The Coast News, June 3, 2011

JUNE 3, 2011
by CHUCK
ODD
SHEPHERD
FILES
LEAD STORY
Ellenbeth Wachs, 48,
was arrested in Lakeland,
Fla., in May on a complaint
that she “simulated” a sex
act in front of a minor. In a
March incident,Wachs, after
receiving medication for her
multiple sclerosis, was awakened
at 8:30 a.m. by her 10year-old
neighbor boy’s
clamorous basketball game,
near Wachs’ window. After
unsuccessfully beseeching
the boy for quiet, Wachs —
hoping, perhaps, to make a
point about noisy neighbors
— began moaning out the
window (while remaining
out of sight), “Oh, John! Oh!
John!” over and over at
increased shrillness as if in
the throes of orgasm. The
basketball-playing stopped,
but the incident was not a
teaching moment. The boy’s
father, Otto Lehman, called
the police and filed for an
order of protection against
Wachs.
Compelling
Explanations
• Dalia Dippolito,
30, of Boynton Beach, Fla.,
was convicted in May of hiring
a hit man to kill her husband,
but not before offering
an ultra-modern
defense: Her lawyer told the
jury that it was all a fake
scheme to pitch a reality-TV
show about one spouse’s
ordering a hit on the other
(and that her husband,
Michael, had originally
come up with the idea). As
Dippolito’s plan unfolded,
her boyfriend alerted
police, who set up a sting
and witnessed Dippolito dictating
exactly what she
wanted done. (In fact, the
sting itself was captured on
video for the “Cops” TV
show.) Michael denied any
involvement, and the jury
appeared not to give her
story any credence.
• “ W r o n g ”
Impressions: (1) The
Sergeants Benevolent
Association, fighting back in
April against corruption
charges (that its NYPD officers
often “fix” traffic tickets
for celebrities, high officials
and selected “friends”)
claimed in a recorded message
reported in The New
York Times that such fixes
are merely “courtesy,” not
corruption. (2) A 20-year-old
Jersey City, N.J., gym member
claimed “criminal sexual
contact” in March,
acknowledging that while
she had given a male club
therapist permission to massage
her breasts and buttocks,
she had been under
the impression that he is
gay. When another gym
member told her that the
therapist has a girlfriend,
she called the police.
• Quite a Disease,
That Lyme: (1) Marilyn
Michose, 46, was referred
for medical evaluation in
May after she was spotted
roaming the lobby of the
Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in
New York City wearing neon
pink panties on top of her
TURN TO ODD FILES ON A15
By Promise Yee
OCEANSIDE — Career
Day at Del Rio Elementary
School gave kindergarten
through fifth-grade students
a hands-on look at possible
future careers.
Horns blasted and sirens
sounded to the delight of students
who toured police cars,
tow trucks and fire engines.
Professionals from park and
recreation leaders, to nurses
and whale trainers also
shared what they do at work.
“It’s their favorite day of
the year,” Ann Zivotsky, fifth
grade teacher, said.
One of the kid’s favorite
speakers is the tow truck
driver Zivotsky said.
“Anything with equipment,”
she added.
Students watched as
S&R Towing driver Dave
Brown raised a cooler up and
down on the tow truck pulley
and then invited kids to pile
on the flatbed and hang on as
he tilted the bed up in a final
demonstration.
Many speakers emphasized
the importance of reading,
writing and math in their
day-to-day work. In a traffic
collision police officers use
math to calculate vehicle
angles and skid mark tracks,
Officer JR Ferrer said.
Misconceptions were
also cleared up. “Only a small
percent of what we do is chasing
bad guys,” Ferrer said.
He went on to explain police
officers’ role in ensuring public
safety and gave students
tips on safe bike riding. Then
he passed out a few bike helmets.
Teachers said they like
the community connection
that the Career Day speakers
brought to the classroom.
“These are local people,” Bill
Joolingen, fifth grade
teacher, said. “They live and
work here.”
After a day of hearing
about various careers, students
were bubbling with
THE COAST NEWS
Care A Van serves to transport those in need
By Lillian Cox
CARLSBAD — As residents
bid goodbye to their
loved ones in the early morning
hours before embarking
on their commute to school or
work, drivers for Care A Van
have already been firing up
their engines.
Care A Van provides van
transportation to those needing
wheelchair assistance or a
ride to dialysis, doctor and
non-emergency hospital
appointments. They also provide
transportation for special
needs children in the
Encinitas, Cardiff, Solana
Beach, Del Mar, Rancho Santa
Fe, Valley Center and
Coronado school districts.
Most of the company’s
drivers are retirees, like former
accountant Ruth Nyboer, who
derives a sense of purpose from
her work. Nyboer’s passengers
are autistic children from Del
Mar and Solana Beach.
“I feel part of a team and
enjoy the camaraderie,”
Nyboer explained. “I’ve met a
lot of great teachers and aides
who come out and pick up the
children when they arrive.”
Nyboer makes the rides
enjoyable by playing the CD
“Silly Songs” for the kids. She
realizes the important part
she plays in the family’s lives,
even serving as a role model
to the kids.
“Parents are living this 24hours
a day,” she said. “They
need a rest. They are secure
knowing who is picking up and
dropping off their child. I feel
like I am doing a service, yet it
is rewarding to me.”
Richard Dripps founded
Care A Van in 1993. He began
operations using his own
Dodge Caravan and garage.
Initially,Dripps provided transportation
for Medi-Cal patients
and for private rides to doctor
and dialysis appointments.
“In 2003, the Cardiff
School District contacted him
and said, ‘we have children
with special needs, and would
like a bid from you,’” Care A
Van Controller Mark Myland
said, adding that school districts
are mandated to provide
transportation for special
needs children, even if the
school is out of the area.
Myland explained that
because of the attachments
formed between children, parents
and drivers, school districts
are reluctant to change
transportation providers unless
there’s a major problem.
“School districts never
hear from parents,” he said.“If
there’s a problem, we’re on top
of it.”
The company has a staff of
55 drivers that are CPR rated
and are required to pass routine
drug testing as well as
Department of Justice and
DMV background checks. The
Career Day helps students look to the future
By Wehtahnah Tucker
ENCINITAS — City
Council adopted a new two
year budget May 25 that
increases spending on some
services but keeps a surplus
of revenue on hand. Unlike
other cities in the county
that are drawing upon
reserves or cutting services,
city finance staff told the
council that Encinitas is
poised to weather the financial
storm.
Finance Director
Jennifer Smith told the council
that the budget was realistic
and took a conservative
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Photo by Promise Yee
TURN TO BUDGET ON A17
Corrections
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