Seaside Courier — October 2014

October 2014

On the Internet at www.SEASIDECourier.com

Volume 1 – Number 11

Local cities to host 2015 Special Olympics athlete delegations Maggie

Avants Editor

T

he festivities of the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles— returning to the U.S. after 16 years—will also extend to three coastal North County cities.

Prior to the July 25, 2015

opening ceremonies at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, approximately 7,000 intellectually disabled athletes from 177 countries, and their coaches, will converge on Southern California—with sevSee OLYMPICS page 6

Global Messengers for the Special Olympics World Games Los Angeles 2015 meet with Honorary Co-Chair, First Lady Michelle Obama, celebrating that the World Games are less than one year away.

Pacific View Elementary, the site of Encinitas' first school, has sat vacant since 2003. (Photo by Joe Wolf/Flickr)

School purchase may cost Encinitas more than $20M Tri-City's 'Lucky 13': Front row (left to right): Laura Keany, Carlsbad; Tina Knight, Oceanside; and Judy Miller, Carlsbad.

Middle row (left to right): Ceci Haas, Oceanside; Eileen Wityak, Carlsbad; Melissa Cappuccilli, Carslbad; Stacey Baker, Carlsbad; and Alejandra Paredes Guillen, San Marcos. Back row (left to right): Carin Nelson, Carlsbad; David Saenz, Oceanside; Tom Anderson, Encinitas; Allison Malstead, Fallbrook; and Gary Maziarz, Fallbrook.

Maggie Avants Editor, Seaside Courier

Despite challenges, ‘Lucky 13’ to D compete in Carlsbad Half Marathon Hoa

Quach Seaside Courier

D

avid Saenz of Oceanside knew he had to undergo a major lifestyle change when he suffered his second heart attack in 2012.

Saenz, who has lived in Oceanside for 10 years, now bikes about 3,000 miles per year and plans to complete the Carlsbad Half Marathon in January.

Saenz is one of 13 locals who were chosen to be a part of TriCity Medical Center’s Lucky 13,

a free program that prepares the participants for their first race. Not only that, each of the 13 participants have overcome their share of obstacles including cancer, heart failure and the loss

“They all leave the program with a whole, new outlook on life. It’s not just about running.

It’s about learning to overcome challenges.”

- Siene Freeman, Trainer at the Wellness Center

of fingers and toes.

Saenz suffers from high cholesterol but has lost nearly 100 pounds and has a goal of losing another 45. The 58-year-old has made it a priority to eat a mostly pescatarian diet and to bike regularly.

But the Lucky 13 program has taken Saenz, an engineer, to a whole other level of fitness.

“Because of bicycling, from the waist down I can pass as a young Arnold Schwarzenegger,” Saenz said. “But above my waist I look like a couch potato. I had never

iscussion of Encinitas’ multimillion-dollar purchase of the Pacific View Elementary School site took center stage again at a recent City Council meeting.

While the item was on the agenda because City Manager Gus Vina sought approval for a site activation plan as it transitions to the city’s ownership, the conversation also focused on which type of bond financing the city should use for the purchase.

Escrow is scheduled to close in November, according to Vina, who sought Council’s direction on whether to finance it with tax-exempt or taxable bonds.

The amount of money the city would have to pay annually for

See LUCKY 13 page 14

See PACIFIC VIEW page 6

Leichtag Foundation pledges $1M for Botanic Garden pavilion Maggie Avants Editor, Seaside Courier

S Cooking classes are among the many activities planned for the future Dickinson Family Education Pavilion at San Diego Botanic Garden

an Diego Botanic Garden is closer to funding the construction of a new education and events facility on its 37-acre Encinitas property, thanks to a recent $1-million pledge from the Leichtag Foundation.

The grant toward the creation of the Dickinson Family

Education Pavilion will enable the Garden to make its rental spaces available to select nonprofits that might not otherwise be able to utilize the venue, according to a news release.

“This tremendous grant awarded to us by our close friends and neighbors, the Leichtag Foundation, has helped the San Diego Botanic Garden to take a See LEICHTAG page 16

2

NORTH COUNTY EVENTS

SEASIDECOURIER.COM — OCTOBER 2014

Around Town these upcoming

Don’t miss

events around North County OC T. 11 Pride by the Beach The North County LGBTQ Resource Center will host Pride by the Beach on Saturday, Oct. 11 at Pier View Way and Ditmar in downtown Oceanside.

The event runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and features vendors, food trucks and live entertainment. The headliner is Mike Munich, who will perform on the main stage at 4 p.m.

More information is available at NorthCountypride.com or by calling 760-994-1690. ■

OC T. 18

Boo by Sea

Boo by the Sea Halloween Carnival and Fall Festival (The Boo) on from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18 at Cardiff Elementary School at 1888 Montgomery Ave., Cardiff.

The event will have four full-scale carnival rides, midway games, a haunted house, Trunk or Treating, local food, cotton candy, authentic Kettle Korn and much Students from Cardiff School District have a blast more. Costumes are at Boo by the Sea 2013. welcome!

It is the major fundraiser of the year for Cardiff SEA (Schools Education Association), a non-profit organization representative of parents, staff, and community members. Proceeds help provide funding for physical education, science, art, music, performing arts and gardening classes in Cardiff School District. The funds are also used to reduce class sizes. ■

Heartworks Booth - Debbie Arambula

OC T. 17-19

Harvest festival at Del Mar Fairgrounds

San Diego’s favorite fall and holiday celebration, the Harvest Festival, returns for the 42nd year with affordable family fun, entertainment and shopping on Oct. 17–19 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.

More than 300 artists and craftspeople—many new to the show—will offer unique American handmade works, including Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas décor, handmade wearable art, photography, garden decorations, hand-turned wood, unique holiday gifts, ceramics, jewelry, children’s toys, and much more. All products in the show are American-made, and chosen by a jury.

Families enjoy the live entertainment at the Harvest Festival, which includes live bands, stilt walkers, comedy juggling, and the beloved “horsey guys” comedy duo.

OC T. 24

There will also be an opportunity to win an iPad mini, as well as daily giveaways.

Tickets cost $9 for adults, $7 for seniors 62 and older, and $4 for youth 13-17. Children 12 and under get in free with an adult. One ticket is good for all three days.

There is parking close by at the facility rate, with free trams to the gate.

All proceeds from voluntary donations will benefit nonprofit partner Mama’s Kitchen. Plus, anyone bringing a non-perishable food item to Mama’s Kitchen will receive a $2 discount on one general or senior admission.

For those who don’t want to wait in line, advance tickets may be purchased at Harvestfestival.com. For more information, call 800-346-1212. ■

Music by the Sea

Music by the Sea is bringing top-notch musicians to the Encinitas Library one Friday a month beginning, this month on Oct. 24. The events presented by the City of Encinitas will feature local, national and international performers who were selected at auditions in Beverly Hills earlier this year. Artists at these auditions were chosen for the series in Encinitas along with other concert lineups around southern The Upside California.

The Oct. 24 concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $13 and can be purchased in advance through the city.

The evening will feature The Upside, with Diana Morgan on flute, Lauren Kotsy on vibraphone and percussion, and Stephen Pfeifer on double bass.

One of L.A.’s premier classical/jazz crossover ensembles, The Upside features three graduates of the country’s top conservatories collaborate on music from Bach to Brubeck.

Also featured will be Russell Veirs, who will play saxophone. Russell recently earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in saxophone performance at UCLA, studying with renowned saxophonist Douglas Masek. A winner of UCLA’s “AllRussell Veirs Star Concerto Competition,” he was a soloist with the UCLA Philharmonia. ■

AS A PROSECUTOR THAT HAS WORKED MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS FOR TEN YEARS, AND A RESERVE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER FOR OVER TWELVE YEARS, BRYAN WILL MAKE SURE PUBLIC SAFETY IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR ENCINITAS!

LAW ENFORCEMENT’S CHOICE! ENDORSED BY THE DEPUTY SHERIFFS’ ASSOCIATION OF SAN DIEGO Paid for by Bryan Ziegler for Encinitas City Council 2014

OPINION

SEASIDECOURIER.COM — OCTOBER 2014

For safety’s sake, red-light cameras should go dark Thomas K.

Arnold

Seaside Courier

D

el Mar City Council members made a big mistake when they allowed red-light cameras to remain in town for another two years, until an existing contract with Redflex Traffic Systems expires in April 2016, instead of yanking the infernal things immediately in the interests of privacy and public safety.

They’re intrusive, an example of Big Brother coming to life. I don’t relish the thought of being photographed or videotaped every time I drive through an intersection. I don’t like government knowing where I am at a certain point in the day, and I don’t like the presumption of guilt over innocence; the citation goes to me, even if I happened to have let someone else borrow my car.

An even bigger concern is safety. Study after study has shown that red-light cameras do more harm than good. In theory, red-light cameras should prevent accidents by making motorists think twice before shooting through yellow lights. Too often, the light changes from yellow to red and it’s too late for them to stop, which puts them at risk of slamming into some eager beaver in cross traffic who punches the gas pedal the moment the light turns green.

But while red-light cameras may reduce the risk of motorists broadsiding other motorists— socalled “angle” collisions—they sharply heighten the risk of rearend crashes, since the motorist who slams on the brakes the moment the light turns yellow might be followed by a lesscautious fellow who feels there’s plenty of time to make it through the intersection before the light turns red.

A June 2007 study by the

Virginia Transportation Research Council found that red-light cameras led to a 12-percent spike in the total number of crashes, because the increase in rear-end collisions far outnumbered the decrease in angle crashes.

Two years later, an investigation by Los Angeles television station KCAL debunked a claim by city officials that red-light cameras reduced the number of accidents by 34 percent.

According to the station, “We looked at every accident at every red-light camera intersection for six months of data before the cameras were installed and six months after…. Twenty of the 32 intersections show accidents up after the cameras were installed.

Three remained the same and only nine intersections showed accidents decreasing.”

KCAL’s investigation found that several ticket camera intersections in Los Angeles had as many as three times the number of accidents. The reason for the increase: a sharp uptick in rearend collisions.

As I’ve written before in an earlier column for another newspaper, my own experience with a red-light camera ended in a legal draw. It happened at El Camino Real and Encinitas Boulevard; the camera said I ran a red light while making a left turn, while I insisted the light was still yellow.

Waiting for my turn in court, I turned to a deputy in the lobby and jokingly showed him my citation and said, “Can’t you guys get better cameras? Even Costco does better than this.”

He looked at the picture, said, “Yeah, it doesn’t really look like you,” ducked into the courtroom and emerged a few minutes later, telling me the case was dismissed.

Since that experience, I no longer barrel through yellow lights, as I used to do.

But I am very, very concerned about the guy behind me. ■

Lions President, David Cain, and Board Member, Gayle Valentino, give a backpack and calculator to Casa de Amistad student, Justin Alcaide.

195 backpacks distributed to local kids The Del Sol Lions distributed 195 backpacks to students at Solana Beach-based Casa de Amistad and other local children on the first day of school.

High school students also received a scientific calculator to support the STEM (Science-Technology-Engineering-Math) educational initiative.

The backpack program was made possible by donations made at the annual Fiesta del Sol and a grant from the city of Solana Beach. ■

3

4

LOCAL NEWS

SEASIDECOURIER.COM — OCTOBER 2014

May cost $4.4B to decommission San Onofre nuclear plant

D

ecommissioning of the idled San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station in northern San Diego County will cost an estimated $4.4 billion, according to a plan submitted Sept.

23 by majority owner Southern California Edison.

The plan, summed up in three documents submitted to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, envisions major decommissioning work to begin in early 2016. The documents include a decommis- San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station sioning plan, a cost estimate and how to manage two reactors. The other reactor spent fuel. was shut down for maintenance The plan was vetted in a series at the time. of public meetings.

Last year, Edison shelved “These important regulatory plans to restart the reactors in submittals will guide us as we favor of retiring the plant. decommission San Onofre in a The project cost includes physisafe and timely manner while cal dismantlement of San Onofre continuing to serve as good envi- Units 2 and 3 within 20 years, ronmental and financial stewards managing and storing the used on behalf of our customers and nuclear fuel until it is accepted by the public,’’ said Tom Palmisano, the U.S. Department of Energy, SCE vice president and chief and restoring the site for future nuclear officer. use, subject to an easement The facility on the northern agreement with the U.S. Navy, San Diego County coastline has which owns the land. been inoperative since January The decommissioning trust 2012, when a small, non-injury funds established by San Onofre’s leak was discovered in one of the owners currently total about

$4.1 billion, according to Edison.

Based on the updated cost estimate, anticipated cost escalation and future trust fund earnings, SCE said it believes the San Onofre decommissioning is fully funded and no further customer contributions will be required at this time.

Any unused funds will be returned to customers at the end of decommissioning.

San Diego Gas & Electric owns 20 percent of the plant and received one-fifth of its power when it was operating.

—City News Service ■

The ideal small school campus.

The Grauer School is a leader in Small School college preparation and founder of    . After a quartercentury, we know our learning culture changes young lives. Our students’ growth, their parents’ enthusiasm, and our graduates’ achievements keep proving our unique impact. Eighty nine percent of Grauer seniors are accepted to their first choice college.

More important, they become remarkably well balanced adults.

We are now completing our permanent campus, painstakingly designed to support our students’ scholarship and intellectual curiosity. It will be a physical space in perfect harmony with The Grauer School’s long-held educational ideals.

Visit our Open House-Under-Construction. You might find that our small school enclave for grades – is ideal for your child.

Open House Saturday, November  | :–:  | Tours every  minutes | : grauerschool.com or ..

LOCAL NEWS

SEASIDECOURIER.COM — OCTOBER 2014

Brother Benno soup kitchen (Photo credit: The Brother Benno Center)

Brother Benno Center: 30-plus years of ministering to Oceanside Barbara Ladwig

Seaside Courier Contributor

L

ittle did Harold and Kay Kutler know, when they served homemade soup and freshly baked bread to 18 homeless men on October 21, 1983, they were starting what would become one of the most compassionate and well-known ministries in San Diego County.

The soup and bread were made

by Brother Benno Garrity, a monk at what is now called the Prince of Peace Abbey; and the meal was served in the backyard of an old two-bedroom house in downtown Oceanside.

By 1991, it was obvious that the growing ministry needed more space; and the Brother Benno Foundation moved to a 12,000-square-foot warehouse.

In addition to serving a hot meal six days a week, they provide used clothing, showers, haircuts, laundry facilities, bus passes, blankets, and supplementary food packs–all free to the homeless and needy. Rent and prescription assistance are also available on a restricted basis as funds become available.

Brother Benno’s operates a very successful Thrift Shop at 3955 Mission Ave. in Oceanside, selling furniture, clothing, household items, toys, and books. Furniture is also sold at a building next to the Brother Benno Center.

For several years, the focus at Brother Benno’s was on the homeless; but it soon became apparent that many of the working poor were in desperate need of help as well. Now, the vast majority of those who come to the Brother Benno Center are families, seniors, and people with various kinds of physical or mental challenges.

Early on, Harold and Kay Kutler, as well as the Foundation Board, realized that many of the men and women who came for help suffered from alcohol and drug addiction. They started a transitional Recovery Program for men, which eventually expanded to include women. At first, those trying to help had little expertise in chemical depen-

dency, but over the years they began to focus on the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, and the success rate rose dramatically.

Today, the program is run by California CADAC II counselors; and organizations in the recovery field consider it to be one of the best programs in all of San Diego County.

The Brother Benno Center houses a large kitchen and dining room–always decorated in cheerful colors, a children’s reading room, a small chapel, offices, two

would be necessary to pay some of the people who perform certain jobs on a full-time basis. Even with that change, volunteers are still the backbone of Brother Benno’s.

In 2003, Harold Kutler published a book about Brother Benno’s: “Soup Soap Hugs Hope, the Story of Brother Benno’s Life-Changing Soup Kitchen,” which is available for a donation in any amount. The Foundation also publishes a monthly newsletter and maintains a website:

Harold Kutler

Kay Kutler

Brother Benno

shower rooms, a laundry room, and a storage warehouse.

In one corner of the dining room is a small stage where Kay Kutler used to entertain the diners with her inimitable songs, always inviting anyone so inclined to come up and join her. (Many, over the years, did just that.) When she died in 2012, others stepped up to keep the tradition going.

For the first 30 years, almost everyone involved at Brother Benno’s was a volunteer. Then in 2013, the foundation board was informed that due to tax laws, it

Brotherbenno.org, with connections to Facebook and Twitter.

Financial support can be made on the website or by mail to 3260 Production Ave., Oceanside, CA 92058. Volunteer opportunities or questions can be answered by calling 760-439-1244.

Barbara Ladwig is a Carlsbad resident and freelance writer who has served as editor of the Brother Benno newsletter since October 2004. Ladwig also cowrote Harold Kutler’s book, “Soup Soap Hugs Hope, the Story of Brother Benno’s Life-Changing Soup Kitchen.” ■

5

6

LOCAL NEWS

SEASIDECOURIER.COM — OCTOBER 2014

Olympics, from page 1 eral hundred of them scheduled to spend three days in San Diego County as part of the Host Town program.

Del Mar, Solana Beach and Encinitas are among the cities that have recently agreed to welcome a delegation of 100 athletes during their stay in the region, July 21-24, 2015.

“The collaboration means each city would be responsible for staging two cultural events and two meals,” said Dawn O’Leary, Special Olympics Host Town director, during a presentation to Encinitas City Council.

Council members from Encinitas unanimously voted on Sept. 17 to approve the use of the city logo for marketing materials; provide free access to city facilities at no charge; and authorize city staff to assist with duties such as security, public relations and planning and hosting of the localized events.

The Council expressed its support for city participation, noting it would also be important to keep track of associated costs.

“We should be proud to have the opportunity to be a small part of this,” said Encinitas Councilman Mark Muir.

Councilwoman Lisa Shaffer, who has a sibling with Down’s Syndrome as well as a disabled

7,000 The number of athletes, from 177 countries, who will be competing in the 2015 Special Olympics events stepson, said: “It is a really special opportunity...while I support it I would like to bring more information back about financial arrangements.”

O’Leary answered by saying the cost to cities will likely be minimal. Lions Club International has agreed to sponsor many of the “hard costs” such as food for the events, she said, and California State University, San Marcos is providing lodging for the athletes at no charge.

San Diego County Supervisor Dave Roberts’ office organized an executive committee for the North County/San Diego Host Town partners of Del Mar, Solana Beach and Encinitas, which included bringing city representatives together for an exploratory meet-

ing in late August.

“The Special Olympics are indeed special. I am proud to have worked to bring the Olympics to San Diego County,” the supervisor said. “The participants deserve an event in which they can compete against their peers, and demonstrate to all of us that we can overcome challenges when we work hard and are determined to succeed.”

Roberts’ office also was instrumental in securing Cal State San Marcos for housing, as well as garnering commitments from various nonprofits to provide assistance and food.

“Everyone involved has been anxious to contribute,” Roberts said. “It has been a tremendous team effort.”

The 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games will be the largest event hosted by Los Angeles since the 1984 Olympics.

Raleigh, North Carolina hosted Special Olympics in 1999, the last time the games were held in the U.S. The Host Town area will span from San Diego to San Luis Obispo and include at least 100 Southern California cities. Other San Diego County host cities will include Poway, La Mesa, El Cajon, Coronado, Chula Vista and National City. ■

Pacific View, from page 1 debt service would increase by $50,000 if the taxable option is chosen, he said.

If the city were to use the site for anything other than public use—like leasing out portions of the site to generate revenue— tax code would require that it be financed with taxable bonds, he went on to say.

“It’s a decision point for Council,” Vina said. “Tax-exempt bonds do come with strings attached, and come with some strict thresholds that might limit the type of activity on the property. You don’t have that issue with taxable bonds...So really at the end of the day you are trading cost for some long term flexibility for the use of the project.”

In May, Council voted 3-2 to purchase the long-shuttered site on Third Street from the Encinitas Union School District.

In June, as part of the city’s Fiscal Year 2014-2015 budget, a $13-million financing plan—$10 million for Pacific View and $3 million for the replacement of the lifeguard tower at Moonlight Beach—to be accomplished with the sale of tax-exempt bonds was approved.

With that tax-exempt estimate came an $733,000 per year debt service payment at 3.8 percent interest, taking the total 30-year financing of both projects to a total of $21.9 million.

What Council members said they were not aware of at that time was the issue of tax-exempt versus taxable financing.

“This issue came to my awareness for the first time this week,” said Councilwoman Lisa Shaffer, at the Sept. 17 meeting. “I can only express my extreme disappointment that we didn’t have

Pacific View Elementary, the site of Encinitas' first school, has sat vacant since 2003. (Photo by Joe Wolf/Flickr)

this information available when we were doing the budget.”

The taxable bond sale estimate given by city staff would bump the total debt service payment to $815,500 at a combined interest rate of 4.65 percent, for a final figure of $24.4 million at the end of 30 years.

Ultimately, Council came to a consensus to direct staff to prepare for the bond financing using both scenarios, which they will vote on at a meeting in late October—just prior to escrow.

“If we are going to commit to taxable then are we going to have to know what we have to do to make up that money,” said Mayor Kristin Gaspar.

In the meantime, Council members Shaffer and Teresa Barth will serve on a subcommittee tasked with gathering ideas for interim uses as well as the long-term vision for the property.

Many members of the public in attendance at the meeting expressed their desire to see the site become a performing arts

center. Representatives from Coastal Communities Concert Band, Intrepid Shakespeare Company, Encinitas Friends of the Arts and 101 Artists Colony were among those who spoke of the dire need for that type of venue in the city.

“It would be a great thing,” said Wes Noel, a 13-year Encinitas resident who plays trombone for the Coastal Communities Concert Band. “Making the move to buy the property was smart.”

Vina’s activation plan approved Sept. 17 includes four phases: Ensure that no one enters the property until the purchase is complete and the city takes possession; Property cleanup and evaluation of the structures once the deal is finalized (EUSD has agreed to clean out all buildings prior to the close of escrow, according to Vina); Council shall make decisions regarding the interim uses of the property; and Visioning and adoption of a long-term plan for the site. ■

ADVERTISEMENT

SEASIDECOURIER.COM — OCTOBER 2014

7

8

ELECTION

SEASIDECOURIER.COM — OCTOBER 2014

SEASIDE COURIER FORUM:

Encinitas mayoral, council candidates submit responses to reader questions Alan Lerchbacker, candidate L for City Council: eading up to the November election, Seaside Courier readers are invited to submit local issue-related questions to editor@seasidecourier.com. Our staff selects one question per week to pose to candidates.

The first question asked of the five candidates for Encinitas Mayor and four candidates for one City Council seat was: “Do you believe that for any City purchase of real estate, a supermajority City Council vote (4/1 vote or 5/0 vote) should be required when the purchase price is in excess of 8 percent of the City’s preceding year total expenses? Why or why not? (It does not matter what kind of real estate nor whether or not it is for cash, financed with bonds or whatever other structure is proposed.)”

Here are their responses: Kristin Gaspar, candidate for Mayor:





    Short-term, hands-on programs.

Half-day classes 4 days a week.

Monthly payment plans available.

 



 www.theaccountingacademy.com

“Financial planning must reflect the priorities of residents, protecting infrastructure and core services. It is also worth considering whether a Council Super Majority vote should be required if the City plans to use debt financing for land acquisition or other major purchases.

There was a Super Majority vote to approve the Encinitas Library, Public Works Yard, Olivenhain Fire Station, Encinitas Community Park, Moonlight Beach, and Community Center.

“In contrast, the Pacific View land purchase did not pass with a Super Majority vote (3-2) for several reasons: 1. The City paid $10,000,000 for the property, which was 2-3 times the appraised value, and $500,000 more than asking price.

2. The purchase required debt financing since the property could not be funded using cash on hand. The end result was a so-called “balanced budget” that underfunded key infrastructure and prioritized capital improvement projects.

3. The budget resulting from the land purchase, underfunded road maintenance by well over $1,000,000, guaranteeing that our roads will be in worse condition for years to come.”

“Debt financing as a means to acquire property or other purchases which represent a large percentage of the City’s budget should warrant the additional representation a Super Majority vote provides.”

Mike Bawany, candidate for Mayor: “I think it is a good idea to have a Super Majority Vote (4/1 or 5/0) on any high priced real estate purchase by the City however it is not clear how did we come up with the 8 percent of previous years’ total expenses

as a purchase price threshold for a vote. It seems totally arbitrary.

Two things to consider here; “(1) First, the City’s expenses vary from year to year. If the City is forced to spend large sums of money on special projects in one year, the following year there may not be enough money left over and should be spending less but this fixed 8 percent criteria translates into a higher limit for the purchase price (because of the higher previous years’ expenses) and will have the opposite effect. It is therefore more appropriate to have a fixed dollar amount for the purchase price limit, like $3M or $5M instead of the arbitrary 8 percent. “(2) Secondly, for the Super Majority Vote, rather than just voting “Yes” or “No” on all real estate purchases exceeding a certain threshold, each Council member and the Mayor must also provide a rationale for their “Yes” or “No” vote.”

Sheila S. Cameron, candidate for Mayor: No response was submitted by the deadline.

Alex Fidel, candidate for Mayor: “I do not think the city should be purchasing any more property. I think the city should sell property, but not to corporations.

I don’t believe in corporate privatization of resources. I think things are best left to the people themselves, not the state nor corporations. Instead of using land to fuel the Federal Reserve’s housing bubble or Park & Rides, we should leave land to be used as farming cooperatives where We The People grow things like hemp, which could be turned into hemp concrete to pave the roads that the city is millions of dollars behind on. We can create the jobs that help restore our infrastructure and reduce local organic food costs if we engage in biodiversity. I am against the purchase of Pacific View. Don’t rely on a politician to save you, get involved in local government and demand that your public servants represent you. Malcolm X said that revolution is not a spectator sport, everyone participates, even if you are silent, because silence is compliance.”

Tony Kranz, candidate for Mayor: “Requiring a supermajority to approve real estate purchases is something I could support.

I’m not sure the threshold for a supermajority vote should be as described, but the idea is worth deliberating. There should also be a citizen’s committee established which is dedicated to developing a list of properties that should be prioritized for adding to areas in our community zoned Open Space.”

“The only way we preserve and enhance our quality of life in Encinitas is to protect our finances. The recent lack of fiscal discipline by our City Council is one of the reasons I decided to run for City Council. My position as CEO of two successful companies and my 26-year career in the United States Navy has taught me how to run a tight ship. The concept of providing a higher level of approval, a super-majority (4 of 5) of the City Council, for major expenditures is not that different than what is often seen in the corporate sector and one I would support.

“Recently, the City made a major property purchase at a cost well in excess of the City’s own value appraisal. Certainly, there may be a reason to do this, however, requiring a super-majority for this type of transaction is a prudent measure to protect the taxpayers dollars. This same transaction saw a simple-majority (3 of 5) of the City Council approve taking out $13 million dollars in new debt. This also should have required a super-majority vote of our City Council. If elected, I would support these types of financial safeguards. It would be a prudent and sensible measure to protect our City finances, thus helping to make our City thrive.”

Julie Graboi, candidate for City Council: “If I am elected, I will bring this issue to council for debate.”

Catherine S. Blakespear, candidate for City Council: “Great Question!

“The responsible management of the public’s money is the City Council’s most important responsibility. I take this seriously and am open to considering a threshold for future purchases of real estate.

“Your question raises two potential guiding principles: (1) a Super Majority vote, and (2) what’s the trigger. I can support a Super Majority requirement of 4-1 but not 5-0. Requiring unanimity, I feel, is unreasonable.

“Regarding the trigger, I could support a percentage of the total expenses to run the city for the preceding year but would also like to consider a multi-year assessment of overall financial capacity. Whether 8 percent is the right number would be up to the Council. Afterall we currently have a bonded-debt ratio threshold of 10 percent.

“As an attorney and small business owner, I believe the city’s finances should be run just as a small business or household is run. We should avoid taking on too much debt (in relation to net income and not based on See FORUM page 9

ELECTION

SEASIDECOURIER.COM — OCTOBER 2014

Forum, from page 8 borrowing power), resist the urge to hire too many employees or become bloated by overhead, keep our expenses modest, and save for a rainy day.

“I welcome considering this on the Council.”

Bryan McKeldin Ziegler, candidate for City Council: “I believe that it would be a good idea for City Council to require a super-majority vote on any real estate purchase that is in excess of 8% of the City’s preceding years total expenses. I was seriously disturbed by the recent purchase of the Pacific View Elementary School property for ten million dollars that just occurred. This puts our precious public safety and basic infrastructure needs at risk. The school purchase had special interests written all over it. If these special interest groups wanted this property then they should have started a private endowment fund to purchase it on their own dime.

If I was elected to City Council I would not let this happen again.

A super-majority would also be extra safety to prevent this grave error from occurring again.” ********

During week 2, the candidates were asked to express their position on this readersubmitted question:

“The City Council recently discussed raising the sales tax rate in Encinitas as a means to increase City revenues. If elected to office, would you be in favor of increasing the sales tax rate?”

Kristin Gaspar, candidate for Mayor:

“No. I helped stop a proposed sales tax ballot measure, which required a supermajority vote.

I also rejected proposals to hire a marketing firm who bragged about their 90% “success rate” of passing tax measures at the March 11, 2014 Council meeting.

According to the UT and Coast News: “You can count me out,” Gaspar said, commenting that she doesn’t believe city leaders have done enough to make certain the city is living within its means.”

“When we’re exploring any kind of a tax, it needs to be a last resort,” she said.

“I want to make it very clear that you don’t have my support now, and you won’t have my support later in that 4/5 vote.”

Unfortunately, we found out a few weeks later that the Council Majority wanted to increase sales taxes to purchase property they could not afford.

“As Mayor, I will continue to block tax increases.”

Mike Bawany, candidate for Mayor: “Increasing sales tax rate to raise more revenue is a bad idea and I will not support it.

“The city needs to stop wasting money. An example of this is the $10M purchase of the abandoned Pacific View property that could have been purchased for far less.

And with no plans in place, the city will now be paying property

taxes and the interest on the debt with no utility for it. And who knows how much more will be spent in fixing it up for some other use whatever that may be.

“If elected, one of my goals will be “Fiscal Responsibility”. I will ensure that our taxpayers get the most for their money by cutting wasteful spending through carefully planned use of our resources and learning to live within our means. Our citizens are paying way too much tax from their hard earned dollar and the City should not burden them anymore. If anything, we should try to find ways to cut taxes. On November 4th, for the first time the people of Encinitas will directly vote for their Mayor – thanks to Proposition-K. They will now have the opportunity to bring some changes to the leadership of their City Council by choosing someone new who can bring fresh perspective and positive changes to the city. I encourage them to seize upon that opportunity.”

Sheila S. Cameron, candidate for Mayor: “No.”

Alex Fidel, candidate for Mayor:

Encinitas currently enjoys a high level of core City services, however, recent spending decisions by three members of our City Council have threatened the future level and quality of these services. This is why these same Council members have proposed raising our sales tax rate — to pay for their reckless spending.

Don’t be fooled by the half-truth that we enjoy balanced budgets.

It is easy to balance a budget by cutting funding to services and key improvement projects.

This is exactly what our City Council majority did to balance the budget. Raising our taxes due to poor spending decisions is not the answer. The answer is to elect new leadership that will hold the line on spending, concentrating on providing the key services our citizen’s want: roads, parks, beaches, police and fire protection. My Master’s degree in Business Administration and background as a company COO, President, and CEO has trained and tested my ability to manage spending while keeping the level of service to our customers high.

The citizens of Encinitas should accept no less from its City leaders.”

“I am opposed to the sales tax increase. I support abolition of the property tax, which makes us indentured servants to the corporate state, where we don’t actually own the property we stand on. Gas taxes pay for roads, and sales taxes for the general fund, such as Constitutional Peace Officers (not law enforcement officers), education, water/ sewage infrastructure, and safety nets for the truly needy.

We should cut spending on everything else- bloated salaries and pensions of city staff.

“I support nullification of legal tender laws for freedom of currency in our city. This relates to taxes- the Federal Reserve & IRS were created in 1913 as conjoined twins. The Rothschilds print debt-based currency at the Fed, and you owe them with the sweat off your brow. End the dollar monopoly and you don’t have to report any non-dollar transactions or gains to the IRS, just locally for sales taxes. Taxes on wages/income is theft. There is no concrete law requiring your compliance with the income tax.

If local Peace Officers stood by their oath to the Constitution, they’d arrest federal agents who try to circumvent the will of the people escaping the bondage that is the money system.”

Julie Graboi, candidate for City Council:

Tony Kranz, candidate for Mayor:

Bryan McKeldin Ziegler, candidate for City Council:

“The city council cannot raise the sales tax unless the public votes on it and “supermajorities” are required for passage.

Your question lacks specifics, so I cannot provide an informed answer about whether I would support an increase.”

“If elected to City Council, I promise not to raise the sales tax in the City of Encinitas. One of my key priorities in office is to be fiscally responsible. We need to work on keeping a balanced budget, cutting wasteful spending and not increasing taxes. If we continue down this road we may not have enough money to fund our Sheriff’s Deputies and the Fire Department. Would you rather have emergency services or a $10 million dollar dilapidated elementary school property? The choice is clear.” ■

Alan Lerchbacker, candidate for City Council: “I do not support raising taxes.

We need our elected officials to have the financial discipline to live within our City’s means.

“I do not support a new sales tax of this type. I would invite council to look at our history since we have never had an added tax on top of the sales tax we would normally pay. Prices are high enough now. Why should they suggest an added tax now now unless they have not been judicious with our already high tax funds? There is no reason to punish taxpayers when it appears that the City’s financial house is not in order.”

Catherine S. Blakespear, candidate for City Council: “I am opposed to raising the sales tax rate. The city needs to live within its means. If the city needs additional money for projects I believe we should do the following: 1. belt tightening; 2. avoiding the bloating of government expenses; 3. limiting the number of expensive outside consultants the city hires; and 4. re-evaluating our city contracts to make sure we are getting the best deal for services such as road maintenance and tree care. I do not support increased taxes. As a small business owner who makes my books balance every month, I believe in caution, prudence and low taxes.”

9

10

ELECTION Seaside Courier recommends candidates for consideration T

he Editorial Board of the Seaside Courier has studied the various candidates in key North County races and has prepared its candidate recommendations for the Nov. 4 elections.

We are not making recommendations in all races, and in other races we are not supporting a full slate of candidates. We are only asking you give consideration to voting for the following candidates for the stated reasons:

City of Encinitas

Encinitas will for the first time will directly elect its mayor.

Kristin Gaspar is serving at the city’s last appointed mayor. She deserves to become the city’s first elected one, as well. Out of a field of five candidates, Gaspar has distinguished herself as a voice of reason.

She’s a common sense candidate, the one best suited Kristin Gaspar to lead Encinitas into the future and protect its high quality of life.

She spoke out loudly against the city’s recent foolhardy purchase of abandoned Pacific View property, a $10-million boondoggle the city simply can’t afford—and one that will wind up draining the city’s coffers. Gaspar is smart, poised and professional and is not afraid to represent the whole community. Gaspar has all the qualities Encinitas needs for its mayor.

For the one open City Council seat, the Seaside Courier throws its support behind a newcomer to local politics, Alan Lerchbacker, a 26-year veteran of the U.S. Navy and a successful local businessman. Lerchbacker—his friends call him “Lerch”—would make a good compliment to Gaspar, shifting the current Council majority away from trophy projects, getting back to basics— prioritizing fire, police, emergency medical services, Alan Lerchbacker roads, beaches, parks and trails.

As an avid surfer, Lerchbacker brings a sound awareness of the importance of being a good steward of our local environment. He appears humble, honest and sincere—and a man who is willing to

SEASIDECOURIER.COM — OCTOBER 2014

look at both sides of an issue, with no preconceived notions.

Encinitas Union School District For the three seats on the Encinitas Union School District board, the Seaside Courier cannot in good conscience endorse any of the three incumbents running for re-election, since they all participated in a questionable, and costly, retreat in August 2014 at a posh Palm Springs-area resort that may have violated the Brown Act, which prohibits public agencies from meeting in private.

The one newcomer to the race, Jennifer Hamler, is a teacher, business owner and mother of three who according to her website wants “to bring accountability to the board and ensure decisions are being made in the best interests of our children.”

She urges caution in adopting Common Core, saying she “will Jennifer not allow our Hamler children to be guinea pigs,” and vows to bring a new sense of openness to a board that according to a study released in June 2014 by the San Diego County Taxpayers Association was one of the least transparent school districts in the entire county.

For those reasons, we support her candidacy. Elect Hamler to the EUSD board.

San Dieguito Union High School District For the three seats up for grabs on the San Dieguito Union High School District, we support newMaureen comer Maureen Muir “Mo” Muir and incumbent John Salazar.

Muir has been a voice of reason on the Encinitas Union School District board and did not participate in the board’s questionable retreat last August at the La Quinta Resort. Her stated priorities are to maintain the educational excellence and high

performance of district schools, oversee the implementation of Prop AA expenditures “with assiduous attention to fiscal responsibility,” and be open and accessible with constituents.

She’s also the only parent in the race.

John Salazar, first Salazar elected in 2010, has consistently proven himself a hard worker and brings a strong business sense to the board, which comes from 25 years of running his own marketing firm. Like Muir, he has strong, solid conservative credentials, and has established himself as an independent thinker.

Elect Muir and Salazar to the San Dieguito Union High School District board.

City of Carlsbad In Carlsbad, Mayor Matt Hall and Councilman Mark Packard deserve to be re-elected, while appointed Councilman Michael Schumacher deserves a full fouryear elected term.

First-term Mayor Hall is running for re-election unopposed—which isn’t surprising, given how the city, always known for its smooth operations and healthy reserves, has blossomed even more under his initial four years in office.

Under his watch the city opened Matt an expansive new Hall community park and aquatics center. Plans were drafted to beautify the waterfront, get a city sign hung over the 101 and lose the ugly power plant with its 400-foot-tall smokestack.

Carlsbad saw its downtown village come to life; added crosswalks, fourway stop signs and roundabouts to make the city streets safer for pedestrians; and Mark built badly needed Packard crosswalks to the beach. Hall also worked closely with business leaders to make the city more welcoming on both the recruitment and retention fronts.

While Hall is personally responsible for all the good that

happened, his vision and leadership certainly were a key factor.

He deserves another four years, and we’d say that even if the field of candidates was a mile long.

Packard, a longtime Carlsbad dentist, has been a reliable conservative voice on the council for a dozen years. He steered the city to charter status, lobbied against a restrictive prevailing wage and has consistently championed fiscal discipline and a Michael healthy business Schumacher environment.

Packard deserves another term.

Schumacher, a former planning commissioner and a financial planner by trade, was appointed to the council in March to fill the final year of Farrah Douglas’s term. He’s proven himself to be reliable, capable and levelheaded, and is already emerging as a leader on the council even though he’s only been in office for less than a year. He’s also the only council member under the age of 50 with a young family—a key demographic for Carlsbad, but one that for years has not been represented. Schumacher deserves to be elected to his council seat.

Carlsbad Unified School District

Ray Pearson is the only candidate we are endorsing for a seat on the Carlsbad Unified School District board of trustees.

Balancing the budget is a consistent challenge for trustees, resulting in overcrowded classrooms, not enough teachers and staff and a curriculum that continues to take hits. The school board desperately Ray needs someone Pearson with a strong business background and the willingness and ability to uncover new sources of revenue, such as leasing out unused or underutilized facilities, instead of asking taxpayers for more money. The board also needs to establish better relations with the city of Carlsbad and explore partnerships and joint ventures. Pearson has strong personal relationships with Mayor Matt Hall and the Carlsbad City Council and 40 years of leadership experience in the business world. He is the right person for the job.

City of Oceanside

Jerry Kern and Gary Felien deserve to be re-elected to the Oceanside City Council. Both are part of the business-friendly council majority of three—the other is Jack Jerry Kern Feller, whose term is up in 2016—who have moved the city forward. Kern and Felien have supported sensible pension Gary reform and sound Felien

fiscal responsibility, looking out for taxpayers instead of special interests. They have worked to attract more businesses to Oceanside by reducing fees and streamlining the permitting process, which has resulted in a veritable renaissance in the city’s once-seedy downtown. They also were key drivers in the opening of a new Veterans Administration Medical Center and the development of the long-vacant 450-acre El Corazon property, which soon will be home to a sports park, with 22 soccer fields, and revenue-producing hotel and retail space.

Their work is not done, and for the city to continue its journey down the smart path of progress they should be re-elected.

Tri-City Medical Center Board of Directors North County leaders agree this is one of the key local races.

A total of 11 candidates are vying for five seats, and we support the incumbents: Vista attorney Paul Campo; physical therapist James Dagostino; former Carlsbad City Councilwoman Ramona Finnila; retired Dr. Cyril F. Kellet; and retired hospital pharmacist Larry W. Schallock.

The Tri-City Healthcare District, which serves Oceanside, Carlsbad and Paul Campo Vista, faces a number of challenges, including a deadline to either retrofit its Oceanside campus by 2030 to meet new seismic James safety standards Dagostino or build a new hospital. The district also faces an uphill fight in working to remain competitive in the region’s mostly Ramona private healthFinnila care market.

The incumbents have done a fine job in restoring stability to the hospital’s leadership in Dr. Cyril F. the wake of CEO Kellet Larry Anderson’s October 2013 ouster. They also have exercised fiscal restraint in opposing Anderson’s Larry W. request for lavish Schallock severance and in maintaining a sensible approach to wage, pension and benefits negotiations with the union representing the hospital’s nurses.

We believe the incumbents when they say their only goal is to keep the hospital public, and that for its continued viability fiscal discipline is critical.

We urge voters to keep Campo, Dagostino, Finnila, Kellet and Schallock on the board, not just for the hospital’s good but for the common good. ■

ADVERTISEMENT

SEASIDECOURIER.COM — OCTOBER 2014

MAUREEN “MO” MUIR

★SAN DIEGUITO UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT★ ACCOUNTABILITY LEADERSHIP STUDENT PERFORMANCE “As a current EUSD board member, I want to continue to take an active role in making sure our schools are safe, fiscally sound and that every child can reach their fullest educational potential.

I hope you can join me for an upcoming Meet & Greet in your neighborhood, where I can listen to your concerns and discuss how we can make our school district even better.”

- Maureen “Mo” Muir AS A PARENT

Mo is the only board member with a child attending the San Dieguito Union High School District.

Mo has a personal interest in achieving educational excellence. Mo understands the importance of working with parents to promote the value of education for our children and finding ways to motivate them to their fullest potential. Mo knows quality schools are the foundation from which we build strong, safe communities, while preparing our students for the global workplace.

AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER

Mo was awarded EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR by the New Encinitas Business Network. During her tenure, EUSD has been rated among the top in the County and State. Mo graduated from the University of San Diego and has a Masters in Governance.

AS A TAXPAYER

Mo is a strong proven watchdog and has consistently held the line on wasteful spending. At EUSD, she was the only one voting NO on the superintendent’s raise and to other unnecessary spending.

AS A COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER

Mo was appointed to the UCSD Lifesharing Board and by the County Board of Supervisors to First Five, whose goal is to strengthen relationships essential for healthy development of children.

JOIN MO FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD MEET & GREET!

VISIT

WWW.MoMuir4SchoolBoard.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION

www.MoMuir4SchoolBoard.com Paid for by Mo Muir for School Board 2014 (#1363306)

11

12

LOCAL NEWS

SEASIDECOURIER.COM — OCTOBER 2014

NORTH COUNTY BUSINESS NOTES Palomar Place retail center in Carlsbad sells for $15M

Caliber Collision opens Encinitas location

Palomar Place was sold for $15 million to Hannay Realty Advisors and MDC Realty Advisors USA. The property, a 15,317-squarefoot neighborhood retail center in the San Diego submarket of Carlsbad, California, is located along the Pacific coast at 961 and 965 Palomar Airport Road.

Palomar Place is fully leased to a predominantly national Jones Lang LaSalle (NYSE:JLL) announced the sale of tenant base. ■ Palomar Place retail center on Sept. 15, 2014.

A new auto body repair shop is open for business in Encinitas.

The Encinitas Chamber of Commerce and City Council members Lisa Shaffer and Tony Kranz helped welcome Caliber Collision Centers to town during a ribboncutting ceremony held Sept. 10.

For its Encinitas location, Texasbased Caliber Collision Centers chose to occupy an existing auto body repair shop at 204 North Coast Highway 101—adding to more than a dozen locations in the San Diego region, 88 in California Caliber Collision was welcomed to Encinitas during a and 188 in the U.S, according to a Chamber ribbon-cutting ceremony, Sept. 10, 2014. news release.

“We are committed to adding centers across every Caliber market to provide industryleading customer convenience and CSI metrics,” said Steve Grimshaw, Caliber Collision Centers’ CEO. Mark Sanders, Caliber Collision Centers’ president and COO, said: “We continue to grow into the collision repair provider of choice in every community we serve.” ■

Carlsbad building sells for $7.2M A two-story building that is home to a Bank of America branch in Carlsbad was purchased for $7.2 million.

The 19,400-square feet building at 7700 El Camino Real was purchased by Dan Floit, who was represented by CBRE Group’s Tim Kerrigan.

“This is a prominent, even iconic building in the La Costa market with a very successful At the southeast corner of El Camino Real and La Costa branch as a tenant,” Kerrigan Avenue, the property is close to Encinitas, Leucadia, La said. “I was happy to be of ser- Costa and Olivenhain. vice to the parties. This is the seventeenth transaction I have done with Mr. Floit.”

The selling party was Ingold Family LLC. Kerrigan also represented the seller in its 2012 lease negotiations with Bank of America.

No other information about the purchase was released. ■

Tri-City Medical Center gets keys to office building Tri-City Medical Center has taken possession of the medical office building on its Oceanside campus.

“We are very pleased to take possession of the medical office building in our campus,” said Tri-City Healthcare District Board Chair Larry Schallock. “This allows us to continue extending important services to the communities we serve.”

The three-story 57,000 square-foot facility was built as part of a campus expansion and will provide office space to physicians serving Tri-City Medical Center’s patients.

“We will move forward immediately with our plans to provide to our excellent physician partners the quality office space they need for their practices to be able to continue enhancing their services to our community,” Schallock said. ■

NORTH COUNTY NOTABLES LOCAL RESIDENTS MAKING A MARK

Encinitas resident joins UC San Diego Foundation board Timothy Feuling (center) is pictured as the first-place winner at the 2014 North American Championships’ Men’s Physique Division in Pittsburgh.

Encinitas dad to try out for Mr. Olympia competition An Encinitas father of three hopes to become Mr. Olympia 2015.

Timothy Feuling, 43, has been lifting since he was 15 years old but it wasn’t until earlier this year that he decided to join the competitive world of body-building.

He pursued top body-building coaches and then found, Jeremy Buendia, who specializes in the professional physique competitions.

“Jeremy brought me from great to exactly what I needed to win my ‘pro card,’” Feuling said. “He is a pro at physique competitions and he’s shown me what I need.”

In just five months of training, Feuling won first place in the 2014 North American Championships’ Men’s Physique Division in Pittsburgh. The victory now gives him the opportunity to try out for the distinguished International Federation of BodyBuilders competition.

Feuling—who runs his own malpractice insurance company, Cloudbreak—hopes to win the physique division for Mr. Olympia next year.

“My motivation is my drive to be Mr. Olympia,” Feuling said. “Anything is possible. People say that all the time but they don’t live their lives that way.

I’ve believe that at all levels throughout my life.”

And anything is possible for Feuling—it just takes a bit of time management.

“Time is definitely my biggest obstacle,” Feuling said. “I have to think about meal prep, exercise, work and focus on my kids. I’m really unique because a lot of guys at this level are young and don’t have kids. I’m a divorced dad of three.”

Feuling prepares his meals so he’s eating six times a day and not exceeding 2,200 calories. He also wakes up at 4 a.m. daily and be found at 24 Hour Fitness up to three times a day.

“Physique is about having the perfect beach body and the only way to get that is to have a good diet.” said Feuling, who also struggles with tendonitis.

“I do a tremendous amount of cardio every day.

Typically by the end of the day, I’ve burned as many calories as I’ve eaten.”

Despite the challenges he’s face, Feuling said he is confident he’ll succeed in becoming Mr. Olympia.

“I’ve surpassed pain mentally and through a lot of self-learning,” Feuling said. “I’ve pushed through levels where most people stop. I have it worked out in my mind I’m going to win next year. I just can’t eat Doritos.” ■

An Encinitas resident recently trustees are a driving force behind joined the UC San Diego the strategic and sustainable Foundation 2014-2015 board of flow of private support to UC San trustees.

Diego,” said Chancellor Pradeep Sandra Timmons, a former Khosla. “We are proud to welcome KPBS-TV producer who gradu- this year’s new trustees, whose ated from the university in 1981, devoted engagement enables us to is among seven trustees to join the expand opportunities, strengthen 41-member board, which governs programming and ensure our the foundation. campus continues to grow.”

Timmons and Other incoming her husband have trustees include: supported UC San Darcy Bingham, Diego for more Co-Founder than 25 years— of San Diego from setting up an Social Venture endowed graduate Partners and SVP fellowship fund to International regularly supportJerrilyn Malana, ing the Chancellor’s ’86, Employment Associates Scholars Law Attorney and program.

Shareholder, Littler “We truly believe Sandra Timmons Mendelson, P.C. access to UC San Matt Newsome, Diego gives access ’91, Vice President to the American dream,” said and Regional Director of Cubic Timmons, a UC San Diego Revelle Transportation Systems College psychology alumna. “We Matthew Peterson, Attorney, support this process by helping Peterson & Price those who are qualified but don’t Leo Spiegel, ’83, Managing have the means to attend this Partner at Mission Ventures world-class university.” and Senior Vice President UC San Diego raised approxi- of Strategy and Corporate mately $148 million in private Development at Pivotal support during fiscal year 2014, Jerome Swartz, Co-Founder including gift and private grants and Former Chairman and made to both the Foundation and Chief Scientist of Symbol the campus directly.

Technologies, Inc. ■ “Our UC San Diego Foundation

LOCAL NEWS

SEASIDECOURIER.COM — OCTOBER 2014

Encinitas

13

once again a success

T

his year’s Encinitas Oktoberfest—the 19th annual—greeted guests with beautiful weather, good food and good times on Sunday, Sept. 21.

“We had a perfect ‘Chamber of Commerce Day,’” said Bob Gattinella, president of the Encinitas Chamber of Commerce and one of the key event organizers.

Gattinella said attendance was in line with past years, at about 25,000.

“The band played the chicken dance, the Bratwurst was great, the strudel was sweet, the beer was cold and the rides were fun,” he said.

“Everyone looked like they had a really good time.”

The acclaimed family-friendly festival and marketplace was sponsored by California Coast Credit Union.

Seaside Courier photographer Louis Schooler was on hand to take photos. ■

Matthew and Deandra Sisson, owners of Ghost Scream Hot Sauce, were among the hundreds of vendors

David Odenwalder and Mervi Gotch of the Gemuetlichkeit Alpine Dancers are pictured at Encinitas Oktoberfest, Sept. 21, 2014.

Rotary members Tim Clyman (left), Julie Worley (center) and Mark Allyn (right) enjoy the Beer Garden.

The Gemuetlichkeit Alpine Dancers help create a festive atmosphere at Encinitas Oktoberfest, Sept. 21, 2014.

Ruth Clausen and Solomon Rojas of the Gemuetlichkeit Alpine Dancers entertain at Encinitas Oktobrfest.

Rimga Viskanta, candidate for San Dieguito Union High School District board, was on hand.

Lea Nicole displays jewelry creations from Carlos Montaro’s Rewind Jewelry at a vendor booth.

Maureen "Mo" Muir, candidate for SDUHSD board and Kristin Gaspar, candidate for Encinitas mayor, are pictured at a booth during Oktoberfest.

Encinitas mom Kelly Post displays her latest creations from Peace and OM Yoga Friendly Apparel.

Encinitas residents Amber (right) and Maya (left) take the flying elephants for a spin

14

LOCAL NEWS

Lucky 13, from page 1 ran more than three miles and now we’re up to six.”

Saenz is joined by Tina Knight, 53, who was treated for sepsis.

At 37, she had her fingers and toes amputated.

Knight, an Oceanside resident for 28 years, now has one functioning kidney but plans to finish her first half marathon to show her thanks to the Tri-City Medical Center.

“I’m very fortunate and I’m very grateful,” Knight said. “I feel this is a combination for me and for the nurses and doctors who helped me.”

Knight and Saenz are guided by Siene Freeman and three other trainers at the Wellness Center.

The 13 participants can be found at the Wellness Center with Freeman up to four times a week where they’re given both land water and training. They can also be found running once a week with In Motion Fit trainers.

“Our commitment to them is to hold their hands throughout the entire process,” said Freeman, who began working at the TriCity Wellness Center when it opened in 2009.

“It’s amazing to watch the change people make in their lives,” Freeman said. “They all leave the program with a whole, new outlook on life. It’s not just about running. It’s about learning to overcome challenges.” ■

Rent Sense: Respect Your Customers

LOCAL NEWS

SEASIDECOURIER.COM — OCTOBER 2014

6th Annual 'Battle Of The Lima And Other Beans Cook Off'

San Dieguito Heritage Museum's annual Lima Bean Faire benefit event attracted hundreds to Encinitas on Saturday, Sept. 27 to taste, tour and socialize. Photos were taken by Louis V. Schooler and Jay Clark of the San Dieguito Heritage Musuem. ■

The 2014 Lima Bean Festival cook-off winners pose for a photo. Pictured left to right are: John Porter and his crew of five; Evelyn Weidner; Chef Marian who announced the winners and was one of the celebrity judges; Kristyn Otto; Bryan Chavez of Santa Fe Café; and Mary Dralle of Cooking with Klibs. Not pictured: Rita Petinos of the Greek American Family Restaurant; Brett Nicholson of Brett’s BBQ; and Kristin Gaspar.

By Neil Fjellestad and Chris De Marco, FBS Property Management

Independent rental owners contact us daily for advice and seek our management help to optimize rental operations. We ask the hard questions — what specifically are they doing to motivate renters to sign a long-term lease at top rental rates and pay the rent on time, every month?

Perhaps the following will help you get started on your own.

Why not make a few minor adjustments to improve the appeal of the exterior of your property?

You are saying with your actions that property value is as important to you as the monthly rent collected.

Do your rent and repair policies demonstrate respect? Your wise property expenditures are a reflection of your respect for your resident(s) as well as

your property value.

Are you making it easy for your rental customers to do business with you? Make it easy for your residents to pay rent and submit maintenance requests online from their smart phone. Potential renters should be able to fill out an application the same way. These modern technologies ensure that monies and information move with speed and security. It also says that you want to compete to keep your renter(s), that you respect their time and their money.

Are you on top of what other rental properties are currently charging? Being competitively priced demonstrates customer respect.

Your confidence in this regard will be evident in your resident decisions and communications including strict adherence to rent collection according to the lease. Your renter(s) will respect your requirements. ■

This rowdy bunch produced an award-winning Lima Bean San Diego County Supervisor Dave Roberts and Encinitas Chocolate Chip cookie with a green tea glaze. Pictured fom Councilwoman Teresa Barth sample a lima bean dish, left to right are Henry from Australia, John Porter from Sept. 27, 2014, San Dieguito Heritage Museum.

Leucadia, Janice Rupert, and Ian and Jan Porter.

Maureen "Mo" Muir distributed her lima beanbased dessert treats.

Handing out salad samples Encinitas Mayor Kristin Gaspar was on site handing out her is Jen Cooper, co-owner of delicious homemade Lima Bean Ice Cream.

Urban Fresh Delivery.

Heritage Museum vice president Jeff Charles is “cookin’ the Cindy Lu's Petting Zoo entertained the youngest attendees. dogs" that were offered to event-goers.

4-H leader and owner of Cindy Lu’s Petting Zoo Cindy Brandenburg is busy looking for her prized rooster.

ADVERTISEMENTS

SEASIDECOURIER.COM — OCTOBER 2014

"Serving North County San Diego, including Encinitas, La Costa, Carlsbad, Solana Beach, Del Mar, Cardiff, Rancho Santa Fe, Olivenhain, Leucadia, Carmel Valley."

15

16

LOCAL NEWS

SEASIDECOURIER.COM — OCTOBER 2014

Leichtag, from page 1

Oct. 10 – Crash O’Malley at Cardiff Beach Bar @ Tower 13. 9 p.m. Free.

Just because summer is technically over doesn’t mean the beachside venues stop rockin’. The fun-loving atmosphere of Tower 13 is a great match for rock ‘n’ roll cover band Crash O’Malley. Their upbeat repertoire includes everything from Blondie to Van Halen to Jefferson Airplane. A Friday night featuring live tunes and a lively bar is a great way to start the weekend. www.Tower13.com

Oct. 19 – Stephen Rey and Erika Davies at Solace and the Moonlight Lounge. 7 p.m. Free.

If you need a romantic night out, this is the show for you this month. Rey and Davies’ vocals go together in an unconventional, yet charming, way. The depth and darkness of Rey’s voice is matched by Davies’ sweet and tender melodies. This should be an enchanting evening with the duo setting the mood in the pleasant surroundings of the inviting lounge setting. Plus Solace’s drink list features everything from stellar cocktails to organic sodas. www.

EatAtSolace.com

Oct. 25 – Dan Levenson at the Museum of Making Music. 7 p.m. $22+ As the museum’s exhibition “The Banjo: A New Day for an Old Instrument” ends so does the concert series that has accompanied it over the past several months. The talent for this evening, Dan Levenson, plays a classic style on the banjo – and fiddle – and brings a storytelling aspect to MoMM’s finale event. Levenson has toured internationally for over 20 years bringing his Appalachian style to the stage. This occasion will also feature wine and light hors d’oeuvres served- and you should definitely arrive early to tour the museum before the show. www.MuseumOfMakingMusic.org

Nov. 10-11 Rob Machado Foundation Benefit at Belly Up Tavern. 8 p.m. $50+ This two-day concert event is so extra special we’re mentioning it a month early- plus it will likely sell out quickly.

The first night, Monday, Nov. 10, will feature All-American Rejects, P.O.D., Austin Burns and Workday Release; the second night, Tuesday, Nov. 11, will include Goo Goo Dolls, Run River North, and Tim Curren. In addition to stacked lineups of rock, pop and alternative bands these shows serve as a fundraiser for the Rob Machado Foundation- a non-profit created by the well-known surfer of the same name- which supports environmental programs for youth. www.BellyUp.com

Out of the Woods Pick of the Month Oct. 6 San Diego Music Awards at Humphreys Concerts by the Bay. 7 p.m. $35.

Once a year the hard-working musicians of San Diego are honored with a festive award show at a gorgeous venue.

Along with local celebrities handing out awards, there are numerous performances throughout the night showcasing the wide-ranging styles of our city. This year has a little of something for everyone with reggae-rockers Tribal Theory, acoustic-folk group The Midnight Pine, jazz pianist Joshua White and psychedelic indie rock band The Donkeys performing, amongst others. The night always has some surprises, silliness and an all around good vibe with positive recognition for our local talents. www.

SanDiegoMusicAwards.com Bands, venues, and music-lovers: please submit listings for this calendar by emailing Jen@seasidecourier.com. ■

significant step towards making the Dickinson Family Education Pavilion a reality,” said Julian Duval, president and CEO of the San Diego Botanic Garden.

The Garden is currently limited in the educational and experiential opportunities it can offer because of a shortage of indoor space, according to Duval. The Pavilion will enable the Garden to expand its offerings, he said.

The Pavilion will be located next to the Hamilton Children’s Garden and will provide an enclosed space for classes, meetings and events for up to 400 visitors. It will include a large main hall, a kitchen and

an outdoor amphitheater. Glass conservatory equipment will allow exotic plants to thrive.

Jim Farley, president and CEO of The Leichtag Foundation, said the Pavilion will be “a treasured and powerful space in our region for generations,” and that the Foundation, which carries on the philanthropic legacy of Lee and Toni Leichtag, was proud and honored to help make it happen.

In addition, the Donald C. & Elizabeth M. Dickinson Foundation has extended the deadline for their $1-million challenge grant, which was pledged in December 2013. The Garden now has until Dec. 31, 2015 to raise the remaining $1.3

million of the $3 million in additional funding needed to meet the “Come Grow with Us!” campaign goal.

“We were inspired by the generosity of the Leichtag Foundation to extend the deadline for the challenge grant to build this unique education and events facility,” said Martin Dickinson, chairman of the Dickinson Foundation. “This is a place which will not only directly benefit our entire local community, but also enhance the experience visitors have when they come, from all over the world, to experience the beauty and serenity of the San Diego Botanic Garden.” ■

Pet of the Month

“Zanzibar” is the Seaside Courier pet of the month at your Rancho Coastal Humane Society. He’s a 3-month-old, 4-pound, Domestic Short Haired kitten. Zanzibar is very active. Like most kittens, he’s going to stay that way for the next couple years. Please make sure that you have the time and dedication that it takes for a little ball of energy. With proper socialization he should be able to get along with other cats, dogs, and kids. He was surrendered to RCHS when his owner was deployed.

The $125 adoption fee for Zanzibar includes medical exam, vaccinations, neuter, and microchip.

Find your best friend at Rancho Coastal Humane Society at 389 Requeza Street in Encinitas or log on to SDpets.org. Call 760-753-6413 for more information or to sponsor a pet until it’s adopted. Kennels and Cattery are open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Monday.

Upcoming events at RCHS:

Fall Animal Camp runs Oct. 20-24 and 27-31. Animal Camp fills up quickly and well ahead of time. Don’t miss out. Register your little animal lovers now.

“Managing your Multi-Cat Household” will be the topic of the next Cat Training Workshop. Find out how you can “clicker train” your cats and keep them safe this holiday season. The workshop will be Saturday, Oct. 25. Seating is limited. Reservations suggested.

For more information about either event, call 760-753-6413 or log on to www.sdpets.org. ■

LOCAL NEWS

SEASIDECOURIER.COM — OCTOBER 2014

17

EDUCATION

Aaron Byzak: Big MiraCosta College fan

Friends. Family.

Community.

S

tudents have left MiraCosta College with myriad measures of success, including degrees, certificates and new skills needed to boost prospects for promotion at places of employment.

Then there’s Aaron Byzak. He not only earned an associate of arts degree at the college, but he also met his future wife Amanda at MiraCosta College. They got married at MiraCosta College. Their son, Adam, attended day care through the Child Development Center at MiraCosta College.

They live just a couple blocks from MiraCosta College. And they get their exercise playing tennis at the MiraCosta College courts.

“I can’t say enough about MiraCosta College,” Byzak said.

“My wife professed her love for me standing on a table in the cafeteria at MiraCosta College. I’ll tell you what, if MiraCosta College was a four-year college, I wouldn’t have gone anywhere else to earn my bachelor’s and MBA.” Yet Byzak would be the first to tell you he didn’t start out as college material. He attended Cal State San Marcos for a year after graduating from Carlsbad High School in 1995, but said he was academically unprepared. So he enrolled at Palomar College to become an emergency medical technician and then went to work for American Medical Response.

“The experience made me look at health care very differently,” Byzak said.

Contributing to his changing views on health care was a heart condition that led to emergency surgery when he was 20. Because he was uninsured or covered through MediCal most of his life, Byzak said his condition was never properly treated. It was only when he had a job that offered a good insurance plan that he was able to get proper treatment.

“I also saw how poorly we were treating the elderly folks at assisted living facilities,” said Byzak, But he could not affect change by being an EMT Aaron Byzak for a private ambulance company. He would need to understand politics and policy and get a firm grasp about how healthcare is run as a business.

His quest began at MiraCosta College. While working full time for AMR and serving as an intern for former state Sen. Bill Morrow, Byzak attended classes at the Oceanside Campus and earned

We’re all in this together.

State Farm® has a long tradition of being there. That’s one reason why I’m proud to support and serve our community.

Get to a better State®.

Ralph Bettencourt, Agent Insurance Lic#: 0598494 111 N El Camino Real, Suite D Encinitas, CA 92024 Bus: 760-942-2277

1211009

Amanda and Aaron were wed under the clock tower at the Oceanside MiraCosta CollegeCampus in 2005.

his associate degree in political science. When Byzak graduated in 2003, Morrow hired him as his health policy adviser. Byzak left AMR and worked full time for Morrow while earning his bachelor’s degree in social sciences from Chapman University. When he started his MBA program at UC Irvine in 2006, the TriCity Healthcare District hired Byzak as an assistant public affairs officer.

After earning his MBA in health care management and policy, he landed at UC San Diego, where he now works as director of government and community affairs for UC San Diego Health Sciences. His responsibilities include handling all legislative and community relations activities on behalf of UC San Diego Health Systems, UCSD School of Medicine and the Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences at UCSD. He also founded Hazel’s Army, a community-based advocacy group intended to give voice to those who have lost loved ones as the result of poor or improper care at assisted living and skilled nursing facilities. The group, which has successfully pushed for

"My wife professed her love for me standing on a table in the cafeteria at MiraCosta College."

changes in state law, was named after Byzak’s grandmother, Hazel Mensching, who died six days after tumbling from her wheelchair during a van tour operated by her assisted living facility.

Byzak has been presented with a 40 Under 40 Award by San Diego Metro Magazine, and in 2012 he was recognized with a Young Influentials Award from the San Diego Daily Transcript.

In 2013, Byzak was chosen by San Diego Magazine as on of its 50 People to Watch.

Asked if he feels he has made a difference in reaching his goal of affecting change in the way health care is delivered, Byzak did not hesitate to answer. “Absolutely.

I’ve gotten to work on a lot of cool stuff. Every day I go to work I get to advocate for health care policies that will allow us to more effectively take care of patients.”

And MiraCosta College was where his quest began. And where his fondest memories are found.

“I met my wife my first day of school at MiraCosta in 2001,” Byzak said. “She walked in the room and it was like the clouds parted and the lights shone down on her and I turned to my friend and said, `That’s the girl I’m going to marry.’”

Amanda and Aaron were wed under the clock tower at the Oceanside Campus in 2005.

“We are such huge MiraCosta College fans,” Byzak said, noting that his wife worked a while for Disabled Students Programs and Services at the Oceanside Campus after she graduated. “I was just up there recently to buy new MiraCosta College clothes to replace some old ones I had.”

—Contributed content ■

State Farm, Bloomington, IL

18

COMMENTARY

SEASIDECOURIER.COM — OCTOBER 2014

COMMENTARY

Sea Creatures: An interview with Tuber, the surf dog Chris

Ahrens

Seaside Courier

B

y now you’ve all read about the Surf Dog Competition at Del Mar’s Dog Beach. You may have even seen it, and cheered on your favorite Chihuahua.

And you might not have noticed that I didn’t enter this year. I was disqualified last year when my dreadlocks got tangled in my leash and I nearly drowned.

Up to that point, I was clearly winning the comp based upon style, maneuvers, and length of ride. But nobody cheered when I returned to the beach looking like a wet cat. Still, I never let all those little hairless canines and their board caddies get to me. Heck no.

While many believe my best competitive days are behind me, I am currently considering a new haircut and a new, shorter lighter Thruster.

One of your writers, Chris Ahrens caught up with me recently and was kind enough to interview me on my cutback. Tuber (not his real name) kicks it outside Sprouts Farmer’s Market.

-Tuber Interviewed exclusively for The that? and catching bombs, getting barSeaside Courier at Dog Beach Del Tuber (not his real name): reled and, as corny as it sounds, Mar on Sept. 8, 2014 The judging format is biased hanging and even switching Seaside Courier: You often against big, hairy dogs. It’s all paws. I think the judges were all boast about being the best surfing whitewater and bunny hops in on catnip. dog in the world, yet the record the mush for the pipsqueaks.

SC: What’s your best books don’t show that. Why is Meanwhile I’m sitting far outside maneuver?

Tuber: I like to say I’m the king of the Doggie Door, you know coming in from behind the peak, sliding under the roof of the doghouse and getting spit out the end. [Howls] SC: You’ve often criticized other publications for using exploitive language concerning dogs?

Tuber: Honestly, I don’t know why we aren’t all peeing on every fire hydrant in the county in protest. If I read one more headline saying, “It’s a Dog’s life, Dog day afternoon, Top dog, or the Dog days of summer,” I’m going to recycle some kibble all over the judge’s stand. You can quote me on that.

SC: You sound doggone serious about this.

Tuber: See what I mean?

You journalists never take us seriously. It’s just one big joke to you. Well, when the winter surf pounds the coast this winter, we’ll see who’s laughing.

SC: What about the surf term, hot-dogging?

Tuber: [Sticks out tongue without so much as a yelp.]

Tuber then growls lowly.

Fearing being bitten, I restrain myself from asking,

Wuz up dog?

SC: Do you think the judges are biased against you because of your dreadlocks?

Tuber: Yah mon! Is that what you want to hear?

SC: So, what are your plans for future events?

Tuber: I’m just going to keep riding the way I always do, bro— rad and deep. Also, I’m coming back all dipped, shaved and ready to ride. I’m all muscle under all this fur, and I know I can out surf any Pug or Pomeranian on the Coast.

Tuber is a local surf dog known for his big wave skills. He claims his surfing next year will be “off the chain.” ■

SEASIDECOURIER.COM — OCTOBER 2014

KRISTIN GASPAR for MAYOR A mother of 3, Kristin first moved to Encinitas at the age of 5. Kristin is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for Gaspar Doctors of Physical Therapy. Prior to her service on the Council, Kristin was President of the Encinitas Rotary Club; she also served on the board of directors for the Encinitas Educational Foundation, founded the San Dieguito Sports Medicine Foundation, and formed the Coast Cardiovascular Senior Fitness Club in 2002.

PROTECTING OUR QUALITY OF LIFE SUPPORTED ✓ COMPLETING THE ENCINITAS COMMUNITY PARK ✓ UPGRADING MOONLIGHT BEACH ✓ ENHANCING FIRE SERVICE ✓ BALANCED BUDGETS, WHILE PROVIDING THE HIGHEST QUALITY SERVICE ✓ MEASURES TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT

OPPOSED ✗

UNDERFUNDING KEY CITY SERVICES -- ROADS, LIBRARY, COMMUNITY CENTER, AND FIRE SAFETY

✗ ✗

PROPOSED SALES TAX HIKE

✗

THE PURCHASE OF PROPERTY AT A PRICE THE CITY SIMPLY COULD NOT AFFORD

LED THE COUNCIL EFFORT TO REJECT THE HIGH-DENSITY HOUSING PLAN FOR NEW ENCINITAS

LAW ENFORCEMENT’S CHOICE! Endorsed by the Deputy Sheriffs’ Association of San Diego County

ENDORSED BY THE ENCINITAS FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION

Paid for by Gaspar for Mayor 2014 - ID# 1369449

19

20

SEASIDECOURIER.COM — OCTOBER 2014

THE

HARWOOD GROUP

6024 Paseo Delicias / P.O. Box 7171, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067 • 858-756-6900 • www.TheHarwoodGrp.com

16969 Mimosa, Rancho Santa Fe Offered at $3,095,000

Beautifully remodeled single level Covenant home sequestered on a flat, walled, park-like lot with pool/spa and

charming detached guest house. The main home is designed for both elegant living and entertaining with wood and stone floors, French doors in every bedroom, numerous skylights, whole house audio system, chef ’s kitchen opening to a spacious family room and outdoor dining area, and a large bonus room above. The private master suite includes a study, his and her walk in closets and easy access to each with French doors to beautiful outdoor spaces. The outdoor area is paradise with expansive grassy area, seating and dining areas, fireplace, BBQ, and Bocce ball court.

The detached guest house is stylish and spacious with its own kitchen and media center. The location of this peaceful paradise is superb. The Covenant trail is directly behind the property making it an easy walk into the Village. Roger Rowe K-8 is a block away, and the RSF Golf and Tennis is a one-minute ride in your golf cart. This gem has all the qualities of what is most prized in the Covenant of Rancho Santa Fe.

754 Neptune Avenue, Encinitas

Offered at $4,250,000

378 Neptune Avenue, Encinitas

Offered at $4,400,000

5109 El Mirlo, Rancho Santa Fe

Offered at $3,995,000

DOUGLAS HARWOOD 858-735-4481

CalBRE Lic# 00528073

©2014 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage office is owned by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker® and the Coldwell Banker Logo, Coldwell Banker Previews International® and the Coldwell Banker Previews International Logo, are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Broker does not guarantee the accuracy of square footage, lot size or other information concerning the condition or features of property provided by seller or obtained from public records or other sources, and the buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information through personal inspection and with appropriate professionals.