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OCTOBER 2026

Valley Magazine

Community Safety Issue

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Valley Magazine - October 2026 | 3

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Valley Safety

County launches El Niño 2026 Information Hub to help residents prepare early

By SIR MILO LOFTIN, County of San Diego Communications Office County Emergency Services has launched a new El Niño 2026 Informational Hub on Alert San Diego, giving residents a single, reliable place to prepare for what experts say could be one of the strongest El Niño seasons on record. With forecasts pointing to heavier rainfall, more frequent storms, coastal erosion and increased flood concerns this fall and winter, County officials say residents should start preparing now — well before the first major weather system arrives. The new hub brings together preparedness guidance, hazard information and County tools in one easy-to-navigate site. It helps residents understand what El Niño could mean for San Diego County, how the County is getting ready and the steps households can take today to reduce risk. Scientists already see early signs of El Niño building in the Pacific, and ocean temperatures continue to rise above historic norms. The County Weather Center and the ALERT flood‑warning network are tracking real-time rainfall and stream levels to guide field operations and help keep communities safe. The hub also links residents to practical tools, including emergency alert registration, sandbag locations, real-time weather information from the National Weather Service, the Tell Us Now reporting app and mapping tools that show neighborhood-level hazards. County departments are preparing for El Niño by clearing storm drains, reinforcing infrastructure and increasing emergency response staffing. As the region braces for a potentially intense season, County officials urge residents to use the new information hub to stay informed, plan ahead and reduce their risk before storms arrive.

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CONTRIBUTORS JOHN BALOGH DONNA DURCKEL JEANNA HUGHES SIR MILO LOFTON ALLEGRA MUCH

Valley Magazine A Valley Roadrunner Monthly Publication Roadrunner Publications, Inc. PO BOX 2300 / 29115 Valley Center Road Valley Center, CA 92082 760.749.1112 / 888.847.0000 Copyright 2026 © Roadrunner Publications. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written consent from Roadrunner Publications. Views expressed herein are those of the authors and advertisers and do not necessarily reflect those of the ownership or management of the magazine. Our liability for errors and omissions on ads is limited to the price of the ad for one issue.

Valley Magazine - October 2026 | 5

The author’s family and an exchange student. The husband is the late Mike Mitchell at the time of 2003 Paradise Fire—which is shown raging in the background.

Valley Memories

THE FIRE ESCAPE

By JEANNA HUGHES 6 a.m. Sunday: The voice on the phone was panicked and confused. “Valley Center is burning down.” One of my cheerleaders’ mothers kept yelling into the phone. I was with my Valley Center Cheer team at the annual local competition. “I swear, Jeanna, it’s all burning down!” As soon as I could get off the phone with the frightened parent, I called my husband to check on our four children, who were home with him. He answered, “No, it’s fine. Yes, I see the fire; it’s far away, and it looks like it’s in Ramona. I looked outside; I even walked 6 | Valley Magazine - October 2026

outside. There isn’t any smoke. Don’t worry, we are fine.”

9 a.m. Sunday: “Valley Center is being evacuated. Everyone is leaving. It’s totally crazy here.” This time, the mother sounded even more frightened. “You need to take the girls and go to the ocean. You need to leave right now! Leave now before it’s too late.” Again, I called my husband to check on our children. “Don’t worry,” he said. “It’s all good here. The sky is clear on Paradise Mountain. I took the kids on a walk, and the

air is clear as a bell. Go back to the cheer competition and stop worrying so much.” “But everyone is saying Valley Center is on fire. You should leave,” I told him. He assured me they were safe and that everyone was “overreacting.” 11 a.m. Sunday: My husband left me a message. His voice sounded shaky. “Okay, I don’t want you to worry, but I was looking in the wrong direction. I didn’t see the fire coming up our road; it is here now. I am taking the children; we are leaving. Don’t worry about…” That was the last message I received.

A wall of fire from one of the wildfires that have threatened Valley Center.

For the next eleven hours, I could not get ahold of my husband or our children. The Escape What follows is my husband’s account of escaping the Paradise Fire with four of our children on October 26, 2003. 11 a.m. Sunday: The fire was suddenly close, very close, and smoke was beginning to fill the air. It was difficult to see. The fire trucks parked at the end of our road, trying to head off the fire, suddenly disappeared into the smoke. Even their lights weren’t visible through the thick blanket of black smoke. I quickly began loading the kids into the car. I was strapping the baby into her car seat; she didn’t even have shoes on. I yelled to my son to help me get his sister and brother into the car. We didn’t have any time to waste; we had to leave right then. There was no time to grab anything, not even the baby’s shoes. I could feel the panic rising in my voice. I tried to stay calm, but with each moment we spent loading the car, the flames got closer. I sped down the dirt road, leaving our house in the dust behind the little Subaru. I took a quick look in the rearview mirror, and all I could see were flames everywhere. I kept asking myself how this had happened so fast? Just two hours earlier, the sky was clear; it was a beautiful day. “Kids, seat belts, now!” I yelled, tearing around the last turn onto Paradise Mountain Road. The smoke had gotten thicker. It was getting hard to see the road. As we came around a tight corner, we hit something

in the road. The tire made a huge thump, and the children all began to cry. I kept driving, flying around another bend as the tires squealed. We were almost down Paradise Mountain. We came around the last bend, and I had to slam on the brakes. The kids all flew forward into their seat belts. The baby’s car seat came loose and hit the seat behind me. A wall of flames rose in front of me. The flames had engulfed the road. Large balls of fire flew through the air, landing on dry brush and setting the hillside on fire. I threw the little car into reverse, backing up the narrow road. I ignored the flames licking at the front bumper. In the rearview mirror, I could see tears streaking my children’s faces. Smoke began to seep into the car, and the kids started coughing. “Cover your mouths with your shirts!” I yelled. I spun the car around and headed back up the mountain. I had no idea how I would get my children to safety. As I came around a turn, I saw an open gate. It may have been a farm gate leading to an old orange grove that someone had opened for people to escape the fire. I turned through the gate and bounced along the dirt roads. Eventually, we reached an area the fire had already burned. The charred remains of houses and trailers stood as shells. I tore my eyes from the devastation, trying not to imagine what would happen if I didn’t get us out of there fast. Finally, we reached the bottom of the mountain. I turned left onto Lake Wohlford Road, the fastest way off the moun-

tain, and pushed the gas pedal to the floor. When I reached the lake area, I had to slam on the brakes. A huge line of cars was stopped in front of me. I took a breath; we were out of harm’s way for the moment. The kids were all crying in the back seats. “It’s okay, kids. Let’s just breathe. We are okay,” I told them, relieved to be out of the fire’s path. As soon as I said this, a dark cloud of smoke rolled over the car. I looked out the passenger window and saw smoke coming from the top of the hill next to us. I rolled down my window, leaned out, and looked up the hill. All I could see was a hillside full of huge flames. The flames were moving and growing as they came down the hill toward us. I couldn’t go forward; I couldn’t back up. I had four of my children in the car, and I was not going to sit there and burn. I had to make a plan. I looked into my children’s eyes and told them the plan. “Okay, this is what we are going to do. On my count to three, we are all going to get out of our seat belts. The big kids are going to run. I am going to grab the baby, and we are all going to jump into the lake. We will be safe there until the fire passes.” I wasn’t even sure that would work, but heck, I was not going to give up. “One.” I looked at the flames racing toward the car; we had maybe two minutes. I looked over at the lake. It was about fifty feet to the water’s edge. “Two…” The area near our car sloped down slightly, but we could easily slide into the water. A few bushes and a couple of trees lined the edge, but we could all swim out a bit. I tried to remember which kids were the better swimmers. I could hold the baby. The others were good swimmers. I started to say, “Thr—” The cars in front of me moved. Then the entire line began moving fast. Someone had opened both lanes of the road down the hill, allowing twice as many cars to leave the area at once. We left behind the smoke, the flames and the prospect of swimming in Lake Wohlford. *** 10 p.m.: My phone rang. It was my husband. “We are okay. We made it out.” Later that night, when I finally saw my children, I gave each of them a tight hug. I Valley Magazine - October 2026 | 7

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looked into their little faces, smeared with tears and dirt. Holding them was the best thing I had ever felt. I was so thankful they were all safe. During those terrifying moments, my husband had kept thinking and refused to give up. Our house was not damaged. The defensible space around it gave firefighters room to hold back the flames. That open area made all the difference. Our neighbors were not so lucky. Firefighters were able to grab some valuables from their houses, but they couldn’t save the homes. In the Paradise Fire of 2003, 56,700 acres burned, 223 structures were destroyed and two people lost their lives. More than two decades have passed since that tragic day, and Valley Center is better prepared than it was in 2003. We now have evacuation plans and emergency alerts that we didn’t have then. But the most important lesson our family learned is simple: We should have left sooner. We saw a beautiful blue sky and convinced ourselves the danger was somewhere else; until suddenly, it wasn’t. Living in fire country doesn’t mean living in fear. It means knowing more than one evacuation route, maintaining defensible space around your home, keeping medications, important documents and emergency supplies ready to go, and leaving early when fire threatens your area. Sometimes the difference between a beautiful day and a tragic one is only a few hours. And sometimes, you don’t get a second warning.

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Valley Leaders VCMWD GM talks about her first year on the job “We need to replace the infrastructure that is 50 to 75 years old and reaching the end of its useful life”

By DAVID ROSS Last November Lindsay Leahy took over as general manager of the Valley Center Municipal Water District from longtime GM and “Water Titan,” the late Gary Arant, who guided the district for 37 years. It was a tough act to follow—but Arant had been her friend and mentor for years before the transfer, so she was probably the best prepared person to take over. To begin this interview, I asked her impression of the district after running it for nearly a year. “The district is a very well-run organization,” she said. “With a great group of dedicated staff—Seventy-five percent of our employees live between Valley Center, Pauma Valley and Escondido. Which helps with the services we provide, because the employees are serving their community.” There are seventy-four fulltime employees. “We have had that same number for some time because the district has done a very good job of continuing to provide service. Even with increased requirements from the state and other agencies—without increasing staff!” said Leahy. Forty-two years ago, when I started writing about VCMWD, 90% of water was sold to growers. Today that is about 50/50. “It’s still fairly high,” she said. “Obviously the number of ag meters has dropped. Farms have gone out of business and stopped farming.” Most remaining farms are avocado, she said. “Citrus has dropped off but there is still some. But what I’ve been hearing is that there have been a lot of grapes popping up recently. Where vineyards are being put in.” Leahy anticipates the percentage of ag water will continue to decline. Recently she gave a presentation to the water board of possible financial scenarios in ten years. “We are currently selling about 12,000 acre feet of water. I wanted to show them the ‘worst case scenario.’ We modeled down to only selling 7,500 AF a year.” That assumed ag demand declining 500 AF a year, with the commercial and residential remaining static. Leahy said, “I think it can be assumed that rates are always going to go up. The district has in the past few years delayed or deferred capital projects to stabilize some of the increases. But we do need to raise rates to be able to replace the infrastructure that’s now fifty to seventy-five years old and reaching the end of its useful life.” The district has 342 miles of water mains. “We are going to have to replace a significant amount of them,” she said. That will 10 | Valley Magazine - October 2026

VCMWD Gen. Mgr. Lindsay Leahy in her office.

take decades. “We do an annual replacement,” she said. “The pipeline being replaced this year is on Old Castle. A two mile stretch where we were having a lot of breaks and doing a lot of repairs.” What about the price of water from the district’s suppliers? “Water is not getting any cheaper,” she said. What about the new federal government dictates on water from the Colorado River? “Right now San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA) is not anticipating we will be impacted by those cuts,” she said. This is because of contracts SDCWA made with the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) in the Central Valley, which is supplied by the Colorado River. “The reason it is not anticipated that CWA will get hit is that cuts required to the lower basin go by the priority of the river. The highest water right is the last to take the cut. IID is the second highest priority of the lower basin states. CWA contracts with them, so unless IID has to cut water, which they should be second to last to cut, we should be all right.” Does the Carlsbad desalination plant help the situation? “A conversation the Water Authority is having is being able to sell water from the desalination plant to another state, Arizona or Nevada potentially. They would physically use water from the Colorado River but pay us the price of the desalination water. That would allow San Diego county to get a little relief and offset some of the contractual water we have to buy whether we use it or not. That requires a lot of interstate negotiations and federal negotiations with the Department of the Interior.” In the conversations with the Metropolitan Water District and the Water Authority, has anyone suggested building more desalination plants? “Yes,” said Leahy. “The problem is getting them permitted. Of all the proposed desalination plants that have been discussed along the California coast, only one has received a permit and that’s a plant in Orange County.” With more people moving into Valley Center, might the Woods Valley Ranch Water Reclamation Facility (WVRWRF) be expanded? “There is a plan for expansion of Phase III for Woods Valley,” she said. “The capacity rights are owned by the property owners. There is no additional capacity beyond that.” Could some be added?

Illustration of the infrastructure and employees it takes to get water from the State Water Project or Colorado River to Valley Center, between VCMWD, San Diego County Water Authority, and Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. It does not include the additional resources from the State, USBR, Department of Interior, RWQCB, etc.

“We haven’t looked at that yet,” she said. “I don’t know that we have the physical space on site to add the capacity beyond the third phase.” District employees participated in the Western Days parade and National Night Out. Is she is trying to make VCMWD more community friendly? “It is important to talk to our customers so they have an opportunity to understand the services we provide as an agency,” she said. “The water and wastewater industry as a whole, and not just Valley Center, have done ourselves a disservice in not telling customers what it takes to get water to them and haul away their wastewater.” I pointed out that for years water agencies urged people to conserve, and then charged them extra when they did. Despite that, consumers took the conservation lessons to heart. “Yes they did,” she said. “The region took that to heart, and Southern California took it to heart. We conserved and conserved—in some cases probably more than we needed to. But it is a struggle for us when the state messages that we have to conserve and puts out blanket requirements, but our communities have done enough.” She added, “We still have mandates we’re required to not only meet but report on. All the agencies in the state have to cut back our use compared to a past year. Luckily because Valley Center has had such a drop-off in demand we’re well below that threshold. Even though we don’t necessarily have to conserve more water, we are still having to annually report and provide all the data to the state.” Does that mean that we really don’t have a water shortage? “That’s tricky,” she said. “Contractually San Diego County Water Authority and the county have enough water to meet all of our needs. However, those contracts are with sources like the Colorado River—which are getting hit. If there are cutbacks to agencies we have contracts with, yes we could see a potential impact. Our consumption overall throughout the region is well below what we had planned and projected over the years.” Illustration No. 2 shows those projections. If there were cutbacks, who would be hit the worst? “It would be all of us,” she said. “If the state mandates a cutback as part of their incentive program, farmers would cut back Valley Magazine - October 2026 | 11

Chart showing the projections for water usage compared to the actual usage in the last two decades in San Diego County.

first. But if there is a cutback from the state, everyone might have to take a share of that.” I asked what people did to change their water usage? Take shorter showers? Plant little green rocks instead of grass? “It’s across the board,” she said. “There has been a wholesale change of behavior. You cannot purchase anything but a low flow showerhead anymore. All of the water district rebates to replace grass are now state mandates. We are required to have an ordinance banning non-functional turf.” Are lawns being banned? “You can have a lawn but if you are an HOA, you can’t have a parkway strip. You can have a communal area for picnics or athletics but if it’s just there decoratively . . . Corporate complexes with grassy areas, those are all going away. I asked Leahy’s impression of Valley Center as a community? “I’m enjoying it,” she said. “I’m enjoying getting to know Valley Center. I really like the drive into town because it’s relaxing

and pretty. I come up Old Castle, from Oceanside. It’s just beautiful and very nice and peaceful, so I really enjoy that.” She continued, “I’ve been enjoying getting to know everyone and the community. To understand the Valley Center way of doing things and preferences and where the landmines might be and the sensitive topics. That’s always good to know when you are coming into a community. So it’s been good and it’s been fun.” What is a misconception ratepayers have about the water district? “I think that typically people think providing water is easy,” she said. “There is a general perception that the district makes some sort of a profit. We don’t make any sort of a profit. It is illegal. We are required to only charge the actual cost of service. “People misunderstand what it takes to get water from the source to Valley Center residents.” Recently the water district participated in a “Citizens AcadeTOOLS summarized what it takes to bring water from my” where Leahy FASTENERS the Colorado River. That chart is shown below. PAINT Leahy thanks Valley Center, “for welcoming me to the commuHelping the Valley Center TOOLS nity. We loveIRRIGATION to educate people what the district does and what it FASTENERS PLUMBING Community For Over 50 Years takes to provide them service so they understand what they are PAINT HARDWARE IRRIGATION paying for.” WE’RE MORE THAN PLUMBING ELECTRICAL HARDWARE She wantsKEY to get out and be more accessible. “When people get JUST IRRIGATION! CUTTING ELECTRICAL their bill I want them to understand what they are paying for. So KEY CUTTING SCREEN REPAIR SCREEN REPAIR that it’s not aQUIKRETE mystery.” MATERIALS QUIKRETE MATERIALS $ LAWN & GARDEN She continued, is important for our community to underLAWN &“It GARDEN INFILTRATOR SYSTEMS $ 25 PURCHASE stand that if ag does start to go away, or continues to go away that INFILTRATOR SYSTEMS SEPTIC TANKS Cannot be combined with any $5 OFF WATER STORAGE TANKSother offers. Cannot be used for SEPTIC TANKS Whether we sell a gallon of water or a our costs stay the same. $25 PURCHASE online orders. & MUCH MORE Valid thru 11/30/26 WATER STORAGE TANKS million gallons.” Valid thru 8/30/25 $25 PURCHASE We’re more than MUCH MORE 342 miles of pipe and 24 reservoirs. They have& to maintain (760) 749-1213 just irrigation! “Unfortunately, as demand drops and we sell less, we still have 28511 Cole Grade Rd. Valley Center, CA 92082 more Tools • Fasteners • Paint • Irrigation • Plumbing to recover We’re the revenue to bethan able to continue to provide that serHardware • Electrical • Key Cutting • Screen Repair vice. It makes that message of conservation real hard. That’s why just irrigation! A1.doitbest.com Quikrete Materials • Lawn & Garden • Infiltrator Systems especially in San Diego County we are trying to get away from Septic Tanks • Water Storage Tanks & Much More! 28511 Cole Rd. Valley Center, CA 92082 that. I think that’s important for people to understand. That and 28511 Cole Grade Rd. •Grade Valley Center continuing to support agriculture.” Can not be combined with any other offers.

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A1.doitbest.com 12 | Valley Magazine - October 2026

Valley Art

The Shibari indigo dye class.

Quixote Farm hosts art classes selected Saturdays By ALLEGRA MUCH Lara Lanfried, owner of Quixote Farm, has found a new way for people to find joy at her idyllic Pauma Valley location. She has always desired for the farm to be a place where people can escape from their hectic lives and enjoy the peace of the outdoors, the beauty in nature and the joy of spending time with farm animals. Her new project Quixote Creative, which happens on select Saturdays, combines the calm outdoor spaces on the farm with the joy that comes from creativity, and creating something you can enjoy. Her first class a Shabari indigo dye class was very successful. Over 10 people were able to make several items, as well as receiving the techniques to continue creating. Upcoming classes include soapmaking, jewelry-making, wreath-making, and painting. Lanfried moved to Valley Center 2021, creating a bed and breakfast space where people can come to be in nature, enjoy the natural beauty, and be inspired. She explained, “One thing, I was really clear on early on was that it is so beautiful. I feel like it has to be shared. I like giving people a place to come and stay.” Over 500, 5-star reviews agree that the setting is beautiful and provides people with a much-needed escape from everyday life. Now Lanfried is combining her love of the outdoors, with her lifelong love of creativity and art. Although she stopped creating art in young adulthood, she always felt creativity was important. In reigniting her passion for art through painting and other creative outlets, she has realized she can provide people with an outlet. She says, “I feel like if I can combine bringing people to the farm—where they get to be in a beautiful environment—and give them the opportunity to create something and an environment where you’re encouraged to be inspired to make something with your hands, it will be a great experience.” Each participant in the classes can also take their handcrafted items home. The art classes are a fun, light-hearted experience and an opportunity to create in a relaxing environment. Snacks will also be provided during the classes. The classes will continue during October and November with the opportunity to attend more classes in the spring. Lanfried stressed that the most important thing for her is to ensure everyone feels welcome. The classic book “Don Quixote,” by Miguel Cervantes—which the farm is named after— is extremely important and highlights values she feels are important. “Don Quixote is crazy from reading too many books, but he doesn’t see people the way regular people saw people. If he saw two women in front of a tavern he would say, ‘Oh look at those two princesses in front of the castle.’ And I just love that. I want people to feel that way when they

The scene of one of the art classes at Quixote Farm. Photos by Lara Lanfried

come here. I want people to know they are seen, they are loved, and they are so welcome here, and who they are today is completely welcomed and accepted.” To sign up for future classes visit the Quixote Farm website at www.quixotefarm.com. Cost of the class is $68 and advanced enrollment is required. They also have a farm store, which is always open on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Valley Magazine - October 2026 | 13

Valley Safety

Prepare before bad weather arrives By DONNA DURCKEL, County of San Diego Communications Office

Your health and safety are top priorities for the County of San Diego, and it is asking residents to prepare now, before El Niño heavy rain and wind are expected, as soon as next month. Know your risk Residents can use the County’s Know Your Hazards tool to enter their address and identify what potential hazards might affect their home or neighborhood. Here is a helpful link to known local flood hazards. You can learn more about different ways to prepare at the County’s El Niño Hub. Available in multiple languages, the page brings our severe weather preparedness information together in one place, including emergency alerts, sand and sandbag locations, current weather conditions, preparedness resources and other tools residents may need before and during a storm. Know where to get reliable infor‑ mation The official emergency app for the County of San Diego is AlertSanDiego. Make sure you are signed up for emergency alerts and instructions. During an emergency, it is also wise to check the status of County roads, as well as Caltrans Freeway/Highway Closures & Lane Closures and other transportation updates. Our road crews also post road updates on Twitter.com/SDcountyDPW Make a household plan Know where to go if you were required to leave. How would you reconnect with family? What medications or supplies you might need? Have a plan for your pets. Keep important documents somewhere

14 | Valley Magazine - October 2026

Prepare for bad weather before raindrops start falling on your head.

safe and easy to access if you need to evacuate. Help others prepare. Check on family, friends and neighbors who may need an extra help before or during an emergency. County Emergency Services is also taking preparedness information directly into communities. Teams have identified areas with higher flood risk and is working with County outreach teams and trusted community partners to focus preparedness in-

formation in those communities. You can also report things on County roads, culverts and infrastructure that may need our attention through our Tell us Now App or by calling the 24/7 hotline at 877-684-8000. These are simple steps, but the time to take them is before a storm is approaching — not when it arrives.

Valley Community

An artist’s conception of the type of tower that would be marching across the backcountry.

Opponents of Golden Pacific Powerlink forming alliances But so far, Valley Center is silent By DAVID ROSS

The video opens with a lean, rangy man in his 60s wearing a safari shirt framed by a forest of trees, speaking earnestly andconvincingly: “I’m Jim Hammerly of the Save Palomar Mountain Task Force.” “Our mountain is facing a critical threat, the Golden Pacific Powerlink. We all know this terrain. It is a Tier 3 high fire threat district, the most dangerous classification in the state of California. Extreme winds, active fault lines, and narrow single access road mean that any ignition could quickly trap our families and destroy our homes. Even more dangerous are the 190 foot towers that will render low altitude firefighting impossible in our steep can-

yons, robbing our first responders of their primary defense.” The mountain resident continues, “On top of this severe life safety threat, the project would scar our pristine environment and endanger sensitive headwaters and destroy cultural heritage sites. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has a clear legal duty. They cannot approve such a route that carries these extreme wildfire and environmental liabilities when viable alternatives are available. Modern alternatives, like reconductoring, distributed battery storage, and targeted microgrids achieve the same reliability goals without risking our lives or our

Jim Hammerly of the Save Palomar Mountain task force in a recent YouTube recording he made laying out the case against the Golden Pacific Powerlink Project.

Valley Magazine - October 2026 | 15

The current proposed Golden Pacific Powerlink route. An alternate route that would also impact Palomar Mountain.

landscapes. Palomar Mountain cannot bear this burden, nor can our neighbors. We are calling on the CPUC to reject any route across our mountain and our neigh16 | Valley Magazine - October 2026

bors and prioritize safe, non-destructive energy solutions.” The Golden Pacific Powerlink (goldenpacificpowerlink.com) being developed

by San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) is a proposed 500-kilovolt electric transmission line, that, says the utility, is “designed to strengthen California’s regional power

on existing power towers with next-generation lightweight cables—facilitating solar adoption, and increasing resilience of the grid through battery storage. Various backcountry communities— and residents in Temecula, who inevitably named their group “Save Temecula” — are starting to form into groups opposed to the project. For instance, on September 29 a group called save Warner Springs met with the Powerlink project on its agenda. Residents from Palomar Mountain and Pauma Valley also attended.

The most recent meeting of opponents of the Golden Pacific Powerlink—in the Warner Springs High School auditorium.

network and maintain future reliability as the state meets its energy policy goals. The need for the policy-driven project was identified by the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), the state’s independent transmission planning authority, as critical new infrastructure needed to reduce congestion, meet the state’s energy goals, and enhance the flow of electricity on the statewide grid.” The utility estimates the project will cost about $1.6 billion. CAISO operates the grid that serves 80% of the state. According to SDG&E it “identified the need for the Golden Pacific Powerlink and the general area where the line should go to support grid reliability. SDG&E, which provides energy in San Diego and Orange Counties, is designing the project and refining the early route. State and federal agencies must review and approve the final route.” Palomar Mountain residents opposed to the Golden Pacific Powerlink project— who call their group “Save Palomar Mountain” (https://savepalomarmountain.org) —met with representatives of San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) September 23, 2026 at the Palomar Mountain Fire Station, the center of most civic life in the mountain community. Hammerly described the meeting: “Yesterday’s Q&A session with SDG&E on Palomar Mountain made one thing unmistakably clear to the residents: Public safety is not SDG&E’s priority, nor has the utility meaningfully evaluated viable alternatives

for the Golden Pacific Powerlink Project. Instead, their stance amounted to, ‘we’re just doing what the State of California asked us to do’—an alarming abdication of independent technical rigor and sound judgment.” According to Hammerly, “Thus we all must petition CPUC (California Public Utilities Commission), which has a clear legal duty: They cannot approve a project route that carries these extreme wildfire and environmental liabilities when viable alternatives are available.” About a week earlier, on September 17, more than 100 backcountry and North County residents sporting bright yellow shirts attended the San Marcos City Council chambers for the CPUC Voting Meeting, confronting the commissioners. They heard SDG&E spokesperson Alex Welling reveal that the company will be submitting its formal application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) to the CPUC by mid-November 2026. SDG&E seeks a regulatory ruling by 2029, with commercial operation planned for 2032. The “yellow shirts” described concerns that wildfire liabilities generated by the transmission towers would increase wildfire insurance rates. Hitting middle class working homeowners directly in the pocketbook. They demanded that the CPUC require the utility to consider alternatives such as reconductoring existing transmission lines—i.e. replacing old, heavy metal wires

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On Palomar Mountain residents have started a letter writing campaign. They are urging like-minded people to post letters on the Save Palomar Mountain – Stop the Powerlink Facebook page. So far, Valley Center has largely remained silent on the project. One member of Save Palomar Mountain told this reporter recently: “Unlike Temecula, Anza Borrego... I found that Valley Center has been incredibly quiet about the perspective to have 200 ft towers carrying 500kV transmission line on their land...Are they really going to remain silent and get rolled over and accept these fire risk on North Valley Center and Lilac territories without saying anything?” Asked to provide some concrete criticisms of the project, as opposed to the normal NIMBY arguments, this critic, Sandrine Miller-Montgomery, Pharm.D., Ph.D., provided these bullet-points: “This is not speculation that large power lines (not necessarily the towers) create major fire danger despite what SDGE is stating. • “The Camp/Paradise Fire who killed 89 people in 2018 was caused by such a power line. (PG&E has been recognized as responsible) • “The Eaton Fire last year who killed 15 people was caused by a powerline (SCEdison has been recognized as responsible) and these are only two in our state. • “These are not amateurs who arrive to this conclusion but commission based on power supply engineers experts.”

Miller-Montgomery added, “Ultimately, it is not a NIMBY issue... unless you think the entire county is your back yard (which I think we should as we all enjoy it at some point)... we need to put CPUC back in from of their mission statement to provide safe, clean and affordable utility to the community.” Recently State Assemblymember Laurie Davies (AD-74, representing Fallbrook, Oceanside, and South Orange County) declared: “We need to make sure we’re getting this right, not simply getting it done.” According to Hammerly, “Having senior legislative figures testify directly before the Commission elevates the controversy from a localized dispute into an issue of statewide legislative oversight.” The task force is emphasizing that corporate interests are pushing the project: “While public testimony in hearing chambers remains unanimously opposed, policy updates from Biocom (the influential life sciences trade association) and the utility-backed ‘GRID Coalition’ reveal active lobbying before the San Diego County Board of Supervisors and state regulators. Biocom is advocating for the transmission line to import bulk electricity for life science laboratories, research parks, and biotechnology manufacturing.” The task force also emphasizes the regional rivalries at the core of making rural communities pay for the energy needs of the cities. “This dynamic lays bare the fundamental regional inequity of the project: coastal life science campuses and urban load pockets seeking imported power, while rural backcountry and agricultural communities absorb 100% of the catastrophic wildfire risk, aerial firefighting restrictions, and insurance collapse.”

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Valley Leaders

Phil Bell reflects on fire district legacy as he retires

By DAVID ROSS As he nears the end of his long term on the board of the Valley Center Fire Protection District, longtime board president Phil Bell reflects on his legacy. Bell, a VC resident since 1992, has served on the fire board 16 years, 10 of those years as board president. Before that he had a distinguished 18-year career with the Vista Fire Dept. until an on-the-job injury derailed it. He joined the VC fire board before the district declared independence from Cal Fire and set out to create its own agency—locally run and staffed. Bell was serving in 2012 when Cal Fire—which the district had contracted to run its department since the early 1980s—announced a new contract that included a 30% fee increase over three years. “It was untenable,” recalls Bell, who was board treasurer. “I talked with John Byne [then District Administrator] and Weaver Simonsen, board president. “That’s not going to be possible,” he told them. District annual revenues increased 2% a year based on a community facilities assessment. “We were looking at a thirty-percent increase over three years,” he recalls. “We really didn’t have a chance to discuss the rationale behind it. We had been waiting for them to present the package and it was quite a shock. So we brainstormed what to do next? What were the alternatives?” One option was accept the contract and realize that VC Fire Protection District would be taken over by Cal Fire in three years. “If we had accepted that contract that would have been the logical outcome,” said Bell. They didn’t accept that outcome. Today VCFPD and North County Fire are the only independent fire agencies in unincorporated San Diego. The next step was meeting with the San Pasqual Tribe to discuss forming a Joint Power Authority (JPA) to provide fire protection along with Valley Center’s equipment and personnel. “They agreed and we had a great partnership for two and a half years,” recalls Bell. “But during that time, I personally felt that was not the end state that served the community best. So I came up with a proposal to start our own fire department.” It was voted down in 2014. “I went back and licked my wounds, changed some things and built up support and it was approved,”

Phil Bell as president of the Valley Center Fire Protection District board.

Phil Bell with Joe Napier at Christmastime 2017.

Valley Magazine - October 2026 | 19

A team photo with Phil Bell seated seventh from right in the front row.

he recalls. They continued to money problems because at that time the district received 2% of the1% property tax collected by the County that the district had collected since its inception. This would later spur the successful effort to persuade the Board of Supervisors to raise the district’s share to 6% of the 1% property tax assessment. But we are getting ahead of our story. “The initial hope was that one of the parcel tax measures would pass,” recalls Bell. “That was our first and best hope. When neither passed, we had to figure out something going forward.” Even though the years were lean, “We never ran a deficit, we were always tight,” says Bell. “But we came to the razor’s edge and sometimes had $1,500 at the end of the year. We knew something had to change.” Strangely enough, the citizenry that refused twice to authorize larger benefit fees came up with the idea that saved them. “During the course of the parcel tax measures and following—we would poll citizens to ask why they didn’t vote for it. Both times 56% voted for the measures [shy a few percentage points of passage.] “Almost universally people would say, ‘We spend enough in taxes, you need to go to the County to ask for more.’ That started to resonate. Chief Napier and myself started to plan how to go about asking the County for more money.” It wasn’t long before Chief Napier came up with the idea of changing the tax assessment, so the district collects 6% of the 20 | Valley Magazine - October 2026

Valley Center Fire Chief Joe Napier (left) and board President Phil Bell (right) making a presentation to Jim Bernet, of the Valley Center Fire Foundation.

1%, like most other districts. “It was a two-year project to convince the Board of Supervisors. “Jim Desmond, to his credit, wanted there to be no conflicts from a firefighters’ perspective,” says Bell. “He said very early on we would need

to get Cal Fire on board to at least not oppose us.” That began a dialogue with Cal Fire and San Diego County’s Cal Fire Chief Tony Mecham, who was not initially on board. “It was more of a continuity, I think from

his standpoint of bringing all the agencies under the Cal Fire umbrella would have been optimal,” said Bell. “We presented what we felt were logical points why the 2% of 1% wasn’t viable— and that we were the lowest funded districts.” They did several presentations at the Maxine Theater and even got the town’s Democratic and Republican organizations to join forces. Apparently the logjam broke when Bell unilaterally decided to go talk to Chief Mecham and ask, “What can we do for you?” That was in late 2024. Napier at first thought there was no chance to get such a meeting. But they did. Bell visited Mecham’s HQ at the County Administration Building. “We had a very amicable conversation,” recalls Bell. “I explained what we needed. He explained his needs from what Cal Fire wanted to achieve.” He was able to secure Cal Fire’s agreement not to oppose getting an increase share of the property tax. At the same time, the County agreed to increase the share of the property tax assessment Cal Fire was collecting in some of the unincorporated areas. Cal Fire went from opposing VC’s proposal to advocating for it. Now, says Bell, “Chief Mecham is as strong an advocate for our agency as anyone out there.” Why the change of heart? “Timing, I think,” says Bell. “I think it was the right time. They saw that our district wasn’t getting smaller and wasn’t going away. We had assets and resources and had developed a fire department that was self-sufficient.” That can be traced to the hiring of Joe Napier. “We were blessed from the day when we hired Chief Napier to run this department,” recalls Bell. He knew him in Vista, where he was his trainee when Bell was a captain. “He impressed me very early on. Before he came into the fire service he was a bagger at Alpha Beta. He was al-

ways asking how to be in the fire department. He was very, very eager and positive. You could tell he was different.” Phil Bell looks on Fire Station 3 and obtaining the 6% of the 1% of property tax as part of his legacy. “My legacy, I think, is starting this fire department, presenting the concept to the board and hiring the right people, i.e. Chief Napier, to shepherd this.” Certainly Station 3, “but primarily it’s the 6% of the 1%, which should fund us forever.” Where does he see the district in the years ahead? “With the North Village development coming in we will see a brick and mortar Station 3 and then a Station 4. A larger department with more calls. A realization of a dream to have a full functional department. Maybe not with CalPERS [the state’s pension system]. That’s a very, very big ticket item. But certainly something where we can have firefighters stay here for a career, to stop the revolving door.” He added, “It’s been a great ride, working with a lot of great people!” I asked VC fire director Lin Werkheiser to assess Phil Bell: “I don’t think you can appropriately quantify Phil’s effect on this district,” said Werkheiser. “He has really been the driver of a lot of this, and did a lot behind the scenes of the 6% of the 1%. Which was vitally important to us. His knowledge of a fire district and how it should be put together has been invaluable. I don’t think this district would be what it is without him. He has been very, very important to the success of this operation.” Chief Napier added, “Phil Bell was instrumental in seeing through the vision of Valley Center having its own independent fire department. His vision included the core values of fiscal responsibility while providing service excellence with local control.”

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Valley Magazine - October 2026 | 21

Valley Crime Prevention

Crime Suppression Team:

taking down narcotics, weapons and porch pirates

By DAVID ROSS Since its establishment in 2025, the Crime Suppression Team (CST) based out of the Valley Center Sheriff’s Substation has made a significant dent in illegal activity throughout the area. The team focuses on narcotics—especially fentanyl—illegal firearm possession, and locating wanted individuals. “Very often these intersect,” says Deputy Eli Woienski, the team’s lead, whom we interviewed for this article. “There is a strong nexus with firearms and narcotics. Many of the people we investigate are repeat offenders and wanted persons.” Other unincorporated communities with CSTs include Imperial Beach, Fallbrook, and Ramona. Woienski explains the team’s mission as “providing a proactive unit to conduct follow up and proactive investigations into criminal networks within the unincorporated area of Valley Center.” The CST regularly works with the FBI, ATF, and multi agency task forces throughout San Diego County. The work can be dangerous. “We are on the line between detectives and patrol officers,” says Woienski. “In many cases, we conduct surveillance and proactive arrests of dangerous individuals with only two or three deputies. So, the job can, at times, be dangerous.” Backup is available, though not always immediate. “With the amount of backup we have in Valley Center, there is usually a delay,” Woienski notes. “We back up patrol often—and patrol backs us up—but sometimes patrol is tied up with other calls.” Woienski cannot discuss ongoing cases or those still under review by the District Attorney, but he confirms that “The DA has successfully prosecuted numerous arrests resulting from the team’s work. Many narcotics cases take six months to a year. Some suspects we arrested early on are still wait22 | Valley Magazine - October 2026

Illegal weapons confiscated by the Crime Suppression Team (CST).

ing to go to court.” One case Woienski is particularly proud of is the “porch pirate” investigation from the week before Christmas in December 2025. “The Crime Suppression Team and patrol deputies identified a vehicle involved in package thefts across multiple Valley Center neighborhoods. We located the vehicle and conducted surveillance for about eight hours.” When the suspect finally left the location, he was arrested. “A follow up search found illegal firearms, numerous stolen packages, and stolen mail. The primary suspect was sentenced to five years in prison,” Woienski reports. Although most victims didn’t receive their stolen packages in time for the holidays, one child’s letter to Santa was recov-

ered and delivered to the post office in time for Christmas. Woienski says the CST fills a critical gap. Because Valley Center is unincorporated, specialized units such as gang enforcement or team policing aren’t present. “CST provides a valuable proactive and investigative tool to cover that gap and make the community safer. This includes working with neighboring agencies, including Riverside Sheriff’s, Escondido Police, and federal partners.” He offered a recent example of the work’s danger. “Two weeks ago, we developed intelligence and located a suspect hiding in Valley Center with an active warrant for attempted murder. CST located and surveilled the suspect until he could be safely taken into custody by CST and patrol

deputies.” The suspect was hiding in the back of a car at an ice cream shop. “We pulled up alongside and watched for 10–15 minutes until patrol units could get there,” Woienski recalls. Crime Suppression Team Rein‑ stated, Delivering Major Fentan‑ yl‑Fighting Successes Across Rural North County With the Assistance of Valley Center Area Investigations In 2025–2026, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office Valley Center Substation achieved one of the region’s most significant public-safety milestones: the reinstatement of its Crime Suppression Team (CST). Created as an intelligence‑driven enforcement unit, CST was tasked with confronting the escalating fentanyl crisis and protecting the rural communities of Valley Center and five tribal reservations. Under the leadership of Lieutenant Tingley, Valley Center Station Commander, and CST/Investigations Sergeant Sobczak and Sergeant John Johnson, the team rapidly became an indispensable force—restoring proactive policing in areas where remote terrain and limited local resources often complicate narcotics enforcement. Robust Enforcement, Life-Saving Results In its first year back in operation, CST executed high‑impact actions that directly disrupted drug trafficking networks and prevented overdoses. The team seized: 170 grams of fentanyl 539 fentanyl-laced pills 39 firearms $17,667 in narcotics-related currency These efforts played a critical role in safeguarding vulnerable families and ultimately rescued three drug‑endangered children living amid dangerous narcotics activity. CST’s broader operational statistics since establishment highlight an even wider reach: 85 vehicle stops 61 pedestrian stops 55 felony arrests 21 misdemeanor arrests 14 search warrants executed 25 warrants cleared 41 firearms seized 315.29 grams of fentanyl recovered 283.7 grams of methamphetamine recovered 169 party‑drug units recovered 706 counterfeit prescription pills seized 16 recovered stolen-property cases $17,677 in currency seized 3 drug‑endangered children res‑ cued Several of these investigations have already progressed toward potential pris-

Heroin and the cash associated with it. CST Drug Trafficking Arrest (Fentanyl/ Methamphetamine). Suspect was federally indicted.

on‑level sentencing. Valley Center Area Investigations: A Critical Force Multiplier A major driver behind CST’s success was the active support of Valley Center Area Investigations. This partnership strengthened the team’s capabilities far beyond tradition-

al patrol‑based enforcement. Investigators provided: Additional personnel for complex and rural operations Major‑investigations expertise essential for developing narcotics cases Drone pilots whose aerial capabilities enhanced surveillance, tracking, and warrant Valley Valley Magazine Magazine -- October October 2026 2026 || 23 23

Confiscated M30 Fentanyl pills and cash.

execution Technical guidance, case development, and operational support across multiple high-risk incidents This assistance allowed CST to operate more safely, more strategically, and with significantly enhanced intelligence and evidence-gathering capabilities. Collaboration Across Agencies CST also excelled in collaborative operations, completing: 8 inter‑agency assists 4 assists to outside partners, including tribal units, specialized regional teams, and joint task forces 23 inter-agency assists 22 additional assists to other agencies These multi‑agency partnerships improved information sharing, expanded regional response strategies, and strengthened collective efforts to counter increasingly sophisticated fentanyl‑distribution networks. A Model for Rural Public Safety Operating in rural environments often overlooked by larger metropolitan initiatives, CST demonstrated courage, professionalism, and a deep commitment to public service. Through intelligence-driven work, strategic innovation, strong leadership, and critical support from Valley Center Area Investigations, CST delivered life‑saving impacts across Valley Center’s communities and tribal lands. The reinstatement of CST represents more than a tactical shift—it’s a renewed promise to safeguard families in North County’s rural heartland. Their achievements in 2025–2026 make CST a standout candidate for recognition and a model for how rural enforcement units can effectively confront the modern fentanyl crisis. 24 | Valley Magazine - October 2026

Seven hundred and fifty M30 Fentanyl Pills seized by the Crime Suppression Team.

Valley Crime Prevention

Halloween Safety Tips

By JOHN BALOGH, Crime Prevention Specialist, San Diego County Sheriff’s Office- Valley Center Substation Halloween is a time of costumes, candy, parties, and excitement for many. It is also a time to think about how to make it a safe and fun experience. I reflect back on my own childhood and young adulthood Halloween experiences and have very fond memories. Looking at it from a parent’s point of view, it was kind of dangerous. Granted, it was out in the country, not many cars, and we knew all our neighbors, but there weren’t any streetlights or much use of flashlights either. And not to mention the older kids who were doing more tricking than treating. Here are some Halloween safety tips from the Valley Center Sheriff’s Substation: • Fasten reflective tape to costumes for after dark activities • An adult should accompany children 12 and under • Agree on a specific time to meet or be home with your children • Teach children to never go with a stranger and stay with friends • Travel in well-lit areas with a glow stick or flashlight

• Put electronic devices down (Parents too) and watch where you are walking • Cross at crosswalks when available • Drivers should be watching for walkers and unpredictable actions • Drivers should enter and exit driveways with caution • Discourage new and inexperienced drivers from driving on Halloween • Watch for children wearing dark clothing at twilight and in the evening • Double check candy wrappers- if opened, don’t eat • Don’t eat homemade treats from people you don’t know very well • Skip houses that don’t have the light on • Review safety procedures with your child if a dangerous situation occurs • “Let your parents pick their favorite candy from your pile first” • HAVE FUN!

Happy Halloween

Valley Magazine - October 2026 | 25

Valley Safety

Road crews prepared for El Niño

The El Niño weather system that is predicted to hit Southern California this year could bring insane amounts of flooding to the area. Valley Magazine contacted the County Dept. of Public Works to see what it is doing in anticipation of this unusual amount of rain. According to Donna Durckel, spokesman for the County, road crews prepare all year long for severe weather by performing various maintenance programs, including storm drain and culvert inspections and cleanings, street sweeping, tree trimming, pavement and pothole repairs, and others across the region, including your areas noted. “There are about 20,000 storm drains under our roadways, and over 1,900 storm drains and 80 open channels outside of the County road right-of-way,” said Durckel. “All are inspected at least once per year, and then those that need it are cleaned before the storm season. This work has been prioritized and is well ahead of schedule.” She added, “We also respond to concerns submitted through the Tell Us Now App usually within a day.” Public Works has 13 road stations across the unincorporated county, where county crews, equipment and materials are staged, so they are well-situated to provide responsive service to their respective communities.

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More about Tell Us Now: This App is downloadable on your phone on Google Play or the Apple App Store. People can use the App to report non-emergency problems to the County of San Diego and track the progress of a reported problem. You can report problems related to unincorporated County roads, pricing and scales (e.g. gas pumps, grocery stores), mosquitoes (e.g. green pools, dead birds, mosquito breeding), air quality (region wide), and code compliance (e.g. graffiti, abandoned vehicles) within the unincorporated area. To use the County of San Diego’s free “Tell Us Now!” App just download it form the App Store, snap a quick picture and add some text on your smartphone and send! The app will alert someone to clean up the mess, repair the sign or fix that error! It is also available in Spanish. Workflow A service request is automatically created and sent to front office as a Acella work order. Staff verifies if the request is in the unincorporated and if it is county-maintained road. If it is, staff assigns to appropriate crew or office staff depending on the nature of service request. As an example, if a tree blocking sight visibility, or a flooded drain, assignments are sent to road crew to address. Another example is from CHP for signs down due to collisions, etc. If the road is not a county road, it will reach out to the reporting party and provide appropriate contacts with other jurisdictions.

Valley Magazine - October 2026 | 27

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