DEC. 11, 2009
Hungry coyotes stalking small animals Poodle snatched Community Connections, the Surfside City’s very active nonprofit organization, has issued an alert to small animal owners. It BILL reports coyotes have become overly aggresRBALLO A sive and recently invaded a resident’s backyard and snatched a poodle in the presence of Eye on the Coast the horrified owners. Residences that border on canyons experience frequent visits from all sort of wildlife including deer. This is not the had originally assigned the group a remote first report of missing small animals. A resi- stretch on Highway 52 near Santee. dent some time ago was hiking in a canyon Wildfire night flights and came across a bunch of cat skins. Los Angeles County, which experienced devastating destruction from wildfires this Time to celebrate? Cardiffians are wondering if 2010 will be year, wants the U.S. Forest Service to allow the year they can have a fiesta to celebrate fire suppressant aerial equipment to fly at the delivery of their specific plan. Residents night. Local county residents here recall the who were around in 2001 recall volunteering loss of lives, homes and property that summer weekends and nights to develop a occurred during the wildfires in the backcomprehensive community growth plan to country in past years and were frustrated guide sprouting developments. They complet- when equipment was grounded at nightfall. ed their task in good time.To date nothing for L.A. board of supervisors endorsed the afterdark request. their efforts. How come?
MiraCosta College headache
Employees recognized Veteran employees of the 22nd District Agricultural Association (San Diego County Fair) recently were awarded 20-year pins. The list included Christina Almaraz, Surfside Race Place custodian; Chris Myers, painter in the Operations Department; Willie Bodden, Surfside Race Place Equipment Department; Michael King, Surfside Race Place head custodian; Dennis Page, Surfside Race Place night time employee; Heidi Reinholz, graphic designer in the Exhibits Department; and Mark Anderson, general manager for Premier Services who is lead liaison with the district.
Although peace and tranquility has returned at MiraCosta College after months of rancor, it’s back in the news over action taken during the dispute. At issue is payment of a hefty cash award to then-President Victoria Munoz Richart on her departure. This was challenged in court as being in excess of what is allowed.
World Cup of Soccer
Harbor City Councilwomen Donna Frye and Marti Emerald voted against an application to host the World Cup of soccer in 2018 or 2022 but their colleagues decided to go ahead. The gals say the council duzzn’t have a Sports park A 16-acre, $18.7 million sports complex in clue about what the venture will eventually Vista adjacent to the Antique Gas & Steam cost and are probably right. Engine Museum is projected to be finished in 2010 according to reports. It will include two Battle predicted The Governator has nominated State synthetic turf soccer fields, three baseball diamonds, bleachers, picnic areas, a tot lot, a con- Sen. Abel Maldonado to fill the vacant lieucession stand, and a location for a future com- tenant governor’s post. However, the Assembly leadership sez it should remain munity center. vacant becuz an appointment now would give that person an unfair advantage to being the Adopt-a-Highway spat ends San Diego Minutemen, who were denied incumbent when the post is up for grabs in an Adopt-a-Highway sign south of the Border 2010. Expect a lotta horsetrading to settle the Patrol station in San Onofre in 2008, won a issue. federal court suit and sez the case is closed. The Minutemen based the suit on the consti- Community Gardens growing Temecula is the latest city to allocate tutional right to free expression and speech. The California Department of Transportation additional space for a community garden fol-
lowing in the footsteps of Sun City’s highly popular and expanding community garden project. Temecula’s garden will be behind the Mary Phillips Senior Center where it will benefit the folks who frequent the facility. Meanwhile, shovel ready plans for a community garden in the Flower Capital are in limbo while the council majority dithers over a location.
Competition A reader reports receiving an unsolicited T-shirt in the mail from a nonprofit organization suggesting a contribution.The logo on the shirt had two U.S. flags with the words “Proud American” emblazoned on the front. Wellmade and of good quality. The stunner was the “Hecho en Mejico” disclaimer. For folks who are not bilingual it translates to “Made in Mexico.” Question is, does China know it has competition?
Cookie avalanche St. James Catholic Church deacon Peter Hodsdan, who ministers to prisoners in local lockups, wanted to continue a tradition started several years ago of providing homemade cookies to prisoners. He appealed to parishioners with the only stipulation being they had to be home baked. He needed 100 dozen. As the deadline approached for receiving them they started rolling in ... 100 dozen, 200 dozen, 300 dozen and more. All homemade. He was overwhelmed as were the recipients behind bars.
One-liners A lawsuit has stymied La Costa Town Center that is already years behind in the development stage ... North County Transit drivers and maintenance employees will soon be under management of First Transit outta Ohio as a cost-saving measure ... In an effort to beef up its rolls, San Marcos Chamber is offering companies with a single employee knock down membership rate ... The Surfside City’s Rachael Platt finished in second place in New York’s Skate America competition and is rated a potential Olympics skater ... Former mayor and current council elected Dave Roberts of Solbeach has exited the race for assemblyman in the 50th Congressional District. Hasta la Vista Bill Arballo is an opinionated, retired journalist in the Flower Capital of the Universe. E-mail barballo@coastnewsgroup.com.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the Editor and reader feedback are welcome. Views expressed in letters do not necessariDue to the Thanksgiving holiday, we ly reflect the views of The Coast News. Letters are subject to editing for length and clarity. did not receive the calls from The Coast Unsigned letters and letters without city of residence will not be published. Letters should be no News in time to comment on Councilman longer than 300 words and include a contact telephone number. Submission does not guarantee publication. Send letters via e-mail to letters@coastnewsgroup.com. Dave Roberts’ decision to suspend his campaign for Congress. Building and nurturing a family is a dened because we are losing a candidate link up to the trails, even the one just remarkable but difficult task. I respect who has the character and courage of a across Carlsbad Village Drive. Dave Roberts’ decision to put his family person ahead of his time. This open space is tremendously valfirst. I understand the decision to launch a Dave has been so willing to engage us ued and used by many different types of campaign for Congress was not taken in meaningful discussions about the econ- users, from people looking for a little lightly. But life has its ways of surprising omy, health care and environmental exercise, families out for a walk, and the us and for Dave Roberts, it brought him issues. He would be an excellent represen- many people who walk their dogs. I know two beautiful children. My heart goes out tative and accountable to all the con- that Carlsbad is dedicated to building a to Dave Roberts, Wally and their children. stituents in the 50th District. sense of community and unfortunately, Let the winter holidays bring them joy We need leaders like him with the that locked gate has destroyed one of the and new memories that they will treasure. courage of their convictions and a willing- best examples of community within I look forward to working with Dave ness to make tough decisions. Carlsbad. I urge you again, to take whatRoberts in the general election to make Other than the happy family, the only ever steps you can to reopen that gate and sure the 50th District has a representative other positive thing is Dave will remain in restore its community. That small piece that will focus on reaching our potential his current elected position, and provide of land is very special and its loss has by firing up our economic engine as a the necessary leadership and direction for been felt very deeply by those who appreAmerica’s center of scientific innovation the city of Solana Beach. ciate it. and discovery. Thank you for your consideration. Mary Jane Boyd Francine Busby Regards, Solana Beach Candidate for 50th Congressional Kristina M. Ek Reopen Village H trail District Carlsbad Dear Carlsbad Council Members, District’s loss, city’s gain As a resident of “The Crest” off of Open the gate Councilman Dave Roberts, the most Carlsbad Village Drive and adjacent to As a neighbor living close to the qualified candidate in the 50th the Village H property, I urge you to sup- gated Village H, intersection of Carlsbad Congressional race, is a man of great port an interim agreement and eventually Village Drive and Victoria Avenue, I was moral clarity. For the right reason, he has a final agreement that will reopen access very surprised at the lack of sensitivity on chosen to withdraw from the campaign. to the Village H Trail. As I understand it, the part of the owners who blocked Although I understand and honor his that trail is part of the city’s Overall Trail TURN TO LETTERS ON A24 decision to put his family first, I am sad- Master Plan, and you can see how it would
Respecting Roberts’ decision
A5
THE COAST NEWS
COMMUNITY COMMENTARY The Community Commentary section is open to everyone. Opinions expressed in the Community Commentary section are in no way representative of The Coast News Group. Send submissions no longer than 700 words to lsutton@ coastnewsgroup.com. Submission does not guarantee publication.
Encinitans: What will your legacy be? By Bill Sparks and Sarah Garfield
Forgetting the almost half of a million dollars spent on rezoning efforts to date and the lost opportunity cost of not utilizing it over the last six years since its closure, the Encinitas Union School District would have you believe that converting a singular, fully capitalized and irreplaceable school site, into the current account side of the ledger in order to pay for current operating expenses is a prudent economic decision and in the best interest of “all of our children.” Regrettably, if you reach this conclusion and recommend that the Pacific View Elementary School site be designated as “surplus,” in a very short time, the district, our children and community will have neither the money nor the school site. Contrast that economic reality with the alternative course of preserving this historic school site, making the necessary investment to restore it back to an acceptable and usable condition and making it available for current and future generations of Encinitas school children to experience and benefit from for generations to come. Financially difficult times are not new to this school district, our region or our country. In fact, since 1883 (just 18 years after the end of the American Civil War) when town founder Mr. Pitcher donated this property to the community for use as a school site, we have experienced 34 economic downturns. If this school board were to sell off capitalized assets every four to five years as recessions routinely occur, we will soon exhaust our district’s assets and our community treasure. As longtime Encinitas resident Ida Lou Coley pleaded in a letter to our community in 2003, she said, “The Pacific View site was never intended to be a ‘money making,’ ‘cash-flow’ tool for the school board, as challenging as their tasks may become financially.” She pointed to the Great Depression of the 1930s when the school and site were closed for several years. Even at that incredibly difficult economic time in our country, the school was maintained and used as a recreation center for children and supported in part by the WPA until it could be reopened. So to the members of the 7/11 Committee, we ask you, what will your personal legacy be for our school children and community? Will you let this school board take the easy way out at the cost of a vital, cherished and historic school site? Or will you exercise the common sense and good judgment you all possess to take a long-term economic perspective on the value of our children’s well-being and academic success and hold this school board to a higher standard? Time will tell. The decision you reach will be a part of your own personal legacy and will mark a defining moment for our school children and community. Bill Sparks and Sarah Garfield are Encinitas residents.