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An Execution in the Hills

MISSION HILLS An Execution in the HillsBy Scafidi, March 24 “Hello, Zack. What’s up?” “Uh, hi, uh, Fred? It’s me, Zack.” “Yup.” “My cat’s got a gopher cornered over here. Can you come quick? And ...

Possible Prostitution

A handful of Vista acupuncturist’s offices and day spas identified by authorities as possible locations for prostitution prompted an undercover sting operation on Wednesday, June 3, the San Diego Sheriff’s Department said in a press ...

Bicyclists' Blessing

The two-lane stretch of Buena Creek Road that connects Santa Fe Avenue and Twin Oaks Valley Road will be undergoing extensive construction during the next two weeks. Construction crews continue to widen the bike lanes ...

End of an Error

The North County Forum held their 12th annual Letters to the Editor Awards Night on January 31 at the Brengle Terrace Recreation Center in Vista. In tribute to the “End of an Error,” the ceremony ...

Murder Arraignment in Vista

A Vista Superior Court judge has found enough evidence for an Oceanside man who allegedly murdered his roommate to face trail. The judge, Joel Pressmen, bound over Jesus Borja, age 28, on one count of ...

Nine Sinking Cities

This month and in early February, city managers and finance directors in cities across San Diego County are appearing before their respective city councils to report significant budget deficits. Of the county’s 18 municipalities, 14 ...

On the Road

At a December 17 Oceanside City Council meeting, councilmembers Jerry Kern, Rocky Chavez, and Jack Feller voted in favor of awarding La Mesa's Helix Environmental Planning, Inc. an extra $247,000 for an environmental impact report ...

No Butts About It

Every Saturday for the past year and a half, a group of Escondido teenagers have been meeting at 8:00 in the morning to pick up cigarette butts strewn about 11 of Escondido’s city parks. So ...

Oceanside Councilmember Suggests Carlsbad Boycott

At the November 19th Oceanside City Council meeting, Caltrans along with shopping mall giant, Westfield Group, appealed the Planning Commission’s decision to support Jefferson Enterprises proposal to build a 92-acre shopping plaza in Oceanside, near ...

Pastor Dave and Los Peligrosos

A few months back, I went to an event in Oceanside that I was told was a divorce party for a guy, but it ended up being more of a car show, as most of ...

That '70s Party

Having covered ‘50s and ‘60s theme parties the past two weeks, it seemed appropriate to jump to a ‘70s bash at the VFW hall in Pacific Beach. Coincidentally, I went to a going-away party at ...

Vista Panthers

Vista Panthers Football Schedule 2008: 9/5, 7 p.m. MIRA MESA 14-16 (L)9/12, 7:30 p.m. FALLBROOK 31-6 (W)9/19, 7:30 p.m. ALISO NIGUEL 35-7 (L)9/26, 7:30 p.m. at Mission Viejo 20-42 (L)10/10, 7:30 p.m. ESCONDIDO 28-14 (W)10/17, ...

Less Dense, Fewer Homeless, More Sky

Having lived in San Diego since 1980, one would think that I would have long ago gravitated to residence in the northern portion of the county. It seems, by consensus, to be more generally livable ...

Train Water

In August 2003, the North County Transit District, preparing to build a train line linking Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos, and Escondido, applied to state authorities for a storm water discharge permit. The train, called the ...

To the Editor:

“The North County Times has a unique policy of printing virtually any letter they get, as long as it is 200 words or less and has no profanity or slander,” says Dick Eiden. “After a ...

Evangelical Free Church of America

“We went to Europe four or five years ago,” said 20something pastor Jeff Holmes, “and we saw that the church...was not really relevant to the real life of most people — the young people, especially. ...

"I am not rich! Maybe comfortable, but..."

A recent Friday night in San Marcos, at the Melrose apartment complex, indicated to me a whole new level of the living comatose. Toe tags should be issued by the score for those in these ...

Man Brings Lover Roses Then Shoots Her

Shocked shoppers see a woman fall to her death from a parking structure at Parkway Plaza in El Cajon. Was she pushed? In Chollas View, a mother loses the second of her two sons to ...

Blue Moon

Sarah was graduating from a high school in Vista, and her family rented a banquet hall at Pechanga casino in Temecula to celebrate. It was a bit of a drive, but it's not football season, ...

Classic San Diego

Most-Filmed Wild West Main Street Don't look yet. Turn off Woodside onto Maine and behold a li'l old Wild West street that'll knock your spurs off. It huddles beneath a perfect movie-set backdrop of towering ...

The Right of Way Is the Wrong Place

Every election season, my father sinks a wire-framed campaign sign into the strip of grass between his sidewalk and the street. Every election season, an unseen enemy steals it. Dad replaces the sign. The enemy ...

Outreach, Inc.

In 2005, churches will mail over 50 million direct-mail postcards created by Outreach, Inc., the largest provider of Christian outreach products and services in North America. In addition, churches will hang 200,000 Outreach door hangers ...

Twelve Tribes Community, Vista

"If a Christian is a true seeker of God, they are better off reading the word of God at face value than buying into the traditions of mainstream churches. When a believer sincerely cries out ...

It's a Crime: Verbatim Police Reports

ARMED ROBBERY Location: 9310 Kearny Mesa Road Time/Date: 12:30 p.m. on 1/30/05 Investigation: I was dispatched to the Best Western Motel on an armed robbery that had just occurred. The radio message said the suspects ...

Out and About

Between 2000 and 2003, the Metropolitan Transit Development Board closed down Dial-A-Ride programs around the county. As budget crunches hit, the transit board had to choose between cutting fixed bus-route service or the Dial-A-Ride programs ...

Best of 2003: Best Church For Miracle Healings

Vista Christian Fellowship 820 Williamston Street, Vista 760-726-4856 Since a 24-year-old Canadian evangelist visited Vista Christian Fellowship in June 2002, the church claims to have documented dozens of miraculous healings. Lung cancer. Irritable bowel syndrome. ...

Best of 2001: Best Place To Find Cheap, Out-Of-This-World Fabric

UFO (Upholstery Fabric Outlet) 1919 Hoover Avenue, National City 619-477-9341 1120 N. Melrose, Vista 760-941-2345 At UFO's two warehouse locations, every material you could ever hope to weave into your world exists. And, at a ...

Best of 2000: Best Hacienda In The County

Rancho Guajome, Vista (760) 724-4082 Plenty of Spanish hacienda relics remain in San Diego County. Rancho Guajome ("Frog pond") is still out there. The suburban world hasn't closed in and made it look like a ...

Best of 2000: Best Betcha-Can't-Tell-It's-A-Veggie Burger

Island Burgers 240 South Melrose Drive, Vista (760) 631-1535 Sometimes you want a hamburger that's not really a hamburger, but you don't want to be served by a Hare Krishna, hear the word "tofu," or ...