Temecula liquor stores caught selling to teens, A-2
VALLEY
28th annual Avocado Festival coming Sunday, April 13, A-4
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NEWS
April 11 – 17, 2014
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www.myvalleynews.com
Volume 14, Issue 15
Murrieta woman seeks late son’s stolen toys Alex Groves Staff Writer
Temecula City Hall was lit up blue to commemorate and spread autism awareness on Wed. April 2, 2014.
Shane Gibson photo
‘Light It Up Blue’ event spotlights Temecula’s focus on special needs Tim O’Leary Staff Writer Over a short span, Temecula has quietly created and staffed a new division aimed at serving a growing segment of its population – one that has largely gone unnoticed in most cities in the region and state. Temecula, in large part to Councilman Mike Naggar, has earmarked funds and created programs to serve, educate, train and employ youth and adults with autism and its range of learning and developmental disabilities.
It is Naggar’s goal that Tem- The month-long lighting campaign, ecula’s effort – which costs more which cost the city about $5,000, is than $150,000 a year – will soon part of a global autism awareness effort. be duplicated Naggar said in other cities “All of a sudden I had all he will keep throughout the these questions. There are a h i s a u t i s m state and nation. lot of people out there (with a w a r e n e s s services “This is my autism). What’s our obliga- and push at the new mission tion?” – Mike Naggar forefront of and I hope it’s his efforts as yours, too,” Naggar told an audience of about he prepares to navigate an uncertain 80 people at a recent ceremony political path. Naggar said he plans for the second annual Light It Up to retire from the council in two Blue event at Temecula City Hall. years, at which time he’ll run for a
seat on the Riverside County Board of Supervisors. Naggar said he doesn’t envision himself seeking a fifth term on the Temecula council in November 2016. Naggar said that making his supervisorial plans known now will help him build early support and possibly dissuade other candidates from entering the race. Naggar will seek the seat now held by Jeff Stone, a former Temecula councilman and three-time mayor who was elected to the
see BLUE, page A-7
Reality Rally brings stars, fans together Kim Harris Special to the Valley News Gillian Larson is at it again. The former Survivor contestant and Temecula resident will bring the popular Reality Rally back to Temecula this weekend, April 1113 and this year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever. The event, featuring 120 television reality stars from 39 reality TV shows, allows fans the opportunity to get up close and personal with personalities such as three-time Survivor Player Tina Wesson. Also appearing this year are the original Survivor winner and Celebrity Apprentice contestant Richard Hatch, Inaugural Amazing Race Winner, Brennan Swain and retired NFL offensive linebacker Lance Zeno, of the Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers, just to name a few. Larson said she came up with the idea for Reality Rally while she was playing Survivor Gabon, during the show’s 17th season. It took her eight years to be cast on CBS’s popular reality show. “I could never explain my burning passion and desire to get on that show,” Larson said. “I think I was guided in that direction. I tried for
Not far off the I-215 freeway lies Perris Raceway, a race track that’s bringing back a traditional form of racing that has been overshadowed by motocross and its enthusiasts over the past few decades. Flat track racing may not be the first thing to come to people’s minds when they consider the world of competitive action sports, but it’s the first kind of racing that involved motorcycles, according to Track Manager Vince Graves. “It proceeded motocross by years and years and years,” Graves said. “In some parts of the country it’s still really popular, but it started to
see TOYS, page A-6
Home & Garden
Growing an edible garden Hello fellow gardeners, this week I’d like to discuss growing edibles in your home garden. I’ve previously emphasized the use of compost in your soil, and any organic fertilizers, to “build up” the soil health, and that’s critical for edibles as well. Edibles can be anything from fruit and nut trees to tomatoes and herbs and there are just as many ways to integrate them into your garden setting as there are gardens.
see page B-8
Local
Family friend, real estate agent buys piece of Temecula’s modern history
ing event.” Larson said she suddenly realized
A rare real estate transaction has netted a local agent a piece of Temecula’s modern history. That unusual deal – in which an agent purchased a property she had listed about six months earlier – marked the latest chapter for the home of one of the city’s first power couples.
see RALLY, page A-6
see page A-4
Reality Rally team “3 Swans and Wil” attempt to impress the director with their opera skills during the 2013 Realty Rally. Reality stars in this team are: Beth Harris, Kelly Becker, Kelly Cowan, all from “The Swan” and Wil Heuser of “Big Brother 14.”
eight years, I played for six days, lost 12 pounds and I had a five week vacation. I said to myself, what is this all about? Then this idea about
Reality Rally just came to me. I took an idea in my head from the jungles of Africa in Gabon and it has grown to be an amazing, amaz-
Perris Raceway maintains tradition of classic flat track racing Alex Groves Staff Writer
When Murrieta resident Ashley Norris had her purse stolen out of her locker at the Murrieta location of L.A. Fitness, she didn’t care about the credit cards, the money, the social security card or any of the other items that had monetary value; the only thing she cared about were the toys inside the purse. The toys weren’t just any toys after all. They belonged to her 1-year-old son Timothy, who unexpectedly passed away from an illness last year. The first of the two toys was a series of colorful rings attached to a bird by a small tug chain. When the chain was pulled the bird would shake and buzz, according to Norris. Norris said the other thing that Timothy loved was a yellow rubber wristband, the kind that are commonly associated with various causes. Norris went to the gym around 11:45 a.m. on Monday, March 31.
really die in Southern California and that’s why my partners and I decided to revive it.” Unlike with motocross, there are no jumps or obstacles to overcome in flat track racing. The motorcycles never leave the ground in tremendous displays of aerial courage or acrobatic fineness. Instead, flat track racing is a competition whose elements are suggested by its namesake. Motorcycle riders travel along an oval-shaped track that is devoid of any sort of incline. The flat track is what provides the challenge in the sport, as participants are faced with sharp left
see RACEWAY, page A-3
Number 43, AJ Hateley, edges past his competition Colt Foster in one of the final races of the evening. Donnie Walters photo
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