Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma
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A report released on the housing needs of San Diego recently found that the region has fallen drastically short of housing production goals, with less than half the goal number of dwellings constructed in the past 10 years. San Diego’s 2020 Housing Inventory Annual Report, released Tuesday, July 28, pointed out glaring shortfalls, but also noted incentives for builders in the city which could potentially see a rise in construction. “We’ve built a lot of momentum over the past few years by implementing housing reforms to sp...
FALLBROOK – The 2020-2021 Fallbrook Garden Club officers were installed via a Zoom meeting Thursday, June 30, including, Sandi LeMasters and Judy Loser, co-presidents; Milly Rosmino and Cheryl Simmen, co-first vice presidents of programs; Pauline Webber and Marci Eisenstadt, co-second vice presidents of publicity; Norma Gomez and Mary Foster, co-third vice presidents of membership; Robert Sangster and Priscilla Lyons, co-recording secretaries; Nancy Korchick and Arlene R... Full story
In March, when people were told to hunker down at home to avoid the spread of COVID-19, traffic in Fallbrook sharply declined and bingeing on TV series became a familiar routine, some newcomers moved into a quiet part of northwest Fallbrook. Their identity was as surprising to their neighbors as the home they selected; three pairs of Great Blue Herons began building nests, a hundred feet up, in a star pine tree on Elder Street. With average wingspans of 6 feet, the male...
I am writing to complain about the news media coverage of COVID-19 and the effect that it is having on our government and on our lives. It is the coverage I’m complaining about not the disease, if COVID-19 is in fact a disease. Not that I’m a fan of, or in favor of, COVID-19 whatever it is, but the fact is that there has not been shown to be any proof that it is a disease. In fact, nothing has been shown but the fact that an unusually large number of people are dying, and that a majority of them are in their 80s and 90s. Tha... Full story
When it comes to any decisions at the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, I weigh the different outcomes. Whether it’s deciding on an upcoming vote, or reopening businesses during a pandemic, it is my job as a policymaker to make sure that we are balancing the public health side and the economic side. There will always be risks with life. For the past 30 years, I’ve been an airline pilot. Every flight, people have taken the risks boarding the plane. I make calculations bas... Full story
I saw the title of the article and the beautiful photo of Elizabeth Youngman-Westphal and her horse and was immediately drawn to it. As a horse owner I love to read about locals going on trips with their horses or to visit horse ranches. To say that I was surprised and saddened by the article is an understatement. What gives Mrs. Youngman-Westphal the right to declare that “real people” do not live in California? Has she taken a look around during this time of crisis to see how many Californians are trying their best to kee... Full story
It has been a year since I began this column. If you recall, I started exercising in August 2019 in preparation for my gala European 75th birthday trip, which we know fell flat on its face due to the coronavirus pandemic. After six months of idling, parts of me are drooping and re-expanding, which means it is high time I get back to the gym. The very reason I asked my trainer Kellen to meet with me before the end of the month. On a whole different topic, did I ever mention I...
FALLBROOK – Fallbrook Community Center is hosting a blood drive in partnership with the San Diego Blood Bank Thursday, Aug. 13, from 12:30‑5:30 p.m. The blood drive will take place in the parking lot at 341 Heald Lane in Fallbrook. All donors will receive a Limited-Edition Comic‑Con T‑shirt; sizes subject to availability and while supplies last. Anyone 17 and older, who weighs at least 114 pounds and is in good health, may be eligible to donate blood. A good meal and plenty of fluids are recommended before donation. Appoint... Full story
Gun owners PAC hire woman to manage growing hashtag #NotMeSD initiative that is protecting women with self-defense SAN DIEGO – San Diego County Gun Owners, a local political action committee promoting Second Amendment rights, has announced the hiring of Escondido resident Desiree Bergman as project manager of SDCGO's hashtag #NotMeSD initiative. The announcement was made by Michael Schwartz, SDCGO executive director. Launched last year, hashtag #NotMeSD, is a f...
SAN DIEGO – The American Red Cross is seeking volunteers to help in the community as experts have said Southern California is in for a busy wildfire season. Volunteers are needed in San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Imperial counties. “The coronavirus pandemic will make it challenging to deploy trained disaster volunteers from other parts of the country should an emergency occur. In light of this, the Red Cross is asking you to be ready to help your community,” Sean Mahoney, regional CEO of the American Red C...
School starts Monday, Aug. 17, for Fallbrook Union Elementary School District families, and district officials have hammered out many of the details of how students will start classes virtually this fall. While FUESD administrators had previously been drafting plans to return to physical classes – which called for decreased class sizes, staggered breaks and recesses, temperature checks and other measures – Gov. Gavin Newsom dashed any hopes of starting the school year in-...
The coronavirus shutdowns began March 12 and impacted three weeks of the 13-week third quarter of fiscal year 2019-2020, but Transient Occupancy Tax revenue for San Diego County went down by 36.5%. “It really is dark when you look at the numbers,” Dan McAllister, treasurer-tax collector of San Diego County, said. “As we look at everything to date, the numbers are weak compared to what they were.” The third quarter of the fiscal year covers January through March. In 2019, the county collected $1,491,782.64 of TOT revenue...
Fallbrook has now recorded more than 300 coronavirus cases since March, and San Diego County public health officials reported the number of total COVID-19 cases in the region has crossed 30,000, even as other numbers appear to be improving. The total number of recorded cases in Fallbrook’s 92028 ZIP code – which also includes De Luz and Rainbow – now sits at 304, or a rate of 620.3 cases per 100,000. As of Aug. 4, the 92028 ZIP code was roughly in the middle of the county’s distribution of coronavirus infection rates – it ha...
Fast forward from Nov. 2, 2019, when the "Take A Seat" art bench auction was held at Vince Ross Village Square, the artists who painted their creations and the buyers who lovingly placed them in their yards said they have found it a challenge to stay healthy and positive. The art bench auction was started to raise funds to support Save Our Forest's environmental education programs through chair Jackie Heyneman and retired Fallbrook elementary school teacher Jean Dooley who,...
SACRAMENTO – Even after the nation commemorated July 26, 2020, as the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act that was passed in 1990, the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities continues to publish a variety of stories from people with disabilities about how the law has impacted their lives. The special anniversary was also declared by California Gov. Gavin Newsom as Americans with Disabilities Act Awareness Day. The Statewide Self-Advocacy Network within SCDD is a group that connects s...
SCW Contracting Corporation was awarded the Rainbow Municipal Water District contract for the first phase of the North River Road Land Outfall pipeline repairs. The July 28 Rainbow board meeting included a 5-0 vote to award the work to SCW, which is based in the town of Rainbow. The contract will be for $474,000. “It’s the same contractor who did the previous work for us,” Tom Kennedy, general manager of RMWD, said “They’re very qualified.” The North River Road Land Outfall conveys wastewater to Oceanside’s San Luis Rey Wate...
The weather was warm Saturday evening, Aug. 1, when members of Charles E. Swisher Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1924 were setting up for a special dinner, the first of many the post has scheduled to hold outside during the coronavirus pandemic. Despite temperatures reaching the mid-90s in town, VFW volunteers were setting up the EZ-Ups and other shade structures needed to keep guests cool and the hand sanitizers to clean their hands. Face coverings are required to enter, and...
The Fallbrook Beautification Alliance is seeking a $5,000 grant from the American Society of Landscape Architects to improve the South Mission Road medians, and the grant application requires two letters of support from community organizations. The Fallbrook Public Utility District board approved one of those letters of support. A 5-0 vote Tuesday, July 28, authorized a letter to be signed by Ken Endter, the FPUD board president. "Our board's been supportive of the efforts...
Rocky & Sons Show Lambs consists of Rocky Morris and his sons Oscar Ledesma and Alan Morris. The two brothers swept the top four lamb awards at this year's San Diego County Fair market livestock show, which was a virtual show rather than a physical show due to the coronavirus quarantine, and Alan Morris also raised the supreme grand champion market goat. "I was really surprised and excited when I heard about Alan and I both winning. It's a dream come true. It's a lot of hard...
FALLBROOK – Artists of all kinds understand the value of keeping art available for browsing and buying – especially during these challenging times. Art provides escape and healing, both for artist and viewer. Some artists have found it hard to create while others have found it becomes their own form of traveling to places undiscovered or those being captured from memory. Summer travel is severely limited; the usual "free to go about our business " manner has been replaced by...
FALLBROOK – Whether learning from home or at school, students are in need of school supplies. North Coast Church is hosting its annual backpack drive Saturday, Aug. 8, from 9 a.m. to noon, to help local students get ready to learn from home or at school. The filled backpacks will go to local school districts and nonprofit partners, who will distribute backpacks to students in need as well as local military families. Last year’s backpack drive garnered more than 3,000 filled backpacks. With the help of the community and the...
SALT LAKE CITY – The following local residents have earned a degree from Western Governors University. The online, nonprofit university has graduated over 190,000 students from across the country since its inception in 1997. Bonsall resident Carmen Rodriguez received a bachelor’s degree in special education. The following Fallbrook residents also earned degrees. Emily Lenzinger received a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies for grades K-8. Jill Sundlof received a master’s degree in teaching with an emphasi...
SAN MARCOS – The majority of classes at Palomar College will continue in a remote learning format this fall, and the college will launch a number of exciting new programs online, as students and faculty prepare for their busiest semester of the year. The decision to continue remotely was prompted by an uptick in COVID-19 cases in the region, which have brought new challenges to the process of safely reopening the campus. The emergency medical education and fire and police acad...
The Fallbrook Public Utility District board approved two change orders to the Overland Trail Lift Station rehabilitation project while authorizing Jack Bebee, general manager of FPUD, to approve additional change orders administratively if the cumulative amount does not exceed 10% of the original contract. A 4-1 FPUD board vote Monday, July 27, with Charley Wolk opposed, authorized change orders of $13,182.48 and $40,845.87 which were necessary due to unforeseen field conditions. The presence of such conditions led the board...
FALLBROOK – Estancia Senior Living, which is opening in fall 2020, announced the addition of Beverly McGuirk as its new executive director, effective June 9. McGuirk brings a broad set of assisted living administration, marketing and clinical skills to Estancia Senior Living. Most recently, she was executive director for a senior living community in San Diego. With more than 27 years of experience in the health care field, her expertise includes resident-centered program i...