This was the year that Valley Center rebuilt and recovered from a series of disasters, the worst of which was a firestorm that left hundreds homeless.
It was the year when VC crowned its first rodeo queen, and that the service clubs decided not to hold the perennial Just Say No dinner dance.
It was also the year that Valley Center achieved rapturous jubilation and an incredible morale boost with the Jaguar football team achieving the height of high school sports achievement.
JANUARY
As 2004 dawned some fire survivors from 2003 were finding new homes at the Rancho Corrido campground.
The VC water district was studying whether to expand its current site or buy a new one for further expansion.
Valley Center’s “Man in Black,” Tom Bumgardner, was named as VC’s Citizen of the Year.
In honor of the fire survivors, the Western Days committee adopted “United We Stand” as the motto for the Memorial Day weekend event.
FEBRUARY
Harrah’s Rincon Casino began construction of a new hotel, spa and parking garage, the casino’s fourth expansion since opening in 2002.
The school board voted to begin construction in the summer on the high school multi-use theater.
Campaigning was fierce on both sides on Prop. B, the Rural Lands Initiative, which supporters said would save the Backcountry, and which farmers said would kill them.
VC’s Wayne Abernethy unveiled three statues to honor firefighters who battled the Paradise blaze in October.
The North County Transit District began work on 20 bus stops in the Valley.
MARCH
Lovers of fine food everywhere celebrated: Georgine Thomas announced that Fat Ivor’s would rebuild after burning down the year before.
The theme of the Miss Valley Center pageant was “La Noche Bella,” and for the newly crowed Miss Valley Center, 17-year old Ciera Graham, it was undoubtedly a beautiful night.
The VC High School earned a six year accreditation from the Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Assn. of Schools and Colleges. This is the highest accreditation given.
An experienced backwoods hunter wanted by authorities on a variety of felony complaints and charges eluded a dragnet near the Palomar Observatory only to be captured near a bar at the northern base of the mountain.
Under pressure from residents fearful of another firestorm, the VC Fire Protection District began looking again at what had once been a very controversial subject: a weed abatement ordinance for the district.
Herb Schaffer was threatening to not build his shopping center unless the planning group’s subcommittee moderated its requests for design change (He didn’t carry out the threat.)
Valley Center planners announced themselves to be “shocked” when they saw the County’s land use map for the Villages, which, according to some calculations, put 20,000 people into the two nodes of VC’s country town.
TO BE CONTUED.
Several Valley Center families are helping to make a fun, entertaining and safe New Year’s Eve celebration in Escondido— a celebration that’s actually for everyone in North County.
These VC families are volunteers in the Tenth Annual First Night Escondido.
This is the event which opens up Grand Avenue, the city hall and the California Center for the Arts in Escondido and fills them with shows, music, art and food— until the clock strikes midnight, when fireworks begin.
Most restaurants, art galleries and antique shops in the area will be open late, including the Mingei Museum and Escondido Children’s museum.
The various VC volunteers are working on a variety of jobs, such as selling First Night buttons (which you need to take part in any of the evening’s events) at the button booth, and crown making for the kids.
One of them is a jack-of-all trades trouble-shooter, Milo McGarrigle, who, for the third year in a row, will help the event run smoothly.
McGarrigle describes his background as “Umpteen year in large events in Cincinnatti and northern Kentucky,” such as the Riverfest in Kentucky, which attracts over a million visitors.
For McGarrigle, an event that attracts “just” 10,000-15,000 people is “refreshing.”
“My job is primarily trouble-shooting, “ he says. “I report directly to the command center and the venue manager.
“I direct volunteers in different areas. I check on the volunteers to make sure they are happy and that shift changes take place on time.”
There’s a lot of setting up of barricades and “a lot of grunt work where something is needed in a hurry.”
As McGarrigle describes it, “You sort of fly by the seat of the pants. There’s always something that needs to be handled in a timely manner. Be it schlepping musicians around for the different stages— you name, it happens.”
McGarrigle likes the hands-on aspect of the job— In fact, he prefers it.
“I’d rather be a first sergeant than a captain,” he says with a grin.
Why does he do it?
“Because it’s a terrific event. It’s a lot of fun. It’s an adrenaline rush, seeing everything run together and then seeing a well-run production,” he says.
He also likes the family orientation of the event.
“Everybody is just super well behaved. It’s a non alcohol event, very family oriented. The committee does a fantastic job.”
* * *
Although there may be rain in the forecast, organizers of First Night insist that “this party goes on rain or shine.” So dress warmly.
The festivities include 14 stages of live entertainment, ranging from rock to country, swing and more.
There are special shows for children, including puppeteers, magicians and professional storytellers.
In the “Battle of the Bands” San Diego’s top garage bands will compete for studio time.
Grape Day Park (next to city hall) will be lit up by the glow of dozens of hot air balloons.
The best of professional dance will be on display at the Center’s concert hall.
The Fern Street Circus will enliven the evening with comedy and acrobatics.
There’s plenty of free parking available
Buttons to get you in to all this fun cost $15, with children 6 and under getting in for free.
Call 839-4173 for a list of locations where you can buy buttons ahead of time. Or visit the web site at info@firstnightescondido.com
By DAVID ROSS
Two people do just about all the work at the All Tribes Charter school on the Rincon Reservation. From teaching, to driving buses to being custodians.
The overwhelming workload on the shoulders of Maryanne Donahoo and Michelle Parada, and their resultant inability to meet state requirements for charter schools threatens their charter’s renewal next year.
The VC-P district has concerns about average daily attendance (ADA) record keeping, accounting, audits, cash flow analysis and financial statements— all required by the California Educational code.
The school’s governing board has also failed to fulfill open meetings laws that require that agendas be posted prior to meetings.
The VC school board at its December meeting voted unanimously to send a “letter of concern” to the All-Tribes Charter School regarding this problem.
This is the first step towards what might lead to the charter not being renewed next year for the school, which teaches about 72 Indian students from several surrounding reservations.
However School Supt. Karen Jobe made it clear that she and her staff want to avoid that.
The district has offered to provide the tribal school with lunches, along with financial and payroll services; just about anything to make things easier for the tiny staff.
The school is not administered by the VC-Pauma district, and is on the reservation. However, the district, and not the tribe, is legally responsible for its compliance with state law. It has a legal responsibility to revoke its charter if it doesn’t meet state law.
Charters are granted for five years. The All Tribes school is in its fourth year of operation.
At the December meeting Supt. Karen Jobe commented, “I call this kind of an intervention program for the school. We think positive results are possible. It [the letter] is intended to be a first step.”
She added, “Really, all we are asking for is compliance. If there is not compliance the board has the opportunity to ask our attorney to draft another letter.”
In an interview with The Roadrunner, Mrs. Jobe added, “We want them to be successful .We think their hearts are in the right place, but what has happened is that the state has increased the oversight responsibilities of the district.”
She added, “We continue to support them. We want it to be successful. We hope that the focus of the next few months will put everything in proper order. I want to be able to recommend to the board next year that we renew their charter.”
Nevertheless, the school district’s concerns are real, and the penalties are real.
If the tribal school drops the ball on its reporting responsibilities, VC-Pauma is held responsible.
Example: This past year the tribal school installed portable buildings. During that time portable toilets were available for students and staff. If someone had gotten ill or been injured at the construction site, the VC district would have been liable.
Maryanne Donahoo and Michelle Parada administer, teach, run the finances and drive the school buses.
Donahoo, director of the school, attended the December meeting. She frankly admitted, “Financial is not my bag at all. We have 72 kids now and it’s becoming overwhelming. Bringing us under the financial umbrella of the district is a godsend.”
The school district offered recently to help take some of the school’s recordkeeping and financial records under the district’s umbrella.
At the last meeting of the charter school’s governing council, it voted to accept this offer and make the district responsible for fiscal matters and purchasing. However, these changes are progressing very slowly.
Several months ago the school district became aware that the tribal school was having problems with its bill paying when the district office was called by a collection agency trying to collect a debt of $5,322.
“We’re getting some of the stress of the business operation away from the director, so she can be director,” Pam Moe, financial director for the district, told the VC board.
The governance council is “very committed,” said Mrs. Jobe. “But they are not that experienced as to what boards are required to do, such as putting out agendas of their meetings.”
Donahoo apologized. “I have never wanted to reflect poorly on the district,” she said. “Our school is going through a lot of changes. We just brought in 13 relocatable buildings.” This includes nine classes, a library, administration and cafeteria.
She noted that during the recent construction that children were not allowed on campus when work was being done.
“I’m very careful about not creating a dangerous environment for the kids,” she said.
She explained that the school is working to bring itself into compliance as quickly as possible.
Mrs. Jobe commented, “It will take a 110% effort by everyone to get all the deadlines met.”
Donahoo added. “There’s still a lot of work to be done and I appreciate all the help that Pam [Moe], Karen [Jobe] and Sarah [Clayton] have provided.
Mrs. Jobe asked how much tribal support the school gets.
“This is the first year we’ve had tribal support,” said Donahoo. “Rincon and Pala came through so that the kids could go on the Washington D.C. trip.”
Pechanga, located in Riverside County, came through with $20,000 for a ramp. Viejas reservation in East County also offered financial aid to refit the kitchen during the holidays.
Mrs. Jobe admonished the tribal school representatives, “Don’t walk away forgetting all the things you’re supposed to work on.”
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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