Backers, city weigh next steps for Right to Vote Initiative
Ernesto Lopez
February 9, 2013
A special election for the Right to Vote Initiative approved in January could cost the city around $300,000, according to the Encinitas city clerk. The initiative – which would impose a citywide height limit of two stories or 30 feet for all buildings and structures except medical complexes and...
Kook calendar celebrates Cardiff
Helen Hawes
January 16, 2013
If graphic artist Fred Caldwell needed an amen to act on his big idea, he got it in the unlikeliest of places. It was while listening to the State of the City address a few years ago. When the mayor mentioned “The Cardiff Kook” and the audience came to life with a happy roar, Caldwell knew his idea...
School district ready to start projects
Alex Groves
January 15, 2013
The San Dieguito Union High School District is ready to move forward on its plan to modernize facilities and improve technology infrastructure since the passage of a $449 million bond measure. The measure – known formally as Proposition AA – was one of several on the ballot in November. Similar...
‘Madonna’ fans fete permanent home
Ernesto Lopez
December 14, 2012
The Surfing Madonna mosaic got a lot of attention on 12/12/12 as nearly 100 locals gathered at Café Ipe on North Coast Highway 101 in Leucadia to celebrate its newly announced permanent home and try some beer inspired by the artwork. Some local Catholics joined in celebration of the Day of the Virge...
Leichtag outlines vision for Ecke land
Manny Lopez
November 21, 2012
The purchase of the famed Paul Ecke Ranch in Encinitas by the Leichtag Foundation, a Jewish philanthropic organization, marks a turning point in the history of the community, where the poinsettia industry was revolutionized and the association between the plant and Christmas was advanced. After more...
Bond key issue in trustees’ race
Ken Pagano
September 24, 2012
When the voters in the San Dieguito Union High School District go to the polls in November, they’ll be deciding the future of the community. Sharing the ballot this year: four candidates running for two seats on the school board and a $449 million school-construction loan. Proposition AA would...
‘Lost Girls’ author discusses book, ensuing controversy
Scott Allison
July 10, 2012
Journalist and true-crime author Caitlin Rother recently released her book “Lost Girls” amid a firestorm of protests and controversy. On July 7, Rother was at the Encinitas Library discussing the book. The talk centered on her research for the book, but the controversy dominated the theme as she...
Surfing Madonna returns
Ernesto Lopez
June 29, 2012
After spending a year refurbishing and searching for a new home for his Surfing Madonna, artist Mark Patterson quietly installed the mosaic on June 25 in Leucadia between Café Ipe and Surfy Surfy. “I feel like I’ve been running a marathon,” Patterson told the North Coast Current. “It’s been a...
Debate intensifies over General Plan
Ernesto Lopez
May 28, 2012
Planning for low-income housing has turned out to be a difficult and long process for the city of Encinitas. State law requires local governments to prepare and adopt a General Plan every 20 years consisting of seven mandatory elements, including housing, which addresses need, improvement, maintenance...
Houlihan banners: Art and politics
Christopher Earley
April 21, 2012
Once again, a controversial piece of art has cast the city of Encinitas into the spotlight. June 2011 found the city amid a debate regarding whether a mosaic dubbed the “Surfing Madonna,” which was illegally placed underneath a train bridge on Encinitas Boulevard, was graffiti or a piece of art. Less t...
Surfing Madonna finds home on Web
Ernesto Lopez
April 7, 2012
After many legal battles, the Surfing Madonna mosaic is still homeless. But despite the challenges and defeats, its supporters and creator, Mark Patterson, remain hopeful that it will soon find a home. In the meantime, they continue to raise awareness and funds to cover the costs for its future ins...
Foundation to buy Ecke property
North Coast Current
April 6, 2012
The Paul Ecke Ranch property is changing hands after playing a significant role in Encinitas history since the 1920s. The Leichtag Foundation, a Carlsbad-based philanthropic organization, announced its plans to purchase the site in an April 6 news release. The foundation was started by Max and Andre Lei...
