DBA president Alex MacLachlan details downtown plans



I met Alex MacLachlan last week at Heritage Park on Grand Avenue and Juni­per Street and we chatted about the rain and cancellation of the second Crusin’ Grand of 2016 and about the vibrant nature of Escon­dido’s busy, eclectic downtown on a rain- threatening Friday. “Those guys with those nice cars, they don’t like to take them out of the […]

SD Archaeological Center: turning out future Indiana Joneses (and Janes)



The scene is a square of soil where “artifacts” are hidden away, waiting to be unearthed by grade school youngsters delighting at being little Indiana Joneses and Janes. They sometimes wear pith helmets and dig with as much enthusiasm and curios­ity as any first year grad student. It’s fun and educational and teaches many skills and ways of thinking that […]

MET Water prepares to squeeze more money out of Southland



New proposed permanent charges on treated water by the big seller of the com­modity to Southern California could have a significant impact on Escondido accord­ing to local water chief Greg Thomas of the Rincon Del Diablo Municipal Water District, which serves part of the city. He and his board are calling for a more open and transparent” process for devel­oping […]

smART Fest students strut their stuff



The California Center for the Arts, Escon­dido, was fairly bursting at the seams with performing and visual art, sculptures, photo­graphs, ceramics, dancing and more supplied by the city’s elementary school students last Saturday (April 9). Supervisor Dave Roberts, Cal-Arts Execu­tive Jerry Van Leeuwen, the center’s Museum and Education Director Leah Goodwin greeted festival-goers at the Performance Stage. Roberts said he […]

Vallecitos Water District eases restrictions



The State of California adjusted its conservation targets for the Valleci­tos Water District (VWD) on March 9, 2016, reducing the District’s target from 24% to 16%. This will affect some Escondido residents. Based on this reduced target, the district will no longer enforce restric­tions on the use of water to power wash structures, including mobile homes. The State Water Resources […]

Palomar Health fights child abuse



April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Palomar Health is in­volved in both the prevention and investigation aspects of child abuse. Forensic Health Services interviews child abuse survivors on behalf of North County law enforcement agencies to ensure that the offender can be effectively prosecuted. The Healthy Development Services program (HDS) provides free parent work­shops, developmental and behavioral check-ups […]

A right to my opinion (and yours)

~ Editorial

You have a right to my opinion, it seems to me. And I have a right to yours. This is an election season, and so, more and more, you may see political opinions expressed in this space. It is fairly well known that I’m a right-winger, of the type who abhors Hillary Clinton and laughs at Bernie Sanders and likes […]

Freedom’s cost is high




Freedom is not free. In fact, the price is incalculable. Our liberties are purchased with the most precious currency imagin­able, the lives of young men and women who voluntarily place themselves in jeopardy so that the rest of us can live out our lives in freedom and security. The cost of freedom was brought home when Staff Sergeant Louis F. […]

Sign up now for 1996 OGHS reunion in July



The Class of 1996 of Orange Glen High School will hold its class reunion July 16, 7 p.m. to midnight at Pala Ca­sino in Sycamore rooms 8, 9, 10. They will have a hosted bar, music from back in the day (Look out Vanilla Ice!) and lots of yummy food. They have a block of rooms reserved so that any­one […]

Pre-Mother’s Day Tea Party to be held April 30



Volunteer Action for Aging (VAA) has recently expanded into San Diego County to connect older adults to car­ing individuals from their own commu­nities. On April 30 VAA will host a pre- Mother’s Day Tea Party at Carefree Ranch, a senior trailer park in Escon­dido. Volunteers will serve tea and re­freshments from 2 – 4 p.m., and will also judge a […]