Eye on the Coast

Shopping mall on hold
O’side city electeds have scheduled a hearing Nov. 19 on an appeal filed by Westfield Corp., owner of Plaza Camino Real, objecting to a proposed 92-acre shopping center on the former drive-in theater site off Highway 76. Themed The Pavilion, the mall will be built by Thomas Enterprises of Georgia that developed the highly successful Forum north of the Encinitas Ranch shopping complex.
Envious financial position
Jay Lembach, the Flower Capital’s keeper of the taxpayers’ dollars, has reported the city earned $4.6 mil. from careful investments the past year. That’s a 4.91 percent return for the fiscal year that ended June 30. Many other municipalities had red ink splashed over their portfolio. In winding up his annual report, Lembach warned the future financial picture will require a lotta TLC just to keep in balance.
Widespread attention
San Diego County Fair’s decision to make the annual summer festivities (June l2 to July 5) a smoke-free event was picked up by Associated Press. The prohibition is the result of complaints by several family-oriented organizations that told the fair’s board of directors that pot smoking was rampant during reggae concerts last summer. Del Mar is the first of California’s 77 fairs to become a smoke- free event and others will likely follow suit. Some commercial entertainment venues already prohibit smoking.
Needs sprucing up
Tom Pearson, the Surfside City’s only five-term mayor, in a brief letter to principal planner Adam Birnbaum, appealed to him to tidy up the area where there is a plaque that honors him. His request is rather simple. Some bricks are broken and need replacement and others could stand a power wash. During his mayorship Pearson was instrumental in acquiring the park site that was proposed for a high scale restaurant.
In the fold
India is the latest country prohibiting smoking in public areas. Citing health reasons for the ban, it is estimated that more than 120 million folks won’t be able to light up and enjoy a smoke.
Eden Gardens park plan
Conceptual designs for updating La Colonia Park and community center will be presented at 6 p.m. Nov. 12 at the Solbeach council meeting. Residents will see three concepts. Mayor David Roberts said comments and suggestion will be welcomed.
Surf camp regs
Surf camps that have been squeezing out regular beach users on Flower Capital beaches will be licensed and regulated next summer between Memorial Day and Labor Day. City Parks & Rec. is in the process of formulating a set of rules. All surf camps will each be given a designated area in which to operate.
San Marcos votes nay on fee
A countywide annual property tax program to subsidize a regional fire prevention program has received a thumbs down vote by San Marcos electeds. Flower Capital council took similar action several weeks ago. Voters will decide Nov. 4 whether it’s a go. It calls for every parcel in the county to be assessed 50 bux, of which $25 would be returned to each city but with strings attached. Lotta folks are lukewarm on the proposal.
Composting workshop
A free composting workshop will be held at Quail Gardens from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 15. Instructors will be from Solana Center Master Composters. Reservations are being taken at (760) 436-7986. Compost bins and worm bins will be available.
Racing bill OK’d
Assemblyman Martin Garrick’s racing bill 2205 has been approved by the Governator and enables Del Mar racetrack to apply for additional days when Hollywood Park folds its tent, likely next year. The bill allows for seven additional weeks of racing in the Southland. It is anticipated Fairplex at Los Angeles County Fairgound in Pomona will expand its race meet. Also a possibility is Los Alamitos Race Course that presents Quarterhorse racing.
ACORN active in the county
ACORN, the voter registration organization that is under FBI investigation in several states for alleged irregularities, has signed up nearly 25,000 new voters in the county, according to reports by the Registrar of Voters. This compares with more than 39,000 throughout the state.
Strong finish
C’bad Hall of Fame retired jockey Julie Krone finished in the middle of the pack with horse Major Smoke in the seven-furlong Living Legends race at Santa Anita on Oct. 18. The race, which brought together seven retired jockeys besides Julie, was a renewal of the Rocking Chair Derby held at Del Mar for several years. Angel Cordero, 65, was the senior rider in the Legends race. During his hey day, he had the reputation of being a hell-bent, take-no-prisoners jockey much to the delight of his fans.
One liners
Although ready to take to the sky, night flying choppers were not needed to help quell the recent Campen fires … North County Transit District voted to ban smoking at its public stations the same week San Diego County Fair officials decided on a smoke-free Fair next summer … According to Supe Pam Slater-Price’s staff, West Nile virus infection has been reported in Cardiff-by-the-Sea … Leucadia Farmers Market every Sunday from 10 to 2 p.m. at Paul Ecke Elementary School is doing great … Surfside City, once a solid GOP bastion, now ranks second to the Dems … Work on Pacific Station in downtown historic Encinitas is noticeably under way … Legendary Pipes Cafe in Cardiff-by-the-Sea advertises “No shirt, No Shoes, No Problem” in appealing to customers.
Hasta la Vista