August 1, 2019
FROM THE CITY MANAGER
Recovering Together from Tragedy
As we enter into our final month of summer, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the trag ic explosion that took place in our community just two weeks ago, and send our deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Wade Kilpatrick, the 31-year-old Murrieta resident and SoCalGas employee who lost his life that day.

Three Murrieta firefighters were also among the 15 injured that day. One home was destroyed and several others severely damaged. Dozens of other homes were impacted. The crisis continues for those who have faced loss or injury, but we are working together toward recovery.

Our firefighters are now back home with their families. The Murrieta Fire Marshall is leading one of several investigations into the incident to understand how and why the explosion happened. This will likely continue for several months as investigators conduct extensive interviews, build timelines and evaluate the scene. As those with damaged homes begin to repair and rebuild, the City is streamlining permit processes and waiving fees. Several GoFund Me accounts have raised significant amounts.

Residents with impacted homes should work with their insurances companies to determine next steps and may contact the City's Building and Planning Division directly with questions about permitting repairs 951-461-6062. Not just the City, but the community is here for you.

Kim Summers
City Manager 





New Business Ribbon-Cuttings!
On Monday, July 1, Mayor Pro Tem Randon Lane was in attendance to present a certificate and welcome Popeyes to the business community. The new location is at 36442 Winchester Road. Stop by and grab a bite to eat!
On July 17, Kelly Orchard of Licensed 2B Badass celebrated her business with a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Murrieta Innovation Center. Kelly works to assist individuals and organizations with personal and professional growth through keynote presentations, workshops, breakouts and coaching. To learn more about Licensed 2B Badass, click here .
Restaurant's Secret Weapon, a marketing agency that helps local restaurants grow their business, hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony on July 23 at Coworking Connection. Co-Founders Shane and Matt, who are also locals and restauranteurs, have years of experience as marketing and sales professionals To learn more about Restaurant's Secret Weapon, visit their Facebook page
Affordable Window Coverings hosted a ribbon cutting on July 30 to celebrate the opening of their new showroom. They offer custom high quality and name brand window coverings to homeowners and businesses in Southern California, and have over 23 years of experience providing curtains, shutters, drapes and blinds. Contact Affordable Window Coverings at 951-698-1391 for a free in-home estimate.
Join Murrieta Police for National Night Out!
Join Murrieta Police Department on Tuesday, August 6, 5-8 p.m. at Town Square Park for Murrieta's National Night Out. This family event is designed to heighten crime prevention awareness, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community relationships, and send a firm message to criminals letting them know that our community will fight back! 

Participants can watch a Police K-9 demonstration, meet members of the SWAT and Traffic teams, check out the Police and Fire Command Post, and learn about the Police Explorers and Volunteers, Code Enforcement and Fire Department.
Prevent Drownings With the Pool Safety Pledge
Too often we hear people say, "It was just for a minute." Unfortunately, a child can drown in the time it takes to answer a telephone; a minute is all it takes. Children can drown in their backyard swimming pools, or even buckets, bathtubs, toilets, pet watering bowls, canals, and ponds. Small children are top-heavy and don't have the upper body strength to lift themselves out of these dangerous situations. Even when a child survives, he or she can be left with permanent injuries. Murrieta Fire and Rescue encourages residents to learn how to to prevent tragedies like this by taking the Pool Safety Pledge and downloading the free pool safety toolkit from www.poolsafely.gov.
Movies, Skating Events Provide Local Fun for Families
The City's free Movies-in-the-Park series kicks off on Saturday, August 3, 7:45 p.m. at California Oaks Sports Park beginning at approximately 7:45 p.m. Bring your chairs, blankets, and snacks. Visit the City's website calendar for upcoming event information, or call us at  951-304-PARK (7275).
  • Saturday, August 3:  The Little Mermaid
    Sponsored by Murrieta Oaks 
    Veterinary Hospital and Pet Hotel
  • Saturday, August 10:  Aquaman
  • Sponsored by the Materiale Group
For this year's Family Fun Night, we invite you and your family to go skating on Friday, August 9, from 5-8 p.m. at Epic Rollertainment. Your $10 per person ticket includes admission, skate rental, two slices of pizza and a 16 ounce drink. All ages are welcome. Please register online here or call 951-304-PARK (7275) for more information.
New Tool Supports Social Science & Science Learning! 
The Murrieta Public Library has a new database from Scholastic. TrueFlix offers hundreds of units to supplement social studies and science core curricula learning. They are beautiful, authentic non-fiction ebooks enhanced with primary sources, videos, audio clips, images and related websites. It's a highly-engaging multimedia resource that can be used in the Library, on a mobile device or at home. To access this new database, click here  and then click on the TrueFlix link. 
City Hosts Karaoke Event for Special Needs Adults
On August 9, The City's Alternative Recreation Program (ARP) presents Sing the Night Away Karaoke from 6-9 p.m. at the Senior Center.Admission is $2 per participant; guardians or caregivers are free The ARP offers activities for special needs adults 18 years and older at least once each month, including dances, potlucks, movies, field trips, and pool parties. For more information, please call 951-304-PARK (7275).
Murrieta All-Stars: Ambyr Childers
A Vista Murrieta High School alumnus, Ambyr Childers, is an American actress known for her role in the NBC drama Aquarius. Childers along with her two sisters were raised in Murrieta, California. This talented actress has two children and enjoys designing jewelry. Ambyr had dreams of becoming an actress since she was a small child; she started her career at the age of 15.  From 2006-2008, she played a key role in the television soap opera All My Children. Now, Ambyr appears in the Netflix thriller series "You." Keep following your dreams, Ambyr! The City of Murrieta is proud of you. 
     
                   
City of Murrieta
1 Town Square
Murrieta, CA 92562
(951) 304-CITY (2489)