First Christian Church - Lake Elsinore, CA, USA

Built by the Methodists in 1887 after their original building was lost to a windstorm, this brick structure is the oldest church in Lake Elsinore (originally Elsinore).  It was sold to the First Christian congregation in 1923 and has been continuously occupied since then as the First Christian Church.  Prominent features are stained glass windows and the nearly 50-foot tall steeple housing an antique bell.

In February 2013 the Valley of the Mist Chapter of the Colonial Dames XVII Century placed a commemorative plaque in recognition of the building's historical significance.

A photograph at the Lake Elsinore Museum of the Methodist's 1887 dedication ceremony includes a figure believed to be Wyatt Earp - a tall mustached man in a white shirt standing at the top of the steps in front of the door.

Wyatt Earp Believed to be in 1887 Church Photo

Located at 503 West Heald Avenue at the northeast corner of Heald Avenue and Poe Street.

SunPower Solar Power System - Fallbrook, CA, USA

Located at the Fallbrook Public Utility District's wastewater treatment plant this solar panel project covers 8 acres.  The 2700 solar panels are expected to generate 2.4 million kilo-watt hours of energy, supplying the treatment plant with 70 percent of its energy.  Programed to tilt up to 45 degrees the panels track the Sun's movement from east to west throughout the day and provide approximately the same energy as 5000 fixed panels.  The project was dedicated in a ceremony held on June 7, 2011.

Located just to the south of 1425 Alturas Road.

Eastside Community Garden - Oceanside, CA, USA

With 53 plots this is the largest of the Community Gardens in Oceanside.  It is located on city-owned land that will one day be the location of low-income housing.  At that time the garden will be relocated.

Located on the 300 block of North Weitzel Street at the intersection of Pier View Way (formerly Fourth Street).  The garden is on the northeast corner and is bordered on the east by Interstate 5.

Crown Heights Community Garden - Oceanside, CA, USA

This small Community Garden serves as a teaching ground for gardening techniques and nutrition.

Located in the Crown Heights neighborhood at the intersection of Division Avenue and Garfield Street on the southwest corner.

Camp Fire Girls Building - Oceanside, CA, USA

This cinder block building next to the Brooks Street bridge was once the location of before and after-school programs run by the Camp Fire Girls of America, now called Camp Fire U.S.A.  Although the property was owned by the City of Oceanside, they gave use of the property to Camp Fire Girls of America in 1956 provided the site be used for Camp Fire programs only.  In recent years Camp Fire had operated a child care center there, but with operating costs of up to $100,000 per year and little funding coming in they were no longer able to keep it open.  Camp Fire closed the child care center on July 5, 2012 and the property was to be returned to the City.

Located at 402 Brooks Street in the Crown Heights neighborhood.

Get Your Smokey On - Lake Henshaw, CA, USA

Smokey Bear Fire Danger Today! sign.  Prevent Forest Fires.

 

 

Located in front of the Henshaw USFS Fire Station, 26147 CA-76, (Lake Henshaw) Santa Ysabel.

Jackie Heyneman Park - Fallbrook, CA, USA

This half-acre community park, owned and maintained by the Fallbrook Village Association, is located on South Mission Road.  Formerly called Beech Street Park it was renamed in honor of local resident and activist Jackie Heyneman in a ceremony on May 5, 2012.  Jackie Heyneman has been a long-time volunteer with the Fallbrook Land Conservancy and the Save Our Forest Committee, working to plant new trees as well as saving many of the older trees in Fallbrook. 

This is a lovely shaded park which includes a large grassy area and benches along the paved walking path which surrounds it.  It was originally dedicated to the people of Fallbrook on June 6, 1996.

View through the park from north to south.

View through the park from south to north.

It's very easy to miss this little park when driving past on South Mission Road as only the treetops are visible.  It's worth stopping and checking out and would be a lovely, quiet spot for a picnic.

Former Beech Street Park signage.

Located on the east side of South Mission Road between Beech Street and Ash Street.  Access the parking area from Beech Street.

First Church of Christ, Scientist - Oceanside, CA, USA

Oceanside's First Church of Christ, Scientist was established in 1934 with the joining of the Carlsbad church and the Oceanside church.  Their church was built in 1937 on property purchased in 1928.  The building continues to house the First Church of Christ, Scientist to this day.

 A Christian Science Reading Room adjoins the sanctuary.

Located at 300 South Ditmar Street on the southeast corner of South Ditmar Street and Michigan Avenue.

Moonlight Beach Overlook - Encinitas, CA, USA

Maintained by the City of Encinitas Parks and Recreation Department, this small bluffside park and overlook is situated just south of Moonlight State Beach.  It features a grassy area with a picnic table as well as several benches overlooking the beach and ocean.

Located at 400 Moonlight Lane at C Street.

Get Your Smokey On - Oak Grove, CA, USA

Smokey Bear Fire Danger Today! sign.  Prevent Forest Fires.

Located in front of the Oak Grove USFS Fire Station, 31560 CA-79, (Oak Grove) Warner Springs.

Brother Benno's Kitchen (Original Location) - Oceanside, CA, USA

In 1983 Harold and Kay Kutler started a non-profit foundation to help the poor.  It was called the Brother Benno Foundation after Brother Benno (born Thomas) Garrity, O.S.B., a Benedictine monk at the St. Charles Priory in Oceanside.  Brother Benno had a reputation for helping the poor with food, furniture and in whatever ways he could.  He baked bread in the kitchen at the Priory and gave much of it to area merchants in exchange for goods he could distribute to those in need.  The Kutlers started a soup kitchen near downtown in this house built in 1923.  It was in operation from 1983 to 1991 at which time services were moved to a larger facility in the San Luis Rey Valley, the Brother Benno Center.  It is estimated that 470,887 meals were served at the original Kitchen, with an average of 84 meals a night the first year growing to 210 meals a night in 1991.  The original structure was rehabilitated and on October 21, 2001, the 18th anniversary of its opening, it was dedicated as an honorary historical site. 

Located at 307 Minnesota Avenue.

Rancho Minerva - Vista, CA, USA

Greek immigrant Nicholas Huntalas and his new wife, Bessie (Papsino), settled in Vista in 1916 on a 420-acre ranch where Nick had lived since acquiring it in 1911.  He built a 4-room wooden home for his new family and named the property Rancho Minerva after the Roman goddess of wisdom.  Because water was scarce people in the area dry farmed, but the newly formed Vista Irrigation District made water available in 1923 and the Huntalases became citrus and avocado growers.  After the birth of their children they built a 3400 square foot 2-story Spanish Revival style home which still stands.  Dirt from the excavation of the basement and wine cellar was used to make the adobe bricks for the home's 14-inch thick walls.  Construction began in 1933 and was completed in 1934, and the home was the center of social gatherings for the community for many years.  Eventually the property was acquired by the Vista Unified School District.  The City of Vista gained the two-acre parcel surrounding the adobe home through a land swap with the school district.  Rancho Minerva Middle School opened across Foothill Drive in 2007 on the old ranch property.  In September 2009 the Vista Historical Society entered into a 25-year lease with the City of Vista and relocated their museum to the old adobe house.

Located at 2317 Old Foothill Drive at the intersection of San Clemente Avenue.  The home is visible from Foothill Drive, directly across the street from Rancho Minerva Middle School.

Harold E. Smerdu Community Garden - Carlsbad, CA, USA

One of several community gardens located within Carlsbad.  Formerly known as Carlsbad Community Garden it was renamed in November 2006 to honor the late Harold E. Smerdu, a retired local gladioli grower and avid gardener.  After his retirement Mr. Smerdu maintained several plots at the community garden where he gardened full-time, five-and-a-half days a week.  He helped other gardeners with their plots and shared his harvest with the community.

The garden consists of 52 plots, 20' by 30', with an annual use fee of  $90/year.  Priority is given to Carlsbad residents and there is a lengthy waiting list.  The property is owned by the City of Carlsbad who provides water for irrigation. 

Located at 1250 Laguna Drive, just north of the Georgina Cole Library.

Canine Companions for Independence - Oceanside, CA, USA

Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) was founded in 1975 and has grown to become the largest non-profit assistance dog organization in the world.  In the mid-1980s a training center serving the southwest United States was built in Oceanside.  The Southwest Regional Training Center opened in 1987 and serves the states of Arizona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Hawaii, as well as Southern Nevada and Southern California.  In July 2001 a grand opening was held dedicating the facility as the Dean and Gerda Koontz Campus Southwest Regional Training Center.  In 2007 it was rededicated as the Dean, Gerda and Trixie Koontz Campus.

Located at 124 Rancho Del Oro Drive between Mission Avenue and the CA-76 Expressway.