May 2008

Daimler Buys Carlsbad Design Center

by The Editors on May 21, 2008

In early March when Chrysler’s new owner Cerberus Captital Management LP announced that they were closing the Carlsbad-based Pacifica Advance Design Center we were kind of bummed for all the talented auto designers who worked there.

Now, we learn that Daimler AG, the owner of Mercedes (and former owner of Chrysler) recently purchased the design center for $7 million.

The German car-maker will take over the Chrysler Pacifica Advance Design Center in Carlsbad, California, within weeks, and in turn will close its own design centre in Irvine, California, the report said.

This means that we’ll see some new “Carlsbad inspired” auto designs coming from Mercedes (and maybe even some prototypes sneaking around town.

[Link: Forbes]

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2008 TGIF: Jazz In The Park Line-up

by The Editors on May 21, 2008

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The City of Carlsbad’s TGIF: Jazz In The Park Series has mostly left Carlsbadistan for the 2008 season which is kind of a bummer (no more walking to the shows), but truthfully, we don’t need those inland crowds cluttering up our streets anyway.

This year the 10 events shared among Stagecoach Park, Poinsettia Park, and Calavera Hills Park. The first concert is on Friday June 20 with the Debbie Davies Band at Stagecoach Park.

Follow the jump for all the other details and we will keep you posted all summer long.

[Link: City of Carlsbad]

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Arballo Takes Men’s And Boy’s Titles

by The Editors on May 21, 2008

Sp-Surf280Earlier this month Carlsbad High School sophomore Christian Abrallo, 16, took the Western Coast Championships in Men’s and Boy’s Shortboard at the Western Surfing Association Championships at Church’s, according to a story in the San Diego Union-Tribune.

But Arballo’s victories are remarkable for the fact that the local surfer is excelling despite major heart defects that threatened his life and have prompted two surgeries to repair valves. . . . To hear him tell it, though, it’s no big deal. . . . “I don’t think about it at all,” Arballo said. “It doesn’t stop me from surfing or doing anything I want to do.”

Congrats, Chris.

[Link: San Diego Union-Tribune]

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Who’s That In Those Carlsbads

by The Editors on May 21, 2008

It’s strange to see Carlsbadistan imagined as a pair of sunglasses, but Columbia Sportswear has done it with their Hyper-lite TR90 Framed The Carlsbad. The glasses feature a “revolutionary new high-tech thermoplastic material that is extremely strong and shock resistant. . . triacetate cellulose formulated lens offers superior visual clarity.”

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We’re not sure it matches our particular style, but they’re not exactly ugly. Right?

[Link: Zappos.com]

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Firefighters Ann Fans

by The Editors on May 18, 2008

Carlsbad’s firefighters union has endorsed city council member Ann Kulchin in her re-election bid, according to a story in the North County Times.

“We know who Ann Kulchin is, so we had no trouble endorsing her based on her … history,” union President Rick Fisher said Wednesday. . . . The union hasn’t yet made a decision on who to endorse for the second council seat that’s on the November election ballot, he said.

Apparently, the elections are in November and there are two seats up. Also, if you’d like to run you have until July 14 to officially register.

[Link: North County Times]

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Teachers’ Rally Drives Education

by The Editors on May 16, 2008

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Last Wednesday several hundred people turned out to support teachers and education as two local teachers’ unions rallied at Holiday Park in Carlsbadistan. The Carlsbad Lancer Dancers and Excalibur Dancers performed. Students spoke how the arts, music and teachers had made a difference in their lives. Parents, teachers, administrators and school board members spoke on the importance of education for our children’s future.

It’s kind of sad that thanks to our government so many people have to come out and state what should be obvious to every single official. But if they need to hear it again we’re glad there are people to say it.

Thanks to everyone who came out.

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Sales Down At Rubio’s

by The Editors on May 14, 2008

The Carlsbad-based fish taco restaurant chain Rubio’s announced their first quarter 2008 results yesterday and while revenues rose 2.9% for the quarter comparable store sales decreased by 3 percent and the company actually lost $745,000.

“Our first quarter results are indicative of the overall challenging macroeconomic environment, and in particular, higher gasoline prices and the weak housing markets in Arizona, Nevada and parts of California. Over the past several months, we have undergone a vigorous assessment of the opportunities to better leverage our resources and gain efficiencies in our cost structure, while continuing to focus on delivering unique products and an unsurpassed guest experience. Notably, we reduced our corporate support staff by just over 10% at the end of April and have several initiatives underway to lower food and labor costs while maintaining the integrity of our brand. We believe this balanced approach will better position us to achieve our profit goals in the near term and still execute our longer term strategy,” said Dan Pittard, Rubio’s President and CEO.

Sounds like Dan is blaming everything but the food. We’re slowly learning that if your only big idea is to reduce production costs, you might want to re-think your business strategy entirely.

[Link: PRnewswire]

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$2.5 Million Not So Lowbrow

by The Editors on May 14, 2008

The Lowbrow Bandits who hit the JCPenny at Westfield Plaza Camino Real Mall last Friday after robbing a Pennys in Laguna Hills only 90 minutes earlier have amassed close to $2.5 million dollars in gold over the past 18 months according to a story in the LA Times.

As the price of the precious metal continued to zoom to more than $1,000 an ounce, the thieves’ activity increased until they had stolen about $2.5 million worth of gold jewelry from 11 JCPenney stores throughout California. . . . “It’s a strange series of crimes, to target only JCPenney stores,” said Jim Amormino, a spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. “Then they steal only the gold and don’t even touch the more expensive jewelry.”

They might not be so lowbrow after all.

[Link: LA Times]

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Carlsbad Teachers Rally Today

by The Editors on May 14, 2008

Teachers from two local unions will rally today at Holiday park from 4 to 5:30 PM in response to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s education budget cuts.

Members of the Carlsbad and Oceanside teachers associations have arranged for speakers and music at the event, which will mark the statewide “Day of the Teacher,” organizers said.

If you support education get out and support the teachers.

[Link: North County Times]

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Council Says No More Power Stations

by The Editors on May 14, 2008

Zc71Add8Fa744F7B088257449001C5B80They really don’t have any control over what NRG does with their Encina Power Station does with their equipment, but that didn’t stop the Carlsbad City Council from “opposing the proposed addition,” according to a Barbara Henry story in the North County Times.

Carlsbad’s council hopes with its vote Tuesday to emphasize concerns the city has about the project in advance of the state’s hearings. City officials have raised questions about air quality, visual blight and other issues, but their main emphasis has been that the entire Encina site ought to get out of the power-generating business. . . . At Tuesday’s meeting, Councilman Matt Hall called the nearly 100-acre site one of the best pieces of land along San Diego County’s coastline. Councilwoman Julie Nygaard said the future of the area was of keen interest to many people in Carlsbad.

We’d be happy seeing the power plant go as long as they leave the smoke stack standing.

[Link: North County Times]

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