Mormon Helping Hands Temecula

Hundreds of members of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' stakes across Southwest County got up bright and early Saturday to give mini-makeovers to area parks as part of the annual "Mormons Helping Hands" program.

In addition to Veterans Park, where Madison was at, members of local stakes tackled projects at Temecula Creek Trail Park, Marna O'Brien Park in Wildomar and Mountain Pride Park in Murrieta. Some parks got new paint jobs on perimeter fences, others new mulch, and all were cleared of trash and debris.

Crystal Apple Awards 2009-2010

The Public Affairs Council in Temecula presented the 2009-2010 Crystal Apple Awards Night Sunday, May 2nd. One hundred and twenty-two teachers were acknowledged and applauded by their students from Chaparral, Great Oak, Temecula Valley, Temecula Preparatory, and Susan H. Nelson High School.

The students had selected teachers that have shown them moral values such as; Modesty, Integrity, dedication, love for the subject and to work hard and never give up. Spanish teacher Mark Koscielak, and Science teacher Michael Zides from Chaparral High School, Geometry teacher Susan De Le Fuente, and English teacher Tasha Beaudoin from Great Oak High School, Football Coach Mike Maxwell and Chemistry teacher Shane Turay from Temecula Valley High school, were the Honorable mentions who have all shown high expectations of their students and taught the students values in the classroom.

Three recipients were selected because of the quality of their academic, leadership and values. The Recipients of the Crystal Apple Award went to Leslie Owens from Chaparral High School, Maria Castillo from Great Oak High School and Lauren Toman from Temecula Valley High school. The night was filled with beautiful music by the students and selected students spoke about the values these nine teachers have taught them and why they deserved to receive that honor.

Each honorable mention and each recipient spoke about why they teach, and how teaching has affected their lives and the hopes that each student will take what they learned and apply it in their lives.

Special Games

Special Games was a great event that took place this passed month.

Here is overview of the day.

Volunteers arrived at 8am participants arrived at 10am. The volunteers lined up in two lines about 6 feet across from one another. The participants ran between these lines where they were meet by a youth volunteer at the end of the line that buddied up w/ them.

They were given a card that had all the games on it. They then went from game to game and checked off the games as they went. A few of the games there were giant basketball, baseball, bowling, basketball hoop shot, bubbles, dancing, horse shoes, face painting, 50 yard dash... They could stay as little or as long as they wanted at each event.

Lunch was provided for all volunteers and participants. The day ended at 2. Each child was given a participation medal and got to go on stage and was applauded.

This was the city of Temecula's 2nd annual special games.


Kendra Allen with her buddy



Participants arriving, running through the entry where volunteers applaud them.


David was amazing at the basketball shot. He spent a lot of his day there. Keri Nielsen's son was his buddy and they were so fun to watch during the day together.
They interacted and joked around.



Group picture of all the buddies and participants



Tyler Phippen with his buddy


The basketball hoop volunteers: Catherine, Kevin Moesser,Sarah Drago, and Jim


Miriam Northrup was a participant, age 5 1/2 with her buddy.


Corrie with her big buddy


The Jensen family, their son Issaic was a participant and Matt Lester was a youth volunteer as his buddy

Pictures from Family First night

Family First Night

The Public Affairs council hosted an event called “Family First, on February 4^th, 2010. We organized and honored Mark Anselmo, Pat Comerchero and Patricia Halic, who all have demonstrated moral upstanding and strong leadership in the community. The Night began with dinner and beautiful music by the Hribar Family singing, “Love at Home”. Lanae Turley-Trejo, Director of Public Affairs, spoke on the efforts and accomplishments of those being honored.

Mark Anselmo started an organization called Our Nicholas Foundation, named after his son ‘Nicholas’. The museum is a non-profit organization which helps raise money for autism. Mark also has shown high moral influence on the boys from his club soccer team the last eight years. Pat Comerchero was awarded for organizing the Pennypickles Museum located in the heart of Old Town Temecula. The museum is filled with scientifically oriented toys, gismoz and gadgets for all ages, perfect place to bring the family. Patricia Halic is the choir director for James Day Middle School. She has been teaching for 30 years and has taught the children strong moral values and to hold themselves in higher standards. Many of the students have grown to love her.

Each recipient received a statue depicting the family reading together. This is to represent what they have shown to those around them; that strong families build strong communities…it all begins at home.