WEEKLY BRIEFING – Birch Aquarium opens inside and out Jurassic Quest returns to fairgrounds pandemic photo contest - A round-up of news community and business briefs from sdnews.com highlighting what's happening in our community. Thursday March 25... - San Diego Community News
| Posted: 25 Mar 2021 10:44 AM PDT  The classic grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup at Fig Tree Cafe. COURTESY PHOTO A round-up of news, community, and business briefs from sdnews.com highlighting what's happening in our community. Friday, April 9 NATIONAL GRILLED CHEESE DAY OPTIONS Dedicated to making the world a grater place, one grilled cheese at a time, Grater Grilled Cheese is taking its love for the grilled cheese sandwich to the next level. In honor of National Grilled Cheese Day on April 12, all locations will offer the first 50 guests the chance to win free grilled cheese for a year. Savor unique twists on the beloved dish with innovative creations such as the Birria Grilled Cheese, which features the brand's Basic 5 cheese base, braised beef short rib, cilantro, onions, and a birria consommé for dipping. Fig Tree Café boasts an iconic duo, grilled cheese and tomato soup. Savor this combo and customize it with options to add on crispy bacon, avocado, or tomato. Fig Tree Café is open daily from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. with indoor and outdoor seating. Bub's at the Beach is dishing up classic grilled cheese sandwiches. The Grilled Cheesey Sammitch features a simple combination of gruyere and cheddar cheese on sourdough bread, served over a bed of fresh tater tots. The eatery is open Sundays-Thursdays from noon.-10 p.m., and Fridays-Saturdays from noon-2 a.m. GUARANTEED INCOME PROJECT San Diego for Every Child , a nonprofit coalition housed under Jewish Family Service of San Diego, has announced its work to pilot the region's first Guaranteed Income Project, "Resilient Communities for Every Child," and has received commitments of support from Congresswoman Sara Jacobs, Mayor Todd Gloria and National City Mayor Alejandra Sotelo-Solis. Participants in the project receive direct, unconditional monthly cash payments that can be spent on immediate needs such as food for their household, repairing a car to get to work, medicine to treat a loved one or housing expenses. The funds are meant to supplement, rather than replace, the existing social safety net and serve to achieve economic justice and help address the racial and gender inequities that impact the lives of children experiencing poverty. San Diego for Every Child is a coalition dedicated to cutting the experience of childhood poverty by 50% by 2030. The mission is to create a San Diego County where every child has their basic needs met by ensuring all children in the region have nutritious food to eat, live in stable housing, receive adequate healthcare, and have access to quality childcare and education. For more information, visit sandiegoforeverychild.org. SEAWORLD RIDES REOPEN For the first time in more than a year, rides and roller coasters are opening at the popular marine mammal park on Monday, April 12. Plus, for a limited time, buy a Fun Card and play the rest of 2021 for less than the price of a one-day ticket. California residents are invited to explore more than 100 acres of rides, animal exhibits, presentations, the reopening of Sesame Street Bay of Play, with extended hours. For more information, visit seaworld.com/san-diego. GUN BACKGROUND CHECKS The County Board of Supervisors voted to approve a proposal from Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer to back gun safety reforms such as universal background checks on firearms, joining communities across the nation that are calling for gun violence prevention in the wake of recent mass shootings. "We are joining with concerned Americans across the nation to call for universal background checks and investments in communities impacted by gun violence, common-sense measures that will help our neighborhoods and keep guns out of the wrong hands," said Supervisor Lawson-Remer. "We are heartbroken by the constant drumbeat of mass shootings, but instead of becoming desensitized we are taking action. We stand with our residents, particularly Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, to denounce hate and support legislation to help prevent gun violence." The vote amended the County's Legislative Program to support state and federal legislation that furthers gun reforms related to background checks for firearm purchases, budgetary commitments to invest in the communities most impacted by everyday gun violence, and/or new oversight and accountability measures for the gun industry. Approval of this item would add this as a priority issue for the County's legislative platform, and authorize the County to support legislation, such as H.R. 8, H.R. 1446, or others, that support more robust gun background checks. BERMUDA STAIRS REPAIRS The City Council on April 7 approved long-sought-after repairs to the Bermuda stairs in Ocean Beach. "Thanks to my colleagues for voting unanimously to approve all actions and permits necessary for the reconstruction of the Bermuda Avenue stairs," said Council President and District 2 Councilmember Dr. Jennifer Campbell. "The Bermuda Avenue access point means so much to this community and to visitors who come to enjoy our coastline. Today's action gets us one step closer to fully repairing and reopening this access point and I hope that this repair will ensure coastal access for years to come." The Bermuda staircase/seawall, which provides the only access to the pocket beach below, was damaged during winter storms in 2015-16. Subsequently, City staff closed the stairwell due to tidal action that eroded the lower stairway foundation causing the lower stairs to collapse. The community was told then by the City that staff was working through the design and environmental process, and that a request had been made for construction funding for the Bermuda repair project from the Regional Park Improvement Fund. VACCINE FREEBIES & DISCOUNTS Everyday California at 2261 Avenida De La Playa in La Jolla Shores is offering free paddleboard, surfboard, and snorkel rentals Monday through Thursday, as well as 20% off apparel online and in-store from now until June 14. Customers must book rentals online with promo code "vaccine" and show vaccine card upon arrival. For apparel purchases, customers can show their vaccine card in-store to redeem offer or apply promo code "VAX20" online at check out. Both offers are limited to one use per customer. NEW LIBERTY STATION LEASE Good Time Design, the San Diego- and Nashville-based hospitality and entertainment group, has signed a lease at Liberty Station in the space formerly occupied by El Jardin. This will be the group's third concept in Liberty Station having opened The Presley in July of 2020, and previously operating The Loma Club from 2014 to 2019. The yet-to-be-named project has a tentative opening date in August and will offer casual dining on two large patios, and an indoor dining room. Good Time Design Group's executive chef Todd Nash is developing a south-of-the-border menu to match the restaurant's laid-back, outdoor setting. Good Time Design's portfolio includes diverse restaurants, bars and live music venues including current projects Moonshine Flats, Moonshine Beach, The Blind Burro, and Bub's at the Ballpark and past projects Wave House, Bootlegger, and Typhoon Saloon. 3R BREW COMING TO OB Rincon Reservation Road Brewery next to Harrah's Resort north of San Diego, ready to serve up craft beer in Ocean Beach. As Southern California's first craft brewery on tribal lands, 3R Brewery, as it's known, aims to educate beer lovers about the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians and inspire young tribal members with a passion for hops. "We've been here over 10,000 years. We're still here. And a lot of people don't realize that," said Ruth-Ann Thorn, chairperson of the Rincon Economic Development Corp., a tribal entity that oversees the brewery. The first off-reservation tasting room is set to open this summer in Ocean Beach. NEW PUESTO COCKTAILS Puesto with outlets in La Jolla, Mission Valley and Seaport Village is transporting guests to the tropics with its new Bird of Paradise cocktail. Fresh off of Puesto's newly launched spring menu, the Bird of Paradise combines Espolon Blanco Tequila, Campari, Grand Marnier, pineapple, and lime for a refreshing, fruit-forward cocktail. MR. MOTO PIZZA OPENING IN LITTLE ITALY Mr. Moto Pizza is springing into April by adding a Little Italy location to its existing outposts in Pacific Beach, North Park, Point Loma, La Jolla, Encinitas, Ocean Beach, and Seaport Village. Opening on Wednesday, April 14, the new location will be situated in a 980-square-foot space, complete with an attached patio space at 1702 India St. Offerings at the new outpost will be the same crave-worthy New York-style whole pies and slices found at the pizzeria's other neighborhood spots. Tuesday, April 6 ROSE CREEK GUIDED WALKS Two guided walks of Rose Creek in Pacific Beach will be held Wednesday, April 7 and Saturday, April 17, starting at 9 a.m. both days. Guests meet at Mission Bay High School faculty parking lot, near Grand Avenue bridge and the creek. Bring your camera, binoculars, hat, and wear a mask. Easy flat walk. For more details, visit saverosecreek.org. MIGRANT SHELTER NEEDS VOLUNTEERS San Diego Rapid Response Network Migrant Shelter Services, operated by Jewish Family Service of San Diego, has an urgent need for volunteers and additional staff. "We remain committed to welcoming asylum seekers into the United States and helping them travel to their loved ones across the U.S., with public health as the top priority. The last two weeks have been exceptionally challenging. In order to serve the hundreds of asylum seekers in our care, more volunteers and staff are needed," said Michael Hopkins, CEO of Jewish Family Service. "We continue to work with all levels of government and our partners to determine how we can all best meet needs. It is critical that the federal government continue to work to rebuild and re-imagine our country's broken asylum and immigration systems, including the processes for migrant shelter services across the border region." Job openings such as shelter services manager, coordinator and assistant can be viewed at jfssd.org/careers. Vital volunteer needs include airport guides, patient advocates and couriers viewable at jfssd.org/helpnow. Since March 1, SDRRN Migrant Shelter Services has assisted more than 1,700 asylum seekers, compared to 490 migrants served for February. Services provided to the increased numbers of asylum seekers in SDRRN's care include: COVID testing, respite shelter, case management, financial and travel assistance, legal support and general medical assistance, in partnership with the State of California, County of San Diego Public Health and UCSD Health. Support from public and private philanthropy makes this work possible. Learn more at rapidresponsesd.org. MARITIME MUSEUM RESUMES TOURS Maritime Museum of San Diego, serving as the community memory of our seafaring experience by collecting, preserving, and presenting our rich maritime heritage and historic connections with the Pacific world, has resumed daily operations from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Maritime Museum of San Diego's outdoor experience includes a walking, one-way top deck ship tour clearly marked to comply with social distancing guidelines. Tours take guests back in time as they stroll the upper decks of the historic fleet, including the world's oldest sailing ship, Star of India, Navy frigate replica H.M.S. Surprise, featured in the award-winning film, Master and Commander, and California's official state tall ship, the Californian. Indoor exhibits and below deck galleries will still remain closed temporarily. Visit sdmaritime.org. FLEET SCIENCE CENTER REOPENS The Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park is reopening its building on Friday, April 9. Visitors are invited to create their experience with exhibit galleries and IMAX films playing in the Heikoff Giant Dome Theater. The new hours of operations are Friday through Monday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For a full set of cleaning and building protocols, please visit fleetscience.org/health-safety. LACAVA PROPOSES NEW CITY SEAL District 1 Councilmember Joe LaCava has proposed changing the official seal of the City of San Diego to diverge from paying homage to Spanish conquistadors, including Juan Rodrigues Cabrillo and Fray Junipero Serra, and include modern cultural elements. "The City of San Diego should be an example," said LaCava. "The current City seal erases the history of the Indigenous Peoples who occupied this land long before us, and glorifies those who stole it. Words matter, symbols matter, actions matter. It's time we take action to right this wrong." In the seal's description, it reads that "the caravel represents the exploration and settlement by the Spanish." Other scholarly articles elaborate to say, "for a crest a typical "Carmelite belfry" is used, which suggests the early Christianization of San Diego by the "Mission Fathers" of Fray Junipero Serra..." Furthermore, added LaCava, the seal places an emphasis on manufacturing and agriculture, industries of the past. "A seal is meant to represent identity, and right now ours says that San Diego is rooted in the past," he said. "An update is needed to better portray our city's connection with a forward-looking economy, our diversity, as well as our unique connection to the border and our bi-national region." EGGIES IN NORTH PARK Eggies has opened its fourth outpost in North Park, adjacent to its sit-down brunch counterpart, Breakfast Republic. Owner Johan Engman of San Diego's Rise & Shine Hospitality Group – which oversees the concept's other existing outposts – anticipates the opening of several Eggies locations in Southern California in the coming year, including one attached to the Breakfast Republic slated for La Jolla. Eggies North Park is at 2726 University Ave. Hours are 7 a.m.-3 p.m. daily. NEW AIRPORT VP After an extensive nationwide search, San Diego County Regional Airport Authority president/CEO, Kimberly Becker has promoted Hampton Brown to vice president, revenue generation, marketing, and innovation. In this role, he is responsible for setting the strategic direction for the revenue generation, innovation, marketing, and air service development functions at San Diego International Airport (SAN). "Brown has been an integral part of the Airport Authority since joining the organization in 2004," said Becker. "Through the years, he has gained valuable experience in the airport's relationship with airlines, our tenants, and the broader San Diego community. He regularly consults with regional stakeholders on how the airport can support their air service needs to enhance global commerce and our regional economy. Brown's experience and leadership will be instrumental as we look toward recovery from the impacts of COVID-19 and development of the New T1." PORT EMPLOYEES RECOGNIZED Two Port of San Diego employees have been selected by the San Diego Business Journal as Women of Influence in Engineering. This prestigious designation recognizes progressive and cutting-edge women who advance their organizations' or companies' goals and lead high-level projects to fruition. The Port announced that Perla Goco, capital project manager, and Ani Mehra, an associate engineer, both in the Port's Engineering and Construction Department, were selected for the recognition amongst several nominees within the region. They are featured in the San Diego Business Journal's March 29 special report on engineering and construction. PLHS NEEDS EVENT MANAGER PLHS Music Boosters need help. The parent group is looking for help assisting with special events around the donated wine from Gianni Buonomo. These events are for Point Loma residents and beyond, not just PLHS music families. Correia Middle and PLHS choir and orchestra are the beneficiaries for these wine fundraisers. Event manager(s) responsibilities would be to identify site(s) for event(s), solicit for donated food, secure required supplies, if needed, no experience required. If interested, email [email protected]. COUNTY HOMELESS DEPARTMENT San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chair Nathan Fletcher wants the County to better leverage its expertise and resources to support the regional response to the homelessness crisis. On April 6, he presented a policy to establish a new Department of Homeless Solution and Equitable Communities. The County has been a regional partner in supporting the unsheltered, the actions taken during the COVID-19 pandemic is the most recent example. In Fiscal Year 2019-2020 the County supported more than 75 programs and spent hundreds of millions serving people that are experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless. Services provided by the county to people experiencing homelessness have been scattered across several agencies; chair Fletcher's policy seeks to streamline the operations of existing services and provide more. BUNNIES NEED NEW HOME Seventeen of the 23 rabbits rescued by San Diego Humane Society's Humane Law Enforcement earlier this month are ready to find new, loving families. The rabbits have been rehabilitated and medically cleared by SDHS's veterinary team. Neighbors called SDHS's Humane Law Enforcement to report rabbits running loose near a home in the Fairmont Park area. When officers arrived on March 6, they witnessed more than 20 rabbits kept in a backyard enclosure, without proper access to food, water or clean living spaces. Officers noticed some of the rabbits appeared ill with minor injuries, had red eyes and missing patches of fur. The owners agreed to relinquish the rabbits to SDHS, as they were not able to properly care for them. Veterinarians at SDHS's Pilar & Chuck Bahde Center for Shelter Medicine treated the rabbits for minor fight wounds, issues related to poor husbandry and upper respiratory disease. For anyone interested in adopting a rabbit, visit sdhumane.org/adopt. SDIA JET SERVICE JSX offers new service between San Diego and Las Vegas starting Friday, April 9. Now available for booking via the JSX website, the new flights give travelers the option for private jet travel. Flights operate twice daily on Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday and once daily on Saturday. NATIONAL BEER DAY APRIL 7 Are you ready for National Beer Day on Wednesday, April 7? The Taco Stand at 621 Pearl St. in La Jolla is celebrating this iconic pairing by offering $2 beers with every food purchase on National Beer Day. Gorge on a giant California Burrito, or treat yourself to one of their new secret menu items, including Al Pastor Volcan and Carne Asada Volcan tostadas. There's a Beer Day deal brewing at Pacific Beach AleHouse at 721 Grand Ave. in Pacific Beach where folks can get their fill of $5 AleHouse drafts all day to pair with the views and food. Try their Down to Hop West Coast IPA (7% ABV), or their Brews Lee Hoppy Lager (4.6% ABV). Novo Brazil Brewing at 4845 Newport Ave. in Ocean Beach has officially added a new limited brew to the brewery's Hazy Series, just in time for National Beer Day. Sabro Haze, a hazy IPA is available until May on-tap, as well as in four-packs of 16-oz cans at select retailers. EARTH DAY KIDS CONTEST April 22 is Earth Day and the City of San Diego is encouraging kids celebrate this year with a coloring contest that imagines what the future holds for a sustainable San Diego. Are there more community gardens and green spaces? Are people carpooling to work and school? The City wants to see what young people can dream up. The contest is open to children ages four to 13 who live in the City. To enter, they need to draw their vision of a sustainable San Diego in the Climate Action Plan children's activity booklet "Our Climate, Our Future." Children are encouraged to use crayons, colored pencils, markers or any other art medium to illustrate their vision. The entry form and booklets are available at San Diego Public Library locations offering in-person services. They can also be downloaded online in English and Spanish. The deadline to submit entries is April 30. BUNDT CAKES IN POINT LOMA San Diego is now home to the eighth Nothing Bundt Cakes bakery with the newest opening in Point Loma at 3225 Sports Arena Blvd. The bakery will celebrate their grand opening in a few weeks with the two benefit days in addition to a day recognizing first responders, military and medical professionals. Nothing Bundt Cakes is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit nothingbundtcakes.com. PB FISH SHOP SUPPORTS PADRES PB Fish Shop is celebrating the return of the San Diego Padres baseball season with food and drink specials, that will also give guests a chance to win tickets to a future game. Pacific Beach Fish Shop is running their Win with Gwynn Special during Padres games, that consists of any two specialty tacos – Spicy Dorado, TKO, or Pineapple Express – and a pint of AleSmith .394 for just $17.50. Guests can also enjoy $1 off .394 pints and $3 off .394 pitchers. From now until June 30, customers can take a photo of them with Fish Shop food, AleSmith product, and/or Padres' gear and tag PB Fish Shop for a chance to win. You must also follow @AleSmith and @pbfishshop on Instagram, and use the hashtag #TonyGwynnTacoSlam to be entered to win. Participants can enter as many times as they'd like. PB Fish Shop is at 1775 Garnet Ave., and is open for indoor and outdoor dining, and carry out, from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. daily. VIDEO ENCOURAGES JOB HUNT As the next step in its effort to help struggling San Diegans secure quality jobs and launch meaningful careers amid COVID-19, the San Diego Workforce Partnership has released a new actionable video series that provides frameworks, prompts and guidance around obtaining a quality job and launching a meaningful career. Ikigai is a series of videos designed to help San Diegans identify personalized job opportunities and encourage a holistic approach to job hunting that focuses on more than a paycheck, although recognizing that is important too. Centered on the Japanese concept of Ikigai which means "a reason for being," the concept is a powerful key for individuals to use when planning their next career move. It aligns values, interests, preferences and what they love doing with quality job opportunities. Combined with the tools available at workforce.org/mynextmove. Saturday, March 27 SEVEN SEAS FOOD FESTIVAL SeaWorld is bringing back international flavors, beverage tastings, and live music performances with the return of the Seven Seas Food Festival. The event will run Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from through May 2, with the park's enhanced health and safety measures, including limited capacity, reservations, increased cleaning and sanitation, temperature checks, and face-covering requirements. In addition to the tasty bites and delicious drinks, guests can safely enjoy three live music stages and all of their favorite outdoor animal exhibits, including dolphins, sea lions, bat rays, bamboo sharks, flamingos, sea otters, turtles, and more. SeaWorld San Diego reopened as a zoo earlier this month with 100 acres of expansive open-air grounds. Guests can plan a safe, limited-capacity visit to the park, where they can embark on an international flavor journey inspired by the tastes and smells of the Mediterranean, Polynesia, Mexico, the Caribbean, France, Italy and beyond. With more than 125 flavors from around the world, guests can taste everything from the most indulgent desserts to the park's all-new vegan bites. In addition to the amazing food, this year's festival includes a beverage menu with more than 25 specially curated cocktails, zero proof cocktails and wines, and a selection of more than 75 craft beers from California and beyond. FOOD DISTRIBUTION AT PECHANGA ARENA Feeding San Diego has announced a series of large-scale, contactless food distributions serving San Diego County. Distributions will be at Pechanga Arena San Diego, 3500 Sports Arena Blvd., on Wednesday, April 7 and Thursday, May 1, both from 10 a.m. to noon. The large-scale distributions can serve up to 1,400 people. Volunteers place approximately 50 pounds of food in the trunk of attendees' cars as they drive through, making large parking lots the ideal place to hold these events. Since February 2021, the organization has held eight of these types of distributions throughout the county and given food to over 20,000 people. Volunteers are needed for all distributions. Those interested can find more information here. For those who would like to support Feeding San Diego's work during this critical time, they can give online. RED CROSS NEEDS BLOOD The American Red Cross is calling for donors of all blood types, especially those with type O blood, to race to give blood and help refuel the blood supply. This spring, the Red Cross is teaming up with IndyCar to urge people to help keep the blood supply on track by donating blood or platelets. Schedule a donation appointment by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device. As a special thank-you, those who come to give blood or platelets April 1-15 will automatically be entered to win a VIP trip for four to the 2022 Indianapolis 500. The Red Cross will also automatically enter all who come to give in April for a chance to win one of five $1,000 e-gift cards to a merchant of choice. Additional details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Indy500. There is an upcoming blood donation in La Jolla on Tuesday, April 13 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Residence Inn, 8901 Gilman Drive. VIRTUAL CONCERT FUNDRAISER On Wednesday, March 31, more than a year after zoos and aquariums across the country were forced to close due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is teaming up with some of country music's top artists for a virtual concert fundraiser. During "All Together for Animals," Brad Paisley, Old Dominion, Ashley McBryde, Wynonna, Riley Green, Jessie James Decker, Shy Carter and others will take the stage with proceeds benefiting more than 200 AZA member zoos and aquariums, including Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego. Tickets are just $30, and half of each ticket purchased using this special link will directly benefit Birch Aquarium. For more information on Birch Aquarium and its mission to connect understanding to protecting our ocean planet, visit aquarium.ucsd.edu. ZEROING IN ON HOMELESSNESS Continuing to advance the focused effort to end veteran homelessness, the Regional Task Force on the Homeless and its partners have signed onto a national initiative known as Built for Zero, led by Community Solutions. This action boosts the City's Community Action Plan on Homelessness and supports the momentum to end veteran homelessness across the county. Initially, the RTFH has partnered with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the San Diego Housing Commission, and homeless services organizations such as Veterans Village of San Diego, while receiving funding from Kaiser Permanente for dedicated local staff to further the initiatives. RTFH joins more than 80 cities and counties committed to measurably ending homelessness, one population at a time. Using data, these communities have changed how local homeless response systems work and the impact they can achieve. For more information about the Regional Task Force on the Homeless, please visit RTFHSD.org. Learn more about Built For Zero at builtforzero.org. SD RESTAURANT WEEK APRIL 11-18 A blossom of foodie adventures await San Diegans as San Diego Restaurant Week bundles the yields of spring into an eight-day edible extravaganza expanded to provide more dining than ever before alongside much needed industry aid. The beloved foodie event brings new life to the restaurant community April 11 through Sunday, April 18 featuring over 100 restaurants offering variations of prix fixe menus at affordable prices. Restaurants sprouting with innovation will showcase their menus through traditional in-house dining, expanded outdoor spaces as well as to go accommodations. Tickets are not necessary for this, but reservations are recommended. Visit SanDiegoRestaurantWeek.com for more information, a complete list of restaurants, or to make reservations in advance. CONRAD PREBYS FOUNDATION The Conrad Prebys Foundation begun by the late La Jolla entrepreneur and philanthropist has made donations to the Mingei International Museum in Balboa Park and the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego which has a La Jolla branch expansion currently under construction. "Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego is grateful to be recognized by the Conrad Prebys Foundation in their inaugural grantmaking. In our expanded La Jolla flagship, the Conrad Prebys Learning Center will be the stunning site of educational activities that help to foster San Diego's next generation of creators and innovators," said Kathryn Kanjo, David C. Copley director and CEO. POINT LOMA PLAYHOUSE CLASS A five-week live class starting Wednesday, March 31 taught by Metropolitan Opera-trained Jordan Miller at Point Loma Playhouse will show through vocal exploration and performance the mechanics of what "singing" actually is, and how it is a physical mechanical action, not a mystical "gift" and how to self-train your own unique voice and expand your range and control. All levels are welcome but the class is limited to six members. Registration is now open. For more information, vist Point Loma Playhouse – Home. LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE PROGRAM Join La Jolla Playhouse for a private listening party titled "Let's Listen Together" on Wednesday, March 31 at 7 p.m.Hosts will be Jennifer Corley and Justin Hudnall. Guests will hear the newest episode from radio horror show Listen with the Lights Off featuring The Gourd, an original, sharp-witted and unsettling tale. Stay for the post-listen Q&A. This hour-long event is for 18-plus audiences only. Mature content. Must RSVP to attend. For more information or questions call 858-550-1010 or email [email protected]. Thursday, March 25 PANDEMIC PHOTO CONTEST Tracy Dezenzo of the San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture pitched Midway-Pacific Highway Community Planning Group at its March 17 meeting on participating in a San Diego Public Library program. The program is asking for the public's help in creating a photographic, historical collection titled "SNAPSHOT: a photo journal of life during the pandemic." "They are asking San Diegans to submit 1-10 photos that could reflect a moment in time, a feeling, or an expression of how you would summarize the pandemic experience," said Dezenzo, adding the deadline to submit photographs is June 30. Submissions can be made at https://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/snapshot. MULTIMODAL CORRIDOR PLAN Gia Ballash of the San Diego Association of Governments, the region's transportation planning agency, spoke at Midway-Pacific Highway Community Planning Group's March meeting. She addressed regional plans to evaluate travel modes and transportation facilities in a defined corridor, including highways and freeways, parallel and connecting roadways, transit, pathways and bikeways. SANDAG and Caltrans are developing a Comprehensive Multimodal Corridor Plan for the Central Mobility Hub and Connections Corridor, which proposes turning Old Town Trolley Station into a Central Mobility Hub with connections to San Diego International Airport. "Our focus is on gathering input into the plan we're developing for the corridor refining concepts for the proposed central mobility hub," said Ballash. A video detailing the Multimodal Corridor Plan can be viewed at https://sandag.mysocialpinpoint.com/cmhandconnections. PENINSULA PLAN BOARD ELECTION Peninsula Community Planning Board had a historically large turnout for its annual board election on March 18, with 644 ballots received and 3,625 eligible votes cast. "The process of verifying ballots and then counting them accurately was daunting and time-consuming," said David Dick, election subcommittee chair. "We worked late into the evenings, both on Thursday and Friday." The final vote tally for candidates to be seated for 2- and 3-year terms: Fred Kosmo 381, Joe Holasek 357, Robert Tripp Jackson 351, Matt Schalles 290, Sam Laub 256, Paul Webb 250, Angela Vedder 230, Nicole Burgess 224, Mandy Havlik 195, Don Sevrens 188. Tina-Marie Compton with 184 votes was elected to a one-year term. Other candidate votes: Leah Schaperow 161, David Bock 155, Lucky Morrison 148, Margaret Cook 134 and Jesse Benson 121. JURASSIC QUEST RETURNS Jurassic Quest Drive Thru is making its first encore showing since the tour began, returning to Del Mar Fairgrounds March 26-April 4 following a sold-out visit in January. Jurassic Quest Drive Thru is celebrating its encore with two all-new guest experiences:
The interactive drive-thru experience features more than 70 moving and life-like dinosaurs, as well as a 50 foot-long Megalodon. Jurassic Quest's herd of animatronic dinos are displayed in realistic scenes that allow guests to experience them roaring and moving as they drive through the tour. There also are opportunities to visit with one-of-a-kind baby dinosaurs and their team of dino trainers. Jurassic Quest Drive Thru adventurers will need to buy tickets in advance at www.jurassicquest.com. TEACHER BOOK REQUESTS One of Loma Portal Elementary School's Sip and Shop vendors, Run for Cover Bookstore, has set up an online shop for the school to buy books for its awesome LPE teachers. Teachers submitted requests for their classroom libraries. Let's help get them ready for onsite learning again on April 12. Run for Cover will generously donate a percentage of sales back to LPE, so it's a win for teachers, a win for LPE, and a win for supporting a locally-owned small business. Check it out at https://run-for-cover-bookstore.square.site/. HOMELESS MEMORIAL Circulate San Diego and its partners placed a placard at the location where a tragic crash recently resulted in three deaths and six serious injuries of homeless San Diegans. The placard is a part of Circulate's Vision Zero campaign to end traffic fatalities. Circulate's Vision Zero partners include Beautiful PB, BikeSD, the San Diego Bicycle Coalition and the San Diego Mountain Biking Association. Three people were killed and six more were injured in a traffic crash near San Diego City College on March 15. At around 9 a.m., a vehicle swerved onto the sidewalk and crashed into a homeless encampment where several people were seeking shelter from the rain. The driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, vehicular manslaughter, and infliction of great bodily injury while committing a felony. SPRING FLING DRIVE-THRU A Peninsula area Spring Fling Drive-Thru will be held Saturday, March 27 from 10 a.m. to noon at Ocean Beach Recreation Center, 4726 Santa Monica Ave. Come by for a Children's Activity Packet and Spring Goody bag while supplies last. Masks must be worn at all times. Participate in Daily Spring Word Hunt to win additional prizes the week of March 22-26. PAID SICK LEAVE EXTENDED California State Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) applauded Gov. Newsom's signing of Senate Bill 95, which extends 10 days of emergency paid sick leave to millions of California employees who work for businesses with more than 25 employees: "This law will literally save workers' lives. Without paid sick days, most can't afford to stay home and have no choice but to work while they're sick," Assemblywoman Gonzalez said. "These protections will help keep our communities safe, and prevent businesses from facing higher costs due to outbreaks in the workplace. Paid sick leave is an essential piece to being able to safely reopen the economy." VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UC San Diego will hold an online virtual Open House on Saturday, April 3 at 10 a.m. This membership program for adults over 50, now completely online via Zoom, offers twice-daily lectures, seminars, and discussions of current events led by the renowned UCSD university faculty and scholars from across the country. Subjects include medicine, science, international relations, law and society, history, art and humanities, literature, and social sciences. There are no prerequisites, exams or credit – simply the joy of learning. The spring quarter starts on April 5 and runs for 10 weeks, featuring a full, exciting, and diverse curriculum. Learn more and RSVP here to receive the Zoom link. AQUARIUM OPEN INDOORS AND OUT Birch Aquarium is now open indoors and out. Several of the experiences that were added to the aquarium when it was operating outdoors-only will remain to encourage social distancing and give guests more to explore. These include the new tropical touch experience, the Growing Up Seahorse activity, and the small animal nursery, all on Smargon Court near Shark Shores. The aquarium's newest exhibit, the Marine Protected Area Touch Experience, where guests can get hands-on with juvenile sharks and rays, as well as other local species, also remains open on Preuss Tide Pool Plaza. For more information on what guests need to know before they visit, check out the Know Before You Visit Page. SPRING COCKTAILS AT THE PRESLEY To welcome spring, The Presley in Liberty Station has introduced four new cocktails to their menu, including the Sausalito Spritz, a sweet take on the classic Aperol spritz. Made with strawberry-infused Aperol, lemon, and champagne, the Sausalito Spritz is the perfect libation to sip while enjoying the sunshine on The Presley's expansive outdoor patio. In addition to the new cocktail offerings, starting April 1, The Presley is also introducing a happy hour from 3-6 p.m., Wednesdays to Fridays, and is expanding its opening hours to include Wednesdays from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Thursday, March 18 PBTC CHALK ART CONTEST The Pacific Beach Town Council is hosting its second annual PB Town Council Chalk Art Contest from March 20 to April 10. Simply create your chalk art, take a photo, and post it to Facebook or Instagram from March 20-April 10, using the hashtag #PBChalkArt. You could win one of several prizes in these four categories: Best 3D, Best Nature, Best Use of Color, Best Representation of PB. For more information, visit pbtowncouncil.org/chalkart. MBHS SCHOLARSHIP Pacific Beach Woman's Club is offering a $5,000 scholarship for a female senior at Mission Bay High School. Club spokesperson Adele Marsh said the size of this year's scholarship is extraordinary. "We usually give only $1,000 and the most we've ever given is $2,500," she said. "But we have a little more money than usual so we wanted the scholarship to larger than normal this year." Marsh said the scholarship is for any post-secondary education, which could include college or a vocational school. Those interested in applying for the scholarship need to fill out an application that is is available at pbwomansclub.org/scholarship, or by calling 619-991-4809. The deadline to apply for the scholarship is April 30. PB TROLLEY UPDATE Pacific Beach Planning Group was updated on the progress of the Mid-Coast Trolley Extension project by the San Diego Association of Governments, the region's transportation planning agency, at the group's March 10 Zoom meeting. "Construction for the project is over 85% complete," SANDAG senior engineer John Dorow told planners. "We're continuing to install landscaping and irrigation, as well as the system that will supply power to the trolley, at all of the stations. We expect testing this summer, at which time you will begin seeing trolley cars running along the new alignment. The project remains within budget and on schedule to begin service in lat 2021." The Mid-Coast Trolley 11-mile Blue Line Trolley service extension with nine new stations will go from Santa Fe Depot in Downtown San Diego to the University community. The extension will serve major activity centers such as Old Town, UC San Diego, and University Town Centre. Construction on the trolley extension began in fall 2016. "We have been asking for two years to rename the site as the Balboa Avenue/Pacific Beach Trolley Station," said PB planner Eve Anderson asking, "How is that going?" "You will need to talk to the Metropolitan Transit System about that," answered Gia Ballash, SANDAG's public outreach officer. "MTS is the one that designates station names." "This agenda item has been borderline ignored by the City," said PB Planner Scott Chipman, who successfully moved that the item be placed on the plan group's next agenda in April to get a City representative to explain why Pacific Beach is not going to be listed as the new trolley stop's name, if that is the case. SCHOOLS PREPARING FOR STUDENTS San Diego Unified School District and educator representatives announced the next steps to prepare for a classroom reopening the week of April 12. They outlined options to allow for students to safely return to campus full-time, while providing continued robust online instruction for families that do not feel safe returning to campus at this time. As the district continues to review reopening preference surveys sent to all families, it will begin working with principals to help set specific models for each school community. Families will receive details from their schools on March 22, asking them to select a specific model when classrooms reopen the week of April 12. Every family will have the opportunity to choose either an in-person/online hybrid or an online-only model. Those remaining online will continue to receive a robust online experience, while those choosing the hybrid model will see their live instruction time increase. Both elementary and secondary students will have the opportunity to be on campus for a six-hour school day. The default school site model is four days per week of in-person instruction with precise schedules to be set based on the number of students who wish to attend in person, available space, and existing health and safety guidelines. Educators and school leaders also agreed on steps which will make hybrid learning unnecessary in the fall, committing to no layoffs and the creation of a specialized instruction model for students who do not want to return to campus. CHANGING OF THE GUARD AT LJVMA Due to changing circumstances, Brett Murphy, president of La Jolla Village Merchants Association, stepped down from his post as president at the merchant group's March meeting. Murphy nominated Cody Decker, owner of Decker's Dog + Cat, LJVMA board vice president, as his replacement. Decker accepted and was named LJVMA's new president. ENHANCE LA JOLLA DAY Celebrate the first day of spring with some hands-on community service as La Jolla Village Merchants Association joins other community groups to beautify the village. Stop by the information booths at 7777 Girard Ave. on Saturday, March 20 from 7 to 11 a.m. to learn more about Village happenings from Enhance La Jolla, La Jolla Town Council and the La Jolla Community Foundation. The public event will include a little painting and adding decorative stones to tree wells. Due to COVID guidelines, if you'd like to add a helping hand, please contact us in advance at [email protected], subject line: Enhance La Jolla Day. TAKE-OUT TASTE OF THE VILLAGE Enjoy a four-course curated take-out menu from La Jolla Village's top eateries during Take-out Taste of the Village March 22-25 from 4-7 p.m. Participants will receive an insulated re-usable bag, and will visit four restaurants on the evening of their choice, picking up one course of a meal at each location to enjoy at home or at a favorite picnic spot. Support the restaurants and the important work of the La Jolla Village Merchants Association with your ticket purchase. Twenty percent of each ticket will go back to the restaurants who have been struggling during the past year of COVID-19 closures. Any gratuities added by ticket purchasers also support the restaurants. All COVID-19 related health and sanitation protocols are in place for the four night event, with limited tickets to prevent queuing at restaurants, facial coverings required, and enhanced cleaning. The La Jolla Village Merchant Association is a nonprofit organization that supports the businesses in La Jolla Village, and engages in neighborhood beautification projects, holiday decor and events, public relations for the district and more. JET SERVICE TO LAS VEGAS JSX is expanding its California footprint with new service between San Diego and Las Vegas starting Friday, April 9. Now available for booking via the JSX website, the new flights give travelers an option to enjoy private jet travel. Flights operate twice daily on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays and once daily on Saturdays. Fares start at $99 one-way and include at least two checked bags (weight/size restrictions apply), onboard cocktails, and gourmet snacks. POINT LOMAN NAMED TOP ATTORNEY Sullivan Hill has announced that Robert Allenby has been recognized by San Diego Magazine as a 2021 Top Lawyer in San Diego in the field of Insurance. A resident of Point Loma, Allenby serves as the managing shareholder of Sullivan Hill, a member of the executive committee, chair of the litigation practice group, and firm counsel. He has extensive experience in all aspects of litigation, with an emphasis in construction disputes, insurance coverage litigation, employment disputes and general business litigation. CANNABIS EQUITY PROGRAM In keeping with Mayor Todd Gloria's promise to create more equity around City services, the City of San Diego plans to develop a program to promote ownership and employment opportunities in the legal cannabis industry. Recently, the City was awarded a $75,000 grant that will help fund a cannabis equity assessment and support the development of a first-ever cannabis equity program. "As San Diego recovers from the pandemic and our economy builds back, we're doing everything we can to ensure that it happens equitably – and that includes promoting equity and eliminating barriers for entry into the regulated cannabis industry," said Gloria. "This survey will help assess how effective our current efforts are and help us design a regulatory program that creates social equity in the growing local legal cannabis sector." The cannabis equity assessment will provide a data-informed look at the historical impacts of cannabis criminalization on San Diego, evaluate potential opportunities and constraints in the current regulatory framework and provide policy recommendations to assure equity and diversity in the emerging cannabis industry. Information gathered from the assessment will serve as a blueprint for a future CITY ONLINE MAPPING TOOL The City of San Diego's Commission for Arts and Culture has updated its online, interactive map of San Diego that identifies the unique characteristics, venues and reach of City-funded nonprofit arts and culture organizations. New features include a landing page that will house maps and annual data, and a side-by-side comparative mapping tool that illustrates data differences between fiscal years, beginning with 2019 and 2020. The maps illustrate the meaningful impact arts and culture organizations have in the City. As the data is updated annually it can measure impacts over time and help drive informed decision-making to strengthen the creative life of all San Diego neighborhoods. Additional information is available at sandiego.gov/arts-culture. HILL NAMED TOP LAWYER Sullivan Hill has announced Jim Hill has been recognized by San Diego Magazine as a 2021 Top Lawyer in San Diego in the field of bankruptcy. A Point Loma resident, Hill is a founding member of the firm, chair of its insolvency and commercial bankruptcy practice group, and member of its executive committee. LOMA PORTAL BACKPACK DRIVE The first Backpack Drive to support Loma Portal Elementary School families who need a little extra help when getting our kids back into the classroom this spring is being held on March 26. Lisa Keith from State Farm has donated to this fundraiser that will help provide the backpacks, but help is needed stuffing those backpacks. Bring your donations to the front of the school at 3341 Browning St. on Friday, March 26. There will be a donation table out in front of the school all day. Click here for donations by grade level. LOMA CLUB CHANGES The owners of Liberty Station's longstanding Loma Club golf course and clubhouse have announced plans to create Tappers Mini Golf & Cocktails. Construction will begin next month to add 18 holes of mini golf and transform the existing 3,200-square-foot clubhouse and patio space. Co-operators John Levan and Oliver Mahoney have experience in building mini golf parks in the United Kingdom. The course will be spread over two separate areas of the property. And though the historic clubhouse will still offer all the standard features and functions for its golfing regulars, its new look is designed to add to its family-friendly appeal by incorporating fun elements inspired by the owners' love of classic golf-themed movies like "Caddyshack" and "Happy Gilmore." The renovated Loma Club will bring Caddyshack vibes to Liberty Station with its new mini golf course and remodeled clubhouse, set to open this summer. PGK DANCE PROJECT FILM The PGK Dance Project announces the company's upcoming conceptual dance film DEEPLY ROOTED will premiere on Thursday, June 24, at 7 p.m. as part of Vanguard Culture's Alchemy. The PGK Dance Project will collaborate with Junkyard Dance Crew and Minerva Tapia Dance Group / Grupo de Danza Minerva Tapia. Tickets can be purchased here. For a sneak peek rehearsal video, click here. FAMILY DINNER NIGHT The Point Loma High School March Family Dinner Night Fundraiser will take place Tuesday, March 23 from 4-9:30 p.m. at Raglan Public House, 1851 Bacon St. in Ocean Beach. Take-out food will be available as well as limited seating at the restaurant. Proceeds from Family Dinner Nights fund PLHS music and dance guard events, professional coaching, uniforms, instruments, transportation, workshops and more. COUNTY APPROVES YOUTH CORPS The County Board of Supervisors has approved a proposal by Supervisors Terra Lawson-Remer and Nora Vargas proposed to create a Youth Environmental/Recreational Corp to help young people in the region jump start their careers amid the pandemic-induced recession. The pandemic has had a unique impact on young people, especially those with limited access to economic opportunity, creating a critical need for the County to amplify its systems for supporting youth workforce and career development. SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT The San Diego County Board of Supervisors has approved a program to launch a residential drug and alcohol treatment program to aid adult reentry and prevent a return to being incarcerated. Other actions approved by the Board of Supervisors included calling the future residential center for youth probation the "Youth Transition Campus" and best practice training for staff in support of the Probation Department's transition from a correctional and compliance-based model to a positive youth development philosophy. SAN DIEGO AIRPORT ART New York City-based James Carpenter has been selected as the lead artist for a facade to adorn the new Terminal 1 project at San Diego International Airport. Major projects by him include the Israel Museum's expansion and campus renewal project in Jerusalem and the Museum at the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. Carpenter and team have been charged with developing a design for the new building's south facade. He and his team will use changing light and color to dramatic effect with their facade to "bring the unique qualities of light in San Diego into a signature for the building,'' according to Carpenter. The new Terminal 1 building will be designed to be eco-friendly and climate-resilient, utilizing both renewable electricity and a stormwater capture and reuse system. New terminal 1 construction may begin early next year and conclude by late 2026. MASSIVE FOOD DRIVE On Saturday, March 20, faith communities, local businesses, school, and police groups are joining up with the Boy Scouts of America for a massive county-wide food drive to benefit the San Diego Food Bank. This will the sixth year this coalition has put on a food drive event. This year's themes are "Neighbors Helping Neighbors" and "Scouting for Food." Those who can donate food are asked to give the following most needed food items: canned meat and fish, canned vegetables, canned fruit, canned soup, peanut butter, oatmeal and cereal. Donations can be dropped off at any of the designated locations listed below: • Mira Mesa location (11023 Pegasus Ave.) from 9–11a.m. Councilmember Chris Cate will be volunteering at this location. Contact is Christina Waddell 858-663-1438. • La Mesa Police Dept. Rancho Penasquitos (8085 University Ave.) from 9–11 a.m. Contact is Lt. Katy Lynch 619-667-1400; email: [email protected] • SD Police Dept. (9291 Ovieda St.) from 7–9 a.m. (Sunset Hills Elementary). Contact is Julie Dragt 858-538-8007; email: [email protected] • Carmel Valley (12701 Torrey Bluff Drive) from 9–10 a.m. • La Costa (3450 Camino De Los Coches, Carlsbad) from 9–10 a.m. • Mira Mesa (11023 Pegasus Ave.) from 9–11 a.m. • Rancho Penasquitos (14191 Camino del Sur) from 9–11 a.m. • Allied Gardens (6767 51st St.) from 9–11 a.m. • Spring Valley (3348 Sweetwater Springs Blvd. Spring Valley) from 9–11 a.m. • El Cajon (1270 S. Orange Ave. El Cajon) from 8:30–10:30 a.m. • Julian (2353 Ethelwyn Ln. Julian) from 9–10 a.m. • Ramona (527 9th St. Ramona) from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. • Poway (15750 Bernardo Heights Pkwy.) from 2–4 p.m. • Imperial Beach (866 Imperial Beach Blvd. Imperial Beach) from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. • Mission Valley (4195 S. Camino del Rio S.) from 9–11 a.m. For more information, visit sandiegofoodbank.org; or bit.ly/3tl1xTs; or call 619-248-2537. Monday, March 15 GREEN PIZZA Landini's Pizzeria, located at 1827 India St. in Little Italy and 2820 Historic Decatur Road in Point Loma's Liberty Public Market, will bring the luck of the Irish to green pizza in celebration of St. Patrick's Day with the San Patrizio pizza, available on Wednesday, March 17. Landini's specialty San Patrizio pie will be topped with chicken, spinach, onions, artichokes and dollops of house-made pesto sauce. The green-topped pizza, priced at $25.50 for the 18-inch pizza, will be available when dining in the restaurant or for carryout. Landini's in Little Italy can be reached at 619-238-3502 and is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily; and Landini's at Liberty Public Market can be reached at 619-310-5380 and is open from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sundays–Thursdays and 11 a.m.–8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. FEE TRANSFER POLICY Circulate San Diego congratulated the board for the Metropolitan Transit System for voting to allow free transfers for bus and trolley riders. "MTS made the right decision to allow bus and trolley riders to seamlessly transfer with the price of a one-way fare," said Colin Parent, executive director and general counsel with Circulate San Diego, a regional group promoting mobility options to improve quality of life in the region. "Free transfers make transit easier to access, and fairer for riders that take more than one bus or trolley to get where they're going." Circulate San Diego has advocated for free transfers since 2018. Research from Circulate San Diego showed that MTS is one of only two of the 20 largest transit agencies in the United States to not provide free or reduced-price transfers. In addition to free transfers, the fare policy approved by the MTS board includes a number of significant improvements, combining to become a cutting edge and progressive fare structure. Those elements include "best fare" functionality to avoid over-charging riders, and lower prices for one-way youth fares. ST. PATS AT DUCK DIVE Soak up the sun and celebrate St. Patty's Day by the beach at Duck Dive on March 17 for $5 green beers, Jameson Irish Coffees and Jameson Irish Breakfast shots. Duck Dive will also be featuring $12 Irish Slammers – Jameson, Irish cream, and stout beer – along with a $12 Corn Beef Hash breakfast. NEW NON-STOP AT SAN Alaska Airlines will begin seasonal nonstop service from two Montana cities to San Diego International Airport (SAN) beginning May 20. Alaska Airlines will provide flights between SAN and Kalispell, Mont. via Glacier Park International Airport (FCA) and Bozeman, Mont. via Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) until Sept. 7. WORLD WATER DAY This World Water Day, March 22, San Diego County is coming together to celebrate clean water and healthy communitiesthrough the launch of a multi-year campaign by Project Clean Water. Elements include a synchronized, socially distanced individual paddle out and inviting the community to sign a "52 Ways to Love Your Water" pledge. There will be a press conference and paddle out at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas 10-10:30 a.m. on the platform on top of a detached garage near the lifeguard tower. Parking area adjacent to platform. World Water Day is a chance for people everywhere to honor the value of water to the communities, environment and health. It also will mark the official launch of a county-wide initiative through Project Clean Water aimed at protecting water quality in San Diego County. For more information a newly launched website will be available by March 22 at www.projectcleanwater.org. EASTER AT LA VALENCIA Historic La Valencia Hotel in La Jolla is holding an Easter special on Sunday, April 4 from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. After the meal, kids are invited to claim their sweet treat at the Pink Lady's "Sweet Adventure by the Sea." This walk-through experience will include vibrant displays of life-size treats, cotton candy, a visit from the Sweets Princess, cute critters, and to finish the adventure, a coastal photo opportunity for the whole family. Face masks and six-feet social distancing are required. PB LIBRARY SERVICES Call or visit the PB Library (at the Reed Ave/south entrance) for Contactless Holds Pickup Service Mondays-Saturdays 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-5:30 p.m. Note: all libraries are closed from 1-2 p.m.; phone and pick-up services are not available during that hour. Ask for a free Craft Kit when you come to pick up your Contactless Holds. Grab & Go Bundles of themed paperbacks, movies, and holiday DVDs are also available (for kids, teens, and adult readers). Ask for a Grab & Go Bundle when you come to the Reed Street entrance to pick up your Contactless Holds. For more information on Contactless Pickup Service, https://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/pickup-service. ZOOM DANCE CLASS Tuesday, March 16, at 5:30 p.m. Come join a Pacific Beach Town Council early childhood dance class and explore colors, animals and our feelings through movement. Great for ages 2-7, but of course anyone can join the fun. Bring a scarf and a shaker of any kind. Sponsored by Nightingale Music with Jennifer Tandy, a Pacific Beach resident. How to join the Zoom class on March 16. HOME BUYING WEBINAR San Diego County Credit Union will present a free interactive webinar on Home Buying Thursday, March 18 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. The webinar will be presented by SDCCU experts, with the format allowing the community to join the presentation online from the safety of their own homes. During the webinar, SDCCU real estate professionals will walk attendees through the home buying process including pre-qualifications, title, escrow, appraisals and inspections. The presentation will also touch on buying a home during the current COVID-19 pandemic. This free webinar is open to the public, but virtual space is limited and reservations are required. To register or for details, visit sdccu.com/homewebinar. WILD THINGS IN OB From Joe Galascione and his cousins Nanette Galascione and Gabriel and Samuel Gonzales, Wild Things Pizza will open this spring in the space that housed Surf Rider Pizza for more than a decade at 2163 Abbott St. in Ocean Beach. Surf Rider was forced to close last year after its owner, The Patio Group, was under investigation for its part in a multi-million dollar fraud scheme. Wild Things will be the owner's first restaurant venture. Inspired by the children's book "Where The Wild Things Are," expect a Wild Things mural on the side of the building and a kid-friendly eatery with a fun menu of pizza, pasta and other Italian fare. There will be also be coffee drinks by Ryan Bros. Coffee and a menu of beer and wine. For more information, follow Wild Things Pizza on Instagram. NEW BREWERY GUIDELINES County Supervisors chair Nathan Fletcher has worked collaboratively with the state to allow breweries to operate under the same guidelines as wineries. "I have been working with the San Diego Brewers Guild and the Governor's office for several weeks to establish a safe reopening plan, and I am glad breweries will now be able to open under the same guidelines as wineries," said Fletcher. "This is good for brewers, good for our economic recovery and good for San Diego County. Cheers." Breweries that have been operating as a "restaurant" under the State's Blueprint for a Safe Recovery can continue to do so, but the new guidance released for breweries went into effect on March 13 and the guidance requires breweries:
For more information on the guidance, visit www.covid19.ca.gov and for more information about local breweries, visit https://www.sdbeer.com/. CANCER TUMOR PROGRESS Every 12 minutes, someone in the United States dies of pancreatic cancer, which is often diagnosed late, spreads rapidly and has a five-year survival rate at approximately 10 percent. Treatment may involve radiation, surgery and chemotherapy, though often the cancer becomes resistant to drugs. Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine and Moores Cancer Center, in collaboration with Sanford-Burnham-Prebys Medical Discovery Institute and Columbia University, demonstrated that a new tumor-penetrating therapy, tested in animal models, may enhance the effects of chemotherapy, reduce metastasis and increase survival. The study, published online March 9 in Nature Communications, showed how a tumor-targeting peptide, called iRGD, can sneak inside the armor that the tumor built to protect itself and use the fibrous tissue as a highway to reach deeper inside, destroying the tumor from within. "This type of tumor is made up of a dense fibrous tissue that acts as a barrier to drugs trying to get through. Many drugs can reach the vessels of the tumor, but they are not able to get deep into the tissue, making treatment less effective, and that is one reason why this type of cancer is so challenging to treat," said Tatiana Hurtado de Mendoza, first author of the study and assistant project scientist at UC San Diego School of Medicine and Moores Cancer Center."Our study found that the tumor-penetrating peptide iRGD is able to use this fibrous network to deliver chemotherapy drugs deep into the tumor and be more effective." Full study: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-21858-1 ATTORNEY REJOINS FORMER FIRM After 20 years as a trial lawyer and mediator at the head of his private law firm in San Diego, attorney Christian Hulburt has returned to the firm where he began his legal career, Thorsnes Bartolotta McGuire, located in Hillcrest. Hulburt, a two-time outstanding Trial Lawyer award winner and San Diego Magazine Top Lawyer since 2013, will specialize in serious and catastrophic injury cases including medical malpractice, personal injury, and products liability issues. "I could not imagine a better time for a homecoming to the place where I began my career," said Hulburt. "With everything we all have experienced over the past year, and the abuses and conflicts people are facing, many people truly need our help in seeking justice. Returning to Thorsnes Bartolotta McGuire allows me to make a difference in our community in multiple ways." COUNCIL MEMBER JOINS AIR POLLUTION BOARD Council President Pro Tem Stephen Whitburn has been sworn in as a governing board member for the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District. Appointed to the board by Mayor Todd Gloria, Whitburn will serve as the City of San Diego's member at large. The Air Pollution Control District works to ensure that commercial, industrial, transportation, and agricultural businesses are permitted and comply with air pollution control laws. The agency also incentivizes cleaner technologies by offering grant funds to support those measures. "The work of the Air Pollution Control District is vital to ensuring the health and safety of our air, our planet, and ultimately, the citizens of San Diego County," said Whitburn. "I look forward to serving on the agency's governing board to ensure that their important work continues and to utilize this opportunity to work together with all of our regional partners to achieve our climate action goals." For more information, visit www.sdapcd.org. FUNDRAISING EVENT MANAGER SOUGHT Point Loma High School Music Boosters need help. The parent group is looking for help assisting with special events around the donated wine from Gianni Buonomo. These events are for Point Loma residents and beyond, not just PLHS music families. As mentioned above, Correia Middle and PLHS choir and orchestra are the beneficiaries for these wine fundraisers. If interested, email [email protected]. LJ SYMPHONY CHORUS ALL-VIRTUAL SEASON The La Jolla Symphony and Chorus has re-imagined its 2020-2021 season. LJSC's 2020-2021 season, "Stay Home With Us," combines lively conversation, fascinating ideas and extraordinary music. In this six-part monthly series, a lively menu of musical encounters featuring interviews, solo and small ensemble performances and selected pre-recorded works from the LJSC archives. All of these programs will feature solos and small ensembles performed by musicians from the La Jolla Symphony and Chorus and gives them the opportunity to introduce listeners to the LJS&C family on a more intimate basis. Productions will be aired on March 19, April 16, May14 and June 18. Series subscriptions or individual event tickets may be purchased by visiting lajollasymphony.com. NEW BIRD ROCK RESTAURANT It was announced in March at Bird Rock Community Council's meeting that a restaurant yet to be named will be moving intio the now-vacant Piano Building at the corner of La Jolla Boulevard and Bird Rock Avenue by year's end. New owners said at the public meeting that the former piano building's interior will be a restaurant and bar, and that there will be retail space on Bird Rock Avenue. Architect for the building's renovation is Bennett + Associates based in La Jolla. NEW COO AT AQUARIUM On the heels of its long-awaited reopening last week, Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego has announced that it has appointed a new chief operating officer. Charles Hopper replaces Kathy Kiaunis who retired in December after nearly six years in the position. Hopper comes to Birch Aquarium from the Seattle Aquarium, where he served for 15-years, most recently in the role of senior manager of business operations, a position that was developed exclusively for him. RAIL SERVICE SUSPENDED MARCH 20-21 This weekend, all Coaster and Amtrak Pacific Surfliner services along the San Diego segment of the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo coastal rail corridor will be suspended due to a planned absolute work window. No passenger or freight trains will operate between Oceanside and Downtown San Diego beginning early Saturday morning through early Monday morning. AWWs are select weekends where all rail services are halted, providing crews safe access to work unimpeded directly along the rail line to meet significant construction milestones. Please click here for a complete list of proposed 2020-2021 AWW weekend dates from North County Transit District (NCTD). Tuesday, March 9 CONVENTION CENTER SHELTER WINDS DOWN Following through on his commitment to wind down Operation Shelter to Home by the end of March, Mayor Todd Gloria has announced plans for shelter residents at the San Diego Convention Center to be safely relocated to the City's reconfigured shelters, where they will continue receiving a high level of social services and housing navigation. In April 2020, the Convention Center opened its spacious exhibit halls to serve as a safe, sanitary environment to protect hundreds of individuals experiencing homelessness each night during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing for physical distancing, on-site medical care and ongoing testing, and consolidating limited resources among shelter providers. The collaborative effort between the City of San Diego, County of San Diego, Regional Task Force on the Homeless, San Diego Housing Commission and San Diego Convention Center has served more than 4,000 individuals and helped more than 1,200 individuals and 43 families find permanent or longer-term housing. ST. PATS IN PB On Saint Patrick's Day Wednesday, March 17th Mavericks Beach Club will be celebrating with Jameson and Guinness specials from Noon to 11 p.m. The PB hangout will also have $50 Jameson "Go Hard" options for all coolers, along with Irish Coffee Slushies throughout the day. With plenty of outdoor, and socially distanced seating, Mavericks will also have a live band playing from 6 to 8 p.m. Pacific Beach Fish Shop wants to remind you to wear something green, so you don't get pinched when you come in to try their specialty Shrimp Pesto Pasta. You're sure to love the combination of linguini pasta, tossed in a pesto crème sauce with grilled garlic butter shrimp. Enjoy the dish, only available the week of St. Patrick's Day from March 16th to March 21st, on Fish Shop's patio, with a cold beer or glass of wine, or opt for takeout to enjoy at home. PECHANGA ARENA FOOD DISTRIBUTION Feeding San Diego, the county's leading hunger relief and food rescue organization, continues to hold large-scale food distributions throughout San Diego County to address the continued need for increased food assistance. The next one will be held on Tuesday, March 9 from 10 a.m. to noon at Pechanga Arena San Diego, 3500 Sports Arena Blvd.. This distribution comes on the heels of several successful large-scale distribution efforts, including one held at LEGOLAND® California Resort recently which served more than 3,000 people. Pechanga Arena was also the location during the month of February for a series of four distributions held specifically for those in the hard-hit hospitality industry, which served more than 9,000 people. Almost a year into the pandemic the need is still present and large-scale distributions will continue to be held, with Feeding San Diego focusing on areas most in need. Those who attend will be given information about Feeding San Diego's additional sites that they can access year-round. "Unfortunately, we will continue to see increased need for food assistance long after everything reopens," said Dan Shea, CEO of Feeding San Diego. "It's our responsibility to continue to serve as a lifeline for anyone facing hunger, even after we start to feel a bit of a return to normal." All attendees are asked to wear a mask. Attendees must register via the link here: https://feedingsandiego.app.rsvpify.com/. Those interested in volunteering at this site or others can register here: https://feedingsandiego.volunteerhub.com/. SDIA NONSTOP FLIGHT TO JAPAN Japan Airlines has resumed nonstop flights between Tokyo, Japan via Narita International Airport ) and San Diego International Airport. American Airlines will codeshare on this service resumption. The service will initially operate three times a week with the following schedule:
"The resumption of service to Tokyo is an important step in our recovery process," said Kimberly Becker, San Diego County Regional Airport Authority president/CEO. "With many economic and defense ties between our two cities, this route will foster continued business interactions. We welcome Japan Airlines back to San Diego International Airport." The resumption comes after Japan Airlines suspended service in April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Pre-COVID-19, the airline offered daily nonstop flights which were immensely popular. NTC FOUNDATION ADDS BOARD MEMBERS NTC Foundation has announced the addition of Dr. Francisco Escobedo, the Superintendent of the Chula Vista Elementary School District, and Siddhartha Vivek, the president & CEO of Junior Achievement of San Diego County, to its Board of Directors. With a mission to enrich the lives of San Diegans, NTC Foundation was established to renovate 26 historic buildings at the former Naval Training Center into a significant flagship destination for arts, culture and creativity known as ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station. URGENT PLEA FOR BLOOD DONATIONS As local hospitals continue to re-schedule elective surgeries delayed due to COVID-19 and utilize even more blood for stat orders and standard surgeries, San Diego Blood Bank is experiencing critically low blood supply. All blood types are needed. "We are down to a 1–2-day supply of most types, and it's best to keep at least a 7-day supply available," said David Wellis, CEO, San Diego Blood Bank. "For various reasons, hospital usage has increased, so we need the community to make an appointment to donate now for local hospital patients that need it." San Diego Blood Bank strongly encourages all healthy individuals to donate blood. To be eligible to donate blood, you must be at least 17 years old, way at least 114 pounds, and be in general good health. Appointments are required and available by visiting SanDiegoBloodBank.org or by calling 619-400-8251. WILDFIRE SMOKE HAZARD Researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego examining 14 years of hospital admissions data conclude that the fine particles in wildfire smoke can be several times more harmful to human respiratory health than particulate matter from other sources such as car exhaust. While this distinction has been previously identified in laboratory experiments, the new study confirms it at the population level. This new research work, focused on Southern California, reveals the risks of tiny airborne particles with diameters of up to 2.5 microns, about one-twentieth that of a human hair. These particles – termed PM2.5 – are the main component of wildfire smoke and can penetrate the human respiratory tract, enter the bloodstream and impair vital organs. The study appears March 5 in the journal Nature Communications by researchers from Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at UC San Diego. It was funded by the University of California Office of the President, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Alzheimer's Disease Resource Center for Advancing Minority Aging Research at UC San Diego and theOffice of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. View the study at https://scripps.ucsd.edu/news/fine-particulate-matter-wildfire-smoke-more-harmful-pollution-other-sources?auHash=4m2FpGXEY9p-AQuDxjDEBhGD0_4uQWhAOriIFVVhdcQ LOCAL WATER PROMOTED As part of efforts to create a more sustainable future, a new analysis of San Diego's future water needs has been released indicating the City will develop more than 50% of its water locally by 2045, in large part due to the Pure Water recycling program. This will be a dramatic increase in local water supply, which currently requires the City to purchase 85% to 90% of its water from imported sources. As detailed in the City's draft 2020 Urban Water Management Plan, the change is due to a reduction in water demand by residents and businesses and significant investments in programs like Pure Water. While the City's population has grown an average of about 1% annually since 2010, total water demand has decreased during this same period. Water demand in the city has gone from a peak of more than 81.5 billion gallons in 2007 to about 57 billion gallons in 2020. The decrease in water demand is largely due to San Diegans using less water and being more efficient with the water they do use. "The decrease in our water demand is remarkable. It's a testament to the resolve of San Diegans to make a positive change for the present as well as our future," Mayor Todd Gloria said. "The new Urban Water Management Plan provides us with a roadmap for a more sustainable city in the years to come. I encourage San Diegans to weigh in on this critically important plan." Most of the locally sourced water will come from the City's Pure Water program, which will use proven water-purification technology to clean recycled water to produce safe, high-quality drinking water. Construction of the project is expected to begin this spring. Members of the public can review the draft Urban Water Management Plan and provide any comments between March 1 and April 5, 2021. The report is available for review online at the Public Utilities Department water supply page. Comments or questions on the plan can be submitted to Khuram Shah, project manager, at [email protected]. WHEELER JOINS FILM FOUNDATION Dr. Stephen Wheeler Joins the Board of the San Diego Film Foundation As The San Diego International FIlm Festival, www.sdfilmfest.com, prepares for the 20th Anniversary of the Festival this October, Tonya Mantooth, CEO/artistic director has announced the addition of San Diego Arts Advocate, Dr. Stephen Wheeler to the Board of the Foundation. According to Mantooth, "We are in a time of great transformation with the work we did last October to present the San Diego Intl Film Festival in our Virtual Village. It truly reimagined our organization from a primarily San Diego/Southern California based event to an international year round content provider focused on the power of cinematic storytelling. As our organization broadens its reach, we are thrilled to have such a powerhouse advocate for the arts and philanthropy as Stephen Wheeler join our Board. His passion for social justice and storytelling falls in line with our goals at the festival - and we look forward to having him on our leadership team." Tuesday, March 2 SD SYMPHONY HIRE The San Diego Symphony has appointed Sheri Broedlow as the organization's new vice president of institutional advancement. Broedlow's experience spans many arts institutions including the LA Philharmonic, Ojai Festival, Music Academy of the West and The Old Globe Theater. "I am thrilled to return to the San Diego Symphony to work with Martha Gilmer and join such an extraordinary team of professionals," Broedlow commented. "I'm especially eager to reconnect with the Symphony's amazing family of supporters, whose love for this orchestra is undeniable. The quality of the orchestra is an incredible community asset and it is an honor to have this opportunity to make an impact on its future." For more information, visit sandiegosymphony.org. TOASTMASTERS OPEN HOUSE San Diego-based Voyagers Toastmasters club is holding its first virtual open house of 2021 Thursday, March 4 at 7 a.m. "What makes Voyagers great?" asks Lynn Salbato, Voyagers president. "Come visit our Zoom meeting and learn why Voyagers has consistently been one of the top Toastmaster clubs in San Diego. We are diverse, fun, energetic and never boring." Do you want to improve your communication, leadership and networking skills? Check out Voyagers. Use this zoom link to join for free: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88300877354?pwd=MUNIMU5kU2lFRDdnT3p3UmNnQW92UT09 or Meeting ID: 883 0087 7354, Passcode: 546918. UTC NOODLE EATERY The sixth Southern California location of Qin West Noodle will open later this year in the Westfield UTC mall in La Jolla. Qin West Noodle restaurant was founded by UCLA alumni Liyizhi Kou in 2009. The restaurant was first a typical Americanized Chinese eatery before rebranding into an authentic Chinese noodle house in 2014. Qin West Noodle specializes in the cuisine from China's landlocked northwestern region of Shaanxi, which is centered around noodles complimented by meats like pork, beef and mutton, as well as bread and dumplings. Qin West Noodle will open later this year in the 1,400-square-foot former Jersey Mike's space adjacent to Veggie Grill. Menu highlights from the fast-casual eatery include the roujiamo, or "Mo" for short, a Shaanxi-style sandwich similar to a sloppy Joe with pork or spicy beef inside a crispy flatbread. There will also be pork-filled dumplings and eight noodle dishes like the restaurant's famous Guilin soup – a sweet, sour and spicy broth filled with sliced beef shank, Chinese cabbage, lily flowers, bean-curd, peanuts and pickled green beans. For more information, visit qinwestnoodle.com. LA VALENCIA COCKTAILS & BRUNCH An award-winning weekend brunch is back at La Valencia Hotel at 1132 Prospect St. Soak up the ocean views and savor your brunch favorites (again) at La Jolla's "Pink Lady." The hotel's brunch menu is now back Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. with live music from local favorites from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. A must order: The La V cinnamon roll topped with pink icing and fresh berries, a sweet collaboration with local bakery Sugar & Scribe. COVID PROJECTS AWARD FOR UC SAN DIEGO UC San Diego was awarded five Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics by the National Institutes of Health, totaling nearly $33 million over four years. The purpose of the RADx initiative is to speed innovation in the development, commercialization and implementation of technologies for COVID-19 testing. There are several programs within the RADx initiative, including the RADx Underserved Populations program, which funds projects aimed at understanding why some communities are disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and reducing the factors associated with these disparities, and the RADx Radical program, which supports innovative approaches to addressing gaps in COVID-19 testing. "The RADx program responds to the nation's need for innovative solutions in diagnostic technologies that are people-centric, and utilize expertise in infectious diseases, informatics, data science, clinical pathology, bioengineering and many other related areas," said Lucila Ohno-Machado, MD, PhD, chair of the Department of Biomedical Informatics at UC San Diego Health. "It includes, for example, artificial intelligence models that will help detect and prognosticate disease using novel sensors. Lessons learned from the current focus on COVID-19 will be leveraged in many other health sciences challenges, and data will be shared to accelerate other discoveries." POINT LOMA PLAYHOUSE PRESENTS An extended run is on for Point Loma Playhouse, which is presenting "The Meeting" by Jeff Stetson starring Rhys Greene, Jay K. Weldon and Julian King Monroe. "The Meeting" is a powerful drama about the lives, philosophies, and times of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Fascinating and dramatically compelling, this eloquent play depicts the supposed meeting of these two most important men of modern times. Differing in their philosophies, the two men debate their varying approaches to the same grave social problems, both prepared to die for their beliefs but neither aware of how soon their assassins' bullets would await them. Streaming platform: http://showtix4u.com/event-details/45552. Dates of streaming March 5-6. FREE CAREER WORKSHOP On March 4, a local nonprofit will partner with San Diego business leaders to host a free career workshop for struggling San Diegans amid COVID -19. This first-in-a-series of workshops created by Anvil of Hope is aimed at providing career opportunities to those in need. Panelists will provide job leads, resume tips and actionable insight on how to land a promising job during the COVID-19 economic crisis. Key panelists include representatives from the Padres, SDG&E, Manpower and DeVry. Those looking for jobs and careers with opportunities for growth and development are invited to attend this free virtual career workshop. Featuring prominent San Diego business leaders, this workshop will provide tips and training specifically to individuals looking to begin promising new careers. Hosted by Anvil of Hope, the nonprofit brainchild of AleSmith Brewing Company owner's Peter and Vicky Zien, panelists include some of the regions' major employers from key industries. Moving forward, these workshops will address the social, economic and racial barriers many of today's jobseekers face and provide clear paths to a fulfilling career for people of all backgrounds and skill sets. Anvil of Hope: Virtual Career Workshop: Thursday, March 4 at 1 p.m. Register for Anvil of Help: Virtual Career Workshop here. For more information, visit anvilofhope.org. UC SAN DIEGO AFRICAN-AMERICAN COLLECTION The UC San Diego Library has announced the addition of its first African Americana collection — the Turner Collection — to its Special Collections & Archives. Donated by Steve Turner, a UC San Diego alumnus '82 and avid collector, the collection is comprised of more than 300 items including rare photographs, pamphlets, photocards, posters and pinback buttons, many from the 19th century and all of which shed new light on the African-American experience, particularly in the West. Tuesday, Feb. 23 CROSS-BORDER FORUM City Councilmember Vivian Moreno and Margaret Leinen, director of UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography, will host a free virtual forum on Thursday, Feb. 25 at 6 p.m. called "Cross-Border Pollution: Discussing the Tijuana River Valley Crisis and Future Vision." Moreno's district is home to the Tijuana River Valley and whose residents are directly impacted by the cross-border pollution crisis. This event is an opportunity to share with her district the research underway that aims to better understand and address this critical issue. During the forum, several leading Scripps Oceanography researchers will address environmental concerns and current research in the Tijuana River Valley. A more extensive overview of past and current research Scripps scientists are doing in the Tijuana River Valley can be viewed here, and also in Spanish here. You can register here to attend the virtual forum. BIA CHIEF STEPS DOWN Borre Winckel, the president/CEO of the Building Industry Assoication of San Diego County, has announced he's stepping down from his post later this year in order to spend more time with his family. Winckel spent the last dozen years as head of the BIA, the region's voice on housing. Winckel's retirement will take effect mid-year. Until then, he will continue to lead the organization while working with the BIA board to find his replacement. GIANNI BUONOMO WINE FUNDRAISER Ocean Beach vintner Gianni Buonomo is donating half a barrel to help generate funds for youth music programs in Point Loma. Specifically, the funds will be earmarked for choral and orchestra programs at Correia Middle and Point Loma High schools. The wine is a field blend of seven different grapes that were all fermented together in 2017. The next step is to design the label before the fundraisers occur. Everyone is welcome to design a label. One entry per person. Design specifics: Must have at least one orchestral instrument and at least one person singing (no images of children are allowed on the label); Must include at least one Peninsula landmark (lighthouse, pier, marina, beach, etc.); Must include a fedora hat and the words "OB BLEND." Label submissions are accepted until March 31. The design winner receives $100. For more information and submission requirements, visit gbvintners.com/winelabel. FISH FRIDAYS Every Friday during lent, Pacific Beach Fish Shop at 1775 Garnet Ave. will be holding Fish Fridays, where each week they feature a different fried fish n chips option. PB Fish Shop is open from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on Fridays. They are currently open for outdoor dining, take-out, and delivery. PUESTO LA JOLLA REOPENS Puesto Mexican Artisan Kitchen and Bar in La Jolla has reopened at 1026 Wall St. for outdoor dining, bringing Taco Tuesday specials back in La Jolla and its other two locations. Swing by every Tuesday to snag $2.50 off each taco as well as $5 Puesto beers on draft. Taco Tuesday pricing begins at 3 p.m. every Tuesday, and is valid until closing. Puesto also offers happy hour Mondays through Fridays from 3-5 p.m. PB PLAN GROUP MURAL GIFT Dallas-based multifamily developer JPI, in collaboration with the Pacific Beach Planning Group, has announced the installation of a public art piece on the exterior of the Jefferson Pacific Beach apartment community as a gift to the San Diego neighborhood. Jefferson Pacific Beach is a luxury, bayfront apartment community at 4275 Mission Bay Drive. The mural, which was finalized through the PBPG, will be installed on the east side of the community facing Interstate 5, adding to the plethora of public art installations throughout the area. Designed by local artist Debbie Avoux, the collection, titled "Fathoms," will pay homage to the wonders of Pacific sea life in vibrant, original paintings. These paintings will begin as acrylic on canvas before being photographed in high-resolution, imprinted on large Dibond aluminum panels and affixed to the building walls that border I-5. Installation of the piece is scheduled to begin on June 1 and be completed by June 15. "It's an incredible honor to have been selected to design this piece for Jefferson Pacific Beach," said Avoux. "Pacific Beach is full of wonder and fun, both on land and beneath the surface of the ocean it borders, which I plan to capture in this series of paintings. When people pass by, they'll immediately know they've arrived in San Diego and begin to appreciate all it has to offer." "Pacific Beach is bursting with creativity and art, and we're looking forward to adding to the already impressive lineup with JPI's mural at Jefferson Pacific Beach," said Karl Rand, chair of the Pacific Beach Planning Group. "The Planning Group is delighted to unveil this gift to the community while also supporting a local artist in the process." CITY BALLET SPRING FUNDRAISER City Ballet of San Diego, based in Pacific Beach, will hold its annual Spring Fundraiser virtually this year titled Heard It Through the Grapevine A Virtual Wine Tasting Event and Fundraiser at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 10. City Ballet is partnering with DAOU Vineyards in Paseo Robles and 3rd Corner Wine Shop and Bistro in Ocean Beach to live stream the event from 3rd Corner on City Ballet's YouTube channel. Hosts for the event will be City Ballet dance artists Megan Jacobs and Brian Heil. They will be joined by all the City Ballet company dancers and some very special guests. The Wine Tasting begins at 6 p.m. with the tasting of three wines that viewers can purchase ahead of time and enjoy with the representatives of DAOU Vineyards and special guests. The evening will also include an online auction, a wine marketplace, ballet performances, and the unveiling of the 2021- 22 season. At the conclusion of the fundraiser, an After Party will be held featuring the music of Beth Hart. An online auction will begin April 3, a week before the event. This will give guests time to contemplate and bid on the items. This promises to be a very lively online bidding rally. There will be a variety of items to bid on such as jewelry, wine, gift cards, and home furnishings. The Wine Marketplace will also open on April 3 and will offer single bottles as well as cases for purchase. Those who purchase tickets will receive the three wines that are being tasted and additional items will be offered at higher levels. All wines will be delivered before the tasting so guests can taste each wine as it is being described and discussed. For additional information and to register, visit cityballet.org or call the box office at 858-272-8663. KOREAN HOT CHICKEN IN UTC The team behind once-popular Furaido Premium Chicken Company in Poway has reopened the fried chicken concept in La Jolla as Calvin's Korean Hot Chicken in the Villa La Jolla Shopping Plaza in San Diego's UTC area. Calvin's serves a menu of gluten-free, hormone and antibiotic-free, twice-fried chicken available in seven flavors and in the form of tenders, wings, and sandwiches. The eatery also serves soft drinks and beer. The eatery is open daily at 3211 Holiday Court in La Jolla. For more information and to place an order, visit calvinskhotchicken.square.site. MAYOR ON POLICE BUDGET After two hours of public comment largely speaking to a need to reevaluate the San Diego Police Department budget during a hearing on the City's Mid-Year Budget, Mayor Todd Gloria said: "I hear you. It is clear that we must approach public safety in a way that improves the relationships between our communities and the police department. It is a priority of my administration to ensure strict accountability of our police department through the implementation of a new Independent Police Review Commission as well as continually updating the department's policies to align with our values – fairness, transparency, impartiality, and respect for people. As we work to protect core city services during this challenging budget year, Chief Nisleit and I have committed to foster a policing culture – and a budget – that focuses on building trusting relationships and clear expectations for those who serve our communities." Saturday, Feb. 20 PARENTS PROTEST AT MBHS A walk-in, drive-by peaceful protest of continuing public school closures was held Feb. 18 for an hour in the morning at Mission Bay High School. "Let's work together to safely open schools for you and our children," said protest promotional materials. Suggested signs for the protest included: "SDUSD open schools safely," "vaccinate the teachers," "create a plan now," "education is essential," and "I miss my school." Questions, comments or suggestions can be directed to [email protected] NORTH PB LIFEGUARD TOWER ON HOLD A proposed new 3,500-square-foot lifeguard tower in North Pacific Beach to be built into the coastal canyon at the foot of Law Street has been postponed. "The project was paused during the design phase and hasn't proceeded," said Alec Phillipp, City spokesperson. "There is still a desire to complete the project, but there is no timeline for resuming the design and completing the project at this time." Previously, Pacific Beach Planning Group voted 12-3-1 in favor of proposed design plans for the new proposed future lifeguard station. AIRPORT AUTHORITY HIRE Domenico D'Ambrosio has been hired for the newly created position of vice president of marketing, innovation and chief revenue officer for the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. He starts Oct. 3. D'Ambrosio comes to the Airport Authority from Verizon, where he most recently held the position of market president, overseeing sales and operations in a market comprising 14 states. In his new role, D'Ambrosio will be responsible for leading a new Airport Authority division focused on air service and business development, marketing and public art, innovation and revenue creation. He will play a key role in Airport Authority efforts to identify and implement new revenue enhancement strategies and initiatives aimed at elevating the customer experience. SD LIBRARY MASTER PLAN The San Diego Public Library Foundation's page about the new library master plan, which includes a library survey, is at https://supportmylibrary.org/master-plan/. Public input can help craft the San Diego Public Library's future. Both SDPL and San Diego Public Library Foundation are developing a new master plan and want to know:
The current plan, adopted in 2002, is outdated and based on assumptions from the 1990 census. It does not consider current technologies or reflect how the library has evolved and is used today. The survey is open through April 17 and is available in Chinese, Arabic, Farsi, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Spanish, and English. The plan is being built in collaboration with the mayor and city council, the Friends of the San Diego Public Library, and the Library Commission and will provide a long-range vision and strategy for San Diego Public Library facility, technology, and program investments. ALZHEIMER'S CLINICAL TRIAL Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have launched a first-in-human Phase I clinical trial to assess the safety and efficacy of a gene therapy to deliver a key protein into the brains of persons with Alzheimer's disease (AD) or Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), a condition that often precedes full-blown dementia. The protein, called brain-derived neurotrophic factor or BDNF, is part of a family of growth factors found in the brain and central nervous system that support the survival of existing neurons and promote growth and differentiation of new neurons and synapses. BDNF is particularly important in brain regions susceptible to degeneration in AD. In previous published research, principal investigator Mark Tuszynski, MD, PhD, professor of neuroscience and director of the Translational Neuroscience Institute at UC San Diego School of Medicine, and colleagues described the prevention and reversal of brain cell degeneration and death in animal models. "We found that delivering BDNF to the part of the brain that is affected earliest in Alzheimer's disease —the entorhinal cortex and hippocampus — was able to reverse the loss of connections and to protect from ongoing cell degeneration," said Tuszynski. "These benefits were observed in aged rats, aged monkeys and amyloid mice." The three-year-long trial will recruit 12 participants with either diagnosed AD or MCI to receive AAV2-BDNF treatment, with another 12 persons serving as comparative controls over that period. Despite billions of dollars of research investment and decades of effort, there are only two symptomatic treatments for AD. There is no cure or approved way to slow or stop progression of the neurological disorder that afflicts more than 5 million Americans and is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. For more information on this Phase I clinical trial, contact Michelle Mendoza at 858-249-3015 or email [email protected] PLHS CLASS SELECTION The portal for students to begin selecting classes for the 2021-2022 school year is now open until Friday, Feb. 26. Counselors will be holding special office hours for any questions from 1-3 p.m. on the following dates: Tuesday, Feb. 23, Wednesday, Feb. 24, Thursday, Feb. 25. To join the Zoom meeting: https://sandiegounified.zoom.us/j/89101035969. All the info you need can be found at http://bit.ly/PLHSArticulation21-22. CENTERPLATE MEAL MILESTONE Centerplate, the food and beverage partner to the San Diego Convention Center, has reached a milestone of one million meals served to people experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Centerplate team has prepared several thousand meals per day for San Diegans temporarily residing in the San Diego Convention Center, which opened as an emergency shelter on April 1, 2020, under the project name Operation Shelter to Home. The operation has safely sheltered thousands of people and connected more than 1,200 to permanent or longer-term housing so far. Led by general manager Bobby Ramirez and executive chef Daryl O'Donnell, the Centerplate management and culinary staff has gone above and beyond to serve the new clientele, utilizing two main kitchens and six independent teams. At peak, job opportunities were provided to 82 Centerplate employees as a result; even with resident numbers decreasing, work was still provided for 65 employees after regular event activity was put on hold due to the ongoing pandemic. Operation Shelter to Home is currently funded through March 2021. SEASIDE PIZZA IN PB Seaside Pizza Co., specializing in take-and-bake pizza, opened in the space that last housed Surf City Pizza & Gelato at 4263 Mission Blvd. Seaside Pizza Co. is the product of Evan and Sara Walker and Matt Bucklin, high school friends and fishing buddies. Growing up, take-and-bake style pizza was a weekly treat for both of their families. So after griping about the lack of such options for years, they finally decided to start their own. Seaside Pizza Co. offers a menu of hot pizza available by the slice or whole pie made with mostly locally-sourced ingredients, as well as customizable take-and-bake pizzas, salads, cookies, and cookie dough for baking at home. The restaurant space has been fully renovated and has a walk-up order window and inside and outside seating. For more information, visit seasidepizzaco.com MR. FRIES MAN COMING SOON Los Angeles-based Mr. Fries Man️ has announced that the company will soon launch a customizable, smothered fries restaurant in early May at 4508 Cass St. Based on the success of the first location, more area outposts may open in other neighborhoods in the near future. Chef Craig Batiste started Mr. Fries Man in 2016 as a parking lot pop-up in Gardena. Mr. Fries Man will take over the space that last housed Island Style Hawaii BBQ in the historic Dunaway Building. The fast-casual eatery will offer a menu of French fries stacked with a large array of proteins, sauces and add-ons. Signature menu choice combinations include BBQ bacon ranch shrimp, chicken bacon parmesan, lemon garlic crab and shrimp. For more information, visit mrfriesman.com. COVID-19 EARLY DETECTION AT SCHOOLS In an effort to help schools reduce the risk of COVID-19 outbreaks as they resume in-person instruction, UC San Diego and the County of San Diego are testing the Safer at School Early Alert system, an evidence-informed program to detect SARS-CoV-2 at schools and child care centers. Modeled after UC San Diego's Return to Learn, a first-of-its-kind approach to safely resume teaching, learning and research at a university, Safer at School Early Alert system is scaled for individual schools and child care centers without the resources available at a research university. Through daily wastewater and surface monitoring, the Safer at School Early Alert tests for the presence of particles of the coronavirus. Combined with a responsive testing strategy, the aim is to quickly identify children or staff members who are infected with COVID-19 before an outbreak occurs. Ten San Diego County-area TK-8 schools and two child care centers are participating in this SARS-CoV-2 early detection program, which is funded by the County of San Diego and designed by UC San Diego. SEAWORLD REOPENS Tickets and reservations are now available for SeaWorld, which reopened as a zoo at 500 Sea World Drive. The popular marine mammal establishment is reopening with enhanced safety measures in place, bringing guests closer to animals like orcas, sharks, sea turtles, Explorer's Reef with bamboo sharks, cleaner fish, horseshoe crabs and rays, sea lions, otters, penguins, dolphins, flamingos and more. Families can enjoy SeaWorld's Dolphin Days, Sea Lion Show and the Orca Encounter live educational presentation with physically distant seating. Walk around the outdoor park, visit animals and dig into the park's food. For more information, visit seaworld.com/san-diego. LJ PLAN GROUP APPROVES RAIL TRAIL La Jolla Community Planning Association, which makes land-use recommendations to the City, has approved the Coastal Rail Trail project at the Gilman Drive/Interstate 5 on- and off-ramps. The Coastal Rail Trail is a regional project that will establish a multi-use trail to better connect the coastal cities of Oceanside, Del Mar, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solana Beach and San Diego. Each city entered into a memorandum of understanding to plan, design, and construct segments of the trail within their respective jurisdictions. The City of San Diego's portion of the CRT consists of 10 miles of multi-use trails spanning from Carmel Valley Road on the north to Gilman Drive on the south. This segment of the trail will provide important connections between regional employment centers in Sorrento Valley; UC San Diego; University City; residential communities to the north and south; Coaster stations; and a future San Diego Trolley line in the project area. The proposed project along Gilman Drive plans to install a one-way protected cycle track (Class IV bicycle facility) along both directions of Gilman Drive, as well as a continuous sidewalk along the west side of Gilman Drive. Additional improvements include street lighting, ADA accessibility improvements, and traffic signal improvements. WESTERLY PUBLIC HOUSE COMING Westerly Public House, a coastal cuisine restaurant with a menu inspired by Australia and Portugal, is coming to The Monsaraz Hotel in Point Loma expected to open this summer at 2912 Garrison St. The Monsarez's 2,800 square-foot onsite restaurant, Westerly Public House, will specialize in Cali-Aussie cuisine, showcasing the flavors and spirit of the coastal towns of Venice Beach, California and Bondi Beach, Australia. The restaurant's kitchen will be in the hands of executive chef Jesse Paul, who most recently owned and operated the Wooden Spoon in Escondido. There will also be a rooftop "Hideaway" bar, which boasts views of the harbor, bay and city skyline. The Hideaway will be utilized as either an informal gathering spot or rented for private events such as receptions, bachelor-bachelorette parties, intimidate dinner parties, book clubs, etc. The hotel will also have an onsite cafe with coffee from San Diego's Dark Horse Coffee Roasters. For more information, visit hilton.com/en/hotels/sanplup-the-monsaraz-san-diego. CINCO DE MAYO RETURNS MAY 1-2 Grab your familia and head over to historic Old Town to spice up your weekend for the return of the free annual Cinco de Mayo Fiesta Old Town. Celebrating 38 years of fiery fun, Fiesta Old Town will bring back the fuego as it transforms Old Town into a Cinco de Mayo celebration taking place Saturday, May 1 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday, May 2 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Distanced street performances of mariachis, ballet folkorico, flamenco and more will bring enriched vibrations and the musings of tradition as you peruse the history and modern culture of one of San Diego's most iconic districts. The businesses of Old Town are ready to welcome San Diegans and visitors alike back with safety as the premier priority. Fiesta Old Town Cinco de Mayo will comply with all State and Local guidelines for market-style activations and will provide a fun and celebratory experience that provides for distancing and mask-wearing as appropriate based on current official guidelines. For more information, visit CincoDeMayoOldTown.com. SERVICE ACADEMY QUALIFIERS Several young men and women in the beach area have been selected to be among 33 high school students in Rep. Scott Peters 52nd Congressional District to attend U.S. military service academies. Each year, Peters recommends a group of young individuals to serve in the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, the U.S. Military Academy, and the U.S. Naval Academy. The nomination makes recipients eligible to be selected for a fully-funded education with one academy, with the obligation and commitment to serve in the military for at least five years after graduating. Those selected include: United States Merchant Marine Academy, Conner Skewes - Point Loma High School; United States Military Academy, Connie Choy - Torrey Pines High School, Breena French - Point Loma High School, Matthew Fucella - The Rock Academy, Ethan Melby - Point Loma High School; United States Naval Academy, Dhruv Banerjee - The Bishop's School, Colgan Black - La Jolla High School, Croix Black - La Jolla High School, May McConkey - The Bishop's School. To learn more about this nomination process, visit Peters' service academy information page. IRISH PUB IN POINT LOMA A traditional Irish pub is being installed in the space that last housed Royale at 4204 Voltaire St. Long Story Irish Pub is being designed as a traditional Irish drinking house and aims to open by this spring. Royale closed last November after a three-year run. The new ownership group includes Kyle Schubert, Nathaniel Winnett, Jerod Meents and Joseph DeNigris. Schubert is a Sacramento bar and restaurant veteran who has founded multiple Irish pub concepts in the Sacramento area of California. Long Story will offer a menu of Irish-inspired eats like corned beer stuffed egg rolls, Reuben fries, corned beef tacos, a St. Patty Melt burger, Shepherds Pie, bangers and mash, and a full bar featuring Irish whiskey and beers. The concept will also have a sports bar ambiance with 14 flat-screen televisions playing daily competitions, including soccer. For more information, follow the company's Instagram page. PLHS IN-SCHOOL GRADUATION The Class of 2021 is going to have an in-person graduation this year, though the exact details are yet to be worked out. However, whatever form that takes, students will need a cap and gown. If you have not ordered one yet, please see this link to do so. You may purchase the set or you can borrow it. If you would like to borrow, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on "borrow cap and gown." Note however, that if you borrow the set, you will have to return all of it (cap, gown and tassel) after graduation. If you would like to order other graduation merchandise and keepsakes, you can visit the website below and order online. To answer questions contact Mrs. Hedges at [email protected] PB RUN CLUB Anyone who wants to find a community to run/socialize with look no further than the Pacific Beach Run Club that meets every Saturday at 8:30 a.m. at PB Community Park, 1405 Diamond St. Bring a mask and the distance run is 5K. All running/jogging/walking levels are welcomed. The club now has a weekly newsletter, so if anyone owns a local business they'd like to promote to subscribers, reach out. Also, check out the club's Facebook page for more information and pictures. Feel free to connect with the club through the following channels: Insta: @pbrunclub, pbrunclub.com. Tuesday, Feb. 16 LJ CONCOURS CANCELED In April 2020, the annual La Jolla Concours d'Elegance classic car show was canceled five weeks prior to the event, at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Event organizers were hopeful that 2021 would allow for a safe automotive celebration at the caliber expected from the LJCDE. However, with dramatic increases in COVID infections in California over the holidays and a national vaccine roll out that has been slower than anticipated, the April event has been canceled. The next La Jolla Concours d'Elegance will be celebrated on April 22-24, 2022. The La Jolla Concours d'Elegance is renowned for its elaborate parties and experiential moments and is an impeccable automotive exhibition. Many months of detailed planning by hundreds of stakeholders is required to execute an event of this caliber. The Concours team will be working diligently over the next year to ensure that the April 2022 event will be the most remarkable three-day automotive and lifestyle extravaganza ever to be showcased at La Jolla Cove. You will experience the same spectacular display of the world's finest automotive art spotlighting the Bugatti marque, dazzling VIP spectacles with luminous décor, energetic entertainment, luscious flavors, and the same breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean as it meets the shores of La Jolla. Fundraising efforts continue and supporters are urged to donate at LaJollaHistory.org/support/donating/. Each year, the net proceeds from the La Jolla Concours d'Elegance supports the La Jolla Historical Society's mission to present the rich history of La Jolla through exhibitions, educational programs, architecture tours, youth education, and annual community events. For more information, to obtain a registration form or to purchase tickets to the featured weekend events, visit LaJollaConcours.com. NEW MUSEUM DIRECTORS Timken Museum of Art in Balboa Park has named La Jollans bioethicist Kathleen Lundgren and interior designer Alexandra Davis Perez to its ranks bringing the total number of its board of directors to 14. The Timken's board is led by chair Jessie J. Knight, Jr., Sempra Energy's former executive vice president of external affairs and chief sustainability officer and former president and chief executive officer of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. Lundgren earned her master of divinity from Yale University concentrating in both medical ethics and the history of psychological and social development. She taught bioethics at Yale and consulted and wrote policy as a clinical pediatric ethicist at Yale Children's Hospital. Lundgren has dedicated most of her professional life to bioethics and health policy serving on the Yale School of Medicine Human Investigation Committee for Research and the Advisory Board of Yale School of Medicine Humanities in Medicine. HOSPICE SEEKING VOLUNTEERS The Elizabeth Hospice invites individuals interested in helping adults and children impacted by serious illness and those grieving the death of a loved one to a free volunteer orientation session via the Zoom videoconferencing platform. Attendees will learn about a wide variety of opportunities that are available throughout San Diego County including: serving as a patient companion, providing caregiver respite, performing aromatherapy, sewing Cuddle Bears, officiating at veteran pinning ceremonies and more. An email address and a device with a camera interface are needed to participate in the training session or attendees can join by phone. Prospective volunteers can choose from the following dates: · Feb. 24 from noon to 1 p.m. · March 8 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. · March 19 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. · March 30 from noon to 1 p.m. · April 15 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. To ensure a place at the volunteer orientation session, contact the Volunteer Department at 800-797-2050 or email [email protected]. SEAWORLD PROMOTIONS SeaWorld San Diego is offering a complimentary Teacher Fun Card to all active and certified K-12 Southern California and Arizona credentialed schoolteachers. And for only $20, the 2021 Preschool Fun Card is available to children ages 3-5 in San Diego County. Both are valid for unlimited admission through Dec. 31 (blackout dates apply). To learn more, email [email protected]. MEAT PIES IN PB The owners of an eatery in Encinitas are bringing New Zealand-style meat pies to Pacific Beach with the impending opening of Grumpy's Meat Pies. Friends John Merklinger and Craig Woolard will open Grumpy's Meat Pies within the space that last housed a supplements store next to Calozzi's Cheesesteaks in PB. The restaurant will offer fast-casual counter service in a beach-style designed space with a large chalkboard wall where patrons can write their favorite "old man sayings." Grumpy's will sell a variety of meat pies, including those packed with steak, chicken, lamb, sausage, curry, breakfast ingredients and vegetables. Pies will be made with mostly organic and hormone-free ingredients. The eatery will also offer coffee, teas, soda, soft drinks, chips, cookies and pastries. Grumpy's is expected to open in March at 1148 Garnet Ave. HOTPOT CHAIN COMING TO LA JOLLA China's largest hotpot chain Haidilao will soon open within the space between Aldo and Zara inside Westfield UTC Mall in La Jolla. The restaurant is anticipated to open this summer. Haidilao Hot Pot was founded in Jianyang, China in 1994 and now has nearly 1,000 restaurants in China, Singapore, United States, South Korea, Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom, Malaysia , Vietnam, Indonesia and Australia. Haidilao offers a menu centered around Sichuan-style hot pots made with a selection of rich broths and a lengthy list of dipping options including raw meats, fish, tofu, vegetables and noodles. The Haidilao Hot Pot restaurants also specialize in entertaining table-side service, which includes employees dancing with hand-made noodles stretched in up to 10-foot-long ribbons with sweeping motions around their bodies. The chain also has a unique ventilation system to keep lingering hot pot smells out of its restaurants. For more information, visit haidilao.com/en/index/index.html. JEFFERSON PB REFINANCED CBRE has announced a $69.75 million loan for the refinancing of Jefferson Pacific Beach, a recently constructed, 172-unit multifamily community. Troy Tegeler, Scott Peterson, Bill Chiles and Trevor Breaux and of CBRE's debt and structured finance team in San Diego arranged the loan on behalf of the owner of the property, JPI, a Texas-based multifamily investment and development firm. Located at 4275 Mission Bay Drive, Jefferson Pacific Beach is comprised of 169,571 square feet of residential space and approximately 14,000 square-feet of commercial space. Amenities include a business center, resort-style saltwater pool and spa, fitness center and surfboard repair station. The bayfront community is adjacent to the I-5 freeway and is less than three miles from the Pacific Beach Pier. WATER MAIN BREAKS LESSEN For the fourth year in a row, the number of water main breaks has decreased in the City of San Diego. There were 33 water main breaks reported in 2020, the lowest total in more than 15 years and far fewer than the peak of 131 breaks in 2010. The City credits the continued downward trend to increased maintenance efforts and a multi-year program to replace old pipelines. The City's continuing program to replace old cast iron water mains has played a major part in the decrease in breaks. Some cast iron pipes had been in service for more than 100 years. Since 2013, the City has replaced approximately 180 miles of water pipelines across the city. The remaining 55 miles of cast iron water mains are scheduled to be replaced by 2025. The City now uses water mains made of durable polyvinyl chloride (PVC). FOOD DISTRIBUTION This month, Feeding San Diego, the county's leading hunger relief and food rescue organization, has established a large-scale emergency drive-through food distribution site specifically for members of the hospitality industry who are out of work or working reduced hours and in need of nutritious food. Each distribution will provide over 1,000 households with 50 pounds of food including a frozen meat protein, produce, and dry goods. Those who attend will also receive valuable resources about how to access other Feeding San Diego distributions close to their home and information about CalFresh, and how the organization can help them apply. Many people are facing hunger for the first time and don't know where to turn. One of the objectives of the distribution is to empower people with the information they need to navigate this crisis over the long-term. This month's first distribution, held on Monday, Feb. 1, saw nearly 800 families drive through and over 40,000 pounds of food distributed. For additional assistance, those affected by the pandemic or people in need can easily find the closest food distribution by visiting https://feedingsandiego.org/get-help/ and entering their zip code in the NEW ARTISTIC DIRECTOR The board of directors of San Diego Dance Theater has announced Terry Wilson as their new artistic director. She takes over for long time artistic director Jean Isaacs, who retired on Jan. 31. Wilson began work as the associate artistic director in October 2019 and became artistic director on Feb. 1. Wilson has been performing, choreographing and teaching for more than 32 years. Her dance career began the minute she met Jean Isaacs and she has performed over 50 dances created by Jean. Wilson studied with Isaacs at San Diego State University and consequently began dancing for Three's Company and Dancers in 1986, while completing a BS in psychology from SDSU. Wilson enjoyed a long career as a modern dancer, performing mostly for Isaacs, as well as with many other local, national, and international artists. She performed for Isaacs/McCaleb & Dancers for eight years before leaving to obtain her MFA in dance from the University of Michigan, on full scholarship. Wilson is a dedicated educator, artist and administrator. Her love of teaching was also cultivated by Isaacs. As she moves into the artistic director position, Wilson is excited to infuse the upcoming seasons with exciting new approaches to dance making, training and performance. She is working hard to make sure that San Diego Dance Theater survives and thrives after COVID-19 disappears DRAFT EIR FOR UC SAN DIEGO PROJECT The UC San Diego is the lead agency for the proposed La Jolla Innovation Center Project. The proposed project would redevelop 1.2 acres of an existing 7-acre commercial center at 8980 Villa La Jolla Drive. The 1.2-acre Project site includes a 0.9-acre parcel currently developed with a restaurant building that would be sold to UC Regents and leased to an affiliate of GPI Companies, the current landowner, to develop the project. The remaining 0.3 acre consists of surface parking, landscaping, and hardscape improvements surrounding the parcel as part of the project. The proposed project would demolish the existing restaurant building and develop a new building comprising five levels of office and educational uses, two levels of above grade parking, and two levels of subterranean parking. The project would provide leasable space for UC San Diego Health Sciences and UC San Diego Extension programs, which would serve the UC San Diego campus and the community at large. A copy of the NOA is available at the project website, along with the draft EIR, at https://blink.ucsd.edu/facilities/real-estate/ljic.html. The 45-day public and agency review period for the project's draft EIR will extend from Feb. 5 through March 22. Email comments to [email protected]. BILL BANNING HOUSING DISCRIMINATION California State Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) has reintroduced Assembly Bill 491 to prohibit the discriminatory practice of building separate and unequal entrances and amenities for lower-income residents who live in mixed-income housing. "Imagine being a parent and having to tell your child that they can't swim in the pool or enter through the same door as their neighbors." Gonzalez said. "As we push for more inclusionary housing throughout California, we need to make sure affordable housing residents aren't treated as second-class." AB 491 creates a consistent statewide standard to ensure residents are not discriminated against based on their income status or prevented from accessing certain areas of a mixed-income multifamily housing development. This type of development planning has come under increased scrutiny in recent years as a discriminatory housing practice. MCASD LJ TO REOPEN Expected to reopen late this year, the newly expanded MCASD La Jolla's opening exhibition in 2022 will feature sculptress Niki de Saint Phalle's innovative 'Radical' 1960s Art. Debuting at the Menil Collection in Houston in September, the exhibition will be the first to focus on the artist's experimental and prolific work during this decade, from the famous "shooting paintings," created by shots from a .22-caliber rifle, to the exuberant sculptures of women known as Nanas. Born in France, Saint Phalle later settled in San Diego where her giant outdoor sculptures like "Sun God" on the UC San Diego campus are well known and loved. The new Saint Phalle exhibition will arrive in La Jolla in the spring of 2022, though specific dates have not been publicly set. MCASD broke ground in late 2018 for a $95 million renovation and expansion in La Jolla that will greatly enlarge gallery space. |
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