Articles by Special to The Grapevine

North County October 14, 2024

‘Help Save our Trails’ — New Bonsall Community Park’s design and planning process excluding equestrians

The San Luis Rey River Park, a significant regional park, includes a historic 18-mile trail that has been used by equestrians for decades, according to “Help Save Our Trails,” a local equestrian group. The Bonsall Community Park plan should integrate more with the existing trail network, group leaders said. However, during the community outreach for the park’s development, equestrian groups were notably absent from discussions….

Education, San Marcos October 13, 2024

American Indian Studies chair receives national honor

Joely Proudfit, the founding department chair of the American Indian Studies department at CSUSM, recently was a recipient of the 2024 educator of the year award, presented by the National Indian Education Association’s Lifetime Achievement and Cultural Freedom Awards. The awards recognize and honor individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to the education of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian people. Proudfit…

California, History October 13, 2024

Columbus Day? ‘California Dream,’ indigenous peoples

The California Dream is a myth for many California Indian peoples and tribes. Since settlers arrived, California Indians’ reality has largely been one of land dispossession, cultural assimilation and even genocide. If California Indians were to design their own dream it would place decolonization at its core. Decolonization is the undoing of colonialism, part of what I study as a scholar of Native American studies….

Baseball, History, Sports July 3, 2024

Before Babe Ruth, there was Gavvy Cravath

(Editor’s Note: Gavvy Cravath was an Escondido native, perhaps the first Major League Baseball star from San Diego County. Patrolling right field at the historic Baker Bowl for the Dead Ball Era Philadelphia Phillies, he led the National League in home runs six times in the years just prior to Babe Ruth’s arrival on the scene. Later, a Laguna Beach municipal judge, the crusty Cravath,…

Community, Health, Health & Fitness, Lifestyle June 8, 2024

Lynn Marrie hats help rock for Sublime’s Bradley House

A Sublime Life Sobriety Festival attracted a host of fans and sober living proponents to Oceanside Civic Center on May 11 where a supportive community immersed itself in a variety of activities including live music, insightful speakers and interactive activities. Inspired by late Sublime front man Bradley Nowell, the Nowell Family Foundation sponsored the event to acquaint folks with its Bradley House addiction recovery project….

History, San Diego, The World, Tourism February 24, 2024

Hail Estonia! Wait. What? La Jolla?

Hail Estonia! Wait. What? Estonia opened an honorary consulate at La Jolla on January 24, 2019, later moving it to downtown San Diego. The Estonian honorary consul in the San Diego area is Dr. Michael Corey Chan, and the address of the consulate is 330 13th Street #2111 San Diego, CA, 92101. Give him a shout-out at 858-717-6379. “Honorary consuls with their energy and network…

Escondido, San Diego, Tourism, Travel February 12, 2024

Dr. Robert Breedlove returns to Escondido

We are certainly NOT in Kansas anymore, Toto! I really wasn’t talking with that Wizard of Oz character recently, but rather my bride, Debbie, while we were stopped in bumper-to-bumper traffic on I-15, northbound in our rental car. We were once again visiting huge San Diego County, near Escondido, California, a city we have regularly enjoyed since we permanently relocated from San Diego to Our…

Animals and pets, History, The World February 1, 2024

Groundhog Day, what’s with those groundhogs anyway

According to legend, if the groundhog sees his shadow on February 2nd, there will be six more weeks of winter; if not, an early spring is predicted. This year no shadow. Of course groundhogs – also known as woodchucks – don’t emerge at this time just to be furry weather predictors. So what’s the real reason? Research into groundhog biology shows they have other priorities…

Community, Escondido November 20, 2023

J’accuse: Esc. youth council members say Esc. Council member Morasco went racist over Allegiance Pledge

Immediately after the Escondido City Council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 15, District 4 Councilmember Mike Morasco approached Escondido City Youth Council (ECYC) founding members. Why? Morasco, a Republican in his 13th year on the council,  questioned youth council members about their citizenship status because they quietly opted out of reciting the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of the meeting. “It’s incredibly disappointing to have…