Natives are restless
Tax-weary folks are wondering if the Sacramento electeds have gotten the message that 2010 won’t be bizness as usual. Termed out ones don’t care. They will become lobbyists or will be appointed to some cushy government job. However, it’s those who are out shaking mitts and kissing babies that are saying it’s imperative they are re-elected so they can finish important projects. Like the budget fiasco? Most city council and school board electeds scrimp and save so they can have a contingency rainy day fund. Then Sacto raiders come along, confiscate these funds and leave IOUs that likely will never will be redeemable.
Pooch festival
Doggies of all persuasions and pedigrees have their day Saturday Aug. 8 when the Cardiff 101 Chamber presents its annual Dog Days of Summer doings on Aberdeen Street from 10 a. m. to 3 p.m. All sorts of activities are on the sched.
Off-track betting
Publicly owned card rooms and casinos can now offer off-track betting on horse races in the counties of L.A., San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Kern and Ventura as the result of an initiative approved by the voters in those areas. Forty-five sites are in the pipeline, the first being Commerce Casino in L.A. County. Approval to operate must be given by the California Horse Racing Board.
Fowl on the griddle
Barnyard fowl are under fire in some states. They are accused of being noisy and unhealthy in areas that once were rural and they were allowed their freedom. Roosters, the farmer’s trusty alarm clocks, are reportedly waking up snoozers. In Salem, Ore., a chicken owner is reported to have had to place her fowl in foster care while the city council decided their future. More recently, the Public Safety Committee of the L.A. city council pondered on the future of chickens. It decided, one rooster on each property is the limit.
Community gardens
Veggie gardens are reported to be growing in popularity nationwide. One reason given is as food prices escalate and more families are becoming aware of the nutritional value of veggies over junk foods. Locally, Victory Garden San Diego is among the organizations promoting these family patches.
Vista regulates tattoo parlors
The inland city has approved regulations for biznesses that use needles and ink to draw creative designs on people’s epidermis. One tattoo parlor now is allowed for every 40,000 residents, which gives Vista two parlors. The Planning Commission is responsible for processing applications.
Parcel tax not likely
Trustees of Cardiff School District received negative support on imposing a property parcel tax when they met recently. Some residents are questioning the need for a Cardiff District when it has only two schools, a student enrollment of less than 800 and an annual budget of $7 million.
Axing energy
Temperatures of back county residents skyrocketed recently when San Diego Gas & Electric Co. announced that after the first of September it reserved the right to shutter energy if high winds and hot weather were prone to cause wild fires. No doubt SDG&E is smarting from a bevy of suits that resulted when its power lines allegedly caused some of the fires.
In appreciation
Flower Capital lifeguards have received an award of merit from the National Weather Service for their participation and cooperation on a two-year research project. Dr. Stephen Smith made the presentation to Mayor Maggie Houlihan recently.
Conservation bux
Olivenhain Municipal Water District is offering its customers a chance to participate in a $100 monthly drawing for taking the 20-gallon daily per person water conservation challenge. Info is available by visiting www.omwd.com.
Calpers in serious decline
Cal Public Employees’ Retirement System announced its market value of its assets ended its year on June 30 with a 23.4 percent decline. Not to worry, however, it’s still in healthy shape. Calpers is responsible for retirement benefits of more than l.5 mil retired and active folks in the public sector including government and schools.
Ponto development
Ponto, where there was once a Bean Bowl for jalopy races and pole beans were harvested, may sometime in the near future be the site of a resort complex including a 215-room hotel. C’bad City Council recently OK’d the development that has been several years in the planning.
Wayward parrot home
After several days of exploring its surroundings, Rita the Parrot in the Surfside City decided there’s no place like home and is back. An all-points alert was sounded and several residents reported catching a glimpse of her but she returned under her own steam. Maybe she just wanted to get s firsthand looksie of the redeveloped San Dieguito Lagoon that is reported to be attracting birds of all descriptions
One-liners
Appointments now are being accepted by the Surfside City’s Community Connections for flu and pneumonia shots to be administered Oct. 7 in the city hall annex … Rancho Santa Fe Assn. & Foundation have reactivated a task force to battle the serious disease threatening eucalyptus trees … Solbeach resident Carolyn Cohen has opened a real estate office at 153 N. Hwy. 101 … Roger Smith, who was with the Del Mar Union School District, has retired … Lola’s 7-Up Mexican Market & Deli, owned by three sisters, has just observed its 75th anniversary and is the oldest bizness in C’bad’s barrio … Also celebrating 75 years is the open air Farmers Market at 3rd and Fairfax in L.A., which is said to be the grand daddy of all farmers markets in the Southland with annual attendance of more than 3 million visitors that come from everywhere.
Hasta la Vista
