• Legends of Wildomar: Stage Production

Q: What happens when a group of Wildomar writers get together with the idea of penning a play about local legends? 

A: You get four tall tales, five songs and a poem that ties it all together.

I sat down with three longtime Wildomar residents and had a good gab... some of it was even about their play that is set to debut on Saturday, September 7th (with an encore performance the following week: Saturday, September 14th).

The three creatives (under the name StageLight Playwrights) are Karen Robertson, who moved to the area 48 years ago to take a job as a teacher in Murrieta where she was one of five teachers there. Suzanne Saunders came to Wildomar in 1997 to raise her daughter on horse property that was plentiful here at the time. Eve Gaal got her first house here in 1988. 

"This is a play written by Wildomar authors, in Wildomar, about Wildomar."

Karen and Suzanne have been neighbors for twenty-two years and they met Eve about two years ago at a writer's guild in Hemet. That's when the synergy kicked into gear and the three of them hooked up as a team. 

"But we're as different as you can get," Karen added with a grin. 

The Legends of Wildomar: A play in 6 acts.

I asked how the writing process went for this play, and I learned that they each wrote a "tall tale" about how Wildomar got its name. They would then meet once a week to share their progress and then to revise what they had. 

They got to the point that they brought readers in so that they could determine how well the dialog flowed, or didn't. With that input, they'd go back to revise and rewrite again until they were satisfied.

A shot of an early rehearsal.

There are five songs throughout the play, but it's not a musical. Each of the writers composed two apiece (hmmm my math is bad here  lol). There's the Wildy Mare song, Wilhelmina's song, La Palomar song and The Wildomar song. The play is going to be performed at Le Grande Playhouse at the Lakeland Village Community Center.

Ticket info. See link below to purchase.

Proceeds go to a good cause

As an aside, all three of the authors are cancer survivors, and $10 of every ticket sale goes to support BRICK. The mission of BRICK (Brain Research In Cancer Kids) is to improve the quality of life for pediatric brain tumor patients and survivors through the funding of brain tumor research carried out by Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego.

 Use this link to get your tickets

Link to Facebook event page

There are still opportunities to sponsor this play and get into the playbill. For more details about that, please feel free to contact StageLight. 

Link to StageLight Playwrights Facebook page

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All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages.

– William Shakespeare

Wildomar Rap is not one to argue with The Bard. If he says the world's a stage, then it's a stage.

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• House Explosion Near Clinton Keith

UPDATED 8:27pm

Clinton Keith is no open in both directions.

UPDATE 8:00pm

Murrieta Police Department Facebook page

UPDATE at 4:15pm

Paraphrased from Murrieta Deputy Fire Chief David Lantzer's remarks at the 3:30pm press conference.
Full video link is below. Randon Lane, acting as spokesman for SoCalGas, also spoke for a few moments at the press conference.

At 10:57am Murrieta FD dispatched 2 engines and a Battalion Chief to 23562 Wooden Horse Trail for a reported gas line rupture. upon arrival there was a gas leak. At that point the second engine and the Battalion Chief were cancelled.

SoCalGas employees arrived at 11:23am and began to help mitigate the incident. At approximately 12:10pm an explosion occurred at which time the onsite engine company requested a full assignment. This is an active investigation. All injured parties were transported and are being medically evaluated. No further details at this time. The total number of injured is fifteen.

From the news conference it was reported that 15 people were injured. There was no mention of a fatality because the family hadn't been notified yet.

NBC footage of news conference below

You need a Facebook page to see it

•

First posted Monday, July 15, 2019, 2:29pm

MURRIETA, CA — Police are investigating a neighborhood explosion in Murrieta this afternoon, prompting mandatory evacuations, the agency reports. 

A fire hose douses what remains of the house. KABC 7

Police said Clinton Keith road is currently closed from Smith Ranch Rd to Nutmeg St as a result of the incident. Please find alternate routes until otherwise advised.

Photo by Priscila de la Cruz

•

This is an ongoing story and will be updated as more information becomes available. A press conference is scheduled for 3pm. Unofficially, a gas leak erupted into an explosion at around 12:19pm.

From SoCal Gas Facebook page: 
Earlier today SoCalGas crews responded to reports of a damaged natural gas line and shortly after our crews arrived, there was an explosion. Sadly, one of our employees was fatally injured and others harmed. Our thoughts are with the families and first responders impacted by this incident.

As of 1 p.m. today, SoCalGas stopped the flow of gas to the property. Fire officials are continuing to fight the fire and are investigating the cause of this incident. Additional updates will be provided as they become available.

•

From the facebook page of UWUA Local 132

https://www.facebook.com/UWUA.Local.132

From the facebook page of

IBEW Local 465

Photo from Temecula, Murrieta, And Camp Pendleton Wildfire Incidents

House Explosion Murrieta 2019 KABC 7

House Explosion Murrieta 2019 KABC 7

House Explosion Murrieta 2019 KABC 7

House Explosion Murrieta 2019 KABC 7

House Explosion Murrieta 2019 KABC 7

From Facebook

• NO TURN ON RED

There has been much ado about the NO TURN ON RED sign(s) at Hidden Springs and Clinton Keith as one heads north, looking to turn east. Mostly due to people that want to disregard the four signs posted, forbidding a right on red.

You may need to get your vision checked if you can't see one of the four signs.

Safety has been an issue, to one degree or another, for as long as this intersection has existed. 

When I moved here in 2001 there was no intersection at all. There was no back way into Windsong Valley until they opened Stater Bros, and the rest of the center, in the mid aughts. If Hidden Springs Road existed then, it really was hidden.

Who remembers dealing with this before it was widened?

Before Wildomar Square opened in 2017, it was always a nail biter going north through the intersection. It's less so now, but a wise motorist will still exercise maximum caution while traversing this crosspoint.

As you can see, this is a very nonstandard intersection on many counts.
I tried to pull up an older Google Earth image, but couldn't figure it out.

I'd been hearing about impolite drivers at this intersection for months. That people obeying the NO TURN ON RED were being harassed by cars behind them with horns a-blaring. 

This happened to my wife last week so I posted in the facebook group Wildomar Friends and Community. (Follow the link to read the ensuing comments)

If heeding posted roadway signs is too much to ask, then get ready to pay.

Here is the up-to-date info regarding this issue.

Based on many comments and questions posed, I asked our Public Works Director/Assistant City Manager Dan York to speak about this issue and to address the oft repeated desire to see a green arrow added there.

"Staff confirmed that because of the crest in Hidden Springs that crosses over Clinton Keith (sight distance); because of the dual left turns (wb to sb); and because of the pedestrian crossing the engineers deemed warranted to install a “No Turn on Red”  This improvement was installed by David Horenstein’s Engineer of Record/contractor and accepted by the city. Based on this information, I am not recommending removal of the signage." 

If you are first at the red light, slow your roll, it'll change back to green in about 90 seconds.

"When the intersection is fully developed (ie. The NW’ly commercial center), engineering will re-look at the ultimate intersection improvement plans.  We will assess the impacts on timing and delays throughout the intersection and if a green arrow is warranted at that time."

The long and short of it is this: There will be no green arrow as the intersection is currently configured. Now it's up to you to choose to follow the law, or risk meeting up with Officer Hansen and chatting with him about it.

He's really cool, and a good conversationalist.
Photo courtesy of Keith Jared at TapSnap.

I was telling him about the rude behavior of some motorists at this spot and he assured me that he'd happily ticket anyone he witnessed honking at other drivers —it's a safety issue. This intersection is on his radar, so consider this fair warning. 

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If a man insisted always on being serious, and never allowed himself a bit of fun and relaxation, he would go mad or become unstable without knowing it.
— Herodotus, 484 BC-425 BC

If Wildomar Rap insisted always on being serious, a throat-punch would probably be in order.

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• Wildomar Birthday Bash 2019

A fun evening at Marna O'Brien park to celebrate the 11th year of Wildomar's incorporation as a city. It was estimated that 500 people cycled in and out of the park between 6pm and 10pm.

Caption contest time:
"Daddy, we're on camera." "I know son, just act cool and he'll go away in a minute"

© Richard Deskin

There were vendors, exhibitors, our new police motorcycle along with Officer Hansen, a car show, a beer and wine garden and Wildomar's favorite band: Cougrzz Rock.

Once the sun started to set, the crowd grew larger and larger.

This was my first Wildomar birthday event as a council member, and I didn't have the opportunity to take many pictures like I would have in the past. Aloha Photography, run by Wildomartini Richard Deskin, lent me some of his snaps to share here. 

A look at the front of vendor row.
© Richard Deskin

Lake Elsinore Storm's Thunder was on hand. He stopped by Pack 332 for a photo op.
© Richard Deskin

Classic as classic can be.
© Richard Deskin

Taking it all in.
© Richard Deskin

Getting in a little cardio.
© Richard Deskin

Mayor Pro-Tem Dustin Nigg and Councilwoman Bridgette Moore declare best in [car] show.
© Richard Deskin

Grace Richardson of Cougrzz Rock in mid song.
© Richard Deskin

Billy's Trike. It was even more fun once it was dark and the lights came on.
© Richard Deskin

Keith Jared of TapSnap was busy helping families make memories.

TapSnap took a great pic of our Wildomar PD. Chief Lujan is in the front.

It was an enjoyable time, and I was glad to meet so many great people from Wildomar. 

I'm also learning that if I've only met a person once or twice, there's a good chance I'll not recognize them if they're wearing sunglasses. Sorry about that... about half a dozen times.☺

Posing with Myrna, a coworker of my wife.

We're midway through the year and there are still plenty of park events left for you to attend. If you're not already signed up for city email alerts, be sure to follow the link below and do so. That way you'll always be informed of things going on in town, including park events.

USE THIS LINK

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Human knowledge has doubled in the last fifty years and will double again in the next twenty. Yet along the way there is much that we have forgotten we might well have done to remember.
– EG Marshall, CBSRMT 1977

Wildomar Rap's knowledge has far more than doubled in the last fifty years, it's probably even tripled. Then again, being 54, I'm not sure if that's saying much.

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.

• City Council Meeting July 2019

There were three key items that came from the July city council meeting.  

2.1 Faith Bible Church
The general plan amendment from commercial office and medium density housing to commercial retail was approved by the city council 5-0.

The blue star denotes the location of the project.

This allows Faith Bible Church, not to be confused with Wildomar's Faith Baptist Church, to take the next step in building their church.

It's visible from the freeway, about halfway between Clinton Keith and Baxter on the east side of the freeway, just north of the Hartford Park community. Access will be from Depasquale Road, which starts at George Rd (shortly to be changed to Wildomar Trail).

Still shot from an animated visual of the future campus.

I didn't see any serious opposition to the project, and the residents from Hartford Park are said to be in favor of it... one added bonus to a church being on that land is that it can no longer serve as an illegal offroad park. (I can't wait until Baxter Village gets underway, if for no other reason than to take that "motocross park" off the list too.)

They are hoping to get through the permitting process by December/January, begin construction in 2020 with a grand opening for phase one in late 2020 or early 2021.

This item begins at the 1:03:00 mark of the video below.

2.3 Urgency Ordinance Regarding Tobacco Retailing

This still has some moving parts to it (which is a fancy way of saying I can't talk too much about it) so I'll just report the final resolution. The urgency ordinance was extended another ten months and forty-five days, for a total of a year if need be. 

A carve out was added to the ordinance which would allow other such tobacco retailing businesses (including the applicants here at a different location) to open in the city as long as they're a minimum of 600 feet from a public or private school. The final details of the ordinance will be hammered out over the next several months.

Opinion Time

None of the members on city council have a problem with this type of legal business. The problem has always been the extreme proximity to Wildomar Elementary. 

I was sorry to hear the story of the young entrepreneurial partners that one moment were getting ready to go into business, and the next moment see the city breathing down their necks.

They seemed like the type of eager businessmen we'd love to have in town, just not 150 feet from the school. The city will be working with them in efforts to untangle this mess... but the old Jolie Day Spa will NOT become a smoke shop. Hopefully they'll be able to find another location in town.

This item begins at the 1:45:40 mark of the video below.

3.3 Establishment of the Sign Code Update

Ben Benoit and Joseph Morabito were chosen to be on an Ad Hoc subcommittee to help guide staff in the creation of a sign ordinance. (I want to hear your opinions on the topic)

Again, keeping the Brown Act in mind (not being able to say much at this point) we're looking to improve the quality of life and the community in Wildomar. Over the past several years signage has gotten out of control here, both with random signs in the right of way, and even banners hanging on buildings.

You can see how signs multiply like rabbits when left unchecked.

I look forward to working with Ben, Planning Director Matt Bassi and our new Economic Development Director Kimberly Davidson on this matter. We'll be looking to balance the needs of the business with the needs of the community at large. 

One suggestion, if any of those rogue signs are yours why not cut out the middleman and take them down without being told to? 

Of course there was a whole lot more to the meeting, but I ran out of time this week and have to stop here. I invite you to watch the entire meeting in the video below. 

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No one is served by speculation in the absence of facts
– Brian Whitman

Wildomar Rap isn't on a first name basis with speculation, and that's a fact.

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.