San Marcos

CSUSM Super STEM science fair Saturday

What: Super STEM Saturday, a free interactive science festival for all ages When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m Saturday, March 9, 2019 Where: California State University San Marcos 333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Road, San Marcos Complimentary parking in Lots E, F, H. Science can be fun and the kids are going to prove it the California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) campus from 10 a.m….


DMV reorganizes, recycling disappoints

As California continues to look for ways to curb long wait times at Department of Motor Vehicle offices, state lawmakers are introducing a series of proposals to help out motorists, including one that would permit vehicle registration every two years instead of annually. Under Senate Bill 460, the DMV’s director would be authorized to permit biennial registration beginning on Jan. 1, 2020. Subsequent vehicle registration…


Olga Diaz addresses Jay Petrek questions

After six weeks of trying to get answers about Escondido Assistant Manager Jay Petrek’s appointment to the San Marcos City Council, Escondido Councilwoman Olga Diaz sent answers to The Grapevine on Thursday, Feb. 28. That leaves Escondido Mayor Paul McNamara, Deputy Mayor Consuelo Martinez and council members John Masson and Michael Morasco to go. Thank you. As the Washington Post states on its masthead: “Democracy Dies…


It’s on for new Palomar $1M presidential suite

Construction of Palomar College President Joi Lin Blake’s $1 million office suite is moving forward after she defended the project on Friday to the school’s committee that oversees bond spending. Committee member Michael Hunsaker asked the group to consider cheaper options for Blake’s office after inewsource reported that the college is spending bond money to remodel its new $67 million library to build a top-floor…


New library suite deal for Palomar president

As officials prepared for the Friday grand opening of a $67 million library at Palomar College, crews already had begun demolishing part of the building’s top floor to build President Joi Lin Blake an office suite. Design of the nearly $1 million remodel started more than a year ago when architectural plans were ordered. The college’s governing board later approved a $797,000 contract to build…


Team of CSUSM alums win San Marcos seat

Maria Nunez is representing District 1 on the San Marcos City Council after being elected last November as the culmination of her first political campaign. But that representative just as easily could be Arcela Nunez-Alvarez, Maria’s older sister and a fellow Cal State San Marcos alumna. Or it could be Ana Ardon, another CSUSM alum and, for the last 15 years or so, a colleague of Nunez-Alvarez’s…


Rain swamps San Diego, say hello to El Nino

Blame it on El Nino. After months of promises, infamous climate agitator El Niño finally formed this week, climate scientists announced Thursday.  “Weak El Niño conditions are present and are expected to continue through the spring,” the Climate Prediction Center said. El Niño is a periodic natural warming of sea water in the tropical Pacific. It is among the biggest influences on weather and climate in the United States and…


In this CSUSM ‘classroom’ there are no walls

Powerful mural resides in the heart of the library By Christine Vaughan, CSUSM News Center (Used by permission.) Staircases by their very nature are passageways. But one stairwell at Cal State San Marcos is causing passersby to pause. Spanning across two floors in the architectural center stairwell of Kellogg Library is a mural titled “In This Classroom, There Are No Walls.” Painted in subdued yet boldly contrasting earth…


CSUSM Congress intern gets insider view

If Tyler Burch had preconceived notions about life as a congressional staffer, they quickly dissipated last fall. Tyler, who will graduate from Cal State San Marcos with a bachelor’s in economics in May, spent the fall semester as a participant in the Panetta Institute Congressional Internship Program, giving him firsthand experience in the inner workings of Washington, D.C. “I don’t think people who don’t work…


CSUSM student union going strong at 5

Heart of student life, University Student Union beats strong after five years… The 2018-19 academic year at CSUSM witnessed the largest influx of incoming students to date. With 17,000 students, the campus is home to a diverse array of student interests, backgrounds and values.  Since its opening in 2014, the University Student Union (USU) has become an integral part in helping to reinforce and integrate…