This is one of my favorite times of the year here in Carlsbad, our beautiful Village by the Sea. Our city offers events for the whole family, a time to get out and enjoy why it is so wonderful to live here. Here are a few of my favorite things that will be going on in May, so grab the entire family and enjoy being outside.

Celebrate Carlsbad Day at Legoland, May 14: Legoland carries on the tradition of Celebrate Carlsbad by discounting tickets to $15 for the day. This is a huge discount off the regular price–which is more than 4x that.. The catch is that tickets must be purchased in advance, so if you would like to spend a day at Legoland and enjoy the great prices, you need to call the Carlsbad Educational Foundation at 760-929-1555, or email info@carlsbad.org. You can also purchase tickets at some of our local schools, like Aviara Oaks Middle School.

The best part of Celebrate is that it is hosted by the Carlsbad Educational Foundation (CEF), which benefits local schools, so come on out and support our schools! For more information on CEF and how you can help, visit their website at http://www.carlsbaded.org/events.aspx.

Carlsbad Vilage Street Faire, May 1: the famous and fabulous street faire will once again be open for business. If you have never been I highly suggest it–great food, entertainment for all ages, rides for the kids, shopping, crafts…the list is long. Come on down to the Village and mingle with fellow Carlsbadians and enjoy the sunshine. For a list of road closures and to figure out where to parke visit the City’s website at http://news.carlsbadca.gov/pr/ca/carlsbad-village-faire-road-closures-202169.aspx.

In what I personally think is a big mistake, Congress announced that it is eliminating $88 million in funds for housing counseling programs. These are the programs that allow struggling homeowners and others with questions to call in and get counseling advice. It is often the first step in pre-foreclosure, or even in avoiding foreclosure altogether.

One of my favorite counseling hotlines, HopeNow, stated that it is not being shut down, but will be effected by the cuts. I have referred people to HopeNow for years. It is approved by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the people who work the phone lines actually know what they are talking about. The biggest complaint I have heard is that sometimes one has to hold for help for some time, but the advice is real and they really do go over specific situations and crunch numbers with callers.

Why would the government want to cut these programs? Well, I think that the government is busy trying to come up with ways to prevent foreclosures and help the housing mess by implementing new programs (of course, we have not seen these as of yet, but the most promising seem to be on the way, stemming from the robo-signing lender punishment saga). At the same time they are trying to trim our exorbitant budget, so these goals may conflict.

Many states are creating their own programs to cover the slack the federal programs have left behind after being canceled, but there are only a handful that have such programs in operation already.

So what is a troubled homeowner to do now? Some federal programs have been eliminated, not all states have yet implemented programs to help, and the mandated lender reforms (currently in the works as punishment for the robo-signing scandal) are not yet finalized. People need to know their options.

Basically there are three options, and some of them have multiple sub-options:

1. Stay in your home. To do so you may need to look into a loan modification, change of job, or a complete reevaluation of your finances so that you can eliminate or lower other expenses. You may need to get creative, consider getting a second job, renting a room or putting your young children to work (just a hint of black humor/sarcasm–of course I don’t recommend this).

2. Sell your home. If you cannot make number one work and you need to sell it will either be a traditional sale or a short sale. Either way, make sure to work with a Realtor who is experienced in your area, and if you are doing a short sale make sure that person is experienced in this regard. You also should look into the HAFA program if you are considering a short sale–at least you can get money to help with moving expenses (up to $3000–see previous posts. To find them go to the categories list to the right of my blog and click on short sales).

3. Foreclosure. This is the last resort, or course. But many times there may be no other option if you are in over your head financially, have a job loss, illness, changed circumstances, divorce, etc. Just make sure you speak with your financial planner, attorney or accountant (or all 3, in my opinion) before doing so. You need to understand all options so you can make the right choice.

As we continue to see cuts to vital programs options may dwindle, at least for a while. I have discussed multiple times how I feel states will start to jump in to help residents with their own programs, much like California has done with Keep Your Home California. If you do not yet have a program in your state I would still advise contacting HopeNow or La Raza. Your lender may have counselors available to help you as well. But do not wait until it is too late. If you are not yet delinquent on your payments you need to start researching now. Best of luck.

There is a lot to do this Spring in Carlsbad, the beautiful Village by the Sea. Here are some of the great events and places you can enjoy:

The Flower Fields: The rununculas are in bloom and spending time at the Flower Fields is always fun and beautiful. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., there is so much to do at the Flower Fields–wind through the sweet pea maze, mine for gem rocks, spend time in the play area, see a performance and walk the fields or take a hay ride. For more information visit http://www.theflowerfields.com/index.html.

Trail Volunteer Event, April 9: Join local nature lovers in another great trail clean up event from 8:30-11:30 at the Calavera Trails. Meet at the Leo Carillo Elementary School in the west parking lot. For more information call 760-434-2978.

Challenge Golf Event April 17 at the Crossings: If you love to golf or know someone who does, get ready for a scramble golf tournament at the crossings. Starting time is 8 a.m. and the cost is $85 a person or $70 for Crossings members. For more information visit http://www.thecrossingsatcarlsbad.com/layout10.asp?id=182&page=9089

Eggstravaganza, April 23 10:00-1:00 at Poinsettia Park: Stop by Poinsettia Park for some great fun for the children, including an Easter egg hunt, crafts, bounce house, a slide, a fun zone, a chance to “soak the bunny,” and photos with the Easter bunny. To participate in this event you must purchase a prepaid $5 card. The cards can be purchased April 18-22 at the following locations only: Calavera Hills Community Center, Harding Community Center and Stagecoach Community Center. Purchases must be made in person and are non-refundable. Food and drinks will be available for purchase at the event.

Arbor Day Celebration April 30 8:30-10:30 at Poinsettia Park: Come on over and help plant trees and learn all about Arbor Day from local garden centers, tree experts and vendors. For more information and to download a volunteer application prior to the event, visit http://www.carlsbadca.gov/services/departments/parksandrec/Pages/arbor-day.aspx

Community Play Date February 5: 10:00-noon at the Stagecoach Community Center. If you are looking for something fun to do this weekend with the whole family, look no further! The City of Carlsbad is hosting its Build legos, play tennis games, try county line dancing, belly dancing or karate, have fun with arts and crafts, try your skills at an obstacle course and much more. The community center is located at Stagecoach Park, 3420 Camino de las Coches, Carlsbad, just east of Rancho Santa Fe Road near La Costa Canyon High School.

Trail Volunteer Event March 12: If you frequent all the beautiful trails here in Carlsbad you know they are well-maintained. That is thanks in part to the numerous volunteers who help keep our trail systems pristine. Why not join them at Lake Calavera from 8:30-11:30 to offer a hand? All you need to bring is water, gloves, sunscreen and a hat.

World in the Village, March 19: Come on down to the village by the sea from 1:00-5:00 and enjoy art, delicious local cuisine, jump houses for the kids, live music and performances, storytelling and more. It will be a day of fun for the entire family.

There is a LOT happening in Carlsbad, so whether you have a New Years resolution to be fit, spend more time outdoors or be more social, our beautiful city has you covered.

Trail Volunteer Event: Help preserve Lake Calavera by joining others on January 15 from 8:30-11:30. Girl Scout troops will assist volunteers in cleaning the trails, planting native species, installing new trail signs and making repairs due to trail erosion from recent rainstorms. Take College to Lake to Skyhaven Lane (near Calavera Hills Elementary School). Parking is on Skyhaven Lane. Follow the east trail entrance to the work area. For more information call 760-434-2978.

Carlsbad Teen Scene: Calling all teen bands…it’s that time of year again! Do you have what it takes to battle out other local teen bands? Registration is still open until January 10. Teen Scene will be Saturday, January 29 from 4-9 p.m. at the Calavera Hills Community Center. Entry cost is only $5, and there will be a film shorts festival, game lounge for video nuts and an art cafe. It’s a great night out for teens. For more information and to find out how to save $3 on tickets visit http://www.carlsbadca.gov/services/departments/parksandrec/Pages/teen-scene.aspx.

Carlsbad Triathalon: The Carlsbad Triathalon is Sunday, July 10 and registration is now open. You can even register online. If you wanted to get in shape this year there is no better way to do it, so start training! For more information on registration go to http://www.active.com/triathlon/carlsbad-ca/711-carlsbad-triathlon-2011.

Fitness Classes Galore! There are all kinds of ways to stay fit and have fun doing it here in Carlsbad, so no more excuses! Choose from swimming, trail hiking, yoga, pilates, martial arts, jazzercise, Zumba…the possibilities are endless. You can even try them all. To learn more about all the classes offered and to register you can pick up a copy of the Carlsbad Community Services Guide, or to see the online version click here: http://content.yudu.com/A1765q/CSG/resources/index.htm?referrerUrl=.

Library Events: There is always something going on at the Dove and Cole Libraries. Join a book club, see independent films with the Cinema Society of Carlsbad, attend a poetry reading, or one of many events that the library hosts (including kids and teen events). For more information on what is happening at the library visit the library website at http://www.carlsbadca.gov/library/.

There is a lot going on this summer in Carlsbad, so be safe and have fun! Here are some highlights:

Calavera Hills Community Playdate: On July 24 the Community Center at Calavera Hills will host a day of fun for the whole family from 10:00-12:00. Come and try the Zumba dance-off, freeze dance, a family obstacle course, or practice your golf putting. Sample some of the classes and activities that are being offered this fall at the community center.

Family Movie Night in the Park: Saturday, August 7 from 6:00-10:00 p.m. you can see Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs at Stagecoach Community Park. There will be food, games and activities from 6-8, with the movie starting at dusk. For more information visit http://www.carlsbadca.gov/services/departments/parksandrec/Pages/family-movie-night.aspx.

Dinner and a movie at Leo Carrillo Ranch: On August 20 from 6:30-11:00 you can enjoy dinner and a movie, AND all proceeds will benefit the wonderful Leo Carrillo Ranch. Tickets are $25 each and you must purchase them by August 13. The film will be History is Made at Night starring Leo Carrillo. For more information and to purchase tickets go to http://classweb.ci.carlsbad.ca.us/Activities/ActivitiesDetails.asp?ProcessWait=N&aid=1332.

Snores and S’mores Family Campout at Aviara Community Park: Bring the family for a sleepover, games, s’mores and a lot of fun. Enjoy a BBQ and learn all about insects. Breakfast will be provided the next morning. Tickets are $20 a person, free for 3 and under, and must be purchased by August 16. For more information and to purchase tickets go to http://www.carlsbadca.gov/services/departments/parksandrec/Pages/snores-smores.aspx

Cool Zones for the summer: the city of Carlsbad has designated “cool zones” this summer. If you get too hot you are free to visit one of these places to cool down. They are the Carlsbad City Library at 1775 Dove Lane (760-602-2049) and the Carlsbad Senior Center at 799 Pine Avenue (760-602-4650).

How great is Carlsbad? I know I say this all the time, but I really mean it! If you are looking for some fun things to do this summer and want to save some money, check out what is going on for free!

2010 TGIF Jazz in the Park Concert Series

These concerts are always a blast…grab a picnic dinner and some blankets and enjoy our beautiful summer weather with free live jazz music. All concerts are from 6:00-8:00 p.m. For more information call 760-434-2904.

June 25, July 2, July 9: Stagecoach Park, 3420 Camino de las Coaches.

July16, 23, 30: Poinsettia Park, 6600 Hidden Valley Road.

August 6, 13, 20: Calavera Hills Park, 2997 Glasglow Drive.

Other Summer Events (the following is copied directly from the city’s website)

Carlsbad City Library’s Summer Reading Programs for Babies, Children, Teens and Adults
June 21-Aug. 6
Programming times vary
760-602-2047 or 760-602-2038
Spend summer adrift in books at the library’s annual summer reading program. Enjoy activities, reading incentives and entertainment.

Community Health and Fitness Expo
July 10, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Westfield Plaza Camino Real
760-602-7519
Enjoy shopping, music, seminars/workshops, and fun activities for the whole family the day before the Carlsbad Triathlon.

Carlsbad Triathlon
July 11, 8 a.m.
Carlsbad State Beach (at Tamarack)
760-602-7519
Come cheer on elite athletes and beginners at one of the top five triathlons in the world, brought to you by the City of Carlsbad.

Portraits from the Golden Age of Jazz: Photographs by William P. Gottlieb
July 11-Aug. 29
William D. Cannon Art Gallery
Marvel at Gottlieb’s images of jazz greats, including Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Billie Holiday and Frank Sinatra. A special 25th anniversary selection of TGIF Jazz concert photography will be on display, too. Special opening day activities on Saturday, July 11: Lecture by jazz historian Dirk Sutro at 4 p.m. and public reception sponsored by the Carlsbad Friends of the Arts from 5 to 7 p.m.

Family Open Studios
July 17, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Batiquitos Lagoon Nature Center (off of Gabbiano Lane)
760-434-2904
An array of fun outdoor arts and nature activities have been designed for all ages to take advantage of the lagoon’s natural beauty.

Library Summer Concert
July 25, 2 p.m.
Georgina Cole Library
760-602-2026
This free concert features Nathan McEuen and Scott Gates performing bluegrass/Americana folk rock. Seating is limited and first come, first served.

Family Open Studios Plus with Classics 4 Kids
Aug. 14, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Carlsbad City Library (Dove Lane)
760-602-2021
Family Open Studios expands to include an appearance of the Classics 4 Kids’ Jazz Ensemble, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the TGIF Jazz in the Parks concert series.

Dates and times may change. For a complete calendar of events, times and locations, visit http://www.carlsbadca.gov.

Enjoy!

Well, Legoland California has done it again. The newest addition to the park, a 5 1/2 acre water park made especially for children, opened May 28, just in time for summer. The park boasts a 45 foot tower sprouting four enormous water slides and much more.

Float down the Build-a-Raft lazy river after you have created your own soft Lego raft, ride the 312-foot long, 6 person OrangeRush tube slide, or the Twin Chasers slides, or play in the Joker Soaker–an interactive wading pool complete with shooting cannons and lots of fun. There is also a zoo-themed water play area for toddlers.

Admission is just $10 extra with a paid admission to the Legoland theme park ($67 admission for adults and $57 for children). As of right now there is not a separate price to visit the water park exclusively, but hopefully in the future that will be an option.

While the park is made for children (adults may ride Orange Rush only), adults can rent a cabana and hang out all day to watch the little ones play. Rates are $129-179 per day, and cabanas come stocked with towels and drinks.

Don’t forget about the fantastic Sea Life Aquarium, also on the Legoland property (which CAN be visited exclusively, for a $19 adult/$12 child/$16 senior admission price, OR can be included for a $10 upgrade on the theme park admission tickets). All three attractions make for a full fun-packed day!

Chalk up another point for Carlsbad!

The Four Seasons Aviara will officially become a Park Hyatt on June 21. In a very bitter but not highly publicized move the Four Seasons Resort, which had been involved in a dispute with the property owner for quite some time, settled in April and Hyatt Hotels was designated as the new owner. The exclusive Park Hyatt line of Hyatt resorts includes hotels in Australia, Argentina, Dubai and Chicago.

The dispute centered on the way the Four Seasons maintained the property. While the Four Seasons is known for high standards, the owners argued that the hotel was spending too much money on maintenance, while the ailing economy could not justify the costs.

There were lawsuits filed and threats made, but even after a ruling that the Four Seasons was not mismanaging the property an agreement was reached and the resort will no longer bear the Four Seasons name.

The 132 Four Seasons time share units surrounding the hotel will continued to be managed by the Four Seasons. This was a big issue with time share owners, who purchased time shares in the Four Seasons name.

Can you feel it? It is beginning to feel like Spring in Carlsbad. The Flower Fields are in full, glorious bloom, birds are singing and the trees and hills are vibrant shades of green. We are in for a really treat for the senses over the next few months thanks to the winter rainfall. So grab your sunscreen and hat and get outside! There are a lot of outdoor opportunities in April and May to help keep Carlsbad beautiful–here are the highlights:

April 10: Trail clean-up at Lake Calavera. Meet at the lake from 8:30-11:30 to help with trail maintenance and beautification. For more information contact Gary Hill at 760-727-5764. The second Saturday of each month is trail cleanup day, with a focus on a different area each time. Check the city’s website for more information at http://www.carlsbadca.gov/services/departments/parksandrec/trails/events/Pages/default.aspx

April 17: Batiquitos Lagoon Cleanup. The Batiquitos Lagoon Nature Center holds a trail cleanup day the first and third Saturday of every month, beginning at 9:00. It usually wraps up around noon. For more information please visit http://www.batiquitosfoundation.org/newsite/index.php, or call the Nature Center at 760931-0800.

April 24: Arbor Day Celebration at Aviara Community Park. Join the fun and help plant trees in celebration of Arbor Day. Registration begins at 8:30 and volunteers must bring a complete volunteer application, which can be downloaded at http://www.carlsbadca.gov/services/departments/parksandrec/Pages/arbor-day.aspx. Volunteers will also aid in park cleanup and maintenance. Various experts will be on hand to provide information on trees and tree maintenance. Tools are provided but volunteers are encouraged to bring shovels, work gloves and hats.

May 1: Carlsbad Beach Fest. The third annual Carlsbad Beach Fest will be held May 1 from 11:00-3:00 at Frazee Beach. This is a great event way for residents to learn how to preserve our local beaches. Aside from assisting with beach cleanup, there are local companies present to help educate the public about what efforts and programs are needed to help preserve the coastal environment–from recycling to water quality to local wildlife preservation. Help make a difference here in Carlsbad! For more information please visit http://carlsbadbeachfest.com/.

All of the above events present great opportunities for adults and children to contribute to the community, make a difference, and keep Carlsbad gorgeous!