Inland Edition, January 5, 2024 by Coast News Group

The Coast News

VISTA, SAN MARCOS, ESCONDIDO

VOL. 11, N0. 1

Vista death questioned by friends

Jan. 5, 2024

Woman sues Vista fire official

KNIGHTS

ON THE Alleged burglar had history of seizures By Laura Place

VISTA — In the weeks since 43-year-old Theodore Stewart was shot and killed during an alleged break-in at a Vista residence, his friends have been left with many questions about the circumstances of his final moments. Stewart, known to many as “Teddy,” died early on a mid-November morning outside a residence in the 1700 block of STEWART York Drive. Around 5 a.m., the resident of the home called the police to report a man wandering around their backyard, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. While on the phone with the caller, San Diego County Sheriff’s deputies heard them say the man was trying to break in, followed by the sound of a gunshot, according to the department. Deputies arrived and discovered a man, later identified as Stewart, lying outside the home with a gunshot wound. He was provided medical aid and taken to the hospital, where he later died, according to the Sheriff’s Department. OffiTURN TO DEATH ON 14

MOVE

Ex-employee says she was sexually harassed

RICHIE RAMIREZ, a freshman, is the leading scorer for a San Marcos HS team looking for big things this season after an impressive showing at last month’s North County Classic.

By Laura Place

“Introducing residential to the mall — I not only think it’s a good idea, I think it’s vital,” Commissioner David Barber said. “We need to reinvent the mall. It’s not going to survive without additional foundations for retail to exist.” Previously referred to as North County Fair, the mall opened in the mid1980s during a boom period for shopping malls. Steerpoint Capital and Bridge Group Investments purchased the mall from

VISTA — A former employee of the Vista Fire Department has filed a lawsuit alleging that she was sexually harassed by a current battalion fire chief and faced retaliation for reporting her concerns. In a complaint filed in August in Vista Superior Court, Karina Wakefield, who worked in the department as a fire inspector from fall 2021 to fall 2022, detailed what she said were inappropriate conversations and physical contact initiated by Battalion Chief Samuel Craig over CRAIG several months in 2022. Wakefield said Craig made her extremely uncomfortable by texting her constantly, kissing her on the head in his office and in front of others, and occasionally sharing explicit information about his sex life. The lawsuit also names the city of Vista and Deputy Fire Chief Craig Usher, who Wakefield said failed to support her when she filed an HR complaint about Samuel Craig’s behavior and contributed to a hostile work environment. “People in general shouldn’t have to go through what Ms. Wakefield went through, especially working at a public entity like this. This should be a safe place for employees,” said Nicole Gilanians, Wakefield’s attorney. While the city did investigate Wakfield’s complaint in fall 2022,

TURN TO MALL ON 6

TURN TO SUIT ON 11

Story on 15.

Courtesy photo/ San Marcos High School

Housing at North County Mall? By Samantha Nelson

Toasting the Top 10 wines of ’23 After reviewing hundreds of wines, Rico and Frank make their picks for the year’s best. 9

ESCONDIDO — As the city continues to grapple with a budget shortfall, planning commissioners are looking at ways to build revenue for the city while simultaneously revitalizing the North County Mall, with the addition of housing seen as one possible solution. The Escondido Planning Commission’s Dec. 12 discussion focused mostly on adding housing to the mall’s property, which is mostly owned by the city. Commissioner Rick Paul brought forward the discus-

sion for fellow commissioners to gauge their interest as well as other city leaders’ interest in the matter. According to Paul, because the city already owns the land, it could add rental housing to earn revenue. In addition, the additional housing would help the city’s Regional Housing Needs Assessment requirements. “It would be very easy to make great strides in those housing numbers by adding residential there,” he said at the meeting. The other commissioners mostly agreed.

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Jan. 5, 2024

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Jan. 5, 2024

VUSD adjusts boundaries ahead of school closures By Laura Place

VISTA — Ahead of the pending consolidation of Beaumont Elementary and Rancho Minerva Middle schools at the end of the academic year, the Vista Unified School District has adjusted attendance boundaries to accommodate the students who will be displaced. Vista Unified leaders agreed to close the two schools in June, citing dropping enrollment throughout the district. The Rancho Minerva site will be made into the new location of Vista Innovation and Design Academy (VIDA), and the Beaumont site will be used as a swing site for students during the Bobier Elementary rebuild before being closed for good. The district board of education reviewed several boundary adjustment options over the past month, ranging from minor tweaks to the boundaries of neighboring schools to a major districtwide overhaul of attendance areas. At its Dec. 12 meeting, the board agreed to two separate attendance boundary plans to go into effect for the 2024-25 school year. “Tonight is a momen-

tous night,” said Superintendent Matthew Doyle, noting that the board’s decision would allow the district to give Beaumont and Rancho Minerva families a better idea of their options for next year. Current Beaumont and Rancho Minerva families will receive letters from the district in the coming weeks identifying their new neighborhood school placement, the district said. The closure of Rancho Minerva will leave the district with just two neighborhood middle schools — Roosevelt and Madison. The boundaries for the two middle schools were adjusted to match the existing attendance areas drawn for the district’s two comprehensive high schools. The Roosevelt Middle boundary will now match that of Vista High School (northern Vista, Oceanside) and the Madison Middle boundary will match that of Rancho Buena Vista High School (central and southern Vista, Carlsbad). For elementary schools, the process was a bit more complex. The board agreed to adjust the boundaries of Maryland, Foothill Oak, Bobier and Monte Vista el-

SUPERINTENDENT Matthew Doyle speaks at Rancho Minerva Middle School during a community forum regarding school consolidation last year. File photo/The Coast News

ementary schools to absorb different portions of the current Beaumont attendance area. According to a new district boundary map, Beau-

mont families who live east of Beaumont Drive and Coventry Road and south of Crescent Drive will now be in the Monte Vista Elementary attendance area.

The Foothill Oak attendance boundary will now extend to Townsite Drive and south to County Road 14, bordered to the east by Beaumont Drive, Coventry Road and Crescent Drive and to the west by County Road 13. The Maryland boundary will extend slightly to the southeast to include the area directly north of Vista Magnet Middle School, and the Bobier boundary will be extended slightly south past North Citrus Avenue. While these are the new boundaries for neighborhood schools, district leaders noted that all families still have the choice to ask for a transfer to a new school or pursue a magnet school by entering the district magnet lottery. “We are a district of choice, where any parent will be able to go to any school and apply for space available,” said district COO Shawn Loescher. Trustee Rosemary Smithfield asked about the logistics for Beaumont students who choose to go to Bobier since that school will temporarily move to the Beaumont site during its rebuild. Doyle said families

could choose to do so, but that they would face a brief period of transition for the two years of the rebuild. It also depends on whether there is enough space for all the students who may want to go to Bobier. The school rebuild is planned for around 650 students. A map shared at the Vista Unified School District’s Dec. 12 board meeting shows current attendance boundaries for five elementary schools (outlined in black) and new boundaries (color) to absorb the Beaumont population when the school is closed. Courtesy VUSD “If we have more parents at Beaumont that want to transfer to Bobier than we have space, that’s when we’ll have to have a conversation,” Doyle said. Based on this year’s enrollment data, Maryland, Monte Vista and Foothill Oak are all well below their student capacity, with utilization ranging from 57% to 69%. More information about the school consolidation process and timeline is available online at vistausd. o r g /d e p a r t m e n t s /o s c / schoolconsolidation.

O’side family searches for missing teen

Suspects arrested in separate San Marcos stabbings, 1 fatal

By Samantha Nelson

SAN MARCOS — A murder suspect arrested in the stabbing death of a woman in San Marcos last week has been identified by authorities. Sheriff’s homicide detectives identified Ziyah Jay Patterson, 29, as the suspect in the murder of Angela Marie Lanway, 42. On Dec. 26, about 10:20 p.m., deputies responded to a report of a stabbing in the 100 block of N. Twin Oak Valley Road in San Marcos. “Upon arrival, deputies discovered one adult female victim with a stab wound,” said Sheriff's Lt. Joseph Jarjura. “Medical aid was provided and the victim was transported to the hospital where she died

OCEANSIDE — A local mother continues the search to find her 15-year-old son, who has been missing since leaving his Oceanside residence last month. Jennie Moya last saw her son, Rudy Moya, on Dec. 16 around 7:30 p.m. at home, about an hour before he allegedly hopped into an Uber and disappeared into the night. Before leaving, he cleaned his room and wrote a note for his mother explaining why he left. Rudy has been missing for over two weeks. A sophomore at El Camino High School, Rudy skipped the last week of classes before the winter break, missing all of his finals. “This is completely out of character for him,” Jennie said. Rudy’s mother described him as a kind young man, an excellent athlete in track, wrestling and football, and an overall great, loving son. After his mother told him it was time to disassociate himself from some problematic friends or they would have to relocate to Fort Worth, Texas, where his stepfather is stationed in the Air Force, Rudy wrote the note and left. On the night Rudy disappeared, an Uber picked him up at 8:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn at 1410 Carmelo Drive. According to the family, a parent of one of Rudy’s friends had paid for his 15-minute ride elsewhere in the city. According to the police, Uber won’t reveal informa-

By City News Service

RUDY MOYA, 15, a sophomore at El Camino High School, left his Oceanside home in an Uber on Dec. 16 and hasn’t been seen by his family since. Courtesy photo

tion about the ride to show where he was dropped off because a crime technically hasn’t been committed. Police were granted access to search the home of the parent who allegedly bought Rudy’s Uber and found no trace of the teenager. “We’re doing everything we can to find him,” said Police Capt. John McKean, who also noted the trickiness of the situation due to the lack of a crime and evidence of Rudy’s disappearance. Rudy is one of 261 reported missing juveniles the police department received in 2023. Approximately five children are reported missing every week in Oceanside. Many of these cases involve runaway cases like Rudy and a lot of those children eventually return home within a few weeks, according to McKean. Rudy’s family has also

received some alarming texts from anonymous contacts pretending to know where he is and that his life is in danger. McKean said this often happens after families attempt to spread the word on social media. As the search for Rudy continues, his family has started holding candlelight vigils every Saturday by the Oceanside Pier from 8:30 to 8:45 p.m., the time that symbolizes the length of his Uber ride on the night he disappeared. The family has started a Facebook page called Bring Rudy Home, where they post updates and informational posters to help find Rudy. They have also reached out to the FBI and the Center for Missing and Exploited Children about Rudy’s disappearance. If you have any information related to Rudy’s whereabouts, please contact Oceanside Police at (760) 435-4900.

of her injuries.” Patterson was booked into the Vista Detention Facility, according to the Sheriff’s Department. Jarjura said Patterson and Lanway were in a relationship. “This was an isolated incident,” Jarjura said. “The circumstances of the crime are still under investigation. There are no outstanding suspects.” Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Sheriff’s Homicide Unit at 858285-6330 during regular hours, or 858-565-5200 after-hours. Crime Stoppers’ anonymous tip line can also be called at 888-580-8477. In another San Marcos stabbing case, a 27-yearold woman is suspected of

stabbing her mother last month. Deputies were dispatched just after 5 p.m. Dec. 22 to the 1200 block of San Elijo Road, according to the Sheriff’s Department. They found a woman with stab wounds who told them she was stabbed by her daughter, department officials said in a statement. The mother was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening wounds. With the help of air support, the suspect was found on a nearby hiking trail. Anzy McWha, daughter of the victim, was arrested for alleged assault and booked into the Vista Detention Facility.

Theft suspect killed in police chase ID’d By City News Service

ESCONDIDO — The San Diego County Medical Examiner this week identified a retail theft suspect who died last month during a police pursuit crash in Escondido. The Medical Examiner identified the 18-year-old suspect as Shevondia Compare-Bell, Fox 5 reported Jan. 1. On Dec. 18, three suspects, two women and one man, were reported to be involved in a theft from Dick’s Sporting Goods store on Auto Park Way, according to the Escondido Police Department. The suspects left the store in a pickup truck, which was stolen. When

the police arrived, a highspeed chase ensued. The chase ended when the driver lost control, failed to maneuver a turn onto Fig Street from Washington Avenue, and crashed into a concrete barrier. Compare-Bell was one of the two women who were ejected from the truck. The other female suspect was seriously hurt but was last reported to be in stable condition. The driver was identified as Lance Cpl. John Eugene Brand, a Marine based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. The police caught him trying to flee the scene, according to Deputy District

Attorney Helen Kim. Brand was arrested and faces gross vehicular manslaughter, evading, causing death and causing great bodily injury. Brand has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

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Jan. 5, 2024

Vehicle theft is a crime of opportunity

By Summer Stephan

uto theft is a common crime in San Diego County that affects victims in many ways. Across the county, there were more than 11,300 auto thefts last year, representing about $140 million in losses, according to statistics from the San Diego Association of Governments. In fact, last year our office filed more than 850 cases against 900 defendants for auto theft-related charges. Thankfully, our region has a Regional Auto Theft Taskforce (RATT) that works to reduce vehicle theft in San Diego County. They have taken down many criminal auto theft rings that have led to prosecutions and ultimately jail time for criminals. Auto theft uniquely disrupts the victim’s life, especially in a vehicle-centered city like San Diego where almost every aspect of your daily living revolves around your vehicle. From being unable to get to work, school and doctor’s appointments to buying food, the theft of your vehicle can be devastating. But there are ways to be proactive, so you do not become a victim of auto theft. Here are some simple tips that can reduce your probability of becoming a victim of auto theft: • Do not leave your vehicle doors unlocked. Criminals are opportunists and they will find their way into an unlocked vehicle sooner or later. • Do not leave items of any value in plain sight in a parked vehicle. • Do not leave your keys in your vehicle. • Do not leave keys hanging on a hook in your garage. • Do not leave your garage door open. • Do not store a spare

Do not leave items of any value in plain sight in a parked vehicle. If a thief gains access to personal identifying information ... they can steal your identity. key in your garage or second vehicle. • Do not leave your vehicle unattended while it is running. • Do not assume your vehicle is safe to be left unlocked because you live in a gated area or have an enclosed parking garage. • Do not leave car keys in a lockbox attached to your vehicle while at the beach or on a hike. • To avoid becoming a victim of identity theft in addition to auto theft, do not leave valuable items in your vehicle. The harm to victims is compounded when valuables, wallets, checkbooks or phones are left in a vehicle, and it is stolen. If a thief gains access to personal identifying information such as your driver’s license or credit card, they can illegally use your per-

sonal information to make purchases and steal your identity. Some thieves may try to resell your vehicle, and if you leave the vehicle title in the vehicle, the bad actor can attempt to transfer title or sell your vehicle to an unsuspecting innocent buyer. Earlier this summer, RATT completed a twoyear investigation involving 50 defendants. The undercover operation recovered 172 stolen vehicles, drugs and firearms. RATT’s mission cannot be fulfilled without the help of the public. If you have tips or information on vehicle thefts, please let RATT know on the anonymous tip line: 1-888-TELLRAT (888835-5728). Summer Stephan is District Attorney of San Diego County.

ore than 35 years ago, before 1988, California’s insurance commissioner was an appointed official, and one result was that insurance companies who contributed to governors’ political campaigns invariably got favored treatment when they wanted to raise their premiums. Insurance commissioners since then have been far from perfect, but no one questions that consumers have saved more than $13 billion in rate-increase reductions since the office became elective via Proposition 103. Decades later, isn’t it about time the same thing happened to the California Public Utilities Commission, originally set up in the early 1900s to keep consumer prices down? For if there’s ever been an agency in state government that favors the industry it regulates over the consumers it’s supposed to protect, that is the PUC. Time and again, the PUC finds ways to keep electric companies alive and well-heeled even after they’ve been convicted of negligence and malfeasance for causing well over 100 deaths. No matter how many fires they cause, no matter how many gas leaks and explosions their facilities somehow allow to happen, whenever companies like Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison, Southern California Gas and San Diego Gas & Electric ask for rate increases, they are forthcoming. Meanwhile, no one can touch the five PUC commissioners who facilitate this via a well-documented Kabuki dance where utilities always demand more from customers than they know they’ll get. Just like in a Kabuki dance, an elaborate ritual ensues but the outcome is foreordained. Even when these companies are fined hundreds of millions of dollars, it’s like water off a duck because they know they’ll get it all back and then some in their next routine rate increase. Meanwhile, the PUC goes merrily along, its five members each serving sixyear terms. Not even the governor who appoints them can fire them, and their decisions can be appealed only to the state Supreme Court, a rare event. Here’s just one example of how the commission favors the utilities: After CalFire investigators found PG&E negligence in 2017, 2018 and 2019 caused several of the largest and most destructive wildfires in California history, the PUC unanimously okayed Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to

california focus

tom elias

dun consumers more than $13 billion to cover the costs of future fires expected to be caused by PG&E and its brethren. No one ever explained why a company as irresponsible as PG&E had shown itself to be deserving of a huge subsidy, which consumers around the state are paying on today via their monthly bills. No one ever explained why California would not be better off if that company and others were broken up and the pieces taken over by state and local governments. There was not even an investigation of this possibility. Quite possibly, this happened because PG&E and the other utility companies have been major donors to Newsom’s political campaigns and others, to the tune of tens of millions of dollars over two decades. This never became an issue in the 2021 drive to recall Newsom, possibly because the PUC acted exactly the same under Republican governors like Ronald Reagan and Pete Wilson. Meanwhile, one survey sponsored by a group called RecallCPUC found that same year that 64% of Californians wanted to get rid of the PUC. It’s actually not a bad idea to dump the present five commissioners and the system by which they are named. But no one has seriously suggested how to replace them. The simplest outcome would be to move PUC functions into the governor’s office, where things would be even more political and campaign donation-driven than today. A better solution is to make the PUC, like the insurance commissioner, elective as it is in some other states, like Texas. This could be done via the initiative process, just as it was with the insurance department. If there’s enough public support, there would be plenty of time this spring to write and qualify an initiative for the November ballot to make a change that can only benefit the great mass of Californians. So, yes, make the commission overtly political, that is, subject to the will of the voters. They could not possibly pick worse commissioners than the governors of the last 50 years. Email Thomas Elias at tdelias@aol.com.

T he C oast News - I nland E dition

Jan. 5, 2024

Residents push back against battery storage project By Samantha Nelson

REGION — Residents of the Eden Valley and Harmony Grove neighborhoods continue efforts to prevent a massive battery storage facility from being built near their rural homes. AES Corporation, a global energy company focusing on developing green energy solutions, has proposed a BESS (Battery Energy Storage System) facility, known as the Seguro Energy Storage project, in unincorporated Eden Valley just outside of Escondido. If approved by the county, the project would be located on 22 acres at 925 Country Club Drive, previously a horse reining arena before the land was sold to the energy company. While not the first battery storage system in California or even San Diego County, the Seguro Energy Storage project’s 400 megawatts or 1600 megawatt hours of stored energy capacity would be one of the largest in the state — enough to power nearly 300,000 homes in California for four hours. The project would feature 40-foot-long metal storage containers ranging from 8 to 10 feet in height that would house racks of battery modules meant for storing extra energy generated throughout the day and delivering it to homes during high-demand periods. The project is still in its early design stage. According to AES officials, the latest permit application plot plan assumes that 230 battery storage containers will be onsite; however, this will likely change as the project design is optimized. The system would connect to the power grid from a new substation built on the project site to the nearby existing San Diego Gas & Electric Escondido Substation via an electric transmission line. Neighbors of the Eden Valley, Harmony Grove and Elfin Forest communities fear the project’s proximity to homes and Palomar Medical Center Escondido could fuel already dangerous local fire conditions if the facility caught ablaze. “Lithium-ion batteries are constructed with flammable electrolytes and reactive lithium salts, which can generate a violent exothermic chemical reaction if the battery is damaged, overcharged or exposed to high temperatures,” said nearby resident Ashley Robertson Bedard via email. “The thermal energy generated by these reactions can cause a thermal runaway condition, which in turn enters a cycle of rapid increases in temperature and pressure within the battery, resulting in an explosion or fire.” Many other residents, like Bedard, have voiced their concerns at previous information sessions held in 2023 and have created an online petition in opposition to the project. According to the petition,

RESIDENTS of the Eden Valley and Harmony Grove neighborhoods have started an online petition to oppose a Seguro battery storage facility proposal. Neighbors fear the project’s proximity to homes could exacerbate already dangerous fire conditions. Photos by Samantha Nelson

despite the project being touted as a renewable energy solution, its size, paired with only a 25-foot setback from current residential properties, is a problem. The Elfin Forest Harmony Grove Town Council has also expressed its opposition to the project. Just recently, the council earmarked 50% of the approximately $10,000 in funds raised from its annual 5k/10k Elfin Forest trail run in early December to go toward stopping the proposed facility. Town Council Chair JP Theberge said the county needs to have specific battery storage regulations in place before allowing the project. “There’s no ordinance for lithium-ion battery storage facilities,” Theberge said. According to AES representatives, the project will provide a reliable and cost-effective power source to support the local electric grid. It also intends to help San Diego County meet its decarbonization goals and the state’s 100% carbon-free energy goals by 2045. In terms of fire safety, Lead Project Developer Max Guarniere said the battery management system, equipped with 24-hour monitoring, detects and isolates a fire in containers by blocking it from the electrical power, closing off ventilation and dowsing the fire. The battery containers would also be spread out from one another to prevent the spread of fire. In response to the concerns regarding Palomar Medical Center, Guarniere said the hospital is more than 1,600 feet from the eastern perimeter of the proposed battery storage facility and noted that another battery storage system and gas-fired power plant are already operating within a similar distance to the hospital. “The Seguro facility’s design will meet the latest safety and design standards to ensure that, in the unlikely event of a fire, the hospital will be able to con-

tinue operating,” Guarniere said. “The facility will be equipped with robust monitoring and safety systems, including a fire suppression system at the battery module level, as the third stage of a four-stage approach to prevent fires from occurring, propagating or spreading.” AES is also preparing fire protection and evacuation plans using emergency services and is working with the San Marcos Fire Protection District to prepare an emergency response plan in case of a safety incident. According to Guarniere, AES selected the current site because the proposed use is consistent with the existing zoning, meets basic design requirements and avoids impacts on sen-

sitive resources. The utility company spent more than two years researching and evaluating potential project sites with the necessary size requirements close to the SDG&E Escondido Substation, which serves as the point of interconnection to the electric grid. “This process included evaluating the industrial parks in Escondido and the vacant land near Stone Brewing,” Guarniere said. “None of the available properties met the requirements.” Joe Rowley, an Escondido resident and former power project developer who has also served as a consultant for identifying battery storage sites, was shocked when he learned about the proposed project and its location.

“I thought, ‘That can’t be right,’” Rowley said. “This location makes no sense to me.” According to Rowley, the surrounding land use compatibility is the most important aspect of a project like this, which is why the project’s location is a problem given its proximity to nearby homes. “To me, it’s appalling,” Rowley said. The county has since begun the process of preparing a full environmental impact report for the project, which will include technical studies that address wildfires, hazardous materials, air quality and other potential impacts and mitigation measures to prevent such impacts. The project must earn final approval for its major

use permit from the San Diego County Planning Commission. Guarniere said AES will continue to support county staff, expects to begin construction in early 2025 after obtaining all the necessary permits, and plans to hold a series of workshops focusing on specific topics like fire safety. “We want to emphasize that there will be many opportunities for the community to ask questions, provide comments, and learn more before any final decisions on the proposed project are made,” Guarniere said. “We expect to host the first workshop early in 2024 and will share more information with the community once we have confirmed dates and locations for these workshops.”

HOW TO SAFELY DISPOSE OF MEDICATIONS Kenneth Ray Dabbs Carlsbad December 25, 2023

Dixie Lurene Whitescarver Vista December 15, 2023

Tam Nguyen Asher Oceanside December 17, 2023

Ginni Evelyn Felling Carlsbad December 19, 2023

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When a loved one dies, we are often faced with the question of how to safely dispose of their medications. “Flushing them” is not the answer. The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and the San Diego Board of Supervisors recognized that unwanted, unused or expired prescription drugs presented substantial risks to our community by either falling into the wrong hands, or by damaging our environment through improper disposal. To solve this issue, most Sheriff Stations now offer secure collection drop-boxes. Residents are welcome to come to any of the facilities listed on their website where unwanted medications may be turned in anonymously. To see a list of stations with drop boxes and for more details, visit the San Diego Sheriff Department’s website at https:// www.sdsheriff.gov/community/ prescription-drug-drop-off

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T he C oast News - I nland E dition

Jan. 5, 2024

Esco arts ‘Seeing Red’ in February

Vallecitos reminds bill aid available

By Staff

ESCONDIDO — The Escondido Art Association and Love Esco are partnering to foster love this February with events that support and promote local artists. With “Seeing Red!” as the February exhibition’s theme, artwork will celebrate love and the color most associated with it: red. The Escondido Art Association (EAA) has invited classically trained Russian artist, Igor Koutsenko, as an exhibition judge this season. Koutsenko will also serve as the demonstration artist for EAA’s live art demo – free and open to the public – on Feb. 8 at 6:30 p.m. in the California Center for the Arts Escondido museum at 340 N. Escondido Blvd. A reception is scheduled for Feb. 10 from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at EAA’s gallery where the winners of the exhibition will be announced. The reception is also free and open to the public. Koutsenko’s work is currently in the collection at the Riverside Art Museum as well as in numerous private collections. He has taught fine art throughout his career, serving early on as a professor at the University of Central Oklahoma. Now a resident of Fallbrook, he teaches drawing and painting classes at the Fallbrook School of The Arts and produces original art in his private studio. “Igor has been teaching our open studio classes, sharing his expertise with our membership,” said EAA President Tokeli Baker. “Serving as judge for this exhibition, he brings his unique background of rigorous training in Russian realist art and years of painting experience, greatly benefiting our membership.” Established in 1959, the Escondido Art Association has long been dedicated to promoting fine arts in the community. Led by a nine-member board, the art association is committed to supporting a thriving and creative art community by providing members and non-members alike the opportunity to show their work. EAA hosts monthly shows, teaches art classes, workshops, provides scholarships to local high school students and features member artwork in the downtown gallery and in local businesses. The monthly shows are judged, and awards are given to those who place in each medium. Its live art demonstrations are always free and open to the public. For more details about the Escondido Art Association, visit escondidoartassociation.org.

you stand around looking at social media or playing Wordle when waiting for your appointments. Why aren’t you instead considering your marketing plan from a fresh perspective? My mentor was fond of saying, “When you’re killing time, you’re murdering opportunity.” I concluded it was more profitable to play games after hours…once the work is done. Conclusion: Because I’m always carrying several working columns with me, I am always able to make my deadlines. Because my columns typically require two hours to write. And 10 extra minutes can make quite a difference in such a case. Though you’re not asking, I’d suggest you also always carry with you an incomplete project.

Of course, this necessitates consistently bringing your phone, pad or laptop with you. Or, if you don’t wish to carry the technology, printing out a page or two and using pen and paper. What a concept, right? Do whatever works best for you to help you make more of your day and your time. And consider that picking up 10 extra minutes each workday is the equivalent of gaining an additional week of work time each year. It’s like finding free money! With that said, I wish you a week of profitable marketing. Discover greater success in 5 minutes at www. askmrmarketing.com.

SAN MARCOS — The Vallecitos Water District is encouraging low-income customers to apply for help paying their current or pastdue water and sewer bills by signing up for the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program. Customers have until March 31, 2024, to apply. Eligible households should apply now while funds last. The Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), initially established by Congress in December 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, is designed to support financially struggling low-income households to settle outstanding water bills. Originally slated to conclude in the fall, the program has received a federal extension through March 2024. “With the LIHWAP extension, more low-income households can find relief from water and sewer expenses,” said Vallecitos Board President Tiffany Boyd-Hodgson. “While we are pleased the program has been extended, it's crucial to note that funding is limited, and assistance is granted on a first-come, first-serve basis.” Households with an income below 60% of the state median income, such as $103,856 for a family of four, and households that are already participating in CalFresh, CalWORKs, or the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) are eligible for LIHWAP. Vallecitos is an independent district providing water, wastewater and reclamation services to over 111,000 people in a 45-square-mile area that includes San Marcos, Carlsbad, Escondido and Vista; and other surrounding unincorporated areas. LIHWAP is administered by the California Department of Community Services and Development. To learn more about the program and apply, visit csd.ca.gov/WaterBill.

MALL

office space, restaurants and luxury apartments. She also wants to “take the roof off” and redevelop the mall into an open-space concept. Commissioner Judy Fitzgerald, who lives near the mall, was also receptive to adding some residential but has concerns about overdoing it and driving away people rather than attracting more visitors. She also wants to see a medical clinic like Sharp HealthCare go in there. Commissioner Stan Weiler said adding a residential component is “critical” for revitalizing the mall, though it needs to be well thought out in terms of planning. “It’s a jewel ready to be repolished,” he said of the mall. In the past, staff has

noted that adding housing to the North County Mall property would first require voter approval, which is why the city hasn’t moved forward on the issue. For Paul, staff’s hesitancy on the matter is disappointing. “Asking for voter approval isn’t an obstacle, it’s just an extra step – something you have to do,” he told The Coast News. Paul pointed out adding housing to the mall could be an alternative form of revenue for the city besides taxing residents more. City Planner Veronica Morones said staff would bring back an informational item about the North County Mall with details about its history and housing restrictions at a future Planning Commission meeting.

SENIOR SAILOR OF YEAR USS Boxer Commanding Officer Capt. Brian Holmes presents Aviation Maintenance Administrationman 1st Class Veronica Lennox, a native of Escondido, with the senior sailor of the year award on Dec. 22. Boxer is a Wasp-Class amphibious assault ship homeported in San Diego. Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class James Finney

Making progress in five minutes

f you’ve wondered how I consistently meet a weekly deadline, the answer’s simple: I’m always working on several columns. I inch them forward as time permits, and as they’re completed, they go into the queue for publication. You see, early in my career my mentor advised me to always carry work with me. He said, “There will be 5- or 10-minute gaps in your schedule, where you’re awaiting a meeting or taxi. Put that time to good use by writing a sales letter or reading an article.” This advice has proven invaluable. Because there are only 1,440 minutes each day, and there’s never enough time to finish all your work. Ever. But those little pockets

Who’s

NEWS?

Business news and special achievements for North San Diego County. Send information via email to community@ coastnewsgroup.com. SENIOR SAILOR

Escondido native Veronica Lennox received the senior sailor of the year award while serving as a first-class aviation maintenance administrationman on board the USS Boxer. WATER SPOTLIGHT

The San Elijo Joint Powers Authority recognized Recycled Water Supervisor Mike Piper for his knowledge, skills and men-

ask mr. marketing rob weinberg of time could be enough to keep you moving forward on various tasks. To this day I always carry something I’m in the middle of, invariably scrambling to get ideas written down before transitioning to the main event (meeting, ride, etc.) of the moment. I’m guessing you also have projects whose completion remains out of reach. This adds to your stress, frustration and sleepless nights. Yet odds are excellent toring abilities throughout his 21-year career with the agency, which produces recycled water and provides wastewater services for water districts in Encinitas, Solana Beach, Rancho Santa Fe and Del Mar. SCHOOL TRANSPARENCY

MiraCosta College was awarded a perfect score on the San Diego County Taxpayers’ Education Foundation’s “2023 School Bond Transparency in San Diego County Summary Report” for Measure MM, a $455 million general obligation bond approved by voters in 2016 to modernize aging facilities and upgrade instructional technology on the school’s campuses. Six of 26 districts scored earned an A+ ranking.

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield in February for $57 million with plans for revitalization. Only Macy’s and JCPenney remain from the original anchor stores after Sears and Nordstrom closed in 2020. Both stores remain empty, and Costco recently backed out of its lease agreement with the city for the former Sears building. Barber said adding residential would create and maintain an added customer base, attracting more business for retail stores there. Commissioner Carrie Mecaro agreed, noting she would like to see the mall mimic One Paseo, a 24-acre mixed-use development in Carmel Valley with retail,

T he C oast News - I nland E dition

Jan. 5, 2024

Travel mistakes, cruise tips and killer whales! hit the road e’louise ondash

took my first airplane flight at age 4. (Let’s just say it was sometime in the last millennium.) My parents and three siblings (eventually to be 11 siblings) were relocating from Florida to New York, and airplane travel to anywhere then was a big deal. And a simple deal. Prospective travelers had only to visit a travel agent who’d book the flight. At the airport, passengers simply checked in, walked across the tarmac, climbed the stairway to the door of the airplane (no enclosed jetway), waved goodbye to whomever was left behind and entered the belly of the plane. Today? So much more complicated, so many more hoops, and so many mistakes to be made — all of which slow and aggravate the process of getting from here to there. According to a survey conducted by USA Today, travelers from North Carolina, West Virginia and Arkansas commit the most faux pas and win the prize for the “least efficient” travelers in the country.

LUCKY PASSENGERS aboard an Oceanside Adventures whale-watching expedition in mid-December caught the rare sight of several orcas cruising the waters off of Oceanside. Courtesy photo

Their trespasses? They forget to take off shoes and belts in the security line; attempt to go through scanners with phones, jewelry and keys; and forget to remove laptops and tablets from carry-on luggage. Also, 4 in 10 travelers

are guilty of overstuffing their luggage and sucking up time struggling to jam those carry-ons into overhead bins. (New Yorkers are the worst.) Residents in Connecticut, Oklahoma or Oregon can stop patting themselves on the back for not doing

The PROSTITUTION MYTH

Sex trafficking? Not in America’s Finest City. The UGLY TRUTH According to the FBI, traffickers are exploiting people here every day. The underground sex trade in San Diego prostitutes as many as 8,100 local women and girls every year, generating over 800 million dollars in annual revenue. And because prostitution and sex trafficking can occur at private homes, hotels, casinos and fake massage parlors, it’s happening more often than you think. And doing more damage than most of us can imagine.

Get the facts at TheUglyTruthSD.org

For help call 1-888-373-7888 or text “BeFree” (233733)

any of the above because they are most likely to get stopped for carrying liquids greater than 3 ounces and/ or have too many containers to fit into that quart bag. The USA Today survey researched many more issues around air travel, but the one I found most dis-

tressing? Nearly 6 in 10 airline passengers now have TSA PreCheck, which lets passengers cruise through the security line. We early adopters aren’t so special anymore. Perhaps 2024 will be the year of your first cruise. Need advice from a veteran? Check out Cruise Mummy, an award-winning blog on the industry and consumer advice. Here are a few Mummy tips: • When booking, use a travel agent who may have special offers, or if booking online, use a comparison tool to check prices. • The best deals are available when itineraries are first released for booking or 12 weeks before the cruise sets sail when prices drop to fill remaining cabins. • Booking an inside cabin can save lots of money that can be used for onshore excursions. • The price of children’s tickets can vary greatly. Do your research. You could save hundreds. • Check policies regarding bringing alcohol on board. Buying alcoholic drinks can add up quickly. • Using a cellphone while aboard can be expensive. If you must, check out the ship’s Wi-Fi package, which allows calling and texting via WhatsApp and Skype. To avoid the high price of roaming, turn off your phone or place on air-

plane mode. If all of the above is too much to consider, here are a few close-to-home destinations and activities: • Tide-pooling adventures resume Jan. 20 at Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla. The 90-minute outing with an expert guide helps participants discover some of the animals that live in the rocky area along the coast that is exposed during low tide. Think snails, mussels, urchins, sea stars, small fish and octopus. • In mid-December, passengers on an Oceanside Adventures’ whale-watching expedition had the rare privilege of seeing a pod of orcas (killer whales) off the coast of Oceanside. Also known as ETPs (Eastern Tropical Pacifics), these orcas were traveling south, returning to the waters off the coast of Mexico. Even though sightings of orcas are an anomaly, there is plenty of other sea life to see on OA’s cruises. Between now and the end of March, it’s high season for migrating gray whales, and cruises nearly always come across dozens to hundreds of dolphins playing in the boat’s wake or racing alongside. For more discussion and photos, visit www.facebook.com/elouise.ondash. To share an adventure, email eondash@coastnewsgroup.com.

T he C oast News - I nland E dition

Jan. 5, 2024

Eat & Drink

A beer run to Smoking Cannon Brewery in Ramona I Like

Beer jeff spanier

t’s the holiday season and trips to the local mountains for fresh air are a part of the tradition for many San Diegans. Such trips can include some impressive beer opportunities as well, if planned accordingly. My recent trip to Ramona didn’t provide any winter-like chill — it was sunny and in the low 80s — but it did land me in a couple of great venues and a chance to have a beer I’ve never had before. Spending a little time in downtown Ramona waiting for Smoking Cannon Brewery to open, I wandered into Junk and Disorderly, a store on Main Street that specializes in “Mantiques & Other Vintage Goods.” I was hooked by the name, and inside I found a beer nerd’s paradise of collectibles. Proprietor Pete Nilsson, a beer aficionado, has gathered relics from lost beer brands as well as prominent brands. He calls his collection “memoraBEERlia.” Over

a pint of Julian Beer Company lager, Nilsson walked me through his store. It was my third lap around the small shop, and he pointed out dozens of beer collectibles I hadn’t seen the first few times around. “The best part for me is the nostalgia,” Nilsson said. “Not a day goes by that someone doesn’t say, ‘Oh, my uncle drank that’ or ‘We used to have one of those.’” Beyond the memorabeerlia, Junk and Disorderly had fantastic rock and roll, vinyl and book collections. I asked Nilsson about the items he selects for inventory. “I don’t grab everything I see, but if I want it for my personal collection or think it will appeal to someone in my store, I definitely pick it up.” Junk and Disorderly is a must-stop if you’re driving through Ramona. Warmed up and ready to talk beer, I headed around the corner to Smoking Cannon Brewery. Walking into Smoking Cannon feels like stepping into an old-timey western saloon, a vibe purposefully designed by owners Natallie Phillips and Mike Nelson. Civil War photos and artifacts decorate the taproom. I sat down with Phillips and Nelson to hear a little of their story. ILB: Smoking Cannon?

IN RAMONA, Smoking Cannon Brewery offers traditional and unique brews, like the German Chocolate Cake Stout, with a Civil War theme. Photo by Jeff Spanier

There’s got to be a story behind the name. Phillips: Yes. Mike used to design working-scale models of cannons. So, we always knew our brewery would have a cannon and Civil War theme. Our friends helped us choose a name, and Smoking Cannon was the winner. ILB: I am surprised at your beer lineup. Traditional beers and some unique offerings. Phillips: We try to keep a variety of beers on tap at all times. Some people want hoppy, some don’t. Some people want fruity, and some want sour.

So we keep a variety available so there’s something for everyone. ILB: What are we drinking today? Phillips: This is Juniper Flats. It’s a collaboration with the Julian Beer Company. We go early in the morning and pick juniper berries and branches. We make the beer immediately after picking, so it’s all fresh. It’s a Sahti, a Finnish-style ale, earthy and refreshing. Nelson: For this style, we use juniper for the bittering instead of hops, just like in Finland. And it has won a couple of awards: a silver and

a bronze. ILB: A unique style. I’ve never had a Sahti before. Phillips: We have one customer who knew exactly what it was, and she’s Finnish. ILB: Did she give it her stamp of approval? Phillips: Yes, she did; she likes it a lot. But she’s partial to the Walker Hazy IPA. That’s what she carries in her restaurant, Marinade on Main, down the street. ILB: And we got to enjoy your Irish Red Ale before this, another beer you don’t always see on tap in San Diego. Nelson: That one is al-

ways on tap. Phillips: And it's on tap down the street at Red, White and Brews. ILB: Keeping it local and supporting one another — that’s great to see. Phillips: Mike and I have lived here for 27 years. We wanted to open up a brewery here in town for our community. We just love Ramona. ILB: Thank you for sharing your beer and story with me! Cheers! The day ended with a stop at the Ramona Family Naturals Market, which had amazing food and an extensive craft beer selection. We picked up some hot food and beer for dinner. The night was spent around the campfire at Hatfield Creek Winery, a member of Harvest Hosts. Another great stop with a story or two of its own to share with visitors. For beer enthusiasts, a trip to Ramona is a rewarding experience. Keep your eyes peeled, and you may even spot a bald eagle or two (we did!). Jeff Spanier is the co-host of I Like Beer the Podcast. For the entire interview with Smoking Cannon Brewery, take a listen wherever you get podcasts. Follow Spanier’s adventures on Instagram: @ilikebeerthepodcast.

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T he C oast News - I nland E dition

Jan. 5, 2024

Eat & Drink

IN 2023, Taste of Wine and Food tried some of the best vino from around the world. From California’s Russian River and Temecula valleys to Verona in northern Italy, this list represents the wines worth trying in the new year. Courtesy photos

Taste of Wine & Food’s Top 10 wines of 2023

nother year and another opportunity for Frank and I to review hundreds of wines and food entries and present our Top 10 wine list. In 2023, we saw one of the most lucrative winery sales in history with Treasury Wine Estate’s purchase of Daou Family Estates for $1 billion. We also celebrate the legendary life of Miljenko “Mike” Grgich, whose 1973 Chateau Montelena’s Chardonnay beat out French Burgundy wines in the 1976 Judgment of Paris. Personally, I lost five family members in 2023,

taste of wine & food

frank mangio & rico cassoni

including my father. Family and friends were there to support me after each loss, and over a glass of wine, I thought back on what made each person unique.

Rico’s picks

• Allegrini Palazzo della Torre Rosso Veronese, Vero-

na, Italy, 2018, $20. Allegrini’s double-fermented Rosso Veronese red blend was an easy choice for my list. Most of the fruit is fermented at harvest. The remainder of the grapes is dried and pressed in January and then blended with the initial vinified wine before undergoing a second fermentation. The dried fruit develops deep flavors, and the 24 months of aging in barriques, barrels, and in the bottle produce soft tannins, making it perfect for a rich Bolognese sauce. Allegrini.it/en. • Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cepages Red Wine, Sonoma

County, CA, 2019, $79. This is Chateau St. Jean’s flagship wine, comprised of five Bordeaux varietals of their best fruit (cab sauv, merlot and splashes of cab Franc, malbec, and petit verdot), predominantly from their Knights Valley vineyards. The raspberry, currant, and floral nose and supple fruit with chocolate and spice were easy to pick and would pair well with meat dishes. Chateaustjean.com. • Cuvee Sauvage Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, CA, 2019, $30. California’s Russian River Valley terroir, with dense fog, rug-

ged earth, and wild terrain, makes for an ideal location for growing thin-skinned pinot noir grapes. Cuvee Sauvage, which means “wild blend,” is an ideal summary for their bold pinot noir with a typical pinot palate of bright cherry and strawberry and a hint of rose. This robust pinot would pair well with fish or poultry. • Daou Reserve Cuvee De Famille Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles, CA, 2020, $80. Daniel Daou’s latest 100% cabernet sauvignon cuvee was a flavor explosion of cherry, blueberry, and chocolate with aromas

of blackberry jam, raspberry, and tobacco. With all Daou wines, you will be amazed at the deep color in your glass and appreciate the luscious legs that form when you swirl the glass. Vibrant tannins and bright acidity from 30 months of aging in 30% new French oak made this one of my favorites of the year. Daouvineyards.com. • Sangiacomo Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast, CA, 2021, $58. After immigrating from Italy in 1913, Vittorio Sangiacomo purchased Home Ranch, which origiTURN TO TASTE OF WINE ON 14

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T he C oast News - I nland E dition

EVENTS CALENDAR

Jan. 5, 2024

Know something that’s going on? To post an event, visit us online at calendar.thecoastnews.com

JAN. 5

Belly Up. $18, 8 p.m. at Belly ers at the Belly Up with Kid Up, 143 S Cedros Ave, Sola- Ramos as the opener. $25, 8 na Beach. p.m. at Belly Up, 143 S Cedros Ave, Solana Beach.

THE PETTYBREAKERS

The PettyBreakers is the nation’s premier “Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers” tribute act. $22, 9 p.m. at Belly Up, 143 S Cedros Ave, Solana Beach.

LIVE ART DEMO

The Escondido Art Association is hosting internationally known, San Diego-based plein air artist Paul Strahm for a live art demonstration. Free, 6:30 p.m. at California Center for the Arts, 340 N Escondido Blvd, Escondido.

SUMMATION

An art exhibition juried by David Fobes. Free, 4-6 p.m. Jan. 5 at Escondido Arts Partnership, 100 E Grand Ave, Escondido.

JAN. 12

JOHN HASTINGS

Come join us to see John Hastings of Americas Got Talent and Comedy Central. $17. Performances at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 5-6 at Grand Com- ADAM CAROLLA performs standup comedy in two performances at Belly Up. Courtesy photo edy Club, 340 E Grand Ave, Escondido. art-making activities for Mitchell and more. $24, 7 all. Free, 6-10 p.m. Jan. 6 at QUILTERS GUILD p.m. at Belly Up, 143 S CedMikey Kettinger Art Studio, ros Ave, Solana Beach. VISTA GARDEN CLUB January guest speaker Master Gardener Kath- 811 N Vulcan Ave, Encinitas. is Anne Sonner, who will ‘INTIMATE APPAREL’ ryn Blankenship will discover family history quilts cuss tropical fruit trees at NERD COMEDY NIGHT North Coast Repertory that tell the stories of her the Vista Garden Club JanCome out to Nerd Com- ancestors. $10, 9:30 a.m. Theatre is thrilled to stage uary meeting. 1:45 p.m. at edy Night every Saturday at at El Corazon Senior Cen- “Intimate Apparel,” a heartJim Porter Recreation Cen- 8pm in Carlsbad. $15-$20, 8 ter, 3302 Senior Center Dr, felt tale of belonging, love, ter, 1200 Vale Terrace Dr, to 9:15 p.m. Jan. 6 at New Oceanside. and survival. $49, 12 a.m. Vista. at North Coast Repertory Village Arts Theatre, 2787 Theatre, 987 Lomas Santa State St, Carlsbad. AGE OF IMMIGRATION PT. 2 Fe Dr, Solana Beach. GREGORY PAGE The Learning from Gregory Page is an eclecMembers series, sponsored SOULFUL SCREENWRITING tic, prolific, genre-bending by North San Diego County performing songwriter, bal- ADAM CAROLLA Join an empowering Genealogical Society, conladeer, recording artist, film Watch comedian Adam tinues with Tom Cousineau in-person workshop series maker, art activist, music Carolla perform live at the presenting “The Age of Im- where we explore dramatic producer and poet. $15-$18, Belly Up. $40, 6:30 p.m. and migration Part 2.” 10 a.m. narrative storytelling sup7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Jan. 5 at 9 p.m. at Belly Up, 143 S Ce- at Faraday Center, Faraday ported by writing exercises. Templar’s Hall in Old Poway dros Ave, Solana Beach. $40-$250, 5:30-7 p.m. Jan. Ave, Carlsbad. Park, 14134 Midland Rd, 10 at The Film Hub, 170 EuPoway. calyptus Ave, Vista. IZE TRIO SQUARE DANCING CLASSES Chase Morrin returns The Sandpipers Square with Ize Trio to kickoff this Dance Club and San Diego HUMAN TRAFFICKING Escondido-based Alayear’s 1st Sunday Concert Catholic Adult Community LAUGH YOUR FAT OFF series. Free, 2 to 3 p.m. Jan. are sponsoring a new square baster Jar Project is hosting Laugh and sweat with 7 at Encinitas Library, 540 dancing class. First class is a virtual human trafficking Muscle Meditation Fitness Cornish Dr, Encinitas. free, then $10 per class af- awareness event at 5 p.m., and our M3 live classes at ter. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Jan. 9 at with guest speakers Jessica Jacked Up Brewery. $25, St. James Parish Hall, 625 S Kim, MSW, Keelin Washington, Amanda Moon ElRSVP online. 11 a.m. to 12 Nardo Ave, Solana Beach. levis, and representatives p.m. Jan. 6 at Jacked Up 3D PRINTING 101 from the San Diego Human Brewery, 800 W Grand Ave, Meet with a 3D printTrafficking Task Force. $15, Escondido. ing expert who can answer tickets are available at HTBACK TO THE GARDEN questions, troubleshoot ART PARTY projects, help with design Catch Back to the Gar- Awareness.givesmart.com. Join us at Mikey Ket- ideas and teach how to use den's perform classic rock tinger Art Studio for a fun a 3D printer. No experience songs by Crosby Stills Nash art party with live alterna- is necessary. All ages. 3:30 & Young, Jackson Browne, tive rock music by “Mikey’s to 5 p.m. Jan. 8 at Encini- The Eagles, James Taylor, DARING GREATLY Catch Daring Greatly Imaginary Friends,” art tas Library, 540 Cornish Dr, The Doors, Mamas & Papas, by amazing local artists, Encinitas. The Byrds, Neil Young, Joni and Anthony Cullins at the

JAN. 9

JAN. 7

JAN. 6

JAN. 8

JAN. 10

JAN. 11

REV. DR. KENJI AKAHOSHI

Rev. Dr. Kenji Akahoshi draws from psychology and other sciences to explain how and why we can become like Buddhas too — without heroic effort. Free, 1 to 3 p.m. Jan. 13 at the Buddhist Temple of San Diego, 2929 Market St, San Diego. AWAKEN THE POET WITHIN

THE DEVASTATORS

The Devastators is a four-piece reggae outfit based out of San Diego. $17, 9 p.m. at Belly Up, 143 S Cedros Ave, Solana Beach. GEM FAIRE IN DEL MAR

Experience the practical magic of writing a poem. Workshop facilitated by Dr. Marit Anderson. For adults. 12-2 p.m. Jan. 13 at Encinitas Library, 540 Cornish Dr, Encinitas.

America’s Best Gem & Jewelry Show. Free-$7, 12-6 p.m. on Jan. 12-14 at BATTLE OF THE BANDS Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Fiesta Del Sol Battle of Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del the Bands will feature perMar. formances by Wag Halen, Almost Restricted, Em CaLIVE STAND UP ble Band, Signal For Pilot Join us to watch five and Shaynie Rhoads. $12, 6 amazing comics. $10, plus p.m. at Belly Up, 143 S Cedtwo item minimum pur- ros Ave, Solana Beach. chase per person (food or drink). at Grand Comedy Club, 340 E Grand Ave, Escondido. MATTHEW BROUSSARD Matthew Broussard is a ‘PETER PAN’ disgraced financial analyst Ovation Theatre pres- forced into stand up comeents the Tony Award-win- dy. $22, 8 a.m. at Belly Up, ning Broadway classic 143 S Cedros Ave, Solana “Peter Pan.” $35+ adults, Beach. $25+ children. Shows run through Jan. 21. at Howard SCAMS ON SENIORS Brubeck Theatre at Palomar Solana Beach CommuCollege, 1140 W Mission Rd, nity Connections in partnerSan Marcos. ship with the Friends of the Solana Beach Library will present a lecture on “Scams Affecting Technology at the BATIQUITOS WALK & TALK Forefront.” 6 p.m. at Solana Docent Mike Gollong Beach Library, 157 Stevens will walk and talk about the Ave, Solana Beach. winter migrating birds that visit the lagoon. Bring binoculars or borrow from the Nature Center. Registration SAVE THE OCEAN 4 is required. 10 a.m. at BatiqCatch "Save the Ocean uitos Lagoon, 7380 Gabbia- 4," a collaborative art exhibno Ln, Carlsbad. it by the Surfing Madonna Ocean Project and Front TOMMY CASTRO Porch Gallery featuring Catch blues rocker TomTURN TO EVENTS ON 15 my Castro and the Painkill-

JAN. 15

JAN. 16

JAN. 13

JAN. 17

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Jan. 5, 2024

Court: Illegal blood draw taken in ’18 double-fatal crash By City News Service

ESCONDIDO — A man who was sentenced to state prison for a 2018 Escondido crash that killed two people will be allowed to withdraw his guilty pleas because his blood was illegally drawn without a warrant while he was unconscious or unresponsive, an appeals court panel said Dec. 29. Francisco Andres Alvarez, 32, pleaded guilty to charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and DUI causing injury for the March 25, 2018, crash that killed Brandon

Contreras and Ana Lira, both 19. Prosecutors alleged that a blood test revealed alcohol, marijuana and cocaine were in Alvarez’s system at the time of the crash. Police say Alvarez ran a red light and struck the victims’ Mustang, killing Contreras and Lira, as well as seriously injuring an underage boy who was riding in the victims’ vehicle. Following his guilty pleas, he was sentenced to nearly eight years in state prison last year, but he was allowed to remain out of custody while appealing a

judge’s decision to allow the blood test results to be used as evidence. More than a year after the crash, the United States Supreme Court ruled that warrantless blood draws could be performed on unconscious people suspected of driving under the influence. But those blood draws are permitted in cases of “exigent circumstances,” such as when evidence faces an imminent threat of being lost or destroyed. A three-justice panel from the 4th District Court of Appeal found those cir-

SUIT

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officials ultimately claimed there was not enough evidence to indicate that Craig had sexually harassed Wakefield. A findings report from November 2022 said that the two appeared to have a “mutual on-andoff duty friendship” that resembled a father-daughter relationship. However, the city did find that some of Craig’s behavior qualified as “unbecoming and unprofessional conduct” in violation of the Vista Fire Code, as it could be perceived as favoritism. In a March 2023 letter to Wakefield, the city said remedial actions were taken but declined to share further details. “Please be advised that the city is taking further corrective measures to address the investigation findings,” the letter said. The lawsuit alleges that the city did not handle the complaint properly, causing Wakefield’s work relationships to become irreparably damaged and forcing her to constructively terminate in November of 2022. “Her complaint should have been taken seriously, and I think there should have been more protection in place to prevent this from happening in the first place… All of this makes it very important for her to be heard,” Gilanians said. An attorney for Craig said the battalion chief denied all accusations of wrongdoing in the suit. A representative for the city of Vista declined to comment.

City investigation

Wakefield participated in various interviews with investigator Betty Kelepecz, whose workplace investigation firm, Norman A. Traub and Associates, was assigned to the sexual harassment complaint. Wakefield claimed in these interviews that Craig’s interactions with her started in early 2022, following his promotion to battalion chief, when they were both working out of the Vista Civic Center. She claimed that some of his coworkers called him “Creepy Craig.” Wakefield said in March 2022 that Craig overheard her talking with other coworkers about her wedding dress fitting and invited himself and his wife to come along.

THE CITY OF VISTA has also been named in the lawsuit brought by a former Vista Fire Department employee. A city investigation of the employee’s claims found that Battalion Chief Samuel Craig’s conduct was “unbecoming and unprofessional” but didn’t constitute sexual harassment. File photo

At the appointment, according to Wakefield, Craig surprised her by covering the approximately $500 alteration, which she didn’t want him to do, but he insisted. She said this was also the first time he tightly hugged and kissed her on the head. Wakefield said in the lawsuit that Craig repeated this behavior multiple times over the months, and specifically that he would call her into his office and kiss her forehead while muttering the words “I really need this.” “This behavior happened repeatedly and left Wakefield feeling vulnerable, violated and in a state of prolonged despair,” the complaint read. In city investigation interviews, Craig said he has no recollection of ever kissing Wakefield but said kissing people on the head is something he does with other people in his life. He admitted they had hugged multiple times, including sometimes in his office. He said he felt that the two had a mutual friendship and did not think it made Wakefield uncomfortable. Wakefield said that after the wedding dress fitting, Craig began coming by her cubicle to talk to her daily, text her, and call her on the way home. Because the two took the same route home from work, Wakefield felt obligated to answer the calls in case he could see her, she said in city interviews. According to Wakefield, Craig also began asking her to go to lunch, which

she said she didn’t feel comfortable saying no to. At one of these lunches, Wakefield said, Craig told her about the intimate details of his marriage, including about his sex life, which she found “gross,” she told the city’s investigator. Screenshots of text messages between the two, included in the city’s investigation documents, indicate that the two were in frequent contact and often spent time together on and off the clock. Wakefield was also close with Craig’s wife, and she and her husband had gone to the Craigs’ home for dinner at least once. She also invited Craig and his wife to her wedding, which she later said she felt obligated to do after he had covered her alteration cost. Because Craig was her superior — albeit not her direct supervisor — Wakefield said she didn’t feel comfortable asking him to stop much of the conduct and worried what would happen if she rebuffed him. “I was afraid of him snapping on me,” Wakefield said in an interview with the city’s investigator. “’Cause if he’s kissing me on the head and talking to me about his sex life, what happens if he were to get angry with me. Like, would he do anything? I don’t know. I was really scared.” Craig’s attention to Wakefield did not go unnoticed by other fire personnel. Usher, a deputy fire chief and Wakefield’s direct supervisor at the time, told the city’s investigator he thought Craig hung around Wakefield’s cubicle “longer

cumstances did not exist in Alvarez’s case. According to the appellate panel’s written opinion, Alvarez was taken to a hospital after the crash and became unresponsive about 45 minutes after speaking with a police officer. The officer then called for a phlebotomist, who drew Alvarez’s blood about 2½ hours after the crash. The officer who obtained the blood draw testified that “getting the warrant would have created substantial delays primarily because he was the only officer at the hospital,

he did not have the proper paperwork, and other officers were still investigating the scene,” according to the panel’s opinion. He also testified that by the time the warrant paperwork arrived, he thought Alvarez might be taken to another part of the hospital, preventing him from getting the blood sample. The justices wrote that securing a warrant would not have diverted from the investigation. They also wrote that Alvarez became unresponsive about 45 minutes after the officer started speaking with him

at the hospital, unlike other cases in which the alleged DUI driver is unconscious from the time the crash occurs. The panel’s opinion orders that Alvarez’s motion to suppress the blood test results be granted and that he is permitted to withdraw his guilty pleas. Alvarez has since been arrested and charged in a new DUI case, in which prosecutors allege he drove drunk in July. He was charged with two new DUI counts in August and is currently jailed without bail in that case.

than necessary,” but didn’t think anything was wrong at the time. Deputy Chief Bret Davidson, in a separate interview, said he pulled Craig aside at one point to tell him to stay out of fire prevention’s business, referencing the department that Wakefield worked in, but that he figured Craig and Wakefield had a mutual friendship. After these interactions, Craig told Wakefield that other personnel were just jealous of their relationship, Wakefield said. Craig later told the city’s investigator that he regretted these words. Wakefield said she grew concerned about how others in her workplace perceived her relationship with Craig and how it might affect her professional career. Two coworkers also approached her about Craig’s behavior around June 2022. One coworker said he thought it inappropriate for Craig to be hugging her at work, and another said she noticed Wakefield appeared uncomfortable around Craig and asked whether she was okay, according to interviews with the city’s investigator. Kelepecz, the investigator into the complaint, said the fact that other employees found Craig’s behavior “unbecoming” did ultimately pose an issue. “Craig had a duty to ensure the work environment was as free as possible from rumor, innuendo, or other perceptions in order to foster colleagial [sic] relationships among all and ensure the success of a new employee. Instead, Craig’s behavior fueled the fires of claims of potential and future favoritism and as such, operated to affect the work environment of all in Fire Administration and ultimately, the Department,” the investigation report said. After further discussions with other coworkers, they encouraged her to make a sexual harassment report, which she did in late July. Around that time, Wakefield told Craig she wanted to “restructure” their friendship to make it more professional. Shortly afterward, she learned he had sent flirtatious messages to one of her friends who did not work at the department and told him she needed space. Wakefield said in the

lawsuit and investigation that she attempted to set boundaries with Craig but that they “fell on deaf ears.” However, Craig told the city’s investigator that after Wakefield told him she needed space, he apologized and stopped communicating with her. Texts provided in the city’s investigation indicate that he ceased texting Wakefield after that. “I never pursued the friendship or attempted to force her into speaking after that,” Craig said in a city investigation interview. “It’s obvious at this point that at one point Karina decided she wanted to no longer be friends and that’s okay.”

she said, in October during a meeting with Usher when he gave feedback about her work performance and to talk about her schedule, as she had requested accommodations due to her PTSD diagnosis. Wakefield said she mentioned feeling isolated from her coworkers, and Usher responded that other people also felt isolated, seemingly referring to Craig and the ongoing sexual harassment investigation. In an email the next day, Wakefield told Usher that this statement was inappropriate and made her uncomfortable. She also reported the interaction to the city’s HR department, alleging that Usher retaliated against her. In an investigation report, HR Director Dolores Gascon said Usher admitted he wished he could take back what he said and appeared to have said it out of frustration. Gascon did not conclude that this qualified as retaliation. However, she recommended that Usher be “assigned additional training on sexual harassment, discrimination, and retaliation, primarily so he has a better understanding of what retaliation can look like,” as well as communication training. Usher did not respond to a request for comment from The Coast News. The first court hearing related to Wakefield’s lawsuit is scheduled for February.

Claims of retaliation

After Wakefield filed her sexual harassment complaint in July 2022, Craig was moved to another station to prevent them from having to interact during the investigation. In her lawsuit, Wakefield said that in August 2022, she was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression as a result of the alleged harassment as well as the stress of the investigation. This sometimes manifested in the form of vomiting and having panic attacks at work, she said, and she ended up taking time off work. Wakefield also said she felt isolated, as she could not talk with her coworkers about the situation during the investigation. This came to a head,

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T he C oast News - I nland E dition

Jan. 5, 2024

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1. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: 2. TELEVISION: Which 1990s TV show catapulted actor George ClooWhen is neyThree to fame? King’s Day celebrated 3. MOVIES: Which department typically? store is featured in the 1947 holiday film, “Miracle on 34th 2. TELEVISION: In Street”? the drama series 4. LEGAL: What kind of legislative “Mad Men,” what product is presumed body is bicameral? 5. FOOD & DRINK: What is the to be Don advertisement? mainDraper’s ingredient inlast guacamole? 6. LITERATURE:What In “The 3. GEOGRAPHY: is aNight chain or Before Christmas” poem, how many reindeer Santa Claus have? collection of does islands called? 7. CHEMISTRY: Which chemical 4. MOVIES: To iswhich city is the element’s symbol C? 8. HISTORY: Who is the first female McCallister traveling in the chancellorfamily of Germany? 9. MUSIC:“Home Which female French holidaysinger classic Alone”? had a hit song with “La Vie en Rose”? What is a moot court? 5. LEGAL: 10. SCIENCE: When did the Kraka6. LITERATURE: is erupthe name toa volcano have itsWhat last major tion? of the heroine in “The Scarlet Letter”? Answers 7. FOOD & Germany. DRINK: What kind of 1. Berlin, 2. “ER.” nut is used in marzipan? 3. Macy’s. 4. A legislative cham8. MUSIC: Whatbodyiswith thetwogift on the bers, like House and Senate. 11th day in the song “The Twelve 5. Avocado. Eight. Days of 6. Christmas”? 7. Carbon. 8. Angela Merkel. 9. SCIENCE: How much of the 9. Edith Piaf. 10. 1883. is covered with water? Earth’s surface © 2023 King Features Synd., Inc. 10. HISTORY: What are the two Japanese cities that the United States hit with atomic bombs in WWII? Answers 1. Jan. 6, the 12th day of Christmas. 2. Coca-Cola. 3. An archipelago. 4. Paris, France. 5. A simulated court to give law students a chance to practice what they have learned. 6. Hester Prynne. 7. Almond. 8. 11 pipers piping. 9. Almost 71%. 10. Hiroshima and Nagasaki. © 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

1. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: When is Three King’s Day celebrated typically? 2. TELEVISION: In the drama series “Mad Men,” what product is presumed to be Don Draper’s last advertisement? 3. GEOGRAPHY: What is a chain or collection of islands called? 4. MOVIES: To which city is the McCallister family traveling in the holiday classic “Home Alone”? 5. LEGAL: What is a moot court? 6. LITERATURE: What is the name of the heroine in “The Scarlet Letter”? 7. FOOD & DRINK: What kind of nut is used in marzipan? 8. MUSIC: What is the gift on the 11th day in the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas”? 9. SCIENCE: How much of the Earth’s surface is covered with water? 10. HISTORY: What are the two Japanese cities that the United States hit with atomic bombs in WWII? Answers 1. Jan. 6, the 12th day of Christmas. 2. Coca-Cola. 3. An archipelago. 4. Paris, France. 5. A simulated court to give law students a chance to practice what they have learned. 6. Hester Prynne. 7. Almond. 8. 11 pipers piping. 9. Almost 71%. 10. Hiroshima and Nagasaki. © 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

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Park was around a quarter-mile from the residence where he was killed, indicating that he could have walked there. Leoni also claimed that a detective told him Stewart wasn’t wearing shoes, indicating that he wasn’t fully aware of his surroundings that night. To him, it doesn’t make sense that Stewart would attempt to burglarize someone’s home, especially when he was doing well and had plans to see his family the next day. “The only thing I could figure is that he would have been sleepwalking or disoriented. It doesn’t make any sense to me,” Leoni said. The Coast News was unable to obtain records of the alleged 2022 incident where Stewart wandered onto a neighboring property during a seizure. The Sheriff’s Department denied a public records request for information about past law enforcement interactions with Stewart from the past two years, stating that they can only release records of incidents that occurred within the past 30 days. Another friend who has doubts is Ron Minges, who worked at a rehabilitation program that Stewart attended around four years ago. The two remained friends, and he said Stewart was someone who had overcome his difficult circumstances and done well, going through recovery from

a drug addiction and supporting himself. He said Stewart enjoyed going to concerts and would attend AA meetings. “He was working and doing everything he was supposed to,” Minges said. “Why would he burglarize someplace if he had a fulltime job?” Stewart’s family could not be contacted for this story. His social media indicates that he attended high school in Pennsylvania.

While the incident is still under investigation, sheriff’s officials said they are aware of Stewart’s medical history with seizures. They also hinted that drugs could have been at play the night of Stewart’s death and allege that he had a criminal history. Lt. Joseph Jarjura confirmed that Stewart was taking medication for epilectic seizures at the time, a condition that can cause disorientation. He also confirmed speaking with Stewart’s friends about previous seizure incidents. “People we talked with indicated he would have episodes in which he wasn’t aware of where he was, but they mostly occurred in the place he was residing/renting,” Jarjura said. Jarjura also noted Stewart’s history of addiction, claiming that deputies found what appeared to be drugs in

his room. He also said Stewart presumptively tested positive for drugs but did not clarify the drugs involved. Full confirmation of whether there were drugs in his system will be available in the medical examiner’s report, which will likely not be completed for months, Jarjura said. Leoni said he does not believe that Stewart was using drugs again. “I doubt that very, very much,” he said. According to the Sheriff’s Department, Stewart previously faced a charge for assault with a deadly weapon following a violent altercation between him and another individual, which court records indicate occurred in 2019. Jarjura said a resulting head injury is what caused Stewart’s seizures and epilepsy. Sheriff’s officials also claimed that Stewart was acting aggressively on the night he was shot. Jarjura said the homeowner heard Stewart climbing the gate to his home, moving around the property, pounding on his front door and started shouting when he told Stewart to leave. After that, Jarjura said that Stewart broke the glass of a window with his hands and climbed into the window, at which point he presumably was shot. “There was obvious damage to the outside front chain-link fence, and the entire front window was smashed,” Jarjura said. The Sheriff’s Department denied a request for the 911 call made on the night of Stewart’s death, citing the ongoing investigation. Stewart’s friends say that while there are many unanswered questions at this point, they don’t want him to go down being thought of as a thief. “When I heard about the shooting at [first], I just brushed it off, that is until I saw his name as the person identified in the shooting, and I couldn’t believe it,” said Will Benitez, who met Stewart at Casa Raphael, a men’s treatment facility in Vista. “All I know is that my friend is gone and I won’t get to speak to him ever again.”

$21. This is a wine that Amici says is “created by friends, for friends.” This passionate Italian family with a passion for high quality and ultra-smooth delivery has underlined chardonnay as the white wine to love. The richness and intensity of the Sonoma Coast that Amici delivers are similar to the French Burgundian flavors preferred by many Chardonnay connoisseurs. Amicicellars.com. • Borgo Scopeto Chianti Classico Gran Selezione, Tuscany, Italy, 2016, $43. This quintessential dry red wine is called Chianti Classico and is made from the sangiovese grape. The Italian government now has a new level of superiority for the wines of Chianti Classico - Gran Selezione. Wineries can use this upgraded classification, which is above DOCG and Reserva with new rules and upgraded requirements, like 30 months of aging and only

estate-grown grapes. About 8 percent of the present Italian wines will be able to use Gran Selezione. This includes our chosen wine. Borgoscopeto.com. • Crossbarn Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, CA, 2021. $32. Vibrant ruby in color, balanced and elegant with full, bright fruit and complex earth notes that come from carefully selected cool Sonoma Coast vineyards, this pinot will become your best wine friend at first sip. Try it with grilled pizza, sausage, mushrooms and braised pork shoulder. Crossbarn Pinot was created by the well-known winemaker Paul Hobbs, one of the most respected in the business. Crossbarn.com. • Marshall Stuart Petite Sirah, Temecula Valley, CA, 2016. $16. This is a wine not for the faint of heart but for the large, take-charge lovers of intense tannins with deep purple and inky red character. With petite sirah grapes,

expect flavors of black pepper, blackberries, spice and elderberries. The wine pairs well with any hearty meal. Marshall Stuart has been producing fine wines for generations in the Temecula Valley of Southern California. MarshallStuartWines. com. • Quilt Red Blend, Napa Valley, CA, 2021. $33. Joe Wagner is the winemaker of Quilt, his best triumph yet. He is connected to the Wagners of Napa Valley, which gave us the famous Caymus family of wines. Quilt is the fabric of the Napa Valley, sourced from petite sirah that gives it the spice of its flavor, merlot’s soft tannins for smoothness, zinfandel for a vibrant fruit core and petit verdot for structure and color to round out this unique red wine blend. From Oak Knoll in the south to Calistoga in the north, the terroir of Napa Valley lives in each bottle of Quilt. QuiltWines.com.

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cials initially called the Nov. 16 incident a homicide, and as of early January, say they are continuing to investigate the circumstances around the apparent break-in. When news of Stewart’s death hit social media, his friends in the Vista area immediately pushed back against the idea that he was trying to burglarize the home. They say he had a fulltime job at a pharma manufacturing company, was sober and was flying to see his family on the East Coast the next day. Instead, their minds went to Stewart’s medical history of seizures, which often left him disoriented and confused about where he was. “I know he comes out of his seizures and he’s not all there. It takes him a little time to know where he is,” said Darwin Dement, Stewart’s friend of four years who was supposed to take him to the airport the day after he died. “I think he got lost, and something looked familiar, and he tried to get back in the house.” According to his friends, Stewart was known to sometimes wander at night in a state of disorientation, entering bedrooms that weren’t his and not knowing how he had gotten there. Once, Stewart wandered away from his own home in the aftermath of a seizure, they said. Dement said that in 2022, when he lived with Stewart in an apartment along Palm Drive, Stewart was found one night wandering across the street at a neighboring building “totally disoriented.” David Leoni, another roommate at the time, also confirmed this account and said Stewart wasn’t able to remember how he had gotten there. “At 1 or 2 o’clock in the morning, there was a bunch of ruckus. He was wandering at the duplexes,” Leoni said. Leoni believes something similar could have happened on the morning Stewart was shot. His home at Buena Vista Mobile Home

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nally focused on pear farming. With a softening pear market, the family planted their first wine grapes in 1969. Today, 35 wineries produce wines with Sangiacomo fruit. The 2021 Sonoma Coast Chard is a Burgundian-style wine with a nose of Asian pear and white peach. The palate is crisp with meaningful flavors of apricot, peach, baked apple, and hints of lemon, with a mineral-driven finish earning it 93-point scores from Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiasts. sangiacomowines.com.

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TEDDY STEWART, 43, was fatally shot during an alleged residential break-in on Nov. 16 in Vista. Courtesy photo

Confusing circumstances

Knights unleash scoring frenzy to claim North County Classic By Noah Perkins

SAN MARCOS — Dante Carey, in his 18th season as head coach of the San Marcos High School boys basketball team, quickly dismissed the idea that any of his current players reminded him of himself when he was the Knights’ starting point guard in the late ’90s. “No,” Carey said with a light chuckle. “We’re a pass-first team, but I never looked to score. Today’s game is a little different. Point guards come in and they are looking to score. I loved to defend and make passes. I don’t think people [today] love to defend; it’s tough to get that mentality.” But then he started talking about his team, two days removed from winning the North County Classic tournament in commanding fashion: four games and four 30-pluspoint victories. Carey singled out three players: Sophomore guard Jalen Williams: “I knew he was going to be a special player.” Senior forward Mazen El Bissat: “He is the most unselfish player; he just wants to win.” Senior guard Derek Tuason: “For years I called Derek out — you need to do more than shoot; if you can’t defend or make extra plays for other people, I don’t know if you can play college basketball. He’s changed in the last year and a half. He focuses on getting other guys open, rebounding the ball, taking charges and he will play at the next level.” And then he landed on a name and something inadvertently slipped out.

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ocean-inspired art. 12 a.m. at Front Porch Gallery, 2903 Carlsbad Blvd, Carlsbad.

JAN. 18

CAYUCAS, MATT COSTA

Catch Cayucas and Matt Costa perform at the Belly Up. $18, 8 p.m. at Belly Up, 143 S Cedros Ave, Solana Beach. PROFESSIONAL EDITORS

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Jan. 5, 2024

DANTE CAREY is in his 18th season as boys basketball coach at San Marcos HS, his alma mater. Courtesy photo

“[Freshman guard] Richie Ramirez has that dog mentality like I had defensively so we related that way,” Carey, who went on to play at San Francisco State University before coming home to coach in 2006, said. “I wanted to guard the best player; I took pride in that and he does too. He doesn’t take possessions off and that is very similar to how I played.” Through the team’s first 13 games, Ramirez leads in assists (3.8 per game) and scoring with over 17.4 points per contest, knocking down 58% of his field goals. In the Knights’ 89-57 win over Sage Creek on Dec. 16 in the North County Classic championship game, Ramirez went for 21. “You have two tough guards [Williams and Ramirez] who can handle the ball,” Carey said. “One is going to put up 20 and the other 15. Because they are unselfish, they don’t care. You have those two guys going downhill and that opens things up for

our shooters.” The win over Sage Creek was the Knights’ second victory of the season over a top-20 Max Preps-ranked San Diego County team. The other was a victory over Materi Dei Catholic. “I like where we are at with such a young group playing well together,” Carey said. “We are getting better defensively. Our team is unselfish. Playing man defense has been an improvement since last year. We need to get better at rebounding the ball – not just the bigs, but the guards as well. We need to play with more pace; play a little faster.” After the Christmas break, the Knights traveled to Hawaii on Dec. 27 for the Hawaii Invitational Tournament. “They aren’t the tightest group I’ve ever had but they are getting there,” Carey said. “This Hawaii trip, I am doing this because they are such a young group. I want them to be close and play for each other. To have each other’s back.” In Hawaii, the Knights went 2-2. They bring a 13-4 record into their Palomar League opener at Rancho Bernardo on Jan. 10. After nearly two decades at the helm in San Marcos, Carey has guided the Knights to eight league championships, 17 playoff appearances, and 10 tournament championships. He called his motivation for coming back year after year “unfinished business.” “I want to win this CIF championship,” Carey said. “We were an open division team for so many years; it was hard for us. It’s an unfinished thing that keeps me coming back.”

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JAN. 19

THE AGGROLITES

Catch ska band The Aggrolites with The Upbeat at the Belly Up. $20, 9 a.m. at Belly Up, 143 S Cedros Ave, Solana Beach. CALLOWAY ORCHESTRA

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Jan. 5, 2024

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