Carmel Valley News Headlines

By Rob LeDonne

Most everyone knows that the Special Olympics take place every four years, drawing global attention and athletes from all over the world. However, the Special Olympics are an organization that holds events year-round, including a Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR).

The Law Enforcement Torch Run is an annual event where San Diego County law enforcement agencies carry the Special Olympics Torch through San Diego cities where it eventually reaches its final destination at the Summer Games in Long Beach. (More than 1,100 athletes from throughout Southern California will participate in the Summer Games on June 8 and 9 at Cal State Long Beach.)

The ceremonial lighting of the torch will begin on May 28 at 9:30 a.m. at the Chula Vista Police Department Memorial Wall. After the ceremony, officers will begin the first leg of the run that starts at 10:15 a.m. and continues through Del Mar until the torch is set to rest for the evening.

The final leg of the LETR will begin at 6:30 a.m. on May 29 and end with Camp Pendleton Marines running the torch through the base and handing it off to the Orange County Sherriff’s Department.

“It’s a countywide event that incorporates pretty much all law enforcement agencies throughout the area,” explained Kelcie Kopf, the development manager for Special Olympics of Southern California. “Various agencies take certain legs, from San Diego all the way up to Long Beach. One agency passes the torch to the next.”

The goal of the run is to raise awareness and funds for the Special Olympics, which provides sports programming for people with intellectual disabilities and, according to Kopf, is an important facet of community life.

“Anytime an organization takes an interest in their community, especially individuals in their community who are often marginalized, it strengthens the community as a whole,” said Kopf. “There’s really no downside to participating; it mainly shows residents that law enforcement is more than just parking tickets and drug busts.”

Agencies local and national alike (including the San Diego Police Department, the FBI, and the IRS) will all participate in the run, which kicks off at 9:30 a.m. in Chula Vista. The run will move through the Torrey Pines State Beach area and Del Mar around 3 p.m., where it will rest for the night. The next day begins at Camp Pendleton.

The race has its roots in Kansas, where it began decades ago and has grown since, branching out to different states across the country, including right here in California and in 48 nations; overall, 142,000 people volunteer their time to the race annually. As a result, it’s become the largest grassroots fundraiser for the Special Olympics all year. Kopf herself moved to the San Diego area from Texas, and starting working with the organization as “a way to give back to community, and it’s been life changing. There was trepidation at first before taking this job, but it’s just opened my eyes. Our athletes and families who we work with are amazing.”

Kopf said she has about 300 law enforcement participants signed up for the race so far, which is on par with recent years, and is still open to having people sign up right up until the day of the race. Says Kopf: “The whole event is a beautiful symbol of what the Special Olympics are all about.”

To donate, call the Special Olympics office at 619-283-6100 and pay by credit card or mail cash/check to the office: Special Olympics Southern California San Diego County, 10977 San Diego Mission Road, San Diego, CA 92108. Visit www.sosc.org/sandiego.

http://www.sosc.org/summergames

www.sosc.org/sandiego

On Wednesday, June 5, from 3:15 – 4:15 p.m., high school seniors who once attended Carmel Creek Elementary School are invited to a casual reunion at the school. The highlight of this event will be when students and teachers get in a big circle. The students will share a favorite memory and what their future plans are. The teachers — along with Principal Terri Davis — will share stories and words of encouragement to the students as they begin this next stage in life.

The City of Solana Beach and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5431 will host the 2013 Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 27, at the Veterans’ Memorial at La Colonia Community Park, located at 715 Valley Ave in Solana Beach.

The ceremony will take place from 11 a.m. until noon. Some highlights of the ceremony include the Col. Frank Brezina Venture Scout Crew #42 as Color Guard, the Santa Fe Christian School Band, Camp Pendleton Young Marines, and special guest speaker David Jacinto, who will address the community. City dignitaries and representatives from all branches of the armed forces will also be present. Light refreshments will be served. For more information: 858-720-2453 (Parks & Recreation Department).

Celebrate the opening of “Season II” at the Del Mar Art Center on Sunday, May 19, from 4-6 p.m. The Center will present new work by all 36 members, including featured artists Diane Hall, Linda Melvin, Terry Scott Allen, David Begent, Bob Coletti and Ed Eginton.

The Del Mar Art Center features all local artists working in many different mediums, including painting, photography, mixed media, glass, ceramics, jewelry, sculpture and upcycled sculpture.  The show runs through July 28.  Two-hour free parking and refreshments.

The Del Mar Art Center is located at the Del Mar Plaza at 1555 Camino Del Mar #106, Del Mar, 92014. Visit http://www.dmacgallery.com/

By Emily Figueiredo, Del Mar Rotary Club Publicity Chair

On any given night in Del Mar, you will find packed restaurants and seaside establishments filled with patrons in search of a delicious meal with one of the best views in the world. The sun setting on the Pacific Ocean is the perfect backdrop for enjoying a glass of wine or a perfectly designed dinner. That’s why many of us live here and so many more visit our beautiful town of Del Mar from all over the world.

On Tuesday, May 21, Del Mar Rotarians will be doing just this – sipping and tasting overlooking a Del Mar beach sunset – all in the spirit of giving back to those in need. The club invites you to join them for the 9th Annual Sunset Soiree on the ocean view deck of the Del Mar Plaza. The event will go from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. and will raise funds for local and international service projects and organizations such as water projects in Africa, building schools in India, polio eradication efforts throughout the world, local teen scholarships, the Boys and Girls Clubs of San Dieguito and the Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA.

Event tickets include unlimited tastings from the delicious and generous restaurants of the Del Mar Plaza and Stratford Square, unlimited wine and beer tastings from local vineyards and breweries, live music, opportunity drawings and a silent auction.

Please visit www.delmarsunsetsoiree.com to join the fun, beautiful sights and worthy cause.

Jake Skoll

Solana Beach resident and La Jolla Country Day junior Jake Skoll recently committed to play soccer for Davidson College. His determination to play soccer at the collegiate level led to his decision to join NCSA Athletic Recruiting, an exclusive recruiting network that provides student athletes with the opportunity and technology to be proactive in their recruiting process.

Earning a 3.79 GPA, Jake has taken multiple AP and honors classes, and has also been on high honor roll for three years. He plans to major in medicine or business at the university located in Davidson, North Carolina.

As a two-year varsity starter, Jake served as captain of the team in 2011 and was second in assists for the 2010 season. Jake also has eight years of club experience, including six years with teams in the San Diego area.

For more information, visit www.ncsasports.org

Del Mar resident Frank Ault shows his 2013 Healthcare Hero award from the Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) with Bob Ayres (right), GHD board member.

Del Mar resident Frank Ault has been selected for a 2013 Healthcare Hero award from the Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD).

Ault, a Sempra Energy retiree and volunteer firefighter, is a volunteer with the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation. He has served as a member of the Fire Foundation for 21 of its 24 years in existence, and has served as chairman for the past 18 years. GHD said Ault has led the Foundation in nearly every aspect, from fundraising to operations to visionary planning.

The nonprofit Foundation funds the purchase of fire rescue and safety equipment and medical equipment, including medical supplies, used by 30 rural fire departments manned primarily by volunteer firefighters. Since its founding, the Fire Foundation has awarded $4 million in grants, a far cry from the $10,000 per year it awarded in its first five years.

Firefighters at these 30 volunteer fire stations, which serve more than 60 percent of San Diego County, respond to more than 6,000 emergencies annually. More than 80 percent of these emergency calls are medical related. Over the years, the equipment purchased by the Foundation has included tires for fire trucks, fire hoses, protective equipment, breathing apparatus and fire engines. Medical-related equipment has included supplies, automated electronic defibrillators, rope rescue systems, extrication equipment and auto-pulse CPR equipment. After the Cedar, Paradise and Otay wildfires in 2003 and the Harris, Witch Creek, Rice and Poomacho wildfires in 2007, the Foundation provided grants that repaired or replaced damaged equipment, and restored volunteer fire departments to pre-wildfire levels of preparedness.

After a 37-year career with SDG&E and Sempra Energy, Ault retired in 2006 as senior vice president and controller with Sempra Energy.

In addition to the Fire Foundation, Ault also volunteers as board chair of the Mt. Laguna Volunteer Fire Dept. He also is a 27-year volunteer with the San Diego Foundation, included serving as its board chairman and is on the board of the San Diego Foundation’s Disaster Fund. The Disaster Fund raised more than $12 million that assisted recovery efforts for communities impacted by the 2003 and 2007 wildfires.

Ault was among a group of six 2013 GHD Healthcare Hero award recipients, which included two physicians, a financial planner, community supporter and high school senior. Other recipients included Philip Bresnick of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Connie Napierskie Conard of Grossmont Hospital Foundation and Friends of Vista Hill, Dr. Susan Kaweski of the San Diego County Medical Society Foundation, Dr.  Ernest Shaw of the La Mesa Lions Club and Chase Whittaker, a student at West Hills High School in Santee and a junior volunteer at Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa.

Now in its seventh year, GHD’s Healthcare Hero awards program recognizes and rewards front-line volunteers for significant contributions to healthcare in San Diego’s East County region. The awards were presented on a luncheon held on Wednesday, May 15, at Sycuan Resort in El Cajon.

The Grossmont Healthcare District is a public agency that supports health-related community programs and services in San Diego’s East County region. Formed in 1952 to build and operate Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa, GHD serves as landlord for the property and buildings on behalf of East County taxpayers. The District is governed by a five-member board of directors, each elected to four-year terms, who represent more than 500,000 people residing within the District’s 750 square miles in San Diego’s East County. Sharp HealthCare manages and has operational responsibility of the 540-bed hospital under a 30-year lease that was executed with the District in 1991. For more information, visit www.grossmonthealthcare.org.

Hats off to the members of the City of Del Mar’s Finance Committee Pension Sub-Committee for the 18-plus months they spent learning the ins and outs of the City’s $23,000,000-plus pension obligation. They really have a well-researched understanding of the issues and the politics and the challenges of the City’s pension liability, and as we approach the next round of budget discussions we need to lean on them and their knowledge to help guide the decisions we make as a City.

The learning curve for the rest of us is huge; we are fortunate that the Committee has done the hard work for us. I admittedly don’t begin to understand it all, but the bottom line I do understand is that we have terrific City Staff working for us who help make Del Mar a wonderful place to live, and we citizens already have $3 million in side fund debt plus $23 million in pension debt for the work they have done (plus we continue to incur pension expenses as we go forward).

We can’t let these numbers get any larger, we can’t leave the debt unpaid, and we can’t diddle with making minimum payments that end up being 10 times the cost (as Poway has chosen to do). We have some tough decisions ahead of us, and they need to include the commitment to pay our past debts now so that we can move forward on the other projects we desire.

Nancy Stoke

Del Mar

Jordan Rosenfeld, in his letter of May 9, said it’s time to stop the comparisons with Hitler and Nazi Germany, such as made by Jim Donovan (me) and Tom Pickwell in making their (separately submitted) cases against Big Brother in America and his ever bigger and bolder encroachments upon the liberty fought for by our inspired founders and guaranteed by the Constitution they created.

Mr. Rosenfeld’s arguments, however, invalidate themselves for the following reasons:

Hitler didn’t begin his quest for power with storm troopers and gas ovens but by kissing babies and promising to restore Germany’s economy and proud place in the world after World War I.

Similarly, Big Brother in America disguises its quest for power in the guise of protecting the public (from itself) and other benevolent causes that have expanded to the point where individual liberty is being sacrificed for the so-called common good. The most current example of which is the seemingly trivial plastic bag issue (seemingly trivial because a paper bag costs the public a mere 10 cents).

Rosenfeld argues that it’s time to stop the Nazi comparisons because they are rooted in a history no longer relevant in this age of computers, I-Phones, etc., so it’s time to move on.

Move on, from the first outside-world discoveries of Hitler’s gas ovens and the dumpsters of countless skeletons in 1945 when everyone said “Lest we forget”?

“Enough with the Nazi comparisons,” Mr. Rosenfeld? “Because today we cannot realistically fear that anything resembling Nazi Germany will ever happen here”.

Specifically, probably not, but in another form that is rooted in the same incremental quest for power from the top down, you can bet on it.

And as history from the beginning of time attests, the loser is invariably the individual.

Time to forget, Mr. Rosenfeld, or time to remember?

Jim Donovan

I really don’t care if Kilroy builds the One Paseo mixed use project.

I am retired. I can wander over to Carmel Valley after the noon time rush and before the Torrey Pines High school gets out around 2:45 p.m.

I am retired so I can shop at Trader Joe’s before the 1,200 folks living in the apartment/condo complex do their evening market shopping.

I am retired so I can attend the matinée movie shows before the local teens and young adults drive to the parking structure in the evenings or weekends.

I am retired and have heard and seem enough in my lifetime to understand the term “Unintended Consequences.”

I am retired and have learned to understand and interpret “Developer’s Speak”  so I understand real world consequences of  short-term gains vs long-term results on Quality of Life.

I am retired and do worry that the Station 24 ambulance will be caught in the One Paseo Traffic and not get over the Del Mar Heights Bridge in a timely fashion but that is the price of progress.

Dennis Ridz, chair, Torrey Pines Community Planning Board

The recent scandal over the “twerking” video provides an opportunity to reflect on our changing culture and values. Administrators from the school where the video was produced were understandably upset and chose to prohibit the participants from going to the prom and walking at graduation.  The school was concerned about the message these students appeared to be sending to their peers and the online community.

A daughter’s high school years are anxiety-provoking for her parents, fueled by late night parties, revealing clothes and the constant background noise of crude, sexually charged music. Throughout history parents have been concerned that their daughters may be sexually exploited or harmed in other ways. Parents are disturbed by their daughters’ blatant displays of sexuality because they know men respond to them. However, each generation develops new standards and mores regarding sexual behavior. Those old enough to remember recall society’s response of horror to Elvis Presley’s gyrations. Some parents even forbade watching the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.

Because sexuality today is even more “in your face,” as anyone who watches reality TV or music videos can see, teenagers have become numbed to the potency of the sexual messages they exude in the way they dress and the way they act. They have developed a new “normal” and it is often disturbing to us. Teenagers will mouth the words of rap songs, seemingly ignoring the negative messages regarding sex, women and violence. The way many teenagers dress may appear extremely provocative, especially to adults who were raised with a different standard of what was sexy and what was sexual.

Psychological research has shown that we quickly habituate to events around us and then ignore them.  People living next to a railway line or by the airport are initially bothered by the sound of the train or plane passing, but eventually they barely hear it. We are programmed to notice change and ignore the ordinary. In Muslim countries seeing a woman’s hair or perhaps her ankle is seen as sexually provocative because it is so often hidden. When mini-skirts first came out in the 1960s older people saw it as scandalous. Most women who wore the mini were following the fashion, not attempting to be provocative. Eventually the mini became the new normal. Someone wearing a “micro mini” skirt however would raise an eyebrow because it broke a convention. It suggested that the wearer wanted to advertise sexuality by wearing a skirt even shorter than typical. Habituation is good and bad; we can become accustomed to daily irritations, going on automatic pilot to save valuable brain capacity for other tasks, and saving our consciousness for important events. It can be bad, however,  because we can drift away from our values slowly, over time, without noticing. As we become numb to sexuality the media raises the ante, perhaps by combining violence with sexuality to get our attention.

Teenagers who made the “twerking” video very likely did not fully understand its sexual nature. I would bet that if you asked them, “Did you mean to be sexually provocative?” most would say “absolutely not!” In fact they would be appalled to think that men watching the video could be sexually stimulated by their actions. Because they see it everywhere, teenagers have habituated to a high level of intense sexuality.

We, as parents, need to provide sensitivity training to our children about what is sexually provocative and what is appropriate behavior. Parents ultimately need to take responsibility for their children’s lack of judgment and they are the ones to determine an appropriate consequence. It is not necessary for these teens to miss out on a once-in-a-lifetime experience in order for this event to serve as a learning experience. We believe the teenagers should be allowed to go to prom and to walk at their graduation. This is a wakeup call about where our society is going and our teen’s habituation to intense levels of blatant sexuality, and also to the fact that during these changing times we have to train our children about what is appropriate.

Richard Levak, Ph.D.

Joel Lazar, Ph.D.

Americans have been outraged and saddened by the devastation caused by the bombs that disrupted the Boston Marathon. Three people died, many lost limbs or suffered other severe injury.  It’s an unacceptable situation, and Congress is now investigating what went wrong. Homeland Security, federal data bases, and the FBI somehow missed the alert.  Someone should have known that Tamarlan Tsarnaev and his brother were dangerous.  Congress will continue to debate and review the facts and try to find out what went wrong, all with the intent of making us feel safer.

As horrific as the Boston attacks were, I find it difficult to understand how they engender such debate and investigation. After all, 80 people died today by gunshot, 80 died yesterday, and 80 will die tomorrow.  That’s the frightening average of deaths in this country as a result of gun violence.  Why do we not see a vigorous debate in Congress about how to lower these statistics?

Of course, we must be vigilant of terrorist attacks.  They take us by surprise, and innocent people die.  But is that to say that we can ignore the 80 people per day, 30,000 per year, who die by gunshot?  President Obama proposed a comprehensive package of gun legislation that would help decrease this appalling number.  Congress failed to act on any of it; even the simple measure of background checks was defeated.   Instead, fear, fueled by the NRA, has resulted in an increase in gun sales.  More guns in the hands of the public means more deaths by gunshot.  Are we really content to stand by and watch this daily death toll, including massacres such as that at Sandy Hook and Aurora, continue from too many guns in our communities?

If you are as disturbed as I by these 80 daily deaths, there are several approaches you can take:  arm yourself more heavily, opening up the potential for those weapons to fall into the wrong hands, take the ostrich head-in-the sand-approach with “it doesn’t really affect me,” or you can call your congressperson.  Congress people are remarkably receptive to hearing from their constituents.  They will listen and, more importantly, act on your opinion as to whether or not 30,000 annual gunshot deaths is a statistic that we Americans are content to accept.

Carol Landale

Carmel Valley

I came across this scene while on a bike ride along the CA State Route 56 freeway during the evening rush hour commute on Friday. The car in the picture went off the road, through a fence and came to rest on the bike path that parallels the freeway.  The accident happened about 5 minutes before I arrived on scene. The scary part is that my bike ride was delayed by about 5 minutes when I returned home to retrieve my cycling gloves. If we had met, I would have been hit head on (I took the picture after passing the car).

A few years ago, one cyclist was killed by a motorist running off the road and onto this same bike path.  This tragic incident, hearing stories about other “near-misses” and seeing numerous holes in the fence over the years makes me think this path is nothing more than a bike lane on a freeway.

While the concept of a walk/jog/bike path along this east-west corridor is commendable, the design is severely flawed.  Simply put, distracted drivers in speeding cars and cyclists do not mix.  I use the bike path about three times a week and more often during the summer.  Seniors, parents and their young children; people of all ages enjoy this trail.   I preferred the path because it appeared safer than the surface streets for riding my bike.   I have serious doubts now.

As we celebrate Bike to Work Day this Friday, May 17, let’s do all that we can to ensure the safety of those who choose alternative transportation or cycle for exercise, relaxation or for pure enjoyment.

Dan Valentine

Rancho Penasquitos

The annual Community Memorial Day Service will be held at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Del Mar, on Monday, May 27, at 11 a.m. After a traditional service of hymns and prayer, there will be a Memorial Roll Call, during which names of deceased members of the armed services will be read. The service will conclude with Taps.

The featured speaker for this year’s Memorial Day Service is Richard Carr, an active member and former Senior Warden of St. Peter’s. Carr is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and served six years active duty as an infantry officer and company commander in Vietnam. He has been awarded the Silver Star for valor with an oak leaf cluster, the Bronze Star for valor with two oak leaf clusters, and the Purple Heart, among other decorations.

At the end of this service of hymns and prayer, there will be a Memorial Roll Call, during which names of deceased members of the armed services will be read. The service will conclude with Taps.

Please contact the church office at 858-755-1616  as soon as possible if you would like to include the name of a deceased military member, so that they may be remembered and prayed for during this important service. St. Peter’s is located at 334 14th St. in Del Mar Village, one block east of Highway 101.   For more information, see www.stpetersdelmar.net.

The City of Solana Beach and the Belly Up Tavern recently announced the return of the summer “Concerts at the Cove” series. Concerts at the Cove will bring local musicians to the Fletcher Cove Park stage in performances designed for audiences of all ages.

The concert series emphasizes family recreation and cultural experiences in a relaxed outdoor setting by the beach, and provides an opportunity for families and friends to enjoy a variety of musical styles at sunset. Concerts will be held every Thursday night (except July 4) throughout the summer from June 13 to August 22, from 6 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.

The 2013 “Concerts at the Cove” lineup* is as follows:

June 13: US Marines Jazz Band

June 20: Paul Cannon Band

June 27: Billy Watson

July 11: San Diego Symphony

July 18: Nate Donnis Trio

July 25: Palominos

August 1: Mike Mydral

August 8: Brawley

August 15: Kevin Miso

August 22: Bayou Bros

*The lineup is subject to change at any time.

The public is encouraged to bring low-back beach chairs, ground cover and picnics.

No alcohol, tobacco, pets or personal BBQ’s allowed during concerts.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit the City’s website at www.cityofsolanabeach.org or call the Parks and Recreation Department at 858-720-2453.

Community members, present and past students are invited to Solana Pacific Elementary School on Friday, June 7.

A retirement celebration for Principal Brian McBride will take place behind the school from 3:30-4:30 p.m. McBride was the principal at Solana Highlands from 2000-2004. He was then selected to open Solana Pacific and has led the school with professionalism, dedication and care.

Solana Pacific School is located at 3901 Townsgate Dr, San Diego, 92130.

By Jan R. Wagner

Nautilus submarine from “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” (1954)

Okay, I admit it. I am a huge fan of the Disney movies, TV shows, merchandise and theme parks. One of my favorite places to visit is Cars Land at Disney California Adventure Park, next to Disneyland Park in Anaheim (I have a well-used Premium Annual Passport). If you haven’t been there, you absolutely must go. Highlights are the recreations of Route 66 and Cadillac Ranch (from Amarillo, TX), and especially Radiator Springs Racers.

Many Disney movies feature amazing vehicles used on land, sea, in the air and beyond. Recently I had the opportunity to examine some of these at The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum, located in Simi Valley, California (www.ReaganLibrary.com).

1915 Ford Model T from “The Absent-Minded Professor” (1961)

The event was called “D23 Presents Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives,” which ran from July 6, 2012 through to April 30, 2013. D23 is the official Disney fan club. I am a member.

Hundreds of Disney artifacts of all shapes and sizes were on display. Here are a few of the Disney movie vehicles that were there.

From the 1954 classic “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” was the meticulously detailed special effects filming model of Captain Nemo’s Nautilus submarine. Over 11 feet long, the model was brass-plated, equipped with an electric motor and lights, and weighed in excess of 1,000 pounds when submerged under water. The film won two Academy Awards, one of which was for Best Special Effects.

The Black Pearl from “Pirates of the Caribbean” films (2003 – 2007)

In “The Absent-Minded Professor” (1961), the character played by Fred McMurray invented Flubber, a rubbery substance that defied gravity. When Flubber was applied to this 1915 Ford Model T, the car could fly. It did, all the way to Washington, DC, where Flubber was given to a grateful nation.

Set near numerous pirate-inspired movie props and elaborate costumes, including one worn by Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), the “Black Pearl” sailing vessel was the special effects filming model used for several “Pirates of the Caribbean” films from 2003 to 2007. It is both intricately detailed and massive, measuring 26 feet in length.

I’m a science fiction buff, so my favorite vehicle in the exhibition was the futuristic light cycle from the inner space world of the 3-D movie “TRON: Legacy” (2010). It was positioned near sets that included a modified Ducati Sport 1000 motorcycle, TRON costumes from both TRON films and the neon sign from Flynn’s Arcade, as seen in ElecTRONica at Disney California Adventure Park.

Statuette and Tony Stark’s F1 racecar from “Iron Man 2” (2010)

Inside a neon-lit, computer video game world, the movie’s characters engaged each other in exciting battles as they raced around the grid on their light cycles. Some of you might have visited a recreation of this world inside realistic, large-scale sets – complete with costumed actors and electronic special effects, in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter during Comic-Con a few years ago. I wonder what surprises will be waiting for us at Comic-Con this year? To find out I’ve arranged for a Press Pass and will report to you on what I discover.

Let’s end this brief look at Disney movie vehicles with Tony Stark’s F1 racecar from “Iron Man 2” (2010). In the film it was destroyed while racing on the streets of Monaco, which happens to be the next stop in the 2013 FIA Formula One World Championship.

There are other vehicles on permanent display at the Reagan Library. Of these, by far the most impressive is the actual Air Force One (tail # 27000). This Boeing 707 entered service in the Air Force on Aug. 4, 1972. It served seven U.S. presidents, from Richard Nixon through to George W. Bush. It was decommissioned on Sept. 8, 2001, partially disassembled for the trip by truck from San Bernardino International Airport to the Reagan Library and then reassembled where it is now on display. It was unveiled to the public on Oct. 24, 2005.

Unfortunately The Disney Archives exhibit has left the Reagan Library but you can join me to see a brand new version of “D23 presents Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives” at this summer’s D23 Expo at the Anaheim Convention Center (Aug. 9 – 11, 2013). Tickets are on sale now at http://d23.disney.go.com/d23-expo-2013/. If you enjoy Disney you’re going to love this event, which only happens once every two years. In 2011 I went for one day, just to see what was there. My biggest regret was not signing up for all three days.

Until next time, please write to me with your comments and suggestions at AutoMatters@gmail.com.

Copyright © 2013 by Jan Wagner – #280 AutoMatters

From left, Will Fuller, Peggy Hammond, Amy Magers and Susie Fuller. Photo/Diane Y. Welch

By Diane Y. Welch

A line of about 80 people gathered on the steps of a Point Loma classic 1920s Spanish Colonial-style home recently. The occasion was an estate sale and the treasure seekers had stood in line well before the opening time of 9 a.m.

It was the start of a steady stream of customers who wove their way through the home’s many rooms packed wall-to-wall with furnishings, lighting fixtures, clothing, knickknacks and other items collected over the lifetime of the former homeowner who had relocated to a nursing home.

Staging the sale were the staff of Caring Transitions, employees who are carefully chosen, background-screened, insured and bonded by Will Fuller, CEO of the company. Like the family of this Point Loma client, Fuller had also witnessed his own family members struggle through transitions that come along as part of life’s journey. And as a result he founded his company.

The four “Ds” as Fuller calls them – death, divorce, disease and down sizing – impact millions. Caring Transitions acts as an onsite advocate, keeping a client’s best interests at heart.

“Our focus is to minimize the stress and maximize the returns while helping clients through a difficult time,” said Fuller.

Services include sorting and de-cluttering; downsizing and senior relocations; packing and moving; sale or dispersal of personal property; estate sales; online auctions; coordination with attorneys and realtors; coordination with medical professionals and contractors; and clean out and preparation of home for sale or rental.

The business concept started about nine years ago when Fuller helped his parents downsize from a large family home in Los Angeles to a “right size” home in San Diego that was closer to him and to their medical facility. Then he went through a transition personally, about six years ago, when there was an illness in his immediate family, resulting in his own downsize.

Fuller, a native of Kansas, with a background in customer service and marketing, and a former account executive for the North County Times, said at that same time he was also looking for a business opportunity. Because of its national reach, Caring Transitions franchises across state borders are able to assist each other with relocations that come in and out of their respective states. It was this intrastate support that prompted Fuller to invest in the franchise and create Caring Transitions, La Jolla.

As part of its service-package the company will professionally pack customers’ items and create a space plan to make sure that existing items fit the new home and then help with the resettlement for clients coming into the San Diego area.

“We’ll set up their closets, their bathroom, linen closets, kitchens so that when the client walks into this new home it mirrors the one they just left. That way they feel so comfortable they can go out and start meeting people immediately without the worry of unpacking, and not living out of boxes for weeks,” Fuller said.

The company services all of San Diego County but has a strong reach to the North County coastal area and La Jolla. And Fuller predicts more business ahead as 79 million baby boomers turned 65 in 2011. “That’s about 10,000 people turning 65 every day in the USA,” he said.

It’s a daunting thought that each of those families must face a major change at some point, said Fuller. “But we have proven systems in place whereby we can remove a lot of the stress – and a lot of times, the arguments – out of coping with these often overwhelming major life-changing transitions.”

Visit www.estatemovelajollaca.com to get more information about Caring Transitions’ services or call Will Fuller at (858) 768-2000.

Torrey Pines High School Men’s Lacrosse honored its 18 graduating seniors on May 9 before playing its final season game against Carlsbad.

The team will play Rancho Bernardo on May 18 for the CIF Championship Quarterfinals at Ed Burke Field. The senior roster and its committed schools include: Jake Kennedy-Bucknell; Collin Brown-Colorado; Liam Barnes-Chapman; Jack Condon-USC; Lucas Gradinger-U of Maryland; Mike Ward-Boston College; Bennett Shafer-Denison Univ.; Corey Black-Monmouth; Cobi Emery-UCSB; Greg Newman-St.Joe’s Univ.; Connor Chenault-Sonoma State; Chris Carter-Notre Dame Univ.; Carson Havlik-undecided; Tyler Yamamoto-Sonoma State; Tully Burgoon-Cal Poly, SLO; Spencer Brewster-SMU; Trevor Waldal-U of Arizona; Rich Rosales-Santa Monica JC.

The championship Cathedral Catholic High School girls’ varsity softball team.

On May 9, in an 11-1 victory over Madison, Cathedral Catholic High School girls’ varsity softball cemented its place as 2013 Western League Champions.  The girls had a rough start to the season with two starters tearing ACLs.  Facing the season with a very young team, the Dons relied heavily on freshman pitcher Devyn Magnett, an impenetrable defense and a powerhouse offense to end league with an 11-1 record.  Coach Mauro says, “The girls practiced hard, came together, and we did it.”