Tuesday afternoon around 200 gathered at the high school library to celebrate the beginning of the construction of the Valley Center-Pauma Joint Use, Multi-Use Facility, a 550 seat theater.
Quite a mouthful, but until the theater is actually built and named with something (or someone) more appropriate, that’s what we’ll call it.
The ceremony wasn’t really a ground-breaking. For one thing, water was pouring outside in torrents, so lifting a shovel full of slush was probably not the best way to celebrate. For another, the ground has already been broken and construction has begun, to be completed sometime in the next 11 months.
The recognition began with Choral instructor Laralee Beck’s VCHS chorus singing the National Anthem.
Each of the board presidents of the two districts that are participating in the project, Wendy Zeugschmidt of the school board and Eric Jockinsen of the parks and rec district, gave opening remarks and introduced School Supt. Karen Jobe.
She told the room, “We appreciate your presence with us today—as you represent the extensive support of the communities of Valley Center and Pauma Valley have recieved to make this project possible.”
She recognized many, most prominently Sherman Finger of Pauma, who she called “an indispensable and vital force in moving this theater project forward.” Mr. Finger has personally donated $250,000 to the project and his son, Bob has donated another $50,000.
Finger joined Mrs. Jobe and the two board presidents in unveiling the artist’s rendering of the multi-use theater.
He was also instrumental in recruiting the other major contributors honored Tuesday, David & Darlene Shiley, who have contributed $250,000 to the theater.
Mrs. Jobe spoke of the generosity of the Shileys.
“Residents of San Diego County have benefitted immensely from the generosity of our first speaker and her husband. They have expressed quintessential philanthropy in a diverse number of ways.”
Mrs. Shiley spoke briefly about her passion for the arts and said that she couldn’t wait to see the first performance in the new theater.
Some night this week if you are taking a walk or driving alone and you find yourself on Morning Star, get ready for the FRIGHT OF YOUR LIFE!
It’s like a combination of Thriller and Night of the Living Dead with the Addams Family thrown in for spice.
Trick or treaters are welcome Heh, heh, heh!
Bob & Dee Conti, who moved to VC from New Jersey three years ago, have prepared a Halloween treat that will scare the daylights out of every ghoulyard bully and chill the blood of Van Helsing himself.
They have transformed their huge front yard, 8,000 sq. ft, into a freak show and graveyard populated by nearly 50 lifesize characters such as Pinhead, Dracula, skeletons, aliens and various filmic slashers and blood drinkers. There’s even a guy who has hanged himself over the front door. Careful! Your name may be on one of the tombstones!
The Contis started with a much more modest Halloween display last year, in the midst of the Paradise Fire.
“We thought it would be nice to give the kids something to take their minds off it,” Mrs. Conti told The Roadrunner.
The display was lit up and the figures were silhouetted against the sky when a fire engine drove up.
The firefighters had seen the smoke from a nearby hill where the fire had flared up and were there to put the sparks out.
“When they saw the figures in the distance they said, ‘Oh no, it’s worse than we thought. There’s a crowd!’ ” But as soon as they were close enough to see the frightful display, they all broke into laughter.
Bob Conti is very enthusiastic about the display, and keeps coming up with new figures to ad to it.
“I keep pleading with him to stop the madness!” says Dee with a laugh.
The most fun she gets out of the display is the “body” spread out on a slab whose chest cavity is filled with goo made up of Jello, spaghetti, marshmallows and peeled grapes. To reach the coins contained within the corpse, kids have to reach their hands into the goo!
All the while a fog machine will turn out whirling mists and scary music from every horror film of the last 20 years will play a danse macabre accompaniment to the festivities.
Their 18-year old daughter Lindsay likes to get into the act. She dresses up and stands still next to one of the figures until somebody gets close. And then . .
“I don’t like coming out here at night because it’s too creepy,” says Dee, a little bit of worry in her voice.
Once Halloween is past this $10,000 display will go back into a storage shed purchased especially for the figures.
If your heart can stand it, take a right on Pauma Heights Road (at the high school), turn right again at Palomar Vista, take a left on Starhaven a right on North Star and a left on Morning Star. If it’s at night, you’ll probably hear the moaning of tortured souls who have been released for one last fling on earth before eternal unpleasantness long before you ever arrive. You have been warned.
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Once you have visited the scene, and if you’d like to contribute to show your appreciation, the Contis will apply donations to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
“Before the sun came up the scene was surreal as flames engulfed the hills below us without a sound,” recalls Sandy Puccio, whose memories of the Paradise Fire, along with several others below, were collected in From the Ashes of Paradise: San Diego Firestorm 2003, a book awaiting publication (see Page A12).
“In front of us it looked like Noah’s Ark with goats, llamas, horses and chickens loaded on trailers and in the back of pickups and all of us were stopped on a two-lane road lined with brush and billows of black smoke racing down on us. We didn’t know that at the bottom of the hill things were even worse.”
Kathryn Tisch of VC wrote: “From the high school, “we watched our area burn. There was a huge blaze where we knew our house was.”
Later, when “we drove back, we could hardly believe the house was still standing. We know we were very fortunate given the outcomes others suffered.”
Don Bowen recalls, “After the fire of 1996, I laid water lines around the property. It was still dark so I was able to see sparks and extinguish them quickly. Also after the ‘96 fire I researched fire prevention and had cleared out the brush. After the sun rose, I could see that the fire burned up to the fire breaks and stopped. By going after wind-blown embers, I was able to stop the fire from spreading.”
Merle & David Jensen of Hellhold Canyon, remember, “We had no choice but to go through the fire or sit there and burn. We lost 46 years of memories and things, but the Lord wouldn’t have brought us through if He didn’t have a plan. Personally, I believe it is for our two grandchildren we love so much.”
Third grader Brook Roche remembered, “The houses behind us, they got burned down. But my house is safe.”
Another third grader, Arianna Henry, wrote: “I looked up, the sky was all red from the sun. I tried to go home a few times, but the fire fighters didn’t let us. I’m glad that it is over now.”
Finally, a recollection by Rudolf Contreras, also of the third grade:“We went outside and we looked around and it was snowing ashes everywhere. We went back to our house and nothing but piles of aluminum were left.”
Former Miss Valley Center Rhonda Pincock-Patten died suddenly Oct. 14.
She was crowned Miss Valley Center in May of 1975. Afterwards she pursued a career in interior design.
A viewing was held on October 19 at Neels Brea Mortuary in Brea.
She is survived by her husband Rick Patten and her daughters: Stephanie, 24, Sydney, 22; her sons: David, 20, and Eric 9; sisters, Stacy Weber and Judi Talili; brothers, Hollis, Jr., Adam, Marc and Eric. Her parents are Hollis and Suzanne Pincock of Valley Center.
She will be greatly missed by her loving family and friends. Please send any cards or condolences to: Rick Patten & Family 938 Gehrig Ave, Placentia CA 92670
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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