Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma
Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma
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San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chair Nora Vargas announced her resignation today, Friday, Dec. 20, surprising county officials and staff. Vargas said she would step down at the end of her current term, on January 6, citing personal safety and security concerns. In a statement, Vargas expressed pride in her time on the board, saying her priority had always been the community. "It has been my honor to serve in public office during unprecedented times," she said. "My... Full story
The Fallbrook Public Utility District has awarded PK Mechanical Systems the FPUD contract for the Toyon Pump Station pipeline extension project. FPUD’s board voted 4-0 Dec, 9, with Jennifer DeMeo absent, to award PK Mechanical a $350,000 contract for the work. The new pipeline will be approximately 850 linear feet of eight-inch cement mortar lined and coated (CML&C) welded steel pipe. The Toyon Pump Station was built in 1982 and serves 63 accounts in the Toyon Service Area near Red Mountain Reservoir. It has exceeded its u...
This story deals with the joy of discovering something new right under your nose. Such discoveries can be lovely finds, especially at Christmas. I thought I had gotten to know Jack and Jeanette Schirner over the decade or so that they've lived in Fallbrook. I first met Jack when he ably served as the board president of the Fallbrook Senior Center. Having served briefly on that board, I realized the amount of work it takes to herd that group of stray cats. Jack still serves on...
The Fallbrook Community Center came alive with festive energy at the annual Christmas Tree Lighting event, Dec. 6, drawing crowds of all ages to celebrate the season with excitement and cheer. The air was filled with the sounds of holiday tunes as a live DJ played a mix of Christmas classics and upbeat favorites, setting the perfect soundtrack for the evening. Local families were treated to a variety of activities and entertainment, making it a night to remember. Kids lined...
Marine Corps Sgt. Colton Pavlica, a Las Vegas native and rifleman with the 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, was honored by the North County Fire Protection District on Dec. 11 for his decisive and life-saving actions following a motorcycle versus vehicle collision last month. Pavlica received a standing ovation and a Challenge Coin during the district's board meeting. On Nov. 17, at approximately 2:13 p.m., Pavlica was traveling westbound on East...
The Dec. 9 board meeting of the Fallbrook Public Utility District included approval of FPUD rates and other charges for Calendar Year 2025. The board voted 4-0, with Jennifer DeMeo absent, to adopt the 2025 rates and charges for water, recycled water, and wastewater delivery and services. The approximate increase from 2024 is 3.5% for water and 2.5% for recycled water and wastewater. In November 1996, the state's voters passed Proposition 218, which requires a public vote on benefit assessments. Proposition 218 exempts water...
Lupe Ruiz was recognized by the North County Fire Protection District during their Dec. 11 board meeting for her swift and courageous actions in extinguishing a fire behind Major Market earlier that morning. Ruiz was presented with a Challenge Coin, a prestigious symbol of gratitude and recognition within the fire service. Ruiz was driving on South Mission when she noticed smoke billowing from a dumpster behind the popular grocery store. Reacting quickly, she pulled into the p...
Ross Johnson has stepped down as Fallbrook High School’s head football coach. Johnson, who coached the Warriors from 2022 to 2024, made the announcement Nov. 25. “It was a family-related decision,” said Johnson, whose children are 5 and 3. After Troy Everhart, who coached Fallbrook from 2019 to 2021, took a head coach position in Ohio, the Fallbrook Union High School District hired Johnson in March 2022. Everhart resigned in January 2022 to give Fallbrook High School a chance to hire a new coach in time for spring pract...
The first 2024-25 dual meet for Fallbrook High School’s wrestling program was actually a quad meet involving four schools Dec. 3 at Army-Navy Academy. Each school had matches against each of the other three schools, and Fallbrook was 2-1 in those competitions. “I’m really happy,” said Fallbrook coach Tom Brockson. Wrestling has both individual scores and team scores. In each match, a wrestler is given one point for an escape, two points for a takedown, a reversal, or a near fall lasting two to five seconds, and three points...
My family and I moved to Fallbrook some 40 years ago to add a new horticultural adventure to our lives. I wanted to leave the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles and raise my family with clean air, open spaces and practice my horticultural passion of growing trees and flowers. I worked weekends at a top flower shop, Flowers by Michael in Beverly Hills, creating and installing gala events, weddings, and floral displays at flower shows. This exposure to the flower industry gave me...
The Fallbrook Public Utility District board ratified an emergency declaration to repair the pipeline on Beavercreek Lane, Josten Way, and West Fallbrook Street. A 4-0 board Dec. 9, with Jennifer DeMeo absent, approved the emergency declaration made by FPUD general manager Jack Bebee. The ratification allows the work order Bebee negotiated to continue. An emergency is defined as an unexpected occurrence which requires immediate action to prevent or mitigate the loss of essential public services. In the event of an emergency,...
Dry, itchy skin is often associated with the skin condition called eczema (atopic dermatitis). It is marked by being long lasting and flaring up from time to time. For people who have eczema, their irritated skin will look like a rash that might be swollen. Other symptoms include crusting skin, small bumps, thicker skin, dry/cracked skin, and/or raw skin. Eczema can start in early childhood and continue through adulthood, flaring up from time to time. It is not contagious....
The United States Congress once again proposed cuts to physician reimbursement in 2025 – this time a 2.8% decrease – sparking significant concern among healthcare providers and patients alike. Insurance plans in the United States benchmark their reimbursement relative to Medicare, therefore all physicians would experience the decrease, except those practicing on a cash-only basis. This issue is particularly troubling given the increasing challenges physicians face in deliverin...
A one-of-a-kind machine that works twice as fast as current practices when testing for diseases is heading for the County of San Diego’s new Public Health Lab, allowing epidemiologists to more effectively fight the spread of diseases. The County Board of Supervisors approved the spending of $240,000 to acquire a Diasorin Liaison XL and supporting supplies and equipment Dec. 10. The golf cart-sized piece of equipment can test for tuberculosis, chickenpox, shingles, measles, mumps and rubella. The faster testing is particularly...
The Fallbrook Public Utility District will be relining approximately 2,275 linear feet of sewer main in the future, and Sancon Technologies will be the contractor. A 4-0 FPUD board vote Dec. 9, with Jennifer DeMeo absent, approved the contract. Sancon, which is based in Huntington Beach, will be paid $209,107.50. FPUD’s capital improvement program includes improving the reliability of the sewer collections system through strategic rehabilitation of existing infrastructure. The work Sancon will perform will reline 684 l...
New state legislation allows speed limits to be lowered an additional 5 mph from what the previous allowance was if a road segment is designated as a safety corridor. The county’s Traffic Advisory Committee has recommended that portions of South Mission Road, East Mission Road, Gopher Canyon Road, and Pala Temecula Road be given that safety corridor designation. The recommendation to designate the roads as safety corridors and lower the speed limits by an additional 5 mph was approved unanimously during the Dec. 6 TAC meeting...
Escondido city officials declared a local emergency on Sunday, Dec. 15, in response to a growing homeless encampment along Escondido Creek, citing elevated bacteria levels in recent water quality tests. The announcement comes after months of complaints from residents and a series of failed clean-up efforts. The encampment, located near Citracado Parkway and Harmony Grove, has become a point of concern due to both environmental and public health risks. According to city officials, recent tests revealed bacteria levels in the...
The safety of our community should always be the government’s top priority. Last week, I was disheartened when the Board of Supervisors, in a 3-1 decision, voted to designate San Diego as a “Super” Sanctuary County. I was the lone dissenting vote, and I believe this policy is both reckless and dangerous. To be clear, this is not about mass deportations or separating families. It is about ensuring that individuals who are in our country illegally and have committed serio... Full story
It turns out, we’re gonna be okay as a country. Even though we have a few weeks until #47 takes back the Oval Office, Americans can finally “turn the page.” This new year offers each citizen the same Constitutional rights. No one gets privilege above the law like Hunter. After Jan. 20, 2025, sanity will return to the United States of America. We tried the other way. Over the past four years, every self-appointed group has had a run at winning over public opinion. As it turns... Full story
The Vallecitos School District board approved a 4% salary increase for the district’s classified employees. The board voted 3-0 Nov. 12, with Ritsa Chanthabandith absent and one vacant seat, to approve the salary increase for the 2024‑25 school year. The salary increase is retroactive to July 1. “We value their work,” said Vallecitos School District Superintendent Meliton Sanchez, who is also the district’s Chief Business Officer. “We value their support, and this is just our way of showing that appreciation.” The pay for s...
The holiday season is synonymous with giving, and repurposing items you already have is a cost-effective way to give meaningful gifts while reducing waste. Plus, it's a great way to declutter and renew your living spaces in preparation for the new year. Most of us have some leftover paint to spare that can be used for so much more than touch-ups. It is estimated that about 10% of all household paint goes unused – instead of letting leftover paint take up valuable space in y...
A recent Rainbow Municipal Water District board decision to perform future tank maintenance in-house kept open the option of negotiating a potential contract with the current contractor or another qualified firm. An agreement with USG Water Solutions was reached, and a 5-0 Rainbow board vote Nov. 19 approved the new maintenance contract for the district’s steel tanks. “We renegotiated the schedule,” said Rainbow General Manager Jake Wiley. “We’re going to extend the contract and include this addendum.” Rainbow’s b...
There is still time to catch a holiday show before Christmas. The closest one is now playing at The New Village Arts in Carlsbad. This year they are bringing back "Miracle on 34th Street, the Radio Musical." New Village Arts at 2787 State St., Carlsbad, 760-433-3245, www.newvillagearts.org. Did you get enough tickets for the entire family to catch "The Nutcracker"? City Ballet is performing it Dec. 20 to 23 at the California Center for the Arts at 340 N. Escondido Blvd. in...
County Probation received a $642,600 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for an intensive probation supervision program for high-risk individuals with serious felony and/or multiple driving under the influence (DUI) convictions. The grant program runs through September 2025. "This funding empowers our team to ensure community safety remains at the forefront of all we do by enhancing our ability to effectively balance support and accountability in the...
A new county ordinance builds on the state’s Fair Chance Act to give people with a criminal past a better chance of gaining jobs in the unincorporated area. Local officials held a news conference Nov. 12 to announce how the ordinance will affect justice-involved people and their potential employers. The ordinance ensures justice involved people have a fair chance at employment without being automatically disqualified due to past incarceration. An employer can still conduct a background check, but now there are rules and g...
