VBJ December 21

VOLUME 32, NUMBER 12 DECEMBER 2021 

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY 

INLAND VALLEY’S 

CHRISTMAS TREE LANE 

IS OPEN 

By Ted Saul 

GIVING THE GIFT OF UPGRADE 

2021 TECH GIFT IDEAS 

SEE PAGE 22 

SEE PAGE 19 

THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO 

HELPED MICHELLE’S PLACE 

CELEBRATE THEIR 

20TH 

ANNIVERSARY 

SEE PAGE 9 

NEW INTERFAITH COUNCIL 

OFFICERS ELECTED 

The Interfaith Council of Murrieta & Temecula Valley at a recent 

monthly meeting elected its officers for the coming year. Those elected 

as co-chairs were Lina Akari, member of the Islamic Center of Temecula 

Valley, and Beth Schweighofer of Hospice of the Valleys as treasurer, 

SEE PAGE 23 

COMMUNITY 

EDC HIRES 

CONNIE STOPHER 

AS EXECUTIVE 

DIRECTOR 

10 

LEGAL 

NEW IMMIGRATION 

ATTORNEY JOINS 

REID & HELLYER 

LAW FIRM 

12 

HEALTH 

CATARACTS 

17 

AND... 

HOLIDAY EVENTS 

“GREASE” PRESENTED BY 

JDS CREATIVE ACADEMY 

REALTOR® REPORT

THE VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL 

2 www.TheValleyBusinessJournal.com 

December 2021 

Who Will Be Affected by a Potential Tax Increase in 

2022? 

The proposed tax legislation is not 

yet passed, but if it does, it will take effect 

in 2022. President Biden has promised 

not to raise taxes on households 

that make $400,000 or less annually. 

This means that it is likely that the tax 

increases will affect households and 

businesses that are of higher net worth. 

How Is Your Business Affected by 

the Proposed Estate Tax Changes? 

If the legislation passes, the limits 

to estate tax exemptions will go from 

$10,000,000 to half of that, $5,000,000. 

You want the money to be tax-free when 

you set up a grantor trust to pass down 

your business and avoid probate. If this 

legislation passes, the transactions from 

the grantor to the trust will no longer be 

tax-free. And the business assets that 

are allocated to the beneficiaries will 

be subject to a gift tax. 

Business Owners: 

Here’s What to Do 

As we enter the final two months 

of 2021, you have time to make some 

changes and avoid some of the tax 

changes that are likely to happen in 

2022. 

• Give Gifts Before 2022: The estate and 

gift exemption may decrease by half 

in 2022. If you were already planning 

to pass your estate onto your children, 

now is the time to make a move. The 

gift amount of over $5,000,000 of 

business assets in 2022 will be subject 

to a 40% estate tax. 

• Make Estate Planning Transfers Tax- 

Free: Make the sales transactions with 

your grantor trust using the existing tax 

laws that do not charge taxes on such 

transactions. You can put your business 

assets into the trust and avoid taxes on 

grantor trust strategies before 2022. 

• Review Your Estate Plan with an 

Expert: Meet with a trusted attorney 

today to review your estate plan. It is 

so important to review your estate plan 

yearly to account for major changes 

in your life as well as the law. These 

proposed tax legislations can change 

all strategies that you have in place, 

including life insurance, retirement, 

annuities, or other holdings where cash 

can pile up. 

If you have business assets that you 

would like to protect from increased 

taxes, Shoup Legal is here to help. Give 

us a call at (951) 455-4114 or email us 

at info@shouplegal.com to get started on 

estate planning and tax strategies. 

“ Give Gifts Before 

2022: The estate and 

gift exemption may 

decrease by half in 

2022. 

SHOUPLEGAL.COM 

LEGAL 

by by 

Andrea Steve Fillingim Shoup



www.TheValleyBusinessJournal.com 

3 

GOScH Ford Temecula Opens Annual 

Scholarship Submissions for Local High 

School Seniors 

Students in Temecu 

Class of 2022: GOScH Ford Temecula 

is now accepting applications from 

Temecula and Murrieta high school 

seniors for their 4th Annual Local Scholarship 

Awards, part of GOScH Ford Temecula’s 

Education First program. This 

year, 50 local students will be awarded 

a $1,000 college scholarship, helping to 

further their education after graduation 

and invest in their futures. Since starting 

the scholarship program four years ago, 

GOScH Ford Temecula has awarded 

$159,000 to local high school seniors. 

Applications will remain open from now 

until March 31, 2022. 

“The purpose of our scholarship 

program continues to focus on providing 

opportunities for the next generation of 

professionals in our community to thrive 

through higher education,” said Jason 

Noble, General Manager of GOScH 

Ford Temecula. “Setting students up for 

success by assisting in their education 

beyond high school, regardless of GPA, 

is just one of the ways we invest in the 

communities we serve.” 

The Local Scholarship Awards is one 

of three educationally based programs 

designed to benefit teachers and students 

in the community. 

Scholarship Process 

Eligible applicants must first create a 

one-to-two-minute video explaining how 

they are putting education first and why 

they deserve to win a $1,000 scholarship 

from GOScH Ford Temecula then upload 

to a video sharing platform (ex: YouTube 

or Vimeo). 

Each student must complete an application 

online at https://goschfordeducationfirst.com/local-scholarship-awards/ 

before March 31, 2022 to be considered 

for one of the fifty (50) scholarships. 

After March 31, 2022, a panel of 

community judges will review all submissions 

and select the 50 winners based 

on a variety of categories. The winners 

will be notified in April 2022 by email 

with their invitation to the awards ceremony. 

All scholarship winners will be entered 

into a lottery and one winner will 

be presented with an additional $3,000 

scholarship ($4,000 total). 

For more information on the Local 

Scholarship Awards and other Education 

First programs, please visit goschfordeducationfirst.com. 

GOScH Ford has been serving 

the valley for more than 50 years, and 

GOScH Ford Temecula has been serving 

Temecula and its surrounding areas 

for more than 25 years. They are a new 

and used Ford dealership located in the 

Temecula Valley Auto Mall. For more 

information on GOScH Ford Temecula, 

visit their website at www.goschfordtemecula.com. 

You can also find GOScH 

Ford Temecula on Facebook at www. 

facebook.com/goschfordtemecula. 

GOScH Ford Temecula is now 

accepting applications from 

Temecula and Murrieta high 

school seniors for their 4th Annual 

Local Scholarship Awards, 

part of GOScH Ford Temecula’s 

Education First program.




In this issue: 

Give the Gift of Upgrades 1 

Habitat for Humanity Christmas Tree Lane is Open 1 

Michelle’s Place Celebrates Their 20th Anniversary 1 

New Interfaith Council Officers Elected 1 

Who Will Be Affected by a Potential Tax Increase in 2022? 2 

GOScH Ford Temecula Opens Annual Scholarship Submissions 3 

Temecula Valley Museum Announces Competition Winners 4 

Margaret Rich Awarded Woman of the Year 6 

Use Water Wisely This Winter 7 

There’s No Place Like Menifee for the Holidays 8 

EXCUTIVE PROFILE | Andrea Shoup 9 

EDC Hires Executive Director 10 

Professional Women Toastmasters Participates in Playhouse Blitz 10 

Do You Own an Inactive Business? Is it Time to Close it Before the End of the Year? 11 

New Immigration Attorney Joins REID & HELLYER Law Firm 12 

Winter Events 15 

Temecula Valley Equestrian Community to Appear in 2022 Rose Parade 16 

Cataracts 17 

JDS Creative Academy Winter Showcase Wraps up 2021 with Grease 20 

Local Holiday Fun 21 

Realtor® Report 23 

Menifee Redistricting Process Underway 24




5 

THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO HELPED 

MICHELLE’S PLACE 

CELEBRATE THEIR 20TH ANNIVERSARY 

It was an amazing evening celebrating 20 years of service to cancer 

patients and their families. Over 250 people toured the newly 

constructed Center, enjoyed the silent auction, inspiring survivor 

stories and live music by HyjNx. Michelle’s Place looks forward 

to their official ribbon cutting on January 19. 

MICHELLE’S PLACE EXECUTIVE BOARD 

MEMBERS OF TEMECULA ROTARY




Margaret Rich Awarded Woman of the Year for the 

California Senate District 28 GAIT Therapeutic Riding Program 

Serves Special Needs Community 

Local business owner, equestrian and longtime Temecula 

Valley Resident Margaret Rich has been named 

Woman of the Year for the California Senate District 28 

in recognition of her non-profit Green Acres Interactive 

Therapy (GAIT) therapeutic riding programs that provides 

support to children and adults with special needs 

in our area. 

The award was presented to Ms. Rich by Senator 

Melissa Melendez of the 28th District earlier this week 

at a ceremony held at Green Acres Ranch. “I’ve had my 

eye on Margaret’s programs for a while now and wanted 

to recognize her and the important work she performs,” 

said Senator Melendez. Melendez stated that the funding 

of Special Needs programs is a focus of her office. 

“GAIT is a prime example of an excellent program that 

could use additional funding to expand and serve more 

of our special needs community.” Margaret stated that, 

“We use horses in our therapeutic program because the 

horse’s movement, at a walk, mimics that of our own 

movement so individuals who have never walked get the 

same sensation of walking while on the back of a horse” 

The GAIT program serves individuals of all abilities 

with special needs. For more information contact 

the GAIT program office (951)302-6045 or Heather@ 

gaitprogram.org 

EDITOR/PUBLISHER/CEO 

Linda Wunderlich 

Email: publishertvbj@verizon.net 

Criteria for Submitting Articles: 

ADVERTISING SALES INFORMATION 

(951) 461-0400 

CREATIVE DIRECTOR 

Helen M. Ryan 

VP OF DISTRIBUTION 

Dane Wunderlich 


www.facebook/thevalleybusinessjournal 

For questions, comments, or story ideas, please 

e-mail publishertvbj@verizon.net or call (951) 461-0400. 

1. Since the publication of articles is an added public relations feature for our advertisers, their articles 

will be given first priority. Other articles will be published on a space available basis. 

2. Articles should be submitted as a Word document file. 

3. Articles must be business-oriented and pertain to the author’s area of expertise. A photo of the 

writer is appropriate. 

4. All submissions are subject to editing by the publisher. 

5. Send completed articles by e-mail to: publishertvbj@verizon.net 

6. Article and advertising deadlines are the 15th of each month for the next issue. 

STAFF WRITERS/ 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

Gene Wunderlich 

Ted Saul 

Craig Davis 

Stefani Laszko 

James Laszko 

Nicole Albrecht 

Julie Ngo 

Tom Plant 

Esther Phahla 

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 

Bonnie Woodrome 

Haley Munson 

Don Hitzeman 

Dione Moser 

The Valley Business Journal is a California Corporation. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form, in whole or in part, 

without the written permission of the Publisher is prohibited. The publication is published monthly. The opinions and 

views expressed in these pages are those of the writer or person interviewed and not necessarily those of The Valley 

Business Journal. The Valley Business Journal hereby expressly limits its liability resulting from any and all misprints, 

errors and/or inaccuracies any advertisement or editorial may contain, to the credit of the specific advertising payment 

and/or the running of a corrected advertisement or editorial correction notice.




Use Water Wisely 

This Winter 

7 

Water conservation is no longer 

an emergency response to a 

drought. It is a way of life across 

California, where water is needed to 

support out growing economy and 

population and sustain us in linger 

and more sever dry periods that 

accompany climate change. 

Southern California has faced 

some of the hottest and driest 

years on record recently. When fall 

weather stays warm and dry into the 

winter, it is likely you will need to use 

more water than normal. EVMWD 

is asking customers to continue to 

practice water efficiency and offers 

customer a variety of rebates and resources 

to help. From indoor upgrades 

such as toilets and clothes washers, to 

outdoors including sprinkler controllers 

and turf removal, EVMWD is here 

to help provide customers the tools 

they need to be more water efficient. 

With what is expected to be another 

dry year, conservation efforts 

are more important than ever. Though 

winter weather is unpredictable, the 

time to conserve is now. 

For more information on available 

rebates and resources, visit www. 

evmwd.com/conservation or call (951) 

674-3146. The drought may be back, 

but you know what to do.




There’s No Place Like Menifee 

for the Holidays! 

CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING 

CEREMONY 

The City of Menifee is kicking off the 

winter season with the Annual Christmas Tree 

Lighting Ceremony. The festivities will take 

place on Saturday, December 4 at Mt. San Jacinto 

College located at 28237 La Piedra Rd., 

from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event will include 

games, crafts for kids, a lighted wonderland 

with numerous photo opportunities, and snow 

for sliding! Entertainment for the evening will 

be provided by local community groups along 

with a special appearance from the big man 

himself, Santa! This event is FREE to the public 

and open for all ages. 

This year, the City is teaming up with the 

Menifee Valley Community Cupboard and 

Menifee Police Department to collect food and 

gift donations for Menifee families in need. 

For admission to the snow area, please bring 

either canned good items to be donated to the 

Menifee Valley Community Cupboard and/ 

or an unwrapped gift to be donated to Santa’s 

Workshop. The first 500 guests will receive a 

free ornament. 

XTREAM LIGHT FIGHT HOLIDAY HOUSE 

DECORATING CONTES 

Residents are invited to spread holiday 

cheer by signing up for Menifee’s Xtream Light 

Fight holiday house decorating contest sponsored 

by Mediacom. Entries will be accepted 

online beginning November 29 through December 

13 with public voting taking place online 

through December 19. Residents who decorate 

their homes for the holidays will be mapped 

on the City’s Geographic Information System 

(GIS) to allow the community to visit and vote 

on their favorites. Winners will be announced 

and recognized on December 20 on the City’s 

website and social media accounts. 

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA 

Save the date - Saturday, December 11, for 

the annual Breakfast with Santa event! Santa 

will be stopping by for a special appearance for 

Menifee residents to take photos and enjoy fun 

activities The event will be hosted at the Kay 

Ceniceros Senior Center – Palm Room located 

at 29995 Evans Rd. Each participant above 

the age of two is required to register as space 

is limited. The price per participant is $10 and 

registration is now open. 

SANTA ON WHEELS 

Those interested in a more personal meet 

and greet with Santa can register for Menifee’s 

Santa on Wheels program. This is a unique 

experience where Santa can be scheduled to 

stop at a private party, house, or gathering of 

your choosing for a 15-minute personalized 

visit! While Santa would love to visit all the 

children in Menifee, he is available on December 

15 – 21, not including weekends. Santa on 

Wheels is only available for Menifee residents 

and registration in now open, in-person only, at 

the Community Services Department located 

at 29995 Evans Rd. 

“The holiday season is a great time to come out 

and celebrate with one another,” said Community 

Services Director, Jonathan Nicks. “We are 

happy to bring back these events and bring joy 

to the Menifee community.” 

For more information about the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, Menifee’s 

Xtream Light Fight, Breakfast with Santa, Santa on Wheels, or to get involved in 

any future special events, please contact the Community Services Department at 

www.cityofmenifee.us/specialevents, email communityservices@cityofmenifee. 

us, or call (951) 723-3880, City of Menifee, 29844 Haun Road, Menifee, 

California 92586 

ABOUT MENIFEE: Situated in the heart of southern Riverside County along Interstate 215, Menifee is a 

vibrant, new city of more than 100,000 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.




9 

EXECUTIVE PROFILE | 

ANDREA SHOUP, ATTORNEY AT LAW 

I enjoy being a go-to expert in Estate Planning, Trusts, Wills, Probate, 

and Business Succession Planning here in the Valley. I’m proud of 

our team at Shoup Legal, where we embrace each family’s unique 

estate planning and business needs to help them plan today for peace 

of mind tomorrow. 

I’m a big believer that planning for 

difficult times, such as the passing 

of a loved one, is vital for peace of 

mind and for protecting legacies. 

Time and again, I’ve seen how 

preparation helps families overcome 

stress, avoid time in court, 

maintain control of family assets, 

prevent infighting, and minimize 

delays and costs. After all, the time 

of a loved one’s passing is already 

tough enough without having to 

deal with fallout from failing to 

plan properly. 

Following law school, I worked 

as a Deputy District Attorney for 

the San Diego District Attorney’s 

Office. As a felony trial attorney, 

I dedicated myself to making sure 

justice was served. It’s a way of 

thinking that has carried over to 

my private practice here in the Valley. 

Through sharing knowledge, 

straight talk, and compassion, I 

believe the informed decisions I 

help my clients make is a form of 

“justice” that helps them protect 

and secure their legacies, both for 

themselves and their heirs. 

In 2012, while my husband was 

an active-duty Marine, we moved 

to beautiful Murrieta, which has 

since become our home. We’ve 

found the Valley to be an incredible 

community in which to make 

friends, set down personal and 

professional roots, and raise our 

four children. 

AFFILIATIONS 

The California State Bar has certified 

me as a specialist in Estate 

Planning, Trust, and Probate Law. 

Other affiliations include the 

Trust and Estates section of the 

California Bar Association, the 

Temecula and Murrieta Chamber of 

Commerce, the Riverside County Bar 

Association, the Southwest Riverside 

County Bar Association, and the California 

Advocates for Nursing Home 

Reform. 

If you’re noticing a pattern, my affiliations 

naturally tend toward my 

areas of expertise, Estate Planning 

and Probate Law. 

MY BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY 

I founded Shoup Legal, A Professional 

Law Corporation because I 

believe visiting a law firm should 

be a comfortable experience, not an 

intimidating one. Our clients come to 

us for help navigating the legal system 

and understanding their options—and 

that’s what they get, not just a lot of 

legalese and added confusion. 

As a specialist in Estate Planning, 

Trust, and Probate Law, I am honored 

to support families when they are 

preparing for and/or processing the 

loss of a loved one. Helping families 

navigate through difficult legalities 

effectively and efficiently so they 

can focus on healing is personally 

rewarding for me. 

With an approach that combines 

compassion and sensitivity plus high 

professional standards and efficacy, 

I am better able to provide prudent 

strategies that protect the interests of 

my clients. 

MY PASSION 

My passion is to make positive contributions 

to the lives of those I serve. 

As an Estate Planning and Probate 

Law expert, I find I am best able to 

do that by offering my clients individualized 

attention and a dynamic, 

collaborative process that ensures 

they understand every step along the 

way. After all, as Warren Buffet once 

said, “someone’s sitting in the shade 

today because someone decided to 

plant a tree a long time ago.” When 

proper planning is everything, as it 

is with Estate Planning, knowledge 

truly is power. 

GOALS 

My goal is to serve the Murrieta 

community with respect, professional 

competence, and kindness. I strive to 

provide a work product that is timely, 

accurate, and of great value to my 

clients. I am committed to carrying 

out charitable wishes and protecting 

family assets in a tax-efficient, family-centric 

manner. 

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND 

In 2002, I earned my Bachelor of Science 

Degree in Business Administration 

from California Polytechnic San 

Luis Obispo. I decided to pursue 

a law degree and graduated Magna 

Cum Laude from California 

Western School of Law in 2006. 

While in law school, I served as 

Editor-in-Chief of the California 

Western Law Review and was an 

officer of the Pro-Bono Honors 

Society. 

RESUME 

In law school, I was an extern for 

the Honorable Irma E. Gonzales 

(Ret.) of the United States District 

Court for the Southern District of 

California. 

After leaving the District Attorney’s 

Office in 2012, I founded 

Shoup Legal, A Professional Law 

Corporation, a boutique law firm 

serving estate planning, trust 

administration, probate, and business 

law needs.




Professional Women Toastmasters 

Participates in Playhouse Blitz for 

Habitat for Humanity Inland Valley 

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 

COALITION HIRES 

EXECUTIVE 

DIRECTOR 

Award-winning economic development veteran to bring new 

direction to the regional economic development organization 

Temecula - The Economic Development 

Coalition has hired long-time Idaho 

economic leader Connie Stopher as its 

new executive director after an extensive 

nationwide search. Stopher had been the 

Executive Director of Southern Idaho 

Economic Development, based in Twin 

Falls, prior to taking the top spot with 

the Coalition. 

“As soon we met Connie, we knew 

she had that special Economic Development 

Sauce that we need here in 

Southwest Riverside County,” said Diane 

Strand, the Executive EDC Board 

Member and Search Committee Chair in 

announcing Stopher’s hiring. “She will be 

a dynamo for our region.” 

Stopher will have an opportunity to 

provide direction on where to take the 

Coalition, which has served as a marketing 

organization in Southwest Riverside 

County for more than two decades. Comprised 

of member cities, tribes and local 

businesses, the Economic Coalition’s 

mission is to leverage the region’s competitive 

advantage, attracting business, 

and supporting a high quality of life. 

“I am incredibly honored to have 

been chosen for this position and to have 

the opportunity to further the Economic 

Development Coalition’s mission. Be- 

tween the assets and resources in the 

region, there is an immense amount of 

potential to be found and I cannot wait 

to get started,” said Stopher. 

Stopher brings an extensive background 

in economic development with 

her to Southwest Riverside County. As 

Executive Director of Southern Idaho 

Economic Development, SIED, she 

developed and launched a new talent 

recruitment campaign, completed an 

organizational merger that added new 

staff and regional services, expanded the 

regional footprint of her organization, 

increased membership, launched a digital 

marketing campaign to reach target 

industries – including an award-winning 

virtual business recruitment tour. 

Prior to her time at the SIED, she 

served as the Executive Director of 

the South Coast Development Council 

(SCDC), a regional non-profit economic 

development organization for the communities 

along Oregon’s South Coast. 

Stopher holds a bachelor’s degree in 

political science and a master’s degree 

from Idaho State University in public 

administration with an emphasis in state 

and local government, and non-profit organizations 

from Idaho State University. 

Professional Women Toastmasters 

participates in Habit for Humanity 

Playhouse build with Eric Bunge, 

Outreach Director and Tammy Marine, 

Executive Director for Habitat 

for Humanity Inland Valley benefiting 

local first responders and healthcare 

families. Participants are gifted these 

playhouses as a surprise and proceeds 

raised by playhouse builds provide 

direct support to Habit for Humanity 

programs that helps struggling families 

obtain safe, affordable housing. 

Toastmasters members are guided 

by a set of essential core values: 

Integrity, Respect, Service and Excellence. 

These values allow member 

achievement through club excellence. 

These core values are the root belief 

that Professional Women Toastmasters 

operate from for the past several years. 

Having an opportunity to make a real 

impact in people’s lives Toastmasters 

members agree to help other people 

and give their time and energy to 

inspire others to grow. Professional 

Women Toastmasters was founded in 

2016 in Temecula, California, which 

is part of District 12, Area C3. After 

5 years of outstanding achievement as 

a President’s Distinguished Club, the 

Professional Women Toastmasters continues 

to provide a mutually supportive 

and positive learning environment that 

empowers members to develop communication 

and leadership skills while 

making an impact in their community. 

Courtney Fletcher, VP of Education 

from Professional Women Toastmasters 

said “Toastmasters is also an 

opportunity to make life long, and lasting 

friendships. Where you can meet 

a melting pot of personalities, from a 

wide range of backgrounds, with a collaborative 

goal of bringing one another 

and the community together. It was an 

honor to be able to work alongside my 

fellow club and community members 

to accomplish such a special project.” 

“Thank you Eric Bunge and Tammy 

Marine from Habit for Humanity 

Inland Valley for allowing Professional 

Women Toastmasters to be part of 

your playhouse community blitz. A 

unique building opportunity for our 

teams to work together to construct 

playhouses and use our creative talents 

to bring joy in a much-needed time to 

our community of first responders and 

healthcare families. Being a Toastmaster 

is not only about improving 

yourself it involves transforming what 

you know (or what you have learned) 

to others to help them improve” said 

Monique Payan, Commercial Banker, 

Vice President of Public Relations for 

Professional Women Toastmasters. 

Join us every week and be part 

of our online community. 

The Professional Women Toastmasters 

Club meets each Monday at 

12:30 pm to 1:30pm via Zoom. For 

more information about this event and 

the club, please email Monique Payan 

at vppr-5077319@toastmastersclubs. 

org or 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. 

Toastmasters International is a 

worldwide nonprofit educational organization 

that empowers individuals 

to become more effective communicators 

and leaders. Headquartered in 

Englewood, CO., the organization’s 

membership exceeds 352,000 in more 

than 16,400 clubs in 141 countries. 

Since 1924, Toastmasters International 

has helped people from diverse backgrounds 

become more confident speakers, 

communicators and leaders. For 

information about local Toastmasters 

clubs, please visit www.toastmasters. 

org. Follow @Toastmasters on Twitter. 

“ 

Thank you Eric Bunge 

and Tammy Marine 

from Habit for 

Humanity Inland 

Valley for allowing 

Professional 

Women Toastmasters 

to be part of 

your playhouse 

community blitz.




11 

Do You Own an Inactive Business? Is it Time to Close it Before the End of the Year? 

With the end of the year fast approaching, 

it’s time to dissolve any 

inactive business to avoid having to pay 

extra fees and paperwork for 2022. When 

a business entity is no longer needed, has 

completed its business dealings, has completed 

its job in a foreign State, or even if 

it was never used for anything, it is very 

important that it follows the legal steps 

in “winding itself up” as a legal entity 

through dissolution or cancellation or if 

it is a foreign entity through withdrawal. 

All corporations, limited-liability 

companies, limited partnerships, limited-liability 

partnerships and other business 

entities are legal entities which can 

only be dissolved through formal action, 

not by a letter or phone call. You remain 

liable for all taxes, assessments, fines, 

penalties and interest until you receive a 

certificate of dissolution from the Secretary 

of State. 

Here are some of the requirements to 

legally dissolve a business with the IRS, 

State and Local authorities: 

1. Hold a vote to dissolve the business: 

If the business was operating as a corporation 

or limited liability company 

(LLC), the shareholders or members 

need to approve the formal dissolution 

of the business. The first step is to hold 

a meeting to vote on shutting down 

the business; the final vote needs to be 

recorded in the meeting minutes. 

• For corporations: Two-thirds of the 

oting shares need to agree to close 

the business. If shares were never 

issued, then the corporation’s board 

of directors need to agree. 

• For LLCs: Specific rules vary by 

state and can be found in the state’s 

Limited Liability Company Act. Or, 

if you specified a dissolution procedure 

in your operating agreement, 

you’ll need to follow that procedure. 

2. File Articles of Dissolution paperwork 

with the state: After the members, 

shareholders or board of directors 

vote to dissolve the business, the LLC 

or corporation will need to file the 

Articles of Dissolution or Certificate 

of Termination with the Secretary of 

State’s office wherever the LLC or 

corporation was formed. 

In addition, if you filed a foreign qualification 

to operate in another state, 

you’ll also need to close these foreign 

qualifications. To do so, you’ll need 

to file paperwork, such as, Certificate 

of Surrender of Right to Transact 

Intrastate Business, with that state’s 

secretary of state office. 

3. Settle all debts: Before you can 

distribute assets among members or 

shareholders and put money in your 

own pocket, you need to settle any 

outstanding business debts. If your 

business owes any vendors, those accounts 

need to be settled and paid. 

4. Collect accounts receivable: You 

should work to collect on any past due 

invoices before announcing you’ll be 

shutting down the business. It will be 

difficult to collect after it’s known the 

business will close. If necessary, an 

effective strategy is to offer a discount 

on any outstanding bills in order to 

collect as much as possible. 

5. File Final Payroll Tax Returns: If you 

had employees, submit the payroll tax 

returns after you have paid them their 

final wages and salaries. 

6. Submit Final State Sales Tax Forms: 

If you collected sales tax from your 

customers, find out what your state 

tax agency requirements are in order 

to close your tax account. Submit your 

final state sales tax forms with the tax 

that you have collected from your customers. 

7. File the final tax return: When a 

business closes, it needs to notify the 

IRS. For LLCs and corporations, this 

is typically done by checking “final 

return” on the final tax return. In addition, 

the business will need to report 

shareholder allocations and losses for 

members on Schedule K-1. 

8. Close all business permits and licenses: 

Another important step toward 

dissolving a business is to notify the local 

business authorities and cancel any 

business permits. If you don’t cancel 

these licenses, they’ll still be expected 

to be paid any associated fees. 

9. Distribute the remaining assets: After 

taxes, debts and final payrolls have 

been paid, the business distributes the 

remaining money and assets among the 

business owners. LLCs distribute money 

and assets to members according 

to everyone’s proportional ownership 

share. Corporations distribute money 

and assets to shareholders based on the 

number of shares owned. 

By following these steps, you can 

properly dissolve a business with the state 

and IRS. If you have already moved on 

from the business, you should close it out 

before the end of the year to avoid having 

to pay unnecessary fees in 2022. 

Esther Phahla is a Certified Public 

Accountant and Certified Tax Strategist 

in Temecula. She is the Author of tax 

planning books: “Why Didn’t My CPA 

Tell Me That” and “10 Most Expensive 

Tax Mistakes That Cost Business Owners 

THOUSANDS”. She also holds a Master 

of Science in Taxation. She can be 

reached at (951) 514-2652 or visit www. 

estherphahlacpa.com




New Immigration Attorney Joins REID & 

HELLYER Law Firm 

Reid & Hellyer, A Professional 

Corporation, welcomes Ednna Meraz 

Ibarra as an associate attorney in its 

Murrieta office. Her practice focuses 

on immigration and business transactional 

law. 

Ms. Ibarra heads the firm’s immigration 

practice and handles family 

and employment-based immigration 

matters. She also practices business 

transactional law. Ms. Ibarra is fluent 

in Spanish and English. 

Before joining Reid & Hellyer, 

Ms. Ibarra was the principal of her 

own immigration law practice, the 

Law Office of Ednna Meraz Ibarra, 

located in Temecula. Prior to that, 

she was an associate attorney in a 

high-volume immigration firm in 

Studio City. 

Ms. Ibarra grew up in Temecula 

and graduated from Chaparral High 

School before moving to Los Angeles. 

Ultimately, she returned to Temecula 

to be closer to family and raise her son 

in this area. 

Ms. Ibarra is an active member of 

the Southwest Riverside County Bar 

Association, Los Angeles County Bar 

Association, and Hispanic Bar Association 

of the Inland Empire. 

While attending the University of 

La Verne College of Law, Ms. Ibarra 

served as the president of the College’s 

chapter of the Hispanic National Bar 

Association. 

Headquartered in Riverside, California, 

and with offices in Murrieta 

and Mission Viejo, Reid & Hellyer 

has been serving the Inland Empire 

for more than 120 years as one of the 

most-respected full-service law firms 

in Southern California, providing legal 

services in business and real estate 

litigation, real estate development, 

transactional law, estate planning, immigration 

law, media law, bankruptcy 

and mediation. Reid & Hellyer serves 

individual and business clients of national, 

regional and local prominence. 

Please join us in welcoming 

Ednna Ibarra as an associate 

attorney with Reid & Hellyer, 

where we continue our long 

tradition of Practicing Law 

with Competence and Integrity 

for over 100 Years. Ms. Ibarra 

may be reached at (951)695- 

8700 or through our website 

at www.rhlaw.com/contact/.




13



14 December 2021




15 

Winter Events 

Celebrate The Holidays At Europa Village 

This holiday season, pack up the family and celebrate in the charm and comfort of Europa 

Village, as we transform into a classic European winter wonderland. 

Delight in the merriment of the holidays and enjoy a diverse collection of activities, 

shopping, dining options, and much more. 

Peltzer Ice Skating Rink 

The annual Peltzer Ice Rink can’t wait to welcome y’all back for its 4th season come winter 

of 2021! As an extension of Peltzer Winery and Peltzer Pumpkin Farm, we invite families 

from all over Southern California to create family traditions with us during the holidays! 

Christmas Gala at Longshadow Ranch Vineyards & Winery 

Mulled wine, spiced cider, hot chocolate, peppermint taffy toss, live musical performances 

revisiting our shows from the past season, Christmas vocal and dance performances and 

so much more! Table reservations recommended, but not required. 

Sip, Shop & Jingle Holiday Winery Hours Danza Del Sol Winery 

Sip, Shop. & Jingle Winter Extended Hours! Holiday Shopping Event. Friday, December 

3rd 11 am - 8pm. Food Truck: Fat Lip PIzza | Live Music by: Chickenbone 

Visit Santa’s Wine Country Workshop Temecula Carriage Co. 

On a carriage, drawn by elegant horses you and your family will visit Santa at his Wine 

Country Workshop. 

This 12-15 minute private HORSE DRAWN DRIVE-THRU experience is a one-of-a-kind 

holiday excursion. 

A Christmas Carol 2021 Old Town Temecula Community Theater 

December 4, 2021 - December 12, 2021 

New Year’s Eve Party at Wilson Creek 

Wilson Creek Winery 

December 31, 2021




TEMECULA VALLEY 

EQUESTRIAN COMMUNITY AND 

LOCAL LEADERS TO APPEAR IN 

2022 ROSE PARADE 

Temecula’s eclectic equestrian community 

will once again represent the 

Temecula Valley - Southern California 

Wine Country at the 2022 Pasadena Rose 

Parade in Pasadena on New Year’s Day. 

The Horsewomen of Temecula 

Valley first appeared in the 2020 Rose 

Parade. This year they are teaming up 

with the Temecula Valley Horsemen’s 

Association and a selection of leaders in 

the community to provide a broad spectrum 

of the Temecula Valley’s rural and 

equestrian lifestyle. 

This year’s parade team consists of 15 

horses and six different breeds, 28 team 

individual members, a farm-style hay 

wagon carrying local dignitaries, a therapy 

miniature horse named “Cowboy,” and a 

canine companion named “Skip.” 

Leading ladies in the wagon include 

4-time City of Temecula Mayor Maryann 

Edwards, Margaret Rich, owner of 

Green Acres Ranch and GAIT interactive 

equine therapy riding program, Rancho 

California Water Board president and 

vineyard owner Carol Lee Brady, board 

member and past president of the Temecula 

Valley Historical Society Rebecca 

Farnbach, and Rosie Wilson and Libby 

Johns (Wilson) family owners of Wilson 

Creek Winery. 

The wagon will also have special 

guests Emery, Elyse, and mother, Megan 

Lapinskas with Skip, their Canine 

Companion Service Dog. The twin girls, 

Emery and Elyse, were born three months 

premature. At age one, Emery was diagnosed 

with Cerebral Pals. 

“We left our Texas home in search of 

a rural community that could provide our 

family with the lifestyle and community 

support that a special needs child needs 

to thrive. And man is she thriving,” stated 

Emery’s mother. 

Emery is part of the GAIT program 

in the Temecula Valley. This interactive 

therapy program uses Fjord horses, 

known for calm dispositions and smaller 

size, to provide physical therapy for 

individuals with Cerebral Palsy, autism, 

language, or emotional control issues. 

Lapinskas credits the therapy for helping 

Emery grow and strengthen. 

“It’s a lot different when she is on a 

horse. She doesn’t realize its therapy,” 

Lapinskas said. 

The Lapinskas will perform a 

demonstration during the Rose Parade 

EquestFest Horse Show, held Dec. 29 

in Pasadena. Using Skip, Emery’s canine 

companion, Elyse, and Cowboy 

the Miniature Therapy Horse, they will 

demonstrate how animal therapy aids the 

uniquely abled community. 

Following the wagon is the Riverside 

County Sheriff’s Department Mounted 

Enforcement Detail (MED) unit and the 

Temecula Cowgirl Color Guard. Riverside 

County Sheriff Chad Bianco formed 

MED in May 2021 to better serve the 

citizens of Riverside County through 

augmented patrol services and mutual 

aid support. Comprised of a Riverside 

County Sheriff Department Sergeant, and 

12 sworn Sheriff’s personnel, the unit 

works toward the promotion of positive 

communications and interactions with 

the community. Sheriff Bianco is a 28- 

year veteran with Riverside County. 

Juanita Koth is the TVHA team marshal. 

This is her second year to lead the 

group to the Rose Parade. 

“Throughout my lifetime I’ve witnessed 

firsthand many aspects of Southern 

California’s rural lifestyles disappear. 

It is my dream that our community of 

Temecula Wine Country will continue 

to believe in the values of preserving and 

deepening our region’s roots in farming 

and ranching,” Koth explained about her 

mission. 

Temecula Cowgirl Color Guard 

Parade and Drill Team who also helped 

spearhead the 2020 team will include 

eight members. Many of the members 

are teenagers who volunteer throughout 

the community and continue to practice 

for the EquestFest Horse Show. 

California Ranch Company and 

Galway Downs founded the Temecula 

Valley Horsemen’s Association which 

is dedicated to preserving the rural and 

equestrian lifestyles in the valley. Their 

sponsorship, along with the City of Temecula 

and Visit Temecula are helping 

the team get to Pasadena. Travelling, 

boarding, grooming, and paying for entry 

fees for the parade add up quickly. 

The team has procured sponsors and 

continues to fundraise to help defray the 

costs. To help them visit: https://horsewomenoftemeculawinecountry.com/ 

make-a-donation-to-our-rose-paradejourney-2022 

“ 

This year’s parade team includes 15 horses 

and six different breeds, 28 team individual 

members, and a farm-style hay wagon carrying 

local dignitaries


Cataracts 

by Pat Utnehmer 

A new year can bring visions of new 

goals, activities, and experiences. What if 

your glasses or contact lenses don’t bring 

the visual clarity you might be hoping for? 

After updating your prescription (during an 

eye exam) an optometrist will also check for 

a cataract, which is a common reason vision 

is less than optimal even with new glasses 

or contact lenses. 

Isn’t a cataract a “film growing in the 

front of my eye?” Actually, a cataract is a 

cloudy or opaque area in the normally clear 

lens of the eye. Depending upon its size and 

location, it can interfere with normal vision. 

Most cataracts develop in people over age 

55, but they occasionally occur in infants, 

young children and those under 55. Usually 

cataracts develop in both eyes, but one may 

be worse than the other. 

The lens is located inside the eye behind 

the iris, the colored part of the eye. 

Normally, the lens focuses light on the 

retina, which sends the image through the 

optic nerve to the brain. 

However, if the lens is clouded by a 

cataract, light is scattered so the lens can 

no longer focus it properly, causing vision 

problems. The lens is made of mostly 

proteins and water. Clouding of the lens 

occurs due to changes in the proteins and 

lens fibers. 

Cataracts generally form very slowly. 

Signs and symptoms of a cataract may 

include: 

• Blurred or hazy vision 

• Reduced intensity of colors 

• Increased sensitivity to glare from lights, 

particularly when driving at night 

• Increased difficulty seeing at night 

• Change in the eye’s refractive error 

There are no proven treatments to prevent 

or slow cataract progression. In age-related 

cataracts, changes in vision can be 

very gradual. Some people may not initially 

recognize the visual changes. However, as 

cataracts worsen, vision symptoms increase. 

Types of Cataracts 

The lens is composed of layers, like an 

onion. The outermost is the capsule. The 

layer inside the capsule is the cortex, and 

the innermost layer is the nucleus. A cataract 

may develop in any of these areas. Cataracts 

are named for their location in the lens: 

• A nuclear cataract is located in the 

center of the lens. The nucleus tends to 

darken, changing from clear to yellow 

and sometimes brown. 

• A cortical cataract affects the layer of 

the lens surrounding the nucleus. The 

cataract looks like a wedge or a spoke. 

• A posterior capsular cataract is found 

in the back outer layer of the lens. This 

type often develops more rapidly. 

What Causes Cataracts? 

Most cataracts are due to age-related 

changes in the lens of the eye that cause 

it to become cloudy or opaque. However, 

other factors can contribute to cataract development, 

including: 

• Diabetes mellitus. People with diabetes 

are at higher risk for cataracts. 

• Drugs. Certain medications are associated 

with cataract development. These 

include: 

• Corticosteroids 

• Chlorpromazine and other phenothiazine-related 

medications 

• Ultraviolet radiation. Studies show an 

increased chance of cataract formation 



with unprotected exposure to ultraviolet 

(UV) radiation. 

• Smoking. There is possibly an association 

between smoking and increased lens 

cloudiness. 

• Alcohol. Several studies show increased 

cataract formation in patients with higher 

alcohol consumption compared with 

people who have lower or no alcohol 

consumption. 

• Nutritional deficiency. Although the 

results are inconclusive, studies suggest 

an association between cataract formation 

and low levels of antioxidants (for 

example, vitamin C, vitamin E and carotenoids). 

Further studies may show that 

antioxidants can help decrease cataract 

development. 

Rarely, cataracts are present at birth or 

develop shortly after. They may be inherited 

or develop due to an infection (such as 

rubella) in the mother during pregnancy. A 

cataract may also develop following an eye 

injury or surgery for another eye problem, 

such as glaucoma. 

While there are no clinically proven 

approaches to preventing cataracts, simple 

preventive strategies include: 

• Reducing exposure to sunlight through 

UV-blocking lenses 

• Decreasing or stopping smoking 

• Increasing antioxidant vitamin consumption 

by eating more leafy green 

vegetables and taking nutritional supplements. 

Researchers have linked 

eye-friendly nutrients such as lutein and 

zeaxanthin, vitamin C, vitamin E and 

zinc to reducing the risk of certain eye 

diseases, including cataracts. 

How Is a Cataract Diagnosed? 

Cataracts can be diagnosed through 

a comprehensive eye examination. This 

examination may include: 

1. Patient history to determine if vision 

difficulties are limiting daily activities 

and other general health concerns affecting 

vision. 

2. Visual acuity measurement to determine 

to what extent a cataract may be 

limiting clear distance and near vision. 

3. Refraction to determine the need for 

changes in an eyeglass or contact lens 

prescription. 

4. Evaluation of the lens under high magnification 

and illumination to determine 

the extent and location of any cataracts. 

5. Evaluation of the retina of the eye. 

6. Measurement of pressure within the 

eye. 

7. Supplemental testing for color vision 

and glare sensitivity. 

Further testing may be needed to determine 

how much the cataract is affecting 

vision and to evaluate whether other eye 

diseases may limit vision following cataract 

surgery. Using the information from these 

tests, your optometrist can determine if 

you have cataracts and advise you on your 

treatment options. 

How Is a Cataract Treated? 

Cataract treatment is based on the level 

of visual impairment they cause. If a cataract 

minimally affects vision, or not at all, 

no treatment may be needed. Patients may 

be advised to monitor for increased visual 

symptoms and follow a regular check-up 

schedule. In some cases, changing the eyeglass 

prescription may provide temporary 

vision improvement. In addition, anti-glare 

coatings on eyeglass lenses can help reduce 

glare for night driving and increasing the 

amount of light used when reading may be 

beneficial. When a cataract progresses to 

the point that it affects a person’s ability to 

do normal everyday tasks, surgery may be 

needed. Cataract surgery involves removing 

the lens of the eye and replacing it with an 

artificial lens. The artificial lens requires no 

care and can significantly improve vision. 

Some artificial lenses have the natural focusing 

ability of a young healthy lens. 

Two approaches to cataract surgery are 

generally used: 

• Small-incision cataract surgery involves 

making an incision in the side of the 

cornea (the clear outer covering of the 

eye) and inserting a tiny probe into the 

eye. The probe emits ultrasound waves 

that soften and break up the lens so it can 

be suctioned out. This process is called 

phacoemulsification. 

• Extracapsular surgery requires a somewhat 

larger incision in the cornea so 

that the lens core can be removed in one 

piece. The natural lens is replaced by a 

clear plastic lens called an intraocular 

lens (IOL). When implanting an IOL is 

not possible because of other eye problems, 

contact lenses and, in some cases, 

eyeglasses may be an option for vision 

correction. 

17 

As with any surgery, cataract surgery 

has risks from infection and bleeding. 

Cataract surgery also slightly increases the 

risk of retinal detachment. It is important 

to discuss the benefits and risks of cataract 

surgery with your eye care providers. Other 

eye conditions may increase the need for 

cataract surgery or prevent a person from 

being a cataract surgery candidate. 

Cataract surgery is one of the safest and 

most effective types of surgery performed in 

the United States today. Approximately 90 

percent of cataract surgery patients report 

better vision following the surgery. 

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.




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19 

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 

“ 

“This year’s trees are 

visually one of the most 

outstanding displays that have 

ever been arranged for the event. “ 

The Christmas season is officially 

upon us. When the Habitat for Humanity 

Inland Valley (Habitat) Christmas 

Tree Lane display goes up at Promenade 

Temecula, Christmas time is here. 

Since 2006, Habitat’s signature event, 

Christmas Tree Lane is known as a 

symbol of hope beauty and joy in the 

Temecula Valley. Housing prices continue 

to rise nationwide, but Riverside 

County is being hit especially hard. As 

an advocate for affordable housing, 

Habitat looks for solutions to fund 

housing opportunities in the Valley; 

Christmas Tree Lane is a unique opportunity 

that is inclusive to all with 

tree raffle tickets starting at just $1. 

For only $1 per ticket, all who enter 

the Christmas Tree Lane raffle have 

the opportunity to win a professionally 

designed themed-tree. 

“This year’s trees are visually 

one of the most outstanding displays 

that have ever been arranged for the 

event. We are blessed to partner with 

Promenade Temecula and be placed 

in a prominent location this year. We 

can’t wait to see the faces of wonder 

as people walk through,” shared Jackie 

Steed, Habitat for Humanity Inland 

Valley board member and Christmas 

Tree Lane chairperson. 

Thanks to our designers, we have 

some of the most unique tree designs 

that we have ever had. The designers 

are truly the magic behind what the 

community experiences. Serving a 

population of over 600,000 people, 

Habitat is dependent on the generosity 

of the community in the giving of 

their time and resources. In addition to 

events, such as Christmas Tree Lane, 

throughout the year, Habitat has two 

ReStores and one Design Center in 

southwest Riverside County. 

While the stores are retails storefronts, 

they also serve as a program, 

providing jobs, a place to repurpose 

gently used items and reduce items that 

would otherwise end up in our local 

landfills. The Design Center provides 

a resource for holiday shopping, while 

the ReStores serve as low-cost home 

improvement solutions. 

This year, 27 local businesses have 

sponsored professionally decorated 

Christmas trees and a playhouse. The 

community is invited to enjoy the 

splendor of these trees and enter the 

raffle. Children visiting the event will 

receive a Santa Letter Writing Kit. A 

mailbox for, “Letters to Santa,” sits just 

outside the exhibit. 

Ticket purchasers may win a decorated 

tree in one of 26 separate raffles, 

but ticket sales serve an even greater 

purpose. All proceeds from the raffle 

support Habitat for Humanity Inland 

Valley programs; the trees offer hope to 

the families that benefit from Habitat’s 

resources. 

From November 6 until December 

17, the Habitat for Humanity Inland 

Valley Christmas Tree Lane event will 

remain open for raffle ticket sales. The 

winter wonderland of trees are located 

downstairs outside of JC Penney. 

There is no charge to enter either 

exhibit. Tickets can also be purchased 

at HabitatIV.org/Christmas. Final 

event drawings will take place on December 

17th at 6:00 p.m. in-person at 

Promenade Temecula and virtually on 

Facebook Live. 

Tickets are $1 each • 25 tickets 

for $20 OR 60 tickets for $50 – 

PLUS a $20 OFF ReStore Design 

Center coupon.




JDS Creative Academy Winter Showcase Wraps up 

2021 with Grease 

When you think about the creative 

arts, what comes to mind? Perhaps musical 

theatre, fashion design, or scriptwriting? 

These are all essential components 

of the arts - no role in the production of 

a creative performance is too small. JDS 

Creative Academy, a Temecula based 

non-profit organization, prides itself on 

being a staple in creative-arts education. 

One of JDS Creative Academy’s fundamental 

creative arts programs is musical 

theatre. The class has been working on a 

production of Grease since September and 

they will be doing two live-theatre performances 

in December at the JDS Creative 

Academy Winter Showcase. 

As 2021 wraps up, all the fall classes 

culminate into the Winter Showcase 

which includes not only the production 

of Grease but also a fashion show from 

the fashion design class and scenes performed 

from the scripts written by the 

scriptwriting class. 

The Winter Showcase will be a 

RSVP event taking place on Saturday, 

December 18 at 6 p.m. and Sunday, 

December 19 at 2 p.m. Door donations 

will be accepted and appreciated as they 

are used to fund scholarships in the creative 

arts to at-risk youth, foster youth 

and those with financial limitations. 

JDSCA also offers scholarships for 

advancement into higher education to 

graduating seniors moving on to pursue 

a future in the arts. 

The #JDSFamily is already underway 

and excitedly preparing for the 2022 

creative arts classes. There are a variety 

of classes offered at JDS Studios: youth, 

teen and adult acting programs; an age 10 

and up musical theatre program, as well 

as fashion design, scriptwriting, backstage 

production and a specifically-designed 

video-production job-training 

program for adults with developmental 

disabilities. 

JDS Creative Academy visual and 

performing arts programs work with 

K-12 traditional and charter school 

students. All classes and programs are 

led by trained professionals and meet 

VAPA California education requirements. 

Our creative performing arts programs 

are open to adults as well. Mark your 

calendar for these upcoming dates in 

January 2022: the teen and adult acting 

classes with JDS Actors Studio return 

Tuesday, January 4th at 5pm for ages 

12-17 and Jan. 6th at 7pm for adults; 

on January 10th, JDS will kick off Little 

Actors Classes, ages 4-6, at 4 p.m., followed 

by Youth Acting for ages 7-11 at 

5 p.m. Fashion design will begin again 

on Wednesday, January 26th and scriptwriting 

will start on Monday, January 

31. Auditions for the Spring musical 

will take place on Thursday, January 27, 

2022 at 5 p.m. 

COVID regulations have come with 

many changes and JDS Creative Academy 

was no exception to the necessary 

adjustments needed to protect ourselves 

and those around us. As the world slowly 

returned to doing enjoyable things, the 

JDS Family was excited to welcome 

program participants, youth, teen, and 

adult actors, script writers, fashion and 

backstage design students, and musical 

theatre Students back into the studio. 

The JDS classes serve as a safe place to 

pursue the arts, but also as a place to feel 

a sense of belonging and normalcy once 

again. The Fall 2021 classes were a huge 

success thanks to the students and staff 

for their dedication to safety regulations, 

the creative arts, and, most importantly, 

to working together. 

The Winter Showcase will be a wonderful 

representation of all the hard work 

the #JDSFamily has put into creating a 

safe, collaborative and fun environment. 

We look forward to the community coming 

out and enjoying the JDS Creative 

Academy Winter Showcase with the 

production of Grease, a fashion show, 

and scenes written by the students of 

JDS Creative Academy and performed by 

JDS Actors. What better way to wrap up 

2021 than by supporting the arts, seeing 

wonderful theatre, and enjoying creative 

ingenuity? 

For information on enrollment opportunities 

visit www.jdscreativeacademy. 

org/programs. Make sure you RSVP for 

the Winter Showcase and Grease on the 

website as well. Call (951) 296-6715 for 

additional information.




21 

‘Twas the Lights Before Christmas Home Decorating Display 

Do you love to decorate your home with extravagant lights or festive inflatables? 

Then you should enter the ‘Twas the Lights Before Christmas Home Decorating 

Display. Applications to enter will be available online on November 5th and the 

deadline to enter is December 3rd. A map of all of the homes will be published 

online for residents to enjoy. 

Christmas Tree Lighting at the Duck Pond 

Date: Monday, November 29th 

Time: 7:00-8:30 PM 

Location: Temecula Duck Pond 

What a bright time, it’s the right time to light the Christmas tree! While we wait 

for the countdown to the light the tree at the annual Christmas Tree Lighting 

Ceremony, enjoy a tasty treat, a visit from Santa Claus and festive music. 

Santa’s Electric Light Parade 

Date: Friday, December 3rd 

Time: 7:00 PM Start 

Have yourself a merry little Christmas when you attend the annual Santa’s Electric 

Light Parade. The parade will begin at 7:00 PM sharp at the intersection of 

Jefferson Ave & Del Rio Rd. Be sure to bring your blankets and chairs as you 

watch the entries travel north along the parade route. 

Donuts with Santa 

9 AM- 10:30 AM on Saturday, December 4. 

Choose the location that works best for you: 

• Alderwood Park (with a special event at the Alderwood Dog Park also!) 

• Copper Canyon Park 

• Town Square Park 

The event is free but we do ask that you bring one non-perishable food item 

to donate. 

Tree Lighting and Festival of Trees! 

Saturday December 4, 5-8 PM (official tree lighting at 6 PM) 

Town Square Park 

• Holiday crafts 

• Holiday story reading 

• Entertainment and vendors 

• Toy and nonperishable food drive 

Movie Night 

December 5. Kids’ crafts and vendors. 5-8 PM. The movie, ELF, will begin 

at 6 PM. 

Temecula On Ice 

Date: December 9, 2021 though January 2, 2022 

Location: Town Square Park 

Daily Rink Hours: 

Sunday-Thursday 10:00 AM - 9:30 PM 

Friday-Saturday 10:00 AM - 11:00 PM 

Holiday Hours: 

Christmas Day: 12:00-9:00 PM 

New Years Eve Skating Session: 10:00 PM - 12:30 AM 

($25 Admission including skates) 

Chilled in the Park 

Date: Saturday, December 18th 

Time: 12:00-8:00 PM 

Location: Ronald Reagan Sports Park 

To celebrate the holiday season, join us for Chilled in the Park! This event 

will feature magical entertainment, an ugly sweater contest, kids zone, and 

food vendors. Be sure to stick around for the festive fireworks display at 7:45 

PM sharp. 

New Year’s Eve Grape Drop 

Date: Friday, December 31st 

Time: 6:00 PM - 12:30 AM 

Location: Civic Center Quad 

Ring in the new year Temecula style with the infamous Grape Drop! Celebrate 

2022 twice with an East Coast (9pm) and West Coast (midnight) 

countdown. The New Year’s Eve Grape Drop will include live music, food 

vendors, and kid’s activities. Free Fun Zone will be open from 6:00-10:00pm. 

Lake Elsinore Winterfest 

Winterfest 

Saturday, December 4, 2021 from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Downtown Lake Elsinore 

comes alive with holiday spirit as thousands of people pack Main Street for the 

annual Winterfest event. 

Old Fashioned Christmas Parade 

6th annual Olda Fashioned Christmas parade will kick off the event at 

3 PM traveling from the corner of Library & Main to Franklin & Main. 

Tree Lighting Ceremony 

City Council Officials and our special guest SANTA will begin the countdown 

to the tree lighting at 6:00 p.m. on the corner of Graham & Main. 

Sled Runs 

Free trips down the sled run will be offered on the corner of Limited & 

Main. 

Santa’s Village 

Santa will be available for visits and photos inside of the Cultural Center, 

183 North Main Street 

Downtown Main Street 

Stroll along down Main Street and browse vendors that will include 

local crafters, community groups providing free activities, and food & 

merchandise booths.




GIFT OF TECH UPGRADES 


In past years there have been advancements 

in technology migrated 

into consumer products that we buy for 

our family and friends. While there are 

some new products available this year it 

may be a good season to take a different 

approach. When working through your 

Christmas list, think about what might be 

the best upgrades to give for 2021. Here 

are some ideas. 

Smartphones are always a great gift 

idea but even more so for someone on 

your list that needs an upgrade. With 

better cameras, 5G connectivity, larger 

storage, and faster processors the owner 

of a flip phone or older smartphone would 

appreciate all the new features. 

How about someone using a computer 

purchased a few years ago. Buying 

them an internal solid-state drive (SSD) 

is a great upgrade. These drives are faster 

with more capacity and are the future of 

storage. It’s also a good chance their old 

computer needs additional memory. 

As programs get updated so does the 

need for more power and adding memory 

can be a start. Watch the cost of putting 

new components into an older computer 

as it may become cheaper in the long run 

to buy a new system. Friends with a home 

security system may be a good place to 

give the gift of upgrade. Here too, there 

are better cameras available and many 

options of what is connected and monitored. 

Many are wireless making it easy 

to self-install. 

Know someone struggling with a 

first-generation tablet? Giving a current 

model will be appreciated. One can be 

more creative and productive with the 

many new apps requiring up-to-date 

devices. 

If you have a large budget, upgrading 

a TV can be a surprise as smart TVs 

are even smarter than ever. With all the 

streaming opportunities available, many 

have apps built right in and can connect 

to the latest routers for the highest internet 

speeds. 

Any technology that can connect 

wirelessly can be a welcome upgrade. 

For example, a new set of earbuds may 

provide freedom along with better sound 

quality. 

Upgrading someone’s external storage 

strategy is a great gift too. With all 

the pictures and videos captured daily, 

a new device with terabytes of storage 

will be valued. 

This year look for who is struggling 

with their technology for a clue on how 

you can give the gift of upgrade. 

Ted Saul is a business coach that assists 

with Business Plans and Project 

Management. He earned is MBA from 

Regis University along with a masters in 

project management. He is also ITIL 4.0 

certified. Ted can be reached on LinkedIn 

or emailing TedSaulbiz@gmail.com. 

by 

by 

Ted Saul, 

Steve Fillingim 

Sr. Staff Writer




23 

Welcome to the 

REALTOR® Report 

by 

Steve Fillingim 

As we near the end of 2021, 

housing market trends for our area 

continue in the same direction they 

have for the past few months. As I 

mentioned last month, we have a 

little over 2,000 units currently under 

construction and another 11,000+ in 

the pipeline. Those numbers, factored 

with the updated Housing Element 

numbers that all of our local cities are 

approving, or have already approved, 

should help with the lack of inventory 

in our market. That lack of inventory 

continues to drive prices up, which is 

great if you already own a home. 

However, if you’re trying to enter 

the market, it’s only getting more 

difficult as affordability numbers 

continue to decrease. Interest rates 

remain extremely low, so if you’ve 

been on the fence, you may want to 

consider the buying power with rates 

at their current level vs. if/when they 

increase. With all of that in mind, 

let’s take a look at some statistics from 

our region. 

The median home price in Southwest 

Riverside County had a very 

slight increase of 1% from a month ago 

($538,000/$535,000), was up 20% from 

a year ago ($450,000) and up 36.2% from 

2 years ago ($395,000). 

Unsold inventory is still hovering 

near 2 months (6 months is considered 

a healthy market), and days on market 

crept up again to 9 days, up from 6 days 

last year but still significantly lower compared 

to 26 days 2 years ago. Unit sales 

are down 4% from the previous month 

down and 14% from last year. Inventory 

dipped slightly by 1% from last month 

but is still up 34% from last year. 

While the cooling trend continues, 

Southwest Riverside County is still presenting 

solid numbers across the region. 

Median prices are up in all but one of our 

local cities, ranging in an increased range 

of 12.3%-30.5% Year-Over-Year. 

The California Association of RE- 

ALTORs® met last month and provided 

their forecast for the year-end of 2021 

and into 2022. 2021 looks to be a record 

year for unit sales as well as median prices. 

They expect the prices to continue 

to rise in 2022, but with a potential rise 

in rates and affordability dropping to a 

projected 23%, sales are forecasted to 

decline from 2021 numbers. I have attached 

a few slides from that presentation 

in the report. The National Association 

of REALTORs® will be meeting next 

week, so I will provide some feedback 

on their outlook next month. 

If you’d like a copy of my entire 

report including the mentioned slides, or 

to be added to the distribution list, please 

email me at Adam@srcar.org. 

As always, I am available if you have 

any questions about the report. Until next 

month… 

REAL ESTATE 

by Adam A. Ruiz 

They expect the 

prices to continue to 

rise in 2022... sales 

are forecasted to 

decline from 2021 

numbers. 

NEW INTERFAITH COUNCIL ELECTED 


Jim Willis of Center for Spiritual 

Living of the Temecula Valley and as 

secretary, Marti Treckman of Grace 

Presbyterian Church, Temecula. 

Appreciation for her dedicated service 

was given to outgoing officer Emmy 

Slusser, member of the Church of Jesus 

Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Temecula 

Stake. She has served for the past two 

years as co-chair. 

The Interfaith Council sponsors 

several major events during the year, 

including the annual Night of Music each 

spring, and the annual Night of Gratitude 

on the Sunday night before Thanksgiving, 

this year to be presented virtually. 

The Council also has established a 

Humanitarian Award to honor an individual 

or organization that exemplifies 

the objectives of the Interfaith Council, 

especially cooperation, equity, unity, respect, 

compassion, dignity, human rights, 

and justice, which are only a few of the 

virtues and requirements of a peaceful 

and just society. 

The Council presents outstanding 

speakers periodically at the Temecula 

Public Library and cooperates among 

its members to help each other with their 

events that benefit the community. 

The Interfaith Council meets monthly 

(except July and August) to plan its 

events and to hear members or other 

people of the spiritual community speak 

about their faith or their local humanitarian 

projects. The meetings are hosted 

by Miller-Jones Mortuary and are held 

at their location at 26855 Jefferson Ave. 

Murrieta. 

New members are welcome to attend the 

meetings, which are held from noon to 

1:30 pm on the second Tuesday of the 

month. To be added to the mailing list 

or for more information, please contact 

the secretary at 951-698-6116 or martimusician@verizon.net. 

“ 

The Interfaith Council 

sponsors several major 

events during the year 

including Night of Music 

and Night of Gratitude.




MENIFEE REDISTRICTING 

PROCESS UNDERWAY 

Redistricting, the process of redrawing 

district lines based on new census 

data, has begun in the City of Menifee. 

A dedicated redistricting website is 

live, and the City is asking the public 

to participate by attending a workshop, 

submitting a public comment form, or 

submitting their own draft map for consideration. 

“Public input into the redistricting 

process is critical,” said City Clerk Sarah 

Manwaring. “Our office encourages and 

is available to answer any questions or 

receive comments that residents may 

have.” The City will hold its first public 

workshop on Wednesday, December 1, at 

1 p.m. The meeting will be held at: Sun 

City Library, 26982 Cherry Hills Blvd. 

The dedicated site that includes links 

to an online mapping tool and the public 

comment form is accessible through the 

City’s website: www.cityofmenifee.us/ 

redistricting. 

A draft map will be presented in 

February 2022 at the conclusion of the 

public workshops. The public will then 

have an opportunity to comment before 

a final map is adopted in March 2022. 

Census data reveals the City of Menifee 

population now stands at 102,527. 

For more information about the 

process, the public can email City Clerk 

Sarah Manwaring at smanwaring@cityofmenifee.us. 

“ “Public input into the 

redistricting process is 

critical,” said City Clerk 

Sarah Manwaring. “Our 

office encourages and 

is available to answer 

any questions or receive 

comments that 

residents may have.”




25




YOUR LOCAL CHAMBERS 

Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce 

www.temecula.org 

Murrieta/Wildomar Chamber of Commerce 

www.MWCoC.org 

Menifee Valley Chamber of Commerce 

www.menifeevalleychamber.com 

Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber 

www.lakeelsinorechamber.com 

Hemet/San Jacinto Valley 

Chamber of Commerce 

www.hsjvc.com




27 

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28 December 2021

VBJ December 21

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