temecula

Spring has sprung and the Temecula Public Library is starting off the month of March with a little magic, messiness, and a salute to one of the most beloved children’s authors of all time.

Southern California Edison better flip the switch to auxiliary nuclear. The Clark Griswold’s of our community are invited to participate in the City of Temecula’s ‘Twas the Lights Before Christmas home decorating contest.

Temecula has become a virtual mecca of dining, shopping and nightlife. But despite the fact that Temecula has become an all-inclusive consumer playground, with little need to ever travel North to Riverside or South to San Diego –a happy phenomenon of the past maybe 5 or 6 years – there are a few little holes in the retail fence. So, although it may be a short, here is the list of a few of the things it would be nice to see one day pop up within the Temecula city limits.

When I think about Temecula, what comes to mind is a community full of small town charm but with all the amenities and advantages of a much bigger city. However, when your entire life is contained within just over 30 square miles, you find yourself taking the same streets and seeing the same things day in and day out and, to me, that’s necessarily not a bad thing. So, I’ve compiled a list of some of the things you see on the streets of Temecula, pretty much any time you leave the house.

Monday, May 25th will be a day full of Memorial Day activities, beginning with a ceremony next to the “Letter’s Home” veteran’s memorial (created by artist Christopher Parnell) at the Temecula Duck Pond. From 8:30 to 9:30 am, attendees can pay tribute to our fallen troops with speeches from local dignitaries, as well as the Presentation of Colors and Pledge of Allegiance by the Temecula Valley Young Marines and the National Anthem performed by the Temecula Valley Master Chorale. The observance will continue at the Temecula Public Cemetery, 41911 C Street, at 10:00 am.

Supporting our local schools has never been so delicious when culinary playground, the Taste of Temecula Valley (TOTV), returns to the front of Temecula City Hall in Old Town this weekend for its fifth year of foodie fun! The yearly event provides guests the chance to sample some of the valley’s best food and beverage locations, all in one convenient fair-like atmosphere.

Elite athletes all over the world have dedicated their lives to achieving the ultimate goal of making it to the Olympics; the chance to represent their country amongst the highest caliber of competition. But now, some very special members of the Temecula community don’t have to wait four years for their chance to be their best.

This year, Peter Cottontail will hop his way to not one…not two…but three of Temecula’s beautiful community parks, including Harveston Community Park (28596 Dalton Road), Patricia H. Birdsall Sports Park (32380 Deer Hollow Way) and Temeku Hills Park (31367 La Serena Way), where he will drop his colorful collection of oval-shaped delights for children ages 1 to 12.

Thursday, April 2nd is World Autism Awareness Day and the City of Temecula, in partnership with Our Nicholas Foundation, will host their third annual “Light It Up Blue” Ceremony, at City Hall. At 7:30 pm, the public is invited to join the City in kicking off Autism Awareness Month, which is a global effort to bring attention to the neurological disorder that, as of 2014, affects 1 in 68 children in the country, according to the Center for Disease Control.

Kicking off with the Rod Run earlier this month, the City of Temecula’s Springfest is in full swing, with festivals and activities from March through May that cause Old Town to burst at the seams with revelers, entertainment, food and fun. This weekend, March 21st and 22nd, banjo players, fiddlers and other musicians will take over Front Street when the popular spring fling, Temecula Bluegrass Festival, returns.