Here are a few of the people and events reported in the month of July over the past 40 years in Canyon Lake.
40 Years Ago
In July 1975, a “choice Golf Course lot” was offered for sale at $7,500 and you could purchase one of Canyon Lake’s 1,300 sq. ft. condominiums for $40,900, according to ads in the community’s Lighthouse Magazine. A “deluxe two bedroom home” could be constructed on your level lot for $29,500. Townhomes on Treasure Island were being sold by the Corona Land Company for $56,500 with 30-year financing available.
Shirley Drahos turned over the president’s gavel for the Woman’s Club to Ruthe Lee.
A speaker for the Home Owners Club suggested that Canyon Lake should elect a member to the local water board in order to have a say in what the downstream community decided about water levels and usage.
Among the new families purchasing homes and/or property in Canyon Lake were M.A. Van Beenen, Frank and Vera Romo, Lee Webb, Joe Whittaker, Robert Green and Ken Upton.
Helen Scott specialized in taxes at her Scott Business Services location, Dr. Richard Blowers was the local optometrist and Jimmie Hedrick operated Canyon Lake Insurance.
Jim Cross was the POA president, and other officers were Bob Perrenoud, Bill Denning, Gene Scott, Lynn Eastman and Bob Irvine. Volunteers helping with the POA election included Jim Keeler, Joe Halderman, Maxine Brandt, Marilyn Cozad, Mavis Kerr, Faith Carter and Shirley Engler.
The Lions Club, CLAMS, Ski Club and Men’s Golf Club were all active and carrying out community activities. Square dancing, belly dancing and a community band were also scheduled for those with special interests. Picnics were being held each month at the Village Store, on the site of what today is Holiday Harbor.
35 Years Ago
In 1980, a 4th of July cabaret show was held at the Lodge to celebrate the holiday. Tickets were $2.50 each, and all proceeds were to be split between the Canyon Lake Library and the Fire Department. Ads in the Lighthouse Magazine featured professional weed clearing of Canyon Lake’s vacant lots for just $25.
A three-bedroom, two-bath house with 73 feet on the water and a dock was listed at $158,900. A custom four-bedroom home on Early Round with 3,400 sq. ft. and 2,211 ft. overlooking the Golf Course was offered at $245,000.
Larry Uebersetzig, Claude Modesitt, Wilma Jo Hill, Burt Simms and Steve Sellers were some of the active volunteers serving the community.
Jerry Zahrte was POA president and Jack E. McLean was the POA General Manager. Other POA directors were Bill Cozad, Millie Browning, Steve Critchfield and Nell Hughes.
The Twirlers, Travel Club, Dancersize, Men’s Breakfast Club, Art Association, Bingo and Lioness Clubs offered programs. The Woman’s Club board for 1980-81 consisted of Helen Scott, Jan Cruz, Luverne Alrick, Robina Miller, Gerrie Cook, Marge Clabaugh and Pat Sullenger.
The Village Store was the site of many activities and offered a Friday Night Special with a “fantastic salad bar and choice of steak, shrimp, chicken or fish.”
The drive to raise funds for Gault Field for youth ballgames reached $1,535, according to the committee in charge.
The Architectural Control Department announced that, as of the prior month, there were 1,319 homes in the community and 48 under construction. Mobile homes numbered 116, condominiums 108, and total living quarters now amounted to 1,591. A lot in Tract 3718 sold for $10,300 and an unfurnished Golf Course home near the Main Gate could be rented for $475 a month.
30 Years Ago
In July 1985, plans were under way for the fourth annual March Air Force Band Concert at Indian Beach. Rob Caveney and the Canyon Lake Home Owners Club were anticipating another capacity crowd to attend this crowd-pleasing event.
The POA announced that the long-awaited new Golf Clubhouse was scheduled for completion in Spring 1996. The team working on plans and the project as a whole included Billy Maxwell, Mel Summers, Golf Pro Gabe Hrab, Dave Flaherty, Tom Wetzel, Bill Novak and Jim McGill.
GTE apologized for inconveniences while completing a $12 million central facility on Goetz Rd.
Ethan Engelhardt and Nick Strickland were declared winners of the Anglers Club’s annual Blue Gill Tournament.
POA Board members that year were John Giardinelli, Ike Runner, Bob Nipper, Joe Hill and Matt Lewis, while Home Owner Club officers were Mike Davis, Bob Neal, Cora Sue Vandehey and Rosemary Mordaunt.
The POA Board agreed to study nine issues in the coming term of office: the Lodge Restaurant, upgrading security, CC&R enforcement, the Lake Lease, possible incorporation as a city, capital improvement projects, administration and public communications.
The Art Association held an exhibit under the leadership of officers Marge Kerr, Corrie Wesselink, Betty Campbell, Ardis Underwood and Gretchen Fritz.
The Travel Club’s annual trip to the Playa Resort Hotel in Mazatlan was sold out and the club’s initial trip to Laughlin, Nevada was being planned.
The new and enlarged Canyon Lake Pubic Library was the recipient of funds raised by a production of the opera “Barber of Seville” at Indian Beach, sponsored by the Friends of the Library group.
According to volunteer Harry Pahel, a new fire engine was to be dedicated by the local fire fighting organization.
New permanent restroom facilities were under construction at the Tennis Courts, and the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District allocated $75,000 for a new pump plant to make available increased water to Canyon Lake to irrigate portions of the Golf Course.
The Home Owners Club took steps to organize a Neighborhood Watch program in the community.
25 Years Ago
The Home Owners Club and POA joined in a registration drive by July 1990 to encourage members to take the necessary steps so they would be eligible to vote in the cityhood election, scheduled for November.
It was also announced that prospective candidates for the City Council, if the incorporation election proved successful, should file statements with the Fair Political Practices Commission prior to August 10. Annabelle Bates, Gene Bourbonnais and Jack Wamsley were the first to file.
In other action, the POA and Canyon Lake Community Church were to go to court to determine if the CR&Rs would permit the church to build a new sanctuary on land adjacent to the existing Lot 1 of Tract 3829, originally donated by the Corona Land Company for construction of a church.
Some $17,745 in funds from the highly successful Chili Cook-Off was to be distributed to several local clubs and the Emergency Preparedness Committee. The annual Jr. Golf Clinic was another popular summer activity.
The ACC update revealed that by July 2, 1990, Canyon Lake was 79 percent built, with 3,530 total residences, of which 2,471 were owner-occupied, 513 owned by weekenders, 387 leased and 92 rented on a month-to-month basis. There were 67 spec homes and 127 homes under construction. 1,029 vacant lots of the original 4,803 remained in the gated community.
Security liaison Tom Smith told the POA that the existing Rolodex system for ingress of guests wasn’t working and that a new system was a necessity.
In other action, the POA Board voted to limit golf cart use on the community’s private streets to licensed drivers, thereby voiding the previous practice of permitting youngsters from 12 to 15 to drive carts.
Lainie Cooney and Vickie Sterling were behind a drive to provide specialized playground equipment for youngsters with funds from the Jr. Women’s Club, the POA and the Home Owners Club.
Plans to remodel the Lodge were being discussed, and a golf marshal program was suggested to provide monitoring for the course. Chuck Bryant announced that he was a candidate for another term on the Lake Elsinore Municipal Water District Board of Directors.
Under the leadership of Bob Stong and the new Garden Club, several local open spaces were beautified.
Home Owners Club President Vick Knight reported that the March Air Force Band was to appear in an outdoor concert at Indian Beach the following month.
A four-bedroom waterfront home with new dock sold for $375,000. Marti Norris was named the official photographer of the community’s newspaper.
20 Years Ago
In July 1995, The Friday Flyer reported that a golf tournament to benefit the animal shelter in Lake Elsinore was to be held at the Country Club.
Monday Night Barbecues and Taco Tuesdays were weekly features at the Country Club. An “all you can eat” Country Cookin’ Buffet for $6.95 was a Wednesday feature at Elinor’s Restaurant at the Lodge.
As of July 1, Canyon Lake was 82 percent built, with 18 homes under construction. Of the 3,793 total residences, 2,737 were owner-occupied, 491 leased and 32 rented on a month-to-month basis. There were 429 weekend homes and 104 spec homes, with a total of 695 lots remaining vacant.
A fire of unknown origin destroyed contents of a mailbox at the East Gate and a $10,000 reward was offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the one responsible.
The EVMWD was busily involved in reinforcing and modifying the Railroad Canyon Dam off Loch Lomond Dr., and Pepe’s Restaurant was collecting signatures on a petition to save its distinctive sign at the Towne Center entrance.
The Jr. Women’s Club’s Aloha Casino Night attracted a large crowd of participants at poolside. Kim Cohen was the Teen Talk columnist for the paper, and the high temperature the week of July 11 was 106 degrees.
Deputy Scott Ferlisi was named Canyon Lake’s new Community Patrol Officer.
The El Toro Marine Concert Band took the place of March Air Force Band, which performed the previous year, in the community’s annual Concert in the Park at Indian Beach with a giant Carl’s Jr. American flag unfurled over the venue.
The new Holiday Harbor park and launch ramp was taking shape. Installation of a traffic signal on Railroad Canyon Rd. and Skylink Dr. got underway. Plans were being discussed with the EVMWD to construct a new entrance to the Golf Course at this location
15 Years Ago
Because of Lodge construction in July 2000, Taco Tuesdays were temporarily halted and replaced by “Family Night at the Park.” Ethel Faulds and her three daughters, Gaye, Deryle and Shari, enjoyed a birthday holiday in Europe.
The Superior Court ruled in favor of the POA in its efforts to evict the leaseholder at the Country Club’s restaurant. Motorized scooters were prohibited on Canyon Lake’s private streets.
Sharon Rice and The Friday Flyer were honored by the American Heart Association for their support of cardiac health with a “Best Feature Story” award. The local Lioness and Lions Clubs named Marge Wicen and Jim Medford “Members of the Year.”
Citing increased family obligations, POA Director Chuck Whitehead tendered his resignation to POA President Marty Gibson, and Carl Armbrust was named to complete Chuck’s term of office. Frank Kessler, Jack Wamsley and John Zaitz took out papers to run for the three positions on the City Council.
On the ACC July update, it was revealed that Canyon Lake had 4,032 total residences, of which 3,234 were owner-occupied with an additional 388 leased and 12 rented on a month-to-month basis. There were 121 spec homes with 69 homes under construction and 659 vacant lots.
Hawaii windsurfers Matt and Kevin Pritchard, sons of Canyon Lake’s Mike and Judy Pritchard, were featured on the pages of People Magazine as among America’s “Top 100 Bachelors.”
Elsinore Middle School’s temporary site on Railroad Canyon Rd. was being readied for September occupancy.
10 years ago
In July 2005, it was announced that the Jr. Women's Club had wrapped up its 25th year of service in Canyon Lake. Honored at the club's end-of-year party were Woman of the Year Pamela Evans and Junior Women of the Year Nancy Lucas and Wendee Boyan. Canyon Lake resident Anthony Riniti, known as “Chef Anton,” the two-time national Trick Shot Champion of Pool,” was the featured entertainer at the The Magic Castle.
Canyon Lake Jr. Bassmaster Tim Nunez was headed to the Jr. Bassmasters World Championship in Pennsylvania after winning the local and state tournaments.
Open auditions were being held for Canyon Lake Community Theatre’s fall production, “The KPUG Radio Talk Show Mystery Theater.” The curtain went up on the CLCT’s production of “Jack and the Giant.” Monty Jordan and son, Monty, starred in the title roles.
Canyon Lakers Shirley Beuttas and Meg Markley were encouraging their neighbors to sign up for “Camp Canyon Lake,” which was to be part of the annual Relay for Life.
An aerial photograph by Jacran Photography showed the constructions of new homes surrounding Canyon Lake in the Tuscany Hills development.
Water suddenly shut off in 80 homes on the west side of Canyon Lake one July morning when a contractor working on the new Longhorn Lift Station broke a water pipe. According to Ben Wicke, Canyon Lake’s representative on the board of directors of the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District, a crew working for Pacific Hydrotech was removing a large piece of equipment from the site and putting it on a trailer when, in the process, an eight-inch water line was ruptured. The pressure in the line caused everything to blow, said Ben.
The Tuesday Work Group showed off the new bridge they completed between the 13th green and the 14th tee of the Golf Course.
The Canyon Lake Little League All Stars 9 and 10-year-old division won 1st place in the District 28 North 1 playoffs.
Canyon Lake Ski Club members brought home 27 medals from Western Regionals.
Sara Price, age 12, qualified to compete in the largest amateur motocross race in the world – the 23rd annual AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships at the Loretta Lynn Ranch in Tennessee.
The Miss Canyon Lake Scholarship Pageant was held at Temescal Canyon High School. The theme was "Thank Heaven for Little Girls." Carly Henricksen became the new Miss Canyon Lake.
Temescal Canyon High School students Sean McElwain, Stephanie Stewart, Megan Hernandez, Chris Perez, Chris Thar and Erica Paule were members of a group of almost four-dozen students and chaperones to participate in a trip to Britain and Ireland with teacher/chaperone Mike Tillery. The students were in London the fateful day bombs exploded on three underground trains and one double-decker bus, killing more than 50 people and wounding 700.
Jordan Lockey became the new teen columnist for The Friday Flyer.
Canyon Lakers were enjoying breakfast at the Lighthouse Restaurant on Saturday mornings between 8 a.m. and noon. Full breakfasts ranged in price from $3.50 to $9.95.
The Canyon Lake YMCA’s annual Summer Break program was going strong. The fun took place Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, when school age children were divided into two groups, 5 to 7 years old and 8 to 13. Parent involvement was encouraged, but not necessary. The Canyon Lake YMCA programs were free to residents. The activities were funded by the POA and by fundraising events sponsored by the organization’s staff and volunteers.
In July 2005, The Friday Flyer's Reel People Ron and Leigh Martel reviewed "Herbie," "Bewitched," "War of the Worlds," "Fantastic Four," "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "The Island."
5 Years Ago
Like most other cities in California in July 2010, costs for public services in Canyon Lake were going up at a time when property and gasoline tax revenues had gone down. At the City Council meeting that month, the City was to consider a 2010-11 fiscal year budget that showed projected revenue of $3,092,380 and expenses of $4,140,900. Mayor Pro Tem Barry Talbot addressed the rumors stating the City was facing bankruptcy.
“That is simply not true,” he said. “What is true is that over the past two-plus years City revenues are down sharply. The Council promptly responded by cutting staff and reducing expenses in all areas except police and fire services.”
There was welcome news from EVMWD. Fresh water from Northern California began entering Canyon Lake via the San Jacinto River and the North Ski Area and there would be a full lake all summer.
Playing tennis since the age of 15, Tony Munio celebrated his 90th birthday by playing in the Tennis Club’s June tournament. Afterward, the club gave him a big birthday cake.
The new gasoline pumps became operational at the Eastport Market and Canyon Lake drivers were urged to keep their gasoline tax dollars in the City of Canyon Lake.
Supporters of Golf Pro Dave Lindeman were on hand at the Country Club in July when a mandatory pre-bid conference and course tour were scheduled for companies and individuals interested in bidding on Canyon Lake’s golf professional services.
Assemblyman Brian Nestande was the speaker at the Chamber luncheon, where he presented Chamber Executive Director Lee Clark with a framed copy of a California Senate Resolution signed by Senator John Benoit naming her one of his 37th Senate District Women of the Year in April 2009.
The Canyon Lake Little League Junior All-Stars, managed by John Rojas, won the District 28 championship with a record of 3-0.
The Canyon Lake Community Theatre children’s production of “Bugsy Malone Jr.” lit up the stage during the last weekend of July.
Taylor Bills, a former employee for Canyon Lake POA Member Services and oldest son of then Planning and Compliance Manager Kathryn Rich, won the reality TV show, “True Beauty.” The prize? $100,000 and his picture in People Magazine’s “100 Most Beautiful People” edition.
Residents were warned about coyote sightings in the gated community, with Barbara Manning reporting that a coyote had snatched her small dog from her porch on Old Wrangler Dr. Residents also were warned that owls and hawks were known to have carried away small pets.
Street Carts of Canyon Lake hosted a poker run and picnic at Holiday Harbor. The poker run was designed to accommodate both boats and street carts.
Jeannette Williams was the Club Champion of the Canyon Lake Women's Golf annual club championship.
The Friday Flyer put the spotlight on Canyon Lake seniors Kristy Ness, Cole Murray and Francesca Zuccola.
In July 2010, Reel People Ron and Leigh Martel reviewed "Knight and Day," "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse," "Despicable Me," "Inception," "Sorcerer's Apprentice" and "Salt."
1 Year Ago
In July 2014, a bicycling accident claimed the life of 15-year-old Sam Siroky, who slammed into the side of a moving vehicle while coming off of Green Pine Dr. onto Vacation Dr., riding a borrowed BMX bicycle from which the brakes had been removed. The annual 4th of July Waller Bike Ride was held in his honor, with proceeds from a fundraiser given to his family.
Lisa Tousseau returned home from a visit with her son, Nicholas Tousseau, who graduated from the U.S. Navy's “A School” for Hospital Corpsmen in San Antonio on July 2, Nick's 24th birthday. Nick was commissioned to the U.S.S. Anchorage.
The future of Fire Station 60 remained a top priority for the Canyon Lake City Council as members struggled to find a solution to the budgeting dilemma. At its July meeting, Council heard the results of an official telephone survey regarding a proposed Utility User Tax (UUT) that would help fund fire services and keep Station 60 open.
Because it's becoming more difficult to buy new boats that are within the length requirement currently stated in the Association's rules, the CLPOA Board of Directors proposed allowing longer boats on the lake.
It was announced that Junior Golfer Hunter Newlin, a Canyon Lake resident and sophomore at TCHS, had won the Sunbelt League championship tournament for the second consecutive year. In Canyon Lake, the winner of the Men's Golf President's and Vice-President's Cup Challenge was Brett Geer.
Imre Weil, 86, set a Western Area record in Slalom at the Canyon Lake Ski Club’s Mid-Summer Classic.
The Canyon Lake Little League Junior All-Stars and Major All-Stars were the District 28 champions and the Section 9 champions.
Four members of the Canyon Lake Triathlon Club competed at Ironman Austria. An Ironman event is an ultra distance triathlon consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile run. They included Stephen Bustos, Phil Dampier, Tim Janes and Jen Orr.
Canyon Lake Community Theatre began holding auditions for its fall production of "9 to 5: The Musical." In the meantime, the all-kids production of "Nifty Fifties," directed by Ilene Moore, opened at the Lodge.
The Railroad Canyon Rd./Newport Rd. corridor between I-15 and I-215 was bustling with grading and new construction. New homes were going in on both sides of Canyon Lake – in Canyon Hills to the west and Audie Murphy to the east. Further east on Newport Rd., grading and road construction had been taking place for the new Menifee Town Center, and construction was well underway for several new eateries, including Applebee's, Five Guys and Jersey Mike's.
Christy McGinity and her husband Todd Gibel, stars of the TV show, "Little Women LA," made an appearance at Hope's Chest in the Towne Center.
In July 2014, Reel People Ron and Leigh Martel reviewed "Transformers: Age of Extinction," "Earth to Echo," "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" and "Planes: Fire and Rescue."