February 2016

Escondido Christmas Bird Count results

Greater Escondido definitely is going to the birds as attested by the latest Audubon Society bird count. Palomar Audubon Society president and bird count compiler Ken Weaver flew in Valentine’s Day with the official results of the Escondido Christmas Bird Count (CBC). This was part of the 116th CBC in national Audubon Society history. “Seventy-one observers participated in the Escondido Christmas Bird Count held on…


From crossing guards to crossing picket lines and declining school enrollment

Task Force looks into EUSD enrollment drop Inquiring minds wanted to know: Why were Escondido Union School District enrollment numbers dropping like a rock? Maybe a task force can help tell us why. That pernicious 12 percent drop in enrollment at Escondido elementary schools over the past decade has led to the formation of a special task force aimed at reversing the precipitous decline. Escondido…


Dance a jig, Chieftains coming to town

 Iconic, entertaining and legendary, The Chieftains traditional Irish band roars into California Center for the Arts, Escondido Concert Hall on Thursday, Feb. 25. Considered one of the world’s most memorable musical ensembles, The Chieftains transcend musical boundaries by blending tradition with modern music. They’ve been at it for half-a-century, believe it or not, yet always sound fresh and relevant. You can thank Paddy Moloney for…


NCAA transition at San Marcos going smoothly, but not without initial hurdles

On a hot, sunny day, a breeze whips up a large cloud of dust in a construction lot on the campus of Cal State San Marcos. The curved, grey, unfinished building sits on the lot. It only stands out because there’s a lot of construction going on in the area. Otherwise, the grey blob with some white trim does nothing aesthetically to differentiate itself from…


From climate change to road widening

Benefits of fixing climate change You think? North County Climate Change Alliance presents Dr. Tom English, a Carlsbad lecturer and scientist and Rolf Dorp, Alliance grass roots organizer discussing the benefits of fixing climate change. They’ll be at the Escondido Public Library’s upstairs Turrentine Room from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 23. It’s open to the public and free. “Sponsored by The North…


Play ball? Padres Caravan rolls through Westfield North County, Escondido

Alas, 2016 has just begun and the Padres are million-to-one shots to make the National League playoffs. A little roadblock like that certainly isn’t nearly enough to derail the Padres Caravan from rolling through Westfield North County. Last stop before spring training begins, the Padres and fellow staff and travelers were all over the county the weekend of Feb. 11-13. They hit the Escondido mall…


Escondido police DUI checkpoint yields 1 DUI arrest from nearly 1,400 vehicles

What if they held a DUI checkpoint and nobody got a DUI citation? Escondido police narrowly escaped that outcome Friday, Feb. 12. Police held a DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint from 6 p.m. to midnight just outside police headquarters south of El Norte Parkway at the southbound Centre City Parkway lanes by Decatur Way. They arrested one driver on suspicion of DUI. Police said 1,393 vehicles drove through…


Back to school for San Pasqual H.S. teens charged with bringing knives to campus

Zero tolerance yielded to a bit of tolerance on Saturday, Feb. 13, as two San Pasqual High School teens suspended for having knives in their trucks on campus got as good a news as might be expected. In separate actions, Escondido police said no charges would be brought against Sam Serrato, 16, and Brandon Cappelletti, 18, for alleged misdemeanor possessing knives on campus while school…


Of mice, free Chick-fil-A and Stone Brewing

What’s in a brewery name? This just in from the Escondido company that used to be known as Stone Brewing Co.: We’ve changed. Not the fabulous beers, fear not, but a wee bit change of name. Once quite particular about what they were called, then-CEO Greg Koch was known to correct wayward correspondents who referred to the entity as Stone Brewery or Stone Brewing Company…


Historic home no match for state’s second tallest (now fallen) Torrey pine

A historic cottage was crushed underneath a Torrey pine in Escondido during a storm earlier this month. Not just any Torrey pine either, but one believed to be the second tallest in the state. The two-story cottage, in the 500 block of E 4th Ave. was just a few feet away from the occupied Pritchett House, home to a family of four, according to Carol…