Inland edition, may 22, 2015

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PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ENCINITAS, CA 92025 PERMIT NO. 94

The Coast News

INLAND EDITION

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VISTA, SAN MARCOS, ESCONDIDO

VOL. 2, N0. 11

MAY 22, 2015

Mayor Sam Abed held his ninth Town Hall meeting, giving residents the opportunity to talk about issues in the community. Photo by Ellen

Wright

Planting party Director of Children’s Programs at Alta Vista Botanical Gardens Nancy B Jones, presents thank-you certificates to the 13 student volunteers from Vista Magnet Middle School, including, from left, Susie Burchill, Brittney Cabrera, Angel Caro, Ashley Clemente, Oscar Delgado, Anthony Guzman, Sarah Guzman, Griselda Hernandez, Luis Martinez, Nina Sanders, Emilio Serrano, Jonathan Sweeney, Yesica Zafra and Assistant Principal Steve Post, who volunteered at the Earth Day Festival at AVBG. Courtesy photo

Solutions Farms honored with SD Housing Federation Ruby Award By Promise Yee

VISTA — Off of a weathered farming road Solutions Farms is marked by a metal arch. Beyond the front gate two acres of greenhouses hold an active aquapontics farm that provides fresh lettuces to city schools. Operating the aquaponics farm are formerly homeless individuals who are on the road to turning their lives around. Solutions Farms is a hands on job-training program offered through Solutions for Change. Solutions Farms manager Jennifer Pankey was recently honored with the San Diego Housing Federation Ruby Award for outstanding service to residents. Pankey is a shining success story of someone who has benefited from Solutions for Change, and gone on to give back to others. About five years ago she found herself homeless with two daughters to support. Pankey said she had no job, no home, no money, and little education. She went through the 1,000 day Solutions University transformational housing model program and made some significant changes. She landed a job in the organization, secured low income housing assistance, and was able to provide permanent housing and a secure life for her family. Two years later the Solutions Farms program began, and Pankey was recruited as the program manager. She admits the idea of using an aquaponics farm for job training sounded a bit crazy at first. Once operations began she saw that the program gives participants

Work supervisor Alejandra Olmos stands by crops of lettuce grown at Solutions Farms. The aquaponics farm serves as a job-training facility. Photo by Promise Yee

hard and soft skills they can apply to any job. Through the program aquaponic operations, marketing skills, and leadership is learned. “I’m amazed how much someone can transform when someone believes in them and trusts them,” Pankey said. “It’s a leadership development program. They come out, when they’re done with the program, and have a sense of worth.” The opportunity to work around

plants also provides a nurturing environment. Pankey said as participants help plants grow, they also see themselves grow. “I never had anyone come out and say this is not for me,” Pankey said. “For six months they dedicate themselves to being there every day.” “There’s an incredible value to planting a seed, and watching it grow from seed to harvest. It’s very nurturTURN TO AWARD ON 9

Country Club is topic of Town Hall By Ellen Wright

ESCONDIDO — Mayor Sam Abed held his ninth town hall meeting May 14 and the majority of residents voiced their concerns regarding the Escondido Country Club. Abed said the city has the same interests as the nearby residents. He said Country Club developer Michael Schlesinger’s past actions were unacceptable. “When I met with him a couple of weeks ago, I said ‘Mike, there is a problem,’ he said ‘what’s the problem,’ I said, ‘Mike, you are the problem,’” Abed said. The city recently lost a court ruling after Schlesinger pursued legal recourse for what he considered to be an illegal taking of his property after the city declared the golf course permanent open space. The council will met in closed session May 20 to discuss the legal options on whether to appeal, or accept the ruling. According to the City Attorney Jeffrey Epp, the city could decide to “sit tight,” and not do anything yet, or could decide to appeal the decision. Abed said an announcement would be made after the closed session but it was unavailable by press time. Epp said thus far, the city has done a good job of keeping their options open. After meeting with the homeowners surrounding the Country Club, Abed said the majority of people want to see some

kind of solution. Abed said even if the city won an appeal, Schlesinger would likely appeal to federal court, drawing the process out even longer. One solution the mayor sees is having Schlesinger sell the property to a different developer that works with the community. “The country club is an old community that needs revitalization,” said Abed. “To move forward with the process he needs to be out of it.” Dick Daniels, a representative for Schlesinger said there are no plans to sell the property. Most recently, Schlesinger submitted plans to build 270 homes on the 109.3-acre site. Daniels said Schlesinger is in the process of interviewing homebuilders for the project. Mayor Abed stressed the importance of a compromise, saying that 300 homes isn’t realistic for the property and neither is having it all open space. “I think both are not a good solution. We can come up with a solution that provides amenities, open space and provides a good project that benefits the community,” Abed said. Even though the project is far from receiving approval, some residents argued that it’s hypocritical to ask residents to cut down on water use while allowing more development. Abed said that according to state law, the city TURN TO TOWN HALL ON 9


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Inland edition, may 22, 2015 by Coast News Group - Issuu