I Love A Clean San Diego and the City of Escondido Recycling Division are co-hosting Coastal Cleanup Day at Dixon Lake this Saturday, September 17, from 9 a.m. to noon. In addition to collecting trash and recyclables along shorelines, creek paths, and surrounding trails, volunteers will fill out data cards identifying the litter. Each group picks its card carrier, who will tally everything the group collects. Bags, gloves, and water will be provided, but we encourage participants to bring their own reusable gloves and water bottles. Please wear closed-toe shoes. Advance registration is preferred. For complete details and to register online, please visit www.cleanupday.org.
Saving Lives, Reducing Crime
By Assemblymember Marie Waldron
In 2011, federal courts ruled that California prisons were overcrowded — populations had to be reduced. As a result, Assembly Bill 109 was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown. The state’s prison system was “realigned,” meaning the responsibility to incarcerate, monitor and track lower-level offenders would now rest with the counties, not the state.
80 percent of incarcerated felons have Substance Use Disorders (SUDs), and in the San Diego region alone, 1 in 3 arrestees in 2018 tested positive for more than one drug. But county jails weren’t funded or equipped to hold felons serving long sentences, and they lacked programs necessary to treat/counsel incarcerated individuals in jails and those under supervised release from prison.
Last year, I introduced AB 653 establishing a grant for counties to provide drug counseling and Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for inmates under county supervision. MAT is an innovative treatment that uses medications combined with counseling that has proven effective at reducing drug overdoses. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, providing criminal offenders with substance use treatment cuts drug abuse and can reduce opioid overdose deaths by more than half.
AB 653 passed in 2021, but funding for counties to implement the programs was contingent upon future revenues. I’m happy to report that during this budget cycle I was able to acquire $10 million for counties to fund MAT programs throughout California.
The costs associated with drug abuse are incalculable. Crime, homelessness, broken families, suicides, are all part of the massive societal cost of substance use disorder in our state. We can help drug-addicted criminal offenders re-enter society as productive citizens by removing them from the cycle of addiction and dependency. MAT programs save lives. They also reduce crime, recidivism, and save taxpayer dollars. That $10 million will go a long way.
‘Velocity Podcast’ Vista Viking Festivals Joey Hill Skol! The Vista Viking Festival Returns this Weekend
Vista Chamber of Commerce CEO Rachel Beld interviews the movers, shakers & changemakers that are moving Vista forward. This week Joey Hill from the Norway Hall Foundation joins Rachel to discuss the upcoming Vista Viking Festival, which will be held on Sept 17 & 18. Hear all about the Festival, now in its 20th year and the work of the Sons of Norway, a fraternal organization dedicated to promoting Norwegian and Scandinavian history and culture in the local community. Put down your axe, grab a pint of mead and settle in for a meaty chat! Vista Viking Festival
Opening Play for North Coast Rep’s 41st Season is Comedic Fantasy Annabella in July
By TR Robertson Photos by Aaron Rumley
A light-hearted comedic fantasy was Artistic Director David Ellenstein’s choice to open the 41st Season of Solana Beach’s North Coast Repertory Theatre and if the audience response is any indication, this was a very good choice. Directed by Ellenstein, Annabella in July is fast paced, cleverly directed, witty and very funny. The play was written by award winning playwright Richard Strand, a recently retired professor, technical director and set designer from Mt. San Antonio College who has written 20 plays. His play, Ben Butler, was also directed by Ellenstein at NC Rep last year.
The whimsical comedy begins with Vanessa and husband Brian arriving at a ski resort in California in July, after Brian became fascinated with trying to photograph a butterfly and the couple stumbling on the resort. Vanessa felt this might be a good place to get something to eat so she attempts to find someone who works there to serve them. This is where the fun and chaos begins. As the two employees of the ski resort come in, they each excitedly greet her as the missing Annabella, much to the confusion of Vanessa and Brian. Vanessa is a librarian and Brian is a tile setter from Nebraska and they both insist Vanessa is not Annabella, an exuberant personality who was last seen in December and who supposedly skied away from the resort. The ski lodge owner, Camelia, and teenage waitress, Piper, are adamant in feeling Annabella has returned. Vanessa and Brian do their best to try and convince them she may look like Annabella, but she is really Vanessa from Nebraska. To make matters worse, Alexander arrives, a French ski bum, who also insists this is Annabella, the woman he was going to ask to marry him. Back and forth they go, every possible argument is given to Vanessa and Brian to try to prove she is Annabella. Vanessa and Brian offer every argument to prove she is not Annabella. The dialogue is hilarious, the facial expressions priceless, especially when Brian feels threatened by the romantic gestures of Alexander toward Brian’s wife. But Act I is just the prelude to what will be a trip into the world of fantasy as Vanessa becomes Annabella, or is she still Vanessa, in Act II, and Brian and Vanessa’s marital world and their relationship comes under question.
Multi-regional performer Jacquelyn Ritz returns to NC Rep as the bewildered and frustrated Vanessa. She is masterful in presenting Vanessa’s attempts to deal with the three personalities at the ski resort, who are determined to prove she is the missing Annabella. Also returning to NC Rep, this time as Vanessa’s husband, Brian, is Louis Lotorto, also a multi-regional performer. Louis’s portrayal of the mild-mannered husband, who becomes increasingly frustrated with everything going on around him, grows funnier with each scene. Especially entertaining is his interactions with the over-the-top French ski bum, Alexander.
An audience favorite is Bruce Turk’s performance as Alexander, the French ski bum who is supposedly in love with Annabella. The quirky Alexander is quick with a snide response, clever when talking to Brian and his over-accentuated French accent makes every comment even funnier. Turk is an award-winning actor who has performed On and Off Broadway and is also returning to NC Rep, having last performed there in Ben Butler.
The employees of the ski resort were Leilani Smith, as the resort owner Camelia, and Catalina Zelles, as the energetic teenager Piper. Both of these performers had also performed in previous NC Rep productions. As Camelia and Piper they both enthusiastically tried to convince Vanessa she was actually Annabella returning to the resort. They both also had strong reasons to want this to be the real Annabella as Camelia was harboring a desire to establish a more serious relationship with Annabella and Piper desired to establish a mother daughter bond with her.
The ending of the play will give those attending something to talk about as Vanessa/Annabella will directly interact with and impact each person at the resort in ways specifically related to that individual. The final scenes shift in tone reflecting this and giving the audience much to talk about. As Vanessa/Annabella says, “If you keep telling yourself long enough you might start believing it.” What is truth and what is fiction in each individual’s life?
Director David Ellenstein’s Design Team consisted of Set Designer Marty Burnett, Lighting Designer Matthew Novotny, Costume Designer Renetta Lloyd, Hair and Wig Designer Peter Herman, Sound & Projection Designer Aaron Rumley and Prop Designer Cindy Rumley.
Annabella in July will run until October 2nd at North Coast Rep. Tickets are available at 858-481-1055 or go to www.northcoastrep.org. Next on stage at NC Rep is Into the Breeches! By George Brant, opening on October 19th.
Breaking the Cycle How Jessica Escaped The Churn
Jessica’s family first gave her crystal meth at age 12.
From ages 12 to 29, Jessica was battling her addiction to meth while her three children were with their biological fathers or in Child Protective Services care.
By the third time she graduated from rehab, she knew she wanted change. Jessica’s two daughters were released from CPS—and she wanted it to stay that way. Her friends suggested she try Solutions for Change. She applied and was accepted at Solutions Academy on October 24, 2017. It took Jessica a long time to feel like she was ready to quit for good. It took tremendous hardships—and a nudge from Solutions for Change—to truly inspire her transformation.
Jessica, now 36, has seven years clean, this month. She attributes Solutions for Change for her success with remaining sober. Once there, she made friends; she became a Resident Aide; she even spent time showing support to others who’ve been addicted and homeless like her.
“I was ready to give my kids the life they deserved: stability, routine, a mom that’s there for them 24/7,” Jessica said. “Coming to Solutions was the best decision I ever made.”
“They helped me stay clean,” Jessica said. “I found a bunch of females at Solutions for Change, and we built a support group. And whenever I felt like I needed to talk, they were there for me.”
It was something she never experienced before: stability, comfort, safety, community. Being at Solutions was the first time she felt like she could give back to her kids the way she wanted.
“The first time my kids told me, ‘Mom, I finally feel safe,’ I knew that day there was no giving up, no going back,” Jessica said.
But even more than safety, Solutions taught her to value her own journey: to honor and value herself.
“What helped me was just doing it for myself,” Jessica said. “I’m not doing it for my kids. I’m not doing it for anybody else. I’m doing it for me.”
She says Solutions made her feel like “a person rather than a number.” It’s another reason why she feels Solutions for Change worked for her, while other rehab facilities and shelters did not.
“I felt like at other places they thought, ‘Oh well. You’re gonna mess up anyway. Bye,’” Jessica said. “But here (at Solutions) it’s like, ‘No, we are gonna pick you up if you mess up again. Even if you struggle with money or doubt or anything, we are gonna pick you back up.’”
Jessica no longer has any desire to use. One of the major reasons for that is the community support, and her peers’ insistence that her life is worth it.
“Solutions for Change believed in me until I could believe in myself,” Jessica said. “And that was big because I didn’t believe in myself. I didn’t think I was worth it. But Solutions for Change told me that I am worth it. It’s just amazing.”
Now that she’s escaped The Churn, Jessica’s determined to help others do the same. She’s just a few classes away from finishing her high school degree. After that, she has plans to go to college to study to be a drug and alcohol counselor.
“Because I’ve been through addiction. I know addiction. I know how to overcome it. I am an Overcomer,” Jessica said. “And why not help others be Overcomers?”
Jessica is now employed full time, providing for her girls while putting herself through school.
Solutions for Change brought immense healing to Jessica’s life, and she’s risen into becoming an indomitable Overcomer, helping others up too. Now, she believes everyone has a story to tell.
“I see the homeless people out here and instead of saying, ‘Oh wow, they need help,’ I tell myself, ‘Oh wow, they’re gonna have a great story one day,’” Jessica said. “I’m praying their story is gonna be great.”
“Don’t give up on yourself because others aren’t giving up on you,” Jessica said, speaking to others battling addiction. “And God’s not done with you yet!”
Solutions for Change has programs and housing opportunities for anyone seeking to overcome their current situation. Reach out to learn how you can strengthen our community by supporting the organization’s critical work, or make a gift today.
Cal State San Marcos Student Veteran Selected to Receive Prestigious CSU Award
Cal State San Marcos student Johnathan Rodney has been selected as the campus’ recipient of the 2022 Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement, the California State University’s highest recognition of student accomplishment.
Students are selected for demonstrating superior academic performance, personal accomplishments, community service and financial need. Awardees have all demonstrated inspirational resolve along the path to college success, and many are the first in their families to attend college.
The CSU recognizes 23 students every year – one from each campus – with the Trustees’ Award. Rodney was named a Trustee Emeritus Kenneth Fong Scholar, which includes a donor-funded scholarship of $7,000.
Rodney and the other awardees were recognized during a ceremony as part of the CSU Board of Trustees meeting on Sept. 13.
“These 23 remarkable scholars wonderfully exemplify the ideals of the California State University,” CSU Interim Chancellor Jolene Koester said. “Their inspirational stories are connected by a common thread of intelligence, perseverance, resilience and the transformative power of higher education. Our communities, state and nation — indeed, our world — will long reap the benefits of their academic, professional and personal achievement.”
Rodney is a student veteran majoring in biochemistry. He has taken active roles as president of CSUSM’s Student Veterans Organization and he coordinates volunteer activities at Ivey Ranch, a nonprofit that helps with the recovery of children with disabilities and veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Rodney served five years as a U.S. Navy hospital corpsman and worked directly with post-surgical patients as well as postpartum mothers at the Naval Hospital Twentynine Palms. Rodney also collected forensic evidence for sexual assault victims as a volunteer sexual assault forensics assistant.
After earning his bachelor’s degree, Rodney plans to apply to medical school and become a family medicine doctor or psychiatrist so that he can help those with addictions.
More than 500 students have been honored with the Trustees’ Award since the scholarship program was established in 1984 by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation. In 1999, the Hearst Foundation partnered with the CSU Board of Trustees to supplement the endowment with contributions from CSU Trustees, CSU Foundation board members and private donors. Each student scholarship bears the name of a donor.
About California State University San Marcos
Building on a 32-year history, California State University San Marcos is a forward-focused institution, dedicated to student success fueled by innovation, education and community partnerships. Located on a 306-acre hillside overlooking the City of San Marcos, it is the only public four-year comprehensive university serving North San Diego, Southwest Riverside and South Orange counties.
The university enrolls more than 16,000 students. It ranks among the national leaders in social mobility, increasing the opportunities and improving the life trajectories of underrepresented students. As a recipient of the annual HEED Award since 2014 — a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion — CSUSM is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment.
TrueCare Expands in San Marcos to Increase Access to Same-Day Medical Services
SAN MARCOS, Calif. (September 14, 2022) — North San Diego County residents now have greater access to same-day health care services with the opening of a new TrueCare West San Marcos QuickCare on Grand Avenue. Prompt quality medical care is vital, especially with flu season approaching, and TrueCare is ready to serve the community with expanded access to non-emergency health care services that require immediate attention.
Without the stressful “urgent care” experience, TrueCare QuickCare patients can receive a wide range of medical services by making a quick appointment just prior to heading in to see a provider.
“We want the families and individuals that we serve to have easy options for getting the care they need,” said Michelle D. Gonzalez, CEO and President of TrueCare.
“Our patients deserve access to high-quality compassionate care. With the addition of our new QuickCare location in West San Marcos, we are making it even more convenient. We are focused on meeting the community where they are, ensuring health care is accessible to everyone.”
To expedite medical attention, nine examination rooms are available at the new TrueCare West San Marcos QuickCare for addressing non-urgent illnesses such as:
Flu, coughs, colds
Respiratory conditions such as allergies, sinus infections, and bronchitis
Skin disorders such as rashes, lesions, warts, infections
Eye/ear/nose and throat ailments
Minor injuries such as sprains, fractures and burns
Vaccinations
COVID testing
To support the ongoing and future development of TrueCare’s QuickCare services, the organization has elevated Dr. Devarshi Nath to QuickCare Clinical Director. Over the past 11 years, Dr. Nath’s leadership has been instrumental in establishing two QuickCare sites – one in Oceanside on Crouch Street and one in San Marcos on Valpreda Road – and now this new location in west San Marcos. In his expanded role, Dr. Nath will help drive TrueCare’s growing response to meeting community needs for QuickCare services in addition to patient care.
“Our goal is to build a healthy community where everyone is cared for and has the opportunity to participate,” added Dr. Nath. “Our providers endeavor to offer inclusive, equitable and culturally sensitive care that helps patients reach their intended wellness goals. Ultimately, this increased access yields greater health benefits for families and the community as a whole.”
TrueCare’s West San Marcos QuickCare is conveniently situated off CA-78, near the Las Posas exit: 1595 Grand Avenue, Suite 106, San Marcos, CA 92078. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Patients are encouraged to call or text (760) 736-6767 to schedule an appointment before arriving at the location. TrueCare staff speak English and Spanish, so everyone feels comfortable during their visit. For more information about TrueCare’s QuickCare services, visit https://truecare.org/wellness-services/quickcare/.
Patients can visit any of TrueCare’s nine health centers, three QuickCare sites, and the mobile wellness unit or schedule Uber Health rides to TrueCare appointments and back home. For more information, visit www.truecare.org.
About TrueCare
For 50 years, TrueCare has not wavered in its commitment to patients, their families, and its communities. As a non-profit community health center, TrueCare is dedicated to delivering a superior and compassionate healthcare experience to nearly 60,000 patients every year, reducing barriers and increasing accessibility to quality care.
TrueCare cares for diverse communities in North San Diego and South Riverside counties, providing primary care, pediatric, women’s health, behavioral health, chiropractic and dental services. In addition, TrueCare offers transportation services, community health outreach, insurance enrollment assistance and case management programs.
Shop & Eat Like A Local!
Labor Day has come and gone, fall is just a week away, and the weather is still stunning. This is what we call a “Locals Summer” when the beaches are less crowded and our favorite places are filled with friends and family. Be sure to shop where the locals shop and make the State Street Farmers’ Market a weekly routine for everything from honey to jalapenos to heirloom tomatoes. Organic, gluten free, hand crafted, pasture raised, grass fed . . . whatever you’re craving or needing, it’s all here. We look forward to seeing you every Wednesday from 2:30pm to 7:00pm in the heart of beautiful downtown Carlsbad.
Escondido City Council Authorized Small Business Grants
Small Business Grants: In 2021, Escondido City Council authorized two grant programs: A facade improvement program aimed at addressing ongoing concerns with the physical appearance of the downtown and commercial areas and a CPTED program aimed at addressing the impacts of homeless encampments and civic disorder.
These grants are funded using Federal money allocated to the City of Escondido through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021. The City Council established these programs to provide matching grants to business and property owners that wish to renovate, enhance, and improve highly visible buildings along core commercial corridors throughout the City. The City recognizes that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses have suffered financially and struggled to keep up with or improve their facades. These funds are a way to address some of these challenges and restore vibrancy and further preservation to our community.
Learn more about eligible improvements and the requirements: escondido.org/small-business-grant
Travels With TR – Atlantic & Arctic Awe – An East Coast Adventure – Log VII
By TR Robertson
Our third stop on our cruise was in Halifax, the capital city of Nova Scotia. Their harbor is the second largest natural harbor in the world. We were scheduled to arrive at noon, so the morning on the Insignia was spent attending several guest lectures about this area of Canada. Dr. Sherry Hutt spoke about the early history of Nova Scotia and Dr. Roger Leferer spoke about the variety of birds we would be seeing in the northeastern regions of Canada. Nova Scotia has 4,600 miles of coastline and over 1,000 lakes.
Nova Scotia was first settled by the French in 1610, although Vikings may have visited the area long before that. The islands and mainland were the traditional lands of the Mi’kmaq peoples. Halifax was first called Port Royal by the French. In the 1700’s the British would take over this area in the name of King James I as the harbor was considered a safe harbor and the colonialists were stirring an uprising in the colonies. British troops would arrive here prior to moving to American ports. The name Port Royal was changed to Acadia, then renamed to Halifax after the 2nd Earl of Halifax of England. Fur trapping and lumber were key industries. The area also saw a large influx of Irish and Scottish settlers as well as other nationalities giving the area a multi-cultural personality. The nickname Bluenose was given to people in the area, a nickname accepted to mean they were hard working, hearty people not afraid of the cold climate. On December 6, 1917, an explosion in Halifax Harbor occurred when three ships collided, and the town was leveled with the blast and fire. Two thousand people died, 9,000 were injured and 25,000 were displaced. The town rebuilt, coming back stronger than ever.
After docking and receiving an all clear, we boarded our bus for a day tour of the area and a trip into the interior to visit several other towns. Along the way we passed classic Victorian homes, some with a unique design added called bumps, minor extensions to the home to “push-out” portions of a wall giving the house a little additional room. The Gothic Victorian designs could be found through the different villages we drove through. We also saw classic gingerbread style Victorian homes.
Our first destination was the town of Luneburg, a town known as one of the “prettiest painted places in Canada”. The town has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is also known for ocean adventures and its seaside location. There is a Fisherman’s Memorial along the seaside walkway, dedicated to fishermen who have lost their lives over the years. Docked along the port was a Bluenose fishing schooner, an example of the fishing schooners that once were prevalent in this area and were used in sailing competitions over the years, beginning in the 1920’s. Tourists can now sign up to take an excursion on these ships. Since this was a lunch stop, we decided to have a lobster roll or lobster sandwich. The spot we picked out was the Dockside Inn & Restaurant, a building built in 1910. The lobster sandwich and cold slaw was delicious, and we had a great view of the harbor. Walking to the restaurant we passed a Subway Sandwich shop, also offering lobster sandwiches. After lunch, we boarded the bus and headed to Mahone Bay, a small town known for its picture stop of three classic churches grouped together and the town was also once the center of wooden ship building.
Our bus stopped across the bay so we could see the three churches across the bay and shoot pictures. The three steeples are from the Trinity United Presbyterian, St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran and the St. James Anglican. Mahone Bay has also been designated as one of the top ten most beautiful towns in Canada. The mysterious Oak Island is one of 360 islands around Mahone Bay and is not far from the Mahone Bay Harbor. Oak Island has become the site where treasure was supposedly buried during the 1700-1800’s and is now the scene of television shows showing the excavations hunting for the treasure. Trips are offered to the island. While in Mahone Bay we stopped in Amos Pewter Shop to see how Pewter items are made and to shop. Leaving Mahone Bay we drove past some unusually named places like Kissing Bridge Road and Hanging Hill. The towns high school was once on the top of Hanging Hill, also once the location of gallows.
The bus drove toward our final tour destination, Peggy’s Cove. Unfortunately, the closer we got to Peggy’s Cove the foggier it became, much to my wife’s consternation. As a watercolor artist, she was looking forward to this famous location, known for its picturesque coastline and harbor and for the most photographed lighthouse in Canada. The lighthouse was built in 1868. Peggy’s Cove was formerly known as Pegg’s Harbour, most likely named for St. Margaret’s Bay, named after explorer Samuel Champlain’s mother, Peggy being a nickname for Margaret. Pegg’s Harbour was founded in 1766. We did try and take a few foggy pictures of the lighthouse, but the cold weather sent us into the large, crowded gift shop to see photos of what the bay and lighthouse looked like without the fog. Amazingly, if we had arrived a few hours earlier, Peggy’s Cove was totally clear, typical weather for these parts.
Our tour bus dropped us back at the harbor in Halifax in time for dinner and our departure for St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada, a distance of 540 nautical miles. Day 10 of our trip would be at sea with the foghorn blasting most of last night and the sea day. The day was spent with a variety of activities on board beginning with another lecture from Dr. Sherry Hutt concerning the Vikings World in this part of Canada. She said the popular theory of Columbus discovering the Americas was under challenge since a series of discoveries now lay claim to the Vikings exploring this part of the Americas between the 9th and 11th century. It is now believed that Vinland (Newfoundland) was settled in 995 by Viking explorers looking for additional sources of wood for building their ships. They had already made it to Greenland, but plentiful forests in Greenland are few and far between. By the 700’s Vikings had already explored and attacked what is now the British Isles, Scotland and Ireland and explorations had begun to head north toward what is now Iceland and Greenland. Dr. Hutt explained how Eric the Red had been expelled from Norway for killing a man, settled Greenland and was expelled out of Greenland for killing another man, finally settling in Iceland. His son Leif, also ran into trouble in Iceland and sailed toward the islands off the coast of Canada, eventually arriving in Newfoundland, which was populated by indigenous tribes, who Leif also had trouble with. The lecture concluded with a look at the different sites we would possibly see in and around St. John’s, Newfoundland.
Lunch, a few hours of reading, a Happy Hour visit after joining our Trivia team for our first trivia contest, then dinner in the Grand Dining Room filled the rest of the day at sea. Next in the series – a tour of St. John’s, Newfoundland, and a trip to the Sea Bird Sanctuaries.
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