Dig a hole: Steve Forrest
Scott Marks 9:13 a.m., May 23
Escondido Stories
Escondido residents mobilize to try and save golf course
Petition drive aims to gather 6000 signatures
Saturday mornings were usually quiet affairs at the Escondido home of Gary Johnson, board member of Escondido Country Club Homeowners Organization. However, Saturday morning, May 11, was different. At 9:00 a.m., about 200 Escondido Country ...
8 days. 750 miles.
Professional cycling’s uphill climb
Rundown of bicyclists who’ve been caught doping and the Tour of California bike race.
Queen Califia's Magical Circle
Take the kids to this sculpture garden in Escondido.
Thirty miles up I-15 from San Diego, in Escondido, you’ll find Queen Califia’s Magical Circle. This is the unnatural habitat of wild animals that escaped from the imagination of Niki de Saint Phalle. She’s the ...
Escondido: The ruling white minority
Escondido's white minority rules, but Latinos want fair representation.
Escondido Country Club to close down
Zoning in question, residents leery
The bombshell arrived at Escondido Country Club area residents’ mailboxes on Saturday, February 23, in the form of a blue postcard announcing the demise of Escondido Country Club. It was well known locally that the ...
Seven-term city treasurer nearly defeated in Escondido
Yes, the general election was over more than a month ago. And although Carl DeMaio, Brian Bilbray, and several other candidates had to wait a few days to know their fate, 23-year old Michelle Fawcett ...
Escondido Hashes Out Food Truck Issues
On November 28, a meeting was held at Escondido City Hall to consider opinions and concerns from the public regarding mobile catering trucks. Currently, city regulations do not allow food trucks. Food-truck operators say that ...
Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve
Overlooks with dramatic views
Up to you: leisurely stroll or heart-pumping workout in the Elfin Forest.
Three-time rapist earns 417 years
Escondido rapist Jeremy Ryan Stutzman said he hated it when his victims cried.
Gas Truck Rear-Ends Car On I-15
On November 3, at approximately 1:10 p.m., a motorist was injured on the southbound I-15 between the Centre City Parkway on-ramp and Via Rancho Parkway off-ramp. A gas-cylinder delivery vehicle was unable to stop in ...
Daley Ranch Pond View Trails
The cooling, welcoming sight of a pond while hiking in the chaparral on a hot day.
Restaurants for Hardworking Foodie Freelancers
A roundup of eateries that are open when you, the hardworking foodie freelancer, need them to be.
Clevenger Canyon South
A lofty perch offers impressive views of San Pasqual Valley clear to the ocean
End of Metaphor
Metaphor Cafe closes its doors after an August 26 show , at which police showed up and found minors drinking alcohol.
Rats! Gnats!
Eye gnat infestations in south Escondido could lead to end of organic food farming in San Diego.
Engelmann Oak Loop Trail — Daley Ranch
View the somewhat rare Englemann live oaks from a relatively secluded trail.
Daley Ranch’s Caballo Trail to Stanley Peak
Hike to Daley Ranch’s highest peak while delighting in the sights and smells of chaparral and coastal sage plant communities.
Escondido Bicyclist Found with “Scary” Weapon
A young man bicycling on Grand Avenue in Escondido was found to be carrying a “metal knuckles” weapon that had a folding four-inch blade appendage, according to testimony given by Escondido police officer Jason White ...
Memory of Amber DuBois Celebrated Three Years After
February 13, 2012, marked the three-year anniversary of the kidnapping and murder of young teen Amber DuBois. Family, friends, Team Amber search-and-rescue volunteers, neighbors, and other supporters gathered together at the Old Spaghetti Factory in ...
Piedras Pintadas Trail
The aptly named Piedras Pintadas (“painted rocks”) trail in Escondido explores a small part of the rich San Diego County Kumeyaay Indian culture and habitat by following a well-marked trail with interpretive plaques. The trail ...
Alleged Purse-Snatcher Arraigned in Vista
An Escondido man who grabbed the purse of a woman in the parking lot of an Encinitas shopping center last week was out on bail for a drug-possession arrest three weeks earlier, a prosecutor said ...
Escondido’s Mayor Abed Says No to Applause
At the beginning of the oral communication portion of the Escondido City Council’s meeting on December 14, mayor Sam Abed issued the warning: “I want to make it very clear, that applause, standing, cheering, and ...
Escondido Police Nab Alleged Reckless Driver Who Had Cocaine
Police said they were doing one of their regular DUI “saturation patrols” in Escondido on December 2 when they saw a man driving toward them on the wrong side of the street. When police tried ...
Escondido: Tighten Your Rules
Early next year, the California Supreme Court will decide whether the state can abolish or weaken redevelopment agencies. If the City of Escondido is lucky, the high court’s decision will thwart the City’s dubious plan ...
Escondido’s Sidewalk Sign Policy Under Review
Business owner Bill Durney appeared before the Escondido City Council on November 2 and asked the city to consider adding a future agenda item regarding easing restrictions and regulations for sidewalk signs used by businesses. ...
I Didn't Steal the Dog. I Rescued It.
Case of the Missing Canine
“She basically got caught up in an emotional dog rescue. That’s what this was,” said the defense attorney. “Miss Vukov, yes, took the dog.” Although Trina Vukov took the dog without permission, she had no ...
Salvadoran Man Charged with Violent Spree in Escondido
There was emotional testimony from three young Latinas in the Vista courthouse on October 11 as they described a night of rape, attempted robbery, and burglary in separate incidents that occurred in Escondido last May. ...
Alleged Murderer on Trial 22 Years After Shooting
Vicente Benites, originally from the Mexican state of Guerrero, shot and killed another man from Guerrero at an Escondido house party in 1989, according to prosecutor Natalie Villaflor. The cold-case murder trial started last week, ...
Gloria Dei Lutheran
Membership: 125 Pastor: Matthew Richardt Age: 42 Born: Holt, Michigan Formation: Concordia College, Ann Arbor, Mich., Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind.; U.S. Navy Chaplaincy (2002–2005). Years Ordained: 16 San Diego Reader: How long do ...
Nuclear Steam Generator Transporter Heads East
A nuclear steam generator is slowly making its way across North County on a top-secret route from San Onofre to Utah, where it will be disposed of. Officials say that the radiation levels are small ...
Grace Lutheran Church
Membership: 1450 Pastor: Jim Young Age: 65 Born: Los Angeles Formation: Concordia University, Seward, Neb.; University of Lincoln, Neb.; Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind. Years Ordained: 35 San Diego Reader: How long do you ...
Escondido City Council Hears Gripe About Their Ban on Feather Flags
Kevin Niems, a 15-year Escondido resident and owner of three area Subway sandwich shops, appeared before the city council on June 8. He was there to voice his opposition to the city’s enforcement of the ...
Jewelry Store Robbed in Escondido
The Royal Maui jewelry store at the Westfield Mall on Via Rancho Parkway was robbed at about 2:30 p.m. on June 9. According to a witness at a nearby kiosk, three Causcasian men entered the ...
Beer for Brontos
I am a Car3 — a Card Carrying Carnivore! I love the supple, greasy squish of tender, gastronomically compromised muscle tissue yielding beneath my molars. I enjoy the tart, grassy zing of goats’-milk chèvre, and ...
St. Mary Catholic Church
Membership: 15,000 Pastor: Richard Perozich Age: 60 Born: Clairton, Pennsylvania Formation: St. John Seminary, Camarillo, California Years ordained: 19 years San Diego Reader: How long do you spend writing your sermon? Father Richard Perozich: I ...
Escondido City Council Grills Finance Dept.
At the Escondido City Council meeting on May 11, councilman Ed Gallo was incredulous when staff members from the finance department asked for $264,314 to replace 12 trucks. “[T]here’s only three vehicles with over a ...
JT's Limelight Comin' Down the Mountain
“The City of Escondido had their concerns, but I got verbal blessing from the city council and we’ll start with live music as soon as we finish work on the building,” says promoter Joe Troutman, ...
Escondido Residents Try to Save Recreational Services
Approximately 50 people — many of them angry — gathered in front of Escondido City Hall on May 4 to protest budget cuts the city council may make to recreational services. Under the proposal, popular ...
Gateway Community Church
Membership: 400 Pastor: Craig Harrison Age: 61 Born: Beloit, Wis. Formation: Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Ill., Bethel Seminary, St. Paul, Minn. Ordained: 31 years San Diego Reader: How long do you spend writing your sermon? ...
Protest Outside California Pets in Escondido
For two hours on Saturday, April 16, members of the San Diego Animal Defense Team protested outside the California Pets store, located in the North County Fair mall. Jan Hatch, speaking for the San Diego ...
Escondido City Council Votes to Finish Park Project
“Is that possible?” asked Ed Gallo at the Escondido City Council meeting on April 13. The councilman was referring to the $371,449 cost of expanding the office at the Escondido Sports Center in Kit Carson ...
Land-Use Rezone to Come for the Escondido Swap Meet?
On April 6, the Escondido City Council approved a general plan amendment to change the land-use designation of the Escondido Swap Meet and the Reidy Creek flood-control channel. According to officials, the purpose of the ...
North County Times Paper Carriers Lose Jobs
Last week, all 15 newspaper carriers for the North County Times' circulation in Solana Beach, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, and Encinitas received 30-day termination notices. The Escondido-based daily paper gave no reason for the layoffs. The carriers where ...
The Neighborhood Church
Membership: 100 Denomination: Assembly of God Pastor: Yancey Valdez Age: 43 Born: Santa Ana Formation: Berklee College of Music, Boston, Mass.; Global University, Springfield, Mo. Years Practicing Ministry: 17 San Diego Reader: How long do ...
Complaint of Increased Graffiti in Escondido
“Graffiti is now on the street corner — 100 feet from where I live,” said longtime Escondido resident Dennis Tomlinson as he spoke before the city council on Wednesday, March 2. Tomlinson claims the amount ...
A Safari Experience in North County
The San Diego Zoo Safari Park (in case you didn’t know, it’s the former Wild Animal Park) in Escondido sprawls over an 1800-acre expanse chosen for its resemblance to Africa’s most productive wildlife areas. Make ...
Florencio Hernandez Fights Escondido Cops
Two Escondido police officers said they ended up rolling in wet iceplant by the side of the road with a combative man who managed to get ahold of one officer’s taser and engage it. Officer ...
Escondido Council Considers Deep Cuts
"The library budget has been cut significantly. We've lost a lot of staff, and [the department] has taken an unfair portion of the cuts," said Gary Knight, president of Escondido's library board of trustees during ...
Merrick James Boyer Faces Felony Pot Charges
When 18-year-old Merrick James Boyer got pulled over on the 15 freeway last month, Escondido officers found a black duffle bag stuffed with jars and bags of marijuana on the backseat. Officers also confiscated a ...
