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VOLUME 27 NUMBER 6
FEBRUARY 10, 2011
Touch-up time for Carmel Grove Park By Karen Billing Staff Writer Improvements six years in the making for Carmel Grove Park may begin in the coming months. The park, located on the corner of Carmel Grove Road and Carmel Creek Road, will be getting new playground equipment as well as a new
bench, drinking fountain and picnic table. The changes were approved at the Jan. 27 Carmel Valley Community Planning Board meeting and the following week at the Feb. 1 Carmel Valley Recreation Council. The Americans with Disabilities Act is driving the
changes, requiring increased accessibility to the park’s playground. Additionally, there have been changes in playground safety laws since the park was built in 1988. “There are quite a few things that need to be done,” said Todd Schmit, city project manager.
In addition to the new playground equipment, ADA improvements include replacing the existing walkway from the southwest corner of the park to the play area, replacing stairway handrails, stairway treads and painting a curb near
See PARK, page 6
Softball season gets the green light
Carmel Grove Park’s playground structure will be replaced. Photo/Karen Billing
Parents critical of high school textbook Three local residents say book ‘romanticizes’ history of Islam
Christina, Kirsten, PJ and Erin of the Green X-Treme attended the North Shore Girls Softball League opening ceremony held Feb. 4 at the Carmel Valley Recreation Center. See Page B14 for more. Photo by Jon Clark
By Joe Tash Contributor Three North County residents contend a textbook used to teach seventhgraders about the Islamic religion in the San Dieguito Union High School District “romanticizes” the history of the religion, and they want the district to use supplemental information to provide what they say would be a more balanced view. Michael Hayutin and Linda Sax, both of Carmel Valley, and James Freedman
of Rancho Peñasquitos, presented their findings in a 21page report to the school district’s board of trustees at a meeting last Thursday, Feb. 3. They have also met with school administrators and teachers, including Rick Schmitt, associate superintendent of educational services. Hayutin, whose daughter is a senior at Torrey Pines High School and son is a college student who also attend-
See TEXTBOOK, page 6
Del Mar council OKs framework for new fairgrounds governance model By Marlena Chavira-Medford Staff Writer During its Feb. 7 meeting, the Del Mar City Council approved a basic outline for a new governance model for the Del Mar Fairgrounds, should
the city buy the property from the state for $120 million. This latest model calls for a Public Trust Indenture, which would go into effect at escrow, working similar to a deed restriction. Under this
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model, the city would be required to continue the fair, horse racing, and other events. The race meet would be operated by a private investment group of horsemen who are fronting $30 million toward
the purchase. The fair and other events would be managed by a nine-member board of appointed representatives from across the county that would include: one for Del Mar, one for Solana Beach,
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one for the city of San Diego, one for the county, one for the San Diego Farm Bureau, one for the River Park JPA, and three for the other San Diego cities on a rotating basis. Past governance models
have included up to five seats for Del Mar, and the fact that this latest model only has one seat for Del Mar was of concern to a handful of residents
See MODEL, page 6
ANGELA MEAKINS-BERGMAN CONNIE SUNDSTROM
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LISA KELLEY
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