Menifee’s Provecho Grill offers something for every palate, introduces new fall menu, C-3
VALLEY
NEWS
A
Get the beSt in LOCAL news delivered to your mailbox every week!
Section
Call 951-763-5510 to subscribe OR Subscribe online at:
www.reedermedia.com/corp/subscribe/
Your Best Source for Local News & Advertising
Serving Temecula , Murrieta , L ake E lsinore , M enifee , Wildomar , H emet, San Jacinto and the surrounding communities December 16 – 22, 2016
Local
San Jacinto City Council reorganizes following election approval
www.myvalleynews.com
Volume 16, Issue 51
Menifee rings in the holiday season with Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony
Tony Ault TAULT@REEDERMEDIA.COM
The newly elected San Jacinto City Council were unexpectedly delayed for their planned swearing in at the Tuesday, Dec. 6, city council meeting when the Riverside County Registrar of Voters was late in certifying the Nov. 8 general election vote. see page A-2
Local
Murrieta police reveal evidence of mountain lion activity Kim Harris VALLEYEDITOR@REEDERMEDIA.COM
Murrieta city officials have announced evidence of mountain lion activity have been spotted along the city’s Cole Canyon Trail system behind Placer Creek Street. see page A-5
Health
Santa Claus arrives to the Menifee Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony by fire engine, Dec. 10. See more photos on page A-4.
Registrar certifies election, Measure S passes in Temecula Kim Harris VALLEYEDITOR@REEDERMEDIA.COM
Linfield Village to provide retirement community Paul Bandong PBANDONG@REEDERMEDIA.COM
Linfield Christian School and Generations are partnering to provide a private gated retirement community on 14 acres of unused land on the Linfield campus. see page B-6
Voters make their way to and from the ballots at the Temeku Hills Master Association banquet room polling location in Temecula during the 2016 election, Nov. 8. The Riverside County Registrar of Voters certified the election results Tuesday, Dec. 6, and Temecula’s Measure S, which previously had been too close to call, has passed. Shane Gibson photo
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID HEMET, CA PERMIT #234
Shane Gibson photo
The Riverside County Registrar of Voters certified the Nov. 8 election results Tuesday, Dec. 6, and Temecula’s Measure S, which previously had been too close to call, has passed with 51 percent of voters casting their ballot in favor of the sometimes-controversial measure. The announcement means an additional $23 million a year will go into a city fund that pays for police, fire, public works, planning and a range of other services. Other services that will benefit from the tax measure include school safety patrols, traffic mitigation and youth, senior and disabled services. There are also safeguards in place to ensure the money collected is being used as intended, according to a press release issued by the city.
“Measure S includes strict accountability provisions, including annual independent financial audits, public review of expenditures, and ensures that all funds remain in Temecula and cannot be taken by Sacramento. These fiscal safeguards ensure local funds continue to be used efficiently and effectively for local needs,” the release reports. “The city was very proactive in bringing this forward, and citizens were wise to pass it,” Temecula Mayor Mike Naggar said in an emailed statement to Valley News. “The advent of AB 109 and the passage of Prop 47 two years ago, and now the passage of Prop 57, is putting criminals on the street who should be in jail. The increase in public safety costs, we knew were
see ELECTION, page A-7
VALLEY NEWS
Murrieta’s New Council sees return of former councilmembers Kim Harris VALLEYEDITOR@REEDERMEDIA.COM
Murrieta City Council welcomed new Councilmember Kelly Seyarto to the dais during their Dec. 6 meeting at City Hall. Randon Lane was also sworn in for his third term as a councilmember. The city declared the results of the election and recognized outgoing Councilman Harry Ramos for his time served on the council. “Mr. Ramos has had the opportunity to serve with the council for the last four years and I wanted to one, thank you for your service on city council and probably most importantly your service to our country as a Marine,” Lane said as he highlighted some of Ramos’ accomplishments during his tenure. Ramos said he never prepares a speech but did so for his last time on council floor. “I am always amazed for all of the blessings my family and I have received,” he said. “One of the really neat aspects of this job is that the community begins to have a face. You meet so many people in different walks of life and it is truly
a blessing.” Ramos said that making the lives of residents “just a little better” was what it was always about for him. “We truly have a beautiful city. We have nice parks and you look around and there is a lot of natural beauty, but that is not what makes Murrieta beautiful. We have nice roads, beautiful schools our city is clean and a million other things I could mention. But what makes Murrieta beautiful is the community,” Ramos said. After Ramos was recognized, Seyarto and Lane took the oath of office swearing to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California. The two also pledged to serve the office they were elected to. Seyarto, who replaces Ramos, is no stranger to the dais. He was initially elected in 1997 and held two terms on the council for eight years, including two stints as mayor in 2001 and 2005. After that the career firefighter took time off from public office to raise his three
see MURRIETA, page A-5
Newly elected Murrieta city councilman, Kelly Seyarto. Originally elected to the city council in 1997, Seyarto served the city for nine years and as mayor three times. One of Seyarto’s main focuses for the city during his term is to stimulate Murrieta’s economic development. Shane Gibson photo