Wildomar Community Council

Community News

A resource for stories of interest about
the greater Wildomar community.

"Equiplex" letter on Wildomar agenda - 7/21/08 
The Wildomar City Council is scheduled Wednesday to consider giving its support of a proposed "equiplex" project, a multiuse facility that could include equestrian facilities, shops and hotels.

Elks members rebuild after fire - 7/12/08
It's been nine months since a fire destroyed the Lake Elsinore Elks Lodge, a 24-year-old building that had accumulated beloved memories and memorabilia.

Blaze chars six acres in Wildomar - 7/9/08
Six acres of brush were charred by a blaze Wednesday afternoon not far from the community known as The Farm.

Dedication ceremony draws crowd, strong emotions - 7/4/08
For 115 years, Elsinore High School has served as the center of learning for tens of thousands of students, with teachers imparting lessons inside classroom walls.

Cityhood dreams realized. Community officially incorporated on Tuesday - 7/1/08
If William Collier, Donald Graham and Margaret Collier Graham were watching over Wildomar on Tuesday night, they surely were beaming with pride.

Bell heralds incorporation - 7/1/08
Historical item links new city to storied past. The bell at Palomar and Central streets in Wildomar was sounded when World War II ended.

Mobile home destroyed in fire - 6/26/08
Fire destroyed a mobile home in northern Wildomar on Thursday afternoon, displacing a single mom and her children, authorities said.

Lawsuits called frivolous - 7/23/08
County officials are criticizing a self-styled taxpayer advocate for filing "frivolous" lawsuits that they say are doing exactly what he claims to fight: wasting taxpayer funds.

VFW's 'canteen' reopening - 6/18/08
Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Wildomar said this week that the fire in early March that destroyed their "canteen," a popular watering hole for area veterans, has given them a chance to build a bigger and better bar.

ARE YOU THE OLDEST PERSON IN WILDOMAR? In conjunction with the upcoming Wildomar cityhood celebrations on July 1, 2008, the Wildomar Historical Society is looking for the oldest residents of Wildomar and those who have called Wildomar their home for decades. Have you lived in Wildomar a long time?  Did you move to Wildomar as a child?  We would like to hear from you.  The only requirement to apply as oldest or living here the longest is you must live within the new cityborders of Wildomar.  To apply or to nominate someone please contact Linda Wirth 490-8091, Nancy Noble 674-4285 or Edy Rodarme 678-0141.

Jeffries hosts senior scam meeting in Elsinore
(Sixty-Sixth District)- A seminar on how to prevent various senior scams will be held this Friday, April 4, 2008, at the Lake Elsinore Cultural Center. The meeting is being hosted by Assembly members Kevin Jeffries and John Benoit and Riverside County Supervisor Bob Buster.

Stationery and e-mail addresses to be provided for city council-elect 4/3/08
Five-person body also moves meeting times to second and fourth Wednesdays

WILDOMAR: Trail honors fallen Marine - 3/31/08
A Wildomar mom Monday looked toward the coming opening of a trail to memorialize her son as more evidence that the community has not forgotten the young Marine killed in Iraq.

The voices of Wildomar - Community volunteers speak up for all  these years
The relay race to Wildomar cityhood was fueled by pure grassroots energy with baton hand-offs passed between dedicated volunteers through the years.

Lake Elsinore's Donald Graham will not be closed
School trustees said Thursday they would not close Donald Graham Elementary next year because shuttering the Wildomar school would involve moving a specialized program for severely disabled children that would ultimately cost --- not save --- the district money.

Wildomar names interim manager, attorney
Former Elk Grove City Manager John Danielson was named Wildomar's interim manager and Julie Hayward Biggs, the attorney for Banning and Goleta, was named temporary city attorney during Wednesday's meeting of the Wildomar City Council-elect.

Wildomar council-elect to discuss applicants
The Wildomar City Council-elect has scheduled a marathon closed-session meeting today to look over the resumes and portfolios submitted by law firms and management firms applying to work for the city.

Animal shelter further delayed by design controversy
A regional animal shelter will be built in Wildomar with or without the involvement of the architect who designed the building, a coalition of municipal and county officials decided Monday.

Wildomar billboard ban extendeds
Billboards will not be allowed to sprout along a stretch of Mission Trail in Wildomar that has been designated a scenic resource.

Fire department still investigating Wildomar fires
The Riverside County fire department is still investigating the recent fires at the Veterans of Foreign Wars post building and the nearby Elks Lodge post, fire officials said Friday.

Wildomar teen with cancer to join lemonade fundraiser for disease study
Danny Alonso, 16, never gave cancer a second thought -- until he was told he had two months to live. Eight months later, Alonso is fighting liver cancer and plans to spend Saturday serving lemonade.

Wildomar Young Marines program prepares tomorrow's leaders
The McDonald family of Wildomar believes in the Young Marines organization.

Wildomar leagues relieved proposed field-use fee rejected
Youth and adult sports leagues were livid when they learned in early February that a county proposal to charge field-user fees was in the works.

Wildomar man works tirelessly to help restore damaged VFW hall
Doug Crouse is considered the "go-to guy" at the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Wildomar but does not like to talk about his efforts, said James Nelson, the post's commander.

Parents speak out against closing of Wildomar school
After impassioned parents and teachers spoke Tuesday against closing Jean Hayman Elementary, school district officials said they would research closing another Wildomar school, Donald Graham Elementary, instead.

Election certification makes Wildomar cityhood official
Residents can start counting down the days until July 1, when Wildomar will become the 25th city in Riverside County.

A call for code enforcement streamlining
Wildomar man has been complaining for more than two years about neighboring property.

Others likely to follow Wildomar to cityhood
What does it take to get an entire community to come together and push for cityhood? Try a race to reach a state deadline, a recent boom in population and a desire for more local power.

On constructivism, the human brain and multiplication tables
You might see children huddled together in groups working to find an answer to an open-ended question. For indergarteners, the question could be, "What does cooperation look like/sound like?".

Jolie Day Spa and Wellness in Wildomar
Tires, racks of ribs, family-size jars of mayonnaise and hardcover copies of the latest John Grisham bestseller. When people hear the word "Costco," glamour might not be the first thing that comes to mind. Two Lake Elsinore businesswomen, owners of a day spa in Wildomar, are trying to change that.

Scouts to help fight childhood cancer
Wildomar Cub Scout Pack 332 will host a lemonade stand in memory of children who have suffered from cancer in conjunction with the Wildomar Parks annual Egg Hunt starting at 10 a.m. March 15 at Marna O'Brien Park.

Starting a city from scratch
Efforts to unify Wildomar won a key victory last week when residents of the sprawling community voted overwhelming to form Riverside County's newest city.

Starting a city from scratch
Efforts to unify Wildomar won a key victory last week when residents of the sprawling community voted overwhelming to form Riverside County's newest city.

Freedom Writers speak to Elsinore students
Talks reinforce commonality of people's stories, importance of communicating.

Students live life of deaf
Things were quiet on a local high school campus last week as a group of American Sign Language students observed "Deaf Day" at Cornerstone Christian School.

Wildomar council-elect moving forward
There are still votes to be counted, but the leading candidates in the Wildomar City Council race are getting everything ready for July 1.

Wishing in the big city
Wildomar boy with inoperable liver cancer granted shopping spree in New York City.

Wildomar incorporation passes
Wildomar will become the first new city in Riverside County since Murrieta incorporated in 1991. With more than 91 percent of the precints reporting, Measure C -- the Wildomar incorporation proposal -- was handily passing, 2,498 to 1,649. The measure requires a simple majority to pass.

Wildomar cityhood approved by healthy margin
Wildomar will become the 25th city in Riverside County, based on election results released Wednesday morning.

Knee Deep in the Hoopla
Every city has one and in 12 days, if the good folks of Wildomar vote to incorporate, they'll need one too: a motto.

Time right for Wildomar cityhood
The Californian Opinion Staff: Even given current economic troubles, city should be able to stand on its own.

As city, Wildomar could weather economic slowdown
If there is a prolonged economic slump or a full-blown recession, there would be a tangible effect on early Wildomar city budgets if the community incorporates this year.

Wildomar candidates get a start on fundraising
Area voters will decide Feb. 5 whether to incorporate and, if so, which of the 14 candidates should serve on the inaugural five-person council. Voters also will be asked to decide if the council members should be elected on an at-large or a district basis in future elections.

Developers pitch affordable apartments for seniors
Palm Desert-based developers pitched a 203-unit apartment complex for low-income seniors on Catt Road to an advisory group Monday.

Animal shelter compromise reached
Government officials and backers of a regional animal shelter have reached a compromise that should allow the long-gestating project to move forward.

County appeals Wildomar land ruling
The state Supreme Court has been asked to weigh in on a controversial proposal to build a college campus on land here that was tabbed for a regional park.

Fire destroys four RVs
Stan Perry still plans to take his family to visit his mom in Arizona this week, but "Buddy" won't be making the trip. "Buddy," nicknamed by Perry's granddaughter, was one of four recreational vehicles that were destroyed Wednesday by a fire in an RV parking lot inside The Farm, a planned community in northeast Wildomar.

A roller coaster ride toward cityhood
If voters here decide to approve incorporation in February, they will have neighboring Murrieta, at least in part, to thank for cityhood.

Wildomar Skate Park Opening Draws Crowds in Celebration
Two weeks ago, around two dozen skaters hammered the pieces for skate ramps together for the new Wildomar Skate Park at Cornerstone Community Church.

Club helps children learn about nature
Last week, about 20 home-schooled children walked down Lake Elsinore's inlet channel collecting trash, like cigarette butts, beer bottles and plastic bags.

Southern California Edison to Break Ground on Customer Service Center
Southern California Edison (SCE) will build its first new customer service center in nearly two decades.

Write-In candidates can pull paperwork
Anyone interested in running for the Wildomar City Council as a write-in candidate can now pull nomination papers.

Elks Lodge hoping to raise $30,000 for charity
The Christmas Tree Lane fundraiser at The Diamond, an annual holiday event sponsored by the local Elks Lodge post, got off to a rocking start Saturday.

Your Views
In answer to J.R. Holsinger's contention that Wildomar will not be financially feasible, I would disagree ("Savvy cityhood?" Your Views, Nov. 8).

Forums a chance to inform voters
My daughter is 19 and will be voting in her first election in February. I think it's important for voters, particularly new ones, to be informed before ballots are cast.

Congratulations Wildomar Students:
EHS Virtual Enterprise team takes top awards
The Virtual Enterprise team at Elsinore High School received recognition for its business and marketing plans during the ninth annual California Virtual Enterprise Trade Fair in Bakersfield.

County panel proposes changes in Wildomar general plan
With less than two months to go before Wildomar residents can vote on cityhood, Riverside County is going to hand them a new planning tool for their future.

Angel Tree Program
Again this year, A Labor of Love Adoptions, in conjunction with the Community Outreach Ministry of Gem of the Valley Church, Wildomar is hosting an Angel Tree. Please call our office at 951-674-8400 or stop by for Angel Tree Cards and sponsor a local child for Christmas. These are the children of local families who have a parent who is incarcerated and unable to provide Christmas for them. Gem of the Valley Church expects over 200 children at the Angel Tree Christmas Party, to be held on December 23 at Trevi Center. If you sponsor a child, you purchase one or two small gifts and provide hope and the knowledge that their absent parent still cares about them. If you would like to be there to see the gifts distributed, get in touch with me and I will provide an invitation for you. Thank you for your generous help last year. We hope to make this year even better!

March Field museum offers taste of military life
James Scarry grimaced Saturday as he looked at the piece of Spam on the tip of his fork. Then, he took a small bite, smiled, and ate the rest of the cold luncheon meat on his plate.

Residents hope ruling against land sale to college ends plan
Residents of southern Wildomar hope a recent court ruling will end talks that could lead to a community college opening its doors across the street and daily bringing more than 15,000 students into their neighborhood.

Wildomar quickly rolls out skate park
Wildomar residents, who waited seven years to reopen their parks, will see a skate park open less than a year and a half after the campaign began.

Holiday help needed for prisoners' children
Community Outreach Ministries is planning a Christmas party Dec. 23 to brighten the holidays for children whose parents are incarcerated. The group needs volunteers, gifts and donations to help prepare a meal and provide gifts.

Entertainment center hosting Elks' annual Thanksgiving dinner
The Lake Elsinore Elks Lodge Post 2591 will hold its annual Thanksgiving dinner for area seniors Wednesday even though the post's lodge building in Wildomar was destroyed by fire earlier this month.

Sisters' dream comes true in form of skatepark
A combination of determination and community support - with a dash of divine intervention - helped make two Wildomar sisters' dream a reality Saturday as a skatepark was built from scratch at Cornerstone Community Church.

Organizers foresee bigger community in 'Unity' parade
One hundred or more groups are expected to march or roll through town Saturday morning for the Unity in the Community Parade, an increasingly popular event that has established itself over the course of its first 10 years.

Bingo put on hold
Thursday night bingo at the Lake Elsinore Elks Lodge has been put on hiatus indefinitely because of a fire that destroyed the lodge last week.

Book sale hosted by friends group
A paperback book sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Mission Trail Library.

Wildomar display honors veterans
Driving a shuttle bus for senior citizens, Bob Davis meets all kinds of veterans, from the "gnarly" Marine Corps veteran who survived the Pacific campaign to the woman who sang for Gen. George Patton's army troops during World War II.

Town meeting to be held Wednesday
A town hall meeting, led by County Supervisor Bob Buster, will be held Wednesday to discuss community issues.

Lodge seeks tables, chairs
Leaders of the Lake Elsinore Elks Lodge in Wildomar are seeking donated tables and chairs in the wake of last week's fire that destroyed their building.

Three-alarm fire destroys Elks Lodge 2591
Fire trucks were dispatched at 5:43 a.m. on Wednesday to the Lake Elsinore Elks Lodge 2591 on Mission Trail near Corydon in Wildomar, but efforts to save the 25-year-old community building were unsuccessful.

Lake Elsinore trustees reject charter-school proposal
Lake Elsinore school district trustees on Friday turned down converting Ronald Reagan Elementary School into a charter school, leading proponents to re-evaluate their petition but not give up the effort.

Newly opened Wildomar teen spot closes unexpectedly
Owners of Club Aftershock, a nightclub that catered to teens, announced Friday that they have closed the business just days after their opening event one week prior.

Wildomar Town Hall Meeting with Supervisor Buster
Supervisor Bob Buster will hold a town hall meeting for Wildomar area residents at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 14, 2007.

Wildomar hot spot targets teens
Club Aftershock is a lot like any other night spot ---- except for the clientele. Whereas most night clubs turn away the underaged, Aftershock caters only to those 18 and younger.

Fire destroys Wildomar Elks Lodge
Firefighters arrived at the Elks Club in Wildomar this morning to find it half engulfed in flames and spent almost three hours putting out the fire, a Cal-Fire/Riverside County Fire Department news release stated.

Three Alarm Fire
There was a 3 alarm fire at the Elks Lodge this morning. 12 engines responded. Riverside County Fire Chief Hawkins was on scene.

Wildomar group plans Christmas for prisoners' kids
Community Outreach Ministry of Wildomar, founded in 2000 by Morris and Mona Davies, will hold its annual Angel Tree Christmas children's party at 2 p.m. Dec. 23 at the Lake Elsinore Elks Lodge.

Air Quality Information
For information about air quality, visit the South Coast AQM website.

Fire could reach Riverside County today
An intentionally set fire that has destroyed 14 homes and burned 26,000 acres in Orange County is moving dangerously close to Riverside County and the areas of Lake Elsinore, Horsethief Canyon and Corona.

2-acre brush fire reported near Wildomar, extinguished
A new fire was reported burning in the hills west of this unincorporated community. As of 1 p.m. the fire had consumed about 2 acres of brush near the intersection of Grand Avenue and Wesley Street. No structures are currently threatened said a spokeswoman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Trash removed from reserve
Five men and a 7-ton dump truck spread out atop a vista in the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve on Saturday morning.

Parents say autistic student left by side of Highway 74
Danielle Cissel is a 20-year- old autistic student who is comforted by her routine.

Charter school backers plead their case before trustees
Backers of a proposal to convert an embattled magnet school into a charter school pleaded their case before Lake Elsinore school district leaders Friday at a public hearing.

Congregation gathers to builds 288-square-foot house for family in Mexico
The sound of constant hammering usually isn't accompanied by the giggles of children and the aura of compassion. But that was the environment Saturday in the parking lot of Grace Point Church of the Nazarene in Wildomar.

Skate park appears headed to Wildomar church
Months of campaigning by two Wildomar teens appear to have paid off: A skate park probably will be built within the community.

Debate over magnet school continues
The fate of an embattled magnet school in Lake Elsinore is once again under scrutiny, as many parents and employees of Ronald Reagan Elementary are asking that the campus be converted into a charter school.

Lawsuit over proposed development dismissed
A group that sued the city over a planned development near Lake Elsinore's southeast border with Wildomar has withdrawn its lawsuit after negotiating with the developer.

High winds suspected in mobile home damage in Wildomar
Elaine Guglielmana was blown away by what she came home to Sunday after spending a day in San Luis Obispo with family.

Church offers family nights
Cornerstone Community Church in Wildomar hosts Family Night at 6:30 p.m. each Tuesday.

Elks to host chili cook-off
The Lake Elsinore Elks Lodge will host a chili cook-off on Oct. 21.

Can you spot a fake antique?
Wildomar expert Dee Wendler shares her tips on how to hunt for treasures.

Historic Wildomar home moved to new site
Wildomar history took a short trip Wednesday morning -- a mile and half to be exact. Movers hauled a 120-year-old home from land slated for new housing to the site of a future shopping center. The Rudolph Brown house and accompanying water tower will become a museum when the shopping center is built.

Wildomar youth sidelined by disease
At this time last year, Danny Alonso was in transition, a teenager exiting the comfort zone of middle school for the challenge of high school.

Scouts to host spaghetti dinner
The Wildomar Volunteer Fire Company 61 and Wildomar Cub Scouts Pack 332 will host a spaghetti dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday at Fire Station 61.

Tuesday is Family Night at Cornerstone
Every Tuesday night, starting Sept. 11, Cornerstone Community Church in Wildomar will hold Family Night at 6:30 p.m.

Wildomar Youth Soccer takes field opening day
Hundreds of local soccer players gathered on the fields of David A. Brown Middle School in Wildomar for the Wildomar Youth Soccer Association opening day ceremonies.

Condolences to Stan Smith and his family
Verna Smith, 64. The WIN Committee expresses their condolences to Stan Smith and his family. Stan has been a WIN director for the past 6 years.

Reward offered in hit-and-run fatality
A Wildomar Cub Scout pack is offering a reward for the arrest of a man authorities are looking for in the death of a 15-year-old boy last month.

Wildomar sisters keep hope of future skate park alive
After school, the two Delgado sisters, Mickeylene, 16 and Priscilla, 15, pack up their skateboards and hit the pavement. Their afternoon routine takes them to a couple of paved areas in the unincorporated community of Wildomar.

Car wash to benefit sick teen
A benefit car wash for Daniel Alonso, an Elsinore High student who has been diagnosed with liver cancer, will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The car wash will be at the Lake Elsinore Elks Lodge, 33700 Mission Trail. For information, call 609-6437.

Lifeguards at Murrieta pool honored
Three lifeguards were honored by the city of Murrieta for their quick thinking and coolness under pressure. The pool's lifeguards pulled out a young boy, cleared the pool and helped him regain consciousness before paramedics arrived.

Recreation program offered at parks
The MARS summer recreation program will begin Tuesday at Windsong Park.

County representative to discuss Wildomar roads
Residents will have the chance to discuss road and traffic issues Monday with Juan Perez, the deputy director of the county transportation department.

Reporting Illegal Fireworks in Riverside County(MS WORD Document)
CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Chief John Hawkins would like to remind all citizens that Riverside County Ordinances 858 and 757 prohibit the use of any type of fireworks in Riverside County, including sparklers.

Summer reading program under way
While some students may be chanting that old ditty as they settle into days of leisure during summer vacation, those who wish to eschew the "no more books" part can join the free summer reading program under way at area libraries.

Church sending children to camp
Community Outreach Ministry of Wildomar will take children of prisoners to summer camp at Sa Ha Le in the San Bernardino Mountains.

Church offers sports leagues
Cornerstone Community Church is offering summer youth sports leagues for children ages 5 to 8 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday evening July 9 to Aug. 9.

Students pay for teachers' Hawaii trip
When teachers Rick and Mary Riley gave their all to a group of students at David A. Brown Middle School over the last two years, they weren't expecting anything in return.

Two parks to reopen June 30 in Wildomar
Fear gripped Bridgette Moore last August: What would happen if Wildomar voters rejected an annual assessment to support parks here?

Resident appointed to advisory council
The county Board of Supervisors voted 3-0 to approve his appointment of Paula Willette to the five-member panel for a four-year term.

Wildomar's parks to make their comeback
On June 30, two neighborhood parks -- Windsong and Regency-Heritage -- will open to the public. The parks were chained up in 1999 when a controversial park district was dissolved.

Growing a love of reading: Eagle Scout plants shrubs at library
Leo Donnelly has always had a love for books, so when it was time to decide on his Eagle Scout project, he knew he wanted it to involve a library. So the 17-year-old Temescal Canyon High graduate chose to plant shrubs outside Mission Trail Library.

Elsinore High celebrates four years of excellence at graduation ceremony
The heat of the midafternoon sun Wednesday could not diminish the cheers and excitement that came from hundreds of Elsinore High School seniors.

$400,000 trail project OK'd
On Tuesday, county officials signed off on a $400,000 project to develop trails for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders in the Wildomar/Lakeland Village redevelopment area. The exact location of the trails has not yet been determined.

3,155,760,000 seconds: Wildomar woman celebrates 100th birthday
Verna Sisk doesn't take any pills. She eats raisin toast, bacon and coffee for breakfast. She loves to e-mail. And she's now 100 years old and counting.

Wildomar sisters push for skate park
Sisters Mickylene and Priscilla Delgado, two shy but driven Wildomar teens, have spent the last 10 months drumming up support for a cause they say isn't only near and dear to their hearts, but to those of countless youths throughout their community.

Elks to serve a Family Pancake Breakfast
The Lake Elsinore Elks are hosting a Family Pancake Breakfast at the lodge on Saturday, June 9, from 8 a.m. to noon. Pancakes, eggs and sausage, as well as coffee and milk, will be served. The cost is $3.95 per person and the public is invited.

Wildomar Youth Soccer holding registration
"It’s All About the Kids!” Wildomar Youth Soccer Association (WYSA) 2007 fall registration dates have been set. Click the arrow for details.

Local Girl Scouts earn highest award for Cadettes
Girl Scouts of the San Gorgonio Council have recognized scouts who have earned the Silver Scout Award. The award is the highest award a Cadette Girl Scout ages 11 to 14 can earn. From Troop 1003 in Wildomar, Hannah Gingrich and Sefra Rodriquez.

High school working to buck perceptions
It was a cold and rainy day, but that wasn't going to stop students at Elsinore High School from trying to spread a little love.

County has issues defining shelter
When Wes and Tracy Lobo learned last year that the county was planning to build a low-income housing project down the street from their Wildomar home, the longtime residents were incredulous.

County continues fight vs. graffiti
Community leaders are praising a new county-funded program that fights graffiti, but acknowledge it could be a while before the effort leads any vandals to pack away their spray cans and paint pens.

Signups started for Wildomar Pop Warner
The Wildomar Pop Warner (WPW) Football and Cheer program is currently signing up Wildomar and Lake Elsinore kids, ages 5 to 15, for their inaugural season.

Cub Scout art auction Monday
Cub Scout Pack 332 will have its annual art auction during its April pack meeting from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Monday at the Lake Elsinore Elks Lodge.

Young Americans take the stage with local kids in Lake Elsinore
Local students were also welcomed into the world of the internationally known Young Americans, who taught a series of workshops for young valley residents during their 3-day stopover and the season's last national tour performance.

Baby saved from drowning by sheriff's deputy
It was a close call for a baby who fell into a swimming pool on April 16, but thanks to a quick-thinking sheriff's deputy, is expected to fully recover, police said.

Gambling convictions removed from Elk Lodge workers' records
Two Lake Elsinore Elks Lodge employees had their criminal records cleared Friday but may not lose the nicknames they got after their involvement with a $50 football pool.

Lake Elsinore to inaugurate oxygenation system
When you're trying to stay fresh as rain while being undermined by algae and carp, a breath of fresh air could be just the recipe for keeping the green water and the swampy stink at bay.

Homeless numbers down from 2005
Riverside County's homeless population appears to be declining.

Billboards banned on Wildomar road
Riverside County's governing board Tuesday declared a billboard-free zone on a three-mile stretch of Mission Trail in Wildomar, a permanent ban that follows a temporary prohibition the board passed in mid-March.

Advisory council member appointed
The Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved Tim Underdown to fill Susan Lane's unexpired term on the Wildomar Municipal Advisory Council.

Children taught meaning of Easter
Across Southwest County on Easter Sunday, churches themselves faced a dual role: explaining the complexities of Christian salvation to adults, while getting children to think outside the egg basket.

Panel sends developer back to drawing board
The Riverside County Planning Commission delayed action on a developer's request to build 51 houses at the southernmost tip of this community, on 30 acres bordering the city of Murrieta.

Wildomar charter school just keeps growing
Like most parents, Janette Chun thought she had two choices for her children's education: private or traditional public schools.

Wildomar magnet school takes nontraditional approach
In kindergarten, the room buzzed with activity from drawing and kite-making. In other classrooms, students played War to harness their multiplication skills and Battleship to learn how to graph.

Planners to review development
A developer is planning to build 57 houses on 30 acres southwest of Palomar Street, near Clinton Keith Road, according to Riverside County government documents. The agency has forwarded the plans to the Planning Commission, asking for the project to be reviewed at an unspecified future date.

Wildomar man still striking out new gear
As the first week of Major League Baseball gets underway, Cece Carlucci, 89, will have his fingerprints all over the diamonds. The man known as Mr. Ump creates personalized gear for baseball umpires across the globe, from a two-car garage in his Wildomar tract home.

Dictionary Project gives gift of knowledge
You know when your child has found a favorite book when the edges of the cover become slightly softened and worn and it is carted around in a backpack for moments of reading.

Volunteer firefighters in Wildomar sound alarm for donations
Irby Haydon has fought brush fires in Perris, worked traffic accidents along Interstate 15 and put out countless structure fires in Riverside County. But when Haydon and his crew return to their Wildomar fire station, they don't get a chance to rest and sleep on the four existing beds in the building. Those are designated for the permanent full-time Riverside County firefighters stationed there.

Cub Pack 332 To Hold Pizza Night
Area residents are encouraged to help support Wildomar Cub Scout Pack 332 by coming to their Pizza Night.

Two football pool participants plead guilty
Two Wildomar women charged with taking part in a $50 Monday Night Football pool at the Lake Elsinore Elks Lodge decided not to gamble on the court system.

Wildomar's The Farm community gets bigger, busier
After decades of relative anonymity, The Farm -- set up in the late 1970s as a low-key retirement community -- is experiencing a piece of the region's building boom.

Free tax help in Wildomar
People who need help with their tax forms and make less than $100,000 a year can get free assistance completing their 2006 tax return.

Mission Trail Library announces events
An arts and crafts class for children ages 8 to 15 is set from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Mission Trail Library Community Room. Amelia Roach will instruct. Sign up at the library’s front desk.

Wildomar chamber installation dinner brings community together
From a gathering of about 50 attendees two years ago, the 2007 Wildomar Chamber of Commerce installation dinner was a full house of approximately 150 people on February 10 at the Lake Elsinore Elks Lodge.

Wildomar residents pack meeting regarding low-income housing
Lined up outside the Wildomar Elementary School multipurpose room, more than 200 residents filed in on February 7 to hear the latest update on the County of Riverside’s proposed permanent housing facility in Wildomar.

Hookah Fans, Foes
Both try to clear air over water-pipe-smoking cafe.

Construction closes Highway 74 at night
For the next three years, starting Tuesday, Highway 74, the major link between Lake Elsinore and Orange County will be reduced to one lane in the daytime and shut down entirely at night.

Dairy