From the Publisher

As another year draws to a close it’s time to pen our annual thanks for all who have supported us along the way. In tough economic times, which few of us can seemingly escape, we’re more grateful than ever for your confidence.
Who can say what 2011 will bring but be pessimistic not. Everyone will make their New Year’s resolutions and most will kick them under the tree by February, but so what. It’s that time of the year to be filled with optimism, is it not?
A  glass half filled beats one half empty. It’s all a matter of outlook.

A thousand thanks to our advertisers:

Alliant
Alvarado Hospital
Auto Buyers Consumer Services
Bertrand’s at Mr. A’s
Timothy R. Binder, Esq.
BB & T John Burnham
Breeza Development
Broadway San Diego
Cavignac & Associates
Centre City Development Corp.
Chelsea Investments
Circle of Fifths by Donovan’s
Cox Business
Craftsman Revival
Del Mar Thoroughbred Club
Donovan’s Steak & Chop House
Downtown San Diego Partnership
Fish & Richardson
French Gourmet
General Dynamics
Goodrich Aerostructures
Gomez Law Firm
Irving Hughes
Judge Longstreath
Junior Achievement
Kaiser Permanente
KPBS
Lambs Players
Lifesharing
Malashock Dancers
Marston+Marston
MDVIP
Motive Interactive
Pardee Homes
O’Riordan & Associates
Qualcomm
Quidel Corp.
UC San Diego
Rancho Santa Fe Insurance
Raz
Robert Temler Media
SANDAG
San Diego Convention Center
San Diego County Credit Union
San Diego International Airport
San Diego Natural History Museum
San Diego Symphony
Scripps Health
SDG&E
Seaside Home
Security Business Bank
Sempra Energy
Sharp Health Care
Shea Homes
South County Economic Development Council
Strategic Management Group
The Grove Agency
Torrey Pines Bank
Turner Construction
YWCA

And to our contributing writers as well:

Ruben Barrales
Cecilia Buckner
W. Erik Bruvold
Jeffrey W. Cavignac
Ruby Cougler
Marney Cox
Kelly Cunningham
Ana Figueroa
Ashley Garman
Jim Goldsborough
Kris Grant
Roger Hedgecock
Shawn Jackson
Ann Jarmusch
Manny Lopez
Michelle Lyn
Donna Marganella
David Marino
Katelyn O’Riordan
Zach Petschek
Robert Rauch
Marianne Regan
Janine Rojas
Duane Roth
David Rottenberg
Leonel Sanchez
Margo Schwab
Christy Scannell
Thomas Shess
Andrea Siedsma
Gail Stoorza-Gill
Joe Tash
Bill Vivian
Mary Walshok
Teresa Warren

The year was not without its sad moments and none ever are.
The loss of Julien Hug, the son of Bertrand and Denise Hug, was  particularly difficult, not only for his loving parents, but for all of us who knew him.
Julien was such a wonderful young man, the consummate host. He had a special way of greeting all who entered Mille Fleurs in Rancho Santa Fe.  It was as if you were the only person in the room. It is of little wonder where that part of his personality was honed (from his father, naturally).
We loved his welcoming hugs. That’s something we American men should learn to emulate. Europeans and Latins do it without hesitation or reservation. In Mexico, they call it an abrazo. That’s a lesson Julien taught all who entered Mille Fleurs.
Our conversations were about his skydiving, the restaurant business, his excitement about the opening of Augusta Modern in Palm Desert and his enduring love for his mother and father. And yet, he never forgot to ask how we were, how was our business doing or what he could do to make the evening more memorable or enjoyable, as if simply being in Mille Fleurs wasn’t enough.
For Bertrand and Denise their comfort should be in knowing what a wonderful son he was. To all who knew him, it was an honor and privilege to call Julien our friend.
The service held in his honor at the Village Church in Rancho Santa Fe drew 1,500,  a moving tribute to both Julien and his parents.  He will remain very much in our thoughts.

And on behalf of Manny Cruz, Cyndi Meeves and  Michael Novido, Rebeca and I wish all of you the merriest of Christmases and a bountiful 2011.
Bob Page
Chairman/CEO