Week of October 10, 2024
Week of October 10, 2024
The Fallbrook Bonsall International Film Festival is back for its 2024 edition, bringing an exciting lineup of independent films from around the world. Taking place on Oct. 12-13 at the River Village Cinema D'Place, this year's festival will showcase an eclectic array of 30 films across both days. “There will be feature films, short films, feature documentaries, short documentaries, animation, and student films,” said the festival Prez Leo Romero. Attendees can choose a...
Ann Corrine Gustafson, age 27, was arrested Tuesday night, Oct. 1, for the bludgeoning of George Villareal, age 67, and his wife, Nancy Dobson-Villareal, 66. Gustafson is accused of attempted murder and beating both the victims with a hammer. Someone was reported to have entered their home. A hot prowler was initially reported and then the call changed to an Assault with a Deadly Weapon. Gustafson was arrested for 187(APC) Attempted Murder 1st Degree-Felony, 245... Full story
Local man arrested for manufacturing and distribution of 'magic mushrooms' Randal Scott Vance, 41, is facing numerous charges following the discovery of a mushroom grow operation in Fallbrook and Bonsall. The arrest was made on Friday, October 4 just after 9 a.m. following a warrant service at a business in the 200 block of West Ash Street in Fallbrook and a house in the 1600 block of West Lilac Road in Bonsall. Deputies with the Fallbrook Sheriff's Substation Crime... Full story
The family of Miguel Munoz, a diagnosed schizophrenic from Fallbrook, experienced an emotional four-day search after he was mistakenly released from San Diego Central Jail in the middle of the night without their knowledge. Munoz, 35, was arrested on October 3 for public intoxication near his home in Fallbrook. He was booked and released out of San Diego Central Jail onto the unfamiliar streets of downtown San Diego just after midnight on Friday. His family, unaware of his... Full story
FALLBROOK – Sam Larson recently graduated from U.S. Navy bootcamp located in Great Lakes, Illinois, and will continue his schooling in Great Lakes. Larson is following in his dad's footsteps where he retired as a Master Chief in the Navy in 2004. He is a 2020 Fallbrook High School graduate and received his AA in welding from Palomar College. Larson is the son of Paul and Margaret Larson, also of Fallbrook. Submitted by the Larson...
FALLBROOK – The Fallbrook Live Oak Chapter of Questers International celebrated the 35th Anniversary of the Live Oak Chapter's founding in 1989 on Oct. 2. The Chapter's founding members belonged to Fallbrook Newcomers and upon learning of Questers International decided to form the Live Oak Chapter of Questers. Questers is an International study club founded in 1944 by Jessie Bardens to stimulate an appreciation of antiques and their collection, and to encourage the...
SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom announced Oct. 2 that more than 11.5 million Californian households will automatically see savings on their October electricity bill through the California Climate Credit, funded by the state’s innovative Cap-and-Trade Program. This credit will average $71 per electric bill customer. Including credits that went out in April, Californians will receive an average of $217 in bill credits during 2024. Since 2014, Californian households have already received an average of $971 in combined...
The Bonsall Unified School District does not have a continuation school, but BUSD students who are not meeting Bonsall High School requirements may now continue their studies at Ivy High School in Fallbrook. A 5-0 BUSD board vote Sept. 18 approved a memorandum of understanding between the Bonsall district and the Fallbrook Union High School District for BUSD students to attend Ivy High School, which is the FUHSD continuation school. The MOU covers the 2024-25 school year, and the parties will meet prior to June 30 to...
The Sept. 24 meeting of the North County Fire Protection District included approval of the 2024-25 NCFPD budget. The board’s 5-0 vote adopted a budget which anticipates $27,217,100 in revenue. The budget also calls for $27,217,100 of operational and debt service expenditures and a contribution to reserves along with an $11,665,925 capital budget. “The increase in revenue the fire district is experiencing is allowing us to reinforce our infrastructure and expand services to meet the needs of our growing region,” said...
FALLBROOK – The staff of Fallbrook Skilled Nursing announces that it is now a Community Nursing Home Contracted Facility with the Veterans Administration. They look forward to serving veterans and their families. Families and patients are welcome to tour the facility. They can also take a virtual tour on the website, www.progressivecarecenters.com. For more information, call 909-557-1125. The SNF is located at 325 Potter St. Submitted by Progressive Health Care Centers Fallbrook Skilled...
BONSALL – On Friday, Sept. 27, the six Bonsall Elementary School Kindergarten classes put on a "fashion show" highlighting creativity and learning. Kindergarten students proudly showcased their talents by decorating unique outfits representing each letter of the alphabet. Each student chose a letter and used various materials to craft imaginative costumes that embodied the spirit of their chosen letter, from "A for Astronaut" to "Z for Zebra." Parents, teachers, and fellow...
Nancy Norman, beloved mother and great friend to many, passed peacefully on Oct. 4, 2024, in Delray Beach, Florida. She was born on Feb. 28, 1937, in Loma Linda, California to loving parents, Otis and Alice Heald, who instilled in her a sense of great spirituality, kindness and compassion that carried her throughout her life. Nancy grew up in Fallbrook, California where she developed a deep love for animals and nature. She spent countless hours with her brother Otie, riding... Full story
FALLBROOK – Karen Langer Baker's former AAUW mentee Alicia Tomas is now a sophomore at UC Riverside, has joined AAUW, and is now a mentor. Baker and her husband Larry took Tomas, her new mentee, Melissa Romero, and Baker's new mentee, Cristina Lucas, to San Diego's Old Town for the special Trolley Dances tour that started and ended at Old Town. They watched performances at each of the five stops; after one performance, the audience was invited to participate. One of the...
The marquee at Bonsall Elementary School will be replaced. The Bonsall Unified School District board voted 5-0 Sept. 18 to approve a contract with Quiel School Signs for a new marquee. The new marquee will utilize current technology and allow display of announcements, event reminders, and important notices. “The marquee has been nonoperational for a number of years. The sign is vital to display announcements and important notices to our students, families, and community at large,” said BUSD Superintendent Heather Golly....
FALLBROOK – A home appraisal is an unbiased professional opinion of a home’s value and it is almost always used when purchasing a home. In a purchase, an appraisal is used to ascertain whether the home’s contract price is appropriate given the home’s current condition, location, and features. Banks require home appraisals before approving a home loan in order to confirm that a home’s sale price is supported by its market value as most – if not all – banks do not issue a loan for more than the appraised value....
FALLBROOK – Liz Woodward, Jodi Bay, and Donna McClay will be the guest speakers at the Fallbrook Garden Club's Tuesday, Oct. 29 general meeting. These three Master Food Preservers will present food preservation information. They are certified Master Food Preservers, a program associated with the University of California Cooperative Extension which provides research-based information on food safety and food preservation. They are also UCCE Master Gardeners. They are eager to... Full story
BONSALL – The Third Annual Bonsall High School Car Show, Trunk or Treat style, will be held Saturday, Oct. 26, with roll in 9 a.m. and the show from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bonsall Elementary School parking lots This free event will have music, food trucks, business vendors, raffle baskets, plus many cool cars. Kids can make their own treat bags for cars giving out candy and get face painting done by BHS students. These kid-centered activities will be at the Historic Bonsall Schoolhouse where tours will be provided... Full story
FALLBROOK – Just about everything is in place for the annual Harvest Faire, scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 20 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Main Avenue in historic downtown Fallbrook. The faire will feature local handmade crafts, as well as a beer and wine garden, pony rides, pie baking contest, pumpkin and costume contests, live music, local foods and treats, fall-themed treats, nonprofits with crafts for kids and a pumpkin patch. Also on display will be an abundance of locally handcrafted scarecrows, as part of the October... Full story
FALLBROOK – At the Fallbrook Union High School District Board of Trustees' regular meeting on Sept. 11, FUHSD proudly recognized community members as "Fallbrook's Finest" for the month of September 2024. Originally launched in September 2019, the Fallbrook's Finest initiative was created to honor staff members who made exceptional contributions. This year, the program has expanded to celebrate all individuals who are actively engaged in supporting and promoting positive...
The Bonsall Unified School District board approved a new agreement with the Pala Band of Mission Indians to enhance the school district’s ability to provide educational accomplishments for Pala Tribe members. The BUSD board voted 5-0 Sept. 18 to approve the new memorandum of understanding. The school district and the tribe had previously approved an agreement in June 2023, but that MOU was subject to review after one year. “This is a renewal of an existing agreement that expires in 2024 and will continue until 2029,...
FALLBROOK – Last month, the FUESD Child Nutrition Services Team held a series of dynamic Farmers Market Assemblies at Live Oak Elementary, Fallbrook STEM Academy, Maie Ellis Elementary, and Mary Fay Pendleton. These assemblies provided students with an exciting, hands-on learning experience while highlighting the importance of supporting local farmers, sustainability, and healthy eating habits. One of the highlights of the events was the opportunity for students to select...
VISTA – Women who are the primary wage earners for their families can now apply for financial assistance through the Soroptimist Live Your Dream: Education and Training Awards for Women. The awards, which provide cash grants to help women continue their education or training, are open for applications until Nov. 15. Soroptimist International of Vista and North County Inland will award cash awards of varying amounts to be determined. Local winners may also advance to the Soroptimist Region level, where they have a chance...
FALLBROOK – Fallbrook Senior Softball is welcoming new players who are 50 plus years of age. Games are played at Ingold Sports Park Mondays thru Thursdays at 4 p.m. with warm-ups beginning at 3:30. Each team is scheduled to play two games per week. The league is currently looking for new players. Potential players must show for a screening prior to being placed on a team so that an appropriate placement on a team can be made. The league is currently in season #5 which will end Dec. 2. This will complete their yearly cycle...
"We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Fallbrook High School Varsity Warrior Football team for their wonderful visit to William H. Frazier School. This marks our second year of a meaningful partnership, and we truly appreciate these young men for stepping up as positive role models and inspiring our students with their presence and enthusiasm." – Megan Shinner, Assistant Principal William H. Frazier Elementary School. "In a heartwarming show of community spirit, the...
In my last writings on the art of firescaping, I gave a broad overview of some basic concepts to this vital subject for you and yours to consider around your home, and phase II will expand on that. In years past, we would think of the autumn months as the most important time of year to be aware of fires after a hot and dry summer. This is no longer the case for the fire season has extended throughout the year's calendar due to the unique climate and weather changes occurring...
An Oct. 22 hearing has been set to increase the per diem pay given to North County Fire Protection District board members for attending meetings. The NCPFD board voted 5-0 Sept. 25 to set the hearing date. If the increase is passed that day, the board members’ per diem pay, which is currently $100, will be $105. “The increase is only $5 per meeting. It’s not a lot,” said NCFPD Fire Chief Keith McReynolds. NCFPD board members receive per diem pay for each regular or special board meeting attended, each regular or...
SAN DIEGO – A new California law will expand the range of products managed by the PaintCare program in the state from architectural coatings to a broader array of paint product types. SB 1143, which passed the state legislature with bipartisan approval on Aug. 30, received support from CalRecycle, environmental advocates, and the American Coatings Association (ACA). Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill into law on Sept. 29. PaintCare is a nonprofit organization representing paint companies that plans and operates...
Baby Boy saved Susan Graham's life. Now, Susan is committed to sharing just how life-changing adopting a pet can be. Susan was suffering from severe depression when she walked into San Diego Humane Society's San Diego Campus on Gaines St. She hoped adopting a dog would help improve her mental health and bring happiness into her home. All it took was one look at Baby Boy to know she was making the right decision. Shortly after bringing home the 2-year-old pug mix, she felt joy...
TEMECULA – These lifestyle factors may help determine your spinal health. Spinal stenosis occurs when the spinal column becomes narrowed, which puts pressure on surrounding nerve roots. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including congenital conditions, osteoarthritis and trauma. Symptoms of spinal stenosis Those experiencing spinal stenosis commonly experience the following: • Back or neck pain • Numbness, tingling, cramping or weakness in arms or legs ...
Limb preservation with revascularization Vascular surgeons work hard to keep limbs on bodies. Often, folks with diabetes, kidney disease, high blood pressure, or a history of smoking present to us with diminished or absent blood flow to their feet, causing pain in or even wounds on their feet. This disease process is chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI), part of the peripheral arterial disease (PAD) spectrum. Intervening to improve blood flow, relieve pain, and heal...
A person can experience a panic attack when they least expect it. This can cause a great deal of fear and anxiety for the person. Many people do not know what they should do when dealing with a panic attack. Here are eight easy steps a person can follow when a panic attack strikes unexpectedly. 1. Take a break: A panic attack can be very uncomfortable and can affect a person’s thinking. The best thing to do when this happens is to take a break in order to calm down. You don’t want to do anything when you're not thinking...
October is National Bullying Prevention Month; bullying prevention programs begin locally, with communities and the individuals within them creating safe and supportive schools, organizations, neighborhoods, and family units. Anti-bullying campaigns ultimately save lives and prevent destructive behavior, such as substance abuse. The PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center stated that one in five students report being bullied, but the actual number of bullying incidents can be far more significant, ht... Full story
San Diego County has become the fifth location in California to report the environmental detection of H5 influenza virus, commonly referred to as bird flu. This detection was made through wastewater testing conducted on Sept. 1 by WastewaterSCAN, a privately funded operation that monitors wastewater for pathogens at more than 150 sites nationwide and 57 sites across California. Regular follow up sampling has not detected any virus. H5 influenza regularly circulates in wild birds and occasionally causes human cases. Recent...
The week I moved to Fallbrook in 1989, I immediately bought a copy of the local, weekly newspaper to become acquainted with my new area. I have continued to buy, read, and subscribe to it…for now. The Village News, as it is currently named, is a great source for information about local events, announcements of club activities, coverage of school programs and sports, real estate listings, support for our businesses, updates from our local and county officials, editorials, and more. Your portrayal of current events,... Full story
This November, San Diego County voters will face a critical decision: whether to approve Measure G, a new half-cent sales tax to fund public transportation projects for SANDAG (San Diego Association of Governments). I strongly oppose this measure, and here’s why. Measure G asks you to pay more taxes to fund buses and trolleys. This is not the time to add to the financial burdens of hardworking San Diegans. We’re all feeling the pinch – electricity, gas, fire insurance,... Full story
Dear Mr. Acosta and Ms. Rincon, I am writing on behalf of so many in our community to utterly oppose the closure of our library facility for 2 months without providing any important library resources as this is going on! When the new library was being built, you found a storefront space on Main Street for limited walk-in services, tutoring and computer use. You partnered with the Community Center to use some of their underutilized rooms for tutoring programs. In short, you cared about what was going to happen to our... Full story
I am writing to urge voters in the Bonsall Unified School District to pass Measure V and re-elect school board trustee Eric Ortega. I am a teacher at Sullivan Middle School and my classroom is an old, cramped portable. Over the years, my students and I have experienced pest infestations, inadequate heating and cooling, flickering lights, leaking roofs, and the general disrepair that comes with such conditions. In fact, most teachers at Sullivan are in the same situation. Students struggle to learn when their environment is... Full story
SACRAMENTO – Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego) announced that Governor Newsom signed his Senate Bill 708 into law after it sailed through both houses of the Legislature with unanimous votes. The bipartisan measure saves off-highway vehicle (OHV) competitions in California. “I’m thrilled that Governor Newsom signed our bipartisan Senate Bill 708 into law, effectively saving OHV competitions in California,” said Jones. “For the past five years, my office worked with stakeholders and government... Full story
Breaking news surrounding Hurricane Helene has sparked widespread controversy, with polarizing rumors and unsettling facts dominating the internet and airwaves. Questions have arisen about FEMA’s response, financial state, and potential involvement in blocking recovery efforts, all while the catastrophic hurricane continued its destructive path. Other people reported that FEMA was trying to manage privately purchased supplies going into the hurricane affected areas so they... Full story
Victor Gomez Executive Director California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse You have to just love how using websites can make life so easy. You no longer have to leave the house to shop for a new car or dress. Instead, the internet has also become the breeding ground for those targeting small business owners for technical website violations, suing them with American Disability Act lawsuits. The technical law allows anyone wanting to scam the system to sit in front of a computer at the kitchen table in the middle of North... Full story
The 2023-2024 regular session of the Legislature adjourned Aug. 31. For better or worse, over the past two years, we’ve debated 4,821 bills. This year, over 1,200 bills passed both houses and were sent to the Governor. He vetoed 15.7%. And last year, 1,100 bills reached the Governor, and his veto rate was 14.9%. 3,291 of these bills originated in the Assembly, and 1,530 were Senate bills. 1,420 bills created a state mandate for a local program, in some cases without... Full story
FALLBROOK – As the vibrant hues of autumn begin to paint the landscape, Fallbrook's Happy Jug liquor store is at the forefront of a transformative movement – Sober October. This annual campaign encourages individuals to reassess their drinking habits while highlighting a growing trend: the rise of delicious, non-alcoholic beverages that make socializing enjoyable without the effects of alcohol. Rawia El Farra, the owner of Happy Jug, has experienced an outpouring of...
E.Y. Washington will be taking over choreography services for Sullivan Middle School productions. The Bonsall Unified School District board voted 5-0 Sept. 18 to approve an independent contractor agreement with Washington. He will replace Natalie Nucci, who was the Sullivan choreography director for the Spring 2023 and 2023-24 productions. “Mrs. Stacy Pecore, as the Show Choir Director, is at liberty to hire different choreographers for each show,” said BUSD Superintendent Heather Golly. “She has worked with a number...
