Our e-mail addresses are: Advertising: ads@sdranchcoastnews.com | Editorial: editor@sdranchcoastnews.com | Web: www.SDRanchCoastNews.com
Celebrating Our 19th Year!
National AwardWinning Newspaper
VOLUME 27 NUMBER 28
JULY 14, 2011
Summer Serenades back in CV
John Schweizer and Kristina and Dylan Walsh enjoy the first concert of the Summer Serenades 2011 series. Atomic Groove (above right) played at Solana Highlands Neighborhood Park. The concerts, presented by the Carmel Valley Recreation Council and Pardee Homes, run from 5 to 7 p.m. The Corvettes will perform on July 17 at Ashley Falls Neighborhood Park. See page B12 for more. PHOTOS: JON CLARK
Transportation officials to pursue four-lane I-5 expansion BY JOE TASH Contributor State and federal transportation officials have decided to pursue a four-lane, $3.5 billion expansion of Interstate 5 between La Jolla and Oceanside, rather than a larger expansion plan that had been previously considered. Some who had opposed a larger, sixlane expansion of the freeway that was studied as part of the project’s environmental review hailed the July 7 announcement as a victory. But others remained unsatisfied, advocating for public transit improvements before more freeway lanes are built. “It’s certainly a step in the right direction toward the no-build option, but there’s a very strong sentiment in San Diego that transit must come before more major freeway building,” said Lane Sharman, a Solana
Book details couple’s battle to honor fallen soldiers Holleys’ efforts resulted in military policy change for airport reception BY PAT KUMPAN Contributor Carmel Valley residents Stacey and John Holley know a thing or two about grief, but even more about the battle to guarantee an honorable airport reception for their son and other fallen soldiers, during the final trip home. After their successful, but painful quest five years ago to change military policy regarding transportation and handling of such caskets, they have written a book, “Medals, Flags and Memories,” now available at Amazon. Thanks in large part to the Holleys’ protest, the military has
JOHN R. LEFFERDINK
619-813-8222
now begun to charter small jets, such as Kalitta Charters out of Michigan, instead of commercial aircraft, for the final flight of a fallen soldier. The standard practice now includes military honors at the airport closest to the soldier’s hometown. The ups and downs of the Holleys’ journey began with the loss of their only son, Army Specialist Matthew Holley, a combat medic who died Nov. 15, 2005, when his Humvee struck an explosive device killing him and two others with the 101st Airborne Division in Iraq. Their book chronicles how they handled grief, the 10-month fight to change the transportation policy, their quest to help other Gold Star families (military families who have lost
Beach resident and member of Citizens Against Freeway Expansion. Sharman wants to see San Diego County establish a new agency headed by a directly elected board to oversee creation of a light-rail system to serve the region. Currently, transportation money generated by a voter-approved sales tax increase is administered by the San Diego Association of Governments, or SANDAG, which is governed by elected officials from local cities and the county. Widening I-5, said Sharman, is “not going to make San Diego a world-class city.” Rather, he said, San Diego should work with neighboring counties to create a transit system similar to the Bay Area Rapid Transit, or BART, system in the San FrancisSee I-5, Page 6
DM school district picks lunch vendor BY KAREN BILLING Staff Writer The Del Mar Union School District will contract with a private vendor to provide healthier school lunch fare. At a special meeting held on July 6, the board selected Choicelunch as the district’s new lunch program, following the trend of at least 20 other public school districts in the state that use a private meal provider, such as the Rancho Santa Fe School District. “We’re making changes that move us to the forefront of nutrition in the area and also make it better for our families and the kids,” said trustee Doug Perkins. Both district superin-
See SOLDIERS, Page 6
tendent Jim Peabody and the Child Nutrition Committee endorsed Choicelunch as the top choice. “Choicelunch was the only vendor that met every criteria we asked for,” said committee member Jodie Block. Those eight criteria included: meals prepared from scratch daily; fresh fruit and vegetables not from a canned source; whole grains, vegetables and fruit; no artificial colors, preservatives, high fructose corn syrup or partially hydrogenated oils; meals with hormone-free dairy; meats that are free of niSee LUNCH, Page 6
Let us help you find your Dream Home! www.johnlefferdink.com
ANGELA MEAKINS-BERGMAN
LISA KELLEY
CONNIE SUNDSTROM
858-405-9270
858-880-5242
858-334-8114