RANCHO BERNARDO AND 4S RANCH
News Journal BREAKING NEWS: WWW.POMERADONEWS.COM
THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 2014
50 cents (includes tax) | Vol. 60, ISSUE 47
New RB Planning Board leader sets goals
INSIDE
BY ELIZABETH MARIE HIMCHAK
• Del Norte High to stage 'Pirates.' AA2 • 'Taste of RB is Saturday night.
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COMMUNITY
Rancho Bernardo Planning Board’s new chairman, Lou Dell’Angela, said he wants the group to improve its public image, work as a team, get its bylaws updated, improve community outreach and attract younger residents. “From a personal standpoint, we’ve gone through some rough years,� Dell’Angela said of the board’s public disagreements. “We need to work together as a team (and) respect each others’ opinions and differences. “We need a better image with the community, to encourage (residents)
to become members and be more involved,� he said. “We need to do some work on that.� Dell’Angela said he is “optimistic� the board can turn things around under his leadership based on attitudes during the April 17 meeting where he was elected. “It was a good meeting and all bought into this team approach,� he said. Dell’Angela, who is star ting his sixth year on the board as a Bernardo Heights representative, will be joined on the administrative committee by Vice Chairman John “J.C.� Cochran, Secretary Robin Kaufman and Treasurer Joe Dirks.
As for other goals, Dell’Angela said, “We need better outreach to the homeowners associations, business and industrial community and the education people. We need open communication.� That communication includes learning more about Poway Unified School District’s plans for other parcels of land it owns. As for the bylaws — a frequent bone of contention at meetings — Dell’Angela said the group started updating its operating rules three years ago and he wants the process finished during his one-year term. SEE GOALS, Page AA4
LOU DELL'ANGELA
Festival to showcase the arts at RB High
• Middle school students have fun with duct tape.
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• State to probe bond ďŹ rm used by Poway UniďŹ ed.
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BUSINESS
• Unicorn Jewelry offers quanity, quality. A20
ARTS
• Screen star recalls career (and dieting) highlights. A26 • SoCal Ballet performs Saturday A28 in Poway.
SPORTS
BY ELIZABETH MARIE HIMCHAK All are welcome to immerse themselves for free in various forms of art — including visual, theater and music — on Friday night in Rancho Bernardo. The inaugural Rancho Bernardo High School Visual and Performing Arts Festival will be 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 25 on the campus, 13010 Paseo Lucido. Admission is free and the event is for all ages. Activities will begin in the performing arts center, but there will also be events throughout campus when attendees tour the art classrooms, said Miriam Larson, arts coordinator. Starting at 5:30 p.m. attendees can view a gallery show in the PAC lobby. Larson said it will feature student-created drawings, paintings, computer graphics, photography, design and mixed media (such as sculpture), screen printing and artwork created by the Advanced Placement studio art class. At 6 p.m. and repeating at 7 p.m. there will be performances inside the PAC theater. This will feature digital media (film), theater, improv, dance, vocal music, orchestra and band. Throughout the event the art classrooms will be open, there will be chalk art viewable outside and art activities for children in attendance. There will be food trucks outside so attendees can purchase refreshments. Larson said this year the school merged all its SEE ARTS, Page AA4
GROOVIN’ TO THE BEAT — Mr. Bronco contestants, from left, Matt Rhodes, Thomas Nieman and Liam Semple showed off some of their dance moves during Rancho Bernardo High’s annual pageant on April 19 that was open to senior male students. For the contest’s results and more photos, see Page AA3. Photo by Bob Francella
Entrants needed to 'Chalk It Up' Free sidewalk art contest returns to RB on May 3 BY ELIZABETH MARIE HIMCHAK Remember drawing on the sidewalk with chalk as a kid? Here’s your chance to do it again and win prizes. Rancho Bernardo’s fourth annual
Cate Tran, age 3, was among those who participated in the 2012 Chalk It Up sidewalk art contest. File photo
Chalk It Up sidewalk art contest is returning on Saturday, May 3 to Rancho Bernardo Community Park, 18448 W. Bernardo Drive. It is open to elementary-age students through adults, there is no entry fee and chalk will be provided. The event starts at 8 a.m. and judging will occur shortly before 3 p.m. Participants have as long as they need to create their artwork and do not need to be present for the judging in order to win, according to RB Community Council President Robin Kaufman. To participate, register at any time during the event by going to the tables set up between the Rancho BernardoGlassman Recreation Center and tennis courts. That is where entrants will receive a bucket of chalk. When entrants return the bucket after completing their artwork, they will receive a goodie bag.
Gift cards to local businesses ranging between $10 and $25 in value will be presented to the top three finishers in each division, which are elementary, middle and high school plus adults. There will also be an overall winner. Throughout the event there will be free refreshments, such as coffee, bottled water, muffins and cookies, Kaufman said. According to Kaufman, around 300 people attended last year’s contest, which is sponsored by the Rancho Bernardo Community Council and supported by the Rancho Bernardo Recreation Council. The public is welcome to view the artwork at anytime while it remains on the park’s sidewalks. For questions, contact Kaufman at 858-487-6227 or RBCommCouncil@aol. com.
First school board challenger enters fall race BY EMILY SORENSEN
• It's Poway vs RB at 'Game at the Lake.' A35 • RB man training favorite to win Kentucky Derby.
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ALSO • Calendar • Crime Log • Editorial • Homes • Marketplace • Obituaries • Seniors • Vacation photos
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MICHELLE O'CONNOR-RATCLIFF
The November PUSD school board election has its first challenger in Rancho Penasquitos resident Michelle O’Connor-Ratcliff. O’Connor-Ratcliff, 38, officially announced her intention to run in the November election Monday at a press conference at Adobe Bluffs Elementary School. A Mt. Carmel High School graduate, O’Connor-Ratcliff’s two young children attend Adobe Bluffs Elementary School in the Poway Unified School District. O’Connor-Ratcliff is an adjunct professor of business law at the University of San Diego, and is an elected member of the Rancho Penasquitos Town Council. It was her role of liaison for the council, attending school board meetings for the past year, that generated her interest running for a spot on the board.
“I think the meetings could be done better,� she said. The terms of board members Marc Davis, Penny Ranfle and Todd Gutschow expire at the end of the year. All three have informally said that they will run for re-election. In her campaign announcement speech, O’Connor-Ratcliff praised parental and community involvement at schools and criticized the school board for not listening to the community. “What I’ve learned is that when parents get involved in community and school decisions, good things happen,� she said. “Unfortunately, our school board has ignored or not even sought this input. And what have we gotten? A billion dollar bond and a much-hyped new campus that you have to win the lottery to attend. These decisions and others are the result of the board’s opaque, inward-facing debates. They decide be-
Cathy Peterson 42 Year Resident of Poway
I am Farmers 3RZD\ 5RDG ‡ 3RZD\ &$ (Corner of Poway Road and Carriage Road) www.farmersagent.com/cpeterson1 cpeterson1@farmersagent.com
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hind closed doors and we hear about it afterwards. I’m running for school board to change that — to bring accountability, communication and transparency back to Poway Unified.� The candidate added, “To some degree, the community has been disrespected [by the board] by not being approached for their opinions. The school board is supposed to represent parents SEE CHALLENGER, Page AA4
The Poway Unified School District Board of Education met Wednesday night, after our deadline, to consider extending the contract of Supt. John Collins. Read a story about the meeting online at www.pomeradonews. com.
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