September 2015

VCHS Class of 2015 says goodbye to all that

“It’s a Beautiful Day,” the song and the event, rang out across Jaguar Stadium Thursday, June 11 as the Valley Center High School Class of 2015 commenced its Commencement Exercises. Some 2,500 to 3,000 friends, families and supporters overflowed the stadium’s bleachers, lined the newly installed field turf in white chairs and otherwise took in the 15th Valley Center High School Commencement ceremonies. They would…


Doves of Love soar above San Diego

Larry Zetterquist and Kathy Duffany are Doves of Love San Diego. So are their white racing and homing pigeons. The Valley Center couple were prominently featured during Western Days events along with their progeny, in this case a flock of white racing pigeons that pass for doves. They transport the birds in small, airy cages draped with red-white-and-blue bunting suitable for release and return to…


Introducing Dr. Mark Starr and 21st Century Pain and Sports Medicine

No pain, no gain may be one of the oldest saying in sports, meaning athletes for the longest time have been challenged by coping with that pain. Pain management is essential for everybody from athletes seeking to keep going to regular folk trying to deal with day-to-day living. Mark Starr, MD (H), has studied and pioneered some of the most efficacious pain management techniques. This…


Steve Becvar going to the Gulls

Times they are a’changing for Steve Becvar. He’s going from executive director of the  Greater San Diego Chapter of the ALS Association to its Board of Directors as he accepts a post as new vice president of sales for the equally new San Diego Gulls of the American Hockey League (AHL). First things first, “The San Diego Gulls are thrilled to announce the hiring of…


A Drive North — Smokey’s Lake Wohlford Cafe, an appreciation and review

Thought I’d get out my East County posting “rut” and still stay within San Diego County, which is about 4,200-square-miles. I had a long story about how we got here, but will leave that for another time. Let’s just say “The Mister” and I drove through Escondido to Valley Center, picked up some meat by the side of the road, still $35, and then stopped at Bates Nut Farm…


Official versions: DA targets ID theft while SDG&E warns of faux employees

District Attorney targets credit card ID theft San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie M. Dumanis this week warned consumers that old credit card technology leaves them more susceptible to identify theft. The magnetic strip technology on the back of credit cards has been around since the 1970s. This old technology is easier for scammers steal and sell cardholder personal information The chip in newer credit…


Potholes are facts of San Diego driving life — deal with them

Arghh, some of them that San Diego roads are potholed messes damaging driver tires and nerves. Rich White, executive director of the non-profit Car Care Council offered some pothole advice earlier this year in connection with national Car month. “Hitting a pothole with your car can do a real number on tires, wheels, steering and suspension, and alignment,” White said. “To help determine if hitting…


People behaving badly

I covered the Delta. That’s the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta for our purposes although I occasionally covered the Mississippi Delta for newspapers in Louisiana and Arkansas, which is a whole ‘nother story. This was the California Delta where I covered Elk Grove south and west through Hood, Locke, Walnut Grove, Isleton along with places like Lodi, Galt and heaven’s know where for the Sacramento Bee. They…