Nationwide recruiting
Can’t find permanent work? Certified nurses, men and women, are in no danger of being cashiered according to a recent report by Associated Press. At some “Come Work For Us” recruiting bashes there are lavish spreads and sparkling champagne. On the house, of course. Free gas cards and other goodies are offered just for being interviewed. While it takes a few years to become a nurse, a work shortage has existed since World War II and will continue as long as folks continue to become sick, are injured or get old according to the report.
Great idea
Local house burgs are being reported almost daily, even during the day, with response from the gendarmes being rather slow if at all. One self-help idea makes a lotta sense. Keep car keys close at hand and when a break-in is detected, or even a questionable noise is heard, activate the panic alarm. Until you turn it off it will continue to make a racket that will alert everyone in the area — including the intruder.
Circulation axed
Seattle Post Intelligencer is one of the latest dailies to announce it may be shuttered if a buyer duzn’t come forth soon. In Riverside County, the daily Riverside Press Enterprise has axed its distribution south of Banning including Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley. It’s not even available on racks or by mail.
Historic olive tree
The next time you traipse through Quail Gardens in the Flower Capital, check out the century old Savillano olive tree donated to the Gardens by Aaron Pang of Ancient Olive Gardens. It was part of an award-winning flower show exhibit at the County Fair last summer.
Synthetic turn problem
Santa Anita race track in Arcadia continues to have a problem with its synthetic track surface. It worked well for the Oak Tree meeting and multimillon $$$ Breeders’ Cup classic. During the first five days of the current meeting that runs through April 19 there were five breakdowns. Last year, Cushion Track at Santa Anita was reported to have drainage problems and was ripped out at a cost of millions. A Pro Ride surface was installed; however, owners and trainers are unhappy with it. California Horse Racing Board, or CHRB, mandated several years ago that synthetic surfaces replace dirt tracks at major Cal tracks to assure greater safety for horses as well as the jockies. Del Mar installed Polytrack surface two years ago and encountered problems with it initially; however, it was reported to be OK last summer and did significantly reduce the number of Thoroughbred fatalities. Will the CHRB allow synthetic surfaces to be junked before horsemen decide to race else where?
Lowbrow art
Leucadia’s talented and popular Mary Fleener is one of nine county artists whose works are on display at the O’side Museum of Art. An exhibit through May 24 is themed Lowbrow Art. It highlights alternative styles of expression that comment on the subculture of the area.
Cupcake bizness
Flower Capital resident Connie Barham, whose pop-in-law, Dave Barham, introduced Hot Dog-on-a Stick and fresh squeezed lemonade at the County Fair in 1946, has come up with her own culinary creation. She is marketing three varieties of cupcakes — chocolate, vanilla and red velvet. Customers choose their own frosting that varies from cream cheese to chocolate and a choice of sprinkles. Her cupcakes are beginning to appear at malls. She and her husband, Gary, still own a Hotdog-on-a-Stick franchise.
Library expansion
Soon the large number of visitors to the Cardiff-by-the-Sea Branch library will be reading a sign that sez “Pardon Our Noise.” A significant expansion project will get under way according to an announcement made during the annual meeting of Friends of the Cardiff-by-the-Sea Library when officers headed by Prexy Susan Hays were seated for 2009.
County park fees
Outdoors folks will pay a little more when they visit a county park. Among increased fees: full camp hook up, $28; tent site, $19; group camping, $100; youth and school groups, $40; other groups, $75; group picnic reservations, up to 100, $275; and pavilion and music permits, $425.
Big John feted
John Haedrich, aka Big John, who is usta doing things for others had the tables turned on him recently when he planned to spend his 80th birthday quietly with his family at Point Resort in C’bad. Instead he walked into a room crammed with well-wishers. Big John owns Tip Top Meats in C’bad and is known for his support of numerous community endeavors including the 4-H Club and Future Farmers at the County Fair. During the junior livestock auction he bids on enough stock to fill a semi-truck.
Electeds eyeing Prop. 13 and super majority vote
Some state electeds believe Prop. 13 and the super majority vote requirement to pass such items as the budget impedes them. Not likely, but they would like to see both quashed. Prop. 13 places an annual top of 2 percent tax that can be added to real estate property. Without the super majority vote requirement, the legislature could have passed the budget warts and all — and there were plenty. If two-thirds of the lawmakers can’t agree on a measure as important as the budget, why enact it?
One-liners
Francisco Rodriguez, former president of Cosumnes River College in Sacto, is busy putting together a staff he believes will bring peace to all factions at MiraCosta College … The cross at Mt. Soledad is again a court issue as opponents of its location continue to seek its removal … Meg Whitman, who recently resigned as eBay’s CEO, is expected to announce she will be a GOP candidate for governor in 2010 … Peder Norby, Highway 101 coordinator in the Flower Capital, has been appointed to the county’s Planning Commission … Derby Dolls, a team of competitive hardwood skaters similar to the Roller Derby gals in the 1950s, have appeared twice at the County Fairgrounds with good attendance both times.
Hasta la Vista
