digitizing decadessandpiperdelmar.org/pdf/2014sp03mar.pdf · digitizing decades nancy fisher | 24th...

D E L M A R ’ S C O M M U N I T Y J O U R N A L

Volume 19, Number 2 March 2014

N E W S • F E A T U R E S • O P I N I O N

Also in This Issue:

Larry Brooks and Lauren Bridges at the DMHS storage space at the Del Mar

Community Building. Photo Nancy Fisher

Share the shower page 6

“Hard” novels page 19

Pretzel poses page 11

Stepping up! page 15

It can wait! page 8

DIgITIzINg DecADesNancy Fisher | 24th Street

The Del Mar Historical Society, incorporated by Swede Throneson

in 1985 with a $1000 grant from the Del Mar Foundation, is moving toward the future in a big way.

When Larry Brooks, current President of the DMHS, first became involved with the organization about twelve years ago, he found that their entire collection of photographs was stored in three-ring binders in the trunks of the cars of several members. He laughs at the memory and recalls asking “haven’t you guys ever heard of computers?” After loading the photos onto his laptop, he began walking around town asking “who is this, who is that, and what was the event?”

Since then the DMHS has come a long way, with members working together to convert photographs and a growing collection of oral histories to digital format, but their biggest break came about a year ago when they received an unexpected call from Lauren Bridges of “Uncommon Archaeology.”

Lauren, who has a B.A. in Anthropology and a M.A. in Historical Archaeology, has worked with

museums and historical societies all over the country to organize collections and make them accessible to the public. When her military family was relocated to the San Diego area, she reached out to local historical societies to see if she could donate her time and services. “I’ve always had a passion for public outreach and making sure that the history of a place is accessible to the public, because why else are you preserving it? And it helps me learn about the history of the community pretty quickly, too.” Brooks was thrilled to get the call and says “she could probably hear me jumping up and down from the other end of the phone!”

During the past year Lauren has worked with the DMHS to make strides toward their goals of making the collection both accessible to, and searchable by, the public. “If someone comes to town and says that their mother used to live in Del Mar and they’d like more information,” says Lauren, “you want the system to be in a digital, searchable, format.”

The first step was to take stock of what the society had in its archives, which included collections of historic photographs, papers, and a few artifacts related to the history of Del Mar. Among these objects were

continued on page 3

the oral histories by Del Mar’s first historian, Swede Throneson, which inspired the current oral history projects. The collections room, at

Sandpiper March 2014

Editorial

LeTTers To The eDITor • The Sandpiper welcomes readers’ letters and articles. • Material submitted must include the writer’s name,

street address, and phone number, and should not exceed 500 words.

• Material selected to be published may be edited or shortened.

Send to: The Sandpiper, Box 2177, Del Mar, CA 92014; or [email protected]

The Sandpiper is published by the Del Mar Community Alliance, a not-for-profit corporation. Its purpose is to advocate the Del

Mar Community Plan, to foster informed public and government decision-making regarding issues affecting the community of the City of Del Mar, and to encourage a social and political climate

favorable to the protection of the community character of the City of Del Mar and its environs.

Chuck Newton Circle: Rosanne & Joel Holliday, Carol Kerridge, Beth Levine & Henry

Abarbanel, Diana Marquardt & Rod Franklin

Publishers’ Circle: Jeff Barnouw, Darrese & Sam Borgese, Mary Ann & Bud

Emerson, Priscilla Fawcett, Nancy Fisher & Mike Salt, Chuck Freebern, Lynn & Charlie Gaylord, Maryka & George Hoover, Pat

JaCoby, Louise Keeling in memory of Dave Keeling, Larry Schneiderman, Jane Brown Voss & Steven Voss,

Nancy and John Weare

Editors’ Circle: Penny and Buck Abell, Vava Anderson, Anthony Corso, Sandy & Bram Dijkstra, Mary & Jeffrey Friestedt, Susan & Judd Halenza, Lee Haydu, Linda & Jerry Hirshberg, Shirley King & Art Olson, Vernie & John McGowan, Bill Michalsky, Suzi Resnick & Stan Marks, Gloria Sandvrik and Harold Feder, Rose Ann and Ira

Sharp, Chic & Joe Sullivan, Sarah Dubin Vaughn, Molli and Arthur Wagner

Editors: Sam Borgese, Tony Corso, Dave Druker, Bud Emerson, Nancy Fisher, Ann Gardner, Shirley King, Art Olson,

Sandi Weaver, Betty Wheeler. Webmaster: Virginia Lawrence. Editor Emeritus: John Kerridge.

All staff members and writers are unpaid volunteers. Thispublication depends upon the contributions of readers like you.

Make checks payable to Sandpiper, Box 2177, Del Mar, CA 92014

seekINg coMMoN grouND Once again, after decades of failed plans and attempts, the City Council is trying to breathe life into a strategy for developing the city hall site. We urge the Council to take lessons from previous attempts and get the process right this time.

We believe with some careful balancing of interests we can find a “sweet spot” for community consensus on this undertaking. We suggest a strategy of addressing the interests of a healthy cross section of constitutents to build a broad base of support in the community.

• Many citizens want a Council Chamber large enough to handle the overflow crowds we sometimes get at Council meetings.

• Numerous city committees and non-profit groups need flexible meeting spaces.

• Many citizens want our hard working city employees to have functional work spaces, including decent bathroom facilities.

• Most of us value pleasant, attractive open spaces.

• Those interested in revitalization of downtown

would support some modest commercial uses on the highway.

• Many citizens want to be assured that we can afford a new civic center without weakening our overall financial health.

• Many would support some low key private development rights on the site to help defray costs.

• Most Delmarians favor an unpretentious architectural style that reflects Del Mar values.

• Prominent placement on the site as a community statement is important to many.

• Size and human scale are important to many.

• There may be opportunities for strategic alliances (for instance joint use of auditiorium space with the Winston School).

• Many want the city to retain ownership of the entire site so that all uses will be subject to community approval.

• Most Delmarians want a healthy, open planning process with many opportunities for community input.

Stitching all of these constituencies into a supportive coalition is called leadership. If the Council members can step up to this challenge, we have a good chance to achieve unity in Del Mar and a civic space we can be proud of.

NeIghBorhooDs NeeD You!Many residents are concerned that in the event of a major disaster, professional services may be overwhelmed or may not be able to get to us. The Del Mar, Solana Beach and Encinitas Fire Departments are once again offering a program to train residents as first responders until emergency help arrives. This free program, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) includes training in triage, basic first aid, basic firefighting and search and rescue techniques.

The next CERT training series starts April 2nd, AT 6:30 PM.

For more information and to sign-up, please contact: Arnie Lewin at [email protected]


Pipe Up

coMMoN VALues

At the request of the Del Mar City Council, our city staff has assembled a comprehensive amount of

information on our city’s facilities needs with the option of selecting a replacement site for our derelict City Hall. This leads to a reflection on what the Camino Del Mar site represents for our community. At the present time it is the location of our administrative offices and the TV studio, where our City Council meets. Built in 1984, the studio also provides the Council with a recently remodeled meeting room for its closed sessions. Only the administrative building is in urgent need of replacement.

What has gone unmentioned is an analysis of the many other activities that take place on the Camino Del Mar site. These activities actually make the site the modern equivalent of the medieval “commons”. Old village

DIgITIzINg DecADescontinued from page 1

communities in England used the word “commons” to characterize lands held in common, thrown open to members of the community for their temporary private uses: at that time sheep grazing, feed for cattle, wood for repairs. Today, as in the medieval commons, the land belongs to one entity, our City, but other entities can use it temporarily for their benefit. In the past the library held annual fundraisers for the County Library. Today the Farmers Market benefits the merchants selling their produce and members of our community. Coast Waste management holds collection events for recyclables. We hold meetings of civic groups. We park our cars there for free. It is our “commons”.

By purchasing an existing commercial building all these functions would be orphaned. We would buy land when we already have vacant land that we own in full. We would vacate a lot in the middle of our City for an uncertain development future. Chances are good that the site will remain vacant for a very long time as the Jefferson and Gas Station lots are.

The Council has now forwarded the City Hall matter to the Finance Committee. No doubt the Finance Committee will let us know the price of everything but perhaps not the value of the property.

Jacqueline Winterer, Ocean View Avenue

projecT progress Courtesy Mayor Lee Haydu

The City is embarking on one of its most significant capital improvement projects in many years – the

sidewalk, street, and drainage project. This project will provide for substantial improvements to fix pedestrian path issues, encourage walkability, address drainage issues, and improve streets. This project is beginning in the Beach Colony area. The City will be completing installation of the City’s approved Camino del Mar Streetscape Plan from 22nd Street to the San Dieguito Bridge, filling in missing curbs and gutters, installing bulb-outs, pedestrian ramps, and sidewalks, and roadway improvements along Camino del Mar. This work will also accommodate the landscaping of newly created parkway areas in compliance with the City’s Streetscape Plan.

Additionally, the City is nearing completion of the North Torrey Pines Bridge project. The Gas Company is continuing to replace the previously disconnected gas line and is scheduled to finish by the end of February. The bridge contractor will subsequently complete the remaining surface and roadway improvements in March. The City is excited to complete this important project to preserve the historic character of the bridge.

Soon, you’ll start to see some activities related to the future of the Shores Park. With the creation of the new Shores Park Master Plan Committee, the City is moving ahead with developing a master plan for the site. The intent of the Park Master Plan process is to provide a comprehensive long-range vision intended to guide the Park’s development and a “blueprint” to set the public policies regarding the future facilities, programs and management actions. To stay informed of the status of the project, please visit the City’s website.

Finally, the City is continuing its efforts to analyze the feasibility of a new City Hall/Civic Center. The City Council is pleased with the community input provided through the recent survey about a new City Hall/Civic Center. The City Council will continue to seek community input throughout this comprehensive research and planning phase.

the Del Mar Community Building, was reorganized and labeled (with all of the storage materials generously donated by DMHS members) to ensure future members can easily locate specific collections for public exhibits. A Collections Management Policy was put in place to set the standards for how items are brought into the collection, how objects are maintained, and specific action steps to be taken in the event of a disaster. Something Lauren has noted in many years of working with historical societies is that membership changes often, so she strives to create a system that future leadership can build upon rather than reinvent.

In addition to her organizational skills, Lauren has also provided expertise on how to reach out to the community to get more residents involved. Among her suggestions are traveling trunk shows, centered around a theme, that could be displayed in the library, the post office, or a classroom, and would be accompanied by activities related to the exhibit. The first trunk show may contain items associated with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Del Mar Lifeguards which will be co-sponsored by the DMHS and the Friends of the Powerhouse in March 2015.

When asked about ongoing attempts to relocate the historic Alvarado House to a permanent location, Lauren offers that “from my experience it will take someone who can commit full-time to moving a historic home, advocating for it, and creating public awareness and support for it.”

The DMHS is currently seeking people interested in Del Mar history and upcoming projects, and encourages residents to join them in preserving and sharing Del Mar’s past. Please contact them at [email protected].


Ask Doctor Rich

Ask Dr. rIch!Rich Simons | Upper East 11th Street

Every month, Rich Simons answers readers’ most perplexing questions.

Photo illustration Art Olson

cresT To coAsT hIke ceLeBrATIoNJim Cunningham, outgoing chair of the San Dieguito River Park Joint Powers Agency, completes his term and his pledge to walk the Park’s

entire 72-mile Coast to Crest Trail beginning at the terminus near Julian and ending on North Beach in Del Mar. Accompanied by Dick Bobertz, River Park Executive Director, and Bill Simmons, River Valley Conservancy, Cunningham was greeted by a host of well-wishers including new

JPA Chair County Supervisor Dave Roberts, Del Mar Mayor Lee Haydu, Friends of the River Valley and forty high school students who were heading for a week-long trek on the Trail going the other direction. Photos Stu Smith

Q. What did you and your wife do this year to celebrate st. Valentine’s Day? – r.j.

First of all, I am more than a little ticked off at your assumption that I passed the day with my

wife. If you understood anything about my rich Latin heritage, you would realize that I might have had several other possibilities!

Be that as it may, I will admit that you have caught me out here. Ruth and I did spend the evening together, but it fell well short of what you might call a “celebration.” Oh, I remember the days when we did celebrate: reservations at a schmaltzy restaurant, dining by candlelight beneath the stars, guitar strumming softly in the background. Then we would dance the night away at the edge of the sand, to the tune of the ocean sloughing to and fro.

Friday didn’t quite work out that way. We began the evening creeping through dense fog up to the Urgent Care facility up on Torrey Pines Mesa. People who fall down a lot often locate sharp objects in the course of their journey. After they got me stitched up and had poured a gallon of antibiotic into me, we oozed our way back through the fog to home, where we dined on warmed over meatloaf and beans right out of the can, by the flickering glare of the Olympic Games. No flowers. No candy. Certainly no dancing. Well, I did sent her an e-valentine.

Shortly after “dinner” the wife retreated to bed, as is her habit, to get into one of her detective novels. As is my habit, I stayed up to catch Letterman, Nightline and an old movie (or two). Well, what did you expect? Valentine’s Day is for young people hoping to feel the prick of

Cupid’s weaponry. The little bugger nicked us good in the summer of 1955. I’ll let you do the arithmetic. But, anyway, thanks for asking. It brought back a lot of old memories. Good memories.

Do you have any thoughts on the new city hall being planned for Del Mar? – j.p.You bet! First of all, Del Mar always seems to need more restaurants, so it should include a large food court. And something that is FUN! Like a bowling alley or a skating rink. Because we have a demographic here that is not being well served – and that is our under-twenty crowd. For entertainment our youngsters have to sneak east of I-5, and I’m sure none of us relish the thought of our children being exposed to that environment.

And while I’m at it, that lot on Jimmy Durante Blvd. across from Southfair is a perfect size for a Go-Kart track. Teach the kids to drive fast while they’re still young. VAROOOM!


Courtesy Del Mar TV

Shirley King with used and unrecyclable water filters Photo Art Olson

DMTV preseNTs car guys Luana Karr | DMTV

Viewers can get their classic car fix this month with two back to back shows. The first is a short blast from

the past, featuring a couple of Del Mar’s classic citizens, host Jon Thomas & enthusiast John Kerridge, who is still dearly missed by all his friends in Del Mar. Jon has not only produced many shows but performed voiceovers for many programs on Del Mar TV. Jon also served as editor for the Del Mar Surfcomber at one time and continues to participate in Producers group. This program showcases the classic car show held a few years ago with interviews and a look at some interesting vehicles and a motorcycle you won’t believe exists. I have been told that Southern California is quite a Mecca for Classic cars and features car shows all over the region. Which in turn brings us to the second program featuring another long time producer and car enthusiast himself, Jim Beck.

Jim fell in love with classic cars when he was a teen and at one time owned a 1929 Model A Ford. Jim started in Public Access television in 2003 , as a hobby, after retiring from his department of defense job. Jim’s series CrusinGrand gives viewers a chance to enjoy classic cars and interviews from the interesting characters who own them, or would like to own them, right from their living room. Jim says “videography is exciting. It gives me a chance to give something of interest back to the community.”

The series, Cruising Grand, can be seen on Del Mar Television at 8:30 p.m. Followed by Del Mar Pulse: Community Car show at 9 p.m. Del Mar Television can be seen on TW Channel 130 or AT&T Channel 99 & scroll down to Del Mar.

TrIMMINg The WAsTeLINeShirley King | Avenida Primavera

Moving from solid waste to zero waste – consider ‘the obstacle is the path’ - but how does our community mark that path and with haste? The continuing obstacle for us is our discarded materials from daily living. We throw away the equivalent of our body weight every month, but we can no longer accept that there is an “away”. Most of our discards are collected at the curb, some are recycled or composted, but sadly most are relegated to landfills – buried or burned – out of sight, out of mind. What is derived from our consumption are environmental pollutants – piles of trash and greenhouse gases – less snow at Sochi and more acid for Del Mar’s marine life. So where should the path go? Toward Zero Waste of course! And the trailhead for Del Mar is an official and committed Zero Waste Resolution by our City Council.

In San Diego County the cities of Chula Vista, El Cajon, Oceanside and San Diego have pronounced strategic plans for the road to zero waste. For some time we have been overshadowed by San Francisco where 100% waste diversion by reduction and recycling – sending nothing to landfill or incineration - is their goal for 2020, and over 75% is currently recycled or reused. The local coastal city that glows proudly with its Green Team is the City of Oceanside. Former Oceanside Mayor Esther Sanchez described at the Feb. 4th Zero Waste Symposium that her city’s path was set with its waste management contract in 2010 by including zero waste goals. After two years Oceanside has recycled 72% of its disposed material, and it requires all special events to use a zero waste program. Reducing consumer materials everywhere is Oceanside’s preoccupation.

What is the road to Zero for Del Mar? The first action is to address the question that we all face – Do we want to purchase something that can’t be recycled or reused? The California Product Stewardship Council (CPSC) advocates for changing the way products are designed and manufactured and holding producers responsible for the life cycle impacts of their products. To date 137 California municipalities and organizations have passed Resolutions to support Extended Producer Responsibility – policies advocating State legislation that will drive improvement in product design and packaging. The City of Del Mar should adopt and send to its State Assembly Representative, Speaker Toni Atkins, its own Extended Producer Responsibility Resolution.

Just like the City of Oceanside, Del Mar can adopt its visionary goals in a Resolution with a strategic plan for Zero Waste and begin to reduce what is currently placed in its residential curbside grey bins. Just like the City of Chula Vista, Del Mar can establish Environmentally Preferable Purchasing and Practices policies – choosing products having the least impact on the environment.

In addition we could follow our own Fairgrounds, whose diversion rate is 92% with the help of its Vermi Tech Worm Bin that digests the consumer food waste - Del Mar could develop the expectation that our franchised hauler collect our compostable food discards, which weigh in at 30% of our typical household waste.

We can trim our waste lines, scale down our grey bins, and put them out less often for collection – maybe just once a month. That’s a start on the road to Zero Waste.


Water Worries

Water saving circulating pump with timer in Carol Vernon’s bathroom. Photo Carol Vernon.

DeL MAr DusTBoWLBill Michalsky | Stratford Court

It’s not just a winter drought. The last 12 months have been the driest since at least 1885, according to NASA.

From Feb. 1, 2013, through Jan. 31, 2014, our state received an average of 6.97 inches of rain, or roughly 15 inches below the normal 22.51. And according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 95 percent of the state is experiencing drought,

with 70 percent of California in extreme or exceptional drought. (Visit www.droughtmonitor.unl.edu/Home/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?CA). Last month, Democratic Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency, as reservoir levels dipped to all-time lows with little rain or snow in the forecast. Conservation in various forms is needed.

WheN IN DroughT…Water Wisdom from the Del Mar Garden Club

In the Garden Gale Darling

Replace lawns (water guzzlers) with plants that are native to our climate and bring birds, bees and butterflies to our gardens.

Pat Welsh

Replace thirsty plantings with drought-resistant succulents, such as aloes, agaves, kalanchoes and crassulas.

Replace thirsty shrub roses with disease-resistant climbing roses, such as Lady Banks Rose, which has no pests, thorns or diseases and needs little irrigation once established.

Increase garden charm without any irrigation whatsoever by adding brick patios and paths, painting garden furniture bright Mediterranean colors, and building arbors and pergolas. Cover pergolas with wisteria, which needs no fertilizer and little irrigation once established.

Some believe we live in a tropical paradise… it really is an arid paradise and adjustments need to be made by all of us if we expect to enjoy hot showers. Do we embark on recycling or desalinization of this precious resource or do we wait for the next El Nino? It’s not a matter of just buying water, what do we do when it becomes less available and real rationing of this asset occurs? Difficult choices are ahead.

Local advocates say that in San Diego, where about half of household water goes to irrigation, greywater can make a dent in water use. Capturing one inch of rainwater from a 20 x 50 foot roof can yield over 600 gallons of water. In some cases rebates are available for storage tanks from the Metropolitan Water District.

At a recent Del Mar Rose Society meeting in January the discussion came home. Invited to speak that evening was Candace Vanderhoff, an expert on rain water harvesting and greywater reuse. Her discussion points made one consider the amount of water that we let slip away (i.e., runoff, the wait for hot water in the shower, laundry water). Candace is one of the few local experts and an entrepreneur in this field of water reuse. Her enterprise can be seen at www.rainthanks.com/.

Given the current amounts of rain and the ever-increasing cost of potable water her services may be of interest to many. Although an investment in these systems may not yield financial payback.

Do something. Reuse can be done safely, but it does require some plumbing changes that can more easily be done during home remodels or new construction. Or capture the water that would otherwise be going down the drain while waiting for your next hot shower in a bucket. Or shower with a friend. Drink your scotch neat. It’s your choice…

Control weeds and prevent evaporation by covering all bare ground with mulch.

Mary Friestedt

Use Mediterranean plants and to add more color, take the

continued on page 7


Water Worries

WATer 101Ken Olson | City of Del Mar’s representative to the San Diego County Water Authority

It’s pretty astounding that water, delivered right to our homes, costs such a pittance. Imagine 748 gallons (100 cubic

feet) for $3.40 – that’s all we pay in the city of Del Mar. Here we are in the far lower left corner of the country, living in a desert, and we can twist a faucet and get two gallons of clean water for less than a penny. Wow!

As consumers, we’re happy to spend money proportional to value received for anything we buy, including water. For water that value is huge and the cost is small; under California law the operating principle of water agencies is that they are required to charge no more than their cost of service, so residential customers repay only those costs. Your water bill approximates your share of those costs, not a bit more.

There are about a dozen easily identified components of the cost of our residential water. (I hope you’ll forgive some oversimplification; water is a complex business).

1. The water is free. Water at its source is typically free, thanks very much. The snowmelt, rainfall, rivers, lakes, and lagoons all provide water free of charge to those who have the legal rights to take it. The earliest laws in our region applied to the Spanish land grants; those laws intentionally did not provide for water ownership. Water was free like air -- take what you need. When this area became part of the U.S. it fell under a legal system that encourages various regulated entities to own the rights to take certain water. Now as residents/ratepayers we pay only for delivery and related costs – we are actually buying purification and delivery services, not water.

2. Systems for conveyance: Delivering water requires interconnected pipes, pumps, dams, canals, treatment plants, and other components --an amazingly complex set of systems and controls with a total cost of billions of dollars. All of this requires frequent expansion and

WheN IN DroughTcontinued from page 6

constant maintenance. There’s always something new to worry about – right now invasive Quagga mussels are a huge problem in the Colorado River Aqueduct.

3. Distribution and maintenance costs: We pay for storing and moving large amounts of untreated water from the State Water Project and from the Colorado River to our county. This conveyance is where the big bucks are spent --the biggest cost is for electricity to drive the pumps that lift millions of acre-feet of water again and again as it moves through the mountains and valleys.

4. Treatment of the water: All of the required water treatment plants are run by professionals who constantly control water quality to ensure that the end product meets all state and federal standards. These treatment processes consume huge amounts of electricity.

5. Security costs: To protect the water we employ fencing, trained guards and other security personnel with vehicles and equipment, video surveillance camera systems and sensors with remote monitors, and personnel to watch over them.

6. The 100-year view: Thanks to the last few generations of Californians, all of today’s necessary infrastructure is in place. Continuous improvement to infrastructure will always be with us -- the County Water Authority is now planning and building for the next century.

7. Regulatory expenses: Water needs permits and/or consultants for almost everything: environmental studies, mitigation projects, federal regulations, state regulations, county regulations, dealing with many other entities from the Audubon Society to the Zero Emissions Club. Coastal Commission. Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. Army Corps of Engineers. Bureau of Reclamation. Colorado River Authority. A quick count gets me up to 27 of them; I’m sure there are others.

8. Legal and compliance costs: U.S. water law is not yet continued on page 9

dried up flowers of purple sea lavenders (Limonium perezii) and shake out the seeds. In a short time, there will be purple flowers, which seem to bloom practically all year long.

Dot spots with a cute yellow-flowering succulent called Little Pickles (Othonna capensis), which the Del Mar Garden Club has used extensively at the Library.

In the Kitchen Carol Vernon

Use cooled water from cooking to water plants in garden. Collect kitchen tap water while warming in a large pitcher and use this water for cooking or making coffee.

Use water from washing garden vegetables to water plants.

Wipe soiled dishes with paper towel instead of rinsing before dishwasher.

Compost food scraps instead of discarding in garbage disposal.

In the Bathroom Carol Vernon

Use a small circulating pump in our upstairs bathroom under our sink that we have on a timer. It allows us to have hot water instantly instead of letting it run while waiting for the hot water to get to the upstairs.

Rosanne Holliday

Shower with loved ones. Buy dark color towels and save the white towels for non-drought times.

Karen Lockwood

Keep bucket in shower to collect warming shower water and use to flush toilet.


Google images.

roVINg TeeN reporTerDriving While InTeXTicatedLeila Zein-Phillipson | Torrey Pines High School Senior

“You think, oh let me check my phone real quick and next thing you know you’re inches away from the

car in front of you and don’t have time to stop” said TPHS junior, Kelsey.

Texting while driving has become a trend, socially acceptable, and is rapidly becoming one of the nation’s top killers.

The statistics of deaths and injuries due to texting while driving are horrifying, yet it seems as if everyone is doing it and the chance of getting caught, or the penalties when we do get caught, are minimal.

“I drive a stick and I can still text while driving” shared SDA sophomore Juliet who also added, “I don’t know anyone who has gotten in trouble for texting and driving.”

On January 1st of 2009 a California vehicle code called the Electronic Wireless Communications Device Prohibited Use law was put into effect. As stated on the California department of motor vehicles website, this law makes it an infraction to write, send, or read text-based communication on an electronic wireless communications device, such as a cell phone, while driving a motor vehicle.

TPHS senior, Mitchell, was recently pulled over for using his cell phone while behind the wheel. “I got off with a warning, but the cop lectured me saying I could have killed myself or someone else.”

The base fine for violators of the law is $20 for the first offense and $50 for subsequent convictions with no points added to one’s DMV record, a penalty that seems insignificant considering the potential for life threatening outcomes.

“Now is the time to enact tougher laws and raise awareness to save lives,” said TPHS sophomore Julia Kelley who is working on a campaign called ‘Just Drive’ to alert teen drivers to the dangers of texting while driving.

According to National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) texting while driving makes drivers 6 times more likely to cause an accident than driving while intoxicated and has the same effects as driving after drinking 4 beers. This is referred to as ‘driving while intexticated’.

“I would never drink and drive, but I have texted while driving” shared CCA junior, Ashley.

As surprising as it may sound, AAA recently came out with a study that texting while driving is a bigger issue with adults then with teen drivers. Regardless, the horrifying statistics are out in the open and known to both young and old drivers, yet a large majority ignore the fatalities. So the real question is: why text and drive? Is the text worth the possible outcome?

cITY hALL Q&A Interview with Mayor Lee haydu Ann Gardner | Via Latina

We met with Mayor Lee Haydu to discuss results of the City Hall/Civic Center Survey:

1. The City Hall Survey results are in. Are you pleased with the number of responses? We are very pleased with the number of responses. 425 people responded. Of those, 84% were residents, representing 17% of households. The remaining respondents owned a business in Del Mar or conducted business at City Hall. Were you surprised by the results? The results closely mirrored the responses we received at last December’s community workshop. A clear majority (75%) indicated that a new City Hall/City Administrative Offices should be the first priority and should be located on the existing City Hall site. Only 5% commented there was no need for a new City Hall. There were more varied responses when it came to questions about financing the project.

2. How did Council determine there was a need for a new facility in the first place? A new City Hall has been considered for many years. When the City first moved into its existing facility, an old schoolhouse, the Council spoke of it as “temporary” due to its age and condition. In 1990, there was a facility study that identified deficiencies and considered a replacement. The City Council addressed this again in 2007. Over those 26 years, the City was not in the financial position to move forward.

3. What are the specific deficiencies of the current City Hall? The existing City Hall consists of two buildings built in 1921 and expanded in 1956. The southern building is uninhabitable for safety reasons and the City can no longer use it, even for storage. There is little room for the public, impacting service at the busy front counter, and believe it or not no indoor bathrooms for employees. Substantial maintenance has been deferred, requiring considerable investment to bring the building up to code and meet current needs more expensive than a long term investment in an adequate, safe City Hall. It is embarrassing and unacceptable that our town does not have decent facilities for our hard-working employees.

4. What is the current financial condition of


Mayor Lee Haydu. Photo Nancy Fisher

the city now? Would there be a new tax? The Finnell Plan wisely put into place a method of correcting the City’s finances in order to prepare the City to meet capital improvement projects. It became a framework for budgetary discipline and it is doing its job. Now the City regularly puts money away and has a budget surplus that is used for capital improvements. Because of this, Del Mar has been able to stabilize its budget and has an AAA bond rating. Also, this is one of the best periods in years for public financing, with low interest rates. There is no need for a new tax.

5. What are the options for financing? Please explain how a public-private partnership to help pay for a City Hall/Civic Center would work. Did the survey respondents favor one option over the others?

There are several options for financing a new City Hall/Civic Center that would NOT require additional taxes for this project. One option is a Lease Revenue Bond similar to a loan or mortgage structured for a government agency, where the City would make payments over 30 years. The payments would come from City operations, not new taxes.

Another option is to sell a non-essential asset to help raise cash for the project. We used this financing method when the City sold the Balboa Lot to fund the Shores acquisition.

In a public-private partnership a developer invests upfront for a long-term return. For example, a developer would be given rights to develop a portion of land that is not used for the City Hall. While the City may not be required to borrow money for the project, the rights given to the developer would be similar to selling or leasing all or part of the property.

The survey results indicated that close to 40% of respondents disagreed with the City entering in to a public-private partnership, 30% neither agreed nor disagreed, and close to 30% agreed. 66% agreed with selling a non-essential asset and 63% supported a Lease Revenue Bond. The community has a right to expect the Council to show how private sector partnering helps us achieve our goals without undermining our financial health.

6. The survey provides specific numbers for an appropriate size for our City Hall. How did the City come up with those numbers? Can the scale and design reflect our small town values? The numbers provided for the size of City Hall were based upon 1990 services and updated to include Information Technology, the Park Ranger and the Sheriff which were not included at that time. Most of the current staff space remains the same; however there is more room for the public counter and front desk, which are often crowded and indoor restrooms for the employees. The design should most definitely reflect our small town values, a place we can all enjoy, make good use of for civic purposes, and make a statement we can be proud of.

7. Keeping or remodeling any of the older buildings was not listed as an option. Does this mean the current TV building and Annex would be torn down? As part of the programming exercise coming up, the feasibility of maintaining, remodeling or replacing those buildings will also be discussed.

8. What about the claim that an earlier advisory vote determined that there was NO need for a new City Hall. Was there such a vote? There was a vote in 1992 (Proposition A) which asked if the City should

borrow money for a large Civic Center complex that included a new City Hall and Library. That vote did not carry. We need to scale it down--we believe the community wants a civic center but not something too ambitious.

9. Reflecting on lessons learned by previous City Councils, including the fact that half a dozen plans for a new facility have either been abandoned or defeated, what steps will the Council take now to solicit feedback and community support? We started with a community workshop and then immediately expanded that input with this survey. This is only the first of many workshops and surveys. The Council will be discussing this often so the process will be transparent and offer many opportunities for the community to participate. My hope is that this new civic space will achieve community unity.

WATer 101continued from page 7

totally settled. Water rights exist under all kinds of ill-defined and often overlapping agreements, so the courts are often asked to determine what’s right. Acquiring and maintaining rights-of-way for aqueducts, pipelines, and power lines involving a lot of regulatory bodies and property owners is a legal quagmire. Water litigation is expensive, but the courts eventually make pretty good rules. Everything that water suppliers do is monitored by expert regulators and lawyers who spend their whole careers in the water business.

9. Reserves: Local storage is our best protection against possibilities like that big earthquake we keep hearing about. The County Water Authority is now investing in accumulating large amounts of stored water to get us by for at least six months without any imports. Just like our fire insurance, we hope we won’t ever need these reserves, but the local storage is comforting and valuable to each of us. The alternative is frightening.

10. Conservation: We are all environmentalists now, so we all share in the costs of public education and incentives to ratepayers to encourage them to conserve even more.

11. Financing costs: Big infrastructure projects cost big money so, like in any other business, long term money is borrowed at current interest rates and each project is paid off over many years by its true beneficiaries, the end users of the water.

12. Profits: Who’s making money on this? Nobody. The agencies that handle and purify the water from the source to our faucets are public entities and are not allowed to make any money – we get their efficient services at their highly visible and skillfully minimized costs. Their operating records are wide open and shared with the public.

This is a lot of oversimplification, but my hope is that it will promote appreciation for the water service that we sometimes take for granted. It’s truly amazing that clean and dependable water for our homes costs so little.


hoW sooN We ForgeT Dwight Worden | Seaview Avenue

Thirty+ years ago, Del Mar, the mouse that roared, took on the City of San Diego in one of the most important

land use lawsuits of the era, the North City West litigation. Let’s take a look back at what it was all about and do a quick overview of what has happened since the case was decided. Just in case you think all this is ancient history, read on.

San Diego ignored Del Mar’s arguments that North City West would cause traffic gridlock, would overload the sewer system and other vital services, would aggravate affordable housing shortages, was leapfrog development in violation of the Freilich plan, that there was no adequate long-term water supply, that the project would cause economic, traffic, service demand, and other spill-over effects on Del Mar, and that the idea it would be self contained was an unrealistic dream. Just in case you think all this is ancient history, read on.

When San Diego approved North City West anyway Del Mar took San Diego to court over these issues, perceiving that the integrity of the planning process, and the future of the region, were at stake--did growth management plans mean anything? Throughout California the case was watched as one of the most important precedents on these issues.

Del Mar lost the trialSo, what followed? In my view, some good and some bad:

On the good side, Del Mar now has many wonderful new neighbors, as well as new good things in nearby in Carmel Valley including great shopping, new schools, movie theaters, restaurants, a library, parks, an active community planning board, and other positive developments in what is now called Carmel Valley.

On the bad side, San Diego didn’t even follow the North City West plan that was litigated. That plan called for a max of 13,000 homes and 40,000 people phased in 9 phases over 30 years, but within 10 years San Diego had approved 16,000+ dwellings for 66,000 people, and the phasing plan was all but abandoned. Dead too were the North City West Transit system, and for the most part, the employment centers to allow people to live and work in the project and avoid commuting. The “self contained” community concept might have looked good on paper, but fell way short in its implementation.

Depending on your perspective, it was either good or bad that Del Mar did not have the money, or the heart, to re-litigate these issues at the subdivision stage as suggested by the court of appeal, even though to a large degree the predicted parade of problems came true quicker and with greater severity than predicted. And, the ensuing 30 years post lawsuit also saw delays and compromises in implementing planned parks, open space, recreation, and other amenities, often over the vociferous objection of the new Carmel Valley residents.

On the regional scale, North City West and other

San Diego development did in fact overload the sewer system, including the Pt. Loma treatment plant, as Del Mar projected, leaving San Diego facing billions in expenses to bring the system into compliance. Likewise, one need only drive the local roads, or try the merge or route 56 at commute time, to know that traffic gridlock occurred.

Perhaps a Del Mar victory would also have forced San Diego to fix its sewer issues 30 years ago when the cost to do so was much less, and to actually build a transit system and employment housing in Carmel Valley. But, then again, maybe not. The pro growth San Diego city council of the time may well have found a way to proceed with North City West even in the face of a court loss. We’ll never know.

Again, if you still think all this is ancient history, read up on the One Paseo project now proposed for the last large vacant parcel in Carmel Valley. One Paseo, true to North City West’s contentious history, seeks to more than double the density called for by the adopted general plan--yes, the same general plan at issue in the 1982 lawsuit. The justification? Among others, the oft repeated claim that doubling the density will facilitate making Carmel Valley a self contained community.

Some things never change, I guess. But one thing has changed--there is now a large group of vocal and organized citizen-residents of Carmel Valley as well as a very active Carmel Valley Community Planning Group demanding that their voices be heard about what happens with One Paseo and to their community. That’s different from back when Del Mar took up the challenge as an outsider, and that’s an important and positive change. Let’s hope the current activists have better luck with One Paseo than Del Mar did 30 years ago.

Note: The North City West case decision can be found at: 133 Cal.App.3d 401. the author was the Del Mar city attorney at the time and was lead counsel on the case.

Please see a more detailed account on our website at www.delmarsandpiper.org.

pAseo goINg ForWArD?

I’ve heard talk that the lack of news on One Paseo must mean it’s going forward, however, nothing

could be further from the truth. This massive urban mall has not been approved by anyone. In fact, the final project still needs to be presented to the local planning board, the City’s Planning Commission and the City Council. We expect these actions to be taken this summer.

Over the next few months we will inform you of how you can help. This will include writing letters, signing petitions and attending meetings.

Please continue to check the WhatPriceMainStreet (www.whatpricemainstreet.com/) website for updates. Thank you for your continuing support!

Ken Farinsky, Carmel Valley, What Price Main Street Community Coalition


YogA For YouNg’uNsVirginia Lawrence | Caminito Del Rocio Photos Bill Morris

On Valentine’s Day 2014 at 10:30 in the morning 18 toddlers

descended on the Del Mar Library with 17 mothers and 1 father in tow. Ranging from 4 months to 23 they had come for Arianna Caligiuri’s Toddler Yoga class. The toddlers settled themselves around the Community Room, most leaning against their Mom or Dad, a few sitting quietly on the carpet, but with at least one little ball of energy, drawn over and over again to Arianna’s bright blue CD player with its shiny silver knobs which he twirled in an experienced manner to increase the volume. Retrieving him countless times his Mom probably had the best workout of the session!

Arianna got things moving with two key questions: What’s your name? How old are you? And then she led a clapping song with easy-to-remember lyrics – Hello, Sophie, Hello, Sophie, Hello, Sophie, We’re glad you’re here today! Some of the children appeared skeptical, but others responded positively to their own names. Once they got the hang of it they all loved the clapping.

Next Arianna read to them from Marina Selway and Rebecca Whitford’s “Little Yoga: A Toddler’s First Book of Yoga.” While their parents exercised a stabilizing influence, the little ones approximated the eight or so yoga poses shown in the book. The 30-minute session ended with all the participants flat on their backs relaxing! As Arianna explained: This is not an adult class. The children know it’s all about them.

Toddler Yoga with Arianna on the 2nd Friday of the month at 10:30 am.

Infant Yoga with Arianna on the 4th Thursday of the month at 10:30 am.

Open to families in San Diego County. Information Del Mar Library 858-775-1666


Photo Anthony Corso

TAckLINg TrAFFIc Anthony Corso | Stratford Court

A quandary persists in Del Mar as to how to achieve

public safety while resolving such issues as vehicular speeding, traffic congestion, perceived inadequate parking and numerous conflicts between automobiles, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Some of the major issues include:

• Drivers ignoring crossing lights. The screech of brakes is frequently heard.

• The view of a warning or street crossing light is blocked when travel lanes are full.

• Drivers ignore signs and crossing lights and drive through.

• Crossing lights are too dim to be seen on a sunny day.

• There is inadequate parking in the downtown area though spaces are available in other areas of the City.

• There are few racks for storing bikes.

• We have an oversupply of red painted curbs which reduces curb parking.

The Del Mar Traffic and Parking Committee, is staunchly addressing such problems and is charged with the responsibility of drafting recommendations to the City Council. It considers alternatives working in conjunction with city staff and various departments.

Deliberation and joint discussion or “consensus building” is required as a part of its responsibilities. Some persons argue that contributes to an excessive time for solving problems. On the other hand, the problems and solutions are multi-faceted and require collaboration and dialogue.

The current agenda of TPAC includes: the development of a parking plan which accommodates pedestrian, automobiles and bicycles, the application of new lighting, signage or other technological solutions to the dangerous crossing of Camino Del Mar. Brighter, blinking lights and signs and pedestrian control stop lights have been tried- sometimes ignored by pedestrians and drivers alike! An emerging issue is the painting of red curbs at various locations to prohibit parking such as adjacent to driveways. Some individuals maintain that there are too many red cubs thus eliminating available curb parking.

Large graphic signs were recently installed indicating the location of available parking lots. It seems there are some solutions to some quandaries!!

Your chANce To eNhANce The city Does not run itself

FeBruArY 2014Interested in volunteering in your City? The City of Del

Mar invites its residents to volunteer on a board or commission to provide input in a variety of areas. The City is currently soliciting for interested persons to fill the following committee vacancies:

Finance committeeOne (1) Vacancy - Committee Member

Application deadline extended to Friday, March 14, 2014

parks and recreation committeeTwo (2) Vacancies - Committee Member – Upcoming Vacancies in April 2014

Application deadline: Friday, April 4, 2014

san Dieguito Lagoon committeeOne (1) Vacancy - Committee Member


sustainability Advisory Board Three (3) Vacancies - Committee Member


Interested citizens should complete a Citizen Interest Form and submit it to the City of Del Mar’s Administrative Services Department. Visit http://www.delmar.ca.us/Pages/CommitteeVacancies.aspx to complete the form. Forms should be submitted to the City of Del Mar, Administrative Services Department, 1050 Camino del Mar, Del Mar, CA 92014.

shApINg shores pArk

The City of Del Mar has invited residents to apply to be a member of the new Shores Park Master Plan

Committee. The purpose of the Committee is to provide oversight on the master planning process and provide community input for future development of the Shores Park.

The City currently owns the 5.3 acre parcel on 215/225 Ninth Street. In 2007, the City Council adopted a resolution that restricted the site to be used as open space and recreation and for the continued operation of the Winston School.

The City is now embarking on an exciting project to develop a master plan for the site. The intent of the Park Master Plan process is to provide a comprehensive long‐range vision intended to guide the Park’s development and a “blueprint” to set the public policies regarding the future facilities, programs and management actions.

To help guide this process, on February 3, 2014, the City Council established the Shores Park Master Plan Committee. The Committee, consisting of seven


opINIoN Del Mar’s other MayorGordon Clanton | Oakridge Cove

Del Mar residents have a stake in San Diego and its politics because San Diego is the anchor tenant of the

county and the 900-pound gorilla of regional decision-making. No matter if you are Republican or Democrat; every decision San Diego makes can radically affect the quality of our lives. In particular, consider water rates, sewer capacity, land use, transportation, fire, public safety, development, environmental protection, beaches, ocean pollution. Recent examples are the flawed Flower Hill expansion and the preposterous One Paseo proposal. We are joined at the hip whether we like it or not. So we have a vital stake in who gets elected even if we cannot vote

The February 11 election of Republican Councilman Kevin Faulconer as mayor takes San Diego back to where it was before Bob Filner, back to where it always was: Moderate Republican mayors whose allegiance is to downtown business interests, always favoring business over labor, big business over small business, development over environment, downtown over other neighborhoods, cronyism over inclusion, plutocracy over democracy.

True, Maureen O’Connor was a Democrat by family history, but she married into great wealth and was mentored by and allied with Republican mayor (later senator and governor) Pete Wilson. Roger Hedgecock was a different type of moderate Republican but he, like Filner, was forced from office. The last Democrat before Filner and O’Connor, Frank Curran, was replaced by Pete Wilson 44 years ago. The most recent Republican mayor, Jerry Sanders, went from city hall to running the Chamber of Commerce and never missed a beat.

So Faulconer’s victory takes San Diego back to where it always was. Except that the city council now has a 5-4 Democratic majority that often divides along partisan lines. When the council appoints Faulconer’s successor,

the Dem majority will be a veto-proof 6-3. After the council elections of 2014, Democrats may hold a 7-2 edge.

Faulconer, like the business lobby, opposes increasing the minimum wage – no matter how long it’s been since it was raised. He supports the business-backed initiative that would overturn the carefully negotiated Barrio Logan Community Plan. He is a full-throated advocate of privatization of government functions, and his campaign painted city workers and their unions as those most responsible for San Diego’s budget woes. Indeed, Faulconer unfairly suggested that his Democratic opponent David Alvarez got most of his financial support from the very unions that had looted San Diego.

Faulconer, of course, got most of his campaign money from business interests. He benefitted from the “independent” campaign of the pro-business Lincoln Club that savaged first Nathan Fletcher, the newest Democrat, and then David Alvarez with almost daily hate mailers. The pros know that negative advertising (a) works, and (b) tends to drive down voter turnout — two good reasons Republicans will keep on doing it.

Faulconer was the handpicked candidate of the Republican establishment, selected at an August 31 meeting in La Jolla of about 30 wealthy, white Republican men. By unifying early behind one candidate, while the Democrats were splitting their support two or three ways, this group all but assured Faulconer’s victory.

Read about it here: http://voiceofsandiego.org/2013/09/10/inside-look-at-tense-la-jolla-confab-where-republicans-chose-faulconer/

By the way, In this new age of open-primary voting, Republicans will have an advantage because of their “party discipline,” which derives from their centralized control by a small number of wealthy people and their agents (plutocracy).

So San Diego moves into the future as the only big city in America with a Republican mayor, and this despite a 14-point Democratic registration advantage. San Diego is the last big city where a majority of those who vote is more inclined to blame the unions than to fear the cabal.

Gordon Clanton teaches Sociology at San Diego State University.

members, will oversee the Master Plan process to make sure that the process is open, inclusive, and help to develop consensus amongst the many stakeholders that are interested in the future of the Shores Park.

The Committee will also assist the community in prioritizing the many competing uses of the Shores Park, discuss and provide advice to the City Council on the challenges facing the Master Plan process, and review and provide input to the City Council on the Master Plan process.

“This is an exciting opportunity for the public to be directly involved in helping to shape the future of the Shores Park,” said Mayor Lee Haydu. Mayor Haydu added, “Developing a longterm vision for the park will ensure it remains a place for all residents and visitors to enjoy opportunities for recreation and entertainment.”

It is anticipated that the Shores Park Master Plan Committee will meet approximately monthly for the duration of the Park Master Plan process.

shApINg shores pArkcontinued from page 12

Our City still does not run itself. Won’t you consider stepping up to the plate.

FroM The juLY 2003 sANDpIper


shorT TAkes oN FILMBen Nyce | Via Latina

“American Hustle” is a high-energy romp on the art of the con,

loosely based on the Abscam affair in the 1970s. Bravura performances by Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence are its main strengths, as well as the lively script by David Russell, the director. It is also a film about performance – about the need for personal reinvention. Irving Rosenfeld (Bale) and Sydney Prosser (Adams) are caught in a small time con by FBI agent Ritchie Di Maso (Cooper) who uses them, along with a fake Arab sheik, to entrap politicians who accept bribes to arrange for the mob to take over gambling in Atlantic City. From the opening scene in which Bale carefully arranges an elaborate fake comb-over, we’re tipped off to the disguise each character uses. Adams changes from a go-go

dancer to Lady Prosser, helped by high-end dresses from Bale’s dry cleaning business. The complications involved in their scams are too dense to go into but involve zany improvisations and hi jinks. The actors wing it with gusto. “American Hustle” provides a fun and funny experience.

Whatever happened to Marcello, the bored playboy played by Marcello Mastroianni, in Fellini’s “La Dolce Vita?” Paolo Sorrentino’s “The Great Beauty” gives us an answer. Jep Bambardella is an aged Marcello. He published a good novel as a young man but now he writes society columns. He “knows everyone” in Rome, goes to endless parties at which he witnesses erotic behavior which makes “La Dolce Vita” seem tame. He’s seen it all; nothing holds surprise or shock – or much interest. Slim and immaculately dressed, he’s languid, flaccid. We follow him as he saunters Rome’s streets. But what

a strange Rome it is. There are no crowds, none of the graffiti we see today. True, Jep’s peregrinations are at 3 or 4 in the morning, after one of the parties at which the same people always seem to be doing the same things. He’s most alive in the visual pleasure he takes in Rome’s byways and the film does a good job of showing us the glowing stones and fountained squares of the city’s less frequented areas. Still there’s an unreality to the settings. Jep’s apartment overlooks the Coliseum and a heavily trafficked street but we hear none of the noise. This is a Rome of nostalgic fantasy, like “the great beauty” Jep says he wants to recapture in a work of fiction he will never write.

The Cineopolis effect is spreading. A recent visit to the AMC theater in La Jolla revealed two liquor-serving bars and wide deep lazy-boy seats you could go to sleep in. The price is 13 dollars – a 30% increase. I guess the big chains are frightened by growth of home theaters with huge screens.

Ben taught literature and film at USD. He wrote “Satyajit Ray” and “Scorsese Up Close.”

TALes oF The TerrAceThe story of Del Mar Terrace by Maryruth coxI. Prehistory of Del Mar Terrace

II. From Cowboys to Settlers, 1700-1800s

III. Del Mar Terrace Begins, 1913

IV. A Slow Start for the Terrace, 1913-1940

V. World War II and Del Mar Terrace, 1940s

VI. Pioneers on the Terrace, 1950s

VII. Rumble of Change, 1960s

VIII. From Pioneers to Urban Bohemians, 1970s

Plus the Torrey Pines Extension: How it began with the Land Use Dispute and the Battle for the Bluffs. Afterword: Mr. Burns’ House.

The Story of Del Mar Terrace, a 99-page, hardcover 8-1/2” x 11” book with many old photographs can be ordered directly from the publisher: www.lulu.com.


DRB Member Scott Crouch. Photo Nancy Fisher

crouch juMps IN Nancy Fisher | 24th Street

Knowing that the City of Del Mar is always looking for residents

to serve on its many committees, the Sandpiper met with one of the newest members of the Design Review Board, Scott Crouch, to find out how he feels about his new role.

NF: What made you look into volunteering to serve on a city committee?

SC: I’d been thinking about it for a few years and then some friends and neighbors who are active in the community started encouraging me to get involved. I thought, since I have a degree in Accounting, that the Finance Committee might be a good fit, but after a few meetings, in spite of how helpful the other members were, it just didn’t feel right. At the same time I realized that there were two openings on the DRB, which I’d always been interested in pursuing. The application was due the next day and, fortunately, I just made it!

NF: We’ve heard that it can be tough for parents of school-age kids to serve – and you have three. Did you take that into consideration, and has it been an issue?

SC: It hasn’t been an issue for me because my job as a real estate broker allows me freedom in scheduling. It’s absolutely manageable, and I’m convinced it would be manageable for someone working a more conventional schedule as well. It’s only once a month and, depending on the number of items on the agenda, it takes anywhere from three to six hours to be prepared. And it’s a lot of fun!

NF: You’ve been on the DRB for about nine months now. Has it been a satisfying experience? Have you learned anything about the role of the DRB that surprised you?

SC: Having built two homes in Del Mar, I had an understanding of the role of the DRB, but what really surprised me was the efficiency of the city staff members. They’re so dedicated and organized that I

couldn’t be more impressed. I simply pick up the staff reports five days prior to the meeting, which includes everything you need, and review them. If I’d known that, I would have volunteered years ago!

NF: Many members of City Council and the DRB have come up through serving on the Lagoon Committee, or other City committees, but you just jumped right in. Do you think prior committee experience is helpful, or could any motivated resident research what’s expected and then continue to learn on the job?

SC: I think they could jump right in. There’s a learning curve, but there’s also a tremendous support system, so it doesn’t require nearly as much time and effort as you’d think. I’m still learning, but have become more comfortable with my judgment and decisions.

NF: Last question. Four of the five current City Council members have served on the DRB. Any big plans for the future? Maybe a Sandpiper scoop?

SC: Now you’re making me nervous.

NF: But that wasn’t a no.

SC: Might have to be in a position where I was working part time, but I haven’t ruled it out completely. Oh boy, now I’m probably on the record.

Dr. g. rIchArD WheeLock1926 - 2014

Dr. Richard Wheelock, who passed away peacefully on Tuesday,

February 18th, will be greatly missed by the residents of Del Mar.

Fondly known as “Dr. Dick,” he was believed to be the longest-practicing physician in Del Mar and was well known for the personal attention he gave to each of his patients, which included his willingness to make house calls or to see patients in the middle of the night if necessary.

After his retirement, he threw himself into charitable endeavors, and with the help of the Rotary Club of Del Mar, built a significant health facility in Solana Beach, in which he treated those in need and without health insurance.

He is survived by his wife of sixty years, Mary, four children, eight grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

For more on the extraordinary life of Dr. Richard Wheelock, please see our article “Doctor Del Mar” in the Winter Issue of the Sandpiper online at www.delmarsandpiper.org


Manchester exit on I-5. Caltrans I-5 North Coast Corridor Project Final Environmental Impact Report.

hIgh oN hoVsMore people or more carsAnn Gardner | Via Latina

Del Mar is one of several cities and local groups expressing their concern that Caltrans’ proposed

I-5 widening project has a ‘car bias’ at the expense of public transit. “Is the goal of the Project to move cars and trucks or to move people and goods? We believe the basic goal (should be) to provide both road and mass transit options. The North Coast Corridor project has a car bias,” Del Mar complained. The Carmel Valley Planning Board: “In its almost exclusive focus on the personal automobile (the plan) can only suggest that the completed project might eventually lead to a mass transit system. It remains relatively free of what a massive investment in transit might accomplish.” Solana Beach commented that the completed project would “limit the ability to develop and implement mass transit…needed to achieve goals for reducing GHG emission to combat global climate change.” It “simply makes it easier to drive alone.”

In its Final Environmental Impact Report, Caltrans responds that the project does provide more public/mass transit by adding additional High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes and double tracking the coastal railroad along with new mass transit oriented improvements such as a new seasonal train platform at the Fairgrounds. The Project “…encourages alternative modes of transportation by improving the existing coastal rail corridor and adding Express Lanes on I-5 that allow for use by express buses, vanpools, carpools and solo drivers

using Fastrak. By giving priority to buses and other HOV’s, express lanes make public transit possible”

To support their HOV philosophy, Caltrans plans to construct a new multi-use facility off of Manchester Avenue on the east side of the freeway. The facility, connected to I-5 by an underground Direct Access Roadway, will include charging stations for electric vehicles, parking spaces and a trailhead for bicyclists. In their literature Caltrans admits that a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service on I-5 does not have sufficient high ridership now to support rapid bus transit due to the proximity of the north-south trains accommodating the majority of longer distance transit travel. “However, as population and travel demand continue to grow, BRT service along the Express Lanes …may warrant inclusion in a future Regional Transportation Plan. In the meantime any future BRT on I-5 is dependent upon the construction of the planned Express Lanes.” Similar enhancements to encourage van and carpooling are planned along the corridor including at the current Carmel Valley Road Park and Ride.

Next Issue: The Cleveland National Forest Foundation (CNFF) has filed a lawsuit to prevent the widening of I-5, claiming the expansion will increase air pollution and hamper coastal cities ability to comply with California’s Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction requirements.

The Fairgrounds long anticipated wetlands restoration at the South Overflow Lot (SOL) got underway last month. Contractors are removing soil from the existing parking lot in order to facilitate hydrology for the restoration and to build an upland sage scrub habitat buffer. The project complies with permits from the California Coastal Commission and is the first of three phases that

will also include water quality improvements in the backstretch/stable area. Photo Jacqueline Winterer, Ground Breaking Ceremony 02/24/14

resTorATIoN roLLINg

from left: Tim Fennell, Dustin Fuller, Becky Bartling, Fred Schenk (President 22nd DAA), and David Watson


eXTrA copIes oF The sANDpIper are available at: City Hall, the Library, the Del Mar Community Building, the Powerhouse, and

the Carmel Valley Library; The Gym at Del Mar on Jimmy Durante Blvd; the Solana Beach Library and the Solana Beach Community Center.

DeL MAr coMMuNITY cALeNDArhighlights for MArch 2014

This month’s calendar was compiled by shelby Weaver, a Torrey pines high school junior.

Del Mar Farmer’s Market: Every Saturday, 1-4 p.m. City Hall parking lot. Purchase fresh, locally grown produce, flowers, eggs, and many other products. Enjoy delicious, appetizing samples from a variety of vendors.

Del Mar City Council: Meetings, Monday, March 3rd and March 17th, 6:00 p.m., 240 10th St.

Del Mar Foundation: Tuesday, March 4th, Children’s Committee Meeting, St. Peter’s Church nursery, 10:00 a.m.

DMVA History Committee: Monthly meeting, Tuesday, March 4th, 5:00 p.m., 1104 Camino del Mar Ste. 1

Del Mar Library: Free violin concert, Wednesday, March 5thth at 6:30 p.m.

First Thursday: Thursday, March 6th, Adrienne Nims, Celtic Music. Del Mar Powerhouse Community Center, 7:00 p.m. We’re sorry, but this series is sold out. To put your name on a waiting list for the 2014-15 season, please email: ca.delmarfoundation.org

Del Mar Foundation: Sunday, March 9th, Del Mar Foundation Bluegrass and Beyond Concert, The Claire Lynch Band, Del Mar Powerhouse, 7:00 p.m. Info at:www.delmarfoundation.org

Del Mar Foundation: Meet, Eat and Greet. Poseidon Restaurant, Monday, March 10th, 5:30-7:00. This is a No-Host Happy Hour for Del Mar friends and neighbors. Please RSVP to: [email protected].

DMCC: Opera van, Tuesday, March 11th, 4:00 p.m. Join Opera fans to see A Masked Ball, enjoy a no-host meal and pre-performance lecture. Van leaves DMCB at 4:00. $10.00. Call to reserve your seat: #858.792.7565

DM Planning Commission: Monthly meeting, Tuesday, March 11th, 6:00 p.m., 240 10th St.

DMF Cultural Arts Committee: Monthly meeting, Wednesday, March 12th @ 8:30 a.m. Del Mar

Powerhouse Community Center

DMVA Promotion Committee: Monthly meeting, Wednesday, March 12th, 10:00 a.m.-11:00, 1104 ste. 1 Camino Del Mar

Del Mar Library: Saturday, March 15th, Love on a Leash, 10:00 a.m.

DMCC: St. Patrick’s Day Guest Bartender Night at Sbicca, Monday, March 17th, 5:00-8:00 p.m. Put on your favorite green apparel and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! Raffle drawings. Proceeds from the bar will go towards DMCC programs.

DM Historical Society: Monthly meeting, Tuesday, March 18th, 5:00 p.m., 225 9th St.

DMVA Economic Improvement Committee: Monthly meeting, Wednesday, March 19th, 8:30-9:30 a.m., 1104 Camino del Mar, Ste. 1.

DMVA Design Committee: Monthly meeting, Wednesday, March 19th, 11:00-12:00 a.m., 1104 Camino del Mar, Ste 1

DM Garden Club Plant Sale and Gardening Lecture featuring Pat Welsh: Monday, March 24, 10am t0 1pm, Powerhouse

Friends of San Dieguito River Valley: Monthly meeting, Monday, March 24th, 7:00 p.m. City Hall Annex.

DM Design Review Board: Monthly meeting, Wednesday, March 26th, 6:00 p.m., 240 10th St.

Del Mar Library: Pajama Story Time! Wear you pajamas to the library for story time, Wednesday, March 26th, 6:30 p.m.

DMF: Board Meeting, Thursday, March 27th, 8:00 a.m. Del Mar Community Building.

DMVA Board of Directors: Monthly meeting Thursday, March 27th, 8:30-10:00 a.m., City Hall Annex

DMCC: Book Babes Book Club. Thursday, March 27th, 2:00-3:00 p.m. –The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger. DMCB 225 9th St.

Del Mar Rose Society: Monthly meeting. Thursday March 27th, 6:30 p.m., Del Mar Powerhouse Community Center.

Del Mar Library: Ebook help, Saturday, March 29th, 10:00 a.m.


The City of Del Mar received not just one but two new flagpoles and flags in February – both gifts from generous Del Mar residents. The new pole at the Del Mar Library was donated by Nancy Stoke and the Stoke Family Foundation;

the Del Mar Community Building received a flagpole from Chuck Freebern.

Together the two dedication ceremonies drew residents, members of the Friends of Del Mar Library, members of many of Del Mar’s non-profit organizations, Boy Scout Troop 713, the Stoke family, and Chuck Freebern.

Del Mar Mayor Lee Haydu accepted the Library’s flag on behalf of the City.

Installment at Community Building. Photo Martha Brooks

The Stoke family. Photo Tom Nelson Chuck Freebern. Photo Tom Nelson Mayor Lee Haydu. Photo Tom Nelson

Dedication at Library. Photo Tom Nelson

BANNer MoNTh For DeL MAr

suBscrIpTIoNs FIrsT ThursDAYsEach year since 2000, the Cultural Arts Committee of the Del Mar Foundation has produced ten monthly arts programs running from September through June, which are sold each spring for $175 per person on a subscription basis.

Subscriptions sell out within weeks. Subscription letters

with a flyer describing the upcoming season are mailed to present subscribers and to people on the Wait List. If you are interested in becoming a subscriber, you must join the Wait List to receive the subscription letter and flyer for the season beginning September 2014.

To join the Wait List, please send an email to [email protected], or a note to: Del Mar Foundation, Attn: CAC, Box 2913, Del Mar CA 92014.


MArch 2014San Diego Central Library Guided Tour/Van Trip

The spectacular new San Diego Central Library can best be appreciated through a guided tour—available, fortunately, to participants on a van trip/library tour sponsored by Del Mar Community Connections Friday, March 28. The trip starts at 11:15 a.m. from the DMCC parking lot and includes a no-host lunch at noon followed by the guided tour of this amazing new community treasure. Space is very limited. A $5 van donation is suggested. Call 858 792-7565 to reserve your seat.

Downton Abbey Spring Tea—the Saga Continues

All things “Downton Abbey” – including tunes from the 20s - will be featured as Del Mar Community Connections holds its annual spring tea on Wednesday, April 23, at St. Peter’s Parish Hall. The event includes music from the “Downton” era performed by entertainers “Janet and Jay.” Light refreshments will be served, and exotic teas poured (as endlessly offered by the ever-so-polite Downton ensemble). Piano music will be provided by Lori Ritman, who also serves as chair. She noted that prizes will be given for the best “Downton outfit”. Call 858 792-7565 to reserve your seat.

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at Guest Bartender Night

Put on your favorite green apparel and join DMCC to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at Sbicca Bistro, 215 15th St., on Monday, March 17, 5 to 8 p.m. Prize drawings and proceeds from bar tips will go toward community programs sponsored by DMCC.

TLC-Too Program

Intriguing discussion topics and varied menus will be offered attendees at the “TLC-Too” March lunch meetings. Nicole Ravida, a senior researcher at the San Diego Zoo, will present an update on zoo activities at the March 4 meeting, and beekeeper James McDonald will speak on the healing properties of honey and other bee products at the March 18 luncheon. Urban Plates restaurant will cater both meetings. The TLC-Too program, which offers shuttle transportation to and from the event, is planned especially for residents who would benefit from social time and have the need for transportation

Among other eclectic programs available to the community - all held at the DM Community Building, 225 9th St.:

• Knit & Stitch: March 6 and 20 from 3-4:30 p.m. Come and trade yarns with local knitters.

• Travel Club: March 13 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Wide-ranging travel tips and commentary from participants.

• Legal Senior Clinic: March 20 from 9:30-12:30 p.m. Offered by Elder Law. Reservations required by calling 858 565-1392, Ext. 208.

• Book Babes Book Club: March 27, 2 to 3 p.m. The book for the month is The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.

For information on these or other programs call 858 792-7565.

Book corNerAnn Gardner | Via Latina

I was going to let it pass but the comment keeps coming back to

haunt me, begging for an answer. In last month’s Book Corner Virginia Lawrence reported on the favorite choices of several Del Mar book clubs. We were one, and we dutifully submitted our favorites for the year. The comment that gave me pause was regarding one of our choices The Man Who Watched Trains Go By. “No reason was offered for the choice of Simenon’s novel,” she reported. I did not realize we were supposed to give a reason for our choices, so here goes.

Once a year our club puts together a list of books to read for the next twelve months (let me assure you this is no easy task!). An ever changing and elaborate selection procedure aside there is one rule we always insist on, the book must have been read and recommended by at least one of the members. (We have neglected the rule only once or twice and the result was to promise ‘never again,’ but that is another story.) I had read and was intrigued by Georges Simenon’s book about a very respectable family man who had served his company loyally for many years but abruptly abandons his values and family for an unimaginable foray when his company goes under because of corrupt management. Research of the author led me to believe that indeed Simenon’s “hard” or philosophical novels were a treat even though he is best known as the creator of the fictional detective Jules Maigret. That is how the book got on our list and the choice as a favorite is also supported by a couple of follow-up occurrences:

One member liked it so well she asked to borrow whatever other Simenon “hard” novels I had and hasn’t returned them yet! And, after reading the novel, a friend began ordering every single Simenon “hard” novel available on Amazon.com, and continues to thank me to this day for the suggestion.


Standard MailU.S. Postage

PAIDEncinitas, CAPermit No. 5

SANDPIPERDEL MAR’S COMMUNITY JOURNAL

Box 2177, Del Mar, CA 92014

DATED MATERIAL

VIsIT The sANDpIper oNLINe!This month’s complete issue plus web exclusives, colored pix, photo essays, useful links, alerts, and much more!

www.delmarsandpiper.org

Photo Anthony Corso

NeW cITY TALeNT Anthony Corso | Stratford Court

Del Mar recently recruited two remarkably talented, educated and experienced employees - Kristen Crane

and Jon Terwilliger. They arrive with great potential for contributing to the City.

Kristen joins Del Mar as Assistant to the City Manager, bringing eighteen years of experience in local government management with four other cities in California, including Glendale, Claremont, Citrus Heights, and most recently, Poway. Her career has focused on finance, human resources, risk management, and public works.

Her latest engagement with Poway found her functioning as the Utilities Administrator, working on water and wastewater, including programs to maximize water efficiency and water quality. In light of present-day drought conditions affecting California and those of us living in this Southern Region, her expertise should prove invaluable.

Kristen credits five years with Citrus Heights as a pivotal experience, when it was newly incorporated. “The City Council and community had a strong vision for their community, and there were no set practices or policies. We were always starting from scratch, which meant tremendous project variety and learning opportunities.”

Jon Terwilliger, Senior Management Analyst, brings with him over 14 years in public service -- most recently with the City of Beverly Hills. He has obtained a unique reputation for his devotion to customer service. He is described on the website “Linkedln” as “a catalyst for successful operational, customer service, technological and business development initiatives.” After a brief conversation, one can determine that the description is accurate.

His professional experiences encompass a breadth of projects; he defines his role as “Assisting the City Manager and City Council Members in achieving their adopted plans and priorities.”

In only a few short weeks, he has provided staff support to the City Council, assisted with the Beach Colony community meetings, has assumed responsibilities as staff liaison for the Downtown Parking Study, and assisted with implementing the Streetscape Plan, as well as facilitating a Bicycle Parking program, and investigating the feasibility of instituting a joint bicycle sharing program.

In addition to his devotion to customer service, he expresses a passion for enhancing public service and determining approaches for improving organizational efficiency through his expertise in technology.

In summary, both Kristen and Jon have reputations for managing complicated civic projects and “getting it done.” They are truly experienced in a broad scope of engagements.

Welcome!!

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