PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ENCINITAS, CA 92025 PERMIT NO. 94
The Coast News
INLAND EDITION
.com
VISTA, SAN MARCOS, ESCONDIDO
VOL. 28, N0. 39
DEC. 5, 2014
An update to the playground is the only project that has funding at this point. About $237,000 will go towards adding a splash pad and other structures. It’s expected to be finished by the middle of next summer. Photo by Ellen Wright
Artist Garry Cohen, right, hosts a weekend glass art demonstration at Glass Ranch, his Del Dios residence. John Pourroy, background, works a piece of glass into a bowl. Photo by Tony Cagala
Grape Day Master Nature shines through in artist’s works Plan firms up By Tony Cagala
ESCONDIDO — The meandering walkways that have been cut into the slopes of a North County home are lined with succulents, cacti, palms and pepper trees, intermingling with numerous translucent glass art creations — almost as if they were a part of the natural surroundings themselves. At the top of a walkway stands Garry Cohen, dressed in black, a pair of thick-rimmed glasses over his eyes. He’s welcoming visitors to Glass Ranch, his home and glass art studio in the unincorporated Escondido neighborhood of Del Dios, which borders along the north shore of Lake
Hodges. Twice a year, Cohen hosts a weekend of glass art demonstrations and also as a chance to sell his and other local artists’ works. During the early days of glass art in San Diego, around the ‘80s and ‘90s, Cohen said there were a lot of hot shops around. Now, he said, there are only a few, including his own, where he works and gives private glass blowing lessons. The former Palomar College ceramics instructor and glass blowing program director now starts his workdays by firing up his studio – quite literally. The furnaces he uses to melt and shape the glass there can reach upwards of 2,000
degrees. Since the early ‘70s, when he discovered the natural character of Del Dios, Cohen said his creations are absolutely shaped by his surroundings. “I wake up every day and I am surrounded by nature and beauty and it really does effect the creation of my art — in the form of color, form, shape — because everything is subconsciously involved in nature anyway,” Cohen said. Working three months on, three months off, Cohen spends anywhere from four to six hours a day, four days a week creating anything from glass bowls to shot glasses. Yet, after more than 25
years, he’s still able to find innovation in working with glass. “When you work with glass, it is not a short term endeavor,” he said. “Even though it is a trade, to work the art glass, you need many, many years in it to get the feel for the material and the glass. “There’s always room for innovation on that level,” he said. For pieces in public there’s “huge, huge” room for innovation, he said, which is where he wants to turn his attentions to next. The majority of his works have been for the gift market, manufacturing TURN TO ARTIST ON 18
Amnesty International awareness takes new direction By Promise Yee
VISTA — Amnesty International traditionally raised attention to its mission of speaking up for human rights through its annual candlelight walk. After 25 years as an impactful humanitarian organization the group decide to change tactics this year, and hold global write-a-thons. The writing sessions reflect the start of the organization that was formed in 1961 by a group of like-minded friends, who wanted to make a difference. Founding members began a letter-writing campaign to bring attention to the unjust imprisonment and inhumane treatment of humanitarian leaders. Their efforts yielded success, with increased media attention, and government action to provide basic necessities, due legal process and release for numerous prisoners of consciousness.
Rancho Buena Vista High School students have supported Amnesty International efforts for 25 years. This year a write-a-thon will be held at the high school.. File photo by Promise Yee
“So many prisoners of consciousness benefited worldwide,” Alessandra Colfi, volunteer with Amnesty International Group 471, said. “Their captors knew the world was paying atten-
tion.” In addition to promoting the legal and humane treatment of political prisoners, the group has also directed its letter-writing campaigns toward human trafficking
victims. This has also raised awareness, and prompted change. “We really can save somebody’s life and change TURN TO AMNESTY ON 18
By Ellen Wright
E S C ON D I D O —T he Grape Day Master Plan update is one step closer to being finalized. On Dec. 3, the Historic Preservation Committee received a presentation and offered their comments on the design. The park will receive an update to its master plan, which is the guiding document that dictates what can and cannot be built. Having the plans in writing also makes it easier for the city to secure funding for the projects, some of which are currently unfunded. According to Loretta McKinney, library and community services director, the design and construction of the playground is fully funded to about $237,000. Doug Grove, from RHA Landscaping, which was contracted to design the plan, said the playground should be finished by mid-summer 2015. As part of the conceptual designs, a splash pad was included. Grove also plans to highlight the park’s historically agricultural background with concrete benches of oranges and avocados. Another design element included was concrete crates that function as benches with agricultural labels. Grove said that the tree stump, which currently sits in the park, will be sanded down and used for benches. He said he had five different manufacturers looked at the stump in an effort to turn it into a tree house but they couldn’t figure out an option that was safe. Three public work-
shops were held to get input on the master plan update. One of the ideas that was popular was the inclusion of a permanent food cart in the park. Doug Grove told the commission Tuesday that a permanent cart wasn’t possible. “Right now the current ordinance doesn’t allow any permanent food service north of Pennsylvania (Avenue),” Grove said. However, multiple picnic areas will be planned throughout the park and Grove said they will be accessible to food trucks. Connections at critical intersections will also be added in an effort to draw more visitors to the park. “We identified some areas at Broadway and Woodward and Pennsylvania and Maple Street Plaza, to just accentuate what happens in the street and to bring the attention to the drivers so they are (aware) they are coming along to a place where people will be crossing into the park, as well as to identify places for the pedestrians and community to see where they can enter the park,” Grove said. Landscaped medians will be added to North Broadway and Woodward Avenue to “green it up” a little, Grove said and to “expand the park into the streets a little bit.” The commissioners commented that they wanted drought tolerant and native California landscaping to be added. “Eventually whether it’s next year or withTURN TO GRAPE DAY ON 18