Blogs

Dolphin Escapade

(Introducing Izabelle Joie Doucet. She is an energy worker and animal communicator. She will hold a special workshop Nov. 21 at beautiful View Ranch, San Marcos where water springs and flows from  1,000-feet deep aquifers defined by 7-foot high, mystical Stonehenge-like rocks, standing on unnaturally erect. The ranch also houses rescued horses on the oldest knoll in San Marcos. Workshop participants will need to bring…


Getting out the real story the Grapevine way

It is easy to Google anything and read these days, but what are we being fed? The fact is anyone can write words on a piece of paper and post or print it. As a reader, it is very important to consider the source. First of all, who is the author of the story and is it journalism or one’s own point of view or…


Shape of Grapevine to come

Congratulations. This is the first step toward providing honest, believable news and information for Escondido, San Marcos, Valley Center and beyond filling the void left by the departure of all local media in 2013. This publication is being out together by a partnership of former North County Times personnel, local marketing and sales people and community contributors and sponsors. You’ve probably seen us online at…


Tradition continues as San Dieguito Citizen, now printers, brings The Grapevine to Escondido

With a glorious family and regional tradition, San Dieguito Printers today embarks on yet another groundbreaking community and journalistic relationship. Perhaps you’ve noticed. How could you miss it? The venerable printing company that started as one of North County’s finest community newspapers and transformed into a leading printer provider produced the new print edition of The Grapevine debuting Oct. 8. When they say hot off…


Saying Goodbye to all that at Petco Park, Escondido Style

It was all over, especially the shouting, little that it was, as the San Diego Padres wrapped up their 2015 home schedule at Petco Park. And oh, by the way, in this season of their continued discontent, the Padres humbled their apparent arch-nemesis Milwaukee Brewers 3-1 behind Ian Kennedy’s best game of a 9-15, 4.28 ERA season. Believe it or not, the Brewers had won…


‘Paranormal Grapevine’ is in the house: What is what and what will be…

Besides living by the Golden Rule, I keep Rumi’s statement close to my heart: “Past right and wrong there is a field, I’ll meet you there.” — Debra Zachau, Paranormal Grapevine. Welcome to Paranormal Grapevine where everything supernatural, super haunted and super psychic lives!  My intention for this column is to serve as well as entertain those who are experiencing hauntings, daunting’s and woes. My name…



Where have you gone, Pete Verboom Dairy?

Wind kicks across the site of the old, abandoned Pete Verboom Dairy just off Highway 76, west of Pala. Once an iconic and important dairy farm among hundreds of San Diego County dairy operations, Pete Verboom Dairy No. 1 and No. 2 are no more, and left blowing in the Pala Valley wind. Verboom was president of the San Diego County Milk Producers Council. He…


Art is not a thing

Art is not a thing; it is a way. Elbert Hubbard Desperate to restore a greater sense of beauty in my life, I was to discover a pulsating heap of it in an unexpected place—at the Oceanside Museum of Art. And while I can find beauty in the smallest crevice sprouting a delicate tendril flower, there comes a moment when searching for another’s vision is required….


A Gaggle Of Goats

I live next door to a gaggle of goats, 4 to be exact. Now, I know they come in herds but I like alliteration so gaggle it is. Anyway, my next door neighbor, LizzyGal, has these 4 goats that live in a penned area out back, just before the land slopes down to the creek below. In the ample pen, there are 3 little outbuildings,…