News Briefs

Canyon Lake‘s Sawyer Lanouette named female Student of the Month for February

Sawyer Lanouette, a resident of Canyon Lake, has been distinguished as the female Student of the Month for February at Temescal Canyon High School. This notable recognition highlights Lanouette‘s achievements and contributions to her school community.

The Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber of Commerce will celebrate this accomplishment during its Student of the Month event Tuesday at the Round Table Café in Lakeside High School.

This event is part of the LEV Chamber‘s ongoing efforts to acknowledge and encourage academic excellence and civic involvement among local high school students, organizer Donna Romo said. Each of the school district’s high schools honors a male and female student monthly for the honor, which qualifies them to be considered for the annual scholarship presented in May.

Unrestricted Green Flag status returns

After a period of a Yellow Flag Warning in effect on the Main Lake last week, the Canyon Lake POA has posted Green Flags once again for boaters. With the Green Flags up, there are no restrictions to regular boat speed limits.

Warning flags indicating the status of lake conditions are prominently displayed at two key locations: Holiday Harbor, adjacent to the flagpole, and at the Eastport launch ramp.

The Lake Warning Flags system is straightforward: a Green Flag signifies no restrictions on the lake, a Yellow Flag restricts boat speeds to 5 mph, while a Red Flag indicates the Main Lake is closed to boat traffic.

Chronic Illness Support Group Meeting Monday

The Canyon Lake Chronic Illness Support Group will hold its next meeting at the CPR Training Room in the Canyon Lake Town Center onMonday. The meeting, scheduled to start at 5:00 p.m., offers a supportive environment for individuals dealing with chronic illnesses, as well as their caregivers.

This support group, which meets regularly on the first Monday of each month at 5:00 p.m., provides a valuable opportunity for sharing experiences, offering support, and learning from others who face similar challenges.

Open to all ages, the group welcomes anyone dealing with a chronic illness or caring for someone who is, without the need for reservations.

Steven Prince, the founder of the group, is available for further information at 949-293-2919. The group extends its reach to residents both inside and outside the City of Canyon Lake. These meetings serve as an important resource for those seeking understanding, support, and practical advice in the face of chronic health challenges.

Oingo Boingo Former Members Concert at Lodge next week sold out

The highly-anticipated concert by Oingo Boingo Former Members at the Canyon Lake Lodge on Feb. 10 has officially sold out.

This remarkable band, featuring five of the original Oingo Boingo members from their peak years in the 80’s and 90’s, promises to deliver an unforgettable performance. The lineup includes Johnny “Vatos” Hernandez, Sam “Sluggo” Phipps, Carl Graves, Steve Bartek, and John Avila. They are joined by Brendan McCreary on lead vocals, Mike Glendinning on vocals and rhythm guitar, Freddy Hernandez on bass, and Brian Swartz on trumpet.

Having captivated audiences since 2005 and sold out venues like the Greek Theatre and the Mountain Winery, Oingo Boingo Former Members continues to demonstrate its exceptional musical prowess and enduring appeal.

Chamber to host Women in Business event at Canyon Cowboy Feb. 20

The Canyon Lake Chamber of Commerce is set to host a Women in Business event on Feb. 20 at 6:00 p.m., at the Canyon Cowboy located in the Canyon Lake Town Center. The event is dedicated to celebrating and empowering women entrepreneurs and professionals in the community.

This special evening is an opportunity for women to network with their peers, share experiences, and learn strategies for thriving in the business world. It‘s designed as a platform for fostering meaningful connections, collaborating on ventures, and offering mutual support in business endeavors.

Open to both seasoned businesswomen and those new to entrepreneurship, the event aims to provide a supportive environment for networking, idea-sharing, and gaining insights. The gathering at Canyon Cowboy will feature appetizers and a drink, creating a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere for all attendees.

Admission is $20 for Chamber members and $30 for non-members.

Weather delays Phase 3 of Canyon Lake Pavement Project for two weeks

The Canyon Lake Property Owners Association has announced a postponement of Phase 3 of the ongoing Pavement Improvement Project due to unfavorable weather conditions forecasted for the next two weeks. The POA is in the process of developing a revised schedule for this phase of the project.

Phase 3 of the project includes significant work on key roads within the community: San Joaquin Drive West (south), Yosemite Place, Giant Fir Place, and San Joaquin Drive East (after the Yosemite Drive intersection). The decision to delay is in response to ensuring the project’s efficiency and safety during the pavement reconstruction process.

The Pavement Improvement Project is a critical initiative aimed at enhancing the infrastructure and road safety in Canyon Lake. The POA will provide updates on the revised schedule for Phase 3 as soon as it becomes available, ensuring residents are informed of the new timeline and can plan accordingly.

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.

Registration, Safety Exam for e-bikes now mandatory

In an effort to promote safety and responsible usage of electric bicycles within the community, the Canyon Lake Property Owners Association has introduced a new regulation requiring all electric bicycles to be registered.

Residents who use electric bicycles on Canyon Lake streets must first pass a mandatory online safety exam. This measure is designed to ensure that electric bicycle riders are well-informed about safe riding practices. The POA advises completing this exam before visiting the Member Services office for registration, which is located in the Canyon Lake Town Center and open during regular business hours.

After successfully completing the online safety exam, participants will receive a certificate. This certificate will then be verified by POA staff via email, streamlining the registration process. It‘s important to note that the actual electric bicycle is not required to be present for registration.

Once the safety exam is completed and membership is verified, residents will be issued a registration tag at no cost. This tag is to be prominently displayed on the rear of the electric bicycle, in accordance with the new regulation.

Canyon Lake POA 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.