November 2007

Carlsbad Airport Getting New Terminal

by The Editors on November 20, 2007

Air Term

According to the North County Times, construction has begun on a brand spanking new terminal at the McClellan-Palomar Airport that will apparently replace the shack and two mobile homes that currently comprise the airport’s facilities.

The $26 million terminal will be six times larger than Palomar’s existing facility and will include larger and more technologically advanced ticketing and baggage screening areas, a more spacious lobby, a boarding lounge, a restaurant and three new parking lots, according to a conceptual plan posted on the airport Web site. . . A new 420-space parking lot will be built nearby to replace those covered by the new building. Taken together with two existing parking lots, the airport will have more than 700 spots when the project is complete.

The construction is scheduled to be completed by December 2009. We’re just hoping the parking stays free and the casual atmosphere is not completely lost. There really is nothing better than skipping Lindberg Field entirely.

[Link: North County Times]

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McCann Helps Move Duke Into Sweet 16

by The Editors on November 20, 2007

Carlsbad’s Kelly McCann, a member of the Duke University Blue Devils women’s soccer team, made a major contribution to their weekend win over the University of Georgia and helped move the Blue Devils in the NCAA Sweet 16 on Sunday.

Junior Kelly McCann played the ball to the right side of the field just outside Georgia’s penalty box. Redmond, a native of Morristown, N.J., latched on to the pass, took a touch back inside to put the ball on the left foot, and struck a bending ball into the top left corner of the Bulldog net. Betos made a diving effort and got a hand on the shot but couldn’t catch enough to parry it wide. . . “Kelly McCann played a really good entry ball to her,” said [Robbie] Church. “She turned and started to run at their back line. I noticed that none of their back players stepped to her. She knows that if they don’t step to her she has the freedom to hit. She then cranked it and it was a great goal.” . . McCann, who is from Carlsbad, Calif., posted her fourth assist this year.

Yeah, that’s how we do it in Carlsbadistan. Congrats, Kelly.

[Link: CSTV.com]

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Logan Earth Ski Matriarch Dies

by The Editors on November 20, 2007

Barbara Logan, the mother of Logan Earth Ski founders Brian and Bruce Logan died of breast cancer Saturday November 17, 2007 in Oceanside. She was 79 years old according to a story in the North County Times.

Anyone who grew up dreaming of traveling to Carlsbad to ride the world’s first concrete skateboard park knows all about the Logan Earth Ski brand and that is thanks in a large part to Barbara.

Logan steered her three sons and daughter toward skateboarding and served as the bookkeeper and administrator of the family business. . . . The Logan Earth Ski brand of solid oak skateboards was a top-seller in the 1970s, when the advent of urethane wheels catapulted skateboarding’s popularity as a competitive sport . . . Logan’s survivors include three sons, Brian, of Vista; Bruce, of Carlsbad; and Brad, of Oceanside; a daughter, Robin Logan, of Palm Desert and four grandchildren. The family is planning private memorial services Dec. 1 in Oceanside.”

Our thoughts are with the entire Logan family.

[Link: North County Times]

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Silver Surfers Win Boys Under 10 Championship

by The Editors on November 19, 2007

Silversurfers1

Yesterday, at Magnolia School, The Silver Surfers soccer team won the “Boys Under 10” divisional championships. We’re guessing there were a couple other winning teams in other divisions as well (for instance, the girls under 10 The Pink Panthers), however, those player’s parents didn’t send us a photo.

[Link: CarlsbadSoccer.org]

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Alga Norte Park Construction Bid Comes In Low

by The Editors on November 17, 2007

110PCarlsbad city officials were surprised when they saw the Alga Norte Park project bid from Consolidated Contracting Services of San Clemente because at $29.3 million it was $10 million lower than the next closest bid, according to a story in the North County Times.

The park, which will include a “multi-pool swim complex,” ballfields, playgrounds for kids, and most importantly a skatepark, sits on 33 acres at the corner of Poinsettia and El Camino Real. But why was Consolidated’s bid so low?

. . . an official with the architectural firm that drew up the park plans attributed the low construction bids to a variety of factors. Everything from having good plans to work with to a slumping construction industry helped, said Joniene Swick of Wimmer Yamada & Caughey. . . . The economy could be playing a part, others said. Bids for several recent government projects in San Diego County, including a Highway 52 proposal, have come in lower than expected, said a representative for Associated General Contractors —- a national organization that represents some 1,400 contractors who bid on government projects in the San Diego region.

Hey, as long as the cost savings doesn’t come at the skatepark’s expense (as usually is the case) then we’re all good. We’ll be watching you Consolidated.

[Link: North County Times]

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No More Free Parking At Tamarack?

by The Editors on November 17, 2007

Tam Park

We got a Carlsbadistan news tip this morning letting us know of a notice that was added to the Tamarack Surf Beach sign on November 8. Apparently, California State Parks has filed a permit (#6-07-111) with the California Coastal Commission to install “an automated fee collection device in the Tamarack day use lot.” We know that in the past there have been some issues with the Tamarack parking lot and that the City of Carlsbad has paid tens of thousands of dollars to keep if free.

California Parks and Rec filed for a permit to build a “mechanical fee collection device” in the Tamarack parking lot in 1997, but that application was postponed when the Coastal Commission met on May 13, 1997.

We’re hoping this “fee collection device” is simply a tactic being used by California State Parks to encourage the City of Carlsbad to ante up, because if the Tamarack Surf Beach becomes paid parking, all it’s going to do is push all those people up into the streets of Carlsbadistan and that is not something we’re looking forward to.

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Former Carlsbad Mayor Mary Casler Dies

by The Editors on November 17, 2007

While it’s hard to imagine a time when Bud Lewis wasn’t the mayor of Carlsbad, apparently, way back in 1982 Mary Helen Casler was elected a served a four-year term. Casler died last week. She was 87. Her life is celebrated in an article in the North County Times.

As mayor, Casler was known for her work on Carlsbad’s landmark Growth Management Plan, which dictates how many homes and parks are built in Carlsbad to this day, colleagues said. Casler, a retired librarian, also helped establish Carlsbad’s Arts Commission served on the state Coastal Commission.

[Link: North County Times]

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Tamarack Closed At The Tracks

by The Editors on November 17, 2007

Tam Closed

The railroad tracks are getting new ties and this weekend they’re going in under the rails at Tamarack. For that reason Tamarack will be closed between Jefferson and Garfield from Friday the 16th at 9 PM until Sunday the 18th at 5 PM. And while we were a little bummed about the idea at first, now that it’s closed we kind of like the way it cuts Carlsbadistan off from all those outsiders. Now, if we could just shut down Carlsbad Village Drive and PCH we’d have a wonderful walking Village.

[Editors’ Note: The workers cranked it out so fast that the street was only closed one day. Thanks for all the hard work.]

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Desal Plant? Not So Fast . . .

by The Editors on November 16, 2007

Chap Nav

The Sierra Club California Coastal program director Mark Massara says that Poseidon Resources will likely be challenged in court before they can build the desalination plant, according to KPBS.org.

I’d say it’s a virtual certainty given the massive unaddressed questions and information inadequacies that are still associated with the project.”

Through all of this we’ve got one question: what is the ocean around warm waters going to be like with water that is twice as salty as it should be? What will that do to the lobsters? What will it do to what they eat? Anyone have any answers?

[Link: KPBS.org]

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Coastal Commission Desal Plant Motion Passes 9-3

by The Editors on November 15, 2007

In a classic case of legalese the California Coastal Commission took roll and voted on a motion regarding Poseidon Resource’s Carlsbad desalination plant at 9:06 PM tonight. It passed 9 to 3. That means the desalination plant proposal has been approved, however, there are still many details to work out and be approved by the Coastal Commission before construction can start.

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