Community news briefs: Roads, buildings, yoga mats, parks and scaly critters

Temporary, partial road closure 

That would be on Harding Street between Washington Avenue and Valley Parkway due to the installation of new recycled water pipelines, Escondido officials advise motorists that Harding Street will be reduced to a partial lane closing from Monday, May 2 to May 16. Work is to be preformed from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Residents and businesses will have driveway access at all times along Harding Street from Washington Avenue or Valley Parkway.

Persons with questions or comments may contact Greg Gomez, MBI, Resident Engineer at (760) 902-7249, Mark Lewis, City of Escondido Field Engineering Inspector II, at (760) 807-1121 or Wayne Papac, MBI Project Construction Manager at (619) 247-7828.

Estancia apartments sold

725 N. Fig St., Escondido — Photo courtesy of CoStar Group

An affiliate of San Francisco-based Vista International has purchased a 100-unit Escondido apartment building for approximately $16.7 million, according to CoStar Group and public data.

The seller of the property, known as Estancia and located at 725 N. Fig St., was an affiliate of San Francisco-based Fowler Property Acquisitions LLC.

The property was built on 4.7 acres in 1972 and renovated in 2009.

Yoga mats, y’all

The Escondido American Legion J.B. Clark’s Post 149 donated yoga mats to help veterans recovering from combat brain injuries and donated food and supplies to the Military Outreach Ministry, aka MOM, at Camp Pendleton.

The group recently donated 110 pounds of food, pajamas, baby supplies and toys to help local military families. The post’s goal is to donate more than 1,000 pounds over the year.

The post’s auxiliary donated yoga mats, blocks and belts to the Aspire Center in Old Town, San Diego, for injured veterans who live at the center to participate in the newly designed Yoga classes.

Post 149 members include VFW, DAV, Auxiliary, SONs and Riders.

For information or to donate, stop by Legion Post 149 at 230 Park Ave., Escondido, or visit www.calegionpost149.org.

Felicita Park improvement projects

The usual ribbon-cutting suspects; San Diego Supervisor Dave Roberts, far right.

San Diego County Parks and Recreation officials Wednesday celebrated the completion of two major improvement projects at Felicita County Park in Escondido.

The county added horseshoe pits, artificial turf and shade sails over the play equipment. A second improvement project improved safety and accessibility in the parking lots and bandstand area.

“County parks are for everyone,” Supervisor Dave Roberts said. “The work we have completed on the playground, ball fields and horseshoe pits will improve the park experience for any visitor, and perhaps most importantly, for park visitors who are disabled.”

The 53-acre park features mature oak trees and spring-fed creeks. The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places because the Kumeyaay people once used the area as a resting point between gathering shellfish from the ocean and hunting for game in the mountains.

For more information on County parks, visit SDparks.org.

Spring brings warm temps and scaly critters

As springtime brings warmer temperatures, more fury and scaly creatures have begun appearing in our yards and parks.

With all sorts of wildlife emerging in the spring, April and May mark the start of rattlesnake season in San Diego County. Recent reports have described increased snake sightings. As the reptiles come out of hibernation, it is not uncommon to spot them locally, though bites are rare. Most sightings are likely to happen between now and October.

“Snakes are most likely venturing out in search of food and to soak up the sun,” said San Marcos Park Ranger Ron Vinluan. “People think they’re going to chase you—that isn’t so. They don’t want anything to do with us.”

If you encounter one of the five varieties of rattlesnakes found in the county, give it space. Calmly back away from it, leave it alone and let it go on its way, Vinluan continued.

If bitten or you feel a snake or other animal is dangerous, call 911 immediately. For more information about rattlesnakes in California, visit https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/News/Snake.

For more information about San Marcos parks, trails and outdoor adventures, contact San Marcos Community Services at (760) 744-9000.