Encinitas Kiwanis Club “Books Ahoy” Program

The Encinitas Kiwanis Club has been operating a “mobile library” program delivering books to local schools and the Head Start Program since 2005.  Calling the program “Books Ahoy”, the volunteers have been using a pickup truck as their delivery vehicle.  Without a dedicated vehicle, books were loaded and unloaded after every event!

Former Ambulance is Donated to the Cause

Recently, San Diego Medical Services Enterprise, the emergency medical response provider for Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar and Rancho Santa Fe donated a retired ambulance to the Kiwanis mobile literacy program.

A Huge Savings in Time – Meaning More Books for More Kids!

The new ambulance-turned-bookmobile will cut the Kiwanis work load in half and allow these dedicated volunteers to expand this valuable program.  That’s what I call SERIOUS recycling!

I am a proud and happy Cardiff CA home owner.  I love being so close to the beach, I love our cute little post office that never has a line, I love our little Cardiff Town Center that has all the boutiques, restaurants and amenities one could ever need, especially Cardiff Seaside Market, and I love our beautiful and uniquely designed Cardiff by the Sea library.  It has a great collection of children’s books that my kids enjoy, and a fantastic “Book Nook”, where gently used books are sold. 

Well, our cute little library is about to get bigger and better!  In December, a scheduled ground breaking will commence a project that will add an additional 1,200 square feet to the existing structure.  Fortunately, the additions will be in keeping with the library’s familiar sea shell architecture, and will include an expanded community meeting room, a larger computer room with additional terminals and a widened children’s area.

The Cardiff library is already known for its “green” features.  Solar Voltaic panels provide electricity and a north facing glass wall provides great natural lighting.  Wherever possible, recycled materials were used to build the library, and the proposed landscaping will be highlighted with a dry creek bed surrounded by a drought resistant garden. 

The expanded library will be a great place for Cardiff CA home owners and visitors alike to get away from their routine; a place where people can interact, study or just enjoy a great book in a beautiful relaxing setting.  For help finding a Cardiff CA home of your own so you can enjoy this wonderful library and the surrounding “walkable” community, visit our website www.DreamHomesByTheBeach.com or give us a call (760-815-1318).

Just a reminder:

The new area code overlay, 442, which has been optional until now, finally becomes mandatory on October 24th.  That means ALL calls made in north San Diego County must include all 10 digits, WITH the area code (well, 11 digits if you include the “1″), even if you’re calling across the street.  Rates for local calls will remain the same…

The overlay system means that any new numbers in the area will have the new 442 area code, while all numbers currently with the 760 area code will keep it.  Again, because these two area codes overlap in the same area, one must specify the 3-digit code on ALL calls.

That may seem like a nuisance, but for those of us who live in Cardiff CA homes, Encinitas homes, Leucadia homes or owning property in other areas of North San Diego County, we have been spared the huge expense and inconvenience involved in changing out all our databases, business stationary, etc.

For more details on the overlay code, the numerous advantages and why it won out over a geographical split, read my previous post The Power of Community Rallying at DelMarCaliforniaRealEstateSearch.com

Not only surfers are drawn to this town – if you’re a family with kids, Encinitas CA is just the place for you!  This coastal community has once again been recognized nationally, this time for its dedication to the well being of our youth. 

Playground at Cardiff Sports Park

Named a “Playful City USA” by the non-profit group KaBOOM, Encinitas CA was one of only 93 cities across the United States that made this family health-oriented list.  Award was based on the cities’ attitude and actions toward providing areas within the community where kids can play and take part in outside activities.

KaBOOM is a national nonprofit organization that seeks to create areas that are “great places to play within walking distance to home”.  The goal of the award program is to share creative ideas to foster this objective.  The KaBOOM organization has said that our country is facing two monumental deficits. One is a lack of unstructured play among our children and the other is a lack of resources to address that problem.  I couldn’t agree more!

A Toddler Enjoying Cottonwood Creek Park

Encinitas CA made the list largely due to its 374 acres of parks, beaches and open space including over 40 miles of hiking trails.  These areas are dedicated specifically to the health and fitness of its residents and visitors.   Places like Moonlight Beach, with surf camp, summer concerts and year round beach activities is just what KaBOOM was looking for.   Cottonwood Creek Park, with its climbing rock, tennis courts, jungle gym and outside summer movies also helped Encinitas stand out among contenders.

Encinitas can also boast about its Cardiff Sports Park with Softball, Baseball, Pop Warner football, playground and a large flat grassy area for kids to run and play.  Located on Lake Dr, right around the corner from my house, this park is one of my family’s favorites, and a very popular spot to throw an outdoor birthday party.  (Those are my cuties in the photo above…)

KaBOOM also praised Encinitas for using its city website to foster use of these parks and increase outside recreation activity.

It’s good to know there are still places here in the USA that place high importance on getting our children active again.  With childhood obesity on the rise nationwide, we all need to get our kids out of the house and on the playing field.   So, kudos and congratulations to the progressive city of Encinitas for getting it right!  Encinitas CA – a great place to call home! 

For help finding an Encinitas CA home of your own, visit our website wwwDreamHomesByTheBeach.com or give me a call (76-815-1318)!

Hats off to Del Mar CA council members for expanding the ordinance that bans smoking in public places!  Citing hard evidence that second hand smoke  DOES kill, the ordinance was amended to include a prohibition on designated outdoor smoking areas, on mobile sales of tobacco products, and on smoking on any public sidewalks.

Some of the evidence to support this decision:

• residents of cities that outlaw smoking are 17% less likely to suffer heart attacks in the first year after the ban
• numbers go up to 26% less likely in 2nd and 3rd year of the ban
• youth are 40% less likely to start smoking when they reside in a smoke-free city.

courtesy of bigoo.ws

The last one made it a no brainer for me!

While some of the council members typically lean away from government intrusion into private rights, when an issue of public safety was at stake, they did the right thing!  Thanks, Del Mar council members! 

The ordinance will take effect in 30 days. 

For help negotiating the best price for your very own piece of this smoke-free paradise, i.e. a Del Mar CA home, visit our website www.DreamHomesByTheBeach.com or give us a call (760-815-1318).

The Coastal North San Diego County region has always been at the cutting edge of all things “green”.  From initiating the Cottonwood Creek Environmental Film Festival to being home of the newly renamed San Diego Botanical Garden, the northern part of San Diego County seems to attract those protective of our environment and inspire conservation among those who enjoy living here.   One of our local beach communities, Solana Beach CA, has found another way to make life cleaner and better for all of us that live and play here. 

Since 2008, the City of Solana Beach has been recycling plastic shopping bags. Working with EDCO, their contract solid waste hauler, and Trex Co Inc. of Virginia, the country’s leading manufacturer of wood-alternative decking made from recycled materials, the city has kept an estimated 160,000 plastic bags out of area landfills and off the streets.

Residents can now drop off clean plastic bags or plastic wrappings at nine convenient drop-off points.
• City Hall, 635 S. Hwy 101
• La Colonia Community Center, 715 Valley Ave.
• Fire Station, 500 Lomas Santa Fe
• Premiere Cleaners, 154 S Solana Hills Dr.
• One Hour Martinizing, 661 Lomas Santa Fe Cleaners, 917 Lomas Santa Fe
• Lomas Santa Fe Cleaners, 917 Lomas Santa Fe
• Park Place Cleaners, 437 S. Hwy 101
• Liberty Cleaners, 124 Lomas Santa Fe
• Marshalls, 915 Lomas Santa Fe

Yet Another Plastic Bag on Beach, courtesy gretchichi

EDCO transports the plastic bags from the drop-off points to the city public works yard at no cost to the city.  There, the bags are “baled” using a machine provided by Trex and paid for by proceeds from the recycled bags.  The bales are then picked up by Trex Co. and the plastic is reused.

The City spends less than $3,000 annually on wages supporting this program. Once the $3,000 cost of the baling machine is met, the city will begin receiving $0.15 per pound by Trex.  City administrators are proud of this program for its significant environmental and financial benefits to the residents of Solana Beach.

State officials believe that the successful plastic bag recycling program in Solana Beach may become a model for other cities throughout the state.

Plastic pollution has become a severe worldwide environmental issue, but those here in Solana Beach CA are doing their part to clean up the planet.

Sunset at Swami's, courtesy of kbaird, flickr

According to Surf Magazine’s July issue, our very own Encinitas, CA has much to offer surfers, with its average water temperature of 63.C and its numerous surf breaks like Swami’s, Cardiff Reef, and Pipes.   Getting out of the water is pretty painless too, as the air temperature stays fairly close to 65-80 most days of the year – never too hot, never too cold! Come visit our little paradise!

Hard Times For Real Estate in Rancho Santa Fe CA

Rancho Santa Fe CA , one of the most exclusive and prestigious communites in the country, is continuing to see hard times.  Home values are plummeting, and we’re seeing more and more short sales and foreclosures.

New listings vs New Sales in Rancho Santa Fe

One good indicator of a healthy market is one in which the inventory is relatively stable, and the rate at which new listings are coming on line is similar to the rate at which properties are being sold.  The graph on the right shows the continuing monthly disparity between the number of new listings versus new sales (accepted offers).  There are 325 detached homes currently on the market in Rancho Santa Fe.  In the last month, 38 new properties were listed while only 12 went into escrow.  Another 9 properties officially went under contract as well, but they are short sales, contingent upon lender approval.  Who knows whether they’ll end up as foreclosures…

Fantastic Opportunity to Buy in Rancho Santa Fe CA

While many Rancho Santa Fe sellers have been slow to wrap their brain around the realities of the new market, there are finally a few who seem to have no choice but to sell, and, as a result, values are truly coming down.  For example, this exquisite 10,000 sq ft architectural masterpiece recently sold for $4.9 million after originally being listed at $7.9!  Now, that’s a deal!

We’d love to help YOU negotiate the best price for YOUR piece of paradise – just visit DreamHomesByTheBeach.com or give us a call (760-815-1318).

Faced with the worst budget crisis in California history, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed selling high profile state properties, including our very own Del Mar Fairgrounds and racetrack.  The Governor’s original proposal would have sold the entire 400 acre property, valued at between $400 to $700 million.

Fortunately, since the Governor’s proposal was unveiled in May of this year, there were no buyers lined up to purchase the famous place where the turf meets the surf.  Other State properties including San Quentin State Prison were also proposed for sale and apparently did receive some interest from potential buyers.  To each his own…

In June, follow-up staff studies in Sacramento found that the racetrack portion of the Del Mar property was the actual profit generator of the property.  With this in mind, the Governor’s real estate managers suggested splitting the property and selling the track separately – a move they hoped would make this already prime coastal property even more attractive. 

Courtesy Ewen and Donabel, Flickr

Meanwhile, local state legislators and coastal city government expressed their concerns over selling this historic property where so many county activities take place.  There was also virtually no San Diego support for the sale.  Located in an environmentally sensitive area, one that we locals are proud and protective of, the site is too fragile to allow distant politicians control over.  The loss of the Del Mar racetrack and/or fairgrounds would have had devastating effects for the Del Mar and coastal economy as well as the lifestyles of all San Diego County residents. 

Luckily, when the State Budget was revealed in July, the Del Mar Fairgrounds and Racetrack were no longer part of the state sell-off.  Apparently, San Quentin also avoided the auction block.  Other state properties such as the Orange County Fairgrounds and several state buildings are slated to be sold…

Although no one knows what the future will bring, it is good to know that the Governor and the State Legislature acted with the public interest in mind this time!  However, even though the adopted budget did not include these extreme actions this time, the Governor continues to stand by his idea to sell the valuable state properties.  The folks up in Sacramento, including the Governor, need to remember that decisions regarding the prize possessions of the citizens of this state should not be made without the input of those citizens. 

Let’s make sure our voices are heard loud and clear should this ill-conceived plan rear its ugly head again.  Meanwhile, enjoy those hot cinnamon rolls and pick a winner at the track!  See you next summer at the San Diego County Fair and the next racing season at our Del Mar Race Track!