A two-night campout turned into an unforgettable outdoor adventure for Boy Scout Troop 520 of Moreno Valley, where Scouts combined fishing, golf, and hands-on learning at a the Golden Era golf course.

Six Scouts, along with their Scoutmaster and assistant Scoutmaster, set up camp near Lake No. 3, creating a traditional campsite complete with tents and a cooking station.

The trip, designed to help Scouts earn their Fishing Merit Badge and Golf Merit Badge, delivered standout results. Collectively, the group caught more than 75 fish, with every Scout successfully landing at least one. Dylan Black led the effort with approximately 40 catches, including a largemouth bass weighing more than four pounds.

The campout also marked a special milestone for the daughter of Scout Leader Jared Salas, the only Girl Scout present, who caught her first fish during the trip and went on to land four in total.

Beyond the shoreline, the Scouts took to the course, completing approximately 16 holes of golf—many for the first time. In a relaxed, low-pressure setting, they were able to learn the fundamentals of the game, including rules and etiquette, while playing at a comfortable, beginner-friendly pace.

“This was a great environment for the Scouts to learn,” the Scoutmaster said. “There was no pressure, and they were able to really focus on the fundamentals and enjoy the experience.”

Looking ahead, troop leadership is exploring opportunities to expand future outings to include both Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. With the Scoutmaster’s wife serving as a Girl Scout leader, plans are being considered for a family-oriented campout that would bring both groups together for shared outdoor activities.

The experience reflects the core mission of Scouting—building skills, confidence, and character through real-world experiences—while creating lasting memories along the way.

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DeSantis convened his allies this week in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to press them to raise money to support Trump, making the case over a seafood and steak dinner that they need to work together to prevent Democratic President Joe Biden from winning a second term. The governor and about 30 people then spent Thursday morning in a hotel conference room raising money for an outside group that supports the former president’s 2024 White House campaign.

Trump called into the gathering to thank members of the group for their work, according to four people familiar with the matter who were not authorized to publicly discuss the private session and spoke on condition of anonymity.

In what three people present described as a warm and gracious call to the group that was heard over speakerphone, Trump praised DeSantis and the effort, saying “Ron, I love that you’re back.”

A reconciliation helps both of them. Trump is trying to make up fundraising ground against Biden while DeSantis hopes to preserve a potential future White House run for which Trump’s supporters could be key.

DeSantis and his top donors raised more than $3 million on Thursday for the super political action committee Right for America, backed by big Republican donors such as Ike Perlmutter, who has agreed to match at least a portion of the DeSantis team’s fundraising rather than funneling money directly to Trump’s campaign.

That arrangement, reached after talks between the Trump and DeSantis camps, is designed to address concerns among DeSantis supporters about their money going to pay the former president’s legal bills, according to people familiar with the matter who requested anonymity to discuss the private talks. Trump notably blessed the structure when he called into the group’s meeting Thursday.

“This is where I want you to focus,” Trump said in a roughly 15-minute call, according to a senior political adviser to DeSantis who was not authorized to publicly discuss the private meeting and spoke on condition of anonymity.

DeSantis’ decision to push money to the PAC instead of giving directly to Trump’s campaign has raised eyebrows among some Trump campaign officials, according to a person familiar with the former president’s campaign thinking who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the arrangement.

Right for America is competing for donors with MAGA Inc., the chief super PAC backing Trump. Such groups are prohibited from directly coordinating with a presidential campaign, something that hamstrung DeSantis during his presidential run due to conflicts between his campaign and his support of Never Back Down, the largest super PAC backing DeSantis’ candidacy.

Other supporters of both men support the arrangement. Right for America is run by Sergio Gor, a longtime Trump ally who is close to the former president’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr. The two run Winning Team Publishing, which published two of the former president’s books.

“We are thrilled by the support we are receiving from Governor DeSantis,” Gor said in a statement. “We look forward to ensuring President Donald Trump is elected in November.”

Some DeSantis donors had been reluctant to give to Trump because they worried their money would help pay Trump’s lawyers in his criminal cases instead of being used directly to focus on beating Biden.

A number of big-name Florida contributors who have given to DeSantis remain hesitant about contributing to efforts to support Trump, said Al Hoffman, a Palm Beach County Republican donor and former Republican National Committee finance chair.

“I know that there are Republican conservative, big-money donors that are very reluctant to endorse Trump,” said Hoffman, who was also chairman of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush’s 2002 reelection campaign.

DeSantis endorsed Trump when he dropped out of the race and promised in a face-to-face meeting with the former president in April to work for his campaign. The 45-year-old governor, who has won two terms and pushed a longtime swing state increasingly to the right, may run for the White House again and would need the backing of Trump voters in a future Republican primary.

DeSantis called his allies to Fort Lauderdale this week to raise money for Trump, telling them on Wednesday night that they needed to work to prevent a second Biden term.

The meeting was the kickoff for what is expected to be a coast-to-coast fundraising effort by DeSantis allies, with upcoming events likely in Texas, California, Washington state and perhaps New York.

Trump and DeSantis have also discussed a role for the governor at the Republican National Convention. Aides to DeSantis said it was Trump’s suggestion and was not contingent on any fundraising effort on DeSantis’ part.

Donors who discussed the Thursday event were struck by the collegiality between Trump and DeSantis during the call. One person who spoke on condition of anonymity about the closed-door gathering called the conversation “very gracious” and noted that Trump and DeSantis talked about golf, a favorite Trump pastime.

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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”

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You know that spring has arrived when the sporting goods stores start restocking fishing equipment. Golden Era Productions hosted a fishing tournament for kids (now to become an annual event) on April 15th. There were nearly 130 kids in the tournament who angled in 145 fish of various sizes and ethnicity. Parents and guests applauded as the youngsters reeled them in.

Muriel DuFresne, Public Relations Director at Golden Era Productions, said, “There was an outpouring of community support to make this event come to be, which is reflective of this wonderful San Jacinto Valley community, and once again affirms the small town friendly atmosphere which historically has been so much a part of this valley.”

The Rotary Club prepared pancakes ala “everybody come,” Hemet Kiwanis Club BBQ’d hamburgers and hot dogs at lunch, Cal Fire Station 25 was on duty with a fire truck, AMR was there just in case and the Hemet Police Department brought over their vintage car. The Police Explorers and Grandfathers for Golf pitched in to make a happier day for the kids even more joyful.

Comments came from a mother, “We loved this event. Thank you so much. This is our second time here. We came in 2019 and that is what got my son hooked on fishing.”

A father commented, “I love this venue. Another, on his way out with his family, said, “My boys had a wonderful time today. They both caught fish. Please pass on my thanks to everyone involved in making this tournament come to life. We really had a blast.” Another said, “We sure hope that you are having this again next year.”

The largest fish was caught by Carron Phipps in the senior division. His catch weighed in at 5.2 pounds. James Irwin was the winner from the junior division and his fish weighed in at 3.6 pounds. Each received a trophy and gift certificate.

In the Senior Division, the 10 runner-ups were: Kathryn Irwin with a 4.13lb fish; Mikel Pleasant a 4.0lb beauty; Neil Levine, a 3.14 pounder; Ted Levine, a 3.10 pounder; Aubrey Morgan, a 3.1lb fish; Kacay Keeline a 3.1lb fish; Keegan Libeau a 3.09 pounder; Eliana Martinez with a 2.9 pounder and Haley Irwin with a 2.9 pounder. They each were awarded a medallion and a gift certificate.

Not to be forgotten were those in the Junior Division: Mason Wofford, 3.5 pounder; Daizy Molina with a 3.14 pounder; Analia Barrett, a 3.2 pounder; William Rathbone with a 3.09lb fish; Nevaeh Edwards, a 3.03lb fish; Averse Nace, a 2.8 pounder; Adam Lawry a 2.42lb fish; Aria Swope a 2.4 pounder; Amarize Partida with a 2.15lb fish and Charlie Brown (for real?) a 2.1 pounder.

The following sponsors are acknowledged and thanked for their participation in making this event a tremendous success.

Gold: American Legion post 53; Golden Era Productions, Soboba Foundation, Steve Dimemmo and Dr. Kristi Dimemmo.

Silver: Agri-Empire, Cloverland Foundation, Dr. Abid Hussain, HCN bank, Hemet Jeep Club, Hemet Police Officers Association, Larry Soares Appliance and Sysco Foods.

Bronze: Andy & Cindy Dominigoni, Backs Automotive, Brubaker Culton Realty, Cops for Kids and Communities, Inland Foundation Engineers, McDaniel & Associates, Meade Realtor, Miller-Jones Mortuary, Sylvan Learning Center and Toliver Tax Service.

One can only imagine how many parents and others at the event were wishing, “Oh, how I wish I were a kid again today.” And who wouldn’t? Anyone should be happy with the sizes of those fish caught. Just sayin

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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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Kyler Sargent led the MSJC men’s golf team to a tie for 8th place at the Riverside City College Invitational on Monday as he shot a season best 70 at Victoria Country Club.

Sargent’s 70 was good enough to tie him for the low round of the day, as the Eagles turned in a 384 team score.Connor Pierson carded a 76 for MSJC, followed closely by Jordan Medlock‘s 77 and Evan Freeman‘s 78. Brian Bashaw shot an 83 on Monday and Cade Lenarth rounded out the Eagles scoring with a 91.

College of the Canyons took the team title as they shot a 363 to best Reedley’s 369. MSJC tied with Santa Barbara and Riverside for 8th place in the 17 team event.

The Eagles will return to action on Monday March 9th when they open conference play at Spring Valley Lake Country Club.

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The Gregg Figgins Memorial Scholarship Golf Tournament will be held Monday January 20, 2020 at the Golden Era Golf Course located at 19871 Gilman Springs Rd, San Jacinto. There will be a shotgun start at noon and the format will be a 4 person “scramble.”

Golfers may team up with someone they know or can also join others to complete a foursome. 100% of funds raised will go toward the scholarship fund, and Party denomination is NO pre-requisite as this scholarship is open to all.

Golden Era donates the use of their course. There will many items raffled off. Food and beverages are included in the $50.00 fee. Last year $1,500 was awarded in scholarships to 2 very deserving seniors from local schools. Come support our community youth and enjoy a fun round of golf.

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