PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ENCINITAS, CA 92024 PERMIT NO. 94
THE COAST NEWS
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MAKING WAVES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
VOL. 25, NO. 2
JAN. 14, 2011
Council relaxes rules to agendize
THISWEEK TALL GRASS
Growers, distributors and patients struggle to navigate the hazy rules around California’s legal medical marijuana
B1
By Wehtahnah Tucker
ENCINITAS — Placing an item on the City Council agenda just got easier. City Council voted unanimously Jan. 12 to do away with the controversial majority rule vote requiring the support of three council members to allow an item for discussion during a meeting. Instead, newly elected councilwoman Kristin Gaspar made a motion to ease the procedure for placing an item on the council’s agenda. “I do believe that it’s important to maximize the number of voices
SOIL SAFETY Residents concerned about contaminated soil as a longtime ag site is approved for A9 development
DRIVEN TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE The first in a three-part series chronicling a Cardiff-by-the-Sea woman’s journey to and adventures in the A10 Peace Corps
INSIDE TWO SECTIONS, 44 PAGES
Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . A6 Camp Pendleton News . . A16 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . B15 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . B18 Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A8 Frugal Living . . . . . . . . . B3 Hit the Road . . . . . . . . . A10 Hot Off the Block . . . . . . A7 Legal Notices . . . . . . . . A20 Lick the Plate . . . . . . . . A9 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . A15 Odd Files . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4 Pet of the Week . . . . . . A10 Small Talk . . . . . . . . . . . B3 Taste of Wine . . . . . . . . B9 Who’s News? . . . . . . . . . A9
HOW TO REACH US (760) 436-9737 CALENDAR SECTION: calendar@coastnewsgroup.com COMMUNITY NEWS: community@coastnewsgroup.com LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: letters@coastnewsgroup.com
TURN TO AGENDIZE ON A18
Vote on housing project Kids for Peace host rally for tolerance put off HISTORICAL FIGURES Kids for Peace members dressed as prominent figures that best represented tolerance throughout history. From left, Kailey Hengesbach as Helen Keller; Griffin Rangel as Jesus; and Nicole Less as Anne Frank. Photo by Alyx Sariol
By Alyx Sariol
CARLSBAD — Hundreds of students rallied for tolerance at Carlsbad’s Jefferson Elementary School on Jan. 7 during a monthly assembly that focused on an aspect of living as a wellrounded student and citizen. Jefferson Elementary’s Kids for Peace chapter, a
local nonprofit that promotes global peace, hosted the rally for tolerance, which included a song performance; a mock awards ceremony; and a moment of silence to wish for peace and acceptance around the world. “Kids for Peace is hosting this rally because tolerance is a big part of our mis-
sion,” Jill McManigal, cofounder of Kids for Peace and Jefferson Elementary’s drama teacher, said. “These monthly rallies are a chance to display good ways of living life.” More than 25 fourthgrade students kicked off the rally with their performance of War’s “Why Can’t We Be
Friends?” Kids for Peace members also described something about themselves — from religion to interests — that made them different, but no less of a friend. “This is a chance to learn about other cultures and encourage students to TURN TO TOLERANCE ON A16
Rapist, murderer receives heavy sentence By Shelli DeRobertis
CARLSBAD — A prison sentence of 34 years to life was delivered on Jan. 6 in a Vista courtroom to a man from Mexico who raped and murdered a Carlsbad retired psychiatrist in 2001, and tried to rape another woman three years later in Los Angeles. Alejandro Avalos Fernandez, now 34, pleaded guilty last October to the firstdegree murder and rape of 84year-old Gladys Conrad and also to the assault and intended rape of a 64-year-old woman who escaped his attack in April
2004. According to reports, there were no solid leads of who Conrad’s killer was, until late 2004 when DNA from the attempted rape on the 64-yearold woman was matched to the genetic profile of Conrad’s killer. The Coast News previously reported that the suspect remained unidentified until 2007 when Fernandez was arrested on a narcotics charge in Los Angeles. He had been released from custody before his DNA was entered into a database and matched to the
two crimes. “Science was able to solve that with DNA evidence. We were able to identify him in both cases,” said Chief Deputy District Attorney Jeff B. Dusek of the San Diego County District Attorney’s office. But Fernandez had fled to Mexico, and Dusek said it took until March to extradite him back to the United States. “We were very thankful that Mexico cooperated in returning their citizen to the United States for this case,” he said. Conrad was sexually
assaulted in her Carlsbad-bythe-Sea retirement home residence on Sept. 1, 2001. A friend of Conrad’s found her body the next afternoon. Police said she had been strangled by a man who apparently got into her home through an unlocked window. The attempted rape victim testified last June that she was walking home after leaving her work at a convalescent home when she was attacked at about 11 p.m. She was able to fight Fernandez off by biting his hand.
By Alyx Sariol
CARLSBAD — Concerned residents must wait until Jan. 25 for City Council to vote on a controversial housing development project proposed along El Fuerte Street. With new Mayor Matt Hall at the helm, council members unanimously agreed to postpone the vote at their Jan. 11 meeting. Councilmen Keith Blackburn and Mark Packard requested the extra time to digest information presented by the project developers and local residents. “The in-fill (lots) are always the toughest,” Hall said. “This project was, in my notes, completely redesigned twice. They’re never easy.” At Tuesday’s meeting, city staff recommended council vote in favor of the project, named El Fuerte View, despite an appeal from local homeowners. The proposed development would add TURN TO PROJECT ON A15
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