Bonsall Chamber of Commerce - November 2007 Newsletter
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Hello Everyone!
Saturday, October 20th was a great "high" for our Bonsall Chamber of Commerce. Our hard working board of directors put on a spectacular Bonsall Country Festival on the large parking lot at the River Village shopping center. Tony Flores, Susie Birchall, Bette Knapp, Monique Murphy-Mijares, Ronne Branson, Cory Carrier and Jill Marie Thorburn were the most visible workers at the festival but all our board members worked hard to make this a terrific event. We give a special “Thanks” to the volunteers from the Boys and Girls Club and Boy Scout Troop 755.
Our new “Bonsall Dude” is Bradley Doke and our new Honorary Mayor of Bonsall is Nikki Birchall. We are all glad to welcome these new honorees for this next year, and certainly appreciate the efforts of last year's Dude: Richard Riddle and Mayor: Jill Marie Thorburn.
Sunday, October 21st was planned to be a great 'day of rest' for all of us. And then, without warning, disaster struck. We had no time to rest on our laurels and enjoy the afterglow of the Festival. Instead we had the glow of a horribly devastating fire rushing down on us from the east.
Bonsall was spared the agony of evacuation and, in fact, became a haven for many displaced horses, pets and families from all over the county. Like many areas outside the fire area, Bonsall's largest horse facilities, Vessels Stallion Farm and San Luis Rey Thoroughbred Training Center, opened their gates to desperate folks and their animals.
Until Thursday all the land east of Camp Pendleton, north of Hwy 76 and west of Hwy 15 (basically all of Fallbrook) was closed to all residents. This included River Village Properties. On Monday, many evacuees from Fallbrook waited out the disaster in their cars and RV's at the River Village Shopping Center. They had to evacuate there on Tuesday evening. Then on Thursday that shopping center opened. The Spanky portable toilets, including the washing sinks, were put to use by the people pouring into the center. Several restaurants were opened, including the Peking Wok and Jack In the Box.
Our Bonsall Chamber office was opened by our community liaison 'do everything' person Mary Jane Poulter. She was interacting as a true Chamber member by handing out shirts, cash food cards and a packet of information on how to receive help with state agencies and insurance companies to many stranded folks who were lucky enough to stop by our office.
We thank Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries of the 66th District, who stopped by the Bonsall Chamber office with 3 of his staff members to leave information on Fire Disaster Assistance. He kept our chamber aware of all the Fire updates and Shelter services by e-mail.
Most of the rest of us didn't even get home until Friday morning, October 26th. And no one seems to be very clear about even what day it is! The mind is a wonderful thing, able to repress all these bad memories in just a matter of time.
Leigh Ann Howard
(760) 414-3239
A TEMPORARY HAVEN at the RIVER VILLAGE CENTER – BONSALL
Fallbrook residents and business owners impacted by the fires were aware of the shelters, but preferred to stay close to home waiting for news. As soon as conditions and hazards had been corrected and the health and welfare of the public was assured, they would be allowed to return to their homes.
Police trying to keep residents safe by enforcing the closure of Mission Rd. and Hwy. 76 in Bonsall during the Fire Disaster.
Alexander and Sarah Frey of Fallbrook with their dogs waiting for the roads to open.
Fire Tour with staff members - Kevin Jeffries, State Assemblyman-66th District, Kerstin Justus, Mary Jane Poulter, Bonsall Chamber and Randon Lane
Tiffany and Erich Spillmann show off the shirts they received from the Bonsall Chamber.
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(right) Bobby Dean, from the San Diego District Attorney's Office, keeping the atmosphere jovial at a stressful time for Fallbrook residents Neil and Christel Lakata. (left) Evacuee, Galo Flor and San Diego County Sheriff, C. Sakowshi.
Bonsall's River Village Center parking lot crowded with residents waiting out this traumatic event.
Families in distress console each other and wait out the evacuation.
Samuel Flor, finds a quiet place to read his book - in the back of his father's pick up truck that is filled with supplies his family took when evacuating.
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(left) Sue Groscup, Rita Starnes, Mike Groscup and Karin Crawford sit next to the Groscup's RV that was in the path of the Rice Fire. As friends and neighbors, they are maintaining a positive attitude, not knowing if their homes survived the fires.
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SECURITY at BONSALL/FALLBROOK BOUNDARY
330th Military Police –Ontario, checking all ID's - at the south west border of Bonsall and Fallbrook at North River Road.
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IT' S A GO! For the November 3rd (Saturday) Bonsall Chamber
17th ANNUAL INSTALLATION and AWARDS DINNER at VISTA VALLEY
“Yes, we will go ahead with the Bonsall Chamber Annual Installation and Awards Dinner”, said Leigh Ann Howard, President of the Bonsall Chamber. “It would be very helpful for the local folks of the area to come together after this fire disaster.”
Phone calls have been made to as many Residents and Chamber Members as possible. If you have not received a phone call and would like to make a reservation to attend, please call Mary Jane Poulter at (760) 801-7443. Dinner is $45 per person and everyone is invited. You do not need to be a Chamber member to attend. Those being honored are:
a. Business of the Year - Neiman's Collision Center (Stan & Laura Neiman, owners)
b. Teacher of the Year (Bonsall Union School District)- Cathy Andressen
c. Community Service Leader of the Year – Jeff Felix, Superintendent of the Bonsall Union School District.
To get some sense of what these folks have done to earn their award you need to attend this gala event! You may select a delicious Prime Rib meal, Chicken or a Vegetarian meal.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2007 – HOLIDAY PARTY / TOYS FOR LOCAL KIDS
This is our Bonsall Chamber Annual Holiday Party / Toy Drive
Location: Bonsall Community Center - Time: 5:30 p.m.
Host: Bonsall Chamber Board of Directors
a. Everyone brings an unwrapped toy for a local area child.
b. The schools select local needy families – A Military liaison selects military families
c. The Chamber collects new unwrapped toys
d. The Chamber accepts monetary donations and buys toys
f. The Bonsall Woman's Club wraps the toys
g. The Bonsall Woman's Club collects food and money for gift cards
h. The Bonsall Woman's Club personally delivers the food gift cards, groceries and toys to the homes of the families in need.
Last year, the Bonsall Woman's Club and Bonsall Chamber, working together made sure that over 60 children received at least 3 gifts. Many families had a happier Christmas and Holiday Season.
This is only possible with the assistance of Bonsall and Fallbrook residents. Contributions are gladly accepted. Toys may be dropped off at the Bonsall Chamber office in the River Village Shopping Center “tower” (760) 630-1933. You may also contribute a monetary donation. Checks can be made payable to either the Bonsall Woman's Club or the Bonsall Chamber of Commerce by December 13th.
Mail to: Mary Jane Poulter, Chairman, P.O. Box 364, Bonsall, CA 92003
"BONSALL COUNTRY FESTIVAL" On SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2007
Georgio Saturnino, FRESCO GRILL – Coming soon in the River Village Center
“Best of Show” Quilt winner: Shown by Pam Ullman and made by Neil & Judy Douglas
Colby Dasinger kicking a board held by Andy Kramer, owner of ATA BLACK BELT ACADEMY (760) 630-7878
Wall Sculptures by Fred Mastrangelo (760) 966-0101
Jennifer Smith, Fashion journeys
Ride Tickets – (Left) Leigh Ann Howard, President of Bonsall Chamber, Directors: Ronne Branson, Betty Knapp and Cory Carrier
Jolly Jumps (760) 723-8558
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Marisol Estrada, climbing the giant wall
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Vick Goren & Marty Goren, DAD'S NEW YORK HOT DOG (760) 433-0334
Erin Carr, REGENCY FALLBROOK Retirement and Assisted Living (760) 728-8504
(Left) Roxana Martinez, Jovana Martinez and Salome Corona, BALLET FOLKORICO ESPERANZA
ISAGENIX Independent Associates, (left) McGovern, Nancy McGovern and Tony Flores (760) 917-7090 are showing the product to Dr. Rafael Rosado, Fallbrook
NEW BONSALL DUDE & HONORARY MAYOR OF BONSALL
Will Birchall hugs his wife, Nikki Birchall, the new Honorary Mayor of Bonsall
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(left) Breanna Doke, sister of Bradley Doke, the new “Bonsall Dude” with his mother, Geri Doke
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