Joe and Ellen Shirley show photos and mementos from their time in Del Mar during the 1940s. Photo: Claire Harlin

By Claire Harlin
editor@delmartimes.net

Joe and Ellen Shirley remember coming to Del Mar in 1941, when the area was a beehive of military activity. Tents and army buildings spread over what is now the Torrey Pines Golf Course, and the University of California, San Diego was once Camp Callan, where the Shirleys both worked as cooks in the 9th Infantry.

Their memories of Del Mar life in the 1940s have just as strongly sustained them through the years as their fruitful marriage, of which they celebrated 70 years this month.

“Love and understanding each other is the main thing that’s kept us going,” said Joe Shirley, 90. “Trust and determination. Everybody has ups and downs and we had ours, but we managed to work through them and we still love each other.”

The story of how the couple met is a funny one: Joe said he actually dated Ellen’s sister before he dated Ellen.

“But she found her another boyfriend and I found me another girlfriend,” he said, triggering a beaming smile from his 91-year-old wife. “I kept her and didn’t let her get away.”

The two got married in 1941 in their tiny hometown of Newland, N.C., which only had a population of 700 in 2000.

“We’re just some old hillbillies,” said Joe, who took a break from his card game with Ellen on Valentine’s Day to interview for this story. “We lived on top of a mountain, and there was snow on the ground and the preacher climbed that mountain and married us.”

Soon after the wedding, the couple came to Del Mar, where they worked 14- hour days as cooks at the Army hospital. They lived on what’s now Fourth Street, and they remember hauling water in a tank from their landlord’s home on Crest Road to their cistern, which they shared with their neighbors.

“Everything was military in Del Mar until 1945,” said Joe. “When we were here, from the top of the grade up Fourth Street there wasn’t anything if you look east except coyotes, rattlesnakes and jackrabbits.”

After World War II, Joe worked as a cook in the Del Mar Hotel, which is now L’Auberge.
“Del Mar was considered a resort town,” he said. “When the races started all the people from Hollywood came to Del Mar and stayed at the hotel.”

After working for the hotel about a year, the Shirleys moved back to North Carolina and then to Venice, Calif., where Joe worked for decades as a cook at several local coffee shops and diners. He said his specialty was breakfast.

“I cooked for 46 years and then decided I was through,” he said.

Upon Joe’s retirement in 1993, the couple moved back to Del Mar and bought the house they live in now. The two attend Grace Point Church, Joe is an avid bowler and Ellen loves quilting.

The two have five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, and Joe said “family is everything,” to them.

“I thank the Lord he’s let us live and be together as long as we have,” said Joe. “I give a lot of credit to him because he’s kept us both fairly healthy.”

More than 400 boys and girls from Solana Beach, Carmel Valley and Del Mar participate in Little League baseball in the Solana Beach league. This year, players from age 5-14 will compete in divisions from tee ball to juniors.

The opening day ceremony begins with a player parade and will include special guests, a ceremonial first pitch, an honor guard as well as musical tributes, including the national anthem, from local rock band, the Styrotones, which is made up of three Little League players. Players will have photos taken following the ceremony and then games will commence at 11 a.m.

“Little League baseball in Solana Beach is not only a long-standing tradition, but each year provides a fantastic environment for our kids and our community,” said league president Paul Gange. “We welcome the community to come out and enjoy a day of baseball on opening day, or any time throughout our season which will run until early June. We play games every Saturday, and Tuesday – Thursday during the week.”
Solana Beach Little League can be found online at www.solanabeachlittleleague.com or via email at info@solanabeachlittleleague.com.

By Solana Beach Mayor Joe Kellejian

I would like to talk about what I believe makes a great community.  It’s when the business community and the City have a great working relationship, each benefitting and thriving off one another.

When the business community is strong, the community is strong. Businesses are the lifeblood of the City.  Not only do you provide the needed goods and services, but you provide sales tax revenue to maintain and improve the operation of this wonderful city.

One of the primary goals of the City in the coming year is to better assist the business community in attracting and retaining “clean” businesses as they are a great fit for Solana Beach.

I again, truly believe that in order to sustain a vibrant community, you need to have a thriving business sector, and the City is here to assist the Chamber of Commerce to achieve this goal.

So with that being said, I would like to briefly discuss a few significant projects that will be breaking ground in the very near future that will have tremendous positive impacts to both the City and the business community.

First, we have the sand replenishment projects that will have a beneficial impact throughout the community. Increasing the amount of sand on our local beaches will result in increased recreational opportunities throughout the year, dramatically impacting tourism and drawing people into the City to shop at our businesses and eat at our restaurants.

The City is excited about the regional beach sand project which is expected to begin this April, and the federal Army Corps of Engineers project, which is on track to be approved in 2013. The proposed federal sand replenishment project would be a 50 year project with continuous sand replenishment, which will have a significant and ongoing positive impact on our local economy.

Next, I would like to discuss the exciting Highway 101 Revitalization project that is scheduled to break ground this year as well. Some of the project improvements include widening the sidewalks ,narrowing the medians while at the same time enhancing the landscaping and increasing the number of parking spaces on the west side.

Other positive aspects of the project will include making the Solana Beach Highway 101 Corridor more pedestrian and bicycle friendly, reducing speeds of vehicles, installation of art nodes and incorporating various “interesting people meeting/gathering places” along the corridor.

But what I am really excited about is that once the project is complete, it will be the final piece of the “downtown loop” that the City has always envisioned.

It will complete the loop between the Cedros Design District, the pedestrian bridges and the Coastal Rail Trail to now include a revitalized and thriving Highway 101 corridor.

We believe that this will turn Solana Beach into a true “destination” location that will attract people from all over, especially with the Train Station located right in the middle of it all.

People will come to Solana Beach to eat, shop, and enjoy the natural beauty of the area, in a pedestrian and bicycle friendly style. Highway 101 will no longer be the cut through to I-5 and will be the envy of the cities state wide.

Finally, I would like to briefly talk about the NCTD Train Station development. I’m excited and optimistic that the recent positive momentum of the City and NCTD finally working together will result in a development at the train station site that fits the community character and will benefit the business community as well.

The recent Memorandum of Understanding that was signed by all parties is a significant step in the right direction to finally get an appropriate development at that site that will positively impact the “downtown loop”. The right type of development will further entice people to take the train to our beautiful City and get out and eat, shop and enjoy the area instead of just passing through on the way to another destination.

We truly believe that the right type of development will be a great asset to the community and we are dedicated to bringing something to the community for their review and comments sometime this year.

Now, I would like to switch gears and discuss how the City and the Chamber of Commerce can work together to develop and implement programs that will benefit the business community as a whole.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this talk, I believe that a truly thriving City must have a strong business community, and the City is motivated and dedicated to building a strong bond with the Chamber to make this a reality.

So, I would like to take this opportunity to discuss a couple of new programs that I would like to focus on in the coming year that will bring us closer together to help out local business community.

The first program I would like to work with the Chamber on promoting is the SDG&E Direct Install Program. This is a free service provided by SDG&E where trained technicians will come to your business and provide, for free, certain energy efficiency and conservation upgrades that will lower your energy demand and therefore lower your energy costs, saving you money.

This program is aimed at small businesses, so please stay tuned as we work with the Chamber to get you more information.

The second program I would like to see happen this year is the development of a “Solana Beach Car-Free Vacation” program.

Several other cities throughout the state have very successful programs already in place, so it would just be a matter of utilizing an already successful model and tailoring it to our City’s needs.   The basic program involves Amtrak offering a discount to those who travel to Solana Beach by train and sign-up for the “Solana Beach Car-Free Vacation.”

The program also involves local businesses giving  incentives or discounts to those vacationing here if they come without their cars or park their cars and get out and walk or bike.

Local businesses will benefit from the increased exposure and revenue from those utilizing the program, as well as free advertising on public outreach materials.

This provides a benefit to the local economy as well as promoting the City as a clean and green community that promotes alternative modes of transportation and reducing our carbon footprints.

Next, I will be asking the City Council to implement a local “Clean Business” award program, designed to help businesses become sustainable or “clean.”

This will be primarily a City driven program but will involve local businesses as well. I won’t get into too many details since its still in the discussion stages, but it will most likely be a self-certification process that involves Pollution Prevention, Energy Conservation, Water Conservation and Solid Waste Reduction programs.

The businesses that qualify would benefit by receiving free publicity through the City in the forms of eBlasts, website mentions, “Shorelines” newsletter highlights and  a certificate to hang in their place of business. Again, this will be driven by the City and will need Council approval, but I wanted to just mention it you, so you are aware of another exciting opportunity.

Finally, I would like to let you all know about another new program that has exciting potential to boost the local economy.

The City is currently working with the 22nd Ag District to provide a free shuttle during the fair and horse-racing season.

The shuttle will be paid for by the Fairgrounds and will run daily from the fairgrounds through Solana Beach and stop at pre-determined locations on Dahlia Street, Plaza Street, at the Train Station and on South Cedros Avenue to drop people off to enjoy our local businesses. This will be a great marketing opportunity for local businesses to capitalize on during a busy season for the fairgrounds.

The City will assist our local businesses in this marketing effort to reach as many people as possible and entice them to come eat and shop in Solana Beach.

So, in conclusion, I would like to just thank the Chamber of Commerce for allowing me to discuss the City’s plans for the upcoming year to enhance the local economy in conjunction with the local businesses.

The City and the Chamber have a great working relationship and we hope to just continue strengthening this bond to benefit the community as a whole.

Remember, a strong business sector is the key to a vibrant and thriving community.

Thank You!

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District 3 County Supervisor Pam Slater-Price with Jacqueline Winterer. Photo/Claire Harlin

By Claire Harlin

editor@delmartimes.net

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors declared Feb. 21 to be “Jacqueline Winterer Day” throughout San Diego County.

The proclamation is in honor of the longtime Del Mar resident who played a key role in the issuance this month of a consent decree ordering the 22nd District Agricultural Association to comply with the state Coastal Act and to restore portions of the San Dieguito River Valley damaged by previous violations.

According to the proclamation, announced by District 3 County Supervisor Pam Slater-Price, Winterer gathered evidence and testified repeatedly before the Del Mar Fairgrounds Board of Directors, and she “doggedly demanded redress, even where her pleas seemed to fall on deaf ears.”

Winterer also traveled great distances on multiple occasions to testify before the California Coastal Commission, and the commission’s recent 28-page consent decree cites many of the violations Winterer noted in her testimony.

Del Mar City Councilman Don Mosier called the achievement a “watershed moment for Del Mar.”

“We’ve been working on this for so many years, and it will really change things for the future,” he said. “This is the biggest accomplishment since I’ve been on the council.”

For more, see story titled “Fairgrounds legal disputes may soon be settled” under News category.

editor@delmartimes.net

The Del Mar City Council on Feb. 21 voted unanimously to support the San Diego County Water Authority’s (SDCWA) rate challenge lawsuit against the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD), in which a Superior Court judge on Feb. 17 reaffirmed an order granting discovery in the case.

SDCWA spokesman Dennis Cushman presented the issue to the council in what Councilman Don Mosier described as a “convincing argument.” In its lawsuit, SDCWA claims the water district illegally overcharges San Diego County ratepayers tens of millions of dollars annually for the transportation of water and also forces the county to subsidize the water costs of MWD’s other 25 member agencies. Cushman estimated the overcharges add up to about $40 million, and 55 percent of water costs in this region comes from payments to MWD, a consortium of 26 cities and water districts that provides drinking water to nearly 19 million people in several Southern California counties.

The lawsuit also claims MWD breached a 2003 contract with the water authority in which it pledged to follow applicable law in charging for water transportation, and it challenges MWD’s imposition of a contract provision that SDCWA claims is designed to prevent a rate challenge in court.

In reaffirming a prior ruling last week, San Francisco Superior Court Judge Richard A. Kramer rejected attempts by MWD to assert limits on discovery before the process even commenced, according to SDCWA.

District 3 County Supervisor Pam Slater-Price said the County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to consider a similar resolution supporting the lawsuit, and urged the Del Mar City Council to do the same. Nine local water districts have also declared support.

“We need to nail this down in a court of law,” she said. “It’s unfair to our ratepayers who have been paying through the nose for a long time.”

MWD claims SDCWA agreed to its set costs in 2003 to transport water from the Imperial Irrigation District (IID).

According to the MWD website, “SDCWA chose to pay more for IID water than it would for Metropolitan’s supplies to achieve a degree of water independence and additional reliability.

“However, SDCWA has no pipeline network to transport this water from IID and can only use Metropolitan’s facilities,” the site states. MWD further claims that SDCWA’s lawsuit seeks to avoid paying its share of the maintenance and transportation system that involves carrying water from the Colorado River (more than 200 miles to the east) and from Northern California’s Feather River system (more than 400 miles away) through a complex system of pipes, canals and aqueducts in which water is lifted hundreds of feet over mountains and hills by massive pumps.

To learn more about the lawsuit and to read the legal documents filed in the case, visit: www.sdcwa.org/mwdrate-challenge.

The man, who officials said was in his 50s, was with a group of three family and friends, when a member of the party spotted him face down on his boogie board around 4 p.m.

“At first he thought he was looking at fish, but then he realized there was  a major problem,” Vergne said.

His group and some bystanders brought him to shore. Paramedics and lifeguards arrived on scene and tried to revive him, but he was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. — Claire Harlin

I believe that One Paseo presents an excellent opportunity for Carmel Valley residents to embrace smart, prospective city planning. As our community continues to grow, it makes most sense to meet local needs in a way that fosters economic growth, promotes environmental sustainability, and that brings locals together, rather than keeping families isolated in suburbs. The creation of One Paseo will create jobs and local tax revenue, provide a pedestrian-friendly center to our community, and bring shops and dining options (like a Trader Joe’s hopefully!) close to home so that people won’t have to make as many driving trips out of the neighborhood anymore.

This project will fill an important gap in Carmel Valley, but it will do so in a way that is in keeping with the close-knit character of our community. I am impressed with the level of community involvement in the design of One Paseo, and I have every confidence that as new information about any traffic or environmental impacts emerge, these considerations will be addressed in a transparent, responsible way. I understand that Kilroy is already committed to spending millions in order to efficiently handle new traffic, just as they are committed to using the highest standards in “green” building.

I would like to see this project move forward so that we can finally enjoy a community-gathering place of our own.

For critically ill children, it’s hard enough being hospitalized. The changing numbers and constant drip of the bedside IV monitor can only add more stress to a traumatic experience.

Audrey Eller displays a blanket she made as part of her Covers With Love effort. She’s given more than 50 similar blankets to Rady Children’s Hospital. photo: Claire Harlin

In addition to the pole covers, Eller has designed a fleece blanket that fits perfectly over a child’s lap when sitting in a wheelchair.

“They can take it with them when they go to therapy and there is a pocket on top that can hold a book or a journal,” she said.

Eller has made about 50 of the blankets for kids at Rady, many of which will be used in Rady’s “Camp Reach for the Sky,” which is geared specifically for kids with cancer. At the camp, headed by Steve Barbosa, each child will be given a blanket with a flashlight inside the pocket.

Barbosa gave a moving presentation of thanks to attendees of the Feb. 15 Del Mar-Solana Beach Optimist Club meeting. He said kids are often easier to treat than adults because they have faith and still believe in magic.

“When patients are loved that helps with the healing process,” said Barbosa, who has a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and said he studied the magic different cultures have embraced in objects, such as crucifixes.

He asked Eller how long it takes to construct one blanket, and she replied, “about an hour and a half.”

“That time and energy doesn’t just float away,” he said. “Fundamentally, these objects are cloth and thread, but they mean more than that. They are a symbol of someone else’s love, time and effort — and that’s magic.”

Eller’s idea to make the pole covers sprung from her own traumatic hospitalization experience.

“I remember the drip, drip, drip and it was terrible,” she said.

Rady spokeswoman Dawn Ivy said Eller has also helped make more than 300 baby caps and booties for hospital patients.

“The kids who receive these gifts in the hospital really cherish them,” she said. “When we see patients 10 years later, they still have them.”

For more information or to drop off cover donations, visit www.coverswithlove.com; 760-510-9535; email: audrey@coverswithlove.com

TPHS varsity team: front row: Etai Sherabi, Rui Adachi, Alex Mejia, Tristan Bodmer, Ramsey Sutton, Chandler Bleakley, JT Esquibel, Parker Klein, Austin Freel, Jason Burton, Mikey Reed, Sam Horton, Jeremy Dinkin, Jake Heilbrunn; back row: Dean Meltz, Ryan McKee, Patrick Davis, Eddie Bazua, Colin Brown, Scott LaBeau, Johnny Chorbajian, Max Grust, Brett Sampiere, Garrett Heine, Parker Radford, Justin Liu, Chris Smith, Scott Skinner, Lucas Dousette, coach Andy Hargreaves

The 2011-2012 season has been a huge success for the Torrey Pines boys soccer program. All three levels have experienced winning seasons while playing very attractive soccer.

TPHS freshman team: top row, from left: coach Adam Meltz; Kale Thompson; Eren Esner; Noah Levinson; Brandon Wright; Alec Turner; Mathew Moldenhauer; Blake McAtee; Mathew Botsford; Mathew Coughlin; Robin Elihu; Michael Poulos; Bottom row, left-right: Cameroon Brantz; Ben Engfelt; Arvon Oskoui; Bailey Buckley; Cole LaPolla; Brandon Hong; Jagger Havlik; Ryan Friedman; Liam Kelly; Simon Ilko; Allen Katz

The junior varsity team had an equally impressive season finishing with a 24-1-1 record. Having won the Santana tournament they fought a tough contest in the final of the Poway invitational losing on PK’s. The Palomar league gave them a platform to go undefeated and show a style of soccer that any soccer fan would love to watch.

The varsity team has had an outstanding season winning both the Santana tournament and the Southern Cal Invitational tournaments. They started 2012 with a very difficult schedule to help them prepare for the weekly battles of the Palomar league. They clinched the Palomar League Title with a win against Ramona on Feb. 16.

TPHS JV team: front row: Brian Graybill, Jake Heilbrunn, Erik Mejia, Hunter Willoughby, Brandon Liu, Aaron Levis, Charlie Duckett, Alex Baracchini, Patrick Koeneke, Jordan Katz, Jack Dempsey, Tyler Valdes, Luke Sampiere, Jonah Besquin; left row: coach Danny Berthiaume, Connor Hargreaves, Claudio Ghetti, John Roussos, Elliot Patrick, Tyler Laird, Brian Ko, Austin Nicholson, Erik McKee, Uri Bialostozky, Thomas Mackey, Brandon Bettig, Louie DeFrancesco, Eli Bessudo, Tyler Elwell

Please come out and support Torrey Pines this Friday, Feb. 24, at home, for their first CIF game.