Tom Plant

 

I met Maryann Edwards a few years ago when she was a member of the Temecula City Council and I was board chairman of The Southwest Riverside County Association of REALTORS. She was always a great guest speaker and she is now doing a tremendous job as Temecula's mayor. I run into her from time to time at Mission Oaks Bank. She works there and it's where I do my banking.

You can always count on Maryann to have an opinion and to take a stand. I asked her to weigh in on the economic stimulus package:

 

Those Pesky Earmarks: A Good Thing or a Bad Thing?

 

We’re in the middle of the most extreme economic slowdown in 30 years. 

So let’s talk about “stimulus” in the form of earmarks.

 

An earmark is a congressional provision that directs approved funds to be spent on specific

projects in a specific Congressional district. The key word here is approved.

 

“Earmark” has become a dirty word because targeting money to study the sex habits of gnats

is ridiculous and irresponsible. But earmarks for good projects bring tax dollars home,

help to stimulate local economies, and create jobs.

 

As a bona fide conservative, I am a champion for fiscal responsibility. Remember that the funds targeted

for earmarks are already approved. So I expect my Congressman to aggressively

bring those tax dollars back home to pay for GOOD local projects, and Congressman Issa has done just that.

Along with Senators Feinstein and Boxer, and in partnership with Congresswoman Mary Bono,

Congressman Issa has brought our tax dollars home to help fund the Congressionally approved

(2001) Army Corps of Engineers Murrieta Creek Flood Control Environmental Restoration project. When

fully funded and completed this $90 million four phase project will protect Old Town Temecula from

the kind of disastrous flooding experienced in 1993. It will protect the Metropolitan Water District’s waste

treatment facility in Murrieta, and it will ensure that Camp Pendleton’s water supply is protected and controlled

during peak rainy seasons.

 

So the next time you hear someone criticizing earmarks, tell them the truth. There are good

earmarks and there are bad earmarks. Let’s encourage our Congressional representatives to bring our local

tax dollars home for only good local projects – and my sincerest apologies to the fleas.

 

Maryann Edwards

Mayor

City of Temecula

 

Murrieta Real Estate Expert – Tom Plant, REALTOR® - Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage – Active Rain Ambassador  (951) 907-9701

It would be my honor to show you the incredible Temecula Valley, a place I’m very proud to call home.

 

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It's no secret that I'm a big fan of the farmers market in Old Town Temecula. Laura and I try to stop by every Saturday morning when we're in town. During our visits, we've grown to know George Petrou and look forward to stopping by his booth. George is 84 years young. He invites you to taste his olive oils and garlic, and then goes on to extoll their virtues. He points to the fact of how good his health is and mentions that his mom is well over 100 and still going strong!

Pay a visit to his website. If you check out the farmers market section, you'll see he is indeed a very busy man. I for one am a big fan of his and hope that I can be as young as he is when I reach 84!

 

 

 

Murrieta Real Estate Expert – Tom Plant, REALTOR® - Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage    

Active Rain Ambassador   (951) 907-9701

It would be my honor to show you the incredible Temecula Valley, a place I’m very proud to call home.

 

 

Subscribe in a reader

 

Each year at this time downtown Riverside is turned into a winter wonderland. At the heart of it all is the historic Mission Inn. This is where U.S. presidents come to stay when they visit. When Laura and I went Wednesday evening, we strolled the streets soaking up the 16th annual Festival of Lights. Block after block is filled with lights, ornaments, trees and horse drawn carriages. Vendors sell fresh donuts, cookies, light wands and more. There's an ice skating rink. It's truly a spectacle.

Next year I hope to attend the opening ceremony, which features a jaw-dropping fireworks display followed by the lights being lit. It happens annually the Friday following Thanksgiving. Happy holidays to you and yours!

 

 

 

Murrieta Real Estate Expert – Tom Plant, REALTOR® - Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage – Active Rain Ambassador  (951) 907-9701

It would be my honor to show you the incredible Temecula Valley, a place I’m very proud to call home.

 

 Subscribe in a reader

 

The seasons are changing and it's finally beginning to feel like autumn in the Temecula Valley. Every year at this time the Temecula Valley Woman's Club hosts its annual Holiday Home Tour. This year the homes selected were in the wine country . Laura and I decided to tour the three homes chosen for this year's tour this morning. We started at Keyways Winery where owner Terri Pebley's home is located.

 

 

Cameras weren't permitted inside any of the homes, but I'm happy to show you the exteriors. The Pebley home is 4,300 square feet, and you get the feeling you're entering a wine cellar when you walk in. There are carved solid oak arched doors, a carved wood bar, natural stone walls and a slate floor. It's truly magnificient.

Next up was the incredible Hassler home.

 

 

You arrive via a circular drive to a stunning Mediterranean style home. Out the back is a view of the infinity edge pool overlooking the valley and mountains. The patio features the pool with two rock waterfalls and a fully equipped outdoor kitchen. Talk about the ideal home for entertaining!

The last home on the tour was far and away the most grandiose. The Knight home is 22,000 square feet with seven bedrooms and two kitchens.

 

 

I don't know where to start. Think Donald Trump. Statues everywhere. Five hand-carved marble fireplaces. Mosaic tile baths. Two separate wings connected by a long art gallery. Fresh and salt water aquariums. Home theater. Oh my.

I salute the TVWC for the fine work they do. They have raised $1.3 million to date for various local charities. This year's recipient was the Warrior Foundation, providing support for young veterans and their families, especially those who have been injured.

 

 

 

 

Murrieta Real Estate Expert – Tom Plant, REALTOR® - Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage    

Active Rain Ambassador   (951) 907-9701

It would be my honor to show you the incredible Temecula Valley, a place I’m very proud to call home.

Subscribe in a reader

 

Southwest Riverside Country is so full of hidden treasures. Take a stroll down Main Street and you'll discover some of the best restaurants and shops in the county. Rusticana, Raviolis!, Flour Fusion, and Guadalajara can all be found on the same side of the street in the same block.

Laura and I stopped in at Flour Fusion for lunch and it was exceptional. We both had half a sandwich and a cup of soup. I had the egg salad and she had the veggie sandwich. Everything was fresh and delicious. We topped it off with an oatmeal raisin cookie. Yummmm!

There's a feel good story here, too. The Press Enterprise recently ran an article about how the owners had to choose between keeping their home or their business. They decided to put their faith in the business and have now landed a contract to make 260,000 muffins a month for a major supermarket chain. Sometimes the good guys do win!

 

 

 

Murrieta Real Estate Expert – Tom Plant, REALTOR® - Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage    

Active Rain Ambassador   (951) 907-9701

It would be my honor to show you the incredible Temecula Valley, a place I’m very proud to call home.

Subscribe in a reader