Boys & Girls Club kick off annual campaign

TEMECULA -- The Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest County has begun its annual giving campaign, called "It Just Takes One." The campaign will raise funds for the clubs' after-school programs and services for youths aged 6 to 18 living in Southwest Riverside County.

The campaign, scheduled to last through May, is aimed at individual donors. Funds will help pay for children to attend summer camp and provide programs such as Power Hour homework help, computer skills training, career exploration, art and crafts, fitness and sports and character and leadership programs such as Smart Moves and Youth of the Year.

The mission of the clubs is to enable all youth to realize their potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens by providing stimulating and challenging programs through interaction with dedicated caring people.

The clubs served more than 4,600 children last year, according to Michelle Arellano, president and CEO.

To make a donation or learn more about the clubs, call 699-1526 or visit www.bgcswc.org.

WHAT'S HAPPENING

Concert to benefit late pastor's family

MENIFEE -- The Heart of God Tour, a memorial concert for the family of Pastor Blas Munoz, will be Saturday at Paloma Valley High School. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Munoz, 46, died March 18 at his Sun City home of injuries he received in an accident. Munoz served for nine years as pastor of Templo Puerta Hermosa, the Spanish-speaking church at Lighthouse Community Church on Bradley Road.

The concert will feature Appointed, Panima, Chapter 14, True Romance and Time Spent Burning.

The cost is $10 and proceeds will go to the Munoz family. Munoz is survived by his wife of 17 years, Sofia, and sons, Nahum and Avner.

Paloma Valley High is at 31375 Bradley Road. For information, call 538-5156.

Earth Day to be celebrated

LAKE SKINNER -- A Community Earth Day Festival is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday on the Alamos Schoolhouse grounds at the Southwestern Riverside County Multi-species Reserve at Lake Skinner Recreation Area.

Visitors can enjoy food, live music, face painting for children, touchable wildlife displays and shows, including all about bats, tortoises and raptors, hands-on displays and activities related to solar energy, hybrid vehicles and water. Admission is free.

The fair is sponsored by Elsinore-Murrieta-Anza Resource Conservation District and the Southwestern Riverside County Multi-Species Reserve, the Metropolitan Water District and Riverside County Waste Management.

The reserve is at 37701 Warren Road. For information, call Pam at 767-2324, Tony at 926-4119 or visit www.multispeciesreserve.org.

Tomato growing classes offered

TEMECULA -- Classes on how to grow tasty tomatoes will be offered the next two Saturdays at Wine Country Flower Farm.

Classes begin at 10 a.m. Saturday and April 29. For reservations and directions, call Pattie at 587-6310.

Skate Night upcoming in Temecula

TEMECULA -- The city of Temecula's final Family Fun Night of the spring will be Skate Night from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. April 28 at the Ronald Reagan Sports Park hockey arena.

The arena will be turned into an outdoor skating rink for roller and in-line skaters. There will be a disc jockey and refreshments will be available. The cost is $2 for children and $3 for adults.

The park is at 42569 Margarita Road. For information, call 694-6480.

GOP women plan spring celebration

TEMECULA -- The Temecula Valley Republican Women Federated will hold A Republican Spring Celebration from 2 to 5 p.m. April 29 at the Wine Country home of Randy and Gail Fitzpatrick.

Guests will have the opportunities to talk to state and federal legislators and candidates in upcoming elections will lay out their plans.

Among those who have said they plan to attend are U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, former Assemblyman Howard Koloogian, and state Sen. Ray Haynes.

The group, an arm of the Republican Party that carries grassroots messages to the public, is also seeking new members to help register voters, operate campaign offices, influence registration and keep abreast of current issues at the local, state and federal levels.

All Republicans are invited to the free event, which will include a silent auction. For information, reservations and directions, call Linda Woods at 302-9760 or Valarie Skovron at 677-4348.

World Tai Chi Day to be celebrated

SUN CITY -- The 8th annual World Tai Chi and Qigong Day will be April 29. At 10 a.m. in more than 60 countries, practitioners of the ancient healing art form will gather together to perform routines and solidify their mantra of "One world … One breath."

The ritual begins in New Zealand and travels around the world until its culmination in Hawaii.

In Sun City, groups will gather from 8:30 to 9:50 a.m. at the gazebo in E.L. "Pete" Peterson Park on Murrieta Road to demonstrate and teach novices Tai Chi stepping and 18-form Qi Gong. At 10 a.m., the group will perform Gi Gong, led by Louise Rogers in the official 15-minute ritual.

All community Tai Chi groups, their families and friends are invited to participate in the event. For information, call Louise Rogers at 301-9241.

March Air Show set for April 29

RIVERSIDE -- Airfest 2006, March Air Reserve Base's annual free airshow, will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 29 and 30.

The skies over the base will be filled with various aircraft performing acrobatic maneuvers. Highlighting the event, will be the World Famous USAF Thunderbirds demonstration team.

Six of the March Field Air Museum's aircraft will be on display at the airshow, including the B-17, B-25, T-38, F-4, A-7.

Almost 60 other aircraft will be on display at the museum, such as the H-3 Presidential Helicopter. Although there is no transport between the museum and the base, visitors at the museum will have a great view of the flying demonstrations.

The museum will be having special event pricing on these days: $10 for those 12 and older and $5 for those 5 to 12. Children younger than 5 are free.

For information on the airshow, visit http://events.airforce.com/details.htm?event_id=1737.

Art exhibit planned for May

TEMECULA -- A one-woman art show featuring the work of Rudelle Fay Hall will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily May 3 to 31 at the Musicians Workshop.

Hall is a self-taught artist whose art is created without restriction to subject matter or medium. She works in oil painting, photography, Polaroid manipulation, digital image, computer art and mixed media. She has won more than 60 awards.

Most awards will be exhibited with the artwork during the artist's reception from 2 to 4 p.m. May 7.

The exhibit and reception will be at 28690 Mercedes St.

HEALTH Walks planned this weekend

A number of groups have walks planned this weekend to raise funds as well as recognition for their organizations.

- The American Cancer Society's Relay For Life will take place Saturday and Sunday at Vista Murrieta High School. Relay For Life is an overnight team event that raises awareness of cancer in the community and raises funds to fight cancer. Cancer survivors are invited to take the first lap around the track, the Survivor's Lap of Hope, at the opening ceremonies at 9 a.m. Saturday.

Vista Murrieta is at 28251 Clinton Keith Road. For information on participation or volunteering at either of the relays, call Leslie Roman at the American Cancer Society, 300-1221.

- The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Inland Empire Field Office, is sponsoring the 2006 MS Walk at five Inland Empire locations. The local walk will be Saturday at Temecula City Hall.

Check-in begins at 7 a.m. and the walk will start at 9. Information, (800) 752-1773 or www.msevents.com.

- The fifth annual Unity in the Community 5K run/walk and children's fun walk will be Saturday at The Diamond in Lake Elsinore. The purpose is to promote a healthy lifestyle through fitness and community involvement.

Check in begins at 7 a.m., the children's event is at 7:45 and the run/walk at 8:30 a.m. Information, 609-1874.

- The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Great Strides walk will take place Sunday at Ronald Reagan Sports Park in Temecula. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the walk at 9. Information, (858) 578-2945 or www.cff.org/Great_Strides/.

Hospice group offers training

SUN CITY -- Hospice of the Valleys will have a four-night volunteer training session from 5 to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday as well as May 2 and 4.

Participants will gain an understanding of hospice philosophy and concept of care. Volunteers are needed to provide caregiver relief and support. Help is also needed for bereavement, office work, fundraising events and health fairs.

The training will be at Murrieta Valley Funeral Home, 24651 Washington Ave., Murrieta. Reservations are required by calling 672-1666, Ext. 117.

Yoga in the Park to be offered

TEMECULA -- A Yoga in the Park course will be held from 7 to 8:15 a.m. Tuesday at the Community Recreation Center.

The cost is $15. It will be led by Atma Khalsa.

Preregistration is required at the center, 30875 Rancho Vista Road. For information, call 696-9063.

SENIORS

Country dance concert upcoming in Sun City

SUN CITY -- Burl Turner and Peat Oden will perform old-time country favorites at a dance from 7 to 10 p.m. today at the Kay Ceniceros Senior Center.

Tickets cost $6 and can be purchased in advance at the center or at the door.

Other concerts will be Highway 91 on May 12; and Nannette and Her HotsyTotsy Boys on June 16.

The center is at 29995 Evans Road. For information, call 672-9673.

XYZ group plans dinner

MURRIETA -- The Murrieta XYZ group -- Extra Years of Zest -- will have a potluck dinner at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Senior Center.

Besides musical entertainment, preliminary results of the group's senior survey will be shared. All seniors in Murrieta are invited to the dinner.

The Community Center is at 41717 Juniper St. For reservations or information, call Richard Mannex at 677-2591.

Veteran counseling service offered

MURRIETA -- Veterans Affairs Counseling Service is offered twice a month at the Murrieta Senior Center.

Don Krampe, a veteran and past assistant to the Veterans Administration regional director, will be at the center from 8 a.m. to noon the second and fourth Wednesday of the month.

The center is at 41717 Juniper St. For information, call 600-0542.

AARP to hear about traffic

MURRIETA -- Officer Jay Froboese of the Murrieta Police Department will discuss traffic problems in the area when the AARP meets at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Murrieta Senior Center.

Froboese will discuss the red light cameras that have been mounted at some intersections in the city.

Guests and prospective members are invited to the meeting at 41717 Juniper St. For information, call Shirley Hauben at 301-8962.

Correction

Humane society time incorrect

The time of the Menifee Valley Humane Society meeting was incorrect in Wednesday's community News.

The meeting will be at 1 p.m. today at the Sun City Civic Hall 26601 Cherry Hills Blvd. For information, call 246-7960.

Temecula

- Ted Farrell and Lorrie MacKenzie will discuss the universe beyond the perception of the senses at Unity of Temecula Valley, 41919 Moreno Road, at 10 a.m. Sunday. Call 676-0117.

- The Youth and Family Institute will present the Passing on Faith Conference, a two-day event designed to make the home the primary place to teach and nurture Christian belief, at Hope Lutheran Church beginning April 28. The event will be run by Dick Hardel and David Anderson. Cost is $200 for three people or $70 per person. Meals and textbooks will be provided. The church is located at 29141 Vallejo Ave. Call 676-6262.

Murrieta

- United Church of the Valley will hold a drum circle to celebrate Earth Day at 11:30 a.m. Saturday. The circle will be held at 24973 Washington Ave. Participants are encouraged to bring an instrument. Call 698-1520.

Wildomar

- An eight-week class designed to teach people how to establish boundaries in life begins at 9 a.m. Sunday at Cornerstone Community Church, 34570 Monte Vista Road, Room 204. Jerry McKeehan will conduct the class. Call 674-8661.

Sun City

- The St. Petersburg Male Quartet will perform at 4 p.m. Saturday at Sun City United Church of Christ. The concert will feature Russian sacred and folk music. A free-will offering will be taken. The church is located at 26701 McCall Blvd. Call 698-1520.