Playoff pictures painted, local high school winter sports programs gear up for postseason play, B-1
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Serving Temecula , Murrieta , L ake E lsinore , M enifee , Wildomar , H emet, San Jacinto and the surrounding communities February 17 – 23, 2017
Local
Johnson named new San Jacinto City Manager
www.myvalleynews.com
Volume 17, Issue 7
Stars of the Valley fills hearts and fulfills dreams
Tony Ault TAULT@REEDERMEDIA.COM
The San Jacinto City Council with little public discussion at their Feb.7 regular meeting hired Rob Johnson for their next city manager at a salary of $194,000 per year with benefits through June 30, 2020. see page A-5
Local
LE Planning Commission endorses Alberhill Villages Kim Harris VALLEYEDITOR@REEDERMEDIA.COM
In a surprise move, the city of Lake Elsinore Planning Commission has given its endorsement of the long-troubled Alberhill Villages being developed by Castle & Cooke after coming to an agreement during a Feb. 7 Planning Commission meeting.
Marines line the path to the stage in respect for Sgt. Billy Hamlett at the Stars of the Valley event held Feb. 4, at South Coast Winery. He was the young adult beneficiary of this year’s event. Scott Padgett, Time Stood Still Photography photo
Paul Bandong PBANDONG@REEDERMEDIA.COM
see page A-6
Health
‘Rock Your Red’ emphasizes awareness and education Paul Bandong PBANDONG@REEDERMEDIA.COM
All across the nation, women dressed in red to raise awareness and to fundraise for the fight against heart disease and stroke. National Wear Red Day is a program of the American Heart Association. see page B-7
Dining
King Kabob rules the table with Persian fusion Kim Harris VALLEYEDITOR@REEDERMEDIA.COM
Outstanding customer service, a relaxing Persian atmosphere and a tantalizing melding of flavors is what awaits patrons at King Kabob in Lake Elsinore. see page C-2
Wonder Woman, cases of Sprite and a special Star in the Sky were just a few of the highlights of the 11th annual Stars of the Valley. Hearts were filled with emotion as founding organization Charity
for Charity once again fulfilled the wishes of special beneficiaries. This year’s “Valleywood”-style event was held Feb. 4 at South Coast Winery Resort & Spa, complete with red carpet interviews, “paparazzi,” entertainment, a fourcourse dinner, awards and auctions. Throughout the years, founder
see STARS, page A-3
Kim Harris VALLEYEDITOR@REEDERMEDIA.COM
Murrieta Park and Recreation Manager Lea Kolek led a workshop on the city’s Town Square Park improvement plan Tuesday, Feb. 7, highlighting the need for upgrades and maintenance improvements. The park, which opened for use in spring 2006, is the home to many of Murrieta’s special events including the annual Field of Honor put on by Rotary Club of Murrieta, Get Shamrocked, the city’s annual Festival of Trees and Murrieta’s Memorial Day Observance ceremony. “The first phase opened in 2006 and included essentially what is out there right now,” Kolek said. Phase one of the three-phase $3.7 million project will be completed once the city rehabilitates the well and adds restrooms at the site. Early plans for phase two includes a storage room, a dressing room or
see PARK, page A-5
Town Square Park in Murrieta, which features a fitness route, will soon see improvements including new Shane Gibson photo restrooms and a cover over the amphitheater.
Russ Brown appointed to Hemet City Council seat Tony Ault TAULT@REEDERMEDIA.COM
Earthquake Risk is Real, Pomeroy says Paul Bandong PBANDONG@REEDERMEDIA.COM
see page D-1
sponsors and the community, often they are able to go beyond the basic wish and allow Prestifilippo to say her favorite words, “And that’s not all…” This year’s child beneficiary, Payden Benson, was born with her
Murrieta’s Town Square Park to move forward with upgrades and improvements
Real Estate
The CEO of the California Earthquake Authority, Glenn Pomeroy, visited the Southwest Riverside County Association of Realtors in Murrieta Feb. 7, sharing his company’s strategic plan to educate, mitigate and insure earthquake losses.
Charity Jane Prestifilippo and her husband Alex have used Charity for Charity to fulfill wishes for many local beneficiaries. Each year they select a child, a young adult and an adult from among a group of applicants for the “Wish Brigade” to surprise with their wishes. Through the generosity of
Hemet resident and retired Claremont Police Capt. Russ Brown tells Hemet City Council why he wants to work with them as a councilmember. He won the seat following an interview during a special city council meeting Feb. 7. Tony Ault photo
Retired Claremont Police Capt. and Four Seasons resident Russ Brown was selected to serve on the Hemet City Council in the seat left by former City Councilman K. Paul Raver. Brown, selected from a field of nine applicants at the Feb. 7 special Hemet City Council meeting in a 3 to 1 vote will be on dais as a councilman for the next two years. Brown who told the council of his extensive experience as a police officer and active community leader in Claremont before moving to Hemet during a public interview session won the approval of Mayor Linda Krupa, Mayor Pro Tem Michael Perciful and Council-
woman Bonnie Wright in the final vote. Councilwoman Karlee Meyer voted “No” expressing her favor for Cami McGargill, another highly qualified council applicant who interviewed that evening. City Clerk Sarah McComas wasted no time in swearing in Brown who joined the rest of the council immediately after going into a closed session. The full fivemember council will now consider the city’s business needs for the next two years, which most likely will center around the Measure U sales tax revenue expenditures to improve the public safety departments and the city’s economic development plans. Brown in his interview said he
see BROWN, page A-7