Week of May 9, 2024
Palomar Health Medical Group has shut down its phone lines and patient portal while it investigates “suspicious activity on certain computer systems within its network.” Fallbrook’s Graybill Medical Group is part of PHMG and is included in this shutdown. According to an NBC 7 news report, in a letter to patients dated May 6, PHMG said it detected the activity on May 5. PHMG took the affected systems offline, to “prevent the spread of any potential malware and launched an investigation into the nature and scope of...
At Pala Rd and just east of Horse Ranch Creek Rd, a head-on collision left four people dead. A fifth person was reported to have survived and transported to a local hospital in serious condition. It was reported at 11:21 pm Friday night, 05/10/24. Video https://youtu.be/78yEIWG_E0Y?si=w6PDtoge1gFetmfk It appears there were two vehicles, a grey Chrysler 300 and a white Jeep Gladiator that crashed head-on. A person on scene believed the grey Chrysler 300 may have been traveling...
Charges were filed Wednesday, May 8, at 11:26 pm by the San Diego Police Dept. when Patrick Lowell was released from the hospital and booked into Vista Detention Center. Patrick Wendell Lowell, 66, was shot and injured by Sheriffs in Bonsall on May 4, after multiple calls from the public expressing concern about someone walking on Mission Rd/SR 76 waving weapons. After refusing to drop his weapons last Saturday, May 2, two Vista Sheriffs deputies dischsrched their firearms,...
At about 1:50 pm today, May 9, a motorhome caught fire on the I-15 northbound just north of Mission Rd off ramp. No one was reported hurt. It was occupied by one person who was able to escape before it became fully...
Following an officer-involved shooting in Bonsall on Saturday, May 4, involving deputies from the Vista Sheriff's Department, more details have emerged regarding the incident and its aftermath. The individual shot during the altercation has been identified as Patrick Wendell Lowell, 66, with addresses in Escondido and Fallbrook. Sources who know Lowell believe he may have been most currently staying under the Bonsall bridge. According to Lowell's social media, he is also a...
Next week on May 13, Betsy Phillips ,will reach another milestone in her life, celebrating 107 years young. What a privilege to know this charming, intelligent and wise woman. Every afternoon almost without fail, Betsy enjoys her afternoon walks. She has always had a keen interest in the appreciation of bird life and flowers. One couldn't find a more lovely place to soak up nature, than our own beautiful Fallbrook. Betsy has become, one would say, a celebrity in Fallbrook. A...
FALLBROOK – At a special board meeting April 30, the Fallbrook Public Utility District and Eastern Municipal Water District celebrated switching water wholesalers in a move that allows Eastern to provide water service to FPUD. FPUD also recognized many community leaders who worked hard spreading the message of the benefits of detaching. They made phone calls, posted Measure A signs around town, ran ads, and created a campaign to inform people that made the switch go from a...
FALLBROOK – Michael McGuire, Donations Chair for the Fallbrook Vintage Car Club, recently presented donations to two groups in early May. These ongoing monthly donations are the direct result of funds generated at the club's annual car show and the Avocado Festival through FVCC merchandise sales, car show registrations, and swap meet/faire spaces. The club supports three college scholarships, two for Fallbrook High School and one for Bonsall High School. Excitement is...
Lillian Cornish of Fallbrook celebrated her 100th birthday on May 1, with a gathering of family members and a visit by North County Fire. She was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Before she came to Fallbrook, Cornish lived in Arcadia, California. After her husband passed away in 1998, she moved to Fallbrook in 2000 to be near her children. She said her happiest moment living in Fallbrook is walking around the neighborhood visiting family and friends with her dog. Before she...
FALLBROOK – May Day was a perfect time to celebrate the publication of "More Wise Women of a Friendly Village." Editor Sue Thorne had promised to deliver what she referred to as her "baby" in nine months and – thanks to some beautiful input from over 30 ladies – the deadline was met. Sixteen of the "wise women" featured in the book gathered for a champagne launch at Thorne's house to pick up their copies and ooh and aah over the lovely Fallbrook scene on the cover...
NOTE: While these reports have been taken straight from the Sheriff's Office, individuals are innocent until proven guilty. These addresses reveal the block number, not an exact location. April 29 9400 blk Rainbow Creek Rd. Simple battery 4500 blk La Canada Rd. Arrest - Possession of controlled substance and paraphernalia 1400 blk Alturas Rd. 5150 - Suicide - Attempt - 72 hr observation 400 blk S. Main Ave. Vandalism - $400 or more 3400 blk Laketree Dr. Found property 900 blk Alturas Rd. Tampering with a vehicle 2600 blk...
A unanimous SDCWA board vote Thursday, April 25, approved a $5,644,936 contract with Hazen & Sawyer, which is headquartered in New York but has a regional headquarters in Los Angeles and offices in Irvine and San Diego, to provide the design and engineering support services for the replacement of the CWA pipelines in Moosa Canyon. The contract scope of work will include subsurface investigation and engineering support during construction as well as preliminary and final design. The CWA’s Second Aqueduct crosses Moosa...
The Board of Supervisors continued its process to hire a new Chief Administrative Officer by conducting interviews with semifinalist candidates May 3. The County of San Diego is conducting a comprehensive nationwide search for its next Chief Administrative Officer, a position appointed by the Board of Supervisors to implement the Board’s vision and policies and direct the County’s daily operations. The County of San Diego is the fifth largest county in the nation, with more than 20,000 employees and an $8 billion budget...
WASHINGTON – The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center released the 2023 edition of its annual Elder Fraud Report Tuesday, April 30. Elder fraud complaints to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center increased by 14% in 2023, and associated losses increased by about 11%, according to IC3’s 2023 Elder Fraud Report, released April 30. The annual publication provides statistics about incidents of elder fraud – or fraud that explicitly targets older Americans’ money or cryptocurrency – that are reported to IC3....
Richard Simon Schillig, known as "Dick or Dickie," 87, passed away peacefully on Tuesday April 23, 2024. Dick was born on May 8, 1937, in Glendale, California. Dick and his family moved to Fallbrook in the early 1970s and worked on their family avocado ranch, while building his landscape legacy he was known for. Dick is survived by his brother, Larry Schillig, who helped him get the Fallbrook Garden Center Nursery up and running. Dick is survived by the mother of his...
Robert Stephen Roso, Jr., born Feb. 13, 1979, passed away April 27, 2024, in Fallbrook. He is survived by his daughter, mother, father and sister. A viewing will be held Friday, May 10 at 11 a.m. with service starting at 12 p.m., at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 621 Stage Coach...
A loving wife and best friend, Theresa Maryann Kelly French, born April 12, 1953, was called home April 27, 2024. During Theresa's 71 years of life, she was a loving mother, an adoring wife, a wonderful grandmother, and an exceptional friend. Forty-four of those years were spent in her husband's arms, who now sits here trying to capture the spirit and essence of the most wonderful and perfect lady he has ever known. It is difficult to put her realities into words for others...
Easter Sunday, we took a Muni-bus ride to explore the city. I don't recall when we started doing this, if it was Chicago or Paris, but a senior pass is a bargain in any currency. We bounced down Galisteo Street over the Santa Fe River past the Rail Yard Arts District, the train depot, and all of the way down to the end of the line circling back to the downtown plaza. It took just over an hour to see the rest of the city at the senior bargain price of $1.00 each. Back in the...
The San Diego County Water Authority has deferred a proposal to defer seven Capital Improvement Program projects including the San Luis Rey Habitat Management Area Restoration. The specific proposed SDCWA board action was to approve the recommendation of the CWA’s Finance Planning Work Group to defer approximately $13 million in infrastructure projects and to increase the fiscal years 2024 and 2025 Capital Improvement Program appropriation amount from $183.9 million to $190.9 million to support bifurcation structures. The...
The Vallecitos School District has purchased a new modular portable classroom building for Vallecitos Elementary School. A 3-0 Vallecitos School District board vote April 9, with two vacant seats at the time of the vote, approved the purchase of a 40 foot by 48 foot modular building from Mobile Modular Management Corporation. The cost of the building itself is $113,734.00 and when the foundation, haulage costs, and sales tax are included the total school district expense for the purchase will be $143,714.42. “I’m...
FALLBROOK – The Fallbrook Fire Safe Council is sponsoring another "chipping day" event Saturday, May 18 , from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Fire Station 4, 4375 Pala Mesa Dr. This event is open to all residents in the Fallbrook, Bonsal, Rainbow and DeLuz communities. Material that will be accepted for chipping includes branches, less than six inches in diameter, trimmed brush, palm branches and other cut vegetation. Brush must be free of mud, rocks and other debris. No tree...
FALLBROOK – Each May, Palomar College students contribute to, edit, and publish “Bravura,” the college’s literary and arts journal – and they’re bringing the journal to Fallbrook. Writers Read at Fallbrook Library is delighted to host the students for a reading on Friday, May 10, from 6:30-8 p.m. Established in 1964,“Bravura” is an award-winning journal created each spring by student editors, with guidance from their advisors, Professors Clare Rolens and Stacey Trujillo. The journal features the prose,...
Ritsa Chanthabandith has been appointed to the Vallecitos School District board to fill the vacancy for the Trustee Area 5 seat. The Vallecitos board meeting Tuesday, April 9, included a 3-0 vote to appoint Chanthabandith to the vacant seat. The Trustee Area 1 seat is still vacant; Chris Howells resigned from the board effective Feb. 12 after moving out of California. Chanthabandith will serve until December 2024, although she can seek a full four-year term in the November 2024 election. “She has a couple of students in...
FALLBROOK – Rainbow Municipal Water District (Rainbow Water) hosted Bonsall High School students and staff for a field trip on April 25, where students took a guided tour through Rainbow Water headquarters to learn about STEM careers in the water industry. Over a dozen students were immersed in a behind the scenes look at the day-to-day operations of engineering, finance, information technology (IT), meter services, and water quality. The field trip was the third hosted by...
FALLBROOK – Fallbrook High School has achieved remarkable recognition in the 2024 Best High Schools rankings, recently released by U.S. News. The school has secured notable positions both nationally and within the metro-area, affirming its commitment to academic excellence and student success. With the release of the latest rankings, Fallbrook High School stands proud among the top 40% of high schools nationwide, earning the esteemed status as a U.S. News Best High School. This accomplishment not only reflects the...
I am excited to announce that the San Diego County Sheriff's Department will be hosting a Junior Women's Academy, Wednesday through Friday, June 12, 13, and 14, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at Palomar College, San Marcos Campus, 1140 W Mission Road. The goal is to provide a venue for Sheriff's Personnel to interact with high school-aged girls and introduce them to the many and varied employment opportunities within the San Diego Sheriff's Department. Participants will engage in...
Village News/Shane Gibson...
Fallbrook High School’s girls lacrosse team received the second seed in the CIF Division II playoffs, and the Warriors will have a May 10 home game against the winner of the first-round game between Westview and Mira Mesa. The Warriors completed the regular season with a 15-4 record. An 18‑5 loss at Carlsbad deprived Fallbrook of an undefeated league season as well as the Palomar League championship, and the Warriors were 5-1 in league play. The CIF playoff seeding and selection meeting was held May 4. Carlsbad was...
Volleyball requires individual players to perform as a team, and some of Fallbrook High School’s 2024 boys volleyball players had priorities which led Fallbrook coach Chip Patterson to assess the season as disappointing. “A lot of it has to do with attitude, commitment to volleyball,” Patterson said. “Some players were not committed,” Patterson said. “That sort of stuff killed us.” The Warriors’ season ended April 30 at Patrick Henry High School. The first-round CIF Division III playoff match was a 25-18,...
FALLBROOK – Fallbrook Senior Softball is welcoming new players who are 50 plus years of age. Games are played at Ingold Sports Park Mondays through Thursdays at 4 PM. with warm-ups beginning at 3:30. Each team is scheduled to play two games per week. We are currently looking for new players. Potential players must show for a screening prior to being placed on a team so that appropriate placement can be made. The league is currently in season #2 which will end near the beginning of June. The deadline for season #3...
San Diego County is scheduled to conduct a routine aerial larvicide drop, May 15 and 16, on up to 52 local waterways to help stop mosquitoes from potentially spreading diseases like West Nile virus. The only site in Fallbrook is at Lake Rancho Viejo. County officials said helicopter larvicide drops will be done Wednesday, and Thursday if necessary, to cover nearly 1,400 acres of hard-to-reach potential mosquito breeding areas. The county started using helicopters to drop solid, granular larvicide on hard-to-reach areas of...
FALLBROOK – Collaboration is a win-win deal evidenced in the recent partnership with Save Our Forest/Fallbrook Land Conservancy, Fallbrook Historical Society, and Jolley Singh, owner of the 7/Eleven franchise. Enhancing the central corner of Fallbrook Street and Main Avenue was the goal. The point of interest featured there is Fallbrook's agricultural history. SOF pursued that concept suggested by Singh for the corner. SOF/FLC contacted the Fallbrook Historical Society and...
Serendipity recently led me to a hidden treasure and introduced me to a pixie philanthropist who was a muse for one of the world's great philosophers. This delightful encounter came about through a chance invitation after church on Sunday. It was a dear friend, Lila Sandschulte, who set the hook by telling me that the widow of famed cartoonist Charles M. Schulz would be a special guest at an appreciation walk later that day. I drove directly to the location – the goldfinch...
FALLBROOK – The Fallbrook Land Conservancy, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the natural beauty of Fallbrook and neighboring communities, has announced they are inviting submissions for their seventh annual "Go Wild" photo contest. Karla Ibarra, executive director of FLC, explained, "This is the chance for all the photographers out there to show us your stuff! We want you to go out and capture images of the lands protected by the FLC. And for the first time...
It’s fitting Mother’s Day occurs each spring, a time often associated with renewal and rebirth. As we celebrate the women in our lives and the important role they play in our families and our communities, Mother’s Day also provides an opportunity to think about ways to help encourage women of all ages to prioritize their health. Women may face unique and varied health care needs based on age, race, culture and other factors, so a holistic approach to well-being is important. Often the caretakers and CEOs of their...
Each May, the State of California and County of San Diego join community partners in celebrating CalFresh Awareness Month. It is an opportunity to promote this resource to families and provide those who qualify with access to healthy, nutritious food. Dozens of community events are scheduled throughout the month to share information about CalFresh and offer free, in-person help to eligible people and families. A full list of the free events is available online on the County's...
Another day – another food recall. It seems like we are constantly hearing about more and more food recalls. This is something we have seen affecting the majority of the states and products that have been distributed through both grocery stores and big box wholesale companies. Due to the number of recalls, it’s beginning to impact the wider population. This news can bring about a wide range of emotions. Are you becoming weary with fear, stress, concern, or is your mind filled with the question – why? An expert in the...
SAN DIEGO – Voices for Children urgently needs community volunteers to step up and advocate for children who have experienced abuse and neglect San Diego and Riverside counties. May is National Foster Care Month, and Voices for Children is recognizing the important role Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) and all members of the foster care system play in supporting children, youth, and families. CASA volunteers are advocates who bring stability to thousands of...
County Public Health officials are asking people to throw away walnuts tied to a national E. coli outbreak that were sold in 10 local natural food stores and co-ops. Two people who ate the walnuts from local stores have gotten sick from the same strain of E. coli that is part of a multi-state outbreak in which the majority of people reported eating Gibson Farms walnuts. One person locally was hospitalized. The Shiga toxin-producing E. coli found in the walnuts can potentially...
As many of you know, I have served on the Assembly Health Committee for most of my term in the State Legislature, and I am now the committee’s Vice Chair. The committee’s jurisdiction includes healthcare, behavioral and mental health, medical insurance, Medi-Cal and other public healthcare programs, and long-term care licensing. The lives of millions of Californians are impacted by legislation that comes before this committee. For example, several important health-related...
I am thrilled to share a significant milestone achieved at this week's board meeting: the approval to purchase Green Oak Ranch. This marks a pivotal step towards addressing the pressing issues of homelessness, mental health, and addiction in San Diego County. As many of you are aware, homelessness, mental health, and addiction continue to pose profound challenges in our community. Despite our collective efforts, the 2023 Point in Time Count revealed a 22% increase in...
In the year 2024 of our Lord, America's story reads like a Greek tragedy, a sordid tale that not even the revered sixteenth-century scholar Nostradamus could have predicted. After decades of political dominance decimating the core values that define our country, we find ourselves bracing for the spiraling demise of our nation. Our bridges and highways are crumbling under the sheer weight of neglect. Our public schools have become indoctrination centers fostering Marxist maxims. Boys compete in girls' sports and shower in...
2-Dimensional Category First Place: "Avo Moon Dance" – Jill Beltran, Bonsall Second place: "Growing Avocados" – Linda DiRosa, Oceanside Third place: "Flying Avocado Girl" – Ben Ussher 3-Dimensional Category First place: "Fallbrook Fruit & Flower" – Mary Brockman, San Jose Second place: "Low Hanging Fruit" – Peter Sidlauskas, Escondido Third place: "Avocado Dancer" – Lisa Stowers, Fallbrook Photography Category First place: "Chip 'N Dip" – Alexandra Carlsson,...
FALLBROOK – Members of the Fallbrook Village Rotary gathered at Live Oak Park to serve refreshments and cook cheeseburger and hot dog combos to feed families at Arts in the Park, Sunday, April 28, at Live Oak Park. This is an annual "Rotarians at Work" event. Everyone enjoyed close to 500 burgers and hot dogs! All proceeds are donated to Rally for Children. For more information about the Fallbrook Village Rotary, go to https...
FALLBROOK – Live Oak Park was filled to the brim with children and their families enjoying the many wonderful activities of Arts in the Park, Sunday, April 28, Rally for Children, (with its co-sponsors, the Fallbrook Union Elementary School District and the Expanded Learning Program), and all of its community partners, presented the entire community with an amazing free fun day of arts, crafts, music, reptiles, magic and performances. They had 34 great booths for families...
FALLBROOK – Sometimes film awards aren't made known by opening sealed envelopes. Sometimes film awards are made known by opening emails. That process is exactly how all the filmmakers at Fallbrook High School discovered that they had won Grand Jury Prizes at the 2024 Orlando International Film Festival. The Orlando International Film Festival, sponsored by the Orange County Government Arts and Culture Affairs Office and held at the University of Central Florida's...