Encinitas advocate 01 07 16

Encinitas Advocate Cardif f-by-the-Sea • Leucadia • Olivenhain Volume 2 • Issue 28

Community

■ Students raise $5,000 through coffee donations for Burundi library.

Page 2

Lifestyle

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January 8, 2016

Uprooted Encinitas farmer plotting his next move

BY JARED WHITLOCK Ryan “Farmer Leo” Goldsmith two years ago transformed a vacant plot in Encinitas into a 2-acre organic farm. A tight-knit community also sprouted there.

Families without green thumbs learned how to plant at Farmer Leo’s. A steady stream of volunteers leant a hand. And events like bi-monthly dinners at the property produced plenty of friendships, not to mention romance — Goldsmith even officiated the wedding of a couple that met there.

But this chapter of his life is drawing to a close. He recently dismantled his greenhouse and packed it up into a trailer. The crop beds at Farmer Leo’s cover only about half the area they did during the farm’s heyday.

The property owner is selling the land to make way for a senior living facility, and with that, Goldsmith’s

Ryan “Farmer Leo” Goldsmith has grown crops for more than two years at 1920 S. El Camino Real in Encinitas.

But he’s moving out of Encinitas due to a planned senior facility at the property. Photo by Jared Whitlock last day there will be Jan. 15.

“I definitely went through an acceptance-mourning period,” Goldsmith said. “It wasn’t just cultivating vegetables, but so much of my focus was on cultivating community. There are many people I will miss.”

Goldsmith knew when he signed the year-to-year lease in fall 2013 that the land could be sold, although

that happened sooner than anticipated. He found out in early December his days there were numbered.

“There’s no finger-pointing or blame on my part,” Goldsmith said. “I had just hoped to stay longer.”

Now acceptance is setting in, and he’s looking forward to what comes next. Goldsmith plans to start a new farm somewhere up north — maybe the foothills of the Sierras or Portland, Ore. “At 40 years old, I’m asking myself, ‘What do I want to do? Where do I want to go?’ There’s so much possibility. I’m fortunate in many ways to be in this position.”

Goldsmith said he loves Encinitas, but he ruled out launching another farm in the city or surrounding San Diego County, in part because of the lack of rain.

The water situation has been especially tough ever since July, when Goldsmith voluntarily cut back water use 15 percent to help the city meet a state conservation mandate.

Plus, water rates went up for farmers.

“Because of the cycle of dry years and less-frequent wet years, it’s not a steady, predictable vegetable-growing climate here,” Goldsmith said.

Another reason he’s relocating: real estate economics.

Such high land values in the area make it difficult to buy farm property or lock down a long-term lease.

“I’ve learned the hard way I want to own my next farm,” Goldsmith said.

At its height, Farmer Leo’s was a throwback to the city’s agricultural roots, yet still on point with urban farming trends. He said making it as a farmer these days is all about adding value where possible, which is why he hosted bimonthly dinners, made with his crops, on the farm.

See FARMER , page 12

Caltrans buys large chunk of Manchester Ave. strawberry fields

■ For photos of the New Year’s Eve dance party for seniors, see pages 10-11.

ENCINITAS ADVOCATE An Edition of 380 Stevens Suite 316 Solana Beach, CA 92075 858-756-1451 encinitasadvocate.com

BY JARED WHITLOCK The transit agency Caltrans recently acquired 25.6 acres of the scenic strawberry fields on Manchester Avenue, just east of Interstate 5, for $7.2 million.

Caltrans plans to: dedicate 6 acres to a park and ride as well as a freeway access ramp; set aside 6 acres for a community garden and other agriculture initiatives; and preserve 13.6 acres as open space, said Arturo Jacobo, project manager with Caltrans, in an interview with the Encinitas Advocate this week.

“Right now the current owner is in the process of removing their farm equipment from the area so that we can begin work at the end of this calendar year,” Jacobo said.

Caltrans officials in September announced the agency was in escrow to buy the property, although the terms weren’t disclosed then. The deal was finalized Dec. 1, according to Jacobo.

Looking at individual projects in and around the strawberry fields, the park and ride is designed to promote carpooling and biking. It would connect planned bike paths in the area.

“We want to boost coastal access, recreation and so on,” Jacobo said.

Meanwhile, the underpass aims to reduce wait times for cars that line up on Manchester Avenue every weekday morning to get on I-5.

BRIAN STRANGE

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MARIA DAMIAN

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See CALTRANS, page 15

A mock-up image of a freeway access ramp and park and ride just off Manchester Avenue. To make room for those projects as well as open space and agriculture, Caltrans bought the Manchester Avenue strawberry fields for $7.2 million. Image courtesy of Keep San Diego Moving

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PAGE A2 - JANUARY 8, 2016 - ENCINITAS ADVOCATE

Students raise $5,000 through coffee donations for Burundi library

BY JARED WHITLOCK Saint John School in Encinitas is known for giving back to the local community, but its philanthropic reach extends as far away as Burundi.

A soon-to-be built library in Burundi will be named after Saint John School as thanks to students there securing $5,000 for the project.

Saint John students in October collected donations for Burundi coffee and gave the proceeds to Burundi Friends International (BFI), a San Diego nonprofit dedicated to fighting poverty in the east African country.

Construction on the Saint John Library will take place this summer.

To gain donations, students made signs, went car-to-car during school pickup times and staffed a table at a fall festival. The suggested donation for each coffee bag was $20, but many gave more. “People there don’t have as much as we do, so I think it says a lot that people here gave money to help them out,� said eighth grader Kaylee Yokota.

Julie Marner, president and chair of fundraising for BFI, said the library will “empower Burundi’s future by giving its youth a backbone of education.�

Marner said Burundians primarily speak Kirundi, French and Swahili, but the library will help more learn English, the language neighboring countries speak when it comes to business and regional government matters. “Burundi needs to quickly evolve with the rest of the EAC (East African Communi-

ty) if it is to get out of poverty,� she said, adding it’s the hungriest country in the world as measured by the Global Hunger Index.

Marner, who is also the music director at Saint John Church, proposed that Saint John School fundraise for BFI. Eighth graders took her up on the idea.

For the school’s Faith in Action program, different grade levels decide on a cause to lend a hand to, primarily during school hours.

Eighth grader Lucca Fabani said the school has a history of helping the local community, and his class also wanted to aid those abroad. “We did this to express our faith toward those who need it,� Fabani said.

Other Faith in Action projects this year included food drives for Brother Benno’s, coordinating fundraisers for childhood cancer research and toy drives for the Ronald McDonald House. “They’re student led and initiated projects, which has been great, because they embrace it so much more,� said teacher Teresa Roberts, who leads the Faith in Action program. “The whole community was moved by their efforts,� Roberts said of the library fundraising.

Besides books, the library will have student-created cards and mini-bios showing what life is like locally. “People in Burundi can see what Saint John is all about,� Roberts said.

Roberts said BFI members brought the

Eighth graders at Saint John School raise money for a Burundi library through coffee donations. Left to right: Skylar Demers, Kaylee Yokota and Hannah Blackburn.

Courtesy photo Burundi coffee beans back from a trip there, and Bird Rock Coffee in La Jolla roasted them.

She described the coffee as “medium to strong and really good.�

A special visitor at Saint John School encouraged the students during their fundraising push.

Fabrice Bizimana, a BFI ambassador and Mandela Washington Fellowship award winner, spoke to students about the importance of people learning English in Burundi, his home country.

Seventh grader Emily Tulino interviewed him for the school’s newspaper, The Eagle Pride Publisher.

Tulino said she learned quite a bit from Bizimana, including that it “means a lot to him that we’re raising money.�

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Drainage improvements at El Camino Real and Leucadia Boulevard underway

BY JARED WHITLOCK Work is underway on a drainage project aimed at reducing flooding at El Camino Real and Leucadia Boulevard.

Downpours have been known to flood the heavily traveled intersection, forcing road closures.

The drainage project is fixing this by creating channel embankments and streambeds, improving the flow of the nearby creek. It’s also restoring native trees and plants in the area.

Another goal of the project is to prevent stagnant water from building up, cutting down on mosquito-breeding spots.

The project began in December and was expected to be completed at the end of January, but it’s likely to finish mid or late February due to recent storms, according to Kipp Hefner, associate civil engineer with the city.

The project is estimated to cost $1,111,483.

The city in 2014 received an $830,430 grant from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services for the improvements, according to the contract.

The remaining funding came from a separate county Vector Habitat Remediation Program grant.

Applications being accepted for Traffic and Public Safety Commission

BY JARED WHITLOCK Residents who want to serve on the Encinitas Traffic and Public Safety Commission can now apply.

Two spots are open. The deadline for incumbents to reapply is 6 p.m. on Jan. 28, while all other applicants must apply by 6 p.m. on Feb. 4. Application forms can be found on the city’s website, at encinitasca.gov.

Applicants are encouraged to briefly discuss their qualifications in front of the Encinitas City Council during its Feb. 17 meeting. That will start at 6 p.m. and be held at City Hall, 505 S. Vulcan Ave. The council is slated to make appointments at its Feb. 24 meeting.

Terms begin this March and end three years later.

The seven-member commission advises the council on the circulation of vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles, as well as on matters of public safety.

Currently, the two commission seats are held by Dave Hutchinson and Brian Grover, who can reapply if they wish.

6 months in, Encinitas water districts miss conservation goals

BY JARED WHITLOCK The two water districts that serve Encinitas both fell short of their conservation mandates in November, and cumulative savings are below their goals.

Residents in the San Dieguito Water District cut back 9.2 percent in November, bringing the district’s cumulative reduction over six months to 20.6 percent, according to a recently released report from the State Water Resources Control Board. The state has mandated that the district slash 28 percent.

Due to the crippling drought, California in June began requiring that water agencies conserve. The mandate is scheduled to expire in February, but could be extended.

Customers in the Olivenhain Municipal Water District logged a 10.7 percent cutback in November, with a 29.3 percent cumulative savings over the six months. The district’s reduction goal: 32 percent.

Of the 24 member agencies that belong to the San Diego County Water Authority, three others are below their cumulative savings mandate: the Santa Fe Irrigation District, Fallbrook Public Utility District and Carlsbad Municipal Water District.

The state has threatened to slap water agencies that consistently miss their conservation targets with fines.

Encinitas water districts have sought to entice savings by stepping up education and enforcement of drought restrictions. Perhaps the most notable restriction is that residents are forbidden from watering more than two days per week, and only on certain days (the watering schedule can be found at omwd.org and sdwd.org).

Overall, residents across the state from June through November have slashed their water use 26.3 percent, meeting Gov. Jerry Brown’s order of a 25 percent cutback.

Water use was compared with corresponding months in the benchmark year of 2013.

Despite recent heavy rains, water officials say it’s key to keep conserving given the severity of the drought.

Walking tour of Old Encinitas to be held Jan. 16 The Encinitas Historical Society will host a docent-led walking tour of Old Encinitas on Saturday, Jan. 16. Meet at the 1883 Schoolhouse at 10:30 a.m. at 390 West F Street. Find out how Encinitas’ population doubled in the late 1880s. Discover which movie stars of the classical Hollywood cinema era visited and lived in Encinitas. See the most photographed buildings in Encinitas. The tour finishes around noon. For more information, call docent Barbara Vilardo at (661) 992-5740.

ENCINITAS ADVOCATE - JANUARY 8, 2016 - PAGE A3

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PAGE A4 - JANUARY 8, 2016 - ENCINITAS ADVOCATE

(Left) Rancho Encinitas Academy student Katie Solowiej and below at the Museum of Photographic Arts’ 10th Annual Youth Exhibition reception.

Courtesy photos

Encinitas student’s photograph selected for Museum of Photographic Arts Youth Exhibit Katie Solowiej, a sixth grade student who attends Edison Academy at Rancho Encinitas Academy in Encinitas, enjoys taking photographs. On a Photography Club field trip in the spring of 2015, she took a unique self-portrait of her reflection in a window of Pannikin Coffee and Tea in Encinitas. Katie submitted the photograph to be considered for the Museum of Photographic Arts’ (MOPA) 10th Annual Youth Exhibition with the theme of “Self Reflection.” The museum asked students to explore their identity in a photograph. Contributions to the exhibition were open to students throughout San Diego County and Tijuana.

Katie was thrilled to find out that her photo had been selected to be featured at the museum.

Since 2006, MOPA has held an annual juried exhibition showcasing the photographic talents of San Diego youth. Every year, students are encouraged to submit work that responds visually to a particular theme. The winning entries are selected for their originality and artistic interpretation of that year’s topic. This year’s Youth Exhibit asked the student photographers to consider these questions: How can you explore your identity through a photograph? What might you include in your self portrait to tell a story about yourself?

How has photography changed the way we share our identities and personal stories with the world? The exhibit runs until Jan. 24, 2016.

Cardiff resident Richard Risner elected new President of the American Society of Landscape Architects, San Diego Chapter The American Society of Landscape Architects, San Diego chapter, has elected Cardiff resident Richard Risner, PLA, ASLA, as its new president for the year 2016.

Risner is a Landscape Architect with over 25 years’ experience. In 2004, he and his wife, Juli, founded Grounded Landscape Architecture and the trendy retail furniture store, Grounded Modern Living, in Encinitas. They are residents of Cardiff by the Sea. Risner’s main goal during his one-year tenure is to make sure that the profession of Landscape Architecture is at the forefront of all relevant environmental debates. “Landscape Architects are stewards of the land and they need to facilitate designs and policies that effect the environment,” believes Risner.

Risner’s recent work includes high-end residential design, commercial and mixed-use developments, community parks and open spaces, multi-family housing, streetscapes, boutique resorts, industrial parks, institutional and large retail shopping centers.

His project involvement includes direct project management, design development, quality control, client meetings and presentations, and document-development oversight.

As principal landscape architect, Risner oversee all aspects of the design, document quality control and production of the firm’s projects. Many of his previous projects have won ASLA awards and have earned recognition in several publications.

Risner awards include the 2009 ASLA Merit award for his “Fairbanks Ranch – Balancing Act” project; a 2011 AIA Orchid award project “Centre Street Lofts”; the 2012 CLCA 1st place “best water-efficient landscape design”; the 2014 ASLA Merit award for the “Project Mozart”; an ASLA merit award for “Project Pennsylvania” and the 2015 CLCA 1st place “best water feature.”

Risner’s past experience includes working with many of Southern California’s top Landscape Architecture firms, but his fondest experience includes over a decade of work as an Associate Landscape Architect for the California State Park system where he developed expertise working with multiple governmental agencies and on inter-disciplinary teams. He has worked on urban parks, habitat-restoration projects, general plans, as well as numerous campground and recreational parks throughout the Southern California region.

Risner has a long history of participating in the activities of the American Society of Landscape Architect. In the past he has served as President Elect and VP of Membership.

He believes strongly in membership participation and men-

Richard Risner, PLA, ASLA torship of the emerging-professionals group to grow the profession and strengthen the society’s future membership.

Risner has been the Chair of the Residential Practitioners Committee, which was created to bring together solo practitioners and firms focused primarily on residential landscape- architecture projects. He has worked to develop marketing partnerships with AIA and ASID at consumer events and to promote a strong referral network between the design professions.

Risner’s education started at the Design Institute of San Diego and finished with a BFA from San Diego State University in the Arts & Environmental Design department. He began his career working in architecture and interior design and soon transitioned into Landscape Architecture where he developed a unique, progressive and modern approach to his designs.

Honoring citizens for making a difference in the North Coast Corridor public hearing to be held Jan. 26 On Tuesday, Jan. 26, the Interstate 5 and Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo Encinitas community — nominations wanted from 6-8 p.m., Caltrans and (LOSSAN) rail corridors.

The City of Encinitas Senior Citizen Commission in partnership with the Encinitas Rotary Club is pleased to announce that they will be honoring individuals for the 2015 “Senior Citizen of the Year Award” and “Service to Seniors Award”. Both awards will be based on nominations made from the public.

The “Senior Citizen of the Year Award” recipient will recognize a deserving senior citizen who embraces lifelong learning, outstanding volunteerism, leadership, and/or helping, teaching, mentoring or advocating for others in the City of Encinitas. The “Service to Seniors Award” will recognize a deserving citizen who through their daily work or as part of a volunteer effort has made a demonstrated impact for senior citizen(s) in the City of Encinitas. Both awards will be based on dedication, overarching commitment, and demonstrated impact of those served. Recipients must reside within Encinitas.

Award recipients will be honored at a City Council meeting with a proclamation, and a perpetual plaque housed at the Encinitas Senior Center. Additionally, they will be recognized as the guests of honor at an Encinitas Rotary Club luncheon, and invited to participate in the Encinitas Holiday Parade as a special guest of the Senior Citizen Commission.

Anyone may nominate an individual by completing a nomination form and returning it to the City of Encinitas, Parks and Recreation Department, 505 South Vulcan Avenue, Encinitas, CA 92024 between Jan. 19, 2016 and Feb. 23, 2016. Nomination forms, eligibility guidelines and additional details may be found at www.EncinitasCa.Gov/SeniorAwards. *Senior Citizen Commissioners are not eligible to make a nomination.

For more information regarding these awards, please contact Christie Goodsell, City of Encinitas Senior Center Manager at 760-943-2251 or cgoodsell@encinitasca.gov.

SANDAG will hold a public hearing at the Encinitas Community Center on the first proposed amendment to the North Coast Corridor Public Works Plan/Transportation and Resource Enhancement Program (PWP/ TREP). The meeting will offer an opportunity for the public to review and comment on the draft amendment.

The NCC PWP/TREP, unanimously approved by the California Coastal Commission in August 2014, is the regulatory document to implement the NCC Project, which spans 27 miles from La Jolla to Oceanside along

SANDAG and the Caltrans developed the plan, the result of more than 10 years of collaboration and public input.

The plan provides an implementation blueprint for a $6.5 billion program of rail, highway, environmental and coastal access improvements.

The PWP/TREP has been revised since its initial release in 2010 to include additional coastal access elements such as the new 27-mile North Coast Bike Trail, refinement of a comprehensive mitigation and enhancement plan and the decision to lengthen rail and highway bridges at Batiquitos, San Elijo and Buena Vista to improve lagoon health and a regional sea level rise study.

The proposed amendment will document minor changes and clarifications.

Prior to finalizing these changes, members of the public are invited to attend the public hearing where project team members will be present to gather feedback and answer questions. Additional information and the draft NCC PWP/ TREP amendment are available online at: KeepSanDiegoMoving.com/NCCPWP.

www.encinitasadvocate.com

ENCINITAS ADVOCATE - JANUARY 8, 2016 - PAGE A5

Local residents connect with rescued elephants

BY KAREN BILLING Local residents Lynda and Richard Kerr expressed their love for elephants by donating their time and treats in the form of juicy pumpkins late last year at the Performing Animal Welfare Society’s (PAWS) .

PAWS, a 2,300-acre sanctuary in San Andreas, Northern California, was founded by the late Pat Derby and her partner Ed Stewart in 1984 to provide a refuge for abused and neglected captive wildlife from the entertainment industry.

The Kerrs have always been animal advocates — they regard their dogs as family members and support many animal causes. Of all the animals, elephants stood out for them: at 4,000 to 10,000 pounds as full grown adults they are the world’s largest land mammal yet so socially sophisticated in many ways, Lynda Kerr said.

“In nature they remain together in family groups for generations. They exhibit compassion for one another, mourn their dead, have complex language and family structures, demonstrate complicated problem-solving ability, and live the lifespan of up to 70 years (in the wild). And yet, sadly, they are likely the most abused animal in history,” Kerr said. “Entire herds continue to be massacred for their ivory throughout Africa. Babies are separated from their mothers in violent ways and shipped around the world to supply zoos and circuses where they live miserable, unnatural lives.”

Kerr said elephants age rapidly in confinement and are considered old at 30.

“There are many aging elephants exhibited in zoos and circuses, some living in deplorable conditions, throughout the U.S. and around the world who are in need of retirement or rescue,” Kerr said.

PAWS currently provides a peaceful, natural habitat for eight elephants. They have African female elephants Thika, age 35, and Toka, age 45, from the Toronto Zoo; Lulu, age 48, from the San Francisco Zoo; Maggie, age 35, from the Alaska Zoo; and Mara, age 35, from a private owner in Florida.

PAWS also cares for Gypsy, an Asian female elephant age 48, a former circus elephant and Asian bull elephants, also former circus performers Nicholas, age 22, and Prince, age 28.

(Above) Richard and Lynda Kerr with PAWS founder Ed Stewart.

(Top right) An elephant receiving a pumpkin treat.

Courtesy photos Since its inception, PAWS has cared for a total of 16 elephants. At PAWS the elephants live life on their own terms with acres of land to roam, heated barns, a lake and two swimming pools.

At PAWS the elephants are not on display. PAWS is a true sanctuary, Kerr said, accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries and does not breed, sell or trade, and is not open to the public. However, PAWS does host several open houses and educational tours each year.

“When we heard of the PAWS Sanctuary, we were immediately interested in learning more. We were delighted when we were invited by Ed Stewart to tour the facility,” Kerr said. “But we could not arrive empty handed. So what do you bring eight elephants when you come to visit?”

Kerr had an idea.

Elephants are vegetarians and eat an enormous amount of food. Driving by the local pumpkin patch, they wondered, how about pumpkins?

“After Halloween, everyone is happy to get rid of their leftover pumpkins, especially the pumpkin patch,” Kerr said. “So we loaded the back of our SUV with pumpkins and headed for the hills of San Andreas, seven hours north of San Diego.”

Upon arrival at PAWS, the Kerrs set out to deliver the pumpkins to the elephants. Stewart would call each elephant’s name and from the distance, an elephant would appear.

“With long, graceful strides, they each approached the fence and gently reached out, and with nimble trunks took the pumpkin directly from Ed’s hand,” Kerr said.

“Some stepped on them first while others popped them directly into their giant mouths. All wanted more!”

Kerr hopes that more people who are as passionate about these animals as she and her husband are will do their part to spread awareness about PAWS and help the organization. People can learn about donations and how to help by visiting PAWSweb.org or by calling (916) 539-5305.

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PAGE A6 - JANUARY 8, 2016 - ENCINITAS ADVOCATE

Interest in birds takes off at lagoon: San Elijo nature center draws a curious crowd to monthly family fun day

BY CHRISTINE HUARD, SPECIAL TO ENCINITAS ADVOCATE Much like the birds they were there to see, recent visitors to the San Elijo Lagoon were a mix of winter dwellers and year-round inhabitants.

Judy Hanna, an anthropologist who studies and writes about dance, had come from Bethesda, Md., to visit family. She and her young grandson, Sagan, walked to the preserve from his nearby home so “Nana” could get some exercise and he could spot ducks.

“I do know some kinds of birds,” said the 5-year-old, who was named in honor of the late astronomer Carl Sagan. “If there’s a duck in the pond, I know if it’s a boy or a girl.”

The youngster was quick and matter-of-fact in correcting himself.

“Male or female,” he said. “The males are more colorful.”

With more than 300 species of birds coming through the 1,000-acre ecological reserve each year, even the most novice bird watchers are able to recognize dozens of birds they’ve seen in their backyards and at the beach. Though winter brings an abundance of migratory birds, some 100 birds species can be seen at the lagoon during any given season, from sparrows and hummingbirds to sandpipers and egrets.

A recent low tide made for particularly good viewing of a variety of ducks and grebes resting on the exposed mud flats and fishing in calm waters. San Elijo is home to two kinds of duck all year — the mallard and the gadwall — and at least a dozen other types fly in for the winter months.

The lagoon’s nature center recently hosted a once-a-month family fun day when children learn about the difference between ducks and grebes and put together a craft that helps them identify the birds at water’s edge. Park Ranger Michelle Levesque even sang a song to the tune of the Anna Kendrick’s hit “Cups” that explained how birds in the Pacific migration come to the lagoon from as far away as Canada and Chile.

The Mok family of Carmel Valley — Ken and Melody, and children Monica, 9, and Marcus, 7 — were enjoying the brisk weather while putting their newfound duck knowledge to work. The children were taking notes about the kinds they recognized in the duck-shaped pamphlets they colored and decorated at the nature center before coming down to the trail.

“The mallard has a yellow beak and green head,” Monica said. “The wigeon has a blue beak.”

To the untrained eye, ducks and grebes can look much the same. But along the lines of an old saying, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s most likely a duck. The grebe’s legs, set too far back on its body to make walking possible, are useless on land, though excellent for swimming. And the only bird with a true “quack” is the mallard duck.

Another way to tell them apart is that ducks are dabbling birds, which means they tip

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Rowan Lane, 5, left, tell his friend Graham Williams, 5, about the bufflehead ducks they are spotting at the San Elijo Lagoon during a recent event featuring information on migrating birds of the lagoon.

Photos by Bill Wechter

Vanessa Del Castillo works on a duck project behind a mallard duck on display at the San Elijo Lagoon nature center in Cardiff, where a monthly family fun day offered instruction and activities about the bird populations there.

forward in the water to feed on the fish, crustaceans, worm-like creatures and algae that live beneath the surface of the lagoon, and grebes are diving birds.

They swim below the water to catch their meals.

The lagoon and nature center are operated collaboratively through a jointpowers agreement of the state, San Diego County and the nonprofit San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy.

It will officially celebrate the winter bird migration later this month with its Wings Over Wetlands event featuring family-friendly activities and naturalists with scopes and binoculars for bird viewing.

All programs are free, and the nature center has binoculars and field guides to borrow. Wings Over Wetlands will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Jan. 23-24.

The reserve is off Manchester Avenue, west of Interstate 5.

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ENCINITAS ADVOCATE - JANUARY 8, 2016 - PAGE A7

For local author Tasha Bock, felines and feminism collide

BY ROB LEDONNE Last Christmas, Tasha Bock was trying to think of a gift to give to her sister Quincy when she came up with the perfect idea. “We make fun of my sister for being a crazy cat lady,” laughs Bock from her home in Encinitas. “She also taught me about the meaning of feminism. People think of it as a loaded and controversial term, but it’s really about women being seen as equals.”

When Quincy received the book, it was then passed around and Bock was given encouraging words by family and friends. “They were saying to me, ‘We don’t think we’re being biased, but you should pursue expanding this.” Not wanting to sit on the project, Bock listened to the advice and did just that, penning the book “Feminist Felines,” which she pegs as a “must-have for equal-rights advocates, cat lovers, and pun aficionados, both young and old.”

“This has been a fun, ongoing project,” explains Bock, who recently graduated from Dartmouth College where she studied history and studio art after attending La Jolla’s The Bishop’s School. “I think the topic will become more pertinent as time goes on. It’s definitely been in the media a lot with more and more celebrities coming forward saying that they’re a feminist, from Malala to Emma Watson.”

“Feminist Felines” is designed to deliver what’s otherwise a heavy topic in a fun and light way while focusing on the exploits of two cats, Tinker and Mischief.

“The power of these kind of stories is that they can take complex topics and condense them down into a digestible or understandable examples,” Bock explains. “My goal was to outline and explain what these social issues are.”

The book has been an encompassing project for Bock since returning to North County from college this past May. After laying out the design this past summer, the proofs were then sent to Chicago for printing. Then, the marketing and distributing part of the project kicked in with Bock doing it all herself.

“There’s been a learning curve,” the budding author says of the process. “But it’s been going pretty well. We’ve been getting multiple online orders a day, and it’s being sold at some local bookstores.” (Those shops include Country Squire Gifts & Linens in Rancho Santa Fe and La Jolla’s Hi Sweetheart. The book is also available on Amazon.com).

Based on the book’s success, Bock is planning to spin the idea off into other stories that tackle heavy topics in a breezy way. “The next one is based around our dog who is very precocious,” Bock explains. “It’s about a dog surfing competition, but it’ll really be an anti-racism and discrimination story.”

And what does Tasha’s sister Quincy think now that her Christmas present has taken on a life of its own by immortalizing her two cats? “She’s been sending me photos to use on social media,” says Bock. “She likes to say she owns the original because I gave it to her. She’s excited.”

For more on Bock and her book, visit www.feministfelines.com.

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Week in sports

BY GIDEON RUBIN Girls basketball: San Dieguito Academy defeated Sage Creek 50-39 in the SoCal Holiday Prep Classic’s Prep Division third place game on Dec. 30.

Emma Schneir scored 19 points and had 15 rebounds to lead the Mustangs. Jessica Morilak added 12 points and Claire Pupping contributed six points and 12 rebounds.

The Mustangs went 3-1 in the tournament.

They opened with a 40-19 victory over Orange Glen on Dec. 26.

Two days later Morilak scored 14 points to lead the Mustangs in a 44-16 victory over El Capitan of Lakeside.

The Mustangs lost to Rock Academy 45-44 on Dec. 29.

JoJo Davis led the Mustangs with 18 points and 18 rebounds and Schneir added 17 points and seven rebounds.

The Mustangs improved their overall record for the season to 4-4.

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PAGE A8 - JANUARY 8, 2016 - ENCINITAS ADVOCATE

‘Re-entry Student Leader’ to address Encinitas Mustang Lacrosse registration American Association of University Women for boys and girls now open The members of the Del Mar-Leucadia Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) invite the public to join them on Saturday, Jan. 9, to hear guest speaker Tanisha Scorza. The meeting will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at the Encinitas Community Center, 1140 Oakcrest Park. Light refreshments will be served.

Scorza is a senior Women’s Studies major at San Diego State University (SDSU) and one of the 1,000 women leaders recognized at AAUW’s National Conference for College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL) last June. NCCWSL, affectionately referred to as “Nick-Whistle,” has been actively supporting student leaders for over 30 years, and is one of the many programs supported by the AAUW Fund. Scorza is a stellar example of the student leaders selected to attend NCCWSL. A re-entry student, wife, and mother, Scorza has already made a tremendous impact at SDSU, including serving as Title IX Student Assistant and leading efforts to raise awareness about campus sexual violence.

Founded in 1955, the Del Mar-Leucadia Branch of AAUW serves the San Diego North County coastal communities. The national AAUW organization, founded in 1881, advances equity for women and girls through education, philanthropy, and research. Membership in AAUW is open

This spring, Encinitas Mustang Lacrosse will be fielding teams for boys in 5th-8th grades and for girls in the 6th-8th grades. Registration for boys preseason clinics and tryouts is now open. Information, including the link to register for tryouts, is at www.encinitaslax. org.

Girls registration will not involve tryouts, but spaces are limited. Registration for the girls teams will also be available via our website.

Practices start in early February and run through the first week of June.

A registered non-profit since 1976, Encinitas Mustang Lacrosse is dedicated to the development of youth lacrosse in the greater Encinitas area.

Tanisha Scorza to all graduates who hold an associate or higher degree from a regionally accredited college or university. For information about branch activities and monthly programs visit: http://delmarleucadia-ca.aauw.net.

Encinitas native John Van Cleaf achieves Fall 2015 Dean’s List at Belmont University John Van Cleaf, of Encinitas, qualified for the Fall 2015 Dean’s List at Belmont University. Eligibility is based on a minimum course load of 12 hours and a quality grade point average of 3.5 with no grade below a C. Approximately 30 percent of Belmont’s 7,400 students qualified for the Fall 2015 Dean’s List. Belmont Provost Dr. Thomas Burns said, “This achievement for the fall semester indicates that these students have placed a high priority on their work at Belmont and have invested time and energy in their studies. It is our strong belief that consistent application in this manner will reap great benefits, which will equip them for a lifetime of learning and growing.”

For more information, visit www.belmont.edu.

Restaurant week January 17-24 | 5 to 10 p.m. | $50 per person Make plans now to enjoy Restaurant Week. Savor a three-course menu featuring main course options of Loch Etive Steelhead Salmon, Dill Pollen Brioche Crusted Diver Scallops, and Robin’s Red Ale Braised Beef Cheeks. For an additional $10, upgrade your main dish options to Center Cut Filet Mignon, Lemon Verbena Roasted Maine Lobster Tail or Togarashi Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna.

HIGH TIDE BREAKFAST January 24, February 6-7 | 7 to 11 a.m. | $38 per person Experience our Signature High Tide Breakfast Buffet when the tide brings the surf right up to our windows. Enjoy High Tide favorites including Grand Marnier Chocolate Brioche French Toast and a glass of bubbly as you experience this fantastic event.

MENU ITEMS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

Reservations at 877.477.1641 or MarineRoom.com

Register now for Encinitas Parks and Recreation Cafe’s ‘Soiree’ event to be held Jan. 15 Encinitas Parks and Recreation Cafe’s “New Day, New Way Soiree” is the place to be on Friday, Jan. 15. Since its opening in February 2002, the Encinitas Community Center has recently been “polished up” with new amenities, programming and rental opportunities…so why not have a “soiree” to celebrate.

Inspired by Kitchens for Good, the new nutrition caterer for senior dining at the Senior Center, this special soiree is open for all ages — enjoy a beautifully delicious farm-to-table experience shared with the entire community. Save the Date for Friday, Jan. 15, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. when the Parks and Recreation Department is rolling out the dance floor with live classic rock by “Bull Twist,” “The Gallery” showcase (one of three city-sponsored rotating art galleries), fresh food tastings, craft beer, and artist demonstrations, classic car displays and fabulous raffle prizes (still in the works).

The event is free to the public, but RSVP’s will be required by Jan. 8. The event will be held at the Encinitas Community and Senior Center, located at 1140 Oakcrest Park Drive, Encinitas. For more information, contact Senior Center Manager Christie Goodsell, 760943-2251 or visit EncinitasCA.gov/Soiree.

Encinitas Turkey Trot gifts thousands to North Coastal communities More than 3,000 runners – local San Diego families and tourists alike – celebrated Thanksgiving morning with a fun holiday cruise along the coast. The Annual Encinitas 101 Turkey Trot hosted thousands of participants and spectators for a 5K and 10K, Nov. 26. A family tradition, the race is both an athletic event, while also an expression of gratitude. A total of $10,505 was raised for the North County Food Bank, which is a chapter of the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, the event’s charity partner.

The race, only in its second year, raised $7,605, with another $2,900 in corporate matching funds by the Brewer Family Fund ($2,000), Joe and Becky Mattee ($400) and Leavitt Insurance Group ($500). Nearly 2,000 pounds of non-perishable food were also donated by participants for North County Food Bank families.

Encinitas Turkey Trot organizers also arranged for 25 “Meals in a Basket” – valued at $50 each – for military families returning from Afghanistan. The Thanksgiving “Meals in a Basket” program was funded through a donation from Steve & Kristie Lebherz and Coco’s Restaurant.

Additionally, Encinitas Turkey Trot will be providing a $250 grant to the San Dieguito Academy’s music department, as well as $250 to Cardiff Elementary school’s art program, for their participation in the event. Another $500 was also awarded to Boy Scouts Troop #776 of St. John the Evangelist Church in Encinitas for their service during the race; they were responsible for manning the water stations and so much more.

Next year, the race hopes to raise $20,000 for the food bank and award 100 “Meals in a Basket.”

For more information on the event, visit www.encinitasturkeytrot.org.

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ENCINITAS ADVOCATE - JANUARY 8, 2016 - PAGE A9

Events in and around Encinitas North Coast Singers Auditions Children and teenagers, grades 2 - 12, audition to join one of the top children’s choruses in San Diego with more than 100 boys and girls in five ensembles. The 2016 WinterSpring semester includes many performances in the community. Learn to sing and read music, skills for a lifetime of enjoyment.

To schedule an audition, email Miel or call 760-944-1866. At the JFS Coastal Club.

Youth Lab For ages 10-12, 12 sessions. Students will interpret and translate their own ideas while experimenting with a variety of mediums including photography, video and sound. Artwork will be exhibited on March 31 at the Education Pavilion.

Tuesdays, now through March 1, or Thursdays, now through March 3, 3:30-5:30 p.m.

Lux Art Institute, 1578 S. El Camino Real. $375, $475.

Ecke Ranch: 100 Years of Blooming History The new exhibit traces the strong ties of the Ecke Ranch with Encinitas. Curated by Paul Ecke III and the history department of CSUSM, archival family photographs and artifacts chronicle how the Ecke’s turned a lowly hillside shrub into a worldwide symbol of Christmas, which made Encinitas the ‘flower capital of the world.’

January Thursdays through Sundays, 12-4 p.m. San Dieguito Heritage Museum, 450 Quail Gardens Drive. Free. 760-632-9711.

Encinitas West African Dance: Kiki Ogulu Local San Diego teacher Kiki Ogulu will begin the first of three weekly classes. Kiki emphasizes the subtle nuances of this energetic and culturally rich dance form. Class will be accompanied by experienced percussionists.

Friday, Jan. 8, 7-8:30 p.m. Dance North County, 535 Encinitas Blvd. Suite 100. $13. 760402-7229.

Wildlife Walk at Santa Helena Trail Access the heart of the East Basin where you can view westward over the lagoon from an elevated mesa. Through patches of coastal sage scrub and grasslands, we hike west to find remnant salt-tolerant plants and coast cholla. Bring binoculars to scan for shorebirds probing the mud and raptors preying from above. For ages 9-plus.

Saturday, Jan. 9, 9-11 a.m. San Elijo Lagoon. Visit www.sanelijo.org/wildlife-walks Family Concert: The Hutchins Consort The consort presents the sights and sounds of the animal kingdom through music.

Saturday, Jan. 9, 11 a.m. Encinitas Library, 540 Cornish Drive. Free.

Families Making History: Pet Beds In conjunction with the Jan. 23 Pet Adoption event, community members will be making no-sew pet beds and toys for dogs and cats currently housed at Rancho Coastal Humane Society. Learn how to make the beds and toys, then head home to make one for your favorite furry friend.

Every Saturday and Sunday, 12-4 p.m. San Dieguito Heritage Museum, 450 Quail Gardens Drive. Free. 760-632-9711.

Farm Volunteer Days Join the team and bring a friend on Sundays as participants plant, weed and keep the farm looking beautiful. Then on Tuesdays, rise and shine like a farmer and help harvest for donation to a local Encinitas food pantry. (Coastal Roots Farm) January: Sundays 2-4 p.m. and Tuesdays 8-10 a.m. Coastal Roots Farm, 441 Saxony Road. Free.

La Paloma Theatre The Martian, Room, Spotlight, Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Tickets: $10, $9 (cash only). 471 Coast Hwy. 101. Show Times 760-436-7469.

Encinitas 101 presents 2nd annual Restaurant Week The Encinitas 101 MainStreet Association presents its 2nd Annual Restaurant Week, Jan. 17-23, featuring prix-fixe menus and other limited-time offers from some of North County’s hottest restaurants. Encinitas 101 members participating this year include: • Bier Garden • Blue Ribbon Artisan Pizzeria • Encinitas Fish Shop • Leucadia Pizzeria • Lobster West • Lumberyard Tavern • Solace & the Moonlight Lounge • Trattoria i Trulli • UNION Kitchen and Tap

Lobster West roll Courtesy photo Encinitas 101 has partnered with Yelp and Visit California, host of California Restaurant Month (January), to promote this special week.

Visit the Encinitas 101 website for the list of participating restaurants and their offers: www.encinitas101.com.

“

! A MUST-SEE!”

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PAGE A10 - JANUARY 8, 2016 - ENCINITAS ADVOCATE

New Year’s Eve Ballroom Dance Party for Seniors Encinitas Rotary in conjunction with the Griset Branch of the San Dieguito Boys & Girls Clubs, hosted a New Year’s Eve ballroom dance party for seniors on New Year’s Eve in the afternoon at the Griset Branch.

The event included a toast to the new year, a balloon drop and a u-tube NYC video of a balldrop at 4 p.m. (12 a.m. Paris time). The sold-out event also featured a lavish buffet, including shrimp cocktail, salmon, beef and lots of casseroles and desserts.

Photos by McKenzie Images. For photos online, visit www.encinitasadvocate.com.

Marjorie and Jack Mierzwa, Donna Greer, Les Sutter

Bob and Soon Seals

Left: Dancers

Roland Krumm thanks Sharon and Marty Cooper for their efforts on behalf of area seniors

Abe Friedman, Ruth Freeman

Elba Chavez and Bob Seals

A toast to the Coopers

Basilio Osuyos, Darlene Drury Melvina and Jerry Trainer

Dancers

Leroy Rife, Michiko Wehr

Rita Tanner, George Montgomery

Leroy and Mary Jane Rife

Chuck Perot, Paul Sterner, Alice Thomas, Alice Murillo, Larry Burnett

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ENCINITAS ADVOCATE - JANUARY 8, 2016 - PAGE A11

Donna and Steve Kreinick

Paul and Bonnie Friedman

Dancers

La Jolla Cultural Partners

San Dieguito Boys & Girls Clubs Encinitas Rotarian Marty Cooper Foundation Chairman of the and San Dieguito Boys & Girls Clubs Board Larry McDonald Foundation Director Sharon Cooper

Darlene Drury, Tim Driscoll

Carolyn Quinney, Charlie Carr

Dancers

Whale Watching Adventures Now through April 17 | 9:30 a.m. & 1:15 p.m.

Embark on an unforgettable journey with the ocean experts at Birch Aquarium at Scripps and Flagship Cruises & Events! Join aquarium naturalists for twice-daily cruises to locate gray whales on their round-trip migration from their Alaska feeding grounds to Baja California. Bring your camera!

Adults: $40 weekdays, $45 weekends Youth: $20 weekdays, $23 weekends More info: 858-534-4109 or aquarium.ucsd.edu

CHECK OUT WHAT’S HAPPENING Monterey Jazz Festival ON TOUR Saturday, January 16, 2016 at 8 p.m.

Balboa Theatre Tickets: $75, $60, $40, $25 FEATURING Nicholas Payton, trumpet Ravi Coltrane, saxophone Joe Sanders, bass Gregory Hutchinson, drums Gerald Clayton, music director & piano Raul Midon, guitar & vocals (858) 459-3728 www.LJMS.org

ART HISTORY LECTURES

Guards at the Taj

See this exhibition before it closes next week!

A New Look at Impressionism

By Rajiv Joseph Directed by Jaime Castañeda Feb. 2 – Feb. 28

On view through January 10, 2016

Presented by Linda Blair Mondays, January 11, 18 & 25, February 1 & 8 All lectures begin at 7:30PM This class will explore Impressionism from a new perspective, asking why these young avant garde artists were willing to sacrifice so much -- material comfort and professional approbation - in order to devise a radically new art. Four major Impressionist painters will be highlighted -- Edouard Manet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, and Claude Monet.

Prices for series: $60 for members/$90 for nonmembers Individual lectures: $14 members/$19 for nonmembers Joan & Irwin Jacobs Music Room 1008 Wall Street, La Jolla, CA 92037

“Funny, haunting and deeply insightful” – LA Weekly Limited Seating!

Buy Today LaJollaPlayhouse.org (858) 550-1010

San Diego Collects MCASD La Jolla Featuring a selection of artworks drawn from private collections, San Diego Collects showcases the impressive range of contemporary art in our region with works spanning from the 1950s to the present. The exhibition thus speaks to the complexity of the region’s artistic landscape and the multitude of perspectives necessary to foster a dynamic artistic community.

MCASD 700 Prospect Street La Jolla, CA 92037 858 454 3541 www.mcasd.org

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PAGE A12 - JANUARY 8, 2016 - ENCINITAS ADVOCATE

Lamb’s pair to star in Intrepid’s ‘Virginia Woolf’

BY JAMES HEBERT, SPECIAL TO THE ENCINITAS ADVOCATE Intrepid Theatre is about to revive one of the most provocative and hairraising marital dramas of the last century -— and has cast one of San Diego theater’s best-known husbandand-wife teams to play the leads.

The North Countybased company is announcing that Robert Smyth and Deborah Gilmour Smyth, the married pair who are principals of Lamb’s Players Theatre, will portray the warring George and Martha in Edward Albee’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”

In an intriguing twist, Intrepid will produce the piece under a guest residency at downtown San Diego’s Horton Grand Theatre, which the Coronadobased Lamb’s operates as its second space.

The show will run Jan. 30 to Feb. 28, with an official opening of Feb. 6.

At one time, Intrepid was set to stage the Albee masterwork this past October, but scheduling complications intruded. (Intrepid also has been awaiting further developments in its hoped-for move to a new home theater in Encinitas;

FARMER

Robert Smyth and Deborah Gilmour Smyth.

— (File photo) the company’s most recent show, “The End of the Rainbow,” went up in the Lyceum Space downtown.)

Robert Smyth, who is producing artistic chief at Lamb’s, and Deborah Gilmour Smyth, an associate artistic director, have appeared onstage together a number of times, and Gilmour Smyth, a fellow actor-director whose talents also include sound design, has worked at other local companies as well. “Woolf,” though, will represent a rare chance to see both together in a non-Lamb’s show.

The darkly comic 1962 play documents the toxic cocktail of long-held resentments that characterizes the marriage of the ineffectual George (a New England college prof) and the frustrated, spiteful Martha.

“Woolf” was highly controversial when it debuted in 1962; the Pulitzer Prize jury recommended it for the award the following year, but the full board declined to present a Pulitzer in 1963 at all, deeming Albee’s play insufficiently “uplifting.”

Besides the two leads, Intrepid’s cast also will include the L.A.-based actor Ross Hellwig as Nick, and Intrepid company member Erin Petersen as Honey.

“We are thrilled that everything has come together so

that we will be able to share this riveting work with San Diego during our current season, starring these two incredible theater artists,” said Christy Yael-Cox, Intrepid’s producing artistic director and the production’s director, in announcing production details.

“We first approached Deborah and Robert about playing Martha and George some time ago. They were excited about the idea but with their packed schedule at Lamb’s the original dates didn’t work. We decided that if there was even a small chance of securing them in these incredible roles, that we would be willing to move things around in our schedule and hold off until we could find a time that worked.

“Over a year and a handful of conversations later, we not only found a time that aligned with everyone’s schedule but a time that presented a window of opportunity to produce in a guest residency at Lambs’ Horton Grand Theatre.”

“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” is part of Intrepid’s Season Six, which closes in May with “Woody Guthrie’s American Song.”

Tickets and more information: (619) 437-6000 or lambsplayers.org.

continued from page 1

And similar to other urban farms, the property is close to homes and roads. This suited Goldsmith, who said he liked having “one foot in the country and one foot in the city.”

Goldsmith has been a fixture at local farmers markets, and he sold his produce through a CSA (community-supported agriculture). Those who want to buy the last crops can visit the farmstand on his property, open Jan. 13 from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. at 1920 S. El Camino Real.

For his next venture, he’d like to teach everyone from seniors to youth how to grow food. Plus, he’s interested in offering farming as therapy.

“I just really think it’s a good way for people to heal, regardless of what they’re facing,” Goldsmith said.

To help make a decision on where to move, he’s going to volunteer through WWOOF (Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms) at various farms to get a feel for cities’ agriculture scenes. No matter where he ends up, Goldsmith can’t imagine doing anything other than running his hands through the soil every day.

While he’s spent much of his adult life tilling and planting, he grew up on the beach in Orange County. As a teenager he took an interest in sustainable food, leading him to study ecology in college. He put this knowledge to practice by farming in Australia as part of WWOOF. Later, he graduated from UC Santa Cruz’s Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture program. He then ran a catering company, but couldn’t take working under fluorescent lights.

“This is what I love to do, and I’ve been lucky with the level of support I’ve received,” Goldsmith said.

Before Farmer Leo’s in Encinitas, he farmed a quarteracre plot in Leucadia, honing his growing techniques. In 2013, he jumped at the opportunity to start a larger farm in Encinitas.

“I remember signing the lease and clinking champagne glasses on this completely empty, scrubby land,” Goldsmith said.

The land’s transformation was particularly impressive given that Goldsmith, two farm hands and volunteers did essentially all the work by hand. Only once did he run a tractor over the property.

Laurel Mehl, who owns Coral Tree Farm and Nursery in Encinitas, said the city is losing a source of beautiful vegetables. More than that, Mehl added she’ll miss Goldsmith’s “big smile and amazing laugh.”

“Whoever walked onto that farm just knew how much love and effort went there,” Mehl said.

When asked if she feels like she has the only farm left in Encinitas, Mehl cited the new Encinitas Community Garden and Coastal Roots Farm at the Leichtag Foundation property.

“I don’t feel alone,” Mehl said. “But I will miss Farmer Leo.” Looking back, Goldsmith has many fond memories during his time in Encinitas: neighbors pitching in to erect the greenhouse; delivering his produce to local businesses such as Priority Public House via bike; and kids volunteering to harvest lima beans, a heritage crop he planted to pay tribute to North County settlers.

“It’s sad to think the land will probably be vacant again for a little while,” Goldsmith said.

Plans call for building a senior living facility on the site.

The Encinitas Planning Commission in November expressed concern that the facility would be too big, requesting that the developers shrink the project’s footprint and come back before the commission.

Come mid-January, Goldsmith will drive off with a trailer storing his greenhouse, farming equipment and irrigation infrastructure. It’s exciting, albeit bittersweet, he said.

Goldsmith said even though he won’t be around, he wants residents to keep supporting local food sources that build community and Encinitas’ economy.

“That would be my final word to folks who are interested in local food. Go to farmers markets, local farms and restaurants that buy from them.”

Miss Carlsbad Scholarship Pageant seeking contestants The San Diego North County Lions Club is seeking contestants for the 62nd annual Miss and Teen Carlsbad Scholarship Pageant to be held at 6 p.m., March 26, 2016, at the Carlsbad Cultural Arts Center, 3557 Monroe St., on the campus of Carlsbad High School. Single girls ages 13 to 26 and residing in Carlsbad or attending school in Carlsbad are eligible. The pageant is a fundraiser for Lions charities, and participants will earn community service hours.

This pageant is not a beauty pageant, and has no swimsuit or sportswear categories. Rather, the focus is on poise, confidence, interview skills, public speaking, and choosing appropriate attire for any occasion. The contestants will receive expert coaching in these areas during rehearsals, which will be every Sunday afternoon from Feb. 21 through March 20. Many girls have found this training very useful

when applying for colleges and jobs, and the experience looks great on a resume.

Past contestants have said they enjoyed the fun, making new friends, learning new skills, and increasing their confidence levels.

Queens and Courts receive cash scholarships of over $3,500 and become goodwill ambassadors for Carlsbad, volunteering at city and charitable events and riding the pageant float in parades. All contestants receive a participation trophy, pizza party, pageant day dinner, after-pageant party, photo session, and a DVD of the pageant.

An orientation will be held Sunday, Jan. 31, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., at Harding Community Center, 3096 Harding St., and parents are encouraged to attend.

For more information and to sign up for the pageant, contact director Elaine Brammell at (760) 753-1175 or epbcma@aol.com.

Speakers to discuss ‘Preventing Gun Violence: What Can We Do’ at Jan. 14 RSF Democratic Club meeting With 30,000 people killed every year by gun violence and the recent mass killing in San Bernardino, the Rancho Santa Fe Democratic Club will discuss “Preventing Gun Violence: What Can We Do” on Thursday, Jan. 14, at the Lomas Santa Fe Country Club (1505 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach, 92075) from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Congressman Scott Peters; Steve Bartram, Brady Campaign San Diego; Supervisor Dave Roberts, San Diego County; and Catherine Blakespear, Encinitas City Councilwoman, are featured speakers at the event.

“The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence” works to “pass, enforce, and protect sensible laws and public policy that addresses gun violence at the federal, state and local levels. The Brady Mission is to create a safer America for all of us, with the goal of cutting deaths in half by 2025.”

Please RSVP and pay by credit card at www.rsfdem.org or phone 858-753-6404 to pay at the door by cash or check.

Please make check payable to RSF Democratic Club. Guest fees for this meeting are reduced to $15. Annual dues for renewing or new members: $50.

— Submitted press release

Yoga class offered Jan. 17 at Birdwing Open Air Classroom The San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy invites yoga fans at all levels to a coastal yoga session at the San Dieguito Lagoon Open Air classroom on Sunday, Jan. 17 at 10 a.m. with instructor Susan McCrea. The session is free; donations welcome. Bring a mat.

Directions to Birdwing Open Air Classroom: From I-5, take Via de la Valle exit and go east. Turn south on San Andres Drive and turn left into driveway to parking area. It’s a short, easy hike to the Birdwing from the parking area. for more information, vsit sdrvc.org

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ENCINITAS ADVOCATE - JANUARY 8, 2016 - PAGE A13

Encinitas Letters to the editor/Opinion Advocate 380 Stevens Suite 316 Solana Beach, CA 92075 858-756-1451 www.encinitasadvocate.com

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Senior Education Reporter

Real affordable housing

The City of Encinitas has, since incorporation, failed to conduct a comprehensive housing inventory; therefore, up to 1,000 illegal dwelling units go uncounted. As a result of faulty information, the State Housing and Community Development Office and the San Diego Association of Governments have demanded that Encinitas provide 1,300 additional low-income dwelling units.

To meet this housing quota, city staff, instead of counting illegal units, has been pushing the rezoning of large segments of our city to accommodate high-density housing. Their plan violates the low-density community character concepts of the voter approved 2014 Proposition A and is a gift to large property owners and developers that can never be reversed. It will surely hurt businesses, increase traffic congestion, cause more lawsuits, provide little or no low-income housing and negatively impact virtually every citizen.

Encinitas property owners, long ago, recognized the need for low-cost rentals and developed creative ways to meet those needs, but due to unrealistic and onerous city regulations and policies most of the units developed were never permitted and are classified illegal.

They are located in single-family, multi-family, commercial and agricultural zones in all five Encinitas communities. They are in new and old, wealthy and poor neighborhoods. While some are of such poor quality they should never be used for human habitation, most are very useable and suitable. It is believed that these units compose the majority of the city’s present low-income housing stock.

The major obstacles standing in the way of legalizing and counting these units are the current City Affordable Dwelling Unit Policy and reticent politicians. The ADU policy was written in 1986 and designed to discourage auxiliary housing and penalize those who attempted to get involved. Times have changed. California State Law now allows owners of most single family properties to have an auxiliary unit “by right” to encourage low-income housing and Encinitas has an obligation to follow that lead.

In December, I presented a partnership proposal to Council which would share the burden of legalizing these units between the property owners and City and improve the process. Some of the recommended changes were: • Eliminate City permit and Special District connection fees.

• Allow auxiliary units in all zones rather than in just single-family zones.

• Remove the covenant condition that does away with “structural grandfather clause” in case of fire or destruction.

• Modify current building and fire code requirements for auxiliary units to accept those codes which were in force at the time the major structure was built.

A push for a comprehensive housing inventory and the stopping of the City’s ill-conceived high-density market-rate housing plan are needed before it is too late.

Robert Bonde, Cardiff

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LETTERS POLICY Topical letters to the editor are encouraged and we make an effort to print them all. Letters are limited to 450 words or less and submissions are limited to one every two weeks per author. Submissions must include a full name, address, e-mail address (if available) and a telephone number for verification purposes. We do not publish anonymous letters.

Contact the editor for more information about submitting a guest editorial piece, called Community View, at 400 words maximum. We reserve the right to edit for taste, clarity, length and to avoid libel. E-mailed submissions are preferred to editor@encinitasadvocate.com.

Encinitas should adopt local drone ordinance

By Encinitas standards, Christmas Day was blustery. Winds were 15 miles per hour, gusting to 20. By any standard, a bad day to fly a drone. But that didn’t stop some from trying.

Two drones showed up at Cardiff Sports Park, and one crashed three times because of gusty winds. The drone pilot then decided to take his drone to the top of a children’s slide to launch from a higher spot. I was about 20 feet away, downwind, with my 2-year-old daughter. “That is a really bad idea,” I said, then asked that he take the drone to an open athletic field nearby.

The FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 limited the FAA’s rulemaking authority over hobby or recreational drones, but reaffirmed its enforcement authority when “safety of the national airspace system” is endangered. Now, federal lawmakers are justifiably alarmed because of a rash of reckless incidents involving consumer drone pilots that glaringly reveals legitimate public safety issues exist.

The FAA reports more than 700 dangerous drone incidents with manned aircraft nationwide. Of those, one in five occurred in California, more than any other state. Los Angeles experienced the most, with 42 incidents; San Diego experienced 14 incidents; and Carlsbad experienced 4 incidents.

A stream of dangerous drone incidents in the news coincides with the sudden proliferation of consumer drones, and exemplifies the public safety issues that now exist. Some incidents involved injuries … some serious.

•A baby suffered a cut on her head from flying shrapnel when a drone crashed on a sidewalk in Pasadena last September after the communications link was lost.

•A rogue drone buzzed into power wires lining Sunset Boulevard knocking one to the ground and cutting off power to about 700 customers last October. Authorities could not locate the pilot of the wayward drone.

These are a few examples of pilots operating their drones irresponsibly. There are a lot more. Olympic silver medalist Marcel Hirscher was almost clobbered by an out-of-control drone during a ski event in Italy last week.

Drone registration is needed to enable law enforcement agencies to apprehend operators of errant drones. The registration process also provides an opportunity to educate new entrants to the drone hobby about the responsibilities of flight.

Many state and local governments are enacting sensible regulations with regard to drone technology and drone operations within their communities. A comprehensive ordinance is now being considered for New York City, despite protests from drone lobbyists and their lawyers. Encinitas should follow.

Encinitas City councilmembers should be proactive in adopting a local drone ordinance. A comprehensive ordinance establishing community-based rules would compel recreation drone pilots to abide by safety guidelines and would empower local law enforcement personnel.

John Herron, Encinitas

Education Matters: Transparency is lost in the San Dieguito teachers’ contract

BY MARSHA SUTTON As predicted, after San Dieguito Union High School District supt. Rick Schmitt postponed the vote for a week to give the public extra time to review the new teacher contract, his effort was undermined by the San Dieguito Faculty Association.

Led by union president Bob Croft, the SDFA delayed its vote to approve the contract, also for one week.

Because the district refused to permit the public to see the tentative agreement until the union had voted to approve it – and because the union did not give its final approval until the night before the (rescheduled) Dec. 17 board vote – the public had less than 24 hours to see the contract.

So the delay on the vote was pointless. And, as expected, the contract was approved Dec. 17 by a vote of 3-2.

California Government Code section 3547 states that “meeting and negotiating shall not take place on any proposal until a reasonable time has elapsed after the submission of the proposal to enable the public to become informed, and the public has the opportunity to express itself regarding the proposal at a meeting of the public school employer.”

No reasonable person can credibly argue that the district gave the public sufficient time to review the complicated contract, when it was posted at 9 p.m. ahead of a 4 p.m. board meeting the very next day.

I asked Croft why he

Marsha Sutton delayed the SDFA vote. Doing so makes it appear there’s something to hide.

Croft offered this justification: “With the district deciding on the delay – not SDFA – why wouldn’t SDFA then want to take advantage of that opportunity to ensure our membership had additional time to submit their ballots?”

He added that the union’s delay “is simply SDFA working to meet the needs of our members.”

The only thing transparent about this process is the excuse that SDFA members needed additional time to review their contract.

What’s not to like? The 2015-2018 contract provides: •A 7-percent raise retroactive to July 1, 2015, for the 2015-2016 school year •A 5.5-percent raise for 2016-2017 •An increase in salary of $1,000 to all teachers for the English Learner credential •A shift into salary of about $11,000 from a health care flex spending account •Language that states the district’s teachers must See CONTRACT, page 15

Poll of the Week at www.encinitasadvocate.com Last week’s poll: Did you make any New Year’s resolutions?

Yes: 40 percent No: 60 percent Are you in favor of Caltrans’ plan for the Manchester Avenue strawberry fields?

Yes or No LETTERS POLICY: Topical letters to the editor are encouraged. Submissions should include a full name, address, e-mail address (if available) and a telephone number for verification purposes. We do not publish anonymous letters and there are length limits (about 450 words maximum). Emailed submissions are preferred to editor@encinitasadvocate.com. Letters may be edited. The letters/columns published are the author’s opinion only and do not reflect the opinion of this newspaper.

www.encinitasadvocate.com

PAGE A14 - JANUARY 8, 2016 - ENCINITAS ADVOCATE

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Keir Morse, professional field botanist and photographer, will guide participants as they explore Bernardo Mountain in search of rare plants.

They’ll spend the morning compiling an inventory of trees and shrubs on site and mapping any rare species that they find.

Jess Norton, conservation manager for the San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy, says, “This is a great opportunity to learn more about the native plants within the River Park from a plant expert.”

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CALTRANS

ENCINITAS ADVOCATE - JANUARY 8, 2016 - PAGE A15

continued from page 1

The strawberry fields projects are included in Caltrans’ $6.5 billion package of rail, freeway and lagoon improvements for the I-5 corridor. Funding is coming from a mix of federal and state sources.

Construction on the park and ride will begin late 2016 and likely take three to four years, Jacobo said. But the freeway access ramp would come in the second phase of the corridor program, 2020 to 2030.

The San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy will manage the agricultural portion and the open space, and work is scheduled to start there once the park and ride is finished, according to Jacobo.

Doug Gibson, conservancy executive director and principal scientist, said planning is in the early stages, but the group is looking at restoring the old barn on the agricultural portion of the land, along with starting a community garden, a native plant nursery and more there.

“The goal is to provide ecological and community benefits,” Gibson said.

The conservancy also wants to restore native plants in the open space area.

“We want to control invasive plants and start restoring some of those areas to enhance them for resident and migratory species.”

The strawberry fields and the San Elijo Lagoon are separated only by Manchester Avenue. Given the proximity, Gibson said the conservancy overseeing the land is a natural extension of its mission to protect the lagoon.

Gibson added he’s glad that Caltrans shrunk the size of the park and ride in response to community concerns, allowing more open space and agriculture.

Caltrans bought the land from Alvin Tom. The Yasuda Family Trust owns a smaller chunk of the strawberry fields and thus far has not expressed interest in selling, Jacobo said.

He added that Caltrans is still interested in buying the property down the line, because the freeway access ramp is slated to go on a sliver of it.

Attempts to reach Tom and representatives from Yasuda Family Trust for comment were unsuccessful.

The first phase of the I-5 corridor plan, 2016 to 2020, notably includes adding one express lane in each direction between Lomas Santa Fe Drive in Solana Beach and Highway 78 in Oceanside. The Manchester Avenue freeway access ramp would funnel car poolers, buses and solo drivers willing to pay a fee onto the express lanes.

Other phase one projects in Encinitas: lengthening the San Elijo highway bridge to accommodate express lanes and improve tidal flow; soundwalls to mitigate noise; and a new MacKinnon Avenue overpass.

The Encinitas City Council in 2014 backed the access ramp as well as the park and ride, but only after Caltrans committed to preserving some of the strawberry fields for agriculture and open space.

Councilmembers at that time acknowledged residents want the strawberry fields to stay put. But they noted the land was grandfathered in as residential zoning, so the property owners could hypothetically develop the property. Thus, they stated, Caltrans is offering a chance to preserve a significant part of the site.

Jacobo said the strawberry fields purchase included two existing cell towers on the property, which Caltrans will remove or relocate in order to move forward with project plans. He stated Caltrans will hold meetings to let the community know what’s happening once the various projects are closer to breaking ground.

CONTRACT

continued from page 13

be the highest paid in the county Croft signed the agreement on behalf of SDFA, and in an SDFA bulletin, sent to all SDUHSD teachers, he crowed about the agreement: “This is the LARGEST two-year raise in all of San Diego County! With this increase, our members are easily the #1 paid in San Diego County, using every comparable category!” [bold, caps, underlines and exclamation points reproduced directly from Croft’s bulletin] In a story in this newspaper published last month, Schmitt said delaying the vote for one week did indeed give the public adequate time for review.

In an interview last week, Schmitt said the only legal requirement was to disclose the tentative collective bargaining agreement under the provisions of Assembly Bill 1200.

AB 1200 requires districts to make public the major provisions of the proposed agreement. This includes a cost analysis and fiscal impact on the operating budget.

Schmitt says the district fulfilled this requirement by posting the disclosure in the board’s agenda packet on Dec. 4.

He is making a distinction between the fiscal impacts of the contract (disclosed Dec. 4) and the actual contract (not made public until Dec. 16).

It’s fine to get the district’s perspective on the financial ramifications of the contract, but people should be allowed to see the full contract for themselves rather than take the word of a government agency on what’s important for the public to know.

The bargain Both the district and the union (Schmitt and Croft) tout how they achieved this agreement through a cooperative process called interest-based bargaining, rather than the adversarial process some other districts use.

“Our new contractual agreement provides the financial security, health benefits, and contractual language stability that our members deserve, and which was achieved without engaging in the adversarial negotiations and counterproductive conflict seen in so many districts,” Croft said.

“The agreement was reached through productive interest-based and collaborative negotiations,” reads the district’s board report.

Because all employees in the district will receive the same raises and benefits that the union negotiated for its teachers, the district and the union would seem to be on the same side of the table, so collaboration would not appear to be a problem.

See CONTRACT, page 16

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PAGE A16 - JANUARY 8, 2016 - ENCINITAS ADVOCATE

CONTRACT

continued from page 15

Representing the district during negotiations were Schmitt and associate superintendents Torrie Norton and Jason Viloria (all of whom benefit from the contract) – and Bob Croft and Adrienne St. George for the faculty association.

It’s reasonable to ask who was negotiating for the taxpayer.

“The school district negotiates for the taxpayer and the community, period,” Schmitt said. “That’s what we do.

We’re always looking to get what we think is the best value for the community at the right price.”

Schmitt mentioned the millions of dollars the district spends on textbooks, bond contracts and facilities improvements, as examples.

“I, we, represent the taxpayers in every negotiation we do, whatever the category,” he said.

He said the agreement “provides budget stability,” adding that the community “has supported our employees over the years.”

He said the district has a history of being fiscally conservative, and that there is money to pay for these raises well into the future, based on healthy reserves, conservative assumptions and realistically rosy projections.

Since the deal seems to benefit the teachers overwhelmingly, I was curious to know what the district may have asked for that the union gave up. In other words, what was bargained?

Schmitt would not reveal what SDFA and the district discussed in closed negotiations.

Qualified to serve A letter to this newspaper published last month from a San Dieguito teacher was critical of my view (and trustee John Salazar’s) that the vote should be delayed to allow the contract to sunshine.

“Sutton has been writing about education for 14 years yet she holds no degrees in education,” he wrote. “Salazar does not come from an education background either other than his B.S. degree in political science.”

Is it the belief of teachers that school board members are not qualified to be trustees unless they hold degrees in education?

Besides being an outlandish suggestion, if that’s the case, then four of the five SDUHSD trustees are not qualified

to serve, including two of the three who voted to approve the new contract.

Salazar holds a B.S. in Business, Mo Muir holds a B.A. in political science, Amy Herman has a B.S. in organizational communications, and Beth Hergesheimer’s B.S. is in business administration.

Only Joyce Dalessandro has an educational degree. She has a B.A. in child development and psychology and a Masters in education and curriculum development.

By this faulty logic, Herman and Hergesheimer are also not qualified to serve as trustees.

Incidentally, very few education writers hold degrees in education. I plead guilty. My B.A. is in philosophy from UCLA. Good times After the board’s 3-2 vote in favor of the contract, the 200-plus overflow crowd of people in attendance, mostly teachers, were treated to a few moments of the song “Celebrate Good Times” on the speaker system before it was shut off.

“Yes, it was played,” Schmitt said. “What happened is a staff person did that, unbeknownst to any of us.”

“I’m disappointed that that was played; it was out of line,” he said. “It was not anything the school district or the leadership team planned for or endorsed.”

In an unusual decision, one speaker, Bob Croft, was allowed to make a public statement after the vote, in support of the contract. Speakers typically comment before a vote is taken on an action item, during the board’s discussion process of that item.

Schmitt said Croft was not given special treatment and that anyone is allowed to speak after a vote has been recorded.

“Anybody can request that, we’ve done it before,” he said.

Croft is paid a full teacher’s salary but does not teach.

The district hires a substitute to teach his physical education classes at Earl Warren Middle School. His full-time job is to serve as head of the San Dieguito Faculty Association and advocate on behalf of teachers.

Flawed process San Dieguito teachers deserve a new master contract with increased compensation, no argument. However, sever-

al issues give one pause: a 12.5 percent raise is rather hefty, the need to be the highest paid in the county is troublesome, class sizes may increase, the district will have to spend down reserves to sustain the raise, and taxpayer interests may not have been fairly represented at the bargaining table.

One may object to one or more of these issues, but what’s most critical is that property owners, taxpayers and parents were denied adequate time to become aware of the tentative agreement and were not given sufficient time to review it.

If constituents had had time to register their objections or support to trustees, then board members would only be accountable for their votes on the deal.

But the three trustees who voted in favor of this agreement – Dalessandro, Hergesheimer and Herman – didn’t just vote for the contract. By approving it the way it was done, they voted for secrecy and against transparency.

It’s one thing to support the contract itself, but quite another to proceed to approve the labor agreement knowing the contents of the contract had essentially been kept hidden.

The district’s response to the failure of timely disclosure has been repeated often: “This is how we’ve always done it.”

And: “Other districts do it this way.”

Parents, does this sound familiar? How many times have we heard our kids say that they want to have/buy/do something “because all the other kids” are having/buying/ doing it?

Illegal actions by other districts – or a history of doing things the wrong way – carry no weight.

Muir, in her statement after the vote, said, “This process is simply very flawed and unacceptable to me.”

Hergesheimer and Dalessandro are up for re-election in 2016. If they choose to run again, it would be Hergesheimer’s fourth term (she was first elected in 2004) and Dalessandro’s sixth (she was first elected in 1996).

Next week’s column will have details on the cost of annual step-and-column raises, the implications of the transfer of $12,000 in health care benefits into salary, using money in reserves to pay for the raises, the requirement to be the highest paid teachers in the county, and class sizes.

Marsha Sutton can be reached at suttonmarsha@gmail.com.