PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ENCINITAS, CA 92024 PERMIT NO. 94
THE COAST NEWS
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VOL. 35, N0. 4
JAN. 22, 2021
SAN MARCOS -NEWS
‘Let Them Play’ rallies support young.com athletes By Steve Puterski
REGION — Coaches, parents, athletes and San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond are calling for the state to allow youth and high school sports to resume amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Let Them Play CA group, consisting of at least two dozen, rallied at Torrey Pines High School on Jan. 15 in an effort to persuade Gov. Gavin Newsom, San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher and others to open up the fields to competition. Currently, athletes are allowed to practice, but no games or seasons are allowed, according to Scripps Ranch football coach Marlon Gardinera. A liver transplant recipient and considered high risk, Gardinera said it is critical to get kids back to outdoor sports as a way to improve mental health, showcase skills to college recruiters and rediscover interests in academics and extracurricular activities. “I’m a parent and I don’t need any politician telling me what’s in the best interest of my sons,” Gardinera said. “In my role as coach, I do understand the anxiety and de-
pression. I get calls from parents asking for additional activities to get the kids away from screens and isolation.” THE Additionally, GardinVISTA era said he feels outdoor NEWS sports are safe for him and his kids. If he didn’t feel it was safe, he said there would be “no way” he would support this movement. Desmond, and several others including former Oceanside High School football coach John Carroll, said state and county RANCHO leaders are not following the “science” and “data” SFNEWS when it comes to outdoor activities. They also noted other states have successfully reopened their fields with no significant evidence of widespread outbreaks. Mandela Tobin, a senior defensive lineman for Westview High School who has committed to play football at Duke University, said it is also important for his peers’ ability to socialize and take advantage of scholarship opportunities. Let Them Play CA started two weeks ago as a group on Facebook by Mission Hills High School
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THE FILM INDUSTRY has been hard hit by the coronavirus. Cinemas across the country have faced reopening challenges, including the historic La Paloma Theatre in Encinitas. The theater has been closed since Nov. 14, and with no end to the pandemic in sight, it’s unclear when its doors will open again. Photo by Chris Kydd
An uncertain future for the theater industry By Dustin Jones
REGION — Since the onset of the pandemic just under one year ago, countless businesses have been forced to close. And then open again. Only to close once more. Industries were forced to adapt to comply with new regulations. Restaurants pivoted to outdoor dining and take-out orders, gyms and fitness centers staged their equipment outside and salons greatly reduced the number of customers allowed indoors. The film industry, however, has struggled to weather the storm. Regal Cinemas, one of
the nation’s largest movie theater chains, first closed its doors on March 17,2020, a Regal news release said. Little was known about the coronavirus at the time and the movie monolith erred on the side of caution. Multiple re-opening attempts were made over the course of the summer. But the pandemic continued to pick up speed. Most recently, Regal suspended theater operations at all 536 locations across the United States, impacting more than 40,000 employees. The La Paloma Theatre in Encinitas, which has stood
for nearly 100 years, has faced similar challenges. It has struggled to stay open since last March and has been closed since Nov. 14. “This pandemic's impact on theatres and entertainment centers around the world is startling and very concerning,” executive director of Encinitas 101 Irene Pyun said. “Entertainment plays a key role in the vitality of a downtown, so losing not just a theatre, but a historic landmark such as La Paloma, would be absolutely devastating.” The financial state of the theater is unclear, but it has been closed for most of
the pandemic. But as one of the most predominant landmarks in Encinitas, Pyun and Encinitas 101 hope to ensure the theater continues to have a bright future. “Encinitas 101 is more than willing to work with the theatre if they need help but we have not heard anything,” Pyun said. “We are always here to help a business in need and will remain an advocate to keep La Paloma open for many, many years.” Multiple attempts were made to contact La Paloma Theatre for this story, but were unsuccessful.
MANDELA TOBIN, a senior defensive lineman for Westview High School who has committed to play football at Duke University, spoke during the Jan. 15 Let Them Play CA rally at Torrey Pines High School. Photo by Steve Puterski
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