2015

Little Barn Bakery is hidden pleasure

The answer is — drum roll, please — Little Barn Bakery. The question on a special edition North County “Jeopardy hosted by Alex Trebek: What is Valley Center’s best-kept secret. It’s a humble and healthy combination of Valley Center resident Diana Sourbeer’s Diana’s Granola and Valley Center’s Belen artisan breads at 29277C Valley Center Road. “We want to provide the community with  healthier food that…


Mountain Bike Park appears stuck in the mud

A funny thing happened to the Valley Center, first-of-its-kind in San Diego County, mountain bike park. Well, maybe not, but the bike park promised for the start of the year continues to languish for lack of funds and available volunteer time. Steve Ford along with many of the Gravity Cycling Pirates bike team have contributed a lot of time and energy to getting the project…


No charges for Twelve Tribes member kidnap suspects

The San Diego County District Attorney’s Office announced recently no charges would be filed against three people accused of kidnapping a relative from the Twelve Tribes Community Church compound in Vista. A spokesman said kidnapping charges couldn’t “be proved beyond a reasonable doubt.” The relative was Robert Martinez, 23, who joined the church in 2010. He and his wife, also a tribe member, were expecting…



Black Magic: Opaque color works wonders in any room

In interior design, black is as dramatic as it is couture. Think of classic Audrey Hepburn – the little black dress, the perfect pair of high heels, the quilted black Chanel bag or the sporty black slim pants. Casual to dressy, there isn’t anything that doesn’t look good in black. And the same goes for interiors. To some, black may seem to be the most…


State Sen. Joel Anderson (R-38th District) comes home to ALEC

Earlier this year, following his sub rosa Washington D.C. meetings with the chief Geico lobbyist, we asked the question: Where in the world is state Sen. Joel Anderson, R-38th District? He’s your state senator in case  you didn’t know, and he was about as far from Sacramento as possible. Answering that question is easy this week. Anderson is at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San…


First mention of 2016 as in Welk Theater announces the 2016 season

Hello 2016. Welk Theater producers this week announced the 2016 line-up. “Meet Me In St Louis” will run through January 31, 2016. Look for the classic “Fiddler in the Roof” in February. Vista’s Kathy Brombacher directs. It’s time for “Jesus Christ Superstar,” directed and choreographed by Ray Limon in May, followed by “Sweet Charity” in September, also directed etc. by Limon. The holiday show brings back…


September Horticulture: Plan your landscape and garden for fall

Okay, ready, set……no wait!  This is the month for planning your landscape and garden areas.  Careful planning ahead can save you a lot of time, energy, money and regrets. It is still summer weather and  can be quite hot and dry this month.  Don’t worry, next month is the best planting time of the year.  Try to hold off your Fall planting for a few…



Seafood on the go: El Crazy Fish reeling in customers at North County intersection

Fish up. While developers dither and county officials dally about doing something at the confluence of Valley Center and Cole Grade roads, Gabriel Pasdor is on the scene. El Crazy Fish is the name of his happening food truck game, and the people are eating it up. “There’s no other sea food around here,” Pasdor said between hearty rounds of dishing up the likes of…