News Briefs

Holiday Home Decorating Contest winners to be announced tomorrow

The winners of the 4th Annual Holiday Home Exterior Decorating Contest, sponsored by the Canyon Lake Family Matters Club, will be judged tonight and the winners will be announced tomorrow on the club’s Facebook group page.

The contest was exclusively for exterior decorations, including window displays visible from outside. Judging focused on curb appeal from the street front and excluded back or side yards.

The categories include “Merry and Bright” for the best display of lights, “Best Themed Decorations,” and “First Time Entry.”

Attractive prizes await the winners, with a $100 Amazon gift card and a trophy awarded for the first-place winner in each category. The judges have set protocols to avoid any ties in the contest.

Helping Hands continues Toy Drive for the Holiday Season

Helping Hands, a nonprofit organization based in Canyon Lake, is in the final stages of its toy drive to support families in need during the holiday season. The organization is reaching out to the community for contributions of clean, used toys in good condition.

This toy drive presents an excellent opportunity for families in the area to involve their children and grandchildren in the spirit of giving. It encourages youngsters to sift through their toy boxes, donating items they no longer use to those less fortunate, and making space for new gifts they may receive for Christmas.

Helping Hands is requesting that the toys be in great shape and advises donors to thoroughly clean the toys and replace batteries where necessary, ensuring that the items are ready to be enjoyed immediately by their new owners.

Conveniently placed donation boxes can be found in several locations across the community, including Pack Wrap & Post and City Hall in the Canyon Lake Town Center and the Canyon Lake Community Church. Helping Hands is dedicated to distributing these collected toys to children in need in time for Christmas.

POA announces facility holiday hours

The Canyon Lake POA Offices will be closed beginning today and will remain closed through Christmas Day. Normal hours will resume on Tuesday. The offices will also be closed on Jan. 1 in observance of New Year’s Day. Normal hours will resume on Jan. 2.

The Lodge will be closed Sunday through Tuesday in observance of Christmas. Normal hours resume Wednesday. On Dec. 31, the Bar & Terrace will be open from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The New Year’s Eve event happening from 7:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. is ticketed. On Jan. 1, the Lodge will be closed in observance of New Year’s Day. Normal hours resume Jan. 3.

The Country Club Bar & Grill is closed Sunday and Monday. On Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, the Country Club will be open during regular business hours from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The Canyon Lake Golf Course will have modified hours during the holidays. On Sunday, the course will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. On Monday, the course will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Normal hours resume Tuesday. On Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, the course will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Normal hours resume Jan. 2.

Senior Center to host elegant New Year’s Eve event

The Canyon Lake Senior Center is gearing up for its much-anticipated annual New Year’s Eve dinner-dance on Dec. 31. Scheduled from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., this semi-formal event is an elegant way for the community’s seniors to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new with fine dining, dancing, and a champagne toast.

Entertainment for the evening will be provided by Rob Roberson, setting the tone for a lively and enjoyable night. The dinner, catered by Wicked Spoons, along with the champagne toast, promises to create a memorable experience for all attendees. Guests are also encouraged to bring their own beverages to complement the evening’s meal.

A unique feature of the celebration is the early New Year’s toast at 10:00 p.m., aligned with the Central Time Zone’s new year, allowing guests to celebrate the onset of 2024 a bit earlier. Additionally, the festivities will continue with games and activities until the local midnight hour for those who would like to remain for the west coast ringing in of the New Year.

Tickets for the event are priced at $50. With limited seating, early reservations are highly recommended to secure a place at this popular event.

Tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased every Monday morning at the Senior Center between 10:00 a.m. and noon. For more information or to make inquiries, interested parties can contact canyonlake.ca.seniorcenter@gmail.com or call Grace Ward at 662-341-0804.

New Year’s Eve Bash set for Canyon Lake Lodge

Plans are underway for the Canyon Lake Lodge’s New Year’s Eve Black and White Bash, an event that promises to bring style and celebration to the community. Scheduled for Dec. 31, from 7:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., this elegant event is the perfect way to welcome the new year.

The evening will feature a variety of appetizers to indulge in throughout the night, accompanied by the energetic beats of a DJ and live music from Code 415. This musical ensemble is set to create the ideal atmosphere for a memorable New Year’s Eve.

In addition, there will be a Black and White Costume Contest, giving attendees the chance to showcase their unique styles and vie for exciting prizes. This adds a fun and interactive element to the evening, encouraging guests to engage in the theme and spirit of the event.

As the countdown to midnight begins, guests will be treated to complimentary party favors and a champagne toast, marking the start of 2024 with joy and festivity.

For those seeking a more exclusive experience, VIP tables with prime seating, early access, and dedicated table service are available. General admission tickets are priced at $40, while VIP tickets are offered at $50. Tickets can be secured at www.canyonlakelighthouse.com/home.

Little League spring season registrations closes Jan. 5

The Canyon Lake Little League registration for the Spring 2024 season is open and interested participants can register online at www.clllca.com until midnight on Jan. 5.

The league welcomes Canyon Lake children ages 4 to 14, catering to all skill levels. This inclusive approach ensures that every child interested in baseball has a chance to play and develop their skills.

Evaluations for players are scheduled for the second week of January, with specific dates and information to be provided later. It’s important to note that a player’s level may be adjusted for safety reasons following these evaluations.

Practices for the teams will be conducted at Gault Field, with most games for the lower levels also taking place there. Teams in AA and above will have the opportunity to play some away games against other leagues.

Chronic Illness Support Group meets Jan. 8

The next meeting of the Chronic Illness Support Group will be Jan. 8 between at 6:00 p.m. in the CPR Building in the Canyon Lake Town Center.

The group’s purpose is to bring together those who have a chronic illness or condition so they may benefit from mutual support in a safe environment. The group is also open to caregivers of those who are suffering from a chronic illness. The meetings are free and open to those of all ages.

“Suffering from a chronic illness is difficult for others who have not experienced it to understand what their family members are going through,” Steven Prince, the group leader, said. “We are here to help and support you and your loved ones.”

For more information contact Steve at 949-293-2919 or srp20348@gmail.com or just show up.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.