You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
A20 THE COAST NEWS<br />
DEC. 16, 2011<br />
GANG<br />
CONTINUED FROM A3<br />
teens were found about<br />
10:30 p.m., at the 400 block<br />
of Calle Montecito Street<br />
after police responded to<br />
calls about gunshots heard<br />
in the area.<br />
That area borders the<br />
end of Libby Lake Park near<br />
Casa Drive, and is known for<br />
being a hotspot for gang<br />
activity, and sometimes<br />
referred to as Camp<br />
Pendleton’s “back gate.”<br />
Fernando and Sandra<br />
were boyfriend and girlfriend<br />
and neither teenager<br />
was known to have any gang<br />
ties, according to Lt. Leonard<br />
Mata of the Oceanside Police<br />
Department.<br />
Sandra was shot several<br />
times in the abdomen while<br />
she sat in a plastic lawn chair<br />
on the hillside next to<br />
Fernando, according to the<br />
county coroner’s report.<br />
Fernando also died of<br />
multiple gunshot wounds.<br />
According to City <strong>News</strong><br />
Service, during the preliminary<br />
exam that wrapped up<br />
VOTERS<br />
CONTINUED FROM A4<br />
(wife) Callista, two grandchildren,<br />
I’m 68,” Gingrich<br />
answers. “And I have a different<br />
job.<br />
I was the leader of the conservative<br />
Republicans fighting<br />
with a liberal Democratic<br />
president. Now I seek to be<br />
the leader of the American<br />
people — all of the American<br />
people. That’s a different<br />
job.”<br />
Later, at a private dinner<br />
with supporters — everything<br />
is off the record — Gingrich is<br />
far warmer than he has<br />
seemed in years past, and far<br />
more relaxed. He is confident<br />
about his campaign but<br />
remembers very well when he<br />
was given up for dead just a<br />
Dec. 5, Bejaran’s girlfriend<br />
testified that Bejaran wanted<br />
revenge for an attack that<br />
occurred on Hamilton days<br />
prior.<br />
Hamilton and Gibson<br />
were said to have accompanied<br />
Bejaran to the rival<br />
Hispanic gang territory of<br />
Libby Lake Park on the<br />
night of the murders.<br />
<strong>The</strong> defendants are<br />
alleged members of a predominantly<br />
black gang.<br />
few months ago. <strong>The</strong> supporters<br />
— state and local party<br />
officials and boosters — are<br />
grateful Gingrich has come to<br />
a small town that’s off the<br />
beaten path. <strong>The</strong>y've been<br />
trying to bring Mitt Romney<br />
here with no success.<br />
But he can make his own<br />
problems. <strong>The</strong>re are intense<br />
days of campaigning ahead,<br />
and if the old Gingrich should<br />
re-emerge — combative, overconfident,<br />
undisciplined — it<br />
could blow away much of the<br />
good will Gingrich has built<br />
over the last year. Republican<br />
voters like the Gingrich<br />
they’ve seen so far in the campaign.<br />
But they want to make<br />
sure it’s really him.<br />
Byron York is chief political<br />
correspondent for <strong>The</strong><br />
Washington Examiner.<br />
LUMINOUS<br />
CONTINUED FROM A9<br />
“It’s the story of him as an<br />
artist,” Danielle Susalla<br />
Deery, director of exhibits<br />
and communications for<br />
Oceanside Museum of Art,<br />
said. “It’s really comprehensive.”<br />
A wall of drawings from<br />
Crooks’ early sketchbooks is<br />
part of the exhibit.<br />
“I used to draw a lot,”<br />
Crooks said. “I would go to<br />
shopping centers, restaurants,<br />
bars and draw what<br />
was going on. It never happens<br />
that my drawings lead<br />
to paintings.”<br />
For his large-scale oil<br />
paintings, Crooks uses multiple<br />
photographs of a scene<br />
for reference.<br />
<strong>The</strong> expansive skies in<br />
Crooks’ oil paintings draw in<br />
the viewer. It is also where<br />
Crooks makes his color<br />
choice for the painting.<br />
“<strong>The</strong> sky color sets the<br />
tone for the rest of things,”<br />
Crooks said. “You can’t have<br />
a bright sky and dull green<br />
trees.”<br />
Crooks’ oil on canvas<br />
landscapes and cityscapes<br />
play with light and reflection.<br />
“<strong>The</strong> peaceful landscapes<br />
are so majestic,”<br />
Susalla Deery said. “<strong>The</strong><br />
energizing cityscapes have a<br />
lot going on. You can picture<br />
yourself in the landscape<br />
traveling through the painting.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> cheerful landscapes<br />
also carry a deeper message.<br />
Many of them capture scenes<br />
of the West <strong>Coast</strong> that have<br />
already changed.<br />
“Winds of Change”<br />
shows gently rolling hills<br />
with a ribbon fluttering on a<br />
marker for future construction.<br />
Crooks describes his<br />
works as contemplative.<br />
“I’m basically classified<br />
as a landscape painter,”<br />
Crooks said. “It’s hard to<br />
paint a landscape that is negative.”<br />
Another impressive<br />
piece in the exhibit is<br />
“Pacific Crossing.” <strong>The</strong> oil on<br />
canvas shows a view of the<br />
ocean just past some railroad<br />
tracks.<strong>The</strong> painting has been<br />
donated to the Oceanside<br />
Museum of Art for its permanent<br />
collection.<br />
Crooks recalled his drive<br />
along <strong>Coast</strong> Highway 101<br />
when he unexpectedly came<br />
upon the scene he later<br />
painted.<br />
“<strong>The</strong> road turns off 101<br />
to paved dirt rambles,”<br />
Crooks said. “<strong>The</strong>re were<br />
plants, bunny rabbits. <strong>The</strong><br />
window was open and I could<br />
smell the flowers and sage.<br />
Over a hill there was the<br />
ocean. I forgot there was an<br />
ocean.”<br />
Crooks said he sees most<br />
of his paintings as picturesque<br />
scenes from road trips.<br />
“Road trips help get you<br />
out of your normal stuff and<br />
wake up,” Crooks said.<br />
“I’m looking for stuff<br />
that sunrises me.”<br />
CALENDAR<br />
CONTINUED FROM A9<br />
DEC. 24<br />
COMFORT AND JOY Holy<br />
Cross Episcopal Church, 6066<br />
Corte del Cedro, with Rev. Dr.<br />
Laura Sheridan Campbell, will<br />
offer a traditional family<br />
Christmas Eve service at 4 p.m.<br />
Dec. 24 and a 9 a.m. Christmas<br />
Day Eucharist Dec. 25. Call<br />
(760) 930-1270 for information<br />
and directions.<br />
BY CANDLELIGHT At 5 p.m.<br />
Dec. 24, the Anchor Church, 838<br />
Academy Drive, Solana Beach,<br />
will hold a candlelight service in<br />
the chapel at Santa Fe Christian<br />
School. Call (760) 330-0670 for<br />
more details.