​ESCONDIDO, CA.
Lake Hodges residents may be surprised to know that the lower water levels people might be seeing around Lake Hodges are not drought-related but instead are due to the ongoing work repairing the 100-year-old Lake Hodges Dam. This critical infrastructure work on the Escondido dam began in May and is expected to be completed by October.

During an inspection earlier this year, the city of San Diego identified areas in the Lake Hodges dam wall that needed to be repaired and sealed. To complete the work, the water level of the reservoir had to be lowered by at least 18 feet, to an elevation of 275 feet. According to the city, by starting the repairs during the dry season, the water level can more easily be lowered and maintained at a lower level so that the repairs can be made.

The water level remains low so that crews can access parts of the dam that are typically underwater. The general contractor, Marathon, is completing the work on rafts specially shaped to match the curves of the dam’s upstream face. Damaged areas are being filled and repaired.

Impacts of the Lake Hodges dam repair are being closely monitored, especially those to biological resources such as birds and fish. According to the city, there have not been any reports of negative effects.

The Lake Hodges reservoir provides water supply for the San Diego County Water Authority, San Dieguito Water District and the Santa Fe Irrigation District, which serves Rancho Santa Fe and Solana Beach.

As a result of the lowered water level, Lake Hodges Reservoir is closed for recreation while the repair project is underway. The San Dieguito River Park trails and facilities around Hodges Reservoir will not be impacted during the construction work.

Anyone with questions about the repairs can call (619) 668-2050 or email [email protected]

ESCONDIDO, CA.
Lake Hodges will experience a void in recreation as boating and fishing at the Lake Hodges reservoir in Escondido will be prohibited for about five months as the city of San Diego outsources repairs to cracks in the face of the Lake Hodges dam.

Preliminary work for the repair project is underway. As the project moves forward, the lake’s water level must be lowered, leaving the boat launch ramps inaccessible, and exposing slippery, muddy banks that will be unsafe for public access, said Arian Collins, a city spokesperson, in an email.

Hiking on the San Dieguito River Park trails around the reservoir will not be impacted during the draw-down of the water or construction work on the dam, said Collins.

The damage to the upstream face of the dam was discovered during a recent safety inspection. To complete the repairs, the water level at the reservoir will be lowered by 18 feet, to 275 feet, reducing the reservoir’s storage capacity.

While Lake Hodges is popular as a recreational asset, its main purpose is serving as a source of drinking water for residents of San Diego County, as well as an emergency storage facility for the region’s water system. The dam was built in 1918, and the city of San Diego purchased the dam and reservoir in 1925.

Along with the city, the Santa Fe Irrigation District, which serves Rancho Santa Fe, Solana Beach and part of Fairbanks Ranch, and the San Dieguito Water District, which serves portions of Encinitas and Leucadia, also have rights to Lake Hodges water.

Al Lau, general manager of the Santa Fe irrigation district, said his agency draws about 2,500 to 3,000 acre feet of water per year from Lake Hodges, or about one-third of the district’s total supply.

An acre-foot is the amount of water that would cover an acre of land to one foot deep. INTERESTING INFORMATIONAL NUGGET:  an average California family uses between a half and a full acre foot of water per year for both indoor and outdoor use, according to the Water Education Foundation.

City officials said they haven’t determined the cost of the repair project, but the city will be the lead agency. The cost of the repairs will be borne by the County Water Authority, the city of San Diego, and the Santa Fe and San Dieguito water districts, said Lau.

As the water level at Hodges is drawn down, officials plan to route as much as they can to other reservoirs, which are connected by pipelines. However, some water from the lake’s lower depths may be of poor quality and unsuitable for storage, so it may be discharged into the San Dieguito River, said Lau.

“We’re working with the city to try to maximize the use of the water supply,” he said.

The timing of the project is good from a water management standpoint, said Lau, because the work is planned for the summer and early fall, when San Diego County typically receives little rainfall.

He said he is “cautiously optimistic” work will be completed before the start of the rainy season in the fall, so Hodges can be used at full capacity to capture rainfall needed for the region’s water supply. City officials also want the work to proceed expeditiously.

“The city is working with its contractor to perform the repairs as quickly as possible so that the water level can be restored and recreation activities can resume,” Collins wrote.

At its maximum capacity, the lake can hold about 30,600 acre-feet, Collins wrote. During the repairs when the lake level is lowered, it will hold about 4,300 acre-feet.

While the repairs are taking place and Hodges is closed to boating and fishing, recreational users can visit the city’s other eight reservoirs, which will be open for use. More information can be found at www.sandiego.gov/reservoirs-lakes.

A century ago in San Diego County, in the fall and winter of 1918, the Lake Hodges Dam was nearing completion. The project was undertaken by the San Dieguito Mutual Water Company under the leadership of Ed Fletcher, William Henshaw and the Santa Fe Railroad Company. Its goal was to harness the waters of the San Dieguito River to promote the development of lands owned by the railroad, primarily in Rancho Santa Fe. But ultimately it would serve to promote the development of a good chunk of northern San Diego County as well as the city of San Diego, which would eventually become the owner of the Lake Hodges Reservoir.

​The photo below was taken in December 1918 at the dam site. It’s from the privately published Memoir of Ed Fletcher. Fletcher is standing on the far right. The man farthest left is W. E. Hodges, who was then the vice president of the Santa Fe Railroad and the man for whom the dam and the lake would ultimately be named. Next to Mr. Hodges is E.P. Ripley, president of the railroad. To the immediate right of Ripley is Mrs. Mary Fletcher, wife of Ed. To her right stands Mrs. Caroline Hodges, followed by Mrs. Frances Ripley.

Escondido, CA.  We all know the feeling, we are working on a spring clean-up in our yards near Lake Hodges and we lift something up and yeeeeooowww, there lurks a rattlesnake.  After our blood pressure comes back down we ask ourselves "well how in the hell am I going to get this guy outta here?"  Thanks to neighbors, there is a solution.

Will Troxel, a Lake Hodges and Del Dios resident, happens to be a rattlesnake removal expert, will give a presentation about snakes on Saturday, May 2nd, 10-12 at the Firehouse on Elm Place.  Sponsored by the Del Dios Fundraisers there will be no charge for the event but, donations will be accepted to enable Will to purchase snake relocation materials.  If you have a snake emergency, consider calling Will directly at 760 893 0510

Escondido, CA.  Dear Lake Hodges residents, it’s that time of year, the Spring town cleanup will be held next Saturday, April 24th.  This event makes

From Brian Caldwell:  "Your Del Dios town Council would like to invite as many volunteers as possible to help clean up our town. We would like to know who will attend and what area of the town you intend to clean, (specific streets, blocks, parts of streets, Lake Hodges shore or anywhere else for that matter). All you’ll need to bring is a pair of gloves, appropriate clothing, and if you have a set of trash prongs, bring them along. We can provide trash bags for everyone that participates. The usual protocol is pick up the trash, then leave the full bags in a conspicuous place on Lake drive for one of our vehicles to pick up, or simply swing by and drop it into the dumpster. If you will be volunteering your vehicle/truck, please let us know when you RSVP. In the past residents have used the ‘free’ provided dumpster as a place to dump any trash that residents may have accumulated that is too big for regular EDCO trash pickup. The community sees no problem with this but encourage you to also participate in the cleanup.  Remember NO TIRES, NO PAINT CANS, OR OTHER TOXIC MATERIALS, INCLUDED BUT NOT LIMITED TO CAR BATTERIES, OLD OIL, SOLVENTS OR OTHER HAZARDOUS WASTE. We’d like anyone who would like to participate to RSVP me directly, Brian Caldwell, using the following e-mail address, Brian at LakeHodgesPhotoTours  dot com
Let's have a good turnout!   Cheers, Brian Caldwell on 3rd.

Escondido, CA.  Spring in certainly in the air and gardening boots and gloves are coming out left and right.
Thanks to Bob Heygood's Del Dios Bulletin, Lake Hodges residents can glean some hot tips from some resident-volunteered answers to 'hose corrosion' questions, a dilemma that all of us deal with.

Regarding hard water on hoses and metal connections:
"What I found works is to put plumbers tape (the thin white stuff) around each threaded end of a hose, then screw them onto a sprayer of hose bib. Every month, loosen them up and then re-tighten them. This at least keeps them from binding up.  As far as corrosion of moving parts on the sprayers, the least amount of metal the better, or good quality (high price) stainless steel."  A big thanks to Chris on Elm!

Regarding hard-water on fixtures:
"The deposits are alkaline in nature, with a pH above 7.
A light dousing in a weak acid (the chemical opposite) should do the trick.
Apple cider vinegar (pH about 3.5) will dissolve hard-water deposits over time.
Distilled white vinegar (pH 2.5) is a stronger acid and will work faster.
Anything stronger (lower pH) will etch/pit metal and be counter-productive."
Once again, a big thank you to Chris on Elm for sharing his gardening equipment wisdom!

Here are some other handy solutions to the same problem:
https://gardenaxis.com/how-do-i-remove-calcium-from-my-garden-hose/

​

 Escondido, CA.  Thanks to your generosity, the Campaign for Del Dios has reached its $322,000 goal!
With your help, the San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy now holds title to 117 acres of habitat overlooking Lake Hodges in Escondido, Californoia.  In just three months, nearly 200 of you have supported our campaign. Your gift of natural habitat is permanent and we thank you very much.  We have wasted no time in deploying wildlife cameras and tracking animals' movements along this important corridor.  
Here is a photo of this wonderful habitat:

Many Lake Hodges residents have demonstrated incredible generosity, please 'join the club' and make a donation for the conservation of open space as your own legacy!
Our supporters care about nature. They understand that conservation is permanent. They understand that natural habitat plays a critical role not just for wildlife but for the health and wellness of people.
In the Campaign for Del Dios, any gift of any size translates directly into conservation. 
To all of our donors, thank you so very much!
​
$100,000+
Al and Steve Tarkington; Carol Mann and Alan Vier

$50,000+
Bill Sherrard

$10,000+
David Welborn and Ann Hunter-Welborn

$5,000+
Karen Berger

$1,000+
Team Leininger Trust Fund; Boris Andreev; Dr. Paul and Beverly Milling; David Hodges; Jim and Jane Lea Smith; Cahill Family Fund; Sam and Joyce Hoffman; Eric and Suellen Lodge; Bruce Mengler; Bradley A. Bartlett and Jane K Meyers; Sandra Zarcades; Candace and Jerry Garner; Jill Weitzen MacDonald; John A. And Susan Miller

$500+
Chaco and Christine Clotfelter; Oliver Ryder; Kate and Tom Dalton; Thomas and Barbara Dilworth; Leslie Kuhn; Robert Farber and Eve Martin; Rick Noble; Linda Oster; Deborah Davies; Nancy and Ike Eastman; Monika and Pat Hseu; Stuart H. Hurlbert; Craig S. Kowieski; Pamela Maher; Robert Farber and Eve Martin

$200+
Janette Lines; Brant and Charty Bassett; Erik R Davis; John Duncan; Anton Endress; Bonnie Packert and Fred Watkins; Julie Hocking and Jim Baross; Candice Lenney; Amy McQuade; Mark Scheuer; Sharon Worman-Bryne; Craig Adams; Alan and Jerelyn Creutz; James and Kathleen Drummond; Cathrine Greene; Bob Hinzman; Nora Jaffe; Scott Lewis; Janette Lines; Christopher MacPhail; Margaret J. Peill; Lisa Mary Profeta; Marc L. Shaffer; Bill and Mandy Stallcup

$100+
Michelle Courtney; Paul and Sandra Gerard; Jessica Norton; Abraham Palmer; Ali Shapouri; Glenn Silverman; Marie Walton; Dan Silver; Robert Byrnes; Liz Belloso; Sondra Boddy; Rebecca Buswell; Linda Davidhizar; David and Linda Dollins; Holly Grant; Timothy & Gudrun Ulman; Karla & Alexander Von Storch; Glen Little; Mairye Bates; Amanda Chin; Kelly M. Clemeshaw; Joel and Kathleen Cook; Anne Cooper; Richard Crosland; Susan Follows; Curt and Kathy Foster; Warren Fox; Bob and Sandy Irwin; Laura Jeremiah; Henry Kane; Gordon George Kaplan; Jeffrey Katz; Peggy C. Koger; Phil Pryde and Alison Cummings; Doreen and Robert Reagle; Greg Brian Schuett; Jeannie Smith; Edward Wicker

$5+
Tina Pryor; Laura and Ervin Wheeler; James Dietz; William Fish; Linda Badii; Karen Matthews; Carol Epstein; Brenda & Tom Koenig; Liza Gusi Marquardt; Diana VanOrmer; Cherrie La Porte; Lawrence Pallant; Tracy Henchbarger; Ken Maculan; Shana and Shirley Norell; Harvey Levine; Lydia Tucker-Clark; Naomi Urbina; Kathy Dickey; Gail Susan Welch; Paula Rae Vanroy; Beverly Rossio; Tom Leech; Lesley Ann Marples; Isabella Lopez-Powers; Robert Little; Suzanne Jakovac​

Escondido, CA.  Lake Hodges land acquisition is up to 94% funded.  Can you help push it over the top?  Please consider making a financial gift to the San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy.  Many Lake Hodges residents have demonstrated incredible generosity, please 'join the club' and make a donation for the conservation of open space as your own legacy!
From the San Diegutio River Valley Conservancy:
"Despite the unimaginable challenges of the global pandemic and fractious politics, our donors have pushed the campaign for our 117-acre Del Dios land acquisition to nearly 94 percent of our goal. Our target is $322,000. As of today, raised funds total $302,443.  This generosity has come together in less than three months. What do the gifts tell us? 
Our supporters care about nature. They understand that conservation is permanent. They understand that natural habitat plays a critical role not just for wildlife but for the health and wellness of people.
In the Campaign for Del Dios, any gift of any size translates directly into conservation. 
To all of our donors, thank you so very much!
​
$100,000+
Al and Steve Tarkington; Carol Mann and Alan Vier

$50,000+
Bill Sherrard

$10,000+
David Welborn and Ann Hunter-Welborn

$5,000+
Karen Berger

$1,000+
Team Leininger Trust Fund; Boris Andreev; Dr. Paul and Beverly Milling; David Hodges; Jim and Jane Lea Smith; Cahill Family Fund; Sam and Joyce Hoffman; Eric and Suellen Lodge; Bruce Mengler; Bradley A. Bartlett and Jane K Meyers; Sandra Zarcades; Candace and Jerry Garner; Jill Weitzen MacDonald; John A. And Susan Miller

$500+
Chaco and Christine Clotfelter; Oliver Ryder; Kate and Tom Dalton; Thomas and Barbara Dilworth; Leslie Kuhn; Robert Farber and Eve Martin; Rick Noble; Linda Oster; Deborah Davies; Nancy and Ike Eastman; Monika and Pat Hseu; Stuart H. Hurlbert; Craig S. Kowieski; Pamela Maher; Robert Farber and Eve Martin

$200+
Janette Lines; Brant and Charty Bassett; Erik R Davis; John Duncan; Anton Endress; Bonnie Packert and Fred Watkins; Julie Hocking and Jim Baross; Candice Lenney; Amy McQuade; Mark Scheuer; Sharon Worman-Bryne; Craig Adams; Alan and Jerelyn Creutz; James and Kathleen Drummond; Cathrine Greene; Bob Hinzman; Nora Jaffe; Scott Lewis; Janette Lines; Christopher MacPhail; Margaret J. Peill; Lisa Mary Profeta; Marc L. Shaffer; Bill and Mandy Stallcup

$100+
Michelle Courtney; Paul and Sandra Gerard; Jessica Norton; Abraham Palmer; Ali Shapouri; Glenn Silverman; Marie Walton; Dan Silver; Robert Byrnes; Liz Belloso; Sondra Boddy; Rebecca Buswell; Linda Davidhizar; David and Linda Dollins; Holly Grant; Timothy & Gudrun Ulman; Karla & Alexander Von Storch; Glen Little; Mairye Bates; Amanda Chin; Kelly M. Clemeshaw; Joel and Kathleen Cook; Anne Cooper; Richard Crosland; Susan Follows; Curt and Kathy Foster; Warren Fox; Bob and Sandy Irwin; Laura Jeremiah; Henry Kane; Gordon George Kaplan; Jeffrey Katz; Peggy C. Koger; Phil Pryde and Alison Cummings; Doreen and Robert Reagle; Greg Brian Schuett; Jeannie Smith; Edward Wicker

$5+
Tina Pryor; Laura and Ervin Wheeler; James Dietz; William Fish; Linda Badii; Karen Matthews; Carol Epstein; Brenda & Tom Koenig; Liza Gusi Marquardt; Diana VanOrmer; Cherrie La Porte; Lawrence Pallant; Tracy Henchbarger; Ken Maculan; Shana and Shirley Norell; Harvey Levine; Lydia Tucker-Clark; Naomi Urbina; Kathy Dickey; Gail Susan Welch; Paula Rae Vanroy; Beverly Rossio; Tom Leech; Lesley Ann Marples; Isabella Lopez-Powers; Robert Little; Suzanne Jakovac​

Escondido, CA.  Lake Hodges resident's mourn the passing of longtime local Don Boy. Don, a local real estate broker, made a huge contribution to Lake Hodges residents by leading an effort to allow residents to purchase lots abutting their own from the City of San Diego.  Although these lots could never have homes built on them, they do allow septic leech line expansion space but more importantly allowed residents to create gardens, orchards and stables in essence further beautifying the neighborhood.  Don will be sadly missed as he was a walking historian on Escondido homes and Lake Hodges and was always generous to impart or share his knowledge and wisdom.  Many will be glad to know that Don passed away while enjoying one of his favorite things on earth...surfing.  May his legacy of being a huge positive influence on the community never be forgotten.  Godspeed to Don's wife Pamela.

ESCONDIDO, CA.  If there was ever an opportunity to "put your money where you mouth is" this may be it!
The San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy is purchasing a 103-acre parcel north of Lake Hodges that will preserve open space and native habitat.

The land was originally part of the El Cielo residential development, and was slated for housing construction, said Trish Boaz, executive director for the conservancy. The organization, with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the California Wildlife Conservation Board, will buy the land from the owners for $2,266,000, with escrow expected to close by the end of this month, she said. The parcel will be part of the open space protected through the San Diego County Multiple Species Conservation Program.

“So we will be preserving this open space instead of development coming in,” Boaz said. “It is a vital wildlife corridor, and it links open space preserves together. We have mule deer, coyotes, a number of threatened plants.”

Preserving the land will help sequester carbon, improve water quality in the watershed, conserve biodiversity and protect pollinator habitat, the conservancy said. The property includes Southern Mixed Chaparral and Diegan Coastal Sage Scrub. It is identified as habitat for the coastal California gnatcatcher, raptors, and migratory birds, and initial surveys found one species of special concern, the Rufous-crowned sparrow. Once the purchase closes, the conservancy will do a deeper dive into the biological resources at the site.

“It’s in beautiful shape, but what we will do now is go on site and conduct biological surveys, see what we have out there,” Boaz said. “And once we come up with resources we have on the property, we can develop a management and monitoring plan.”

They plan to team up with Palomar Audubon, the California Native Plants Society San Diego Chapter, and the San Diego Tracking Team, which identifies wildlife based on tracks and scat, in order to inventory resources at the site. They will also involve citizen scientists to help explore and catalogue its flora and fauna.

The conservancy must contribute $226,600, or 10 percent of the cost of the property, to the purchase. It received an initial private donation of $50,000, and is fund-raising now to cover the remainder of its share, Boaz said. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will contribute $1,586,200 from the Federal Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund Grant Program and the Wildlife Conservation Board is contributing $453,200 from Proposition 68, a 2018 state ballot measure that voters approved to pay for parks, environment and water. They will also purchase an adjacent 14-acre parcel for $500,000 in March, bringing the newly preserved area to 117 acres.

To see an infographic of the project, click here.

ESCONDIDO, CA. The unofficial Lake Hodges Fund Raising Committee will hold a Bake Sale December 19 and 20.  It will include baked goods, jams and jellies and a cookie exchange.  We are hoping for donations: 8oz. jelly jars, jar rings, sugar, pectin, baking flour and excess fruit.  We also encourage you to make and bake.  Who wants to make salsa?  Call me if you can help. Call LOIS on 4th if you can help.

Escondido, CA.  The Lake Hodges community of Del Dios relies on a residential water supply commonly referred to as 'hard' water for it's high mineral content that often leaves fixtures with excessive mineral build-up or 'calcification.'
Thanks to the benefit of an intranet created and managed by resident Bob Heygood, he has combined and shared residents feedback and here are the results:

A residents experience is based on twenty years in the Del over 10 homes.
Del Dios water is very very hard. 80 grains or 1400 TDS. This in my opinion makes the water taste bad and creates difficulties in cleaning dishes, cars and people.  There are three objectives for water treatment:
1) remove sand that clogs fixtures = use a cheap whole house water filter. $200 DIY, triple the cost to use a plumber.
2) Have good drinking water = a 5 or 6 stage Reverse Osmosis system for kitchen sink or buy jugs of water. $300 DIY, double for a plumber. Maintenance is <$100 per year.

3) Soften water for better cleaning = salt based water softener with separate dry well/ grey water pit for salt containment.  $2-3k for softener, $3-10k dry well if it is even possible on your lot. Salt = $10-40 per month.

If you want to meet all three objectives you need to install all three systems.
If you don’t have at least 60Psi from the water meter you may need a water pressure pump to allow these systems to work. = more $

Do Not discharge salt water into septic systems! In the long term this might cost you a new septic system. $30-40K
Thank you, Rob on Ash
------------------------------
For those interested in a quality Reverse Osmosis system to install.
Recommend suppliers.
1) Applied Membranes Inc (AMI) in Vista.  They use the name wateranywhere dot com as their storefront. $140 for 5 stage. $340 for 6 stage.

2) Watts.  Used to be sold at Costco now available at amazon or local plumbing suppliers like Ferguson or Winsupply. $240 for 5 stage.

In my definition a 6 stage adds back minerals. It is called a alkaline/ mineral filter. This makes the water taste good. Regular RO waters tastes like distilled water.

Please note that RO systems waste water.  You will yield one gallon per TWO to THREE GALLONS DISCHARGED!Th
Thank you, Rob on Ash
------------------------------
We installed a whole house filtration system from Rainsoft about five years ago.  It was at that time promoted thru Home Depot.

It consists of the usual salt or chloride tank, a controller system, a drinking water filter, and a washing machine system additional “oxygenator”.

Once a year, a technician services, checks it, and changes filters. Primary cost is the salt required for the processor.

However, we cook with, make ice & drink our water from the well.
Linda/Top o'Tam
------------------------------

Tap for household
Express Water RO Filter under sink for cooking & drinking and ice.

-------------------------------
​Big Berkey Filter System.
Ann Marie Finley/The Grape Escape

 

Escondido, CA.  Want the perfect excuse to get involved in the community that you love so much?  Want to get outside, enjoy some fresh air and mild exercise and catch-up with neighbors?  Well then this might be the perfect event for you, the annual Lake Hodges Fall town cleanup.
The Lake Hodges Fall town cleanup will be held this Saturday, Oct 31st . Your Del Dios town Council would like to invite as many volunteers as possible to help clean up our town. We would like to know who will attend and what area of the town you intend to clean, (specific streets, blocks, parts of streets, Lake shore or anywhere else for that matter). All you’ll need to bring is a pair of gloves, appropriate clothing, and if you have a set of trash prongs, bring them along. We can provide trash bags for everyone that participates. The usual protocol is pick up the trash, then leave the full bags in a conspicuous place on Lake drive for one of our vehicles to pick up, or simply swing by and drop it into the dumpster. If you will be volunteering your vehicle/truck, please let us know when you RSVP. In the past residents have used the ‘free’ provided dumpster as a place to dump any trash that residents may have accumulated that is too big for regular Edco trash pickup. The community sees no problem with this but encourage you to also participate in the cleanup.  Remember NO TIRES, NO PAINT CANS, OR OTHER TOXIC MATERIALS, INCLUDED BUT NOT LIMITED TO CAR BATTERIES, OLD OIL, SOLVENTS OR OTHER HAZARDOUS WASTE. We’d like anyone who would like to participate to RSVP me directly, Brian Caldwell, using the following e-mail address, Brian at LakeHodgesPhotoTours  dot com Let's have a good turnout! Thank you. Brian.

Escondido, CA.  Famed Lake Hodges resident and guitarist Greg Douglass would like to invite you to a combination acoustic/electric concert at  the Skye Mama's Barn, 526 Paseo Del Norte, Escondido 920296 , on Saturday, October 24th, from 6:30 to 9:30 PM.  To keep things Covid-19 safe, we are limiting ticket sales to 48 persons. There is plenty of room for social distancing and an outdoor area where you can listen to the music in absolute safety. We've missed playing live music and we miss YOU. You can get tickets at gregdouglassguitar-dot-com. They are $20 each. You can also call (760) 212-3648 to go old-school and arrange to send a check. All tickets must be paid in advance.; no pay-at-the-door reservations.

SAT, OCT 24, 2020 @ 6:30PM — 9:30PM
 Skye Mama's Barn-SOLD OUT!!!!!!, 526 Paseo Del Norte, Escondido 920296 CA
NOTE: EVENT IS NOW SOLD OUT!!!!! NO MORE TICKETS AS OF 10-16-20 . We had to cancel our show here in March but we're going to make up for it on October 24th with a special part-acoustic, part-electric show!! Greg will be doing some killer fingerpicking instrumentals, you can hear Wild Rose at her absolute best, and our boy Hector Toro will be singing and playing percussion and our secret weapon, Joe "Lightning' Hastings, will be holding down the bottom with the bass! We have new material and we're re-shaping some of our classics into something new and incredible. Skye Mama's Barn is the best sounding place to hear music in San Diego. Limited capacity; each band member gets 10 attendees. $20 per person, strictly paid in advance via PayPal. Some of you will be getting private messages from various band members; you can also private message Greg at [email protected]...but do it NOW. It's going to be a great evening! You can access my PayPal account (listed below) to pay in advance; those ten tickets per band member are going to go quickly. It's been a long time since we shared a show together, so: don't delay! October 24th is coming up quickly. PLENTY OF ROOM FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING , a large outdoor area to give you some extra security, and , since several people have asked, wearing a mask would be a nice thing to do...and it's a week before Halloween so masks are appropriate for both health AND festive reasons!

Greg & Jeri Douglass

Harmony House

Escondido, CA.  The Lake Hodges community of Del Dios is seeking donations of movie DVDs, in good condition and something you think your neighbors would enjoy watching.  Unfortunately Betamax and VHS video cassettes cannot be used.  If you have an qualified movie DVD please contact Ruth Ketchum.  Please do not leave donations of DVDs or any other materials at the Firehouse.  Thank you.

Escondido, CA.
Lake Hodges opening day.  It's always so fun to see fellow San Diegan's having fun!  Amongst the enthusiastic opening-day crowd were Stand-up paddle boarders (SUP'ers), dock fishermen, boat fisherman, cruisers, windsurfers, pedal kayakers, picnic'ers, hikers, walkers and mountain bikers.  It was truly a thrill to see the parking lot almost completely full as many San Diegan's made the sacrifice to be there for opening day and enjoy the invigoration of being out on and next to this gorgeous body of water.  HERE is a video of how full the parking lot was.  The 1,234-acre reservoir that has been closed since November, but the serene paradise is home to fishermen/women and just plain lovers of lovely landscapes and hiking, is opening its gates to let the good times roll.

The lake’s shoreline stretches for 27 miles, surrounding a pristine body of water that sinks as low as 115 feet deep.

The park just south of Escondido at Del Dios is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Lake Hodges has six barbecues and 12 picnic tables, perfect for the whole family to enjoy.

Leashed dogs are allowed at Lake Hodges, the city said.

A wide range of water activities are allowed at the park, including fishing, boating, canoeing, tubing, and paddleboarding.

There is no swimming or camping allowed at the reservoir. To learn more about the rules and opportunities at Lake Hodges, click here.

Lake Hodges supplies water to the San Dieguito Water District and Santa Fe Irrigation District, according to its website.

The park itself doesn’t have a drinking fountain, so the city warns San Diegans to bring their own water.

Lake Hodges was created in 1918 with the building of Hodges Dam on San Dieguito Creek. It is owned by the city of San Diego and operated by the Public Utilities Department.

For information about Hodges, including boating and fishing rules and permits, as well as details about the City’s other reservoirs, please visit sandiego.gov/reservoirs-lakes.

Escondido, California.
It's that time of year, the Spring Del Dios Lake Hodges town cleanup will be held this Saturday, April 25th. Your Del Dios Town Council would like to invite as many volunteers as possible to help clean up our town. We would
like to know who will attend and what area of the town you intend to clean, (specific streets, blocks, parts of streets, or anywhere else for that matter). No area is too small! All you'll need to bring is a pair of gloves,
appropriate clothing, and if you have a set of trash prongs, bring them along. Please provide your own trash bags. The usual protocol is pick up the trash, then leave the full bags in a conspicuous place on Lake drive for one
of our vehicles to pick up, or simply swing by and drop it into the dumpster. If you will be volunteering your vehicle/truck, please let us know when you RSVP. In the past residents have used the 'free' provided dumpster
as a place to dump any trash that residents may have accumulated that is too big for regular EDCO trash pickup. The community sees no problem with this but encourage you to also participate in the cleanup. Remember NO TIRES, NO PAINT CANS, OR OTHER TOXIC MATERIALS, INCLUDED BUT NOT LIMITED TO CAR BATTERIES, OLD OIL, SOLVENTS OR OTHER HAZAROUS WASTE. We'd like anyone who would like to participate to RSVP me directly, Brian Caldwell, using the following e-mail address, Brian at LakeHodgesPhotoTours.com  Thank you. Brian.

Escondido, California.
SITREP.  Two man recon team deployed for riverine assault in an area-of-operations approximately one click southwest of Lake Hodges Dam.  Active counter-recon patrols spotted on foot and in two separate rotary wing aircraft.  Team was not compromised.  Team did not make contact. Infil and exfil complete.  No casualties or KIA's. *Proud to lead the 3rd generation of river runners into some backyard fun..."now hold ma beer and watch this"

Escondido, California.
April 10th was a record-breaker for many towns in San Diego for having the largest amount of rainfall in a single day.  Enjoy some photos and video of this moving water in and around Lake Hodges and RSF.

I've waited a lifetime to surf a wave closer to Lake Hodges than the beach.
I have been scouting this wave with every rain storm that I could over the years but never has there been enough water to create a ride-able 'standing' wave....until April 10th.

This 'creek slab' was one of the funnest local experiences in a long time.

Here she is in all her beauty:​

Escondido, California. 
Hillsides around Lake Hodges are awash in blue spring flowers of 'California wild lilac' aka Ceanothus.  Laying a blue blanket across California hillsides each spring, Ceanothus is a large genus of North American native shrubs in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae. The genus includes more than 60 species of highly fragrant plants, ranging from low-growing shrubs to small trees. Many varieties are endemic to California.

California wild lilac is a bit finicky and only grows in areas that have temperatures that are low enough in summer and mild enough in winter to support this plant, and indeed almost all of the species originate in California.

• "Ceonothus" comes from a Greek word meaning "spiny plant"
• Californian species of Ceanothus are commonly known collectively as California lilacs, with individual species having more descriptive common names.
• Ceanothus is a good source of nutrition for deer, specifically mule deer along the West Coast of the United States. However, the leaves are not as nutritious from late spring to early fall as they are in early spring. Porcupines and quail have also been seen eating stems and seeds of these shrubs. The leaves are a good source of protein and the stems and leaves have been found to contain a high amount of calcium.
• Native Americans used the dried leaves of this plant as an herbal tea, and early pioneers used the plant as a substitute for black tea. Miwok Indians of California made baskets from Ceanothus branches. Ceanothus integerrimus has been used by North American tribes to ease childbirth.
• Attracts birds, bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects
• Grows quickly and can fill in large spaces in a short period of time
• Variety of garden use: works well as screens, hedges, groundcovers, specimens, wall plantings, shrub borders, and as container plantings
• Thrives despite near-neglect level of care (low/no watering is a must)
• Deer resistance: the less water and fertilization in the soil, the more deer resistant the plants become
• Medicinal: according to the UC Sonoma County Master Gardeners, a historic use for fresh or dried flowers of some varieties was lathering into soap, providing relief from poison oak, eczema and rash.

​Escondido, California
Mysterious Machine Dropped to the Bottom of Lake Hodges
The Speece Cone is expected to clean city drinking water
By Joe Little
 
A machine now rests 70 feet deep, pumping oxygen into Lake Hodges in Escondido, California.
It’s the only one of its kind in all of Southern California and no one will see it again for years.
“It’s a giant upside-down cone with some pipes,” said Jeff Pasek. “It’s a strange looking device.”
It’s a strange looking device called a Speece Cone that’s expected to improve the water quality at Lake Hodges in Escondido, California.
“It’s not going to be seen again for a number of years because it’s 70 feet deep in the reservoir,” said Pasek, a Project Officer with the City of San Diego’s Public Utilities Department.
The $3.4 million project will constantly inject oxygen into the reservoir which will reduce the nutrients that algae feed on, Pasek said.
“There’s quite a bit of runoff captured in Lake Hodges Reservoir that we could use more efficiently if the water quality were improved,” he said. “The problem with the water quality in Hodges is that it grows a lot of algae.”
“This is the first one to be installed in Southern California,” Pasek added.
Lake Hodges Reservoir can hold enough water for 60,000 families for an entire year. That water is shared between the city of San Diego, the San Dieguito Water District, and the Santa Fe Irrigation District.

​Speece cones offer a very efficient method for increasing oxygen levels in water for aquaculture applications as well as zoo and aquarium exhibits. The oxygen cone concept was originally developed by Dr. Richard Speece at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, USA.  Speece initially called his system a down flow bubble contact aeration apparatus, a device used to supersaturate water with oxygen.The complete system included an inverted funnel open at the bottom with a water pump at the top, a bubble diffuser located about mid depth and a source of oxygen gas. The design has since been modified to an enclosed cone-shaped chamber.The early design of the cone was limited to the wildlife hydrostatic pressure as defined by the depth at which the funnel was placed in the water body. The newer enclosed cones can be used at higher pressures limited by the type of material used for construction. Cones have been designed using polyvinyl chloride, fiberglass or stainless steel materials.Gas Transfer The transfer of oxygen gas to the water follows Henry’s Law, which is used to determine saturation concentrations of dissolved gases. According to Henry’s Law, under steady-state conditions, the partial pressures of dissolved gases in water are in balance with the pressures of the same gases in the atmosphere above the water.When the pressure of the gases over water is decreased, the amount of dissolved gas also decreases. In addition, the saturation concentrations of those gases will vary depending on temperature,salinity and pressure. Higher pressure increases the amount of gas dissolved per unit volume, so the saturation concentration for a gas is higher at higher pressure or in deeper water. The inverse is the case for temperature and salinity. Water at higher temperature or salinity dissolves less gas per unit volume.Cone Operation Speece oxygen cones are fairly easy to install and operate. Once installed, they are virtually maintenance-free. Water enters at the top of the cone and flows downward. At the same time, oxygen is introduced through a fitting at or near the top of the cone. The downward-flowing water counteracts the buoyancy of the rising oxygen bubbles. The bubbles are kept in suspension, no matter how large or small they are. Because the cone is pressurized, effluent water becomes supersaturated with oxygen by the time it reaches the tank.The design of the cone optimizes oxygen transfer, and efficiencies up to 100%are possible. Concentrations of oxygen greater than saturation can be obtained depending on various operational parameters. For example, Speece cones can provide dissolved oxygen levels of 25-50mg/l depending on flow rate, cone size,temperature and pressure.Although cones can be designed to handle full flow in a recirculating system,they are more often plumbed in a side stream configuration by pumping out of a sump. A side stream setup minimizes flow requirements while still providing very high levels of dissolved oxygen or ozone.Additional Components In addition to the cone, a few other items are necessary for operation. These include:• Pipe side flange fittings. Outlet holes for mounting pipe flange fittings are custom. Flanges can be either American or European standard sizes.• Bleed valve. The bleed valve purges gas trapped inside the cone during the start-up procedure.• Outlet valve. An outlet valve regulates the operating pressure within the cone.• Pressure gauge. The pressure gauge monitors the pressure within the cone.  In some cases, a venturi is used to introduce oxygen, although it is not necessary. The venturi injection method has the added benefit of improved oxygendissolution in the water due to the turbulence created in the venturi. In addition, aventuri provides other advantages, including control of full flow line pressure, lower energy requirements for pumping and alimited space requirement.Ozone Applications Speece cones are also very efficient atdissolving ozone in water for aquacultureor other uses. Oxygen cone ozonation eliminates the need for venting gas or anozone destruct unit, as efficiencies arenear 100%. In addition, the economics of ozonation can be greatly improved interms of lower capital, maintenance andoperational costs.PrecautionsTwo safety considerations are important when working with oxygen cones.First, fiberglass cones are not designed tooperate at pressure greater than 21 psi.Failure to keep the operating pressure ator below this level can result in permanent damage to the cone and/or serious injury to the operator.Secondly, highly concentrated sourcesof oxygen can be fire or explosion hazards.Pure oxygen at high pressure in combination with a spark can lead to an explosion.Therefore, the design and manufacture of oxygen systems requires that potential ignition sources are eliminated.

Dr. Richard Speece, Co-Founder, Member and Technical Consultant
Dr. Speece is currently Professor Emeritus of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Vanderbilt University specializing in the fields of anaerobic treatment of industrial wastewaters, gas transfer systems, supplemental oxygenation of rivers and reservoirs, GSAR modeling of chemicals in environmental processes, and response of hazardous chemicals to environmental biota.

Dr. Speece invented the Speece Cone that is the basis for ECO2 SuperOxygenation technology. Dr. Speece holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Fenn University, a Masters of Engineering in Civil Engineering from Yale University, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

 ESCONDIDO, CA — Just over ten years ago, four people had the dream of saving reptiles, amphibians and other creatures, while also educating the public about their unique traits. Today, the dream has transformed into the EcoVivarium Living Museum, a space that’s home to 200 animals frequented by thousands of visitors and especially children.

Leaders behind the unique Escondido space have even bigger plans this year. In 2020, the museum and its reptiles will move from a small building on Juniper Street to the popular Grand Avenue in downtown Escondido, providing a space that’s three times the size, said Susan Nowicke, president of the EcoVivarium Living Museum.

Nowicke, who was one of the four founders of the EcoVivarium, said the museum has grown tremendously since starting as a mobile attraction 10 years ago. It will continue to grow with new programs in the new year, she said.

“The current museum location was a grassroots effort made from a combination of new and reclaimed lumber, reclaimed glass from office buildings and fences, and lots of good old-fashioned hard work,” Nowicke said. “We had entire families pitching in, doing everything from materials collection to the actual construction. There are some great memories here, and we look forward to many more years of memories at the new location.”

Nowicke said 98% of the animals were rescued. The nearly 3,000-square-foot space the museum will move into this spring will allow for more exhibits and more programs such as the first “Bio-STEAM Lab” she said.

“Our collective excitement is beyond words,” Nowicke said. “The new space will allow for more elaborate enclosures to improve the lives of ambassadors on display and provide more space so we can accommodate larger tour groups, schools, and visitors from around the world in a spacious and relaxed environment.”

The museum’s leaders also plan to showcase artifacts and art aimed at enhancing the educational experience for visitors. More room will also allow for more interaction between the animals and guests, Nowicke said.

“History and cultural lessons come to life when you’re holding a living creature that connects you to it,” Nowicke said. “We are very excited to open doors to people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities to learn about the world we live in, the impact we have on it, and the role its inhabitants play in our lives. It is through that connection we will grow the next generation of the planet’s stewards.”

Donald Carl, museum manager, said he began volunteering for the EcoVivarium in 2016 and immediately fell in love with the animals. He hopes the museum’s 10th year will allow for the organization to further thrive as it fulfills its mission of educating the public while caring for the animals.

“We offer a one of a kind interaction with animals that most people know very little about,” Carl said. “I am even learning more and more as I interact with the animals one on one. I hope to see more people with similar passions for these animals and for them to share it with their friends and family.”

However, moving into a larger space with new programs will require more of the museum’s team of four employees and roughly 20 volunteers. Nowicke said the museum currently costs $17,190 to operate but will increase to $36,560 when it moves into the new downtown space.

“As you can imagine, this is a huge undertaking, and it will require strong support from our community, businesses, and grantors,” Nowicke said. “When it is all done, it will be a cutting-edge facility attracting visitors from around the world into the hotspot historic downtown Escondido district and serving and educating students throughout the region.”

Nowicke said the public can support the EcoVivarium and its animals by visiting the museum, being a member or sponsor.

For now, the founder of the EcoVivarium is thankful for its current team that has helped the museum in the last decade.

“Here at the museum, volunteers are involved in everything from animal care to marketing, web design to education, grant research and writing, literacy outreach to bookkeeping, social media, networking, business relations and maintenance,” Nowicke said. “A museum provides a wealth of opportunities to explore in terms of careers, and we are always looking for dedicated individuals.”

For more information about the EcoVivarium Living Museum, go to ecovivarium.net/.

Entire article written by Hoa Quach and the Coast News.

Escondido, CA.  Don't miss the next Del Dios Town Council meeting on Wednesday January 8th at 7pm.  The Lake Hodges Town Council guest speaker is Kevin Bernard. He will brief the community on the SOS (Safeguard Our Countryside San Diego) March 2020 ballot proposition.  This is the grass-roots ballot initiative that would require a vote of the people for any large developments that do not comply with the county general plan. As always, we will meet at the Firehouse.

More information about San Diego's Measure A:
https://saveoursdcountryside.org/#how

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/communities/north-county/story/2019-12-17/desmond-sos-story

https://www.voiceofsandiego.org/topics/land-use/the-backcountry-ballot-what-you-need-to-know-about-two-contentious-housing-measures/

When County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher appeared on the VOSD Podcast in October, he said he opposes Measure A, the March 2020 ballot initiative that would require voters to sign off on housing developments that don’t comply with the county’s general plan.

That same month, Escondido City Councilwoman Olga Diaz, who’s been endorsed by Fletcher in her bid to join him on the Board of Supervisors, said she supports the measure. A similar policy in Escondido has worked out well for the city, she argued. (Opponents say Escondido has been woefully behind on hitting its housing goals.)

That two close allies from the same party land on opposite sides of the so-called Safeguard Our Countryside San Diego, or SOS, measure, is par for the course for what’s become a controversial proposal that’s racked up strange bedfellows on both sides.

Another measure on the March 2020 ballot offers a glimpse at the type of decisions voters would be asked to make more of if SOS were to pass. It’s a referendum on the Board of Supervisors’ decision to OK a housing development called Newland Sierra, which, you guessed it, doesn’t comply with the county’s general plan.

Both proposals will help determine how the county will approach major housing decisions going forward. So, let’s clear up any confusion between them and highlight what’s actually at stake with both measures.

The County General Plan
To understand what SOS and the Newland Sierra measure are trying to do, you have to understand the county’s existing general plan.

San Diego County’s general plan is a framework that guides land use and development decisions across the region.

The plan, approved in 2011, took 13 years and more than $18 million to develop. It set the land zones and outlined where housing should go and where it shouldn’t. The plan reduced housing capacity by 15 percent while shifting where that development would occur from far-flung eastern, backcountry areas to western communities closer to existing development, transportation infrastructure and jobs.

The purpose of the change was to “reflect the county’s commitment to a sustainable growth model that facilitates efficient development near infrastructure and services, while respecting sensitive natural resources and protection of existing community character in its extensive rural and semi‐rural communities,” the plan reads.

Yet developers regularly ask for permission to build projects that don’t comply with the general plan. Decisions about whether to OK projects seeking special permission to amend the plan have to go to the County Board of Supervisors.

Which brings us to …

Safeguard Our San Diego Countryside
Safeguard our San Diego Countryside is a proposal on the March 2020 ballot that would require San Diego voters countywide to approve general plan amendments that increase residential density in semi-rural and rural areas by six or more units. It will be Measure A on the ballot.

Stakeholders on both sides of the measure seem to agree on one fundamental fact: that San Diego is in the midst of a housing crisis. But they differ on whether SOS would make the problem better or worse.

The current ballot language: “Shall this initiative be adopted for the purpose of amending the San Diego County General Plan to require voter approval for General Plan amendments that increase residential density for property designated by the General Plan as Semi-Rural or Rural?”

The case for it: Some people want to stop suburban sprawl. Mark Jackson and JP Theberge, two of the measure’s proponents, argue that voters should have the power to approve any general plan amendment that exceeds six housing units.

Jackson said the county’s general plan is the blueprint for how the county’s housing plan needs to grow – so deviating from that blueprint should require countywide buy-in. He said the initiative does not change anyone’s land use entitlements, and the intent is to give small family landowners a break.

“This measure only applies to general plan amendments. There’s no plan to provide infrastructure for these areas for general plan amendments,” he said. “So Yes on SOS gives voters a voice in few critical land use decisions when the general plan is changed.”

Jackson said politicians come and go, and that voters should have the control to decide amendments to the general plan. He said he is concerned that the current Board of Supervisors approves general plan amendments pursued by developers for projects located far from where current infrastructure is – against the county’s goals to shift growth to areas that have the infrastructure to support it.

Theberge, executive director of Grow the San Diego Way, an organization that provides data and analysis on housing issues in San Diego County, said the measure is only a threat to developers that don’t want to follow the general plan and build sprawl.

He said that when the board approves amendments to the plan, “it’s disrespecting the general public.”

Diaz, who’s running for county supervisor, said at VOSD’s Politifest in October that a similar measure in Escondido has worked well.

“I’m in a strong position to explain to folks that it’s not the end of the world if it passes,” she said.

She said that people shouldn’t distrust the County Board of Supervisors, but that distrust is a symptom of what is causing something like SOS to be placed on the ballot by residents.

Other current and former elected officials who support the measure include former County Supervisor Pam Slater-Price, Planning Commission Chair Phillip Pryde, Oceanside City Councilwoman Esther Sanchez, San Marcos Councilman Randy Walton and Del Mar Councilman Dwight Warden. It is also supported the San Diego Democrats for Environmental Action, the San Diego Sierra Club, the Climate Action Campaign, the San Diego League of Women Voters and others.

The case against it: Opponents claim that if you make it harder to build homes outside of city limits, more people will look for housing even farther away – like in southwestern Riverside County. And that would further exacerbate traffic and the problems supporters of the measure are trying to stop. The lead opponents of SOS say the measure will prevent anyone who wants to build more than six units to have to go to a general vote at a major financial cost.

Tanya Castaneda, a public relations professional and spokeswoman for the opposition to SOS, said requiring anyone who wants to add even six homes to obtain countywide voter approval would be a “nightmare” for affordable housing and market-rate housing. She called SOS a NIMBY measure and expressed concerns it could stifle housing growth near Interstate 15.

“It’s a misnomer to say it’s about the backcountry because the area at issue is nobody wants to build in the backcountry,” she said. “It’s about the I-15. It’s about the area along the 15 where developers really want to build. … That’s where we’ve seen growth.”

She and other SOS opponents say that by limiting growth in unincorporated areas, the measure would increase the burden to build housing facing local cities.

“So if you’re talking about each one doing their share, the county can’t do its share and that’s more burden on the cities,” she said.

Castaneda said she would dispute that a similar initiative worked well in Escondido, calling it the “definition of a no-growth city.” Escondido, she pointed out, is 14th out of 19 if you rank cities by what percentage of their housing target has been met over the last 10 years.

Others have expressed different reasons for opposing the measure. Fletcher, for example, said he agrees with the measure’s goals but not its means.

“At the end of the day we get elected to make these decisions,” he said on the VOSD Podcast. “And so I think if we want to have a world where every land use decision goes to a vote of the public then you don’t need us to be there to make those. And so generally I’m not a fan of that approach philosophically.”

Fletcher is a Democrat, but many of the other high-profile opponents of SOS are Republicans, including San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, Poway Mayor Steve Vaus, San Marcos Mayor Rebecca Jones and former San Diego County Supervisor Bill Horn. The measure is also opposed by the San Diego Housing Federation and the San Diego County Taxpayers Association and others.

Better Choice Newland Sierra Development
Better Choice would allow for the creation of Newland Sierra, a community that developers say will create house 2,135 homes, a school site, retail and parks north of Escondido in the Merriam Mountains.

The Board of Supervisors approved a general plan amendment to allow the Newland Sierra project in September 2018, but more than 117,000 county residents signed a petition to force the decision to a countywide vote. That effort was bankrolled by the Golden Door luxury spa, the project’s main opponent.

The current ballot language: “Shall San Diego County General Plan Amendment PDS2015-GPA-15-00l approved by the Board of Supervisors for the development of the Newland Sierra Project, be approved? The existing General Plan allows 99 homes and up to 2 million square feet of commercial with open space. General Plan Amendment PDSS2015-GPA-15-001 would authorize up to 2,199 homes and 1,777,684 square feet of commercial. The approved Newland Sierra Project includes a planned community of 2,135 homes, a school site, 81,000 square feet of retail, 36 acres of parks and 1,209 acres of open space.”

The case for it: Rita Brandin, president of Newland Sierra, and Kenneth Moore, the spokesman for the project and a senior public affairs manager at Southwest Strategies, said the Better Choice measure provides San Diego County residents with a “better choice” for the development of private property they say will be developed one way or the other.

Brandin said 60 percent of the homes in the project will be affordably priced for working families.

“So when you hear the vernacular ‘better choice’ as we are going through our communications on our campaign, it is a better choice for us to propose homes, which is one of the most important demands in our market today all over the county,” Brandin said. “Not just infill, not just urban, but all over the county, different types of homes and for broader buyers.”

She said those homes will be for people who’ve “gotten to a life stage who have a desire because they have a family – whatever that family formation is – they have a family and they want to be in an environment that has parks, that has active recreation, that has amenities.”

Moore said the project will create working-class housing in the region.

Escondido Mayor Paul McNamara and San Marcos Mayor Rebecca Jones recently joined Vista Mayor Judy Ritter, Carlsbad Mayor Matt Hall and Oceanside Mayor Peter Weiss in expressing support for the measure at a press conference. “As mayors of the five cities along the 78 Corridor, which are comprised of nearly 645,000 residents and more than 283,000 jobs, we wholeheartedly endorse the Better Choice Measure,” they wrote in a letter. “The Better Choice Measure provides all San Diegans a better choice for the development of private land located right in our backyard to not only benefit the neighboring cities in North County but all of San Diego County.”

The case against it: Opponents of the controversial project, like Williams, an attorney for the Golden Door, and Duncan McFetridge, president of the Cleveland National Forest Foundation, said it will determine whether the county plans to pursue smart growth or sprawl.

They also say that there’s nothing in the measure requiring Newland Sierra to include affordable housing, despite assurances from the developer that it will.

The Golden Door’s general manager, Kathy Van Ness, told VOSD in 2017 that Newland and other projects like it will tear up rural San Diego County.

“The Golden Door dies, and this’ll be a housing development, too,” she said.

Williams said the ballot measure goes beyond just the development itself. It “presents a ‘canary in coal mine’ debate right now. ‘Are we going to have smart growth and grow the way SANDAG and the county general plan have said we should grow – which is to basically do infill – or are we going to sprawl?’” he said.

McFetridge said the project would have major environmental impacts and called it “the worst of all solutions.”

He said though there is a housing crisis, the county will be building in the wrong place if the measure passes.

“(Newland Sierra) is using the argument that Golden Door just doesn’t want to develop, but the fact is we’ve been fighting against it for 20 years … There’s an unbelievable amount of money involved and the climate change impacts are going to be enormous,” McFetridge said.

The project is opposed by the San Diego Sierra Club, the San Diego Democrats for Environmental Action, and other environmental groups across the region.

Escondido, CA.  ​This Sunday, Nov.3, 7-10 PM: another international all-star acoustic show at
the Lake Hodges Old Del Dios Firehouse on Elm Street. Iain Matthews (Fairport Convention,
Matthew's Southern Comfort), Steve Costell (guitar wizard/producer of
artists like David Crosby and Albert Lee) and Del Dios resident /ex-Steve
Miller guitarist Greg Douglass opening with a rare solo acoustic set. It's a
world-class show right here in our neighborhood. Pre-sale tickets are $20
each; Google gregdouglassguitar.com and go to "Shows" to purchase with
Paypal or call Sendyt Music Productions at (760)212-3648 to go old-school
and pay by check or cash. Hell, we're neighbors: I'll stop by and pick it
up! Only 60 seats available so....I wanna see my friends and neighbors out
in force!  Greg Douglass

Lake Hodges goes international with an evening of world class, all-star acoustic/electric music at the Old Del Dios Firehouse. 
Doors at 6:30PM. Show is 7:00-9:00PM. Tickets $20 in advance / $25 at door.
More info: Greg Douglass www.gregdouglassguitar.com

Del Dios's own Rock'n'Roll Hall of Famer & Steve Miller/Van Morrison alumnus Greg Douglass welcomes Iain Matthews, considered one of the pioneers of 60s Folk-Rock, together with singer/songwriter, guitarist Steve Postell. The show is a music lover's dream... creative genius, and multi-platinum sales. ("Steve Miller's Greatest Hits", which contains Greg's co-write "Jungle Love" has sold 14 million albums). Steve Postell and Greg will be joined by his long time musical partner, Michael Muldoon, who sang and co-wrote most of the "Greg Douglass & the Accomplices" CD. 

IAIN MATTHEWS, founding member of British Folk Rock bands Fairport Convention and Matthews Southern Comfort, has recorded with the likes of Nanci Griffith, Richard Thompson & Elliott Murphy. STEVE POSTELL, guitarist/producer for the Immediate Family, Danny “Kootch” Kortchmar, and has worked with David Crosby, John Oates, Robben Ford, Jennifer Warnes, and more. The pair, with more than 60 albums between them, have once more joined forces for a special West Coast concert tour. They are also currently writing songs for their first duo album. This is a rare opportunity to be up close and personal with these multi-talented singer/songwriters and share their special music. Iain and Steve will be touring from California to Utah during the month of November. Miss them at your peril. https://www.facebook.com/IAINandSTEVE/

MORE...
Iain Matthews first gained attention as a founding member and vocalist for the innovative Fairport Convention. He moved on to create Matthews’ Southern Comfort who had a No 1 hit in the UK with Joni Mitchell’s ‘Woodstock’. Iain moved on during the 1970’s with another group, Plainsong. Between his own solo recording and various Plainsong line-ups Iain released ten albums to critical acclaim including another well known Top Ten US hit with the single ‘Shake It’. During the early 1980’s Matthews recorded a wonderful version of Peter Gabriel’s ‘Mercy Street”, contributed to a Phil Ochs’s Tribute album and recorded plus toured with Nanci Griffith. In 2000 Matthews settled in the Netherlands and found a busy, happy life in Europe. More collaborative recordings were issued including a Tribute album to Sandy Denny. However, Matthews feels he has finally found an almost perfect musical sweet spot, playing solo. 

Steve Postell is a singer/songwriter/guitarist/composer and producer. His latest solo CD for Immergent Records features a host of brilliant guests including David Crosby, Jennifer Warnes, John Oates, Robben Ford, and many others. A native New Yorker, Steve moved to Los Angeles to join Steve Ferrone and Grammy award winning engineer/producer John Jones. Trained at The Mannes College Of Music in New York City, Steve has had a successful, prolific career which spans his days playing with Pure Prairie League, performing on Broadway in shows such as “Evita” and “The Man Of LaMancha,” co-writing the score for the off-Broadway rock musical "Fallen Angel", touring with Lea Salonga as her musical director, and fronting the popular New York City bands, “Chain o' Fools” and “Little Blue”. Steve has written scores for film & television, and produced Lawrence Kasdan’s "Jumpin' At The Boneyard". He wrote and produced many jingles & has performed live on numerous TV shows. Steve was the project coordinator for the Shout Factory release of the 20th anniversary edition of the Jennifer Warnes/Leonard Cohen project "Famous Blue Raincoat", and has toured & recorded with Jennifer as her guitarist and musical director. He is also working on a documentary featuring the debut of a new orchestral piece by Ravi Shankar. Steve recently won a “HOLLYWOOD MUSIC IN MEDIA AWARD” for best song in the Americana/Roots category for his song “3:45 Coming Through”, and had a song featured in the Ricky Gervais film “The Invention Of Lying”. He also recently composed the music for a classical ballet choreographed by Zippora Karz.

To stay current on IAIN’S activities go to:
www.Iainmatthews.nl
https://www.facebook.com/Iain.matthews.77
https://soundcloud.com/iain-matthews-352985544

www.stevepostell.com 

videos of Steve and Iain from Russ & Julie's house concert:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHBvITDLl2Y 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAErFYX6xBs

Woodstock – Bogies Sept 23, 2018
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8f4KtbzRP4

Funk & Fire – Bogies Setp 23, 2018
https://www.facebook.com/IAINandSTEVE/videos/517653555673356/

Grand Oak Live – Sept 22, 2018
https://www.facebook.com/lauri.reimer.7/videos/10157790558493012/

Escondido, CA.
Lake Hodges want YOU to step up and consider donating to a great cause bysponsoring a breakfast item.​

The caause is community and specifically I to generate more income for our upkeep and maintenance of the Fire
House, we are giving local businesses and individuals a chance to underwrite
the expenses of some of the items for the meal.

In return for a sponsorship of an item you can receive one or more of the
following benefits:

1. The knowledge that you have allowed more of the receipts to go to upkeep
and maintenance of the Fire House

2. An opportunity to be listed on our poster/menu or remain anonymous.

3. A possible tax deduction.

4. In some cases the privilege of naming the menu item.

Example: Nudie's Pancakes or Sam's Art Studio Sausage

If you are interested, please contact me indicating your choice of a menu
item. See below. 

Or, we will gladly accept any general donations.

​Please contact Boy Heygood if interested.