Podiatrist in Ramona, CA

CBS 8 also emailed the corporate offices for McDonald’s, which responded by saying their records show the location to be open and operating.

RAMONA, Calif. — Viewers in Ramona reached out to CBS 8 about the vacant McDonald’s that has become an eyesore for the community. CBS 8 is Working for You to get to the bottom of what’s being done about it.

“It’s horrible-looking up front, yeah, put something there, no matter what, just do something with it,” said Lisa Dabney, a 20-year resident of Ramona. “It sucks because you know, there’s been nothing there. I miss McDonald’s.”

Marked up with graffiti, boarded up with plywood, and surrounded by a torn up fence, the blighted McDonald’s building at 1550 Main Street in Ramona has been vacant for two years. In August 2019, a fire broke out in the basement of the restaurant and was knocked down by firefighters in 30 minutes with no injuries to employees.

“When I came, there was a lot of fire trucks and a lot of smoke over there,” said Rida Hermiz, owner of a salon next door. “We had this McDonald’s for so many years, we miss this McDonald’s especially kids, they always ask when is the McDonald’s going to open, I say I have no idea. Everybody misses McDonald’s.”

Hermiz didn’t know the owner of the property, so CBS 8 called the San Diego County Recorder’s Office to find out. They told CBS 8 the ownership is listed as Franchise Realty Interstate Corporation. CBS 8 also emailed the corporate offices for McDonald’s, which responded by saying their records show the location to be open and operating.

“I’ve been watching this McDonald’s every day when I open my store, there’s nobody there,” said Hermiz. “It’s been two years like this and nobody come check, nothing, and every time, somebody say, ‘Just a couple more months, somebody’s going to fix it,’ but nothing happened.”

Most people CBS 8 talked to want to see a new business open in the location, and while some people prefer to see McDonald’s reopen, Hermiz has her own preferences.

“To be honest, McDonald’s is good for the kids because in Ramona, we don’t have a McDonald’s and kids love toys, but like for me, I love In ‘n Out, that’s my favorite one,” said Hermiz.

McDonald’s corporate says they will need more time to look into the situation for the Ramona location. CBS 8 will continue to follow this story.

At CBS 8, we are always Working for You and our community. This is a station promise that we will go the extra mile to solve a problem our audience can’t solve themselves. We want to hear your ideas on how we can cover and help our community. If you have a story idea, please email us at workingforyou@cbs8.com.

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WATCH RELATED: Working for You: Balboa Park restroom boarded up for months

Contaminated water from egg processing and composting facilities has gotten into stormwater basins and two nearby creeks, according to regional water quality board report

Aug. 23, 2023 11:12 AM PT

A state water board will consider a proposed cease-and-desist order for the egg processing facility at Pine Hill Egg Ranch in Ramona over concerns that contaminated water has been getting into stormwater basins and two nearby creeks, officials said.

The California State Water Resources Control Board will discuss the order at its Oct. 11 meeting. Public comment on the issue through Aug. 28 will be taken into consideration by the board, officials said.

Christina Arias, representative of the prosecution team for the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board, said she is recommending that the state board approve the cease-and-desist order following a three-year investigation.

Arias said inspectors with the regional water quality board observed that the method used for treating wastewater at the egg processing facility did not remove contaminants. This water was seen to flow down into stormwater basins on the property, she said.

The water in these basins, which a report by Arias described as “foul smelling, brownish-red color and frothy,” made its way into the Santa Teresa Valley Creek, she said. When the creek was tested for contaminants in March 2023, it was found to have high levels of ammonium-nitrate and phosphorous, posing a danger to the creek’s ecosystem, she said.

“This is a priority for our office and we intended to get this facility enrolled properly and expect that waste discharges will no longer be a threat to our surface waters,” Arias said.

The Pine Hill egg processing facility is owned by Demler Brothers, LLC. Alex Demler, the facility manager in charge of environmental compliance, said that due to ongoing discussions he could not give specific details. He said the company is working with the regional water quality board to address the issues identified in the report.

“We’re working with the best technical consultants we have available to us to guide us through and we’re going to have ongoing discussions to help us address all these issues,” Demler said. “We’re working very closely with the Regional Water Quality Control Board, we have been for some time and we look forward to addressing all the issues in the upcoming months.”

The State Water Resources Control Board can issue a cease-and-desist order if it finds that a waste discharge is taking place, or threatening to take place, in violation of state requirements or discharge prohibitions, Arias said.

Ramona residents first brought concerns about the Pine Hill egg processing facility to the attention of the regional water quality board in 2020, Arias said.

According to her report, the facility produces approximately 2,000 gallons of wastewater per day from an egg-washing operation and about 375 tons of manure per week. Other waste generated from the facility includes broken eggs and chicken carcasses.

Arias said that some operations at the facility, such as composting and wastewater treatment devices and practices, were not in compliance with state requirements. She said Demler Brothers has missed deadlines in reporting their waste discharge and could have been subject to fines.

“The maximum penalty is $1,000 a day,” she said. “We have decided in the office to forgo that in favor of just getting their attention and getting those ... treatment systems in place.”

The Demler Brothers operation started at 25818 state Route 7 in 1974.

Ramona resident Gayle Wright said the smell coming from the egg processing facility has been an ongoing issue since she moved near the farm in 1988.

“The fact of the matter is it’s starting to affect a much wider area of this end of Ramona, which it never did back in the day,” Wright said. “I have friends all the way down at Santa Fe Highland that are being affected by it and that’s six miles away.”

The regional water quality board sent out a field inspector after hearing the residents’ complaints, Arias said. It was then that they realized the facility, capable of housing up to 2 million chickens, had not been regulated by the state water control board, she said.

“In my 20 years of being here this is the most complicated in regards to involving several different regulatory programs,” Arias said. “I’ve been working with staff with the stormwater program, the waste discharge requirements and composting. They’ve been out in the field doing inspections.”

The Pine Hill Egg Ranch processing facility had been using a septic tank designed for residential use that became overwhelmed with pollutants, according to Arias. When wastewater would leave the septic tank, it would pass through a leach field, which is a filtration system that removes contaminants and impurities from liquid as it travels to a designated disposal area.

“The problem was they were using it for the egg process wastewater, which is completely loaded with pollutants, and the system isn’t designed for that,” Arias said. “So instead of having these natural biological processes breaking these pollutants down in the leach field, they couldn’t keep up with it so water was ponding at the surface.”

Arias said that after the Demler Brothers were informed that improvements had to be made to their wastewater discharge practices, the company installed a larger tank in 2021. This tank, which did not have a leach field, would discharge into an unlined pond in a natural depression on the facility’s property, Arias said. From there, the water had the potential to overflow into one of two stormwater detention basins — northern or southern, her report stated.

The large tank did not receive a permit before it was built, Arias said. It would not have received a permit because it did not meet state discharge requirements, she said.

“If it rains hard enough, it’s possible that water drains down to the [northern] basin,” Arias said.

Arias said the southern basin has become a recipient of improperly treated water from another source — the Demler Brothers’ composting operations. Composting requires a permit that the facility does not have at this time, Arias said.

According to her report, in February 2023 regional water quality board staff observed dark-colored ponded water within the composting operation area and dark-colored runoff from the area flowing toward the southern unlined stormwater detention basin, which drains to the nearby Santa Teresa Valley Creek.

In the report, Alex Demler stated that the valve of the stormwater detention basin was open during the Jan. 14-16, 2023 storm events, which allowed wastewater from the composting operation to discharge into the creek. Demler stated in the report that he accepted responsibility for the release of wastewater into the creek.

A month after this discharge, regional water quality board staff observed that the water in a creek west of the egg ranch was “foul smelling, opaque, brownish-red color and frothy,” according to the report.

The report compared the desired water quality to a sample measured from Santa Teresa Valley Creek on March 6, 2023. Levels of ammonium-nitrogen were found to be 400 times higher than the water quality objective and levels of phosphorus 30 times higher than the objective, the report stated.

“That’s why enforcement is a priority in this situation,” Arias said. “We’re concerned about nitrogen and phosphorus because if a creek system is overloaded with those substances then it generates really bad nuisance conditions and algae. If the algae mats grow too thick it can starve everything else of oxygen so it’s just really bad for the ecosystem.”

If the state water quality control board approves the cease-and-desist order, the Demler Brothers will have to acquire the applicable permits required for their operations and ensure they have all the treatment controls for the wastewater, Arias said.

Barbara Klein, a Ramona resident who has complained to the regional board about issues at the farm, said the goal isn’t to shut it down. Since Pine Hill Egg Ranch and its egg processing facility are businesses in the community that employ Ramona residents, Klein said she wants to see the company adhere to proper discharge practices.

“We don’t want to sensationalize it, these are the facts of what’s happening at this place and you have a period of time you can comment and it’s right around the corner,” Klein said.

Public comments can be made by e-mail to the attention of Christina Arias at SanDiego@waterboards.ca.gov. Indicate in the subject line of all written comments “PIN: 864333: CArias.”

More information about the case can be found at waterboards.ca.gov/sandiego/board_decisions/tentative_orders/.

RAMONA, CA — Rite Aid pharmacy chain announced in its court filings Tuesday which of its underperforming stores would be closed under the terms outlined in its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. A Ramona pharmacy located at 1670 Main St. is on the chopping block.

Thirty-one of the 154 stores set to close are in California, with more than half of those located in Southern California.

The Southern California stores to be closed according to court documents include:

Store #05448: 4044 Eagle Rock Boulevard, Los Angeles Store #05457: 4046 South Centinela Avenue, Los Angeles Store #05466: 7859 Firestone Boulevard, Downey Store #05521: 4402 Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach Store #05571: 935 North Hollywood Way, Burbank Store #05585: 139 North Grand Avenue, Covina Store #05593: 13905 Amar Road, La Puente Store #05611: 920 East Valley Boulevard, Alhambra Store #05635: 3813 Plaza Drive, Oceanside Store #05638: 1670 Main Street, Ramona Store #05657: 6505 Mission Gorge Road, San Diego Store #05661: 8985 Mira Mesa Boulevard, San Diego Store #05730: 25906 Newport Road, Menifee Store #05735: 24829 Del Prado, Dana Point Store #05753: 30222 Crown Valley Parkway, Laguna Niguel Store #05757: 19701 Yorba Linda Boulevard, Yorba Linda Store #05760: 1406 West Edinger Avenue, Santa Ana Store #05772: 2738 East Thompson Boulevard, Ventura Store #05780: 720 North Ventura Road, Oxnard Store #05967: 20572 Homestead Road, Cupertino Store #05976: 2620 El Camino Real, Santa Clara Store #05979: 901 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz Store #06001: 571 Bellevue Road, Atwater Store #06045: 5409 Sunrise Boulevard, Citrus Heights Store #06080: 1309 Fulton Avenue, Sacramento Store #06213: 3029 Harbor Boulevard, Costa Mesa Store #06288: 959 Crenshaw Boulevard, Los Angeles Store #06318: 3000 South Archibald Avenue, Ontario Store #06333: 15800 Imperial Highway, La Mirada Store #06717: 8509 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine Store #06769: 499 Alvarado Street, Monterey

The company did not say when the stores would close.

Prescriptions of customers of the affected stores will be transferred to a nearby Rite Aid or other drug store "so that there is no disruption of service," the company said in a statement. People who work at the stores will also be transferred to other Rite Aid locations where possible, the company said.

Rite Aid's bankruptcy comes amid slumping sales and heavy debt from an opioid lawsuit filed by the Justice Department in March that accuses the company of filling prescriptions for large quantities of opioids "that had obvious, and often multiple, red flags indicating misuse."

Other drug store chains, including rivals CVS and Walgreens, have settled similar lawsuits, but were better positioned financially. But even they are struggling and closing in a tough environment for national drug store chains as Amazon and big-box retailers like Walmart, Target, Costco and others make it more convenient to have prescriptions filled, CNN reported.

Rite Aid said it had secured $3.45 billion in financing and debt reduction agreements that will help it stay afloat through the court-supervised bankruptcy. The company will sell off its Elixir Solutions, its prescription benefit provider.

Additionally, the agreement settles outstanding lawsuits against the company for allegedly filing unlawful opioid prescriptions, one of the exacerbating factors contributing to Rite Aid's bankruptcy.

In a notice to the Securities and Exchange Commission Thursday, Rite Aid said it was "unable, without unreasonable effort or expense," to file its latest quarterly report as it reviewed "strategic alternatives."

Losses that quarter are expected to be significantly higher than in the previous quarter, the company said. That's on top of losses of about three quarters of a billion dollars for the year ended March 2023, and losses of $307 million from March to May, CNN reported.

Rite Aid appointed a new CEO, Jeff Stein, who will lead restructuring efforts and also serve on the company's board of directors.

"With the support of our lenders, we look forward to strengthening our financial foundation, advancing our transformation initiatives and accelerating the execution of our turnaround strategy," Stein said in the statement. "In doing so, we will be even better able to deliver the healthcare products and services our customers and their families rely on — now and into the future."

RAMONA, CA — As Independence Day nears, it's time to ready the barbeque and find out where Fourth of July fireworks and other star-spangled celebrations are going on throughout Ramona and San Diego County.

Do note the date of events, as not all occur on July 4th. Plus, always confirm with organizers that activities are proceeding as planned.

Enjoy the holiday, and Happy Fourth of July, from Patch!

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JULY 4: Red, White & Blue Celebration. At Omni La Costa Resort & Spa.

JULY 4: LEGOLAND July 4th 'Red, White & BOOM!' Fest & Fireworks. "A star-spangled celebration!"

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JULY 4: 4th Of July Fest & Fireworks: Elite Athlete Training Center. The event is free.

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JULY 3: C4 Foundation July 3rd 'Land Of Free' Benefit Concert. Featuring "the one & only Nate Nathan & the Mac Daddy O’s Band."

JULY 4: July 4th Crown City Classic 12K, 5K & Kids' Run. A tradition in its 50th year!

JULY 4: July 4th Parade, Navy Leap Frogs, Concerts & Fireworks. Jam-packed day of patriotic fun ends with fireworks at the golf course.

JULY 4: July 4th 'Big Bay Boom' Fireworks Show. Grand display from four barges throughout the bay.

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JULY 4: 4th Of July Parade: Powerhouse Park. Deck out your bikes, wagons, strollers — and even your dogs! — and join the fun.

JULY 4: San Diego County Fair July 4th Fireworks. Tickets available for Grandstand viewing.

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JULY 4: 4th Of July Fest & Fireworks: Kennedy Park. Free, family activities & two live bands planned.

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JULY 4: Olivenhain Fourth of July Parade. Annual family event at Olivenhain Meeting Hall.

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JULY 4: July 4th Independence Day Concert & Fireworks: Great Green. With music by Urban Renewal Project & Navy Band Southwest's 32nd Street Brass Band.

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JULY 4: IB Pier 4th Of July Fireworks. Details in the works.

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JULY 4: 4th Of July Parade & Flyover. With pie-eating contest, too!

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JULY 4: Lake Murray July 4th Music Fest & Fireworks. "A day of food, fun, bands & fireworks."

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JULY 2: Scripps Mesa July 2nd Fireworks Show: Wangenheim Middle School. Triumphant return with new date & new location.

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JUNE 30-JULY 4: Independence Weekend Carnival & July 1st Fireworks. Note the date for fireworks is July 1.

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JUNE 24: Annual Independence Parade. Enjoy floats, bands, cool cars & more.

JULY 3: July 3rd Fireworks Celebration. Gates open at 5 p.m. & entertainment starts at 7 p.m.

JULY 4: July 4th Independence Day Flyover: Mission Pacific Hotel. "Historic flyover by vintage Beechcraft T-34s."

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JULY 4: Olivenhain Fourth of July Parade. Annual family event at Olivenhain Meeting Hall.

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JULY 4: July 4th Old-Fashioned Festival, Veterans Ceremony & Fireworks. Fireworks launch from two locations!

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JULY 4: 4th Of July Family Picnic & Fireworks. The community tradition returns to Olive Peirce Middle School.

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JULY 4: July 4th Parade, Concert & Fireworks. Fun-filled patriotic day starts with community fair & concludes with concerts & fireworks.

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JULY 1-4: SeaWorld FantaSEA Of Dreams Fireworks. Nightly fireworks, plus Jordin Sparks concert on July 2nd.

JULY 4: USS Midway July 4th Celebration. Sold out.

JULY 4: Maritime Museum July 4th Picnic & Fireworks Viewing. Tickets on sale.

JULY 4: Over The Top 4th Of July Celebration. At Top of the Hyatt.

JULY 4: Boardwalk Boom 4th of July Celebration. At Sally's Fish House & Bar.

JULY 4: July 4th Fireworks Cruises. Multiple departures planned Fourth of July.

JULY 4: Lake Murray July 4th Music Fest & Fireworks. "A day of food, fun, bands & fireworks."

JULY 4: July 4th 'Big Bay Boom' Fireworks Show. Grand display from four barges throughout the bay.

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JULY 4: 4th Of July Festival: Stars, Stripes & Spurs: Lakehouse Resort. With patriotic dog contest, sack races, watermelon-eating contest, musical chairs & more.

JULY 4: 4th Of July Concert, Kids' Fun & Fireworks: Bradley Park. "One of the most spirited 4th of July celebrations in North County."

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JULY 4: 4th Of July 'Santee Salutes' Fest & Fireworks. Parking passes required in advance.

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JULY 4: Scripps Ranch 4th Of July Run & Ride. Family-favorites are the fun run & bike ride.

JULY 4: Scripps Ranch 4th Of July Parade. "Yeehaw! Red, White, and Boots: Honoring American Cowboys."

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JULY 4: University City July 4th Fun Run, 5K, Parade & Concert. "Have you heard? It’s back! The run, the food, the parade, the games, the booths" & more.

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JULY 4: 4th Of July Concert & Fireworks: Brengle Terrace Park. Bring your dancing shoes! Live music from Cassie B Project.

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Tuesdays: ESL Beginners Class

Ramona Library, 1275 Main St.

From 5 to 6:45 p.m., an instructor will lead a class for non-English speakers. Clases de inglés como segundo lenguaje Clase dirigida por una instructora para personas que no hablan inglés. Por favor, regunte en la recepción para obtener más información. Visit sdcl.org.

Wednesdays: Ballet Folklórico

Ramona Library, 1275 Main St.

Instructor Aida Perez will teach children and teens the traditional Mexican dance style from 4 to 5:45 p.m. Visit sdcl.org.

Thursdays: Tai Chi

Ramona Library, 1275 Main St.

From 9:45 to 10:45 a.m., practice the art of Tai Chi with instructor Rose Evans. No cost to attend. Visit sdcl.org.

Thursdays: Cool Cursive Club

Ramona Library, 1275 Main St.

From 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., children 5 and older can practice their cursive handwriting skills with teacher Marsha. Visit sdcl.org.

Saturdays: Ramona Certified Farmers’ Market

424 Letton St.

From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., enjoy live music, food trucks, fresh produce, local vendors, artisans and more. Visit facebook.com/ramonacertifiedfarmersmarket.

Saturdays: Kiwanis Club of Ramona

Denny’s, 1946 Main St.

Meeting starts at 7 p.m. Email ramonakiwanis@gmail.com.

1–3: 51st Annual Barona Powwow

Barona Sports Complex, 1095 Barona Rd., Lakeside

Dancers and drummers will gather to celebrate traditions and compete in several categories. Free admission and open to the public. Food and vendors are also available. Visit facebook.com/BaronaPowwow.

2: Friends of Ramona Library Bookstore Sale

Ramona Library, 1275 Main St.

Every first Saturday, items priced above 25 cents are half off. Proceeds from the store are earmarked for Ramona Library programs and the purchase of new books, media and resources. Visit friendsoframonalibrary.org.

4: Ramona Ramblers Travel Club

Ramona Senior Center, 434 Aqua Ln.

The nonprofit travel club for individuals 50 years of age and older meets the first Monday of the month at 1 p.m. Monthly trips are planned for events in Southern California within a one- to two-hour driving distance. Guests are welcome, and club dues are $10 per year. Call Judy Walsh at 760-484-8517.

6: Story Time Engineers

Ramona Library, 1275 Main St.

From 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., children ages 3 to 5 and their guardians can enjoy a story time focused on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) topics, presented by the San Diego Air & Space Museum. Visit sdcl.org.

7: Ramona Woman’s Club

524 Main St.

At 1 p.m., members and guests are invited to the club’s welcome back lunch and introduction of new board directors. Visit ramonawomansclub.com.

8: Free Farmer’s Market

First Congregational Church of Ramona, 404 Eighth St.

From 12:30 to 2 p.m., pick up free produce, canned goods and more. Visit fccramona.org.

9: Saturday Family Craft

Ramona Library, 1275 Main St.

Families can enjoy a complimentary craft from 11 a.m. to noon. Visit sdcl.org.

9: Free Family Art Class at The Art Center

438 Main St.

From 9:30 to 11 a.m., children and their adult guardians are invited to learn the art of printmaking. Class is free, thanks to a grant from the Ramona Community Foundation. Space is limited. Register at theartcenterramona.com.

12: Ramona Municipal Water District Board Meeting

Ramona Community Center, 434 Aqua Ln.

Meeting begins at 6 p.m. Visit rmwd.org.

13: Ramona Garden Club: Cacti and Succulents of Baja

Mountain View Community Church, 1191 Meadowlark Wy.

Dean Karras, owner of Gnosis Nursery, will speak about research projects he worked on in Baja California. Doors open at 11:30 a.m., and meeting begins at noon. The club supports many community projects, offers scholarships and more. Visit ramonagardenclub.com.

13 & 27: Friends of Ramona Unified School District

Montecito High School, Nico Diaz Center, 720 Ninth St.

At 6 p.m., meet FORUS members and learn how the nonprofit organization helps raise funds for deferred maintenance projects that impact the health and safety of students and staff in Ramona Unified School District. Search "FORUS (Friends Of Ramona Unified Schools)” on facebook.com.

14: Ramona Unified School District Board Meeting

RUSD Office, 720 Ninth St.

Visit ramonausd.net for meeting details.

14: Ramona Lions Club

Ramona Library Community Room, 1275 Main St.

Club meets the second Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. Guests are welcome. For general information, call President David L. White at 760-315-2187. For membership, call Jeff LeClair at 619-895-1849.

16: 15th Annual Bow Wow Pow Wow

Ramona Outdoor Community Center, 421 Aqua Ln.

Presented by the Kiwanis Club of Ramona, the event will feature food, refreshments and raffles, while dogs and their owners compete in fun categories like Best Tail Wagger, Best Costume, Most Handsome and Beautiful, and more. Event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Proceeds are earmarked to benefit the club’s community causes. Visit ramonakiwanis.org or email ramonakiwanisbwpw@gmail.com.

16: Outdoor Movie Night: ‘Vivo’

Dos Picos County Park, 17953 Dos Picos Park Rd.

The festivities begin at 5 p.m., with pre-show activities running until 7 p.m. Limited snacks offered, and picnics are permitted. Visit summermoviesinthepark.com.

20: Republican Women of California – Intermountain Presents Carl DeMaio

Hatfield Creek Vineyards & Winery, 1625 Highway 78, Ramona

KOGO Radio host Carl DeMaio will speak at the club’s yearly fundraiser. Meet-and-greet starts at 5 pm., dinner is served at 6 p.m., and the meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $30, and reservations are required. Call Nancy at 760-315-3291.

26: Ramona Valley Vineyard Association Meeting

Prospective members are welcome to attend. Email teri@ramonaranchwines.com for time and location.

30–Oct. 1: California Hunter Education Course

Ramona Town Hall, 729 Main St.

A California Department of Fish and Wildlife instructor will provide 10 hours of education at no cost. Upon successful completion, students can use their certificate when applying for a hunting license. Registration is required. Visit register-ed.com/events/view/201630. For information, garydaranger@hotmail.com.