The one-day event will feature a variety of activities designed for all ages, including fresh produce tastings, artisan vendors, live entertainment, and interactive experiences that highlight the region’s farming heritage.

Attendees can explore booths hosted by local growers, where they can sample seasonal fruits, learn about sustainable farming practices, and purchase farm-fresh goods directly from producers. Organizers say the festival is an opportunity to connect residents with the agricultural roots of the valley.

Families will find plenty to enjoy in a designated kids’ area, which will include games, craft stations, face painting, and educational exhibits focused on nature and food production. A small petting zoo is also expected to be part of the lineup.

Live music will be featured throughout the day, with local bands performing a mix of country, folk, and classic hits. Food vendors will offer a range of options, from barbecue and street tacos to fresh-baked desserts and specialty beverages.

In addition to entertainment, the festival will include live cooking demonstrations led by local chefs, showcasing recipes that incorporate locally grown ingredients. Visitors will have the chance to watch, learn, and sample dishes prepared on-site.

Parking will be available at nearby designated lots, with shuttle service provided to help ease traffic flow. Event organizers recommend arriving early to take full advantage of the day’s activities.

The Spring Harvest Festival is organized by a coalition of local businesses and community groups aiming to promote regional agriculture while creating a fun, family-friendly environment.

Organizers encourage residents and visitors alike to attend and support local farmers, artisans, and small businesses that contribute to the area’s vibrant economy.

Additional details and updates about the event are expected to be shared in the coming weeks.

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In Riverside, Ontario and San Bernardino, inflation is up about 1.4% in the last two months. Further hurting consumers, the price hikes are hitting a city with a 5.5% unemployment rate, which is higher than the national average.

Experts feel this rise is due to rising energy costs and the price of natural gas in the city.

Los Angeles wasn’t far behind, according to the report released by WalletHub that cited the Bureau of Labor Statistics, claiming the No. 9 spot on the list with cities like Miami, San Francisco and Seattle just ahead.

Nationally, inflation held at 3.4% in April, edging closer to the Federal Reserve’s target rate of 2%, though stagflation continues to hamper the economy.

Stagflation is an economic condition characterized by stagnant growth, high unemployment and high inflation. It presents a unique challenge because typical measures to combat inflation, such as raising interest rates, can negatively impact unemployment and growth.

Though many are hoping the economy begins to grow, many consumers are losing faith.

Experts predicted Tuesday that student loan rates will balloon to the highest they’ve ever been, hovering around 6.53% for undergraduate direct loans.

It’s been 16 years since rates have been this high for students, which includes hikes to both graduate and parent loans.

This, coupled with the record-high home loan interest rates, could mean the economy is headed towards recession, with debt fueling the growth for many Americans.

The Fed will look to lower interest rates next month, although many experts believe the rates won’t come down until 2025.

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On Tuesday, January 28th, City Council members discussed the need to investigate punitive language in the city’s recently adopted ordinance regarding street vendors. The discussion, which was placed as a future agenda item, has come to council attention as local street vendors have allegedly been producing photocopied permits, and setting up shop in large numbers, thereby defrauding the city of its share of licensure fees.

As a result of “The Los Angeles Street Vendor Campaign” – an effort to advance entrepreneurship and support immigrant and low-income communities – in September of 2018, Governor Brown signed SB946, a bill that lessens regulations on vendors and has led to an increase in their numbers. Also, the bill dismisses sentences of vendors convicted under former laws.

The City of Hemet had to create an ordinance to allow the new law, and by doing so, what seems to be happening, is street vendors are getting around the regulations: the procedures and standards that “brick and mortar” businesses are held to, and have gone so far as to photocopy permits – basically, forging city documents.

“So much of this legislation is coming from Sacramento,” says Hemet City’s Mayor pro tem, Linda Krupa, adding, “They basically say we have to allow this, and they take away our local control, forcing us to do things that cost us money.”

Many feel that this move is eerily reminiscent of the “ballot harvesting” and “motor voter” voting debacles which have Sacramento blithely ignoring the local cities and their inhabitants.

There’s no way to determine how much money the City of Hemet is losing when vendors circumvent the regulatory process and forge city documents, but city council has placed this issue on its agenda while city attorney, Eric Vail, reviews ordinances for punitive language and the city figures out what they can do, legally, regarding the new vendor law.

“If they’re cheating the system, then we have to place some punitive damages, and say this is going to result [in a fine] because you’re breaking the law . . . anybody can [under the new law] sell anything they want on a street corner and undercut the people who are following the law, so it isn’t fair,” says Krupa.

We can expect more developments, insight, and discussion regarding this matter at the next city council meeting, February 11th at 7pm; council chambers: 450 E. Latham Ave. Hemet, CA 92543.

To view legislative information regarding the SB946 bill, visit https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180SB946

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