Man’s best friend feted

Recent Ugly Dog competition sponsored by the Kiwanis Club in the Surfside City is a great prelude to a coppla local events dedicated to the world of canine.

The sixth annual Pet Health Expo is set for June 1 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the Encinitas City Hall courtyard, 505 Vulcan Avenue. According to Michael Stauffer, the event is designed to promote health and safety not only for dogs but for cats and other mini animals. A variety of booths will be set up to provide all kinds of services and information.

Down the road a piece, Cardiff Chamber will have its Dog Days of Summer on Aug. 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aberdeen Street in the Headline Graphics parking lot. The day’s activities include canine contests, music and appropriate art. Visitors will have the opportunity to admire dogs of all sizes, shapes and pedigree. Now in its third year, the promotion was inspired by City Council member and Cardiff-by-the-Sea resident Teresa Barth. She picked up the idea during a conference she attended.

Vista graduates

pint-sized deputies

Eleven Vista youngsters who successfully completed an eight-week in-depth course on crime prevention have graduated from the Junior Deputy Youth Academy. They range in age from 8 to 17. The junior deputies learned about gang prevention and alcohol and drug awareness. Crime Prevention Specialist Kristina Nehls spearheads the highly successful program.

Air passengers bill of rights

A bill recently approved by the state assembly gives stranded airline passengers some relief. The measure requires Senate OK before it becomes a fact. However, it likely will be challenged by the feds on the basis that only they have the right to regulate the airlines. It would insure that passengers stuck for more than three hours on the tarmac must be provided with water, food and toilets that are operative. A similar law enacted by the State of New York has been struck down by the 2nd U. S. Court of Appeals.

Voter ID

If you amble up to your local precinct to vote June 3, you may be asked to flash a valid photo ID card according to a recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court. The declaration on a 6-3 vote was triggered by a challenge to Indiana’s ID law. The court upheld it. More than half of the states already require some form of valid identification. Opponents argue the requirement discourages minorities, and is a hardship on the poor and seniors. To counter those claims, some states now provide photo IDs gratis.

Sycamore Canyon landfill

Operators of a landfill known as the Sycamore Canyon landfill, which borders on Santee and San Diego, are seeking to expand so it can be in service at least another 20 years. The fact that it has been reported as nearing capacity has been one of the reasons for an attempt to build a highly controversial Gregory Canyon landfill near the Pala Indian reservation. Expansion of Sycamore Canyon would lessen the immediate need for the Gregory Canyon site.

New tax proposals

While the Governator is proclaiming his opposition to new taxes, some of his underlings are working on possible ways to get into taxpayers wallets. In another thrust, San Diego Association of Governments, headed by Gary Gallegos, is working with state senators for a plan to ask San Diego County voters to OK a half-cent sales tax increase for “public transportation and environmental projects,” which of course will require a bigger bureaucracy. The measure will be considered in 2010. Gallegos, who spends his days figuring out how to tax taxpayers more, was the mastermind behind the Transnet 40-year extension tax that was narrowly approve by taxpayers in 2004

More Lindbergh plans

San Diego County Regional Airport Authority has OK’d a $750 million Lindbergh Field expansion that will include a five-story parking building. But wait ... the plan will lay in limbo for at least a year while Mayor Jerry Sanders and his regional planning panel comes up with its version for the future of Lindbergh Field. Hizzoner has noted previously that terminal service should be on the north end of the field for easier access to I-5. Maybe the SDCRAA report will just go on the shelf with others that have had their 15 minutes of fame.

Community grants

Local Flower Capital nonprofit organizations have until May 29 to submit applications in the city’s grant program. Applicants must be tax-exempt and are providing a community service. Requests will be reviewed during the July 8 council meeting and notification by mail of successful applicants will be made July 10. More info is available from the city manager’s office at (760) 633-2610.

One liners

Del Mar Community Connections will have its annual salad potluck luncheon June 10 at St. Peters Parish Hall ... Rachelle Collier, Leucadia Town Council prexy, suggests buying fresh food stuff at the Sunday Farmer’s Market and thereby saving gas and time by not driving miles and miles to the super stores ... Surfside City electeds are giving serious thought to expanding the paid parking zone … Veteran Del Mar Thoroughbred Club Director Betty Mabee is now director emeritus and David H. Batchelder of San Diego, Jim Kelly of Rancho Santa Fe and Marie Moretti of Sacramento have been added to the 12-member board ... Interested taxpayers are wondering why a workshop on the Flower Capital budget was held at the inconvenient hour of 3 p.m. May 13 instead of in the evening when many more taxpayers could attend ... A Law Enforcement special Olympics torch run through the area is scheduled June 4 from 7 to 8:30 a.m. … Friends of the Cardiff Library will present the 4 On The Floor Quartet on June 4 in the library community room starting at 6:30 p.m.