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Heyneman helps keep Fallbrook beautiful

Jackie Heyneman is well-known in the Fallbrook area for her never-ending volunteer work that helps keep the Friendly Village beautiful.

Prior to living in Fallbrook, Heyneman spent her youth in Norwalk, CA, on her family’s orange grove. Her fondest memories as a child were helping her father irrigate the farm, riding horses and playing with animals. Heyneman was a bona fide tomboy, scampering around the grove.

There were two giant pepper trees on Imperial Highway she often visited. “I used to climb those trees when I was a kid,” she reminisced. A brave young Heyneman would crawl on the branches that stretched out over the road, and she’d watch the cars go by. “It was wonderful!”

In many ways, Heyneman was reared as if she was an only child, because her elder sister was 17 years her senior. “I was raised as a spoiled only child,” Heyneman said, laughing.

Married in 1950, Heyneman traveled extensively, as her husband had a 27-year career in the Navy. “I’ve lived in numerous places,” she explained.

In 1971, Heyneman and her husband, who is now deceased, moved to Fallbrook. It was in this town where Heyneman was finally able to settle down, be a part of the community and call Fallbrook home. “I’m deeply rooted here,” she added.

Heyneman is a board member of the Fallbrook Land Conservancy and remains instrumental in the Save our Forest Treescape Project. To date, this nonprofit has planted 625 trees in downtown Fallbrook and more than 6,000 trees and native plants throughout the entire Fallbrook area.

She is also a board member of the Fallbrook Beautification Alliance, which was formed a few years ago, and a member of the Keep Fallbrook Clean and Green committee.

When Heyneman sees the community of Fallbrook come together for Keep Fallbrook Clean and Green events, she is overwhelmed with emotion. “You get so pumped up, because you realize that there are people out there who think the same way you do,” she said.

Whenever she sees teenagers step forward to offer a helping hand, Heyneman beams with joy. “Who better than young people, who need to realize the responsibility that we all bear as community members, to help our community?” Heyneman asked, smiling.

Because Fallbrook is unincorporated, volunteerism is very important, said Heyneman. According to Heyneman, Fallbrook has more volunteer organizations than any other community in Southern California.

Being involved in many volunteer organizations and causes, Heyneman has unquestionably learned some very important lessons along the way: don’t get discouraged, never give up, try not to get upset and remember that there is a great group of people out there.

Although Heyneman has put countless hours into Fallbrook causes, those goals would never be accomplished without the wonderful, dedicated people working by her side.

“They are the ones who make it happen. I am just the person who sort of holds it all together,” said a humble Heyneman. These great people have also become some of her closest friends.

Heyneman remains ever grateful for having the opportunity to volunteer her time to these magnificent associations. “I appreciate the work that I do; it’s a big part of my life.”

 

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