Most people only know the town of Saginaw, Michigan, from the song made popular in the 1960s by country singer Lefty Frizzel. Some hipsters might know another song, “If I Ever Get to Saginaw” by …
December 12, 2014
News & Stories
Saginaw, MI: first American home of my ancestors
Valley Center man pleads not guilty to making false bomb report
An elderly Valley Center man accused of threatening to bomb SDG&E trucks was briefly in court this morning, December 12. Frits Versteegh, 75, pleaded not guilty to making a false bomb report, charged as a …
December 12, 2014
Can the Buffalo Public House work in Hillcrest?
Brazilian cuisine receives little exposure in the US. Churrascaria restaurants, like Rei do Gado and Fogo de Chao, contribute to the popular image of South American carnivorism, where diners disappear beneath mountains of roast meat. …
December 12, 2014
Flooding in Leucadia damages three businesses
Heavy rain on the morning of December 12 damaged three businesses at 1002 North Coast Highway in Leucadia. After several hours of heavy downpour, employees arriving around 8:00 a.m. found four inches of water in …
December 12, 2014
Hillary’s burgeoning Bersin bump
As the next presidential campaign season relentlessly approaches, so it appears do the Bersins, the former San Diego Unified school district honcho Alan and his wife, ex-superior court judge Lisa Foster. As first locally reported …
December 12, 2014
Local gift guide: Lady edition
Christmas shopping can be such a hassle. I have the tendency to avoid malls during the entire month of December. Parking is a nightmare and sales people are overworked and grumpy. Luckily for San Diegans …
December 12, 2014
Defendants in torture-murder case avoid death penalty
The possibility of the death penalty was removed from three defendants, Louis Perez, 48, Jessica Lopez, 27, and Dorothy Maraglino, 39, who learned during a hearing today that the maximum penalty they might face will …
December 12, 2014
Capital Cities' spirited retro sound
I got my introduction to the L.A.-based electro-pop band Capital Cities — beyond the megahit “Safe & Sound” — at Coachella this year. There I discovered their penchant for lazy hooks and lofty horns, which …
December 12, 2014
SEC censures San Diego accounting firm
The Securities and Exchange Commission this month censured San Diego's Boros & Farrington Accountancy Corp. for engaging in "highly unreasonable conduct that resulted in violations of applicable professional standards," according to the securities agency. The …
December 12, 2014
Golden Boy's sweeping punches
Clifford Odets’ great drama (1937) is staged so rarely, it could qualify as a Lost Classic. As in all of Odets’ work, when it becomes “found,” the story of the rise and fall of a …
December 12, 2014
Black Star Elephant, by Nico & Vinz
Nico & Vinz have crafted a pure, primal debut album that rejoices in the band’s chosen path while applauding others’ individuality. The reach of this singer/songwriter duo from Oslo, Norway, had touched several continents with …
December 12, 2014
No free ride
Dozens of San Diego high school students descended on Metropolitan Transit System headquarters Wednesday afternoon, December 10, pleading for transit officials' assistance in securing free or reduced-cost bus passes. Following a rally in front of …
December 12, 2014
Liquid assets
Guest editorial by The Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe groundskeeper-in-chief, Arturo Mendes. Recently, a story in these pages took note of a New York Times article that took note of water use in the community …
December 12, 2014
Half Door swinging open soon
It’s easy to typecast. You hear a tenured local restaurateur has purchased an East Village property in which to install a brewpub for his son to brew at and his daughter to manage, and you …
December 12, 2014
See the big fish unload
December 11 dock totals Fisherman's Landing 40 Anglers, 2 Boats, 1 Sand Bass, 238 Rockfish, 100 Pacific Mackerel, 3 Calico Bass, 1 Bonito, 3 Yellowtail, 64 Yellowfin Tuna, 1 Bluefin Tuna, 25 Calico Bass Released …
December 12, 2014
Government nabs jock swindler
On Wednesday, December 10, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged San Diegan Bill C. (Billy) Crafton Jr., who counseled professional athletes on their finances, with fraudulent misconduct in violating federal securities laws. Importantly, Crafton agreed …
December 12, 2014