With the city of Del Mar following Solana Beach’s lead this week in banning cigarette smoking at all its parks and beaches, we’ve got to wonder what the other jurisdictions in our area are waiting for.

In the throes of a heated political debate, the real issues often fall by the wayside.

I’m not going to sell my assets to save this business,� Paul Ecke III told the Union-Tribune recently. “It would be foolish to do that.�

It’s no secret I am not a fan of Congressman-turned-lobbyist-turned-carpetbagger Brian Bilbray. A stranger to the 50th District for which he was elected to serve, days after taking office in Washington he voted with the Bush administration to open San Diego County’s coastal waters to oil exploration. I am no fan of Brian Bilbray because Bilbray is no friend to the environment. His term is up and it is time for him to go.

Three adult Torrey pines at the Cardiff library that were declared comatose and slated for removal apparently have made a miraculous recovery following a 90-day reprieve.