The ceremony opened with a statement of gratitude and reflection: “Today is the day where we acknowledge the men and women of our Country’s armed services for their bravery, dedication, and contribution to our freedom in America.” Those words set the tone for a morning dedicated to honoring the nation’s veterans.

Friends, families, and residents from across the San Jacinto Valley gathered to pay tribute to those who have served in the United States Armed Forces. The event commenced with a solemn bagpipe procession across the golf course, followed by the Hemet Mounted Posse presenting the colors at the stage. Attendees were then treated to an impressive aerobatic flyover by Doug Medore of Hemet-Ryan Airport, whose aerial display drew enthusiastic applause from the crowd.

A highlight of the ceremony was the performance by the San Jacinto High School R.O.T.C. rifle drill team, whose precision and discipline earned admiration from attendees. Master of Ceremonies Henry Sawicki remarked, “Did you see that? Those kids are our future.”

San Jacinto Mayor Valerie Vandever, representing the American Legion Auxiliary, participated in the ceremonial laying of a wreath as Taps played, accompanied by the symbolic image of a riderless horse walking solemnly into the trees.

Several speakers shared reflections on service and remembrance. Duane Minard, a veteran and member of the Native American community, spoke about the vital contributions of Native Americans in the U.S. military, noting that “more than 20 percent of the military are Native Americans. I was grateful to serve.”
Bill Chamberlain, a veteran involved in fundraising for national cemetery memorials, recounted the history of Riverside National Cemetery and encouraged attendees to visit and reflect on its memorials.
Author Frank Teurlay, who wrote about Riverside’s Camp Anza and Arlanza, summarized his extensive research in a brief address, later praised by Bobbie Neff, who commented, “It was just enough to get people to want to read your book to get it all.”

Event sponsor Authority Real Estate provided a complimentary box lunch for all attendees, an appreciated gesture that contributed to the sense of community throughout the morning.

Among those in attendance, Air Force veteran Michael McGuiness described the event as “the best Veterans Day event. It really made the point that it’s all about the Veterans.”
Bill Rhoads, a retired Army Ranger and vocalist, delivered a heartfelt rendition of “Remember Me (The Fallen Soldier),” reminding the audience, “You can’t forget the Veterans. We all are here because of them.”

The Hemet High School Jazz Band provided musical tributes featuring the themes of each branch of the military, closing with a stirring performance of “America the Beautiful.” Eva Luna, from the San Jacinto Leadership Academy and a Voice of the Valley finalist, delivered a powerful rendition of the National Anthem, earning a standing ovation.

The success of the ceremony reflected the contributions of numerous volunteers, including Phil Ayala, San Jacinto City Councilmember, veteran, and advisor to the San Jacinto Leadership Academy, who coordinated the Military Explorers team. They worked alongside volunteers from the Nuview Bridge High School golf team and community members who dedicated their time and effort honoring our Veterans.

Lilian Averette, representing Congressman Raul Ruiz, presented a United States flag that had flown over the Capitol to the Golden Era Productions in recognition of its 15 years of dedication to honoring veterans. She was joined by William Boyd, representing Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, and a representative from State Senator Sabrina Cervantes office.

Major sponsors included Golden Era Productions, the City of San Jacinto, San Jacinto American Legion Post 848, and the Veterans Circle of Friends.

In keeping with tradition, veterans were invited to golf free on Veterans Day, allowing many to enjoy the course in the early morning before the ceremony began.

The day concluded with a shared message felt deeply by all in attendance:
It was all about our Veterans, and giving thanks for their service and sacrifice.

The post Commemorating Veterans with 15th Annual Ceremony San Jacinto, California appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

San Jacinto High School’s golf coach, Jim Stull, has organized an annual boys’ match play event for several years. Inspired by its success, Stull decided to extend the format to female golfers this year—and the response was overwhelmingly positive.

The tournament took place at the Golden Era Golf Course on the 24^th and 25^th of September and featured players from five local high schools:

• La Quinta High School
• San Jacinto High School
• Liberty High School
• Lake Elsinore High School
• Hemet High School

Parents, coaches, and spectators gathered to watch the girls compete in a match play format—a one-on-one style of play that differs from the more common stroke play. This style encourages strategy, mental toughness, and individual matchups rather than total scores over all holes.

Coach Stull praised the experience: “This worked out so well. The girls got a lot of golf and enjoyed themselves. In match play, coaches can be on the course with the players, offering direct support and strategy. One player from Elsinore even had her boyfriend as a caddie—it added a fun and personal element to the event.”

San Jacinto’s assistant coach echoed the sentiment: “This is great experience for the girls to come together to play. With this type of play, even lower-level players get a sense of what it’s like to compete.”

Liberty High’s head coach added: “It’s a lot of fun. The girls are used to stroke play, so this is new for them. But after two or three rounds, they really start to get the hang of it.”

Parents also shared their appreciation. Nathan Wheelock, whose daughter Trinity played, said: “I like this very much. It’s unique. It gives kids who are used to stroke play a chance to try something new. You can have one bad hole and still win the match—that’s a good learning experience.”

La Quinta coach Mark Williams noted how impactful the boys’ match play has been for his team: “The boys who played last year still talk about it and want to come back. That’s why I brought our girls this year—to give them that same experience.”

Coach Stull also highlighted the community support behind the event: “Golden Era doesn’t charge us to use the course, which is huge. I collect a small entry fee from the teams, and those funds go directly to support the San Jacinto girls’ golf program.”

Lunch for this event was prepared by the Hemet Sportsman Club.

Final Results

Championship Division (highest skill level):

🥇 Joanna Bushnel-Crist – 1st Place

🥈 Trinity Wheelock – 2nd Place

Silver Division:

🥉 Priscilla Guillen – 1st Place

🥉 Audrey Tranley – 2nd Place

Looking ahead, Coach Stull shared that the Boys’ Match Play Tournament is tentatively scheduled for February 2026 at the Golden Era Golf Golf Course.

For more information about the upcoming boys’ tournament or next year’s girls’ event, contact San Jacinto High School’s golf coach.

The post San Jacinto High School hosts inaugural girls’ match play golf tournament appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

Among the many families who’ve made this event a cherished tradition are Albert Kissinger and Michael Church, two dedicated members of the Kids Fishing Tournament Committee, whose stories span multiple generations of fishing memories at the Golden Era lakes.

Albert Kissinger, the Committee President, brought his son Shane to the very first tournament held at the site in 1999. Shane not only caught his first fish that day, but proudly took home a trophy he still has to this day. Fast forward to 2024—Albert’s grandson, Biagio Simioli, also caught his very first fish during this spring’s tournament.

“My favorite part is watching a kid catch their first fish—it never gets old,” said Kissinger. “I’m probably just as excited as they are!”

A proud member of the Point Seekers Bass Club, Albert organizes these events to share his love for fishing and give back to the community.

“I like to spread enjoyment and let kids experience the outdoors and the excitement fishing brings.”

Albert encourages anyone interested in volunteering—whether it’s helping at weigh stations or supporting kids at the lakeside—to contact him at N2bass1960@yahoo.com.

Another committee member, Michael Church, shares a similar legacy. Church brought his then-6-year-old son, Joshua, to fish in the tournament 25 years ago to one of the Golden Era lakes. That day, young Joshua snagged second place. Now, Church’s grandson—also named Joshua—has followed in their footsteps, continuing the family’s fishing tradition at Golden Era.

“I started fishing when I was six, thanks to my uncle,” Church shared. “Now I’m passing that on. Fishing keeps my kids away from drugs and gangs—and they love it!”

A proud father of five and grandfather to twelve, Church’s entire family enjoys fishing. Three of his grandkids, along with his daughter, brother, and wife, all joined him at this May’s event.

“I think it’s awesome that you open up your lakes for the community,” said Church, a San Jacinto native.

The next Annual Kids Fishing Tournament is already on the horizon—mark your calendars for Saturday, March 28, 2026—and get ready to cast a line and make new memories with your family.

The post Beloved Kids Fishing Tournament Reels in a Heartwarming Family Success appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

Kids ages 6 to 15 are invited to participate in this free, catch-and-release tournament. Check-in begins at 7:00 a.m., with the tournament kicking off promptly at 8:30 a.m. at Golden Era Golf Course, 19871 Gilman Springs Road. Although entry is free, pre-registration is required at www.gsjvchamber.com.

All registered kids will receive a free event T-shirt, a snack bag and lunch is provided for all attendees.

Medals and prizes will be awarded to the top 10 anglers in each age group. The grand prize—four tickets to SeaWorld, generously sponsored by Steve and Dr. Christie Dimemmo—goes to the young angler who lands the biggest fish of the day.

Don’t have fishing gear? No problem! The California Department of Fish and Wildlife will be on-site to loan fishing poles with valid ID.

Last year’s event saw 276 young anglers reel in a total of 178 fish, making it a memorable experience for kids and families alike.

Special thanks to the long list of generous sponsors who are making this unforgettable day possible for our community’s youth:

Soboba Foundation

Shamrock Foods

SCOC Services

Michelle Meade Realtor

Golden Era Productions

Greater San Jacinto Valley Chamber Of Commerce

Steve Dimemmo and Dr. Kristi Dimemmo

Agri Empire

Sysco

Micromobile Tire

Abid Hussain M.D.

Arnold’s Rentals

Raising Cane’s

California Department of Fish and Game

DPR Construction

Brubaker & Culton Real Estate and Development

Toliver Tax Service

Andy Dominigoni Farms

Last Chance Bait & Tackle

Valley Community Pantry

CR&R

Join us for a day of family-friendly fun, fresh air, and fishing—and inspiring the next generation of anglers.

To register and for more information go to The Greater San Jacinto Valley Chamber of Commerce website at www.gsjvchamber.com

The post Fourth Annual Free Kids Fishing Tournament Set For May 31 In San Jacinto appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

Started 14 years ago by Steve Simpson, the previous boys’ golf coach at San Jacinto High School, the Match Play Tournament has grown in stature and importance over the years. Now overseen by Jim Stull, the current San Jacinto High School golf coach, the event made its triumphant return after a brief hiatus due to the pandemic. The tournament continues to grow every year, giving local golfers a unique opportunity to showcase their skills in a match play format—something rarely seen in high school golf.

Unlike traditional stroke play, where golfers compete based on total strokes, match play focuses on head-to-head competition per hole. The golfer who wins the most holes, not the most strokes, emerges as the winner. This format allows for a more strategic and exciting competition, where players can recover from a bad hole and still stay in the game.

The tournament saw eight high schools participate:

• Heritage High School
• Citrus Hills High School
• San Jacinto High School
• Lake Elsinore High School
• Orange Vista High School
• Indio High School
• La Quinta High School
• Liberty High School

Coaches from the participating schools praised the unique nature of the event. Chris Baxter, head coach of Citrus Hills High School, noted, “This match play gives these student golfers a chance to progress up the levels and enjoy the game. It’s a great competition that builds camaraderie with teammates and opponents. It’s unique—there’s nothing like this in Southern California.”

Kevin Ho, coach of Orange Vista High School, echoed that sentiment: “This tournament gets bigger every year, and it’s an excellent pre-season warm-up. It’s a change from the team aspect of golf. Everyone gets to compete on their level.”

Jeff Hickock, coach of Lake Elsinore High School, added, “The kids love this format. It’s different and exciting, and it gives them so much golf experience early in the season.”

The event is more than just about the competition—it’s about building skills and experience for the students. According to Jim Stull, San Jacinto High School’s golf coach and the event organizer, “The kids have a great time and gain valuable experience. That’s the main reason we do this. They end up playing 36 to 45 holes of golf over three days, which is a lot of good playing experience. I do not know of any other High School Match Play tournaments anywhere. This is unique.”

 The tournament also saw the continued support of local organizations, including the Hemet Sportsman Club, which graciously provided lunch for the golfers, adding to the community spirit surrounding the event.

Looking to the future, Jim Stull is already planning for the next phase of the Match Play Tournament—expanding to include a girls’ golf team competition. “Stay tuned,” Stull said. “We’re working on getting a girls’ golf match play tournament set up for September at Golden Era Golf Course.”

The event was a resounding success, and next year’s tournament is already on the radar for high school teams across Riverside County. Golf teams interested in participating in future tournaments can contact Jim Stull at San Jacinto High School for more information.

The post Unique Match Play Tournament Draws High School Golfers to Riverside County appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

On-line registration is now open.  Go to www.gsjvchamber.com which is the Greater San Jacinto Chamber of Commerce.  Children between 6 and 15 years old and their parents are invited. The event is limited to 300 youths.

If you would like to be a sponsor for this event you can sign up at this web site as well.

Check-in and breakfast will be from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. and the free event will run until 11 a.m. Lunch and awards will be from 11 a.m. to 12 noon. 

This fall members of the Point Seekers Bass Club will be on hand to assist all the children.  Fish & Wildlife staff will have rods and reels for the kids and some good pointers on how to catch that big fish. 

Featured for this fall event is a watermelon eating contest for the adults. 

The event will feature:  

• A grand prize of four tickets to Disneyland for the biggest fish
• t-shirts for each child
• prizes and trophies for the biggest fish in each age category (6-10 and 11-15)
• prizes for the catching a marked fish
• pancake breakfast courtesy of the Hemet Rotary

burgers and dogs lunch courtesy of the Hemet Kiwanis Club

The post Fall Kids Fishing Tournament set for September appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

There is a long history of women serving our country. American women have served their country going back to the Revolutionary war where women like Deborah Simpson disguised themselves as men and engaged in combat.  Other women have supported war efforts through nursing and other essential services which have carried on until this day. The ban on women in combat roles was lifted in 2013 which is a testament to the valor and competence of women who have been serving under fire since America’s earliest conflicts.

The Master of Ceremonies was Virginia Blumenthal and her Co-MC was the Honorable Mark Johnson.

Virginia is a strong supporter of Veterans and an advocate for women.  She is also one of the top 100 trial attorneys in the United States. Virginia serves on a number of prestigious boards in Riverside County yet she made time to honor these amazing women.    

Honorable Mark Johnson is a highly decorated Colonel of the United States Army who retired after 28 years of military service. He became a Superior Court Judge and presided over the Riverside County Veterans Court which he helped develop.  He is now the author of the newly released book, “Scars and Strife”. Virginia said, “I made Mark give me a pre-release copy of the book and I can tell you it is good!”

The opening remarks of the ceremony by Virginia was, “… we are here today honoring the military women and civilian supporters whose invaluable contributions have shaped our nation’s military history and today, it is an amazing list of women being honored. “

Reverend Jannet Guzman from the Loma Linda Veteran Affairs opened the event with an invocation followed by the Patriot Guards riding in on their motorcycles presented the colors.   Linda Greilich of Golden Era Productions sang the National Anthem. Together they created a reaction a rousing applause from the audience.

The first honoree was Theresa Seaton.  Theresa served in the Army Air Corps was 1949 to 1954. She is a member of the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians and has been a cast member of the Ramona Pageant since 1940.   She has just celebrated her 94^th birthday.

The second honoree was Barbara Barron.   Barbara a retired Army Veteran of 26 years.  She was the President of the Federal Employee Women Adelphi Chapter in Maryland.

Dr. Stephanie Bruce was the third honoree.  She served in the Army for over 7 years which included Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield. She went on to create a non-profit, Black Voices of the Valley of which she is the Executive Director.

Martha Sylvia Zaragoza the fourth honoree gives more than 70 hours a week to service veterans. She is a daughter of a WWII Veteran, a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the Patriot Guards.  She along with the Patriot Guards attend funeral services every Wednesday morning at the Riverside National Cemetery for our military heroes who have no families.

The fifth honoree was Ramonita Cruz who was a Marine deployed 3 times to Iraq and Afghanistan.  Since 2018 she has worked for the Riverside County Veterans Services to assist Veterans and their families.

Jackie Wayman the sixth honoree served in the U.S Army in Vietnam. While she may not have served in combat, she was posted as the Colonels driver and bodyguard. The Colonel is quoted as saying, “You don’t need to be afraid of me, you need to be afraid of her.” She is now the President of OC Cultural Pride and an advocate for Military women in pursuit of holistic healing.

The last but not least honoree was Arlene Jackson. She is the founder and the CEO of Restoring Hope Community Services in Perris and for more than 16 years has been caring for Veterans.  She created a 14 bed shelter for homeless Veterans on her own and if you ask anyone who knows her will tell you she is unstoppable.  

The honorees were personally handed certificates and acknowledged by:  Hemet City Councilwoman, Linda Krupa; State Senator Roth’s office Representative, Altie Holcomb; State Senator Ochoa Bogh’s Office Representative, William Boyd; Delida Jaafar, the President of Hemet Rotary and Michael McGuinness of Veterans Circle of Friends.

In addition certificates were sent in and presented from U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, Congressman Raul Ruiz, Congressman Mark Takano, County Supervisor Yxtian Gutierrez and the City of San Jacinto.

Jackie Wayman said, “I am so happy I am going to tell my family all about this because no one has ever done this before. I have never been acknowledged before.”

Theresa Seaton had tears in her eyes and said, “I had such a wonderful time and I hope I can sleep after this.”

Ramonita Cruz’ daughter was in the audience beaming with pride when her mother was honored.  

At the end of the ceremony Martha Sylvia Zaragoza went around to each honoree giving them a special beaded keep sake to personally thank them.

Overall, the reaction from the audience (which included men and women veterans) was a stirring of pride as all these Veterans felt truly acknowledged for having served to keep our country free.

The post Honoring Veteran Women and Women Championing Veterans  appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

The tournament itself will start after registration at 8:00am and will go on until 11:00am. All boys and girls from 6-15 years are invited along with parent(s).

All that is needed is register on-line, bring fishing gear and your smiles. As the tournament is limited to 200 kids, please register now at ww.alpost53.com. There will be official weigh-in, free raffle prizes and free t-shirts for every kid.

Medals & prizes for the top 10 places in each age group (6-10 and 11-15). There will be prizes for the kid catching the most fish in their age group.

Also, there will be a prize for the biggest fish caught: 4 tickets to Disneyland!The tournament is made possible by contributions from our generous sponsors who have our Valley kids front and center in their hearts.

Before the tournament starts the Hemet Rotary Club will be cooking pancakes for everyone and the Kiwanis Club will be preparing hamburgers and hot dogs after the tournament. The tournament will be an unforgettable family-experience.

It’s for the kids!

SEE YOU THERE!

The post Register your kids now for the 2024 Spring Fishing Tournament appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

Nuview Bridge High School golf team is back on their home course at Golden Era Golf Course, looking to win it all in the South Valley League Championship Tournament this year.

After sixteen years teaching and seven years coaching at Nuview, Coach Pearcy feels confident that his team is up to a great championship season.

Nuview is in the South Valley League of Co-ed teams that include Perris, Hemet, and Moreno Valley and all the way out to Palm Desert. The League is composed of Charter and Catholic Schools and Military Academies.

The spring season consists of ten matches and so far Nuview has won four of their first five matches. One would say they are off to an excellent start.

When Coach Pearcy was asked what benefits a student gets for being on the golf team in addition to PE credit, he responded, “To really answer this, I have to tell you a story. My Dad urged me out to play golf when I was in high school. He said it was the toughest sport… I’m thinking, yeah. Sure. When I started playing the game, I found something beyond tough. Golf is a lot like life…so much actually like real life. In life, we all mess up. Golf teaches you that the goal is not to repeat your mistakes but to do better so as not to make them next time. In fact, the brightest kid on campus, the Valedictorian of the senior class this year, is on the team. That’s because he is smart!”

Several members of our team have received scholarships for golf; one student from Nuview won a golf scholarship to Martinez Community College. This year Joseph Malone was awarded a golf scholarship to a college in Michigan.

Coach Pearcy added, “We have been so blessed to have access to the Golden Era Golf Course. We respect their course because in having a home course to come back to every year, our students learn the game of golf.”

Golden Era’s Golf Course is well known for hosting many golf tournaments, but nothing can bring more pride than to see teenagers in high school becoming interested in golf, rather than roaming the streets where there is nothing to do but get into trouble. Just saying.

rustystrait@gmail.com

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