September 2007

Chargers Motorhome Goes Up In Flames

by The Editors on September 30, 2007

Police opened the North-bound off ramp of Canon Rd on Saturday after a 37-foot-long motorhome that was “heavily painted with San Diego Chargers decor on the outside” burned for 30 minutes.

A North County freeway offramp reopened today after a scorched 37-foot motorhome blocked traffic for an hour and a half, authorities said. . . . Cause of the fire was not available. No one was injured in the blaze.

San Diego Super-Flamers indeed. Not even a sacrificial motor home fire can help the team this year.

[Link: North County Times]

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Lobsters Rock: A Carlsbad Big Bug Sweep

by The Editors on September 30, 2007

070929LobstercatchCarlsbad’s Dave Ploessel (left) grabs wins at three different lobster contests on opening day according to a story in the San Diego Union Tribune.

“He surfaced with that lobster at 12:03, and right there we knew it was going to be a great night,” said Ploessel’s diving partner, Eddy Borysewicz, 27, of San Diego. Ploessel, 33, who lives in Carlsbad, then rattled off one lobster after another, including a 10-pound, 8-ouncer that won the Big Lobster contest at Werner Kurn’s Ocean Enterprises on Balboa Avenue. It also won two Big Bug contests, one at Sport Chalet and the other at North County Scuba.

We know just where some more are hiding, but we’re not telling anyone.

[Link: San Diego Union Tribune]

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City Faces $1.1 Million Fine For Sewage Spill

by The Editors on September 29, 2007

Last spring when a sewage line owned by the City of Vista (and 10 percent by Carlsbad) ruptured, it dumped 7.3 million gallons of raw sewage into the Buena Vista Lagoon and killed more than 1,700 fish and other lagoon life forms. Now the cities are being faced with a $1.1 million fine from the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, according to a story in the San Diego Union Tribune.

The report states the maximum fine that could have been imposed was $73 million. However, even adjusted for inflation, the proposed $1.1 million is higher than a $142,000 fine the board levied on Oceanside in 1994 for a 4.75-million-gallon spill into the same lagoon, which lies between Oceanside and Carlsbad.

Luckily, for Carlsbad, Vista will have to pay the majority of the fine if it must be paid. And we were worried about Oceanside building some condos on the lagoon.

[Link: San Diego Union Tribune]

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Bluwater Crossing Breaks Ground

by The Editors on September 28, 2007

Bluwater

In its past Carlsbadistan has rarely seen developments that were designed for anything more than maximum density (and profit) for the builder. Finally, with a project called Bluwater Crossing, the idea of urban designed live/work loft space close to the beach and public transportation is being realized in the empty land near the Poinsettia Coaster Station. We haven’t seen the complete designs, however, in concept we believe this is exactly what Carlsbadistan could use much more of.

Bluwater will feature 13 buildings with 78 distinctive residential units, 21,700 square feet of commercial/retail space; a 3,600-square-foot day-care center; 151 stalls in a subterranean garage for residents and day-care employees; and 107 parking stalls for retail customers and guests. . . Its exclusive live-work units are perfect for small businesses and professionals who want to eliminate commutes by working from home.

According to the North County Times, Trammell Crow Residential of Costa Mesa broke ground on Thursday, September 27, 2007 and hope to have the complex finished in “early 2009.” For information on buying into Bluwater Crossing click here.

[Link: Bluwater Crossing via North County Times]

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Orange 21 Urged To Sell Spy Optic

by The Editors on September 28, 2007

In a letter to board members of Orange 21 the Carlsbad-based parent company of Spy Optic, Thesis Capital LLC (a New York City-based “institutional investor and beneficial shareholder in the company”) suggested that the company should be put up for sale because if sold its would be worth much more than the $4.96 at which the stock currently trades.

“We believe that through a sale process, the Company would be valued in excess of $7.00 per share conservatively assuming the median price-to-sales of recent optics transactions.”

Follow the link for the entire letter and maybe you can help us figure out if this is anything more than a simple ploy to run up the stock price.

[Link: Trading Markets]

[click to continue…]

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Hensley Can’t Quit Flogging Molly

by The Editors on September 28, 2007

MatIt’s hard to keep a traveling according player tied down. Last January Matt Hensley announced that he was quitting the band Flogging Molly and was going to spend a little more time with his family in Carlsbad. He even bought Squid Joe’s and turned it into Hensley’s Flying Elephant Pub & Grill. But now, with a new album in the works, it appears that the former pro skateboarder is getting back in the band.

Matt says of his return, “The truth is that my life makes sense again, and I feel like I’m where I need to be in this world.” He also ads, “I missed the feeling of ‘knowing where you’re at.’ Being the accordion player in this band is my zone; where I belong. I got emails all the time from people who care deeply about the band. I missed being able to affect people in a positive way.”

While we’re going to miss seeing him around Hensley’s, Flogging Molly fans around the world are going to be much happier that Matt has returned to the band.

[Link: Transworld Skateboarding]

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Man Robs Ralphs Grocery Bank

by The Editors on September 28, 2007

Hey look, another Carlsbad bank was robbed yesterday at 3:40 PM. This time it was the Union Bank of California that is located inside the Ralphs at Avenida Encinas. The man asked for cash and:

The teller handed over the cash and the robber escaped after running south through the parking lot. He was described as black, in his mid-30s, 5 feet 11 inches tall, of medium build, with his hair in dreadlocks. He wore dark pants, a gray sweat shirt and sunglasses and carried a dark backpack.

The man walked with less than $1000 in cash. Though police “searched the area for almost an hour” with the help of the San Diego County Sheriff helicopter they did not find him. This is the fifth Carlsbad bank robbery since May.

[Link: San Diego Union Tribune]

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Carlsbad Rotary’s Oktober Fest

by The Editors on September 27, 2007

Oktoberfest2006-1

This year The Rotary Clubs of Carlsbad is presenting its 25th Annual Oktoberfest at Holiday Park in Carlsbad on Saturday October 6th from 1 to 10 PM.

The family event features German food, German music, dancing, and a host of children’s activities, including a pumpkin-decorating contest, facing painting, clowns, and much more. The pumpkin-decorating contest is for children 5-15 years old. . . Roger and the Villagers will play its traditional brand of polka music, including the beloved “Chicken Dance, from 5 to 10 p.m. . . . A German dinner will be served from 1 to 8 p.m. . . . Tickets are $10.

Oh, and there will also be beer. . . lots of beer. Did we mention that? For more info click the link below.

[Link: Rotary Oktoberfest]

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A 300 Mile Per Gallon Dream Trike

by The Editors on September 26, 2007

300MpgCarlsbad-based Aptera Motors is the dream of CEO Steve Fambro and COO Chris Anthony (founder of Epic Wake Boats). According to a story in the North County Times, Fambro’s prototype vehicle gets 300 miles to the gallon.

Made out of strong, lightweight composite materials such as fiberglass, the Aptera is a three-wheeled, hybrid diesel/electric vehicle that looks like something out of the Jetsons. The Aptera weighs 850 pounds, seats two, and the company says, gets 300 mpg. . . Because it has been classified as a motorcycle by California, the Aptera can legally use the car-pool lane —- even if there’s only one passenger.

Fambro has already rounded up $1 million from Idealab and another million from “Esenjay Explorations, an oil and gas drilling company based in Corpus Christi, Texas.” But now, as you might expect, the company needs more money. . . don’t we all.

[Link: North County Times]

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Carlsbad Birding with The Audubon Society

by The Editors on September 26, 2007

Wilderness-Gardens

If these look like the kind of exciting, interesting, people you’d like to spend a Saturday morning with, then you’ll be happy to know that The Palomar Audubon Society will be invading Carlsbad on Saturday September 29 at 8 AM for a Bataquitos Lagoon field trip. The group will be on the lookout for “shorebirds, gulls, waders and waterfowl.”

[Link: Palomar Audubon Society]

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