December 21, 2005 - Top Stories
Town Center Market was burglarized early Friday morning.
Someone broke into the back of the market between 2-3 a.m. They dislodged two safes, and then backed what Sherriff's Sgt. Darrell Carr says was probably a white pick-up truck repeatedly into the front of the building to create a hole big enough to take the safes.
They were in and out in less than 15 minutes.
According to Carr, the burglars were very focused on what they wanted. They didn’t bother with the liquor or cigarettes, or anything besides the safes.
“There must have been cars passing by the market at that time of night,” said Carr. “We’ve got to think someone noticed. If someone did see something as they were driving by give us a call. It would be nice to know the make of the truck,” said Carr.
Call Sgt. Carr at 751-4400 if you have information abut this burglary.
Part I of a series
Not far from the bright lights of Pala Casino, the Rancho Heights community appears to share nothing with its neighbor.
In reality the two aren’t that far apart. Every night at the casino there is the possibility of scandal and upset. Every morning in Rancho Heights it’s the same.
The issues obviously differ. It’s not a matter of who got drunk and gambled too much.
It’s a matter of who won’t be able to leave their house in the rainy season because the road is not graded. It’s a matter of what unsuspected changes were made to their community bylaws. It’s a matter of money.
The Rancho Heights Liberty Tree (RHLT) was formed to resist these issues brought about by the Rancho Heights Road Maintenance Committee. Twenty to 25 members of the community met to discuss their concerns for their neighborhood and common problems they shared.
Their purpose is simple: to provide an arena for open communication and to define and protect the rights of the individual property owners.
Their concerns are many.
First and foremost, they feel plagued by inadequate bylaws that make change easy from the inside but difficult from the outside.
“The committee changes policies that relate to bylaws at will,” said resident and former board member Tim Prince. “But if we want to make changes, we have to have 65% of the vote.”
Along the same lines, the RHLT claims the committee is establishing policies without voting on them.
The bylaws mention pavement of roads in the development. At most a graded road is promised, but a few years back it was decided the roads would be paved. Assessment fees were collected and the process began. In 2004 and 2005 $170,000 was spent on road paving. Yet some of the roads are still unpaved.
One resident, Tom Bond, was unable to leave his house for part of the rainy season last year because the road had washed out. He finally rented a bulldozer to clear the road for himself.
RHLT wonders where the money has gone for the road paving? Why only a certain percentage of the roads were paved and why substandard paving was done.
When they ask to see the financial records, they are met with negative responses.
Prince say he has asked to see the financial records for years. He runs a small business. He knows what it takes in the bookkeeping department. But his requests were denied each time.
“When I asked for the check register at the annual meeting they refused to give us the stubs or to even show us the bank register,” said Prince. “We have no way to compare statements with their records for their accounting.”
Prince sued in an attempt to obtain the records. However because the committee structure falls into a loophole of California law, the case was thrown out.
Misrepresentation of the type of organization has also been an issue. The committee calls itself a non-profit organization but it isn’t on file with the state of California as such. Prince says he was unable to locate a tax identification number that is requested for non-profits.
It has also been collecting on past due bills by way of a standard homeowner’s association contract. But it is not a homeowners association, says Prince.
The chairman of the committee, Steve Boschinski, hired the past two bookkeepers from his personal business, says Prince.
“He used his influence to use them as bookkeepers for our community,” said Prince. “Beverly Romans [our current bookkeeper] also works for him and is being paid by the committee when she shouldn’t be. It is supposed to be all volunteers. I asked him if it was a conflict of interest and he said no.”
The RHLT’s goals are simple: The road committee should be legally defined.
The property owners should have access to the financial records of the committee that they are paying into.
Road assessment fees should be accompanied by written documentation citing which roads are to be paved and what the schedule will be for that.
Use of all contractors, venders and bookkeepers should come from outside the Rancho Heights Property Owners Community.
According to Romans, “The committee spends many hours each month in a thankless job working for the common good of all property owners. We are all volunteers.
“The committee makes decisions based on the good of all. Not special interest groups. The property owners are represented by the five-member committee they elect. Each member serves a two-year term and is elected by a vote of the owners at the annual meeting. Owners unable to attend vote by proxy.”
Regarding the bylaws for the road committee, she said, “The Declaration of Road Maintenance Agreement was written in 1972 and signed by 100% of the property owners. The annual assessment can only be changed by a 65% vote of the owners. Change to the declaration itself would take a 100% vote of the property owners and the RHLT is more than welcome to put any change up to a vote.”
Residents Paul Reiker and Barbara Gill bought their property on Sunset Peak they were told by their Realtor that road was the last road to be paved and it was just a matter of time.
“Since we purchased the property there has been no maintenance, which is a far cry from what was represented to us,” said Reiker.
Everett Dunnick, a candidate in this year’s annual election, says, “This is the only group I’ve ever been associated with that refuses to open the books to the membership. They have a right to go in and collect fees from us but they do not have to account how they spend the money and refuse to give us accountability aside from what they desire.”
After the annual meeting, the RHLT continues its battle with road maintenance and vague bylaws. Small steps are being taken as an act of resistance and also action.
Three weeks ago, the RHLT sponsored an erosion repair job to fix an eight-foot drop off on the road.
Prince said the committee was aware of the safety issue that presented and instead used the road maintenance fees to finish installing a gate.
Several Liberty Tree members have stopped paying their assessments, citing reasons of mismanagement and lack of complete open accounting.
All members of the committee were contacted for statements. Boschinski said the committee would meet to discuss how they wanted to represent themselves and get back to the Roadrunner with further information. Romans was the only committee member to give a response.
For more information regarding the Rancho Heights Liberty Tree visit ranchoheightslibertytree@cox.net or contact Tim Prince at 760-737-9121.
Representatives from the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians Dec. 15 presented a check for $5,995,000 to the County of San Diego.
The tribal funds will assist with the County’s $34 million road-widening project on Valley Center Road.
Fifth District Supervisor Bill Horn accepted the check on behalf of the county, along with Department of Public Works Director John Snyder, County Tribal Liaison Chantal Saipe, Project Manager of Engineering Services for the Department of Public Works Brendan McNabb and Community Liaison Caroline Smith. Representatives of the San Pasqual Casino Development Group and members of the tribe’s Business Committee presented the check on behalf of the tribe.
“The tribe is very excited about its relationship with the County of San Diego, and we look forward to continuing our cooperative efforts in the future,” said Tribal Chairman Allen Lawson.
The funds will be used to widen Valley Center Road from two lanes to four lanes up to Cole Grade Road. The donation will also be used to create a signal-controlled intersection at North Lake Wohlford & Valley Center Roads. Valley Center Road intersections at Woods Valley, Lilac and Cole Grade will also be improved as a result of the tribe's contribution.
“The San Pasqual Tribe prides itself on being a good neighbor to the surrounding community," said Joe Navarro, President and CEO of the San Pasqual Casino Development Group Inc. “The widened roads and more efficient intersections will result in increased vehicle and pedestrian safety for the Valley Center community.”
The San Pasqual Tribe owns Valley View Casino.
Peace on Earth. Goodwill to men. Not just words to a group of VC residents who founded Peacemark a year ago.
Their purpose is to promote peace in the Middle East.
Peacemark has 400-500 members (who signed up to get emails and presentations) and 40 consistent participants, mostly from VC, but from all over the county.
Speakers are hosted at homes, and increasingly, at Cal State University San Marcos, which co-sponsors their speaker series and whose history and political science departments are also participating.
For Hank Kraus, who, with his wife Su and friend Roger Ingraham, founded Peacemark, the main good that has come from their efforts is, “Increasing understanding of the issues, providing more people with hope.
“One big obstacle we have is the idea that peace is not possible. We’ve given many people hope for peace to work, and the framework for that peace is understood by most Palestinians and most Israelis.”
Most Israelis and most Palestinians support the final status position of the Geneva Accord, says Hank Kraus. It is the irrational forces on both sides who keep peace from happening, he says.
“Peace is possible and there are a lot of people today who believe that who didn’t believe it before.”
Christmas time is an appropriate time to think about that.
“Most of our participants, especially the active ones are coming from a position of faith. Su and I are involved because of our faith,” says Kraus.
In the coming year they plan more meetings and informative presentations and to be active as much as possible.
“I’ve learned a lot,” says Su Kraus. “It’s been really a life changing experience. One thing I’ve learned the most is how much pain exists in the world.”
Hank adds, “The Jews have suffered so much, and their reaction is the result of their pain. I’ve learned about the Palestinians, and the pain they are going through. We are punishing millions of Palestinians for a few suicide bombers, and expecting that you are going to create a resolution.”
All that pain, they say, is why Christ’s message has so much to offer. “That is why the Christmas season is the time to think about this. The Christian message is so valuable in this issue,” says Su.
“As a devoted Christian the most surprising and disappointing obstacle to peace has been from other Christians,” says Hank. “Not indigenous Christians living in Israel / Palestine who feel the same oppression and injustice as felt by the Muslims.
“The Christians that represent an obstacle to peace are mostly Americans and mostly fundamental. Mike Pence a Republican Congressman from Indian is one such . As a member of the International relations Middle East Subcommittee he has been quoted as saying, ‘America is not a neutral party in the negotiations in the Middle East. We are not, nor do we aspire to be, an honest broker. America sTands with Israel.’ ”
Su adds “What is surprising is the unconditional support. All Christians struggle with the ultimate way to interpret the Bible, but what seems clear is to behave in accordance with Christ’s teaching and message. What is surprising is that many Christians will support something that goes against Christ’s message.”
You can find out more about Peacemark by visiting their web page: www.peacemark.org, which has downloadable tif and gif images.
What Valley Center or Pauma resident made the most impact in the news in 2005? Who was the greatest force for good in our community?
We want your nominations!
Think of this person as being the local equivalent of Time Magazine’s Person of the Year.
You have the chance to put in your two cents’ worth in the second annual Roadrunner newsmaker award.
It’s called Newsmaker of the Year. It will honor the person who has been in the news most frequently, had the greatest impact or done something of great benefit to the community during the year.
Who might this person be? It could be a football coach or player. It could be a community activist. It might be someone who performed a selfless act that helped many people. It could be someone who was a hero, someone who is a public official, or even a candidate for public office.
The possibilities are wide. The only restriction is that this person needs to have taken his or her actions during 2005.
We invite nominations for this award. We will make the final determination from the nominees received. So please feel free to write an essay as to why this person should be given the award. Deadline is Dec. 31, 2005.
Drop nominations off at The Roadrunner office, or mail them to POB 1529, Valley Center CA 92082, or email them to editor@valleycenter.com
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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