Three different age groups of children from 10 months old to 18 took part in the race to see who could collect the most Easter eggs of the 1000 eggs that were generously donated by members of Rancho Replanted Foster Ministries and community partners like Albertsons off Hwy 79 in Temecula. In record time they all came running back to the clubhouse to count how many eggs they each found.

The day started with games for the kids to play around the outside of the clubhouse. 

Grandfathers for Golf was on hand and the budding golfers lined up at the practice green to get some putting lessons.  

After all the games the kids and their families had lunch which was provided by Grandfathers for Golf, the Community Pantry and Golden Era Productions. 

But the day was not over as after lunch there were raffle prizes for all the kids.  Every participating child walked away with an Easter Basket full of prizes. In addition Teen Road To Safety-Temecula, a Driving School gifted FREE online driving classes to the older youth. The grand prize was a shiny, new Mongoose bicycle from Willdebietz Music Conservatory in Hemet, which made a surprised mother and daughter very happy.

The foster mother, Jocelyn with tears in her eyes had this to share about the event, “Our family was invited to join this event as part of the foster care ministries in the area. Our daughter Emma was adopted out of foster care 6 years ago and we are currently fostering a different child with hopes of her becoming a permanent part of our family. This event was so much fun and my daughter was so excited to win a new bike and have her dad teach her how to ride a bike without training wheels. Much thanks to Rancho Replanted Foster Ministries and Willdebietz Music Conservatory for your extravagant generosity. We are so blessed by your donation and kindness – the smile on my daughter’s face says it all!! My heart is happy -thank you so much!! On behalf of our family Will, Jocelyn and Emma Atkins”

The post Local foster children hunt for Easter Eggs at the Golden Era Golf Course appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

City of Calabasas | Contributed

Did you know that Calabasas got its name from the Spanish word “Calabaza” meaning “‘pumpkin” OR “gourd”? Local legend has it that explorer Juan Bautista de Anza was traveling through the area now known as Calabasas when suddenly, his wagon full of pumpkins overturned. A few months later, the area saw its first pumpkin patch!

More than 200 years later, the Calabasas community returns to Juan Bautista de Anza Park to celebrate its namesake with friends, family, fun and of course, pumpkins! Shop the Marketplace, try a new pumpkin dish, dance and sing along to great bands, and pick your pumpkin in the pumpkin patch. There is so much to explore at The Calabasas Pumpkin Festival Sunday, October 16, 2022, 10:00am – 5:00pm.

The Calabasas Pumpkin Festival is proudly presented by the City of Calabasas Community Services Department.

WE’VE GOT THE PUMPKINS!

• Pumpkin patch on site

• Pumpkin painting and other craft activities

• Pumpkin pies for purchase by the slice or by the pie

• Pumpkin treats and other delicious food in the Food Court

• Pumpkin, Halloween, and home and garden items for sale in the Marketplace

• Pumpkin beer in the festival beer garden

TIP! If you like pumpkin scents and flavors, look for the orange pumpkin flags to indicate which vendors have pumpkin treats!

Don’t miss the Spooky squash sculptures and pumpkin carving with Peculiar Pumpkin Portrait’s Doug Goodreau!

INCLUDED IN THE TICKET PRICE

• Unlimited inflatable rides and games

• Creepy crawlers & critter shows

• Photos with Punky & other Halloween characters

• Halloween themed contests

• “Thriller” flash mobs

• Live bands- BAND & SHOW LINE UP COMING SOON!

Saturday Morning Monster Mash-up at 11:00am

Calling all kids ages 12 & under… Come to the festival in costume and join us for a monster sized dance party! Be one of the first 200 participants and receive a free pumpkin to personalize in our pumpkin painting booth.

Plan Your Visit to the Calabasas Pumpkin Festival!

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2022 from 10:00am – 5:00pm (ticket sales end at 4:30pm)

Location: Juan Bautista de Anza Park – 3701 Lost Hills Road, Calabasas, CA 91301

Directions: 101 Freeway – Exit Lost Hills Rd. in Calabasas. Follow the signs to free & easy parking!

Parking located in designated lots at the corner of Lost Hills Rd & Agoura Road. Free shuttles provided to the main gate.

Shuttles Hours: 9:45am – 5:15pm

For safety, parking is prohibited along Las Virgenes / Malibu canyon Road. Streets will be marked as a tow-away zone and strictly enforced.

Pets: Pets prohibited on shuttles (except service animals). Friendly dogs on leashes permitted on grounds. No dogs allowed in select children’s activity zones and food court. Unleashed &/or aggressive dogs (and their owners) will be asked to leave the festival immediately. Much of the festival takes place on asphalt. If it is a hot day, be kind to your pet and leave them home!

TICKETS ON SALE STARTING SEPTEMBER 6, 2022

Price includes: Unlimited inflatable rides and games, creepy crawlers & critter shows, photos with Punky & other Halloween characters, Halloween themed contests, live bands & more!

Online Tickets: $10 per person (processing fees apply)

Day of Tickets: $15 per person (processing fees apply)

Children under 24 months admitted free

HERE’S HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED IN THE FESTIVAL!

BECOME A MARKETPLACE VENDOR

If you have Autumn, Harvest, or Halloween items or want to sell your crafts, clothing, or home and garden products to thousands of patrons, then the Pumpkin Festival Marketplace is for you! Discounted vending fees apply for vendors featuring pumpkin items.

BECOME A FOOD VENDOR

Have a food truck or operate a temporary food stand? The Food Court may be for you! We strive for tasty flavors, excellent customer service, and a high standard of health and safety practices. All vendors are required to offer a pumpkin food item in their booth. To learn more, contact 818-880-6461 or email DeAnzaStaff@cityofcalabasas.com

VOLUNTEER FOR THE FESTIVAL (Grades 9-12)

Have fun and receive community service hours for your school. Volunteers assist with decorating, overseeing photo booths, supervising festival attraction lines, and helping with contests. Volunteers must be enrolled in grades 9-12 to participate.

APPLICATIONS COMING SOON!

Find your latest news here at the Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle

The post Celebrating “Calabaza” appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

The film chronicles the early years of Hemet when William Franklin Whittier headed a project to construct a dam in the mountains east of the San Jacinto Valley. The Lake Hemet Dam provided a reliable, year-round water supply, creating an agricultural and population boon here at the end of the 19th century.

The film is based on a play by Michael Tennant, originally written to celebrate the centennial of Hemet in 2010. Audiences will learn about the construction of the Lake Hemet Dam, early Hemet Culture, and the aspirations of the town’s “first citizen” William Franklin Whittier (played by Tennant).

The film was directed by Daniel Maggio with a supporting cast that includes a wide range of Hemet talent. Bret Cherland (Theatre Director at Hemet High School) plays Whittier’s lovable assistant Pendelton. Jared Moore plays Edward Mayberry, designer of the Hemet Dam and Whittier’s closest friend. Paola Cifuentes reprises her role from the stage as Mattie, Whittier’s daughter. Debrawdawn Shockey and Laura Cherland portray Agnes and Myrtle, socialites who love the DANGER of Helen Hunt Jackson’s novel Ramona. Gabriel Diaz plays the “scourge of the valley” Sam Temple, who inspired the character Jim Farrar in Jackon’s novel. John Guminiak plays Mayor T.S Brown, the very first Mayor of Hemet. Locations used to film the project include the Estudillo Mansion, Victory Ranch, Calico Ghost Town, as well as custom sets built inside the theaters of Hemet High and Ramona Hillside Players. The film also features an original score from local musician and composer Sean Longstreet.

As part of the event, the theatre will also screen another project directed by Daniel Maggio. “Kesi” is an award-winning short film that tells the story of twenty-year-old Kesi (Avalon Penrose), who is traveling back home for the funeral of her alcoholic Mother. Kesi uses her collection of stuffed animals to expresses herself, each with a different voice and personality. The character of Kesi’s mother is based on the director’s actual mother, who passed away from alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver.

Information on all theatre events is available at www.HistoricHemetTheatre.com or by calling the ticket office, (951) 658-5950. You can subscribe to the HHT email blast by enrolling on the website.

Susan Carrier | Historic Hemet Theatre

Find your latest news here at the Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle

The post HHT SCREENS FILM ON THE HISTORY OF HEMET appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

Films, rated E (equal for all genders) and suitable for adults and teens 14 and older, will be screened on Nov. 14, starting at 2 p.m. Viewers will have a 24-hour window in which to enjoy the films in this flexible virtual format. Seven short films, with a total running time of 97 minutes, will be showcased. They are all designed to compel discussion, evoke laughter, tug at the heart strings and motivate viewers to make a difference in their community.

Tickets are $15 each and can be purchased by visiting lunafest.org. The screening is made possible through generous community sponsors such as Valerie Tichy of State Farm Insurance.

One hundred percent of the proceeds from this annual event support the local chapter’s two main programs: Live Your Dream and Dream It, Be It.

Soroptimist’s Live Your Dream (LYD) Awards program is a unique education grant for women who provide the primary financial support for their families. Live Your Dream Awards give women the resources they need to improve their education, skills and employment prospects.

Katherine Simpson was a LYD recipient in 2018 and is a single mother of three who has overcome much adversity to pursue her associate of science degree in diagnostic sonography. She chose this path after finding emotional and physical support from a passionate ultrasound technician who helped her through her third pregnancy that was hampered by Simpson’s Stage 2b cervical cancer diagnosis. The LYD award has helped her fund the cost of her education, which she has almost completed.

The Hemet resident heard about the Soroptimist program from a CalWorks counselor at Mt. San Jacinto College where she was taking classes. She was encouraged to apply for the award and was happy to be chosen for it since it meant she didn’t have to stress about rent and bills while she continued her education.

Simpson loved the powerful messages for and about women that were presented at last year’s LUNAFEST and looks forward to this year’s event. She takes every opportunity to tell other women to “never give up!”

“You’re stronger than you think,” she said. “Don’t be afraid to ask questions or ask for help. Things change so rapidly – what’s hard one minute might not be the next.”

The Dream It, Be It (DIBI) program offers career support for girls, giving them the tools they need to achieve their educational and career goals, empowering them to break cycles of poverty, violence and abuse. Although all girls face barriers because of their gender, Soroptimist clubs prioritize working with girls who have additional obstacles including poverty, unstable home lives, living in foster care or teen motherhood. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic halting in-person school attendance in March, club members would meet with girls on campus about every six weeks, sharing the Soroptimist copyrighted curriculum to help them find ways to become stronger and more self-reliant.

While attending the Hemet’s Cal-SAFE (California School Age Families Education) program, Itzel Hilario learned about the program and enjoyed listening to the lectures and presentations Soroptimist clubs brought to her school.

“The program was very inspiring, and they always had amazing lectures,” she said. “The staff was very helpful and friendly. I always got excited when they would arrive at my school.”

Hilario, who now lives in Azusa, said she was shocked when she learned she had received the DIBI award last year. She is using it to help pay for some college classes she’ll be taking this winter at Citrus Community College as she pursues a business degree.

Now 18, Hilario has a three-year-old daughter, and uses every opportunity to share what she has learned through her experiences with other young women.

“Keep going and don’t look back. You may lose people on your journey but it’s for the better, because your happiness is what’s important. Your mental health is important, and you matter,” she said. “Life can get hard but in five years you’ll look back and be surprised on how strong and brave you were and how it helped you get to the place you are at.”

For more details, please visit www.sisjhv.org or https://www.lunafest.org/screenings/virtual-screening-hemet-ca-111420.

-Diane A. Rhodes

Find your latest news here at the Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle

The post LUNAFEST OFFERS VIRTUAL SCREENING THIS YEAR appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

On Friday, March 20, 2020, from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. the Southwest Riverside County Association of REALTORS^® is hosting its 9th-annual Texas Hold’em Charity Event; a fun-filled evening to celebrate over 30 years of service in our community.

This fundraiser supports SRCAR’s Scholarship Foundation’s efforts in awarding $1,000 scholarships, annually, to deserving college-bound high school seniors in the Southwest Riverside County area. In 2019 alone, SRCAR® awarded $28,000 in scholarships to deserving high school seniors.

Tickets to the SRCAR® 2019 Texas Hold’em Event may be purchased for $25.00 per player, which includes $1,000 in chips. Buy backs available. The Grand Prize is a 70″ TV. Food will be available for sale from the Original Dogodog, with menu items ranging from $2 – $10. We will have food runners helping to deliver orders to the card tables and many raffle prizes to choose from throughout the night.

Location: SRCAR, 26529 Jefferson Avenue, Murrieta

We thank the following sponsors for their generous contributions of both time and dollars in order to make this event possible. At the time of this submission, the following companies have sponsored this event:

• Advantage America Insurance
• Black Knight Termite
• Brookfield Residential
• Century 21 Preferred
• Christian Dahlin Lending Team
• Corner Escrow
• CRMLS
• EBS Escrow
• Escrow Leaders
• Generations Escrow
• Heritage Escrow
• myNHD
• Old Republic Home Protection
• Rancon Real Estate
• Watermark Escrow 
  
  Scholarship Foundation Mission Statement: The SRCAR® Scholarship Foundation was established to promote higher education, through granting of annual scholarships to outstanding students in the communities we serve.

The event is open to the public for ages 21 and over. For more information on Sponsorships and to purchase your tickets, contact SOUTHWEST RIVERSIDE COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^® at 951-894-2571 or srcar@srcar.org

Find your latest news here at the Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle

Search: Texas Hold’em Charity Event

The post SRCAR® Hosts Texas Hold’em Charity Event on March 20th appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

“A Tuna Christmas” promises a pleasant time of laughter

“A Tuna Christmas” belongs to a tetralogy of comedies (“Greater Tuna”, “A Tuna Christmas”, “Red, White and Tuna” and “Tuna does Vegas”) being the second in the series, written by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears and Ed Howard.

All the comedies that belong to the series are set in the fictional city of Tuna, Texas. “A Tuna Christmas” is also set in the year of 1989 and its plot focuses on the city’s annual Christmas courtyard exhibition contest, which Vera Carp won 14 times in a row. A mysterious “Christmas Phantom”, known for destroying the exhibits in the courtyard, has all the contestants very nervous. Among the secondary plots are Stanley Bumiller’s attempts to end his probation and leave Tuna, Bertha Bumiller’s fight to keep her family together at Christmas, and Joe Bob Lipsey’s fight to successfully mount his production of “A Christmas Carol” despite the city controller of the power company who threatens to turn off the lights.

The work shows us in a friendly way, the life and attitudes of people living in small towns in the south, while reflecting a fulminating satire of these same issues. What makes these works remarkable is that only two men play the complete cast, which consists of more than twenty eccentric characters of both genders and multiple ages.

“A Tuna Christmas” debuted in 1989 with a tour that ended in 2012 after Sears retired from the Theater Company. The play was nominated for “Outstanding Non-Resident Production, Helen Hayes Awards Non-Resident Production” in 1990.

This time, the Ramona Hillside Players in Hemet will present “A Tuna Christmas” directed by Frank Siebke and starring Arles Struvie as “Josh Sommers” and Thurston Wheelis as “Brad West.” It is certainly a work that no one should miss, not only to enjoy a good time, but also enriching at a cultural level.

“A Tuna Christmas” will be presented in January on 17, 19, 24, 25 and 26. There are different options for making reservations and/or buying tickets, which can be done by calling (951) 658-5300, checking online at ramonahillsideplayers.org/tickets or you can show up in person at the Box Office every Monday (Started on January 6th) from 2pm – 4pm to buy tickets with cash or check. It is important to note that there are only 95 seats available per show so purchase or reserve yours today, and do not miss out on this wonderful comedy, while you will be supporting local artistic talent.

Find your latest news here at the Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle

Search: A play to be enjoyed

The post A play to be enjoyed in all seasons! appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

“Harvard Street Holidays” event a great success

Hemet might be a small town, but how beautifully we small-town folks come together to celebrate the holidays.  There was a touching tribute to late True Value Hardware owner and beloved Hemetonian Rick Truskowski organized by Mayor Pro Tem Linda Krupa with speeches by Krupa, HSJ Chronicle senior writer Rusty Strait, Destonation Coffeehouse owner Patricia Yepremian and Rick’s spouse and current True Value owner, Carolyn Truskowski.  For more on this story, please see Rusty Strait’s article elsewhere in this issue.

There were actors and actresses walking the street, booths and food stalls were available and all store owners opened there doors wide to handle the crowds which came and went with regularity.  

The booths, stalls and festivities stretched down the entire length of Harvard Street and around the corner to State Street.  Jewelry-handmade and fancy, ethnic delicacies, children’s school programs, chair massages and more ringed the sidewalks as hundreds and hundreds of holiday shoppers and visitors joined in the celebration.  This Harvard Street celebration, with its plaque in Rick Truskowski’s name in front of a massive fir tree, together with the Farmer’s Market on Harvard and Florida, with yet another fir tree, lighted for Christmas, gave the entire section of Hemet a “Winter Wonderland” feeling as people stopped, ate, chatted, hugged, shook hands and exchanged warm greetings that no amount of cold could have dampened.   Look for an even bigger event next year.  

EDITOR’S NOTE                                                                                        For more information on the Harvard Street Holidays, please see Rusty Strait’s Article for a wonderful tribute to Rick Truskowski elsewhere in this issue.

Find your latest news here at the Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle

Search: On Harvard Street

The post On Harvard Street…the Holidays are here! appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

Soroptimist’s “Jingle Mingle” Christmas event a huge success

The Soroptimists pulled off their 10th Annual “Soroptimist Jingle Mingle” event at the Museum and it was over the top: you felt like you were walking into a Christmas wonderland. This event is one of there major fundraisers for the group and the proceeds from the event support a number of San Jacinto-Hemet Valley Soroptimist programs including:

High School Scholarship Program- offering scholarships to graduating senior girls who have an interest and involvement in community service activities.

The “Live Your Dream Education and Training Awards for Women Program” is a program that assists women who provide the primary source of financial support for their families.  The program by gives them the resources they need to improve their education, skills and employment prospects.

Our 4th Annual Girl Power Conference for 6th & 7th grade girls enrolled in the San Jacinto Valley. Our next conference will be held March 2020 at Mt. San Jacinto College. The day is packed full of dynamic speakers, mini workshops to explore empowering ideas to show young ladies that they can do anything and live their dreams.
Walking around the Jingle Mingle you saw an amazingly creative collection of absolutely gorgeous holiday decor items which were given away in the raffle: additional raffle ticket were made available to improve the chances of winning. 

Attendees could stroll around in this “wonderland” setting and actually feel the Christmas spirit.  Then suddenly, you’d turn the corner and there was a Silent Auction area and you could place your bids on a variety of fantastic items, which was a great opportunity to get an early start on your holiday shopping or get something for yourself.

The San Jacinto High School Tiger Cafe Culinary Arts Program with instructors Debra Ward and our very own Soroptimist Jeannie Duistermars kept the delicious hors d’oeuvres coming out all night. Barbra Swanson, a Soroptimist, manned the chocolate table which never ran out of the finest chocolates. Tucked in the back corner, if you were 21 or older, the Soroptimist’s provided Wine tickets at $2.00 a glass. Bottled water or a cup of coffee was just a buck.

The whole event made you feel as if you were in a Christmas Wonderland and the attendees really enjoyed themselves. The Soroptimist Ladies really know how to create a Christmas Event.  We were all so grateful to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California for allowing us to use the wonderful museum for this event .

Valerie Drummer, Soroptimist, said, “I love being a Soroptimist and I love to help women and girls to live their dreams.” If you could not attend this year make sure to mark your calendar for next year, it is an event you will not want to miss.

Find your latest news here at the Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle

Search: Jingle and Mingle

The post Jingle and Mingle at this festive time of year appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

THE HARVARD STREET THEATER COMPANY AT THE DIAMOND VALLEY ARTS CENTER (DVAC) PUTS ON ONE AMAZING SHOW FOR TWO NIGHTS!                                                           “EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY EVER TOLD…AND THEN SOME”

DECEMBER 20th 7pm, and DECEMBER 21 at 2pm and 7pm      For tickets contact DVAC at www.thedvac.org

Find your latest news here at the Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle

Search: Every Christmas Story

The post Every Christmas Story Ever told??? Just about appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

Even in a small town, there’s no shortage of interesting news articles, but sometimes…we need a news item in a pinch.  I’d like to take a second to say that the following story was written-up in style and so quickly that it’d make your head spin.  Who wrote it?                                                                                                                                     No…it wasn’t some fresh-faced kid who needed a byline: we turned to the most trusted, seasoned voice we are honored to have on our newspaper: Rusty Strait came through as he has all his life.                                                                                                       Enjoy this wonderful piece written on the fly and from the heart, by our own inimitable, Ray “Rusty” Strait.    

A MORTUARY DOES MORE THAN BURY PEOPLE
Nick and Charlotte Jones, owners of Miller-Jones Funeral Home are hosting an Ice Cream Social for the benefit of Veterans and their families at American Legion Post 53. The event will be taking place on Wednesday December 4th at the Post, 124 N Ramona Street in Hemet.

The public is invited.
Perhaps it is not generally known, but the Jones family has always been first in line to move forward with anything that benefits the community and they have a special connection when it involves veterans from all branches of the armed forces.

The primary purpose of this particular event is to make available to veterans and any others that might be interested, the importance of planning ahead for that time when decisions have to be made when someone passes. This is especially true when a veteran dies and there has been no pre-planning. Has the deceased planned ahead to be buried in a National Cemetery? What kind of services would that person have desired? All too often with everyday turmoils and problems that particularly very important decision is thrust on surviving families at a time when they are least emotionally capable o f making such a decision.

At this event you will be able to discuss such important matters as cremation and burials, traditional funerals, veterans benefits, payment plans, pre-arrangements and discounts according to financial situations.

You may think that you will “worry about that” when the time comes, but you will be gone and someone else will suddenly be responsible for making such decisions that you could have made ahead of time, saving your love ones additional suffering outside of natural grief.

This reporter once served two years as an apprentice in two different funeral homes: Walters Funeral Home in Tampa, Florida and Cunningham’s in Charleston, W. Va. Both were family owned businesses and I can tell you from my experience that those people who have the obligation to take care of your body after your demise, and arrangements always treat surviving families like their own. It is a tradition I have seen first hand and the Nick Jones family is a classic example of that kind of devotion to your needs at a time when you really need someone to lean on.

So, if you haven’t thought about that time, and the responsibility you leave to your family, it might be a good idea to come on out and find out just how prepared your family will be when you depart the living scene.  Just sayin’
rustystrait@gmail.com

Find your latest news here at the Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle

Search: more than a funeral home

The post A funeral home that’s more than a funeral home appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.