The Coast News INLAND EDITION
VISTA, SAN MARCOS, ESCONDIDO
VOL. 10, N0. 11
Men of
STEEL The Escondido Renaissance Faire has moved on until the fall but not before connecting with locals over the past couple of weekends. STORY ON 9. Photo by Edward Saidro
Bullet strikes field during ballgame at San Marcos park By Laura Place
SAN MARCOS — A youth baseball game at Mission Sports Park was interrupted Monday evening by a bullet that bounced off the field and into the dugout, causing no injuries but leaving those in the area shaken. The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department received multiple calls reporting the sound of several shots fired in the area of the park around 7:45 p.m. As a precaution, nearby Palomar
.com
College entered lockdown from about 8:11 to 9:28 p.m. In a statement on social media, San Marcos Youth Baseball President Dan Max said a bullet bounced on Field 5 between first and second base and landed in the dugout. A youth team was playing then, and about 200 people were in the park. A video of the incident shared by KUSI from behind home plate during the game captures the sound of nearby gunshots followed
by dirt puffing into the air just feet from where a player was standing in the infield. After the dirt is seen flying into the air, people begin shouting and everyone runs from the field. “I am so grateful to say that no one was physically harmed in this incident. The amazing youth umpires, coaches and families on the site reacted quickly and got everyone to a safe place,” TURN TO BULLET ON 9
ANOTHER BATTLE
San Marcos combat veteran Robert O’Berg, a retired Marine, shares his fight against PTSD, overcoming fear and misconceptions on the road to recovery. Story on 5. Photo by Cpl. Alison Dostie
Celebrate Vista’s 12th Annual
Strawberry Festival Join us for a family fun day and enjoy hundreds of vendors, great food, 5K and Kids’ run, pie eating contest,entertainment, an all new Berry Mascot, contest & kids play zone
www.vistastrawberryfest.com
8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. May 28th, 2023 in Downtown Vista
MAY 12, 2023
Vista to put safe lot at Civic Center
City to offer unhoused 25 parking spots nightly By Laura Place
VISTA — San Diego County’s next safe parking lot will launch in Vista, with officials eyeballing an August start date after settling on a location at their most recent City Council meeting. The new lot at the Eucalyptus Avenue parking lot at the Vista Civic Center will provide a secure place for unsheltered residents living in their vehicles to park and sleep overnight. There will be space for up to 25 vehicles each evening. Participants can also access bathrooms, handwashing stations, and case management services to help them secure housing. In addition, the City Council approved a contract in January with the nonprofit Jewish Family Services of San Diego, which operates five other safe parking lots throughout the county, to manage Vista’s lot. The Vista City Council unanimously approved the new location at their April 25 meeting. Councilmember Katie Melendez, who originally proposed that the city enter into the program, said offering this resource is an important step in addressing homelessness locally. “Twenty-five spots barely scratch the surface of the need,” Melendez said. “There are so many people who are sleeping in their vehicles in our parks and in our neighborhoods. These 25 spots will be meant to alleviate the improper use of residential neighborhoods because that is happening right now.” The program is funded by a $250,000 city budget allocation, TURN TO PARKING ON 7