Week of March 28, 2024

  • 'Community Insurance' helps family who lost home to fire

    Village News Staff | Mar 28, 2024

    After hearing the plight of the Castillo family who lost their home in a fire on March 14, 2024, several community businesses jumped in to help out, including Randy Vance from Fallbrook ServPro who said, "When insurance doesn't come into play and you've got somebody who's lived here their whole life and educated children, you've got what you call community insurance and it's beautiful to see so many people to come together to insure a backup for people who are one of us."...

  • Heyneman named a 'Distinguished Woman'

    Mar 28, 2024

    SAN DIEGO – Since 1987, the Legislative Women's Caucus has encouraged all legislators to recognize a special woman in their district each year in honor of "Women's History Month," which occurs in March. Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones named Ginger Couvrette of Poway the "Woman of the Year for Senate District 40," March 15. Jones also honored 10 "Distinguished Women of California Senate District 40" that day. In addition to our 'Woman of the Year,' we have many noteworthy...

  • FUESD honored as Purple Star District for dedication to military families

    Mar 28, 2024

    FALLBROOK – Fallbrook Union Elementary School District announces its designation as a California Purple Star School District, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to supporting military-connected students and their families. Every single school within the district applied for and was awarded the prestigious Purple Star designation, positioning FUESD as one of the pioneering districts nationwide to achieve this remarkable feat. The California Purple Star School...

  • Bonsall Woman's Club honors its 2024 Volunteer of the Year

    Mar 28, 2024

  • FPUD'S Community Benefit Program sets financial awards to seven local non-profits

    Mar 28, 2024

    FALLBROOK – Fallbrook Public Utility District’s Community Benefit Program sent contracts to five local non-profit organizations for 2024 improvement projects, Jim Mendelson, chairman of the committee, announced March 21. According to Mendelson, the one-year contracts, approved by FPUD’s board of directors, went to the Fallbrook Beautification Alliance, Fallbrook Land Conservancy, Fallbrook Sports Association, Fallbrook Village Association and Mission Resource Conservation District. He expected each award to contribute...

  • Hasvold recognized for 'Distinguished Service'

    Village News Staff | Mar 28, 2024

    At the North San Diego County Realtors awards dinner, March 16, the Distinguished Service Award was presented to Chris Hasvold of Coldwell Banker Village Properties. The next day, Hasvold posted this on LinkedIn, "Last night, I was honored to receive the Distinguished Service Award from the North San Diego County Realtors, only the fourth recipient since its inception 25 years ago. It was especially gratifying to be presented the award by Carolyn D'Agosta, a true icon in the...

  • Sheriff Log

    Mar 28, 2024

    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. March 19 3200 blk S. Old Hwy 395 Shoplift - Defrauding an innkeeper - $950 or less - Vandalism - $400 or less 1200 blk Calle Sonia Contempt of court - Violate court order 1800 blk Acacia Ln. Missing adult 1300 blk S. Mission Rd. Misc. incidents - Mental health evaluation 1500 blk Loch Ness Dr. Missing juvenile/runaway 1400 blk S. Mission...

  • FPUD directors' per diem increased to $134

    Joe Naiman, Village News Reporter | Mar 28, 2024

    The Fallbrook Public Utility District’s Administrative Code stipulates that per diem pay is to be reviewed annually, and any increase is limited to 5%. The per diem pay for FPUD directors had been $127.63, and when a Feb. 26 hearing date for the increase was set at FPUD’s Jan. 22 board meeting, the planned increase was to $134.01. FPUD opted to round that figure down by one cent, so FPUD directors will now be paid $134 for meetings. The FPUD board vote Feb. 26 was 5-0. A recommended increase requires a public hearing to...

  • Amtek given FPUD contract to install EV charging equipment

    Mar 28, 2024

    Joe Naiman Village News Reporter The Fallbrook Public Utility District has awarded Amtek Construction the FPUD contract to install the first phase of electric vehicle charging equipment at the FPUD main office building. A 5-0 FPUD board vote Feb. 26 approved a $287,110 contract with Amtek, whose office is in Orange. San Diego Gas & Electric has a Power Your Drive for Fleets program which reimburses 80% of the cost to install fleet charging infrastructure for conversion to lower-emission vehicles, and FPUD will use the SDG&E...

  • Worker of the Week installs pipes

    Mar 28, 2024

  • Kay Construction to replace Ross Lake Pipeline

    Joe Naiman, Village News Reporter | Mar 27, 2024

    Kay Construction Company, Inc., will be replacing the Fallbrook Public Utility District’s Ross Lake Pipeline. FPUD’s board voted 5-0 Feb. 26 to award the contract to Kay Construction. The Santee company will be paid $902,348 for the work. FPUD staff has created a priority list of replacement projects based on the age of the facilities and past failure incidents. The Ross Lake Pipeline was selected as a priority due to leaks, age, and condition. The pipeline has experienced multiple mainline breaks over the past year....

  • Coming to Writers Read at Fallbrook Library

    Mar 28, 2024

    FALLBROOK – Writers Read at Fallbrook Library has two special readings coming up, and the public is invited to participate in both free literary events. In recognition of Women's History Month, the library will host an all-open-mic night Friday, March 29, at 6:30 p.m. In a salute to the rich contributions women have made to literature as creators and subjects, attendees will celebrate writing by, for, and about women. Bring original work – and some favorites by others – to share at this annual event. The library will...

  • Pala to host gun safety event April 20

    Mar 28, 2024

    PALA – The San Diego Sheriff’s Department is sponsoring a gun safety event Saturday, April 20, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pala Band of Mission Indians Administrative Building, 12196 Pala Mission Road, in Pala. Community members can turn in unwanted guns for gift cards. Firearms must be in working order. Place the unloaded firearm in the trunk of your vehicle. A deputy will provide instructions. They are also providing free gun cable locks and security boxes while supplies last to people looking to secure firearms kept in...

  • Republican Women to hear from Take Our Elections Back

    Mar 28, 2024

    FALLBROOK – The April guest speaker for the Republican Women of CA – Fallbrook is Kim Yeater, CEO of Take Our Elections Back Initiative. Its mission is to restore the integrity of America’s voting system and allow the people’s voice to be heard. All are invited to come Friday, April 12, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.. at the Historic Mission Theater. Men are always welcome. RSVP to [email protected]. Cost is $10. Submitted by Republican Women of CA ...

  • The bridge to nowhere....

    Dr. Derek King, Special to the Village News | Mar 28, 2024

    That is what I have called it for decades... When I began asking questions about the bridge over the 15 across from Pala Mesa, even the Caltrans worker said, "Oh, the bridge to nowhere..." My family moved to Bonsall in 1978. We watched the area grow... we watched the two-lane 395 get bypassed by the huge, multi-lane I-15. We saw the elegant "rainbow bridge" (Lilac Road) be built over the carved-out summit. Then, decades later, we moved up to Murrieta and were teased for...

  • Fallbrook #1 in home sales for February

    Village News Staff | Mar 28, 2024

    The Greater San Diego Association of Realtors has announced a significant boost in home sales for February, with Fallbrook leading the charge as the top area for home sales. Spencer Lugash, president of the SDAR, highlighted the positive trend, noting increases in both month-over-month and year-over-year sales compared to February of the previous year. The surge in sales is seen as a promising sign for the local real estate market, which has faced challenges such as high...

  • Supervisors approve funding, bid process for pedestrian crossing improvements

    Joe Naiman, Village News Reporter | Mar 28, 2024

    The San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved appropriations and the bid and award process for pedestrian crossing improvements at 21 signalized intersections throughout the unincorporated county including four in Fallbrook. A pair of 4-0 votes March 13, with Joel Anderson absent, approved two actions to appropriate funds and authorize the advertisement for bid and subsequent award of construction contracts for the improvements. One of those actions covered four intersections including the South Mission Road...

  • Susan Ellen Folsom

    Mar 27, 2024

    Susan Ellen Folsom, 61, of Ilwaco, Wash., passed away on March 14, 2024. Susan was born on Jan. 12, 1963, to Karl and Bette Burchstead in Worcester, Mass. In 1996, she met Mark Folsom and they wed in 2001 going on to have two children, who were added to Susan's older four children. Susan excelled at propping up all those who were in her life and supporting them through the many passions and difficulties of their lives. She made it her mission to improve the lives of others,...

  • Through My Garden Gate: Say it with flowers

    Roger Boddaert, Special to the Village News | Mar 28, 2024

    Flowers of all types, shapes and colors erupt around the earth at their prescribed flowering seasons. It is fantastic how nature has its timetable within the various seasons, and I am constantly watching and learning from her. With the world's weather changing, so are plants adapting to a new climatic lifestyle. Plants adapt to their environments and adjust according to their seasons, weather and unique growing conditions. Fall is when we think of flowers like chrysanthemums;...

  • Ardurra to perform design, hydraulic modeling for FPUD's new DeLuz Pump Station

    Joe Naiman, Village News Reporter | Mar 28, 2024

    The Fallbrook Public Utility District will be adding a pump station to transport water from Red Mountain Reservoir to DeLuz, and Ardurra will be performing the design and hydraulic modeling work. During the Feb. 26 FPUD board meeting a 5-0 vote approved a professional services agreement with Ardurra for hydraulic modeling and design services for the DeLuz Pump Station. Ardurra, which is headquartered in Tampa and has offices in Temecula and Poway, will be paid $82,000 for the work. DeLuz is currently hydraulically isolated...

  • Visible address signs are key to emergency response

    Lucette Moramarco, Associate Editor | Mar 28, 2024

    Having your address clearly marked on your house is important in case of an emergency, so first responders can find your home in a timely manner. In rural areas like Fallbrook, this is especially important as some residents live far off the main road listed as their address. For example, my friend Margaret, who just turned 87, lives roughly a mile off a main road in Rainbow. She fell in her kitchen on Feb. 29, suffering a compound fracture to her lower right leg. She said it took her an hour to reach her phone, then another...

  • NCFPD offers cancer screening for personnel

    Mar 28, 2024

    FALLBROOK – Cancer is the most dangerous, under-recognized threat to the health and safety of firefighters in the U.S. To combat this, the North County Fire Protection District is offering a multi-cancer screening for its active fire service personnel. Firefighters are exposed to a wide variety of hazardous scenarios where carcinogens are nearly unavoidable. So, NCFPD started administering this screening three years ago and was the first fire service agency within San Diego...

  • Bee safe this spring, don't get stung

    Shauni Lyles, County of San Diego Communications Office | Mar 28, 2024

    During springtime, the flowers bloom and the bees are busy. Here are some simple tips to make sure you don't get stung. The biggest one is – do not disturb them. And if they're already disturbed, move away to a safer location! This time of year, sightings of honey bee swarms and nests are more likely as groups of bees leave their old colonies to establish new ones, according to our experts at the County's Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures. Bees are an...

  • Fallbrook Food Pantry sends out an S.O.S.: Karen needs us

    e | Mar 28, 2024

    Ellen Fusco Special to the Village News On Tuesday, Feb. 6, Karen Austin, one of our cherished and valued community members, who has been an integral part of the Fallbrook Food Pantry for more than 20 years, was rushed to Palomar Hospital with a major bone infection which resulted in a 7-hour surgery to replace multiple vertebrae in her spine with titanium rods in her back, neck, and across her shoulders. Karen's selfless hours of volunteerism have enabled the pantry to...

  • AMR San Diego seeks applicants for first all-female "Earn While You Learn" EMT Training Academy

    Mar 28, 2024

    SAN DIEGO – Seeking to further diversify the field of emergency medical services, AMR – one of the largest ambulance transport providers in the United States – is encouraging women from across San Diego County to apply for its first all-female Earn While You Learn EMT training academy. A partnership between AMR and Miramar College, the Earn While You Learn academy is a 16-week program in which cadets will be trained to become emergency medical technicians and will be hired by AMR upon completing the academy and...

  • VCC's Dads' Club expands: Empowering fathers for over 25 years

    Mar 28, 2024

    VISTA – Vista Community Clinic announced the continuation and expansion of its Dads’ Club program, dedicated to supporting fathers and father figures in various stages of their journey towards positive parenting and personal growth. Having provided invaluable parenting services for over a quarter-century, VCC initially recruited program participants through its prenatal and pediatric departments. Over the years, the program has evolved to offer comprehensive case management services, addressing a variety of needs...

  • Taurine, could it really slow aging?

    Mar 28, 2024

    Karen Jensen, ND Special to the Village News Taurine is a semi-essential amino acid typically found in high concentrations in humans and prevalent in youth. But as a person ages, taurine levels decline. Supplementing with taurine reverses this decline, and preliminary animal studies show that taurine could be the key to living a longer and healthier life. Taurine is in meats, fish, dairy and some energy drinks. Besides living longer, animals supplemented with taurine scored better on almost every parameter, including...

  • Community Choice Aggregation: Facts and choices

    Supervisor Jim Desmond, 5th District | Mar 27, 2024

    I recently held a meeting to discuss the transition from SDG&E to Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) in our region. This initiative, led by the Clean Energy Alliance, aims to provide cleaner and potentially more affordable energy options for our communities. San Marcos and Escondido have adopted CCA and Vista and Oceanside are set to join on April 1. Residents need to know that they have the option to opt out if they prefer to stay with SDG&E. This opt-out provision ensures...

  • Kicking It

    Elizabeth Youngman-Westphal, Special to The Village News | Mar 27, 2024

    Retirement has caused me to lose focus. Now it seems my thoughts ramble throughout the day. Here is what usually happens. I’ll head out to add nectar to the hummingbird feeder and the next thing ya know, before I even get to the task at hand, I’m reminding myself when I come back in the house to send a birthday card to my girlfriend. But. Quite often by the time I walk back into my office after retracing my steps to find my cup of coffee, I have forgotten what I was...

  • Celebrating California agriculture

    Assemblymember Marie Waldron, 75th District | Mar 27, 2024

    California is the country’s leading agricultural state. In recognition of the importance of agriculture to our economy, ceremonies recognizing Ag Day were held at the State Capitol March 19. California has over 83,000 farms and ranches, 4% of the nation’s total. But we produce over one third of the country’s vegetables and almost three-quarters of the country’s fruits and nuts. San Diego County plays a big part. From cattle grazing on East County hillsides, to avocado...

  • RFK, Jr. reports Ukraine war is a U.S. money laundering scheme

    Julie Reeder, Publisher | Mar 28, 2024

    The following is not in my words, but is a word-for-word transcript of a speech by environmental attorney and Presidential Candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. gave at a fundraiser for his 2024 presidential campaign. “It's a war that should have never happened. It's a war the Russians tried repeatedly to settle on terms that were very, very beneficial to Ukraine and us. The major thing they wanted was for us to keep NATO out of the Ukraine. The big military contractors want to...

  • Spring has sprung for Encore Social Club

    Mar 28, 2024

    FALLBROOK – Spring is not only filled with birds and blooms, but also interesting speakers and fun activities for Encore members. During the March Coffee Meeting, members listened to a moving presentation from Youngren Construction about their 'Homes For Our Troops' program. This nonprofit organization located in Fallbrook, builds and donates specially adapted custom homes for severely injured post 9/11 veterans, to enable them to rebuild their lives. Most of these veterans...

  • Theatre Talk:What's coming up on stage

    Elizabeth Youngman-Westphal, Special to The Village News | Mar 28, 2024

    Willy Nelson will play at the Rady Shell in Jacobs Park. Wow! Read on because here is something for everybody. Broadway San Diego will hit the season running with "Disney's Aladdin" April 3 – 9, followed in June by "Mrs. Doubtfire" opening on the 4th, with "Peter Pan" flying in July 30. The theater is at 3651 Fourth Ave. For tickets, call 619-564-3000 or visit www.broadwaysd.com. California Center for the Arts has something going on several times a week including ballet....

  • Brunch program to feature the Hula

    Mar 28, 2024

    FALLBROOK – The Fallbrook Women's Connection presents a professional Hula dance group and brunch at the ballroom of the Beverly Mansion at the Grand Tradition Estate & Gardens, Friday, April 19 from 10 a.m. to noon. For the program, Halau Hula O Kanoelani Hula group will be performing some authentic island dance with four professional dancers. Lia Kamminga, AnaMarie, Trish Gundy and Maggie Raskopf. Guest speaker Maggie Raskopf, dance school owner, mentor, counselor to...

  • California agrees to lasting cuts to Colorado River use

    Caleb Hampton, Special to the Village News | Mar 28, 2024

    California has agreed to make long-term cuts to the amount of water the state uses from the Colorado River, according to a proposed plan for managing the river released earlier this month by California, Nevada and Arizona. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the seven states in the Colorado River Basin, as well as 30 tribes and Mexico, are negotiating a plan to protect the river after a decades-long megadrought depleted flows and left key reservoirs Lake Mead and Lake Powell...

  • County opens new online Public Records Request Center

    Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office | Mar 28, 2024

    The county has unveiled a new, easy, do-it-yourself website to help people submit public record requests, track their progress and even see if those records are already available because somebody else asked for them. Have you ever wanted to review county documents – maybe you were curious about a government function, or you were doing research for a project – but you didn’t know where to start? Now you can do it right online at the county’s Public Records Request Center website, https://www.sandieg...

  • North County Philanthropy Council takes administrative helm of 'San Diego Gives' initiative

    Mar 28, 2024

    SAN DIEGO – North County Philanthropy Council, the regional association that convenes nonprofit professionals, board members, volunteers and corporate philanthropists in San Diego County, announces the addition of the San Diego Gives project to its administrative purview. The yearly San Diego Gives initiative includes an online Day of Giving followed by a Day of Service throughout the region. This year’s events will take place Thursday, Sept. 5, and Friday, Sept. 6. Launched in 2021 by a small, dedicated group of...

  • FUESD LCAP Community Partner Forum spurs collaboration and innovation for Fallbrook students

    Mar 28, 2024

    FALLBROOK – The Fallbrook Union Elementary School District recently hosted a highly productive LCAP Community Partner Forum, a pivotal event that brought together influential community and organizational leaders from across Fallbrook and the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. This gathering served as a dynamic platform for district leaders to engage in profound dialogue, discussing overarching district goals and initiatives, while also receiving invaluable feedback from...

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