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T he R ancho S anta F e News
DEC. 20, 2019
Del Mar’s Brees makes NFL history with 540th touchdown pass sports talk
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he touchdown pass landed in New Orleans but it started in San Diego. Drew Brees, a Del Mar resident, etched his name in the NFL record books with his 540th scoring pass on Monday night. He surpassed Peyton Manning’s all-time mark in a career which had its roots in America’s Finest City. Brees was part of the bounty the Chargers collected after their most dismal season in franchise history. In 2000 the only thing saving them from a winless season was a clutch field goal by Olivenhain’s John Carney. They went a nearly imperfect 1-15 but followed it with a nearly perfect draft. The Chargers selected
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DEC. 20
BOTANIC WONDERLAND
San Diego Botanic Garden presents Botanic Wonderland: Holiday Nights in the Garden 5 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays through Dec. 30. there will be a beer and wine garden, musical light show, kids’ fun zone with nightly “snowfall,” visits with Santa, visits with the Snow Princess (Dec. 26 through Dec. 30), a twinkling light tunnel, holiday crafts, a scavenger hunt, a real snow play area, food truck court, holiday shopping bazaar plus hot chocolate, coffee and hot apple cider.
DEC. 21
LONG WINTER’S NIGHT
There will be a free celebration of Winter Solstice from 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 21 at 262 E. Grand Ave., Escondido. The North County Arts Network will explore Soyal, Yalda, St. Lucia, San Thomas, Dong Zhi and others. Come enjoy hot cider, cookie exchange and make holiday cards.
jay paris future Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson at No. 5 and then snagged Brees in the second round. How the Chargers didn’t parlay that tandem into a Super Bowl or two is baffling. But Tomlinson and Brees did lead them to the 2004 AFC West title. Unfortunately, Brees was hurt in the 2005 season finale, in part because of a blitz by the Broncos’ John Lynch, the former Torrey Pines High star who’s now mane Society hosts a Holiday Mutt Mixer from noon to 2 p.m. on Dec. 21 at the SDHS Escondido Campus, 3500 Burnet Drive Escondido. Cost is $10. Have fun socializing with other dog lovers and their dogs while you practice teaching your dog how to be calm around distractions. There will also be photos with Santa available. ‘TIS THE SEA-SUN
Families are invited to stroll through Del Mar Highlands Town Center’s ‘Tis the Sea Sun displays. Take a photo in Santa’s red beach chair with Santa and Mrs. Claus Dec. 21. There is also a 36-foot Christmas tree made of 44 surfboards and a 15-foot surfing Santa pulled by four of his reindeer on top of The Sky Deck roof, plus a concert by Hullabaloo.
DEC. 22
CELEBRATING HANUKKAH
The Chabad at La Costa will celebrate Hanukkah from 4 to 6 p.m. Dec. 22 at the Forum Carlsbad, 1923 Calle Barcelona, Carlsbad. Enjoy complimentary refreshments, games, crafts, music and prizes.
ICE THAT COOKIE
Bring the family to the Del Mar Sugar Cookie DecThe San Diego Hu- orating class from noon to
HOLIDAY MUTT MIXER
Still accepting custom t-shirt orders for pricing contact
760-436-5542
ryan@shattoandsons.com
the 49ers general manager. The Chargers GM, A.J. Smith, decided to let a mending Brees flee that offseason as a free agent, knowing he had a gold nugget in Philip Rivers. Rivers would shine while Brees landed with the Saints. It was a fortuitous turn of events for Brees and the Saints, as both were rebounding. Brees was eager to prove his career wasn’t kaput after a serious shoulder injury. That he threw a reeling city which was recently battered by Hurricane Katrina on those broad shoulders during his amazing resurrection only solidified his legendary status in Louisiana. While Brees would direct the Saints to a Super Bowl win he never depart-
ed North County. He maintained a Del Mar residence and for years was the host of a charity golf tournament in Rancho Santa Fe. So, as Brees waved to the crowd and blew kisses to his wife, Brittany, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, after his historic completion just maybe he was acknowledging his San Diego boosters, too. “It just kind of makes your whole life and career flash before your eyes, because I never thought I’d have a chance to be part of something like this,” Brees said afterward. This reporter’s life flashed — in jest — before his eyes once when approached by Brees years ago. He wanted to speak with me privately, which is seldom a positive
DEC. 27
2 p.m. Dec. 22 at L’Auberge Del Mar, 1540 Camino Del PARLA ITALIANO Mar, Del Mar. The Italian Cultural Center offers language CARMEL VALLEY FOOD DRIVE classes in Encinitas at the Saddleback San Diego San Dieguito Heritage MuChurch of Carmel Valley, seum, 450 Quail Gardens is collecting canned and Dr, Encinitas. Register now nonperishable food donaat icc-sd.org for the next sestions in support of students sion starting Jan. 6. There living in Carmel Valley, are classes from beginning Del Mar, Encinitas and to advanced in grammar Carlsbad who attend Canand conversation, as well yon Crest Academy (CCA), as introductory classes for where the church meets. travelers and intermediate Donated items, including classes on the regions and canned meats, vegetables traditions of Italy. and fruits, peanut butter, pasta, rice, cereal, oatmeal, powered milk and infant formula, may be dropped off from 8 a.m. to noon, Dec. LIGHT THE LIGHTS A Hanukkah Menorah 21 or Dec. 29, at CCA, 5951 Village Center Loop Road, Lighting celebration will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 San Diego. p.m. Dec. 28 at the Del Mar Highlands Town Center, 12925 El Camino Real, Del CHRISTMAS SING-ALONG Mar Highlands. Wrap yourself in the holiday spirit, with the sound of Roger Anderson Chorale, performing in MANGIARE downtown Encinitas with New Italian cooking a Dickensian Christmas classes are starting up for Carol sing-along from 4 to winter on Jan. 6. Classes 6 p.m. Dec. 23. Come join are sponsored by the Italthe Chorale as they stroll ian Cultural Center of San Highway 101 from D Street Diego at the San Dieguito J Street, Encinitas. Local to Heritage Museum, 450 merchants will warm up Quail Gardens Drive, Encishoppers and carolers alike nitas, and students will be with hot apple cider. able to choose among eight courses from beginning to MOVIE NIGHT advanced levels. Register A free, family movie, at https://icc-sd.org/. “The Santa Clause” will be shown from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 23 at L’Auberge Del Mar, 1540 Camino Del Mar. NEW YEAR’S SALUTE
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DEC. 24
DEL MAR CHRISTMAS EVE
Christmas eve services will be held at 3 p.m. Dec 24 and at noon Dec 25 at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 334 14th St., Del Mar.
DEC. 25
A New Year’s Eve Senior Social Dance will be held from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 31 at the Encinitas Community/Senior Center, 1140 Oakcrest Park Drive, Encinitas. Cost is $10. Tickets on sale at the Senior Center while supplies last. (maximum of 8 tickets per person).
HANUKKAH CANDLEMAKING
Chabad of Oceanside/ Vista is holding a Hanukkah Candle workshop and more on Dec. 25 at the Chabad, 1930 Sunset Drive, Vista. For schedules and times, call (760) 806-7765. Learn the powerful message of light overcoming darkness, and then make that come to life by creating candles in the shape of doughnuts, dreidels and more.
JAN. 4
POST-HOLIDAY BOOK BUYS
Encinitas Friends Bookstore holds a book sale at 10 a.m. Jan. 4. On this day the entire store, with more than 5,200 items, will be half-price. Most books will be from 25 cents to $1, with CDs being 25 cents and DVDs typically $1. Visit encinitaslibfriends.org.
for a writer not shy about telling the truth. Brees, like any player, had his ups and downs. But he was always fair and accessible to the media. So, when he requested a chat by his locker, I didn’t know what to expect. Then I recalled being on a Southwest flight to a Chargers game which also had Brittany aboard. I had become friendly with her when doing a story about the couple being college sweethearts from Purdue. That day at 35,000 feet I had a stack of soon-to-be expired drink tickets. I ordered a refreshment and walked a few rows up and asked Brittany if she would like a complimentary social sparkler, too. She politely declined,
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her smile and the tone of her voice relaying how appreciative she was with the offer. But the Brees who threw footballs for a living? Not so much. “Hey, what’s this I hear about you trying to get my wife drunk,” Brees said. Brees presented the question with his famous game-day stare. But he couldn’t hold it and he broke into a smile, accompanied by a playful punch to my gut. I laughed, Brees laughed and so did Brittany when the story reached her. So, when Brees connected with tight end John Hill on Monday, it was a milestone pass which came with a memory. If those drink tickets weren’t expired, I would salute Brees with a toast. of Social Services. SD FOUNDATION SCHOLARS
The San Diego Foundation is offering hundreds of scholarships through the Community Scholarship Program for San Diego students pursuing higher education during the 2020-2021 school year. With an online application at SDFoundation.org/CSA, students can access more than $2.7 million in available funds for 140 types of scholarships, including four-year universities, two-year colleges, graduate and vocational schools. Scholarships are available for graduating high school seniors, undergraduates, graduate, medical and professional school students and adult re-entry students. For more information about the scholarship process, contact scholarships@sdfoundation.org.
The city of Solana Beach is seeking volunteers to fill 17 vacancies among its five local Citizen Commissions. The council will appoint Solana Beach residents to serve on local Citizen Commissions, including Budget & Finance, Climate Action, Parks & Recreation and Public Arts View Assessment. Volunteers serve in an advisory capacity as official members of these appointed bodies. Applications are being accepted until 5:30 p.m. Jan. 14. More information, applications, and contacts are available OMWD: BUSINESS OF YEAR at cityofsolanabeach.org or Representatives from at City Hall, 635 S. High- the Escondido Creek Conway 101, Solana Beach. servancy presented Olivenhain Municipal Water PET PARADE BENEFITS PUPS District’s Board of DirecThe Carlsbad Village tors with the “Business of Association, in partner- the Year” award Dec. 11. ship with the Village Faire OMWD received the award Shopping Center, hosted for its support of the ConserPets on Parade Dec. 7, to vancy’s education program. benefit Carlsbad-based OMWD began partnerWagging Dog Rescue. All ing with the Conservancy proceeds from the photos on its education program with Santa and three raf- more than a decade ago — fles donated by the event's OMWD secured grant fundnine vendors benefitted ing, and the Conservancy the rescue organization. accepted donations to fund Santa was sponsored by the construction of Elfin Forest Glass and Mirror Shoppe, Interpretive Center. with photography provided free of charge by FlyBy COMET AWARD FOR CAHILL Photography. Vendors inThe second annual cluded the Carlsbad Cookie Palomar College CommuniCompany, Hot Mama Jamz, ty Showcase was held Dec. Camp Bow Wow, Tigertail 12. Brian Cahill, the CaliPet Foods, Cannimal, Amy fornia Division President & Mollie, Merry Jane & of Balfour Beatty ConstrucThor, and the Carlsbad Ani- tion, was honored with the mal Hospital. 2019 Comet Award, and college officials presentIMMIGRATION LEGAL HELP ed the annual Report to MiraCosta College, the Community, this year along with seven others in entitled “Building Our FuSan Diego and Imperial ture.” Accepting the Comet Counties, has been select- Award, Cahill reflected on ed to participate in a pilot the importance of higher program offering free im- education, and thanked the migration-related legal ser- volunteers who under his vices through a statewide leadership have organized project involving the Cali- one of the most successful fornia Community Colleges annual charity golf events Chancellor’s Office, the in San Diego—the InvitaFoundation for California tional Go lf Classic, which Community Colleges and brings in roughly $225,000 the California Department for the Foundation.