There will be a Los Peñasquitos Lagoon Enhancement Plan Update – Workshop III, January 19, 2013, 9:00 to 12:00 pm, at the Sumner Auditorium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography: Assessing Opportunities and Constraints for Improving Public Education/Access & Long-Term Sustainability. The Torrey Pines Association and Los Peñasquitos Lagoon Foundation invite you to participate in the third of a series of workshops designed to solicit input and support as we update the 1985 Los Peñasquitos Lagoon Enhancement Plan and Program. These workshops are open to the public, so please pass this announcement on to anyone whom you think would be interested in attending. Please refer to the attached workshop announcement for more information. You can also visit the Torrey Pines Association website (http://torreypines.org) to see details, including results from previous workshops.

Yes, Kilroy has reduced the size of One Paseo, but it's still out-of-scale with the surrounding community, and the change barely puts a dent in the traffic created by the project (now it's "only" 23,000 additional cars!) Sure, they've added a Trader Joe's (hey, we want a Trader Joe's, too!), but that's not the point. Trader Joe's would still work in a much smaller project, something that would fit in Carmel Valley.

If you're concerned, the project will be presented to the Carmel Valley Planning Board on Thursday, Jan 24 at 7:00 PM at the Canyon Crest Academy, Auditorium, 5951 Village Center Loop Road, San Diego, CA 92130. Additionally, I've heard that Kilroy is presenting a One Paseo Open House on Thursday, January 10 from 4:00-7:00 PM at the Kilroy Centre Del Mar Campus, 3579 Valley Centre Drive, Suite 150, San Diego, CA 92130. If you have a minute, show up and tell them that the project is still too big.

Pretty Please Fashion and Daisy Blue Proudly Support CCA Athletics with 20% of each purchase (Sundays during the month of December 2012 only) donated to CCA Athletics… simply mention CCA Athletics at checkout! The stores are located at the Del Mar Highlands Town Center, 12925 El Camino Real. See the CCA Foundation Page for more.

The 2013 Winter Program for the Carmel Valley Recreation Center is now available, complete with online program registration details. Register Online at the SD City Online Registration Portal (www.SDRecConnect.com). Registration instructions are in the brochure at the top of page 8, with class registration already underway. Note that online registration requires you to create an online account. If you have questions, or if you'd rather deal with a person, you can also register in-person at the CV Rec Center. For additional information, read the brochure or call the Rec Center at 858-552-1616.

A special meeting of the Carmel Valley Community Planning Board's Regional Issues Subcommitte (RIS) next week to discuss the Village at Pacific Highlands Ranch. Meeting Wednesday, December 12, 2012, 4:30 to 5:30 PM at the Pardee Homes office, 6025 Edgewood Bend Court, San Diego, CA 92130. There is a single item on the agenda: "Village at Pacific Highlands Ranch - Consider Coast Income Propertiesʼ proposal for the redesign of the Village at Pacific Highlands Ranch. CIP proposes reducing the planned retail area and increasing the residential units. Applicant: Coast Income Consultant: Randi Coopersmith, Latitude 33." Additional information on the planning board and its subcommittees can be found at the CV Planning Board Page on this site. NOTE: A community web page with additional information on the Village at PHR is available at phrvillage.blogspot.com.

One of my favorite holiday (and beyond!) toy drives, the local Law Enforcement Teddy Bear Drive! This is a drive to collect stuffed animals for kids at Rady Children's Hospital. My kids have benefitted from this, and for a child, getting a stuffed animal after surgery is very comforting. The local Carmel Valley Police Station on El Camino Real will have a collection box at the front counter for new stuffed animals with tags still attached. Drop off on Mondays or Thursdays, 8am-4pm. The last day to give a bear is December 10th. For more information contact JST Officer Brigitta Belz (858) 523-7027, or see the SDPD Northwestern Division Facebook Page.

The San Diego Women's 1/2 Marathon is looking for volunteers. The event, to be held February 24, 2013, has lots of opportunities for volunteers, and with over 500 positions available, there is a spot for everyone, including teams, groups, corporate groups, or just friends and family. See a complete list of days, jobs and shifts, at the Women's 1/2 Marathon website.

On Wednesday, December 5th, 2012 at 7:00PM in the CCA Media Center, Canyon Crest Academy Foundation is pleased to host Peggy Wallace of Making Conversation, LLC in, "Present Your Best Self: Interview Tips and Techniques for Teens". Open to the entire community, this talk presents interview strategies for College Admissions, Internships, Jobs and Scholarships. You will learn how to: Create interview opportunities, Craft your personal talking points, Tell memorable strengths stories, and Make the Interviewer YOUR Advocate! Teens (and their parents) will leave with actionable, concrete ideas, preparation tools and a substantive, content-rich handout. Suggested Donation is $5 at the door. Proceeds will benefit CCA's Counseling, College & Career Services. See the CCA Foundation Website for complete information.

Dr. Lori Ann Safar's Celebrity Smile Spa at 12750 Carmel Country Rd, #200, is a Toys for Tots drop off location. Bring your new, unwrapped toys, now through December 18. For info, call (858) 481-8688, or www.celebritysmilespa.com. Also, the Ocean Air Recreation Center is collecting for San Diego Toys For Tot’s and the San Diego Food Bank this Holiday Season. Bring an unwrapped toy or bag of nonperishable canned food to Ocean Air Recreation Center (through Nov 30, 2012), located at 4770 Fairport Way, 858-552-1687.

The Del Mar Highlands Town Center will kick off the Holidays with a Christmas celebration on Wednesday, December 5th from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. This includes a holiday laser light show, take your own photo opportunities with Santa, Mrs. Claus and their elf, sing along with Dickens' Carolers, performances by local schools, complimentary hot chocolate and cookies and a special holiday surprise. Bring a toy to donate to the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots program. On the following weekend, Sunday, December 9, the center will host a Menorah Lighting with Congregation Beth Am, from 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Read more for the complete press release

For the first time, the Prop AA bond for the San Dieguito Schools has pushed above the required 55% threshold, with 55.16% voting YES. While you may be concerned about the cost of the bonds, this should be good for the public education system in Carmel Valley, which has some very successful and very crowded schools. The Registrar of Voters for San Diego County (see www.SDVote.com) has updated its vote count again, and as of Nov 16 at 4:25 PM, Prop AA is ahead. The count is not complete, but things look good for passage.