Next up, Sycuan pow-wow slated for 2nd weekend in September

By Janis Mork

September 3, 2012 (Lakeside)- Despite scorching heat at the Barona baseball field, the annual powwow continued on from August 31-September 2. There were booths with food, hand crafted jewelry, contests for dancing, singing, and a drum contest. Over $60,000 in prize money was up for grabs.

Emcee Tom Phillips led the festivities, announcing the gourd dancing that took place on Saturday and Sunday afternoon, as well as all three evenings, and a grand entry took place nightly.

Team is scouting for new players
 
August 10, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)--The San Diego Stars semipro baseball team has been invited to participate in the Grand Forks International Baseball Classic in British Columbia, Canada, to be held over Labor Day weekend.
 
Since many members of the Stars are returning to college at this time, Stars owner/head coach Mickey Deutschman is seeking quality ballplayers -- former or current professional and independent league participants, players from colleges which have yet to begin its school year, and other experienced players -- to join the Stars for one of the world's best-known international baseball events.

December 28, 2011 (Lakeside) – A motorcyclist down in the 11400 block of Wildcat Canyon Road has prompted shutdown of the highway.  The accident was reported at 3:27 p.m.  Traffic is blocked south of Barona, CHP reports. 

September 29, 2011 (Lakeside) -- A 1-acre brush fire with potential to reach 10 acres is burning at the Barona Golf Course, 1932 Barona Road in Lakeside, Incident Page Network reported at 3 p.m.  Watch for updates.

September 5, 2011 (Lakeside) - A major accident has occurred at 12820 Wildcat Canyon Road, near Old Barona Road south of the Barona Casino in Lakeside.  According to Incident Page Network, a vehicle struck a tree and there are major injuries, with a person trapped inside.

Two ambulances have ordered and a rescue is required.  Firefighters are currently setting up flares in the roadway, so use caution if driving in this area.

September 4, 2011 (Lakeside) -- The White Tail and New Moon families, members of a southern Cheyenne tribe, have traveled all the way from Oklahoma to Lakeside to participate in the Barona Pow-Wow.  The three day event, which concludes today, draws tribal participants from across North America.

September 2, 2011 (Lakeside)--Tribal dancers from across the United States will compete for $60,000 in prize money at the Barona Poway. The pow-wow will be held Friday, September 2 through Sunday, September 4 at the Barona Baseball Field on the Barona Indian Reservation in Lakeside. 

This event, which also features Native American crafts, jewelry and food vendors, is free and open to the public.

 Update 12:36 p.m.:  Spread of the Bullpen Fire has been stopped at four acres.  The Incident Commander has released the airtankers, 1 helicopter, and the bulldozer.  Firefighters will remain on scene mopping up hot spots.  One minor injury to a firefighter, a bee sting, was reported.

August 20, 2011 (Lakeside)CAL FIRE is on scene of a two-acre brush fire near 1154 Bullpen Street, near the community of Barona (TB Map 1193 A4). Currently there are 5 engines, 2 fire crews, 2 helicopters, 2 airtankers, 1 bulldozer, 1 chief officer (75 firefighters).

The fire was reported at 11:49 and the cause is under investigation.

 
April 27, 2011 (Lakeside) – A five-year-old girl who slipped and fell into the pool at Barona Resort in Lakeside this afternoon has been transported to Children’s Hospital, East County Magazine has learned.

“A guest jumped in, pulled her out and gave her CPR,” a source at Barona who asked not to be named confirmed. “Our EMTs showed up and she was fine, breathing on her own.”

By Miriam Raftery
 

February 2, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Celebrations of the Lunar New Year are planned across San Diego’s eastern regions starting tonight.

Festivities include lion-dancing, meditational music, and Dharma teachings in Escondido at City Heights, Lunar New Year giveaways at several East County casinos, dragon dancers and tomorrow's grand opening of Emerald Asian Cuisine restaurant at Viejas.
 

For locations and activities,scroll down.

December 5, 2010 (Lakeside) – Yesterday afternoon, investigators following- up leads in the case of missing 17-year-old Christopher Cory Carioscia discovered a male body in a remote area on the Barona reservation.

Carioscia, who was a student at El Capitan High School and lived with his mother in Lakeside, disappeared October 27th. His burned vehicle was later found on the reservation, where the investigation has focused.

November 11, 2010 (Lakeside)--This Thanksgiving, Barona Resort and Casino’s chefs are preparing a delectable spread at several of their restaurants.

From the upscale Barona Steakhouse to a cornucopia of variety at the Seasons Fresh Buffet , as well as the casual ambience at Sage Café with views of Barona Creek golf course and the Barona Valley, you'll find savory holiday choices to fit every budget while enjoying a delicious Thanksgiving Meal.

Table Game Halloween-Themed Party on Oct. 30 to Feature Treats and Cash Giveaways

October 27, 2010 (Lakeside) – Barona Resort & Casino is getting in the Halloween spirit with the return of its popular Party Pit with a fun trick-or-treat theme. On Saturday, October 30 from 6 p.m. to midnight, table game players will have a chance to win prizes and cash.

Top Awards Include Best Overall Casino, Luckiest, Best Blackjack

October 12, 2010 (Lakeside) – Barona Resort & Casino has once again been ranked as the best overall casino in San Diego in the 2010 Best of Southern California Gaming Reader's Choice Awards. The results are featured in the October issue of the Southern California Gaming Guide, which include 18 honors and 11 first place wins for Barona, more than any other casino.

Carlton Hills Elementary School receives $5,000 grant; State Superintendent of Public  Instruction Jack O’Connell joins tribal leaders at presentation

By Miriam Raftery
 

September 22, 2010 (Santee) – “Education is the foundation of our future. I urge you to get as much of it as you can,” Barona tribal chairman Edwin “Thorpe” Romero told schoolchildren at Carlton Hills Elementary School in Santee this morning. “My tribe, the Barona band of Mission Indians, and I are thankful that we are able to support your school.”

Romero presented principal Terry Heck with a check for $5,000 – surpassing the one million dollar mark for the Barona Education Grant program statewide.

By Miriam Raftery

September 5, 2010 (Lakeside) –At Barona’s 40th annual powwow, Barona tribal member and community leader Bonnie La Chappa grilled tortillas at her family’s campsite in preparation for a family feast.
 

“Every powwow takes on its own culture, depending on the reservation,” she said. “For me, it’s a social gathering—everyone coming together. The dancers come here once a year from everywhere,” including relatives from as far away as Oklahoma, she noted. “It’s about renewing old friendships and making new friends.”
 

The Powwow continues today and tonight, with a grand procession at 7 p.m., dance competitions, Native American jewelery, arts and crafts, and more.

September 3, 2010 (Lakeside) – The public is invited to attend the 40th annual Barona PowWow. The event, which has free admission, will be held September 3-5 at the Barona Baseball Field. More than $60,000 in prize money will be awarded in Native American dance competitions. The powwow, which attracts competitors from all over North America, also features vendors selling Native American arts, crafts, and jewelry.

Club Barona members can save 50 percent on entrees at Casino restaurants throughout September

August 19, 2010 (Lakeside) –Barona Resort & Casino won’t leave its guests hungry for sweet specials this September. Throughout the month, Barona is offering its Club Barona members the opportunity to receive 50 percent off any entrée at six of its signature restaurants. Joining Club Barona is free.

Since Program Launch, Barona Has Invested Nearly $1 Million to Schools Statewide

(SAN DIEGO) – June 14, 2010 – Recently, staff and students of Mount Miguel High School joined 78th District Assemblymember Marty Block to accept a $5,000 education grant from the Barona Band of Mission Indians as part of the Barona Education Grant program. The check was presented by Barona Tribal Councilwoman Beth Glasco.

Discounts on hotel rooms and suites, restaurants and more available at all properties

SAN DIEGO (June 11, 2010) – San Diego’s Barona Resort & Casino is betting that its new marketing relationship with two world-class resorts, The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino and The Palazzo Resort-Hotel-Casino in Las Vegas, will be a big winner with its exclusive Club Barona members as well as draw a full-house of new Las Vegas casino guests to San Diego.

By Miriam Raftery

May 30, 2010 (Lakeside) – Shahuuk Matwam Nyuk Pekwilly. Ten years have passed, proclaims the newest exhibit at the Barona Cultural Center and Museum in Lakeside. The new exhibition, created by curator Laurie Egan, features a giant scrapbook with pages highlighting the facility’s first decade. The scrapbook includes displays on development of collections, exhibitions, and classes as well as the people--donors, volunteers, and elders--who helped make the center to preserve Native American culture and heritage a reality.

VIP party honored achievements by local citizens and community leaders

By Miriam Raftery; photos by Julie Edwards

May 3, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – During a “Celebrate our Citizens” VIP party at Cuyamaca College on April 28, East County Magazine presented awards to honor local citizens’ achievements in five categories: Humanitarian, Community Organizing, Education, Business Leadership, Environmental Protection, and Community Heroes. In addition, a special award recognized Viejas Fire Chief Don Butz and the Viejas Fire Department for their efforts to keep our communities safe from wildfires.

April 16, 2010 (San Diego)-- Barona Resort & Casino announced yesterday that it has achieved Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings (LEED™-EB) rating system. Barona is the first tribal resort in the nation to earn the internationally recognized certification for the design and operation of high performance green buildings.

March 23, 2010 (Santee) – Barona Valley Ranch Resort announces a catfish catching contest at Santee Lakes. The season starts April 17 and runs through October 31st. This year, the lakes have been stocked with 23,000 pounds of catfish. Catch a tagged catfish and win prizes including cash, fishing poles, tackle boxes, camping gear and free fishing passes.

March 6, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) -- Seven businesses were honored at the 98thAnnual Inaugural Gala hosted by the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce and presented by Barona Resort & Casino on February 26. This year’s Gala replaced the Chamber’s Annual Awards Banquet, increasing the number of honorees and award-winners and broadening scope of the event.

Students at Barona Museum get hands-on experience

By Miriam Raftery

February 21, 2010 (Lakeside) – “You start by crushing the rock to get out pebbles. This is native clay,” said Robert Freeman, artist and instructor at a pottery-making class held yesterday at the Barona Cultural Center and Museum in Lakeside. “We don’t buy clay,” he said, using a grindstone to pulverize clay dug up locally (photo, left). “We do it from scratch like they did a hundred or two hundred years ago.”

4:27 p.m., December 29 2009 (Lakeside, CA) -- Two are confirmed dead at the Barona Gaming Commission office, Sheriff William Gore confirmed minutes ago.

"It appears to be a murder-suicide," said Gore, adding that homicide is investigating. The gunman, Donnell Roberts, 38, killed himself and another man whose name is being withheld, pending notification of next of kin. The shootings reportedly occurred inside the  Gaming Commission manager's office.

Update 12:45 p.m.  A Sheriff's spokeperson informed ECM that the sniper took seven hostages but has since released them.  She was unable to confirm whether there are any additional hostages. The suspect has barricaded himself in an office and SWAT team negotiators are on hand.

County offers courses with funds from Barona and Sycuan

December 28, 2009 (San Diego) -- Crimes against older adults are a sad reality. The horrific kidnapping and beating of 76-year-old Natalie “Sandy” Herbst-Vinge from her Mount Helix home raised awareness of this issue after she recently testified against her attackers. Just this month, three men were arrested in Oceanside for  beating and kicking a 63-year-old woman outside her home after she asked them to quiet down.

The County Health & Human Services Agency (HHSA) is offering “Senior Expo: Protect Yourself & Your Wallet” sessions to help older adults protect themselves from both physical and financial attacks.  Video of previous classes: http://www.youtube.com/countysandiego#p/a/u/0/HlRtG0__xLw.