PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID SAN DIEGO, CA PERMIT NO. 835
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THE RANCHO SANTA FE NEWS
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SERVING NORTH COUNTY SINCE 1987
VOL. 15, N0. 26
DEC. 20, 2019
Club settles harassment suit for $125K By City News Service
SCUBA SANTA AT BIRCH AQUARIUM See Scuba Santa and his Scuba Elf bring Christmas underwater at the dive shows that are part of the Seas ‘n’ Greetings celebration at Birch Aquarium, 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla, through Dec. 31. More information at aquarium.ucsd.edu. Courtesy photo
RANCHO SANTA FE — The Fairbanks Ranch Country Club in Rancho Santa Fe has settled a sexual harassment lawsuit for $125,000, stemming from allegations that a restaurant manager at the club sexually harassed several young female servers, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced Dec. 3. The lawsuit filed by the EEOC alleged the unnamed manager “routinely abused his position by requiring female servers to acquiesce in his sexual advances for job benefits,” leading some of the servers to resign, according to the EEOC. The manager's behavior encouraged other male employees to engage in sexual harassment too, the agency said. In addition to the $125,000, the country club agreed to retain an EEO monitor to review the club's policies and procedures regarding discrimination, harassment and retaliation. The club will also provide training to all employees, with particular emphasis on sexual harassment. Litigation against Bay Club Fairbanks Ranch, LLC, which the country club was sold to in 2016, remains ongoing. EEOC director Christopher Green said, “Supervisors and managers have a particular responsibility to ensure that workplaces are free of harassment and discrimination. I am encouraged that one party in this suit has agreed to take necessary steps to ensure a discrimination and harassment-free work environment for its employees.''
New Mexico airline, ski resort target North County weekenders By Steve Puterski
CARLSBAD — A new airline will soon be taking North County residents to the slopes. Taos Airlines will begin service Jan. 9, 2020, to ferry passengers on a 30seat, twin-engine jet to one of the top ski resorts in the country, the Taos Ski Valley. Three nonstop, roundtrip flights are scheduled to fly on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays as service will run through the end of March, according to Joe
Zvada, director of aviation for Taos Airlines. He said the airline is aware of the recent failures by two other airlines over the past two years, as California Pacific Airlines and Cal Jet by Elite Airlines both flew sparingly and with controversy, leaving a bad taste for customers. However, Zvada said, Taos Airlines’ model is more direct and focused on those looking for a weekend getaway. “We see Southern Cal-
ifornia as a great extension for Taos,” Zvada said. “We chose Carlsbad for a number of reasons, and we like its location … like its facilities and think it matches well with the experience both on the jet and the resort in Taos.” Last year the airline and resort banded to tackle its first markets in Dallas and Austin, Texas. He said it was a huge success, and is continuing this year, but the both parties wanted to expand.
So, they turned west to Southern California and fixated on McClellan-Palomar Airport as the ideal airport for its services. David Norden, chief operating officer of Taos Ski Valley, said each company analyzed market research, specifically within the skiing and snowboarding industry, and found many positives. One of those is the Ikon Pass, which is the second most popular skiing and snowboarding pass in Southern California. The pass,
which has two levels, features 12 or 14 mountains in California, Colorado, West Virginia, Utah and Canada. Taos, though, along with at least two dozen other resorts across the globe, is also part of the part of the access for the Ikon passes. While most skiers and boarders in the region may hit the slopes at Big Bear, Mammoth, Squaw Valley or June Mountain, Norden said this new venture now gives them easy access to another high-quality mountain.
The flight, he added, is about two hours and transportation from the Taos Airport is included with the airline ticket. Tickets will run between $170 to $250 each way. “We see this as an opportunity to get folks from Southern California to the Rockies in the easiest possible way,” Norden said. “It just seems like nobody has figured out how to create a convenient and easy way to TURN TO AIRLINE ON 8