News Briefs

Little League season update

With the stay at home orders lifted by the state, youth baseball is getting closer to a reality. However, the county is still at the Purple Tier and needs to progress to the Red Tier to hold team baseball leagues.

The Canyon Lake Little League sent out a letter to its baseball-playing families updating them on the current status. The letter read:

“Our full board of volunteers are anxiously awaiting to see what the county decides on sports guidelines and restrictions after Jan. 25 and are hoping that we are able to have a regular Spring season of baseball (with a slightly altered schedule). With that in mind, the District 28 President’s meeting has been pushed back to Feb. 3 so our district can make an informed decision regarding Spring baseball.

“Regardless of how a Spring season is played (if we can have a full, normal season or not), please know that Canyon Lake Little League does intend to at a minimum hold a conditioning/practice type of season with assigned field times and small groups/teams.

“Canyon Lake Little League will be working wilh the Canyon Lake POA to ensure player and parent safety whether we have a full season or conditioning/practice season.

“We are aware that there are some local leagues already making full season decisions, however we are held to Little League guidelines and are required to move forward as a group with our district partners.

“If you have already paid for your player to be a part of a full baseball season and we are only able to hold a practice season, you will be given a full refund.

“We are excited to get your players on the field. Please look for an update the first week in February with a decision on how we will move forward with getting all of our players out there again!!”

POA seeking input on mailbox lighting

The Canyon Lake POA Board of Directors is interested in receiving comments from members regarding the installation of motion-activated solar-powered lights at mailbox pods located throughout the community. The board said it is especially interested in receiving comments from the members who use the mailboxes where the lights are already installed.

In 2016, solar-powered motion-activated fixtures were installed at the mailboxes located at Sorrel Lane and Blackhorse. Those who use these mailboxes said they were collectively satisfied with the installation, the board said.

Late last year, the board approved installing the lights at mailboxes at Longhorn Drive at Appaloosa Court and at Cruise Circle at Continental Drive.

The board said the purpose of installing the fixtures at these two additional locations was to determine if there would be any environmental impact.

The installation of these motion-activated solar-powered lights will provide a sense of security and safety to a majority of the members and will cost approximately $21 per member. The funds for this one-time expense are currently available in the Capital Improvement Fund, should the board decide to install the lights at the remaining mailbox locations community-wide.

“Please email us at board@canyonlakepoa.com and let us know what you think,” the board said. “We intend to decide to proceed or not at the Regular Session Board Meeting on Feb. 9.

POA Intent to Run forms due Feb. 8

“Notice of Intent to Run” for the Canyon Lake POA Board of Directors forms will be made available for the first time on Feb. 8 and can be obtained at the Canyon Lake POA office. Notice of Intent to Run forms must be returned no later than March 11 before 3:00 p.m.

Three of the five seats on the Canyon Lake POA Board of Directors are up for election in May. The two-year terms of Tom Nathan, Chris Poland and Jeanne O’Dell are ending. Directors may serve a total of two terms. Tom is completing his second term. Chris and Jeanne are eligible to run again, as they both are nearing the end of just their first terms.

This year’s Annual Meeting and Election of the Directors Meeting is on May 13 at 8:00 a.m. in the Holiday Bay Room at the Lodge.

Club invites golfers to Valentine’s Tourney

“All You Need is Love…and Golf” is the theme of this year’s Valentine’s Tournament being held on Feb. 9 by the Canyon Lake Women’s Golf Club.

The popular tournament is one of the most anticipated golf events of the year with its fun four-person Scramble Format, gross and net prizes awarded in different flights, Closest to the Pin award and, of course, the club’s own Pat Kemball teeing it off for each group on Hole 12.

Members are encouraged to form a team now and sign up in the Pro Shop. The tournament fee is $21. The fee does not include green fees. With COVID-19 restrictions, there will be no typical luncheon following the tournament.

The Valentine Tournament Committee includes KK Beecher, Linda Johnson, Linda Kamashian and Anne Norris.

EVMWD receives $8.9 million grant

The Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District, which provides water to most of Canyon Lake residents and contracts with the Canyon Lake POA for lake access, has received an $8.9 million grant. The money came from the United States Bureau of Reclamation and is to be used toward the expansion of the water district’s Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility.

The project will significantly increase capacity of the facility and equip EVMWD to meet the needs of the community’s growing population.

“We are very grateful to the Bureau of Reclamation for their generous support of our regional expansion project,” Phil Williams, president of the EVMWD board of directors, said. “As our community continues to grow, these improvements will help us to meet projected demand and diversify available water supplies, ensuring reliable service both now and in the future.”

With growth in the area projected to increase nearly 50 percent over the next 25 years, water consumption and wastewater production will place a greater demand on EVMWD’s system. The expansion of EVMWD’s regional facility will increase capacity, upgrade treatment processes and improve efficiency.

By expanding its regional facility to treat an additional four million gallons of wastewater each day, EVMWD will be able to support population growth and produce an increased supply of recycled water. In turn, this will reduce dependence upon imported drinking water sources that would typically be used for irrigation.

The project, which is in the construction phase at this time with completion anticipated in 2024, has received a total of $138.8 million in grants and low-interest loans. The district’s diligent pursuit of grants and low-interest loans has significantly subsidized the costs of this project, ensuring that ratepayers continue to receive affordable water and wastewater services.

EVMWD is one of only two recipients selected to receive WaterSMART’s Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse funding in the most recent cycle. The district was honored to receive $8.9 million out of the total $9.5 million awarded this year.

The Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART Program funds the planning, design and construction of water recycling and reuse projects. These projects help communities preserve and diversify local water supplies by reclaiming and reusing water within the region.