June 2016

Blogs, Fire, Police/Fire June 30, 2016

Perfect media storm: What if a fire broke out at an abandoned Escondido meat market and social media, TV news went wild?

Nothing like fire to spark interest in the “mainstream media” — it’s the easiest and most colorful spectacle to trot across local TV — and social media. Throw in spectacular smoke, large numbers of responders and close proximity to freeways and morning rush hour traffic and voila’, the perfect 2016 media storm. (Updated at 4:30 p.m.) It’s an easy story and no doubt interesting although…

North County June 30, 2016

‘Hey Baby, it’s the Fourth of July’

Escondido, San Marcos and the world celebrate the Fourth of July on the 4th of July; that’s a Monday. It’s Birthday No. 240 for the good ole U.S. of A. Here is the official word on how Escondido and San Marcos are celebrating the annual holiday. Escondido: 53rd Annual Independence Day Festival & Fireworks Escondido’s annual Independence Day Festival & Fireworks has become a North…

Community, Valley Center June 29, 2016

Community news from around the region

Bonsall Woman’s Club awards scholarships Bonsall Woman’s Club, over 100 members strong, supports the community in many ways, according to publicity chairwoman Gail Golden. One of the club’s objectives is to encourage and help our youth through financial aid. Scholarships fulfill that purpose with monies going to graduating seniors from Fallbrook High School and Mission Vista High School residing in the Bonsall/Fallbrook area. The graduating…

Animals and pets, Community, Education June 29, 2016

Music, reptiles and science this summer

San Diego Children’s Discover Museum concerts San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum (SDCDM) is hosting two evenings of family fun as part of the First Annual Summer Concert Series featuring Hullabaloo. The event is set to bring the community together in the spirit of summer and raise funds to benefit the Museum’s educational exhibits and programs. Mark your social calendars, then, for 5 p.m. to 7…

Police, Police/Fire June 28, 2016

Alleged I-15 freeway on-ramp killer arrested

The freeway on-ramp killer, alleged, has been found and arrested. A seemingly routine Las Vegas traffic stop one week ago yielded the alleged killer of a woman found dead around 1 p.m. June 13 in a car to the side of the El Norte Parkway I-15 north entrance lane, Escondido police said Tuesday. Elizabeth Antoinette Perez, 38, of Fontana was found slumped over her black…

San Diego June 28, 2016

Go time at the San Diego County Fair

It’s time, once again, for our once-a-year break from political banter, land-use controversies and assorted governmental shenanigans. As I’ve done every year since I began writing a weekly column on North County coastal issues in 2009 — initially for the North County Times, then for the San Diego Union-Tribune  — I devote one week’s missive to one of my favorite annual events: the San Diego…

Courts/Law, Police, Police/Fire June 23, 2016

‘Operation Hotel Tango’ — San Marcos human trafficking ring trio faces trial

A San Marcos man, San Marcos woman and Carlsbad woman are set to begin facing the music 8:30 a.m. Monday, June 27, charged with suspicion of human trafficking, pimping and pandering following a  yearlong investigation by the multi-agency Human Trafficking Task Force. The three suspects will be subject to a status conference at that time pertaining to their cases at Department 12 of San Diego…

Education, San Marcos June 22, 2016

Palomar College pledges free tuition for all San Marcos school district graduates

Move over Bernie Sanders, community college just became free at San Marcos for local students. Sanders is known for his proposal to bring free tuition to public colleges, and today, Wednesday, June 21 Palomar College became just that — free — for all eligible graduating San Marcos Unified School District students. The Palomar Community College District Governing Board approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between…

Arts, Entertainment, Entertainment/Arts, Music, Theater June 22, 2016

New season set at Cal Center for the Arts

California Center for the Arts, Escondido this week announced its most ambitious season ever, set to hit the resurgent landmark’s stages beginning Aug. 11. To name but a few of the stars alighting Escondido’s cultural horizons through June 2017: Kathy Griffin, Keith Sweat, Big Head Todd And The Monsters, Montgomery Gentry, Garrison Keillor, Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn, Pink Martini, Shaping Sound, The Midtown Men,…

San Marcos June 20, 2016

What’s in a San Marcos 2016-17 budget?

Being in the civic landlord business apparently has been good business for the city of San Marcos. The city’s newly adopted 109-page, $69.3 million General Fund budget for Fiscal Year 2016-17 featured  12 percent of all revenue coming from leasing City Hall office space and Creekside Marketplace to business like Hobby Lobby and WinCo. A new DMV office also is paying the freight while a…