On the Internet at www.SEASIDECourier.com
August 2014
Volume 1 – Number 9
Top city leaders enter historic Encinitas mayoral race Hoa
Quach Editor, Seaside Courier
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ncinitas Mayor Kristin Gaspar confirmed her bid to become the city’s first elected mayor— joining the race against Deputy Mayor Tony Kranz. The November election will be
the first time voters elect a mayor rather than the City Council appointing the position. As of press time, three others pulled papers with the City Clerk’s office: engineer Mike Bawany, and community activists Alex Fidel and Al Rodbell. The two political opposites each said they chose to run for the seat See LEADERS page 14
Cardiff surfer ditches waves to write novel Brandon Strohbehn proposed to Nicole Nepomuceno while skydiving.
Maggie
Oceanside couple takes C the leap…literally
Avants
Seaside Courier
Hoa Quach Editor, Seaside Courier
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n Oceanside couple admits they are not the type of people who typically enjoy attention. But when Brandon Strohbehn asked Nicole Nepomuceno to marry him, the moment was shared on YouTube and thrusted
them into the limelight. That’s because Strohbehn proposed to Nepomuceno, his girlfriend of 18 months, right before they jumped off a plane. Strohbehn, 32, said he originally planned to propose to Nepomuceno, 29, on a hot air balloon; however, those trips were repeatedly canceled due to weather. After weeks of waiting for
the perfect conditions, he said he couldn’t wait any longer: he decided to ask for her hand in marriage while skydiving. It’s a hobby they both enjoy, having jumped more than 200 times together. “It was pretty awesome,” said Strohbehn who works as a firefighter in Orange County. “She
ardiff resident and surfer Chris Ahrens may not have planned on becoming a writer, but he has always been a good storyteller. Ahrens’ ability to spin tales is evident in his newly released novel, “Twilight in the City of Angels.” At 65, Ahrens describes his first completed novel as a mythical yet historical blend of his East Los Angeles grandfather’s life and death with the
See SKYDIVING page 11
See NOVEL page 14
Carlsbad resident joins founding team of Crossfit charter school Hoa Quach
Editor, Seaside Courier
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Carlsbad woman is doing her part in fighting childhood obesity. Jessica Muto, a coach at Offshore Crossfit in Carlsbad, is a founding board member of Empower Charter School. ECS will be the first school in the nation with CrossFit Kids, a strength and conditioning program, included in its founding principles when it opens in the fall. Muto said ECS will open in a time of need. “There’s a lack of personal
responsibility when it comes to fitness,” Muto said. “I want to be a part of the solution and teach children how to take control of their lives.” ECS was approved by the San Diego Unified School District in December 2013 and will serve about 100 students in the K-5 grade levels with an annual budget of $1.2 million. The students will be required to take four physical education classes a week with two being based on a CrossFit Kids curriculum. The classes will also receive instructional support from the fitness company. See SCHOOL page 15
Empower Charter will receive instructional support from CrossFit Kids.
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LOCAL NEWS
SEASIDECOURIER.COM — AUGUST 2014
COMMENTARY
Sea Creatures: Miller Time Chris
By day Sonny Seaside Courier was all business, but each night first became aware of Sonny Miller in the early ‘80s when he took the lead I was working as a freelance to whatever surf journalist and parties were he was happening in getting his start as a the region. surf phoAhrens
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tographer. It was the cover Sonny Miller of Surfer Magazine he had taken with rising star Joey Buran deep in a California tube that made me realize Miller, who had only recently graduated from San Dieguito High School, and still his teens, had surpassed his peers. Within a year or two he had nearly become a household name in the surfing world. Then in the mid ‘80s we found ourselves on the same team, working for the Breakout, California Surf Magazine. I had just taken the job as editor of the aforementioned magazine and he was one of our staff photographers. The annual winter migration to the North Shore of Oahu was under way and we had rented a small house
right in the sand at Pipeline. Before we even got there, however, I realized Sonny’s gifts for organization and mischievous fun as he taught us all a few things about travel. We had boxes of food to take with us, and he insisted we not board the plane until the last moment, so that we could stuff everything into the overhead bins, thus avoiding extra baggage charges. To my astonishment the plan worked, and rather than angering them, actually charmed the stewardesses. Once we landed in Honolulu, it was Sonny who found the best deal on a rental car, and navigated the quickest route from the airport to our temporary home, pulling the
handbrake occasionally, to send the car into a death slide, just for the fun of it. The next morning, Sonny was up with the sun, camera in hand, swimming out at Pipe to click some classic tube shots of the California crew that included Buran, Davey Miller, Paul Barr, and the young, up- and-coming charger, Brad Gerlach. By day Sonny was all business, but each night he took the lead to whatever parties were happening in the region. And, regardless of the late nights he kept, he was always first up, doing, and excelling, the job he was hired for. As it turned out that was the last time I ever worked with Sonny, as the magazine dis-
solved and we soon found other work. A while later, Sonny took a job that required he apply his artistic eye to film as he and Tom Curren created a series for the wetsuit company, Rip Curl, called The Search. Never satisfied, Sonny then moved into major motion pictures where his second unit work brought surfing closer to the masses than ever before. Moving away from the fray near the beach, Sonny found a few acres in the San Elijo Hills area, in a place that became known to him and his many friends as Rancho Relaxo. There he did business, kicked back and took care of his ailing mother, Suzanne before her passing
earlier this year. He was out on assignment in Tahiti when the hills near his home erupted in flames and nearly took all of his home and all of his worldly possessions. He hadn’t been home for long when Suzanne passed away. Perhaps it was the strain of these two events, or it could have been genetic disposition. Regardless, Sonny’s great heart gave out on July 8. While he leaves behind no survivors, the surfing world is far richer for his massive body of work, as he captured the times of our lives. His loss is mourned by the entire surfing world.
Gaspar PT Thanks Encinitas for a Great 20 Years in Business!! We Look Forward to our Next 20 Years Serving YOU!
Kristin, Payton, Paul, Addie and Carson Gaspar
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Doctors of Physical Therapy
LOCAL NEWS
SEASIDECOURIER.COM — AUGUST 2014
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Too young to drive, but not for college H
e still has a Snoopy lunch box, he is three years from qualifying for a driver’s license, and –his mom says – he is way too young to go out on a date. But Kyle Litzenberg will be attending MiraCosta College as a freshman this fall – just a few weeks after turning 13. Kyle, who has been homeschooled all his life, is among the youngest students ever to enroll full-time at the Oceanside Campus. He isn’t holding back on his schedule, either. Among the classes he is taking are calculus, English and computer science. “I don’t really know what to expect,” Kyle said. “I’ve never attended a public school before. But I know that if you go to class, pay attention to the lecture, take good notes and study, you’ll do fine.” Kyle plans to graduate with an associate of art degree in computer science within two years before transferring to UC San Diego for his bachelor’s degree in the same field. If all goes according to plan, he will be 15 when he begins classes at UC San Diego and will graduate from one of the nation’s leading public universities before turning 17. Kyle has always been a fast learner. The Jules Verne science fiction novel “Journey to the Center of the Earth” was among the dozens of books he read when he was 4 years old, and he
If all goes according to plan, Kyle will be 15 when he begins classes at UC San Diego and will graduate from one of the nation’s leading public universities before turning 17.
Kyle Litzenberg will be attending MiraCosta College as a freshman this fall.
breezed through the 12-volume “Little House on the Prairie” series just a year later. He was 10 when he breezed through the Herman Melville classic “Moby Dick.” Home schooling happened by chance, his mom, Santosha Litzenberg, said. The family moved from the Los Angeles area
to the southwestern Riverside County suburb of Murrieta when Kyle was small, in large part for its highly rated public school system. But when mom took Kyle to register for kindergarten, someone – she can’t remember who – told her he seemed to be doing fine learning at home. “I thought I would try it out and
reassess it every year,” Santosha Litzenberg said. “It just happened by accident.” Kyle graduated from the Greater San Diego Academy Charter Homeschool in June. It hasn’t always been easy. Both of Kyle’s parents have been beset with serious medical conditions in recent years. Father, Daniel Litzenberg, a former high school AP science teacher, suffers from multiple sclerosis. His mother battled cancer after being diagnosed in 2012. “But Kyle has been steadfast and persevered despite some difficult circumstances,” Kyle’s mom said. Daniel Litzenberg said his son has had his eye on college for a while. “He told us several years ago he wanted to go to college
when he was 13,” Kyle’s dad said. “So we looked at where he was and what he would have to do, and it became apparent it was very do-able. It required a lot of work, and it was challenging, but he was determined to do it.” Both parents note their son is a typical teenager who loves to play video games and hang out with friends. And they are confident that Kyle will excel at MiraCosta College. “As far as the academics are concerned, my wife and I are not worried at all,” Daniel Litzenberg said. Despite his youth, Kyle is not the youngest college student ever. Colin Carlson was 11 years old when he enrolled at the University of Connecticut after graduating from Stanford University Online High School, and Nicole Tan was 12 when she became the youngest fulltime student ever to enroll at UC Davis. Michael Kearney has them both beat, earning an associate degree from Santa Rosa Junior College in geology at age 8. Santosha and Daniel Litzenberg say MiraCosta College is a perfect fit for their only child. “We’ve met the most fantastic people at MiraCosta,” Santosha said. “They have been so accommodating. The counselors there truly are the most gracious, generous, kind people you could ever want to meet. Everybody has been so helpful.”
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LOCAL NEWS
SEASIDECOURIER.COM — AUGUST 2014
Encinitas seawall lawsuit hits court of appeals Maggie
Avants
Seaside Courier
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seawall protecting two Encinitas bluff-top residences may have been rebuilt after it was damaged by storms in 2010, but whether it can remain will be decided in court. San Diego County Superior Court of Appeals justices are expected to make a decision in the Lynch vs. California Coastal Commission case within 90 days of a July 14 hearing. “There are a lot of interesting and difficult questions for both sides,” said Paul Beard, an attorney for Pacific Legal Foundation, which is providing pro bono legal assistance to the residents. “The city of Encinitas unanimously approved the project, but the Coastal Commission put two conditions on it that we’re challenging,” Beard said. At stake is whether the Lynch and Frick families, who live in the 1500 block of Neptune Avenue and share a 100-foot seawall, will have to apply for a new seawall permit in 20 years. The families are also fighting for their right to rebuild a portion of their existing beach-access stairway, as that was also damaged during the severe weather event. It is an issue not unfamiliar to several residents in Solana Beach who are fighting a similar battle
in court. In the Encinitas situation, the Lynch and Frick families initially filed suit against the Coastal Commission in 2011. A judge sided with them and ruled that by placing the two restrictions on the project, the Coastal Commission violated the California Coastal Act of 1976. “The Coastal Act says in a disaster you are allowed to rebuild. Period,” said Jennifer Lynch, whose 82-yearold mother, Barbara, has owned their home since 1970. But the Commission—a California state agency created with the mission of protecting public shoreline from development impacts—appealed that decision, stating that a 20-year permit is reasonable due to the uncertainty of changing beach conditions. “All parties agree that the seawall will have impacts on the public beach below. The seawall’s longer-term effects, however, are extraordinarily difficult to determine because of uncertainty about how quickly sea level rise will accelerate in coming decades…” the Commission argued. If the appeals court rules in favor of the Commission, it would mean that every 20 years, the residents would have to apply to keep
modify, or remove the seawall. But Lynch said she sees ulterior motives, because as part of the seawall permitting process, residents must pay anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000 to the Coastal Commission for beach sand replenishment. She also contends that a constructing a seawall—designed to protect the structural stability of a residence and the public who use
the beach below it—costs about price of $500,000 and is built to last at least 75 years. “So what [the Commission] is really doing is asking for another half million dollars,” Lynch said. “It is a money grab. It becomes really cost-prohibitive to do anything, and if you don’t have permits your property value goes down and then none of us can really afford to keep our home.”
NEWS BRIEFS
SEASIDECOURIER.COM — AUGUST 2014
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NORTH COUNTY NEWS BRIEFS
County launches green loan program L
Encinitas gets failing grade for bond transparency
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ncinitas Union School District was named one of the least transparent schools in the county. The San Diego County Taxpayers Association’s education foundation released a report rating 19 school districts. The districts were rated on various types of information made available on the Internet, or through reports and audits. The criteria included meeting agendas and minutes, annual reports, financial audits, performance audits and project progress. School district construction bond programs around San Diego County are becoming more transparent, according to the report. However, Encinitas, which received voter approval in 2010 for a $44.2 million bond, failed to meet 13 of the 23 transparency goals. “We found that, on average, districts met 90 percent of the criteria we were looking for, up from 80 percent the last time we conducted this study in 2011,” said SDCTA President and CEO W. Mark Leslie. “While there clearly is some good news in this study for taxpayers, some school districts are not meeting basic criteria such as posting audits to their websites.”
Julian Union High School District was rated the least transparent in the county—meeting only seven of the goals. The most transparent school districts were San Diego Unified and Sweetwater Union High School, which received perfect scores. The authors of the report said taxpayers should be able to find out if new libraries, pools and classrooms promised by district officials to voters have actually been built. The organization recommended that districts prominently display on the homepage of the district website information regarding a school facilities bond and the corresponding Independent Citizens Oversight Committee; make all oversight committee meeting materials available on its web page; use auditors with demonstrated knowledge in project management and construction industry best practices when conducting performance audits; and use the best established oversight committees as models when starting their own committees. For more information or to read the study, visit sdcta.org. City News Service contributed to this report.
Oceanside unveils new mobile app
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ceanside residents can now make service requests with a new city app. The city of Oceanside unveiled the “My Oceanside City App,” a free application that allows residents to report issues and request services via their mobile device. Residents are also able to submit photos on certain issues like potholes, graffiti or litter. The items can be submitted 24 hours a day. The issue will be routed to the correct administrator in the appropriate department and will
be responded to “quickly and efficiently,” according to the city. Residents will also be notified when issues are resolved. The My Oceanside City App can be downloaded free to smart phones or tablets by visiting the iTunes App store or the Android Marketplace.
ocal officials announced the launch of a loan program that aims to reduce energy and water usage and help consumers save money. The county’s Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program eliminates the upfront costs for many energy- and waterefficiency improvements while reducing the operational expenses of owning a home, officials said. The financing is offered by HERO, a program operated by San Diego-based Renovate America. PACE loans approved through HERO and other lending programs are repaid through property tax assessments, providing an additional option for homeowners looking to finance energy-related upgrades. “The PACE program is a win-win for consumers and our environment,” said San Diego County Supervisor Dave Roberts. “Homeowners will have a wide range of energy-saving products available to them -- including solar panels -- and will be able to pay for them on their property tax bill.” Property owners can apply for PACE in the unincorporated area as well as the cities of San Diego and Escondido. Several other cities -- including Carlsbad, El Cajon, Lemon Grove, Oceanside, San Marcos, Solana Beach and Vista -- launched similar initiatives earlier this year and have
already funded nearly $5 million in energy-saving projects. PACE financing has been available to commercial property owners for years. In April, the Board of Supervisors voted to expand the program to include residential property. A range of products are available through HERO, including heating and cooling systems, solar
panels, energy-saving windows and insulation. Homeowners repay the assessment over five, 10, 15 or 20 years. “Our environment benefits by our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas and energy consumption,” Roberts said. “Not only that, we are helping to jumpstart an important industry to create jobs in San Diego County.”
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LOCAL NEWS
SEASIDECOURIER.COM — AUGUST 2014
County looking to help Botanic Garden
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county supervisor said he’s exploring ways to help a popular North County attraction. Supervisor Dave Roberts said the county government could purchase land from the city of Encinitas to help the San Diego Botanic Garden build its longplanned Education and Events Pavilion. The news comes after Roberts heard Botanic Garden CEO Julian Duval talk about the struggle in raising funds for the pavilion because it would be built on land leased from the city of Encinitas. “We’re talking with the Botanic Garden on how to build the Education and Events Pavilion,” Roberts said. “Once we know how the county can help we can talk about building this Education and Events Pavilion.” In May, Duval addressed the City Council asking it to consider donating the Encinitas-owned land. The move would tell donors the Botanic Garden has a long future in the city, Duval said. The item was up for discussion at a July City Council meeting but was postponed after Roberts expressed interest in helping the Botanic Garden. “The county and particularly our district supervisor, Dave Roberts and staff of the
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County Parks and Recreation Department are working hard to find the means to provide support for SDBG,” Duval said. “Supervisor Roberts has a keen understanding of the opportunities that exist to not only provide funding for the important advancement of the Garden but also ways to secure its long term stability.” Roberts said he’s looking at the possibility of the county purchasing the land or swapping land with the city of Encinitas. “When the county owns the land, they could use the county funds to build on that land,” Roberts said. “There are multiple options.” The Botanic Garden currently leases the land from the city for $1 per year. The Pavilion project
is estimated at $4 million, Duval said. “The city, county and garden leadership all need to take some time to consider what mechanism would be of benefit to all in a transfer of the city land to the county,” Duval said. “We just need to pause on things the city can do on its own to consider what the county which clearly shares great interest in the Garden, can provide as a partner in these pursuits.” The county previously operated the garden after Ruth Baird Larabee donated the land in 1957. The Quail Botanical Gardens Foundation took over operations in 1993 and renamed it San Diego Botanic Garden in 2009.
LOCAL NEWS
SEASIDECOURIER.COM — AUGUST 2014
Seniors Helping Seniors hires older residents to provide in-home services to seniors.
Seniors helping seniors Hoa Quach
Editor, Seaside Courier
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athryn Johnston said she was looking for a purpose in life after her best friend of roughly 50 years died from breast cancer. So Johnston opened a Carlsbad branch of Seniors Helping Seniors, a national company that hires older residents to provide in-home services to other seniors. “I was looking for something that I was passionate about,” Johnston said. “And, I am very passionate about this.” The company, founded in 1998, pays seniors – the oldest employee is 76 years old – about $9.50 an hour to visit other seniors and help them with everyday tasks such as cleaning, meal preparation and running errands. “We call them providers,” Johnston said. “They go to other seniors’ homes and provide any services that isn’t medical. We
make sure caregivers are loving, caring and compassionate.” Providers must undergo a full criminal background check and a review of past employment. Johnston said she currently has about 40 employees providing services to 35 seniors in North County. Pat Berman, 90, is one of Johnston’s clients. Berman, who lives in Oceanside and has paid for the service since April of 2013, said she has three providers who take turns visiting her every morning for two hours. They do everything from helping her get dressed to taking her to doctor’s appointments or shopping. “I think it’s a wonderful program,” Berman said. “I have people who I am very pleased to be with and I look forward to them coming to my home.” Fran Vitek feels the same way. Vitek, more middle aged at 55 than a senior, works for Johnston
helping two clients. She said she applied for the job while looking for something more meaningful than a career in the building industry. She also understood the need of senior services after caring for her mother-in-law, who died at 92. “It is fulfilling,” Vitek said. “I see that I’m providing a service for my client that enables her to stay in her own home and live independently through this time of great need.” The desire to be independent is why Seniors Helping Seniors is crucial, Johnston said. “I think going forward as people become more educated they really want to be on their own,” Johnston said. “It’s so important that they can stay in their homes and live independently.” For more information about Seniors Helping Seniors, visit shssandiego.com or call 760-591-7474.
New Solana Beach school ready for excellence A
bout 450 Solana Beach children will attend a brand new elementary school this fall. The recently constructed Solana Ranch Elementary School stands on 11.65 acres at Pacific Highlands Ranch Parkway. The $27.6 million project boasts a 60,143-square-foot classroom building, a 5,233 square-foot multi-purpose building, and a 2,935-square-foot preschool and child development center. Principal Jerry Jones, who previously headed up Solana Highlands, said he is “ecstatic” about the opportunity to open the seventh elementary school in the Solana Beach School District. “We seem to use that word [ecstatic] a lot,” said Jones, who lives in Cardiff. “It’s a really unique opportunity to start a culture from the very beginning.” Jones said Solana Ranch will have 21 teachers and about 40-50 staff members who will focus on developing a “culture of excellence.” “I really want that to be how people perceive Solana Ranch,” Jones said. “That culture of
Solana Ranch will have 21 teachers and 40-50 staff members when it opens in the fall. excellence is my biggest goal and responsibility.” Programs such as the “7 Habits of Highly Effective People”—a three-day training that staff members will attend, paid for by a $70,000 grant from Panda Express—will help develop that culture. Jones said he is also determined to develop a “growth mindset.” “You can’t control how smart you are but you can control how hard you work and how persis-
tent you are,” Jones said. “That is the growth mindset that I want our students to have.” The campus that will serve children in preschool through sixth grade has been a long time coming. District leaders began the planning process for Solana Ranch in the late 1990s and began constructing the school in November 2012. Solana Ranch plans to serve up to 650 students as it grows.
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ENTERTAINMENT
SEASIDECOURIER.COM — AUGUST 2014
Surfdog founder makes waves in 30-year career Hoa Quach Editor, Seaside Courier
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t was almost 30 years ago when an Encinitas businessman joined the big dogs of the music industry. Dave Kaplan signed UB40 shortly after the British band blew up the Billboard charts in the U.S. with its album “Labour of Love” featuring songs like “Red Red Wine.” Kaplan, now 55 years old, often finds himself wondering how he has made it to where he is today— and he’s come far. “I have to convince myself that I’ve done this,” said Kaplan, the founder of Surfdog, a music label and management company based in Encinitas. “I say to myself, ‘Geez, Dave, for 30 years you’ve found a way to run a business.’” But Kaplan hasn’t just operated a business. Some would say he found success in a competitive industry. His resume includes acts such as Brian Setzer, Eric Clapton, Joss Stone and Slightly Stoopid. A native of Arizona, the music industry was not exactly what Kaplan had originally signed up for. He became a certified public accountant but it was one phone call that changed his career path.
“I got a call from a college friend whose dad has a big merchandising firm in LA,” Kaplan said. “I was offered a job that paid triple what I was earning. It was literally a movie moment.” The company sold merchandise for acts such as Michael Jackson and Madonna. At 25, Kaplan scored the opportunity to co-manage UB40’s tour in the former Soviet Union. His business partner at the time later accepted a gig with Arista Records, leaving Kaplan as a one-man shop. “I was scared out of my mind,” Kaplan said. “As an entrepreneur, you’re always worried about failure. I’ve been down to my last nickel and had to ask my brother for money.” Decades later, Kaplan has grown his company and even opened a coffeehouse, Surfdog’s Java Hut on the Coast Highway in Encinitas. He is grateful for what he has achieved, though he stopped short of disclosing the company’s 2013 annual revenue. “I’m just thankful to be lucky enough to work with the people I have,” he said. “We are all passionate music-loving people.”
Music Calendar Aug. 9 – Dog Days of Summer featuring Tolan Shaw and Trouble in the Wind at Cardiff 101 Main Street. Free. Event starts at 10 a.m. with music starting at 1 p.m. This huge annual “dog-centric” event is adding musical performances to its roster this year. Singer-songwriter Tolan Shaw will kick things off with his catchy pop-rock style. Check out Shaw’s “Be My Girl” video for an infectious taste of his tunes. North County favorites Trouble in the Wind will follow up with their folk-surf blend of music. They have a wide catalog to draw from and always bring raw energy to their live performances. www.cardiffdogdaysofsummer.com Aug. 22 – The Mighty Untouchables at Calavera Hills Community Park. Free. 6 p.m The city of Carlsbad is finishing its summer “TGIF Concerts in the Park” series with a fun and lively group, The Mighty Untouchables. The ensemble will perform a blend of classic covers ranging from Prince to Michael Jackson to Marvin Gaye. If you’ve been waiting for a reason to dance this summer- here’s your excuse. www.carlsbadca.gov/arts Sept. 5 – Gayle Skidmore at the Museum of Making Music. 6 p.m. $10-$15 (ticket includes pizza and a beverage.) This one is worth planning ahead for. Skidmore’s sweet vocals, ethereal style, and quirky charm make her an enthralling performer to hear and see. Her plucky banjo playing adds to the uniqueness of this local talent’s stellar sets. Plus MoMM’s event is sponsored by Stone Brewing, Flippin’ Pizza and Knockout Pizza so you’ll enjoy sustenance along with feeding your need for live music. (Don’t miss out on showing up early and checking out the museum as well.) www.museumofmakingmusic.org Sept. 7 – FM 94.9’s Independence Jam at Oceanside Pier Plaza Amphitheatre. 3 p.m. $17. FM 94.9 proves it’s on the pulse of current great music with this year’s Indie Jam lineup. Alternative rock hit-makers Phantogram and Ms Mr will headline the show each with their mesmerizing chill-wave style. Several up-andcoming groups stack the rest of the bill with local favorites Little Hurricane kick-starting the show. Reasonable ticket prices, a full day of music and a gorgeous setting make this the last not-to-miss summer concert of the season.
Kaplan is looking forward to what the next 30 years may bring, stating that there are many more artists he would like to sign. “We have our hands full,” Kaplan said. “But there are loads of people I want to work with.”
Out of the Woods Pick of the Month Aug. 29 – Shake Before Us, The New Kinetics, Stereotypes, and Schitzophonics at the Casbah. $7. 9 p.m. This one’s bringing a lot of ruckus for a little money. These bands all have a gritty garage rock element and a lot of energy. SBU’s retro flair with a heavy dose of keyboards gives them a psychedelic feel. They should have some new music to unleash for this show and with a stacked bill of openers it is not to be missed. www.CasbahMusic.com
local news
SEASIDECOURIER.COM — AUGUST 2014
Pictured from left to right are: Ashton Szabo, Traci Wallace and Doug Smith. The three Encinitas residents founded We.Are.Yogi.
Encinitas residents launch product to enhance yoga, meditation Maggie Avants Seaside Courier
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cup of coffee and several iterations later, an Encinitasbased trio’s yogi-inspired product is ready to hit the shelves. “It was very synergistic the way it all happened,” said Encinitas resident Traci Wallace, 39, who makes up one-third of We.Are. Yogi. The start-up company recently announced the launch of their first meditation-enhancing supplement, W.A.Y. Chill. Fellow Encinitas residents joining Wallace in the endeavor are her college-friend-turned partner, Doug Smith, 37, and Ashton Szabo, also in his 30s. Smith, with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology, has been in the nutrition industry for more than 15 years, which has included developing other supplements. Szabo is a full-time yoga teacher who also teaches human anatomy. Wallace, who teaches corporate yoga, lends her marketing expertise having been involved in event-planning in the wellness industry for about five years. “It actually started with a conversation,” Wallace said. “I had introduced them and then we met for coffee. We saw a need for it and thought it would be cool to
actually start a business together to support not only this product but other products as well.” That was about 18 months ago; what followed was a process of refining the product but not without a lot of help from friends. “It is not easy to do something like this, there are so many things that went into it,” Wallace said. Patience was a main ingredient. “Most of our friends practice or teach yoga, so we tested ourselves for three or four months and once we got to a good point, we opened it up and did a beta test,” Wallace said. “We did things like an online survey to develop the taste; I think we went through 10 rounds.” The result: a tasty, powdered substance that when mixed with warm water, milk, coconut milk or almond milk relaxes the body and mind. Recommended for use just prior to a yoga or meditation session, it is a mixture of herbs, amino acids and cognitive ingredients. We.Are.Yogi debuted W.A.Y. Chill in June, when many of their beta-testing friends were invited to indulge in a collective event that Wallace described as a “chill circle.” “We are calling them chill circles—like a ceremonial group session when friends get together but instead of drinking cocktails,
they drink this,” Wallace said. “So we will be launching those kits so people can download a meditation and have a few friends over.” Their marketing efforts also extend to yoga studios throughout Southern California and beyond. According to Wallace, some local
studios as well as a few in Canada are already offering the product. “We wanted to create this product for not just a normal yoga class, or just to meditate, but to really go deep so you can come out more alive. Somehow, some way, we really did come up with a final product that really does that,” Wallace said, adding that more is in the works for their burgeoning company. “We are definitely feeling very grateful,” she said. For more information, visit WeAreYogi.com.
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SEASIDECOURIER.COM — AUGUST 2014
LOCAL NEWS
SEASIDECOURIER.COM — AUGUST 2014
E Street Café shuttered amid financial dispute Maggie Avants Seaside Courier
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t appears the end of an era has been reached for E Street Café in Encinitas. Reasons for the abrupt June closure of the downtown gathering spot remain scarce. However, news reports speculated that the once-bustling coffeehouse may have closed its doors due in part to a financial dispute between the former and most recent owners. A civil lawsuit citing breach of contract was filed in January by former owner Keith Shillington of Encinitas, against Oceanside resident Dominic Alcorn, who took ownership of the cafe in 2009, court records show. Shillington alleges that as of August 2013, Alcorn had ceased making installment payments toward a $125,000 promissory note he owed Shillington for the purchase of the business. A letter from Shillington’s attorney dated Nov. 26, 2013 sought payment of $76,000 by December of 2013. The letter warned of impending legal action if the amount was not paid in full. Neither Shillington nor Alcorn could be reached for comment, and Alcorn’s attorney did not return a messages left with his office. However, Shillington’s attorney, Scott Alan Miller, of Carlsbad-based Dillon and Gerardi, did speak to the matter. “The lawsuit was a product of the business failing,” Miller said. “So it was in trouble. It has been in trouble for months and I think Dominic felt that he wasn’t making enough money to justify continuing to pay on the note.” The demise of the business happened prior to the lawsuit, he said.
A civil lawsuit citing breach of contract was filed in January by former owner Keith Shillington of Encinitas. The casual venue went on to host live music and open mic nights featuring poets and musicians. It was also where Nanniga’s concept of holding an Encinitas Environment Day became a reality. Since 2007, the annual event has grown steadily and continues to be held every June at Cottonwood Canyon Park. The event’s website, EEDay. org, has a special section devoted to its founder. A favorite gathering place was the E Street Café where Bob hatched the next great idea and his infectious enthusiasm inspired all corners. The next day Bob would show up with 10 new things accomplished and they all knew that his partner Keith Shillington played a huge role behind the scenes.”
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Skydiving, from page 1 Miller spoke of a successful business when Shillington and Nanninga ran it. Nanniga was 45 when he died on Feb. 14, 2009 after a bout with pneumonia. Later that year, Shillington sold the business. Alcorn, an artist known locally for his oil paintings, continued many traditions of E Street Café, while also displaying artwork. “I think once Keith sold sold it—Bob died and they sold it to Dominic—certain aspects of the business changed and just wasn’t as successful,” Miller said. “I think initially it was but ultimately he wasn’t making money.” Miller could not immediately speak to the amount of rent Alcorn paid monthly for the space. Now, it is unclear what type of business may eventually occupy
the vacant suite at 128 West E St., less than a block off the bustling Coast Highway 101 in Encinitas. A note taped to the front door of the empty storefront stated: “E Street Café has gone out of business. The space that it occupied will be reconfigured to its original orientation and be leased for office-type usage with two separate units of approximately 1,200 square feet each.” The property owner, George Gowland, could not be reached for comment. Several passersby approached about the closure also chose not to speak about it. The San Diego County Superior Court website indicates that a case management conference regarding the legal matter is scheduled for Sept. 26.
had no idea.” But Strohbehn didn’t just propose to Nepomuceno right before they jumped out of a plane. He decided to fool her by presenting a fake $9 ring, then letting it drop to the earth. “I was shocked,” Nepomuceno said. “I was trying to figure out why the ring was just out there. I looked over at him and knew it was a joke.” Shortly after the couple jumped from the plane, Strohbehn got down on one knee and proposed to Nepomuceno again. She said yes in front of about 25 loved ones. The proposal was caught on camera and later uploaded to YouTube. “It was perfect,” Nepomuceno said. “I loved it.” The couple plans to wed in July 2015.
End of an era
Shillington opened E Street Café together with his partner, Bob Nanniga. The concept was a cyber cafe that offered complimentary Internet service. It flourished into a gathering place for many in the community who stopped by to chat or opened their laptops while grabbing a snack, coffee or tea.
"Serving North County San Diego, including Encinitas, La Costa, Carlsbad, Solana Beach, Del Mar, Cardiff, Rancho Santa Fe, Olivenhain, Leucadia, Carmel Valley."
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BUSINESS NEWS
North County Notables
SEASIDECOURIER.COM — AUGUST 2014
Local residents making a mark
Encinitas deputy recognized for saving lives A
n Encinitas deputy was recognized recently for saving the lives of his colleagues. Deputy William Dunford from the Encinitas Sheriff’s Station was awarded the Charles “Bud” Meeks Valor Award for Deputy Sheriff of the Year at the National Sheriffs’ Association’s (NSA) annual conference in Fort Worth, Texas. He is credited for helping save the lives of Deputies Colin Snodgrass and James Steinmeyer who were wounded in the line of duty in Encinitas on Feb. 20, 2013. The Sheriff’s Department said Dunford risked his own life to get the wounded deputies to safety and get them immediate medical care. The NSA said he remained calm in the face of incredible danger and used his supreme leadership skills to take control of the situation. Dunford has worked with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department for 18 years.
Oceanside woman, 105, throws first pitch at Padres game
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t a birthday luncheon at Oceanside’s Fairwinds Ivey Ranch Retirement Community last year, a 104-year-old Agnes McKee stood up and said: “We’ll see you all next year, same place, same time.” She stood by her word. McKee turned 105 on July 16. In addition to other festivities, she celebrated big by throwing the first pitch the San Diego Padres’ July 20 home game at Petco Park. “It’s a great honor to be selected to do this at 105 years old,” McKee said. “I appreciate the opportunity.” McKee, who grew up in Centerton, Ind., came to Oceanside 12 years ago with her husband, Harry, whom she said often enjoyed attending the baseball park. In honor of him, she said she “would love to see the Padres have a winning season.” McKee credits her longevity to her family: her mother lived to be 94 years old, her sister to 99 and her aunts into their 90s. For those not fortunate enough to have her good genes, she offered a tip. “Be happy, accept whatever comes along without worry,” McKee said.
Solana Beach resident appointed to Mental Health board
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local doctor will serve San Diego County residents as a member of the Mental Health Board. Shannon Lerach, who recently opened her Solana Beach practice, is a San Diego native and earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology. Lerach said she applied for the county board position because she felt she could offer a “meaningful and useful perspective to offer the board when it comes to understanding the mental-health services needed.” “I feel driven to find way to continue to contribute meaningfully to my community, and the County Mental Health Board provided me an opportunity to serve my community using my education and professional skill set,” Lerach said. “I was honored to be considered and accepted to the position and I look forward to my service.” Lerach has worked for a variety of county, nonprofit and charitable organizations, including Kearny Mesa Juvenile Hall, Juvenile Forensic Services, The Chadwick Center for Children and Families at Rady’s Children’s Hospital, and the Fred Finch Youth Center. Most recently, Lerach spent a year working in Liberia, providing trauma-focused therapy to women, children, and former child soldiers and ex-combatants.
North County Business Notes Beerworks opens in Solana Beach
Technology Career Institute coming to Carlsbad
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new Technology Career Institute hopes to fill the growing demand for industrial technicians. The city of Carlsbad and MiraCosta College announced in July a partnership to open a new Technology Career Institute in a city-owned building. The Technology Career Institute will train workers for industries such as high-tech manufacturing, maritime technology, and biotech manufacturing. The institute will expand the college’s machinist certificate program and create industry-recognized electronics engineering technician and robotics/automation certificate programs. The city will lease the building to MiraCosta College for $5,656.75 per month, which the city estimates to be 65 percent below market rate. The Technology Career Institute will be supported by a $2.75 million grant MiraCosta received in
Electra Bicycle Company T to move to Encinitas A 2013 from the U.S. Department of Labor. The building, at 2075 Las Palmas Drive, will also house the San Diego North Small Business Development Center (SBDC), which provides resources, workshops and leadership programs for growing and established small businesses.
national bicycle company will return to Encinitas where it was founded more than 20 years ago. Electra Bicycle Company will call 1010 South Coast Highway home as early as October 2014. “Electra started on the sandy beaches of Southern California, and we felt it was time to get back to our roots,” said Kevin Cox, president of Electra. “We’re excited to be working with the
city of Encinitas to help get the building restored to its original facade, but the interior will be reimagined in a way that amplifies the Electra way to roll and brand vision.” The company, which will move from Vista, hired San Diego firm Luce et Studio to design the 10,000 square foot space. Electra Bicycles are available in 19 retail stores countywide and more than 1,000 countrywide.
he county’s craft brewery scene welcomed the anticipated San Diego Beerworks recently. The restaurant, which is located at 437 South Highway 101, is owned by John Holko and Jennifer Todd. The 1,500-square-foot business features 20 beers on tap in the tasting room, a beer store, wine and appetizers. Operation hours are 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday-Sunday. For more information, visit sandiegobeerworks.com.
Do you know someone who should be featured on our North County Notables page? We’re looking for anyone who’s doing something big, from a newly hired executive at a local organization to the small business owner who just opened a new restaurant or office. Please send your submissions with a photo and a few paragraphs to the editor at Editor@SeasideCourier.com.
OPINION
SEASIDECOURIER.COM — AUGUST 2014
13
COMMENTARY
Failing Encinitas taxpayers - again Thomas K.
Arnold
Seaside Courier
I
t boggles the mind, truly. In government, you rarely get the chance for a do-over. You live with your mistakes. But when the Encinitas City Council was presented with the rare opportunity to renegotiate its sky-high purchase price for the abandoned Pacific View Elementary School site in light of a new “due diligence” report that found serious problems with the property – including a huge sinkhole, buildings loaded with asbestos and soil contaminated with petroleum – the council majority stubbornly stuck to its guns and refused to even consider asking the school district for a break. That makes absolutely no sense. If you agree to buy a house for a certain amount of money and a subsequent inspection finds a crack in the foundation or a leak in the roof, you’re going to go back to the owner and renegotiate the price – unless there are other potential buyers lined up and you’re afraid of losing the house. That’s hardly the case with Pacific View, which the city never should have purchased in the first place, much less for $10 million – money the city doesn’t have, particularly in light of costly infrastructure repairs that need to be addressed sooner rather than later. Not only was the purchase price twice what the city initially offered, it was also higher than the most optimistic projection school officials were hoping to get for the property through an auction. Talk of putting the property up for bid triggered a small but vocal public protest to keep the property out of the hands of developers and preserve it forever and ever as a park – prompting the council majority to step in at the last minute with a ridiculous offer that undoubtedly made school officials giddy with delight. But public pressure should
never be the primary influencer on public policy. And in this case, the council made a costly mistake, buying what critics warned was a white elephant with taxpayer money the city didn’t have. As we noted at the time, the city of Encinitas’ operating budget for the current year forecasts a tiny surplus of just $2.6 million, about a fourth of what it will cost the city just to buy the school site. Turning the property into a park will cost many millions more – and now comes a “due diligence” report that finds serious problems with the site. The buildings are infested with asbestos, which the city needs to clean up. There’s a big sinkhole on the property. The soil is contaminated with petroleum. And 10 percent of the land is unusable because of an adjacent access road to homes. If the city couldn’t outright rescind its offer, the least it could do was head back to the negotiating table, as Mayor Kristin Gaspar and Councilman Mark Muir suggested. But the ruling trio of Teresa Barth, Tony Kranz and Lisa Shaffer would have none of that, and instead voted to push through with a bond sale - seeking $13 million for the school purchase and construction of a lifeguard tower at Moonlight Beach - with no price reduction. This bond sale will cost Encinitas up to $750,000 a year for the next 30 years, or a total of $22.5 million. Meanwhile, deferred infrastructure maintenance – such as fixing potholes and cracked sidewalks – is going to cost the city at least $25 million, according to a report that came to the council just before the March vote to buy Pacific View. That report triggered talk among council members of putting a major sales-tax increase on the ballot. But hey, tax-and-spend appears to be a mantra for some politicians. Give the people what they think they want now – and let the next generation of leaders deal with the wreckage that’s inevitably going to follow.
CARTOON Editorial / Opinion
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LOCAL NEWS
LOCAL NEWS
Leaders, from page 1 to ensure that a high quality of life is maintained for Encinitas residents. But, for Gaspar, maintaining a high quality of life means refocusing the City Council so that it has a “back-to-basics approach.” “This approach recognizes we’re a well-to-do city but even a well-to-do city has its limits,” said Gaspar, who often finds herself at odds with the council majority made up by Kranz and Councilmembers Teresa Barth and Lisa Shaffer. “We need to put the core city services ahead of the city enhancement projects.” Gaspar used the city’s $10-million purchase of the site of the former Pacific View School as an example. “The Pacific View project is just one portion that made up a substantial amount of the budget,” said Gaspar who has served on the City Council since 2010. “In making that purchase, we did choose to make that enhancement ahead of the core city services.” But the purchase of Pacific View and similar efforts by the council majority are what Kranz would like to continue if elected. “The last couple of years have been pretty successful and I would like to see those efforts continue,” Kranz said.
SEASIDECOURIER.COM — AUGUST 2014
Novel, from page 1 In fact, Kranz said he chose to run for the seat after Barth announced she would retire when her council term ends. Kranz said the two spoke about issues they’d like the city to focus on. “Councilmember Barth is a
friend of mine and had great advice to offer,” Kranz said. “We talked about policy matters and things that we want to accomplish.” Kranz, who was elected in 2012, will serve another two years on the City Council if he loses the mayoral race. Gaspar said she recognizes the possibility of still having a minority vote on the City Council if she wins the mayoral bid, but thinks
it’s important to send a “clear message.” “It still presents a challenge,” Gaspar said. “But it’s still sending a strong message that we’re putting someone in office that has financial management experience—someone who can analyze, plan and negotiate on behalf of the taxpayers.” Despite the differences in policy making, the two candidates said they each plan to run a “positive” campaign. “It takes a lot of work to get your message out to voters,” Gaspar said. “It’s really me against me and a matter of communicating my message in a very positive way.” Kranz said he wants the race to focus on issues and ideas that will improve Encinitas. “I’m hopeful that the campaign will be a conversation about ideas and we won’t get into all the bashing that makes up politics these days,” Kranz said. “I believe anyone who wants to share their ideas deserves to be heard. In the end, we all realize how blessed we are to live in a such a great place.” Gaspar and Kranz last ran against each other in 2010 for City Council. With four candidates vying for two seats, Gaspar received the most votes, defeating Kranz, who placed third.
history and culture of the City of Angels. “I have told the basic story of my grandfather ever since I can remember,” Ahrens said. “I am a storyteller by nature. I realize now, being a writer, that because I would tell tall tales—we lived inland and would hike to the beach and tell everyone I rode a 10-foot wave, but it was only 2 feet—it taught me how to tell a fun story that was believable.” To understand the author, one must know that he ventured to Australia in 1972 in search of the perfect wave. At the time, he supported himself by being a freelance photographer. But shortly after his arrival, his camera gear was stolen. So he wrote a story, which a publication bought for $40— enough to support his beach living for two months. “I learned how to write by doing that,” said Ahrens, who is also a Seaside Courier columnist. “I learned how to survive; I learned about people.” He has been writing ever since, including published collections of his short stories as well as a regular column, “Sea Creatures” for Seaside Courier. During the past 10 years, Ahrens said he worked on this novel. For someone who lives two blocks from the beach, this involved “giving away his surfboards” and focusing on the task at hand.
“I just told myself that if I put as much time and effort as I put into riding waves, I’m going to be successful,” Ahrens said. “It’s the best thing I’ve ever done.” In doing so, the Southern California native who grew up in Montebello has paid homage not only to his grandparents’ legacy but also Los Angeles’— with a few tall tales added in, of course. A truly American blend— his father was Dutch-German and his mother, Mexican and a quarter Apache—Ahrens said he spent weekends with his grandparents in East Los Angeles. The result is an at-times emotional story that takes the reader through the extinction of Los Angeles’ streetcars; the construction of Interstate 5; and the razing of the Chavez Ravine neighborhood to build Dodger Stadium. “It [Chavez Ravine] was called a Mexican Shangri-La; it was a beautiful place with a breathtaking view of Los Angeles,” he said. Ahrens is planning book signings beginning in August after he gets some surfing in. Until then, he said “Twilight in the City of Angels” can be purchased at Perelandrapublishing.com. “I am getting some validation for it; at this point even some interest for a screenplay,” Ahrens said.
Pet of the Month:
Lady Grey is a 9-year-old, 8-pound, domestic medium hair cat.
Lady Grey is proper and sophisticated, but she’s also flirty. She likes to sit in a regal pose while she oversees her people. But a cat wand with a toy mouse on the end is all it takes for her to romp like a kitten. She likes being brushed and she enjoys her cat naps. She’ll do best in a mature home
with no small children. The $75 adoption fee for Lady Grey includes a medical exam, vaccinations, spay, and microchip. She can be adopted at the Rancho Coastal Humane Society at 389 Requeza Street in Encinitas or log on to SDpets.org. For more information, call 760-753-6413.
LOCAL NEWS
SEASIDECOURIER.COM — AUGUST 2014
School, from page 1 The curriculum addresses the growing problem of childhood obesity, Muto said. More than one third of children and teens in the U.S. were overweight or obese in 2012. Childhood obesity doubled among children in the past 30 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In San Diego County, 33 percent of adults and nearly 30 percent of children are overweight or obese, according to the CDC. Muto, who once tutored children, said she’s witnessed the problem firsthand. She recalled a time when she tutored an 8-year-old child whose snack was a packet of Nutter Butter and a pint of heavy whipping cream. “It’s appalling that parents do not know enough to give their kids a healthy snack and that children don’t understand what a healthy snack is,” Muto said. “It’s sad.” Demi Brown, a long-time educator who will serve as the school’s executive director, said she initiated the petition for ECS after failing to find a school with a large emphasis on physical education. Brown joined a San Diego CrossFit Gym about four years ago and had a “breakthrough” when she lost 60 pounds. She later asked a CrossFit coach to teach her seventh grade students at Integrity Charter School in National City.“I saw behavior issues decline after he came on board,” Brown said. “The idea
Brown said ECS promises to be more than just a school with an emphasis on fitness and health. She said ECS will give students the tools they need to be “global leaders.” immersion program and inspire “inquiry-based thinking.” Teachers will also be required to be bilingual in English and Spanish, Brown said. “I really just wanted a school like this to teach at,” Brown said. “I wanted a school where I would send my children.”
formed from there. It just made so much sense.” But Brown said ECS promises to be more than just a school with an emphasis on fitness and health. She said ECS will give students the tools they need to be “global leaders.” The school will offer a Spanish
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Brown and Muto said they hope ECS will grow into a school that can serve 300 students and ultimately, their families. “This is just one thing we can do to help our kids,” Muto said. “They shouldn’t have to worry about weight or obesity. They should be kids.”
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