• Wildomar Conversations: KC Lund Blades

We strive to bring new and interesting stories to you. A couple of months back I was at an event in Temecula where various local chefs were competing against each other. 

While there I was chatting with the various vendors and met KC and Carla Lund of KC Lund Blades.

What a fascinating conversation I'd found myself part of, and learning that they were from The W (Wildomar for the uninitiated 😅) I knew that bringing the story of a local bladesmith to the community would be a great idea. (Maybe I should have gone with the bad pun and said a "sharp idea"? 🤔... yeah, NO!😁)

Anyhoo... KC, currently working as a Deputy of Riverside County Sheriff's Department, first got interested in bladesmithing when he was basically still a kid, it started with the idea of making swords. His inspiration was from scenes he'd seen in "b-movies".

Carla Lund looks on as KC explains molten salts to Bridgette Moore.

From there he went to a custom knife show and met a knife maker named Jim Hrisoulas, author of a book called The Complete Bladesmith.

There were no "master bladesmith" classes, so he's basically self-taught. Being that this was in the pre-internet days, that consisted of countless trips to libraries, joining knife clubs, and picking the brains of those that had decades under their belts.

In the video, KC speaks of different styles of blades and the basics of how he makes them. There are a couple of action shots where you'll see him take the bar of steel from the forge to the hammer, and then begin working on it.

An impressive thing to watch as the hammer meets the heated bar of steel.

Right as Covid was hitting the nation he was finishing up a 500 knife run that he called a backup. A blade that's intended to hide behind a trauma plate on a tactical vest. 

He also makes swords, bare blades, blades fitted out with hilts, and culinary knives. 

He made 800 knives for his friend Adam Perry Lang's restaurant in Hollywood. Wiki gives a quick description: Adam Perry Lang is a classically French-trained chef turned bona fide BBQ expert.

Carla does the marketing, sales, shipping, and all the behind-the-scenes things to complement KC's bladesmithing.

KCLundBlades.Com

More than twenty years ago KC and Carla chose Wildomar as their home specifically so they could build their bladesmithing shop, which is a sight to see for anyone that appreciates a well-put-together workshop. 

A look into the furnace.

Please watch the 10 minute video below to hear all the details and get a peek at KC in action. 

Side note... for those of you that make video. Yes, my color correction skills are woefully underdeveloped. 😅 😁

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"Mishaps are like knives, that either serve us or cut us, as we grasp them by the blade or by the handle."

– James Russell Lowell

Wildomar Rap suggests the best way to avoid mishaps with your knife is to leave it in the kitchen drawer when shopping at Stater Brothers. 

This blog was produced for viewing on a desktop or a laptop. Though it's been optimized for smartphones, the formatting can look odd on a smartphone or if you get this delivered through email (such as missing video links). Link to proper format.

• Wildomar Conversations: 4 Keith Johnson

Meet Keith Johnson. 

Keith Johnson at his place of employment, The Anchor.

He went into the Army at age 19. He spent fourteen years in the California Army National Guard with a rank of Sgt E5. He was discharged in 2016 and then opted to pursue a musical career in a band in the Lake Elsinore area. 

Things didn't work out as he'd planned, and within six months of that move he found himself homeless. He'd lost his place to live, his car, his family photos and records... he was on the streets of Lake Elsinore.

In 2018 he attempted a 90 day course of rehab, but only made it about 55 days before he headed back out to the street. It was about a year later that he first encountered SWAG. That occured at the lake bottom in Lake Elsinore. 

Three different looks of Keith; then, then and now.

It was around that time that local law enforcement changed their approach to homelessness and started arresting people for warrants, paraphernalia, trespassing, and other things that go unchecked in places like Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Keith was arrested for trespassing multiple times and paraphernalia. Each time that happened SWAG was there to offer help. They knew who he was and had taken his information multiple times. Eventually, after six years of being homeless, he walked to The Anchor seeking help on his own. 

Click to read more about The Anchor

Keith has now had a year away from the streets 

He has goals and desires. He was able to reach this level by saying "yes" to help. Something he wasn't ready for earlier, but with persistence from the community partners of SWAG, RSO and code enforcement, he took that big first step and is well on his way to being an asset to the community. 

Please take a look at the interview with Wildomar Councilwoman Bridgette Moore to get a more complete picture. Note: the original video ran more than 20 minutes. I pared it down to a little over 10 minutes. 

I know that Keith credits Gloria Strippling and Ashlee Dephillippo for their help, but also the entire "SWAG tribe" as he referred them, in his success.

Though homeless individuals need food along with things like clean socks, clothes and even fresh shoes fairly regularly, it's counterproductive to hand them cash. Cash generally is used for one thing: Drugs or alcohol. 

If you're so moved as to want to donate money, seriously consider what it's going to be used for and seek out a trusted local organization, such as SWAG, to give the money to instead. This is where the well worn phrase comes into play, give a hand up, not a hand out.

What homeless people, or addicts, need the most is to know that there are people that sincerely care and CAN help. Not just clothes and food.

— Keith Johnson

Joseph Morabito and Keith Johnson.
Even with my super foofy hair, I'm still much shorter than Keith.

Below is a video regarding The Anchor. 

As an aside, "Say Yes" is a recently proposed campaign in the quest to assist chronic homeless people in getting off the streets put forth by Lake Elsinore City Councilwoman Natasha Johnson. 

• Wildomar Conversations: 3 Ayva Palos

Meet Ayva Palos...

she's a 14-year-old, Wildomar born and raised girl, that is also a champion horse rider. 

Ayva Palos

Her mother, Stephanie, was putting young Ayva on the back of a horse as soon as she was able to sit up. 

That later turned into leadline classes, leading young Ayva around in an arena as she grew comfortable on the back of a horse.

Young Ayva already at home on the back of a horse.

Though her daughter was raised around horses, once she hit about eight years old Stephanie knew that private lessons were necessary if Ayva was going to progress to the next level.

Once Ayva got a taste for winning, it got into her blood and she wanted more.

She has become a mentor for the younger riders that also train at Wallen West Farms. They look to her for inspiration to someday do great things themselves. 

Already winning ribbons while in elementary school.

That's where Robb and Betsy Wallen come in, and their spread is known as Wallen West Farms. Both are long time horse people that operate a very beautiful farm in Temecula.

Robb Wallen and Ayva in front of their awards.

It takes a lot of dedication to be a champion. Training that consists of three to four days a week all year long. It also takes a lot of dedication on the part of her parents.

Be sure to watch the video for details

Championships are the products of unwavering steadfastness and devotedness. 

Ayva strikes a definite pose of confidence.

Ayva has competed in the Morgan Grand Nationals in Oklahoma City and the American Royal in Kansas City, winning world championships.

She's an A student that has aspirations of competing in the World Cup and later becoming a vet.  

Bridgette Moore and Ayva Palos. Two great Wildomar role models. 

We invite you to watch the video of the conversation between Bridgette Moore, Ayva, Stephanie and Robb & Betsy Wallen.

If the video is missing, use this link instead.

• Wildomar Conversations: 2 Opal the Heroic Cow

It's not too often that you hear about a protective cow, but this is Wildomar and you're about to hear about Opal, the heroic cow. 

Opal, the heroic cow.

Her owners, Michelle and Chris, have lived in Wildomar a year... to the day as of the writing of this blog, and they love the pace of our community. 

In March they heard about Opal from a family in Menifee and they knew they had the room for her on their property and in their hearts so they adopted her. 

Opal loves her yard, and though she's not a bull, if you mess with her territory you'll be getting the horns, as if she were.

Then the other day Michelle was out with Opal when some commotion began near the gate on their property. Chris called Michelle to warn her, but it was too late. She came face to face with someone that the police were pursuing. 

He had hoped their gate and when Michelle saw him she let out a scream. That got Opal into gear and she chased the bad guy and cornered him, at which time the police apprehended the suspect. 

Opal was rewarded with horse cookies, and all was well.

These look eerily similar to the carob, oatmeal, peanut butter balls I used to make. 😋 

Please watch the four minute video to learn more about this beautiful animal and the story of how she saved the day.

This blog is formatted to fit all screens, but if you're having a problem seeing the video link click here. 

• Wildomar Conversations: 1 Ashley Fox

Welcome to the first edition of Wildomar Conversations. 

Though I've wanted to do something like this for awhile, I just didn't have the oomph to get it started on my own (these types of productions take a team effort). 

Then a few months ago Bridgette Moore started talking about wanting to interview people in town that have interesting stories and here we are.

I think that she mostly had the idea of doing a write up, but I suggested that we set up video cameras and see if we could make an interesting video while we were at it. I think we hit that mark. 

Our first conversation is with Ashley Fox

I invite you to watch the full 10 minute video found a little further down in the blog.

It's a nice story of a local resident that hasn't allowed a very serious medical condition to derail her life.

Bridgette Moore and Ashley Fox at Stars of the Valley event.

Her condition is called SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy), and though she uses a wheel chair to get around, she's as active as most people her age.

Ashley Fox at graduation.

She's been in girl scouts, a cheerleader, and recently graduated with an AA at MSJC with plans on going to UCSD to finish her undergraduate in psychology. She even has aspirations for a Masters and a Doctorate before she's done.

Post education she would like to work in the field of sports psychology.

Ashley was welcomed aboard with Camp Promise earlier this year.

She is an advocate for accessibility for those with all types of disabilities and is also on the marriage equality task force with about 200 others with various disabilities.

You may not be aware, but due to various rules in place, many people with disabilities can't get married without losing their health insurance. 

Bridgette asked Ashley if she had like to add anything else before finishing the conversation, and here are her words.

No Matter how much push back you get, no many how many noes you receive, your voice matters, your needs matter. You're not "high maintenance", you're not needy, you're not a burden. It's very much your life and you need to get the resources you need to live it.

  —Ashley Fox

Here is a video from 2014 of Ashley at a Lake Elsinore Storm pregame event.

I've had the privilege of knowing Ashley since 2014 when she was raising money for her Girl Scout Silver Award project known as the freedom swing. I also was able to follow her around when she was "Mayor for the Day" in 2016 (link to that blog here).

Link to 2014 blog about Ashley Fox's Freedom Swing project.

Remember that Wildomar Conversations is a work in progress and I'm sure that there will be some growing pains as we get our bearings. 

Let's see how far we can take this idea. We'd love to hear your suggestions for future topics. 

This blog was designed on a desktop computer, but should be formatted to all screens. Here is a link to the original if you have missing video links.