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July 4, 1776, Independence Day for the United States: We think of the Liberty Bell, American Flag, George Washington, fireworks, etc. Clear across the continent, colonial life in California — with its missions and modest military outposts — was just beginning. It would be almost 75 years before California would join the United States as the 31st state in the Union. Foreign exploration had been underway since at least 1543 when Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo and his men rode at anchor in San Diego Bay. What was it like to live in California in 1776? When the East coast's English colonies were declaring their independence, the Spanish made Monterey the capital of the barely settled territory of Alta California and had started walking El Camino Real or "the royal road," a sketchy trail that eventually connected 21 missions. Franciscan priests established these missions between 1769 and 1833. Their goal was to spread Christianity among the local Native Americans. In 1776, the Mission at San Juan Capistrano was completed. Later, in 1821, Mexico gained independence from Spain, and "Alta California" became a Mexican province, rather than a Spanish colony. Shortly after, American travelers began to explore the state and eventually developed American settlements. This led to the American rebels founding the California Republic in 1846, setting the stage for the Mexican War where the American forces won the long battle for the state. Mexico ceded nearly all the territory now included in the US States of New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, California, Texas, and western Colorado for $15 million dollars. The Louisiana Purchase also cost about $15 million dollars, meaning virtually all of our country west of the Mississippi was probably the greatest land bargain of all time! So here we are today, only five years away from our country's 250th anniversary. We are still a "work in progress," and hopefully, our best days are ahead of us. Recently, your Board members attended a "boot camp" to review our responsibilities, get updated on new legislation affecting our HOA, and discuss how we can better serve the residents of Four Seasons. There are two primary duties of an HOA: maintain the common areas and enforce the governing documents. Our Association has three types of governing documents: Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions (CC&Rs), Rules & Regulations, and Bylaws. The revised CC&Rs and Bylaws were approved by our members in May. The CC&Rs is a legally binding document that is officially recorded and filed with the State of California. All of these documents are designed to protect the integrity of our community, and it is our responsibility to abide by them. We now look forward to the second half of the year with more friends, more family, more events, more travel, and more overall enjoyment. Let's appreciate what Four Seasons has to offer. Message from the Board of Directors 2 | Four Seasons Hemet Herald | JULY 2021 | Sincerely, and on behalf of your Board of Directors, Greg Rockvam, Cliff Post, Tony Criscenti, Jerry Hawkins, Roxy Snider, and Fred Kydd Jim Crase President

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