Seaside Courier — December 2015

HOLIDAY GUIDE - 4, 5

Local growers keep Encinitas poinsettia history alive

Kindness meters around town It All Starts With a Sign...

Maggie

Avants Editor

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oinsettia plants — 1,000 of them — will adorn Legoland for the holidays this year. In Little Italy, 1,500 poinsettias will deck the streets.

The poinsettias will come from Weidner’s Gardens in Encinitas, where because of the Ecke family, the plant became widely known as the Christmas flower and the city became known as the “Flower Capital of the World.”

“The reason the Weidners came to Encinitas is because they were friends with the Eckes in Los Angeles and they dragged them down here,” said Oliver Storm, head grower and co-owner of Weidner’s Gardens.

That was in the 1920s, and nearly 100 years later, business is still flourishing, some would say. Although Paul Ecke III sold the family business in 2012, he said the company that purchased it is still breeding poinsettias in Encinitas.

“And the company has bought other companies and morphed into more poinsettia breeding going on here than ever,” said Ecke, 60, who took charge of the family business in 1992.

His grandfather, Paul Ecke, Sr., is the

‘Real Santas’

infiltrate farmers’ markets

Sustainable Santa is one of dozens of Santas welcoming children to a healthy future with open arms this year. The effort is expanding with even a “Lady Santa” in the farmers markets’ in Sebastopol and Santa Rosa in Northern California. (Courtesy photo)

tary school facing dramatic increases in metabolic diseases of which obesity is a key symptom, according to Sustainable Santa, the group’s founder.

“These are serious illnesses, created by the added sugar and other chemicals found in fast and processed foods. And the food courts in our neighborhoods are loaded with places presenting these unhealthy offerings,” Sustainable Santa said.

The group’s efforts have caught the attention of doctors at the UC San Francisco School of Medicine, whose foundation, The Institute for Responsible Nutrition — founded by Dr. Robert Lustig, neuroendocrinologist at UCSF — has been tracking the Real Santas United movement and its efforts to expand beyond San Diego and Riverside counties to statewide.

“That’s because these Santas are making the culture shift that is essential for the future of a healthy America,” said Wolfram Alderson, executive direc-

Helen Nielsen Contributing writer

W

hat started two years ago in Carlsbad is now spreading throughout the state.

An organization called Real Santas United to End Childhood Obesity deploys"; "with three here along the coast: markets in Oceanside on Thursday morning, Leucadia on Sunday morning and Carlsbad on Wednesday morning.

Founded by former mall Santas concerned that the image and message of Santa Claus had become one that both promotes and perpetuates unhealthy eating habits by passing out sweets and encourages shop‘til-you-drop unsustainable lifestyles, they decided to take positive action.

The current epidemic of unhealthy children is the last thing America needs, with children in elemen- SEE SANTA PAGE 2

SEE POINSETTIA PAGE 7

85/15 Plan: Carlsbad City Council calls special election to end ‘divisiveness’ Thomas K.

Arnold

Contributing writer

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arlsbad voters will get to decide the fate of a proposed development on the south shores of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon sooner rather than later.

After hearing more than 40 speakers, the Carlsbad City Council on Nov. 17 voted to put the controversial Agua Hedionda South Shore Specific Plan on HOME & GARDEN

How to keep Patty Poinsettia around for next year. Page 8

Rick Caruso of Caruso Affiliated (right) speaks at a press conference Aug. 25, 2015. Joining him are supporters Carlsbad Mayor Matt Hall, Carlsbad Strawberry Company owner Jimmy Ukegawa and Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation Chairman Maureen Simons.

(Photo by Maggie Avants)

the ballot in a special election scheduled for Feb. 23, the earliest possible date allowed by law.

“I understand that’s going to make some people happy and some people

CARLSBAD VILLAGE

Village Spotlight: Viz Art Ink Gallery Page 10

FOOD & WINE

Cheers to 2016: Selecting a champagne Page 15

of four options the Council could take after a referendum overturned its Aug. 25 adoption of the plan. The three other choices were to rescind their approval and effectively send developer Caruso Affiliated back to the drawing board; put the issue on the June 2016 primary ballot; or wait until the November 2016 general election to allow voters to weigh in.

In the end, the Council chose to call a special election, even though the cost could be as much as $500,000 more than waiting until regularly scheduled elections in June or November.

The Agua Hedionda South Shore Specific Plan is for a 203.4-acre property east of Interstate 5, between the south shore of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon and Cannon Road. The plan calls for developer Caruso Affiliated to buy the property from its present owner, San Diego Gas & Electric Co.,

Carlsbad is a world-class city with a world-class community and 7 miles of gorgeous California coastline. The only thing missing was a city sign that mirrors the beauty of our city and our people. For years, rumors have circulated that Carlsbad once had a sign that hung over Historic Route 101 similar to our neighbors in Encinitas and other locations throughout the county such as Hillcrest and North Park.

In late 2014, the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce took up the cause to resurrect this fabled sign. While the original design featured Darlene the Dolphin, who was created by world-renowned oceanic artist, Wyland, the final design includes only the city name.

The design is reminiscent of Carlsbad’s heyday during the 1920s and ‘50s.

Kindness Meters Around the City Along with the vision of a beautiful sign, we also have a vision of making Carlsbad “America’s Kindest City.” To achieve that goal, there will be seven solar-powered Kindness Meters at the base of the new sign and around the city of Carlsbad.

Visitors and community members will be able to donate coins or dollars to the Kindness Meters and “Feed Darlene,” a reference to the dolphin that was featured in the original design. ■

unhappy,” Councilman Keith Blackburn said. “But I want you to know that a lot of thought and consideration went into making that decision.”

Scheduling a special election was one SEE ELECTION PAGE 3 INDEX Opinion Page ............................... 6 Home & Garden .......................... 8 Health & Fitness ......................... 9 Music Calendar ...........................12 Education .......................................13 Rich Cook on Wine ....................15 Pet of the Month .......................15

CONTACT US Advertising (760) 456-7075, ext. 146 sales@seasidecourier.com Editorial / Letters (760) 456-7075, ext. 124 Maggie@seasidecourier.com

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LOCAL NEWS

SEASIDECOURIER.COM — DECEMBER 2015 SANTA, FROM PAGE 1 tor of the IRN. “The major food and beverage corporations and government policymakers have changed our food landscape from a cornucopia of healthy food to a garbage dump; one that fosters illness instead of wellness.

The importance of what the Santas are doing cannot be overstated.”

According to Alderson, the IRN has documented dramatic increases in metabolic diseases over the last 30 years.

A primary cause of these health issues lies in industrial processed foods, where fiber and nutrients are removed and unhealthy food additives are added, resulting in chronic metabolic disease. Sugar is the leading marker of processed foods, now added to 74 percent of foods sold in the United States. The result is that $1.4 trillion in healthcare costs are wasted due to preventable and chronic metabolic diseases fostered by the food industry.

In farmer's markets, Real Santas United approach this challenge in three ways. In addition to providing an opportunity for a holiday picture, which parents take with their own camera, the Santas all distribute cards containing “Santa’s 3 Food Rules” — rules designed to guide children and their parents away from the habit of eating unhealthy snacks, fast, processed foods, sodas and the many other chemical and sugar-loaded and fried items which have become the staple of American fare.

Best of all, the Santas then send the children into the farmer’s market looking for “garden bites.” These are tastes of real food — fresh, raw or fermented — supplied by farmers and vendors.

“It’s like a treasure hunt for healthy food,” said Sustainable Santa®, who is the Santa at the Leucadia Sunday Farmers’ Market.

Santa Mark briefs Lulu Medina, the farmer’s daughter at Valdivia Farms, about how to display a “Try a Santa’s Garden Bite” sign at the Oceanside Thursday morning market held at City Hall. (Courtesy photo)

“Many children have never tasted fresh wholesome fermented cabbage, or kombucha, or the many other fresh and often probiotic foods available at farmers’ markets, which boost their immune system,” said the Carlsbad Market’s Santa. “Instead, they have been eating fast-food fried chicken made from chickens raised on doses of antibiotics — and most often also doses of arsenic — needed to reduce illness in concentrated animal feeding operations, which dominate as meat sources among fast-food offerings.”

At the farmer's markets, real food grown on a plant, not manufactured in a plant is, available, according to Real Santas United. Meats from animals humanely raised in natural settings without growth hormones or antibiotics are available, too, the Santas pointed out.

This year, the Santas involved in the

effort are encouraging children and parents to “eat the rainbow.” Literature listing the vitamin and mineral contents of the different food colors is presented.

“It’s another game you can play with your kids at the farmers’ market — looking for fruits and veggies in their favorite colors,” said Sustainable Santa®. “It makes healthy eating that much more fun.”

Bring your camera, but don’t expect to find any snow globes or picture frames for sale.

“What we are selling is promotion of healthy kids in conjunction with IRN’s Real Food Impact Campaign — where the future of our children and the integrity of our food system is given top priority.”

For more information on IRN’s Real Food Impact Campaign go to: Responsiblefoods.org/real_food_ impact_letter. ■

LOCAL NEWS

SEASIDECOURIER.COM — DECEMBER 2015

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ELECTION, FROM PAGE 1 and build an outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment complex, anchored by a Nordstrom department store, on about 26 of the 48 acres zoned for tourist-commercial development.

Caruso also agreed to expand the iconic strawberry fields farmed for years by the Ukegawa family, and turn over more than 100 acres to a conservancy for perpetual maintenance as true open space, with trails, picnic spots and native plant re-vegetation. The conservancy would be funded by a $16-million grant from Caruso.

The plan was brought before citizens through a Caruso-backed initiative drive that began in May. In August, the Carlsbad City Council chose to adopt the plan outright instead of placing it on the ballot, touching off a firestorm between supporters of the council action and those who felt the original petition drive was misleading, since several mailers put out by Caruso clearly stated the objective was a public vote.

The citizen protest quickly gathered steam, as those clamoring for a vote were joined by others who were against the mall. A petition drive for a referendum was launched by a nonprofit, grass-roots citizens group, Citizens for North County, which in just three weeks collected enough signatures to overturn the Aug. 25 council vote.

Ironically, many of the same residents who supported the referendum wanted the vote put off until November, saying citizens need more time to study the matter. But the Council chose to schedule a special election in February, maintaining the additional cost — a special election

Residents express their desire to vote about Caruso’s plan. (Photo by Thomas K. Arnold) Carlsbad Mayor Matt Hall listens to public speakers. (Photo by Thomas K. Arnold)

Carlsbad City Council (Photo by Thomas K. Arnold)

could cost anywhere from $450,000 to $550,000, significantly more than the $22,000 to $50,000 cost of including the measure on the June or November ballot — is dwarfed by the money the city stands to lose by delaying the project any further.

Back in May, Rick Caruso, president and CEO of Caruso Affiliated, said it would take about 18 months

to build the mall after final approval is given. The city stands to reap up to $5 million a year in taxes from the development.

Councilman Michael Schumacher said he wants to put an end to the divisiveness that has racked the city for the better part of this year, in which Council members have been subject to all sorts of derogatory comments

“and innuendo” on social media. As for claims that citizens need more time to study the issue, Schumacher noted that details have been available on the city’s website since summer.

“By the time the election comes in February, people will have had six, seven months to study the issue,” Schumacher said. “And that’s a long, long time.”

Blackburn agreed, saying, “This project has been around for three years.”

Councilman Mark Packard said the city’s staff and outside consultants thoroughly analyzed the development proposal “and found it meets, and even exceeds,” city standards.

“I have a high degree of confidence in our staff, as opposed to the opinions of non-professionals,” Packard said.

“I respect that you have opinions, but I’m going to rely on my professional staff analysis.”

Even if Caruso’s project is approved by voters in February, however, it

could be a while before work actually gets underway. The California Coastal Commission still has to give the project its blessing. And another citizens group, North County Advocates, has filed suit against the city in Superior Court, maintaining the project “is beyond the power of the electorate to adopt.” A judge could delay the election, and even if the election proceeds as scheduled and the plan gets a thumb’s up from voters, litigation could still stand in the way.

Following its Nov. 17 decision, the City Council released this statement: “We have thoroughly reviewed this plan, including extensive technical and environmental studies, and continue to believe the benefits are far greater than any other commercial development that would eventually be built on this land. We also respect the referendum process and support Carlsbad voters having an opportunity to make a final decision at the first available opportunity.” ■

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HOLIDAY GUIDE

HOLIDAY EVENTS DON’T MISS

THESE UPCOMING

EVENTS AROUND NORTH COUNTY The Encinitas Holiday Parade and tree lighting will be held on Saturday, Dec. 5. The lighting begins at 5 p.m. in the Lumberyard courtyard near Starbucks on Coast Highway 101 in downtown Encinitas. The parade starts at 5:30 p.m. along Coast Highway 101, from D Street to J Street. The theme of this year’s parade is “This IS Encinitas Life!”

Social media hashtags are #EncinitasLife and #EncinitasHolidayParade.The grand marshal is Doug Long. Typically, Santa makes his way down the parade route as the parade’s last entry, at approximately 7:30 p.m. Free shuttles start running at 4 p.m. from Ecke Family YMCA and Scripps Memorial Hospital, where parking is available. The shuttles will

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run until 8 p.m. to and from the downtown Encinitas transit station at Vulcan Avenue and E Street. Americans With Disabilities Act buses pick up and drop off at Scripps.

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From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., join Sunshine Gardens and their merchants for Santa’s Village plus Christmas Market.

Stop by for handmade gifts and holiday gift workshops from the merchants in the center. 155 Quail Gardens Drive. 760436-3244. See ad on Page 5.

New Village Arts Theatre presents “The 1940s Radio Hour,” a timeless play

DEC. 5-31

SEASIDECOURIER.COM — DECEMBER 2015

full of dance routines and classic tunes sung in four- and five-part harmony. The play runs Dec. 5-31 at 2787 State St., Carlsbad Village. For more information, visit Newvillagearts.org.

The 31st annual Rotary Club of Carlsbad Holiday Tree Lighting will be held from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6 in the Village Faire South parking lot. Santa arrives at 2:45 p.m. and a holiday program with music and refreshments runs from 3:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., with the tree lighting officiated by Mayor Matt Hall at 4:30 p.m.

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From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6, the holiday season will come to life at the annual Santa by the Sea in Del Mar. During this magical celebration, the L’Auberge Del Mar Amphitheater will be transformed into a festive holiday wonderland, featuring sweet treats from local restaurants, carolers performing seasonal tunes and free pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus (must bring own camera). The ceremonial tree lighting commences at 5 p.m.

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The Solana Beach Parks and Recreation Commission will hold its annual holiday tree lighting at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6 at Fletcher Cove Park. Enjoy cookies and live music while waiting for Santa’s arrival at 5:20 p.m.

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Holiday at the Rancho, Dec. 5 (Courtesy photo)

The city of Carlsbad will celebrate the season at its Holiday at the Rancho event, to be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5 at Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park. The event will feature Santa in a cowboy hat, a tree lighting and a holiday movie under the stars, among other activities at the park located at 6200 Flying L.C. Lane. Tickets are available at $8 per person and children under 3 are free. Admission includes crafts, face painting, holiday shopping, cookie decorating, 14-foot tree lighting, an outdoor movie and entertainment.

Children can also sit on the lap of the western-styled Santa, a unique moment that parents can capture with their own cameras or pay $3 for a souvenir photo.

Pony rides will be available and are an additional $6. Attendees can get a taste of this history by taking part in a 30-minute guided tour of the hacienda.

Parking is available at Leo Carrillo Elementary School or on surface streets.

To purchase tickets, visit Carlsbadconnect.org.

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DEC. 9-10

Celebrate the season with MiraCosta College’s choirs and orchestra as they present two nights of music for the season.

The stage will be set to entertain all ages and audiences to enjoy a variety of music from Handel’s Messiah to favorite holiday

classics. This 75-minute concert is performed with no intermission. Concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9 and Thursday, Dec. 10 in the Concert Hall at 1 Barnard Drive, Oceanside. General admission is $10; admission is $8 for students and senior citizens.

The Parade of Lights at Oceanside Harbor is a fun tradition that residents and visitors look forward to all year. At 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12, fishing boats, sail boats, yachts, kayaks and dinghies will dress up in holiday swag and circle the Oceanside Harbor to enchant onlookers.

Many of the boats feature people dressed up like Santa waving to the crowd. For more information, call 760-722-5751.

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Cardiff Kringle Mingle, Dec. 6 (Photo courtesy Cardiff 101 MainStreet Association)

Cardiff 101 MainStreet Association’s eighth annual Cardiff Kringle Mingle will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6 in the North Courtyard of Cardiff Town Center in Cardiff-by-the-Sea. The free family event includes live music, a Kid’s DIY Craft Zone, photos with Santa Claus, a tree lighting, shop-local discounts and more. There will be sweet treats from local favorites and something new this year, a Glogg Garden for adults to enjoy authentic Swedish spiced wine. Info: Cardiff101.com/events.

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Come to downtown Encinitas on Saturday, Dec. 12 and Saturday, Dec. 19 to visit Santa Claus in The Lumberyard Courtyard (South Coast Highway 101 and H Street). Receive free digital photos of your child’s visit with Santa. Prints are also available to order.

The Friends of the Oceanside Public Library present the annual Holiday Home Tour on Sunday, Dec.13. This year’s event

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SEE HOLIDAY PAGE 5

HOLIDAY GUIDE

SEASIDECOURIER.COM — DECEMBER 2015

Carlsbad Educational Foundation “Carols of Carlsbad!,” Dec. 6 (Courtesy photo)

From 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, the plaza of the Omni La Costa Resort and Spa will be filled with music for the fifth annual Carlsbad Educational Foundation “Carols of Carlsbad!”

Enjoy a holiday showcase featuring live musical performances from a variety of Carlsbad schools. There will be carolers, band and orchestra performances, and students performing all the holiday favorites. There will be arts and crafts, cookie decorating, hot chocolate and photos with Santa for the little ones and a raffle featuring some exciting prizes. This is a free family holiday event.

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HOLIDAY, FROM PAGE 4 features five enchanting Oceanside homes festively decorated for the holidays, as well as bonus stops at the Mission Branch Library for a mural unveiling and Coffee with a Cop with the Oceanside Police Department. The self-guided tours take place between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Tour participants and the general public are also invited to stop at the Civic Center Library, located at 330 North Coast Highway, to see the free Holiday Gift Boutique, open until 5 p.m.. Tickets for the tour are on sale for $20 each. They can be purchased at the Civic Center Library at 330 North Coast Highway in Oceanside, the Mission Branch Library at 3861 Mission Avenue in Oceanside, or from any Friends of the Oceanside Public Library board member. All ticket purchases are tax-deductible.

America’s most beloved musical, “Annie Jr.” will once again be presented at the historic STAR Theatre in downtown Oceanside. The cast consists of adults and children. This is a fun event for the entire family. Performances are at 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 13-16 and 2 p.m. on Dec. 15-16. On Dec. 15, a “Taste of Oceanside” begins at 5:30 p.m. before the evening show and will include wine, food and a silent auction gala to benefit the STAR Theatre. To purchase VIP tickets for reserved seating — $20 for adults, $10 for children 12 and under — call 760-721-9983.

DEC. 13-16

Encinitas 101 MainStreet Association is offering an incentive to shop local.

Customers who stop by 30 participating businesses — and collect at least 15 stamps in their “passports” along the way — will be entered to win a $1,000 shopping spree. Shopping Spree Passports can be picked up now at participating retail stores along South Coast Highway 101 in Encinitas as well as in some locally owned stores in other areas of the city.

Stamped passports must be turned in

by Thursday, Dec. 17 to the Encinitas 101 MainStreet office, 818 S. Coast Highway 101, or any of the participating businesses. The winner will be drawn and notified on Friday, Dec. 18. More information and a list of participating businesses are available at Encinitas101.com.

DEC. 1-17

A celebration to announce the winners of the Carlsbad Village Window Decorating Contest will be held at 4 p.m. at Choice Juicery, 430 Carlsbad Village Drive. Carlsbad-based Pacific Motion Dance Company will perform some holiday-themed numbers and a local middle-school choir will sing Christmas carols. On that same evening, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., musicians will be playing live “busker style” holiday-themed music on the corners of Carlsbad Village Drive and State Street.

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Señor Grubby’s annual Community Christmas Party, Dec. 16 (Courtesy photo)

From 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 16, Señor Grubby’s will hold its fourth annual Community Christmas Party to benefit American Relief Organization’s program, “Got Your Back San Diego.” Señor Grubby’s, 377 Carlsbad Village Drive, will be holding raffles, playing carnival style games, hanging with Santa and gathering for a good time to raise money, goods and awareness for “Got Your Back,” a weekend food assistance program for children attending San Diego County schools who have been identified as homeless or food-insecure. The event is free and open to the public; all ages are welcome. Families are invited to come in and take a photo with Santa Claus, who encourages all guests to bring a food item to donate. Items needed include canned meat, canned veggies, canned fruit, peanut butter, instant oatmeal, individual sized cereal, individual sized shelf-stable milk and Chef Boyardee canned dinners. ■

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OPINION

Cartoon

SEASIDECOURIER.COM — DECEMBER 2015

Commentary

Council majority cop-out Thomas K. Arnold Commentary

Editorial

Vote ‘yes’ on Measure A The people of Carlsbad got their wish — to vote on the Agua Hedionda South Shores Specific Plan, a comprehensive land use plan for 203.4 acres of privately owned property on the south shores of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon.

Developer Rick Caruso, known for The Grove in Los Angeles, wants to build a similar shopping, dining and entertainment complex here. The Carlsbad City Council gave him the green light back in August, but a successful referendum by those who want a direct say in the matter led the Council to schedule a vote for Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016.

The Seaside Courier urges Carlsbad residents to vote “Yes” on Measure A, which approves the Agua Hedionda South Shores Specific Plan.

Smart development proposals such as this just don’t come around that often. Under the plan, Caruso will buy the entire parcel of land from its current owner, San Diego Gas & Electric.

He’ll build a low-profile mall on 26 of the 48 acres that are zoned for commercial development — a village-like complex of shops and restaurants with lots of outdoor gathering spots and beautiful landscaping, affording visitors panoramic views of the lagoon.

The rest of the land will be added to the 155 acres already designated as open space, but currently inaccessible — and here’s where things really get good.

While open space, under Carlsbad law, can be anything from parking lots to windmill farms, Caruso has vowed to protect more than 100 acres of land as natural habitat, with hiking

PUBLISHER Alice Jacobson Alice@SeasideCourier.com EDITOR Maggie Avants Maggie@SeasideCourier.com

OPINIONS/LETTERS:

trails and picnic spots. He’s going to rip out the invasive plants and restore native landscaping, resulting in the area looking much as it did hundreds of years ago, before there was any development in North County. This land, currently fenced off and sprinkled with “No Trespassing” signs, will be accessible to everyone.

Carlsbad’s iconic strawberry fields, in danger of shutting down, will be given a new lease on life —literally as well as figuratively, thanks to an expanded footprint and a farm-to-table restaurant. The variety of crops will be expanded, giving visitors a sustainable reminder of the region’s rich agricultural heritage.

And Carlsbad residents who have long been ashamed of the shabby Plaza Camino Real mall will get a shopping center they can be proud of, anchored by a Nordstrom department store and other quality businesses that promise to pump up to $5 million a year into the Carlsbad economy — and giving tourists one more reason to vacation here.

We understand concerns critics have about traffic. But traffic mitigation plans are already in the works, with Interstate 5 widening and surface street improvements. We also understand the desire by some to keep this entire parcel of land vacant, forever.

But that’s simply not going to happen. This land is privately owned, and sooner or later something will be built there — most likely, on the full 48 acres zoned for commercial development.

There’s something to be said for not looking a gift horse in the mouth.

Carlsbad residents, on Feb. 23, vote “Yes” on Measure A. ■

ADVERTISING Leslie Talley 760-456-7075 Leslie@SeasideCourier.com Gary Sagunsky 760-802-7200 Gary@SeasideCourier.com James R. Stuart 207-671-9700 James@SeasideCourier.com

ART DIRECTOR Todd Kammer Todd@SeasideCourier.com WEB / SOCIAL MEDIA Jen Van Tieghem Jen@SeasideCourier.com

Seaside Courier encourages letters to the editor and guest editorials. Please email either to maggie@seasidecourier. com and include your phone number and address for verification. We reserve the right to edit letters for brevity and accuracy. Letters and guest editorials do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or staff.

If you believe, as I do, that the primary role of government is to keep us safe, then join me in urging the Encinitas City Council to take a refresher course in American Government.

It’s a mandatory class for local high school students, but some of our Council members, I fear, must have been playing hooky.

When Council recently held its third public hearing on the city’s law enforcement needs, former North Coastal sheriff’s Capt. Theresa Hydar again urged the city to contract for five additional deputies, so that each of the five beats within the city would have two deputies instead of just one. Two deputies per beat is standard practice in other cities that rely on sheriff’s deputies for their law enforcement needs.

Sadly, that didn’t fly, nor did a compromise proposal from Councilman Mark Muir to at least provide an extra deputy in the downtown/Moonlight Beach area. A trial run during the summer had a marked impact, particularly in reducing the number of homeless sleeping in their cars.

But the Council majority — Lisa Shaffer, Catherine Blakespear and Tony Kranz — didn’t want to shell out the extra cost, which for an additional deputy to create a two-man, around-the-clock team, would cost a mere $250,000 a year.

Instead, they voted to discuss the matter again at a fourth meeting — typical delay tactics politicians always seem to fall back on when they don’t get the answers they want to hear, as was the case with Hydar’s testimony as well as an emailed plea by the Encinitas Citizens Committee to at least keep a two-deputy team downtown.

Mayor’s Minute: Gratitude Kristin Gaspar

Mayor of Encinitas Commentary

The holiday season is the perfect time to reflect on all there is to be thankful for in Encinitas.

First and foremost, I’m feeling tremendously thankful and prideful for our military families.

I hope you had the opportunity to join us for the first Moonlight Beach Veteran’s Day celebration. It was a very proud day in our city’s history as we welcomed a wounded warrior surf session hosted by former NFL football players.

Next, we watched in awe as decorated Marine Col. John Bates (in his 70s) led 12 Flying Leathernecks in a skydive onto the beach, accompanied by the singing of the national anthem, several carrying our nation’s flag.

Finally, we joined together at the American Legion Post 416 in our downtown to honor our veterans. As you know, the legion has been working on fundraising efforts this year

“The two deputies assigned to downtown this summer did have an impact with the young homeless [who] are back in numbers today,” committee members wrote. “We also felt that the late nights were quieter — but not now….

Unfortunately these are full-time problems and cannot be handled by part-time solutions. We feel it is a must to keep the two-deputy patrol operating in downtown Encinitas.”

Just this week, CBS Channel 8 did some number-crunching of crime statistics and released a report on neighborhoods and communities with the most crime. San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter came in at No. 1, followed by downtown Oceanside.

Only 23 of the 110 ZIP codes analyzed by the TV station had more than 1,000 reported crimes over the last six months — and Encinitas, lo and behold, was among them.

Indeed, the 92024 ZIP code, which includes the bulk of Encinitas, was ranked at No. 21, with 1,045 crimes, one notch below Vista, with 1,055, but more than eastern Escondido (No. 26, 937), eastern Oceanside (No. 30, 848) and, down in San Diego city, Golden Hill (No. 27, 932) and Ocean Beach (No. 29, 856).

Guys, what are you thinking? It’s high time for the Encinitas City Council to step up to the proverbial plate and authorize two-deputy patrols for each of the city’s five beats. Yeah, it’s going to cost some money — upwards of $1 million, by my calculations — but how can you put a price tag on safety?

I was hoping the Council might reconsider its silly decision at last week’s meeting, but apparently something more important came up. A Shaffer-Kranz “subcommittee” suggested the city appoint a designated arborist to look after the city’s trees.

Shaffer was quoted in the San Diego Union-Tribune as saying, “What we really had in mind was a Lorax — somebody who thinks about the trees.”

Give me a break. ■ to support renovation of the building in near disrepair.

Tears came to our eyes on Veteran’s Day as a generous community member approached American Legion Leadership to offer pro bono architecture, design services and a substantial monetary contribution to see the project through.

The legion’s goal is complete this renovation by the 2016 Veteran’s Day celebration but they need your help to meet this goal. I’ve made it my personal goal to not just support the legion in this project, but to highlight what our veterans have to offer us as colleagues, community leaders, and neighbors. I am calling on all community members to do the same. Please consider making a contribution to the American Legion Post 416 this holiday season by contacting Steven Lewandowski at slewandowski@hotmail.com.

I wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season filled with joy and togetherness. I look forward to leading Encinitas in a successful 2016!

With appreciation, Kristin Gaspar Encinitas Mayor ■

Letters In response to “Commentary: Special election or bust” Many of us who collected signatures opposing the 85/15 Plan heard people say their main reason for not signing was they thought a special election was a waste of our money. Had we known a special election was not the only option, we would not have told people we favored this route for having our voice heard.

According to our Election Code, a referendum MAY lead to a vote held at the next regular election, minimizing expenses. NOW the Mayor and City Council are being pressured by Caruso to hold a SPECIAL election at the earliest date. WHY? In August the Mayor and City Council argued an election was a waste of money.

NOW they are doing a 180. Why? What’s the rush? Perhaps we need more time. Perhaps Mr. Caruso also needs more time…to speak with the rest of us, with the 60,000 or so citizens with whom he did NOT speak, to whom he did NOT reach out, because we are not part of the inside group of self-proclaimed leaders, all of whom claim to speak for us, but clearly do not.

– John Brown

In response to “Commentary: Council majority cop-out” Wow, those crime stats seem suspicious to me. I never see any crime in Encinitas. Must be pot busts, jaywalking, and bike thefts (even though I leave my bike unlocked all the time, and it’s never been stolen). I say cheers to the council majority for being conservative about hiring more cops.

– Darius Degher via SeasideCourier.com What kind of news organization pays for such lazy and sloppy journalism? TK, you use crimes per ZIP code without mentioning that the number of people per ZIP code varies widely? Data are available on actual crime rates, which are normalized for population. It’s bad enough that someone would write this stuff – worse that an editor gave it a pass. The fact that it’s an editorial makes no difference.

Another bit of lazy journalism: Populations with a higher proportion of undocumented immigrants tend to avoid contact with law enforcement. Crime is under reported in such places. To suggest that the frequency of crime reporting in Encinitas, Vista, and East Escondido is an apples-to-apples comparison is wrong on a very basic level. Come on editors, does this piece really reflect your journalistic standards? As someone with a journalism degree, I can honestly say that my high school paper would retract this.

– “Encinitas Dad”

Penny-wise but pound-foolish? That argument only carries water if one assumes that the 85/15 plan will be accepted and voted for by the citizens of Carlsbad. But if the plan is rejected, that’s $500,000 down the drain.

However, I can understand why Mr. Arnold, the mayor, and the city council are all assuming that the plan will pass. They know that Caruso Affiliates will spend millions of dollars to get it passed, while the opposition has very little funding so far. They “know” that the election has already been bought and paid for.

Letters may be edited for clarity, length and typos. For A sad state of affairs . . . so much for democracy in Carlsbad. more comments from our readers, visit SeasideCourier.com ■ – Sonyaa

LOCAL NEWS

SEASIDECOURIER.COM — DECEMBER 2015

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Holiday favorite returns to North Coast Rep More than 32 colorful folks from Bedford Falls will be on stage at North Coast Repertory Theatre this holiday season — from dissatisfied George Bailey to bumbling Angel Clarence, from patient Mary to greedy Henry Potter — and they’ll all be played by one brilliant actor, James Leaming.

The intimate Solana Beach theatre is presenting the return engagement of “This Wonderful Life,” a captivating one-man stage adaptation by Steve Murray of the beloved holiday classic, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Leaming leaves audiences cheering with his amazing display of physical and verbal virtuosity.

Carmen Roman directs her husband in this impressive one-man tour de force.

Performances begin Tuesday, Dec. 8. It will play at 7 p.m.

Tuesdays through Sundays, with 2 p.m. matinees on Saturdays and Sundays, through Dec. 27. Ticket prices for all performances are $35 for adults, $32 for seniors, students and military, and $30 Season Subscribers.

To purchase tickets, call 858-481-1055 or visit Northcoastrep. org.

North Coast Repertory Theatre is located at 987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive in Solana Beach. ■ (l to r) Paul Ecke III, Paul Ecke Sr. and Paul Ecke Jr. (Photo courtesy Ecke family collection)

POINSETTIA, FROM PAGE 1 one who popularized the poinsettia — a plant native to Mexico and Southern California, named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first U.S. Minister to Mexico — as the Christmas flower.

“He noticed that it bloomed naturally in the winter; he also noticed at some point along the way that there was no Christmas flower so he put the two and two together,” Ecke said.

Paul Ecke Sr. came to Encinitas in 1923 after farming poinsettias with his father, Albert Ecke, a German immigrant, in Hollywood and Beverly Hills.

He purchased 40 acres in Encinitas and eventually grew the farm to 850 acres that spread to Carlsbad — including the site of the Flower Fields, which the Eckes still own, and Legoland’s property, which they previously owned.

Ecke Sr. traveled the U.S. by train to market the flower, and saw to it that the poinsettia appeared during the holidays on TV shows such as “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson”— further solidifying it as the holiday flower.

When Paul Ecke Jr. took over the business, he gradually moved growing operations into greenhouses — nearly 1 million square feet of them in Encinitas. And with the advent of air travel, cuttings could be flown to gardeners across the country.

“He started a breeding program in the ‘60s and somewhere along the way they went from cut flowers to potted

plants; back in the ‘30s and ‘40s you enjoyed as cut flowers, now you have a potted plant that can last a couple weeks,” Ecke said.

At Weidner’s Gardens — among the handful of local growers keeping the city’s poinsettia history alive — Storm said 75,000 pots are grown annually, about 75 percent of which is sold wholesale.

Also growing poinsettias are Sunshine Gardens and FlorAbunda.

Storm said he continues to purchase poinsettia stock from the former Ecke Ranch, where he also attends a presentation each December about the new varieties. He said he enjoys showing visitors to the gardens those varieties, which this year include a bright pink poinsettia, a red-and-white speckled one and orange and yellow ones.

So abundant is the history of poinsettias in Encinitas that the San Dieguito Heritage Museum is launching an inaugural exhibit about the subject.

“My grandfather would get a new variety of poinsettias by luck and a numbers game,” Ecke said. “Every once in while, a mutation would happen and we would have a white one, or a curly one.”

For many years, the Eckes had an edge on the business because they held the breeding secrets.

“They originated here, we would breed them here,” Ecke said. “When we would have fires and diseases, I felt a big responsibility. If we screwed up, we just canceled Christmas.” ■

Poinsettias for sale at Weidner’s Gardens in Encinitas. (Photo by Gary Sagunsky)

James Leaming starts in “This Wonderful Life,” Dec. 8-27 at North Coast Rep. (Photo by Aaron Rumley)

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HOME & GARDEN

SEASIDECOURIER.COM — DECEMBER 2015

Ask the expert: The best gift

The holidays are full of stress, deadlines, shopping and managing work and family, more so then throughout the year. As a caregiver to an aging spouse or parents, the best gift to them is YOUR health.

During the last 20 years, I have been a caregiver to the special needs and the elderly population. One of the biggest challenges I have seen after meeting with hundreds of families over the years is caregiver stress. Most caregivers are exerting all of their efforts into the person unable to care for themself that the caregiver forgets about oneself — sometimes for so long, they become irreversibly ill. Families then find themselves in crisis. Finding help during a crisis can make your decisions skewed and may not be best for your loved one. Some tips that may be helpful during this time include: ● Plan ahead of time ● Take at least 15 minutes to yourself for peace and quiet ● Earlier in the day is better ● Think about new traditions to accommodate your situation, or modify to your capability or loved ones’ strengths ● Limit the clutter ● Have family come to you ● Keep it simple Other resources that may be helpful: www.alz.org and www.caregiverstress.com.

Other options available to you that may be a relief during this holiday or anytime are: Day programs — you can drop your loved one off for specific time periods to engage them while you work or need to run errands.

Respite care — either in your home, through a caregiving agency or at a community that offers respite care. This can be for a weekend, a few days, a week, or up to a month Personal Caregiving — a hired staff member who either comes daily or lives with you in the home to assist with caregiving aspects for your loved one.

Permanent Placement — your loved one moves to a community that specializes in caring for them.

Our Community, Somerford Place, offers day programs, respite care and permanent placement. We are here to help. 760-479-1818. —Laura Eckert, executive director, leckert@5ssl.com

Poinsettias for sale at Weidner’s Gardens in Encinitas. (Courtesy photo)

Gardening with Evelyn: How to keep Patty Poinsettia around for next year Evelyn Weidner Columnist

L

ast month I promised to tell Seaside Courier readers all they need to know to bring a poinsettia back into bloom next year. I will, but first let’s get through December.

The house is almost decked out for the holidays. The tree is almost up.

There is still an ever-growing to-do list. With so much going on, it’s easy to forget to pay attention to your poinsettias. One good dry-out with wilted leaves will leave you with a sad-looking plant.

Make a sticky note for your bathroom mirror or refrigerator door. Cut out a poinsettia picture to make it pretty. Here’s what to write: “Don’t forget me. Feel the soil: Moist and cool? OK for today. Dry and warm?

Water me now. Love, Patty Poinsettia.”

Now for the questions everyone always asks: Can I bring my poinsettia back for next year? Can I plant my poinsettia out in the garden? The answer to both is yes, if you follow these easy instructions.

You must cut the colored bracts/ blooms off in order for your poinsettia to grow again properly. St. Patrick’s Day is a good time. Leave at least five to seven leaf nodes — little bumps along the stem — for the new branches to grow from. Choose a warm indoor or outdoor spot and keep it a little bit on the dry side. When your poinsettia begins to grow again, you are on your way. If no growth happens, throw away

Evelyn Weidner has the secrets to keeping poinsettias around for next year. (Courtesy photo)

your plant without guilt. It’s just a plant and world peace will not be affected!

In April, repot your poinsettia or plant in a sunny or partly sunny spot in your garden — away from street lights if you can. Sept. 23 is when the nights begin to get longer and if there are no outside lights, your plant will begin its eight-week journey to colored leaves.

Streetlights will delay blooming time.

Once your plant is growing, you need to fertilize it regularly but don’t overdo it — too much nitrogen will encourage whiteflies.

Water regularly. If you want your plant to be a compact, short plant, cut it again in June or July to control its height.

If you want your potted Patty to bloom earlier, you can do the closet routine or try the big cardboard box

method. Place Patty in a dark closet or under a box at night; put her out to play during the day. Every other Sunday, Patty gets Sunday brunch. When Patty begins to color up, she can finish her journey in any warm, bright spot.

Once your poinsettias are established in your garden, they can live for years.

Oops — unless it freezes! To prevent freezing, save some of those old outdoor Christmas lights. When the temperature plummets, a string of lights plus some old sheets can save your plants. (Your neighbors will think you have gone bonkers but that’s OK).

January is coming, when we’ll show you how to be super-successful with cyclamen. Have a wonderful holiday season and remember to bloom wherever you are planted! ■

HEALTH & FITNESS

SEASIDECOURIER.COM — DECEMBER 2015

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Wellness in North County: Flexibility is no stretch Chris

Ahrens Columnist

I

t was Christmas Day, 1969 when I received one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever had. Beneath the wrapping paper, in Richard Hittleman’s “Yoga 28-Day Exercise Plan,” was something that would change my life. Yoga was fairly new to my vocabulary, but I thumbed through the book that day and the very next morning began what would become a lifetime practice of yoga.

I was back from nearly drowning in big surf on Maui and realized I would need to be in better shape when the next big swells hit. I was between lives and was staying with my parents until the travel bug bit again. While my father wasn’t interested in the practice of yoga, my mother offered to join me in the month-long exploration, an adventure into the unknown that left us both far more flexible than we had been. As a practitioner of my own type of Christian meditation, I skipped the spiritual bits at the end of the book. But I learned how to become more limber, better control my breathing and avoid injury.

I never did get to the point in yoga where I could twist myself into a goldfish bowl or slow my heart rate substantially. But I have been faithful in my practices, rising most mornings for 40-something years and doing around a dozen of the poses I learned from that book. I quickly found that the practice led to increased flexibility and made me a better surfer. It has done even more than that for me: as a result of doing yoga, I sleep better and have none of the back problems associated with most active males my age.

For me, however, yoga is not an end in itself, but a beginning and an important spoke on the wheel of health. For me this wheel includes eating well, prayer and meditation, surfing, swim-

YOU INSPIRE US.

LET’S CELEBRATE

YOU.

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ming, hiking, foraging, helping others, fellowship with family and friends, reading, writing, creating and learning new things. I do not do yoga because I find it fun; I do it because it allows me to have more fun by being fit to enjoy some strenuous activities.

I am 67 years old, and on this day I am invited to play a raucous game of dodge ball with a group of middle-school students. I do not pretend to excel in areas of endurance and athleticism over these wonderful, energetic young humans, but I refuse to sit on the sidelines and watch them enjoy life while I complain about my aching back. You see, I don’t have an aching back. I can place my palms on the ground with my knees straight and rarely get injured running around.

I owe much of this to yoga.

If you are interested in learning yoga, I can suggest Hittleman’s book, or one of the many classes in North County. Before you sign up, however, keep in mind that not all yoga studios are created equal.

Some require a strenuous workout in a hot room and others are closely connected with Hinduism. Like many of you, I am satisfied with my religion and want something gentle and relaxing when I’m stretching.

As I mentioned earlier, I generally practice yoga in the mornings, but sometimes I do it while watching TV, or on a secluded beach at sunrise or sunset. Yoga helps keep me on the road and moving forward. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that it could greatly improve your coming year, and many more to come. ■

Body in Balance: Not all calories are created equal Dana Nitti Columnist

O

ne of my clients recently told me that she heard “a calorie is a calorie.” She asked, “Does it really matter what I eat as long as I stay within my calorie count?” While it is true that a calorie is a calorie regardless of what food it comes from, not all calories are created equal. Foods have different effects on your body, even if they have the same calorie count.

Take carbohydrates, for example.

If you’re eating more carbohydrates than you’re burning, your body stores the excess in the form of glycogen.

Glycogen is a type of compact glucose that may be stored either in your muscles or liver. Because your bloodsugar levels drop when you haven’t eaten for a few hours, your body’s store of glycogen provides a boost of energy when needed. The liver and muscle can only store a small amount of glycogen, so if you continue to take in more carbohydrates than you need,

your body converts any excess carbohydrates into fat.

Instead of listing ALL the foods you shouldn’t eat, let’s focus on the best sources to get your calories from.

Protein

Your body burns more calories digesting and metabolizing protein than it does digesting other nutrients. Protein slows the time it takes for food to move from your stomach to your intestines, helping you feel full longer. Additionally, getting enough protein will help you build and maintain muscle mass, which burns calories. Protein also curbs your appetite by stabilizing bloodglucose levels. Consuming protein with meals prevents the rapid rises and drops in blood glucose that occur after consuming simple carbohydrates, which can send your hunger soaring. Some good sources of protein include eggs, fish, lightmeat poultry, lean beef, tofu, beans and legumes.

Fiber

Eating foods high in fiber keeps you feeling full longer, which can help you cut the number of calories you consume each day. Additionally, fiber helps regulate the body’s use of sugars, helping to keep hunger and blood sugar in check. Some good sources of fiber include oats, nuts, beans, lentils, legumes, whole grains, fruit and vegetables.

Fats

While consuming too much fat in general can lead to weight gain, consuming enough calories from healthy, unsaturated fats — monounsaturated and polyunsaturated — is necessary for your body to function normally. They provide essential fatty acids, deliver fat-soluble vitamins and are a great source of energy. Some healthy sources of fat include olive oil, flax seed oil, avocados, nuts, seeds and fish.

—Dana Nitti, owner of Body in Balance by Dana, is a certified personal trainer. ■

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CARLSBAD VILLAGE

SEASIDECOURIER.COM — DECEMBER 2015

Roy Kerckhoffs, a featured artist at Viz Art Ink Gallery, is shown working on a piece during an art festival. (Photo by Leslie Talley)

Village Spotlight: Viz Art Ink Gallery Seaside Courier staff

I

t’s been nearly three years since extreme doodle artist Gregg “Viz” Visintainer opened Viz Art Ink Gallery at 2906 State St. in Carlsbad Village, where in addition to displaying his own works of art, cards and T-shirts, more than 20 other local artists are showcased.

To appreciate Visintainer’s work, one should know how he got his start.

The self-taught artist is the youngest of three boys. He always loved to draw as child, but never thought he could pursue art as a career. Instead of listening and taking notes in school, he was doodling. It was his way to pass time in school and express how he felt.

By age 15, he had developed his own personal style.

When he was 21, Visintainer moved to the San Diego area to recover from a second back surgery. It was here, while going through some difficult times, that he reconnected with his love for art. At 24 years old, he created a piece titled, “Lonely World,” which took three months and more than 250 hours to complete. He realized drawing was his outlet and art became his meditation and therapy. From that day on, Visintainer continued to draw and let his mind and hands express his feelings.

Viz Art Ink — described as handdrawn using pen and ink —was born and became his signature style of art.

From afar, viewers see a main image but up close, they will find hidden pic-

Gallery owner Gregg “Viz” Visintainer (right) is pictured with Gil McGue, who is among more than 20 local artists featured at Viz Art Ink Gallery in Carlsbad Village.

(Photo by Leslie Talley)

tures, words and messages relating to each theme. It takes Visintainer 60 to 80 hours, on average, to complete a piece.

His style has gained recognition throughout the years. He has worked with Element Skateboards, Volcom, DC Shoes, Skinit, Grateful Dead, Falken Tires, Disney and many others.

Featured artists

Some of the top-selling artists at Viz Art Ink Gallery include David Lozeau, Laura Cunningham, Samantha Dulay, Debbie Schmeling, John Gibbons, Nic McGuire, David Leight, Brandon Hubbard, Lorenzo Menendez, Bob Kaler, Vigallon brothers, Roy Kerckhoffs, Gil McGue, Donjo, Matt Cirello and Josh Serafin.

Among the artists, Laura Cunningham’s style is known as innovative and unique. She combines

photography and graphic design to demonstrate the moods and overall beauty of the ocean. After working as a graphic designer for many years, she recently established a private studio in Encinitas to launch her own, original line of coastal-themed artwork. It is filled with an array of creative gear and hightech equipment such as a large format printer, a sewing machine and power tools — along with some basic paints, paint brushes and a plethora of canvas.

Another favorite artist featured at Viz Art Ink is Roy Kerckhoffs, who specializes in stark black and white photographs inspired by the beach, industry and history. Kerckhoffs enjoys conveying a story of a place with a history. He hand colors most of his larger black and white photos with a transparent paint. His favorite subjects are industrial objects, ghost towns and coastal themes. The latter contains a series of California lifeguard towers including Carlsbad, Encinitas and Del Mar. Kerckhoffs exhibits all over San Diego, but especially likes art fairs and festivals, where he can directly interact with festival-goers explaining why, when and how he created his work.

Seaside Courier recently stopped in Viz Art Ink Gallery and met local Oceanside artist Gil McGue, who was dropping off his local scenery-adorned beverage coasters. His coasters fall into the category of usable art and are great gifts for tourists and locals alike. McGue is a World War II veteran and former newspaper cartoonist and now you’ll find him hanging around Carlsbad and at many local art fairs as well. ■

CARLSBAD VILLAGE

SEASIDECOURIER.COM — DECEMBER 2015

Ampersand, 2916 State St., is among the Carlsbad Village merchants participating in window decorating contest. (Photo by Leslie Talley)

Carlsbad Village Window Decorating Contest brings holiday spirit T he holidays are a time for family and reflection, sitting by the fire and drinking eggnog, sleigh rides and snowball fights. Sleigh rides and snowball fights? Well, that’s the holiday scene for much of the country, but obviously not for Carlsbad.

With our mild temperatures and distinct lack of snow, getting into the holiday spirit can sometimes be a struggle. This year, however, the downtown village merchants are pulling out all the stops and are putting their holiday spirit on display for all to enjoy through a Holiday Window Decorating Contest.

Thirty-six village merchants from Carlsbad Boulevard to Roosevelt Street, and points in between, have turned their windows or storefront displays into a Winter Wonderland this holiday season.

“The village merchants wanted to give their customers another great reason to visit the village during the holidays,” said Christine Davis, program manager for the Carlsbad Village Association. “There is fantas-

T

tic shopping and dining in the village and having a more festive atmosphere will simply make it the best place to shop this holiday season.”

The efforts of these creative business owners and their staff will benefit three lucky merchants. To further promote the village and all it has to offer, the CVA has turned this festive activity into a contest with nearly $4,500 being donated to the winners. San Diego Getaway magazine, Seaside Courier newspaper, Carlsbad Retrospect and Videospot have all donated marketing and advertising-related products such as full-page color ads, online advertising and a promotional video.

“The village is so important to our local economy and the fabric of the Carlsbad lifestyle,” Davis said.

“Helping our small business owners market themselves through prizes designed specifically for that purpose seemed like a good fit this year.”

Through the People’s Choice award you can vote for the store window or display that puts you most in the holi-

day mood by going to Carlsbad-village. com and clicking on the Events tab.

The People’s Choice ballot lists all 36 entrants in alphabetical order. Voting is simple and takes less than a minute!

City Council Members Keith Blackburn and Lorraine Wood will be visiting the village to vote for their favorite in the Village Vision award.

The Carlsbad Boys and Girls Torch Club will be voting for their favorite in the Kid’s Favorite award.

The contest lasts through Dec. 17 with three winners announced on Dec. 18 during an award celebration to be held from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Choice Juicery, 430 Carlsbad Village Drive.

The award celebration will also include holiday-themed dance routines by Carlsbad-based Pacific Motion Dance Center, carolers and live music. The public is invited to enjoy the festivities and cheer on the winners for helping make Carlsbad Village as lovely and festive as it can be this holiday season.

—Contributed content ■

Pick up your Golden Ticket punch card!

his holiday season, the Carlsbad Village Association wants to help you shop local by introducing you to some of its amazing merchants, and you could win a $100 gift certificate to one of the participating stores in the process!

During the entire month of December, participating stores on

pages 10 and 11 will be handing out Golden Ticket punch cards to anyone who says they saw them in the Seaside Courier newspaper. Simply visit six of the stores listed to get your Golden Ticket punched for an opportunity to win the gift certificate to be used at any of the participating stores. No purchase necessary.

When your Golden Ticket has been punched by at least six participating stores, you can turn it in or visit all the stores to see what wonderful products, brands and services the village merchants have to offer.

One lucky winner will be announced in the January issue of the Seaside Courier. ■

11

12

MUSIC / HOLIDAY GUIDE

This month’s not-to-miss live music events Jen Van Tieghem Contributing writer

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homesellers make 7 deadly mistakes that cost them literally thousands of dollars. The good news is that each and every one of these mistakes is entirely preventable. In answer to this issue, industry insiders have prepared a free special report entitled "The 9 Step System to Get Your Home Sold Fast and For Top Dollar".

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2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6: Coastal Communities Concert Band at Carlsbad Community Church, Carlsbad. $20 general admission; $15 for students, seniors, military and children 12 and under.

The CCC Band is composed of more than 80 brass, wind and percussion musicians who live throughout San Diego. This award-winning group will celebrate the holiday season with special selections for this show. For its 21st annual Holiday Concert, the Coastal Communities Concert Band will once again perform to benefit Mealson-Wheels Greater San Diego, Inc., with all proceeds going to the nonprofit. This concert promises old holiday favorites along with fresh arrangements. CCCBand.com.

3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12: North Coast Symphony’s “Holiday Cabaret II” at the Encinitas Community and Senior Center, Encinitas. $10 general admission; $8 for students, seniors and military; $25 family maximum (tickets at door only).

A wide range of talents will perform under the direction of Maestro Daniel Swem for this special seasonal concert.

Light classical selections will include Mendelssohn’s “Overture Die Hebriden,” Alfred Reed’s “Russian Christmas Music,” and Handel’s “Hallelujah.” Plus there will be many Christmas and holiday favorites performed. This concert is a great chance to connect with friends and family during the busy season. Tables will be set up for picnicking so bring some treats!

NorthCoastSymphony.com.

9 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 26: Cash’d Out Christmas at Belly Up Tavern, Solana Beach. $20 - $22.

If you’re feeling a little down after the holidays, here’s a reason to keep celebrating. Cash’d Out Christmas features the titular band doing its well-known Johnny Cash covers along with Suspicious Minds, an Elvis Presley tribute band. There’s more: Singer-songwriter Sara Petite will perform homage to Loretta Lynn. Each of these local tribute acts would be enough to make spirits bright, so this show should be three times the fun. BellyUp.com.

9 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 31: NYE Party at Pour House, Oceanside. Price TBD. One of the newer venues hosting music will be closing out 2015 with a bang! This show will include tributes to rock ‘n’ roll mainstays, the Velvet Underground and The Stooges. The artists performing this iconic music will include members of local bands Taken By Canadians, Sick Balloons, Swap Meat and Shake Before Us. Speaking of SBU, singer-keyboardist Will Lerner is the new talent buyer for Pour House, so expect more great rock shows here in 2016.

PourHouseOceanside.com.

Out-of-the-woods pick of the month

6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 17: Amelia Browning Quartet at Cusp Dining and Drinks, La Jolla. No cover.

Sultry songstress Amelia Browning — along with a trio of talented musicians — will be performing a special holiday-themed jazz set. Browning’s sweet yet powerful vocals will lend themselves to standard tunes, along with pop and holiday numbers. Even on familiar tunes, Browning’s group offers fresh and dynamic arrangements. Everything from Adele’s “Rolling the Deep” to “Love You Like a Love Song” by Selena Gomez gets a breath of new life from this quartet’s reimaginings. AmeliaBrowning.com. ■

SEASIDECOURIER.COM — DECEMBER 2015

Holiday Guide:

Give back this holiday season Jen Van Tieghem Contributing writer

The holidays are quickly approaching: a time for joy, merriment and giving.

To help with that last part, we’ve compiled information on several holiday drives around the coastal communities and beyond. Toy drives, food drives and other opportunities to donate are a great way to spread the joy of the season beyond your own family and home.

25th Annual Paul Ecke, Jr. Poinsettia Ball

All proceeds from this gala on Dec. 12 will benefit the financial assistance programs at the Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA. The event will feature gourmet dining, live entertainment, a silent auction and more — all for a great cause. This event will be held at the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort in Carlsbad. Visit Ecke.ymca.org for more information.

Community Resource Center Holiday Baskets

This program provides food, blankets, gifts for children and more to approximately 1,700 local families in need during the holiday season.

Individuals can help with this program by donating items, volunteering time or making a monetary contribution to help the CRC fill their baskets.

Visit Crcncc.org/hb for more information. You can also read more about the program in our November issue.

Feeding America San Diego holiday campaign

A few ways to contribute to FASD’s 2015 campaign include: — Donate: Six meals can be provided per $1 donated; — Volunteer: FASD relies on volunteers to help sort and distribute products to partners and clients; or — Organize a food drive: With your company or at your office.

Visit Feedingamericasd.org for more information and to contribute.

The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank 2015 Holiday Food Drive

San Diegans countywide can support this food drive in a variety of ways through Dec. 22: — Donate a pre-filled bag of food for $7 when shopping at Vons supermarkets stores; — Donate online: For $1 the Food Bank can provide five meals to families in need. You can donate in your own name or as a holiday gift for a loved one; — Virtual food drive: Another online option includes paying for food items you would like to donate using a debit or credit card; — Host a food drive: San Diego schools, businesses, civic groups and faith-based organizations can host their own food drive on behalf of the Food Bank; Shopping: Local businesses have chosen to donate based on shoppers’ purchases; or Special events: Several events throughout the season will benefit the Food Bank.

Visit Sandiegofoodbank.org/holiday for more details and special event information.

Santa’s Workshop at Camp Pendleton Armed Services YMCA

This program supports military families referred by family advocacy and counseling organizations on Camp Pendleton. The referred families will get to visit Santa’s Workshop and select two or more gifts for each child in their family. The organization is collecting toys and funds to purchase toys and bikes through Dec. 12. The YMCA is also accepting donations of food and Commissary gift cards to provide military families with a holiday meal. Visit Camppendletonasymca.org for more information.

Toys for Tots

One of the largest toy drives in the county has many donation drop-off sites. Through Dec. 6, all Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us stores will collect new, unwrapped toys for the Toys for Tots holiday fundraising campaign.

Monetary donations can also be made in store and online through Christmas Eve. Your business can also become a drop-off site and collect toys through Dec. 16. Get a full list of drop-off locations, make donations and get more information at San-diego-ca.toysfortots.org.

13th annual Casa de Amparo holiday drive

Individuals, groups and companies can donate to this drive in a variety of ways. You can sponsor an individual Casa Kid’s wish list, donate an item from the general wish list or sponsor a Casa Kid’s room with a monetary donation. The donations support more than 1,000 Casa Kids during the holiday season. Learn more about Casa de Amparo at Casadeamparo.org.

The Casa de Amparo donation center is located at 200 East Barham St., San Marcos. Donation dates and times are as follows: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 9 – 11 and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 14 – 17.

For wish lists and more information, contact Tania Paniagua at 760-5663559 or tpaniagua@casadeamparo.org.

Pet food drive

For the fourth year, Veterinary Specialty Hospital is holding a pet food drive. Through Jan. 2, 2016, they will be accepting donations of cat and dog food to help keep pets fed and with their owners through the holiday season. The San Diego Food Bank will distribute what is collected. You can donate at their San Diego location, 10435 Sorrento Valley Road, in Sorrento Valley, or their North County location, 2055 Montiel Road, Suite 104, in San Marcos. Visit Vshsd.com for more information. ■

EDUCATION

SEASIDECOURIER.COM — DECEMBER 2015

MiraCosta Matters:

13

Working for California

Happy Holidays; Happy college admissions

Dr. Sunny Cooke Superintendent/ president

C

Maureen "Mo" Muir Trustee, SDUHSD Columnist

I

was called a friend to wish her a happy holiday but she said she couldn’t even think about the holidays. She said this was the most stressful time of her life: she, or rather they — my girlfriend, her husband and their child — were filling out their son’s college applications.

In this article, I will write about what that entails and what our students are up against.

First of all, college applications are to be sent in no later than Jan. 1 or 3, depending on the college. Like most students, he was applying to six schools. Two schools are his dream or “reach” schools. The middle schools are your “match” schools — they best match up with your academic grades and SAT/ACT scores. The last two schools are your “safety” schools — schools you definitely can get into.

Most children are fearful of not getting into a good college and it doesn’t help that colleges love to brag about the droves of children they turn away. But, New America Foundation’s Kevin Carey argues that it is much easier to get into a great college than we are led to believe, and that admission rates are misleading.

Nowadays, high school students are using the “Common App,” which lets one apply to multiple schools at once with the push of a button. Even if the child intended to apply to a few schools, the student application will be counted by all schools included in the common app.

It should be noted, according to the recent statistics by the National Center for Educational Statistics, that there are more than 2,700 colleges to choose from.

Here’s another fun fact: When Yahoo surveyed col-

(ThinkStock photo)

lege applicants about college admission, then ranked their answers, survey-takers ranked college reputation first and the number of graduates getting jobs as second. I thought cost would be No. 1, but it came in at No. 5.

When I surfed the net for additional college admission information, I came up with some quirky facts. Just for fun, I will share them with you. I learned that the smallest college in the country is Alaska Bible School, with 38 students enrolled (they admitted 100 percent of the applicants). In 2009, Tufts University encouraged students to submit a 1-minute YouTube video. The Bob Gurnsey Scholarship Award is between $500 and $2,500 (applicants must be current paintball players).

For now, my girlfriend’s son must wait for the colleges to respond, with the first responses expected in April — four grueling months until you find out which colleges have accepted you! But when the waiting is over, you pick one school and send a check by May 1 to hold your spot.

Happy Holidays, and I wish all the high school seniors good luck!

—Maureen “Mo” Muir is a trustee of the San Dieguito Union High School District ■

alifornia is facing a crisis in the workforce as businesses struggle to find workers who possess the necessary skills to fill job openings.

According to state data, 30 percent of all job openings in California — or 1.9 million jobs — will require some level of postsecondary education short of a four-year degree by 2025.

And as the situation stands right now, California’s education pipeline is not keeping pace with the higher levels of skills and education required by employers and must significantly increase the number of individuals with industry-valued, middle-skill degrees, certificates and credentials.

Which is why the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office last fall created the Task Force on Workforce, Job Creation and a Strong Economy, a task force I was honored to chair, to find solutions at strengthening workforce education throughout the California Community Colleges system. I am pleased to report that on Nov. 16, the California Community Colleges Board of Governors approved the task force’s 25 recommendations.

Among them:

industry-informed career pathways that prepare students for jobs needed within the regional labor market; — Evaluate, strengthen and revise the curriculum development process to ensure alignment from education to employment; —Explore solutions to attract industry professionals in high-salaried occupations to become CTE faculty in community colleges; and — Create a sustained, public outreach campaign to industry, high school students, counselors, parents, faculty, staff and the community at large to promote career development and attainment and the value of career technical education.

“The approval of the recommendations decided upon by the task force is a huge win for the entire state of California,” said California Community Colleges Board of Governors President Geoffrey L. Baum. “These important changes will allow community colleges to build on the long-established success of educating the state’s workforce, getting students into well-paying jobs and keeping pace with the increasing demand for skilled workers.”

What’s more, at MiraCosta College we are ahead of the game. In fact, MiraCosta College worked with the city of Carlsbad to open a new Technology Career Institute this past spring in a city-owned building where workers are being trained in the skills needed to fill the growing demand for industrial technicians in North San

—Broaden and enhance career exploration and planning, workbased learning opportunities and other supports for students; — Develop and broadly publicize SEE MIRACOSTA PAGE 15

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SEASIDECOURIER.COM — DECEMBER 2015

FOOD & WINE / PETS / EDUCATION W Rich Cook on Wine

SEASIDECOURIER.COM — DECEMBER 2015

Cheers to 2016: Buying the bubbly Rich Cook

Columnist

H

appy New Year! Well, not yet, but it’s coming, and as we approach 2016 I’m sure you’re thinking about what sort of bubbles you’ll need to ring in the new year.

There’s something special about those tiny air pockets rising in a slender, crystalline vessel that put us in a mood to celebrate, and such a glassful is something that can be enjoyed even by those who profess indifference, if not outright disdain, for wine. I am always amazed that folks who don’t usually ask for a glass of wine are somewhat intrigued when they see others holding a fizzy flute — which means that as wine lovers we have an opportunity to get a foot in the door with friends we think are missing out on one of life’s great pleasures.

So, how to begin this crusade? There are so many options in the world of sparkling wine today that the task may seem daunting. If you’re hosting a party, it’s good to offer some choices if you’ve got enough of a crowd to merit more than a few bottles. Don’t be afraid to go outside your usual selections and try something new — in addition to potentially pleasing more of your guests, you might make a real discovery for yourself.

It’s likely that if you’re still reading this, you’re already familiar with prosecco, the Italian sparkler made from the glera grape variety. Most of what makes it to the U.S. market is bulk production wine, which in this case isn’t necessarily a bad thing — they’re great gateways into the larger world of wine, particularly for diehard beer drinkers. Labels like Zonin or La Marca are fine off-dry examples with a beery or sudsy finish that beer drinkers find appealing. For an upgrade, look for Prosecco that includes these words

on the label: Conegliano Valdobbiadene Superiore DOCG. This is a legally designated growing area where some of the best Prosecco is produced.

Spain’s bubbly is called cava. It is made from grapes with fun names like macabeo and xarel-lo, and is a step up from most Prosecco. Look for Frexinet’s Reserva Real or the Segura Viudas Reserva Heredad — both come in festive packaging and are easy on the wallet for the quality they deliver. They tend toward fresh, mineral driven flavor profiles that make great apertifs.

South Africa, Argentina, France and the U.S. all make sparklers in a wide range of styles and prices. A few recommendations: Graham Beck is a great value from South Africa.

From the Champagne region, go with something from Moet & Chandon — from its Brut Imperial to its special bottlings of Dom Perignon, Moet & Chandon is on a roll right now. Or, if your wallet is up to it, Krug Grand Cuvee or Pol Roger’s Cuvee Sir Winston Churchill are the best of the best.

If all of your friends are wine geeks, ask your favorite specialty retailer for a “grower champagne” — they’ll know what you mean.

If you want something with a bit of sweetness, look for a sparkling Vouvray or a blanquette de Limoux. Domestically, you can’t go wrong with sparklers from Roederer Estate, Domaine Carneros, Schramsberg, Iron Horse or Flying Goat — all of their bottlings are excellent.

My surprise value recommendation?

Korbel Brut “Made with organically grown grapes.” It’s got a suggested retail price of $14.99, and you won’t believe how good it is. But beware: it’s not the regular brut, so check the label for the specific wording.

Let the crusade begin! ■

Winston (Courtesy photo)

MIRACOSTA, FROM PAGE 13 Diego County. The site also is home to the San Diego North Small Business Development Center, which provides resources, workshops and leadership programs for growing and established small businesses.

MiraCosta’s new Technology Career Institute trains skilled workers for such industries as high-tech manufacturing, maritime technology and biotech manufacturing. The new institute expands the college’s machinist certificate program and creates industry-recognized electronics engineering technician and robotics/ automation certificate programs.

“The MiraCosta Technology Career Institute is getting to the heart of what

15

inston is the Seaside Courier pet of the month at Rancho Coastal Humane Society. He’s a 3 ½-year-old, 14-pound, Siamese/Seal Point.

Winston is an impressive cat with a cream-colored coat. His eyes are bright blue. He loves being close to people.

Winston will rub against your legs to remind you when it’s time to pet the kitty. In the morning he will talk to you so you don’t forget to feed him.

Winston was transferred to RCHS from another shelter through the Friends of County Animal Shelters program.

The $100 adoption fee for Winston includes medical exam, vaccinations, neuter and microchip. For more information, call 760-753-6413, visit Rancho Coastal Humane Society at 389 Requeza St. in Encinitas, or log on to SDpets.org. Kennels and Cattery open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day but Tuesday.

Other happenings this month at RCHS

our workforce needs,” Carlsbad Economic Development Manager Christina Vincent said when the center opened. “That’s why we partnered with MiraCosta — to help give our local and regional workforce the training that’s needed today.”

In addition, MiraCosta College earlier this year secured approval to offer a bachelor’s degree in the rapidly expanding field of biomanufacturing. And we are expanding our online offerings, providing working students with more flexible schedules en route to obtain the training needed in growing fields such as hospitality or restaurant management.

California Community Colleges lead the nation in providing postsecondary career technical education (CTE) and training. Serving more

than 2.1 million students, the 113 community colleges provide workforce training, basic skills education and transfer preparation. Students can enroll in associate degree and certificate programs in 350 fields of study, and the colleges also offer an array of earn-while-you-learn apprenticeship programs. Thanks to the support of the local business and community members, MiraCosta College is proud to be at the forefront of this effort.

Dr. Sunita “Sunny” Cooke began her tenure as the superintendent/ president of MiraCosta Community College District on Jan. 2, 2015. A recognized community college leader, Cooke came to MiraCosta from Grossmont College, located in El Cajon, where she served as president from 2007 to 2014. ■

During the holiday season and throughout the year, the Community Pet Food Bank at Rancho Coastal Humane Society provides supplies for the pets of senior citizens, families that are working poor, people with disabilities or terminal illnesses, veterans and members of the homeless community. No family should be forced to give up their pet because they can’t afford a bag of pet food.

For more information or to make a donation, call 760-753-6413.

Meet dogs available for adoption from Rancho Coastal Humane Society from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec.12 at Leaping Lotus, 240 S. Cedros Ave., in Solana Beach.

For more information, call 760-7536413, visit the shelter at 389 Requeza St. in Encinitas, or log on to Sdpets.org. ■

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SEASIDECOURIER.COM — DECEMBER 2015

Happy Holidays Let Big John and his staff make your holidays JOYFUL and STRESS FREE!

Tip Top Meats 48th A nniversary (since 19

CROWN PORK ROAST $4.98 LB.

67)

Our deliciously succulent Pork offerings include:

John and Tip Top Staff wishes you the Warmest, Peaceful and Merry Christmas this Holiday Season!

Enjoy a delicious selection of our house smoked items: • Mild Cured Bacon • Smoked Butts • Smoked Pork Loin (in Chops or Pieces) • Low-Salt Cured One-Muscle Ham (not pieces pressed together)

Tip Top Roast Selection includes: • Sirloin Tip Roast • Eye of Round Roast • Denver Roast • 7-Bone Roast • Round Bone Roast • Standing Rib Roast • Brisket of Beef • Mild Cured Corn Beef • Brisket & Round Tri-Tip in Burgundy-Pepper Steak Marinade

• Pork Loin Roast trimmed & ready for your oven • Fruit stuffed Pork Roast (with apricots & Prunes) • Pork Leg Roast • Scandinavian Pork Loin (with skin) • Swedish Christmas Ham (salt cured & uncooked) • SucklingPigs

Enjoy savory TURDUCKEN this holiday featuring a deboned turkey stuffed with a deboned duck & chicken.

A poultry masterpiece!

PRE-ORDER YOUR TURKEY TODAY! Our poultry and turkey products are all natural and FREE RANGE. Broad-breasted Diestel Turkeys provide excellent value - more meat and less fat than a common turkey.

Diestel turkeys are available in 10-40 lbs. We also offer breasts and legs, and backs and necks for stock.

No holiday is complete without our FRESH succulent Pork Loin -- Be sure not to scrimp on all the trimmings!

Make your holiday the BEST with Certified Angus Prime Rib or Boneless Rib Eye Roast!

Tip Top has an Abundance of prepared roasts oven-ready for your holiday!

If you want Tip Top to cook your Turkey for you, MAKE YOUR COOKING RESERVATIONS EARLY! Cooking Charge is only $10, and includes cooking bag and pan. Call in your order PLEASE.

HOMESTYLE SAUCES, DRESSINGS AND GRAVY TOO!

No effort will be spared to keep you in the right holiday spirit, so please call ahead to order from our beautiful selection of specialty meat in our “one of a kind” meat market.

Don’t forget to dress up your holiday feast with German and European desserts, breads and cookies, like gingerbread cookies, mincemeat strudels, european imported stollen and so much more!!!

By Popular demand, we have a special display of Dry Aged Black Angus steak, that can be cut any thickness to order!

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6118 Paseo Del Norte • Carlsbad • TipTopMeats.com Open 7 days a week 6am-8pm • Breakfast served 6am-noon • CLOSED CHRISTMAS DAY