Have you installed solar panels on your house?  If you have, chances are they need to be cleaned.  SoCal Solar Pro is hands down, the best company to choose for solar panel cleaning in Temecula.  They will make sure that your panels are clean and running at optimum performance.  They also offer pest deterrent services to make sure that no critters are turning your solar panels into their condominiums!  If you want to make sure that your investment is paying off the way that it should, call them today!

I just wanted to come on here and give a quick shoutout to Caron Construction in Murrieta.  If you are in need of kitchen and bathroom remodeling, they are an incredible company to work with.  Very professional and they know their stuff!

Even though Los Angeles is a small area of California, the entire state will always be home to those looking to join the entertainment industry. So how can a budding actor or director know who to turn to for the best education around?

Enter JDS Studios, a long-established all-in-one studio and institute. I was amazed at how lucky Temecula is to have such an established resource in our community. This wife and husband-led studio have everything one would need to begin their career on stage, screen, or television.
Unfortunately, the stereotype of the wide-eyed new resident to California falling prey to a poor-quality studio happens all too often, but with the pedigree that JDS Studios has, as well as the numerous educational offerings that they provide, I would feel good sending a friend or loved one here to learn from the best.

Being that I was born and raised in Temecula, I love to learn about others who have set down roots here as well, and with JDS Studios entering their fifteenth year of business, it’s refreshing to see someone else providing success tools to the community.
It’s easy to see how they have built up their repertoire. Everything about the studio is offered to be bigger than itself, and their efforts speak for themselves. In fact, over the years the studio has implemented other unique offerings as well that takes education and community involvement even further.

The three main components of JDS Studios provide everything you could ever want in a media center. Whether you are looking for media or video production, a dedicated acting studio, or community involvement with their non-profit “JDS Creative Academy,” this is the studio you want to use.

In fact, their motto says it all; “At JDS Studios, We Do, and We Teach.” They do more than produce the next generation of actors; their goal is to educate how entertainment happens from behind and in front of the camera, and even on stage.

Students and future Hollywood insiders are in good hands; Scott Strand, the husband of this local duo, representing the show in “Show Business” has appeared in films with actors Bruce Willis, Christopher Walken, and other big names, as well as numerous TV programs, commercials and stage roles. Diane Strand, the wife, representing the “Business” side, has producer and production credits that include Friends, Veronica’s Closet, General Hospital, and many other household names with over two decades of mainstream entertainment industry experience before the studio was launched. In addition, they have received awards for their efforts, and have even launched big careers for their students.  On the production side, JDS Video & Media Productions, Inc. produces Good Day Temecula for the city of Temecula, as well as working with the local chamber of commerce, and large local companies.

From the education side, JDS Studios is the real deal. Not only is their curriculum state-approved, but their non-profit allows them to reach eager university students, as well as working with local groups who support autistic film enthusiasts.

​Whether you need a new advertisement for your company, or you are looking to make it big in Hollywood, JDS Studios is the perfect solution for you.

Today in our local business spotlight, we are featuring Pillar To Post Home Inspectors, owned by Kevin Kansaki. Pillar To Post Home Inspectors is the largest home inspection company in North America, with over 500 franchises. Kevin services Riverside County as well as San Bernardino County through his Pillar To Post Home Inspectors franchise.

Kevin opened his Pillar To Post franchise in January of this year, however, he has over 27 years in the construction industry which includes Commercial Due Diligence Inspections with
Commercial Real Estate Investors. Apart from his many years of experience, he also had to go through Pillar To Post Home Inspectors training course when he started his business to ensure he is providing the level of service Pillar To Post Home Inspectors is known for. In addition, Kevin holds a Bachelors’ degree in Engineering Technology/Construction Management and a MBA (Masters of Business Administration).

Summer is here and what a better way to enjoy the season than with a beautiful view of the Temecula Valley with a glass or two of some of the world’s greatest wine at a local winery here in Temecula, California.

One of the wineries in the valley, Falkner Winery, was established in July of 2000 and quickly grew in popularity and success over the years. This winery offers a wide variety of award-winning wines, Mediterranean cuisine, a breathtaking venue for events such as a wedding, and of course wine tours.

Falkner Winery offers high-quality, award-winning wines that are featured in restaurant menus across California and Arizona, and this is because this winery prides itself in producing only the best quality wines in Temecula, and possibly in the state of California.
The winery also specializes in producing blended wines, notably in their red wines, along with other wines that is unique to Falkner and easy to drink whether alone or as a compliment to any type of meal.

Throughout their 17 years of business this winery’s hand-crafted wines and unique taste has won them numerous awards in wine competitions across the state of California; they even received a 90 rating for their chardonnay from a renowned wine magazine. That’s not all; Falkner also has an award-winning restaurant in the Temecula wine country which specializes in healthy Mediterranean food made by a high class chef trained at Le Cordon Bleu, so it’s possible to enjoy a delicious healthy meal.

This restaurant is located at the top of a hill, offering a beautiful view of the Temecula wine country. Guests get their chose of sitting indoors or enjoying their meals outdoors on a balcony, either experience is just as great during the summer.

Over the years this winery has also become known as the No. 1 wedding venue. Couples are given two wedding packages either at their award-winning restaurant or in their garden; you can’t go wrong with either and will leave with a memorable experience regardless. On top of that, couples get to exchange their vows either outdoors in a garden surrounded by the scenic wine country or have a vineyard ceremony.

Whether you are looking for the perfect place to create the first moments of a new chapter in your life or just a place to relax and enjoy the beautiful outdoors with great food and wine with friends and family, Falkner is the place to go.

There are several tour options for visitors on the winery’s website to choose from for every budget. They also have a monthly appreciation class that allows people to learn about wine tasting, how it’s produced, determining quality, and of course the art that is wine and food pairing.
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Falkner also offers many events throughout the year that includes free games and BBQ. This winery has plenty to offer visitors whether you are an expert in wine or a novice, or have no interest in wine at all, come out just to enjoy the beautiful outdoors.

It is that time of year again in which citrus farmers, enthusiasts, researchers and scientists from all over California make their way to designated areas of the state. These cities are chosen locations where those interested can learn about new research in the area of citrus plants, share information on the types of pests they deal with, and much more.
 
In the state of California, data collected from about 4,300 citrus growers shows an estimated 9,800 acres is dedicated to grapefruits, 47,000 to lemons, 129,000 to navel oranges, 34,000 to Valencia oranges, and 52,000 to Mandarins and Mandarin hybrids. So it is no surprise that the citrus farming/growing industry plays an important part of the local economy in which the acreages are located.
 
This year the City of Temecula will be amongst the three cities chosen to host this three day educational event. The annual Citrus Growers Seminar set for the last week of June is hosted by the Citrus Research Board every year.
 
The Citrus Research Board held a series of seminars for citrus growers in the California area with a focus on new information on pest and pest control, citrus diseases, rootstock updates and other new but pertinent data and information, as well as things to look forward to that would be beneficiary to local citrus growers of California, or just someone who enjoys gardening and plants in their backyard.
 
The seminars all began at 8 a.m. and went on until noon at each location, with registration opening at 7:30 a.m. Each of the three chosen locations had its own special speaker which included a renowned research entomologist and director of a local research and extension center, several professors from several area universities to speak on the topic of citrus, diseases that affect crops, pest control, and what to expect in the coming future in regards to this field, and much more.
 
This event was also a way for other citrus farmers/growers and researchers to share their tips, tricks, pest control in California and their specific regions like the Temecula area, what they are working on and of course a chance to mingle, socialize and build connections with like-minded individuals.
 
The seminar held at the City of Temecula was held at the Temecula City Hall conference room on the last day of the three day seminar series. Amongst the speakers throughout the three day informative series, one of the speakers that presented information at the Temecula meeting was a California farm advisor. This advisor and former expert in the area of subtropical horticulture from the University of California spoke and presented important information, findings, and date about citrus growing and region specific information about citrus plants and updates.
 
Although all three events are free, attendees were asked to RSVP.
 
 

Outdoor fitness is all the rage now in the Temecula Valley, also known as Southern California’s wine country. No doubt, some of the fitness trends spread into the wine country from the more body and health conscious cities surrounding the area. Visitors can now enjoy their wine and still get those chiseled abs, or at least have a fun experience while also getting fit by exploring all that the wine country has to offer beyond a wide selection of wine.

The Temecula Valley offers local and visiting adventurers alike a way to enjoy a region of California’s famous wine country with its rolling hills, scenic landscape and the beautiful weather California that it is known across the world for.

If you are looking for something more active to keep your heart rate up and burn those calories so you can enjoy a heartier meal, dessert, or an extra glass of California wine without guilt, the Temecula Valley offers a wide array of fun outdoor activities for those who want to spend more time in nature, such as hiking, biking and trail riding.

The hills in this region provides a cardio experience that is both adventurous and challenging, not to mention the breathtaking views, whether you are a champion cyclist or a novice. Visitors can bring their own bikes are rent from the many cycling businesses in the area.  

The local ecological reserve that is located at the foothills of the Temecula Valley offers the thrill-seeking mountain bikers with a terrain and biking experience that will leave them returning for more and plenty of memories to take home. If biking isn’t your style there are plenty of hiking and walking trails along the 9,000 acres that offers a trail for everyone whether you want to get your heart pumping or looking for a casual stroll with a view.

If you prefer to enjoy this wine country in a less strenuous fashion but still want to enjoy the great outdoors there is also horseback riding. Visitors can bring their own horses or have them kept and cared for at the many stables in the area. Horses can also be rented to visitors as well, and some stables offer guided trail rides.

Let’s not forget the wine; after all, it is the wine country. Wineries in the area know visitors want to enjoy their wine without doing too much damage to their waistline so there are many programs and classes offered directly by some wineries in the Temecula Valley just for this. There are outdoor classes that take place in the vineyards, a boot camp style class, yoga, spas and more.
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If you’re a runner, there are several races held in the area in the fall such as the Rugged Maniac 5K obstacle race, and the Temecula Half Marathon and 5K, and there is no better place to do these activities than in the fall but even more so in the beautiful California wine country with its perfect year-round weather and variety in terrain to offer the challenge you are looking for.

A group made up of citizens throughout the cities of Riverside County were concerned about the rising cost of law enforcement so they thought they could save money while also boosting the local police force by forming their a joint agency. 

The nine municipalities are currently in contract with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department to police the cities and would see their combined cost drop by about 10 percent, which is roughly $14 million a year, according to a study conducted by a local consult ting firm. 
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This study was commissioned by the nine Riverside County cities over a year ago after discussing this matter with their officials on how they can possibly slow the rising cost of working as a group. The idea of joining their forces came nearly a year later in 2015 during a summit meeting of mayors in Temecula, California.

The study results were presented to the local leaders who led the effort with participating cities that include Temecula, Perris, Coachella, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, San Jacinto, Wildomar and Jurupa Valley.

President of the consulting group told the city council that their study findings showed substantial cost savings.

The nine cities in combination currently pay just over $138 million a year for police services, but to offer the same or higher level of police service as a joint agency would cost them considerably less at just over $111 million a year. That being said, the new agency would require a start-up cost of $66 million to cover the cost of facilities, patrol cars and all the equipment and services that comes with running a law enforcement agency.

The consulting firm’s president suggest that they agency can pay the start up cost with a 10 year bond but would add another $8 million a year to their overall cost, which is about $14 million less than the cost of the sheriff’s department contract.

There is also the issue with range costs per cities. The larger cities like Temecula would see the most decrease in cost but the smaller cities of which there are three, will see their cost go up.
The costs for this joint agency would be spread amongst the cities based on their population, call for service, and participation in specialty units, but the president of the consulting said that no city would be subsidizing another.

The studies aside and decrease in cost of for law enforcement, all the cities involved have said they are happy with the service they have been provided with by the sheriff’s department but the rising contract costs is getting to be too much.

The finance director for Temecula said that while the cost is an issue it is also important to note the type of service their city would get from a joint agency. She said it is a difficult decision because they are happy with their service.
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Other officials with the other eight cities have said similarly and their decision would not be based on the bottom line. 

It’s important to know the difference between helpful and harmful insects if you are a gardener and want your hard work to flourish.

Most people know that butterflies and bees are helpful because they pollinate flowers, but not many know that they also keep dangerous pests to keep away from your garden as well.

Insects are the most diverse group of organisms.  What we know is that 900,000 different kinds of insects are known in the world and it can get frustrating for gardeners when they find their garden has been infested. To remedy this some homeowners may be tempted to kill any insect that they find in their yard, but it would be wise for gardeners to learn the difference between which insects are doing their garden harm and which are actually helping, especially in Temecula, California, where there is a thriving wine country. 

Killing one bee may not just mean killing the one, but it could cause a ripple effect that can not only do more harm to your garden in the long run, but gardens in the surrounding areas as well,.  However, there are certain insects that can be dangerous to animals and plants.

Some harmful insects to be on the lookout for include aphids, which suck on the juice of plants, bald-faced hornets, which are aggressive and can sting repeatedly, carpenter ants, which will burrow into wood and cause damage to any wooden structure and homes; locusts, there are a variety of species that can cause damage to plants and crops because of their appetite.

Other harmful insects include treehoppers, which can look like leaves and they, like the locusts, have a big appetite and can do a lot of damage to crops and gardens. The red pavement ant will feed on just about anything that they can consume and therefore can easily take over areas with their numbers, and they also have a painful bite. There’s also the grasshopper and caterpillar. Certain grasshoppers can destroy food crops and carry parasites to birds when they get eaten, and many gardeners are aware of this, but several types of caterpillars will feed on any and sometimes all parts of a plant. Some like the tobacco hornworm moth caterpillar can destroy potato and tomato plants entirely.

But don’t fret because there are plenty of helpful insects as well which is important since plants depend on certain insects to pollinate and keep other, more harmful ones away, especially in the Temecula area with its growing wineries.

Antlion are helpful in that they eat and control the ant population and pollinate flowers. The big dipper firefly eat earthworms, slugs and snails during the larval stage, keeping them from doing growing into full grown pests that can do damage to your plants.
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Some other helpful insects include garden spiders, dragonflies, blue-winged wasp, which are great because they attack the larvae of Japanese beetles, and of course bees and butterflies because they are the best pollinators.