2016

I-15 turns into highway to commuter hell

How did the brand spanking-new, 10-day-old, $10 million I-15 “Integrated Corridor Management System” work Tuesday in its first true test dealing with massive freeway traffic due to an unforeseen traffic event? Failed. Miserably. Escondido and North County commuters encountered a traffic jam-up of Biblical proportions following a series of collisions near Lake Hodges shortly before 6 a.m. Tuesday. Most of the congestion didn’t clear until…


Stone Brewing $100 million ‘True Craft’ investing fund takes aims at ‘Big Beer’

“There is a squeeze coming in the craft beer world. True Craft’s goal is simple: Give craft brewers another option than selling a majority interest to private equity or selling out to big beer.” — Greg Koch, Stone Brewing co-founder on new $100 million True Craft fund. Greg Koch’s talk at EG 2016 where he announced, True Craft, an “alternative to being pushed out or…


Butterfly releases to plants and farm fresh

Elizabeth Hospice takes wings More than 200 supporters joined The Elizabeth Hospice for the 7th Annual Wings of Hope Butterfly Release on from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 1 at the Salon Room of the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, 340 N. Escondido Blvd. Community members of all ages were invited to attend and sponsor butterflies in memory or in honor of…


Local LGBTQ students receive scholarships

San Diego Human Dignity Foundation (SDHDF) is partnering with PFLAG San Diego County to recognize nine deserving LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, and Asexual) students from around San Diego County for their exemplary academic achievements and leadership vision at the 2016 Launching Leaders Scholarship Awards Luncheon, 1:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, May 13 at the Corky McMillin Companies Event Center at Liberty Station….


Mother’s Day dining options abound

What better way to thank mom for all she does than to take her out to a nice meal on Mother’s Day? Choices abound, but let’s consider a few. Vintana hosts a 3-course menu with champagne from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, May 8. It costs $59.95 for adults, $12.95 for kids under age 12. Chef Deborah Scott — you know her, you love…


San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum celebrates Brazil at its 2016 Spring Gala

San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum put the fun into fundraising at its Brazil 2016 Spring Gala Saturday, raising nearly $200,000 while raising the patio performance roof for good measure. The Museum, now at its appointed place, 320 North Broadway, across from Grape Day Park, has proven to be an Escondido success story with 140,000 visitors in the last year, an 100 percent increase over two…


People (and bodies of water) behaving badly — Valley of Discovery edition

Night time was not the right time to party early Thursday at the normally quiescent San Marcos cul-de-sac in the 600 block of Helmsdale Road, off Kirkwall Drive near Palomar College. An intimate gathering of about 10 people erupted in an argument that led to gun shots, injuring a 20-tear-old female bystander as two men grappled over a loaded pistol. One man pulled out the…


Escondido education: Jose Fragozo returns; Heritage Charter School hassle continues

Two items drew me to Thursday’s Escondido Union School District Board of Education meeting. Firstly, I was curious to see the reception Jose Fragozo would get after the restraining order against him was lifted. This was covered in the Escondido Grapevine: https://escondidograpevine.com/2016/03/25/eusd-denied-restraining-order-against-trustee-jose-fragozo-breaking/. Secondly, Agenda Item 301 “Conduct a public hearing on a request for a material revision to the Heritage K-8 Charter School petition…” caught my attention….


Pink ribbons and fundraiser for Kayla Castro

A fundraiser on behalf of critically injured rock climber Makayla Castro, 18, was held 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 28 at EscoGelato, 122 S Kalmia, Escondido. Twenty percent of all proceeds will be donated to Kayla and her family to relieve some of the financial pressures they face, organizers said. The Escondido teen was nearing the end of her freshman year at Grand…


A tree grows at San Marcos High School

In keeping with the 46th Annual Earth Day theme of “Trees for the Earth,” the Lake San Marcos Democratic Club along with the San Marcos High School Senior Class planted a tree at the school quad. This tree, planted on April 20, 2016, will stand forever as a reminder of these ideals for all students who pass through the school in coming years. The club…