I arrived in San Diego in 1969, with Nancy and Chrissy, to begin a long teaching career in the Chemistry Department at UCSD, and luckily we found a home in Del Mar. Around 2015 I started to take pictures of these lovely creatures and realized that the pictures could reveal much more than casual views along the trail. So began my photographic efforts to broaden public understanding of bird life.
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We have all chosen to live here because Del Mar is a truly special community. We are well known for our commitment to environmental protection and our careful attention to our built environment.
MoreOnly a few years ago, I felt as if I were drowning under a wave of fear and confusion. A constant weight of fear lived in my chest – a fear of not
MoreBird flu is causing rising numbers of infections in chickens and cattle, and small numbers of mild infections in humans. California poultry flocks have once again been decimated by bird flu, with over
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The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as the Nation’s Report Card, shows California students struggling with learning loss after the Covid pandemic. Data released by the California Department of Education
MoreOn October 28th, the San Diego City Council voted 6-2 to modify the lease terms for the Surf Club property to allow “commercial uses.” This action violates the terms of the 1983 public
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On December 24, Peter Sprague is on track to give Del Mar the same gift he’s given us every year since 1978: a free concert that brings together musicians from Peter’s deep bench
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Our dog Scout Warren died this week. She was almost 16. Scout was friendly, sweet, curious, sometimes irritating, (mostly) disobedient, insistent (on getting what she wanted), independent, whimsical, and impossibly cute. Above all,
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My wife and I moved to Del Mar at the beginning of 2023 after being in greater San Diego for 8 years, and we fell in love. The friendliness on the streets, the
MoreHoliday Gratitude, Looking Ahead to 2026 The volunteers and staff of DMCC are grateful for the incredible community partners that sustain us throughout the year, but that support is most evident during the
MoreDecember 2025
Volume 29, Number 10
Print Edition
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Since 1997, The Sandpiper has been published and distributed for free by community volunteers, so we depend on your support. Our mission is to inform and engage local residents on issues and activities that are important to the community. And we are committed to preserving Del Mar’s unique community character. We hope you will consider making a gift to support the Del Mar Community Alliance and The Sandpiper. Thank you!
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In Brief
Top to Bottom: High Marea restaurant, which is part Valley Farms Market, preparing for opening; Valley Farms Market adding finishing components; Queenstown Restaurant to bring tastes of New Zealand to Del Mar early next year. Photos: Julie Maxey-Allison
Letter to the Editor
A big shout out to the writers and editors who have been volunteering for almost three decades to produce the only paper in print that focuses exclusively on things Del Mar. I keep the Sandpiper on my desk all month to remind myself of all of the goings on that make this community special: its people, community-based organization projects, government processes, grass roots activities, cultural events, and especially our many efforts to protect our natural resources.
At a time when many of our institutions, liberties, facts, and the free press are under attack, it is very reassuring that the Sandpiper is honoring its mission to support our Community Plan with reliable information and reasoned opinion. I am very proud that our little community continues to be a kind of refuge where we can work, play, agree, and disagree constructively.
The Sandpiper plays a critical role in the fabric of Del Mar. That is why my family makes it a top priority to donate to help pay the costs of producing the Sandpiper. I hope that other families will be similarly motivated to donate generously.
Arlene Prater
Photo: Julie Maxey-Allison
