North County

Keeping up with the region, dam it

Dam it, Lake Hodges ESCONDIDO, CA. — San Diego County has 54 dams, including the venerable Lake Hodges Dam at Del Dios. State officials judge them all to be safe — an impressive feat considering that the average dam is 62 years old Inewsource filed Public Records Act requests with the California Division of Safety of Dams and 19 dam-owning public agencies, such as water districts, requesting the…


Roberts, Gaspar focus on homelessness

Both candidates in the District 3 race for the County Board of Supervisors say they’ll make it a priority to address homelessness. Supervisor Dave Roberts, the Democratic incumbent, points to the progress he’s made at the county, devoting more resources to mental health services, veterans and homelessness and to opening the Live Well crisis center in Escondido. His Republican challenger, Encinitas Mayor Kristin Gaspar, touts…


Supervisor race not as much about party as it was about the people

Sam Abed was looking forward to an easy win in the June primary to challenge incumbent Dave Roberts for the 3rd District seat on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. The Republican mayor of Escondido had the old guard of the party solidly behind him. He won the official endorsement of the county GOP, and counted in his camp such old-school party republican stalwarts…


San Diego’s losing avocado market grip

The Gist: Salty water turns avocado leaves brown, curbs root growth and can even stop trees from producing fruit at all. In the past three years, the amount of salt in the water used by most avocado growers in San Diego County has gone up by 20 percent, according to one expert. Like any plants, avocados need water to thrive. But lately, water has been causing a lot…


North County Report: Roberts, Gaspar — Not Abed — advance to D3 runoff

The Gist: Darrell Issa might have a real race on his hands, North County voters less interested in local race than the presidential contest, New York Times drops in on Carlsbad and more in our weekly roundup of North County news. Perhaps the biggest news for North County in Tuesday’s primary election was the District 3 race for county supervisor. Encinitas Mayor Kristin Gaspar knocked…


Money Pit Drive Thru, San Marcos

 Jake and I were up in the Northland (aka North County) for a little errand. The little errand took much longer than we though it would and it was quite late by the time we got around to eating dinner. I did some Yelpy research and found a place called The Money Pit Drive Thru and decided to go there because the name sounded rad….


Scenes from the McClintic wedding

Gray skies couldn’t damper bright spirits as Tm McClintic and the former Crystal Henson, now Crystal McClintic Henson, celebrated their much-anticipated nuptials at a hilltop estate overlooking southeastern Escondido. Mother of the bride, Cindy Nelson, expressed her delight on “a day to remember to see two very special, kind, caring, genuine and loving people say their vows and become husband and wife. Words can not…


Law firm representing EUSD under fire as judge expected to rule on trustee order

Nobody knows how Superior Court judge Richard Whitney will rule on a permanent workplace violence restraining order filed against Escondido Union School District (EUSD) Trustee Jose Fragozo. However, a final decision on the order was expected to come sometime after 1 p.m. Friday, March 25. Meanwhile, Fragozo’s supporters plan to have a rally outside the Vista Courthouse, 325 South Melrose Dr., at 1 p.m. Friday…


The Hair Lounge is where style meets grace

There’s a new Hair Lounge in town. High-end, yet accessible, and approachable, “It’s all about the talent here,” said Russ Fromm, who recently purchased the cutting edge salon along with his wife Roberta Angelica. Talented hair stylists are hard to find, but it’s not hard to find The Hair Lounge, Escondido Promenade’s ode to happy hair treated with loving care. “We are very fortunate here,…