Week of July 25, 2024
Week of July 25, 2024
In the bustling parking lot where Grocery Outlet and Bank of America stand on S. Main Ave., a new wave of green technology is taking shape. Electric vehicle (EV) charging stations are being installed, marking a step towards sustainability for the community. However, the exact date when these stations will be ready for use remains a mystery. "We install the stations and the rest is up to SDGE. They are the ones that provide the power to the stations," said one of the... Full story
California is making nearly $300 million available to locals to help move even more individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness from encampments into housing. This new round of funding builds on the $415 million the state has already awarded to cities, counties, and continuums of care to clean up encampments and house people living on the street. To date, California has provided $415 million to locals to move people from encampments into housing and get those...
UC San Diego Health and the Tri-City Healthcare District are at a critical juncture in their negotiations aimed at revitalizing the financially troubled Tri-City Medical Center, nearly nine months after their collaboration began, according to the San Diego Union Tribune. Initially anticipated to conclude by March's end, the talks have extended well beyond expectations, prompting the Tri-City board to take decisive action during a special meeting on Friday. Dr. Gene Ma, CEO... Full story
Brian Francis Zielinski, the transient arrested for murder in Fallbrook on Feb. 9, 2024, had a hearing in Federal Court in San Diego on Friday, July 12. The judge ruled him incompetent to stand trial at this time. Zielinski appeared sober and somber at the hearing, presenting a stark contrast to his demeanor in February. However, after determining the defendant not currently mentally competent to stand trial, she encouraged the public defender to ensure Zielinski continues...
The Fallbrook Community Planning Group did not take a vote in favor or against a proposal to install automated license plate readers and high-resolution traffic cameras in Fallbrook to address illegal and dangerous driving behaviors, but those who attended the Monday, July 15, meeting were able to fill out a survey indicating whether they favor or oppose such cameras. “Some people think it’s an invasion of their privacy and others think it’s a very important law...
This year, North County Fire Protection District firefighter/paramedic Zach Cain was fourth in the Firefighter Demolition Derby, which was part of the San Diego County Fair, but he had a more significant achievement. The Firefighter Demolition Derby raises money for the Burn Institute. The Hard Charger Award is given to the fire department which raised the most money for the Burn Institute, and the North County Fire Protection District received this year's Hard Charger Award....
During the October 2003 wildfires, most of the fatalities were citizens who were trying to evacuate but were caught in traffic on congested roads. The October 2007 Rice Fire, which forced the evacuation of most of Fallbrook, also closed Interstate 15, so Fallbrook residents had to evacuate through Camp Pendleton and had long wait times to evacuate. A new product from a San Diego company called Genasys will assess risk and road conditions at neighborhood levels and minimize...
Sailors are some of the most highly trained people on the planet, and this training begins at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, otherwise known as boot camp. Every enlisted sailor starts their Navy journey at boot camp at Naval Station Great Lakes in Illinois. Petty Officer 1st Class Samantha Chavez, a native of Fallbrook, is currently stationed at NSGL as an instructor with Naval Education and Training Command. Chavez graduated from Fallbrook High School in 2017 and...
FALLBROOK – Fallbrook A Leer (Read in Fallbrook) is celebrating its 20th annual day of literacy and service on Saturday, July 27 and is honored to announce Manuel H. Bernal, president of the Cesar Chavez Foundation, as the event keynote speaker. Student winners of the poetry and essay contests will also be recognized, and one lucky family will receive a donated computer and printer. The event will be held at Maie Ellis Elementary School at 400 W. Elder St. and is held in...
FALLBROOK – Many in the community celebrated July 4th by attending the Rotary Club of Fallbrook's Pancake Breakfast and Celebration held at the Fallbrook Community Center. Breakfast, consisting of pancakes, sausage, orange slices, coffee, and orange juice was served to 341 guests, an increase from last year's 295 guests. Major Market provided much support associated with the food acquisition and preparation. Attendees enjoyed the opening program that included the...
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. July 13 100 blk S. Mercedes Rd. Grand theft: money/labor/property July 14 1100 blk E. Mission Rd. Medical Examiners case - Death July 15 35800 blk Bay Sable Ln. Assist other agency - Death 3400 blk S. Old Hwy 395 Arrest - Traffic stop - Expired registration, driving without valid driver's... Full story
SAN DIEGO – The importance of graduate fellowships cannot be overstated for students who want to break through financial barriers and access advanced degrees. For Edgar Leon, a fellowship was his ticket to a brighter future. A fellowship helped bridge the gap for Leon, a second-year full-time MBA student from Fallbrook. "I've had an interesting journey – if you were to ask people that I grew up with whether I would be where I am now, they probably would not believe it,"...
FALLBROOK – Rainbow Municipal Water District announced the winners of the 2024 Water Awareness Poster Contest at the July 16 Communications and Customer Service Committee meeting. The top winners in the contest are Ivy Shadzi, Jones Titera, Lillian Nixon, and Selma Haven of Bonsall Elementary School. Rainbow Water General Manager Jake Wiley recognized the fourth grade student artists at the meeting for their outstanding artistic achievement and presented each artist with an...
Barbara Jean (Wasniewski) Kovacic, loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, 86, passed away on Saturday, July 20, 2024. She was born and raised in North Chicago, Illinois, and has been a resident of Fallbrook, Calif. for the past 48 years. She was married to her husband, George, for 56 years, until his passing in 2012. She retired after a career in nursing from Fallbrook Hospital as Infection Control and Quality Assurance Manager. She is survived by her five children:... Full story
Kostadina Angelopoulos was a Fallbrook High School freshman during the 2023-2024 academic year, so she had no previous National FFA Organization experience nor had she previously shown an animal at a fair. The students in Doug Sehnert's agriculture class who desired to raise and show goats for the San Diego County Fair had a lottery to determine who would obtain goats and in which order they would choose their goat. Angelopoulos was the final student to pick a goat, and at...
Mallory Sehnert will actually conclude her Future Farmers of America career, at least as a member of FFA, Oct. 23-26 at the national FFA convention in Indianapolis. Her final FFA event as an exhibitor was the 2024 San Diego County Fair, and one of the steers she raised was selected as the supreme grand champion. "It was an amazing way to end my FFA career," Sehnert said. This year Sehnert showed two steers and a pig at the county fair's market livestock show. All three of the...
Rainbow resident Meg Berry won five awards including two first-place ribbons at the San Diego County Fair’s gems, minerals and jewelry exhibition. Berry received first place in the mixed display class involving a full case with a variety of minerals and all lapidary or jewelry work done by the exhibitor. In the carving – professional class she swept first, second and third place. The awards were given during Berry’s 50th year faceting, or cutting, gemstones. “I’ve dug for the stuff, and I’d much rather sit and...
SAN DIEGO COUNTY – The summer heat is finally here and to help local seniors stay cool, Meals on Wheels San Diego County is collecting new fans for its clients through July 31. Many seniors in the community lack air conditioning, making the high summer temperatures particularly dangerous for them as their body's ability to regulate heat wanes as they age, leaving seniors susceptible to heat-related illnesses like heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and other conditions. Symptoms...
FALLBROOK – On Wednesday, July 10, D'Vine Path accepted a grant from the Fallbrook Regional Health District for $51,000 with all proceeds going towards the "Life I Can" Healthy Lifestyles program. Multiple D'Vine Path representatives were in attendance at the FRHD Board of Directors meeting for the presentation of the grant awards. The "Life I Can" Healthy Lifestyle curriculum is centered around the students and improving their overall health. This includes mental health...
VISTA – Are you getting your eyes checked? Vision problems and serious eye conditions can go completely unnoticed. With the help of an optometrist, eye diseases can be diagnosed early and potential vision loss prevented or slowed down. Cataracts are one of the leading causes of blindness. A cataract is a clouding of the lens inside of your eye. Depending on the type of cataract, it can develop slowly or quickly and can affect one or both eyes. While aging is the main cause, other risk factors include diabetes, smoking,...
TEMECULA – Southwest Healthcare Temecula Valley Hospital has been named by U.S. News & World Report to its 2024-2025 Best Hospitals as a High Performing hospital for Heart Attack, Heart Failure and Stroke. It is the highest distinction a hospital can earn for U.S. News’ Best Hospitals Procedures & Conditions ratings. The annual Procedures & Conditions ratings are designed to assist patients and their health care providers in making informed decisions about where to receive care for challenging health conditions or...
SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom announced June 21 that CalRx®-branded over the counter naloxone HCL nasal spray, 4 mg, will be available for free to eligible organizations through the Naloxone Distribution Project (NDP). This follows the state’s contract with Amneal Pharmaceuticals to purchase an OTC naloxone nasal spray product through CalRx®’s Naloxone Access Initiative at a significantly lower price. CalRx-branded naloxone coming off the production line “The CalRx brand is more than a logo; it’s a way to...
SI joint problems can be elusive, disabling and are more common than you may realize. To kick things off, let's understand: · What the medical term is · The definition, and · What the symptoms are "Sacroiliitis is painful inflammation in the joints where your spine connects to your pelvis (your sacroiliac joints – "SI joints"). It causes pain in your lower back, butt (buttock muscles) or legs," the Cleveland Clinic states. For those who have sought out an accurate...
The July 4 Nathan’s hot dog eating contest was conducted without Joey Chestnut, who was prohibited from competing because of an endorsement deal with a plant-based hot dog company. The administrators of the Nathan’s contest felt that Chestnut was supporting a rival brand. Plant-based hot dogs are an alternative to beef hot dogs. They are not truly a competitor of a beef hot dog company. I’m no vegetarian, but I’m also not going to turn my back on the produce farmers who are helping to preserve our rural way of life.... Full story
Last week, a rally of over two hundred people opposing placement of a Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) in a rural Poway neighborhood was held at Garden Road Park. Fortunately, Mayor Steve Vaus received a call from the Director of State Hospitals just prior to the start of the rally announcing that the placement had been withdrawn. The rally instantly turned into a victory celebration. It shouldn’t be necessary for communities to hold rallies, mount letter writing campaigns... Full story
Publisher Julie Reeder's commentary of July 18, "was an excellent summation of how Democrats, dishonest media, and strangely unprotective Secret Service leaders added up to near death for President Trump. Written in Reeder's get-to-the-point style, she moves quickly from the seemingly intentional lack of protection for Trump, to the media's downplaying of the obvious assignation attempt. Possibly because it interfered with some suggestions that the whole thing was staged, they initially ignored the tragic death of one rally... Full story
During the House Oversight Committee Hearing, a few Congressmen referred to reports that became public after the attempted assassination of former President Trump, analyzing the sounds of gunshots and suggesting that there was possibly more than one shooter. There were suggestions that Crooks was possibly a “patsy” and was meeting with someone who may be in government in the months or weeks leading up to the shooting. What does all this mean? Time will tell. Separate from... Full story
San Diego is the most expensive city in the nation and it just got more expensive. This is a story that can make a person go homeless quickly, as if we don't have enough homelessness in California. There is a local contractor who steals possessions, does not do work to code, hires actors to pretend they are officials, abandons the job just before he is caught, and places massive liens on his homes after he departs, and no one is stopping him. In my case, I flip houses. I paid the contractor over $110,000 for a $150,000 job,... Full story
There is a lot going on in our country right now, but I wanted to note that the San Diego Border sector is still seeing large numbers of illegal immigrants. U.S. Border Patrol facilities in the San Diego region are at 150% capacity, with more than 1,500 migrants in custody as of Tuesday morning, July 16. I also wanted to inform you of a disturbing meeting that took place recently. Two whistleblowers discussed their experiences working at the Pomona Emergency Intake Site.... Full story
FALLBROOK – The Fallbrook Art Center, 103 S. Main Avenue in Fallbrook, will present its annual Gift Show – "Fusion of Artistry," running through Sunday, Aug. 18. The show presents fresh and innovative works of art across all disciplines, creating a melting pot of artistic expression. The Fusion of Artistry has led to the emergence of new and innovative expressions that push the boundaries of traditional art forms. By incorporating elements from different mediums, artists...
