July 2009 Issue | Download the Full Issue

Few places are left where you can experience Independence Day the way Norman Rockwell captured it in his paintings so many years ago.
One of the places where you can is Fallbrook, where, for the last four years the Fallbrook Beautification Alliance has sponsored an all-American fireworks show at the Grand Tradition.
That happens, to a great degree, due to the generosity of philanthropist Arlyne Ingold. The event ticket price has not changed over the years and is kept low so that families can afford the community celebration. Last year 2,000 people attended.
Jerri Patchett, chairman of the event for its entire five years, as well as president of the Fallbrook Beautification Alliance, says that she is always told by those who see the fireworks that the show, “is the best we have ever seen.”
“It’s the best there is,” she adds. “We hire the best pyrotechnic company there is and it costs $1,000 a minute. The best part is you can only enjoy it fully if you are here to hear the musical arrangement that is customized for our event only. That musical arrangement is as good as the fireworks show itself,” she says. “You’ll think you’re at the Pops!”
But there is lots of fun before the fireworks begin.
This year, for the first time they will have the rubber boat regatta
This is an opportunity for families, groups and organizations to make $2,000. It costs $200 for a team to enter. Twenty teams in rubber rafts will race across the Grand Tradition’s lake, with the $2,000 going to the winners.
Last year there was a demonstration of the rubber boat race, and immediately a bunch of people wanted to try it.
The Alliance supplies the boats, paddles and life vests. All the contestants have to do is fill out online. Four people per boat.
This year they are enhancing the kids activities.
There will be games and crafts, all with a red, white, blue AND green theme (because they are good for the environment).
There is also a military salute as part of the program. All former and present military members in the audience are asked to stand as their service’s song is played.
The cost for admission is $35 per person, which gives you the fireworks and ten food tickets, the band and children’s activities. Chicken dinner includes a beverage. Admission without dinner is $25.
Starting at 8 p.m., they will sell admission to see the fireworks only at a cost of $10 for adults and $5 for children and the military.
The fireworks show starts at about 8:50 p.m., just after darkness falls.
This is the Fallbrook Beautification Alliance’s only fund-raiser to raise money for projects in the community.
Your continued donations throughout the year will ensure that Fallbrook residents will enjoy fireworks for many years to come.
The Fallbrook Beautification Alliance will celebrate its sixth anniversary this September. Almost as soon as the organization started, members began developing the idea of the fireworks show.
“It was a perfect match,” recalls Mrs. Patchett. “People in Fallbrook are very patriotic, and we thought this would be a perfect time to come together to celebrate our nation’s independence.
“We have three families with three generations present and we once had a family with four generations present,” she says.
During the rest of the year, the Alliance is responsible for doing projects such as the Downtown Flower Pot Project and the Mission Medians, where the roses are planted downtown. They also maintain Beech Street park and Pico Promenade.
Fallbrook, being an unincorporated town, doesn’t have a maintenance district. The Alliance steps in to fill that gap and keep up community projects that people have worked very hard to create.
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To find out more contact them: Fallbrook Beautification Alliance, P.O. Box 434, Fallbrook, CA 92088-434. Email: info@fallbrookbeautification.org         

Hot Summer Nites: It’s a Giant Block Party—With Old Cars!

Many communities have fallen into the delightful tradition of cordoning off a part of the downtown during the summer to celebrate the endless evenings. Classic cars are usually a part of the mix.
Fallbrook’s Hot Summer Nites is one of the best examples of this kind of festival. A three-block segment of “the Village” is set aside twice a month on the second and last Friday for a family-friendly event that highlights music, food and fun. It starts at 5 p.m. and lasts until 8.
The event is 100% run by Connections Fallbrook Networking, an organization made up of 35 business members in downtown Fallbrook who are interested in promoting businesses and helping the community.
According to Manny Gratz, president of Connections: “With the help of the Fallbrook Village Association we close down two and a half blocks of downtown Fallbrook on Main Street between Fig and Ivy.”
The classic cars arrive at 4:30 and events really get rolling by 5:15 or so when the bands start to play, although the official time to start is 5 p.m.
The remaining dates and themes for Hot Summer Nites are:
July 10, 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Rods & Relics.
This is the third year that John Harris has chaired this evening’s entertainment, which includes the Rods & Relics car club with 300 members that last year filled the available space to capacity with classic autos. Most of the car owners are local guys (the club meets every Saturday at 7 a.m. at the Sunrise Cafe). Tony Suraci and his band will perform. “It’s just a car show, music and a good time,” says Harris. “There’s judging. The club brings a ton of cars for people to look at.”
All of the evenings include food, music, cars and the beer garden.
July 31, 5-8 p.m., Taste of Fallbrook.
Evy Williams, who, with Sandra Buckingham, has chaired this segment of the Hot Summer Nites for three years, tells us that about a dozen of Fallbrook’s best eateries will be participating with about 500 people expected to sample their food.
Some of the restaurants are La Caseta, JJ Purdy’s and Sweet Sicilian Bakery, The Farmhouse, D’Georgio’s, Trupiano’s, Rio Rico and Peking Wok, obviously something to suit every taste and appeal to every taste bud. There will be People’s Choice awards given for the eatery that serves the most popular food. First, second and third place prizes will be awarded.
Local favorites Aunt Kizzy’z Boyz will provide genuine East Texas style blues for the event, making that hot summer nite evening hotter.
Wine, beer and soft drinks will be available to purchase—and not forgetting the kids—hot dogs and pizza.
“It’s a balmy evening for Fallbrook and visitors with custom cars, great food and a lot of fun,” says Mrs. Williams.
Aug. 14, 5-8 p.m., Off Road, Race Car, Military, Classic Boat and Open Header Event.
Mike Mroz, organizer of this night’s event, reports that the streets will be filled with nostalgic classic cars.
“We’ve invited all the nostalgia cars and dragsters out,” he says. One who will be there is Doug Martin, founder of Drag Master Performance, which started the dragster craze in the 1940s.
Also expected to attend are Harlan Oren of the Classic V Drive Club (V-Drives are a form of boat), Chris Chase with his Over the Edge Four Wheel Drive group, the Fallbrook Vintage Car Club, the Over the Hill Gang, and, of course Bonsall’s Rods & Relics Club.
Tony Suraci and his band will perform. Last year there were more than 60 cars at the event, and this year four nostalgia dragsters and eight vintage boats are expected.
August 28, 5-8 p.m., Western Nite and Chili Cook-off.
If you’ve a hankerin’ for chili this may be the best deal in the West! Contestants—there are between 15-20 of them every year—make five gallons of the red brew (although occasionally there is a white variety) for tasting. Once there was moose chili to try, so you never know what you may find. The cost to sample is about $10.
Usually 600 people or more attend.
And, as with the other Hot Summer Nites, there are vintage cars and music will be provided by the Nite Riders (formerly called the Ruthless Cowboys).
“It’s kind of low key and a lot of fun,” says Co-Chairman Jane Wilson. “People look forward to it. The samples are small but there are a lot of difference chilis!
You can find out more about Hot Summer Nites by calling 760-723-2232.

Escondido Children’s Museum: A Place Full of Interactive, Hands-on, Educational and Fun-filled Displays

North County has a children’s museum—and it’s a good one!
At the north end of Grape Day Park and as a part of the California Center for the Arts facility is the Escondido Children’s Museum.
A dream and a project of Katie Ragazzi, the Children’s Museum started in a storefront on Grand Avenue in Downtown Escondido in 2000, and now nine years later, occupies almost 5,000 Sq. Ft. in a facility full of interactive, hands on, educational, and fun-filled displays for kids mostly from the very early ages through the age of 10.
Steve Kildoo is executive director of the museum that—as he describes it— is much more than a museum but a science-based happening for children to both enjoy and learn from. The museum is run by Kildoo and a force of about two dozen volunteers.
According to Kildoo, most children’s museums are not as interactive as this one. “This is really hands-on for the children, and they and their parents who accompany them, love it.”
The museum is the only one of its kind in North San Diego County, drawing about half of its visitors from the Escondido area and others from San Marcos, Vista, and even Rancho Bernardo, Oceanside and Carlsbad.
Getting the word out about the museum has been a real challenge in these difficult economic times, Kildoo explained. “We have no marketing budget so a lot of what we do is working with not only the public school systems in North County communities to bring in groups of children, but also with charter schools and private schools. We even have a special group rate to ride the Sprinter to get to the museum.”
The museum has special programs for groups celebrating birthdays and other special events. “We receive about one third of our income from grants and foundations which have been significantly impacted by the recession, a third from private donations—which to date has continued to hold up—and a third from our own internal revenue stream from group events and the $5 per person admission charge.”
All the exhibits inside are interactive and hands-on for children to learn from and have fun with.
The museum features a Wildlife Tree House that children can climb up and into while learning about natural science from the graphics inside of the tree.
There is a popular firehouse display where children can put on firemen’s boots and jackets and play with the real fire hoses; and a craft room full of levers, inclines and pulleys. The astronomy exhibit: From Space to Earth, was done in conjunction with Palomar Observatory.
There is an old time school house complete with desks and a blackboard and a puppet theater where children can put on their own puppet shows for parents.
“Trashasaurus” is a large dinosaur that teaches children through an interactive exhibit what to do and not to do with trash. Outside in the museum patio is a water and bubble machine, a garden full of smells and sights where children can learn about all those things that grow in their backyards, and an Indian adobe lean to.
The museum even has its own gift shop stocked with items that have been created by some of the museum volunteers.
Speaking of volunteers, the museum is still looking for people with an interest to either work at the museum or assist with their annual fund-raising event coming up this October.
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The museum is open 10 a.m.– 3 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and noon–4 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays. If you are interested in volunteering or want to learn more about the museum, contact Steve Kildoo at 760-233-7737 or visit the museum’s Web site at www.escondidochildrensmuseum.org. But first and foremost, visit the museum with your children. You will have a wonderful morning or afternoon at the Escondido Children’s Museum located at 380 N. Escondido Blvd.
The best parking is from Broadway into the California Center for the Arts, Escondido parking lot on the northwest side of Grape Day Park.

River Park Will Let Visitors Enjoy Scenic Riparian Beauty

During the last few miles before its empties into the Pacific Ocean, the San Luis Rey River provides some of the most scenic riparian vistas found anywhere in Southern California—and the county’s richest biological area.
Soon residents will be able to hike, ride and relax along several miles of that river landscape, thanks to an acquisition by the County, spearheaded by Fifth District Supervisor Bill Horn.
In 2003, the Board of Supervisors initiated the San Luis Rey River Park project and authorized a master plan for the park.
It will be a scenic wonder that will be larger than Balboa Park when it reaches its ultimate goal of 1,600 acres in open space preserve and 40 acres of active recreational activities, sewn together by a network of multi-use trails.
More important to environmentalists will be the fact that it will preserve several miles of continuous habitat.
Whenever developers build on environmentally sensitive lands that action has to be mitigated, which builds up a pot of money that can be used for projects such as the nine-mile long San Luis Rey River Park, which lies entirely within the draft North County Multiple Species Conservation Program boundaries.
The wetland is inhabited by eight “sensitive” bird species plus the black-shouldered kite, white-faced ibis, western snowy plover, Belding’s savannah sparrow, and Bell’s vireo.
“If they are going to be building [expanding], these freeways, I-15 and 76, then North County should get its share,” declared Horn in a recent interview.
“A decade ago it was my vision to create the San Luis Rey River Park, which would be the largest park project in the history of the County and at the same time make good on our promise to widen Highway 76.”
Currently the park consists of 266 acres and includes the Vessels property around San Luis Rey Downs—a recent acquisition at a cost of $5 million that should be finalized by a Board of Supervisors vote this July.
The Vessels family’s racehorse boarding and training facility will stay in business, but the outlying property will be part of the park.
The land features a southern cottonwood-willow riparian forest, with areas of mulefat scrub; southern willow scrub and coast live oak woodland.
“My commitment is to have the entire eight miles from about a mile to the west of the old Bonsall Bridge to I-15 as a park.”
The park may also someday include another 40 acres from Oceanside, but that acquisition hasn’t happened yet.
There will be day use picnic areas, trails—all laid out on a plan that is available for viewing by visiting the following link: www.co.san-diego.ca.us/reusable_components/images/parks/doc/SLRmastersummary.pdf
One four acre parcel, the Little Gopher Canyon Site, near the intersection of Little Gopher Canyon Road and Old River Road, is isolated from the river corridor, and thus could provide a good spot for a off-leash dog park.
The current site of a model airplane flying club is envisioned as a prime location for park development (the flying club is looking for a different place to fly from).
Horn says he is asked all the time why the park can’t be assembled NOW.
“People would just as soon we do it all at once, but it’s expensive. You don’t want to let that money slip through you hands. We have a plan for all that and it’s all laid out. It’s going to take a few years to accumulate an asset that big but we can do it. I think it’s only right to preserve that whole river valley.
“The money comes from developers paying mitigation fees. Whenever they have to mitigate something, we have a designated area for them to mitigate it in,” he says.
Horn emphasizes that the County only works with willing sellers to expand the park.
“The Vessels purchase was a three year negotiation. To pick up thirty nine acres all at once is pretty good. It will give us more than five hundred acres.”
“There is a lot of habitat there that’s in the flood plain where no one can use it. Why go buy something in Riverside when they can spend it right next to the road where they have to build?” says Horn.

Local pitcher drafted to MLB after outstanding career at Arizona State: Mike Leake

Valley Center residents Chris and Sarah Leake were among the thousands of proud parents watching Tuesday’s Major League Baseball Draft.
Their son Michael, a pitcher for Arizona State University, was drafted in the first round by the Cincinnati Reds.
Leake generated some buzz with his solid play for the Sun Devils, even though he is only in his junior season.
Leake was named Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year in 2008 after finishing the season with an 11–3 record. His ERA was a solid 3.49 in 19 games, and he led the Pac-10 with 121.1 innings pitched. He struck out 104 hitters and only walked 20, picked off nine runners to lead the Pac-10, and also hit .340 with two home runs and 11 RBIs in 47 at-bats. He was named First Team All-Pac-10, Second Team All-America by Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball, Third Team All-America by the NCBWA, Second Team All-West Region by the ABCA and was a Roger Clemens Award Semifinalist. In addition to pitching, he has also played first, second, shortstop, and all three outfield positions during the season.
Over the summer, Leake played for the USA Junior National Team, helping the team win gold medals at the Haarlem Baseball Tournament in the Netherlands and the FISU World Championships in the Czech Republic. He went 3–0 with a 0.64 ERA in eight appearances, including two starts, pitching 28 innings, striking out 245 batters and allowing opponents to hit only .220 against him. On offense, he hit .236 with a home run and eight RBIs in 55 at bats, as Team USA went 24–0 over the summer.
Leake graduated from Fallbrook High School in 2006 after earning four varsity letters and helping the Warriors’ baseball team win three league titles in four years.
In his senior season, Leake finished with an 11–1 record on the hill, with a 1.87 ERA and 96 strikeouts. He also hit .342 with eight home runs.
Leake was named to the First Team All-State team his junior and senior years, and earned the Pitcher of the Year Award his senior season. He was twice named the Avocado League’s Cy Young Award winner, and was a two-time First Team All-Academic member. He also earned the Fallbrook High School Principal’s Award his junior and senior seasons.
Going into the 2009 MLB draft, Leake had drawn favorable comparisons to successful pitchers like Tim Hudson of the Atlanta Braves. As a six-foot right-hander, Leake is said to have a solid fastball that tops out around 94 mph, an above-average changeup, as well as a good slider and a decent curveball, all of which he can throw for strikes. But most scouts are impressed with his poise and leadership, and Leake appears ready to pitch at the major league level almost immediately.
With so much attention drawn to San Diego State hurler Stephen Strasburg, it was difficult for other right handed pitchers to get noticed on draft day. But Leake’s numbers show that he was worth a look, and the Cincinnati Reds have high hopes for the future of their first-round steal.
Leake has an older brother, Ryan, and is a management major at Arizona State. He excels in many other sports, including golf, and also enjoys playing cards. But his first love has always been baseball, and he has followed his favorite team, the Seattle Mariners, through the years. He also has paid close attention to his favorite player, Vladimir Guerrero of the Anaheim Angels.

Dr. Clayton Cooke, D.D.S.: The Comprehensive Dental Professional

Dr. Clayton Cooke, D.D.S. is not your common, “fix a hole and cavity filler” reparative dentist but a provider of unwavering comprehensive dental care.
Upon an initial interview of a prospective patient Dr. Cooke meticulously and with great care analyzes the entire unique condition of each patient, paying particular attention to both function and fit.
Longevity, cost effectiveness with lasting and comfortable restorations, improved appearance and superior dental structural and physiological function is his mission.
He will inform you of any mistakes you might be making with your teeth. He will give you simple, but wise, everyday practices which you can adopt for stronger lasting teeth so that they remain unscathed for decades.
Our teeth are vulnerable to horrendous damage. They are the only structures in the human body that do not have the ability to regenerate, and are subject to daily abuse in the hostile environment of the mouth.
Your smile is your most important and greatest asset. It affects your business and your social life and says a lot about you.
Having healthy gums and beautiful teeth is not an accident and doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg to make and maintain. Simple solutions such as regular checkups and cleanings usually produce the best results. Simple, effective and reliable solutions are the cornerstone of Dr. Clayton Cooke’s Restorative Aesthetic Dental practice.
For over 30 years, Dr. Cooke has specialized in these technical skills. They have enabled him to inform his patients of conditions they are totally unaware of, such as a bite that may be off—a fairly common problem in about 80 percent of adults—and may possibly be a symptom of TMJ or Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction, facial muscle disorders, headaches and clenching and grinding of teeth.
Dr. Cooke is committed to keeping up with advanced training and education to maintain his current expertise which also allows him to stay ahead of the curve and to interface with some of the best clinicians in the world.
He constantly strives to perfect his art. With the aid of an intra-oral camera, the patient is taken on a “mouth tour” via closed circuit television highlighting areas of concern that may become a problem that would impact the longevity of his or her teeth.
Using only the highest quality materials and equipment coupled with over 30 years of experience and constant advanced dental science study and training, it is of no wonder that Dr. Clayton Cooke is considered one of the most experienced aesthetic dentistry professionals in San Diego County.
The Fallbrook office of Clayton Cooke, DDS is located at 425 East Alvarado St., Suite A in Fallbrook. He can be reached at 760-728-5011.
Directions are as follows:
From Oceanside take the 76 east to Mission Road, turn left on Mission, proceed about 7 miles to Main Street. Turn right on Main to Alvarado, turn right on Alvarado to 425 E. Alvarado.
From Escondido take I-15 north to Fallbrook Mission exit, turn right onto Mission, proceed approximately 3.5 miles to N. Brandon Road, turn left on N. Brandon Road, then turn right onto E. Alvarado Street, proceed to 425 E. Alvarado.
TESTIMONIAL
April 14, 2009
“When I saw Dr. Clayton T. Cooke’s article in the Boulevard Magazine, which included his staff, I was curious about what cosmetic dentistry could do for me.
“So my husband and I went up to Fallbrook to visit his office and talk to his receptionist. Diane made an appointment for me with Dr. Cooke to just get acquainted and talk about all of the concerns I had with the look of my teeth.
“Dr. Cooke took the time to listen to me and then explain procedures and what could be done to correct years of wear and tear on my teeth.
“I am so happy with the results. Dr. Cooke and his staff have been marvelous. I think taking the time to explain different procedures and showing me past results of his work. I concluded that he had to be an artist at what he does.
“You can tell by talking to him and his staff that they love what they are doing. I felt like I was in good hands… I trusted them to do their very best.”
- Sylvia T. Clark
Artist, Teacher, Student & Author

Del Mar Celebrates 70 Years of Racing

“It’s a great party!” says Del Mar Racetrack President Joe Harper.
The historic track, which was built by Bing Crosby in the depths of the Great Depression, isn’t just a track where people come to watch and bet on the horses. It’s a party atmosphere for all seven weeks.
“People like to come here and have parties. It has an ambience that says ‘this is the place to be,’ ” says Harper.
“When you look at racetracks across the country, Del Mar just stands out. It’s a jewel, a track that attracts a very healthy on-track business.”
Del Mar racetrack celebrates its 70th year of horse racing entertainment this summer from July 22–Sept. 9, when it switches to racing five days a week—a reduced schedule that reflects the current economy, but which, says the racetrack, allows for an emphasis of quality over quantity.
The 1934 brain child of Bing Crosby continues to set industry trends by mixing the excitement of world-class horse racing with fabulous entertainment.
This influx of popular culture into its historic sport keeps Del Mar a mainstay in West Coast summer entertainment and as one of the top tracks in the country—despite the general malaise affecting the horse racing industry as a whole.
Harper started his career at the track as a photographer shooting the races for TV in 1967 and then came to work full time in 1977.
Bing Crosby was a tremendously influential entertainment figure in the 1930s. He had horses. He was a sportsman. He had a farm right up the road in Rancho Santa Fe.
At the time parimutuel wagering was coming back in being legalized and Santa Anita was being built.
Crosby thought it would be a great place for a summer track. He struck a deal with the State of California (which owns the property) dug up some adobe for bricks and made a racetrack.
The Depression-era WPA (Work Progress Administration) was authorized to put people to work and built the facility in 1934. The first race was in 1937.
This is its 70th racing season, instead of the 72th, because racing was put on hold during WWII.
People who have been to the fairgrounds will be familiar with the name Jimmy Durante, after which a boulevard is named. Bob Hope is another family name. Both were Crosby’s buddies. When he asked them to come to Del Mar to help him market the track, they were happy to oblige.
Other Hollywood stars of the era who were on the original board of the racetrack were Pat O’Brien (who has a pavilion at the fairgrounds named after him) and Randolph Scott.
The glitter and glamour of the Hollywood connection helped launch the racetrack.
“In those early years that’s what kicked this track off,” says Harper. “If you got on the train you might see Robert Taylor, Red Skelton or Barbara Stanwyck. Bing was a pretty good marketing guy. So much so that he got Seabiscuit to come out in 1938.”
The track has seen some of the greatest jockeys who have ever ridden. Johnny Longden, winner of the 1943 Triple Crown on Count Fleet and the only person to win the Kentucky Derby as both a jockey and trainer, broke the record for number of races ever won down at Del Mar in the 1950s. A number of years later Bill Shoemaker broke that record.
The racetrack markets its venue as much more than racing.
“We’re going to continue with things that work well, like the Friday night concert series, every Friday after the races,” says Harper.
There will be Saturday concerts, including a Reggae Festival.
Opening Day, Wednesday, July 22, takes on a life of its own with the One and Only Truly Fabulous Hats Contest. Forty thousand people usually attend opening day.
Racing is held Wednesday –Sunday, with post time for the first race at 2 p.m. On Fridays first post is at 3 p.m. For more information, call 858-755-1141 or visit www.DelMarScene.com.

James Taylor Heads Up List of Stars For Valley View Concert Series

James Taylor will be one of the headliners as Valley View Casino continues its second series of outdoor concerts.
Taylor’s work is an almost surprising contrast between his amazingly easy listening folk light roots to his ability to really get down and dirty with his rhythm and blues sides, especially with his new album Other Covers.
There will almost literally not be a dry eye in the house (although it’s technically not a ‘house’ since it’s outdoors) when he breaks into Fire and Rain or You’ve Got a Friend, some of his early, giant hits.
The outdoor concert series is highlighted by seating that is roomy and encourages guests to get up and dance, and by top-notch beverage and food service.
“Everything we do is always bigger and better!” says Ric Militi, vice president of marketing at Valley View. “We have a fantastic line-up!”
He added, “At Valley View Casino we create a concert experience like no other.”
Valley View specializes in providing guests with great music from top bands, as well as top comedians, but it goes out of its way to create an entire entertainment experience.
It’s not just another concert; it’s a party, complete with dancing in the aisles, giveaways, prizes, outstanding food and cocktails.
“Our concert venue is just an extension of all of the fun and excitement at Valley View Casino,” added Militi.
The concert series has added a food vendor, Soundbites, in the concert venue. It offers gourmet treats like soft shell crab po’ boys (succulent and crunchy), chicken Philly sandwiches, barbecue beef brisket sandwiches and wraps.
Food is served at tables and the Ultrastar Lounge will offer continuous cocktail service—and some new cocktails as well.
“We’re trying to create more of an event atmosphere rather than a concert,” said Militi. “You always get a gift and we give everyone $5 for free slot play.
“We encourage people to get up and dance and have a good time. You won’t have a security guy boss you around. It’s a big party festival, people having a good time. We’re very excited!” he said.
The concert series, which is done in cooperation with AEG Live San Diego, runs until October.
Concerts are underneath the stars at Valley View Casino’s outdoor venue, amidst a backdrop of granite cliffs and a dramatic skyline.
Tickets are on sale now for the following shows:
Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo—Thursday, July 9.
Dick Fox’s Golden Boys (Frankie Avalon, Bobby Rydell & Fabian) – Saturday, Aug. 8.
Randy Travis—Friday, August 21.
Three Dog Night & Kansas—Saturday, Sept. 12.
James Taylor – Tuesday, Sept. 15.
The Beach Boys—Saturday, Sept. 26.
The Temptations & The Four Tops—Saturday, Oct. 3. 
REO Speedwagon–Friday, Oct. 9.
To buy tickets visit ValleyViewCasino.com, the Valley View Casino Players Club or any Ticketmaster outlet. You must be at least 21 years old to enter the casino, restaurants, concerts or buses.
About 13–15 acts will complete the Valley View Casino’s summer concert series. Look for new upgrades to the concert venue such as the new food venue and the return of the Rock Star Lounge—a luxury seating area located near the concert stage complete with a plush sofa, bar tables and chairs, and complimentary soft drinks designated for one lucky concert-goer and up to three of his or her friends.
For more information about Valley View Casino, visit ValleyViewCasino.com or call 1-866-VIEW-WIN.

Keep Cool In The Summer: Keep That A/C in Tip Top Condition

Summer in Southern California is a beautiful season that rivals even the most exotic tropical locations for beauty and the potential for enjoyment.
But it also brings with it the uncomfortable, sometimes unbearable heat that can send even the most sun-baked surfer running for the comfort of an air conditioner.
For many of us, that welcome blast of cool air can be so easily lost in a whirlwind of questions if we don’t take care of our air conditioners.
Gary Boberg of Mountain Air in Escondido knows the drill all too well.
“Most of us don’t use our air conditioner during the winter, so it just sits there,” he says. “But then, when the temperature starts warming up, we go to turn it on, and it doesn’t work. And doesn’t it always happen on the hottest day when you’re expecting company or something like that?”
Boberg says the easiest things to do are simple.
“Whether it’s summer or winter, you want to check the filter before you turn it on,” he says. “Especially prior to summer when you know you’re going to be using it regularly. You want to change the filter two or three times a year, or even more if you’re someone who suffers from allergies. Changing the filter is something easy that the owner can do to keep the system running smoothly.”
And just like any other mechanized system, Boberg says to give it a test run every so often to make sure a problem hasn’t developed.
“It should be run once a month or so, just to keep it lubricated,” he says. “A lot of us won’t turn it on for months at a time, and when we go to use it in the summer, we find out that there’s a problem.”
Boberg adds that taking care of the condenser, which is the part of the unit that sits outside the house, is the key to maintaining a functioning system.
“A lot of people ask if they should cover the condenser or if they can put things on top of it, but it should be completely uncovered,” he says. “It’s the ventilation for the unit, and if it’s covered, it can overheat and cause a lot of problems. But the condenser is all-weather, so you can leave it out in the rain, or you can spray it with the garden hose, and it will be fine.”
Boberg suggests other small adjustments that can be made to the unit to help it function at its highest capacity.
“You can adjust the registers to point in a specific direction, or if you don’t have adjustable registers, you can upgrade pretty easily,” he says. “It increases airflow, and when you’re getting the air where you need it, you don’t have to run the system as much. You should also check to make sure that the return air vent isn’t blocked by any furniture or anything. That will help the system run more efficiently.”
Keeping up with the small maintenance issues of your air conditioner is important, but Boberg says that even if a small problem develops, it’s best to call a professional before it becomes a big problem.
And if you’re in the market for a new air conditioner, Boberg and the staff at Mountain Air have the latest technology ready to help you stay cool this summer.
“Typically, an air conditioner lasts ten to fifteen years,” he says. “But the air conditioners from fifteen years ago were much less efficient than what we’re using today. We can put in a system that will cool your home the same, but use less energy, which ultimately saves you money.”
Mountain Air is located at 616 West Third Avenue in Escondido. Call them at 760-480-0599.

Fallbrook Senior Care Foundation

The Fallbrook Foundation for Senior Care and its satellite Senior Day Care Center are located so unassumingly along Mission Road that you could pass by them many times without being aware of them or what they do.
In fact, on the day when I drove out to visit, I had to drive by several times before I found it!
There are two buildings; the Pittenger Building, named after William Pittenger, the Congressional Medal of Honor winner whose other home on the other end of town forms parts of the Fallbrook Historical Society museum; then there’s the Jessie Yount Building that is the location of the Senior Day Care Center.
The foundation does three things:
1) It runs the Adult/senior day care center
2) It operates the Care Van
3) It operates the Senior Care Advocacy program
Adult /Senior Day Care
The center provides day care for adults and seniors who may be frail, or affected by dementia. It has a client who is 26-years-old and one who is 99.
According to Center Administrator Teddie Borges, “We take care of folks who are not able to attend regular senior programs or social programs.”
Programs are geared to the individual and are very family-oriented to give a break to caregivers. “We focus on strengths, not weaknesses,” says Borges.
At the same time, “Our caregivers are very involved. But this allows them to go to work, to go shopping. It gives them a respite,” adds the executive director of the foundation, Morgan Cadmus.
This gives families who don’t have the resources, or simply don’t want to place their loved one in a facility, a choice.
It gives family members a chance to get out and socialize, to have a tasty, well-cooked meal and to exercise their minds with crafts and other activities.
“I think that stimulation and nutrition are paramount in slowing down the mental and physical decline,” observes Borges.
Care Van
The foundation operates two vans that are available without charge to seniors and disabled adults who need them to get round town to a doctor’s appointment or to get their hair done. It serves adults in Fallbrook, Bonsall, Rainbow and Deluz. It also gives them a chance to socialize.
It also gives the foundation a chance to look in on adults to see if they are doing all right, or if they might need assistance. Often it provides a little ray of light for people who don’t often see people anymore.
Pledges from businesses help support the van. The businesses who support the service get their logos and ads on the side of the van.
Care Van provides about 10,000 rides a year, which works out to be about 40 trips a day, five days a week. The service is needed now more than ever since the North County Transit District stopped operating its fast bus service in the Fallbrook area.
“Lots of seniors rely on this service,” notes Cadmus.
Senior Care Advocacy
The foundation has two senior care advocates on staff, one part time and the other fulltime. they are Shaun Lemon, an LVN and Irene Escopedo, a psychology social worker.
They provide free case management services for seniors who need their assistance. They can go into a senior’s home and provide resources and referrals. They can do safety checks in concert with Volunteer Sheriffs deputies.
If needed, they can accompany the senior to doctor’s appointments, and hear the doctor’s instructions so that they can make sure the patient is following the doctor’s directions.
Sometimes the greatest benefit comes from the social visits and someone showing an interest in their welfare.
The advocates work with organizations such as the Rotary Club to buy Christmas gifts and to do things like needed yard work, installing a ramp for a wheelchair entrance or putting in a new carpet.
Cadmus recalls a situation where a woman called to complain that she was in pain. One of the advocates visited her home and discovered that she had painful scrapes that were caused by exposed carpet tacks. So the advocate arranged for new flooring to be installed.
Cadmus has been with the organization for 18 months as executive director. Before that he was with the hospital district for many years performing many functions.
Borges was a criminology major who was sidetracked on her way to a law enforcement career after her favorite uncle was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. “No one in my family knew what to do. So I schooled myself about the disease.” She went from a $21/hour position to a $7/hour position so that she could work in a clinic for three and a half years, where she learned as much as she could.
Seven years ago she was asked to create a program for the day care center.
“I absolutely love my job!” she says.
She describes the Adult Day Care program as “the best kept secret in Fallbrook.”
The program has 10-15 clients each day and there is room for more.
Fund-raising
The foundation operates without government funding. Its annual $400,000 budget is 100% private funded. It has 12 employees.
It started its history in 1979 as the Fallbrook Hospital Foundation. When Fallbrook Hospital went public the foundation changed its name to the Fallbrook Healthcare Foundation and last year was reborn under its current name.
The foundation has three main fund-raising events.
The biggest—and most fun— is the Ruth Redmann Paws in the Park dog fair held each April in Live Oak Park (the fifth annual event will be held April 17, 2010). Contests include “cutest puppy” and “fastest tail wag,” and “owner dog look-alike contest,” being among the most popular. Vendors sell hot dogs and sodas. About 700 people attended last year—Most people who attend the event once bring their pooches back again and again.
Upcoming this Aug. 20, 2-4 p.m. will be the foundation’s 30th anniversary and open house.
“It’s a great opportunity to let people walk through the center and see what we do,” says Cadmus. The event will be catered by the Fallbrook Golf Course restaurant.
“Dinner with the Docs” is an event that gives 200 people a chance to sit at a table with a doctor face to face in a casual environment and ask him or her anything you like.
All the while you are entertained by piano music played by concert organist and pianist Jackson Borges.
He’s the son of Teddie Borges, who is the center administrator. The concert part of the fund-raiser was her idea. The first year it had 65 attendees. The next year there were 100. Last year the event moved to Pala Mesa and upon the suggestion of foundation’s executive director, Morgan Cadmus, the doctors were added.
The senior care adult center is a place of joy, where volunteers and staff members who enjoy what they do help enrich the lives of their adult clients, who obviously appreciate it.
When you walk in you’ll notice that there are Christmas trees in the window.
Borges explains that one year when they were getting ready to take them down that the clients begged to keep them there.
So now every day is Christmas at the center.
“If I didn’t work here, I’d be here as a volunteer!” she says, with a smile.
* * *
The Fallbrook Foundation for Senior Care is located at 135 S. Mission (the Jessie Yount Building, although next door is located at 320 W. Alvarado St.). Call them at 760-723-7713.

You'll Find A Favorite Dish at Fresco Grill

It’s 7 p.m. on a Friday at the Fresco Wine Bar and Grill in Bonsall’s River Village and the restaurant is packed. No sign of the great recession here tonight.
“Now is a good time for a picture, eh?” says proprietor Leone D’arcangelo. A lean, distinguished-looking man in a gray suit and salt and pepper hair to match, he is smilingly floating from table to table, greeting the regulars and heartily introducing himself to new friends.
He has a rich Italian accent. Originally from Sperlonga, Italy, D’arcangelo was a chef in the Italian navy and at several restaurants at home. The dishes served at his three restaurants, this one in Bonsall, one in Carlsbad and one in La Costa, are heavily weighed towards seafood. Sperlonga, which is a coastal hill town slightly south of Rome, and which Roman emperors went to vacation to escape the summer’s heat.
Most of the recipes are Northern Italian, although there are some Sicilian dishes.
When he moved to Southern California he was reminded of his birthplace, and so opened the first of his three restaurants. The Bonsall location—which opened in December of 2007— differs from the others in that it offers a full bar and more grilled specialties.
Over the buzz of a nearly full restaurant wafts the lilt of flamenco guitar, something that happens every Friday night in the Bonsall location and on Saturday in Carlsbad and Tuesday in La Costa.
D’arcangelo likes to encourage guests to try several different entrees and experience different flavors. That’s why each dish comes in full and half servings.
“I like people to try different tastes so that they have a picture of my restaurant,” he says.
I ask D’arcangelo what some of the most popular specialties are and he answers sea bass and ossobuco (braised veal shanks).
One of his personal favorites is linguine mare mosso, which consists of linguine pasta, clams, mussels, calamari, shrimp and mixed fish in a light fish bouillon and tomato sauce. “Fresh herbs! Everything nice!” he says, kissing his fingertips. “I like to make a complete meal like you would do in your home.”
He emphasizes that customer service is at the very top of his priorities.
D’arcangelo’s philosophy is “Always make sure that you do everything that the customer asks. If something is wrong I will fix it!”
His favorite dish is now one of my favorites, too— but I’m moving ahead of the story.
To make sure that everything is just right, he tastes the sauces himself every day.
I started my culinary adventure that night with homemade bread with marinara sauce made with sauteed onions and garlic for dipping. The bread was very flavorful, but light.
Next there was shrimp scampi sauteed with fresh tomatoes and garnished with homemade potato chips and asparagus. The shrimp were big, plump, firm and glistening.
Next came the special “Veneta” salad made with a variety of greens, sliced heart of palm, shaved parmesan, chopped shrimp and chopped tomatoes with a balsamic vinegar dressing. The special salad is different every night, according to Andrew, the very attentive maître d'.
With the salad I had a delicious dry white wine known as Lacryma Christi, “Tears of Christ” which originates from the region of Mt. Vesuvius.
Next came a half order of rack of lamb with gorgonzola risotto rice. The lamb was incredibly favorful—melt-in-your-mouth flavorful. It was rolled in mustard, breaded, baked and drizzled with a Grand Marnier sauce.
A red Italian wine, Prima Voce Super Tuscan, was served with this course, which included halibut parmesan. The fish was crusted in the cheese and pan seared into a golden brown, set on a bed of pasta and drizzled with a vodka cream sauce. Incredible!
I mentioned that Leone D’arcangelo’s favorite dish is the linguine mare mosso, with all of those succulent seafoods chunks swimming in the rich red sauce.
I topped the evening with a rich creme brule made with Chambord, a raspberry liquer.
If you like wine with your meal, chances are the Fresco Grill will have just the right wine to have with it from its 600 wine “cellar.”
All the while that I was eating I was watching how the waiter interacted with the other guests. They were extremely attentive and D’arcangelo visited just about every table, stopping for a friendly chat on that busy evening.
Here is man who obviously loves his work. “This is why I do it!” he says, giving the dining room a sweep with his arm as he savors the full house.
* * *
Fresco Grill is located at 5256 S. Mission Rd., in Bonsall’s River Village. Call 760-631-1944 for hours of operation and to make reservations.
The restaurant will soon introduce wine pairing dinners, cooking classes, Sunday brunch, and live weekly authentic Italian music nights.

Orange Woods Winery: Always a good year in California, especially in Pauma Valley!

If it’s possible for a glass of wine to cause a man to have an epiphany, then that can said to have happened to Jack Woods.
On a late afternoon a few years ago, after he had begun bottling bottles of wine for his private use, Woods relaxed on his veranda off Rincon Ranch Road with its magnificent view of Pauma Valley and uncorked a bottle of one of his red wines.
Woods, a retired radio personality from KFMB, who used to be part of the morning comedy team of Charlie & Harrigan, took a sip of his wine and said to himself: “Damn! This wine is as good, if not better, than any wine I’ve bought!”
That realization that he could craft wines that could compete with the best of them led Woods and his wife, Marilyn, down the path towards opening a commercial winery, called Orange Woods
Orange Woods Winery, Pauma Valley’s first commercial winery, began selling its first bottles in 2005.
Their Black Dog Zinfandel (named after their black labrador, Steamer) was a big hit at Major Market, Lazy H Restaurant, Holiday Wine Cellar, La Jolla Shores Market and Vinz Wine Bar & Tasting Room in Escondido.
Since then the Black Dog brand has been joined by puppies (er, rather other vintages) using Viognier, Chardonnay and Cabernet grapes.
He also buys some grapes (“the best damn grapes I can buy!”) from California’s Amador Valley and Contra Costa for blending.
The Woodses bought their property a dozen years ago and planted it in vines.
“We didn’t have any plan other than to retire to a beautiful place to live,” recalls Woods.
They bought 20 acres and turned over part of a hillside to experimenting with different kinds of grapes. They started with a San Giovese grape and Cabernet grapes. They later pulled the San Giovese grapes but kept the cabernet grapes (heretofore referred to as “cabs”) and the zinfandels.
They started making wine for private consumption in 1998. It was about that time that Woods decided that they could compete in the world of wines.
He took a vintculture class at UC Davis, but, he says, “You learn by doing it. You play with it and try to do it different ways.
“It really does become a fascination. There are so many things that a winemaker can do to change the product. There are any number of things you can do to affect a wine.”
But one salient fact remains: you need good grapes. “You can make bad wine out of good grapes, but you can’t make good wine out of bad grapes.”
Woods is not shy about comparing California’s wines to those of France, which has always been the Mecca of connoisseurs.
“You hear about there being a good year or a bad year in France, but part of that is because French growers are handicapped by laws such as the one that makes it illegal to irrigate vines,” he says.
“In California you’re going to have a good year just about any year. While you are going to have some years that are better than others, we almost always have good years.”
Wine snobs, particularly those in France, refer with lifted noses to “New World” wines with something surpassing disdain.
“I’m a proponent of New World wines,” says Woods. “It has more alcohol and more flavor. In France wines are more subdued. I think that California wines are the best. I like the red Zinfandels the best and they don’t make it in France.”
It is was red Zinfandel that Orange Woods chose to be its first release.
To call winemaking a personal thing is an understatement when it comes to Jack & Marilyn Woods. They do everything, including harvesting the grapes, mixing the grapes with some purchased from elsewhere, and bottling the final product.
“Growing grapes is a very intensive work, particularly during the growing season, but it’s very rewarding. They are our children,” says Woods.
Woods is proud of his product, as most dads are of their “children.” It’s not a cheap wine. You won’t find it cheek by jowl with “Two Buck Chuck,” for instance.
“I wanted a home made wine that is exceptional.” It’s not pasteurized, so it will never been sold anywhere except locally. It is has a minimum amount of sulfides added, so someone who is allergic to sulfides can drink it.
There is no wine tasting room at Orange Woods Winery. But if you want to take a private tour, just give them a call at 742-2015.

Meeting New Friends Playing Golf With the San Diego County Senior Golf League

Do you enjoy playing golf and making new friends? Do you enjoy playing lots of different courses, some of which are private, that you would not otherwise be able to play?
Do you enjoy playing these courses at a discounted price? Do you enjoy the competition of a round of golf in a tournament environment?
If the answer is yes to all of the above and you are at least 55 years old, then the San Diego County Senior Golf League may just be your cup of tea.
There are two things you need to bring with you to the San Diego County Senior Golf League: First a USGA handicap from your club. If you don’t belong to a public course’s men’s club or a private course, you will need to join one that participates in the league. You can visit the San Diego County Senior Golf League’s web site at www.SDCSGOLFLEAGUE.COM for a complete listing of the courses that participate in the league.
Second, you will need your clubs, and to pay a nominal membership fee—it’s that simple. There are 22 teams in the San Diego County Senior Golf League from all over San Diego County. In our area in North County the courses are Twin Oaks, Castle Creek, Fallbrook, San Luis Rey, The Vineyard, Lake San Marcos, and Meadow Lake. You will also being playing on courses in San Diego, like Balboa, in Chula Vista, Encinitas, and on Coronado Island.
There are usually 20 to 30 team members and they each get to play in about 8–10 matches throughout the year. The matches are on consecutive weeks, one match each at your home course, where each of the participating members pays for the visiting team players, green fees and lunch afterwards, and then the next week the favor is returned by the other team for the second half of the match.
The individual members who use them pay for golf carts, or as many members do, you can walk. “It’s a great way to meet other senior San Diego golfers”, says member Bob Franck. Bob has been a member of Twin Oaks and has participated in San Diego County Senior Golf for three years and really enjoys the competition and playing many courses he might not otherwise play.
Several times a year the San Diego County Senior Golf League has special sweep events open to all members under different formats, typically with shotgun starts. If you are interested in San Diego County Senior Golf you can go to their website, listed above, and contact the club nearest to you to determine how you join.

 

The Boulevard Magazine
P.O.B. 1529, Valley Center, CA 92082
Tel. 760.749.1112 Fax 760.749.1688