Dateline Rancho Santa Fe. March 26, 1997. A 911 call came into the San Diego Sheriff’s Communications Center. It was treated as a prank call at first. From what turned out to be a nearby payphone, the caller said something so preposterous that dispatchers took their time in relaying the information to central command. “This is regarding a mass suicide. I can give you the address,” the…
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Et tu Brute? Beware the Ides of March. It’s a day cloaked in infamy and the assassination of the Emperor Julius Caesar, a turning point in Roman history; March 15, 44 B.C.E. Let that be a lesson to you, Donald Trump. Time for you to go to hell. But we digress. And, according to the Smithsonian Museum, a lot of other notable events have taken…
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Folks, you can’t make up this stuff: Former accused car thief who was arrested and eventually pleaded guilty to carrying a concealed weapon, Rep. Darryl Issa, (R-Bonsall???) said March 4 that he had “nominated President Donald Trump to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.” For real? “Not since Ronald Reagan has an American president better represented the national resolve of peace through strength or the fundamental…
Click Here or title to read moreThe Escondido Grapevine has provided factual, informative and interesting information and news since 2015. It has been our pleasure and civic duty to do this, especially considering the status of North County as a news desert given the demise of The North County Times and low coverage priority of regional corporate, for-profit media.We have provided this service free of charge and never asked for financial support from the community. We exist to carry your voice. We do that for the good of the community. We produce excellent professional community journalism, commentary and analysis on issues, people and organizations that often go ignored in the mainstream press.
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Researchers at the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science and Moores Cancer Center at University of California San Diego have found that, among smokers in the United States, e-cigarette use does not increase smoking cessation and is actually associated with reduced tobacco abstinence. The findings, published March 5 in JAMA, refute the notion that e-cigarettes can help people quit, a common…
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The official Facebook page of Suññataram California Monastery in Escondido’s Wat Sunyataram at Escondido, California, posted photos and a message on Sunday afternoon, March 9, 2025, confirming the death of Phra Yantra, the President of the temple. The temple’s message read: “With deepest sympathy, we send our respects as we guide Phra Ajarn Yantra Amaro, President and spiritual leader of Wat Sunyataram, to Nirvana. Phra…
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Daylight saving time: It’s forward time again when clocks step lively forth one hour at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 9, 2025. Don’t forget to do the right thing clockwise or you’ll be out of sync. Californians early Sunday will join most of the nation in the yearly ritual of switching their clocks an hour forwards and back on daylight saving time. Will they be allowed…
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Hundreds of people moved from booth-to-booth in the parking lot of the North County Superior Court at Vista Thursday, Feb. 20 seeking some welcoming help as they work to successfully reenter and rejoin their neighborhoods and communities. They had come to the first North County Community Resource Fair, organized by the San Diego County Probation Department and the state Division of Adult Parole Operations. The…
The tiny paradise lost of Oceanside church land once had been alive, according to a KPBS report. Not just with crops but with the pulse of something older than property lines, something that stretched back to the first hands that broke earth and placed seed. Community Roots Farm, 4510 N River Rd #5116, Oceanside, CA 92057, sat on its acre like a defiant whisper in…
Well, folks, big news in Escondido: The library is moving! That’s right, the Escondido Public Library is checking itself out of its longtime home—been there since 1981, which, in library years, is like ancient Rome—and it’s heading to the North County Mall. You know, where people traditionally go not to read. Now, why is this happening? Because they’re giving the old place a $10 million…
In the grand theater of nations, nothing matters now but the ruin we have invited upon ourselves. Neither the evident decay of reason nor the depths of ignorance; not the tempest of unbridled emotions nor the campaign built upon venom and folly; not even the absurdity of schemes so unworkable that only malice could defend them. None of it mattered. Behold the man: the candidate…
There was a method to the madness of presenting San Francisco legend Herb Caen’s three-dot lounge history along with its various re-interpretations. That was to set up Escondido Grapevine’s own three-dot lounge approach to local news. For more about the concept, visit our story here. For more local three-dot news, keep on trucking below… Lake Hodges Wildlife gets down to business First came the mating of…
The 52nd Congressional District race got curiouser and curiouser this week, what with candidates “passing” as Hispanic and allegations of “hypersexual noteworthy Martians.” Firstly, one of incumbent Democrat Scott Peters’ possible Republican opponents came out with a kind of Rebecca Dolezal scenario. You remember Dolezal, the NAACP official who turned out to be passing as an African-American, even though she turned out to be extremely…
Wind kicks across the site of the old, abandoned Pete Verboom Dairy just off Highway 76, west of Pala. Once an iconic and important dairy farm among hundreds of San Diego County dairy operations, Pete Verboom Dairy No. 1 and No. 2 are no more, and left blowing in the Pala Valley wind. Verboom was president of the San Diego County Milk Producers Council. He…
A major democratic political action organization that’s working to get big money and all of the temptation it offers out of politics recently released a list of 20 Republican Congress members that it intends to target next year. The organization on attack is End Citizens United, and it is calling its targeted Congress members the “Big Money 20.” A Group that Favors Its Special Interest…
The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, also known as the “Festival of Lights,” begins Thursday night. News 8 sat down with Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort to hear exactly how this Jewish holiday came about. Hanukkah commemorates the re-dedication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem after a small group called the Maccabees defeated the Greek Syrian army. During the battle, the Jews had only enough oil to light…
Like father like son like grandson, Del’s Barber Shop is old school and proud of it. “It’s pretty much the same old barber shop,” said Jason Engelbrecht, now large and in charge of the 4-barber shop on S. Escondido Boulevard next to Lourdes Restaurant and its famous chicken soup. “We try not to change anything.” One would be hard-pressed to find another blast from the…
1302 Encinitas Blvd. just west of El Camino Real was hit by a massive anti-Elon Musk protest all day Saturday where hundreds of patriots lined the pavement outside the criminal Musk Tesla ripoff facility. Meanwhile, many motorists at the busy intersection honked horns in support as protestors waved placards calling Musk a traitor and calling for his removal from federal government and the criminal trump…
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The fetid stink of political theater hung thick in the air at the Legacy Hotel in Mission Valley on the night of December 9, as the San Diego County Republican Party Central Committee — much like the Soviet Politburo — convened to re-coronate Paula S. Whitsell as their glorious figurehead. Whitsell, a Chula Vista relic who first wormed her way into this backwater power circle…
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Ok, politics fans, it’s time to get past the shock and awe of Donald J Trump inching past Kamala Harris to become President of the United States on January 20. Nope, not a mandate. The media, by and large, has conceded their independence, starting with the Morning Joe hosts, the choreography of three major east coast newspapers disposing of their political editors, and the biggest…
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The prospect of a second American Civil War has been a topic of concern among political analysts and citizens alike, particularly in the context of former President Donald Trump’s actions and rhetoric. While the likelihood of an actual civil war remains low, several factors associated with Trump’s behavior have raised alarms about potential civil unrest. Polarizing Rhetoric and Misinformation Trump’s tenure was marked by divisive…
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As America continues to grapple with the legacy of Donald Trump, it has become increasingly clear that the former president and his loyal base are not merely disruptive forces in politics—they represent a deep and troubling erosion of the values that define democratic societies. From spreading baseless conspiracy theories to emboldening hatred, Trump’s rhetoric and actions have left an indelible mark on the American political…
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The official Facebook page of Suññataram California Monastery in Escondido’s Wat Sunyataram at Escondido, California, posted photos and a message on Sunday afternoon, March 9, 2025, confirming the death of Phra Yantra, the President of the temple. The temple’s message read: “With deepest sympathy, we send our respects as we guide Phra Ajarn Yantra Amaro, President and spiritual leader of Wat Sunyataram, to Nirvana. Phra…
Click Here or title to read more
Dateline Rancho Santa Fe. March 26, 1997. A 911 call came into the San Diego Sheriff’s Communications Center. It was treated as a prank call at first. From what turned out to be a nearby payphone, the caller said something so preposterous that dispatchers took their time in relaying the information to central command. “This is regarding a mass suicide. I can give you the address,” the…
Click Here or title to read more
Et tu Brute? Beware the Ides of March. It’s a day cloaked in infamy and the assassination of the Emperor Julius Caesar, a turning point in Roman history; March 15, 44 B.C.E. Let that be a lesson to you, Donald Trump. Time for you to go to hell. But we digress. And, according to the Smithsonian Museum, a lot of other notable events have taken…
Click Here or title to read more
Editor’s Note: Michael Patrick Welch, renowned New Oreans writer, musician, teacher and friend of The Escondido Grapevine, conducted an interview with the provocateur known to Andy Kauffman and Bob Zmuda fans as Tony Clifton. While others have shunned this outstanding piece of informational journalism, we embrace it and re-print this as a public service. “After years of chasing Tony Clifton to get his thoughts on…
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Christmas and New Year’s are days of celebration in many parts of the world when people gather with family and friends. One thing many typically don’t celebrate on those days is a birthday. That’s because Dec. 25 is the least popular day in the U.S., Australia and New Zealand to give birth. In England, Wales and Ireland, it’s the second-least popular, behind Dec. 26, when…
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The Escondido Grapevine: Your Premier Advertising Partner in North County San Diego Businesses need advertising platforms offering extensive reach while exemplifying innovation and adaptability in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape. The Escondido Grapevine stands at the forefront of digital journalism, serving as both a model for future online presentations and a comprehensive news source for North County San Diego communities. The Grapevine offers unparalleled opportunities…
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Hey, you. That’s right, YOU. Art lover, cultural icon. Keeping it classy, sassy and fun. Art for any space, any place, any situation, enjoyable and appreciating in value as you appreciate it for years to come. We’re talking tons of visual and personal pleasure, enhancing any experience, providing fun and coffee plus water cooler talk for ages immemorial. Frame it, display it, do with it…
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Editor’s Note From Nextdoor….. “I just learned today that Knorr’s Candle Factory on Via de La Valle is closing 10/31/23 and they are having huge sale, including holiday decor, to cut inventory. It was always one of my favorite places to shop and such a local tradition. Please support them and stop by. Everyone loves beautiful candles!!” — Chari Chanin As the world, and…
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A slice of Vista’s past was being served Tuesday over biscuits and gravy at Mom’s Kitchen, once knows as Allen’s Alley Cafe. While a lot has changed over the last 70 years around Vista, Mom’s Kitchen has not. So, the biscuits and gravy were flowing at the town’s oldest, continuously serving restaurant much as they have since, at least, 1950 when it was known as…
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Former tennis prodigy, model and TV presenter Maria Victoria “Vick” Vannucci lived through the photograph, then figuratively died by the photograph. Former owner and chef at Normal Heights’ Pachamama Restaurant, Vannucci pursues a new socially aware image featuring her tale of personal redemption centering on giving back to the community and educating people about healthy food and animal conservation. “My story is a special story,”…
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Hundreds of people moved from booth-to-booth in the parking lot of the North County Superior Court at Vista Thursday, Feb. 20 seeking some welcoming help as they work to successfully reenter and rejoin their neighborhoods and communities. They had come to the first North County Community Resource Fair, organized by the San Diego County Probation Department and the state Division of Adult Parole Operations. The…
Click Here or title to read more
The tiny paradise lost of Oceanside church land once had been alive, according to a KPBS report. Not just with crops but with the pulse of something older than property lines, something that stretched back to the first hands that broke earth and placed seed. Community Roots Farm, 4510 N River Rd #5116, Oceanside, CA 92057, sat on its acre like a defiant whisper in…
Click Here or title to read more
Well, folks, big news in Escondido: The library is moving! That’s right, the Escondido Public Library is checking itself out of its longtime home—been there since 1981, which, in library years, is like ancient Rome—and it’s heading to the North County Mall. You know, where people traditionally go not to read. Now, why is this happening? Because they’re giving the old place a $10 million…
Click Here or title to read more
In the grand theater of nations, nothing matters now but the ruin we have invited upon ourselves. Neither the evident decay of reason nor the depths of ignorance; not the tempest of unbridled emotions nor the campaign built upon venom and folly; not even the absurdity of schemes so unworkable that only malice could defend them. None of it mattered. Behold the man: the candidate…
Click Here or title to read more
1302 Encinitas Blvd. just west of El Camino Real was hit by a massive anti-Elon Musk protest all day Saturday where hundreds of patriots lined the pavement outside the criminal Musk Tesla ripoff facility. Meanwhile, many motorists at the busy intersection honked horns in support as protestors waved placards calling Musk a traitor and calling for his removal from federal government and the criminal trump…
Click Here or title to read more
Nobody, especially Trump, knows it yet. His fate, his downfall, and his doom is, as we speak, being set in stone. And considering the roll he is on, few will believe what I am writing here. Just as well. Best not to believe or repeat what I’m telling you. Fortunately, Trump is so full of himself and too stupid to see what he is doing…
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A Fabric of Struggle: Joann’s Store Closures and the Consequences of Corporate Failur Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores have been a staple for crafting enthusiasts in the San Diego area, with locations in San Marcos, Oceanside, and San Diego. However, as of February 2025, the company has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and announced the closure of approximately 500 stores nationwide, including several in San…
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New name, new hands, a new era unfolding like the first blush of dawn. At Rancho Santa Fe’s La Valle Coastal Club, the past is giving way to something altogether more golden. Last year, the club saw one of its most remarkable surges in golf and racquet memberships—a feverish anticipation stirring around a reinvention that promises to touch every corner of its being. The course,…
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Enjoy special sponsorship and membership opportunities. Email EscondidoGrapevine@gmail.com for more information. JOIN THESE GREAT SPONSORS IN THE ESCONDIDO GRAPEVINE FAMILY:
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