Paint Encinitas founder hired by Leichtag Foundation

By Aaron Burgin ENCINITAS

— The Leichtag Foundation has hired the founder of Paint Encinitas to a key communications position on its staff.

Jax Meyers, who started the public mural advocacy group in 2014, will serve as communications and outreach associate for the foundation, which owns a large community farm on the grounds of the former Ecke Ranch and has donated 4,000 pounds of fresh produce to local food banks.

“What Jax Meyers has accomplished in one year with Paint Encinitas is inspiring,” said Jim Farley, president and CEO of the Leichtag Foundation. “Jax grew up in this Encinitas and devotes her energy and passion to this city, and we want to support innovators like Jax.”

Meyers has spearheaded a number of initiatives to create and promote mural art in Encinitas, including partnering with local muralist Micaiah Hardison on a large mural on the wall of downtown’s 7-Eleven in January that has created conversation over its depiction of immigrants arriving to Encinitas on a panga.

In her role with Leichtag, Meyers will be promoting events at the farm, engaging the community through social media, and communicating the impact of the farm’s work. Meyers will continue her work with Paint Encinitas parttime, which has recently partnered with 501(c)3 nonprofit Beautify Earth.

Meyers grew up in Encinitas and graduated from La

Costa Canyon High School in 2006. She graduated from UCLA with a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and a minor in LGBT Studies. After college, she served more than 1,700 hours with AmeriCorps as a Community

Service Coordinator in Philadelphia, Pa.

“I’m drawn to projects that are improving the health and wellness of our community,” said Meyers. “The Leichtag Foundation and I are very much mission aligned.”

It appears that the Encinitas City Council has found its next city manager.

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The City Council emerged from a closed session meeting Wednesday afternoon and announced that the body had unanimously selected one candidate to move forward in the process, pending contract negotiations.

The council hasn’t released the name of the candidate, citing the same contract negotiations.

Encinitas has been looking to hire a permanent city manager since Gus Vina resigned in January to take the same position in the Northern California city of Brentwood. Former public works director and current Olivenhain Municipal Water District board member Larry Watt is currently serving as interim city manager.

Wednesday’s announcement is the penultimate step in a four-monthlong process that started when the city hired Avery Associates to spearhead the recruitment. The Bay Area-based firm last month presented the council with seven finalists for the position. After preliminary interviews, the council narrowed the field to three finalists, which then interviewed with the council over the past two weeks.

For Encinitas, the new hire will become the fourth manager the city has had in less than four years — Watt, Vina and former City Manager Phil Cotton, whom Vina replaced in 2011.

3rd Generation in Real Estate

When we got married a few years ago we considered a destination wedding. Our destination ended up being about 100 yards from the beach house we were renting near N. El Portal St., at one of the many amazing viewpoints in Encinitas! We feel incredibly fortunate to be making a living here by helping people like you accomplish their real estate goals. See ya soon, Julie & Josh

ENCINITAS — The community tradition that’s come to be known as the Deep Pit BBQ celebrated its 27th iteration on Saturday on the grounds of the San Dieguito Heritage Museum.

The event featured live music from Left Coast Willie & Friends, a Willie Nelson tribute band, traditional deep pit-cooked barbecue and silent auction.