Inland Edition, August 4, 2023

SANDAG CEO sets Dec. exit

By Laura Place

REGION — Hasan

Ikhrata is resigning from the top job at the San Diego Association of Governments, he announced on Friday.

Ikhrata, who has been a divisive figure in his role as SANDAG chief executive officer, stated in a letter to Board Chairwoman Nora Vargas his last day will be Dec. 29.

“I came to SANDAG almost five years ago to reinvigorate this organization and reimagine a brighter future for the San Diego region,” Ikhrata said in the letter to Vargas.

“Together, with you and the amazing SANDAG team, we have done just that, tackling long-standing issues such as transit to the airport, the falling Del Mar Bluffs, building a third crossing at the U.S.-Mexico border, and the need for free

TURN TO SANDAG ON 7

SD Poet Laureate awarded national fellowship

By

Laura

Place

SAN MARCOS — A Cal State San Marcos professor has been awarded a prestigious $50,000 Poet Laureate Fellowship from the Academy of American Poets.

by Samantha Nelson

Hollywood ending

After a push by city staff, Escondido’s only movie theater will remain open. 3

Years later, hotel foes win again

Plot near Vale View becoming city park

By Steve Puterski

Jason Magabo Perez, an associate professor and director of ethnic studies entering his fifth year at the university, was one of 23 individuals selected last week for the nationwide fellowship. He was selected in January as San Diego’s 2023-24 poet laureate.

“I am grateful for the

affirmation and honored by the support and encouragement from the Academy of American Poets in helping us continue to build upon the empowering histories and brilliant communities of poetry and art in San Diego,” Perez said.

“I look forward to dreaming up possibilities for such work in San Diego, at CSUSM, and beyond.”

During his fellowship, Perez will launch a youth empowerment poetry project focused on poetry, per-

TURN TO LAUREATE ON 19

JASON MAGABO

PEREZ is an associate professor and director of ethnic studies at Cal State San Marcos. He was named San Diego Poet Laureate in January.

Photo courtesy CSUSM

VISTA

— Years after residents blocked a proposed hotel on a vacant parcel along Matagual Drive near the Vale View neighborhood, the City Council on June 27 opted to buy the land with plans to build a public park on the 2.5-acre lot.

The city agreed to purchase the property at 536 Matagual Drive for $2.1 million from Thomas, Julian and Selena Shadle, who accepted the city’s discounted offer after initially asking $3 million.

The deal was contingent upon the land being used as a park, allowing kids to play and the public to enjoy and beautify the area.

“People just really wanted to make sure that I knew that they really wanted to turn it into a park or something more beneficial to the city or community as a whole,” Councilman Dan O’Donnell said. “I told them I couldn’t make any promises, but I would try really hard to turn it into a park. I asked them if they would be open to selling it to the city. Julian (Shadle) said, ‘A long time ago, my dad said this would be a beautiful spot for a park.’”

The deal is expected to close in August. At that time, the city will hire a

Photo by Laura Place

Photo

Emergency Care Emergency Care

appearance, flow and function of this important resource. Coming Soon!

Regal Escondido movie theater gets reprieve

By Samantha Nelson ESCONDIDO

— After months of negotiations and pleas from the community, the city’s only movie theater that was expected to close is here to stay.

In January, Regal Cinemas announced the impending closure of nearly 40 locations across the United States, including its Regal Escondido Stadium 16 and IMAX location in the Plaza Civic Center, 350 W. Valley Pkwy.

The closures followed news of Regal Cinema’s parent company, Cineworld, filing for bankruptcy in September 2022. The company

saw a massive decline in the domestic box office during the COVID-19 pandemic, meanwhile, the monthly rent per theater increased by nearly 30% from 2019 to 2022.

The company recorded losses of $3 billion in 2020 and a $708.3 million in 2021, with a net debt of $4.84 billion.

City staff leapt into action almost immediately following the closure announcement, according to Jennifer Schoeneck, the city’s deputy director of economic development.

“As soon as we found out, we called the property

owner to figure out how we could support and retain Regal,” she said.

Schoeneck also received an influx of phone calls from residents concerned and upset with the news of the movie theater’s closure.

“We really acted on behalf of what we were hearing from the community,” she said.

Through a joint initiative with the property owner, M.C. Strauss Company, along with support from the Downtown Business Association and the Greater Escondido Chamber of Commerce, the city convinced Regal to stay.

Schoeneck said the property owner did the “hard work” through negotiations in bankruptcy court to find agreeable rental terms that would convince Regal to stay. The city also offered financial assistance to the property owner for façade improvements, which will offset costs for repainting and repairing stucco within the shopping center where the theater is located.

City staff also wrote a letter to Regal in support of keeping the movie theater, which was signed by Mayor Dane White.

White said the movie

Hiroshima tree dedication at Botanic Garden

By Staff

theater provides young families like his own an opportunity to find entertainment — and a place to find relief from the summertime heat.

“It was unfortunate when they announced the movie theater was going to close,” he said. “It would have left a big, empty space that would have probably stayed that way for years and would have been detrimental to the entire shopping center.”

White also praised the property owner and city staff for their actions to save the movie theater.

“They worked hard to make this happen,” the mayor said.

ENCINITAS

— The San Diego Botanic Garden has planted a ginkgo tree descended from a mother tree that survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan more than 70 years ago.

The garden has partnered with the Green Legacy Hiroshima Initiative to plant and dedicate the tree during a commemoration ceremony on Aug. 5 at 4:15 p.m., the local time here when the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945.

When the US dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima on Aug. 6 and Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 1945, near the end of World War II, hundreds of thousands of people were killed and injured.

The few who survived believed that nothing would grow in the cities for decades, however 170 trees in Hiroshima survived and are still growing 78 years later.

Known in Japanese as “hibakujumoku,” these survivor trees bring awareness to the dangers of arms of mass destruction, and nuclear weapons in particular, as well as the sacred character of humankind and the resil-

REGAL CINEMAS won’t close its Escondido movie theater location after a push by the city persuaded the company to change course. Photo by Samantha Nelson

The CoasT News

P.O. Box 232550

Encinitas, CA 92023-2550

531 Encinitas Blvd #204/205

760.436.9737

PUBLISHER

Jim Kydd ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Chris Kydd

MANAGING EDITOR

Jordan P. Ingram

ACCOUNTING

Becky Roland COMMUNITY NEWS EDITOR

Samantha Nelson ADVERTISING SALES

Sue 0tto

GRAPHIC ARTIST

Phyllis Mitchell

LEGAL ADVERTISING

Becky Roland

CONTACT THE EDITOR jordan@coastnewsgroup.com

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS calendar@coastnewsgroup.com

COMMUNITY NEWS community@coastnewsgroup.com

CLASSIFIED ADS classifieds@coastnewsgroup.com

LEGALS legals@coastnewsgroup.com

DISTRIBUTION distribution@coastnewsgroup.com

WRITERS/COLUMNISTS WRITERS/COLUMNISTS

Steve Puterski Carlsbad steve.p@coastnewsgroup.com

Samantha Nelson Oceanside, Escondido samantha@coastnewsgroup.com

Laura Place Del Mar, Solana Beach, San Marcos laura@coastnewsgroup.com

Kaila Mellos Encinitas kaila@coastnewsgroup.com

Chris Ahrens (Waterspot) waterspot@coastnewsgroup.com

David Boylan (Lick the Plate) david@artichoke-creative.com

E’Louise Ondash (Hit the Road) elouise@coastnewsgroup.com

Jano Nightingale (Jano’s Garden) janosgarden@gmail.com

Jay Paris (Sports Talk) jayparis8@aol.com

Ryan Woldt (Cheers) ryan@coastnewsgroup.com

Scott Chambers (Edit Cartoon) scott@coastnewsgroup.com

Frank Mangio & Rico Cassoni (Taste of Wine) info@tasteofwineandfood.com

Susan Sullivan (Soul on Fire) sully4solar@gmail.com

INTERNS

Summer Brandt

Fiona Fox Ryan

The Coast News is a legally adjudicated newspaper published weekly on Fridays by The Coast News Group. It is qualified to publish notices required by law to be published in a newspaper of general circulation (Case No. 677114).

Op-Ed submissions: To submit letters and commentaries, please send all materials to editor@coastnewsgroup. com. Letters should be 250 to 300 words and oommentaries limited to no more than 550 words. Please use “Letters,” or “Commentary” in the subject line. All submissions should be relevant and respectful.

To submit items for calendars, press releases and community news, please send all materials to community@ coastnewsgroup. com or calendar@coastnewsgroup.com. Copy is needed at least 10 days prior to date of publication. Stories should be no more than 300 words.

To submit story ideas, please send request and information to stories@coastnewsgroup.com. Submit letters to letters@coastnewsgroup.com

www. coast news group .com

Subscriptions: 1 year/$75; 6 mos./$50; 3 mos./$30

Send check or money order to: The Coast News, P.O. Box 232550, Encinitas, CA 92023-2550.

Newsom gun control push has major flaws

The weaknesses in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposal for a 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution do not lie with the gun controls he seeks to win via this long, convoluted route.

Rather, it’s the rest of the process that’s a potential killer — not of people, but of the basic rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights contained in that Constitution.

Reducing heat cool for schools

A.J. van de Ven

Excessive heat in our school environments is a concerning issue, so it’s good to see it being addressed with initiatives such as the School Extreme Heat Action Plan Act of 2023.

This bill requires schools to create their own Extreme Heat Action Plan, including replacing heat-holding surfaces with cooler solutions, as well as installing shade trees and mini-forests to mitigate the impacts of extreme heat and pollution.

There’s no timeline set down for when these actions need to occur, but even if the bill doesn’t pass in its current form, cooling our schools is of vital importance. Increasingly hot summers due to the climate crisis are only going to make shade and cool surfaces even more crucial.

Why is that? For kids, extreme heat is particularly dangerous, even more so than for adults. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has made it clear that children are at a greater risk of suffering from heat-related illnesses that can cause nausea, muscle cramps, fatigue and fainting.

Studies have shown that students perform worse on tests when they’re hot; and they learn less efficiently. Motivation drops, attention wanders, and reaction

time dwindles.

There’s some evidence, too, that people are more violent and aggressive when it’s hot outside, which is an obvious danger in a school environment. Acting out in class and bullying on the playground are much more likely to occur when kids are prickly and irritable.

Because they play and practice outside, school

that can carry with it toxic chemicals with health dangers of their own.

The most vulnerable students are also the most vulnerable to issues arising from extreme heat. Lower income areas often don’t have the funds to invest in heat mitigation infrastructure. African American and Latino communities are disproportionately affect-

Newsom, realizing it is unlikely almost to the point of impossibility, has pretty much abandoned the route by which every constitutional amendment of the last 200 years worked its way into America’s primary governing document.

That has been via Congress proposing amendments that were then approved by legislatures in three-fourths of the states, a number now standing at 38.

Because Congress and many legislatures labor under the strong influence of the National Rifle Association and other dedicated gun control foes, Newsom knows no firearms amendment proposed in the normal manner stands much chance of passage.

tion could bring amendments calling for a national ban on abortions, an end to free speech and/or freedom of religion and an end to birthright citizenship, among other items.

Into this morass steps Newsom. So far, liberal-led state legislatures have resisted approving COS resolutions. But what if some now were to back Newsom’s proposal and approve a convention supposedly limited to gun control issues?

No one knows if the legislative votes for a constitutional convention would be combined, even if they carry very different putative restrictions on what a convention could do. No one knows because nothing like this has happened before.

athletes are at high risk of heat-related illness, particularly football players.

None of this is earth-shattering news. We know what many schools are like: heat shimmering play and communal areas, which often consist of asphalt, concrete, synthetic turf, and other plastic surfaces that can overheat and melt. They can be dangerously hot just to touch, and without shaded areas, there’s no respite.

Those surfaces create heat islands that can absorb heat during the day and release it slowly at night, meaning there’s no relief from the heat. Because these surfaces don’t absorb water like traditional turf, water runs off of them, and

ed by risks of heat-related health problems.

Trees and turf cool naturally. Trees provide shade, and along with grass, shrubs, and gardens, they can help to block and absorb those harmful runoff chemicals. Shade trees and mini-forests provide refuge and comfort on hot days. They’re also extremely beneficial for the peace of mind of students and staff.

Initiatives like the Cool Schools bill are vital not just for our children today, but for future generations, too.

A.J. van de Ven is president of Carlsbad-based smart irrigation company Calsense and a board member of the nonprofit EcoLife Conservation.

Encinitas in the NY Times for the wrong reasons

Dear friends,

I just read an article in The News York Times (“A Dangerous Combination’: Teenagers’ Accidents Expose E-Bike Risks”) about the recent e-bike tragedy in Encinitas. This is not how we want to receive publicity.

But I, too, have seen multiple e-bike riders trying attempting wheelies on busy roads.

One boy riding an e-bike south on El Camino Real was traveling faster than vehicle traffic with both hands in his pockets. A young girl on the same busy street was texting

while riding an e-bike.

Many students run the stop signs downhill on Mountain Vista Drive, especially after class to gather at the 7-Eleven, some with no feet on the pedals and no hands on the handlebars. Some were riding on the wrong side of the road and not signaling or looking before cutting across two lanes of traffic.

In Leucadia, I saw a young boy, maybe 10 years old, on a small e-bike leaving the 7-Eleven with a large drink in one hand. At least he was wearing a helmet.

A few days after the City Council passed the emergency e-bike measure, I took a photo of a father riding an e-bike downtown with a toddler perched on the handlebars.

Let’s get Encinitas in the news for developing and implementing the most comprehensive e-bike education and training program in the state, if not the U.S., as a model for other communities, and let it serve as our legacy.

Mark Wisniewski Encinitas

If he tries to follow the usual path, Newsom will be thwarted in raising the federal minimum age to purchase a gun from 18 to 21, he will win no universal background checks to prevent dangerous individuals getting guns and there will be no ban on sale of military-style assault weapons.

That leaves one other venue for Newsom to try — a constitutional convention. There have been none of those since 1787.

Here’s the rub: Newsom was not the first to think of using this tactic to further goals he believes essential to America’s well-being. Another movement has been in the field for fully 10 years trying to get approval for a second constitutional convention from the required twothirds of states (now 34).

That group calls itself Convention of States Action (COS). It has won approvals from 19 legislatures, just 15 shy of its goal. COS says its convention would be “restricted to proposing amendments that will impose fiscal restraint on government, limit its powers and jurisdiction and impose term limits on federal officials and members of Congress…” and more.

But the existing Constitution does not prohibit such a convention from delving into any other subjects it likes, no matter what the COS resolution passed by many states may say.

Because COS is the handiwork of ultra-conservative activists, fears abound that such a conven-

Isn’t a vote for a convention a vote for a convention, no matter what restrictions are listed, since the current Constitution does not limit what any convention could take up?

What is known is that at any such convention, voting would be done by state, not by counts of delegate preferences. In short, tiny Wyoming, with about half the population of North County, would have as loud a voice as California or Texas. Talk about the tail wagging the dog!

And the Constitution sets no time limits on how long any proposed amendment stays in consideration.

The last amendment added, the 27th, passed in 1992, about 200 years after it was first proposed. That one forbids members of Congress who approve raises for themselves to collect the money until after the next election.

In short, the big flaws in Newsom’s plan for a 28th Amendment are the fact it would not get through Congress and that it could facilitate a hyper-destructive and divisive constitutional convention.

Far better for the governor — if he’s really interested in limiting firearm access and not merely strengthening his national profile — to campaign for gun controls in individual states, rather than seeking a national solution.

Otherwise, he could be opening a completely unprecedented Pandora’s Box.

Studies have shown that students perform worse on tests when they’re hot.

Kaiser workers picket as San Marcos hospital opens

By Laura Place

SAN MARCOS

—

Kaiser Permanente health care workers from across North County could be seen picketing in support of increased staffing in San Marcos this week, a few hundred feet from the location of a brand-new hospital set to open in early August.

OPEIU Local 30, which represents Kaiser Permanente workers in the San Diego region, joined other unions in the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions in issuing a 10-day picket notice on July 13, stating that Kaiser leadership has not taken them seriously in national contract bargaining.

Since then, workers in California, Colorado, Washington and Oregon have picketed outside of various Kaiser facilities. Along with those outside the San Marcos Medical Offices on Craven Road, a sea of healthcare staff in blue OPEIU Local 30 shirts also demonstrated at Zion Medical Center in San Diego.

Workers say that the high cost of living has led to staffing shortages at Kaiser facilities, causing burnout among employees and decreased quality of care for their patients. To draw and retain more employees, members are demanding improved wages and benefits and more professional growth and education opportunities.

“We can’t attract or keep members when they can’t afford to live here. We have union members living in their cars and members living in one room with

work and ensures that the high-quality care our members expect from us remains affordable and easy to access.”

Hurtarte said Kaiser also reached an agreement in April with the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions to hire 10,000 people nationwide during 2023 and that they are making “great progress” toward that goal.

One of the Coalition’s demands is a $25 hourly minimum wage for health-

provided and is providing well-paid technical jobs,” said Kaiser North County Chief Operating Officer Max Villalobos.

Kaiser leaders boast the center’s state-of-the-art robotics surgery program and amenity-filled patient rooms. It is expected to serve folks in San Marcos, Escondido, Oceanside, Encinitas and other surrounding areas.

The hospital offers another option for Kaiser members in North County who have previously relied on Kaiser plan partnerships with neighboring hospitals like Palomar Medical Center in Escondido and Tri-City Medical Center in Oceanside.

It is unknown if these plan partnerships will continue in years to come, with Kaiser’s San Marcos hospital now on the scene.

healthcare journey without staffing increases and improved support for workers.

This manifests in monthslong wait times to get a needed appointment and patients feeling rushed during visits to make room for more patients.

Where Kaiser workers have been picketing, many hold signs stating “Pa-

tient Need, Not Corporate Greed.”

“When we don’t have the staff available to keep up, they suffer, and that weighs heavy on us,” Engler said.

Smith said she typically works in a module with one doctor, at least four nurses, and medical assistants. However, they are frequent-

ly one person short, so they all have to share patient responsibilities.

“Right then and there, your patient care goes down, waits go up, and that’s when mistakes happen. It’s like, I didn’t check that patient in, and now I’m giving them medication, and it takes time to review the chart,” Smith said.

their whole family,” said OPEIU Local 30 Vice President Catherine Engler, a licensed vocational nurse in Carlsbad who has been with Kaiser for 36 years.

Workers’ contracts were last updated in 2019 and are set to expire in September.

Frank Hurtarte, Kaiser senior vice president of human resources for Southern California and Hawaii, said Kaiser is committed to reaching an agreement but insisted that many members already make above-market wages.

“Given where we are in the bargaining process, it is clear that the picketing announced by the Coalition on July 13 is not about drawing attention to new issues, but rather an attempt to create some kind of bargaining leverage,” Hurtarte said.

“Our priority is to reach an agreement that ensures we can continue to provide market-competitive pay and outstanding benefits. We are confident that we will be able to reach an agreement that strengthens our position as a best place to

care workers. Hurtarte said negotiating over whether to provide a national wage increase for all members or local market-based increases has been the central issue in bargaining.

“In bargaining this week, we have discussed with the Coalition the fact that in some markets, we are paying 28% above the market average wage rates,” Hurtarte said.

New hospital

Over 1,000 health care staff have been hired to work at the $400 million new hospital in San Marcos, scheduled to open Aug. 9.

The new facility was built next to the existing Kaiser outpatient medical offices on Craven Road, breaking ground in 2020. It features 206 beds, an emergency department, eight operating rooms, an intensive care and neonatal intensive care unit, and a labor and delivery department.

“We’ve created 1,100 new jobs to support this medical center. In addition to health care, it also has

OPEIU Local 30 members say while the new hospital is needed to fill a gap in services in North County, investing money in supporting staff is just as, if not more important.

“You’ve gotta remember where you came from. It’s wonderful we have a beautiful new hospital, but we have members who are leaving Kaiser because they can’t afford to see their own doctors,” said Deanna Smith, a licensed vocational nurse in Escondido.

OPEIU Local 30 also claims that Kaiser has more than enough money to pay workers better, having seen profits increase by around $20 billion in the past five years.

“They just choose not to spend it,” said Binh Nguyen, an X-ray technician of 19 years in San Marcos. “They’re telling us we’re overpaid by like 20%, but nobody’s applying.”

Patient care concerns

OPEIU Local 30 members say that patients will continue to experience negative impacts in their

SAN MARCOS Medical Center, the region’s newest Kaiser Permanente hospital, opens Aug. 9 on Craven Road. Right, Angela Jensen, a former nurse and organizer for OPEIU Local 30, participates in a demonstration on July 26 outside of the new facility. Photos by Laura Place

We can’t attract or keep members when they can’t afford to live here.”

Catherine Engler Kaiser nurse/OPEIU Local 30 vice president

Who’s NEWS?

Business news and special achievements for North San Diego County. Send information via email to community@ coastnewsgroup.com.

COLLEGE GRADS

The following students graduated from their respective colleges and universities: Erica Molina-Cortes of Carlsbad from the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York; Erin Elizabeth Lutz of Del Mar from Linfield University in Oregon; Jordan Dubroy of San Marcos from Hofstra University in New York; and Maria Clark of San Marcos, Ilona Eaton of Del Mar, and Connor Kinney and Chase Mangini of Rancho Santa Fe from Tufts University in Massachusetts.

TOP STUDENT

Rei Killion of Vista is among the top 10 graduates of the 2023 National Leadership Academy –Advanced Leadership School through the Young Marines, a national youth organization. Killion is a senior at Mission Vista High School.

DEAN’S LIST

The following students made the spring dean’s list at Tufts University in Massachusetts: Maria Clark of San Marcos, Ilona Eaton of Del Mar, Serena Herold of Encinitas, and Chase Mangini and Lucas Polidori of Rancho Santa Fe.

SURF’S UP

The California Surf Museum in Oceanside is one of 20 nominees in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards category, “Best Attraction for Sports Fans.” Community members can participate by voting for the museum until Aug. 21 at https:// www.10best.com/awards/ travel/best-attraction-forsports-fans-2023/california-surf-museum-oceanside-california/.

WATER WINNER

The Vista Irrigation District board of directors named Diane Krupnak as the winner of this year’s WaterSmart Landscape Irrigation Contest, which recognizes water-wise landscapes based on overall attractiveness, appropriate plant selection, design, maintenance and irrigation efficiency.

SCHOOL MEALS

Escondido Union School District will participate in the Community Eligibility Provision program under the National School Lunch, School Breakfast and Afterschool Snack Programs this school year at all school sites with in-person learning. All students attending school on campus are eligible to receive a nutritious breakfast and lunch for free.

Thieves damage local cafe

By Steve Puterski VISTA

— The mayor of Vista is urging the community to support Nucci’s Italian Café after thieves shattered the glass door to gain entry into the establishment in the early morning hours of July 24, stealing several items and causing thousands of dollars in damage.

The suspects reportedly broke into the family-owned restaurant at 1580 S. Melrose Avenue between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. on Monday and stole a cash register, two self-ordering merchant tablets and other items, according to Det. Sgt. Adam Milligan of the Vista Sheriff's Station.

Mayor John Franklin, who is friends with the Nucci family, posted to social media about the break-in and asked residents to support the local business.

Franklin helped board up the restaurant's broken glass door just hours after the burglary occurred.

San Marcos affordable housing project opens

By Laura Place

SAN

MARCOS

—

The

highly-anticipated Alora affordable housing project opened in San Marcos last week, bringing 100 low-income units to families in the Richmar neighborhood.

California affordable housing developer Affirmed Housing partnered with the City of San Marcos and the County of San Diego on the $40 million project, providing one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments for families earning between 30% and 50% of the area median income.

Units are split between four buildings and a community center, where residents can utilize a pool, barbeque area and bike parking. Also on site are a

basketball hoop area and tot lots for young families.

Alora also provides complimentary onsite services, including computer training and resume-building resources, as well as health and wellness, financial literacy and parenting programs to further support residents.

“Alora represents responsible stewardship for San Marcos’ hardworking citizens in need. In addition to boosting density and housing inventory, Alora provides residents with resources and support to live their best lives, it provides opportunity,” said Affirmed Housing President Jimmy Silverwood.

“This development is a long-term investment and solution to ensuring the health and wellness of the

city and its people.”

The project along Richmar Avenue is located on the former 71-unit Mariposa development built in the 1990s. Developers and city leaders decided to demolish Mariposa, which was in disrepair, and construct a new project to bring more housing.

The 100 Alora units replaced 40 apartments from the Mariposa site. Next door, the remaining 30 Mariposa units are being turned into a separate, 96-unit affordable development called Estrella.

Affirmed Housing plans to complete this second phase of the project by the fall of 2024, according to its website.

According to the city, the site is also within walking distance of grocery

stores, a pharmacy, a public library, parks, and public transportation.

City leaders also shared excitement about the new affordable housing opportunity, which broke ground in early 2022.

“We are invested in creating more affordable housing in San Marcos because the well-being of our community is one of our highest priorities. We look forward to more affordable housing complexes being completed and available to the public soon,” said Mayor Rebecca Jones.

To keep these new housing units affordable into the future, the project has been deed restricted for the next 99 years. This requires the units to be rented only to those who are low-income.

The thieves made off with a pair of electronic to-go tablets from online food-delivery companies DoorDash and Grubhub, potentially costing the restaurant between $3,000 and $5,000 in lost revenue.

According to Milligan, law enforcement has yet to identify any suspects in the burglary.

At the time of the break-in, Nucci’s did not have security cameras. Detectives are reviewing the footage from cameras in the strip mall and surrounding areas.

Franklin directed some of his frustrations over the burglary toward state lawmakers and policies he believes have allowed petty criminals to run wild without fear of punishment.

Milligan said anyone with knowledge of the break-in is urged to call (760) 940-4551 or (760) 940-4551.

Shouting from Roku’s animated rooftops

As the sun set last night, my bride and I settled in to watch some television.

The screen’s wallpaper presented the illustrious Roku City. Featuring 30plus references from popular movies and TV shows, this never-ending carousel includes scenes from every genre, mysteries to monsters, fantasy to romance. They’re updated periodically with the latest hits and Easter eggs to delight fans.

Wandering through these streets, one will see “Independence Day” aliens blowing up Big Ben, Norman Bates’ house and an erupting volcano. In the

distance you’ll observe the Titanic sinking, King Kong, the Daily Planet building, Emerald City and the Golden Gate bridge.

These images enchant those who know the classics but appear generic to those who don’t. Is the town square courthouse from “Back to the Future,” “Inherit the Wind” or some back lot?

The answer’s in the

clock tower.

Today I’m troubled by what I witnessed there. I speak not of gentrification, though Roku City is undoubtedly dealing with the same issues many metropolitan communities face.

Rather, I’m concerned with a marketing overload (you knew I’d get there eventually!)

Because last week I saw McDonald’s golden arches by the waterfront. Today there’s a Walmart store where none previously existed.

And the movie theater’s marquee (usually proclaiming “Free Roku Films”) announced “Barbie” as the next attraction.

It’s subtle marketing,

and it’s only from wellknown organizations where one look at the name or logo reinforces an image already created from other avenues.

I probably shouldn’t be surprised by this turn of events. Marketers are currently seeking every imaginable surface to tout their wares, and media companies desperately need new revenue.

So it was only a matter of time until Roku City became an advertising vehicle.

Of course, with 71.6 million subscribers, Roku’s wallpaper is arguably a viable venue for any wellknown brand to appear. After all, those golden arches bring instant recognition.

But unless you already possess a market presence like Apple, FedEx or Starbucks, your marketing budget is better spent elsewhere.

Ignore the temptation to follow the big kids onto this virtual playground and instead invest your resources in digital advertising, social media presence, direct marketing, public speaking and other more traditional messaging efforts.

It’s sure to improve your chances of people seeing your logo and not saying, “Who?”

With that said, I wish you a week of profitable marketing.

KILLION

THE ALORA project on Richmar Avenue provides 100 low-income units in San Marcos. Photo courtesy of Affirmed Housing

Beaumont, Rancho Minerva closing in June 2024

By Laura Place VISTA

— The first day of school on Aug. 16 will be like any other year for most students in the Vista Unified School District. For those at Beaumont Elementary and Rancho Minerva Middle schools, however, it will mark the start of the final year at their beloved campuses.

Last week, Vista Unified leaders approved a timeline to see Beaumont and Rancho Minerva close on June 30, 2024. This was the next step after the board agreed last month to close the two schools and relocate the Vista Innovation and Design Academy (VIDA) magnet program to the Rancho Minerva campus in response to declining enrollment and poor facilities.

Many questions remain unanswered regarding where displaced students will go, how they will get there and how vulnerable students will be provided the necessary resources. However, district leaders said they could only begin to tackle those matters once a timeframe has been set.

“We can’t have those questions until we get some direction from the board about what the timeline is,” Superintendent Matthew Doyle told the Vista Unified board at their July 20 meeting.

Now that a date has been locked down, the district will start communicating the timeline to families at both schools. Community forums will be held in the winter to help craft a relocation plan for students by February and finalize transportation and support guidelines by March.

Over 80% of Rancho Minerva and Beaumont students are considered low-income. Both schools also have higher rates of Hispanic students — over 90% at the middle school and 85% at Beaumont — than the districtwide rate of 65%.

Like many other districts, Vista Unified has

transit, more bikeways and housing. Our bold vision has garnered support from federal and state funding agencies, with more than $1 billion in investments coming to the region.

“As the agency starts its next chapter focused on implementing your programs and projects, this is the right time to hand over the leadership reins.”

The agency said in a press release Friday evening that Vargas will be leading the transition with the board, and more information will be available in the coming months.

“This news is a bittersweet moment for our region,” Vargas said. “I am grateful for Hasan’s vision, leadership, and unwavering commitment to helping us all reimagine the future of the San Diego region. Throughout his tenure,

also struggled to hire enough bus drivers to serve transportation needs, causing concerns about how students will be bused to new schools across the city.

“It’s not just where we’re putting them. We have to safety net them and the teachers and say okay, the population is gonna change, needs are gonna change, so they can support them,” said Trustee Rosemary Smithfield.

Most Beaumont students will likely be relocated to Monta Vista Elementary, within a separate attendance boundary around 1.5 miles away. The old campus will be a student swing site during the Bobier Elementary rebuild.

Rancho Minerva, which is in good condition but experiencing enrollment around half its capacity, was chosen to be the new campus for VIDA because of failing conditions at the site.

At this point, district leaders say there is space for Rancho Minerva students to be relocated to Madison and Roosevelt elementary schools for the 2024-25 school year. It remains to be seen whether those students will also be given preference to attend

VIDA, which typically has a waitlist hundreds of names long.

However, the district will likely need at least another two years before students at VIDA, whose programs depend heavily on the campus’s learning labs, performing arts center and pool, can be moved to the Rancho Minerva campus.

“There needs to be considerations of the spaces, what programmatically would move around, what would work,” District COO Shawn Loescher said. “In order to do that, there would need to be not just planning time, but there needs to be construction time, and all sorts of other things that need to happen.”

Displaced students

While the school board was unanimous in their plans to close Beaumont, board member Rena Marrocco has been the sole dissenter against closing Rancho Minerva and making it the new VIDA site.

At the July 20 meeting, Marrocco said it is “unconscionable” to plan for kids at Rancho Minerva to be moved to Madison and Roosevelt, both on polar opposite ends of the district. She said that many

work they continue to do and I look forward to continuing to deliver on all of our projects and priorities for the San Diego region.”

Other board members said they believe this news will allow room for positive changes.

“This opens the way to rethink and rationalize transportation planning for the entire San Diego County region,” said Del Mar City Councilwoman Terry Gaasterland.

families at the school already can’t drive their children to school and would have to rely on buses.

“Even in the best case scenario, you’re looking at probably an hour commute each way for these kids to go to school. Children in a situation like this, it’s putting an undue hardship on them. We are taking away the last neighborhood school in Vista, and we’re taking it away from kids that are gonna be the hardest impacted from that,” Marrocco said.

Other board members, however, noted that many of the students currently at Rancho Minerva have already been displaced from other sites due to the creation of magnet schools and said this could make things more convenient for them.

Around 15 years ago, families that previously attended the old Lincoln Middle School were moved to Rancho Minerva when the downtown campus was made into Vista Magnet Middle School. In 2014, even more students came from the former Washington Middle School when it was turned into VIDA.

“Let’s be clear … our magnets created this displacement with our middle school students,” said board

for a new day at SANDAG” following Ikhrata’s announcement.

Keri Avila, president of the Vista Teachers Association and a consolidation committee member recommending the closure of the schools, shared similar concerns.

“Our district talks a lot about equity, but part of the problem with the magnets is it has ended the community schools in the neighborhoods where people can’t afford to have two cars,” Avila said.

Avila and other members of the nine-person committee said they were very limited in the recommendations they could make regarding how to consolidate schools.

The members were told to focus only on the condition of facilities in deciding which schools to close and relocate and that the topics of magnet schools, transportation and new attendance boundaries would be left to other committees.

When asked about these committees by Coast News, Loescher said the district will recommend to the board “what action plans and support struc-

tures facilitate those timelines.”

Measure LL, new bond Along with a decline in enrollment by around 6,700 students over the past decade, Vista Unified is also facing a shortfall of funds to make necessary repairs to all its facilities.

Since 2018, the district has relied on a $247 million bond initiative approved by voters known as Measure LL to fund several critical projects, ranging from softball field renovations at Vista and Rancho Buena Vista high schools to new bathrooms at Casita Center and Lake elementary schools. Beaumont was also originally planned to undergo a renovation using bond funds. However, the district abandoned this plan after determining the project would be much more expensive than originally anticipated due to mold infiltrating the school’s foundation and other structural issues.

With most Measure LL funds now spent or allocated to other projects, the district board is entertaining the idea of pursuing another bond measure, possibly as soon as next year.

On July 20, the board approved spending $28,000 for True North Research to conduct an initial bond feasibility study in the district community over the coming month.

“We know we have some serious issues to bring our school sites to safe and equitable standards in the district,” said Trustee Julie Kelly. “I’m in favor of dipping our toe to getting a feel for how to proceed, with how our community feels about pursuing another bond.”

Marrocco voted against the survey, stating it was too soon to consider another bond.

“I think the timing’s not right for us to proceed any further with this,” she said.

Hasan has spearheaded transformative changes in transportation and regional planning for the County of San Diego, and I want to wish him the best in his next endeavor.

“I also want to thank SANDAG staff for all the

Ikhrata came on as the agency’s CEO in 2018 from the Southern California Association of Governments. Opponents of his leadership have said Ikhrata has alienated many San Diego leaders with his strong advocacy for controversial transit proposals such as a mileage fee for drivers and has not been shy about his focus on reducing car travel in the region.

Supervisor Jim Desmond said he was “hopeful

“I am encouraged to hear about Hasan Ikhrata’s departure from SANDAG,” Desmond said in a statement. “This development opens the door to change and progress within the organization. SANDAG’s primary focus must be on finding a new leader who embodies the qualities of a consensus builder who can collaborate effectively with all cities and unincorporated area communities in San Diego County.

“SANDAG should prioritize taxpayers’ needs and use San Diegans’ hardearned money efficiently and responsibly. I am committed to supporting a new SANDAG executive who will diligently work toward designing a comprehensive regional transportation plan that addresses the needs of the entire region, including freeways and roads.”

member Martha Alvarado.

BEAUMONT ELEMENTARY School in Vista is one of two schools that will close next summer. Photo by Laura Place

HASAN IKHRATA came to SANDAG in 2018, and his tenure has been marked by controversy. Courtesy photo

SANDAG CONTINUED FROM FRONT

Old suitcase sends

hit the road

The suitcase is a universal symbol of travel, but for Kitty Morse of Vista, a petite valise (French for small suitcase) that once belonged to her great-grandparents became so much more.

For three years, the tattered suitcase sat on her closet shelf, unopened. But once the lid was lifted, the petite valise sent the renowned food writer on a journey to highly emotional places and, eventually, to France.

The contents included a diary written by her maternal great-grandfather, Prosper Levy; a book of recipes that belonged to her great-grandmother Blanche Levy-Neymarck; and family photos, letters and documents.

Prosper’s diary, written between May 1940 and New Year’s Eve 1940, chronicled life in Nancy in German-occupied northeastern France.

A secular Jew, Prosper initially did not take seriously the German mandate to register, thinking that, as a decorated military physician and loyal Frenchman, he was in little danger. His decision to comply changed Morse’s family history.

Morse also found documentation that Blanche and her older daughter and husband, Anny and Fernand Cerf, were list ed as passen gers in wagon No. 70 of the train that took them to Aus chwitz, the most infamous of the Nazi death camps.

Prosper died of dementia in a hospital near Nancy.

Morse places these compelling discoveries, her ancestors’ stories and her great-grandmother’s recipes in her latest book, “Bitter Sweet: A Wartime Journal and Heirloom Recipes from Occupied France.”

Morse’s late husband, Owen, strongly encouraged her to write the book.

“He said this was a story that had to be told,” she said.

And further impetus came from Holocaust survivor and speaker Marion Turski, who declared on C-SPAN: “We can never remain indifferent.”

Owen, who died in January as the book was being printed, did much of the historical research and took all of the exquisite photography featured in the recipe section.

Morse is here today only because her grandmother, Prosper and Blanche’s younger daughter, Suzanne, moved in 1922 to Marrakesh, Morocco, with her new husband. Suzanne gave birth to Morse’s mother, Ni-

cole, who was brought up in Morocco. Morse was born in Casablanca and grew up in a bilingual home.

“I spoke French with my mother and English with my (British) father,” Morse said. “I came to the United States on holiday when I was 14 and I knew instantly I belonged here.”

In May, Morse traveled to northeastern France, “where hardly any tourists go,” to learn about her mother’s family in the towns where they lived, worked and vacationed. The trip, made with her niece from Victoria, British Columbia, had both bright and somber moments.

In Châlons-enChampagne, Morse saw two former homes of her great-grandparents and the hospital (now a girls’ high school) where her great-grandfather practiced during World War I; visited the synagogue to view the heavy silver menorah donated by her great-greatuncle in 1863; sat in the same chair in the mayor's

office as Blanche must have when she got married more than 100 years ago; viewed a new plaque honoring Châlons’ fallen unknown, World War II American soldiers; and visited ancestral tombs where she sprinkled some of her mother’s ashes.

“In Rosières-aux-Salines, I was invited to lay flowers at the base of the newly erected plaque naming Jewish residents who died in the Holocaust, and also, on the tomb of the Grandoeury sisters, the ladies who sheltered Proper and Blanche during the German bombing of Nancy,” Morse said.

“The new occupant of the Grandoeury house let us in the garden and showed us the entrance to the tunnel where they hid. The whole episode sent shivers down my spine.”

Morse also gave a well-attended presentation on “Bitter Sweet” at the Châlons public library and was interviewed on television and radio.

In Rosières, Morse, es-

corted by the mayor, saw the grand home of her great aunt and uncle, now converted to apartments, and the new street sign in the Jewish Quarter commemorating the kidnapping of the Jews on June 8, 1943.

In nearby Ecrouves, she drove to the Nazi holding camp (now a minimum-security prison) where French authorities held her ancestors until they were sent to the main camp of Drancy

and from there, Auschwitz.

“The most awful moment was reading the letter that Blanche wrote to her friend talking about conditions at Ecrouves,” Morse said. “I realized the date coincided with the day she was taken to Drancy.”

To order a signed copy of “Bitter Sweet,” visit www. kittymorse.com. Unsigned copies are available from Amazon or can be ordered by any bookstore.

KITTY MORSE of Vista found photos, documents and diaries in a tattered suitcase once belonging to her Jewish great-grandparents who lived in occupied France during World War II. The contents included a photo, right, of Prosper and Blanche Levy and their daughter Suzanne (Morse’s grandmother). Blanche and her older daughter and son-in-law, Anny and Fernand Cerf, died at Auschwitz.

Above left:

Photo by Ron Baker; Above right: Photo courtesy Kitty Morse

THE WRITER outside the tunnel in Rosières-aux-Salines, France, where her great-grandparents hid during bombings by the Germans during World War II. Photo courtesy Kitty Morse

Located in beautiful Lake San Marcos, this 1200 square ft, 2BDRM and 2Bath upper end corner unit is a close walk to the lake and boasts mountain views. Currently tenant occupied, please do not disturb. Has new laminate flooring and windows are two years old. One car garage with extra storage space.

Palomar hosts Ovation Theatre’s ‘Phantom of the Opera’

By Kaila Mellos

REGION

— After several months of rehearsal, Ovation Theatre’s long-awaited performance of “The Phantom of the Opera” has arrived.

“Phantom of the Opera,” often referred to as “Phantom” for short, is a musical based on a 1909 French novel of the same name by Gaston Leroux, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe. “Phantom” tells the story of Christine Daaé, a beautiful soprano singer who becomes the obsession of a masked, musical genius living beneath the Paris Opera House.

The Ovation Theatre production is directed by husband and wife team, Artistic Director Pamela Laurent and Music Director Scott Gregory, who once had the opportunity to play a part in an international Broadway production of “Phantom” in Hamburg, Germany.

Thanks to their previous experience with the mega-hit musical, the two have a unique insight as to what will make the small theater production feel like a Broadway performance.

“Returning to Phantom after 25 years and having the opportunity to share our deep knowledge of the show with this insanely talented cast has been an amazing and rewarding experience for Scott and me,” Laurent

said. “We’ve taken great care with this production, striving to get every detail just right to create a rich experience for our performers and the North San Diego community.”

The production rights to “Phantom” were highly coveted, only to be used by schools and theaters associated with schools. When they became more public,

Ovation Theatre leapt at the chance.

“When the rights were released long ago, we applied but discovered that only schools could do it, and since we weren’t affiliated with a school, we couldn’t,” Gregory said. “Some elementary schools put on ‘Phantom’ before we even had a chance to, so we’ve been keeping an eye

on it, and we were not passing this up when it became available.”

Choreographed by Natalie Nucci and Reka Gyulai, the production will be as accurate as how Laurent and Gregory performed it in Germany – except in English this time. “When we auditioned for the production in Germany, it was for Americans

but to be performed in German,” Laurent said. “So what’s been odd for Scott and me is that we learned ‘Phantom’ in German, and it’s been so strange to work in English when our habits formed in another language.”

Ovation Theatre received multiple sponsorships to fund the production, which includes over

200 pieces of costume and a 45-person cast.

“We have Nick Siljander, who leads as the mysterious Phantom obsessed with the beautiful and talented chorus girl, Christine Daaé, played by Broadway San Diego Awards semi-finalist Evelyn Berry,” Laurent said. “And rounding out the show’s powerhouse principal cast is Jack Stuhley as Christine’s childhood sweetheart, Raoul.”

Cast and crew members are excited to see all of their hard work finally coming together.

“I’m most excited about the spectacle we want to present and how all these elements will come together,” Laurent said.

“For me, it’s always the moment that the cast sinks into the show,” Gregory continued. “That usually doesn’t happen until after opening night or after several shows. But all the work they’ve put in and all the excitement that goes into that intensity is the highlight of what I work towards.”

Encinitas-based Ovation Theatre will present “The Phantom of the Opera” at Palomar College’s Howard Brubeck Theatre in San Marcos from Aug. 4 to 6 and Aug. 11 to 13.

Tickets are available through Ovation’s website. The non-profit theater company is also accepting donations and sponsorships for the show.

OVATION THEATRE presents “Phantom of the Opera” this weekend and next at Howard Brubeck Theatre on the campus of Palomar College in San Marcos. Nick Siljander plays the mysterious Phantom, who’s obsessed with the beautiful soprano, Christine Daaé, played by Evelyn Berry. Photos courtesy of Ovation Theatre

Vista picks new fire chief as stakeholder process debuts

By Laura Place VISTA

— The new fire chief in Vista is blazing a trail as the first department head chosen through the city’s new stakeholder committee process.

Gerard Washington, who has over 30 years of firefighting and fire leadership experience in Wisconsin, was selected in late June and will begin his post Aug. 14, according to city officials.

Washington has served as fire chief in the village of Menomonee Falls since 2020. Prior to that, he spent over 28 years in the Milwaukee Fire Department as an assistant fire chief and battalion chief, among other roles.

“He's got 30 years of experience in fire service, he’s a great communicator and has shown his leadership skills in the departments he’s worked for in the past,” Vista City Manager John Conley said. “I found him to be a very capable and insightful guy who had great communication skills, and I'm confident he’ll be able to lead the department in the right direction in the future.”

Washington’s hire was the first to be conducted through a new city policy requiring a panel of stakeholders representing employee groups and community partners to be included in interviewing candidates for department head positions.

The fire chief hiring panel included representatives from the Vista Firefighters Association, Vista City Employee Association and the Vista Fire Protection District, among others.

While the final hiring decision still remains with the city manager, panelists were able to make recommendations and provide insight during the process.

One panelist, Vista Fire Protection District Board President Jim Elliot, said it was important for his agen-

TREE

CONTINUED FROM 3

ience of nature.

GLH is a global campaign aimed at spreading the universal messages of caution and hope that the survivor trees of Hiroshima represent.

Currently, seeds and saplings from the A-bombed trees are growing in more than 40 countries in a sustained, long-term campaign, joining other efforts to establish a nuclear-free and more ecological planet.

The result of a multiyear partnership with GLH, San Diego Botanic Garden received its ginkgo as a seedling from Shukkeien garden in Japan in 2020, and was planted at the garden site last month.

Guest speakers and representatives from GLH will be in attendance for the tree dedication. Visitors are in-

agreed to remove this clause a couple of months later.

City leaders spent about four months finalizing the new stakeholder process before beginning their search for fire chief candidates in April. Recruiting firm Koff & Associates conducted a national search in the spring and sent the top four candidates to the panel for further consideration.

Panel members ranked the candidates, and Conley was left to review stakeholders’ recommendations and make the final selection as city manager.

JULY

cy to be involved, since the fire chief oversees both the boundaries of Vista as well as the separate boundaries of the fire district to the east.

“It's very appropriate that the fire protection district would have an opportunity to meet the new candidate … I was very happy to be there and have the opportunity,” Elliot said. “Our board cares deeply about who this person is going to be, and [whether] they understand that they have to wear two hats.”

New process Vista has been without a permanent fire chief since the November retirement of Ned Vander Pol, who shared internally that he was leaving due to severe strife in the department.

Just weeks prior, former city manager Patrick Johnson resigned in opposition to the department head hiring policy adopted by the City Council in September, which he said hampered the hiring authority afforded to the city manager in his contract.

In addition to involving stakeholder groups, the policy originally included a sixmonth sunset clause requiring a City Council majority to approve all hiring decisions made by the city manager. However, the council

vited to take part in a community wish writing and leaf rubbing activity where they can express written or drawn representations of wishes for the future.

“The hibakujumoku have an amazing ability to simultaneously commemorate the devastation wrought by the bombing of Hiroshima and instill a profound sense of hope in the future. If trees can survive such an event, and their progeny can be shared across the world, there’s clearly so much we can do together to make the world a better place for people and plants,” said Ari Novy, president of San Diego Botanic Garden.

“We are honored to be part of this initiative and invite the community to join us in commemorating the history, legacy and symbol of peace that this beautiful tree represents.”

Novy was part of a se-

“I think it’s helpful to have the insight of the panelists, since they all have various levels of technical expertise or community understanding,” Conley said. “I thought the process was extremely helpful, and I think it will be helpful to vet the candidate for the other positions.”

Other groups represented on the panel included the city’s employee, city maintenance and chief officers associations, the Sheriff’s Department and the Vista Community Safety Commission.

City executive management staff including the human resources and finance directors also participated.

There are currently three other department head vacancies in Vista — assistant city manager, engineering director and community development director — that will be filled through the same panel process in the coming months.

Each panel contains slightly different employee groups and community partner representatives depending on the department head being hired. The panel for the community development director, for example, will include representatives from the Vista Planning Commission and Vista Chamber of Commerce.

Washington could be reached immediately for comment.

lect group of plant scientists and botanic garden experts invited by GLH to visit Hiroshima in November 2022. The scientists visited various sites of the survivor trees throughout the city and helped gather seeds to preserve and grow second-generation survivor trees around the world.

Often referred to as a living fossil, the ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) is one of the oldest living tree species with the ability to live up to 1,000 years.

Select portions of the garden will be accessible until 6 p.m. for this event, with the last entry at 4:30 p.m.

It is recommended that visitors arrive before the event start time if they would like to visit the full garden.

For more information about San Diego Botanic Garden, visit sdbg.org.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 5

Get FREE admission, program and seat, plus 40% off 16 oz. Coors Lights and Brandt Beef hot dogs at concession stands with FREE Diamond Club membership.

Half off Del Mar Signature Drinks every Friday at select locations.

An epic celebration of New Orleans culture with Cajun cuisine, themed drinks, music, mini parade and more. Ages 21 & up only.*

SUNDAY, AUGUST 6

D nuts Day

SATURDAY, AUGUST 12

Enjoy free, delicious donuts, kids’ entertainment, Q&A with jockeys and trainers, all while watching the horses during their morning workouts from 8-10 am.

Build your own BBQ spread from top restaurant chefs and pitmasters, along with sides, desserts, beverages, music and trackside viewing.*

SATURDAY, AUGUST 19

Enjoy over 100 wines and champagnes, live races, DJ, local favorite food trucks, and more. Ages 21 & up only.*

SATURDAY, AUGUST 26

Specialty tequilas, margaritas and cervezas paired up with tasty tacos from the best taco shops in town. Ages 21 & up only.*

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

$1,000,000

FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic

Del Mar’s richest and most prestigious race. The day features five graded stakes races and a Flightline cap giveaway to the first 10,000 paid admissions.

GERARD WASHINGTON, a fire chief in Wisconsin since 2020, takes over as Vista fire chief on Aug. 14. Courtesy photo

Seafood in its element at Oceanside’s Brine Box

lick the plate

david boylan

I’ve always had a bit of a problem eating seafood at a restaurant that is not in some proximity to a body of water.

It’s more psychological given that we live in the modern age where jets transport seafood, fresh or fresh frozen, from all corners of the globe to every significant market in the US in short order.

So yeah, it’s an unwarranted freakout. It’s not an issue at Brine Box, which sits at the end of the historic Oceanside pier, nearly a half mile out to sea.

Plus, we know that proprietors Jessica and Davin Waite are sourcing locally and sustainably from purveyors like our now famous fishmonger Tommy Gomes, which makes the Brine Box experience even more local…and worth supporting.

Specials on the menu will constantly evolve to reflect what’s available in local harbors, with fish like rockfish in the winter and an abundance of pelagic

species like swordfish, tuna, and yellowtail in the summer. Pelagic refers to fish from open waters, typically far offshore.

Brine Box is the latest addition to the growing list of top-notch eateries from the Waites that include the iconic Wrench & Rodent Seabasstropub, Shootz Fish & Beer, and the Plot, the couple’s vegan joint that’s expanding to Carlsbad and Costa Mesa.

It should be a given by

now that any restaurant these two put their touches on will not disappoint. The chef de cuisine at Brine Box is Rachel Hurley, who has worked with Davin on several of his projects, including Wrench and Rodent and The Plot.

I had forgotten the last time I had been on the Oceanside pier and did not know that its 1,942-footlong expanse makes it the longest on the West Coast. According to the Oceanside

ONLY $149

reg. $279

619-593-4020

CHIMNEY SWEEPS, INC

SERVING SAN DIEGO COUNTY FOR OVER 30 YEARS

Chamber of Commerce, the pier was built in 1888, and in 1976, a 600-foot section collapsed during a storm.

The pier was demolished and rebuilt, with the current version opening in 1987. It provides excellent people-watching with a broad cross-section of humanity represented and is lined by folks fishing for the bounty below.

Please leave it to the brilliant minds of the Waites, Oceanside’s stellar cu-

linary couple, to come up with the idea to create a seafood shack in a refurbished 109-square-foot kiosk. The menu is designed to be mobile, but I wanted to enjoy my fresh catch in its element…out to sea.

There are a couple of benches available it would be even more ideal with some tables and shaded seating, making an already epic experience even better. Word is these are on the way.

Having learned a bit about Davin’s British roots from past Lick the Plate features and interviews, that influence of what they call a “chippy” or informal fishand-chip shops prevalent

on the coast of England is prominent.

And, of course, Brine Box elevates that concept on several levels. The couple’s zero-waste, sustainable-only mantra can also be found here.

Of course, his version of fish and chips features local beer-battered halibut served with crispy fries and classic mushy peas.

I’ve sampled this dish in England several times, and honestly, the Brine Box version is better. Put something crisp around local halibut, and you can’t go wrong.

Then, to enjoy that crispy goodness surround-

SUN, WIND, AND FIRE...

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

On a hot summer day, a chimney can experience temperatures of 125 to 150 degrees. This intense heat can cause metal to warp, masonry to crack and leave a chimney fully exposed to the other elements. Don’t let the scorching sun damage your chimney; contact us for expert maintenance and repairs today before it’s too late.

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

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

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 make sure your chimney avoids summer damage.

BRINE BOX is located at the end of the historic Oceanside pier. Photo by David Boylan

FISH & CHIPS features local halibut served with crispy fries and classic mushy peas. Photo via Instagram/osidebrinebox

Local brewers celebrate summer with pale ale resurgence

By Jeff Spanier

This summer has seen a resurgence of a classic craft beer style that for several years has been hard to find (outside the ubiquitous AleSmith 394 Pale Ale). It would be an easy argument to make that the modern craft beer movement began with pale ale.

Most brewers I’ve interviewed over the last few years have cited the style — Sierra Nevada’s Pale Ale in particular — as a cornerstone in their love of craft beer.

The style derives from English pale or English bitter. But thanks to Sierra Nevada — and other American breweries — the style developed a uniquely American flavor throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.

The pale ale offers a hop-forward flavor but dials back the bitterness so prominent in IPAs. The pale ale also provides softer biscuit or caramel notes from the malts and a crispness making it effervescent.

Sadly, with the constant demand for IPAs, the pale ale seemed to be lost to the not too distant past. But, to my delight, the style is finding its way back to breweries across the county.

Here are some excellent pale ales brewed locally and

LICK THE PLATE CONTINUED FROM 12

ing tender halibut, it on the railing ledge of the pier, with the majestic California coastline jutting out and an ice cold beverage – is right up there with any dining experience I’ve had. I will return for more of that dish as it is world-class.

I also sampled a Brine Box special of the day: Sashimi of Bluefin Tuna with Zucchini Gazpacho and pickled vegetables. This basket of super fresh raw seafood beauty would not make it further than a few feet away from the Brine Box. I found a patch of shade nearby and devoured

worth enjoying as a reminder of the glory of this wonderful beer style.

Inzane’s Pale Ale

This beer is an homage to Sierra Nevada’s classic beer. This beer hits all the right notes for the style.

“My first love for craft beer started with my time in Chico and Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. I am hoping to push people back to the pale ale style with what I’m brewing.

“There’s a world of pale ales out there that IPA lovers would enjoy if they’d give them a shot,” says owner Mike Zane.

Best enjoyed on premises while listening to live music or stand-up comedy on the Inzane Brewing stage.

CopyCat Pale

Jeff Bagby has been a fan of the style since his college days. His lineup features an extra pale (Struggle Bus) and a pale similar to Sierra Nevada’s flagship beer. Bagby explained that while his original intent wasn’t to mirror Sierra Nevada, the result “color, abv and body were spot on.”

Hence the name: CopyCat.

“Very similar hops, cascade heavy, but a little more hop presence in CopyCat

it in short order. I’d like 10 more of those, please.

The menu is simple and constantly changing with what’s available locally. The Market Catch comes with quinoa potato salad, sweet and sour sauce and veggies from the Plot Garden Project in Oceanside. Curry Chips are crispy fries and house curry sauce, and you can add the fish of the day.

Cheesy Chowder Tots is a perfect remedy for serious munchies with crispy tater tots topped with melted American cheese and homemade clam chowder. I love how Davin and Jessica can be both highbrow and lowbrow on the same menu. And I use the term lowbrow

than Sierra Nevada,” says Bagby.

Bagby serves his Copycat Pale in a proper pint English ale Nonic glass. Some may overlook this detail, but it is a much-appreciated touch to the purists and beer nerds.

Copycat Pale “pairs well with food but best with our fish tacos–depending on how much salsa you add,” says Bagby.

with the utmost respect.

I want to enjoy this dish as the marine layer rolls in and it’s sweater weather. I can’t wait for actual rain to happen to make the trek out of the pier to Brine Box for the whole UK experience.

Meat is represented with a hint of Hawaiian plate lunch influence as a Spam, Egg & Cheese Sando. The perfectly placed touch of highbrow here is the anchovy aioli.

Rounding out the menu on my visit was Seared Tuna or Korean BBQ Prawns with a seasonal salad.

Brine Box delights on many levels, and I would highly recommend it. More at osidebrinebox.com.

Tinny Smasher

According to head brewer Moe Katomsk, “Tinny Smasher is a British style Pale Ale that was intended to stick to the style guidelines. We used all British ingredients for the beer. We put our San Diego twist on it by using a touch of honey malt for sweetness.”

This style's milder, maltier version makes Tinny Smasher both old-school

and unique to San Diego. Best enjoyed paired with a Viewpoint chicken pot pie.

Carlsbad Crush and By the Sea

Crush is “charged with an abundance of mosaic hops to create a light and tropical pale ale that’s the best of both worlds: hoppy and crushable,” says Mackenzie Kline of Burgeon Beer.

Crush contains subtle blueberry and stone fruit notes and earned a Silver Medal at the Great American Beer Festival. Best enjoyed at sunset at the Carlsbad Camp Store, where it is served on draft. Also available in cans everywhere.

By the Sea is a single-hop citra pale ale lighter and dryer than Crush.

“We are big fans of tried and true traditional styles like the pale ale,” says owner Tommaso Maggiore.

“We start with tradition in mind and then our means of getting there are a little more modern,” added head brewer Cody Gagnon. “By the Sea is double dryhopped to get the flavors and dry it out.”

The result is an easily approachable beer that is best paired with a second pint.

While the tourists crowd the beaches, please get out and enjoy our local brewery scene and some classic pale ales as they enjoy a hopefully not-too-brief revival this summer.

Jeff Spanier is the host of I Like Beer the Podcast. Take a listen wherever you get podcasts. Follow Spanier’s adventures @ ilikebeerthepodcast on Instagram or ilikebeerthepodcast.com

INZANE PALE ALE at Inzane Brewing in Vista. Photo by Jeff Spanier

Interfaith hosting health services day for homeless

By Staff ESCONDIDO

— Interfaith Community Services is partnering with Neighborhood Healthcare to provide critical health care services to those in need at the Community Healthcare Day event on Aug. 15.

The event, which aims to empower community members in need, will take place at 550 W. Washington Ave. in Escondido from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., where diverse vendors will host booths and offer a range of services entirely free of charge.

By collaborating with multiple vendors and healthcare partners, Interfaith Community Services aims to provide comprehensive and much-needed support to those experiencing hard times throughout North County San Diego.

During this event, attendees will have the opportunity to access a variety of critical services, such as:

• General health checkups and screenings

• Gift card raffle

• Gift bags giveaway

• Food

• Showers courtesy of Humanity Showers

• Haircuts and shaves by Ivy League Barber Academy

• Clothes from Ashley’s Hope

• Foot exams

• Laundry services provided by Lived Experiences

• Tents and tarps giveaway

• Community resource assistance

The event also aims to provide a welcoming atmosphere that fosters a sense of community and understanding, creating a platform for individuals to engage with volunteers and connecting them to resources that can help improve their quality of life.

“We believe that everyone, irrespective of their circumstances, deserves access to essential healthcare services and support,” said Jazmin Oregon, director of supportive services for Interfaith.

“By bringing together different vendors and partners, we hope to make a significant impact in the lives of our homeless community members and provide them with the care and attention they truly deserve.”

Those who would like to help by volunteering or offering support should reach out to communications@interfaithservices. org.

consultant for community outreach efforts to determine the park’s amenities, given the sizeable slope on the property’s back end. O’Donnell also noted the park’s design and amenities must not interfere with the residents living in homes adjacent to the lot.

City Manager John

Conley said the goal is for city staff to initiate a planning process to bring back in spring 2024 and put the project out to bid. Conley said construction could start late next year if all goes according to plan.

In 2019, residents in the Vale View neighborhood pushed back against a proposed hotel at 536 Matagual Drive, along Hacienda Drive east of Vista

San Marcos Chamber

Allen Brothers Mortuary providing services for North County

Allen Brothers Mortuary has been in business since 1964 and the San Marcos Chapel, located on Twin Oaks Valley Road in San Marcos since 1989. Linda Allen, President and Darren Clevers, Funeral Director and Chapel Manager talk about their services in North County.

What services and/or specialty products do you provide? We are a full-service mortuary providing both burial and cremation services with traditional, graveside and/or memorial service options. We coordinate Military Funeral Honors for Veterans and provide Social Security, VA and insurance assistance. Every funeral service is personalized based on the family’s choices to honor their loved one.

What sets you apart from others in your industry?

We are a second-generation family owned and operated funeral home. We consider the families we serve as our neighbors and friends because we have lived here since the early 1960s. We are honored to have been chosen by generations of families over the past 59 years. Our compassionate staff answer our phone 24 hours a day,

every day, because we know families need answers quickly when a death occurs. Families will never get an answer service staffed by far-away strangers who just take messages.

What question are you asked most frequently by clients / prospective buyers?

When a death occurs, family members are often overwhelmed and questions start with, “What do I need to do…?” or “How can I…?” And often, “Is it possible…?” Our Allen Brothers staff help guide families by letting them know the many available options and work with families to assist them in creating a memorable tribute that truly honors their loved one.

What is your favorite business success story?

Success is when we received comments from families saying, “very loving and family oriented & relaxing; because the people made you feel very comforted & relaxed; were not pushy but very informative and yet personable like you were family.” or “The personal touch of always answering the phone and providing helpful step by step information about what happens when a loved one dies is exceptional.” and, “fulfilled all our wishes to help make the funeral service all that we had wanted. We appreciate the calm, patient, and attentive demeanor during this difficult time.” For us, that is

success! We were recently voted the Gold Winner for Funeral Homes/ Service Category in the Best of North County 2023 contest and thank everyone who took the time to honor us with their vote!

What motivated you to join The San Marcos Chamber? Allen Brothers Mortuary was started by two brothers who believed in helping families while helping our communities. The tradition has continued through this generation. Allen Brothers supports our community through youth programs, non-profit organizations, and community service organizations. Belonging to the Chamber gives businesses strength in numbers to make a positive difference for our community.

What’s your best piece of business advice? Treat your customers as you would your family. Be honest, pay attention to details, and listen and respond to your customers’ needs and wants.

Business website: allenbrothersmortuary.com

Business Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ allenbrothersmortuary

Village Drive and south of state Route 78.

Vista resident Lonna Leghart, one of the residents who fought against the hotel, said a developer later abandoned another proposal for a townhome project after residents said they would oppose it.

“They wanted to put 42, three-story townhomes on that property,” Leghart said. “Where were people

going to park? That was one of our huge issues (with the hotel).”

Across the street from the future park are several restaurants, including Chick-Fil-A, Starbucks, Panera Bread and the Habit Burger Grill. Residents’ attempts to block that development were unsuccessful, but they were able to exclude a proposed car wash at the strip mall.

By City News Service

REGION — A wom-

an who fatally stabbed her boyfriend at their Escondido apartment was sentenced Aug. 1 to 16 years to life in state prison.

Shelley Reaves, 54, pleaded guilty to a second-degree murder count and an allegation of using a knife in the Dec. 22, 2020, slaying of 63-year-old Rafael Octavio Choza.

Escondido police received a call just after 7 that night from a woman who said her roommate was dead.

Officers responded to the apartment in the 600 block of North Quince Street and found Choza “unrespon-

sive with obvious signs of trauma.”

Choza, who had been stabbed multiple times, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Along with murder, Reaves was also initially charged with felony domestic violence in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred five days before Choza’s death.

Choza was also the listed victim for the domestic violence count.

Police said that prior to her arrest in the murder, she had been recently arrested on suspicion of domestic abuse, but was released after posting bond.

JOIN THE VISTA SHERIFF’S

DEPARTMENT

SENIOR VOLUNTEER

The Senior Volunteer Patrol of the Vista Sheriff’s Station performs home vacation security checks, assists with traffic control, enforces disabled parking regulations, patrols neighborhoods, schools, parks and shopping centers and visits homebound seniors who live alone for the community of Vista & portions of the county’s unincorporated areas. Volunteers must be at least age 50, be in good health, pass a background check, have auto insurance, a valid California driver’s license, and be a US citizen. Training includes a mandatory two-week academy plus training patrols. The minimum commitment is 6 hours per week & attendance at a monthly meeting. erested parties should contact Administrator Jim Baynes to arrange an information meeting.

(760) 940-4434 Jim Baynes

DARREN CLEVERS Chapel Manager Courtesy photo

LINDA ALLEN President Courtesy photo

VISTA CITY COUNCIL approved the $2.1 million purchase of 2.27 acres for a public park along Hacienda Drive east of Vista Village Drive. In 2019, nearby residents fought back against a proposed hotel at the site. Photo by Steve Puterski

Woman gets 16 years to life for boyfriend’s stabbing death

EVENTS CALENDAR

AUG. 4

TGIF CONCERTS IN PARK

Betamaxx is a high-energy, nostalgia-filled rock concert that keeps the dance floor packed from beginning to end with an 80s music experience. 6 p.m. at Alga Norte Community Park, 6565 Alicante Rd, Carlsbad.

‘SOMETHING ROTTEN!’

This hilarious musical follows the story of two brothers in the Renaissance era who are desperate to write a hit play and outdo their rival, William Shakespeare. $25. Multiple shows running from July 27 to Aug. 6, at California Center for the Arts, Escondido, Black Box Theatre - Studio 1, 340 N Escondido Blvd, Escondido.

DINE-IN MOVIES

Join us for the ultimate poolside cinema experience at Lakehouse Resort! Located on the 80-acre Lake San Marcos, Lakehouse Resort is hosting Dive-in Movies on the pool deck all summer long. $10-$20, 8 p.m. at Lakehouse Hotel & Resort, 1105 La Bonita Dr, San Marcos.

‘PIPPIN’

North Coast Repertory concludes a record-breaking Season 41 with the captivating musical, “Pippin.” $68, Multiple shows running through Aug. 20. North Coast Repertory Theatre, 987 Lomas Santa Fe Dr, Solana Beach.

ANIMAL WORLD EXHIBIT

The gallery’s largest exhibit to date, “Animal World” features 68 pieces by 34 local artists exploring the wild to the domestic. Runs from Aug. 4 to Sept. 13. The Brooks Theatre, 217 N Coast Hwy, Oceanside.

DISCOVERY DAYS

Join The Forum Carlsbad and San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum at Discovery Days this summer. Guests can enjoy five, rotating, hands-on exhibits designed to engage families in STEM activities. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 4 at The Forum Carlsbad, 1923 Calle Barcelona, Carlsbad.

AUG. 5

BILLY JOEL TRIBUTE

A musical celebration of an artist whose catalog has over 33 top 40 hits, Billy Nation entertains audiences with a high energy authentic concert experience of Billy Joel classics from the 70s, 80s, an. $19, 9 p.m. at Belly Up, 160 S Cedros Ave, Solana Beach.

EAA CALL FOR ARTISTS

The Escondido Art Association announces its show for the month of August at the EAA Gallery. The theme for the show is “consciousness.” Members

and non-members are encouraged to enter. The judge is the highly respected artist David Lesinski. Entry fees apply. Escondido Art Association , 121 W Grand Ave, Escondido.

‘PHANTOM OF THE OPERA’

Ovation Theatre is excited to present the first community production of “The Phantom of the Opera” in the North County San Diego area. A thrilling and romantic account of a musical genius who dwells deep beneath a majestic opera house in Paris. Shows running from Aug. 4-13. Howard Brubeck Theatre at Palomar College, 1140 W Mission Rd, San Marcos.

NERD COMEDY NIGHT

A unique event that combines the best of both worlds - nerdy humor and stand-up comedy - for a night of laughs and good times. $15, 8 p.m. at New Village Arts Theatre, 2787 State St, Carlsbad.

SUMMER CONCERT SERIES

Join us for One Paseo’s first-ever summer concert series. These shows are free to attend and will take place on the lawn behind Harland Brewing. Doors open at 5 p.m. with music from 6-8 p.m. Upcoming performances include B-Side Players (July 8); High Tide Society (July 22); The Highwayman Show (Aug. 5) and Sara Petite (Aug. 19). Shows run from 5 to 8 p.m. at One Paseo, 3725 Paseo Pl, Carmel Valley, San Diego.

SUN BUM EVENT

Celebrate the winners of the Kids Rule art contest and Sun Bum’s new kids SPF collection. The free event will also feature live music, skate ramp, larger-than-life playground structure, local food and drinks, custom creation stations, and more. 12 to 5 p.m. Aug. 5 at Sun Bum HQ, 371 2nd St, Encinitas.

AUG. 6

EARL THOMAS

Award-winning blues singer Earl Thomas is set to return to his Tennessee roots with a hand-clapping, foot-stomping, dance-in-the-aisle showcase of African American gospel tunes at the Belly Up. $17, 7 p.m. at Belly Up, 160 S Cedros Ave, Solana Beach.

JAZZGRASS

Back by popular demand for the first Sunday concert. 2-3 p.m. Aug. 6 at Encinitas Library, 540 Cornish Dr, Encinitas.

DENE DAVIDSON BAND

Dene Davidson Band will include some of the Young Lions on Sundays for jam sessions. Cool Jazz and Hot Fun. 6 p.m.

at Jazzy Wishbone, 234 S Coast Hwy, Oceanside.

BASKET CLASS DAY

The classes offered

Cherokee double wall basket, melon basket, Fibonacci basket, double border basket, metallic patchwork applied to surface, Pine

needle frame attached to a mirror. $25, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Aug. 6 at San Dieguito Heritage Museum, 450 Quail Gardens Dr, Encinitas.

WORLD PRAYERS

Conducted by internationally renowned author and spiritual teacher Dimitri Moraitis. 1 to 1:30 p.m.

Aug. 6 at Spiritual Arts Institute, 527 Encinitas Blvd, Encinitas.

JAZZ EVENSONG

Jazz in the heart of the village, every Sunday free and open to the public. 4 to 5:30 p.m. Aug. 6 at St. Michael's-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, 2775 Carlsbad Blvd, Carlsbad.

AUG. 7

HAPPY TALES

Children read aloud to the dogs, cats and rabbits available for adoption. $10, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Aug. 7 at Rancho Coastal

Humane Society , 389 Requeza St, Encinitas.

KINDERGARTEN CAMP

Play, learn, explore, and discover during Kindergarten Readiness Camp at San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum. $300$350, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily through Aug. 5 at San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum, 320 N Broadway, Escondido.

STAR THEATRE IMPROV 101

Curious about improv comedy? Experienced, but want to learn a new style? Need inspiration? Already an expert but want to practice? IMPROV 101 is for you!. 7 to 9 p.m. Aug. 7 at Star Theatre Company, 402 N Coast Hwy, Oceanside.

AUG. 8

EL CAMINO QUILTERS

August speaker is Em-

In loving memory of GARY WILLIAM KIRKNESS

July 11, 2023

Gary Kirkness, 69, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, died peacefully in his home on July 11.

Gary and his twin sister Lisa were born in Tacoma, Washington on

Ada Chappell Shotwell, 95 Oceanside

July 14, 2023

Jennifer Mary Tappin 71 Carlsbad July 21, 2023

June 29, 1954, and a few years later the family moved to Vista.

Gary is survived by his loving wife, Brenda, his sister Lisa, daughters Tasha and Jessica and grandsons Trinten, Nikolai and Maksim as well as many others in his blended and extended family.

He attended Vista High School and was an expert flooring installer for 45 years. He was also a skilled mechanic and craftsman. He had a strong faith in Jesus Christ and an amazing love for his family and friends.

Gary’s passions were fishing, boating, camping and traveling.

A celebration of his life will be held September 16, 2023, 11 a.m. at the Hope Church of the Nazarene, 1755 Thibodo Rd., Vista, CA.

Helen Dumlao Orencia, 83 San Marcos

July 24, 2023

Randall Clark Pogue, 74 San Diego July 22, 2023

760.436.9737

HERBERT SIGUENZA returns to New Village Arts for “A Weekend with Pablo Picasso,” one of the theater’s most popular stage productions. Opening night is Aug. 12 with performances through Sept. 3. Courtesy photo/New Village Arts

ENCINITAS MOVING

SALE - Everything Must Go. 10 surfboards, paddleboard, 2 couches, furniture, 25+ watches, 25+ great sunglasses, polo shirts, pants, Tommy Bahama, sport coats, jackets. Call Abraham anytime after 4PM (760) 436-2784.

Tech Issues Taking Up

CADNET CLASSIFIEDS

BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! A ordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 855-761-1725

Donate Your Car to Veterans Today! Help and Support our Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call 1-800-245-0398 HughesNet - Finally, super-fast internet no matter where you live. 25 Mbps just $59.99/mo! Unlimited Data is Here. Stream Video. Bundle TV & Internet. Free Installation. Call 866499-0141

Become a published author. We want to read your book! Dorrance Publishing trusted since 1920. Consultation, production, promotion & distribution. Call for free author’s guide 1-877-7294998 or visit dorranceinfo.com/ads

DISH TV $64.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo Expires 1/31/24. 1-866479-1516

MISCELLANEOUS

How is it that with Del Mar, and all major racetracks in America doing everything possible to make it safe for our Thoroughbreds to run their races, yet many, many of our horses continue to be euthanized?

True at our Del Mar and this year, at the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes, and the 64 other competitive horse events worldwide. So, why is this so?

Barbaro in 2006 with the arrow to his girth area.

The majority of horses euthanized is due to the failures of the girth lift systems, not to racetrack owners. This is my conclusion after many years and much money spent to find out this simple answer.

Any questions or comments? donjdyson@gmail.com

BBB

CADNET CLASSIFIEDS

HEALTH & FITNESS

VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! 50 Generic Pills SPECIAL $99.00. 100% guaranteed. 24/7 CALL NOW! 888-445-5928 Hablamos Español

Dental Insurance - Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Covers 350 procedures. Real insurancenot a discount plan. Get your free dental info kit! 1-855-526-1060 www.dental50plus.com/ads #6258

Attention oxygen therapy users! Inogen One G4 is capable of full 24/7 oxygen delivery. Only 2.8 pounds. Free info kit. Call 877-929-9587 Viagra stop overpaying! Generic Viagra or Cialis 70 tablets - only $99 shipping included! USAServicesOnline.com call now 888-2030881

MISCELLANEOUS

Prepare for power outages today with a GENERAC home standby generator $0 Down + Low Monthly Pmt Request a free Quote. Call before the next power outage: 1-855948-6176

Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule free LeafFilter estimate today. 20% o Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-833-610-1936

CADNET CLASSIFIEDS

Wesley Financial Group, LLC Timeshare Cancellation ExpertsOver $50,000,000 in timeshare debt & fees cancelled in 2019. Get free info package & learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. 833308-1971

DIRECTV Stream - Carries the most local MLB Games! Choice Package $89.99/mo for 12 mos

Stream on 20 devices at once. HBO Max included for 3 mos (w/Choice Package or higher.) No contract or hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1-866-859-0405

Are you a pet owner? Do you want to get up to 100% back on vet bills?

Physicians Mutual Insurance Com

CADNET CLASSIFIEDS

pany has pet coverage that can help! Call 1-844-774-0206 to get a free quote or visit insurebarkmeow. com/ads

Diagnosed with lung cancer & 65+?

You may qualify for a substantial cash award. No obligation! We’ve recovered millions. Let us help! Call 24/7 1-877-707-5707

!!OLD GUITARS WANTED!!

GIBSON, FENDER, MARTIN, Etc. 1930’s to 1980’s. TOP DOLLAR PAID. CALL TOLL FREE 1-866433-8277

My Caring Plan’s local advisors have helped thousands of families with unique needs nd senior living. Can you a ord 2k a month in rent? We can help for free! 866-511-1799

Safe Step. North America’s #1 Walk-in tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-the-line installation and service. Now featuring our free shower package & $1600 o - limited time! Financing available. 1-855-417-1306

MobileHelp, America’s premier mobile medical alert system. Whether you’re home or away. For safety & peace of mind. No long term contracts! Free brochure! 1-888-4893936 Free high speed internet if quali ed. Govt. pgm for recipients of select pgms incl. Medicaid, SNAP, Housing Assistance, WIC, Veterans Pension, Survivor Bene ts, Lifeline, Tribal. 15 GB internet. Android tablet free w/ one-time $20 copay. Free shipping. Call Maxsip Telecom! 1-833-7583892

In ation is at 40 year highs. Interest rates are way up. Credit Cards. Medical Bills. Car Loans. Do you have $10k or more in debt? Call National Debt Relief to nd out how to pay o your debt for signi cantly less than what you owe! Free quote: 1-877-592-3616

FROM KING FEATURES WEEKLY SERVICE, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803 CUSTOMER SERVICE: 800-708-7311 EXT. 257

SALOME’S STARS #12345_20230731

FOR RELEASE JULY 31, 2023

EDITORS: These horoscopes are for use the week of AUG. 7, 2023

1. GEOGRAPHY: Which European city is home to the Prado Museum?

2. MOVIES: What is Forrest’s hometown in the movie “Forrest Gump”?

3. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What is the only vowel that isn’t on the top row of letters on a keyboard?

4. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What breed of dog is the TV star Lassie?

5. CHEMISTRY: What is a common name for nitrous oxide?

6. MUSIC: Which musical instrument does the singer Lizzo play?

7. LITERATURE: What is a bildungsroman?

8. U.S. STATES: Which two states share the most borders with other states?

9. TELEVISION: What decade is represented in the TV sitcom “The Goldbergs”?

10. FOOD & DRINK: In which century was co ee introduced to Europe?

ARIES (March 21 to April 19)

Aspects favor new romances for unpaired Ewes and Rams. Alreadypaired Arian twosomes experience renewed harmony in their relationships. Money matters also take a bright turn.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Use that strong Bovine determination to help you keep the faith with your convictions while you move through a period of uncertainty. Things begin to ease by the week’s end.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Pay attention to your intuition. It could be alerting you to be more careful about accepting a “statement of fact” simply on trust. Don’t be shy about asking for more proof.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Concern for the well-being of someone in need is admirable, but don’t forget to take care of yourself as well. Ask a family member, close friend or colleague to help you.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) It’s OK to focus on the demands of your career, but try to avoid misunderstandings by also reaching out to family and friends. Your sharp intuitive sense kicks in by midweek.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Keep a rein on that green-eyed monster. Jealousy is counterproductive. Instead of resenting a colleague’s good points, concentrate on developing your own abilities.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Spending time on a creative project during this high-energy week can pay off both in emotional satisfaction and in impressing someone who is glad to see this side of you.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Now is a good time to start planning that trip you’ve put off because of the demands on your time. Be sure to choose a destination that is new and exciting.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) That upbeat mood in the first part of the week makes you eager to take on new ventures. A more serious note sets in later to help you assess an upcoming decision.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) A high energy level gives the Goat the get-up-and-go to finish outstanding tasks before deadline, leaving time for well-earned fun and games with friends and family.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Dealing with disappointment is never easy, but the wise Aquarian will use it as a vital lesson and be the better for it. On another note, a close friend has something important to say.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Your best bet is not to get involved in an argument between colleagues until you know more about who started it and why. Even then, appearances could be deceiving. Be alert.

BORN THIS WEEK: You have creative gifts that inspire those who get to see this sometimes hidden side of you.

© 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

Laughing gas. 6. Flute.

The 1980s. 10. 16th.

Summer Fun & Opportunities

Savage Gardens: ‘The Real and Imaginary World of Carnivorous Plants’

Now open at San Diego Botanic Garden

Explore the bizarre and captivating world of carnivorous plants with Savage Gardens, a new exhibition at San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas. Now through October 29, the traveling showcase presented in partnership with Ohio based Tork Collaborative Arts, features hundreds of real carnivorous plants that feast on insects,

along with three larger-thanlife installations inside and around the Garden’s 8,000 square foot, glass-enclosed Dickinson Family Education Conservatory. Visitors of all ages will delight in getting a bug’s eye perspective of these unique plants with 10 to 15foot interpretations of multiple Sarracenia Trumpets, a walk-in Fanged Pitcher Plant Nepenthes, and an interactive Venus Flytrap. Recreated to look and feel like a swampy bog habitat where carnivorous plants are typically found, the Conservatory is transformed to high-

light these fascinating and often misunderstood plants with educational elements that explain why carnivorous plants have evolved to eat insects. Vendors will also be featured on select weekends selling plants, potting materials, and other merchandise for visitors to enjoy. Entrance to the exhibition is included with Garden admission. Members are free, non-member admissions range from $10-$18. The Garden is open six days a week from 9 am to 5 pm, closed Tuesdays. To learn more and book your tickets, visit www.sdbg.org.

Back to School with Music!

By Amber Flynn

“One of the most beautiful things we can give our children is music education.” — Gloria

Estefan

Everyone loves and enjoys music. Whether listening, playing, or singing, we understand the gift that music brings personally and global.

Consider adding music education to your schedule by finding a local music school and enrolling in a group or private music education.

Here are a few benefits that are considered some of the top reasons to add music to your schedule this Fall.

EVENTS

CONTINUED FROM 15

ily Baily who will present, “When Life Falls To Pieces, Make a Quilt.” $10, 9:30 a.m. at El Corazon Senior Center, 3302 Senior Center Dr, Oceanside.

GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY

The Learning from Members series, offered by North San Diego County Genealogical Society, returns with Tom Cousineau presenting, “The Age of Immigration, Part 1,” in hybrid format. 10 to 11:30 a.m. Aug. 8 at Faraday Center, Faraday Ave, Carlsbad.

SD CRAFT BEER CON

Annual half-day conference celebrates San Diego as The Capital of Craft and discusses trends in the craft beer industry. $50$60, 11 a.m. at MiraCosta College San Elijo Campus, 3333 Manchester Ave, Encinitas.

BECK & PHOENIX

Beck & Phoenix will perform live as part of their Summer Odyssey tour at San Diego’s Vieja Arena on Aug. 8 at 5:45 p.m. Tickets starting at $25. 5:45 p.m. at Viejas Arena, 5500 Canyon Crest Dr, San Diego.

Start learning Music Early: Early musical training will develop the areas of the brain related to language and reasoning. The left side of the brain develops with music and songs help imprint information on young minds.

A Sense of Achievement: Learning to play music on a new instrument can be challenging but achievable. Those who master even the smallest goal will be able to feel proud of their achievements.

Kids stay engaged in school: Music is fun and enjoyable. It keeps all children interested and involved.

AUG. 9

SABROSAS

This non-profit organization brings together a talented group of female musicians who are dedicated to moving and inspiring people throughout San Diego County through music. $14, 8 p.m. at Belly Up, 160 S Cedros Ave, Solana Beach.

AUG. 10

WILD CHILD

Austin songwriting duo Wild Child, featuring Kelsey Wilson and Alexander Beggins, performs with solo artist John Splithoff and Motenko. $22, 8 p.m. at Belly Up, 160 S Cedros Ave, Solana Beach.

SUMMER SOIRÉE

The Summer Soirée is a chance to welcome important members of the community to the property to share information about the resort. 4 to 7 p.m. Aug. 10 at Four Seasons Residence Club Aviara, 7210 Blue Heron Pl, Carlsbad.

AUG. 11

TGIF CONCERTS IN PARK

The FABBA Show delivers an homage to pop

Better Self-Confidence:

With encouragement from teachers and parents, students playing a musical instrument build pride and confidence.

Research also shows that music education can help students, even preschoolers, prepare for future endeavors.

It also helps with enhanced language capabilities, improved memory, hand-eye coordination, study habits, teamwork, and enhanced mental processing and problem-solving abilities.

And quite simply, It is fun!

sensation ABBA that will take you on a magical journey back to the disco and the '70s. 6 p.m. at Alga Norte Community Park, 6565 Alicante Rd, Carlsbad.

THE SULLY BAND

The Sully Band, voted Best Live Band at the 2020 San Diego Music Awards, is a 10-piece band, playing covers and originals. $20, 6 p.m. at Belly Up, 160 S Cedros Ave, Solana Beach.

AUG. 12

COASTAL GEOLOGY

Batiquitos Lagoon will be hosting a presentation on coastal geology. 10 a.m. at Batiquitos Lagoon, 7380 Gabbiano Ln, Carlsbad.

‘WEEKEND WITH PICASSO’

In this one-man tour de force based on Picasso’s writings, writer/performer Herbert Siguenza takes on the role of the legendary artist, inviting the audience into Picasso’s private studio for an intimate and revealing weekend as he prepares to deliver six new works to a buyer by Monday morning. Shows run from Aug. 12 to Sept. 3 at New Village Arts Theatre, 2787 State St, Carlsbad.

Operator of gun manufacturing lab sentenced

By City News Service ESCONDIDO — A

20-year-old man who police say operated an illegal firearms manufacturing lab out of an RV in Escondido was sentenced July 31 to one year in jail and two years of probation.

Jace Allan Tornio was arrested in April following a traffic stop in which police said he ran from a vehicle.

Following his arrest, Tornio was found with a concealed, “loaded unseri-

LAUREATE

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

formance-making and video art in collaboration with San Diego-based Pacific Arts Movement and local high school ethnic studies and English teachers.

Ultimately, Perez plans to develop open-access curricula and grassroots publishing initiatives culminating in a youth poetry summit in San Diego.

In addition to poet and educator, Perez’s accolades include essayist, performer, fiction writer and community organizer. He has used these mediums, in addition to film and video, ethnog-

alized Glock-style firearm,” as well as two high-capacity magazines and about three dozen rounds of ammo, according to Escondido police. Police said he also had five auto sear/ switch devices, which allow guns to be converted from semi-automatic into automatic firearms.

Investigators searched his residence one day later and found an “illegal gun manufacturing operation” inside an RV on the prop-

raphy and oral history, to explore experiences past, present and future of Filipino American communities.

He captures these and other topics in his 2017 fulllength poetry and prose collection, “This is for the Mostless.”

Perez is also a community arts fellow for the UC Davis Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies.

The academy’s Poet Laureate Fellowships are funded by grants from the Mellon Foundation. All 23 awardees serve as poet laureates for cities, states or counties around the U.S.

“The Academy of

erty, where 3D printers, 3D printed gun parts and ammunition were found.

Tornio was initially charged with 28 felonies — most of which were charges of unlawful possession of machine guns — and faced around 10 years in state prison if convicted of all charges.

Monday’s sentence followed his guilty plea to a single count of unlawfully converting a firearm into a machine gun.

American Poets celebrates the unique position poets laureate occupy at state and local levels, elevating the possibilities poetry can bring to community conversations and reminding us that our national spirit can be nourished by the power of the written and spoken word,” said AAP President and Executive Director Ricardo Maldonado.

“We are inspired by these projects … that the 23 fellows will carry out, and grateful to the Mellon Foundation and the nonprofit organizations supporting this life-affirming work.”