RUHS Poisoning & Overdose Awareness 5K brings supporters to Murrieta, B-6
A-1
A thrilling close to the SW League season as teams battle it out at Storm Stadium, C-1
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SERVING TEMECULA , MURRIETA , L AKE E LSINOR E , M ENIFEE , WILDOMAR , H EMET, SAN JACINTO AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES May 3– 9, 2024
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Volume 24, Issue 18
Temecula residents learn about city Sheriff Chad Bianco mulls run services at Community Services Expo Local
for governor
Kim Harris Special to Valley News Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco might be throwing his hat in the ring in the race for California’s governor, according to one of his political advisors. see page A-2
Business Temecula Gold Crown Farms debuts healthy virgin macadamia nut oil Tony Ault Staf f Writer A small local company has become Southern California’s largest macadamia nut grower and processor and recently unveiled a new locally cold-pressed virgin macadamia nut oil, a first in the continental United States, that provides a healthy food and cooking additive. see page B-8
Members of the community enjoy activities and booths providing information at the Temecula Community Services Expo. See more photos on page B-1. Valley News/Shane Gibson photo
Menifee Better Together day brings hundreds of neighbors together to help each other Tony Ault Staf f Writer
Education Entrepreneur shares her love of literature Diane A. Rhodes Special to Valley News Desiree Hernandez has always had a good business sense and started a couple of small companies while in elementary and middle school, but it wasn’t until she was in 10th grade that she launched her most ambitious venture. The recent Mountain Heights Academy graduate has a passion for reading and decided to share that with online customers through www.loversofliterature. com. see page C-4
INDEX Anza Valley Outlook ......... D-1 Business ............................B-7 Business Directory .............B-6 Calendar of Events .............B-2 Classifieds .........................C-6 Education ..........................C-4 Entertainment ...................B-1 Health ...............................B-6 Home & Garden ................B-5 Legal Notices .................... D-6 Local ................................A-1 National News ...................C-6 Opinion............................ D-5 Regional News ...................C-5 Sports ................................C-1
Menifee City Council members Lesa Sobek, right, Mayor Bill Zimmerman and Mayor Pro Tem Bob Karwin visit with senior homeowner Sharon Stephen in her huge backyard in need of a facelift during the Menifee Better Together day. Karwin peers at a tall pine tree in her yard that needed trimming. Valley News/Tony Ault photo
Hundreds of Menifee volunteers, Boy and Girl Scouts, Habitat for Humanity members, JROTC cadets, seniors and others turned out Saturday, April 27, with one thing in mind, to make Menifee Better Together. Menifee residents, young and old, worked together to make the city look cleaner and helped needy neighbors with various tasks. Mayor Bill Zimmerman, Mayor Pro Tem Bob Karwin, and City Councilmembers Lesa Sobeck and Ricky Estrada all chipped in to help their neighbors and friends. Sobek, who was instrumental in making the Menifee Better Together an annual event, said, “It’s a day we come together with residents to give back to our community and help those needing help. It started with partnering with Habitat for Humanity and working on the senior home revitalization, and see TOGETHER, page A-6
Reality Rally movie signals the end of an era Kim Harris Special to Valley News
For years, people throughout the Temecula Valley have come to know when they see Gillian Larson that it’s time to break out their checkbooks and get ready to participate in the popular fun for funds event she created while in the jungles of Gabon after being a contestant on the popular CBS reality show “Survivor” in 2008. “It all started when my flame was snuffed in the jungle of Gabon during ‘Survivor,’” Larson, who grew up in a small town just outside of Johannesburg, South Africa, said. Larson has often said that with so much spare time on her hands while wandering the jungles of Gabon after she was voted off “Survivor” on Day 6, she knew she could use her 15 minutes of fame to make a difference in her community and the idea of Reality Rally was born. see RALLY, page A-5
Gillian Larson, creator of the Reality Rally fundraising event for Michelle’s Place Cancer Resource Center, speaks to event participants in front of Temecula City Hall, May 7, 2022. The Reality Rally event partners people who have been cast in reality TV shows with teams of community members that race around Old Town while completing challenges and games. Each team raises money for Michelle’s Place. Valley News/Shane Gibson photo