Camp Pendleton Young Marines will be the honor guard. State Senator Mark Wyland will be the guest speaker, as well as Solana Beach Mayor Joe Kellejian and Randy Treadway, Post Commander for VFW Post 5431.

The Santa Fe Christian School Band will perform patriotic songs. A special “Doves from Heaven” release will be provided by Joe and Leslie Irwin. The Veteran’s Memorial wall, which honors the service of all Solana Beach Veterans of Foreign Wars, will be available for viewing. Docents from the Civic and Historical Society will be on hand to conduct tours of the Historical Museum. Light refreshments will be served. The event is free of charge and open to the public. For more information, please call 858-720-2453.

From left, Nancy Harmon, Roger Harmon, Irving Himelblau and Bob Montgomery stand in front of a Hmong story cloth. Photo: Claire Harlin

By Claire Harlin
editor@delmartimes.net

In the 1960s, the United States employed the tribal Hmong people to fight what’s now known as “The Secret War” in the highlands of Laos. And as the Southeast Asia conflict, which coincided with the Vietnam War, wound down in defeat for the native mountain people, they fled refugee camps in Thailand, where many stayed for decades.

Much of what we know of the Hmong people’s experiences comes from detailed story cloths they embroidered while in the Thai camps, and one local couple — Roger and Nancy Harmon — has managed to collect and preserve a variety of them, which will be presented on May 21 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of San Dieguito (UUFSD). The event will also feature a detailed explanation of the cloths by the Harmons, a photo exhibition and a presentation by Bob Montgomery, who has worked for more than 35 years with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and serves as the executive director of the San Diego Resettlement Office. Proceeds from the event will be donated to “My Library,” an education project for underserved Hmong and other youth in Laos.

Roger Harmon’s love affair with Laos and its people dates back to the late 1960s, when he orchestrated a language program there that focused on teaching English to Hmong people who were being brought as refugees to the United States.

In exchange for their mountain know-how and fighting on the side of the U.S., Roger said, the U.S. government gave them rice.

“Eventually they had to flee into neighboring Thaliand because they became targets themselves,” said Roger. “We put them in harm’s way and we had a responsibility to help them rebuild their lives here in the United States.”

While in Thailand, Roger noticed the colorful, intricately-designed story cloths hanging from bamboo poles in front of many houses.

“The knocked me out,” said Roger. “I had never seen anything like them. They were beautiful.”

Nancy added that the Hmong people had always been well-versed in embroidery work and handicrafts, but they didn’t make story cloths until they were pent up for 25 years or more as refugees surviving a deadly war.

“It wasn’t until they were in the camps that they had a story to tell,” she said.

The Harmons are members of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of San Dieguito, and were thrilled when the Solana Beach church’s publicity chair, Irving Himelblau, approached them about doing an art exhibit there. Every few months, the church puts on a new exhibit and every month proceeds from church collections benefit a different cause. The church is also very involved in service work such as Habitat for Humanity, via the church’s social action committee.

“If there’s any strong pillar of justice here, it’s with the social action committee,” said Himelblau, adding that the Hmong story cloth exhibit and associated “My Library” cause was a perfect addition to the church event schedule.

“This exhibit just felt really good, especially given the cause and the historical aspect,” Himelblau said.

Refreshments at the two-hour event will be served and Montgomery will be speaking about the contemporary refugee situation here in San Diego. His IRC office is located in City Heights, which, along with Chula Vista, has a large refugee population.

For more information, visit www.uufsd.org or call (858) 755-9225.

Affordable housing, safety, traffic calming measures and mass transit were only a few of the issues brought up May 10 at a workshop on the Solana Beach general plan, a state-mandated document that outlines the vision and policies of land use for the future.

Phase 1 of the general plan process is under way, and the workshop sought to give an update and provide input, which will be used to steer the plan. This is the first comprehensive update to the city’s first general plan, which was implemented in 1988, two years after the city’s incorporation. The California Office of the Attorney General recommends that the general plan be updated every 10 to 20 years, and state law mandates that the housing element of the plan be updated every eight years.

Some new states mandates that will be addressed in this update include new housing requirements, climate change initiatives and a San Diego Association of Governments plan to emphasize land use planning and transportation coordination to promote sustainability and offer more mobility options.

For more information on the general plan update process, visit www.ci.solana-beach.ca.us and click the “General Plan” link on the right column.

editor@delmartimes.net

Isabella Konold holds a dance event at the W Hotel last year. Proceeds from the event benefited a Thai shelter for women battling domestic violence and sex crimes. Courtesy photo

“The idea of anybody, especially a child, being forced over and over again against their will, I got really passionate about that,” said Konold, a Solana Beach resident. “I couldn’t just sit there and do nothing.”

Just as the performances of those in a work of film inspired her, she thought she may be able to utilize performance to spread awareness and inspire others. Being a professional ballroom dancing instructor, she realized about five years ago that she could use her art of performance in a positive way — and that’s how Humanity In Motion was born.

The idea at first was to literally get in motion for humanity’s sake by having ballroom dancing competitions, in which proceeds would benefit organizations helping exploited children. Jump forward several years, and the organization has taken on a new mission and broader cause.

“I didn’t want the scope of what we do to be limited to just children,” said Konold. “That’s not what Humanity In Motion is. It’s really about shifting the global paradigm in terms of how women are treated in the world and, more importantly, how we are treated as human beings.”

The organization is focusing on not only dance, but all types of performance art. The group is putting on the last local production of the Vagina Monologues on Thursday, May 17, at 6 p.m. at the Carlsbad Theatre, and it’s Konold’s second year to host the play. She also held an art and music fundraiser at the W Hotel last year, with proceeds benefiting a domestic violence shelter in Thailand, and she has a dance performance in the works that will shed light on rape. According to V-Day, a global movement focusing on violence against women, one in three women will be raped or beaten in her lifetime.

The proceeds from Vagina Monologues will fund the upcoming dance performance, which Konold said will be an eye-opening work of choreography that will not only depict the world of sexual assault but contain a sister piece illustrating the related healing process women go through.

“Things like dance and film create immediate impact, not only for the audience, but also for the performer,” said Konold. “We’re creating a transformative experience for everyone involved, across the board.”

Not only is the Vagina Monologues part of the global V-Day movement, but this particular performance is special because several of the actresses are victims of sexual assault.

“It’s a healing process for them, just being part of the show,” said Konold, who said she is still healing from experiencing sexual assault as a child. Both healing and spreading awareness also come from the open door Humanity In Motion creates for victims to get involved and become a part of future performances.

Konold said one of the most personally fulfilling aspects of Humanity In Motion is when women approach her to get involved and share stories they’ve never shared with anyone.

“There can be so much secrecy and shame around being a victim of sexual assault,” she said. “To provide a space for women to be totally OK, honored and accepted, and know there is freedom inside of storytelling, it’s an honor.”

To find out more about Humanity In Motion, contact Konold at isabella@humanity-in-motion.org or by calling (858) 876-8232. To purchase tickets to Vagina Monologues on May 17, visit http://vag.ticketbud.com/vag.

Bob Gerber

By Karen Billing

Carmel Valley lawyer Robert Gerber passed away in his sleep on May 11 at the age of 49.

“I am deeply honored to have shared a small portion of his life,” said his wife Shelley. “He was a loving and devoted husband and father. Our family will miss him more than I can possibly express.”

Gerber is survived by his wife and children Alex, Taylor, Paige and Alyssa. A memorial service will be held on Monday, May 21, at 10 a.m. at Solana Beach Presbyterian Church. A reception will follow the service. (A viewing will be held on Sunday, May 20, from 1:30-5 p.m. at El Camino Memorial Park.)

Bob was an equity partner with the law firm of Sheppard Mullin in its Del Mar Heights office. He joined Sheppard Mullin in 1989 after he graduated from Harvard Law School cum laude. He spent his entire career with the firm and was recognized by his peers as a Super Lawyer from 2007-12, a Best Lawyer in America in 2012 and a Top Attorney in San Diego in 2008, 2009 and 2011.

His professional involvements included: co-chair of the Trade Secrets Subcommittee of the ABA Litigation Section’s Intellectual Property Litigation Committee; chair of the litigation section of the State Bar of California; vice president and on the board of directors of the San Diego Bar Association; a commissioner for the State Bar of California Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation; and was involved in the Louis M. Welsh Inn of Courts and a director of the American Inns of Court Foundation.

He was also a former chair and active member of the San Diego County Bar Association’s legal ethics committee.

Generous and caring, Bob was the founder of the firm’s Pro Bono Committee.

“Bob was always thinking of ways to help others,” said partner Guy Halgren.

He donated thousands of hours to free legal services to the indigent, including the representation of a Mexican teenager in a precedent-setting immigration case Hernandez-Montiel v. INS. In 2010, he was recognized as the firm’s Pro Bono Attorney of the Decade.

One of Bob’s mantras was “practicing law will earn you a living but doing pro bono work will give you a reason to live.”

“I am proud of his many achievements and kind, selfless acts,” said Shelley. “Bob was a wonderful man.”

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Bob can be made to Children of the Night, an organization committed to stopping child prostitution. Bob supported the organization through his pro bono work.

“This is a terrible shock for our family and we would love to use it to do some good for others in need,” Shelley said.

Checks can be mailed to 14530 Sylvan Street, Van Nuys, CA 91411 or directly through their website at www.childrenofthenight.org. Note on the donation that it is in memory of Bob Gerber.

By Claire Harlin

editor@delmartimes.net

As of May 9, Solana Beach is phasing out plastic bags.

The Solana Beach City Council unanimously passed the second and final reading of an ordinance that will make the city the first in San Diego County to limit single-use plastic bags and promote reusable bags. The move follows numerous other cities statewide. It still allows plastic for uses such as produce, meats and dry cleaning.

The ordinance, as approved, differs slightly from the law outlined in the first reading approved on April 25 in that it exempts restaurants. This change is due, in part, to the fact that the city has received three litigation threats from Save the Plastic Bag Coalition, which claims the anti-plastic bag campaign is “based on myths, misinformation and exaggerations,” according to the organization’s website.

The group, led by attorney Stephen Joseph, claims that plastic bag bans are preempted and prohibited by the state California Retail Food Code, and is threatening to sue each and every city that attempts to implement a ban. The group contends that restaurants should not be subject to the ban for health, safety and practicality reasons, such as packaging hot or liquid food.

Solana Beach City Attorney Johanna Canlas said her office does not believe there is merit in the proposition that the ordinance is preempted by state law, however, she presented to the council the option of amending the ordinance to exempt restaurants. She pointed out that the issue is amid litigation in Northern California, and the amended position has been taken by numerous cities in California.

A total of 21 comments and letters were received by community members during the public comment period, which ended on March 19. The majority of letters supported the ordinance.

Evan Lewis, a youth with the Kids’ Eco-Club, approached the council and provided a multitude of statistics while expressing great concern about the environment and the use of plastic bags.

“Your children’s children’s children will have the burden of the same plastic bag you use today,” he said.

Both Council member Lesa Heebner and Deputy Mayor Dave Roberts expressed their appreciation to have a youth voice at the council meeting.

Roberts said he was not only happy for Lewis to witness a historical night for environmental efforts in Solana Beach, but also to get a chance to see how democracy works.

Community member Ed Siegel suggested, “Why not save more trees and recycle plastic bags to use as lumber?”

The local psychiatrist said he owns a chair made from plastic bags, and it has withstood the weather on his patio for many years.

“If it were made of iron, it would be gone by now,” he said.

Heebner said the purpose of the ordinance is not to force people to use paper, but to encourage the use of reusable bags. She said she is also glad to see Solana Beach being a leader in so many areas relating to the environment.

“I am proud of our city,” she said. “There are a lot of bad things happening because of plastic bags.”

The law will be phased in to let retail establishments use up their plastic bag supplies. Grocery stores, food vendors, pharmacies and city facilities must comply within three months, and all remaining affected businesses have six months to comply.

The new ordinance also allows retailers to provide customers with recycled paper bags for a minimum of 10 cents per bag. Violations may be prosecuted as infractions or misdemeanors, or a fine may be imposed.

Each year the Solana Pacific PTA sponsors the Reflections program, which challenges students to be creative in their response to a specific theme.

The theme for the 2011-2012 school year was “Diversity Means…” Four students from Solana Pacific Elementary School were recognized at the Solana Beach school board meeting on April 26. Congratulations to: Chloe Chan, Award of Merit, Artwork; Stella Chung, Award of Merit, Artwork; Emmie Yao, Award of Excellence, Literature; Kayla Surovsky, Award of Merit, Musical Composition.

A new restaurant opened in Solana Beach on May 8, but only for one night.

As part of the Kids Cafe cooking class at the Center for a Healthy Lifestyle, 11 children ages 5 to 12 put on a four-course meal, start to finish, for nearly 50 people — mainly their parents and friends — and they called their one-night cafe the “Mustache Freshtaurant.”

The kids spent a month learning the basics of healthy cooking from instructor Amanda Curry, the center’s director and also the host of the SD4 cooking show “The Good Food Factory.” During that time, the kids not only came up with all the recipes themselves, but they learned how to entertain a crowd.

“The kids all arrived, washed their hands and got started in the kitchen with Amanda,” said Patti Keyes, the creative director of the cooking show. “They knew exactly what to expect. They had teams with their own jobs. They cleaned and set the tables … They had candles on the tables and the whole time all I could hear was giggles and laughter.”

On the menu was a “funky freschetta” appetizer, a mango and quinoa “freshalad,” a “rocking’ chicken and edgy veggies,” and homemade ice cream sandwiches for dessert.

Curry said one of the “most magical moments” of the entire experience was when one of the kids rattled off the entire menu by heart the previous week during a practice class.

“He knew every single ingredient, word for word, and finished with ‘Enjoy your meal’,” said Curry. “You could tell he had been practicing it at home.”

Curry said one of the kids, Isabella, learned about the class from watching the “Good Food Factory,” which airs almost daily on SD4.

“It was magical for her,” said Keyes. “She came in and she was star-struck to meet Amanda in person.”

Curry added, “She was the youngest one, only 5 years old, and she was so composed.”

The kids collected tips at the event — $205.26 to be exact — and all proceeds were donated to Rady Children’s Hospital. Twenty percent of ticket sales went back to the Center for a Healthy Lifestyle, housed under the Boys and Girls Club and located at 533 Lomas Santa Fe Drive.

Curry said she plans on holding another Kids Cafe class in the summer, in which the kids will get to once again create and name their own cafe.

For more information on Curry and “The Good Food Factory,” visit www.thegoodfoodfactory.com.

Smoking has been officially snuffed out at the San Diego County Fair, beginning in 2013.

Members of the governing board of the 22nd District Agricultural Association, which oversees the state-owned Del Mar fairgrounds, voted unanimously in favor of the smoking ban at their meeting on Tuesday, May 8.

“I was thrilled, I think it’s a wonderful step for them,” said Kathy Lippitt of Rancho Santa Fe, who was one of 11 speakers who urged the board to enact a smoking ban at the fairgrounds.  “They’re a credit to public health policy.”

The board’s vote means that as of next year, smoking will be banned anywhere on the fairgrounds during the run of the San Diego County Fair, which generally starts in early June and ends around the 4th of July.  The ban would not be in place during other events at the fairgrounds, such as the annual horse racing meet.  Fair board members said banning smoking during the fair is a priority because the event attracts so many families with children.

At this year’s fair, which begins June 8, smoking will be permitted only at one of four designated areas around the fairgrounds, down from five smoking areas during the 2011 fair.

Board member David Watson said the panel agrees that smoking is bad, but that fairgrounds staff had said a total ban would be difficult to enforce.

However, a number of speakers suggested that with proper signage, advance notice for the public, and training for fairgrounds workers, enforcement wouldn’t be a problem.

“Usually smoke-free policies are much easier to manage and communicate than designated smoking areas,” said Debra Kelley of the local chapter of the American Lung Association.  “I believe the only thing the fair has to fear is fear itself.  I think you’re ready to go smoke-free and it’s going to work.”

A number of speakers said a total ban is needed because many people continue to smoke outside of designated areas, exposing children to second-hand smoke.

A subcommittee of board members will now work on the details of the new policy in time for next year’s fair.  Board vice president Frederick Schenk said the board will make sure the public has plenty of notice about the new policy, and that signs announcing the fairgrounds as smoke-free are prominently posted.

Another aspect of the new policy will be enforcement, he said. Most likely, those who light up at the fairgrounds in violation of the ban will be asked to leave.

“We’re not interested in punishment, we’re interested in keeping the air clean,” Schenk said

The committee will also find at least one location outside the fairgrounds proper, in a non-public area, where fair workers and vendors will be able to smoke.  Schenk said this is needed because many workers and vendors live at the fairgrounds in trailers and motor homes during the annual event.

Board president Adam Day said a number of people have been coming to fair board meetings since he joined the board nearly four years ago, requesting that the board ban smoking at the facility.  He credited those community members for helping to bring change to the fairgrounds policy.

Day initially suggested banning smoking during the fair by 2014, but Watson said, “Will it really take two years to implement this?”

Watson then made a motion to ban smoking by next year’s fair, which was supported by the full board.  Board member Russ Penniman did not attend the meeting.

A staff report on Tuesday’s board agenda said anti-smoking messages will be included in the 2012 fair program and displayed on the video screen in the paddock area of the fairgrounds.  Hypnotist Mark Yuzuik, who performs a popular hypnotism show at the fair each year, will also offer three one-hour smoking cessation seminars.  Those sessions will be held from 3-4 p.m. each Thursday in the Turf Club, and no reservations are necessary.

Kelley, of the American Lung Association, said after the meeting that most of the major institutions in San Diego, such as Petco Park, Qualcomm Stadium, the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park have gone smoke-free, as have every beach and city park in San Diego County, except in the city of Santee.  She said smoking also has not been banned at Sea World.

She said she was not sure if the fair board would go along with a complete smoking ban, but was gratified by the unanimous vote.

“It was great, it was inspiring,” she said.

Matt Weaver, Mike Garcia, Brett Weaver and Tom van Betten hope to open the new Saddle Bar by Memorial Day. Photo: Karen Billing

By Karen Billing

Four local guys are looking to get Solana Beach back in the “Saddle” again.

The energetic foursome of Matt Weaver, Brett Weaver, Mike Garcia and Tom van Betten are aiming to open the new Saddle Bar by Memorial Day in the recently closed McCaffrey’s location on Coast Highway, which was long the location for the Surf and Saddle Bar.

Expect a complete renovation of the bar and a new venue for live music, craft brews and a specialty Bloody Mary that Garcia is cooking up with bacon-infused vodka. The Saddle hopes to have Surf and Saddle throwbacks such as Goldfish races and well-priced, “good” (read: generously poured) drinks.

And the doors won’t close until 2 a.m.

“That’s always been a big issue around here that we hope we’ll improve,” Garcia said.

“We hope to revitalize the nightlife in Solana Beach and have a synergistic relationship with the other restaurants and bars in the area,” said van Betten, adding he hopes folks will stay local in Solana Beach rather than heading out to Encinitas. “We hope to bring back that lively experience of the Surf and Saddle and improve on it.

The four new bar owners received the keys to the Saddle Bar just last week and will take on an ambitious renovation schedule to have the doors open by May 28, Memorial Day.

“It’s important for us to be open by Fiesta del Sol,” said Matt Weaver of the June 2-3 event in Solana Beach. “We want it to be a bar for locals, tourists, the race track crowd, all people who enjoy good music, good service and good people without ever having a cover charge.”

Matt Weaver, a Del Mar resident, has a background in commercial real estate, while his partners know their way around the bar business. Brett and Garcia have managed and opened up bars for the last 13 years in San Diego, spots such as Moondoogies and Sidebar in Pacific Beach; The Fleetwood downtown; and Sandbar in Mission Beach. van Betten is an investor in Encinitas’ D Street Bar and Grill, while also working in commercial real estate.

When van Betten heard the bar had been listed by a broker, the foursome jumped at the chance to make an offer.

“We all used to hang out at the Surf and Saddle a lot before it shut down,” Matt Weaver said. “Everyone was missing it.”

Surf and Saddle closed down in March 2010, giving way to McCaffreys. The Surf and Saddle was known for opening early at 6 a.m. and staying open late, until 2 a.m., and they are hoping the new Saddle can replicate those operating hours.

Music is a passion for the guys and their hope is Saddle Bar will be become a great venue for live music — a stage will be built and there will be an all-new expanded audio and light system.

The exterior will change a bit and the interior will get an updated, modernized look to make it more comfortable and appealing.

The group hopes that the new bar will be a Solana Beach fixture for years to come.

“We plan on being in here for the next 30 years,” said Brett Weaver. “We’ve made a long-term commitment to the neighborhood scene.”

Saddle Bar is located at 123 W Plaza St., Solana Beach, CA 92075-1123.