September 2008

Dump Trucks Spills Asphalt, Stalls Traffic

by The Editors on September 5, 2008

Asphalt

Cleanup crews were still working on the shoulder of the north-bound lanes of Interstate 5 just north of La Costa Avenue this evening after a dump truck loaded with asphalt careened off the road this morning at 1 AM dropping 19 tons of asphalt onto the south bank of the Batiquitos Lagoon, according to a post on Sign On San Diego.

The spill had traffic backed up this morning all the way down to 5/805 split.

Robin Lewis, a California Department of Fish and Game scientist who specializes in spills, said crews dug as much of the hardened asphalt as they could from lagoon shore until the tide came up about 1 p.m. . . . “Right now it’s all under water,” Lewis said in mid-afternoon. He said the cleanup will resume about 7 p.m. and continue until the tide comes up again about midnight, but he hopes to finish the job this weekend.

[Link: Sign On San Diego]

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Army and Navy Serves Up Discipline

by The Editors on September 5, 2008

Armynavy

It’s interesting to see how Carlsbad’s Army and Navy Academy promotes itself to the outside world. In a recent press release that went out on the wire recently they asked a rhetorical question: “Does your son need structure?” Well, apparently, they can give it.

The Army and Navy Academy in Carlsbad, California is a residential college preparatory school that uses a service academy model to teach leadership and character development for boys in grades 7-12. Students learn to take responsibility, adhere to a daily schedule, and develop good habits. Whether it is making their bed, studying for a test or practicing for a game, students understand that they will be accountable for their actions as well as supported as they confront challenges.

Yeah, kind of like the Army or the Navy, but for boys who are too young to enlist. For people who need a place to store problem children, The Army and Navy Academy is perfect, and after all it’s beachfront.

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Aptera Brings In Big Automotive Player

by The Editors on September 4, 2008

Aptera22

Carlsbad’s electric motorcycle company Aptera isn’t just messing around with all that “C” round money. They’re aiming right for the top, especially with their new hire of Paul Wilbur as president and chief executive officer.

Wilbur is an automotive industry veteran who brings 26 years of extensive automotive experience, ranging from product planning and finance to marketing and product development for leading car companies such as Ford and Chrysler. Most recently, Wilbur was the president and CEO of Detroit-based American Specialty Cars, a tier-1 supplier of open air and convertible roof systems and Saleen, a leading manufacturer of high performance specialty cars and trucks.

But the big question being asked in automotive circles is what has happened to former CEO and founder Steve Fambro? According to the Up To Speed blog in the LA Times: “Fambro will become chief technical officer, since “it is a much better role for him to concentrate on vehicle development.”

Right. And Up To Speed points out that the same thing that happened to Tesla Motors‘ founder Martin Eberhard. He was moved to a position called “president of technology.” Then four months later he left the company entirely.

Hmm. . . .

[Link: Up To Speed]

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Car Plows Through Seawall Guard Rail

by The Editors on September 3, 2008

Plowrail

This evening at approximately 10 PM a vehicle plowed through the guard rail on the seawall at Carlsbad Boulevard and Chestnut ripping out approximately 50 feet of railing. Luckily, no pedestrians appear to have been hurt. The car was hauled away by a tow-truck. By 11 PM crews were out cleaning up the mess enough for people to walk and drive by.

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Invitrogen Gets Former US Airways CIO

by The Editors on September 3, 2008

Joe Berry, the chief information officer of US Airways is leaving the company this month to become the senior vice president and chief information officer at Applied Biomedical/Invitrogen according to a story in USA Today.

Beery is just one of three “longtime executives” who are leaving the Tempe-based airline. It’s probably not a bad time to get out of the airline industry and move to Carlsbad, actually. Welcome, Mr. Berry. We hope you’ll leave the US Air stock mojo back with the old company.

[Link: USA Today]

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Zoo Members Get Free Food At Chipotle

by The Editors on September 3, 2008

Chipotle Free

If you’re a member of the San Diego Zoo you can get a free taco, burrito, or salad at Chipotle today, September 3, 2008 between 10 AM and 3 PM. So if you’re looking for a free lunch, this may be your lucky day.

This is just a friendly reminder to Carlsbadistan residents who have Zoo memberships. Because luckily, we don’t have a Chipotle in Carlsbadistan. Click the link for the free food nearest you.

[Link: Chipotle]

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No To Different Area Codes

by The Editors on September 3, 2008

AreacodemapWe all have one more opportunity to tell the California Public Utilities Commission what we think about their idea to change Carlsbadistan’s (and most of North County’s) area code to 442. The hearing will be held in Thursday, September 4, 2008 in Carlsbad’s City Council chambers from 4 to 7 p.m., 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive.

Sadly, the options are not as simple as they sound. If the area code is not changed they’ll do what they call a “overlay” according to a Bradley J. Fikes story in the North County Times.

Under an overlay, currently assigned numbers in the region would remain the same. New numbers would get the 442 area code. In addition, the overlay would require dialing the full 10-digit number in the region, even to a number across town or across the street. . . . Scott Chatfield, a leader of the movement to stop the 442 split, said those opposing the split need to be aware that an overlay is the only option the commission will consider under hearing rules. Requests to reverse the split —- to leave North County in 760 and impose 442 in the rest of the territory —- will not be heard.

Maybe the overlay would be best. We’re dialing 10 digit numbers most of the time anyway. Save the 760.

[Link: North County Times and Keep760.org]

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