San Marcos

San Marcos leaders seek to stifle free speech

The San Marcos City Council got off to a bad start during its first in-person meeting in over a year on Tuesday, May 11, and what did they do? They made the first move to limit free speech in the Valley of Discovery. Mayor Rebecca Jones along with City Council members Randy Watson, Sharon Jenkins, and Ed Musgrove voted to limit the rights of residents to…



Blast from the past at Cal State San Marcos

One eyewitness said the blast “looked like an asteroid attack out of Star Wars.” The witness was referring to rocks from a regular quarry blast above Cal State San Marcos (CSUSM) raining down on campus about 3:15 p.m. Monday, July 30, 2001, damaging cars and buildings, but causing no injuries. For Robert Stakes, who had just begun his tenure as dean of extended studies, the rocks…


Rise for Easter at Rise Church San Marcos

Passionate Worship. In-depth Bible Teaching. Unleashing Compassion. Everyone’s Welcome. Nobody’s Perfect. Anything’s Possible Because Jesus is Alive. Rise Church, 1915 N. Twin Oaks Valley Road, San Marcos, is hosting a series of Easter weekend events starting 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Good Friday, April 2. The Gospel Exhibit features a walk-through timeline exhibit that begins with the fall of man and concludes with the second…


San Diego’s most endangered historic sites

Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO), San Diego’s only countywide historic preservation advocacy group wraps up this year with its 22nd annual Most Endangered List of 12 historic buildings, sites, and landscapes. The pandemic’s stressors of uncertainty, inequity, and loss underscore the unifying power of our shared multicultural heritage and venerated historic places. The pandemic also threatens historic buildings and places that are not now regularly…


Mission Hills QB Tuttle now leads Indiana U.

It’s been a long journey from San Marcos’ Mission Hills High School by way of Salt Lake City, Utah to the University of Indiana for quarterback Jack Tuttle, but all’s well that’s well ended. Tuttle, a redshirt sophomore, finally got his big break on Nov. 28 in the Hoosiers 27-11 win over the University of Maryland after starting quarterback Michael Penix suffered a bad break,…


Escondido, San Marcos news briefly speaking

Legendary North County Times photographer turns calendar pin-up Photographer Dan Rios was a mentor to many of North County’s fellow shooters for two decades. Now, he hits the calendar pin-up trade as featured in the Escondido History Center’s annual fund-raising calendar. Rios worked as a photojournalist from 1968 to 2001 for the former Escondido Times Advocate newspaper, which merged with the North County Blade-Citizen in…


Dolores Huerta honored by CSUSM office

The summer before the start of their freshman year at Cal State San Marcos, while many of their peers are going on vacations or relaxing at the beach, a group of students takes an immersive six-week course that prepares them for the rigors of college. These recent high school graduates are part of the College Assistance Migrant Program, or CAMP, which aims to help students from migrant…


COVID claims another victim: Phil’s BBQ

It all ended for Phil’s BBQ at San Marcos today when the fat lady sang no more mesquite grilled baby back and beef ribs, chicken and sandwiches for you, no thanks to COVID-19. In a stunning late Thursday announcement, especially distressing for local lovers of one of the best barbecue experiences in the nation, Phil’s BBQ said it was closing its San Marcos location permanently…


Chainsaw training stumps local eucalyptus

In our never-ending battle against invasive species, chainsaws are a most important tool. But the safety of our staff and volunteers always takes precedent. So, last month, Conservancy staff, volunteers, and some of our conservation partners spent a full day learning the basics of chainsaw safety and maintenance. “Investing in this training is worth it,” said Conservancy Land Director Hannah Walchak, “because not knowing how…