This year’s Miss Valley Center pageant, “Surfin USA” will be on Saturday, March 1 at 7 p.m. at the Valley Center Middle School Auditorium.
There are eight contestants: Heather Gillum, Malinda Lasley, Jesse Oswald, Marlene Zacharia, Taryn Knapp, Monique Lawson, Tabitha Miller and La Vona Boyer.
Tickets for the pageant are available from the contestants, VC Chamber and VC Pageant Assn. members for $10 pre-sale and $15 at the door.
Miss Valley Center is an important ambassador for our community. She acts as a representative of Valley Center at the Fairest of the Fair/Miss San Diego County competition held at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido in May, and at various events throughout San Diego and here in the Valley.
Over the years the focus of the pageant has evolved from a traditional beauty pageant to an educational scholarship pageant. “One of the most rewarding aspects from working with these young women is watching them develop a greater sense of self-confidence and improving their communication skills,” said Dianna Greene, the Production Manager of the pageant.
The pageant features an essay contest, onstage speeches, a 15-minute personal interview with the judges, and an onstage impromptu question.
The Valley Center Pageant Assn. and the Valley Center Chamber of Commerce co-sponsor the pageant. All funds received go to the pageant production costs and all the scholarships.
Watch future editions of The Roadrunner for pictures of the contestants. All past queens are invited to attend the pageant as distinguished dignitaries. Anyone with knowledge of the whereabouts of past queens are encouraged to have them contact Karen Greene. Question? Call Karen Greene at 749-1863 Home/Work anytime.
Almost from the moment that Harrah’s Casino in Rincon opened last August, the casino company and the tribal government realized they would need to expand again— soon.
According to Tom Dingman, general manager of the casino, construction is now underway to expand gaming space, add show space and room for another restaurant, plus more warehouse space.
This new $18 million phase of construction will probably be completed by late June or early June.
“This will give us several things,” said Dingman. “We’ll add probably 100 more slot machines and ten more table games.” Currently the casino has 1500 slot machines and 30 table games.
“We’ll also add another restaurant, a fast food restaurant, called the Corner Grill and a high energy bar.”
The casino currently has six restaurants.
Discussing the casino’s success, Dingman said, “We’ve just wrapped up our first year of operation and it far exceeded anything that we expected. Ther reason we had to move so quickly to expand was the demand. It’s been a great market.”
Next to the casino the tribe is also building a new administration center. This will house the tribal gaming commission, which oversees the activities of the casino and ensures that it is operating within the law at all times.
Although called “Harrah’s” the casino and resort is fully owned by the Rincon San Luiseño Band of Mission Indians.
An expansion of the 200 room hotel next to the casino is also in the works. The hotel has been booked solid from the day that it opened.
By JOE NAIMAN
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is currently reviewing the report on recent wind damage to San Diego County agricultural crops.
Crop losses from the November and January winds are estimated at about $11.5 million. Winds in the county reached up to 80 mph in November, and in January the winds reached up to 60 mph but for a longer duration.
A standard process in the event of crop damage begins with a report from the county agriculture commissioner's office. The county has 60 days from the last date of the loss event to send the report to the Governor's Office of Emergency Services.
Because the January winds occurred less than 60 days after the November damage, both the November losses and the January losses were included in the report.
The economic total does not break down the November and January losses.
“Most of the information we got directly from the Avocado Commission,” explained Delores Brandon, a spokesman for the County Dept. of Agriculture, Weights and Measures who was involved in the preparation of the report.
Many of the avocados lost due to wind drop were ready for picking before being blown off the trees, so avocados constituted a significant portion of the losses. “Wind can greatly affect them. They're heavy. They fall off the trees,” Brandon noted.
Although the weight and harvesting schedule made avocados especially vulnerable, other crops also suffered losses. “Certainly citrus and some other crops were affected,” Brandon remarked.
Under the procedure, the state Office of Emergency Services receives the report from the county Office of Emergency Services. The Dept. of Agriculture, Weights and Measures sent the report to the county's Office of Emergency Services on Jan. 22, and the report was then forwarded to the state agency.
The state Office of Emergency Services reviewed the report and found it suitable to be sent to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. “My understanding is they have about 60 days at USDA from the time they receive it to review it and make a determination," Brandon said.
In the event that the Secretary of Agriculture determines that the situation is warranted, low-cost loans to farmers would be provided through the USDA's Farm Services Agency. “We're just waiting to hear from the Feds now,” Brandon remarked.
By DAVID ROSS
“This is the keystone project in VC. This and Valley Center Road are the two most important things you will do in your career on this board.” an audience member told the planning group on Feb. 3 as it devoted most of an evening to the proposed shopping center and condo development behind the post office.
The discussion ended in frustration with the group unable to agree on motions regarding the proposal.
About 100 people attended. At a previous meeting the group had approved the center in principle, but scheduled Monday’s meeting to go over the details.
Chairman Larry Glavinic had prepared a list of 13 conditions that he wanted the board to consider as the first of many conditions the board will probably attach to the proposal.
However, planners deadlocked because two members, Lael Montgomery and Carol Prime, abstained. Planning group votes require eight votes to pass.
They want to discuss the “big picture” of the project, as opposed to a point-by-point discussion.
In two votes the ayes garnered seven votes (Adair, Adams, Glavinic, Schuler, Smith, Washburn, Yerdon) but abstentions by Montgomery and Prime prevented passage. Robert Hancock and Frank Shoemaker, recused themselves from voting because of their businesses’ proximity to the development.
Calling the two planners “obstructionists,” Glavinic vowed not to bring the shopping center back until two vacancies that have been unfilled for several months are filled.
“We’re not going to get a vote on anything this evening. So let’s use the time to inform the public,” he said.
The group discussed several concerns about the development.
• The concern that the road that goes through the center and connects Cole Grade and Valley Center Roads, will be a “cut-through.”
• Existing and future traffic problems.
• Timing of infrastructure versus project.
Audience members were concerned about issues that included drainage, the backside of buildings facing the road, storm water runoff, whether the lights of the center will interfere with Palomar Observatory, and traffic.
Will Rogers, a local architect, questioned the site plan and said it was a bad idea to have four lanes go in and out of the project, rather than two.
Another questioned the developer’s request for a height variance.
John Askar, the applicant’s representative, fielded questions.
He defended the plan for the road in and out of the development. Traffic studies have shown that a four lane road into the center that becomes a two lane road will slow traffic. “This will not be a raceway,” he said.
“Let’s have the professionals look at it and deal with it,” said Askar. “We shouldn’t sit here and say you should have two lanes instead of four lanes or you should have a signal here or there. We are mandated to where we can’t leave you with a worse traffic situation. Ultimately I believe it will help out traffic.”
Although the mall and condo development is one of the largest in VC in years, much of it does not require a discretionary permit.
One of the few things the developer is required to get a variance for is the 35 foot height limitation. The project also requires a site plan.
Sandy Smith, chairman of the committee tasked with looking at the development, told planners that the project will take about a year to get through the permitting “pipeline.”
Prime argued that although design review belongs to the Design Review Board, some aspects of it are “tied to the overall plan” and the planners should look at them.
Phil Geddes, chairman of the three-member design review board, commented, “We interpret a document. The board doesn’t operate in a vacuum. It behooves us to listen to what you folks want in terms of land use, egress and traffic lights and what it looks like. To be subject to the whims of 15 people on architectural matters is not correct.”
Mrs. Montgomery responded, “The site plan is very critical. We need to give direction to the design review board to take a very close look. . . I am not trying to kill this project. It’s a nice project. My objection is that it’s not nice enough.”
Defending herself from the charge of “obstructionism” Mrs. Prime said, “I feel we are looking at this in a microscopic checklist without looking at the whole picture. There are things about traffic that concern me. There are burdens on traffic. There is only one street that goes through this project. . . . I feel this project is very isolated. . .I think we are looking at the minor details and missing the big picture. . . I resent being called an obstructionist because if you read in the newspaper I am not trying to kill this project. I resent anybody who implies that. End of story.”
Smith argued that there will be many issues before a final vote is taken. “Some will turn out to be no brainers. I’d rather get the no-brainers out of the way.”
Glavinic pressed that point, “If you don’t start someplace a large journey will never happen. This could go on and on and we could be left out of the loop. . . This community has some needs and we have to make trade-offs. This whole thing is about trade-offs.”
He added, “We have a bunch of people on this board who don’t understand the process, which is to alert the County early on the issues we have problems with. If we don’t do that the County will do it without us. This project is totally within the guidelines of that zoning today. If they can satisfy the zoning and wastewater requirements they don’t need zip from us. I’m offended that there are people in this community who think these guys are going to keep coming back here forever. They don’t have to. If they don’t get any input from us you can plead your case in front of Ruffin Road and next to the Board of Supervisors.”
Audience comments included:
“You’re bringing the city to us and yet we want to remain a town,” unidentified woman.
“If you approve piece by piece aren’t you implicitly approving of the project as a whole?”—Rick Landavazo.
“I know what rural is. We’re not rural and we never will be and we should be thankful for that. I have land in Montana and that’s rural.” —Irv Schaffer, one of the project owners.
“This is your defining project. This is how you will inherit your future. This is the keystone project in VC. This and VC Road are the the two most important things you will do in your career on this board. This is how VC is going to identify itself. it’s your keynote thing, so please treat it carefully.” —Craig Johnson, former planning group chairman.
“It appears that the center is turning its back on the community. You need a much larger buffer to shield the community. If you blended the residential and stores it would be less urban and more rural.”— Will Rogers.
“Statistics show that we have 150-200 homes built very year in Valley Center. Accidents increase. It takes more time to travel to Escondido than before and it’s getting worse. That’s why this project is essential. It will take stress out of traveling to distant areas, adding a new access road that takes pressure off Cole Grade and Valley Center Road. It will generate more business which means more taxes to support infrastructure. . . .If we don’t support this project we will shift support to another shopping center built on the reservation.” —Abe Boulos:
“Seventy condos on septic systems?” —unidentified woman.
“I think most of the people in VC want this project. Putting this development out here will improve the traffic.” — Val Wynn.
“You can certainly be for the shopping center and not be for that configuration. That is not a small shopping center. It is not a mall but it’s a big strip center.”— Tom Cerruti.
“If we need to grow, why not make it community friendly, something with a small town feel to it with the facades?” —Unidentified man.
“I’m basically in favor of this project, but I’m also in favor of a rural flavor. This is not a process that should be expedited. . . . It looks and feels like every shopping center in Southern California. The back end of the store will be visible from the road and will give new meaning to ‘butt ugly.’ ” —Jon Vick.
When Askar defended the size of the supermarket by saying it was dictated by the needs of obtaining funding, Vick countered, “Do we want the look of this shopping center to be dictated by the need for funding?”
When Askar stated that much of the center will be masked by other parcels, Patsy Fritz retorted, “Those parcels that are unbuilt will have to stay that way because there will be no sewer. This will preclude a sewer. That land will lay barren for eons. Don’t con these people. Do not tell them that your development will be masked by other parcels.”
“I’m not conning anyone. Please don’t attack what I’m doing. This is proper and good planning,” said Askar angrily.
A marketability study determined how many stores were to be built and their square footage, he said.
“The market study came back and said this community needs desperately many types of services. It can support more square footage than is here before you. That’s how much leakage that is going down to Escondido.”
The Valley Roadrunner
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