Duo to perform free concert B-6
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VFW contest winners honored D-5
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November 24, 2016
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Volume 20, Issue 47
Decades-long Gregory Canyon Landfill dispute settled PALA – Gregory Canyon Landfill (GCL), LLC, and the Pala Band of Mission Indians came together Nov. 17 to end the decades-long dispute over the proposed Gregory Canyon Landfill. GCL, the owners of the property, and the Pala Band cooperated to negotiate the sale of a portion of the property that included the former landfill site. The deal represents a new beginning for GCL, the Pala Band, and the neighboring community. The purchase protects sacred Gregory Mountain and other important and culturallysignificant sites forever. In their discussions with the Pala Band, GCL came to understand and appreciate the importance of the surrounding community and the interest in preserving a cultural landscape. GCL has begun to explore alternative uses for the remaining land which include residential and commercial development. The Pala Band has long urged developers to consider such alternative uses for the property and has agreed to show support for GCL throughout this process. “The Pala Band of Mission Indians is very pleased to have been able to work cooperatively with GCL to achieve a result that protects both our sacred sites and the water resources critical to numerous users along the river,” said Pala Band chairman Robert Gregory Mountain was the center of a long drawn out landfill dispute. The site is now considered culturally significant for the Smith. “Pala supports GCL’s Pala Band of Mission Indians. efforts to construct an alternative and more desirable residential and commercial project on its remaining property.”
see LANDFILL, page A-11
thisweek
Nighttime Christmas Parade highlights busy holiday schedule in Fallbrook
Announcements �������������������������A-2 Business ������������������������������������C-10 Business Directory ���������������������C-8 Classifieds ������������������������������������D-6 Dining & Food ������������������������������B-5 Education ��������������������������������������D-4 Entertainment ������������������������������B-6 Health & Fitness ��������������������������B-2 Home & Garden �������������������������C-2 Legals.............................................D-7 Obituaries �������������������������������������D-5 Opinion �����������������������������������������B-5 Real Estate �����������������������������������C-2 Sheriff’s Log ���������������������������������D-5 Sports.............................................D-1 Wine................................................B-8
Potter School’s parking lot shutdown causes frustrations for admins Andrea Verdin Staff Writer
a real community event.” The parade will make its way down Main Ave. from Ammunition to Ivy Street, “and is sure to help you feel the holiday spirit,” according to MacDonald. Here’s a look at other holiday events in Fallbrook, listed in chronological order. Art of the Holiday at the Fallbrook Art Center (Nov. 12Dec. 24) The Fallbrook Art Center is located at 103 S. Main Ave. and is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 3 p.m. Sunday. The center offers a variety of hand-crafted holiday gifts produced by local artists, ranging from jewelry, glassware, wearable art and greeting cards. “This event is great for holiday shopping,” said MacDonald of Art of the Holiday. “It’s affordable art pieces from local artisans, everything from hand-blown glass to jewelry to glass-blown ornaments.” A Farmhouse Christmas at Myrtle Creek (Nov. 25-Dec. 24)
Traffic around Potter Jr. High during pickup and drop off times has always been a point of frustration for parents in a hurry, leaving them looking for creative ways to quickly leave and collect their children. However, one option some parents are using has caused concerns for Potter’s administration, as it leaves students unattended. Wait times to collect children at Potter Jr. High can be up to half an hour for some parents, as there have been recent changes in parking lot access in the past academic school year. “Early in the 2015-16 school year, the CHP approached Potter Junior High administration with a recommendation aimed at improving traffic safety on Reche Road,” said Bill Billingsley, assistant superintendent for Fallbrook Union Elementary School District. “The CHP suggested restricting parents from using the small auxiliary parking lot (to the left of the main Potter campus entrance) as a drop off and pick up venue for students.” Prior to this recommendation, parents had been using the lot rather than waiting in cue at the existing drop off/pick up route on campus. This caused several safety issues. “First, the lot was never intended to be used for pick up - drop off. Because of its small size and location it is not staffed with Potter supervisory personnel. Therefore, students were unsupervised and crossing the traffic flow to get to the auxiliary parking area, creating student safety concerns,” said Billingsley. “Second, parents exiting the auxiliary lot turning left and right onto Reche Road interfered with the busses and parents exiting Potter. Traffic on Reche Road is busy, with vehicles traveling quickly. Having parents
see PARADE, page A-10
see SHUTDOWN, page A-9
Ken Seals photo As the Fallbrook High School Marching Warriors Band plays in the foreground, the annual official Holiday Tree Lighting takes place on Dec. 4, 2015 at the Fallbrook Community Center. Tom Ferrall Staff Writer
Village News
Ron Jonason photo
‘Tis the season for holiday events, and Fallbrook has it covered. The 35th edition of the Fallbrook Christmas Parade, which will travel down Main Ave. the night of Dec. 3, highlights a busy holiday schedule of fun that is already underway. “It’s the largest nighttime Christmas parade in North C o u n t y, ” s a i d F a l l b r o o k Chamber of Commerce CEO Lila MacDonald. “And it’s the secondlargest community event (behind the Avocado Festival). I always tell people, it’s a Fallbrook tradition. You’ve either been in it, watched it, or helped make it happen.” The parade starts at 5 p.m. and will feature lighted floats, marching bands, holiday music, dancers, classic cars and – as always – surprises. “One year you had a guy walking bunny rabbits in it,” said MacDonald. “It’s one of those only in Fallbrook things where you go, ‘Are they literally walking mini horses and goats down the street?
Yeah they are.’ I love the event. It’s a gift to the community. It’s not a money maker. It’s really one of those feel-good things – to see little kids in it having so much fun, and a community coming together for a very special time.” MacDonald said the parade will have more than 100 entries, including some rather large ones. “One entry is Fallbrook Air Park, and they’ll have a truck towing a plane right on it,” said MacDonald. “We have entries from multiple car clubs, and one entry from a car club may be eight to 15 cars. So you might end up with 150 entries in the parade.” While Santa is always the star of any Christmas parade, old St. Nick will have some competition for the spotlight from the 1st Marine Division Band based out of Camp Pendleton. “It will be great to have the Marine Corps band back,” said MacDonald. “They have not come for a few years because they are usually participating in drills on base. But this year they’ll be here and that’s super exciting. The Gem and Mineral Society will be hosting them after the parade. It’s