VBJ November 18

VOLUME 29, NUMBER 11 

And... 

At Work SoCal Celebrates 

Three Years 

How to Avoid 1031 Exchange 

Nightmares 

Privacy & Transparency 

Teacher Erin Lipsitz 

Receives ‘Teachers 

are Heroes Award’ 

page 19 

NOVEMBER 2018 

Temecula Valley 

Hospital Treats 

1st Brain 

Aneurysm Patient 

page 21 

Consider a Record 

PUBLIC SERVICE 

by Senator Jeff Stone 

Rotary Club of Temecula 

Comes Together During 

the Holidays 

SEE PAGE 30 

SEE PAGE 28 

How to Help Seniors 

Enjoy the Holidays 

by John and Christine Hamby 

For most, the holidays bring 

feelings of joy, anticipation and 

excitement. Spending time with 

friends and family, attending holiday 

gatherings and exchanging 

gifts all symbolize the season of 

goodwill. 

However, not all people 

experience happiness during 

the holiday season. Close to 12 

million seniors live alone. And 

many often struggle with grief 

over loss of a loved one, sadness, 

confusion and isolation, especially 

if they don’t have family close 

by. This can bring on the holiday 

blues and make it difficult for 

seniors to enjoy this time of year. 

SEE PAGE 9 

Temecula Hosts Annual 

Patriotic Salute to Veterans 

on Sunday, November 11th 

The City of Temecula proudly presents our Annual Patriotic 

Salute to Veterans on Sunday, November 11, 2018 at 6:00 pm 

at the Temecula Civic Center (41000 Main Street). 

SEE PAGE 22 

Technology and 

Professional Services 

AtWork SoCal Celebrates 

3 Years and Thousands of 

Local Job Placements 

The Advantage of 

Big Data 

TECHNOLOGY10 

COMMUNITY11 

TECHNOLOGY 

26

www.TheValleyBusinessJournal.com 

THE VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL 

2 November 2018

November 2018 



3 

In this issue 

Rotary Club of TemeculaComes Together During Holidays 1 

Consider a Record Pubic Service 1 

How to Help Seniors Enjoy the Holidays 1 

Temecula Hosts Annual 

Patriotic Salute to Veterans 1 

Executive Profile | Charley Black 4 

Community 5-15 

AtWork SoCal Celebrates 3 Years and Thousands of Job Placements 11 

Planning for Taxes on Real Estate 16 

Cause for Hope 18 

Boulder Ridge Elementary School Teacher Erin Lipsitz 19 

Executive Profie | Brian Connors 19 

Vision Screenings vs. Eye Exams 20 

Temecula Valley Hospital Treats 1st Brain Aneurysm Patient 21 

The Goodness of Gratitude 22 

Trust in Your Parenting and Believe 23 

Still Correcting? 25 

The Advantage of Big Data 27 

Arts, Dining and Entertainment 28-31 

November‘18


4 www.TheValleyBusinessJournal.com 


EXECUTIVE PROFILE | Charley Black 

When I was growing up in 

Fallbrook in the late 1970’s and 

early 80’s, Temecula wasn’t 

even on our radar. At that time, 

“Rancho California” was simply 

a place you drove through on the 

way to our ski trips in Big Bear. 

Shortly after graduating from 

college, I took a job in 1988 with 

a small commercial real estate 

brokerage based in Carlsbad. 

By 1989, the Carlsbad operation 

closed down, but the broker said he 

still had an office (in a temporary 

trailer with a port-a-potty out back!) 

on Old Town Front St. in Temecula. 

I figured “what the heck” and I found 

myself selling and leasing industrial 

building in Temecula. 

I still remember buying my first 

house in Temecula in 1989. It was 

a tract located behind what later became 

Chaparral High School. I had 

to “Camp Out” for a month to save 

my place in line to buy a little 2 bdr., 

904 sq. ft. house for $101,000. I used 

to run my dogs in the vast open fields 

before Margarita Rd. was extended to 

connect with Murrieta Hot Springs 

Rd., often bumping into a herd of 

grazing sheep where Harveston sits 

today! 

It’s hard to believe I’ve been 

living and working in the Temecula 

Valley for 29 years. 

Profession: 

Commercial Real Estate Broker 

since 1988. Co-founder of Lee & Associates 

Temecula Valley Office in 1999, 

having grown the office from 2 agents 

to 15 since origination. I specialize in 

Industrial real estate – both sales and 

leasing – in the Temecula Valley and 

Southwest Riverside County. 

Family: 

I married my wife Michelle only 

5 yrs. ago. We have 3 kids each from 

prior marriages, though we are “empty-nesters” 

as our youngest graduated 

high school last Spring. Michelle and I 

bought a great little place in the heart of 

Temecula’s wine country….only steps 

away from Wilson Creek and Monte de 

Oro wineries. So these days, my dogs 

and I find ourselves walking / running 

through beautiful vineyards instead of 

running into grazing sheep! 

Business Philosophy: 

My goal as a commercial real estate 

broker is to always put my client’s interest 

above all else. I think I’ve usually 

been successful in this philosophy as 

the majority of my business transactions 

involve clients who I’ve worked 

with multiple times over 20-25 yrs. or 

more. They realize I’m not just in it for 

the quick buck, and they know I’ve got 

their back when it comes to our business 

transactions. 

Favorite Sport: 

Golf is my #1 sport. I’ve been 

playing and competing in golf since I 

was 12 yrs. old. After playing 4 yrs. of 

collegiate golf, I had thoughts of turning 

pro. I think I made the right choice 

(for me) in choosing a business path. 

I think I’ve become a good commercial 

real estate broker and I probably 

didn’t have the game to become very 

successful pro golfer (those guys on 

tour are SO good!). 

I still play just about every weekend 

with my buddies at Bear Creek 

Golf Club in Murrieta and still can 

take it under par every now and then. 

I turn 55 in about 18 months, and that’s 

the age when I can start competing as 

a Senior Amateur. Trying to compete 

against these 25 yr. old “flat bellies” who 

drive the ball 325 yards is hard work! 

I’m looking to playing against guys my 

own age again. 

Other than golf, Michelle and I enjoy 

skiing together (she’s a better skier 

than I am) and enjoy our trips to Park 

City among other places. 

Birthplace: 

I’m a native Californian, born in 

L.A., moved to Fallbrook when I was 

11. 

Education: 

I graduated from Pitzer College, 

Claremont CA, in 1987 with a B.A. in 

Economics 

Goals 

Perhaps this is a bit corny, but I 

just want to be a good husband / father 

/ son / friend, and to appreciate every 

day and remain thankful for all of the 

blessings in my life. Also, I hope to 

continue to grow and improve in my 

profession – I still enjoy my job. I 

hope to win a few Senior Amateur 

golf tourneys in the coming years, 

and I’m also excited about becoming 

a grandfather someday. Love those 

babies!




5




EVMWD Flagler Wells 

Add Local Supply of Drinking Water 


www.facebook/ 

thevalleybusinessjournal 

For questions, comments, or story ideas, please 

e-mail publishertvbj@verizon.net or 

call (951) 461-0400. 

(L to R) Andy Morris, vice president, EVMWD Board of Directors, Phil Williams, EVMWD Board 

of Directors, George Cambero, EVMWD Board of Directors, Nancy Horton, EVMWD Board 

of Directors 

Elsinore Valley Municipal Water 

District (EVMWD) celebrated the completion 

of the Flagler Wells, the first of 

its Near-Term projects designed to expedite 

several water supply projects that 

will provide a local, sustainable supply 

for the region. Recently completed well 

first in a series of projects to boost local 

supplies 

EVMWD is tapping in to new 

supplies by replacing irrigation and 

underutilized wells and extracting and 

treating the groundwater for drinking 

water. The well conversions, along with 

other short-term projects, will increase 

EVMWD’s total supplies by 4,860 

acre-feet of water per year, enough to 

supply as many as 9,720 households. 

The program is just one of the many 

ways EVWMD is ensuring a reliable 

water supply for the future. 

“With the completion of this project, 

we will continue to increase our 

water reliability within our service 

area,” said Andy Morris, vice president 

of the EVMWD Board of Directors. 

“The Flagler Wells mark EVMWD’s 

commitment to maximizing the use of 

our local resources and sustaining supplies 

for the future.” 

The Flagler Wells, once irrigation 

wells used for agriculture, were converted 

to potable drinking water wells. 

The project, completed in just over a 

year, will add 1500-acre feet of drinking 

water supplies to the EVMWD water 

system, which equates to enough water 

for 3,000 households per year. 

EVMWD provides service to more 

than 144,000 water and wastewater 

customers in a 97-square mile service 

area in Western Riverside County. The 

District is a sub-agency of the Western 

Municipal Water District and a member 

agency of the Metropolitan Water District 

of Southern California. Visit the 

EVMWD website at www.evmwd.com 

for additional information. 

Public Hearing 

Regarding 

Commercial Vehicle 

Parking in 

Residential Districts 

Notice is hereby given that the 

City Council of the City of Menifee 

will hold a Public Hearing on 

Wednesday, November 7th, during 

the course of the City Council meeting 

in the City Council Chambers 

located at City Hall, 29714 Haun 

Road, Menifee, California at 6:00 

p.m. or as soon thereafter as the 

matter may be heard, to consider an 

Ordinance of the City Of Menifee 

amending 12.20.140 of the Menifee 

Municipal Code to regulate commercial 

vehicle parking in residential 

districts. 

All interested persons are hereby 

invited to attend this public hearing 

to present written information, express 

opinions or otherwise present 

evidence in the above matter. 

If you wish to legally challenge 

any action taken by the City on the 

above matter, you may be limited 

to raising only those issues you or 

someone else at the public hearing 

described in this notice, or in written 

correspondence delivered to the City 

prior to or at the public hearing. 

Further information on this 

item may be obtained by 

contacting the City Clerk’s 

Department at (951) 672- 

6777. All agenda materials 

are available for public 

review at City Hall and are 

posted on the City’s 

Website at 

www.cityofmenifee.us 

EDITOR/PUBLISHER/CEO 

Linda Wunderlich 

Email: publishertvbj@verizon.net 

ADVERTISING SALES INFORMATION 

(951) 461-0400 

CREATIVE DIRECTOR 

Helen M. Ryan 

www.HelenMRyan.com 

VP OF DISTRIBUTION 

Dane Wunderlich 

STAFF WRITERS/ 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

Gene Wunderlich 

Ted Saul 

Helen M. Ryan 

Stefani Laszko 

Nicole Albrecht 

Julie Ngo 

Tracey Papke 

Tom Plant 

Esther Phahla 

Dr. Dennis Petersen 

Steve Amante 

Dr. Derek Albrecht 

Monique deGroot 

Andrea Shoup 

Gloria Wolnick 

Dr. Drake Levasheff, PhD 

Mort J. Grabel, Esq. 

John & Christine Hamby 

Heather Petersen 

Brian Connors 

Scott Chappell 

Tristin Collopy 

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS 

Cy Rathbun 

Todd Montgomery 

Tom Plant 

Pat Benter 

Criteria for Submitting Articles: 

1. Since the publication of articles is an added 

public relations feature for our advertisers, 

their articles will be given first priority. Other 

articles will be published on a space available 

basis. 

2. Articles should be submitted as a Word 

document file. 

3. Articles must be business-oriented and 

pertain to the author’s area of expertise. A 

photo of the writer is appropriate. 

4. All submissions are subject to editing by the 

publisher. 

5. Send completed articles by e-mail to: 

publishertvbj@verizon.net 

6. Article and advertising deadlines are the 15th 

of each month for the next issue. 

The Valley Business Journal is a California Corporation. 

All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form, in whole or 

in part, without the written permission of the Publisher 

is prohibited. The publication is published monthly. The 

opinions and views expressed in these pages are those 

of the writer or person interviewed and not necessarily 

those of The Valley Business Journal. The Valley Business 

Journal hereby expressly limits its liability resulting 

from any and all misprints, errors and/or inaccuracies 

any advertisement or editorial may contain, to the 

credit of the specific advertising payment and/or the 

running of a corrected advertisement or editorial 

correction notice.




7 

6 Things You Ought to Know About California Homestead Law? 

California’s “homestead “exemptions 

are super-heroes for Californians! 

While other exemptions protect items 

worth a thousand dollars here and there, 

the homestead protects $75,000 for a 

single person and $100,000 for a couple. 

**For the elderly or disabled, the 

homestead balloons to $175,000. The 

homestead is powerful, but unfortunately 

not well understood. Here are six things 

you probably didn’t know about the 

homestead: 

I) Homestead is superior to a 

judgment creditor - Homestead protects 

homeowners from a particular kind of 

creditor- “the judgment creditor”. A 

judgment results from a lawsuit and determination 

you actually owe money to 

the plaintiff who brought the law suit. A 

judgment entitles the judgment creditor 

to use certain legal powers to collect 

that money. That right to collect money 

owed is limited by the judgment debtor’s 

homestead rights. The homestead exemption 

was designed to assure judgment 

debtors have a place to live; even if they 

owe the money. 

II) Homestead protection is not 

absolute - The California homestead 

does not guarantee you that a creditor 

can’t force a sale of your home to pay 

a debt. But, it guarantees that you get 

the dollar value of your homestead from 

the forced sale of your home before the 

creditor forcing the sale gets any money 

at all. A creditor who seeks to levy on a 

homestead must convince a sheriff or 

judge that any sheriff’s sale will return 

enough money to pay the homeowner 

the homestead first. The cost of making 

sure the homeowner gets their homestead 

protection first restrains judgment creditors 

from looking to home equity as a 

source of repayment. Frankly, it’s just 

too expensive with uncertain results in 

most cases. 

III) Homestead is no protection 

from foreclosure - California law 

allows you to pledge your homestead 

as collateral for a loan. So, when you 

encumber your home as part of the 

purchase transaction, or tap the equity 

through a HELOC or refinance, you give 

the lender the right to foreclose on your 

home without regard to your homestead. 

The law says a foreclosure that doesn’t 

pay you your homestead is OK, because 

the transaction that put your homestead 

at risk was voluntary. 

IV) Homestead exemptions come 

in two styles: - Own your home and you 

automatically have a homestead exemption. 

You don’t have to do anything to 

get certain protection of your equity from 

judicial creditors. CCP 704:710 

• The automatic homestead has the 

same monetary conditions the declared 

homestead. The automatic homestead 

only protects the home against 

a forced sale that wouldn’t yield enough 

proceeds to pay the homestead before 

paying the creditor. If you choose to sell 

your home and a creditor has recorded 

a judgment lien that attaches to your 

property, the judgment creditor gets 

paid from the sale before you get your 

homestead. 

• The declared homestead operates differently; 

the homestead amounts are 

the same, but the declared homestead 

protects exempt equity if you voluntarily 

sell your home. CCP 704.910 The 

exempt proceeds remain protected for 

six months from the voluntary sale of 

the home. That 6 month period is intended 

to provide a window in which 

you can reinvest the homestead in a 

replacement home. 

V) Either spouse can claim the 

entire exemption - When a married 

couple is entitled to a homestead, but the 

debt is an obligation of only one spouse, 

the debtor spouse can assert the entire 

homestead available to a married couple. 

When only one spouse files bankruptcy 

and only his half of a tenancy in common 

came into the bankruptcy estate, he could 

still claim the entire exemption available 

to a married man. IN RE:McFall: 112 

B.R. 336 (1990) DECIDED APRIL 10, 

1990, Ninth Circuit 

VI) California homestead is powerless 

against the feds - Since the 

homestead is state law, it does not limit 

the collection powers of the IRS or other 

federal agencies; because the Supremacy 

Clause of the Constitution means federal 

law is superior to state law. The IRS has 

its own, much smaller set of exemptions 

for delinquent tax payers. Those 

exemptions aren’t much in protecting a 

California home. But in the real world, 

however the IRS seldom tries to force the 

sale of homes. Like most other creditors 

with a lien on real property, the IRS simply 

waits until the homeowner wants to 

sell or refinance. Either sale or refinance 

generally require that tax liens be paid 

before the transaction closes. 

Please note: The information provided 

herein is general and not be relied 

upon for your circumstance. 

For further information or if you 

have any legal questions please call 

the Law Offices of Morton J. Grabel, 

in Temecula at (951) 695-7700. Mort 

originally from Philadelphia, PA is a 

graduate from an ABA Law School, has 

an MBA, a California Nursing Home 

Administrator’s License & a California 

Real Estate Broker’s License [both active 

and in good standing]. 

LEGAL 

by 

Morton by J. Grabel, Esq. 

Steve Fillingim







9 

How to Help Seniors Enjoy the Holidays 

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 

Whether it’s an aging parent, 

friend or neighbor, there are simple 

ways you can support a senior you 

know and help them enjoy the season 

a little more this year. 

Be a Companion 

Make it a point to visit and spend 

time with your senior loved one. 

Participate in an activity they love, 

play their favorite game or simply 

ask them about their life. Storytelling 

and memory sharing are a great way 

to lift a senior’s spirit and can be very 

important to the aging process. 

Let your elder share stories and 

explore memories by looking at old 

pictures, letters and newspaper articles 

and by listening to music. Remember 

to also be thoughtful. If your loved one 

has experienced memory loss, it can be 

difficult and frustrating when you are 

telling stories or remembering events 

from the past. You can also help set 

up Skype or Facetime so that they can 

visit with out-of-town family members 

and friends. 

Be a Chef 

Prepare one of their favorite holiday 

meals and then stay to visit and 

enjoy the meal with them. This can be 

a great way to connect. Also consider 

inviting them to cook with you and 

have fun making a favorite family 

holiday recipe together. 

Be a Home Helper 

It can be difficult for seniors 

to do housework, especially if they 

have mobility issues or other physical 

limitations. Helping them around the 

house by cleaning, de-cluttering and 

picking up anything on the floor that 

could be a tripping hazard can ensure 

the senior’s home is safe. Don’t forget 

the outside of the home as well. 

Raking leaves, doing yard work and 

getting the outdoors ready for winter 

can be a huge help. 

Be a Chauffeur 

About one in five people over 

the age of 65 don’t drive. Offer to 

take your senior loved one to doctor 

appointments, dental check-ups and 

eye exams. And accompany them to 

them to some of their favorite social 

activities, volunteer opportunities and 

holiday events so they feel comfortable 

knowing there will be someone 

to safely transport them…and you can 

spend quality time with each other. 

Be Santa’s Little Elf 

Help with setting up and decorating 

their Christmas tree. Make their 

home festive by decorating their main 

living space. Help wrap gifts and write 

and mail their holiday cards. You can 

even make holiday cookies together. 

The holidays can get busy, hectic 

and overwhelming for all of us. 

It’s important to remember what the 

holidays are all about – a season of 

peace, joy and giving. And remember 

the aging senior in your life. Just by 

spending time with them, you can 

bring them joy and help them have a 

happy holiday. 

FirstLight Home Care provides 

many Senior Care Services – from 

Companion and Personal Care to 

Dementia and Respite Care – not just 

during the holidays, but an ytime assistance 

is needed. 

This article is provided by John and 

Christine Hamby, Owner, FirstLight 

Home Care of Temecula. For more 

information, visit us online at www. 

Temecula.FirstLightHomeCare.com 

or call us at (951) 395-0821.




Your Local Chambers 

Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce 

www.temecula.org 

Murrieta/Wildomar Chamber of Commerce 

www.MWCoC.org 

Menifee Valley Chamber of Commerce 

www.menifeevalleychamber.com 

Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber 

www.lakeelsinorechamber.com 

Hemet/San Jacinto Valley 

Chamber of Commerce 

www.hsjvc.com 

See how the chambers can 

help your business. 

Technology and Professional Services – You’ve got a Full-time Staff 

Accountant and an Attorney, Right? 

It is important that anyone seeking 

to proffer advice, or present information 

as factual, should attempt to expose any 

bias that might affect their opinions. In 

the interest of full disclosure, I am the 

Service Manager at an IT management 

company. We offer IT services to small 

to medium sized businesses and become 

or supplement their IT department. With 

that out of the way, you are free to take 

what follows with an appropriate ‘grain 

of salt.’ 

Working in or around small to medium 

businesses, you are no doubt well 

acquainted with the concept of professional 

services outsourcing. Engaging 

the services of a separate business entity 

to fulfill a role that would otherwise 

require a highly trained or specialized 

(read as: expensive) employee is what 

allows many SMBs to stay competitive. 

Although a large organization would 

have a payroll department, corporate 

attorney(s), and a staff accountant, most 

SMBs choose to outsource these services. 

This allows the SMB to not only 

save on the cost of these specialized services, 

but to leverage outside expertise. 

Take for example, a staff accountant 

within your business versus an accountant 

at a CPA firm. Both of these individuals 

would be providing your business 

with a service in preparing your taxes. 

An accountant that works for you knows 

your books—and only your books. This 

is contrasted with an accountant working 

for an accounting firm, who has 

multiple clients and deals with a wide 

breadth of issues. Although payroll, 

accountancy, and legal services are all 

professional services SMB owners are 

comfortable outsourcing, IT services are 

often handled non-professionally. 

“I’ve got a guy.” “My wife’s cousin’s 

son is really good with computers, 

he’ll set this all up for me.” I’m sure 

you’ve heard or made statements similar 

to these over the course of your career. 

Now, contrast them with other critical 

aspects of your business’ infrastructure. 

“He watches a ton of Law and Order, he 

can write the contract for us.” “She just 

passed 8th grade math, let’s see what 

she can make of this tax return.” Seem 

ridiculous on its face right? Consider 

how critical your IT infrastructure is 

to the day to day operations of your 

business. Why are we so eager to trust 

it to amateurs, or indeed, to ignore it 

entirely? The problem, I believe, is one 

of perception. Computers and the software 

they run can seem at once esoteric 

and stable. You can look at break-evens 

and tell that something isn’t right, but 

your computer throwing up a weird error 

message just seems perplexing and 

slightly inconvenient. Or, conversely, 

those of you that have an IT guy may be 

thinking that he or she is always trying 

to get you to spend money. It is time that 

we challenged this perception. 

I cannot imagine that many of you 

see your CPA as an unknowable cost 

center, the same can probably be said 

of your payroll company. It is imperative 

that business owners shift their 

perception of IT—those that wish to 

grow and adapt to a constantly shifting 

marketplace understand that IT is not 

only a critical part of their business 

infrastructure, it is another area to leverage 

professional services outsourcing. 

To tie back into the earlier example 

of the CPA firm versus the in-house 

accountant, IT management companies 

can leverage a depth and breadth of 

experience furnished by their variety 

of clients that is just not accessible to 

the in-house “IT Guy.” Moreover, this 

additional experience usually comes 

at a lower price point than a full time 

employee, just like utilizing an outside 

CPA firm. Finally, the It management 

company model lends itself to the SMB 

marketplace—they’re all about efficiency, 

because what they’re selling you is 

their time. It behooves the provider to 

create as stable an IT environment for 

your business as possible, to minimize 

downtime and their time spend maintaining 

it. It’s also in their best interest to 

resolve your IT related issues as quickly 

and efficiently as possible—their margin 

depends on it. 

As I stated at the beginning of the 

article, I have a vested interest in our 

organization, and the industry as a 

whole. That is not to say however, that 

we’re looking to run the “IT Guys” of 

the world out of business, nor drive 

every SMB into the warm embrace 

of an IT management company. I 

humbly ask that you change your perspective—in 

the immortal phrasing of 

Apple Computers, “Think Different.” 

Mythos Technology is an IT consulting 

and management firm that provides 

Managed Technology Services including 

hosted cloud solutions. For more 

information, please visit www.mythostech.com 

or call (951) 813-2672. 

TECHNOLOGY 

by 

by 

Tristan 

Steve Fillingim 

Collopy




AtWork SoCal Celebrates 3 Years and 

Thousands of Local Job Placements 

Started in 2015 by local entrepreneurs, the rapidly-growing company 

has achieved nearly $30 Million in Sales to Date 

by Charlie Hoey, Director of Marketing 

11 

AtWork Personnel, an Award-winning 

national staffing franchise, announced 

it’s third anniversary doing 

business in the Temecula Valley, where 

the company specializes in employment 

services. During that time, AtWork 

found jobs for more than 7,000 candidates 

with local employers, including 

full-time, direct-hire career placements, 

Temp-to-Hire and temporary contract 

work. 

“Thinking about the first day with 

just four of us opening our doors in the 

Temecula office, I feel a great sense of 

accomplishment,” said Regional Director 

Judy Contreras, who attributed the 

startup’s success to treating people right. 

”You have to treat applicants and clients 

with respect and professionalism, and 

make sure to follow through on promises 

made to ensure long-term success 

in what is the ultimate people business.” 

The Temecula office, Contreras 

said, made itself indispensable to local 

employers large and small who rely on 

AtWork to source, recruit and and vett 

applicants, reducing the burden to HR 

departments and streamlining employers’ 

hiring pipeline in a business climate 

of low unemployment and high demand 

for talent. 

Soon after opening the Temecula 

AtWork office, the company expanded 

with an additional location in Palm Desert 

that services the Coachella Valley’s 

numerous music festivals and events, 

local municipalities, private employers 

and most recently, led the way as the 

first major national staffing agency to 

actively pursue the specialized labor 

needs of the rapidly-expanding Cannabis 

Industry. 

“Cannabis is transforming local 

economies in the Coachella Valley,” 

said Branch Manager Lisa DeLuna. 

“What many don’t realize is legalization 

resulted in a need for all types of 

positions, just like any other industry. 

It’s a real ground floor opportunity and 

we are doing our part to assist this new 

market in the standardization of labor 

practices.” 

The company’s third location was 

established in Carlsbad in early 2017 

to serve North County San Diego. The 

Carlsbad branch focuses on filling 

clerical, light industrial and direct-hire 

career placement positions, primarily in 

the manufacturing, production, medical 

and hospitality sectors. 

So what’s next? “To meet demand, 

and for improved coverage, the opening 

of two additional locations is in process,” 

said Managing Partner Gregg 

Hassler. “AtWork is coming to the Cities 

of Riverside and San Diego, and we look 

forward to working with applicants and 

employers in those cities very soon.” 

About AtWork Group - AtWork 

Group is an award-winning and nationally-known 

franchisor of staffing 

services. Recently named no. 88 on Entrepreneur 

Magazine’s 2018 “Franchise 

500” List, the company will exceed 

$330 Million in sales this year as one 

of the fastest growing franchises in the 

United States. 

The foundation for AtWork began in the 

1980s, and today, AtWork has grown 

to be cited as one of Staffing Industry 

Report’s top U.S. staffing firms. AtWork 

Group’s remarkable growth is fueled by 

the vision of founders John and Glenda 

Hall: Think ahead, create opportunity, 

give exceptional support to franchise 

offices, and always look for the better 

way, every day. For more information, 

visit www.atworksocal.com or call 951- 

297-3591. 

“ 

AtWork is coming to the Cities of Riverside 

and San Diego, and we look forward to 

working with applicants and employers in 

those cities very soon.




Planning for Taxes on Real Estate 

MONEY 

by 

Esther Phahla, 

CPA, CTC, MST 

There are 3 categories the IRS 

uses to describe real estate investors 

that can dramatically change the 

taxpayer’s tax liability, namely: 

• Real Estate Dealer Status 

• Real Estate Developer Status 

• Real Estate Professional Status 

Do you know which one are you? 

1. Real Estate Dealer Status: is defined 

as someone who is involved 

in real estate as a “trade or business” 

This designation is given 

on a property basis. That means it 

is possible for the taxpayer to be 

treated for tax purposes as a dealer 

on one property and an investor on 

another. This is determined on the 

taxpayer’s intent towards the property. 

For example, if the taxpayer 

buys property for a quick sale or 

“flip” they are considered a dealer 

with respect to that property. This 

is mostly common for investors 

who rehab properties and purchase 

foreclosures for quick sale (this is 

commonly known as fix-n-flip). If 

the taxpayer is treated as a dealer, 

the real estate income from that 

property is considered self-employment 

income and subject to 

self-employment tax on the net income 

derived from that particular 

property. Another disadvantage of 

dealer status is gains are treated as 

ordinary for income tax purposes. 

The IRS uses a specific criteria to 

determine real estate dealer status, 

and the most important criteria 

is the frequency of sales and the 

purpose for acquiring the property. 

Therefore, the IRS is looking for 

properties that are primarily held 

for sale. There are ways to avoid 

self-employment tax through tax 

planning. 

2. Real Estate Developer Status: 

this status is also determined on 

a per property basis. Developers 

are real estate investors who 

are in the business of producing 

inventory and are subject to Uniform 

Capitalization Rules. This 

means the taxpayer cannot deduct 

depreciation and other expenses 

that are general and administrative 

and all carrying costs. Taxpayers 

have a difficulty understanding 

why they cannot deduct the money 

they spent on costs in the year they 

spent the money. Detailed bookkeeping 

of other costs will ensure 

that non-capitalizable expenses 

are deducted in the year they are 

incurred. 

3. Real Estate Professional Status: 

In order to claim this status, you 

must meet a two-pronged test: 

a) You must spend more than 

50% of the personal services 

performed in all trades or businesses 

during the tax year on 

real estate. Specifically, this time 

must be spent in real property 

trades or businesses in which the 

taxpayer materially participates. 

b) The taxpayer must have spent 

more than 750 hours of services 

during the tax year in real property 

trades or businesses in which they 

materially participated. The reasons 

for the above is because rental 

activities are generally considered 

to be passive activities unless 

you meet the above rules and still 

satisfy the material participation 

test by meeting the 500 hours per 

year on that activity in order to be 

considered non-passive. 

The advantages of investing in 

real estate is the ability to offset noncash 

expenses such as depreciation 

and amortization against income. 

Know your real estate status, it may 

make a difference in the tax you pay 

or save. 

Esther Phahla is a Certified Public 

Accountant and Certified Tax Strategist 

in Temecula. She also holds 

a Master’s of Science in Taxation. 

She is the Best-Selling Author of a 

Tax Planning book “Why Didn’t My 

CPA Tell Me That”. She is also the 

author of “10 Most Expensive Tax 

Mistakes That Cost Business Owners 

Thousands”. 

Esther is passionate about proactive 

tax planning being the key to reducing 

taxes. She has spent hundreds 

of hours of continuing education to 

ensure she provides the best solutions 

for her clients. Over the years Esther 

has helped hundreds of business 

owners save thousands in tax. She 

has given seminars on proactive tax 

planning as well as written a number 

of articles on the topic. She can be 

reached at (951) 514-2652 or visit 

www.estherphahlacpa.com. 

The taxpayer must have spent more than 

750 hours of services during the tax year in 

real property trades or businesses in which 

they materially participated.




13 

Professional Women Toastmasters Hosts 

Open House Event is Free to the Public 

Professional Women Toastmasters 

(www.professionalwomen.toastmastersclubs.org), 

invites residents to its 

open house to meet members and watch 

speakers talk about what Toastmasters 

means to them and the importance of 

communication and leadership skills for 

today’s professional. 

“Professional Women Toastmasters 

provides a supportive, friendly, fun and 

positive environment where members 

have the opportunity to develop their 

communication and leadership skills,” 

says Esther Phahla, Club President for 

the Professional Women Toastmasters 

Club. Guests will enjoy a regular 

Toastmasters meeting that will include 

prepared speeches, Table Topics (impromptu 

speeches - this is where guests 

and members are randomly selected to 

speak for one to two minutes. It helps you 

think and speak clearly on your feet) and 

Evaluations (feedback to help our members 

grow in their presentation skills). 

Members of Professional Women 

Toastmasters include Authors, Fitness 

Coaches, CPAs, Entrepreneurs, Human 

Resource Professionals, Financial Advisors, 

Life Coaches and more. 


Open House 

Date: Monday, November 5, 2018 

Location: 28780 Single Oak Drive, Ste 

241, Temecula, CA 

Time: 12:15 pm - 1:30 pm 

For more information, email Rebecca 

Lewis at vppr-5077319@toastmastersclubs.org 


meets every Monday at 12:30pm to 

1:30pm at Rancho Medical Group, CA 

School of English, near the crossroads 

of Rancho California Road and Business 

Park Dr. in Temecula. For more information 

about this event and the club, 

please visit www.professionalwomen. 

toastmastersclubs.org. 

About District 12 - District 12 

serves approximately 100 Clubs and 

1700 members in the large Southern 

California region East of highway 57, 

South of Barstow, West of the Arizona 

border, and North of Temecula. District 

12 includes two of California’s 

largest counties (by square miles) 

– Riverside and San Bernardino. To 

learn more about District 12, please 

visit http://www.d12toastmasters.org. 

About Toastmasters International - Toastmasters 

International is a worldwide 

nonprofit educational organization that 

empowers individuals to become more 

effective communicators and leaders. 

Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, 

the organization’s membership exceeds 

352,000 in more than 16,400 clubs in 

141 countries. Since 1924, Toastmasters 

International has helped people from diverse 

backgrounds become more confident 

speakers, communicators and leaders. 

For information about local Toastmasters 

clubs, please visit www.toastmasters.org. 

Follow @Toastmasters on Twitter.




10th Annual Murrieta Field of Honor 

The 10th annual Murrieta Field 

of Honor, set amongst a spectacular 

sight -- 2,018 full-sized American 

flags –will rise in Murrieta’s Town 

Square Park on November 10 and fly 

through the 17th. 

The Field recognizes heroes 

--those who served or are serving in 

the United States armed forces, law 

enforcement, fire and other first responder 

posts, plus personal heroes. 

In addition to the 2,018 flags available 

for dedication to personal heroes, the 

Field features sections for Medal of 

Honor recipients, Local Heroes (those 

who have given their lives for this 

country since 2003), historical flags, 

state flags and a patriotic chalk walk. 

The Field of Honor is presented 

as a community service by the Rotary 

Club of Murrieta in partnership with 

the City of Murrieta. Most Town 

Square Park events and the display 

are free and open to all. “Everyone 

has the opportunity to honor a veteran, 

those currently serving, loved ones 

or personal heroes by flying a flag in 

the Field of Honor,” said Bob Bryant, 

co-chairman of the Rotary Club’s 

Field of Honor organizing committee. 

“Each purchased flag will be tagged 

with the name and rank, service or 

other designation. At the end of the 

week, flags may be picked up by those 

who purchase them.” 

Each American flag is three by 

five feet on an eight-foot pole and 

can be purchased for $35. They can 

be purchased on the Field of Honor 

website, www.murrietafieldofhonor. 

com, from nonprofit affiliates or by 

going to the Field of Honor during the 

week it is on display. Flag purchasers 

can pick up their flags after the closing 

ceremonies on Saturday, Nov. 17, and 

on Sunday, Nov. 18, from 9 a.m. until 

noon. 

Net proceeds from the 2014 Field 

of Honor will benefit the “Murrieta 

Through Time” history walk, the 

City’s Veterans’ Memorial, both at 

Town Square Park, and other community 

projects funded by the Rotary 

Club of Murrieta Foundation. Nonprofit 

groups affiliated with the Field 

of Honor to sell flags will receive $10 

for each flag sold. 

Furthering the Field of Honor’s 

educational benefits, all Murrieta Valley 

Unified School District fifth grade 

classes plus some classes from Lake 

Elsinore and Temecula schools will 

visit the Field during the week of Nov. 

12, hear explanations about the displays 

and complete class assignments. 

Events during the week include: 

Sat. Nov. 10 

9:45 a.m. - Opening ceremonies honor 

first responders. 

9-5 - Chalk artists develop patriotic 

images 

10-2 - Military Family Resource Expo 

& Paul Mitchell School Temecula 

Cut-a-Thon 

11 a.m. - Marine Corps Birthday 

Celebration 

Sun. Nov. 11 

1-3 p.m. City of Murrieta Veterans 

Day Parade, Concluding in the Park 

11 a.m.-5 p.m. Veterans Art in the Park 

9 a.m.-5 p.m. Chalk artists developing 

patriotic images 

Mon. Nov. 12 – Noon, Rotary Veterans 

Luncheon (by invitation) 

Tues. Nov 13 – 9 a.m.-11 a.m. Student 

field trips. 

Wed. Nov. 14 - 6 p.m. Candlelight 

Ceremony features choirs from the 

Murrieta middle schools and a reading 

of “Letters from War” by local artists. 

Thurs. Nov. 15 – 5 p.m. Boy Scouts 

conduct Final Salute 

Sat. Nov. 17 – 9-5 p.m. Flag Pick-ups 

6 p.m. Patriots Ball, $75 per person 

Sun. Nov. 18 – 9 - noon, Flag Pick-ups 

The Rotary Club of Murrieta was 

chartered on April 28, 1992. The club 

is involved in many international and 

community projects.” Club meetings 

are held Mondays (excepting holidays) 

at noon at Richie’s Diner, 40651 Murrieta 

Hot Springs Road, in Murrieta. 

For information regarding the club or 

membership visit www.murrietarotary. 

org.


BWN’s November 13th Meeting Features 

Member Speaker Gina Stone 

Norwex is improving quality of 

life, one home at a time, by radically 

reducing toxins through chemical-free 

microfiber household and personal care 

products. Gina is an Independent Sales 

Consultant with Norwex consultant in 

Temecula where she has lived for four 

years, coming from Central California. 

She has also lived in Orange County, 

San Diego and the Silicon Valley so 

she knows California from experience. 

Gina is blessed with one daughter and 

the best husband. 

Visit Gina’s Business Website at 

https://ginastone.norwex.biz/ to learn 

more and subscribe to Gina’s newsletter. 

Email Address: ginastonensa@gmail. 

com - Phone Number: 951-292-0207. 

There will be no BWN meeting 

on November 27 in recognition of the 

Thanksgiving Holiday. 

About BWN - Since 1992 Business 

Women’s Network of Temecula Valley 

(BWN) has been a premier women’s 

networking group dedicated to the highest 

standards of professionalism and the 

exchange of business leads. Our structured, 

yet relaxed luncheon program 

provides members the time and place to 

introduce themselves, their products and 



services during each meeting. Membership 

includes group membership in the 

Murrieta Chamber of Commerce and the 

Temecula Chamber of Commerce. We 

are all about promoting ourselves and 

each other and building strategic relationships 

with other professional local 

women while having fun. We meet at 

noon on the second and fourth Tuesdays 

at The Broken Yolk Café at 26495 Ynez 

Rd inTemecula. Check us out at http:// 

business-womens-network-temecula. 

com. 

Support your local nonprofits. 

15 

They need your skills, your ideas and 

your support.




Water, Flood, Fire, Smoke, Mold Damage? 

With Pulido you are family. 

We will get you through this. 

The most trusted Restoration company in 

the Temecula valley since 1989 

Privacy vs. Transparency: Should You 

Tell Your Heirs the Contents of Your 

Estate Plan? 

One of the questions that many 

people have when preparing an estate 

plan is whether their heirs need to know 

about the contents. The answer to this 

question will depend on several factors, 

including your family culture, age of the 

heirs and personal preference. There 

is no legal obligation to tell the details 

to your heirs or beneficiaries to a trust, 

until it is time for distributions. 

Remember, at a minimum someone 

needs to know that you have a will or 

trust and where it is located, but often 

that will be your attorney. 

Situations When Transparency is a 

Good Idea 

Here are a few examples of when 

it might be wise to share your estate 

plan details: 

Family Business - If you have a 

family business and the heirs are directly 

involved, it is a good practice to let 

them know how the business ownership 

will be structured if you, as business 

owner, die. 

Shared Family Home - It is more 

common now for adult children to continue 

living in the family home, and 

they will be curious to know your estate 

plan and how real estate is distributed. 

If you plan to leave the home to them, 

then you can explain how that will work 

and be divided. 

Specific Bequests - If you have 

unusual assets such as jewelry, art and 

other heirlooms, then it may be a good 

idea to let your heirs know that will be 

handled, or even they have some preference 

for certain items. Sometimes 

an heir will not want to deal with some 

types of property or could have a sentimental 

attachment to other items. 

Situations Where Privacy May Be 

Preferable 

There are also circumstances where 

there is really no benefit to sharing the 

details: 

Young Children - If your only 

heirs are minor children then there is no 

reason to tell them the contents of your 

estate plan, as it may change over time 

and they probably will not understand 

the specifics. 

Significant Charitable Donations 

- If you are leaving a large portion of 

your estate to charity, you may want to 

keep that private. Some heirs take it the 

wrong way as it seems you are giving 

away “their” inheritance. 

Existing Discord Among Heirs - 

Families don’t always get along, and if 

some heirs have existing conflict with 

each other it may be best not to share 

how you plan to distribute your assets. 

This is especially true if there are differences 

in the estate plan in amounts or 

types of assets for each heir. 

If you have questions about estate planning 

and your family, please contact the 

attorneys at Shoup Legal, A Professional 

Law Corporation at 951-445-4114, 

www.ShoupLegal.com. 

LEGAL 

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“ 

There is no legal obligation to 

tell the details to your heirs or 

beneficiaries to a trust, until it is time 

for distributions. Remember, at a 

minimum someone needs to know 

that you have a will or trust and 

where it is located, but 

often that will be your attorney. 

New hires? Awards? Promotions? 

Share your news with us on Facebook




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18 www.TheValleyBusinessJournal.com 


Cause for Hope 

EDUCATION 

by 

by 

Drake Levasheff, PhD. 


Our national political discourse 

has become increasingly toxic, but my 

experience with our local community 

and leaders gives me great hope. In 

particular, two recent local events have 

highlighted what I believe is right with 

our community. 

The first, “Salute to Heroes,” which 

is spearheaded by the Veterans Supplemental 

Support Network (VSSN), 

occurred a few weeks ago at the Temecula 

Promenade. It brought together hundreds 

to honor those who have served 

our country and enjoy great food, live 

music, and family activities. It was a 

pleasure to see so many businesses and 

community organizations come together 

to support veterans, the enlisted, and 

their families. 

They have become vulnerable because 

of their service to our country, 

and many from the region rallied to 

their aid. I was inspired to see the community 

come around them. The event 

showcased the best our people have 

to offer: generous service, gratitude in 

action, and neighbors standing shoulder 

to shoulder. We have been proud to participate 

in the event and sponsor VSSN. 

I was also encouraged by a recent 

meeting of the Southwest California 

Legislative Council. I know that the 

people who attend would seldom describe 

that meeting as inspirational. So, 

what makes a meeting like this encouraging 

or even inspiring? It’s regular 

interactions among members that make 

the difference! 

The focus of the meeting in question 

was actually the organization’s position 

on California’s November ballot 

measures. Anyone who’s watched the 

political environment in California 

knows that these conversations have 

the potential to become divisive. Add 

to that the fact that our attendees have 

well-developed political and policy 

sensibilities. 

So, while some might emphasize 

the uniformity of businesses interests 

within the council, it includes diverse 

representation with people from a number 

of industries, cities, backgrounds, 

and interests. But as I listened to members 

discuss the propositions, I was 

impressed with evenhanded, patient collegiality 

I witnessed. People differed on 

points, but I observed engagement based 

on mutual respect and shared interests. 

This was not the Washington sparring 

we watch on TV, but the steady 

rhythm of neighbors working toward 

collective goals. 

The infotainment and political 

chatter served up by our media may 

move the needle in the Nielsen ratings, 

but deliver fruitless results. Conversely, 

what I have seen accomplished in our 

region the last few weeks lacks flash, 

but delivers by championing our shared 

interests and constructing community. It 

is a sure antidote to the fear and anger 

offered our nation al body politic. 

Dr. Drake Levasheff is Senior Director 

of Azusa Pacific University’s Murrieta 

Regional Campus. He can be reached 

via email at dlevasheff@apu.edu. 

dlevasheff@apu.edu 

Chaparral High School - Anjali Sivanandan 

Great Oak High School - Joseph Ravago 

Linfield Christian High School - Sophia Chen 

Rancho Vista High School - Eric Ruiz 

Susan H. Nelson High School - Jane Resnick 

Temecula Valley High School - Garrett Avery




19 

Boulder Ridge Elementary School Teacher Erin Lipsitz Receives 

September ‘Teachers Are Heroes Award’ 

Teaching offers many challenges but offers rewards that go far beyond 

the benefits provided by a day-to-day job. KATY- 101.3 The Mix (KATY) 

and Azusa Pacific University (APU) is excited to kick-off the Teachers 

are Heroes program for the 2018-2019 school year. 

On Wednesday, October 3, 

2018, Mrs. Erin Lipsitz, fourth 

grade teacher at Boulder Ridge 

Elementary School, was surprised 

with the first Teachers 

are Heroes award for this year. 

Mrs. Lipsitz was nominated 

by Tiffany Lallande-Banks, the 

mother of one of Lipsitz’s students 

who said, “Mrs. Lipsitz 

assisted in the development of 

the girl’s STEAM Club, and 

also runs an after-school Math 

program. She inspires kids to 

learn outside the box.” 

Boulder Ridge Elementary 

School Principal Jon Mitchem, 

provided additional comments 

saying, “Erin Lipsitz is a game 

changer. Mrs. Lipsitz has the 

uncanny ability to know what students 

need before they know what they need. 

She makes learning fun, engaging, and 

connects the material to the student’s 

own lives. More importantly, Mrs. 

Lipsitz models the beliefs that learning 

is important and is a lifelong endeavor. 

She has attended multiple professional 

development seminars over this past 

summer and has utilized those strategies 

in her classroom with great results. Erin 

is a kind, caring, and thoughtful teacher 

who comes to work each day with 

the mindset that ALL of her students 

can achieve greatness and learn at a 

higher level. Mrs. Lipsitz knows that 

not all learning has to take place in the 

classroom and has not only opened her 

classroom up to after school tutoring 

but has assisted in the start of our very 

first Boulder Ridge Dance Company! 

Mrs. Lipsitz is an asset to Boulder and 

we are grateful that she is Bulldog! “ 

Lipsitz was awarded with a 

Teachers are Heroes certificate, a 

$100 Visa gift card provided by 

Thinkwise Credit Union, and other 

prizes from the Mix prize closet plus 

the entire class enjoyed a pizza party 

from the Pizza Factory in Temecula. 

All selected teachers and their classes 

will receive tickets to attend an end of 

the year celebration. 

The Teachers are Heroes program 

will run through April 2019. Teachers 

can be nominated by students, 

parents, and even other school administrators. 

For more information go 

to www.1013themix.com, keyword: 

Teachers or go to http://www.apu.edu/ 

murrieta/teachers 

EXECUTIVE PROFILE |Brian Connors 

Brian Connors has lived in Murrieta for 28 

years. As a kid in the 70’s, he and his family 

would drive the old 395 from Escondido to 

visit Vail Lake and enjoy the water slides. 

Ownership of a new home for my wife (Marleen) 

and I became a dream of ours in 1990. We had been 

married for four years and wanted to start a family. 

We thought that this valley provided the right atmosphere 

and affordable housing for which we desired. 

We thought we would buy a small home, then turn 

around and sell it and then move back down to the 

North County area. Little did we realize that our 

hearts would be firmly planted here just after the first 

year. We never looked back. 

AFFILIATIONS 

I serve on the Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce 

Board of Directors as Chairman representing 

Southwest Healthcare System which operates 

Rancho Springs and Inland Valley Medical Centers. 

Previously to this position, I served on the Board of 

Directors for the Murrieta Chamber of Commerce. 

BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY 

I remember long ago my dad had on his desk a 

plaque that said, “There’s no such word as CAN’T.” 

I believe in hard work and giving it all you’ve got 

with a positive attitude by serving others and never 

expecting anything in return. When I’ve done this, 

I’ve discovered great things can happen. 

FAVORITE SPORT 

It would have to be a toss-up between baseball 

and football. I love following the San Diego 

Padres and Chargers. On an individual basis, 

I love to golf and I play racquetball nearly 

every weekday and I love to snow ski. My 

Favorite ski destination is Kirkwood, CA near 

Lake Tahoe. 

GOALS 

To live my life to the fullest with a positive 

attitude while serving others each and every 

day. When I focus on daily personal development 

and living with daily discipline, my 

personal and professional goals always seem 

to fall in place. 

MENTORS 

After graduating from SDSU, my dad took me 

under his wing. He offered me a chance in his 

ad agency but had me earn my keep by working my 

way up the ladder. His passion for his faith, family 

and his career helped make me who I am today. 

FAVORITE READING 

I enjoy faith-based, historical and empowering books. 

My favorite authors are Jeffrey R. Holland, D. Todd 

Christofferson, and David McCullough. Hal Elrod’s 

“Miracle Morning” is an excellent source for empowerment. 

Brian Connors 

RESUME 

For more than 20 years I ran full service advertising 

agencies which serviced local and regional 

clients throughout the United States. I now 

serve as the Director of Marketing for Southwest 

Healthcare System which operates Rancho 

Springs and Inland Valley Medical Centers. 

BIRTHPLACE 

La Jolla, CA




“The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups” 

Daniel Coyle 

“Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup 

John Carreyrou 

“Powerful: Building a Culture of Freedom and Responsibility” 

Patty McCord 

“Measure What Matters: OKRs: The Simple Idea That Drives 10X Growth” 

John Doerr 

”How Women Rise: Break the 12 Habits Holding You Back From 

Your Next Raise, Promotion or Job” 

Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith 

“The Myth of the Nice Girl: Achieving a Career You Love Without 

Becoming a Person You Hate” 

Fran Hauser 

“Ask a Manager: How to Navigate Clueless Colleagues, Lunch-Stealing Bosses, and 

the Rest of Your Life at Work” 

Alison Green 

From Business Insider 

2018 Business Books 

Have you read these yet? 

Vision Screenings vs. Eye Exams 

Healthy 

Living 

by 

Tina Dr. Patrick M. Gottlieb, Utnehmer D.C. 

I just had an “exam” at school/ 

work/my PCP’s office/the DMV and I 

was fine, isn’t that good enough? Vision 

screening programs are intended 

to identify children or adults who may 

have undetected vision problems. If the 

screening indicates a vision problem, 

they are referred for further evaluation. 

However, a vision screening can’t be 

relied on to provide the same results 

as a comprehensive eye and vision 

examination. 

Screenings can take many forms. 

Often schools provide periodic vision 

screenings for their students. A pediatrician 

or other primary care physician 

may do a vision screening as part of a 

school physical. When applying for a 

driver’s license, your vision will likely 

be screened. Vision screenings are 

often part of local health fairs put on 

by hospitals, social service agencies 

or fraternal groups like the Lions and 

Elks clubs. 

Vision screenings can uncover 

some vision problems, but they can 

miss more than they find. This is a 

major concern about vision screening 

programs. Current vision screening 

methods cannot be relied on to effectively 

identify individuals who need 

vision care. In some cases, vision 

screening may actually inhibit the 

early diagnosis of vision problems. 

Screenings can create a false sense 

of security for those individuals who 

“pass” the screening but who actually 

have a vision problem. These people 

are then less likely to receive treatment 

for their vision problem-and it could 

become worse. 

Undetected and untreated vision 

problems can interfere with a child’s 

ability to learn in school and participate 

in sports. They can also affect an 

adult’s ability to do their job or to drive 

safely. The earlier a vision problem is 

diagnosed and treated, the less it will 

impact an individual’s quality of life. 

What are the limitations of vision 

screening programs? - To understand 

why vision screenings may not find a 

vision problem, let’s look at the factors 

that can limit their effectiveness. 

Limited testing. Many vision 

screenings test only for distance visual 

acuity. While the ability to see clearly 

in the distance is important, it does 

not indicate how well the eyes focus 

up close or work together. It also does 

not give any information about the 

health of the eyes. Some screenings 

may also include a plus lens test for 

farsightedness and a test of eye coordination. 

However, even these additional 

screening tests will miss many vision 

problems. 

Untrained personnel. Often, 

administrative personnel or volunteers 

who have little training conduct a 

vision screening. While well-intentioned, 

these individuals do not have 

the knowledge to competently assess 

screening results. 

Inadequate testing equipment. 

Even when done in a pediatrician’s 

or primary care physician’s office, the 

scope of vision screening may be limited 

by the type of testing equipment 

available. Factors such as room lighting, 

testing distances and maintenance 

of the testing equipment can also affect 

test results. 

People often misunderstand what 

passing a vision screening means. The 

information obtained from a vision 

screening is comparable to the information 

obtained from a blood pressure 

measurement. Your blood pressure 

may be in normal range, but that 

doesn’t mean that you do not have other 

health problems. It’s merely a single 

measure of one aspect of your overall 

health. Just like you need a complete 

physical to evaluate your total health, 

only a comprehensive eye and vision 

examination can evaluate your overall 

eye health and vision status. 

How is a comprehensive eye and 

vision examination different from a 

vision screening? 

Specialized equipment and procedures, 

which are not available as part of 

a vision screening program, are needed 

to adequately evaluate your eyes and 

vision. Only an optometrist or ophthalmologist 

can conduct a comprehensive 

eye and vision examination. These 

doctors have the specialized training 

necessary to make a definitive diagnosis 

and prescribe treatment. 

A comprehensive adult eye and 

vision examination includes: 

• Patient and family health history 

• Visual acuity measurement 

• Preliminary tests of visual function 

and eye health, including depth 

perception, color vision, peripheral 

(side) vision and response of the 

pupils to light 

• Assessment of refractive status to 

determine the presence of nearsightedness, 

farsightedness or astigmatism 

• Evaluation of eye focusing, eye 

teaming and eye movement abilities 

• Eye health examination 

• Additional tests as needed 

Vision screening programs can’t substitute 

for regular professional vision 

care. Children or adults who pass a 

vision screening could still have an eye 

health or vision problem. Professional 

examinations are the only effective 

way to confirm or rule out any eye 

disease or vision problem. Come in 

and see us for a comprehensive eye 

exam and discuss personalized options 

for your eyes. 

Dr. Patrick Utnehmer, Promenade 

Optometry & Lasik, (951) 296-2211.




21 

Temecula Valley Hospital Treats 1st 

Brain Aneurysm Patient 

Temecula Valley Hospital has successfully 

treated the 1st brain aneurysm 

patient in our new facility. This is a 1st 

for the hospital and for the Southwest 

Riverside County region. A brain aneurysm 

is a weak spot in one of the brain’s 

arteries that flowing blood causes to balloon 

out, forming either a small pouch 

on one side of the artery wall or causes 

the artery to bulge out. The aneurysm 

was treated using endovascular coiling, 

in which wire coils are inserted into 

the artery of the brain at the aneurysm. 

The wire coils up inside the aneurysm 

disrupts the blood flow and essentially 

als off the aneurysm from the artery. 

The hospital’s recent expansion 

includes a new neuro biplane room, 

to provide such advanced neuroscience 

treatments. (Please see photo.) 

Specially trained physicians and a 

multidisciplinary team work together 

to treat patients with aneurysms or other 

neurologic conditions. 

“We are thrilled about this 1st for 

our hospital,” said Darlene Wetton, 

Chief Executive Officer, of Temecula 

Valley Hospital. “Temecula Valley 

Hospital is committed to providing 

high quality, advanced medical treatment 

to the residents of this region. 

We are proud of our hospital staff and 

the physicians for providing advanced 

treatments, such as endovascular interventional 

neuroscience treatments for 

this community.” 

About Temecula Valley Hospital - Temecula 

Valley Hospital brings advanced 

technology, innovative programs, patient-centered 

and family sensitive care 

to area residents. The hospital features 

140 private patient rooms; emergency 

care featuring ER Reserve; advanced 

cardiac and stroke care; orthopedics; 

and general and surgical specialties. 

TVH is nationally recognized for Patient 

Safety by The Leapfrog Group, 

with a 2017 Top Hospital Award and 

4 consecutive “A” Grades for Patient 

Safety in Spring 2018, Fall 2017, Spring 

2017 and Fall 2016. The hospital also 

recently received the American Heart 

Association/American Stroke Association’s 

Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke 

Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award, 

The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of 

Approval® for Certification for Hip 

and Knee Replacement, 4 Star Medicare 

Hospital Compare Rating, the honor 

of the Inland Empire’s Top Workplaces 

2017 and has been designated an Aetna 

Institute of Quality® Cardiac Care 

Facility for comprehensive heart and 

vascular treatments-including Cardiac 

Medical Intervention, Cardiac Rhythm 

Programs and Cardiac Surgery. 

For more information, visit www.temeculavalleyhospital.com 

“ 

The hospital’s recent expansion includes 

a new neuro biplane room, to provide 

such advanced neuroscience treatments. 

Specially trained physicians and 

a multidisciplinary team work together to 

treat patients with aneurysms or other 

neurologic conditions.




Temecula Hosts Annual Patriotic Salute to 

Veterans 


The community is invited to join 

us at this free concert as we honor 

veterans on this commemorative day. A 

free picnic dinner will be served from 

5:00 pm to 6:00 pm in Town Square 

Park to the first 500 patrons in line. 

“Our Veterans’ service and sacrifice are 

the reasons we hold the freedoms and 

liberties we cherish on a daily basis. 

This is just one of the ‘Temecula Ways’ 

we express our admiration, respect, and 

gratitude for our country’s most faithful 

heroes,” states Mayor Matt Rahn. 

Join us as we honor and thank 

our veterans for their selfless service. 

Bring your entire family, your friends, 

lawn chairs, and warm blankets to 

enjoy a wonderful evening under the 

stars at this free Veterans Day event. 

The event will feature remarks by City 

dignitaries, the presentation of military 

banners to recognize active military 

personnel from the City’s Military 

Banner Program, and a performance by 

the Temecula Valley Symphony. 

The Veterans Day Celebration 

highlight is the 90-minute professional 

concert under the stars, A Patriotic 

Salute to Veterans, presented by the 

Temecula Valley Symphony & Chorus 

featuring Musical Director and Conductor 

John Mario. 

For more information, please contact 

the Community Services Department 

at (951) 694-6480 or visit us online at 

www.TemeculaCA.gov. 

TemeculaCA.gov 

The Goodness of Gratitude 

Healthy 

Living 

by 

Tina Monique M. Gottlieb, deGroot D.C. 

What are You Grateful For? 

This is the age-old question we’ve 

heard since we were kids. We tend to 

think about giving thanks for holiday 

meals and gifts at Christmas. However, 

more and more studies are showing 

the benefits of year-round gratitude. 

In fact, it’s actually healthy for you 

to focus on what you are grateful for. 

That’s right, by being mindful in your 

everyday life, gratitude journaling, 

or simply saying “thank you” more 

often will do you a whole lot of good. 

Here’s a few ways to introduce gratitude 

into your daily routine and how 

exchanging those negative thoughts 

for gracious ones can increase mental 

strength: 

“Thank You!” 

It’s polite, and who doesn’t love 

a well-mannered person? Showing 

and expressing gratitude can actually 

help open doors to new friends and 

relationships. Studies support that 

genuine appreciation for a favor an 

acquaintance did can increase those 

feel-good chemicals in your brain. 

Extra points if you do it with a smile. 

As gratitude becomes a rotation in 

your life, you will attract more open 

and kind-hearted people. Win/win. 

Make a List 

Don’t know where to start? Take 

five minutes before bed or right when 

you wake up in the morning to jot 

down a few things you’re thankful 

for. It will help you to let go of toxic 

emotions in the morning to start with 

a clear head and help relieve stress 

before bed. Focusing on the bad 

will only make it worse, and no one 

likes a pity party. Gratitude journaling 

increases your mindfulness and 

awareness so you can introduce that 

practice into your daily life when 

things hit the fan. 

Take Time to Rejoice 

Instead of getting upset when 

something doesn’t go your way; stop. 

Take a moment and look at all of the 

great parts of the situation instead. 

Resilience is born out of challenges 

and hardships. Gratitude is the perfect 

way to test your mental strength when 

it comes to being let down. 

Don’t save gratitude for one or 

two months a year. Focusing on what 

you are thankful for can seem a little 

foreign at first; but with practice and 

diligence, it can help turn your whole 

mindset around for the day/month/ 

year and keep you smiling in the midst 

of chaos. 

Monique deGroot is the Owner of 

Murrieta Day Spa which is located 

at 41885 Ivy St. in Murrieta. 

“ 

However, more and more studies are 

showing the benefits of year-round gratitude. 

In fact, it’s actually healthy for you to 

focus on what you are grateful for.




23 

Trust in Your Parenting and Believe That All 

Will Be Well 

by Dr. Candace Walters 

Empty nest syndrome affects many 

parents; some have depression, anxiety, 

and added stress over their loved 

one leaving home. It is normal to feel 

sadness and loneliness during the time 

of departure; however, the emptiness 

can develop into a rollercoaster of 

emotions. There are several stages of 

ENS a parent may endure—not in any 

order or sequence. 

The Identity loss stage is most 

common to several parents. Caring for 

a loved one for many years while placing 

their needs first as well as worrying 

and nurturing can be daunting, whereas 

your needs are overlooked and unmet. 

Once an adult child moves from the 

family’s home, the requirements for life 

regarding the parents often change. The 

need to care for someone persists as 

parents are seldom used to self-caring 

and nurturing; often, quality time with 

the spouse is pushed aside for years. 

Change in marriage stage allows 

for adjustment in marriage of empty-nesters 

to sometimes be drastic. 

Those parents battling ENS may even 

emotionally distant themselves from 

their spouses while creating a barrier 

and stress within the marriage. 

The extreme worrying stage has 

parents worrying about things of insignificance; 

they’ll even call the adult 

child several times throughout the day 

as their own attitudes are shifted to 

passive-aggressive. 

In the grief stage, emotion associated 

with loss can be weighty for many 

parents, and those battling ENS may 

even feel disparaged and heartbroken. 

it just might be the time for you to do 

that thing you’ve always wanted to do. 

Restructuring is one of the best 

things we can do for ourselves during 

a dramatic change. If needed, reconstructing 

our marriage, our home, our 

finances, or even our thoughts could 

be a solid preparation for the journey 

ahead. 

Acceptance. Accepting the fact 

that children grow up, become adults, 

and even move away is true evidence of 

growth. Simply trust in your parenting 

and believe that all will end well. 

Support. Seek support if the 

weight of ENS is too overwhelming or 

even unbearable. 

This is the time to work on selfcare. 

ENS is manageable, providing 

you find and apply the proper coping 

skills. 

If you or someone you know are 

suffering from Empty Nest Syndrome, 

contact The Walters Group. 

Dr. Candace is CEO for The Walters 

Group. Dr. Candace often affirms 

“Not every woman requires therapy, 

most of us just need an accountability 

partner”. Contact number is 951- 

541-4986. 

Tips to Cope with ENS 

Realize. It is normal to have unwanted 

emotions of sadness, so embrace 

the emotions as you reconstruct 

your life. Starting a new chapter can 

even be a wonderful experience, and 

Empty nest syndrome affects many 

parents; some have depression, anxiety, 

and added stress over their loved one 

leaving home. It is normal to feel sadness 

and loneliness during the time of 

departure; however, the emptiness can 

develop into a rollercoaster of emotions.




Still Correcting? 

REAL ESTATE 

by by 

Gene Steve Wunderlich Fillingim 

As I’ve pointed out in previous 

newsletters, our local market is mimicking 

a statewide, indeed a nationwide 

trend of declining home sales 

and slower price appreciation. There 

are a few calling what we’re doing a 

‘prelude to a crash’, but most rational 

prognosticators are shunning that 

forecast. Next month we’ll have the 

opportunity to meet with our federal 

team, including our Chief Economist, 

Dr. Lawrence Yun, to question them 

on their outlook. They’re not always 

right but they’re better than most. 

(Well except for those continued 

forecasts of a ‘soft landing’ back in 

2008, but they weren’t alone there). 

Speaking of 2008, September 

marked the 10th anniversary of our 

last great meltdown. Lehman Brothers 

collapsed, bringing others to the 

brink, precipitating a general crash in 

the housing market nationwide. We 

got towed along for a 60%+ drop in 

local home values and a 50%+ drop 

in sales over the next 18 months. 

Fun times! And while the housing 

market in general has recovered, our 

region remains some 12% below our 

previous peak price point on average, 

while some state markets have met or 

exceeded their prior high-water mark, 

most notably the Bay Area, areas of 

LA and Orange Counties, and the San 

Jose region where the median value of 

$1.29 million, is 74% above its previous 

peak. 

So, a slowdown at this time is not 

necessarily a bad thing. While our appreciation 

has not been as heated as the 

30% annual climbs we saw in the early 

2000’s, it has been relatively constant, 

averaging 7% annually since 2009. 

That’s a long run. Meanwhile wage 

growth for buyers has only recently 

started to add a % or 2 to their wallets. 

As David Blitzer, Managing Director at 

S&P Dow Jones Indices put it, “We’ve 

been running faster than we should be 

able to for quite some time.” So, price 

gains are likely to ease until they’re 

more in line with wages and inflation. 

As we complete the 3rd quarter 

of 2018, local home sales have scaled 

back to a range somewhere between 

2014 and 2015. As anticipated, September 

sales of single-family homes 

dropped 15% from their August numbers 

(984/ 833) and year-to-date sales 

remain mired at 9% below 2017 (9,013 

/ 8,194). Where have those additional 

819 sales gone? Well, it helps explain 

why our inventory continues to climb 

– there’s an additional 1,048 units on 

the market today compared to last year 

(1,842 / 2,890). Our average inventory 

now stands at a 5 year high of 3.9 

months. That’s still a ways off the 6-7 

month inventory classically considered 

a ‘normal’ inventory or a market in 

balance, but it’s getting closer. We’ve 

been so spoiled by a super-low inventory 

for so long, this looks bad, but it’s 

really not at all. 

The only negative to that inventory 

hike is that it doesn’t include much 

in the way of affordable workforce 

housing, especially for those critical 

first-time buyers trying to enter the 

market. After a few months of relative 

stagnation and even some minor declines, 

prices appear to be continuing 

their inexorable climb. Month-overmonth 

appreciation was 3% and we’re 

still running a solid 7% ahead year-todate 

($348,025 / $374,394). I know I 

called for some flattening or moderate 

declines during the 4th quarter of 2017 

that didn’t happen. Well, I’m doing it 

again. I think we’ll see some slowing 

of appreciation during this last quarter 

as sales decline. Like most prognosticators, 

if I call something long enough 

I’ll eventually be right. Of course, we’ll 

still end the year higher than last year 

but maybe by only 4%-5% instead of 

7%-8%. And since I’m the one doing 

the numbers, I can make that forecast 

come true only to adjust it next February 

and you wouldn’t even notice. 

Heck, the government does it all the 

time, why should I be held to a higher 

standard? 

By this time next month, we’ll 

have weathered another election, 

billed as ‘the most important of our 

lifetime’. Aren’t they all? It’s going 

to be very tense and exciting, I do 

know that. And hopefully after all 

that, we can come together as a nation 

and focus on what’s truly important. 

Just don’t ask me what I did when I 

was 17! Please. 

Gene Wunderlich is the Government 

Affairs Director for Southwest Riverside 

County Association of Realtors. 

If you have questions on the market, 

please contact me at GAD@srcar. 

org or to keep up with the latest legislative 

and real estate trends go to 

http://gadblog.srcar.org/.




25 

Keep up with your business reading 

with autio books! 

“Read” while you drive, exercise or 

do doing manual projects.




The Advantage of 

Big Data 

Anyone surfing the internet, purchasing 

with a loyalty or credit card 

typically contribute to the collection. 

Surveys with drawings, gift cards 

or free products identify needed improvements 

but also find out information 

about you. Social media activity 

gathers helpful information as well. 

Big data not only records what is 

being bought but from who, how and 

when. Was the purchase on-line or 

through a traditional store and how 

was the decision buy made? It can 

show how useful reviews have been. 

Big data will show time of day of purchases 

such as before or after a work 

day, on a holiday or weekend. Time 

of year is also essential. Obviously 

retail sales will be higher during the 

holiday buying period but for other 

businesses it may be different. For 

example, merchandise or ticket sales 

for a sports team may increase after a 

significant sporting event win. These 

types of factors may explain why a 

product was purchased. 

So once the data is captured and 

stored how is it used? First, it allows 

a look back to analyze performance. 

Not just sales performance but how 

was the shopping experience. When 

one item was bought did it lead to the 

purchase of another? What were the 

triggers that encouraged shoppers to 

make a decision? From the technical 

point of view, how well did the installed 

hardware perform? These factors 

can generate marketing strategies. 

But just as important, having this 

data allows for a look forward to the 

future. Known as “predictive analysis”, 

working with a large amount 

of data can be helpful in scheduling 

and capacity planning. The air travel 

industry can understand when the 

heaviest passenger loads will take 

place allowing them to adjust staffing, 

aircraft and even pricing. IT system 

managers know when to increase 

storage or compute power. Customers 

groups with similar likes can be 

targeted. Processes can be made to 

work better as inefficiencies are uncovered. 

Next time you’re asked to 

leave feedback, remember big data 

has made it possible to answer the 

question “what’s trending now”. 

Ted Saul is a business coach that assists 

with Business Plans and Project 

Management. He holds a master certificate 

in project management and has 

earned his MBA from Regis University. 

Ted can be reached on LinkedIn, 

TedS787 on Twitter or emailing Ted@ 

tsaul.com. 

by 

by 

Ted Saul, 


Sr. Staff Writer 

“ 

Big data not only records what is being 

bought but from who, how and when. Was 

the purchase on-line or through a traditional 

store and how was the decision buy made?


Just the other day I was talking with 

my eviction attorney and I told him that 

I offer 1031 Exchange Accommodator 

Services. He told me he didn’t know 

that and had just done 1031 Exchange 

six months previously. He felt that the 

fees that he paid were high and the service 

was poor. I’m Scott Chappell, and 

I hear stories all the time about people 

who felt they over paid for their services 

and complained about poor commuby 

Scott Chappell 



How to Avoid 1031 Exchange Nightmares 

nications with their Accommodator. 

Their Accommodator did not meet their 

expectations as professionals. 

1031 Exchanges are extremely 

tricky, and one mistake can literally cost 

you thousands of dollars. In a nutshell, 

when you sell a property, you can defer 

a taxable gain if you purchase a “like 

for like” property within 180 days. You 

must identify the replacement property 

in writing within 45 days. It’s a very 

complex process and if you don’t know 

what you’re doing it can cost you dearly! 

I’ve been doing 1031 Exchanges for 

more than ten years now, and I’ve encountered 

nearly every situation you can 

imagine. Time after time people tell me 

what their 1031 Exchange services cost 

them. They could be saving money. I 

recently did a survey of rates charged by 

other 1031 Exchange Accommodators, 

and my fees are much more reasonable. 

If you’re looking for an Accommodator 

with awesome service and great 

fees, give me a call. Contact me at 951 

313-4350 or shoot me an email at scottlouischappell@gmail.com. 

27




Consider a Record of Public Service 

by Senator Jeff Stone 

It has been an honor and privilege 

being able to fight for the people of Riverside 

County over the past 26 years. 

I became active in politics because 

I was tired of graffiti overtaking my 

city where I was raising my family 

and running my pharmacy. When I 

saw nothing was being done to fix the 

problem, I decided to become active; 

and I’m proud to say that Temecula still 

has some of the toughest anti-graffiti 

ordinances in the state. 

As a County Supervisor, I was 

tenacious in my mission to end the 

homelessness crisis among our community 

of veterans, and I’m proud to 

say that the VALOR program today is 

still in place. Over the past four years, 

I’ve had the highest honor by serving 

Riverside County in the State Senate. 

In that time, I’ve helped write 

legislation to address the housing crisis 

that has put homeownership out of 

the reach of far too many people by 

reforming the rules and regulations that 

add thousands of dollars to the price of 

new homes. 

Since 2016, the California Legislature 

and our Governor have gone out 

of their way to criticize everything the 

federal government has done. I’ve led 

the fight against California becoming a 

“sanctuary state” for convicted felons 

in this country illegally. 

In a state with nearly 40 million 

people and record revenues coming 

in, I’ve fought to make sure our hardworking 

families are not overtaxed and 

overregulated. That’s why the National 

Federation of Independent Business has 

endorsed me as their choice for State 

Senate and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers 

Association has consistently ranked me 

as a solid vote for taxpayers. 

And the Riverside Sheriffs’ Association, 

the Correctional Peace Officers’ 

Association and law enforcement officials 

and groups across the state are 

supporting me for Senate because they 

know they can count on me to stand up 

for crime victims. As a Member of the 

Senate Public Safety Committee, I’ve 

led the fight to keep violent criminals 

behind bars and keep predators off our 

streets. 

The voters have a real choice on 

November 6th. 

I am opposed to the Governor’s 

Bullet Train to nowhere that is going to 

cost us nearly $90 Billion. 

I support efforts to make housing 

more affordable in our state through 

common-sense regulation reforms. 

I support policies that make sure 

criminals in our country illegally are 

not given sanctuary status here in California. 

On November 6th, I would be 

honored to be given an opportunity to 

continue my work on behalf of taxpayers, 

crime victims and small businesses 

across the state. 

As we work together to become a better 

state where we can live, work and raise 

our families in safe neighborhoods 

with good schools; I look forward to 

an opportunity to continue representing 

the communities I love and am proud to 

call home. 

Become an INFLUENCER 

Advertise with us and 

share your expertise 

Your articles printed in our 

newspaper, online and shared 

on social media. 

Contact us today: 

(951) 461-0400 • publishertvbj@verizon.net




29 

November 

Events 

Opening Of ‘Field Of 

Honor’ 2018: Murrieta 

Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018 at 8am 

Hosted by Rotary Club of Murrieta 

and Murrieta Field of Honor 

Town Square Park, 1 Town 

Square, Murrieta, California 

92562 

Temecula Valley Woman’s 

Club 34th Annual Holiday 

Home Tour 

November 10 & 11, 10am-4 pm 

Contact: Temecula Valley 

Woman’s Club 

16th Annual Veterans Day 

Parade 2018, Murrieta 

Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018 - 1pm 

Town Square Park, Downtown 

Murrieta, CA 

Nutcracker: 

Inland Valley Classical 

Ballet 

Nov. 23 & 24, 2018 - 7pm 

Nov. 24, 2018 - 2pm 

Nov. 25, 2018 - 1pm & 4pm 

Old Town Temecula Community 

Theater, 42051 Main St., 

Temecula, CA 92590 

Christmas Tree Lighting 

at the Pond 

Monday, Nov. 26, 2018 

7:00pm - 8:30pm 

Temecula Duck Pond & Veterans 

Memorial, 28250 Ynez Road, 

Temecula, CA 92591




Rotary Club of Temecula Comes Together During the Holidays 


ry members and volunteers will start 

collecting toys and the same ritual is 

repeated a week prior to Christmas, as 

over 300 gifts are delivered to families 

in the Temecula Valley. 

“We sincerely appreciate our volunteers 

during the holidays and it feels 

great to help out the community,” says 

Scott Davis. If you’d like more information 

on ways that you can donate or 

volunteer for the Rotary Club of Temecula, 

please contact current President 

Craig Davis via his email address 

at davisfamilyinsurance@gmail.com. 

Better yet, if you’re interested in becoming 

a member, please contact our 

Membership Director-Kim Kelliher at 

kimsrotary1314@gmail.com. 

The Rotary Club of Temecula 

is one of the largest Rotary Clubs in 

the Inland Empire comprised of over 

110 local members, including some 

of the city’s well-known business 

and community leaders. For more 

than 110 years, Rotary members have 

been addressing challenges around the 

world. Grassroots at the core, Rotary 

links 1.2 million members to form an 

organization of international scope. 

It started with the vision of one man 

— Paul Harris. The Chicago attorney 

formed the Rotary Club of Chicago 

on February 23, 1905, so professionals 

with diverse backgrounds could 

exchange ideas, form meaningful, 

lifelong friendships, and give back 

to their communities. Rotary’s name 

came from the group’s early practice 

of rotating meetings among the offices 

of its members. 

Rotary Club of Temecula takes 

great pride in their community service, 

especially during the holidays. The 

club’s Signature Community Project 

each year is the Holiday Baskets Program 

which provides holiday meals 

and toys for Temecula Valley locals in 

need. The program was implemented 

by Rotarian, Bob Brown over twenty 

years ago. Bob’s vision began with 

helping approximately 50 families 

during the holidays in 1997. According 

to Scott Davis, the club’s current 

Holiday Baskets Director, “Today, 

we feed between 225-260 family’s 

each year at Thanksgiving and provide 

gifts to over 300 children during 

Christmas.” 

“It really does take a Village 

and each year our members come 

together with friends and family to 

help as many people in the valley that 

we can,” says Craig Davis, current 

President of the club. “The City of 

Temecula provides a grant each year 

and has donated space for the food and 

toys that are graciously donated by the 

community, and Temecula Fire & Police 

Department help with the toy collection. 

In addition, our local schools donate 

and collect canned foods for families at 

Thanksgiving and Toys during the holidays”, 

says Craig Davis. How does the 

club determine who’s in need of help? 

They generally receive confidential 

suggestions from the Health Clerks at 

local schools and the Directors of local 

non-profits, S.A.F.E (Safe Alternatives 

for Everyone), Michelle’s Place Breast 

Cancer Research Center, Oak Grove 

Center, Rancho Damacitas, and Mary 

Phillips Senior Center. 

It takes a tremendous amount of 

fundraising to maintain the club goals 

of not only providing for families in 

need during the holidays, but everything 

else that Rotary Club of Temecula does 

in the community each year. Their 

major fundraiser takes place in March 

and they’re extremely grateful to those 

that support Rotary. Taste of the World 

will once again take place at Pechanga 

Resort and Casino in Temecula. 

The club would also like to thank 

their friends at Uncle Bob’s Sports Bar 

in Temecula. Once the owner heard 

what Rotary was doing in the community, 

Bob Craig immediately solicited 

donations from his employees and patrons 

this past year and collected several 

toys. In addition, a generous amount 

of Kohl’s Gift cards was donated to the 

club and given to the teenagers that are 

considered too old for toys at Christmas. 

Also, Julie Ngo and Jerrod Novodoczky, 

Rotary members and local State 

Farm agents solicited and received a 

nice donation from their company that 

was used this past year for our Holiday 

Basket Program and they’re gratefully 

supporting the club again in 2018. 

Rotary members will begin collecting 

non-perishable food in early November 

from local schools, businesses, and 

friends. Rotarians and local volunteers 

will sort the food on a Saturday, pack the 

food on Monday, and deliver the food 

to all the families on Tuesday prior to 

Thanksgiving. A week following the 

Thanksgiving Holiday, the same Rota- 

“ 

We sincerely 

appreciate our 

volunteers during the 

holidays and it feels 

great to help out the 

community




31

VBJ November 18

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