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My husband and I have resided in the Temescal Valley for more than 18 years. We purchased our home "brand new" and chose to live here because we could afford it and because it wasn't the city of Corona. We commuted to our Orange County jobs for 15 years. The commute wasn't all that bad because each day we returned home to our wonderful rural neighborhood. Corona never controlled its growth. Why must we suffer because the city ran out of "developable land." Shame on you Corona. Let the Temescal Valley alone.

Here is the mine’s permit application

VIEW THE APPLICATION HERE

Olsen Canyon Properties filed an application for a surface-mining permit in early November. Many of the application’s pages are marked “draft,” indicating that changes can be expected.

In obtaining a copy of the 52-page application and reading through it, some of what was presented on behalf of Olsen at November’s Temescal Valley Municipal Advisory Council meeting needs additional explanation:

The MAC audience was told the mine would operate for 70 years. The application seeks a 100-year permit.
We were told Olsen Canyon had no source for the massive amount of recycled water it will need in controlling dust. The application states Temescal Valley Water District will furnish the water. A group of residents attending the October and November water board meetings were told by district officials that they have refused Olsen’s request because the district does not have a sufficient amount of recycled water to sell to the mine.
The mine will reach a depth of 450 feet; not the 400 feet earlier stated.
While the audience was told residents would be warned prior to blasting, the application describes the blasting as being used “on a weekly basis … conducted on weekdays between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.”
Hours for the mining and rock crushing operations will be 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday — from Oct. 2 to June 1 of each year. BUT – from June 1 to Oct. 1, to avoid peak-time electrical use, the hours will be midnight to 11 a.m. Monday through Saturday.
Clarification on truck trips – the mine will generate 301 loads a day for a total of 602 trips.
The ready-mix concrete and asphalt batch plants will contain 60-foot tall silos. The number of silos is unclear.

After you read the application, please share your observations in the “Comment” section below.

Sandbags available at no cost

GOT SANDBAGS: Pictured are Public Safety Chairman Rob Mucha shoveling gravel into a bag held by Eric Werner, president of Werner Corp., as Robert Lizano, general manager of Tom’s Farms looks on. Station 64 firefighters, pictured from left, are firefighter/paramedic Brandon Forsberg, Engineer Kevin Hansen and Capt. Lorne Ellickson. Thank you to all for providing this community service.

Folks who have lived here for several years know some areas of Temescal Valley are prone to flooding during heavy rains, including community streets and back yards. With the predicted El Nino storms, the best time to prepare for possible flooding is before the rain begins.

Thanks to the We Are Temescal Valley Public Safety Committee which coordinated with Werner Corp., Tom’s Farms and Riverside County/Cal Fire Station 64, sandbags and sand are now available to all Temescal Valley residents and businesses. Sorry – you’ll have to fill the bags yourselves.

Each household can pick up 20 bags at Station 64, 25310 Campbell Ranch Road in Sycamore Creek. The sand — actually bird’s-eye gravel donated by Werner Corp., is piled at Tom’s Farms in the unpaved south parking lot on Temescal Canyon Road. Bring your own shovel.

Boy Scouts from local Troop 13 will be at the gravel pile from 1 to 3 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 27 and Saturday, Nov. 28, to help folks who would have difficulty filling their bags. Again, bring a shovel.

Bags should be filled no more than one-half to two-thirds full and either covered or stored out of the sun until ready to be used — the bags disintegrate quickly in direct sunlight. The bags will not prevent flooding and only should be used to divert the flow of water so flooding doesn’t occur. Stack them no higher than three bags deep. Bags also can be purchased at Home Depot for 32 cents each.

Here are a few helpful links:

Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District’s El Nino Preparations
Riverside County’s RivCoReady website
How to Report a Clogged Street Drain
How to Fill and Place Sandbags
Purchase filled sand bags from So Cal Sandbags in Temescal Valley

Olsen Canyon — Will the valley get a new mine?

The 422-acre Olsen Canyon Project is on the east side of the I-15 and stretches from the Dos Lagos Golf Course on the north to the El Sobrante Landfill on the south. If approved, mining operations could begin in 2017.

Olsen Canyon Mine update …

(Published Oct. 12, 2017)

Since the November 2015 introduction of plans to put a new mine in Temescal Valley, many residents who spoke out against the project are asking, “What’s happening with the Olsen Canyon Mine?”

The mine would span 422 acres east of the I-15 between the Dos Lagos Golf Course and the El Sobrante Landfill in the hills above the Wildrose Business Park. The project currently is going through the county’s permit process.

Because of the environmentally-sensitive nature of the property, the mining permit application must first be reviewed under the county’s Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan. According to Ken Baez, a county planner who deals with MSHCP issues, “This project is currently under review for the HANS process (Habitat Evaluation and Acquisition Negotiation Strategy), and finalizing the Criteria Refinement Review by the wildlife agencies.”

Baez said Olsen Canyon Properties, LLC, and its consultants are working on comments from the wildlife agencies, which should be completed this month. Once the HANS process and the Criteria Refinement Review is completed, the planning process for the application will move forward.

That next step will be overseen by planner John Hildebrand, who said the county will need to conduct the environmental review process and analyze any associated technical studies. This usually is a lengthy process.

Once completed, all documentation and the staff report with recommendations will be available for public review and comment. A Planning Commission public hearing will be scheduled and, ultimately, a public hearing before the county’s Board of Supervisors to either deny or approve the mining permit.

Residents say ‘No new mines in Temescal Valley’

(Published Nov. 15, 2015)

Residents and business owners at the November 20015 Municipal Advisory Council meeting cited dust, light and noise pollution, health issues, a gridlocked transportation infrastructure, and scenic and environmental concerns in speaking out against Olsen Canyon Project.

Read Press-Enterprise story HERE

APPLICATION FOR THE MINING PERMIT

Website: OlsenCanyon.com

What we know …

Olsen Canyon Property Background

1992 permitted for mining – Standard Concrete did not mine the property; permit expired
Property purchased in 2006 by developer as a site for residential use
Olsen Canyon Properties LLC bought out developer in 2110
Olsen Canyon Properties LLC also owns Lakeshore Plaza office building at Dos Lagos
Residential use of land not compatible with proximity to El Sobrante Landfill
Core samples showed significant aggregate reserves
Olsen Canyon Properties LLC filed application with county for mining permit Nov. 6, 2015
If permit is approved, Olsen Canyon Properties LLC will either lease or sell the property to a mining company
Olsen Canyon Properties LLC, due to agreements, cannot divulge mining operations that have shown interest
If permit is approved, mining operations could begin in 2017
Mining operations would be overseen by Riverside County, subject to state and national regulations

Brief Industry Background
Construction aggregate cost an average of $10 a ton
Construction aggregate is costly to transport
Temescal Valley is high in aggregate resources
Fifty percent of the aggregate mined in the Temescal Valley Production Area (an 810-square-mile area), is transported to Orange, San Diego, Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.
State Mining and Geology Board identifies areas that contain high-quality aggregate resources to ensure supplies will meet future demands.

Olsen Canyon Project Area

422 gross acres
219 acres to be disturbed
203 onsite acres devoted to open space conservation
195 acres purchased in Lake Elsinore for additional open space conservation
Quarry area approximately 135 acres on north end of property
Primary crusher on two-acre parcel for placement on elevated conveyor belt
Elevated conveyor belt slightly less than one mile in length
Processing pad area 44 acres with slopes 22 acres, terraced on the east side and eight-foot berm on the west side
Eight-foot berm in front of processing pad to mitigate view from Wildrose Business Park
All landscaping will be native plants and trees
Recycled water will be used to suppress dust and dirt from operations and blasting
Water supplier not yet identified

Annual Production and Reserves

2 million tons per year
Products being produced: aggregate, ready mix, hot mix asphalt, sand cement and asphalt oil, demolition recycleMining operations would take place over 70 years
Mining operations would include blasting
Mining to a depth of 400 feet

Transportation / Truck Route

301 loads each day; 602 roundtrips
Truck weight 25 tons
Trucks will travel along Dawson Canyon Road to Temescal Canyon Road to the Interstate 15 freeway
Majority of truck traffic is to the north
No road expansions planned
Mining and rock crushing from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday; 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday
20 truck loads during peak traffic hours 6 to 8 p.m.
30 percent of truck traffic after 6:30 p.m.

Benefits

Operation will result in over 145 jobs
Average wage for the Industry is $70,000
Sales tax revenue in the development phase of project is estimated to be $3.6 million, with about $1.1 million remaining in Riverside County
After project reaches full capacity, annual sales tax on aggregate, concrete and asphalt will be $2.4 million, with almost $800,000 remaining in Riverside County
With improvements to the property and increased value from entitlements, the annual property tax to Riverside County is estimated to be $750,000

Forest Boundary to get 50 homes

Pictured above is the plot plan for the 53-home community TDAC Development is seeking to build on Forest Boundary Road adjacent to the The Retreat and Wildrose Ranch communities. Pictured below is the placement of the development on the property.

The Board of Supervisors on May 12 approved 50 homes to be built on Forest Boundary Road adjacent to The Retreat and Wildrose Ranch.

In granting the zone change, the county conditioned the developer to put in curbs and sidewalks on the Wildrose Ranch side of the street and to create an RV parking area for the development’s residents.

It’s unknow when construction will begin.

Supervisors delay decision on 51 homes

(Published May 7, 2015)

The Board of Supervisors at a public hearing on April 28 continued to its May 12 meeting the request from a developer for a zone change that would allow 51 houses to be built on Forest Boundary Road.

In all likelihood, the project will be approved, but with conditions including that the developer will construct sidewalks on the east side of Forest Boundary Road from the project north to the corner of Knabe Road. On-street parking also was a concern for Supervisor Kevin Jeffries, who asked the applicant to relinquish two of the 51 lots to create a storage area for vehicles. Hesitation to this request by the developer gave rise to the supervisor suggesting a continuance until May 12.

Jeffries made it clear that he felt residential usage was the best zoning for the two parcels. Jeffries wrote in a prepared statement he emailed to all constituents prior to the hearing who had sent him comments on the project:

“Thank you for your email regarding the proposed zone change and residential development on Forest Boundary Road. I’m sharing this same response to several residents who have contacted me in support or opposition.

“When I was elected to office a little over 2 years ago, I made it clear to the development community (residential, retail, industrial) that I would be requiring that new proposed projects look and feel like their neighbors (e.g. build homes next to homes and commercial next to commercial). This standard had not been followed in the past and homeowners found themselves with commercial projects in their backyards. This caused problems with heavy truck and car traffic, truck noise early in the mornings, light pollution into backyards and impacts to nearby land values.

“I have driven Forest Boundary Road and reviewed the aerial photos and found that the proposed development has single family housing on three of the four sides. At first blush, it seems that it would be much more intrusive and incompatible to the nearby homeowners and families to place commercial development adjacent to them.

“I will of course listen to all the concerned parties and attempt to find solutions that enhance the community, protect the adjacent families, and respect all of our private property rights.”

Twelve Temescal Valley residents attended the hearing — five spoke in opposition to the homes; only the property owner spoke in favor. Those opposing the project all said they were not against development but felt that commercial retail development was what the valley now needed. Other concerns were about traffic congestion, the size of the house lots, property values, use of Wildrose Ranch’s Evonvale Park and the safety of the development’s children when walking to school.

The county received correspondence from 24 residents opposing the project with emails received from two people favoring it. A petition signed by more than 300 residents opposing the homes was also presented to the supervisors.

April 28 hearing set for Forest Boundary homes

(Published April, 20 205)

A public hearing to determine whether or not a zone change will be granted to a developer seeking to build 51 homes on Forest Boundary Road has been scheduled before the Riverside County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, April 28.

The 10:30 a.m. hearing will be held at the county’s Administrative Center, 4080 Lemon St., Riverside.

Many residents living in the nearby communities of The Retreat and Wildrose Ranch have voiced opposition to the project, primarily citing residential lots that are too small and the need to retain the Manufacturing – Service Commercial (M-SC), zoning in the area along Knabe and Forest Boundary roads. (Read earlier stories below.)

The public hearing will allow people to comment either in favor of or opposed to the zone change. Speakers will be allotted three minutes . If people cannot attend the meeting, comments can be emailed to the county’s Clerk of the Board, cob@rcbos.org.

In the email, state your name and that you reside in the county’s First District community of Temescal Valley. State that you are opposed to (or in favor of), the proposed Forest Boundary Road home development that has been scheduled as a public hearing on the Tuesday, April 28 agenda. State the reasons for your position.

All comments received prior to the public hearing will be given to the Board of Supervisors.

51 homes conditionally OK’d

(Published March 4, 2015)

The Riverside County Planning Commission at its Feb. 18 meeting granted a zone change to allow a housing development to be built on about 12 acres of land on Forest Boundary Road across the street from homes in Wildrose Ranch and below homes located in The Retreat. The 3-0 vote was unanimous; two planning commissioners were absent.

The project, although approved by the Planning Commission, now must go before the county’s Board of Supervisors for a public hearing which could happen as soon as this month. A date has not yet been determined.

Planning Commission approval was given based on two contingencies: 1. The developer would decrease the number of homes constructed from 53 to 51 to enlarge the size of the community’s park, and 2. Verification of a security gate easement through The Retreat in case of emergency evacuation.

In its recommendations to the Planning Commission, county staff had requested the easement because of the project’s location. If a natural disaster or other emergency shut down the intersection at Forest Boundary and Knabe roads, residents would only be able to evacuate the area southerly on Forest Boundary which is blocked by The Retreat’s electronic security gates.

Staff wrote in its recommendation that the applicant was required to provide “… a written agreement with The Retreat residential development which grants the project access to its gates and permission to utilize The Retreat Parkway in the event of an emergency evacuation in perpetuity.”

The recommendation continued, “It is staff’s understanding that the subject of the secure secondary access agreement will be considered with The Retreat Homeowners Association at their Feb. 12, 2015 meeting. According to the applicant there is a high level of certainty this agreement will be acceptable to the HOA.” County planner Paul Rull told commissioners he had received the easement agreement.

A Retreat resident, who spoke against the project, questioned how the easement was obtained because the issue had never appeared on the HOA agenda and was never voted on at the HOA board meeting, posing the question of a Davis-Stirling violation. The Davis-Stirling Common Interest Development Act, adopted by the State of California in 1985, dictates how homeowners association must conduct business.

The county attorney attending the meeting said she wasn’t familiar with HOA law and suggested that the validity of the easement agreement be verified as a contingency of the Planning Commission approval.

Rull told commissioners that he had received communication from three residents in favor of the project and from three residents opposing it.

At the meeting the county was given petitions signed by 56 residents opposed to the project and comments were heard from six residents who also voiced opposition. No one spoke in favor.

Opponents cited the 4,000-square-foot lots as being too small, and traffic congestion on Knabe Road and at the Weirick Road freeway ramps. Others said the development’s residents and children would cross the street to use the private Wildrose Ranch Community Association park and dog park. Other opposition noted that Temescal Valley residents needed commercial services, which the property is currently zoned for — not more homes.

The county’s current Manufacturing – Service Commercial (M-SC) zoning allows many service-oriented businesses such as a senior-care facility, day-care center, medical offices and restaurants.

Planning Commissioner Aaron Hake, who visted the site, said he had concerns with vehicles driving too fast when exiting The Retreat and not being able to see children crossing the street because of a curve in the road. He said Forest Boundary has no sidewalks and questioned the safety of children when walking to school.

Commissioner Charissa Leach, who also visited the location, said she felt that the change to residential zoning would be the best use of the property. She asked how current residents would react if a high-use commercial business such as a fitness center were to be built there.

With approval by the Planning Commission, Temescal Valley residents Tracy Davis and Katherine Clingman are now walking door-to-door to get petitions signed opposing the project. They hope to show the Board of Supervisors that the majority of residents living adjacent to the proposed development do not want it in the neighborhood.

Zone change would allow 53 new homes

(Published Jan. 28, 2015)

At its February meeting the Riverside County Planning Commission will consider a zone change for property located on Forest Boundary Road across the street from homes in Wildrose Ranch and below homes located in The Retreat.

If approved, the zone change will allow TDAC Development to build 53 homes on about 12 acres of land currently zoned M-SC for manufacturing service commercial use. The zone change request is for medium density residential with a proposed density of 4.75 dwelling units per acre. Lot sizes will be about 4,000 square feet, and home sizes will range between 2,100 and 2,400 square feet.

Wildrose Ranch and Retreat residents living within 600 feet of the proposed project were last week mailed notification of the Planning Commission public meeting to be held 9 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 18 at the Riverside County Administrative Center, 4080 Lemon St., Riverside.

Doug Woodward, president and owner of TDAC, months ago appeared at a meeting of the Wildrose Ranch Community Association to explain the project to the HOA board. Woodward said the residential community would be better for neighboring homeowners than the current vacant property zoned for manufacturing service commercial use. He also said the homes would provide an opportunity for young families and first-time home buyers to live in the Temescal Valley community. It is unknown what the sales price of the proposed homes will be. A TDAC representative made a similar presentation to The Retreat HOA board.

Retreat resident Rob Mucha disagrees. “There are several uses for the property within the current zoning that would be an acceptable use of the land and provide needed services to residents here.”

Mucha said his largest concern is that the density of the lots could decrease property values in The Retreat and Wildrose. He added, “There just isn’t enough park space and amenities planned to keep unsupervised children from wanting to wander up to our (The Retreat) park and surrounding areas.”

Members of the Wildrose Ranch HOA board also voiced concern that TDAC did not designate sufficient space for parks. The Wildrose HOA-owned Evonvale Park, also on Forest Boundary Road, contains a baseball field, walking paths, picnic areas and a dog park.

Tracy Davis, who lives in Wildrose, said, “Our HOA does not contract for security, so it would be next to impossible to keep the TDAC kids out of Evonvale Park. And it isn’t fair that outsiders use a park where the cost to maintain it is paid by Wildrose residents. And, I imagine there are liability insurance issues, as well.” Wildrose is not a gated community.

Davis also cited the increased traffic the TDAC community will create on Knabe Road and the Weirick Road on and off ramps to the I-15. “Corona is building so many apartments at Dos Lagos and those tenants will be using the same access to the freeway.”

Woodward, making the TDAC presentation at the June meeting of the Temescal Valley Municipal Advisory Council, said he had addressed concerns regarding park space. He said the original plan was to construct 56 homes on the property, but the number had been reduced to 53 to increase the size of the project’s parks, from 0.3 acre to 1 acre, and a half-court basketball pad had been added to the plan.

Residents attending the MAC meeting reiterated concerns over property values, traffic and drainage issues on the property.

The public hearing at the Planning Commission’s February meeting allows people to voice opinions either in favor of or opposed to the zone change. Speakers are allotted three minutes to comment. If people cannot attend the meeting, written comments can be submitted to Paul Rull, project planner, Riverside County Planning Department, P.O. Box 1409, Riverside, CA 92502-1409. All comments received prior to the public hearing will be given to the Planning Commission.

For information about this project, contact Rull at 951-955-0972 or prull@rctlma.org.

This photo was taken on the slope below The Retreat, looking east. Wildrose Ranch homes are shown in the background.

Serrano tanning vats spruced up

Sixty-plus volunteers gather for a group photo at the start of the 7th Annual Temescal Valley Great American Cleanup.

It was a great day for a labor-intensive project — cool and overcast. The long-neglected Serrano tanning vats (a process used to turn animal hides into leather), were given a facelift as part of the Temescal Valley 7th Annual Great American Cleanup, held this year on April 25.

The historic landmark is located on Temescal Canyon Road, north of Tom’s Farms and across the street from the Shell Station.

Below, you’ll find a recap of the event by Bob Hafner, chairman of the We Are Temescal Valley Beautification Committe that, with Waste Management Inc., sponsored the cleanup.

Leandro Serrano was the founding father of Temescal Valley dating back almost 200 years. You can learn more about his life HERE (spoiler alert — it’s a sad story.)

Here are links to the photo galleries shot at the event:

PHOTOS 1 PHOTOS 2 PHOTOS 3

And, now a word from Bob Hafner…

I want to thank all the volunteers who showed up for the Temescal Valley Great American Cleanup on Saturday. This was one of the biggest turnouts I have seen in the seven-plus years we’ve been doing the cleanups. This really shows the community pride we have here in Temescal Valley.

I want to thank each and every one of you for all your hard work. We, as a team, cleaned up the Temescal Wash and filled a 40-yard roll off bin with illegally dumped junk and trash. The really cool part was “tricking out” the tanning vats and installing a beautiful Temescal Valley sign.

We placed several very large boulders around the tanning vats. The adults and children weeded the area, planted two palo verde trees and more than 60 succulents. Once this was completed, we spread over 25 tons of stone, courtesy of Werner Corporation. We also painted the remaining bollards.

I want to thank Don and Helen McGlaughlin (Hot Diggidy Dog), for providing beverages, doughnuts and a tasty barbecue. I really want to give a shout out to Miriam Cardenas and Waste Management Inc. for all their efforts in seeking the Keep America Beautiful grant to fund the project, providing the manpower and the huge boulders. 7Oaks Nursery did a great job of gathering the plants we wanted, as well as Master Stone in locating the specialty Arizona flagstone that was placed in front of the monuments.

I also want to thank Supervisor Kevin Jeffries for lending a hand. He commented how he loves to see all the involvement of businesses and residents coming together to give in any way they can for the overall improvement of our community. A thank you, too, to Al Lopez, Western Municipal Water District board member, who helped out all day.

A huge thank you to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Corona Stake. As it turned out, April 25th was the Mormon’s JustServe Day of Community Service. Many stake members live in Temescal Valley, and under the leadership of Justin Tucker, 40-plus church members worked on the project.

Bill Peck and his Boy Scout Troop 13, year in and year out, always help with the cleanups. The Girl Scouts, too.

If I’ve forgotten anyone, please forgive me. It isn’t intentional. What really shows the true impact of what we accomplished was, after the event was over, people lingered to take a second look at all the good work, photograph the vats and enjoy all their efforts of the day.

Again, thank you everyone, and be on the lookout. The Beautification Committee will have more projects in the future to keep Temescal Valley beautiful, and we’ll be needing volunteers. Please email if your interested in being involved in upcoming projects: bob.hafner@verizon.net.

PHOTOS: Serrano would be proud

This was the 7th Annual Temescal Valley Great American Cleanup.

Members of The Church of Jesus christ of Latter-Day Saints Corona Stake, turned out 40-plus strong to help with the cleanup as a project of the Mormon’s JustServe Day of Community Service. Justin Tucker (white shirt), Sycamore Creek resident, coordinated the volunteer effort.

Helen McGlaughlin of Hot Diggidy Dog hands out doughnuts and beverages ant the beginning of the event.

Early arriving volunteers register for the event. The boulders came from El Sobrante Landfill and were hauled and placed by Waste Mangement Inc. employees.

Bob Hafner (left, white cap and knee pads), speaks to volunteers about safety.

Showing up to lend a hand were Supervisor Kevin Jeffries and Al Lopez, Western Municipal Water District board member.

From left, Bill Peck, Boy Scout leader Troop 13; Lily Quiroa and Mariam Cardenas, Waste Management Inc., grab a photo op.

Two palo verde trees were planted.

PHOTOS 2: Serrano would be proud

We Are Temescal Valley Beautification Committee Chairman Bob Hafner is responsible for coordinating all the community signs popping up throughout Temescal Valley.

Holes for the plants could only be dug with a jackhammer.

Would you believe a cactus can be this pretty?

Spanish Hills resident Martin Lange and his front loader move a pile of gravel closer to the vats.

After the gravel is dumped, it’s then shoveled into wheelbarrows.

Wheelbarrows are moved from the gravel pile to the area around the vats where the rocks are placed a shovelful at a time.

The newly planted succulents needed water, which was furnished by Dawson Canyon resident Michelle Randall.

Plants were individually watered to give them a good start.

Melissa Deleo spent the morning painting the bollards in front of the vats. The concrete stanchions will prevent the heavy trucks that park nearby from running over the area. Reflectors will be added to the bollards.

PHOTOS 3: Serrano would be proud

Half the volunteers spent their time removing trash and illegally dumped discards from the Temescal Wash.

Troop 13 Scouts help clean the junk and trash from the Temescal Wash.

Ann Redding is often seen at Temescal Valley volunteer events. She is the Pay it Foward Club leader at Trilogy.

Helen and Don McGlaughlin grill the hamburgers and hot dogs.

The work finished, a few of the volunteers mug for a picture. Everyone was feeling pretty good over the outcome of the project.

Freeway monument is official!

And, the ribbon is cut! From left, Jeffrey Van Wagenen, EDA managing director; Eric Werner, TV Municipal Advisory Council chairman; Sandy Isom; Deni Horne, representing Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez, and Supervisor Kevin Jeffries. Photo by Rob Mucha.

Ribbon-cutting ceremonies were held Feb. 5 for the long-planned and even longer-anticipated I-15 freeway monument, alerting motorists driving south that they’ve crossed the northern boundary of Temescal Valley.

: Sandy Isom, a long-time Temescal Valley resident.

About 40 people attended the event with ceremonies being handled by the county’s Economic Development Agency, which contracted for and had the monument built based on a concept in the county’s 2007 Temescal Valley Design Guidelines.

The work to begin the planning process for the monuments began years ago under the leadership of then-Supervisor Bob Buster and Sandy Isom, his local legislative assistant. The drive to make the monuments a reality was continued by Supervisor Kevin Jeffries, who was elected in 2012, and his legislative assistant Kristen Huyck.

Jeffrey Van Wagenen, EDA managing director, welcomed attendees to the event and introduced dignitaries. He was followed by Eric Werner, Temescal Valley Municipal Advisory Council chairman, whose remarks included a thank you to Isom for working with the MAC on the monuments for so many years. Isom, a long-time Temescal Valley resident, was honored with a proclamation from Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez that was presented by Deni Horne, Melendez’s field representative.

: Candy and Manny Sousa, the Weirick Road community residents who gave permission to the county to place the monument on their property.

Also recognized were Manny and Candy Sousa, who live in the Weirick Road community and gave permission to the county to place the monument on their property.

Vincent Coffeen, EDA assistant director of facilities management, said work has begun on the northbound I-15 monument at Indian Truck Trail on property donated by Speedway Development.

Learn how the monuments are funded HERE

: After opening remarks and introductions, the group of 35 to 40 folks attending head up the hill to the monument to cut the ribbon. Photo by Rob Mucha.

Jeffrey Van Wagenen, Riverside County EDA managing director. Photo by Rob Mucha.

Eric Werner, Temescal Valley Municipal Advisory Council chairman. Photo by Rob Mucha.

Sheriff’s staff meets with residents

Capt. Leonard Hollingsworth (back row, blue tie), and seven deputies from the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station, meet with Temescal Valley residents to discuss community concerns. Also pictured: Tracy Davis, Wildrose Ranch; Julian Gonzales, Sycamore Creek; Rob Mucha, The Retreat, and John Watson, Wildrose Ranch.

Community policing at its best was witnessed this morning as eight representatives from the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station met with Temescal Valley residents at the Starbucks in Sycamore Creek.

: Capt. Leonard Hollingsworth chats with Martin Lange and Dave Davis about illegal off-roading in the Spanish Hills community.

The Coffee with a Cop event featured Lake Elsinore station commander Capt. Leonard Hollingsworth and seven deputies, who discussed Temescal Valley concerns with about the dozen residents who attended.

Coffee with a Cop is a national program aimed at improving relationships between community residents and law enforcement officers. Discussion is one-on-one — no formal speeches, just casual conversation.

The deputies, ranging from corporals to lieutenants, represented divisions including patrol, detectives, community resources and schools.

Wildrose Ranch resident John Watson talks to the deputy in charge of school safety about traffic issues when parents drop off and pick up students at Temescal Valley Elementary School.

Many of the conversations focused on the need for a stronger Neighborhood Watch presence throughout the 19 communities comprising Temescal Valley. Residents also voiced concerns about trespassing, speeding, illegal off-roading, graffiti and burglaries.

Residents sharing a cup of “Coffee with a Cop” all agreed the event was highly informative and were impressed with the number of sheriff’s personnel who attended. According to Rob Mucha, We Are Temescal Valley Public Safety Committee chairman, “The only disappointment was in the poor attendance by residents.”

WE ARE TEMESCAL VALLEY