News Briefs

Canyon Lake Community Church to host informational meeting on Hospice Care

The Caregiver Support Group at Canyon Lake Community Church is hosting a special session with Hope Hospice and Healthcare on Monday at 10:30 a.m. in the church’s gym, Room C. The community is invited to join this informative event focusing on hospice care services.

During the session, representatives from Hope Hospice and Healthcare will discuss how individuals can qualify for hospice care and what these services encompass. The event aims to provide comprehensive insights into the hospice care process, including spiritual support by their Chaplain and information from their social worker and grief counselor.

Topics covered will include the importance of self-care for caregivers, details on caring for a loved one facing end-of-life, and valuable community resources. There will also be an opportunity for attendees to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of hospice care.

This event is particularly beneficial for those caring for loved ones or interested in learning more about hospice care services. The session is designed to educate and support individuals in the community who may be navigating caregiving roles or seeking more information about end-of-life care options.

Canyon Lake’s Miguel Rodriguez TCHS January Student of the Month

Miguel Rodriguez has been named the Temescal Canyon High School Student of the Month for January. Miguel, a resident of Canyon Lake, was honored at an awards luncheon at the Lakeside High School Lancer Round Table Cafe on Tuesday.

The program is sponsored by the Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber of Commerce and honors top male and female students of the Lake Elsinore Unified School District’s high schools.

As a Student of the Month, Miguel qualifies as one who will be considered for the annual Student of the Year Scholarship.

New Member Tournament and Potluck deadline Wednesday

Participants must sign up for the Canyon Lake Tennis Club’s New Member Tournament by Wednesday. The tournament and a potluck will be held on Jan. 27 at 9:00 a.m. This event presents a unique opportunity for both new and existing members to participate in friendly competition and socialize with fellow tennis enthusiasts.

To welcome new members, the club is offering complimentary participation for them, while a $15 tournament fee will be charged for other participants. Those interested in more details or wishing to register can email cltennisclub2022@gmail.com.

The event will also feature a potluck. Participants with last names starting with A-L are asked to bring a breakfast dish, and those with last names starting with M-Z are requested to provide drinks.

Jeremy Smith elected to lead Riverside Transit Agency Board

The Riverside Transit Agency Board of Directors has unanimously selected City of Canyon Lake Council Member Jeremy Smith to serve as its chair for the year 2024. Jeremy, who has been a part of the Board since 2018 and held the position of first vice chair in 2023, will succeed Calimesa City Council Member Linda Molina in this leadership role.

As chair, Jeremy‘s responsibilities will include leading the board in setting policy, guiding agency priorities, conducting board meetings, and representing the agency at public events. His selection comes at a pivotal time for RTA as it continues to expand and improve its services to meet the needs of a growing number of customers in Riverside County.

“I am truly honored to be selected by my fellow board members for this important position,” Jeremy said. “This is a significant period for RTA as we continue to evolve in positive ways to serve our growing number of customers. It’s a great time to be a bus rider in Riverside County and there’s a lot to be excited about in the year ahead.”

In addition to his new role with RTA, Jeremy has been an elected member of the Canyon Lake City Council since 2018 and served as mayor from 2021-2023.

Chamber Women in Business event at Canyon Cowboy Feb. 20

The Canyon Lake Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Women in Business event on Feb. 20, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the Canyon Cowboy in the Canyon Lake Town Center. This event is designed to celebrate and empower women entrepreneurs and professionals within the community.

The evening offers a unique opportunity for women to connect with peers, exchange experiences, and learn strategies for success in the business world. It’s an excellent platform for building meaningful relationships, collaborating on projects, and supporting each other’s business ventures.

Whether attendees are experienced businesswomen or newcomers to entrepreneurship, this event provides a welcoming environment to network, share ideas, and gain valuable insights.

The gathering at Canyon Cowboy includes appetizers and a drink, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable atmosphere.

City relaunches Canyon Cash e-Gift Card with bonus incentives

The City of Canyon Lake, in partnership with the Canyon Lake Chamber of Commerce, has announced the return of the Canyon Cash Gift Card program. This initiative, designed to boost local businesses, was first launched during the post-pandemic recovery period and is being reintroduced to further support local commerce. The Canyon Cash eGift Card program is a strategic effort to encourage residents to shop and dine locally, thereby supporting the wide array of restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues in Canyon Lake. The program offers a unique incentive: for each eGift Card purchased, the buyer receives an additional Bonus eGift Card, increasing their spending capability within the community. The bonus structure is as follows:

Buy a $100 eGift Card, receive a $50 Bonus Card.

Buy a $50 eGift Card, receive a $25 Bonus Card.

Buy a $25 eGift Card, receive a $15 Bonus Card.

To ensure equitable distribution of this offer, there is a limit of five bonus gifts per purchaser for the duration of the campaign, irrespective of the number of gift recipients. This offer is subject to availability and will continue while supplies last. The bonus cards will be valid for one year from the date of purchase. Additionally, the purchase must be made using a credit card held by the purchaser.

The program is a part of the city‘s ongoing efforts to support and strengthen the local economy, especially focusing on small businesses that form the backbone of the community‘s economic landscape. The Canyon Cash eGift Card program not only benefits consumers through bonus incentives but also drives traffic and revenue to local businesses, contributing to the overall vitality of Canyon Lake.

CLPOA providing live online pickleball court camera

The Canyon Lake Property Owners Association has introduced an innovative feature for pickleball enthusiasts: a live online camera providing real-time views of the pickleball courts. This new tool is designed to enhance the experience for players by simplifying the process of checking court availability.

Available on the POA website under the “Pickleball” page within the “Recreation” section, the pickleball cam is easily accessible and user-friendly. It offers live visuals of the courts, allowing players to conveniently determine if courts are available for use at any time, from any location.

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 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.