Week of April 11, 2024
Week of April 11, 2024
Update: FPUD has announced that the traffic impacts schedule has been extended through Friday, April 19. FALLBROOK – Severe traffic impacts started Tuesday, April 9 and will continue through Monday, April 15, on Mission Road at Minnesota to Olive Road, near Fallbrook Cafe. Drivers are asked to use alternate routes, like Alvarado Street (via Stage Coach Lane), or Brandon Road and Main Avenue. Fallbrook Public Utility District is having contractors tying in water lines. This...
Manuel Leon, a 27-year-old construction worker from Fallbrook, husband, and father of three (wife is expecting in May), tragically lost his life in a hit-and-run incident while working as a traffic stop controller in Valley Center on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The incident, which occurred around 7 a.m. on Cool Valley Road east of Cole Grand Road, was described by a witness who shared that Manuel attempted to stop the vehicle...
UPDATE: A Fallbrook man, Chase Trulove, 18, was one of the two men arrested for the Escondido carjacking that ended in Fallbrook on Saturday, sending one woman to the hospital. Trulove was arrested on charges including carjacking, conspiracy, hit and run, and evading police. He is being held in Vista Detention Facility on $75,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday, April 17. https://youtube.com/shorts/M4ZjA8emHU4?feature=share Escondido carjacking ends in...
NOTE: While these reports have been taken straight from the Sheriff's Office, individuals are innocent until proven guilty. These addresses reveal the block number, not an exact location. April 2 900 blk E. Mission Rd. Found property 400 blk Summit Ave. Personate to get money/property [Over $400] 3600 blk La Canada Rd. Subject stop - Misdemeanor cite and release on active warrant 1600 blk S. Mission Rd. Domestic violence - Battery: spouse/exspouse/date/etc. 400 blk Alturas Rd. Take vehicle without owner's consent/vehicle...
North Coast Church hosted Fallbrook Unified High School District's Students of the Month celebration on Thursday, April 4, where some of the district's top students shined bright once again. Meet Madeline Hall/FUHS, Avery Lynas/FUHS Eric Macias/FUHS and Marissa Pearce/Oasis. Madeline Hall (Nominated by CWO3 Thomas Smith) With an outstanding 4.1 GPA, Hall is an interesting local student, being not only a crazy gifted student but a competitive barrel racer in our region. Her...
FALLBROOK – The Fallbrook High School Ag Department is holding its next plant sale, Saturday, April 13, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. All of the indoor and outdoor plants that are available were grown by the students. Everyone is welcome to come support the students in the community’s FFA program. To be added to their email list for upcoming plant sales, contact Margaret Chapman at [email protected] or 760-723-6300 ext. 2509 or Crystal Jones at ext. 2506 Payment is by cash and check only at this time. Submitted by the FHS Ag...
FALLBROOK – Rally for Children will hold the 29th annual “Arts in the Park” Sunday, April 28, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Live Oak Park. The free event will feature 34 booths sponsored by many local organizations and schools. There will be face painting, walking sticks, ceramic tile painting, yarn dolls, paper flower butterflies and crafts for children to make and take home. The park rangers will have raptors on exhibit; Wild Wonders will bring an array of animals, and the reptiles will once again be there. Stage...
BLOOMINGTON – Temecula avocado farmer John Cornell was recently elected to the Index Fresh, Inc. Board of Directors. Cornell will be the sole representative from the Southern California growing districts at the 110-year-old company, formerly a cooperative. Over the last 20 years, according to the Index, “California’s share of the U.S. avocado market has fallen from 80% to less than 10%. The southern districts (Temecula, Fallbrook, and Escondido) have fallen from 65% of California’s avocado harvest to less than 30%....
FALLBROOK – The Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce has several upcoming events planned. They include: Monday, April 15 – Employment Law Workshop presented by Jorden, Buechner & Serranzana, 10 a.m. at the chamber office; free for members/$10 for non-members. RSVP to Jackie at the chamber. Tuesday, April 16 – Volunteer Fair at Fallbrook Senior Center, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. A great opportunity to sign up to volunteer with a nonprofit organization in the community. Sunday, April 21 – 37th Avocado Festival Wednesday, April...
WASHINGTON – The Social Security Administration published a final rule, “Omitting Food from In-Kind Support and Maintenance (ISM) Calculations,” March 27. The final rule announces the first of several updates to the agency’s Supplemental Security Income regulations that will help people receiving and applying for SSI. “A vital part of our mission is helping people access crucial benefits, including SSI,” said Martin O’Malley, Commissioner of Social Security. “Simplifying our policies is a common-sense...
Each year, I have the honor and privilege of interviewing Fallbrook and Mission Vista high school seniors who apply for a college or trade school scholarship from one or more of our endowed scholarship funds. I am not alone, for there are about 15 other organizations in the region who offer scholarships and also interview applicants. Honestly, I think I’m speaking for everyone who has participated in these interviews, nothing compares to hearing first-hand about the lives and career plans of such amazing, bright,...
The Vallecitos School District will be adding a new portable classroom building to Vallecitos Elementary School, and the Tuesday, March 12, Vallecitos board meeting approved a design contract for the new classroom. A 3-0 vote, with two vacant seats, approved a contract for architectural and engineering services with MGPA Architecture. The Carlsbad company will be paid $26,200 for the work. “We’re excited to see that one through,” Meliton Sanchez, superintendent of Vallecitos School District and the district’s chief...
FALLBROOK – One of the attributes that makes Fallbrook such a special place is the rural character of a small town. Even as the population grows and new homes and businesses are built, Fallbrook retains its natural beauty and open spaces, thanks in large part to the Fallbrook Land Conservancy. The FLC is a local, 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to acquire, protect, and manage open space in perpetuity for the benefit of wildlife and the community. A great...
Village News/Shane Gibson...
FALLBROOK – A Leer Fallbrook is celebrating its 20th annual day of literacy and service Saturday, July 27, and is honored to announce Viridiana Diaz, vice president of student affairs at California State University San Marcos, as the event keynote speaker. The three student winners of the poetry and three student winners of the essay contests will also be recognized. The original March event was canceled due to inclement weather, but will still be held at Maie Ellis Elementary School at 400 W. Elder St. in honor of Cesar...
FALLBROOK – Local author Patricia Watts will be interviewed by our own Nancy Heins-Glaser at the April meeting. The topic is "Celebrating the Voices of Older Women." This is a demographic that is too often dismissed and denigrated by society. People over the age of 50 can be great and wise and interesting (at the very least) and they offer our community the benefits of their life experiences. Watts helped to write the script for the AAUW project film "Women Talk," recently...
FALLBROOK – Friends of the Fallbrook Library will hold its annual general meeting Thursday, April 18, in the community room at the library at 2:30 p.m. All current members of FOFL are invited to attend for an informative and participative session. The FOFL board will share its goals for the new fiscal year May 1, 2024, through April 30, 2025. The organization will vote on the new board of directors who will take office May 1. We will share our proposed budget to fund and support the many programs held at the Fallbrook...
PALA – The Pala Band of Mission Indians will host a buy back event for gun safety in partnership with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department on Saturday, April 20, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Tribal Administrative Building, 12196 Pala Mission Road. During the event, individuals will be able to exchange guns for gift cards with no questions asked. Important safety equipment such as cable locks and security boxes will also be available for free while supplies last. “We are proud to be hosting a gun safety and buy...
SAN DIEGO – Orchid appreciators, growers, and vendors from the U.S. and abroad will celebrate the orchid at the San Diego County Orchid Society 2024 spring show and sale, in Balboa Park the weekend before Earth Day. Orchids of the Earth is free admission and runs Friday to Sunday, April 19-21. "Visitors can explore, firsthand, the beauty and variety of the orchid world," said SDCOS Past President and Show Committee Chair Debby Halliday. "With hundreds of plants on display,...
MGPA Architecture was awarded the Bonsall Unified School District contract for the design of a new playground and shade shelter at Bonsall Elementary School. The BUSD board voted 4-0 Wednesday, Jan. 17, with Michael Gaddis absent, to approve the architectural services contract with the Carlsbad company. MGPA Architecture will be paid $19,800 for the work. “It’s a great thing,” BUSD superintendent Joseph Clevenger said. The existing playground at Bonsall Elementary School will be demolished. The new playground will...
Col. (Ret.) Allen B. Clark, age 100, of Corte Madera Ca passed away on March 11, 2024. He was born in Meadsville, Virginia, on Sept. 9, 1923, and was the son of Alpha Beta Clark and Flossie Blanche Clark both of Virginia. He was the sixth of seven children, all of whom predeceased him as did his wife Virginia Myers Clark and son Allen Bedford Clark. He is survived by his son Aric B. Clark and wife Helen of San Rafael, California, and daughter-in-law Diana Clark of Gilbert,...
Long time Fallbrook resident Paul Bourque passed away peacefully at Palomar Medical Center on March 8, 2024, following a valiant effort fighting lung conditions. Paul is survived by wife Iris and two sons, Justin, wife Carly and grandsons Gage and Gunnar of Lakeside, California; Andre and partner Brianna Mulrooney and step-grandson Troy of Portland, Oregon, and stepdaughter, Shauna Segundo of Rancho Santa Margarita. Other surviving family members include sisters Anne Marie...
BONSALL – The Bonsall Rotary Club held two events in March honoring Bonsall Unified School District's students. First, in early March, the philanthropic organization which promotes "service above self" honored Bonsall High School student Orlando Mencias. A junior at Bonsall High School, Mencias was recognized for his outstanding academic achievements as well as his leadership on the Bonsall Varsity Baseball Team. Mencias, who is the son of middle school teacher and high...
BATON ROUGE, La. – Marcelina Swan of Fallbrook was recently initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society. Swan was initiated at University of Maryland Global Campus. Swan is among approximately 25,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10% of seniors and 7.5% of juniors are eligible...
FALLBROOK – The Monserate Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution recognized a "Good Citizen" from the St. Peter the Apostle Catholic School. This outstanding student was Luc Staricka, an eighth grade student who exhibits the qualities of a good citizen in his home, at school, and also in his community. Luc exhibits many qualities of a good citizen, but one that the teachers and staff at his school recognize and appreciate is that Luc works with a special needs...
Village News/Shane Gibson...
The San Diego Sockers have played home games at what was initially the San Diego Sports Arena and is currently Pechanga Arena, but for 2024-2025, the Sockers will be moving into Frontwave Arena in Oceanside. The final regular-season game at the Grand Old Arena was Saturday, March 30, against the Tacoma Stars, and 2007 Fallbrook High School graduate Chris Toth earned the goalkeeper win for the Stars. “It’s a big deal,” Toth said. “To play here is a special thing.” The Sockers franchise began as the Baltimore Comets...
JULIAN – The Julian Woman's Club will be hosting the 98th annual Wildflower Show on Friday, May 3 and Saturday, May 4. The show will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, and will be held in the woman's clubhouse, located at 2607 C Street, in the town of Julian. This show features beautiful wildflowers from seven regions in and around Julian, and will exhibit samples from the many different flowering species that grow in the area. This may include cactus flowers from the...
CALIFORNIA – A preliminary experiment conducted by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility reveals concerning levels of toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances on the skin of soccer players and coaches after playing on artificial turf fields. The Washington Post reported March 12, on the PEER test results, which found PFAS levels increased on the skin in three out of four participants following soccer matches on artificial turf. In contrast, no similar increase...
SAN DIEGO COUNTY – I Love A Clean San Diego is set to host the 22nd annual Creek to Bay Cleanup Saturday, April 20, from 9 a.m. to noon, in the region’s largest one-day environmental volunteer effort in celebration of Earth Month, with nearly 100 cleanup sites around the county. I Love A Clean San Diego expected thousands of volunteers of all ages to participate. Residents can register to volunteer at http://cleansd.org/creektobay. “Creek to Bay provides an opportunity for all San Diegans to actively participate in...
SAN DIEGO – Six members of the San Diego Animal Welfare Coalition have joined in a countywide campaign to find foster homes for the dogs in their care in hopes of solving a common problem: being over capacity. Project Dog Foster is intended to make it easy and fun for the community to step up and help, even if just for a short period of time, no matter where in the county they live. "Unfortunately, more than 40% of our dogs have been available for adoption for 30 days or...
On Tuesday, April 2, the county kicked off its 40th annual blood drive, an event that has grown to become one of the largest donor events of its kind in the region. In partnership with the San Diego Blood Bank, the county this year has added two more sites, bringing the total to 24 locations where people can sign up to donate in April. Last year, county employees donated 435 pints of blood, enough to save more than a thousand lives. This year’s goal is 501 pints of blood. Each one-pint bag has the potential to help up to...
I have often wondered whether longevity is an elixir for those who love life. Lately I have found myself pondering centenarians, how they give us joy for today and hope for the future. I have been blessed to be befriended by many centenarians in my beloved Fallbrook. Come now, dear reader, as I introduce you to some and we together may we marvel over the mystery and magic of living to 100 and beyond. My first friend to stretch her life well past 100 was cantankerous Betty...
4/20 Day celebrations are popular across the state; if you are partaking in the festivities, California will have it all. Cannabis has been legal for adults in the state since 2016 and is taxed and regulated similarly to alcohol. Like alcohol it has become quite mainstream, and it remains a popular drug for many young people. Because of social media, 4/20 Day can be sensationalized much the same as drug and alcohol use is on social media platforms. Parents and educators can have a positive impact on children and students...
RAINBOW – Karen Houghton, R.N., is offering a Naturally Gourmet Cooking Class Sunday, April 14 at 2 p.m. at the Fallbrook Seventh Day Adventist Church, 1200 Rainbow Valley Blvd. The class will teach how to fix vegetarian plant-based cuisine and how to boost the immune system. Space is limited, so anyone wanting to attend should pre-register by calling 760-387-7311 or emailing [email protected]. They can leave a message with their name and number of people...
FALLBROOK – North County Parkinson's Support Group Fallbrook invites anyone interested to join their monthly Parkinson's Support Group meeting, Friday April 26, 10 a.m. to noon, at the Fallbrook Regional Health and Wellness Center- 1636 E. Mission Road. The guest speaker, Dr. Ana Maleki, MDS, will talk about Alternative Treatments for Parkinson’s. Medications are usually the first treatment for people with Parkinson’s disease. But there may come a time when one’s medications no longer work for one’s needs. DBS is...
In a press release from the Fallbrook Fire Safe Council, “Chipping Day helps make Fallbrook fire safe,” published in the April 4 issue of the Village News, it misquoted John Duling as saying he lost his home in the 2002 Gavilan fire. His home did not burn but many of his neighbors lost their homes...
I saw an article in the paper for an all girls Boy Scout Troop run by a woman. Why would a girl join such a group when she could join the Girl Scouts? Can boys join this Boy Scout Troop? How about Transgirls? It couldn’t be illegal. Is there some agenda her, hmmm? J....
Last week, Assembly Bill 1965 (AB 1965), introduced by Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio (D – Baldwin Park), passed the Assembly Health Committee, where I serve as Vice Chair. Once implemented, AB 1965 will take aim at the public healthcare crisis impacting tribal communities throughout California. Health disparities impacting American Indian and Alaska Native communities include opioid overdose death rates, which are higher among the AIAN population than any other group. Diabetes...
Pizza Hut announced it would lay off over 1000 workers after the $20 an hour minimum wage increase. Foster’s Freeze shut down several stores. Other chains are either raising prices or cutting staff. Those consequences couldn’t have been unintended, right? More layoffs are likely imminent. It seems like a nice thing to do for the fast food workers, but the outcome may actually be that they may lose their jobs altogether. It just seems that the more the government...
John Terrell's letters typically involve pushing the Left's talking points. His latest one is about man-made global warming, an emergency according to much of the mainstream media. This was promoted 20 years ago by Al Gore (a major fossil-fuel hypocrite who famously claimed to have created the internet) who told everyone to quit debating a problem that is "settled science." The unfortunate reality for Democrats is that the man-made global warming hysteria has been fizzling out. It may still upset teenagers or college...
First of all, I am a lazy person. And let me assure you, retirement hasn’t made me any less lazy. As it turns out, I have actually developed it into a skill set. And it seems, I am very good at it! This doing nothing. Which has given me way too much time to watch TV. Which leads me to the second most glaring truth. Why does every person from news anchors to game show contestants sport Dudley-Do-Right-Dazzling-Hollywood-White smiles? It seems sparkly-white choppers are the...
The issue of homelessness is not just about lacking shelter; it's about individuals grappling with mental illness. In our pursuit of solutions, it is crucial to recognize that a significant portion of the homeless population is affected by Serious Mental Illness (SMI), with estimates suggesting that 21% fall into this category. Placing individuals with SMI in environments ill-equipped to meet their needs not only undermines their potential for success but also poses risks to...
FALLBROOK – Friends of the Fallbrook Library announce this month's Freaney and Friends free concert will be held Tuesday, April 23, at 1 p.m. in the Community Room at the Fallbrook Library. It will feature pianist Kristen Spath. Spath is a Boston, Massachusetts native, becoming a Southern California transplant in 2002. Originally, Spath trained as a classical pianist at the South Shore Conservatory of Music located in Hingham, Massachusetts; but soon Spath's passion...
FALLBROOK – On April 20, Fallbrook Artist Association will hold its monthly general meeting and feature Francesca Bailey as their demonstration artist. Bailey will use basic techniques and tips to improve accuracy and skill in drawing from life. Bailey loves to draw people, places, and things with graphite pencil, colored pencils, and pen. Her favorite kind of drawing is en plein air, in other words, on location and outside. She has written and illustrated two children's...
FALLBROOK – A community screening of "Women Talk: Women of History," a documentary featuring undersung women heroes was held Saturday, March 23 at Fallbrook Library in the community room. "Women Talk: Women of History" was crafted by noted artists and creatives of the Fallbrook community inspired by local organizations AAUW, Fallbrook Scarecrow Days and the art/artistry of BJ Lane during the pandemic. The goal was to recognize undersung women she-roes through time. AAUW...
Local workers who fall victim to wage theft now have a better chance of getting the pay that is due them. County and state leaders reported advances on addressing wage theft within the region last month outside the County Administration Center. The event was part of a Week of Action honoring labor rights activist César Chávez. The County cited the Workplace Justice Fund as one of its most successful programs. The fund helps workers who won legal judgments for lost wages but are still waiting for the money from their...
The San Diego County Library has been named one of the 30 finalists for the prestigious 2024 National Medal for Museum and Library Service by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. This honor is the highest in the United States for libraries and a major recognition of unwavering commitment to excellence and service to communities. The county library is the only finalist from California’s library institutions this year. “This recognition is a direct result of our collective efforts and the innovative spirit that...
VISTA – Soroptimist International of Vista and North County Inland presented $14,000 in Live Your Dream Education and Training Awards to five local women to invest in their education and help create a better life for themselves and their families. Criselda Martinez-Jimenez of Vista received the top award of $5,000. Speaking at the club's annual "Live Your Dream" Awards Luncheon on March 16, Martinez-Jimenez spoke eloquently of her struggles growing up of becoming a widow...
