Menifee 247 May 15 2018 by Doug Spoon

Menifee 24/7 www.menifee247.com

VOL. 2 NO. 11

PRINT EDITION MAY 15, 2018

City/Valley-Wide issue in lawyers’ hands Case ‘not completed any time in near future’ By DOUG SPOON Editor

File photo Wheatfield Park, site of the Valley-Wide Menifee offices, is one of the parks that would be affected if the detachment process is completed.

The City of Menifee’s attempt to legally detach itself from Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District remains buried under a stack of court documents filed by both sides and the involvement of attorneys representing three entities. It has been 2 ½ years since the City first applied to the Riverside Local Area Formation Commission (LAFCO) for detachment from Valley-Wide, which has owned and operated parks and recreation programs east of the

215 Freeway for nearly 29 years. Armed with a new Community Services Department and staff and having already taken over parks and recreation west of the freeway from Riverside County, the City of Menifee formalized its desire to, in essence, run the whole show. Last July, LAFCO approved a resolution that would allow the City to take over the east side from Valley-Wide, but with some significant conditions: -- A public election must be held, based on LAFCO’s ruling that the change in authority over

City Hall finds bigger location New building nearly doubles office capacity

See PARKS / A4

MSJC grads at Pechanga MSJC news release

By DOUG SPOON Editor Menifee’s rapid population growth, now approaching 92,000, has resulted in more challenges than road construction and traffic. As it turns out, there is also gridlock inside City Hall. The Menifee City Council on May 2 voted 4-1 to proceed with plans to move the city’s headquarters to a new office building that will provide nearly double the square footage for a staff that has increased sixfold in the last nine years. With an ever-increasing number of development projects in the planning and permitting stages, the need for additional staff members has dramatically increased. In 2009, with a population of 68,000 and major construction just beginning, the City of Menifee had 14 employees. This year, there are a total of 86 full- and part-time employees. That, of course, means those folks need a place to conduct business. More employees means more room needed for equipment, meeting space and storage. To address this issue, acting assistant city manager Jeff Wyman pre-

the affected tax districts is governed by Prop. 218, which was passed in 1996 to ensure that all taxes on property owners are subject to voter approval. -- The City of Menifee must agree to pay $500,000 to Valley-Wide as compensation for loss of the Bell Mountain Gym and community center. -- The City of Menifee must agree to pay $500,000 to Valley-Wide as a gap bridge (half of what was requested). -- The City of Menifee must agree to take on Valley-Wide employees

Menifee 24/7 photo: Doug Spoon The City Council approved a plan to relocate City Hall to this bigger facility down the steet. sented four options to City Council members. The first option – to stay as is in the 13,000-squarefoot leased facility at the end of the Haun Road loop – was deemed impractical from the start. The second option – rent additional office and restrooms trailers to be placed next to the existing leased City Hall building – also received little interest. Ultimately, after much discussion, council members voted to approve a lease agreement for a 24,000-square-foot office

building that is under construction. Wyman did not disclose the location, but sources confirmed it is the two-story office facility being built just a few hundred yards down the street, on the east side of Haun Road north of Newport Road. According to Wyman, a relocation of City Hall to that building would provide 24,000 square feet of space at an improvement cost of $387,240. The City’s monthly lease payment would increase from its current $19,990

per month to $42,000 per month. Details have not been finalized and no date for completion of the new office building has been announced. Even so, city officials acknowledged the crucial need for such a move. A new City Hall is in the plans for the Menifee Town Center on Newport Road, but much of that project has stalled and officials won’t even guess at a completion date for a civic center there. There was some discussion on a fourth option to

relocate to 36,417 square feet of space at an industrial park recently completed on the south border of the city. Though not mentioned by name, the Commerce Pointe development on Zeiders Road south of Scott Road would require an improvement cost of $427,240 with a monthly lease amount of $32,776, according to Wyman. “I would hope we could find something more centrally located,” city manager Armando Villa said.

Sanchez exemplifies volunteerism Menifee 24/7 Staff

Dayra Leal Sanchez addresses the crowd during the May 24 Patriot Olympics at Heritage High.

Dayra Leal Sanchez says she has always had a passion for helping others. She simply didn’t have a platform to increase her desired reach of volunteerism until she came to Heritage High School. Now, the senior has played an integral part in the creation and success of two charitable organizations on the Heritage High campus. In essence, this is what she’s been waiting for. In recognition of her accomplishments, Leal Sanchez has been selected as a Menifee 24/7 Hometown Hero. “I got involved in a lot of things,” said Leal

Hometown Heroes “Making a difference” Sanchez, who has an academic schedule full of AP classes, is captain of the girls tennis team and is a member of the National Honor Federation and California Scholarship

Federation in addition to coordinating the Patriot Olympics and the school’s Make a Wish club. “What I eventually realized is, you can have too many things on your plate. I decided to focus on a small group of clubs where I can make a bigger impact.” Leal Sanchez’ most recent accomplishment this school year was the second annual Patriot Olympics, in which students compete in fun and athletic events such as Capture the Flag, Balloon Pop and Chair Balance. The event was the brainchild of Leal Sanchez, and the first event in 2017 raised See DAYRA / A2

Mt. San Jacinto College has announced that for the first time in its history, it will hold commencement ceremonies at Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula. Two ceremonies are scheduled at the new location -- one at 10 a.m. for the nursing pinning ceremony and the second at 5 p.m. for all graduates. The 2018 commencements will be held May 25 at 45000 Pechanga Parkway in Temecula. The new location offers plenty of parking, security and access for all. Located inside Pechanga’s newest ballroom, this new location also provide protection against the scorching summer heat. MSJC is issuing four guest wristbands to each graduate. Wristbands are required for guests of all ages, including children and infants. Graduates must provide a student identification card or another form of ID with their student number. All wristbands that are unclaimed will be forfeited. An overflow room will also be available for guests. Seating will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis due to limited space. Those sitting in the overflow room will watch the commencement on live-stream video. Overflow seating wristbands will be provided at check-in for the PM commencement. Traffic is expected to be heavy on May 25. MSJC urges graduates and their guests to allow plenty of travel time and use alternative routes when necessary. Alternative routes can be found at www. msjc.edu/Grad2018altroutes Graduates and guests should arrive at least one hour before the morning and evening ceremonies. Doors will open at 9 a.m. for the nursing ceremony and again at 3 p.m. for the evening ceremony. Graduates must check in and get in line immediately upon arrival. MSJC will also livestream the evening commencement ceremony for those who wish to view it at home.

May 15, 2018

MENIFEE 24/7

Menifee 24/7 photos: Doug Spoon Motorists begin to merge to the right as the center lane of eastbound Newport Road ends before returning as a left-turn lane.

Project will fix Newport Road bottleneck By DOUG SPOON Editor Crews are scheduled to begin work this month to reconfigure the eastbound lanes of Newport Road approaching Menifee Road, eliminating a bottleneck that has confused drivers and resulted in accidents. Jonathan Smith, city engineer, said the inside lane would be reconfigured as a third through traffic lane, thus eliminating the stretch of several hundred feet where an arrow on the pavement directs motorists to merge into the middle lane. Currently, the third lane disappears during that stretch to allow for the start of a second left-turn lane from eastbound Newport Road

DAYRA From Page A1

$2,400 for the school’s special education program. Funds were raised through pledges and donations to the various teams that competed, plus the sale of T-shirts and other items. Local businesses contributed sponsorships as well. “We used the money to buy a washing machine for the special ed program so the students can learn life skills,” Leal Sanchez said. “It started out as a jog-a-thon and became something bigger. Everybody came together.” Throughout the event, Leal Sanchez can be seen moving around the field, giving directions and answering questions. This year, the Patriot Olympics funded a non-profit started by a Heritage High student. The Aslan Network sponsors children in Kenya with donations. Leal Sanchez also became part of the first group of officers for Heritage’s Make a Wish club – a local chapter of the national organization that grants wishes for terminally ill children. That club has raised about $8,000 and recently granted its first wish by sending a 6-yearold Perris girl and her family to Disneyland. “I just fell in love with the idea of community service,” Leal Sanchez said. “There’s something about doing good for others than I can’t explain.” One of three sisters, Leal Sanchez plans to attend Emory University in Atlanta next year to study political science. She would like to become a District Attorney.

to northbound Menifee Road. Besides having to merge lanes within a short distance on a heavily traveled roadway, the current configuration asks motorists planning to turn left at Menifee Road to merge to the right for just a few seconds, then merge left again into one of two leftturn lanes. The narrowed traffic surface stretches from Calle Pompeii to Menifee Road. The Menifee City Council on March 21 approved an expenditure of $240,000 for the project -- $168,586 from the Capital Projects Fund and $71,414 from the Measure DD Fund, a tax increase measure designed for public safety, including road improvements. According

to plans, the project will remove the existing double left turn pockets and portions of the existing median on Newport Road. The inside lane will continue east past Menifee Road, so no merger will be required. That will reduce the left-turn pockets to one lane. Reconfiguration will also be required east of Menifee Road for a distance of 1,200 feet. The project also consists of installing a safety raised median/berm on Menifee Road “to restrict unsafe left turn movements out of the shopping centers located on each side of Menifee Road,” according to city documents. Smith said funding for the reconfiguration on Newport Road will come from developer fees paid

to the city. Measure DD funds will pay for the new median on Menifee Road, considered necessary from a safety standpoint. Smith estimates that construction will take about 25 days. He has not finalized plans on possible lane closures during the project. “We can’t reduce lanes on Newport because traffic would be backed up to the (freeway) interchange,” Smith said. “We will sequence all parts of the project to minimize traffic impact and do as much of the construction as we can at night.” The current median and lane design is still fairly new as part of a recent Newport Road widening project. Smith said he was overruled by former

city manager Rob Johnson in final approval of the design that created the merged lane configuration, and he is pleased that the situation will be corrected. According to Smith, the developer of the Stater Bros. shopping center at that intersection requested the current configuration under what is termed “ultimate improvements,” or the best anticipated design for traffic at complete build-out of the city. That plan required two left-turn lanes both ways on Newport Road, and Smith said he objected because of the bottleneck problem. “Part of the environmental study is identifying traffic impacts,” Smith said. “We look at today, in the future and when the

city is built out. The anticipation was that at buildout, we would have heavy left turns at that intersection. My disagreement was that we shouldn’t do it now when we need three lanes going through. “The developer wanted it and the previous administration listened to him. The developer got a traffic engineer to say it wouldn’t be a problem. I said, ‘Then you take full responsibility for the accidents that start happening,’ and I put that in writing.” It is virtually impossible to predict what the greatest traffic needs for that intersection will be at build-out. For now, however, a problem is being addressed.

Santa Rosa students get scholarships JACKIE BALLARD Menifee 24/7 Intern

Select seniors at Santa Rosa Academy were celebrated at the school’s Scholarship Night on May 9. They collectively received $10,000 in scholarships for demonstrating leadership in char-acter, athletics, and academics. A total of 30 students were awarded scholarships. Their awards included -- but are certainly not limited to -- Excellence in Engineering, Athlete of the Year, Best Character, Excellence in Year-book, and Lead and Inspire. The Santa Rosa Academy Booster Club raised this money through a year’s worth of fundraising, food sales, and hard work. Santa Rosa’s kindergarten class also donated $140 by building games out of cardboard and of-fering “a penny a play” deal.

Photo by Jackie Ballard Santa Rosa Executive Director Laura Badillo hugs Ashlyn Gayk as she receives the Character Scholarship.

Teacher receives science ‘superhero’ award By Tage Welke Menifee 24/7 Intern Dr. Daniel McKinney of Santa Rosa Academy was presented the Discovery Channel’s “Science Superhero” award this month. The awards are presented by the Discovery TV Channel each month to showcase science professionals and educators who excel at their work. This is intended to give credit to those involved with science that make a positive impact in their

community. McKinney is an Astrology, Physics, and Environmental Science teacher at the academy. He has 17 years of experience and has worked with both teens and adults. “I teach because I like to empower people and make a positive social difference,” McKinney said. “I love seeing the lightbulb go on as students connect the conceptual dots.” McKinney teaches in a mostly hands-on fashion, allowing his students the

freedom to try different ideas. His students are encouraged to create and innovate in his projects. “My class room is like a workshop,” said the educator. “Every class is perpetually designing, building, and testing projects.” These activities are meant to provide his students with plenty of space to create their own unique things, which would improve their critical thinking skills and problem solving. McKinney is grateful for the award, yet he says

that his most rewarding moments are when previous students send him emails expressing their thanks or talking about how his class has helped them. He said he thinks that science can help anyone in their daily lives. In addition, McKinney said he believes that the study of science promotes constructive interactions, and that it gives them the ability to think critically and solve problems more efficiently.

DANIEL MCKINNEY

MENIFEE 24/7

May 15,2018

Animal services honors two local volunteers Menifee 24/7 Staff

Two Menifee women who volunteer at the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus were recently honored by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors. Donna Chavez and her daughter Kristina were among volunteers at various county animal shelters honored. Donna supervises the photography team of volunteers at the San Jacinto facility and helps teach others how to bring out the best in animals during their photo shoots. Kristina, a 2017 graduate of Cal Baptist, received degrees in biology and pre-med and is gaining valuable experience as she works toward a goal of becoming a veterinarian.

Four volunteers with Riverside County Animal Services were honored. Mary Anderson, Volunteer of the Year at the Western Riverside County/City Animal Shelter in Jurupa Valley, received recognition after racking up more than 3,000 hours’

worth of volunteerism in her nine-year tenure with the department. Delores Anderson (no relation to Mary) of Palm Desert received recognition as the Volunteer of the Year at the Coachella Valley Animal Campus in Thousand Palms.

Jan Fernandez (standing) and Kathy Pickett were instrumental in the success of the last Sun City Food Festival. The event returns on June 10.

Sun City Food Festival scheduled for June 10 A tasty tradition returns on Sunday, June 10, when the Sun City Coordinating Council sponsors its annual Food Festival in North Town Hall at the Sun City Civic Center. The after-church luncheon will include food served food court style, with tables featuring

different kinds of food. Home cooking and baking by Sun City residents will be included. Cost of the food items is set by the clubs that participate. There will be a wide variety of food and no reservation is needed. Just across the court yard in Webb Hall at 2

p.m., there will be a Big Band Concert. They will play all afternoon until 5 p.m. The Sun City Civic Center is located at 26850 Sun City Blvd. in the Sun City community in Menifee. The public is invited to come and try the various food items.

MSJC awards 54 scholarships Mt. San Jacinto College news release More than 50 Mt. San Jacinto College students received nearly $90,000 in scholarship funds during the MSJC Foundation’s annual Scholarship Reception. The May 9 event was held at Wilson Creek Winery in Temecula. A total of $87,375 was awarded to 54 students

during the annual scholarship reception. Nursing major Giti Skolnick of Murrieta, who plans on transferring to Cal Poly Pomona, received a total of four scholarships. “I have started my academic journey with a goal of becoming a certified nurse/midwife,” Skolnick said. “I have a strong interest in women’s physical and psychological

health and its influence on the self, the pregnancy and the children.” Rene’ Michelle Floyd, a Perris resident, won first place in the SOCO Business Competition – a competition for MSJC students modeled after the TV show “Shark Tank.” She received $5,000. The SOCO Group awarded a total of $20,000 to four students.

Shooting victim flees, crashes, dies at hospital Menifee 24/7 Staff A man who police said was the victim of a shooting May 14 crashed over the side of Railroad Canyon Road and later died from injuries sustained in the shooting. Henry Shannon, 35, left the scene of the shooting near Railroad Canyon Road and Grape Street in Lake Elsinore about 3:30 p.m., according to a Sheriff’s Department news release. A short distance to the east on a hilly stretch

of Railroad Canyon Road near Church Street, Shannon’s vehicle went over the side in a single-vehicle accident and ended up about 75 feet below. First responders set up a rope system to gain access to the vehicle, according to a Fire Department report. The victim was extricated from the vehicle and transported to a local hospital, where he later died. The investigation is ongoing and no further details were released.

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PARKS From Page A1

affected by the change. The City filed an appeal with LAFCO, stating that Prop. 218 didn’t apply in this case and no public election was needed to approve that part of the detachment. In addition, the City opposed the $500,000 gap bridge payment to Valley-Wide to make up for loss of revenue. But that appeal was denied by LAFCO in October. What has happened since then? In November, the City’s legal firm of Rutan and Tucker filed in Riverside Superior Court a complaint, seeking judgment against LAFCO and Valley-Wide in the matters of Prop. 218 and the $500,000 payment. After months of intermittent correspondence between the legal teams, Valley-Wide on April 26

filed a legal response with the court, reaffirming its stance on those issues. Valley-Wide also on April 26 filed a motion to intervene, stating “the resolution of this case will impact the District’s interests in the [landscape maintenance districts].” In other words, a big part of the issue is a battle over revenues generated in the affected tax districts. It has become much more than just a struggle over ownership of Wheatfield and other parks and a bid for unification of recreation programs. Valley-Wide’s documents were stamped as received by the court the same day as the last LAFCO meeting. During that meeting, LAFCO executive officer George Spiliotis referred to an agenda item concerning legal counsel on the detachment

issue by telling LAFCO commissioners, “We’re in litigation on that one, and we won’t be completing that one any time in the near future.” Dean Wetter, general manager of Valley-Wide, told Menifee 24/7 on May 14 that “a lot of unanswered questions” remain. “I believe there has been some correspondence, but I have not heard about any further agenda item (with LAFCO),” Wetter said. “Our focus on the community hasn’t changed. We continue to serve the community the same way we always have. We still have an interest in this, and until we hear otherwise, we continue to provide that service.” Menifee city manager Armando Villa did not immediately respond to a media inquiry on the matter.

File photo Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District GM Dean Wetter addressed the Menifee Parks, Recreation and Trails Commission on the issue in 2016.

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May 15,2018

Photo by Tage Welke Students run the Ranger Station store on the Santa Rosa campus.

SRA business program a success By Tage Welke Menifee 24/7 Intern Santa Rosa Academy has a four–year Business Pathway program for high school students to partake in. The Pathway is known around the school for its Ranger Station -- a store operated by Business students. The store sells an assortment of foods and drinks in a location near the central plaza. SRA’s lack of a cafeteria is a main reason for the

student store’s success; as many students looking for easy and affordable lunches stop by. The store is most favored by sixth to eighth grade students, providing a multitude of diverse choices for food. The Business Pathway’s four classes include Introduction to Business, Foundations of Business, E–commerce and Ethical Leadership, and a capstone course that includes personal finance. The classes are all taught by Trisha Jenkins, an SRA veteran with sev-

eral years of experience. “I think that SRA gives students a unique opportunity to put job experience on their resume,” said Jenkins. “Each year going forward, the new students in Foundations of Business write a business plan (for the Ranger Station) and present it to the administration to get support in opening and operating their business. Students not only get experience in business, but also real world experience.”

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May 15, 2018

MENIFEE 24/7

Scout project helps Rural Center Content provided by Menifee Rural Center

Antelope-Menifee Rural Center board members honor Eric Heiner with a certificate of appreciation for completing his project of replacing lighting and electrical fixtures at the facility.

Eric Heiner, a student at Santa Rosa Academy, resolved to earn his Eagle Scout honor, the highest rank of the Boy Scouts of America. One of the merit requirements to achieve Eagle is to demonstrate leadership of others while performing a project for the benefit of the community. It is the culmination of Heiner’s leadership training. On a recent Saturday morning, Heiner and members of his scout Troop 585 worked together to replace the interior lighting at the Antelope-Menifee Rural Center. It was a welcome improvement to the historic facility, which provides a free place for Menifee’s local youth organizations to meet.

“The old fluorescent tube light fixtures were failing,” said Bill Zimmerman, who serves as president of the center’s board. “These new LED lights are a real nice upgrade that should serve us well for many years. We appreciate Eric and his team.” A professional electrician was on hand to guide Eric and the troop members as they removed the old lights, installed eight new LED fixtures, replaced the old wall switches with new dimmer switches, and patched and painted the ceiling areas around the new lightfixtures. The Rural Center’s board and members presented a certificate of honor to Heiner to show their appreciation for improving the community facility.

DocDental Smiles will handle all your dental needs Advertorial supplement: For the most comfortable experience in professional care of all your dental needs, residents of the Menifee Valley have a great choice at DocDental Smiles. Located at 28401 Bradley Road in the Sun City community in Menifee, DocDental Smiles provides full dental care – everything from routine check-ups and cleaning to dentures and dental implants. Here’s what Dr. Tien Tran of DocDental Smiles has to say about three key elements of his practice: Creating beautiful smiles with personalized care: Building a foundation of trust by treating our patients as special individuals is vital to our success. We understand how uneasy some patients can feel about their dental visits, and we know that we can make a difference by providing a relaxing and positive experience. Our entire team is dedicated to providing our patients with excellent, personalized care and service to make your visits as comfortable and pleasant as possible. Our focus on education and prevention: As a practice, we truly believe that preventative care and education are the keys to optimal dental health. We strive to provide “dental health care” vs. “disease care”; that’s why we focus on thorough exams – checking the overall health of your teeth and gums, performing oral cancer exams, and taking X-rays when necessary. We also know that routine cleanings, flossing, sealants, and fluoride are all helpful in preventing dental disease. Not only are we focused on the beauty of patients’ smile, we’re also concerned about their health. A medical history review can help us stay informed of our patients’ overall health, any new medications, and any illnesses that may impact their den-

tal health. Introduction to implants: Your smile should last a lifetime, and with dental implants from DocDental Smiles, it will. Replacing missing teeth is important to your overall health and also to the health of your other teeth. Dental implants are the next best thing to your healthy, natural teeth. One of the biggest advantages of an implant is that it restores full chewing power. Most patients can’t tell the difference between their natural teeth and the implant tooth. They can eat with it completely normally, and they can brush and floss normally as well. With additional training in Implant Dentistry from Loma Linda School of Dentistry and International Academy of Implant Dentistry, Dr. Tran is confident in placing a dental implant that looks, feels, fits and functions like a natural tooth. Other options such as dentures or bridges can lead to bone deterioration, and may interfere with eating, smiling, speaking and other activities of everyday life. A dental bridge may only last around 10 years or so. Dental implants can last a lifetime. The implant is made from titanium and integrates with the jawbone. It’s bio-compatible, meaning that it’s non-toxic and is easily accepted by the body. That makes them your best long-term, cost-effective solution in dental care. For optimal dental health care, contact DocDental Smiles today.

Castillejos honored for service Menifee resident and Navy veteran Darci Castillejos recently received a Veterans Service Award from Senator Jeff Stone for her military service and community involvement. Ten veterans from Riverside County will be honored later this month. Castillejos, U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer retired, served from 1994 through 2016, including deployments in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Her community service in Menifee includes: -- Past chairman and current 1st vice chair of the Menifee Valley Chamber of Commerce -- Past president and current treasurer of Meni-

fee Valley Community Cupboard -- Past vice president of the Menifee Valley Incorporation Committee -- Past member of the Menifee General Plan Advisory Committee -- Past president of Menifee Valley Middle School PTSA -- Past chairman of The Forum, coordinating volunteer activated at March ARB -- President of the Menifee Chamber Military Affairs Committee “While I believe everyone who serves honorably in our military is worthy of special recognition ... these are the veterans who were selected for this year’s awards,” Stone said in the announcement.

Thanks to Steven Snyder for this beautiful photo of a sunset over Menifee Lake, taken from near the swim club in that private community.

Inside Menifee 24/7 MAY 15, 2018

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SECTION B1

Tell us all about your team

The Heritage High School baseball team won the Sunbelt League title for the first time ever with a 12-3 league record.

Heritage wins league baseball title The Heritage High School baseball team headed into the CIF playoffs with a home game against Alta Loma May 17 after winning the Sunbelt League title for the first time in school history. The Patriots improved their overall record to 18-7 with an 8-4 victory over rival Paloma Valley May 11 in their regular-season finale. Heritage finished league play with

a 12-3 mark. “I want to say how proud I am of the boys for what they have been able to accomplish this season,” said coach Scott Montgomery. “The road to this point has not been an easy one for them, and there have been many ups and downs along the way. “As a coaching staff we made sure they were challenged, not only physically but mentally and even

spiritually at times where they had to learn to have faith and to trust in themselves and each other. The strength of our team lies in the brotherhood that they created during this journey. “As a coach it makes me proud to see the transformation of young men who are learning to put the team first above themselves and in doing so having a very successful

season.” A solid pitching staff includes James Duran (53, 4.23 ERA), Jose Lopez (3-0, 1.80), Matthew Horton (2-3, 3.00), Brody Derrick (3-1, 1.83), Christopher Reyes (2-0, 0.67) and Guillermo Landeros (2-0, 5.14). Leading hitters include Thomas Parker (.486, 26 RBIs), Lopez (.463, 27), Kenny Teter (.382, 9) and Bubba Baker (.346, 16).

Alta Loma, Heritage’s opponent in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division 4 playoffs, enters the postseason with a 13-12 overall record. The Braves finished 9-6 in league play this season. If the Patriots win their playoff opener, they will face the winner of a game between second-seeded Grand Terrace and a wildcard winner.

Here at Menifee 24/7, we realize there are hundreds of sports teams competing at all times throughout the year. Whether these are high school teams, Little League, AYSO, or any kind of youth or adult sport, we want to hear from you! Now that our newspaper publishes twice a month, we can report the accomplishments of local teams on a more timely basis. We can’t really accommodate individual game results unless it is a report of a championship victory, but we can consider team photos, action photos from games and updates on how your season is going. If you are a coach or have someone designated to report scores, send us an email at info@menifee247.com or write us at 28313 Parkdale Lane, Menifee CA 92584 with your story idea. We can’t guarantee covering everyone, but we will do our best to share your success story with our readers. Make sure you include your contact information when you write us in case we have any questions.

Photos by Kristi Jo Aguirre The Sunbelt League swimming finals featured top talent. Heritage’s Priscila Magana (left) and Paloma Valley’s Sarah Freeman both performed well.

Paloma soccer one of top stories of year of the goal area in the 57th minute. That’s all Paloma Valley needed to become the first CIF team champion in 23 years of Wildcats sports. “It popped out at the corner and I just touched it in,” said Barackman. “This is great. I’ve been waiting like forever to do this.”

Editor’s note: One of the top prep sports stories of the school year in Menifee was the success of the Paloma Valley High School girls soccer team. Here we take a look back at the game story of their CIF-SS championship victory on March 3. By DOUG SPOON Editor It was an historic season in more ways than one. Paloma Valley High School’s 1-0 win over Ventura High March 3 not only gave the Wildcats the CIF Southern Section Division 4 championship in girls soccer -- it gave the school its first CIF team title in school history. “It couldn’t have happened to a better group of amazing women,” Paloma Valley principal Jennifer Thomasian told the players during the post-game celebration at Corona High School. “Girl power!”

Menifee 24/7 Photo: Doug Spoon It’s a study in contrasts as Paloma Valley players celebrate Correyn Barackman’s goal while Ventura players react with shock. It definitely was a powerful performance by the Wildcats – and they weren’t finished yet. Qualifying for the CIF Southern California Regionals, Paloma Valley advanced all the way to the finals before losing a rematch with Ventura in overtime.

That was the only loss of the season for the Wildcats (26-1-3), who also recorded 16 consecutive shutouts. They scored 138 goals and allowed only 8 in 30 games this season. The CIF-SS championship game was a clinic in winning soccer. Combin-

ing good defensive clearing passes with timely goalkeeping and offensive movement, the Wildcats put themselves into position for the victory when freshman Correyn Barackman punched in the second rebound from a crowd at the left corner

The Wildcats have a roster full of talented players. Forwards Nicole Dallin and Alyssa Moore worked in tandem to move the ball forward against a tough Ventura defense. Miale Jones, Megan Dallin, Payton Whitcomb and Graci Raymond controlled play in the midfield. And when starting goalkeeper Peyton Broccardo-Rehak left with an injury nine minutes into the second half, Paulina Pimentel took the field and artfully completed the shutout. Over the course of the season, the two goalkeepers played a similar amount of minutes

and combined for a 0.44 goals-against average. “She said, ‘If I can’t give 100 percent, I’m coming out,” coach Carlos Alfaro said about Broccardo-Rehak, who was limping a bit after being kicked in the leg. “Paulina did a great job, too. I’ve been playing Peyton more in the playoffs, but Paulina being a junior, I told her, ‘Next year this is your team.’” And as Barackman showed by emerging from a tangle of players with the lone goal, the talent extends even to the freshman ranks. In fact, Paloma Valley loses only three seniors off this team. “Correyn has a knack of scoring goals like that,” said Alfaro about Barackman, who scored seven goals this season. “She always cleans up the mess. I’d say more than half her goals have been like that, where she cleans up the mess, or balls nobody else gets, she goes after.”

May 15, 2018

MENIFEE 24/7

Menifee Crossword Puzzle

Sun City memories... Photos from the archives of the Sun City Historical Assn.

Sun City News, Nov. 5, 1970: Joe H. West of the Sun City Fishing Club shows off the 90-pound yellowfin tuna he caught 500 miles south of San Diego and 160 miles out to sea.

Today’s Menifee Crossword Puzzle is another tough one! The theme is “Mountains and ranges.” Clues with an asterisk refer to the theme. Answers, Page B4. ACROSS

DOWN

1. Meat jelly dish 6. *Sierra Nevada country 9. Cut the crop 13. Bake an egg 14. Cattle prod 15. Notre-Dame sounds 16. Orange type of tea 17. Hula dancer’s necklace 18. Door fasteners 19. *North American Cordillera’s highest peak 21. *Himalayan peak 23. *Type of resort 24. Monetary unit of Xi Jinping’s country 25. Nothing alternative 28. Big rig 30. Bloody Mary juice 35. Byproduct of combing wool 37. Hermes and Apollo 39. Whitman’s famous flower reference 40. Small European freshwater fish 41. “This ____ ____” on a box 43. Country dance formation 44. ____ vs. pathos 46. Swing seat? 47. Long adventure story 48. Japanese warriors’ religion 50. Red Cross supplies 52. Duke of Cambridge to Prince of Wales 53. Foot curve 55. Boiling blood 57. *Highest mountain in Cascade Range 61. *Highest peak in Russia 64. “____ ____ a high note” 65. Increase 67. Shrek and Fiona 69. Deals 70. Just one of #61 Down 71. Annie Oakley’s show 72. What Simon does 73. “Swan Lake” steps 74. Lumberjack’s leftover

1. Nile reptile 2. Type of outbuilding 3. Toothy freshwater fish 4. Jordan Spieth’s 3-9 5. Floorboard sounds 6. Tangerine-grapefruit hybrid 7. Sigma Alpha Epsilon 8. Farewell in France 9. ____-view mirror 10. Alleviate 11. *Strictly European mountain range 12. “____, over here!” 15. ____ red, in a chemistry lab 20. City in Belgium 22. Giant pot 24. “Fiddler on the Roof ” language, originally 25. *World’s longest mountain system 26. Averse 27. Chinese fruit 29. *____ Blanc 31. One thousandth of a liter, pl. 32. Spy’s cover 33. Argentine dance 34. *____ Ridge, word’s longest underwater range 36. Kings of ____ band 38. “Why not?” 42. Jeopardy 45. “Tide” target 49. Mine deposit 51. Pergolas 54. Move like ivy 56. Cereal killer 57. Cold War enemies 58. Dwarf buffalo 59. Lazily 60. Rejections 61. Unagi, pl. 62. Pakistani language 63. Give an impression 66. *Mauna ___, Hawaii’s highest peak 68. Oreo to mil

This 1981 newspaper article shows club president Mike Kissinger of the Sun City Organ Club playing a Hammond Concord Theater organ that was recently purchased.

A 1960s menu from the Kings Inn Restaurant, located within a motor hotel that stood at the corner of Bradley Road and Cherry Hills Boulevard for years. Notice the prices, including a plate of lobster tails for $3.25.

LEGAL NOTICE Notice is hereby given that on May 29, 2018 at 8:30 a.m. S302 or soon thereafter, a matter may be heard in Department of the Riverside Superior Court, located at 30755-D Auld Road, Murrieta, California, 92563. Petitioner intends to apply for an order declaring the newspaper known as Menifee 24/7 Print Edition to be a newspaper of general circulation for the City of Menifee. Dated March 27, 2018

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May 15, 2018

Yes, it’s true: Mothers can be stylish By ROSALIA ULIBARRI, R & S Loft Fashions Here’s to all mothers, in every sense of the word, during this special Mother’s Day month. We all know how tough it can be to be a mother and keep up with the latest trends, especially when your kids are still young. My first years of motherhood were a challenge, but I still enjoyed being a mother. It wasn’t until my third child was born that I sort of lost myself; I felt like I was stuck in this world where I could never do anything for myself again. I stopped trying to look “cute” and my self-esteem slowly began to decrease. This is never a good sign. Something was missing. I wasn’t taking the time to take care of myself, to do something for ME. After that small but depraved episode of my life, I now make sure to take care of myself first and then take care of my family. I get up, get dressed and feel empowered to take on the day. It’s important to look presentable, even if there are no plans to go out. Don’t do this for anyone else but yourself, but your family will appreciate it too. When you look and feel beautiful from the outside, it will build your self-esteem and give you confidence to get out of your comfort zone. My mother-in-law always tells my kids to love themselves. To me, that’s important. Here’s the best news: I’ve created a small list of things you can do to look stylish without breaking the bank and sacrificing too much time away from your family. 1. Find a “do”. This is where I have the most trouble, my hair. It’s flat and thin and I’m always trying to make it do something it can’t. I’ve found, however, that if I

Fashion Facts Checking out the latest trends simply work with what I’ve got, I spend far less time doing my hair and more time with my child. When you go in for a haircut, choose hairstyles that you can manage easily with a bit of product. For me, this means adding lots of layers in my hair to add structure and a bit of volume. Whatever the case, don’t settle for that messy bun everyday. Do a little research and find hairstyles and products that will work for your hair. 2. Don’t be afraid of a little makeup. Even if you like the natural look, putting on a little makeup can make all the difference. If you don’t care for foundation, brush a little mascara on your lashes. Or dab a bit of gloss on your lips. You don’t have to go with the full-blown makeup transformation, but a little makeup never hurt anyone. Eyebrows are also key. Maintaining them nicely trimmed, plucked, waxed, or threaded, whatever your preference, will give you a much cleaner look. 3. Polish up. If you have the time to get a manicure/ pedicure, by all means do so. This is the perfect way to get some ME time. Otherwise, take a few minutes of the day after kids go to bed to trim your nails and put a bit of polish on. A great tip to keep that color on a little longer is going over the polish with a bit of top coat everyday. It doesn’t take but one minute and you will have extra protection every day. If you like the natural look, make sure your nails are clean and trimmed. This super simple act will improve your overall stylish look. 4. Dress for your body type. We perhaps all have that one top or dress that we can’t stop wearing because we love the way we look in it. This is because it was probably made for your body type. If a certain style flatters your body, then it’s what works for you. It’s OK to have one or a couple of styles that we wear day after day. If you find a top that you love and works perfect for your body, buy it in every color available. I do the same thing with pants, dresses, and shoes. Being stylish doesn’t mean you have to wear what everyone else is wearing; it means finding pieces that compliment your body and help you look and feel good. It means looking presentable. 5. Get rid of the old smelly shoes. If your shoes look like they’ve been found under a pile of trash, it is time to get rid of them. You can find super inexpensive shoes

It’s never too early for summer plans By KRISTEN SPOON Associate Editor

Well, summertime is almost upon us, and there are so many things we can do. The number one thing on my mind is stay cool and relax. (Hint: I’ll be at the beach!!) We are blessed with wonderful weather here in the Inland Empire. For a few weeks, however, it gets a little dreary. Then, hello summer! Now’s a great time to do your early maintenance in and around the outside of your house, before it gets too hot to be outside. And if you have kids in school, get ready for summertime fun! Plan some family vacations and short weekend trips to places maybe you’ve never been. Or have just a good old staycation! We have to keep those kids busy! Household checklist for summer: -- Make sure everything you’re winterizing is removed. -- Clean your grills and patios. -- Put up your party lights! -- Have your HVAC serviced. It will be some much cheaper now than when it’s in high demand. -- Have your car tuned and ready to go -- tires, oil, and lube. Everybody will be wanting this done and it’s a busy season. Get it done while kids are still in school and there’s less

Kristen’s Corner Crafts, chat and other stuff hassle. -- Plan one day a week as an outing with the family. See below suggested local activities. High school graduations are also an exciting time around Menifee. Please note the following ceremonies at local high schools: -- Santa Rosa Academy, May 23 -Heritage High School, June 7 -- Paloma Valley High School, June 8 -- Mt. San Jacinto College, May 25 at Pechanga’s ballroom Don’t forget, Menifee has great summertime entertainment in the form of Movies in the Park on Friday nights. It’s free, and they will have themed costume contests and snacks, family picnic games, food and drinks vendors. If you attend all six movies, you can become eligible to earn a prize! Movies begin at dusk on the following dates:

June 15 -- “Despicable Me”, Audie Murphy Ranch Sports Park June 22 – “Paddington 2”, E.L. Peterson Park July 6 -- “Peter Rabbit”, Mayfield Park July 13 -- “Coco”, Lyle Marsh Park July 27 -- ‘90s Night ( Vote for your favorite 90’s movie by July 1), Lazy Creek Park Aug 3 – “Cars”, La Ladera Park Don’t forget the City’s Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony on Monday, May 28 at 10 a.m. to noon at Wheatfield Park. Let’s see how many families and friends we can get out to support our great military veterans and active duty members! Kay Ceniceros Senior Center has some great programs this summer. Here are some highlights. For more information, you can contact the Aisha Jemmott-Wilson at the Senior center at 951-6729673. See KRISTEN / B4

online that don’t have to last a lifetime. I get bored easily, so I like to buy shoes for the season. I recently picked up some strappy sandals in preparation for summer at our local Payless Shoes store for under $15. Shop the deals and you’ll have brand new shoes to complete your overall look. Never let motherhood get in the way of your personal style and identity. I promise you can do both -- be a great mom and be stylish too. Happy Mother’s Day to all you beautiful ladies. Rosalia Ulibarri Co-Owner, R&S Loft www.randsloft.com Facebook: Rosalia and Sofia My name is Rosalia. I am a mother of three fun, energetic children – Uzziah (7), Sofia (5), and Ezra (2) -- and I’m happily married to my wonderful husband, Dr. Matthew Ulibarri, a local optometrist. I have been in the fashion industry on and off for almost five years now. For the past two years, I worked as an independent fashion consultant/retailer for two different companies. I learned and grew a lot from both companies, which brought me to a clear understanding of what I really wanted to do. About two month sago, I decided to partner up with my best friend since grade school, Sofia Lung, to create our own online clothing retail store. We are still building it and making it our own, but happily doing so. R & S Loft is now up and running!

May 15, 2018

MENIFEE 24/7

KRISTEN From Page B3

“Classic movies for classic people” – This free event takes place on the third Friday of the month at 1 p.m. Popcorn included. S.A.F.E. - Seniors Active and Fit Enrichment program Walking Club – Monday and Wednesday from 10-11 a.m. from Kay Ceniceros Center to Lazy Creek Park Outdoor Fitness Class – Tuesday and Thursday from 10-11 a.m. at Lazy Creek Park Community Gardening – Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Kay Ceniceros Center Kay Ceniceros Computer Lab – Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Senior Nutrition Lunch Program – Monday through Friday at 11:30 a.m. for those age 60 and up. Suggested donation of $3 And please put on your calendars the City’s Annual Independence Day Celebration, scheduled for Saturday, June 30 from 4-9 p.m. at Wheatfield Park. This year the celebration is promised to be, longer, louder and bigger, featuring a parade, variety of food and craft vendors, beer garden and kids zone (wristbands will be $10), capped off by a fireworks finale. Have fun!

Menifee 24/7 file photo Artwork by local residents was on display and local artists also sang, danced and performed other acts at the 2017 Menifee Arts Showcase, hosted by Arts Council Menifee. The 2018 Arts Showcase will take place May 19 fro 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the northwest corner of Countryside Marketplace.

Menifee Kids Arts Camp scheduled Registration is now open for the 2018 Menifee Kids Art Camp, to be held in four sessions this summer. The Menifee Kids Art Camp is a coed summer art camp available to children ranging from 5-16 years of age. It is arranged

and overseen by Ines Miller, a professional artist who also is the volunteer art instructor for elementary students at Santa Rosa Academy. The four sessions offered are: -- Introduction to Mosaics: June 4-8, 8-11 a.m.

at Santa Rosa Academy, room 5102. -- General Art Camp Extravaganza: June 11-15, 8-11 a.m. at Santa Rosa Academy, room 5102. -- General Art Camp Extravaganza: June 1822, 1-4 p.m. at East Port Park, Canyon Lake, activ-

ity room. -- Paint Your Pet: June 25-29, 10-11 a.m., private home instruction in Menifee Lakes community. “The Menifee Kids Art Camp helps children gain the confidence to think outside the box, nurturing the innate ability to prob-

lem solve and to think of themselves as creative individuals,” Miller said. Fee for each session is $100, with $75 for each sibling. For information, visit menifeekidsartcamp. com or call Ines Miller at 951-775-1839.

EMWD sponsors Solar Cup competition EMWD news release Eastern Municipal Water District invites its customers to support local water education programs by attending the annual Solar Cup competition at Lake Skinner May 18-20. Solar Cup is presented by The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, of which EMWD is a member agency. The event is free and open to the public. EMWD is sponsoring three of the nearly 40 teams that will compete in the three-day competition.

Those teams include Hemet Unified School District (West Valley High School and Western Center Academy); Perris Union High School District (Heritage High School and Perris High School) and Nuview

Bridge Early College High School. Solar Cup is a program where teams build and race solar powered boats. The seven-month program includes lessons on conservation, natural resources, electrical and

mechanical engineering, and more. Teams are also required to create a water conservation public service project. This year’s theme was “Conservation: It’s not about the weather, its’ about forever.”

Crossword puzzle answers

Learn basic gun skills and safety Certified Instructor Training in home firearms safety and basic instruction in rifle, shotgun and pistol shooting.

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William Flory: Gun instructor, Merit Badge counselor, Boy Scouts

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(951) 652-9000 HEMET

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Police recover $140,000 in stolen merchandise The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department on May 9 released details on a retail theft ring that has stolen more than $140,000 worth of merchandise from stores in the area -- much of it in Menifee. According to a news release, members of the Menifee Special Enforcement Team conducted a vehicle check of a Toyota sedan parked in a retail parking lot at Scott Road and Antelope Road about 7 p.m. on April 25. The car

was reported stolen out of Arizona. Officers discovered several thousand dollars of retail merchandise inside the car, reportedly stolen in Menifee, Murrieta and Perris. On April 26 about 5:30 p.m., Menifee and Perris Special Enforcement Team officers served a search warrant at a residence in the 1100 block of Kern Place in Escondido. They found truckloads of merchandise stolen from retailers all over Southern California.

MENIFEE 24/7

May 15, 2018

Menifee 24/7 news Menifee in Pictures has you covered! Photos from local residents...

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Menifee 24/7 EDITOR Doug Spoon ASSOCIATE EDITOR Kristen Spoon Editorial phone: 951-729-9865 Advertising phone: 951-729-9875 Website: www.menifee247.com Facebook page: Menifee 24/7 General info: info@menifee247.com Menifee 24/7 Print Edition is distributed twice a month by Premier Media Group. For a list of distribution sites, see menifee247.com. All content in this publication is Copyright 2018, Menifee 24/7. To subscribe for home delivery, mail a check for $25 for a year’s subscription to Menifee 24/7, 28313 Parkdale Lane, Menifee CA 92584. You may also pay for a subscription online by using the Print Edition tab on menifee247.com

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