Menifee 24/7
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www.menifee247.com
MARCH 2018
VOL. 2 NO. 7
They’re still down on the farm For 68 years, local couple has watched area’s growth By DOUG SPOON Editor It was a warm May night in 1950, and Merle Zeiders was planning a party. Zeiders, born and raised on farms in Menifee, was just 22 years old but was an ambitious young man. He had agreed to serve as president of the Antelope School board and as such had supervision over the original Haun community building, where Louie’s Nursery is now on Haun Road north of Scott Road. After spending some time fixing up the place with the help of friends and neighbors, he planned a barbecue and dance. Everything was set for a festive evening. Zeiders and some friends had dug a huge pit on the grounds – “We had no backhoes; only our backs,” he said – to dig the barbecue. He had hired a small “orchestra” – a five-piece band featuring a saxophone, clarinet, piano, drums and guitar. “I’d been going with a girl over in Hemet,” recalls Zeiders, who turns 90 this month. “We had gone to Pomona and different places and danced. But I decided, ‘She’s not gonna want to come out to this thing. She’s used to
Ina Mae and Merle Zeiders, who were married in Menifee in 1950, will celebrate their 68th wedding anniversary in August. Below, they are shown on their wedding day at the Bailey Ranch on Scott Road. things a little bit fancier. “So there was this girl I knew; we were just friends. I brought her to the dance. But then I got to dancing with Ina Mae and she danced so good, I pretty much stayed with her.” Indeed he did. Ina Mae Morrison was not quite 16, but she could really dance and she had that big smile and laugh, and Merle Zeiders fell in love with it – and her. And this Aug. 13, Merle and Ina Mae will celebrate their 68th wedding anniversary. To hear Merle tell it, Ina Mae simply reeled him in.
“That was a Friday night,” Merle said as he sat in his rocking chair recently in the family room of the Zeiders ranch house, which sits on 40 acres south of Scott Road on the west side of – aptly named – Zeiders Road. “The next day, my dad sent me to Perris to get some parts for him. “On the way back, I come up to Garbani Road, where the Browns lived. At the time, Ina Mae was working for Mrs. Brown. Her folks were living in Thousand Palms and she was staying with her brother Chester in Menifee for the summer. “Anyway, as I was coming along, she was out in the front yard and she had this white rag, and she was signaling me. I mean, she was waving me in. Boy, I turned my ‘41 Chevy around and there she was, with that big smile and great laugh she always had. I thought, ‘Boy I got a tiger here.’” Just three months later, and one month after Ina Mae’s 16th birthday, Merle and Ina Mae were married on the Bailey Ranch, home of her aunt and uncle. That’s the dilapidated old house with the wooden tower that’s about to fall down, surrounded by fences in the middle of a field just northwest of the corner of Haun and Road and Scott Road. It has been vacant for years, and plans call for it to be demolished when a commercial center is built
City of Menifee officials are still waiting for Krikorian Premiere Theaters to begin building its theater and entertainment complex, but construction in other phases of the Menifee Town Center is underway. Grading has been done and preparations are being made for foundations for
one of the housing developments that will be part of the center, designed as the eventual hub of Menifee’s downtown area. The condominium project, being built by Lennar Homes west of Haun Road and north of La Piedra Road, is one of six residential developments that will be part of Menifee Town Center. To the north of that de-
velopment, construction also is underway for a park designed for public use and for outdoor events. An outdoor amphitheater is part of the design. Lennar Homes also is awaiting approval of an additional 20.3-acre parcel west of the site under construction, also on the back side of Menifee Town Center off La Piedra Road. Plans went before
By DOUG SPOON Editor
uled to include a Fairfield Inn & Suites. The City of Menifee entered into a preliminary franchise agreement with Marriott in February 2017. Plans also call for a civic center to include a new City Hall and eventually a County courthouse. According to a city official, final plans for the See CENTER / A6
See DD / A4
See ZEIDERS / A5
the Planning Commission Feb. 28. That project will include 218 dwelling units. The project will include landscaping, streets, open space, 436 garage spaces and 106 uncovered guest parking spaces. In addition to the luxury theater, bowling alley and sports bar being planned by Krikorian, Menifee Town Center is sched-
Police funding still in reserve
It was a while in coming, but the Citizens Oversight Committee created to monitor the expenditure of Measure DD tax revenue finally is receiving the data committee members have been waiting to see for more than eight months. In November 2016, Menifee voters approved Measure DD, which increased sales tax in the city by 1 percent to help fund public safety and infrastructure. That was intended to produce extra funds for the city’s police and fire departments as well as road improvements. But committee members have met only twice since the first installment of Measure DD tax revenue was received in June 2017, and the Feb. 13 meeting was the first in which they were given financial figures by city staff to examine. City officials and committee members acknowledged during that meeting that the general public deserves to see and understand those figures as soon as possible. With the possibility of a November ballot measure seeking a recall of Measure DD and delays in hiring additional police personnel with the funds, there seemed to be a sense of urgency expressed that day. “The spirit of Measure DD was created at a time when there were concerns about vandalism and crime, and people kept referring to the need for more boots on the ground,” said Brian Agner, part of the five-person oversight committee. “I’d like to see our priorities line up with what the populace really expects the money to be spent on.
Town Center housing underway Menifee 24/7 Staff
DD funds allocation explained
Ride on Medic Patrol 7 shows value of new unit By DOUG SPOON Editor
Much of Menifee has heard that Fire Station 7 in the Sun City community in Menifee is the busiest station in Riverside County. Operating out of its new facility on Bradley Road just south of Cherry Hills Boulevard, Station 7 may answer up to 20 or more calls on a given day.
Now, with the addition of the city’s first medic patrol vehicle with the most modern equipment and additional dedicated paramedics, Station 7 is even more able to answer the medical needs of residents in the predominantly senior community. Using funds generated through the Measure DD tax increase for public safety, the City of Meni-
fee has spent more than $636,000 so far this fiscal year on Fire Department equipment and personnel increases -- including $275,000 for Medic Patrol 7. One can’t fully appreciate the significance of this addition without experiencing it first-hand, however. So that’s just what See MEDIC / A3
Menifee 24/7 photo: Doug Spoon Purchased with Measure DD tax funds, Medic Patrol 7 has provided valuable expanded service to Menifee with additional paramedics and equipment.
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MENIFEE 24/7
Service above oneself We pay tribute to people making a difference
‘Blankets for Brianna’ touches lives Menifee 24/7 Staff
Laurel Taylor knows that nothing can make up for the loss of a newborn child. She also knows from first-hand experience, however, that even a small token of love from another can provide comfort. That’s why the Menifee resident, wife and mother of a 5-year-old daughter started a group called Blankets for Brianna, which has grown into a non-profit company that makes and presents thousands of blankets and beanies each year to the families of stillborn babies or those in a neonatal intensive care unit. Through her commitment and organizational skills and with help from volunteers such as members of the Sun City Knit and Crochet Club, Blankets for Brianna gives a symbol of comfort to mothers and others in their time of need. For her efforts, Taylor has been selected to receive a Hometown Heroes award from Menifee 24/7. The program is named for Taylor’s first daughter, who did not survive birth in 2012 due to complications. Taylor was given the beanie her daughter
Laurel Taylor (third from left) and nurses at a Las Vegas hospital display some of the blankets made for newborns and babies who don’t survive at birth, to comfort their families. had worn in the hospital, and it meant a lot to her. “When I had Brianna, I slept with her beanie every day until my other daughter was born,” Taylor said. “The only reason I stopped was because I didn’t want my new daughter to wreck it. “It brings so much comfort because it’s some-
thing they’ve touched. Even if the baby hasn’t touched it, hopefully it’s a comfort of some sort. And blankets, they are just a comforting thing.” Joe Taylor, Laurel’s husband, was the one who nominated her for the Hometown Heroes award. “That has been the hardest thing both of us has
ever been through in our entire lives,” he said about the loss of Brianna. “Even with our daughter Sarah, it’s hard not to think that she would have an older sister but instead her sister is an Angel up in heaven. “Sitting in the hospital for three days before we could be released was even harder. It gave us
Manion’s labors of love Santa’s Workshop, band boosters among her activities Menifee 24/7 Staff When Debbi Manion moved to Menifee in 1991 to be near her parents, she expressed frustration with the lack of programs for youth and others in the small city. “We lived in Walnut and the schools didn’t offer what I wanted,” said Manion, showing concern for the opportunities for her children. “After we moved here, I complained to my dad that the community needed so many things. His attitude was, ‘If it needs to be done, go ahead and do it.’ “ That’s certainly what Manion has done for more than 26 years, creating programs and volunteering countless hours to serve others. For her continuing service, she has been named a Menifee 24/7 Hometown Hero. “Debbi is such a caring person,” said Jackie Aponte, who nominated Manion for the award. “I met her four years ago when we moved to Quail Valley. I thought I would volunteer for the PTA and I met Debbi working for the Santa’s Workshop. She was so sweet and kind. One of my kids has special needs and was having trouble with the move. She was so kind to all of us.” One of Manion’s biggest projects is serving as chairperson for the annual Santa’s Workshop at Quail Valley Elementary School. The event is sponsored by the Menifee Rotary Club, of which Man-
Debbi Manion poses with Santa and Mrs. Claus during the 2017 Santa’s Workshop. ion is president-elect. She works throughout the year to purchase new toys and solicit donations from local businesses for children of low-income families. Previously, the Santa’s Workshop was sponsored by the Lake Menifee Women’s Club, of which Manion was a member. She also worked with her brother to create a girls softball league in 1991 and a youth soccer league. In addition, she was instrumental in the formation of the band booster club at Paloma Valley High School. “The first year of the softball program, we were
told there weren’t enough fields for us,” Manion recalled. “We worked out a plan to share some of the fields and we rebuilt an unused field at Menifee Elementary School. In three years, we went from zero players to 480.” With Manion’s leadership, the band program at the new Paloma Valley High School enjoyed similar success. The first day of the new school, eight students signed up for band. Two weeks later, there were 38 band members. Manion continued as volunteer with the band boosters for 13 years. Manion also has worked
on the annual Menifee Better Together program, which provides home improvements for area seniors. She also volunteers with the annual Independence Day parade and is a member of the Lions Club. “When I’ve seen a need, I’ve figured out a way to fill it,” said Manion, who said she was honored to be recognized with the award. “The rewards are difficult to put into words. With the Santa’s Workshop, seeing the smiles on the children’s faces is worth every bit of the hours we put into it.” Manion coordinates an effort to place 95 boxes around town each fall to collect donated toys for the Santa’s Workshop. She and a colleague, Stephanie Vaughn, make two trips a year to downtown Los Angeles to shop for the best deals on toys. Children who are eligible for the program get to select toys from an auditorium full of them, visit Santa and Mrs. Claus and more. One of Manion’s co-workers at the Santa’s Workshop each year was Mike Castillejos, who passed away lin January. Another heavily involved community volunteer, Castillejos was also recently honored with a Hometown Hero award. “Debbi and Mike were at all the community stuff,” said Aponte. “People called Mike Mr. Menifee. That would make Debbi Miss Menifee.”
way too much time to just think. Obviously, I kept thinking how unfair it was that our first and only daughter was taken from us. But instead, my wife thought about what she could do to help with the pain for others that also have lost their child.” Mary Dempsey, a member of the Sun City Knit
and Crochet Club, said club members are always looking for groups that need donations. Her group provides homemade items to veterans’ groups, Michelle’s Place Breast Cancer Resource Center in Temecula, Children’s Hospital of Orange County and many others. When she discovered Blankets for Brianna, her group eagerly got to work making blankets and beanies. “Our busy-ness keeps us out of trouble,” said Dempsey, whose group donated 1,066 items to Blankets for Brianna last year. “We’re willing and able to make something to benefit someone else, even if it’s someone we don’t know.” Taylor said items are made “size appropriate”. If a mother has a miscarriage at 12 weeks, the group can make a blanket smaller than a wash cloth or a beanie to fit a head as small as an egg. “It’s so you remember that baby forever,” she said. “Even if they put it in their closet and never look at it for 20 years, at least that’s something they know that they have.” If you know someone deserving of a Hometown Heroes award, email info@menifee247.com
Blanche displays value of outreach Menifee 24/7 Staff As Deacon in the Faith Lutheran Church of Menifee, Linda Blanche has responsibility for outreach services to members of the congregation. But true to her church’s beliefs and her compassion, Blanche’s commitment goes far beyond that. In addition to making home visits to church members and visiting the sick in local hospitals, Blanche represents Faith Lutheran Church on the Menifee Interfaith Council. That organization brings together residents of all faiths to serve the community. And through that connection, Blanche provides valuable volunteer service. In recognition of her service to the community in so many areas, Menifee 24/7 has selected Blanche to receive a Hometown Heroes award. “God tells us to love one another,” Blanche said. “That’s what we try to do. That’s what I do in the community, and it’s what we in our church believe. Our door is always open.” Formerly the chaplain at Loma Linda University Medical Center, Blanche now spreads her love in many ways and many places. Through her church position, she calls upon members who might be facing trials or illness. She offers them Communion and is there to serve their needs. “We want them to know
their church cares about them,” said Blanche, a Menifee residents since 2001. Blanche’s outreach efforts in the greater Menifee community include volunteering for the annual Thanksgiving meal served to residents each year (photo above). She works every year on the committee of Menifee Better Together, a project in which local church members and volunteers help clean up the yards of local seniors. In addition, she founded and oversees a program that fills backpacks with food to be distributed to Menifee students in need through the Menifee Valley Community Cupboard. She buys rice and beans in bulk and delivers it to the Cupboard, where volunteers fill backpacks with that and other food items for distribution through the Menifee Union School District. She and other church members also deliver cleaning supplies to a women’s shelter in Menifee.
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Controversial Rev. Freeman resigns By DOUG SPOON Editor Rev. Bill Freeman, whose liberal doctrine at Menifee United Church of Christ resulted in backlash from the conservative Sun City community the last 3 1/2 years, delivered his final sermon for the church on Feb. 25. Freeman announced recently that he is resigning his position, saying in a news release, “I feel I’ve taken the church about as far as I can.” He told Menifee 24/7 that he and his wife plan to move back to Michigan, where they have family and where Freeman served as a pastor before moving to California in 2014. The United Church of Christ is the oldest church in Menifee, holding its first service on Nov. 24, 1962, when 117 people from various faiths joined together to form the Sun City United Church of Christ. When the church celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2012, it had nearly 250 members. Today, it has about 30. Freeman’s arrival brought what he calls an “open and affirming church, which means being accepting of everyone.” Shortly after his arrival in 2014, the church opened a food pantry and clothing closet for
Menifee 24/7 photo: Doug Spoon Rev. Bill Freeman faced protestors last August when his church voted to become a sanctuary church. poor people. Members of the homeless community were allowed to stay on church property for a short time. Vandalism and public outcry ended that practice, but homeless individuals have continued to be a constant presence on church grounds. In 2015, Freeman performed the church’s first same-sex wedding. In 2016, the church began welcoming members of the LGBTQ community. And last year, Menifee UCC declared itself a sanctuary church, supporting a path to citizenship for undocumented
immigrants. “In three and a half years, I’ve transformed Menifee UCC into a liberal Christian church, supportive of gays, women, minorities, immigrants, and the homeless,” Freeman said. That change was not accepted by many in the Sun City community. Twice, a banner on the side of the church (left) supporting the gay community was stolen. Residents also complained about a “Black Lives Matter” banner displayed at the church, located at the corner of McCall Boule-
vard and Sun City Boulevard. And the church was broken into twice in two nights in 2016, with a safe full of cash stolen and church property vandalized. In May of 2015, residents packed City Council chambers to protest the church’s policy of sheltering the homeless. And the boiling point might have been reached in August of 2017, when a small group of local residents protested outside the church while members were voting on the decision to become a sanctuary church. The changes in church
City Planning staff expanded
MEDIC From Page A1
we did one day in February.
At the start of a 12hour shift we spent with the firefighters and paramedics, we toured the state-of-the-art facility, but our focus was Medic Patrol 7, to which we were assigned for the day with engineer/paramedic Tim Day and firefighter/ paramedic Nicholas Gillman. A quick look at the patrol vehicle showed its expanded capabilities in proving not only specialized medical services, but supplemental firefighting equipment. That firefighting potential was evident in our first call of the day. The report came in of a “smoldering stump”, which turned out to be a tree stump on the former North Golf Course that was smoking, perhaps from a carelessly tossed cigarette. Because of its water tank and pump capabilities on the medic patrol vehicle, Day was able to call off Fire Engine 7 while Gillman soaked the stump with the unit’s water line to prevent an ac-
doctrine and direction under Freeman’s leadership also resulted in a dramatic decrease in membership. Although Freeman says at least some of the church members remaining support his teaching, he admits that most of the congregation has left to join other area churches in recent years. Chuck Otto, who as moderator of Menifee UCC serves as a lay leader, grew up in that denomination and joined the church when he moved to Menifee 11 years ago. He says he is now “the last of the real old group” among
the now-small congregation. “To a degree it has, but we’re trying not to dwell on that,” Otto said when asked about any negative effect Freeman’s presence might have had. “We’re a very positive group that is trying to do what Jesus would do. That often doesn’t fall in with the mainstream community. “We lost a tremendous amount of members -some through passing on or moving away, but we also had a series of splits where members had to choose one of two philosophies and many left. Even so, the people in the congregation today are totally committed to the teachings [Freeman] has brought to us.” It is perhaps no coincidence that the congregation is selling its decades-old church property at the same time Freeman is leaving. With financial resources limited, UCC sold its buildings to The View Church, which is relocating from a small site just northeast of the old Fire Station 7 on Bradley Road. Coincidentally, the UCC congregation will meet in a rented storefront space in that same Bradley Road center while looking for permanent property outside the Sun City core area.
Menifee 24/7 Staff
Menifee 24/7 photo: Doug Spoon Engineer/paramedic Tim Day watches for traffic as he and firefigher/paramedic Nicholas Gillman head to a call with sirens and flashing lights. tual fire. The next call wasn’t a major incident, either, but was another example of the services the Medic Patrol unit can provide to free up the fire engine for other services. In this “public assist” call, a senior living alone had fallen and needed help getting up, but was not seriously injured. No medical transport was required. The next run was much more serious. Responding to the call of a man in cardiac arrest, Medic Patrol 7 and Engine 7 both
responded. In addition to the Medic Patrol 7 paramedics, first responders from American Medical Response and Engine 7 firefighters worked as a team to provide treatment. Gillman worked with other medics to monitor vital signs and administer medication. Others took turns performing CPR. Day spoke to family members to learn about the patient’s history and document treatment on an electronic notebook. When considered safe to do so, the patient was
transported to Menifee Valley Medical Center. Later in the evening, Gillman administered an emergency supply of oxygen for a man who said he suffers from COPD and was having trouble breathing. That patient was transported to the hospital after medics helped stabilize him. Our ride-along was documented on video with much more detail and visual description. It will be posted on the www.menifee247 website.
Menifee 24/7 photo: Doug Spoon Both vehicles from Fire Station 7 respond to a call involving a man in cardiac arrest in Menifee.
A combination of higher than expected first-half revenue and what one city official called a “tsunami” of city planning projects has led to the Menifee City Council’s approval to hire six additional fulltime equivalent positions to fill previously budgeted but unfilled jobs. The hiring of four new staff members in the City Planning Department and two others in administrative and accounting positions was made possible by a one-time savings in salary of $4.1 million in the first half of the current fiscal year, said Wendy Preece, acting City finance director, at the Feb. 21 City Council meeting. That savings was due to budgeted staff positions that were not filled during the six months from July through December 2017, she said. That, along with an increase of almost $3 million in fees paid to the City by developers, gave Menifee $7.2 million more than expected in the first half of the fiscal year. And as city officials said during a mid-year budget review, while Menifee’s building boom has brought in additional funds, it has also stretched city staff thin in their efforts to process and approve permits and projects. “We need help in the Planning Department, so I’m happy to see we’re able to fill those positions to get projects out of City Hall and onto our streets,” said City Council member Lesa Sobek. In reference to the hundreds of projects currently in the planning process, Mayor Neil Winter said,
“To me, that drives the need for more FTEs.” And using a term she borrowed from City Manager Armando Villa, Preece said during her presentation that night that “in the past year or so, there has been a tsunami of entitlement permits issued.” While some residents continue to complain on social media about increasing development in Menifee, others express frustration over the time it is taking to move projects from the drawing board to brick and mortar. Most notable is the Krikorian Theater project in Menifee Town Center, but numerous other plans for shops, restaurants and homes have faced delays because of the sheer number of them compared to city staff, officials say. Staff’s recommendation was to put $4.8 million of the $7.2 million revenue increase into the budget reserve fund and use the remaining $2.4 million of the increase to augment services. The revised budget is approaching $50 million. It’s important to note, however, that revenue collected through the Measure DD 1 percent sales tax increase -- estimated to be $8 million or more by the end of the fiscal year -- is a separate budget category and does not go toward salaries of employees at City Hall. Measure DD funds are set aside for public safety and infrastructure. “As you see, we are enjoying a very good economic situation, which is driven by the housing market,” Villa said. “You’ll see a great deal of construction this year.”
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MENIFEE 24/7
VFW honors essay award winners Five local high school students were recognized by VFW Post 1956 of Menifee recently for their accomplishments in the VFW Voice of Democracy program. The Voice of Democracy is the VFW’s premier scholarship program. Each year, nearly 40,000 high school students compete for more than $2 million in scholarships and incentives. Students compete by writing and recording an audio essay on an annual patriotic theme. The Voice of Democracy is open to students in grades 9-12. The top three award winners in this year’s contest were Lucas OyosHayes, Zachariah Prins and Ricardo Herzon-Balderas. They received certificates and medals for their achievements. In all, five students read their essays during the Feb. 10 VFW meeting.
In addition, Sheriff’s Deputy Brandon Frank was presented a certificate as Law Enforcement Member of the Year. Local leaders were present, including Menifee Mayor Neil Winter. Post Commander Michael Cano presented Senior Vice Commander and post membership chair Thomas Espinosa with the VFW Commander in Chief Streamer Award, which signifies the post’s 100 percent member status. Also, two cadets from the Paloma Valley High School NJROTC unit came to speak to the post membership about the importance and gratitude of all the cadets for the unwavering support from VFW Post 1956. Cano also presented outgoing post quartermaster James Wallace a certificate of appreciation for his years of service to the post.
Local high school students were honored in the VFW Post 1956 “Voice of Democracy” awards program. From left: Sofia Chapman, Lily Garcia, Ricardo Herzon-Balderas (third place), Zachariah Prins (second place), Lucas Oyos-Hayes (first place).
From left: Senior Vice Commander Thomas Espinosa; outgoing quartermaster James Wallace; Post Commander Michael Cano.
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Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Frank, Law Enforcement Member of the Year, poses with Post Commander Michael Cano and Menifee Mayor Neil Winter.
DD
From Page A1 “If you were to poll the citizens again if they were satisfied within the spirit of how they voted, I’m not sure what the response would be. I know some sidewalks were needed, but we must focus on priorities.” Agner’s statement was made following a presentation by Wendy Preece, acting city finance director. According to her report, Measure DD funds received since last June total $3.4 million, which is roughly 40 percent of the $8.7 million in projected funds that was budgeted for the current fiscal year. There is a twomonth lag in receiving the city’s share of the tax revenue, Preece said, meaning figures reported to her in December include only the revenue collected through October. Of that amount, actual expenditures through Dec.
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31 were the following: Police -- $266,000 Fire -- $636,000 Infrastructure -- $2.2 million The infrastructure improvements consist of street pavement projects, most notably on Murrieta Road north of Rouse Road, and roughly $1.01 million spent to construct sidewalks to improve pedestrian safety, particularly near schools. It’s easy to see, then, why Agner and committee chairman Michael Cano expressed concern over what appears at this point to be minimal funding spent to hire additional police officers. “I want to see our money going to the most important projects,” Cano said. “I’m not saying sidewalks aren’t important, but there’s got to be some guidelines on who’s paying for that. Are the developers paying for any of this?” Developers do pay into street projects; the real question was about the delay in hiring police officers through the city’s contract with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. The current city budget allocates funds for the following additions to the police force: -- 4.1 sworn officers (20 additional service hours per day) -- 1 sergeant -- 1 crime prevention officer -- 2 motorcycle officers -- 4 community service officers -- 1 office assistant So far, only the sergeant, crime prevention officer
and office assistant are on the payroll. According to Captain Greg Fellows, who serves as Menifee police chief, it could be September before Menifee sees the additional 4.1 sworn officers patrolling the streets – the safety element many believe is the most needed. That is not the fault of city officials. Fellows said there simply are not extra officers within the Sheriff’s Department to be transferred over to Menifee. Those officers must come out of the Sheriff’s Academy, which takes at least six months. Additional positions first had to be approved by the County Board of Supervisors for the entire department as well. So while funds are being generated to pay those officers, the bodies simply aren’t there yet. “Until we can recruit additional personnel, any additional patrol hours come from officers who volunteer for overtime,” Fellow said. “We’re pushing very hard now that we have the approval to push people through the academy and into our contract cities.” Meanwhile, the Fire Department was better prepared to provide immediate assistance. Measure DD funds already have been used to purchase the city’s first medic patrol unit and to hire additional firefighters/paramedics. That improvement in service has already been noticed, said Fire Department Division Chief Geoff Pemberton.
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Street names are reminders of local history By Menifee Valley Historical Association The names of our familiar roadways in Menifee were originally assigned as a “way finding” description. When the early settlers arrived in the 1880’s, only one main dirt road traversed the Menifee area. It was referred to as “the road to San Diego”. By the turn of the century, new paths of travel were being blazed by horse-drawn buggies, harvesters and wagons loaded with sacks of grain. As Menifee’s land sections were being homesteaded or purchased by pioneer families, the names assigned to these pathways pointed the way to someone’s ranch. These dirt roads followed the property boundaries or section lines as mapped by the government. Below are some of Menifee’s familiar roads and a brief description for the origin of their namesake: Newport Road - William Newport came to Menifee from England in 1887. His ranch was located on the north side of Newport Road between Murrieta Road and Bradley Road. His tree-lined driveway path began where today’s Evans Road leads from the Kay Ceniceros Community Center to Lazy Creek Park. His home, barns, and bunkhouse stood where the park is today. The Historical Association recently placed a monument marker at the park to designate the historical significance. Scott Road - Rev. William J. Scott’s property, “Scott Acres”, was on the eastern border of the valley near
Winchester Road in the 1890’s and early 1900’s. Early residents said the road “led to Preacher Scott’s place”. Haun Road - Named for Lee Haun, who worked for the Riverside County Road Department. His ranch was on Haun Road just north of today’s Antelope-Menifee Rural Center. For many years, this dirt road coming south from Newport Road ended at his ranch. Bradley Road - Newton Bradley worked on the Newport Ranch in 1900 and owned property near Garbani and Evans Road, so he probably traveled a dirt road in that direction. Bradley, a bachelor, often appears in early 1900’s news articles. Evans Road - Named for Henry Evans, who owned property on Garbani Road at Murrieta Road, where today’s Menifee History Museum is now located. Evans was a Riverside County road foreman for the Menifee District. Wickerd Road - John and David Wickerd came to Menifee in 1907 and 1910, respectively, with their families. Their combined properties extended north from Scott Road to Wickerd Road and west of Bradley Road. Residents of the valley jokingly called that area “Wickerdville”. Antelope Road - Probably got its name because it went to the Antelope School just south of Scott Road. Some early maps label the area as Antelope Valley. Holland Road - Named for the Holland families that lived on the east side of Menifee Valley. There were several ranchers there with that surname.
Briggs Road - Named for the Briggs Family. There was a mine named Leon that was later changed to the Briggs mine. Lindenberger Road - Named for the two Lindenberger families that arrived in 1887. They built their homes on the east side of the road and named their ranch “Olive View” after the large grove of olive trees on the property. Goetz Road – Connected Quail Valley to the west end of Newport Road. The road was named for Henry Goetz and his son Harry, who were early investors in the once private Quail Valley Resort community. Zeiders Road - Walter Zeiders rode a motorcycle from Pennsylvania to California in 1909. He worked on William Newport’s ranch and later purchased property south of Scott Road and began his own farming operation. His descendants live on Zeiders Road and are one of the last families that farm wheat in this area. McCall Boulevard – Fred McCall was a Riverside County Supervisor in the early 1960’s. When the active retirement community of Sun City was first being built, its main thoroughfare that intersected U.S. Highway 395 was known as Grand Boulevard. In December 1965 the road name was changed to honor Fred McCall, two years after his passing. To view historic photographs of these early roadways, Menifee’s pioneer families and other locations, visit the Menifee History Museum on Garbani Road. It is open every Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. Free admission.
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there in the near future. Back then, as Merle recalls, it was a beautiful place for a wedding and for the start of a family -one that has farmed locally for decades and to this day still farms the wheat fields on both sides of the 215 Freeway. “At one time, my dad had 5,000 acres he worked, but he fallowed almost half of it, so he really worked about 3,000 acres,” Merle said. My son (David) and I have been partners since 1985. Any grain you see being farmed around here, that’s us.” Merle recalls his best year farming grain was in 2003, when they brought in a bumper crop from 3,300 acres planted. “We bought a couple combines after that,” he said. But from 2013-16, conditions were not great and the Zeiders didn’t even harvest. “Last year, we harvested 100 pounds to the acre,” Merle said. “But we lost money for five years. We’ve got a lot of money in it, but that’s what we love.” Merle admits that the new generation of people moving into Menifee really have no understanding or appreciation of what the pioneer farming families of this area have accomplished since the late 1800s. “They don’t really care,” Merle said about the younger generation’s seemingly indifferent attitude toward the farming legacy of the valley. “So many people come out from the city and they don’t care about what happened here.” Merle hesitates to call it the end of an era, but he certainly acknowledges the passage of time and the march of what some call progress. Granted, things have changed over time. The barn his father built just north of Merle and Ina Mae’s current home burned down a couple years ago. And now when they look out their front door to the east, where just a year or so ago there was an open field, a large industrial park is being built.
Menifee 24/7 photo: Kristen Spoon One of Merle Zeiders’ most prized possessions is mounted on his family room wall: A 50-pound King salmon he caught in Alaska several years ago. “I kinda like the olden days,” Merle said. “I know progress has to be. That’s the way the world goes around. Luckily, we still have 40 acres here. We don’t have to listen to anybody flushing their toilet or making noise 15 feet away from us.” Merle will celebrate his 90th birthday this month and, of course, he has a big party planned. He said he has a lot of stories to tell about the old days, and Ina Mae will be right there to laugh along with him. Ina Mae’s family were farmers in Kansas in the early 1900s and moved to New Mexico for a short time. They moved to California in 1943. By that time, the Zeiders family had been in Menifee for decades. Merle’s father, Walter Zeiders, left Pennsylvania as a young man in 1909 and worked his way across country, riding a motorcycle along with a friend. A few years later, he married Frances, daughter of a local farmer in Menifee. They had three boys – Cecil, born in 1916; Leslie, born in 1919; and Merle, born in 1928. Those were good times with lots of adventures,
Walter Zeiders poses with his wife Frances with one of seven motorcycles he owned -- one of which he used to ride across country, settling in Menifee. Merle recalls. He spent a lot of his early years playing in the open fields and on the dusty roads of Menifee with his buddy Herk Bouris, who lived about a quarter mile away. Herk’s widow, Betty, lives just a bit further south on Zeiders Road today. “Herk and I, we’d ride our tricycles back and forth between our places,” Merle said. “We’d ride up and down Highway 395, which was just a dirt road at the time. I don’t they paved it until 1938. “I had this big Airedale dog and my brother had a harness for it. I had a pretty good sized wagon and
we’d hitch the dog up to it. That dog would take me anyplace. “One time when Herk and I were probably about 5 years old, my mom came out and said, ‘Wonder where the boys are?’ Then they saw the tracks of the wagon. My dad had dug a well about 35 feet deep and 6 feet in diameter, with boards over it. They came down there and there we were. We had the boards up and were looking down the well. I think we got a pretty good whippin’.” Of course, farm life could also be difficult and dangerous. Merle recalled
the time he disobeyed his father and climbed into the back of a wooden wagon pulled by a team of horses that weren’t quite broken in. “My brother’s friend Fred would haul wheat in a wagon and I would climb in the back,” Merle recalled. “My dad told Fred, ‘I don’t want Merle in that wagon because that one horse is not fully trained.’ Fred said OK. “Well, pretty soon I was in the wagon, right on the tail end. Fred grabbed ahold of the reins and off the horses went. Pretty soon there happened to be a real bad bump. Up
I went and when I came down, no wagon. And away the horses went, out across 395 to the Harrison Ranch. He couldn’t control them. “Finally, Fred got ‘em turned around. I thought to myself, ‘I’m gonna stop them horses’ There I was, standing out in the middle of the road. My mom yelled to my brother Leslie, ‘You gotta go down there; Merle’s gonna be killed.’ Leslie kicked off his shoes, went down there and got me out of the way just in time before the horses went flying by. Without him, I wouldn’t be here.” The house Merle and Ina Mae live in today was actually built a bit farther north, at the corner of Murrieta Road and Chambers Road, where Merle’s father owned some land. The couple moved into the home in 1958 and lived there until 1972, when the first big sign of change came. “They raised our taxes 400 percent because of the development of Sun City,” Merle said. “I said to the assessor, ‘We’re just in a farming community. We try to keep our place nice and clean. We spend a lot of money on diesel fuel and such.’ He said, ‘We noticed that. We added 5 percent to your tax.’ I said, ‘Thanks a lot.’” The Zeiders moved to a parcel on Walter Zeiders’ property south of Scott Road, taking their house with them. “We dragged it across the valley,” Ina Mae said with a laugh. “Right through the fields. There were no roads around back then.” So there they sit today, surrounded by mementos of a life well lived together. Merle still tells his stories, like the one about the day Ina Mae flagged him down with a white rag. So what does Ina Mae say about that story? “That’s not what happened,” she said with a chuckle. “At the time, we had no vacuum. I was out shaking rugs.” Merle’s response: “How was I to know? All I can say about it is, it’s the best decision I ever made.”
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Krikorian entertainment complex are in the approval process and Krikorian is completing the financing necessary to begin the project. Plans include: -- A 122,000-squarefoot theater with 12 screens, including the largest movie screen in the nation – 100 feet wide and 54 feet tall. -- A 9,320-square-foot sports-themed restaurant/ bar with a 60-foot by 45foot TV screen showing sports and other major events. -- A 22-lane bowling alley. -- A 7,200-square-foot gaming area, including laser tag. To accommodate the huge screen in the main theater auditorium, the plan was granted an exception of a 64-foot ceiling in that part of the building. The standard height limit is 50 feet. In addition, the plan was granted an extra wide frontage area of
15 feet to accommodate wider sidewalks for the expected large crowds. The complex will also include a full-service restaurant, 12,500-squarefoot multi-tenant building housing a restaurant and bank, and an outdoor plaza covering nearly 5,000 square feet. When presenting the plan to city officials last summer, President George Krikorian said that the theater areas would include reclining seats and the ability for guests to order “in-seat dining� of freshly prepared meals. A ticketing system will allow guests to select a seat choice when purchasing tickets, which can be done at the ticket window or in advance by phone or online. Unfortunately, a date for start of construction of that project still has not been determined. City officials expect it to be sometime later this year.
Menifee 24/7 photos: Doug Spoon Above, construction is beginning on one of the Lennar Homes condominium projects in Menife Town Center. Below, concrete has been poured for the stage of an outdoor amphiteater in the park.
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Inside Menifee 24/7 MARCH 2018
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Paloma soccer team reaches finals
Wildcat girls score 2-0 win in CIF-SS semifinal match Menifee 24/7 Staff
Photo by Kristi Jo Aguirre Miale Jones (6) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal in a recent Paloma Valley victory.
The Paloma Valley High School girls soccer team advanced to the CIF Southern Section Division 4 finals after scoring a 2-0 semifinal win over St. Margaret’s Feb. 27 at home. Playing in cold, wet conditions, the Wildcats got second-half goals from Miale Jones and Alyssa Moore to improve their overall record to 24-0-3. Reaching the CIF championship game for the second time in three years, Paloma Valley will face Ventura, a 3-1 winner over La Quinta, March 3 for the division title at Corona High School. It has been a whirlwind season for coach Carlos Alfaro’s Wildcats, who are the only Menifee area
team still alive in the playoffs in any sport. They reached the semifinal game with a 3-0 victory over Laguna Beach Feb. 23 behind two goals from Jones and one from Payton Whitcomb. Sophomore Nicole Dallin leads the team in scoring with 51 goals and 16 assists. Jones, a junior, has scored 29 goals with 17 assists on the year. Goalkeepers Paulina Pimentel and Peyton Broccardo-rehak have combined to allow just eight goals all season. The Wildcats haven’t been scored upon since Jan. 5. It truly has been a magical season for the Wildcats. They entered the CIF finals having won 14 consecutive games dating back to a 2-2 tie with Great Oak Dec. 20.
Photos by Kristi Jo Aguirre Above left, defender Sayra Munoz sends the ball the other way with a header; above right, Nicole Dallin battles an opponent for the ball.
MSJC women in Regional final MSJC Sports Information Release The Mt. San Jacinto women’s basketball team advanced to the Southern California Regional final with an 81-46 victory over Pasadena City College Feb. 24 in the second round of the playoffs. The Eagles, now 28-2 overall and the No. 3 seed in the region, will face El Camino at MSJC on the San Jacinto campus March 3 at 7 p.m. MSJC took control of the game from the start,, jumping out to a 16-0 lead on the way to a 23-2 lead after the first period. The
Lancers settled down in the second period and cut the MSJC lead to 36-19 at the half. The Eagles re-established their control though in the third period as they outscored PCC 21-12 to lead 57-31 heading into the final period. They kept up the pressure in the final 10 minutes to pull away for the victory. PCAC and CCCAA Southern California Player of the Year Britney Thomas led the Eagle offense with 26 points in 24 minutes of action. Delacy Brown also finished in double figures with 17 points, including 12 in the
second half to make sure the Lancers could not get back into striking distance. Kaila Gower added 9 points and 8 rebounds, while Carla Johnson had 7 points and 5 assists. Madeline Morrow was also solid on the evening with 6 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. MSJC tied Palomar for the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference North Division title. The conference championship was the fourth in six years for MSJC. Thomas entered the postseason as the Lady Eagles’ leader in both scoring and rebounding, as she averaged 20.9
points and 14.6 rebounds per game. Brown, a Second-Team All-State selection, is next for MSJC at 19 points and 7 rebounds per game. She also leads the team in assists at 4.6 per contest. Gower is the third MSJC player averaging double figures in scoring on the year at 12.3 a game. Five MSJC players were honored with individual awards announced before the playoffs began. Thomas earned PCAC North Division Player of the Year honors for the second time; she had the same distinction following her freshman season
in 2015-16. Thomas finished the regular season averaging 20.9 points and 14.6 rebounds per game. In conference games, she scored 21.8 points a game and grabbed 18 rebounds per contest. Brown, Gower and Johnson all earned FirstTeam All-League honors while Morrow was named to the Second Team. Brown was also a FirstTeam selection last year following her freshman season. Gower, who was named Second-Team All-Conference last season, earned a spot on the First Team this year, after averaging 12.3 points.
Rangers wrestlers post strong season By JACKIE BALLARD Menifee 24/7 Intern Even though the Santa Rosa Academy girls wrestling team did not make it to the CIF postseason this year due to losses at the qualifying tournament Feb. 3, the first year of the program was a success. The girls “didn’t do their best as wrestlers; they’re better than that,” said coach Anthony Thompson about the CIF prelims. “They were in-
timidated by how big the tournament was. But they wrestle hard and listen; that’s what matters the most.” A total of 340 girls were at the tournament, representing more than 40 schools. The top eight girls in each of the 14 weight classes advanced to the CIF tournament on Feb. 10. Out of the five girls on the Santa Rosa team, only two were able to compete. The other three were injured.
Photo by Kristi Jo Aguirre Sarah Freeman scored four goals Feb. 17 for the Paloma water polo team.
Wildcats celebrate first title The Paloma Valley High School boys basketball team won its first-ever league championship this season and beat Palm Desert in the first round of the CIF playoffs before being eliminated in the second round in a 70-68 loss to AB Miller. The Wildcats finished the season with a 22-7 record. In the 68-41 win over Palm Desert, junior guard Damario Willard scored 30 points to lead all scorers. Paloma Valley fought back from an early deficit to take a 24-18 halftime lead, but the visiting Aztecs stayed close in the third quarter. Finally, in the fourth quarter, the Wildcats outscored the Aztecs 32-13 to put the game away. Forward Richard Zweifach scored 9 points for Paloma Valley and guard Chance Nolan added 7. Eleven players scored for the Wildcats. The Paloma Valley boys soccer team lost its firstround home CIF playoff game to Hesperia, 2-0, Feb. 16. The Wildcats finished the season with a 13-3-4 record.
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MENIFEE 24/7
Paloma NJROTC wins Area title Menifee 24/7 Staff
The Paloma Valley High School NJROTC unit continued its tradition of excellence with its best-ever performance Feb. 24, placing first in the Area 11 Field Meet, otherwise known as the NJROTC Super Bowl. Competing against 16 other school units from California and Arizona that qualified for the meet, the Wildcat Battalion compiled enough points in 11 events to win it all and earn a trip to Pensacola, Florida April 6-7 for the NJROTC Navy Nationals. Paloma Valley placed third in the state Field Meet the last three years. “We finally broke the
glass ceiling,” said Master Sgt. Frank Puebla, who commands the Paloma Valley unit. The competition included five close-order drills, a personnel inspection, academic test and four fitness tests. The event was held this year at Santa Ana High School. “We qualified last year when we finished third in this meet, but we didn’t raise enough funds to make the trip,” Puebla said. “Now, with the money we collected before and this year, we’re better prepared. “Our mantra is ‘consistent and never-ending improvement.’ I’ve been here six-plus years, and we’ve lived true to that adage every year.”
Members of the NJROTC Battalion from Paloma Valley High School take part in the state meet Feb. 24 at Santa Ana High School. The Wildcat Battalion won the meet and will advance to the nationals.
Sanchez receives award Parks & Rec honors service Menifee 24/7 Staff
City officials from Menifee and Perris and transportation authorities take part in groundbreaking for the Ethanac Road project.
$3.1 M project to widen Ethanac Menifee 24/7 Staff Officials for the City of Menifee, City of Perris and regional transportation entities gathered last month for the groundbreaking of a widening project at Ethanac Road. The $3.1 million project will increase traffic on the major thoroughfare that runs east-west through
north Menifee and south Perris, from Case Road to Goetz Road. Funding will come from developers and Development Impact Fees. The road will be widened from two to four lanes and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. “With the expansion, we are expecting higher traffic counts, which will
ultimately assist in quality development in the northern gateway of our City,” said District 1 Menifee City Council member Greg August. “We are proud to partner with the regional efforts to move this project forward.” Menifee Mayor Neil Winter, Mayor Pro Tem Lesa Sobek, August and Councilman John Denver
joined Perris City officials in the ceremony along with Rick Bishop, director of the Western Riverside Council of Governments. “Ethanac Road is a highly traveled thoroughfare that bifurcates north Menifee,” said Winter. “This really is a regional benefit. Not only will this expansion alleviate congestion for our residents,
it will also relieve traffic for commuters who use Ethanac Road to get from the I-15 to the I-215.” For more information, contact the City of Menifee Public Works Department at 951-672-6777 or contact Jonathan Smith, director of Public Works, at jsmith@cityofmenifee. us.
From left: Gordon Simonds (Vietnam), John Kyle (Beirut, Lebanon, Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Iraq-3 tours), David Gibbons (Desert Shield and Desert Storm), Dallas Miller (5 tours in Iraq), Russell Violette (Korea), John Thayer (WWII-Europe), Frank Verano (WWII-Pacific). Not shown: Mark Williams (Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan).
Quilts of Valor presented to veterans On Feb. 17, quilters and supportive people from around Southern California gathered for the third year at Sun City Civic Association for the annual Sew Day for Quilts of Valor. In addition to sewing quilts this year, eight Quilts of Valor were presented to deserving veterans (seven during the ceremony and one privately). Veterans of conflicts from WWII to Afghanistan were honored. It was an
honor to be able to recognize these veterans for their sacrifices. Webb Hall was filled with quilters, veterans, families and friends. The Quilts of Valor Foundation began in 2003 as a grassroots effort on the east coast to cover our troops “touched by war” with quilts after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. It all started with one mother making a quilt for her son and it has grown to a national endeavor with
over 180,000 quilts being awarded to active duty personnel and veterans from all wars. Two local clubs, Sun City Quilting Club and Hilltoppers of Winchester, have been involved in making these quilts for years. It is a labor of love, with fabric purchased by the maker or donated by those who want to help but do not sew. In Sun City, one member cuts the pieces, another sews the top, while someone else
quilts the layers together. Then a final member attaches binding and a label. Hilltoppers members each take care of all the processes for their individual quilts. Hundreds of quilts have been made by these two groups. Each quilt may cost up to $250 to make. The finished quilts are awarded locally or sent directly to recipients if directed by our state Quilt of Valor representative at the request of the nation-
al organization. If anyone would like to request a quilt, contact Quilts of Valor at www.qovf.org. Donations may be made by cash or check. Checks should be made out to Quilts of Valor Foundation, which is a 501c3 organization. Then contact Peggy Miller at 951-9431211 (Hilltoppers of Winchester) or Rose Rhoads at 951-301-6169 (Inland Empire Quilting Angels of Sun City) to arrange for your donation.
Menifee resident Gloria Sanchez has been selected a Community Champion by the California Parks & Recreation Society for her efforts to improve the quality of life for residents, the City of Menifee announced. According to the news release, the Community Champion Award “honors and recognizes individuals and organizations who have contributed significant effort to influence and improve the quality of their community through parks and recreation.” Sanchez has volunteered nearly 100 hours in helping to organize and support the “Menifee Better Together” event. This event brings together numerous non-profits, local businesses, City staff, youth organizations, and schools to work with the Inland Valley Habitat for Humanity in beautifying homes for seniors who are in need of assistance with exterior house work. Sanchez also has planned and coordinated two Senior Health Fairs for the City of Menifee in the past two years. Sanchez is the chairperson of the Riverside County Office on Aging. She works with Supervisor Marion Ashley’s Office regarding issues facing seniors. She also serves as the chairperson of the Menifee Senior Advisory Council. “Community involvement is critical for a healthy community,” said Neil Winter, mayor of Menifee. “Gloria is a shining example of how great events and accomplishments come out of community engagement. We are proud to have Gloria as a Menifee resident, and are very excited to see her receive this well-deserved recognition.” Sanchez will formally accept the Community Champion Award March 16 at the CPRS Awards Banquet, to be held at the conclusion of a weeklong conference in Long Beach.
MENIFEE 24/7
March 2018
Menifee Crossword Puzzle
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Kristen’s Corner Crafts, chat and other stuff
Seeking luck of the Irish By KRISTEN SPOON, Associate Editor
Solve the Menifee Crossword Puzzle by finding the answers to these clues having to do with Ireland. Answers on page B5. ACROSS
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2. James Bond 1962 3. Brian McFadden is a member of this boy band 4. An Irish drum 9. An Irish potato cake 10. U2 vocalist 11. A quick kiss will get you the gift of eloquence 14. Molly Malone sold these on the Dublin streets 15. This Saint introduced Christianity to Ireland 16. Dublin’s Rotunda Hospital trained these nurses 17. Famous glassware made in Ireland 21. Sometimes confused with shinty 22. These fierce warriors invaded Ireland in the 9th Century
1. Irish actor who played Lawrence of Arabia 5. The lant has only three leaves 6. Before lamb, you might have found this in your stew 7. The Twelve Bens 8. The Kerry Blue is one 12. Seaman John Mills of Mutiny on the Bounty 13. Dublin is its proud brewer 18. Translates to dark pool in English 19. St. Patrick chased them out of Ireland 20. Irish musician Galway was famous for playing this
MSJC announces two additional scholarships The City of Perris, Mt. San Jacinto College and the Mt. San Jacinto College Foundation have partnered to establish the Perris Bright Futures Fund to assist the 13 Turpin siblings reach their educational goals. The City and College also are creating a second scholarship to aid students who major in child care, social work and health care.
Perris City Manager Richard Belmudez said the City is honored to partner with Mt. San Jacinto College on establishing both scholarships. “We want the Turpin siblings to know that the entire community is behind them,” he said. “Through the scholarships we hope to not only show our support, but encourage future profes-
sionals dedicated to assist individuals of similar circumstances. We invite the entire Perris Valley community to participate.” The Perris Bright Futures Fund is already active and accepting donations. The second scholarship will be posted to the MSJC Foundation web page soon. Dr. Roger Schultz, superintendent/president of
Mt. San Jacinto College, said he hopes the scholarship can help the Turpin siblings rebuild their lives and that the second scholarship helps those students who wish to enter educational programs that can help end child abuse. For information or to donate to the Perris Bright Futures Fund, visit www. msjc.edu/foundation or call 951-487-3171.
Who doesn’t love Saint Patrick’s Day? Who doesn’t love the surprise or wonder of a leprechaun? What’s it all about, you say? Well, I’d better start in the beginning. Some people say that you have to be “lucky” and smart because, according to Irish folklore, a leprechaun’s little green guys are quick and sneaky. If you take your eyes off him, he will disappear in the blink of an eye. What do you get when you catch a leprechaun? Well, he will grant you three wishes or a gold coin to bribe his way to freedom, but this is when things can go terribly wrong if the wrong decisions are made. He’s a sneaky guy and loves to play tricks on you. Many an Irishman who thought he could outsmart a leprechaun selected the three wishes and would either go insane trying to think of what to wish for or see their wishes backfire with something bad happening. One of the biggest tips an Irish person can give anyone is to never listen to what the leprechaun says, no matter what!! He is a sneaky little fella and he does not want you to get his coins or three wishes! The leprechauns are great mind players and will say anything into tricking you into making the wrong wishes. But although the leprechaun is smart, he can be fooled. Unfortunately, in Ireland the poor wee leprechauns are being driven further underground away from man, taking their rainbows with them. Here are some fun ideas for your special Saint Patrick’s Day: 1. Get some green paint. Dip your palms in the paint and press them against windows, glass, mirrors, even the toilet. Don’t forget to add the toes with your fingertips. 2. Make rainbow cupcakes and top them with candy gold coins. 3. Make a dinner using all green foods, or dye the food green! 4. Most of all, gather your family and have a great day! FUN FACTS for Saint Patrick’s Day The shamrock: According to legend, St. Patrick used the three-leaf clover (or shamrock) to explain the Trinity. Dyeing the river green: The practice of dyeing the river green started in Chicago in 1962, when city officials decided to dye a portion of the Chicago River green. Corned beef and cabbage: This is an Irish American dish. Irish Americans were so poor, they could not afford certain meals. On St. Patrick’s Day, the best meal they could afford was beef and cabbage. It became a staple for the holiday.
Enter our “Leprechaun Trap” contest! How would you catch a leprechaun? We invite you to make a trap you think would work and send us a photo of it for our contest. We will have three prizes: First prize, which is a cash prize of $50; second prize, which will be a gift certificate to Cici’s Pizza; and third prize, which is a gift certificate to McDonalds. So kids, teachers, moms and dads, get your minds working, and submit a photo of your leprechaun trap with a description by March 10 at 5 p.m. Send entries to kristen.spoon@ menifee247.com
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Crafts is Artist of Month By Jim T. Gammill Arts Council Menifee is proud to name Deborah Crafts as March’s Artist of the Month. Crafts grew up in Wisconsin and remembers knowing that she wanted to be an artist from the age of 12. As a youth, she enjoyed traditional drawing, but was interested in other mediums even then. To expand her artistic horizons, Crafts attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison, where she received a degree in Art and later conducted graduate studies at Boston University. After completing her education, Crafts was ready to see the world. It was then that she decided to move to Europe, where she lived and worked for over two years. Upon returning to the United States, Crafts hoped to use her combination of education and world experience to find a position in which she could excel while still embracing her passion for art. Crafts has held a variety of positions in several museums across the country. Her first official position was at The Mingei Museum in San Diego’s University Town Center. Other notable positions in Crafts’ career include Director of Development at the Balboa Park History Museum and her final position at the Museum of Art and History in Santa Cruz.
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Crafts reflects fondly on her 27-year career, stating that working in the museum industry allowed her, “to live a champagne life on a beer budget.” As if simply working in the field she loved wasn’t enough, she was given quite the retirement present by the trustees of the Museum of Art and History in Santa Cruz – a trip to Spain and The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. The experience had an effect on her, to say the least. “The city of Bilbao and the Guggenheim building, designed by Frank Gehry, looked like ships coming into port,” the artist recalls. After living in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Crafts decided to move to California to be closer to her two adult children. She now calls the city of Menifee
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home and has since become a frequent attendee of ceramics classes at Mt. San Jacinto College. She enjoys creating a variety of porcelain and ceramic artwork while simultaneously embracing her other passions of painting and mixed-media contemporary art. When asked about her varied tastes in artistic styles, the artist was descriptive. “Originally a painter of realism, I now enjoy the adventure of abstraction,” she said. “When I approach a canvas, I have no idea of what I want the finished art piece to be. With paint and paper, I seek form through color. New shapes suggest themselves; new discoveries and unseen possibilities appear. The relationships between them are
the determining factors in my work. There is a never-ending search for new color and shape with repeated never-ending experimentation. “ The artist works out of her home studio and has sold several pieces locally as well as in the state of Arizona, where she placed first in an abstract art contest. Many of her works can be found in private collections around the United States. It was at an estate sale with an abundance of art supplies that Crafts first became associated with Arts Council Menifee. While procuring materials from the sale, she met Arts Council Menifee Trustees Kathy Crain and Kathy Pickett, with whom she instantly connected. Since then, Crafts has been an active member of Arts Council Menifee and a regular contributor to ACM events. Deborah Crafts brings a breath of contemporary style to every art show she attends and truly represents the core foundations of what Arts Council Menifee looks for when recognizing local artists. “Deborah has helped in setting up the Art Gallery at the Kay Ceniceros Center as well as assisting at the Art Shows. She has demonstrated her creative techniques at the Visual Arts Meetings and is always present to assist where needed,” says Visual Arts chairperson Linda Morrison.
Back in the dog house
Toby‛s Tips By Kristen Spoon (and Toby too!) Paws up! We got a new pup and he is eager and waiting to share lots of tips with his human pals. He is the cutest thing ever. Toby is a Shih Tzu and Poodle mix. The breed name is Shih Poo. Tiny little guy. He weighs about 2 pounds now and will only get up to about 9-11 pounds total. He is a white and black fluffy little guy. Toby is so little and bouncy, he almost looks like a rabbit jumping around! Our Toby is now 10 weeks old and growing fast. He has two furry (and much bigger) brothers named Binny (age 12) and Flynn( age 5). I have to say that they are not too thrilled with the presidential treatment he has been receiving since being added to our crazy crew. We have a fast and furious household with five grown children and 10 very active grandchildren. These poor dogs sure get a workout, but they also get lots of LOVE. We haven’t had a puppy in years, so we needed to brush up on our skills. We were so amazed to look around and see how many of our friends got new puppies within the last two weeks. I know of about seven myself, so I know lots of you probably are doing the same thing -- puppy hoarding like us! First things first; we needed what’s best for our sweet little boy. We went to find the best food for puppies. I went to two different pet stores and online. What a confusing decision. So this is what I did. I just took the little amount of food the lady we got Toby from gave us. Then every day I introduced more of the food I wanted him to have by mixing it in a bit more each day until he was on the new food in about seven days. I didn’t want any puppy fail potty problems. It all worked out just fine. He is so smart. We feed him three times a day and take him outside to do his business about every hour and a half. He does well (or I am trained well; don’t know which?) I give him a little training treat and lots of praise every time he completes his task. He has only had a few misses. I blame it on the fact that he’s so close to the ground, I can’t judge what he’s doing. The next adventure was to get him corralled. I really wanted him to be a lap dog. He’s going to stay tiny, so I don’t mind. But I needed something while I work in my office, or when I just need a break. I got out my app for used baby needs and found a great play pen for $10. It looked less cruel than a crate for this little baby boy. And I got it fixed up like a nursery. LOL. Next came the toys … the toys ... and more toys! Yes, he is already SPOILED. But I did hit the Dollar Tree and they have some pretty good bargains for small dogs. I bought him a Kona treat toy, a squeaky fox, two peanut butter flavored tennis balls, a teddy bear, a rabbit, a teething ball, bowls, and a brush Toby wanted to share with you a few items to watch out for regarding your furry friends. They are listed below. Meanwhile, ARF ARF and a great day to all you pet lovers!
MENIFEE 24/7
March 2018
B5
Menifee 24/7 news Menifee in Pictures has you covered! Photos from local residents...
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EDITOR Doug Spoon
Crossword puzzle answers ACROSS
DOWN
2. Sean Connery 3. Westlife 4. Bodhran 9. Boxty 10. Bono 11. Blarney stone 14. Cockels and mussels 15. Patrick 16. Midwifes 17. Waterford 21. Hurling 22. Vikings
1. Peter O’Toole 5. Shamrock 6. Goat 7.Mountains 8. Terrier 12. Richard Harris 13. Guinness 18. Dublin 19. Snakes 20. Flute
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B6
March 2018
MENIFEE 24/7
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