:30 a.m. at Sizzler restaurant, 27727 Jefferson Ave. The guest speaker is Pat Shuff, immigration issues chairwoman for the California Federation of Republican Women. The cost is $12 at the door. Make reservations to Jeanne Thigpen at 696-7444.

Macy's shopping tickets on sale

TEMECULA - The Murrieta Lions Club is selling discount tickets to the Macy's shopping event that raises funds for local nonprofit groups.

This year, Macy's will hold Community Shopping Day on Oct. 30, and the money that the Lions Club raises will go toward such causes as scholarships, glasses and hearing aids for the poor, and guide dogs for the blind.

To enjoy 10 percent to

20 percent savings at the event and a chance to win a $500 shopping spree, call Sandee at 698-3394 or Tonia at 698-5242.

Le Tip networkers meet in Temecula

TEMECULA - Le Tip of Temecula, a networking organization open to business professionals seeking to expand their businesses, meets at 11:15 a.m. Thursdays at Pat & Oscar's restaurant, 29375 Rancho California Road.

Call Mary Zorb at 757-2403.

Lions Club meets twice a month

TEMECULA - The Temecula Lions Club meets at 7 p.m. the first and third Thursdays of the month at the Sizzler restaurant at 27717 Jefferson Ave.

For information, call Sis Herron at 676-3268.

University women plan reception

TEMECULA - The Temecula Valley branch of the American Association of University Women plans a reception for new and prospective members.

AAUW is a national nonprofit organization open to women and men with four-year and graduate degrees. Anyone interested in the organization or its community outreach, advocacy and scholarships is invited to attend the meeting. It will run from 5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 4 at a private residence. For information, call Anna Whipple at 667-7432.

Swap meet vendors may register now

CANYON LAKE - The Canyon Lake Women's Club will have its annual swap meet Oct. 19 in the parking lot of the Town Center at Canyon Lake Drive and Railroad Canyon Road.

Two-car spaces are available for $30. To register, call Jean McCollum at 244-6634.

Identity theft to be topic of discussion

MURRIETA - The For You Network will discuss identity theft at its Sept. 10 meeting.

Guest speaker is Jeannie Miley, the Murrieta branch manager for USA Federal Credit Union.

The nonprofit women's network will meet at 11:30 a.m. at Carrows Restaurant, 24640 Madison Ave. The cost with reservations is $16 for members and $18 for nonmembers. The cost is $20 without reservations. Mail checks to For You Network, PO Box 422, Wildomar, CA 92595. For information, call Barbara Huguenin at 696-0378, or e-mail Barbara@

HugueninLTC.com.

Speaker, ice cream on tap for AARP

TEMECULA - The AARP Temecula Valley chapter begins its new season today with guest speaker Carol Reaver of Warm Up America.

Reaver will discuss a program in which volunteers make and give afghans to medical centers, adult day-care centers and battered women's shelters. Guests at the AARP meeting are encouraged to bring leftover yarn or 7-by-9-inch or 4-by-4-inch patches to the meeting.

An ice-cream social will follow the program. The meeting begins at 10 a.m. at the Temecula Community Center, 28816 Pujol St. For information, call 301-8962.

Gourd artists to hold studio tour

FALLBROOK - Tickets are on sale for the Gourd Artists Studio Tour from

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 15.

Participants may tour the studios of Fallbrook Area Gourd Patch artists Betty Herrington, Peggy Wisler, Ruth Phillips and Jeanette Roll. There will be demonstrations, art pieces for sale and refreshments.Tickets cost $10 and can be obtained by calling tour coordinator JoAnn Clark at (760) 740-1318.

Veterans to hold golf tournament

MENIFEE - Proceeds of a Sept. 5 golf tournament benefit the VFW's fund for returning military and their families.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1508 will hold the second annual tournament at Menifee Lakes Country Club. Shotgun start is at 8 a.m., and following the game will be a luncheon, awards and raffle. The cost is $70 to enter.

Call 674-4735.

Rosarians to hold annual seminar

TEMECULA - The Temecula Valley Rose Society will hold its second annual rose-care seminar Nov. 22.

The seminar, themed "How to Grow Beautiful Roses in the Heat of the Valley," will cover hybridization, planting, pruning, feeding, spraying and sprinkler systems.

The event is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 22 at the Temecula Community Center, 28816 Pujol St.

The $25 cost includes continental breakfast and a hot lunch. Reservations are required by Oct. 1. Make checks payable to TVRS, include a self-addressed stamped envelope, and mail to Diana Kilmer, 40648 Chantemar Way, Temecula, CA 92591.

Call 693-5568.

Contest to award humorous speech

TEMECULA - Toastmasters Club 1677 will hold a humorous-speech contest at 7 p.m. Sept. 9 at the Professional Golfers Career College, 27431 Enterprise Circle W..

The Toastmasters regularly meet from 7 to 8:30 p.m. the first three Tuesdays of the month at the college.

Call Dick Overturf at 245-5116.

Gardeners meet second Tuesday

MURRIETA - The Murrieta Garden Club meets at

10 a.m. on the second Tuesday of each month.

Visitors and prospective members are invited to attend the meeting, at 41810 Juniper St. For information, call Kathy Turgeon at 677-0028.

JUST BETWEEN US

A time when values counted

JEANIE

CORRAL

Remember when you were little? Back then, the summer days spread out like a huge golden blanket. You could kick off your shoes, go swimming, biking or skating, read comic books to your heart's delight, eat an ice cream and not worry about the cholesterol or fat count.

Remember going to the Saturday movies that cost less than 50 cents - well, for some of you, that's probably a stretch. But for me, I loved being able to sit in a darkened theater that was air-conditioned and watch my favorite movie stars, such as Rock Hudson, Doris Day, Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne, Hayley Mills, Kirk Douglas, Tommy Sands, Kurt Russell and Clint Walker. And I can't forget Mickey Mouse - how I loved all those wonderful Disney movies.

I grew up in a Walt Disney world. My parents both worked as educators, but they were always there for me. I knew who my grandparents were, and I knew where to find graves in the cemetery of other ancestors as well. We went to church every Sunday without fail, and it lasted from 8 in the morning until 9 at night. We had big church socials where the congregation would bring ice cream freezers and make ice cream. I learned to read using the Bible as a primer. I still think it has more value than its given credit for because it has lots of answers for our weary world.

I started school in a country schoolhouse where the first three grades all sat together in one room. Talk about cooperative learning! I learned my lessons, and a lot of theirs, too.

I still remember what it felt like to go out in the pasture and whistle to my pony. She would trot over, and I would swing up on her bare back and take off. I would ride the dusty Kansas farm roads for hours without a care or fear. I knew I had to be back by dark.

I think of how we guard our children now from pedophiles and drug dealers who seem to have no respect for anything except the dirty dollars they get from the smut they peddle. I get sick to my stomach when I read about people getting away with murder because of who they are and the legal shenanigans they pull.

I remember when the words honesty, loyalty and trustworthiness meant more than just something for a political slogan. I also know I am not alone in feeling this way because lots of other people have expressed their disillusionment with those who lead as well as those who follow.

I know I don't have all the answers or the corner on truth with a capital T, but I do know that a lot of the answers I have are four-letter words that W-O-R-K all the time.

It's also nice to remember that even though the people who taught me all my values have been dead and gone for quite some time, what they instilled is still guiding and directing what I do and how I do it. I imagine the same can be said for a lot of others as well.

Jeanie Corral writes about community events. She can be reached at 674-4228.

Celebrating the dream

A candlelight vigil will be held to mark the 40th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Had a Dream" speech. Please bring a candle.

Time: 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday

The vigil starts on the steps of the Riverside County Courthouse, 4000 Main St., Riverside.

For information, call Susan Strickland at 687-4292 or Gale Daggs at 788-1285 or 924-0861.