A6
Fairgrounds valued at double sale pricing
JAN. 21, 2011
THE COAST NEWS
HOT OFF THE BLOCK
By Promise Yee
How many telemarketing calls on your cell do you get a week
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By Bianca Kaplanek
DEL MAR — A preliminary appraisal of the Del Mar Fairgrounds, authorized by the 22nd District Agricultural Association, valued the property at $250 million, more than twice the purchase price being offered by the city of Del Mar. Russ Penniman, a 22nd DAA board member who also serves as president of the Del Mar Race Track Authority, said he directed staff to have CB Richard Ellis proceed with a full appraisal. In a recent letter to the Race Track Authority board of directors, Penniman noted that the proposed sale of the state-owned fairgrounds to Del Mar “has brought up several areas of concern” regarding bonds issued in 1996 and 2005. “Some of the most significant of these are the restrictions on the ‘private use’ of property financed with tax-exempt bonds,” the letter states. Because the city has indicated it would grant a 55year lease to a group of private horse owners, there is speculation the bonds would become taxable, Penniman said at the Jan. 11 meeting of the 22nd DAA. Penniman said he ordered the preliminary appraisal based on bond counsel advice to document that the sale was entered into under fair market value terms. A 2009 appraisal by Integra Realty Resources commissioned by the state valued the property at $120 million. How each company defined fair market value is part of the reason for the large discrepancy, Penniman said. According to the CBRE definition, the buyer and seller are typically motivated, both parties are wellinformed and a reasonable time is allowed for exposure in a competitive and open market. According to Penniman’s letter, Integra defined fair market value as the measure of compensation for property taken, which is language derived from the state’s eminent domain law. Integra appraisers also indicated they didn’t specifically use a sales comparison approach because data from similar sales wasn’t available, Penniman wrote. Penniman disagreed, noting the pending sale of the Orange County Fairgrounds for $100 million. He said that facility is about two-fifths the size of Del Mar and doesn’t include a covered arena or horse racing. It is also not coastal property. Meanwhile, Solana Beach City Council members said support is growing for the formation of a joint powers authority to purchase and govern the fairgrounds, a proposal that city presented at a TURN TO FAIRGROUNDS ON A20
Who’s NEWS? Business news and special achievements for North San Diego County. Send information via e-mail to community@ coastnewsgroup.com. Ryan does it again
TED ANDERSON ESCONDIDO
I’ve had none.
SAVANNAH IRWIN CARLSBAD
I maybe get once a week, on average.
CHAD CREASON CARLSBAD
I’d say between five and 10.
SUMMER MAGA ENCINITAS
I probably get two or three.
COAST CITIES — Former Encinitas resident Pam Muñoz Ryan was awarded the Pura Belpré Author Award by The American Library Association, for “The Dreamer,” honoring a Latino writer whose children’s books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience.
Hungry win penny wars
Somalia’s news travels far — from Encinitas By Lillian Cox
ENCINITAS — Most Americans associate Somalia with the 1991 civil war that resulted in the arrival of refugees to the U.S., the movie “Black Hawk Down” and the emergence of modern day pirates. Few are aware of the strategic role Somalia plays in our own security and behind-the-scenes efforts of the United States to restore government to Somalia. Surprisingly, much of the in-depth reporting on Somalia is broadcast almost 9,000 miles away — in Encinitas. By day, Abdel Hassan is operations manager for the Ecke Ranch where he supervises production of poinsettias and other flowers. By night, he serves as publisher of WardheerNews.com, a Somali/English language news service, which has become for Somalia what the BBC is to Great Britain. “Wardheer” means “news that travels far.” Hassan, who is an American citizen, came to Encinitas in 1998 to work for the Ecke Ranch. In February 2004 he launched WardheerNews.com with his brothers, Yusuf who lives in San Marcos and Ahmed who lives in London. “Somalia is always in the news,” Abdel Hassan said. “WardheerNews.com was an
idea where people could get aren’t published on other information about current websites.” affairs. We were surprised Because Somalia is how it grew.” known as a nation of poets, Today, the website gener- the website also features a ates between 7 and 8 million popular book review section hits a month from all over the where contributors and readworld, particularly the United ers voice their opinions. States, England and Somalia. Abdel Hassan says that “It’s for anyone who has WardheerNews.com is sought an interest in out by other major Africa,” adds news organizations Hassan’s wife, such as the Y a s m e e n Huffington Post, Maxamuud. “It is which asked for perread by those who mission to post its work for the U.S. position on piracy. State Department, Hassan says it’s the United Nations important that and colleges and uniAmericans underversities.” stand why the future As publisher, ABDEL HASSAN of Somalia is imporAbdel Hassan writes news tant. articles and editorials. He “It’s in the interest of the also consults with an editorial world that pirates and board, which consists of Muslim extremists don’t take reporters from the Middle over Somalia,” he said. “It is East, East Africa, Europe and becoming the new home of North America. the Taliban as they are being Contributing writers driven out of Afghanistan.” include think tank experts, Hassan adds that the cost independent researchers, uni- of dealing with piracy is being versity professors, students passed on to consumers who and what Hassan calls “aver- purchase everything from age people” who want to toys and gas from overseas exchange ideas and promote suppliers. open discussion. He cites a Reuters story “We also like to encour- on Jan. 13 about a study by age participation from One Earth Future women,” he adds. “We don’t Foundation, a Colorado-based want extreme views on reli- think tank, estimating that gion or political bias. And we maritime piracy costs the want unique materials that global economy between $7
billion and $12 billion a year. This includes the cost of ransoms, added insurance premiums, rerouting of ships, naval patrols, security equipment, piracy prosecutions and other indirect costs including increased food prices in East Africa from higher delivery costs. “Some of these costs are increasing astronomically,” said researcher Anna Bowden. “What is even more concerning is that all these are simply treating the symptoms. Almost nothing is being done to treat the root cause.” Yasmeen Maxamuud was raised in Washington, D.C., and received her master’s degree in African Development of Public Policy from Howard University. She is also the author of “Nomad Diaries,” a novel about the post-civil war generation of Somalis coming of age in the United States “America is very involved with Somalia policies behind the scenes,” she said. “WardheerNews.com is becoming a place for debate. It’s where people go to learn.” WardheerNews.com’s editor-in-chief is Faisel Roble in Los Angeles; managing director is Ahmed Hassan in London; news editor is Khalil Hassan in London; and webmaster is Yusuf Hassan in San Marcos.
Police department offers low-cost parenting classes By Alyx Sariol
CARLSBAD — The city of Carlsbad’s popular Parent Project series — a hands-on class geared toward parents of children who act out — will launch its first course of the new year on Jan. 25. Licensed marriage and family therapists Penelope Velazquez and Lynda Lennox conduct the city-sponsored course, which has an average attendance of 25 to 30 parents. The behaviorally structured sessions cover a “broad spectrum of issues” parents face when their kids are acting out. “Very practically speaking, it’s convenient and it’s an affordable option for every parent,”Velazquez said. “It’s a great resource that explores a lot of different issues that kids are facing in their lives.” The course curriculum offers solutions for parents of
children who are dealing with more common issues of growing up, as well as those who have more defiant and emotional kids who may be getting into trouble, Velazquez said. During the sessions, parents learn not only from the instructors, but also from others in attendance who are facing similar issues. Parents are seated in small groups and encouraged to reach out to others for advice and support throughout the course. “We gear it towards a class that’s not only educational, but a really supportive program too,” Velazquez said. “They use that support to follow through with the strategies that we talk to them about even after the course is over.” Recognizing a need for an accessible parenting
course, Carlsbad Police Department’s Greater Understanding through Intervention Diversion and Education, or GUIDE, office launched the Parent Project course more than a decade ago. The curriculum is based on the trademarked Parent Project program, which is used to reduce juvenile crime in communities through parents trained to use various intervention methods. “Kids were actually suggesting that we also talk to their parents so the adults learn to be more effective at home,” Velazquez said. “The parents are now learning how to intervene with their children in a way that keeps their self-esteem in tact.” The upcoming series Parent Project Junior/Loving Solutions — geared toward
parents of 5- to 10-year-olds — will begin its seven-week course on Jan. 25 at the Carlsbad Senior Center, 799 Pine Avenue. Classes meet Tuesday from 6 to 9 p.m. and registration is $25 per individual or $35 per couple. “It’s very satisfying for Lynda and I, especially because of the parents who are really committed to attending each session,” Velazquez said. “We get a lot of positive feedback and it’s very, very rewarding.” Additionally, a Spanishlanguage series will begin in February and a class for parents of pre-teens and teenagers runs in March. For more information or to register for upcoming sessions of the Parent Project series, call the Carlsbad Police Department’s GUIDE office at (760) 931-2167.
CARLSBAD — Students from Pacific Ridge School committed to support Feeding America San Diego through a December “Penny Wars” competition. The students collected 114 pounds of coins totalling $1,012.07 which was donated by junior and senior class presidents, Rachel Latterich and Monica Pastor. The goal is to collect as many positive-point pennies as possible, while putting negative point nonpennies in other grades’ jars. While the 11th- and 12th-graders acquired the fewest negative points, it was the seventhand eighth-graders who raised nearly half the donated money.
Top employee CARLSBAD — Nick Covino, the multi-talented instructional assistant/computer lab staff at Poinsettia Elementary, has been named Carlsbad Unified School District’s January 2011 Classified Employee of the Month. Poinsettia Principal Steve Ahle calls Covino “The Man” when it comes to all things tech.
Books for homebound OCEANSIDE — Oceanside Public Library offers free delivery of library materials to Oceanside residents of any age who are physically unable to visit the library. Materials available through the Homebound Services include books, large-print books, magazines, audio books, music CD, videos and DVDs.The service is free and visits are once a month. Call the Homebound Services coordinator at (760) 435-5657.
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