November 2015

Briefly Speaking: News and notes from Escondido and Valley Center (Video)

Sponsored by Oakwood Escrow. Preparing for the winter worst Back by popular demand and the demand of an El Nino season, a disaster readiness/winter weather workshop comes Escondido way from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9. Get over to Police-Fire Headquarters community room at 1163 N. Centre City Parkway for the free, but limited seating, event. “The workshop will provide valuable information related…


New2U Consignment and Gifts combines community with value

Tim McClintic knows a good deal. So, too, do his customers at New2U Consignment and Gifts, 115 W. Grand Ave., between Champions Family Restaurant and Vincent’s. McClintic is a retail entrepreneur always looking for the next, best deal. The 2007-08 Great Recession provided the impetus to get this guy on the go, on the go. Involved in the motorcycle industry for a long time, he…


Ultimate coffee experience: CULTURE Craft Coffee & Espresso comes to The Centre

They always do it up right at The Centre, Escondido with top quality shops, a luxury Lexus of Escondido dealership, Vintana fine dining and now this, CULTURE Craft Coffee & Espresso. CULTURE held its grand opening celebration last week during which coffee and company took over the ground floor of The Centre and a good time was had by all. “This is a very good…


Sustainable Heroes transform Aster Street transitional housing into Aster Gardens

At a frenzied, yet fruitful, pace Saturday, and Sunday, Sustainable Heroes volunteers from across the nation transformed a parched piece of transitional housing dirt into Aster Street Gardens, a landscaping delight. Beginning shortly after sunrise, celebrity TV host Ahmed Hassan of DIY Network/HGTV “Yard Crashers” fame, along with outdoor living designer Duane Draughon of Columbus, Ohio and about 30 volunteers got down to work, and…


‘It’s all about the dream’ at Cute Cakes during The Wedge, Escondido

Wedge was the deal. Cute Cakes Escondido Bakery & Cafe was the place. It was a match made in marketing heaven, not to mention the tastiest venue in all the land. A family affair, Cute Cakes has been known for years around the Hidden Valley. Jill and David Reilly started small, but exceedingly sweet, in a tiny space in a nondescript outdoor shopping center populated…


Theater Review: ‘Meet me in St. Louis’ at Welk Resorts through January 31

“Meet Me In St. Louis” is remembered mostly for Judy Garland’s star turn in the 1944 blockbuster MGM film. The show, (with a book by Hugh Wheeler and music by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane) moved to the Broadway stage in 1989, where it was nominated for four Tonys. Welk Resorts Theatre presents “Meet Me In St. Louis” through Jan. 2016 at their Escondido location….


Police seek hit-and-run driver; EPD blotter: 6 new crimes reported for Dec. 6

Now, on to current incident reports. For more details click on “Map It.” CRIME ALERT! 5 new crimes Type Description Case # Location Agency Date Map It TAKE VEHICLE W/O OWNER’S CONSENT/VEHICLE THEFT (F) – 900 E BLOCK MISSION AVENUE Escondido Police 12/2/2015 10:00:00 PM Map It DRUNK IN PUBLIC: ALCOHOL, DRUGS, COMBO OR TOLUENE (M) – 1200 W BLOCK VALLEY PARKWAY Escondido Police 12/1/2015 2:46:00 PM…


San Elijo Hills Business Expo shares a fine day of early holiday shopping

It was all about sharing as San Elijo Hills was alive withe sound of neighborhood networking recently. The San Elijo Hills foundation and its neighborhood Share Magazine hosted a grand gathering on the big lawn featuring 80 vendors with local community ties. Free to attend, the Saturday Business Expo made for a fun afternoon of connection and community building at the Town Square. The aim…


Clark’s back with another hotel scheme and other Escondido City Council tales

Two items on Wednesday’s closed session of the Escondido City Council caught my attention, both property negotiations. First was the City’s property at 2269 East Valley Pkwy., and the negotiating party the American Heritage Charter Schools. That property is now leased by one of the Escondido Community Child Development Centers (ECCDC). I was concerned that, once again, the city was evicting a needy tenant to…


E. Lincoln Avenue structure fire causes $70K damage, minor smoke inhale injuries

Escondido firefighters aided by Escondido police officers took about 10-15 minutes Sunday to knock down a structure fire in the 800 block of E. Lincoln Avenue near N. Fig Street around 11:15 a.m., according to Escondido Battalion Chief John Tenger. That speedy response came too late, however, for a family of 11 who were displaced. Two patients were treated on scene for minor smoke inhalation, Tenger…