The popular museum and gardens is gearing up for a busy season

THE EDWARD-DEAN MUSEUM & Gardens, which offer an intimate setting to see decorative art as well as lush grounds to enjoy, are hosting numerous events.

The museum will hold its 4th Annual Autumn Gala Fundraiser on Friday, Oct. 17 to raise funds for the expansion of the Kay Ceniceros Cultural Arts Building. By building the Kay Ceniceros Cultural Arts Building as originally designed, Edward- Dean will offer one of the finest conference rooms in the Pass area. The black tie event will feature an auction, a special dedication of the Legacy Gardens and a performance by the Legendary Mustangs.

Terri Bowen, Assistant Museum Manager, said officials hope to raise about $85,000. Previous events have been very successful. “We walk into the event in the black every year,” she said. October is a busy month for the museum, which features collections of European and Asian decorative arts from the late 16th century to the early 19th century in an intimate setting. Draped in grape vines and wisteria, the museum is arranged to look like a private home. Surrounded by lush gardens and picturesque hillsides, the 16-acre grounds offer a striking landscape for weddings and other special events. A gazebo, an open-air pavilion, a koi pond and expansive lawns are the perfect backdrop for celebrations of all kinds.

In fact, wedding revenue has increased more than 50 percent from last year, and Edward-Dean will be the setting for weddings on three consecutive days; Oct. 10, 11, and 12. A new exhibit, Miniature Traditions from the Collections of Joe Addota, also opens on Oct. 12 and will run through early January. On Oct. 19, the Fall Concert Series, free to the public, will continue with a performance by Rhythms of the East from 4–7pm.

The Fenians will finish the concert series with a concert on Nov. 2 from 2–4pm. “We constantly have something going on,” Bowen said. Next year promises to be even busier, as the museum prepares to offer even more events and activities. Museum officials are planning a “haunted museum” next October and a Dickens Christmas around the holidays. They also are talking about bringing movies to the grounds where families could bring picnics and blankets while enjoying an evening in a serene setting.

The Edward-Dean Museum & Gardens are located at 9401 Oak Glen Road in Cherry Valley. The phone number is 951.845.2626. For more information, please visit www.edward-deanmuseum.org.

THE BANNING ANIMAL SHELTER has been around for decades. But it was only in June 2007 that the Riverside County Department of Animal Services became the official operators of the shelter. In June 2007 the Banning City Council decided to award Animal Services a contract to run the shelter and implement some of the outreach programs that have worked so well in the county’s other cities.

Some of those programs include full-time adoption counselors that give shelter visitors professional advice on what pet might work best for their family, home and lifestyle. The department features a strong team of Animal Control Officers that respond to calls promptly and investigate cruelty cases.

The county also offers a low-cost spay & neuter campaign called ASAP (Animal Sterilization Assistance Program). The department is proud of its wonderful team of behaviorists and behavior assistants to enrich shelter animals’ lives— and respond to the public’s pet problems such as potty training, destructive chewing, escape artists, barking, crate training and much more.

The Banning Animal Shelter is located at 2242 E. Charles St., Banning, 92220. Call 951.922.3301. It is open Tuesday through Friday, 8a–6pm and Saturdays, 8am–5pm.

A program at Twin Pines Ranch gives boys tools for success

IN THE MOUNTAINS above Banning, teenage boys are being transformed. The Riverside County Probation Department runs Twin Pines Ranch, a 70-bed residential treatment program and boot camp for boys 15 to 18. The boys, called “cadets,” are wards of the Juvenile Court.

These cadets have a unique opportunity at the Ranch. The Probation Department oversees a fire program that gives the teenagers a chance to learn about fire science, gain handson experience on a donated fire engine and interact with firefighters.

The firefighters serve as role models for the cadets who see they can be successful and make money while doing an important job. Kids who once might have received their selfesteem from running with a gang are now getting it from participating in the program.

“These guys really enjoy it,” said Brian Boyd, supervising probation officer, who directs the fire program. “They have a good time, and they’re always looking for opportunities to wash the truck, clean hoses and sweep the fire barn.”

With assistance from Riverside County Poppet Flats Fire Station 63, cadets meet at least six times a month to learn from the Fire Science 101 manual and gain valuable vocational experience. They have practiced fire suppression, including maintaining firebreaks around the Ranch. Each cadet has full fire gear donated by Station 63.

The Probation Department collaborates with the Riverside County Office of Education, Mental Health Department, and Department of Health Services to provide cadets at the Ranch an opportunity to modify their behavior, receive an education and learn a vocation. About 20 cadets can participate in the fire program at any given time.

The Ranch played a crucial role during the deadly Esperanza Fire of October 2006 serving as the operational center. As the blaze burned on, hundreds of crews ate and slept at the Ranch; the Ranch pond and wells supplied unlimited water for tankers, fire trucks, and water dropping helicopters, and 194 gallons of Ranch diesel fueled fire trucks.

For more information, please call 951.849.0271.