Category Archives: TEMESCAL VALLEY NEWS

Milkweed to Monarch project? Learn all about it here

Monarch-Butterfly-680x340By Tracy Davis
Identity Committee Chairwoman

Why the monarch? We see butterflies everywhere.

The plight of the monarch butterflies was brought up at our Identity and Beautification meetings in November 2015, inspired by articles appearing in the Orange County Register and The Press-Enterprise the week before.

Monarch caterpillars chomp away on native milkweed.

Monarch caterpillars chomp away on native milkweed.

Milkweed is the preferred plant of monarch caterpillars which hatch from eggs laid on the milkweed plants by mama monarchs. One of the reasons the monarchs are in decline is because native milkweed is becoming harder for them to find.

The 90 percent decline in the monarch population for the last 10 years was all we needed to know to start our project. Pulling both committees into the solution, I took the lead because of my love and fascination for insects, knowing full well it would be a huge project.

PARTNERSHIPS ARE FORMED

A month later, lo and behold my friend Nancy Reiter, who is Branch Manager at El Cerrito Public Library, had seen the same article and was looking into a Books2Action grant for books on the monarch subject. She contacted me to see if the We Are Temescal Valley group would sign off as a partner in the project, helping secure the grant. We got together for a committee planning session and worked with the Temescal Heritage Foundation to secure the grant as partners.

This set the ball rolling to include the Sycamore Creek Interpretive Center — a Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District (RCRCD) nature center located in the heart of Sycamore Creek. They, too, were planning a conservation project for native milkweed.

7 Oaks Nursery and The Acorn Cap, both located in Temescal Valley, sell native milkweed.

7 Oaks Nursery and The Acorn Cap, both located in Temescal Valley, sell native milkweed.

Now came our dilemma — no known local nurseries grew the native milkweed or had sources. We needed to convince our local 7 Oaks Nursery to grow the native milkweed for the project. Bringing all the facts and known sources for seeds to 7 Oaks, it took about a month to convince them it was good for the nursery and the monarchs.

In checking the seed sources, a native nursery popped up — The Acorn Cap, a nursery that specialized in California natives. It was located in Horsethief Canyon Ranch but had not yet changed its postal designation to Temescal Valley. By the end of January, we had not one but two local nurseries growing milkweed for us and the caterpillars!

Educating the people of Temescal Valley would take time. We began with the homeowners’ associations. I attended nearly all of the HOA board meetings in Temescal Valley to share the need to use native milkweed rather than other variations to bring back the monarch.

GOOD MILKWEED: Monarchs are drawn to this native milkweed -- Asclepias fascicularis, and will lay eggs on it. The caterpillars that hatch will eat the milkweed, stripping it bare and leaving nothing but sticks. It goes dormant but grows back each year.

GOOD MILKWEED: Monarchs are drawn to this native milkweed — Asclepias fascicularis, and will lay eggs on it. The caterpillars that hatch will eat the milkweed, stripping it bare and leaving nothing but sticks. It goes dormant but grows back each year.

WHY NATIVE MILKWEED IS IMPORTANT

Native milkweed dies back in the winter forcing the monarchs to migrate but tropical milkweed (Asclepias Curassavica), grows year-round in our mild climate. Monarchs will not migrate where tropical milkweed is planted because it provides a winter food source for the caterpillars. Winter breeding is unwanted in our area because it exposes the butterflies to the OE  (Ophryocystis elektroscirrha), parasite. This parasite either kills or weakens the caterpillars and adults, making their migration north each spring an impossible challenge in unhealthy monarchs. Planting native milkweed encourages proper seasonal migration and reduces the incidence of parasitic exposure. (Native versus Tropical? Learn more HERE)

Bottom line is that the monarchs’ milkweed habitat is dramatically reduced due to human population increases, and pesticide and herbicide use in farming and along roadsides.

BAD MILKWEED: Tropical milkweed stays green year-round and has colorful flowers -- usually red, orange and yellow. Because milkweed caterpillars can constantly feed on it, the monarchs will not migrate which leaves them exposed to a parasite.

BAD MILKWEED: Tropical milkweed stays green year-round and has colorful flowers — usually red, orange and yellow. Because milkweed caterpillars can constantly feed on it, the monarchs will not migrate which leaves them exposed to a parasite.

In researching the monarchs, I found that many sites have been logging habitat, migration and population of the butterflies. Monarch Watch stands out as a good resource for plants around the nation, but the Xerces Society lists the natives best for our area, also giving us a guide to create the proper habitat for the monarch and other pollinators.  (Click HERE for milkweed list.)

HOAs and residents can add to their gardens to create more habitat for the monarchs easily with our local nurseries growing native narrowleaf milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis), for the project.

We also need nectar sources to feed the adults. The nectar list is long, but look for flowers that monarchs can rest on while sipping, including composite heads, like sunflower, daisy or aster types, or clusters of flowers like lantana, verbena and pentas. Nectar sources do not have to be native, but choose drought-tolerant for our area. (Click HERE for native pollinator list.)

We hope that as more and more Temescal Valley folks decide to plant native milkweed and nectar plants to entice monarchs to their gardens that they will pay the $16 necessary to register their habitat with the Monarch Waystation Program. The Waystation registry could get our project national attention — so if you decide to register your habitat, please be sure to use Temescal Valley as your address! (Click HERE for the registration form.)

TEMESCAL VALLEY GETS INVOLVED

In trying to get the word out about the Milkweed to Monarch project we integrated Monarchs as a theme into our local events. The We Are Temescal Valley Identity Committee hosted the Temescal Valley Scavenger Hunt which had a monarch theme. The HOAs were encouraged to participate at the 15 stations around the valley. The main prize was a narrowleaf milkweed, with many other prizes donated by our local businesses.

Horsethief Canyon Ranch also had a Native Plant Sale. Hosted by Bob Hafner, chairman of the Beautification Committee and The Acorn Cap, the sale encouraged residents of the valley to plant native milkweed. The Temescal Valley Community Faire also adopted the theme of Monarchs and Melons for the 16th annual event held in May.

Our Milkweed to Monarch project is growing. We’re encouraged by our partnership with community nurseries and collaboration with educational organizations. Our success will make Temescal Valley the “Home of the Monarch!”

GET THE KIDS INVOLVED!

Here are links to help children better understand how truly incredible the monarch butterfly is — fun facts and things to do:
Journey North for Kids
Raising Monarch Butterflies
Make Felt Monarch Butterfly Wings
A Magical Metamorphosis

Thank you for your participation in this project and thanks also to:

7oaks_LOGO7 OAKS NURSERY, 21501 Temescal Canyon Road, Temescal Valley, 951-277-2927. Open 8 a.m.-5 p.m., seven days a week. On Facebook

Acorn cap_logoTHE ACORN CAP, California Native Nursery, Temescal Valley, 951-245-4764. On Facebook
library_logoEL CERRITO PUBLIC LIBRARY, 7581 Rudell Road, Corona, 951- 270-5012. Open 3-7 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. On Facebook

center_logoSYCAMORE CREEK INTERPRETIVE CENTER (RCRCD), 11875 Indian Truck Trail, Temescal Valley, 951-515-2097. 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Monday-Wednesday. On Facebook

Dangerous street condition? Where is it?

SLOWING DOWN TRAFFIC: County Road Engineer Lawrence Tai had two portable digital radar signs placed on Knabe Road after the Public Safety Committee meeting in May. The signs will be moved to other busy Temescal valley streets in the weeks ahead.

SLOWING DOWN TRAFFIC: County Road Engineer Lawrence Tai had two portable digital radar signs placed on Knabe Road after the Public Safety Committee meeting in May. The signs will be moved to other busy Temescal valley streets in the weeks ahead.

HAVE YOU SEEN DANGEROUS ROAD CONDITIONS such as blind corners, lack of left turn lanes or the need for stop signs? Send what you’ve seen and possible suggestions on how the problem can be fixed to Public Safety Committee Chairman John Watson at: jfwatson5@aol.com. Include the community in which the street is located, the problem, your name and how to reach you if necessary. A list is being compiled and all suggestions will be reviewed by the county.

The We Are Temescal Valley Public Safety Committee meeting in May focused on road safety in two areas – on surface streets and at the three schools located here.

Addressing the schools issue was CHP Community Service Officer Nate Jimerson who, along with other duties, is responsible for enforcing traffic laws at 24 schools within his CHP region. New to the position, Jimerson said he had visited the Todd and Temescal Valley elementary school campuses and hoped to patrol at Luiseno School prior to summer dismissal.

He said while the “dropping off” and “picking up” situations at the schools are less than optimal, parents are not justified in double parking, blocking driveways and parking in red zones. “Offenders will be cited,” Jimerson said.

Committee members commended Jimerson for fighting freeway traffic to attend the evening meeting on his day off.

Also attending the meeting was Renee Martin, a valley resident and the crossing guard at TVES. She said the flagrant violations by parents amaze her and she often worries about student safety. “Some people park in the red zones at both ends of the crosswalk and it’s the same parents doing it repeatedly.”

She said there are parents who will not follow her whistle commands when to cross and not cross the street. “I had the kids waiting to cross to let cars by and one dad grabbed his kid’s hand and said, ‘Let’s go.’ I was so proud of that little boy when he told his father, ‘No Dad, we can’t go until the guard says it’s safe.’ ”

Both Jimerson and Martin felt the best way to reach the parents about street safety was through their children. The Public Safety Committee, working with the CHP, will suggest to school administrators the possibility of street safety assemblies in the new school year.

Riverside County Road Engineer Lawrence Tai spoke about the public roadways in Temescal Valley. Tai said he was familiar with the county-maintained streets and knew of the larger traffic issues, i.e. Temescal Canyon Road, but wasn’t aware of all the individual issues within each of the neighborhoods. “I am aware, though, of concerns about speeding on surface streets.”

He described how speed limits are determined – not a simple process, and what it takes to get a new stop sign or traffic signal – also not a simple process but doable if warranted. What isn’t particularly doable are speed bumps, especially on arterials such as Knabe, Campbell Ranch, De Palma and Horsethief Canyon roads, and Trilogy Parkway.

“Speed bumps are hard on public safety vehicles such as fire engines rushing to emergency calls, as well as on the personnel inside the vehicles,” Tai said.

Several people at the meeting cited specific safety issues on neighborhood streets – blind corners, lack of left turn lanes, the need for stop signs. Tai said the county will investigate all concerns and possible solutions, but folks must let the county know where the problems are.

When asked, Tai said the county could install portable radar speed signs letting motorists know the speed at which they are driving. He said the digital displays are a good deterrent in slowing down speeders. Tai had two signs placed on Knabe Road and they will be moved to other streets where speeding is a problem.

Tai was impressed by the number of HOAs and neighborhoods represented by members of the Public Safety Committee, and said if the group could compile a list of concerns, he would look into all issues raised.

Send suggestions about street safety to Public Safety Committee Chairman John Watson at: jfwatson5@aol.com. Include the community in which the street is located, the problem, your name and how to reach you if necessary.

Committee members discussed launching a petition drive for the state to increase the number of CHP officers along the 1-15 Corridor. The committee also will create a campaign aimed at slowing down motorists on Temescal Valley streets.

If you would like to be notified of upcoming Public Safety Committee meetings, email your request to Watson.

SNOW? It sure did!

Driving down Horsethief Canyon Road toward Temescal Mountains on east side of I-15. (WeAreTV.org photo)

Driving down Horsethief Canyon Road toward Temescal Mountains on east side of I-15. (WeAreTV.org photo)

It was predicted for more than a week, but when Temescal Valley residents awoke New Year’s Eve morning, we were not sufficiently prepared for the amazing sight that greeted us. The hillsides and mountains on both sides of the valley were cloaked in white, with a whole bunch of the wet, wonderful stuff deposited in the Horsethief Canyon Ranch community.

Here are few photos and if you’d like to add yours to this slide show, email them to WeAreTV.org@gmail.com. Please include your name and where the photo was taken.

Here’s where to see holiday lights

WILDROSE RANCH PHOTO BY GLEN & KELLY NELSON

WILDROSE RANCH PHOTO BY GLEN & KELLY NELSON

While this certainly is not a complete list of all the Temescal Valley homes aglow — dazzling and twinkling with holiday lights, it’s a good place to start. If you want to add your home to this list, email us at WeAreTV.org@gmail.com. Please include the address and the community. (Horsethief Canyon Ranch will be added soon!)

WILDROSE RANCH

CONTEST WINNERS
23235 Crocus Court — First Place Grand Prize
9123 Blue Flag St. — Second Place Grand Prize
23326 Tulip Court — First Place Lighting
23329 Tulip Court — Second Place Lighting
8871 Crest View Drive — First Place Animation
9128 Plume Grass Street — Second Place Animation

WILDROSE RANCH

WILDROSE RANCH

OTHERS
23341 Tulip Court
23315 Daisy Drive
8774 Daffodil Drive8774 Daffodil Drive
22776 Canyon View Drive
22895 Canyon View Drive
22609 White Sage Street
9075 Blue Flag Street
8834 Lemonwood Drive

SYCAMORE CREEK

NOBLE CANYON STREET, SYCAMORE CREEK

NOBLE CANYON STREET, SYCAMORE CREEK

WINNERS
24983 Cliffrose St.
11030 Clover Circle
25486 Foxglove Lane
25298 Noble Canyon St.
25718 Woods Court

OTHERS
11178 Evergreen Loop
25207 Forest St.
25377 Grandfir Court
25542 Hyacinth St.
11336 Magnolia St.
25362 Noble Canyon St.
25121 Pacific Crest St.
25063 Pine Mountain Terrace
1213 Riveroak St.
11763 Silver Birch Road
11079 Sweetgum St.
25713 Sunflower Lane

MONTECITO RANCH

2331 Camino Terraza Road
8619 Camino Zapote Road
8649 Calle Canon Road

CALIFORNIA MEADOWS

CALIFORNIA MEADOWS

CALIFORNIA MEADOWS

9055 Fallbrook Canyon Drive
9480 Stone Canyon Drive
9343 Stone Canyon Drive

HORSETHIEF CANYON RANCH

(Note: Homeowner’s association  chose not to give addresses of winners, but instead provided names of winning streets)

Basswood Drive
Rapid Falls Court
Palomino Creek Drive
MysticaSprings Drive
Crystal Springs Drive 

TOM’S FARMS
Over 1 million lights on 200 displays!tf pre christmas web graphic 2014

 

FIRE GALLERY: Canyon gets wake up call

Wildfire in Dawson Canyon

VIEW PHOTO GALLERY  HERE

Dawson Canyon and Spanish Hills residents received a scare this morning when a wildfire burned in neighboring hills along Dawson Canyon Road, just south of the El Sobrante Landfill.

Sixty-eight firefighters from seven engine companies, plus air support, quickly contained the four-acre blaze that was reported at 10:01 a.m. today. Although close by, no structures were damaged and no injuries were reported as firefighters contained the blaze at 10:44 a.m.

Air support included two water-dropping helicopters, which refilled at Lake Mathews, and two fixed-wing tankers that dropped fire retardant.

Firefighters were assisted by the slow rate of burn and mild shifting winds that blew the fire  back over area already burned.

While contained at 10:44 a.m., firefighters were still in the area at 12:30 p.m. dousing hot spots. The cause of the fire is unknown.

Responding engine companies included Sycamore Creek Station 64, Home Gardens Station 13, French Valley Station 83, Cal Fire Riverside and Corona Station 7.

 

 

Flood control budget workshop set

Temescal Canyon Road becomes a muddy, flooded and dangerous roadway after a heavy rain.

Temescal Canyon Road becomes a muddy, flooded and dangerous roadway after a heavy rain.

Area residents who have lived here for any length of time know Temescal Valley is subject to flooding during particularly heavy rains. (Need a reminder? HERE is a photo gallery of runoff and flooding during the storm early last month.)

The Valley is located within Zone 2 of the Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, the agency responsible for deciding how flood control funds will be used. Also included in Zone 2 are the cities of Corona, Norco and Eastvale.

Zone 2 commissioners will hold a work session at 2 p.m. Monday, April 14 to discuss the budgeting of projects for the 2014-15 fiscal year.

The workshop will be at 5464 West Homecoming Circle in Eastvale and is open to the public.

 

PHOTOS: Wet, wild and welcomed

Here are a few photos we shot Saturday on a Temescal Valley tour to assess storm damage. Thankfully, we found the Valley pretty much intact, if not a little wetter than usual. Did you take photos? You can share them here. Email pictures to WeAreTV.org@gmail.com. There’s no need to include your name unless you don’t mind us using it, but a description of the photo and the location would be helpful.

TV resident Jack Wyatt honored

Jack Wyatt, first row second from left, is flanked by representatives from the offices of state Sen. Richard Roth, U.S. Congressman Ken Calvert and Assememblyman Eric Linder, who also honored him with proclamations. Second row, from left, Riverside County Supervisors Kevin Jeffries, John Benoit, John Tavaglione, Jeff Stone and Marion Ashley.

Jack Wyatt, first row second from left, is flanked by representatives from the offices of state Sen. Richard Roth, U.S. Congressman Ken Calvert and Assememblyman Eric Linder, who also honored him with proclamations. Second row, from left, Riverside County Supervisors Kevin Jeffries, John Benoit, John Tavaglione, Jeff Stone and Marion Ashley.

BY JANNLEE WATSON
WeAreTV.org Webmaster

“Humble” and “gracious” usually are not words associated with a corporate executive, a military leader or your next-door-neighbor. How fortunate we are in Temescal Valley that our friend Jack Wyatt is “A man for all seasons.”

About 60 of us gathered in Riverside on Feb. 4 — not all from Temescal Valley, but those who know Jack, respect Jack, and wanted to be there when the Riverside County Board of Supervisors issued a proclamation to recognize his 30 years of service to the county and to the Greater Inland Empire.

Jack and Irene — who live in Trilogy — have been married for 38 years, (and always behind a successful man there is a more successful woman)!  Jack is the first to say that Irene has been an inspiration in all facets of his professional and personal life.

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Jack for the past year. We united to fend off Corona’s attempt to annex a portion of our beloved Temescal Valley. And, with Jack’s expert guidance, knowlege and persistency — we were successful.

Here are a few things you may not know about Jack:

  • He served in the U.S. Navy and was shot down and rescued in Vietnam. Staying in the Navy Reserve, he turned down the rank of Rear Admiral.
  • With Southern California Edison for 28 years,  Jack retired in 1998 as Region Director for the Inland Empire, where he was responsible for three counties, 56 cities and an annual revenue base of $3.5 billion.
  • Jack is the Trustee Chair for the only remaining all boys military high school on the west coast – Army & Navy Academy in Carlsbad — it’s where he graduated high school. (Learn more about the academy and read a message from Jack HERE.)
  • Jack serves on the Board of Premier Service Bank in Riverside/Corona.
  • Jack was president of Residents for Temescal Valley, leading the effort that ultimately defeated Corona’s annexation attempt.
  • Jack stopped Corona from an ill-conceived plan to provide electric service to its residents.
  • Jack is Secretary for his church board – New Hope Family Worship Center in Corona.

And, appropriately, it was New Hope pastor Dave Tanner who provided the invocation at the supervisor’s meeting. I have always been impressed with Jack’s belief in God — a true believer, he lives his life accordingly and doesn’t preach. Although he and Irene do instruct classes at the church.

Jack also exemplifies “love of family” and “family comes first.” It’s amazing how much he has accomplished for all of us living in Riverside County while putting his family first. A man of prominence, importance, expertise and ability chooses to include in his personal resume:

“Irene Wyatt is Jack’s wife of 38 years, and provides the humor and patience in his
life…his son Mike and daughter Shauna provide the rest of the excitement. Mike
is the Marketing Director for a security firm and has three magnificent kids
that look more like his beautiful wife (thank goodness); and Shauna works for Johnson
& Johnson pharmaceuticals and keeps her 6 foot 8 husband from challenging
Jack on the golf course…Shauna is only 5 foot 8, but has her dad wrapped around
her finger.”

And, that’s what Jack is about. He is himself, he is his family and he is his community.

Maybe I have an affinity with Jack. My dad — a 30-year Marine Corps officer — always preached to me , “Lead by example.” Jack Wyatt does this — and much more.
Read proclamation HERE

 

 

Photo gallery: More signings