The campaign for two seats on City Council has highlighted significant differences among the four candidates. Our most critical challenges require support from other jurisdictions at the regional, state, and federal levels. This means we need leaders who know how to build trust and negotiate alliances. Terry Gaasterland is an eight-year incumbent, so we have ample evidence of her approach to regional relationships. Two damning examples stand out: At SANDAG, instead of supporting the nominees who had majority support for election to Board leadership positions, she chose to participate in a showy, staged walkout in protest of the vote.
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On October 13, a development group, Del Mar Dreams LLC, presented a proposal to the 22nd DAA Board (the Fair Board) for a mega-development on the Fairgrounds: a soccer stadium with 12,000 to 16,000 seats, a 300-room hotel, a 125,000 sq. ft. convention center replacing existing exhibit halls, a multi-level, 1,300-car parking garage, and a retail and restaurant district.
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On September 28, the Coalition to Preserve the Polo Fields Neighborhood held a meeting at La Valle Coastal Club, in furtherance of their goal is to stop and reverse the commercial development of Surf Cup Sports, on the open land known as the “Polo Fields” located in the San Dieguito River Valley, east of Del Mar. Over 100 people
MoreIn a new survey, almost 95% of youth aged 13-17 reported they were using a social media platform. Today it feels as if almost every child has immediate access to the piercing lights of digital screens. Though companies have been attempting to limit the imposition of age restrictions on their platforms, Meta reached a $17 billion settlement with 51
MoreIn the midst of major infrastructure work last September up the road in Oceanside, paleontologist Dr. Joseph El Adli at the site to monitor the process, spotted bones 12’ down below ground level. Work was halted. El Adli and his team excavated. Over the next few days they dug out a total of 12 limb bones, ribs, and fragments
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California recorded its ninth consecutive annual decline in public K–12 enrollment in 2025–26. Public Policy Institute of California’s January 2026 analysis found that about 70% of California school districts had experienced enrollment declines over the preceding decade, and coastal districts have some of the largest losses. Between 2015-16 and 2025-26, Del Mar Heights and Hills schools have experienced a
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I have had the honor of serving on the Del Mar Foundation’s Board of Directors for the past three years. It is with gratitude that I have agreed to serve another three-year term on the Board. Why is DMF important to me and so many others? DMF provided the community with over twenty-five cultural events this year including
MoreFocus on Family CaregiversAccording to research done by AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving, 92% of the 7 million family caregivers in California care for an adult, and most often for a parent. 37% of family caregivers are themselves age 65+. It can reasonably be assumed that these numbers are even greater in Del Mar, where the population
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For almost three decades, the Sandpiper’s volunteer writers and editors have covered our people, our community organizations, our natural and human environment, our cultural and recreational activities, and very importantly our governmental processes, with reliable information and reasoned opinion. This publication depends on the contribution of readers like you. Our December issue will include our annual request for your support. If you would like to donate now, use the “Donate” button here: delmarsandpiper.org/about. Or mail your check, payable to ‘Sandpiper,” to Del Mar Sandpiper, 1155 Camino Del Mar #436, Del Mar, CA 92014. Donations are not tax deductible.
November 2026
Volume 30, Number 9
Print Edition
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In Brief
