PHOTO SLIDESHOW: Halloween in Holtville 2012

   Check out the video slideshow below to see photos from the Holtville Halloween Carnival at Finley Elementary School, Holtville Trick-or-Treaters, the Collins Family's haunted house and more!

Haunted Holtville: The Scariest House in Town?

WORDS BY LUKE PHILLIPS

   When I was in my early twenties my family moved from our home of 17 years on Kamm Rd., about a half-mile outside of Holtville, to a new home on the edge of town.

   Across the street and slightly to the east of our new home was an older house surrounded by a fence made of railroad ties driven into the ground. Time had taken a toll on the wooden beams and the entire fence leaned slightly inward toward the house, giving it a very guarded feeling from the outside. The place gave off a weird vibe right from the get-go, but at that point we had no idea just how strange the place truly was.

    The house was empty when we moved into the neighborhood and remained that way for some time. A couple of different people moved into the house, but no one stayed for long. They mostly waited until their six-month lease was up and quickly moved out. One of those people later became a family friend and shared some truly creepy stories about their stay in the house, but they don't want to be identified in this story, so we'll just call her Mrs. Smith.

   Mrs. Smith moved into the house with her family and quickly discovered that it was not a fun place to live. She reported feeling something or someone sit down on the edge of her bed at night when she knew no one was there. She experienced strange sounds and touches. And most disturbing of all, she was once pinned to her bed by an unseen force, unable to move and heard a voice whisper in her ear "Tell them I love them."

   I had moved away and was living in Arizona when all this happened, but as soon as I moved back to Holtville in 2009 I had my own experience involving the house, the only experience that I've had in my life that I'm absolutely sure was supernatural.

   My wife Liz (then my fiancé) and I were looking for a place in town to rent and momentarily considered the creepy old house across from my parents. Keep in mind that this was before we heard the ghost stories from the previous tenants. We called the number on the rental sign out front and strangely enough, the realtor told us that they didn't know anything about the house and that they didn't even handle any homes in Holtville. We tried for about two weeks to find the actually management company or individual that was renting the house, but to no avail. It kind of felt like the house didn't want to be rented. As strange as that sounds, that's the feeling we both got.

   Since we couldn't find anybody to show us the house, and we knew it was empty at the time, we went over by ourselves one evening to have a look around the outside. The house seemed to be oddly laid-out and constructed and we discovered that there's actually a hidden garage door built into the side of the house. As we made our way around one particularly dark corner of the house, Liz and I both started feeling light-headed and dizzy and very, very unwelcome. We got out of there and decided we didn't want to rent the place after all.

   A few days later Liz and I were sitting in front of the fence of my parents' front lawn late at night, not far from the house across the street. We heard rustling sounds in the yard behind the railroad tie fence, coming from the same corner of the property that had given us the willies a few days earlier. My first thought was that a small animal of some sort was scuffling around, but then we heard a door slam loudly and an angry old woman's voice distinctly yell: "Get outta there!" Then in a split second everything fell silent.

   You might say what we heard could have been anything or anyone, and you may be right, but I'm certain enough in my own head that what we heard was a ghost.

   I knew I wanted to write a story about a haunted house in Holtville for Halloween this year and this was the only one I could think of, but I’m sure there are plenty more. Have you experienced a haunting or any other ghostly activity here in the Carrot Capital? Tell us about it in the comments section below!

Halloween 2012: Holtville's Best Decorated Homes

WORDS & PHOTOS BY LUKE PHILLIPS

   Last night we drove up and down every street in Holtville, stopping at what we considered to be the best decorated homes this Halloween. Here are our top 5 favorites:

#5 - This display at 1112 Eighth Street was simple, but beautiful with wonderful color choices
for the lights and intricate spider-web work.

#4 -This home at 829 7th Street featured a jolly-looking inflatable pumpkin witch as a centerpiece, but it was the small touches that put it on our list, including a spider that was back-lit with a strobe light.

#3 - This home at the southwest corner of Palm Ave. and Eighth Street was super simple featuring
nothing more than a green light, some spider webs, a spider and a jack-o-lantern, but it was spooky
and atmospheric and quite stunning, even from a distance.

#2 - This display, found at 605 Maple Ave., would have taken the top spot for it's pure spectacle, featuring a whole mountain of light-up, inflatable decorations, but it wasn't quite as creative as our first-place winner. These decorations are all store-bought and slightly generic, but it's how the decorations were placed that made the display standout.

#1 - Our favorite display this Halloween can be found at 954 Beale Ave. The homeowners who created this set-up clearly went above and beyond, showing a ton of creativity, unique decorations, a pleasing lay-out, and plenty of small details in their haunted graveyard-style display. I took photos of this home around midnight Tuesday and the owners were still busy working on it, adding last minute touches including a caged-skeleton which screamed and begged to be let free. The display was already awesome, but I’m sure it will be even better tonight when it’s completely finished. Don’t miss it!

Scientists Say Brawley Quake Swarms Caused By Active Volcano Under Salton Sea

WORDS & PHOTO BY LUKE PHILLIPS

   Scientists announced today that the Salton Buttes, a series of volcanoes under the Salton Sea are much more active than previously thought and are responsible for the swarm of earthquakes that recently struck Brawley and for the rotten egg stench that recently covered much of southern California for a number of days. And not only that, but the USGS has now listed the volcanoes as having a high threat potential for future volcanic blasts. You can read to the full story here: http://news.yahoo.com/salton-sea-volcano-mystery-solved-182258381.html

Video: Big Bad Wolf Live at Barbara Worth Resort

 

   PHOTO & VIDEO BY LUKE PHILLIPS

   

   Holtville's own Big Bad Wolf took to the stage at Barbara Worth Resort Friday night for an acoustic set, followed by a full-band, electric performance. Watch the band play 'Take it Easy' by The Eagles below: 

El Centro Police Chief: Halloween Disguises Won't Work on Cops

   BY LUKE PHILLIPS

   The El Centro Police Department just issued a statement warning drunk drivers to stay off the roads of Imperial County this Halloween to avoid DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols, but the statement is kind of oddly-worded, warning Halloween revelers that their "disguise won't make them invisible to the Police," and the ECPD Police Chief actually says, "If you really want to be scared this Halloween, try getting pulled over by a police car that suddenly appears out of nowhere." Is he actually suggesting that we need to be afraid of the police? Wow. Just wow. Here's the rest of the statement:

   [El Centro, CA]— If you think a Halloween costume will disguise your drunk or drug impaired driving, the Avoid the 8 – Imperial County DUI Task Force has a message just for you – “keep the party off the road.”

   The Avoid the 8 - Imperial County DUI Task Force will be deploying additional officers on DUI Saturation Patrols supplementing routine patrols in several communities in the county.  

    “Local revelers should be aware that their Halloween disguises won't make them invisible to the Police, Sheriff or CHP officers who will crack down on drunk and drug impaired drivers throughout the region with an aggressive Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement effort,” said Police Chief Jim McGinley.

In fact, Chief McGinley noted, its law enforcement officers who are more likely to be ‘invisible’ to partygoers who have had too many drinks or take drugs to be driving.  “If you really want to be scared this Halloween, try getting pulled over by a police car that suddenly appears out of nowhere,” Chief McGinley said.  “Of course, one thing is for sure, the police arresting drunk or drug impaired drivers this Halloween will be visible enough, and they won't be mistaken for treats by folks who may think they are fine to drink and drive,” he added.

   Nighttime is always a dangerous time on the road, but Halloween can be particularly scary if you get behind the wheel drunk or find yourself around a drunk driver.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 41 percent of all highway fatalities throughout the nation during the Halloween period in 2010 (6 p.m. Oct. 29 to 6 a.m. Nov. 1) involved a driver or a motorcycle rider with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher. 

   “The scariest parts of Halloween aren’t the spooky costumes and scary pranks,” said Christopher J. Murphy, Director of the California Office of Traffic Safety. “It’s a fact that too often drivers don’t plan ahead and end up turning reality into something much worse than the worst horror movie.”

   To keep safe this Halloween, The Avoid the 8 Coalition recommends these simple tips:
            
• Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin.
• If you are taking medication or using drugs; beware! They can impair your driving, and 
especially never mix with alcohol.  
• Before drinking, designate a sober driver, and leave your car keys at home.
• If you’re impaired, take a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public 
transportation so you are sure to get home safely.
• If you see a drunk driver on the road, Call 911!

   Funding for this operation is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Community Bulletin Board 10-26-2012

   There's no longer any need to leave your home to check the Holtville Community Bulletin Board on Holt Ave., now you can check it right here on This is Holtville every Friday!

1996 Vogue Motorhome, 49,000 Miles, 440 Dodge Engine, Has new brakes, tires, plugs, holding tanks, toilet, rebuilt generator, ceiling A/C with heater, water pump. For info call 1-760-235-2195. $4,000 or Best Offer. Can see pictures on Craigslist Sept. 30, or can see at 515 W. 9th Street, Holtville. 356-5835.

FOR RENT, for more information call 356-4110 or 562-1980.

YARD SALE. Viernes 26 Oct. 554 Grape. En Frente De Finley. 6:30 a.m.

YARD SALE. 705 Palm. Friday. 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. Next to the High School.

WANTED: YOU! You're invited to Cornerstone's Fall Round-Up, October 28th at 10:15 a.m. 125 E. 6th St., Holtville (760) 356-1061

ASHLEY'S HOME CLEANING SERVICE. Call (760) 751-1129. Let Ashley clean your home.

1 RECAMARA, 1 BANO FOR RENT. 743 Palm.

RENTA STUDIO AMUEBLADO CON ESTUFA,  MICROONOAS, REFRIGE, RADOR Y TV. 2 personas $400, Persona Extra $100, Deposito $150. Informes Al (760) 356-9910, (760) 540-6804, (760) 540-6812.

YARD SALE. 567 Figueroa St., Friday, Oct. 26, 7 a.m.

YARD SALE. 320 W. 9th Street. Behind 875 Cedar Ave, House next to alley. Friday, October 26 & Saturday October 27. 6 a.m. -??

GARAGE SALE. 815 Beale Ave. Thursday & Friday, October 25 & 26, Starting at 8 a.m.

MOVING SALE: Electronics, speakers, stereo, computer, TV, Tools, Clothes, Furniture, Car, Motorcycle & Gear, 1654 Zenos Rd., Saturday October 27, 6 a.m.

YARD SALE: Lunas 29 Oct. Calle 6 y Grape Fronte a FINLEY apartments. de 7 a 10 a.m.

Holtville Girl Scouts Learn All About Bullying, Pizza

Imperial County Sheriff's Office Crime Prevention Coordinator Aide Flores-Gallegos teaches
Holtville's Girl Scout troop how to prevent bullying at their meeting today. 

WORDS, PHOTOS & VIDEO BY LUKE PHILLIPS

   Holtville's Girl Scout troop learned all about how to prevent bullying at school from Imperial County Sheriff's Office Crime Prevention Coordinator Aide Flores-Gallegos. Flores-Gallegos taught the girls different tactics for dealing with bullies and how to stand up for themselves. 

   The girls also tried their hand at making their very own personal pizzas under the supervision of troop leader Georgina Camacho. Check out the video below for a short photo slideshow of the girls' activities, followed by footage of Flores-Gallegos giving her talk:

$24K Turbine Pump at Holtville Waste-Water Plant Broken Again

BY LUKE PHILLIPS

   A high-water alarm was sounded at Holtville's wastewater plant on Kamm Rd. last week after a turbine motor shorted out and stopped working inside one of the water filtration wells at the plant, according to City Manager Alex Meyerhoff.

   Meyerhoff told the city council Monday that the turbine pump started smoking and had to be shut down and temporarily replaced by a rental pump from Rain for Rent. Meyerhoff also informed the council that the plant's current pumps are only 2 years old, but are unfortunately no longer under warranty.

   Turbine pumps have had a troubled history at the plant, having to be re-built several times after they were first installed in 2003 and then eventually having to be replaced in 2010. With a $24,000 price tag for each pump, the problem is a costly one and city officials are now looking at how to circumvent the problem when planned upgrades to the plant are being constructed.

   City Engineer Jack Holt told the council that pumps could be placed closer to intakes in the new wells to prevent damage from vibration, which is what has caused most of the problems in the past, or the wells might possibly be removed altogether.

   Holt says that a different treatment system may be used for the new plant, eliminating the need for turbine pumps, and bypassing the current system in favor of an ultra-violet light disinfection process. Holt says that the turbidity of the water coming from the plant would have to be very low for the plan to work, but it could also save the city on electrical costs as well.

   The item was for information only and no action was needed by the council.

Flooded Mess at Holt and 10th to Finally Be Fixed?

WORDS AND PHOTO BY LUKE PHILLIPS

The Eternal Flood at the Corner of Holt Ave. and 10th Street.

   Anybody who's lived in Holtville for any amount of time (and has been paying attention), will know that the intersection of Holt Ave. and Tenth Street gets flooded fairly frequently. Recently, however, the intersection has remained flooded almost constantly.

   Holtville City Council member Richard Layton brought up the problem at a council meeting Monday, saying that the construction of the nearby Holtville Gardens apartments and all the landscaping that goes with it have exacerbated the problem by keeping the ground saturated and further preventing proper draining.

   Layton also told the council that one group of concerned citizens has been considering solutions to the problem. Layton reported that local residents Harry and Jim Nelson have been working with County Public Works Yard Supervisor John Burnworth to find a way to fix the problem and have agreed to supply all the necessary equipment and labor if the county is able to supply the materials.

   "They're willing to do all the work and that's commendable," Layton said.

   I also find the civic-mindedness of these men to be commendable and I hope they're able to find a solution to the problem. The gathered storm waters that sit in this intersection and grow stagnant and stinky have been a problem ever since I can remember and it's about time it got fixed. Stagnant water is stinky and gross, but it's also a public health hazard considering that several cases of West Nile Virus have been confirmed in the county this year and the mosquitoes that carry the virus love stagnant puddles.

City's Newly-Reconstructed Water Tank Nearly Ready to Go Online

Members of the Holtville City Council, along with City Manager Alex Meyerhoff and Water Dept. employees
gathered to break ground on the city's 4.5 million-gallon water tank earlier this year.

WORDS AND PHOTO BY LUKE PHILLIPS

   More than two years after Holtville's reserve water tank was knocked off line by the Easter Sunday Earthquake in 2010, City Engineer Jack Holt is reporting that the tank's replacement is ready to go into operation.

   At a meeting of the Holtville City Council Monday, Holt said that contractors will be finishing the last of the construction work on the tank's new ultra-violet light filtration system this week and inspectors from the Department of Public Health will be making their final checks before the system is brought online.

   Holtville City Manager Alex Meyerhoff told the council that the city will be planning a "valve-opening event" to celebrate the tank's completition.

   "The project is pretty much right on schedule," Meyerhoff said. "I think it was a monumental accomplishment that was made in record time."

   Holt also told the council that work will begin on November 5th on a project to fix a leaking pipeline that's located underneath one of the filtration structures at the city's water treatment facility.

   When asked by Mayor Jerry Brittsan whether or not the leak was also caused by the earthquake, Holt said that the earthquake was not the original cause of the leak, but might have made it worse.

   "The earthquake could have aggravated it, but this has been going on for a long, long time," Holt said.

Preview of Tomorrow's Holtville City Council Meeting

The Holtville City Council will meet Monday, October 22 at 6 p.m. at City Hall to discuss the following items. (My explanations appear in Red):

- Discussion/Related Action To Authorize The Emergency Repair Of A Collapsed Manhole At Kamm Road. Manhole collapses have become a very common occurrence along Kamm Rd. as the city's sewer outfall main continues to deteriorate. The 80+ year old pipeline, which runs approximately three miles from Holtville to the city's waste water treatment plant on the Alamo River, badly needs to be replaced. The city has been working for years to secure funding and easements for the project and construction should begin sometime in the next few months.Ultimately the residents of Holtville will probably be paying for the project through increased sewer rates. If the city decides to adopt recommendations in a recently-completed Sewer Rate Study, residents could see their sewer bills almost doubled by 2017.

- Discussion/Related Action To Adopt RESOLUTION 12-60 Awarding The Ninth Street (Between Slayton And Beale) Project’s Construction Contract. This project will widen the small portion of 9th Street that runs between Slayton Rd. and Beale Ave., an improvement that has been badly needed for some time. The thin strip of street has presented a safety issue in the area as traffic bottlenecks during high-traffic times, especially when parents are picking up/dropping off their kids at the nearby Holtville Middle School. I'm glad to see that something is finally being done about it and I hope the west end of ninth street (between Cedar and Melon) gets the same treatment soon because it's just as dangerous, if not more so.

- Discussion/Related Action To Adopt RESOLUTION 12-61 Awarding The Fifth Street Sidewalk Project’s Construction Contract. I must admit that I don't know a lot about this project, but it seems to be a simple sidewalk improvement. I'll have more info after the meeting. 

- Discussion/Related Action To Adopt RESOLTUION 12-62 Accepting APN 045-600-003 Sanitary Sewer Pipeline Grant Of Easement And Approving The Certificate Of Acceptance. Both this item and the next concern the city's final approval of  two easements for the new sewer outfall main that the city obtained through eminent domain, meaning an agreement couldn't be reached with the property owners. The land will now be used to build a portion of the pipeline and the property owners will be paid fair market value for the land.

- Discussion/Related Action To Adopt RESOLUTION 12-63 Accepting APN 045-080-056 And APN 045-080-002 Sanitary Sewer Pipeline Grant Of Easement And Approving The Certificate Of Acceptance See above.

Holtville Fire Chief Honored At Burn Institute's Fire Ball

Holtville Fire Chief Alex Silva holds up a plaque he received from Mayor Jerry Brittsan at the
Burn Institute's annual Fire Ball event yesterday at Barbara Worth Resort.

WORDS & PHOTOS BY LUKE PHILLIPS

   I had the pleasure of attending the Burn Institute's annual Fire Ball event at Barbara Worth Resort last night and had a wonderful time talking with all the firefighters, participating in the silent auction and showing off my lovely wife Liz who bought a pretty new dress just for the occasion.

Holtivlle Mayor Jerry Brittsan reads a prolamation
honoring Fire Chief Alex Silva.

   A handful of Imperial Valley firefighters were honored with 'Distinguished Service Awards' (including Holtville firefigher Ivan Gonzalez)  and it was great to see these hardworking men and women get the recognition that they deserve (especially our friend Rosa Hernandez!), but the highlight of the evening for me was a proclamation read by Holtville Mayor Jerry Brittsan recognizing the hard work and dedication of Holtville Fire Chief Alex Silva.

   Chief Silva does a great job for the city of Holtville and it's not hard to see how dedicated he is to the community. He's always busting his butt at city events, lending a hand where he can and serving as a great mentor for Holtville's younger firefighters. He always has a warm demeanor, a great attitude and truly seems to be concerned about the well being of those around him.

   Congratulations Chief Silva, this proclamation couldn't have gone to anyone more deserving.

Restaurant Review: The Fields Steakhouse at Barbara Worth Resort

WORDS AND PHOTOS BY LUKE PHILLIPS

Caprese Salad

   Note: In the interest of Full Disclosure, I must mention that I am now employed by Barbara Worth Resort. However, I wrote this review of the resort's Fields Steakhouse several weeks before I was even considered for my current job and I can assure you that this review presents a completely unbiased opinion:

   My wife Liz and I finally had the opportunity last week to try out Holtville’s newest eatery, The Fields Steakhouse at Barbara Worth Resort, and we were quite frankly blown away. The food was beyond amazing, the service was friendly and prompt and the environment is elegant and relaxing. I really think it’s wonderful that we now have a restaurant of this caliber in our little town.

   The Fields is definitely an upscale place, but considering what you get for your money the prices are very reasonable. They have plenty of meals under $20 and none cost more than $30. I applaud the management for keeping the prices fairly reasonable which makes the restaurant much more accessible to more people in our community.

Double Bone Apple Brandy Glazed Pork Chop

   The Fields food is undeniably great, and we’ll get to that in a minute, but for me it was the little touches that made my dining experience truly great. A single red rose and a lit candle adorned our table along with cloth napkins, fine china, and a real table cloth, unlike the cheap plastic ones found at most restaurants in town. Big band music played softly in the background the golf course and nearby pond make for a lovely view from almost anywhere in the house.

   My amazement with the quality of the food began when our bread arrived. Freshly baked, soft on the inside with a nice flaky crust, the bread was to die for. It was quickly gone and we moved on to our salad. We ordered the Caprese Salad, one of my old favorites, and it also was outstanding. The tomatoes were perfect, red and flavorful, and the basil was nice and pungent. The only thing lacking at all was the mozzarella which was good, but not as fresh as it could have been.

Shrimp Scampi

   On the chef’s recommendation I had ordered the Double Bone Apple Brandy Glazed Pork Chop and as soon as my meal arrived, I knew I had made the right choice.

   I don’t hesitate in the least to say that this was by far the best pork chop I  have ever had in my life. Every bite was tender and flavorful. The glaze was perfect, not too sweet and it didn’t overpower the wonderful flavor of the meat. In fact, the Apple Brandy Glaze almost reminded me of pork chops with applesauce, one of my favorite parings. I offered Liz a bite of my pork chop and she was instantly sorry she hadn’t ordered it too, although she did enjoy her Shrimp Scampi. At $17, this piece of pork is worth every penny.

Mashed Potatoes and Mixed Greens

   We both ordered the same sides, mashed potatoes and mixed veggies, and they too were delicious. The vegetables included collard greens with shredded carrots and squash with a hint of lemon added.

   For desert, Liz had a New York Style Cheesecake which she enjoyed very much, and that’s coming from a genuine New Yorker. I had the chocolate ice cream, because I am an unrepentant ice cream addict, and it was awesome. Real, rich, delicious ice cream, not that cheap soft-serve crap found in most restaurants.

   If you’re tired of the restaurants in Holtville and looking for something different, and you don’t mind paying a little more, check out The Fields. I personally can't wait to go back and try a few more of the dishes.

Welcome to 'This is Holtville'

   Hello friends and neighbors, and welcome to This is Holtville.

Luke Phillips

    My name is Luke Phillips. Some of you may know me, or at least my name, from my work as a reporter for the Holtville Tribune, but I've recently decided to move on from the Tribune, accepting a position as a Marketing & Event Coordinator for Barbara Worth Resort. I'm absolutely loving my new job, but I don't want to totally give up on journalism and I still have an interest in taking photos and writing stories that chronicle life in my hometown, so I've decided to start this Web site dedicated to reflecting the community and residents of Holtville.

   This is Holtville is meant to provide an online focal point for the city, a place for residents to come together, share their thoughts, be informed and express themselves. I personally wanted to start this blog as a way to share my thoughts, feelings and opinions about Holtville without the restrictions of the newspaper format and as a place to share all of the photos I take of the community that don't make it into the newspaper. The Web site will also give me the ability to share news and cover events as they happen through semi-live video and up-to-the-second updates.

   I'm also hoping that 'This is Holtville' will become a collaborative community project with a wide and varied line-up of contributors, reflecting the people of the community and what's important to them. We will be accepting submissions from residents in the form of news stories, essays, artwork, photographs, videos or whatever other form of expression they may choose. I've always been interested in new, experimental forms of journalism and I'm hoping that 'This is Holtville' can provide a new, ultra-local form of citizen-based reporting for our city.

   'This is Holtville' will feature huge, full-color, high-definition photo galleries of community events, HD video of breaking news and community events, reviews of local restaurants and a variety of other fun features and art projects along with news updates, weather, useful links and more. There's not a whole lot on the site right now because we're just getting started, but look for fresh new content in the days, weeks, months and hopefully years to come.

   - Luke Phillips

Editor, This is Holtville