Gene Wunderlich - Realtor®, Government Affairs Director

On April 17, Temecula Mayor Mike Naggar presented the 19^th Annual State of the City Address at the Pechanga Resort & Casino. For his theme this year Mayor Naggar chose the sports metaphor “Winning Championships”. He reminded the gathering of business, community and civic leaders of the many championships Temecula has won in the past and how that positions our community to continue to win championships even in difficult situations.

Mayor Naggar introduced the championship team by discussing partnerships, including the Chamber of Commerce, local businesses, area schools and other government entities from neighboring cities to our nation’s capitol. All these team members have played a vital role in helping the City win and will be called upon even more as he exhorted the team to ‘win big in 2008.’ “Teamwork,” he noted, “takes partnership, perseverance and hard work – sometimes even pain and suffering.”

The City can be proud of its recent successes which include: the recently opened Temecula Library; a 5^th Fire Station; a Youth Master Plan; the city’s response to the wildfire challenges last fall; the expansions of The Promenade Mall & Abbott Vascular; and the Old Town Visioning Process, including the Old Town Community Theater, civic center and business and restaurant expansions. According to Naggar, in the near future residents will come to refer to Old Town as simply ‘down town’.

The Mayor went on to highlight some of the goals and ‘wins’ the city has identified for 2008 and beyond. Included on that list are: The French Valley Interchange, which will bring some much needed traffic relief to the area; the Murrieta Creek Flood Control Project and the Murrieta Creek Multi-Purpose Trail, designed to withstand 100 year floods and provide recreational and park facilities to residents; a new transit center; the expansion of Pechanga Parkway to 6 lanes; and the downtown Civic Center Project.

Naggar also announced a plan just finalized with Cal State San Marcos to open a permanent 4 year university in Temecula. As part of a bid to bring a variety of higher education opportunities to the Temecula Valley, the school will start providing local nursing and education courses as early as this fall. Other higher education providers are also expanding their presence in our area as part of a concerted Quality of Life Masterplan by the city.

Another facet of this Masterplan is the creation of a Medical Task Force to evaluate the healthcare needs of the region. Implementation of the first phase of the Temecula Regional Hospital meets some of the requirements identified by this task force.

Finally, a variety of smaller but no less important ‘wins’ include additional people parks; a dog park; expansion of the SAFE facility on Pujol; construction of our YMCA and the success of the recent Youth Employment Expo.

In closing, Mayor Naggar again thanked the members of Temecula’s extraordinary team. Cautioning that there are always some difficult times like the current economic climate for many of the team members, he reminded us again that “Together, we are unbeatable.”

For copies of the State of the City address, the Spring/Summer Inside Temecula Newsleter or a copy of Dr. John Husing's complete 116 page Economic & Demographic report on the Temecula Valley, simply click on each logo. 

Gene Wunderlich - Selling Southwest California Homes including Temecula, Murrieta & The Southern California Wine Country

Remember, Don't wait to buy real estate - Buy real estate and wait.

This news really hit home.

The following articles graced the front pages of our 2 local daily newspapers this morning. Both articles were written in response to the latest release of Southern California housing statistics released Tuesday by DataQuick Information Systems. Though both rely on the same data and quote some of the same sources, one provided a decidedly negative slant from the headline on down while the other emphasized a more positive read on the numbers, including a sidebar feature and front page photo of a recent homebuyer.

No End in Sight

The end of the housing slump is not in sight, said Chapman University economist Esmael Adibi. He said for housing to return to historic balance with incomes, he expects median home prices in Riverside and San Bernardino counties to fall at least another 8 percent, which he expects will happen in 2009. But the price decline could be more, he added, because in such real estate cycles, "prices tend to overcorrect."

Bruce Norris, a Riverside real estate investor and consultant, predicted that the already high volume of lender-owned homes "will explode in the next 18 months" as another wave of adjustable mortgages resets to higher interest rates.

"The mood toward real estate will get very ugly," prompting potential buyers to continue renting, Norris said.

Foreclosed houses and bargain-hunting buyers have flooded Southwest County's real estate market since year-end, a turn that has slammed prices but also hinted at a possible "bottom" to the yearlong downturn, according to a series of sales reports and interviews with agents.

Gene Wunderlich - Selling Southwest California Homes including Temecula, Murrieta & The Southern California Wine Country

Remember, Don't wait to buy real estate - Buy real estate and wait.

Last post I told you a little about The Musicians Workshop in Temecula, founded by my good friends Jon & Jane Laskin. These folks do a world of good for young people in our area b y exposing kids to a variety of musical expressions from instrumental to vocal to dance. It's a 501-C3 organization which means they rely on grants and contributions to fund their acquisition of instruments, music and sound equipment, maintenance of the 10,000 piece Chuck Niles Jazz Collections, and pay rent on a facility to teach, record and play.

We are in the midst of a three year fundraising effort called 'The Grand Program' wherein donors who contribute $1,000 (The Grand, Get it?) in each of the years will receive a gold record for their home as well as one on display in the studio to commemorate their largesse. As the programs grows, they have also been blessed by corporate sponsors for events and supplies that has made life a little easier for Jon and Jane, and a lot richer for their students.

One of my favorite Musicians Workshop events has been their 'In-Home Concert Series'. Held for the past seven years, the fundraising series is typically held in an estate home in the Wine Country or up in the groves - a home where 75 to 100 people can comfortably sit in your living room and enjoy an intimate concert experience with a great musician. Local wineries often donate enough wine to get everybody sloshy and in a musical mood, restaurants usually chip in enough finger foods, appetizers and mini-deserts to keep you happy, and the camaraderie and great music is a nice bonus to a fine evening.
 
Most of the musicians are not 'big famous names' today but are fine musicians in their own right, and many were big names back when. Our most recent Valentines Day concert featured Maria Muldaur. You may remember Maria from her big 70's hit, 'Midnight at the Oasis' among others. She has remained active in the industry for the past 35 years and has replaced her folk/rock offerings with a hearty, gritty and often naughty blues repertoire. Sharing a glass of wine with this legend as she belts out Bessi Smith and Mother Maybelle classics is an evening not to be forgotten. 
   
Next month we'll sit down with Tom Rush. Still touring & recording  today, Tom is best known for his work with Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne and James Taylor. If the weather is good, we'll be under the stars on a huge deck overlooking the Bear Creek golf course enjoying Toms' mellow baritone. Later this year it'll be an evening with  It's a Beautiful Day. You probably remember them best for their big hit 'White Bird', but they've been playing together now for 30+ years and have the chops to prove it.
 
The concert series has brought a varied and eclectic selection of music to town. We've rocked out with Brian Auger and the Oblivion Express, been assaulted by Dan Hicks and his Hot Licks,  sang along with Canadian Folk Singer Valdy, enjoyed the Celtic melodies of Scarlet Rivera and Irish Harp & Pipe legend Eric Rigler, who did the theme music to Braveheart. We've been serenaded by Cybill Shepherd (yeah, that one. She's got some jazz pipes on her), jazzed up by Paul Horn, partied with Canadian rockers Powder Blue and explored the vast range of Alex Ligertwood. If you don't know him, Alex is a Scottish lad who first gained fame with Jeff Beck in the early 70's, went on to play with the Average White Band, and then was the voice of Santana and co-wrote many hits with Carlos over 15 years and eight albums starting in 1979.
  
All this entertainment in your living room, a snootfull of wine and snacking goodies will only set you back $45. Not a bad deal if I do say so myself (and I do). But tickets are limited by the size of the venue. Some homes will only hold 50 or 60 people, some up to 100 or so and, as you might imagine, they are a hot ticket item. While they could easily charge more and hold one of these sold-out shows every month, they only do three a year and make each one special. If you plan on visiting the Temecula area for our climate, our wine tasting or our casino's, make sure you check their website to see if there's going to be a show while you're here. If there is, be sure and tell them Gino sent you - they'll probably give you my tickets since that will save quite a bit on the old wine budget.
You can find out more by visiting http://www.musiciansworkshop.org/InHomeConcertSeries.html

Gene Wunderlich - Selling Southwest California Homes including Temecula, Murrieta and the Southern California

A recent evening found companion and I headed for a local theatrical opening and in need of a some fortification. For a little something different, we stopped by Texas Loosey’s, cousin to legendary Temecula steakhouse Texas Lil’s, for a little down home cookin’. Loosey shares parentage with Lil, some menu items are the same and the servers are equally comely – all good things.

Texas Loosey’s menu is pretty extensive and includes some Country Salads, Tex-Mex Specialties, Fishy Things and of course Ribs & Steaks and Trail Boss Favorites. For a little lighter fare there’s also some hefty burgers, chili spaghetti, chili tamales, chili fries and one offering called ‘The BIG Weenie’, a ½ lb. foot long dog smothered in chili, cheese, onions and tomatoes. It’s not a diet special.

From their ‘Out of the Shoot’ appetizers, we decided to try Pedro’s Poppers. I don’t know where Pedro gets these things but they are the hugest jalapeno’s I’ve ever seen. These monsters are lovingly hand-stuffed with cheeses, battered, deep-fried and served piping hot to the table with a little ranch dressing. While these poppers are indeed huge, they are surprisingly mellow and darn tasty. Other appetizers include their signature Ceviche, riblets, twisted onion rings and the Texas Egg rolls that have been a staple at Texas Lil’s for years. To serve up a passle of cowboys, you might want to order the Rodeo Sampler, a heapin’ helpin’ of all these favorites plus nachos, taquitos and more.

There are so many tasty sounding treats on the menu that it’s not easy paring your selection down. How to choose between Sierra Maria Tri Tip, Baby Back Ribs, sizzling Texas Style Fajitas or Spicy Meat Loaf featuring lean ground Buffalo meat. We grilled (heh-heh) our very helpful server but she was no help at all. “Everything is good here – maybe you should try the Bullrider Combo where you can get a steak and shrimp, or chicken and ribs, or Mahi Mahi and Sirloin or…” Thanks for the help.

Companion thought the Stuffed Sirloin Steak sounded like a winner. It’s 12 oz’s of ground Sirloin stuffed with Bleu Cheese, grilled to perfection and topped with sautéed mushrooms, grilled onions and  a few more Bleu Cheese crumbles. Mmmmmm. Served with a baked potato and cornbread, this is one tasty and filling meal.

I was roped in by the Baja Stuffed Shrimp. These large gulf shrimp are stuffed with crab meat and cheese, wrapped with bacon, deep fried and served on a bed of Jasmine rice, steamed vegetables and cornbread. Yep. It’s as good as it sounds.

Now there are times when you feel like just a steak or just shrimp and the unadulterated flavors thereof. But then there are the times when you feel a little adventurous and want a few taste buds ticklers stacked together. This was one of those times and these meals just fit the bill. The combination of sirloin, bleu cheese, mushrooms & onions is hard to beat, but bacon wrapped shrimp stuffed with crab and cheese is a close second for tasty flavor pairings. Fortunately companion was willing to share a bite or two (grudgingly) of the stuffed sirloin and I was forced to reciprocate by sacrificing a couple of my shrimp.

I’ll also mention that Texas Loosey’s offers a full bar along with some house specialty drinks, Margaritas and a herd of custom martinis like the Dirty Cowgirl, 2000 Flushes and a Flirtini. Woooo- woooo. Their draft beers are served ice cold in oversized glasses and include Sam Adams, Sierra Nevada and DosXX.

Needless to say, after an adult beverage or two, stuffed jalapenos, stuffed sirloin and  stuffed shrimp, companion and I were, ahem, stuffed – but pleasantly so. Better yet, we didn’t have to mortgage the ranch to pay the tab. Dinner and drinks for two plus a great performance by the Murrieta Repertory Theater set us back less than a C note, and that’s not a bad night out.

In addition to being reasonably priced, Texas Loosey’s also has Happy Hour every day from 3 – 7, Two-fer Tuesday when a meal and 2 drinks includes a free second meal and a 60+ club that’ll land you a couple free meals after joining up for free. Lots of good stuff. Located in the Tower Plaza, Texas Loosey’s is back behind Starbucks where Rockin’ Baja used to be. If you’re visitin' Temecula looking to wrassle up some good grub fer a fair price, it’s worth stoppin’ by. You can reach them at (951) 694-8119 or check into www.TesasLooseys.com.

Gene Wunderlich - Selling Southwest California Homes including Temecula, Murrieta and the Southern Californias Wine Country.

Every community can be defined, in part, by the variety of fine arts and entertainment its residents enjoy. In the Temecula Valley one of those defining factors is The Musicians Workshop. Founded in 1998 by my good friends Jon & Jane Laskin, the Musicians Workshop was started not just to provide music to the community, but as a means to encourage talent within the community, by nurturing and training our young people. The center has evolved from a simple music education facility to a full-on contemporary Children’s After School Performing Arts and Music Education Center providing programs and events throughout the Valley.

“The Musicians Workshop plays a vital role in offering students after-school performing arts and music education programs that have, for the most part, been downsized or eliminated by our public school system”, according to founder and CEO Jon Laskin. “There are so many talented young people in our area who would not otherwise have the opportunity to explore and develop their abilities and enrich their own future and that of our community.”

The Musicians Workshop currently offers 17 programs starting with children as young as 3 years of age. Programs focus on vocal and instrumental music training, musical theater and drama, orchestra, jazz and blues bands as well as the recent introduction of art and painting. More than 1,000 young people participate in Musicians Workshop programs every year. In a very exciting new addition, Jon has expanded the reach of Musicians Workshop to include a program for at- risk teens, providing a musical focus away from their destructive impulses. During e recent concert, one of the young performers burst into tears telling Jon that in 14 years it was the first time he had ever seen his father proud of him. Another program, recently featured on ABC's BIG GIVE, involves an ongoing effort to reach children with autism and Down's Syndrome through music. "I can't take away their disability," says Jon, "but I can give them music and a way to express their joy." 

Over the years Musicians Workshop has produced students and alumni who have competed in national events including Star Search, America’s Most Talented Teens, and a recent performance on American Idol, to name a few.

In recent years, Musicians Workshop has expanded it’s contribution to the community as well. Student talents are showcased weekly with performances at both the Promenade and Bel Villagio centers as well as frequent appearances at charitable events. The Musicians Workshop also plays host and founder of the Temecula Valley International Jazz Festival, the annual Gospel Music Workshop and Concert and the very successful In-Home Concert Series, which features upscale music performances by well known artists in intimate venues.

As a result of their commitment to music education and preservation, Musicians Workshop was also the recipient of more than 10,000 pieces of music and memorabilia from the widow of legendary jazz composer Chuck Niles – which makes the center a destination for international jazzophiles.

For more information on this exceptional community resource, visit their website at: http://www.musiciansworkshop.org/