My Encinitas

City Of Encinitas Statistics

2007-06-30T21:11:00.000-07:00

Contact Information Business Information
Executives
James Bond, Mayor
Address
505 S. Vulcan Ave.
Encinitas, CA 92024-3633

Phone (760) 633-2600
Fax (760) 633-2627
E-mail cityhall@ci.encinitas.ca.us
Web Page www.ci.encinitas.ca.us

City Manager Phillip Cotton
Type of Government City Government Year Established 1986
Mayor Annual Salary $9,774
Number of Full-Time Employees 218

Total Square Miles 19.4

Crime Rate 1997 26.3
Crime Rate 1998 25.6
Crime Rate 1999 23.0
Crime Rate 2000 22.0
Crime Rate 2001 25.1

Unemployment Rate 2000 2.8%
Unemployment Rate 1990 3%

Median Age 2000 37.9 years
Median Age 1990 33.5 years
Median Age 2004 39.2 years

Change in Crime Rate from 1997 to 1998 -3%
Change in Crime Rate from 1998 to 1999 -10%
Change in Crime Rate from 1999 to 2000 -4%

Median Household Income 1990 $46,614
Median Household Income 2004 $79,710
Median Household Income $53966
Median Household Income 2000 $63,954

General Fund $27,700,000
Total Assessed Property Value 2000 $6,370,000,000

Total Housing Units 1990 22,284
Total Housing Units 2000 23,867
Total Housing Units 2004 24,901

January 1990 Population 55,779
January 2004 Population 62,586
January 1999 Population 60,482
January 2000 Population 58,300
January 2001 Population 59,300
January 2005 Population 62,774
January 2006 Population 62,815

digihitch.com - On Beacon's Beach, There's A Mellow Mixture Of ...

2007-06-26T04:58:00.000-07:00

digihitch.com - On Beacon's Beach, There's A Mellow Mixture Of ...
And yes, the spot even has its own Web site, beaconsbeach.com, complete
with a live wave cam. But, man, it's nice here. The locals aren't as
territorial as ...

This is the final installment in the series of articles originally written for the the Richmond Times-Dispatch by Mark Holmberg . He generously shared them with us on digihitch and writes
"Well, you asked for it. Looking back on these stories, I'm a little surprised that I've written this much about hitchhiking. Then again, I've been a reporter here for 17 years, and have written several thousand stories.
Anyway, this last thing has nothing to do with hitching, but was one of the reasons I took the trip to Cal. last summer."

There's no such thing as a secret surf spot between Los Angeles and San Diego.
But time has been gentler to Beacon's Beach in Leucadia than most.
A search for some peace and a soulful, kicked-back atmosphere has brought me to this cliff-sheltered spot again and again during the past 10 days.

It is an amazing place to surf up till - and past - sunset, when the fog-kissed pastels of the darkening sky blend seamlessly with the Pacific as lights blink on - beaconlike - in the cliff-clinging homes overhead.
It's such a fabulous place to watch a sunset that one of its nicknames is "Martini Beach." (Its most-used name comes from the Coast Guard beacon that sat atop the bluff during World War II.)
What a place to lose your inner self - or find it.

"It's been discovered," lamented J.R. Rigney, 58, an elder statesman of Beacon's.
He's been surfing here for 40 years.
For a long time, "there just wasn't anyone around here," J.R. said as we sat on a cliff's-edge rail 75 or so yards above the beach, watching the sweet waves roll in with surfers on their shoulders.
"It was the next best thing to Hawaii."

An eclectic mix of characters has been drawn to this secluded, rugged area nicely positioned between Oceanside and San Diego.
"The wealthy living with the poor, surf bums with the sophisticated," J.R. said as he and his fellow longtime locals Brian and Jeff discussed their beloved spot.

George Harrison of the Beatles had a home here. Novelist Zane Grey did too. So did "the program director for the moon landing," Jeff added. J.R.'s next-door neighbor is a quantum physicist who came up with a concept for bomb- and nuclear materials-detecting equipment used in post-9/11 airports. And J.R. is an electrical engineer and designer.

Then again, there's a mobile home court nestled in the slope leading to the cliffs.
Homesites on the bluffs could be had for $25,000 not too long ago.
"Now they're 2 or 3 million," J.R. said.
Like much of Southern California, "we have people problems," J.R. said.
"Density and infrastructure."

Yes, there's a fair amount of traffic in Leucadia. And there are 50 or so surfers riding the break at North Beacon and its sister break, South Reef, when there used to be 10. Yes, there are hundreds on the beach when there used to be dozens. And yes, the spot even has its own Web site, beaconsbeach.com, complete with a live wave cam.

But, man, it's nice here. The locals aren't as territorial as you'll find at other breaks, so no one complains about a clumsy surfer like myself and the fair number of people who come to learn, such as my son Rudy. There are lots of women and girls riding the waves.

There are no nimrods spray painting "Tourist Go Home" on out-of-state cars, as happened to my brother at a spot north of here soon after he moved back to California.
There's virtually no crime. "This is a really safe place to live," J.R. said.

Life moves slower here. And the waves push a shade more slowly because of the reef's shape and the vast kelp beds that create flat, glassy pockets that are visible nearly a half-mile offshore.

Beacon's has a bit of a reputation as a longboarders' haven, which doesn't protect it as much as it could, now that California is in the midst of a big-board craze. Young men and women are now joining the old-timers on swell-snuggling, 9-foot and longer boards, carving long, graceful lines on the wave faces instead of the slashing and shredding popularized by previous generations of short-boarders.

Could this be a signal that Californians are mellowing, becoming more harmonious with their delicate environment? Perhaps the state's bogging economy - and the accompanying circus over the governorship - are part of a slower, more soulful lifestyle that is desperately needed here, and across the country.

This is definitely my speed. I spent three days last weekend riding noisy jet skis and wakeboarding in the Colorado River in Arizona. It was nice, with breathtaking vistas that almost overshadowed the wicked heat.

But I prefer this place, and its peace, quiet and beauty. It shines on the soul and shows the way - like a beacon.

replinishment at Business.com

2007-06-26T04:55:00.000-07:00

replinishment at Business.com
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Google Directory - Sports > Water Sports > Surfing > Surf Reports ...

2007-06-26T04:53:00.000-07:00

Google Directory - Sports > Water Sports > Surfing > Surf Reports ...
Beacons Beach Surf Cam - http://www.beaconsbeach.
com/surf_cam_beacons_beach_live_surfing_shots.htm Live image from this
location in Encinitas, California. ...

Beacons Beach Surf Cam - http://www.beaconsbeach.com/surf_cam_beacons_beach_live_surfing_shots.htm
Live image from this location in Encinitas, California. Also offers general local information.

Belmar Cam - http://www.belmarcam.com/surfcams/surfcams3.html
List of links for many beaches worldwide.

BurleighCam - Queensland Australia - http://www.burleighcam.com.au
Surf reports and cams covering Burleigh Heads and the Gold Coast, Australia. Roving reporters filing the goods every morning and other features.

Cable Beach - Broome Western Australia - http://www.broomecam.com/
Camera details, weather, and links.

Croyde Surf Club - http://www.croydesurfclub.com/
Provides links to a variety of south west England surf cams and Isobars forecasts. Also includes club history and downloadable membership form.

Dylan's Surf Page - http://www.nalyd.freeserve.co.uk
Contains UK and worldwide surf cam links.

Eastern Lines Belmar Surf Cam - http://www.belmar.com/webcam/easternlines.html
Images every 30 seconds from the 17th Avenue Beach in Belmar, New Jersey.

Florida Beach and Surf Cams - http://www.floridalink.com/webcam/beach.htm
Surf live web cam views of Florida's sandy beaches. Daytona Beach, Panama Beach, Miami Beach, and Ft. Lauderdale.

Fluid Groove.net - http://fluidgroove.net/
North Florida Surfing Resource, current surf conditions, forecast, message boards, and upcoming events.

Folly Beach Surf Cam - http://www.follysurfcam.com/
Live updates and forecasts from Folly Beach S.C.

Galveston, Texas surf cam - http://www.galvestonsurfcam.com/
Galveston Texas surf cam and daily reports.

Jacksonville, FL Live Surf Cam - http://www.jaxsurfcam.com
Live updates every 60 seconds from Neptune Beach.

Local Goods - http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Oaks/4297/
Surf cams from San Diego, California.

South Padre Island, Texas: Live Webcams - http://www.spadre.com/
Fishing and surf reports, plus weather, and community information.

Sumner Surfcam Clifton Beach - http://www.sumnertoferrymead.co.nz/surfcam.htm
Live images Clifton Beach and Taylors Mistake in New Zealand.

Surf Cam in Cayucos, California and Puerto Escondido, Mexico - http://www.pacificcoasttravelinfo.com
Live beach and surf cams from Puerto Escondido, Mexico and Cayucos, California with travel information for Mexico and California pacific coast.

Surf Cams Bay of Plenty - New Zealand - http://www.surfcamsbop.co.nz
Features live pictures of Mount Maunganui Beach and also offers video of coastal sections of the Bay of Plenty.

Surf.co.nz - http://www.surf.co.nz/surfreports/
Cameras at various spots around New Zealand including Piha and the Mount.

Surfcam.net - http://www.surfcam.net/
Surf cam of South Melbourne Beach and Melbourne Beach Florida.

Surflook resource for surfers - http://surflook.com/
Blacks beach La Jolla cam. Live and semi live cams of beaches around the world focusing mainly on San Diego, CA. Local Surf Art and murals.

Surfmiami - http://www.surfmiami.com/
A beachcam on Miami Beach, South Beach.

Wavecam - http://www.wavecam.com
Surfing photos of the top spots of Southern California, Baja, and Costa Rica. Live cams, magazine links, pictures, and weather.

World Surf Cams - http://www.maxpages.com/worldsurfcams/Surf_Cams

San Diego Reviews: Restaurants, Doctors, Bars, Salons and more.

2007-06-26T04:51:00.000-07:00

San Diego Reviews: Restaurants, Doctors, Bars, Salons and more.
You find lot's of longboarders here but the inside set is also decent
for the fast trackers. http://www. beaconsbeach.com /. Leucadia
Surf Shop ...

Chula Vista Yoga Center
Neighborhood: Chula Vista

255 E Street
Chula Vista, CA 91912

P.A. P. writes: While I've just returned to this yoga studio after being away for almost four months, I've been going there for almost four years now... and I just have to say because I need an outlet today and because I just might be PMSing, "People, there is NO TALKING in yoga!" I was there on Monday morning, and I felt myself totally agitated before the class even started because of all the loud talking going on. I mean, the time before your practice is meant for centering yourself, for stretching, for zen-like behavior... I mean, really, if I wanted a gym-like ambiance, I'd go to a gym. Okay, thanks for letting me vent. I'll be more zen-like tomorrow, promise. :o)

Stacey Lin MD

477 N El Camino Real
Encinitas, CA 92024

Stephanie C. writes: Love her! I can always get a fast appointment and it's convienent to the area. I feel comfortable with her. She is nice and knowledgable. And there is a pharmacy right downstairs!

Siamese Basil

527 S Coast Highway 101
Encinitas, CA 92024

Steph L. writes: I've never been disappointed with a meal here. They also have some authentic dishes that you don't often see at most other Thai places in San Diego. I'm not a huge fan of the wait (even on weekdays), but the service is good, and it's not expensive.

Cal Pacific Orchid Farm

1122 Orpheus Ave
Leucadia, CA 92024

Julie G. writes: Cal Pacific is a hidden sanctuary of sorts. Its two acres of greenhouses, filled with exotic orchids from around the world is breathtaking. Unless you have a passion for orchids you most likely would not come across this place in your everyday travels as it is located off the beaten path. Tucked away on a quiet street in Leucadia, Cal Pacific is also home to the only neighborhood Orchid Hotel where you can bring in your orchid plants whose blooming season has finished and this place will re-pot, nurture and house your babies until they bloom again. The rate is $1.50 per month per plant and there is a minimum of 5 plants per hotel lot. Pretty nifty eh? Orchids stay in bloom anywhere from one to four months. The owner Kathy Desmond has been in the flower biz for many years and although most local greenhouses have been sold to developers this one is here to stay. The pictures tell it all. www.calpacificorchids.com

Grateful Dog

802 N Coast Hwy 101
Leucadia, CA 92024

Julie G. writes: Gerry Garcia would be proud of this groovy little doggie shoppe and styling place. As we are all grateful for our dogs this Grateful Dog goes a step further by rewarding our dogs with fancy clothes, collars and gourmet treats that look so delicious you wouldn't want to leave them out on your table. They even serve doggie cupcakes. Their grooming services are also very truckin' makin' your pooch a happy camper or at least one that smells of patchouli. Not really but squeaky clean. You can also find healthy foods and nutritious supplements to keep your doggie on the road of life while feelin' fine. Oh and their phone number is 760.943.WOOF....gotta love that.

Shatto & Sons Custom T-Shirts

696 N Coast Highway 101
Encinitas, CA 92024

Julie G. writes: This custom T-shirt shop has been around since the 70's and still serves up that old-school flavor. Although they can put anything you like on a T-shirt or cap, they do have their own unique design sense. Also a retail shop, you can buy shirts with local logos representing the various neighboring towns in all sizes including infant and toddler. Of course surfing logos are very popular here as are sunset and tie-dye themes. Adjacent to Mozy's Cafe, feel free to browse around while you are waiting for some of the best food on the planet. Check out my review of Mozy's while you are at it.

North County Equipment Inc

766 N Coast Highway 101
Encinitas, CA 92024

Julie G. writes: This is an small motor equipment repair shop specializing in lawnmowers. I brought my lawnmower here which was an older model and they were able to fix it. Repair shops of this nature are few and far between so it's nice to know that these guys are here and ready to serve.

Del Mar Hills Nursery School
Neighborhood: Torrey Pines

13692 Mango Dr
Del Mar, CA 92014

Julie G. writes: There are not enough stars in Yelp to award this fine pre-school and kindergarten. This school was founded back in the 70's by a German woman who brought across unique and creative learning techniques with her such as Reggio Emilia from Italy, Orff Schulwerk known here as Orff, Froebel Philosophy and Montessori. These programs incorporate art, music, recreation, self-study, interactive learning to name a few and blend them in a way that each child progresses from a place of confidence and balance. They even offer yoga twice a week. http://www.dmhns.com for more info.

St Tropez Bakery & Bistro

947 S Coast Highway 101
Encinitas, CA 92024

Peter R. writes: With great food and a great location, Saint Tropez has it all. I have never ordered something here that I didn't like. Pastries, eggs, sandwiches - all excellent. They also have a good selection of beverages, including the best orange juice (fresh-squeezed of course) I have ever tasted. There are plenty of seating options, inside and out, all of which are nice, though I prefer to sit out on the patio on a sunny day. It's not the place to go for a cheap meal, but the prices are well worth it for what you get ($8-12 for breakfast/lunch).

San Diego Brewing Co
Neighborhood: Grantville

10450 Friars Rd Ste L
San Diego, CA 92120

Brad F. writes: The ambiance here leaves a bit to be desired, but I guess it's a typical bar. Really the only things worth mentioning are their house beers on tap. I tried the sampler...don't bother, most of them aren't very good. Their pale ale and amber are reasonable but not amazing, but the Old Town Nut Brown is a very good beer. I would return here just for another pint of that. Other than that, the bartender was a nice enough guy, there were myriad sports games on the TVs and not nearly enough good looking girls, my girlfriend being the obvious exception. :) At least there's ample parking, I guess.

Clean Sense

328 La Mesa Ave
Encinitas, CA 92024

Julie G. writes: Clean Sense is an expert carpet cleaning service owned and operated by David Potts. He provides top quality work at fair prices for your carpets and upholstery. The is steam cleaning at it's best. This guy can get out the stains out and keep them out. He's been in business since 1989 and has no plans of retiring soon. He is definitely the best around and he does all the work himself!.

Dana Photographs

San Diego, CA 92128

Julie G. writes: Dana Parnes truly takes unforgettable natural light portraits of you or the entire family. She specializes in children and captures their essence through the eyes of a child. Dana will create a CD featuring images from the sessions which also includes background music. She shot my daughter last season on the beach and the images are some of my all-time favorites. The Website tells it all: www.danaphotographs.com

FORTE

722 Genevieve Street
Solana Beach, CA 92075

Julie G. writes: Laurie Shoman is a hair designer who works at Forte in Solana Beach. She is the best hair colorist on the planet hands down, bar none! Wherever you live make the trip as her techniques are perfect and the results always come out beautiful if that is the look you are going for. I'm sure she can do funky, glamorous and adventurous as well. Her styling is also perfect so I guess she is just a perfect hair stylist who is cool to boot!

Jill VanMeter L.Ac.

1104 Gardenview Road
Blue Star Body Lounge
Encinitas, CA 92024

Julie G. writes: Jill VanMeter is a healing arts therapist specializing in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. She has been treating patients for over 18 years and has helped me extensively with injuries in various parts of my body. My injuries healed rapidly and on many occasions completely vanished after treatment. She sees clients at Blue Star Body Lounge on Gardenview. She also applies acupuncture techniques for non-surgical face-lifts. Jill is also a fabulous yoga guide teaching locally throughout Encinitas.

James Dyer H.H.P. CCN CCP

681 Encinitas Blvd. # 316
North Shore Acupuncture
Encinitas, CA 92024

Julie G. writes: James Dyer is an excellent Ayounge Massage therapist whose techniques draw from a wide range of styles. He infuses ancient Asian styles with the best of Europe and the blend is wonderful. Expect your hour session to go over time as he will work on you until he feels you are finished. James is also a certified Clinical Nutritionist and Herbalist. He works out of the North Shore Acupuncture center in Encinitas.

Pac Mortgage Solutions

603 N.Highway 101
Ste J
Solana Beach, CA 92075

Julie G. writes: Sabrina L. Boyd is a sharp and thorough mortgage specialist. Her business allows clients to redirect their debt into secure investments. She is quickly becoming an expert in the field as she continually studies with top experts in the industry. Her business is happily By Referral Only. She has helped many individuals prosper and live their dreams. Sabrina is currently one of two specialists doing Mortgages in Mexico where investments are booming. Give her a ring and she'll fill you in with honest and expert advice.

Encinitas Viewpoint Park

Cornish Drive & D Street
Encinitas, CA 92024

Julie G. writes: The Encinitas area has some of the best little parks around and this one is no exception. Located in the Old-Town Encinitas section, Viewpoint Park is a nice place to relax and enjoy the day. This is one of the only parks that has a off leash dog policy on certain days so beware when you go or you might get run over my the doggie locals. There is cute playground area for kids and an overlook where you can find some privacy for a morning meditation. This parked has also been booked for weddings and other gatherings as its makes a setting for such. Off-leash doggie hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday 6am - 7:30am and 4pm - 6pm.

Vintage Bike Repair

324 Liverpool Dr
Encinitas, CA 92024

Julie G. writes: Eric Contreras' love of vintage Schwinn bikes lead him to become not only a collector but an expert in refurbishing and repairing these classic beauties. Through his side business, Eric has restored Schwinn bikes made in 1932. These bikes are part of the American heritage and those made 30 years ago are simply stronger and sturdier that those made today. The originals feature American and German steel parts and frames while the newer models are all made in China and are not meant to last 30 years. These are the Cadillac of cruisers and when you ride you you'll know what I'm talking about.

Glen Park

2149 Orinda Dr
Cardiff By The Sea, CA 92007

Julie G. writes: Also known as Cardiff Park, Glen Park is another beautiful place to visit and enjoy the morning, day or dusk. One one side, It sports a nice playground area placed in sand and suitable for toddlers as well as other features such as basketball court, tennis courts, beach volleyball area and a horseshoe area. On the other is a large gazebo with built in tables and rollings greenery also with picnic tables sporadically placed with grills alongside so multiple parties can coincide without interrupting each other.

Blue Star Body Lounge

1104 Gardenview Rd
Encinitas, CA 92024

Julie G. writes: You've gotta love this place just based on the name alone. I think that if I had a band I would use this name. Anyway, it is a stellar place from the moment you walk in....simply groovalicious, warm and friendly. It's so cool that you could spend an entire afternoon there just sipping tea and enjoying the vibe. Ask for Amy who does great waxing and gives good facials to boot.

Gemmae Bake Shop
Neighborhood: Mira Mesa

10606 Camino Ruiz
San Diego, CA 92126

Mark D. writes: I don't know who Gemmae is...but I want to call him/her "mom/dad". Fresh and hot empanadas, and other Filipino baked goods. They even have some hot meals.

Manila Fast Food Restaurant & Desserts
Neighborhood: Mira Mesa

8979 Mira Mesa Blvd
San Diego, CA 92126

sam k. writes: 10 lumpia shanghai for $2.99! What a steal!

A Little Moore Coffee Shop

1030 N Coast Hwy 101
Leucadia, CA 92024

David G. writes: It's a small diner, with normal diner fair. The staff is chill and friendly, and so is the atmosphere, minus the God-foresaken motocycles that cruise by. The food is good for diner food, and priced accordingly. There's not a lot else to say. It's a great place to go after an early AM surf sesh at Grandview or Beacons, or after waking up in the bushes outside the Leucadian.

Le Papagayo

1002 North Hwy 101
Leucadia, CA 92024

Carlos R. writes: This is a very cool place to dine and party. The food is excellent. Great seafood entrees... Salmon, Sea Bass... The atmosphere is festive. Although it's kind of small, there is outside dining overlooking the street.

Beacon's Beach

Neptune & Leucadia Blvd.
Leucadia, CA 92024

Josh S. writes: All of the beaches in San Diego are incredible...except for this one. You'd be happier somewhere else, I can tell by the way you're reading this. I mean, you're going to have to walk down a big hill...then back up it...if you can even find a parking spot....you really don't want to do all that do you Why don't you head back down to moonlight, you'll like it there!

Leucadia Surf Shop

1144 N Coast Highway 101
Encinitas, CA 92024

Julie G. writes: This is a simple and classic California surf shop. Expect to find a nice selection of boards, wetsuits and surf paraphernalia. They also rent boards, wetsuits and gear here all year round. They do carry essential such as warm jackets and standard cold-water getting-out-of-the-surf sweats. They are usually all gone by the beginning of spring when the surf trunks arrive. The best part about this shop is the manager Mitch Caudle. He just rocks! You can't miss him as he's a big blond dude always wearing a smile.

Ding King

591 Westlake St Ste D
Encinitas, CA 92024

Julie G. writes: The Ding King, Brian Samanski has been de-dinging surfboards since the beginning of time.... well not really that long. But anyway, he's considered an expert in his field so your baby will definitely be in good hands with this doctor. Check out the Website for a complete price list: http://www.dingkingsurfboardrepair.com/

Andersons La Costa Nursery

400 La Costa Avenue
Leucadia, CA 92024

Julie G. writes: Visiting Andersons is like getting lost in a dream of blossoming flowers. While walking through the grounds, you'll feel as though you are truly in a secret garden surrounded by harmonious water flowing through decorative fountains that are placed about. In the very back is a doll house big enough for children to venture in. They focus on California succulents and other flowering beauties meant for this dry climate. All of the fountains are for sale as well and they have some exquisite ones. The service is always friendly with expert advice. The owners work on the premises and take pride in their babies.

Leucadia Roadside Park

Leucadia Blvd. and N Coast Hwy. 101
Leucadia, CA 92024

Julie G. writes: This is probably the tiniest park in all of North County. It sits right alongside Hwy 101 and Leucadia Blvd and if you blink you will miss it for sure. It is very sweet however and beautifies the intersection. I have to say though that I've never really seen anyone hang out there. It consists of a few bordering trees, two picnic tables and really pretty grass.

Library the
Neighborhood: Navajo

7459 Mission Gorge Rd
San Diego, CA 92120

David M. writes: Honestly, I haven't been here -- yet but I think the bar deserves five stars just for the excuse factor. ``Honey, I'm at the library right now.'' It's better than saying you're at the Office. There is one problem: Most libraries in San Diego aren't open in the evenings -- which is when most bars are, so be careful how you use it.

Jack In the Box
Neighborhood: Hillcrest

804 University Ave
San Diego, CA 92103

Chris K. writes: This may be the most impressive Jack in the Box man has ever seen. Just the decor itself gives it the extra fourth star. It's set up like a coffee shop but you eat your fried goodness there instead of coffee. I like the big lounge chairs with the little personal tables attached to them. Of course, the food is the same as any other Jack but it's nice to have a change in scenery from the others. I agree with David that the place attracts the local homeless. But there were local with-home people there too. Me being one of them.

C Spa & Salon
Neighborhood: La Jolla

7851 Herschel Ave
La Jolla, CA 92037

Christine C. writes: I went to C Spa to get my hair and makeup done for a very special event and I had a great experience. The hair stylist was able to give me exactly what I wanted and I didn't have to bring in a photo or anything. I wanted a partial up-do and the final result turned out great -- I was able to avoid the whole big, gaudy prom hair thing. I also got my makeup done by a C Spa makeup artists and I was so pleased with the result. The make up was very subtle and natural. I wish I could afford to go to C Spa for every special event, but the prices weren't astronomical considering the location of the salon, but I would go back next time I'm in need of a girlie makeover because the staff was super friendly, accommodating, and talented.

Alta-Dena Certified Dairy

4656 Cardin St
San Diego, CA 92111

Alissandra L. writes: This drive-thru convenience store will always hold a special place in my heart. One, because it's the only drive-thru store that I know of in San Diego, and two, because well..because it's a drive-thru convenience store! I remember the days when I had less than a minute to spare before getting to class or work, and I would easily purchase my cigarettes, snacks, drinks, condoms, mouthwash, can of campbell's chicken noodle soup, and dishwashing liquid all in one swoop! Ok, not the condoms or dishwashing liquid, but if you needed them, by golly, this place would hand them to you in a snap. Nothing beats shopping from the driver's seat, if you ask me. If you're in town, drive by and get yo-self somethin'.

Encore of La Jolla
Neighborhood: La Jolla

7655 Girard Ave
La Jolla, CA 92037

Christine C. writes: Oh it is a joy to shop here. This consignment shop is no Buffalo Exchange, because you can find some of the most exquisite designer goods at a semi-reasonable price. Encore sells second hand designer clothes. It is located in La Jolla and the store receives a lot of merchandise from La Jolla's snooty and affluent residents. Even if you can't afford to clothes here, you can have a lot of fun browsing through the vintage designer apparel. All kinds of noteworthy labels can be found here. I managed to score a Gucci purse for $99. I know that's not cheap, but hey, it goes with everything. I also tried on the cutest Marc Jacobs baby doll dress, but it didn't fit and I already went go-for-broke on the purse. I consider the store one of La Jolla's best kept secrets.

Salvation Army-Ray and Joan Kroc Center
Neighborhood: Rolando

6760 University Ave Ste 240
San Diego, CA 92115

David M. writes: This place is huge and has a swimming pool, a theater and an ice skating rink. There are lots of fun activities held regularly, including an annual literacy fair that was attended two years in a row by Stan Lee,the creator of Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four.

Marshalls
Neighborhood: La Jolla

8657 Villa La Jolla Dr Ste 111
La Jolla, CA 92037

Gabriel D. writes: Oh baby, this is like the mother lode for Marshall's. Rich people do love their shopping, and La Jolla is no exception. Great stuff here. Highly recommended.

Rice
Neighborhood: Downtown, Little Italy

421 W B Street
W Hotel
San Diego, CA 92101

Leah C. writes: Of course I'm partial since I'm the Marketing Manager at the W San Diego, but Rice is a true dining experience. I'm picking up what Nathan H. (below) is putting down. Beyond the great service and excellent global contemporary cuisine, you have the added value of cozying up in Magnet, the restaurant bar, with a "Porn Star" martini or wiggling your toes in the sand as you snuggle by the fire pit at Beach and "cheers" under the stars. And if the night is going really well, you can always stay overnight! W beds . . . in-room service . . . and no DUI. What a bargain!

Dave Keller Plumbing
Neighborhood: University Heights

2806 Madison Ave
San Diego, CA 92116

Marc P. writes: Over the past decade I have used Dave Keller multiple times, and he a reliable person who always does a very thorough job at a very reasonable price. You would be hard pressed to find a better plumber than Dave Keller. He is always my first choice to call for a plumber. Unfortunately, word about him has spread around so much (he has been plumbing in San Diego forever) that it is hard to get him on short notice, for something urgent, like a broken valve. If Dave Keller is unavailable, I would also recommend Rick Moore Plumbing; I have only used Rick once, but he did a good job at a very reasonable price (he can be reached at 858-278-8739, or on his cell at 858-243-2086), and I would definitely use him again if Dave were unavailable. Also, both Dave and Rick are very genuine people, and I always enjoy striking up a conversation with them.

BeaconsBeach.com - AboutUs

2007-06-26T04:49:00.000-07:00

Hey, I like Beacon's Beach... so my dad helped me (a lot) with this web site. My mom, well, she helped too. She took out all the smart ass comments my dad made... (most of them.)

I guess I started learning early about computers. Here I am showing mom how to hack into the Toys-R-Us web site. She was really mad when the truck pulled up the next day with hundreds of toys and computer games I ordered.

Dad also helped me find the best deals on surf videos, surfing books, boogie boards and other surf stuff; even a way to pick up free money - $5.

Surf Reports, Wave Cams, Beach Cams and Weather - Boardfolio.com ...

2007-06-26T04:46:00.000-07:00

Surf Reports, Wave Cams, Beach Cams and Weather - Boardfolio.com ...
SurfMaps.com - professional, full-color, downloadable surf maps for over
3000 surf spots worldwide. BeaconsBeach.com - Beacon's Beach,
Leucadia, California ...

SurfMaps.com - professional, full-color, downloadable surf maps for over 3000 surf spots worldwide

BeaconsBeach.com - Beacon's Beach, Leucadia, California
Bondi Beach Online - Bondi Beach surf report, Australia
BurleighCam - surf cam at Burleigh Heads, Australia
BuscaOLAS - wave cams, surf reports, weather info, Uruguay
Cam in the Sky - cams at Bethune Beach, New Smyrna, Daytona Pier, Florida
CameraSurf - wave cams, surf reports, Brazil
CamZone - live surf cams at Del Mar & Scripps Pier, California
Central Florida Surf Report - Central Florida surf report, forecast & web cams
Chubrok.com - surf reports, weather info for the New York Metro area
ClaudiaFerrari.com - surf report & pics from various North Shore spots, Hawaii
Coastal Watch Australia - wave cams throughout the United States and Australia
Costa Rica Surf Report & Wave Forecast - surf reports, tides, Costa Rica
Dauphinislandsurf.com - beach cams, photos, Dauphin Island, Alabama
Delsurf.com - surf reports & weather links, Delaware & Maryland
East Coast Connection - wave cams, surf reports, Central Florida
Fenwick Island & Ocean City Surf Reports - surf reports, Maryland
FollySurfCam.com - Folly Beach surf cam, South Carolina
Galveston Surf Cam - wave cam, surf forecasts, Texas
GanjaSurf - surf reports for US East Coast & Caribbean
Gary's Surf Cam - wave cam, Surfside, Texas
Inlet Surf - daily surf report, photos, news & information about Sebastian Inlet, Florida
The Liquid Element - surf conditions for Southeast Florida, from Miami to Jupiter Inlet
Local NJ SurfCast - surf forecasts, daily surf report, New Jersey
Magic Seaweed - charts, maps, surf forecasting, European surf cams, UK
Maui Web Cams - multiple Maui beachcams and windcams, Hawaii
MC Surf - links to mulitple surf cams, East Coast, Unites States
New Zealand Surfing Guide - surf reports & wave cams, New Zealand
OC Waves Surf Photography - beach cam in Ocean City, Maryland
Orange County Register - surf reports, weather info, Orange County, California
Onestopsurf - surf reports, global travel info
Original Cocoa Beach Surf Cams - multiple Cocoa Beach surf cams, Florida
Peninsula Surf - beach and surf cams, Victoria, Australia
Pensacola Beach Cam - beach cam, Florida
Puerto Connection - Puerto Escondido info, beach cam, Oaxaca, Mexico
Ron Jon Surf Shop - live surf cam at Cocoa Beach Pier, Florida
San Diego Local Goods - surf cams, San Diego surf reports, California
San Diego Surf Cam - daily pictures of San Diego County surf spots, California
Scripps Pier - surf cam, San Diego, California
Shelly Beach Daily Surf Report - daily report & pics, New South Wales, Australia
ShrimpCreole Surf - South Florida surf reports, cams, archives, Florida
Sorted Boardriders - surf cam at Boscombe Pier, Bournemouth, UK
South Padre Island, Texas - surf cam, surf report, South Padre Island, Texas
Stormsurf - big wave forecast & global marine weather
Surfcam Australia - daily pictures of Australia's best spots, Australia
SurfCorpus.com - surf cam, Corpus Christi, Texas
Surferbird - surf report & cam, New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Surfers Paradise - surf cam at Surfers Paradise, Australia
SurfingList.com Surf Reports & Forecasts - surf forecasts, surf reports, wave cams & swell modeling
Surforecasts.com - surfing conditions & forecasts for the world
Surfing Santa Cruz - multiple surf cams in Santa Cruz, California
Surfline - surf reports, wave cams, USA, global
Surflink - surf reports, wave cams, California
Surflook - Blacks Beach, Mission Beach, wave cams in San Diego County, CA
SurfMaps.com - professional, full-color, downloadable surf maps for over 3000 surf spots worldwide
SurfMiami.com - surfcam on Miami Beach, South Beach, Florida
Surfriends - global surf reports, travel resources
Surfshot - San Diego surf reports, photos, video clips, California
SurfXtc - Florida & East Coast surf reports & cams, photos, Florida
Surf4All.net - surf reports throughout France
Surf98.com - North & South Cornwall surf reports, United Kingdom
Surf News Network - daily surf reports, Hawaii
Swell-Forecast.com - extensive wave forecasting resources for Europe
Taiwan Surf - surf reports, weather, beach cams, photos, video clips from Taiwan
Underground Surf Company, Inc. - surf reports, surf cams, South Florida
WaveCam Australia - surf reports, wave cams, Australia
Wavescape: Surfing in South Africa - travel info, surf reports, South Africa
WaveWatch - multiple surf cams, worldwide surf forecasts, entire site free-of-charge

Google Directory - Sports > Water Sports > Surfing > Surf Reports ...

2007-06-26T04:42:00.000-07:00

Google Directory - Sports > Water Sports > Surfing > Surf Reports ...
Beacons Beach Surf Cam - http://www. beaconsbeach.
com /surf_cam_beacons_beach_live_surfing_shots.htm Live image from
this location in Encinitas, California. ...

	Folly Beach Surf Cam - http://www.follysurfcam.com/ Live updates and forecasts from Folly Beach S.C.
	BurleighCam - Queensland Australia - http://www.burleighcam.com.au Surf reports and cams covering Burleigh Heads and the Gold Coast, Australia. Roving reporters filing the goods every morning and other features.
	Galveston, Texas surf cam - http://www.galvestonsurfcam.com/ Galveston Texas surf cam and daily reports.
	Jacksonville, FL Live Surf Cam - http://www.jaxsurfcam.com Live updates every 60 seconds from Neptune Beach.
	Surf.co.nz - http://www.surf.co.nz/surfreports/ Cameras at various spots around New Zealand including Piha and the Mount.

	South Padre Island, Texas: Live Webcams - http://www.spadre.com/ Fishing and surf reports, plus weather, and community information.
	Surfcam.net - http://www.surfcam.net/ Surf cam of South Melbourne Beach and Melbourne Beach Florida.
	Croyde Surf Club - http://www.croydesurfclub.com/ Provides links to a variety of south west England surf cams and Isobars forecasts. Also includes club history and downloadable membership form.
	Fluid Groove.net - http://fluidgroove.net/ North Florida Surfing Resource, current surf conditions, forecast, message boards, and upcoming events.
	Surfmiami - http://www.surfmiami.com/ A beachcam on Miami Beach, South Beach.

	Wavecam - http://www.wavecam.com Surfing photos of the top spots of Southern California, Baja, and Costa Rica. Live cams, magazine links, pictures, and weather.
	Florida Beach and Surf Cams - http://www.floridalink.com/webcam/beach.htm Surf live web cam views of Florida's sandy beaches. Daytona Beach, Panama Beach, Miami Beach, and Ft. Lauderdale.
	Surf Cam in Cayucos, California and Puerto Escondido, Mexico - http://www.pacificcoasttravelinfo.com Live beach and surf cams from Puerto Escondido, Mexico and Cayucos, California with travel information for Mexico and California pacific coast.
	Beacons Beach Surf Cam - http://www.beaconsbeach.com/surf_cam_beacons_beach_live_surfing_shots.htm Live image from this location in Encinitas, California. Also offers general local information.
	Sumner Surfcam Clifton Beach - http://www.sumnertoferrymead.co.nz/surfcam.htm Live images Clifton Beach and Taylors Mistake in New Zealand.

	Surf Cams Bay of Plenty - New Zealand - http://www.surfcamsbop.co.nz Features live pictures of Mount Maunganui Beach and also offers video of coastal sections of the Bay of Plenty.
	Eastern Lines Belmar Surf Cam - http://www.belmar.com/webcam/easternlines.html Images every 30 seconds from the 17th Avenue Beach in Belmar, New Jersey.
	Cable Beach - Broome Western Australia - http://www.broomecam.com/ Camera details, weather, and links.
	World Surf Cams - http://www.maxpages.com/worldsurfcams/Surf_Cams Links to surfcams from many countries.
	Local Goods - http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Oaks/4297/ Surf cams from San Diego, California.

	Belmar Cam - http://www.belmarcam.com/surfcams/surfcams3.html List of links for many beaches worldwide.
	Surflook resource for surfers - http://surflook.com/ Blacks beach La Jolla cam. Live and semi live cams of beaches around the world focusing mainly on San Diego, CA. Local Surf Art and murals.
	Dylan's Surf Page - http://www.nalyd.freeserve.co.uk Contains UK and worldwide surf cam links.

Surf Reports, Wave Cams, Beach Cams and Weather - Boardfolio.com ...

2007-06-26T04:39:00.000-07:00

SurfMaps.com - professional, full-color, downloadable surf maps for over 3000 surf spots worldwide

Beacon's Beach Leucadia State Beach Encinitas California

2007-06-26T04:33:00.000-07:00

Beacon's Beach Leucadia State Beach Encinitas California
San Diego Union features BeaconsBeach.com : Union Tribune interviews
Kenzie in tell-all feature (8-11-01) San Diego Union visits: Union Trib.
sports reporter ...

Our site is about the history of Beacon's Beach Located in Encinitas (Leucadia) - North San Diego County plus we offer surfboards, videos, surf books, wet suits, boogie boards and surfing gear. We now have a surf cam, online tide guide and a time lapse pictorial sequence on the new beach sand.

The view from the bluff top... ready to surf or enjoy the beach. These pictures rotate every 3 seconds.

The winding path down and the wave size you come to love and understand...

Beacons view point, near what used to be Martini Point, before Martini Point slid 100 feet down to the beach below. Ever wonder how Beacon's got it's name?

Fuel samples negative, Encinitas council told

2007-06-26T04:28:00.000-07:00

Fuel samples negative, Encinitas council told
North County Times - Escondido,CA,USA
By 6:30 pm May 31, a yellowish substance was visible in the breaking waves
off Beacon's Beach. By 9 pm, the beaches between Grandview to D streets
were ...

ENCINITAS -- Fuel samples taken from four "vessels of interest" don't match samples of the diesel that spilled off the Encinitas shoreline late last month, authorities told the City Council on Wednesday.

Samples from one commercial ship and three Navy ships were tested, said Mark Muir, Encinitas Fire Department chief.

"All (testing) came out negative," Muir said.

Joining Muir in reporting to the council were lifeguards and Lt. j.g. Lis Bosma of the U.S. Coast Guard, which is leading the investigation of a spill in late May estimated at 500 to 1,000 gallons.

The contaminated water closed more than one mile of beaches for a weekend, but no injuries to people or damage to marine life has been reported.

No remnants of the sheen were visible during a flyover of the spill site June 12, Muir said.

The Coast Guard is continuing its investigation by reviewing the records of its vessel tracking system, Bosma said.

She said she did not know how many ships the investigation would target. The Coast Guard can take fuel samples from any ship of within U.S. waters, she said, and if vessels of interest now are abroad, the Coast Guard can test them when they return.

Anyone found responsible for the discharge faces an $80,000 bill for the cleanup and other possible fines, Muir said.

For now, a federal fund created from fuel taxes is covering the cost.

The Coast Guard alerted local authorities to the spill at about noon May 31. At the time, the sheen was thought to be about three to four miles offshore, but lifeguards were unable to locate it.

Hours later, at about 6 p.m., the Fire Department responded to a West Glaucus Street resident's report of a "diesel-like" odor.

"It was really bad," Fire Department Division Chief Scott Henry said of the smell. "There were a lot of residents in the neighborhood who were concerned. As we moved west, the smell was there still, getting stronger, and with the lifeguards' assistance, we were able to trace it to a substance on the water."

By 6:30 p.m. May 31, a yellowish substance was visible in the breaking waves off Beacon's Beach. By 9 p.m., the beaches between Grandview to D streets were closed and did not reopen fully until June 4.

The closure caused the cancellation of the June 2 Switchfoot Bro-Am Surf Contest at Moonlight Beach.

"Our beach was in the wrong place at the wrong time," Henry said.

Also at Wednesday's meeting, the council voted 5-0 to increase trash collection fees. Most residential customers will see monthly increases of 72 cents, from $17.12 to $17.84. That's a 4.2 percent increase.

EDCO Waste and Recycling Services provides trash collection services to Encinitas. In a letter to the city, EDCO cites consumer price index and disposal fee increases as the reasons for the rate hike.

To comply with state laws, the city in April mailed notices to 22,017 property owners informing them of the pending increase and their right to protest it.

A majority of property owners could have halted the increase by writing letters of protest, but as of Wednesday's hearing, only six had done so, said Public Works Director Larry Watt.

Feds seek source of ocean fuel spill

2007-06-26T04:26:00.000-07:00

Feds seek source of ocean fuel spill
North County Times - Escondido,CA,USA
The smell remained on the bluffs above Beacon's Beach on Friday evening but
had decreased compared to Thursday, said area resident Deb Brody. ...

ENCINITAS ---- As federal, state and local authorities scrambled Friday to contain what they said is the largest ocean fuel spill off Encinitas in 30 years, a search is under way from Mexico to San Francisco for the culprits.
"We'll be investigating any vessel that was transiting at that time period," said U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Jeremy Altendorf during a press conference at Moonlight Beach on Friday. "This is a common investigation for us and we're going to take it very seriously and prioritize it based on the magnitude (of the spill) we've seen here in the last couple of days."

The federal Clean Water Act provides for penalties for discharges of petroleum products into waterways for any reason, Altendorf said, adding that any sanctions would be dependent on how and why the spill occurred.

The Thursday morning spill of 500 to 1,000 gallons, which authorities said they believed to be diesel fuel, closed beaches along the 2-mile stretch of coastline from Grandview Street south to D Street. The beaches will remain closed through at least Sunday morning, Altendorf said.

Officials said the spill posed no airborne threat to humans. The U.S. Department of Fish and Game reported no problems with wildlife as of Friday and will continue monitoring the coastline and lagoons through the weekend.

The spill also ended plans for the surfing competition portion of the third annual Switchfoot Bro-Am ---- a celebration of surfing, music and San Diego, according to festival organizers. Instead, the pro and amateur surfers who show up anyway will participate in a dodgeball tournament.

The musical part of the festival, a free public concert by Switchfoot, Jason Miraz and others, will go on as scheduled. The music starts at 11 a.m. at Moonlight Beach.

The spill was discovered by a boater who reported an oily sheen on the water Thursday morning, Altendorf said. The Coast Guard found the spill at about noon and took fuel samples from vessels in the area. Those samples will be compared to the chemical "fingerprint" of the fuel from the spill.

Altendorf would not comment further on the number or identity of the vessels already sampled.

The Coast Guard's Los Angles-based Vessel Tracking System is working to identify other ships that passed Encinitas between midnight Tuesday and 11 a.m. Thursday, Altendorf said.

Ocean waves, tides and the wind pushed the spill eastward to the beaches Thursday night. Friday's cleanup focused on keeping the spill off them. Altendorf said some of the spill had washed up, but said sand removal would not be required.

The smell of fuel permeated the northeasterly onshore breeze at Moonlight Beach on Friday morning where officials from the Coast Guard, the state Department of Fish and Game, San Diego County's hazardous materials team and the Encinitas Fire Department set up an operations center.

By Friday evening, the smell had dissipated at Moonlight Beach, according to Encinitas Lifeguard Capt. Larry Giles. The smell remained on the bluffs above Beacon's Beach on Friday evening but had decreased compared to Thursday, said area resident Deb Brody.

Altendorf said officials believe the spill was diesel fuel-based on past experience and current evidence. He said he expected lab tests to confirm it.

Friday morning, curious onlookers mingled with reporters as a Coast Guard helicopter buzzed the coast to assess the size and shape of the spill and the progress of the cleanup effort.

Workers with NRC Environmental Services readied a long yellow "boom" on Moonlight Beach as co-workers in a boat offshore pulled it into the water. They used the boom ---- a floating rubber curtain several football fields long ---- to corral, gather and contain the fuel. Once encircled, the fuel would be mopped up with absorbent pads, Altendorf said.

Altendorf said the cleanup captured much of the fuel but not all.

"I know we did pretty well," Altendorf said Friday night. "The odor's gone, but not all of the sheen. The ocean has to flush itself out now."

Altendorf said no water contact will be permitted from the beaches to three miles offshore. Officials encouraged families to come to the beaches Saturday but to stay out of the water and the wet sand.

"We're looking to keep people out of the water for 24 hours after our cleanup action for the water in the ocean to take care of itself," Altendorf said.

Altendorf estimated the cost of the cleanup at $60,000 as of noon Thursday.

Some Encinitas beaches reopen after fuel spill

2007-06-26T04:24:00.000-07:00

Some Encinitas beaches reopen after fuel spill
ENCINITAS -- A section of the Encinitas coastline between D and North El Portal streets that was closed because of a

fuel spill last week reopened Sunday, but beaches between Beacon's Beach and Grandview Street remained off-limits ...

ENCINITAS -- A section of the Encinitas coastline between D and North El Portal streets that was closed because of a fuel spill last week reopened Sunday, but beaches between Beacon's Beach and Grandview Street remained off-limits pending further testing, authorities said.

County Department of Environmental Health officials said the reopened area, which includes Moonlight Beach, is safe for swimmers and surfers. Areas to the north remain contaminated and will be re-evaluated today. Signs warning of contaminated water will remain in place until it is safe for recreational use, officials said.

The spill was reported Thursday, when 500 to 1,000 gallons of diesel-like fuel leaked into the ocean, possibly from a passing vessel.

An extensive cleanup launched Friday removed the majority of fuel. And although some of the slick's oily sheen and odor remained Sunday night, that residue should dissipate, Coast Guard Lt. Jereme Altendorf said.

Authorities are testing a number of suspect vessels and a probe into the source of the leak is ongoing. There have been no reports of affected wildlife or people, Altendorf said.

Officials will continue to monitor the area for several more days, the lieutenant said.

"We want to make sure it all goes away -- we don't want any surprises," he said.

Beaches are likely to reopen

2007-06-26T04:22:00.000-07:00

Beaches are likely to reopen
San Diego Union Tribune - San Diego,CA,USA
The closure extended from Beacon's Beach to Moonlight State Beach and
forced the cancellation of a surfing contest. No ill effects on people or
wildlife ...

ENCINITAS – Beaches along 2½ miles of the Encinitas coastline remained closed for a third consecutive day yesterday following an offshore fuel spill from an unidentified vessel.

Beachgoers were barred from contact with the water, but the restriction probably will be lifted today, officials said.

The closure extended from Beacon's Beach to Moonlight State Beach and forced the cancellation of a surfing contest. No ill effects on people or wildlife have been reported.

All that remained of the spill last night was a slight sheening from residual fuel attached to kelp, said Coast Guard Lt. Jereme Altendorf. Small amounts of fuel were still washing onto the beach.

The spill, estimated at slightly more than 500 gallons, likely originated from a military or commercial vessel, Altendorf said, and was first reported about 11:30 a.m. Thursday.

Fuel spill leads to beach closures

2007-06-26T04:20:00.000-07:00

Fuel spill leads to beach closures
San Diego Union Tribune - San Diego,CA,USA
Only a small bit of the substance wash onto the shore, at Beacon's Beach.
The waves were washing it away and the remainder was being burned off by
the sun. ...

ENCINITAS – A fuel spill that fouled an area of ocean a mile wide and four miles long has prompted the closure of several North County beaches and the disruption of a large weekend surfing competition.

Lifeguards and county environmental health officials have posted signs along a 2 ½ -mile stretch of beaches, telling swimmers and surfers to stay out of the water for at least 24 hours.

By noon Friday, a boom had been deployed and the spill had been mostly corralled around kelp beds, where the heavier elements of the substance seemed to be sticking, said U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Jereme Altendorf.

Pads that absorb oil will then be spread out over the surface of the water to soak up as much of the material as possible, he said. They will then drag the floating boom, which has a 6- to 12-inch curtain hanging from it, across the water to collect what's left.

The sun and the current was helping to quickly disperse the substance, believed to be diesel fuel, Altendorf said. The lighter chemical elements of the fuel were what largely remained.

Crews were expected to be done by sunset.

Altendorf said officials would ask people stay out of the water until at least 24 hours after the cleanup is completed.

Their priority, said Altendorf, whose agency was in charge of the operation, was to protect the public health and prevent any further impact to the shoreline.

“We think if we do our job out here the impact will be minimal or negligent,” he said .

So far there have been no reports of any adverse effects on people or wildlife, Altendorf said.

Only a small bit of the substance washed onto the shore, at Beacon's Beach. The waves were washing it away and the remainder was being burned off by the sun.

“Eventually the environment takes care of itself,” he said.

Encinitas Marine Safety Capt. Larry Giles said that it would be best to keep children from playing on the wet sand for the time being.

So far the cost of cleanup has been estimated at $60,000, Altendorf said.

Impact on beaches

The spill was first reported around 11:30 a.m. Thursday by a boater who noticed a large sheen in the water about five miles offshore of Beacons Beach, said Altendorf.

It started to come onshore sometime late Thursday afternoon, Altendorf said.

Grandview, Beacons, Moonlight, Stone Steps and D Street beaches were all closed Friday morning and were expected to remain so for at least 24 hours, said Encinitas Fire Division Chief Scott Henry. Signs have been posted along paths to the beaches.

The spill hasn't reached Swami's Beach, a popular surfing spot, but officials were keeping an eye on it, Henry said.

The Switchfoot Bro-Am surf competition, which was scheduled for Saturday at Moonlight Beach, has been canceled but the accompanying concert is to be held as scheduled, Henry said Friday morning.

Promoters of the event said later in the day said that in place of the competition they'll have a 10 a.m. dodge ball game featuring the 64 surfers who were expected to compete.

The competition drew 6,000 fans last year and a similar number was expected this year, Giles said.

Three members of Switchfoot gathered at the beach to watch the proceedings. Jon Foreman, the band's lead singer, said the contest raises money for Care House, an agency that help teens in crisis.

He took the disruption of the surf competition in stride.

“The goal is to help kids and as long as that's going on and the community is coming together it's a success,” he said of Saturday's still-scheduled concert.

Some 10 bands are scheduled to perform.

People will be allowed on the sand on the affected beaches, officials said, but no one will be allowed in the water, and lifeguards will be patrolling and making announcements telling beachgoers to keep out.

Cleanup efforts

The Coast Guard has set up a safety zone – an area that boaters will be discouraged from entering – between Batiquitos and San Elijo lagoons, out to three nautical miles offshore, said Chief Petty Officer Steve Howell. It will be enforced until 8 a.m. Monday.

Its purpose is to keep boats from spreading the spilled fuel. Howell said a couple of Coast Guard boats will be stationed in the area and will warn approaching boats to avoid it.

The spill is estimated to be between 500 to 1,000 gallons of some type of petroleum product. It smells like gasoline or diesel fuel.

“Beacon's had the heaviest concentration,” said Kevin Vengrow, a Coast Guard pollution investigator who flew over the spill early in the morning. “There was a bright rainbow in the water.”

The smell of fuel lingered over the closed beaches Friday, and officials said their biggest concern was the actual fumes.

Short-term exposure to fumes can make people dizzy or nauseous, long-term exposure can have detrimental health effects, Altendorf said.

There have been no reports of anyone who has become ill, but, Altendorf said, “You don't want to be breathing this stuff for a long time.”

Officials said anyone who has already been in the water and starts to feel sick should contact a doctor or call 911.

Impact on wildlife

There has been no discernible impact on wildlife as yet, Altendorf said. The animals most likely to be affected are birds, especially those that plunge into the water for food, said Gerald Borjeson, a warden with the state Department of Fish and Game.

Pelicans could dive right through the substance with their beaks open and ingest it, Borjeson said. Oil-type substances can also coat a bird's feathers causing them to lose their insulation, he said.

Mammals like seals and dolphins are much less likely to be affected.

Wardens are patrolling the area to look for any injured or sick wildlife and have not found any so far, he said.

He urged anyone who comes across any animals that appears to be sick or hurt to leave them alone and contact authorities.

Where did it come from?

The Coast Guard is checking records to identify which vessels were nearby.

“We'll be looking at anyone who was in the area during the last 24 to 36 hours,” Altendorf said, adding that some of the ships may be as far away as Taiwan by now.

He said investigators already have a few suspect ships, but declined to elaborate. They were also checking with the U.S. Navy, he said.

Crews have taken samples of the substance and have sent them off for analysis, Altendorf said. They hope to have results back within a week.

The fuel leaves a chemical fingerprint that can identify with up to 99 percent certainty which ship it came from.

Coast Guard officer Vengrow said that's due to a number of factors, including the type of tank its held in, the way it was sitting in the tank and even the types of metals onboard.

He said officials believe the substance is some kind of bunker fuel of the sort used on very large vessels like cargo ships.

Impact on Encinitas

Chief Henry said the fire department got a call Thursday about a diesel smell that seemed to be emanating from the area of East Glaucus Street and North Coast Highway 101.

“Yesterday the smell was horrible,” he said.

As they followed it west they realized it was coming from the beach.

“This is the worst spill I have seen in my 27 years in Encinitas,” Henry said.

Sisters Colleen and Lisa Workman – along with their three young daughters – drove all the way from Phoenix Thursday just to visit Moonlight Beach. They were disappointed to find that it was closed.

“I'm bummed,” Colleen Workman said, lugging a full range of beach paraphernalia, including an ice chest, towels, chairs and several beach toys.

The group walked back to their car, deciding where to go next. They thought they would head down to Mission Beach. The trip wasn't a total disappointment though, since where they came from it was 103 degrees.

“This is perfect weather,” Colleen Workman said, as she looked up at the overcast sky.

One brave, or perhaps foolhardy swimmer decided to take a dip at Moonlight Beach not far from where the boom had been deployed. That didn't last long.

“Sir, you could not have picked a worse place. Get out of the water immediately,” a lifeguard said over the loud speaker.

The man quickly complied.

Beach Fuel Spill Part III

2007-06-26T04:18:00.000-07:00

Beach Fuel Spill Part III
By JP(JP)
... Coast Guard corralling the fuel in kelp bed and if you look closely you can see the slick covering the kelp bed on the

right. Leucadia Blog: Beach Fuel Spill Part II Leucadia Blog: Breaking News: Mysterious Fuel Spill at Beacon's Beach.

This photo is from today's SDUT website. I wish the photo was bigger but it is a good view of the Beacon's kelp beds. You can see the Coast Guard corralling the fuel in kelp bed on the left and if you look closely you can see the slick covering the kelp bed on the right.

The media and the powers that be are claiming this spill did not harm the kelp or the beach but I find that highly doubtful.
Burning question: Did the recently laid Grunion eggs survive the diesel fuel soaking? What effect will the fuel soaked sand have on shore birds that feed on invertebrates in the tide line?

Mysterious Fuel Spill at Beacon's Beach

2007-06-26T04:15:00.000-07:00

Mysterious Fuel Spill at Beacon's Beach
By JP(JP)
If you are in the Beacon's Beach area then you probably smell the diesel fuel in the air. It is all over the beach. The

lifeguard I talked to said the city lifeguards were working with the Coast Guard to locate the origin of the spill. ...

If you are in the Beacon's Beach area then you probably smell the diesel fuel in the air. It is all over the beach. The lifeguard I talked to said the city lifeguards were working with the Coast Guard to locate the origin of the spill.
The fuel in the air burned my eyes so bad that I only snapped a couple of shots before retreating back up the bluff.
The spill stretched the entire length of Beacon's Beach, I'm not sure if other areas are affected.
Fire Department, Lifeguards and a Haz-Mat team (with helicopters buzzing overhead).

Fuel spill fouls 2 1/2 -mile stretch of Encinitas coast

2007-06-26T04:11:00.001-07:00

Fuel spill fouls 2 1/2 -mile stretch of Encinitas coast
San Diego Union Tribune - San Diego,CA,USA
The spill was first reported around 11:30 am Thursday by a boater who
noticed a large sheen on the water about five miles offshore of Beacon's
Beach, ...

ENCINITAS – A fuel spill that has fouled the ocean off Encinitas with a four-mile-long by one-mile-wide slick has prompted the closure of miles of North County beaches and the cancellation of a large weekend surfing competition.

Lifeguards and county environmental health officials have posted signs along a 2½ -mile stretch of beaches, telling swimmers and surfers to stay out of the water for at least 24 hours.

The spill was first reported around 11:30 a.m. Thursday by a boater who noticed a large sheen on the water about five miles offshore of Beacon's Beach, said U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Jereme Altendorf.

It started to come onshore sometime late Thursday afternoon, Altendorf said.

Grandview, Beacon's, Moonlight, Stone Steps and D Street beaches were all closed Friday morning and were expected to remain so for at least 24 hours, said Encinitas Fire Division Chief Scott Henry. Signs have been posted along paths to the beaches.

The spill hasn't reached Swami's Beach, a popular surfing spot, but officials said it's headed that way.

After sending out helicopters to survey the affected area early Friday, the Coast Guard determined the spill area is approximately four miles long by one mile wide.

The Switchfoot Bro-Am surf competition, which was scheduled for Saturday at Moonlight Beach, has been canceled but the accompanying concert is to be held as scheduled, Henry said.

The competition drew 6,000 fans last year and a similar number was expected this year, said Larry Giles, an Encinitas lifeguard captain.

No one will be allowed in the water and lifeguards will be patrolling and making announcements telling beachgoers to keep out, although people will still be allowed on the sand, Henry said.

The purpose of the zone is to keep boats from spreading the spilled fuel.

Howell said a couple of Coast Guard boats will be stationed in the area and will warn approaching boats to avoid the zone.

The spill is estimated to be between 500 to 1,000 gallons of some type of petroleum product. It smells like gasoline or diesel fuel.

Officials said their primary concern is for the public's health and safety, and they're most worried about the fumes.

Short-term exposure to fumes can make people dizzy or nauseous, long-term exposure can have detrimental health effects, Altendorf said. There have been no reports of anyone who has become ill.

“You don't want to be breathing this stuff for a long time,” he said.

Officials said anyone who has already been in the water and starts to feel sick should contact a doctor or call 911.

There has been no discernible impact on wildlife as yet, Altendorf said.

Altendorf said the Coast Guard is monitoring the spill from the air and the water. Crews have taken samples of the substance and have sent them off for analysis; they hope to have results back within a week.

They also began setting up booms to collect the spill. A kelp bed off Beacon's Beach is acting as a natural barrier right now, Altendorf said.

The Coast Guard is also checking records to identify which vessels were nearby.

“We'll be looking at anyone who was in the area during the last 24 to 36 hours,” he said, adding that some of the ships may be as faraway as Taiwan by now.

He said investigators already have a few suspect ships, but declined to elaborate.

Henry said the fire department got a call Thursday about a diesel smell that seemed to be emanating from the area of East Glaucus Street and North Coast Highway 101.

“Yesterday the smell was horrible,” he said.

As they followed it west they realized it was coming from the beach.

“This is the worst spill I have seen in my 27 years in Encinitas,” Henry said.

"I'm bummed," Colleen Workman said, lugging a full range of beach paraphernalia, including an ice chest, towels, chairs and several beach toys. The group walked back to their car, deciding where to go next.

They thought they would head down to Mission Beach.

The trip wasn't a total disappointment though, since where they came from it was 103 degrees.

"This is perfect weather," Colleen Workman said, as she looked up at the overcast sky.

Tim Foreman, the bass player for Switchfoot, said most of the pro surfers and celebrities who were going to attend Saturday's concert are still coming. About 10 bands are scheduled to play.

Foreman said the concert benefits a program that serves homeless children and teens in crisis.

Fuel spill fouls 2 1/2 -mile stretch of Encinitas coast

2007-06-26T04:11:00.000-07:00

Lifeguards and county environmental health officials have posted signs along a 2½ -mile stretch of beaches, telling swimmers and surfers to stay out of the water for at least 24 hours.

The spill was first reported around 11:30 a.m. Thursday by a boater who noticed a large sheen on the water about five miles offshore of Beacon's Beach, said U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Jereme Altendorf.

It started to come onshore sometime late Thursday afternoon, Altendorf said.

The spill hasn't reached Swami's Beach, a popular surfing spot, but officials said it's headed that way.

After sending out helicopters to survey the affected area early Friday, the Coast Guard determined the spill area is approximately four miles long by one mile wide.

The Switchfoot Bro-Am surf competition, which was scheduled for Saturday at Moonlight Beach, has been canceled but the accompanying concert is to be held as scheduled, Henry said.

San Diego Coastal information - North San Diego County Beaches ...

2007-06-26T04:09:00.000-07:00

San Diego Coastal information - North San Diego County Beaches ...
Information, map, directions, and photos of Beacon's Beach, or Leucadia
State Beach, in Encinitas, CA.

On the maps, it's “Leucadia State Beach,” but ask the locals, and they will just say, “It’s always been Beacon’s Beach. Even the sign at the top of the bluff reads Beacon’s."

Swimming, surfing, fishing and picnicking are popular at this small, rocky beach. There's a reef off Beacons, which makes the beach a good surf spot.

Beacon's Beach access is via an improved trail at the foot of Leucadia Blvd, but brace yourself for the walk down, not to mention back up. Locals like to walk their dogs on the sand at Beacon's Beach. The beach is very secluded and can be the starting point of a nice hike up or down the coast during low tide.

FACILITIES
Phone
No Restrooms

PARKING
Parking is available along residential streets west of 101 or in small lots off Neptune Ave.

HOURS
Beach Parking: 5am - 10pm
Beach Use: 4am - 2am

LIFEGUARDS
Lifeguard Towers Open: 10am - 6pm during the
Summer Season (late June to Labor Day)

Contact Encinitas Lifeguards
505 South Vulcan
Encinitas, CA 92924
Emergency (760) 633-2750
Business (760) 633-2748
Junior Lifeguards
(760) 633-2752
Fax (760) 633-2626

REGULATIONS
No dogs, alcohol, or glass allowed
No Alcohol
No Dogs
No Glass Containers

LOCATION
Beacon's Beach
The park entrance to Beacon's Beach is located north of San Diego, west of I-5, at 948 Neptune Avenue at the intersection of Leucadia Boulevard in Encinitas.

On the edge of a solution for bluffs

2007-06-26T04:06:00.000-07:00

On the edge of a solution for bluffs
San Diego Union Tribune - San Diego,CA,USA
Local residents who are familiar with it are so impressed that they have
suggested that the city replicate it at the popular Beacon's Beach in
Leucadia. ...

ENCINITAS – On the grounds of the lotus-domed Self-Realization Fellowship is a secret that could be the answer to a coastal homeowner's worst nightmare – bluff collapse.That happened to the retreat in 1942, when its Golden Lotus Temple slipped off a waterlogged blufftop in Encinitas and fell partway down a 100-foot slope.

The temple was dismantled and hauled away. Today, a plaque marks the temple's original location.

The fellowship's misfortune did not end there. Several more landslides occurred in ensuing years because groundwater soaked the bluffs from the inside and ocean waves eroded them from the outside.

In the 1980s, the fellowship came up with a simple three-pronged plan to stop the bluff collapses:

Drill wells and install pumps to send groundwater away from the bluff face and into a city storm drain that runs through the fellowship grounds.

Plant deep-rooted vegetation on the bluff face to hold the sand together.

Build a 1,500-foot-long wall of boulders, or riprap, at the toe of the bluffs to dissipate the crashing waves.

Since then, the fellowship grounds have survived heavy rain and high seas that have caused slides elsewhere along the fragile Encinitas coastline.

“They are doing something no one has done yet,” Encinitas Mayor James Bond said. “And it is something everyone can do.”

Simple and effective

The Self-Realization Fellowship was founded by Paramahansa Yogananda, a native of India who traveled to Boston in 1920 for an international conference of religious leaders.

Yogananda headed west to Los Angeles and, in 1925, established the international headquarters of the Self-Realization Fellowship, which teaches a mixture of Hindu scriptures and Christianity.

Yogananda often stopped to picnic at the Encinitas property, with its spectacular ocean view, on his way to San Diego to hold services. In the 1930s, a follower bought the 17 acres and built the Hermitage, which became a second home for the swami.

In 1937, Yogananda built the Golden Lotus Temple just 10 or 15 feet from the bluff's edge, featuring a bird's-eye view of the endless ocean, the crashing waves and soaring seabirds.

After the temple slid off the cliff, the fellowship's monks and nuns consulted with experts and eventually devised a bluff-saving plan. It was hardly rocket science. If anything, their system is a combination of old-fashioned wisdom and equipment aided by modern geological research.

The innovative dewatering system uses garden-variety rubber hoses, pumps and human vigilance.

There is no computer system anywhere on the grounds to warn the monastics of an impending disaster, said Brother Anilananda, a co-administrator of the Encinitas campus.

As low-tech as it may sound, the system has worked wonders, Anilananda said. Visitors who come to meditate at the fellowship's lush blufftop gardens and koi ponds can feel safe.

“We are tremendously relieved,” Anilananda said. “Otherwise, we'd still be figuring out what to do.”

Not an easy start

Before the system was installed, things were less than serene under the fellowship's lawns.

Water accumulated under the low-lying Second and K streets adjacent to the grounds and crept westward, leading to the collapse of the temple, said Steve Aceti, government and community relations representative for the fellowship.

In 1981, the monastics got permission from the then-San Diego Coast Regional Commission – later replaced by the umbrella California Coastal Commission – to build the riprap wall at the bottom of the bluff. The ring of protective boulders cost the fellowship $270,900.

That same year, in an apparently misguided effort to smooth out and stabilize the bluffs, the fellowship graded them without a permit.

Workers suspended a bulldozer from a crane at the blufftop and ended up causing 3,500 square feet of bluff between J and K streets to topple under the weight of the heavy equipment, a San Diego Coast Regional Commission report stated.

The fellowship was fined $15,000, an unprecedented amount at the time, and ordered to plant vegetation on the bluff face.The monks and nuns experimented with 51 varieties of plants and narrowed their choice to acacia and atriplex breweri, also known as saltbush, because they are drought-resistant and can tolerate salt air. The revegetation project cost $2,400.

In 1983 and 1986, the fellowship instituted the system's most unusual element: wells equipped with pumps to move groundwater away from the bluffs and into storm drains. Two wells, one as deep as 85 feet, are used today with pumps activated by the water level. As an additional precaution, the monastics built about 20 small monitoring wells scattered around the property that are checked twice a week to gauge the situation.

Locals impressed

Today, the fellowship's bluff-protection system still has the support of the state Coastal Commission, which restricts the use of bluff-protection devices unless there is an emergency.

“I haven't heard any problems about it,” said Lesley Ewing, a senior coastal engineer for the commission.

The bluff-saving methods are known to few outside the campus. The system's design is not well-recorded and mostly consigned to the monastics' memories and old government documents stored in warehouses.

Local residents who are familiar with it are so impressed that they have suggested that the city replicate it at the popular Beacon's Beach in Leucadia. City officials are examining how to shore up the crumbling 85-foot-tall bluffs that are threatening a parking lot at the top and a trail down the cliff face.

The city has taken the suggestion into consideration and is drafting a final environmental review for the Beacon's project. However, city engineers say the geological structure of the Beacon's bluffs may be different from the fellowship's, and for now, they suggest a sea wall.

Not everyone is a fan of the fellowship's measures.

Todd Cardiff, an advisory board member of the Surfrider Foundation's San Diego chapter, criticizes the riprap for taking up beach space that could have been used for recreation. Cardiff also contends that it keeps the ocean from doing its natural job – eroding the bluffs to make sand for beaches.

“We prefer that everybody locate structures far enough away from the bluffs to not need bluff-protection devices,” Cardiff said.

But the fellowship already has been built, Brother Anilananda said. His goal now is to keep the Hermitage standing. Paramahansa Yogananda lived there for many years before his death in 1952, writing his “Autobiography of a Yogi” there. It is also an annual destination for pilgrims from 50 countries, Anilananda said.

The fellowship ultimately would like to add sand to the beach below the serene campus, widening it and making it harder for waves to eat away at the bluffs.

“Dewatering is only part of the solution,” Aceti said. “With sand replenishment, the waves will not reach the bluffs except during storms.”

Proposed budget includes big-ticket items

2007-06-26T04:04:00.000-07:00

Proposed budget includes big-ticket items
San Diego Union Tribune - San Diego,CA,USA
Beacon's Beach sea wall and footpath, with $2.8 million budgeted. Total
cost is undetermined. Five pedestrian crossings over the railroad tracks,...

ENCINITAS – Thanks to increasing property tax revenue and budget surpluses, Encinitas will have more than enough money to build priority facilities, boost its reserves to an unprecedented level and go high tech, a proposed budget for the coming fiscal year shows.

It will even spare property owners the threat of fee increases in two controversial programs – pollution control, and street lighting and landscaping.

The city will use general funds to subsidize those.

In doing so, city officials are acknowledging the harsh lessons learned in 2005 and last year when voters rejected a $3-to $5-per-year increase in the Lighting and Landscape District's assessment and a $5-a-month pollution control fee.

Not only did voters say no, but critics repeatedly accused the city of nickel-and-diming property owners.

In the proposed budget, which forecasts finances for six fiscal years beginning July 1, the Lighting and Landscaping Assessment District is expected to incur a $56,000 deficit in 2009-10 and a $154,000 deficit in 2010-11. The city's general fund will shoulder the cost.

The city will pay $1.6 million for pollution controls in 2007-08 to meet the state's Clean Water Act standards. That cost is projected to increase in the next few years.

“We are in very good shape,” Councilwoman Maggie Houlihan said. “It's a byproduct of having a relatively conservative approach to budgeting. I am very pleased.”

Mayor James Bond said he is pleased with a sound budget that shows revenues continuing to outpace expenditures.

And the city is expecting to increase its emergency reserves from the current 15 percent of operating expenditures to 20 percent, an unprecedented high. That would bring the city's reserves to $9.14 million in the coming fiscal year.

The city also is proposing a new budget stabilization reserve at 2 percent of revenues to cope with recessions. That fund would start at $1.07 million in the next fiscal year.

Residents will have their first opportunity to comment on the proposed budget at a City Council workshop at 4 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 505 S. Vulcan Ave.

Major capital improvement projects budgeted for the next six years include the first phase of a 44-acre public park in Cardiff, with $15 million budgeted.

The park, commonly known as the Hall property after a previous owner, would include a dog park and grassy areas. But city officials said they cannot predict when construction could begin because the project is undergoing a lengthy environmental review that could end up in litigation.

The budget also contains funding for a long-awaited beautification of North Coast Highway 101 from A Street to La Costa Avenue in Leucadia. The total cost of the project has not been determined, but the city has allocated $1.2 million and is proposing to set aside $500,000 each year for the next six years.

Encinitas also is studying unfunded liabilities in its retirees' medical benefits. The city is proposing to set aside $500,000 each year beginning in 2008-09 for five years for possible payments.

Natural Sand Replenishment Currently Underway

2007-06-26T04:02:00.000-07:00

Natural Sand Replenishment Currently Underway
By JP(JP)
Beacon's Beach, Leucadia California This photo was taken Feb 23rd 2007. It shows the indicator rocks for North Reef

and the boulder. These photos were taken March 13th 2007. The south swells have already pushed up enough sand to

cover ...

This photo was taken Feb 23rd 2007. It shows the indicator rocks for North Reef and the boulder.
These photos were taken March 13th 2007. The south swells have already pushed up enough sand to cover the indicator rocks AND the boulder.
The dredging they've been doing in Carlsbad at Ponto and the power plant may also have contributed to this. There is a lot of sand moving around the beaches right now. If the government keeps their hands off we will have good waves and good fishing this summer.

Storm brings heavy showers, few problems to North County

2007-06-26T03:59:00.000-07:00

Storm brings heavy showers, few problems to North County
North County Times - Escondido,CA,USA
The city pumps runoff that collects at the park over a hill and onto
Beacon's Beach. In Escondido, homeowners headed to RCP Block & Brick, a
Mission Avenue ...

NORTH COUNTY -- The largest storm yet this season moved through North County Monday, bringing landslide warnings, flooding, high surf and snow to the region, but few major problems were reported, authorities said.

The storm dropped about twice as much rain and snow on the area as previous storms had this season, bringing much-needed relief to the parched region, National Weather Service forecaster Robert Balfour said.

Rainfall totals throughout North County by 5:30 p.m. included 0.30 inches at the Oceanside airport, 0.37 inches in Vista, 0.56 at the Carlsbad airport, 0.78 inches in Del Mar, 0.93 inches in Escondido, 1.50 inches at the Ramona fire station, 1.13 inches in Rancho Bernardo and 1.52 inches in Poway. Daytime temperatures ranged from the 40s to 60s.

The rain also boosted the seasonal rainfall total to 2.93 inches at Lindbergh Field, which is still 3.86 inches less than the annual average to this point in the season of 6.79, meteorologist Steve Vanderburg said. Before Monday's storm, the total was only 2.21 inches.

The rain, which should clear out by today, will be followed by a second storm which is expected to move through the area Thursday and Friday, Balfour said. That storm system is expected to be colder, with temperatures in the 40s and 50s, so snow could fall as low as 3,500 feet, Balfour said.

The storms will "help the (dry season) situation overall," Balfour said.

"They will recharge ground water and increase growth a lot more. There will be more green grass, which will temporarily help the fire danger."

Larry Craig, a dispatcher for the California Department of Forestry, said time will tell how much the rain affects the landscape now covered in dead brush from January's frost.

"It depends on if the rain is countywide or hit-or-miss," Craig said. "The brush will absorb the rain and lower fire danger for a while, but the frost killed a lot of brush, so we'll see."

The storm system, which formed when a subtropical southwestern system merged with a cold front from the Gulf of Alaska, sprinkled showers and spots of heavy rain as it moved through the county, forecasters said.

The storm also dropped snow on mountains as low as 4,000 feet, including Palomar Mountain, areas south of Julian and near Pine Valley, east of El Cajon, Balfour said.

Part of South Grade Road on Palomar Mountain was closed for a time because of the snow, Balfour said.

Warnings were also issued for thunderstorms, small hail and funnel clouds, but none of those conditions ever materialized over North County, authorities said.

Forecasters issued an urban and small flood advisory through late Monday morning, but no flooding was reported on North County roads, the California Highway Patrol reported.

However, Monday's showers were enough to submerge much of Leucadia Roadside Park in silty, ankle-deep water. A crew of firefighters and a powerful pump were at the ready late Monday morning at the notorious low spot at Leucadia Boulevard. The city pumps runoff that collects at the park over a hill and onto Beacon's Beach.

In Escondido, homeowners headed to RCP Block & Brick, a Mission Avenue business that sells sand bags, an employee said.

"It's been kind of slow today, but we have sold some," Jaime Rodriguez said. "As soon as it starts sprinkling, (residents) start getting them."

Forecasters also warned of high surf, which could reach 5 to 7 feet with peaks of 9 feet. A high surf advisory is in effect until 2 p.m. today.

At the beach in Carlsbad Monday afternoon, poorly-formed 3 to 4 foot waves lapped at the shore, and no flooding or serious rescues were reported, lifeguard Alec Leslie said.

"It's very quiet here at the beach," except for the occasional surfer, he said.

Lifeguards worked to remove lobster traps that washed toward the beach, becoming a hazard for surfers, but the traps are "constantly" a problem and an "ongoing (effort) this time of year," Leslie said.

On roads throughout San Diego County, the CHP reported 257 crashes between midnight and 5 p.m., compared to the 50 to 75 crashes normally seen on days without rain.

Among the more significant incidents, a 50-foot big rig fishtailed and overturned on Highway 76 near Bonsall on Monday morning, blocking the roadway in both directions at Gird Road for about three hours. The truck's driver was uninjured, but the crash also caused a minor hazardous materials spill when diesel fuel leaked onto the road, said John Buchanan, spokesman for the North County Fire Protection District.

Dan Beeson, a Valley Center fire engineer, said area firefighters were working Monday morning to check spots on streets near Lilac and Coal Grade roads that routinely flood in wet weather but found no significant flooding.

More than two feet of water can accumulate in some areas, and people who try to cross the water can be swept away, Beeson said. Firefighters last performed such a water rescue in 2003, he said.

The rainfall also prompted the county Department of Environmental Health to issue a general advisory for coastal waters because of urban runoff that can increase levels of bacteria in the ocean and bays. Such advisories generally warn people to stay out of the water for at least 72 hours after the last rainfall.

Runoff, which especially accumulates near storm drains, creeks, rivers and lagoons, may contain bacteria from sources including animal waste, soil and decomposing vegetation.

For updates on beach closure information, call the county's 24-hour hotline, (619) 338-2073 or visit www.cleanup.org. Enter your ZIP code and select Beach Water Quality.

Staff writer Adam Kaye contributed to this report.

A Proliferation of the Devices

2007-06-26T03:55:00.000-07:00

A Proliferation of the Devices

By J.P.

Now, the key is to keep a pedestrian crossing at HWY101 and Leucadia Blvd (if they
decide to close the intersection as Jerome Stock's plan calls for). Then pedestrians
could walk from Neptune and Beacon's beach all the way to the Ecke ...

The Encinitas Planning Commission voted 5-0 Thursday to approve the first phase of Leucadia Boulevard improvements that call for sidewalks, bike lanes, landscaping three roundabouts.

Some peeps spoke out against the roundabouts, others in support.

Personally I can hang with the roundabouts, I support them.

But, I think three might be one too many roundabouts for Leucadia Blvd, two roundabouts might be better. I think the Hygeia stop sign should be replaced by a roundabout in Phase I of the plan instead of Phase II.

This quote in the NCT.com story caught my attention, some speakers said, local motorists just don't understand how to navigate them.

Resident Frank Scarborough said he avoids Santa Fe Drive because of the roundabout and, as a result, does some of his shopping in Carlsbad.

That doesn't make any sense to me. If he avoids going to Vons on Santa Fe Dr because of the roundabout then it would be easier to go to Albertson's on Encinitas Blvd or any of the El Camino Real stores than drive all the way to Carlsbad. Or, he could zip down to the Seaside Market in Cardiff. (Pick up a nice bottle of wine and some flowers for the Mrs while you are there).

*Tip of the day, go to the Encinitas Blvd Smart & Final, that place is always mellow.

And, comon', the Santa Fe roundabout is easy as pie (unless you are driving a semi-truck). The Leucadia roundabouts will be way more chaotic for sure, but I think people will get used to them.

I'm hoping that once the I-5 hoppers realize they hate the roundabouts they will avoid Leucadia Blvd all together in the morning.

Blair Knoll, a city engineer, told commissioners that pedestrian and vehicular safety were driving the project, for which $1.2 million has been budgeted to complete the first phase.

In addition to roundabouts, landscaped medians appear on plans.

The medians, as well as landscaped, meandering walkways, would provide safe havens for pedestrians who today must cross a boulevard that is up to 50 feet wide, Knoll said.

What will be nice is linking the golf course area trails and east Leucadia Blvd with sidewalks on west Leucadia Blvd. Now, the key is to keep a pedestrian crossing at HWY101 and Leucadia Blvd (if they decide to close the intersection as Jerome Stock's plan calls for). Then pedestrians could walk from Neptune and Beacon's beach all the way to the Ecke Ranch trails and back. That would be sweet.