News Briefs

Two Canyon Lake girls named Students of the Month

Two students from Canyon Lake will be honored on Tuesday after being chosen as their school’s Female Student of the Month.

Serafina Smith is the October Student of the Month for Temescal Canyon High School and Summer Scott is the Student of the Month for Keith McCarthy Academy.

Each month the Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber of Commerce honors the Students of the Month of the high schools in the Lake Elsinore Union School District. A luncheon will be held in their honor on Tuesday at the Lakeside High School Lancer Round Table Café. The honorees will receive gift baskets filled with items from the various sponsors of the program. Those who are named monthly winners are eligible to enter the Student of the Year competition where scholarships will be awarded.

Single senior ladies meeting Wednesday at Country Club

“Are you a female over 70 living alone in Canyon Lake?” Marina Stinson said. “Then you are a LOLLA… ‘Little Old Lady Living Alone’.”

A small group of said ladies living alone have been meeting for about six years playing cards and socializing, she said. Marina is inviting others to join them for their next event on Wednesday.

“I named our little group about three years ago and the ladies liked it,” Marina said. “Having friends to socialize with is important. Most of us are widows. There are those of us who need to get out more.”

The LOLLA group will be meeting at the Canyon Lake Country Club on Oct. 11 at 4:00 p.m. on the patio, if weather permits.

“Come meet some more women you have a lot in common with,” Marina said. “Hopefully you will make a new friend.”

Those who are coming to the meeting at the Country Club should call Marina at 951-244-6580 to RSVP so the group knows how many to expect.

Mermaids Halloween House Adventure tomorrow

Four wonderfully-decorated homes named The Witch’s House, Canyon Crystal Lake, The Haunted Forest and A Glamorously Haunted Dinner Party will be featured in the Mermaids of Canyon Lake first-ever Halloween House Adventure tomorrow.

The event will begin at 4:00 p.m. at Eastport Park. There will be a vendor market selling Halloween and Fall themed items and a gently used clothing boutique selling ladies clothes, purses and jewelry. Tickets are not required to shop at the market or boutique.

General admission tickets include visiting the houses and participating in the costume contest. General admission guests will use their own vehicle to visit the houses. The address list of the houses is available at Eastport Park. Participants can visit the houses in any order.

VIP tickets include being chauffeured by an old time funeral director in a hearse (golf cart.) The VI>Ps will be greeted with a glass of champagne or a soft drink to start off the adventure. Each of the four houses will have a special VIP section of the home where drinks and/or cocktails will be provided. VIP tours are at 5:00 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. and both start at Eastport Park.

The House Adventure starts at 5:00 p.m. This event is open to ages 12 and over. Tickets are required. Tickets are available for purchase from Kathy Ray, by texting her at 858-449-7297 (cash, check or Zelle) or on the club’s website www.mermaidsofcanyonlake.org for those using a credit card.

The club is offering Early Bird General Admission Tickets at $25 and VIP Tickets at $50. Early Bird is in effect until Sept. 22. Regular priced tickets are $30 and $55.

Only General Admission tickets will be available the day of the event. The cut-off date for VIP ticket sales was to be Sunday or when all available tickets are sold, whichever comes first. VIP tickets are not available as single tickets.

The hearses available have space for two, three, four or five passengers. For groups of four or five please book early. There are an extremely-limited number of seats available for groups of that size. Check back next week for a description of another of the participating houses.

People living alone invited to a fall luncheon

People living alone are invited to a harvest luncheon on Oct. 14 at noon at the Canyon Lake Community Church.

The luncheon is provided by the church’s Priscilla Circle, a group of about 30 women whose main ministry is “PLAN,” outreach to People Living Alone Now. Three times a year, Priscilla ladies plan and provide a free luncheon for about 100 people, who may or may not be members of the church. All are welcome.

There is always a theme, beautiful decorations, great food, pleasant conversation, music, and a testimony or two.

The theme for the luncheon is harvest and thankfulness. Rita Robles is in charge of the food and the menu will be fall comfort food of mashed potatoes, chicken, corn, salad, and beautifully hand-made desserts.

There will be door prizes and entertainment, which will be presented by the Temecula Conservatory of Music.

“We invite everyone in the community who lives alone and would enjoy warm fellowship to join us on Oct. 14 in the Family Activities Building at Canyon Lake Community Church,” Chairperson Lynda Ofstad said. “Call 951-244-7866 for more information and to RSVP.

Canyon Lakers involved in Rods and Rails

Canyon Lakers Lee Norris, Hans Weg and Andy Spada are helping put on the City of Perris’ annual Rods and Rails Car and Motorcycle Show tomorrow at the Southern California Railway Museum and are hopeful other Canyon Lakers will join them.

The day, which begins at 9:00 a.m. and goes to 3:00 p.m., features classic cars from the 1920s through the 1970s and motorcycle classes from 1939 to the present. Games and entertainment for the entire family including live music, health and fitness screenings and demonstrations, and the annual Potato Festival sponsored by the Perris Valley Historical and Museum Association.

The 79-acre museum is filled with shade trees, unique antique trains, trolleys and cable cars. The event will feature vendors and a unique shopping experience. General admission and parking are free.

Yacht Club joins national group allowing members to utilize other clubs’ facilities

The Canyon Lake Yacht Club has joined 700 other yacht clubs around the United States by registering with the Yachting Club of America, considered the oldest existing yacht club register in America.

Yachting Club of America is a national association of yacht clubs, with its registry of yacht clubs providing a definitive guide of member clubs, their facilities and amenities. The YCA registry also details reciprocity for member clubs, helping members of registered clubs to identify other clubs where they are welcomed into club facilities and able to use many of the host club’s amenities.

“We looked for a way for our almost 300 members, many of whom travel extensively, to be welcomed into other yacht clubs around the world,” Commodore Ron Wilbur said. “Joining the YCA provides that ability, adding another great benefit to Canyon Lake Yacht Club membership.”

Yacht Club members will receive a YCA member card to use with their own Canyon Lake Yacht Club member card when visiting other cities with yacht clubs.

Family Matters prepping for Halloween Carnival and Costume Contest

The Canyon Lake Family Matters Club is once again putting on its annual Halloween Carnival and Costume Contest this year. The event will once again have a Trunk or Treat for giving treats to the costumed kids in attendance.

Unlimited fun wristbands are $5.00 per child and include dozens of game booths, craft stations, face painting, a dance party, tattoos, trunk or treat, and prize table. There will be a children’s costume contest for various ages with prizes and a parade. This will be a fun family safe/friendly event.

Also included will be an old fashioned apple bobbing and a pretzel eating contest. An award will be given to the best decorated vendor booth.

There is also a fun vendor shopping area for local made items and holiday crafts. Vendor booths are $45 and the application is available at familymattersclub.org.

The club is also looking for sponsors to help donate to the event to keep it low cost and affordable for the families. This is also a super fun event for the teens to get their school volunteer hours.

The concession stand will be open for food and snacks throughout the afternoon will feature nachos, hot dogs, candy and beverages.

The carnival is open to all Canyon Lake residents and their guests.

Fire Department provides safe medicine disposal

Properly disposing of expired medications is available at the Canyon Lake Fire Department. The department’s Drug Disposal Program allows residents to properly dispose of expired medications, patches, ointments, and other pharmaceutical items by utilizing the city’s medication drop-off box at the fire station on Vacation Drive.

The implementation of this secure collection site aims to reduce the risk of pollution, drug misuse, and accidental ingestion of expired medicines, which the city is confident will cater to the safety and convenience of the community.

Studies have demonstrated that medications flushed down the sink or toilet can contaminate local lakes and rivers. Unfortunately, most water treatment systems are ill-equipped to remove pharmaceuticals, and homes with septic tanks can lead to chemical leaching into the groundwater, the city said. Consequently, aquatic life, including fish, suffers negative consequences, and these chemicals pose a potential threat to drinking water.

According to a national poll conducted by the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, 46 percent of parents have leftover prescription medications at home. Such expired medications are susceptible to bacterial growth and can contribute to millions of accidental poisonings and overdoses each year.

Younger children are particularly at risk of accidental poisoning when they gain access to these medications, while older children may engage in misuse of prescription drugs and experimental behavior.

To safeguard the environment and prevent accidental harm, the city said it is essential to adhere to the recommended steps for proper medication disposal:

Once an item has been placed inside the secure medication box, retrieval is not possible. Residents should refrain from attempting to retrieve any disposed medication.

Medications should be kept in their original packaging, and individuals should remove their names from the prescription bottles.

To ensure the medication’s security, tape the lids of the prescription packaging.

The disposal site strictly prohibits the disposal of illicit drugs.

Residents are encouraged to regularly check their prescription expiration dates and dispose of expired pharmaceuticals by utilizing the new medication drop-off box situated in front of the Canyon Lake Fire Department at 28730 Vacation Drive.

The management of this program falls under the responsibility of the Canyon Lake Fire Department in collaboration with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Lake Elsinore Station. The Sheriff’s Station will regularly handle the proper disposal of medications collected in the secured drop-off box.

Bulky item pick ups can be scheduled online

CR&R, Canyon Lake’s contracted trash pick up company, provides the pick up of bulky items. The pickup of these items is available by scheduling on CR&R’s website, www.crrwasteservices.com, or by calling 800-755-8112.

Items that cannot fit in the curbside automated containers, such as a chair, couch, or other household appliances, are considered “bulky items.” Each residential customer is entitled to call and schedule a bulky item pick-up for no additional charge two times per calendar year, and each call can include up to two items.

Center calling all seniors to join in on game days

The Canyon Lake Senior Center is inviting the community’s seniors to a couple of days of interesting and fun games on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Hand and Foot, a quick moving card game with the objective to be the first to rid a player’s cards and for the team to take the most points is played on Monday’s at the Senior Center from noon to 4:00 p.m.

For more information on Hand and Foot, contact Ann Nickle at 951-387-1083.

The Mahjongg Group meets on Tuesdays between noon and 4:00 p.m. at the Senior Center. Both Chinese and American styles are played.

For more information on Mahjongg games, contact Theresa Fidler at 858-784-1560 or Melody Clark at 949-370-4401.

Fire Department accepting expired fire extinguishers

The Canyon Lake Fire Department has implemented an out-of-service fire extinguisher program.

Old or expired fire extinguishers can be dropped off at the Canyon Lake Fire Department Station 1 located at 28730 Vacation Drive.

Not only do fire extinguishers have manufacture dates imprinted on them to help determine their expirations, but if they have rust or corrosion, they should be taken to the fire department for disposal.

ABC fire extinguishers are the most common home fire extinguishers. Their life expectancy can range between 10 and 12 years depending on how well the extinguisher has been maintained.

After each use, the extinguisher should be recharged, even if the extinguisher is not empty. This will help to ensure that the extinguisher contains enough pressure and suppressant chemicals to extinguish future fires. Fire extinguishers should be serviced by a trained professional.

This new fire department program is also being implemented to promote the acquisition of fire extinguishers by Canyon Lake residents.

The Canyon Lake Fire Department recommends and encourages residents to have at least two fire extinguishers. Households should have one on each floor of the house as well as one for the garage.

The fire department also said to Immediately replace any fire extinguishers that are deemed out-of-service. Fire extinguishers are great for putting out small fires that have just started, but if a fire is too big and out of control, residents should evacuate the house and call 911.

POA seeking help with security camera footage

The Canyon Lake Property Owners Association is asking its members to volunteer to share home security camera footage when a criminal incident occurs near their home.

In partnership with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, this program allows community residents with surveillance systems to voluntarily add themselves to a list that the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department and the Canyon Lake POA may refer to if a criminal incident occurred nearby.

With the increased popularity of personal surveillance systems, including simple doorbell cameras, for residents and property owners, the use of the footage from these cameras has become useful to law enforcement. As crimes occur near a home with security cameras, owners may not be aware that their system may have captured helpful information that could help solve the crime.

After signing up on the Canyon Lake POA website for this program, when these criminal incidents occur, the Canyon Lake POA and/or law enforcement may contact those on the sign up list near the incident to help solve the crime by requesting to review their video footage their system may have captured. This information or footage may assist in apprehending and prosecuting the criminals involved.

Members would only be contacted by the Canyon Lake POA or law enforcement to request permission to view your camera footage if there is a criminal incident near their home.

“You are not giving the Canyon Lake POA or law enforcement access to your system or footage, but instead agreeing to be contacted if you have a camera that may have been in the vicinity of a criminal incident,” the Canyon Lake POA said. “Your participation in providing any camera footage is strictly voluntary. Information provided to the Canyon Lake POA regarding your camera systems will be for official use only. Your personal information will remain confidential and will not be distributed.’

Video surveillance is one of the best methods for apprehending criminals and convicting suspects caught in the act of committing a crime, the Canyon Lake POA said. While many own and operate personal surveillance systems that could aid in solving crimes, law enforcement officials are not always aware of who may have this potentially vital information.

By signing up for this program, residents are added to a list that may be quickly referenced to identify nearby cameras that may have captured criminal activity.

City, POA, Lions unite to provide Vial of Life program

The Canyon Lake Lions Club, the City of Canyon Lake, and the Canyon Lake POA have joined together to provide a program where residents can leave resident medical information in a vinyl envelope on their refrigerators to help first responders save lives.

The Vial of Life Program is intended for residents to store all life-saving medical information in a convenient and accessible way for first responders who are coming to an emergency response at their home.

The Vial of Life kits are being provided by the Canyon Lake POA at no cost and come with a directions sheet, a medical information form, a magnetic vinyl envelope, and a Vial of Life decal. The Vial of Life name comes from the common practice of people stuffing their medical information into a prescription bottle in hopes of first responders finding it.

With the magnetic vinyl envelope holding this information, a patient’s medical information can now be found on the outside of the resident’s refrigerator. Also part of the kit is a decal that is to be placed on the front window of the home to alert first responders to look for the vinyl envelope.

The POA will be providing the Vial of Life kits to all new residents at no cost. Current residents can obtain a Vial of Life kit at either the Canyon Lake POA office in the Canyon Lake Town Center or at the Canyon Lake Fire Department. If there is more than one person in a household who would like to prepare their medical information, extra forms can be provided upon request.