Menifee 24/7 newspaper July 15 2018 by Doug Spoon

Menifee 24/7

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JULY 15, 2018

VOL. 2 NO. 15

Changes at the ‘Taj Mahal’? Three seats up for grabs in MUSD

Groundbreaking could be Sept. By DOUG SPOON Editor

By DOUG SPOON Editor To those who are opposed to the way the Menifee Union School District is run, the Taj Mahal is the ultimate insult. That’s what critics call the $18 million, stateof-the-art district office, which opened in September 2016 on Haun Road near City Hall. A stylish two-story structure with lavish decorations right down to the restrooms, the facility includes an elaborate water feature outside the main entrance and a private shower in the superintendent’s office. It also has a huge auditorium for school board meetings, which has increasingly come in handy for the large crowds of teachers and residents who have gathered at meetings in protest. Those critics are vocal in their displeasure with the multi-million dollar expense on a new office complex while hundreds of teachers and students still co-exist in decades-old portable classrooms that teachers say leak during rains and have been known to house rodents. The contrast between the administration’s “Taj Mahal” headquarters and the outdated facilities housing many students may be seen as a symbol of the alleged disconnect within the district. Even so, it is only one of many issues that parents and teachers have, not only with the administration, but with the school board members. Now, some residents are mounting an effort to bring about change. Three of those residents – a teacher outside the district and two spouses of MUSD teachers – have announced plans to run See MUSD / A4

Theater: The big question

Menifee 24/7 photo: Doug Spoon The $18 million Menifee Union School District office building opened in September 2016.

Name for new school sought Ballot measure must pass to give additional funding Menifee 24/7 Staff Officials of the Perris Union High School District are counting on voters to pass a November bond measure to provide the rest of the funding for a new high school in Menifee. And even though that election has not taken place, the process to name what is known as “High School 4” has begun. This week, the PUHSD board approved the placement of a $148 million bond measure on the ballot. Roughly half of that amount will be set aside to match the $76.7 million raised through a 2012 bond measure to pay for the school, to be built on the eastern border of Menifee at Leon Road and Wickerd Road. That’s if the bond measure passes, and officials are optimistic that will happen. An additional high school is badly needed in Menifee, where Paloma Valley High already is overcrowded with more than 3,200 students. Candace Reines, PUHSD deputy superintendent, said initial surveys of residents have shown that close to 60 percent would vote in favor of the bond measure.

Menifee 24/7 photo: Doug Spoon The new Menifee High School will be built on Leon Road. A meeting between PUHSD and Menifee Union School District officials to discuss unification was also held this week. Meanwhile, residents are encouraged to submit their suggestions for the name of the new school. Reines said officials believe it is appropriate to begin that process, even though the new school bond measure hasn’t yet been put to Menifee residents for a vote. “We think the plan will come

to fruition,” Reines said. “As a board, we (PUHSD) can’t advocate one way or the other, but we do want the community to see we have a plan. We didn’t anticipate the board not calling for the election, and we feel like we have heard from the community that it favors the measure.” PUHSD is in the midst of a media campaign to promote the bond measure. Once the MUSD See SCHOOL / A4

The head of Krikorian Premiere Theatres told Menifee 24/7 this week he expects the long-awaited theater complex to be ready for groundbreaking in Menifee Town Center by September or early October. “We will try to have the theater open for next summer,” George Krikorian said in a phone interview. The entertainment complex, designed to have 16 movie screens, a bowling alley, sports bar, laser tag and arcade room, was first announced with an estimated opening date in 2015. Since then, residents have complained often on social media about the delay in starting construction for what should be one of Menifee’s top attractions. Krikorian said he is well aware of that situation. “We get calls too, asking when the theater is coming,” he said. “I don’t know where some got the idea we weren’t coming. We have always looked forward to being a part of Menifee. We have diligently pursued all the procedures prerequisite to commencing construction. It has been a little overwhelming, but we’re seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.” City of Menifee officials have been vague in their responses to questions about the delays over the years. As city manager Armando Villa noted earlier this year, the City does not have control over the timetable of the owner and developer. In an April interview with Menifee 24/7, Villa cited as one delay a series of meetings between city officials and Krikorian to negotiate a tax revenue sharing agreement as an incentive to move the theater project forward. See THEATER / A2

Golf course ownership gets the message Consultant hired to help move the plans forward By DOUG SPOON Editor

A dead pine tree on the Cherry Hills Course was a concern to residents.

Multiple citations and letters threatening legal action have gotten the attention of the owner of the North Golf Course, which has been a subject of controversy since its closure more than a year ago. Peter Son, representing the group that owns both the Cherry Hills Golf Course and the closed North Golf Course, told Menifee 24/7 last week that he has hired a consultant to study the options for development of the vacant property. One option, he said, is to improve and re-open the golf course, but other forms of development are being considered. Grant Becklund, the consultant, said he has responded twice by letter to the City of Menifee since June 1 and that steps are being taken at both the North Golf Course property and the Cherry Hills Course to cut down dead trees, remove overgrown See GOLF / A5

Days after complaints were received, the ownership of Cherry Hills and the vacant North Golf Course had cut down the diseased tree.

July 15, 2018

MENIFEE 24/7

Robbie Motter: All about service Volunteer efforts set the standard for others By DOUG SPOON Editor Robbie Motter’s catch phrases not only sum up her philosophies, they also give advice she believes everyone should follow: Together, we can do more. If we have passion, we can make a difference. See the potential in others. Motter is one of the most de-

voted and active volunteers in Menifee. More than that, she affects lives across the country through her tireless networking projects, especially as an advocate for women’s issues. At age 82, she spends more time in her volunteer positions than many do in their full-time jobs. Motter has been selected as the latest honoree in the Menifee 24/7 “Hometown Heroes” program, which is designed to recognize local residents who

make a difference in the lives of others. For 27 years, Motter has been involved with the National Association of Female Executives, the largest business women’s organization in the United States. As NAFE’s global coordinator, she interacts with members all over the country. Motter has built 15 NAFE affiliate networks in Southern California and she See ROBBIE / A3

THEATER From Page A1

Such agreements are common between cities and developers of the anchor business in a major project. A revenue sharing agreement between the City and the developers of a Fairfield Inn & Suites Hotel planned for the Menifee Town Center has already been approved. But neither Villa nor Krikorian would comment this week on the status of such an agreement in this case and whether that was a major factor in the delay. “They are processing their construction plans for the retail uses, and regarding the theater construction, you should talk to George Krikorian on his timing,” Villa wrote in an email response to Menifee 24/7. “As you know, these are all private properties.” When asked about the revenue sharing proposal, Krikorian did not directly respond. “I don’t want to say anything negative,” he said. “When we are this close, I prefer to keep the focus on the theater itself, which will be absolutely wonderful.” Krikorian did say that the project was “more complicated” than anticipated, but that the City had reviewed all final plans and he considered the project just a few weeks away from pulling the permits to start construction. “We cannot go any faster than the process requires us to go,” Krikorian said. “We don’t control everything. It has taken longer than we expected.” A city official said last year that additional property purchased by Krikorian for a retail center on

the site had resulted in a more complex plan review. Krikorian said it was “only a minor change” that was submitted in January, however. According to Krikorian, the additional retail project will consist of four buildings housing “a number of tenants who are already signed and are going through plan check.” He said he did not want to name any of them at this time. “We’ll have an announcement at the time of the groundbreaking,” he said. Meanwhile, activity is taking place at the back of Menifee Town Center. A condominium project being developed by Lennar Homes is under construction, and model units already are open. To facilitate visits by prospective buyers, the City has removed the green construction fences along the front of Menifee Town Center on Newport Road and the entrance is open to traffic. In addition, the fiveacre Central Park is nearing completion just to the north of the Lennar housing project and bordering the Paloma Wash on the east side of the property. An amphitheater has been constructed and the first event at the site is an outdoor music concert scheduled for Oct. 6. At that time, the amphitheater will be dedicated in the name of former mayor Neil Winter. “We are very excited about the developments there,” Villa said. “As you know, Town Center does not have one master developer that is responsible for it all. There are over 12 parcel owners.”

File photos Carol “Red” Sullivan presented dictionaries to third graders on behalf of the Rotary Club in 2013.

Carol ‘Red’ Sullivan passes away She served with Rotary Club, SC Concern for many years Menifee 24/7 Staff Carol “Red” Sullivan, longtime resident and volunteer in many civic groups in the Sun City community, passed away July 10. Sullivan had been active in local community affairs since 1986 and had lived here since 1998. She served on the committee that drew up the original plan for the City of Menifee before its incorporation in 2008. She was a member of the Rotary Club of Menifee from 2008 until declining health prevented her participation. She served as Rotary president in 2012-13. She led the coordination of many Rotary projects, including the presentation of dictionaries to every third

Carol Sullivan welcomed Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez and City Council member John Denver to a Sun City Concern event at Thanksgiving 2013. grader in Menifee; sponsorship of spelling bees; contribution of funds to the Menifee Valley Community Cupboard, Menifee-Sun City Concern, Santa’s Workshop and many other projects.

Sullivan spent countless hours as an administrator and volunteer with Menifee-Sun City Concern, which coordinates home visits, food delivery and welfare calls to homebound residents in Sun

City. Sullivan ran for a Menifee City Council seat in 2012 and continually expressed her passion for Menifee. There is no memorial service scheduled.

Library opening date is uncertain

Menifee 24/7 photo: Doug Spoon An exact re-opening date has not been announced for the renovated Sun City Library.

Officials of the Sun City Library have not announced a date for the re-opening of the library, but there are signs that the renovation is almost complete. Construction vehicles and dumpsters have been removed from the location at Cherry Hills Boulevard and Bradley Road. A representative of the Friends of the Sun City Library said the opening is expected to take place sometime in August. The library has been closed since March 4 for renovations, including new carpet, paint, furniture and renovation of the children’s area. The Friends of the Library, which operates out of a room near the front of the

library, is preparing for a return to its location from its temporary facility next to Merna’s Café in the Cherry Hills Plaza. A moving sale begins July 16. From July 16-21, the Friends of the Library will conduct a sale in which customers fill up a bag given to them by volunteers books for a cost of only $2. From July 23-28, there will be a 50 percent discount on all hardcover fiction and non-fiction books. There will also be a “members only” sale from 10 a.m. to noon on July 23. Members of the Friends of the Library must be current on their dues and show a membership card to participate.

July 15,2018

ROBBIE

From Page A2 personally runs five of them herself. It is not uncommon in a two-week period for Motter to travel to the San Fernando Valley, Marina Del Rey, West Hollywood, even Santa Barbara to oversee NAFE networking meetings. In her “spare time”, she oversees her newly formed Global Society of Female Entrepreneurs, serves as second and third vice president of the Menifee/Sun City Woman’s Club, and works hard to raise funds for local programs. All this from a woman who gave up a lucrative career in a civilian position with the government in Washington D.C. to move to Menifee in 1991 and care for a mother she barely knew. “I never had a father,” Motter recalled. “My mother didn’t want me. I grew up in foster homes. Yet when my mother got sick here, I quit my job in D.C. to come and take care of her and my stepfather. “Toward the end, we started to have a relationship. My kids couldn’t understand it. They said, ‘Mom, why would you give all that up to move there?’ I had a staff of 800 and I was as high as you could go in civil service. “I said, ‘Because she’s my mother and if I didn’t, I would be no different from her.’” Motter was born in Hawaii, where she said she spent little time with her mother. Memories of her childhood are fuzzy. “I remember that, as a toddler, a German Shepherd used to keep me from crossing the street,” Motter said. “I must have been an adventurer even then. And I remember when I was 4, my mother used to lock me in a closet and go dancing with her third husband. To this day, I’m terrified of small spaces. I can’t have anything closed in around me.” An only child, Motter recalls being on her own and working in her early teenage years. After moving to the mainland, she worked her way up the corporate ladder in New York before leaving at the invitation to work for the federal government in Washington D.C. “Toward the end of my career, I never had to look for jobs. People would call and offer me jobs,” she said. But after her divorce and when she heard her mother in Southern California was ailing, Motter gave all that up to care for her. She hasn’t had a fulltime job since; at least not a paying job. “I thought I would be here a year,” she said. “When my mother died, I decided to stay here for my stepfather. I never was paid to take care of him and my only pay was my Social Security. But I would do marketing stuff. And I stayed. He has nobody. He’s in a board and care here and I see him about every three days. He will soon be 98. He’s in a fetal position; it’s so sad, but he still does know me.” Even during all the time she cared for her mother and later her stepfather, Motter became more and more involved in NAFE projects and seized any See ROBBIE / A6

MENIFEE 24/7

MSJC Accreditation Reaffirmed MSJC press release

Mt. San Jacinto College’s accreditation was reaffirmed for seven years after the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges took action on the accreditation status of several institutions during its June 2018 meeting. A 12-member team from the ACCJC, consisting of community college peers, conducted a comprehensive review of the college and carefully reviewed the Institutional Self Evaluation Report (ISER) and visited MSJC campuses

March 12-15. The team’s External Evaluation Team Report prepared after the visit was included in the consideration to reaffirm accreditation. The ACCJC gave MSJC six commendations and there were no compliance issues. “This accreditation report is truly a testament to the hard work and dedication of the faculty, classified staff and administrators who give their all to make sure the students of Mt. San Jacinto College succeed,” said Dr. Roger Schultz, Superintendent/ President. “For two years, our Accreditation Liaison Offi-

cer, Dean Rebecca Teague, worked with faculty, staff and students to gather the evidence in our ISER that shows the quality and data-informed work MSJC is providing to support student success. This accreditation report assures our students and our communities that MSJC is an institution of high quality and integrity.”

Mt. San Jacinto College closed escrow June 28 on an 80-acre parcel in Wildomar that was previously owned by Riverside County Regional Park and Open Space District. The $2.6 million purchase was finalized 15

years after MSJC and the county agency first entered into an agreement that allowed the college district an option to purchase the parcel. The district had set aside funds in anticipation of this purchase, so no Measure AA funding was used on the purchase, said Vice President of Business Services Beth Gomez. “We are delighted to finalize this long-awaited purchase,” Gomez said. “This property can now be incorporated into our future planning process.” The college district followed procedures required by the California Environmental Quali-

ty Act and held several public forums over the years. The project received considerable support from residents and city and business leaders. However, lawsuits filed over the years delayed the purchase. The district prevailed and was able to close escrow. MSJC completed the environmental impact reports in 2017, which allow for the possible future development of a proposed campus on the property located between Interstates 15 and 215. Fall semester classes begin Aug. 13. Students may enroll at www.msjc. edu.

Silbaugh receives probation

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A Menifee man who spent 10 months in jail facing assault charges entered a guilty plea in court July 9 and received 48 months formal probation with credit for time served. Craig Allen Silbaugh, 58, was arrested Sept. 5, 2017 and charged with assault and battery. According to court documents, Silbaugh attacked a 74-year-old neighbor in the Sun City community, causing bodily injury. Silbaugh pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing great bodily injury and admitted to the enhancement of causing bodily injury to a victim over 70 years old, according to the DA’s Office.

July 15, 2018

MENIFEE 24/7

MUSD From Page A1

for school board positions in Trustee Areas 3, 4 and 5. Those seats are held by Ron Ulibarri, Randy Freeman and Jerry Bowman, respectively. All three have served in those positions since 2008, and all ran unopposed for re-election in 2013. Kyle Root, Jackie Johansen and Kenyon Jenkins have the endorsement of the Menifee Teachers Association and hope to bring change to the school board and the district as a whole. Johansen, who once taught in the district and has children who attend MUSD schools, has viewed the issue from both sides. “When I started teaching at Menifee Valley Middle School in 2000, they put me in this gross bungalow,” said Johansen, who is now an online instructor with Julian Charter School. “They told me, ‘When you’re a new teacher, this is where you get stuck.’ The shelf life of those buildings is five years, but they were about 20 years old at the time. And one of my former students is now teaching in those same exact bungalows. “They spent so much on that district office so the administration could move out of their old bungalows,” Johansen said, referring to the former district office in portable structures on Menifee Road. “Twenty years ago, the superintendent (Gary Cringan) said he would stay in those until all the students were out of bungalows. That isn’t the case with this administration. I don’t feel like the money is following the students.” Jenkins, whose wife has taught in the district for 21 years, does not mince words when explaining his primary concern about the current school board and superintendent Steve Kennedy, who replaced Linda Calloway in 2013. “The district in the last five years has been grossly mismanaged – finan-

Menifee 24/7 photo: Doug Spoon More than once, teachers have protested outside district headquarters during stalled salary negotiations. cially especially,” said Jenkins, a local pastor who also advocates for special needs students. “The administration lives in a district office that’s Shangri-La, basically. The teachers are in portables that are falling apart.” Some of the other issues that are sure to be brought up during the new candidates’ campaigns: -- The school board’s approval last November of a three-year contract extension for Kennedy at a salary of $229,918 this past school year, $236,816 in 2018-19 and $243,920 in 2019-20. That makes Kennedy’s salary for leading a K-8 school district greater than those of K-12 superintendents in Murrieta, Temecula and Hemet, according to public records. -- The administration’s decision to forego new textbooks in favor of district-developed curriculum distributed to teachers in paper packets. Many teachers who say the curriculum is insufficient have refused to use it and developed their own.

-- The district’s decision a year ago to cut bussing for all students except those with special needs. -- Allegations by parents of a sharp increase in bullying at some MUSD schools, and accusations by some teachers that principals are told to minimize disciplinary action to maintain the school’s rating and preserve state funding. -- Stalled contract negotiations with the Menifee Teachers Association during the last three bargaining sessions. Menifee teachers are among the lowest paid in Riverside County, according to public records. -- A district board agenda item in May that proposed the hiring in an executive position of a man previously indicted on felony conflict of interest charges. The proposal to hire Ludwig Velez, who pleaded guilty to felony charges in 2008 stemming from an issue while serving on the Hawthorne City Council, was pulled from consideration after three individuals spoke out

against it, alleging favoritism. -- Scheduling of board meetings at 4:30 p.m., when most parents are unable to attend. “The superintendent is so arrogant; he’s all about himself,” Jenkins said about Kennedy. “They went without standard curriculum for over five years, trying to save a few bucks. Then when their system failed, instead of just letting it go, they stuck with it so they don’t have to admit their mistake. “I have a business background. In management, they talk a lot about synergy. Success does not flow from the top down, it goes from the bottom up. In this district, it’s the administration first. The teachers need to be respected by the board members and the district.” In an email to Menifee 24/7 in response to the allegations, Kennedy explained the district’s development of its own curriculum without textbooks in recent years. “The units of study

(were) developed when common core was first adopted by the state because there were no state-adopted materials available (publishers simply had not responded to the state’s action),” he said. “Our units were developed by a team of very strong teachers who worked tremendously hard to create a curriculum that would best address the needs of the new state standards. “However, they created a divide among our teachers, who complained about the resources available and the amount of time required to prepare. Based on this, the board authorized the district to pilot (last year) a new state-approved curriculum that was then vetted by our teachers. They overwhelmingly approved the new materials and the district has adopted them for everyone. They will be in full use this school year.” Kennedy denied allegations of increased bullying reported to Menifee 24/7 by parents and teachers. One of the parents accusing administrators of min-

imized discipline pointed to the guidelines for Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) state funding for schools. One of the priorities listed when state officials consider LCAP funding is “state climate”, which includes student suspension rates, student expulsion rates and other local measures. “LCAP funding from the state is now tied to student suspensions,” Johansen said. “If they suspend a lot of kids, they get reduced funding. Student suspensions have decreased, but that doesn’t mean there are less problems. In fact, there are more, especially at the middle school level.” Without providing figures about the number of suspensions or specifics of bullying and other negative activity at local schools, Kennedy said efforts are being made to reduce behavioral problems at local schools. “While there have been no increases in discipline-related activity in See MUSD / A5

Come join the fun! Ice cold beverages Delicious food Live entertainment Pool tables Sports on big screens

Menifee 24/7 photo: Doug Spoon Parents packed the district auditorium a year ago to protest the elimination of school bussing.

SCHOOL From Page A1

becomes a unified district, the new high school and Paloma Valley High School would be part of it. Some Menifee students would continue to attend Heritage High School, which would remain in PUHSD with Perris High School. The link to participate in the online survey for the school name can be

bound on the district website. The survey will close on July 27. Only suggested names in recognition of geographical or historical significance will be considered. Suggestions to name the school after an individual will not be considered. “Calling it High School 4 is not very intimate when you have the de-

sign and are planning for the construction,” Reines said. A total of $76.7 million -- roughly half of the amount needed -- was put aside for construction of the school from a $153.4 million bond passed in 2012. At that time, district officials were told that matching funds would be provided by the state of

California, but that hasn’t occurred and it appears PUHSD is far down the list of districts requesting funds. Some residents have expressed concern about an increase in taxes to fund a bond measure in which only half goes to a Menifee school. The other half would be spent on schools in the City of Perris.

MENIFEE 24/7

July 15, 2018

Heritage, Paloma football season nears By DOUG SPOON Editor

Photo by Kristi Jo Aguirre James Phillips’ 43-yard touchdown late in the game gave Heritage a win over Paloma Valley last year.

It’s only about two weeks before the football teams at Heritage and Paloma Valley high schools are back on the field for preseason practice. In addition to the usual roster changes, there will be some other new looks this season. As a result of action taken by CIF Southern Section officials last year, the Patriots and Wildcats are moving into a new league this year. They will play in the Ivy League, which will be a four-team league along with Rancho Verde High and Valley View High of Moreno Valley. Thus ends the eightyear reign of Heritage in the Sunbelt League. The Patriots never lost a Sunbelt League game,

improving their record in that league to 40-0 last fall with a 41-38 victory over Paloma Valley in the last regular-season game. This coming season, the “Menifee Bowl” game between the two city rivals won’t be the regular-season finale. They will meet at Heritage Oct. 12 in the first Ivy League game for both schools. Heritage is scheduled to play its final league game Oct. 26 at home against Rancho Verde, which the Patriots haven’t played since beating the Mustangs 34-33 for the CIF championship in 2013. The teams begin preseason practice July 30. Heritage’s first game will be Aug. 24 at home against Oak Hills. Paloma Valley’s first game will take place Aug. 24 at Cajon High.

GOLF

From Page A1 brush and water dying turf. While addressing those issues listed in citations from the city’s code enforcement department, Son and Becklund say they are ramping up efforts to have a workable development plan presented in the next month. “We take those seriously,” Son said about the citations from the City calling the closed golf course a public nuisance and two letters threatening legal action. “He (Becklund) is helping us to move on.” Complaints from residents living near the golf course in the Sun City community have increased over the last year. Since its closure in April 2017, the North Course has become a fenced-in eyesore, with once-manicured fairways and greens now dead and weeds growing unchecked. City officials said previously that conversations with the owner included the consideration of some form of housing develop-

ment where golfers had enjoyed open recreational space since the 1960s. Greg August, the Menifee City Council member representing that district, said that in one discussion with Son, the owner told him that the re-opening of the property as a golf course was a possibility. Son acknowledged that conversation but said it remains only one of many options being considered. “We don’t know yet, but we are considering some conceptual drawings” he said. “We’re trying to move forward. “We are currently brainstorming about the possibilities. This is a plus-55 community. We are trying to figure out what kind of business is suitable for this area. We need to support the community, but also for us it’s a business. It’s hard to find the right direction.” Obviously, the financial viability of the property is a concern for Son. He cited lower than expected

Menifee 24/7 file photo The ownership of the North Golf Course has responded to City citations. profits as a primary reason for closing the North Course just three months after purchasing it in January 2017. But any effort to consider development must consider zoning of the area, and Becklund says his study of those issues has been very involved. “That’s what we’re try-

ing to figure out -- our options for land usage,” Becklund said. “All this was done in the ‘60s; researching some of those old records has been a challenge. We need to find out how Sun City approved the property. “It has R1 zoning that would allow apartments in different pieces of the

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property. One plot plan shows some green space, but there is underlying residential zoning shown.” Becklund said that soon after his hiring, he responded to a letter from the City that demanded a response by June 1. He said he responded to another letter last week regarding the citations for

the condition of the course and has not heard back from the code enforcement office. Asked for an update from the City’s perspective, city manager Armando Villa said, “The City continues their code enforcement case and has no further comments at this time.” Becklund said part of the reason for poor condition of the North Course was a broken valve buried six feet deep in an irrigation line that served both courses. He said that the valve was recently repaired and that watering of the North Course has resumed. Meanwhile, Son said he responded quickly to complaints from residents about some dead pine trees bordering the Cherry Hills Course. A giant tree that appeared diseased and was considered by some a fire hazard was cut down a few days after it was brought to Son’s attention.

MUSD From Page A4

our schools, the issues we have faced this year identified the need for us to work even more closely with families to address these issues, not only at school, but at home as well,” Kennedy wrote in an email. “The District participated in a Thoughtexchange (a problem solving software program) that recently closed, wherein we asked an open-ended question regarding safety in our schools. We will be utilizing the responses from this exchange of ideas to re-examine current policies and procedures while bolstering identified areas of need at all sites. “Districts are not funded based on disciplinary status; they are funded based on the number of days a child is in school and the number of English language learners, foster children and the number of students that we serve coming from lower socio-economic backgrounds. Unfortunately for MUSD, we do not have enough of this population to receive the additional funding (concentration grant funding from the state) like some districts in our area re-

ceive.” And so the disagreements over the interpretation of state guidelines and priorities of projects continues. The application process for school board candidates began this week, and it appears that for the first time in a decade, there will be a competitive election in November. “My concern is this: People in November will be voting for governor, not just for the Menifee school board,” Johansen said. “Ours will be the lowest thing listed on the ballot. The incumbents have name recognition; people tend to get lazy and just vote for the incumbents on the lower part of the ballot.” As for Kennedy’s defense of the new district office? “The District Office was a much needed replacement for our old bungalows that served us for so many years,” he said. “The funding was saved over the course of the past 25 years through CFD’s (Community Facilities District financing) to be used for this purpose.” That “purpose” could be at the heart of the election campaign to come.

July 15, 2018

MENIFEE 24/7

ROBBIE From Page A3

Photo illustration by Bill Zimmerman Above, a monument marks the spot where the old Menifee Schoolhouse once stood. Below, another monument marks the original Motte brothers farm on Highway 74 in the Romoland community.

Poker run celebrates rural center

The Menifee Valley Historical Association will celebrate the 70 years of the Antelope-Menifee Rural Center with a Poker Run Oct. 3. Players will be given a map of five historical monuments in the city. At each one, they will be given a playing card. Those returning with the best poker hands will receive a prize. There will also be a hot dogs served by the Menifee Valley Lions Club.

opportunity she could to help others. Thoughts of her high-paying jobs back east were pushed to the back of her mind. “For me, it isn’t about the money,” she said. “I spend more time helping others. I don’t get paid from NAFE, but it’s OK. As you get older, money isn’t as important to you. “When I was married, I had all the nice things in life. I learned that doesn’t make you happy. What makes you happy is doing good for others and helping them know they have potential.” So what exactly does Motter do to help others through her connections with NAFE? “I find them people they can meet,” she said. Our members work on their 30-second intros. People should do that wherever they go. We talk about asking others, ‘What can NAFE do to help you today?’ Whatever somebody answers, somebody else could open that door. Women find it really difficult in asking for help.” Motter admits that’s a problem she has had herself. When members once asked her why she never asked for anything herself, she responded that she would like a white Maltese dog, 2 years old and spayed. Within days, one of the members called and offered her the exact breed she was looking for. “Majesty” has been with her ever since.

Motter said NAFE and other groups she is associated with are different from networking groups that require members to provide job leads at each meeting. Even so, they help in many ways. Motter is always looking for opportunities to help others, either personally or by putting them in touch with the right people in her vast network. She recalls meeting a young girl in the Archibald’s restaurant in Menifee who was graduating from Hemet High School with a straight A average and had qualified to attend Cal State San Bernardino but needed financial help. She had written an essay she asked Motter to read. Motter read the essay that night and contacted a business associate who was affiliated with the Cash for College program. Through that association, an organization in Temecula ended up giving the girl $1,000 toward her education. Motter also is a published author and hosts “Diva Strategies for Success” on blog talk radio. She is busy organizing Extravaganza 4, an evening of entertainment that will raise money for the Woman’s Club and the Boys & Girls Club. “It’s not about what’s in it for me,” she said. “When I help somebody, I don’t expect anything, any credit. You’re never too busy to help somebody.”

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Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s busy summer at Boys & Girls Club

Variety of activities are offered to area youth

Menifee 24/7 photos: Kristen Spoon Members of the Boys & Girls Club develop their skills in craft making at various stations.

Summer might be a slow time of year for some, but thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plenty of things happening at the Boys & Girls Club of Menifee Valley. About 150 area youth regularly attend the club throughout the summer. Their $25 annual membership fee includes many activities at the club, located at 26301 Garbani Road. In addition to free time in a fully equipped games room, members take part in a variety of activities on a rotating basis throughout the day. For an extra fee, members can participate in additional activities, including music instruction, cooking classes, taekwon-

do, golf lessons, a wrestling program and daily field trips. A crafts room includes nine stations where members can work on a variety of projects. Members can also play video games on a large gaming truck. Sports activities include basketball and soccer. All employees, including bus drivers, must pass a thorough background check. Children are supervised at all times. During the school year, bus transportation to local schools is available. For more information on the Boys & Girls Club of Menifee Valley, call 951-246-8845 or visit www.menifeebgc.org.

One of the additional activities available to youth at the Boys & Girls Club is the Ranger youth wrestling program.

Children practice their musical skills on a keyboard, play the drums and learn concepts of music in one of the rooms at the facility.

One of the most popular tables in the craft rooms is an area where children can cut out paper figures.

A large field at the back of the Boys & Girls Club allows members the opportunity to participate in soccer, football and other sports.

Practice becomes fun with a pair of drumsticks and a drum pad in the music room at the Boys & Girls Club.

Every kid likes a video game, and there are plenty to play both inside and outside the games truck that visits the campus.

July 15, 2018

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Active shooter Menifee Crossword Puzzle training guide From StatePoint Media Active shooter incidents are rare. You are 700 times more likely to die in a car crash, for example, than from an active shooter event, according to the National Safety Council. However, these terrifying events are on the rise. Experts say that being prepared can save lives. “Sometimes it takes a tragedy to bring a community together – a hurricane, a flood or an active shooter. How much better would it be to be prepared in advance and mitigate that tragedy?” says Dan Martin, a retired police officer in New Lenox, Ill., and leader of the New Lenox Safe Communities coalition. “Each time I lead an active shooter course, I see lightbulbs go on in people’s heads that they can make a difference.” Because most active shooter incidents are over in a couple of minutes -often before first responders can arrive on the scene -- Martin says it’s crucial for private citizens to turn their panic into effective action and know what steps they can take to improve their chances of survival. “Preparing for an active shooter emergency starts with situational awareness. Know what is going on around you all the time, trust your instincts and devise a plan,” Martin says. To prepare, everyone can take the following steps: -- Learn emergency notification systems and distinctive alarms used in places you frequent. -- Identify two possible escape routes wherever you are. -- Find places to hide. During an active shooter event, don’t spend important moments panick-

Safety Tips ing. Public safety experts say that you should be ready to do one of the following: Run: Always the first choice; get out and take others with you. Hide: Find a place to hide; act quickly, turn off lights, lock and block doors, silence cell phones. Fight: The last resort; improvise weapons and work alone or with others to disarm the shooter. Community leaders can improve safety in their public spaces, such as concert venues, shopping malls, houses of worship and other places where people gather, by offering residents free active shooter training from the National Safety Council. The Council’s “Surviving an Active Shooter Event” is a two-hour training that covers how active shooter situations unfold, how to be situationally aware and what actions are necessary to improve one’s odds of survival. Training can be led by any community leader who can effectively speak in front of groups and follow detailed course materials. To learn more about partnering with the National Safety Council to bring active shooter training to your community, visit nsc.org/trainactiveshooter. Active shooter incidents are terrifying and often result in multiple fatalities very quickly. While no one wants to dwell on such devastating, worstcase scenarios, being prepared can save lives. Take steps to learn how to make your community safer.

Try your luck at today’s Menifee Crossword Puzzle. The theme is “Singers and Songwriters.” Clues with an asterisk refer to the theme. Answers, Page B4. ACROSS

DOWN

1. “____ of time” 6. Federal Communications Commission 9. Frosh, next year 13. “Vamos a la ____” 14. *Don McLean: “A long, long time ____...” 15. Par on a short golf hole 16. Whatsoever 17. Steadfast Soldier’s material 18. Art class support 19. Classical music composition, pl. 21. *One of his hits is a stadium favorite 23. *Paul McCartney’s 2013 album 24. Fat Man or Little Boy 25. Cul de ____ 28. Prince of India 30. *”I Will Always Love You” creator 35. “Goodness gracious!” 37. *Chuck Berry’s “____ Over Beethoven” 39. Bird-made fertilizer 40. Beginner 41. Interior designer’s field 43. Come clean, with “up” 44. Meat jelly dish 46. Ad staple 47. What refugees do 48. *Best selling artist in 2000s in U.S. 50. Type of tide 52. Pig pen 53. #34 Down, alt. spelling 55. Bird word 57. *King of Pop 61. *Bruce Springsteen 65. “Farewell” from Emmanuel Macron 66. Bonanza find 68. Cone shaped dwelling 69. Dust-related allergy trigger, pl. 70. “Days of ____ Lives” 71. *Soul singer-songwriter Hayes 72. Pavlova’s pas 73. X 74. Smallest units of life

1. Pampering places 2. Chorus member 3. Indian flatbread 4. *He’s “Tangled Up in Blue” 5. Salt merchant 6. *”____” Domino 7. Computer-generated imagery 8. Urban dwelling 9. A fake in bed 10. Guesstimate phrase 11. Hammer part 12. Retained 15. Lipton package 20. Grammy, e.g. 22. Mischievous little rascal 24. Theater tier 25. Caterpillar hairs 26. Discrimination against seniors 27. Plural of carpus 29. *Piano man 31. 1600s neck wear 32. Chinese weight units 33. Beginning of illness 34. Offensively curious 36. “How you ____?” 38. Opera house box 42. House pest 45. Population count 49. Cow call 51. Kind of license 54. Condescending one 56. Falstaffian in body 57. Impromptu performances 58. Miners’ passage 59. Give a quote 60. *Neil Young: “____ on rockin’ in the free world” 61. Type of seabird 62. October stone 63. *”Kiss From a Rose” singer-songwriter 64. Abbreviated seconds 67. “The Murders in the ___ Morgue”

July 15, 2018

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Clinton Keith extension set to open Road to open in ceremony on July 27 Menifee 24/7 Staff The opening of a long-awaited traffic route extending Clinton Keith Road east from Vista Murrieta High School almost to Winchester Road will take place with a ribbon cutting ceremony July 27. The event will take place at 9:30 a.m. and the area will be open to the public from 8:30-11:30 near the west end of the extension at Max Gillis Boulevard and Leon Road. This new road will provide a valuable eastwest alternative to Los Alamos Road, which is a winding two-road taken by motorists traveling east or west in the rural area between Scott Road and Murrieta Hot Springs Road. The $23.4 million project created a four-lane road, two bridges, and traffic intersections at Menifee Road and at Trois Valley Street. This is a joint effort of the Riverside County Transportation Department and the City of Murrieta. It will enable vehicles to use a long stretch of Clinton Keith Road that now is a narrow, bumpy dirt road from Whitewood Road east until it connects with Los Alamos Road. Currently, the only people who regularly use that road are the residents of that rural area -- preferably with 4-wheel drive vehicles.

Menifee 24/7 photo: Doug Spoon Photo shows proximity of the Clinton Keith Road extension and bridge to Los Alamos Road (foreground).

Map shows the Clinton Keith Road extension that will head east from Whitewood Road into the French Valley community.

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Menifee 24/7 photos: Doug Spoon Top photo: A bridge across the dry creek bed is part of the Clinton Keith Road extension. Bottom photo: Looking west from the far east end of the extension at Trois Valley Street in Murrieta.

July 15, 2018

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Sun City Gardens throws a party Retirement system now 55 years old By DOUG SPOON Editor Residents of the facility and local dignitaries gathered at Sun City Gardens July 16 to celebrate the 55th anniversary of Retirement Housing Foundation, the parent company of the local retirement community. Sun City Gardens, located at 28500 Bradley Road, was one of the first retirement homes under the umbrella of RHF, which now administers 194 housing communities in 29 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It was formed by two California United Church of Christ clergymen and one layman. Dr. Laverne Joseph, president and CEO of RHF, was on hand at the celebration to honor the staff of Sun City Gardens, which opened in January of 1973. The program also included Ted J. Holt, administrator of the facility, and Edoardo Estrada, marketing director.

Menifee 24/7 photos: Doug Spoon Councilman Greg August; Dr. Laverne Joseph; Ted Holt; Mayor Pro Tem Lesa Sobek; Gloria Sanchez. Guests were entertained by the Armand Blais Orchestra before the program opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, led by veterans Frank Ferraiolo, John Thayer and Mark Williams, who are all residents of Sun City Gardens. Ferraiolo turned 100 years old in January.

Estrada, who has been on staff at the facility for 23 years, made a presentation about the history of Sun City Gardens. Converted from a hotel to a retirement community in 1973, the facility offers independent living to seniors. At the time, a studio apartment rented for

Barbara Truncale is presented the Senior of the Year award at Sun City Gardens by Ted Holt, administrator of the facility.

$373. Menifee Mayor Pro Tem Lesa Sobek joined City Council member Greg August in presenting to Holt and Joseph a proclamation recognizing the anniversary of RHF and the contributions to the senior community by Sun City Gardens.

“I want to thank Ted for reaching out to the City Council, for this is truly an honor for us to be here today,” Sobek said in addressing the audience. You have served your communities and your country well, and we want to say thank you to you.” August represents the

Sun City community as the District 1 representative on the City Council. “The City of Menifee and the community of Sun City is very proud of having a large community of senior citizens,” August said. “Some, depending on the individual circumstances, need specialized care. The work of RHF through Sun City Gardens is a valued and treasured resource for the City of Menifee.” Also participating in the program was Gloria Sanchez, chair of the Menifee Senior Advisory Committee. Her mother is a resident at Sun City Gardens. “I looked around for the right place for my mom, and Sun City Gardens was the right place,” Sanchez said. “They have the compassion, they’re really generous and they love everyone here. It shows in your faces. Thank you for everything you do.” Irene Higginbotham, another 100-year-old resident of Sun City Gardens, was honored, along with Marie Farrago, who has lived at the facility the longest (40 years); Barbara Truncale, Senior of the Year, and Margaret Spiller, the staff’s longest serving member at 23 years.

Top photo: Irene Higginbotham, 100 years old, is honored by Dr. Laverne Joseph. Bottom photo: Frank Ferraiolo, also 100 years old, is honored.

MSJC holds food festival at Pass campus Mt. San Jacinto College’s San Gorgonio Pass Campus is hosting a food truck festival Aug. 11 from 4-9 p.m. The festival will feature a children’s area with the Atomic Game Truck and other children’s activities. For those 21 and older, a beer garden will be offered. The festival, presented by Event Mode, LLC, is only $5 and children under 12 enter free, with a $3 charge per child to access the game truck. Part of the proceeds will benefit the Mt. San Jacinto Community College Foundation as well as the Ramona Humane Society.

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July 15, 2018

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