California Autopsy Podcasts

Smaller show at Pechanga casino strikes chord with Bob Dylan fans -

PE.com - Temecula California News

Of the major acts Inland area casinos have attracted over the years, few, if any, have had the magnitude of Bob Dylan, who performed Thursday night at Pechanga Resort and Casino near Temecula. His concert sold out in 12 minutes, faster than any other show in recent memory, after being promoted through print and radio ads and internal advertising, signage and publications for the casino, according to Robert Bledsoe, Pechanga's public relations manager. Considered one of the greatest poets and lyricists of the 20th century, Dylan's songwriting has been celebrated since the 1960s, with songs such as "Blowin' in the Wind" and "The Times They Are A-Changin' " and his voice defined a generation. His music has crossed genres from folk to country to blues to rock and he helped shape popular music over almost five decades, with his songs covered by artists from the Byrds to Guns N' Roses. "I think he's a genius -- he's a poetic genius," said Poppy Poppe, of Julian, who has seen Dylan more than 100 times, first in 1964. Fans were attracted by the intimate setting of 1,200 seats at Pechanga. "That's what got me excited, seeing how small it is," said Steve McGraw, of Temecula, who brought his family to the show. The Pechanga showroom's size is a stark contrast to AEG Live Concerts on the Green in San Diego, where Dylan will perform tonight. The venue, which is on the practice field at Qualcomm Stadium, seats thousands. "This has got to be a once in a lifetime opportunity to see him in this venue," said Randy Worstell, of Lake Elsinore. Tickets for tonight's general admission show are $47.50, about half the price of the least expensive ticket for the Pechanga show. The Pechanga tickets were priced at $90, $110 and $150, plus a $5 service fee. Bledsoe said the ticket prices were a little higher than usual for a show at the casino because of the high demand to see the star in a smaller venue. He said the venue's size attracts fans, and the casino has hosted a variety of performances, from top Asian acts to Jerry Seinfeld to David Copperfield. "We really try to cover a broad spectrum," Bledsoe said. Reach Vanessa Franko at 951-368-9575 or vfranko@PE.com read less

Latest Episodes for this Channel

Smaller show at Pechanga casino strikes chord with Bob Dylan fans -

Thu September 04 2008

Of the major acts Inland area casinos have attracted over the years, few, if any, have had the magnitude of Bob Dylan, who performed Thursday night ... read more

Recent converts to Islam celebrate their first Ramadan -

Wed September 03 2008

Ashley Mountasir first became curious about Islam when she watched her Muslim boyfriend Taha fast during the holy month of Ramadan two years ago. ... read more

Ashley Mountasir first became curious about Islam when she watched her Muslim boyfriend Taha fast during the holy month of Ramadan two years ago. The 19-year-old Murrieta woman was Catholic at the time but in June she converted to Islam. On Monday, the first full day of Ramadan, she fasted with her now-husband Taha for the first time. It wasn't difficult, even though the fast lasted nearly 16 hours, she said. "My body told me, 'I'm not hungry. My body doesn't need anything. I'm doing this for my God,'" Mountasir said. Mountasir was one of several recent converts who attended prayer services Sunday night at the Islamic Center of the Temecula Valley in Temecula. Ramadan began at sundown Sunday. Two men converted during the service. Ramadan commemorates when Muslims believe Allah revealed the teachings of the Quran to Mohammed. During the month, observant Muslims fast from sunrise until sunset. This year, Ramadan ends on Oct. 1. When Mountasir met Taha two years through friends, she didn't know he was Muslim until she asked him why he was fasting. She was nominally Catholic but never connected with Catholicism and rarely attended Mass. Mountasir asked Taha, 23, and his mother, Nafissa Larson, many questions, first about Ramadan and then about Islam in general. The more she learned, the more questions she asked. She began to occasionally attend prayer services at the mosque. "Every time I came to the mosque, I felt at peace with myself," she said. "I felt happy. Every time I went inside a church, I felt tension." Ashley and Taha Mountasir married in October 2007. She converted in June. She said her husband never pressured her to convert. In Islam, conversion is simple: recognizing that Allah is the only deity and that Mohammed is his messenger. "I have never felt so close to God," Ashley Mountasir said. "It makes me feel protected, like someone is watching over me." Mountasir said she hasn't told her Murrieta parents about either the Islamic wedding ceremony - they don't even know she's married - or her conversion. Mountasir said her parents like Taha and didn't mind that she was dating a Muslim. But she's worried how they'd react to her conversion. At the prayer services Sunday, the imam, Mahmoud Harmoush, reminded worshippers that Ramadan is about more than fasting. It's also about forgiveness, kindness, mercy, prayer and charity to others, he said. "May God grant us the patience and strength to continue fasting until the end of it," he said. Mountasir, wearing a black and green veil, knelt in prayer with a few dozen other women and girls in the back of the mosque. More than 100 men prayed the same prayers at the front. Mountasir was excited about the service. She had read extensively about Ramadan and had long been looking forward to it. "It felt very spiritual," Mountasir said during a break in the two hours of prayers. During the service, two men said they wanted to convert to Islam. Harmoush asked the men to repeat after him, "I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah," first in Arabic - or as best as the men could imitate Harmoush's Arabic - and then in English. "And I bear witness that Mohammed is his servant and messenger." After the men repeated after Harmoush, he put his arms around the men and said with a smile, "May Allah bless you. You are our brothers." One of the men, Alex Ruval, said he first became interested in Islam when he served as an Army soldier in Iraq in 2003 and 2004. Ruval, 27, of Del Mar, in San Diego County, heard the calls to prayer from the mosques and "it gave me a warm feeling inside. I could see how it connected with a lot of people." When Ruval started working for a Muslim man's trucking company several months ago, he began asking the man, Julian Rivas, of Temecula, about Islam. "I just wanted to know their beliefs," Ruval said. "He started talking to me about it, and it made sense." Reach David Olson at 951-368-9462 or dolson@PE.com read less

Autopsy performed on Temecula man found dead near bicycle -

Wed September 03 2008

An autopsy was performed Wednesday on a man found Tuesday in Temecula lying dead next to a bicycle early, but the results were not immediately avail... read more

Riverside County seeks balance of growth, preservation for Wine Country -

Wed September 03 2008

At least 19 new wineries and more than 300 homes could eventually come to Temecula Valley Wine Country, Riverside County officials said at a public ... read more

At least 19 new wineries and more than 300 homes could eventually come to Temecula Valley Wine Country, Riverside County officials said at a public meeting Wednesday night. The revelation came as officials outlined their plans for overhauling Wine Country's zoning rules to strike a balance between growth and preserving the ambiance of the 11.83-square-mile region east of Temecula. Despite the economic downturn, Wine Country is booming, county Planning Commission member John Petty told the audience of about 100 at St. Jeanne de Lestonnac School. Potentially, $500 million to $600 million in new investment could come to the region in the next three to five years, Petty said. The county counts 27 wineries in Wine Country. Another 19 are proposed, with 11 in the approval process and six under construction, said county Area Planner Alisa Krizek. In addition, projects in the pipeline call for more than 400 hotel rooms, 20 bed-and-breakfast rooms and more than 300 residential lots, Krizek said. While encouraging the growth to turn Wine Country into a destination, Petty and other county officials stressed the need to preserve the region's rural feel. "We want to make sure the country stays in Wine Country," Petty said. To that end, county Supervisor Jeff Stone, whose district includes Wine Country, recently proposed the creation of a community plan to provide guidelines for future growth. Among other things, the plans will study the region's infrastructure needs, including the possibility of adding sewer service, and look at whether the region should be expanded. At the same time, county planners are pushing through changes for special-occasion facilities -- outdoor facilities, in conjunction with a home or winery, which may include a structure or building rented out for events such as parties and weddings. Under the changes, such facilities would have to be located on 10 acres (rather than 5 acres) with on-site vineyards. While county Principal Planner Derek Hull said the county wants to emphasize winemaking in Wine Country, some in the audience objected to limiting uses on small lots. Others took exception to plans to install roundabouts along Rancho California Road. Petty replied that the county will "exhaustively study" the roundabouts to make sure they benefit Wine Country. Reach Jeff Horseman at 951-375-3727 or jhorseman@PE.com read less

Temecula firm's Big Fogg misting-fans provide relief at outdoor sporting events -

Tue September 02 2008

Christopher Miehl clearly saw a need for outdoor misting systems and did something about it. As president and CEO of Big Fogg, he has set up coo... read more

Christopher Miehl clearly saw a need for outdoor misting systems and did something about it. As president and CEO of Big Fogg, he has set up cooling devices for players and spectators at major sporting events, including several Super Bowl games. "As the world has gotten hotter, people want to be more comfortable," Miehl said. Based on the principle of evaporative cooling, a high-pressure pump is connected to a regular water source to force pressure out of the fan's minute nozzle holes. "This makes it more like a fine London fog rather than a heavy mist," Miehl said. "It drops the temperature about 20 to 30 degrees but doesn't get things wet." He explained that the system only uses about 1 gallon of water per hour and the very low water flow provides an effective way to cool off. Miehl has been in the misting-fan business since 1994 but did not bring Big Fogg to Temecula until 2003. The company recently added the PGA to its global client list that already included UCLA, USC, the NFL, Major League Baseball teams, motor speedways and the U.S. military. Big Fogg even appeared on the big screen in "Any Given Sunday" and other movies. On Aug. 25, Miehl's company provided six fans for use at the Murrieta Chamber of Commerce 18th annual golf tournament to keep players and guests cool at one of the hottest courses around, Bear Creek Golf Club. "We do a lot of charity work around town," Miehl said. "If you live in a community then you're responsible to the community." Big Fogg's VIP misting tent was a cool place to be at the 25th annual Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival in June. Always with an eye on research and development, Miehl is perfecting a high-pressure system for golf carts. He has already marketed an add-on cart feature that utilizes a mid-pressure system. "It's a different technology and application for each situation," Miehl said. "It's not rocket science but it takes experience and knowledge." About 80 percent of Big Fogg products are related to cooling while the rest are for heating. "Both levels of extreme are good for us," Miehl said. "We have become an outdoor comfort company." "Whatever the customers want, we meet the need," Miehl said. "It all comes down to the idea that people don't want the weather to restrict them." Information about Big Fogg: 888-853-1728 or www.bigfogg.com read less