Encinitas Patch Week in Review

This week, Encinitas Patch announced its parent company’s acquisition of the Huffington Post, profiled Valentine’s Day hot spot Chuao Chocolatier, took an inside look into how the economy is affecting local surfboard shapers, spent a day at the Self-Realization Fellowship and more.

AOL, Patch Media’s parent company, took a major step this week when it announced an agreement to purchase for $315 million.  The deal, which was finalized on Super Bowl Sunday, will result in HuffPo co-founder Arianna Huffington becoming president and editor-in-chief of a new AOL division that will include Patch.

Former Encinitas mayor pleaded guilty Wednesday to a misdemeanor conflict-of-interest charge for casting a vote regarding property owned by a local businessman after he received discounted appliances from the store owner.  As a result of the plea, Dalager was fined $1,000 and cannot hold public office for four years.

Paul Ecke Central sixth grader ’s first award-winning play, Russet, will get a staged reading at the Plays by Young Writers Festival, running April 1-10 in the Lyceum Theatre at Horton Plaza.  Nolan is also co-authoring a novel.

, an Encinitas favorite and Valentine’s Day staple, is owned by Michael and Richard Antonorsi, brothers from Venezuela who came to San Diego to earn their undergraduate degrees at the University of California San Diego.  Want to see what Chuao is all about?  Read on.

The Encinitas Patch Moms Council kicked off their first discussion with a question that has been up for debate recently after Walmart announced the launch of a new makeup line for 8- to 12-year-olds: How young is too young for girls to wear makeup?  What do you think?

Check out our View Finder photo gallery on the .  Beautiful pics!

Challenged with a poor economy and large surfboard manufacturers glutting local shops with machine-made products, Encinitas’ longtime are struggling to keep up their craft.  Is technology to blame?