Escondido Stories
It takes more than a developer's proposal to turn deserted offices into homes. Even in Escondido, where a surge in empty office buildings has led the city to regulate them …
First United Methodist Church of EscondidoContact: 341 S. Kalmia St, Escondido 760-745-5100 www.fumcescondido.orgMembership: 500 (Attendance: 250)Pastor: Lisa PettyAge: 45Born: PowayFormation: California State University-Fullerton; Iliff School of Theology, Denver, CO Years …
A glut of empty shopping centers, storefronts, office buildings, and warehouses in downtown Escondido shows no sign of stopping.Along Grand Avenue, businesses have been leaving at a rate of over …
It's been decades since El Cajon banished new bars from its downtown — now it wants to bring them back. Faced with a night life that's been nodding off for …
Escondido Stories
Since last month, concerns over air toxins sparked chaos across San Diego County. Schools abruptly canceled physical education classes in the southern part of the county after a "chemicals of war" warning from a local …
It may get harder to live for free in Escondido. In June, the city council passed a ban on public camping; this week they'll consider tougher parking rules for recreational vehicles.The proposed ordinance would impose …
It's a blip in the budget, but lake users say a $59,000 proposed funding cut could have a big impact on fishing and other recreation at the city's nine reservoirs. The lakes are part of the …
Escondido officials are scrambling to avert a catastrophic failure of a section of the city’s 14-mile land outfall pipeline near the San Elijo Lagoon, a protected marine reserve.The city was alerted on April 16 that …
It’s the rarest oak species in the U.S., it’s endangered, and 93 percent live right here in San Diego. In the 1840s German doctor George Engelmann, studying plants along the U.S.-Mexico border, noticed some distinctions …
Given the rise in Covid-19 hospitalizations, local mask-wearing criminals have again taken advantage of the normalcy of wearing masks outdoors.On September 18, a ziadalyadago on TikTok posted a clip of a man wearing a mask …
Stone, the best brewery in San Diego? What is this, 1999? Sure, it’s a bit of an obvious choice — and there are plenty of amazing smaller breweries in the county that deserve attention — …
In the last couple of months, over a dozen San Diego County teenagers reportedly partook in the harassment and assaults of much older people. The most recent assault was the attack by three 14-year-old females from …
It’s August, and that means, just as surely as you can expect your favorite beach to be overrun by tourists from Arizona, you can also anticipate an anniversary release from Stone Brewery. And if we’re …
The intersection of North Broadway and Washington is buzzy and busy. If you’re not careful, you might miss the signage for Four Tunas, which is bumped up against Adriana’s Insurance Services in one corner of …
On April 14, between 6:30 pm and midnight, of the 717 drivers the Escondido Police Department pulled over at a checkpoint at East Valley Parkway and Beven Drive, police cited four drivers for driving with …
On May 11, the Federal Department of Health and Human Services will end the Covid public health emergency. But the bureaucratic behemoth is a slow-footed beast; John Q. Public knows the pandemic ended some time …
December Nights Balboa Park Join your fellow citizens on December 2 and 3 for the City of San Diego’s largest free holiday festival in beautiful Balboa Park. The family friendly event brings San Diegans together …
He’s waiting as we come in: my window-cleaner friend Tim. His motto is “Your Panes Are My Pleasure.” Cheeriest chappie I know. He gets around, and he’s always steering me to the places near where …
As early as the end of next month, some housing projects in the backcountry would be able to skip a step on the road to approval. The San Diego County Planning Commission has made its …
“My grandfather was Archduke Ferdinand,” says Laura casually. “He was assassinated in Sarajevo in 1914.” Whoa. The assassination that started World War One? Her grandfather? Laura and Bosko, her husband, definitely hail from the Serbian …
The other night at dinner, the Young People asked the Old People, “How do you know when you’re an adult?” Your humble Editor’s answer: “When you realize that life is no longer play that gets …
On the evening of May 16, the San Diego County Sheriff's department was called to San Marcos to assess a few incidents. There was a hit and run on the 500 block of Grand Avenue; …
“I’ve been seriously, with all heart and soul, committed to my local community for over 30 years,” says drummer Wade Youman (Unwritten Law, Demasiado, North Korea), whose new band Spray Allen is an alternative rock …
It’s customary for a restaurant to ask a diner’s preference for certain things. How well done do you take your steak? Which toppings on your pizza? How spicy your chicken? It’s far less common for …
As the San Diego County Sheriff's Department real-time radio broadcast signal went radio silent for the public on January 11 — locals have been speaking up. "It did keep people informed of police and fire …
Since the Escondido Police Department found guns and ammo in a pitched tent adjacent to SR-78 last month, North County residents say they are witnessing fewer pedestrians crossing the 78 close to where it merges …
She started rebuking him in the name of Jesus. She felt like he had a demon in him, and she told cops so, later that same day. “I just felt like calling on the name …
Wander into any American grocery store, and you’ll have no trouble identifying dozens, if not hundreds of snack foods that pair well with beer. But I would bet you can’t find any trace of one …
At the time of his disappearance six years ago, Skylar Gregory Peterson Tosic was employed by the county of San Diego as a caregiver for his mother’s fiancé, a popular Escondido musician known as Ukulele …
Crossing Church Contact: 1001 Country Club Lane, Escondido 760-752-7895 www.crossingchurch.com Membership: 175 Pastor: Billy Phipps (wife Annie Phipps, Co-Pastor) Age: 53 Born: Anaheim Formation: SoCal Network-Assemblies of God, Irvine; Global University, Springfield, MO Years Ordained: …
On August 15, before 6:30 a.m. Cindy Morton said she heard a man screaming "help, help, help" from the tandem parking spots underneath their Mission Heights apartment complex in Mission Valley. "I ran down, came …
Huell Howser, the folksy host of public television's California's Gold, who died in 2014, may be spinning in his grave, but a top North County politico wants to emulate him on YouTube, courtesy of a …
Some Escondido motels have become crime magnets, and the pandemic didn't help. At one motel, police found there was a 420 percent increase in calls for service last year. Hoping to give some of those …
“Okay, I give up,” Mag says. “Why is this place called Pegah’s Kitchen?” “Because it’s a breakfast place and ‘Pegah’ means ‘Dawn’ in Persian. Breakfast time!” I’m guessing about that last part, because this is …
There is no shortage of good Mexican restaurants scattered among the 40 miles between my home and Chicken Lisa’s, but we press on. We think we’re getting close when we start to spot Escondido freeway …
After delaying a discussion in March on whether or not to allow cannabis sales, Escondido has again hit snooze. The city has been studying potential regulations since last August, but despite the fact that about …
Sparkling waters! Blue, rippling, and fresh. You come across them suddenly, on this twisty road in the mountains, heading towards Valley View Casino. It’s Lake Wohlford. First time I’ve ever seen it. Two minutes later, …
“Listen, kid, people have been flinging their fangs around these little guys for generations. I think we can handle them once and live to tell the tale.” “I’m not touching them. Forget it.” ‘They’re salty. …
The Center Contact: 1305 Deodar Road, Escondido 760-707-6681 www.centernc.com Membership: 70 Neighborhood: Escondido Pastor: Mike Mieritz Age: 52 Born: West Allis, WI Formation: Community College of the Air Force, Birmingham, AL; Vision International University, Ramona …
Maggie’s regretting ever opening her mouth. She stands back from where this guy is throwing his into the mic. “You and I are just two leaves in the wind,” he croons. The crowd at his …
Del Mar doesn't have food waste pickup. But by next year, it will have to. And restaurants, hard hit by the pandemic, are sweating the new costs, from dumpsters to rodent control. State regulations aimed …
A loud "boom" woke up Claribel Ramirez's household about 2:45 a.m. on February 4. "When we came out of our rooms, the whole house was like in a cloud of smoke. All seven of us, …
On January 10, SDFireBrigade posted an Instagram video of a burning truck in the "#sandiego .... airport parking garage" filmed by @OnSceneTV earlier that morning. The day before and about 30 miles east of the …
"Regarding the pest control industry as a whole, we've seen a spike in calls and workload, particularly in residential areas," said Joshua Crowl of SteadfastFalconry.com. "It's because most of the people are at home, and …
A draft plan to preserve thousands of acres of natural habitat in North County was unanimously approved by supervisors last week, but changes were called for. The San Diego Multi-Species Conservation Plan aims to balance …
"Detectives in northern division received a report regarding a theft near 5700 Santa Fe St.," posted the San Diego Police Department on social media on October 26. "They were able to find [a] video showing …
Hairstylist Gregory Bloomberg has been somewhat in the dark since his police scanner apps lost its Escondido Police Department dispatch signal. "It has caused anxiety when sirens are going on, and there aren't answers such …
A decision to tear down the historic adobe Paxton house in Escondido has no plan B. And the city needs the 42 condo units that will take its place. But the house, most recently known …
San Marcos City Manager Jack Griffin begins his annual June letter to the mayor and city council, “It is kind of my pleasure to submit the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Operations and Maintenance Budget.” That “kind …
On the morning of April 23, Jasmine King and her family's flatbed trailer was stolen from the front of their Escondido home. "People are getting desperate," she said to me on May 9, "there's been …
We’ve seen a number of restaurants successfully pivot in the covid era, whether they’ve transformed into on-site groceries or added family combo meals to the menu. Escondido’s premier fine dining restaurant has found another way …
San Diegans willing to venture out from home quarantine are noticing some positives. Freeways are wide open, and the price of gas is dropping like a rock. In the traditional time of year when SoCal …