If passed, we’ll one day regret Prop. J

By Hershell Price

Resident, Del Mar

As a long-time resident who wants the best for Del Mar, it is hard for me to fathom why anyone would be in favor of Prop. J, the proposed short-term rental tax on the June 8 ballot.

We are in one of the worst recessions in recent history, the unemployment rate is hovering around 10 percent, hotel revenues are down and therefore hotel tax receipts to our city have diminished considerably. And now they want to tax visitors who stay in our homes, visit our restaurants and stores and provide some additional income to our homeowners to pay their mortgages and property taxes. Why would we want to drive away those visitors who enrich our city and add to our local economy? It doesn’t make sense and that is why I am voting no on Prop. J.

Mushroom management continues around train stop

By Helen and Richard Nielsen-Eckfield

Residents, Carlsbad

To raise a mushroom you keep it in the dark and feed it manure. That practice, which we have observed practiced by the Del Mar Fair Board’s leadership and staff, appears to be spreading to Del Mar Councilman Carl Hilliard who has been online in the Community bulletin, the Sandpiper, claiming there is no connection between the “temporary stop” they say they now wish to locate one-half mile south of the entrance statue, south of the river behind the businesses on Jimmy Durante, and across the tracks from 21st thru 24th streets versus the 25-years-in-the-master plan permanent train stop at the rear of the fairgrounds, north of the river.

The connections are simple: timing and money.

Lagoon walk honors Finnell, raises funds for Del Mar Community Connections program

The second annual Jerry Finnell Memorial Lagoon Walk took place Saturday, starting at the Del Mar Fire Station and following the San Dieguito Lagoon.

The walk is in honor of Del Mar’s former mayor and served as a benefit for a geriatric care management program sponsored by Del Mar Community Connections.

The day started with a light breakfast gathering, at which time participants could dedicate commemorative ribbons to a loved one. The ribbons were added to a memorial wreath on display at the Del Mar Library.

Docents from the San Dieguito River Conservancy who are experts in habitat areas and bird life the lagoon were stationed along the lagoon path.

Fairgrounds warned over fireworks

Spokeswoman says all plans are still go for annual display

As expected, the Del Mar Fairgrounds received a warning letter from the Coast Law Group outlining various “legal repercussions” if it goes through with its annual Fourth of July fireworks display.

Attorneys Marco Gonzalez and Livia Borak sent the letter on behalf of the Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation, CERF, an environmental organization founded by North County surfers to advocate for the protection of coastal natural resources.

The letter was addressed to 22nd District Agricultural Association Chief Executive Officer Tim Fennell. It notes the damaging discharge of pollutants from fireworks into the sensitive wetlands that surround the fairgrounds on three sides.

Solana Beach changes curfew to 10 p.m.

The Solana Beach City Council unanimously amended two city ordinances at its May 12 meeting.

Solana Beach will remain consistent with the county of San Diego in terms of juvenile curfew. The county recently amended its curfew ordinance to begin at 10 p.m. instead of 11 p.m. in unincorporated areas. The new curfew hours for minors will be 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Mayor Tom Campbell received a letter from county Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Pam Slater-Price asking Solana Beach to “align” itself with the county and cities of San Diego, Santee, La Mesa and El Cajon in starting its curfew an hour earlier. In the letter, Slater-Price said it would aid law enforcement operations, citing statistics that earlier curfews curtail juvenile violence.

Earl Warren students learn about career options

As of now, Earl Warren eighth-grader Kyle Grozen said his career goal is to become an athletic trainer.

The 14-year-old currently plays water polo, baseball and soccer.

But in case his plans change as he moves through high school and college, Kyle’s decision could be aided by the interactions he had with professionals from more than 20 fields as part of Earl Warren’s annual career day. Some of the roughly 680 student participants had the chance to meet an FBI agent, firefighters, athletes and a journalist, to name a few.

“This is all about exploration,” counselor Adam Camacho said, adding that students who find a field of interest will then often seek out guidance on how to begin pursuing it for the future. “The whole college conversation comes into play.”

Del Mar celebrates Public Works Week

Several city officials and some appreciative Del Mar residents converged on the city’s public works department’s headquarters May 20 for a lunchtime thank you to those who keep the city’s infrastructure operating.
The barbeque was part of Del Mar’s celebration of National Public Works Week, which began May 17 with a city proclamation for its public works employees. Public Works Director David Scherer, who will reach 10 years with Del Mar in September, accepted that honor from Mayor Richard Earnest at the May 17 City Council meeting.

Aside from maintaining the city’s sewers, traffic signals and running water, the public works department is working on a sewer pump on the north end of the city. Scherer said Oct. 1 is the target date for beginning construction on the Torrey Pines Bridge retrofit, the largest capital project in Del Mar history.

“Our job is to keep things working so you don’t have to call us,” said Scherer, formerly the public works director of Little Rock, Ark. “We want the signals to work on the streets, we want the signs to work on the streets, we want your water to work when you turn your tap on.”

— Jonathan Horn

Welcome to summer: Concerts, horse racing, fair among events ahead

Del Mar and Solana Beach will offer residents plenty of ways to relax and enjoy the summer of 2010. Whether looking to cool off with a movie, or soak up some sun with a beach campout, there’s always something going on in these towns by the sea.

Del Mar

Concerts

Susan McCrea and Soul Seduction. The drummer and her band will perform jazz, blues and baby boomer favorites. 6 p.m. May 28 and 5 p.m. June 6, Del Mar Plaza, 1555 Camino del Mar, Del Mar. Free. (858) 792-1555, www.delmarplaza.com.

Randy Fontaine & the Swingers. The last First Thursdays concert of the season will include music by Cole Porter, the Gershwins and Rodgers and Hart. 7 p.m. June 3, Del Mar Powerhouse Community Center, 1700 Coast Blvd., Del Mar. (858) 635-1363, www.delmarfoundation.org/Pages/cultural.htm.

Memorial Day events slated

Two local events will honor the memories of U.S. veterans.

An annual Del Mar Community Memorial Day Service will be held at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 334 14th St., at 11 a.m. Monday. Capt. Brian C. Schexnayder, USMC, who is on active duty at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, will be the guest speaker. Since his graduation from the Naval Academy in 2005, Schexnayder has served in many different assignments. He was deployed in 2006-07 to Iraq and to Afghanistan in 2008. At the end of the service, deceased military members will be remembered and prayed for during the Memorial Roll Call, which concludes with taps. For more information, call the church office at 755-1616 or Father Tom Bond at 279-5458.

The city of Solana Beach and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5431 will host a Memorial Day ceremony at the Veterans’ Memorial at La Colonia Community Park, 715 Valley Ave. The ceremony takes place from 11 a.m. to noon. Highlights of the ceremony will include the Santa Fe Christian Schools band providing patriotic songs and an address from Lt. Col. Susan Thompson, retired U.S. Air Force. Mayor Tom Campbell, city dignitaries and representatives from all branches of the Armed Forces will be present. Light refreshments will be served.

Sand and surf suit weekend anchor Susan Lennon

Susan Lennon joined Fox 5 San Diego in August 2008 as the weekend anchor of the Fox 5 News at Ten. While working for NBC in Houston, she won awards for her stories on peacekeeping missions in Bosnia and Kuwait. As a correspondent, Lennon filed stories from the Red Cross camps in Macedonia during the Albanian refugee crisis.

Lennon’s extensive coverage of U.S. military operations, including reports from the USS Nimitz in the Arabian gulf, led to an invitation to co-host the Montel Williams show to salute service members. While working as a reporter at KPRC in Houston, Lennon was named “Street Reporter of the Year” for her coverage of breaking news in the community.

Lennon received her B.A in journalism with honors from Menlo College and later completed the Graduate Studies Journalism Program at Stanford University. She lives in Del Mar where she enjoys surfing, boogie boarding, and running on the beach with her two sons.