Local News

May 7th, 2009

Anonymous Tip Leads Police to a Large Quantity of Marijuana and Cash

On 4-22-09, detectives from the Escondido Police Department's Special Investigations Unit, followed up on an anonymous tip regarding possible narcotics activity at a home in the 1400 block of Magnolia Avenue.

Detectives ultimately conducted a search of the home and discovered approximately three-quarters of a pound of marijuana (valued at $3,000 dollars), various forms of drug paraphernalia, and $4,700 in cash. Daniel Simon Rodriguez, 21, of Escondido was arrested and was transported and booked into the Vista Detention Facility.

Detectives Arrest Two, Recover Methamphetamine and Eighteen Thousand in Cash

On Tuesday, April 28, 2009, members of the Escondido Police Department's Special Investigations Unit served a search warrant at a home in the 100 block of W. 11th Avenue.

Detectives ultimately recovered approximately fourteen grams of methamphetamine, various forms of narcotics paraphernalia, and approximately $18,000 in cash. The street value of the methamphetamine is estimated at approximately $500.

SIU detectives arrested Francisco Gonzalez Oseguera, 32, of Escondido. Detectives also arrested Jesus Mendoza Villanueva, 30, of Escondido. Oseguera and Villanueva were transported to the Vista Jail. At Vista Jail, Oseguera and Villanueva, being illegal aliens, were placed on an immigration hold.

Assembly Health Committee Approves Tri-City Medical Center Legislation

The California State Assembly Health Committee has approved Assembly Bill 411, authored by Assemblymembers Martin Garrick (R-Carlsbad) and Diane Harkey (R-Dana Point), that will provide additional time for Tri-City Medical Center to comply with seismic safety mandates.

Under state law, all hospitals must rebuild or retrofit existing buildings by 2013. Without an extension, Tri-City officials believe the hospital will be forced to close. The hospital is currently in the process of completing engineering studies to determine earthquake readiness. If the hospital receives passing grades in the study, a retrofit will not be required until a later date.

“Tri-City is vital to the health and well-being of North County residents and I am pleased that the committee recognized the importance of finding a solution to keep its doors open. Once the engineering studies are complete, we will have a better idea of what the appropriate plan of action will be,” said Garrick.

Garrick and Harkey, along with several members of the Tri-City administration, presented the bill and highlighted the difficulties the hospital has encountered with the seismic mandates; most notably the difficulty with financing the project.

Assembly Bill 411 will now move on to be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee in the next few weeks.

Escondido Citizen Furious About “Bait and Switch” Children’s Book

Longtime Escondido resident and former Escondido City Clerk, Jeanne Bunch, is angy. She doesn’t feel parents and grandparents should have to screen children’s books at their local library. What's happened in our community? Do we as parents and grandparents have to screen everything our children do?

Bunch’s anger arrives as a result of an incident that happened about six weeks ago when her granddaughter picked out a book at the library entitled “Uncle Bobby's Wedding,” consisting of about 27 pages. The cover, she says, was very unassuming with three guinea pigs; two dressed in tuxedos and the other one in a dress. Her granddaughter was attracted to the book because she has pet guinea pigs at home.

“It was not until I was 2/3 rd's of the way into reading the book to my six-year old granddaughter, that I realized that the guinea pigs were gay! When my granddaughter asked what was wrong I said "this book is totally inappropriate for you and I must stop reading it now." She asked why. I pretty much answered her the same way Miss California answered the sexual orientation question posed by Perez Hilton during the Miss USA pageant. Her response was "Nana, that's disgusting - boys can't marry boys." Since I agree with her, I felt no further discussion was necessary.”

I sincerely feel that Sarah S. Brannen, the author of this book, is forcing her agenda (for the gay lifestyle) on the most innocent - the very young child who is just beginning to read.”

While Bunch does not seek to have the book banned or removed from the library as she is a strong advocate for the First Amendment, she does feel it should be placed in a restricted area where children are required to have an adult select the book and/or to have the section identified as carrying books that may be controversial.

Councilman Dick Daniels said, “I’m sorry to hear of this development. As a long time champion of First Amendment rights, I agree with Jeanne Bunch that the book should not be banned . . . but it seems to me a bit of a ‘bait and switch.” It would appear that the author did not lay out the agenda of her book for the reader. I would think the matter could be fairly easily resolved at the library level. Surely they could set up a reserved section for books that might require parental oversight.

Escondido’s Librarian, Laura Mitchell, said: The library has a policy for addressing complaints about library material, displays, etc. It doesn't happen very often, maybe once a year or so.

We have appointed a committee to look at Jeanne's complaint, and they are meeting this week. The committee consists of management level librarians and a library trustee. They will make a recommendation to me and I'll let Jeanne know what it is. If she wants to contest the committee decision, she can appeal to the Library Board of Trustees, as they are the final arbiters of policy matters.

Bunch has submitted a letter of complaint and request for reconsideration to the Library Reconsideration Committee. She indicated to The Paper that if she is invited to appear she will be unable to attend due to a prior commitment.

Drive Out Food Hunger Drive

NAPA Auto Parts is teaming up with the NAPA AutoCare Centers in North San Diego County to host a Drive out Hunger food drive to benefit Interfaith Community Services, located in Escondido California.

The food drive started on May 1st and will run it through May 31, giving everyone the opportunity to participate.

Interfaith Community Services provides emergency food in 3-day increments to those who are homeless, jobless and in need of assistance. It is a really critical time for food, with a 40% increase in demand; 52% of which are children. There is also an increase of 56% in the area of two-parent families without work. There is no time more critical than now to pull the community together to help and no easier way to provide direct assistance than with food.

There are food donation drop off locations at over 30 NAPA AutoCare Repair Centers and NAPA Auto Parts stores throughout North San Diego County, including:

ESCONDIDO
NAPA Auto Parts, 2438 Auto Park Way
#1 Stop Shop, 231 N Vinewood St
About Service, 854 Metcalf St
Brian’s Auto, 636 W 9th Ave
D’Macs Tire Service, 1554 E. Grand Ave
Midway Mobil, 2004 E. Valley Pkwy
West Escondido Auto, 2200-A Vineyard Ave

OCEANSIDE
NAPA Auto Parts, 2954 Oceanside Blvd
City Automotive, 2255 Oceanside Blvd
Conover Tire, 2405 Oceanside Blvd
Mastertech, 2801 Industry St
Moe’s Oceana, 76 502 S. El Camino Real
North County Auto, 1520 S. Coast Hwy
Oceanside Auto Service 2, 3582 Mission Ave

VISTA
NAPA Auto Parts, 1334 North Melrose
Tri City Tire, 241 N Emerald Dr

SAN MARCOS
NAPA Auto Parts, 560 W. Mission Rd
Auto Tune, 931A Grand Ave
Fast Automotive, 1288 San Marcos Blvd

Suggested Items:
Tuna, Peanut Butter
Soup, Spaghetti Sauce
Vegetables, Dry Pasta
Stews Crackers/Cookies
Beans Cake/Muffin Mixes
Chile Pudding
Fruit Cereal/Oatmeal
Evaporated Milk, Mayonnaise

Wyland - Legislator of the Year

In acknowledgment of his work on behalf of California veterans and recognition of his outstanding tenure as Chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, Senator Mark Wyland (R-Carlsbad) was recently named Legislator of the Year for 2009 by The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Department of California.

“We are proud to present Senator Wyland with this distinguished honor," said VFW State Adjutant/Quartermaster James Rowoldt. "His unwavering support of veterans’ issues is an example for all legislators to follow and we thank him for his continued dedication."

San Marcos Fire Department Plans Training Burn

The San Marcos Fire Department conducted a structure fire training today at 8 am using a house in San Marcos that was slated to be demolished. The training exercise is scheduled to run until 5 pm today, but may conclude sooner. The house is located at 419 Autumn Drive.

During the exercise, training instructors will set fires in prepped rooms. Fire crews will size-up the fire and then select and execute the appropriate strategies and tactics for the situation. This will be repeated several times as long as the building remains safe. When the house is damaged to the point that training activities are no longer safe, the house will be allowed to burn down completely. Fire crews will remain on hand until the fires are completely extinguished.

Live fire training provides experience for firefighters that will make them safer and more effective during actual fire emergencies.

For more information, please call San Marcos Fire Department Division Chief Chuck Morton at (760) 744-1050, extension 3502.

Rotary Club of Valley Center Stages Wine, Brews and Blues Festival

The Rotary Clubs of Valley Center and Bonsall have partnered up to present a Wine, Brews & Blues Festival on Saturday, May 30th, from 4pm to 10 pm., to be held at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, CA.

They are offering two stages with live blues bands, tasty foods from local restaurants, a silent auction, dancing and a champagne/dessert Court.

Tickets are $60 each, $40 for designated driver(s) with $10 of each ticket going to the Rotary Club of Valley Center.

Tickets can be purchased by going to www.BonsallRotary.com and following directions. When you see a drop-down menu to select “One of our Charity Partners,” you are urged to choose Rotary Club of Valley Center.

Boys & Girls Club of Vista Gives Away 50 Dresses to Local Teens

The Boys & Girls Club of Vista's Fun Raisers held a successful prom/formal dress giveaway event on May 1st 2009. The Fun Raisers offered free dresses for proms or formals to members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Vista, Carlsbad, Oceanside and San Marcos. The new and like new dresses were provided by the Philoptochos women's group of St. Constantine and Helen's Greek Orthodox Church in Cardiff, employees at the California Pizza Kitchen as well as many individual donations from the local Vista community.

Complimentary food was provided by California Pizza Kitchen on Vista Village Drive and desserts were provided by the Fun Raisers. To pick up a dress or to find out more about the Boys & Girls Club of Vista's Fun Raisers, please contact the Boys & Girls Club of Vista at 760-724-6606 ext. 10

Flu Virus Scare Cancels San Marcos Home Tour

The 2nd annual "San Marcos Home & Garden Tour," that was scheduled for last Saturday, May 2nd, was abruptly called off at the eleventh hour on Friday night. An unexpected phone call at around 8:00pm sent the San Marcos Home & Garden Tour committee on a last minute, mad scramble to contact hundreds of people; volunteers, homeowners, sponsors, donors and attendees. A confirmed case of the H1N1 Influenza virus, formerly known as the "Swine Flu," has shut down Mission Hills High School until May 18th, temporarily canceling all scheduled activities and events. The school closure could possibly have lost them an expected $10,000 that the home & garden tour fundraising event was slated to yield. The annual event is presented by Mission Hills High School Parent Association, in affiliation with Valley of Discovery Education Foundation.

With over 300 people attending the inaugural event last year, the home and garden tour was expecting slightly larger numbers this year. Thankfully, with the efforts of the committee members, parents, and the San Marcos community as a whole, they have rallied together and rescheduled the "San Marcos Home & Garden Tour" for Saturday, May 30. The event will go on as planned, with five stops on the tour. Tickets are $15 (self-guided), $25 (van-chauffeured), with sponsor booths, drawings, refreshments, and a fun-filled day. Please visit the website for more information:
www.mhhshometour.org.

Three Juveniles Arrested for Weekend Stabbing

On Sunday, May 3, 2009, at about 3:15pm, members of the Escondido Police Department responded to the 700 block of Goldenrod St. regarding a possible stabbing at that location. Officers arrived and found a 14-year-old female victim with several stab wounds. The victim was transported to Palomar Hospital then transferred to Children's Hospital. Officers identified and arrested two 14-year-old females later that day. On Monday, May 4, 2009, Detectives arrested the third and final suspect, a 14-year-old male.

All three juveniles were transported to Juvenile Hall and booked on charges of Attempted Murder, conspiracy and burglary.

Detective Witholt is the lead investigator on this case. Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to call Detective Witholt at 760-839-4763.

At the time of this press release, the 14-year-old female victim is still in stable but guarded condition at Children's hospital.

Gas Station Legislation Passes Assembly Vote

The California State Assembly Committee on Natural Resources, amended and passed Assembly Bill 453 by Assemblyman Martin Garrick (R-Carlsbad) that will give gas station owners more time to conform with regulations enacted by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

As amended, AB 453 will cap fines at a maximum of $1,000 total per station until December 31, 2009. In order to be eligible for a cap on fines, stations must work out a “compliance agreement” with the local air district before June 30, 2009.

After a lengthy hearing, the bill was passed on a bi-partisan 5-1 vote. AB 453 will likely be heard in the Appropriations committee in the next week according to Garrick’s office.

Escondido Police Chief Jim Maher to Modify Operations

In what was described by both sides as an amicable lunch meeting, the Escondido police chief, Jim Maher, has agreed to modest changes in police operations. This follows a meeting with an official from the ACLU.

Some Latino groups have been critical of the chief, particularly as it relates to traffic stops and inspections. The American Civil Liberties Union has accused the police department of using drivers' license checkpoints as “fishing expeditions” really aimed at detaining and deporting illegal immigrants.

Chief Jim Maher has repeatedly said that the checkpoints – held twice a month for about two hours on busy roads – are aimed at unlicensed drivers and those with suspended and revoked licenses to reduce the number of hit-and-run accidents. In fact, he says, there has been a decrease from more than 600 hit-and-runs in 2004 to 433 last year largely due to the checkpoints.

Maher took the initiative and invited Andrea Guerrero, the ACLU's field and policy director, to witness the procedures Monday. Maher and Guerrero observed a checkpoint on North Escondido Boulevard outside the California Center for the Arts, Escondido and later ate lunch together.

After the meeting, Maher said he had agreed to:
• Have officers voice-record “problematic” interactions between police and drivers who cannot produce licenses and are taken to a secondary inspection area.

• Conduct a survey of residents to determine the perception of his department, the checkpoints and other issues in order to formulate future policies.

Letters to the Editor at both The Paper and the local daily, North County Times, have run strongly in support of Chief Maher and his policies. However, Escondido is about 45 percent Latino, and a small, but vocal, group have consistently been critical.

At the most recent checkpoint, police stopped 1,064 drivers, and questioned 39 who didn't have their licenses. Of those, 22 had their vehicles impounded, and 24 received citations. Two drivers were arrested for outstanding warrants.

After viewing the operation, Guerrero said that the police stopped everyone regardless of race. But she was concerned that the unsupervised questioning at the secondary area of drivers who could not produce licenses could go awry.

Maher has repeatedly said that only illegal immigrants with criminal records, or who are immigration fugitives with court orders for their arrest, are handed over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The ACLU has conceded the checkpoints themselves are not illegal, and it is not planning a lawsuit.

San Marcos Community Foundation Seeks Input from Residents

The San Marcos Community Foundation is currently conducting a "listening campaign" to better understand the needs of San Marcos residents, and to determine how the Foundation may be of better service to the community. Residents are asked to participate in an online survey in order to share their thoughts.

Participate in the Community Foundation Survey

The San Marcos Community Foundation acts as a non-profit public benefit corporation to provide financial and other assistance to programs that benefit the City of San Marcos or its residents. Such programs include (but are not limited to) senior programs, children and youth sports, drug and alcohol abuse prevention, day care for pre-school and latch-key children and support for cultural events or institutions within the City of San Marcos.

The Foundation meets quarterly on the third Wednesday of February, May, August and November at 6 pm in the San Marcos Room at San Marcos City Hall, 1 Civic Center Drive.

Participation on the Rise for SDG&E's Bill Discount Programs

In what could be a sign of the local economy, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) reports that participation has increased in the utility's bill discount program. The program, California Alternate Rates for Energy, or CARE, provides a 20 percent monthly discount on energy bills for income-qualified residential customers. Over the last three months, SDG&E has seen a 20 percent increase in program enrollment.

"While we continue to pursue those who qualify through various outreach methods, there has been a sharp rise in participation because now, more than ever, our bill discount programs are relevant," says Hal Snyder, vice president of customer solutions for SDG&E.

"Our message hasn't changed; we are determined to enroll every qualified and willing customer," explains Snyder. "Those suddenly finding themselves in financial difficulty may not be aware of our programs and we want them to know we are here to help."

Do You Qualify?

There are two ways to qualify: Customers may qualify based on their yearly income or participation in certain public assistance programs. Even customers who have recently lost their job may qualify since household income is calculated from the date of unemployment. For more information or to fill out an application, visit www.sdge.com/care or call 1-800-411-SDGE (7343).

SDG&E Bill Discount Programs:
California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) provides a 20 percent monthly discount. Eligibility is based on number of people living in the house and total yearly income, or participation by any person in your household in one of these public assistance programs: Medi-Cal; Food Stamps; TANF; Women, Infants & Children (WIC); Healthy Families Categories A&B, or LIHEAP.

Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) provides a discounted electric rate once usage reaches certain levels. This program is only open to households of three or more, and is also based on total yearly income or participation in one of the public assistance programs mentioned above.

Tango First Century

This Saturday, May 9th, at 8:00 p.m. at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, the sensuality of tango comes alive as this Quebec-based troupe explores the evolution of this mesmerizing art form. “Tango 1st Century” highlights Paris in the Roaring Twenties, the golden age of tango in the 1940s and the contemporary tango of composer Astor Piazzola. For tickets call (800) 988-4253.

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