Week of April 25, 2024
A Marine from Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron 303 died during a "routine military operation" on Tuesday evening, the Marine Corps confirmed in a press release. The identity of the deceased service member has not been disclosed pending notification of next of kin, according to the statement released Wednesday. The Marine died at approximately 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, with the circumstances surrounding the death currently under investigation. HMLAT 303, part...
PALA – The San Diego County Sheriff's Department teamed up with its law enforcement and tribal nation partners to help get unwanted weapons off their streets through a Gun Safety Event in Pala, April 20. A total of 56 unwanted firearms were turned in by the public during the Saturday event at the Pala Band of Mission Indians Administrative Building, located in the 12000 block of Pala Mission Road. Individuals received a $100 gift card for handguns, rifles and shotguns or a...
In the annals of remarkable individuals who embody the essence of dedication, Ensign Megan Neyen stands as a beacon of inspiration. [Neyen's maiden name is Pinson.] From the depths of the ocean as a Navy diver to the rugged rugby fields, her journey is a testament to her unwavering spirit and unrelenting pursuit of excellence as she embarks on a new chapter as a naval officer. Neyen's journey began in Fallbrook, California, where she discovered her affinity for the water and...
FALLBROOK – Two representatives from Palomar College gave a presentation to the Fallbrook Village Rotary at their Tuesday meeting, April 16. The speakers were Dr. Star Rivera-Lacey, superintendent and president of Palomar College, and Ryan Williams, manager of the Palomar College Fallbrook Education Center. Palomar College has a big service area covering 2,500 square miles and has been operating for 77 years. The flagship campus is in San Marcos with classes extending from...
BONSALL – Bonsall Woman's Club will host their annual spring fundraiser on Tuesday, May 7, at Ciao's Restaurant in Vista. "Viva Las Vegas" will feature a Vegas-glam theme, fashion show and a "surprise" hip-gyrating entertainer. Tickets are almost sold out, but are still available at $65 per person. Fundraiser co-chairs Laurie Criscenti and Debbie Harris have been leading a committee of 15 members for the past four months to organize the luncheon program, which will include...
FALLBROOK – Several members of Encore Social Club enjoyed a special event touring the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center. The center is a U.S. Olympic and Paralympic training site comprised of 155 acres of state-of-the-art training facilities. The center supports more than a dozen summer and Paralympic sports, as well as cross training ability for various winter sports. As they toured the beautiful grounds, Encore members were inspired to see some of the U.S. Olympic...
FALLBROOK – The Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce is presenting its Annual Awards and Installation Luncheon Wednesday, June 5, at Grand Tradition Estate & Gardens, 220 Grand Tradition Way, in Fallbrook. Located inside the magnificent Arbor Terrace, seating for this special event begins at 11:30 a.m. and the luncheon program begins at noon. This event will recognize citizens who give so much and make Fallbrook the extraordinary community that it is. Another aspect of the program is the installation of the incoming board of...
In the whirlwind of parenting, managing money conversations with children can feel like navigating uncharted waters. Yet, it’s a crucial aspect of their development that sets the stage for their financial future. Let’s break down the essentials. Parents are the frontline educators in the realm of money matters; however, it’s essential to approach these conversations with empathy and understanding, considering each family’s unique dynamics. Start teaching children about money early, involving them in simple tasks...
FALLBROOK – Students from Mary Fay Pendleton School of Fallbrook Union Elementary School District embarked on an enriching and educational field trip Monday, April 1, to BizTown, a dynamic mini-city experience located in San Diego. The 10,000-square-foot facility is designed to provide students with hands-on exposure to real-world business operations, bridging the gap between classroom learning and practical application. BizTown offers a unique opportunity for students to...
NOTE: While these reports have been taken straight from the Sheriff's Office, individuals are innocent until proven guilty. These addresses reveal the block number, not an exact location. April 14 200 blk E. Fig St. Spousal/cohabitant abuse with minor injury 3600 blk Pico Rd. Medical examiners case - Death April 15 1800 blk Dorothea Av. Petty theft Old River Rd. / Montrachet St. Found property 400 blk W. Clemmens Ln. Missing juvenile/runaway April 16 5700 blk Kensington Way Grand theft - Theft of motor vehicle...
FALLBROOK – Fallbrook Climate Action Team will present a speaker to talk about Geothermal Energy. Dr. Matthew Forrest of the Scripps Institute will discuss geothermal energy from several different perspectives including the practical uses of geothermal sources to produce broad scale electricity, as well as for small scale heating and cooling. The Zoom meeting is on Tuesday, April 30 at 6:30 p.m. Forrest is a scientist with a PhD from Scripps Institution of Oceanography and...
RAINBOW – The Rainbow Valley Grange is hosting its annual Spring Boutique Sunday, April 28 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., 2160 Rainbow Valley Blvd. There will be activities for the whole family including fire safety demos, a bake sale, free kids craft table, face painting, a jumper house (for a fee), silent auction, live music, beer and wine along with more than 40 unique vendors. A food truck, La Taqueria Jalisco, will be selling food and there will also be Fallbrook VFW, North County Fire and Camp Pendleton Young Marines...
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – For generations, Americans have lifted up scripture-filled prayers in every season and circumstance. From the first national calls to prayer by our Founding Fathers seeking divine guidance, the truths of the Bible have been the foundation for prayer through every tragedy and triumph in our history. The 2024 National Day of Prayer theme is a call to stand on this foundation, to “Lift Up The Word – Light Up The World” inspired from the faithful prayer of 2 Samuel 22:29-31 ESV, “For you are...
VISTA – Soroptimist International of Vista and North County Inland is hosting a “Bunco de Mayo” fundraiser Saturday, May 4. The family-friendly event will be held at the Gloria McClellan Senior Center, 1400 Vale Terrace Drive, in Vista. The event begins at 11:30 a.m. Tickets are $25 each and include a light lunch and prizes. To reserve a spot, contact Thoralinda Soyland at 760-809-8146 or buy tickets online at https://bit.ly/3uRjRKd. Funds raised go to help women and girls through Soroptimist’s “Dream” programs....
FALLBROOK – Female students from all over Fallbrook Union Elementary School District came together at California State University San Marcos Friday, April 5, for the annual Girls In STEM event. The event was aimed at fostering interest and excitement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields among young girls. Hosted at the prestigious CSUSM campus, the event provided an opportunity for FUESD girls to engage with faculty members and current CSUSM female...
Quotes from brothers Jameson, 7, and Seamus, 5, over the years. Submitted by their mother Kathy Custer (Trying to light candles on his birthday cake, Jameson pushes the top button on the lighter and is looking really confused because it won’t light)… Jameson, age 5: “How can this lighter sense that I’m a kid?” _______________ (Pointing to his chalk drawing on the driveway)… Seamus, age 3: “Mommy guess what I drew!” (Mom feeling totally lost because this drawing doesn’t resemble anything)… Mom: “Um, is...
Lucile (Emrich) Reeder peacefully departed to be with the Lord on Sunday morning, April 21, 2024. She was born on May 21, 1932, in Denver, Colorado, to Jay and Lola Emrich. Lucile pursued her passion for music education, graduating from the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley Campus. Later, she continued her studies at Westmont College in Southern California, where she cherished singing in the choir and was proud to contribute editing to one of Corrie Ten Boom's books....
Springtime, time for celebration of life, and time to “fuel your passions.” In diverse modes of celebration, some people choose “love of cars, and speed.” This concept exemplifies the spirit of Warren Stuber. He was ironically struck and killed by a car in Fallbrook on Feb. 11, 2018. However, his memory can be epitomized in part by the quote: “If you must choose between power and speed, you’ve got to go for speed.” From stories told of his life, he was a renowned early drag racer in Detroit and also known at...
FALLBROOK – The Fallbrook Land Conservancy's Wildlife Sculpture Garden got another resident April 5, with the installation of a larger than life-size blue heron. The sculpture, entitled "Misty Morning," was created by noted artist Don Rambadt of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. According to fellow artist Chris Chantland, "Don's exquisite simplicity of lines and shapes to form out of metal, birds that almost fly away is second to none." Rambadt received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the...
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors will hold a Wednesday, May 22, hearing on the potential acquisition of approximately 222 acres which would be added to the Mount Olympus Preserve. A 4-0 county board of supervisors vote Wednesday, April 10, with Terra Lawson-Remer absent, set the May 22 hearing date. The land on the southwest side of the open space preserve would be purchased from the Moritzky Trust for $1,200,000. Mount Olympus separates Pala from Rainbow, and the draft North County Multiple Species Program...
The first update in two years of San Diego County’s TransNet Local Street Improvement Program was approved during the Wednesday, April 10, San Diego County Board of Supervisors meeting. A 4-0 vote, with Terra Lawson-Remer absent, updated the list of projects which will be funded by TransNet local streets and roads revenue over the next five years. The update covers planned expenditures from fiscal year 2024-2025 to fiscal year 2028-2029. In 2004, the county’s voters passed an extension of the half-cent TransNet sales...
The speed limit on South Mission Road between Winter Haven Road and 880 feet south of Pepper Tree Lane will be reduced from 50 mph to 45 mph. The San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved the first reading and introduction of the speed limit reduction ordinance which includes recertification for radar enforcement on a 3-0 vote Wednesday, March 13, with Joel Anderson and Terra Lawson-Remer not present. A 4-0 vote Wednesday, April 10, with Lawson-Remer absent, approved the second reading and adoption. The new speed limit...
Regular-season standings account for half of the formula which determines the final league positions for the Valley League swim championship with the other half based on positions at the league championship meet. In an April 19 dual meet between the two Valley League boys teams which entered the competition in Ramona with undefeated records, Fallbrook defeated Ramona to take that advantage into the April 25‑27 league meet in Fallbrook. "It's great going undefeated. It was...
Village News/Shane Gibson...
Fallbrook High School’s girls basketball team was invited to the state basketball playoffs, and the Warriors won three games in the state Division IV tournament before losing in the regional final. The Warriors had state playoff wins over Kennedy High School of Granada Hills, El Camino Real High School of Woodland Hills, and Oceanside High School. Grossmont High School advanced to the state final with a 57-52 victory over the Warriors in the March 5 regional final. “The state playoffs are hard because you don’t really...
Fallbrook High School and Ramona High School are the only two Valley League swim teams with on-campus pools, and the April 19 meet at Ramona may have given Fallbrook a league championship. Regular-season standings account for half of the formula which determines the final league positions and the other half is based on positions at the league championship meet. Fallbrook's 103-83 victory April 19 gave the Warriors a final Valley League record of 7-0 in dual meets while Ramona...
A few weeks ago, PBS aired a 60-minute program about the Museum of Folk Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The program was so intriguing, it lured me to the oldest state capital in the country. We started our adventure in Oceanside by boarding Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner to Fullerton. After waiting a bit for the delayed train, we met our attendant on the platform outside car number 432 of the Southwest Chief. The attendant helped us store the suitcases and herded us up the narrow...
FALLBROOK – Beginning in May, D'Vine Path will offer a new weekly Farm and Garden workshop, aiming to educate the community about animal care, farming and gardening. The farm at D'Vine Path welcomes new clients interested in agricultural growth as well as positive social interactions with peers. For the next six months, from May 9 to Nov. 7, D'Vine Path will be hosting the Farm and Garden Workshops for neurodivergent adults. Participants must be represented by the San Diego...
The state’s Department of Water Resources has a County Drought Resilience Planning Assistance Program which provides up to $125,000 in financial assistance or direct technical assistance to access one-time support to establish a standing Drought and Water Shortage Task Force and develop a County Drought Resilience Plan. An April 10 San Diego County Board of Supervisors action approved a County Drought Resilience Planning Assistance Program grant application resolution to fund the design of water system improvements at...
Learning in a modern classroom often depends less on textbooks and more on technology. Most students are accustomed to virtual learning and often rely on technology to stay connected with teachers and complete assignments. This reliance on digital devices may put students at higher risk of eye issues such as nearsightedness or digital eye strain – especially when combined with screen time at home. “Outside activities still rank at the top of the list of favorite activities for most kids – but playing on digital...
FALLBROOK – In a landscape marked by evolving community needs, Katia Elizondo Márquez, the dedicated Community Resource Navigator for the Fallbrook Regional Health District, has been instrumental in bridging critical gaps and empowering families in rural areas. Through strategic partnerships with local organizations, including school districts and key community service providers, Elizondo Márquez has spearheaded impactful initiatives to address pressing issues such as...
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has launched a new campaign encouraging the public to make Every Day Take Back Day by utilizing year-round collection sites to dispose of unneeded and unwanted medications. For more than a decade, DEA has worked with state and local law enforcement partners to host National Prescription Drug Take Back Days each year to help Americans rid their homes of unneeded medications. The Take Back program has received an overwhelming response from communities across the country....
As a nutritionist, mother of three, chief cook and married to an Italian man with a huge extended family, my entire world revolves around eating. Every day from morning to night, food occupies my mind, from what is in the fridge to what we are going to eat for meals and snacks, plus the questions, “Will they eat it, and will they like it?” Today, I have more time, and my kitchen is manageable; however, it was not always this easy. As a new mother 16 years ago, I remember feeling overwhelmed with meal preparation, which...
TEMECULA – With the cost of a life-saving transplant often exceeding $800,000, most transplant families are unable to shoulder that financial burden. The Children's Organ Transplant Association is a national 501(c)(3) charity dedicated to organizing and guiding communities in raising funds for transplant-related expenses. In Temecula, volunteers are raising funds for COTA in honor of transplant patients like local toddler, Dean Baker. Dean is the son of Ashley and Darrik...
TEMECULA – Southwest Healthcare Temecula Valley Hospital announces the promotion of Darlene Wetton, CEO of Temecula Valley Hospital, to group vice president of California. In this new capacity, Wetton will oversee a portfolio of health care facilities within the Southwest Healthcare network across Southern California. "Elevating Darlene to group vice president is a testament to her remarkable leadership and unwavering dedication," Eddie Sim, president of acute care division...
In a recent defiant move against state directives, the Murrieta Valley Unified School Board in Southern California has stood firm in its decision to retain a policy requiring parental notification if a student wishes to identify as transgender, becomes suicidal or is involved in violence. This act of resistance, fueled by a commitment to parental involvement and local autonomy, is a reminder of the rightful authority school boards wield in shaping educational policies...
In 2011, the legislature worked in an effort to abolish California’s Redevelopment Districts. Although some RDAs were poorly managed, their abolition deprived cities of an important tool that had often been successfully used to stimulate business, create new housing and revitalize blighted areas, especially for older cities Last Week, the Assembly Local Government Committee, on which I serve as Vice Chair, passed Assembly bill 2945 (AB 2945) introduced by Assemblyman David...
The country needs your vote. Only twice have I ever agreed with Mr. Terrell (I don't remember the first), but I do agree with "Get Out the Vote." This is the most important election of our lifetime. I am voting for President Trump for the following reasons. It is to support the First Amendment and free speech; however, I feel like the far left activists are taking great advantage of that amendment with their hate speech. "Death to America" is taking free speech too far. I'm voting for the Second Amendment and my right to...
My lifetime friend Rod Smith who lives in Fallbrook shared the article "Higher wages brings layoffs," a very well written and factual article by the way. Rod asked for my thoughts and I sent the email below to him. Upon reading my email Rod asked me to submit my email to your paper. So here is what a small business owner and entrepreneur thinks. A new policy of any sort is spun with the idea of good intentions with politicians knowing full well or even denying what the actual results will be. Whoever proposes such ideas...
Thank you so much for the wonderful front page picture and article! I am sorry to take so long in thanking you but the publicity has created more "business" for me and, along with preparing for a rare visit from our Vermont daughter and family, I have been overwhelmed. We have also responded to a request to teach crocheting at the high school as a new after school activity. Busy, busy. I was contacted to pick up a new yarn donation which has ended in helping a 77 year old combat veteran clear out his home of his wife's many...
Thank you Lucette, Julie and Team for the nice article in the paper. Our kids loved it! Their parents were so surprised and the office manager at La Paloma texted me. We continue to enjoy all the wonderful things our neighbors in Fallbrook do to make the town a giving and thoughtful place to live. Because of the Village News, we get to know what others are doing. Colleen Sharp Good News Club, La Paloma...
California’s population last year was 38.9 million, hardly changed from 38.3 million a decade earlier. Yet in those 10 years, our state budget more than tripled in size – growing from $91 billion to $301 billion. That unprecedented increase in spending has not only failed to achieve anything meaningful in our lives, but by most measures, we’re worse off. Compared to other states, we pay among the highest income tax, highest capital gains tax, highest gasoline tax, highest sales tax when local rates are included with...
Last week, I stood alongside the Mayors of Carlsbad, Vista, and San Marcos and the Deputy Mayor of Oceanside to address a pressing concern that affects us all: illegal immigration and maritime smuggling. Just this past Saturday, another incident unfolded as a boat raced into our shoreline, endangering surfers, swimmers, and our community. Ten individuals disembarked, fled into a Carlsbad neighborhood, and were whisked away in an SUV. What's deeply troubling is that we do not...
When the city of Pasadena put out a public call for a sculpture to add to its Art in Public Places program last year, Kellan Shanahan decided to combine his experiences in art, architecture and computer programming to create a one-of-a-kind piece for his submission. He fabricated a small-scale model that earned him a spot in the second round where he was interviewed by the Pasadena City Council about his proposal. Once his project was chosen, building it took him three...
Village News/Courtesy...
If you wish to be in on the joke, watch Alfred Hitchcock's 1926 "The 39 Steps" first. Then see the new play at New Village Arts in Carlsbad. If you don't watch it, you may fall into the same chasm I did wondering what the blazes was A.J. Knox up to? And why? All was revealed after I watched Hitchcock's film noir on YouTube this morning. That's when I got it! The play is absolutely brilliant. It went from, "oh, golly, will I be banned from another playhouse for telling the...