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PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ENCINITAS, CA 92024 PERMIT NO. 94

THE COAST NEWS

.com

MAKING WAVES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

VOL. 25, NO. 39

DEC. 16, 2011

THISWEEK

IN THE LIGHT

Painter William Glen Crooks displays his luminous works at the Oceanside Museum A9 of Art

WAR HORSE Sgt. Reckless, a warhorse who braved battle conditions during the Korean War had ties to B4 North County

INSIDE

TWO SECTIONS, 44 PAGES

Arts & Entertainment . . A9 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . A9 Camp Pendleton News . . B11 Coastal Cosmos . . . . . . . B2 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . B17 Eye Spy . . . . . . . . . . . . . A11 Hit the Road . . . . . . . . B10 Lick the Plate . . . . . . . B12 Life, Liberty, Leadership . . A4 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . B13 Odd Files . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4 Pet Central . . . . . . . . . . A16 Sea Notes . . . . . . . . . . . A10 Small Talk . . . . . . . . . . . B1 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . A18 Taste of Wine . . . . . . . B10 Who’s News? . . . . . . . . A17

HOW TO REACH US (760) 436-9737 CALENDAR SECTION: calendar@coastnewsgroup.com COMMUNITY NEWS: community@coastnewsgroup.com LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: letters@coastnewsgroup.com

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Encinitas residents attending the City Council meeting turn their backs to the council after current Deputy Mayor Jerome Stocks was voted in as mayor by the council. Photo by Adrienne Kutner

Mayor appointment elicits silent protest By Wehtahnah Tucker

ENCINITAS — As the City Council voted 4-1 on Dec. 13 to install longtime council member and current Deputy Mayor Jerome Stocks as mayor and newly elected Council member Kristin Gaspar as deputy mayor, over three-fourths of those in attendance stood with their backs to the dais. The silent protest marked the third time Council member Teresa Barth has been passed over for the leadership positions. Barth, now in her second term in office, has yet to receive enough council votes to serve in either deputy mayor or mayoral capacity. During last year’s mayoral vote, Barth supporters shouted in outrage

after Bond, Stocks and Gaspar voted for the 2011 leadership positions. Late Council member Maggie Houlihan and Barth voted against Bond for Mayor and Stocks for deputy mayor, saying it did not follow the longstanding rotational history of selecting the two posts. The vote is effective immediately. Bond assured the audience that he had not talked to Gaspar about nominating her for the deputy mayor position, citing potential Brown Act violations in doing so. Newly appointed Council member Mark Muir seconded the nomination. However, Gaspar was prepared with a written response to the nomination, saying, “I will serve all the citizens of Encinitas.”

Muir suggested the council discuss ways the process of selecting leadership be altered to “make it more criteria based.” He proposed the council set the item on a future agenda for discussion before the vote was taken. Many in attendance anticipated the vote. “No, I was not surprised,” Russell Levan said after the meeting when asked his reaction to the vote. “It was completely expected even though (Bond) promised he wouldn’t let this happen a third time,” resident Dean Turney said. Despite calling the leadership spots “simply rotational,” Bond said last year that he would not support Barth because she was “divisive.” “I expected it,” Barth said. “Their

actions aren’t going to deter me from continuing to serve the community; to protect the environment, ensure fiscal responsibility and open government.” Barth expressed doubts about Stocks’ leadership capabilities as mayor. “I think he is a poor representation of the city,” she said. “He’s aggressive and his manipulative tactics don’t serve the citizens well.” However, the two did agree that the rotational mayor process had outlived its usefulness. “It should be on a ballot to let the people decide the pros and cons of having the same person in that office for four years,” Barth said. “I really think it’s time for the selected process as mayor to end,” TURN TO MAYOR ON A23

Kids for Peace teaches children to start with the small stuff By Lillian Cox

CARLSBAD — This holiday season, fifth-grade students at Jefferson Elementary School are doing something they do year-round — working for world peace. The class is one of 85 chapters worldwide that comprises the nonprofit Kids for Peace, which was founded in 2006 by Carlsbad residents Jill McManigal and Danielle Gram. McManigal, a former elementary school teacher,said the idea sprang after the terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001. “I watched as society became fear-driven and I didn’t want to live in that kind of a world,” she said. “I didn’t want my children to live in a world like that either.” McManigal said she was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s words, “If we wish to create a lasting peace we must begin with the children.”

“I looked at my children and saw that kids are naturally kind,” she said. “I gathered them and their friends and we had our first meeting in our backyard.” McManigal and Gram, a high school honors student in 2006,began the meeting by posing questions that included, “What do you want our world to look like?” and “What can you do to create the world you wish to see?” Afterward, the group developed their Peace Pledge: “I pledge to use my words to speak in a kind way. I pledge to help others as I go throughout my day. I pledge to care for our earth with my healing heart and hands. I pledge to respect people in each and every land. I pledge to join together as we unite the big and small. I pledge to do my part to

Fifth graders at Jefferson Elementary School comprise one of the local chapters of the international organization, Kids for Peace. Back row, from left, Dylan Postelnek, Elizabeth Valencia, Alexis Ferrari, Karlee Silva, Madison Young. Front row, from left: Bianca Valencia, Daschle Dunne, Tatiana Olivier, Jill McManigal (co-founder and executive director), Mary Feldmann, Aja Ward. Photo by Lillian Cox

create PEACE for one and all.” Excitement about Kids for Peace began to spread. Today, chapters around the globe are committed to a common mission of promoting youth leadership, cross-cultural experiences, arts, service and caring for the Earth. At the core of their philosophy is a belief that simple acts of kindness pave the path to a better world. One of the most popular activities is “The Great Kindness Challenge” checklist. Students are challenged to perform 50 acts of kindness in one week that includes smiling at 25 people, helping a younger student and showing appreciation to their principal creatively. Chad Lund is principal of Jefferson. “Jill introduced a program that benefits the school and the children with a ‘pay it forward’ TURN TO PEACE ON A14


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