Major holiday attraction
For decades, a mid-morning patriotic parade capped by a fireworks display off the O’side pier in the evening was the major So Cal attraction on the Fourth of July. On some afternoons, beach visitors were treated to free slices of ice-cold watermelon. The pyrotechnics display is now a casualty of the economic downturn and there has been no mention of the parade. No doubt the beach will be crowded but folks will agree something is missing. The San Diego County Fair has not announced its Independence Day grandstand entertainment, but it’s likely it will continue to fire off Roman candles that go boom in the night.
Car allowance OK’d
Harbor City Attorney Jan Goldsmith has advised council electeds that it’s OK to collect car allowance provided they submit reports claiming the expenses. Goldsmith’s five-page opinion will be the basis for other cities to follow suit. In North County, some cities allow a car allowance but not all of the electeds claim one.
Better Padres days?
Loyal Padres baseball fans are hoping the club’s purchase by Jeff Moorad signals the return of the Padres to major league playing. Owner John Moores, who purchased the club in 1994 for $84 mil., is actively involved in real estate development around Petco Park, so he will continue to be around in the future. Moorad, a former player agent, is the former chief executive and owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Padres sale is pending ratification from Major League Baseball owners.
Modified UC admission standards
A three-division criteria for admission to UC colleges has been established by the Board of Regents. School seniors with high academic scores who have completed the UC requirements will be in the top bracket. The third group will include applicants whose eligibility is entitled to review based on their personal accomplishments and not necessarily their academic records. Regents believe these standards will give all applicants an equal break.
Flower Capital chamber seeks CEO
A bleak economic future for the Encinitas Chamber that its board of directors refused to accept was one of the reasons CEO Gary Tucker gave for departing. He held the post from February 2007 until he resignation became effective Feb. 6. Previously he had been active as a director. He was the owner of Moonlight Beach 7-Eleven. The chamber is seeking a replacement.
Surfside City revises downtown zoning
Hereafter there will be fewer business permits issued to professional enterprises in the Surfside City business district. Those in place, like real estate offices, are grandfathered until they are sold for some other use. City electeds believe more commercial stores on the sidewalk level will pep up business and will encourage more folks to walk and shop.
Just a wink …
The pilot and co-pilot of a jet liner flying between Honolulu and Hilo, with 40 passengers on board, admitted they took 40 winks because of the balmy tropical weather en route, but said the plane was flying safely on automatic pilot. Unfortunately it overflew the Big Island by 14 miles. The officers were fired.
Building fees increase nixed
Building permit fees in the unincorporated areas of the county will remain unchanged at least for the short term. County supervisors decided this was not the time to increase fees with the current economic climate.
Annual Garden Festival tours
Encinitas Garden Festival and tours that annually draw banner crowds will be held April 25. A marketplace will be held at Cardiff Elementary School. It will include garden arts, plants and info on how to succeed in gardening. Double-decker buses will shuttle from MiraCosta College parking lot to the school. There will be 14 gardens to visit. More skinny on all aspects of the festival is available at www.encinitasgardenfestival.org.
Conservation workshop
Olivenhain Municipal Water District is having a one-day mini-residential class March 7 at Rancho Santa Fe Garden Club. Topics will include sprinkler system basics, info on irrigation scheduling and garden designs for homeowners. Early reservations are encouraged by calling (760) 633-2676. Also on the docket is a landscape contest with 5 grand in prizes offered.
One-liners
Friends of the Cardiff-by-the-Sea Library will again offer four $1,000 scholarships with info now available at its Book Nook or at www.friendscardifflibrary.org … Media relations pro Talin Hartounian reports lotsa interest nationwide in the San Diego County Fair’s Music Mania competition that has $25,000 in prizes offered in each of several divisions … Exxol Mobil has posted a record $45.2 billion in profit for 2008 … O’side officials are searching for a low-budget desalination process … Visitors to the San Diego Zoo can no longer take their picnic lunches inside the park … State Supreme Court will be hearing arguments March 5 on the controversial twice voter approved same sex marriage law … On Wednesdays the Surfside City’s Community Connection provides bus service to seniors who want to shop at Henry’s in Solbeach or Trader Joe’s in the Flower Capital … Cal state attorney’s office in its annual report notes that some commercial fundraising outfits are reaping most of the contributions given to charities they represent … Cam Miller notes the three-day San Diego Jazz Party honoring jazz legend Ed Polcer is being held Feb. 20 to Feb. 22 at the Hilton in the Surfside City.
Hasta la Vista
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