Macias is the Lead Recreation Aide for the Soboba Parks & Recreation District and started a basketball travel club about a year ago. After being a coach for more than 10 years, he decided to form his own program. He attracts players from Temecula, Perris, Moreno Valley, Menifee, Hemet, San Jacinto and more. Although most are Native American, it is not a requirement to be on the team.

“I wanted to give kids in the area a good opportunity to play,” he said. “Most of the clubs out there charge sign-up fees, registration fees and other expenses. Not all kids are financially able to afford that and we just want them to be able to play.”

Macias, a member of the Cahuilla Band of Indians, was happy that his tribe stepped up to sponsor jerseys for the Wolves. “We want to make sure the kids feel good about what they’re wearing and look professional,” he said. “They get one green jersey and one black one, so we have an alternate if we need to distinguish ourselves from the other team.”

The most recent camp on Nov. 21, held just before the week-long break most students had from school, attracted about a dozen players of all ages. Macias said the first camp a few months before went very well with about 30 kids attending.

“We’ve been winning our games and we are fully rostered,” he said. “It’s a lot of work because coaching the older players is a whole lot different than coaching the younger ones. The parents are so good at helping me out with everything.”

Macias said they like to play a game every weekend, if possible, but the high-school age players are slowing down a bit because their own school teams are starting up.

The camp started with some free play before introductions. Professional basketball player and Soboba Tribal Member Joseph Burton joined Macias in working with the kids. He is currently coaching at West Valley High School where he played before heading to Oregon State University where he played for the Beavers, followed by eight years playing overseas.

Burton started playing sports when he was 3 or 4 years old: T-ball and outdoor and indoor soccer at Valley-Wide, baseball through Hemet Youth and Tribal baseball. “I was picked as an all-star pitcher and my mom said I had to pick one sport. I just love basketball – we are a basketball family; my dad coached at San Jacinto High School for many years and my mom, uncle and aunt all played sports.”

“It’s easier to teach the older players because they have a good foundation of the game but getting them younger is better because we can start instilling good ways of playing basketball and they tend to listen more than the older ones,” Burton said. “I take away from what my grandpa taught me and what I learned in high school, college and club ball. It’s tough to teach high school pro level because some are not here yet. They really need fundamentals. Social media sort of ruined the game by teaching bad habits and just tricks.”

As camp director, Macias explained the expectations for the day and led the players in stretches, cardio and agility warmups. The participants were then broken down into groups and rotated through exercises and drills for shooting, passing, dribbling, footwork, agility, defense, rebounding, screening and moving without the ball. Sean Preston, 11, of San Jacinto started with the team in August. His mom, Monisha Cruz, said it has been great for the kids to have this type of opportunity. She said before the pandemic, Sean played basketball through Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District. “He loves basketball,” she said. “He has been playing sports since the age of four and this seems to be his niche.”

Jonathon Patton, 14, of Hemet has been playing on the Wolves team since it began and continues to learn a lot. Julian Ojeda, 15, of San Jacinto played for Inter Tribal Sports and is now part of the Wolves.

Anna Rameshwar brought a few girls from Pala Indian Reservation to San Jacinto. She has been a volunteer coach for more than a decade and played basketball in college. She thought it would be fun for her daughter, Amira, and her friends, all 12 years old, to attend the camp. They even donated extra toys for the toy drive. “It’s nice to have an all-girls team on the reservation; it’s a safe environment for them to learn, to blossom and grow in one little town like Fallbrook,” Rameshwar said.

Arnel Jimenez, of Hemet, loves working with the kids and having such a positive outlet for them to keep active and for them to learn the fundamentals of the game. His son, Kaleb Jimenez, 11, likes all sports. Arnel helps the team with communication between players and parents and coaches the 15-year-old players. “The little ones still listen, and the older ones think they know it all but overall they are all good kids,” he said.

“We try to make this the best program we can,” Macias said. “Winning is great but I want the players to learn what we can take from losses. These games are the stepping stones to understanding ups and downs in any situation. In one game we lost by three points and a player missed a shot at the end of the buzzer. But we had missed 10 free throws and turned over the ball so many times. We lost because it was a sloppy game so that’s what they are beginning to understand. The entire game isn’t dependent on just one play, it’s what the team does throughout the game.”

Juan Martinez, 16, from the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians Reservation but now living in Perris, has been on the Wolves team since it began and said it’s been good for him. He said he came to the camp to improve his overall game. “I learned some dribbling drills today that will help me stay low at all times,” he said. Bobby McGee, 16, from Oceanside but now living in Perris, said, “I’ve always been a good handler, but this camp helped me improve my dribbling. Ricardo is one of the best coaches I’ve ever been coached by. He knows talent when he sees it.”

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Kindergarten students met family members at the Soboba Sports Complex on the first day, Pre-K boys and girls celebrated second and the final day was reserved for the Preschool and Jr. Preschool kids and their family members.

Each family got a table with at least six chairs to enjoy the individually boxed turkey lunch with all the fixings. Tables filled with sweet treats such as pumpkin pies, cookies and cupcakes were available for anyone that wanted to top off their filling meal.

“We set up 25 tables about 10-feet apart each day, for safety reasons,” Post said. “We went with pre-packaged meals instead of a buffet that included everything, right down to the cranberry sauce.”

Aside from the tasty lunch and spending time together, the students treated guests to seasonal songs they had learned. On Nov. 16, the pre-kindergartners sang, “Thanksgiving Time is Here,” “Hello, Mr. Turkey, How Are You?” and more. The songs incorporated their classroom lessons about fall colors of red, yellow and brown. Each of the children had made a turkey hat in class and many wore them to the event. They also created a colorful turkey art project using their own handprint. Photo opportunities were offered with a fall-themed background set up in the lobby.

The Nevarez family got to enjoy the fun twice as five-year-old Charlie Mae Hunter had her special day on Nov. 16 and her sister, Penny Jo Hunter, 3, was invited the next day. Charlie Mae’s favorite part of the day was singing. Their mother, Emma Nevarez, said last year she had three children attending the preschool but her eldest daughter, Betsy Lou, graduated from kindergarten in June.

“I love our preschool,” Emma said. “I think the staff is great; they always go over and beyond.”

The girls’ grandfather, Mike Nevarez, said. “I love that in these times when we still need to be able to celebrate, we are given this opportunity to do so. It was also nice being served lunch by the preschool’s director, Mr. Post.” Brooklyn Goseyun, 5, started at the school this year. Her mom, Jaymie, said she loves the school because it’s culturally appropriate and teaches the students many different things. “The events they plan are good for the kids,” she said.

Yolanda Valdez was enjoying spending time with her grandsons. Luciano Marquez, 5 is a pre-kindergartner and his four-year-old brother Eric was set to attend the event the next day. Younger brother, Malakai, 2, hasn’t started at the preschool yet.

Their mother, Daylena Bentiste, said she likes the teachers and the fact the school helps the kids get involved with their tribe. “They need to know about their heritage, it’s important for them to know,” she said. Bentiste said she knew the words to all the songs her children performed because the boys practiced all the time at home. She said they enjoyed that part the most.

Jena Davis, 4, has been at the preschool for two years. Her mother, Julie Resvaloso, said attending class online during the pandemic was difficult and this is her daughter’s first year of physically being in a classroom. “I’m always excited for her school events,” she said. “And I thought the food was delicious, especially the turkey.” Students will be out of school an entire week for the Thanksgiving holiday and will get a two-week break starting on Dec. 20. The school is planning a similar three-day Christmas celebration for its 65 students prior to their winter vacation.

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After sharing her idea with fellow Council members, she started a private Facebook group for the community and employees and announced her “Let’s Get Moving Mondays.”

“Right now, walking on Mondays is the only activity I have going on,” she said. “I’ve been in touch with Riverside-San Bernardino County Indian Health Inc. and they are starting some exercise programs for Soboba. I’m going to work around their schedule to do an evening walk so the community can have exercise options five days a week.”

Hurtado’s goal is to get people moving. She said, “so many of us don’t want to walk alone so we don’t know how to get started. I just want to encourage people to start walking and be outdoors, getting fresh air. Sometimes we underestimate the healing powers of Mother Earth/Mother Nature. I’ve been outdoors taking brisk walks, drinking plenty of water, cutting out sweets and I know it can totally change your mood or help with anxiety or depression.”

“It’s never too late to start getting healthy so let’s do it together,” Hurtado has told participants.

-She touts the benefits of walking just 30 minutes a day to encourage everyone to keep moving on other days of the week, too. She said it can lower blood pressure, lower the risk of diabetes and help manage existing diabetes, reduce stress levels, clear brain fog and more. Although she started walking on Monday mornings, with the hotter weather – and now that the Soboba Sports Complex pool has reopened – she is switching her “Let’s Get Moving Mondays” routine to evenings in the pool. She said everyone can still walk in the water at their own pace with water weights or even swim laps if they wish.

“I’ve tried just about everything; I’ve done CrossFit, boot camps, hiking, Herbalife, fasts, detoxes – you name it,” Hurtado said. “But the one thing that worked best for me best is walking. I don’t eat bread and I have not had soda in more than 5-1/2 years.”

The mother of four has always instilled fitness and wellness in her children, keeping them active and involved with athletics. Her oldest daughters, Sasha and Natasha, played basketball from a really young age and now her youngest daughter, 13-year-old Maryhelen, plays. Her son, Victor, plays baseball, basketball and football. Her oldest of three granddaughters, Tónla, 5, has already participated in a cross-country sports program through Inter Tribal Sports and is looking forward to the current ITS basketball season.

“I love watching them play; I will drive anywhere to support them and to cheer them on,” Hurtado, 44, said. “It was always easy to motivate them because they love to play.”

Even before she was diagnosed with breast cancer in early 2019, she was always looking for ways to get and stay healthy. She chose some alternative cancer treatments and eventually had a successful double mastectomy in August 2020. Now in remission, she is thankful to her Creator and every person that prayed for her and helped her and her children get through it all. Now her efforts to stay healthy are paramount.

Several walkers joined Hurtado on a recent Monday morning at the Soboba Sports Complex for a one-hour walk at their own pace. Starting off with some stretching exercises, the group then made several trips around the perimeter of the complex.

John Sanchez said he joins his wife’s group every chance he gets. Working in the construction industry, he is often on the road by 5 a.m., a few hours before the group’s start time of 8 a.m.

“But whenever I have the opportunity to get out and do this with her, I’ll do it,” he said. “I encouraged Kelli and gave her all the support she needed – I thought it was a great idea. I told her that just like in the ‘Field of Dreams’ movie – build it and they will come.”

Carlene Masiel said she and her sister, Millie Arres, usually take evening walks at The Oaks but she wanted to try a morning walk for a change of pace and scenery. She said they do it for their health and feel it is effective to just keep moving. Coincidentally, Monday morning walkers pass by Noli Indian School where Arres works. Sister Gen Sarigumba, from St. Joseph’s Catholic Church at the Soboba Reservation, said she often walks the church compound’s grounds but wanted to try this when Hurtado told her about it.

Sasha Hurtado, wearing a weight vest during the walk, said she enjoys working out.

“I’ll go anywhere for a good workout,” she said.

Kelli Hurtado said that as the walking program grows, she hopes fellow Tribal Members and community members will volunteer to teach fitness and/or wellness classes. She admits it will take some time until the program has grown to where she’d like it to be but she’s okay with that because “I’m not going anywhere.”

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Most participants were wearing costumes as they sat in the back seats of SUVs or in the beds of pick-up trucks, collecting their candy stash. The need to wear a face covering was taken care of with costumes that included masks and social distancing was achieved by families working with family members at their booths and vehicles containing members of the same family.

Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians entities and Tribal Member families showcased their creative decorating skills with displays that ran the gamut from Charlie Brown to a Clown Carnival. Judges awarded the top three booths with prizes for their efforts.

Third place went to John “Duke” Briones for his display of “Dodgers Nation” with flags, banners, seat covers, posters, jersey, face covering and more that showed off his blue pride and his classic Chevy pick-up truck. He won a Halloween decorated bowl full of treats plus a $25 Visa gift card.

“I’ve always been a Dodgers fan,” Briones said. “When I was little, my dad followed the Brooklyn Dodgers.”

Second place was awarded to Soboba DPS and Public Safety Officer II Thomas Cordova and Administrative Assistant Bernadette Reynolds were happy to interact with everyone that drove past. They also received a bowl of candy as well as a $50 Visa gift card.

“It’s a nice thing that the Parks and Recreation Department was able to do this,” Reynolds said.

The first-place winner was the Arviso family for its Clown Carnival, complete with a Ferris wheel ridden by clowns. The entire family had some sort of clown costume on, ranging from cute to super scary. A skull shaped beverage dispenser filled with candy was their prize along with a $100 Visa gift card.

As cars arrived at the parking lot entrance, Ricardo Macias of Parks and Recreation, made sure each person in the car received a meal ticket to be used at the Carl’s Jr. food truck drive-through as well as a candy collection bag if they didn’t bring one of their own. Members of the Soboba Fire Department assisted with the check-in, when needed, reminding drivers to turn off their headlights before entering the serpentine route that took them past all the booths.

In past years, a trunk or treat event was held during the daytime at the Soboba Tribal Preschool and Parks and Recreation would host a family-friendly Halloween party at the Sports Complex where there would be music, treats and a costume contest.

With the presence of the coronavirus being the scariest thing to happen to everyone this year, it was decided that doing a drive-through event was possible and preferable. Many of Saturday’s attendees said their children were not planning to do any other trick-or-treating or Halloween events this year. But all the fun didn’t end on Saturday as DJ Mike Nevarez, between great songs he played throughout the event, announced that a virtual costume contest was being held for those that send in a photo. Prizes for cutest, most creative and scariest would be awarded in several age groups on Thursday.

After completing the candy collecting, each participant was treated to a pumpkin. Staff from Parks and Recreation carried pumpkins from the pile to each vehicle, making sure all the children got one. C & R Farms in San Jacinto were the growers of 380 pumpkins that were purchased for the event but a few hundred more visitors attended so more have been ordered.

The only exit from the event was down a street that led visitors to a drive-through haunted house, created by the Boniface and Morillo families. Filled with clowns, monsters, zombies and other scary characters, the screams could be heard as cars made their way through more than 70 feet of creepiness to reach the other side.

“We worked for about two weeks on all the props and then came here last night to start setting it up,” Charlotte Boniface said. “The whole family got involved.”

Ray Morillo said her family loves Halloween and growing up she remembers all the parties and haunted houses they hosted.

“We’re big into parties and being together,” she said. “I’m glad Parks and Rec asked us to do this. Everyone is having so much fun.”

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