August 2008

Coco Vandeweghe At US Open Tonight

by The Editors on August 25, 2008

CocoCarlsbadistan’s 16-year-old tennis charger Coco Vandeweghe will play an opening round match in the US Open of Tennis against Jelena Jankovic (whom Coco should crush), according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

It is to lead off the Arthur Ashe Stadium portion of the tournament’s evening session at 4 p.m. PDT, and thus should be part of USA Network’s television coverage, which begins at 4.

Guess that’s a solid maybe on catching Vendeweghe on the TV.

[Editors’ Note Updated 8:22 PM: Coco lost 6-3, 6-1. Looks like Jankovic “eases past Vandeweghe“]

[Link: San Diego Union-Tribune]

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Carlsbad Brings Home World Bodysurfing Title

by The Editors on August 25, 2008

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The world’s best bodysurfers were at the Oceanside Pier over the weekend competing in the 32st Annual World Bodysurfing Championship and guess who won the women’s division? 16-year-old Krista Johnson of Carlsbadistan, according to a story in the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Yesterday’s one-to three-foot waves weren’t optimal and made it more difficult to do tricks. Competitors were judged on their ride length, wave size, style and difficulty of the maneuvers. They swam in sets of six, each getting 15 minutes of competition, with their top three rides counting.

Bodysurfing: the purist’s sport. Congrats, Krista, for yet another reminder that Carlsbad kicks all over Oside.

[Link: San Diego Union-Tribune]

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Nexus Pays $20 Million For Floral Center

by The Editors on August 23, 2008

Intro-VanNexus Properties just paid $20.5 million for the 12.7 acre lot at 5600 Avenida Encinas, which has been home to the San Diego International Floral Trade Center since 1990, according to a story in the San Diego Union-Tribune.

For 18 years, the 154,000-square-foot former computer manufacturing building has been a fragrant flea market where florists from El Centro to San Bernardino come to buy bundles of fresh roses, tulips and other plants for their shops. . . . About 30 local growers and vendors operate out of the center, which was the brainchild of the late Paul Ecke Jr. of the poinsettia-growing Paul Ecke Ranch in Encinitas.

With 26.3 percent of the Carlsbad office space currently empty, seems like an odd time to be developing more office space. Then again, it’s a block to the beach.

[Link: San Diego Union-Tribune]

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The Carlsbad Learning Center Is Now Open

by The Editors on August 23, 2008

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After a few words from Library Director Heather Pizzuto and comments from members of the City Council, at about 10:30 AM on August 23, 2008 Mayor Pro Tem Ann Kulchin cut the ribbon to officially open Carlsbad City Library’s newest addition: The Learning Center at 3368 Eureka Place.

Img 5039-1Close to 200 people were on hand for the celebration and the tour of the facilities that followed.

The Library Learning Center is both the new home of the Centro de Información and the Adult Learning Program, as well as a warm, comfortable community gathering place where life-long learning is supported for all ages.

The Learning Center will provide public computer and Internet access, computer classes for adults and students, literacy tutoring for adults, Homework assistance for students, study rooms, space for special events and a Spanish, English and bilingual library collection including books, audiobooks, DVDs and CDs for people of all ages.

Everyone involved with this project (The City of Carlsbad Staff, The Library Board of Trustees, The Carlsbad Library & Arts Foundation, Friends of the Carlsbad Library, Manuel Oncina Architects, Inc, and Telacu Construction) should be extremely proud. The building is attractively designed on the outside and more importantly on the inside.

For a photo tour of the new facility, please follow the jump (and remember to click the images to see the full size).

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Desalination Plant Clears Last Hurdle

by The Editors on August 22, 2008

Today the State Lands Commission voted 3-0 “to approve a lease of state property for a desalination plant in Carlsbad,” according to a story on KPBS.org.

Scott Maloni of Poseidon Resources says the company is looking forward to turning seawater into freshwater. “Well we’re done with the permitting process, the five-year process comes to a close. We’ll spend the rest of the year closing construction financing and we expect to break ground the first half of next year.”

Oh, joy. A lagoon full of construction. We can hardly wait.

[Link: KPBS.org]

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Morning Stabbing At The Shell Station

by The Editors on August 22, 2008

At a little before 7 AM this morning (August 22, 2008) a man attempted to mug a customer behind the Shell station at the corner of Carlsbad Village Drive and Pio Pico. When the man wouldn’t hand over the wallet a “scuffle” ensued and the man was stabbed three to four times, according to Lt. Kelly Cain of the Carlsbad Police Department.

Surveillance video and witness accounts indicate the stabber is a light-skinned Latino or white man with a mustache. He is in his late 30s to early 40s, about 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs between 180 to 200 pounds. He was last seen wearing a long-sleeve blue shirt with an oval logo on it, blue jeans and a light blue Chargers baseball cap, according to police. . . . Officers arrived moments later to find the victim conscious, lying down on the sidewalk and covered in blood. He was flown by a helicopter to a La Jolla hospital. His condition is not know.

That would explain the helicopter that sounded like it was landing on our roof this morning.

[Link: San Diego Union-Tribune]

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Escape From Hong Kong At Leo Carrillo

by The Editors on August 22, 2008

FilmnightThe Carlsbad Recreation Department’s Friday Night Film Festival at Leo Carrillo Ranch continues tonight, August 22, 2008 with a showing of the 1942 film Escape from Hong Kong in which three American vaudeville entertainers become involved with spies in Hong Kong, just before Pearl Harbor.

Enjoy nostalgic entertainment under the stars Friday nights in August and September. Bring a low back chair, flashlight and blanket to watch rare historic films from the Golden Age of Hollywood, featuring Leo Carrillo, at the star’s legendary ranch retreat. Attendees are welcome to picnic on the hacienda, or purchase refreshments to support the Carrillo Ranch Barn Theater Stabilization/Restoration project.

Bring a low back chair, warm clothes, a flashlight, and a blanket. The movie starts promptly at sunset. For the rest of the schedule, please follow the jump.
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Carlsbad Library Learning Center Grand Opening

by The Editors on August 22, 2008

08LlsplashThe Carlsbad Library will be hosting a grand opening party for the new Learning Center Saturday August 23, 2008 from 10 AM to 3 PM. The celebration will include tours, story times, and crafts for children, plus entertainment by the Mariachi Divas.

The 11,000-square-foot Library Learning Center will open for business on Monday, August 25 at 11am. It is located at 3368 Eureka Place, on the east side of Holiday Park. The Library Learning Center hours will be 11am to 6pm Monday through Thursday and 11am to 5pm on Friday, with additional literacy tutoring appointments available mornings and evenings.

[Link: City of Carlsbad]

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Carlsbad State Of The City Address

by The Editors on August 22, 2008

Yesterday, at the Four Season Resort at Aviara The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce hosted the annual State of the City Address luncheon and video presentation.

The 25-minute video was mostly upbeat, extolling the city’s accomplishments during the past year, such as the adoption of a city charter, and construction of a new fire station on Rancho Santa Fe Road and a Library Learning Center that will open tomorrow on Eureka Place.

Sounds like a Carlsbad love-fest that we missed. There is hope, however, for all of us. The video will be viewed again on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 7 pm, at the Carlsbad City Library’s Ruby G. Schulman Auditorium, 1775 Dove Lane, on the City of Carlsbad website, or on “Time Warner Cable Channel 19, Monday at 8 pm and Tuesday at 9 am and 5:30 pm.”

[Link: San Diego Union-Tribune]

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Another Rock Violinist Visits Carlsbad

by The Editors on August 22, 2008

PontarelliApparently, there’s more than one rock violinist in the world. Hard to believe, we know. But one of them, Antonio Pontarelli (the 2004 winner of America’s Most Talented Kids) will be demonstrating both the acoustic and electric versions of his instrument at the Museum of Making Music on Saturday August 30, 2008 at 5 PM. After the demo, he’ll play a concert.

In this music-infused “informance,” Pontarelli introduces guests to acoustic and electric violins by showcasing the evolution of the instruments’ roles in both classical and rock music. He also reveals some of his secrets that have helped bring the timeless timbre of the violin to popular music.

Tickets for the entire evening are $15 for general admission; $12 for Museum members, and $7 for students. For tickets, please call (760) 438-5996, ext. 212 or order online at www.museumofmakingmusic.org.

[Link: Museum of Making Music]

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