Residential Customer Del Mar CA, 92014 ECRWSS
Volume XV, Issue 43
www.delmartimes.net
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Oct. 20, 2011 Published Weekly
Policy change sought for DM Shores property use
■ Local author urges youth to reach for their dreams. Page 4
■ Ambitious young dancer steps it up on ‘The X Factor.’ Page 10
BY CLAIRE HARLIN editor@delmartimes.net Community members filled the Del Mar City Council chambers and flooded out into the parking lot on Oct. 17 to voice concerns and opinions regarding use of the 5.6-acre Shores property that has become a subject of contention for many who use it — namely, but not limited to, off-leash dog owners and Little Leaguers. A number of possibilities were dis-
cussed, but the council decided to explore further a compromise that would be funded by the Friends of Del Mar Parks and would involve putting up a removable fence around the baseball diamond. Council members also agreed with the implementation of off-leash hours at the park, as suggested by a number of residents. The council voted unanimously to direct city staff to return promptly to
SEE SHORES, PAGE 6
Oh, mudder!
Ag. district suspends buy-back program
About 7,100 people ran in the Del Mar Mud Run on Oct. 15, many of whom dressed in elaborate costumes. For more photos, see page B11, and to see a video feature, visit www.delmartimes.net. PHOTO: CLAIRE HARLIN
BY JOE TASH Contributor A program under which Del Mar Fairgrounds employees could cash in paid leave, which has drawn criticism from state auditors, has been suspended until a new audit of the state-owned facility’s operations is made public. Adam Day, president of the nine-member volunteer board that oversees the fairgrounds, said he has instructed fairgrounds staff to temporarily suspend the buy-back program for paid leave until an audit covering 2009 through 2010 is released by the California Depart-
Thinkers debate life’s eternal questions
■ North County a sweet spot for chocolatiers. Page B1
From left, Leonard Mlodinow, Deepak Chopra and James Bennet.
Del Mar residents filled the Del Mar TV studio Oct. 17 for a hearing about the shared use of the Del Mar Shores property. PHOTO: CLAIRE HARLIN
BY JOE TASH Contributor Two prominent thinkers and best-selling authors Oct. 18 debated whether science or spirituality can best answer the eternal questions facing mankind as part of a forum of ideas hosted by UCSD and The Atlantic magazine. Deepak Chopra, best-known for his writings about mind-body healing and spirituality, and Leonard Mlodinow, a physicist and writing collaborator with Stephen Hawking, took the stage at the SEE QUESTIONS, PAGE 18
ment of Food and Agriculture, possibly in time for the fair board’s scheduled meeting on Nov. 8. Day said he also wants a review of the rules related to such leave buybacks. “Obviously, all applicable rules and regulations need to be adhered to. And if they haven’t (been), we need to understand why and we need to address them publicly,” said Day. Attention was focused on the upcoming audit, and a previous audit released to the public in Jan-
SEE BUY-BACK, PAGE 6
Chili and Quackers in Del Mar
Billy Styers, Bret Potter and Greg Marchi preside over a batch of ‘Chiligan’s Island Chili’ at the Rotary Club of Del Mar’s annual Chili and Quackers Challenge held at Powerhouse Park on Oct. 15. See page B18. PHOTO: JON CLARK
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