The Sandpiper endorses Congressmember Mike Levin and our 3rd District County Supervisor, Terra Lawson-Remer, in their reelection bids this November. Mike and Terra have been strong advocates for Del Mar on many issues of importance, and have brought Del Mar critical funding and support for many projects, including funding for North County beach nourishment and for Del Mar’s SCOUP (sand replenishment permit) and living levee projects, the River Path project, flood protection, bridge rebuilding, housing, and more.
MoreThe Sandpiper Endorses
Del Mar voters will find very limited ability to shape the City Council this November, with three candidates for the three seats up for election. So it is a certainty that incumbents Tracy Martinez and Dan Quirk, and Planning Commissioner John Spelich will be elected. That Del Mar voters do not have an opportunity to oust twice-censured Dan Quirk, who was found by an independent investigator and his Council colleagues to have repeatedly engaged in misconduct, including violating Council Policies, the Municipal Code, and the City Manager’s contract, is deeply distressing.
The cities of Del Mar, Solana Beach and the 22nd District Agricultural Association have all approved a resolution to be forwarded to SANDAG that addresses concerns about the planning process that led to the three proposed alignments of the railroad tracks around or under Del Mar.
MoreWith three candidates for three council seats, Del Mar will have one new council member (John Spelich), and two second term members (Tracy Martinez and Dan Quirk) each with four years of experience. Terry Gaasterland is halfway through her second term. The resignation of Dwight Worden
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While it often feels like Democrats and Republicans can’t find much to agree on these days, if we dig a little deeper we will find that we do have at least one thing in common – we agree that the most important reason to reduce global
MoreAs the 2024 election season comes to its final stretch, high school students are feeling the crossroads of political engagement and anxiety. While some students are eagerly getting involved in campus activities, others are feeling the heavy weight of polarization on their campuses and school communities.
MoreHospitalizations due to COVID-19 infections have had two peaks this year, one in January and a second in August. Rates in California were higher than the national average, but they have begun to decline as of the beginning of September. New COVID virus variants (nicknamed FLiRT
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Del Mar Thoroughbred Club will host the 2024 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, thoroughbred racing’s most prestigious and lucrative international event, Nov. 1-2. This will mark the third time Del Mar has been selected as site of the event since 2017, reflecting the popularity of DMTC’s “seaside
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Public Schools are under threat in the US during this election. As an elected trustee-school board member for 24 years in the San Dieguito Union High School District, I believe that quality public schools should be the cornerstone of a community. The job of a Board
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In last month’s column I wrote that my term as DMF president ends this month. Set to take over is Tom Neuman, who was appointed to the Grants Committee in May 2022, became chair of the committee in July 2022, and joined the DMF board in
More2024 Fall Benefit Celebration! Question: What event combines brain-teasing fun, exciting competition, and the chance to make a difference for seniors in your community? Answer: DMCC’s 2024 Fall Benefit Celebration – Trivia Night! Del Mar Community Connections 2024 Annual Fall Benefit will be held on Saturday,
MoreOctober 2024
Volume 28, Number 8
Print Edition
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In Brief
November 2024 election information
Every active registered voter in San Diego County will receive a ballot in the mail the week of October 6, 2024. Check your voter registration status now at: voterstatus.sos.ca.gov.
Find key election dates, official ballot drop box locations and in-person voting sites and hours of operation, or register to vote (by October 21st) at: sdvote.com. Note that in recent years, official ballot drop boxes have been located in front of City Hall and inside the Del Mar Library. Vote early if you can.
On the final day of voting, Tuesday, November 5, all vote centers, official ballot drop boxes, and the Registrar’s office will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Watermark: A rendering of the 50 unit project near our traffic circle. The building permit application is currently under review by staff, without public review of the project due to state “by right” law.
Cliff Dwellers
8th Street staging area. Multiple large machines are digging down to add 50’ long, many thousand pound “soldier piles” to harden the top bluffs during the day. Meanwhile, at night work is being done with attendant noise below on the beach as SANDAG continues to micro manage stabilizations of our bluffs to hopefully avoid major and lesser collapse crises.
Photos: Julie Maxey-Allison
Fungus Among Us
Representatives of California State Parks have noticed that trees at the reserve in La Jolla have been infected with a fungus called pitch canker (Fusarium circinatum), which has the potential to damage or kill the rare Torrey Pines trees. Unfortunately, the fungus has spread to Del Mar and it is infecting mature trees in several neighborhoods. The signs of infection are dead needles near the end of branches and pine sap droplets below the tree. Local arborist Andy McCracken said that there is no treatment currently available.
Books R Us
Happily, we have the freedom to read-or not. The San Diego County Board of Supervisors passed a policy that allows our 33 San Diego County libraries to carry books labeled “challenged and banned” that have been forced out of some libraries across our nation.
Creeping censorship is now and always has been an issue resulting in not only censorship but banishing and burning and banning books. Readers, read on. Your choice.
Solar Savings
The Del Mar City Hall has 120 solar panels on its roof, and they are connected to a battery storage system in the lower garage. Since installation in 2018, the system has produced 616 MWh (megawatt hours) of electricity and reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 477 tons. For the month of August, the SDG&E bill was reduced by more than $4000. Since installation, the estimated savings to the city has been $246,400.
The newly opened Yoga Barre is a hot yoga and barre studio on the upper level of the Del Mar Plaza. The studio offers a variety of classes and pricing points. 1555 Camino Del Mar. Photos: Julie Maxey-Allison
