See VIOLATIONS page 14

Coast News publisher taken to court over campaign spending

Former poinsettia ranch now a center for Jewish ideals

ENCINITAS:FLOWERCAPITALNO MOREBy Jonathan Hellerfor the Seaside Courier

A view of the coast from the former Ecke Poinsettia Ranch. Photo credit: Leichtag Foundation

By Tawny Maya McCrayfor the Seaside Courier

See FLOWERS page 13

Local residents in September celebrated the Jewish festival of Sukkot at what was once the Ecke Ranch.

See RANCH page 12

By Ken Stone The state’s election watchdog is suing the publisher of The Coast News in Encinitas over

what it calls campaign-spending violations.

for the Seaside Courier

The Fair Political Practices

Jan. 23 in Vista Superior Court,

seeks penalties against publisher

$30,000.

The commission’s enforce-­

ment chief, Gary Winuk, alleges

EncinitasElections.com, com-­

Political Reform Act through

Mark Muir in 2012.

February 2014 On the Internet at www.SEASIDECOURIER.com Volume 1 – Number 3

Wgone?

That’s a question some might

surely loses a grip on its longtime

In part, the city has become a

-­

San Diego County, housing tracts

South America

matters.

pop greenhouses,

but they’re going by

Bob Gattinella, presi-­

Encinitas Chamber of

A -­

Ranch into a laboratory for put-­

the space – namely supporting

community.

talent, increase access to fresh

-­

operating on the ranch also are

-­

tainable communities

The West Coast is a place

near Moonlight Beach. I can no

is also lost to me.

something the unromantic call

a lot of money. Then, true to his

comfort someone in such grief, I

just off the beach.

a bent up aluminum canister on

to the nearest police station. So

the Encinitas Sheriff’s Station.

can’t bring that thing

b u t

-­

a peregrine falcon enjoying a rat

for breakfast, a shark chase me,

-­

By Chris Ahrensfor the Seaside Courier

There’s a fascinating world within walking distance of your home, and it’s yours to enjoy, without charge. I only ask that you leave room for the castles, the dreams, and the dreamers.

COMMENTARY2 SEASIDECOURIER.COM — FEBRUARY 2014LOCAL NEWS

-­

tion issues.

in the Simms/Mann Institute

-­

gram that connects prominent

-­

-­

at Santa Barbara City College,

-­

ary platform for

community col-­

lege professionals

major research-­

changing issues

facing families

the program.

a really unique

opportunity to

bring together

p r o m i n e n t

community college

MiraCosta College for the past

is responsible for programming

as many as 30 staff. He also

campuses.

research project in the spring

the importance of reconnecting

-­

-­

-­

his application.

Grand Opening!

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The Greater Encinitas

Basketball League are staging

the morning of Feb. 8 at the

Encinitas Community Center.

-­

Club’s Captain Book Literacy

program.

the Community Center at 1140

NORTH COUNTY NEWS BRIEFS

MiraCosta College professor lands

early childhood education fellowship

Mark is responsible for

programming for approximately 150 young children and

their families.

Pancake breakfast fundraiserSeaside Courier

Water district holding contest for kids

-­

District.

The theme is “Be Water -­

-­

-­

SEASIDECOURIER.COM — FEBRUARY 2014 3NEWS BRIEFS

Mark Whitney

CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFTSThe Sheriff’s Department

about a series of cata-­

from pickup trucks in

-­

the Encinitas sheriff’s station.

stolen quickly, at times less

-­

The most common targets are

The City Council in January

-­

agreeing to pay the full premi-­

system for raises in the future.

-­

in the region.

-­

A series of informational ses-­

The San Dieguito Union High

course begins in the Hamilton

3-­11.

Commemoration Committee

state.

-­

-­

Authorities urge anyone

seeing or hearing anything

suspicion to call the Sheriff’s

-­

-­

the Sheriff’s Department says

-­

RAISES AT DEL MAR CITY HALL

-­

ing to a staff report. By taking

-­

ity insurance premiums, the city

annually.

The changes affect man-­

-­

Humane Society or members of

Registration closes Feb. 20.

Walk T-­shirt.

For further information, call

htm.

Learning about Common Core-­

WILDCOAST QUALITY

-­

causes.

com.

Cadets head to Normandy

Dog Day at the gardenNORTH COUNTY NEWS BRIEFS4 SEASIDECOURIER.COM — FEBRUARY 2014NEWS BRIEFS

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DISCOVERGRAUER

I -­

-­

this is an important issue. While

as our population ages, more

-­

-­

is much more than just hospice.

Sharing the same philosophy

-­

-­

cure them of their illness or pro-­

long their life. Hospice on the

-­

The other role that health

professionals, in particular phy-­

care. Many reasons surface

referring their patients to pallia-­

Dealing with the

end-of-life issues

By Helen McNealCalifornia State University Insititute for Palliative Care

opposite is true.

treatment. Most importantly, as

care actually helps patients to

s m a l l -­ c e l l

lung cancer.

-­

either early

cancer care or

cancer care

alone. The

that not only

healthcare professionals, nurses

more professionals. Thanks to this

-­

professionals are helping patients

more.

***

Helen McNeal is the Executive

Director of the California State

University Institute for Palliative

Care at California State

University San Marcos.

SEASIDECOURIER.COM — FEBRUARY 2014 5HEALTH

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See POWER page 16

Seaside Courier

San Diego County is home to

-­

-­

-­

after joining a gang.

gang.

in a San Diego Association of

Diego County Arrestees in 2012,

-­

Study: gang members say friends,

-­

or member.

out of the justice system, 11 per-­

Nearly 30 percent of gang

time or another.

Substance Abuse Monitoring

-­

By David Ogul

T

-­

in three years.

-­

nity concerns about the use of

help meet the region’s energy

-­

California Energy Commission

-­

Carlsbad power plant’s days may be numbered

-­

-­

foreseeable future.

Council at its Jan. 14 meeting,

-­

project, proposing a plant that is

-­

To support the City of

-­

-­

-­

erty to the city. If it is not possible

6 SEASIDECOURIER.COM — FEBRUARY 2014COMMENTARY

Carlsbad Power Plant

Ruth Ann Deetz

broker

CA DRE LIC#957348 (858) 353 - 8335 RAD@GROUPWESTRESIDENTIAL.COM

“A home is so much more than an address. Let me

know if I can help with any of your real estate needs.“

PROGRAM OFFERS FREE TAX HELP TO LOWER!INCOME EARNERS

Seaside Courier

MiraCosta College is training

Deschamps, MiraCosta College’s

-­

-­

room sessions of about 14 total

-­

gram. The tutorial teaches basic

The computer training typically

-­

-­

craft. But they also are helping

-­

-­

the money to pay for a profes-­

-­

teers sign up annually through

-­

-­

ing statements such as a W-­2

-­

status.

-­

-­

“The program allows students to get real-

world experience first hand while doing

something for the community.”

Construction on the nation’s

-­

Water Authority facilities. The

Water Authority’s years-­long

More than one-­fourth of the

project has

been com-­

“We are

this project

progressing

so quickly

-­

ciently after

more than

10 years of

-­

ment to

bring it con-­

-­

Desalination contractors, IDE

the cities of San Marcos, Vista

The company says the three-­

the local economy.

Desalination

plant proceeding

Seaside Courier

-­

ment to purchase at least 48,000

-­

long as it meets pre-­set quality

Water Authority may purchase

typical single-­family homes.

Pipeline installation is nearing

Water Authority is making about

-­

the region. In 2020, the project

-­

plant in Huntington Beach.

- Mike Deschamps

SEASIDECOURIER.COM — FEBRUARY 2014 7LOCAL NEWS

Students and other local residents have been trained through a program at MiraCosta College to prepare federal and state tax returns at no cost for low-income earners. Photo credit: MiraCosta College

See STUDENTS page 16

F

Camino high schools into sepa-­

rate programs. Since then, the

program at El Camino has been

region for three of those years.

“The purpose of our program

-­

Sgt. Gene LaRue, senior instruc-­

-­

EL CAMINO JROTC PROGRAM GETTING NOTICED

-­

LaRue says that less than 10

college.

El Camino’s latest honor is

program from each region in

the nation. El Camino is part of

Region Four, competing against

School recognition, placing it in

the top 10 percent of the Marine

internationally.

This year, El Camino’s program

military history, learning chain

them after high school. Some

-­

times because he cares so much

more compassionate.

-­

the program. He sees them as an

ago.

them out of that. Can’t shut ‘em

Students make school fit into their schedule

I

-­

haps. Teenagers are notorious for

sleeping as late as they possibly

can.

has them starting school an hour

earlier than the rest of their

classmates.

-­

ber of results from the program.

-­

-­

-­

before practice begins later in the

afternoon.

Another program unique

to Diegueño is CAT time, a

-­

Teachers can take the time to

help in certain subject areas.

-­

challenging parts.

top of missing assignments or

All the changes at Diegueño in

El Camino Junior Reserve O!cer Training Corps

Seaside Courier

By Jeremy OgulSeaside Courier

COMMENTARY8 SEASIDECOURIER.COM — FEBRUARY 2014EDUCATION NEWS

T -­

-­

closes this spring.

The Encinitas Union School

of the 2.8-­acre piece of prime

-­

-­

to continue negotiations through

-­

$4.3 million for the property, it

appears that the District’s price

offer for the property are too far

-­

memo to City Manager Gus Vina.

The City Council continues to

on Feb. 12. Councilmember Lisa

-­

to the council to change it to a

those requests. The site is sur-­

campus being auctioned off

-­

“I think that’s pretty clear lan-­

-­

the council at the Jan. 22 meeting

that taking the property through

-­

a cultural center, but the city has

not gone through that process to

the establishment of an arts

center. That came close to hap-­

-­

has become an unlikely eyesore.

-­

-­

to this community. Because right

GRAUER SCHOOL MAKEOVER SECURES KEY APPROVALS

The Grauer School in Encinitas

remake its campus.

The small college-­preparatory

-­

10,00 square feet of space that

-­

-­

Arts Schools in the area.

-­

-­

cent of college campuses.

“Completing the campus at this

School’s role as not only one of

-­

campaign.

its capital campaign at the 2013

-­

Grauer School is seeking a total

for the $4 million project.

Paci!c View Elementary School closed more than 10 years ago because of

declining enrollment. The Encinitas school board has

resolved to sell the site to the highest bidder after

rejecting a $4.3-million o"er from the city.

Photos by Tom RoebuckAn artist’s rendition of planned renovations at The Grauer School in Encinitas

By Tom Roebuckfor the Seaside Courier

Seaside Courier

SEASIDECOURIER.COM — FEBRUARY 2014 9EDUCATION NEWS

The Encinitas Hospitality

-­

-­

enforcement is too often preoccu-­

some businesses.

-­

-­

ability of the businesses’ atten-­

at the Dec. 18th city council meet-­

LEAD trainings this last year.

complaints against a bar or res-­

-­

to occur before any enforcement

hearing occurs. Any reasonable

-­

Looking at many of the cities

-­

-­

actions became necessary. As

at the staff report meeting on

the city’s time, energy, money,

-­

OPINION

Trying to keep crowds under control Letter from EncinitasBy Alice Jacobson

COMMENTARY COMMENTARY

COMMENTARY

By Mike Jacobsenfor the Seaside Courier

By Encinitas Hospitality Association

for the Seaside Courier

Contributing to a healthy business climate in Encinitas

Citizens are also concerned that the ‘PB bar culture’ will

change the business mix and drive away

some businesses.

I-­

other establishments.

creating more local jobs for local

-­

creates on a local community.

As a result, our city’s restau-­

together to form the Encinitas

-­

Since its inception, the EHA

security at all their bars. They

-­

ers. They are cleaning up in front

the Encinitas City Council is con-­

-­

-­

-­

-­

that Encinitas is not a business-­

small businesses.

enjoy the presence of these restau-­

full. The restaurants in place

-­

community. Many are strongly

participation in local charities,

While the EHA has been more

-­

economy.

For the sake of the economic

-­

community, listening to concerns,

months.

The ordinace could cripple the vibrant downtown community that so many residents have worked hard to create.

I -­

Encinitas is a beautiful place

community continues, the cost of

number of people able to buy or

-­

been unable to or has chosen for

total number of housing units by

-­

numbers.

-­

sation has gone on in many other

cities throughout California.

housing in Encinitas.

-­

ing in the community because

-­

-­

I would like us to be more open and innovative as we continue to discuss a!ordable housing.

See LETTER page 16

10 SEASIDECOURIER.COM — FEBRUARY 2014

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Out of the Woods

Pick of the Month

Feb. 23. John Butler Trio and

Little Hurricane at House of Blues.

$30-­$45, 8 p.m. John Butler Trio has

genres from roots rock to blues ranging

-­

the honor of opening this one. The blues-­

FINDING SOLACE THROUGH MUSIC

Music Calendar

By Jen Van TieghemSeaside CourierMusic Writer

Feb 9. Ben Powell at Tower 13. Free. 1 p.m. Powell regularly performs his bluesy rock music at Tower 13.

Feb 13. The Paragraphs at Boar Cross’n. $5. 9 p.m.

Feb 14. Dead Man’s Party and The Burning of Rome at Belly Up. $16 in advance / $18 at the door. 9 p.m.

Feb 22. Bearfoot Beast at Café Panini Carlsbad. Free. 5:30 p.m.

Solace & The Moonlight Lounge25 East E Street Encinitas, CA 92024760-753-2433www.EatAtSolace.com

As its name may suggest,

Lounge in Encinitas is a spot

-­

An eclectic performer,

-­

is partial to original tunes like

from her solo album of the same

songstresses like Patsy Cline.

-­

fortunate.

“Not only that...but it is all-­ages,

-­

community table in the lounge is

about staying up late on a school

at a neighboring table comment

for their meal.

restaurant manager Melanie

lineup boasts superb talents.

Upcoming lineups at Solace

– Sundays from 7 to 9 p.m.

Feb. 9 – The Red Fox Tails –

instrumental fusion of surf, soul,

Feb. 16 – Tolan Shaw – a

Album at last year’s San Diego

March 2 – Nena Anderson

-­

Photo by Chris Cody

SEASIDECOURIER.COM — FEBRUARY 2014 11

Ranch, from page 1

PETSPet talk: The raw food debate

As more of us turn to healthier

-­

seeking healthier options for our

-­

-­

-­

Veterinary Manual states that

-­

c o m m e r c i a l

in gro-­

s t o r e s

conta in

up to 40 percent or more of carbo-­

-­

The American Society for the

salmonella, or E. coli or become

Association journal, Gary Chico,

chair of the American Veterinary

concern is the risk to animal

By Sari ReisOwner of Mission Valley Pet Sitting Services

www.missionvalleypetsitting.com

bacteria. They also state that if

-­

be little cause

for concern.

many com-­

merc ia l ly

-­

same reasons.

Dr. Karen Becker of Healthy

-­

-­

-­

Unfortunately, the only empir-­

More current information is pri-­

-­

ers at the Cummings School of

-­

-­

erinary nutritionist. Get the facts

***

owner of Mission Valley Pet

-­

-­

The only data indicating the benefits of a raw food diet were attained in a cat study between 1932 and 1942.

12 SEASIDECOURIER.COM — FEBRUARY 2014

business into an international

-­

to Guatemala.

shopping centers.

Dummen Group.

that, but at the same time it really

focuses its philanthropy on com-­

coastal North County;; support-­

life in coastal North County;;

-­

-­

feet of greenhouse space on the

-­

space to four commercial agricul-­

tural tenants since the purchase.

-­

-­

-­

munity members in connecting

this year’s planning phase.

-­

erations to come the Leichtag

-­

-­

-­

So I’m happy. I hope the rest of the

Flowers, from page 1

LOCAL NEWS

IMPROVEMENTS NEARLY COMPLETE AT POPULAR TRAILSeaside Courier

Above: One of several bridges on the creek

crossing. Lake Calavera’s six miles of trails have

proven popular with hikers and bicyclists.

Some of the growers who didn’t sell to real estate investors or succomb to the competition were able to survive by moving inland.

SEASIDECOURIER.COM — FEBRUARY 2014 13

Commerce.

Roughly 12,000 acres in the

rest of the county has seen farm-­

smaller acreages for operations,

-­

The report points out that

small-­scale operations are more

-­

“What this means for the

future of agriculture in Encinitas

not necessarily a foregone con-­

-­

-­

last remaining chunk of ranch

feet of greenhouse space from

Leichtag for poinsettia research

-­

-­

Ecke employee, says the poinset-­

support for customers.

“My job is to carry on the core

Jim Farley, Leichtag

-­

tional 12 acres on the property

Diego County Farm Bureau.

-­

succumb to the competition

-­

employees last year but still

-­

many opportunities out there

-­

“It’s a challenge, that’s for

C-­

is nearly complete.

Department.

-­

south bank.

-­

clists can still use it as a trail

-­

to make up for the portion that

-­

-­

-­

-­

begin their nesting season. The

the construction.

Violations, from page 1

Opinion

Top volleyball coach coming to

MiraCosta College

Seaside Courier

Volleyball coach Kristen Wright looks to start winning championships at MiraCosta College.

MiraCosta College has

The American Volleyball

Coaches Association in 2012

-­

high school coach.

Wright coaches at the San

Christian School in Vista since

coach at La Jolla High School.

-­

-­

intramurals.

program has been in mothballs

-­

Conahan is optimistic.

-­

the same success at MiraCosta

MiraCosta College competes

Conference of the California

Community College Athletics

Association. The conference

-­

leges in San Diego County, along

the north.

See VIOLATIONS page 15

LOCAL NEWS

“She has been incredibly successful

at the high school level and I have no

doubt she will have the same success at MiraCosta College.”

- Patrick Conahan

comment, but his son Chris,

-­

-­

Kenneth Moser of San

Diego sent the FPPC

Bonnie Dumanis a

September listing

requirements that

-­

tity as a sponsor on

Encinitas Project Committee For

-­

-­

-­

-­

the suit.

14 SEASIDECOURIER.COM — FEBRUARY 2014SPORTS

EMERGENCIES? THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT

C

emergency.

the SD Emergency app makes

it easier to share emergency

app’s reliability on numerous

-­

-­

county’s emergency alert system.

The SD Emergency app is free

earthquakes, “I think all San

-­

The county has spent about

a month.

Emergency app makes it easy

“This is important because a

one person being able to access

emergency kit information so

-­

a pet carrier, etc.

list of things that many of us

an item in the emergency kit,

of rain.

-­

hotline for this information.

-­

after an emergency.

-­

plan.

Struggling Students Find Hope at Alternative Learning Center

N-­

-­

-­

By Steve Lombardfor the Seaside Courier

mainstream classroom setting.

-­

-­

-­

-­

the ability or the time to get to the

-­

tional piece, a key element not

them the opportunity to say, ‘Hey

this is bothering me,’ it’s a huge

the regular classroom hours. But

is not lost in the process of the

ALC mission.

emotional aspect of this type of

The pacing of the program’s

See LEARNING page 16

Violations, from page 14

-­

EncinitasElections.com is no

-­

Mark Muir can still be seen on

Stocks — a council member since

-­

but if you check out the enforce-­

In fact, a 2013 FPPC annual

-­

-­

ing letters.

Former state Senate Majority

-­

By Jeremy OgulSeaside Courier

SEASIDECOURIER.COM — FEBRUARY 2014 15LOCAL NEWS

Power, from page 6

Students, from page 8

Letter, from page 10

It hasn’t taken him long for the

to kick in.

“I’m learning from my mistakes

-­

-­

iations, she is starting to blossom,

problems at home or in the neigh-­

-­

In the eyes of instructor Diane

-­

ALC staff.

-­

That’s the key.

-­

-­

****

-­

District. This story was written

-­

Learning, from page 15

been able to reach this agreement

Energy’s West region. “We look

-­

-­

-­

community can enjoy for genera-­

school’s API score, from 848 in

Diegueño’s current API score of

up last year, the school has been

-­

ment status.

Diegueño’s staff to making school

-­

-­

-­

-­

more money to pay for necessary

-­

housing.

currently chairs the city’s

16 SEASIDECOURIER.COM — FEBRUARY 2014LOCAL NEWS