The Konyn Dairy, which to many symbolizes Valley Center’s rural heart, has closed.
The cows have come home for the last time.
The family has confirmed that the dairy, an ornament to this community’s agriculture for over 75 years, is no more.
Editor’s note: We plan to run a follow up article on this closing, a very significant business event in VC’s history, next week. We hope to interview members of the Konyn family by then.
The dairy has been a part of VC’s daily life since it opened on a rainy, cold day on April 14, 1971 by a Dutch family that had been in the business for generations.
It had been under another operator before that, for a total of 75 years.
According to historian Bob Lerner, “it has always been used for dry farming and/or agricultural uses, starting in the 1870’s.
“Various owners have raised cattle and other animals, generally growing their own oat and hay on the site. The Konyn property was originally homesteaded by the Walsh family, then the Heddens and the Dinwiddie families,” said Lerner.
It is not known exactly how many cows were there, although some estimates say 600. There were 14 employees last year.
As John Konyn, the son of the founder of the same name told The Roadrunner last year, the costs of operating a dairy are much higher than they were nearly 40 years ago.
“The quality and standards of the milk is constantly improving, but so is cost,” he said.
In the end, watching the price of feed go up, the number of people drink milk go down, and profits reflecting those facts, the family made the very hard decision to take advantage of a federal program, called the CWT Herd Reduction (buyout) program.
Its purpose is to take entire herds off production. Dairy producers may join this program once a year. The Konyn family made the decision to take advantage of the program before the end of the year.
Many other dairies in the U.S. are making the same, tough decision.
The closing will have a big impact on how we look at and think of our community, since it is one of the first things that people see as they enter Valley Center after driving up the grade.
What will replace it?
No parcel of land that big—it’s about 78 acres—can remain undeveloped forever. But what?
Will it remain fallow until the real estate market reignites? Or will a commercial developer take a chance sooner than later?
Surely the land that the now empty cow stalls occupy will become the focus of a great controversy—no matter who ultimately owns it.
Planning Group Chairman Oliver Smith told The Roadrunner, “I am personally saddened at the passing on of a very visible icon that has long been key to what is Valley Center. At the same time, I have to admit that the potential opportunities presented for Valley Center are intriguing to say the least. The planning group is currently developing a vision for the future of our unique dual village areas. This undoubtedly will add a new facet to what can be seen as a diamond in the rough that we can help shape and polish.
“Over the past several years, a coalition of Southern Village businesses has been proposing some very interesting alternatives that now can be more realistically explored.
“Again the community has the opportunity to be part of this exploration and influence change towards a better Valley Center.”
Planning Group member Andy Washburn, who has been involved in planning for the Southern Village, commented, “A development on the dairy’s current site presents both an opportunity and a challenge for our community. The opportunity: We can have an impact on the type of commercial/residential development that is built. Do we want something like Grand Avenue? Vista Village? Bonsall? Olivenhain? Rancho Santa Fe? Fallbrook? Ramona? Julian? Old Town in Temecula? Hwy 79 in Temecula? Rancho Peñasquitos? San Elijo Hills? Murrieta? Solvang? Tehachapi? Davis? The challenge: How do we reach a community consensus in time to have an impact on the development?”
Now, noted Washburn, “ Newcomers won’t ask ‘What’s that smell?’ and our community will have lost yet another connection to our past…I wish there were a way to set aside some of our founding institutions, preserving them for generations to come. I know, it’s too late. I think it was Don Seitz who said ‘We stopped being rural when I had to look both ways before pulling out onto Valley Center Road.’ ”
Craig Adams, chairman of the planning group in the 1990s, said, “I saw this coming years ago. I’m sorry to see it go, but like almost every other small dairy in the county and state, it is not sustainable on such a small piece of land, and regulations have made it even harder. Like everything else in VC, there will be a big fight by some to ‘keep out’ commercial development, but I am positive that a quality retail/commercial project will eventually come out of it.”
The property almost certainly will not be a factor in the current discussions over a Southern Village expansion treatment plant expansion, which includes the Bell Alti properties and Orchard Run as eventual participants.
“The Konyn Dairy was contacted but has not been apart of the discussions,” Gary Arant, general manager of the VC Municipal Water District, told The Roadrunner.
“It could have an effect on a treatment plant expansion in the future depending on who buys the property. It could come along in a third or fourth phase. But I don’t think the timing is such is that it would affect it now,” he said.
Because of its use as a dairy, any developer will have to do extensive soil testing before he does anything with it.
A lot of dairies have turned into shopping centers after being paved over. Earlier this year it was announced that 38 acres of the old Hollandia Dairy in San Marcos would be made into a park that would include an amphitheater, skateboard park, and ballfields.
The 78-acre land of the Konyn dairy is zoned estate under the existing community plan. That allows one unit per two acres. However 30% is in the hundred year flood plain of Moosa Creek.
The General Plan Update will probably give it a much higher density, including commercial development, as the Southern Village is developed.
Patsy Fritz, a local resident who led a fight to put in a sewer at the area that includes the dairy, told the paper, “City folks have always loved to visit Valley Center for the ‘country ambience.’ This was always personified by the Konyn Dairy at the entrance to our town. We’ll miss those cows and the long years of Konyn Dairy hospitality to school children and their many civic efforts.”
Lt. Jim Nolan has taken over as commander of the Valley Center Sheriff’s substation.
He replaces Lt. Sean Gerrity, who retired earlier this month.
“I want to continue to have the positive working relationship we have with the community that past commanders have had,” Nolan commented this week in an interview.
He plans to make himself available to meet various service clubs and to visit the school board as soon as he gets the chance. “I want to put a face to my name,” he said.
“With me it’s community. I will be looking for community support. I want the substation to work with the community.”
Nolan is a 28 year veteran of the Sheriff’s Dept., who has served most of his career in North County, including Vista. this is his fifth assignment as a lieutenant.
“It’s a new challenge,” he says of the assignment, which includes overseeing a substation that includes 20 deputies, three sergeants and stretches from the eastern slope of Palomar Mountain over to I-15, up to the Riverside County line and down to the Escondido City limits.
His duties include not just commanding the station, but preparing its budget and dealing with community relations, many of the same duties that a captain would have in a major station.
Nolan’s substation is unique in that it encompasses five Indian reservations and four casinos, including Pala, Casino Pauma, Harrah’s Rincon and Valley View. It is also a very diverse community, although with a rural flavor.
He also has three deputies under contract with Indian reservations under his command.
Gerrity had been in discussions with the Palomar Mountain Planning Organization about possibly deploying some of the force’s Senior Volunteers as the department’s eyes to look out for possible arsonists during high fire risk periods.
Nolan told The Roadrunner that currently the department doesn’t favor this idea since there aren’t enough senior volunteers under his jurisdiction and since the idea would possibly place the volunteers in a hazardous situation, which is not desirable.
Asked about the issue of “midnight riders,” i.e. racecars that frequently dash across our country roads, especially Hwy 76, and which led a few weeks ago to a fiery crash and death on S6, the lieutenant noted that traffic is a CHP issue. “But it is an issue that we have listened to. It doesn’t fall on deaf ears. However, prevention and enforcement is a responsibility of the CHP.”
Nolan has been married 25 years and has four children. “And I’ve never been divorced!” he points out proudly, noting that a lot of people find that fact remarkable.
He is a true family devoted man who spends most of his free time at home in Murrieta, spending time with his loved ones.
* * *
Next week: the VC substation’s experts on gangs and graffiti talk about how local residents can fight this attempt by taggers to “mark their turf.”
Jan. 17 is the deadline to sign up for the Miss Valley Center and Junior Miss Valley Center Pageant.
If you are going to be a contestant you are required to attend the Jan. 17 noon orientation at Ann’s School of Dance.
Pick up applications at the high school, middle school, Mimi’s Nails or call Debra Jockinsen at 751-1051, and she will make sure you get one.
This year the pageant has added a Junior Miss Pageant. For that pageant, contestants must be 14 by Jan. 17, 2009 and no older than 16 by Jan. 17, 2009, never been married or pregnant and of high moral character.
Contestants for the senior pageant must be 17 years of age by Jan. 17, 2009 and no older than 25 by May 1, at least a junior at an accredited high school, never married or pregnant and of high moral character
The 2009 Miss Valley Center Scholarship Pageant will be held Saturday, March 21 at the Maxine Theater.
Miss Valley Center serves as an ambassador of the community throughout the San Diego area, is admired and has the opportunity to win a scholarship, cash, and prizes.
This will be the 41st year the unincorporated area of Valley Center will crown a queen.
You can mail your entries to the Valley Center Pageant Association, POB 2177, Valley Center, CA 92082-2177.
The pageant includes opportunities for personal growth, scholarship funds, many prizes and experiences that last a lifetime. Brittany Byler, Miss VC 2007, has spent her reign attending many high profile community and charitable events throughout San Diego.
The Miss Valley Center Pageant is produced by the Valley Center Pageant Assn., a non-profit organization, committed to providing opportunities for the education and personal growth for young women in Valley Center.
Donation of goods, services and education funds help improve the program. For more information, contact VCPA President, Debra Jockinsen at 751-1051.
Fireworks organizer Kelly Crews needs some serious assistance or the show may not happen this year.
Although most years with most events the impulse is to sit in a lawn chair and just watch the show unfold—this year if enough people take that attitude they will be looking up at an empty sky.
Last year it didn’t happen because of misadventure—and a breakdown of communications that prevented a permit from being issued.
This year it could miss a second year because of a lack of interest by enough volunteers to do the legwork necessary to make it work.
It’s not too early to begin working on the Independence Day event, which currently doesn’t have a location, since the school district withdrew the high school as a possible spot after it installed artificial turf at Jaguar Stadium.
Getting permitting from various agencies, including our local fire marshal, requires months and is tied to the location of the event.
Mrs. Crews says that she needs to get some interested people involved very soon, or she and the few volunteers she does have simply won’t be able to handle all of the details that must be dealt with in order to make such a large event happen.
Contact Mrs. Crews at 760-670-7062 or write to:
Fireworks for Valley Center, 27525 Valley Center Rd., Valley Center, CA 92082.
The Valley Center Planning Group at its Jan. 12 meeting will take up the issue of roads in Valley Center, including whether or not Cole Grade Road should ultimately be a four- or two-lane road up to the high school.
The advisory group to the county Board of Supervisors will meet at 7 p.m. at VC Community Hall. The meeting is open to the public.
The group will hear a motion on roads from the Circulation Subcommittee, which recently voted on a series of road recommendations that are designed to maintain the town’s rural character, but which some critics say will lead to gridlock.
Find out for yourself! But get a seat early as this is expected to be a high interest event. The last time this issue was discussed, and voted on, in 2006, 200 people showed up to express their views. At that time the planning group voted to support a four-lane Cole Grade Road.
However, some aspects of the County’s plans for a road network have changed, which is bringing the issue back for another vote.
The public is invited and will be given an opportunity to make comments.
This long Christmas weekend the residents of Palomar Mountain nearly lost control of their tiny community.
Some residents became so alarmed at the irresistible influx of motorists and foot traffic flooding the two small residential neighborhoods off Crestline and State Park Road, parking on private property, opening gates, entering yards, blocking driveways and refusing to move when asked, that they wore sidearms out of a concern for personal safety.
Some of the outside visitors tore down the “residents only” sign that had been put up the week before by the County, and one resident reported seeing the sign used as a sled.
Someone else came on the fire station property and stole a similar sign.
“These people are not real approachable,” one resident told The Roadrunner, describing how when his wife asked one of the visitors to stop blocking her driveway, he started screaming at her until he came to intervene.
“This came close to being a mass disturbance of the peace,” said another resident.
“After two weeks of this people are tired of these folks coming up here and treating their property as if it is their own,” he said.
Jerry Woods, a resident who owns several acres across the road from the post office, said, “I was out there with a bullhorn. I said ‘you are on private property!’ ” But he said he was careful not to walk away from his house because the intruders might then flank him from behind.
“You have to be careful because the police are an hour away at best,” said Woods.
Last year, says Woods, the intruders came on his property, took his wooden furniture, tore it up and used it for sleds. This year he has metal furniture.
Another resident called the Sheriff’s dispatch center and reported the problem and was told that it was the California Highway Patrol’s responsibility to deal with the issue. He then called the CHP. It is unknown whether the CHP sent a car up to investigate.
Crestline was nearly impassable on Christmas Day, as a heavy rain fell on a previously heavy snowfall—both made it hard for local residents to get around on the road.
A long line of cars leading up and down the Southgrade was evident every day of the four day weekend.
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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