Inland Edition, April 14, 2023

Vista mulls bonds for housing City looks to boost middle-income stock

By Laura Place

VISTA — The city of Vista is considering issuing tax-exempt bonds as a strategy to increase its restricted middle-income housing stock in the coming years.

During a March 28 City Council meeting, Vista officials said the city has been approached in recent years by investors about entering into middle-income housing partnerships, using tax-exempt bonds to purchase properties with market-rate rents and make them more affordable to residents at median income levels.

According to Assistant City Manager Amanda Lee, the city would enter into a joint powers authority, an entity allowing two or more public agencies to jointly exercise common powers, to issue bonds at no cost to the city.

City staff and the council would then review each middle-income housing proposal from investors.

Mayor John Franklin, who brought forward the proposal jointly with Councilmember Joe Green, said this could be a good option for Vista, although current financial conditions would need to improve first.

“We have inclusionary housing, we have rent subsidized housing, and this is a whole other type of product. This is adding another tool to our tool box to be able to provide some options,” Franklin said. “Right now, with current bond rates, we’re not looking at anyone making proposals to do this in the next year or two.”

Amanda Lee, Assistant City Manager for the city of Vista, discusses supporting middle-income housing through tax-exempt bonds at the City Council’s March 28 meeting. Photo courtesy City of Vista

“Middle income” specifically refers to those making between 80% and 120% of TURN TO BONDS ON 5

Escondido fire chief to retire

Veteran firefighter in post since 2017

By Samantha Nelson ESCONDIDO

GOOD HARE DAY

Bridge takes shape as Creek Project nears end

By Laura Place SAN MARCOS —

Crews continue to make progress on the construction of the new Via Vera Cruz bridge in San Marcos, one of the final major components of the city’s $100 million Creek Project that is expected to wrap up this summer after three years of construction.

Crews finally poured concrete for the deck of the new Via Vera Cruz bridge in the first week of April after several delays due to ongoing rain, bringing the city one step closer to project completion and the restoration of a cross-creek connection to Discovery Street.

The new bridge, which

will be named the Pia Harris Ebert Bridge in honor of the city’s first female City Council member, will fea-

ture four lanes instead of the previous two, as well as bike lanes, sidewalks and safety railings to improve

accessibility for bikes and pedestrians.

This is the second and final bridge to be completed as part of the Creek Project, following the opening of the new Bent Avenue bridge last summer, now called the Lionel “Doc” Burton Bridge after the city’s first mayor.

Deputy Mayor Sharon Jenkins, whose district houses the Creek Project, said it has taken many years to get to this point.

“We appreciate the residents having patience during construction and in these last final months as we bring this to completion. Staff started the

TURN TO CREEK ON 14

— Fire

Chief Rick Vogt is retiring after more than 30 years in the fire service in Southern California.

Vogt started as a firefighter 33 years ago working for Cal Fire Riverside County before being promoted to engineer and captain. His first assigned station came in 1989 in Temecula, where he still lives with his wife and their two youngest children.

After 15 years in Riverside County, Vogt worked for 10 years with the San Marcos Fire Department as battalion chief, leading the newly formed, joint Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division that combined Escondido and San Marcos fire departments for EMS training, education, purchasing, policy and procedures. He also served as a member of the command staff on a statewide major incident management team where he deployed to dozens of large wildfires and disasters.

During his time in San Marcos, Vogt became familiar with Escondido and its fire department. He joined Escondido in 2015 as division chief leading the training and EMS division. In 2016, he was promoted to deputy chief of operations and finally to fire chief in 2017.

Vogt’s accomplishments as fire chief include the purchase of five new fire engines and an upgrade of the department’s technology, including radios, mobile data computers and the fire station alert system.

He also oversaw the implementation of commu-

TURN TO FIRE CHIEF ON 9

Thousands of children and adults turned out April 8 at Walnut Grove Park in San Marcos for the Spring Egg Scramble, which included an Easter egg hunt and high-fives with the Easter Bunny. More on Page 15 Photo by Laura Place

A VIEW from the north end of the new Via Vera Cruz bridge at San Marcos Boulevard in San Marcos. The bridge is on track to be completed by the summer.

Photo by Laura Place

VOGT

San Marcos holds annual Spring Fling

By Laura Place

SAN MARCOS —

Thousands of residents took to Via Vera Cruz in San Marcos on Sunday, April 2, to ring in the spring season with delicious food, shopping and live music at the city’s 31st annual Spring Fling & Street Fair.

The annual event organized by the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce featured over 200 vendor booths as well as two performance stages, a beer garden, food trucks and a kid zone. This year’s street fair drew thousands throughout the

day. Shoppers had the chance to peruse all kinds of handmade and retail goods, from all-denim accessories and hot sauce to pet goods and handmade jewelry.

Samira Sadeghlou, owner of San Marcos plant business PlanterSam, said the Spring Fling and other local markets allow vendors to connect with more customers and grow their businesses, especially following the pandemic.

“It’s just a lot of fun,” Sadeghlou said. “For the past two and a half years since

we opened, we’ve been a big part of all the events.”

Food trucks spun cotton candy, created colorful snow cones and plated delicious tacos for attendees. Nearby, kids with vibrant face paint enjoyed a bouncy house and bungee trampolines in the kid zone.

At the two entertainment stages, those wandering down Via Vera Cruz enjoyed live music and performances from local and regional artists and groups, including Surf Kings, Jungle Poppins and Jukebox Junkies.

YOUNG VISITORS to the Spring Fling on April 2 enjoy some of the event’s best offerings — face paint and snowcones. Photo by Laura Place

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Anew word entered the California political lexicon the other day, when two of the five elected supervisors running America’s largest county decided they could greatly reduce crime by depopulating Los Angeles County’s many jails and other penal facilities.

AB 5 and its author need to go

By Karen Anderson

‘Corruption.” “Backroom dealing.”

“Pure spite.” “Naked favoritism.”

These are the words written by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to describe former Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez’s bad behavior when crafting her anti-independent contractor law AB 5 (Assembly Bill 5), enacted in January 2020.

The court’s recent decision resurrected an older lawsuit from 2019 (Olson v. State of California) that had been dismissed outright by a lower court in February 2020. Appealed by Uber and Postmates, the case had fallen under the radar until March 17, 2023, when the Ninth Circuit issued its unanimous decision, stating:

“The plausibility of Plaintiffs’ allegations is strengthened by the piecemeal fashion in which the exemptions were granted, and lends credence to Plaintiffs’ allegations that the exemptions were the result of ‘lobbying’ and ‘backroom dealing’ as opposed to adherence to the stated purpose of the legislation.”

The case has now been sent back to the lower court for reconsideration. In its decision, the Ninth Circuit cited Gonzalez no less than 14 times by name.

The judges expressed dismay at the arbitrary exemptions bestowed to favored sectors by Gonzalez herself with the help of the bill’s sponsor, the California Labor Federation, which represents 1,200 unions in the state.

Exemplifying Sacramento’s incestuous relationship with Big Labor, Gonzalez has since left her District 80 Assembly seat last year to become head of the California Labor Federation.

According to the court, the exemptions, which pick winners and losers, explicitly exclude Uber et al, even though similarly situated app platforms like Wag! and TaskRabbit received exemptions for such workers as dog walkers and yard cleaners.

ered under questioning from the three-judge panel. It was notable, the court wrote, that counsel for the state was “unable to articulate a conceivable rationale for AB 5 that explains the exemptions made by AB 5, as amended.”

Because of Gonzalez’s blatant “animus not based in reason” directed at the plaintiffs, the Ninth Circuit also concluded that AB 5 plausibly violates the equal protection clause under the 14th Amendment.

The court’s brutal indictment of AB 5 hinged on Gonzalez’s “shocking statements,” tweets, and disparaging remarks against Uber, et al. One such statement (cited in the plaintiff’s complaint) was when Gonzalez called Uber’s chief legal officer Tony West (aka Vice President Kamala Harris’s brother-in-law) “full of shit” on Sept. 18, 2019 — the same day Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 5 into law.

Meanwhile, those of us who have witnessed the ongoing dumpster fire of AB 5 since its inception know that Gonzalez’s animus extended to specific local businesses as well during her crafting of the disastrous AB 5 law, which has put hundreds of thousands of career professionals out of business — from tutors and transcriptionists to performing arts groups, indie filmmakers, and wedding planners.

Here in San Diego, Gonzalez trained her sights on local news outlets she viewed as adversaries.

There can be no doubt, in fact, that Gonzalez displayed specific, targeted animus toward The Coast News when she publicly and falsely accused the family-owned newspaper in 2020 of firing all its employees with the goal of converting them to independent contractors in violation of AB 5.

Chris Kydd, the associate publisher at The Coast News Group, told KUSI-TV at the time that Gonzalez’s statements were 100% false.

But wait, there’s more.

being accused of workplace sexual harassment, sexual assault and retaliation against a Latina public relations specialist at the San Diego Metropolitan Transit Service (MTS), where he served as the agency’s board chairman.

Gonzalez is accused of attempting to silence her husband’s accuser.

What has now become a serious legal problem for MTS, Fletcher’s accuser was fired by the agency the same day Fletcher announced his campaign for the state Senate. Fletcher has since ended his statewide run and supposedly checked himself into rehab, blaming PTSD and alcoholism for his poor choices.

As for Lorena Gonzalez, she could be in a world of hurt if the accusations in paragraph 59 of the civil complaint prove accurate.

In the complaint, the accuser cites Lorena Gonzalez by name for intimidating her to drop the charges, claiming that both Gonzalez and Nathan Fletcher threatened to publicly defame her and sue her for extortion if she didn’t back down.

In addition, the accuser stated that the Fletchers would make her “look terrible, and it’s going to follow her for the rest of her life.”

All of this allegedly came from California’s most powerful labor leader and self-proclaimed avenger of wrongs in the workplace, Lorena Gonzalez.

Should Lorena Gonzalez’s entire career as the state’s preeminent Big Labor boss implode, it would be a dramatic downfall for the Fletchers — arguably California’s most powerful “power couple” as of just a few short weeks ago.

The potential departure of Lorena Gonzalez from California politics would be welcome news to the millions of independent professionals and small- and medium-sized businesses hurt by her scorched-earth policymaking.

The new word: decarceration. This is the process of supposedly fighting crime by letting people out of jails and prisons, a favorite of the far left, the same folks who for several years have advocated defunding police everywhere.

That has not happened in California. Apparently decarceration and depopulation of Los Angeles County jails won’t, either.

For most police, prosecutors and politicians of all stripes don’t think it’s possible to reduce crime by letting convicted or suspected criminals go free.

The public clearly doesn’t, either. That’s why in 2020, voters by a 56%44% margin rejected a nocash-bail law passed earlier by the state Legislature, dominated by ultra-liberal Democrats who believe it’s unfair to force suspects to await trial in custody if they lack the funds to make bail.

Polls showed most voters — and non-voting Californians, too — feared allowing most of the arrested to roam at large without bail would spur new crimes from the same old suspects.

So it took law enforcement and others by surprise when Los Angeles County Supervisors Hilda Solis and Lindsay Horvath sought to declare a “humanitarian crisis” in jails and order several county offices to create or expand programs keeping people out of jail, some even after they’ve been convicted. This plan would have left out major felons, most of whom are locked up by the state, not counties.

Their plan blindsided police, prosecutors and many local officials, whose cities would have received the released prisoners had decarceration taken place.

They quickly protested, and the Solis-Horvath proposal evaporated from the agenda for the county board’s next meeting. Two other supervisors, including board chair Janice Hahn, immediately announced they would not vote for their colleagues’ plan, so it was essentially tabled, possibly to arise again after it undergoes major alteration.

trict Attorneys, which has been embroiled in several disputes with ultra-liberal District Attorney George Gascon, accused by many of his deputies of favoring criminals over their victims.

Decarceration is a proposal so far unique to Los Angeles County, where courts and law enforcement long have been credibly accused of overt racism, with proven offenses including cases of planted evidence and stopping motorists without obvious cause except their race. The idea is also fueled by faith that programs can be designed to prevent almost all recidivism by the released.

The dead-for-now motion for decarceration proposed by rookie Supervisor Horvath and veteran officeholder Solis — a former congresswoman and the Secretary of Labor under ex-President Barack Obama — was first reported by the Southern California News Group.

Solis and Horvath declared a commitment “to redress historical wrongs deeply rooted in systemic racism and prejudice and (to) reverse status quo responses to poverty, mental health and medical needs and substance use dependencies.”

The problem is that these problems have all long resisted easy or facile solutions, and a sudden move to free many convicts and suspects might expose thousands of unsuspecting citizens to unprecedented levels of crime.

The police chiefs group noted that, “We do not stand against reform and we have been active… in these efforts. However, we are concerned with the rushed motion…”

They and the line prosecutors complained the proposal was being hustled through with little analysis and no input from law enforcement or crime victims.

It also ran counter to the spirit of the 2020 vote to cancel the law calling for no cash bail.

mos./$30

Send check or money order to: The Coast News, P.O. Box 232550, Encinitas, CA 92023-2550.

In trying to defend Gonzalez’s poorly drafted law during oral arguments on July 13, 2022, the state’s deputy attorney general with-

In a recent stunning turn of events, Gonzalez is currently under fire in a civil workplace complaint directed at her husband Nathan Fletcher. The disgraced San Diego County supervisor is

Hopefully, one day, AB 5 will also be gone, torched in a trash bin as one of the most corrupt and destructive laws in California’s history.

The opposition was led by the county’s 45-member police chiefs association and a group of “contract cities” that lack their own police forces and buy law enforcement services from the county sheriff. Also in opposition was the local Association of Deputy Dis-

But while Californians can reverse state laws they believe are unwise, as they did in 2020, there is no recourse locally other than voting entrenched supervisors out, with changes then wrought by their successors.

All of which means decarceration may not quite be dead, and could in fact arise in other counties with liberal board majorities.

Karen Anderson is the founder of Freelancers Against AB 5.

‘Decarceration’

doesn’t last very long

Orange Glen teacher, EHS secretary win district honors

By Samantha Nelson ESCONDIDO

— An Orange Glen High School teacher and an Escondido High School secretary have been recognized by the Escondido Union High School District as this year’s top teacher and classified employee.

Courtney Coffin, a special education teacher who has worked for the district at Orange Glen for the last decade, is now eligible for both county and state teacher of the year honors.

Coffin specializes in teaching moderate to severe special education, which means her students tend to have the highest support needs on campus. Despite the challenges, Coffin knew she wanted to teach special education ever since she was a high school student herself.

“I always knew I wanted to work with people with disabilities,” Coffin said. “There were no other options.”

Originally from the Midwest, Coffin received her education credentials from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. She moved to Southern California over a decade ago for her husband to pursue a master’s degree at the UC San Diego and immediately began looking for a teaching position. She found and fell in love with Orange Glen High School and hasn’t left.

During her tenure, Coffin developed an innovative curriculum for the Life Skills/Bridge Program, a highly specialized and individualized certificate of completion that prepares students with moderate to significant disabilities to become more independent in school, in their community and at home.

As part of a team, Coffin uses research-based curricula to develop courses that fit the needs of each student and prepares those who complete the program to enter the district’s adult transition program.

78 eastbound lanes close after westbound reopens

By Laura Place OCEANSIDE — A

portion of westbound state

Route 78 undergoing repairs reopened April 5 in time for the morning commute before closing the highway’s eastbound lanes the same day to continue their work fixing a broken drainage pipe, Caltrans confirmed.

Since March 15, all westbound SR-78 lanes have been closed from College Boulevard to El Camino Real while crews repaired a failed corrugated metal culvert — a large water drainage pipe running underneath the length of the freeway— that formed a large sinkhole.

“(The water) turned the ground underneath the highway into Swiss cheese,” said Vista Mayor John Franklin. “The ground underneath the highway is no longer reliable. So there is a potential for collapse anytime. And the rain is making things worse.”

Caltrans crews dug 30 feet underground to reach the culvert and also discovered several other broken culverts in the area. After repairing these pipes, crews started repaving and restriping the westbound lanes earlier last week, wrapping up their repairs by Wednesday morning.

“We have a culvert that failed, that we have an emergency contract to correct,” Caltrans engineer Shawn Rizzutto told CBS8.

“We have about 12 inches of depression that we’re going to need to repave back, and we’re going to go in and replace the culvert.”

Eastbound SR-78 lanes were then closed between College Boulevard and El Camino Real for repairs to the same culvert until approximately April 26, Caltrans officials said.

“Our crews will continue working around the clock when the eastbound lanes close,” said Caltrans spokesperson Hayden Manning. “Motorists should expect lanes to remain closed for approximately three weeks.”

Crews will have to dig about 10 feet deeper than on the westbound side to make the needed culvert repairs on the eastbound side, according to Manning

Portable signs advising motorists of the closures will remain in place on northbound and southbound Interstate 15, and signs on the westbound S-78 lanes will be moved to the eastbound lanes, Manning said.

Motorists will detour at the westbound SR-78 El Camino Real off-ramp, then east on Vista Way to the eastbound SR-78 College Boulevard on-ramp, similar to what had been in place for westbound closures.

“We’re expecting the same levels of congestion,” Hayden said. “We appre-

For Coffin, the award is not only a recognition of her own achievements but also her students.

“As a specialized teacher, I see 13 students a day compared to a general education teacher who sees hundreds of students a day,” Coffin said. “While I’m not seeing as many students, the impact I have on those I do see is so important… by selecting me I feel like the district is saying this population of students is truly valued and that it’s important to provide them with a high-quality teacher and recognize them as part of

the campus culture.”

Rienda Lievanos, who has served in a variety of positions within the district for 27 years, was recognized as classified employee of the year. She currently serves as secretary to the assistant principal at Escondido High School.

Lievanos was recognized for her positive attitude and reinforcement of positive culture at the high school. The district also highlighted her strong work ethic and how she takes pride in every task she takes on.

Over the years, Liev-

anos has worked as an instructional assistant, library clerk, attendance and counseling secretary before taking on her current role as secretary to the assistant principal at Escondido High School. She previously worked at San Pasqual High School.

Lievanos said she was shocked when she found out about the award, especially since she has only been at Escondido High School for about three years. Still, her cumulative time spent working for the district was more than enough for the administration to honer her.

Though she is deeply honored by the title, Lievanos feels like everyone deserves the same award.

“Everybody plays a strong role in what they do here,” she said. “I’m very blessed and happy to be here.”

Lievanos said she loves “everything about” working at Escondido High.

“I absolutely love the students, the school and the staff… it really is perfect,” she said. “I love coming to work every day, and no day is ever the same.”

Before winning districtwide honors, both Coffin and Lievanos were named their respective schools’ top teacher and classified employee. Other school winners were recognized as well.

Along with Coffin, teachers of the year include Marc Kibler, Del Lago Academy; Marialice Porter, Escondido Adult School; Angela Arnett, Escondido High; Adria Espinosa, San Pasqual High; and Thomas Gabriela, Valley High.

Lievanos’ fellow classified employees honorees include Priscilla Martinez, Del Lago Academy; Phillip Pesqueira, District Service Center; Gail Muwanes, Escondido Adult School; Hilario Flores, Orange Glen High; Blanca Ontiveros, San Pasqual High; and Lorena Orozco, Valley High.

BONDS

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

the area median income, or AMI, city staff said. In the past, the term has been used as a kind of buzzword by developers to suggest affordability in projects that are actually market-rate.

“We have a lot of developers coming in and saying ‘this is median income housing’ or ‘this is workforce housing,’” said Green.

“By having this program in there, it basically says hey, if you want to call it workforce housing, if you want to call it middle income housing, these are the restrictions in order to call it that.”

Under such an agreement, rents would typically be set at 35% of a household’s income. Green and

other council members said they would like to see rents in these situations lowered to 30%, including projected utilities, to meet the federal standard of “affordable.”

“We need to guarantee our middle income residents that 30% maximum rent based off of median income … I don’t like the idea of 35% because it gives too much flexibility to developers income-wise. That extra 5% is an extra 300 bucks a month,” Green said.

In apartment buildings that are part of the program, units would be split into an affordability structure with one-third restricted for those making 80% AMI, one-third for 100% AMI, and one-third for 120% AMI.

Rent increases would

be capped at 4% per year, and the units would be deed restricted for a period of 30 years or until the bond is repaid.

The property would then fall under the ownership of the city, which could sell the property or continue to operate it with restricted rents.

City officials warned that the program would come with caveats; Vista would not receive property tax revenue from these properties, and the units could not be counted toward the city’s Regional Housing Need Allocation obligations.

The only way these units could count toward the RHNA is if the developer agrees to a 55-year deed restriction and to set rents

10% below market rate, Lee said. The city is required to create 2,561 new units by 2029, including 369 units for those making between 80% and 120% AMI.

The apartment buildings purchased would need to be essentially move-in ready without any required maintenance, according to Lee.

“For this bonding financing to work, you would have to purchase a Class A apartment complex. Typically it’s newer or one that doesn't have any deferred maintenance,” she said.

Several cities throughout California have begun implementing Middle Income Housing programs, including San Diego County neighbors Escondido and Chula Vista.

VISTA MIGHT ENTER into a joint powers authority, an entity allowing two public agencies to jointly exercise common powers, to issue bonds at no cost to the city before reviewing middle-income housing proposals from investors. Photo by Matt Gush

COURTNEY COFFIN, Orange Glen High School special education teacher, is EUHSD teacher of the year. Courtesy photos

RIENDA LIEVANOS, secretary to the assistant principal at Escondido High, is EUHSD classified employee of the year.

Supervisors urge Fletcher to resign now

By City News Service REGION —

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a resolution ON April 11 calling for the immediate resignation of Supervisor Nathan Fletcher, rather than waiting for his planned May 15 departure date.

Fletcher announced his resignation on March 29 after admitting to an affair with a Metropolitan Transit System employee who is suing him for alleged sexual assault and harassment. He has denied the allegations.

SoCal PGA donates golf sets to Escondido High teams

By Samantha Nelson ESCONDIDO

— The Escondido High School boys and girls golf teams recently received new golf club sets from the Southern California Professional Golfers Association ClubsForeYouth program, which aims to increase opportunities for students to participate in the sport.

The teams received 12 new sets of clubs split evenly between the boys and girls teams. The sets include bags, clubs, balls, gloves, hats and towels. The students also

have access to four clinics with PGA-certified professionals to help them improve their games.

Coach Tom Winter, who has coached at EHS since 1995, said that the sets were greatly needed for the growing golf teams.

Winter said golf has become more popular since students returned to campus full-time following the COVID-19 pandemic. He said the girls team only had eight players during the pandemic but that number jumped to 15 the following

year once students returned. The boys team also experienced growth in its numbers as well.

While the increased interest in high school golf is welcome, finding enough sets for everyone can be difficult due to the expense.

“Finding equipment for these students is really tough,” Winter said. “It’s about $400 to $800 per player with all the drivers, wedges, shoes, jerseys and everything else.”

Though it may seem like a lot, having the necessary

gear is essential for teams to successfully compete.

“It’s a very expensive sport,” Winter said. “They need all this stuff to be effective and compete with other schools.”

The Southern California PGA Foundation created its ClubsForeYouth to address this exact issue for schools that need an extra hand in helping student golfers get all the right equipment. The program also aims to encourage female students to play more golf.

ClubsForeYouth do-

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nated the 12 golf sets to Escondido High School in partnership with the Shiley Foundation, a Pauma Valley-based private foundation that funds biomedical resources and provides grants for students.

Winter has noticed an increased interest in golf beyond just his students, noting that more millennials seem to be enjoying the sport than before.

“It’s hard to get on the courses sometimes on the weekend with my son,” he said, adding that his son also plays on the boys team. “There’s this revitalization where people are realizing that it’s a really fun sport that they can do while hanging out with their family.”

Winter, who coaches the girls team, likes to remind his players and their parents, particularly the dads, that golf is something they can bond over.

“If your daughter gets into this and she likes it, you’re going to have a captive audience in a 15-, 16- or 17-year-old who doesn’t always want to hang out with dad at her age,” he said. “But if you have this in common, you’ll have a captive audience who will want to play with you for the rest of your lives together.”

He also noted how golf can sometimes help players advance their careers, recalling one of his former players who eventually received promotions through the consulting firm she worked for after golfing with the higher-ups.

“More business deals get done on the golf course than anywhere else,” Winter said.

After more than two decades of coaching girls golf for Escondido High, Winter plans to retire soon so that he can spend more time with family, which also includes finding more time to hit the courses with his son.

Chairwoman Nora Vargas introduced a non-binding resolution of no confidence in Fletcher for Tuesday's special meeting and requested that Fletcher immediately resign. The board approved the resolution on a 4-0 vote.

“My priority is ensuring that we are able to serve the people of San Diego,” Vargas said before the vote, adding that Fletcher has been absent for the past two weeks. “We encourage him to resign immediately so he (can) focus solely on his treatment, and the people of San Diego can move forward with the representation they deserve.”

According to a county attorney, the board has no authority to remove Fletcher from office, and it would be up to Fletcher to decide when his resignation will take effect.

Fletcher was one of the most powerful politicians in the county when he announced March 26 that he was entering a treatment center outside the state for post-traumatic stress, trauma and alcohol abuse, and was abandoning a planned run for state Senate. It was unclear Tuesday whether Fletcher was aware of the board's decision.

According to a statement from his office, “Fletcher is unable to respond due to the fact he is in treatment.”

On March 29, he announced his resignation from the Board of Supervisors effective at 5 p.m. May 15, saying he would complete his treatment program before leaving the board. His announcement followed a tumultuous day in which he admitted to the extramarital affair.

Supervisor Jim Des-

TURN TO FLETCHER ON 15

THE GOLF TEAMS at Escondido High School received 12 new sets of golf clubs from the Southern California PGA’s ClubsForeYouth program. Courtesy photo

RAMON SALINAS started PinPoint Local Carlsbad three years ago.

Courtesy photo

Meet Ramon Salinas, Owner Of PinPoint Local Carlsbad

Tri-City may contract labor, delivery services

Soroptimists present 6 with ‘Dream’ awards

By Samantha Nelson OCEANSIDE —TriCity

Healthcare

District

officials are considering contracting out labor and delivery services in a last ditch effort to continue delivering babies in the district.

Tri-City Medical Center has experienced a reduction in its OB/GYN patients for more than a decade, but recent changes have exacerbated the situation according to hospital executives, leaving its labor and delivery services financially unsustainable in the current model.

In 2009, Scripps Health purchased Sharp Mission Park which resulted in a loss of 50,000 covered patients for TriCity. Scripps Health also purchased two private OB groups, which led to a “significant outmigration of commercial volume” in fiscal year 2010-2011 for Tri-City.

For the last eight years, Tri-City Medical Center has experienced an annual loss of $3.5 million and is averaging less than one delivery per day.

In addition to Scripps, Palomar Health has also been taking more patients from Tri-City.

In 2021, Both Vista Community Clinic and TrueCare notified Tri-City of their new agreements with Palomar Health. The clinics would refer their patients to Palomar instead of Tri-City going forward.

The San Diego Local Area Formation Commission — the agency that governs the boundaries of special districts like Palomar and Tri-City to ensure they don’t encroach upon each other without good reason — granted Palomar Health access to the clinics within the boundaries of the Tri-City district under the claim of a public health emergency in 2022.

In early March, LAFCO upheld its health emergency determination, allowing Palomar to contract with those clinics until at least March 2025. With this decision, Tri-City expects its previous losses to triple annually.

The health emergency was related to the financial stability of the two clinics and their need for more financial support.

LAFCO Executive Officer Keene Simonds explained to the commission that the clinics would not be able to stay operational without Palomar’s help.

“Without the out-ofagency approval, it is rea-

sonable to tie the probable clinic closures as elevated public welfare risks given a sizable portion of patients are first-generation residents and the clinics’ roles as known community resources would not be readily filled,” Simonds said via email.

Tri-City previously did not have contractual agreements with either Vista Community Clinic or TrueCare. In the previous model, the hospital district acted as a community partner that provided organized medical staff including its nurses and facility as support to the clinics. The clinics themselves provided OB/GYNs and midwives to perform their regular practices, which resulted in the clinics having to self-fund required coverage. Despite receiving reimbursement, the clinics still claimed to experience substantial financial losses each year, eventually leading to their decision to team up with Palomar Health.

Tri-City attempted to refute the public health emergency claim but was unsuccessful.

Not long after LAFCO’s ruling, Palomar Health announced the closure of its Poway labor and delivery unit in June due to low delivery numbers.

Tri-City executive staff presented four scenarios to the board during a special meeting on March 31. The first option would be to keep things running the way they are, which is financially unsustainable for the hospital district.

The second option would transition to a leaner staff model with more private OB group recruitment and the third option would also cut back staff, add more private contracts and consolidate units to a women’s services unit.

CEO Dr. Gene Ma said savings from the second and third scenarios wouldn’t be enough to prevent impacts to other hospital service lines.

The fourth option would contract out the labor and delivery services at the hospital to a private entity. Staff requested 30 days to explore potential partnerships and to hear from the community before returning to the board with recommendations.

Labor and delivery nurses showed up to the March 31 board meeting to demand the hospital keep the unit.

Ma said the board does not want to close the hospital’s labor and delivery unit, however they are aware of the financial issues at hand.

“That is why the proposal is to go look at partnerships and see what can be done,” Ma said. “The hope would be to keep these services here in partnership with Tri-City.”

Tri-City staff will return to the board with findings and recommendations at the next meeting on April 27.

FBI handling drag show threat

By Laura Place SOLANA BEACH —

A “threat of undisclosed violence” on social media that led to the cancelation of a drag show fundraiser on March 28 at the Belly Up in Solana Beach is now being investigated by the FBI’s Terrorism Unit, law enforcement officials confirmed.

The annual Disney Drag Takeover Benefit show is the largest fundraiser for the Oceanside-based Pride by the Beach, organized by the North County LGBTQ Resource Center, which partners with the Solana Beach music venue for the show.

Just hours before the start of the Tuesday night show, law enforcement and event organizers learned of a video containing unspecified threats of violence. According to sheriff’s Lt. Christopher Lawrence, the video mentioned the Belly Up and the date and time corresponding with the drag show.

Organizers made the decision to cancel the show, and the sheriff’s bomb arson team searched the venue but did not find anything of concern, Lawrence said.

“It didn’t come in necessarily as a bomb threat — it came in as a threat of undisclosed violence,” Lawrence told The Coast News. “We took precautions, just because of current events in the nation and the world, to utilize our bomb arson team and our explosives-sniffing dogs to make sure the venue was free of any items.”

The Sheriff’s Department confirmed the FBI is

By City News Service REGION — A woman who phoned in a false tip regarding a bomb at San Marcos Elementary School earlier this year was sentenced March 6 to two years of formal probation.

Marie Kim, 32, was also ordered to spend nine days in custody and stay away from the school, which was evacuated just after 1

now handling the investigation. The Coast News has reached out to the San Diego FBI field office for comment.

Roxanne Deatherage, Pride director at North County LGBTQ Resource Center, said the queens were already en route to the show when the organization was made aware of the threat. Around 350 people had purchased tickets, and the show was expected to

“It will happen, and it will be bigger and better and stronger, and the show will go on,” Deatherage said.

Drag shows have been the latest target of conservative criticism over the past two years, with an increase in protests, threats and attacks against drag performances and other LGBTQIA+ establishments, as well as anti-drag legislation in several states.

Tennessee passed a law in early March prohibiting “adult cabaret” performances, including those by drag queens, in public places where minors could watch. Similar laws have been introduced in Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho and Texas.

By Staff

VISTA — Soroptimist International of Vista and North County Inland announced this year’s winners of the Live Your Dream Education and Training Awards.

The club distributed awards totaling $18,100 to six women. Recipients may use the cash award to offset any costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education, such as books, childcare, tuition and transportation.

Recipient of the first place Live Your Dream award was Kathryn Seman of Valley Center. Her dream is to attend USC to obtain a degree in urban planning and development.

A single mom of three who has experienced domestic violence, she said

“Considering I only completed one year of high school and obtained a GED at 16, I never thought I would ever go back to school, and here I am at 32, proof that it’s never too late to reinvent yourself… this award means everything to me and my children.”

Currently Kathryn is holding down two jobs to support her family while attending Palomar College.

Amanda Rodriguez received a special award reserved by the club for a survivor of human trafficking. Single mother to a 10-yearold, Amanda is pursuing a BA at Point Loma Nazarene in International Development with a minor in Marketing.

bring in $10,000 to go toward the Pride by the Beach event in June.

Belly Up and the center ultimately decided to cancel to keep attendees, venue staff and performers safe.

“It was a hard decision to make. We never want people to think their hate can control us and stop us from being who we are, but safety is our number one priority,” Deatherage said. “It was heartbreaking.”

North County LGBTQ Resource Center will work with the Belly Up and the show’s entertainers to reschedule the event, but no date has been chosen yet, she said.

p.m. Feb. 8.

Prosecutors say Kim made a phone call stating she heard there might be a bomb on campus, though a subsequent search by police officers and bomb-sniffing dogs turned up nothing.

It was unclear whether Kim had any connection with the elementary school, nor what may have prompted her to call in the fake tip.

Anti-drag sentiments have also found their place locally. In October, community members showed up in droves to an Encinitas Union School District meeting to protest the district’s decision to share an online flier advertising a family-friendly Halloween drag show in San Diego’s Hillcrest neighborhood.

In addition, the proliferation of mass shootings, including an incident on March 27 at a Tennessee elementary school that left three students and three adults dead, also brought the threats close to home for organizers.

“It was scary knowing what happened a few days ago. It’s very fresh in all of our brains and all of our hearts,” Deatherage said. “Our community is strong, and we’re ready to keep going — this isn’t gonna stop us.”

She was arrested two weeks later after deputies responded to a call regarding an argument on Twin Oaks Valley Road in San Marcos and recognized Kim as the bomb tip suspect, according to sheriff’s Lt. Michael Arens.

Kim was arrested that day and later charged with falsely reporting a bomb threat.

“During the pandemic I co-founded a nonprofit tech startup, Free Brands, with a mission to empower survivors of human trafficking to become thriving entrepreneurs,” she said. Her dream is to live in a world where survivors are no longer just surviving, but “thriving by pursuing their purpose, and by extension raising children free from bondage, who are empowered to dream audaciously, knowing they are supported,” she wrote.

Jane Ogwuegbu is a single mom of a 1-year-old son. Jane currently holds an associate’s degree in nursing with a dream of becoming a nurse anesthetist.

“As a victim of domestic violence, living in a shelter since last year, it’s even more challenging to meet our basic needs…and realistically impossible for me to fund my career…” she wrote.

Despite these challenges and lack of family support, Jane believes her current situation is temporary and she is determined to remain positive and achieve her career goal.

Aline Ramirez is a single mom going through a difficult divorce. The sole support of her 3-year-old daughter, she works at a domestic violence shelter while attending Cal State San Marcos.

Aline’s passion is to

OCEANSIDE-BASED Pride by the Beach is working with the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach and drag show performers to reschedule the fundraising event. Photo by Laura Place

Our community is strong, and we’re ready to keep going.”

Roxanne Deatherage Pride director

Woman gets probation for school bomb call

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Leading Note Theatre ‘Spring Music Concert’

Local professional musicians to share the joy of music

On Saturday, April 22, 2023, Leading Note Studios Theatre will host a community concert event.

This concert will be the first in a series of seasonal concerts coming this year at the Theatre.

The Spring Concert will feature performances of Beethoven classical piano performed by Wei Heng Shao, Disney improvisations

FIRE CHIEF

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

nity programs to install free smoke alarms in homes and provide elderly and disabled residents with lock boxes that allow paramedics to access homes during emergencies.

His proudest achievements as fire chief are the enhancements made to members’ training and experience in the department, like the “Blue Card” incident command certification program that prepares firefighters for actual emergencies through a simulation lab.

Additional investments in the Fire Explorer program have helped Escondido youth learn about and prepare for fire service careers.

Throughout his years of service, training has been a top priority for Vogt. While in Riverside, he served as a training captain and ran the Moreno Valley Fire Academy for a number of years. He continued to lead in training roles later in San Marcos and Escondido.

Training and education are so important, Vogt said, “not just to take care of the business at hand and the projects and priorities of today, but to make sure there are people in place and ready to step up later and continue seamlessly.”

In addition to leading the Escondido Fire Department for the last six years, Vogt is also recognized as a regional fire service leader

by Blane Abernathy, Violin performances with George Volkev, Vocals by songwriter Mary Corso and many more. It will be a night filled with a variety of music right here in North County, San Marcos, California.

“I love sharing music with the community! It is joyful and makes you smile, dance, and feel a variety of emotions. It is something you will never be too young or too old to enjoy!” said Owner Camille Hastings.

The Event will include a local food truck venue at the Event, tables and chairs to en-

as an active member of the North Zone Fire Chiefs and the San Diego County Fire Chiefs Association.

“I firmly believe that leadership is not about rank, it’s about influence,” Vogt said. “I try to add value in whatever position I happen to be in.”

Vogt is set to officially retire in mid-July. After that, he intends to take it easy for a while, spending more time with his 15-yearold twins and two adult children while also supporting his wife in her role as a middle school teacher in Temecula.

Vogt is currently the last of a long line of family members to retire from the fire service. His father, uncle, aunt, brother and cousin all previously retired from Cal Fire in various leadership roles.

City Manager Sean McGlynn wished the chief a happy retirement.

“Chief Vogt has served the public for over three decades, providing guidance, ensuring safety and sharing his fire expertise with his team,” McGlynn said. “Our community has benefited greatly from his leadership and dedication to Escondido.”

A nationwide search for a new fire chief has been launched. The search will consider both internal and external applicants.

Whatever decision the city makes, Vogt is confident that he will leave the department in good hands.

joy dinner, and Yummy Cup cakes for sale…

ABOUT Leading Note Studios: Leading Note pro vides Music and Joy to the Community by offering les sons for all musical instru ments and a professional Re cording Studio, and includes music and fun learning op portunities for children and adults of all ages.

Serving over 1,100 cli ents weekly, from Toddlers to Adults, and offer recitals, camps, instrument rentals, lesson packages, and two great locations, Encinitas and San Marcos.

Escondido, O’side libraries awarded inclusion grants

By Staff

REGION — California Humanities selected Escondido Public Library and Project Director Azar Katouzian and Oceanside Public Library and Project Director Jorge Garcia as recipients of the 2023 Library Innovation Lab grant program.

The program supports public libraries as they provide welcoming experiences to newcomers and strive to build more inclusive communities.

This year’s group of participating libraries aim to engage a wide range of immigrants, including people coming from Afghanistan, the Philippines, Mexico, Central America, Iran, and Ukraine.

To date, 74 libraries have participated in

hibits, and celebrations of the food, music, dance and other cultural traditions immigrants have brought to our state.

Library Innovation Lab provides a nine-month practice-based professional development experience to each participating librarian and grants of up to $5,500 to associated libraries.

Beginning this month, the 2023 cohort members will research, design, implement, and assess a small scale, short-term public humanities project at their library by the end of the year.

school and not stress each semester about paying for my classes,” she said.

Maria Solano (not her real name) asked that her name and be withheld for safety reasons. Single mom of three children, she is a student at MiraCosta College and is holding down a part-time job while studying social work and human services.

Her goals are to complete her AA and ultimately earn a bachelor’s degree. Her dream is to find a field of work that would match her desire to help families

of domestic violence and is taking care of her mother, husband and child while working full time as program manager for a daycare center. She is attending Palomar College and wants to obtain a BA in early childhood education. Upcoming fundraisers include a “Lunch and Bunco” fundraiser at Rhythm Church in Oceanside on April 15 and an “English Garden Tea” in San Marcos on May 20.

To learn more about the club and its events, visit soroptimistvista.org.

GUN STORE

GUNTHER GUNS

‘We are all artists’: WNDR Museum relies on visitor input

hit the road

From the other side of the wall, we can hear giggling and squealing, and then — a brief pause in the cacophony. We wait, and in a moment, the joyous shrieking begins again, and so it goes, again and again.

My friend, Wanda, and I know what’s going on. A few minutes earlier, we were exploring the same exhibit, one of many within the labyrinths of the WNDR Museum in downtown San Diego.

This particular exhibit/ experience, called “Untitled by You,” demonstrates how computers learn to use neural networks, similar to the human brain. The word artificial intelligence (AI) is not used, but the resemblance is there.

Visitors suggest a picture to the computer, however ridiculous. We proposed a surfer on a banana, then waited for the computer to generate an image on the first of five screens. The image continued to morph as it appears on four additional screens, one after the other. The final image can be anything from the ordinary to shriek-producing bizarre.

“This is addicting,” I

heard one visitor say.

Mind-blowing and eye-popping are other adjectives Wanda used to describe our experience at the WNDR (pronounced wonder) Museum, which opened in January.

The venue combines art, technology and the imagination of visitors to provide an encounter that is fun and sometimes a bit challenging.

“WNDR is unique in the way that the experience truly depends on your input,” said Andy Grantz, general

manager, who left the world of spreadsheets to work for museum founder Brad Keywell, also co-founder of Groupon and an industrial AI software provider and art collector. His philosophy is shared through a bright, red neon sign that proclaims, “We are all artists.”

San Diego’s WNDR museum is one of four; the other three are in Chicago, Seattle and Boston.

“I love giving tours through here and seeing the museum through other

people’s eyes,” Grantz said. “Reactions have been overwhelmingly positive. San Diego has a vibrant art community and we think we fill a niche that was vacant. It’s thrilling to hear the oohs and aahs when guests step through the curtain and onto our light floor to start their experience.”

The opportunities to create art and participate abound. (I had estimated a 60- to 90-minute visit when we entered the museum. We emerged onto Market Street

nearly three hours later.)

At one exhibit titled LSD (“Lake Shore Drive, as a nod to our roots in Chicago”), we planted our feet on a designated spot, then used our body movements to alter the designs on a large digital screen covered in what looks like pink spaghetti on a deep blue background. The possibilities are endless.

At another station, we entered a darkened room filled with what resembles circular shower curtains, crafted with strings of mul-

ticolored LED lights suspended from the ceiling. Moving through the light curtains and watching the colors change is an ethereal experience.

Multiple mirrors and complex lighting effects are used in several exhibits, creating a challenge when it comes to figuring out where the ceilings, floors, halls and walls begin and end.

Some experiences are low-tech but still thought-provoking.

At one stop, lettering on the wall asks, “What do you know for sure?” We wrote our answers on small squares of paper and posted the notes on a rack with thousands of others. Some of the contributions: “You don’t know until you try”; “You only live once”; “You can’t blend in when you were born to stand out”; and “the cereal always comes b4 the milk.” (Do some people really put milk into the bowl first?)

Perhaps the most sensory-challenging exhibit was “Insideout” by Scottish artist Leigh Sachwitz, an “immersive 360-degree video, light and sound experience” that mimics a thunderstorm as visitors sit in a Glasgow garden shed. It is so convincing that, at one point, I grabbed the table, sure that we are sliding away.

Take the Coaster to the Santa Fe Depot. It’s a onemile walk (15 minutes) to the museum. For more photos and discussion, visit facebook.com/elouise.ondash.

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‘SURFER ON A BANANA’ was generated by an exhibit that creates images with artificial intelligence at the WNDR Museum in downtown San Diego. At right, another exhibit asks the visitor, “What do you know for sure?” Thousands of answers are posted on the wall. Photos by E’Louise Ondash

Annual VUSD art show opens at Civic Center

By Staff VISTA — Vista Unified School

District’s 2nd annual art show officially opened April 5 at the Civic Gallery with a reception for the artists.

Mayor John Franklin and Councilmembers Joe Green and Dan O’Donnell were in attendance representing the City of Vista.

Judges selected several artists for awards, including: Mayor’s Award (Middle School): Natalie Bankert; Mayor’s Award (High School): Haley Reed; City Council Award (Middle School): McKenzie Duggan; City Council Award (High School): Jenny Ortega; Best-in-Show (Middle School): Cole Eustace; Best in Show (High School): Jorge Martinez;

This art show runs through April 27 at the Civic Center’s Civic Gallery, 200 Civic Center Drive, during normal business hours. Admission is free.

Information: vistapublicart.com.

New mobile plan puts Cox customers in charge

It’s been 50 years since the first mobile phone was presented to the public. At 4.4 pounds, it was too chunky to fit in your back pocket, making it an unrealistic accessory. Today, however, it’s not the phones that weigh us down. It’s the mobile plans — riddled with annual fees, contracts and overages — that drag you down like an anchor weight.

That is, until now. Cox Communications has separated from the flock with Cox Mobile, its new mobile service available exclusively to Cox Internet customers and designed with your differences and individual needs in mind.

Cox customers are savvy consumers and now they don’t need to do any more plan hopping when it comes to their mobile service. Cox Mobile makes it simple for customers to choose which plan is right for them with two plans.

PAY AS YOU GIG

At $15 per gig per month, Pay As You Gig is tailored to your individual needs. With all the reliability and none of the surprise charges, you only pay for the data you need

GIG UNLIMITED

Perfect for constant communicators, streaming or using your favorite apps when you're on the go, Gig Unlimited lets you do whatever you want, whenever you want. At $45 per month, this plan can take you and your family on all kinds of adventures. From home to sheep

herds in Ireland to everything in between, the sky’s the limit with Gig Unlimited.

Both no-fuss, straightforward plans meet the needs of our customers who can easily switch back and forth between either option if and when your data needs change.

Cox Mobile runs on the network with unbeatable 5G reliability. That means 4G LTE speeds you can count on and fast 5G available for 5G-capable devices. And there’s more good news from Cox Mobile.

The most advanced iPhone models yet are officially available for Cox Mobile customers.

“We’re excited to offer our customers the iPhone 14 lineup with incredible battery life, fast 5G, and vital safety capabilities,” said Tony Krueck, senior vice president of Cox Mobile. “We’re thrilled to bring the latest iPhone to Cox Mobile customers, along with our 5G wireless coverage, providing options that meet our customers’ needs and lifestyle.”

Cox Mobile customers have access to more than four million Cox wifi hotspots, helping you cut down even more on data usage, because you're tapping the network instead of your own plan. Can you hear the bells and whistles?

Mobile phone service shouldn’t be complicated. For those who want to stand out from the crowd, Cox Mobile has you covered.

LOOKING TO BUY OR SELL?

Check

VISTA MAYOR John Franklin with Natalie Bankert, Mayor’s Award winner for middle school. The art show runs through April 27 at the Civic Center. Courtesy photo

WITH PAY AS YOU GIG, you’ll only pay for the data needed for your sharing and surfing — it’s that easy. Courtesy photo

Handcrafte d In California Sinc e 1976

Craft beer, spirits gift ideas

Have you started making summer plans yet? What are you waiting for? We’re already staring down Mother’s Day! Then just a few short weeks later, schools will let out, and moms will start buying neckties for their kids to give to dad.

We’re right in the middle of the greeting card holiday season, and I'm already over it. Give everyone a sixpack or a bottle, and move on. Am I right? Here are my gift recommendations for the next few months.*

Tax Day: For your accountant, give them a sixer of reasonably priced (good) beer like Salty Crew from Coronado Brewing Company. They’ll understand.

For your partner or yourself, get a bottle of Encinitas-based Solento Tequila, made by legendary surf filmmaker Taylor Steele. Don’t wait for the refund (if you’re getting one). You’ve earned it.

Mother’s Day: Find a quality aged bourbon-barrel beer or rich Imperial Stout. Look for something boozy yet smooth, perhaps with a little maple or caramel or coffee flavor notes. Get a bottle from Horus Aged Ales if you can, or look to Mostra Coffee and Alesmith for one of their popular Speedway collaboration beers.

If you need guidance, you can't go wrong asking at your favorite local bottleshop. Get bonus credit if you arrange for Mom to have the time to properly sit and sip.

Wrap your gift with a ribbon and tissue paper. If you’re not confident in your bottle-wrapping skills, go online! I found thousands of videos in just seconds on Youtube.

Schools Out, a.k.a. Educator Liberation Day:

**I did an informal survey of educators I know, and they all said — I’m paraphrasing here — something with alcohol in it. I’m recommending

Barrel Republic exits Escondido

By Samantha Nelson ESCONDIDO — Barrel Republic’s location on Grand Avenue in Escondido

has closed for good after only two years in service.

The self-service draft beer bar offered discounted pints throughout the week leading up to its last day of business on April 9.

While the bar was still relatively new to the Escondido area, Barrel Republic had grown popular among locals over the last two years.

“It is with heavy heart that we announce the closure of our Escondido location,” states a Facebook post. “We appreciate how welcoming the community has been to us.”

Many expressed disappointment in seeing the bar go in the comments below the Facebook post.

“This is such a bummer,” commented Kelly King.

cheers!

the nicer boxed wines. See the white box on the bottom shelf? You know the one. Does the name rhyme with shmanzia? Move up a shelf or two.

If you want to really let someone know they are appreciated, pre-pay for a wine tasting at a favorite local vineyard. For $20, you can book a wine tasting at Fallbrook Winery for each of your favorite educators. Put the details on a card.

They’ll appreciate the gesture and the opportunity to let off some of the steam built up over a year of dealing with the wonderful gift that is the children of the community…and their parents.

Memorial Day: It’s the unofficial summer kick-off. You survived the winter! You deserve a present. Find some good craft beer that is easy to drink. It’s a long weekend.

Pure Project’s Rove Adventure Beer and WestBrew’s Blonde or Liquid Sol beers come to mind as palate cleansers after eating a pound of chips and French dip.

I like to follow up dinner on the grill with something with a hint of sweetness for dessert. Not many, if any, do it better than Bagby Beer. Bagby’s Continental Cream Ale and their Worker Bee Golden Ale brewed with honey are available in tall boy cans.

Father’s Day: The stereotype is beer, and beer is just fine, but a bottle of whiskey or bourbon from one of our numerous local distillers is better.

Bourbon is a luxury best enjoyed in fine glass, but ultimately the glass doesn't matter much. I often drink

the bottle of Pacific Coast Spirits Blue Corn Whiskey my wife added to the liquor cabinet out of an old Bonne Maman jelly jar — still delicious.

They also have barrel finished cocktails like the Negroni or classic Manhattan that make for a great gift.

*I did not receive any enticements when compiling this list. I’m not saying I wouldn’t have taken them. I’m just saying I didn’t get them…

**We all know that the concept of summers off is a myth, right? Teachers pack a year’s worth of work into nine months! They spend a week decompressing and then the rest of the summer thinking about the next school year. Also, decompressing is my code for drinking wine.

Cheers! Tidbits

Starting June 9, the San Diego Brewers Guild is presenting the 2nd annual San

“I loved this place,” said Tricia Mullen. “It was kid friendly and even dog friendly indoors which is hard to find.”

San Diego Sockers co-owner David Pike founded Barrel Republic, opening the first location in Pacific Beach in 2013. Two years later, the bar opened a second shop in Oceanside, adding a food menu. Then, in 2016, Barrel Republic

opened up a third storefront in Carlsbad.

The now-shuttered Escondido location opened in 2021, shortly before the Oceanside and Pacific Beach locations closed. Carlsbad is the only remaining Barrel Republic location in San Diego County.

The beer bar was one of the first locally to use a selfpour tap system, offering a rotating tap list with various brews. The Escondido location offered 41 beers and eight different wines. In Carlsbad, the bar offers

52 beer taps and six wines.

To pour a beer, guests first received a bracelet or card upon entry. Then, when they find a beer they want to try, they hold the card up to a screen above the tap to access beer.

The news of the Escondido location’s closure caught many off guard. While the staff was reluctant to discuss the closure in more detail, one employee told The Coast News that most Escondido employees could keep their jobs by moving to the Carlsbad location.

THE LAST remaining Barrel Republic bar in San Diego County is in Carlsbad. Courtesy photo/Barrel Republic

ENCINITAS-BASED Solento Tequila by surf filmmaker Taylor Steele is a great local gift idea for that special someone who appreciates finely crafted spirits. Courtesy photo/Solento

CSUSM’s Foster steps down as men’s basketball coach

By Staff SAN MARCOS

— B.J.

Foster has resigned as the head coach of the Cal State San Marcos men’s basketball team to accept the head coaching position at Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Oklahoma.

Foster led CSUSM to its first CCAA Tournament title in 2021-22 and its first NCAA West Regional appearance as the region’s top seed. The Cougars climbed as high as No. 4 in the NABC Top 25 Coaches Poll and finished the season at No. 9 with an overall record 20-5.

Under Foster's leadership, CSUSM returned to the NCAA West Regional in 2022-23 and saw the Cou-

Who’s NEWS?

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

TOP STUDENTS

• Dean College announced Kokoro Okada, Hoi Kan Kwok, Hei Man Helen Liang and Justin Ong of Carlsbad were named to the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society.

• Initiated into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi were Daniel Rubin of Carlsbad at Westmont College, Christopher Tate of Encinitas at University of Massachusetts and Michaela Baker of Oceanside at Clemson University.

• Patrick Breen of Encinitas and Sally Lynne of San Marcos were named to the fall 2022 honor roll at University of Dallas.

SPECIAL CONSTITUENT

MiraCosta College’s first Chief Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibili-

CHEERS!

CONTINUED FROM 13

Diego Beer Weekend. It’s a made-up two-day holiday weekend reminding us of all the great craft beer in our community.

“Beer Weekend is simply another fun initiative we created to urge San Diegans to go out and support this great industry in our city. It serves as a great start to San Diego’s impeccable summer as well,” said Brewers Guild Executive Director Paige McWey Acers.

Breweries throughout San Diego County will hold events and offer to-be-determined beer specials served in commemorative pint glasses with artwork created by local designer Tyler Cristobal, founder of Cristobal Design Company. When asked about the artwork’s inspiration, Cristobal said:

“The San Diego region is a diverse and dynamic melting pot of ideas and inspiration. The SD beer community is a direct reflection of this welcomed exchange of knowledge, passion, and love for craft beer. As diverse

gars earn their first NCAA Tournament win. CSUSM tallied 20 wins for the second consecutive season while posting its best-ever finish to CCAA play as the Cougars placed second with a 17-5 conference record.

Foster was hired as CSUSM's head coach in 2016 and has since become the program’s winningest head coach in terms of victories (99) and winning percentage (.586) since the team's inception in 2011-12.

Foster was originally hired as an assistant coach at CSUSM ahead of the 2013-14 season.

A national search for CSUSM's next head coach will begin immediately.

ty Officer, Wendy Stewart, was named U.S. Rep. Mike Levin’s February Constituent of the Month.

AVID STARS

Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary hosted the Advancement Via Individualized Determination (AVID) Career Conference March 31 for 60 Carlsbad students. The AVID instructors selected the top five AVID students who were also honored with recognition and certificates.

From Carlsbad High School: Andrea delos Santos Acuna, Emilio Gonzalez, Arsham Hormuzi, Abraham Hernandez and Angel Cruz Ocampo. AVID Instructor is Jeff Spanier. From Sage Creek High School: Jared Espinoza, Denilson Lopez, Jaly Reyes, Adrian Trujillo and John Trujillo. AVID Instructor is Aida Salah.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Ivey Ranch Park is looking for volunteers to help with its upcoming 2023 Concert Series fundraiser. Volunteers will be working at the concerts in Chula Vista. Reply to iveyranch+yahoo.com@ccsend.com to

Welcome to the ‘magentaverse’

and general socio-economic conditions.

Influences may also stem from new technologies, materials, textures and effects that impact color.

take part. Training will be from 6 to 9 p.m. April 19, and April 27 and from noon to 3 p.m. April 27.

20TH ANNIVERSARY

La Costa Glen retirement facility, at 1940 Levante St., Carlsbad, celebrated its 20th anniversary with Carlsbad Mayor Keith Blackburn and La Costa Glen residents April 13.

GENEROUS DONATION

Casa Aldea Carlsbad supported the Carlsbad downtown Boys & Girls Club, with a donation of $700 raised by Casa Aldea residents during their Charity Bingo event.

GOODBYE RICOCHET

Surf Dog Ricochet, the first-ever canine-assisted surf therapy dog and certified goal-directed therapy dog, has made the journey to Rainbow Bridge. She was 15 years old. Ricochet was diagnosed with liver cancer in August 2022.

BUILDING BEDS

April 4, more than 390 Lowe’s associates and vendors gathered in Carlsbad to

build quality bunk beds for the Sleep in Heavenly Peace organization, helping needy families. Volunteers, including Lowe’s Executive Vice President of Merchandising Bill Boltz, assembled more than 350 bunk beds that will be distributed locally.

NOMINATE KINDNESS

Do you know an extra-kind company? If so, nominate them at https:// www.kindnesscertified.org/ nominations to officially become Kindness Certified. Kids for Peace, in partnership with the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, launched the Kindness Certified Companies program to honor companies that are good to their people, community, planet and world.

HEROES OF VISTA

The 2023 Heroes of Vista recognized the Vista Irrigation District for its outstanding longevity and partnership with the Vista Chamber of Commerce. The Vista Irrigation District was presented with a Certificate of Recognition from Assemblymember Laurie Davies’ office.

CREEK

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

planning, funding and other prior to construction work over 10 years ago and we appreciate their efforts to come up with the final product we will see soon,” Jenkins said.

“As the final bridge opens, we’ll see residents traveling more safely in the Creek District area and amenities to respectfully support the natural environment.”

Forgive me the assumption that you’re reading this column in hopes you’ll learn something new.

With that thought hanging in the air, you may have missed the pronouncement that magenta is the color of the year for 2023.

Selected by the Pantone Color Institute (PCI), this color is variously described as “powerful,” “empowering” and “electrifying.” Look for it to be incorporated into advertising, clothing, shoes, cellphones and every imaginable canvas, from wallpaper to shower curtains.

It will, in fact, pop up virtually everywhere around the globe, and in relatively short order.

How did that happen?

Every six months PCI hosts a secret meeting of representatives from various nations' color standards groups (yes, such groups really do exist).

After two days of presentations and debate, they choose a color for the following year that connects with the zeitgeist and forecasts a state of mind for the world’s consumers.

Impacting this discussion could be the entertainment industry, traveling art collections, new artists, fashion, all areas of design and popular travel destinations.

Also considered are new lifestyles, playstyles

covery Street.

As crews continue work on the Via Vera Cruz bridge, Discovery Street is also being expanded to four lanes with a new two-way turn lane and stoplights to improve the flow of traffic.

A sound wall is also under construction at Lakeview Mobile Estates to mitigate sound in the area.

Throw in trends on relevant social media platforms and even upcoming sporting events capturing worldwide attention, and… well, you get the idea.

This semi-annual exercise informs the next generation of high fashion immediately, then rolls downhill into the mainstream over the next 6-9 months.

Meaning even as this magenta wave is starting, the last cycle or two are still working their way through the lower recesses of the system.

I share this little tidbit with you because pretty soon it’ll be impossible to miss it. Especially since those trying to stay on the cutting edge will inevitably swap out their violet frocks from 2022, as well as items that are yellow (2021), blue (2020) or coral (2019).

In “The Devil Wears Prada,” it was observed that a particular blue sweater represents millions of dollars and countless jobs guiding any consumer’s fashion choice, based on decisions that were made years ago.

Meaning this announcement is truly a big deal and it will impact each of us, either directly or indirectly. When someone in your home brings home something magenta for the holidays, you’ll see what I mean.

With that said, I wish you a week of profitable marketing.

Create more colorful marketing at www.askmrmarketing.com.

Paseo del Arroyo Park, a new community space that will provide recreational opportunities and lookout points over the creek.

Once open, residents will be able to access the trail loop at entrances on the north side of the bridges.

SAN DIEGO Beer Weekend starts June 9. Courtesy photo

as its people, San Diego’s geography is equally dynamic, spanning endless coastlines to bustling urban zones all the way to the mountains and deserts. San Diego beer reaches from surf to sand and welcomes all to partake in the celebration and love for independent, local craft beer.”

Event Reminder: Helia Brewery (Vista) is hosting The Shine Project Foundation for the 3rd annual Good Vibes Reggaefest

on Saturday, April 29. “All funds raised will go directly towards providing free enrichment and inclusive community events for children, teens, and young adults with special needs.” Tickets are available on zeffy.com.

Stream the classic episodes of the Roast! West Coast coffee podcast on the Coast News Podcast page, and follow Cheers! North County on Facebook and Instagram.

Both bridges were renovated to increase the elevation of the roadway to prevent flooding on the road from San Marcos Creek when it rains. The new Via Vera Cruz bridge is around 8 feet higher than the old bridge built in 1942.

Next steps for the Via Vera Cruz bridge include another concrete pour planned for April 12, utility coordination, installation of railings, lighting and paving, creation of curbs, gutters and sidewalks, and preparing Via Vera Cruz to be reopened from San Marcos Boulevard to Dis-

City Councilmember Mike Sannella said the new bridge will be a “tremendous asset for our entire community.”

“Everyone is excited that the new Via Vera Cruz bridge is nearing completion. The new bridge will play a big part in helping traffic flow in that part of our city. I thank our staff for leading this major project from start to finish and I thank our residents for their patience during construction,” Sannella said.

Crews are also undergrounding utility lines under the bridge.

Creek Project leaders say crews are also making headway on a 1.2 mile loop trail that will run through

“The trail system is not yet open to the public. The Creek team is encouraging the community to avoid accessing the trails, due to heavy equipment and construction activities in the area,” said project spokesperson Susanne Bankhead.

“The team anticipates delivery of playground equipment and seating in mid 2023.”

The Creek Project team is planning a ribbon-cutting ceremony in the summer to celebrate the completion of the project, Bankhead said.

The project is funded by a combination of local funding and state and federal grants.

For more information and updates about the San Marcos Creek Project, visit san-marcos.net/creek.

B.J. FOSTER leaves Cal State San Marcos as the men’s basketball program’s winningest coach, with 99 victories and a .586 winning percentage. Courtesy photo/CSUSM Athletics

In loving memory of Joseph Wells Musser August 27, 1925November 17, 2022

Families enjoy Easter weekend festivities

By Laura Place

REGION — Egg-citement was high over the Easter weekend as cities across North County held family-friendly egg hunts and other festivities to celebrate the spring holiday.

In San Marcos, thousands of children and adults headed to Walnut Grove

Park on April 8 for the Spring Egg Scramble and Bunny Breakfast, where little ones had the chance to search for 20,000 prize-filled eggs throughout the morning.

The event also featured a sold-out community breakfast in the park’s barn, a carnival with games and bouncy houses, and oppor-

tunities for photos with the Easter Bunny.

Other cities held annual events including the Encinitas Spring Egg Hunt, the Children’s Spring Festival at La Colonia Park in Solana Beach, the EGGStravaganza Spring Festival in Carlsbad, and additional events in Oceanside and Vista.

– barely – age 18, following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. His family was living on Oahu at the time, and his father was serving in the Navy at the Harbor on that day.

After World War II ended, he attended the University of Michigan, where he met and fell in love with Shirley Miller. They married in 1953, and settled down in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where all three of their daughters, Susan, Anne, and Jane, were born.

wedding anniversary on February 14th, 2003.

mond, one of Fletcher's most vocal opponents throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, called it unacceptable that Fletcher would stay on the board and collect $25,000 from taxpayers during his quasi-resigned period through May 15.

“While the Board of Supervisors does not have the ultimate power to remove Mr. Fletcher, this resolution will serve as a powerful statement for him to resign,” Desmond said Sunday. “Mr. Fletcher has let his constituents down and should no longer receive taxpayer funds.”

The plaintiff in the lawsuit against Fletcher, former MTS Public Information Officer Grecia Figueroa, alleges that Fletcher groped her on two occasions and

CONTINUED FROM 5

ciate the patience from the public.”

Supervisor Jim Desmond criticized SANDAG for not making upgrades to SR-78 after voters approved a half-cent tax measure for repairs in 2004. Desmond urged the regional planning agency to renew its commitment to prioritize the North County highway.

“Despite paying this tax until 2048, SANDAG has not made the upgrades and has instead opted for less used public transportation and mass transit projects,” Desmond said in a statement.

“SANDAG must maintain its promise to San Diegans and make SR-78 a priority, as it is vital to the safety of North County. It is time for SANDAG to come back to the table with a regional transportation plan that benefits everyone in San Diego County.”

Franklin said the corrugated metal pipes should

pursued a sexual relationship with her for months before she was abruptly fired on the day Fletcher announced his state Senate candidacy.

Fletcher resigned April 4 as MTS chair.

Fletcher has denied Figueroa's charges, claiming the affair was consensual. His attorney, Danielle Hultenius Moore, said the woman’s allegations “are false and are designed to drive headlines and not tell the truth.”

The attorney said the woman pursued Fletcher, who “does not and never had authority over her employment.”

Fletcher’s wife, former Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, posted earlier on Twitter that she asked her husband to resign “to lessen the strain on our family.”

At Tuesday’s board

have been updated to concrete long ago with resources allocated from Sacramento.

“Unfortunately, this

meeting, Desmond said every county employee undergoes sexual harassment training, and getting physically involved with a subordinate is not allowed.

Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer thanked residents for speaking out, noting that the public sentiment regarding Fletcher spans the political spectrum. Lawson-Remer said she was incredibly sad, disappointed, frustrated and angry at the situation the board finds itself in, and that “my former colleague betrayed that public trust and acted in a way that is just unacceptable.”

The board on May 2 is expected to discuss its options for replacing Fletcher. Supervisors could call a special election or appoint a replacement to serve out the remaining three and a half years of Fletcher’s term.

product was allowed for use,” Franklin said. Caltrans estimated repairs to cost at least $20 million.

JOIN THE VISTA SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT SENIOR VOLUNTEER

The Senior Volunteer Patrol of the Vista Sheriff’s Station performs home vacation security checks, assists with traffic control, enforces disabled parking regulations, patrols neighborhoods, schools, parks and shopping centers and visits homebound seniors who live alone for the community of Vista & portions of the county’s unincorporated areas. Volunteers must be at least age 50, be in good health, pass a background check, have auto insurance, a valid California driver’s license, and be a US citizen. Training includes a mandatory two-week academy plus training patrols. The minimum commitment is 6 hours per week & attendance at a monthly meeting. erested parties should contact Administrator

Jim Baynes to arrange an information meeting.

(760) 940-4434 Jim Baynes

Funny, smart, gentle, kind. Joe was a gentleman and a gentle man. He will be missed, but he will never be forgotten by those of us lucky enough to have loved him.

Joe was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1925 and grew up with his parents, Joseph and Geneva, sisters Rosanne and Marjorie and younger brother Dan. He told wonderful stories about life in Hawaii in the 1920s and ’30s.

He graduated from Punahou High School in Honolulu in 1943, and joined the U.S. Navy at

In loving memory of Daniel Kelly June 5, 1951March 17, 2023

Daniel Kelly of Carlsbad passed away on 3.17.23 at age 72. He is survived by his sister Pat Grana, his sister Maura Kelly, his companion Susan Sawyer, his ex-wife Jackie Kelly, his stepson Corey Stilley, and granddaughter Sophia Stilley.

Koleka Tafale Belford, 73 Oceanside March 24, 2023

Myrna Zelle Thaxton, 78 Vista April 1, 2023

Mary Lou Buchanon, 67 Oceanside March 28, 2023

John Moreland Maddox, Jr. Valley Center March 23, 2023

In 1954, Joe began his Christmas tradition of creating hand-drawn Christmas cards, which he continued until 2019. Each year’s card featured family additions and other milestones.

The Musser family moved to Southern California in 1967, settling in Solana Beach. Joe worked as a researcher and histologist for UCSD and the Veterans’ Administration until he retired at 65.

Together Joe and Shirley were enthusiastic world travelers and life-long learners. They celebrated their 50th

Shirley passed way later that year, after a long, brave battle against cancer, with Joe by her side. Joe moved to Encinitas after Shirley’s death, and continued to live an active life into his 90s. He had a life-long passion for word games, crosswords, puzzles and sudoku. He won every Scrabble game he ever played. He eventually moved in with his daughter Susan and son-in-law Dan, and lived with them, benefitting from their loving care, for five more years.

Living with Susan and Dan meant he got regular visits with his three grandchildren, Kate, Tim, and Lizzy. And his two great grandsons, Max and Jack! Joe is survived by daughters Susan, Anne and Jane, son-in-law Dan, daughter-in-law Becca, grandchildren Kate and her husband Mark, Tim, and Lizzy and her husband Ryan, great grandsons Max and Jack, and many nieces and nephews, and cousins.

AN EASTER EGG HUNT was among the activities for kids at Walnut Grove Park during the San Marcos Spring Egg Scramble on April 8.

Photo by Laura Place

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Carlsbad 4020 Garfield St. April 15 &16th 9am-5pm

Estate Sale of “Mr. Christmas.” Extensive Christmas holiday decorations, including life-size nutcracker figures (5’ to 6’ tall), Santas, collectible Christmas village houses, lights, ornaments, manger group, two tall xmas trees (7.5’ tall), and smaller xmas trees and figures for village scenes. Also, 4th of July and Halloween decor. A large collection of Ironwood figurines, some Bols glass animal figurines, goblets and other glassware, china dinnerware, and pots, pans, and kitchen utensils. Furniture includes a grandfather clock and grandmother clock by Howard Miller, a leather sofa, loveseat, chair and ottoman in blue, a wine cabinet, 2 bedroom sets, a hall tree, end tables, small roll top desk, lamps, sea shell mirrors. Hundreds of die-cast miniature toy cars. Craftsman tool chest. Tools and extension cords. Two new walkers. Storage trunks. Larger-than-life carved wood sea captain garden monument. A brass telescope. A small rowboat usable as a flower bed. No early sales.

FROM KING FEATURES WEEKLY SERVICE, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803

CUSTOMER SERVICE: 800-708-7311 EXT. 257

SALOME’S STARS #12345_20230410

FOR RELEASE APRIL 10, 2023

EDITORS: These horoscopes are for use the week of April 17, 2023.

1. TELEVISION: What is the name of the president in the drama “West Wing”?

2. GEOGRAPHY: Which U.S. state shares the same name as one of the Great Lakes?

3. U.S. PRESIDENTS: What are the ZIP codes assigned to the president and rst lady?

4. LANGUAGE: What is cryptophasia?

5. MOVIES: What is the number on top of the bus in the movie “Speed”?

6. LITERATURE: What is the setting for Dashiell Hammett’s novel “The Maltese Falcon”?

7. ANATOMY: Which two parts of the human body contain the most bones?

8. U.S. STATES: In which state would you nd the Grand Teton National Park?

9. AD SLOGANS: Which popular product uses the slogan, “Is it in you?”?

10. FOOD & DRINK: What is the primary ingredient of baba ganoush?

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) This is a good time to reassess important relationships, both personal and professional, to see where problems might exist and how they can be overcome. Keep the lines of communication open.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) It’s not easy to bring order to a chaotic situation, whether it’s in the workplace or at home. But if anyone can do it, you can. A pleasant surprise awaits you by week’s end.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Be careful that you don’t make an upcoming decision solely on the word of those who might have their own reasons for wanting you to act as they suggest. Check things out for yourself.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) A personal relationship that seems to be going nowhere could be restarted once you know why it stalled in the first place. An honest discussion could result in some surprising revelations.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) That unexpected attack of self-doubt could be a way of warning yourself to go slow before making a career-changing decision. Take more time to do a closer study of the facts.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) A workplace problem needs your attention now, before it deteriorates to a point beyond repair. A trusted third party could be helpful in closing the

gaps that have opened.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) A recent family situation could give rise to a new problem. Keep an open mind and avoid making judgments about anyone’s motives until all the facts are in.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Rely on your always-sharp intuition to alert you to potential problems with someone’s attempt to explain away the circumstances behind a puzzling incident.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Although you still need to do some snipping off of those lingering loose ends from a past project, you can begin moving on to something else.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) With your selfconfidence levels rising, you should feel quite comfortable with agreeing to take on a possibly troublesome, but potentially well-rewarded situation.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Travel is favored, both for business and for fun. The end of the week brings news about an upcoming project that could lead toward a promised career change.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) You might feel suddenly overwhelmed by a flood of responsibilities. But if you deal with each one in its turn, you’ll soon be able to hold your head above water and move on.

BORN THIS WEEK: You have a wonderful way of offering comfort as well as guidance. You would do well in the healing arts.

© 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

TRIVIA TEST ANSWERS

1. Josiah “Jed” Bartlet. 2. Michigan. 3. 20500-0001 and 20500-0002.

4. A language developed by twins that only the two children can understand. 5. 2525.

6. San Francisco. 7. More than half the bones are in the hands and feet, 27 in each hand and 26 in each foot. 8. Wyoming. 9. Gatorade. 10. Eggplant.

April 14

The Spazmatics

The Spazmatics perform at the Belly Up. $35, 9 p.m. at Belly Up, 143 S Cedros Ave, Solana Beach.

International Film Series

International masterpiece “Three Colours: Red”/“Trois Couleurs: Rouge” (France, 1994). 7 p.m. at MiraCosta College Theater, 1 Barnard Dr, Oceanside.

Yidl Mit Akht Filent

The Consort will perform a program celebrating Jewish music, including Klezmer classics and the music of Salamone Rossi. $35, 7 p.m. at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 890 Balour Dr, Encinitas.

Doggie Bake Sale

Full-size and mini-bite people cookie boxes plus treats for dogs to support the county of San Diego, Department of Animal Services.

2 to 6 p.m. Apr. 14 at The Shoppes at Carlsbad, 2525 El Camino Real, Carlsbad.

Irish Cabaret

A cabaret with music of Ireland, England and France, with folk songs and Irish jigs. $15, 7:30 p.m. at Vista Broadway Theater, 340 E Broadway, Vista.

April 15

Carnival for Climate

Carnival for Climate will kick off Earth Week. 12 to 4 p.m. Apr. 15 at Balboa Park, 1549 El Prado, San Diego.

Author visit

Author Mary E. Pearson will come to talk about and celebrate the new edition of “Dance of Thieves.” 2 p.m. at Barnes & Noble, 1040 N El Camino Real, Encinitas.

Surfboard Swap

Looking for a new board or wanting to get rid of one (or more)? Check out the new farmer's market in Cardiff. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Apr. 15 at Cardiff Farmer's Market, 3333 Manchester Ave, Cardiff by the Sea.

Semi-Annual Trout Derby

The Escondido Kiwanis Club will be hosting its Semi-Annual Trout Derby both April 15 and April 16. $18, 5 p.m. at Dixon Lake, 1700 La Honda Dr, Escondido.

Encinitas Walking Tour

The Encinitas Historical Society is pleased to announce our next free guided outdoor Walking Tour of Historic Downtown Encinitas!. 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Apr. 15 at Encinitas Historical Society, 390 W F St, Encinitas.

CRC Annual Tea

A fundraiser to benefit our wraparound services that provide food, housing and counseling to those who are experiencing hunger, homelessness and hurt in our community. $130, 1:30 p.m. at Fairbanks Ranch Country Club, 15200 San Dieguito Rd, Rancho Santa Fe.

Sheriff at the Park Sheriff's vehicles, helicopter, games, Solana Beach fire department. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Apr. 15 at La Colonia Community Park, 715 Valley Ave, Solana Beach.

DNA Interest Group

“Understanding the Ethnic Ancestry in your DNA Test” will be the topic

presented by Richard Hill. Visit nsdcgs.org for the Zoom link. 1 to 2:30 p.m. Apr. 15 at Georgina Cole Library, 1250 Carlsbad Village Dr, Carlsbad.

Mad Strange Presents

A DJ, four musical acts and several vendors in the theater lobby. $20, 8 p.m. at Oceanside Theatre Company, 217 N Coast Hwy, Oceanside.

Home improvement fair

The vendors range in a variety of home improvement services and products especially for mobile homes. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Apr. 15 at Rancho Calevero Mobile Home Park, 3570 Calevero Ln, Oceanside.

Spring Art & Wine Walk

The Art & Wine Walk will feature local and visiting artists, live music, light bites and wine. The event is free and open to the public. 3 to 7 p.m. Apr. 15 at The Forum Carlsbad, 1923 Calle Barcelona, Carlsbad.

Pinewood Derby Event

Pinewood car races, games, face painting, music, free snacks and antique cars. 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. Apr. 15 at The Shoppes at Carlsbad, 2525 El Camino Real, Carlsbad.

April 16

Victor Wooten

Victor Wooten, a fivetime Grammy Award-win-

ning bass player and vocalist, performs with brothers Joseph, keyboards/vocals; Roy, percussion/vocals; and Regi, guitars/vocals. $38, 8 p.m. at Belly Up, 143 S Cedros Ave, Solana Beach.

A day with Rob Flax Workshop 1 (Fiddle) from 1 to 2 p.m, and Workshop 2 (Looping) from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Each workshop is $25. Concert is $20. All access pass is $70. 16 at Encinitas Library, 540 Cornish Dr, Encinitas.

Holocaust Remembrance

A video honoring and celebrating 70 years of survivors in San Diego and stories of survivors thriving and creating new lives. 1 p.m. at Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, 4126 Executive Dr, La Jolla.

North Coastal Art Gallery

Stop in monthly, as the entire gallery changes out with new art for the enjoyment of the public. Something for everyone! 3 to 5 p.m. Apr. 16 at North Coastal Art Gallery - COAL, 300 Carlsbad Village Dr, Carlsbad.

Belgian Waffle Ride

World-class cyclists are set to roll into North City as they prepare to compete in the European-inspired Belgian Waffle Ride. $250, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Apr. 16 at North City, 250 North City Dr, San Marcos.

April 17

Operation Game On Operation Game On hosts the 15-inch Cup Challenge, a Driving Range Party. 1 to 4 p.m. Apr. 17 at Fairbanks Ranch Country Club, 15200 San Dieguito Rd, Rancho Santa Fe.

April 18

Succulent demonstration Solana Beach Friends of the Library will host a free hands-on demonstration on how to plant, fertilize, water and take cuttings of suc-

culents, with Tina Zucker. 6 p.m. at Solana Beach Library, 157 Stevens Ave, Solana Beach.

April 19

Kanekoa Slack Key 'Ohana Award-winning band Kanekoa is powered by electric ukuleles and driving rhythms. $22, 8 p.m. at Belly Up, 143 S Cedros Ave, Solana Beach.

GOP Club of North County Republican Club of North County welcomes Vista Mayor John Franklin and Oceanside City Councilmember Ryan Keim. $40, 11 a.m. at El Camino Country Club, 3202 Vista Way, Oceanside.

Yungblud: World Tour Yorkshire-born singer-songwriter. $45, 7 p.m. at The Sound at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar.

April 20

The Breeders Alternative rock with The Breeders at the Belly Up. $45, 8 p.m. at Belly Up, 143 S Cedros Ave, Solana Beach.

Taste of Leucadia

Taste of Leucadia is back for its 10th year to fill your belly and quench your thirst. $55, 5 to 8 p.m. Apr. 20 at Leucadia 101 Mainstreet Association, 466 N Coast Highway 101, Encinitas.

KOCT Fundraiser

Join Oceanside's Channel for a fun afternoon of food, drinks, raffle prizes, silent auction, tours of its Mobile Truck Studio and more. $50, 12 to 1:30 p.m. Apr. 20 at Texas Roadhouse, 2735 Vista Way, Oceanside.

SD Asian Film Festival Films highlighting immigrant, queer, South Asian stories, and a four-film tribute to Hong Kong icons. Through Apr. 27 at Ultrastar Cinemas, 7510 Hazard Center Dr, San Diego.

WORLD-CLASS CYCLISTS roll through San Marcos on April 16 during the Belgian Waffle Ride. File photo

Emergency Care Emergency Care

appearance, flow and function of this important resource. Construction begins Spring 2023.