Articles by Special to The Grapevine

Taking root at San Diego farmers markets

Selling directly to shoppers—and meeting face-to-face with chefs and other buyers—is helping keep San Diego farmers afloat amid economic downturns and historic droughts. When Dave Heafner and Leslie Pesic started their DA-LE Ranch in 2003, they were raising hens, pigs, and rabbits and selling to a few customers by pre-order, delivered once a week to the parking lot of the DMV in Santa Ana, California. Now, they…


Get your CSUSM sports awards info here

Spanning the North County globe to bring you the constant variety of sport… the thrill of victory… and the agony of defeat… the human drama of athletic competition… This is Cal State San Marcos Department of Athletics hosted its 8th-annual Student-Athlete Awards… Cal State San Marcos Department of Athletics hosted its 8th-annual Student-Athlete Awards Banquet recently at the University Student Union Grand Ballroom. The event…


Hunter imperils Israel, Jordan, US soldiers

I am not sure Mr. Hunter would trust Jordan’s regime to keep his $600-flight-riding pet rabbit, let alone deadly American drones. — Mudar Zahran  Recently, Rep. Duncan Hunter, (R-50th District) relaunched congressional pressure on the White House to sell deadly drones to Jordan. Hunter has been lobbying for this deal for almost two years now. He wants Jordan to obtain Reaper and Predator drones. Obama’s administration…


Sessions wrongly tags Escondido

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions tags Escondido wrongly for immigrant crimes. Escondido last week entered the national dialogue over immigrant rights and Donald Trump’s big, bad border wall, but in an unexpected, and counterfactual way. U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions highlighted Escondido to illustrate how jurisdictions that limit cooperation with immigration authorities jeopardize public safety. The only problem was Sessions got everything wrong. Speaking at…


Capitol painting won’t prevail on appeal

A controversial painting that made headlines earlier this year is now the subject of a lawsuit in a federal court in Washington, D.C., but constitutional experts predict the plaintiff’s free speech arguments are doomed. The case hinges on whether an art competition held by members of Congress qualifies as “government speech,” which has less protection under the First Amendment. The legal feud has roiled emotions in Washington…


Smartphone distractions, drinking help spur rising pedestrian death toll

Pedestrian deaths are surging across the nation, and analysts are putting much of the blame on drivers and walkers who are looking at their smartphones instead of watching where they are going. Tipsy walking also is part of the problem, with one in three victims legally drunk when they were struck and killed. The latest report on U.S. pedestrian deaths, from the Governors Highway Safety Association,…


Universal health care California-style

While Washington Fiddles… As the nation’s Republican leaders huddle to reconsider their plans to “repeal and replace” the nation’s health law, advocates for universal health coverage press on in California, armed with renewed political will and a new set of proposals. Organized labor and two lawmakers are leading the charge for a single, government-financed program for everyone in the state. Another legislator wants to create…


Toilet water to craft beer for Stone Brewing

Stone Brewing Co.’s latest sudsy creation earned a quick nickname: “Toilet to tap.” That’s because the Escondido brewery’s new craft beer is made with treated wastewater. The brave souls who taste-tested the Full Circle Pale Ale on Thursday were flush with excitement, calling the beer “delicious,” “hoppy” and “outstanding,” according to local media reports. “It is fantastic,” San Diego Mayor Kevin Falconer said after sampling it. “There’s no…


Bonsall, Vista, San Marcos and beyond

Bonsall Woman’s Club gets fashionable for Mother’s Day The Bonsall Woman’s Club (BWC) Luncheon/Fashion Show Committee (pictured above) has been tirelessly planning this year’s event. The Fashion Show will be held 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, May 19 at the ever popular and elegant Vista Valley Country Club. Lunch will consist of the delightful Vista Valley Pear Salad — Grilled Chicken, Asian Pear, Bleu…


Legal analysis of Hunter art take-down

For several weeks earlier this year, an odd battle was waged in the halls of the U.S. Capitol over a controversial work of art by a high school student placed there after an art competition in St. Louis. At issue is whether the Architect of the Capitol had the right to direct the permanent removal of the painting, or whether doing so violated the student’s…