October 2008 Issue | Download the Full Issue

Fallbrook is becoming known as a mecca of the arts, a fact that will be celebrated when Art Towns California by John D. Villani, comes out this month.
Fallbrook is mentioned prominently in this book.
You can meet 17 of these lights of the arts at the Insiders Open Art Studio Tour of Fallbrook Oct. 11-12, between 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
This self-guided tour of the art and artists of the greater Fallbrook area is sponsored by the Fallbrook Area Visitors Bureau. If you’re an art lover, collector or investor, this is for you!
I met some of these talented people in September at the home of Michael Maas and his wife Carmen Arriola, where the tour will begin.
Arriola, a doctor, will show her collection. Maas will allow visitors inside his working studio where he creates biomorphic geo-abstraction art, which is not realistic but is suggested by life, with lots of geometry behind it.
Maas has been a full-time artist for 12 years. “Prior to my early twenties, I didn’t know Art existed. As a teenager, my burning desire was to be a champion bicycle racer,” he recalls.
He later worked as a waiter, in a rivet factory as an inspector, and as a meat cutter, before becoming an insurance broker, where he stayed for 16 years.
“The people I meet now are so much fun!” he says.
When he was in his 20s he saw someone doing one of those art demonstrations done in 20 minutes or less. “I started at that level— I took art classes and eventually it took over my life,” he says.
His first studio was in downtown Santa Ana, surrounded by pop Mexican art. This inspired variations on the ubiquitous Virgin of Guadalupe theme. “These iconic images permeated into my head,” he says.
His work has been in over 60 gallery and museum exhibitions, and in collections from Alaska to Florida, Australia, Canada, England, France, Mexico and Saudi Arabia.
Jack Ragland paints landscapes, portraits and still lifes in abstract, mainly in oil. He taught at UCLA and headed the art department at Simpson College in Iowa. Recently he took a one man show to Europe.
“I try to get the essentials of the subject through form and color,” he says. His works refer to objective things but he interprets colors and moves things around to make them more dynamic. You’ll find his work at the Brothers Bistro, the Garden Center Buffet, and galleries in Palm Desert. His studio is located in Rainbow, at 5555 8th St.
Kelly Berning is a ceramic sculptor who also does figurative work and pots. At first glance the figurative sculptures look invitingly childlike. Closer up they are sad and project more adult emotions. Her studio is at 3270 Olive Hill Road, Fallbrook.
She shares it with her husband Trent Berning, who creates vessels on the pottery wheel. His work celebrates life, and includes oversized glasses or goblets, although he also has a functional line.
Sculptor James M. Helms’s Fallbrook studio is on 2411 Gracey Lane. He turned the tragedy of 2007’s wildfires into art by casting bronze and other sculptures from destroyed structural metal. He created an angel from metal found at a destroyed mobile home park.
“I did it with some trepidation,” he said, fearing that people would be offended. Instead, they took it to their hearts. He then did a bas relief angel that raised $7,500 for scholarships. People suggested that he sculpt a phoenix, a mythical creature that rose from the ashes. That won Best of Show at the County Fair in Del Mar. “It’s been quite a ride,” he says. Although he has been an artist for eight years, he hasn’t quit his job as a dentist. Find out more by visiting james.helms2737@sbcglobal.net/
N. Dixon Fish, also of Fallbrook, has his studio at 2033 North Stage Terrace. His media are prints: monotypes and etchings in various themes. One theme is Southwest landscapes. He is currently exploring the theme of the human heart.
“I try to reflect influences of my surroundings and culture. I particularly respond to Native American symbolism such as Kiva shapes from the Pueblo tribes,” he says. Fish has been an artist all his life with some time spent designing theater sets. He became full-time eight years ago.
Fernanda Natale Reynolds is a painter on all subjects ranging from classical realism to abstract. Her studio is located at 40725 Via de la Roca. She limits her medium to oils. Aside from that there are no limits. "You name it!" She says.
Even while raising children and operating a restaurant, “I always knew I was an artist,” she recalls. She began pursuing it in earnest in 1993 and met with success. “That’s when I knew that I belonged. Now it’s less like an avocation, it’s more like oxygen. I need it!”
To her, fine art is like a Nobel Prize novel. “It’s not going to be so financially successful but you do it because that is what you have to do. It makes you go to your grave happy.”
Laurenn Barker does bronze sculptures and bronze wearable art to which she adds gems from around the world. You will find her bronze figures and wearable art at her studio at 1836 Via Entrada. Find out more at her Web site: artlark17@aol.com/
Sculptor Les Perhacs is inspired by rock formations, the animal form, the architecture of nests, and skeletal structures. He works in stone, steel and bronze.
“Because the focus of my work is the relationship of elements, I see no conflict in working back and forth between realism and abstraction; for me, the language is the same,” he says.
In his youth he wanted to be an architect, studying with Buckminster Fuller and Frank Lloyd Wright, but then pursued a dual career as an industrial designer (holding 122 mechanical and design patents) and sculptor.  His career began in 1962 and continues today.
His studio is at 2540 Wilt Road, (off Reche Road). It includes a private bronze foundry and full machine shop.
His Web site is : www.lesperhacs.com/
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The  self-guided tour begins by purchasing either a VIP ticket ($35- includes early registration, a two-hour artist reception on Friday night, hors d'oeuvres, and wine)  or a two-day tour ticket ($20). Buy tickets at www.findfallbrook.com/ Ticket holders  will register at the VIP Reception on Friday night (VIP ticket), or at the Fallbrook Area Visitors Bureau office on Saturday or Sunday morning from 9 a.m.– noon (General tour ticket).
Tickets include an event wristband, event bag, and souvenir program, which includes a guide and map. Guests  can visit as many open studios as they  wish over the two days during open studio hours from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. wearing their  wristband. 
Proceeds will be used to market the greater Fallbrook area.

October is a Busy Time in Bonsall

Bonsall has already left those lazy, warm days of summer behind. Folks are already busy and there is plenty to do.
New this year is the Bonsall Certified Farmers’ Market. The first was held Sept. 7 and was a huge success.
There were over 35 vendors, the vast majority of which were farmers and growers. The selection of vegetables, fruits and flowers available was excellent. You could find red and yellow watermelons, every kind of tomato you could want, including in different colors, and the cut flowers were gorgeous.
There was an interesting assortment of other vendors, including food vendors. If you didn’t try the crepes, be sure to try one next time.
Attendees were having a really good time visiting with friends and vendors, following the invitation of the market sponsor to “Enjoy refreshments and say hi to friends while you shop!”
The Bonsall Certified Farmers’ Market is unique in that it is sponsored by and benefits the Bonsall Education Foundation. This foundation is new, founded earlier this year. The mission of the non-profit and independent foundation is to assist in the achievement and maintenance of a superior public school experience at the four Bonsall schools: Bonsall Elementary School, Bonsall West Elementary School, Vivian Banks Charter School and Sullivan Middle School.
The foundation plans to achieve this mission by using the money it raises by being the market sponsor to give grants to teachers who have ideas for special projects that the school district cannot fund.
Market sponsors typically receive 8% of the sales of the farmers and growers and a flat fee from other vendors.
It appears that the Bonsall Education Foundation has come up with a winning combination: great fruits, vegetables, flowers and more, good stuff to eat and drink, friends to have fun with all while supporting growers, farmers and the local schools!
The Bonsall Certified Farmers’ Market is held each Sunday, from 10 a.m.–2 p.m., in the parking lot on the north side of the community center next to the Bonsall Elementary School at 31555 Old River Road. For more information on how to become a vendor, contact executive director, Daniel Costa at 760-331-3985.
The foundation is also planning its first gala for Nov.15 at the Vista Valley Country Club.
On Saturday, Oct. 11, it is time for the 12th annual REINS (Riding Emphasizing Individual Needs and Strengths) Country Hoedown. The Hoedown is a major source of income for this therapeutic horsemanship program.
At 4 p.m. the gates open and the silent auction begins. At 5 p.m. attendees are in for a special and inspiring treat as there will be riding demonstrations by REINS students.
Food will be provided by El Nopal Mexican Restaurant of Escondido starting at 6 p.m. and at 7 p.m. the entertainment and dancing start. Live music will be provided by Nitro Express. The silent auction closes at 8 p.m., but dancing continues until 10 p.m.
This is always a really fun evening enhanced by the wonderful cause it supports. Tickets are available in advance for $45 for adults and $20 for children (12 & under). Tickets at the door will be $50 for adults and $25 for children (12 & under). Remember to bring cash or check as credit cards are not accepted. You don’t want to miss out on this great silent auction.
Sponsorships are still available for the event. For more information or if you have questions, visit www.reinsprogram.org or call 760-731-9168.
Also happening in Bonsall in October is the annual Bonsall Country Festival. This well-attended event always produces smiles and good times in abundance for old and young alike. It will be held this year on Saturday, Oct. 18, from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. at River Village, 5256 South Mission Road (corner of Highway 76 and South Mission).
There will be food vendors, entertainment and a D.J., arts & crafts, gift vendors, and for the younger set there will be a giant slide and the always special pony rides.
In addition, the winner of the Honorary Mayor of Bonsall contest will be announced. This year’s candidates include Seth Essenfeld of Bonsall Postal & Imaging located in River Village. By the way, if you ever wonder how many days are left until Christmas, just go to Seth’s website at wwwbonsallpi.com.
The other candidate this year is Jorge Alcarez, better known as Chef Giorgio, owner of the Da Giorgio Restaurante Italiano and Event Gardens located at the Comfort Inn La Estancia, 3135 Old Hwy 395 in Fallbrook .
One of these two entrepreneurs will succeed current Honorary Mayor Nikki Birchall of Birchall & Sons Cleaning and Restoration.
The winner of the Bonsall Dude contest will also be announced at the Bonsall Country Festival. This year’s winner will succeed current Bonsall Dude Bradley Doke and represent Bonsall at community events for the coming year.
The Bonsall Country Festival is presented by the Bonsall Chamber of Commerce. For more information, call 760-630-1933. Remember that this is a “no pets please” event.
The chamber would also like to remind members that the annual Installation/Awards and Dinner Dance will be held on Nov. 1 at the Vista Valley Country Club.
Now don’t think it gets any easier later in the year. The Bonsall Woman’s Club is already hard at work on its annual Magic of Christmas Tea coming on Dec. 9.
We’ll have information on that event and other coming events along The Boulevard next month.

I-15 Corridor Design Review Board

About 20 years ago the Board of Supervisors decided that the I-15 Corridor was a special place (we agree!) and that it needed to have a board of people to help make sure that it stays that way.
That’s in part how the I-15 Design Review Board came into existence.
The Supervisors felt that the corridor needed to have special attention to how it looks, in part because thousands of people drive through the area every day, and try to maintain some sort of architectural consistency.
The seven-person board includes members appointed for two-year terms by each of the sponsor or planning groups of Valley Center, Fallbrook, Rainbow, Bonsall, Hidden Meadows and Twin Oaks, with an at-large member appointed by the Fifth District Supervisor.
Each individual member keeps the board informed about projects in their communities, and in turn keeps their communities informed about issues that arise with the Design Review Board.
“We are not a land-use body,” points out Greg Izor, who was first appointed by Supervisor John McDonald in 1988 and has been the chairman during almost all of the time that the board has existed. He is also the at-large member, and the only professional architect on the board. “Our job is to monitor and make sure that the architectural, aesthetic quality of the corridor is maintained.”
The group uses as its “bible” the I-!5 Corridor Design Review Guidelines, which are a pretty strict set of rules that, for instance, restrict the colors the home builders can use for roofs and what kind of landscaping they can use.
Its rules are actually far more restrictive than for other parts of the county.
“You want lots of grays and greens and soft colors,” says Joan Van Ingen, the group’s longtime secretary, who has been with the group for 15 years. “You don’t want distractions. You want it to be beautiful. You want it to fit in.”
But their authority extends over any development within the “viewshed” of the I-15 Corridor, whether it can be seen from the freeway or not.
Occasionally Izor says he has to remind his fellow board members that land use and especially density have nothing to do with their job.
“I think we have had some very positive effects on developments. We do as much as we can to effect the way projects look and we also monitor ridgeline developments. We impact that a lot, requiring them to mitigate things visually,” says Izor.
A ridgeline development, of course, is the kind most visible to its neighbors because it is silhouetted against the sky. The group discourages ridgeline developments.
“A poorly designed ridgeline home can impact the corridor more than a multi unit development,” says Izor.
“We have a right to tell them what colors to select to fit into the surroundings and what kind of landscaping. Single family homes are usually not reviewed unless they would substantially effect the aesthetics on the corridor,” he says.
Mrs. Van Ingen, a Champagne Village resident who has been described by a fellow board member as “super active,” describes what she thinks is important about the group’s work: “I think it’s very important because, first of all, the people often don’t understand what their obligation is. What we are trying to do is keep the scenic beauty of the I-15 Corridor.”
Izor says that the I-15 group is currently concerned “because the area is being developed without enough comprehensive planning. We would like to see the different developers building next to each other present a comprehensive plan. I would look to county staff to orchestrate that.”
There are several rather large, highly dense projects that are in the works for the area near the intersection of Hwy 76 & I-15, near Pala Reservation.
According to Mrs. Van Ingen, “At this point we have dealt with an information review for Meadowwood, Pala Road east of I-15 near Pankey. That development has 858 dwelling units.”
The other is the Campus Park West development of 137 lots near Old Hwy 395 & I-15 with access at Pankey Road.
The board has also had to review many fire rebuilds.
The board meets on the third Thursday, 4:30 p.m. at the La Sala Room, 5256 Mission Road, #707, Bonsall, CA 92083.

The Fall Festival of Gems & Minerals

Fallbrook, which, as gem fans like to say, is just a “stone's throw” from a rich producing mineral and gem region that is also rich in history, has one of the finest gem and mineral museums in the area.
That museum, owned by the Fallbrook Gem and Mineral Society, each year puts on a celebration where they cordon off a few blocks of the downtown. This year the Fall Festival of Gems and Minerals will be held on Oct. 5, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The festival is held on the same block as the museum itself, 123 W. Alvarado St., in what used to be Fallbrook’s old telephone exchange building. That has been the museum’s home for the past five years.
Garth Bricker, longtime curator of the museum, just missed being one of the founding members of the society when it was founded in 1957. He notes that Fallbrook is just 20 minutes away from the Pala tourmaline mines that have been continuously operating for over 100 years.
It is about an hour away from the Himalaya mine in Mesa Grande, which has produced the most tonnage of tourmaline in the world. Especially pink tourmaline, which was a favorite of the last dowager Empress of China, who a hundred years ago sent her servants to San Diego County to sift through the stones to find choice specimens that would later become buttons on her mandarin’s jackets or would decorate her imperial shoes.
It is equally distant from the Little Three Mine in Ramona, internationally known for its aquamarine.
The 4,000 square-foot museum is the home to collections of minerals from around the world with special attention paid to the minerals of San Diego County, such as topaz, beryl, morganite and aquamarine.
Before gas was “four bucks a gallon” club members used to range all over Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Northern California on rock and gem expeditions. The other thing that has hobbled their activities has been that the federal government has put large swathes of gem-bearing land off-limits except to hikers.
“All of the good mining areas that aren’t in wilderness areas have been claimed and those owners have the right to dig in them,” says Bricker.
But that hasn’t dampened the society's enthusiasm for gems—it has merely re-directed it. These days members show their enthusiasm by working in the museum, or manning booths at the Del Mar Fair. The society always does very well at the fair.
“There's quite a bit of interest in the fair,” says Bricker. “They put things in the fair every year. Last year we had a donation of polished eggs made of minerals and won a first place.”
Another year they displayed a collection of faceting machines, odd looking contraptions, some over a century and a half old. Today such devices are rarely recognized or simply thrown away as junk. You’ll find a collection of them in the museum.
The fall festival is held the first Sunday in October on Alvarado Street, the street on which the museum faces. It is also adjacent to the city's main parking lot. The city closes off the streets between Main Street and Pico, which allows shoppers to browse among the vendors.
Some sell minerals, others sell food. Another vendor makes round balls out of minerals. It is fascinating to watch the stone turning and turning until it is made into a perfect, shining sphere. Another vendor demonstrates a faceting machine. Bricker himself demonstrates gold panning.
The festival is a good place to get deals on rocks, gems and minerals. The museum usually sells items under the price you would find in a retail store. Obviously you won’t uncover valuable gems here. But you will find many items that are beautiful—just as beautiful as that diamond that is a girl’s best friend.
Bricker beams when people tell him that they found something less expensive than what they see priced elsewhere.
Although the festival is free and so is visiting the museum, the money that is made helps this nonprofit organization to pay off the mortgage for the building it occupies. It is one of the few such privately owned museums to actually own the property on which it sits.
It relies entirely on the money that it makes on such events, on the occasional grant, and on private donations.
The museum is constantly adding to its collection, mainly from good-hearted folks who, when they find an attractive piece, will often donate it to the museum. It is, after all, tax deductible.
That’s how the museum acquired an impressive looking walrus tusk from Alaska. Although it was a while before that state would allow the massive molar to leave. The museum had to prove that it was in fact a nonprofit organization and not some individual trying to loot Alaska of one of its natural treasures. Once the museum’s bonafides were established the tusk was loaned in perpetuity.
You will find the big tooth on display along with such kid pleasing displays as fluorescent minerals with black lights shining on them.
The curator is a diehard collector whose passion for the hobby sort of snuck up on him. Many years ago he was a photographer who happened to visit the White Queen Mine in Pala.
He was hooked! From that point on he was a collector. Last February he exhibited a case of wulfenite from the Red Cloud Mine near Yuma at the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show, the biggest such show in the world. The club also has its own exhibit each year at this show.
The society meets ten months a year—except July and August—on the second Thursday of the month from 7–9 p.m. People come from all over the United States to give talks at these meetings, and, of course, there are lots of programs on the nearby mines of Pala.
For more information about the Fallbrook Gem & Mineral Society, visit their Web site at www.fgms.org or call 728-1130.

Biplane in the Sky

‘So do you want to do some acrobatics?” inquired pilot Glen Smith as I looked admiringly at his biplane parked at the hangar entrance.
“Well,” I said, uncertainly.
Acrobatics would consist of things like barrel rolls, loop de loops and Immelmans—maneuvers where you will be literally upside down, staring at the ground below you while the blood rushes into your brain.
This is described in the Beeline Airways brochure as the “barnstormer,” for the more adventurous.
“If you do, you’d need to wear this parachute,” he said, holding a backpack-like bag up.
“Do I have to know how to use it?”
“Yes, I’d have to give you some instruction.”
Although I fancy myself sort of a small time, cheap version of the late George Plimpton, in that I often willingly expose myself to what some people might regard as hazards, or even “stupid risks” in the interests of getting an interesting feature—like getting into a cage with a grown cheetah—although you’d have to use a cattle prod to get me to climb onto my own roof—I decided to pass on the acrobatics this time.
Nevertheless, I couldn’t wait to get airborne.
The 100th anniversary of the first fixed wing flight passed a few years ago without much hoopla.
Today when we fly, with our tray tables down and our legs scrunched up against the passenger in front of us, we have little understanding of just what an incredible dimensional leap—from two dimensions to three—aeronautics represented at the time of the Wright Brothers.
You can experience that primal epiphany by taking a ride in a biplane.
The plane I rode in is a 1940 Steerman, a U.S. training aircraft that is twice as close in time to the Wright Brothers as it is to the present day. Or, to put it in another way: Someone who was born when that first flight happened would have been in the prime of his life when this baby was flying.
It was like climbing into a time machine.
The experience is offered by Beeline Airways, located in the Fallbrook Airpark. Airpark is kind of a fancy name for what is simply an airstrip served by a few warehouse sized buildings.
Glen Smith, who has been a pilot most of his life—“I got into airplanes when I was 9,”—is the proprietor of this airline.
Born in the Central Valley of California, he and his brother used to watch airplanes like this one flying low over planted rows, crop-dusting. For those who don’t remember such things, the original name for pilots of such planes was “barnstormers,” because they used to literally fly over the tops of barns as they would fly from small town to small town, demonstrating that new invention, the airplane.
Cropdusting is what this plane was doing in the years after WWII. In that faraway war it was a training plane for the U.S. Army Air Corps, the precursor to the air force. Later it was used in sky writing and towing banners. That last function, which used to be a common sight over stadiums, has dried up since post-9/11 laws have made it illegal over ballgames, which ended its profitability.
Originally covered in cotton fabric, over wooden wings, today the fabric is Dacron. But it’s still essentially the same airplane from the same era as the Hindenburg, the Zero and the Stuka Dive Bomber.
Smith has found that the most profitable way to fly the airplane is sell rides—and how great it is that he has.
You can experience open cockpit flying, flying the way it once was, flying that makes the cheeks buzz from the rush of the wind. You wear goggles, which made me feel for a moment like Eddie Rickenbacher (I’m revealing my youthful fascination for WWI aces here) as I climbed onto the wing and lowered myself with my hands into the cockpit.
It’s a very minimalist cockpit. There’s an altimeter and speedometer and not a whole lot more. You are buckled into the seat with a sturdy set of belts that cross your chest and waist. It could probably keep you from falling out if you were upside down. Probably.
To hear the pilot, who rides in the cockpit behind you, you wear a set of headphones, because otherwise you would hear nothing over the roar of the propellers.
You also wear cool goggles and a leather skullcap like you see the American flyers wearing in all of those black and white movies like Hell Divers, Wings of Eagles and Dawn Patrol.
We taxied down to the airstrip, which is basically just a strip of blacktop several hundred feet. Smith accelerated, the engine roared, and suddenly we were airborne.
At this elevation, maybe a couple of thousand feet in the air, it’s easy to pick out details, including people, as you fly over the San Luis Rey Downs horse facility, the Vessels Ranch, the Sullivan Middle School, Rawhide Ranch, and most remarkably, some of the most luxurious looking, expensive homes I have ever seen. It’s also quite apparent that Fallbrook and Bonsall are still very much a part of the farming scene as there are many acres of tilled soil, groves and nurseries—all easy to spot from the air.
Some of the homes are big enough to house small shopping malls, and from the ground you aren’t even aware that they exist.
The day is perfect for such a ride. There are a few scudding clouds. The temperature is pleasant.
My flight is over all too soon. But there are others that I’d like to take, like the Pier Tour, that offers stunning views of the Oceanside Harbor and the coast.
Flights cost about the same whether there’s one passenger or two, so you might as well book one as a couple.
It’s a great way to see the area you live in—and to experience what flying is really all about.
Contact Beeline Airways at 760-216-3700 or visit their Website: flybeeline.com/

El Norte Park Offers Luxury, Location & Lifestyle

Just off El Norte Parkway’s eastern foothills in Escondido lies Michael Crews Development’s friendly El Norte Park neighborhood.
This quaint, little, hidden cul-de-sac sports 11 brand new single and two-story homes just minutes away from downtown Escondido and I-15.
Perhaps more important than its cozy and convenient location—this beautiful collection of homes also features some of the finest real estate in Escondido.
“We’re a luxury homebuilder,” explains Mark Connal, director of sales for Michael Crews Development. “We’re known for our high quality construction and our upscale homes.”
El Norte Park offers warm, inviting homes that range from 2,885 to 2,950 square feet with four to five bedrooms, 2.5 to 3 baths and three-car garages. With spacious rooms and open, attractive floor plans, El Norte Park appeals to singles and families alike.
“These homes are perfect for any homebuyer,” Connal says. “They are very accommodating. Whether you’re single, married, retired or have kids—these are great homes in an ideal neighborhood.”
Connal said rather than offering a basic standard features package and charging buyers to upgrade, Michael Crews Development chooses to include upgraded options from the start.
Each home has top-of-the-line amenities such as stainless steel GE Profile appliances, 18”x18” porcelain tile floors, slab-granite kitchen countertops, fireplaces, two-toned paint, mirrored closet doors, porcelain-over-steel tubs in secondary bathrooms, structured multimedia wiring, slab-travertine countertops in the bathrooms, designer lighting and more.
“Everything is included,” Connal says. “It’s all part of our higher standard features package. The buyer saves because there is no need for upgrades.”
Buyers also save in other ways at El Norte Park.
“Each home at El Norte is fully landscaped,” Connal says. “Buyers save thousands of dollars worth on landscaping right away.”
Another bonus at El Norte Park is the fact there are no Mello-Roos or homeowner association dues—a monthly savings that adds up huge over years of home ownership.
What’s the cost for one of these value-packed, luxury-filled, fully-landscaped, well-located homes?
How about just $539,900!
“That’s less than $200 a square foot,” exclaims Connal. “This price is essentially unheard of for a brand new home in San Diego County with these amenities and this kind of detail.”
Maybe that’s why there are only four left.
Michael Crews Development’s Corporate Sales Office is open daily at El Norte Park from 9 a.m. –6 p.m. and can be reached at 760-751-1212.
Interested buyers are encouraged to stop in and tour the model home, or visit www.michaelcrews.com for more information.

Fallbrook Film Factory

When Orson Welles was given the film Citizen Kane to write and direct at the tender age of 25 he described it as “the biggest electric train set a boy ever had!”
Today boys and girls of all ages are getting “electric trains,” “doll sets,” “cooking sets,” and “X-Boxes” because the technology that was once the sole provence of the big studios is available and it is affordable.
One local institution handing out the “toys” is the Fallbrook Film Factory, which will host a special “Highlights Film” screening at the UltaStar Theater in Bonsall, kicking-off a five to six episode series of the Life in California TV program featuring the Fallbrook Film Factory and Fallbrook Film Festival.
The “Highlights” screening takes place on Sunday, Oct. 12 from 4-6 p.m. at the Bonsall UltraStar and is free to Fallbrook Film Factory members and the general public.
One of the short films that will be showcased at this event is The Backroom, by Fallbrook resident, Janie Chesney.
She is a 60-year old teacher who, it is safe to say, got interested in filmmaking relatively late in life. Her interest was sparked by the fact that her three grown sons were getting involved in filmmaking, and because of the relative accessibility of technology that organizations such as the Fallbrook Film Factory provides.
“The Fallbrook Film factory got me interested in making films!” she says. Up until her most recent film, she was known for films that were heartfelt—with meaning!
So naturally they suggested that she make a Mafia film!
Eventually she relented—but on her own terms.
“If I’m going to write a Mafia movie, I’ll do it my way,” she said. The product ended up as a dark comedy.
“I love it!” she says. “I think it’s the best thing I’ve done.”
It’s a short film, about 12 minutes long, which fits the format for most film festivals, where she will be sending it after it appears on Oct. 12.
The next one she will be doing is a feature film.
The Backroom has the same feeling as the Godfather films of Francis Ford Coppola.
“The camera work is like it. So is the way they speak,” she says. “I did a lot of research to get the language right. Even the Italian, and I don’t speak Italian.”
So, if you’re expecting the same spicy language that you’d find in Goodfellas or The Sopranos, you’ll be disappointed.
There is a bit of violence in the short film, but it’s comical.
She describes the characters in the film as “hardcore killers. They are the head of the Mafia families and they take their work seriously, but it has a comical twist in the end.”
According to director-writer Chesney, the hardest part of the film was convincing the seven-actor ensemble cast to agree to do the ending!
And no, we don’t know what the ending is, so we can’t spoil it for you.
“I was worried that they would say, ‘I’m not going to do it!’ but they did. And they said they had a lot of fun!”
She credits her camera man, Peter Hulst, as being a camera “genius.” That was a good thing as she started doing films seriously a year and a half ago.
Fortunately her three grown sons had done it before, and they told her that anyone could do it.
Now, 18 months later, she has made six films.
A teacher of history and art, she has an unusual technique. When she is talking about historical figures she is likely to come dressed up as one, e.g., George Washington, Leonardo Da Vinci or Thomas Jefferson.
She also has been a scout master, a Boy Scout master, one of the few.
Being innovative herself, she appreciates the fact that the Fallbrook Film Festival, “takes everyone from the very young to the very old and gives them a chance to make movies.”
She adds, “I really feel that this is a calling. It’s absolutely my passion and I will be very successful in it. Everything I’ve done so far has been received very well. I seem to have a knack for it. I’ve had a rough life and that gives me a lot to draw from. But that’s to the good!”
Her three sons, who range in age from the 20s to almost 40 are also just at the beginning of their filmmaking journeys.
* * *
According to Noel Horwin, of the Fallbrook Film Factory, “Anyone who has an interest in filmmaking or this historic moment in Fallbrook can come to this screening as our guest,” said Horwin. “We are also screening some creative films from other factory members including the Time Off for Sergeant production by the Fallbrook Film Factory and some trailers for upcoming features. The afternoon will be both entertaining and educational,” he said.
Time Off for Sergeant is the first in a planned commercial series of 5-10 minute comedic webisodes created in the spirit of The Office. Produced by Donna Walden and directed by Ronald Shattuck, the pilot webisode was filmed July 19 and 20 and will be debuted on this day. Screenwriter Adrienne Armstrong said, “It was a lot of fun creating the characters for this piece and bringing them to life via film was even better. I laughed myself silly watching the takes.”
Those interested in attending can pick up their tickets Oct. 12 just prior to the screening at the UltraStar Theater, 5256 S Mission Rd., Bonsall, CA 92003.
The Fallbrook Film Factory (the ‘Factory’) is a 501c3, not-for-profit, consortium formed to bring filmmaking capabilities to Fallbrook and the surrounding communities. Visit www.fallbrookfilmfactory.com.

Love On A Leash

It is a dog day afternoon at the Fallbrook Adult Day Care Center, but we mean that in a good way.
The clients at the center are seniors and young adults. The center, which is located at 320 W. Alvarado, is run more like a club than a medical care facility. Most of them have a form of dementia but not all.
But when the Love on a Leash pet therapy teams arrive, with their friendly pooches, it is clear that there is a lot of love on the other side of the leash as well.
According to Teddie Borges, director of the Fallbrook Adult Day Care Center, the clients always light up as soon as the dogs arrive.
The teams visit almost every day. This time we have a lady who has a big black Newfoundland dog, two other owners have black Labradors and one member of the team has a Kangal, a large mastiff type breed from Turkey. But there’s also an owner who brings a small fox terrier. Three moms with teenage children also visit several times a month.
The theory behind pet therapy is that when someone pets and talks to a dog it causes the release of endorphins, which have a naturally calming effect.
It has an effect on the dogs as well. Nancy Townley, one of the at-large members of the group, has a Sheltie male, named Kobie. “He knows as soon as I sit down and start grooming him and reach in the drawer for his vest. He starts whining in the car when we get near to the center,” she says.
Kobie likes working with children best because they are at eye level although he's happy to work in other situations, too.
At the day care center they incorporate the activities of the clients with the dog handlers. The center has a big day room. Sometimes the dogs go around from client to client and visit with them as they play cards. Mainly they are visited by larger dogs, because most of the clients are sitting or in wheelchairs. The dogs can sit or lie at their feet and be petted by them.
The dogs are always kept on a leash by their handlers. “Some of the handlers enjoy doing the activities with the guys. We are a real family oriented place,” says Borges. “The pet handlers say the pets love to come to the center. They become part of our day care family. They come in, they come to the parties. It works out well.”
The pet handlers and their dogs visit several times a week. They have pet therapy mornings and afternoons on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Eventually they hope to add Tuesday and Thursday.
“What I enjoy about the pet therapy people is that they just try to schedule us in whenever we need them, and I imagine they do that with everybody,” says Borges.
“Myself and the staff we really appreciate that these ladies really give of their time to our center. We love the dogs—and the people are so nice. Volunteers like that are really cherished because they are giving of their time. They don't get paid. They get smiles and handshakes and a lot of laughter, but they are giving up their time and that’s huge.”
Some private parties, whose dogs have been certified, bring their dogs too, “We love seeing someone come through the front door, especially when they have a dog with them,” says Borges.
The Love on a Leash dog handlers visit four facilities in Fallbrook including a skilled nursing facility and an assisted living facility. Each handler works one to four times a month on average.
There is training involved. A dog typically has to pass a standard obedience test and a specific evaluation that tests not only the dog but handlers as well.
Dogs are tested to see that they get along with other dogs and with people and that they are not easily rattled by loud noises. They test the handler’s ability to control the dog at all times and that the dog has basic manners and can follow commands like sitting and staying.
Once that is accomplished the owner and the dog will be part of visiting teams ten times—like student teaching. Once they pass that phase then they can apply for membership in the Love on a Leash program. And we do mean “they” because dog and owner are considered a team.
Borges is willing to let new team members earn their ten hours at her facility.
Mrs. Townley explained why she got involved in this activity.
“I like dogs,” she says. “I enjoy working with people and it was a volunteer activity that satisfied several needs of my own. I had heard about therapy dogs over the years.”
She is the visit captain at the Fallbrook Library, and because the library has additional requirements for dog visits, she's always looking for additional members.
The library’s program is aimed at children. It is called Paws to Read. The children, ages 6 to 10, read to the dogs. The dogs, of course, are not judgmental, and the children lose their nervousness around the dogs.
The librarians love it because it increases visits by the children. The handlers love it because it is really entertaining.
This program happens the second Thursday of the month at 4:30 p.m. in the library.
For more on Love on a Leash contact: The Foundation for Pet-Provided Therapy, PO Box 4115, Oceanside, CA 92052. 760-740-2326
Online at www.loveonaleash.org, email: info@loveonaleash.org or you can email Nancy Townley at ntownley@roadrunner.com.

Magical Costumes From A Magical Place

Are you finding it harder and harder each year to find a Halloween costume that is interesting and original?
Mainstream costumes are often based on characters from television shows and movies. With blockbusters like Ironman, The Dark Knight, and Indiana Jones, there are sure to be many of these popular-themed costumes this year.
Of course, there also will be a fair share of witches, ghosts, vampires, and famous actor/musician look- a-likes. Not to mention a few Scream and Halloween hockey masks.
While there is absolutely nothing wrong with the above named costume party favorites, if you are looking to stand out with a one-of-a-kind, unique costume, Millie’s is the place for you!
Located at 2137 S. Mission Road in Fallbrook, Millie’s Antiquities N’ Old Lace, Magical Costume Place features authentic, custom-made costumes dating back to 1850.
Owner Millie Caldwell opened Antiquities N’ Old Lace more than 20 years ago. It was a venture that made sense for her because she currently owned an antique store in Fallbrook, and already had a unique collection of clothing from a shop she previously owned in San Diego.
Unfortunately, not many people knew about Caldwell’s collection until a stroke of good luck landed a drama coach at her door asking for a wardrobe for the school play.
Now Caldwell outfits the casts for numerous theatrical departments, as well as conventions, fashion shows, and of course, Halloween parties.
Millie’s collection of costumes can best be described as timeless articles of clothing representing historical time periods.
Think Renaissance. Think Roman Empire. Think Roaring 20s, Dirty 30s and the Old West….we’re talking old-fashioned vintage and American classics.
There are ballroom dresses, and Civil War uniforms. There are suits that represent decades of various styles. From flappers and saloon girls, to pirates and Egyptians, you’ll find it all at Millie’s.
And if you can’t find something, they will make it for you.
According to Becky Walters, store manager and costume creator, they love to customize costumes.
“Sometimes people will bring in a photo or just have an idea in their head of what they want to be,” Walters said. “We can mix and match clothing and accessories to create exactly what they are looking for.”
While Millie’s has racks of costumes to browse through, both Caldwell and Walters are expert seamstresses and can magically make almost anything.
Prices for a one-day costume rental and accessories start at $35. Walters encourages people to come in early to find the perfect costume, or they may miss out.
“We really only have one of everything, so there is little chance of the same costume being available,” Walters said. “And the earlier we can start on making a costume, the better.”
Millie’s Antiquities N’ Old Lace, Magical Costume Place will be open daily from 11 a.m.–6 p.m. throughout October. However, special appointments can be made by calling 760-723-9206.

Welk Resort Brings Back The Basics At Canyon Grille Restaurant

From a new head chef to a new menu, there has never been a better time to visit the Canyon Grille Restaurant at Welk’s Resort in Escondido.
Canyon Grille features a variety of classic American fare with dishes to satisfy any appetite, including light and restrictive diets. If you were a fan before, you’re sure to remain one; and if you’ve not yet experienced this gourmet dining establishment, you’re sure to be pleased when you do.
“We’ve simplified our menu,” said new head chef Javier Ochoa. “Our new menu offers basic, high-quality, comfort foods.”
Using fresh ingredients from local farmers and producers, Ochoa said the meals are not only more flavorful, but healthier, too.
For starters, Ochoa suggests the Spinach and Artichoke Dip appetizer. You really can’t beat this scrumptious combo. However, should you forgo this opening dish there are several other taste bud tantalizers including fried calamari, egg rolls, hot wings, chicken quesadillas, side salads and more.
Be sure to go light on the appetizers because the entrées are very filling.
I went with the evening’s special—the Salmon Magnifico. It was indeed magnificent. Baked parmesan crusted Atlantic salmon with a generous portion of tasty grilled veggies and smooth angel hair pasta.
“The salmon is very popular,” Ochoa said. “It’s a great choice and we get it fresh every day!”
Chef Ochoa said he loves to do sauces. This is apparent because the moderately-spicy, chunky red sauce on the pasta was incredible.
Not feeling seafood? Other guest favorites include the free range chicken breast stuffed with asparagus and provolone cheese, or the macadamia nut crusted chicken. You can’t go wrong with either one.
Then there is the New York Angus steak which I was informed is cooked perfectly to order. Being a self-proclaimed steak and potatoes type of guy, Chef Ochoa recommends mashed potatoes, a baked potato or red potatoes for your side.
Other meals of interest include the meat loaf, the dinner salads, and the chicken penne pasta. The chicken penne is tossed with Roma tomatoes, onions and mushrooms in creamy pesto sauce.
Of course, one must save room for dessert. Whether it’s the Molten Chocolate Cake, the Crème Brulee or the Apple Blossom ala Mode, you’re in for a real treat. Many of the desserts are made in-house, while others are brought in from local bakeries.
“We are actually revamping the desserts, too,” Ochoa said. “It’s not going to be just cakes anymore. We’re adding pies, cheesecakes and some other lighter fare.”
One thing you will notice about this restaurant is the ambience. Whether you are dining inside or outdoors, you will be at ease as the warm, friendly hosts and wait staff take care of you.
Canyon Grille is open daily from 7 a.m.–9 p.m. serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, (both buffet style and ala carte). Whether you are staying in the luxury villas, golfing on one of the impeccable resort courses, or attending one of the Broadway-style musicals at The Welk Theatre, Canyon Grille is ready to nourish you.
For more information on buffet times and menu changes, or to make reservations, call the Canyon Grille at (760) 749-3253.

A BIG Year For The Wiens Family Cellars

If you like down-to-earth wine tasting, then Wiens Family Cellars is your place. There is no hoopla, just great people and simple, delicious, award-winning wines.
Wiens is a hobby-turned-success story. Chief winemaker, Doug Wiens, grew grapes for fun in Lodi, then he started making wine and eventually opened up a tasting room.
The majority of his family was in the Temecula area, so in 2002, he and three of his brothers purchased the property at 35055 Via Del Ponte.
The family finished constructing a brand new tasting room, event pavilion and wine production facility in 2006. In fact, they are celebrating their 2nd anniversary on Oct. 12 with an outdoor festival called “Wiensfest.”
“Wiensfest is going to be great,” said marketing director Suzanne Schaffner. “It’s based on the German-type beer festivals. There will be music, food, wine, a grape stomp and we are encouraging everyone to come dressed up.”
Before you get your vests and overalls, note that you can only attend Wiensfest if you are a VIP member.
“Our anniversary celebration is more of a ‘thank you’ to all of our wine club members,” Schaffner explained.
It’s smart to join. You get free tastings whenever you visit, plus discounts on the wines and events, and you get to take home bottles of amazing wines like the 2006 Tempranillo-Petite Sirah.
“The [Tempranillo] petite sirah is a very complex blend,” said sales and tasting room manager Curt Beohm. “You’ll notice the aromas with this one. It goes great with spice-rubbed meats.”
The 2007 Tempranillo-Petite Sirah is currently aging in 100% French oak with a 2009 release date. However, if you take the informative 20-minute tour, you may have the opportunity to sample it. As Beohm says, it’s still a very young wine, but you can taste the potential.
Although Wiens is known for its “Big Reds,” the whites are very good. The 2006 Estate Chardonnay was a gold medal winner at the Pacific Rim International Wine Competition.
“This is the first time we’ve ever done it [chardonnay] un-oaked, so you can really taste the fruit,” Beohm said.
The chardonnay is a delicate mix of apple, melon and pear that comes across light and fairly dry. The grapes are grown on the nine acres of vines that surround the winery. These same vines grow the grapes used in their Amour De L’Orange sparkling wine. (If you love mimosas, you will love this orange champagne!)
The winery only sells bottles on-site, but you’ll find their wines served in about 24 bars and restaurants in the area. If you ever do see a bottle, be sure to note the incredible artwork on the label. After falling in love with a painting at Distinction Art Gallery in Escondido, Schaffner asked the Wiens brothers about having local artists featured on their labels. They agreed.
“There was one painting called ‘Crowded’ by Kelly Vivanco, and I just thought it was perfect for a label,” Schaffner said. “We, of course, used it, and Doug actually created a new wine to fit the title.”
Doug Wiens’s Crowded creation includes zinfandel, syrah, petite sirah, sangiovese, cabernet Franc and cabernet sauvignon. It’s a delicious, very playful blend pieced together with recommendations from wine club members.
Wiens Family Cellars is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the exception of events.
“We have events almost every weekend,” Schaffner said. “This was our first year for concerts on the patio, and they’ve gone over really well.”
Artists like Berlin and English Beat have already performed this summer. The third and final concert is scheduled for Oct. 24, featuring Stan Ridgway from Wall of Voodoo.
The concerts are held on the outdoor patio that overlooks the vineyards. It includes an outdoor tasting bar and holds up to 250 people, so it’s ideal for weddings and corporate events. If you prefer indoor, there is the event center (which also holds up to 250 guests), and they even hold private parties in the barrel room for up to 50 people.
For more information on upcoming concerts and events, or for information on wines and tastings, visit www.wienscellars.com, or call 888-98-WIENS.

Links At Summerly

To the best of my knowledge the Links at Summerly is the only links course in either San Diego, Riverside, Orange or San Bernardino counties.
It opened in March of this year and is in wonderful condition for a course that has been in operation for just six months.
Summerly features a beautiful new club house complete with full bar and outside patio seating, that serves a full breakfast on weekends, lunch seven days a week, and has a prime rib special Thursday evenings.
But the real treat at Summerly is the course. Although the definition of a links course usually finds the course on sand dunes along the coast, Summerly was built on the shores of California’s largest natural lake, Lake Elsinore, nestled between the Ortega Mountains and the Cleveland National Forest and built on the rolling terrain of the valley floor.
This par 72 over 7,000 yard layout from the back tees has all the characteristics of a Scottish links course complete with three miles of Scottish burn traversing throughout the course, providing some interesting choices for golfers, to go or not to go over the burn, and adding charm to a very challenging course.
The course has virtually no trees, lots of sand traps, not potholes, undulating fairways and undulating and sloping greens. It also has a trademark of links courses: wind, some days more than others.
There is no such thing as a prevailing wind in the area I was told by Mike at the pro shop. It can come up the valley or over the mountains in any direction. My own experience was that the winds blew mostly across the course, only one hole, number 17 was into a head wind and I had a good tail wind on number 18, a much needed assistance on this 576 yard monster.
Standing on the tee box of number one, a 350-yard par 4, I could hardly wait to get started.
The Links at Summerly offers 5 tee options. I used the whites measuring 6,281 yards. There is some water on this course but only holes 10 and 12 on the approach shots should water come into play unless you have wayward tee shots on holes one and two.
Looking down the number one fairway I saw a rolling undulating fairway with three fairway bunkers and a kidney shaped green well guarded by two additional bunkers.
This particular green had a rise in the middle and, depending upon pin placement, you could lose your score putting. Make no mistake, this course will challenge all the clubs in your bag, especially your putter.
Number two is the first of five, count them five, not four, long and challenging par 5’s. Number two is 491 yards from the whites, 563 yards from the back tees.
Looking at my tee shot options from the tee box I saw a much more generous landing area than the preceding hole, but then I checked the helpful course chart that the course provides, and saw that the Scottish burn traverses across this fairway.
So now I had to decide to choose a club to lay up or go for it. This becomes much more of a decision from the back tees.
But you’re not done with the burn after your tee shot. It crosses the fairway in front of the green so a long hitter will again need to decide if it’s worth the risk to go for the green with your second shot.
The green is sloping to the front and is well guarded by bunkers left, right and back. The direction of the wind will have a lot to do with how you play number two.
The par 5, 522 yard, from the back tees, number six hole, is all about keeping the ball in the fairway. I counted seven good size fairway bunkers and then again that burn to deal with on your approach shot.
The back nine features three par 5’s, the last one of which is a very long 18th. Two large ponds come into play on the 10th and 12th holes and unlike the front 9, there are three dogleg holes on the back nine.
The 10th hole is a 581-yard par 5 from the back tees and is the first dogleg hole on the course. The burn crosses the fairway about 320 yards from the tee box so only the long hitters need to be concerned about it.
There are few fairway bunkers on this hole but there is water on the left and behind this green, go long or left and you’re wet.
Number 11 is a par 3 that buys dividends for accuracy. You’re going to be hitting into a large undulating green that slopes toward the front of the fairway.
The real challenge on Number 11 begins when you step onto the green. You think you may have a nice par and end up 3 putting for a bogey. Beware.
The carts at the Links at Summerly are all equipped with a golf tracking system that really helps the golfer determine distances to the trouble spots on the fairway.
Also, this is a course that you can walk and may want to walk. It’s relatively flat and after all, that’s the way that golf is supposed to be played, walking.
The Links at Summerly is a very challenging test of golf on a course that has no equal in Southern California, truly a unique golfing experience.
Take I-15 north to Lake Elsinore. Their address is 29381 Village Parkway. For tee times call 951-674-3900.

The Boulevard Magazine
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