Power outage hits area

A single car accident caused a power outage Wednesday afternoon to about 1,600 homes in Rancho Santa Fe, Solana Beach and areas east of Interstate 5.

Big year for a small town

Del Mar may be the region’s smallest city, but as one of the most unique and spirited towns on the San Diego County coastline it certainly has made remarkable strides in 2008 to improve the quality of life.

Much of the focus was on revitalizing downtown Camino del Mar and 15th Street, an effort that promises to dominate the city’s agenda in 2009 as well.

Carmel Valley’s headline highlights

2008 in Carmel Valley was a year of stoked skateboarders, proud graduates and protesting mountain bikers. Ground was broken for a new park, firefighters got a brand new home and a school district plunged into uncertainty. Here are some of the headlines that kept Carmel Valley crowing this year.

Ranch’s 80th year was eventful

By Karen Billing
and Laura Petersen
Staff Writers

In 2008, Rancho Santa Fe celebrated its 80th anniversary and all that makes it a wonderful place to live: seeing friends at the post office, a village center with buildings still loyal to their 1924 character and tree-shaded streets lined with flowers.

Fuzzy friend: A sunshine personality

Autumn is a 1-year-old spayed female Shepherd blend. She has a dazzling sunshine yellow coat with an outgoing personality to match. You can adopt Autumn for just $185 at the Helen Woodward Animal Center, 6461 El Apajo Road in Rancho Santa Fe. The kennels are open everyday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information call (858) 756-4117, option #1 or log on to www.animalcenter.org.

Tourism forecast for 2009 ‘not a pretty picture’

By Steve Perez
Contributor

The economic outlook for the ’09 local tourism season mirrors that of the broader national financial picture – in other words, brace for more headwinds in the coming months, those interviewed recently said.

TP thespians set sights on Edinburgh festival

Eighteen actors from the Torrey Pines Players will perform in the Fringe American High School Theatre Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, this summer.

With over a thousand performing companies, it’s the largest arts festival in the world. The Torrey Pines Players competed against 2,500 schools nationwide and were one of 47 picked to go overseas.

A winter pastime: Horseback riding

By Greg Alder
Contributor

Horseback riding around Rancho Santa Fe is as enjoyable through winter vacation as any other time of the year – maybe more so.

“In other parts of the country you have to ride in a covered, heated arena or else you’re riding out in the snow,” says Mary Gunderson, who rides almost every day.

Keep an eye on science

Editor’s note: This year, the Light has picked a handful of people to watch in the New Year. We’ve selected them for what they’re likely to bring to our community – in this case the scientific community.

Next week we’ll look at people who may play a role in the daily life and businesses in la Jolla.

Student founds charity for Senegalese children

Laura Checkley is a junior at Torrey Pines High School with a lot of heart. The 16-year-old just started her own charity for street children, or talibe, living in St. Louis, Senegal.

Her goal: to collect enough clothing, athletic equipment and school supplies to fill a 20-foot shipping container and send it to Senegal for the children.