A chance ‘to adjust our focus’
Summit: State of homelessness
By Laura Place
REGION — Last week, state lawmakers and homelessness experts discussed the current state of homelessness and ongoing measures to address it in San Diego County, as well as the implications of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s executive order to remove encampments.
State Sen. Catherine Blakespear (D-Encinitas) hosted the second annual Ending Homelessness Summit on July 25 at the University of California San Diego. The summit featured panels with San Diego area elected officials and representatives from state and county housing and behavioral health agencies.
Blakespear noted that despite the significant funding and programming going toward the homelessness crisis in California, the problem is only getting worse, with the number of people becoming unhoused continuing to outpace those entering housing.
In June, 1,172 people in San Diego County entered homelessness while 989 persons were housed, according to a report by the Regional Task Force on Homelessness.
“Our efforts to combat homelessness are currently not sufficient,” said Blakespear. “We need to be able to adjust our focus.”
That same morning as the summit, the governor announced an executive order directing state agencies to move urgently to remove encampments while also assisting those living in them, stating that encampments
Bear(s) with us
Nonprofit signs Green Oak deal
By Laura Place
VISTA — The real estate trust that owns Green Oak Ranch in Vista has entered into a purchase agreement with homelessness nonprofit Solutions for Change for its use of a 110-acre parcel of the property, dashing the county’s hopes of using the land for a proposed sober living and behavioral health facility.
The contract signed July 18 is a 10-year lease with an exclusive purchasing right option to Solutions for $10.5 million. Solutions CEO and founder Chris Megison said they hope to purchase the land sometime in the next three years.
that we help, and we’re gonna be able to help a lot more families over the next many years,” Megison said.
The 110-acre parcel of the 142-acre ranch was put up for sale almost a year after the passing of the land’s former owner, Arie de Jong, last April.
SOLUTIONS FOR CHANGE
CEO Chris Megison
The nonprofit will take possession of the land in the first quarter of 2025 and will use it to expand its Solutions Academy for families experiencing homelessness, specifically for additional housing and workforce development training.
“We’re really grateful to the Green Oak Ranch land board for selecting us. We’re at 25 years of transforming lives for families
The parcel currently houses a popular summer camp and retreat center, an RV park, and a residential men’s recovery program operated by Green Oak Ranch Ministries.
Megison said Solutions for Change had been in discussions with Green Oak Ranch about purchasing the property since June 2023. However, the site began to draw more attention after the County of San Diego announced in April that it had also entered into negotiations with the ranch.
The county was eyeing the property for a $280 million sober living and behavioral health facility, intended to help meet the severe shortage of mental health beds and other resources in
San Marcos OKs 224 housing units for vacant lot
By Laura Place
SAN MARCOS — A new housing development unanimously approved by the San Marcos City Council last week will bring 224 units to a long-vacant lot just down the road from Bradley Park while also providing protection for sensitive species onsite.
The 33-acre lot, bordered by Linda Vista Drive,
Pacific Street, Las Posas Road and La Mirada Drive, has historically been difficult to develop due to the presence of sensitive biological resources.
The parcel has the city’s largest remaining concentration of vernal pools — seasonal pools of water that provide habitats for plants and animals — and the largest non-conserved na-
tive grassland area.
The city received no project applications for the industrially-zoned lot for years until applicant Las Posas Owner LPV, LLC, began to plan a residential development for the site in 2021.
“Everyone who’s taken a look at this site has basically seen the biological constraints, and they run
away,” said Greg Waite of Lancaster Consulting Services, a representative for the project. “The biological preservation is really important out here and something we take really seriously.”
Las Posas Owner had originally sought approval for a much larger development with 449 units. However, state agencies review-
ing the project required it to be scaled down and restricted to the southern portion of the lot to limit impacts on specific plant and animal species. Under the 224-unit plan, just under 30% of the site will be developed, and the rest will be preserved as open space under an en-
TURN TO HOUSING ON 8
STARTING THURSDAY, over five years since giant pandas were last seen at San Diego Zoo, the public can again visit these popular creatures at the downtown zoo. Xin Bao, above, is one of two giant pandas settling in at the expanded space, which is inspired by their native habitats in China. Courtesy photo
UCSD, Tri-City talks collapse
By Samantha Nelson OCEANSIDE
— After nine months of negotiations, UC San Diego Health has ended partnership talks with Tri-City Healthcare District, announcing that the hospitals’ joint plans to improve healthcare services in North County have collapsed.
Last October, following months of financial struggles and staffing shortages, the Tri-City board agreed to partner with UCSD Health, which had proposed to take over the hospital’s property, debt and staff. Before the agreement, Tri-City was forced to make several cuts to its services, including its labor and delivery unit.
Since then, UCSD Health and Tri-City leaders have been trying to finalize the agreement – however, negotiations have officially reached an impasse.
According to Tri-City CEO Dr. Gene Ma, UCSD Health had changed some key parameters from its original proposal that the health district could not accept.
Ma said the most significant of those changes was UCSD Health’s taking over management but leaving Tri-City with all the financial risk and responsibility during a five-year transition period.
Ma said the cost of running a UCSD Health facility is higher than TriCity’s, and salary increases would have been prohibitive. Accordingly, a transition period was requested to allow Tri-City to absorb the costs gradually rather than all at once.
“The problem is, if we’re doing the transition, the financial responsibilities, the balance sheet, and the risk would all lie with us,” Ma said. “Meanwhile, UC San Diego Health would manage everything, but if that means running the hospital into the ground, unfortunately, the responsibility would still be on us — and there would be no way for this board to resolve that.”
Ma said the healthcare district’s attorneys had advised against the proposal, noting the hospital’s lenders wouldn’t likely approve of the deal either.
According to Ma, this wasn’t because Tri-City didn’t trust UC San Diego Health to run the hospital but rather because the big stakes proposed for the public healthcare district were too risky.
According to UC San Diego Health, its proposal for Tri-City included:
• $100 million infusion of cash within the first two years plus other financial supports, including a line of credit designed to protect the financial stability of the hospital during the first five years,
• Transferring all assets and liabilities to UC San Diego Health, including employment of the em-
ployees by UC San Diego Health by year five,
• Pay increases of more than 20% over the first three years for all TriCity employees,
• A five-year plan for clinical program growth to include comprehensive cancer services with access to clinical trials and sub-specialty services as well as cardiovascular, neurological, pregnancy and behavioral health services,
• Infrastructure enhancements, capital equipment investments, and adoption of the Epic electronic medical record system.
“UC San Diego Health remains committed to serving the communities of North County and is continuing with planned expansion of healthcare services,” the healthcare organization stated in its announcement ending negotiations with Tri-City.
UC San Diego Health has a growing presence in Vista and Encintias and plans to open a 150,000-square-foot multispecialty care hub in Rancho Bernardo, which will offer primary care, comprehensive cancer care, ambulatory surgery, advanced imaging, rehabilitation services and 17 specialties.
UC San Diego Health was also recently ranked as the best hospital system in San Diego in the 2024-2025 US News and World Report Best Hospitals Survey. The health care provider is among the nation’s best in 11 adult medical and surgical specialties and received the “Honor Roll” designation, which is awarded to only 20 hospitals in the nation for exceptional patient care.
Before UC San Diego Health announced on July 26 that it had ended negotiations with Tri-City, Ma told The Coast News that other organizations had expressed interest in partnering with Tri-City, though he could not share their names.
According to Ma, TriCity had hoped to continue negotiations with UCSD Health and would not start talks with other organizations until it was clear that an impasse had been reached.
UCSD Health presented a revised proposal at the most recent Tri-City board meeting on July 19; however, the board was still unable to accept it.
Ma also said the TriCity Healthcare District’s financial standing had improved significantly over the last nine months thanks to “hard decisions,” including cutting labor and delivery. The hospital also ceased relying on traveling nurses and converted all of its nursing staff to permanent positions, which helped save money and improved its overall workflow efficiency.
“We’re well on the road to recovery,” Ma said.
the county.
The Coast News has requested a comment from Supervisor Jim Desmond, who was the driving force behind the proposed project.
Miles Himmel, a spokesperson for Desmond’s office, said the owners of Green Oak Ranch approached the county several months ago about possibly buying the site. Since news broke of the July 18 purchase agreement, Himmel said the county has not yet learned why it wasn’t chosen, but the supervisor fully supports Solutions for Change.
In relation to identifying possible alternative locations for the county’s sober living and behavioral health facility, Himmel said, “At this point, there is no future location.”
The county’s proposal drew concerns from residents of the Shadowridge neighborhood bordering the ranch about safety. Tim Troncone, a Vista resident living near the ranch who has opposed the county’s plan, said he is pleased that the ranch is going to Solutions for Change.
“From day one, the goal of the people of Shadowridge has been to preserve our quality of life and ensure the safety of our residents. Solutions for Change is a proven community partner and I’m personally pleased to welcome them to the neighborhood,” Troncone said.
The city of Vista also recently began its own pursuit of the land, with the City Council confirming in May that they had ordered an appraisal of the site.
In June, Solutions for Change asked the city to cease its pursuit in exchange for joint use of the property if awarded the contract.
Mayor John Franklin said he could not currently comment on whether any actual negotiations took place with the ranch, but that he would like that information to be shared with city residents in the future.
Franklin also said he was happy to hear that Solutions had been awarded the land, calling them a great partner of over 20 years, and said there could be opportunities for partnership going forward.
“Green Oak Ranch has been charitably owned and operated for 80 years and this transaction will ensure that Green Oak Ranch will continue its mission of healing and recovery for decades to come,” Franklin said.
“Also of great importance, the citizens of Vista will continue to have a strong say in the land use at Green Oak Ranch. I also hope there may be an opportunity to partner with Solutions for recreation opportunities that would benefit all Vistans.”
Green Oak Ranch Ministries will continue to operate its recovery and sober living program, as well as a new house for women and children, on the remaining land.
However, the discontin-
uation of the summer camp upon the sale means the ministry will lose around 85% of its funding for its programs.
Looking ahead, Megison said he wants Solutions’ operations at the ranch to become a national model, with plans for a state-of-the-art workforce development training center.
However, the nonprofit is still figuring out its options for developing the land, which will ultimately need to be approved by the city.
While Solutions for Change will maintain its main 4-acre campus along California Avenue in Vista, the nonprofit plans to “divest” from some of its other properties throughout the
county to center its operations at Green Oak Ranch, Megison said.
This includes selling six properties near its campus that it previously purchased to expand its residential program.
“We like 100 acres a lot better than four acres,” Megison said. Because Solutions for Change requires sobriety for those entering its programs, the nonprofit has found itself at odds with the state’s Housing First requirements in the past, making them ineligible for state funding as a result.
Earlier this year, the nonprofit was forced to forfeit 16 low-income apartment units to the City of Carlsbad after failing to secure funding.
GREEN OAK
CONTINUED FROM FRONT
GREEN OAK Ranch Ministries will continue to operate its recovery and sober living program, but will discontinue its popular summer camp as a result of the pending deal with Solutions for Change. Courtesy photo/Green Oak Ranch
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Opinion & Editorial
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INTERN
Autism to the rescue
By Aaron Byzak & Michael Pot
Autism diagnoses are on the rise, with more than 1 in 36 children in the United States now identified as being on the spectrum (CDC, 2023).
This includes 1 in 27 boys and 1 in 116 girls (Autism Speaks, 2022).
In California, students with disabilities cost nearly three times as much to educate as non-disabled students.
hopeful — perspective. We see our children and other uniquely capable individuals on the spectrum as potential contributors who can help solve pressing societal issues if properly inspired and guided.
Though individuals with autism may have intellectual or social impairments, many excel in areas like math, science, art and music.
These individuals are often referred to as “twice exceptional,” meaning their
those born with different abilities, Professor X saw the potential in these uniquely capable individuals, who, when nurtured, focused and united around a common goal, were able to achieve greatness and significantly contribute to society. We have adopted Professor X’s approach.
The rise in autism prevalence might be nature’s way of introducing a new type of thinker into our midst — one crucial for balancing out the excesses of modern society.
The rise in autism prevalence might be nature’s way of introducing a new type of thinker into our midst — one crucial for balancing out the excesses of modern society.
Although only a portion of these students are autistic, the financial implications are significant.
Despite additional resources, only 74% of students with autism graduate high school, compared to 86% of non-autistic students (Autism Speaks).
Furthermore, over 66% of young adults on the spectrum are unemployed and not in higher education two years after high school and even among college-educated autistic individuals, 85% experience unemployment or underemployment (Autism Society).
Given these statistics, society is understandably concerned about how to support a growing number of neurodivergent people.
As fathers of children with autism, we understand these concerns well. From the initial symptoms to diagnosis and beyond, questions about your children’s prospects abound. However, as we gain experience with our amazing children and mature as parents, we have developed a new — and decidedly
abilities can be found at both ends of the bell curve. Memorization, mathematical prowess and exceptional sensory perception are examples of such abilities.
While many neurotypical youth and young adults follow trends due to peer pressure, those with autism often remain committed to facts. This trait is invaluable in a world where misinformation and superficiality dominate.
To harness these benefits, society must shift its perspective on autism. We need to move away from viewing autism as a disability that needs fixing and instead see it as a different way of thinking that can offer invaluable insights and solutions.
This involves providing autistic individuals with the support and opportunities they need to thrive.
As Generation Xers influenced by comic books, cartoons and movies, we liken our children to Professor X’s team of superheroes, the X-Men.
While many in the X-Men universe feared
Blurring
the citizenship lines
The lines between American citizens and noncitizen immigrants who live here, legally or not, may become even more blurred this fall than they are today.
The newest move in this direction comes in Santa Ana, the county seat of the once reliably Republican Orange County, now mostly a “purple” area where hot races for Congress in recent years have been decided by thin margins.
The question now is whether noncitizens should be permitted to vote in strictly local elections and how that question should be presented to voters this fall.
Santa Ana’s City Council wants voters to determine whether noncitizens who live in the city should participate in local elections. The city’s population of more than 308,000 includes about 5,600 Vietnamese noncitizen residents and more than 60,000 Latinos who also lack citizenship.
The ballot proposal contains seven words saying local noncitizens, “including those who are taxpayers and parents,” should get the right to vote. Noncitizen parents of public schoolchildren already can vote in San Francisco school board elections and all local noncitizens will soon be eligible for that and other local balloting in Oakland. The San Francisco voting expansion was first approved by a 54%46% margin in 2016.
It was quickly struck down by a trial judge, but later reinstated by the state Court of Appeal.
colleges and universities as long as their residency qualifies them. Undocumented immigrants even have the right to practice law here under a bill signed in 2015 by ex-Gov. Jerry Brown. But they cannot serve on juries.
Mere days after Adams allowed virtually universal voting in New York, current Gov. Gavin Newsom expanded Medi-Cal insurance for the poor to cover undocumented immigrants ages 26 to 50.
Each of these moves lessened the motivation for immigrants to work toward citizenship. The rationale for each step along this path has been that noncitizens, regardless of their legal status, are part of the fabric of communities where they live.
Said Adams on his inauguration day, “I believe that all New Yorkers should have a say in their government…I look forward to bringing millions more into the democratic process.”
But some in Santa Ana questioned whether the “taxpayers and parents” language in the current noncitizen voting proposal would bias voters toward approving it. Some conservative organizations challenged that wording in court and got a county judge to order the language made more neutral.
Autistic individuals, with their unique perspectives, could play a key role in addressing society’s top pressing issues. Parents of autistic children should take heart.
While the challenges are real, the potential for their children to positively impact the world is immense. By nurturing their unique abilities and supporting their development, we can prepare these individuals to be the changemakers of the future.
It’s time to reset the discussion around autism, give parents hope and rally community leaders around every autistic individual’s potential.
Perhaps people with autism are here to save the world.
Aaron Byzak is an award-winning writer, healthcare executive, small business owner and father of a teenage son with autism.
Michael Pot is a small business owner, martial artist and father of 8-yearold twin boys with autism.
The U.S. Constitution does not ban such expansion of voting rights, blurring distinctions between citizens and those who are not, but allows only citizen voting in federal elections. California state elections are similarly confined to U.S. citizens.
The trend toward noncitizen voting goes far beyond this state. One example: Just after New York City Mayor Eric Adams swore his oath of office in 2022, he flip-flopped to endorse a local measure letting noncitizens vote in local elections.
Adams opposed that plan during his campaign and did not sign the law but let it take effect when he declined to veto it.
This is all part of a general blurring of differences between citizens and noncitizens. A prominent example came in 2015, when noncitizens began getting California driver’s licenses virtually identical to those of citizens. Immigrant children are now eligible for state-paid medical care under Medi-Cal and pay in-state tuition for state
But the City Council nevertheless voted to keep the original text, despite objections from Councilman David Penaloza, who called the language “disingenuous” and meant “to persuade and influence voters.”
For sure, if this measure passes, it will face a new court challenge. Because the U.S. Constitution is silent about who can vote in local elections, there’s a good chance the current measure would survive. Meanwhile, other states are moving to ban noncitizen voting. Six states already have such rules, while measures to ban noncitizen voting at all levels are on the ballot in five others this fall.
And there is no active move to give illegal immigrants a path to citizenship or to reduce the current application cost for others, now about $760 per person. It all leads to a confused situation with few immigrants knowing both their rights and what is prohibited to them.
S
Samantha Mason
Fiona Bork
Sophie Love
tom elias
County to develop battery storage safety rules
Fires at local facilities fuel call for new protocols
By Samantha Nelson REGION —
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors recently agreed to develop safety-related standards for battery energy storage facilities in the county’s unincorporated areas.
On July 17, the board directed County Administrative Officer Ebony Shelton to establish standards for battery energy storage system projects, including where they can be located, design, fire and explosion risk mitigation, emergency response protocols, hazardous materials, toxic gasses and noise.
Staff must also work with energy storage applicants to ensure their project aligns with the board’s recommendations.
Supervisor Jim Desmond, who brought forward the recommendations, cited recent fires at existing battery energy storage facilities in Otay Mesa and Valley Center.
Desmond also noted that the county does not currently have standards in place for battery storage facilities and feels the relatively new technology needs to be reviewed “a little more thoroughly” before more are approved for construction.
“To date, there have been three projects approved in unincorporated county areas, and two of those have caught fire,” Desmond said. “Two out of three is not a good way to go. This product unfortunately still needs some work.”
Desmond also said he wanted to avoid building battery energy storage facilities in or near residential neighborhoods, schools, daycares and hospitals, preferring instead to see them in industrial or commercial areas.
County staff has worked to use comparable
land-use definitions on new applications, which “gets us close on capturing the scope and scale of the battery storage projects … but it doesn’t necessarily account for their unique operating characteristics or public safety hazards,” Desmond said. “I think it’s important to pump the brakes a little bit here and work to establish specific definitions for development and safety standards.”
Vice Chair Terra Lawson-Remer thanked Desmond for proposing “long overdue” development standards.
Ex-Marine gets 7 years for pursuit death
By City News Service
VISTA — A former Marine who led police on a pursuit that ended in an Escondido crash that killed one of his passengers was sentenced July 24 to seven years in state prison.
John Eugene Brand, who was a lance corporal based out of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, pleaded guilty to evading causing serious bodily injury for the December 2023 death of 18-year-old Shevondia Compare-Bell.
Brand, 22, was also sentenced to more than three years in prison for a South Bay attempted carjacking with a knife. That sentence will run concurrently with the seven-year prison term. Prosecutors said Brand was out on bail in the South Bay case when the deadly chase happened.
Police said that on Dec. 18, Brand was behind the wheel of a stolen pickup that sped away when police responded to reports of a man and two women shoplifting at Dick’s Sporting Goods on Auto Park Way.
Police chased the truck onto Washington Avenue, where the driver tried to make a high-speed turn onto Fig Street but lost control and collided with a retaining wall.
Compare-Bell died at a hospital from injuries suffered in the crash. The other passenger was also injured.
Brand ran from the crash scene, but officers found him hiding about a
block away, according to police, who said the pickup Brand was driving belonged to the U.S. Marine Corps.
and driving the wrong way on the freeway, authorities said Sunday.
“There’s no question in my mind that we really have to do something about some of these battery facilities that have caught fire,” or ones that spew toxic fumes or are proposed for residential neighborhoods, she said. “They present a threat to many people in our community, to our environment.”
Several county residents who favored setting new standards live in or near the Eden Valley community just outside Escondido, where the proposed Seguro Energy Storage project is planned.
AES Corporation, a
global energy company focused on developing green energy solutions, has proposed constructing the project on 925 Country Club Drive, a 22-acre former horse reining arena.
Originally, the proposed lithium-ion battery storage facility would have stored 400 megawatts or 1600 megawatt hours of energy generated from renewable resources like solar and wind.
The project would have been one of the largest in the state, powering up to 300,000 homes for four hours.
After hearing concerns and frustration about the project’s size and potential safety issues from neighboring residents, AES downsized the project by 20% to 320 megawatts or 1,280-megawatt hours, which is enough to power 240,000 homes for four hours.
The battery storage facility would link to the local power grid via a new substation built on site that would connect to the existing nearby 30,000-kilowatt SDG&E Escondido Substation through a transmission line.
Escondido resident Andrew McSparron said the projects shouldn’t be placed where there’s no possibility of emergency evacuation.
While companies will claim the projects are safe, “my family and neighbors shouldn’t be guinea pigs for
them,” he said. Representatives of the energy industry and environmental groups told supervisors that while safety standards were needed, a moratorium wasn’t a good idea.
Jen Lebron, spokeswoman for San Diego Community Power, said it was important to ensure that guidelines don’t have unintended consequences.
“A blanket moratorium on battery storage could have a chilling effect on the potential projects that are necessary to reduce the cost of power procurement, which could have a significant impact on families and businesses in the region,” Lebron added.
Developing new standards could be a lengthy, few-year process.
However, the board directed Shelton to come back sooner with options to incentivize safety while those standards are developed, which may but not are limited to a temporary 60-day moratorium of any new battery storage project applications from being accepted, mandatory review of projects by the board, interim standards within the next six months and any other options for stopgap measures.
If a moratorium is enacted, it would not affect the Seguro project.
City News Service contributed to this report.
VICTIM OF FATAL SHOOTING ID’D
VISTA — Authorities last week publicly identified a young man who died last weekend from wounds he suffered in a predawn shooting that also wounded three teenage boys.
Antonio Junior Calderon Mendiola, 19, and the other victims arrived at Palomar Medical Center in Escondido shortly after 2:30 a.m. July 20, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. Mendiola succumbed to his wounds at the hospital later in the day.
The shooting was believed to have occurred in the area of Civic Center Drive in Vista, from which dispatchers received a 911 call shortly before the victims showed up at the hospital, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
“Sheriff’s homicide investigators are working to gather more information to determine the circumstances and motivation behind this (shooting),” sheriff’s Lt. Michael Krugh said. “The investigation is ongoing, and no suspect has been identified.”
ARREST AFTERWRONG-WAY CRASH
SAN MARCOS — A vehicle that had been pursued by deputies crashed in San Marcos after entering state Route 78 via on off-ramp
Deputies responded to reports of a fight around 11:30 p.m. July 27 in the area of East Orange Street and The Circle in Vista, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.
“When deputies arrived on scene, they saw a Honda Accord speeding out of the area. Deputies tried to pull over the driver for a traffic stop by activating their emergency lights. The driver refused and led deputies on a pursuit,” the department reported.
The driver reportedly blew through several stop lights during the pursuit and entered the 78 going the wrong way. Deputies immediately stopped the pursuit for safety reasons and informed the California Highway Patrol about the car going westbound in the eastbound lanes, according to the department.
Shortly afterward, a traffic collision was reported on SR-78 near Rancho Santa Fe in San Marcos. Witnesses said the driver crawled out of the car and jumped into a ditch near Smilax Road.
Deputies with the sheriff’s Vista and San Marcos stations arrived on scene and confirmed that the car involved in the crash was the same one that allegedly failed to stop in Vista.
The driver was taken into custody and to a hospi-
A BATTERY storage facility in the California desert. Elected officials are looking to implement new safety standards for future sites in San Diego County. Courtesy photo
Palomar airport to begin daily flights to Phoenix in ’25
By Claire Strong CARLSBAD — Passengers
will soon be able to fly American Airlines from McClellan-Palomar Airport to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
The carrier’s regional subsidiary, Envoy Air, will offer two daily flights between the destinations starting Feb. 13, 2025. This will mark the first commercial service from the North County location since 2015.
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Business news and special achievements for North San Diego County. Send information via email to community@ coastnewsgroup.com.
SPRING GRADS
The following students graduated from their respective colleges and universities: Leela Julianna Miller of Encinitas from Oberlin College and Conservatory in Ohio; Rebecca Jocelyn Garcia Soriano of Escondido from Dickinson College in Pennsylvania; Joann Wyse of San Marcos from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire; Daniel Renfield of San Diego, Bonnie May of Oceanside and Sierra Lippert of Encinitas from Miami University in Ohio; Quinn Watson of Del Mar and Ariana Chadha, Maddie Ford, Justin Wang and Maddie Yu of San Diego from Tufts University in Massachusetts; Isaiah Fuson, Walker Matthews, Sabrina Ruediger and Sheridan Valente of Carlsbad from Pacific University in Oregon; and Timothy Deering of Carlsbad, Susana Rios of Vista, Lindsey Bumgardner of San Diego, and Rodney Stahler, Maria Sanchez Mestizo, David Bartholet, Russell Stevenson, Missty Stahler, Michael Brenner, Audrie Lopez, Ricardo Luna, Rachel DeLaGarza, Frederick Bradley, Christina Webster, Victoria Flores and Andrew Harkins of Oceanside from the University of Maryland Global Campus.
“American looks forward to connecting Carlsbad to our comprehensive global network starting next February,” the company said in a statement. “This new service will provide convenient one-stop connections to destinations across the United States and Mexico while bringing travelers from around the world to see all that Carlsbad has to offer.”
Under the American Eagle brand, Envoy Air will
DEAN’S LIST
The following students made the dean’s list at their respective colleges and universities: Binglin Wu of Carlsbad and Ariana Welsbie of Rancho Santa Fe at Washington University in St. Louis; Kelsi Mikayla Otto of San Diego at Linfield University in Oregon; Cristiane Gilligan of Carlsbad at the State University of New York at Delhi; and Lillian G. Mahoney of Carlsbad at Fairfield University in Connecticut.
MONTHLY CHAMPIONS
State Sen. Catherine Blakespear named siblings Michael and Elizabeth Christensen as her May Champions of the Month, and Cathy Ives as her June Champion of the Month. The senator’s program recognizes individuals, organizations or businesses in State Senate District 38 who contribute to the community. The Christensen siblings developed “Striving Together, a plan that enables 10 campuses in the San Dieguito Union High School District to participate in
PATROL
The North Coastal Sheriff’s Station is recruiting for its Volunteer Sheriff’s Patrol. This program involves:
• Conducting home vacation security checks
• Assisting with traffic control
• Patrolling neighborhoods, schools, parks, and shopping centers in patrol cars and on foot
• Visiting homebound seniors who live alone in the communities of Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar, and portions of the county’s unincorporated areas, such as Rancho Santa Fe
• Performing other duties as needed
The primary mission of the volunteers is to serve as an extra set of eyes and ears for the deputies on patrol. To be eligible, volunteers must be at least 50 years old, in good health, and have no significant mobility limitations. Volunteers must pass a background check, have auto insurance, and a valid California driver’s license. Training involves two weeks at the Sheriff’s Academy plus several in-field patrols. Volunteers must commit to four 6-hour shifts with a partner and attendance at one program meeting per month. If interested, please contact the Volunteer Sheriff’s Patrol at (760) 966 3579 to schedule an initial interview.
ferry passengers to and from the cities in an Embraer E175 aircraft, a smaller regional jet carrying up to 88 passengers.
Flights to and from the airports are estimated at just over an hour in length.
Outbound flights to Phoenix will depart at 6:15 a.m. and 12:45 p.m., and return flights to Carlsbad are scheduled for 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets start at $366. The route will be offered
student-led community service projects, meanwhile Ives is the co-founder of Don’t Trash Mission Beach.
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
San Marcos native Morod Shah was appointed to director of athletics for Cal State San Marcos after previously serving as interim director.
FIRE RAISER
The Oceanside Museum of Art has selected Los Angeles-based multimedia artist Rupinder Kaloti for a prestigious solo exhibition for her piece, “Fire Raiser,” in the juried exhibition “More Disruption: Representational Art in Flux” on display now at the museum. Kaloti primarily works with oil paint to create traditional and 3D works fusing elements from her Indian heritage and American upbringing.
PANDA PAIR
The public will get a chance to see giant pandas Yun Chuan and Xin Bao for the first time on Aug. 8 at the San Diego Zoo. The pandas arrived from China earlier this summer as the first pandas to enter the United States in 21 years.
SUN COUNTRY
Carlsbad-based general contractor Sun Country Builders is celebrating 45 years in business, having completed properties ranging in size from compact seven-home communities to 300-unit complexes throughout San Diego, Imperial, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Riverside Counties since President John Ahlswede founded the company in July 1979.
TOP VOLUNTEER
The San Diego County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk Office has named Judith Moerschell as its 2024
year-round.
Flights will be controlled by the Federal Aviation Authority, and security screening will be provided by the Transportation Security Administration, or TSA, like in larger airports.
“We are thrilled to be able to offer this new service to the traveling public and look forward to working with American Airlines as one of our newest stakeholders,” said Jamie Abbott,
Volunteer of the Year. She has officiated more than 100 weddings since February 2023 when she began volunteering at ARCC.
TAX COMMITTEE
San Diego County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk Jordan Z. Marks has been appointed to serve on the California State Controller’s Committee on County Tax Collecting Procedures.
GOOD CHARITY
The Solana Center for Environmental Innovation in Encinitas has earned a three-star rating from Charity Navigator, which designates the nonprofit an official “Give with Confidence” charity, indicating the organization uses its donations effectively based on Charity Navigator’s criteria.
NEW ART GALLERY
Artist Stephanie Bell has opened Session Art, a new, contemporary art gallery in Encinitas featuring art forum talks and interactive workshops in addition to a commitment to bringing high caliber art and culture to the San Diego region reminiscent of the art scenes in New York, London and Los Angeles.
CHIEF DEPUTY
The San Diego ARCC Office has hired Alejandra Larios as chief deputy of people and customer experience strategies.
VIKING PRINCESS
Oceanside author James Howcroft has released his new, historical fiction novel, “Viking Princess: Conqueror of Castile: A True Story Based on a Viking Saga,” through Dorrance Publishing Co.
DIVISION CHIEF
Robert Gomez, San Diego County ARCC division chief for assessment services, has been elected to serve as president of the California Assessors’ Administrative Services Association for the 2024 and 2025 calendar years.
McClellan-Palomar’s airport director.
McClellan-Palomar, operated by the County of San Diego, generates $72 million in federal, state and local taxes annually and is home to several charter airlines, as well as emergency law enforcement and medical flights.
Since 2015, Carlsbad lacked scheduled commercial airline service until public charter operator JSX
ROUNDUP
CONTINUED FROM 5
tal for a leg injury. His identity was not immediately available.
No other cars were involved in the crash, sheriff’s officials said.
2 ARRESTED ON GUN, NARCOTICS CHARGES
SAN MARCOS — Two men are in custody after San Diego County Sheriff’s deputies arrested them on suspicion of possession of an illegal firearm and narcotics in San Marcos.
Just before 6:30 p.m. July 26, deputies from the San Marcos Sheriff’s Station noticed what they deemed a suspicious vehicle at 202 South Rancho Santa Fe Road. During a search of the vehicle, a loaded, privately manufactured weapon, also commonly known as a “ghost gun,” was located along with 48 rounds of 9mm ammunition, said Sgt. Alex Brust. Deputies also located a large variety of illegal controlled substances, which included cocaine, ecstasy, fentanyl pills, and psilocybin mushrooms and arrested the occupants of the vehicle, Justin Gioia, 25, Nathaniel Brown, 36, and a 17-year-old teenage girl for various drug sales and firearms charges, Brust said.
Ghost guns do not have a serial number or other identifiable markings and unlike weapons made by a licensed manufacturer lack a serial number, which makes it extremely challenging for law enforcement agencies to track these firearms to their owners or makers, hindering or delaying investigations and crime-solving efforts, authorities said.
NOT GUILTY PLEA IN FATAL CRASH
REGION — A man who allegedly drove under the influence and caused a San Diego freeway crash that killed four men pleaded not guilty July 23 to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and other charges. Aleim Garcia Alavez, 24, of San Marcos, is accused in a predawn crash July 19 on state Route 163 in Kearny Mesa, near Interstate 805. According to the California Highway Patrol, shortly before 1:30 a.m., a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck driven by Alavez rear-ended a Toyota Prius, causing it to veer out of control and crash, ejecting the four victims.
began flights from Carlsbad to Las Vegas and Scottsdale last December, adding service to Oakland earlier this year. The last time American Airlines operated from McClellan-Palomar was between 1991 and 1997 when its American Eagle brand serviced flights between Carlsbad and Los Angeles.
The airport contributes $165 million to the local economy.
Alavez faces up to 16 years in state prison if convicted of all charges, according to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office.
SUSPECTS JAILED IN FATAL SHOOTING
OCEANSIDE — Three suspects, including two from Vista, are facing murder charges in the death of a man who was fatally wounded last month by a gunshot fired into the Oceanside apartment where the victim was staying with friends.
Arrested on July 18 for their alleged roles in the death of 26-year-old Alex Hamilton were Mason William Brant, 23, and Elijah Gabriel Marrero, 19, both of Vista; and 31-year old Bryan Lee Teater of Oceanside, according to police.
The deadly gunshot crashed through a bedroom window at a residential complex in the 1800 block of College Boulevard at about 1:10 a.m. on June 18, striking Hamilton in the head, according to the Oceanside Police Department.
Police have released no suspected motive for the shooting and have not disclosed which of the suspects is believed to have fired the fatal gunshot.
Brant and Teater were already in jail on unrelated charges when they were arrested in connection with Hamilton’s death.
MAN GETS 6 YEARS FOR KIDNAPPING
REGION — One of two brothers who kidnapped a trio of migrants and held them for ransom at an Escondido home was sentenced July 29 to nearly six years in federal prison.
Nicolas Pablo-Francisco, 20, and his 22-year-old brother, Virves Pablo-Francisco, held a 16-year-old boy from Afghanistan, as well as a 41-year-old father and 19-year-old son from Ecuador, hostage and demanded money from their families, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The siblings demanded between $4,000 and $10,000 for each person’s release, according to court documents.
Both brothers pleaded guilty to federal charges earlier this year and have each been sentenced to 70 months in prison. Nicolas Pablo-Francisco was sentenced Monday morning in San Diego federal court, while Virves Pablo-Francisco received his sentence at a separate hearing earlier this month.
MOROD SHAH is the new director of athletics at CSUSM. Courtesy photo
pose a danger to inhabitants and the public.
Newsom has also urged cities and counties to take the same action regarding encampments. While he lacks the authority to mandate action, he can influence local decisions by allocating billions in state funds for homelessness initiatives.
The decision followed a June 28 ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court, which allows jurisdictions to enforce bans on sleeping outside in public spaces and states that the 8th Amendment does not apply to outdoor sleeping bans.
While many have criticized the decision as essentially criminalizing homelessness, Blakespear, who represents the 38th district of coastal North County and parts of Orange County, said she applauded the bold action taken by the governor.
“There’s a human right to housing and a core obligation to use it,” Blakespear said. “We feel like the tail can actually wag the dog. If we’re saying you cannot camp everywhere, it will actually drive cities, counties, and the state to actually have more housing.”
HOMELESSNESS AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
Panelists also discussed other statewide policy changes on the horizon to address homelessness, with a larger focus on measures to address behavioral health issues, such as Senate Bill 43 and Proposition 1.
SB 43 expands the definition of who may be civilly detained for involuntary behavioral health treatment to include those with severe substance use disorder and those unable to provide for their basic needs for necessary medical care access or personal safety.
San Diego County will be the only county in the state to implement expanded conservatorship under SB 43 starting in early 2025, with most other jurisdictions planning to begin in 2026, according to Luke Bergmann, San Diego County Behavioral Health Services Director.
“We have really taken a multidisciplinary, all-hands-on-deck, very thoughtful, very data-driven and very community-interactive approach, and tried to get as much information and feedback from as many players as possible about what this will look like on the street,” Bergmann said.
California voters narrowly approved Proposition 1 earlier this year. The twofold measure authorizes the issuance of $6.38 billion in bonds for behavioral health treatment facilities and housing and requires counties to allocate more funds toward beds, housing and services for those with behavioral health and substance use needs.
On Tuesday, the county was awarded $12.4 million in state Behavioral Health Bridge Housing funding to create 49 new recuperative care beds for individuals living with behavioral health
issues and experiencing homelessness.
Other changes are in the works to improve Medi-Cal enrollees’ access to non-medical services. Glen
Tsang, a policy advisor for homelessness and housing with the California Department of Health Care Services, said the agency is currently implementing
CalAIM, a form of state-level health care reform that seeks to integrate Medi-Cal more seamlessly with other social services to serve those with the greatest needs.
Under CalAIM, Medi-Cal enrollees with disabilities, substance use disorders, and more complex medical, behavioral health and mental health needs
would be able to access a wider range of non-medical services such as housing supports, recuperative care and medically-tailored meals as part of their plans.
Medi-Cal would also be required to ensure its managed health plans coordinate access to local services for patients, removing barriers and preventing long wait times.
Currently, Medi-Cal plans and services vary between counties, leading to a patchwork of inconsistencies in what people are able to access. Bergmann said San Diego has geographically managed care with several different Medi-Cal plans featuring different terms, which leads to challenges for providers and plan holders.
“Geographic-managed care creates some challenges,” said Bergman. “I would note that there are structural challenges with
LOCAL OFFICIALS said that despite significant funding and programs to address the homelessness crisis in San Diego County and California, the problem is only getting worse. File photo
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HOUSING
CONTINUED FROM FRONT
dowment funded by the applicant.
Sensitive species on the site include the endangered San Diego fairy shrimp, found in several vernal pools, and plants like thread-leaved brodiaea, Orcutt’s brodiaea, small-flowered morning-glory, San Diego button-celery, chaparral rein orchid, and graceful tarplant.
Currently, many of these areas are in a deteriorated state due to years of trash dumping and repeated trespassing by people and vehicles.
The project will include two for-sale developments, one consisting of row houses and another of villas, among multiple three-story buildings reaching 40 feet tall. Unit sizes will range from two to four bedrooms.
The City Council’s 4-0 vote on July 23, with City Councilmember Maria Nuñez absent, allows the site’s zoning to be changed from industrial to a specific plan, which will allow for residential development. The city’s Planning Commission also approved it in a 7-0 vote in June.
No affordable housing is proposed as part of the project, requiring the applicant to pay an in-lieu fee of around $2 million to go toward other affordable projects in the city. They will also pay around $2 million in developer fees to the San Marcos Unified School District.
The project will also bring several road and traffic improvements to the immediate area, including a traffic signal at the intersection of Linda Vista Drive and Las Posas Road to alleviate existing traffic issues.
It will also add an off-
street urban trail for pedestrians and bicycles along Linda Vista Drive and La Mirada Drive from Pacific Street to Las Posas Road and Class II buffered bike lanes on Linda Vista Drive and on Pacific Street.
“One of the aspects that this piece of property, this footprint, is missing today is the walkability and the bikeability along the entire perimeter, and you’re providing that. I think it’s gonna be a huge benefit to the folks that ride their bikes and walk in this area,” said Councilmember Mike Sannella.
The site will be accessible via driveways on Linda Vista Drive and Pacific Street, with no access via Las Posas Road or La Mirada Drive.
Before the City Council’s approval, this piece of land made news after a human body was discovered there earlier this month.
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THE 224-UNIT housing project at Las Posas Road and Linda Vista Drive in San Marcos will include two for-sale developments consisting of row houses and villas. Courtesy images
the relationship of behavioral health care payment that are consistent in Orange County and San Diego County and in every other county across the state of California.”
When it comes to recuperative care, which provides a place for individuals to recover after being discharged from the hospital other than the street, Tsang said one thing the state is considering is presumptive eligibility to get people in the door faster rather than having to wait for approval under their Medi-Cal plan.
“If we make this all mandatory right now, we have to think about, am I setting up our plan partners for success?” Tsang said, noting that the program is in its third year of a five-year implementation.
CAMPING BAN
While these programs are in the works, some cities are taking advantage of their new ability to clear encampments on their streets. San Marcos was the first city in San Diego County to implement a local encampment ban following the Supreme Court decision, finalizing their ordinance just two days before the governor’s executive order.
The new ordinance, adopted by the City Council in a 4-1 vote for a first reading in early July and finalized on July 23, prohibits encampments on city-owned streets, alleyways, parking lots, sidewalks, parks, open spaces, and areas near waterways.
Mayor Rebecca Jones noted that the city has done its part to provide low-income housing in the city, with 10% of its total units deed-restricted, a rate higher than any other city in the county. However, the city does not have its own temporary shelter, with the closest shelters being in Escondido and Vista.
“There’s a lack of resources here in San Marcos,” said resident Emily Mohammad. “We don’t have emergency housing, we don’t have a shelter, we don’t have resources for that.”
Blakespear also acknowledged that North County as a whole faces a major shortage of shelter beds and interim housing beds to temporarily get un-
housed individuals off the streets. She hopes the encampment bans will compel cities to build shelters and housing and provide other services.
“From my perspective, on a state level, we should be much more prescriptive with cities, and say ‘you have an obligation to provide homeless-serving housing,’” she said.
The Vista City Council also plans to discuss regulations for homeless encampments at their upcoming Aug. 13 meeting. In April, city leaders said they would support a prohibition on camping within two blocks of a homeless shelter or school and 250 yards of a play structure or recreation field if a shelter bed is offered and refused.
Crime Doesn’t Discriminate
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.
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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.
AN ENCAMPMENT along Valpreda Road in San Marcos. The City Council recently agreed to ban encampments on all public property. Courtesy photo/City of San Marcos
Jenny’s Canyon. It might be the most dramatic halfmile walk you’ll ever take.
hit the road
This magnificently unique miracle of nature is just one of many wonders in the extreme southwest corner of Utah, less than a day’s drive from North County State Park, named in honor
entrance. Every step into this slot canyon reveals another example of nature’s curious and artful sculpting of the multistories-high, red Navajo sandstone walls.
In another area of the park, nature continues to amaze as we hike up a portion of the Petrified Sand Dunes, rolling mounds of petrified sandstone. I try to imagine the forces of nature — the wind, water and pressure — it took to create this otherworldly landscape, but I can’t put it together. It’s much easier to just appreci-
Then, one more trail to explore: Lava Flow, a
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path that wanders through patches of saffron-colored desert daisies, an occasional cholla cactus, and a jumbled, solidified, black lava flow, remnants of a volcano that erupted 27,000 years ago. After several hours of hiking, we focus on the serious business of choosing delicacies at Veyo Pies. Located 20 miles north of St. George on Route 18, the shop is conveniently on our way home. We are told that pie-lovers come from miles around to Veyo’s for their fruit and cream pies, pot pies and pastries.
On another day, we head for the quieter section of Zion National Park, an area called Kolob Canyons, in the northwest corner of the park. Red-rock gorges, canyons and cliffs surround us as we hike the Taylor Creek Trail, which crosses the creek two dozen times. The scenery here rivals that in the park’s more crowded areas to the south. Taylor Creek is an out-and-back trail, but different views confront us on our return trip.
Post-hike, we drive to Kolob Canyons Viewpoint, where the enormity of the landscape is evident. It is mesmerizing to watch the rock’s shades of red, burnt orange, yellow, browns, chocolate and vanilla change with the position of the sun.
Homeward bound, we stop at the recommend-
OLYM-PETS AT HELEN WOODWARD
Helen Woodward Animal Center in Rancho Santa Fe has kicked off its 2024 Critter OlymPETS in conjunction with the 2024 Summer Olympics. All programming is free for the public to watch at animalcenter.org/events/ critter-olympics or on HWAC’S Facebook page.
ed Main Street Cafe in Hurricane (pronounced HER-i-kun), population 20,000. The menu caters to meat-lovers, vegetarians and gluten-free eaters alike, and our gregarious server extolls the virtues of smalltown living in Southern Utah.
Getting to Southwest Utah is an adventure, too. Southern Californians must pass through the Arizona Strip, the small, remote,
extreme northwest corner of Arizona. The strip is traversed by a 29-mile stretch of Interstate 15, which winds through the Virgin River Gorge and presents drama at every one of the many turns. Called the most interesting portion of interstate in the country, these 29 miles also were the most expensive stretch of rural interstate ever built because of the challenging terrain.
HIKERS ON Jenny’s Canyon Trail in Utah’s Snow Canyon State Park will see an otherworldly, sculpted slot canyon where the forces of wind and water have had dramatic effects. Walking the half-mile, in-and-out trail is an excellent activity for families. Photo by E’Louise Ondash
Courtesy photo
In letter to state, Esco objects to housing bill
By Samantha Nelson ESCONDIDO —
The City Council has agreed to send a letter to the state opposing a bill authored by two local state legislators to create new income categories in the Regional Housing Needs Allocation process.
If passed as written, Assembly Bill 3093, currently being considered by the state Assembly, establishes the additional income categories of “acutely low” and “extremely low income” under state housing element law.
The bill is authored by Assemblymember Chris Ward (D-San Diego), co-authored by Catherine Blakespear (D-Encinitas) and sponsored by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Every eight years, the state Department of Housing and Community Development assesses the housing stock situation throughout California to determine the number of new homes needed based on predicted population growth, job availability and infrastructure capacity through the RHNA process. State and county governments are then assigned a minimum number of new homes to build.
San Diego County must build 171,685 homes by 2029, and Escondido must take on 9,607 or 5.6% of that total. Broken down by household income, the city must build 1,864 very low, 1,249 low, 1,527 moderate and 4,967 above moderate units.
According to the bill, “acutely low” is defined as households making between 0 and 15% of the area median income and extremely low as those earning below 30%. Under RHNA, “very low” is defined as those earning below 50%, “low” as those earning between 50 and 80%, “moderate” as earning between 80 and 120%, and “above moderate” as earning more than 130% of the area median income.
According to the city’s letter, the proposed bill would require Escondido and other cities to account for the housing needs of people experiencing homelessness without funding to develop the plan or support for the construction of affordable housing.
“This will place an undue financial burden on the city of Escondido,” the letter states.
The letter goes on to point out that the city already addresses the needs of people earning between 0 and 50% of the area median income.
“The City of Escondido is concerned that this will only lead to duplicating planning efforts since existing housing element law already requires cities to analyze the special housing needs of homeless residents and assist in developing adequate housing to meet the needs of extremely low-income households,” the letter continues.
State housing element
law also requires cities to identify sites and encourage the development of supportive housing and transitional housing.
According to the city, AB 3093 would require specific site inventory for the two new categories without providing “critical information” about how the sites differ from housing already planned for the “very-low” income category.
“Without amendments to clarify these concerns, cities will be set up to fail, leading to even more housing elements being deemed out of compliance,” the letter reads.
An update from city staff earlier in May showed that the city has only built approximately 11.3% of its state-mandated new housing units, and the rest will take five more years to complete.
Additionally, without additional funds to support new housing under the new categories, the city believes the bill “fails to expand or develop local governments’ capacity to address immediate homelessness challenges across California.”
Deputy Mayor Christian Garcia brought forward the letter to the City Council on July 17, which received unanimous approval to oppose the new bill.
Garcia sits on the League of California Cities, a bipartisan group that opposes the bill and has suggested that cities write and send letters of opposition to the state.
According to the group, the law “would add additional, duplicative requirements for local governments when they plan for housing for vulnerable Californians at a time when cities could lose out on critical state affordable housing and homelessness funding.”
“It’s redundant, it’s added bureaucracy, it doesn’t help bring more housing and it doesn’t fund more affordable housing,” said Councilmember Consuelo Martinez.
Martinez said she agrees with the letter’s wording to oppose the new bill “unless amended.”
Councilmember Mike Morasco said the League of California Cities doesn’t usually come out strongly opposed to state bills like this.
“We are wise to get on board with this resolution,” Morasco said.
In loving memory of Gary Charles Tucker June 18, 1949July 19, 2024
Gary Charles Tucker of Encinitas, California died on July 19, 2024, surrounded by his wife and sons.
He fought a multiyear battle with Alzheimer’s disease only as Gary could – with fierce determination and an enduring sense of humor. He left a hole in the world, but not in the memories of those who knew him.
Gary was born on June 18, 1949, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. His life in the fast lane began early as Gary developed a love of riding motorcycles in his teen years.
He remained a devoted rider throughout his life, enjoying long trips with friends up and down the California coast and an epic solo tour across Canada to Niagara Falls,
down to Pennsylvania, through the Rockies and back home.
Gary studied business at Husson University in Maine, which opened the door to his career with The Southland Corporation in Phoenix, Arizona. It was there that he met the love of his life, Dody. Gary’s job brought them to Cardiff in 1977 and California became their forever home. They were married in 1978 and later welcomed two sons: Morgan and Niles.
Gary became the new kid in town in Encinitas when he bought the Moonlight Beach 7-Eleven in 1984 and ran the store until he sold it in 2008.
He was a fixture in the Encinitas business community and advocate for the growth and development of the city’s downtown.
In the last months of his life, Gary’s love of Encinitas, its beauty and community grew even stronger.
He enjoyed the peaceful easy feeling of daily walks to his downtown bank and regular breakfasts at The Encinitas Café, always pausing to take in the ocean view on his way down the hill to the Coast Highway.
You could recognize Gary from a mile away, with his well-groomed sil-
ver goatee, black Wayfarer glasses, signature fedora and smirk on his face.
Even when his memories were already gone, Gary never lost his desire to connect with people and make them laugh. You could often find him at the end of his driveway, smiling and laughing with neighbors and passersby. But, more than anything, Gary loved to take it easy at home with his wife and bull terrier Sparky.
Gary left an enduring legacy with his family and community, showing us all what it means to take it to the limit.
He was preceded in death by his parents Charles and Irene Tucker of Wilkes-Barre. Gary is survived by his beloved wife Doris “Dody” Tucker of Encinitas, sons Morgan Tucker (Emily Tucker) of San Francisco, and Niles Tucker (Michelle Tucker) of Los Angeles, and grandchildren Phoebe Tucker and Evan Tucker.
Gary will soon join his mother and father at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Wilkes-Barre.
In lieu of flowers, Gary’s family requests that you listen to his favorite band, The Eagles and make a donation in his name to Hospice of the North Coast (https:// hospicenorthcoast.org), who cared so well for him in his last days.
Alice Celis Staggs Oceanside
July 10, 2024
Richard Joseph Hopkins Vista July 27, 2024
Daniel G. Bay Encinitas 1965 - 2024
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Rosa Ysela Torres San Marcos
July 10, 2024
Kevin Keefe Vista
July 9, 2024
Antonio Junior Calderon Mendiola San Marcos
July 20, 2024
Honoring Recipients
Photo: $25 Art: $15 (Dove, Heart, Flag, Rose)
The Purple Heart is the oldest military decoration still in present use and was initially created by George Washington in 1782 when it was named the “Badge of Military Merit.”
Purple Heart Day is observed on August 7 each year and is a time for Americans to pause to remember and honor the brave men and women who were either wounded on the battlefield or paid the ultimate sacrifice with their lives.
Purple Heart recipients can join the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) which was formed in 1932. It is composed exclusively of men and women who have received the Purple Heart and is the only veterans service organization with only “combat wounded” veterans as members. It’s estimated that more than a million Purple Hearts have been awarded and there are about 45,300 Military Or der of the Purple Heart members today.
Please join us in honoring these men and women today and every day for their dedication and sacrifices in preserving and protecting the freedoms we enjoy in our great nation.
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EVENTS CALENDAR
AUG. 2
WILD CHILD
After landing the lead role in the Jim Morrison rock opera in college, Dave Brock launched his own musical stage show performing The Doors music as “Wild Child.” $30.50, 9 p.m. at Belly Up, 160 S Cedros Ave, Solana Beach.
‘HAMLET’
The Theatre School at North Coast Repertory presents the climactic Shakespearean tragedy, “Hamlet,” as its next student production. The outdoor touring show has remaining performances at two venues: July 25-27 at La Colonia Park, 715 Valley Ave, Solana Beach, and Aug. 1-3 at San Diego Botanic Garden, 300 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas. Free admission. All shows start at 5:30 p.m.
FREE SUMMER MEALS
The Boys and Girls Clubs of Oceanside is offering a summer meal program for free to children 18 years old and younger. Meals must be eaten at the club. Meals served at 7 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. from June 10 to Aug. 9 at Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside, 401 Country Club Ln, Oceanside.
SUMMER READING FEST
The Oceanside Public Library will host its Summer Reading Fest at the John Landes Community Center for the whole family. The festival includes live music, refreshments, crafts, kid-friendly activities. Free, 5-7 p.m. Aug. 2 at John Landes Park, 2855 Cedar Rd, Oceanside.
‘HELLO, DOLLY!’
“Hello, Dolly!” is a musical filled with charisma and with heart. Matchmaker Dolly Levi is a widow and a matchmaker. $25 adult and $18 youth. Performances run from July 26 to Aug. 10 at Kit Carson Park Amphitheater, Amphitheater Dr, Escondido.
BEGINNER'S LATTE ART
Get ready to unleash your inner barista. $39.19, 6-8 p.m. Aug. 2 at Ox Coffee , 8590 Rio San Diego Dr, San Diego.
WATES & HOWARD
Singer/songwriters Rupert Wates, a Brit who now lives in the United States, and David Stuart Howard, a local from San Diego, share their acoustic songs and music. $15-$18, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Aug. 2 at Templar’s Hall in Old Poway Park, 14134 Midland Rd, Poway.
AUG. 3
RELAY FOR LIFE
The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life of North San Diego will be held on the Army and Navy Academy campus for the first time. 12 to 9 p.m. Aug.
3 at Army and Navy Academy, 2605 Carlsbad Blvd, Carlsbad.
DINK FOR DOGS
Rancho Coastal Humane Society is hosting is first-ever Dink for Dogs Pickleball Tournament, a fundraiser for the animals sponsored by Jimbo’s. $50$150, 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 3 at Bobby Riggs Racket & Paddle, 875 Santa Fe Dr, Encinitas.
DJ QUIK
Get ready for an electrifying night as the legends of hip-hop — J Quik, Jon B., Rodney O. and Joe Cooley, and Kahlil Nash — converge for a once-in-a-lifetime event on Saturday, Aug. 3rd. $39-$129, 7:30 to 9 p.m. Aug. 3 at California Center for the Arts, 340 N Escondido Blvd, Escondido.
YACHT CLUB CHARITY FEST
The Oceanside Yacht Club presents its annual charity fundraiser benefitting the Elizabeth Hospice featuring food, music, dance, raffle and more. $10, 1-10 p.m. Aug. 3 at Oceanside Yacht Club, 1950 Harbor Dr N, Oceanside.
RELIENT K
Join us at SeaWorld San Diego to see Relient K, an American rock band known for their catchy melodies, witty lyrics, and vibrant stage presence. $60, 6 p.m. at SeaWorld, 500 Sea World Dr, San Diego.
SONGS OF WILLIE NELSON
Step into the world of country music legend Willie Nelson with ZB Savoy’s live tribute show. $25, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 3 at The Brooks Theatre, 217 N Coast Hwy, Oceanside.
WINE VINE UNCORKED
Hosted by the Rotary Club of Carlsbad, the 2024 Wine Vine Uncorked Carlsbad Tasting Event celebrates local San Diego and California wines, breweries, distilleries, and restaurants. $125, 5 to 8 p.m. Aug. 3 at Via-
sat Carlsbad Campus, 2500 Town Garden Rd, Carlsbad.
ANTHONY THE MAGIC
Illusionist Anthony Hernandez’s interactive experience will bring you to your feet every Saturday from Aug. 3-31. $27.35$42. Welk Theatre, 8860 Lawrence Welk Dr, Escondido.
‘COPPELIA’
New West Ballet’s “Coppelia” is the story of a toymaker wishing to bring his creations to life. In a comedy of errors, the town's villagers add to the hi-jinx and mayhem of the toymaker’s delusion. $20, 2 p.m. & 7 p.m. at Oceanside Performing Arts Center, 1 Pirates Cove Way, Oceanside.
AUG. 4
CONCERTS AT THE COVE
Folk rock artist Donnis Trio performs as part of the “Concerts at the Cove” free summer concert series. 6-7:45 p.m. Aug. 4 at Fletcher Cove Park, 111 S Sierra Ave, Solana Beach.
DAVID BORGO QUARTET
The UCSD Professor of Sax is back. Free, 2 to 3 p.m. Aug. 4 at Encinitas Library, 540 Cornish Dr, Encinitas.
VINO & VINYASA
Spend a relaxing Sunday filled with relaxing yoga, refreshing vino and an allday pool pass at Lakehouse Resort. $25-$45, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 4 at Lakehouse Hotel & Resort, 1105 La Bonita Dr, San Marcos.
BASKET & GOURD CLASSES
This is a traditional day of celebration. We are featuring low cost classes for Guild members and the community. The five classes offered include: a recycled newspaper basket, a gourd embellished with pine needles, a twined basket over a bottle, a basket embellished with Dracaena Draco, and a woven door basket. $30$60. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 4 at San Dieguito Heritage
PARKINSON'S SUPPORT
For People with Parkinson's and their care partners. Marty Acevedo, the President of Parkinson's Association of San Diego, will be presenting "Importance of Being Active.” Free, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Aug. 5 at San Rafael Church, 17252 Bernardo Center Dr, San Diego.
AUG. 6
POKEY LAFARGE
Catch folk and blues artist Pokey LaFarge along with country group Noelle & The Deserters at Belly Up. $38.25-$64.50, 8 p.m. at Belly Up, 160 S Cedros Ave, Solana Beach.
TWILIGHT IN THE PARK
Museum, 450 Quail Gardens Dr, Encinitas.
DRUGS & SPIRITUAL
Join us as Dimitri shares metaphysical insights from the Divine on the controversial topic of the use of psychoactive substances as part of one’s spiritual journey. $20, 11 a.m. at Spiritual Arts Institute, 527 Encinitas Blvd, Encinitas.
JAZZ EVENSONG
Jazz Evensong is a free, weekly event held every Sunday afternoon that offers a unique blend of jazz rooted in the context of Anglican meditation and prayer. 4 p.m. at St. Michael's-by-theSea Episcopal Church, 2775 Carlsbad Blvd, Carlsbad.
TOM'S ELTON TRIBUTE
The world’s number one Elton John tribute band are coming to play All The Hits by Elton John. $40, 7 to 9 p.m. Aug. 4 at The Brooks Theatre, 217 N Coast Hwy, Oceanside.
MAGIC MEN AUSTRALIA
Featuring some of the hottest, talented performers from down under, this show is an experience like no other. With heart-stopping dance routines, mesmerizing acrobatics, and interactive audien. $57-$118, 3 p.m. at The Magnolia, 210 E Main St, El Cajon.
AUG. 5
CADDYHACK GOLF FEST
CaddyHack Golf Festival is a charity golf tournament designed to create the ultimate golf experience while simultaneously raising money for the incredible work of Boys to Men Mentoring. 11:30 a.m. at Mission Beach, San Diego, 92109, San Diego.
KINDERGARTEN CAMP
Play, learn, explore, and discover during Kindergarten Readiness Camp at San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum. $300-$350, 12 a.m. at San Diego Children's Discovery Museum, 320 N Broadway, Escondido.
RICHARD LEDERER
Silvergate San Marcos retirement community will host San Diego Tribune columnist Richard Lederer. RSVP is required. Seating is limited. To attend, call Helen Gray at 760-728-8880 or email hgray@americarehr. com. 2-4 p.m. Aug. 8 at Silvergate San Marcos, 1560 Security Pl, San Marcos.
TWILIGHT IN THE PARK
Enjoy these summer concerts with family and friends and don’t forget to bring a picnic. See you there!. 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 8 at Spreckels Organ Pavilion, 2125 Pan American Rd E, San Diego.
AUG. 9
Enjoy these summer concerts with family and friends and don’t forget to bring a picnic. See you there. Free, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 6 at Spreckels Organ Pavilion, 2125 Pan American Rd E, San Diego.
AUG. 7
MUSEUM OF MAKING MUSIC
The Museum of Making Music, a division of The NAMM Foundation, explores the unique accomplishments and lasting impact of the music products industry through permanent and special exhibitions, concerts and educational programs. 9:45-11 a.m. Aug. 7 at Carlsbad Senior Center, 799 Pine Ave, Carlsbad.
HEALING THE EARTH...
A Lightwork group meditation session, sending a downpour of radiant, healing Inner-Light-Fire into the Earth. Free, 12-1 p.m. Aug. 7 at San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center, 2710 Manchester Ave, Cardiff by the Sea.
AUG. 8
BILINGUAL GAME DAY
Solana Beach Parks and Recreation in cooperation with Solana Beach Community Connections will host Bilingual Game Day, a free event, at the La Colonia Community Center. Free, 12-2 p.m. Aug. 8 at La Colonia Community Park, 715 Valley Ave, Solana Beach.
SUMMER NIGHTS
Join San Diego Botanic Garden at its highly anticipated Summer Nights, every Thursday from July 11 through August 29. $3-$5, 6-8 p.m. Aug. 8 at San Diego Botanical Gardens, 300 Quail Gardens Dr, Encinitas.
GIANT PANDA DEBUT
Giant pandas Yun Chuan and Xin Bao will make their debut to the public at the San Diego Zoo. The pair are the first two pandas to arrive to the United States in 21 years. $74, Aug. 8 at San Diego Zoo, 2920 Zoo Dr, San Diego.
‘THE PROM’
Award-winning Ovation Theatre proudly presents the North San Diego County premiere of "The Prom.” $28-$38, Aug. 9-18 at Howard Brubeck Theatre at Palomar College, 1140 W Mission Rd, San Marcos.
A RARE LA JOLLA GEM Atomic Ranch, a multiplatform media company that publishes six times a year, is also the trusted resource for Mid Century Modern design and architecture. Join us for a tour of the prestigious Liebner/ Ivans Residence. $65-$85. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 9 at La Jolla San Diego, CA USA, La Jolla Blvd, San Diego.
AUG. 10
KIDS IN THE GARDEN The next Kids in the Garden class will learn how to use, save and have fun with water through bubbles, ice, floating boats, watercolors, mud and more. Kids will also learn how to make origami hearts. $5, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Aug. 10 at Alta Vista Botanical Gardens, 1270 Vale Terrace Dr, Vista.
THE SNAKES WE LIVE WITH The Batiquitos Lagoon will hose Bruce Ireland and Allen Chornak to present "The Snakes We Live With," covering their mission to relocate snakes from residences to their appropriate habitats. Free, 10 a.m. at Batiquitos Lagoon, 7380 Gabbiano Ln, Carlsbad.
ROCK THE VOTE CARLSBAD Carlsbad Mayor Pro Tem Priya Bhat-Patel and interns will host a Rock the Vote event featuring live band peformances, local food trucks and more. The goal is to increase youth voter participation. Free, 4 to 7 p.m. Aug. 10 at Magee Park, 258 Beech Ave, Carlsbad.
COWBOY JACK Cowboy Jack sings country playing acoustic guitar and harmonica at Mellano Farm. Free, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 10 at Mellano Farm Stand, 5750 N River Rd, Oceanside.
‘HELLO, DOLLY,’ with Lori Tinkle in the title role, is a musical running through Aug. 10 at Kit Carson Park Amphitheater in Escondido. Photo by Tori Bleher
FROM KING FEATURES WEEKLY SERVICE, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803
CUSTOMER SERVICE: 800-708-7311 EXT. 257
TRIVIA TEST #12345_20240729 FOR RELEASE JULY 29, 2024
By Fifi Rodriguez
FROM KING FEATURES WEEKLY SERVICE, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803
CUSTOMER SERVICE: 800-708-7311 EXT. 257
TRIVIA TEST #12345_20240729 FOR RELEASE JULY 29, 2024
By Fifi Rodriguez
1. TELEVISION: What was SpongeBob SquarePants’ original name when the story was pitched?
1. TELEVISION: What was SpongeBob SquarePants’ original name when the story was pitched?
2. MOVIES: Which famous horror film was set at Crystal Lake, New Jersey?
3. LANGUAGE: In Great Britain, what are stabilisers?
2. MOVIES: Which famous horror film was set at Crystal Lake, New Jersey?
4. MUSIC: Which band had a hit with the 1961 “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”?
5. GEOGRAPHY: How many U.S. states have a border with Mexico?
3. LANGUAGE: In Great Britain, what are stabilisers?
6. MATH: How many sides does a hectogon have?
1. TELEVISION: What was SpongeBob SquarePants’ original name when the story was pitched?
2. MOVIES: Which famous horror film was set at Crystal Lake, New Jersey?
3. LANGUAGE: In Great Britain, what are stabilisers?
4. MUSIC: Which band had a hit with the 1961 “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”?
5. GEOGRAPHY: How many U.S. states have a border with Mexico?
6. MATH: How many sides does a hectogon have?
7. INVENTIONS: In what year were flat-screen TVs first sold?
8. FOOD & DRINK: What kind of cheese is used in a caprese salad?
9. U.S. STATES: Which state’s nickname is “The Land of Enchantment”?
10. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What kind of dog is Scooby-Doo in the animated cartoons?
Answers
1. SpongeBoy.
2. “Friday the 13th.”
3. Training wheels.
4. The Tokens.
5. Four: California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
7. INVENTIONS: In what year were flat-screen TVs first sold?
4. MUSIC: Which band had a hit with the 1961 “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”?
6. 100. 7. 1997.
5. GEOGRAPHY: How many U.S. states have a border with Mexico?
8. FOOD & DRINK: What kind of cheese is used in a caprese salad?
9. U.S. STATES: Which state’s nickname is “The Land of Enchantment”?
6. MATH: How many sides does a hectogon have?
7. INVENTIONS: In what year were flat-screen TVs first sold?
ANIMAL KINGDOM: What kind of dog is Scooby-Doo in the animated cartoons? Answers 1. SpongeBoy.
“Friday the 13th.”
8. FOOD & DRINK: What kind of cheese is used in a caprese salad?
9. U.S. STATES: Which state’s nickname is “The Land of Enchantment”?
10. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What kind of dog is Scooby-Doo in the animated cartoons?
Answers
1. SpongeBoy.
2. “Friday the 13th.”
3. Training wheels.
4. The Tokens.
5. Four: California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
6. 100.
7. 1997.
8. Fresh mozzarella.
9. New Mexico.
10. A Great Dane.
© 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.
8. Fresh mozzarella. 9. New Mexico. 10. A Great Dane. © 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.
How Learn4Life high schools help San Diego teens achieve diplomas
For Christine W., freshman year of high school was an ordeal. The same students who bullied her in middle school were at her new high school.
“The idea of walking through those gates gave me so much anxiety,” she says. “I hated school.” Unable to focus or dedicate herself to her schoolwork, she began to fail and eventually just dropped out.
There are many reasons students drop out of high school. Poverty, pregnancy, homelessness, bullying or just losing interest can cause students to skip class.
Learn4Life, a network of free, nonprofit public charter high schools, takes a dynamic approach to reengage students. The average student who enrolls in Learn4Life has been out of school for 11.4 weeks. Through personalized learning, mentoring and job skills training, the program has been highly successful in reengaging dropouts and keeping them in school.
Here’s how:
1. Deal with issues outside the classroom. Whether it's counseling to help with issues they’re facing or mentoring to build confidence, helping students deal with life gives them stability to succeed.
2. Meet students where they are. Not every student is at the same emotional, academic or mental level as their peers. Through one-on-one attention and personalized instruction, students can get help where they most need it.
3. Remove obstacles to learning. Basics like transportation, needing to work or childcare can prevent students from returning to school. Flexible schedules and connecting them with community partners for essential resources can make a big difference in their ability to learn.
4. Make them feel safe Creating a respectful and safe place to learn is essential for removing social anxieties and fears that can hinder learning.
5. Let them see a future. Through job skills training programs, students can prepare for a future beyond a diploma. As a Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) partner, Learn4Life offers courses in career exploration and work-readiness skills.
For 15 years, Learn4Life has served more than 25,000 San Diego students and families through trauma-resilient education and wraparound community support.
allowed more than 7,000 students who might not have ever graduated to achieve a high school diploma.
The Learn4Life Way
• Personalized Learning — Lessons are built around the skills, talents and learning style of the individual student.
• One-on-One Attention — Students are paired with a supervising teacher with support from tutors, counselors and administrative staff.
• Flexibility — Responsibilities can make a regular school day impossible, so Learn4Life works with students' schedules to encourage school completion.
• Safe Environment — Campuses have controlled access and security monitoring so the focus can be on learning.
• Workforce Training — Corporate partnerships and job readiness programs prepare students for the real world while filling the need for a skilled workforce.
Learn4Life is successful with 88% of students, either helping them graduate, catch up on credits or continue their high school education in pursuit of a diploma. And 41% of Learn-
Customizing education to meet the individual needs of students
School isn’t one size fits all. Sometimes a student needs something just a little different in order to succeed. That’s where Pivot Charter School San Diego shines — they customize education to meet each student's individual needs. The free public charter school serving grades K-12 leverages a 100% online curriculum in combination with a resource center in San Marcos where students can receive hands-on support from teachers, engage in electives and in-person activities, and connect with other students in a small setting.
Pivot's unique model pairs each student with a dedicated teacher to offer personalized support and flexibility, empowering them to master their learning and accelerate their path to graduation. Whether a student needs extra help to get back on track, seeks to work ahead of the pace of traditional educational environments or prefers to work on an alternative schedule, Pivot provides the environment for every student to succeed.
“At Pivot, we recognize that the path to educational success looks different for each student,” said San Diego Site Coordinator Adrian Heredia. “We take pride in transforming students’ experiences in education
by listening, adapting and supporting them through whatever challenges they may face.”
Students at Pivot have the option to choose a learning model that best suits their needs and preferences. They can fully engage in remote learning from the comfort of their homes or visit the resource center for additional support and face-to-face interactions. This flexibility ensures that each student can thrive in an environment tailored to their individual learning style and circumstances.
This model inspires independent thinking and equips students for the future, motivating them to embrace their full potential and step confidently into their next chapter.
“At Pivot, we celebrate the individuality of each student,” said San Diego Site Administrator Gail Gonzalez Coloyan. “Through personalized support and strong student-teacher relationships, we lay the foundation for long-term academic and personal triumph.”
In addition to a robust K-12 curriculum, Pivot offers high school students the opportunity to engage in college-level learning and career technical education courses. The school partners with institutions like Palomar College and
Santa Rosa Junior College, allowing students to earn college credits while completing their high school education.
Pivot Charter School San Diego is currently enrolling grades K-12 for the 2024-2025 school year. Learn more about Pivot San Diego by reaching out directly to Pivot’s site coordinator Adrian Heredia at aheredia@pivotcharter.org or (760) 591-0217 to begin the enrollment process or schedule a visit to Pivot San Diego’s resource center, located at 1030 La Bonita Dr., Suite 100, San Marcos, CA 92078.
About Pivot San Diego
Pivot San Diego is a Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) accredited charter public school serving students K-12 in San Diego, Orange, Riverside, and Imperial counties. At Pivot, we work hard every day so that our students struggle less and learn more. Pivot’s custom curriculum and collaborative resources define success, develop confidence, and change lives. Like students who find new opportunities here, we are focused yet flexible–with caring teachers who address students’ individual needs and cultivate academic independence in a safe environment.
Virtual, on-site or blended learning with credentialed teachers
Field trips, clubs and social activities
Passionate about personalization
Caring teachers to address students’ individual needs
SERVING GRADES K-12
Cultivating academic independence in a safe environment
Collaborative team approach to ensuring student success
Program designed to develop confidence and change lives
GRAND OPENING
