Avocado Festival is back for 37th year, A-8
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The big top is back! B-1
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SERVING TEMECULA , MURRIETA , L AKE E LSINOR E , M ENIFEE , WILDOMAR , H EMET, SAN JACINTO AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES April 19 – 25, 2024
VISI T myvalleynews.com
Volume 24, Issue 16
Murrieta Fire & Rescue celebrates its MVUSD ordered to stop enforcing 77th annual Murrieta Firefighters BBQ ‘discriminatory’ Local News
policy by state officials Kim Harris Special to Valley News
Murrieta Valley Unified School District has been ordered by the state Board of Education to stop enforcing a policy that requires parents to be notified if their child requests to be identified as anything other than the sex assigned to them at birth, according to an investigation report issued by the state on the matter. see page A-3
Local Wildomar Council rejects Interim Urgency Ordinance Tony Ault Staf f Writer At its April 10 meeting, after a lengthy discussion the Wildomar City Council declined to pass a proposed Interim Urgency Ordinance that would have placed a moratorium on any applications for the establishment of recreational vehicle and boat storage facilities, service stations, car washes and fast food restaurants for 45 days. see page A-5
Sports
Murrieta Fire Explorers race against the clock in running fire hose lines during a muster competition at the annual Murrieta Firefighters BBQ. Valley News/Shane Gibson photo Tony Ault Staf f Writer The 77th annual Firefighter’s BBQ at Town Square Park in Murrieta brought hundreds of city
residents, neighbors and visitors to enjoy a delicious firemen prepared tri tip dinner, more than 100 vendors, city department booths, rock and roll entertainment, firefighter pipers and a beer garden Saturday,
April 13. More than 100 young Explorer fire cadets from all over the Inland Empire came to compete in a Firefighter Explorer muster and competition hosted by the Mur-
rieta Fire Explorer Cadets. Two cadet competitions took place while visitors enjoyed the camaraderie of their neighbors and see BBQ, page A-4
Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce hosts 58th annual Awards Gala Kim Harris Special to Valley News
Southwestern League girls’ soccer MVPs: Rivals with a shared legacy JP Raineri Spor ts Editor TEMECULA – In the realm of high school sports, the transition from teammates to rivals is a narrative filled with drama and competition, but for Annika Jost and Savannah Spielman, it’s a testament to a friendship forged in the love of the game. Recently dubbed the Southwestern League MVPs, one from Great Oak, the other from Temecula Valley, they have turned their youthful camaraderie into a competition that has enthralled local fans and inspired peers. see page C-1
INDEX Anza Valley Outlook ......... D-1 Business ............................B-7 Business Directory .............B-7 Calendar of Events .............B-2 Classifieds .........................C-6 Education ..........................C-4 Entertainment ...................B-1 Health ...............................B-5 Home & Garden ................B-6 Legal Notices .................... D-6 Local ................................A-1 National News ...................C-6 Opinion............................ D-5 Regional News ...................C-5 Sports ................................C-1
Linda Wunderlich, a veteran of over 25 years at The Valley Business Journal as owner, publisher, and CEO, is awarded a lifetime achievement award during the Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce’s 58th annual Awards Gala held Saturday April 6. Pictured from left are Riverside County Third District Supervisor Chuck Washington, Linda’s daughter, Tara Wunderlich-Metzler who accepted the award on her behalf, Temecula Mayor James ‘Stew’ Stewart, Temecula Councilmember Jessica Alexander and Amanda Fisher, Senior District Representative for State Senator Kelly Seyarto of the 32nd Senate District. Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce photo
The Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce held its Annual Awards Gala at Pechanga Resort Casino recognizing the best and the brightest in the business community April 6. More than 750 people attended the event which included dinner, a silent auction, a live painter and the annual awards presentation followed by what organizers called a “memorable afterparty.” The Bronze Business of the Year was awarded to EXIT Alliance Realty while E.A.T. Marketplace was named Sterling Business of the Year and Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers Temecula. Platinum business of the Year was awarded to Southwest Healthcare-Temecula Valley Hospital, the WAVERS Project, Inc., was named the Ruby Organization of the Year and SAFE Family Justice Centers was named the Emerald Organization of the Year. see GALA, page A-3
Temecula Council adopts ordinance addressing e-bike usage Kim Harris Special to Valley News
Temecula City Council amended its city code when it voted unanimously to adopt an ordinance addressing the use of e-bikes on sidewalks and within public parks. The new ordinance outlines what is and is not allowed when it comes to the use of e-bikes on sidewalks and trails. Class One and Class Two e-bikes are allowed to be ridden on sidewalks and trails, with some exceptions, whereas Class Three e-bikes will not be allowed. Restrictions to riding on sidewalks were put into place to protect pedestrians and include several business districts such as
Old Town. According to the ordinance, bicycles are allowed to be ridden on sidewalks and trails in the same direction as traffic. The new ordinance also states that bikes on sidewalks and trails must yield to pedestrians and alert pedestrians when passing them with an audible signal and also yield to traffic when entering a roadway. E-bikes will also not be allowed in parks except for on the roads and in the parking lot unless it is a class One bike trail. Council approved the adoption with no discussion but during the March 26 meeting, Patrick see ORDINANCE, page A-2
Temecula City Council, during its April 9 meeting at Temecula City Hall, pictured, voted unanimously to adopt an ordinance addressing the use of Valley News/Shane Gibson photo e-bikes on sidewalks and within public parks.