Just ahead of a pension vestment that pays him over $200,000 annually, Escondido City Manager Clay Phillips, 58, suddenly resigned on Wednesday. Coincidentally, Phillips’ 3-year city manager contract that made him the highest paid city manager in San Diego County was set to expire next year. Dec, 18 would be his last day on the job, Phillips said. It was unclear if the pension and…
With school arts funding slashed to the bare bone, Escondido artists and the Escondido Union School District have teamed together to bring innovative solutions to the arts education dilemma. Not only is the concept smart, but its called smART as in smART Fridays leading up to next spring’s grand smART Festival at the California Center for the Arts. “The smART collaborative, developed in the fall…
Unwanted firearms for Wal-mart gift cards, anyone? The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office is planning to use up to $28,500 in confiscated funds to offer Walmart gift cards to North County residents willing to turn over unwanted firearms. The latest installment of the department’s “Guns for Gift Cards” program is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24 at the San Marcos station,…
Escondido’s Grand Avenue Festival, aka Escondido Street Faire, held Sunday, Oct. 18 might be the second-largest single-day festival in California, but as they used to say in the old Avis rent-a-car commercials, they try harder. An estimated 30,000 to 40,000 people flocked to Grand Avenue and block after block of 500 vendors, food and music from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday. Escondido’s first street…
Bates Nut Farm pumpkin patch was put in virtual lockdown from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday as reports of a missing 11-year-old girl caused state troopers to search all vehicles leaving the scene. California Highway Patrol officers also went from car to car in the crowded parking areas looking for the girl. Social media accounts said drivers waited up to 30 minutes to…
In all, 20 people throughout San Diego County—some married couples—made the list of shame for not paying the money they owe the state. Altogether, local delinquent taxpayers owe more than $9.1 million. Good news always first. Somebody from Escondido made a top 500 money list. Bad news, it’s the list of the top 500 delinquent taxpayers in the state of California courtesy of the state…
‘The goal is to be the Balboa Park of North County.’ — Jerry Van Leeuween, Executive Director, California Center for the Arts Melissa Etheridge comes to town on Nov. 6, playing the only North County venue large enough for such a major act, the California Center for the Arts in Escondido. The center has had a troubled financial past. However, nobody can deny it…
It’s been a tale of the good, the bad, and the .500 for three local high school football teams this season. We’re talking Mission Hills, Valley Center and Escondido high schools this week. Mission Hills serving winning football on a roll Starting with the good, the Mission Hills Grizzlies are on a roll. The team that plays on the former site of Hollandia Dairy off…
Holland RV Center on Travelers Way went up in smoke, and a whole lot of other stuff, with a 3-alarm conflagration around 4 p.m. Sunday that was seen all over San Marcos and the Highway 78 corridor. The fire enveloped the RV center and brought nearby Highway 78 traffic to a crawl, authorities said. West San Marcos Boulevard’s off-ramp was closed during the 90-minute incident….
President Obama comes to town for a little golf, little luxury, little fundraising. All systems were go, go, go for President Obama to walk among the wealthy, and play some golf, in North County San Diego, just a few miles down Del Dios Highway from Escondido this weekend. The president, and family, landed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar late Saturday. He was expected to…