Psycho is a full-blooded brahma bull that no one has been able to stay on for a full eight seconds in three years.
Hoping to end that winning streak is Robby Kilman, who has been riding bulls all his adult life.
Psycho and Kilman will be some of the main attractions when the first Bulls & Barrels Rodeo comes charging out of the chute at this year’s Western Days, May 24-25, 7 p.m. each evening at VC Community Center.
Kilman, 27, is a bull rider from a family of bull riders but he can’t entirely explain the thrill that he gets when he competes.
“It’s pretty much unexplainable. A huge rush. You are getting on an animal that weighs 1800 pounds. It’s a rush, that’s the only way I can explain it,” he says.
Kilman started riding bulls at the age of 14 and has been around the sport all his life. His dad used to ride bulls, and these days he’s a rodeo roper. His brother Justin also rode bulls. Robby went through high school rodeoing and qualified for the state finals all four years.
After high school he became qualified for the PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Assn.) and then the IPRA (International Professional Rodeo Assn.).
A Riverside sheet metal worker, Kilman’s ridden bulls all over the West, and finished fourth last week in Parker, Arizona.
Kilman’s looking ahead to Valley Center’s rodeo this May with confidence. “I intend to win the bull-riding competition,” he says.
Cheering him on will be his “two beautiful girls,” aged 5 and 8.
His competitors will be cheering him on too, and he them.
“There’s nothing like the camaraderie of the rodeo. The guys I travel with are my best friends,” says Kilman. “I trust them as well as I trust myself. We may be competing against each other but we cheer each other on. If one of them wins, I am just as happy.”
Kilman tries to pattern himself after his idol, the late Lane Frost, the 1987 World Champion Bull Rider who died riding. “In my eyes he was the best bull rider of all time.”
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The Bulls & Barrels rodeo is the brainchild of Gina Rizzotto and Geraldine McHugh.
They both had a dream of having a rodeo in Valley Center and since they were friends they connected on this project.
“It’s been long overdue in this town,” says McHugh.
McHugh herself competes in barrel racing, and she’ll be riding in this one too.
The rodeo will be produced by Misner & Son Rodeo Company.
The rodeo is being funded by a donation of $10,000 from Harrah’s Rincon Casino & Resort. Next week Jennifer Weissman of Harrah’s will present the co-chairmen with the check.
Events
* About 25 bull riders from all over the Western United States will compete for the prize of their entry fee plus $2000.
* Possibly as many as 100 barrel racers from all over Southern California will compete for the prize of their entry fee plus $500, plus four silver belt buckles.
* Mutton busting will be held for children aged 7 and under. Only eight children, each performance, will compete in this event.
* Co-Ed Calf Dressing will be limited to six adults, in teams of three, one of which must be a woman. The purpose of this competition is to put women’s underwear on a calf (We are not making this up!).
Committee members for the rodeo include (but are not limited to): Bonnie Boone, Marco Fernandez, Vicki Songer, Bobbi Tribble; Sean Phillips, Victoria Rizzotto, Joe Eger, Jeana Mapston, Cliff Bernard, Tom Bumgardner, Kristi Brunner, Vern Peltzer, Stephanie Cox. In addition Donna Duggan will be doing the banners.
* * *
Tickets will go on sale soon for the rodeo, at locations to be announced.
Seating is limited and folks are encouraged to buy tickets in advance. Cost will be $10 at the gate and $8 in advance.
For bull riding information and entry, call Dave Misner at 909-681-8722; calf dressing or bull riding information call Geraldine McHugh at 749-1857; for barrel racing entry and information, call Mary Weigman at 909-928-2558. For Mutton Busting information and entry call Gina Rizzotto at 749-2344.
The County has awarded the Friends of Hellhole Canyon Open Space Preserve $200,000 towards their purchase of 155 acres next to the preserve.
The 155 acres of private land is surrounded on three sides by the preserve, which is owned and operated by the County.
The Friends, a support group for the preserve, have an option on the land, which includes “a signficiant central section of the canyon,” according to Rick Landavazo, president of the Friends. The owner is asking $385,000 for the land.
The Friends are working to raise the funds needed to buy the land with a combination of grants and private contributions.
The Friends have made an applicatioon for a $100,000 Challenge Grant Award to the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation. This grant has been endorsed by the San Diego Farm Bureau, California Dept. of Fish & Game, Conservation Biology Institute and UC Riverside and Cal State San Marcos.
You can contact the Friends at POB 221, Valley Center, CA 92082 or call them at 749-5320.
Tom Bumgardner of the VC Chamber of Commerce is the first candidate to toss his hat into the ring for this year’s Honorary Mayor’s race.
“He’s our man in black!” announced his campaign manager, Kim Peters.
Bumgardner is the only announced candidate so far. Other clubs are expected to follow suit shortly.
To raise money for their candidate, the Chamber will be holding a Co-Ed Softball Lapalooza on Sunday, April 7, 10 a.m. at the Girls’ softball field on Cole Grade Road.
There’s a $10 enry fee per player and players must be 18 and older.
Festivities will includ fun, food, drinks and a drawing for prizes (to be announced).
Each year the various service clubs line up and nominate members to fight for the honor (without the power) of Honorary Mayor. Votes equal money in this race, and the top vote getter has a very good chance of winning, although there are some other factors that don’t make that a foregone conclusion.
Funds raised go back to the clubs and help to fund next year’s mayor’s race.
Some reforms to the process may make things a little more competitive this year. For example, the Chamber won’t be using the money that it gets from selling Western Days t-shirts as part of the money that it raises for Bumgardner’s candidacy.
By DAVID ROSS
Four candidates to fill the position vacated when Cal Townsend was ousted two months ago, including Townsend, who is trying to get the seat back, told of their goals and thoughts about growth at the March 11 meeting of the VC Planning Group.
The seat will be filled by the planning group next month.
First to speak was Kristine Preston, a ten year resident.
Preston has a doctorate in biology and has worked for an environmental consulting firm for six years, where she learned about CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) and federal environmental laws.
For her, VC’s biggest issue is “accommodating growth in such a way that we don’t compromise our quality of life.
“Everyone had similar reasons for moving to Valley Center, and number one is that it’s a beautiful place to live. . .As we accommodate growth up to 45,000 growth target many of these quality of life issues will be compromised.”
She concluded, “There’s ways to plan around things like oak trees, to plan for roads that don’t obliterate things and create freeways. I envision a VC where people feel comfortable meeting with neighbors and going to small local businesses.”
Oliver Smith has lived in VC one year, and in North County 19 years.
The thing he likes about VC, he says, “is that I’m not told what I can do on my property. The biggest issue I had in Rancho Bernardo was that I couldn’t paint my house the way I wanted to. I couldn’t have a spot on my driveway. Now I have two acres and I’m learning to be a farmer”
For Smith, the biggest issue the planning group faces is “recognizing that growth is inevitable and planning is essential. On those same lines, master plan communities are not. We can’t stay in the early 20th Century. We have to move forward, and one of the elements for this is roads.”
Roads can’t be kept the way they are today, he said. “Thinking that will keep traffic out will just create carnage. Let’s recognize reality and maintain as much of a rural environment as you can. Growth and progress are inevitable, the purpose of this board is to minimize that impact on those who live here.”
Oliver sees the biggest weakness of the VC Community Plan as “not realizing that we can’t just say that we don’t like a road, or a cell tower or a sign. There is a world outside and we are part of it. With cell phones when you’re in accident someone can call for help and get help. Public safety overrides in my mind the objections to a cell tower. Yes we can make the towers more appealing aesthetically, but bottom line they need to be here and we all benefit from them.”
Cal Townsend, who was removed from the planning group for missing five meetings, noted that when he was elected to the board, “I was elected with votes second only to Jim Yerdon. Subsequently I served on this board and I thought I was able to give the board and community all of the time it needed.
“Make no mistake, this area is getting bigger, and this board is going to have big decisions to make. I envision this board will have to set up a rotating subcommittee to attend Board of Supervisor meetings and have them recognize us instead of ignoring us.”
Growth is inevitable, said Townsend. “People love it here for some reason. My vision is to intelligently address the growth issues we have before us.”
He added, “As we get to the ultimate buildout of Valley Center we need infrastructure. We also need more north and south roads And more of a commercial presence, perhaps even a Valley Center shopping area. We need to be able to manage that growth. We have to preserve the rural fabric and culture of VC instead of just saying no.”
Sandra Rockefeller-Farmer told the group that she wants to “bring some good common sense to the process. It’s necessary that we do all we can to make this our community.
The biggest issue, she said, is General Plan 2020.
“We can sit back and let them make decisions for us, or say ‘This is our town, we live here. That plan wasn’t done overnight and thanks to this board they are looking at that plan to make it better.
“I’d like to see Valley Center maintain its rural character. When I started working out here 18 years ago it was a lot more rural. Agriculture has declined because of economics, not because someone wanted to sell their land and put up a house there. Those farmers are not going to be out there farming if they are not making money.”
She concluded, “Things can’t be just because you want this or I want that. It can’t be just me. It has to be us.”
VC’s greatest weakness, she said, “is the fact that we don’t have a provision for low income housing. We are going to have to do something to house lower income and our children.”
One of Valley Center’s main commercial center’s has a brand new look, and you’re invited to check it out!
The Courtyard, previously known as Mountain Valley Center, will have a grand opening March 28 to introduce the new look and some of the new tenants.
Lora Lee, the owner, bought the courtyard two years ago.
“I thought it had lot more potential and I have a good time renovating. I’d rather do that than sit at my desk,” Mrs. Lee told The Roadrunner.
Mrs. Lee has lived in VC for ten years. She also grows ornamental flowers and is an owner of Election Data Corp., which manufactures the ballots used in local elections.
The renovation included totally redoing the electrical wiring. Each suite was given its own meter so each tenant could pay their own utilities.
The name ‘Courtyard’ fits the center’s new face because the suites are actually built around a small courtyard.
“I wanted an Old World courtyard feel that would still blend with the Western style of the building,” said Mrs. Lee.
“I wanted something more like a quaint meeting place in the courtyard with a little more flair and color. I’ve had a lot of people who were so surprised that they hadn’t seen the building before because it lacked color.”
Now the vibrant colors include tans, browns and terra cotta.
Tenants include:
* Gina’s new hair salon with twice as much square footage.
* Jack Pence Builders.
* A brand new addition, Jana Limon, Valley Center Professional Massage Therapy.
* Another new tenant: Tan de Soleil, owned by Gina and Debi Puentes.
* Jones and Jones Attorneys.
* Valley Center Pediatrics, (Dr. Kraychee).
* A new jewelry shop, Big Time Jewelry.
*Al Stehly Grove Management.
The renovation has taken about a year, but Mrs. Lee says it was “lots of fun. The rental income has gone right back into the property.”
Part of the fun was painting her own roof tiles, which took two nights at her ranch. Her driveway still has spots of teal on it.
She did the painting herself because she couldn’t buy any tiles with the colors she wanted, teal and brown. Getting the reds, she says, was easy.
“I think Valley Center has changed over the last couple of years, tremendously and I really thought that a brand new look was called for. Hopefully that sort of thing will catch on,” she said.
Another thing she wishes would catch on for every commercial owner to fly the American Flag. The Courtyard has a flagpole and the flag is lit every night.
* * *
At the March 28 grand opening, you’ll get a chance to meet the new tenants, enjoy some food prepared by Gina Rizzotto and listen to some music. The festivities start at 5 p.m.
By DAVID ROSS
Ronald Reagan used to say “Trust but verify,” and VC Municipal Water District wants to verify that sewer bills for Woods Valley Ranch are paid, even if the worst happens and Newland Communities Inc. or one of its successor builders is unable to finish developing the property.
The water district will operate Woods Valley Ranch’s sewer and sewage treatment plant once it’s built. Monday the water board passed a mechanism designed to ensure that VC ratepayers aren’t stuck with the bill if Newland doesn’t carry out its plans.
Even if the houses remain unfinished, VCMWD will have a way to collect sewer bills via property taxes from undeveloped land, even if Newland is no longer in the picture.
Speaking to the board was Don Buntz, engineer for the project, and Jim Delhamer, vice president of Newland’s California division.
Delhamer explained his company’s role in the development of Woods Valley Ranch. “Our company buys tracts of land, and we go out and create the community. We do the grading and then sell our lots to builders. We are not home builders.”
Newland closed escrow in January and is in the ninth week of site work.
“As you can see we’ve done a great deal of work. I expect we will be done grading by July,” said Delhamer.
The project includes 270 lots, varying from 6000 square feet to 20,000 sq. ft, with 70 half acre lots. Lots will be sold to individual builders.
Houses will be in the low $200,000 to the high $400,000 price range, said Delhamer.
“I believe this will provide to the residents who have more land than they want, a lot of housing opportunities,” he said.
Newland is paying to widen Woods Valley Road along its project and to install a stop light at what Delhamer characterized as “one of the most dangerous intersections in the County.”
Newland will also create a channel to Moosa Creek for the 100 year flood event.
It is also replanting oak and willows, “so that someday others will be able to enjoy what will look like a continuous forest,” said Delhamer.
With what might be described as extreme understatement, Delhamer said, “I know there’s interest in the golf course. We are in contract with a developer who is out there building now.”
That company, Peerless Golf, will develop and operate an 18 hole championship golf course on 160 acres.
“They are building a very nice golf course out here, one that Valley Center will be very proud of,” said Delhamer.
The Roadrunner has attempted to reach Peerless Golf without success to get a comment on its plans.
The developer will be able to make the course semi-private and sell memberships if it so chooses.
Grading should be wrapped up by July. Before then utilities will be installed .
“We will probably start delivering lots to builders in September. Model homes could start going up by the end of the year,” said Delhamer.
Buntz reported that the sewage plant will be tied to the construction of the model homes. Initial flows are expected to be about 5000 gallons per day.
Effluent will be hauled to the Moosa sewage treatment plant at Circle R.
This will, said Buntz, give the developer more time to build the 70,000 gpd capacity plant. Besides, a plant is harder to operate with minimum flows.
By January of 2004 the permanent sewer plant will be completed. This may be accelerated if home sales are faster than anticipated.
Beginning in 2005 permanent sewer facilities will be on line and people will move into the homes, with build-out by 2010.
The golf course will open by 2003, said Delhamer.
Water District Gen. Mgr. Gary Arant told directors, “We’ve gone over this schedule and we think this is a very reasonable approach. Our approach will be to monitor their sales and make sure the work is done soon enough on the interim facility and the permanent facility.”
In addition, all of the facilities will be fully bonded, said Arant.
Arant explained why the district is being so cautious.
“One issue we have had all along, is the notion that once a plant is operating and people are connected, VCMWD has entered into a long-term arrangement to treat that water,” he said.
“Our concern is what happens when you have a plant where half of the homes are built and suddenly the development stops. How do you continue to operate that plant? We don’t want to see the district in a situation of raising exorbitant fees, or subsidize it out of district funds.
“We have a proposal that we think does that and provides that kind of security from the day we take the keys.”
The board approved the creation of a “sewer standby fee” for developed and undeveloped property.
The district will be able to create a sewer assessment area encompassing the units and clubhouse and impose a standby charge on undeveloped land, collecting it on the tax rolls.
Finance Director Jere Jarrell said staff hopes to set up the assessment district by August. This would enable the district to start collecting money next year.
Money would be collected from Newland until it transfers ownership to whomever.
“It’s an automatic transfer” with whoever is the owner. “That’s what makes it so attractive,” said Jarrell.
Arant commented, “We appreciate the intentions of the developer that they would be there to pay their fees, but if the land is transferred to a developer who is unable to pay its fees we will be paid.”
Such precautions aside, Newland seems to be a solid corporation.
The 30 year old company is a master-planned community developer and advisor to pension funds on the acquisition and development of residential communities.
In 1999 a share of Newland was bought by Hunt Realty Corp., which enabled Newland in 2000 to acquire Genstar Land Company, and its 27 land development projects in seven states.
Newland, headquartered in La Jolla, has developed 40 communities in nine states. It is currently developing and managing 45 residential projects in California, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas and Washington.
Jim Delhamer, vice president of Newland’s California division, can be reached at 858-674-1300.
Corporate headquarters address is:
Newland Communities
9404 Genesee Ave.
Suite 230
La Jolla, CA 92037
The Valley Roadrunner
P.O.B. 1529, Valley Center, CA 92082
Tel. 760.749.1112 Fax 760.749.1688
Website: www.valleycenter.com
Email: editor@valleycenter.com
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