PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID SAN DIEGO, CA PERMIT NO. 835
The
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THE RANCHO SANTA FE NEWS
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SERVING NORTH COUNTY SINCE 1987
VOL. 14, N0. 24
NOV. 23, 2018
Fairgrounds OKs medical pot event
Fire safety project underway
By Lexy Brodt
By Christina Macone-Greene
RANCHO SANTA FE — A grant-funded project for $83,300 awarded to the Rancho Santa Fe Association to help minimize fire hazards in the Arroyo Preserve has officially begun. Endowed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, the grant allows for the removal of flammable invasive species in the preserve. It’s a three-year project awarded in August 2018 with the grant processes lasting about a year. The Arroyo Preserve is 68 acres running alongside the San Dieguito River. According to the Caitlin Kreutz, the Association’s Parks and Recreation Department assistant manager and staff horticulturist, this grant may open the door to future ones. The work has already begun. The first year will concentrate on the removal of eucalyptus and tamarisk. “In subsequent years, we’re getting out the other invasive species such as pampas grass, Arundo and various other invasive species,” Kreutz said. “The
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
Professional skateboarders Tony Hawk, left, and Chris Cole performed for students at San Dieguito Academy on Nov. 9 during the SDA Ramp Up Skate Demo, which provided an opportunity for pros and students alike to display their skills while also raising money for Rollin’ From the Heart, a foundation dedicated to getting at-risk youth involved in skateboarding and other positive activities. STORY ON PAGE 5. Photo by Francesca Finley
TURN TO FIRE SAFETY ON 5
DEL MAR — A Del Mar Fairgrounds event aimed at educating attendees on the use of cannabis as an “alternative medicine” has been approved. After several residents spoke against the event at the Nov. 14 22nd District Agricultural Association meeting, the board voted 7-1 to approve its revised contract. The daylong event, termed the “GoodLife Seminar Series,” will occur on May 11, 2019. It will feature seminars on the difference between CBD and THC, the various strains of marijuana, and how cannabis topicals can be used to treat pain — to name a few. An “Exhibitors Fair” will reveal new products and “innovations” in alternative medicine. The event is expected to draw about 1,000 people. The series specifically bars the sale or on-site use of any “psychoactive cannabis products,” and prohibits drug paraphernalia — which is in line with the city of Del Mar’s code, as well as the Fairground’s more recent policy prohibiting the sale, distribution, consumption or possession of the drug on its property. Board Director Lisa TURN TO FAIRGROUNDS ON 5
$50,000 worth of toys ‘Blue Wave’ washes over North County donated anonymously By Aaron Burgin
By Lexy Brodt
CARMEL VALLEY — A 26-foot-long U-Haul truck sat in front of Geppetto’s toy store in Carmel Valley on the morning of Nov. 12, full to the brim. Its bounty? Over $50,000 worth of toys to be donated to Toys for Tots, a program coordinated by the U.S. Marine Corps to collect and distribute new toys for less fortunate children at Christmastime. The toys were purchased from the local toy store and donated by an anonymous, San Diego-based donor. According to Sgt. Leti-
cia Williams, a coordinator for the San Diego Toys for Tots program, it’s the largest donation she has seen. “How amazing that someone has that much generosity to give,” Williams said, calling the donor’s choice to remain anonymous “honorable.” A “representative” of the anonymous donor showed up at the Del Mar Highlands Geppetto’s toy store — the largest location of the company, which has 1- stores throughout San Diego County — at about 6 a.m. in order to hand-pick TURN TO TOYS ON 5
REGION — For a long time, most of North County was a reliable bastion of support for the Republican Party at all levels of government. The rosters of council members and mayors, state Assembly members, county supervisors and representatives in Congress would read like the Republican Party of San Diego County’s endorsement list. But a look across the region following the 2018 midterm elections shows that a change has definitely taken hold of the region, including areas that are still considered reliable Republican bastions. From the potential
change in the majority on the Carlsbad City Council, a sweep of the Encinitas City Council, and a tooclose-to-call showing in the Escondido Mayor’s race, to the Democrat takeover of the 49th Congressional District and the 76th State Assembly District, Democrats continue to make substantial gains throughout North County. Experts and candidates agreed that the socalled “Blue Wave” — the term being used to describe the Democrat midterm surge that led the party’s regaining control of the House of Representatives and other key races — crashed ashore throughout the region, particularly in
coastal North County. UC San Diego political science professor Thad Kousser said that the surge was historic along the coast. “Clearly, this is a watershed election in which the entire coastal part of Southern California has gone blue on the congressional side,” Kousser said. “Orange County will not have a single Republican member of Congress and in San Diego, Democrats have added the 49th District after Scott Peters’ historic election six years ago. “This is a generational moment in California politics that completes this transformation for this state that has a clear east-
west divide,” Kousser said. “My take on this since the day after the election and the subsequent counts is that this really was a big wave, this was not a split decision.” Democrats make gains in federal, state, local races
Changes in demographics, combined with a deeply unpopular president, have made the Republican ticket less reliable throughout the region than in years past. In 2016, North County voters favored Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump by 16 percent. This unpopularity played itself out in TURN TO BLUE WAVE ON 7