ANOTHER DVCA TRUNK OR TREAT SUCCESS!

THANK YOU, DEERHORN VALLEY! —From Karen Koop, DVCA President Wow! This year's 6th annual Trunk or Treat turnout was astonishing! The stunning Bradford Ranch  was transformed into a Halloween fantasy, with over 300 excited kids and families, creative trunks, dressed up doggies, a mind blowing costume parade, free trick or treat bags, food, many talented vendors, karaoke and plenty of first timers experiencing what has become a cherished Deerhorn Valley tradition.  Art Valdivia's photography is featured on his gallery; links are on DeerhornValley.net and the Deerhorn Exchange. His photos capture the Trunk or Treat spirit perfectly. So check it out if you haven't already. It requires a dedicated team of volunteers to weave their magic into a web of wonder for Deerhorn families, so we'd like to thank each of them for their commitment (and muscles!). First, THANK YOU to Carole Bradford and daughter Dr. Darcy for allowing us to descend on their property for several days with truckloads of stuff! Carole and Darcy you are SO much fun and we can’t thank you enough. This was our most successful Trunk or Treat to date and your beautiful place was the perfect backdrop for the growing event. The DVCA Trunk or Treat Planning Committee spent hours hashing out the details of this years event and that was not always an easy task since this was a new and very large venue. I’d love to list everything each one of them did but that would evolve into a large encyclopedia! So THANK YOU to Carole Bradford, Vickie Kerley, Debbie Hopkins, Mike Kaszuba, Michelle Braun, Sharon Gladding, Vickie Stevens, Colene Stoernel and Vickie Banning. You guys were wonderful to work with! Kim Hamilton made all the super cute road signs, posted event reminders in Antler Alerts and on the Exchange plus wrote the T or T announcement included in DVCA’s donation letter. THANK YOU Kim for always being on top of DVCA communications! Many volunteers arrived the day before Trunk or Treat to whip Carole’s huge corral into a haven for all things Halloween. Folks from the community along with DVCA Steering Committee members worked really hard to pull it all together and we are so grateful for their help! THANK YOU community members Dave Yarborough, Dave Gladding, Kevin Foster, Sheriff Dane Wiesner, Sam Bothello, Shelley Knepper and Dr. Darcy. Also THANK YOU to DVCA  Steering Committee members Sharon Gladding, Mary Jane Quinn, Carole Bradford, Debbie Hopkins, Susie Norton, Michelle Braun and Mike Kaszuba who also rigged our new fog machine! Bob Johnston, owner of the Trading Post donated and delivered 20 bales of straw plus the clever painted bales for use during the event. THANK YOU Bob for your generous donation. Amazing what can be created with a few bales of straw! There was no less work to do on Trunk or Treat Day! Susie Norton fired up the popcorn machine, while Debbie Bothello with daughter Sam spun cotton candy and settled their animals into the Petting Zoo. Ticket and DVCA merchandise sales were handled by Vickie Kerley, Vickie Stevens and Kathy Collins. Burgers and hot dog chefs Harry Fulgham and Dane Wiesner  kept hungry tummies filled while Harry’s wife Marsha along with Mary Duffy loaded the plates. Harry and Marsha Fulgham also shopped for the food and BBQ supplies. Michelle Braun and Mike Kaszuba sliced the piles of tomatoes and lettuce.  Mary Jane Quinn was our greeter who passed out the treat bags containing dental goodies donated by Jamul dentist Dr. John LaFleur and blinking glasses given by Carole Bradford. Mary Jane Quinn, Mary Duffy, Marissa Morrison, Sierra Manos and Tania Cooley had the difficult job of judging the contests. Face Painting was done by DVCA’S incredibly creative Debbie Hopkins. Kevin Foster, Kristy Wolfe, and Mary Duffy were great parking attendants as they navigated cars, trucks, horse trailers and firetruck through the very long driveway and into the field. THANK YOU! Border Patrol Agent Melissa Pena was a lifesaver, driving down to Honey Springs and DV Rd. to direct traffic up to the Ranch. THANK YOU MEL! New this year was the karaoke provided by Bud and Karen Thomason.  What a fun addition to our event! Another new addition thanks to DVCA’er Vickie Kerley was our gathering of talented vendors. They included: amazing whittler Dave Yarborough who donated the gorgeous Santa ornament for a raffle to benefit DVCA won by Mike and Peg Hance, talented bakers Titus and Barbara Lowell, crafters Sandy Hopkins and friend Diane, painter Amanda Morrison with seamstress mom Paula Morrison, jewelry by Marcy Hohnemann, scrumptious olive oils from Deerhorn Valley Winery owner Diane Collis and animal treats from Kahoots Rancho San Diego. Special guests this year were the Border Patrol including BP Community Liason Ryan Magnuson, and former Liason Melissa Pena who regularly attend our DVCA meetings. Also there were the Sheriff’s Dept, Fire Dept, Mounted Search and Rescue and Miss Rancho Jamul 2016, Marissa Morrison,  Miss Jr. Teen Rancho Jamul 2016, Sierra Manos and Miss Teen Singing Hills 2016, Tania Cooley. Eric Williams of SDWISP provided wireless internet for the event for instant posting of adorable pictures! Additional darling photos could be posted thanks to our photographer Art Valdivia. Check them out on SmugMugs  for a real treat! He not only took wonderful pictures throughout the day, but also staged a group picture of all the kids after the costume parade. That's a challenge! THANK YOU ALL OF YOU for making our day even more special. We appreciate you so much! THANK YOU also to the cleanup crew who had the fun job of taking down and re-organizing all the stuff! Carole Bradford, Susie Norton, Mike Kaszuba, Michelle Braun, Mary Jane Quinn, Harry Fulgham, Dave and Sharon Gladding, Paula Morrison and Pete Koop, you guys are the best and greatly appreciated! And finally, THANK YOU to Doug and Carol Dube who graciously stored our Trunk or Treat supplies this past year. Trunk or Treat is growing! The only way we can bring it to you is if we have a large volunteer work force (we need you next year!) and you, our community to show up, have a great time and support our efforts. We are so blessed.  THANK YOU DEERHORN VALLEY COMMUNITY!! With heartfelt gratitude, Karen Koop, DVCA President

BEST TRUNK OR TREAT EVER!

What a WONDERFUL Trunk or Treat!
Beyond Expectations!

JUST LOOK!

 www.showshots.smugmug.com/Deerhorn-Valley

 www.showshots.smugmug.com/Deerhorn-Valley

Many thanks to Art Valdivia (our official photographer) who has already posted wonderful photos for us all to enjoy and download!

From the mountains of Upper Deerhorn, to the rolling hills of Honey Springs… from the winding oak-lined Lyons Valley… to the outskirts of Joppin' Jamul.  They came.  They decorated. They gave out goodies!
Nearly 100 vehicles, lined up in rows, created the best Trunk or Treat for our kiddos! When you live in the backcountry, Halloween is kind of a challenge.  Our hearts and generosity are as big as ever, but it's just not possible for our kiddos to Trick or Treat along miles of country road.
So we have TRUNK or Treat… with neighbors from miles around gathering together, decorating their "trunks" like they were porches.  And passing out the treats!  Yesterday, at a new venue (The Bradford Ranch), we passed out treats until they were gone.  A few sprinkles of rain just made it feel a little more like Fall.  Neighbors offered their homemade goodies, crafts, woodwork, and doo-dads all under the canopies that lined the large corral area.  Hamburgers and hotdogs (with all the fix in's) sizzled on the grille (even veggie burgers!), and goblins— big, little and in-between— sparked a joyous and electric atmosphere.
 

A BIG thank you to the DVCA Halloween Committee for all their hard work the last couple of months.  As you made the drive up the tree-lined approach to The Bradford Ranch, their efforts and talents on behalf of our community were awesome!  I was just totally blown away!

—KH

PENN JAMUL HOLLYWOOD LAYS AN EGG at its "GRAND" OPENING

Monday 10/10 the long-dreaded Jamul Hollywood (Graveyard) Casino opened its doors.  With months of delay, most anticipated a relatively smooth rollout.

But poor planning (most of which was predicted by the Jamul community), a lack of parking, and inexperienced staff all added up to a major egg delivered by JIV and PENN.

The grand opening was scheduled for 2:00 pm but by 10:30 the underground parking structure was filled to capacity. There was no law enforcement to help direct drivers until the situation has escalated beyond repair: cars lined both sides of SR-94, and at one point more than 40 cars blocked the exit to the Jamul Fire Station.  CalFire later issued a statement that they had "pre-planned" the day with other agencies, but that was not evident to the many witnesses that watched an ambulance dangerously thread the middle of narrow 94 on its way to an injury accident in Campo.  As it made its way slowly through the gridlock the question most heard was, "How will fire engines be able to get through?"

By noon traffic extended miles in both directions.  By two o'clock, when parents attempted to get to the schools to pick up children, the wait was more than two hours.  As the afternoon passed that wait extended to three and as much as four hours to get through the mess.  It was worse than even the most pessimistic opponents had predicted.

Cars, unable to park at the facility, packed residential streets.  Drinking, drugs, and littering were common.  Residents were unable to use driveways, and there were many words between trapped homeowners and those using the roadways to hike the 1-2 miles to the #HollywoodHorrorCasino.

If gamblers were expecting a professional operation once they arrived, they were sadly disappointed.  With eight stories of underground parking, there were only 4 elevators to move people up to the one-floor gaming machines/tables shared with the restaurants.  Three of the elevators malfunctioned, one stranding a full load between floors. When management failed to respond to the emergency button, bystanders helped pry open the doors and assist the trapped group to safety.

To get an idea of just how many problems— exacerbated by a woefully inexperienced staff and  management— visit the YELP website.  Many of the most negative reviews have been removed after PENN  complained.  But there is no doubt. PENN has a BIG problem on its hands.  And almost a half-billion $ in construction debt to unload.

Read on....

• I expected long lines to park (never made it to garage) get a players card, etc. But the dealers had no clue what they were doing, I played blackjack and I could have done a better job at dealing and game etiquette. Bartenders we're clueless and unorganized.
• It's hard to believe these people couldn't get their act together when this casino was slated to open in August and they had all this time to be better organized... No buffet, no poker, no bingo, why go here?
• Good luck waiting for the elevators... might as well take the stairs... the stairs that is located on the other side of the casino ha!! We just wanted to leave and waited almost 30 mins for an elevator cuz all four were full of bodies squeezed in.
• Never coming back to Hollywood....
• Sorry Hollywood should have been more prepared for the grand opening considering this isn't the only casino you're sistered with.
• The system for retrieval of your money is the worst. Cash out your cash and then get your change out of another line??? Wth? Too time consuming.
• Traffic is backed up all the way to Sweetwater Springs on the 94. It's mayhem. Traffic is stopped for HOURS. I just saw an ambulance stuck in traffic. People are going to die because of this casino on its first day.
• The [Monday] parking lot is full. People are blocking intersections, parking illegally along the highway, making illegal u-turns across the highway, and turning onto Campo from the wrong lane...
• So incredibly unsafe and irresponsible for this casino to open with no plans to handle the traffic or provide enough parking.
• Getting there seems like it could be dangerous at night, it's on a narrow, rural, twisting road that is not well lit.
• Parking is limited. Some underground apparently, otherwise you park along the side of the road.
• ...Sure, they just opened, but there seems to be some fundamental limitations due to the small property they have.
• Worst customer service at this casino. The staff seemed so unorganized. No buffet to eat.
• Casino is average...nothing impressed me...valet is slow..lines everywhere..drinks are expensive and all I was drinking was beer...machines are tight... I will never come back...
• Negative 100 stars! What a c--p sandwich the Hollywood Casino is! It took me 2 hours to go 5 miles. 2 hours!!! I passed 2 stalled cars, 1 accident and an old man who got out of his car to pee on a tree in front of Jamul Hardware!
• Not sure this place will make it. Pretty small, no buffet, no cocktail service at the slot machines, pretty disorganized to be honest. Once was probably enough . This isn't Vegas, it isn't even Sycuan, or Harrah's ...kind of small potatoes if you ask me.
• Everything is wrong about this casino, from the location, to the pathetic customer service, to the food, to the traffic, to the disorganization.
• Absolutely not worth your time or money! The grand opening of a business is typically the best of the best and when a business really shines, although a few issues are to be expected. Nothing about yesterday reflected that this casino cares about anything more than their bottom line, and if things continue as is, they will be in the red sooner than they could imagine.
• No parking structure stairs. Either take the elevators which is a heavy wait to get in one, or walk the ramps. Not really impress with the place.
• This casino sucks! A set of elevators inside the casino for so many people, not good. Took us a long time to get from casino to parking structure. 2 elevators got stuck on a floor so limited elevator use. Not enough parking in structure, valet was full.
• My wife and I frequent Barona, Viejas, and Sycuan casinos regularly and enjoy local gaming... Naturally we decided to try Jamul's Hollywood casino and see what all the hype was about. Boy was it a let down... Expecting traffic was a given. What I didn't expect was the absolute unprofessional behavior exhibited by the Valet staff on the night of October 10th, 2016 around 7:30 PM.
• Going to this Casino was a waste of time. Slot machine credits are too high and the machines are sooooo tight. I don't mind losing but not so fast! Not going back!
• Gridlock, 2-hour traffic jam to get to the place, no parking, and no buffet. Why would you waste your time?
• The drive up hwy 94 is treacherous. The casino didn't even bother to finish road improvements before they opened. There is no way emergency vehicles can get through in traffic. The staff is rude and the building an eyesore in the beautiful rolling hills. I'll spend my dollars elsewhere.
• Very bad service, don't waste your money or time coming here. They don't care about helping you, so far the worst casino I been to in San Diego. All the machines are not working properly. Long lines. Also talked to a VP manager he could [not] even help me out....
• Must use elevators to get up from parking garage. It's so out of place for this rural community and, well if you've read other postings, you know the history and that this was forced on the community and forced out the few actual Indians who originally lived on this small, granted land parcel. Ancestoral remains were removed too (which is considered bad luck).