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COMMITTEE NEWS | THE COLONY NEWS | JUNE 2022 | 13 Hot air balloon flights, available the week of the Balloon and Wine Festival and most other times, begin at sunrise. The balloons lift gently into the skies above Lake Skinner, and it is a beautiful sight to see in the early morning. Balloons cannot "steer" and so they fly with the gentle breezes over the Temecula Valley to wherever the currents take them. And thus my story begins, as told to me by Lou Ann Campbell. "Sometime after 1992, with only about 20 houses on Corte Emerado and only about 250 to 300 in The Colony, Bill Campbell called to his wife, Lou Ann, to come quickly. (Remember, there were no houses between Corte Emerado and the Nutmeg Gate, nothing across Colony Drive between Via Aguadulce and Via Astuto.) All the neighbors seemed to see the same sight at the same time. It was around 10:30 am, and a big, beautiful hot air balloon was coming towards their homes. "Remember those words, 'balloons cannot steer.' Apparently, the wind had blown it over The Colony air space, and it experienced a 'no wind' event and descended around the area of Via Aguadulce and Via Astuto. By this time, security had arrived on the scene and had a fit since this was a 'gated' community. The pilot of the balloon kept telling the guard, 'My envelope has deflated.' (Envelope is the balloon.) Responding with a blank stare, the guard continued to tell the pilot that he had to get the balloon off the property. "A long, involved and heated conversation ensued about opening the back gate in order to admit the chase vehicle that would dismantle the basket and balloon. Repeatedly, the guard refused until the Murrieta Police came in and convinced security to allow the pickup truck admittance. Colony residents, in their usual and kind manner, took cookies and coffee to passengers and shared stories. The basket and balloon were eventually stored in the pickup truck, but the passengers were still having coffee with the residents. A van was waiting at the gate to transport the passengers, but the guard would not permit the driver into The Colony. The police prevailed and the guard finally gave in. After the goodbyes were said, the passengers left happy. The pilot gave bottles of champagne to the residents as a thank you for taking such good care of his passengers throughout the incident." June brings the Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival to this area. The festival is held annually on the first weekend in June at Lake Skinner. It's a fun event. To learn more about The Colony, consider joining the Outreach to History Committee. Please call Rita Nastri. OUTREACH TO HISTORY By Rita Nastri, 698-8640

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