A
Liquor stores pass major ABC test | Page 4
A
Truck overturns blocking 243 | Page 4
Friday, June 7 - 13, 2019
Weather: 56.0o | Volume 01 | Issue 01
A INSIDE SPORTS
B
Could too many taxes turn the State? | Page 1
www.HSJChronicle.com
| FREE EDITION
D ARTS
The Age of the Toronto Raptors See more on page 5
C VALLEY BEAT
Idyllwild Songwriting Festival See more on page 2
Growing up Hillbilly, ch.4 By Rusty Strait
See more on page 1 LETTERS OF INTENT
Signing Day Four graduating SJHS Students ready for college
Julio Jauregui, Jessica Diaz, Eliana Martinez and Alexis de la Cruz signed their intent letter and will play for athletic scholarships SJHS | Contributed
S
an Jacinto Unified School District has four graduating students headed to college next fall to play softball or soccer, bringing the year’s
Diamond Valley Writers’ Guild Spotlight
number of athletic scholarships for the district to an all-time single year recruitment high of eight students. These seniors attend San Jacinto High School, where coaching staff held a ceremony signing of “Letters of Intent” to commit to a college on Thursday, May 23, in front of family, faculty and friends. “It’s always the hope and desire of the Athletic Department here at SJHS to not only see our students further their education after graduation, but
See SIGNING DAY on page A2
It’s always the hope and desire of the Athletic Department here at SJHS to not only see our students further their education after graduation, but to also further their athletic careers as well” AMANDA GALIANO SJHS’S ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
Mark Lentine | Contributed
HARMONEERS
Y
“I’d always been intrigued by women who encountered, and then overcame obstacles, so at 58 I wrote my first novel,” LYNNE M. SPREEN WRITER
ou’re 58 and most of your friends are looking toward retirement, so what do you do? You decide to become a novelist. “I’d always been a voracious reader; even as a little girl, especially children’s fiction. My mom told me that at a very young age I was reading and writing little stories,” said Lynne Spreen, author of five novels, and member of The Diamond Valley Writers’ Guild here in Hemet. After graduating from the University of Redlands with a BA in management, Spreen worked in the public school system and, after thirty years, decided to retire and become a novelist. “I’d always been intrigued by women who encountered, and then overcame obstacles, so at 58 I wrote my first novel,” said Spreen, adding, “When I wrote the first novel, Dakota Blues…I wrote about a woman who was 58-my age; now I’m writing about women in their mid-sixties, so I guess I’m a bit narcissistic.” Spreen always knew she wanted to write, and she knew she’d have to pay her dues. “After attending several workshops and conferences on novel-writing, I actually threw out several chapters I had written and started from scratch, so that I could turn out the best product possible.” All that effort paid off as Spreen won a 2013 “Women’s issues” Next Generation Book Award for Dakota Blues. “I’ve had four books since then and each time I feel I have become a
Concert a Success “Prayer of the Children” and “Blades of Grass and Pure White Stones” brought tears to the eyes of most in the audience Harmoneers Chorale | Contributed
T
he Harmoneers Chorale presented their spring concert Sunday
afternoon, May 19th, to a packed house at The First Presbyterian Church in Hemet. Entitled “Red, White and Broadway,” the tone was set by a rousing “We’re Gonna Put on a Show,” and ended with the entire audience on their feet during “God Bless the U.S.A.” featuring baritone Mark Nelson.
See HARMONEERS on page A2
HARVARD MUSIC EXCHANGE
Music Showcase Mark Lentine | Contributed
T
he Harvard music exchange will be holding its monthly super Saturday music showcase this Saturday, June 1st at 7:00 P.M. “We’ve been hold-
See WRITERS on page A2
ing mini concerts since 2008 when the music exchange was known as the Alaythia music store,” said owner Julio Guez, adding, “From the moment I sold my first guitar, I fell in love with the idea of a music
See HARVARD on page A3
“We see the store as a place of musical expression where people can come in and express themselves and present their talent. It’s a very powerful thing.” JULIO GUEZ HARVARD MUSIC EXCHANGE’S OWNER
Hemet Public Library Summer Reading Program The Library’s “A Universe of Stories” summer reading program runs 8-weeks, June 12 - August 3. Early-bird sign-ups begin June 5th. For every week of completed reading, participants will earn a reward. Smartphone Help Thursday, June 20, 3-4 p.m. Learn how to use your smartphone or tablet. Historical Hemet News You can now search the
Hemet News from home. View the Historical Hemet News from 1899 to 1958, and the Riverside Press Enterprise from 1992 to today. ABCMouse.com The Award winning ABCMouse.com curriculum helps young children (ages 2-8+) build a strong foundation for future academic success. 100% educational, with 3,500+ learning activities across all major subject areas.
NAMI Education Programs NAMI Mt. San Jacinto, the local organization of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, offers free NAMI Education Programs. Includes child care and light refreshments. The programs are taught in English unless otherwise indicated. Information: (951) 765-1850 namihemet@gmail.com. Connection Recovery Support Group Every Thursday, 12 – 1:30 p.m. – Connect and en-
courage and support participants in a structured support group format. Hemet Behavioral Health Clinic, NAMI Room. Conexión Support Grupo Espanol First and third Wednesdays, 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Spanish language discussion for adults dealing with mental health issues. Hemet Behavioral Health Clinic, 650 N. State St., Hemet. NAMI room.
Blood Drive at Simpson Center
Mondays 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Screening precedes donation. No appointment necessary. Free parking. Sign up to give every two months. 305 E. Devonshire Ave. in Hemet. More information: LifeStream, www.Lstream.org, (909) 885-6503.
Auditions for Outward Bound
Tuesday/Wednesday, August 6-7 at 7 p.m. Ramona Hillside Playhouse will hold auditions for Outward Bound, a play written by Sutton Vale and Directed by Susan O’Connell. Seeking: 2 men, 3 women. Performances start September 20. Phone: (951) 658-5300. Web: www.ramonahillsideplayers.org.
Cook Food from India
Tuesday, June 25 at noon explore cuisine from India. Simpson Center, 305 E. Devonshire Ave. in Hemet. $15 a person. Contact Mariana at (951) 333-7636 or marianarosen19@gmail.com.
LETTERS FROM THE NEW TEAM TO THE VALLEY READERS
See EDITORIAL on page B3