Man About Menifee: These Boy Scouts Need Your Help

By David Baker

Frequent readers of my columns will know that I have written about a wide variety of topics, ranging from helpful how-tos to announcements of community events.

One thing that has always impressed me about the community of Menifee and the surrounding areas is the sense of fellowship and outpouring of support that tends to occur during times of hardship.

I've seen it with members of our community that have fallen ill or become injured. We all saw it in each other during the Terry Smith Jr. case. I've witnessed instances of extreme giving associated with the Menifee Christmas Dinner.

I suppose this is why news stories like this one about the theft of a scout trailer surprise me that much more:

For those who haven't heard, the Boy Scouts of Troop 332 from Wildomar showed up for their weekly Tuesday night meeting and discovered their toy hauler with all of their camping gear had been stolen.

Apparently, the trailer was parked in front of the local VFW post and the last time anybody remembered seeing it was Friday night.

When I read about this crime, I had the same reaction a lot of you probably did. That reaction was to ask myself, "How desperate does someone need to be to steal from the Boy Scouts?" I suppose the answer is in the question, because it would have to be somebody who is incredibly desperate.

However, knowing the nature of my friends and neighbors here in Menifee, I suspect that many of you will turn this negative into a positive by a show of support for these boys. Hopefully we can show them that there are good people of the world, too.

I am still trying to get contact information for the scoutmaster or committee chairperson of this Troop. If anyone has this information or if anyone knows about an organized effort to help these boys restock supplies, please post a comment below or send me an email at manaboutmenifee@gmail.com

I certainly intend to do everything I can to help out. And of course if you have any information that will help the police catch the criminals, or recover any of the gear, please contact Investigator Cornett at 951-245-3357, or by email at LakeElsinoreStation@RiversideSheriff.org

David Baker, our Man About Menifee, writes about his adventures in and around town every other Friday in this space. You may leave comments for him here or email him at manaboutmenifee@gmail.com.

Man About Menifee: Valentine's Day Lessons Learned

By David Baker

Like most men this time of year, my thoughts turn to the subject of love, romance, and of course that perfect gift. As I was driving around town this week, Isaw all the signs advertising various specials and promotions for the impending holiday, Saint Valentine's Day.

It occurred to me that there are probably quite a few men out there who have not celebrated as many Valentine's Days with their wives as I have with mine. I thought I'd share some of the things I've learned over the years:

1. The old saying that "It's the thought that counts" presumes that the gift will be thoughtful. Gift cards are great for acquaintances but don't show a lot of real imagination unless that gift card is part of a larger gift.

A friend of mine received a gift card from her boyfriend recently. When I heard that, I chuckled and thought to myself, 'Oh, what a foolish young man he is.' She must've sensed what I was thinking because she quickly told me that he had given her and her mother gift cards to their favorite salon. That's when I realized the real gift was a mother-daughter beauty day, not just a trip to the salon.

2. Even if she needs it, that is no guarantee it will go over well as a gift. One of my very first gift-giving experiences with my wife before we were married is also one that she reminds me of to this day. You see, she mentioned to me that she did not have an ironing board. Being the thoughtful 19-year-old I was, when I came across a cute little travel/apartment size ironing board, guess what I did? That ended about as well as you'd expect. Yet she married me anyway.

3. If she says "Don't get me anything," don't believe her. When we were trying to save money to move into our first place, I fell for that one. I didn't even get her a card.

4. For goodness sake, get a card. If you don't get her anything else, at least get her a card. And spend more than just five minutes picking out the right one. Make sure it's something that really reminds you of her. And a handwritten message inside is always a nice touch. Remember, if you tell someone you love how you feel, then speak from the heart, they might cry.

Whether your beloved's ideal date is a walk in the park, a dinner and a movie, or dancing till dawn, in the end she just wants to spend time with you. And if you're smart and avoid some of the land mines that those who have gone before you have stepped on, you may just get through this holiday unscathed.

What are your big plans this weekend? How will you be exploring Menifee? Log in and leave a comment below.

David Baker, our Man About Menifee, writes about his adventures in and around town every other Friday in this space. You may leave comments for him here or email him at manaboutmenifee@gmail.com.

Man About Menifee: Scout Earns a Major Award

By David Baker

There are some experiences that, while very small to adults, make a huge impact to a child. I had the opportunity not only to attend and observe, but to participate in just such an event this week for one of my son’s friends.

For most Cub Scouts, there is a very important intermediate step between the transition of elementary age Cubs and Middle School aged Boy Scouts. This stage is called Webelos, or “We’ll Be Loyal Scouts”. For a select few, this rank culminates in an award known as the Arrow of Light, the highest award a Cub Scout can earn.

One young man, Eric, who joined our pack over the summer, came to us from a pack in Florida. Being the son of an Army recruiter, he has moved around quite a bit. Over the last five years, he has been a member of three different Cub Scout Packs.

Despite this, he was not only the first Webelos of Pack 374 this year to earn his Arrow of Light, but he also earned the Webelos Super Achiever Award, an award for a Webelos who has earned every possible Activity Badge.

This award is so rarely handed out, that when the Cubmaster went to pick it up at the Scout Store, at first no one knew what he was asking for. After they figured it out, several council employees came out of the office to ask the name of the scout who earned such an award.

Eric’s dad Tim presented the Pack with a new ceremonial Arrow of Light Candle Holder, and as the Cubmaster read through the ceremony, Eric and his parents took turns lighting the seven candles, which stood for the seven points of light on the Arrow of Light insignia.

Then the Pack members and his parents presented him with a homemade arrow carved by a local scoutmaster, and a plaque to hang it on. Eric’s mom even carefully assembled a shadow box of each award Eric had earned along his journey.

Of course no Cub Scout meeting would be complete without a degree of goofy fun, too. After the ceremony, the boys got to use PVC pipe to create a lung-powered marshmallow rifle. With this “firearm”, the boys got a brief entry level course in range safety and how to listed to a “range master” for direction.

Undoubtedly, this was a night that many of the boys, definitely Eric and his family, will never forget.

David Baker, our Man About Menifee, writes about his adventures in and around town. You may leave comments for him here or email him at manaboutmenifee@gmail.com.

Man About Menifee: Scouts Get Some Campout Experience

By David Baker

Now that we are two weeks into the New Year and school is back in session, I feel a little bit like a bear coming out of hibernation at the end of the winter. It was nice to have several weeks where there was extremely light traffic on my commute to San Diego from Menifee. I know from speaking with many of you that a lot of you can relate as well.

The kids are becoming busier, too. The earth is slowly starting to spin back toward the sun and I'm finding we are starting to venture outside just a little bit more.

My daughter Alexandra is a Girl Scout with Troop number 40550 here in Menifee. This weekend, Jennifer is taking Alexandra to a troop camp out at Lake Skinner in Temecula. Lake Skinner boasts fishing, recreational vehicle camping and tent camping facilities.

Coincidentally, Jeremiah and the other boys from his Webelos patrol in Cub Scout pack 374 have begun planning some patrol campouts for themselves. The campground the boys unanimously chose for their first campout next month is also Lake Skinner.

One Girl Scout rule on campouts is that there must be a very clear and straight shot right to the restroom and other facilities. The rules for the boys, while similar, are a little different. The Cub Scouts will be using Skinner's outlying camping area, which they identified on the map as their "overflow camping". There won't be any electricity or hose spigots, but the restroom will be a short walk away.

For the many of the Webelos, this will be their first semi-primitive camp. We will pack in everything that we need and pack it out. This will not be a "drive up and drop off" type of camp. I’m interested to see how the boys do with this. This is designed to get the Cub Scout boys geared up for Boy Scouts, which they will join this summer.

Boy Scouts routinely backpack a considerable distance before setting up camp. In addition, the boys plan the events and the menu for the trip. Until now, the adults have done all the planning and the boys simply showed up for the fun, but they are at the age where they can practice taking part in the business side of the fun.

What are you and your family doing differently now that the days are getting longer? Log in and leave a comment below.

David Baker, our Man About Menifee, writes about his adventures in and around town every Friday in this space. You may leave comments for him here or email him at manaboutmenifee@gmail.com.

Man About Menifee: It's All About Hidden Treasures

By David Baker

The age old question for most fathers is, “How do I relate to my children?”

I saw a video from a conference where the guest speaker was a video game designer who was speaking about the positive side of gaming. She shared a study done of hospice workers who shared the most frequent regrets people give near the end of their life. The top three from that list are:

1. I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.
2. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
3. I wish I had let myself be happier.

For everyone, each of these regrets means something slightly different, but for me it is about finding balance in life, especially where my children are concerned.

I always try to find something each of my kids and I can call our own to bond over. For my tech-savvy middle son, 10-year-old Jeremiah, we bond over discussion of music, social media, TV, and video games. The trouble I find is that those topics don’t generally involve a lot of sunlight. He rides his bike around and plays on the playground, but I wanted something that provided him some intellectual stimulation as well.

Then a few years ago, I heard a podcast on Geocaching. This is a high-tech treasure hunt that has roots to similar games dating back to the 1800’s in England, where travelers would leave notes in boxes along a trail, usually with a clue inside on where to find the next box.

I went to www.geocaching.com and created a free account and found out that I didn’t even need a geocaching GPS. I was able to use my smartphone and download a free app. I did a quick trial run around the neighborhood and took Jeremiah out and we had a lot of fun.

Lately, he has been asking me to help hide geocaches for others to find. That gave me an idea. How about we invite our friends and neighbors in Menifee to play as well? I decided to give it a shot. Before we get started, here are a few things you need to know about Geocaching:


1. Make sure you are well prepared. Depending on the terrain, sometimes a cache can involve several hours of hiking to find. For information on how to be properly prepared for a hike, click here.

2. No Trespassing. Caches may never be hidden on private property without the express consent of the owner. Many caches are hidden on property open to the public, ranging from parks to shopping centers.

3. Beware of “muggles”. This term is borrowed from the popular “Harry Potter” book and movie franchise. It refers to anyone who does not participate in geocaching. The goal is to not give away the location to casual bystanders.

Here is how it will go. I have hidden a cache (pictured) in Menifee somewhere that will be posted on www.geocaching.com within the next six days, once it has been reviewed and deemed appropriate by www.geocaching.com staff. This will be an easy find for beginners and the cache code is GC4WAV5.

Log on, create a free account, and using your smartphone or GPS, locate the cache. The first one to find it and sign the log can help me hide the next one. It will be a great way to meet new people, have some fun, and explore Menifee together.

David Baker, our Man About Menifee, writes about his adventures in and around town every Friday in this space. You may leave comments for him here or email him at manaboutmenifee@gmail.com.

Man About Menifee: Volunteers Needed for Bike Rodeo

By David Baker

In many households with children, I suspect, the morning after Christmas played out in a similar way.

As parents sleep in, exhausted from the festivities the day before, children awake and venture out of their rooms to begin playing with the toys they so hastily opened the day before. As the morning unfolds and the parents stumble out of bed, some form of nourishment ensues, often in the form of leftovers. The presents that are at the top of children’s lists quickly becomes apparent.

One of the most stereotypical of Christmas presents is some form of bicycle. Whether it is a toddler’s first tricycle or simply a replacement for one that has become too small, undoubtedly many children got bikes under the Christmas tree this year. Bicycles are a great way to get kids unplugged from the television or video games and into the sunshine.

Last March for my oldest son Nikkolas' senior year community service project, a requirement for graduation from Santa Rosa Academy, he put together Menifee’s First Annual bicycle rodeo. All on his own, he went out to local businesses, solicited support in the form of monetary donations and product donations for a raffle. He reached out to adults in the community for support with staffing and finding a location.

In short, he did a lot of work for an 18-year-old. One of the comments he made when it was all don, was that he wanted to make it a yearly tradition. We always went to the local bike rodeo every year when he was a kid in Ramona, a small town in Northeast San Diego County, and he wanted to bring this to his younger siblings and the kids of Menifee.

The rodeo consisted of an obstacle course led by an officer from the Menifee Police Departmen; a traffic safety themed magic show performed by Mr. Porkpie, a local children’s performer; and several booths, including a concession stand, and a bike check station by Menifee Bicycles.

Toward the end of the rodeo, there was a raffle drawing for prizes ranging from a $5 value to a $50 value, and everybody got a prize. All the proceeds were donated to the Menifee Youth Foundation.

I wasn’t allowed to help last time because it was a school project, but this year we all can. Nikk wants to make the event bigger and better this year and he is looking for the best place to hold it, as well as a new list of volunteers and activities.

If you are interested in participating as an attendee or a volunteer, please reach out to Nikk or me at www.facebook.com/MenifeeBikeRodeo or of course you can email me at ManAboutMenifee@gmail.com.
Further dates and information will be provided based on participation and location availabilities. Thank you in advance for your support.

David Baker, our Man About Menifee, writes about his adventures in and around town every Friday in this space. You may leave comments for him here or email him at manaboutmenifee@gmail.com.

Man About Menifee: It's Time to Get Back in Shape

By David Baker

Testing and displaying the upper limits of one’s physical prowess is a concept familiar to most men. In fact, body building has its own set of myths in our culture.

Every young man who has gone through a weight training class has heard the tale of the sixth century Grecian soldier and Olympic Wrestler, Milos of Croton, who is said to have started training as a boy by carrying a calf on his shoulders for several hours every day until eventually the calf grew to a bull. Weight Training coaches today use this story to illustrate the benefits of a training method called progressive resistance.

When I was a kid, we lived on an acre of land in a smaller town in the outskirts of San Diego. As the oldest, it often became my responsibility to mow the yard. Now when I say mow the yard, this was a process that took approximately 12 hours, usually split over a Saturday and Sunday.

From the time I was 13 years old, I would gather the clippings and stuff the trash cans as full as I could carry and haul them to the end of our driveway for the trash man (this was before trash cans had wheels, mind you). One day when I was about 16, my parents got a note from the trash company that we were filling the cans too full and the trash collectors could not lift them anymore.

When I heard this, I chuckled because by that time I was carrying them one-handed all the way with my arm fully extended upward. This was no steer, but it filled me with a certain sense of pride.

Later, during my junior and senior year in high school, I joined weight training and I began to learn about the different muscle groups, how they worked together and how to train. It was a wonderful experience for me.

Over the years, as it happens so often, life concerns such as bills, kids, my job, have taken priority over health and fitness. I’ve often joked that I’m in shape, as long as you consider round a shape. So when I saw the signs for Fitness 19 last fall and heard they had the lower pre-opening rates, I jumped at the opportunity.

The gym, which opens Dec. 24, will have cardio machines, weight training, and personal trainers on staff, and even certain classes will be available to members without paying an extra class fee. A good friend of mine is teaching the Zumba class, and you should believe me when I tell you, she earns her nickname of “Barbie Sergeant”.

Every week or so, I’ve driven by and seen the building take shape. I’ve spoken to a number of the employees already who know me at least by sight now. There were a number of delays, but finally this Tuesday they are opening and I will be glad to see it happen.

So I am putting it out there for all my readers. Join me in the pledge to change shape and get more fit. I may never have the body of a Greek Warrior, but maybe a little less cushion around the middle couldn’t hurt.

Have a safe and healthy holiday.

David Baker, our Man About Menifee, writes about his adventures in and around town every week in this space. You may leave comments for him here or email him at manaboutmenifee@gmail.com.

Man About Menifee: Christmas Time is Family Time

By David Baker

This week has been a busy one for our brood. Lately, I am starting to see some truth to the cliché that in the all the hubub of the business end of Christmas, we have to actively seek out the spirit of the season. One of the things this means to me is to celebrate all my kids equally.

My youngest son, Joshuah, was born like many babies, a little cue ball. He was as bald as it gets. All of my kids were that way. My daughter didn’t have any significant hair until she was almost 2. For a while, Jennifer and I have been joking about Joshuah’s baby mullet. He was baby up front, party in the back.

Finally, we decided his hair was overall long enough that we deemed a haircut appropriate. We wanted to take Christmas pictures without him looking like a ragamuffin, so we took him to get his first haircut on Thursday. He did surprisingly well -- not a tear or a shriek in sight.

Jeremiah and Alexandra are both in a Christmas Pageant at church. I love our youth program because they always come up with fresh new ideas for the various Holiday Pageants. This year the play is called an “Out of the Box Christmas”.

The play is about a cast of characters in a Christmas Play that receives the wrong costumes, so instead of Angels, they get Cheerleaders and instead of the Archangel Gabriel, they have to make do with a super hero called “Super G”. The moral of the story is really that it’s the thought that counts, actions speak louder than words, and if life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
The kids had a play practice on Wednesday and they seem just about ready. Like many parents, I love to see my kids strut their stuff. It brings me great joy that they have this creative outlet.

This weekend is looking like it is going to be just as busy with the business side of Christmas once again. We have a last -inute play practice Saturday, followed by Christmas Caroling with Girl Scout troop 40550 of Menifee, and possibly some Christmas shopping. On Sunday is the kids’ play, and after that the toy drive for Menifee Christmas Dinner across from Menifee Marketplace on Haun Road.

This is our family’s first year volunteering for this organization but I intend to do my best to educate my kids that Christmas has more meaning than just the big guy in the red suit bearing gifts. That part is fun, but it is better to give than receive.

This year what are some of the little moments you intend to treasure with each other? Post your comments in the section below.

David Baker, our Man About Menifee, writes about his adventures in and around town every week in this space. You may leave comments for him here or email him at manaboutmenifee@gmail.com.

Man About Menifee: Christmas Isn't All About the Decorations

By David Baker

As I've mentioned before, we here at the Baker household have been getting ready for Christmas. We've been putting up decorations, buying presents and in general, getting ready for the holiday.

This week has been a little tough. First Joshuah, and then one by one everybody else, fell to whatever stomach virus is going around right now. We did manage to get some lights up, though. We wrapped our palm trees in candy cane fashion with red and white lights and Nikk got them up along the roof. Unfortunately, we were only halfway done with the decorating when everything came to a halt.

While we didn't participate too much in the hubbub of Black Friday this year, we did take advantage of a few sales last weekend. Jennifer prefers shopping online and having it all conveniently delivered and was able to get most of the kids' gifts bought.

This weekend, we will be picking up our Christmas tree, bringing it home and decorating it. Joshuah is extremely excited about all the lights and decorations, or what he calls "pretties", starting to appear around town.

It's fun for me to get to see my children's faces light up with wonder and anticipation the closer we get to Christmas. Seeing the surprise on their face when they get whatever it is they wanted even some of those things they didn't think they were going to get is a fun experience for me.

I enjoy buying my children things when I can. However, one of the things I worry about the most is giving them the wrong impression of the holiday and letting them think it's more about the commercialization then about giving goodwill.

That's why this Christmas season one of the causes that I'm proud to support is the Menifee Christmas Dinner. This weekend you can plan on seeing us helping out with the toy drives on the 7th and 8th as well as next weekend, the 14th and 15th. If you happen to see them outside Ralph's market on Antelope Road, feel free to make a donation as well.

David Baker, our Man About Menifee, writes about his adventures in and around town every Friday in this space. You may leave comments for him here or email him at manaboutmenifee@gmail.com.

Man About Menifee: This Turkey Dinner Took Some Patience

By David Baker

Well, another Thanksgiving is over at the Baker household and I am extremely thankful. Don't get me wrong. A holiday that encourages reflection and appreciation for all the blessings that we have is wonderful, but it can be a little stressful, too.

The day started out normally enough. I woke up, got showered and changed and started getting the house ready to receive our guests. At 10 a.m., I went to pick up our holiday dinner order from Stater Brothers. Yes, we cheated and let the grocery store handle the bulk of the preparation this year.

I brought the food back to the house and went outside to clean out the garage while Jennifer got ready to cook. My mission was clear: To retrieve and unearth as many Christmas decorations as possible. I got a pretty good start on it too, until one of the kids came out and told me there was a problem with the turkey.

You see, when the turkey comes it is pretty much cooked, but it still needs to be heated all the way through, and in order to do that, the turkey is essentially double bagged. The outer bag is just a cover and the inner bag that surrounds the turkey holds in the juices.

Jennifer had very carefully removed the outer bag but as she was doing it, all the juices spilled out. As it turned out, there was a small tear in the inner bag, but now with all the juices spilled out, we weren't sure how to proceed. We didn't want to end up with a dried-out turkey.

I called the Stater Brothers deli to see what my options were. They were courteous and invited me to bring the turkey back and exchange it for a new one. When I got back to the house, we very carefully opened the outer package again. In true Murphy's Law fashion, the inner bag on this turkey had also ruptured, but this time we anticipated i,t so no juices were lost.

I called Stater Brothers again and they suggested dumping the turkey, juice and all, into a roasting pan, covering it with tinfoil and baking according to the directions. This wouldn't have been a big deal, except we didn't have a roasting pan. So I went back out again and picked up a disposable roasting pan and some tinfoil and came back to the house.

We put our turkey in the oven, albeit an hour late, and began cooking. My in-laws came shortly thereafter and we all sat down to watch some holiday movies and enjoy some appetizers. We eventually ate the turkey, which was quite juicy and delicious, and enjoyed some pie for dessert.

Now with all my guests gone, I'm sitting here looking at this pile of Christmas decorations that will be going up in the next week. It genuinely feels like the holiday season has begun.

David Baker, our Man About Menifee, writes about his adventures in and around town every Friday in this space. You may leave comments for him here or email him at manaboutmenifee@gmail.com.

Man About Menifee: Rain Makes Safe Driving a Priority

By David Baker

I remember my first car. It was a teal 1993 Ford Escort four-door sedan. It had a five-speed manual transmission, four cylinders, and got around 27 or 28 miles to gallon on average.

I think a lot of people could probably tell you a lot about their first car because it represents a lot of other firsts as well. A whole wide world of possibilities seems to present itself.

I can remember the first time I picked a girl up for a date. I remember the first time I stayed out all night with my friends. I remember the first time I helped somebody move -- which would be way easier with the truck, by the way.

Of course there were more than a few firsts I would rather forget. I remember my first speeding ticket. I remember the first time I had to pay for a significant car repair. And I remember my first automobile accident.

It was around this time of year, raining like it is now, and I had my drivers license for a little over six months. I was driving past the local movie theater. I thought I saw somebody I recognized, so I turned my head just for second, and yes, it was a girl. I turned my head back forward and there was a small Toyota pickup truck stopped, presumably to make a left turn. I slammed on the brakes but due to the recent rains, my car hydroplaned and continued right into the back of the Toyota.

I remember being in a slight state of panic. I remember calling my folks and exchanging information with the other driver. Most of all, I remember feeling disappointed.

We've reached that time of year when Menifee, like most of Southern California, is experiencing its first significant rainstorm. Drivers should use my story as a learning experience.

You see when we drive, our cars secrete various oils and petroleum products that soak into the semipermeable asphalt of our roads. When the first serious rains hit, the oils float to the top of the water and that makes our roads extra slick. Already, there have been multiple serious vehicle collisions on our roads over the past couple of days.

When I took Alexandra to school on Thursday, I saw the tail end of yet another one at the corner of Newport and Murrieta roads. I wasn't able to gather all the details, but the picture spoke volumes. Two police officers were watching a car get loaded up onto a tow truck and the front end of the car was smashed. Whatever the car had hit had already pulled away and there were flares directing traffic around this car.

When you join other drivers on the road this week, leave some extra stopping distance. Make sure your windshield wipers are in proper condition, your tire treads are good, and you turn on your headlights -- not so you can see in the rain, but so others can see you better. Above all, be safe and enjoy your holiday.

David Baker, our Man About Menifee, writes about his adventures in and around town every Friday in this space. You may leave comments for him here or email him at manaboutmenifee@gmail.com.

Man About Menifee: Cub Scouts Make Food Drive a Success

By David Baker

I was walking my dogs the other day and I started contemplating the similarities and differences between the canine species and the human species. We're both pack animals hardwired to respond well within a structured family unit. We'll both protect our families if we have to. And some of us really like to get our belly rubbed.

Certainly there's a world of difference between us, though. Arguably one of the biggest differences separating humans from the animal kingdom is the concept of altruism. Of course for my kids it's not always the easiest concept to grasp, but I do my best to teach to them anyway.

Some people will tell you that altruism, or caring for those who are having a hard time caring for themselves, comes from a religious aspect. Others would say it's purely logical, a highly effective way to propagate the species. Whatever your position, most people would agree that it is a good thing.

This past weekend, the Cub Scouts of Pack 374 showed off their altruism and collected food for the Menifee Valley Community Cupboard in front of Ralph's Grocery on Antelope Road. The effort was part of a nationwide program called Scouting for Food.

Denise Boring, a den leader with the Pack, was also the Scouting for Food chairperson this year.

"We did over 1,100 pounds of food last year, so I figured we'd set the bar a little higher with a goal of 1,500 pounds," she said.

In true form, Jeremiah was out there assisting in helping on Saturday afternoon immediately following the Menifee Veterans Day 5K run.

As shoppers entered the store, the boys would hand out fliers explaining the kind of food they were looking for. Many people participated. Some people gave a few canned goods while others donated entire shopping carts full of food. The true spirit of the holiday season was in the air.

After all the food was collected and weighed, the Pack pulled in a whopping 2,228 pounds of food. Not only did the Pack double its contribution from last year, but it topped the contributions of every other pack in the district. Of course the purpose of this exercise was not to compete with anyone except to say that the boys did their best to make it better than they did last year.

It is still nice to show the boys something huge and tangible that came from their efforts. And a pat on the back doesn't hur,t either. I’m a proud father; it’s my right.

At Tuesday's scout meeting, the boys posed for a photograph with the Menifee Valley Community Cupboard banner, showing their enthusiasm for the cause. What causes do you support this time of year? Comment below and let us know.

David Baker, our Man About Menifee, writes about his adventures in and around town every Friday in this space. You may leave comments for him here or email him at manaboutmenifee@gmail.com.

Man About Menifee: Hectic Week Can End in Fun Weekend

By David Baker

It's interesting how some weeks can be long, drawn-out and uneventful while others can be full of so much activity that I'm not really sure which end is up.

Tuesday night, my daughter stayed late for tutoring. My wife had a flat tire and was late picking her up, so she decided to walk home by herself without telling anybody. My wife made the trip to and from school without seeing her, went back to school to search, was moments away from calling the police before my daughter called her from the house to say she had arrived home. Needless to say, we had a long conversation about telling people where you're going to be.

Wednesday evening, my daughter tripped in her room and broke her pinky toe to the point where the toe was pointing outward at a 45 degree angle. She'll do anything to get out of cleaning her room. My wife spent eight hours with her at the emergency room just for them to x-ray it and tell her yes, it's indeed broken. Tape it up and give her some Ibuprofen.

This weekend, Jeremiah and the Cub Scouts of Pack 374 will also be very busy. First thing in the morning Saturday, the boys will be helping pass out water and snacks to the runners at the Menifee Veterans Day 5K run. We've done this every year for the last three years and the boys always enjoy themselves.

This year we're also going to do something new around town. We will be selling poppies for the local VFW post. I've seen these types of poppy sales before but never really stopped to ask what they represent. I always thought it was a simple fundraiser for the VFW.

What I didn't realize is that the poppies were actually made at least in part by unemployed veterans and the VFW actually paid these veterans living in a veterans home a certain amount per poppy made in order to give them some independent spending money.

Then on Saturday and Sunday, the boys will be "Scouting for Food". This is an annual food drive done nationwide by the Boy Scouts of America to benefit a designated local food bank or charity. In this case, the food will be donated to the Menifee Valley Food Cupboard. So if you're in the area of Ralph's grocery store on Antelope and Newport Road Saturday or Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and you are feeling the spirit of the season, please stop by and donate some food to the cause. Last year we were able to donate 1,100 pounds, which was more than any other unit in the entire district.

On Monday at the Murrieta Veterans Day parade, the Girl Scouts of Troop 40550 will be marching. Alexandra, of course will probably have to sit out if she can't find a way to do it in the wheelchair, but this will be the end of a fairly busy Veterans Day weekend.

What are your plans this weekend? Post below and share.

David Baker, our Man About Menifee, writes about his adventures in and around town every Friday in this space. You may leave comments for him here or email him at manaboutmenifee@gmail.com.

Man About Menifee: What Are the Guidelines for Halloween?

By David Baker

Last night was Joshuah's second Halloween. We've been working with him for about the last month, teaching him to say something which vaguely resembles "trick-or-treat". Finally last night, we got to put him to the test and he rose to the occasion.

He went around our cul-de-sac, down the street, and up the block before he got tired out. He filled his little McDonald's bucket and came home. When we got home, he helped me pass out candy to the trick-or-treaters. Throughout the night, I was surprised how many people fail to grasp the simple concept of Halloween etiquette.

The rules for Halloween can be broken up into two simple groups. The first is rules for people who want or do not want to receive trick-or-treaters. The second group is for trick-or-treaters.

If you expect for me to bring my children to your door on Halloween, you must do two things. First, your house must have a well-lit walkway and the porch light must be on. Conversely, if you do not expect me to ring your bell on Halloween night, you should turn off the lights and power down your decorations.

It never ceases to amaze me how many people have their houses darkened and very few decorations and wonder the next day why they got almost no trick-or-treaters. It's almost as amazing as people who have a very festively decorated house and bright lights, scowling at me, saying, "We have no candy, go away" and wondering why I rang their bell. If you are out of candy, simply turn out your porch light so people know.

The burden of Halloween doesn't just fall to the homeowners, however. Some of the responsibility must fall to the trick-or-treaters themselves.

If you come to my door, you should be wearing a costume. I will give more candy to children who have a more creative, cuter, or just all-around more amusing costume. I know for a fact that I'm not alone in this. Likewise, if you are old enough to shave, I expect to see some real effort on the costume. If you show up to my door wearing a T-shirt and jeans, you can reasonably expect me to heckle you, at least a little bit. In the true spirit of the season, I will give you candy, but it will not be the same amount and type of candy that I gave to that pretty little princess and that adorable little Spiderman.

I enjoy handing out candy at Halloween. For me, it's about as fun as it is for the kids who are doing the trick-or-treating. I like to see the different costumes. I like to see the creativity, so do not be surprised if I choose to comment on your costume or make observations. This is part of the fun of Halloween and in return I will give you candy. It seems like a pretty fair deal to me.

Next year, you can bet that I will be dressed up in a costume, taking my kids trick-or-treating, laughing and having fun, and passing out candy to all the ghosts, goblins, princesses and super heroes. I will still give the most candy to the best costumes. And I will be probably having as much fun as the children. After all, Halloween is a holiday full of magic that allows us all to feel like little kids.

David Baker, our Man About Menifee, writes about his adventures in and around town every Friday in this space. You may leave comments for him here or email him at manaboutmenifee@gmail.com.

Man About Menifee: It's Never Too Late to Get in Shape

By David Baker

I saw an Internet meme the other day posted on Facebook that said, "I wish I was as fat as I was the first time I thought I was fat." That definitely made me chuckle, mostly because it's true.

When I was a senior in high school, I weighed 170 pounds and was a 34-inch waist. Now let's just say it's a little more than that. Of course that was also when I was in weight training and martial arts and I rode my bike to and from school a few miles each way. Still, I remember thinking I was fat just because I didn't quite have the muscle tone other guys did. I never really did have bulging biceps or a six-pack.

Recently, I realized that our family was in need of some assistance on the fitness front. Last year, my daughter was put into "Intervention P.E." because she couldn’t meet the state standard for running the mile. It was surprising how many kids were actually in Intervention for this. Thankfully, she was able to work her way back into a regular P.E. class, but she had to work hard for it.

Every once in a while I try to get in shape, but I soon discover that I really would be in better shape today if it just wasn't so much work. Still, one of the things I know about myself and is probably true of most people is if I want to get in shape, I have to trick myself and remove the possibility of any excuse.

Like me, my children are also externally motivated. It can be dollars, ribbons, or just gold stars. We need that external source to tell us that we are on the right track.

Fitness is always important, but especially because the holiday season is approaching and our house, like many of yours, is about to be bombarded with confections, candies, cookies, and assorted pastries. Delicious, yes, but definitely straight to the gut.

Since I live on the west side of town, I got pretty excited when I saw the signs in the ads go up for Fitness 19. I was even more excited when I saw the price tag. My son Nikk and I were two of the fortunate few who got to sign up at the initial reduced rate back in September. We are very excited for the opening date, which is expected to be around Nov. 15. Because this is something I am going to be paying for, the only thing that bugs me more than sweat is wasting money. That’s the motivation I need.

Of course, this is not the only way to get fit, but for my family and me, it works. Some families are just as happy and active going to the park or walking the dog. What is your favorite way to keep your family in shape?

David Baker, our Man About Menifee, writes about his adventures in and around town every Friday in this space. You may leave comments for him here or email him at manaboutmenifee@gmail.com.

Man About Menifee: Some Safe Ways to Have Halloween Fun

By David Baker

In two short weeks, the streets of Menifee will be flooded with ghosts, ghouls, super heroes, and cartoon characters. While children’s heads will be filled with visions of candies and treats, parents’ heads will most likely be filled with thoughts of safety and security.

Whether it’s choosing the right costume, with bright colors and no mask, or checking candy at the end of the night for signs of tampering, these are some of the Halloween traditions that go along with parenthood.

One of my favorite ways to bolster Halloween safety is to participate in a "Safe Halloween" event in your community. When my kids were little, the local businesses of the town we lived in had a "Safe Trick-or-Treat" event on Main Street. Kids would go from merchant to merchant and collect sweet treats starting right after school, about 3 p.m. and going until sunset. The kids have fun, and parents get to set foot in shops they may not have seen, or had time to visit before.

Another safe tradition is the "Trunk-Or-Treat". I’ve always attended these at churches, but it’s a very ingenious idea. Members of a local group or organization, like a church, get together and decorate the trunks of their cars in true Halloween fashion and the children dress up in their costumes and trick-or-treat from car to car.

The parents win because they know exactly who is giving out candy to their kids, and the kids win because, hey, there's candy. Everybody wins because everyone has a lot of fun.

Another fun, yet safe, activity is the fall festival, usually sponsored by some local community organization. Most of the local elementary schools have one. The local Cub Scout Pack 374 is having one for the boys in a few weeks. If you’d like an invitation, visit www.pack374.org and click on the "Contact Our Pack" link. We will have a series of carnival style games with prizes and fun.

Of course, if you don’t have a Cub Scout age boy, don’t forget the Halloween Costume Contest and Parade at Wheatfield Park Oct. 30, sponsored by Menifee 24/7. Starting at 6 p.m. by the flag pole on the Menifee Road side of the parki, there will be a parade for those dressed up, a costume contest, followed by fun and games for all.

What other fun events are you participating in during the coming weeks? Log in and leave your comments and input below.

David Baker, our Man About Menifee, writes about his adventures in and around town every Friday in this space. You may leave comments for him here or email him at manaboutmenifee@gmail.com.

Man About Menifee: Holiday Season Means Family Traditions

By David Baker

When I think of my childhood, many images come to mind. I remember making Christmas cookies with my mom in the kitchen. I remember my dad teaching me to play baseball and basketball. I remember waiting for the box of Platter’s Orange Chocolates from my Grandma Baker to be delivered every Easter.

As I look back on my life and especially looking through the eyes of a parent, I have a renewed appreciation for traditions.

They say children are creatures of habit, and mine are absolutely no exception. After we moved to Menifee, it became rapidly apparent that it was time to start forging new traditions that would make the kids feel more at home, so we began exploring the town and attending community events.

We attended Menifee’s Father’s Day Campout, Independence Day Celebration, Movies in the Park, and the Lake Elsinore Storm Stadium Scout Night. Last week, we once again attended the Menifee Birthday Bash at Mt. San Jacinto Jr. College.

The kids look forward to it every year. We got to see some wonderful musical performances and the kids got to do some creative games and crafts hosted by the M.A.R.S. program. The highlight of the kids' evening, of course, is always the Gale Webb Extreme Sports show. The kids love to watch the performers doing jumps and flips on their bikes, skates and scooters. This year they even had Ryder, the 6-year-old son of one of the performers, doing his stunts for the kids and carrying on the family tradition.

This isn’t the only tradition I appreciate, though. Sometimes things start small. I get Thursdays and Sundays off from work. Every Thursday I get to drop my kids off at school and run errands with Joshuah, who is now 19 months old. This is something I look forward to immensely every week.

We talk about things, he says a lot, and some of it I’m even beginning to understand. He’s very independent, always wanting to try to dress himself or feed himself. I like to think it’s because he sees everyone else doing it themselves, and he wants to participate on the same level as everyone else. He very clearly has an imagination and it’s incredibly fun to watch.

One tradition that is coming up for many people is Halloween. We at the Baker Homestead are bracing ourselves for the forthcoming onslaught of Trick-or-Treaters. Joshuah can tell something is going on, but this will be the first Halloween that he will really be able to participate in, since last year he was pretty much a cute little lump in a lion costume. I can’t wait for this year.

For those looking to start a new Halloween tradition, perhaps try the Halloween Costume Contest and Parade sponsored by Menifee 24/7 at Wheatfield Park Oct. 30, the night before Halloween. Starting at 6 p.m. by the flag pole on the Menifee Road side, there will be a parade for those dressed up, a costume contest, followed by fun and games for all. Adults are welcome to play, too.

This time of year, as we steadily approach the holiday season, I am reminded of how important these traditions are. What are some things, large or small, that you do to make your time with your family special?

David Baker, our Man About Menifee, writes about his adventures in and around town every Friday in this space. You may leave comments for him here or email him at manaboutmenifee@gmail.com.

Man About Menifee: Driving Defensively Has Many Aspects

By David Baker

I suppose I'm like a lot of guys. I owe a great deal to my dad for his influence on the person I grew up to be. I hear myself laughing at the same jokes, using the same expressions and playing the same games with my kids that my dad played with me.

It wasn't all games, though. My dad taught me a lot of important skills as well. He taught me how to interlock two crescent wrenches so I can get more leverage. He taught me how to change the tire on my bike. He taught me never to put my hand in a woman's purse; if she needs something, bring her the purse because your hand does not belong in there. He also taught me how to drive.

When it came time for me to learn how to drive, I was excited but nervous all at the same time. My dad talked me through it and helped me learn. One of the phrases he used repeatedly that has stuck with me to this day was, "Always expect the other guy to do something stupid." This was of course his way of telling me to drive defensively.

This rule not only applies to driving but often times can apply to life as well.

When I first moved to Menifee, I was working in Temecula. It was then that I was introduced to the nickname for this area, which is Trafficula.

Every time I drive, I generally see somebody doing something that reinforces that nickname. Just driving around town this Thursday, I saw:

-- A teenager in a black Mustang showing off for his friends, laying rubber front of the high school.
-- A gentleman who was clearly old enough to know better waiting to the last minute to merge, then block two lanes of traffic.
-- A motorcyclist popping wheelies in the Target parking lot.

In the last week, I've seen at least two stories on Menifee 24/7 regarding fatal or near fatal crashes here in town.

So when I teach my children about driving in addition to my dad's rule, I add a few of my own.

Rule number one: Being an obedient driver is more important than being a courteous driver. If everyone just follows the rules of the road and proceeds when it is their turn and behaves in a way that is predictable, then everyone stands a better chance of getting home in one piece.

Rule number two: Don't let someone else's behavior on the road dictate yours. If someone doesn't like how fast you're going, that doesn't mean you have to speed. Let them go around you.

Rule number three: Stay Zen. If someone else is bobbing and weaving in and out of traffic and seems intent on hurting themselves, let them. Just increase the distance between your car and theirs.

These are the rules I try to impress on my kids when we have conversations about driving. These are also the rules I try to follow every time I get behind the wheel.

If you could get everybody on the road to follow at least one rule, what would it be?

David Baker, our Man About Menifee, writes about his adventures in and around town every Friday in this space. You may leave comments for him here or email him at manaboutmenifee@gmail.com.

Man About Menifee: A Scout in Training Gets in Line

By David Baker

When I stop to think about the time spent with my kids, my perception just seems to keep speeding up.

I remember when Nikk (18) first started Cub Scouts at age 6. Alexandra (12) and Jeremiah (10) have been camping and going on scout outings for years. Now I find myself starting over with Joshuah (18 months) and I marvel at how quickly the last year and a half went by.

My weekly work schedule allows me to be home on Thursdays, which allows me to play with Joshuah and really connect with him. He has many words and phrases that he uses and he walks and toddle-runs pretty well. We spent this last Thursday together and we had a very long conversation. To be honest I’m not really sure what it was about, but he seemed to enjoy it.

Joshuah "helped" me pack for Webelos Woods this weekend. And by help, I do mean pull things out that I had already packed. I showed him what a flashlight was, tried to show him how a whistle and a compass worked. We talked about sleeping in a sleeping bag, in the tent, in the woods. I gave him a little toddler camping stool and he very happily walked around talking about his new "seat", showing everyone how to "sit".
For those who don’t know, Webelos Woods is for Webelos Cub Scouts (fourth and fifth grades). What makes this age group different is that they get to participate in events with older Boy Scouts (age 11 up to 18). Webelos Woods is special because it is a campout entirely hosted and run by Boy Scouts for the benefit of the Webelos getting ready to bridge from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts.

Typically the boys will arrive Friday afternoon, have a quick snack after setting up camp, and then head to bed, getting ready for the big day. The following day is filled with activities like obstacle courses, archery and even an atomic bucket. The latter is an exercise in teamwork where the boys are given some bungee cords and told they can use the cords to move a bucket from point A to point B, then back to A.

The only rule: the bucket is full of "radioactive" material so they can’t touch it with their bare hands.

Of course, Joshuah won’t be able to go on this campout. It is for fourth and fifth graders only. This weekend Jeremiah and I will be going to Boy Scouts of America Camp Emerson in Idylwild for what will most likely be his last campout as a Cub Scout. I am proud and sad at the same time, but mostly proud.

David Baker, our Man About Menifee, writes about his adventures in and around town every Friday in this space. You may leave comments for him here or email him at manaboutmenifee@gmail.com.

Man About Menifee: Make Use of Deterrents to Crime

By David Baker

When I was in college, I majored in Administration of Justice, so logically now I sell kitchen appliances and bathroom fixtures.

One of the subjects covered was CPTED, or "Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design." The basic premise is the belief that making simple design changes to the environment can actually prevent the opportunity for crime.

The government and business sectors use these all the time, whether the local citizenry realizes it or not. Have you ever seen the big thick trees with deep roots in front of banks and government buildings? These aren’t just decoration. They are there to prevent a criminal from driving a truck through the side of the building and doing damage, stealing what is inside, or performing some other dastardly deed. They sure look better than a barbed wire fence and an armed guard though, don’t you think?

The big red balls in front of Target on Haun Road serve a similar purpose. If you’ve ever set foot in a shopping mall and noticed that the clothing racks, especially those close to the entrances and exit, seem a little more awkward when pulling multiple items off, this is by design as well.

By placing each successive hanger opposite the other, rather than have them all open in the same direction, this prevents potential thieves from performing a snatch and grab and running away with merchandise.

Last night I was with Doug Spoon, the editor of Menifee 24/7, on the scene of a police-involved shooting in Sun City. As he was posting updates of the story via Facebook, people were responding and leaving comments. One individual seemed to indicate there were more cheerful news stories to report on, and he was instantly beset upon by dozens of readers all in support of our efforts to report the news as it actually happened.

As Niki D. of Riverside posted, "I want to know what is going on around me. Not seeing it doesn't mean it isn't happening."

All this got me thinking, are residents of the Menifee Valley aware of what they could do for themselves to make them less of a potential victim in their own home without simply becoming a shut-in, or going into full survivalist mode lockdown?

CPTED, when used residentially, can be broken into a few basic ideas:

Visibility:
For a bad guy to do bad things, it helps if he is not seen or detected. High hedges and shadows are his friends. So keep the walk clearly visible, and avoid over-powered security lights that create glare and shadow. Make sure lighting overlaps eliminating shadow.

Access:
The biggest natural deterrent is pain. No, I don’t advocate the use of bear traps or strategically placed "Home Alone" style Legos and Micro Machines, but low bushes, especially thorny roses and the like, placed under a ground floor window can dissuade would-be prowlers from using this as an access point.

Property lines:
It turns out your HOA was right. Making sure your lawn is groomed and weeds are pulled tells a potential intruder that this is a house where the people are alert to their surroundings.
There’s an old proverb that says "A lock only keeps an honest man honest." If a criminal really wants your stuff, he’ll find a way, but that doesn’t mean you need to make it easy.

David Baker, our Man About Menifee, writes about his adventures in and around town every Friday in this space. You may leave comments for him here or email him at manaboutmenifee@gmail.com.