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thedrifter
03-12-07, 06:16 PM
Posted date: 3/12/2007
Chamber’s Annual Dinner Is Biggest Ever in 85 Years, Five Marines Honored

Business in the North County — Ted Owen

The Four Seasons Resort Aviara in Carlsbad was jumping March 2 with the largest Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce crowd ever assembled, dining on five-diamond cuisine and saluting the best in industry companies throughout the evening.

Eleven companies took home crystal statuettes commemorating the 85th anniversary of the chamber.

One of the gala’s highlights was the honoring of five Purple Heart Medal recipients from the Fifth Marine Infantry Regiment at Camp Pendleton.

The unit, led by Col. Larry Nicholson, himself a wounded Leatherneck, spent the last 12 months at Camp Fallujah in Iraq.

The Marines received a standing ovation from the crowd, a moving salute for five American heroes.

Awards went to Ofelia Escobedo of Lola’s 7-Up Mexican Market & Deli for the Director’s Award of Merit; Phil and Kathy Urbina, and Dr. John Fitzpatrick, recipients of the Community Leadership Award; Ginna Reyes of Western Flight Inc., Businessperson of the Year; Isaac’s Catering, Business of the Year (Small); SkinMedica Inc., Business of the Year (Medium), Toyota Carlsbad and ViaSat Inc., Businesses of the Year (Large); Mike Mellace of Mama Mellace’s Old World Treats, Entrepreneur of the Year; Stephen M. L’Heureux of the Law Offices of Stephen M. L’Heureux, Lifetime Achievement in Business Award; and the Gemological Institute of America, which received the Corporate Citizen of the Year Award.

The next item is considered to be unique to a community that has an economy that can stand the movement of the stock market.

The top three wealthiest cities in San Diego County are Del Mar, Carlsbad and Solana Beach. Of the three, Solana Beach is suffering from affluence overload.

Because of the city’s ocean front location, the practice of tearing down smaller homes to build mansions has caused an outcry from residents.

The “mansionization” of the city has caused the council to create a special election, Proposition A.

While many cities are fighting gang, traffic, immigration and growth issues, a wealthy city is trying to stop mansions from being built.

In Carlsbad, Councilwoman Norine Sigafoose abruptly resigned because of serious health issues two weeks ago, and the council decided to pick her replacement rather than conduct a special election.

Following the loss of the popular council member, there came an onslaught of candidates.

Ellie