of Escondido

To golf or to footgolf: Is that a question?

Consider a tale of two Escondido golf courses this week. Newly redesigned and rebuilt Boulder Oaks Golf Club was set to welcome back golfers with an official opening tournament  scheduled for 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 14. The format is a 2-person scramble. The $40 entry per person includes a lunch buffet. Meanwhile, Reidy Creek golf course cut the ribbon on something borrowed and something…


Hard losing your best friend when you’re 21

(Editor’s Note: Hayfork is about as far as one can go from Escondido and remain in California, a distance of approximately 700 miles. Yet, two Escondido men were caught up in a recent incident resulting in the death of one. Jason Paul Brady, 40, who attended Orange Glen High School, immediately confessed to police to the April 4 murder of Amanda Patton, 21, and James…


New Escondido assistant city manager named, salary set at $164,390

Former Escondido assistant city manager turned-city manager Graham Mitchell said Thursday, March 17 that Jay Petrek would become the new Mitchell, i.e., new assistant city manager. Petrek is Escondido director of community development. His new salary will be $164,390. Mitchell, for example, also received benefits including 20 days of management leave with the ability to convert 15 of those days to salary, auto allowance of…


Tale of two stores; one opening, one closing

In striking contrast this week, one well-known local store was opening while another was closing. First, the Goodwill good news; then the Sports Authority not-so-good news story. Roof down and inventory destroyed, but not out, Goodwill Industries Thrift Shop re-opened for business at 550 W Washington Ave. on Friday, March 4 to crowds and kudos. Traffic was non-stop throughout the weekend spilling over to this…


Jose Balderas, ice cream maker, liked it hot

Summertime was when Jose Balderas and his 675 N. Broadway ice cream factory gave Willy Wonka a run for the money. “Mango, strawberry, rompopo, which is like egg nog, over 20 flavors; popsicles, ice cream bars, it’s alright to eat as much as you want,” Balderas said a few years ago. “You only live once in this world so enjoy it. What else can you…


From climate change to road widening

Benefits of fixing climate change You think? North County Climate Change Alliance presents Dr. Tom English, a Carlsbad lecturer and scientist and Rolf Dorp, Alliance grass roots organizer discussing the benefits of fixing climate change. They’ll be at the Escondido Public Library’s upstairs Turrentine Room from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 23. It’s open to the public and free. “Sponsored by The North…


3rd Annual Dine-Out Escondido! starts now

Local eateries have signed up by the baker’s dozen baker’s dozen for Escondido’s 3rd Annual Dine-Out Escondido! restaurant week Jan. 24 to Jan 30. It’s all happening in conjunction with  Visit California’s annual “California Restaurant Month.” Twenty-eight restaurants have signed on as they turn Escondido into culinary town. New restaurants joining includeThe Wooden Spoon, Burger Bench, Hacienda de Vega, Cute Cakes, Sunny Side Kitchen, A…


Goodwill Industries Thrift Shop digs out from El Nino damage

Even as Escondido’s venerable Goodwill Industries Thrift Shop was being cleaned up after El Nino huffed and puffed and blew it’s roof down, donations kept coming. And Goodwill officials already were looking toward a grand re-opening celebration, the entire community invited. “We’re still accepting donations here,” said Beth Forsberg, Goodwill Industries of San Diego County vice president, retail and operations, standing in the shadows of…


Food for fines went fine, volunteering and more Escondido community news

Library ‘Holiday Food for Fines’ program deemed successful Escondido Public Library’s principal librarian Joanna Axelrod didn’t mince words. “Escondido Public Library’s annual Holiday Food for Fines program proved once again to be very successful,” Axelrod said. “During the collection drive, which ran from Monday, Nov. 30 through Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015, the Library accumulated 50 crates of food weighing an estimated 1,500 pounds.” The program lets library…


3rd Annual Dine-Out Escondido! is on tap

Local eateries are signing up by the baker’s dozen baker’s dozen for Escondido’s 3rd Annual Dine-Out Escondido! restaurant week Jan. 24 to Jan 30. It’s all happening in conjunction with Visit California’s annual “California Restaurant Month.” The list should grow to around 25 by the time the event takes over culinary town. New restaurants joining includeThe Wooden Spoon, Burger Bench, Hacienda de Vega, Cute Cakes,…