5 Things to Know in Murrieta Today: May 16

1.) There is a hazardous weather outlook forewarning high winds, according to the National Weather Service. While the desert and beach cities are expected to get the brunt of it, the valleys may experience gusts of high wind. If you are traveling to these areas, be advised to take it slow, especially when driving at high speeds, like during your morning commute. Aside from the wind, it is expected to be partly sunny with a high near 63. Tonight, there is a 20 percent chance of showers after 11 p.m. Otherwise, it will be mostly cloudy with a low near 48.

 2.) Learn new skills or solidify the ones you already have by attending on of the workshops the Employment Development Department is offering today. Along with their weekly Job Club orientation and meeting, they will be offering a Basic Computer workshop. Beginning at noon, the Experience Unlimited Job Club is open to any person in a professional, managerial or administrative field and offers new topics, networking or guest speakers each week. The Basic Computer workshop begins at 9 a.m. and will help job seekers develop basic computer skills, create an email account and conduct job searches. Both the meetings and workshop will be held at Southwest Workforce Development Center at 30135 Technology Drive in Murrieta. Registration is required but can quickly be done so by logging on to Rivcojobs.com. For more information, call Tracy Fuerte at 951-304-5728.

3.) Here's what's for lunch today at elementary schools in the Murrieta Valley Unified School District: Safari Chicken Nuggets and a chocolate chip cookie. Lunches are served with a fresh fruit/salad bar and a choice of juice or milk. Lunches average about 684 calories and 29.59 percent fat. To see middle and high school menus, click here.

4.) The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) is hosting a series of community open houses in the surrounding areas to share the results of the Preliminary Alternatives Analysis Report and tonight it kicks off in Murrieta. The PAA Report is the first step in a two-step process to identify the range of alternatives for detailed engineering of a high-speed rail-- system proposed to travel through the region--and the Environmental Impact Report/ Environmental Impact Statement. The next step will be the Supplemental Alternatives Analysis Report, which will be completed in 2011-2012. The goal of the open houses is to present current plans and obtain community input before CHSRA initiates the detailed environmental/engineering analysis later in 2012, subject to funding availability.  The meeting starts at 4 p.m. at the , Eight Town Square. The public is invited to attend; agency and public input will be used in the ongoing refinement of alignment alternatives, high-speed rail station locations and design options. For more information or a copy of the PAA Report, .

5.) Today begins another week and that means another opportunity to find the job you’ve been looking for. Whether you are unemployed, looking for a second job or wanting a career change, there are many openings in the Murrieta area.  SnagAJob.com offers a comprehensive list of available work in any field. This week, some of the employment opportunities include a shift supervisor at the located at 25030 Hancock Ave. and cashiering work at . For more information and a complete list of job available, click here.