DEAN’S LIST
The following students made the fall dean’s list at their respective institutions: Charlee Riddle of Carmel Valley at Mississippi State University; Tori Green of San Marcos at the University of Albany in New York; Brody Harriff of San Marcos at Drake University in Iowa; James Crotty, Ian Saam and Valerie VanDamme of San Diego at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts; Kiera Finnerty of San Marcos at Purchase College in New York; Lauren Tranisi of Carlsbad and John Liebig of San Diego at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Emma Butcher of Encinitas and Cavanaugh Hughes of Carlsbad at Miami University in Ohio; Gavin Cook of San Diego at Ursinus College in Pennsylvania; and Jack Brockmeier, Brendan Kelley, Peyton Miller and Leila Wheeler of Carlsbad, Rochelle Michaelson of Oceanside, Sienna DiLandri of Rancho Santa Fe, Ryan Hartmann, Sydney Karpman, Lucciana Lucia, Cassidy Matwiyoff, Gaby Mitrani, Amanda Phillip, Addison Redfield and Brett Stirle of San Diego, and Noah Corke of San Marcos at the University of Alabama.
ADMINISTRATORS RECOGNIZED
Cory Gregory, Principal of San Pasqual High School; Dr. Martin Casas, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services for the Escondido Union High School District; and Eric Frandsen, principal of Surfside Academy in Oceanside, received educational administration awards from the Association of California School Administrators in their respective categories.
FIRE SAFETY
The Escondido Fire Department received a Class 1/1X Public Protection Classification from the Insurance Services Office, which is responsible for evaluating fire protection capabilities of departments nationwide. This is the highest rating possible and fewer than 1% of departments in the country earn the rating.
TRANSIT FACILITIES
Baker Alloush has been named director of facilities for the North County Transit – San Diego Railroad. Alloush has over 15 years of experience in facilities and maintenance operations.
AIRPORT LEADERSHIP
Atif Saeed will succeed Kimberly Becker in March as the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority’s next president and chief executive officer. Saeed is currently the CEO of the city of Philadelphia’s Department of Aviation and has also worked at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
CRC AWARD FINALISTS
The Community Resource Center announced the finalists for its inaugural Community Impact Awards recognizing individuals and organizations committed to serving those facing food insecurity, homelessness and domestic violence across North County San Diego. Winners will be announced at an event at Lomas Santa Fe Country Club on March 6. The Compassion in Action Award – individual finalists are: Lee Auerbach, board member and team leader of Encinitas Fill-A-Belly; Richard Hostetter, founder of Feeding All God’s Children; Dr. Ana Serrano, director of God’s Heart Ministry: Las Valientes; and Jordan Verdin, founder of Humanity Showers.
The Compassion in Action Award – group finalists are: the BOOST Program in Encinitas; Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank; Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Encinitas; and The Woman’s Club of Carlsbad. The Youth Changemaker Award finalists are: Zachary Rees, Lucas Schalch and Sebastian Trumbore. The Excellence in Leadership Award finalist is Alicia Kitagawa, executive director of Life Science Cares San Diego. And the CRC CARES Award honorees are Dottie Fortman and the TaylorMade Golf Company.
CANINE RECOVERY
Gertie — a 1-year-old, boxer blend believed to have been bred to be a bait dog in the illegal world of dog fighting — begins the road to recovery after being presumed dead when found on the side of the road covered in scars and severely emaciated near Tulare. The veterinary team at Helen Woodward Animal Center said that despite the abuse, she remains gentle, affectionate and trusting at the outset of her weeks-long recovery process.
BIRD REWILDS
Through a collaboration involving SeaWorld, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and the San Diego Humane Society, a female western snowy plover has been reintroduced to the wild. The bird — part of a threatened species due in part to nesting directly on sand — was reduced as an egg from a high-risk area in 2020 and after years of veterinary treatment and recovery, she was cleared for release on Feb. 5.
WETLANDS DAY
UC San Diego and the San Diego Bird Alliance hosted the annual Love Your Wetlands Day in celebration of scientific research, environmental stewardship and community engagement at the Kendall-Frost Mission Bay Marsh Reserve on Feb. 7. Kellie Uyeda, Executive Director of the UCSD Natural Reserve System, said in a statement that the event, which began in 2005, “gives the community a chance to see that work up close while participating in hands-on stewardship that supports the future of the marsh.”
RESTAURANT OPENING
The Fish Shop opened a new location in Oceanside on the Coast Highway. Billy Ramirez, the restaurant’s owner and partner, said the new location “is exciting and just feels right,” adding Oceanside has “a great vibe” and “we’re stoked to be a part of it.” The other Fish Shop locations are at Point Loma, which opened in 2018; Encinitas, 2014; and Pacific Beach, 2010.
BASKETBALL MILESTONE
Gavin Fletcher, a junior at Pacific Ridge School in Carlsbad, scored the 1,000th point of his career in a game against St. Joseph Academy. Fletcher became the third player in program history to reach that mark. Head coach Chris Burman said that “while Gavin is an extremely talented scorer, he also stands out on and off the court for his relentless work ethic, team-first mentality, and leadership as a captain.”
GOLF WINNER
Mark Harmsen of Encinitas won the Hogan Flight at the Rancho Santa Fe Amateur Championship, hosted by the Santaluz Club on Feb. 2. The flights were divided by skill level, with Harmsen besting a field of 99 golfers by shooting a 78 that included four birdies.
