San Marcos

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…


Local Sport Chalet ‘pining for the fjords’

Anybody wanting to shop at Sport Chalet, and apparently there weren’t enough of them, has one last chance to stock up on all merchandise sporting. Management of the 47-store Southern California sports retailer abruptly pulled the plug this weekend announcing the immediate end to all online sales. Customers were told they had until April 29 to cash in gift cards and rewards certificates or all…


$7 million Lotto winner revealed, sorta

The old saying that good things come to those who wait proved true Friday when Bertilia Devine, a retired accountant, came forward to claim her $7 million SuperLotto Plus prize. With ballyhoo galore, the winning ticket for the Dec. 30 drawing was regaled at Nordahl Liquor, the store that sold it. However, there the story seemed to end as no one came forward. Mystery surrounded…


Best of San Marcos photo winners, spring egg scramble, playground maintenance

Two local photographers took home the gold in the form of San Marcos bucks as they prevailed in the city’s Second Annual Best of San Marcos photo contest. First place winner, Troy-Anthony Saunders, received $50 in San Marcos Bucks used towards one session of enrichment camps or specialty classes put on by the City for her submission “Double Peak.” Second place winner, Lynette Bordeaux, received…


Meet the new Vons, same as the old Vons

Forgive the deja vu feeling at Rancho Santa Fe Road and San Marcos Boulevard, but Vons is back in town. The once-and-future store has made a dizzying and stomach-returning journey from Vons to Haggen to Albertsons and back to Vons over the course of two years. Blink, and blink again, at 8 a.m. Wednesday, March 16 as the old Vons re-opens as — ta-da —…



Simply San Marcos: News not-so-briefs

Redesigned city of San Marcos website A redesigned city of San Marcos website is due to launch in mid-February with several new features and an overall improved user experience, according to city officials. A tremendous amount of analytical research and user surveys were conducted prior to developing the new site to ensure it would meet the needs of San Marcos residents and businesses, San Marcos…


Terrorism Alert: Cal State San Marcos held ‘active shooter drills’ Wednesday (Updated)

Don’t look now, but Cal State University San Marcos (CSUSM) was the scene of a terrorist attack on Wednesday. Good thing school doesn’t resume sessions until Jan. 25, so campus was fairly devoid of students. With terrorism and school shooting scenarios in mind, CSUSM staged an active shooter drill where fake became real for training purposes. About 100 North County police, fire and hospital personnel…


San Marcos Civics 101: Have committees, need members (Video)

San Marcos officials today were encouraging residents to get involved and make a difference in their community by applying for open positions on several city commissions and committees. Openings exist on the Community Services Commission, Planning Commission, San Marcos Community Foundation, Student and Neighborhood Relations Committee and Traffic Commission. The deadline to apply for each of these openings is 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec, 22. Appointments…


Sandbagging it at San Marcos and crossing a soon-to-be-finished Armorlite Drive

Prepare for forecasted El Niño season with free sandbags San Marcos officials made two announcements this week, the first being of the sandbagging kind. Sort of like bagging one’s own groceries, those seeking a barrier to rising El Nino street tides, should those ensue, are cordially invited by the city of San Marcos to bag their own sand. Sandbags and sand will be provided free…