Update on district’s search for office space By Bianca Kaplanek
DEL MAR — Real estate agents working to find a location for the Del Mar Union School District administrative offices and maintenance facilities were given additional direction from the board of trustees at the Jan. 27 meeting. It was the fifth time since contracting with Chuck Wasker of Colliers International and Mark Kagan of MarkJen Corporation a year ago that the board adjusted its specifications. When they began working with the district last February, the agents were asked to find office space between 15,000 and 25,000 square feet to buy or lease or land on which to build. “In subsequent meetings, it was determined that the purchase of an existing building or vacant land would be preferable to the lease option,”Wasker said. In November, Wasker and Kagan began following “a parallel path” with an advisory committee formed to, among other things, review surplus space within the district that could potentially be used to house the offices. At a Jan. 20 meeting, the lease option was put back on the table and the agents received legal clearance to look at sites outside of, but adjacent to, the district boundaries,Wasker said. Meanwhile, the agents had been told to expand the parameters of their search to include properties with a minimum of 10,000 square feet.At the most recent meeting, the maximum building requirement was increased to 30,000 square feet. Wasker said they began their search by sending emails listing the specifications to all office, industrial and land brokers in the county. They also contacted 36 owners, many with more than one property, by e-mail, postal mail or phone. Wasker said no buildings with the district’s requirements were found on CoStar,the commercial equivalent to the multiple listing service used by residential agents. “Nor did any broker present a prospect to us,” he said. “I was very surprised.” Wasker said he and his partner eventually identified 16 properties within the district boundaries that fit their criteria, however, none were for sale. Most recently, the search was narrowed to three properties in or adjacent to the district. One is on the market and the owners of the other two said they may be interested in selling. In December, the board of trustees, Superintendent Sharon McClain, community members and district staff toured the three properties, which are located at the corner of Jimmy Durante TURN TO SEARCH ON 29
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RANCHO SANTA FE NEWS
FEB. 12, 2010
UCSD players share the field with TERI LA JOLLA — Igniting a feeling of camaraderie and friendly competition, the USCD Triton baseball players teamed Jan. 30 with special needs children and adults from the Training, Education & Research Institute, or TERI, based in Oceanside. The day was its third annual “Play Ball” baseball scrimmage with players from TERI partnered throughout the field with Triton players. Triton Head Coach Dan O’Brian and TERI CEO and founder Cheryl Kilmer brought together their respective players for an afternoon of community outreach, fitness and fun. The festivities included an announcement of all players, the traditional playing of the National Anthem and ceremonial first pitch as families and friends cheered from the bleachers. Following the game, everyone enjoyed a late afternoon barbecue, provided by Hungry Hunter. Founded in 1980 in San Diego, TERI, a private, nonprofit 501(C)(3)corporation, is dedicated to offering a wide range of services and programs supporting individuals of all ages with developmental SPRING FUN UCSD baseball team member Jimmy Aykroid heads for home during the annual “Play and learning disabilities and their families. Ball” baseball scrimmage with youngsters from TERI. Courtesy photo
Paso Robles tasting tour hits San Diego FRANK MANGIO
Taste of Wine All of Southern California is expected to stop what they are doing and flock to the several venues that make up the Paso Robles Grand Tasting Tour Tuesday from Feb. 23 to Feb. 25. Eleven events are being staged from Cardiff to Point Loma in a regional showcase of more than 40 winemakers, including wine dinners, trade and public tastings and a unique nighttime, ultra-chic club lounge music experience. “Wineries from Paso Robles have seen increased demand from Southern California wine enthusiasts,” said Paso Robles Wine Alliance Executive Director Stacey Jacobs. “Across the landscape, you will find 26,000 vineyard acres produc-
GRAND TASTING Paso Robles wines come to San Diego Feb. 22 through Feb. 25 with more than 40 wineries participating. Photo by Frank Mangio
ing more than 40 different grape varieties.” One hundred and eighty wineries dot Paso’s Wine Country, including names like Adelaida, Ancient Peaks, Eberle, Four Vines, Halter Ranch, J Lohr, Niner, Opolo, Silver Horse and Tablas Creek. The beauty of these
events is that more often than not, you will be able to catch a conversation with the owners/winemakers in one place and one event. OK, here are the restaurants and wine shops that will feature Paso wines in dinners and taste events. — Feb. 23: Wine Steals in
Cardiff and Point Loma, Flemings Prime Steakhouse, Alchemy, Phil’s BBQ, and Linkery in San Diego. — Feb. 24: Urban Solace, WineSellar & Brasserie in San Diego, a trade and media tasting from 1 to 5 p.m. at TURN TO TASTE OF WINE ON 31
Scripps Encinitas artwork up for Orchid Award ENCINITAS — San Diego artist Jeffrey Laudenslager has been nominated for an Orchid Award for his sculpture “Mikoshi” featured at the main entrance of Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas. The hospital features two Laudenslager pieces throughout the campus as part of the Arts for Healing Program, an initiative launched in 2003 to
enhance the course of healing for patients, their families, visitors and staff by integrating art with the healing environment. The program also provides local artists with a taxdeductible opportunity to support Scripps Encinitas by contributing a percentage of proceeds from the sale of their artwork. Laudenslager is an
Encinitas resident and a longtime supporter of the hospital. His two Scripps Encinitas featured sculptures were installed through the generosity of Nate and Ralyn Wolfstein, long-term Scripps supporters and close colleagues of Laudenslager. The Wolfsteins have supported Scripps through the years by sponsoring the installation of more than 40 sculptures on the
campuses of Scripps La Jolla and Scripps Encinitas. Laudenslager won the 1999 Orchid Award in the Fine Art category for his 34-foot high kinetic sculpture “Archimage,” featured in the Torrey Reserve complex in Del Mar. The Orchid Award highlights San Diego’s best in architecture, design and fine art each year.
JEAN GILLETTE Small Talk
Survival of the fittest for my plants
I am a woman of the world. I have coped with rain and weather, but in truth, I’m out of the habit. Still, it’s not me I’m concerned about. It’s the very confused plants in my yard. They are in a quandary, a tizzy, a thorough puzzlement. They have, during the past several years, become accustomed to a particular sort of neglect. They know I will ignore them for weeks at a time until I notice one or more are wilted and about to expire from dehydration. Then I drop everything and water them thoroughly. Between times, if the wind is right, they sometimes catch a little moisture from the not-very-wellplaced sprinkler system. That was our understanding and they have generally thrived. Suddenly this year, we are soaked. Drenched. So much water, I discovered I had some pots and some beds that don’t actually drain that well. Who knew? Suddenly, the smell of stagnant water and mildew has popped up and neither my plants nor I know quite what to do. That is, on a short list of things I am willing to do, none seem quite right. The list only includes: 1. Water 2. Prune 3. Ignore plant for another couple of weeks. I did have a lovely moment venting some irritation, when I got to fiercely jab and punch holes in the bottom of several planters with a sharp object to aid drainage. That’s always refreshing when it’s something you are supposed to do, rather than simply done in a fit of pique. Not that this ever stops me. Meanwhile, my plants are exhibiting symptoms new to both of us. How do you make a plant less wet? Heretofore, that has been the sun’s job and I’m just a bit peeved it is so obviously slacking. And if my plants have any thoughts of being hauled under the overhang or, heaven forfend, brought inside, they’d best get over it. I suppose I ought to give them the bad news that the initial contract is still in place. It goes something like this. First, I go to the store and buy them and lug them home. I add lovely bagged soil, fertilizer and, generally, a fetching pot. I try to place them in a spot that will give them the sun called for on the magic tag attached. Then they are pretty much TURN TO SMALL TALK ON 31