January 2016

Escondido Union School District under fire

Forget about basketball courts, the Escondido Union School District (EUSD) is playing its games this month at Vista Superior Court. Judge Richard Whitney in Department 21 may make his ruling at any time, but clearly nobody truly will be called a winner. In any event, without a settlement, the court dispute could last past Valentine’s Day, fittingly enough. With Whitney more like a school yard…


Valley Center meet Oscar

By Robert G. Lerner, Valley Center Historian The familiar gold statuette handed out at the Academy Awards ceremony is seldom seen on public view, but there will be a rare chance to get up close to Oscar during a one-month exhibition beginning Feb. 2 at the Valley Center History Museum.  The show is called “And the Oscar Goes to…”.  The Oscar on display was awarded in 1932 to…


Who says you can’t have too much news?

The Grapevine is out of the bag, or at least this month’s print issue. Even as you read this, San Dieguito Printer is cranking out the fourth edition of The Grapevine 16-page print newspaper. It will hit the streets at Grand Avenue and selected locations around Escondido, San Marcos and Valley Center on Friday. We welcome several new advertising partners including California Center for the Arts,…


Escondido police raid massage parlors

Remember when Escondido Police last closed down a local massage parlor allegedly involved in prostitution? Seemed like just last month. Or cracked down on human trafficking, this time last September? Guess what? Theeeeey’re back. Police, that is, raiding even more Escondido massage parlors allegedly engaged in illegal activity, this time of the municipal code violation or other civil miscreant kind. “Although the majority of massage…


pH Miracle naturopath Robert Young on trial

The trial of Valley Center’s Robert Oldham Young, best known for his pH Miracle Living Center, and popular series of books advocating an alkaline diet, resumed this month, more than 60 days after opening statements began in November. Young faces nine charges in Vista Superior Court filed in late 2014 related to activities at his Valley Center ranch including two counts of grand theft and…


Three Escondido projects awarded $7.5 million in state water grants

Escondido farmers, habitat and conservation lovers and San Diego Zoo Safari Park visitors got some good news this week as the San Diego County Water Authority announced that $7.5 million in state water grants were awarded locally. “The city of Escondido received a $2 million grant for recycled water,” San Diego County Farm Bureau executive director Eric Larson said at the group’s E Valley Parkway…


Style Matters: Rest easy in a romantic master bedroom retreat

The ultimate romantic master bedroom should be your personal retreat, your private domain. It should be blissful, luxurious, and reflect your personality. Surround yourself with things that make you feel good, which are comfortable, and add a bit of luxury to your daily routine in creating your master bedroom. Master bedrooms are the most enjoyable rooms to decorate. As Cupid’s big day approaches, many of…


Wheelchair-using man killed by truck in Palomar Medical Center parking area

Death is never far from a hospital, but in the case of James Donaldson, 63, of Oceanside, death came at a Palomar Medical Center parking area. Donaldson died as a friend pushed him in his wheelchair across the emergency room’s parking area’s front entrance street at 2185 Citracado Parkway, just before 6 p.m. Saturday, according to Escondido police. An 89-year-old man, later identified as John…


5-hour SD Sheriffs SWAT standoff starts with murdered turtle at San Marcos mobile home

Around 10:30 a.m. Saturday, a 27-year-old San Marcos man touched off a touchy incident at Rancho Vallecitos Mobile Estates, 3535 Linda Vista Dr., San Marcos. First, he killed his mother’s turtle. Then, he threatened to kill his mother. Nearby homes were evacuated during a five hour standoff ended by the San Marcos Sheriffs SWAT Team with tear gas. After about a five hour standoff with…


ESCOGELATO ESCONDIDO

Today’s short post was written by Cathy.  It was just too hot to think much about food that day. The mmm-yoyo!!! men, Kirk and Ed (from Yuma) will write about food when they are ready. Another hot and humid day in San Diego County a few months ago when we went to EscoGelato, and not much can keep you cool or relaxed. Unless, maybe you…