Image Up Advertising & Design

6 SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | OCTOBER 2026 By eresa Rossetti, Resident For thousands of years, humans have been creating marvels out of nothing, turning wood/metal/marble into objects so magical they take our breath away, paintings so realistic that we stare in awe. Seeing works of art in person, Michelangelo's Pietá, Monet's Water Lilies, Da Vinci's Mona Lisa, for instance, can literally take your breath away. Cave art has been found dating back to The Ice Age. Someone figured out how to make paper. We wouldn't have Shakespeare's plays or the notes of Beethoven without it. Someone had to weave fabric and yarn, make clothing, tan leather for boots, shoes, and gloves, and so on. The artist needed the tradesman or craftsperson to supply the tools to see their works reach the public. By the Renaissance era, loosely the 14th through the 17th centuries, art in all forms became increasingly overblown. Think Marie Antoinette, King Louis the Whatever, Henry the Eighth, George the Third, Queen Victoria, and so on. By the late 1800s, The Arts and Crafts movement emerged from the attempt to reform design and decoration in mid-19th-century Britain. Things got plainer, more utilitarian, and in some instances, plain old boring. And then the pendulum swung back again. As with most reform ideas, perhaps they go too far. However, fashioning something out of something else never went away. We see examples of that not only in museums, but in our own lives. You may remember growing up in a house, or visiting relatives, with examples of all sorts of craft items that you took for granted. People made furniture from downed trees, clothing for their families, and then pieced together quilts from that clothing when it was outgrown. Even Grandma's antimacassars had a practical use. They were knitted or crocheted to keep a gentleman's hair oils from staining the furniture! I'm sure most of you have seen quilts that have been presented to the veterans who live in our community by our Quilters Club. There are many more marvelous artists and crafters in our midst. Which brings me to the point of this article. (Thank heavens, I hear you say!) If you are interested in unique items for yourself or to gift to others, be sure not to miss our Annual Art & Cra Faire, Sat., Oct. 10 from 8 am till 2 pm, right here at our Lodge! You may be surprised at what you will find from our own SDV artists and crafters. IS IT ART OR CRAFT? By Tina Pauro, Emergency Preparedness Advisory Committee (EPAC) On Thurs., Oct. 15 at 10 am, millions of people across California and around the world will take part in the Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill. Here at Solera Diamond Valley, we're not just marking the date — EPAC is holding an active community drill, and we would really like YOU to join us! Earthquakes arrive without warning. There's no time to look up what to do or think through a plan once the ground starts moving. Practicing ahead of time helps the correct response become familiar — and that can make a real difference during an emergency. During our ShakeOut drill, we'll practice the recommended actions to take when an earthquake begins: DROP - Get down before the shaking knocks you down. COVER - Protect your head and neck and, if possible, get under sturdy furniture. HOLD ON - Hold onto your shelter and be prepared to move with it until the shaking stops. Why Participate? Most of us already know that Southern California is earthquake country. We may have emergency supplies, know where our flashlights are and have a general idea of what we're supposed to do. But knowing what to do and practicing it are two different things. A drill gives us an opportunity to stop and think: What would I do if the shaking started right now? Where would I go? What would I protect myself from? What would I do when the shaking stopped? Those few minutes of practice can help us react more quickly and confidently when there isn't time to think through every step. Our Community is Preparing There is another important reason we'd like you to participate: earthquake preparedness isn't just an individual effort. Following a significant earthquake, police, fire and medical resources may be responding to emergencies throughout the region. For a period of time, the people closest to us — our neighbors — may be the people we rely on first. The more residents who understand basic earthquake safety and take preparedness seriously, the stronger and more resilient our entire community becomes. That's why EPAC would love to see a great turnout for this year's ShakeOut. You don't need any special training or equipment. Just come out, join your neighbors and participate! It only takes a few minutes, but those few minutes are an opportunity to practice something that could someday make a very real difference. Don't just be earthquake aware — be earthquake ready. EPAC hopes to see you there! Get Ready to Shakeout

• Cover