• City Council Meeting July 2015

After many months, the new city council chamber was ready for business tonight. What a great improvement over the old set up. There are several large video screens for easy viewing of any presentations, and the audio is much better too.

Here is one of the new video screens.

There are a couple of short comings. First there is a supporting beam that is right in the middle of the room, and though it is where the center row is, it does interrupt how people in the back can see all the members. Second, the chamber is deep instead of wide, so even the front row is further away from the dais than the old back row was.

All in all it's a great improvement from the old council chambers.

Before the council meeting there was a brief open house where cake was served.

Bridgette Moore, Bob Cashman, Marsha Swanson, Ben Benoit and Tim Walker.

---------

The meeting itself was the quickest one I've been too. It was over just over half an hour after it started. There really wasn't much to speak about that came out of the meeting.

There was a presentation where Mayor Ben Benoit and Mayor Pro-Tem Bridgette Moore give recognition to Jake Moore for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout.

Still trying to figure out the lighting and best place to stand for pictures.

The few items on the agenda all passed 5-0 with little discussion.

So the only real thing to share was Miss Miller doing what Miss Miller does best. Entertaining us in new and exciting ways. Last time she asked to be escorted out, but didn't have the nerve to follow through. Tonight she waited until the officer came and escorted her out... as if she was at a wedding waiting to be seated by an usher.

She basically referenced the camera and wanted me to post it. I had a good mind not to, but I know that many people never seem to grow tired of her antics so here it is.

But If she does it next time, I won't be uploading it unless it's truly spectacular. She'll have to throw a glitter bomb, deliver a pie in the face, take her close off and streak around, ride a unicycle, walk on stilts, do a dramatic reenactment of a classic movie scene or something awesome.

Otherwise, I'm going to be adopting Major League Baseball's policy of when fans run on the field. They do NOT allow it to be broadcast on TV so as to discourage copycats.

 

•

Reminder that tomorrow, July 9, 2015 will be a Wildomar Chamber of Commerce mixer right back in the same room... though the dais will be closed off. From 5:30 to 7:00pm.

Also remember that this Saturday, at Marna O'Brien Park there will be a Wildomar birthday bash. Check the flyer for the details.

•      •      • 

A good conscience is the best pillow. 

― German Proverb

Wildomar Rap doesn't shrink in the dryer.

• 4th of July Parade... The Farm Style

Happy Birthday USA!

Today was a fun morning over at The Farm in Wildomar. They celebrated Uncle Sam's birthday with a parade that wound it's way through the community, something they've been doing since 1977, on a circuit that took about an hour to drive.

There were about half a dozen decked out golf carts, and about a dozen or so cars (including a 1923 Ford) followed by a Station 68 fire truck bring up the rear.

This is basically an event that is closed to those outside of The Farm. We were guests of The Farm resident, and The Farm Facebook Group moderator, Mary Haire. I'm thinking this was her first parade at The Farm since things didn't go quite as planned.

First I just thought we were going to watch the parade. Then I thought we were going to walk in the parade. Soon we found that we were going to have a car in the parade too. 

Good thing our car is just right color of blue for a patriotic parade. ☺

Also in our group was Council Member Bridgette Moore. We actually started the parade on foot, behind the blue Rap-Mobile, and things were pretty good for about 3 mins.

Then we got out of the area with gravel and onto the main roads. Right away we saw George Taylor, long time Wildomar resident out at The Farm, as he was videotaping the parade. He asked if we were going to walk the parade route in a surprised tone.

"Yes" we replied, and went on our way with big smiles. Then we noticed that our ride was about to disappear around the corner, as we'd been left in the dust. Somehow, we thought this was going to be a slower, more traditional parade. Silly us.

Earlier I had done the math in my head. The number of miles divided by the one hour event time and knew the pace was going to be past human capacity... but I ignored that little voice that was trying to communicate with the rest of me.

Luckily, when we got to the first cross street, I saw a flagman about 200 yards up the street. Though the parade had gone a couple of blocks on before turning left, I suggested we go right and see if we couldn't head them off at the pass.

We got there just in time to see the front of the parade. In fact, one of the people in one of the leading cars looked at us in a confused manner and asked, "Aren't you two in the parade?"

We laughed, as we rejoiced, at seeing the Rap-Mobile come around the corner just in time to save us.

What a beautiful sight to see... our Knightess, Grace Morabito, in shining Honda CRV armor.

From there it is was a spectacular time. People were out in front of their houses, on corners, or down at the street's edge as they were waving American flags and exchanged smiles and "Happy 4ths" with us as we drove by.

Dena Piraino was in front of her home, with one of the best shirts I saw out there and waving a flag.

♥

Some of the cars in the parade were tossing candy out to the watchers.

One of countless groups of people out celebrating Independence Day.

♥
What a fun event, and afterward they had a big community barbecue, but we headed back home. If you live in The Farm, check out their Facebook page to stay up on the latest news there.

Here's the link.

•      •      • 

America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination, and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand. ― Harry S. Truman

Wildomar Rap isn't affiliated with Wildomar Rapid Transit. Primarily because there is no such thing. 

• Grand Ave Repavement Project

If you use Grand Avenue you know that there has been a road improvement project going on for the past month or so. I use the road about one day a week, and just three days ago the lines had not been painted yet. Today I had a bonus trip down that road and it was striped, though the project appears to still have more to do before it's finished.

How the road had been striped before.

What I noticed is that it went from one lane in each direction, and a center turn lane... to a lane in each direction and NO center turn lane. The missing lane got divided up as shoulder room on each side of the road.

At first I thought that the new addition was the bike lanes, but you can see bike lanes in the old photos. So I'm not sure how the new striping helps. I'm glad I don't use the road regularly, and never in rush hour, but I see more problems created by eliminating the turn lane than solved with the extra room on the right.

Here you see a car turning left across traffic from the south bound lane... without the protection of a turn lane.

Instead of traffic flowing at a normal pace through Lakeland Village, now you'll need to be on your toes for sudden stops as people will be looking to turn left against traffic from the main lane of travel.

Here you see Corydon and the tiny turn pocket that they created instead of the old turn lane.

One place that looks like it is really going to be a mess is the intersection of Grand and Corydon. At the end of the day, that is the main route from Ortega Highway to the freeway. It's not uncommon for the lineup of cars to reach more than a dozen waiting to turn left.

The new turn pocket looks like it might accommodate 5 cars... maybe 15 if they were Smart Cars. I hope the additional cars at peak usage time will just use the same space they did before and NOT block the southbound lane.

A look at the original lane configurations and Grand Plaza on the east side of the road.

Also, when I've used Grand, going south in the afternoons before, it was common to see cars turning left into the strip mall on that corner. There is no turn pocket for them. I bet this is going to get dicey if this is the final lane scheme they have in mind.

One good thing that I saw, for those that turn right from Grand to a side street, is that it is much safer for them since they have their own 'lane' now... sort of a lane anyway.

Have you driven on it yet? Do you have thoughts on the new lane set up? If so, post them below... just keep in mind that anonymous comments that stray too far afield will be obliterated. Thank you, drive through. ☺

•      •      • 

What is meat and drink to one, is bitter poison to another.
― Titus Lucretius

Wildomar Raptor is not a creature in Jurassic World. 

• Wildomar Bell Ringing 2015

It was a spectacular evening to ring the bell at Wildomar Elementary school. The reason was to celebrate the 7th year of Wildomar becoming a city. The consensus was that there were between 60 and 75 people in attendance... I asked three fire fighters and a boy scout, so I'm going with it.

A wide angle look of the onlookers as Council Member Bob Cashman speaks about the bell and the history of the area.

The bell ringing is an event put on by the Wildomar Historical Society. In addition to MC Kristan Lloyd and WHS President George Cambero, there were many other local dignitaries in attendance. Mayor Ben Benoit, Mayor Pro-Tem Bridgette Moore, Council Members Tim Walker and Bob Cashman, City Manager Gary Nordquist, Assistant City Manager Dan York, and Planning Commissioners Bobby Swann and Gary Brown. I'm sure I'm leaving more out, but it may have been easier to direct you to the local white pages. (does such a thing actually still exist?)

Still, the people that impressed me the most were Thomas and Jewel (sp?) Burkhead (AKA Bill and Ellen Burkhead... not too sure about the back story on that one, just jotting down what I was told). ☺

Happy 65th anniversary.

What makes them special? Well, it was their 65th anniversary and they met at Wildomar Elementary back in the 1940s. He was telling me about ringing the bell back when he went to school there and how she rode her horse to school. He lived up on Grand Avenue and his mother had a beauty shop and cut the hair of most of the men in the area. He was telling me about going up in the belfry and chasing the owls out of it.

He had a lot of other great stories too, but it was a bit too loud with the bell and road noises to catch them... Perhaps someday in the future. ☺

Thomas (AKA Bill) Burkhead got the honors of ringing the bell first.

The Historical Society was selling root beer floats as a fundraiser. They raised about $115 that will be going to their Brown House project.

Here's a link to last year's blog on the bell ringing, 

which includes some interesting stats and a link to a short video.

•      •      • 

A people's relationship to their heritage is the same as the relationship of a child to its mother.
― John Henrik Clarke

Wildomar Rap has been belfry free since day one. 

• Brown House Update

I've been wanting to do a blog on the Brown House and the Wildomar Historical Society for awhile now. How convenient for me that Kristan Lloyd, of the WHS, was giving a presentation at today's Wildomar Chamber of Commerce breakfast... which just so happened to be Wildomar's 7th birthday.

Seven years in City-Years is like a week compared to London, or a day to Rome, or an
hour to Athens. We're still a long way from getting our balance, but we're inching forward.

Her presentation keyed in on the Brown House's future.

Kristan Lloyd showing a photo of the Brown House before it was moved to it's current location.

Also in attendance was the president of WHS, George Cambero, in that position since 2008.

The aims of the Historical Society are to preserve the history of our city that was founded back in 1885 by William Collier, Donald Graham and Margaret Collier... Wildomar is a portmanteau of their first names.

Here are the key points the way I heard them.

WHS would like to convert the Brown House into a Heritage Museum and Visitors Center. I was at the planning commission meeting where the developers of Baxter Crossing said they would make room for the Brown House (here's a link to that blog). Though I took it as halfhearted gesture, with them banking on WHS not coming up with the necessary funding to make it happen, when I heard it.

They need people to start talking about this project, get involved, donate time and participate in the fund raisers. (Like tonight's bell ringing at Wildomar Elementary, where they will be selling root beer floats... or as I was just corrected by Mrs WR... trading them for a small donation.)

I asked Kristan what the proposed budget is for the Brown House restoration project.

For restoration, I'm thinking $250,000. The inside needs to be gutted. There will have to be some restructuring on the inside. It needs to be ADA compliant (Americans with Disabilities Act). The walk ways will need to be wider [for wheelchair access]. 

$250[K] is our low estimate. I'm sure people are like, "No, no I'm sure it's going to cost more like a million." We have an electrician on board that has restored [homes] in San Jose that wants to work on the project. 

One of our board members has project managers who would love to donate their time. It's just in a holding pattern [at the moment] and hope they still want to be involved in the next couple of years [as the project reaches that stage].

Some key issues the Brown House Restoration Project faces:

• Having it officially recognized as a historic building. Something that is currently in process.
• The Brown House isn't sitting on it's own land.
• There was an assessment done in 2004, but the state hasn't responded yet as to whether or not that will suffice for the purposes of having it declared historical or not, or if they need to do another one. Which would cost between $5,000 and $6,000 alone.
• There are issues with the condition of the structure. Whether or not it is even salvageable in the first place. Issues such as dry rot, termites, possible lead paint and/or asbestos... not to mention ADA concerns.
• Getting the funds to fully restore the house so that it's fit to be part of a new development.

As the brown house sits today.

Commentary

I like the idea of a Wildomar Heritage Museum/Visitors Center, especially at the proposed location. I just don't know how practical it is to try and restore an old building, especially one that has not had proper upkeep for the last 10+ years, attempting to bring it up to all the modern codes when building a replica would be a much easier way to go, and probably cheaper too.

I just got done watching a fantastic series on Netflix called The Ultimate Guide to the Presidents and one thing you'll learn is that the White House has been redone many times in its history. Old buildings just weren't built to withstand father time, and though the White House isn't the original structure, we still consider it the same place that most of our presidents have lived. 

Either way, this can't happen if the people don't get behind it. If you are interested in the Brown House being preserved you should get vocal about it, and plan on chipping off a few dollars along the way.

Check these links to the Wildomar Historical Society

https://www.facebook.com/WildomarHistoricalSociety

https://www.facebook.com/DavidBrownHouse

•      •      • 

Time and tide wait for no man.
― Geoffrey Chaucer

Wildomar Rap is not an island, nor an archipelago.

• Camp Out Night In The Park 2015

A great turn out for the 2015 Camp Out in the Park at Marna O'Brien Park.

The community enjoying a balmy Summer's evening before the show.  Photo courtesy of  Bridgette Moore. 

105 campers checked in, and it was estimated that 200 were in attendance for the movie, which was Penguins of Madagascar.

You can see the camper's tents in the background. Photo courtesy of  Bridgette Moore. 

Before the movie, the kids were entertained with various games by The Game Master, a popular part of many Wildomar events. Among the favorite games is the egg toss and the tug of war.

Can you see the egg that is midair in the picture above? 

The snack bar had two special treats.

In the evening, slices of Pie Nation's Pepperoni and BBQ Chicken pizza were being sold for $2 each (and they were pretty good size too).

The next morning, breakfast burritos from El Comal were had for $5 apiece. We got one of each, an egg and chorizo and an egg and potato. Both were great, especially with the salsa!

Mrs. Wildomar Rap, Grace Morabito, chowing down on an El Comal BB (Breakfast Burrito).

The snack bar was run by Wildomar Chamber of Commerce.

Our city officials were out in force as usual for this event. For the movie I saw City Council Member Tim Walker, Mayor Pro-Tem Bridgette Moore, and Mayor Ben Benoit. Also Planning Commissioners Bobby Swann and Stan Smith. Also there was EVMWD board member George Cambero, City Manager Gary Nordquist, City Analyst (I think that's her title) Janet Morales and parks man extraordinaire Daniel Torres.

Of those, Bridgette Moore, Janet Morales and Gary Nordquist all slept at the park... in separate tents of course. ☺

Thanks again to all those that made this event a success. The people of Wildomar appreciate your valiant efforts.

•      •      • 

Camping is nature's way of promoting the motel business.
― Dave Barry

Wildomar Rap was the master at building forts from couch cushions, pillows, blankets and end tables.

• Meet Wildomar's Top Cop: Captain Leonard Hollingsworth

I've been a homeowner in Wildomar since 2001. Wildomar wasn't a city then and our policing was provided by the county. Today, Wildomar continues to contract with the Riverside Sheriff's Department as our police agency, and we have a Chief of Police...

His name is Captain Leonard Hollingsworth. He's a family man, and between he and his wife they have five kids and four grand kids with another on the way. I recently had a chance to chat with him to ask him how his first year as Wildomar Chief has been.

 WR  Let's start with the basics, tell me a little about yourself.
 LH  I grew up on a dairy. I went to CalPoly and majored in Dairy Science and my whole life had intended to be in the dairy business. In 1986 we sold [the dairy] and I found myself in the position of, "What am I going to do?"

I raised calves, and things like that, but law enforcement had always been in my mind too... so I looked into it. I had been self employed for a few years, and after looking into it [law enforcement] I saw how much I'd be making, and it wasn't much, but it was probably twice as much as I was making working for myself (said with a grin).

I started that journey and it took me, from the time I made the decision to pursue it till getting hired, took over four years. Working my way through the process. I came in through the reserve deputy program with the Sheriff's Department as a reserve out in Hemet.

I started off as a deputy in the jail in Riverside. From there went to [what used to be] the Banning Station, it's now the Cabazon Station and worked patrol, investigations and some search and rescue.

Then was promoted and came out here to Southwest Detention Center as  a sergeant. Worked there for three and a half years in floor operations in the main part of the jail, and I also worked as administrative seargent. Kind of away from the jail, working more with inspections and paperwork and personnel.

From there I came to Elsinore Station, before Wildomar was incorporated, worked here for a few years and was promoted to lieutenant and was back in Temecula at the Southwest station. Worked with Temecula PD, in the wine country, as liaison with the Pechanga Tribe, the casino and law enforcement. Then I got transferred to the training center. I was the administrative lieutenant there.

[My next promotion was to] Captain and back to the Southwest Detention Center. [Having been there before] I didn't have to learn the jail, I just had to learn how to be a captain. I ran the jail for about a year and a half. It was a big [assignment] with close to 1100 inmates and 300 employees.

From there I went to the Gang Task Force, and ran the Gang Task Force for two and half years. It has eight regional teams all over Riverside County. I was all over the county with different events, meetings, liaisoning with all the different PDs and all the contract cities. There are people from nearly every contract city, the sheriff's department, the DA's office, federal people that are involved in this task force. It was a big thing to manage.

From there, a year ago March (2014), I was transferred over to the Lake Elsinore Station where I run the Lake Elsinore county area and I'm the Chief of Police for Wildomar and Lake Elsinore... and here I am (with another smile).

Wildomar Chief of Police, Captain Leonard Hollingsworth

 WR  Sometimes a Police Chief is from out of the area (like Bratton was when he came to LA) but it's really nice that Wildomar's Chief of Police has actually put many years on the job here.
 LH  I didn't have to learn the area. I had to learn a few new people, and what I have learned since being here is that there is a core group in this area that goes from Wildomar to the north end of Lake Elsinore of about 40 to 50 people that are involved in everything. There are others involved too, but there's a strong core of active civic leaders.

 WR  When, or how, did you know you were cut out for a leadership role in the department?
 LH  I can't really pinpoint anything... I guess I'm here so I must be.... I suppose (said with an inviting and self deprecating tone), but [leadership] in our business is taught from the day you start, and it's ongoing. It was taught from the day I started the academy, all the way up to yesterday.

 WR  How has your first year as Wildomar's Chief of Police been... any highs or lows?
 LH  I'd say it's been all highs. It's such a cool place to work. The people in this town, the group of leaders —Wildomar just has a core group of strong leaders in this town that are involved and the city is like a family. City staff are like family, the city council are like family, it's just a neat place to be.

 WR  Can you name something that has been different than you anticipated about being Wildomar's top cop?
 LH  It's an interesting thing with the contract [between the city and the department] that I am a Sheriff's Captain, and as a Sheriff's Captain I'm commander of the Lake Elsinore Station, and as that I act as the Chief of Police for Wildomar and Lake Elsinore. So, in the department I'm a captain... my boss is actually a chief. At the same time, for the cities, I am their Chief of Police. So it's sort of a confusing thing  [though] I perform the same function as a chief of police of any other city just with different rank structures.

So to back up, I always knew that this job was busy, I just had no idea how busy it was. It's incredibly busy but I'm used to it now. When I started, and I took over from Shelley Kennedy-Smith, you hit the ground and you're already doing 90 miles per hour. It took a month or two to get my body up to speed to that 90 miles per hour,  but now I don't really notice it. Even though I knew it was going to be busy, I had no idea [what that was going to be like until I took over].

Captain Hollingsworth's "boss" is Chief Deputy Kevin Vest (seen on the far right just above)

 WR  Being the Chief of Police for two cities, do you ever get any down time?
 LH  You're always plugged in. Once in awhile, every few months or so, I'll try and take a weekend where I shut the phone off at home or on vacation. I'll still get a call because I want to know when major things happen. 

There is a work load, but my deputies are doing all the work. They're out there all night long... rain, snow... we had snow this year... whatever the case, they're working all the time. My biggest concern is their safety. That's my 24-7 feeling I have "how are my troops?"

 WR  What are the biggest challenges you face being in charge of the policing in Wildomar?
 LH  The loss of the VLF funding (1.8 Million dollars that the governor took away from Wildomar 4 years ago) really hurt this town, but we're still maintaining a pretty safe community. The officers that work out here really buy into it, and they want to keep Wildomar safe. 

 WR  Video cameras are everywhere these days, how do your officers deal with a rude or aggressive person with a camera that is trying to bait them?
 LH  The fact of the matter is we talk to our troops all the time. We remind everybody that cameras are out there, and they've been there for a long time. We carry our own. Our officers wear the body cameras. Quite often, if someone is filming, there're two people filming. It can be difficult because video only shows what's in front of the lens. It doesn't show everything that's going on. The direction is to always stay professional. 

 WR  Any messages to the residents of Wildomar?
 LH  The city leaders, the City Council, really have public safety in mind for this city. It's very high on their list, and I think they're (the residents) are in pretty good hands. I hope I can do several years here, but it's a big department I work for, so you never know. It's the core group of leaders in this city, I see it every day, they honestly care. My message to Wildomar is, you live in a pretty good town. 

—   •   —

Those were all the questions I had for him, though we did chat longer with the recorder off. He's really a down to earth guy that can balance the duties of his job while maintaining a good disposition... probably not an easy thing for some.

I've long touted that I'm very pro cop, but I am not pro bad cop when they are discovered. It was good to hear that the same is true for our chief, and basically all the other officers out there. If someone isn't doing their job properly, it reflects on the whole, and they really don't like that.

For all the trouble that the media seems to want to stir up involving police these days, it was good to have it affirmed that our agencies here take their duties seriously, and enjoy their good reputation, and look to guard and maintain it. 

•      •      •

I played cops and robbers and pirates and all the rest when I was a kid, but I didn't want to grow up and be an actor and play cops and robbers and pirates. I wanted to grow up and be that, be cops and robbers and pirates. — James Spader

Wildomar Rap did serve one short stint (about a week) as Hall Monitor back in 5th grade at Davidson Elementary in Sandy Birdoo back in the day. Had to love the free shirt that came with the job too, though I don't know if they actually washed it between wearers.