Education Matters: Update on ethnic studies progress, and San Dieguito’s unresponsiveness
Since the state legislature ed Assembly Bill 101 in 2021 which mandated that students in...
Del Mar Times Opinion
AutoMatters & More: SeaWorld San Diego’s 2025 Summer Spectacular preview
The summer holiday season is almost upon us, and that means it is time for...
Guest commentary: Carmel Del Mar Elementary parents and students celebrate the heroes in their classrooms
As National Teacher Appreciation Week came to a close recently, parents and students at Carmel...
AutoMatters & More: Review of Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning
Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning, the second of a two-part story in the Mission:...
Education Matters: New data on school district salaries, revenue, enrollment
Several recently released reports with information about public school staff salaries, student data and revenue...
AutoMatters & More: Knott’s Berry Farm—authentic, interactive and affordable SoCal fun
The more I visit, the more I absolutely love Knott’s Berry Farm, and I believe...
Kitchen shrink: Spearheading May’s plates with spring’s sexy little asparagus
Years ago, when I was helping a girlfriend prepare a special meal for her fiancé...
AutoMatters & More: Tonies — fun, facts, songs, stories & an audio player for kids
Tonie figurines, when combined with the Toniebox speaker, are a fun, easy-to-use, educational, screen-free, high...
AutoMatters & More: NASCAR — please come back to Southern California
NASCAR, over the years you’ve cultivated a large and loyal audience for Cup and Xfinity...
Kitchen Shrink: Busting medieval migraine myths – and wrestling those monsters to the ground
In honor of National Poetry Month, deciding to laugh rather than cry, this victim of...
Solana Beach School District honors employees of the year
The Solana Beach School District recently named the 2025 Employees of the Year, recognizing the...
AutoMatters & More: What you should know about cracked windshield replacements & auto insurance
Recently, I noticed about a two-foot-long crack in my 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE’s windshield....
AutoMatters & More: Celebrating 50 years — auto racing returns to the streets of Long Beach
This week, “50 Years at Full Speed” is celebrated at the Acura Grand Prix of...
AutoMatters & More: WonderCon 2025 was WonderFul!
WonderCon, held at the Anaheim Convention Center March 28-30, was once again a wonderful, annual...
AutoMatters & More: Inaugural Thermal Club IndyCar Grand Prix — two thumbs up!
After contesting a successful exhibition race there in 2024, this year IndyCar returned to The...
Education Matters: Bringing back the magic in our lives
Somewhere along the way to adulthood, we lost the ability to infuse our lives with...
AutoMatters & More: Formula 1 rookies were destined to fail at chaotic 2025 season opener in Australia
Did you catch the 2025 Formula 1 season opener? While I could not be at...
Kitchen Shrink: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket – if you can even find them
The mighty egg is spring’s special thing embodying fertility, reawakening, and rebirth. While this precious...
AutoMatters & More: Cool UAG accessories for your phone and watch
Recently Apple introduced a new iPhone. That got me thinking about my iPhone and my...
Education Matters: Unanswered questions about ethnic studies in San Dieguito
At the Feb. 4 San Dieguito Union High School District’s special board meeting, district staff...
AutoMatters & More: U.S. Navy Blue Angels & U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds practice for the air show season
In anticipation of the 2025 air show season, before dawn last Saturday morning I made...
AutoMatters & More: Food trucks as an alternative to cookie-cutter institutional fast food
Many decades ago, when I was a kid living at home with my parents, life...
AutoMatters & More: Add a camera grip & shutter button to your cell phone with SnapGrip Pro
In addition to my skills as a photographer, I depend upon my professional cameras to...
Education Matters: Revisiting a sorry special education case
At the Feb. 4 San Dieguito Union High School District special board meeting, the main...
AutoMatters & More: Easily fix paint chips with Dr. ColorChip — with video
Having paint chips professionally repaired at a bodyshop is expensive and inconvenient. A much less...
AutoMatters & More: Are rodents chewing your car’s wiring and more? Stop them!
Rodents do extensive, expensive, potentially dangerous and immobilizing damage by chewing on automobiles’ wiring and...
AutoMatters & More: Zeekr — the most technologically advanced car company you have probably never heard of!
Recently I covered CES 2025 (the Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas. The day before...
TPHS Women’s Basketball Season of Kindness
Coach Scott Herrin, the varsity women’s basketball coach at Torrey Pines High School, talks about...
AutoMatters & More: Consumer alert regarding Amazon Key Delivery
If you shop on Amazon and own a garage equipped with certain smart garage door...
AutoMatters & More: Looking forward to CES 2025 — the Consumer Electronics Show
I’m excited! Are you? Today, after I finish this “AutoMatters & More” column, I will...
AutoMatters & More: A fun, new holiday tradition at SeaWorld
In addition to their animal exhibits, entertainment, activities, restaurants and shopping, SeaWorld San Diego also...
Education Matters: Decision on funding for ethnic studies draws closer
As California school districts scramble to meet the state’s legislative requirement to provide a course...
AutoMatters & More: Celebrating the holiday season at Knott’s Berry Farm & Disneyland Resort
Recently I visited the Disneyland Resort (consisting of Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park)...
AutoMatters & More: December Nights 2024 in Balboa Park—Holiday Celebration & Open House
It is billed as “the City of San Diego’s largest free holiday festival in beautiful...
Opinion/Guest commentary December 2024
Former Foundation Presidents address financial irregularities Two Canyon Crest Academy (CCA) high school students identified...
AutoMatters & More: 2024 LA Auto Show
The 2024 LA Auto Show was held Nov. 22 to Dec. 1 at the Los...
Kitchen Shrink: Let’s get this dinner party started – A buffet of holiday hooplas
‘Tis the season to crawl out of your hibernating holes, kick up your party heels,...
AutoMatters & More: 2024 In-N-Out Burger NHRA drag racing finals
Professional motorsports series are winding down for 2024. IndyCar and NASCAR have already crowned their...
AutoMatters & More: SEMA Show, AAPEX, motorsports, pinball & more in Las Vegas
Hi everyone! I just returned from an insanely wonderful, automotive-centered, week in Las Vegas, and...
November 2024, January, February 2025 : Letters to the Editor/Opinion
Council: Keep doing good work; No special election On Nov. 5, 2020, we congratulated in...
AutoMatters & More: Halloween 2024 at SeaWorld San Diego
Here in Southern California we have many theme parks to choose from, depending upon what...
AutoMatters & More: MCAS Miramar Air Show 2024
Huge crowds were present for the 2024 MCAS Miramar Air Show — “America’s Air Show”...
AutoMatters & More: Pacific Airshow Huntington Beach 2024
The 2024 Pacific Airshow Huntington Beach (Oct. 4 – 6) was quite a different event...
AutoMatters & More: Wavecrest Woodies show cars from as far away as Calgary
One of the most popular annual car shows in San Diego County each year is...
AutoMatters & More: Please park between the lines
Have you noticed that these days it seems as if parking spaces in parking lots...
AutoMatters & More: High-speed powerboat racing at San Diego Bayfair 2024
Billed as Southern California’s largest annual beach festival and powerboat competition, “Mercurys Presents San Diego...
Education Matters: Banned Books Week raises awareness of threats to free speech
No one would expect to come away scared after attending a library convention. Yet the...
Del Mar History: A Del Mar treasure turns 97
Hortensia [aka Tensia] Moriel Trejo was born in Del Mar on Thursday, Sept. 8, 1927....
AutoMatters & More: Why you should get your chipped windshield repaired and not replaced, if possible
Experienced drivers have probably had this unfortunate, but inevitable experience. You’re driving along on the...
AutoMatters & More: The performers are what make the Knott’s Berry Farm experience exceptional
Knott’s Founder’s Day celebration delivered an immersive, thoroughly interactive, authentic and downright fun-themed experience. Like...
AutoMatters & More: Hit & run accidents — why you need a dash cam now
If you do not already have a dashcam, you need to get a good one...
AutoMatters & More: Sadly, the Disney magic is fading
For a long, long time, Disney events and theme parks had been renowned for their...
Education Matters: The (almost) final chapter
The San Dieguito Union High School District surprised me by finally fulfilling my Public Records...
AutoMatters & More: Tiki Oasis 2024 — A feast for the senses
As I sit at my desk writing this today, I am enjoying a very juicy,...
AutoMatters & More: San Diego Comic-Con 2024 — my best ever
On the convention’s website, San Diego Comic-Con is described as “The Ultimate Event for Comics...
AutoMatters & More: A look back at the fantastic 2024 San Diego County Fair
The 2024 San Diego County Fair wrapped up its very successful 20-day run on July...
Education Matters: Settlement reached, details vague
A settlement was finally reached at the last moment, resolving the ongoing legal battle between...
AutoMatters & More: 221st Anniversary — Battle of San Diego Bay
On June 15, 2024, The House of Spain (Casa de España) in San Diego, through...
AutoMatters & More: ‘Pause/Play’ : Rediscover the joy of play at the Fleet Science Center
These days when so much of our lives is digital, wouldn’t it be nice just...
Kitchen Shrink: The 31 Flavors of Summer (and we’re not talking ice cream)
The summer season is revving up at the speed of burning briquettes with an embarrassing...
AutoMatters & More: Sneak peek at the 2024 San Diego County Fair
Excitement is in the air as we close in on the June 12 opening day...
Education Matters: The special education saga continues
I didn’t plan to write this column, as I assumed the San Dieguito Union High...
AutoMatters & More: Relive your muscle car memories with ‘The Complete Book of Dodge & Plymouth Muscle Cars’
Starting way back in 1951 with the release of the V-8 Hemi engine, Chrysler (now...
Pacific Trails’ Tyler Kuehl honored as Middle School PE Teacher of the Year
The Pacific Trails Middle School PE department continues to rack up the awards, with one...
AutoMatters & More: Fantasmic returns to Disneyland – with OPENING NIGHT VIDEO
This week’s AutoMatters & More column was not originally intended to be a part two...
AutoMatters & More: Star Wars: Season of the Force 2024 at the Disneyland Resort
In the years following the 1977 release of Star Wars: Episode IV — A New...
Education Matters: Other people’s money, other people’s kids
For anyone interested in reading about a school district’s fiscal irresponsibility and complete disregard for...
AutoMatters & More: Movie review: Thumbs up for The Fall Guy
Returning to the big screen after his starring role in the Barbie movie, Ryan Gosling...
AutoMatters & More: Why do we pay more for auto insurance?
Why do you think we pay so much these days for auto insurance? If you...
Kitchen Shrink: Does your mom like tea parties or coffee klatches? Happy Mother’s Day either way
Whether your mom enjoys a cup of joe or a spot of tea, here’s the...
AutoMatters & More: Tesla’s CYBERTRUCK ‘in the wild’ – with VIDEO
On an overcast Saturday morning in March, the Electric Vehicle Association of San Diego and...
AutoMatters & More: WonderCon 2024
WonderCon, celebrated annually at the Anaheim Convention Center, is run by and similar to San...
AutoMatters & More: Hopping into spring at the Goodguys Del Mar Nationals car show
The early days of spring began at the Del Mar Fairgrounds with one of “America’s...
AutoMatters & More: Happy 60th Anniversary SeaWorld San Diego!
Located on nearly 200 acres next to Mission Bay, today’s SeaWorld San Diego is a...
Opinion/Letters to the Editor April, May 2024
April 4 issue:Community planning groups help residents be heard by the city governmentRecently in Torrey...
Kitchen Shrink: A spring conversation
April has become an embarrassing holiday hog, snagging a long list of spring festivals, events,...
Education Matters: Ethnic studies at San Dieguito
San Dieguito Union High School District is one of many hundreds of high schools across...
AutoMatters & More: COTTON CARRIER at the 2024 NHRA Winternationals drag races
If you’ve watched professional auto racing, you’ve probably noticed credentialed race photographers wearing official vests...
AutoMatters & More: Da Vinci exhibit & ‘Cities of the Future’ in IMAX at California Science Center
Leonardo da Vinci: Inventor, Artist, DreamerLeonardo da Vinci had an incredible mind. This exhibition of...
AutoMatters & More: Adventureland Day & more at Disneyland
I’ve been a Disneyland annual holder for many years. Since COVID-19, however, when I visit...
Kitchen Shrink: If an onion rings, answer it – the tearjerker of the culinary world
“I will not move my army without onions.” — Ulysses S. GrantUbiquitously beloved, the mighty...
Education Matters: Ethnic literature class creates confusion
A recent Canyon Crest Academy article in the school newspaper announcing that the school would...
Summer Day Camp Fun at Del Mar Pines School
Del Mar Pines School is once again offering its popular Summer Discoveries Program. Any student...
AutoMatters & More: Review of ‘DUNE: Part Two’
Note: This review contains spoilers.“DUNE: Part Two,” a film by award-winning Director/Writer/Producer Denis Villeneuve, follows...
AutoMatters & More: Welcome to the California Science Center
Those of you who have been reading this column for many years know that I...
AutoMatters & More: Reflecting on the decades-long evolution of “AutoMatters & More”
From time to time, people ask me what this column is about. I struggle answering...
Opinion/Letters to the Editor February, March 2024
Feb. 15 issue:Traffic study needed before converting vehicle lane to bicycle laneRe: ”State bill that...
AutoMatters & More: Unprecedented deluge of rain in LA upends NASCAR CLASH
In an historic change of plans for NASCAR — and with only about four hours...
Kitchen Shrink: Let’s leap into February with an herbaceous spirit
We have an embarrassment of holiday riches all converging in the shortest month of the...
The First-grade Learning Experience at Del Mar Pines School
First graders step out of the early childhood phase of life and into a classroom...
AutoMatters & More: Bard AI by Google as a tool for writing
Until I ventured inside the sprawling Google exhibit at CES 2024, I had been unaware...
Education Matters: Son of Holocaust survivors speaks to Canyon Crest students
In recognition of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Canyon Crest Academy’s Jewish Culture Club sponsored a...
AutoMatters & More: Luminar demonstrates lidar-powered automatic emergency steering at CES 2024-with VIDEO
The major U.S. international auto shows used to be places where over-the-top press conferences and...
AutoMatters & More: Public EV charging not yet good enough
I just returned from covering CES (the Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas. The trip...
Guest commentary: Del Mar Rose Society honors founder Kristen Druker
The Del Mar Rose Society Board wanted to announce that Kristen and Dave Druker have...
AutoMatters & More: A very Happy New Year from SeaWorld San Diego!
SeaWorld San Diego is a great theme park where you can see and experience up-close...
Come Back to Del Mar Pines – Or See Us for the First Time!
With a beautiful campus, small class sizes, and a stellar reputation, Del Mar Pines School,...
AutoMatters & More: Drag racing in-person vs. TV – NHRA Finals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip
2023 has been a very good year for many of us who have a ion...
AutoMatters & More: December Nights 2023 in San Diego’s Balboa Park
The City of San Diego really kicked the festivities up a notch with this year’s...