Inland Edition, January 20, 2023

Teen charged with having gun at school

By Laura Place

VISTA — An 18-yearold student at Alta Vista High School was arrested last week on multiple charges after bringing a ghost gun, ammunition and liquor to school grounds.

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that Eduardo Soto was contacted by school staff on Jan. 11 after appearing intoxicated and that he became aggressive and pushed a staff member.

After school security intervened, a handgun fell out of Soto’s jacket pocket; school officials said was the gun was unloaded. It was determined to be a ghost gun without a serial number.

Authorities also discovered ammunition, a handgun magazine and liquor in his possession.

Soto was detained by school security until deputies from the Vista Sheriff’s Station arrived at Alta Vista. The department said Soto did not make any threatening statements toward school staff.

He is being charged with possession of a weapon on school grounds, carrying a handgun while not the registered owner, possession of a ghost gun, carrying a handgun, possession of liquor on school property and battery on a school official.

Vista Unified School District Superintendent Matt Doyle released a statement regarding the incident on Jan. 12, noting that district staff completed a safety training for gun-related incidents just last week.

“I want to assure our community that no other students were engaged in this situation, and no one was harmed,” Doyle said. “I am deeply grateful to staff for their immediate action and to local law enforcement, including our School Resource Officer, for their swift response to our call for assistance.”

Soto is being held at the Vista Detention Facility with bail set at $25,000.

TICKETS PUNCHED

CSUSM task force: Rename Craven Hall

By Laura Place SAN MARCOS — A

Cal State San Marcos task force has issued a long-anticipated recommendation to rename a prominent campus building named after the late state senator William A. Craven, the university announced Friday.

The Craven Taskforce’s recommendation to rename Craven Hall will go to the CSU board of trustees for final approval at its Jan. 24-25 meeting. A full report outlining the task force’s decision process was also released Friday.

University administrators created the task force in 2021 following the CSUSM Faculty Senate’s

recommendation to rename Craven Hall and other campus sites and monuments with the former San Diego County supervisor’s name.

Task force members were charged with examining the university’s complicated relationship with Craven, who has been criticized for his inflammatory statements regarding Hispanic and undocumented persons as far back as the 90s.

After 18 months of deliberation, the majority of task force members were in favor of renaming Craven Hall, as well as contextualizing Craven’s contributions to the college in a new way on cam-

pus. CSUSM President Dr. Ellen Neufeldt stated her support for the task force recommendations and said the final decision now rests with the university system’s directing board.

“While the late Sen. Craven will always be known and appreciated for his founding role here at CSUSM, I am moving forward the task force’s well-deliberated recommendation to rename Craven Hall to the CSU board of trustees for its consideration,” Neufeldt said. “Should the Board of Trustees approve the recommended name change,

New

Elementary opens its doors

Vista OKs Safe Parking contract

First task for JFS, city: Site selection

By Steve Puterski

VISTA — The City Council last week approved a contract with Jewish Family Services for the city’s new Safe Parking Program.

The program, which is similar to one the nonprofit operates in Encinitas, will allocate $250,000 to develop the program. However, a location has not yet been determined. JFS and the city will work over the next two weeks to determine a site, according to the staff report.

The program will be conducted in two phases — the first is site selection, and the second includes all costs to operate the program. The phasedin approach will take 12 weeks before the program is open to homeless residents.

“One of the things that hit me when I did the point-in-time count last year was how many people are living in cars at the library parking lot,” Mayor John Franklin said during the Jan. 10 meeting.

“We had an unsanctioned safe parking lot, and we didn’t even know. The only question is whether or not we’re going to secure it with a security officer, have appropriate trash and sanitary facilities and most important, conduct outreach to help people living in their cars get out of their cars.”

The program calls for 10 to 25 parking spaces, site management, including case management and housing navigation, on-site restrooms, a handwashing station, fencing and lighting. It also calls for the program to be pet friendly and open seven days a week.

Vista also received a $65,000 grant from the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency, Department of Homeless Solutions and Equitable Communities for capital improvements related to the program.

According to its application, JFS began its Safe Parking Pro -

A trio of Vista Boxing Club boxers, including Uleena Torres, 13, left, recently qualified for next month’s National Silver Gloves tournament in Missouri. Story on 15 Courtesy photo

Richland

San Marcos Unified welcomes students to new campus, an update two decades in the making. 3

TURN

SAN

Silvergate San Marcos — North County’s leading boutique-style retirement community — opens its sixth and final neighborhood in its dedicated Memory Care Suites building in January 2023. To celebrate having completed major renovations this year and mark the opening of the final collection all-private memory care suites, the community has announced a year-end savings program that will lock in one full year of 2022 pricing in the new year for families seeking care for loved ones living with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease or memory loss.

A Proven Care Solution for Those Facing Memory Loss

“We understand what families face during the holidays as they return home to visit aging parents,” said David Nelson, Director of Marketing for the Silvergate San Marcos senior living community. “Often, the challenges of care become too much for families and having a proven care solution to turn to — like what we offer at Silvergate — can be a welcome relief for family members, especially when they have their own families to care for and are juggling their own obligations.”

This month, families can visit the community for a private tour, learn about how professional memory care is delivered at Silvergate and secure 2022 pricing on an all-private Memory Care Suite at Silvergate San Marcos through December 31st , representing a signifi cant savings in the new year. For a loved one who may now need more specialized care and mind-nurturing activities than families can provide at home, the community’s award-winning

care solution and innovative building design offer the peace of mind families are seeking at the holiday season and throughout the year.

Dedicated Building – Neighborhood Design Unique to Silvergate, the dedicated Memory Care Suites building was designed specifically for seniors managing the challenges associated with impaired memory. The building houses six distinct “neighborhoods,” each made up of private and shared rooms oriented towards common living and dining room spaces. The neighborhood design takes a more personalized, home-like approach to care and provides residents with an easy-to-navigate building floorplan.

Each neighborhood has an adjacent, themed Activity Room that has been renovated, giving residents a variety of destinations each day for activities and events, including an arts and craft room, a music room, a quiet reading room and a sunroom. These spaces help provide residents with an opportunity to connect with others and engage in regular activities every day such as music therapy, wellness classes, brain teasers and group conversation. These upgraded Activity Rooms come online with an all-new roster of therapeutic and inspiring activities for residents who are living with the challenges associated with dementia and memory loss.

“We’re here to support residents, their families and the community as they look for viable solutions to care for loved ones who are coming to terms with a dementia diagnosis,” said Janet Mangaya, Director of Resident Care at Silvergate San Marcos. “Our team has a firm grasp on how cognitive deficit works,

understands how to control emotions and is specially trained to provide the most effective care techniques that bring meaningful moments for those challenged by memory loss. We’ve helped countless families on their journey to understanding and coping with the effects of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.”

Proven Experience & Award-Winning Care

The seasoned team of nurses, medical technicians and caregivers deliver the highest levels of care with the greatest degree of dignity, respect, and sensitivity, according to Joan Rink-Carroll, Executive Director for the Silvergate San Marcos community.

“Our memory care services are unlike any other because we maintain an industry-leading caregiverto-resident ratio with at least one caregiver for every six residents,” said Rink-Carroll, who has assembled a highly specialized team of nurses, caregivers and staff to operate the community’s memory care unit. “We believe having more eyes on fewer residents provides increased supervision and assures the safety and security of residents.”

New-Year Savings on All-Private Memory Care Suite Ends January 31st

To take advantage of Silvergate’s new-year savings program, book a tour today with David Nelson by calling 760-744-4484 or visit SilvergateRR.com. General information about the independent living, assisted living and memory care accommodations at Silvergate can be found at SilvergateRR.com/SM. Silvergate is located at 1550 Security Place, San Marcos, CA 92078.

New Richland Elementary campus opens to students

School redesign complete after 20 years of planning

By Laura Place

SAN

MARCOS —

Richland Elementary students returned from winter break last week to a brandnew school campus, one which they had watched slowly become a reality over the past two years from their old school building next door.

The original Richland Elementary had been long due for an upgrade, having been built in the 1960s and holding the title of the district’s oldest school. That building now sits empty but is visible from the new campus, surrounded by construction fences.

“This has been nearly 20 years in the making,” said Principal Julie Barbara, recalling how she was first shown renderings for the school redesign back in 1999. “There’s lots of happy tears. People are excited. It’s what our community deserves — it’s a beautiful, beautiful new school.”

As the gates opened Monday morning, Jan. 9, students rushed into the sprawling campus to find their new classrooms, where the familiar faces of their teachers and classmates were waiting. Plenty of staff, all clad in “Richland Construction Crew”

shirts, were available to help families navigate the new school.

Eva Centeno, a mother to two kindergarteners and one third grader, said her kids couldn’t wait to get to see their new school and were anxious for winter break to be over.

“They were just stoked this morning — they woke up, and they just ran to school,” Centeno said, noting that her kids had been watching the construc-

tion of the new Richland. “We’ve been anticipating this opening throughout the weeks … and now it’s literally right before our eyes. It was exciting for all of us, and exciting for the kids.”

Crews broke ground in fall of 2021, after several stops and starts throughout the years due to lack of funding and then COVID-19 impacts.

The result is a 44-classroom campus split between

Blood donors eligible for Super Bowl trip

website, app or call 1-800733-2767.

NORTH COUNTY DONATION SITES

Carlsbad

Jan. 23: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, 5934 Priestly Dr. Jan. 24: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., North Coast Church Carlsbad Campus, 2310 Camino Vida Roble, #104

Encinitas

Jan. 22: 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., Best Buy, 1046 N. El Camino Real

Jan. 25: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1444 Lake Drive

three single-story and two two-story buildings, with state-of-the-art amenities including a makerspace, library and multipurpose room.

The designs are open and welcoming, with a focus on fostering creativity — there are several open space areas for students to sit and do hands-on learning, and glass accordion doors in the library that allow the space to expand if needed.

Nathan Wulff, facilities coordinator and construction manager for the San Marcos Unified School District, said it’s fortunate that the rebuild was locat-

ed on basically the same lot of land as the old Richland, preventing any families from having to switch schools.

“They all get to stay together, which I think is the best thing. Even though it’s disruptive, it’s the least disruptive to all the students,” Wulff said.

The old school building will be demolished this year and replaced with fields and new playground equipment that will be ready for student use in the coming school year, Wulff said.

Prior to the construction of the new school, things worked the other

way around, with that site being used as the recess area for the old school.

The separate kindergarten and pre-kindergarten area, however, has a smaller separate playground that sits in the center of the different classrooms.

The students’ excitement was matched only by the teachers.

“It’s fun to see the kids’ excitement about being in a new space. It’s fun to have all the bells and whistles of being in a new building,” said fifth grade teacher Becca McCormick. “We’ve been talking about this for a long time.”

By Steve Puterski

REGION — As blood donations and supplies hit critically low levels, January blood drives come at the right time for the American Red Cross, especially in the San Diego region.

The San Diego chapter is pushing hard to encourage residents to donate blood or platelets to meet demand, according to Dana Simmons, the regional communications manager for Southern California.

Nationwide, the Red Cross is partnering with the NFL and Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning in January for National Blood Donor Month, aiming to obtain a three-day supply.

All donors through Jan. 31 will be automatically entered to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LVII in Phoe-

nix.

“January is also a time where it’s harder to collect blood,” Simmons said. “The partnership with the NFL is something we’ve done in previous years and is a nice incentive for donors. The other incentive is when you donate; you get to leave feeling good and helping other people.”

Simmons said supplies are low due to several factors, including bad weather, canceling donation drives, holiday travel and illnesses.

The Red Cross has set up donation sites in cities across North County. A typical donation takes about one hour for blood and two hours for platelets.

Donors are encouraged to arrive hydrated, fed and well rested. Register through the Red Cross’

Jan. 31: 10:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Best Buy, 1046 N. El Camino Real

Escondido

Jan. 21: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Escondido East Valley Community Center, 2245 East Valley Parkway

Jan. 29: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Westfield North County, 272 E. Via Rancho Pkwy Jan. 31: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Escondido Police Department, 1163 N. Centre City Parkway

Fallbrook

Jan. 25: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Christ the King Lutheran Church, 1620 S Stage Coach Lane

Oceanside

Jan. 26: 8 a.m. - 7 p.m., Oceanside Masonic Center, 511 Eucalyptus

TEACHER LAURIE Sperling welcomes third-graders back to the classroom from winter break. Photo by Laura Place

THE NEW Richland Elementary campus in San Marcos opened to students on Monday, Jan. 9, as they returned from winter break. The original school building was built in the 1960s and was the oldest school in the San Marcos Unified School District. Photo by Laura Place

AMERICAN RED Cross hosts its annual January blood drive in recognition of National Blood Donor Month. Courtesy photo

OpiniOn & E dit Orial

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Crypto wallet scams: Don’t be the weak link

By Summer Stephan

As news of the collapse of crypto giant FTX unfolds, it is clear we are getting used to living in a world with cryptocurrency. But bad actors are relying on our complacency to think up new ways to scam us.

The latest trend is cryptocurrency wallet scams.

Before we get further into this scam, here is a refresher course on cryptocurrency terminology:

• Cryptocurrency, also known as crypto, is a digital currency designed to work as a medium of exchange through a computer network that is not reliant on a central authority, such as a government or bank, to uphold or maintain it.

• Bitcoin is a type of cryptocurrency widely considered the most popular.

• Crypto is typically held by an individual in a “crypto wallet.”

• Cryptocurrency relies on a technology called blockchain. It is a sort of digital ledger that records transactions made across a decentralized network of computers that are linked together via the internet.

• Cryptocurrency exchanges are services that allow you to purchase and sell crypto.

• Most exchanges require that you use a second factor of authentication to access your wallet and make trades on the exchange.

Losing access to your crypto account can happen in a few clicks if a bad actor gets access to critical information. Even though the blockchain is secure, a chain is only as secure as its weakest link.

Fraudsters use well-rehearsed methods to scam victims out of their money. One way is via an old hacking technique known as social engineering.

Social engineering is the psychological manipulation of people into perform-

ing actions or divulging confidential information.

In a new spin on this old con, scammers will send an email pretending to be related to a cryptocurrency exchange. They will either draw you in with a lure or feign an issue with your account, for which they need information to provide a refund.

In some cases, they might amp the stakes by saying if you don’t provide information right away, one of your recent trades will not go through.

These emails will often look official, including the header of the company that is being spoofed. They’ll include a fraudulent link that takes you to a site that asks for your crypto credentials, or requests other secure information.

Often, the sites will simulate the real sites and can fool an untrained eye into thinking they are on their official exchange’s website.

If you click on a bad link, the fraudster can potentially harvest your credentials or reset your password to prevent you from accessing your own account. Once they have taken over your account, they take

over your money.

Don’t be the weak link when it comes to your financial security. Follow these tips to avoid becoming the next victim:

• Be wary of emails that claim to be from cryptocurrency exchanges.

• If you look closely, you can often see mistakes or issues on the emails, which betray their true nature.

• Never click on a link for which you cannot see the actual URL. Instead, manually enter the web destination directly into your browser.

• Be wary of unsolicited/unexpected emails.

• Be suspicious of deals, offers or promotions that seem too good to be true.

• Never provide your sensitive information via email.

If you think you have been contacted by a scammer, report the contact online via the Internet Crime Complaint Center (ic3.gov). If you fall victim to any of these types of scams, don’t be embarrassed. Report the scam to your law enforcement agency.

Summer Stephan is district attorney of San Diego County.

Storms expose failures of homeless programs

The spate of heavy rainstorms that swept across California during the early weeks of January exposed a lot of problems: weak bridges, inadequate reservoir capacity, poor drainage on many city streets and helplessness in the face of inevitable mudslides, to name just a few.

But the rains revealed nothing more starkly than the failure so far of California’s many programs to help most of the homeless, a failure that exposed how useless has been the bulk of the $11 billion-plus allocated for homeless aid over the last year.

One video, shot in the stormy early morning hours of Jan. 5, says a lot about this (You can see it on YouTube: https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=xBuOZExJZ8Y).

The tape shows homeless individuals huddled in sleeping bags with water lapping at them. It shows people huddled under soaked blankets and in barely covered alcoves leading to building entrances.

Most of all, it shows that in one city with a budget of tens of millions for “homeless services,” no one served the unhoused when they needed it most. The official death toll among California’s more than 172,000 homeless was just two, both felled by branches the storm knocked off trees and into their tents.

No one knows how many more might perish from aftereffects of extreme exposure to cold and wet. Many Californians write off the state’s homeless as some kind of human detritus because many are mentally ill or suffer post-traumatic stress disorder and are often not very functional. No matter, no one deserves the misery inflicted on the homeless this winter.

Some of California’s most prominent and powerful politicians often say they recognize this. New Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, whose city contains more than 56,000 homeless, declared a state of emergency over their situation on her first day in office last month.

She wants to humanely eliminate some tent cities, but so far has moved only a few dozen persons indoors.

Gov. Gavin Newsom put more than $10 billion for homeless services into the current state budget and billions more into his next planned budget.

California has more homeless today than when the 2022-23 budget passed, and far fewer shelter beds than before the coronavirus pandemic.

One thing you can safely bet: No executive heading any of the more

california focus tom elias

Jan. 5.

One state report indicates this year’s $10 billion allocation is a pittance beside what it will cost to house all the currently homeless. That assessment held it will take more than 30 times as much, or $300 billion

This sum could house many thousands, but there is no sign even that much money can end the problem. At today’s reported average cost of $830,000plus per one-bedroom apartment, it would pay for less than 3,600 new one-bedroom units, far from enough to permanently shelter even most of today’s homeless.

Yet, use of hotels and motels bought up by state and local governments as both temporary and permanent quarters for the unhoused did not solve the problem.

Here’s an idea not yet in the anti-homelessness portfolio: Use part of the huge government allocations to buy or lease some of the hundreds of millions of square feet of vacant office and commercial space that now dogs many California property owners, the result of changes in working conditions for white collar workers.

Studies indicate about one-third of them will likely operate permanently from their homes.

So far, California has seen only about 11,000 conversions to residential units permitted out of that vast space, makeovers state law now says can go forward without zoning changes. How about using some of the billions allocated to homelessness for this? It would allow far more units and take much less time than new construction.

Just as it’s time for a complete rethink of the overall housing crisis, where state officials announce new and different need estimates every few months, it’s also time for this kind of fresh thinking about housing the homeless.

For while no one knows when or where the next big chain of storms may strike hardest, it’s impossible to overstate the misery they will cause if California continues hosting as many unhoused individuals as it now does.

Zoe Morris • Ava DeAngelis

than 50 state and local government programs for which big money is ticketed slept in the rain

Sculpture honors veteran, highlights work of VetArt project

Artwork depicting class participant presented to widow

By Laura Place

VISTA — Around the start of COVID-19, Navy veteran Vincent Coniglio became passionate about working with sculpture, finding healing, community and guidance from a certain instructor after connecting with the Veterans Art Project in Vista.

When Coniglio passed away in January 2022, leaving unfinished the bronze-casted head he had spent months perfecting, instructor Reginald Green created a custom portrait of Coniglio in his unique sculpture style to give to his wife.

On Tuesday, Jan. 10, after months of work, Green presented the finished piece to Karen Coniglio at the Veterans Art Project School of Ceramics and Glass in Vista.

Green, a Navy veteran whose variety of works includes clay sculptures and masks of historical African and Egyptian figures, only sometimes creates portraits of folks he knows in real life. However, he chose to make an exception in honor of the Veterans Art Project participant, who he knew as “Vinnie.”

“This is my first face portrait of somebody, but I

said, ‘you know what, if I do anyone a piece, it’s gonna be him because he spent so much time on his [own art],’ Green told Karen Coniglio. “I really wanted him to have it and you to have it.”

Karen was deeply touched by the result — a relief sculpture of her late husband’s kind, smiling face, set against a deep blue background in a gold wooden frame. Images of sea-

shells and fish are set in an ocean scene below, alluding to his love of fishing.

The piece even included glasses, similar to the ones Coniglio always wore, that were removable and attached via a small magnet.

“It’s gorgeous. I’m so thrilled to have this,” Karen said.

To Veterans Art Project executive director Steve Dilley, this interaction is a

unique example of how the organization fosters support for veterans and their “ecosystem” — their spouses, families, caregivers, and community.

“These are the things that are happening organically, and I love to see them happening,” Dilley said.

Veterans Art Project, also known as VetArt, operates out of a 5,000-squarefoot studio space in Vista,

which allows veterans to engage in art trades, including pottery, woodworking, glass casting, mosaics, ceramics, pottery and bronze casting.

The organization used to also offer metal casting lessons to veterans at its foundry in Fallbrook, a space that had to be shut down due to a lack of funding. Instead, they have relied on a mix of federal

and state grants from the National Endowment of the Arts: Creative Force, California Arts Council, Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, Aspire Center and Veterans Museum of San Diego.

Funding specifically from the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, or MHSOAC, has allowed VetArt to offer an “innovation project for veterans mental health and wellness through pop-up art cafes,” Dilley said.

Green started as a volunteer at VetArt in 2020. After a year and a half of dedicated work, he was hired as an instructor, giving him a chance to help other veterans discover the therapeutic benefits of art.

“People that are suffering from traumatic pain, depression, or whatever, they need an outlet. It’s free for veterans and their families — why not come out and try?”

His work was recently shown at the Yuma Art Show in Yuma, Ariz., and Pop Smoke, a show for veteran artists at the Oceanside Museum of Art alongside other VetArt participants. Green has also done outreach and art classes through Veterans Affairs and the Aspire Center.

For more information about VetArt, their funding and their classes, visit www.vetart.org.

GREEN. CLEAN. CONNECTED.

Clean Energy Alliance (CEA) will become the new default power provider for the cities of Escondido and San Marcos, beginning April 1, 2023, joining founding members: Carlsbad, Del Mar and Solana Beach. CEA follows a community choice energy model that allows local governments to purchase power to meet their community’s electricity needs.

As an alternative to San Diego Gas & Electric for residents and businesses, CEA offers competitive rates and clean energy options while reinvesting revenues into projects and programs that benefit members’ communities.

POWERFUL

REGINALD GREEN, a Navy veteran and art instructor at the Veterans Art Project in Vista, presents a handmade sculpture depicting a program participant, Vincent Coniglio, to his widow, Karen Coniglio, last week. Photo by Laura Place

PALA EXPRESS

Ride the new Pala Casino Express luxury roundtrip motorcoach from various locations throughout San Diego County. Service began Jan. 16 and is for 21 and older passengers only. The cost is $20 and Players Club members receive up to $60 in free slot play. For reservations / pick-up details, visit PalaCasinoExpress.com or call (800) 2543423.

TOP STUDENTS

• Bianca Plowman of Carlsbad presented her research “How Deep Was the Water? — Stream Assessment of Crab Creek” at Radford University’s Winter Creative Activities and Research Days on Nov. 29.

• Midway University announced Angel Torres from Oceanside was named to its dean’s list for the 2022 fall semester.

• Ryan Sweeney of Carmel Valley, a graduate of Canyon Crest Academy majoring in music theater, was named to the dean’s list for the fall 2022 semester at Baldwin Wallace University.

• Arran Fahey of Oceanside was named to the president’s list for the fall 2022 semester at Mount St. Mary’s University.

• Mara Davis of Oceanside earned dean’s list honors for the fall 2022 semester at Mount St. Mary’s University.

• Joshua Arm of Carlsbad was named to the dean’s list at Olivet Nazarene University for the fall 2022 semester.

• Emma Goodwin, of Oceanside was named to Pennsylvania Western University dean’s list for the 2022 fall semester.

• Abriana Schwartz of San Marcos was named to the Hiram College dean’s list for the fall 2022 semester.

• Cade Windham of Oceanside was named to the Knox College dean’s list for the 2022 fall term.

• Clark Caspersen and Heidi Shen of San Diego and Carver Glomb of Encinitas made the dean’s list at Lehigh University in fall 2022.

• Lindsey Page of San Marcos earned a place on the Spokane Community College honor roll for fall quarter 2022.

• Phoebe Harris of Encinitas, majoring in communication journalism, was named to Bradley University’s fall 2022 dean’s list.

FUTURE PHYSICIAN

Samara Diggs, a sophomore at The Grauer School in Encinitas, is a delegate to the Congress of Future Medical Leaders to be held in June at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Diggs will join students from across the country and hear Nobel Laureates and National Medal of Science recipients discuss leading medical research; be given advice from Ivy League and top medical school deans on what to expect in medical school and learn about cutting-edge advances and the future in medicine and medical technology.

BREAKING GROUND

As Supervisor Nora Vargas took over as chair and Supervisor Lawson-Remer assumed the role of vice-chair of the County Board of Supervisors Jan. 10, they broke historic barriers to representation. Their agenda includes major regional items on climate change, environmental justice, homelessness, affordable housing, behavioral health, health equity, and growing our local green tech economy.

BEST OF BEST

The Best of North County program nominations run through Feb. 15. Nominate the businesses that you think make this area unique (including your own). Clients, customers and fans can vote Feb. 22 through March 8. The results will be announced June 14 via The Coast New Group newspaper and online website. Visit https:// thebestofnorthcounty.com/.

NEW TRUSTEES

Three new trustees were sworn into the Palomar Community College

ENDANGERED ORANGUTAN TURNS 1

small talk jean gillette

Rain, rain, go away

When it rains, you can spot the native California children in any group. They’re the ones watching in shock and awe.

Any kids in the class from back east or another country will shrug nonchalantly as the rain pelts down, but the natives are bouncing off the walls.

It’s been so rare to experience weather in these parts for the past decade or more, that the appearance of that strange wet stuff coming down and those dark, stormy skies, are worse than a sugar high.

District. Following the Nov. 8 general election, Jacqueline Kaiser, Judy Patacsil and Michelle Rains join Christian Garcia, and Roberto Rodriguez joined the Palomar College Governing Board.

UNDEFEATED

Halfway through the 2022-23 season, the undefeated women’s basketball team at Palomar College has been ranked No. 1 in the state by the Coaches Association, setting them up for a strong drive toward the state tournament next month.

NEW CHIEF OF STAFF

The physicians at Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas recently elected anesthesiologist Randall Goskowicz, M.D., as the new chief of staff of the 187-bed campus. Goskowicz took over as head of the 921-member medical team on Jan. 1. During his twoyear term, Goskowicz will serve as medical staff liaison to Scripps Encinitas’

administrative staff and Scripps Health’s board of trustees.

DIVISION 4 FILLED

Vallecitos Water District Board of Directors selected Carlsbad resident Erik A. Groset to fill its vacant Division 4 Board seat. He will represent parts of San Marcos, Carlsbad, and portions of the Lake San Marcos community and assist in setting District water and sewer direction through Nov. 5, 2024. Groset is a La Costa resident in Vallecitos’ Division 4. As a local startup entrepreneur and the CEO/ Chairman of his own board, he is looking to give back to the community by serving on the Vallecitos board of directors.

TOP GOLFERS

Defending PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas, former U.S. Open and Farmers Insurance Open champion Justin Rose, and five-time PGA TOUR winner Rickie Fowl-

er have committed to the 2023 Farmers Insurance Open, the Century Club of San Diego announced Jan. 10.

MISSION FED GRANT

Mission Fed Credit Union received $25,000 in grant funding from the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco‘s 2022 Access to Housing and Economic Assistance for Development (AHEAD) Program. Locally, the grant was awarded to The (Urban Corps) to provide direct financial assistance to its Corps members.

EARLY CHILDHOOD HELP

The San Diego Foundation Early Childhood Initiative partnership and the Dr. Seuss Foundation are committing $1 million in total funding for the 2023 Early Childhood Initiative Equitable Opportunities Grant, including $500,000 in funding from the SDF Early Childhood Initiative and $500,000 of funding from the Dr. Seuss Foundation.

Nominate for Vista Hall of Fame

By Staff

VISTA — Nominations are open for the Vista Hall of Fame, sponsored by the Vista Historical Society. The hall celebrates Vista’s history by highlighting individual accomplishments in support of Vista.

A minimum of two members are elected each year. One of these members will be from the regular division and one from the early residents division.

The regular division nominee can be living or deceased and must meet the first three criteria below.

The early residents division nominee must also meet the first three criteria and also the fourth criteria that he or she must have been dead for 20 years or more.

The reason for different

divisions is to ensure early residents who made significant contributions to Vista are remembered.

The criteria:

1. Nominees must have lived in Vista at least 20 years.

2. Nominees must have made significant contributions to the betterment of the community. The accomplishments must be verified to the society’s satisfaction.

3. Married couples who both meet the criteria may be nominated together as one nominee.

4. The early resident nominee must have died in 2003 or prior to that year.

The deadline for nominations is Feb. 22, 2023. Those who are selected will be honored during a ceremony at the Vista Historical So-

ciety annual meeting. The annual meeting will be held on a date to be determined.

The Vista Historical Society board of directors will appoint a committee of former Hall of Fame inductees and community representatives to review nominations received from the public.

Existing Hall of Fame members and their biographies can be found on the Vista Historical Society website and Facebook page.

Nominations can be made by calling (760) 6300444, by mail at P.O. Box 1032, Vista, CA 92085-1032 or by email at vistahistorical@gmail.com.

Details of the nominee’s service, a photo and other supportive information must be included for consideration.

They get so excited over this odd twist of environment; they’d really rather run outside and feel it firsthand. They’d rather jump into those puddles. They might even get to use a raincoat and umbrella, which are also rare creatures in our world.

This past week or two or three has had the kindergarteners in serious distraction mode. The teachers are rolling their eyes. Not only is there water everywhere but the entire schedule changes, with indoor lunch and recess.

The kids are already abuzz, so adding wild wind and downpours just kicks the lid off. The teachers are a bit weary, and nasty weather will be the icing on the tired cake.

I can’t be too hard on the little guys, though. When it rains around here, even I am fascinated. When it rains hard and long and loudly, I, too, want to run outside (or at least look out the door) to watch it.

It’s the price of living in near-paradise. Unlike our northern neighbors, it is unlikely we’ll ever be nonchalant about rain or wind or super high tides that slosh across the road.

This ongoing set of storms, however, has me very close to being up to here with the wet and mud. It was fun, it was interesting, it was good for the drought. It can go away now, thanks so much.

Jean Gillette is a freelance writer eager for dry skies and dry ground. Contact her at jean@coastnewsgroup.com.

Kaja, a critically endangered Sumatran orangutan infant, turned 1 this month at the San Diego Zoo, and his wildlife team threw him and his mother, Indah, a celebration to mark the occasion. This festive moment is significant, considering the life-and-death scare following Kaja’s birth last year. Indah experienced major health complications that left her hospitalized after giving birth, and wildlife care specialists jumped in to care for Kaja and help nurture him during the critical early weeks of his life. Courtesy photo

San Marcos HS grads ID’d as victims of double fatal shooting

By Laura Place

SAN

MARCOS

—

A second victim of this month’s shooting in San Marcos has died after three days in the hospital and the identities of both victims were confirmed last week by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.

Nicholas Tiefer, 20, of Vista was one of two victims discovered on Jan. 4 with gunshot wounds along Borden Road near Paloma Elementary. He was transported to the hospital in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the neck.

The Sheriff’s Department confirmed that he was pronounced dead on Jan. 7.

Tiefer’s death follows that of 19-year-old Jesus Garcia of San Marcos, who was pronounced dead on the day of the shooting after suffering multiple gunshot wounds to the chest.

Tiefer was found in the passenger seat of a vehicle at the scene, while Garcia was found nearby on the ground. Sheriff’s officials said the motivation and circumstances of the crime are still under investigation.

The San Marcos Unified School District has

confirmed that both Tiefer and Garcia were graduates of San Marcos High School.

A GoFundMe created by Tiefer’s family to help cover medical and funeral costs states that he was “a son, little brother, big brother, an all-star high school football player, a friend to everyone, and loved by his community.”

Garcia, whose family has also set up a GoFundMe, was described as “a loving son, brother, uncle, and friend. Even at the young

age of 19, he was the kind of person who would help others. If you needed him to pick you up from the airport or even a city an hour away he would be there.”

His family stated that he was also a huge soccer fan who played on the San Marcos United Soccer and San Marcos Revolution Soccer teams, as well as the San Marcos High School volleyball team.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Homi-

cide Unit at 858-285-6330 during business hours or 858-565-5200 after hours. Individuals can also contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 888-580-8477.

SAN MARCOS STABBING VICTIM, 60, DIES

SAN MARCOS — A 60-year-old man who was stabbed this month in San Marcos died of his injuries, authorities reported last week.

Deputies responding to a report of an assault about 6 p.m. Jan. 7 found Martin Mendoza of San Marcos gravely wounded in a parking lot in the 200 block of West San Marcos Boulevard, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.

Paramedics took Mendoza to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries two days later, Lt. Chris Steffen said.

Based on witness statements, deputies arrested the suspected assailant, 23-year-old Dahlia Silvia Perez, near the scene of the stabbing. She was booked into Las Colinas women’s jail in Santee late that evening on suspicion of attempted murder.

Following Mendoza’s death, that charged was upgraded to a count of first-degree murder.

The reason for deadly assault remains unclear.

“The relationship between Mendoza and Perez is still unknown,” Steffen said Jan. 13. “The motivation and circumstances are under investigation.”

— City News Service

VICTIM OF DEADLY VISTA SHOOTING ID’D

VISTA — Authorities publicly identified a man found shot to death this month in Vista.

Patrol personnel responding to a report of a man lying alongside the

roadway in the 1900 block of West Vista Way shortly after midnight Thursday, Jan. 5, discovered the body of Oscar Rodriguez, 39, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.

“Witnesses in the area reported hearing what sounded like fireworks prior to deputies arriving,’’ Lt. Chris Steffen said.

An autopsy determined that Rodriguez had been fatally shot. The shooter or shooters remain unidentified, according to Steffen.

“The motivation and circumstances are still under investigation,’’ the lieutenant said Jan. 6.

— City News Service

-------- job opportunity -------REPORTER WANTED

--- North County San Diego ---

DESCRIPTION:

The Coast News Group, publishers of The Coast News and Inland Edition, is looking for a part-time reporter with the experience to produce a wide range of stories in North County San Diego with a focus primarily on city government, human-interest features, politics and courts.

A bachelor’s degree in journalism or a related eld AND at least one year of newsroom experience is preferred. On a weekly basis, reporters are expected to attend city council and school board meetings, submit clean copy under deadline, take engaging photos (with captions) of local of cials, geographic locations and events, and share original content on The Coast News social media platforms.

The position is part-time to full-time based on experience. Full-time bene ts include sick time, health insurance and paid vacation days. Additional advertorial writing opportunities are also available to earn extra income.

This is not an easy job and requires strong writing and research capabilities, a sense of urgency and the ability to develop reliable, long-term sources.

Escondido OKs condo project along North Iris

By Samantha Nelson ESCONDIDO

— In the next few years, North Iris Lane will become home to a 102-unit condominium development.

The North Iris Condominiums will take over 7.7 acres, encompassing five parcels, along North Iris Lane at Robin Hill Lane, a private dirt road that connects several residents in the semi-rural area to Centre City Parkway. The city annexed the parcels from San Diego County in 2020.

The City Council approved a zoning change that would allow up to 18 dwelling units per acre. The proposed project would have 14.6 dwelling units per acre.

The condos will include two- to four-bedroom units built in groups of four to six homes across 21 buildings. The majority of the project is two stories tall, but there

some three-story sections are included closer to the middle of the development. The condominiums will be for sale.

The plan includes 230 parking spaces with dedicated two-car garages and 27 guest parking spaces.

The Planning Commission approved the project and its environmental impact report in December. According to staff, all of the mitigation measures are adequate, the project won’t conflict with adjacent land uses and the space is suitable for such a project.

Still, nearby residents are concerned about the traffic issues the project could exacerbate.

Audrey Brouwer, who lives along North Iris Lane, requested that another traffic study be conducted as the developer’s traffic analysis took place during the pan-

demic, a time when more people were at home rather than commuting to work or school.

She also noted that North Iris is used as a primary cut-through road from the neighborhoods and new developments near Rincon Middle School to Centre City Parkway to the freeways.

“If we add more cars from this development, we’re going to add traffic,” Brouwer said.

Brouwer was also concerned about the safety of senior citizens exiting the back gate of Meadowbrook Village Christian Retirement Community, which sits almost directly across the street from the new development.

Residents also questioned the future use of Robin Hill Lane by the condo residents and whether it would be paved. The de-

veloper intends to pave the portion of Robin Hill Lane as far as the property line goes with plans to have the community’s HOA maintain the road.

Other comments supported the project as well as past work from the developer, Hallmark Communities, Inc.

Jim Simmons, an Escondido resident and land use consultant who has worked with Hallmark in the past, praised the developer for its work.

“They build a really good product and they do a good job,” Simmons said. “This project meets or exceeds all requirements. … As a resident and consultant, this is one of the best projects we’ve seen and we’d like you to approve it.”

The City Council unanimously approved the North Iris Condominiums.

To apply, send resume and published writing samples to jobs@coastnewsgroup.com.

The Coast News is a weekly community newspaper that covers the North County coastal communities of Carlsbad, Del Mar, Encinitas, Oceanside and Solana Beach. The Inland Edition is a bi-monthly publication that covers the communities of Vista, San Marcos and Escondido.

CONTACT: Jordan Ingram Managing Editor

COAST NEWS

315 S Coast Hwy 101 Encinitas, CA 92024

Of

760-704-8698

SAN MARCOS High School graduates Jesus Garcia, 19, left, and Nicholas Tiefer, 20, were killed in a Jan. 4 shooting near Palomar College. Courtesy photos

A 102-UNIT condominium is planned for 7.7 acres along North Iris Lane in Escondido. Courtesy photo

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North County ratepayers get heated as their SDG&E payments skyrocket

how to save money these winter months, including a variety of assistance programs, including bill discounts, debt relief, payment plans and energy efficiency programs.

Some tips to reduce costs include:

— Using caulk and weather-strip around drafty doors and windows, using a door sweep, door sock or towel at the bottom of doors with a gap;

— Checking furnace filters once a month and replacing them regularly. A dirty air filter can increase your energy costs and cause problems with your equip-

REGION — In the wake of San Diego Gas & Electric’s recent warning that natural gas prices are causing an increase in ratepayer bills, North County residents aired their grievances on social media, many expressing disbelief and outrage over the surging rates.

Laurie Grant, a 70-yearold Vista resident, questioned whether the hike was legal.

“I am horrified that SDG&E has raised its rate 114% this year,” Grant wrote on Nextdoor. “My heating bill was over $350! I am 70 years old, sitting here in my coat, a blanket and ski cap on to try to reduce it for the next bill. This is outrageous, I don’t even know how it can be legal. And if it is, what is wrong with our government that allows it?

“I propose that we start a boycott and not pay the current bill. I believe that you can be delinquent for three months before they can turn your power off.”

New gas and electric rates went into effect Jan. 1. According to SDG&E, the cost per unit of natural gas — known as a therm — more than doubled over the past year, increasing from $2.36 per therm in January 2022 to $5.11 per therm in January 2023.

Oceanside resident John Jackson chided the utility for failing to properly prepare for the inevitable increase in energy demand in December and January.

“What’s most mind-boggling is that they knew demand would go up in the cooler months and could have stocked up in advance,” Jackson wrote. “The excuse that their costs went up because there was a ‘shortage’ caused by the storms in the east is just pure BS. The underlying cost to produce natural gas has not changed other than that caused by wage increases.

“Bottom line is that they failed to plan properly... There should have been tons of supply built up now in storage, ready to support the demands of the winter months... Somebody goofed big time.”

Bill Hayden of Vista suggested the possibility of launching a congressional

investigation into SDG&E’s billing procedures.

“SDGE does not set the rates, the supplier did,” Hayden wrote. “They put the cost of service on top of the cost and bill you. Like I said before, they have to pass the exact price that they pay onto you. Contact the people in Congress to look into this.”

Last December, CBS8 reported that San Diegans paid higher electricity rates than any other city nationwide.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, San Diegans paid an average of 36.5 cents per kilowatt-hour in December 2021.

“Energy costs are unaffordable, the affordability concept really needs to be monitored and the utilities need to be held accountable by The California Public Utilities Commission,” Edward Lopez, of the consumer watchdog group UCAN, recently told Fox5 News.

The reasons for the spike in natural gas prices are varied, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, including widespread, below-normal temperatures; high natural gas consumption; reduced natural gas flows; pipeline constraints, including maintenance in West Texas; and low natural gas storage levels in the Pacific region.

According to the utility, more than 90% of the increase in the overall gas rate is driven by the market price for gas — the amount SDG&E pays suppliers to buy the gas on behalf of its customers.

SDG&E leaders said they do not charge any markup for natural gas — if the utility pays $1 for natural gas in the commodity market, that’s what customers pay. SDG&E began alerting customers about rising gas prices and anticipated rate changes in October so they could be better prepared.

The utility offered some suggestions for relief and how to save money these winter months, including a variety of assistance programs, including bill discounts, debt relief, payment plans and energy efficiency programs.

The utility offered some suggestions for relief and

— Using warm water instead of hot water to cut a washing machine’s energy use in half; using cold water will save even more; and

— Lowering the thermostat water heaters to 120 degrees, if possible.

Little help?

SDG&E has announced it was making $1 million in customer assistance funding available for those experiencing financial hardship.

The assistance will be disbursed through the Neighbor-to-Neighbor program, which provides up to $300 in one-time grants to help offset past-due bills for SDG&E customers who need help paying bills and aren’t eligible for the federally funded Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

Neighbor-to-Neighbor is entirely funded by shareholder dollars, not ratepayer dollars, according to the utility.

“While SDG&E doesn’t control the natural gas market, we feel it’s very important for us as a company to dedicate shareholder dollars to help our customers who are struggling to absorb significant increases in winter energy bills due to extreme commodity market conditions in the West,’’ SDG&E CEO Caroline Winn said in a statement.

SDG&E customers who reside in the company’s service territory in San Diego can apply for Neighbor-to-Neighbor if they do not qualify for LIHEAP funding, and if they certify they are experiencing serious illness, temporary unemployment, disability or unusual hardship.

To apply, customers should call 2-1-1 San Diego, which will direct them to community-based organizations collaborating with SDG&E on the N2N program. SDG&E validates customer eligibility and applies Neighbor-to-Neighbor funds as credits to customers’ accounts to offset overdue bills.

The Neighbor-to-Neighbor program is intended to provide up to $300 per household in assistance for qualifying customers and up to $400 for qualifying customers enrolled in the Medical Baseline program.

Customers can visit sdge.com/MyEnergy for bill-saving and energy management resources.

NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN

From staff and wire reports

MANY LOCAL ratepayers are upset over soaring energy bills this month, especially since SDG&E already charges the highest electricity rates in the continental U.S. Courtesy photo

Taste of Wine team selects Top 10 wines of 2022

taste of wine

If I had one theme for the food and beverage industry for 2022, it would be “Returning to Normal.” And for Frank and me, “normal” meant our return to wine dinners, winery tours, and our review of hundreds of wines throughout the year.

A highlight from 2022 was our multi-day Paso Robles media tour in early June. A few wines we tried made my Top 5 below. After those, Frank will share his four reds, including a Brunello and a chardonnay.

RICO’S PICKS

Gianni Buonomo Blaufrankisch, Ocean Beach, Calif. (2018, $43): Keith Rolle, Gianni Buonomo Proprietor, Winemaker, provided a perfect example of 2018’s potential with his 2018 Blaufrankisch (Lemberger). Rolle sourced hand-harvested fruit from Yakima, Washington’s Rattlesnake Hills American Viticultural Area, to create a platinum-winning masterpiece at the 2022 Great American International Wine Competition.

Twenty-four months each in neutral French oak and bottle aging made a medium body palate with ripe cranberry, cherry, and acidity. Gbvintners.com.

JC Boisset Passion Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley (2018, $95) : The JCB's cabernet blend, rounded out with malbec and merlot, is another 2018 wine on my list. I found this one at Costco, well below the retail price, and figured, why not?

I bought two bottles and wished that I had bought two cases.

The garnet-purple, highly-rated wine (95

points by Robert Parker) is a harmonious blend with an aromatic nose and palate with blackberry, blueberry, and hints of leather on the finish. Jcbcollection.com.

Niner Fog Catcher, Paso Robles (2017, $125): Fog Catcher is Niner’s flagship blend, cabernet sauvignon (44%), malbec (26%), petit verdot (20%), and cabernet franc (10%), made from their Heart Hill original block Bordeaux fruit.

Each estate block is harvested and barrel-aged independently for a year before winemaker Patrick Muran selects the best to create the final blend, which is further aged to meld the flavors together.

The palate had blackberry, plum, and dark fruit with vanilla and baking spice on the nose. During our visit and over 2022, I had several opportunities to try the 2017. Each time

was impressive. Ninerwine. com.

Patrimony Estate Cabernet Franc, Paso Robles, (2019, $300): At $300, I hesitated to include master winemaker Daniel Daou’s Patrimony in my lineup, as it is in a class by itself.

However, this was easily the most impressive wine I had this year. The purple opaque phenolics registered at 300 to 500 parts per million (ppm) vs. traditional Bordeaux at 130 to 200 ppm.

The 30-month aging in custom French Bois rose oak created velvet tannins, minerality, the nose of black cherry and violets, and a long-lasting palate of cherry and blackberry earned 99 points from Robert Parker and a perfect 100-points on tasting panel scores.

“One hundred-point wine comes from 100-point

vineyards,” Daou said during our tour. Patrimonyestate.com.

Penfolds Bin 28 Shiraz South Australia (2019, $40): Bin 28 is a multi-region, multi-vineyard Shiraz blend that has been made down under since 1959. Most other parts of the world refer to Shiraz as Syrah. However, the warm Southern Australian climate produced ripe, robust flavors. Bin 28 is aged in American oak for 12 months to create a nose with hints of vanilla and caramel. The palate has dark berried fruit with chewy tannins and a touch of chocolate. Penfolds.com.

FRANK’S PICKS

Rico and I have discovered the best wines to sip and savor, and we hope you’ll enjoy them as much as we did. So let’s get to my four reds and a dreamy white to start things off.

Amici Chardonnay Sonoma Coast (2020, $30): If you’re Italian or an Italian wannabe, you know that Amici means friends. Amici's promise: “A wine created by friends, for friends.”

Amici’s passion, driven by owner Bob Shepard and winemaker Anthony Biagi, is a wine that works to ensure every bottle delivers on that promise. Amicicellars.com.

Fattoria dei Barbi Brunello Montalcino Tuscany Italy (2016, $80): Fattoria Barbi is a historic estate located in the hills of Montalcino, a Tuscan town made famous by the production of Brunello wine.

Brunello is an elite Sangiovese, carefully produced red wine aged for three years with another year in a bottle. The public can now enjoy the 2016 vintage. Barbi’s reserve Brunello was recently

named No. 2 in the world by Wine Spectator.

The star players in Italy know their wines. When I was in Tuscany some years ago, Barbi’s parking lot was overflowing with some 40 Ferraris, members of the Tuscany Ferrari club, tasting the latest single-vineyard Barbi Brunello from ultra-large aging casks. Visit fattoriadeibarbi.it/en.

Groth Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley (2015, $70): Groth is one of the premium cabernet sauvignon growers and producers in the valley, not far from the famed To Kalon vineyard, founded by Robert Mondavi.

Groth began its wine journey in 1982 and was the first in the U.S. to produce a 100-point wine from its deep roots in Oakville. Its mission-style architecture draws guests from all over the world. Grothwines. com.

Marshall Stuart Petite Sirah Temecula (2016, $42): Marshall Stuart’s passion for winemaking was cultivated with his study of viticulture at U.C. Davis.

Back in his hometown of Temecula, he worked through some wineries and developed its first Zinfandel program before starting his winery in Temecula. Stuart is most proud of his 2016 Petite Sirah.

This wine is in charge with its deep purple flavors of black pepper, black and blueberry and spices. Marshallstuartwines.com.

Vennstone Pinot Noir Monterey, Sonoma, Santa Barbara (2021, $19.99): Joe Wagner first made Meiomi Pinot, then made a fortune. Vennstone may be his next significant Pinot creation, with a diverse character collected from 3 great coastal wine countries. Its intensity begins with blackberry and cherry, building to a full crescendo of flavor. Beautiful brown, red and gold label adorns the bottle. Visit totalwine.com.

frank mangio & rico cassoni

PATRIMONY ESTATE Cabernet Franc from master winemaker Daniel Daou is in a class by itself. Courtesy photo

Pacific Coast Spirits keeps ascending the ranks

Tell me about it!

lick the plate

As the host of Lick the Plate, I occasionally hear about new chefs hired or national accolades earned by an establishment that I’ve already covered that is worth providing an update.

Such is the case with Pacific Coast Spirits in Oceanside, whose recent hiring of executive chef Louis Laterza and its award-winning American single malt whiskey was among some of the best in the country.

I recently sat down with Pacific Coast Spirits founder and head distiller Nicholas Hammond to get the whole story. I was also joined by chef Louis Laterza and events and marketing manager Lucia Schaldenko on the radio version of Lick the Plate, which can be heard at www. lick-the-plate.com.

Lick the Plate: Pacific Coast Spirits has been winning awards for your spirits for a while now, but a recent one was quite impressive.

Nick Hammond: Since our inception, we have set out to make unique, handcrafted spirits without compromise. We enter our spirits into competitions to get feedback and create baselines for us to learn and build upon. We have been making spirits for eight years and are hitting our stride in our craft.

In the last two years, we have gained some fantastic accolades for our aged whiskeys, which confirms we are on the right path, but this last year really solidified this for us. Our American Single Malts and Bourbons are showing well, gaining Double Golds, Golds and Best in Category in multiple competitions.

Recently, two of our whiskeys gained high praise from one of our nation’s most respected palates, Fred Minnick. Each year he releases a list of his Top 100 American Whiskeys, and this year our American Single Malt ranked in his top 25 at #11 as one of only three Single Malts, and our Blue Corn Whiskey made the list as the only corn whiskey in the top 100.

For us, this is a high achievement; it is the notion that we can stand amongst the greats. When

you look at the list, you’ll find 17-year-old bourbons, bottles costing four figures, and world-renowned names and legends such as George

T Stagg, William LaRue Weller, and Old Fitzgerald. It is recognition that confirms our craft. We are excited about the future and

the growth ahead of us.

LTP: You also recently brought some serious culinary talent to run your kitchen with Louis Later-

za. Could you tell me about what his addition brings to PCS and a bit about his impressive culinary resume?

NH: When someone visits Pacific Coast Spirits, we want the experience to be well-rounded and encompassing. We have a great opportunity to enjoy the synergy between cuisine and libations. It is very important that we have culinary talent leading that experience.

Chef Louis Laterza understands that. Chef joined the team this last year and is only getting started. He has an impressive culinary resume, as he has worked with and alongside many of San Diego’s greatest chefs. His passion and innovation truly shine through.

LTP: I noticed several menu items had a good smoky flavor to them. Is the smoking element a new enhancement as well?

NH: I’m glad you noticed this; yes, the smoked element is a new enhancement to our menu. It’s important to note that we are not converting our whole offering to a smoked cuisine, but as you noted, it is enhancing a few of our menu items.

This is one of our first

david boylan

OCEANSIDE DISTILLERY Pacific Coast Spirits continues to create award-winning spirits. The distillery’s American Single Malt was ranked the 11th best whiskey in the country on Fred Minnick’s Top 100 American Whiskey list. Courtesy photo/ Pacific Coast Spirits TURN

Annie’s Canyon in Solana Beach is a surprise, if not a secret

hit the road

Our quest for a bit of local adventure during the holidays took us to Annie’s Canyon Trail.

When I first learned about this amazing little piece of Solana Beach real estate, I thought I’d discovered a best-kept secret. When we arrived at about 10 a.m. on a Thursday, however, the word clearly had gotten out.

The side streets were lined with cars, clumps of people were walking into and out of the canyon, and more than one foreign language could be heard. I postulated that these were spoken mostly by people who got stuck in San Diego because of Southwest Airlines’ holiday meltdown. To that I say: You could’ve done a whole lot worse.

Heading in, our clump included my husband; brother-in-law, Ross; 7-year-old Landon; and 10-year-old Dakota, all eager to see this wonder of Mother Nature and have some fun too.

For the uninitiated, Annie’s Canyon is an almost-magical, sandstone slot canyon located where you’d never expect to find one: not

far from Interstate 5 and adjacent to a residential area.

Also, important to know is that there are two entrances to the trails that lead to the canyon. One, the North Rios Trail is nearly flat. The other, the Solana Hills Trail, which we chose (despite my husband’s warning), is quite steep. The uphill portion is on the return, so be prepared.

After a 0.7-mile walk, we turned left into the beginning of the canyon, and that’s where the fun began. Suddenly, most of the freeway noise melted away and the steep sandstone walls appear. At this point, the

walls are still wide apart and the configuration reminded me of a river delta.

Our kid-hikers were suddenly captured by what they saw: thousands of carvings into the sandstone walls. Initials surrounded by hearts and contemporary slogans are hardly ancient art, and it is sad that these walls have been defaced, but these amazing land forms used to look a lot worse.

At one time, they were covered in various shades of glossy paint and the slot canyon floor, cubbyholes and caves littered with trash. Then a lovely lady named Annie stepped in and either

raised and/or donated money for the purchase and care of the canyon, which was named after her. (Despite a search, this is all I have learned about Annie.)

As we headed “upstream,” the trail rises and the distance between the walls grows narrower, until some people must navigate the passage sideways. On either side of the canyon trail, there are prime examples of the wondrous actions of wind and water erosion, which have created some unearthly-like formations, hollows and patterns.

We eventually arrived at the ladder — two sets of

heavy, stainless-steel rungs bolted into the canyon sides that take hikers to the top of the canyon and a panoramic view of San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve. From this perch, you also can peer down into the canyon and watch other hikers meet the ladder challenge.

Important notes at this point:

• If you are vertically challenged, you’ll need a boost from behind to reach the bottom rung of this ladder.

• Dogs on leashes are permitted, but be prepared to carry Fido up the ladder.

• The trail through the

canyon is one way because eventually the canyon is so narrow you can’t turn around.

Once at the top, Dakota begged and begged to navigate the canyon again, but we had to promise to return on another day. We continued, instead, on the Lagoon Loop, which took us close to the shallow-water estuary where migrating waterfowl can be seen.

There also were plenty of ducks enjoying the lagoon, and Dakota and Landon debated for 20 minutes whether the object floating in the water was a stick or a baby alligator.

e’louise ondash

FROM THE TOP of Annie’s Canyon Trail, left, hikers can see other hikers navigating the slot canyon and the ladder that brings them to the top. At right, Dakota McAndrew, 10, of San Marcos, hoists herself up the ladder at the end of the trail, a slot canyon formed by the action of wind and water on the sandstone walls. Short people will need some help on this last challenge on the trail. Photos by E’Louise Ondash

Escondido not changing RV rules yet

By Samantha Nelson

ESCONDIDO — The City Council has postponed consideration of stricter RV parking regulations until more information about permitting, other city regulations and potential safe parking lots for houseless individuals living in RVs is available.

The vote to approve the regulations failed on a 2-2 vote. The council is currently down one member due to a seat vacancy in District 3.

Staff brought forward a potential policy to the council on Jan. 11 that would have restricted RV parking citywide on highways, streets, alleys, public ways, public places or city parking lots. A few exceptions to the rule would have included parking: for one 24-hour period within 100 yards of the vehicle’s registered address; in posted city lots that allow RV parking; for RVs that belong to a federal, state or local agency; during city emergencies; or during special, permitted events.

The proposed ordinance would have allowed the police department to tow and impound an RV after a single violation. Three or more infractions would have been considered a misdemeanor against the owner.

Deputy Mayor Joe Garcia and Councilmember Mike Morasco were not opposed to finding alternative options for RV parking, but they did not want to wait to implement the regulations.

“I’d like some additional information – something more – but I don’t think we should postpone this,” Garcia said.

According to staff, RV parking has negatively affected traffic safety and quality of life for Escondido residents and workers.

RVs have been known to impair visibility for pedestrians and drivers and reduce available street parking. And staff noted instances of illegal discharge of wastewater on city streets as well as discarded trash.

Under the ordinance, RVs would still be allowed to park on private property.

“You can park an RV on your front lawn in most zones where you can’t even park your car on your front lawn,” said Assistant City Attorney Gary McCarthy.

McCarthy said that the reason the regulations were brought forward is due to the significant number of complaints the city receives from residents and business owners about RVs parked in residential areas and commercial areas.

Some residents opposed the regulations, which they believe could make life even more dif-

3 Vista youth headed to national boxing tournament

By Steve Puterski

VISTA — A trio of local youths has punched their way through the regional boxing circuit to compete at nationals next month thanks to a former Air Force boxer’s dream of giving kids a fighting chance.

Under the direction of Vista Boxing Club coach and founder Rudy Moreno, amateur boxers Uleena Torres, Victor “Tony Boy” Villagomez and Antonio Padilla will represent the local gym at the National Silver Gloves tournament starting Feb. 8 in Independence, Mo.

Moreno and his wife, Kenia, started the boxing program in 2018 through their nonprofit organization H.E.RO. Inc. — Helping Everyone Reach Opportunity.

Earlier this month, all three boxers won their respective divisions at the Silver Gloves Region 8 Championships in Compton, earning a chance to compete at nationals.

Silver Gloves is a national amateur boxing program for youth ages 8 to 16. Amateur fighters age 16 and older compete in the Golden Gloves program, which has produced numerous competitors for the PanAm and Olympic games.

In December, Torres, 13, won the USA Boxing National Championships in the intermediate female division at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center in Texas. Earlier this month, the 85-pound fighter advanced to National Silver Gloves as the uncontested Region 8 champion.

“My brother was boxing and wanted to see what it was like,” said Torres, who’s only in her second year of the sport. “It was exciting (winning nationals) because I have cousins that box and who are also national champs, and I wanted to be like them.”

At last month’s USA Boxing National Championships in Texas, Villagomez, Moreno’s 10-year-old grandson, took second place in the male bantam (55 pounds) division nationwide. Villagomez, known as “Kid Flash” for his speed, also punched his ticket for the National Silver Gloves tournament after a strong

showing at regionals.

Padilla, 16, has returned to the ring after a two-year hiatus but advanced in the junior division to this year’s National Silver Gloves. According to Moreno, the 176-pound Padilla, who previously

trained under Chula Vista’s Bobby Lopez, recently beat the No. 3-ranked boxer in his division to qualify for nationals.

For Moreno, the kids’ success results from hard work, which is the heart of the HERO foundation.

“For me, watching these kids’ hard work, dedication and success, that’s what this is all about,” Moreno said. “I’m trying to build champions inside and outside the ring and show them how to be good citizens.”

But years before he started churning out topranked boxers and uplifting the lives of Vista’s youth, Moreno had first to conquer his demons. Retiring from the Air Force in 2013, Moreno slowly fell into depression, suffering from anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder that developed after two decades in the military.

Boxing, Moreno said, helped him deal with his

symptoms. Two years later, Moreno and his wife started working on plans for a gym to use boxing and fitness “as a vehicle to empower … our youth to feel physically and mentally strong,” according to the HERO website.

The gym eventually grew to serve around 80

kids and gave Moreno the energy to help make a difference in the lives of local youth.

Since the pandemic, Moreno’s HERO nonprofit was forced to leave its old facility along North Santa

ranked

in

country in the male Pee Wee division and has hopes of becoming an Olympic boxer. At right,

punch during

recent match. Victor, aka “Kid Flash,” will represent Vista Boxing Club at the National Silver Gloves tournament next month in Independence, Missouri. Courtesy photos

ANTONIO PADILLA, 16,

one of three Vista Boxing Club boxers to

at the Silver Gloves regional championships this month in Compton. Photo by Steve Puterski

we will continue to remember Sen. Craven’s legacy in another way on campus.”

Craven’s reported comments date back to 1991, when he called on every school district, city, hospital and trauma center in San Diego County and county officials to provide a headcount of suspected undocumented residents who use public services as part of a Senate discussion around the local costs of undocumented immigrants.

In March of 1993, Craven also reportedly stated in the San Diego Union-Tribune that migrant workers were on a lower scale of humanity, which he later said was referring to their socioeconomic status.

In October of 1994, he advocated for the state legislature’s exploration of requiring all Hispanic residents to carry ID cards to prove citizenship.

Task force co-chairs Dr. Elizabeth Matthews and Dr. Patricia Prado-Olmos, both university professors, explained these statements. Craven’s refusal to apologize for the harm they caused is at odds with the university’s mission of acceptance and equity.

“While acknowledging the outstanding legacy of the late Sen. Craven, which has touched thousands of lives and communities, the

task force overwhelmingly found that his anti-immigrant and anti-Latinx statements and actions in the early 1990s, along with his unwillingness to apologize or seek understanding of the harm he caused individuals and populations connected to CSUSM, do not align with the mission, vi-

sion and values of CSUSM today and the students we serve,” Matthews and Prado-Olmos said.

Despite his controversial statements, school officials have long recognized Craven as the “father of CSUSM” for his tireless efforts to secure support and funding to establish a new

university in North County. He is credited with helping to found the university, which opened in San Marcos in 1989.

The Craven Task Force was composed of 24 members, a mix of students, faculty, staff, alums and community members, who participated in listen-

San Marcos Chamber

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ing sessions with various groups and reviewed hundreds of historical documents.

According to the task force report, these listening sessions included individuals who were part of the first push to remove Craven’s name on campus buildings back in 1994, as well as Craven’s family, close friends, and the broader campus community.

Some students interviewed by the task force noted that seeing Craven’s name on the building made them feel “unwelcome and unsafe.” In addition, task

force members noted that retaining his name runs counter to the goals of the university as a Hispanic Serving Institution and that “if the University is going to continue to espouse ideas of inclusive excellence and uphold the meaning of a Hispanic Serving Institution, the name must be changed.”

While not all task force or community members agreed with the final recommendation, it marks a huge step forward for those who have spent years voicing their concerns about the university’s celebration of Craven.

The school’s faculty senate first voted to rename Craven Hall in 1994, which ultimately failed due to a lack of support. Then-president Dr. Bill Stacy stated that the former senator “made enormous historical contributions to the founding of CSUSM” and argued that having his name on a building did not mean the university aligned with any of his views.

Craven, who died in 1999 at the age of 78, first came to San Diego County after moving to Oceanside following an accomplished military career. He served in local government in Oceanside and San Marcos before being elected to the San Diego County Board of Supervisors in 1970.

He was elected to the California State Assembly in 1973 before jumping over to the State Senate, where he served for 20 years.

The Jan. 23-24 meeting of the CSU Board of Directors will be live-streamed on their website, calstate. edu/csu-system/board-oftrustees.

steps in growing our culinary offerings. We are excited about this addition, as smoked foods and BBQ go well with whiskey. The food/spirit collaboration is at our core. Look for more enhancements in the near future as the chef grows our culinary offerings.

LTP: I’ve always been a huge fan of your cocktails as they are inventive, delicious and have fun, creative names like “Good Morning Cowboy.” Tell me about your cocktail program, the talent behind the bar and some of your favorites.

NH: Absolutely! As a distillery, we strive to innovate in our mash bills and the products that we offer. There is no better way to explore these spirits than in the cocktail form. To make spirits, serve them as cocktails and offer food alike, we have an amazing synergy. It’s what makes us so different from anyone else around us or in San Diego.

As for our cocktail program, no one is responsible for the direction; we work as a team to create cocktails and names that play well with our brand. As we say, we are crafting adventure and foraging exploration; we aim to carry this through to every menu item.

Some favorites are the Farmerita, a carrot margar-

ita, or the Black-eyed Rye, a play on a whiskey smash, both working with seasonal fresh ingredients. We consider our bar team liquid chefs and push for the exploration of ingredients that pair well with our spirits and cuisine.

LTP: During the radio portion of my interview with Lucia Schaldenko, she mentioned how popular your space has become for hosting events. Could you tell me about that side of the business and some of the attributes that make it such a popular event location?

NH: Yes, our space is very unique. We have a very open floor plan yet can section areas as needed for private events. We are a mix of lounge meets dining room meets communal space. For us, creating a vibe and experience is most important. A place to share stories, have good times with friends, celebrating a colleague’s achievement or have a family wedding.

Our space is just as much an element of the brand experience as our cuisine and beverage. This experience is due largely to our general manager Matthew Gosney’s focus on hospitality and a customer-centric experience.

Find Pacific Coast Spirits at 404 S. Coast Highway, Oceanside, CA 92054 www.paccoastspirits.com 760.453.7150.

THE CRAVEN TASKFORCE was created by university administrators in 2021 following the Faculty Senate’s recommendation to rename campus sites and monuments named after the late state Sen. Willam Craven. Craven, instrumental in CSUSM’s founding, has been criticized for statements regarding Hispanic and undocumented persons. Courtesy photo

MAGGIE SLATER Courtesy photo

Local family serving as first Daley Ranch park hosts

a bit about the local wildlife while living on the ranch.

The wildlife is primarily seasonal — rabbits in the spring, rattlesnakes and tarantulas in the summer. But, there are also year-round coyotes, bobcats, hawks and other birds, bats and mule deer that live near the ranch house.

“All the animals have quieted down for winter, so you won’t see as many right now,” Zach said.

The two have also enjoyed observing the local flora highlighted by hillsides blanketed with sage, yucca and scrub, including the parasitic, bright-orange California dodder that punctures and bleeds out its victim plants.

for many years.

The city purchased Daley Ranch in 1996 to preserve the thousands of acres of historical land from development.

In the spirit of conservation, the Brights seek to turn 15 acres of their property into a nature preserve. The couple also intends to bolt the many boulders smattering their property for their fellow rock climbers.

Even their new home, constructed out of recycled shipping containers, will match that conservation spirit through environmental stability.

By Samantha Nelson

ESCONDIDO — Nestled between the ridges and valleys of Daley Ranch is an old family ranch house and farmstead under the watchful eye of new caretakers.

In February 2022, Deb and Zach Bright and Deb’s 7-year-old daughter Abby became the first Daley Ranch park hosts, a cityowned 3,201-acre conservation area.

While the ranch had previous caretakers in the past looking after the home and various farm buildings, the Brights, who live next door to the area, are the first stewards of the entire park.

The couple purchased 20 acres of property behind Iron Mountain in Ramona about a year ago with plans to build a home. Deb sold her condo to help pay for construction services and purchased a van for the family to reside in instead of renting a temporary home.

“We’ve always been interested in van life,” Deb said.

However, the problem with van life in Southern California is that there are minimal places for people to park and sleep in their vans for extended periods under the law. The couple can’t legally spend more than a week parked on their property without active building permits.

Groset fills vacancy on Vallecitos board

By Staff

SAN MARCOS –

During a special meeting Jan. 11, the Vallecitos Water District Board of Directors selected Carlsbad resident Erik A. Groset to fill the vacant Division 4 Board seat.

He will represent parts of San Marcos, Carlsbad, and portions of the Lake San Marcos community and assist in setting district water and sewer direction through Nov. 5, 2024.

Groset is a La Costa Ridge resident in Vallecitos’ Division 4. He lives there with his wife, Tiffany, and two daughters.

The CSUSM grad is a local startup entrepreneur and the CEO/chairman of his own board.

But some parks have camp hosts who physically live at a campsite and watch over the grounds in RVs or vans. So the Brights began researching potential sites in federal, state and local parks.

Deb, who grew up in Escondido, first explored possibly serving as camp host at Dixon Lake, another city-owned park with several campsites along the lake adjacent to Daley Ranch. While Dixon Lake did not have an open camp host position, the city had recently

installed site hookups near the ranch house. The couple now had a place to stay while they planned their new home, their parked black van barely peeking out behind the trees.

As part of the deal, the couple contributes 20 hours of volunteer time on the ranch, performing various tasks such as emptying the park’s several trash cans, cleaning up litter, maintaining trails, ranch house upkeep, cleaning bathrooms and helping with the Dixon Lake campsite check-ins

and outs on the weekends.

“We’re the eyes and ears up here at night,” Deb said. “If the ranch house alarm goes off, we are the first to respond. We’ve also assisted the rangers in catching dirt bikers who ride in the middle of the night.”

Deb works remotely from the van as a corporate communications manager for Thermo Fisher Scientific. Zach, who grew up working on farms and orchards in New York, is often tending to the trails.

“It’s right up Zach’s alley,” Deb said about her husband’s trail maintenance responsibilities. “If a tree branch falls on a trail, he’s got all the tools to take care of it. He’s really good with this stuff.”

Since the Brights are quite literally living between the 25 miles of hiking, mountain biking and equestrian trails of Daley Ranch, they are also the first to respond to injuries on the trails.

“We’ve had broken wrists and collar bones,” Deb said.

After receiving extra first-aid training from the local fire department, the Brights administer basic medical assistance and help guide paramedics to injured hikers.

Beyond their chores, the couple has learned quite

Daley Ranch was originally a settlement of English immigrant Robert Daley, who built a log cabin on the land in 1869. The current ranch house was built in 1928 and was later used as a summer retreat home for the Daley family. In addition, the ranch was used for farming and horse taming

“When I think about what I want to do with my money and life, it’s absolutely preserving nature,” Deb said.

With plans to submit their building permits soon, the Brights hope to continue watching over Daley Ranch for the next few years while they build. Those interested in following the couple’s work on the ranch can visit their Instagram page @daleyranchparkshosts.

DALEY RANCH encompasses more than 3,000 acres of preserved land in Escondido, including miles of mountain biking, equestrian and hiking trails. Photo by Samantha Nelson

ZACH AND DEB Bright play outside with a non-venomous gopher snake at Daley Ranch. The Brights have served as park hosts since last February. Photo by Sanantha Nelson

RV PARKING

ficult for houseless individuals forced to live in their RVs for lack of other affordable options.

“While the intent is to keep streets orderly, people’s basic necessities come first,” said Hannah Butler via email. “Many people who live in RVs do so out of financial necessity because they are unable to afford traditional housing. By restricting RV parking, this may criminalize homelessness and make it even more difficult for people already struggling to find affordable housing.”

Juliana Musheyev also pushed back against the regulations, noting a friend of hers lives in an

RV parked in town because she has no other choice.

“She depends on the ability to park and live in her RV in order to be housed,” Musheyev said. “She’s not a criminal, she’s just someone who wants a place to live.”

Staff cited the RV Resort Park and Dixon Lake as possible options for people to park their RVs. Both, however, have daily rental costs that could create a barrier to people living in their RVs who can’t find affordable housing as it is.

Some public comments brought up the need for safe parking lots for homeless individuals to legally park their RVs overnight before any sort of RV regulations are put in place.

The cities of Carlsbad,

Chula Vista, Coronado, Del Mar, El Cajon, Encinitas, Imperial Beach, National City, Oceanside, San Diego, San Marcos, Santee, Solana Beach and Vista all have RV parking regulations. Only San Diego, Encinitas and Vista either have safe parking lots or have policy in place to set up safe parking lots.

Councilmember Consuelo Martinez is open to the idea of having safe parking lots for RVs and requested more information from staff on implementing such a policy.

“I feel like this is an important issue that we can’t just turn a blind eye to … but I do think we need to provide options for folks being that we don’t have enough options as it is,”

Martinez said.

Martinez recognizes that RV parking has been an issue but fears legal repercussions if the city targets RV owners. She also wanted to hear from more residents about the issues before deciding on any regulations.

Mayor Dane White also wanted to postpone the decision until more information is brought forward. One of his concerns was the ability of out-of-town visitors to park their RVs by the homes of the people they’re visiting.

While the mayor was interested in implementing a permitting process for RVs, City Manager Sean McGlynn noted that such a system would be a costly challenge for the city.

Mural debate holds up decision on Children’s Museum request

By Samantha Nelson ESCONDIDO — Work

on a new mural for the San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum has been delayed as local historians have expressed fears that the mural is covering a piece of the town’s history in dire need of preservation.

For nearly three years, a big, white canvas on the front of the museum has been left blank. It previously hoisted vinyl prints of artwork over the canvas using a pulley system but stopped the practice after a 2020 storm blew down the display.

The canvas covers the city’s first mural, which depicts a scene from the Battle of San Pasqual. While other, similar murals exist throughout the city, many of Escondido’s oldest murals have been destroyed over the years.

The canvas was placed over the mural when the museum acquired the building in 2011 at the city’s request in an effort to save the older mural underneath for possible preservation.

On Jan. 9, representatives of the museum presented their mural concept, which would go directly on the canvas, to the Public Art Commission for a third time in an effort to acquire city funding for the mural.

“We would love to add some bright color that represents who we are as the Children’s Discovery Museum,” said Heather Disher, director of advancement at the museum.

The museum brought its request for mural funding down from approximately $26,000 to $19,500, which includes artist fees as well as installation and labor costs.

However, members of the Historic Preservation Commission want the Public Art Commission to hold a joint meeting to discuss the significance of the older mural underneath the canvas and potentially find a way to fund its preservation.

While preservation could include moving the mural, there is also a chance that doing so would permanently damage or destroy it.

The museum considers its new mural as a current top priority. While the older mural has some historic significance, the museum — which owns the building — and some public art commissioners feel the battle scene

BOXING

CONTINUED FROM 15

Fe Avenue. Moreno quickly set up a temporary facility in his backyard, complete with a covered structure, ring and equipment.

is inappropriate for how the museum serves the community.

“It’s a battle,” said Public Art Chair Ana Marie Velasco. “It doesn’t go with the Children’s Discovery Museum.”

Still, others like Public Art Commissioner Patricia Spann argued that the canvas is hiding an important piece of city history.

“Escondido as a whole is a historic town,” Spann said. “We can’t lose our history and we can’t just hide it. … What’s on the canvas is important but what’s behind the canvas is just as important.”

Historic Preservation Commission Chair James Spann emphasized his desire to have a joint meeting with the Public Art Commission as soon as possible before a decision on the mural is made.

“We need to have some understanding as to what we can do and what we’re covering up,” he said.

According to City Clerk Zack Beck, the earliest such a meeting could happen is in February, but Development Services Director Andrew Firestone must approve the joint meeting first.

Public Art Vice Chair Juan Vargas voiced his discomfort with the cost as another concern about the mural. He noted the museum is a nonprofit that likely has other donors who could help pay for a portion of the mural instead of the city paying for the entire thing.

“They’re a philanthropic organization … they could find other sources,” Vargas said. “I would be open to assisting with funding but not in paying for the whole thing.”

Disher noted that the museum relies on philanthropic support through donations and fundraisers and uses the bulk of its funding to provide educational programming in Escondido’s elementary schools, libraries and other outlets that provide educational enrichment for children.

“At this time, we don’t receive a dollar from the city of Escondido,” Disher said.

The Public Art Commission ultimately voted to delay its decision on the museum’s mural until a joint meeting with the Historic Preservation Commission is held.

after-school activity.

Timeline

And while the club is still in its temporary location, Rudy and Kenia Moreno are soliciting donations and sponsorships to help facilitate the move to a permanent site.

Moreno, who has been coaching boxing since 2005, said the kids are attracted to boxing for various reasons — building self-confidence, making friends, preventing bullying, or just having an

When training boxers, Moreno said it’s all about the fundamentals. Moreno works with each kid to develop their stance, balance and footwork. Learning to throw a punch doesn’t come until the kids are comfortable moving around the ring.

“It’s positive reinforcement,” Moreno said. “You’re going to learn, lead, and you’re going to grow. You’re going to learn the ‘sweet science,’ and once you learn, you can lead as you will teach others. Then you’re going to grow. Not just as a boxer, but as an individual outside boxing.”

CITY OF ESCONDIDO personnel respond to an RV parked on Metcalf Street over concerns about the amount of trash and litter that’s been dumped outside the vehicle. Courtesy photo/City of Escondido

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ASSISTANT BUSINESS PROJECT MANAGER

Assistant Business Project Manager position on-site in Oceanside, CA. Responsible for: Managing projects throughout their life cycle; Undertaking project tasks as required; Ensuring projects adhere to frameworks and all documentation is maintained appropriately for each project; Executing business projects to meet the established requirements; Ensuring project deadlines and budgets are met; Facilitate project meetings and distribute notes and tasks to all project team members; Assess project risks and issues and provide solutions where applicable; Procurement of all material and services required by business projects; Developing business presentations and delivering them in sales management meetings; Supporting in the sales planning and meeting revenue goals for the company; Aiding the implementation of necessary changes as required in business processes.

Must have a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Law/Business, 60 months experience as a Assist Business Project Manager. Send CV and references to: 1301 Rocky Point Drive Oceanside, CA 92056 or email Claudia@Olli.com

SENIOR PRODUCTION PLANNING & COST ANALYSIS MANAGER

Senior Production Planning and Cost Analysis Manager position in Oceanside, CA. Responsible for: Cost Analyst: Make the estimations of new and propose product cost. Analyze the manufacturing variance of STD to ACT BOM usage by line of material/material group monthly. Analyze labor, overhead, depreciation and perform monthly and quarterly price variance. Recommend changes to the company’s processes and policies to reduce cost and maximize profit. Process Improvement: Work to develop collaborative data analysis, data integrity and data reporting tools with operational departments. Research-based problem solving with the aim of solving any issues from the root. Maintain, and lead SAP training throughout the company, from floor to the top. Senior Planner: Manage and supervise the planning team to keep production and materials requirements aligned with the company’s strategy. Advice planning team with priorities based on brands, products, customers, and more. Supervise planning for both RAW and RTE divisions of the company.

Must have a Master’s of Science Degree in Engineering Management, 24 months experience as a Manufacturing Planner. Send CV and references to: 1301 Rocky Point Drive Oceanside, CA 92056 or email Claudia@Olli.com

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EVENTS CALENDAR

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

JAN. 20

NERD COMEDY NIGHT

Clever comedy and a smart audience make this Carlsbad tradition one-of-akind. $15, 7 p.m. at Harding Community Center, 3096 Harding St, Carlsbad.

HOMELESS DINNER

Join Sports4Kids to volunteer at the Interfaith Community Health Services. 5:30 to 7 p.m. Jan. 20 at Interfaith Community Services, 550 W Washington Ave, Escondido.

CUSTARD PIE

Live Entertainment. 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. Jan. 20 at Mr. Peabody's Bar and Grill, 136 Encinitas Blvd, Encinitas.

BACH AND ROCK

Our latest installment of the music of J.S. Bach paired with arrangements of great Rock & Roll, including the premiere of Steve Huber’s new arrangement of The Who’s “Quadrophenia.” $20-$35, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 20 at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 890 Balour Dr, Encinitas.

CLUB 90S: BAD BUNNY

Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny on stage. 9 p.m. at The Music Box, 1349 In-

dia St, San Diego.

JAN. 21

RICHARD DREYFUSS

Academy Award winner Richard Dreyfuss will speak about his book “One Thought Scares Me.” There will be a Q&A and signing afterwards. 6 p.m. at Barnes & Noble Encinitas, 1040 N

El

Camino Real, Encinitas.

NORTH COUNTY HIKING

Join the docent-guided, moderately strenuous, long-distance educational hike at Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve from in front of the Elfin Forest Interpretive Center. 9 to 10:30 a.m. Jan. 21 at Elfin Forest Recreational Re-

serve, 8833 Harmony Grove Rd, Escondido.

DNA GROUP MEETS

“Endogamy Explained” will be presented in hybrid format by genetic genealogist Kathleen Fernandez to North San Diego County Genealogical Society. 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Jan. 21 at Georgina Cole

Library, 1250 Carlsbad Village Dr, Carlsbad.

THE REUD

Live Entertainment. 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. Jan. 21 at Mr. Peabody’s Bar and Grill, 136 Encinitas Blvd, Encinitas.

LIFE OF JANE AUSTEN

A free discussion about

the author, her life and her writings. Registration is required for this free event. 2 p.m. at Bliss Tea & Treats, 301 Mission Ave, Oceanside.

PET FOSTER ORIENTATION

Open your home to orphan pets until they are ready for adoption. 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Jan. 21 at Helen Woodward Animal Center, 6461 El Apajo Rd, Rancho Santa Fe.

SUPERMOTOCROSS

Off-road motorcycle racing is underway with Supercross and Motocross. $15, 6:30 to 10 p.m. Jan. 21 at Snapdragon Stadium, 2101 Stadium Way, San Diego.

DA VINCI’S NOTEBOOKS

A genre-busting play shaped entirely from da Vinci’s own notebooks. 5 p.m. at Old Globe Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Way, San Diego.

KEVIN ROTH & EDIE CAREY

Renaissance man Kevin Roth and his lap dulcimer with Edie Carey, grounded in the American folk music revival of the 1960s. $18, 7:30 p.m. at Pilgrim United Church of Christ, 2020

RAIN, WIND, AND FIRE...

“The three menaces to any chimney, fireplace, or stove.”

Every year there are over twenty thousand chimney / fireplace related house fires in the US alone. Losses to homes as a result of chimney fires, leaks, and wind damage exceeds one hundred million dollars annually in the US.

CHIMNEY SWEEPS, INC., one of San Diego’s leading chimney repair and maintenance companies, is here to protect you and your home from losses due to structural damage and chimney fires.

Family owned and operated and having been in business for over 30 years, Chimney Sweeps Inc. is a fully licensed and insured chimney contracting company (License # 976438) and they are certified with the National Fireplace Institute and have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

CHIMNEY SWEEPS, INC SERVING SAN DIEGO COUNTY FOR OVER 30 YEARS

For a limited time, readers of this paper will receive a special discount on our full chimney cleaning and safety inspection package with special attention to chimney water intrusion points in preparation for the rainy season.

MONSTER ENERGY Supercross is coming to Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego on Jan. 21. Courtesy photo/Monster Energy TURN TO CALENDAR ON

GEOGRAPHY: What is the second-longest river in North America?

MOVIES: Which 1973 movie advertised itself as a place “where nothing can possibly go wrong”?

GAMES: Which party game claims that it can “tie you up in knots”?

U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which president was the first to appoint an African American as a member of his Cabinet?

HISTORY: When was the Warsaw Pact between the Soviet Union and seven Eastern Bloc countries signed?

TELEVISION: Which TV game show often uses the phrase “Survey says ...”?

ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a female peacock called?

FOOD & DRINK: How many meals do Hobbits eat in a day, according to the movies?

ADVERTISING: Which product used a manicurist named Madge in its advertisements? 10. MEDICAL: What is a common name for the condition called septicemia?

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Shutting people out to avoid distractions, even under a deadline, can cause hurt feelings. Instead, return calls and emails, and explain why you need a zone of privacy for now.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Although your keen Bull’s eyes usually can discern what’s fact from what’s faux, that upcoming decision will need really solid data before you can risk a commitment.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) As your confidence grows, you should be able to work toward your goals with more enthusiasm. Open your mind to suggestions. Some of them might even work for you.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22)

Reconnecting with someone from your past stirs up that old sense of adventure. But before you do anything else, be sure to get answers to any lingering questions.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) Some people might resent the way you plan to resolve a difficult situation. But your commitment to making tough but fair decisions soon wins you their respect and support.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Mixed signals could be causing that vexing workplace problem. Before you choose to leave the project, ask for a meeting so that you can get things out in the open.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Your good intentions could backfire if you’re not careful with other people’s feelings. Try using persuasion, not pressure, to get others to see your side of the situation.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Your dedication to finishing the task at hand is laudable. But be careful not to overdo the midnight oil bit. Take time for relaxation with someone very special.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Although your intuition will help you make some tough choices in the first half of the month, you’ll need more facts to back up your actions later on.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) All that hard work and research in the workplace finally pays off as you hoped it would. Ignore comments from jealous types who are out to get the Goat riled up.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) An unfair decision creates unnecessary problems. But avoid anger and move carefully as you work this out. Expect to get support from an unlikely source.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) A fuzzy financial vista persists until the end of the month, when things begin to clear up. You’ll also gain a better perspective on how to handle pesky personal problems.

THIS WEEK: You have a wonderful way of being there for those who need your help in difficult times.

Home technology trends for the new year

By Ingo Hentschel

The 1960s cartoon series “The Jetsons,” about a nuclear family living in the year 2062, left an entire generation wide-eyed about what the future could look like and how technology could make their lives easier.

Today, many of “The Jetsons” tech fantasies are a reality — think robot vacuums, video phone calls and controlling your TV or house lights with your voice.

We now have access to a myriad of tech inventions, many of which were designed to save time and optimize home automation and safety.

HOME AUTOMATION

The global smart home automation market is poised to grow by nearly $100 billion over the next decade. New smart technologies and software integrations, designed to automate the home and conserve energy, seem to advance by the minute.

Smart speakers are a home automation must. A central command system of the home, smart speakers allow you to control any connected smart device with the sound of your voice to play music, turn lights on and off, and even ask research questions like who the 26th president of the United States was (Teddy Roosevelt).

Cox makes it easy to build your own connected home, and with our strong and secure Panoramic WiFi at its core, you can control, monitor and customize every Cox entertainment and home device within your network. Your mobile device and Voice Remote keep everything connected, comfortable and convenient.

HOME SECURITY

Cox Homelife and Panoramic WiFi bring you the latest in home security with a continuous recording Video Doorbell (VDB), which lets you monitor who’s at the door when you’re home, check on deliveries when you’re not, and keep an eye on pets 24/7. The Panoram-

CATHOLIC WIDOWS

Chestnut Ave, Carlsbad.

PET LOSS SUPPORT

Rancho Coastal Humane Society offers free, one-on-one, 20-minute telephone consultations for people who recently lost pets plus upcoming counseling sessions. 9 to 11 a.m. Jan. 21 at Rancho Coastal Humane Society , 389 Requeza St, Encinitas.

LOCAL CYCLE CLUB

North County Cycle Club rides every Saturday morning. 8 a.m. at San Marcos Restaurant Row, 1020 W San Marcos Blvd, San Marcos.

JAN. 22

LATIN ORQUESTA

Sabrosas Latin Orquesta. 7 p.m. at Belly Up, 160 S Cedros Ave, Solana Beach.

MARY ANN HORTON

Author, activist, and trailblazer Mary Ann Horton speaks about what it means to be transgender. 2 p.m. at Mission Branch Library Oceanside, 3861 Mission Ave, Oceanside.

FARMERS MARKET

Best local foods and fresh produce in North County, every Sunday at the Leucadia Farmers Market 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 22 at Paul Ecke Central School, 185 Union St, Encinitas.

Catholic Widows and Widowers of North County will attend Mass at St. John the Evangelist, Encinitas. Reservations required at (760)696-3502. 5 p.m. at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 1001 Encinitas Blvd, Encinitas.

JAN. 23

MARSHALL TUCKER BAND

The Marshall Tucker Band plays the Belly Up Tavern. 8 p.m., 143 S Cedros Ave, Solana Beach.

STATE OF COMMUNITY

Vista Mayor John Franklin speaks on the 2023 Vista State of the Community. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 23 at Vista Civic Center, 200 Civic Center Dr, Vista.

JAN. 24

GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY

“Avoiding Fallacies in Family A Key to Research Success “ will be presented by renowned genealogy lecturer and author Jean Wilcox Hibben in hybrid format. 10 to 11:30 a.m. Jan. 24 at Faraday Administration Building, , 1635 Faraday Ave, Carlsbad.

JAN. 25

HEALTHY YOU SERIES

Escondido Library offers different meditation techniques, including Zen meditation, single point

ic WiFi app lets you control it all from anywhere in the galaxy.

The VDB also listens, so you can speak to visitors. Devices like Contour TV or Contour Stream Player let you use voice commands to manage your devices. Just tell your Contour Voice Remote to "Show me the front door” and you’ll see who's at your front door...right on your TV.

HOME TECH GADGETS

In addition to the latest versions of smartphones, tablets, wireless headphones, and other tech gadgets available today, there are jaw-dropping gaming systems in high demand since the COVID-19 pandemic.

meditation, expanded awareness, meditation and meta-meditation. 6 to 7 p.m. Jan. 25 at Escondido Public Library, 239 S Kalmia St, Escondido.

FARMERS OPEN

Tickets are now available for the Farmers Insurance Open to be played Jan. 25 to Jan. 28 at historic Torrey Pines Golf Course. 5 p.m. at Torrey Pines Golf Club, 11480 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla.

JAN. 26

OCEANS AT NIGHT

Oceans at Night — Birch Aquarium’s new, after hours 21+ experience with bioluminescence and biofluorescence, live music, larger-than-life-size games, nighttime dives and glowing cocktails. 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Jan. 26 at Birch Aquarium, 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla.

THE EDGE

Live Entertainment. 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. Jan. 26 at Mr. Peabody's Bar and Grill, 136 Encinitas Blvd, Encinitas.

PINE NEEDLE BASKETS

Learn to make a a pine needle basket. $55, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 26 at San Diego Craft Collective, 2590 Truxtun Rd, San Diego.

JAN. 27

LED ZEPAGAIN

Led Zepagain, a Led

To power those new virtual reality gaming systems, Cox’s Elite Gamer service uses intelligent routing to automatically find a faster path for your PC game data, improve gameplay and reduce disconnections, ping spikes and jitter that can cause gamers grief.

If 2023 is the year you plan on embracing new technology in your home, you’ll need a reliable internet connection to power all those devices and activities.

At Cox, our network is built to handle peak usage. We’ve invested more than $15 billion in our network over the past decade to better serve our customers and bring next-generation gigabit internet speeds to homes and smart tech devices.

Stop by a Cox Solutions Store near you for a live demo of our latest technology.

And if you want to catch an episode of that classic futuristic cartoon, just say “The Jetsons” into your Cox Contour voice remote control, sit back and enjoy.

Ingo Hentschel is Market Vice President of Cox Communications in San Diego and a longtime North County resident. He began his career with Cox more than 30 years ago as a field service technician after proudly serving in the United States Marine Corps.

Zeppelin cover band, will be in concert. 9 p.m. at Belly Up, 160 S Cedros Ave, Solana Beach.

MUSIC BY THE SEA

Encinitas Library presents Music by the Sea, with Cristina Montes Mateo, harpist. 7:30 p.m. at Encinitas Library, 540 Cornish Dr, Encinitas.

HALF-PRICE BOOKS

The Friends of the Escondido Public Library host a half-price book sale. Cash only. 5 p.m. at Escondido Public Library, 239 S Kalmia St, Escondido.

NERD COMEDY NIGHT

Clever comedy and a smart audience make this Carlsbad tradition one-of-akind. $15, 7 p.m. at Harding Community Center, 3096 Harding St, Carlsbad.

P-TEK

Live Entertainment. 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. Jan. 27 at Mr. Peabody's Bar and Grill, 136 Encinitas Blvd, Encinitas.

NVA’S ‘THE FERRYMAN’

Tickets are on sale now for the New Village Arts presentation of “The Ferryman” with a cast of 21 actors, live animals onstage and more. 8 p.m. at New Village Arts Theatre, 2787 State St, Carlsbad.

TIDE POOL CREATURES

Join us onsite for Fun Animal Friday with Living

gram in 2016 and from 2017 to 2020, it operated four lots — three in San Diego and one in Encinitas — serving 490 to 2,331 individuals.

In fiscal year 2021-22, JFS lots served 864 households with 100% having a housing plan developed within one week and 29% of households entering stable housing, according to the application.

“Within 72 hours of program entry, new participants meet with a case manager and complete a detailed assessment of participant needs, budget and goals,” JFS said in its application.

“The program’s holistic approach provides personalized one-on-one support for each individual or family to stabilize their situation and then develop an individualized plan with specific goals related to securing permanent housing.”

Safe Parking Programs have come under fire in Encinitas and elsewhere from those who say they serve as a magnet and draw more homeless people from outside city boundaries.

Franklin said he visited the Encinitas camp and came away impressed with the orderly conduct and cleanliness. Although he still has concerns, he said there are a significant number of people living in their cars in Vista who need help.

“That opportunity to connect with people and

Coast Discovery Center, Friday Jan. 27 from 10am to 12pm. 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Jan. 27 at San Diego Children's Discovery Museum, 320 N Broadway, Escondido.

‘LUCKY STIFF’ MUSICAL

“Lucky Stiff” offers music, comedy, mystery, romance and a trip to Monte Carlo. 8 p.m. at Scripps Ranch Theatre, 9783 Avenue of Nations, San Diego.

JAN. 28

JONATHAN MABERRY

Author Jonathan Maberry discusses and signs “Son of the Poison Rose,” the second book in his epic Kagen the Damned fantasy series. 3 p.m. at Artifact Books, 603 S Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas.

OCEAN CHALLENGE

Hanohano Outrigger Canoe Club brings you the 28th Annual West Coast Paddlesports Hanohano Ocean Challenge in Mission Bay. 5 p.m. at Bonita Cove Mission Bay, 1100 W Mission Bay Dr, San Diego.

COASTAL BIRDING

Join Coastal 101 Birding along the Buena Vista Lagoon. Meet at the Buena Vista Nature Center. 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Jan. 28 at Buena Vista Nature Center, 2202 S Coast Hwy, Oceanside.

HALF-PRICE BOOKS

The Friends of the Escondido Public Library host

get them housed is important,” Franklin said. “Make it orderly, make it clean and make it safe.”

Safe parking and camping programs are far from safe in practice, only exacerbate homelessness and are a misuse of city resources, Chris Megison said after the council voted in January 2022 to approve the lot. Megison is president of Solutions for Change, a homeless services nonprofit that operates in the North County area.

Megison criticized the council’s vote, which he said reflects a misguided focus on short-term solutions that look good to the public but do little to address the actual challenges faced by the unhoused.

Councilwoman Corinna Contreras disagreed. Given the number of homeless individuals who already sleep in their cars or camp out unlawfully on city property, she said last January, it makes sense for Vista to condense such activity into designated living spaces that can be effectively supervised and enforced.

“Safe parking and safe camping is a stopgap measure, and there are just so many benefits that come from this including being able to do outreach, to being able to reduce some of the issues we’ve seen with unhoused people who are in public places,” she said.

“We have residents who are in desperate need of a place to rest their heads, and this is just something that we need to do.”

a 1/2-price book sale. Cash only. 5 p.m. at Escondido Public Library, 239 S Kalmia St, Escondido.

SUCCULENT SWAP

Bring clippings of your favorite succulents to pot, trade, and share with fellow plant lovers. Small containers and dirt will be provided while supplies last. 2 to 4 p.m. Jan. 28 at Escondido Public Library, 239 S Kalmia St, Escondido.

DSHIRE BAND

Live Entertainment. 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. Jan. 28 at Mr. Peabody’s Bar and Grill, 136 Encinitas Blvd, Encinitas.

PHOTOGRAPHY CLASSES

Photography classes for adults. Experiment with new techniques and hone your image-making skills. 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Jan. 28 at Museum of Photographic Arts, 1649 El Prado, San Diego.

LOCAL CYCLE CLUB

North County Cycle Club rides every Saturday morning. 8 a.m. at Restaurant Row, 1020 W San Marcos Blvd, San Marcos.

‘30

MILES IN 30 DAYS’

Soroptimist International of Vista and North County Inland host a Human Trafficking Awareness Walk and Event. 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Jan. 28 at United Methodist Church of Vista, 490 S Melrose Dr, Vista.

COX HOMELIFE offers the latest in smart home automation. Courtesy photo

IT STARTS WITH CARING. When there’s an emergency, every second counts. That’s why we don’t waste a single one. From the moment a patient enters the Emergency Department, we’re working earnestly to get them the best care and treatment possible. Beacuse, in situations like those, time may not be the only thing we’re trying to save. Check into the emergency room from home, so when you get here you can get in, get out, and start feeling better, faster.