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.
by The Editors on May 11, 2009
Paula Abdul is now claiming that even though she was quoted in Ladies Home Journal saying that she spent last Thanksgiving at the La Costa Resort and Spa kicking her drug habit she was in Carlsbad to hike, bike, do yoga, and hit the spa and not, we repeat, not to kick her habit, according to a story in the E Online.
“It was very stressful for me to hear that and to be quoted saying something I never said,” Paula said on WKQI’s Mojo in the Morning radio show today. “I’ve never checked into a rehab clinic. I’ve never been addicted or abused drugs, and I’ve never been addicted or abused alcohol. I’ve never even been drunk in my life.”
Hey, Paula can visit Carlsbad any time she wants, but if she’s never abused drugs how does she explain this.
[Link: LA Times and E Online]
by The Editors on May 11, 2009
A “showdown” was scheduled for today at 1 PM in a dispute between BRCP HEF Hotel Tenant LLC, the owner of the Four Seasons Resort Aviara and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, the Toronto-based company that manages The Four Seasons Aviara, according to a story in the North County Times.
The struggle dates to Friday, March 27, when the hotel’s owner attempted to extricate itself from a contract with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, a Toronto-based company that manages Aviara and dozens of other luxury resorts around the world. . . But instead of waiting for an arbitration panel’s directions, representatives of BRCP HEF Hotel Tenant LLC, the Delaware company that owns the resort, entered the hotel around 1 a.m. the following Sunday, picked the locks in a manager’s office and posted private security guards outside, according to legal documents that Four Seasons filed in San Diego federal court Monday morning.
Last week BRCP HEF Hotel Tenant reportedly named the New Jersey company Dolce Hotels and Resorts as the new managers of the resort property. Wonder how long it will take them to get all the signs, letterhead, menus, plastic cups, and keys swapped out with the new name? Whatever that will be.
[Link: North County Times and San Diego Union Tribune]
by Richard J. Riehl on May 8, 2009
I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry when I heard Keith Blackburn’s robo-call to action. While other North County cities struggle with budget cuts threatening vital services, Carlsbad’s rookie city councilman was asking for our help to keep his campaign promise to bring a second swimming pool to the city. I wondered if he’d been inspired by Congressman Bilbray’s recent onslaught of irritating electronic invitations to his “teletown meetings.” Was this just the beginning of year-round campaigning by our local politicos?
Although I didn’t attend the council meeting, I did watch the videotape of it several days later on the city’s Web site. To my surprise, I found myself in total agreement with Blackburn’s argument in favor of starting work now on the Alga Norte Park and Aquatic Center. [click to continue…]
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.
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