High Country Journal FEBRUARY 3, 2012 LOCAL NEWS • LOCAL SOURCE OUR “GO TO THE OFFICE” EDITION!


Principal of the Year!


NEWS & NOTES


Pat Sprint to speak on Osage Tribe Feb. 3! Pat Sprint, a member of the Eagle Clan of the


Osage Indians, will present a talk on the past and present culture of her tribe at the Hamilton High School Library, February 3 at 5:30 pm. The talk is part of the ongoing lecture series sponsored by the Hamilton Museum.


Sprint, whose Osage name translates to “Eagle Down,” is a descendant of members of the Allottees, a tribe that assimilated into the Osages. Her grandparents and mother were born on the Osage reservation near Pawuska, Oklahoma. Sprint will share some of the tribal history of her ancestors, as well as several of her mother’s treasured collection of artifacts.


The Hamilton Library is located at 57430 Mitchell Road, situated between Hill Street and Kirby Road.


HUSD Principal of the Year shares a laugh with Cottonwood’s Office Manager Yolanda Carrillo. Dave Farkas named top leader! By Steve Manseau


Cottonwood K-8’s Dave Farkas has been named the Hemet Unified School District’s “Principal of the Year,” according to a press release from the home office. Farkas will receive his award at a HUSD event on Tuesday, March 27.


This is the second consecutive year that an Anza Valley principal has been chosen for this prestigious award. Hamilton High School’s Jim Allured was honored last year.


Farkas has served as a principal or assistant principal in the HUSD for seven years. During his tenure, Cottonwood has achieved lofty goals, including being named a Title I School and a California Distinguished School, as well as earning National Blue Ribbon School status.


A graduate of Youngstown State University with a Master of Education from National University,


Inside...


Bottling their first batch!


see page 9


Democracy! see page 11


Voice of


Employees of the Year!


see pages 20 & 21


Farkas began his educational career in Orlando, Florida, where he was a middle school teacher for three years. After the birth of his first son, the family moved to California. He taught in Temecula for a few years and then was hired as an assistant principal by the Hemet Unified School District.


When not working, he enjoys surfing with his sons, watching them participate in youth sports, going to movies and eating sushi with his wife. We did an informal email Q & A with Principal Farkas shortly after the announcement. Here’s the text of that interview:


What does this award mean to you? This award is an honor to both me and our entire Cottonwood School community.


When the (cont. on page 20)


Hall gets volunteer parking lot facelift, new rental rates!


Curb protectors and landscape gravel was installed in the Anza Valley Community Hall parking lot January 28, thanks in large part to a dedicated volunteer work crew.


Composed of members of the Anza Lions Club and the Anza Community Hall Association (ACHA) board, the volunteer crew helped make yet another improvement to the area’s primary social center. ACHA board member Edell Lashley graciously donated the funds to purchase the gravel. Members of the work crew included Annie Ashby,


Taz Hoffstot, Marty Izzi, Larry Linder, Dennis Keltner, Roland Vellanoweth, Joe Langley, Bob Love, Clarence Mahuke, Jeff Hawthorn, Okey Peck and Lee Cannon.


loyal Anza residents.


The ACHA board extends its gratitude to these ACHA also announced that it is now offering


hourly rental rates for its facility. Effective immediately, the hall can be rented for $40 per hour, or four hours for $125. Contact Marilyn Peck at 763- 2201 to make reservations.


(cont. on page 8)


Presorted Standard US Postage Paid Anza CA Permit No. 4


ALWAYS FREE!


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28