Archive for May, 2008
Dean Karnazes is on a Mission
May 30th, 2008 Categories: Carlsbad City, Carlsbad Community Events, Carlsbad Outdoor Events
SAN DIEGO– Last night the Triathlon Club of San Diego hosted the public premiere of the Dean Karnazes film UltraMarathon Man at the La Paloma theatre. As president of the club, Bob Babbitt of Competitor magazine, sent over the idea about a month ago. I knew this would be a special night about a great athlete and told Bob he had the club on board. The idea was then sent to Dean and Journey Film filmmaker JB Benna whom both jumped at the idea and the plan was set.
We were able to sell out the club’s first 100 tickets, the theatre holds about 390, in about a day so we purchased 150 more and in no time the theatre was sold out. As the planning went on through the normal process, Dean decided to throw in a twist. He was going to run from San Francisco to San Diego, culminating with doing the San Diego Rock N Roll marathon. 
During his introduction he dead panned that he did because with the of gas it was so much more cheaper and the only he could afford to get here!!!
The run Dean did though was to try out a vision of a race he has planned. The multi stage race that would raise awareness of, not only the importance of fitness, but also on the importance of California Missions to our state’s history and much needed revenue to help maintain these icons.
My hope is that this endeavor will evolve into an ongoing yearly event. My vision is that there would be a competitive
division, for those looking to race to each Mission Tour de France style, though most of the participants would run or walk between Missions as the challenge (and adventure) of a lifetime. Many of the Missions are in a state of disrepair and in dire need of restoration and refurbishing. This could be a way to help revitalize the Mission system, while simultaneously promoting health and physical wellbeing in a State where childhood obesity and adult inactivity are rampant. Participants wouldn’t have to run or walk between all twenty-one Missions. They could choose the ones that appealed to them the most, maybe two or three, and could spread it out over a number of rest days, if so desired.– Dean’s Blog May 16,2008
As a native Californian I think this would be a great idea. Right now most elementary schools study the missions as part of their curriculum. Would it not be special to also hold running events for these young minds and the community on the mission grounds and or the area?
To see more about Dean’s current events you can go here. Also, his book UltraMarathon Man is also a great read. How strong is Dean’s pull? We had
runners who flew down from Cananda to see the film and get to run with Dean as well a gentleman who flew in the day of the showing from Chicago to see the film and then run the marathon!!
If you would like to buy your own California Mission Bell, they are being cast from the original molds used to reline the El Camino Real from 1906 to 1913.
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Walmart not welcome in Carlsbad
May 28th, 2008 Categories: Carlsbad Business Community, Carlsbad City
CARLSBAD-Walmart’s mascot may be the bouncing happy face ball, but that is not what the retailer found here in Carlsbad. After a very cool, and sometimes vocally rough, reception in Carlsbad, Walmart has scrapped plans to build a ‘high-end’ store on the corner of College and El Camino Real adjacent to the Sunny Creek community, which itself was developed at the expense of one of Carlsbad most historic areas.
Now I am not a huge fan of WalMart, but I think the city as a whole needs to have a shift in attitudes. See, Carlsbad bans the big box stores, so they in turn get built in neighboring communities within a half mile or less of the city boundary. There is the new Home Depot off Melrose that is within three blocks of the city limit and the WalMart off Marron is a stones throw 
from the city limit.
Here’s the rub. Carlsbad residence become a primary shopper due to proximity, yet we receive NO financial benefit form spending our dollars there. The city if San Marcos has seen sales tax revenue double over the last 8 years and estimates the new Wal Mart there brings in between $300,000 to $500,000 in revenue alone.
I believe the property, based on its history, will remain vacant for many years to come. If a grocery store, which it is zoned for and what is desired by the neighbors, was not built when the economy and real estate were BOOMING, who is going to invest, first in the real estate, and secondly in the construction now. Developers must see this area as not dense enough 
to support a grocery store anchored complex, so until more homes are built which will be opposed, a proposed development may have to rely on regional customers. Yes new homes are being built as I write this, but I am not sure Robertson’s Ranch will be enough to tip the scales. See they are about as close to the existing Albertsons and WalMart as they will be to anything built on that property.
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Options to help homeowners save money
May 23rd, 2008 Categories: Carlsbad Business Community, Carlsbad Real Estate
CARLSBAD– Time is running out to file with the county assessor the necessary forms to lower your property taxes. I have a blog post about it here that contains all the information and link to the form you will need.
Also, one of the lenders I work with, Carlsbad resident Meghan Fitzpatrick of Fitzpatrick Capital has had some success in getting existing loans restructured for clients. If you have a high ARM or a loan that is going to be adjusting soon and you can not refinance because you should give her a call and discuss your situation. There a fee involved, IF SHE GETS A POSITIVE RESULT, but I have used Meghan personally and am confident in her ethics and honesty.
If you have a lender you already have a relationship and are uncomfortable reaching out to someone new, call them and discuss the possibilities. Interest rates are still very low and the groundwork should be free.
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Carlsbad 2008 school rankings announced
May 22nd, 2008 Categories: Carlsbad City, Carlsbad Community Events, Carlsbad schools
CARLSBAD– The state rankings for California were published today in the North County Times and while Carlsbad schools tested well, there were a couple surprises.
When looking at the overall district API score of 829, the district ranked third behind Encinitas and Poway Unified. As a realtor, I have been paying attention to these numbers for quite sometime and these three districts are always battling in the top three.
The surprises to me were how low Pacific Rim, Calavera Elementary and Carlsbad High School fell from year to year in the comparison to similar school rankings. Pac Rim went from 10 to 3, Calavera from 8 to 3 and the high school from an 8 to a 2!!! The cool thing about data is the spin factor. In the spin, on a test where 1000 is perfect, Pac Rim scored 909, Calavera 837 and the high school a 775. The high school score is not that great but 
until you compare it to the test scores around the county.
I spoke with the new principal of Pacific Rim Robert Devich about the scores. He told me that the similar schools score is taken from a comparison of 100 schools. The that define schools are number of students, number of free lunches, demographics and number of second language students.
To is credit, he did not spin me and while agreeing that test scores are high, he felt strongly that the similar school’s score was a very important 
indicator as to the health of the school.
His reasoning for the shift in the ranking was essentially that the school had a high number of students that, while scoring high in the past did not in 2007. The reasons for this, he believed, belonged to the leadership of the school and the culture they create. With this being his first year, and coming from Kelly school which stayed at a 10 from the previous year, he felt 100% confident that he will turn that 3 score around.
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Coastal north county sees largest jump in March to April home sales
May 19th, 2008 Categories: Carlsbad Business Community, Carlsbad City, Carlsbad Real Estate, Carlsbad Village
CARLSBAD– DataQuick reported today that the number of homes sold in San Diego jumped over 33% from March to April. This is the largest month to month jump in the 20 years that DataQuick has been keeping records.
Additionally, April’s median home price for the county was up to $400,000 from $395,000 in March. For us in the north county coastal region the numbers are even more encouraging. Detached resale home sales were up over 50% from 221 in March to 334 in April. The median
price change also beat the the county average. April’s median was up to $540,000 from $521,000 or, 4.6%. Looking specifically at Carlsbad, the changes are not so extreme, but resale detached home sales went to 79 from 53 and the median price went up $14,000 to $682,000.
In working with my clients on purchases we felt these changes first hand. With different clients, we were in multiple offer situations in Clairemont, North Park and Encinitas. It was quite the surprise to these buyers, and to me intitially, when the real estate market news is always so negative.
So what does this mean? Well it doesn’t so much signify the ‘bottom’ of the market, but we are certainly getting closer to that point. As long as interest rates stay at these very low rates, I think this summer could see a lot of activity.
If you are considering buying, I would start really thinking about becoming more serious. If you are considering selling your home, I would certainly get it on the market while there is this competition.
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Double amputee cleared to compete in Beijing
May 16th, 2008 Categories: Carlsbad Community Events, Carlsbad Outdoor Events
OLYMPICS– I just love asking my friends if they brought their legs. It always seem to get a inquisitive look from bystanders. The best ones occur at the airport when I am picking up athletes competing in the Challenged Athletes Foundation triathlon, a charity a support and love. I’ll go to pick up a bag and want to know just how many legs I am lugging around because a bag full of walking, swimming, running and biking legs can be quite cumbersome. Invariably the stares shift from the athlete to the bag.
When I first read the article about Oscar Pistorius, a double amputee South African sprinter who was hoping to compete in the Beijing Olympics, who was denied participation, I could understand, not necessarily agreeing with, the fear and reasoning. The International Association of Athletics Federations’s has a ban on technological aids like springs and wheels and I could see other athletes not understanding the impact, positive of negative, of not using ‘legs’.
The question became, without all the muscle, bone and connective tissue to build, strengthen and maintain through training and competition, do the
carbon fiber blades give him an unfair advantage and act as a spring. While the governing body look into this question, the dilemma was summed up by one council, Robert Hersch, as “an extension of our general principles that competition should be between athletes and not manufacturers,” he said in a telephone interview. “For example, we’ve specified what you can or cannot do with the javelin. We haven’t yet looked at prosthetics, but we are looking now. We’re looking for fairness. We haven’t prejudged.”-New York Times, July 11, 2007.
In January of this year, the IAAF, ruled that the carbon legs did give Oscar an unfair advantage saying, ‘An athlete using his prosthetic blade has a demonstrable mechanical advantage (more than 30 per cent) when compared to someone not using the blade.’ – Daily Mail January 14,2008
Well today it was reported that the Court of Arbitration for Sport has given Oscar their blessing;
“The panel was not persuaded that there was sufficient evidence of any metabolic advantage in favor of a double-amputee using the Cheetah
Flex-Foot,” CAS said. “Furthermore, the CAS panel has considered that the IAAF did not prove that the biomechanical effects of using this particular prosthetic device gives Oscar Pistorius an advantage over other athletes not using the device.”
This now gives Oscar the chance to compete as long as he meets the qualifying times he can compete. He has posted a time of 45.46 for the 400 meter sprint, but needs a 45.55. The exception to this, is that the South African team can place him on the relay team without him having to meet a qualifying time.
Look for the movie soon.
Oscar winning actor Tom Hanks is reportedly interested in bidding for the rights to a movie documenting Pistorius’s career, desire to compete in Beijing and extraordinary life story.
The film draws similarities from Hanks’s Forrest Gump role, where Hanks was a runner while his best friend struggled after losing his legs in Vietnam.
Although Pistorius is yet to hear from Hanks, his sole focus at present is his career and “my move to Hollywood can wait”.
However, Pistorius is quick to point out that he’d like to see the “rugged, good looking Colin Farrell” play him in the movie, while “the most beautiful woman in the world”, Rachel McAdams would be the prefect choice as his leading lady.-News24.com, May 15, 2007
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How do you move a lifeguard tower
May 12th, 2008 Categories: Carlsbad Beaches, Carlsbad Outdoor Events
CARLSBAD– Today as I was on my way to Encinitas we 
hit some trafflc as the Encinitas lifeguards were moving a tower down the coast highway. The tractor is actually going backwards.
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Aqua Hedionda Lagoon fishing tournament Saturday
May 11th, 2008 Categories: Carlsbad 'best of', Carlsbad Beaches, Carlsbad City, Carlsbad Community Events, Carlsbad Outdoor Events, Carlsbad Village
CARLSBAD-This Saturday, May 17th, is the First Annual Aqua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation celebrity fishing tournament.
The purpose of the tournament is to raise money to manage the invasive seaweed, Caulerpa taxifolia, that first threatened the lagoon in 2000. There will be prize money and gear awarded, trophies for kids, for largest bass, halibut and spotfin croaker. Entry fee to fish off a boat with the celebrities is $100, while shore fishing entry is $35.
Who’s going to be there? How about Chrsitopher Knight and his new wife Adrianne Curry or season five “The Amazing Race” winners Chip and Kim McCallister? Into soap operas? There will be stars from “Bold and the Beautiful” as well as “Days of Our Lifes”. Like kickin some serious butt? Throw down a casting side bet with Justice of “American Gladiator”.Old skool? You could be baiting the hook for Erin Moran while singing the Beastie Boys Get It Together:
Listen To The Sh** Because Both Of Them Is Boney
Got To Do It Like This Like Chachi And Joanie
Because She’s The Cheese And I’m The Macaroni
For all the information, go here.
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Tamarack beach parking fees approved by Coastal Commission
May 9th, 2008 Categories: Carlsbad 'best of', Carlsbad Beaches, Carlsbad Business Community, Carlsbad City, Carlsbad Community Events, Carlsbad Outdoor Events, Carlsbad South
CARLSBAD– The California Coastal commission voted 11–1 approving converting the Tamarack State Beach parking lot from a free lot to a pay to park. The proposed fee is $8 for the day or one could buy an annual pass for $125. With the state budget deficit, it was a no brainer that this would pass. However the approval does not mean the change is happening right away. See in the past the state had approval to do this but the city paid an annual fee to keep the machine from going up. So while the public perception was that it was a free lot, it was not. That situation ended when the states conditional use permit expired and here lies the surprise.
When the latest proposal first surfaced, the state said converting the lot would generate about $200,000 in fees. The city, surprised that the state was looking into this again, mentioned the possibility of picking up the tab again. The state was amiable to this and during yesterday’s hearing attended by Carlsbad council members, stated the expected revenue to 
be… $350,000 to $560,000. Huh?
A topic of discussion as to why the city SHOULD pay the fee to keep the lot open was apparently not that it served a better public good, but that Carlsbad could afford it.
Commission Chairman Patrick Kruer of La Jolla called Carlsbad a financial “success story” and quizzed city officials on their reluctance to pay.
“I was surprised to hear you don’t subsidize (parking) anymore,” Kruer said. “If there’s any city in the state of California or county of San Diego that could help out, it would be the city of Carlsbad.”
And Commissioner Ben Hueso, a San Diego councilman, said nearly all of Carlsbad’s beaches are in the state parks system, thereby relieving the city of the burden of paying lifeguards.
“That’s a big contribution to the city of Carlsbad,” Hueso said. “I agree with (Kruer) that the city could do a lot to solve this problem.” – San Diego Union Tribune, 5/9/2008
Mayor was quoted later as saying that, “it was the first time I’ve been bashed for being economically sound”. North County Times 5/9/2008
Now the topic of lifeguards is not new to Carlsbad either. Mayor Bud Lewis has always held that they are the state’s beaches making them the state’s responsibility. This has prompted other cities to complain that Carlsbad, like Encinitas, should pay to patrol them because even though they are the property of the state, the city benefits from the tourism appeal. I tend to agree with the Mayor as the state charges the city an access fee for events such as the Carlsbad Triathlon sponsored by yours truly. If you want the city to fund the 
services, turn over control.
Will the state implement the pay to park? Yes. Will parking on the residential streets get worse? Yes. Will the city take this in to account and cough up the money? Most likely. Will Vigiluccis lose their overflow parking?
Lastly, a phone call to new Carlsbad city manager’s office Lisa Hildabrand revealed an inaccuracy in the Union’s article. The city and state have not yet scheduled a meeting. I will try to find out when this happens and will post it here.
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Encinas Creek bridge repair to start
May 8th, 2008 Categories: Carlsbad Beaches, Carlsbad City, Carlsbad South
CARLSBAD-In August of 2007 the U/T reported on 87 bridges rated deficient by CALTRANS inspectors. One of these bridges was the western portion of the Encinas Creek crossing in between Palomar Airport Road and Island Way. In response to this Carlsbad slated the bridge for replacement.
The first sign of activity was the closure of the western most lane of the two lane bridge in February of 2008. Upon inspection by myself of the bridge it is amazing how much more damaged 
the windward side of the bridge was versus the protected eastern side.
Next week the city will start the realignment of south bound Carlsbad Boulevard in order to create a new second lane. The bridge replacement is expected to take approximately 2 years according to city engineer Bob Johnson at a cost of approximately one million dollars. Congressman Bilbray has submitted this project for Federal Funding which may help offset some of this cost. The completion of the 
second lane should be completed by the end of May.
A question I had for Bob Johnson related to the realignment of Carlsbad Boulevard through this area. There has been discussion of bringing the ow separated road together meeting on the eastern side. It seemed odd to spend the funds now to rebuild the bridge if this realignment were to happen. I was told that if the realignment did take place the city is looking at using the abandoned western side as bike and pedestrian pathways.
Lastly another traffic impact due to the construction and realignment is a reduction in the speed limit starting from just south of Palomar Airport Road to Island Way. The city council on at Tuesday’s meeting voted on reducing the speed from 50 mph to 35 mph. This reduction will effect the south bound lanes only through the construction zone.
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