Peter Pan flies in Mission Theatre B-4
Reeder Media wins big C-10
Design in Wood given special award D-4
Village News Fallbrook & Bonsall
a l s o se rv i n g t h e c o m m u n i t i e s o f
a nd
Pau m a
www.VillageNews.com
July 27, 2017
Promotion results in commander departing Fallbrook Sheriff ’s substation
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 ,
50¢ Sales tax included at news stand
Volume 21, Issue 29
Family celebrates release of Fallbrook man
Captain Pat Gardner Courtesy photo Tom Ferrall Staff Writer Pat Gardner, who took over as commander of the Fallbrook Sheriff’s substation Jan. 6, served his final day in that capacity July 20 after being promoted from lieutenant to captain in the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. Gardner’s replacement is Lt. Mark Moreno, who has been with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department for 26 years. Most recently based at the North Coastal Station in Encinitas, Moreno took over in Fallbrook July 21. Gardner has been assigned to the court services bureau in downtown San Diego, where he’ll be in charge of the old courthouse, the new courthouse that’s being built (it is expected to be ready for occupancy in the fall), the Madge Bradley Family Court Building, the County Administration Center,
see DEPARTING, page A-8
thisweek Announcements �������������������������A-2 Business ������������������������������������C-10 Business Directory ������������������C-11 Calendar........................................A-2 Classifieds ������������������������������������D-7 Dining & Food ������������������������������B-7 Education.......................................D-6 Entertainment ������������������������������B-4 Health & Fitness ��������������������������B-2 Home & Garden ������������������������C- 2 Legals.............................................C-8 Obituaries �������������������������������������C-8 Opinion �����������������������������������������B-6 Real Estate �����������������������������������C-2 Sheriff’s Log ���������������������������������D-7 Sports.............................................D-1 Wine.............................................D-12
Julie Reeder photo Family and friends gather at Jackie Heyneman Park in Fallbrook July 22 to celebrate the release of Mario Figueroa of Fallbrook. Figueroa spent 11 days
in the Otay Mesa Detention Center awaiting what he believed was certain deportation to Guatemala. Figueroa, shown here with his wife, Celeste, and 10-month-
old daughter, Adalyn, has no criminal record and was released from custody July 21. Figueroa’s parents brought him to the U.S. when he was age 3, but because
Residents contribute suggestions for revitalizing Fallbrook Lucette Moramarco Staff Writer
The request for ideas for revitalizing downtown Fallbrook elicited almost 20 responses through both email and online comments. Some residents support the proposed improvements while others offered their own suggestions for developing the downtown area and attracting more visitors. Mona Castro would like a letter to be sent to each property owner in downtown Fallbrook, requesting that they spend a small amount to update their exterior. She wrote, “Something as little as the correct paint colors to match existing roofing/rock/brick can turn a property around. Also removing old signage and replacing with something smaller. It sounds a little bold, but if even if a third of the owners respond, that would be an improvement.”
Groundbreaking for Palomar College’s North Education Center On-line comments included ideas for outdoor set for fall cafes, a pedestrian-friendly downtown, and holding the car show downtown. Castro and a few others like the idea of vertical parking which would help slow traffic, but a few respondents would prefer to close a section of Main Avenue to all vehicle traffic. Greg Grajek wrote that, “Fallbrook could easily condemn a large section of Main Street or Elder and create a Mall like atmosphere void of auto congestion – just for seniors. The downtown eateries, shops and art centers would thrive as seniors have the largest amount of disposable income and the willingness to spend.” Grajek also proposed a plan that includes attracting “a large scale or possibly several national chains in the senior care industry to build a full service senior living facility. A town within a town
could be constructed offering all three levels of senior care. If we get enough scale, the construction of a new, small-town 24 hour clinic/hospital would be possible. Remember Fallbrook is served by the pre-existing Fallbrook Hospital district and has some start up funding available.” On-line comments included ideas for outdoor cafes, a pedestrian-friendly downtown, and holding the car show downtown. Other respondents would like to see the buildings cleaned up and better restaurants brought in to downtown, as well as a stronger sheriff’s presence after dark. One resident recommended an online campaign publicizing
see SUGGESTIONS, page A-8
Taryn Sehnert raises fair’s supreme reserve champion steer
USPS Residential Customer
Joe Naiman Village News Correspondent
Village News
his family was not granted asylum, his name was put on a removal order. A story on Figueroa will be featured in the Aug. 3 issue of the Village News.
Taryn Sehnert graduated from Fallbrook High School (FHS) in 2016 and spent four years in the Future Farmers of America chapter there. Over the past year Sehnert utilized an FFA alumni year to pursue her American FFA degree, which also allowed her to show at the San Diego County Fair’s livestock market show this year. Sehnert showed a steer at the county fair, and Lincoln received supreme reserve champion designation. “It was really unexpected,” said Sehnert. “I was surprised.” Sehnert is currently attending Mira Costa College. She plans to transfer either to the University of Nebraska or to Chico State University and major in agricultural communications. Sehnert’s father was born in Nebraska, and in 2016 she acquired a steer from Nebraska and named it Mike Riley after the University of Nebraska head football coach. The steer Mike Riley was last year’s FFA superheavyweight reserve champion. This year Sehnert named her steer Lincoln, which is
Tom Ferrall Staff Writer
An official groundbreaking for Palomar College’s North Education Center, which will be built on an 82-acre site located northeast of Interstate 15 and State Route 76 in Fallbrook, is scheduled for this fall. Officials from Palomar College relayed that information while providing an update on the progress of the North Education Center to people attending the Fallbrook Community Forum meeting July 20. Grading of the property, which Palomar College purchased in 2007 for $38,241,902 after the passage of Proposition M (a $694 million bond) in 2006, is expected to begin in September, according to Laura A. Gropen, director of communications, marketing and public affairs for Palomar College.
see PALOMAR, page A-8
Non-profit Saved in America rescues runaways from sex trafficking Tom Ferrall Staff Writer
family and being able to show together.” Sehnert is the oldest of three children, all girls, and all three Sehnert sisters participated in this year’s county fair. Delana Sehnert, who was a freshman at FHS during
“If you’re a runaway girl, you’re in extreme danger right away. Instantly.” Those are the words of Joseph Travers, founder of Saved in America, a non-profit launched in Oceanside that rescues children from the brutal and ugly world of sex trafficking. “The key (to rescuing potential victims) is the first 48 hours,” said Travers, citing a study (“The Nature and Extent of Gang Involvement in Sex Trafficking in San Diego County”) authored by Ami Carpenter, PhD, University of San Diego, and Jamie Gates, PhD, Pt. Loma Nazarene University, and submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice in 2016. “Their study shows that 60 percent of missing girls will be approached by a pimp
see STEER, page A-10
see SAVED, page A-11
Courtesy photo Taryn Sehnert reacts when her steer is awarded supreme reserve champion at the San Diego County Fair. where the University of Nebraska is located. Lincoln was actually bred in Adel, Iowa, which is approximately 25 miles west of Des Moines. The Sehnert family traveled to Nebraska in December to look at cattle. “I was already planning to do my alumni year,” Sehnert said. “I enjoy going to shows with my