VBJ March 2020

VOLUME 31 • NUMBER 3 • MARCH 2020 

Zach Hall 

Appointed 

Temecula Sheriff’s Captain 

Patrick Ellis 

Earns Status as Acc redited Chamber 

by the Western Association of 

Chamber Executives 

SEE PAGE 12 

SEE PAGE 22 

Murrieta Fire Announces 

Mike Lopez 

as Deputy Fire Chief 

Lopez has over 26 years of 

public service experience 

After an extensive and competitive 

recruitment, Murrieta Fire & Rescue 

has selected Mike Lopez as Deputy Fire 

Chief, filling the role that has been vacant 

since last July following Fire Chief Scott 

Ferguson’s retirement and Chief David 

Lantzer’s promotion to Fire Chief. He 

begins on March 2, 2020. 

Lopez has over 26 years of public 

service experience. He began his career 

as a paramedic with Gold Cross 

Ambulance in El Centro, California. 

In 1993 and was hired as a firefighter/ 

SEE PAGE 25 

paramedic for the City of Calexico Fire 

Department, where his father was a fire 

captain and served for 40 years. Lopez 

went on to join the San Diego Fire-Rescue 

and Carlsbad Fire Departments and 

promoted through the ranks to his current 

position as Division Chief with Carlsbad 

Fire Department. 

SEE PAGE 25 

Chuck Washington 

Seeks Second Term 

on County Board of Supervisors 

Riverside County 

Supervisor Chuck 

Washington, who is well 

known in Southwest 

Riverside County for 

his long record of public 

service and community 

involvement, is seeking 

a second full term on 

the Board of Supervisors. 

Former Temecula, 

Murrieta Mayor 

Known as a Champion 

of Efficient Government, 

Strong Communities. 

SEE PAGE 27 

AND... 

Do I Really Want Renters 

Insurance? 

The Evolution of Regenerative 

Medicine 

S-Corporation Compensation 

LEGAL 

What Happens to 

Your Life 

Insurance Policy 

When You Make 

an Estate Plan? 

14 

HEALTH 

Playing with Your 

Child Can Help 

your Child’s Visual 

Development 

21 

TECH 

The California 

Consumer 

Privacy 

Act – What’s in 

it for Me? 

25

www.TheValleyBusinessJournal.com 

THE VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL 

2 March 2020

The New Menifee Police Department is Gearing up to Serve the Community 

March 2020 



The New Menifee Police Department 

Gearing up to Serve the Community 

2020 State of the City to be held 

May 28th 

#Temecula FUN 

3 

Left to Right: Gina Gonzalez, Menifee’s Economic Development Director, Dean Dienes, Councilmember, 

Lesa Sobek, Councilmember, Nick Earle (Broker of the Year), and Mayor Bill Zimmerman), 

ICMA Police Recruitment Award, and Military Banner Policy. 

The new Menifee Police Department 

is gearing up to serve the community starting 

July 1st and the agency’s chief wants to 

know what’s most important to Menifee’s 

citizens when it comes to policing. To this 

end, the Menifee Police Department has 

posted an online Community Survey to 

learn what concerns City residents might 

have. 

“I’m a huge proponent of the concept 

of community policing – where there’s a 

sense of partnership between officers and 

our residents,” shared Chief of Police Pat 

Walsh. For several months in 2019 when 

Chief Walsh first came on board, he held 

open meetings during which he had the opportunity 

to meet community stakeholders 

and members of the public. He believes 

this experience was hugely valuable to his 

leadership. As the new agency is completing 

its initial hiring and is moving into a 

heavy training season with its new officers 

in anticipation of the summer launch, Chief 

wanted to keep the open communication 

going via the online survey. 

The survey is available online at 

https://menifeepolice.org/community-survey. 

“I encourage residents to fill it out, 

it’s quick and easy,” said Chief Walsh. 

“Plus, there’s space where you can ask us 

direct questions, and we’ll choose some 

of them to answer via video we’ll post 

to social and online.” Chief Walsh also 

hopes residents will sign up for department 

e-newsletter and follow the department on 

social media channels like Facebook and 

Instagram. “Menifee’s police department 

is going to be in the business of sharing 

information with our community, now 

and in the future,” added Chief Walsh. “I 

hope everyone who lives in Menifee will 

tune in.” 

The Menifee Police Department 

launches services on July 1, 2020. The 

Riverside County Sheriff’s Department 

is responsible for all law enforcement 

services in Menifee until that date. The 

Menifee Police Department is currently 

in the process of renovating the former 

City Hall facility located at 29714 Haun 

Road in Menifee, to serve as its new 

headquarters. More information is available 

at menifeepolice.org. 

ABOUT MENIFEE: Situated in the 

heart of southern Riverside County along 

Interstate 215, Menifee is a vibrant, new 

city of more than 90,000 residents who 

enjoy a pleasant year-round climate, 

abundant recreational offerings, reasonably 

priced housing and convenient proximity 

to some of Southern California’s 

premiere attractions and employment 

centers. Within its 50 square miles, Menifee’s 

business, retail and entertainment 

outlets are starting to shape the community’s 

character and this growing economic 

base is also contributing favorably to the 

city’s strong financial position. Menifee’s 

growing family-oriented population 

values the city’s ongoing commitment 

to public safety, community events and 

smart growth for the future. 

All of these elements are working 

together to support the city’s strategic 

vision to make Menifee one of the state’s 

most promising new cities. 

City of Menifee, 29844 Haun 

Road, Menifee, California 92586 - 

cityofmenifee.us 

Temecula Mayor James “Stew” 

Stewart is all business, balanced with 

#Temecula FUN. “As a businessman, 

family-man, 30-year Temecula resident, 

Old Town Temecula Rotarian, 

landlord, handyman and property 

manager of multiple rental properties, 

owner of five barber shops, Council 

Member and 2020 Mayor, I am all 

about hard work and grit,” states 

Mayor Stewart who shares a common 

vision with his City Council colleagues 

to ensure Temecula remains a safe, 

vibrant, beautifully maintained, and 

economically prosperous City. 

As Temecula enters into the next 

decade, Mayor Stewart is likewise 

shining a spotlight in 2020 on the many 

#Temecula FUN amenities, activities, 

newly renovated parks, special events, 

parades, and other recreational opportunities 

that the City provides to its 

families, visitors and residents. 

“A balanced life is key, and I’m 

proud that Temecula is a unique and 

charming City that radiates a hometown 

family friendly environment 

which contributes to the happiness of 

our residents,” notes Mayor Stewart. 

City Manager Aaron Adams concurs, 

“The City has carefully planned, and 

strives to achieve, a ‘hometown feeling’ 

for our residents by design; from 

constructing the Town Square in Old 

Town where our community gathers, 

to creatively re-inventing themed playgrounds, 

organizing traditional holiday 

parades, and providing countless activities 

and events that are listed in City’s 

‘Guide to Leisure Activities’ published 

online and mailed twice a year.” 

A work-life balance is important 

both personally and professionally. 

What does this have to do with city 

government? In the United States, 

overall well-being and happiness is 

often measured at the city level and 

based on the availability of economic 

opportunity, transportation, infrastructure, 

housing, safety, health services, 

the environment, social capital, and 

education. Urban Planners agree opportunities 

for civic engagement and 

community participation can further 

cement the feeling of a common purpose. 

In turn, more social investment 

leads to safer and more secure environments 

as everyone has a stake in 

the city’s success. 

“What this means to me in simple 

terms is this: Public safety and public 

works/infrastructure will always be 

Temecula’s top priority, but Temecula 

won’t lose sight of providing a 

charming environment that supports 

our small-town connectivity and the 

happiness of our residents. Check 

out what the City of Temecula offers! 

Focus on family, friends, community, 

kindness and #Temecula FUN,” adds 

Mayor Stewart. 

Do you know about all the #Temecula 

FUN activities, amenities, parades 

or events in the City of Temecula? 

Mark your calendar to learn about #Temecula 

FUN along with important City 

updates and developments for 2020, at 

the annual Mayor’s State of the City 

Address hosted by the Temecula Valley 

Chamber of Commerce on May 28, 

2020 at Pechanga. 

Doors open at 7am, breakfast is 

at 7:30am, and the Mayor’s presentation 

begins at 8am. This event sells 

out quickly. Reserve seats online at 

temecula.org/state-of-the-city address. 

Questions can be answered by 

calling 951-676-5090. All proceeds 

go to the Temecula Valley Chamber 

of Commerce in support of our local 

businesses. ### 

City of Temecula • 41000 Main Street 

• Temecula, CA 92590 • 951-694-6444 

• TemeculaCA.gov


4 www.TheValleyBusinessJournal.com 


Alterative Surgery to Treat Atrial Fibrillation Now Available at 

Loma Linda University Medical Center – Murrieta 

Murrieta advances cardiology services by offering this minimally invasive heart procedure 

Loma Linda University Medical Center — Murrieta cardiology team including Niraj Parekh, MD, 

Harit Desai, MD, and Kari Herbert, RN, share joy in announcing the new Watchman device offering. 

by Cassandra Wagner 

Loma Linda University Medical 

Center – Murrieta successfully performed 

its first left atrial appendage 

closure with the use of a device called 

the Watchman to treat a patient with 

atrial fibrillation (AFib). 

AFib is a condition in which a patient 

experiences irregular heart rhythm. The 

condition is associated with a fivefold 

increase in stroke risk. Watchman is an 

FDA-approved device designed for patients 

with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation 

and is a one-time procedure that does not 

need to be replaced. 

To perform the minimally invasive 

procedure, the device is inserted through 

a catheter in the upper leg and guided to 

the heart. Once placed, the device expands 

to close off the extra space in the 

appendage. The procedure is conducted 

under general anesthesia and takes about 

an hour. Patients commonly stay in the 

hospital overnight and leave the next day. 

The inaugural surgery was performed 

Monday, Feb. 3 by Harit Desai, 

MD, an interventional cardiologist, and 

Niraj Parekh, MD, a cardiologist and 

director of cath lab and structural heart 

interventions at Loma Linda University 

Medical Center – Murrieta. Parekh said 

the structural heart team is proud to offer 

this latest breakthrough for those in the 

community diagnosed with AFib. 

“This device is an attractive alternative 

for patients with non-valvular Afib 

at risk for a stroke, especially those with 

a compelling reason not to be on blood 

thinners,” Parekh said. “The addition of 

the Watchman device to our cardiovascular 

services is a testament to our continued 

efforts to bring quality care and 

advanced structural heart treatments 

to Southwest Riverside communities.” 

AFib is the most common heart 

rhythm disorder, affecting 6 million 

people in the United States. Common 

symptoms include persistent heart palpitations, 

dizziness, light-headedness, 

fatigue, shortness of breath or confusion. 

Moreover, AFib can coexist with other 

diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, 

vascular disease or kidney disease. 

If left untreated, complications such as 

stroke and arrhythmia can occur. Parekh 

recommends that patients with AFib have 

their condition regularly monitored by a 

specialist to assess if treatment is needed. 

Parekh said having a minimally invasive 

treatment for those with AFib close 

to home is a necessity and will positively 

impact the patients and families in the 

community. 

“It’s estimated that AFib will grow in 

prevalence to over 12 million Americans 

by 2020,” Parekh said. “It’s vital that we 

are able to provide advanced technologies 

and options for patients battling 

heart disease in our community.” 

To learn more about the Watchman 

device and other heart care services at 

Loma Linda University Medical Center 

— Murrieta, visit the Heart Care website 

or call 951-290-4314. 

In this issue: 

Patrick Ellis Earns Status as Accredited Chamber Executive 1 

Zach Hall Appointed Temecula Sheriff’s Captain 1 

Murrieta Fire Announces Mike Lopez as Deputy Fire Chief 1 

Chuck Washington Seeks 2nd Term on County Board of Supervisors 1 

Community 4-10 

Temecula’s Professional Women Toastmasters Reaches 4 Years 8 

Living Independently After Age 65 9 

The Evolution of Regenerative Medicine 11 

S-Corporation Compensation 12 

Do I Really Want Renters Insurance? 13 

What Happens to Your Life Insurance Policy When You Make an Estate Plan? 14 

Creating Excellent Customer Experiences 15 

EVMWD Awarded Gold Status for Water Conservation Standards 16 

A Promising Partnership 18 

February Temecula Students of the Month 19 

Playing with Your Child Can Help your Child’s Visual Development? 21 

TVH First UHS Accredited Geriatric Emergency Department in the Country 22 

Southwest Healthcare System Announces Expansion at Rancho Springs Campus 23 

Aaaand, They’re Off! 24 

The California Consumer Privacy 

Act – What’s in it for Me? 25 

Arts, Dining and Entertainment 27-31




5




Chamber Staff Member, 

Kimberly Niebla 

Graduates from Professional 

Development Program 

Kimberly Niebla,, Business Relations 

Coordinator at the Murrieta/ 

Wildomar Chamber of Commerce, was 

among the 29 chamber executives and 

staff to graduate last Friday from Academy, 

a professional development program 

presented by the Western Association of 

Chamber Executives (W.A.C.E.). 

Started in 2003, Academy is a threeday 

(three-year) high quality summer 

program on chamber management “essentials” 

geared for today’s chamber 

executives and professional staff. It has 

become the leading training program 

totally devoted to chamber professional 

in the West. 

“We congratulate all of the graduates 

and their chambers for having the vision 

to invest in professional development,” 

said W.A.C.E. President Dave Kilby. 

During the three-year Academy 

program, graduates participated in 18 

three-hour classes and must successfully 

complete additional independent study 

outside of the classroom. 

W.A.C.E is an association of chamber 

of commerce executives and staff 

professionals designed to promote and 

enhance professional development. 

With approximately 855 members from 

eighteen Western states and Canada, 

W.A.C.E. is the largest state or regional 

association of chamber of commerce 

executives in the United States. 


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For questions, comments, or story ideas, please 

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call (951) 461-0400. 

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Email: publishertvbj@verizon.net 

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Dane Wunderlich 

STAFF WRITERS/ 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

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Ted Saul 

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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 

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS 

Cy Rathbun 

Todd Montgomery 

Tom Plant 

Pat Benter 

Michelle’s Place Offers Patricia Deroeux 

Scholarship on Behalf of Temecula Chamber 

Michelle’s Place is seeking applications 

for the Patricia Deroeux 

Scholarship. On behalf the Temecula 

Valley Chamber of Commerce, this 

scholarship is awarded to two individuals 

within the city of Temecula. 

Requirements include a candidate who 

is a full-time student and is in need of 

financial assistance due to the death of 

a parent as a result of cancer. 

Patricia Deroeux was a beloved 

staff member at the Temecula Valley 

Chamber of Commerce for many 

years. In December of 2002, Pattie was 

diagnosed with cancer and succumbed 

to her illness in May of 2003. 

The TVCC works with Michelle’s 

Place to offer this scholarship in honor 

of their friend Pattie. 

Applications are open online until 

February 28. To learn more or apply 

visit https://michellesplace.org/educational-scholarships/ 

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 

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basis. 

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5. Send completed articles by e-mail to: 

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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 

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Journal hereby expressly limits its liability resulting 

from any and all misprints, errors and/or inaccuracies 

any advertisement or editorial may contain, to the 

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running of a corrected advertisement or editorial 

correction notice.




7 

Finding news and information in 

Riverside County can be hard to come 

by. The region is classified as a media 

desert leaving local residents to rely on 

surrounding media coverage from Los 

Angeles, Orange County and San Diego 

to provide any information. Although 

these outlets produce a substantial 

amount of news, local Riverside County 

residents are often left out of knowing 

what is happening in their own backyard. 

Fortunately, for the past 16 months, 

Spectrum of Innovation has served as 

a go-to source for news and information 

in Riverside County with their local 

broadcast and online media coverage for 

the region. 

The 30-minute program focuses on 

a range of topics that affect Riverside 

County residents and businesses from 

impactful local economic stories, to 

business and community spotlights, to 

innovative need-to-know stories along 

with some weather, traffic and community 

events. The goal of the show is to 

keep residents in-the-know with what 

they need-to-know within their own 

communities. 

The magazine-style newscast provides 

a localized regional approach as 

opposed to the breaking news coming 

from the networks. Spectrum of Innovation 

informs, educates and enlightens 

while addressing important matters that 

affect the county as a whole with an emphasis 

on the communities of Southwest 

Riverside County, providing a service to 

the people who live there. 

Spectrum of Innovation is presented 

by JDS Creative Academy, a 

non-profit 501(c)(3) visual, performing 

and digital arts organization that aims 

to provide career pathway opportunities 

with education and hands-on training in 

multimedia digital arts. 

“Working with this unique crew of 

industry professionals, apprentices and 

job training participants from Inland 

Regional Center who are adults with Autism 

and developmental disabilities, that 

we refer to as the SOI Crew, provides a 

productive, engaging and rewarding work 

environment. Our collaboration of doing 

and teaching embodies the same characteristics 

as a trade school to a population 

that is overlooked,” said Diane Strand, 

Founder of JDS Creative Academy & 

Executive Producer of Spectrum of Innovation. 

Spectrum of Innovation has a spinoff 

show, the SOI Update, a 10-minute 

news and information microversion of the 

full program presented by the job-training 

participants with guidance from the 

industry professional mentors. The SOI 

Update streams LIVE two to three times 

a week covering local sports, weather, 

community events and road closures. In 

January 2020, The SOI Update started 

going beyond television and is now providing 

news and information on the radio. 

Non-profit JDS Creative Academy is 

now in partnership with The Vine, 102.5 

delivering the S.W.I.E.T. Spot (Southwest 

Inland Empire Talk) SOI News Update. 

The SOI training crew has the opportunity 

to learn hands on skills in a variety 

of professions from video production, to 

radio broadcasting, to digital multimedia 

such as producing, directing, writing, DJ 

hosting, voice over, audio, editing, lighting, 

technical streaming skills, costumes, 

sets, acting, makeup, scheduling, logistics 

and professional soft skills, all in a busy 

work-based culture. 

Spectrum of Innovation wants 

you to be “In the Know.” The show can 

be found on Temecula and Murrieta 

Community Access stations and RivCo 

TV throughout the county. Head over to 

www.spectrumofinnovation.org to catch 

all previous episodes and individual segments. 

Subscribe and follow Spectrum 

of Innovation on YouTube, Facebook, 

Twitter and Instagram. Story ideas and 

suggestions are welcome. 

Temecula Sunrise Rotary Music 

Competition Winners 

The Temecula Sunrise Rotary Club 

has named the winners of its 21st Annual 

Music Competition held on February 

11th at Grace Presbyterian Church in 

Temecula. There were three categories 

of musical presentations: “vocal,” “piano,” 

and “other instrumental,” and 12 

high school students from the Temecula 

Valley area competed for cash prizes. 

In first place was clarinetist Joshua 

Julian Schaefer, a freshman at Vista 

Murrieta High School. Joshua, who 

won $400, played Time Pieces for Clarinet 

and Piano by Robert Muczynski. 

In second place was Brianna Chang, a 

pianist who was awarded $250. Brianna 

is a senior at Great Oak High School 

in Temecula, and she played Sonata in 

Cm, Op. 13 (1st Movement) - Pathetique 

by Ludwin Van Beethoven. The 

third- place winner was violinist Arissa 

Jeong, a sophomore at Great Oak High 

School. She played Salut d’amour by 

Edward Elgar and Perpetuum Mobile 

by Ottokar Nováček. 

In addition to the three cash prize 

winners, the judges chose two more 

to go on to the finals. Vocalist Robyn 

Morales, who is a junior at Murrieta 

Valley High, sang Ach, ich fühl’s from 

the opera Die Zauberflöte by Wolfgang 

Amadeus Mozart, and What Baking 

Can Do from Waitress the Musical by 

Sara Bareilles. Pianist Francis Saspa, a 

senior at Temecula Preparatory School, 

played La Campanella by Franz Liszt. 

Both Robyn and Francis were 

given high marks by the judges and 

will participate on an equal basis at the 

finals to be held at the University of 

Redlands, where the top prize in each 

category is $1,000. Second place winners 

will receive $500, and third prize 

will be $250. The first-place winners in 

the Rotary District 5330 finals will be 

invited to show off their talents at the 

June Rotary District Conference at the 

Soboba Resort. 

Adjudicators this year were Dave 

Bradley, Rhonda Parish and Michelle 

Risling, who are all talented performing 

and teaching musicians in their own 

right. 

Out of the more than 60 Rotary 

clubs in District 5330, encompassing all 

of Riverside County and much of San 

Bernardino County, about one third are 

participating in this year’s competition. 

In addition to 

Temecula Sunrise, the Rotary clubs 

of Temecula, Murrieta, Wildomar, 

Menifee, and Lake Elsinore are also 

having their competitions during February 

and March. 

Rotary International is a worldwide 

humanitarian service organization 

with 34,000 clubs in more than 200 

countries and territories. Founded in 

1905 in Chicago, members of Rotary 

are business and professional leaders 

united worldwide to provide humanitarian 

service, encourage high ethical 

standards in all vocations and help build 

good will and peace in the world. Rotary 

International is celebrating its 115th 

birthday on February 23rd and is the 

oldest service organization in the world. 

For information about membership in 

Rotary, call (951) 698-6116. 

The five winners are, left to right: Francis Dominic 

Saspa, Robyn Morales, Joshua Julian Schaefer, Brianna 

Chang and Arissa Jeong.




Temecula’s Professional Women Toastmasters 

Reaches 4 Years of Shaping Lives 

Esther Phahla, 

CPA, CTS, MST 

Professional Women Toastmasters 

will mark its 4th anniversary on March 

22, 2020. In honor of the occasion, a 

celebratory meeting will be held on 

Monday, March 9, 2020. 

Members of the public are invited 

to learn more about Toastmasters or 

may attend the event by emailing Vice 

President of Public Relations, Kathy 

Sizemore at vppr-5077319@toastmastersclubs.org. 

Since 2016, the club has 

been dedicated to helping people become 

better speakers and leaders. 

“Professional Women Toastmasters 

provides a supportive and positive environment 

where members have the opportunity 

to overcome their fear of public 

speaking and sharpen presentation 

skills,” says Mary O’Dwyer, President 

for Professional Women Toastmasters. 

“Other benefits include the opportunity 

to increase one’s confidence, build 

critical thinking skills and become an 

effective listener,” says Kathy Sizemore, 

Vice President of Public Relations for 

Professional Women Toastmasters. 

Some of the club’s charter members 

from the community include CPA Esther 

Phahla, DTM, and Alifah Achmad, 

DTM from the Interfaith Council of 

Murrieta & Temecula Valley. 

“Joining this group was one of the 

best decisions I’ve made!”, says Brooke 

Nunn of the Temecula Valley Chamber 

of Commerce, “I have never been good 

at public speaking and to be honest, do 

not like it at all. With that said, public 

speaking is a skill that I could use in both 

my professional and personal life. What 

caught my attention with this group were 

three elements. The first is they are a 

very diverse group of women with many 

different perspectives and backgrounds. 

Secondly, they are extremely supportive, 

kind and intelligent. Finally, they 

create a very safe environment to grow 

as a speaker.” 

Chartered with 20 members in 

2016, Toastmasters Professional Women 

Toastmasters is located in District 12. 

The club meets every Monday at 12:30 

p.m. at the University of Redlands, 

One Better World Circle, in the city of 

Temecula. For more information about 

the club, please visit www.professionalwomen.toastmastersclubs.org. 

About District 12 

District 12 serves approximately 

100 Clubs and 1700 members in the 

large Southern California region 

East of highway 57, South of Barstow, 

West of the Arizona border, and 

North of Temecula. District 12 includes 

two of California’s largest counties (by 

square miles) – Riverside and San Bernardino. 

To learn more about District 12, 

please visit http://www.d12toastmasters. 

org. 

About Toastmasters International 

Toastmasters International is a 

worldwide nonprofit educational organization 

that empowers individuals to 

become more effective communicators 

and leaders. 

Headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, 

the organization’s membership 

exceeds 357,000 in more than 16,600 

clubs in 143 countries. Since 1924, 

Toastmasters International has helped 

people from diverse backgrounds become 

more confident speakers, communicators 

and leaders. 

For information about local Toastmasters 

clubs, please visit www.toastmasters.org. 

Follow @Toastmasters on 

Twitter. 

“ 

“I have never been good at public 

speaking and to be honest, do not like it 

at all. With that said, public speaking is a 

skill that I could use in both my professional 

and personal life.” ~ Brooke Nunn




9 

Living Independently After Age 65 

by John & Christine Hamby 

The number of American seniors 

is expected to reach 70 million by 

the year 2030, according to the U.S. 

Census. AARP reports that as many 

as 90% of seniors over the age of 65 

want to live in their homes for as long 

as they can. 

We get it. Living independently 

has its perks! Staying in the comfort of 

your home with all its amenities. Maintaining 

your privacy. Continuing to do 

all the things you love to do. There 

is no doubt the aging-in-place movement 

promotes senior self-reliance. 

Advancements in technology, home 

modifications and in-home senior 

assistance services have this growing 

segment of the American population 

proving that they can retain some level 

of independence. 

Modern Technology 

Technological advancements, especially 

related to senior devices and 

gadgets, are allowing elderly people to 

age at home. Tools, equipment, and Apps 

are being geared toward ensuring their 

safety as they continue to live on their 

own. Personal medical alert systems 

allow seniors to summon help quickly 

should they fall or need medical attention. 

Video monitoring, a trend that has 

been gaining popularity over the last few 

years as families spread out geographically, 

allows family members to keep 

an eye on their aging loved in real time. 

Other systems are changing how 

older people age at home, including 

digital pill dispensers; voice-activated 

talking clocks that remind seniors to eat, 

take a short walk, or even feed the cat; 

and GPS devices that call for the help 

of a response team and alert the family 

to the potential health or safety issue. 

Home Modifications 

The desire to age in place may not 

work if the home an aging loved one 

is living in cannot accommodate the 

changes that come with growing old. 

However, sometimes minor adjustments 

can enable them to live safely in 

their current home. This could include 

making simple changes, such as: 

• Adding wayfinding lights throughout 

the house to prevent accidents 

• Moving furniture around to accommodate 

a wheelchair, cane or walker 

• Adding handrails to assist them in 

and out of the shower 

Sometimes major renovations must 

occur to allow a senior to remain 

in their home longer and safer, including: 

• Updating outdoor lighting, walkways 

and stairs to simplify access 

• Adding a walk-in shower to help 

prevent stepping over the side of the 

bathtub every time they bathe 

• Reconfiguring cabinet shelves to 

make things easier to reach 

• Outfitting appliances with larger 

numbers and letters for easier visibility 

Non-Medical Assistance 

An elderly loved one may be more 

than capable of living independently, 

but they may need support with certain 

daily activities. Professional caregivers 

can provide quality, dependable 

services to help seniors age at home, 

including customized companion care 

and personal care. 

• Personal care, such as bathing, eating, 

dressing, toileting, grooming 

• Household care, including cleaning, 

laundry, organization, errands 

• Meal preparation, from grocery 

shopping to meal planning and prep 

• Emotional care, offering companionship, 

conversation and help with 

recreational activities 

For many aging family members, 

having someone to help them with 

weekly tasks and activities can mean 

the difference between living on their 

own and having to move into an assisted 

living facility. 

This article is provided by John and 

Christine Hamby, Owner’s, FirstLight 

Home Care of Temecula serving the 

Temecula Valley. For more information, 

visit us online at Temecula. 

FirstLightHomeCare.com or call us at 

(951) 395-0821.




What Medicare Does and Doesn’t Cover 

by Cate Kortzeborn 

Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce 

2020 Board Members 

The Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the election 

of six members to their 2020 Board of Directors. The ballots sent to chamber 

members in October resulted in the election of six newly elected members. Newly 

elected Directors were installed at the January 2020 Board Meeting. 

2020 Newly Elected Board of Directors: 

Cherise Manning, A Grape Escape Balloon Adventures 

Tammy Marine, Habitat For Humanity Inland Valley 

Andrew Masiel, Sr., Pechanga Development Corporation 

Julie Ngo, Julie Ngo Agency State Farm Insurance 

Jackie Steed, Reliable Realty – Jackie Steed 

Bernie Truax, Truax Management Group 

2020 Board of Director Incumbents: 

Al Rubio, Chairman of the Board, DCH Auto Group Temecula 

Kimberly Freize Uhler, 1st Vice Chairman of the Board, Clear Blue Promotions 

Mike Noon, 2nd Vice Chairman of the Board, Noon & Associates CPA’s, Inc. 

Leslie Doherty, Treasurer, Nigro & Nigro, PC 

Donna San Miguel, Secretary, California State University San Marcos 

Brian Connors, Past Chairman of the Board, Southwest Healthcare System 

BJ Fazeli, Fazeli Cellars Winery 

Jeff Kurtz, Promenade Temecula 

Dave Lester, Abbott 

Soledad Escobedo, Pacific Western Bank 

Peter Baker, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Murrieta 

David Beshay, Corner Bakery Café 

Kim Kelliher, Grapeline Wine Tours 

Linda Wunderlich, The Valley Business Journal 

“I am excited with the results of our election and the wonderful slate of Board 

members who will be representing our Chamber membership during 2020,” says 

Al Rubio, TVCC Chairman of the Board. “Our new board members will help our 

Chamber continue its mission to promote positive economic growth while protecting 

the business environment throughout the valley. They are all well-recognized industry 

leaders who understand how to create real change that sustains the economic growth 

and lifestyle we have seen in our community.” 

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

serving over 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 about the Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce, please visit www. 

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

Medicare helps pay for a wide 

variety of medical services and goods 

in hospitals, doctor’s offices, and other 

healthcare settings. But it doesn’t cover 

everything, and it’s useful to know 

what is and isn’t covered. 

Services and goods are covered 

either under Medicare Part A or Part 

B. If you have both Part A and Part B, 

you can get many Medicare covered 

services whether you have Original 

Medicare or a Medicare health plan, 

such as Medicare Advantage. 

Part A is Hospital Insurance and it 

helps pay for: 

• Inpatient care in hospitals 

• Inpatient care in a skilled nursing facility 

(but not custodial or long-term care 

• Hospice care 

• Home health care 

• Inpatient care in a religious nonmedical 

health care institution. 

Part B (Medical Insurance) helps 

cover medically necessary doctors’ 

services, outpatient care, home health 

services, durable medical equipment 

such as wheelchairs and walkers, and 

other medical services. Part B also 

covers many preventive-care services, 

such as vaccinations and cancer 

screenings. 

You can find out if you have Parts 

A and B by looking at your Medicare 

card. If you have Original Medicare, 

you’ll use this card to get your Medicare-covered 

services. If you join a 

Medicare Advantage plan, in most 

cases you must use the card from the 

plan to get your Medicare-covered 

services. 

Under Original Medicare, if the 

yearly Part B deductible ($198 in 

2020) applies, you must pay all costs 

(up to the Medicare-approved amount) 

until you meet the Part B deductible 

before Medicare begins to pay its 

share. 

After your deductible is met, you 

typically pay 20% of the Medicare 

approved amount of the service, if the 

doctor or other healthcare provider 

accepts assignment. (“Accepting assignment” 

means that a doctor or other 

provider agrees to be paid directly by 

Medicare, to accept the Medicare payment 

amount for the service, and not 

to bill you for more than the Medicare 

deductible and coinsurance.) There’s 

no yearly limit on what you pay outof-pocket 

under Original Medicare. 

If you’re in a Medicare Advantage 

plan (like an HMO or PPO) or have 

other insurance, your costs may be 

different. Contact your plan or benefits 

administrator directly to find out about 

the costs. 

Under Part B, Medicare pays for 

many preventive services that can 

detect health problems early when 

they’re easier to treat. You pay nothing 

for most covered preventive services if 

you get the services from a doctor or 

other qualified provider who accepts 

assignment. 

However, for some preventive 

services, you may have to pay a deductible, 

coinsurance, or both. 

Medicare doesn’t cover everything, 

of course. If you need certain 

services that aren’t covered under Part 

A or Part B, you’ll have to pay for them 

yourself unless: 

• You have other insurance (including 

Medicaid) to cover the costs 

• You’re in a Medicare Advantage plan 

that covers these services. 

Some of the services and goods 

that Medicare Parts A and B don’t 

cover are: 

• Most dental care 

• Eye exams related to prescribing 

glasses 

• Dentures 

• Cosmetic surgery 

• Massage therapy 

• Routine physical exams 

• Long-term care 

• Concierge care (also called concierge 

medicine, retainer-based medicine, 

and boutique medicine); 

• Hearing aids and exams for fitting 

them. 

Cate Kortzeborn is Medicare’s regional 

administrator for Arizona, 

California, Nevada, Hawaii, and the 

Pacific Territories. You can always get 

answers to your Medicare questions 

by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800- 

633-4227).


The Evolution of Regenerative Medicine 

by Dr. Richard Jin 



11 

Regenerative medicine is a continuously 

evolving field changing the way 

in which therapeutics are being applied. 

They are most commonly used in conditions 

such as acute or chronic joint pain, 

hair regeneration, skin regeneration, and 

in some cases intravenous therapy. The 

aim is to treat or repair damaged cells, 

tissues, or organs. As the field of regenerative 

medicine continues to quickly transform, 

the potential of curing a particular 

condition brings along unknown safety 

and efficacy issues. Thus, being said, 

treatments can be broken down into two 

separate categories; autologous (cells or 

tissue obtained from our own individual 

body) and homologous/allogeneic (taking 

cells from a foreign donor). 

To date, Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), 

is the tried and proven method to improve 

joint regeneration. Joint PRP is most 

effective over a series of treatments as 

opposed to a single treatment. However, 

many patients achieve optimal results 

with just a single treatment. PRP is well 

known in sports medicine and has been 

used by many professional athletes as a 

means to speed up recovery. PRP is considered 

autologous in which, it is isolated 

and purified from one’s own blood. It is 

often thought that the therapeutic potential 

lies within the platelet’s natural ability 

to release its growth factors ultimately 

stimulating the wound healing process. 

Another form of joint therapy utilizes 

Stem cells. Stem cell therapy can be either 

autologous or homologous. Sources 

from one’s body are usually from the 

bone or fat-derived tissues. The way in 

which the material is processed and the 

cells are isolated can be questionable. 

Foreign sources of stem cells derived 

from amniotic and placental tissue have 

a show to have great therapeutic potential. 

However, with any foreign cell or 

tissue type, we run into the possibility of 

complications such as the transmission of 

infections, transmission of unwanted viruses 

or even rejection because these are 

considered foreign materials to our body. 

The latest up and coming form of 

regenerative medicine are exosomes. 

Exosomes are nanoparticles that are 

extracellular vesicles naturally secreted 

from living cells including stem cells. 

Exosomes harness the therapeutic potential 

of stem cells as they contain numerous 

growth factors, proteins, micro RNA 

and exhibit anti-inflammatory properties. 

Despite the fact that exosomes may present 

more therapeutic effects than stem 

cells, they are commercially available 

and are usually derived from allogeneic 

adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells, 

which may pose more harm than good. 

As the field of regenerative medicine 

continues to evolve, we are transforming 

the way we personalize medical therapeutics. 

At RJ Clinical Institute, with 

our translational approach to medicine, 

we customize every treatment plan 

according to the unique needs of our 

patients and can do so through our bench 

to bedside model and through the use of 

our own clinical laboratory. We have the 

potential to offer autologous regenerative 

therapies that yield the highest therapeutic 

potential while minimizing the risk 

for infection, rejection, and unwanted 

side effects. 

For more information on hair 

loss treatments visit www. 

rjclinicaltemecula.com or call 

951-319-2984 

Dr. Jin studied at the Boston 

University School of Medicine, 

Harvard Medical School and 

the University of California 

Irvine. He completed research 

in the areas of cardiovascular 

disease, pulmonary hypertension, 

antioxidant enzyme 

properties, cell signaling, 

cellular redox mechanisms, 

free radical-induced oxidant 

stress, platelet biology, growth 

factors, and wound healing. 

Dr. Jin serves as Chief Medical 

Officer for Benev Company 

Inc., driving their research 

and product pipeline development and 

continues to develop technological advances 

in wound healing and regenerative 

medicine.




S-Corporation Compensation 

FINANCIAL 

Presented by 

Nicole Albrecht 

The number one audit risk that 

S-Corporations have to deal with is salary 

and wages paid to officers of there 

corporation. One of the fastest ways for 

the IRS to audit an S-Corporation is to 

file an 1120S tax return with no amount 

showing on Line 7. It is assumed by the 

IRS that no one works for free, and by 

that being said the IRS has made it clear 

that officers of the corporation must 

receive wages in a profitable enterprise. 

So as an owner of the corporation, you 

need to pay yourself a salary, pay payroll 

taxes on that salary that you set for yourself. 

The salary that you pay for yourself 

does not need to be high, but however it 

does need to be a “reasonable amount” 

according to the IRS. 

Compensation of an officer should 

be based on the same criteria as what 

you would pay someone to do the job 

that you do. Things that should be remembered 

when setting the salary is 

prevailing market rates, the individual’s 

knowledge skills, and abilities to do the 

job efficiently, amount of hours worked, 

and other factors that involves the line 

of work that goes with the corporation. 

Also, salary is reasonable if a non-officer 

would be willing to take a job that is set 

at a proposed salary level. 

Generally, the IRS will allow the corporation 

a set of standards for setting the 

compensation for the officers-employees. 

However, the salary must be paid and the 

level that the salary is set at must be reasonable. 

Zero salary is unreasonable, NO 

one works for free. You would not want 

to persuade an employee to accept a job 

offering below what minimum wage is. 

The IRS can collect payroll taxes 

on an officer’s compensation, and the 

penalty for falling to pay payroll taxes 

is 100% of the taxes owed by the corporation. 

To avoid this payroll tax penalty 

each officer and the employees should be 

paid a reasonable compensation. 

Financial Accounting Services not only 

specializes in corporation taxes but payroll 

as well. Give our office a call at 951- 

719-1515 to book your tax appointment. 

“ 

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! 

Patrick Ellis Earns Status 

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 

Murrieta/ Wildomar Chamber President/CEO, 

Patrick Ellis was honored 

at the Western Association of Chamber 

Executives (WACE) 2020 Annual 

Conference in Portland, OR as an Accredited 

Chamber Executive (ACE) for 

his work in his Chamber, community 

and his commitment to the Chamber of 

Commerce Industry. Patrick is one of 22 

Chamber Executives to currently hold 

this distinction. 

ACE, a designation initiated in 1992 

by WACE, serves to encourage local 

Chamber Executives to strive for 

professionalism and seek formalized 

training in their field and contribute 

actively to the betterment of 

their industry. The ACE designation 

is awarded only to those Chamber 

Executives who meet stringent criteria 

set by WACE. WACE is the 

largest state or regional association 

of chamber of commerce executives 

in the United States. 

Murrieta/Wildomar Chamber 

of Commerce has been led by 

Patrick Ellis since 2012 and through his 

leadership continues to be a Catalyst for 

business growth, a Convener of leaders 

& influencers and a Champion for a 

stronger community. 

For more information, please contact 

Heather Estrada, Murrieta/Wildomar 

Chamber Communications & Program 

Coordinator at 951-677-7916 or via 

email at heather@mwcoc.org




13 

Do I Really Want Renters Insurance? 

Quick take: Reasons to consider 

renters insurance 

• Renters insurance can help you repair 

or replace property after loss due to 

many types of damage or theft. 

• It can provide coverage for an accident 

on your property. 

• Policies have very affordable annual 

premiums. 

• Your landlord’s property insurance 

doesn’t cover your personal property. 

Q: I just got my first apartment! It’s 

tiny, and I don’t own a lot of things, 

but my parents are encouraging me to 

get renters insurance. Here’s my question: 

Since my landlord already has 

insurance on the property, what reason 

would I have to get renters insurance? 

A: Simply put, renters need insurance 

to protect their stuff. As a renter, 

you don’t own the structure you live 

in and you are not likely to insure it. 

The belongings inside your rental, on 

the other hand, are probably important 

to you. One reason to carry renter’s 

insurance is to have coverage for your 

belongings. 

For example, renters could provide 

coverage in the event of: 

• A kitchen fire. A renter’s policy 

could help with the costs to replace 

items destroyed in the fire. If your place 

can’t be lived in while repairs are being 

done, renter’s insurance may also 

provide coverage for a place to stay, 

meals and related expenses. 

• A burglary. Renters insurance 

could help with the costs to replace the 

covered stolen items. 

• A guest falls and gets hurt. 

The personal liability coverage included 

in a renter’s policy could help with 

the payment of medical bills or other 

expenses related to the accident. 

Before you decide that you don’t 

have enough stuff to get damaged in a 

fire or what you have is not likely to be 

stolen, take a look around. You might 

see more items that are costly to replace 

than you’d expect. For instance, 

a smartphone, designer handbag, professional 

chef knife set, new laptop are 

all commonly used, high-ticket items. 

How about your grandmother’s antique 

china? Even the cost of replacing all 

your clothes could put quite a dent in 

your savings. 

“What does renters insurance 

cover?” 

In general, renters insurance provides 

coverage for your belongings, 

such as clothing, household items and 

furniture. It also includes electronics and 

jewelry, although limitations may apply. 

A renter’s policy also typically 

includes: 

• Personal liability coverage — in case 

you are found legally liable for bodily 

injury or property damage to someone 

else in an accident where coverage 

applies. 

• Personal property coverage – even 

when you are traveling and away from 

home. 

• Additional living expenses – when 

you can’t stay in your rental because 

of a claim. 

Some renter’s policies will provide 

a replacement cost for a lost or damaged 

item. Other policies may provide 

cash value, which takes into account 

depreciation of your item before the 

payout. What’s the difference? Say 

you purchased a new sofa 10 years 

ago, the cash value that you’d receive 

could potentially be well under $100. 

But if the same couch can be bought 

brand-new, that dollar amount would 

be the replacement cost amount. 

“Is renter’s insurance expensive?” 

Not really, which is one of the 

best reasons to recommend renters 

insurance. While several variables can 

affect the cost of your premium, overall, 

renter’s insurance is a cost-effective 

type of coverage. In fact, according to 

the Insurance Information Institute, 

the average yearly premium for renters 

insurance is just under $200. 

Talk to your local agent to help 

determine how much coverage you 

may want based on the value of what 

you own. 

INSURANCE 

by by 

Craig Steve Davis Fillingim 

“ 

Before you decide that you don’t have 

enough stuff to get damaged in a fire or 

what you have is not likely to be stolen, 

take a look around.




What Happens to Your Life 

Insurance Policy When You Make 

an Estate Plan? 

It is fairly common for an individual 

with a spouse or family to 

take out a life insurance policy, to 

provide financial security in the event 

they pass away. Depending on one’s 

age, life insurance policies are fairly 

inexpensive, and may even be offered 

as an employment benefit. For young 

people, the policy payout amount 

could be one of their primary ‘assets’ 

if they die. 

However, if you are thinking 

about making an estate plan you might 

not know how life insurance will 

affect that plan or your choices. It is 

likely more people have life insurance 

policies than estate plans, so this is a 

frequent situation faced by those new 

to estate planning. 

Life Insurance Beneficiaries 

First, all life insurance policies 

have specific named beneficiaries, 

which can be changed at any time if 

desired. This is true whether you have 

a will or trust, or no estate plan at all, 

as the policy is a separate document. 

If you make an estate plan, it will 

not override the beneficiaries in the 

policy, and they will receive the proceeds 

as designated. One advantage 

to this is that life insurance payments 

are usually quicker than distributions 

of the estate plan assets, so the named 

heirs would have access to those resources. 

Estate Plan Beneficiaries 

Typically, your estate plan beneficiaries 

will be the same as in your 

life insurance policy, so the effect of 

having the two separate designations 

may be minimal. Also, some individuals 

will use the policy to take care of 

a single beneficiary who might only 

get a portion of the estate plan. 

The policy payout amounts will 

not affect distributions in the estate 

plan. 

Making the Estate the Beneficiary 

of the Policy 

One common strategy is to change 

the life insurance beneficiary to name 

the estate, such as a living trust. This 

essentially transfers the policy payout 

to the trust and then it is administered 

alongside all other assets. 

This is especially important for 

minor beneficiaries when you want 

the life insurance to be used for their 

care when they are minors. 

One overlooked advantage of this 

method is that by naming the trust as 

beneficiary in the policy, the trust then 

becomes ‘funded’, which is one legal 

requirement for a valid trust. Essentially 

it means that there is now a real 

asset in the trust, even if you don’t 

have other significant assets to list. 

If you have questions about how to 

integrate your life insurance policy 

into your estate plan, please contact 

the attorneys at Shoup Legal, A Professional 

Law Corporation, at 951- 

445-4114 for questions, or visit www. 

ShoupLegal.com 

ShoupLegal.com 

LEGAL 

by by 

Andrea Steve Fillingim Shoup 

“ 

One advantage to this is that life 

insurance payments are usually 

quicker than distributions of the estate 

plan assets, so the named heirs would 

have access to those resources.




Creating Excellent Customer Experiences: 

Andy’s Glass Makes Glass Projects Simple 

and Stress-Free 

by Marina Rivera 

15 

Remodeling, updating and investing 

in your home can be an overwhelmingly 

stressful experience. With so many options, 

your vision for your home can seem 

like a long journey. Choosing the right 

company to collaborate with is often your 

first big decision, and when you select the 

right partner, you can have peace of mind. 

Andy’s Glass is here to be your 

guide. We’re a local company with years 

of experience and knowledge. We have a 

long history of supporting homeowners 

through the process, offering them guidance 

and expertise. We’ve been around 

for over 40 years; much impart to our 

customer-centric approach. We cover the 

entire landscape of glass services from 

shower enclosures to new windows to 

topping off your dining room table with 

the perfect piece of glass. 

When you work with us, you’ll get 

responsive service and answers to your 

most critical questions. We strive to be 

friendly, welcoming and helpful. We’re 

proud to say that our reputation is solid 

and backed by a long line of happy and 

satisfied customers. 

Shower Enclosures: Trust Us to Bring 

Your Vision to Life 

Shower enclosure remodels can 

be an expensive proposition, and often 

installations fail. When you trust us to 

complete your project, you’ll appreciate 

our cost-effective options and expert installation. 

We’re on a mission to remove 

the stress of a project, ensuring your 

needs are met. Designing a new shower 

enclosure offers you the opportunity 

to make every aspect unique from the 

hardware to the height. We can custom 

order any type of enclosure that will 

make your bathroom seem new again. 

High-quality products and precision 

installation make us a preferred choice 

for shower enclosures. 

What Type of Shower Enclosure Is 

Right for Your Space? 

Frameless shower enclosures are 

very popular; however, be aware this 

isn’t an available option if you have a fiberglass 

shower due the type of hardware 

required. If this describes your shower, 

you can opt for a semi-frameless or bipass 

enclosure. Regardless of the style 

you choose, your bathroom will have a 

modern feel. 

To get a better idea of the types of 

shower enclosures, we invite you to 

visit our showroom in Murrieta to see 

all the options for yourself. Our helpful 

team will be glad to provide you with 

information about enclosure styles, glass 

obscurity options and hardware. 

As a customer service representative 

at Andy’s Glass, I love working 

with customers and finding the best fit 

for their glass needs. Designing shower 

enclosures is a labor of love for me, and 

it’s always exciting to assist clients with 

reimagining their spaces. Let us be part 

of your project so that it can be enjoyable, 

not stressful. Get in touch today for a 

free estimate. 

Marina Rivera, Customer Service, Andy’s 

Glass. 

“ 

Shower enclosure remodels can be 

an expensive proposition, and often 

installations fail.




EVMWD Awarded Gold Status for Water 

Conservation Standards 

Elsinore Valley Municipal Water 

District (EVMWD) recently received 

gold status recognition for providing an 

effective Water Conservation Program 

from the Alliance for Water Efficiency 

(AWE). 

EVMWD was recognized for efforts 

related to customer billing and education 

practices as well as distribution system 

management. Critical elements included 

conservation and resources planning, 

public information and education, universal 

metering practices and landscape 

efficiency programs EVMWD is one 

of only three agencies in the nation to 

receive the gold status recognition. 

“It is an honor to be recognized for 

this achievement,” said Andy Morris, 

EVMWD’s president of the board. “It 

is the efforts of our customers and the 

work of our staff which ensures water 

sustainability for the future.” 

“This demonstrates staff’s commitment 

to ensuring water conservation both 

outside and inside the district,” said Haley 

Munson, Water Efficiency Specialist 

for EVMWD. “We are leading the way 

in water loss prevention.” 

The District has been added to 

AWE’s Leaderboard website to showcase 

this achievement. EVMWD offers a variety 

of programs and resources to help 

customers with their water conservation 

practices. Visit www.evmwd.com/conservation 

to learn more. 

EVMWD provides service to over 

155,000 water and wastewater customers 

in a 97-square mile service area in 

Western Riverside County. The District 

is a sub-agency of the Western Municipal 

Water District and a member agency of 

the Metropolitan Water District of Southern 

California. Visit the District’s Web 

site at www.evmwd.com for additional 

information. 

Michelle’s Place Annual Spring 

Fling to Take Place at Center 

Michelle’s Place Cancer Resource 

Center is planning for their biggest event 

of the year, the annual spring fling. Last 

year, the organization raised over $2 

million dollars to purchase their forever 

home. The center is now open to all 

cancers, which sparked a community to 

come together to support the valuable 

resources the center provides. 

The idea to host the spring fling at 

Michelle’s Place came to Kim Gerrish, 

Executive Director, when she was giving 

a tour of the facility. “Walking through 

the center, you see the vision. You get 

to feel the impact it’s going to have on 

cancer patients”, said Gerrish. “I think 

that it’s important to share this amazing 

resource with our community, which is 

why it is the perfect location to host our 

spring fling”. The Havana Nights themed 

event will take place on Saturday, May 

2nd from 6:00- 10:00 PM. There will be 

a special cocktail reception for Wings of 

Hope members starting at 5:00 PM. 

For sponsorship opportunities or to 

purchase tickets, please visit www.michellesplace.com/events 

or call Jennifer 

at (951) 699-5455. 

The center is now open to all cancers, which 

sparked a community to come together to support 

the valuable resources the center provides.




17 

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A Promising Partnership 

EDUCATION 

by 

by 

Drake Levasheff, PhD. 

Steve Fillingim 

It began with a simple question: 

“What would you think about hosting 

our classes at your campus two mornings 

a week?” Just over a year later, 

Mt. San Jacinto College and Azusa 

Pacific University share a partnership 

that provides opportunities to more 

than 50 adult students in Murrieta. 

Wonderful possibilities exist when 

like-minded partners work together 

for the good of those they serve. 

Mt. San Jacinto College has offered 

ESL and GED courses in the region 

for some time, but their purchase 

of the Abbott building in Temecula 

precipitated a change for their Adult 

Education Programs. The move led 

the institution to adjust course offerings 

in Temecula, so Program Director 

Amy Campbell took advantage of 

the opportunity and moved their day 

classes from the former Temecula 

City Hall to Azusa Pacific. 

The new location allows students 

considering future education opportunities 

for themselves and their 

families to get an up-close look at 

the valley’s leading four-year private 

university. 

This partnership is mutually 

beneficial. Azusa Pacific’s Murrieta 

Campus, located by Sam’s Club at 

Murrieta Hot Springs and the 215 

Freeway, is conveniently located for 

students. Since we offer our classes 

in the late afternoon and evening, this 

arrangement with Mt. San Jacinto 

College provides the added bonus of 

making use of the space during the 

daytime. 

The campus learning environment 

serves MSJC students, faculty, 

and staff well and they regularly linger 

in our classrooms and common 

areas after class is done. As hosts, we 

enjoy interacting with these students 

and hope the arrangement will lead 

many from this diverse population to 

enroll at Azusa Pacific University in 

the years ahead. 

Our two schools share similar 

values and work well together. The 

MSJC Adult Education Program team 

brings a strong service mentality, 

is collaborative, and communicates 

directly and effectively. 

With an education-seeking population 

to serve and a host of common 

interests, the future is promising--both 

for the students we serve and for the 

partnership between Mt. San Jacinto 

College and Azusa Pacific University. 

It will be exciting to see what comes 

of it and how the community benefits 

in the years ahead! 

For more information about MS- 

JC’s Adult Education Program, please 

visit www.msjc.edu/adulted/. 

Dr. Drake Levasheff is Senior Director 

of Azusa Pacific University’s 

Murrieta Regional Campus. He can 

be reached via email at dlevasheff@ 

apu.edu. 

“ 

Just over a year later, Mt. San Jacinto 

College and Azusa Pacific University 

share a partnership that provides 

opportunities to more than 50 adult 

students in Murrieta. Wonderful 

possibilities exist when like-minded 

partners work together for the good 

of those they serve.




19 

FEBRUARY 2020 

TEMECULA STUDENTS OF THE MONTH 

(L to R): BACK ROW - Sally Myers with school administrators/representatives; 

FRONT ROW - Nathanael Mariano, Linfield Christian HS; Indiana Rivera Gandrung, 

TVHS; Angel Britton, RVHS; Julia Steinberg, SNHS; Caleb Kim, GOHS; Nilson 

Rodriquez Cadenas, CHS. 

Linfield Christian High School - 

Nathanael Marino - Administrators, 

teachers, and family members shared 

about Nathanael (Nathan). Principal 

Wilson shared that Nathan is the 

voice of Linfield every morning. He 

is Linfield’s’ student of the month 

because he is a culture maker. Nathan 

is all about people and stands for his 

beliefs. He cares more about others 

than himself. Nathan has a strength 

of character, authenticity, and genuine 

love for people. He shared that 

his biggest struggle in life so far has 

been the feeling of being a flash in the 

pan or one-hit-wonder. He shared his 

feelings of, “Is this the best I will ever 

be.” His service to others has helped 

him transition this feeling into his 

greatest lesson. Nathan shared that he 

has come to realize that you will never 

be a flash in the pan when you serve 

the light of the world. Nathan’s father 

shared that he hopes his son will not 

only move mountains but move people 

with his kindness and unwavering care 

and love. 

Temecula Valley High School - 

Indiana Rivera Gandrung - Administrators, 

teachers, and family members 

shared about Indiana. Principal 

Williams reflected on the movie character 

Indiana Jones and his qualities 

of being academic and adventurous. 

“He’s an actor. Our Indiana is the real 

deal!” Indiana is involved in aquaponics 

and was part of the inception of 

TVHS’ Bio-Sustainability Program at 

TVHS. She has also been instrumental 

in writing the curriculum for TVHS’ 

elementary summer school science 

program. Indiana shared reflections 

on her own family’s life and circumstances. 

She shared, “There were many 

times where our family didn’t have 

enough money to cover bills or provide 

food.” All these problems caused her 

stress, but they also strengthened her. She 

realized she needed to open up and share 

with her school advisors. They were 

instrumental in assisting her, and she 

turned her family circumstance into a life 

lesson. Her teacher shared that Indiana 

consistently fosters group determination 

and comes from a place of how she can 

make things better for everyone. Indiana 

plans to attend UC Davis and study 

animal science and eventually become 

a veterinarian and work for the USDA. 

Rancho Vista High School - Angel 

Britton - Administrators, teachers, and 

family members shared about Angel 

(AJ). Principal Dignan shared that in his 

thirty-one years as an educator, Angel’s 

story has been one of the most inspiring 

to him. “She is going to do amazing 

things. AJ has gotten up so many times, 

nothing is going to keep her down,” said 

Mr. Dignan. Angel reflected on her life 

and shared that she previously didn’t put 

much effort into school. She struggled 

in life and made some poor decisions. 

In September of 2018, as a junior, after 

attending five different high schools, 

she ended up at RVHS. Angel reflected 

on what changed her life and direction. 

She shared, “My teacher believed in me, 

inspired me, and taught me that I could be 

anything I wanted to be.” She reflected on 

her mindset that she didn’t matter but said 

that she had overcome that. Angel shared, 

“I cannot wait to pursue my passion for 

helping others.” Her teacher said, “AJ 

is a solid, remarkable young lady. As a 

teacher, you wish these kids could see in 

themselves what we see in them.” Angel 

(AJ) plans to attend college and pursue a 

career as a juvenile attorney. She also has 

a passion for cosmetology and beauty. 

Susan H. Nelson High School 

- Julia Steinberg - Administrators, 


about Julia. Principal Dignan shared, 

“Julia is independent and essentially has 

all her ducks in a row.” She is a young 

lady that knows where she’s headed and 

what she wants to do. Julia chose to 

attend an alternative school because of 

her focus on completing her education 

without distractions. She wanted to be 

able to get a job, travel, and move onto 

college. Julia shared about her family 

and that for the last several years, her 

father has had Parkinson’s disease. She 

reflected on her dad’s perseverance and 

worked to transition himself to a healthy 

lifestyle to extend his life with his grace 

and passion. She shared that he taught 

her, “With hard work and perseverance, 

anything can happen.” Julia’s teacher 

shared that she is dependable, courteous, 

and responsible. “She is amazing, an 

exemplary student for independent study, 

and achieves at an unprecedented level.” 

Julia will be graduating early and plans to 

attend Cal State San Marcos and major in 

psychology. She then plans to transition 

to a university to study neuroscience. 

Great Oak High School - Caleb 

Kim - Administrators, teachers, and family 

members shared about Caleb. 

Principal Ricken shared that Caleb is 

academic. He loves random facts. He is 

incredibly involved in science and math, 

but he is also philosophical. She also said, 

“He could probably pull a cot out and 

sleep at GOHS with the time he spends 

on campus due to his involvement in 

everything.” Caleb is involved in science 

olympiad and math. He’s a planner; he 

likes to lead and is a teamwork kind of 

student. For Caleb, it’s about teaching 

people how to live more prosperously. 

He’s also a gamer, but for Caleb, it’s 

about the strategy. Caleb shared that his 

most significant obstacle in life so far has 

been himself. He is a full IB Diploma 

student at GOHS. The program and commitment 

are intense. He made a decision 

not to take calculus one year and skip it 

despite his teacher’s expressed concern. 

Caleb shared, “That was a big mistake, 

and I paid for it with an incredible 

amount of stress.” He recognized the 

real problem was that he was getting 

in his way. He shared that he overcame 

the obstacle and boundaries of 

his mental prison that he had imposed 

on himself. 

Chaparral High School - Nilson 

Rodriguez Cadenas - Administrators, 


about Nilson. Assistant Principal 

Fielstra shared that Nilson exemplifies 

the American dream. He is a four-year 

AVID student, and he will be the first 

in his family to attend college. Mrs. 

Miller, CHS’ Principal, was not able 

to participate in today’s event but 

wanted to share that she was Nilson’s 

middle school teacher, and she had 

the honor when he was in 8th grade to 

recognize him as a student of the year 

at DMS. Nilson shared his story about 

not being supported by his parents to 

attend college. He shared that while he 

experienced issues, he always put on a 

happy face for everyone else. He has 

had difficulty trusting people. Nilson 

shared, “My AVID teacher changed 

my life.” Nilson’s teachers, who also 

refer to themselves as his school mom 

and dad, shared about his campus life. 

They shared that Nilson is an academic, 

takes ten different AP classes, is the 

leader of four various clubs on campus, 

is a peer leader, and also works a parttime 

job. “Nilson demonstrates the 

courage to overcome his obstacles in 

life despite others blocking him. He 

is going to do tremendous things for 

other people to make sure they feel 

welcome and supported. He is this 

warm light that never turns off.” Nilson 

has already received acceptance 

from Stanford and Berkeley.







21 

Did You Know that Playing with Your Child Can Actually 

Help your Child’s Visual Development? 

Healthy 

Living 

by 

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

You can find a lot of ways to use 

playtime activities, games and toys to 

help your child, regardless of age, to 

learn or sharpen many different vision 

skills. And it can be done without 

interfering with the carefree fun and 

joy of playtime. 

From the moment of birth, you 

child is learning to see. He or she 

progresses from the newborn’s blurry 

world of light and dark to the schoolage 

child’s sophisticated ability to 

handle complex vision tasks. Toys, 

games and playtime activities help 

by stimulating this process of vision 

development. Sometimes, though, 

despite all your efforts, your child 

may still miss a step-in vision development. 

Your Doctor of Optometry can 

identify vision skill areas in need of attention 

and diagnose vision problems 

in their early stages, before they have 

a chance to interfere with your child’s 

total development or learning ability. 

Inexpensive homemade toys and 

simple childhood games can be just as 

effective as purchased toys in helping 

children develop and improve their 

vision skills. 

Here is a list of toys and activities 

that can help your child develop or 

improve various vision skills. 

Those suggested for birth through 

5 months of age will help stimulate 

your baby’s sense of sight. Those 

suggested for older age groups will 

help develop or sharpen your child’s 

general eye movement skills; eyehand 

coordination skills necessary for 

writing and sports; shape and size discrimination 

skills needed for reading; 

and visualization and visual memory 

skills needed for comprehension and 

for the ability to visualize abstract 

things. 

Birth Through 5 Months 

Toys: Sturdy crib mobiles and 

gyms; bright large rattles and rubber 

squeak toys. 

Activities: Peek-a-boo; patty-cake. 

6 Months Through 8 Months 

Toys: Stuffed animals; floating 

bath toys. 

Activities: Hide-and-Seek with 

toys; read to child. 

9 Months Through 12 Months 

Toys: Sturdy cardboard books; 

take-apart toys; snap-lock beads; 

blocks; stacking/nesting toys. 

Activities: Roll a ball back-andforth; 

read to child. 

One-Year Olds 

Toys: Bright balls; blocks; zippers; 

rocking horse; riding toys 

pushed with the feet. 

Activities: Throwing a ball; read 

to child. 

Two-Year Olds 

Toys: Pencils, markers, crayons; 

bean bag/ring toss games; peg hammering 

toys; sorting shapes/sizes toys; 

puzzles; blocks. 

Activities: Read to child; outdoor 

play; catch. 

3 to 6 Years 

Toys: Building toys with large 

snap-together components; stringing 

beads; puzzles; pegboards; crayons; 

finger paint; chalk; modeling clay; 

simple sewing cards; large balls; 

match-up-shape toys; tricycle; connect-the-dot 

games; sticker boots/ 

games. 

Activities: 

Climbing, running; using balance 

beam; playground equipment. 

7 Years and Older 

Toys: Bicycle; jump ropes; pogo 

sticks; roller skates; different size 

and shape balls; target games; more 

sophisticated building toys; puzzles; 

remote-controlled toys; timed shape/ 

size sorting games; plastic disks for 

tossing between players. 

Activities: Active sports; cycling. 

This list of toys and activities is 

not complete. There are many other 

ways you can aid your child’s vision 

development and teach him or her 

good eye safety and vision care habits. 

Use your creativity and imagination. 

Computer learning programs and 

games can be very useful, if available. 

Also, ask your optometrist to suggest 

other specific toys and activities. 

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. 

“ 

Inexpensive homemade toys and simple 

childhood games can be just as effective as 

purchased toys in helping children develop 

and improve their vision skills. 

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Temecula Valley Hospital Becomes the First UHS Accredited Geriatric 

Emergency Department in the Country 

Temecula Valley Hospital is the first 

Universal Health Services hospital in the 

country to achieve accreditation from the 

American College of Emergency Physicians 

(ACEP) as a Geriatric Emergency 

Department. 

The Geriatric Emergency Department 

Guidelines state, “the purpose of 

the Geriatric Emergency Department 

Guidelines is to provide a standardized 

set of guidelines that can effectively improve 

the care of the geriatric population 

and which is feasible to implement in the 

ED. These guidelines create a template 

for staffing, equipment, education, policies 

and procedures, follow-up care, and 

performance improvement measures.” 

According to the 2010 Census, more 

than 40 million Americans were over the 

age of 65, which was “more people than 

in any previous census.” In addition, 

“between 2000 and 2010, the population 

65 years and over grew at a faster rate 

than the total U.S. population.” The 

census data also demonstrated that the 

population 85 and older is growing at a 

rate almost three times the general population. 

The subsequent increased need 

for healthcare for this burgeoning geriatric 

population represents an unprecedented 

and overwhelming challenge 

to the American healthcare system as 

a whole and to emergency departments 

(EDs) specifically.” 

“We are very proud to be the first 

hospital in the UHS portfolio to receive 

this Geriatric Emergency Department 

Accreditation,” said Darlene Wetton, CEO 

of Temecula Valley Hospital. “Our community 

can trust the care that our Emergency 

Department staff provides to seniors 

in a time that they need it the most.” 

According to ACEP, the GEDA 

program is the culmination of years of 

progress in the emergency care of older 

adults. The voluntary GEDA program, 

which includes three levels similar to trauma 

center designations, provides specific 

criteria and goals for emergency clinicians 

and administrators to target. The accreditation 

process provides more than two 

dozen best practices for geriatric care and 

the level of GEDA accreditation achieved 

depends upon how many of these best 

practices an emergency department is able 

to meet. Temecula Valley Hospital has 

achieved the Level 3 emergency department 

level and must incorporate many of 

these best practices, along with providing 

inter-disciplinary geriatric education and 

having geriatric appropriate equipment 

and supplies available. 

Jacquelyn Horton, RN, and Director 

of Emergency Services for Temecula Valley 

Hospital said, “We have gone above 

and beyond the criteria to make sure we 

have a safe and healing environment for 

our patients who are 65 and older. We 

have specialized supplies, such as upgraded 

thicker mattresses throughout our 

entire Emergency Department, to improve 

patient healing and outcomes. Our staff 

cares deeply about making the best experience 

we can for our patients at Temecula 

Valley Hospital!” 

Please see the attached photo featuring 

Jacquelyn Horton; RN and Director of 

Emergency Services, and Cori Cole; RN 

and Manager of Emergency Services, with 

some of their Emergency Department staff. 

About Temecula Valley Hospital 

- Temecula Valley Hospital brings advanced 

technology, innovative programs, 

patient-centered and family sensitive care 

to area residents. The hospital features 

140 private patient rooms; emergency care 

featuring ER Reserve; advanced cardiac 

and stroke care; orthopedics; and general 

and surgical specialties. TVH is nationally 

recognized for Patient Safety 

by The Leapfrog Group, with a 

2017 Top Hospital Award and 

patients’ consecutive ‘A’ Grades 

for Patient Safety in Spring 

2019, Fall 2018, Spring 2018, 

Fall 2017, Spring 2017, and Fall 

2016. The hospital also recently 

received Two 2019 Women’s 

Choice Award Achievements; 

One of America’s Best Hospitals 

for Patient Safety and One of 

America’s Best Stroke Centers, 

the American Heart Association/ 

American Stroke Association’s 

Get With The Guidelines-Stroke 

Gold Plus with Target Stroke 

Elite Plus Quality Achievement 

Award and Mission: Lifeline 

Bronze Receiving Achievement 

Award, The Joint Commission’s 

Gold Seal of Approval for Certification 

for Hip and Knee 

Replacement, 5 Star Medicare 

Hospital Compare Rating, the American 

College of Cardiology Chest Pain 

Center with Primary PCI and Resuscitation 

Accreditation, the honor of 

the Inland Empire’s Top Workplaces 

2017 and 2018, has been designated an 

Aetna Institute of Quality Cardiac Care 

Facility for comprehensive heart and 

vascular treatment-including Cardiac 

Medical Intervention, Cardiac Rhythm 

Programs and Cardiac Surgery. For 

more information, please visit www. 

temeculavalleyhospital.com. 

Zach Hall Appointed Temecula Sheriff’s Captain 


City Manager Aaron Adams announced 

that Captain Zach Hall, a 22-year 

veteran of the Riverside County Sheriff’s 

Department, will serve as the Sheriff’s 

Captain commanding over the Temecula 

Sheriff’s Station effective January 16, 

2020. Hall is succeeding Sheriff’s Captain 

Lisa McConnell, who has led Temecula’s 

Sheriff’s Station since July of 2017 

and will now lead the Riverside County 

Communications Center under Sheriff 

Chad Bianco. 

Temecula Mayor James “Stew” Stewart 

states, “Public Safety is Temecula’s 

highest priority and I’m proud of our long 

history of exemplary leadership in law 

enforcement. Temecula remains among 

the safest cities in the United States and 

we are confident Captain Hall will continue 

to build upon the strong momentum 

of Temecula’s outstanding public safety 

track record.” 

Captain Zach Hall joined the Riverside 

County Sheriff’s Department in 

1998. He gained experience working at 

each sworn rank from Deputy Sheriff to 

Captain. He worked numerous specialized 

assignments within the corrections division, 

field operations, and administration, 

and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in 

Organizational Leadership. Captain Hall 

resides locally with his wife and family. 

City Manager Aaron Adams states, 

“I am pleased to welcome Captain Hall 

to our Executive Staff. His decades of 

experience and leadership, including at every 

sworn rank level within the Riverside 

County Sheriff’s Department, provides a 

solid law enforcement background that 

will serve Temecula residents and businesses 

very well.” Adams added, “We 

wish Captain McConnell well in her new 

leadership opportunity and will continue 

to work with her as she takes command 

over the communications and dispatch 

services for the entire County, including 

Temecula dispatch.” 

The City of Temecula contracts with 

the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department 

for Police services. The City is proud 

of its high level of law enforcement staffing, 

services and commitment to public 

safety, which keeps Temecula among the 

Safest Cities in the United States.




Southwest Healthcare System Announces Expansion and Renovation 

Plans at Rancho Springs Campus 

23 

Southwest Healthcare System’s Rancho 

Springs Medical Center Campus in 

Murrieta announced today expansion and 

renovation plans. The project is expected 

to commence immediately and will occur 

in phases over the next three years, with 

particular focus to ensure that the facility 

remains open for patient care with minimum 

disruption. Southwest Healthcare 

System is additionally finalizing investment 

plans for the Inland Valley campus, 

details of which will be announced soon. 

“This project has been years in the 

making and is focused on continuing to 

meet the demands of the growing population,” 

stated Brad Neet, CEO of Southwest 

Healthcare System. “Our team does an 

amazing job at delivering award-winning, 

quality care to our patients and their families. 

I am proud to announce that we will 

be undertaking this exciting project to 

improve and expand Southwest’s position 

as the preferred provider of healthcare in 

our communities while offering enhanced 

capabilities to deliver superior care in a 

state-of-the-art environment.” 

The expansion and renovation at 

Rancho Springs will focus on Women’s 

and Children’s Services, the Emergency 

Department, and other key clinical offerings 

such as the health system’s Robotics 

program. New and renovated areas will 

feature private patient rooms, installation 

of industry leading clinical technologies 

for minimally invasive procedures, along 

with globally sustainable infrastructure 

enhancements. 

It has been more than 35 years since 

Rancho Springs broke ground in Murrieta. 

“Over the years, we have become a preferred 

destination for healthcare services 

in the region. We have renovated and 

updated the facility, but nothing of this 

magnitude,” stated Neet. “The meticulous 

attention to every detail and the hours of 

planning and preparation for this kind of 

project takes a massive team effort and we 

are very excited to get the project started.” 

Southwest Healthcare System services 

a vast and diverse population 

throughout Southwest Riverside County 

and anticipates steady growth in the years 

ahead. “This is exactly why our significant 

expansion plans are essential in order for 

our hospital system to continue meeting 

the advanced healthcare needs of our 

surrounding communities,” said Neet. 

“In partnership with the medical staff and 

community, our goal is to be the leading 

provider of safe, high-quality, innovative, 

patient-centric healthcare in the region. 

Our expansion and renovation project here 

at the Rancho Springs campus will also 

allow us to continue our vision of Building 

Relationships that Touch the Heart.” 

About Southwest Healthcare System 

Southwest Healthcare System currently 

services more than 100,000 patients 

through its emergency departments, delivers 

more than 3,000 babies, admits more 

than 15,000 patients and performs more 

than 8,500 surgeries per year. Southwest 

Healthcare System, both Inland Valley 

Medical Center and Rancho Springs 

Medical Center, were recently awarded 

the Top General Hospital Award from 

Leapfrog (only 35 hospitals earned this 

distinction nationwide) for outstanding 

quality of patient safety. www.swhealthcaresystem.com 

About Rancho Springs Medical 

Center Campus Southwest Healthcare 

System - Rancho Springs, awarded the 

Blue Distinction for Outstanding Maternity 

Care, features the largest Family Birth 

Center in the region, including a Rady 

Children’s Level III Neonatal Intensive 

Care Unit. The only hospital in SW Riverside 

County to offer pediatric ER Services 

from Rady Emergency Physicians for 

children 14 years and younger, Rancho 

Springs is also an Advanced Certified 

Primary Stroke Center, as well as the 

region’s first facility to perform virtually 

no-scar single-site procedures using the da 

Vinci® Robotic Surgical System.




Aaaand, They’re Off! 

REAL ESTATE 

by by 

Gene Steve Wunderlich Fillingim 

Don’t know if you noticed ho 

media headlines for the first half of 

January trumpeted the onslaught of 

buyers heralding a jump on the spring 

buying season. Realtor.com told us: 

“Early-bird home buyers turn January 

into the new April” while MSNBC 

announced “Competition for housing 

is so high, the spring market is starting 

now”. But by mid-January Housing 

wire reported that “The Housing 

Market is off to a slow start in January” 

and Financial Samurai cautioned 

“It’s Time to Start Worrying About 

the Housing Market Again”. Not to 

be outdone, CNN just came out with 

“Coronavirus Threat Set to Trigger a 

Massive U.S. Housing Market Crash”. 

It’s not even mid-February and I’m 

already exhausted for the year. It’s less 

stressful to follow the election! 

So, ignoring the media crisis 

du jour, how did 2020 actually start 

in Southwest California? About as 

expected – no surprises, no rush, no 

crash. January is always a slow month 

and this year was no different. 

After a decent December that capped 

off a pretty good 2019 season, pending 

sales were down coming into the month 

so all things considered. we pretty much 

knew what was going to happen. And 

it did, but maybe not as bad as it could 

have. Sure that closed sales were down 

21% from December (860 / 679) but they 

were 16% better than January 2019 (583), 

so that’s not bad. And pending sales coming 

into February are up 20% (672 / 843), 

so subtract two holidays, add a leap day, 

multiply by low interest rates carry the 

seven, = February should be even better. 

What about prices, you ask? More 

good news. January median price ticked 

up 2% from December ($385,900 / 

$395,188) and improved 6% over last 

January ($370,706). That’s good news for 

home sellers, but not so good if you’re 

trying to buy– especially if you’re a firsttime 

home buyer. 

Not only that but there’s way fewer 

options to choose from right now. We’ve 

had eight straight months of inventory 

declines dropping us 6% month-overmonth 

(1,720 / 1,623) and down a 

whopping 30% from last January (2,317). 

Inventory is at its lowest level since January 

2018 and, after rising to 4+ months 

a few times in 2019, has now dropped to 

around 2monthsin most markets. 

As I’ve cautioned before, some 

percentage of sales and inventory can 

be attributed to increased new home 

construction across our region, and we 

are appreciative of the efforts our cities 

and county are making to address the 

housing crisis. But that’s still a grim 

inventory number coming into the year. 

If we’re going to have a robust buying 

season, it’s imperative we add to that 

listing inventory because you can’t sell 

what you don’t have. And right now 

we don’t have! Despite the Governor’s 

pledge to add 350,000 new dwelling 

units to the state every year, in 2019 the 

state actually produced fewer that it had 

in 2018 – down around 108,000 units. 

And projections from both the California 

Association of Realtors and the Building 

Industry Association are forecasting less 

than 1,000 additional homes built in 2020 

– from 108,170 to 108,620. Not only a 

far cry from the Governor’s 350,000, but 

less than the 180,000 we need just to keep 

pace with growth. Probably a good thing 

people are leaving the state – take some 

of the pressure off. 

The good news is that aside from 

CNN’s threat of a crash (when was the 

last time they were actually right?), 

most prognosticators of any repute 

remain optimistic for housing in 2020. 

With economic indicators all still in 

positive territory and interest rates 

expected to remain near record lows 

for the year, there are few indicators 

of a recession, or even a correction, 

this year. C.A.R is forecasting modest 

gains in sales and price, while Core- 

Logic is even more bullish on the 

market this year than they were last, 

and they usually do a pretty good job. 

Let’s hope they’re right. 

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 

The California Consumer Privacy 

Act – What’s in it for Me? 

On January 1, 2020, the California 

Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) 

went into effect. Although the law is 

similar in some regards to the European 

Union’s GDPR (General Data 

Protection Regulation) the California 

law differs in one key aspect—it can 

potentially affect any company that 

does business in the Golden State. 

As a consumer and Californian, it is 

important that you know what rights 

you have under the law. For business 

owners, it is important to understand 

what is required to comply with the 

law, and whether you are required to 

do so. 

The intentions of the CCPA are 

relatively straightforward. The law 

provides California residents the 

right to: know what personal data is 

being collected about them, know 

whether their personal data is sold or 

is disclosed and to whom, say no to 

the sale of personal data, access their 

personal data, request a business delete 

any personal information about a consumer 

collected from that consumer, 

and to not be discriminated against for 

exercising their privacy rights. 

You may have seen pop-up notifications 

on websites that you visit 

informing you that the website collects 

your data and providing you with the 

ability to opt-out of this collection— 

these notifications are a direct result 

of compliance with the CCPA. 

Outside of the codified rights 

outlined above, many readers are 

probably asking themselves what this 

means for them. Perhaps the most 

prescient feature of the CCPA is the 

right to request that data be deleted. 

Sometimes called the right to be forgotten, 

this is something that privacy 

advocate groups, like the Electronic 

Frontier Foundation, have fought to 

have recognized for some time. 

This means that consumers can go 

a step beyond deleting their account 

if they no longer wish for a company 

to have identifying information 

about them, they can request that it 

be deleted. 

One major caveat to the law, 

however, is that is only applies to 

data collected about consumers from 

consumers themselves. Publicly available 

data, like property deeds, are still 

available for sale to advertisers. 

Another important feature of the 

CCPA is that it gives consumers the 

right to sue companies in the event of 

a data breach. Although most companies 

are less than thankful for another 

source of litigation; the threat of a 

lawsuit, or class action lawsuit, is a 

boon to consumers. Companies that 

must comply with the CCPA will take 

additional steps to secure consumer 

data to prevent legal action. 

Although these enumerated consumer 

rights seem relatively benign, 

business owners and HR managers 

across California are wondering 

whether they are required to comply 

with the CCPA, and what form 

that compliance will take. In short, 

the CCPA applies to any business, 

including any for-profit entity, that 

collects consumer’ personal data and 

which does business in California, and 

satisfies at least one of the following 

thresholds: has annual gross revenues 

in excess of 25 million dollars, buys 

or sells the personal information of 

50,000 or more consumers or households, 

or earns more than half of its 

annual revenue from consumer’s 

personal information. 

If your business meets any of 

those criteria, the CCPA requires that 

organizations implement and maintain 

reasonable security procedures and 

practices to protect consumer data. 

It is important that business do so, as 

each violation of the CCPA carries a 

fine up to $7,500. 

With any new regulation, it is important 

that consumers and business 

understand their rights and obligations. 

Those that would like further 

information on the legal aspects of the 

CCPA are advised to contact a legal 

professional. For more information on 

the technical aspects of the law, and 

what is required for an organization 

to be compliant, please contact an 

Information Technology professional. 

Mythos Technology is an IT consulting 

and management firm that provides 

Managed Technology Services including 

hosted cloud and compliance 

solutions. For more information, 

please visit www.mythostech.com or 

call (951) 813-2672. 

“ 

TECHNOLOGY 

by 

by 

Tristan 

Steve 

Collopy 

Fillingim 

Perhaps the most prescient feature of 

the CCPA is the right to request that data 

be deleted. 

Mike Lopez as Deputy Fire Chief 


He has been a chief officer since 2008, 

serving as a member of Carlsbad Fire’s 

leadership team and overseeing Administrative/Support 

Services, Emergency 

Medical Services, Training, and Fire Prevention. 

Lopez earned an A.S. Degree in 

Fire Technology from Miramar Community 

College, a BS Degree in Occupational 

Studies from California State University, 

Long Beach, a Master’s Degree in Public 

Administration from San Diego State 

University, and is a graduate of the Los 

Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Leadership 

Academy (West Point curriculum) 

and the International Association of Fire 

Chiefs (IAFC) Fire Service Executive 

Development Institute program. 

Fire Chief David Lantzer describes 

the benefits of gaining a deputy with such 

diverse experience, “Chief Lopez brings 

experiences to Murrieta that will help us 

grow to continue serving the community 

at the highest level. We’ve identified a 

tremendous need for a fire training center 

(there are none in Southwest Riverside 

County) and Mike’s experience with these 

types of projects in Carlsbad will be a 

great benefit to our community. Additionally, 

he brings the values and work ethic 

that is consistent with the hard-working 

men and women at Murrieta Fire & Rescue. 

We are blessed to have him.” 

This experience includes serving as 

honor guard, as a SWAT Medic, and a 

YMCA volunteer. Lopez is also a task 

force leader for FEMA USAR California 

Task Force 8 and a safety officer for a 

Type III San Diego All-Risk Urban Area 

Incident Management Team. Lopez has 

earned awards for meritorious service 

during the fire-storms in 2003, 2007 and 

the Poinsettia Fire in 2014. He led the 

design and construction of Carlsbad’s state 

of the art Public Safety Training Center 

and new Fire Station 3. 

Lopez looks forward to this next 

phase in his career, “It’s a tremendous 

honor to be joining the Murrieta Fire & 

Rescue. MFR is a remarkable and progressive 

place with highly skilled, dedicated 

professionals who serve a great community. 

I am excited about this opportunity 

and look forward to working with the men 

and women of this agency to continue the 

long-standing tradition of providing firstrate 

professional service to the residents 

of Murrieta.” 

In Murrieta, Lopez will oversee the 

department’s Emergency Operations 

programs, as well as Administration, 

Training, and Fleet Maintenance. 

“Our Fire Department has set a high 

standard of excellence and we are thrilled 

to find an experienced and passionate 

Deputy Chief that can hit the ground running 

in this fast-paced department,” says 

Murrieta City Manager Kim Summers. 

“Chief Lopez will bring a robust skillset 

and tremendous experience to this 

important role.”




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27 

The City of Temecula Presents The Carnival 

of Music, Performed by The Temecula Valley 

Symphony 

Bring your family and experience the 

Carnival of Music, a free, outdoor concert 

performed by the 60-piece Temecula 

Valley Symphony conducted by Music 

Director, John Mario, and Associate 

Conductor, Dr. Zun-Hin Woo, on Sunday, 

March 15th from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm at 

Temecula’s Community Recreation Center 

(CRC) Outdoor Amphitheater (30875 

Rancho Vista Road). 

A Musical Instrument Petting Zoo 

will follow the concert program providing 

young people with an opportunity 

to try out some of the instruments and 

become more familiar with their various 

sounds. City of Temecula Mayor James 

(Stew) Stewart proclaimed, “This is 

going to be the year of Temecula FUN! 

Our Community Services Department 

does amazing things in this City, so I 

encourage you to go and have some Temecula 

FUN out there with your family 

and friends!” 

Carnival of Music will feature music 

selections from The Wizard of Oz; Lord 

of the Rings (The Fellowship of the 

Ring); Fiddler on the Roof; and Highlights 

from Wicked. Kate Prestia-Schaub 

and Kara Brennan-Wuchner will perform 

the first movement of the Bach Double 

Violin Concerto on flutes. The trombone 

section will lead the rousing 76 

Trombones and the trumpet section will 

be featured on the world’s best-known 

trumpet trio, Bugler’s Holiday, by Leroy 

Anderson. Listen for the bold sounds of 

the timpani and cymbals in Les Toreadors 

from Carmen Suite No. 1. As an introduction 

to classical music and some of the 

world’s most famous composers, Maestro 

John Mario will introduce the audience to 

Rossini’s Semiramide Overture, and the 

first movements of Haydn’s Symphony 

No. 104 and Beethoven’s Symphony 

No. 2. 

Temecula City Council Member and 

Temecula Community Services District 

President, Zak Schwank said, “The City 

of Temecula is committed to providing 

our community with free events such as 

these engaging and educational, classical 

music concerts to provide hands on access 

to the arts. The Musical Instrument 

Petting Zoo is a great opportunity to see, 

touch, and hear symphonic instruments 

up close and inspire the next generation 

of artists and musicians.” Temecula 

Valley Symphony Managing and Artistic 

Director, Alana Joos explains,“Variety is 

key to our successful performances. I sum 

up our concerts as Symphonic Music with 

a New Twist!” 

Bring the kids, family, friends, lawn 

chairs, and blankets to enjoy this Sunday 

afternoon of a free musical introduction 

to orchestral instruments and expect to 

have some Temecula Fun! 

Chuck Washington Seeks Second Term 


Washington was first elected to the 

City Council in Murrieta in 1995-1999. 

He later was elected to the City Council 

in Temecula from 2003-2015 after he and 

his wife, Kathy, and daughter, Lindsey, 

moved there. He served as mayor of both 

cities during a time of unprecedented 

population growth; he prioritized public 

safety funding, new programs for kids, 

increased transparency at City Hall and 

the maintenance of infrastructure. 

He ultimately joined the Board of 

Supervisors in 2015 where he has served 

the large, diverse district ever since, representing 

residents from the unincorporated 

mountain communities along with 

Anza, Aguanga, Sage and French Valley 

plus the cities of Hemet, San Jacinto, 

Murrieta and Temecula. 

Washington maintained his focus 

on public safety, economic growth, efficiency 

and improved services during 

his time on the Board of Supervisors and 

wants to continue serving the growing 

Third District. He has worked to make 

our communities safer, add deputies and 

support construction of a new County 

detention center. 

His focus on the local economy has 

helped create more than 50,000 jobs, and 

he has emerged as a leader in helping 

reduce traffic congestion by bringing additional 

freeway lanes and new offramps 

to the region. 

Washington’s record of community 

involvement includes having served on 

the boards of the Temecula Community 

Services District, the Western Riverside 

Council of Governments, the Riverside 

County Airport Land Use Commission, 

the Temecula Chamber of Commerce, 

the Boys & Girls Clubs, Habitat for Humanity 

of Inland Valleys, the Temecula 

Economic Development Corporation 

and the Inland affiliate of the Susan G. 

Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. 

He is a proud recipient of the inaugural 

Michael Hestrin Family Justice Award 

for his support of “Safe Alternatives 

for Everyone.” District Attorney Hestrin 

presented the award to Supervisor 

Washington one year ago in recognition 

of his work as a founding board member 

and supporter of S.A.F.E. over the years. 

Washington is on the March 3 primary 

ballot.




2020 

Friday Night Live Music 

The Most Coveted Campsites and 

Seats at the Temecula Valley Balloon 

& Wine Festival 

May 29-31, 2020 are on Sale before the Basic Campsite 

Sales open 8 a.m., Tuesday, March 3rd 

Currently, a small selection of full 

hook-up sites are available with the 

Sunrise Exclusive Festival Experience 

package. 

This is the best of the best, with 

the cabana club passes at the main 

stage for all three days of the event. A 

unique VIP experience is included in 

cabana club passes with reserved seats 

front and center during all concerts, a 

catered meal, three beverages per day, 

and a shady and cool place to relax 

with private VIP restrooms. 

Balloon Sunrise Brunch for two 

can be either Saturday or Sunday and 

includes two reserved hot air balloon 

tethered rides before scrumptious 

breakfast brunch with three mimosas 

in the cabana club. 

The Balloon Sunrise Brunch ticket 

can also be purchased separately. 

It includes admission to the Festival, 

brunch with three mimosas and a 

tethered ride. Cost is $99 on Saturday 

and $89 on Sunday and the tethered 

rides are only offered before 8:30 a.m., 

weather permitting. 

Campsites to the Festival sellout 

each year within two hours of the 8 

a.m. start time. This year’s Festival 

March Madness is Tuesday, March 

3rd online at tvbwf.com. Prices range 

from $350 for dry camping to $575 for 

a full hook-up. 

The Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine 

Festival returns to Lake Skinner May 

29-31, 2020. Located north of San 

Diego County, California, the Festival 

has celebrated Southern California 

Wine Country’s beauty and assets for 

over 36 years. All tickets are available 

at www.tvbwf.com or call (951) 676- 

6713. 

“ 

This is the best of the best, with the cabana 

club passes at the main stage for all three 

days of the event. A unique VIP experience is 

included in cabana club passes with reserved 

seats front and center during all concerts, a 

catered meal, three beverages per day... 

B.I.G. 

Brothers Igniting a Groove 

Friday, March 20 

6:00PM 

JOURNEY TRIBUTE 

Journey Captured 

Friday, March 27 

6:00 PM 

ENDEAVOR 

Friday, April 3 

6:00 PM 

SARAH AGUILAR 


6:00 PM 

JOHN DEMPS & FULL EFFECT 


6:00 PM 

SANTANA TRIBUTE 

Santana Ways 


6:00 PM 

32575 Rancho California Rd 

Temecula, CA 92589 

951-699-0099 

www.ThorntonWine.com




29







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

VBJ March 2020

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