Encinitas advocate 4 9 15

Encinitas Advocate Cardif f-by-the-Sea • Leucadia • Olivenhain

Volume I • Issue 43

Community

■ Hiking gives Encinitas woman strength to battle cancer.

Page 5

■ Young performers wow judges at library’s first teen talent contest.

Page 8

Lifestyle

■ Local residents flock to Encinitas Egg Hunt Festival.

Page 19

ENCINITAS ADVOCATE An Edition of 3702 Via de la Valle Suite 202W Del Mar, CA 92014 858-756-1451 encinitasadvocate.com Delivery issues: subscription@ encinitasadvocate.com

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April 10, 2015

Student field trips to help Encinitas Farm Lab finally sprout

BY JARED WHITLOCK Nearly five years in the works, the Encinitas Union School District’s 10-acre farm recently gained irrigation lines — and crops followed. The farm is approaching another first: student field trips.

On April 18, fifth-graders from Park Dale Lane will spend a day at the property, dubbed Farm Lab. Three more district schools will get their chance April 23, 28 and 30.

“That’s going to be our biggest milestone — actually having students here,” said Mim Michelove, the co-founder of Healthy Day Partners. The nonprofit is overseeing Farm Lab, as well as a smaller farm at Ocean Knoll Elementary.

“I can’t imagine something more exciting. That will bring the space to life.”

Down the line, students will get a firsthand lesson in planting, growing and cooking produce at the 441 Quail Gardens site. The goal is to reinforce science, technology, nutrition and ecology concepts in the curriculum.

“I think it will truly bring science alive,” Michelove said, adding that Farm Lab aligns with new Common Core educational standards that emphasize experiential learning.

But crops won’t be the focus of the upcoming school trips. Rather, because the property is still a work in progress, student groups will take part in a timed challenge where they’ll suggest ideas for Farm Lab. To inform their vision, the students will spend time at the nearby San Diego Botanic Garden and the Leichtag Foundation property, posing questions to experts and noting amenities that would be ideal for Farm Lab. “They’ll be looking at signage, pathways and exhibits at the Botanic Garden, and then see what a working farm looks like at the Leichtag site,” said Leighangela Brady, assistant superintendent of business services.

Then the student groups will come up with plans and present their recommendations to a panel of community

District farmer Emily Staalberg (left) and Mim Michelove, co-founder of Healthy Day Partners, at the 10-acre Encinitas Union School District farm, which will soon host students. Photo by Jared Whitlock Inset: The master plan for Farm Lab. Image courtesy of EUSD

50.5 acres of coastal habitat acquired for open space

BY JARED WHITLOCK Batiquitos Bluffs, 50.5 acres of coastal habitat just south of the Batiquitos Lagoon, has been set aside for open space.

On a hillside overlooking the lagoon and Batiquitos Bluffs, it was announced April 7 that the regional planning agency SANDAG acquired the land for $6 million as part of an improvement program targeting the Interstate 5 corridor.

“I know how important it is that we provide these wild, open spaces so that people can appreciate nature,” Encinitas Deputy Mayor Catherine Blakespear said at the press conference.

A portion of the land was once slated for development.

Plans called for 19 homes on 10 acres of the 50.5-acre property, most of which is in Encinitas, just

A view of the Batiquitos Bluffs from an adjacent walking trail. Photo by Jared Whitlock southwest of La Costa Avenue and El Camino Real. The northern tip of the property is in Carlsbad, next to the 610acre Batiquitos Lagoon.

The Encinitas Planning Commission in 2009 approved the housing project, but residents and environmental groups appealed it to the California Coastal Commission. That agency voted in 2012 to strike it down, saying it would hurt wildlife in the area and sensitive habitat.

Encinitas resident Joan Herskowitz, who filed an appeal

members, district staff and the E3 cluster — a collective that formed a year ago to collaborate on educational initiatives on Quail Gardens Drive and nearby Saxony Road.

Funders who could potentially bankroll the students’ pitches will also be on hand.

“This is a great real-life challenge,” Brady said.

In future years, Brady said K-6 students would visit the farm, with more frequent seasonal visits likely for third- through sixthgraders.

“Each time they go, See FARM, page 18

SDUHSD board supports removing exemption for student vaccinations

BY KAREN BILLING The San Dieguito Union High School District board approved a resolution in support of Senate Bill 277, repealing the personal belief exemption for vaccinations, on April 2.

The board’s discussion and vote on the bill was nearly drowned out by an angry crowd of about 40 parents who opposed the bill, many holding signs and wearing buttons against vaccinations.

After the 4-1 vote with trustee Amy Herman voting against it, there was an immediate outburst: “That’s a big mistake!”

The shouts continued as a disappointed crowd spilled out of the meeting room. “It’s a civil rights issue!” “Here come the lawsuits!” “We’re all leaving the state!” “You can’t say stick our kid or they can’t go to school!”

“We understand the passion on this subject,” said trustee Joyce Dallessandro. “As a school board, we’re elected to represent, speak out for and advocate for the best interest of all students. The decisions we make need to best serve all or at the very least the majority of district students. It’s imperative that students are able to attend schools free of any overall safety and health concerns, so I am in support of this resolution.”

Public health officials believe an immunization rate of 95 percent is critical to minimizing the potential risk of a disease outbreak. California is one of only 17 states that allows parents to enroll their children in school unvaccinated through a personal belief exemption.

SB277 would prohibit children from attending any See VACCINATIONS, page 18

See HABITAT, page 18

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PAGE A2 - APRIL 10, 2015 - ENCINITAS ADVOCATE

Suspect in abduction attempt pleads not guilty to 3 felony charges

BY KRISTINA HOUCK A Fairbanks Ranch man has been arrested in the attempted abduction of a child at a Solana Beach elementary school, San Diego County Sheriff’s officials announced April 2.

Jack Henry Doshay, 22, was booked into the Vista Detention Facility late on April 1 on charges of child cruelty, false imprisonment with violence and kidnapping in connection with the March 23 attempted abduction of a 7-yearold girl at Skyline Elementary School.

During a news conference at the Sheriff’s Department headquarters in Kearny Mesa, Sheriff Bill Gore said Doshay was arrested shortly after 7:30 p.m. in Laguna Niguel.

Detectives had obtained an arrest warrant earlier in the day, but Doshay’s lawyer, Paul Pfingst, helped coordinate the arrest by providing the address.

Doshay pleaded not guilty on Saturday, April 4, to the three felony charges. He is being held at the Vista jail without bail and faces up to 11 years in prison if convicted of all charges. A hearing to further discuss whether he will be granted bail is scheduled for Thursday, April 9.

A readiness conference is scheduled for May 6 and a preliminary hearing is set for Jack Doshay was arrested May 28. in the attempted abduc“This guy messed with tion of a child at Skyline the wrong girl and the wrong Elementary School. Photo community,� said the viccourtesy San Diego Countim’s father, Mike Paeske, at ty Sheriff’s Department

the news conference. “We are so proud of our daughter for the way she handled herself during the attack and subsequent investigation. She is our inspiration and our hero.�

Although arrested in Laguna Niguel, Doshay had been living with his parents in Fairbanks Ranch (Rancho Santa Fe). Doshay is the son of Glenn and Karen Doshay, wellknown philanthropists in San Diego. Glenn Doshay is a San Diego businessman and a minority stake owner of the San Diego Padres. Doshay’s brother lives near Skyline School but officials said there is no connection — to their knowledge — among the suspect, the victim and the school.

Doshay’s arrest occurred nine days after the incident.

Witnesses reported seeing a man about 3:30 p.m. March 23 on the campus on Lomas Santa Fe Drive.

Although authorities initially said they did not believe the man physically assaulted the girl, they learned after talking with the victim that she fought the suspect as he threatened her.

The suspect approached the girl as she was heading to an after-school program. He reportedly told her that if she wanted to see her mother again, she should cooperate. He allegedly put his hand over her mouth, tried to wrap packing tape around her head and attempted to pick her up, according to officials.

The girl kicked and screamed, attracting the attention of teachers and staff. The suspect ran. The girl was not physically injured.

The victim’s father detailed the attempted kidnapping in a mass email March 24 to help catch the suspect and prevent similar incidents. In the email, he encouraged parents to talk with their children about “stranger danger.� “Never in our wildest dreams would we think this could happen to us,� he wrote. “Please forward to as many people you can to help prevent it from happening to others.�

The email, which was shared on local blogs and social

“This guy messed with the wrong girl and the wrong community,� said the victim’s father, Mike Paeske, at the news conference. Photo by Kristina Houck media sites, helped bring attention to the case.

Based on the accounts of the victim, teachers and staff, the Sheriff’s Department released a composite sketch March 24 of the suspect. The suspect was described as a white man in his 40s, about 6 feet tall with a medium build, light brown hair and tan skin. According to booking records, Doshay is 6 feet 2 inches tall, 165 pounds, with blond hair and blue eyes.

Volunteers helped distribute the sketch to local businesses around the community.

In the days after the incident, the Sheriff’s Department and San Diego County Crime Stoppers received more than 150 calls and tips. The department looked at several potential suspects, Gore said, but detectives focused on Doshay. “San Diego County families can sleep a little bit better knowing that one less threat isn’t out there on the street,� said Paeske, who thanked friends, neighbors, police and the greater community. “Now we begin the process of healing.�

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ENCINITAS ADVOCATE -APRIL 10, 2015 - PAGE A3

Community to weigh in on coastal rail trail; workshop set for April 21 at Cardiff school

Encinitas council awards architecture contract for Pacific View

BY JARED WHITLOCK Where should the rail trail — a separated path to get more people to bike and walk — go in Cardiff?

The community will have the chance to weigh in on the Cardiff segment — Chesterfield Drive to E Street in downtown Encinitas — during a workshop from 6-8 p.m. April 21 at the Cardiff Elementary School auditorium.

Options during the meeting will show that the rail trail could run on San Elijo Avenue or Coast Highway 101, or possibly on both roads.

“Everyone will be invited to weigh in on the configuration details,” said Helen Gao, public information officer with the planning agency SANDAG. Originally, SANDAG wanted to put the Cardiff section of the rail trail east of the train tracks alongside San Elijo Avenue.

But then it was determined a portion of San Elijo Avenue is too narrow to accommodate the rail trail. So, a 2,000-foot-long retaining wall would have to built near Montgomery Avenue to support the path, bringing the project cost to $9 million — much more than

BY JARED WHITLOCK The architecture firm Westberg & White will soon draw up design plans that will serve as a guide for rehabbing the Pacific View buildings.

With Councilman Mark Muir absent, the Encinitas City Council on April 8 voted 4-0 to award a $70,000 contract to Westberg & White for the work.

Earlier in the meeting, the council also voted unanimously to request proposals to find an “operating partner” that will take the architectural drawings and then be responsible for designing, fixing up and operating the buildings. The operating partner would also oversee the surrounding The Encinitas City Council recently awarded a grounds.

Not everyone was on board with contract for architecture plans at the Pacific View the plan. property. Groups were also invited to apply to be the Resident Garth Murphy said the site’s “operating partner.” Photo by Jared Whitlock council is putting “the cart before the horse” in regards to Pacific View.

Murphy stated the council should first select an operating partner that knows what it wants to do with the property, and then order architectural drawings. Otherwise, the design plans will be overly broad and more expensive than need be, he argued.

Councilman Tony Kranz said having architectural designs would encourage potential operating partners to apply, because they’d have a better understanding of the project and necessary repairs to bring the buildings up to code.

“A report that says here’s what needs to happen to comply with the law is a very useful tool for all the operating partners,” Kranz said.

An elementary school built in 1953, Pacific View closed more than a decade ago.

Kranz and Councilwoman Lisa Shaffer are on a subcommittee that’s tasked with developing ideas for revamping the Pacific View site, which the city bought from the Encinitas Union School District for $10 million last year.

Instead of the city managing the Pacific View revamp, the subcommittee recommended the operating partner concept to speed up site rehabilitation.

The Pacific View subcommittee has also floated a “living museum” with art demonstrations and performances at the property. But potential operating partners could submit ideas outside that concept.

See AWARD, page 23

This stretch of San Elijo Avenue could be too narrow for the coastal rail trail, according to planning officials.

They’ve looked at putting the path on Coast Highway 101 from Chesterfield Drive to E Street.

Photo by Jared Whitlock the $5.1 million budgeted for the Cardiff segment.

That’s why SANDAG looked west. The rail trail could go on Highway 101, where a short physical barrier would separate it. In addition to the rail trail, a northbound and southbound bike lane, delineated by paint, could also be installed.

However, making space for this option could entail eliminating one northbound lane on Highway 101, or even one lane in each direction.

SANDAG officials have stressed that any lane reduction would have to be supported by traffic studies.

In February, the Encinitas City Council expressed the desire for the rail trail to go on San Elijo Avenue. That way, Cardiff neighborhoods would be more inclined to use the path, councilmembers stated.

Based on council and city staff input, SANDAG is looking into how it can put as much of the rail trail in Cardiff as possible on San Elijo Avenue, according to Gao. Gao said construction for the Cardiff segment is estimated to start in 2017. The rail trail is planned citywide.

One day, SANDAG envisions the rail trail covering 44 miles.

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Encinitas theater group helps those with autism learn to act — and react • Nonprofit teaches social, life skills to teens, adults via improvisation, performance classes

BY KELLEY CARLSON Local theater group PACT is where imagination plays a role in helping people handle real situations.

Founded by Encinitas residents Kathryn Campion and William Simonson, the nonprofit teaches social and life skills to teens and adults with autism and other special needs. This is accomplished through improvisational and performance workshops, in-school programs, and group meetings to help those with high-functioning autism/Asperger’s find jobs.

The group’s mission “is In the PACT theater group, teens and adults with autism to empower individuals with learn social and life skills through improvisation and unique needs and create performance workshops (above and right). The workcommunity,” and it receives shops help participants form a bond, too, says co-foundfunding through tuition, er Kathryn Campion: “They ‘get’ each other.” Courtesy grants and individual dona- photos tions.

However, when it was initially started in 2008, PACT (Positive Action Community Theatre) had a different focus. Known at the time as Encinitas Community Theatre, the group served the general public. It was the brainchild of two veteran performers: Campion, who has played classical piano since age 7; and Simonson, who has been involved in more than 100 theater and TV productions in roles such as lead actor, director and stage manager.

Campion also had experience with nonprofits, serving as a regional director of the Joy of Sports Foundation, where she developed and directed programs that taught life skills through physical activities to low-income children.

Initially, PACT held theater workshops for the general community and high-risk youths, but the group started drawing the attention of parents with children on the autism spectrum. One of those parents was Sandy Redmon, whose son, Jacob, has Asperger’s syndrome, a disorder with characteristics that include difficulties with social interaction and nonverbal communication.

Redmon had read an article about PACT and was searching for a group that fit Jacob’s needs. She recalled her own theater and dance background, and realized that many of the skills she had learned could benefit her son. However, Redmon was unsure about calling attention to Jacob and putting him in a potentially stressful social situation, so she hesitated.

But finally, she called Campion, who was receptive to the idea of allowing those on the autism spectrum to join.

At first, the group’s structure did not work for Jacob.

“My fear was somewhat justified, because he refused to even stand up and say his name,” Redmon said. “The teen/adult class was structured more like an actor’s workshop, where individuals would perform monologues and do cold readings and get direction from the instructor and feedback from the audience.”

But Redmon persisted in seeking a solution for her son, and started speaking to friends with autistic children about joining the theater group. Through word of mouth, PACT grew in popularity, especially with the autism community, and Redmon maintained regular contact with Campion.

Finally, Campion asked Redmon whether she would be interested in teaching and developing the curricula, and Redmon stepped up to the task. She drew upon her experiences and education, which included a bachelor of arts degree from North Texas State University with an emphasis in communications, theater and dance; teaching dance at the YMCA; working in human resources; obtaining a master of arts degree in social and psychological services; and being employed as a corporate trainer at Advanced Micro Devices in Austin, Texas.

Redmon also incorporated her yoga teacher training and meditation into the workshops, which she had found effective in redirecting Jacob’s anxious behavior, and life skills that she had learned as a Girl Scout leader for her daughter’s troop.

“She’s (Sandy) an incredible teacher. … She has been such a gift to the organization,” Campion said.

Today, PACT offers several options to people on the autism spectrum.

The longest-running program is the eight-week Saturday workshops — improvisational theater and performance arts — primarily designed for ages 12 and older. Each class is 12 to

Ugly Dog Contest returns to Fairgrounds April 19 The 20th Annual Ugly Dog Contest is returning to the Del Mar Fairgrounds. This fun, family community event is presented by the San Diego Coastal Chamber of Commerce and the Del Mar Kiwanis. This year’s event will take place on Sunday, April 19, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. in the Saddling paddock at the Del Mar racetrack.

The event will raise money for the San Diego Humane Society and Reality Changers.

For additional information, sponsorships or tickets, contact originaluglydog@gmail.com or visit bit.ly/UDC2015.

15 students: a blend of people with autism and peer mentors who volunteer their time to model life skills and social behaviors by “being themselves.”

“We don’t talk about disabilities at all,” Campion said. “Everyone is equal.”

During the improvisational theater workshop, which is held from 2:30 to 4 p.m., students begin with stretching and relaxation. Next, they transition into ice-breaker activities, which allow them to practice social skills such as dialogue, eye contact, listening and memory. Redmon said most of the time in the theater workshops is spent doing improvisational theater games and activities that develop an understanding of appropriate and respectful emotional and behavioral responses in the participants. The students are also asked to pretend they are in certain social situations, and they must improvise how to resolve them.

For the performing arts workshop — held immediately after improvisational theater, from 4 to 5 p.m. — the group learns and performs six songs. They sing three of them, using lyric sheets — since memorization is sometimes challenging for the youths — and perform choreographed dances to the other three.

Campion noted that the workshops are a bonding experience for those on the spectrum.

“They ‘get’ each other,” she said. “They develop friendships with each other, and hang out with each other.”

The cost of the improvisational theater workshop is $175, while the performance theater is $150. There is a flexible scholarship program and sliding scale fees, and the cost is free for volunteers.

While primarily based in Encinitas, PACT also aids special-needs students in two area schools. Since January 2013, PACT has been providing a grant-funded program to students with autism at The Country School in San Marcos, using the same format as the Saturday workshops. And last October, PACT began helping youths with developmental disabilities at Excelsior Academy in San Diego. The nonprofit is seeking funds to continue the program there.

While PACT’s emphasis is on theater, it recently introduced the free Goldmine Advocates Program, or GAP, to help high-functioning autism/Asperger’s adults to find jobs. Campion noted that job-searching is especially hard for high-functioning people because they know what they’re capable of doing, yet they have difficulty in the interview process because of their social skills. Program participants meet bimonthly for brainstorming sessions, and one-on-one consultations are available as well. Campion added that the long-range goal is for PACT to establish a business or organization run by people with autism.

In the meantime, PACT’s efforts are being noted by the community. Last month, San Dieguito Academy chose the nonprofit to receive all the donations and proceeds from its Theater for a Cause production, “Of Mice and Men.” “It was a real honor for us, and made us feel part of the community,” Campion said.

And PACT is also having positive influences on its participants. For instance, it took a while for Jacob Redmon to adjust to the program, but once he did, “he flourished,” Sandy Redmon said. “It was like a light bulb went on.”

Jacob went on to play Aladdin in San Marcos High School’s production last year, and has since graduated. He is now taking theater classes in college and helping with the PACT program, and has become a very outgoing individual.

“The intention is for us to be (here) for a long time,” Campion said. “I’m not going anywhere, and (those with autism are) not going anywhere.”

For information about PACT, call 760-815-8512, email info@pacthouse.org or visit www.pacthouse.org.

Del Mar National Horse Show begins April 16 In its 70th year, the Del Mar National Horse Show runs from April 16 through May 3 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds Arena.

Elegance, excitement, and excellence are the hallmarks of the show, one of the oldest and most prestigious equestrian competitions in the western United States. A different aspect will be highlighted each week: Western Week (April 16-19); Dressage Week (April 23-26) and Hunter/Jumper Week (April 28-May 3). Visit www.delmarnational.com.

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Step by step: Hiking gives Encinitas woman strength to battle cancer

BY JOE TASH For Patti McCarthy, hiking on the Pacific Crest Trail, which runs from Mexico to Canada, was the ideal way to keep her sanity and perspective during a recent battle with breast cancer.

“It was something that gave me peace of mind. I felt like I was defeating cancer when I was out there,” said McCarthy, 53, a nurse and longtime Encinitas resident.

Hiking might not be for everyone, she concedes, but those fighting the disease can improve their quality of life by doing things they care about. “Find a passion so you’re not just focusing on cancer all the time,” she said.

McCarthy put down her thoughts and observations in a self-published book, called “Hiking Cancer,” which she co-wrote with her husband and hiking partner, Lynn Shapiro, 54. The book came out in October, and was drawn from blog and journal entries written by the couple, as well as essays by McCarthy on such topics as losing her hair and capacity to taste food during chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and also information about hiking the Pacific Crest Trail.

McCarthy received her diagnosis during a phone call from her doctor in October 2012. She recalled that he never used the word “cancer,” but instead told her she had a carcinoma, a term she was familiar with from her job.

“I don’t think I heard anything he said after that,” she said. “It really threw me for a loop.”

The couple had already hiked some sections of the Pacific Crest Trail at the time of her diagnosis, and McCarthy was determined to continue their quest to eventually trek over every portion of the 2,650-mile trail, even during her cancer treatment.

That decision caused friends, family and even Shapiro to worry.

Although Shapiro was concerned about the hikes during McCarthy’s illness, he said he knew how important it was to his wife, and, “I felt confident whatever trouble we got into, I could get us out of it.”

During treatment, the couple hiked a total of 256 miles on the trail, and since McCarthy’s treatment ended in 2013 and she was de-

Lynn Shapiro, left, and Patti McCarthy on the Pacific Crest Trail. “I felt like I was defeating cancer when I was out there,” said McCarthy, who now has trekked 750 miles on the trail since cancer treatment ended in 2013. clared in remission from cancer, they have brought their total to 750 miles. In hindsight, Shapiro said, the decision to keep hiking during treatment was the right one.

“The strength Patti got from the hikes … proved to be an important part of her recovery,” he said.

Maintaining a sense of humor was also important.

Thanks to her radiation treatments and diagnostic X-rays, McCarthy earned the nickname “Glow in the Dark” among the Pacific Crest Trail hiking community. One hiker and blogger they met even organized a nighttime hike in McCarthy’s honor in which about 20 participants carried glow sticks along the trail.

“That simple act did a lot for me,” she said. “It put me on Cloud 9.”

One lesson she learned, said McCarthy, is that cancer patients don’t have to stay upbeat and positive all the time, as many people urge them to do. Instead, she said, there were days when she needed to cry or indulge in an angry rant.

“I thought, the only thing I’m positive about is that cancer sucks,” she said.

“Also, I learned that support comes in the most unusual places, where you don’t expect it, so you need to be open to that.”

Among the support she did count on was that of her husband, and the couple’s three children, who are all in their 20s.

The couple said that people who have read the book have said it resembles a love story because of how the experience brought them together.

When he was a child, Shapiro said, his mother had breast cancer, and he tried to model his own behavior after that of his father, who was very supportive during his mother’s illness.

“He was always there for my mom,” Shapiro said. So when his wife became ill, he said, “I stayed with her. I didn’t shy away from the process.”

McCarthy is back to working as a nurse part-time, visiting patients in their homes to help them stay healthy and out of the hospital. The couple are planning their next Pacific Crest Trail hike for August or September.

As for her ordeal with cancer, she said, “I think what got me through is my stubbornness. I tried really hard each day to not let cancer get the best of me.”

Find the couple’s hiking and cancer blog at McShapPCTjournal.wordpress.com. To purchase a signed copy of “Hiking Cancer,” email them at mcshap@att.net.

ENCINITAS ADVOCATE -APRIL 10, 2015 - PAGE A5

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PAGE A6 - APRIL 10, 2015 - ENCINITAS ADVOCATE

Alumnus’ ‘Pain’ to be performed for San Dieguito Academy fundraiser

BY DIANE Y. WELCH Pain. Everyone feels it, and seldom is it considered entertainment.

For Paul Coates, however, pain proved the spark for a “thrilling, intense, thought-provoking play” that will take the audience through the highs and lows of comedy, drama, tragedy and fear, according to Theresa Beauchamp, chair for the San Dieguito Academy Theatre Arts Council supporting the world premiere of Coates’ play, “Pain.”

The performance — a series of connected monologues — will be staged in SDA’s Clayton E. Liggett Theater at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 25, and is a fundraiser for the theater arts.

For this one-night event, Coates has cast San Dieguito Union High School and SDA theater arts alumni from the 1970s through to current students.

Coates — an SDUHS alumnus from 1976, now a playwright and a talent and literary manager in Los Angeles — became fascinated by pain while undergoing dental work.

“For the months of being operated on, I thought to myself, ‘I have to meditate somewhere else because I can’t go through this every month.’ So I started to think of the concept of pain and what people go through and the thresholds they reach,” said Coates.

“It went from the concept of physical pain, then got into emotional pain, the baggage that people never let go of, and then it got into psychological pain,” he explained. “I didn’t realize it at the time, but now I realize how universal pain is.”

This is the second time that Coates has offered his talents and a star cast to perform at SDA. Two years ago, he wrote “The End of It,” which was also staged as a fundraiser, said SDA Theater Director Stephanie Siers.

“It was absolutely incredible and was picked up in the Los Angeles circuit,” she said.

Siers wrote to Coates and asked whether he could incorporate former and current students in a second SDA project.

Using technology, he was able to direct school rehearsals remotely through Skype.

“We’re getting everyone where they should be so that when we do meet on April 18, for the first time, they’ll have a strong sense of where we’re headed, and we will be able to take care of a lot of the fine elements,” said Coates, who looked to Siers to help with casting.

SDA cast members include senior Caleb Gibson and juniors Jessica Morilak and Maggie Lombard. Recent SDA graduates in the cast are Jesse Trout, Hannah Dohrer, Dakota Speas and Trevor LaPlante.

Tony Maggio is co-directing, with Mary Jeffries, Sylvia Lindsay Lange, Mike Ball, Kirsten Anderson, Mark Liggett (son of Clayton E. Liggett), Sharon Corbett-Parry, Bill Barker, Lisa Lippman, and co-directors Sheri Galan and David Youse rounding out the cast.

“Stephanie did a fantastic job in casting. Every single student is perfectly suited to the role, and they are really good,” said Coates. “I was a bit nervous about them because they are young and not so nervous about the old folks like us, but now it’s the opposite because I’m dealing with actors who may not have been on the stage for 35, 45 years,” he joked.

During the first rehearsal, Coates and two colleagues will lead master classes for theater students.

The common denominator for all involved is Clayton E. Liggett. Theater students know him as the namesake for SDA’s state-of-the-art theater, and former theater students know him as their instructor.

Paul Coates’ play, “Pain,” will be performed by SDA students and alumni on April 25.

For Coates, Liggett was so much more than his theater teacher. “My father died when I was in high school and he (Liggett) took over that role. We never discussed it and I never realized that he knew my father had died, but he did know,” recalled Coates. “He was that kind of a guy, and he is the glue that keeps bringing us back together.”

One of Liggett’s students was Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder. The night that he heard Liggett had died, he wrote a song about his relationship with his teacher — “The Long Road” — which is the theme song to the film, “Dead Man Walking.”

“The song is in memory of Clayton, a man who left a legacy that was incredibly widespread,” said Coates. “Every single person from my years walks into this theater with a sense of profound respect and love for him.”

That emotion will be translated into Coates’ production. Despite a minimal set with just chairs on stage — its focus is to convey emotion to the audience, said Siers. “There will be lighter elements and darker elements that most of the audience will relate to,” she explained. “It will be a fascinating raw piece.”

The show is sold out, but rush tickets are still available for students.

SDA’s Theatre Arts Council is part of SDA’s Foundation. Visit http://sdafoundation.com/ who-we-are/councils/theatre-arts-council for information or to donate.

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ENCINITAS ADVOCATE -APRIL 10, 2015 - PAGE A7

Make-A-Wish kids hunt eggs at Botanic Garden

BY JARED WHITLOCK Make-A-Wish San Diego kids and their families on April 3 searched for Easter eggs amid exotic plants at the San Diego Botanic Garden.

“There’s something that settles the mind when you’re in this environment,” said Julian Duval, the executive director of the Botanic Garden. “It’s important families in this situation experience that.”

The occasion marked the 20th anniversary of the Botanic Garden egg hunt. Besides looking for eggs, kids got the chance to visit the Easter Bunny and pot succulent plants to take home.

Make-A-Wish San Diego President and CEO Chris Sichel said the foundation grants 200 wishes a year for children in the region with lifethreatening illnesses.

“Granting wishes takes up most of our time, and so we’re not able to coordinate many events,” Sichel said. “So this is such a gift from the Botanic Garden.”

Sichel said the egg hunt benefits not only children who are sick, but also their families.

“When a kid is sick, if there are other kids in the family, sometimes they don’t get as much attention,” he said. “This is for the entire family to enjoy.”

He added that events like this are important because when a child has a life-threatening illness, often one parent has to stop working, cutting discretionary income for family outings.

Victoria LaPierre’s son, Robert, was diagnosed with leukemia lymphoma in February.

This was the first Make-A-Wish event her family attended.

“It was nice to see other families come together to have an event for the children,” LaPierre said. “After doing this, we’re going to make a point to attend more Make-A-Wish events.”

Visit www.sandiego.wish.org.

The LaPierres with the Easter Bunny.

Vivianna Adkins, left, and Madelynn Adkins meet the Easter Bunny.

Right: Aidan Munoz Michael Walendowsky leaves no stone unturned in his hunt.

The Easter Bunny pumps up kids moments before the egg hunt begins.

The Bill family on the hunt for eggs.

Mia Fricke is so excited to meet the Easter Bunny, she hops up and down.

Anna adds an egg to her basket.

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PAGE A8 - APRIL 10, 2015 - ENCINITAS ADVOCATE

Young performers wow judges at library’s first teen talent contest

BY DIANE Y. WELCH On Saturday, March 28, 11 young performers entertained the audience and judges at the inaugural Encinitas Library Teen Talent Contest.

The competition was open to local students in grades 6-12, and of the 11 contenders, three took top honors.

Participants had to fill out an application form and send a YouTube link or a video of themselves performing. The contest attracted vocalists, dancers, musicians and nontraditional performers.

The judges were library technicians Lucas Thoma and Yasaman Douraghy, and Emerson Sims won first place. Courtesy photos Anne Omsted, who represented the Friends of the Library, which sponsored the talent show and provided the award funds.

First place — and a check for $250 — went to Emerson Sims, a seventh- grader from the Grauer School, who demonstrated his skill on the unicycle while performing tricks.

Second place, $150, went to Rachel Dovsky, an 11thgrader from San Dieguito Academy, who played piano and sang “Written in the Stars.”

Third place, $100, went to Winners Emerson Sims, Rachel Doysky, Devon McCrea Devon McCrea, also an 11thgrader from San Dieguito Academy, who performed “La Paloma” on classical guitar.

Other performers were Noah Jerge, Bram Downs, Delaney Downs, Josue Vazquez, Mara Hughes, Zoe Costa, Charlotte Behler, Margot Richter and Sam Goldsmith.

Librarian Ariadna Jimenez-Varrios said that students and their parents were appreciative of the opportunity to see the talent and for the young people to display their talent.

“We thought that the talent show was fun and well-organized. It really felt like a true local

Contestants, top row, L-R: Noah Jerge, Emerson Sims, Bram Downs, Josue Vazquez, Mara Hughes, Zoe Costa. Bottom row: Devon McCrea, Charlotte Behler, Rachel Dovsky, Delaney Downs. Not pictured: Margot Richter, Sam Goldsmith (AKA Bird Ribbon). event, with teens representative of all the various local schools,” commented one parent.

Participants found the experience exciting and engaging, said Jimenez-Varrios, and added that they are looking forward to another talent show in the future.

“This was the first year that we did the teen talent show, so we weren’t really sure if people would participate or not,” she said. “But we were pleasantly surprised; there is a lot of talent here.”

Judges, L-R: Lucas Thoma, Yasaman Douraghy, Anne Omsted

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ENCINITAS ADVOCATE -APRIL 10, 2015 - PAGE A9

Local author details digital TV’s local roots in ‘Televisionaries’ book

BY DIANE Y. WELCH Local resident Marc Tayer had a feeling that he was part of history when — 25 years ago — the organization he worked for took a technological leap toward the digital revolution.

At 6 p.m. April 14, Tayer will give a presentation at the San Diego History Center in Balboa Park on the invention of digital television and how he was at the center of its development, a story told in his book, “Televisionaries: Inside the Chaos and Innovation of the Digital Revolution” (MediaTech Publishing, March 2015).

The book captures the full arc of the digital television revolution, featuring the engineers, entrepreneurs, and media titans who made it happen, said Tayer.

Its major themes retell how digital technology was invented and how it spread around the globe; corporate innovation; the growth of media broadcasting and the entertainment business; where the technology is today; and where it is heading for the future.

While many know the history of computers and the Internet revolution, the history of digital TV was in danger of being lost to time, said Tayer.

“The invention of digital TV is global, yet the fact that the technology originated here is really not known anymore,” said Tayer. “At the time, almost 25 years ago, it was big headlines and many heard about it — but now people are stunned when they hear that it actually started in San Diego.”

During the 1980s, it was widely believed that the Japanese would become the leaders in media technology with their invention of HDTV. However, it was based on expensive and limited analog technology.

When digital TV came along, attention was diverted from Japan to General Instrument (GI), the innovator behind the revolutionary digital TV, winning an FCC competition to radically change the television broadcast standard becoming the Grand Alliance standard by 1996.

In the 1990s, Tayer worked in GI’s business development and marketing department, having transferred from its New York headquarters to its San Diego division in 1987.

On his return from a business trip to Japan, he was told that he had a new role heading up GI’s core team, pulling the nascent digital television project together.

“It was my job to bring our new digital TV technology out of our research and development labs and turn it into a profitable business,” Tayer recalled.

As the core team leader, Tayer coordinated the various activities (engineering, marketing, sales, operations, finance and more), overseeing the project while shepherding it through its various milestones and development phases.

Initially the project was top secret. The widely held industry opinion was that transforming television from its analog roots to the zeros and ones of computers was impossible. But GI was confident that its engineers could develop the world’s first digital television system.

The announcement of GI’s digital system upset the status quo on three continents. “Digital TV would soon became a reality for consumers throughout the world, and the media business was forever changed,” said Tayer.

Getting the technology to market had three distinct phases: In its infancy, the technology was developed through computer simulations reading algorithms running on the most powerful computers of the day. “Even then, we could only get a few seconds of video to look at,” recalled Tayer.

The second stage came in 1991 with a one-off prototype, an extremely complex product that had yet to be refined. And while it was not sellable, it did allow real-time digital video processing.

The third stage was the actual first-generation product, which was ready for market in 1992. “HBO stepped up and agreed to field-test it with their cable TV affiliates ... kicking off the digital television era,” said Tayer.

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PAGE A10 - APRIL 10, 2015 - ENCINITAS ADVOCATE

Tour de Cure sets wheels in motion at fairgrounds April 18 to help diabetes research

BY KRISTINA HOUCK Hundreds of cyclists are expected to raise awareness and funds for diabetes research, education and advocacy during the annual Tour de Cure on April 18 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.

“We try and make events that provide people with a way to make a difference for themselves, both physically and mentally, and be involved in helping find a cure,” said John Correia, associate director of the American Diabetes Association’s greater San Diego area chapter, which covers San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino and Imperial counties. “That’s what Tour de Cure is all about.”

Founded in 1960, the local chapter hosts the cycling event and three walks every year to support the national association’s mission to prevent and cure diabetes and improve the lives of all people affected by the disease.

The American Diabetes Association has funded innovative research to combat diabetes since 1955. In 2010, the association funded more than $34 million in research at 125 leading research institutions across the country.

The local Tour de Cure is part of the association’s annual event, which first took place in 1991 in California and New York. Today, there are cycling events in 44 states.

Nearly 850 people participated in the local Tour de Cure last year, raising $365,000. The event, which took place in Temecula, was originally scheduled for Torrey Pines High School but was postponed after the 2014 wildfires.

This year, the chapter expects close to 1,000 participants with the goal to raise $420,000.

Funds will benefit diabetes research, education and advocacy.

“This is our first year at the Del Mar Fairgrounds and we’re very excited about that,” Correia said. ‘We are very hopeful to make the Del Mar Fairgrounds our start and finish location going forward. We think it’s a great location, and we think the community is very excited about the opportunity to partner with us and raise awareness.”

More than 2.5 million people are living with diabetes in the local chapter’s area.

Almost 30 million people have diabetes in the United States. Approximately 1.7 million Americans will be diagnosed with the disease this year.

San Diego native Guillermo Ybarra is one of the millions of Americans who has battled diabetes.

Ybarra recalled driving on July 4, 2013, when his vision became blurry. When he awakened the next morning with blurry vision again, he made a doctor’s appointment. He was soon diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes at the age of 34.

“I was kind of in denial,” said Ybarra, a Chula Vista resident whose parents have diabetes.

His cousin also lost his sight from the disease.

“I didn’t want to believe this could happen to me. How could I be OK one minute and not the next?”

Despite his diagnosis, Ybarra did not change his eating and exercise habits. At his heaviest, he was 369 pounds.

When he finally decided to make a change, he took up some active hobbies, including cycling, and joined a weight-loss program. Now 36, he has lost 119 pounds and is diabetes-free.

Above: Ybarra is more active now than he was when he first got his diabetes diagnosis. Right: He lost 119 pounds and is diabetes-free.

“It is amazing,” Ybarra said. “It was one of my goals to beat diabetes.”

He will be riding in the upcoming Tour de Cure for the second consecutive year.

During the event there will be four different routes: a 100-mile, 62-mile and 29-mile ride, as well as a 1-mile loop Family Fun Ride. The 29-mile ride is symbolic of the almost 30 million Americans with diabetes.

“This event makes me feel like I’m not alone,” Ybarra said. “We’re all in this together.”

There will be more than 25 vendors, a taco truck and beer available at the event. All participants will receive a free lunch and medal. Those who raise $1,000 or more will receive VIP treatment with a massage and a free beer. All riders participating in the Tour de Cure can also register for the 2016 Tour de Cure for free.

“We’re always looking for volunteers, and we’re always looking for people to help us move our mission forward with donations,” Correia said. “Donations of any amount are always welcome.”

For information or to register for the American Diabetes Association San Diego Tour de Cure, visit www.diabetes.org/sandiegotourdecure. Enter “LUCKY7REG” to register for the event for just $7. Participants must raise a minimum of $200.

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ENCINITAS ADVOCATE -APRIL 10, 2015 - PAGE A11

Deeper insights lie beneath the glitter of Lux artist’s works

BY DIANE Y. WELCH Appearing larger than life, the ebullient Jamaican-born mixed-media artist Ebony G. Patterson — appropriately attired in a silver dress and blingy shoes — charmed guests at the Lux Art Institute’s evening reception on April 2.

It was the opening night of her eye-catching exhibition of life-sized tapestries depicting theatrically staged groupings of working-class males from the popular Jamaican dancehall culture.

Patterson’s large-scale works are embellished with bling. Fake flowers, costume jewelry, metallic threads and upholstery tassels add tongue-in-cheek adornment to tapestries commercially woven from staged photo-portraits that re-create lipstick-wearing gangsters and young black men with bleached faces, plucked eyebrows and flamboyant clothing.

Looking primarily to dancehall culture — which surrounds a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1960s — and its impact on Jamaica’s working class, Patterson investigates the ways in which young black men shape their identities within the mostly ignored subculture.

To retell their stories, Patterson, who has a love of fabric, designs the outfits for her models, then works with a tailor who creates the clothing. “I can’t sew or cut,” she admits; but she has the imagination to visualize exactly how the clothing should look.

“Then I take them back to the tailor to add embellishments,” she said. Making the clothing is a layered process, much the same as making the completed tapestries.

“Untitled Species VIII Patterson then stages a scene, which is shot by a profes(Russ)” loaned by Marti sional photographer. She edits the digital image and sends it and Toni Oppenheimer. to a commercial weaver, usually to Walmart’s photo service.

Patterson considers the superstore’s tendency to carry kitsch products very appealing. “It seems appropriate for the kitsch culture that I am portraying,” she said.

When the tapestry is returned, Patterson sets about embellishing the piece through thoughtful placement of kitschy adornments.

During her residency at Lux, through May 2, Patterson will be working on three to four wall-based tapestries related to a larger body of work that she started in late 2013.

Titled “The Dead Trees Series,” the pieces are related to images of people who died violently, imagery she discovered on social media.

“I’ve been looking at social media as a popular cultural archetype, in the same way that hip-hop and dancehall culture give visibility to average working-class people,” she said of the inspiration for the series.

“I’m especially looking at how platforms, like Facebook and Tumblr, give visibility to otherwise invisible people due to their socio-economic standing,” Patterson explained.

She is drawn to violence particularly because “these images that surface are often of working-class people.”

Much of this imagery is brutally violent. Patterson explores the now-common situation that when something violent is occurring, and bystanders gather, their initial response is to take out their cellphones and record the incident.

“The act desensitizes us to the horror that this is actually happening to an actual person; it is totally removed from our consciousness,” she said.

“Through my work I’m using all of this bling, the kind of prettiness of the surface, as a way of seducing the viewer to look at the piece,” said Patterson. The process mirrors the way the viewer is seduced by the imagery when it’s seen online.

Ebony G. Patterson standing by “Bad Pickney,” loaned by artist and Monique Meloche Gallery. Photos by Diane Y. Welch.

Patterson’s unique work is held in many private collections and has earned her numerous awards, including Jamaica’s prestigious Prime Minister’s Youth Awards for Excellence in Art and Culture, and the Institute of Jamaica’s Mustgrave Award.

Since 2007, she has taught in the art department at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. Kentucky is where she works, but Jamaica is still considered home, she said.

Patterson will be in residency at the Lux Art Institute until May 2; her exhibition will be on display until May 30, 2015.

Lux is located at 1550 S. El Camino Real, Encinitas. Visit www.luxartinstitute.org for information about Ebony G. Patterson or to become a Lux member.

Community workshops set for traffic-calming efforts The Encinitas Environmental Education (E3) Cluster, a group of neighborhood organizations, has coordinated two community workshops for neighbors to fully participate and work with traffic experts to develop a comprehensive traffic calming plan.

The planning efforts are for the entire stretch of Saxony Road and Quail Gardens Drive between Encinitas Boulevard and Leucadia Boulevard. Participation from neighbors who are directly affected by traffic issues in this neighborhood is especially important.

“E3 has retained Fehr and Peers Transportation Consulting to facilitate workshops designed to engage neighbors with traffic calming issues, and capture their solutions and input for the plan. The Traffic Calming Plan will ultimately be presented to the City of Encinitas Traffic and Public Safety Commission and the City Council for their consideration this summer,” according to Marjorie Fox, E3 director.

Neighbors and community members interested creating calmer and safer roads in the community are asked to please RSVP to info@E3cluster.org. for the following workshops: • 7 -8:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 14. Community workshop for neighbors living on or near Saxony Road will be held at Seacrest Village Retirement Communities, 211 Saxony Road.

• 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, April 16. Community workshop for neighbors living on or near Quail Gardens Drive will be held in the Ecke Building at San Diego Botanic Garden, 230 Quail Gardens Drive.

More information is available at www.e3cluster.org.

Spring Art Faire is April 18 at Rancho Encinitas Academy A family fun Spring Art Faire will be held from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. April 18 on the campus of Rancho Encinitas Academy, 910 Encinitas Blvd.

The event is free to the public and will feature a variety of craft vendors including Queen Eileen’s, Smashgirl Mosaic Art & Jewelry, Gio’s Girl Creations and Marna Margarita Creations. Families will have the opportunity to shop, participate in petting zoo activities and purchase Flippin’ Pizza and Kona Ice. Parking is free. Call 760-942-2011 or email karey@ edisonacademy.com.

Legoland discount tickets to benefit Encinitas Educational Foundation The Encinitas Educational Foundation is selling Legoland tickets good from 1-8 p.m.

Sunday, April 26. Tickets are $25 for adults and kids (3 years and up). Purchase deadline is April 13. EEF is also selling Legoland Sea Life aquarium tickets for $9, good on April 25-26.

Buy tickets at http://encinitaseducationalfoundation.org/legoland-california-tickets. Tickets will be emailed to buyers, or you can choose to have tickets delivered to an EUSD school.

PAGE A12 - APRIL 10, 2015 - ENCINITAS ADVOCATE

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What’s going on around Encinitas this weekend and beyond These are just some of the events taking place in and around Encinitas this weekend. For details, visit http://bit.ly/1NLDPWl • Children’s Art Workshop, 3-4 p.m. Mondays, Encinitas Library, 540 Cornish Drive. Free. Call 760-753-7376.

Local eco-artist and teacher Spramani Elaun will naturally guide kids through art classes using different media (paint, clay, etc.) on the patio. Kids need to wear clothes that are OK to get a little messy. For ages 12 and under. Sign up at the Information Desk.

• Healing Arts Class and Support Group, 2:30-4 p.m. every first and third Monday, Encinitas Community Center, 1140 Oakcrest Park Drive, Encinitas. Free. To reserve, email Nancy Coleman or call 760-633-7417.

Open to people recovering from brain injuries and/or neurological challenges. Enjoy self-expression through art, increase skills, improve eye/hand coordination and enjoy the warmth and support of healing arts facilitator Kathy Harvey. Supplies provided.

• Art Out Loud, 10 a.m.-noon, Saturday, April 11, Lux Art Institute, 1578 S. El Camino Real, Encinitas. Cost: $10 (members), $20 (non-members).

Experience a guided walk through the exhibition of artist-in-residence Ebony G. Patterson, followed by a hands-on art project inspired by her work. Ages 6-8.

• Slow Art Saturday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, April 11, Lux Art Institute, 1578 S. El Camino Real, Encinitas. Cost: $15 (members), $20 (nonmembers).

Enjoy a mindful practice followed by a deep-looking experience led by liaison Susanne Knuttila. Spend an hour investigating the subtleties and details of a single piece by artist-inresidence Ebony G. Patterson. Bring a sack lunch to enjoy during the follow-up discussion.

Ages 18-plus.

• Foreign Film: “The Class,” 1-3 p.m. Friday, April 10, San Elijo Campus, MiraCosta College, 3333 Manchester Ave., Room 204, Cardiff. Free; parking $1. Email lifesanellijo@gmail.com.

Teacher François Marin begins the new term at a tough inner-city school in Paris, taking on a class comprised of a melting pot of modern-day French society. Directed by Laurent Cantet (France, 2008, 130 min., NR). French w/English subtitles.

• Park Dale Players: “Video Victim!” 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 10-11, Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary School, 8000 Calle Acervo, Carlsbad. Donation: $4. Info: http://www.theparkdaleplayers.com.

Don’t miss this funny and touching musical where a boy is sucked into his own video game computer to face Big Mama and all her video villains!

• Concert: Quartet Nouveau, 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 10, Encinitas Library, 540 Cornish Drive. Tickets: $10. Info: http://www.quartetnouveau.org.

Kimberly Hain, violin, Batya MacAdam-Somer, violin, Annabelle Terbetski, viola, and Elizabeth Brown, cello, are one of the finest young string quartets in San Diego, known for their fresh approach to classical repertoire. They will perform “Two Pieces for String Quartet” by Aaron Copland, and String Quartet No. 15, Op. 132, by Beethoven.

• Wildlife Walk in San Elijo Lagoon, 9-11 a.m. Saturday, April 11, Rios Avenue Trail in San Elijo Lagoon. Free. Info: http://www.sanelijo.org/welcome-san-elijo-lagoon-conservancy.

Blue-eyed grass, lupine and California sunflower splash the hillsides with color in spring. See Cormorants on the power poles at the inlet, Osprey, waterfowl, and the rare Clapper Rail. This is San Elijo Lagoon’s south side, featuring riparian woodlands and coastal sage scrub, with intimate views of the salt marsh. (San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy) • Ornate Pine Needle Basket Weaving, 10n a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, April 11, Nadine Spier Studio, Olivenhain (address provided upon registration). Cost: $50, material fee: $32 (optional). Call 760-944-9369.

In this one-day workshop, students learn how to coil a beautiful basket from fallen pine needles, using Irish waxed linen thread to stitch, and a polished stone as an ornate center.

What a wonderfully creative way to recycle from the environment!

• Hutchins Consort Concert: “Animals,” 11 a.m. Saturday, April 11, Encinitas Library, 540 Cornish Drive. Free. Info: http://hutchinsconsort.org.

A family concert celebrating furry, feathered and finned friends with music by Vivaldi, Saint-Saens, Mussorgsky and others.

• ArtFest, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 11-12, San Diego Botanic Garden, 230 Quail Gardens Drive. Free with paid admission /membership. Info: http:// www.sdbgarden.org/artfest.htm.

A delightful combination of a fine art exhibit with Asian art and art demonstrations. A Quick Draw competition for youths and adults will take place from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday.

The Garden’s juried Fine Art Show features more than 20 artists showing and selling their works including sculptors, painters, glass artists, potters, as well as gourd and fiber artists.

• La Paloma Theatre, 471 S. Coast Highway 101, Encinitas. Tickets: $9, $7. Call 760436-SHOW (7469).

“Still Alice,” “American Sniper,” Friday Midnight Movie, “Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

Left: The Elements were the first middleschool-age rock band to perform at the festival since its inception in 2012.

Members of the Del Mar-Leucadia Branch of the American Association of University Women plan a “Cocktails and Convos” event to mark Equal Pay Day from 4-7 p.m. April 14 at RELM bistro and wine bar in Carlsbad. The public is invited. Pictured, L-R: Kathy DeGraffenreid (corresponding secretary), Karen Dellinger (recording secretary), Fran Miller (president), and Laura Pasquale, Ph.D. (public policy director). Photo by Betty Reed

AAUW hosts pay equity, public policy discussions The Del Mar-Leucadia Branch of the American Association of University Women invites the public to two events in April: a presentation on AAUW Public Policy at its monthly meeting, and a “Cocktails and Convos” event on Equal Pay Day at RELM bistro and wine bar.

Branch public policy director Laura E. Pasquale, Ph.D., will give a presentation on AAUW Public Policy at the April 11 branch meeting, 10 a.m. to noon at the Encinitas Community Center, 1140 Oakcrest Park Drive, Encinitas. The presentation will follow a social time from 10 to 10:30 a.m.

The “Cocktails and Convos” (conversations) event, will be from 4 to 7 p.m. April 14, Equal Pay Day, at RELM, 2917 State St., Carlsbad. Equal Pay Day marks the day on which women’s average income catches up to what men made by the end of the prior year. Appetizers will be served and there will be a no-host bar. RELM is providing a gift basket for an opportunity drawing.

The Del Mar-Leucadia Branch of AAUW, founded in 1955, serves the North Coastal communities of Carmel Valley, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Rancho Santa Fe, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Encinitas, Olivenhain, Leucadia and Carlsbad. Membership in AAUW is open to all graduates who hold an associate or higher degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Visit: http://delmarleucadia-ca.aauw.net.

1st middle-school-age band opens arts festival’s Battle of the Bands The Elements, a middle- school-age rock band, opened the Encinitas Arts Festival Battle of the Bands on March 29 at San DieguitoAcademy.

The Elements wowed the audience by playing cover songs of today’s popular radio hits from bands like The Fray, Cage The Elephant, and Bastille.

The Elements were the first middle-school-age rock band to perform at the festival since its inception in 2012. In previous years, bands were high school and college students.

Put on by the city of Encinitas Arts Division and San Dieguito Academy Foundation, the Encinitas Arts Festival celebrates the critical role the arts play in schools and community.

All of The Elements band members are students in the San Dieguito Union High School District. Three members — lead singer Julian Boyer; guitar player Ryan Beck; and bass player Granger Pasko — attend Earl Warren Middle School in Solana Beach. Drummer Logan McCarty and keyboard player Dylan Herrera attend Oak Crest Middle School in Encinitas.

McCarty, Boyer and Herrera will be attending San Dieguito Academy as freshmen in the fall. “We were so happy that we all got into SDA and thought it was so cool to perform at the school we would be going to next year,” said Herrera.

The Elements band was formed through The Rockademy, a music school in Solana Beach. The Rockademy puts kid rock bands together and provides many opportunities for them to perform at venues in San Diego including House of Blues, San Diego Fair, Fiesta Del Sol, Petco Park and D Street Bar and Grill in Encinitas.

The Elements’ next performance will be with The Rockademy at the MS Walk at Legoland on April 19. The MS Walk was the band’s first gig last year. They have been playing together as a band for one year. Contact The Elements at lmntsfive@gmail.com.

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ENCINITAS ADVOCATE -APRIL 10, 2015 - PAGE A13

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PAGE A14 - APRIL 10, 2015 - ENCINITAS ADVOCATE

Three succulent families you should become acquainted with

GARDENING WITH EVELYN Evelyn Weidner

CCA robotics team takes fifth place Canyon Crest Academy’s FRC (FIRST Robotics Competition) Team, the Aluminum Narwhals, team 3128, competed recently in the San Diego Regional and ended up coming in fifth place out of 58 teams. The team also won the Entrepreneurship Award, recognizing the success of the school’s Robotics Summer Camps, which take place for four weeks for grades 5-8. Learn more at team3128.org/camp.

Earth Day Paddle Out set for April 22 L’Auberge Del Mar’s third annual Earth Day Paddle Out in honor of ocean preservation will take place from 4:30-6 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, at Powerhouse Park. The event will include the sunset and chef “tasting” snacks on the beach afterward.

Guests of the hotel, locals and employees are invited to participate, and can bring their own boards or have the hotel concierge arrange for a board rental. Del Mar’s Fulcrum Surf (www.fulcrumsurf.com) will be joining the hotel at the event. Visit www.laubergedelmar.com.

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I’d like you to introduce you to three of my favorite succulent families.

Meet the Kalanchoe family What a wonderful big family, originating from various parts of Africa.

There’s the pretty blooming kalanchoe that everyone knows — it’s our favorite tough-as-nails blooming plant. That’s just the beginning.

Who can resist kalanchoes with names like Fang, Pen Wiper, Panda, Flap Jack, Mother of Thousands, and Butterfly Wings? All those nicknames describe the array of different looks. You can call them kalan-cho-ee or ka-lan-cho — either way, call them one of my favorites.

Kalanchoe Sedum Angelina

Exotic Echeveria The most exotic, unusual and beautiful of succulents, with big, fancy colorful heads.

There are varieties like After Glow in shades of lavender, blue and pink.

Some come in shades of red, or choose the ones with weird warty growths on the leaves. There are lots more echeverias, and all have attractive low pinwheel rosettes of leaves, many with colorful tips for an accent. Great in combinations or in the ground. Pretty flowers, too. Native to the Americas, they grow in summer and rest in the winter.

Debra Lee Baldwin, the featured speaker Exotic Echeveria comes in many at Weidner’s Gardens on April 18, our all day varieties.

Succulent Event, offers these tips: • When your echeveria grows a tall ugly stem, double your supply by cutting off the pretty head about 2 inches below the leaves. Set in an empty pot so that the leaves rest on the rim. Leave in shade for a few weeks, and you will soon have a cluster of roots.

• Don’t throw away the ugly stem; put that nearby and watch for babies coming out of that old stem. Great experiment for schoolchildren, too.

Sedum I have never seen a sedum I didn’t love!

Sedums shine as that essential filler plant that spills over the sides and down in combinations. Sedums also make a ground cover. Find tiny sedums in miniature gardens or nestled in your rock garden; they’re perfect for your succulent wreath, like the familiar Burro’s Tail. Make a mixed sedum carpet design in a low container. Want a big sedum? Try out that fall bloomer called Autumn Joy that gets almost two feet of foliage and flowers.

So many succulents to choose from, but how on earth does one make a succulent landscape look “wow” instead of hodgepodge?

Jeff Moore, from Solana Succulents, to the rescue. He’s speaking at 2 p.m. at the April 18 Weidner’s succulent event. For details go to www.weidners.com, under events and classes.

Some extra hints: • Rabbit problems? Plant Plectranthus Fuzzy Wuzzy. It’s a pretty and effective barrier for rabbit control. They hate the smell.

• Gophers in your garden? Try some gopher spurge. Sometimes it works; other times it doesn’t. I had luck with electronic probes. My friend said his gophers just laughed at it. He now has a very fat cat!

Orchid Society hosts auction May 2 in Lake San Marcos The Palomar Orchid Society hosts its annual orchid auction on May 2 at the Lodge (Pavilion), 1105 La Bonita Drive, Lake San Marcos. Hundreds of flowering orchids will be auctioned off, and experts will be on hand to answer questions. Lots of bargains and fun.

Viewing at 10 a.m., auction from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Free parking and admission. Visit www. palomarorchid.org.

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ENCINITAS ADVOCATE -APRIL 10, 2015 - PAGE A15

Vereen’s mission: exposing youngsters to the arts, because ‘life itself is an art form’ • Actor/dancer to entertain NC Rep supporters April 26 at Spotlight Gala, after awards show at Balboa Theater

BY LESLIE CARTER Ben Vereen, the legendary actor and song and dance man, will entertain supporters of the North Coast Repertory Theater during the Spotlight Gala 2015 on April 26.

He will come to the gala immediately after being the impresario of the second Ben Vereen Awards at the Balboa Theater. The awards, in partnership with Broadway San Diego, and with support from San Diego Credit Union, elect the top two musical theater stars from local high schools, awards them $10,000 each and sends them on to compete in New York City for a chance on Broadway.

This year the scope of the competition will be enlarged, to expose more local high school students to the arts.

Vereen’s career, which began in the late ’60s, shot skyward during his run in the Broadway musical “Pippin,” which brought him a Tony Award as Best Actor in a Musical and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Performance in 1973. He also had a key role in the award-winning movie “All That Jazz.”

He stormed onto television as Chicken George in “Roots” in the ’70s, and has been active ever since. His last listed TV appearance on IMDB.com is an episode of TV Land’s “Hot in Cleveland” comedy series, alongside nonagenarian actress Betty White.

Q: When you got to the High School of the Performing Arts in New York, were you already a singer or a dancer?

A. I liked singing. I liked dancing. I loved doing it. I was immersed in it. I wasn’t looking at is as a career, I just loved the fact of doing it. I wasn’t thinking about Broadway. I wasn’t thinking of the movies. It was about enjoying the moment at the time as a child. It was loving the performing.

Q. Do you remember some of the experiences that you had there that gave you a clearer idea of what direction you would take?

A. I was a modern dance major. They taught me the classics — in modern dance, ballet, and character. And Dr. Woods (David Woods, a protégé of Martha Graham) taught us acting, because every dance has a story

that you dance to.

Q. Did you have a mentor during your early career?

A. Many. James Earl Jones, Sammy Davis, Jr., Marlon Brando, Bob Fosse, Tom O’Horgan, Shirley MacLaine, Liza Minnelli …

Q. These are people that you have worked with. Were you mentoring and learning from each other?

A. That’s exactly what happens.

Q. Does your career have a most significant event?

A. Well, I know that people like to reference things, and probably some would say Chicken George in “Roots,” Leading Player in “Pippin” or Judas in “Jesus Christ Superstar,” but … now I like to stay in the present.

I’m present here now in San Diego working with the Ben Vereen Awards.

Q. Tell me about the importance of the Ben Vereen Awards to you.

A. I have started an initiative for kids in the inner-city schools called “Wellness Through the Arts” and it is part of the BVA because my philosophy is that art is a form of life. The self is an art form and what has been done was to separate ourselves from our art. And I want to bring it closer together. I’m finding kids troubled with diabetes, obesity, bullying and low-self-esteem. They have a story.

I get them to tell their story by writing a two-page essay or a two-minute video.

Q. What will happen with these essays and videos?

A. We will pick five of those essays this year. Five of them will win $500 apiece toward their schooling. Thirty-five kids have submitted the first year. We have given them a title: “My Best Day (how I overcame).” We have a wonderful video by a young girl about obesity that will bring a tear to your eye.

The winners will come to the Ben Vereen Awards. They’ll rub elbows with kids that are in the arts, who will be performing and who want to go on. And you never know, one of those kids could be like me — ot knowing what the performing arts could do for my life. (Somebody said “You, kid

Encinitas Library hosting Acoustic Showcase April 25 San Diego County Library’s Acoustic Showcase series is celebrating its fifth birthday with a special celebration at 1:30 p.m. April 25 at the Encinitas Branch, 540 Cornish Drive.

The event will feature music by Joe Rathburn (similar to James Taylor and Cat Stevens), JourneyMan (classic rock), and Ross Moore (traditional folk).

Over the past five years, the Acoustic Showcase has presented shows at 24 branches and featured close to 100 performers. With just over 360 shows with more than 17,900 people in attendance, the Acoustic Showcase series was awarded an Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties.

“The San Diego County Libraries, in conjunction with the various Friends of the Library groups, Elite Audience, and the San Diego Bluegrass Society have done a great service to the community in creating and continuing the Acoustic Showcase series,” said Joe Rathburn. “The music we singer-songwriters perform is certainly by the people and for the people, and now the libraries are bringing it to the people.”

For information on San Diego County Library programs, visit www.sdcl.org.

Friends of Cardiff Library to hold book sale April 18 The Friends of the Cardiff by the Sea Library will hold a one-day, $3-per-bag book sale April 18 in the Cardiff Library community room, 2081 Newcastle Ave., Cardiff.

The sale will start at 9:30 a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m. Shoppers can fill a paper grocery bag with books from select tables for only $3, or buy individual books for only 25 cents each. For information, visit the Friends website, www.friendscardifflibrary.org, or call 760635-1000. All proceeds go to support the library and its programs.

Ben Vereen has started an initiative for kids in inner-city schools called “Wellness Through the Arts.” Courtesy photo from the streets”) and it changed my entire life.

Some of the kids we will reach won’t know anything about the arts, but through their stories they’ll express their inner conversations.

You get kids talking about bullying; having real conversations about dealing with diabetes. You get them talking about obesity, and it’s not an ogre any longer. It’s not the ... elephant in the room because they are talking about it.

So our job as facilitators, as way-showers, is to give back, and this is the way to give back. And I’m glad that Broadway San Diego is allowing me to do that.

Q. Will this be a continuing program?

A. I spoke to your mayor and he’s excited about the Ben Vereen Initiative, “Wellness Through the Arts.” So every chance I get I will speak at schools. Broadway San Diego is making it possible to reach out to the schools.

And also the San Diego Credit Union is backing it. It’s wonderful, isn’t it, that these corporations are coming aboard and saying, “Yes, It’s about our children, about making a better world and giving them the tools to do it.”

I looked out over the playing field and I saw that kids are left out because arts have been cut out of a lot of schools, which is foolish to me because without the arts you have no culture. Our culture is our civilization. So why would you cut away the culture by cutting away the arts?

From the beginning of time man has always expressed

himself through art forms and left those messages here for us to learn of their being here.

The program will give me a chance to speak to high school kids about their possibilities if they speak to their heart’s passion. It could be singing, dancing, acting, medicine, engineering, and on and on and on … it’s all an art form.

The “Wellness Through the Arts,” essays and videos can be taken around to the schools. And we could put more thoughts into plays or a 10-minute musical and film it and show it around the other schools and so they can begin to have conversations.

And if you come through the performing arts, you have an opportunity to express it better.

Q. You came to North Coast Repertory Theatre to teach a Master Class to students in the Theatre School last January. What did you think of the kids you met there?

A. I liked working with them. I think they were very courageous to take the Master Class with me, and they seemed hungry to learn, and to lay themselves open.

Q. Any last words for us?

A. Please support the arts. For the arts is who they are, because life itself is an art form, and the art for which they are seeking is seeking them.

For information contact www.benvereenawards.com.

Visit North Coast Repertory Theater at www.northcoastrep.org.

Ben Vereen to entertain at North Coast Rep’s 2015 Spotlight Gala Legendary actor and song and dance man Ben Vereen will headline April 26 at North Coast Repertory Theatre’s Spotlight Gala at the Del Mar Country Club.

Vereen won a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award as Best Actor in a Musical for his Broadway performance in “Pippin.” Other Broadway roles have included the Wizard of Oz in “Wicked,” “Fosse,” “I’m Not Rappaport,” “Hair,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Grind,” “Jelly’s Last Jam” and more. On television, he is remembered for his performance as Chicken George in Alex Haley’s “Roots” mini-series in the 1970s and Louis Armstrong in “Louis Armstrong — Chicago Style.” Other movie and TV roles include “All That Jazz,” “Idlewild,” “Silk Stalkings” and “How I Met Your Mother.” For an interview with Vereen, see story above.

The Spotlight Gala is Solana Beach-based North Coast Rep’s major annual fundraiser.

The gala will feature a cocktail reception, a dinner, silent auction and live auctions, a magician, a guitarist and other entertainment. The event is chaired by Jeri and Richard Rovsek, assisted by co-chairs Jean and David Laing and Marina and Rafael Pastor.

Tickets begin at $300 per person and are available at the patron level for $500 and $1,000 per person. Tables of 10 are available. Contact Julie Sarno at julie@northcoastrep.org or at 858-481-2155, ext. 224.

North Coast Rep is now in its 33rd season. Under the direction of Artistic Director David Ellenstein and Managing Director Bill Kerlin, North Coast Repertory Theatre produces seven main stage plays each season. A respected professional regional theatre, North Coast Repertory has been located in Solana Beach for 33 years.

North Coast Rep’s next show is Paul Slade Smith’s Unnecessary Farce, opening in previews on April 15.

Visit www.northcoastrep.org

PAGE A16 - APRIL 10, 2015 - ENCINITAS ADVOCATE

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Encinitas Firefighters to flip pancakes Saving water to be topic April 16 at Engage for Community Breakfast and Carnival at Encinitas Third Thursday Citizens Academy Join Engage Encinitas and the League of Women Voters for the inaugural session of the Paul Ecke Central Elementary School Engage Encinitas Citizens Academy, set for 6 p.m. April 16 at the community room of the The annual Pancake Breakfast and Carnival at Paul Ecke Central Elementary School will take place May 9. The Encinitas Firefighters will kick off the event serving a Pancake Breakfast from 8-11 a.m. The firefighters will donate the proceeds from the breakfast to serve children through nonprofits such as Rady’s Children’s Hospital, YMCA, Burn Institute, etc.

The Carnival will run from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and will include a variety of rides and attractions including a crazy hair salon, face painting, a kiddie train ride, a tall slide, an obstacle course, games, ceramic painting, a cake walk, entertainment, local food vendors, shave ice and more! All proceeds will go directly to the PEC PTA to fund school programs.

All members of the community are invited to attend this fun, family day! For information and to buy tickets online, visit http://pauleckecentral.com/support-the-kids/pancakebreakfast-carnival-2015.

City seeking nominees for ‘Youth of Year’ The city of Encinitas Youth Commission will be honoring individuals for the 2015 “Youth of the Year” award based on nominations from the public.

The Youth Commission presents a “Youth of the Year” award to recognize those youth who go above and beyond in serving their community, either through their leadership abilities and/or their quality or level of community service in Encinitas.

Leadership can be defined as those individuals who consistently facilitate a team vision and help guide others towards success. Community service is work that helps better the community through the value and impact of those served. Final awards will be based on dedication, commitment beyond what may be required by school, and demonstrated impact of those served.

Recipients will be honored at a City Council meeting with a proclamation and a perpetual plaque housed at the Encinitas Community Center.

Two awards will be made each year, one for middle school and one for high school.

Note: Recognized work by youth is based on their personal merits and contributions and is not intended to be limited to school involvement. All nominations are reserved for youth who are Encinitas residents. Young people will be recognized and awarded for service accomplished within the calendar year before the nomination period.

To nominate an individual, complete a nomination form and return it to the City of Encinitas, Parks and Recreation Department, 505 S. Vulcan Ave., Encinitas, CA 92024, between April 1 and April 28, or e-mail it to nbuck@encinitasca.gov. Nomination forms, eligibility guidelines and additional details are on the Youth Commission page, found under Public Meetings at www.EncinitasCA.gov.

For information about these awards, contact Encinitas Recreation Supervisor Nick Buck at 760-633-2760 or via email at nbuck@encinitasca.gov.

Child behavior class offered at Cardiff Library

The Cardiff Library will host a free class for parents of children ages 0-5 called “Steps to Understanding Your Child’s Behavior,” from 10:30 a.m.-noon starting April 20.

This class series will be held every other Monday through June 15 and is provided by Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego Children’s Care Connection (C3).

Funded by First 5 San Diego, the class focuses on addressing children’s behavior in the context of their development. Parents will learn new strategies to help children communicate their emotions and build positive relationships with peers.

Information and strategies related to age-appropriate choices, limits and consequences, routines and family communication, and how a child’s temperament affects behavior will be addressed.

Limited child supervision is available; parents may bring infants to class, as needed.

The Cardiff Branch Library is at 2081 Newcastle, Cardiff-by-the-Sea. For information on other services to support early childhood development, call 858-966-8014 or visit website at www.rchsd.org/HDS.

French film featured at Life Club on April 10 The LIFE Club at San Elijo presents a free foreign film, “The Class,” at 1 p.m. Friday, April 10, at the San Elijo Campus of MiraCosta College, 3333 Manchester Ave., Cardiff.

The 2008 French film (130 min., NR) with English subtitles is directed by Laurent Cantet. In “The Class,” teacher François Marin begins the new term at a tough inner-city school in Paris, taking on a class composed of a melting pot of modern-day French society.

The film is free to the public and will be shown in Room 204.

Parking is $1/day, unless you are a member of the LIFE@San Elijo Club. To join the Club, ask to be added to the mailing list at: lifesanelijo@gmail.com.

19th annual Meet the Chefs event April 26 benefits Casa de Amparo For the 19th consecutive year, the public is invited to join some of San Diego’s finest chefs to support the children of Casa de Amparo at Meet the Chefs, a spectacular food and wine event, on Sunday, April 26.

The event kicks off with a VIP reception from 12:45 to 1:30 p.m. and chefs’ tastings from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Guests can also enjoy wine, champagne, auctions, opportunity drawings and live music poolside at the Hilton San Diego/Del Mar. Nutrition is a basic need for Casa kids that must be met each day. Casa de Amparo provides more than 32,000 meals to participants in one year.

For information and to buy tickets, visit www.casadeamparo.org/events/meetthechefs.

Encinitas Library, 540 Cornish Drive. The first topic is “Water: Every Drop Counts” (the first in a monthly series).

Hear from a panel of experts from water agencies and environmental groups working to provide a reliable, drought-proof source of water in a cost-effective and environmentally responsible manner. Learn what we citizens can do to help protect and manage our water supply.

To register for the free event, visit http://bit.ly/engagewater.

On the panel: Mike Thornton, general manager, San Elijo Joint Powers Authority; Joey Randall, customer service manager, Olivenhain Municipal Water District and Cardiff resident; Dadla Ponizil, owner/operator of Ponizil Energy. Representatives from the local League of Women Voters of North County will moderate the session. For information, visit https:// www.facebook.com/EngageEncinitas.

To encourage citizens to learn more about water policy in the Western United States and come prepared with questions, participants are encouraged to read this month’s “Engaged Readers” pick, Mark Reisner’s “Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water.” The group will also be posting pertinent water-related articles to its Facebook page in advance of the meeting.

Upcoming topics will include transportation, urban agriculture, disaster preparedness, coastal health and more.

ArtFest to be held at Botanic Garden April 11-12 Don’t miss ArtFest, a delightful combination of a Fine Art Show, Quick Draw Contest, art demonstrations, and Asian Art Show from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 11 and 12, at the San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas.

The Fine Art Show will feature more than 20 artists who will be showing and selling their works, including sculptors, painters, potters, and glass, gourd and fiber artists. Guests will be treated throughout the day to interesting demonstrations provided by many of the artists.

Watch art come alive before your eyes at the Quick Draw Contest from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Saturday, April 11. The contest will feature 20 youth and 20 adult artists, who will be creating an entire work in an allotted time right before your eyes. The pieces created will then be available for purchase at the event.

ArtFest 2015 will also feature an Asian Art Show showcasing outstanding displays of ikebana and bonsai, along with lectures and demonstrations on Asian-influenced art and horticulture.

Guests will also enjoy native flute music with Didgeridoo, featuring Bob Ballentine and friends, throughout the weekend in the Australian Garden.

Stay all day, and enjoy a lunch of delicious Greek delights made possible by Divine Fresh Foods. For information, visit SDBGarden.org/artfest.

Cost is free with admission or membership to the San Diego Botanic Garden.

Teen/adult ballet classes offered at Encinitas Community Center Teen/adult ballet classes will start on Monday, April 13, at the Encinitas Community Center, 1140 Oakcrest Park Drive, Encinitas.

Level I (beginning) for ages 13-plus will be offered on Monday evenings from 6:30-7:30 p.m., and level II (Intermediate) will be offered on Monday and/or Thursday evenings from 7:30-8:45 p.m.

In addition a “Just Barre” class will be offered on Thursday evenings from 6:45-7:30 p.m. Pointe and performing opportunities are available for level II students with instructor permission. The instructor is former professional dancer Marti Neal.

For more information call (760) 943-2260 or visit www.

EncinitasRecReg.

‘Good Guys and Bad Guys in the Garden’ is topic April 17 for rare fruit growers’ meeting The California Rare Fruit Growers of North San Diego County will hold its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Friday, April 17 in MiraCosta College’s student center, room 3450, 1 Barnard Drive, Oceanside.

The club will host James Bethke who will talk about “Good Guys and Bad Guys in the Garden,” as well as bees. He brings his knowledge about which insects are beneficial and should be kept and attracted into gardens, versus which insects to repel.

The North County Chapter of CRFG, a nonprofit educational group, meets monthly and has a variety of educational and social events throughout the year. Meetings are free and open to all interested; other events require membership, which is $10 per year. For information plus a map to the location, visit http://nc.crfgsandiego.org or call 760-518-9922.

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ENCINITAS ADVOCATE -APRIL 10, 2015 - PAGE A17

After years battling food compulsions, author now helps others find freedom

BY KRISTINA HOUCK Having helped herself, today Lesley Wirth is now able to help others.

A Cardiff resident, Wirth works as a life coach and counselor and recently released a self-help book called “Own Your Worth: A Spiritual Journey Through Food Compulsion to Self-Love.” Every word is inspired by her 13-year battle with anorexia, bulimia, compulsive eating and exercise addiction.

“I can hear what they’re saying, because I understand it so well inside of myself,” Wirth said. “I’ve been living it and breathing it since I was 14 years old.”

Growing up in rural Minnesota, Wirth said she never learned about eating disorders. At 14, however, she found herself restricting food and obsessing about her weight.

“It didn’t really start for me as a conscious way to diet and get skinny,” she explained. “It was more like something switched off in me and I started restricting. I think a lot of it had to do with being in junior high and feeling unworthy Cardiff author Lesley and insecure.”

Wirth ate about 300 calories a day. She exercised about Wirth finally found ”freedom inside myself ... five hours a day.

At the start of the school year, she weighed 110 pounds. all those things I had lost for so many years.”

By Christmas, she weighed 79 pounds.

“They didn’t think I was going to live,” she said. “I went down pretty fast. It just took over.”

Wirth was admitted to a hospital and received treatment at an eating disorder treatment center. But because she was only there because of her parents, the treatment didn’t work.

“I got out as fast as I could,” she recalled. “I didn’t want help. At that point, I would have rather been dead than weigh more.”

Within months after being discharged from the treatment center, Wirth continued to battle anorexia. When she finally decided she wanted help, she returned for more treatment and to learn how to maintain a healthy weight.

“The guilt that I was experiencing through eating was too severe for me to handle at that time,” she recalled. “But that time was a totally different experience, because I wanted it. I worked really hard.”

Wirth maintained a healthy lifestyle for about a year, but her struggles resurfaced when she began high school.

“I still felt so unworthy and insecure,” she said. “I wasn’t willing to starve myself, but I couldn’t allow myself to eat normally.”

Wirth battled bulimia for the next 11 years.

But during that time, she earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of Minnesota, continued her studies at UC Berkeley and worked as a stylist.

She also received therapy. Nothing quite helped, however, until she began attending Overeaters Anonymous, a 12-step program for people with problems related to food.

“That was my first stepping stone, and it was a huge one,” she said. “I’m forever grateful.”

Through the program, Wirth was able to stop the behavior, but not able to find peace.

She found that when she went on to earn her master’s in spiritual psychology.

“I found freedom inside myself — joy, happiness, pleasure — all those things I had lost for so many years,” Wirth said.

“It’s an ongoing process,” she added. “As long as I’m in the human body, I’m going to always be dealing with judgments and pain — all the things that come with being human.

The difference now is that I have the ability to recognize that that’s just part of the human condition.”

Wanting to help others, Wirth has worked as a coach and counselor for more than three years. Using her education and years of study under naturopathic doctors and healers, she developed a three-month program designed to teach women how to take control and stop unhealthy behaviors.

“I just can’t fathom or imagine doing anything else,” said Wirth, who has lived in Cardiff since 2014. “Nothing lights me up more than to get to meet people in their pain and help them find their way out.”

Wirth works with clients locally, but also across the country and around the world. Her work is being implemented in recovery centers, spiritual communities and yoga studios.

To expand her reach, she wrote “Own Your Worth: A Spiritual Journey Through Food Compulsion to Self-Love.” Published in December, the book acts as a guide to help readers discover self-love and self-worth.

“I want people to learn how to help themselves,” Wirth said.

“The message and the processes are so powerful and helpful, I wanted to get it in as many hands as possible. This was the easiest way to do it.”

The book is available on Amazon and on Wirth’s website.

Wirth is also hosting a free conference call at 6 p.m. Monday, April 13, to talk with readers about the book and answer questions. The conference call line is 310-971-9950. A recording of the call will be available for those who are interested but unable to join the conference. To receive the recording, contact Wirth via her website, www.lesleywirth.com.

SPOTLIGHT on LOCAL BUSINESS

La Jolla Concours d’Elegance VIP soirees showcase luxury, style The La Jolla Concours d’Elegance has become an internationally sought-after “Save The Date” for automobile aficionados but also has grown in its stronghold for social calendars as the place to see and be seen. The Friday and Saturday evening VIP receptions hosted at La Jolla Cove are the talk of the spring event season.

• On Friday, April 10, a deliciously elegant VIP reception, the Rolls-Royce Motor Car Contemporary Classic Cocktail Party, will be held at the recently remodeled historical hotel, La Valencia, to welcome car enthusiasts from around the globe for the launch of the annual La Jolla Concours d’Elegance.

Guests will be escorted into the private event through the showcase of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars on display flanking the “Pink Lady” entrance. Once inside the exclusive party, the culinary genius of acclaimed Chef James Montejano will excite the palates of all attendees, especially the foodies. Lively entertainment will keep the rhythm of the enticing evening focused on the bevy of beautiful cars, artwork, and luxury; all of which have become the signature of the La Jolla Concours weekend.

— 7-10 p.m., La Valencia Hotel, $150 per person • An oceanfront, sunset soiree is the ultimate indulgence when visiting La Jolla. The exclusive Runaway with the La Jolla Concours Circus VIP reception on Saturday, April 11, will be a stunning interlude before the big event on Sunday. Held on the bluffs of La Jolla Cove at the Ellen Browning Scripps Park, this red carpet soiree will transform the blank space into a magical venue filled with exquisite cars, incredible food from a multitude of San Diego’s top restaurants, and live entertainment. Party-goers will enjoy lounging about seaside with a cocktail and bites, savoring the anticipation of exquisite vehicles to be showcased the next day in the very same location.

— 6-9 p.m., Ellen Browning Scripps Park (La Jolla Cove), $150 per person • The main events, La Jolla Concours d’Elegance and La Jolla Motor Car Classic at the Concours, on Sunday, April 12, will feature 300-plus spectacular, exemplary vehicles situated along the Pacific Ocean and will include offerings from fabulous vendors and exciting offers from top-notch sponsors. General admission tickets include two tastings from the wine and craft beer garden and a commemorative program. Children under 14 are free.

VIP tickets include the above general admission benefits, plus a signed poster from the La Jolla Concours d’Elegance official artist Scott Jacobs, free lunch from incredible restaurants, hosted wines, craft beers, and cocktails courtesy of Blanchard, Krasner & French from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

— 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Ellen Browning Scripps Park (La Jolla Cove), $40 general admission in advance, $50 general admission event day, $125 VIP tickets; Ultimate VIP Package $325 per person: VIP access to the Concours and Friday and Saturday

Funds raised at the La Jolla Concours d’Elegance benefit local nonprofits, the Monarch School Project and the La Jolla Historical Society.

Amid the celebration, funds raised at the 11th Annual La Jolla Concours d’Elegance will benefit local 501(c)3 nonprofits, the Monarch School Project, which educates students who have been affected by homelessness, and the La Jolla Historical Society, which preserves the history of La Jolla.

For information on the Concours, to obtain a registration form, receive sponsorship information, request media credentials or purchase tickets to the variety of events over the weekend, visit LaJollaConcours.com or call 619-233-5008.

Business spotlights are developed through this newspaper’s advertising department in support of our advertisers.

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PAGE A18 - APRIL 10, 2015 - ENCINITAS ADVOCATE

HABITAT

continued from page 1

of the planning commission’s decision on behalf of the Buena Vista Audubon Society, said the land is a key piece in a larger wildlife corridor, which includes the Batiquitos Lagoon to the north.

“This property, if developed, would have been a breach of the wildlife corridor,” Herskowitz said. She added that the scenic views have also been preserved.

“It’s been a long haul, but it was worth it,” she said.

After the coastal commission voted down the 10-home development, Herskowitz said the fight was far from over. The next step was finding a willing buyer to preserve the site. She credited SANDAG with stepping up to the plate.

SANDAG, in partnership with Caltrans, bought the land last month from Batiquitos Land LLC for $6 million. The six-member LLC voted to approve the sale, according to Keith Greer, regional environmental planner with SANDAG. Funds came from TransNet, the region’s half-cent sales tax for transportation projects and preservation efforts like Batiquitos Bluffs. SANDAG administers TransNet dollars.

According to SANDAG officials, the land was bought to fulfill open space commitments in the North Coast Corridor Program, a $6.5 billion package of freeway, rail, bike and environmental projects for the I-5 corridor. Last August, the coastal commission approved the plan.

Over the life of the program, SANDAG expects to spend $250 million to preserve and restore coastal habitat.

“The preservation of the Batiquitos Bluffs property is just the beginning of our efforts,” SANDAG Chairman Jack Dale said.

A walking trail to the southwest of La Costa Avenue and El Camino Real runs adjacent to Batiquitos Bluffs. While on the trail, Greer told a small crowd that invasive plants will be removed and replaced with native ones.

At the press conference, Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation President Fred Sandquist said the acquisition will link the Batiquitos Bluffs and the lagoon. He noted the lagoon is home to 180 species of birds and plenty of marine life.

“By this acquisition, most of the lagoon and surrounding area is under habitat management.” Sandquist said. “I think you’re going see to see a lot of improvements here in the coming years, which is good for future generations.”

FARM

VACCINATIONS

continued from page 1

they’ll be building off what they learned previously,” she said.

Besides educating students, Farm Lab’s crops will provide fresh produce for school lunches at the district’s nine campuses.

On less than an acre of the site, tomato plant vines have begun to wrap around wooden support poles. Snap peas, lettuce and more are poking out from the ground.

Still, much of the land is vacant, though not for long. Michelove said in the coming months, quite a bit more will be planted (the site’s master plan shows six acres of crops).

“There will be that much more produce,” Michelove said, noting the Ocean Knoll farm’s yield is already contributing to school lunches.

On a similar note, a planned “food forest” will run along the northern edge of Farm Lab. Fruits and vegetables from the forest, according to plans, will go to local food pantries.

Along with crops, Farm Lab now has four portable buildings, with two devoted to classroom learning, one lab for nutrition and the other for science. At the science lab, students will be able to inspect soil with microscopes, for instance.

“They can see all the microorganisms that are alive in the soil,” Michelove said.

Farm Lab’s master plan outlines a number of ambitious projects.

A sample of the blueprint: A kitchen would have solar ovens harnessing the sun’s energy, allowing students to cook produce in an environmentally friendly fashion. A maker’s lab would encourage students to build items that might come in handy on a farm out of natural materials.

And an area would let students peruse wildlife and record their observations in journals.

The 10-acre site was gifted to the district after a large development deal about 12 years ago. Enrollment projections showed there wouldn’t be enough students in the district to justify another school, so the school board approved a farm concept

Encinitas Deputy Mayor Catherine Blakespear talks about the importance of open space during an April 7 press conference announcing the acquisition of Batiquitos Bluffs.

Photo by Jared Whitlock

in 2010 with the aim of offering hands-on education.

Progress has been slow. For one, the city withheld a grading permit because of questions over drainage. And permitting is still being finalized for some parts of Farm Lab. Another reason for the delay: The district originally wanted to lease much of the property to an outside organization called Eat Well Group, which would have managed the farm and leased to subtenants.

The district eventually decided it wanted to retain control of the property. As a result, the district had to take a step back and revise its blueprint, Michelove said.

In the past six months, however, there’s been a flurry of activity. Most recently, the city installed a crosswalk next to the property, making it safer for students at the farm to visit the San Diego Botanic Garden and Leichtag Foundation property.

A request for Farm Lab’s cost was not returned by press time. In the past, the district has stated that Proposition P, a $44 million bond passed in 2010 for facility and technology upgrades, is paying for most of the site development.

The district has also asked for community donations to make the master plan a reality — and groups have answered.

Coastal Community Foundation provided a grant for the first student field trips. And engineering students from UC San Diego have collaborated with Farm Lab to design solar ovens.

The E3 Cluster, too, has supported the farm. For instance, a farmer from the Leichtag Foundation, an E3 member, enriched the soil last fall.

Michelove said the hope is that Farm Lab inspires more school agriculture, locally and nationally.

“When you think of building a school, it’s typically a lot of concrete and really industrial,” she said. “This is the opposite.

This will honor the land it’s on and the city’s agriculture history.”

public elementary school or child care center unless they have been fully immunized against a list of 10 various diseases, including measles, mumps, and pertussis, and any other disease determined appropriate in the future. The only exemption allowed would be for medical reasons; Mississippi and West Virginia are the only states to allow no optouts except for medical reasons.

“For me, I keep coming back to the overarching concern that there are increasing numbers of unvaccinated students in this area,” said district Board President Beth Hergesheimer, noting some numbers are above what is considered safe for public health.

All of the district’s feeder school districts exceed the threshold established by the state of 2.5 percent for unvaccinated children. The highest opt-out rates are at Olivenhain Pioneer at 16 percent, Encinitas Union with 11.6 percent, and Rancho Santa Fe School District with about 8 percent.

The Del Mar Union School District has about a 3.8 percent opt-out rate and Solana Beach district is at 3.3 percent.

Six parents spoke against the bill during public comment, arguing in favor of informed consent.

Kelly Haas said that she doesn’t want the “sensationalized account” of the Disneyland measles outbreak to drive this bill. Haas said there have been zero deaths due to measles reported since 2003, while 108 deaths can be attributed to the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine.

Amy Mitten-Smith said her son had extreme reactions to vaccinations and said they can cause autism and other neurological disorders, adding that the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program has paid out $2.8 billion to those who suffered adverse effects.

“Why are children asked to carry an unsafe burden?” asked parent Ivana Nedic.

“I’m calling for safe, ethical and individual vaccine practices, I’m calling for the choice to say yes, I’m calling for the choice to say no, I’m calling for the choice of freedom.”

David Jackson said he’s raised his family

An image shows the boundary of the 50.5-acre space. Photo courtesy of SANDAG

continued from page 15

on the values of faith and freedom, and the freedom of religion was what the country was built upon. He said there has to be a better solution than SB 277.

“I’m not so much anti-vaccine, but prosafety and the freedom of choice,” said parent Bo Molocznik. “This bill rips that away from us.”

Trustee John Salazar, who requested that the bill come before the board, said he had heard what the parents had to say regarding the issues of religious and personal freedoms, but noted that his job as an elected official is to look out for the greater good of society.

Salazar remarked on how lucky people are to have vaccines, speaking about how before Jonas Salk developed the polio vaccine, the disease was a huge fear among families in the 1950s and thousands of children were crippled by polio.

As early as five years ago, he said, there was an outbreak in India and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation stepped in to provide vaccinations. He was then shouted down by parents about Bill Gates’ methods to provide health care and vaccinations to underdeveloped countries.

“I absolutely feel that we, as a school board, should support this bill,” Salazar said.

“We’re elected to look out for the welfare of children and teachers in this district.”

He reminded those expressing their frustration at the board’s action that the trustees are elected, and in the next election they could let their votes speak.

One anti-SB 277 parent approached the board at the conclusion the meeting and apologized for the heated reactions.

SB 277 is now moving through the Senate health and fiscal committees and must pass the Senate floor by June 5. If the bill goes to the Assembly, it must pass the floor

by Sept. 11.

Brian Stenzler, president of the California Chiropractic Association, said that while the vote may be symbolic, it carries a lot of weight.

www.encinitasadvocate.com

ENCINITAS ADVOCATE -APRIL 10, 2015 - PAGE A19

Encinitas Egg Hunt Festival The city of Encinitas presented its annual Easter Egg Hunt Festival April 4, at Encinitas Community Park. Families enjoyed a variety of fun-filled activities.

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

Judith Mata, Annie Macias with Lucia

Joe and Rachel Sanches with Catalina, Rachelle and Scott Crumrine with Lana

Aric and Rachel Jester with Aiden and Pierce Andrew Albert with Aaron

Brandon and Kristin Whiteside with Encinitas Deputy Mayor Catherine Blakespear with Ava Alyssa and Kailey

Abbi

Jeffrey and Laura Armstrong with Ethan Joshua Reaber with Zachary Johnny and Melissa Juarez with Isaac

Aneleise Frandsen, Carinna Prince Celia and Jim Quinn with granddaughter Shea

Dana and Mark Cira with Cameron, Brooke and Max

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PAGE A20 - APRIL 10, 2015 - ENCINITAS ADVOCATE

SDUHSD Superintendent Rick Schmitt’s monthly update: New tests, school enrollment Superintendent Rick Schmitt plans to update the greater San Dieguito Union High School District community with a monthly update. Topics will include curriculum, facilities, budget, enrollment, safety, and other specific and special interest topics.

Today’s update focuses on new California assessments and school enrollment.

The smarter balanced tests reflect higher, more rigorous standards In late April, students across the San Rick Schmitt Dieguito Union High School District will prepare to take the new Smarter Balanced (SBAC) assessments in grades 7-8 and 11 as a component of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP).

These tests have been designed to assess both content knowledge as well as critical thinking skills in our students.

As I have noted in previous columns, this is a significant shift from what former state standardized tests expected of our students. The former exams focused solely on academic content and material that could be memorized and focused on students’ ability to recall information.

The new instructional shifts that are occurring in Common Core classrooms throughout the state include an increase in reading, writing, speaking, and 21st-century skills, and cannot be assessed relying solely on student recall.

We have always prided ourselves on the deep level of cognitive rigor that occurs in our classrooms and realize that this new type of assessment will only enhance our students’ academic future and ultimately benefit them in being college- and career-ready. For many years, our AP and Honors students have been assessed on critical thinking skills. Furthermore, the SAT and ACT have been aligned to the Common Core standards and will also assess critical thinking skills.

It is important to note that the SBAC assessments are the culmination of ongoing collaboration between the K-12 school community and our post-secondary institutions. As noted in a letter from the leaders of the University of California, California State University, California Community Colleges and the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (e.g., University of

Southern California and Stanford) systems to the State Board of Education in 2014, “Our collaborative efforts will help ensure that the tests measure standards that our K-12 and higher education systems all agree address appropriate expectations for the preparation of high school graduates who are ready to succeed. It is critical that students arrive at college better prepared for the kind of inquiry-based learning and collaborative problemsolving that defines 21st-century learning. These assessments align with our commitment to new learning outcomes to ensure our graduates are ready to succeed in an increasingly complex global environment.”

The education community realizes the need to shift to a more accurate testing system that truly assesses the deep level of knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in today’s ever-evolving world.

With the introduction of the new standardized testing system, the state of California has taken the unprecedented step of suspending the statewide accountability system in place since 1999 that included a school Academic Performance Index (API).

Though each school site will not have an API for this year, we will be able to provide each student with an individual score report.

Student Score Reports will be sent home to parents over the summer and will include an overall score, a description of the student’s achievement level for English-Language Arts and Mathematics, and other information.

It is important to note that these scores cannot be compared with scores that your child previously re-

ceived on the STAR Program tests, because this test is based on the new Common Core State Standards, involves different types of test questions, and will not be reported using the STAR Program reporting categories.

We look forward to working with our schools, teachers, and families as we begin this new era of assessment in California. Our school principals will be continually communicating in regard to testing dates for our schools as well as resources available for students and parents to provide ongoing support during this time of change.

Middle school and high school enrollment On March 18, we were very excited to announce that all students who legally participated in our high school selection process this spring were admitted to their school of choice for the 2015-16 school year. This included all incoming freshmen as well as all upper- grade students.

We were able to accomplish this thanks to working diligently to efficiently utilize existing facilities at each of our high schools and due to increased long-range capacity solutions at three of our high schools, all part of our long-range facilities master plan and the associated Prop AA funding. Our goal each year is to do our very best to accommodate all students at their first-choice school.

In addition to high school enrollment, we were also able to admit close to 600 transfers among our five middle schools for the 2015-16 school year. Every SDUHSD middle school student who applied for an intra-dis-

trict transfer to a middle school within our district was approved for the 2015-16 school year. This was due to available capacity at each middle school, including Carmel Valley MS for the first time in a decade. With the fall 2015 opening of our new Pacific Trails MS, we had enough capacity at each of our five middle schools to accommodate all transfer requests, which means that each middle school student will also attend his or her first-choice school in 2015-16. Transfers are from within SDUHSD boundaries. SDUHSD does not accept students from outside the school district.

Moving forward, we continue to work with our community to examine how we can best accommodate enrollment demand at our high schools in the future. Our High School Enrollment Study Group has hosted four community workshops over the last month to educate community members about enrollment options and to seek feedback on options. Over the next month, we will host additional workshops for families in our elementary feeder schools. Upon completion of these workshops, we will survey our community regarding enrollment topics and then present to our Board of Trustees all of the information gathered from the community. Any resulting changes to our enrollment practices would take effect with the 2016-17 school year at the earliest and would not impact students already enrolled in our high schools at that time.

You can follow Superintendent Schmitt on Facebook, (https://www.facebook.com/sduhsd), and Twitter, (https:// twitter.com/SDUHSD_Supt).

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Encinitas Education Matters/Opinion Advocate Enrollment study group wraps up its work 3702 Via de la Valle Suite 202W Del Mar, CA 92014 858-756-1451 www.encinitasadvocate.com

U-T Community Press Publishers of award-winning community newspapers Encinitas Advocate, Rancho Santa Fe Review, Carmel Valley News, Solana Beach Sun, Del Mar Times, La Jolla Light, Poway News Chieftain, Rancho Bernardo and 4S Ranch News Journal, and Ramona Sentinel

DOUGLAS F. MANCHESTER Publisher PHYLLIS PFEIFFER President LORINE WRIGHT Executive Editor editor@encinitasadvocate.com JARED WHITLOCK Associate Editor jared@encinitasadvocate.com KAREN BILLING Senior News Writer KRISTINA HOUCK Reporter MARSHA SUTTON Senior Education Reporter JON CLARK Photographer DON PARKS Chief Revenue Officer COLLEEN GRAY, GABBY CORDOBA, EVELYNE OLLMAN, MICHAEL RATIGAN, PIPER STEIN, ASHLEY O’DONNELL

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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 400 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. Letters may also be mailed or delivered to565 Pearl St., Ste. 300, La Jolla, or faxed to (858) 459-5250. LETTERSPOLICY

BY MARSHA SUTTON The fourth and final meeting of San Dieguito Union High School District’s enrollment study group was held Feb. 17 and was, as requested in my Feb. 5 column, open to the public, unlike the three previous meetings.

After referencing applicable Brown Act clauses as evidence that the meetings should be open, I asked the Marsha Sutton district what basis it had for closing the meetings.

That legal evidence was never forthcoming, even though district officials said counsel had been asked to provide support to back its position.

I maintain to this day that the closed meetings were illegal, and the district maintains to this day that it had every right to keep the meetings closed.

Once the decision was made to open the meetings to the public, apparently the directive to the lawyers was dropped.

Yet SDUHSD superintendent Rick Schmitt said at the Feb. 19 board meeting that the study group meetings were “not illegal and fully transparent.”

Although the point is now moot, it would be best not to continue to say the closed meetings were legal if evidence is not provided to support that position.

The issue remains relevant to ensure that future meetings don’t violate open meetings laws.

At SDUHSD’s Feb. 5 board meeting, trustee John Salazar advocated for open meetings, and asked, “How much is it costing the district to ‘lawyer up’ to defend against the view that the boundary meetings should be open?”

Trustee Maureen “Mo” Muir agreed.

“We need transparency in the district with boundary meetings,” she said.

SDUHSD associate superintendent of educational services Mike Grove said, “It’s an ad hoc committee and not decision-making,” he said. “We can open it up, but is that in the best interest?”

“It’s ethical to open it up,” Muir responded, saying she’d like to attend the study group meetings.

Grove further justified the closed meetings, saying they were transparent because the district posted reports on its website after each meeting.

But how would the public know the reports were complete, without being present?

Pre-screened information can be incomplete, misleading or non-descriptive. Debates need to be heard to gain a full understanding of what has transpired. Someone choosing which information to select for public disclosure is not transparency.

Study group member Sarah Gardner, who spoke at the Feb. 5 meeting, raised another reason why the meetings should remain closed. She said members would be reluctant to speak up and share their thoughts openly if they knew the press might be there to report what was said.

“The focus should be on the information instead of attacking the process,” Gardner said.

But at the open Feb. 17 study group meeting, it was clear that the presence of the public and the press did not deter a lively conversation and healthy debate about boundaries and enrollment. Members were actively engaged as they discussed all their options.

Comparing the open and closed meetings, several members said afterward they saw no difference in the level of engagement and free discussion.

Grove also argued that if the public and press only heard piecemeal discussions without the background given to members in the early meetings, incomplete or inaccurate information might be transmitted.

“Snippets only lead to greater confusion,” he said.

Ironically, at the conclusion of that fourth study group meeting, members all agreed that the public needed to be better informed of the facts and legal constraints facing the district.

Too bad the press and public weren’t allowed to sit in on the meetings from the start, so more information could have been disseminated earlier.

Next steps The next step in the process, now that the study group meetings have concluded, is to reach out to the community directly.

In March, Grove held four “town hall” meetings to inform interested parents of the five boundary proposals under consideration, and provide foundational background information on the process and legal requirements associated with boundary changes and enrollment options.

He’ll hold several more town hall meetings for elementary families April 14 and 15, and the district will then conduct a survey of district and elementary families in late April.

“After that, I will see how complex the feedback is,” Grove said in an email.

The study group may reconvene (in another open meeting, hopefully) to review and analyze the feedback from the town hall meetings and surveys. That would likely be in May, Grove said. But another meeting is uncertain.

“I don’t want to have a meeting just to have a meeting,” he said. “If the group can help … then we’d meet. If there’s no real purpose to meet, then we wouldn’t.”

Grove hopes to present the information to the school board in June, for trustees to discuss, consider and make a final decision on possible boundary and enrollment policy changes.

The study group will make no recommendation.

The wrap-up With the study group meetings concluded, consultant Leonard Steinberg has ended his contract with the district to facilitate the meetings.

Now that Steinberg’s services are no longer needed, the final bill has been tallied.

Grove said the total amount paid to Steinberg for facilitating the four meetings came to $22,452.50 – that’s 64.15 hours of work at $350 per hour.

Steinberg’s contract and his hourly rate were approved by the school board last year by a vote of 4 to 1, with Salazar opposed.

The vote was taken before Muir was seated on the school board. Since taking the oath of office, Muir – along with Salazar – has repeatedly objected to the cost to hire Steinberg, as have many in the community.

After witnessing a portion of the open fourth study group meeting, I felt Steinberg did a decent job, despite my criticism of his hourly rate.

Still, someone from the County Office of Education could certainly have led these meetings, at no charge, just as effectively.

Twenty-two thousand dollars is a lot of

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 400 words maximum). E-mailed submissions are preferred to editor@delmartimes.net. Letters may be edited. The letters/columns published are the author’s opinion only and do not reflect the opinion of this newspaper.

money for a district that’s always scrambling for funds.

At the start of that fourth meeting, Steinberg moderated a discussion about the press, as members wanted to discuss whether the meetings should be open or closed.

A conversation about the proper role of the media is absolutely appropriate, given the controversy over the study group’s transparency. And a conversation about the content of my column calling for open meetings, also seems on task.

But how long should a skilled facilitator let a judgmental discussion continue in a large group format about one writer, criticizing

her knowledge, motives and credibility?

Thanks to Rick Schmitt for calling a halt to the public pile-on and for recognizing that the subject was offtopic, inappropriate and a waste of both time and money – and thanks also to Mo Muir who offered a public apology on behalf of the board.

I’ve certainly been called worse things than a pot-stirrer and had my writing ability challenged, but is this really a topic worth $350 an hour of the district’s money?

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

Letters to the editor/Opinion

City budget: It’s all about priorities

BY MARK MUIR, ENCINITAS COUNCIL MEMBER The Encinitas City Council has begun one of its most important annual tasks, drafting the city’s annual budget.

The Mayor and I both voted against increasing taxes because we believe that, as with your budget at home, our city must live within its means and exercise fiscal restraints. Just like at home, there are always more wants than dollars available.

As a city, we want to be sure to fund core services our citizens care about, along with various capital improvements and special projects identified in advance, which requires our staff to focus and identify on the needed resources to meet our stated goals. The next step in the planning process is connecting the prioritized spending plan to the annual budget. Done correctly, the budget will meet community expectations and needs while creating long-term financial health for the city. Ideally, the budget should reflect the city’s priorities.

The city has determined its financial capacity for Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) for the next six years to be $41 million. Staff proposed a CIP list that identified highpriority projects. If the council agrees with this list, that will leave an unassigned fund balance available for new capital projects at $500,000 for the next six years, which is not much, unless something is removed from the CIP list and reallocated to a new project.

The $19.6 million debt for the recently purchased Pacific View property/Live Museum (property only) has challenged the council in determining or prioritizing the remaining project needs. Certainly, a museum can bring plenty of positive benefits, but we have to weigh its additional cost against other priority spending needs for our city, such as improved streets, city facilities and infrastructure, sand for beaches, open space, trails, public safety, wayside horns, stabilization of our beaches, safe routes to schools, etc.

Our city leaders, staff, and community have invested a great deal of time and energy into a strategic planning process that identifies short- and long-term opportunities and challenges. The best and more valued projects will surface to the top. These choices should be based on a set of guiding criteria, such as: legal mandate, risk mitigation, effects on public health and safety, improvements to efficiency of core services, and most important — a broad public benefit.

Please participate by letting the council know what is important to you!

Poll of the Week at www.encinitas advocate.com Last week’s question: Given the drought, have you made a concerted effort to conserve water? Yes: 100 percent, No: 0 percent This week’s question: Do you agree with the San Dieguito Union High School District’s decision to approve a resolution to support Senate Bill 277 (repealing the personal belief exemption for vaccinations)? Yes or No

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AWARD continued from page 3 The council, at Mayor Kristin Gaspar’s suggestion, said that the request for proposal should make it clear that plans from operating partners could cover arts, education and community gathering spaces.

Groups looking to serve as the operating partner will be ranked based on their financial viability, revenue-earning potential related to operations, local involvement and other criteria.

A review committee made up of city staff and two outside arts experts will review the proposals and pass along recommendations for the full council to consider, likely sometime this summer.

Breath of Hope 5K on April 19 will benefit UCSD Moores Cancer Center The seventh annual San Diego Breath of Hope Lung Cancer 5K Walk, benefiting lung cancer research at the UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, will take place April 19 at Cancer Survivors Park on Harbor Island.

Registration opens at 7:30 a.m. The walk will start at 9 a.m.

“The San Diego Breath of Hope Lung Cancer Walk brings together passionate San Diegans in a united effort to advance transformative research and therapies to treat lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women,” said Scott Lippman, M.D., director of Moores Cancer Center. “Proceeds provide an important source of support for our world-class physicians and researchers in their ongoing work to develop innovative solutions for treating and preventing this deadly disease.”

The San Diego Breath of Hope Lung Cancer Walk was founded in 2009 by three people with lung cancer who met at a UC San Diego-sponsored lung cancer symposium: Kathleen Larson and the late Maria Enriquez and Mike Stevens. The walk was the first of its kind in San Diego to raise funds for lung cancer education and research; to date it has raised more than $710,000.

Today, Kathleen Larson is still involved with the event, along with the Enriquez family.

“None of us had experience planning a walk like this, but we knew this was a cause worth fighting for,” said Larson. Her story is proof of the importance of early detection of lung cancer. In 2001, a friend working at a body scan facility offered her a scan. Larson agreed to it on a whim. She did not expect the news she received. The spiral CT scan revealed a suspicious mass between the lobes of Kathleen’s left lung. Ten days later, her entire left lung was removed. Five years later, during the now-routine scans, another small tumor was found in her right lung. The new tumor was removed using minimally invasive surgery, and Larson is still able to work as a psychotherapist, travel and enjoy time with her family.

She credits early detection of her cancer to saving her life and seeks to share that message with others.

“I am generally a private person, but if telling my story can bring one person to early detection, I will tell everyone,” said Larson.

Pre-registration for the seventh annual Breath of Hope Lung Cancer Walk is $35. Onsite registration is $40. The cost for survivors to participate is $15 and children under age 12 are $20. Visit sdbreathofhope.ucsd.edu for information and to register.

Commentary/Opinion

Got green? Join Supervisor Dave Roberts at annual EarthFair April 19 in Balboa Park

BY DAVE ROBERTS As a father of six, I take preserving our natural resources seriously. I want my kids to enjoy the beauty and bounty that Southern California has to offer for years to come.

That’s why all of us are looking forward to the annual EarthFair on April 19 at Balboa Park.

You can find me and members of my staff at our booth, where we will share information about my initiatives and what the county is doing to be more sustainable. Come talk to us!

At 10 a.m., I’m especially excited to serve as Grand Marshal of the kids’ parade.

I hope you will join us for a great day of giving the Earth the love and appreciation it deserves.

At home, my family and I try to do our part whenever possible. We have removed more than 6,000 square feet of lawn and replaced it with artificial turf to save some 264,000 gallons of water annually. Our photovoltaic panels collect energy from the sun. We are strict about recycling and composting, and I drive a Prius, one of the cleanest vehicles sold in the U.S. At work, my colleagues and I are determined to advance programs that promote longterm environmental sustainability in our region. When creating new initiatives, we collaborate with environmental groups and trade associations. By working together, we have made progress that will have a lasting impact on the county and the planet.

Our Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program allows property owners to finance energy- or water-efficiency improvements through payments on their property tax bills.

PACE is responsible for hundreds of new jobs throughout the county.

Upon my direction, the county is developing a “Zero Waste” plan, with a goal of diverting 75 percent of the waste stream from landfills by 2020.

Recently, Supervisor Dianne Jacob and I received a 4-1 vote and support from the Building Industry Association to incorporate “green building codes” into our policies so new structures would be pre-wired for solar panels and electric vehicle charging.

To learn more about these initiatives and how all of us can go green, visit my booth at the Earth Fair. I’ll see you there!

Dave Roberts is vice chairman of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.

ENCINITAS ADVOCATE -APRIL 10, 2015 - PAGE A23

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PAGE A24 - APRIL 10, 2015 - ENCINITAS ADVOCATE

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Cardiff By The Sea, 4+1BD/3.5BA | $2,695,000

Del Mar, 4BD/3.5BA | $2,099,000

ANNE LE BEAU MCBEE, BRANCH MANAGER 1424 CAMINO DEL MAR | 858.755.6761 | INFO@WILLISALLEN.COM

Del Mar, 4BD/4.5BA | $4,500,000

A N D R E W E. N E L S O N , P R E S I D E N T & O W N E R