by The Editors on May 13, 2009
Most knew that it was only a formality, but this morning the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board met to vote on Poseidon Resources proposed desalination plant in Carlsbadistan’s Aqua Hedionda lagoon. And guess what? It was a unanimous approval according to a Michael Burge story in the San Diego Union-Tribune.
The ruling clears the way for Poseidon Resources to turn 50 million gallons of ocean water a day into drinking water on the grounds of the Encina Power Station at Agua Hedionda Lagoon. . . Peter MacLaggan, Poseidon’s senior vice president, said the decision means the company can begin building the $320 million plant, with the goal of providing water by early 2012. . . The water quality board has required Poseidon to create 55.4 acres of new wetlands in Southern California to provide a nursery for fish and other marine organisms that will be killed in the desalination plant’s processes.
And “progress” marches on.
[Link: San Diego Union-Tribune]
by The Editors on May 13, 2009
Beginning July 1, 2009 the Carlsbadistan Municipal Water District is joining the San Diego County Water Authority and moving all of us into a “Level 2 Drought” alert.
What does that mean? Not a whole lot actually. We’ll be restricted to watering only three times a week (at night) for no more than 10 minutes, we won’t be able to hose down our driveways, and we’ll have to ask for water in local restaurants. Follow the jump for all the details.
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by The Editors on May 13, 2009
Shoppers at the Vons Supermarket on Tamarack this morning were greeted by closed doors and a cardboard sign on a cart that read, “Sorry Store Closed.”
It was a scheduled closing, according to a store employee. “We are having our condenser unit switched out and have all our refrigerated products packed in dry ice,” he said. “We had signs up all week explaining it, but they are easy to miss.”
The store is scheduled to reopen this afternoon around 5 PM after the new refrigeration system is installed.
by The Editors on May 12, 2009
As much as we would like to do actual reportage on the Battle of Aviara, just posting the press releases from the two sides is becoming quite fun in and of itself.
Here’s a taste of what you can read from Aviara ownership group BRCP HEF Hotel Tenant, LLC in full after the jump:
“Our client, the owners of the resort, have terminated Four Seasons — and believe that Four Seasons is occupying the resort without authority to do so,” says William A. Brewer III, partner at Bickel & Brewer and lead counsel for the owners. “Upon being notified by Four Seasons that it would physically oppose owners’ efforts to install a new management company, our clients chose not to risk a confrontation.”
Apparently, the Four Seasons has turned back to owners for the time being. Stay tuned.
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by The Editors on May 12, 2009
Our favorite Carlsbadistan-based life technologies company Life Technology has been “working overtime” lately to get out equipment that helps researchers identify infectious diseases like H1N1, aka Swine Flu, according to a story in the San Diego Business Journal.
“We have a surge of demand for this particular instrument from the labs associated with the public health network,” he said. “We are redirecting inventory to these labs as a priority.” . . The instruments, named Applied Biosystems 7500 and Applied Biosystems 7500 Fast Dx, cost between $50,000 and $60,000 apiece. Dansky said the systems were only developed in the last few years and were originally approved by the FDA for identifying avian flu.
On the one hand we’re worried about Swine Flu, but as shareholders of Life Technology we have to think it’s good for business, right?
[Link: San Diego Business Journal]
by The Editors on May 12, 2009
Lleymi Cruz and Eddie Canales (pictured above with BGCC Executive Director Kelly Morrison Pop) were named Boys & Girls Club of Carlsbad “employees” of the year at the 9th Annual Super Star Recognition Dinner.
Cruz began working with the Village Branch five years ago, and is decribed as “a devoted employee who cares about her job and the kids she is responsible for, she wears a lot of different hats, but is officially responsible for SMART Girls and arts programming.”
Canales has been with the Club in some capacity for over twenty years! “The Club members absolute love Eddie,” says Jim Salvia, La Costa Unit Director. “He is always upbeat and positive.” Eddie is responsible for the Triple Play program.
For more info on the Boys & Girls Club click the link.
[Link: Boys & Girls Club of Carlsbad]
by The Editors on May 12, 2009
Brendan Sheppard Missett, the son of Jazzersize founder Judi Sheppard Missett, is kicking off his new collection of “new works and documentation of his latest installations” at The Paul Bartl Gallery at New Village Arts Theatre on May 21, 2009 with an artists reception and walkthrough on June 5, 2009 from 5:30 to 7 PM.
Brendan Sheppard-Missett’s sprawling, inviting, and highly-stylized installations often function much more like clubhouses than gallery/art shows and his use of material has a bag-of-tricks approach that proves narcotic. Whether you are standing next to a pile of bananas and pineapples under a neon sign that reads “No Warning–Free Fruit”, or you bump into a scraggly, Old West-style outlaw who raves and rambles about being from the future, the impact of Sheppard-Missett’s coltish magnum will reveal itself with an unusual frivolity.
The show opens in conjunction with the New Village Arts Theatre’s production of Four Dogs and a Bone by John Patrick Shanley. We’re not going to miss any of this.
[Link: New Village Arts Theatre]
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by The Editors on May 12, 2009
On Saturday when the Four Seasons said it had “no intention to voluntarily relinquish its role as manager” of the Four Season Aviara they weren’t kidding.
The company that manages the hotel has reportedly erected barricades to keep the resort owners’ new management team off the property, according to a story in the San Diego Union-Tribune.
William Brewer, an attorney for Broadreach, yesterday said the company was forced to delay its move to install a new management firm, New Jersey-based Dolce Hotels and Resorts, because Four Seasons erected barricades and checkpoints at the entrances to the 329-room resort to thwart the move. . . . Both sides were in federal court yesterday. Four Seasons was seeking an order to require Broadreach to continue its employment until issues are resolved in arbitration. Broadreach was seeking an order to allow it to take possession of the resort. . . Oral arguments on the motions are scheduled May 27.
Vacations in the danger zone.
[Link: San Diego Union-Tribune]
by The Editors on May 12, 2009
It’s turning into a pretty bad week for proposed desalination plant builders Poseidon Resources.
First, the California Coastal Commission is “rethinking their permit” after Executive Director Peter Douglas noticed that “information Poseidon provided that panel was inconsistent with information it provided the commission last year,” and that these changes could result in a larger fish kill, according to a Michael Burge story in the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Then, experts quoted in a New York Times story claim that it will be very difficult if not impossible for Poseidon Resources to get financing for their Carlsbadistan project if stalled desal projects in Australia, United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia are any indicator. While Poseidon says they could get financing in place in “six weeks.” Tom Pankratz, director of the International Desalination Association, said such a deal would fly in the face of an international trend of stalled projects.”
Pankratz noted that larger desalination projects in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Australia have been left flailing for financial partners at crucial junctures. He doubted Poseidon’s reality would be different. . . “Right now, financing is difficult for any large project, and desalination plants are no exception,” Pankratz said. “For them to say six weeks in this financial climate, that sounds optimistic to me.”
The project goes up for a vote at the San Diego Regional water board “at 9 a.m. Wednesday at 9174 Sky Park Ct. in San Diego,” according to the North County Times.
[Links: San Diego Union-Tribune and The New York Times and North County TImes]
by The Editors on May 11, 2009
This afternoon we got an email from Tony Pistillo, the director of public relations at the Four Season’s. It contained a statement that was released on May 9, 2009 regarding the battle for Avaria. Here it is:
Four Seasons announced today that it has no intention to voluntarily relinquish its role as manager of Four Seasons Resort Aviara in Carlsbad CA. Four Seasons has managed the Resort since 1997.
Very recently, a dispute arose with regard to the 2009 operating budget for the Resort and the Owner’s obligation to provide working capital necessary to fund debt service. That dispute is currently the subject of an arbitration proceeding, which Four Seasons fully respects and will abide by. Four Seasons has fulfilled all of its obligations under the relevant management agreements. Four Seasons intends to vigorously defend its rights in the arbitration process currently underway.
Four Seasons will also seek substantial damages from the Owner (which is beneficially owned Broadreach Capital Partners and asset-managed by Maritz, Wolff & Co.) and its counsel for their conduct in damaging the operation and reputation of the Resort and of Four Seasons.
Without knowing any of the back story we’ll just say it looks like this might get a little more involved before everything is settled.
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