Encinitas cracks down on vacation rentals
Several hundred Encinitas homeowners have been targeted by a city crackdown on uned vacation rentals that are d on websites like Airbnb.In the last three months, the city has sent...
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Encinitas keeping an eye on bark beetles
The city of Encinitas is monitoring local parks for bark beetles, pests that can damage or even kill trees.Bark beetles thrive during drought conditions and have killed millions of trees...
Planning Commission approves long-delayed subdivision
The Encinitas Planning Commission on May 5 unanimously backed a 10-lot subdivision that’s been in the works for nearly 13 years. Developer Pacific Canyon LLC sought approval from the commission...
Encinitas relaxes farming rules
Raising bees, selling produce from a residential stand and starting a commercial farm just got easier in Encinitas.The Encinitas City Council on May 11 voted 3-2 to approve an agriculture...
TED Talks-style event aims to inspire teens
TED Talks for local teens — that’s the idea behind a new event.The Encinitas Youth Commission spearheaded "Do life BIG — teen leader event," featuring well-known locals talking about topics...
Zero-budget play showcases students’ ingenuity
Sixth graders at Park Dale Lane Elementary are proving that only cardboard, repurposed clothes and creativity are needed to put on a successful play. Neither school nor district funding has...
SDA Robotics team returns from world championship
The San Dieguito Academy robotics team capped off a banner year by appearing last week in a world championship in St. Louis.Although the team didn’t finish as highly as club...
Duo biking coast to coast for ALS research
Two Encinitas residents will dip their rear bike wheels into the Pacific Ocean on May 8, the start of what they both called a "big adventure for two old guys."...
Leader of San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy honored
Doug Gibson has dedicated 20 years to conservation and education at the San Elijo Lagoon, earning him his own day.Friends, family and colleagues honored Gibson, the San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy’s...
Official to get public comment on San Onofre fuel
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has declined a request to hold a public forum on what should be done with spent nuclear fuel at the shuttered San Onofre plant,...
Group seeking sponsorships to keep cruise nights going
Classic Car Cruise Nights will roll on later this month in Encinitas, but Encinitas 101 Main Street is looking for sponsorship funding to ensure the future of the summer events....
Encinitas confirms rail trail route
The Encinitas City Council on April 27 approved a letter confirming its for putting the Cardiff Rail Trail on Coast Highway 101.In March, the council scrapped a plan to...
Encinitas volunteers recognized for service
The Encinitas Parks and Recreation Commission and Encinitas Senior Commission recently recognized local volunteers for outstanding service to the community. On April 21, the parks commission selected Jon Rodrigue as...
Encinitas opposes state bill on ‘density bonus’
The Encinitas City Council on April 27 approved a letter opposing state legislation that would strengthen "density bonus" law, a source of controversy locally. California’s density bonus rules let developers...
Restoring iconic La Paloma Theatre takes center stage
An effort to restore the iconic La Paloma Theatre in downtown Encinitas is gathering momentum. That’s according to Encinitas 101 Main Street President Dave Peck, who on April 27 gave...
Soccer league urges city to hurry up on Leo Mullen lights
Encinitas Express Soccer is once again urging the city of Encinitas to install field lights at Leo Mullen Sports Park, indicating in a recent letter that legal action may result...
Supervisor candidates spar, weigh in on issues
Three candidates vying for a seat on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors traded barbs and weighed in on transportation, development and a new Chargers stadium during an April...
Business landscape changing in Encinitas
Bety Gracida said she’s still coming to with the closure of her family’s restaurant.With their rent set to double, the Gracida family shuttered Bety’s Tacos in January after 18...
10-acre Farm Lab for students continues to grow
An update on the latest at the 10-acre Farm Lab and what’s to come was presented on April 20 to the Encinitas Union School District board.Farm Lab, which aims to...
Encinitas opposes state bill addressing homeless
The Encinitas City Council on April 20 unanimously went on record against California SB 876, saying the proposed bill doesn’t solve or help homelessness and takes away local enforcement power.Introduced...
Encinitas brush fire extinguished before reaching homes
Firefighters stopped a brush fire on April 17 that threatened homes in the Scott Place cul-de-sac in Encinitas.The blaze started at 7:45 p.m. just east of Home Depot on El...
Thieves targeting unlocked cars
Thieves are increasingly preying on unlocked cars with valuables inside, according to the Encinitas Sheriff’s Substation.Sgt. Richard Eaton said too often people leave purses, cell phones, computers and other valuables...
Thieves targeting unlocked cars
Thieves are increasingly preying on unlocked cars with valuables inside, according to the Encinitas Sheriff’s Substation.Sgt. Richard Eaton said too often people leave purses, cell phones, computers and other valuables...
Encinitas youth can apply for visit to sister city in Japan
Local ninth and tenth graders can apply for a spot on an trip to Encinitas’ sister city in Amakusa, Japan. A delegation of three students and one adult chaperone...
Encinitas participating in water conservation challenge
Encinitas is once again taking part in the national Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation.Throughout April, residents can make water-saving promises at www.mywaterpledge.com. There, they can pledge to fix leaky faucets,...
Encinitas taking applications for Youth Commission
The city of Encinitas is accepting applications for the Encinitas Youth Commission until April 21. Representing grades 7 through 12, the commission advises the Encinitas City Council on teen services...
Head of food pantry brings supermarket-style choice
People toting black carts eyed what was in stock and picked out fare like spinach, eggs and turkey. It sounds like a scene from a grocery store, except it’s actually...
Encinitas Student Film Festival coming to La Paloma
The red carpet will be rolled out for the Encinitas Student Film Festival on May 15 at La Paloma Theater. During the special event, fledgling filmmakers will get the chance...
Encinitas tracking El Nino’s impact on beaches
It’s an inescapable reality: El Niño stripped away a lot of sand from local beaches this winter, leaving chattering cobblestones in its wake. Wide beaches protect infrastructure and attract beachgoers....
Encinitas OKs housing element contracts
The Encinitas City Council on March 30 unanimously approved contracts for companies that will take the lead on strategy, polling and legal services for the housing element, a blueprint for...
Issa gives Congressional awards to Encinitas siblings
Encinitas siblings who have educated the community about sustainable farming and volunteered for other causes each received a Congressional Award for Public Service on April 6, and they even got...
Issa asks for hearing on San Onofre nuclear waste
Congressman Darrell Issa this week urged the U.S. Department of Energy to hold a public forum in Southern California on what should be done with spent nuclear fuel, citing concerns...
Encinitas theater group a hit with kids
Ten kids waived pool noodles and danced around on stage at the Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary Auditorium, gladly giving up their spring break for the opportunity.They were rehearsing "Bratty Brother in...
Encinitas main street named among best in SoCal
Encinitas, Solana Beach and Del Mar last week landed on a list of the 12 best main streets in Southern California. Published by the website Only in Your State, the...
Local to run Boston Marathon in honor of Glen Doherty
Resident Nikki Miller will run the Boston Marathon on April 18 to benefit a memorial foundation for Glen Doherty, a former Navy Seal who was killed in 2012 during a...
Roxy Restaurant to undergo remodel, not close
Contrary to online rumors, Roxy Restaurant in downtown Encinitas won’t be closing.Posts on popular Encinitas Facebook groups last week bemoaned that the Mediterranean-style restaurant would soon be shuttering. However, owner...
Switchfoot moves on from Encinitas studio
A music school and performance space that rock band Switchfoot started last summer in downtown Encinitas is now being run by a local couple. The band left because it realized...
Encinitas reverses course on rail trail route
A polarizing plan to build the Cardiff rail trail alongside San Elijo Avenue has been scrapped.On March 30, the Encinitas City Council voted 4-1 to nix the San Elijo alignment,...
Former editor finds calling as animal advocate
Nick Winfrey is seemingly everywhere in Encinitas, from recently hosting the "State of the City Address" to playing Santa around the holidays at the San Diego Botanic Garden to serving...
I-5 corridor work to begin this summer in Encinitas
A long-term Interstate 5 corridor plan kicks off this summer in Encinitas with new bike and pedestrian paths at the Encinitas Boulevard and Santa Fe Drive freeway interchanges.At both of...
Encinitas receives grant for 50-year sand project
The Encinitas City Council last week accepted an additional $225,000 in state grant money for a plan that proposes to regularly nourish beaches in Encinitas and Solana Beach over 50...
Lease of old Cardiff fire station OK’d
A company that transports military veterans will soon set up shop in the vacant Cardiff fire station. The Encinitas City Council on March 23 unanimously approved a three-year lease with...
Encinitas commission to craft ‘complete streets’ policy
The Encinitas Traffic and Public Safety Commission at some point will draft a “complete streets” policy with the goal of ensuring roads make room for not only motorists, but also...
Gaspar emphasizes long-term vision during State of the City
Swamps and alligators have been on Mayor Kristin Gaspar’s mind lately. She repeatedly turned to a southern expression during her State of the City address on March 22 at the...
Council awards contract for Leo Mullen turf
Artificial turf is coming to Leo Mullen Sports Park, but permanent field lighting is still up in the air. The Encinitas City Council on March 23 voted 4-1 to approve...
Planning Commission to weigh in on agriculture ordinance
The Encinitas Planning Commission will soon or opposition to a proposed urban agriculture ordinance, nearly six months after the commission said the ordinance leaves too many questions unanswered....
Local water official: ‘We are not Flint’
Officials on March 16 told the San Dieguito Water District board that local water supplies are safe and the area won’t experience a crisis like the one in Flint, Mich.Flint...
Cardiff rail trail could be moved or nixed
The future of the Cardiff rail trail is in question.At the request of Councilwoman Catherine Blakespear on March 16, the Encinitas City Council will reconsider its controversial decision to put...
‘Spock Block’ returning to Encinitas
Count on plenty of Vulcan salutes and utterances of “live long and prosper” next week in Encinitas.“Spock Block” is returning March 22-26 to the Encinitas Civic Center and Encinitas Library...
Encinitas Parks and Recreation director resigns
Encinitas Parks and Recreation Director Lisa Rudloff resigned last week for undisclosed reasons. Rudloff was hired in 2011 and notably oversaw construction of the 44-acre Encinitas Community Park, a revamp...
Encinitas commission to review drone regulations
The Encinitas City Council last week directed the Encinitas Traffic and Public Safety Commission to review drone regulations.That action came about in response to a plea from resident John Herron....
Encinitas artist who fled Iran revels in creation
Growing up in Iran, Lily Pourat knew she wanted to be an artist. But that dream came to a grinding halt at the age of 15.The Iranian Revolution of 1979...
Youth soccer coach recognized for dedication
Youth soccer coach James Dean inspires kids and parents on and off the field, earning him special recognition.Mayor Kristin Gaspar on March 8 presented Dean with a Mayor’s Certificate of...
San Diego Sheriff’s Department considering drones
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department is exploring whether to purchase camera-toting drones for locating missing people, aiding SWAT teams and assessing raging wildfires. Lt. Jason Vickery said the Sheriff’s...
New traffic signal aims to ease confusion
A new kind of traffic signal will be installed on the D Street and Vulcan Avenue stoplight, just west of Encinitas City Hall. The goal: make left-hand turns safer.Currently, the...
Pictures: Surfers score good waves at Swami’s
Surfers took advantage of big waves and good conditions on March 5 at Swami’s Beach in Encinitas. Rain and strong winds are expected this weekend, making for potentially poor...
Slice of Italian culture coming to La Paloma
The San Diego Italian Film Festival returned to La Paloma Theatre in February, with a new film each month from March through August.Four years ago, the festival expanded to La...
Safety officials increasingly grappling with drones
Ever been worried that the drone buzzing overhead at the beach is getting too close? You’re not alone. Local law enforcement is increasingly grappling with drone conflicts in public spaces....
Local rugby club looks to make a splash in Las Vegas
The Coastal Dragons Rugby club aims to prove itself on a bigger stage. Fourteen of the Encinitas-based club’s top players recently traveled to the Las Vegas Invitational, taking place from...
Blakespear announces run for Encinitas mayor
With election season approaching, Encinitas has its first mayoral candidate.Councilwoman Catherine Blakespear on Feb. 27 officially announced she’s vying for the two-year mayor spot during her 40th birthday party at...
Alliance given OK to enter, clean up Pacific View
A group that plans to turn the vacant Pacific View property into a community arts center has been granted permission to access the site. The Encinitas City Council on Feb....
Bank robbed in Carlsbad after similar attempt in Encinitas
Law enforcement officials are looking for an unknown man who robbed a Carlsbad bank and apparently tried to rob a bank in Encinitas roughly an hour earlier.The suspect entered the...
Commission s naming of plaques
A philanthropist’s proposal to install two monuments along the Lot 15 trail in Encinitas Ranch and name them after his family won the unanimous of the Encinitas Parks and...
Drought targets could be lowered
Residents in the San Dieguito Water District are currently tasked with slashing water use 28 percent under state-mandated rules, but this target could be lowered to 20 percent.General Manager Bill...
Farm to Food Pantry
The sights and sounds of rare animals — from babydoll sheep to heritage turkeys — fill the Sugarman family’s backyard farm in Olivenhain. Yet citrus trees, while less attention grabbing,...
Encinitas s effort welcoming refugees, immigrants
A divided Encinitas City Council on Feb. 24 ed an array of initiatives aimed at embracing refugees and immigrants. That included Encinitas ing a White House effort called the Building...
Encinitas school district featured in new documentary
The Encinitas Union School District’s health and wellness program — known for school gardens, healthy cooking classes and yoga — will soon hit the big screen. In “The Kids Menu,”...
Planning Commission OKs Balour Drive subdivision
The Encinitas Planning Commission on Feb. 18 unanimously approved a nine-home subdivision, agreeing that the developer tweaked the project enough to reduce the impact on surrounding neighbors. Developer Melia Homes...
Ovation Theatre aims to make local splash
Encinitas husband and wife team Pamela Laurent and Scott Gregory want to grow youth theater locally, so last year they created the nonprofit Ovation Theatre.A major part of their mission...
Students’ butterflies honor Holocaust victims
Multicolored ceramic butterflies are affixed outside Saint John School buildings in Encinitas, carrying a message of remembrance and hope. They’re part of the Butterfly Project, which aims to create 1.5...
Literacy pirate sails to 100,000 book donations
Captain Book sports an eye patch, parrot and spyglass, looking like a sailor on the hunt for treasure. But this pirate’s only goal is advancing children’s literacy.The captain and his...
Encinitas to tackle ‘managed retreat’
An Encinitas City Council subcommittee that’s tasked with addressing sea level rise will take up "managed retreat" — an alternative to seawalls or replenishment projects that pipe offshore sand onto...
Encinitas to defend ‘density bonus’ lawsuit
The city of Encinitas will fight a lawsuit challenging its ‘density bonus’ development rules. Last week, the Encinitas City Council in closed session voted to defend the lawsuit, which David...
Parents urge safer pedestrian paths to schools
Seven parents on Feb. 10 implored the Encinitas City Council to make walking to local schools safer following a recent incident in which a car hit a mother and her...
Salvaging historic downtown Encinitas signs
The removal of the iconic Surf Cleaners sign in downtown Encinitas has sparked a push to save historic business signs. Since the early 1950s, the Surf Cleaners sign hung over...
Encinitas adopts state rules targeting lawns
To comply with new California rules, the Encinitas City Council on Feb. 10 updated local regulations to restrict how much water can be used on landscaping around newly constructed homes...
El Callejon, an Encinitas staple, closes
The Mexican restaurant El Callejon recently closed its doors after 22 years at Moonlight Plaza in Encinitas, despite a last-ditch online petition to keep it open. “It’s overwhelming, not only...
Encinitas commission ‘struggling’ with agriculture ordinance
The Encinitas Planning Commission is interested in speeding up deliberation on an urban agriculture ordinance, since the commission is less than a third of the way through reviewing the ordinance...
Business collaboration results in ‘honey lemon cure’
James McDonald of the Encinitas Bee Company and Cheryl Konn of the Quail Flower Barn have combined forces on “the honey lemon cure,” a drink with fresh local honey and...
Encinitas water districts miss conservation targets
The two water districts that provide water to Encinitas both missed their conservation mandates in December, and they continue to lag behind their cumulative goals.Residents in the San Dieguito Water...
American Legion Post 416 experiencing resurgence
The San Dieguito American Legion Post 416 found itself cornered two years ago. Not by enemies, but by time: Its long-time headquarters in downtown Encinitas was crumbling with no end...
Cardiff 101 sues Cardiff Kook Run over copyright
Cardiff 101 Main Street, a nonprofit that owns the rights of the Cardiff Kook statue, recently filed a copyright infringement lawsuit accusing the Cardiff Kook Run of knowingly using the...
Encinitas hit by another ‘density bonus’ lawsuit
Encinitas has been slapped with a lawsuit over its "density bonus" building rules, months after settling a case over the controversial matter. As required under a previous lawsuit settlement, the...
New lifeguard center will be fortified against flooding
The new Marine Safety Center at Moonlight Beach is being designed to withstand rising sea levels. That was the takeaway from a Jan. 27 Encinitas City Council agenda item, which...
High Court declines to hear ‘Desert Rose’ case
The California Supreme Court recently declined to hear an appeal from opponents of the "Desert Rose" development in Olivenhain. As a last legal option, those looking for further environmental review...
Encinitas s bill to move spent nuclear fuel
Federal legislation to relocate spent nuclear fuel from the shuttered San Onofre power plant has the of the Encinitas City Council. The Encinitas council on Jan. 27 voted unanimously...
Encinitas commission denies Leucadia gas station revamp
The Encinitas Planning Commission on Jan. 21 voted unanimously to deny a proposal to reconstruct the Shell gas station off of Leucadia Boulevard, citing concerns over traffic and neighborhood impacts....
MiraCosta College bans e-cigarettes
Puffing away on e-cigarettes will no longer be allowed on MiraCosta’s campuses in Cardiff and Oceanside.The MiraCosta Board of Trustees on Jan. 20 added e-cigarettes and vapor-producing paraphernalia to its...
Volunteers plant ambitious ‘food forest’ on Leichtag land
A “food forest” that will welcome community foraging, feed the poor and train the next generation of farmers recently took root at the Leichtag Foundation property in Encinitas. More than...
Developer asked to reduce Encinitas subdivision’s impact
The developer of a nine-home subdivision should explore ways to make the project less intrusive, the Encinitas Planning Commission decided Jan. 21 by way of a 4-1 vote.Commissioners expressed concern...
Music and art intertwine for Mary Fleener
Encinitas artist Mary Fleener is best known for drawing alternative comics teeming with social commentary and humor. But now her pen and paintbrush are capturing her ion for music. Fleener’s...
Encinitas water rate hike approved
A double rate hike is on tap in the San Dieguito Water District.The Encinitas City Council, in its role as the district board, voted unanimously on Jan. 20 to increase...
Carlsbad opts against ing fire services agreement
The city of Carlsbad recently declined, at least for now, to Encinitas, Solana Beach and Del Mar in a shared fire services agreement.Encinitas City Manager Karen Brust relayed this...
Encinitas quietly settles ACLU’s sign lawsuit
Residents can post an unlimited number of campaign yard signs anytime they want as a result of a recent settlement between the city and the local chapter of the American...
Artificial turf for Encinitas park gets reluctant OK
The Encinitas City Council on Jan. 13 voted to spend $1.2 million on artificial turf at Leo Mullen Sports Park, despite outside funding for improvements there potentially falling through.In June,...
Contract to improve Encinitas traffic signals
The Encinitas City Council on Jan. 13 unanimously approved a $729,267 contract with the firm DBX Incorporated to speed up communications between a traffic management system at City Hall and...
Big increase in Encinitas rooftop solar permits
More Encinitas homes are turning a shade of green. Encinitas saw a big spike in rooftop solar systems in 2015, which two people interviewed for this article attributed to the...
City plans emergency repairs for Beacon’s Beach
Encinitas has declared a local emergency to shore up the base of Beacon’s Beach, a key to preventing a landslide there. All that’s needed: suitable sand.The city planned to take...
Commission approves bike corrals in Leucadia
Bike corrals will soon be installed at three Leucadia coffee shops. The Encinitas Traffic and Public Safety Commission on Jan. 11 unanimously approved placing a bike corral next to each...
Commission dismisses cluster mailboxes on Mackinnon Ave.
Citing a lack of public , the Encinitas Traffic and Public Safety Commission on Jan. 11 declined to pursue cluster mailboxes on Mackinnon Avenue, between Birmingham Drive and the Encinitas...