VBJ January 2020

VOLUME 31 • NUMBER 1 • JANUARY 2020 

Supervisor Washington 

Re-Elected to Prestigious 

Statewide Committee 

SEE PAGE 27 

Murrieta City Council Selects Gene 

Wunderlich as Incoming Mayor 

At its December 17 Reorganization Meeting, the 

Murrieta City Council selected Gene Wunderlich 

to serve as incoming Mayor. 

SEE PAGE 22 

Public Relations Society of 

America Chapter 

Honors Water District for 

Temecula Valley Chamber of 

Commerce Announces Newly 

Elected Board Members for 

2020 

Outstanding Communication 

SEE PAGE 1 

Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District (EVMWD) was recently recognized 

by Public Relations Society of America, Inland Empire Chapter, with four awards 

for excellence in public outreach. The Polaris Awards recognize exemplary public 

relations efforts that successfully incorporate sound research, planning, implementation 

and evaluation. These awards represent the highest standards of performance 

in the public relations and communications profession within the Inland Empire. 

The Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce 

the new members of the 2020 Board of Directors. The board of directors 

had 8 open positions for the 2020-2022 term and the ballot 

boasted 13 nominees. The 8 new electees will join the current board 

effective January 1, 2020. 

PAGE 27 

SEE PAGE 25 

AND... 

Signs Your Eldrly Parents 

Need Help 

Does Your 

Policy Cover 

Earthquake? 

The Difference 

a Performance 

Review Makes 

Reforming 

Health Care 

The Year of the Employee 

How Much Power Does Form 

W-4 Have Over Your Tax Bill? 

INSURANCE 

13 

EDUCATION 

18 

HEALTH 

23

www.TheValleyBusinessJournal.com 

THE VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL 

2 January 2020

January 2020 



Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC) is Southwest Riverside County’s 

Economic Engine 

3 

Why is Mt. San Jacinto College 

(MSJC) Southwest Riverside County’s 

economic engine? Because MSJC provides 

career training and certification, 

prepares students for transfer to four-year 

universities and gets students ready to 

compete in today’s job market. 

MSJC is close to home and offers 

financial assistance, including free tuition 

to first-time, full-time students. This 

means students from all socioeconomic 

backgrounds have access to high-quality 

education. Across a 1,700-square-mile 

district, MSJC serves about 27,000 students 

a year on campuses in Temecula, 

Menifee, San Jacinto and the San Gorgonio 

Pass and several off-site locations. 

MSJC’s Career Education department 

collaborates with business and 

industry leaders to create courses that are 

responsive to ever-changing technologies 

and trains our future workforce so they 

can secure high-paying, in-demand jobs. 

Students can earn Associate in Science 

degrees; Associate in Arts degrees; 

state-approved certificate programs; 

occupational internships; and flexible 

training courses. 

Programs that teach hospitality, viticulture 

and the business of wine making 

prepare students for jobs in the Temecula 

Valley Wine Country. MSJC’s Nursing 

and Allied Health programs provide 

training for careers in our local hospitals 

and other health-related fields. Introduction 

to Construction and Introduction 

to Culinary Arts get students ready for 

in-demand jobs. 

Visit www.msjc.edu/CareerEducation 

or call (951) 639-5352 to learn more 

about the Career Education possibilities 

MSJC offers. 

Businesses can invest in their employees 

and their companies by providing 

employer-paid, on-site contract training 

through MSJC’s Community Education 

and Workplace Training. Professional 

Development classes and workshops 

are designed to help update employees’ 

skills in subjects such as Notary, Basic 

Computer Skills, Office Skills, or industry-specific 

skills in Water Distribution 

and Entrepreneurial Boot Camps in various 

topics. The training is customized to 

meet employers’ needs. Learn more by 

visiting www.msjc.edu/CommunityEducationWorkplaceTraining 

or calling 

(951) 487-3711. 

Students can also prepare to transfer to 

universities and earn associate degrees in 

many subjects, including English, History, 

Math, the sciences and much more. 

In Fall 2020, MSJC will open its 

new state-of-the-art Temecula Valley 

Campus at 41888 Motor Car Parkway 

in Temecula. The renovated 5-story 

building will feature 22 classrooms, 6 

science labs, and 5 computer classrooms, 

a Learning Resource Center, Library, 

Student Life, Health Center, Veterans 

Center, and Student Services – including 

enrollment, counseling and financial aid 

– a bookstore, café, art studio, career 

center, transfer center, and campus safety.


4 www.TheValleyBusinessJournal.com 


Temecula Valley High School 

Parking & Reagan Park Restrictions Update 

The Temecula Valley Unified 

School District and The City of Temecula 

appreciate the outreach from 

members of the community in response 

to concerns regarding newly approved 

parking restrictions to some areas of 

Reagan Park. The City and TVUSD support 

the planned restrictions to maintain 

our mutual safety goals for our residents 

and students. 

One of the concerns expressed 

during the past few weeks has been the 

perceived displacement of students who 

currently use the particular public lot at 

Reagan Park, instead of parking on the 

Temecula Valley High School (TVHS) 

closed campus. TVUSD and TVHS 

administration are confident that we will 

be able to accommodate TVHS students 

who choose to park on campus. 

TVHS has re-allocated adequate 

parking spots to accommodate students 

who wish to park on the TVHS closed 

campus. TVHS currently has 70 open 

student parking spaces on campus and 

can create additional spaces, based 

on demand. Consistent with practices 

throughout high school campuses, 

TVHS’ ASB (Associated Student Body) 

sets the parking fees for the year. The 

ASB collects the funds raised and allocates 

the funding towards costs associated 

with school priorities. Currently, 

TVHS’ ASB charges a flat $55.00 per 

year rate. Students who wish to park on 

campus beginning January 7, 2020, can 

purchase for a reduced pro-rated cost 

of $27.50. For any student who has a 

financial hardship, the school has a plan 

in place to assist. 

We cannot mandate students to 

park on the TVHS campus. There 

will be students that choose to park 

off-campus for their reasons. While it 

is our preference for TVHS students to 

park on campus, if they choose not to, 

we want to encourage them to be good 

neighbors and not impact residential 

homes in the area. For students who 

wish to continue to park off-campus, 

the City has confirmed that there are two 

field lots at Reagan Park, approximately 

700 feet from the newly restricted lot 

(below street grade), that will continue 

to have available public parking during 

regular park hours (5 am – 10 pm). The 

restrictions to this area were approved 

for public safety reasons, and the City 

of Temecula, through the Sheriff’s Department, 

will be monitoring this area 

both before and after school, given the 

level of altercations, vandalism and 

drug/alcohol abuses encountered in this 

parking area. 

TVHS students who wish to purchase 

a parking space on the TVHS 

closed campus should contact Canli 

Mertz in bookkeeping to obtain the 

school’s parking application form . 

In this issue: 

TSupervisor Washington Re-Elected t Statewide Committee 1 

Murrieta City Council Selects Gene Wunderlich as Incoming Mayor 1 

Public Relations Society of America Chapter Honors Water District 1 

TVCC Announces Newly Elected Board Members for 2020 1 

MSJC is Southwest Riverside County’s Economic Engine 3 

Community 4-11 

Signs Your Elderly Parent Needs Help 9 

Overlooked Tax Deductions for Small-Business Owners 12 

Rates are down in Southwest Riverside County 13 

Discharge from a Skilled NursingFacility: What Are Your Rights? 14 

What Makes a Window Energy Efficient? 15 

The Difference a Performance Review Makes 18 

What You Don’t Know You’re Missing When You Work from Home 20 

Contact Lenses 21 

Reforming Health Care 23 

Welcome to 2020 23 

No Record Pace, But Still A Solid Year 24 

How Does Internet Naming Work? 25 

Arts, Dining and Entertainment 26-31




5




Community Outreach Ministry 

Recognized for its Mentoring Services 


www.facebook/ 

thevalleybusinessjournal 

For questions, comments, or story ideas, please 

e-mail publishertvbj@verizon.net or 

call (951) 461-0400. 

Dr. Mona and Bob Davies 

receiving Certificate of 

Recognition from Opal Hellweg 

Legislative Assistant (center) 

EDITOR/PUBLISHER/CEO 

Linda Wunderlich 

Email: publishertvbj@verizon.net 

ADVERTISING SALES INFORMATION 

(951) 461-0400 

CREATIVE DIRECTOR 

Helen M. Ryan 

VP OF DISTRIBUTION 

Dane Wunderlich 

STAFF WRITERS/ 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

Gene Wunderlich 

Ted Saul 

Helen M. Ryan 

Stefani Laszko 

Nicole Albrecht 

Julie Ngo 

Tom Plant 

Esther Phahla 

Dr. Dennis Petersen 

Steve Amante 

Monique deGroot 

Andrea Shoup 

Gloria Wolnick 

Dr. Drake Levasheff, PhD 

Mort J. Grabel, Esq. 

John & Christine Hamby 

Brian Connors 

Tristin Collopy 

Dr. Pat Utnehmer 

In recognition of their service as 

mentors to local youth, Dr. Mona Davies 

and her husband Bob were awarded a 

Certificate of Recognition in December 

from Supervisor Chuck Washington 

Third District, Riverside County Board 

of Supervisors. The Davies, founders 

of Community Outreach Ministry, a 

nonprofit organization, have helped thousands 

of at-risk children since 2000. The 

organization provides positive social, 

safety, educational and vocational opportunities 

to children impacted by parental 

incarceration and high-risk youth. The 

Davies are the authors of Children’s 

Liberation from Incarceration Breaking 

Cycles New Beginnings. 

The certificate was in honor of the 

mentoring services the Davies offered 

youth for a recent “Gearing Up For 

STEM” Mentor Protégé Workshop. In 

addition to the Davies, a team of mentors 

was also honored for their mentoring 

services. Laverne Williams-Schoonover 

Ed.D, a guidance counselor at Aspire 

Community Day School received a Certificate 

of Recognition from Supervisor 

Chuck Washington Third District, Riverside 

County Board of Supervisors. Opal 

Hellweg, Legislative Assistant, presented 

a certificate to Williams-Schoonover and 

the student body. 

The day school Principal Andrew 

Silva, students and staff were also present 

at the December 12 event. The middle 

and high school students who participated 

in the STEM workshop came prepared 

to the presentation where they assembled 

Green Science robot kits with their mentors 

and peers. Students who finished 

their robots first were promoted to junior 

mentors. Students collaborated with their 

peers and protégés to fully assemble each 

robot. The workshops serve to develop 

valuable, hands-on STEM skills, teamwork 

and good sportsmanship. 

The Community Outreach Ministry 

mentoring team included Bob Davies, a 

retired aerospace engineer, Marc Ang, 

founder and president of Asian Industry 

B2B Orange County, Marilyn Brown 

and her grandson Jacori Neal, a student 

at Temescal Canyon High School in 

Lake Elsinore. Neal talked about his 

progression from robot kit assembly to 

his newest venture: programing robots to 

talk, sing, walk and dance. Neal is selftaught 

in both robotics and engineering 

and is also an accomplished singer and 

musician. Neal now volunteers at many 

of the programs and events held by the 

nonprofit organization. 

More than 20 students at the community 

day school participated in the 

workshop. Students worked together in 

small groups with mentors and peers. 

Students used Tool kits, Phillips-Head 

screwdrivers, wire cutters, batteries to 

complete assembly of an ECO-Engineering 

TINCAN EDGE DETECTOR 

science kit. TINCAN is a smart robot that 

is built with sensors so that it can glide 

across tables without falling off. 

Marc Ang, one of the adult mentors 

commented that the STEM workshops 

administered by Community Outreach 

Ministry are “quick, impactful and 

transformational.” He also said that he 

has “watched at-risk students derive 

confidence, tangible and practical skills 

and a collaboration mindset from this 

powerful activity and service. 

Community Outreach Ministry welcomes 

the public to contact them at 

951-698-7650 or visit them online at 

www.communityoutreachministry. 

org. Donations, including kits for 

future STEM workshops are 

always welcome. 

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.




Professional Women’s Roundtable 

‘State of the Cities’ Temecula and Murrieta 

7 

Zak Schwank 

Gene Wunderlich 

Temecula Council Member Zak Schwank 

Zak Schwank has lived in Temecula with his wife and children since 2001. 

Zak has served on School Site Council at Paloma Elementary School and on the 

PTA Executive Board at Temecula Elementary School. Zak was appointed to the 

City of Temecula Community Services Commission in 2013 and served as Chairperson 

from 2015-2018. 

He is currently serving his first term on the Temecula City Council. Since 

moving to Temecula, Zak has tirelessly worked for Temecula families. In 2011, he 

launched Temecula Bike Train. This organization began as a desire for a program 

that educated families about cycling and empowered them to choose a bicycle for 

transportation. 

Temecula Bike Train started with Paloma Elementary and has grown to include 

programs at Barnett Elementary and Temecula Elementary. Over the years Zak has 

partnered with the City of Temecula, The Bike Shop Temecula, and various other 

agencies and groups to provide education and insight into safely biking to school 

and work. With the support of many dedicated and knowledgeable community 

members, Temecula Bike Train has been able to donate more than 50 new and 

used bikes to children and adults in Temecula. 

Having started a family in Temecula, Zak is aware of the impact a safe and 

positive environment has on families. Through his work within the community, Zak 

sees firsthand the benefits families gain from parks, community theater, museums, 

classes, and activities offered by the City of Temecula. As a Council Member, Zak 

will focus on the positive quality of life and family values that make Temecula an 

exceptional place to live, work, and play. 

City of Murrieta Mayor Gene Wunderlich 

A local business leader and 30-year Murrieta resident, he is well-known 

throughout the region for his community involvement, as an advocate for cities 

at the regional and national level, and hasbeen recognized by the Murrieta/Wildomar 

Chamber of Commerce as Citizen of the Year. Wunderlich has served on 

numerous City committees over the years including Chair of the General Plan 

Advisory Committee in 2004-2005, the Sign Ordinance Committee and the Development 

Advisory Group. 

Whether he is behind a microphone emceeing local charitable events, as an 

auctioneer raising funds for a cause, interviewing candidates for local races, or 

presenting a legislative or economic update for the region, Wunderlich is all about 

community. He can occasionally be seen on stage at the Old Town Temecula 

Community Theater and is currently touring Murrieta for his 15th season as Santa. 

Wunderlich is Vice President of Government Affairs for the Southwest 

Riverside County Association of Realtors, liaison for the Southwest California 

Legislative Council, Vice Chair of the Temecula Theater Foundation and the 

Board of Governors for the Southwest Healthcare System. He also serves several 

roles with the California Association of Realtors (CAR). 

RSVP is a must! The cost to attend the luncheon meeting is $20.00 for members and $25.00 for guests. Must pay online at www.pwronline.org the Monday 

before or $25.00 at the door for all. Thank you. 

We meet the first Thursday of every month. Join PWR for our monthly lunch meeting. 

Registration begins at 11:15 a.m. 

For more information visit our website www.pwronline.org. The Professional Women’s Roundtable (PWR) is a non-profit, 501c3, women’s organization, 

dedicated to helping women succeed through mentoring by example, powerful speakers, educational workshops and, of course, networking! 

Thursday, January 9th - 11:15 a.m.–1:00 p.m. at 8bit Brewing Company, 26755 Jefferson Ave., Ste. F in Murrieta 

The Professional Women’s Roundtable invites all professional women and PWR members to attend the meetings every first Thursday of the month. For 

reservations and more information visit www.pwronline.org. For more information, please contact Annette LaRocque: (951) 300-6676.




How Much Power Does Form W-4 Have Over 

Your Tax Bill? 

FINANCIAL 

by Esther Phahla, 

CPA, CTS, MST 

Most employees complete Form 

W-4, but they never realize how much 

power it has over their tax bill come tax 

preparation time. 

A Form W-4, formerly known as 

“Employee’s Withholding Allowance 

Certificate”, is filled out by employees 

to tell employers how much tax to withhold 

from each paycheck. The employer 

uses the W-4 to calculate certain payroll 

taxes and remits the taxes to the IRS on 

the employee’s behalf. You’ll fill out a 

W-4 when you start a new job, but you 

can change your W-4 any time. 

For the year 2020 the IRS has 

redesigned the W-4 form and is now 

titled “Employee’s Withholding 

Certificate”. The new form reduces 

complexity, increases transparency 

and accuracy of the withholdings, 

balances privacy for employees while 

minimizing the burden for employers 

and payroll processors. It incorporates 

the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act better by 

allowing employees to more accurately 

estimate the amount of tax they ask their 

employers to withhold from their paychecks 

beginning in 2020. Unlike the 

old form, the new form no longer uses 

allowances. With the old form, the value 

of the withholding allowances was tied 

to the amount of personal exemptions. 

Due to the changes in tax law, you can 

no longer claim personal or dependency 

exemptions. 

You don’t have to fill out the new 

form if you already have a W-4 on file 

with your employer. But if you change 

jobs in 2020 or want to adjust your 

withholdings at your existing job, you’ll 

likely need to fill out the new W-4. Either 

way, it’s a great habit to review your 

withholdings. 

The questions that always come 

up are: 

• When should I increase my withholding? 

If you had a huge tax bill last 

year and don’t want another, you can 

use Form W-4 to increase your withholding. 

That will help you owe less 

(or nothing) this year. Other reasons 

are: If you have more than one job at a 

time or you and your spouse both have 

jobs, or you have income from sources 

other than jobs or self-employment 

that is not subject to withholding. If 

you do not make adjustments to your 

withholding for these situations, you 

will very likely owe additional tax 

when filing your tax return, and you 

may owe penalties. You can also pay 

quarterly estimated taxes instead of 

having extra withholding if you have 

income from sources other than from 

jobs. 

• When should I decrease my withholding? 

If you received a huge 

refund last year, you gave the government 

a free loan and could be living 

on less of your paycheck all year long. 

Other reasons to decrease your withholdings 

are: If you are eligible for income 

tax credits, such as the child tax 

credit or credit for other dependents 

or are eligible for deductions other 

than the basic standard deduction, 

such as itemized deductions, or IRA 

contributions. 

• Can I claim Exemption from withholding? 

You can claim exemption 

from withholding for the year 2020 

if you meet the following conditions: 

You had no federal income tax liability 

in 2019 and expect to have no 

federal income tax liability in 2020. If 

you claim exemption, no income tax 

will be withheld from your paycheck. 

All new employees with the first 

paycheck in 2020 must use the redesigned 

form. Similarly, any other employee 

who wishes to adjust their withholding 

must use the redesigned form. 

Don’t overlook your withholdings. They 

are part of your tax planning strategy. 

It’s Not How Much You Make… It’s 

How Much You KEEP! $$$ 

Esther Phahla is a Certified Public 

Accountant and Certified Tax Strategist 

in Temecula. She is the Best- Selling 

Author of tax planning books “Why 

Didn’t My CPA Tell Me That” and “10 

Most Expensive Tax Mistakes That Cost 

Business Owners Thousands”. She also 

holds a Masters of Science in Taxation. 

She can be reached at (951) 514-2652 

or visit www.estherphahlacpa.com 

It incorporates the Tax Cuts and Jobs 

Act better by allowing employees to more 

accurately estimate the amount of tax they 

ask their employers to withhold from their 

paychecks beginning in 2020.


Signs Your Elderly Parent Needs Help 

by John & Christine Hamby 

How do adult children know when 

their elderly parent needs help? Oftentimes 

the parent won’t be the one to admit 

they need assistance. And sometimes 

they may even try to hide the fact that 

they need additional care. We’ve put 

together some helpful tips on how you - 

the adult child - can recognize the signs 

that your aging parent needs help, as well 

as recommendations on what you can 

do next. So, while you’re visiting with 

loved ones this holiday season, keep the 

following in mind: 

Their once tidy home is now being 

neglected - Does your parent seem to be 

having difficulty doing typical housekeeping 

tasks? Are you noticing more dirt 

and clutter around their home? Cleaning 

the house can become difficult for aging 

parents for a variety of reasons. Their 

eyesight could be failing, and they could 

be missing spots simply because they 

cannot see the dirt. They may have difficulty 

moving around or bending. These 

physical limitations could be preventing 

them from doing any cleaning around 

the house. 

Recommendation: Non-medical 

home care services like Companion 

Care could offer support to your parent 

by providing light housekeeping and 

laundry services. 

They are losing track of their medication...or 

skipping it altogether - As 

your parent ages, they tend to have more 

medications to take each day. It may 

become more difficult for them to remember 

what to take and when. You may 

find that your parent has been skipping 

doses as advised by their doctor, or that 

they are taking more per dose than stipulated 

in the prescription. Missing doses 

completely could affect their health; 

taking more medication than their doctor 

has prescribed could have catastrophic 

outcomes. 

Recommendation: A pill box that 

stores their daily doses of medicine is 

a great way to help your parent avoid 

skipping or taking too much of their 

prescribed medications. Organize a 

week’s worth of medication in advance, 

and place the pill box in a convenient 

location to help your parent keep up with 

their medications. 

There’s a decline in their personal 

hygiene care - If you start to notice that 

your aging parent has unkempt hair, dirty 

or lengthy nails, poor oral hygiene, body 



or urine odor, or is wearing the same 

clothes over and over again, this might 

be a sign that they need help. 

Recommendation: Caregivers can 

provide Personal Care services that aid 

and assist with bathing and hygiene needs 

specific to your parent. 

Driving safely has become an issue 

- Check for dents or scratches on your 

parent’s vehicle. Additionally, if there is 

an increase in traffic violations, if your 

parent easily becomes lost in familiar 

areas, or you notice signs of deteriorating 

vision, this could mean that they need to 

hand over the keys. This can be a hard 

topic to address with your parent, but 

there are options. 

Recommendation: If your parent is 

still active and social and enjoys getting 

out of the house, companion caregivers 

can safely provide transportation to the 

grocery store, doctor appointments, lunch 

out with friends and more. 

Mail is piling up, bills not being 

paid - If you noticed mail is piling up, 

bills are not being paid, or the checking 

account isn’t in order, your parent may 

have become overwhelmed by this task. 

They may be struggling to face the decision-making 

that the business end of life 

requires. As people get older, they often 

become more likely to hoard things and 

not throw them out. Don’t just go in and 

start tossing out what you think is trash. 

Gently discuss your concerns with your 

parent. 

Recommendation: Sit down with 

them and help them go through their 

mail. Look at each piece and help them 

clear down the pile. If maintaining their 

checkbook is too much, discuss allowing 

you to become a signer on the checking 

account to help them keep their money 

in order each month. 

Tell Us: How did you first recognize 

that your elderly parent needed some 

extra assistance? Comment below or join 

the conversation on Facebook. 

If you would like tips and information 

on family caregiving, home care, 

aging and more delivered right to your inbox, 

subscribe to our weekly newsletter. 

This article is provided by John and 

Christine Hamby, Owners, FirstLight 

Home Care of Temecula. For more information, 

visit us online at Temecula. 

FirstLightHomeCare.com or call us at 

(951) 395-0821. 

9




January 14th BWN Meeting 

features Member Speakers 

Sandra Crayton - All aThings Beauty 

Sherry Powers - AARE 

& 

Sandra is a Hair and Make-up Artist 

who teaches women how to look & feel 

beautiful every day without spending 

hours in front of the mirror. 

Email: sandracrayton@yahoo.com 

Phone: 619-948-5742 

Website: www.marykay.com/scrayton 

Sherry is a Full-Service Realtor who 

uses her Real Estate Powers for Good. 

Email: sherrycpowers@gmail.com 

Phone: 949-394-3685 

Website: www.sherrypowers.aare.org 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ 

sherrypowersrealestate/ 

January 28 meeting will feature an 

informative and interactive goal setting 

workshop that will set the stage for 

members to achieve record-breaking 

results in 2020. 

Sandra Crayton 

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 

Temecula Chamber of Commerce. We 

are all about promoting ourselves and 

each other and building strategic relationships 

with other local professional 

women while having fun. We meet at 

noon on the second and fourth Tuesdays 

at The Broken Yolk Café at 26495 

Ynez Rd, Temecula. Check us out at 

http://business-womens-networktemecula.com 

SHERRY POWERS 

2020 - The Year of the Employee 

2020 - The Year of the Employee 

With an economy that is seeing some 

of the lowest levels of unemployment 

in years, it is more important than ever 

to motivate and retain employees. The 

time and money that has been invested 

in onboarding those that play a key role 

in the success of your company must 

not be lost. 

Choose to make 2020 the year of 

your employees and reduce turnover by 

planning and strategizing the satisfaction 

of your workforce. A few steps can go 

a long way to building the loyalty and 

pride that will make your company the 

one with which your customers want to 

do business. To get started think about 

how appreciation is shown. 

Take time to get to know your team 

members individually and understand 

their job aspirations and why they choose 

to apply and work at your company. Find 

out what drives them to do a good job. 

Helping the employee move toward their 

career goals is a sure way to show that 

the company cares for them whether that 

means staying in house or not. 

Keep in mind promoting from within 

is a sure way to encourage employees to 

contribute to the success of the business. 

Make them feel important by listening to 

their input and where possible, involving 

them in decision making demonstrating 

that their thoughts and experience are 

valued. Reward them appropriately. 

To do this learn what is important to 

them. Finances tend to top the list, but 

it is only one method of reward and not 

always possible. 

Make sure employees understand 

the criteria for earning a salary increase 

and a potential bonus. Those doing a 

consistently good job need to have these 

opportunities available. However, rewards 

can come in other forms. Public 

recognition such as employee of the 

month for notable accomplishments is 

one example. 

Lunches, dinners or other special 

events celebrations will show the value 

the company puts on its employees. Be 

sure to mark lengths of service with some 

type of acknowledgment. These days 

gift cards are fast and easy way of saying 

thank you for a job well done. 

Allowing for volunteering assignments 

that benefit the community will 

also fulfill the desires of many employees. 

In today’s job market there is no 

room for complacency. Appreciate your 

employees and it will pay off. 

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 TedSaulBiz@gmail.com. 

Take time to get to 

know your team 

members individually 

and understand their 

job aspirations and why 

they choose to apply 

and work at 

your company. Find 

out what drives them 

to do a good job. 

by 

by 

Ted Saul, 

Steve Fillingim 

Sr. Staff Writer 

“




California’s Energy Future 

11 

by Matt Rahn 

We are facing some tough choices 

ahead. Solutions to meet our current 

and future energy demands are running 

up against changing laws, regulations, 

and policies on where our power should 

come from, and how it should be generated. 

This is certainly no easy task as 

we work to find a reasonable balance 

between the needs of our community, 

our economy, and our environment. In 

response to this growing need, California 

State University San Marcos is 

proud to offer a one-day symposium on 

“California’s Energy Future.” 

Please join us on February 20th, at 

Pechanga Resort Casino to participate in 

a public symposium that will facilitate a 

robust and balanced dialogue about energy 

and other critical public safety concerns in 

California. We will convene two expert 

panels. The morning session will focus 

on what our energy future looks like, and 

how our region and state are working 

together to ensure a sustainable and equitable 

outlook. Panelists will provide key 

recommendations on how we can secure 

a viable energy future, achieving positive 

economic growth while mitigating environmental 

impacts. 

The afternoon session will address 

one of the most critical issues facing our 

state: wildfires and the wildland urban 

interface. This second expert panel will 

discuss trends of wildfires in California 

and how the wildland areas, urban 

interface, and our infrastructure can be 

managed and upgraded to respond to 

the increasing wildfire risk and improve 

our community’s resilience. We will also 

share with you some of the emerging research 

and advanced education programs 

that are working to solve these problems, 

and how our region is quickly becoming 

a national leader in wildfire issues. 

We hope you join us along with our 

partners at Southern California Edison, 

SoCal Gas, CR&R Environmental Services, 

the Western Riverside Council of 

Governments, CAL FIRE, and Pechanga 

in what is sure to be a dynamic and 

exciting day discussing some of the 

most consequential issues facing our 

region. For more information about 

attending the conference, or sponsoring 

the event, please visit our website at: 

www.elaatcsusm.com. Information on 

the symposium can be found at the bottom 

of the page. I hope to see you there! 

Matt Rahn, PhD, MS, JD




Overlooked Tax Deductions for Small-Business 

Owners 

FINANCIAL 

Presented by 

Nicole Albrecht 

Helpful tips for tax time. Being a 

small-business owner isn’t easy. After 

all, balancing payroll, managing employees, 

drawing up marketing plans, 

and handling the bookkeeping can be 

stressful! Luckily, the Internal Revenue 

Service (I.R.S.) allows small-business 

owners to take some surprising deductions, 

which may help come tax time. 

Read on to learn more. 

Remember, the information in this 

material is not intended as tax or legal 

advice. It may not be used for the 

purpose of avoiding any federal tax 

penalties. Please consult a professional 

with legal or tax expertise for specific 

information regarding your individual 

situation. 

Employ your personal cell phone. 

The I.R.S. allows small-business owners 

to deduct the cost of the time spent on 

business calls made while using their 

personal mobile device. The key is to 

make sure you keep an itemized monthly 

phone bill for your records .1 

Assuming an $80-per-month phone 

bill and a 50% deduction, you may be 

able to deduct $480 from your state and 

federal tax returns! The best way to track 

your business call time? Try a using separate 

number for your business, which 

automatically routes to your phone. This 

way, it will be easy to see your business 

versus personal phone usage. 

Put your home to work. If you use 

part of your home for business, you may 

be able to deduct those expenses. These 

can include a portion of your home as 

well as insurance and utilities. 

However, there are some conditions 

that must be met to claim these deductions. 

First, the portion of your home 

you claim for business use must be 

exclusively for your company. Second, 

the part of your home used by your 

company must be either your principal 

place of business, a place to meet with 

customers, or a separate structure used 

in connection with your business. 2 

Hold your meetings over a meal. 

If you and your employees have meetings, 

consider having them over a meal. 

As long as the dining expenses are 

reasonable and you’re eating with an 

employee to discuss business-related 

items, you are permitted to deduct 50% 

of the meal cost. 3 

This may seem like a small advantage 

but consider this: if you manage to 

have a “business lunch” every day for 

$10, you can deduct $5 of that expense, 

which could amount to over $1,200 a 

year in claimable deductions! 

Deduct and fly for free. Many 

small-business owners believe they can 

reduce travel costs by using the miles 

they earn through a qualifying credit 

card to pay for their next business flight. 

Since your travel costs for business may 

be fully deductible, however, why not 

put those miles to use in your personal 

life instead? 4 

Depending on your air-travel expenses, 

your income tax rate, and the 

number of miles you may be able to 

accrue in a year, this could save you 

thousands of dollars in expenses. 

Nicole Albrecht may be reached at 

951.719-1515 or Nicole@taxmanfred. 

comwww.taxmanfred.com 

Citations. 

1 - www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/deducting-business-expenses#what 

[6/03/2019] 

2 - www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p535.pdf 

[6/03/2019] 

3 -www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-issuesguidance-on-tax-cuts-and-jobs-actchanges-on-business-expense-deductions- 

for-meals-entertainment 

[6/03/2019] 

“ 

Being a small-business owner isn’t easy. 

After all, balancing payroll, managing employees, 

drawing up marketing plans, and 

handling the bookkeeping can be stressful!




13 

Rates are down in Southwest Riverside 

County 

We are coming up on the 26th Anniversary 

of the devastating 6.7 Magnitude 

Northridge Earthquake that occurred on 

January 17, 1994. As I type this, a 4.3 

Magnitude Earthquake was recorded 

today (December 17, 2019), 21 miles 

from Paso Robles, CA. I published 

an Earthquake article with The Valley 

Business Journal in August of 2016, and 

I thought it was important to share this 

information again. It’s also important 

to note that rates have decreased drastically 

in Southwest Riverside County 

the past six months, not to mention, 

some insurance carriers offer a discount 

on your primary home and autos if you 

carry earthquake insurance through the 

California Earthquake Authority (CEA). 

Contact your insurance professional 

today to learn more about earthquake 

coverage and available discounts. 

Facts About Earthquakes and Earthquake 

Insurance 

1. Rates for Earthquake insurance can 

vary significantly. 

2. Generally, in earthquake-prone areas, 

the cost of this insurance is relatively 

high. In other areas, it is relatively 

inexpensive. 

3. In California, Earthquake insurance 

is issued by an independent organization, 

the California Earthquake 

Authority (CEA). CEA policies are 

available through your agent. 

4. There is no way to predict exactly 

when or where an earthquake will occur. 

Seismologists can say that numerous 

minor to moderate earthquakes 

will be felt in the United States in the 

next year or two and that a major one 

will occur within the next 25 years. 

It is estimated that a major earthquake 

in a populated area of the United 

States could cause as much as $200 

billion in losses. 

Do You Need Earthquake Insurance? 

Here are some questions to ask 

yourself when considering coverage: 

• Is my home covered if an earthquake 

does occur? 

• Can I afford the cost of rebuilding or 

repairing my home if damaged as the 

result of an earthquake? 

• What would it cost to replace my personal 

belongings damaged as a result 

of an earthquake? 

• How would I pay for temporary housing 

if an earthquake causes structural 

damage to my home or makes it uninhabitable? 

Prepare – Building Your Earthquake 

Action Plan 

• The only way to be ready for the unexpected 

is to prepare ahead of time. 

That’s why it’s important to have an 

Earthquake Action Plan in place for 

you, your family, and your business. 

It’s especially important if you live 

in earthquake zones like California, 

Oregon, and Washington. 

• Talk to your friends and family and 

decide on a place to meet if you’re 

separated after an earthquake. 

• Make an emergency communication 

plan in case cell towers or phone lines 

are down. You can also ask a relative 

or friend outside your area to be your 

contact. 

• Locate a safe place in every room 

of your home and discuss with your 

family the safest places to be during 

an earthquake. Remember, if you’re: 

• Inside, get under something heavy 

like a sturdy table or against an inside 

wall and cover your head. 

• Outside, stay away from buildings 

and get out into the open. 

• In your car, stop and stay in your seat. 

If you’re stopped near a building or 

under an overpass, try to safely move 

away from them. 

• Store first aid kits anywhere you 

spend a lot of time (home, car, work, 

etc.). 

• Pack plenty of batteries, flashlights, 

and bottles of water to prepare for 

power outages and water shortages. 

• Review your home’s important systems 

(electrical, gas, water, etc.) and 

know how to operate them or shut 

them off in an emergency. 

• Know your earthquake insurance 

options and eligibility. 

• Although they’re somewhat rare 

occurrences, earthquakes are still 

incredibly scary, overwhelming, and 

unpredictable forces of nature. But 

with some knowledge and preparation, 

we can mitigate risks and keep 

ourselves and our families safe from 

disaster. 

Craig Davis Family Insurance Agency 

has been proudly serving customers in 

the valley since 1990. Their motto has 

always been “Let Our Family Serve 

Your Family’s Insurance Needs.” 

INSURANCE 

by by 

Craig Steve Davis Fillingim 

“ 

...rates have 

decreased drastically 

in Southwest 

Riverside County the 

past six months,




Discharge from a Skilled Nursing 

Facility: What Are Your Rights? 

If you have a family member who 

was admitted to a skilled nursing facility 

following hospitalization, you 

may not realize that there are rules if 

the facility asks a resident to leave. 

The first thing to know is that if you 

simply accept any reason given for 

the discharge then that is considered 

‘voluntary’, and in essence you give 

up your rights. 

For that reason, it is good to know 

what the justifiable reasons are for 

involuntary discharge. Those are set 

out under Federal law and subject to 

review on patient appeal by an independent 

agency, so the facility cannot 

just make the decision arbitrarily on 

their own. 

The Six Reasons Justifying Discharge 

are: 

1. For the resident’s welfare and 

their needs cannot be met any 

longer. 

2. Improvement in the resident’s 

health so they no longer need 

the facility. 

3. The health of other residents 

would be endangered. 

4. Safety of other residents at risk 

due to clinical or behavioral 

status. 

5. Failure to pay after reasonable 

notice, or failure to submit paperwork 

to a third party. 

6. The facility closes. 

What Does the Facility Have to do 

for a Discharge? 

As you look at the list of reasons 

it would seem simple for the facility 

to make a claim one of the reasons 

has been met and begin the discharge. 

At this point, you can either leave or 

refuse the discharge based on one of 

the reasons. Then the facility has an 

obligation to provide written notice, 

documentation and evidence supporting 

the discharge reason. 

For example, if the reason is that 

the resident’s health has improved, then 

there would be a need for documentation 

of the fact from a physician of 

the resident’s choice. Even if there is 

evidence, a ‘discharge plan’ also has to 

be developed to assist in the transition. 

As you might guess, many family 

members or residents are unaware of 

these rights and rules and will often 

leave the facility whenever requested. 

Many patients are told they are “no 

longer rehabilitating”, or “the 20-day 

insurance coverage” is up as reasons 

for discharge. Many families are 

merely told their mother or father will 

be discharged on a particular day and 

for the family to come and pick them 

up. These are not valid reasons for 

discharge. However, you can JUST 

SAY NO. 

You can make sure your rights are 

protected and assert this process of 

review either on your own, or with the 

assistance of an attorney who is familiar 

with this area of elder law. 

If you or a family member is in a skilled 

nursing facility and facing discharge, 

please contact the attorneys at Shoup 

Legal, a Professional Law Corporation, 

at 951-445-4114 to assist in 

evaluating and contesting what may 

be an unjustified discharge. 

ShoupLegal.com 

LEGAL 

by by 

Andrea Steve Fillingim Shoup 

“ 

As you might guess, many family members 

or residents are unaware of these rights 

and rules and will often leave the facility 

whenever requested. Many patients are 

told they are “no longer rehabilitating,” or 

“the 20-day insurance coverage” is up as 

reasons for discharge.


What Makes a Window Energy Efficient? 



15 

Many factors determine a window’s 

energy efficiency. The first is Low-E 

(Emissivity). It’s a reflective coating on 

the glass that reflects heat. Low-E works 

to keep homes comfortable year-round. 

In the winter, heat is reflected into the 

room instead of leaking out into the environment. 

In the summer, the outside coating 

reflects UV rays out, so that it doesn’t 

penetrate the glass. Reflecting UV rays 

also reduces the ability for the sun to fade 

carpet, furniture, and upholstery. 

The next attribute for energy-efficiency 

is argon gas. It’s an irenic gas and 

fills the gap between the glass, raising the 

R-value of the window. R-value is a measurement 

of insulation. As an example, 

for insulating a wall, you would choose 

from R 13, R 15, or R 19, depending on 

how thick your walls are. Argon adds 

some insulating feature as well. 

Obviously, a window is a big hole 

in your wall with glass in it, so the more 

insulating factor or R-value you can get, 

the more energy efficient it is. Thus, argon 

increases the R-value and keeps the 

heat in or out depending on the weather 

and temperatures outside. 

When replacement windows were 

first on the market, there was often a 

lot of condensation around the edges of 

the window. New technology and a better-made 

window have mostly eliminated 

this. It reduces the heat transfer, which 

in turn, cuts down on any condensation 

around the window. 

Another way windows are energy 

efficient is the use of interlocking meeting 

rails. It is a feature that locks the 

window tight and prevents air to pass 

through. When there are two sashes, 

there will be an interlocking meeting rail. 

Weatherstripping is another feature of 

new replacement windows that delivers 

the ultimate benefit. Weatherstripping 

should be placed where this is vinyl to 

vinyl contact in or other frame material 

such as wood, fiberglass, or aluminum. 

The weatherstripping prevents you from 

being able to see right outside. Weatherstripping 

helps decrease drafts, especially 

in colder or windy weather. 

As you can see, all these energy-efficient 

improvements for replacement 

windows help consumers reduce energy 

costs. Replacing old windows with EN- 

ERGYSTAR® certified windows, the 

U.S. government’s label for windows 

meeting certain thresholds lowers household 

energy bills by an average of 12% 

nationwide. Lower energy consumption 

also reduces greenhouse gas emissions 

from power plants and homes. 

If you are considering replacing your 

windows, be sure to ask about the energy-efficient 

characteristics of the window 

so that you make a sound investment. 

For a FREE estimate and professional 

care, contact Andy’s Glass and Window 

at (951) 677-7421 or by emailing Sales@ 

andysglass.com. 

“Learning to Better Understand Yourself 

– What is Being Affected in You?” 

Topic January 7th for 

the Temecula NAFE meeting 

Nafe Director Robbie Motter & 

Co-Director Shelly Rufin invite you to 

attend our Temecula Nafe 6pm meeting at 

Texas Lil’s in Old Town Temecula 

We have a dynamic speaker Lori 

Brown-Wait, flying in from Colorado 

Have you ever caught yourself in a 

rotten mood and/or angry or unhappy for 

no apparent reason? Lori will talk about 

the value of learning to look inside yourself 

and better understand what emotions, 

physiological factors and outside influences 

may be causing you to feel that way. 

Understanding what is going on inside 

yourself helps you overcome your stress 

and negative feelings. 

About our speaker - Lori Brown- 

Wirth retired in 2018 from the University 

of Wyoming to write her memoirs. Lori 

had her 2-year old son stolen and taken 

to Iran during the infamous Iranian 

hostage crisis in 1980, and later worked 

with Nicaraguan refugees in Costa Rica. 

At a later point of despair in her life, she 

turned to drugs and alcohol for solace. She 

soon discovered recovery, and went on to 

fulfill lifelong goals, work with teenagers 

helping them to prepare for college, and 

eventually aid in the return of her long-lost 

son. The book details these events and 

discusses her journey from a shy, insecure 

young girl in an abusive relationship, to 

the strong, confident, and caring woman 

she is today. Due to allegations of abuse 

in the book, she wrote her autobiography, 

Papas With Ponytails, under the pen name 

Alexandra Flowers. 

Date: Tuesday, January 7th 

Time: 6:00 PM 

Location: Texas Lil’s 28495 Old Town 

Front Street, Temecula, CA 

Cost: Meeting fee: $10.00 for members 

$15.00 for guests, then you order dinner 

and pay the restaurant direct. 

RSVP to Robbie Motter 951-255-9200 or 

rmotter@aol.com 

Lori Brown-Wait




May this year be your 

best year ever! 

To our greatly valued advertisers and 

friends - thank you for your business in 2019. 

It has been a pleasure helping you reach 

your goals, and we look forward to serving 

you again in 2020. 

We wish you a wonderful new year filled 

with abundance, joy, and treasured moments. 

Linda Wunderlich, 

~ Editor/Publisher/CEO




17 

Smart Business Connections 

Support your 

local nonprofits 

Featured 

GOT SPACE? 

Coworking Connection Does! 

• Desk Space 

• Cube Space 

• Meeting Room Space 

• Event Space 

FUN, CREATIVE, COLLABORATIVE, 

GET WORK DONE SPACE! 

Drop on by Coworking 

Connection TODAY! 

Call us at 800-762-1391 for 

more information or visit 

us online: 

www.coworkingconnection.com 

Be part of your 

local chamber(s). 

Business helping 

business. 

NOW, you can be seen in this multiple award-winning 

newspaper at a lower price than ever before - only $89 per month. 

Contact us for more information at (951) 461-0400.




The Difference a Performance Review 

Makes 

EDUCATION 

by 

by 

Drake Levasheff, PhD. 

Steve Fillingim 

What do you think about performance 

reviews? When I talk to other 

leaders about the practice, I am surprised 

at how strongly many resist it. 

For some, it’s the idea altogether--isn’t 

it obvious to our employees how they 

are doing?! 

Others express frustration on the 

cumbersome nature of their organization’s 

process or the time commitment 

involved. A precious few leaders I 

know truly value reviews and have 

learned how to leverage them for 

results. But the frequent resistance is 

surprising to me since I have come to 

see candid conversations about performance 

and value to the organization as 

powerful tools to increase employee 

engagement and drive results. 

My second performance review as 

a professional, over twenty-five years 

ago, illustrates the value of reviews 

when done effectively. I remember it 

vividly: in a thirty-minute conversation, 

Andre made a huge difference in 

my relationship with the university and 

future success in the job. After cracking 

a few jokes and flashing his broad smile 

(he knew I was nervous), he offered a 

compelling vision for how I could grow 

in the position, providing caring, candid 

feedback. Andre affirmed the work 

I had done, emphasizing the difference 

it had made for our institution and students. 

And he shared how he had seen 

my strengths as a leader on display in 

the context of our team. 

Things had already been going 

well for me at the university, but our 

brief conversation set me up for further 

success. In that short time, my boss energized 

me by helping me see my own 

strengths. Sure, I had a sense, but the 

tangible examples he provided me further 

perspective for the season ahead. 

Andre did two other things that day 

that helped me. He tapped into my deep 

desire for meaning by emphasizing the 

difference I was making in my students’ 

lives. And, by talking me through some 

of the obstacles I was facing, he pointed 

me toward an even better future with 

the institution. 

As I consider that conversation and 

the performance reviews, I have done 

with my own team members over the 

years, a few thoughts stand out. First, 

with rare exception, I have found them 

to be an invaluable context to help people 

see the big picture and recognize the 

importance of their work. In addition, 

reviews are an ideal context for candid 

conversations about the challenges 

involved in the work; both customers 

and the organization benefit as a result. 

Finally, review processes provide 

important opportunities to affirm the 

strengths of employees, reinforcing 

positive behaviors and strengthening 

the connection between boss and employee. 

All of these elements make a difference 

in one essential area: employee 

engagement. By affirming their work, 

offering candid feedback, and identifying 

the gifts of employees, performance 

reviews can help them to feel 

better about themselves and enable us 

to strengthen our connection with our 

workers and theirs to the institution. 

As leaders, we do well to seize this 

opportunity to impact our employees; 

we neglect it to our own peril. 

Dr. Drake Levasheff is Senior Director 

of Azusa Pacific University’s Murrieta 

Regional Campus. He can be reached 

via email at dlevasheff@apu.edu. 

“ 

First, with rare exception, I have found 

them to be an invaluable context to help people 

see the big picture and recognize 

the importance of their work. In addition, reviews 

are an ideal context for candid conversations 

about the challenges involved in the 

work...




19




What You Don’t Know You’re Missing When 

You Work from Home in Temecula 

When working from home picked up 

steam in the early 2000s, it seemed like 

the ideal work-life balance: Work in your 

pajamas! No commute! Take your dog for 

a walk and get back to work! 

People in offices envied their athome 

counterparts, but what nobody was 

saying was that the reality of working 

from home is much less ideal than those 

pajama-clad employees and entrepreneurs 

were letting on. It turns out there 

are a lot of cons to working from your 

home office, including distractions, difficulty 

with productivity, struggles with 

separating work from life, and more. 

The recent emergence of coworking 

spaces has filled a space we didn’t know 

we needed. It gets people back into the 

productivity of an office environment — 

without the competition, heavy hovering 

from bosses, threat of the time clock, 

and nonsense meetings. The co-working 

space is turning out to be the best option 

for many people across multiple generations 

and industries. 

Benefits of Working in a Coworking 

Space - Community - Remote work 

has opened up more doors than anybody 

can count. The internet allows people 

to take their profitable ideas and bring 

them to life, and then expand on them 

again and again in countless ways. The 

downfall to working with nothing but a 

laptop? You miss out on community. 

When you’re at home, you’re totally 

alone. Instead, a coworking space puts 

you in proximity of other like-minded 

creatives. Socializing with people 

who have similar dreams, ideas, and 

challenges will help you see your work 

from a new perspective, allowing you to 

expand on what you previously thought 

was possible. 

Networking - Coworking spaces 

give you a professional space to network 

with others. With accommodating meeting 

rooms, you can host meetings and 

conferences in a professional space. Not 

only that, many co-working spaces give 

you access to their directory so you can 

find members to network with and join 

community events. 

Peace and Quiet - Most coworking 

spaces offer a variety of workspaces. If 

you’re somebody who needs complete 

silence, you can reserve a closed office. 

Need a little bit of buzz around you to 

help you focus? Work at a desk in the 

open office space. There’s an option for 

whatever suits your work style. 

Access to Office Equipment and 

Professional Mailing Address - At 

home, you may not want to keep up to 

date with all the latest office equipment, 

like printers, copy machines, and fax machines. 

These machines take up space, require 

maintenance, and when they break 

down you’re the one who has to handle it. 

In a coworking space, you can use office 

equipment when you need it. Someone 

else is maintaining it and keeping it ready 

for you. Plus, you can use a professional 

mailing address instead of renting a PO 

box or using your home address 

Meeting and Conference Rooms 

- If you run a business where you need 

to meet with people, you need a professional 

space. Asking your client to sign 

mortgage documents at a local coffee 

shop isn’t private or professional. Going 

over your marketing plan for your 

client at a library table doesn’t inspire 

much confidence in your abilities. In a 

co-working space, you can rent a meeting 

or conference room for your meetings — 

only pay for the time you need — and 

show your clients that you’re trustworthy, 

professional, and somebody they want to 

do business with. 

Coffee - Many coworking spaces 

have coffee available all day, as well 

as other perky amenities. When you 

work from home, you’re responsible for 

keeping your coffee stocked. It’s a little 

thing, but when you’re in the midst of 

a big project or back-to-back meetings, 

having coffee available can make all the 

difference in your day. 

A Better Work-Life Balance - 

Perhaps most importantly, working in a 

coworking space allows you the freedom 

of a better work-life balance. When 

you work from home, the laundry piles 

scream at you every time you head to 

the kitchen to freshen your coffee. The 

doorbell rings, and you feel you have to 

answer it. The dog wants your attention. 

Your kids need help with homework. 

And worst of all, you feel like you’re 

always on. Because you don’t leave to go 

to work, it feels like work never stops. 

Working in a co-working space, on the 

other hand, allows you to leave work at 

work, and do home life at home. 

The modern co-working space offers 

all the benefits of an office, including 

better productivity, during work hours. 

Additionally, it affords you all the benefits 

of home life, including leaving 

your work at work, during home hours. 

There’s no need to scramble for professional 

meeting places, and no need to 

feel isolated and alone. The co-working 

space is the best modern way to manage 

your work and life. 

Brian Jensen of Congruent Digital, 

a member of Coworking Connection in 

Temecula, CA has this to say: “as a small 

business owner, I’ve learned that there 

is such a thing as too much home time. I 

absolutely love the modern, professional 

atmosphere of Coworking Connection. 

The owner really goes out of her way to 

make it more than just a place to work 

and offers networking opportunities, 

events, parties and more.” 

If you are currently working from 

home in Temecula or Murrieta, CA and 

are looking for a modern, professional 

space with flexible membership options, 

contact us today to learn more!




21 

Contact Lenses 

Healthy 

Living 

by 

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

Have you ever wanted to change 

your eye color? When it’s warm and 

you don’t want to deal with glasses 

slipping or fogging up would you like 

another option? Are there activities that 

you participate in that glasses aren’t 

a comfortable choice? Many people 

don’t realize that they may be great 

candidates for contact lenses 

Contact lenses prescribed by a licensed 

Doctor of Optometry are worn 

safely and comfortably by millions of 

people worldwide and have a long history 

of providing wearers with a safe 

and effective form of vision correction. 

While contact lenses provide many 

vision benefits, they are not risk-free. 

Your Doctor of Optometry can help 

you better understand how to get the 

full benefits of your contact lenses and 

reduce your chances of developing 

problems. 

Contact lens-related eye infections 

and other injuries can lead to long-lasting 

damage but often are preventable. 

Clean and safe handling of contacts is 

one of the easiest and most important 

measures patients can take to protect 

their vision. Hygiene is the most important 

aspect of successful long-term 

contact lens wear. 

Many common contact lenses care 

mistakes, including failing to clean and 

store lenses as directed by a Doctor of 

Optometry and sleeping while wearing 

contacts, can increase the chance of 

getting bacteria in the eyes and causing 

infection. Serious eye infections can 

lead to blindness and affect up to one 

out of every 500 contact lens users per 

year, and even minor infections can 

be painful and disrupt day-to-day life. 

All contact lenses, even purely 

cosmetic ones, are considered a medical 

device and require a prescription. 

If contact lenses are right for you, your 

Doctor of Optometry will provide you 

with the lenses, lens care kits, individual 

instructions for wear and care and 

follow-up visits over a specified time. 

What about makeup and contact 

lenses? You can wear contacts and cosmetics 

safely and comfortably together 

by following these helpful tips: 

• Put on soft contact lenses before 

applying makeup. 

• Put on rigid-gas permeable (RGP) 

lenses after applying makeup. 

• Avoid lash-extending mascara, 

which has fibers that can irritate 

the eyes. Also avoid waterproof 

mascara, which cannot be easily 

removed with water and may stain 

soft contact lenses. Replace mascara 

at least every three months. 

• Avoid applying eyeliner along the 

watermark of the eyelid. 

• Remove lenses before removing 

makeup. 

• Choose an oil-free moisturizer. 

• Don’t use hand creams or lotions 

before handling contacts. They can 

leave a film on your lenses. 

• Use hairspray before putting on your 

contacts. If you use hairspray while 

you are wearing your contacts, close 

your eyes during spraying and for a 

few seconds after. 

• Blink your eyes frequently while 

using a hair drier to keep your eyes 

from getting too dry. 

• Keep false eyelash cement, nail 

polish and remover, perfume and 

cologne away from lenses. They can 

damage the plastic. 

• Choose water-based, hypoallergenic 

liquid foundations. Cream makeup 

may leave a film on your lenses. 

Contact lens prescriptions generally 

expire on a yearly basis, unless 

otherwise determined by your Doctor 

of Optometry. Prescriptions for contact 

lenses and glasses may be similar but 

are not interchangeable. Seeing your 

Doctor of Optometry annually for an 

in-person, comprehensive eye exam 

will not only assess your vision and 

need for updated prescriptions, but it 

may also help identify and lead to a 

diagnosis of other health concerns such 

as hypertension and diabetes. 

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. 

“ 

Serious eye infections can lead to 

blindness and affect up to one out of every 

500 contact lens users per year, and even 

minor infections can be painful and disrupt 

day-to-day life. 

Family Owned & Operated 

100% Background Checked Team 

24/7/365 Emergency Service 

Fully Licensed, Bonded and Certified 

Insurance Approved and Preferred 

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 

951-296-9090 

Teampulido.com 

Lic# 710901




Murrieta City Council Selects 

Gene Wunderlich as Incoming Mayor 

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 

He will replace Kelly Seyarto, who 

has completed his mayoral term and will 

remain on the City Council. Council 

Member Scott Vinton was chosen as 

Mayor Pro Tem. 

As Mayor, Wunderlich will bring 

professional expertise on land use and 

governing issues with a continued focus 

on housing, jobs and public safety—a 

focus he sees as foundational to the high 

quality of life that residents have come 

to know in Murrieta. 

He joined the Council for a second 

time in November of this year, completing 

the term of Randon Lane, who 

stepped down mid-term to accept a position 

in Washington DC. Wunderlich had 

previously served on the Council in 2014. 

A local business leader and 30-year 

Murrieta resident, he is well-known 

throughout the region for his community 

involvement, as an advocate for cities 

at the regional and national level and 

has been recognized by the Murrieta/ 

Wildomar Chamber of Commerce as Citizen 

of the Year. Wunderlich has served 

on numerous City committees over the 

years including Chair of the General 

Plan Advisory Committee in 2004-2005, 

the Sign Ordinance Committee and the 

Development Advisory Group. 

Whether he is behind a microphone 

emceeing local charitable events, as an 

auctioneer raising funds for a cause, 

interviewing candidates for local races, 

or presenting a legislative or economic 

update for the region, Wunderlich is all 

about community. He can occasionally be 

seen on stage at the Old Town Temecula 

Community Theater and is currently touring 

Murrieta for his 15th season as Santa. 

Wunderlich is Vice President of 

Government Affairs for the Southwest 

Riverside County Association of Realtors, 

liaison for the Southwest California 

Legislative Council, Vice Chair of the 

Temecula Theater Foundation and the 

Board of Governors for the Southwest 

Healthcare System. He also serves in several 

roles with the California Association 

of Realtors (CAR). 

“ 

He can occasionally be 

seen on stage at the 

Old Town Temecula 

Community Theater 

and is currently touring 

Murrieta for his 15th 

season as Santa.


Reforming Health Care 

by Assemblymember Marie Waldron 

I recently gave the keynote speech at 

the State of Reform Health Policy Conference 

in San Diego, one of the largest, 

most diverse gatherings of health care 

executives and policy makers in California. 

Health care is one of my passions, 

and as a member of the Assembly Health 

Committee, I was thrilled to be invited. 

Mental health is a major topic. One 

in six California adults experience some 

form of mental illness, and two-thirds of 

children and adolescents suffering from 

depressive episodes go untreated. More 

empowerment for locals on the front lines 

of mental health treatment is a must. This 

year, legislation I authored to strengthen 

local mental health boards became law. 

California faces a shortage of 4,100 

primary care clinicians and will have only 

two-thirds of the psychiatrists needed 

in 2030. Two bills that would help by 

expanding the health care workforce and 

reducing the disparity in mental health services 

stalled in 2019. We’ll be revisiting 

these issues next year. 

Addressing substance abuse is critical. 

Preliminary data indicate that more 

than 2,300 opioid-related deaths occurred 

in 2018 alone. Despite demonstrated 

success of medication-assisted treatments 

(MAT), far too few MAT providers have 

been certified. Despite overwhelming bipartisan 

support, my MAT funding request 

and 2019 bi-partisan legislation stalled, 

but the problem isn’t going away. 



Health care and homelessness are 

directly linked. Addressing the issue requires 

interdisciplinary solutions involving 

housing policy, public safety, human 

services and more. Though homelessness 

results in three deaths per day in Los Angeles 

alone, it receives less attention than 

other, less deadly state emergencies. An 

all-hands-on-deck effort will be necessary 

to help resolve this major public health/ 

safety issue. 

Health care, homelessness, substance 

abuse, are among the state’s most pressing 

policy issues. California must make it 

the priority it should be, with much work 

necessary in 2020. 

Assembly Republican Leader Marie 

Waldron, R-Escondido, represents the 

75th Assembly District in the California 

Legislature, which includes the communities 

of Bonsall, Escondido, Fallbrook, 

Hidden Meadows, Pala, Palomar Mountain, 

Pauma Valley, Rainbow, San Marcos, 

Temecula, Valley Center and Vista. 

Welcome to 2020 

Healthy 

Living 

by 

Tina Monique M. Gottlieb, deGroot D.C. 

New Years is the perfect time to reflect 

on the past and to get a fresh start on the 

year to come. A top trend that has made a 

difference for many, myself included. It’s 

called Ecotherapy - a term coined by pastoral 

counselor Howard Clinebell. Ecotherapy is 

the name given to a wide range of treatment 

programs aimed to improve your mental 

and physical well-being through outdoor 

activities in nature. Ecotherapy is more than 

a walk in the park or watching a beautiful 

sunset. It’s a complete immersion into nature 

where all five senses (sight, smell, touch, 

taste and sound) are engaged for a period 

of days, ideally five, to completely decompress. 

It’s actually a form of treatment that 

can help with healing depression, fear, anger 

and anxiety by restoring our connection to 

the natural world. 

According to The Global Wellness 

Summit, wellness retreats are on the rise, 

because people want to connect with nature. 

Connecting with nature can have positive 

health benefits. The National Academy of 

Science found that a daily 1-hour walk in 

a natural setting lowered depression levels, 

anxiety and migraines. Yet we live in a 

time when our society has never been more 

isolated from nature, something Ecotherapy 

helps to solve. 

23 

Somewhere our generation has forgotten 

the importance of being outside, breathing 

in the clean, crisp air, listening to and 

fully taking in nature’s beauty. Take time to 

enjoy Mother Nature’s playground. It’s free 

and completely accessible to anyone, anytime. 

A change day to day work schedules, 

will make you feel centered and with a fresh 

perspective. 

Here are some other benefits of Ecotherapy: 

1. Reduce stress (disconnect from press 

of everyday life) 

2. Stay grounded 

3. Keep a positive attitude 

4. Boost your immune system 

5. Reduce anger and fear (yes, even 

viewing scenes of nature has been proven 

to reduce stress) 

The next time you have a huge task 

ahead, or an important decision to make, go 

spend some time outside and you will see 

how therapeutic it is to be surrounded by 

trees, plants, flowers, mountains and water. 

Some of you may be doing this already and 

not realize how beneficial this actually is. 

Most of us are excited to start the New 

year. I know I am. Looking back on this past 

year it’s been fun to reflect on the accomplishments, 

projects that need finishing and 

even making some new goals. And I would 

also suggest it’s a perfect time to get outdoors 

and take in all that nature has to offer before 

you consider the next set of challenges you 

might be facing. Give it a try and even if 

you just want to feel gratitude for a year gone 

well, I think a little Ecotherapy will give you 

the fresh start you deserve. 

Monique deGroot is the Owner of Murrieta 

Day Spa which is located at 41885 

Ivy St. in Murrieta.




No Record Pace, But Still A Solid Year 

REAL ESTATE 

by by 

Gene Steve Wunderlich Fillingim 

From a point mid-year when it 

looked like another year of slumping 

sales at a local and state level, the 

market picked up steam in the last half 

driven by continued low interest rates 

and an increase in homes for buyers to 

choose from. November sales did drop 

16% from October (992 / 832) but still 

posted a year-over-year increase of 

8% (769). That keeps our year-to-date 

volume for the region 3% ahead of last 

year (9,855 / 10,182) but well out of the 

record territory set in 2017 (10,791). 

Still not a bad year considering the 

inventory of new homes our cities have 

brought to market the past 24 months 

competing/augmenting existing home 

sales. Year-to-date the state has pulled 

ahead of last year by 1.9% through October, 

so our local market is performing 

slightly better than the rest of the state. 

Median price also continued it’s 

upward trend in November with all cities 

posting higher numbers than a year 

ago. Setting aside the anomalous 26% 

spike in Canyon Lake (that’s what happens 

when your sales drop but over 1/3 

of your sales are higher end homes), regional 

median price climbed 2% monthover-month, 

($391,433 /$399,555), 7% 

over last November ($371,333) and 

maintained a year-to-date increase of 3% 

($374,262 / $386,460). At 3% that rate 

of appreciation about half what it’s been 

the previous five years, but we’re still 

moving in the right direction. 

Readers may recall that I anticipated 

price appreciation edging into negative 

mode in the 3rd quarter of 2018 as more 

and more forecaster were calling for a 

market correction this year into next. 

Obviously, that didn’t happen and, based 

on underlying economic factors, most 

prognosticators today are calling for 

continued market strength through next 

year in both sales and price gains. Interest 

rates should remain at near record lows 

through 2020, encouraging more Millenials 

to launch their foray into the world 

of home ownership. That’s good news. 

Homeownership levels have increased 

by nearly 3% nationwide (62.9% 

/ 64.8%) over the past three years, and 

even California has increased their rate 

by approximately 1% in the past year 

(53.2%), reversing a five- year trend of 

declining ownership. This is definitely 

good news and may delay California’s 

trajectory toward majority renter status 

by 2025, although our legislature is doing 

everything, they can to curtail the construction 

of much needed housing to meet 

increased need. The bad news? While as 

recently as a decade ago the average age 

of a 1st time homebuyers hovered around 

31, today the average California home 

buyer is 47 years old! 

Still more good news, Fannie Mae 

and Freddie Mac, the preeminent loan 

underwriters in the nation, have just 

revised their conforming loan limits for 

2020. For Riverside County that loan 

amount will increase from $484,350 this 

year to $510,400 on January 1. If you 

buy a few miles south into San Diego 

County your loan limit will be $765,000. 

That’s because San Diego is considered a 

‘high cost’ area while we continue to get 

lumped into the ‘Inland Empire’, including 

San Bernardino and other price/value 

leaders. Fair? Probably not, but at least 

it’s an improvement and manages to keep 

ahead of our current medians in higher 

cost cities unlike what happened to us 

in 2008 – 2009. Back then our median 

prices were in the mid-$500,000’s and 

conforming loans were around $417,000. 

As a result, banks invented increasingly 

exotic loan vehicles to entice buyers 

and the result, as they say, is history. 

Any clouds on the horizon? Sure. Our 

nation is in the grip of flu season and impeachment 

blues. Congressional inaction 

has hampered some economic growth 

and the upcoming election season will 

undoubtedly result in further inaction 

as legislators strive to limit their voter 

alienation quotient by avoiding major 

issues. California legislators will be 

back after the 1st of the year and if you 

thought this year was tough for businesses, 

taxes and regulations, you’d 

best buckle up for the ride we’re in 

for next year. The new year will also 

bring some musical chairs to our local 

political scene as residents from our 

cities, county and legislature jockey to 

fill open, or soon to open, seats. Plus, 

we’ve got as many as 18 ballot propositions 

to look forward to. Yeah, it’s 

going to be a year. 

If I don’t see you between now 

and year-end, here’s wishing you and 

yours the merriest Christmas, the happiest 

holiday season, and a healthy and 

prosperous New Year. 

Gene Wunderlich is Vice President, 

Government Affairs for Southwest Riverside 

County Association of Realtors. 

If you have questions on the market, 

please contact me at GAD@srcar.org.




25 

How Does Internet Naming Work? 

Have you ever wondered how it 

is that typing www.google.com into a 

web-browser brings you to (most) people’s 

favorite search engine? That function 

is accomplished by DNS, or Domain 

Name Services, and is what allows a 

Universal Resource Locator (URL) to 

translate something human-readable, like 

google.com, into something a computer 

can understand—in this instance, an IP 

address. An IP address isn’t something 

that most people interact with on a regular 

basis. One of the reasons for this is that 

they’re difficult to remember. 

If, for example, you needed to visit 

172.217.4.174 every time you needed to 

search for something, but you needed to go 

to 157.240.11.35 to see what your brother-in-law’s 

kids have been up to, things 

eventually become very complicated. (As 

an aside, if you are so inclined, type either 

of those IP addresses into the address 

bar of your web-browser to see which 

websites I’m referring to.) To get around 

this problem, we use DNS to translate 

the URL that you type to the IP address 

where a website actually resides. A URL 

is comprised of a few pieces: top-level 

domains, sub-domains, and prefixes. Two 

that are very important to recognize are the 

top-level and sub-domains. 

To use a common example, www. 

example.com, is comprised of these three 

pieces. .Com is the top-level domain 

which is the highest part of the naming 

system used on the internet. Example is 

the sub-domain, which is separated from 

the top-level by a period. Www. might be 

the part most individuals are the most familiar 

with—it is what is known as a prefix 

and was originally used to specify that the 

address being input is on the internet, or 

world wide web. The URL is essentially 

giving a computer a series of instructions 

to tell it where to look to locate something. 

The first part, www. tells the computer that 

it needs to look on the internet, rather than 

locally. The .com then tells it to search in 

that portion of top-level domains, and then 

the sub-domain tells it the exact site that 

you wished to visit. 

Boring and complicated so far? The 

good news is that without diving into 

levels of complexity that are unnecessary 

for most people’s purposes (and this 

article’s), that’s really all there is to a 

URL. Perhaps the most important thing 

to understand from this information is the 

function of a top-level domain, and how it 

can be sometimes used maliciously. Most 

people are familiar with .com, but there 

are a number of others: .org, .edu, .gov, 

.biz, .info, etc. The .org domain was in 

the news recently, as the non-profit organization 

that hands out .org domain names 

was recently acquired by a private equity 

company. .Org domains were created with 

the idea that they be given to non-profit 

organizations, and as such the pricing for 

them had been capped at a low level for 

some time. The acquisition of the parent 

organization, called the Public Interest 

Registry (PIR) followed hot on the heels 

of an announcement by ICANN (the organization 

that oversees all domain names 

on the internet) was removing pricing caps 

for .org domains. Needless to say, both of 

these moves caused a bit of a stir. 

If there is one important takeaway 

from this article, it should be this—pay 

attention to every part of a URL that you 

are visiting. As we have covered in previous 

articles, phishing attacks are becoming 

more and more sophisticated, and one area 

of increased risk is the impersonation of 

valid domain names. What this generally 

looks like is a slight, and easily overlooked, 

misspelling of the domain name, 

or a different top-level domain than the 

valid address. As an example, say that 

www.chase.com is the address of your 

banking website. A scammer might send 

you an email indicating that your account 

had been compromised, and that you 

need to login and change your password. 

This email will then direct you to a fake 

domain, something like www.chaase.com, 

or www.chase.info. Once there, the website 

will look functionally identical to the 

real one, and can be used to capture your 

login credentials. URLs, and the domain 

names that they contain, are an important 

addressing system for our interconnected 

world, but the system is not fool-proof. 

It’s important to exercise good judgment 

with a healthy dose of skepticism while 

online to stay safe from malicious sites 

-- a close examination of the URL is the 

best place to start. 

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 

Collopy 

Fillingim 

TVCC Announces Newly Elected Board 

Members for 2020 


2020 Newly Elected Board Members: 

David Beshay - Corner Bakery Café 

Cherise Manning - A Grape Escape Balloon Adventure 

Tammy Marine - Habitat for Humanity 

Andrew Masiel - Pechanga Resort & Casino 

Julie Ngo - Julie Ngo Agency State Farm 

Mike Noon - Noon & Associates, CPAs, Inc. 

Jackie Steed - Reliable Realty, Inc. 

Bernie Truax - Truax Management Group 

The full 2020 Board of Directors will be released after the December board 

meeting. 

The Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce is a member-based, non-profit 

organization serving nearly 1,000 businesses in the community. Since 1966, the 

mission of the Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce is to promote positive 

economic growth while protecting the environment for all businesses and by 

doing so, support the programs which preserve and improve the quality of life 

for the entire community. 

To learn more or join the Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce, please visit 

www.temecula.org or call (951) 676-5090.




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


Supervisor Washington Re-Elected to 

Prestigious Statewide Committee 




27 

In a motion approved by county supervisors 

from across the state, Supervisor 

Chuck Washington has been asked to 

continue representing Riverside County 

on the California State Association of 

Counties’ Executive Committee. 

“I will guide policy decisions that 

help Riverside County tackle ongoing 

challenges with homelessness, criminal 

justice, infrastructure and economic 

development, and job creation,” said 

Supervisor Washington. “I am excited 

to carry on this important work on behalf 

of Riverside County’s 2.4 million 

residents.” 

The CSAC Board of Directors 

voted earlier this month at its annual 

convention to have Supervisor Washington 

serve an additional year on the 

Executive Committee, which is made up 

of couple dozen supervisors from urban, 

suburban and rural counties. 

Supervisor Washington has served 

on the CSAC Board of Directors since 

January 2017 and was an alternate on 

that board’s Executive Committee in 

2017 and 2018. He became a voting 

member of the Executive Committee 

in 2019. 

He is the elected representative 

of Riverside County’s Third District, 

which consists of Temecula, Murrieta, 

Hemet, San Jacinto, and the unincorporated 

areas of Idyllwild, Pine Cove, 

Anza, Aguanga, Homeland and Winchester. 

CSAC is the advocacy organization 

that represents Riverside County 

and the other 57 counties of California 

at the state and federal level. 

Public Relations Society of America 

Chapter Honors Water District 


(From L to R) Darcy M Burke, Board Director; Phil Williams, Board Director; Haley Munson, 

staff; Bonnie Woodrome, staff; Andy Morris, Board President; Harvey Ryan, Board Director; 

Jared K. McBride, Board Director; Greg Thomas, General Manager. 

EVMWD received the Polaris, the 

highest honors given in each category, 

for three of its programs, including Community 

Relations Campaign for Variable 

Sewer Outreach, Marketing Campaign 

for Being Water-wise, Easy as 1,2,3 and 

Social Media Tactics for its Instagram 

Outreach. 

EVMWD also received the Capella 

Award for Excellence in the Special 

Events category its Waterwise Workshops 

Series. 

The Public Relations Society of 

America annual Polaris Awards recognizes 

the very best in public relations 

tactics and programs that successfully 

incorporate sound research, planning, 

execution and evaluation. These awards 

represent the highest standards of performance 

in the public relations profession 

in the Inland Empire. This is the tenth 

consecutive year for EVMWD to receive 

awards for excellence from the Public 

Relations Society of America Inland 

Empire Chapter. 

EVMWD provides service to more 

than 155,000 water and wastewater 

customers in a 97-square-mile 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 

at www.evmwd.com for additional in-




Temecula Presents’ 15th 

Season Dance Series 

Announcing Temecula Presents 

15th Season Classical 

Music Series 

The Old Town Temecula Community 

Theater invites audiences to experience 

Temecula Presents’ 2019-2020 

Dance Series. Temecula Theater’s 15th 

Dance Season launches on Saturday, 

February 22nd at 8:00 pm with State 

Street Ballet. 

Founded in 1994 by former American 

Ballet Theatre dancer Rodney 

Gustafson, the company combines 

the discipline and timeless elegance of 

classical ballet technique with updated, 

cutting-edge choreography, producing 

original works that satisfy today’s 

diverse audiences. 

State Street Ballet presents The 

Jungle Book Ballet intertwining the 

four natural elements in this dazzling 

adaptation of Rudy Kipling’s classic 

collection of stories. 

See your favorite characters come 

to life in this original production! 

Temecula’s 2019-2020 Dance Series 

continues on Saturday, April 1st at 

8:00 pm with the Jon Lehrer Dance. 

The New York-based dance company 

has received critical acclaim nationally 

and internationally. 

The company’s expressive style 

is based on three main elements of 

movement: Circularity, Three-Dimen- 

sionality, and Momentum, which combine 

to create a form best described as 

“Organically Athletic.” Striking the 

elusive balance between art and entertainment, 

Jon Lehrer Dance showcases 

unique choreography and fun, which 

can be enjoyed by dance experts and 

novices alike. 

The Dance Season concludes with 

the return of Backhausdance, performing 

on Saturday, May 30th 

at 8:00 pm. Formed in 2003 by 

Jennifer Backhaus, this dance company 

is known for its lush movement 

vocabulary and ensemble aesthetic. 

Temecula Presents’ 15th Dance Season 

also offers a FREE, ninety-minute, 

Master Dance Class during each residency, 

beginning at 1:00 pm the day 

of the performance. 

This opportunity is for the community 

to study with world-class 

professional dancers. Space is limited, 

so please contact the Ticket Office to 

register at 866.653.8696. 

Tickets are on sale now at the Theater 

Ticket Office, and online at www. 

TemeculaTheater.org. For more information, 

please call 1-866-653-8696. 

Temecula Theater’s 15th Season 

of Classical Music launches on Saturday, 

January 4th at 7:30pm with the 

return of world-renowned concert 

pianist and lecturer, Jeffery Siegel: 

Keyboard Conversations®. Mr. Siegel’s 

popular and lively commentary 

has been captivating audiences for 

decades, making musical masterpieces 

more accessible and meaningful 

for all. Each piece is performed in 

its entirety, followed by a ‘question 

and answer’ session after the concert. 

Temecula’s 2019-2020 Classical 

Music Series continues on Saturday, 

February 1st at 7:30pm with the 

Thalea String Quartet. 

From living rooms to concert 

stages around the world, Thalea 

String Quartet aims to connect with 

audiences on a musical, emotional, 

and personal level; from first-time 

listeners to string quartet aficionados. 

They are devoted to building a new 

and diverse audience for chamber 

music through innovative programming 

and community engagement. 

The Season concludes with international 

classical guitarist Pablo 

Sáinz-Villegas: Americano Trio, 

performing on Saturday, March 7th 

at 7:30pm. Known for his passionate, 

emotive, and open-hearted playing, 

whether he is performing in intimate 

recital halls or playing to an audience 

of over 85,000 at Santiago Bernabéu 

Stadium in Madrid with beloved tenor 

Plácido Domingo – who has hailed 

Pablo as “the master of the guitar.” 

Praised as “the soul of the Spanish 

guitar,” he has become a worldwide 

sensation known as this generation’s 

great guitarist. 

Temecula Presents’ 15th Season 

of Classical Music also features guest 

music teachers from the Temecula 

Valley Conservatory of the Arts 

providing additional arts education 

opportunities and post-performance 

talkbacks with these professional 

artists. 

Tickets are on sale now at the Theater 

Ticket Office and online at www. 

TemeculaTheater.org. For more information, 

please call 1.866.653.8696 to 

#Experience Temecula Theater. 

Founded in 1994 by former American Ballet Theatre dancer Rodney 

Gustafson, the company combines the discipline and timeless elegance 

of classical ballet technique with updated, cutting-edge choreography, 

producing original works that satisfy today’s diverse audiences.




29 

Humanitarian 

Awards 2019 

The Humanitarian Awards of 

2019 were presented on the Sunday 

before Thanksgiving by the Interfaith 

Council of Murrieta & Temecula Valley 

at their annual Night of Gratitude, 

held at the Temecula United Methodist 

Church. The concept of the 

Humanitarian Award was brought to 

fruition by Barbara Matthews Scott, 

who each year solicits nominations 

from all the faith organizations in 

IFC membership, as well as from 

the public. 

The winner of this year’s individual 

award was Ken Nordstrom, a 

member of the Temecula Valley Elks 

Lodge, Boy Scouts of America, and 

Grace Presbyterian Church, whose 

pastor Neal Neuenschwander nominated 

him for the honor. 

In nominating Ken, Pastor Neal 

said: “Ken demonstrates the IFC values 

of compassion, support, dialogue, 

and respect. Ken has been serving 

our community in many and varied 

ways for decades, active in the Boy 

Scouts, the Elks Club, the Temecula 

food pantry, and the church. 

“Ken is the chair of our missions 

committee at Grace Presbyterian. 

Thus, he spearheads countless humanitarian 

projects, including the 

Christmas Shoe Boxes (for underprivileged 

children overseas), the 

Temecula TEAM ministry (to benefit 

homeless residents), the annual 

soup supper that benefits Habitat 

for Humanity, the annual VBS drive 

to support the Heiffer Project, and 

the ‘Scouting for Food’ program of 

Troop 384. For many years, Ken 

headed a team of volunteers from the 

church who provided used furniture 

to the families of Marines stationed at 

Camp Pendleton. He also led several 

church teams to support a ‘gleaning’ 

program on the big farms of central 

California and the building program 

of an orphanage in Tecate, Mexico. 

“When Ken is not working on an 

‘official’ mission project, he teaches 

Sunday School to our children and 

taxies our seniors to and from their 

parking spots in a golf cart. Then, 

he takes quilts (sewn by his wife) to 

the children at Rady hospital. He is 

a big supporter of Rancho Damacitas 

(serving unwed mothers) and Camp 

Alandale, (serving abused and neglected 

children in their middle and high 

school years). 

“Ken is also a lot of fun. He loves 

to serve as a DJ for community dances 

and social gatherings—particularly 

those that are raising money for the 

poor. He has also served as an auctioneer 

for a number of charity benefits 

through the years. With rare exceptions, 

Ken knows the leader of every 

social service agency in town, and he 

has worked with most of them at some 

point in the past. 

“In short, the breadth and depth 

of Ken’s commitment to humanitarian 

causes in our city is truly remarkable. 

So is his cheerful attitude. Ken Nordstrom 

is an inspiration to us all.” The 

winner of this year’s Humanitarian 

Business Award is Signs by Tomorrow, 

owner Keith Randall, nominated by 

IFC member Craig Smedley. Craig 

says: “Keith Randall and his business 

Signs by Tomorrow exemplifies the 

IFC values of generosity, service to the 

community, and The Golden Rule. I 

was first made aware of Keith’s generosity 

when I was looking for signs for 

an Eagle Project in 2013, followed by 

signs for cub scouts and other banners. 

Keith has given back to his community 

since he opened his doors 33 years ago 

(1986) by donating labor and materials 

needed for signs for golf tournaments, 

funerals, church activities, Scouts, 

Chamber of Commerce functions, family 

projects/reunions and many more. 

He also considers his employees in his 

decisions and finds ways to keep them 

busy and happy.” 

The Interfaith Council was honored 

to present each recipient with a beautiful 

engraved crystal award donated by 

Steve Butterworth of Fallbrook Awards. 

The IFC meets on the second Tuesday 

of every month at Miller-Jones Mortuary, 

26855 Jefferson Ave., Murrieta, 

from noon to 1:30 pm. New members 

and guests are always welcome. The 

next meeting will be held on January 

8, 2020. 

Ken Nordstrom 

with Barbara 

KEITH RANDALL 

with Barbara




DigiFest ® Temecula 

Calls for 

Creative Digital Submissions 

When you think of a place for 

creators to display their work, network 

with professionals and experience 

entertainment media culture, does a 

digital festival come to mind? 

Like a film festival, digital festivals 

bring more than just red carpet, 

glitz and glam, but also an opportunity 

to serve creatives in sharing their work 

with the community and mainstream 

audiences. It’s a place to learn about 

industry advancements, how to pursue 

a career in the industry and how to 

incorporate digital arts into the economic 

culture. 

DigiFest® Temecula is just that 

and more; this unique opportunity, situated 

in Southwest Riverside County, 

features all things digital for students, 

amateurs and professionals. The nonprofit 

JDS Creative Academy is back 

for the fourth year with their three-day 

festival and conference and will be 

rolling out the red carpet on April 17, 

2020. DigiFest Temecula 2020 will 

feature professional industry speakers 

and panels, networking, entertainment, 

screenings, workshops and wraps up 

the evening of April 19, 2020, with an 

awards banquet. Festival submissions 

include all things digital: short film, 

video, fine art, illustration, photography, 

animation, music, podcasts, 

website design and gaming entries. 

“DigiFest® Temecula is a unique 

experience of innovation, networking, 

collaborating and entertainment for the 

community. The arts bring people together. 

It’s inclusive in nature and with 

technology advancing, a digital arts 

festival is the natural progression for 

our industry. When students, amateurs 

and professionals share stories, knowledge, 

creativity, expression and ideas, 

then business, economic development 

and progress happens, which benefits 

all of us.” Diane Strand, Founder of 

DigiFest® Temecula and JDS Creative 

Academy said. 

Early submissions are open until 

January 31, 2020, and the late entry 

deadline is March 31, 2020. Submissions 

have been rolling in since 

DigiFest® season opened. 2020 is 

planned to be the biggest year yet so 

enter early to ensure your work is reviewed. 

Submissions are accepted at 

digifesttemecula.com. 

The beauty of our evolving technical 

world is the ability to share across 

different platforms from the most distant 

places. DigiFest® Temecula has 

received submissions from as far as 

Scotland, as well as throughout southern 

California and Riverside County. 

The popularity of the event has attracted 

well-known names throughout 

the years such as Emmy winner Cady 

McClain, Universal Studios Executive 

Vice President John Corser, a panel of 

Disney animators, “A list” scriptwriters, 

competition gamers and YouTube 

influencers to name a few. 

DigiFest® Temecula is an engaging 

three-day creative experience for all 

to enjoy and become emerged in the 

digital artistic culture that has attention 

from all over the world. JDS 

Creative Academy looks forward to 

seeing the community during the event 

and encourages anyone interested to 

go to digifesttemecula.com or email 

digifest@jdscreativeacademy.org for 

more information. 

“ 

The beauty of our evolving technical 

world is the ability to share across 

different platforms from the most distant 

places. DigiFest® Temecula has received 

submissions from as far as Scotland, as 

well as throughout southern California 

and Riverside County.




YOUR LOCAL CHAMBERS 

31 

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



32 January 2020

VBJ January 2020

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?