Local News

August 16th, 2007

Arts Center Ends Fiscal Year With Deficit

Escondido Mayor Lori Holt Pfeiler and Arts Center Board Chair Kathy Rubesha jointly reported that the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, ended fiscal year 2006-07 with an operating budget deficit of $412,975. This compares to last year’s deficit of $152,922. The deficit was primarily due to ticket sales not meeting budget expectations which had been projected several months ago. In accordance with the new management agreement that became effective July 1, 2007, the City is financially responsible for the shortfall.

Board Chair Kathy Rubesha indicated that the Center had already taken steps to address disappointing ticket sales, noting, "The Center has reviewed every artist booked for the new season in terms of financial viability. In addition, unlike last year, the Marketing and Communications Department now is fully staffed and a Strategic Marketing Plan for each performance in the new season is being developed and implemented."

Vicki Basehore, president of the Center, confirmed to The Paper that their new Marketing Director, Mike Wagman, and the Director of Performing Arts, Chris Wolf, will likely work together to determine the potential artists that are right for the audience in North County and San Diego metro, and that would make for a good match for the Center’s venue.

Escondido Mayor Pfeiler expressed support for the Center and its Board, saying, "The City Council and the Center's Board of Trustees have the same concerns and the same goals for its success. Both organizations are committed to working collaboratively to address our mutual concerns and to ensure the Center's continued contribution to the cultural and economic vitality of Escondido and the region."

Lance Corporal Christopher Wright Receives ‘Operation Hero’ Award

The Hidden Valley Kiwanis Club of Escondido honored one of the nation’s wounded warriors last Tuesday during its Operation Hero Program.

Receiving recognition and a check for $500 was Lance Corporal Christopher Wright, recovering at Camp Pendleton from two separate IED (Improvised Explosive Devices) explosions which damaged his brain, leaving him with memory loss, daily migraine headaches, and vertigo. He will be medically discharged from the Marine Corps. Mayor Lori Holt Pfeiler presented Lance Corporal Wright with a $500 check from the Hidden Valley Kiwanis Club of Escondido. This Operation Hero Program is held once each quarter.

L-R, President Richard Jungas, Lance Corporal Christopher Wright, his wife, Ashley,
holding 8 week old Adriana, and Mayor Lori Holt Pfeiler

City of San Marcos Fire Department Seeking Trauma Support Team Volunteers

The San Marcos Fire Department is seeking volunteers to serve with the Department's nationally recognized Fire Corps Program to augment its current Trauma Support Team. Trauma Support volunteers serve alongside emergency services and provide immediate support, comfort, and practical assistance to victims and their families in the first few hours following a structure fire, sudden or accidental death, or other traumatic event.

"The ability for us to assist the community with a local trauma intervention program greatly helps in reducing the long term effect of a traumatic incident," stated Fire Chief Todd Newman. "Our volunteers have been able to stay at the scene of an incident and assist family members long after emergency personnel have left the scene. For families that have suffered a traumatic event, this assistance has proven to be invaluable."

The next training session will begin September 8, 2007. Individuals wishing to serve with the San Marcos Fire Department as a Fire Corps Trauma Support Volunteer can contact the Fire Department for an application at 744-1050 ext. 3405. Applicants should be at least 25 years of age and in good physical and emotional health, and live within the City of San Marcos or the San Marcos Fire Protection District

Allred Diversified Enterprises

Allred Diversified Enterprises, a new Escondido based firm, claims they can buy children’s wear at a fraction of retail prices because they are obtaining large amounts of children’s inventory via their closeout/liquidation business contacts. They buy huge lots of kidswear for “pennies on the wholesale dollar,” and then re-sell via the Internet at tremendous savings.

They claim to sell at 40-60% below wholesale prices. They are also looking for distributors to help in selling this large inventory and earning a great deal of money in the process.

Interested parties are invited to contact the company via their website at: www.magickidsusa.com

When you get there, you need to enter the code of MK36272. You will be provided with a large color catalog and be able to learn more about both large discount opportunities in buying . . .as well as the business opportunity of selling kids clothes.

Megan Reschly, Age 11, Earns Amateur Radio License

Megan passed the entry level amateur radio exam which is a 35 question test. She is 11 years old.

The daughter of Dirk and Teresa Reschly, both of whom are licensed amateur radio operators, Megan is a 7th grade student at Grace Lutheran. Megan is holding a Yaesu VX-3R which is capable of transmitting on two amateur bands and has wide band receive, including weather band, short wave, and commercial AM and FM. The radio costs about $175. The use of amateur radio frequencies is free. If readers are interested in learning more about amateur radio, they can log onto http://www.hello-radio.org or call 760-586-1040.

Megan Reschly

Summergrass Festival Dead Ahead!

The Summergrass San Diego is said to be Southern California's most exciting bluegrass music festival. Staged from August 24-26, 2007, at the nostalgic Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum in Vista, CA. Summergrass features top-notch bluegrass artists.

Just some of the headliners: Bluegrass, Etc., The U.S. Navy Bluegrass Band, “Country Current,” Fragment, John Reischman & The Jaybirds, The Brombies, Uglum & Sons, Bladerunners, Lighthouse, Virtual Strangers, Soledad Mountain and Lost Coast.

In addition to 3 days of live music from these 10 international, national, regional and local bands, there will be music workshops presented by the performing artists, a variety of special family & kid-oriented music activities, lots of spontaneous live jam sessions, tasty food, and a wide variety of vendors.

Advance ticket discounts for the general public will be available through August 18th on-line at www.summergrass.net, by mail or at several locations in the area.