April 2016

Hunter under fire from GOP conservatives

Duncan Hunter owes an explanation — San Diego Rostra In the event you are wondering if I saw “it,” that answer is, yes. The “it” being the Union-Tribune article describing my congressman’s multiple violations of campaign finance law. I don’t get it. Congressman Duncan Hunter is in a safe seat. He was elected by a 40-point margin. He can afford to courageously raise the conservative…


Get ready for ALDI, coming soon to Vista

If ALDI is all but unknown west of the Mississippi River, Chicago and Germany, the unique, and much-beloved, high-quality, low-cost supermarket is planting its flag next month at North County. An ALDI was springing up at North County Square next to the Walmart Supercenter in Vista this week with a a soft version hiring session taking place today, Wednesday April 13. Store management confirmed Aldi’s would…


Grand theft package, San Marcos: Sheriff’s Department goes viral video seeking thief

The Video UPS bandit must be stopped, according to San Diego County Sheriff’s investigators. A woman who allegedly stole two UPS packages worth $100 from a San Marcos resident fell afoul of the residence’s surveillance cameras. San Diego County Sheriff’s investigators took the unusual step Monday of releasing a kind of reality TV-meets-package-theft video as a means of bringing the alleged package snatcher to justice….


Historic homes open for Mother’s Day Tour

Who: Old Escondido Historic District What: 19th Annual Mothers Day Home Tour – Five historic homes will be open to the public. Where: In the Old Escondido Historic District, just south of Escondido’s historic downtown. When: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 8. Why: To further the Old Escondido Historic District’s mission “to promote and protect Old Escondido, the city’s oldest neighborhood.” How: Tickets can…


Star Valley Park saga continues Friday

The complex saga that has become Star Valley Park enters center stage at 9 a.m. Friday, April 15. That’s when Valley Center officials hold a kind of “groundbreaking, sign raising and kickoff” for the 15.5-acre park that was bought last year, but also depleted the parks and recreation district of reserve and maintenance funds necessitating a November ballot initiative to raise district funds. Doing the…


Return to Aster Street Gardens; Harmony Grove Village Festival rescheduled

Return to Aster Street Gardens Ahmed Hassan returned to Aster Street Gardens recently and found all systems go for his Sustainable Heroes project that transformed a parched piece of transitional housing dirt into a landscaping delight. “Doing projects that are impossible and meaningful is a passion,” Hassan said after touring the 495 Aster St. development that features a one-year transitional housing program for the needy…


Lots of gardening events and even a movie about Valley Center at Valley Center Library

Tomato talk scheduled for April 12 Garden Club Meeting  Roy Wilburn, horticulture director for Sunshine Care Homes in Poway, will “talk tomato” at the Dos Valles Garden Club’s Tuesday, April 12 meeting. It will be held 10 a.m. at the St. Stephen Roman Catholic Church, 31020 Cole Grade Road. It’s free and open to all who would attend. Wilburn will address vegetable production, focusing on growing…


Scenes from the McClintic wedding

Gray skies couldn’t damper bright spirits as Tm McClintic and the former Crystal Henson, now Crystal McClintic Henson, celebrated their much-anticipated nuptials at a hilltop estate overlooking southeastern Escondido. Mother of the bride, Cindy Nelson, expressed her delight on “a day to remember to see two very special, kind, caring, genuine and loving people say their vows and become husband and wife. Words can not…


Video games and vaping: Congressman Duncan Hunter, Jr. at WORK?

It’s the equivalent of saying “the dog ate my homework.” That’s the excuse Duncan Hunter Jr. gives regarding paying for video games with his campaign financing account. Embarrassments from Hunter, Jr., Escondido’s, 50th Congressional District representative, continue to accumulate. In just a few weeks, Hunter, Jr. has gone from supporting Donald Trump, to smoking an e-cigarette at a congressional hearing, and most recently to defending his…


Escondido Art Beat, April Edition

April is for artists with two of the Escondido ilk spreading the good work about art around town courtesy of awards and community building. Meet mosaic artist Marsha Rafter Marsha Rafter believes in building an arts community in, and around, the Hidden Valley. Her latest project was an outdoor installation of a memorial bench for a 17 year old girl who died of a rare…