August 2009

Carlsbad’s Thursdays On The Coast

by The Editors on August 23, 2009

This Thursday August 27, 2009 is the second installment of the Carlsbad Village Association’s Thursdays On The Coast art walk. The free community event held the last Thursday of each month features visual and performing artists and “will include original art in Carlsbad Village’s permanent galleries as well as, village merchants acting as temporary “phantom” galleries.”

The video above features a not-so-short overview of the event. For more information, call (760) 434-2553 or click here for meetup information.

[Link: SQS Video via @carlsbadcrawl]

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Legoland Fireworks From The Sheraton

by The Editors on August 23, 2009

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For the second week in a row we snuck up to the Carlsbad Sheraton for an epic view of the Legoland fireworks at 8:30 PM on Saturday night. From the lower parking lot we could see the fireworks from the ground to the sky and be so close we could almost feel them exploding overhead.

Definitely a great way to kick off an evening in Carlsbadistan, but next Saturday night August 29, 2009 at 8:30 PM is the last fireworks show for the summer. Don’t miss it.

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More Illegal Aliens Intercepted at Ponto

by The Editors on August 21, 2009

Apparently, Carlsbadistan’s Ponto Beach is becoming a regular stop on the panga tour of Northside. On July 17, 2009, 20 “mexican nationals” were arrested after being dropped off by boat at Ponto. The boat and drivers, oddly enough, got away.

This morning, August 21, 2009, the entire scene was reenacted all over again, according to The US Customs and Border Protection website.

Early this morning, agents on patrol spotted a vessel, described as a panga boat, as it was traveling towards the shoreline of Ponto Beach in Carlsbad. The vessel dropped off 18 males and five females before fleeing the area. The subjects were quickly apprehended by Border Patrol agents with the assistance of Carlsbad police officers. The illegal aliens were taken into Border Patrol custody and sent to a Border Patrol station for processing . . . The United States Coast Guard and CBP Air and Marine units conducted a search of the area but were unable to locate the vessel.

Nice to know that pangas (and their captains) can just flow in and out of the country without ever getting caught, isn’t it? Just think if these boats arriving at Ponto Landing were filled with something more dangerous than simply men and women eager to work hard at bad jobs?

[Link: CBP.gov via a Carlsbadistan News Tipper]

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Water System Testing August 24

by The Editors on August 21, 2009

Carlsbad Municipal Water District will be doing testing on their system on Monday August 25, 2009. So they want everyone to know that there may be some water pressure issues during their tests.

During the testing, water customers might notice a slight decrease in water pressure. Testing in each location will only last about five minutes. Tap water where testing is being done might temporarily look a little cloudy as well. . . During the testing water district staff will use the minimum amount of water necessary to gather the required information. Water released from pipes and hydrants will be dechlorinated and discharged into the nearest storm drain, in compliance with state and federal environmental regulations.

Looks like we’ll be sticking to our Arrowhead Mountain Spring water for a couple days. For questions or more information, please call 760-438-7100.
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Wreck Involving Bus Closes Two Lanes I-5 South

by The Editors on August 20, 2009

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A wreck involving at least four cars and a passenger bus closed two lanes of Southbound Interstate 5 in Carlsbadistan just south of the Chinquapin overpass today at approximately 12:40 PM.

Carlsbad Police and California Highway Patrol were on the scene at 12:45 and Carlsbad Fire Department was on its way. Traffic north of the accident was still at a near standstill 1 PM.

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Do The Ecke’s Really Need City Handouts?

by The Editors on August 20, 2009

Uti1428548  T350After raising the water rates for Carlsbadistan agriculture by 45 percent last week, the Carlsbadistan City Council is now considering subsidizing the water bill for Paul Ecke the third’s The Flower Fields, according to a Michael Burge story in the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Mayor Bud Lewis said he was concerned about subsidizing the farms’ water bills, but in 2006 voters passed Proposition D, which said they want to preserve those two operations. . . In 1996 the city also required the Ecke flower-growing family to cultivate the 53-acre Flower Fields “in perpetuity” in exchange for the right to develop the 471-acre Carlsbad Ranch, which includes Legoland California and the Carlsbad Premium Outlet stores.

Now, Chris Calkins, president of the Ecke-owned company CB Ranch, says they are “staring down a barrel of a gun that makes it impossible to grow the crops” inferring that if the City of Carlsbad wants to keep the Flower Fields all colorful they’re going to have to help with the water bill.

Isn’t it nice how businesses will agree to almost anything when they’re trying to get a huge development approved, only to come back later and say they’re not going to be able to hold up their end of the bargain? Classic.

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New Water Meters Catch Leaks Faster

by The Editors on August 20, 2009

According to a press release issued by the City of Carlsbadistan, The Carlsbad Municipal Water District is installing 1,000 new high tech water meeters that “keep track of water use and detect leaks more quickly.

The new meters will be installed within the business park surrounding Palomar Airport, along Avenida Encinas, and in the Car Country Carlsbad area. . . “The new meters are a great example of using technology to increase efficiency and provide even better service to our customers,” said Cari Dale, City of Carlsbad public works manager. . . The meters’ leak detection technology will help the water district respond to potential water leaks quickly by alerting the district of unusual water use at individual properties. Currently, leaks are found mainly by seeing evidence of excess water and by property owners noticing unexplained increases in water use on their monthly bills. In the future, the new water meters will allow water customers to receive real-time water use and billing information online.

The switch over is going to cost the district about $400,000 for 998 new meters. Just think how much it will cost to roll over the other 27,000 customers. [click to continue…]

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Legoland Now On Google Street View

by The Editors on August 18, 2009


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Legoland California has become the first theme park in the United States to be featured on Google Maps Street view, according to a press release from the park.

While scrolling through the Legoland Google Maps Street View can be a little disorienting, it is a much more economical way to visit Carlsbadistan’s most famous theme park. Oddly, the park’s management is very excited about this.

“It is absolutely thrilling for LEGOLAND California to be part of this amazing new technology,” said Peter Ronchetti, General Manager of the family theme park in Carlsbad, California. “Street View gives the viewer a vantage point that has never been available without actually being in the Park. I have no doubt this will be a valuable tool for families planning their visit.”

Or, just staying at home and enjoying the sites
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TGIF Aug 21: Coco Montoya

by The Editors on August 18, 2009

Coco Bio.JpgWhat better way to cap off another summer of great TGIF Jazz In The Park performances than with blues guitarist Coco Montoya making his second appearance with a show this Friday August 21, 2009 in Calavera Hills Park.

Over his 30-year career, guitarist and vocalist Coco Montoya’s explosive guitar playing and soul-driven voice have propelled him to the upper reaches of the blues-rock world. Montoya performs non-stop at clubs, concert halls and major festivals all over the world, serving up mind-bending guitar licks and impassioned vocals. “The fiery blues that issue forth from Coco Montoya’s guitar are awe-inspiring and boogie requiring,” shouts The Village Voice.

[Link: TGIF Jazz In The Parks]

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Ruby Summer Around Carlsbad

by The Editors on August 17, 2009

It’s starting to look a little like movie Monday around here, but we just keep finding cool stuff, so we’re putting it up. Even though we’re not really into country pop, we have to agree with Carlsbadistan’s Ruby Summer “the beach gets better south of Orange County.”

[Link: Ruby Summer]

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