Come September, Tecate's border crossing, the hilly country 43 miles east of San Diego, will get a $10 to $12 million expansion. San Diego entrepreneur Tom Hom hopes this signals the birth of the border …
April 10, 1997
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Stories by Bill Manson
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Tom Hom occupies three quarters of what would be "downtown Tecate"
Ken Moser of San Diego Baykeepers spies on Southwest Marine
It's a perfect morning for spying. The water glints metallic blue in the sun. Marietta, the harbor cruise boat, slicks by, crammed with Zonies on its upper deck. You can hear the female guide's voice …
March 20, 1997
San Diego viatical company buys AIDS victims insurance policies
"Let's say you figure the guy is going to live two years," says Ted Martin. "Here's the way a breakdown would work: You take his $100,000 [life insurance] policy. You're going to pay the guy, …
February 13, 1997
The exotic world of San Diego' honorary consuls
I was selling rum in Venezuela in the '60s," says John Norton, "when I met some girls from the Swedish Embassy. One finally became vice consul in L.A. She suggested me for the job of …
January 23, 1997
Uninsured and sick in San Diego
Last time I saw Sara Gagliardi, she was bent double. Sweat poured off her brow. She was in pain. She limped to the back of the health food store where she was working and sat …
January 16, 1997
The great families who created San Diego are still angry
Two years ago he returned to Marcel Marceau in Ohio and told him the ancient story of the first deer hunt from the Kupa people up in Warner Springs. “I wanted to make a mime of it."
November 14, 1996
What to do with Salton Sea now
Was it a coincidence this summer when 8000 tilapia-loving pelicans, including the endangered brown pelican, suddenly died on the beaches of the Salton Sea, the biggest pelican die-off in recorded U.S. history?
October 17, 1996
The Silk Route Ends in San Diego
"We had to wade across the river. More and more of my friends dropped out. From the 1st grade to the 12th grade, more than 1000 dropouts. Till, in the end, I was the only one still going."
September 26, 1996
Tijuana's mariachis - romantic troubadors at Plaza Santa Cecelia
Jessie has a smile that doesn’t agree with his fierce black eyes. Take care,” says Oscar. “This area is dangerous.” He leans over the bar, brings his face close to mine. “The police have no …
July 25, 1996
Head injury patient finds his way in Coronado streets
The arc of a singular life from Vietnam to Imperial Beach.
May 30, 1996
Baja's tough-love drug rehab
Eight a.m. The man glances around quickly. He saunters toward the high wall. Then, like a cat positioning for attack, leaps to the top. He hesitates for a moment, then is gone down the other …
March 28, 1996
Marjorie Reed leads me on the Butterfield Stagecoach route
Vallecito has always been Marjorie’s favorite. “In the ’30s, I’d come up here and walk up there along the old road through this valley. Oh, I'd find little tiny kids’ shoes — I think they were from the Mormon Battalion, probably.”
March 21, 1996
Here at the Golden Palms nursing home
Six o’clock in the morning. “Help me! Help me!” "Hi, Miss Bue. Let me wipe your chin. What do you want? "I want to go home!” "You are home, dear." "No! I want to go …
February 15, 1996
Who fishes from the Imperial Beach Pier
The mackerel’s wide-angle eyes are attracted to shiny, moving objects. “Mackerel are top-fish. They’re hunting, they bite. Not like bottom fish, which have lips and suck, looking for dead stuff or leftovers,” says Rita.
November 30, 1995
San Diego's David Casey – a lawyer's John Wayne
“We had seven little carriers, converted oil tankers, and I think 11 small destroyer escorts. The Japs came in with their big guns and their big battleships.”
October 19, 1995
Coronado ripped apart by 1966 school board fight
“The rich school district gets the best teachers. That has not changed. Except here on Coronado we had a rich district with a poor tax base and citizens too mean to raise them."
August 10, 1995
Chopra has the New Age set in Del Mar enthralled
Of course, Chopra is well on the way to realizing his own infinite possibilities. He sold a million copies of his book Ageless Body, Timeless Mind and that’s just the hardback figure.
July 27, 1995
San Diego’s newest educational experiment, the Ecole Francaise
It all starts on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard. "Au revoir, Jerome! Au'voir, Stefanie! Sois gentille, Laura!" Mme. Calvel waves to the yellow bus as it warms up outside the French preschool CLTl on Claremont Mesa Boulevard, …
June 29, 1995
Medical intern training at Grossmont Hospital
“To have your hand in someone’s belly, helping surgically correct something that will allow them to live or palliate their pain, it’s an...experience. Especially if you know the person. Your eyes, your hands, all your senses are involved.”
June 22, 1995
The four corners of San Diego County: In-Ko-pah, Imperial Beach, Camp Pendleton, Anza-Borrego
“San Diego? This isn’t a county, it’s a country!” This how it starts. Dave, sounding off after a couple of beers. Dave’s latest rave is San Diego County. You might call him a county nationalist. …
March 16, 1995
University Avenue: From Washington Street to La Mesa Boulevard
“This used to be a beautiful place,” says Jonnie. “A family part of town. Nice people lived here. That all changed with the Vietnam War, 1975. People from war places started coming in, big-time.”
February 23, 1995
A love letter to San Diego Transit
CHRIST! “8:45,” says the radio. Still shaving. It’ll be halfway up the Silver Strand already. Don’t rush, don’t rush. You’ll cut yourself. “Can you find my wallet!” I yell. I’m running round hauling trousers on. …
December 15, 1994
San Ysidro's Little Landers
When the great flu epidemic hits, with their best lands compromised, somehow the spirit of the Little Landers disappears. Even the energetic William Smythe leaves his beloved village after the death of his wife.
October 6, 1994
A water war heats up on Palomar Mountain
“This mountain is an anomaly. A piece of Northern California sticking up out of the California desert floor. Water is the basis for all our wildlife up here. We live here.”
October 6, 1994
Palestinians in San Diego
"Only two to three hundred Palestinians can travel to Jerusalem in any one month— out of 20,000. That’s like if you lived in Mira Mesa and weren’t allowed to travel to Clairemont. It’s impossible!"
August 18, 1994
Idyllic Spanish Village shaken by mystery stabbing
The sign on the gate tells you all about it. Annual plot fees, $10. Six months’ water charge, $6 per plot. Safe chemicals to use: beer for snails, wood shavings, mint-water soap, garlic-onion soap for …
August 4, 1994
San Diego paramedics - excitement and controversy
"American is being held to a higher standard than Hartson. Hartson was required to arrive at the scene within ten minutes of dispatch 90 percent of the time; American must arrive on scene 93 percent of the time."
June 2, 1994
Far From the Enormous Past: Under the Khmer Rouge We Were the Water Buffalo
If there is any center to Cambodian life in San Diego, it is the two temples. People more pro-King Sihanouk go to the one on 52nd Street. The rest go to “the old temple” on 47th.
March 31, 1994
The Wo Hing goes down in Glorietta Bay
“First I put up a sign. ‘This Boat Not Abandoned.’ I had to; things had already happened. I’d heard someone look at the mast and say, ‘That’d make a nice flagpole.’ Next day it had been sawed off! “
February 24, 1994