May 9, 2007 - Top Stories
Monday the Valley Center Fire Protection District, Deer Springs Fire Protection District and Palomar Mountain Volunteer Fire Dept. were among seven allowed by LAFCO (Local Agency Formation Commission) to opt out of Phase I of the formation of a county fire district.
LAFCO is a state agency that forms new districts and determines their boundaries.
The LAFCO board went forward with a more modest regional district than originally proposed that will include seven districts in the eastern unincorporated areas. Approval was conditioned on the plan being brought back later and that the issue of who will govern it be decided then.
VC was represented by fire director Weaver Simonsen who urged commissioners to “act today so that we are not on hold.”
He said uncertainty over whether VC would be included in the regional district was hamstringing efforts to get voters to approve a new source of income. VCFPD’s finances will go into negative numbers in three years if a new revenue source is not approved.
Deer Springs Fire Protection District was represented by a delegation, including an attorney from the law firm of Best, Best & Krieger. He told commissioners that the district was prepared to challenge the consolidation in court if it was not allowed to opt out.
The seven fire protection districts whose requests to opt out were granted were: Borrego Springs Fire Protection District, Deer Springs Fire Protection District, Julian-Cuyamaca Fire Department, Valley Center Fire Protection District, Palomar Mountain Volunteer Fire Dept., San Pasqual and Elfin Forest volunteer fire departments.
They represent $11.6 million of the $14.1 million in revenue generated by those 24 districts.
The four municipal water districts that had been included in the new district, such as Ramona and Yuima Municipal Water Districts, were removed because state law does not allow their latent powers to be taken away.
At first the LAFCO board was unable to get the five votes needed to go forward with the plan. Instead the vote was 4–3.
Eventually a 6–1 yes vote allowed it to go forward once a funding source is nailed down and to let commissioners review how the district will be governed later.
LAFCO staff’s plan is to form a CSA (County Service Area) which is a defined area within the unincorporated area governed by the Board of Supervisors.
There was resistance to the County being given control of the regional district. Some want directors to be elected by residents of the district.
The LAFCO board consists of eight members, including two supervisors, Bill Horn and Dianne Jacob; public member Andrew L. Vanderlaan; Toni Atkins, council member, City of San Diego; Andrew J. Menshek, Padre Dam Municipal Water District; Ron Morrison, Mayor of National City; Bud Pocklington, South Bay Irrigat-ion District; Betty Rexford, council member, City of Poway and five alternates.
The three who voted “no” were concerned about creating the new entity before a permanent funding mechanism is approved and before the issue of who will govern the district is decided.
Morrison was unhappy about granting control of the regional fire department to the County, which is providing $8.5 million for enhanced fire service to several districts, including VCFPD.
The County has also promised to provide an additional $5 million annually for the new district.
Horn and Jacob said that since the County is providing funding, it should run the district.
This might create an impasse since many in Sacramento who are being asked to provide funding for the district want to see a governance plan in place first.
Recently The Roadrunner learned from state Senator Dennis Hollingsworth’s office that the consolidation financing bill he sponsored won’t be heard until next year.
The bill would shift some school funds to help fund the new district, whose annual cost estimates range from $45 million–$70 million.
Most school boards in the County, including Valley Center-Pauma Unified, oppose the plan.
Whether being removed from Phase I means that VC has successfully removed itself from ever being forced into the county fire department in Phase II or later is uncertain. But it gives several years to try to get a new funding source in place.
The new district will include East County Fire Protection District, Pine Valley Fire Protection District, San Diego Rural Fire Protection District, CSA 109 (Mount Laguna) CSA 111 Boulevard, CSA 112 Campo, Intermountain Fire District, Warner Springs, Sunshine Summit and Shelter Valley.
VC’s fire chief, Kevin O’Leary, commented on Monday’s action: “I think the big issue for Valley Center is that we need to move forward with resolving our funding issues. Now that it’s clear that we will not be part of that agency we should be able to move forward to get additonal revenue.”
The County has been providing enhancment money that has allowed VCFPD to add paid firefighters to each engine company.
O’Leary said he was assured that this will continue, at least for the two years that the County has committed to.
Monday Simensen also told the commission that the best way to help the local fire districts that were created after Prop. 13 is to come up with a better funding mechanism than benefit fees, which can only be increased by a two thirds vote.
“Such benefit fee increases are only good for from five to six years because they don’t accomodate the growth,” he said.
Simonsen said he was happy at LAFCO’s action.
“Taking us out of Phase I allows us to move forward,” he said.
He said that the concept of creating a CSA was “premature,” in light of legislation in Sacramento that “has the potential to give great flexibility.”
Whatever funding mechanism is decided, “It takes money and where is the money coming from? Whatever it is it has to be sustainable,” said Simonsen.
Three of the region’s top country bands, Tumblin’ Dice, The Working Cowboy Band, and Nitro Express have been scheduled to provide some true, down-home country western entertainment at Western Days this year.
“We are very excited about this year’s entertainment lineup,” said Roger Leydecker, VC Chamber Director.
“We are sure that everyone will agree this is one of the best slates of country bands that Western Days has ever had!”
Tumblin’ Dice – May 25
One of the hottest country/variety acts in the San Diego area, Tumblin’ Dice pulls its members from some of Southern California’s most popular bands. While a lot of bands define themselves as “variety” this one really “walks the walk” (or in this case, walks the beat). They can play an entire night of kickin’ country, an entire night of classic, dance rock, and can easily blend the two into an evening of upbeat, down home tunes that will keep all ages tapping their feet and on the dance floor. Tumblin’ Dice will be performing on Friday, May 25 from 5 p.m.–midnight.
The Working Cowboy Band – May 26
Formed in 1995, the Working Cowboy Band is not by any means your average country band. Steeped in the tradition of Honky Tonk and Texas Swing, once this band takes the stage you will find yourself swept up in a trip back to the days when country and swing music blended and the Singing Cowboy was the king of the airwaves and the silver screen. At the same time, The Working Cowboy Band can rip up the stage with tunes popularized by such current country music stars as Alan Jackson and Brad Paisley. The Working Cowboy Band will be performing on Saturday, May 26th from noon – 6 p.m.
Nitro Express – May 26-27
Nitro Express is known as one of the hardest working bands in Southern California – and is certainly one of the best country rock bands! With a song selection that includes new and classic country, classic, southern and oldies rock, classic R&B, surf and even Tex-Mex, Nitro Express is a band with universal appeal. When they play a classic country song, it is so authentic they could be playing from the stage of the Grand Ole Opry!
Nitro Express will be performing on Saturday, May 26 from 6 p.m.–midnight and Sunday, May 27 from 2–4 p.m.
For more information about Valley Center Western Days, contact Roger Leydecker through the Chamber office at 749-8472.
The first ever Valley Center Stampede Rodeo pie baking contest will be held May 26, between 1:30–2:30 p.m.
Bake your favorite pie and bring it on down to the rodeo grounds. Judging will begin at 2:30 p.m. It will be performed by the Stampede Rodeo Queen, Miss Valley Center and one other mystery judge.
Categories are: Adults (18 years and older): Double Crust & Single Crust; and Juniors (17 years & under): Double Crust & Single Crust.
Ribbons and bragging rights will be given to places first through third.
Winners will be announced just before the rodeo starts. Cost to enter contest is $5.
Spectators will be able to buy slices of the pies for $ 2 per slice after the contest.
Proceeds go directly to the Optimist Club, which provides scholarships, sporting equipment and more for our local youth.
A rodeo admission ticket is required to enter rodeo grounds. For a complete list of official rules and entry forms visit the Valley Center Stampede Rodeo Web site at www.valleycenterrodeo.com
Arnold Schwarzenegger won’t be riding in the Western Days Parade as grand marshal or even as a participant.
He has bigger cities in which to make an appearance.
The hope of his appearing as a guest in Valley Center last week vanished into the air like the smoke from his cigar tent.
Like a cigar crushed in an ashtray, so too were dashed the hopes of the Western Days committee and the VC Republican Women, whose president, Gloria Pellom, wrote in a letter to Sacramento: “How ecstatic the Republicans would be to have you and Maria as grand marshals at our Western Days Parade!”
The “governator” was able to resist that as well as getting to ride in the same parade as Miss Liberty, the club’s eight foot long blue papier mache elephant. Some Republicans were heard to grumble that it’s because he prefers RINOs.
Kathy Holt, of the Chamber, who worked for many weeks to try to lure the governor here, had some measure of success. His security people came out to VC several times to get the lay of the land.
They shot her a cold look when she joked that there were no “grassy knolls” in VC, but gave every indication that Valley Center was in the running. Schwarzenegger is fond of the San Diego area since it is where the recall movement was born.
What trumped everything for the governor was when he learned that VC is smaller than he originally thought, or so Mrs. Holt was told.
That’s all right. For those who have met him, Schwarzenegger is smaller than they originally thought.
The grand marshal’s name will be announced soon.
Back in the 1980s and early 1990s Judy Haynes was Valley Center’s colorful first honorary mayor, and was reelected several times.
She died May 2 at age 88.
Whether she had an opponent or not (usually she didn’t), Mrs. Haynes would energetically campaign for the office that she loved. She would usually raise several thousand dollars. Then during the year she took great joy in being photographed with her big cowboy hat at all of the town events.
She was seen frequently around town, and many people remember seeing her often at Papa Bear’s restaurant.
Finally she was appointed Honorary Mayor Emeritus so that she wouldn’t have to keep running.
Born Dec. 14, 1918 in Rhode Island, she and her second husband, Mitchell Haynes moved to Valley Center in the late 1960s. They ran a business, Haynes Grove Service. Previously they had run the post office in Mountain Center, near Idyllwild.
Mrs. Haynes’s favorite hobbies were her organ music and painting. She was a member of the Third Order of St. Francis and American Legion.
She moved into the Palomar Heights Care Center in 2003 where she lived until her death on Wednesday.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Mitchell A. Haynes, in January of 2006. She is survived by her stepdaughters: Carol Massar of Valley Center, Judy Satts of San Diego and Gloria Hewitt of VC; and a stepson, John Barrett.
A graveside service will be held on Friday, May 11, 10 a.m. at VC Cemetery, 28953 Miller Road in VC.
May marks a significant rebirth for the VC-based Alzheimer’s charity Patrons of Special Care for Special Seniors Foundation (PSCSSF).
After five years of relative obscurity the non-profit organization will host its annual Founder’s Day celebration on May 17 at the Town and Country Resort in Mission Valley.
The luncheon will feature a keynote address by Fox 6 anchor Estha Trouw, who aims to share a special message about the future of senior care.
This year marks the sixth annual Founder’s Day celebration for PSCSSF, which was founded with the goal of building a state-of-the-art care centers for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias.
VC resident Carol Mohrbacher (the Chamber’s candidate for Honorary Mayor) established the organization in 2002 after seeing the lack of acceptable and affordable care options available after a loved one was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
Mrs. Mohrbacher used her entire life savings to fund the organization to develop a unique care facility that exceeds the standards in today’s healthcare market.
PSCSSF has seen significant changes in the past year. This year’s Founder’s Day luncheon will celebrate the organization’s progress.
Michael F. Alessio, a San Diego native with a strong personal connection to Alzheimer’s disease, was recently appointed as the new president and CEO.
“I am honored to be a part of an organization that has an undeniable passion and commitment to those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease,” Alessio said recently.
“PSCSSF has a unique mission and an exceptional vision for the future of Alzheimer’s care, and we are honored to have Estha Trouw join us as we move closer to our goal of building a special care center.”
Beginning at 11:30 a.m., the luncheon will feature several speakers, as well as a virtual tour of the prototype of the special care center that planned to be built in Valley Center.
Sponsors of the event include: Valley View Casino, Harrah’s Resort & Casino and several individual business and private donations.
Tickets for PSCSSF Founder’s Day luncheon are $35, and are available online at www.patronsevent.com. The Town and Country Resort is located at 500 Hotel Circle North, San Diego. For more information about PSCSSF, visit www.pscssf.org.
ABOUT PCSSF
Founded in 2002, Patrons of Special Care for Special Seniors Foundation (PSCSSF) was established with a mission to build the first of 12 state-of-the-art private residential care centers for ambulatory seniors with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
As a charitable non-profit, these residential care centers will operate with the primary focus on the residents and providing an exceptional quality of care, including 30% of every care center suites available to low income seniors at low or no cost, funded by the Patrons scholarship program.
The balance of the suites will be available at competitive rates for similar senior residential care. The first planned special residential care center will be built in Valley Center. PSCSSF operates as a 501(c)(3) charity.
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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