Archive for the 'Carlsbad ‘best of’' Category
Save money, time and your credit
September 6th, 2008 Categories: Carlsbad 'best of', Carlsbad Business Community, Carlsbad Real Estate
SAN DIEGO– I was recently surfing the net looking for something to perk my interest for my blog. I happened to go to the Department of Corporations website, not sure why, and what I found there is encouraging.
I am working on a market campaign, the pictured is a rough idea, reaching out to homeowners in trouble. The worst thing homeowners facing a money crunch can do is hope the problem goes away and it seems their biggest hurdle is reaching out for help. I realize it is hard to talk about these things, but you HAVE to and the sooner the better.
There is a huge window of opportunity right now to get either a loan modification or a short sale.The government, federal, state and local are all over lenders to do everything they can to help homeowners stay in their homes. Currently it is estimated that up to 60% of the homes banks have already foreclosed on are NOT on the market. The average monthly case load
for a full time loss mitigation manager in the state is approximately 150 files a month. Again there is a huge incentive for financial institutions to try to help as they are getting buried.
What the survey showed to my surprise is that approximately 20% of all loan workouts initiate in the state are granted loan modification or forbearance. This is GREAT news. Another 25% close escrow through foreclosure/REO sale or short sale. However, short sale closings are less than 10% of this group. This tells me homeowners have a GREAT chance of getting a loan modification if they initiate the process soon enough and have a real reason for the need.
Lastly, I am here to confidentially help you with your situation. We will work together to try to come to the best solution for you. I am working with a lender that can help with the loan modification process. Feel free to email me or call 760–415–3329.
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Carlsbad’s Alga Norte park placed on hold…. again
July 24th, 2008 Categories: Carlsbad 'best of', Carlsbad Business Community, Carlsbad City, Carlsbad Community Events, Carlsbad Outdoor Events, Carlsbad Real Estate
CARLSBAD– The Alga Norte Park project has been delayed yet again. This time the council in a 4–1 vote decided it was prudent to wait for the state to produce a signed budget. The state’s budget can have a significant impact on revenue to the city’s.
However in a surprise to me and probably many others, San Diego county assessor Gregory Smith announced that assessed property values in San Diego were up 4.8% to 409.3 billion. This is more than double the value in 2000.
After building what is believed to be the most expensive municipal golf course in the country, the city council owes the average citizen of Carlsbad this park. It has been promised for over 4 years and is in the budget as noted by Councilwoman Ann Kulchin, the lone dissenting vote. This project would have the most SIGNIFICANT impact on citizens of all economic class not just those that can afford $60–80 dollar green fees.
Kulchin said the city has promised its residents for years that it would build the park’s proposed swim complex and that it should go ahead and obtain the construction bids while waiting for news about the state budget situation.
“This is in our budget,” she said of the money for the construction work. “We promised- and I think this is the time. We can’t just keep putting off, putting off.”– North County Times, July 22, 2008
I love Carlsbad and generally feel that the council does a great job, but they have lost site of what it means to serve. If the increasing costs was received as ‘unpleasant news’ in 2006, it will not get any better the more time that elapses before the bid process.
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Carlsbad triathlon course preview
July 8th, 2008 Categories: Carlsbad 'best of', Carlsbad Beaches, Carlsbad City, Carlsbad Community Events, Carlsbad Outdoor Events, Carlsbad Real Estate
CARLSBAD– The 27th annual Carlsbad Triathlon will be taking place this weekend on July 13th. This race is in the top 3 of the longest consecutive running triathlons in the country.
I went out yesterday and shot a few clips identifying some key points of the bike course and run course. The swim course is pretty self explanatory and offers no real surprises. The surf and tides forecast for the weekend call for light surf and the tide will be high at the start of the race. The main thing to remember with the swim for athletes new to the ocean is to TRY to relax. The ocean is a great medium to swim in so make it your friend!!!
The first thing you are going to face coming out of the swim and leaving T1 is the hill that will take you out of the Tamarack state beach parking lot to the coast highway. You need to make sure you have selected a proper gear prior to the race as mounting at the base you will not have time to build any speed. I have seem people almost crash struggling to get up this hill.
Next out on the bike course, you will find a pretty flat nice road. Just south of Palomar Airport Road you will find the only ‘hill’ on the course. It is at the Encinas creek crossing just before the campground. While it is short, it will put a hamper on your effort so be prepared to hit this hill twice. Once on the way out and then on your second lap. One nice thing through this stretch is the city has 
repaved what used to be a very bad road.
Remember this is a two lap bike course. Your first turn around comes at La Costa Avenue just after crossing the Aqua Hedionda lagoon jetty. Remember to use caution as you move over from the right lane to the center divide to make your ‘U’ turn. There will definitely be some fast riders coming up and diving into that turn. Once you have made your turn try to get over to the right as soon as you can to allow others to pass.
The second ‘U’ turn comes at Solamar Drive which comes about 2/3 of the way back to the transition. It is just south of Palomar Airport road. If you were to look at the course on a map, it is a paper clip. When you approach this turn you will need to move in to the left traffic lane, again carefully, as the right traffic lane is reserved for the cyclists heading back for T2.
The run course is also pretty flat with a turnaround almost even with the smokestack of the power plant. The biggest thing to keep in mind with the run course is you leave T2 on the flat boardwalk. At the end of the boardwalk the course goes up a 
short steep rise at Pine Avenue. While this is short it will certainly spike your heart rate as you are already coming out of T2 with some anxiety, urgency, anticipation and an elevated heart rate as it is. If you have spectators coming to the race, the best place to spectate for the run is at the top of this little rise as you will be going pretty slow and they can identify you coming up the hill. From there they can easily get to the finish to see you cross.
Have a great race!!!
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Carlsbad triathlete JP Theberge wins World Championship Gold
June 15th, 2008 Categories: Carlsbad 'best of', Carlsbad Outdoor Events
CARLSBAD– Former triathlon club of San Diego member, CAF athlete and 
Carlsbad resident J.P. Theberge won the Gold medal for Team USA at the Vancouver Triathlon World Championships competing in the Athletes with a disability division. JP had his right leg amputated in 1997 following a motorcycle accident in San Francisco.
With the conditions on race day being downright ugly, the triathlon was turned into a 3k-40k-10k duathlon and it took JP into the second run to catch and pass eventual second place finisher Martin Falch of Austria.
Once in front, JP had an auditory advantage over Martin.
“The Austrian had a prosthesis that made some sort of hissing noise, so I could hear him behind me,” Theberge said. “I knew I had to keep up my intensity to keep that noise from gaining on me. He had beaten me twice before so I was motivated, especially since my wife and kids were watching and my in-laws flew in to spectate.”-North County Times, 6/15/2008,Rick Hoff
Rounding out the top three was another American, former New York police officer Tommy Koehler.
If you see a handsomely tan 6’0 man running down the coast highway betweenLeuacadia and Carlsbad, chances are that’s JP. Give him a shout and a wave he’s earned it!! Congratulations JP!!!
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Carlsbad’s Jazz in the Park series 2008 schedule
June 11th, 2008 Categories: Carlsbad 'best of', Carlsbad Business Community, Carlsbad City, Carlsbad Community Events, Carlsbad Outdoor Events, Carlsbad Real Estate
CARLSBAD– The city of Carlsbad’s widely successful TGIF Jazz in the Park series kicks off June 20th at Stage Coach park.
In its 23rd year, yes 23 years!!, the series will continue the tradition of moving throughout the community. The first four concerts are scheduled for Stage Coach park, with three each scheduled for Poinsettia Park and then finishing up at Calavera Hills Park.
The city would like to remind everyone that umbrellas or canopys are not permitted during the concert along with pets or personal BBQs. This is a great time however to bring along a picnic basket and enjoy a nice salad, sandwiches and a refreshment of your choice.
For all the latest information you can follow this link and we hope to see you there!!!
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San Diego looking for drought solutions
June 6th, 2008 Categories: Carlsbad 'best of', Carlsbad Business Community, Carlsbad City
CARLSBAD– “Cutbacks panic landscapers; sales at nurseries dive As dead lawns and fallow fields replace yellow ribbons as a sign of patriotism in this parched state, local nurseries and growers are bewailing the departure of more than one kind of green. Sales to area landscapers are down to “basically nothing,” at one major wholesale nursery, a trend repeated at other outlets.”-San Diego Business Journal, March 1991, Bradley Filkes
So goes the opening of an article in the San Diego Business Journal in their March 1991 member paper. The yellow ribbons were from the Desert Storm under the first President Bush and we were in a drought. Funny thing history.
But not too worry in 2003 a solution was found!!!
“Despite the recently signed Colorado River water transfer deal that would guarantee San Diego County enough water for the next 75 years, city and county water officials, landscape architects, grounds superintendents, 
property managers, builders, business owners, and even entrepreneurs are getting more involved in water conservation.” -San Diego Business Journal 10/27/2003.
Oh really?!!!
On Wednesday Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger formally declared a statewide drought and while rationing has not yet begun, it does look large. 
Currently Carlsbad is in the process of building a desalinization plant on the site of the Encinas power plant and I believe this is an excellent idea. The problem is, we can not just continue to farm new sources of water, we need to be more resourceful with the water already in service.
Many communities have already started using reclaimed water for irrigation and in fact can produce more than they are currently able to distribute.Carlsbad currently does not have any plants for reclaiming water and purchase it from both the Vallecitos and Leucadia water districts.The problems currently holding back this resource are financial. With the current stresses facing municipal budgets it may be a while before they can 
get the infrastructure in place to better distribute this water. Additionally, another source of funding for these improvements, development, is out the window right now and growth, well that is just an add stress on the fresh water supply.
This brings to toilet to tap as I have written about before. Yes I know, public perception is against this, but I will be the first in line to take a nice big drink. I trust the technology.
Lastly, the City of San Diego has a conservation website on ways to help save 20 gallons a day, the 20Gallon Challenge. Additionally they are 
offering incentives on everything from toilets to artificial turf.
Much like how $4+ gallon gas has boosted scooter sales, been the death nail of the SUV and slowed cars down on the freeway to increase fuel mileage, what is it going to take to change our attitudes about our water supply?
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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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Giant Sloth found in Robertson Ranch development of Carlsbad
April 14th, 2008 Categories: Carlsbad 'best of', Carlsbad Business Community, Carlsbad City, Carlsbad Real Estate
CARLSBAD– Well it’s happened again. The paleontologist observing the
grading for the new Robertson’s Ranch development found what are the pelvis, leg and some ribs of a giant ground sloth late last month. In the summer of 2007 the same site yielded mastodon bones including a jaw bone, teeth and a partial tusk. These bones were dated to be between 120,000–220,000 years old.You can see these at the Nature Center off Cannon Road and Faraday.
Funny thing about this. We went to the Natural History museum over spring break with our daughter to see the Pompeii exhibit. While there we checked out the fossils and I was surprised to see how many aquatic fossils there were from Carlsbad. Several years ago 35 Ammonites were found at a single construction site here in Carlsbad.
Turns out the area of Carlsbad and Oceanside are so rich with fossils that 
both the bones of a duck-billed hadrosaur and a bony-armored ankylosaur have been found in Carlsbad. Tom Demere the curator of paleontology at the San Diego Natural History Museum characterized this as a remarkable record.”
“Except for some (dinosaur fossils) near Fresno, there are virtually no other dinosaurs known from California ,” Demere said. -North County Times 2007/07/08
Because our homes are built on an ancient sea bed, it is theorized that these land dinosaurs died somewhere in the area of Utah or Wyoming. This was the coastline and they would have then fell in the ocean finally settling on the ocean floor here.
It is because of this history, and the knowledge that the El Camino Real valley is geologically correct, that the city of Carlsbad generally requires onsite paleontologists during earth moving and grading.
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