Fallbrook groups to receive county funds

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 March 20 to allocate District Five Community Projects funds to 17 projects, including the Santa Margarita Open Space Park, the Fallbrook Food Pantry, the Fallbrook Beautification Alliance, and the Santa Margarita Gun Club.

Each county supervisor has a discretionary Community Projects budget which may be used for schools and non-profit organizations which provide services to county citizens and can also be used to supplement other county funding for specific county projects. Allocation of the funds requires approval of the Board of Supervisors. Supervisor Bill Horn made the recommendations which were ratified by his four colleagues.

The $60,000 for the Santa Margarita Open Space Preserve will be given to the county’s Department of Parks and Recreation, which has been working with the Fallbrook Trails Council to open the park by spring 2007. The Community Projects grant will allow the Department of Parks and Recreation to purchase materials and to construct concrete fencing, an entry sign, signage which explains park rules and regulations, trail mile markers, kiosks to distribute information, a shed, security lighting, and a staging area.

The Fallbrook Food Pantry will receive $12,000, contingent upon raising matching funds, for costs associated with its 16th annual Fallbrook CROP Walk event. The Fallbrook Food Pantry purchases fresh, non-perishable food for struggling residents in the Fallbrook area, and last year’s Fallbrook CROP Walk drew 374 volunteer walkers and raised $74,000 for hungry families.

The Fallbrook Beautification Alliance relies on the dissemination of information, a resource center, and collaboration among Fallbrook’s various organizations and individuals to achieve its goals of beautification, preservation, and revitalization. Its primary source of income is the Grand Tradition Fourth of July event, and the $10,000 of Community Projects funds will partially cover the cost of fireworks and entertainment at that event.

The Santa Margarita Gun Club on Camp Pendleton will receive $3,500 for its Junior Rifle Program which provides firearms safety training, range procedures, and competition training. The Community Projects grant will allow the gun club to purchase rifles, shooting mats, spotting scopes, and ammunition for the junior shooters. All weapons and ammunition will be in the custody of the gun club; the junior shooters will not be allowed to leave the range with any weapons or ammunition.