The sun was shining and Encinitas citizens were ready to pound the pavement on Super Sunday. Several were elite runners, many were weekend warriors, some were dressed in ‘kooky’ costumes, some pushed strollers, and some enjoyed a leisurely walk while taking in the scenery. All participants earned medals and Cardiff Kook Run long-sleeved tee shirts. Refreshments were provided by Cardiff Seaside Market. This was the second year for the event, which celebrates our city’s unique personality and raises funds for local schools, Cardiff 101 Mainstreet, and repair of the Cardiff Kook..

We Love Encinitas commends Steve Lebherz and Seth Brewer for organizing another fantastic event, which was enjoyed by all.

We LOVE Kooky fun and fitness!

Close to 100 cyclists attended the Encinitas City Council meeting on Wednesday, January 30 urging the City Council to move forward with plans to improve bicycle safety along Highway 101 in Leucadia. A handful of citizens opposed the plan and the Coastal Commission challenged the plan based on vehicular traffic congestion and process concerns. Despite those challenges, the City Council voted unanimously (5-0) to move forward with the prior plan and send a “polite letter” to the Coastal Commission explaining their decision.

We LOVE cyclists!

Keep those wheels rolling along!

The shovels have hit the dirt again in Encinitas, this time at Moonlight Beach.  This family favorite beach is getting a new lifeguard stand, storage facilities, and a new snack bar, and increased sand area (among other improvements).  The 4.8 million dollar project was approved in August by the City Council and is well underway.  The city was able to defray 1.9 million of the cost of the project by using a matching grant from the state.  The work on Moonlight Beach began after Labor Day and expected to be completed in May 2013. 

We look forward to seeing our readers at Moonlight Beach this summer. The surf will be up, the fun factor will be up, and the LOVE for one of the best beaches in San Diego County will definitely be up.

Thank you to all involved with getting this project of the ground, overseeing the projects, and handling the transition while the beach is improved.

We LOVE our beaches!

The San Diego Union Tribune recently named Navy Seal Glen Doherty, from Encinitas, as Person of the Year.  Glen laid down his life on September 11, 2012 in Libya defending the consulate and protecting the ambassador and dozens of other innocent people.  Glen’s selfless and heroic efforts saved the lives of many.  We Love Encinitas considers him our hero, citizen of the year for 2012, and a true national champion.

Glen is pictured above at the wedding of Danny and Nicole Miller in April 2012.  He presided over the wedding ceremony after training to be a minister (just for the event).  Although it was his first time presiding over a wedding, he was a natural and his comments were heartfelt.

Thank you Glen!  Encinitas, San Diego County and the entire nation are indebted to you for your service.

Working to strengthen and unite our community for more than 50 years, the Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA is dedicated to improving the quality of human life and to helping all people realize their fullest potential as children of God through development of the spirit, mind and body.  We Love Encinitas (WLE) was proud to make a financial contribution to and is pleased to advocate for the best YMCA in the West, the Magdalena Ecke YMCA, during the holiday season. 

WLE’s primary mission is to disseminate fact based education and positive information about Encinitas for the public benefit.  In addition to community outreach, WLE will continue to promote, work collaboratively with, and contribute to other local organizations, such as the Magdalena Ecke YMCA also doing positive work in Encinitas.

Happy New Year Encinitas!

We Love Encinitas Community Advocates

Since 1995, Conner’s Cause (link here) has been dedicated to easing the burden for familes of children with life threatening illnesses and injuries.

“Easing the financial burden for families of children with life-threatening illnesses and injuries since 1995″

Every day brings phone calls, notes, pictures and drawings from Conner’s Cause families thanking us for paying bills, sending gas and food cards and many other forms of financial assistance Conner’s Cause provides to help them take care of their critically ill or injured children.

We Love Encinitas (WLE) was honored to include Conner’s Cause as part of their charitable giving during the holiday season.  WLE encourages Encintas citizens to spead the good news about their positive work in our community.

We LOVE children!

The Coastal Community Foundation (link here) has enhanced the quality of life in North County since 1987 by directing philanthropic efforts toward community needs.  Hand to Hand, a fund held at CCF,  promotes economic independence and positive change in the lives of women and girls by directing resources to programs that empower change and self-sufficiency. 

The Hand to Hand Fund will be hosting its 4th annual grant ceremony on January 8, 2013, when they will be distributing $30,000 in funds to three local groups.  We Love Encinitas was proud to give Hand to Hand a holiday contribution as a sign of gratitude and appreciation for their positive contributions to Encinitas and neighboring communities during the last 25 years.  Those interested in finding out more about CCF and Hand to Hand should visit their website (www.coastal foundation.org/).

We LOVE those who give a helping hand!

It is that time of year when it is appropriate to count our blessings and consider the many who are less fortunate than we are.  Encinitas has dozens of non-profit organizations pitching in to help during the holiday season, as well as the entire year.  The Encinitas Community Resources Center (CRC) (link here) is certainly among the best.  The CRC brings funding to the community and smart project management to social services that promote safety, stability, and self-sufficiency (crcncc.org). 

Donations made to the Community Resource Center will be matched by Han and Ella Helders until December 31, 2012.  As a result, every dollar donated by citizens of Encinitas will go twice as far!

We Love Encinitas was grateful for the opportunity to make a donation to the CRC during the holiday season and encourages Encinitas citizens to spread the news about their great work.

We LOVE giving!

Hundreds gathered at the Magdalena Ecke YMCA for the Poinsettia Ball on Saturday evening, December 8^th to support active programs for local families and kids.  The evening included a silent auction, tray-passed appetizers, cocktails, a fantastic plated dinner, dessert, a live band (Atomic Groove), and a live auction to sponsor kids unable to afford attending YMCA camps and activities. 

The evening also included a special video presentation honoring the Gary Biszantz family, who made a multi-million dollar donation years ago, that allowed the YMCA gymnasium to be built.  Gary Biszantz, obviously touched by the presentation, told the cheering crowd that it was his family who had received (not given) the greatest gift through their participation with the YMCA.

Gala Sponsors for the event were the Dan Green Leichtag Foundation Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation and Don & Dragon Sherman.  Major Sponsors were Sovereign Capital Management Group Inc., Wake Up with KPBS, Scripps, Atomic Groove, Classic Party Rentals, Walmart, and the Ecke Family.  Event Sponsors were Carltas Company, Mo Ecke, Dave & Heidi Hodges, Residential Wholesale Mortgage, LLC, and Barbara Winter, in honor of her mother, Magdalena Ecke.  There were also numerous Guest Sponsors, Friends of the Ball, and Table Sponsors. 

The event would not have been possible without the dedication of the Poinsettia Ball Committee (top picture), led by Co-Chairs Sheila Wirick and Karen Macbeth, with the support of committee members Melanie Buck, Betsy Dean, Lizbeth Ecke, Mo Ecke, Cathy Eischen, Edgar Engart, Kim Horner, Kathryn Janz, Robbie Johnson, Vanessa Smith, and Eugenia Welch.

Hundreds more kids will grow up healthier and happier, as well as making memories to last a lifetime thanks to all of the volunteers, donors, and attendees of the 2012 Poinsettia Ball.

We LOVE the Magdalena Ecke YMCA!

According to today’s stories in the San Diego Union Tribune and North County Times, the national unemployment rate has fallen to 7.7%.  This news comes shortly after a recent story in Encinitas Patch revealed that the Encinitas Unemployment Rate dropped in 2012 and remained among the lowest unemployment rates in California.

read story here

It is great that more people locally and nationally have been able to find work, provide for their families, and add to the tax base.

We LOVE jobs!