back at the ranch - august 2012

Volume 7. number 8

august 2012www.backattheranch-onl ine.com

4S ranch Girls Softball started a great All-

Star season this summer with 44 girls in the

program and a first for the organization; four

teams. The local league fielded an 8u team

(8u Force), two 10u teams (10u Force and

10u Storm) and a 12u team (12u Force). All-

Stars is about developing advanced skills and

a winning attitude in a highly competitive

environment.

Page 5

Movies in the ParkThe popular Summer movies in the Park series con-

tinues in August with the showing of Cars 2 on

Saturday, August 11. With the arrival of the new Cars-

inspired area at Disney’s California Adventure, now

is a great time to be reminded of the exciting adven-

tures that made these animated characters such fan

favorites in the first place.

Page 5

With school back in session for

another year for most of the

youngsters in our community,

back At The ranch thought

it would be wise to focus on

several school-related topics

in our August issue.

back To School...Time to Grow

4S Ranch Girls Head To States

back at the ranch: page 3www.backattheranch-onl ine.com

Volume 7. number 8

august 2012

Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form, in whole or part, without written permission is prohibited. Back at the Ranch (BATR) is a month-ly publication highlighting house, home and community building. BATR accepts freelance contributions, though there is no guarantee that unsolicited material will be returned. BATR is not responsible for the views of contributing writers and assumes no responsibility for errors appearing within. Opinions expressed are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the Publisher or advertisers. We reserve the right to restrict all advertisements to their proper classification and to edit or reject any copy.

Our mission for Back At The Ranch is to connect 4S residents to each other and to key resources with the goal of building com-munity in 4S Ranch and the greater Rancho Bernardo area.

Back at The Ranch is a great example of what can happen when neighbors build strong relationships and get busy putting their ideas and skills together for the good of the community.

We hope you find this community publica-tion reflective of our excitement to be in 4S Ranch and our desire to build something that brings us all closer together. We invite you to join in the fun and get involved.

O f f i c e

Fountain Media Group, Inc. 1501 San Elijo Rd. S, Ste. 104-202

San Elijo Hills, CA 92078 (800) 497-1309

www.fountain-inc.com

P u b l i S H e R

Tim Minjares Publisher

(800) 497-1309 x707 [email protected]

e d i TO R i a l

Mike Minjares Managing Editor


S a le S

Melissa Granados Sales Director


P R O d u c T i O n

AJ Moreno Designer

[email protected]

It is always surprising to me to hear people talk about how much they hated school growing up. Even now, after more years than I care to remember have passed, I still look back fondly on my time in school. Whether it’s elementary, junior high or high school, I recall having a great time at each stop. And that continued even into college. I’ve always enjoyed the chance to learn about new subjects, meet new people, rise to the challenge of a test or term paper and then receive a formal review of my work. I know not everyone is “good at school”, but I also welcomed the scheduled and daily meeting up with friends. School provided me with an opportunity to build connections with some great people who continue to be close friends long after we have walked the campus for the last time.

Now, as I watch my own two kids prepare for their final years of elemen-tary school and middle school, respec-tively, I’m eager to see what the coming year holds for them and for us. Having been involved in education for much of our professional careers, both my wife and I strive to be active in our kids’ educational experience. I volunteer at my son’s school as part of the School Site Council committee and avoid being seen too often at my daughter’s middle school because that would not be cool, as we all well know. My wife’s own school schedule doesn’t allow her many opportunities to be on campus during the day, but she regularly checks in with our kids’ teachers to offer any support that might be needed. We truly see our local educators as partners in helping our kids to reach their full potential, both in and outside the classroom.

With school back in session for another year for most of the youngsters in our community, Back At The Ranch thought it would be wise to focus on several school-related topics in our August issue. Of course, our readers will find the regular information about what is happening at area

schools, but we have also included some advice for add-ing much-needed variety to the standard lunch box fare of sandwiches and chips. Contributing writer Karishma Sinnott is a mother of three young kids and has been packing lunches for several years. Over time, she has developed quite a process for changing things up to keep her young students interested in their lunchtime meal. We hope her ideas can assist many local families with this potentially mundane exercise. Granted, not everyone is thrilled about being back in classrooms,

but with the right mindset the opportu-nity exists to make this a year of great growth and personal development no matter what grade level you are.

In addition to thinking about all things school-related, the Back At The Ranch crew is also looking ahead to our upcoming features for this community publication. We would like to ask for your assistance with one topic in par-ticular. Our October issue is going to

include a feature on favorite community water holes – you know, the places you and your friends meet to enjoy a favorite drink and bite to eat, relax and catch up. We’ve got our usual spots, but we want to know where do you go. Is there a new place we all need to try or is the best spot still a longtime standard that you just can’t seem to get enough of? Share your local hot spots by emailing me at [email protected]. The plan is we’ll include as many of them as possible in that October issue.

In addition, we also want to encourage you to con-tinue to send in story ideas and community news for inclusion in your community newspaper. We are also on the lookout for wonderful families to feature. You can nominate your own family or perhaps one of your neighbors by emailing me. I look forward to hearing from you. Good luck students!

Back to School ... Time To Growmike minjAreSeditor’s corner

FountainMediaGroup inc.

publications that build community

community news & lifestyle for 4S Ranch

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Just Listed in 4S Ranch!

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4S Ranch Girls Softball started a great All-Star season this summer with 44 girls in the program and a first for the organization; four teams. The local league fielded an 8U team (8U Force), two 10U teams (10U Force and 10U Storm) and a 12U team (12U Force). All-Stars is about develop-ing advanced skills and a winning attitude in a highly competitive environ-ment. The teams play numerous weekend tournaments against teams from all over Southern California. The girls started practices at the beginning of May and worked hard to get ready for tournaments that started in mid-May. The 8U, 10U Storm and 12U teams all won second place trophies in the Corky Russell East County tournament and 10U Force took second place at the West Grove tournament. The 10U Force team capped a suc-cessful All-Star season by taking second place at the C League District tournament, qualified for the C League State games in Lancaster, CA the weekend of July 15. This is the first time a 4S Ranch team has qualified for States and everyone should be so proud of the girls!

Girls have the opportunity to play softball year round in 4S Ranch. Fall Ball is the half competitive, half developmental season that runs from September through November. Fall Ball is a great way for girls to keep their skills sharp with double-header games played on Sundays. Registration begins August 4 online at www.4srgsbl.com and practices start August 27. The league will hold one in-person registration session on August 4 at the Coffee Bean in 4S Ranch from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. The league expects to field teams at the 8U, 10U and 12U age levels.

4S Ranch Girls Softball is an entirely volunteer-based organization. The Board is made up of parents and friends of the community and all coaches and managers volunteer their time to help the girls improve. There is always a need for more coaches, especially in the developmental spring season. Registration for Spring 2013 will start in October and practices start in late January. The following Board positions are open: Head of Division Directors, Director of Publicity, Director of Fundraising and 12U Director. If you are interested in any of these positions, please contact [email protected].

4S Ranch Girls Head to States

4S Ranch Girls Softball is also looking for sponsors to support the league. The goal is to make sure the girls have plenty of equipment and some professional coaching throughout the three seasons. The league recognizes its Sponsors in numerous ways. For information on sponsorship, contact [email protected].

If your daughter has ever expressed an interest in softball, have her come try it out. A record number of girls signed up this spring and it would be great for more girls to join in the fun! Softball doesn’t have residence bound-aries so girls from any community are welcome to join the 4S Ranch family. Check out www.4srgsbl.com for more information!

movies in the Park – Cars 2 on August 11

The popular Summer Movies in the Park series continues in August with the showing of Cars 2 on Saturday, August 11. The exciting evening kicks off at dusk at 4S Ranch Sports Park, 16118 4S Ranch Parkway. Local moviegoers should bring their own blankets and chairs and arrive early to stake out the best seats. The summer movie series is brought to the com-munity in part by Brian Dave DDS, San Diego County Parks Society, Shay & Associates, Funflicks Outdoor Movies and, of course, your community newspaper Back At The Ranch. With the arrival of the new Cars-inspired area at Disney’s California Adventure, now is a great time to be reminded of the exciting adventures that made these animated characters such fan favorites in the first place. Movies in the Park will conclude in September on September 8 with a showing of Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax (italics). Come on out and join your neighbors and friends for a relaxing evening under the stars before the school work begins to pile up again.

Del Norte Youth Football and Cheer Seasons Kick Off

Just as the local profession-al football team straps back on the pads and helmets, so too do area youth participating in the Del Norte Youth Football and Cheer Association. The organization, which has enjoyed increasing suc-cess, strives to provide a safe and positive environment to teach the fundamentals of the sports of foot-ball and cheer. In doing so, the Association and its members work hard to help instill in each participant the principles of dedication, hard work, community, honesty, scholastic achieve-ment, teamwork and sportsmanship.

Putting that sense of community and teamwork on display, the youth sports organization has planned a Walk-A-Thon for Saturday, August 11 at 4S Ranch Park. The event will run from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon and will feature several activities to celebrate the start of a new season. Everyone is invited to participate.

The Nighthawks season begins with a pre-season game on August 18 followed by the first game of the fall season on August 25. For more infor-mation about the Walk-A-Thon or Del Norte Youth Football and Cheer, visit the organization’s website at www.nighthawksyouthfootball.org.

4S ranch Girls Softball 10u Force All Stars take 2nd Place at San Diego’s District Championships and qualify to participate in State Championships in lancaster, California - Top row: Coach kevin Peterson, manager Scott Wells, Coach Chris Archer, Team Parent Pamela Singh (not pictured) middle row: evi Stern, megan lee, Ashlee Wells, Sudha Singh, Paris Archer, kelly Peterson bottom row: julianne mackey, Tracey Tivadar, breannah mcCann, jillian Smith, lauren Prentiss, Alex Garza, Athena huntalas (not pictured)

back at the ranch www.backattheranch-onl ine.com

4S rAnCh

on your doorstep

Two fantastic community Golf Tournaments....in the month of September two different community groups are organizing fun golf tournaments for a good cause

Gavin Golf Tournament Raises Funds for Tay-Sachs Disease

It has been more than three years since the Marquez family of 4S Ranch learned of their son, Gavin Marquez’s most tragic diagnosis – a rare genetic disease known as “Tay-Sachs Disease.” There is no known cure and the harsh reality is that no child has ever survived this disease. The possibility of a cure, however, is within reach through “Gene Therapy.” The Tay-Sachs Gene Therapy consortium is working very hard on initiating a first phase clini-cal trial approved by the FDA where six kids will be selected by the end of 2012 or early 2013. Extensive testing is mandatory before a clinical trial can be initiated on humans and that comes with a very, very high cost. The disease itself also inflicts significant financial burdens on families as most experi-mental medication and equipment to help a child with Tay-Sachs Disease is not covered by most major health insurances.

The community is invited to help the Marquez family and further the initiative for gene therapy and the cure for Tay-Sachs Disease, by participat-ing in the 2nd annual Hope for Gavin Golf Tournament taking place on September 15 at the Mt. Woodson Golf Club in Ramona. Scott Hemsley, a good friend of the Marquez family, is organizing the event and is in need of golfers and silent auction prizes.

If you are interested in participating in the golf tournament or would like to help with prizes or in any other way, please contact Scott at (858) 692-5126 or email him at [email protected]. All proceeds from the golf tournament will go to the Cure-Tay Sachs Foundation which directly funds the gene therapy trial initiative; and any necessary medical equipment and therapies that are not covered by the insurance for Gavin Marquez. For more information, please visit www.hopeforgavin.com and www.curetay-sachs.org.

3rd Annual Del Norte High School Golf Invitational – September 9

This year’s annual Del Norte High School Golf Invitational benefitting the Del Norte High School Youth Golf Program is scheduled for September 9 at the legendary Rancho Bernardo Resort. The golf tournament will be followed by a cocktail hour, a silent auction, raffle and dinner. Non-golfers and the significant others of the golfers are invited to join for the after-golf festivities and/or for a nominal charge enjoy the fabulous The Spa at the Rancho Bernardo Inn during the day. Golf registration begins at 12 noon with a shotgun start for the four-person scramble at 1:30 p.m. Cocktails and dinner are 6:30 to 8:30 that evening.

Cost for the event, the primary fundraising activity of the year for the Del Norte High School golf program, is $135 per player, $540 for a 4-some, and $35 for the dinner activities only. The golf registration fee includes the green fee, golf cart, range balls, a player’s “goodie bag”, snacks, sodas and din-ner. There will be a silent auction, raffle prizes and pre-event putting contest. If you are interested in playing, attending the dinner, or sponsoring a hole at the golf tournament, please contact either Susan Griffith at (858) 829-5200 or Coach Mike Reifeiss at (858) 336-1894 or email to [email protected]. All levels of play are welcome and your participation helps pro-vide much-needed funds for the local high school’s golf team. Come on out and tee it up with neighbors, friends and other community members.

For the kind of benefits that last a lifetime, call for a FREE PLACEMENT TEST.

© 2012 Kumon North America. All rights reserved.

Kumon of 4S Ranch16615 Dove Canyon Rd., Ste. 103San Diego, CA 92127858.472.8341kumon.com/4s-ranch

Choose Kumon and let this be the year your child achieves more than he or she ever thought possible.

When your child has an unshakable understanding of reading and math and the confidence and motivation to match, there’s no telling what he or she can achieve. Kumon helps foster these benefits and more. We start with an insatiable passion for learning and help transform it into a relentless curiosity about the world beyond the classroom. Choose Kumon and let this be the year your child achieves more than he or she ever thought possible.

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Academic Enrichment Pre-K — 12th Grade

8 5 8 | 6 7 5 | 8 5 0 0 R A N C H O B E R N A R D O I N N .C O M /S U M M E R

JOB #: JCR 3458 AD TITLE: Kids rule PUBLICATION: Back at the Ranch INSERTION DATE: JulyCOLOR INFO: 4C TRIM: 10” x 8”

FILE LAST MODIFIED: JULY 3, 2012 11:19 AM

come play!2012 summer activities include:

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art + science activities funny filmore mini-golf course friday weekend kickoff + family party...and much more!

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OPENING

JULY 2012

Arch Health Partners (AHP) is proud to announce our new medical center — scheduled to open this July. For the first time, residents will have primary medical services available in the community — including personalized family medicine, x-ray and laboratory.

AHP 4S Ranch will be led by family practice physicians

Nasrin Arbabi, M.D. and Camille Santos, M.D. — both accepting new patients. AHP specialists, including dermatologists and orthopedic surgeons, will also be available.

When it comes to your health, finding the right physician is essential. Choose Arch Health Partners – named a Top Performing Medical Group for its achievement in quality measures and use of technology by the Integrated Healthcare Association for two consecutive years.

Centrally located on the corner of Camino del Norte and Dove Canyon Road — the finest care available is now even closer to home.

Arch Health Partners Coming Soon to 4S Ranch.Residents of 4S Ranch are about to get even healthier.

A Top Rated Medical Group

Nasrin Arbabi, M.D. Camille Santos, M.D.


4S rAnCh

on your doorstep

4S Ranch Community Swimming Pool Summer Hours Run Until Aug 19

With warm sum-mer days continu-ing, a dip in the cool, refreshing water at the 4S Ranch Community Swimming Pool sounds even more inviting than usual. The pool and water slide hours, extend-ed for the summer months for members, continue until August 19. Summer hours are: Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturdays 12 noon to 7 p.m.; and Sundays 12 noon to 6 p.m. The fun water slide remains open seven days a week from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., though that too is only until August 19. On August 20 Fall hours will commence. Please note that “Public Hours” are 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. from Memorial Day through Labor Day, at $5 per session. For more information contact the 4S Ranch Community Swimming Pool by phone at (858) 676-2240 or online at www.pacificswim.com/4s.

4SrYSA Summer 2012 Soccer Camp – Aug 6-10

4S Ranch Youth Soccer Association is proud to bring to the 4S Ranch commu-nity an outstanding soccer training camp for young developing soccer players. The second of two summer soccer camps – open to all players, girls and boys, ages 6 and up – takes place from August 6 to 10 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon each day.

According to the organization’s website, the philosophy of the camp is to produce not only great soccer players, but great players of life. Campers receive lots of individual attention during the week, due in part to the low average ratio of campers to staff. Coaches will work with small groups of campers of comparable ages and skill levels to improve their fundamental skills and provide insight into the techniques necessary to bring out the best in today’s young soccer players. During the course of the week, each camper will experience intensive soccer training from a variety of coaches and soccer related activities.

The cost of the camp is $110, with a $5 discount per child for sib-lings. In addition to the valuable instruction, all campers receive a sac pack and camp t-shirt. For more information or to register, go online to www.4sranchsoccer.com.

Summer Leadership Camp – Part Two

4S Ranch’s United Studios of Self Defense will offer their second of two summer leader-ship camps from August 13 to 17. The five day camp runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and, according to the local organization’s website, is specifically designed for empowering children and helping them develop the tools to build self-esteem and personal responsibility, work as a team with their peers and learn how to overcome obstacles along with many other essential life skills. This camp will assist stu-dents in these areas through fun interactive drills, team sports, obstacles, leadership role play and more. For more information, visit United Studios of Self Defense online at www.ussd4sranch.com

Danceology Performing Arts Campus (DPAC) Pre-school Cowgirl Camp

From August 6 to 10, local kids can get a little country at Danceology Performing Arts Campus’ Pre-school Cowgirl Camp. The weeklong cowgirl-themed camp begins at 9 a.m. and ends at noon, providing a fun and lively start to the day. Interested families should call the DPAC at (858) 613-1155 or email at [email protected].


4S rAnCh

on your doorstep

ADULT PROGRAMS

4S book Worms - 1st Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. Meet by the fireplace and share your passion for books with your fellow book lovers. August selection: River of Doubt by Candice Millard.

baby & Me Yoga with Miss courtney- 4th Wednesday of the month at 10:30 a.m. Yoga class for moms with pre-walking babies. Please bring a mat, a baby toy and a towel. Sign-ups required.

Gentle Yoga with Patty- Wednesday, Aug. 8 at 9:30 a.m. Gentle yoga for seniors.

Knitting circle - Wednesdays at 5 p.m. Join your fellow knitters by the fireplace every Wednesday evening and knit for fun.

Yoga Meditation for every day Stress Reduction with dr. afshin nahouvandi - 1st and 2nd Tuesdays of the month at 6:45 p.m. For 15 years old and above

friends of the library Meeting - 3rd Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m.Become a member of Friends of the 4S Ranch Library and support your local library.

college Planning with Roohi darugar - Saturday, Aug. 11 at 10:30 a.m. Financial advisor Roohi Darugar invites parents to attend an informa-tional seminar on college planning from an early age.

fine free friday @ all Sdcl branches - Return your County owned books, CDs, DVDs, or other overdue mate-rials on the last Friday of each month and we’ll get rid of the fines for those items!

CHILDREN PROGRAMS

Play to learnTime with Teacher lee - Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Music, Stories, Art and Fun! For chil-dren 5 years old and under. www.teach-erlee.com

crafts for a cause - 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 4 p.m. Arts and crafts for K-3rd grade students.

library events4S rAnCh librArY (858) 673-4697

www.4sranchlibrary.blogspot.com | www.4sranchlibraryteens.blogspot.com

Kids fitness with Miss andrea - 3rd Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Miss Andrea is back and ready to excise with kids from 18 months to 5 years old.

Summer chess club at the library - Saturdays at 3 p.m. For all school age chess enthusiasts. Club will be run by Del Norte High School students.

classic indian dance - Friday, Aug. 3, 10, 17 & 24 at 3 p.m. Dance Recital Performance on Aug. 31 at 3:30 p.m. Space is limited. Sign-ups required.

Kid’s Yoga with alex - Wednesday, Aug. 8 at 11:30 a.m. For 3 and 4 year olds.

Origami class with Miss June - Friday, Aug. 10 at 10:30 a.m. For children 4 year old and up. Space is limited. Sign-ups required.

Pajama Story Time - Tuesday, Aug. 21 at 6 p.m.

TEENS AND TWEENS PROGRAMS

SaT Practice Test - Saturday, Aug. 4 at 10 a.m. Free SAT practice tests for high school students. Space is limited. Call for registration.

Tween book club - Tuesday, Aug. 21 at 4 p.m. For tween book enthu-siasts. Call for monthly selection.

end of Summer Reading Party @ the library - Wednesday, Aug. 1 at 1:00 p.m. End of Summer Reading Ice Cream Social and Carnival

A D V E R T O R I A L

Academic Progress of our Childrenby. Steve and Anh Eggers, Tutoring Club of PQ/Torrey Highlands

The landscape of traditional educa-tion is fraught with pitfalls for our

children. Picture a “traditional classroom” which now may consist of 35 or more children of similar age, yet with differ-ent backgrounds, needs, and goals. While we understand the limitations in schools due primarily to all the budget cuts, we shouldn’t be passive observers of the negative effect this has on the academic progress of our children. No longer can we expect the stressed system and educa-tors to carry the burden of trying to reach too many students under the constraints of limited resources.

In a typical classroom full of children with differing learning styles and aca-demic strengths and weaknesses, teachers often struggle to effectively guide the students of various needs. Even if the class con-sists of just 20 to 25 students, there will invariably be a student who requires special attention in order to prevent distraction to the rest of the classroom. What if several students require a great deal of attention? The reality is that it is virtually impossible in today’s environment for teachers to give students the individual attention they need and deserve. Children are much more likely these days to “fall through the cracks,” become bored or discouraged, or “act out” in the classroom in order to gain attention.

This is the critical point at which parents seek help from outside sources such as learning centers. Sometimes, reacting to an existing problem is not enough. Ideally, as parents, we should anticipate the challenges our children will face and proactively seek support to prevent the challenges from becoming problems.

Traditional tutoring has been seen as a source of remedial instruction for stu-dents who have fallen behind in school. At Tutoring Club, we consider ourselves to be providers of “supplemental education.” Our goal is to supplement the education that children are receiving in the traditional school system. We work on a cooperative basis with the schools and ensure that students receive all of the individual attention

they need to succeed. While we often help students at a remedial level, we also provide supplemental education to enhance chil-dren’s academic skills at all levels.

These days, supplemental education has become a necessity for many college-bound students. At Tutoring Club, we help students maximize their academic potential and become highly successful in school. To enter the colleges of their dreams, even advanced students benefit from academic coaching in order to maintain their high GPA’s and earn competitive scores on their ACT and SAT exams.

Tutoring Club programs are custom-ized for students of various levels from gift-ed to special needs students. Our students

receive individualized tutoring from our staff consisting of talented and experienced professionals trained to fill in the “gaps” in your child’s education and motivate them to succeed in school. We don’t limit our support to specific academic subjects. We also teach important learning skills including time management and test taking strategies. Enrolling students in the right tutoring program can be one of the best decisions parents can make to help their children succeed in school…and ultimately in life! Feel free to call us to discover how we can help your children fulfill their dreams.

For further information or to schedule a com-plimentary math, reading or writing assessment, please contact the center closest to you:


~ H O M E L O A N S ~


[email protected] S. Juniper Street, #215

NMLS# 242241/BRANCH NMLS# 242250

CRAIG R. MILLERAMERICAN FINANCIAL NETWORK, INC.


Office: 760Cellular: 760


Escondido, CA 92025NMLS# 242241/BRANCH NMLS# 242250



Office: 760-737-7199Cellular: 760-519-2284




71992284




4S rAnCh

meet your neighbor

Born and raised in San Diego, Katie Seidenwurm finally feels at home, both professionally and person-ally. After college on the east coast, followed by 11 years living and working in Portland, Oregon, Katie moved back to her Southern California roots with her husband and fellow Torrey Pines High grad Rob and sons Owen and Nathan three years ago. The Seidenwurms rented for a bit in both 4S Ranch and Del Sur, but have found the small-town community feel they wanted in nearby Del Sur. Katie says her family is home.

“It feels like we have finally arrived and we are here to stay,” Katie shared. “It is a good feeling to know we have settled. Our community holds neigh-borhood parties and there are lots of parks and pools close by. It is a pretty amazing place. To be able to walk in our community park and know half the people there is wonderful.”

If Katie’s name sounds familiar, regular Back At The Ranch readers will recall that Katie has contrib-uted an outstanding gardening article to the com-munity publication nearly every month. Her edito-rial contributions, complete with interesting photos and helpful gardening tips, combine both her interest in journalism with her chosen profession of landscape designer and owner of Zinnia Design. It is one of the many ways she gives back to the local community making it a brighter – if often greener – place to live.

Since 2004, Katie has focused her work on providing residential land-scape design solutions. According to her website, www.designbyzinnia.com, her design services include planting design and site design for both large and small residences. She tailors designs to clients’ individual needs and relishes figuring out how spaces can be used and enjoyed. She admits that

after spending so much time away, one of her biggest challenges has been learning San Diego plants and what grows best in this climate, something she addresses with frequent trips to botanical gardens.

“My passion growing up was fine art and sculpture,” Katie said. “Finding landscape architecture was like taking fine art to 3D on a grand scale. I love to draw and doodle. In fact, I often draw as clients are talking to me about their project. I knew I had found something I liked because I could draw for hours and not care about time.”

The entire Seidenwurm family is involved in Katie’s work in different ways. Her boys, fifth and first graders at Del Sur Elementary, assist their mother with the new school garden Katie helped introduce last year. Katie says it has been a lot of fun teaching kindergartners to grow tomatoes, helping older students see the life cycle of plants in action and talking about what makes for good soil. In addition to the

students, Katie says many of the staff and parent volunteers have been very involved and willing participants.

Katie’s husband Rob is an attorney and has been very supportive of both her career and her writing for Back At The Ranch. As a former English major, Rob often serves as Katie’s proofreader of her gardening articles. The two have been married for 13 years after being high school sweethearts. Our community publication’s regular contributor recognizes how good she has it.

“I really like what I do now,” she said. “I like to create and design outdoor spaces for families. I work part-time so I can manage our lives. I feel lucky that I have found a balance between work and home. I can do this on my own time and on my own terms.”

To see more of Katie’s work, visit her online at www.designbyzinnia.com or head out to a local park or botanical garden. She’ll be the one with the camera taking photos of interesting plants and landscape designs.

The Seidenwurm family

(Includes fertilizing, mow, edge, and blow)

(Includes hedge & plant pruning, garden cultivating, fertilizer, mow, edge & blow)

We take pride in doing quality work


4S rAnCh

school news

August Dates To Remember

The first day of the new school year kicks off on Wednesday, August 22, at 8:00 a.m., but there are several welcoming activities to be enjoyed prior to students hit-ting the books.

New students can get a glimpse of the campus of Stone Ranch Elementary through the New Student Tour on August 21. The tours begin at 2:30 p.m. and are led by returning fifth grade students. If you are interested in assisting new stu-dents as a tour guide, email Mrs. Venolia at [email protected].

The newest members of the Stone Ranch Elementary community – our kindergartners – are encouraged to meet their teachers on August 21 from 2:00 to 2:30 p.m., just prior to the New Student Tour.

The special welcome concludes with the Popsicle Posting Party that begins at 4:00 p.m.

School will be closed on Monday, September 3 for the Labor Day holiday.

Stone Ranch elementary School

Updates – School Office Open Hours

With school scheduled to begin on Wednesday, August 22, the Oak Valley Middle School office will open for the new school year on Monday, August 13 with limited hours. As this also marks the start of continu-ing student registration, the office will only be open from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m. on August 13, 14 and 15. On August 16 and 17, the office opens from 8:00 a.m. to noon. The following week, the office will be open 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Monday, August 20 and from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 21.

Continuing Student Registration In August

OVMS continuing student registration takes place over three days in August. All paperwork is to be completed and returned to OVMS on the student’s assigned registration date. 6th-grade students register Monday, August 13; 7th-grade students register Tuesday, August 14; and 8th-grade students register on Wednesday, August 15. For details on registration times and paperwork required, please visit the school website at www.powayusd.com/pusdovms/

Oak Valley Middle School


4S rAnCh

school news

School Office Opens August 6

In advance of school beginning on Wednesday, August 22, the Del Norte High School office will re-open on Monday, August 6 and will be open from 9:00 a.m. to noon through August 10. For the week of August 13-17, the office hours will be extended to 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day. The office resumes regular hours – 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. – on August 20.

2012-2013 Registration Dates and Times: Tuesday, August 14, 9-12 noon – SeniorsWednesday, August 15, 9-12 noon – JuniorsThursday, August 16, 1-4 pm – SophomoresFriday, August 17, 9-12 noon – Freshmen Friday, August 17, 3-6pm – Make-up for all grades.

More information is available on the school website at www.delnorte-nighthawks.com

Del Norte Music Boosters Meeting

The Del Norte Music Program is made up of more than one hundred talented and dedicated student musicians and a supportive booster associa-tion. On Wednesday, August 8, a music boosters meeting will be held from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the DNHS Band Room.

AP Biology & Honors Humanities Suggested Summer Reading

For Del Norte High students in AP Biology and/or Honors Humanities, there are only a few weeks left to complete the suggested summer reading assignments. AP Biology students should begin school having read and ready to write an essay about the book Survival of the Sickest by Sharon Moalem and Jonathan Prince. Students in Honors Humanities are encour-aged to make their way through Homer’s The Odyssey. Doing so now will free up some homework time once school begins.

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school newsMonterey Ridge Elementary SchoolUpdates

August 20 at 4:00 p.m. – Students can find out their teacher’s name and classroom

August 22 – First day of school

Suggested Grade Level Supply Lists

Part of the routine of pre-paring to start a new school year typically includes going school clothes and supply shop-ping. While each family tackles these yearly activities in unique and personal ways, suggested grade level supply lists are avail-able on the school website – www.powayusd.com/pusdmres/ – to help each student know what items they’ll need to have as they begin the school year. Supply lists are provided for each grade from kindergarten through fifth grade and even some of the school’s teachers have posted individual classroom lists.

Monarch School Pledge

Now is certainly the time to get prepared to start off the year on just the right foot. For new students at Monterey Ridge Elementary, and maybe for some continuing students too – that means becoming familiar with the “Monarch Character Pledge.”

To help local students with learning an important part of being a Monterey Ridge Elementary student, we’ve provided the pledge below to allow for a little more time to practice.

Monarch Character Pledge:I pledge to be a person of good character.I will always be fair.I will be respectful and responsible, showing that I care.I will be a good citizen, doing what I must.I will be honest and reliable and worthy of your trust!

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Wildfire is a part of life in beautiful Southern California. The fire season is a natural cycle that runs from June to October every year. Some plants can only germinate in fire and others need the space cleared by fire to propagate. It is an integral part of the ecosystem here, and fire authorities say that we are looking at three times as many fires this year than in 2011.

The dense brush that burned in 2007 has grown back; it is not a matter of if there are more fires but when. You can minimize your chances of being affected by fire, and prepare to evacuate safely and quickly if you follow these simple steps.

2012 Fire Safety Checklist

Fire Safety Checklist (Cut this checklist out and post it on your fridge or bulletin board for easy reference.)

For more information on fire safety and disaster planning, visit readySanDiego.org and sign up for Alert San Diego, San Diego County’s mass notification system. once reg-

istered, Alert San Diego will provide emergency notifications to your cell phone, VoiP, and e-mail address.

Home & Yard:

Clear brush around your home up to the state-mandated one hundred feet or more if your insurance company requires.

When landscaping, choose fire-resistant plants and trees.

Cover your eaves with fire-resistant soffit material, also called ‘boxing in’ the eaves, or paint them with intumescent paint.

integrate an indoor sprinkler system. According to the national Fire Protection Association, adding one of these cuts the risk of dying in a fire in your home by 80 percent.

make sure your smoke alarms are in working order with fresh batteries.

if you have a pool, consider investing in a manual fire pump. Power outages and water pressure loss to fire hydrants can accompany a natural disaster.

family:

Prepare and register kids. many free programs provide current photos and iD info to emer-gency services in case of separation.

Talk about evacuation with kids and go over the family fire evacuation plan at least once per year.

Teach older kids their emergency contact information.

Create a family emergency plan and disaster kit. Familiarize all members of the family with it: identify exit routes, reunion locations, utility shut-offs, out-of-area contacts and the loca-tion of emergency supplies.

community:

Familiarize yourself with how your community responds to emergencies.

Familiarize yourself with the emergency plans for your child’s school or daycare, and those of your workplace.

Practice your emergency plan with family and neighbors.

include your neighbors’ cell phone numbers in your important information binder.

Do you have senior or disabled relatives or neighbors who may not have been alerted or be unable to leave their homes? See these links to emergency Preparedness Guides for Seniors, Special needs, and more from the State of California’s Take Charge California site: http://www.takechargeca.ca.gov/besafe/emergency_prep.shtml

Pets:

register pets with a recovery program in case they become separated from you or lost.

make sure pets’ collars and iD chips are up-to-date; and that during evacuation they are properly restrained in carriers, terrariums, or on leashes. Animals should be escorted from home to vehicle by mom or Dad.

make sure pets’ vaccinations are current.

keep an extra leash and collar with pets’ car-riers. if a pet panics and the leash breaks, you can still restrain them for their safety.

Vehicles:

make sure your family’s vehicles are main-tained in good working order.

Assess your vehicles. Are they large enough to fit your family and your pets (in carriers) if needed? Could you fit emergency belongings in as well?

have a spare container of gasoline ready to go. Practice keeping your vehicles’ gas tanks full at all times.

coverage:

review your property, health, and life insur-ance coverage. make sure you are up to date and have the appropriate amount of each.

make sure to review your current home insur-ance policy to ensure you have adequate reconstruction and replacement limits, and that any specialty items are properly insured.

make sure you have earthquake or flood insur-ance if you live in an area where those can occur.

make sure you are insured with a reputable company that is admitted in the state of California. This means the state insures your insurance provider.

make sure your home insurance policy will pay for your hotel in case of a mandatory evacuation.

Supplies, items & documents:

have a binder with all household information ready to grab. include your social security cards, passports, and difficult-to-remember passwords.

keep a list of valuables like the household Contents inventory record with your house-hold information binder.

have another copy somewhere safe outside your home: a safe deposit box, a relative’s home, or stored online.

maintain sales receipts and appraisal slips with the documents you take with you to help prove ownership of big-ticket items.

Document your possessions with photographs or video. update your records every two to three years, or with each especially valuable purchase.

Don’t forget to take your photo albums or memory drive. An even better way is to store all your photos online for easy reprinting.

A disaster kit should include a well-stocked first aid kit, flashlights, a portable radio, and batteries, as well as a three-day supply of water and nonperishable food for humans and pets.

keep prescriptions and emergency asthma and allergy medication ready to go for people and companion animals.

evacuation:

have a plan to go to another area or even city if the air quality is too poor for family members with health conditions, children, or seniors.

make sure to follow the suggested disaster plan for your family and, above all, if you are ordered to evacuate, do so as soon as the order comes.

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cOMMuniTY lifeSTYle: fOOdbY: kAriShmA SinnoTT

We will soon have to make lunches five days a week for months on end. I know that some of us start the year off with the best intentions, and by mid-year, we are out of ideas, out of energy and just plain bored of making lunches. Last year I thought long and hard about lunch ideas during the summer before school started and made a plan that worked year-round for my family. This month, I’d love to share my plan with you in the hope that it works brilliantly for your family too. Along the way, I’m hoping you’ll share some fabulous ideas with me, so that I can add to my repertoire with your family favorites.

First, some tips:Bacteria grows between 40-140 degrees Fahrenheit. This is especially

true for dairy and meat, so the goal is to keep those foods away from that danger zone for as long as possible. If your mayonnaise-based sandwich is sitting out for 30 minutes in warm weather conditions, chances are it will be safe. But if it sits out for more than an hour during the summer days or two hours on cold days, it becomes an ideal breeding ground for bacteria.

One of the things I’ve learned that works better than just an ice pack is a bottle of frozen/icy cold water in addition to the ice pack. This helps to keep the food in the lunch box at the desired temperature, espe-cially if it has meat, mayonnaise or cheese in it. The ice melts just in time to become cold drinking water at recess/lunch.

On Sunday afternoons, I sit down at the kitchen island and work on vegetables. I peel and cut carrots, celery and cucumber, jicama (if you haven’t tried jicama, it’s like a yummy, less-fibrous version of celery) and sugar snap peas. I wrap all my veggies in kitchen towels and store them in an air-tight container. This way, I have them ready to go every morning. I usually pack whole fruit – nectarines, satsumas, grapes, raspberries, so prep-time for that is minimal.

cold Wraps and Sandwiches

So you have your usual – ham and cheese, turkey and cheese, salami and mustard/mayo, peanut butter and jelly, Nutella and banana. My kids love egg salad and tuna salad sandwiches, but I don’t ever send those to school because I think that they are just too smelly. But, try these sandwiches on

Slice of Life – Lunch Box Ideasyour kids before school starts and maybe they will have a new favorite. Any of these can be a wrap as well, with the addition of deli meat.

Herbed cream cheese and cucumber – an English tea time favorite. You don’t have to make your own cream cheese, try a brand like Boursin instead to make your life just a little easier. Try adding roast beef to it when you make a wrap.

Health-ables – You know how children love Lunchables? Well, here’s a much more healthy alternative, without sacrificing taste. Find a Japanese Bento Box (online), or a Tupperware container that is divided into sections. Take your favorite lunch meat and cheese (you can buy these pre-sliced at your deli, our favorite brand is Boar’s Head), and with a cookie cutter, cut out desired shape of meat and cheese. Choose a cracker that your kids will love (Social Snackers from Trader Joe’s, or Annie’s Organic Bunny

Crackers) and make up your lunch box. Add grapes, a cookie (try Newman O’s) and you have a perfectly customized Health-able.

Turkey with cranberry jelly, lettuce and mayo/mustard – this is my husband’s favor-ite, and he likes the jello-style cranberry jelly that you get in a tin. It sounds gross, but it is a sandwich that is happily reminiscent of Thanksgiving.

Hummus and veggie – my kids love hummus. Our favorite brand is Sabra’s Supremely Spicy, paired with sliced cucum-ber, crisp Romaine lettuce and Boar’s Head sharp Cheddar. Change the veggies, add alfalfa sprouts, iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, and test it on the kids.

I’ve heard from friends who are gluten-free that the best way to make sandwiches is to use rolls/bread from Healthy Creations in Encinitas, or Mozzarella wraps from Sprouts. So for those of you who prefer to stay away from gluten, these might be viable options for you.

Just a quick note – we have many families with peanut butter allergies that are life threatening, so if at all possible, try to eliminate peanut heavy lunches for school. It seems strange to imagine, but for a lot of these chil-dren, the tiniest smidgen of peanut is enough to cause anaphylaxis.

Hope these tips and ideas help. I would love to hear your lunch box ideas as well! If you have family favorites, please share them with us, and save another mother from thinking of yet another lunch idea.

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Everything You Need to Know About Backpacks Before School Starts

Decorative Edibles

Children these days carry so much in their backpacks that it is important to buy one that is well made, ergonomic, adjustable and of course, durable. In order to be part of our story, the backpack had to be able to sustain leaps, throws, crashes and slams. It had to survive the beating of every day school life, the heat of the sun, the endless books shoved into corners and crevices, the leaky water bottle, the stinky lunch box. The backpack also had to last the entire school year without falling apart at the seams, without torn mesh holders and handles, and had to have a working, intact zipper. Some exacting standards, we know, but backpacks need to be tough.

Here are some tips when choosing backpacks. Did you know that LL Bean has free repair/part replacement if your backpack falls apart? Did you know that Land’s End sells lunch boxes that are toxin free? Jansport is a huge favorite for the older kids, and you can find them easily at Target or order them online with free shipping and never leave home!

Here are some of the favorites:For preschoolers: Try Pottery Barn Kids (www.

potterybarnkids.com). These backpacks are small, made to fit just what a preschooler needs, are water-resistant, durable and have reflective threads for safety. You can personalize them for $7, with monogrammed initials, first name or last name.

For Elementary Schoolers: LL Bean has a fan-tastic selection of backpacks for elementary school children. LL Bean has the Junior bookpack for preschoolers, the Original bookpack which is geared towards children aged 7 and up, and the Deluxe bookpack for children aged 10 and up. With a variety of patterns and colors to choose from, these long-lasting, tried and true bags are a safe bet. Visit www.

llbean.com to see all backpacks.

For middle and high school children: Jansport seems to be the favorite. Available at Target, or Zappos.com, these “Big Student” backpacks have two main compartments, an ergonomic strap for those heavy Math books, multiple colors, patterns and shapes from which to choose, and many organiza-tional features that may help your messy teenager as they navigate their busy school days. If you order them at Zappos.com, they ship for free, and you save yourself the headache of trying to locate, at a store, the exact color and print that your child wants.

cOMMuniTY lifeSTYle: ScHOOlbY: kAriShmA SinnoTT

A typical vegetable garden is usually a scraggily mess. The tomato plant has fallen over, the harvested lettuce has left a vacant hole in the soil and the cucumber vine has taken over most of the plant bed. There is a reason that most vegetable gardens are placed out of sight.

However, there is a new trend to integrate vegetable and fruit plants into one’s landscape instead of dedicating a single area for them. This is called “Edible Landscaping.” The question is how can one sprinkle a lettuce or a tomato plant next to a hedge? It’s easy when one follows a few tips.

First, let’s look at how and why there has been an increase in growing one’s own food. A quick Google search lends to mul-tiple companies in San Diego that specialize in Edibles alone. Some will design and plant them and even come harvest for you. More people are growing their own produce for many reasons. It tastes great. You have control over pesticides and herbicides. You are reducing your impact on the environment as there is less gas used to get you your fresh salad. It’s a great opportunity to teach your kids about gardening and the rewards of a little elbow grease. Finally, there is a tremendous reward in eating something that you helped create.

Herbs are an easy candidate for scattering into your yard. They rely on their foliage for their looks, so there is no reliance on flowers or fruits. Rosemary, thyme, basil, and oregano grow well in San Diego and can be inte-grated into any perennial border. With the exception of rosemary which can grow to three feet or more, the herbs are small and should be planted next to a walkway or somewhere where they can be accessed easily. If you are cook-ing and need a sprig of basil, you want to be able to step outside quickly to break off a bunch of basil or other herb. Other veggies that work well in the landscape are green leaf veggies like lettuce, spinach, kale, and swiss chard. If you don’t end up harvesting the leaves and instead let these go to flower, they can create a beautiful display. Artichokes also have an amazing flower if you don’t harvest the flower bud.

In terms of design, I recommend that there be a strong design framework off which the herbs or leafy veggies can play on. That is, maybe there is an

evergreen hedge next to the green leafy veggies. When the lettuce is harvested and messy, at least the hedge behind it will help visually organize the space. This design concept can help organize any garden, but is particularly useful when parts of the garden are changing in appearance frequently.

Fruit trees are another great way to integrate edibles into your yard. There’s no need to create a dedicated orchard for your fruit trees. Rather, they can pull double duty as shade-producers and fruit-bearers. Popular fruit trees for this area are citrus, pomegranate, fig, stone fruit (peach, plum, and apricot),

kumquat, and apple (low-chill varieties). If space is tight in your yard, you can plant vertically with vines.

Grapes grow well with some support like a trellis. You can also try espaliered trees where a small tree is trained to grow along a fence or wall in a flat plane. Some nurseries sell fruit trees that are already growing in this manner.

Some other practical notes are that edibles usually require mod-erate maintenance so you will need to make sure that the plants can be easily accessed. Place the plants near a walkway or near a foot path so that you can tend to them often. Edibles need regular water; more than your typical low-water Mediterranean plants. You may need to supplement their water regimen with some hand watering. The edibles will also typically require full sun and well-drained soil.

Expect a quick turn-around for your edible plants. Most veggies grow from seed or sprig to mature plant with harvest in one or two seasons (for instance, Spring to Summer, or Summer to Fall). After you harvest, you may need to replace the plant all together. This is different than perennials where you may plant in year one and not replace them for several years. Fruit trees usually take 3-5 years to reach maturity with harvesting its maximum yield.

Edible landscaping can be a great idea for homeowners who want to experiment with fruit and vegetable planting but don’t want to create a raised garden bed. It’s easy to find a patch of soil in the yard where you can try a tomato plant or a fence where a grape vine could grow. Give it a try and you may be turned onto the joys of growing, harvesting, and eating your own food. Enjoy.

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“It is just amazing what children are capable of.” At the very heart of the approach Kristin Edwards takes in her role as Co-Founder and Program Director at Lifetime Montessori School in the Santaluz com-munity is a fundamental belief in the abilities of all children. While her leadership position requires her to also be concerned with the business and administrative aspects of the local school for toddlers, preschoolers and kindergarteners, Kristin still relishes the opportunity to personally connect with young learners.

“Being in an environment where people treat children as individuals and with respect really impressed me about the Montessori approach,” Kristin said. “Here, we teach independence, confi-dence and respect. We take the time to find out what the child is interested in and then approach the subject at the child’s pace.”

This fall, Lifetime Montessori just completed its fifth year of offering a cooperative and enriching environment where each child develops knowl-edge through self- and teacher-initiated experiences. Since its beginnings in September 2007, the goal of the school has been to prepare children to become life-long learners and independent problem solvers. Children learn about being part of a community and how everyone has their role in the success of the community.

lifetime Montessori School – Kristin edwards Kristen, who has a BA in Psychology with an emphasis in Child

Psychology, was first introduced to Montessori school teaching in Santa Barbara. She recalls being blown away by the young children at the school who were already reading and doing math and doing so with tremendous confidence, respect and honor. Kristin realized then that she wanted to help more young people become like that. She completed training for her AMI diploma in Primary Montessori Education and set out on a teaching path. Fairly quickly, Kristin decided she wanted to offer the best Montessori school in the area and started looking for the right place to open her own school. In 2004, she came across the Santaluz and 4S Ranch communities and found the piece of land Lifetime Montessori School now occupies.

“I was the dreamer, but in no position to take full advantage of the opportunity that was here,” Kristin shared. “At the same time, a parent who

knew me had a friend who they thought might be able to help and suggested I talk to him. When we met in 2005, this gentlemen didn’t know a lot about Montessori, but he was open to the idea of opening a new preschool.”

Together with her new business partners, Kristin set out with confi-dence to develop the best Montessori school she could. That confidence has certainly been rewarded. Lifetime Montessori School has grown to include about 150 students in its toddler and primary programs that run from September through June. After years of receiving requests for contin-ued opportunities for older children, Kristin and her business partners have agreed to add an elementary school component to their program. The goal will be to offer programs for toddlers through sixth graders beginning in fall 2013.

Even with the growth, Kristin knows the primary focus of the school will remain the same.

“Our goal is to be the best Montessori school in San Diego,” she said. “I want children to leave here with the confidence that they can learn to do anything.”

Lifetime Montessori School is located at 14727 Camino De La Luna in San Diego and online at www.lifetimemontessorischool.com

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Velocity 4S Ranch

10806 Willow Ct #2, San Diego, Ca 92127 858.592.7766 www.velocitysp.com/sandiego

back at the ranch - august 2012

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