Fallbrook A Leer reading event April 1 B-9
Clocks spring forward this Sunday, March 12
Students put on Willy Wonka, Jr. D-4
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March 9, 2017
Planning Commission rebuffs supervisors’ call for marijuana dispensary ban
D e L u z , R a i n b ow , C a m p P e ndl e t o n , Pa l a ,
Volume 21, Issue 10
Derby includes racing hearts
Town hall meeting held regarding nuclear waste burial Andrea Verdin Staff Writer
Joe Naiman Village News Correspondent
Although the San Diego County Board of Supervisors directed county staff to develop an ordinance banning marijuana dispensaries in unincorporated San Diego County, including cultivation-only facilities and existing facilities which will be given a five-year amortization period, the county’s Planning Commission refused to recommend that ban. A 5-0 Planning Commission vote Feb. 10, with Doug Barnhart and David Pallinger absent, approved a recommendation against the proposed total ban with a statement that a ban would be counterproductive due to the lack of regulation of a blackmarket alternative, including pesticide restrictions, the risk that a citizens’ initiative would create more lenient zoning, and increased travel for medical marijuana patients. The Planning Commission’s proposal is that the two existing medical marijuana dispensaries in unincorporated San Diego County, along with the three facilities which had been deemed vested, should be allowed to operate without an amortization period. A 4-1 vote, with Michael Seiler opposed, recommended the allowance of those five dispensaries with a ban on all other dispensaries and a ban on outdoor signage and
see BAN, page A-9
thisweek
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Shane Gibson photo Pack 738 Cub Scout Tristan Dykstra watches anxiously as his pinewood derby car races in the Monty Voigt Memorial Pinewood Derby, March 4 at St. Peter’s hall. See more photos on page B-1.
A San Diego watchdog group brought awareness of a potential nuclear waste burial at a nearby beach to the attention of Fallbrook residents during a town hall meeting March 4 at Hilltop Center for Spiritual Living. According to the group Public Watchdogs, Southern California Edison (SCE) has a permit to bury millions of pounds of nuclear waste on the beach at San Onofre State Park. The waste is intended to be stored in ⅝” thick steel drums that have a design life of 60 years, but with a manufacturer’s warranty for only 25 years. The current burial date is set for Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018, and is based on public announcements by Southern California Edison. According to the Watchdogs, the 8.5 million Californians living within the 50-mile plume radius identified by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) are at risk. Fallbrook is east of the site, and the radioactive fallout will likely blow east. “We believe that the worst possible location for what will be the largest privately operated nuclear waste dump in the USA is on the beach at San Onofre,” said Public Watchdog executive director Charles Langley. “Some specific facts to put things in context: first, the nuclear toxins in the delicate stainless steel disposal barrels represent the radioactive equivalent of 700 nuclear warheads. The radiation inside is deadly to humans for tens of thousands of years. The waste will be located 108 feet from the beach.” The watchdog group’s position on the nuclear waste disposal is “anywhere but the beach,” said Langley, who stated that some solutions that should be
see WASTE, page A-8
Durick, King, Perez and Valenzuela honored as Students of the Month
3-year-old girl injured in hit and run ‘recovering amazingly’ Tom Ferrall Staff Writer
The Students of the Month for March are, from left, Christian Perez, Kayla King, Taylor Durick, and Carol Valenzuela.
Village News
Tom Ferrall Staff Writer Four very impressive individuals with varied interests – dietetics, health, art, fashion, music, engineering, the U.S. Marine Corps – were acknowledged March 2 when Taylor Durick, Kayla King and Carol Valenzuela of Fallbrook Union High School and Christian Perez of Ivy High School were honored as the Students of the Month for March. The awards breakfast hosted by the Fallbrook Student of the Month committee was held at the Fallbrook Community Center and emceed by Greg Coppock. The first student to be saluted was Durick, the school’s ASB president
as well as Homecoming Queen. Durick was nominated by teacher Alana Milton, who couldn’t make the event due to a conference in San Diego but penned comments about her nominee that were read by Pam Cain of the school’s college and career center. Cain, before reading Milton’s words, expressed her own thoughts about Durick, stating, “Taylor is probably the most inspiring and passionate student we have on our campus. She’s involved in everything.” Milton’s remarks about Durick included: “Taylor is dedicated to her education. She has challenged herself with AP classes and has enriched herself with art classes. She has tried all different types of
Courtesy photo
sports. She really enjoys school and appreciates her educational journey. Taylor is also very committed to her faith. She firmly believes in helping others, being kind to everyone, and staying true to who she is.” Durick, who as a freshman lost 50 pounds, plans to devote herself to helping others get and stay healthy through nutrition and dietary guidance. “I evolved as a result of so many people in this room just loving me, supporting me, guiding me, encouraging me,” said Durick. “When I felt like I couldn’t do it, I wasn’t allowed to think that because of the incredible people in this room. I am so incredibly grateful. I am
see STUDENTS, page A-8
The 3-year-old Fallbrook girl who sustained serious injuries when she was struck by a hit and run driver Feb. 20 is home and “recovering amazingly,” according to her mother. In an email to the Village News March 1, the mother added of her daughter, who incurred a minor skull fracture, “She is such a fighter and does not have any permanent damage.” The hit and run occurred at approximately 9 p.m. According to a CHP report, officers and paramedics responded to the 900 block of Vanita Street in Fallbrook, where the girl’s family was tending to her in the street. Medical personnel transported the girl via helicopter to Rady Children’s Hospital. Witnesses described the vehicle involved in the incident as a white SUV, possibly a Ford Explorer or Expedition or Chevrolet Tahoe. The vehicle was traveling northbound on Vanita and didn’t stop. CHP public information officer Jim Bettencourt said March 6 that investigators are working on several leads but nothing has come out of them yet. According to the mother, the family has hired a private investigator to help find the driver.