The VC library now has a flagpole from which to display Old Glory.
The County facility was originally built without a flagpole, but a constant drum roll of community interest in erecting a pole at VC’s most used building (outside of the schools), persuaded the County to accede to a proposal from Michael Crews Develop-ment.
The suggestion came from Ralph Capuano, customer services specialist for the development company.
Michael & Kelly Crews embraced the project. They purchased the 30-foot pole and installed it, along with a spotlight, so the flag can fly at all times.
Landscape supervisor Luis Feria and his crew did the actual installation, helped by an equipment donation from Don Upson of Valley Center Equipment Rental of a jackhammer to dig through the solid granite.
At Wednesday morning’s dedication, Cheryl Cline, regional librarian, introduced Dorothy Steinbeck, representing Fifth District Supervisor Bill Horn, Friends of the VC Library Pres. Gerry Slusser and Mrs. Crews.
Slusser commented, “It is most appropriate that the library should fly the U.S. flag because no other place is more representative of the heritage of wisdom and freedom of information in the U.S. than our libraries.”
Boy Scout Troop No. 6732 reverently unfolded and raised the new flag over the library-museum complex for the first time.
Last week Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District was granted $1.7 million in matching funds from the State for a joint use performing arts center at the high school.
The money comes from the Joint Use Program, created by Assembly Bill 16 last year, and which is part of California’s School Facility Program.
The school district, in partnership with the VC Parks & Rec. district, will develop the theater as a facility that can be used by all groups in the community.
Karen Jobe, superintendent of the school district, will be heading a fund-raising effort to bring in the rest of the matching funds. The district has already collected about $600,000.
This includes $250,000 in cash, a $225,000 pledge from the Staples Foundation, $125,000 from the County via Supervisor Bill Horn’s office.
In the next two years it must raise another $1.1 million.
It hopes to do that with a combination of large donors and small donations from as many groups as possible. The goal is to get every organization (Chamber of Commerce, Boy Scout troops, Board of Realtors etc.) in town to pledge a small amount, so that the community at large will have a sense of ownership of the theater.
The first meeting of the Theater fund-raising committee will be in October, when it will plan future meetings and begin a public relation plan.
In December the school board will plan a timeline for construction of the theater.
It is anticipated that, in addition to providing a venue for various high school programs such as chorus, band and drama, the theater will be available to be used by community theater groups, and for meetings and other projects.
In 1848 gold was discovered in the American river in Northern California. The gold rush that followed changed the world, and California in particular, forever.
A pivotal figure in the California Gold Rush ended her days in Valley Center and was buried in the VC Cemetery, where her grave has been largely obscured by the passage of time.
This fall Jennie Wimmer, the woman who in 1848 assayed the first gold nugget in California’s gold rush, will be recognized by a plaque that will be installed at the VC Cemetery.
That first nugget was found by Peter Wimmer, Jennie’s husband, and James Marshall.
Long after the Gold Rush the Wimmers homesteaded a parcel in Valley Center in 1883. She died and was buried in the VC cemetery the following year.
The bronze plaque memorializing Jennie Wimmer will be installed by a group known as the Clampers, (a shortening of the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus).
This group, which itself formed during the Gold Rush, is dedicated to placing bronze plaques to memorialize notable sites of early California history.
The group also likes to perform the occasional practical joke. The most famous (or infamous) of these pranks occurred in the 1930s when they fabricated a bronze plaque that purported to have been left in the Bay Area by Sir Francis Drake in 1579.
That hoax was perpetrated in history books for four decades and the plaque was on display at the Bancroft Library in Berkeley.
The Wimmer grave at VC is no hoax, however, although it has long been given short-shrift by historians.
The existing headstone for Wimmer was installed in the 1940s and, unfortunately, misspells her name as Weamer.
The Valley Center Design Review Board Thursday afternoon mulled over the designs for a redesigned gas station and convenience store, a self-storage business and considered a request from board member Robert Hancock to get involved in a campaign to make businesses conform to County standards.
Design Review Board members at the meeting included chairman Phil Geddes, Robert Hancock, Gary Martin (awaiting confirmation) and Lael Montgomery. Absent was recently confirmed member Leon Schwartz. The meeting was held at the VC Library.
It was a noteworthy meeting because VC has not had much commercial building to occupy the board over the last few years. But now several commercial projects are in the pipeline, so the design board is likely to become more active.
Gas Station
The impending widening of Valley Center Road became the catalyst for a project to modernize a 24-hour gas station owned by United Oil Inc., whose owner, Jeffrey Appel of Gardena has been called the “Medici of gas stations” because of his penchant for building stations decorated with topiaries, murals and imported tiles.
He will be building an Exxon/Mobil station and adjoining convenience store. It is currently a “Regal” station. It is located on the west side of VC Road a block north of Woods Valley Road.
Appel bought the property two years ago and then learned that the road was going to be widened.
The widening put the existing gas island canopy in violation, so Appel decided to take the opportunity to renovate the property to the community’s design guidelines.
The existing gas tanks will remain in the ground. A 2,160 sq. foot convenience store will be added. Although gas will be sold 24-hours a day, the store will be closed from 11 p.m. - 6 a.m. During that time customers will do business with the clerk through bulletproof glass.
The store will consist of a tiled roof building of stucco and exposed beams. The project is expected to cost between $1.5- $2.5 million .
The project was previously approved by the VC planning group.
The design review board’s task, in this case, was to determine whether the project followed the Design Review Guidelines for VC.
Philip Schneiderman, architect for the project, gave a presentation and answered questions.
The board pointed out that the internally illuminated Exxon sign does not conform to the VC Design Guidelines and requested that the sign be lit from the front, as the guidelines stipulate.
Members also suggested screening the dumpster in the back and to provide screening of the back of the business with trees.
The group went over the project in detail, including such things as accents on the store building and the placement of air-conditioning units on the roof. They also discussed how the windows should be configured.
With modifications the board approved the design unanimously.
Storage Facility
The board unanimously rejected plans for a storage facility on Lizard Rock Road off Valley Center Road, east of Cole Grade.
Members felt that the project “showed complete disregard for the Guidelines in terms of building clustering, building appearance, and landscaping.”
The applicant was invited to the meeting but didn’t show up.
The group pointed out that it had in February rejected a similar project for similar reasons. The project was located on Cole Grade Road within the industrial area.
Signage Violations
Although the Design Review Board has no responsibility for overseeing code violations, member Robert Hancock wants the board to ask the County to enforce instances where the Design Guidelines have been ignored, or disregarded.
He presented a list that includes, signs, burnt out buildings, illegal trailers, selling cars and trailers in unauthorized sites and deliberately digging up a stream bed to create ponds for extracting irrigation water.
The board voted to inform the County authorities of the violations, several of which have already been reported and ignored.
First they will refine the list and provide details before sending a letter to County Code Enforcement.
At the same time the board will ask the VC Planning Group to add its voice to this complaint.
Dr. Montgomery suggested using the slogan “Valley Center cleanup has to start now” to enlist the entire community to keep the the commercial district from descended into an “anything goes attitude.”
Janet Beronio has joined Harrah’s Rincon Casino as senior vice president and general manager.
She comes from Harrah’s Phoenix Ak-Chin, where she was general manager for nine years. Ak-Chin is somewhat smaller than Harrah’s Rincon, with about 450 slot machines, compared to 1600 for Rincon.
According to Anthony Sanfilippo, president of Harrah’s Western Division, “For nearly two decades, Janet has played a pivotal role in the growth and development of Indian gaming for Harrah’s Entertainment and we are thrilled to have the chance to draw on her wealth of experience.”
Tom Dingman, who was general manager of Harrah’s Rincon from its opening, retired in May.
Prior to her career with Harrah’s, Beronio served as Deputy Attorney General for the State of Nevada.
* * *
The Roadrunner interviewed Beronio this week.
“The most exciting thing going on in Rincon right now is the expansion that we opened up in the past month,” she said. “That and continuing the growth business of attracting new customers.”
Along with the recently completed $18 million expansion is the addition of slot machines and table games, such as a new, card-based version of craps.
The casino has been a big success since it opened as Harrah’s, almost exactly one year ago. At that time it was obvious that an expansion of the gaming floor was in order.
“I think our success has to do with two things. First is the service levels. We work very hard to create an environment where our guests will return again and again. The second is the program that helps us to build a customer base,” said Beronio.
This loyalty program, called Total Rewards, is employed at all Harrah’s properties. It is used to build customer loyalty, enticing new customers by using rewards, credits and giveaways.
For example, most customers staying at the 200-room hotel at Harrah’s are Total Rewards customers.
At the same time, says Beronio, Harrah’s is becoming a regional attractions.
“We are attracting more and more from North County, as opposed to south of us. Our customer base is a little bit different during the week.”
During weekdays buses and shuttles bring players from the immediate area, and from Los Angeles, Riverside and San Diego.
The new expansion includes an area known as The Pavilion.
This area, which includes the high energy bar (think of the juggling bartenders in the Tom Cruise film Cocktails).
It also includes the Corner Grill, which offers food fast, but not “fast food.”
The Pavilion has high definition TVs broadcasting music videos. They can be changed at a moment’s notice from videos appealing to folks who love music of the 1950s and 60s to appeal to a more contemporary crowd they see during the weekend.
Also part of the expansion is a showroom that can accommodate about 1000 people. It was used recently for a Randy Travis concert and is being used for things such as the Maxim Girls party.
Given the “challenging” state and national economy, how has Indian gaming as an industry, managed such strong growth in recent months?
“I think that gaming in general is a form of entertainment and recreation that seems to to prosper despite the economic downturn,” said Beronio.
Las Vegas has suffered a bit of a recession since 9/11, but Beronio attributes that to the fact that the city depends on air travel for much of its customer base.
“Yet even in Las Vegas the gambling casinos still do well,” she points out. “It’s a form of entertainment that during tough times people come out for. It’s more than gambling. It’s everything that goes with it. The food, the entertainment, people staying in the hotel.”
Harrah’s own hotel will probably expand during the next few years.
“The master plan that is in the process of being carried will include an expansion of the hotel,” said the general manager.
The recent developments, from the addition of the gaming space and concert hall, help serve customers better by giving the casino more capacity, particularly for slot machines and table games.
The number of slot machines will remain at 1,600, at least for now.
“It allows us to attract a different customer base that may not have come here before,” she says.
“It also helps to have the Corner Grill. The bar is a different experience. Fun. High energy bar tenders. We’re providing more of the amenities that people look for when they come to a casino.”
The casino will also have more of a club atmosphere and offer exhibits such as the upcoming Coca Cola traveling museum exhibit next week.
It will also continue to offer a wide variety of entertainment.
“We’re testing different types of entertainment,” said Beronio. “Country Western, Rock, 1980s with Peter Frampton, night club acts, the Maxim girls.”
The general manager sees San Diego County’s Indian casinos moving more and more towards being destination resorts.
That’s differently true of Harrah’s.
This is particularly true when the casinos are not clustered together. “They have to be self-contained.”
The casino is also working with regional tourist groups to be able to put packages together for customers who want the casino experience along with a visit to the spa, or to play golf.
With all this competition, is it possible for the market to become too crowded?
“I don’t think it’s there yet Our market is growing. No question.”
An old water main that has burst at least three times in the past, did so again Sunday evening.
Ironically, the VC Municipal Water District has already begun a project to replace the badly corroded water main. The nighttime construction project began July 8 and is expected to be finished next month.
The most recent break, in June of 2002, shut down three businesses in the Old Town Center.
“That’s the reason we’re replacing the pipes, because they’re old and need to be replaced” the water’s district’s Gen. Mgr. Gary Arant told The Roadrunner Monday. “This break underscores why we wanted to do this project.”
This week’s break was not as devastating as last year’s, mainly because crews were already in place when it occurred. Part of Valley Center Road did cave in and there was some mud and loss of service to the businesses, but no damage to property.
“Fortunately our inspector and contractor was out there when the break happened. They were able to control it quickly,” said Arant.
The district had wanted to do the project in the spring, but the County’s permission was required because the work involved an interruption of traffic.
According to Arant, the County took two months to review and finally approve the project, and this delayed it until July.
“Hopefully this is the last line break we’ll have on this section,” Arant added.
By DAVID ROSS
A little over a year after paramedics began serving Valley Center and the Backcountry, the fire district has received word that the paramedic service, Sycuan Ambulance, is withdrawing from its contract.
Sycuan Ambulance has given the fire district 90 days to find another provider.
The actual ambulance service area includes not only Valley Center, but Deer Springs Fire Protection District as well as much of the Backcountry, as far east as Lake Henshaw. Ambulances are stationed, at Lake Henshaw, Deer Springs and Valley Center.
The fire department has contracted to the County to provide this service, and it contracts to the Sycuan Ambulance.
It is the far-ranging nature of the contract that has prompted Sycuan Ambulance to give notice of termination.
Before the fire district was sent the notice of termination Fire Chief Kevin O’Leary had heard rumors that the reservation fire department was no longer interested in providing paramedic services.
He confirmed these rumors when he contacted Chief Hank Murphy of Sycuan Ambulance Service who told O’Leary the following:
• Sycuan wants to discontinue providing a paramedic ambulance at Lake Henshaw due to the cost.
• Sycuan would like to continue providing paramedic service to both Deer Springs and Valley Center.
• Sycuan has asked the County to provide additional funding in addition to the $60,000 that it currently provides.
Director Mike Pacheco, who attended a meeting at Supervisor Bill Horn’s office along with Director Stan Johnson, told the board Thursday night that the County would not consider removing Henshaw from the service area.
“Looking at the numbers I can understand why Sycuan wants to get out of the contract,” Director Dan Thornton commented. “I was never comfortable providing ambulance service for the entire area.”
Thornton said he was interested in providing service just for VC. “Couldn’t we just do an RFP (Request for Proposal) for Valley Center?”
He added, “They’ve given us notice that they are terminating, we haven’t even begun to find a new contractor. I think we need to give the county notice that we are terminating, particularly since we don’t know if we can get a successful bidder.”
It would be possible for the district itself to bid to provide the ambulance service, Thornton said, quoting Chief O’Leary, who was absent from Thursday’s meeting.
Thornton said that when the district first looked into being the lead agency for providing paramedic services that they worried about “whether someone might bail on us. Putting this together is a very time consuming job.”
Valley Center is under no obligation to provide paramedic service, Thornton noted.
“Nothing is to prevent us from walking away from it.”
Director Mel Schuler said he would like to invite representatives from Sycuan to come talk to the board. He noted that Sycuan and VC have always had a good relationship in the past. For several years Sycuan provided a free ambulance service to VC, before bidding to provide paramedic service. Paramedic services is a higher level of medical service than the basic life support provided by an EMT ambulance.
Board Pres. Patrick Garcia suggested having special meeting that would include Chief O’Leary and representatives from Sycuan.
Pacheco said he has been contacted by two ambulance companies who are interested in taking over the contract.
In the meantime, Sycuan has offered to do a month by month contract until VCFPD can make other arrangements.
A special meeting will be held Thursday, July 24, at the N. Lake Wohlford fire station.
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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