Rubber ducks hold practice run, 4th of July event seeks donations

FALLBROOK — A little clever engineering and the problem of propelling 3,000 rubber ducks across the Grand Tradition lake on July 4 has been solved.

Mark McDougal, son of Don and Pat McDougal at the Grand Tradition, has devised a racetrack with pipes, nozzles and hoses that will shoot water and get the rubber ducks across in record time.

There will be three heats, with the winning ducks competing at the end for prizes. For every $5 donation, one yellow duck will have a number attached corresponding to a number assigned to the purchaser. A list of the duck numbers will be posted at the event, wi...