Summer Bash HMWSG Dinner
By Pat Tanabe / Resident
In August, a large group of neighborhood women attended the Summer Bash Dinner at Kim Marin’s abode. There were the usual suspects, along with some new faces which included friends of residents who were visiting and also a former neighbor of one of the attendees , Lori Enfield, who had attended the first HMWSG dinner in 2009. I found out from her that the HMWSG dinner started in 2009 at Belle Marie Winery. So, this Hidden Meadows Women's Social Group Dinner has been in existence for 16 years!
We have progressed and are hosting them at neighbor's homes. Sometimes there is a theme for the dinner and sometimes there is entertainment. These dinners are a great way to meet your neighbors, try new dishes and view the
many beautiful homes in Hidden Meadows. Three years ago, I moved from Chicago into this neighborhood. Since I retired and my children have grown up and are on their own, I was a little concerned about how I would meet people in a new place. The answer was HMWSG and all their activities including these dinners, as well as lunches at local area restaurants, a variety of hosted games and book clubs. The dinners can be intimidating as there can be 20 women attending - that's a lot of new faces! I have heard that new people come to the dinner and then are too overwhelmed to return. If you want to attend but are a little shy, reply “Yes” to the invitation and add a note that you are new to the dinners. We will be certain to have one of these friendly women take you under their wing, and "show you the ropes".
Kim’s home and garden are spectacular. The Marin’s have decorated their home with beautiful things from their world travels. Their garden rivals the botanic gardens at the Wildlife Safari Park and is overflowing with succulents and cacti. The garden contains many “rooms” including a Hobbit House, sculptures and rock paintings. Attendees were invited to walk the paths and explore the garden.
The potluck dinner was a wonderful array of salads, appetizers and desserts. As always, there were dishes from many cultures as well as potluck standards. Women could be found eating in the dining room, kitchen or outside around the magnificent Queensland Bottle Tree. If you are interested in attending one of these dinners or any of the other HMWSG activities, please email HMWSG92026@gmail.com.
plaid shirts. The attendees were all given sheriff badge name tags. The event was decorated with fresh flowers, hay bales and other rustic touches. The evening’s menu featured classic cowboy fare, offering a hearty and flavorful selection. Guests savored baked beans, enchiladas, Mexican rice, meatballs and refreshing watermelon gazpacho. The meal was complemented by a variety of assorted salads and an array of delectable desserts, ensuring there was something to satisfy every taste.
The evening was dedicated to line dancing and socializing, providing a perfect opportunity for members to learn new dance steps or showcase their skills on the dance floor. The energetic music and enthusiastic DJs created an inviting environment for both beginners and experienced dancers alike. During the event, participants were taught several engag-
ing dances, including “Copperhead Road,” “Electric Boogie,” “Merry Go Round,” and the universally popular “Macarena.” These dances provided a fun and interactive way for guests to connect and enjoy the lively atmosphere. We are saddened to hear that DJ Nick will be moving away. He has provided music and country line dancing to the community at many of our events. We wish him luck on his new endeavors.
Overall, the event was a rootin’ tootin’ good time, blending spirited dance with delicious food in a warm and welcoming setting. The HMWSG Boot Scoot ‘N’ September Dinner successfully celebrated the community, country music, and good old-fashioned fun. If you are interested in attending one of our fun dinners email HMWSG92026@gmail.com
HMWSG Line Dancing
Cowgirl Twins – Vickey Ciarlanti & Lynn Wheeler
HMWSG
HMWSG Lunch Bunch at the Villa
By Pat Tanabe / Resident
Recently, the
HMWSG Lunch
Bunch tried the Villa Restaurant.
The Villa is located at 117 W. Grand Avenue, across the street from “A Delight of France”. The Villa has been around for about a year.
This contemporary Mexican eatery serves breakfast all day and has the usual Mexican fare. The interior is bright, modern, and very clean, and the service was warm and friendly.
Our small group tried an assort-
Hidden Meadows Garden Club Annual Potluck
By Idalia Rewar
It was a warm comfortable late afternoon when the Hidden Meadows Garden Club members got together for their Annual Potluck event hosted by Wilma and Victor Roberts in their barn. As always, I get lost every time I go places. My GPS sometimes gets mad at me and thinks that I am a tourist and proceeds to take me on a whirlwind tour of the city. Don’t mention that I am ageing and names, and places slip my mind. But hey, I can still walk and write articles!
This time I was brave and ventured to find the place where I am heading on my own. Oh, oh, big mistake. I had the street and the right address number, so I parked, and just waited a bit until the first person showed up. No one was arriving, so something was terribly wrong. Finally, a person in a golf cart arrives and I give her the address for the potluck. She tells me that I have the right number, but the wrong house. She then takes me to the correct house! But why in heavens name would 2 houses close by have the same number? Dios Mio! As I entered, you are greeted with a fantastic view of the expanse of a green lawn and view of the mountains far off in the distance. But now for the barn - let me give you a little bit of history about this barn. I did that before in a previous article, but some of you may have forgotten, and we have new members who may not know. The barn was part of a 20-acre horse ranch. Victor Roberts’ mother bought the ranch in 1974 from the original homestead family that lived there since the late 1800’s. His mother turned the ranch into a horse ranch. The ranch’s barn was moved here from San Marcos. The horse ranch had 4 stables, 4 riding arenas, and about 50 horses. The land has been subdivided over the years, and the Roberts family now own 10 acres of the original parcel. The Roberts built their home on the property adjacent to the barn which they use for personal entertainment. Their daughter held her wedding party at the barn which has a terrace overlooking a fantastic view of the groves of trees and
Susan Crandall, Dannielle Milliken, Pat Tanabe, Linda Collins
Back row L-R: Nancy & Fernando Garcia, Brian Henderson, Tom Kifer, Kim Marin, Mike Quandrozzi. Middle row L-R: Diana Procter, Jane Cairns, Myriam Johnson, Pat Buntin, Pat Tanabe, Melisa Mitchell, Wilma Roberts, Faraj Tavangari, Joe Zlotnicki Front row L-R: Meredith Kifer, Dannielle Milliken, Sima Kashani, Yasuko Tavangari
the Palomar Mountains. In the surrounding land, various members of the family have built their homes. Back to my story – people are arriving with their beautiful friendly smiling faces and with their treasured food contributions to share. Mr. Roberts was the Head Cook as he BBQ’d hamburgers and mouthwatering chicken. A table on the porch was available for yummy appetizers and inside the room there were tables set up for the rest of the food: salads, baked beans, green beans, pasta dishes, desserts, and a cooler full of sodas, juices and water.
After everyone arrived, there was a loud buzz of conversations going on and Kim Marin (President) blew her whistle to get the members to settle down to announce what she had in store for us, a little quiz (which of course was about horticulture) to be given around dessert time and there would be prizes. She took a moment to thank Pat Tanabe (co-president) for her help in putting the event altogether. She asked for everyone to check the bottom of their plate to see if there was a little sticker, we all did so, and someone won a prize. Yeah! Melisa Mitchell won! I thought it might be a trip to Cancun, but it was a “Save the Bees” travel mug had to do with something about saving bees. It was my time to eat a hamburger, when I went to the tray, Baah,
someone stole baby bear’s hamburger. Someone heard me cry and pointed to the BBQ area where Mr. Roberts was still cooking. So, I sat there with my plate, salivating and waiting. Finally, I got it and was it juicy! In-and-Out Hamburgers has competition.
Then Kim went around giving everyone a blank piece of paper for the next game – the quiz. All questions dealt with plants, and their origns, etc. It was very difficult – I managed to get one…. where did the poinsettia originate – I said under my breath Mexico. Hey, I got one right!! Where’s my prize? I’m ready for my Cancun trip, I can speak Spanish!
Katy Freese won – she got the most correct answers. Wow, the woman is a genius. Her prize –she does not have to pay dues next year. Second prize went to Judith Jennings and third prize after a tiebreaker question, went to Dannielle Milliken – both won a decorative 10 gallon grow bag. Have a great end of summer! Kudos to all who contributed and made this event possible:
Kim, Pat, and a big thank you to Wilma and Victor Roberts for hosting the event.
If you are interested in joining the Hidden Meadows Garden Club, email Kim Marin at Kimgroggmarin@gmail.com or Pat Tanabe at pat.tanabe@3zconsulting.com
ment of items on the menu. Two of us had tacos as it was Taco Tuesday, which meant that tacos were 20% off. The corn tortillas were rustic and delicious! Other items sampled were tostadas and flautas. Four bottles of homemade sauces were brought to the table to be used on our dishes. The sauces ranged in heat from mild, to medium and a hot habanero one! There was an option to order a crispy taco. Susan treated us all to churros, which arrived hot and crunchy, coated in cinnamon sugar – Yum! Beer and wine are available to order.
On my next visit, I would like to try their breakfast items. Reviews noted that their tortilla chips were served hot and nicely seasoned and that they shouldn’t be missed even though they weren’t complimentary. This is yet another new restaurant in newly remodeled downtown Escondido that will bring people into town for breakfast or to try a clean and modern Mexican restaurant. If you are interested in joining the group to try new local restaurants for lunch, please email HMWSG92026@gmail.com
County of San Diego
Sextortion against children is on the rise, parents be on alert
By DISTRICT ATTORNEY SUMMER STEPHAN
One of the most alarming and fastgrowing crimes threatening our children today is sextortion. This is when predators trick or coerce young people into sending explicit images or videos and then using those images to demand more compromising images that they use for sexual exploitation, to force in-person meetings or to extort money.
Once in possession of explicit photos, bad actors threaten to expose the photos to the child’s entire school or family to achieve their demands. Children have become so frightened and traumatized by sextortion that they have contemplated suicide.
In San Diego County and across the nation, reports of to the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force are spiking year-overyear at an unprecedented rate. The task force already is on track to receive over 17,500 tips this year, far higher than last year’s 11,000. While not every report to the task force involves sextortion, the jump in reports is worrisome and it signals to law enforcement that opening to access children through online platforms is widening.
This dramatic increase is a warning sign for every parent and caregiver. Over the last three years, our office has filed extortion cases against 40 defendants, three of which involved minor children. This is a small sampling of the actual extortion that occurs, because not all victims report the incidents to police.
Much of the grooming begins in places where kids feel safe, such as online gaming apps. Predators pose as peers, building trust, and then encourage children to move conversations to private messaging platforms where exploitation begins. That’s why it’s vital for parents to talk openly with their children about the dangers, set clear rules, and stay engaged with their online lives.
Parents should be aware of how sextortion schemes often unfold. Here’s what it looks like:
• A stranger connects with a child through a gaming app, social media, or chat room.
• The predator pretends to be a teen, often sending a fake photo.
• They encourage the child to share personal or explicit images.
• Once an image is shared, the predator demands money or more images under threat of exposure.
• Scammers may demand gift cards, cryptocurrency, or bank transfers.
Tips for parents to protect their children:
• Warn children never to take conversations to private messaging apps where predators gain control.
• Learn how to protect your children on NetSmartz.
• Keep devices in common areas so online activity is visible.
• Discuss the risks of online friendships, reminding kids that people online aren’t friends, they are strangers.
• Reassure children that if they make a mistake, they can come to you without fear of punishment.
• Report suspicious behavior immediately to law enforcement or the ICAC Task Force.
If your child is targeted, here are important steps:
• Do not pay. Paying does not make the problem go away.
• Stop communicating immediately with the predator.
• Save all messages, usernames, and evidence. Do not delete them.
• Report the crime to your local police department and to the FBI at www.ic3.gov.
• Support your child emotionally. Victims may feel ashamed or afraid. Remind them it is not their fault.
Sextortion is a cruel crime that preys on fear and shame. By talking openly with your children, setting boundaries, and staying alert to their online interactions, you can help protect them from this growing threat. Our office is committed to fighting sextortion through prosecution, education, and collaboration with law enforcement partners. Together, we can safeguard our children and stop predators before they cause irreparable harm.
As your District Attorney, I’m committed to increasing communication and accessibility between the DA’s Office and the public. I hope these consumer and public safety tips have been helpful.
County releases adopted $8.63 billion budget
By COUNTY NEWS CENTER, County of San Diego Communications Office
The County’s $8.63 billion adopted budget for the 2025–26 fiscal year is now posted on the County’s budget website: bit.ly/3KywOQu
Pursuant to the County’s annual budget process, the recommended budget was released on May 1 and focused on protecting core services for the region’s residents and continued investments in issues important to San Diegans including housing and homelessness, support for vulnerable populations, behavioral health, public safety, infrastructure and environmental sustainability.
In building the budget, County staff recognized the potential impacts of changes in federal and state policies and took them into account.
The public had a chance to review the recommended budget and add their input in-person at budget hearings, at community open houses and with written comments.
A revised recommended budget reflected feedback from the public and the Board of Supervisors and was released on June 13. Budget deliberations were held June 3-12 and the Board of Supervisor adopted the final budget on June 24. The new budget took effect on July 1.
To review the entire Fiscal Year 2025-26 Adopted Budget document, visit the County’s budget website: bit.ly/42KYLea
LUNCH From Page 9
its run in the 90’s to the high 70’s, which made it easier to get the job done. With the area now clear, we are ready for the next step: Planting. There will be another Shrub Club on Saturday, November 8, where we will attempt to plant some 800 native plants that have been nurtured in the Conservancy’s Patagonia nursery. To join us at this planting, follow the Conservancy on Facebook, Eventbrite (https://bit.ly/shrubclubtecc), or check their website at escondidocreek.org Volunteers are enthusiastically invited to participate. And, then, we hope for plenty of rain! We can reach this area with a series of hoses, but as we get farther from a water source, we will have to come up with another plan. We will water twice a week for the first month, then weekly, bi-monthly and then monthly through the summer. Of course, when it rains, the weeds come. That will be a big project through the spring . . . managing weeds.
It is a lot of work. But the restoration project, as a whole, has been immensely satisfying. Learning about native plants and watching the areas
fill in each year. And, learning what works and what doesn’t to keep the plants alive through their first summer. . . which has been a bitter lesson, but we are learning and increasing our success rate.
The Wednesday crew drives this project and welcomes new volunteers. Contact Linda Collins, linda_J_collins@sbcglobal. net or 760-212-2601. Or come visit on a Wednesday morning to see what we are doing!
The 693-acre Mountain Meadows Preserve, here in Hidden Meadows, is home to The Escondido Creek Conservancy headquarters. The office is the home base for all Conservancy staff, including those who are in the field a lot of the time taking care of nature and providing outdoor education programs for Escondido students.
This preserve was acquired in partnership with San Diego County Parks and Recreation and the Navy/Camp Pendleton. It is part of a larger effort by the conservation partners to preserve natural open spaces in the Escondido Creek watershed and North County. Escondido Creek begins in Bear Valley (east of Lake Wohlford), then travels 26 miles west emptying into the San Elijo Lagoon.
SUBMIT CONTENT FOR HMN
Deadline for local article submission: 17th of the month for the next issue. Photographs submitted for publication should be hi-resolution, unmodified originals, hi-res/300dpi. We cannot accept photos taken from social media sites such as Facebook. Send drafts and photos to Patricia Fox to LocalEditor@HiddenMeadows.news
HIDDEN MEADOWS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
HiddenMeadowsFoundation.org HMCF2023@gmail.com
Michelle Zipse, President
Vickey Ciarlanti, Vice-President
Shannon Antekeier, Secretary
Paul Schoos, Treasurer
Heather Davila, Director
Rob Enfield, Director
Debbie Lai
Pat Tanabe, Director
Melissa Tomaszek, Director
Pete Tomaszek, Director
Lynn Wheeler, Director
Editor Patricia Fox
Median Maintenance
Paul Schoos, Chair
Donate via Zelle: HMCFDonate@yahoo.com
Donate online: www.HiddenMeadows.news/donate
"All The Dangerous Things" -
by Stacy Willingham - fiction
Now: Isabelle Drake is a keynote speaker for CrimeCon. She started giving speeches when her infant son Mason was abducted a year ago. The case has gone cold, but she refuses to give up trying to find him. The lead detective on her case one once told her that past offenders sometimes show up at these presentations. After these speaking engagements she gets a list of the attendees that she looks through hoping to find a lead.
Flying home she meets a man named Waylon. Waylon has a podcast that covers crime, and he knows about Isabelle and has heard her speak. He thinks he can help her. She is tired. It has been a long day. She has insomnia and suffers from sleep deprivation, but after listening to him she agrees to take his card as a
way to brush him off.
Then: As a child Isabelle was a sleep walker. Even then tragedy was part of her life. One morning she woke up and her younger sister Margaret was missing. She saw muddy footprints on the floor of her bedroom and wet clothing in the bathroom. Margaret had drowned in the water near her home. Her parents assured her that it must have been an accident, and that Margaret must have wandered outside on her own. Isabelle remembered nothing, but she feels guilty.
Now: She can't sleep so she walks at night thinking about her missing child. Her next door neighbor tells her that he saw her walking the night that her son disappeared, and he remembers that she was carrying her child. Could that be true? Was she sleepwalking again? Or maybe her past coming back to haunt her. She finds Waylon's card .....
Hidden Meadows Community Resources and Organizations BOOK REVIEW By
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
Contact Marc Weissman at 760-525-5170 or marcweissman11@gmail.com.
Community Sponsor Group
Contact Chairman Jim Chagala, at 760 751-2691 for more information.
Hidden Meadows Neighborhood Watch
Please join our facebook group: Hidden Meadows Neighborhood Watch We’ll share neighborhood information, safety tips, and news of future events.
Contact Info: Erik Tyler 442-235-9060 erikdtyler@gmail.com
Deer Springs Fire Safe Council
Contact Steve Kerrin at 760-807-1141.
Homeowners Associations
The Meadows Homes Association (MHA) 760-749-7278
Rimrock Homeowners Association 760-749-4008
Hidden Meadows Ranch Homeowners Association 760-407-7575
Silverado Management Services
Oak Meadows Glen Homeowners Association 760-749-4796
Organizations
Garden Club
Contact Kim Marin kimgroggmarin@gmail.com or Pat Tanabe zlotanabe@gmail.com
Hidden Meadows Bridge Group
We play bridge at the MHA Pavilion every Wednesday from 10:00AM to 2:00PM.
Please call Curt Bruce at 442-222-0821 if you’d like to join us.
Hidden Meadows Community Foundation (HMCF)
Contact Michele Zipse at HMCF2023@gmail.com www.hiddenmeadowsfoundation.org
Ladies Bible Study
Contact Debbie Hamer at 760-297-1278 or Sue Shepard at 760-213-0325
Tennis Club
Contact Katy Freeze at 760-749-9722 or clarkfreese@gmail.com
Pickleball Club
Contact Holly Pobst at 858.349.4403 or thehollypobst@gmail.com
Women’s Golf Club Contact Ellen at 760-749-1190
Women’s Social Group email to hmwsg92026@gmail.com