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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WASHINGTON – California failed to escape its “Judicial Hellhole®” reputation this year, ranked No. 5 in the 2024-2025 report spotlighting the nation’s worst civil justice systems released Dec. 10 by the American Tort Reform Foundation. “California's legal system continues to be the trial bar's laboratory for innovative liability theories, burdening businesses and ultimately hurting consumers,” American Tort Reform Association President Tiger Joyce said. “It’s not just legal jargon for lawyers in courtrooms – lawsuit abuse... Full story
Jean Larsen Executive Director / Legacy Endowment Community Foundation Oh, the acronyms we now use these days. So many! As we ring in the New Year, I was reminded the other day by someone I admire and respect, if you are required to take a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD), this is something that shouldn’t be left to year-end decision-making. Rather, for those who must take an RMD, there should be a plan starting each January. I couldn’t agree with him more. When planning for retirement, most of us can give ourselves a lar...
Board members of the North County Fire Protection District will now receive per diem pay of $105 for attending meetings and other eligible events. The NCFPD board voted 5-0 Dec. 10 to approve the second reading and adoption of the $5 per diem increase. The increase from $100 becomes effective Jan. 9, although the next scheduled board meeting is not until Jan. 28. “We have not raised our director compensation in 18 years,” said NCFPD Fire Chief Keith McReynolds. NCFPD board members receive per diem pay for each regular or spe...
A week after the November election, I joined nearly two dozen newly elected members of the state Assembly gathered in Sacramento for a closed-door training program. The group included both Democrats and Republicans – because the training was not on policy issues or politics – but on how the state Legislature itself works. What new legislators are taught should outrage California voters whether they are Democrat, Republican or in between. Worse, it explains why our state Leg... Full story
The holiday season is prime time for scammers, with thousands of older adults scammed each year in San Diego County. San Diegans over the age of 60 often become victims of scams, on average losing over $30,000, according to the FBI’s 2023 Elder Fraud Report. Older adults are often retired with no way to recover their life savings, whereas younger adults have more time to remedy their financial situation. For years, local law enforcement lacked the tools and resources to investigate these cases and there was less connection b...
The Bonsall Unified School district board approved an agreement for architectural services to reconfigure the kitchen at the campus shared by Sullivan Middle School and Bonsall High School. The 5-0 vote Nov. 20 approved a contract with MPGA Architecture, which is based in Carlsbad, to develop the reconfiguration plans. The $9,500 the school district will pay covers $8,000 for drawings and specifications with the remaining $1,500 funding the process for approval by the county’s Department of Environmental Health and Quality, w...
FALLBROOK – After a 70-year legal battle to gain access to less expensive local water from the Santa Margarita River, and a four-year legal battle to switch water wholesalers, we're looking at our next steps. This year at the Fallbrook Public Utility District, we've been concentrating on doing everything we can to save you money. From switching water wholesalers and reducing your bill in 2024, to maximizing the use of less expensive local water – this has been a big year. On...
Additional guardrail will be installed at the new Bonsall Elementary School pedestrian pathway, and the chain-link fence will be extended. The Bonsall Unified School District board voted 5-0 Nov. 20 to award Crown Fence Company a contract for the work. The Chula Vista company will install 49 linear feet of guardrail 42 inches high and five linear feet of chain-link fence six feet in height. “This is to improve the safety and functionality of the entrance to Bonsall Elementary School. Keeping our campuses safe is a top p...
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...
SACRAMENTO – California is boosting battery storage projects across the state – an important part of the state’s transition to 100% clean electricity. California approved a $42 million grant to International Electric Power to build a long-duration energy storage project at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in San Diego County, Dec. 11. The project will provide electricity to the statewide grid and backup power to the base for up to 14 days in the event of power outages. The installation will help enhance the resiliency of Ca...
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...
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...
Steve McGargill is one of the managers and funeral directors of Berry-Bell & Hall Fallbrook Mortuary, located at 333 N. Vine St., Fallbrook. With a rich history dating back to 1948, Berry-Bell & Hall Fallbrook Mortuary has been a staple in the Fallbrook community for decades. Originally founded by Ernest Bell, it was the town's sole mortuary for many years and still is today. However, in 1973, the business was sold to I.F.S. International, transitioning from a family-owned... Full story
FALLBROOK – Marc Sigmon, MBA, Agent/CEO, Marc Sigmon Insurance Agency, has earned a 2024 NAIFA Quality Award presented by the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors to association members who demonstrate professional success, quality client service, and strict adherence to NAIFA’s Code of Ethics, including the requirement that NAIFA members always serve the best interests of their clients. Sigmon has been a loyal NAIFA member since 2019, and this is the first year he has been honored with the award. “Th...
FALLBROOK – Silvergate Fallbrook has announced the appointment of Janae Orona as its new executive director at the premier retirement community. Orona steps into this leadership role following the departure of the community's previous director who retired after more than 20 years of dedicated service. Orona will be charged with upholding Silvergate's commitment to delivering the finest in senior living care and service. She will oversee all community operations, ensure c...
The San Diego County Water Authority has approved the weighted vote for 2025 SDCWA meetings. The weighted vote for 2025 was approved by the CWA board Nov. 21. The completion of the detachment of the Rainbow Municipal District from the CWA also resulted in a revision of the weighted vote allocation for the Nov. 21 meeting as well as for any special meetings called in December 2024. The Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton’s weighted vote, which had been 0.077%, was 0.080% for the Nov. 21 meeting and will be 0.077% for calendar y...
The Fallbrook Public Utility District procurement policy allows the FPUD general manager to delegate certain tasks. FPUD’s procurement policy had specified which positions could be authorized as the designee, but the specific positions were eliminated by an Oct. 28 board action. The 5-0 vote revises the section of FPUD’s Administrative Code relating to definitions for procurement actions. FPUD’s Administrative Code allows the FPUD general manager to delegate tasks, so specific positions are redundant as well as possi...
Rose Marie Peralta works for Berry-Bell & Hall Mortuary, 333 N. Vine Street, as a part-time Visitation Coordinator. Her duties over the last two years include being the mortuary point of contact, greeting and supporting family members in their time of loss, assisting with funeral preparations such as floral decorations and taking care of the sound system, and providing other services required to ensure the service runs smoothly. From time to time, she has met with some of her... Full story
Break out your wallets and purses – but protect them too – the holiday shopping season is back! The holiday season is the perfect time to remind everyone to remember to always, always double-check your receipts to make sure you're not accidentally overcharged by faulty cash registers and price scanners. The holidays are definitely the shop-shopping-est time of the year. And even though online buying has gotten huge, most of us are still heading off to our local stores to buy...
FALLBROOK – Legacy Endowment Community Foundation, celebrating its 30th year, recently announced the winners of its 2024 grants. Since 1994, Legacy Endowment has been a trusted steward of enduring philanthropy in Fallbrook, Bonsall, Rainbow, De Luz and even beyond the North San Diego County region. Its #1 goal is to help individuals and nonprofit agencies realize a vision of resiliency and strength through charitable giving that exceeds all horizons and financially weathers all storms. Executive Director Jean Larsen said, ...
