PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ENCINITAS, CA 92025 PERMIT NO. 94
The Coast News
INLAND EDITION
.com
VISTA, SAN MARCOS, ESCONDIDO
VOL. 3, N0. 11
JUNE 2, 2017
All-way stop approved at Breeze Hill Elementary By Christina Macone-Greene
AIMING TO PROTECT PUPPIES A bill that would ban pet stores from selling a live dog, cat or rabbit unless the animal came from a public animal control agency or shelter easily passed the state Assembly this week and moves on to the Senate. See full story on page 3. Stock photo
13-year-old graduates from Palomar College By Aaron Burgin
SAN MARCOS — To say that Claire Lewis isn’t your average 13-year-old is a gross understatement. She could perform classical piano pieces three months after touching the ivory keys at age 6. She recently aced Calculus 3 — a feat many college students struggle to accomplish. And last Friday, the San Marcos girl with a love of classical piano and Gustavo Dudamel walked the stage with her fellow graduates — from Palomar College. What started three years ago as her parents’ search to satisfy her homeschooling math requirements climaxed with Claire receiving her Associates Degree, the youngest person in the school’s 70-year history to receive a degree. For Claire, an aspiring orchestral conductor and classically trained pianist, and her family, the journey was rewarding. “I feel really happy I was able to do this, I’m so happy I had this option,” said Claire, who plans to take the next year to apply to musical conservatories. “I just wasn’t getting challenged in regular school, so this was a perfect fit.” Her father, Tim Lewis, and mother, Simone de Bruyne-Lewis, are software engineers. Both said they were happy to be able to help their daughter pursue her dreams. “My feeling is one of excitement and gratitude,” Tim Lewis said. “I’m just
Claire Lewis. Courtesy photo
grateful we were able to support her pursue her goals.” Tim and Simone said they recognized from an early age that Claire was innately more curious and driven than your average child. That curiosity and drive manifested itself most notably when she discovered her love for music. She started playing the piano at 6, and after three months had outstripped her father, a musician of 30 years, and was playing Bach minuets. “I remember when the crossover occurred, I would play the minuets and make tiny mistakes and have to go back,” Tim Lewis said. “One day she played it, and moved right on.” Almost immediately, her parents said, she gravitated not just to playing instruments, but directing them. When listening to classical symphonies, she would mimic a conductor’s motions with uncanny precision, her parents said. She knew what she
wanted to be when she grew up at that moment, and hasn’t wavered. “When I was a child, if someone asked me what I wanted to do, I probably said a doctor,” Lewis said. “But did it change in a year? Probably so. “But she seems to be steadfast in that goal, and bravo to her,” Lewis said. “I think it’s fantastic that she has that certainty.” De Bruyne-Lewis said by fourth grade, Claire was begging to be homeschooled so she could devote more time to music. She currently is a member of the San Diego Civic Youth Orchestra. The parents made her finish elementary school first, and then started exploring homeschool options that would allow her to be in a classroom setting and satisfy her accelerated learning rate. “She would go through the books faster than I was able to teach her,” de Bruyne-Lewis said. “We searched and found that Palomar offered courses,
and we asked about them, and learned she needed to take an assessment to see if she could take the college-level courses.” That was in 2014, and Claire tested into beginning algebra. But with each class, Claire’s curiosity increased and she wanted to take more courses, before long she was carrying the workload of a full-time student. And these were not online courses: Claire was in class with college-age students. “At first they were confused about why this little kid was in class,” Claire said. “But after a few classes they got used to it.” Tim Lewis said he and his wife initially had reservations, but they quickly melted away. “What started as ‘How do we get this (homeschooling) done?’ turned into this amazing experience, and our initial trepidation quickly gave way to, ‘Wow, this is pretty cool,’” he said. Her favorite courses? Math, Claire said without hesitation. “It was easy for me to understand,” she said. “I got an A in Calc 3, and I got a perfect score on one of the tests.” Now, Claire said she will take the next step to narrow her list of prospective conservatories and begin the involved process of applying and auditioning for one of the precious spots. “There are a lot of good conservatories so I’m looking forward to applying to them,” she said.
VISTA — To improve traffic flow and pedestrian crossing at the driveway entrance of Breeze Hill Elementary, the Vista City Council approved in a 3-1 vote an all-way stop on Melrose Way during a May session. The impetus for this item was the city receiving complaints about congestion issues during school drop-off and pickup times. Presenting the agenda item was staff member Sam Hasenin. “There has been a history of complaints about traffic flow and pedestrians passing Melrose Way to the public school,” he said. Hasenin explained the proposed placement of the stop sign(s) installation and crosswalk. According to Hasenin, the proposal also included the striping of a second lane on Melrose to the school driveway. Hasenin wanted City Council to know that a short segment of sidewalk, on the south side of Melrose Way, which formerly had a gap underwent construction to offer an uninterrupted pedestrian pathway. “It was completed a few weeks ago,” he said, adding that widening of the street also took place. Hasenin explained how the completed side-
The basis of the recommendation of an all-way stop was generated by the Vista Master Safe Routes to School Plan (SRTS). According to Hasenin, the study conducted a count of 151 pedestrians crossing Melrose Way within 30 minutes after the school day ended. “I would say they (pedestrians) cross somewhere between South Melrose, and the school driveway, and not at the signal on South Melrose,” said Hasenin, noting that there was traffic moving eastbound. Staff also recommended temporary flashing beacons on the stop signs for the first 30 days after installation to alert drivers to the new signage and crosswalk. Hasenin also indicated an estimated cost of two stop signs at $150 at the Melrose Way and Breeze Hill Elementary entrance driveway site. While the agenda item passed, Councilwoman Amanda Rigby opposed it. When Hasenin was asked how many complaints were received, the answer was five or six within the last five years. Additionally, Rigby said she wasn’t confident that an all-way stop would change pedestrian behavior. “We have done some modifications in other
City Council recently approved an all-way stop on Melrose Way at the entrance to Breeze Hill Elementary to improve traffic flow and pedestrian safety. Photo by Christina Macone-Greene
walk also afforded street widening, to accommodate a second lane for travelers heading westbound with an option to turn right into the school entrance. Hasenin noted that this extra lane would help alleviate the congestion issues during high traffic volume times.
school areas and, unfortunately, we still see people darting in between cars and avoiding the crosswalk … ” she said. “It’s very distressing to me that we have parents who so easily discount the rules of the road and put themselves and their children in danger. And I don’t know that