Dear Third District Resident,  

In the month of November, we take the time to honor our military veterans and thank them for their service. As a veteran, I know what it means to put service above self, and I have seen how great of a sacrifice each personnel in the military have made to serve our country. To celebrate, we have many ceremonies taking place this month to pay tribute to our nation’s heroes within the Third District, see our events highlight below. 

In an additional effort to honor our veterans, Second District Supervisor Karen Spiegel and I hosted the second annual Operation Green Light for Veterans Ceremony this past Tuesday. We illuminated our County Administrative Center (CAC) in vibrant green, where it will remain as so until November 12th. This special event, in solidarity with the National Association of Counties (NACo) and the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers (NACVSO), touches my heart in a special way as I served as a Naval Officer and Aviator for nearly seven years. The military spurred my drive for public service in a very meaningful way.

Lighting our County Administrative Center (CAC) green spurs conversation and raises awareness of veteran recognition, keeping the impact of our service at the forefront of our minds. We want the community to know that Riverside County is dedicated to ensuring that our veterans are seen, appreciated, and supported. 

While November is a time to honor our veterans, it is also a time to reflect on all that we are grateful for and give thanks. With the impending Thanksgiving holiday, I wanted to express my gratitude of having the honor to serve as your Third District Supervisor. I hope to continue to increase the quality of life of all Third District residents through lasting, meaningful change. 

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! 

Sincere regards, 

Riverside University Health System (RUHS) Mobile Crisis Response Units 

Last month, my colleagues and I took a tour of Riverside University Health System’s (RUHS) Mobile Crisis Response Units. Within the past few weeks, Riverside University Health System (RUHS) has begun dispatching five mobile clinics across the county. These units are 25-foot vans that include medical equipment for monitoring vital signs to deliver behavioral health crisis services to residents across Riverside County. 

Calls for help can come from schools, group homes, families and anywhere children and adults may be suffering from behavioral health issues. As mobile behavioral healthcare has proven to help overcome barriers that keep many from accessing vital services, these units provide an alternative to crisis team's county-issued vehicles, allowing space for on-the-spot treatment. Last fiscal year alone, the RUHS Behavioral Health mobile crisis team answered 5,576 calls for help which was a 53% increase from the previous year. 

We are pleased to have such innovative avenues of care that are able to quickly reach each and every Riverside County resident.  

San Jacinto Animal Campus Grand Re-Opening 

On November 3rd, I spoke at the long-awaited San Jacinto Animal Campus ribbon cutting ceremony, alongside my colleague Supervisor Yxstian Gutierrez. The shelter closed in 2020 due to budgetary concerns during the pandemic. 

In June, my colleagues and I voted unanimously to provide funding for the reopening of the shelter. Immediately upon opening, the San Jacinto Animal Campus will serve as a vital County asset. The addition of this location is crucial to addressing overcrowding of all our shelters here in Riverside County. It will also provide Third District pets and livestock with a safe and close shelter location in the event of an emergency, as it has recently in result of evacuations due to the Highland fire.

National Family Caregivers Month 

Each November, we nationally honor and recognize family caregivers across the country as we reflect upon their value and our gratitude for the care they provide to our families, friends, and community. The National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP estimates that 34.2 million Americans on average have provided unpaid care to an adult age fifty or older. It is also estimated that one of every six family caregivers must also balance employment.  

In Riverside County alone, more than 29,000 Inland Home Supportive Services caregivers deliver essential services to over 33,000 seniors and individuals living with disabilities. During this month and everyday, we appreciate and commend caregivers for all that they do for to support our loved ones.  

Winchester Days Community Fair 

A few weeks ago, my team and I participated in the Winchester Days Community Fair where we, in collaboration with Valley-Wide Recreation and Winchester-Homeland Town Association, sponsored the event with a $25,000 grant in Unincorporated Community Initiative (UCI) funds. My office held a booth amongst other county vendors where we engaged with attendees.  

It was a wonderful event, full of fun with carnival games, hayrides, a petting zoo, bounce houses, food trucks, and live music. This is the first time in a number of years that this previously annual community event has occurred, and we were grateful to be a part. 

Menifee State of the City 

On October 19th, I attended Menifee’s State of the City address presented by Mayor Bill Zimmerman where we also celebrated 15 years of Menifee as an incorporated city. Congratulations to the city on a successful address, Menifee is a vibrant community and the outlook for their future has never looked better! 

Senator Kelly Seyarto’s Veterans Expo 

Last week, my team and I attended Senator Kelly Seyarto’s Veterans Expo at Monteleone Meadows. I had the honor of leading the Pledge of Allegiance and we held a booth connecting veterans to county resources. There were 95 vendors in attendance who spent the day educating our veterans about related resources and programs.

Thank you Senator Seyarto for providing accessibility to resources for our nation’s heroes! 

Anza Dog Wellness Clinic 

Join Riverside County’s Department of Animal Services, in partnership with my office, at the Anza Dog Wellness Clinic on Wednesday, November 15, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM at the Anza Community Center. Vaccines will be provided as well as other services such as de-wormer, flea and tick treatment and microchipping. An appointment is required so please register ahead of time at the link below. 

Learn More

Homeland Community Clean Up  

Participate in the Homeland Community Clean Up on Saturday, December 2, 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM at the Double Butte Landfill. Please note residents will need to unload items themselves. For more information or a list of acceptable items, please click the link below.  

Learn More

Murrieta Festival of Trees 

Celebrate with the City of Murrieta for their Festival of Trees and Tree Lighting Ceremony on Saturday, December 2, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM at Town Square Park. The tree lighting will be lit at approximately 6:00 PM. To purchase a tree, click here. All trees will be donated to a family in need. 

Learn More 

Menifee Tree Lighting and Holiday Bazaar 

Spend a magical evening at the Menifee Tree Lighting Parade and Holiday Bazaar on Thursday, December 2nd, at 5:00 PM located at Mt. San Jacinto College. Take photos with Santa, play in the fun zone filled with snow and help with the Christmas tree lighting countdown. To apply to join the parade, please click on the link below. 

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Temecula’s Santa’s Electric Light Parade 

Attend the annual Santa’s Electric Light Parade in Temecula on Friday, December 1, at 7:00 PM. The parade will begin at the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and Del Rio Road and will travel south into Old Town Temecula. 

Learn More

Wildomar’s Breakfast with Santa 

The City of Wildomar will host the annual Breakfast with Santa event on Saturday, December 9, at Marna O’Brien Park. Join this family-friendly event for breakfast, music, and photos with Santa! 

Learn More  

Animal Services Reduced Hours: San Jacinto Shelter 

Riverside County Department of Animal Services reopened on October 3rd at reduced hours for in-person animal services from 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM, Tuesday through Saturday. The San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus will expand their hours for in-person animal services beginning on December 1st, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Monday through Saturday.  

In-Person ACP Enrollment Assistance: Get Help Paying for High-Speed Internet 

The federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) provides eligible low-income households with an annual subsidy of $360 for high-speed internet. This powerful program allows counties to leverage federal dollars and communities to access online education, telemedicine, and other internet-based opportunities. On Saturday, November 18th, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, experts will be at the Sigma Beta Xi office to help eligible attendees access this opportunity from the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). For more information, click here.

Board of Supervisors Meetings: