Articles by Special to The Grapevine

Lilac Hills Ranch ‘Measure B’ is a scam

With the November election just weeks away, I am encouraging San Diego voters to vote No on the Lilac Hills Ranch Measure B. Measure B is a countywide measure on which all San Diego County voters – including residents of incorporated cities – will vote. Measure B would allow a deep-pocketed developer to build Lilac Hills Ranch, a development of more than 1,700 homes and 90,000…


San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum holds 1st Annual Health & Wellness Week

San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum (SDCDM) is holding its 1st Annual Health & Wellness Week Sept. 19-23. Each day will offer check-ups and workshops around a different theme with local health and wellness organizations onsite at the Museum to provide services. SDCDM is very excited about this special event and the opportunity to engage with our community partners to provide health and wellness resources to Museum visitors and…


CSUSM Student Healthcare Project making difference in communities

Cal State San Marcos participants in the Student Healthcare Project follow a similar pattern each semester. “The first three weeks they all run around like their hair is on fire,” said Mary Baker, who is the director of the School of Nursing Student Healthcare Project. “Then they really start to jell and work together as a team. And then they get really good at it…


Zoo burns $1M in rhino items in 1st US bonfire of its kind

The San Diego Zoo burned items containing rhinoceros horn with an estimated black market value of $1 million in a symbolic gesture at its San Pasqual Valley Safari Park Thursday to show the U.S. is committed to ending illegal wildlife trafficking. Today @DirectorDanAshe is at @sandiegozoo! We’re burning #rhino horn to raise awareness & #endwildlifetrafficking. pic.twitter.com/8uKo8p284K — US Fish and Wildlife (@USFWS) September 8, 2016 The U.S. Fish…


Mama Kat’s is the cat’s meow

One lovely and crazy hot Saturday morning, Jake, T and I were up in North County. We don’t really spend a whole heck of a lot of time in the northern parts of San Diego, but here we were. It was still breakfast hours though the time was creeping up and over noon and I figured it was high time to try out this spot…


Escondido Charter gets a thumping

 The Escondido Charter High White Tigers football team got its posterior handed to it by the the Vincent Memorial Scots  28-7. The game was played at Southwest High’s Eagle Field in El Centro on Friday night., Sept. 2. Neither team managed to get on the scoreboard in the first quarter as both teams struggled offensively, each losing possession of the ball after a fumble or…


Fact Check: Will a sales tax hike relieve traffic congestion?

The Gist The San Diego Association of Governments hasn’t been shy about touting the benefits county residents will feel if they pass its proposed ballot measure in November. One of the proposal’s major selling points is that the projects the measure would fund will relieve traffic congestion. We found SANDAG thinks of traffic relief differently than a typical commuter might. Statement: “SAN DIEGO COUNTY ROAD REPAIR,…


San Pasqual High, CSUSM alumnus thrives in entertainment industry

Meeting Cheech Marin would lead most people to reference one of the dozens of TV shows or films in which the actor has appeared. Escondido native and San Pasqual High School graduate, Michael Flores took a different approach. He talked about art. One of the classes Flores took when he attended Cal State San Marcos required a trip to an area museum. He visited one…


SD homes too pricey? Try Escondido

While inventory is low, demand for Escondido is spurring development and new communities are underway. Hope still reigns for first time buyers in Escondido as the city is promulgating a first time buyer’s assistance program. — Realtor Del Phillips The economy is looking up for many and according to the Case-Shiller index tracking resales of single family homes, this trend is being reflected in home prices….


Valley View Casino Buffet | Valley Center

Last month my mom had the great idea to treat Jake and I to “free” buffet at Valley View Casino. I’m sure she planned this out carefully. Mom gets a ride to the casino while Jake and I get to feast! Normally the buffet (which features lobster!) costs $32.99 on the weekends so this was a DEAL. Thanks, Mom, for being a big time player….