MENIFEE –The Menifee Community Services Department is proud to announce that Community Services
Supervisor Jason Hendrix has been selected as the 2016 SCMAF (Southern California Municipal Athletic
Federation) Inland Empire President. SCMAF is a volunteer professional organization operated by local
agencies which provides year-round youth and adult athletic competitions in a variety of sports. SCMAF’s
charge is to grow recreation-based sports programming by supporting the efforts of its member agencies.
Supervisor Hendrix is responsible for facilitating general membership meetings, oversight of the association
budget, and overall responsibility for several culminating athletic tournaments including: youth basketball,
track and field, swimming, and Pitch, Hit, and Run. The Inland Empire Association of SCMAF includes thirty-four
agencies in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.
“I believe this opportunity will provide Menifee Staff with professional networking, training, and resources
that will improve upon already outstanding programs and services,” said Jason Hendrix, Menifee Community
Services Supervisor. “I am excited to begin working with my colleagues in surrounding agencies to offer the
best athletic experiences possible for Menifee residents.”
For more information, please contact the Community Services Department Office at (951) 723-3880 or visit us
online at www.cityofemenifee.us
Southern California Municipal Athletic Federation was established in 1949, and is a non-profit organization
comprised primarily of municipal recreation service providing agencies throughout the region.
SCMAF encompasses ten Southern California counties with over 225 cities and agencies serving a population
of over 15 million people. Through its seven associations, SCMAF's footprint extends from the Southern
San Joaquin Valley to the U.S.-Mexican border and from the far reaches of the Inland Empire to the Pacific
Coast, even extending beyond to Catalina Island. For more information on Southern California Municipal
Athletic Federation at http://www.scmaf.org .
As a self professed geek I tend to get very into fictional universes. As a general rule the newer and more intricate the better. When I hear Stphen Colbert go off on Tolkien trivia I get jealous.
With that in mind I can get very critical of reboots. The problem with reboots of classic comic book characters is that there is always a challenge to keep true to the source material, while making the television programming relevant for a contemporary audience.
My favorite scene in the show (besides the fight scenes and gratuitous explosions) is the one that was featured in the trailers, because I think it really sets the tone for what the series will shape up to be. In this scene Calista Flockhart rather eloquently shuts down Kara's objection to being called a "girl"
Of course you will see the typical TV tropes in there too. For example after getting her rear end handed to her by the token super bad guy and then a rousing heart-to-heart "you can do it" speech from her sister, Supergirl returns for round two and miraculously is master of space-fu.
Another interesting touch is the choice to never mention the name Superman. He is mentioned by name in the first few minutes, but the rest of the show he is referred to as Supergirl's cousin, the big guy, big blue, etc. I think this is deliberate so as not to hang the shows success only on the popularity of another character. This is Kara's story.
Fans may have also noticed an Easter egg in the first few minutes. Dean Cain, star of the Lois & Clark TV series in the 90s, makes a visual appearance as Kara's adopted earth father, Mr. Danvers.
In all I think the jury is still out. They did a good job with the origin story reboot, but I think they presume a lack of intelligence on the part of their audience because multiple characters constantly repeat phrases like "Finally! A female superhero!" OK we get it, girl power.
As a fan of DC comics I really want it to work. I thoroughly enjoyed the Smallville adaptation to the Superman story, at least until the last few seasons. I'm hoping this show will be around for a while as well.
Most people who know me will tell you that I am not a bible-thumper. I'm not an in your face, fire and brimstone, Westboro nut job. I do believe in God, however, and I'm not afraid to talk openly about my faith. If you don't believe what I believe, you go right ahead. I'll still talk to you, we can be friends. I'll ask you questions about your faith, or lack thereof, without judgement. I'll still treat you like a human being. If you want to join me and find out more, be my guest.
Who remembers this?
LUTHERAN
When I was born my family was Lutheran, and we went to the Incarnation Lutheran Church in Poway, CA. My dad was a Sunday School teacher there and I'm pretty sure I could recite the Lord's Prayer and all the titles of the books in the Old Testament before I could say the Pledge of Allegiance. For those unfamiliar with Lutheran 101, here are the cliffs notes. About 500 years ago a German Friar named Martin Luther (no not MLK) got mad at the Catholic Church. He felt it was getting too commercial, with the ability to atone for sin by buying God's grace with earthly money. He wrote a paper in Latin protesting (where we get the word Protestant) to this type of thing called The Ninety-Five Theses on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgence and nailed it to the church door. Some drama ensued, he was kicked out, and he started his own church. I can only assume he dropped whatever passed as a microphone back then as he left.
What's Latin for: Like A Boss?
Even though we moved to Ramona, CA. in the second grade, we continued attendance and I was confirmed there in the fifth grade. I still remember my first communion, with the little wafers and that little shot glass full of - bleh! What was that?!
My face...probably
For me it was a social right of passage, more than a holy spirit kind of thing. I understood the words and sang the songs but if I'm going to be honest, at 11 years old I can't say I felt it in my soul.
METHODIST
Sometime in middle school we started looking for a church closer to home. After trying out a few churches we landed at the Ramona United Methodist Church. The United Methodist Church has a few fun quirks of it's own. You see it was founded about 300 years ago by a minister named John Wesley, and his brother Charles.
The Brothers Wesley and their other friends at Oxford College founded the Holy Club where they would systematically go about their rounds, preach at the prisons, take communion weekly, and go about what they believed was a Holy Lifestyle in a very structured and predictable manner. They were so predictable that other students began calling them Methodists. The Wesleys said, hey that's not bad. So they took the name and ran with it. One of the most interesting things today about the Methodist Church is the fact that all the pastors serve a term limit, and then move to a new church. This rotation is called a circuit, named after the Methodist Circuit Riders from the 1700's that would go from town to town, spreading the gospel.
We were college hipsters before it was cool
I stayed with the Methodist Church through my teen years and young adulthood. It's where I was married and two of my kids were baptized. As I got older, work started taking more of my time, and I started to think of church as a social thing. Something expendable, that was better left in the past, like a childhood toy that was better left as a memory.
WHERE I AM TODAY
Over the last few years, I have seen my family cohesion begin to deteriorate, I've lost my job, I've engaged in some failed business ventures, and I think it's safe to say that I am at the lowest point I've ever been. Then one day not long ago it hit me like a ton of bricks, I haven't been to church in forever. I think I was so busy asking God for a sign that I failed to see what was right in front of me. I'll let Jim Carrey illustrate.
https://youtu.be/p68zH_Dw0Zw
I tried out a few Menifee Churches. I went to Renewal Of Life Christian Fellowship at Mesa View Elementary near my house. The congregation is small, but I immediately felt welcomed. Bishop G.W. Thomas told me the story of how they started, and I have to say for those of faith, you'll find it compelling.
Bishop Thomas lived in Riverside at the time, and since he hadn't yet found a church, he began to teach his children stories from the Bible on Sundays. Eventually his children invited their friends, and those children brought their parents. Eventually one Sunday he looked up and realized that he had close to 60 people in his living room. He looked to God at that moment and said "If this is your plan for me, so be it". Eventually they moved to Menifee, and gained access to the Mesa View multipurpose room, and they are still growing.
Then I got an invitation to check out Impact Church in Menifee, on New Hub Cir. off of Haun Rd. A church that was founded when two smaller churches combined their efforts, and through the grace of God they have grown, and are positioned to expand their facility. They believe in taking an active stance in their community and in the world.
Both churches had their own uniqueness to offer, and I believe that I would be doing my religious duty by attending either one, but obviously I had to do my best to figure out what God wanted me to do. After some prayer I realized that I could serve my best at Impact Church, so I filled out the volunteer paperwork, and I plan to attend the next available Point Of Impact class, a small group class designed to introduce people to the church.
I've already noticed a difference at home. I just pray that I'm able to serve in a way that is deemed sufficient, and that I listen more closely when prompted.
On September 20th I brought you the story of Chantel Crandall, a 12 year old Junior Charger Cheerleader fundraising for the Make-A-Wish foundation. If she raises the most money she even gets to go on the field with the real charger girls and perform during a game. Kids doing fundraisers is nothing new, but the way she is doing it, why she is doing it, and the perseverance she is showing is what sets this girl apart.
You see this young lady was not one to settle for just doing the minimum entry donation to get in the program, she wanted to win. The first year she raise over $300. This year her personal goal was $1,000. Her mom had no doubt she would do it. To date she has raised $750 for her cause. What's more important is that this particular charity is one that has touched her family, not once but twice. She has had two family members receive their wishes from the Make-A-Wish foundation and believes very deeply in the cause.
This coming Saturday, on October 24th from 9am-12pm at 29224 Steamboat Dr. in Menifee, she will be having a bake sale. She will also be collecting recyclables to help her cause. Her parents are ecstatic that she is so close to her goal.
For anyone who wishes to reach out and contribute, her mother Melissa's email is mcccrandall@aol.com
As we get closer and closer to the day so many ghosts and ghouls are waiting for, we begin to see decrations going up. One new decoration you may see this year on many doorsteps is a teal pumpkin.
The Teal Pumpkin Project™ is an initiative by the Food Allergy that began in 2014. The project is a national campaign designed to raise awareness of food allergies and promote inclusion of all trick-or-treaters throughout the Halloween season.
According t their website, "Last year, households from 50 states and 7 countries participated in the Teal Pumpkin Project™. This year, you can be part of an even bigger movement by joining 100,000 households pledging to participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project™!" They encourage everyone to take the pledge by clicking this link. After that just paint a pumpkin teal and place it outside and provide non-food treats (glow sticks, bracelets, stickers, etc.) for trick-or-treaters with food allergies.
Denise Boring, a Webelos Den Leader with Cub Scout Pack 374, and her den were looking for a community service project when they saw a need for food and other treats at Retrievers and Friends of Southern California, Inc. (RFSC), a local animal shelter.. The boys collected these items at meetings during the summer.
On Tuesday, October 13, fourteen cub scouts (Hadden R., Taylor C., Levi B., Benjamin R., Dacota J., Kane V., Dylan L., Jonah B., Nijrell J., Evan S., Aden D., Jeffrey H., Anthony H., and Louis R.) helped unload over 600 pounds of food they had collected for the animals. The majority of the food collected was dog food, but also collected was cat food, rabbit food, treats, collars, and leashes. Liz and Nancy, who run and operate RFSC, gave the scouts, leaders, and parents a tour of the facility and taught the boys about their rescue and the importance of caring for animals.
The Webelos den worked very hard on this community service project and RFSC were overwhelmed with the amount of food donated.
Boys from Menifee Cub Scout Pack 374 with the food they collected for RFSC.
The boys learn how a trap was used to capture a stray dog left in a field. Evan S. wanted to make sure she was still able to eat the piece of chicken used to entrap her.
Anthony H. holds an adoption-ready puppy at RFSC.
About Pack 374: Cub Scout Pack 374 is the largest and most active Cub Scout pack in Menifee. Cub Scouts is for boys in 1st through 5th grade. We are chartered by VFW Post 1956 in Menifee and part of the Three Peaks District of the California Inland Empire Council, Boy Scouts of America. Learn more at http://www.Pack374.org .
About Retrievers & Friends of Southern California, Inc.: RFSC is an amazing local animal shelter nestled in the Menifee Valley. They are an all-volunteer, non-profit organization devoted to finding homes for Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers, as well as other breeds of dogs as space allows. They are a full-service rescue, with dogs coming to them from all over Southern California. RFSC not only provides care for dogs while they are waiting for adoption, but they provide follow-up assistance for the life of the dog. RFSC offers short term and long term care for many animals. More information at http://www.retrieversandfriends.com .
