Fundraising deadline looms in Del Mar Schools Education Foundation’s quest to save ESC programs, teachers’ jobs

•Donations needed now

By Karen Billing

The Del Mar Schools Education Foundation is facing a rapidly approaching fundraising deadline of Feb. 15.
As of Jan. 27, foundation president Chris Stevenson said they had raised $700,000 of the $1.7 million needed to keep all the Extended Studies Curriculum (ESC) programs intact at all eight school sites. If the foundation doesn’t make the $1.7 million goal, schools could lose teachers in the ESC programs of art, music, technology, science and PE.
The PE teachers may be the first to go.
Last year, when the district faced a similar ESC shortfall, a trimmed ESC program was proposed that included science, technology and a school site decision between music and art. Physical education teachers would be cut—two specialists would be saved to serve the entire district.

Some DM school district parents unite in effort to protect superintendent's job

By Lee Schoenbart

Del Mar Union School District Superintendent Sharon McClain should not be fired. That is the message a group of parents in the Del Mar Union School District say they are trying to make sure the district board hears loud and clear.
Some parents and teachers contend that the board is trying to replace a second supervisor in less than two years during a time of great financial crisis and uncertainty throughout the district.
The board is seen by some parents as vigorously pursuing an expensive, single-minded agenda to terminate Superintendent Sharon McClain over personality differences.
The board’s actions are being fought on three fronts to keep the superintendent with a parent group led by Kerry Traylor of Del Mar Heights, another by Carmel Valley resident Jill Steiner and the Del Mar California Teachers Association.
“I was the one who rallied the troops for the Dec. 16 meeting when Sharon was about to be fired,” said Traylor, whose children are in the first and sixth grades at Del Mar Hills. “Through working with Vanessa Black, our PTA president at The Hills, we contacted all the PTA [leaders] in the seven other schools and made sure there were a couple hundred people at the meeting to speak out against firing Sharon McClain.”

DM school board modifies specifications for district office requirements

By Karen Billing

After the Del Mar Union School District's realtor Chuck Wasker told the board of trustees that there was a "dearth" of property options available that meet their selected district office requirements, the trustees decided to modify their specifications.
Wasker reported that there are only 16 buildings that meet the district’s criteria within the district boundaries and only one of those buildings is for sale. Among the requirements is that the building be between 10,000 and 25,000 square feet.
"Maybe we need to expand our universe," said trustee Doug Perkins. "I'm surprised at how small our universe is."

Pro baseball players join parents’, coaches’ efforts to raise support for Canyon Crest Academy’s ‘Field of Dreams’

By Karen Billing

(L-R) Ryan Sienko, Trevor Hoffman, Brendan Huffman

As Canyon Crest Academy coaches and parents pitched the idea Jan. 28 of bringing a baseball and softball complex to their school, they brought in a real closer to send the message home: Major League baseball's all-time saves leader and former San Diego Padres player Trevor Hoffman.
No "Hells Bells" entrance was needed for Hoffman to take command of the room and say how important it is for players to have a field in which they can take pride.
"When they feel proud, they feel better about playing for the name on the front of their jersey than they do the name on the back," Hoffman said.

Profile Patrick M. Rost

Local resident discovers his ‘fountain of youth’ keeping in shape to rank high in the competitive world of senior tournament tennis

By Arthur Lightbourn

Patrick M. Rost Photo/Jon Clark

Patrick Rost is convinced that the fountain of youth can be found in exercise, and not in a doctor’s office or a pharmacy.
And he’s practicing what he preaches.

In an industry teetering on the economic precipice, Rancho Santa Fe Motors expands, continues to sell ‘a lot of Rolls Royces and Bentleys’

By Lee Schoenbart

Dave Luce of Rancho Santa Fe Motors recently sold a 2004 black on black Rolls Royce Phantom for $135,000 to a movie producer.

Billions of dollars of taxpayer money still hasn’t bailed out GM, Chrysler and Ford. Toyota is now experiencing what some pundits might refer to as a “total recall.” Famous divisions of cars such as Oldsmobile and Pontiac are part of history.

Del Mar Country Club to host top Latina chef, author Isabel Cruz at lunch/lecture event

By Diane Y. Welch

Acclaimed Latina chef Isabel Cruz cooks what she loves to eat: comfort food spiced with the Pacific Rim flavors from her old Los Angeles neighborhood, recipes created with an inventive twist on traditional Latin cuisine.

Young actress has the best of both worlds in San Diego and L.A.

By Diana Saenger

Local actress and opera singer Sophia Linkletter seems to have the world at her feet. The 14-year-old keeps busy traveling to Hollywood to audition for films and TV shows, and she’s now appearing in San Diego Opera’s “La Bohème.”

Olympic-bound figure skating champion still enjoys Del Mar visits

By Diane Y. Welch

U.S. figure skating champion Rachael Flatt, a Del Mar native who is now headed for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, next week, is “as excited as I have ever been.”

Tender Loving Canines offers hope to autistic children

Mully and Wesley

Tender Loving Canines Assistance Dogs, Inc. (TLCAD) is achieving impressive results with a specialized training program, “Leash on Life,” that offers families hope and enhances social skills for children with autism.

San Diego Jewish Academy collects more than 20 tons of supplies for Haiti earthquake victims

SDJA students Marc Bielas, Daniela Jinich and Noam Baltinester load and pack boxes of supplies headed to Haiti.

In just five days, San Diego Jewish Academy has collected more than 20 tons of supplies for Haiti earthquake victims and has partnered with international aid organization, Latet, for distribution in Haiti.

Carmel Valley Community Sports

ASHLEY FALLS DADS’ LUNCH
Ally Harvey, Mia Montini and Sam Montini were among the Ashley Falls School dads and students who enjoyed a special “Dads’ Lunch” Jan. 29. See inside for more photos. Photo/Jon Clark

SAGE CANYON SCIENCE FAIR
Sage Canyon student Jaden Reuter proudly displays his project “How a Volcano Erupts” at the school’s recent Family Science Fair. See inside for more photos. Photo/Jon Clark

DM school board authorizes district plan

By Karen Billing

The Del Mar Union School District Board of Trustees approved Jan. 27 its 2009/2010 Strategic Plan, a document developed by district office employees, individual school site principals, staff and parents.

Bilbray’s reaction mixed to President’s State of the Union address

By Joe Tash

The key to lifting the U.S. economy out of the doldrums and creating jobs is reducing government red tape and allowing the private sector to do what it does best, said Rep. Brian Bilbray, R-Carlsbad.

TPHS student second at Brain Bee competition

Omar Shahrior, a senior from the Audeo Charter School, competed with 45 students from 23 local high schools and came out the winner of the second San Diego Regional Brain Bee Competition held at The Neurosciences Institute on Jan. 30.

CV resident proud to win ‘National SPAM Champ’ title

By Diane Y. Welch

Stacy Slagor has the unlikely title of “National SPAM Champ,” and she is not only proud to hold that title, she is practically giddy about it. Her ebullience spills over as this Carmel Valley resident, who had never entered a cooking contest until June 2009, explains how all of this came about.

Canyon Crest Academy places 4th in national math contest

Canyon Crest Academy has some of the best high-school mathematicians in the country, as demonstrated by their 4th-place finish in the 2009 Ciphering Time Trials, a national mathematics contest administered by National Assessment & Testing (http://www.natassessment.com).

Philanthropist Denny Sanford donates $50 million to Burnham Institute for Medical Research

By Lynne Friedmann

Few people have so quickly brought about the lasting community impact of T. Denny Sanford. In less than three years, the South Dakota businessman and philanthropist has invested $100 million in San Diego life-science organizations.

Crawford leads regional quality of life committee

By Jonathan Horn

Some of San Diego County’s more influential figures will work together over the next year to define a quality of life measure for the 2012 ballot.