by The Editors on November 8, 2007
Rachel Morris, the sophomore golf champ from Carlsbad High School, rounded up her second San Diego Sectional girls individual title with a one under par 71 November 7, 2007 at Warner Springs Ranch.
“I had already won, so I knew I could do it again,” Morris said. “That gave me confidence. There was also a little bit of pressure, but I just focused on playing my own game.” . . . Morris opened with two of her four birdies on the first three holes in the shotgun start. . . . “I’m really excited,” Morris said. “I played well and shot a good score.”
All the details in this story from the San Diego Union Tribune.
[Link: San Diego Union Tribune]
by The Editors on November 8, 2007
Tonight, November 8, 2007 at the La Costa Resort and Spa from 5:45 to 8:30 Barnes & Noble and Gretchen Schomer Wendel and Adam Schomer are throwing a book launch party that is “free and open to the public” for their award winning series of books Becka and the Big Bubble.
At the free event, open to the public, one can “meet Becka”, be put inside a bubble by the Bubble Lady, enjoy complimentary drinks and food and walk away with a goodie bag full of spa items and much more.
Follow the jump for all the details.
[click to continue…]
by The Editors on November 8, 2007
We have to admit that there is something frightening about allowing the Carlsbad City Council to make any decisions related to “design” or “architecture.” That said, in a vote of 3-0 the Carlsbad City Council Tuesday night approved a revised master plan and and design guidelines changes to Carlsbad’s Village, according to an article in the San Deigo Union Tribune. Councilmen Matt Hall and Mark Packard did not vote because they own property in the Village.
“The council voted, instead, to allow building heights of 45 feet if at least 50 percent of a roof is sloped. . . The council also voted to allow commercial buildings in much of the redevelopment area to be built up to the sidewalks, as long as their upper floors are tiered back. But the council is requiring the first floor of residential buildings to be set back from sidewalks an average of 10 feet. . . . The council also . . . approved a compromise to allow up to 35 [residential] units per acre [previously it had been 23].
The only thing the council rejected (thankfully) was a proposal let developers put in 15 percent fewer parking spaces “if their projects gave incentives to use public transportation” whatever that means.
[Link: San Diego Union Tribune]
by The Editors on November 7, 2007
We don’t golf, but it’s a huge part of the local economy. And that sector isn’t doing so well as of late. A prime example is the Carlsbad-based golf apparel company Ashworth (website coming fall 2007). The company has had “its second executive chair shuffling within five months Oct .25,” according to the San Diego Business Journal.
The struggling manufacturer of Callaway Golf Co. and other top branded shirts and caps said Chief Executive Officer Peter Weil resigned to spend more time with his family on the East Coast. Weil was appointed only about a year ago, and took over after then-CEO Randal Herrel suddenly resigned. . . Replacing Weil is Alan Fletcher, founder and chairman of Fletcher Leisure Group, an Ashworth partner and Canada’s top supplier of branded golf apparel. . . Ashworth also said former Chief Financial Officer Eric Hohl is no longer there, and was replaced by Greg Slack, a former Ashworth corporate controller and principal accounting officer until July.
Note to Ashworth employees: when the music stops, be sure to grab the first open chair you see.
[Link: San Diego Business Journal]
by The Editors on November 7, 2007
We mentioned this story on October 21st, however, now the official news has been released. Legoland plans an expansion that will include a “two-story aquarium and Indiana Jones-like adventure in 1920s Egypt” according to a story in the San Diego Union Tribune.
Nick Varney, CEO of Legoland parent Merlin Entertainments Group, said yesterday that the Sea Life center will be a place that allows children to “explore, touch and ultimately gain empathy” with the underwater world.
Fish on, fish on. . .
[Link: San Diego Union Tribune]
by The Editors on November 6, 2007
by The Editors on November 6, 2007
Planning Commissioner Julie Baker and “active local volunteer” and Rotary Club of Carlsbad Secretary Ed Scarpelli (pictured right) have been named Carlsbad Citizens of the Year by the City of Carlsbad, according to the North County Times.
Baker, 52, is the former executive director of the Carlsbad Education Foundation, where she helped establish the Kids Are Worth a Million fund-raising campaign for local schools. . . She also is active in the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation, the Carlsbad Friends of the Arts, the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce and the Carlsbad Federation of Republican Women.
Scarpelli, 70, arrived in Carlsbad in 1979 from Wilbraham, Mass., to help establish a builders’ lending division at a mortgage company. He originally trained as a teacher and taught industrial arts for 13 years in New York state before taking a sales job that would send him to Europe for several years.
The awards ceremony, which was scheduled for October 23 has been rescheduled for November 13 at 4 PM at City Hall located at 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive.
[Link: North County Times]
by The Editors on November 5, 2007
Gregory T. Lucier, the CEO our favorite Carlsbad-based life sciences company Invitrogen exercised options on 196,250 shares of his company’s stock today. He bought them for $38.01 a share and then sold them all in under a prearranged 10b5-1 trading plan for between $86.64 and $89.33. If we did our math correctly (and we’d be the last to assume that was the case) then Mr. Lucier brought home more than $9 million in this transaction. Not bad for four years work at the company (not counting his salary). Who says you have to move to LA or NYC to make the big bucks?
[Link: Forbes]
by The Editors on November 4, 2007

We rolled to the Carlsbad Street Faire this morning with the intention of getting some photos of Carlsbadistan in full effect. But after walking the jam-packed, crowded streets for about 30 minutes surrounded by a mob of strangers (where do these people come from?) we completely lost focus and found ourselves instead struggling against the flow in search of an exit.
Eventually we made it out. Now upon reflection in the peace of our own home, it seems like each year the event becomes a little less “faire” and a little more “swap meet.” Sure, there’s the Kiwanis Club’s pancake breakfast and the Scripps flu shots, but where were all the pan flautists? Then again, maybe our mood was over-influenced by the time change and the overcast skies.
Here’s what the San Diego Union Tribune and North County Times had to say about the 33rd Annual Faire. What did you think? Let us know in the comments.

by The Editors on November 4, 2007
According to an interview in the San Diego Union Tribune, the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce has the “second largest chamber membership in San Diego County and the 10th-largest in California.” We did not know that. In fact, we didn’t even know that Ted Owen was the president and chief executive officer or that he had a staff of 15 employees. But we’re learning all kinds of things today thanks to Mr. Owen:
This is a very civil city that has $80 million in the bank. We had an $8 million surplus at the end of 2006, and the city pretty much likes to listen to its residents and provide them things. . . They wanted a golf course; we built one. They wanted an aquatic park; we’re building one. They wanted (a water desalination plant); we’re building one. Those things cost money, and a city with wealth and that’s well-run can do that.
Hey Ted, we’d like a proper skateboard park near the Village. Are you building that?
[Link: San Diego Union Tribune]