High school murals project showcases creativity and teamwork , B-1
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A Year in Review: the top 22 local sports moments from 2022, C-1
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Local Plant City, FL woman found her long-lost father thanks to Fallbrook PI
AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES
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Volume 23, Issue 1
Rain doesn’t deter fun at Temecula New Year’s Eve celebrations
Michelle Caceres Plant Cit y Obser ver
For Plant City, Florida, resident Shannon Crosby, an email changed her life. The 37-year-old had been searching for her biological father, Rainbow resident Patrick McCarthy, for over 33 years. see page A-3
Regional News Inclement weather may affect area highway projects Tony Ault Staf f Writer
Inclement weather during the past week and possibly into this week has either slowed or closed certain road and freeway lanes as repairs are taking place by Caltrans, Riverside County Transportation Commission and local city Public Works departments. see page C-4
Karisa Buechler pushes Natahlia Vargas, 4, on the ice rink in front of the Temecula Civic Center on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31. See more photos on page A-3. Valley News/Shane Gibson photo
Temecula City Council selects mayor, mayor pro tem
Regional News 2023 brings new insurance protections for CA consumers and other laws
SACRAMENTO – Beginning Jan. 1, Californians will benefit from newly created consumer protections as 11 new state laws, which were sponsored by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara this past legislative session, take effect. The new laws address climate change, expand health access and reproductive care, preserve health protections, protect against fraud and ensure public safety. see page C-4
INDEX Anza Valley Outlook ......... D-1 Business ............................B-7 Business Directory .............B-7 Calendar of Events .............B-2 Classifieds .........................B-8 Courts & Crimes ...............C-5 Education ..........................B-1 Entertainment ...................B-2 Faith................................. D-4 Health ..............................B-6 Home & Garden ................B-4 Local ................................A-1 National News ...................C-5 Opinion............................ D-5 Real Estate ........................B-8 Regional News ...................C-4 Sports ................................C-1
Mayor Zak Schwank.
Valley News/Courtesy photo
TEMECULA – During a regular meeting of the Temecula City Council, Mayor Pro Tem Zak Schwank was chosen unanimously by the council Tuesday, Dec. 13 to serve as mayor of Temecula for 2023. Mayor Zak Schwank was reelected by District 5 voters for a second term on the city council in November. He was first elected to serve on the city council in 2018, following two full terms as a Temecula Community Services Commissioner. “It is truly an honor to serve Temecula and to be part of a team that places the safety, and a high quality of life for all of its residents, at the forefront,” Schwank said. “Our great city has enjoyed 33 wonderful years, and I am confident that 2023 will be another year of growth and progress in which we continue to build upon Temecula’s reputation as an exceptional place to live, work, and play.” Schwank is an advocate of sustainable housing for all income levels, enhancing the city’s park
amenities and recreation facilities, promoting the arts and celebrating culture and the city’s wide range of diversity to provide an inclusive and family-friendly city for all. “Like all growing and thriving cities, Temecula has its challenges and acknowledging them means we can tackle and overcome them,” Schwank said. “Embracing challenges is a trigger for growth – economically, culturally and as a community – and I believe we as Temeculans have always risen to the challenges put in front of us and conquered them. I look forward to the achievements we all make together as a city.” As mayor, Schwank will continue to focus his efforts on preserving and enhancing a safe and beautiful city for its residents as well as the tens of thousands of visitors that travel to Temecula every year. A staunch supporter of city mobility options, Schwank will also continue to enhance Temecula’s bike lane and trail system including safe bicycle lanes and see MAYOR, page A-2
More than a person’s best friend Rick Monroe Special to the Valley News
“Dogs can do more than just be man’s best friend,” believes Marine veteran Asia Duhamel. “Lotus saved my life.” This isn’t a story of a dog rescuing someone from something like drowning, but Duhamel shared that she was in “a dark place” with PTSD, anxiety, panic and suicidal thoughts in the months prior to her discharge from the Marines in 2017. That’s when she was introduced to Lotus, a German Shepherd that was recognized in December as the outstanding service dog in the 2022 AKC Awards for Canine Excellence. Awards were presented in five categories and the winners were presented in a documentary shown on ESPN and ABC. “The idea behind the award is see DOGS, page A-6
Asia Duhamel and her service dog Lotus work at the Canine Support Teams Inc. facility in Murrieta. Duhamel copes with PTSD from her time enlisted in the Marines with the help of Lotus who won the American Kennel Club’s 2022 Award for Canine Excellence in the service dog category. Valley News/Shane Gibson photo