ADAMS AVENUE NEWS NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

ADAMS AVENUE NEWS A Positive Community Newspaper Created by Locals, for Locals, Supporting Local Businesses northparknews.biz/digital

WHAT’S INSIDE?

Vol. 23 No. 11 November /December 2015

A MID-CITY MAKEOVER

Ladybug Art Center Returns Susan Mae Hill has opened the new Ladybug Art Center in Kensington, a natural continuation of the original studio that she ran in 1974. The new center features original art in various mediums by dozens of San Diego artists.

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Village Vino —Your Local Wine Place You know you’re in Village Vino when the staff sees you come in and shouts your name. It is common for the staff to know patrons by name and even what varietal they enjoy. As you can imagine, Village Vino is a wine bar where friends gather, relax and celebrate. PAGE 10

David Iwashita, principal of Grasshopper Development, stands in the doorway of O’Connor Church Goods, site of a multimillion-dollar makeover. (Photo by Manny Cruz)

Talented developers to rejuvenate 3700 block of El Cajon Boulevard ‘Balboa Park, the Future’ The San Diego Automotive Museum announces the opening of its new exhibit — “Balboa Park, the Future” — the final chapter in the museum’s tribute to the 2015 Centennial..

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CONTACT US EDITORIAL/LETTERS

Manny Cruz manny@sandiegometro.com ADVERTISING

Kelly Pouliot kellysdnews@gmail.com

The dirty white building that houses the O’Connor Church Goods store on El Cajon Boulevard once held offices of Convair engineers working on development of the Atlas rocket in the 1950s. Although the building is showing its age, a transformation will take place on the block as early as next year after a multi-million dollar renovation and rebranding is completed. Grasshopper Development is planning to invest $9 million into the conversion of the site into a community of artists, architects, entrepreneurs artisan makers and other kinds of businesses in co-working spaces. See story on PAGE10 Rendering of 37ECB as designed by Grasshopper Development.

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ARTS

Kensington Welcomes Ladybug Art Center Susan Mae Hull reintroduces her art studio Susan Mae Hull, a fourth generation native San Diegan, opened the Ladybug Art Calligraphy Studio in 1974, providing custom art to businesses, corporations, colleges and the general public. She sold the business in 2010 so she could devote more time to pursue her passion for art and writing.

Now she is back.

Hull opened the new Ladybug Art Center in Kensington on Nov. 14 — a natural continuation of the original studio that she ran in 1974. The grand opening was at the center at

Ladybug Art Center owner Susan Mae Hull.

‘Snow White & the Seven Dwarves’ by Susan Mae Hull.

4685 Biona Drive, just off Adams Avenue.

The new center features original art in various mediums by dozens of San Diego artists, including Deanne Tiffany, plein air painters Tom Zephyrs and Charle Jack, polymer clay designer Beth McClellan.

Also, Ann Carson, a glass artist, and master gourd carver Randy Storm.

Hull will show new work as well as pen and ink drawings of Mylinda Mae Hull.

Artists will offer classes in their specialty at the new art facility. Hull will teach beginning level classes in everything from basket weaving to calligraphy. Beginning classes will be available in drawing, painting, color theory, bookmaking, greeting card design and more. Additionally,

weekly study groups and private instruction will be offered.

Musical entertainment and light refreshments will be offered at the grand opening.

In her biography, Hull said she was chosen to letter invitations when the Queen of England came to San Diego for the dedication of the new Old Globe Theatre in Balboa Park, and inscribed two prayer books presented to the queen. Her work can ‘Highway One out of Capitola,’ oil painting by Deanne Tiffany. be seen across the campus of University of San Diego, where her various commissioned award presentations decorate the walls.

“My goal with my art is to share the gentle beauty of nature and creatures,” said Hull. “I focus my work on animals and plein air landscape, employing the softer mediums of art.

“I love the impressionistic quality of pastel, one of the oldest mediums; the unique combination of precision and impetuousness in ancient Chinese brush painting; the serendipity of watercolor; and the strict discipline of calligraphy. I particularly enjoy melding these disparate disciplines.”

‘Palimino,’ polymer clay, by Beth McClellan.

FOOD & DRINK

Your Local Wine Place Where everybody knows your name You know you’re in Village Vino when the staff sees you come in and shouts your name.

It is common for the staff to know patrons by name and even what varietal they enjoy. Really, everyone does know your name and if they did not know it on the first visit, they will on your second. As you can imagine, Village Vino is a wine bar where friends gather, relax and celebrate.

Village Vino was founded by wine connoisseur and industry veteran Rita Pirkl as a family owned and operated business focused on sharing great small familyowned wine selections with the local community.

Earlier this year, Village Vino joined another local San Diego family-owned and operated hospitality star — BTS Hospitality Group. BTS Hospitality is comprised of BTS Catering and Events and The Fantail Café @ the USS Midway Museum. BTS is San Diego’s highest rated off-premise catering company, with more than 25 years’ experience in the local marketplace and abroad.

John Crisafulli, owner and founder of BTS Hospitality, has spent more than 25 years building a reputation and solid local business in San Diego. The company is known for its excellence and innovation in the food and beverage industry. Crisafulli directs and manages all aspects of BTS Hospitality Group’s local and international business interests.

Village Vino stands out because of its support of small family-owned and operated wineries from around the world. Their wine list is so well received it was named “Best Wine List” and “Runner up for Best Wine Bar” by San Diego Magazine in June 2015.

Due to the unique types of wines and wineries they work with, their inventory changes frequently. The best way to learn what new “find” they have is to do what their regulars do — which is do a frequent check-in with a glass of wine. Their list is special and diverse and they have monthly wine tastings and other events making it a great social place to gather and have a glass or two or even bottle with friends.

Village Vino also has a small but good selection of eats. From artisan chess and charcuterie to salads through flatbreads, their food is simple, straightforward fare with an eye toward food and wine pairings.

Yet, they support the farm to table movement and work with local purveyors to secure fresh, organic ingredients whenever possible. The menu changes seasonally to take advantage of the freshest and tastiest items available in the market.

Village Vino has become one of the vivid benchmarks in the local wine and culinary scene since its founding in 2012. With more than 100-plus premium and unique wines on the list, there is always something new on the menu or on the shelf to sip, savor, and enjoy.

If you enjoy wine, this quaint wine bar is a San Diego gem. Just celebrating its third anniversary, Village Vino will be around for many more years — just like a great vintage bottle of wine.

For more information on Village Vino, their wine tasting and other events and menu, visit, wwww.villagewino.com.

Villag Vino, 4095 Adams Ave. (619) 5468466

John Crisafulli of BTS Hospitality Group

MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP | NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015 |

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COMMUNITY

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Sisters United

BY SUSAN TAYLOR

Across time and distance, Sonja finds the sister she never knew she had You know their first names and their dog’s name, if they are married or single, working or retired, friendly or cranky. They are our neighbors, next door or down the block.

It’s customary to greet them and maybe even befriend them, but when are they more than previous strangers?

Consider Sonja Benavides, who grew up on Texas Street. An only child, or so she thought, Sonja discovered as an adult that she had a half sister who, in 1982, was living in North Park at 32nd Street and Ivy. Her mother, Dagny, never talked about having had a baby in Arizona, or the father, and the difficult decision to give up the baby girl for adoption.

This baby, named Barbara (Barbara Nye), was raised by loving adoptive parents in Phoenix. She eventually moved to North Park.

Sonja, Dagny’s second daughter, knew San Diego as her home. She sometimes wished that she had brothers and sisters, and at times felt a little different, having older parents and a father from Costa Rica, but she made friends at Jefferson Elementary and Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, some who still live in North Park to this day.

North Park has that homey feeling, many adults living in their same childhood houses, with grandparents or aunts and uncles around the corner.

More years passed. Dagny never knew that the baby she left in Arizona (Now grown up), was walking the

Sisters Sonja Benavides and Barbara Nye (seated, holding photo of their mother Dagny). Photo by Jim Childers

same North Park streets and perhaps shopping in the same local stores.

Dagny died in 2009, and it was soon after her memorial service at the Lutheran church that the connection between mother and daughters was

made. Barbara went to the memorial because she felt “100 percent sure” that Dagny was her birth mother after seeing the obituary and photo of Dagny.

The resemblance is striking. She sat

in the back of the church, not wanting to be conspicuous, but afterward, she approached the pastor and told her story. She had documentation from adoption records and more proof was to come later, when Sonja found a social worker’s card in her mother’s house with Barbara’s date and time of birth. Furthermore, one of Dagny’s close friends from Phoenix affirmed that Dagny had had a baby and put her up for adoption. Sonja was of course at the memorial service for Dagny, and needed to tend to matters in the family home. A meeting was arranged between Sonja and Barbara and they shared photos, stories, memories, tears and laughter.

The two women are daughters of the same mother, and now good friends. Sonja’s personal journey took her to San Francisco for college, and then to Los Angeles. Today she lives on 29th Street in North Park and works at The Office on 30th Street while continuing to make and sell jewelry, some of which is showcased in the gift shop at the Mingei Museum in Balboa Park. She is 44 and mother to Charlotte Rose, age 4. Barbara is 52 and lives with her husband in Mission Valley. She has had a long career in biotech, accounting and administration.

The relationship has enriched both lives. Sonja has discovered family secrets, good ones, that strengthen the love she will always feel for Dagny, who

she describes as adventurous, fun, and supportive. “I cannot fully explain how much the unconditional love my mother gave me growing up made me feel safe heading out into this judgmental and critical, yet exciting world we live in…I only hope I can give as much to my daughter,” says Sonja.

Barbara, who early on had accepted the fact that she might never find her birth mother, now has a sister in Sonja, and an understanding of the kind of woman her mother was. She has learned from Sonja that Dagny was a dedicated secretary for 30 years for the city of San Diego, and a loving wife to Jaime for 35 years. She faced a hard choice in the ’60s, leaving behind a baby, moved to San Diego in 1963, and raised a strong, successful daughter, a person willing to embrace a shared past with a stranger who appeared at their mother’s end of life.

Dagny loved road trips, and Sonja remembers feeling secure as they vacationed together. She still likes to head out on the open road, and together with Barbara, she visited Phoenix and Sedona last summer and met many of Barbara’ Arizona relatives. Each woman has a larger and stronger family now, and they are grateful to have been united. Sonja and Barbara, and Sonja’s little girl, Charlie (Charlotte Rose) will undoubtedly continue the meandering journey that now connects their lives.

Get Election Materials Emailed to You

The Registrar of Voters is sending out 1.4 million postcards to registered voters in San Diego County this week asking if they’d like to receive those election materials in their inbox instead of their mailbox.

At one time, state and local laws required the Registrar to mail a copy of the sample ballot and voter information pamphlet to each registered voter. Now the Registrar is allowed to offer those materials online instead.

In the 2014 election cycle, the Registrar mailed County residents more than 3 million pamphlets adding up to 281 tons of paper. Voters who sign up to get the materials electronically will allow the Registrar’s Office to save money and help the environment at the same time.

Voters who opt in to electronic materials will see another advantage, too. They’ll get the sample ballot and voter information pamphlet immediately after they are released while other voters must wait a day or so before the information shows up in their regular mailbox.

The postcards will also give voters who usually cast their ballots at the polls the opportunity to sign up to become a permanent vote-by-mail voter.

Whether they are mailed or emailed, sample ballots and information pamphlets are available upon request in Spanish, Filipino, Vietnamese and Chinese.

For more information, call (858) 565-5800 or visit sdvote.com.

COMMUNITY

MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP | NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015 |

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Ask Dr. Z gerous and common diseases caught on planes that are at least partially preventable by a vaccine. Given the extent of travel these days, assume anyone from any country can be on the plane.

If your child is under 2 months old, I do not recommend plane travel.

The Tax Man Cometh Property tax bills are due

BY DAN MCALLISTER S.D. COUNTY TREASURER/TAX COLLECTOR

The season of giving has begun!

Annual secured property tax bills from our office were sent out in September. So by now, all of you who are property owners should have received your annual secured bill.

This year, 2,269 additional bills were sent out — bringing the total to 986,858. These secured bills will generate more than $5 billion for county operations to help our schools, our community colleges, our libraries, and so much more in our community.

This year, we’ve improved our mobile-friendly platform to make it easier for taxpayers like you to pay online through your phone or tablet. We are always striving to provide you with more streamlined payment options. You can also sign up for our e-notification

Treasurer/Tax Collector Dan McAllister

system to get a friendly e-mail reminder when your taxes are due at www.sdtreastax.com.

Here are some tips for paying your annual secured tax bill on time to avoid any penalties.

Mark your calendar. The Tax Collector’s office sends one annual secured bill only. The first installment is due on Nov. 1 and the last day to pay on time is Dec. 10. The second installment is due on Feb. 1 and the last day to pay on time is April 10.

Prepare financially. There is no legal provision to defer taxes due to financial hardship. If you are unable to pay your taxes when due, a penalty will be assessed. If your taxes are still unpaid by the end of the fiscal year, your taxes will default and additional penalties will apply. At that time, you may qualify for a payment plan to pay the taxes over a five-year

period.

Check with your mortgage company. If you have recently refinanced or purchased a property, contact your lender to determine who will be paying the tax bill. If you have an impound account, make sure your mortgage company pays the bill on time.

Check your travel schedule. If you plan to be out of town, make arrangements beforehand. And remember, you can always pay online! It’s fast, free, and easy.

Don’t confuse your supplemental bill with your annual secured bill. Supplemental bills are separate from your annual secured tax bill. They are sent when there’s been a change of ownership or new construction.

If you are in the military, you may be eligible for deferred payment. If you’re on military deployment, you may be able to defer paying your taxes until you return. Call our office at (877) 829-4732 to check.

Thank you for allowing us to serve you!

I am traveling on a plane with my young child this winter.

What precautions should I take?

Planes can be little petri dishes of infections, so your most important precaution is to take care of yourself and your infant with lots of good food, vegetables and fruit and sleep in the days and weeks before travel.

Babies tend to get ill from their parents and those closest to them, so make sure you are well enough to fight off any illness that comes your way from the plane. Then, keep your little one close to you — front carrier, on your lap, etc. Try not to let them wander around touching everything.

When they do, this would be the main time I would recommend a hand sanitizer. Use it on your little one after they touch things and before they put their fingers in their mouth or on their face, and on your own after you touch the ticket counter, the chairs, etc. Feel free to be neurotic. Next up, sanitizing wipes for your immediate chair, tray table, plane wall, etc. Wipe it all down as soon as you get on the plane and before you let your child down. And finally, make sure your child has had immunizations. The most important for U.S. travel if you selectively vaccinate are the DTaP and the PCV (pneumococcal). If they are over 6 months old, look into the flu shot, and if over 1 year old, an MMR is also appropriate. These are the most dan-

Can you get the flu from the flu shot?

In a word, no. There is no active virus in the flu shot, only proteins.

However, there are two ways that you can feel ill after a flu shot. The first is that you breathed in the flu virus (or another virus, like the common cold or stomach flu) in the few days before your shot. Then your immune system has to deal with both the infection and the flu shot proteins, thus weakening the response to both. In a pinch, the body will fight the more dangerous one and let you get the other.

That’s why you might get that cold or stomach virus, while the body mounts the immunity to the flu. The other reason you may feel ill after a flu shot is the immune response to the shot itself. This is what makes the flu shot work. When the body is exposed to flu proteins, it fights it the same way it fights the flu — fever, body aches, cough, mucous, fatigue. With the vaccine, however, the response is mild and short because it is not the full virus you received. If you are still feeling poorly after three days, you really are ill and got sick in the day or so before your shot, so take care of yourself!

Dr. Tara Zandvliet welcomes your questions. Send them to questions@ southparkdoctor.com. She practices at 2991 Kalmia St. Phone: (619) 929-0032.

NEWS

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Golden Hill Neighborhood

BY TIMES OF SAN DIEGO

Nonprofit One San Diego seeks to bridge city’s north-south divide From a small office in San Diego’s Golden Hill neighborhood, Mayor Kevin Faulconer’s year-old nonprofit One San Diego is trying to bridge the gap between the city’s wealthiest and most impoverished neighborhoods.

“One San Diego was really one of Kevin’s campaign platforms. His whole concept is that every neighborhood has to be doing well if San Diego is going to do well,” said his wife, Katherine, who serves as honorary chair of the nonprofit.

The organization’s office is in an old building with graffiti on the door.

That’s on purpose to underscore a commitment to address what Faulconer calls “the divide between the communities north of the ‘8’ versus south of the ‘8.’”

Faulconer sees her role as fostering partnerships that bring together companies and other sponsors to provide very specific kinds of help to San Diego neighborhoods. And in her role as first lady of the city, she has many opportunities to see where help is needed.

“We’ll find a sponsor who wants

Katherine Faulconer in front of One San Diego’s office in Golden Hill. (Photo by Chris Jenenewein)

to do something and we’ll sit down with them and create a program,” she explained. “There’s plenty of things that need help funding.”

Over the last year, One San Diego’s neighborhood projects have included: • November 2014 — Provided 60 laptops for students to do homework at public libraries. Funding was provided by the Walmart Foundation and the San Diego Public Library Foundation.

• August 2015 — Distributed 300 backpacks filled with school supplies to low-income students in Barrio Logan in partnership with the Marlow B. Martinez Foundation.

• August 2015 — Organized a block party for residents of Southcrest with police officers and firefighters on hand in an effort to increase neighborhood cooperation.

• September 2015 — Provided 60 Chromebook laptops for use by students in the San Ysidro and Valencia

Park/Malcolm X Branch libraries.

Funding came from Cox Communications and the San Diego Library Foundation.

In addition, the nonprofit has organized a series of community forums to discuss issues facing particular communities from Otay Mesa to City Heights.

The block party was a major success, and another one is planned for the Webster neighborhood on Nov. 21. The police department is helping One San Diego pick the communities, with a goal of improving relationships in high crime areas.

Faulconer, who founded the event-management company Restaurant Events nearly 20 years ago, is using her organizational skills to bring resources from all over the city to improve communities.

“We’re not trying to re-invent the wheel,” she said. “We’re trying to bring people together to do more things.”

Excellence in Journalism Awards Freelance writer Delle Willett won a first place award in the San Diego Press Club’s 42nd annual Excellence in Journalism Awards last night for a story on AssetBacked Loans in the April 2015 issue of SD METRO Magazine. The award was in the Magazines, Business & Financial category.

Willett’s story, which also appeared in the North Park News, described a new source of capital gaining in popularity -- assetbacked loans. Personal-asset lenders take personal luxury assets like gold, jewelry, classic cars and the like as collateral for a short-term personal or business loan.

Freelance writer Thomas Shess took home a second place award for

ADAMS AVENUE NEWS northparknews.biz/digital MidCityNewspaperGroup.com Serving San Diego’s Premier Mid City Communities Chairman/CEO Bob Page BobPage@sandiegometro.com Publisher Rebeca Page RebecaPage@sandiegometro.com Associate Publisher Brad Weber ReachLocals@ MidCityNewspaperGroup.com Editor Manny Cruz Manny@sandiegometro.com Art Director Chris Baker cbaker@sandiegometro.com Marketing/Advertising Kelly Pouliot kellysdnews@gmail.com -----------------------------Writers/Columnists Todd Gloria Bart Mendoza Delle Willett Anna Lee Fleming Sara Wacker Media Consultant Tom Shess

an architecture story for the North Park News, and a third place award for a travel story, also in the North Park News.

Shess penned the winning design feature for May 2015’s “C Street Panorama,” a Richard Requa designed vintage home in South Park owned by the Schoeffel family. Shess was singled out for his June article “North Park to Cuba” feature in North Park News.

Veteran writer, Shess has 14 Press Club Awards for Architecture & Design from the San Diego Press Club, however it was his first award in travel writing.

Social Media Ali Hunt Photography Manny Cruz Sande Lollis Letters/Opinion Pieces North Park News encourage letters to the editor and guest editorials. Please address correspondence to Manny@sandiegometro.com or mail to Manny Cruz. Please include a phone number, address and name for verification purposes; no anonymous letters will be printed. We reserve the right to edit letters and editorials for brevity and accuracy.

Story ideas/Press Releases Do you have an idea for an article you would like to see covered in this newspaper? We welcome your ideas, calendar item listings and press releases. For breaking news, please call us at (619) 287-1865.

Delle Willett

Tom Shess

For all other news items, please email Manny@sandiegometro.com.

ADDRESS PO Box 3679, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067 PHONE (858) 461-4484 North Park News distributes copies monthly to residents and businesses of North Park, South Park, Golden Hill and Normal Heights.

The entire contents of North Park News is copyrighted, 2015, by REP Publishing, Inc. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without prior written consent.

All rights reserved.

MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP | NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015 |

BALBOA PARK: THE FUTURE AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM’S FINAL TRIBUTE TO 2015 CENTENNIAL PHOTOS BY PAULA BRANDES

2015 Polaris Slingshot

2012 Fisker Karma

The San Diego Automotive Museum announces the opening of its new exhibit — “Balboa Park, the Future” — the final chapter in the museum’s tribute to the 2015 Centennial.

The exhibit will run through Jan. 29, 2016.

It features advanced technologies, concept design, and presentations about what the driving experience will be in the next generation.

SDG&E is the community partner for this exhibit. Its special display about plugged in cars has been included. The exhibit also features a film display of Terrafugia’s flying car prototype.

This Boston-based company is making the 1962 vision of the Jetson’s flying car something that is real and on the horizon.

This exhibit features 2000 Nissan Hyper Mini, a locally designed and built 3-Wheeler, a 1999 Tango, a 2016 Electric Smart Fortwo, a 2012 Fisker Karma, a 1981 Delorean DMC 12, a 1924 Ford Model T converted to hydrogen, a 2015 Polaris Slingshot, a 2000 24.7 Ford Concept Pickup Truck, a 2015 BMW i3, and a 2015 Stromer STI Electric Bike.

Exhibit partners are Nissan Design, Minh Duong, Richard Woodbury, Peter Pickslay, Denise Botticelli, Motoworld of El Cajon, Smart Center of Kearny Mesa, Electric Bike Central, Bryan Thompson Designand BMW of San Diego.

Regular hours are 10 a.m.to 5 p.m. The museum is closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Admission prices are as follows: $9 for adults, $6 for seniors (65 and over), $5 students with ID, $4 children ages 6-15. Children under the age of 6 are admitted free of charge. The museum is free to all San Diego County residents and military with ID on the fourth Tuesday of each month. Phone (619) 231-2886.

2000 24.7 Ford Concept Pickup Truck

1999 Tango

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Museum of Art Exhibits Feature Works of Harry Sternberg and James Hubbell The San Diego Museum of Art announces the opening of two exhibitions — “East Coast, West Coast and In-Between: Harry Sternberg and America,” and “James Hubbell: California Wildfire Watercolors.”

The exhibitions feature a variety of paintings, drawings and prints by the respective San Diego artists, Harry Sternberg and James Hubbell, who each found artistic inspiration through nature and life.

“East Coast, West Coast” (on exhibit through May 8, 2016)

The exhibition features some of the most striking works produced during the various stages of Sternberg’s 75-year artistic career.

Before settling in Escondido, Sternberg spent the first 62 years of his life in New York City, working as an instructor in etching, lithography and composition at New York’s famous Art Students League. During these years, Sternberg became known for his psychological character studies, industrial landscapes, socially focused satires, self-portraits and prints.

Combining realism and aspects of abstraction and surrealism, Sternberg created dark, dramatic works, often with a distinctly dreamlike impact. He also documented the terrible working conditions in the Pennsylvania coal mines. In 1936, he received a Guggenheim fellowship, an annual grant awarded to those who have demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts.

During the 1950s, Sternberg frequently visited the Western U.S. to see his wife’s family and teach courses at Idyllwild Arts Academy and Brigham Young University, where, in 1957, he painted the magisterial landscape Mountains and Birches of Utah. The piece is part of the museum’s permanent collection and will be on display in the rotunda throughout the duration of the exhibition.

In 1966, Sternberg was given approximately six months to live due to lung damage after

having worked with toxic paints for several decades. The artist rebelled against this categorical verdict, quit his long-standing job at the Art Students League, and set up a studio on East Valley Parkway in Escondido. There he proceeded to create his signature portraits and prints for another 35 years though now adapted to color schemes inspired by the bright California sun.

The exhibition is curated by Bram Dijkstra, professor emeritus of UC San Diego and author of many published books; including “American Expressionism: Art and Social Change, 19201950” (2003).

James Hubbell, Untitled, 2004, watercolor on paper.

“James Hubbell: California Wildfire Watercolors” (on exhibit through Feb. 9, 2016)

This exhibition features 10 watercolor paintings by renowned architect and artist James Hubbell. The works were executed in the aftermath of the 2003 Cedar Fire, which ravaged the San Diego region and destroyed part of the artist’s home. The house, which Hubbell built in 1958, was widely recognized for its unique sculptural pieces and whimsical appearance.

After the most destructive fire in San Diego’s history, Hubbell rebuilt the home, which he and his wife still occupy near Julian. This is the first time these works have been displayed since 2003.

Hubbell’s influence on the artistic culture of the San Diego region transcends his work as a painter, sculptor and designer. His buildings and public park projects have garnered international interest and recognition, and have been featured in numerous articles and books, television programs on the Travel Channel and Home and Garden TV and two documentaries produced by KPBS. “James Hubbell: California Wildfire Watercolors” is curated by Ariel Plotek, Ph.D., associate curator of Modern Art at The San Diego Museum of Art. Harry Sternberg, ‘Mountains and Birches of Utah,’ 1957, oil on board.

Kathleen Hansen is New Director of San Diego Chorus The San Diego Chorus has welcomed its first new director in 30 years. Music educator and choir director Kathleen Hansen takes over the 61-year-old award-winning chorus of more than 80 women, who perform and compete singing a cappella in the barbershop style. Hansen takes over from Kim Vaughn,

who was director from 1985 to 2015.

Hansen has been working in the field of music education since 1998 with students of all ages and backgrounds. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree, specializing in music education and trumpet, a single-subject teaching credential and a Master of Music degree,

specializing in conducting.

Hansen also is director of the San Diego Women’s Chorus, a nonprofit community chorus that strives to use the power of women and the power of music to entertain and inspire audiences. She serves as director of the Sun Harbor Chorus and the North County Tremble Clefs (a ther-

apeutic chorus for people with Parkinson’s and their caregivers/loved ones). She also operates Serenity Sound Healing, where she uses traditional Tibetan instruments as a therapeutic modality.

Kathleen Hansen

MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP | NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015 |

By Bart Mendoza November 21 Stellita Marie Stands Out in Jacobs Center Fundraiser On Nov. 21, the Jacobs Center will be the site of a special fundraiser, “Three Debonair Dudes and a Leading Lady,” with proceeds from the night benefitting two local charities: Father Joe’s Villages and Second Chance. On hand will be comedian Jahmaine, along with singers Bizz, Don Johnson and Stellita Marie. All are impressive talents, but it’s Marie that is the clear standout, with a powerful voice and stage presence to match. Marie is a major talent and has been part of several local groups, including Detroit Underground. Anyone who likes jazz, blues or R&B will find this a chance to hear great local talent while also helping two worthy causes. www.jacobscenter.org

November 28

December 9

Scott Russo’s Staying Power

Nik Turner Gig a Promo for New Book

Unwritten Law, one of San Diego’s favorite rock bands, circa the 1990s, returns to the House of Blues on Nov. 28. The band has never had a stable lineup and it’s been four years since the release of their most recent disc, “Swan,” but that only goes to show the staying power that frontman Scott Russo has. His manic performing style has certainly won him fans, but perhaps the secret to the band’s longevity is Russo’s melodic sense, which has resulted in a string of classic, anthemic, sing-a-long singles such as “Save Me,” “Nevermind” and “She Says. ” With no new album to push, this show promises to be all about those hits. www.houseofblues.com/sandiego

A co-founder of the space rock movement, Nik Turner appears at the Til Two Club on Dec. 9, with his current version of Hawkwind. Turner left the band circa 1984, but continues to play the music with a new band of musicians. Unusually, on this tour, Turner isn’t promoting a new album. Instead, the show is to spread the word about a new book he’s penned, “The Spirit of Hawkwind 1969-1976.” Though Hawkwind is not a household name by any means, at least in the U.S. it is a true cult band, inspiring generations of musicians, from the Sex Pistols to Ministry. While it’s unlikely any new material will be aired, the book’s focus on the band’s early years pretty much guarantees a set based on nothing but the band’s crowd pleasers. www.tiltwoclub.com

November 28 El Debarge Loses None of His Edge Soul and modern R&B aficionados won’t want to miss an appearance from ’80s hit-maker, El Debarge at The Music Box on Nov. 28. He scored several hits with his family, including “Rhythm of the Night” (No. 3, 1985) before embarking on a solo career that has seen him remain a chart artist through the decades. His most recent single, 2010’s “Lay With You,” made the R&B Top 20 and proved that he had lost none of his edge. With his sweet, smooth voice and suave stage presence, plus an arsenal of romantic hit songs, Debarge’s set promises to get the ladies in attendance swooning, while keeping the dance floor packed. www.musicboxsd.com

December 13 The Formidable Newcomer Josie Day

November 27-28 Rocking With Punk Rockers X The Casbah has a number of two-night residencies this time out, including Little Hurricane, Dec. 4-5, and Mariachi El Bronx on Dec. 16-17. But the one that will get the adrenaline pumping the most is sure to be legendary Los Angeles punk rockers, X, appearing Nov. 2728. The band hasn’t released a new album since 1993’s, “Hey, Zeus,” but the audience will be cheering loudest for tunes from their first two seminal albums, “Los Angeles” (1980) and “Wild Gift” (1981).

Fans will be happy to hear that guitarist Billy Zoom will be touring with the band following recovery from cancer treatment earlier this year. www.casbahmusic.com

On Dec. 13, Tio Leo’s will be site of “Roni Lee Rocks Christmas,” an annual event hosted by the hard rock queen. While the entire musical lineup was not set at press time, among those confirmed are former Mamas & Pappas/Buckinghams singer, Laurie Lewis, Andrews Sisters tribute, The Sisters of Swing and newcomer, Josie Day. The latter is a formidable talent, known for her stints with such popular local covers-based combos such as Wild Rumor. Day recently released her debut EP, “About Time,” with radio friendly tracks such as “No Plan B,” surely making her an early contender for the 2016 SDMA’s. Meanwhile, Lee is a terrific guitarist best known for co-penning the Runaways classic song “I Wanna Be Where the Boys Are,” as well as membership in punk pioneers, Venus & The Razor Blades. One of the best frontwomen in town, Lee never gives less than 200 percent, with a stadium-ready band to back her. www.ronileerockschristmas.com

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10 | NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015 | MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP

A Mid-City Makeover The dirty white building that houses the O’Connor Church Goods store on El Cajon Boulevard once held offices of Convair engineers working on development of the Atlas rocket in the 1950s. Later versions of the rocket put men into space.

In the years before the O’Connor family business took up residence in the building some 51 years ago, it was home to a variety of commercial businesses, including a furniture store and office uses. The corner parcel was developed as a service station in the 1920s, and became a 7-Eleven store in the 1970s.

Although the building is showing its age, a transformation will take place on the block as early as next year after a multi-million dollar renovation and rebranding is completed.

Grasshopper Development, which purchased the building from Jacquelyn O’Connor, is planning to invest $9 million into the conversion of the site into a community of artists, architects, entrepreneurs artisan makers and other kinds of businesses in co-working spaces.

The development will include loft

The building at 3720 El Cajon Boulevard has seen better days.

spaces on the second floor for co-working tech entrepreneurs, industrial craftsmen and others.

The corner parcel of the block will be develped into a community park.

Grasshopper Development principals David Iwashita and Jay Wentz, the men who designed the restoration of the nearby Lafayette Hotel, have named the site 37ECB, in reference to its location in the 3700 block of El Cajon Boulevard.

“37ECB will be uniquely different from typical co-working and incubator spaces in San Diego in that it will have an 18-hour vitality,” according to the development team, which is in the process of lining up a mix of diverse, daily food offernings, a full-service beverage

COMMUNITY Talented developers to rejuvenate 3700 block of El Cajon Boulevard

Jacquelyn O’Connor, owner of O’Connor Church Goods, intends to relocate the business, which will mark its 80th anniversary in 2016.

bar and locally made products in a market setting.

There also will be an active co-working lobby membership base of weekly educational programs and workshops; mailboxes, meeting/conference rooms and a small business center. 37ECB will have a recording and film production studio supporting start-ups, nonprofits, and the emerging arts and entertainment scene.

On-site there will also be private dining, maker production and studio spaces rented by the hour including bike storage, lockers and a repair station. There will also be opportunities for nutritional classes, urban gardening and fitness programs.

“We will be creating an ecosystem, a place where you really don’t have to leave,” said Iwashita.

“37ECB is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for food & beverage operators, with over 20,000 square feet of programmable space, with capacity for over 200 creatives and small businesses on-site daily, and over 200 events a year,” said Wentz. “The customers are built in.”

The development team has an interest list of people hoping to become tenants in the building. “We have over 250 people and its growing every single day,” said Iwashita.

O’Connor Church Goods, which will mark its 80th year in business in 2016, is planning to move to another site on El Cajon Boulevard. "Although the move for O’Connor’s is bittersweet, we are excited for our company’s future, and to move our store to another location that will serve the community for the next 80 years,” said John O’Connor.

Wentz and Iwashita started working with local groups — the El Cajon Boulevard Business Improvement Association’s Economic Development Committee, Civic San Diego, among others — in January. They determined the highest and best use for the property was to create a business incubator “that could empower creatives, startups and entrepreneurs on the Boule-

vard.”

“The vision of 37ECB is that the repositioning of the O’Connor’s building will be the beginning of a groundswell that will continue to grow and unfold,” according to a prepared statement by the development team.

“It will provide unique opportunities for the artists and creative professionals in the community, as well as new dining and entertainment options for all.

37ECB will initiate the revitalization of the surrounding site for continued growth that eventually will transition organically into a cultural destination.”

“Within a one-mile radius of 37ECB, there are more than 50,000 residents, which is a higher density than Downtown and boasts over 20,000 car traffic count along El Cajon Boulevard,” said Iwashita. “We are excited about bringing another catalytic project to the Boulevard as an anchor for the new economic development that will bring new commercial business and local job opportunities to support the local entrepreneurial class and residents. We are creating a community that is designed to support one another and make one another better in all that we do in life and business.”

Summer of 2016 is the anticipated completion of the makeover.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM ADAMS AVENUE NEWS!

Winnie’s Picks!

It’s time again for Winnie’s picks.

ous locations. If you enjoy thrillers and police stories, you will enjoy this 2-disc set.

The Age Of Adaline

Blake Lively, Michael Huisman star in a very different story about the timeless power of love. Adaline is guarding a secret and it does not come to a head until she meets someone from her past. She is convinced to take hold of the situation.

Very entertaining.

Love And Mercy

John Cusack and Elizabeth Banks will take you back in history to enjoy the Beach Boys. The story of the singer-songwriter, Brian Wilson, will let you enjoy his best musical masterpieces. A feel good DVD that you don’t want to miss. You will be up dancing around and enjoying every minute.

Days That Shook The World

A documentary about events you have forgotten. They are presented in such an entertaining way that you can hardly wait for the next event to be shown. A 2-disc set that is certainly worth seeing. Events that changed the way we view the world.

If you are a history nut, or not, this is a must see.

Detectorists

A BBC tale of treasure hunting.

Have you ever owned a metal detector? It sounds like fun! This is a funny, little tale of plain people enjoying the simple things of life. A quirky little movie.

Kidnap And Ransom

Directed by Patrick Harbinson.

Another thriller, which I certainly enjoy, filmed in exotic and danger-

Monkey Kingdom

Disneynature captures all the magic and adventure of a special monkey that will steal your heart.

This film will make you laugh and this monkey is so clever. You will want to own this one. It is filmed in the ruins of the jungles of South Asia. Enjoy and see you next month.

TRAVEL

MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP | NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015 |

11

San Diego Profile: Robert Kenyon Owner of First Cabin reflects on the path less traveled. them to a client base that grew in number over the years, and which tours became quite successful with most selling out upon release.

In 1989 he launched First Cabin Travel, which offers customized tours to destinations worldwide. The tours include a private car, private driver and guide, with accommodations, breakfast and lunch served daily, beginning at $185 per person per day for land costs.

International airfare and local airfare are additional. Given the quality of the land arrangements and service, it readRaised in Massachusetts, Robert ily stands out as the most affordable, Kenyon received his first overseas luxury-styled tour offering in the marassignment at age 17 with the ketplace.

U.S. Marine Corps when sent to serve in Vietnam. He returned with a What would be the differences love of Asia and a passion for travel. between a trip planned by First Upon return, Kenyon earned his degree Cabin and a trip planned by an in law and practiced with the San individual or another company?

One important difference is that I Diego District Attorney's office for six years. It was not very long thereafter personally have traveled everywhere before his long held passion for travel that I send my clients. I write all of the itineraries within the First Cabin portovercame his zeal for the law.

His introduction to worldwide cus- folio and do not rely solely upon overtom travel came as a tour manager for seas ground operators to inform me a renowned luxury tour operator, about what is available. I have visited which took him to the far reaches of the many regions to gain first hand the globe. After leading many of these knowledge of conditions on site. Of journeys, Kenyon began to write the the 195 countries recognized within itineraries for custom travel, offering the world community, I have visited

172, some on more than 35 occasions.

It is an important distinction worth noting and separates us from most other tour operators within the field.

A second point is that I have become close friends with the ground operators that I have worked with for some 25 years. They know what I require for my clients and I know that they will perform accordingly. All of our custom tours include a private vehicle, private driver and private guide. When it comes time to be met at the airport, someone is there to greet you with a clean, reliable vehicle, who speaks excellent English and who has the knowledge of their surroundings. We have added a section of "Special Offer" tours, including trips to Myanmar (Burma) and Indochina, which, as with

many other of our itineraries, make for a truly unforgettable holiday. All of our itineraries can be further customized to suit the needs of each and every one of our clientele.

We encourage potential clients to compare what we offer with any other tour company within the marketplace, and almost always, they come back to book with us, if it is an apple-apple comparison. We like to consider our luxury tour packages "an unexpected bargain".

We offer exceptional ground service while on tour at what surely is an exceptionally reasonable price. It is the very reason why the vast majority of our bookings come from repeat clientele or their enthusiastic referrals. We like to think that once someone books a tour with us, surely it will not be their last.

You focus on Southeast Asia,

India, China and Africa, all Third World countries. What should a traveler expect in accommodations?

At certain destinations, the accommodations and service would rival and even surpass what could be found in Europe. There are safari camps where one would have to touch the canvas to confirm that it was a tent they were assigned for the night. The accommodations in India are palatial, in a literal sense as hoteliers have refurbished former palaces. In Hoi An, Vietnam, the Nam Hai Resort would compare favorably with any resort along the California coast.

Early on in my business, I would only use five-star properties for my clientele. In recent years, most governSEE TRAVEL, Page 20

12 | NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015 | MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP

ARTS

SDSU’S ROCK ‘N’ ROLL HISTORY A mural celebrates the importance of artistic and musical history on campus

BY HALLIE JACOBS

Some say music isn’t as important as it used to be. They argue that songs don’t contain the same social, cultural and political charges as they did in earlier decades. But according to Seth Mallios, an anthropologist at San Diego State University, popular entertainment remains a catalyst for social change.

“The acts that have played at SDSU have defined crucial moments in history -- and they continue to do so,” Mallios said.

Mallios has spent the last five years studying SDSU’s rock ‘n’ roll history which dates back to the early ’60s. More than 3,000 concerts have taken place on campus, featuring big names such as Ella Fitzgerald, Bob Dylan, The Ramones and Lady Gaga.

Although genres have shifted over time, messages in music are a constant -- stories of love, heartbreak, loss, uprising and revolution are present in the songs, regardless of the decade.

Many of these songs were echoed in a tiny concert venue located in unfinished lanes in SDSU’s old bowling alley.

The Backdoor served as the stage for a number of classic acts, many of whom unknowingly walked past a vibrant painting located near the rear stage entrance.

Mallios has been instrumental in restoring the Backdoor Mural, which is one of the most important cultural artifacts of SDSU’s rock ‘n’ roll history.

With the support of donors — such as Aztec Parents, Steve and Susan Weber, the President’s Leadership Fund and dozens of supporters through SDSU Strive — the now infamous Backdoor mural received its second chance in the spotlight.

The mural was unveiled at an Oct. 29 ceremony that explored SDSU’s role in chronicling musical history. The event included a release of a five-volume book anthology on the history of live popular music at SDSU, and featured a performance by famed songwriter, SDSU alumnus and Backdoor mainstay Jack Tempchin.

‘Let it Rock!’ will be available in hardcover and eBook formats.

About the Backdoor Mural

The Backdoor mural

Painted in 1976 by students in Professor Arturo Anselmo Roman’s Chicano art class, the artwork serves as a glimpse into the height of SDSU’s bustling music scene which simultaneously coincided with pivotal moments for Chicano activism.

“SDSU’s rock ‘n’ roll history is extraordinary; yet most San Diegans

have no idea,” Mallios said. “So many of us have had favorite musical moments on Montezuma Mesa, but virtually no one knows how they all fit together to make this campus the rock 'n' roll epicenter of the region.”

“Let it Rock!” will be available in hardcover and eBook formats.

Mallios and his co-author Jaime

Lennox’s anthology titled “Let it Rock!” details SDSU’s concert repertoire.

According to their research, SDSU has hosted more live music shows than nearly any other college campus. The books include an array of performances, from Joan Baez to the Grateful Dead, Ray Charles to Adele.

Each book contains pictures and personal accounts from concert attendees.

SDSU Begins Construction On Engineering Complex San Diego State University held groundbreaking ceremonies on Nov. 6 for its Engineering and Interdisciplinary Sciences Complex, a facility aimed at enhancing the university’s teaching and research capabilities and boosting its ability to attrack top researchers and graduate students.

The complex will host several established research centers, including The Viromics Institute, The Smart Health Institute, and an imaging laboratory for brain research.

Other research areas will include biomedical engineering, renewable energy systems, and wireless communication.

The William E. Leonard Entrepreneurship Center will contain programs designed to bring faculty and student innovations to market. The Zahn Innovation Platform will bring business mentoring and prototyping and design experience to researchers.

The Lavin Entrepreneurship Center will bring industry experts to offer curriculum guidance and an insider look at how markets are evolving.

“A common theme among these projects will be engineers and scientists recognizing opportunities for taking research and transforming it into realworld solutions,” according to a prepared a university announcement.

HISTORY

North Park Water Tower Proclaimed Local Historic Civil Engineering Landmark

Councilman Todd Gloria with youngster.

The American Society of Civil Engineers San Diego Section has proclaimed the North Park Water Tower a Local Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.

The local section of the national professional engineering organization, which is celebrating its centennial this year, has selected the Water Tower for honors due to its robust and unique design, towering presence and contribution to San Diego's early urban growth.

The designation adds to the Water Tower’s national recognition in 2013 when the North Park Historical Society achieved listing of the structure on the National Register of Historic Places.

Officially named the University Heights Elevated Tank, the riveted steel plate structure was built in 1924. Towering 140 feet above the west end of El Cajon Boulevard, the Water Tower is an iconic part of the community. It is a rare example of early 20th century technology for supplying water at adequate pressure and held more than 1 million gallons of potable water until the 1990s.

Without municipal water for fire protection and commercial and domestic uses, development of University Heights, North Park, Hillcrest and other streetcar suburbs

expanding from Downtown San Diego in the early 1900s could have stopped.

The Water Tower’s landmark status was celebrated at a Nov. 5 ceremony in North Park Community Park involving the ASCE, the North Park Historical Society, El Cajon Boulevard Business Improvement District and San Diego city and county officials.

MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP | NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015 |

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14 | NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015 | MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP

EDUCATION

UC San Diego Launches Robotics Institute The aim: to develop safe and useful robotic systems The Jacobs School of Engineering and Division of Social Sciences at the University of California, San Diego have launched the Contextual Robotics Institute to develop safe and useful robotics systems. These robotics systems will function in the real world based on the contextual information they perceive, in real time. Elder care and assisted living, disaster response, medicine, transportation and environmental sensing are just some of the helpful applications that could emerge from tomorrow’s human-friendly robots.

The Contextual Robotics Institute will leverage UC San Diego’s research strengths in engineering, computer science and cognitive science and

robotics.”

More than 40 UC San Diego professors and research scientists have elected to be a part of the Contextual Robotics Institute at its launch. These researchers and their teams are performing $10 million in roboticsrelated research this year.

The UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering is currently working to hire a faculty director for the Institute as well as three additional robotics faculty. This comes on the heels of four robotics hires at the Jacobs School over the last two years.

“One of my goals for this Institute is to ensure that San Diego develops into a world-class center for the design, development and production

“We are seeking to enhance collaboration between scientists from different fields so that the next generation of machines we build are machines that humans can use better,” said UC San Diego Dean of Social Sciences Carol Padden. “What social scientists bring to the enterprise is a deep understanding of humans—our behavior and brains, and our emotional and social needs.

Social scientists also investigate the public space and cultural infrastructure. By designing more responsive robots that are compatible with humans and in sync with social practices, we can build machines to serve humanity.”

Ph.D. students Benjamin Shih and Dylan Drotman monitor a computer while Ph.D. student Adriane Minori gets ready to remove a 3D-printed object from the soft robotic gripper.

The future of robotics at UC San Diego

Snake-like robot for navigating within the human body for minimally-invasive surgery. (Photo by Michael Yip)

work collaboratively across the campus and the region to establish San Diego as a leader in the research, development and production of human-friendly robotics systems.

“This is an extremely exciting time for robotics researchers,” said UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla, who is also a world-renowned roboticist. “Many robotics subfields have seen incredible advances in the last few years. The time is right for UC San Diego to step up and take a leadership role in the future of

of useful consumer robotics that act based on a real-time understanding of the world,” said Albert P. Pisano, Dean of the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering. “Now is the time to focus on systems integration and assemble ever more perceptive robotics systems.”

Achieving this goal will require significant collaborations between researchers at the Jacobs School of Engineering, the Division of Social Sciences and across the entire campus.

“What’s powerful about the new Contextual Robotics Institute is having researchers with a whole spectrum of expertise working together,” said UC San Diego cognitive science professor Zhuowen Tu. Computer vision, artificial intelligence, neuroscience, electronic actuators, dynamic controls, materials, nano- and micro-machines, sensors and sensing, controls systems, human-robot interactions, chips, wireless communications, new materials, biomimetics, batteries and power management are just a few of the research strengths at UC San Diego that will converge in future robotic systems.

A wide spectrum of expertise will be necessary to give robotics systems the ability to not only perceive context, but to make use of it.

“Context enables situational awareness and is essential to achieving true autonomy in robotics systems,” said Rajesh Gupta, professor and chair of the Computer Science and Engineering Department at UC San Diego. Gupta served as faculty chair of the visioning committee for the Institute.

There are many different kinds of context including physical, emotional and sociological, Gupta explained.

“Contextual robotics systems will understand context and apply known capabilities. These systems will also derive new capabilities from context and even change the context in a controllable manner by applying new capabilities,” said Gupta.

Getting to this level of autonomy will take significant work at the intersection of engineering, computer science and the social sciences. iRat, a robotic rodent, may help researchers develop robots better equipped to interact with humans.

Photo by Andrea Chiba “The Institute is not complete until we have core laboratory spaces,” said Pisano. These labs will facilitate the cross-disciplinary systems integration work, in partnership with

iRat, a robotic rodent, may help researchers develop robots better equipped to interact with humans. (Photo by Andrea Chiba)

industry partners that will be key to the mission of the Institute.

These dynamic environments will help ensure that UC San Diego trains tomorrow’s robotics workforce in both engineering and social sciences.

Robotics-related research projects sampler

UC San Diego cognitive scientists and engineers are using iRat, a robot rodent, in social neuroscience research that could lead to robots that are better equipped to interact with humans. The researchers, led by cognitive scientist Andrea Chiba, bioengineer Todd Coleman and computer scientist Janet Wiles at the University of Queensland, are studying how their robotic rodent interacts with and triggers responses from rats equipped with state-of-the-art devices that record heart rate, respiration rate and brain activity.

UC San Diego mechanical engineering professor and recent robotics hire James Friend specializes in generating motion. His research teams have built microrobots that allow catheters to navigate through the human body. He has also developed robotic finger joints and a silent, fully articulated neck motor that exceeds human capabilities. At UC San Diego, Friend plans to collaborate across disciplines to create groups of microrobots that work together, similar, for example, to the crawling spiders in the movie “Minority Report.”

Computer science professor Manmohan Chandraker’s research focuses on self-driving cars. Some of the questions he is helping to answer can help robots navigate the real world.

Chandraker is a computer vision expert. His work converts 2D images to 3D maps of the world that allow self-driving cars to pinpoint the location of traffic participants such as pedestrians and vehicles. The data are combined with information about the car's surroundings such as lanes, roads and traffic signs. The ultimate goal is scene understanding, especially in crowded environments, that allows the cars to plan their path or predict potential dangers to take evasive action. In addition to cars, the research also could apply to unmanned ground or aerial vehicles.

Context-sensitive robotics systems will come in all shapes and sizes. Picture hundreds of sensor balloons communicating via inexpensive cellphone technology that can be released into a developing hurricane, self-distribute, and track the storm over several days to improve the accuracy of track and intensity forecasts. Mechanical engineer Thomas Bewley and his team are developing this system, which relies on complex controls algorithms. This is just one of many examples of how controls algorithms can be used to open new applications for advanced robotics systems.

MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP | NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015 |

St. Augustine High Starts Construction on New Student Community Center With new gymnasium, school will be able to host regional and state playoff games St. Augustine High School has started construction of a new Student Community Center that will include a gymnasium, 1,500-seat event venue, locker rooms, offices and teaching areas.

For the first time, Saints will be able to host regional and state playoff games and host community events, alumni receptions, fundraising galas and graduation ceremonies.

The Oct. 30 groundbreaking marked the end of a decade-long cap-

ital campaign — Building Future Saints — that was initiated by the late Father John Sanders, former Saints principal.

The Student Community Center was designed by domusstudio architecture.

“One of our core values is Unitas, or unity, and that’s what we’ve striven for in creating this Student Community Center,” said St. Augustine President Ed Hearn. “It will allow our students and the local community ample

space to increase programming and in doing so, increase the sense of school pride and adding to “The Saints Experience.’”

The school added new classroom buildings and library in 2007. In order to respect their neighborhood location, Saints has instructed that the buildings be built below grade to reduce height and visual impact upon their North Park neighbors.

Rendering of the Student Community Center at St. Augustine High. (Photo courtesy of domusstudio architecture)

Scripps Mercy Surgeon Paul Goldfarb Elected to Commission on Cancer Dr. Paul Goldfarb, a longtime oncologic surgeon with Scripps Health and resident of Mission Hills, has been elected to a three-year term on the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Commission on Cancer (CoC). Goldfarb is the medical director of the O’Toole Breast Care Center at Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego and is a Fellow of the ACS. The CoC is a consortium of cancer care professionals dedicated to improving survival and quality of life for cancer patients through standard setting, prevention, research, education and the monitoring of comprehensive quality of care. CoC membership consists of more than 100 individuals from 56 organizations nationwide, representing the multidisciplinary professionals that comprise the cancer care team.

The CoC’s cancer center accreditation program encourages hospitals, treatment centers and other facilities to improve their quality of patient care through various cancer-related programs. There are currently more than

Dr. Paul Goldfarb

1,500 CoC-accredited cancer programs in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, representing 30 percent of all hospitals. CoC-accredited facilities diagnose and/or treat more than 70 percent of all newly diagnosed cancer patients each year.

“The Commission on Cancer is the leader in advocating for improvements in care for cancer patients, and they share Scripps’ commitment to highquality, patient-centered care,” said Goldfarb, who will represent the ACS Fellowship as a CoC member. “I’ve been involved with the commission

my entire career and have seen the value they bring firsthand, including Scripps’ successful network accreditation process.”

Goldfarb currently serves as chairman of the Scripps Health Breast Cancer Task Force. His medical practice has focused exclusively on oncology for the past 25 years. He specializes in general surgery and surgical oncology, performing biopsies, gastrointestinal oncology and breast cancer surgery, as well as sentinel lymph node mapping.

Earlier in his career, he was a clinical professor of surgery within the University of California system and served on the teaching faculty at Balboa Naval Hospital.

As a volunteer, Goldfarb has served as president of the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) San Diego unit and California division. He has also served on the ACS’ state and national boards and developed the ACS’ first camp in California for children with cancer.

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16 | NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015 | MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP

The Lacey House

A dignified presence on a shady corner

BY SARAH HILBERT | PHOTOS BY JAIMEE ITAGAKI

Framed by a massive century oak, draped in wisteria, the 1912 Lacey House is the quintessential bungalow by the versatile Pasadena architect Sylvanus Marston.

Designed by renowned architect Sylvanus Marston, the 1912 Lacey House is a dignified presence on a shady corner in Pasadena.

Framed by a massive century oak, draped in wisteria, the 1912 Lacey House is the quintessential bungalow by the versatile Pasadena architect Sylvanus Marston. Thanks to an exhaustive effort

by Phil and Nancy Naecker and family, the house has, once again, a sound infrastructure and its stately beauty. They’ve been at it since 1991.

A wide front porch — truly a verandah — beckons visitors. Held on battered pillars made of boulders, it serves as an outdoor living room with a seating area and outdoor fireplace. The romantic bungalow seems to grow right from the boulder-strewn ground. The interior is dramatic with barrel-vaulted ceilings, a Batchelder fireplace, and a long, built-in dining room buffet.

The courtyard, enclosed on three sides, is a loggia with a pergola roof where the wisteria climbs.

It took a while to get here. Phil Naecker says the exterior work was the most costly and difficult. Past remodeling and weather damage had taken their toll, so the porte cochere needed to be rebuilt, beams and arbor made new, and rafter tails resawn. New brackets were fabricated to match the one that remained. The difficulty (and expense) came from the need to custom mill everything — the old (“standard”) lumber stock was beefier, so new stock items do not match.

Also, the original beams and rafters had a heavy grain pattern and had been cut with a very large circular saw no longer in use today. Surface treatments were used to “age” the wood to match weathered original pieces. In a few cases, wood salvaged during a major repair was reused to

replace a weather-damaged component elsewhere.

With the removal of a failed internal gutter system under the edge of the rolled roofing, water is no longer the enemy. Now a shingle roof caps an extensive, hidden drainage system well integrated with the house. Sheltering eaves, well articulated rafters, and Japanesque brackets reminiscent of Greene & Greene are secure thanks to the Naeckers’ meticulous work.

Besides a seismic upgrade for the foundation, the owners replaced heating, electrical, and plumbing systems. Alterations had left the interior in dire need of restoration. The wall-to-wall carpeting had caused a huge headache: for clearance, all the doors had been shaved. With the carpeting removed, dozens of doors were short—some rooms, typical of Marston’s houses, had five doors. All were fixed to furnituremaker standards. (Because they are painted, the extension patches — carefully matched for grain and thickness — are virtually invisible.) Air-conditioning units had been mounted into the wall paneling, and hot-water radiators placed in the flooring. With their removal, walls and floors needed patching, so Phil and Nancy searched out matching fir and oak.

The original billiard room was the least altered, its Port Orford cedar paneling still wearing the original varnish. (It has patinaed to an orangepeel texture in exposed places, but the finish is near-perfect inside cabinets and window seats, and that will guide refinishing at some point.)

Just off the living room with direct access to the front porch, the room provides an interesting glimpse of gender dynamics in the Arts & Crafts

period. This room, where men retired after dinner to drink and play billiards, has six separate doorways (including those that open to the courtyard and front porch, for smoking) and its own bathroom. Pocket doors could be pulled shut to close this room off from the ladies.

The room is well detailed yet informal, with a rustic brick fireplace and unique ceiling beams carved with a Southwest-style motif. When Phil and Nancy pulled up the carpeting, they found a well-worn foot track in the floor finish, pointing to where the billiard table had stood.

The remodeled kitchen featured dingy flooring and accents in avocado green; the butler pantry had been incorporated, probably in the 1970s, too. Nancy and Phil went with the modified floor plan but enlarged the room by taking a bit of space from the laundry room. A unique buffet passes through into the original dining-room buffet, the back of which had been removed at some point. The new hinged window admits more light into the kitchen, and facilitates serving.

For more than two decades, the Naecker family has lived and breathed restoration. Thanks to great craftspeople, they say, their house has its essential Craftsman features and yet offers modern comfort. “We’re not purists,” Nancy insists, “but maybe you can’t really tell.”

Sylvanus Marston, 1883-1946

Although his work in Southern California ran from San Diego to Santa Barbara, architect Sylvanus Marston made a special mark on Pasadena. When Marston established his firm in 1908, he joined an elite group of contemporaries,

including Myron Hunt, Frederick Roehrig, and Charles and Henry Greene; together they established Pasadena as an “epicenter of architectural creativity” and a wildly popular winter resort for people from the Midwest and East Coast. In 1914, he hired Garrett Van Pelt; Edgar Maybury joined the team in 1921 to form the influential and prolific firm Marston, Van Pelt & Maybury. Marston is associated with more than a thousand structures in the Pasadena area.

Marston created fine homes in styles that included Tudor and Mediterranean Revivals, but his early work centered on Craftsman design.

He is widely credited with creating the concept of the bungalow court, multi-family housing that involved groupings of small one-storey houses or duplexes oriented around a common landscaped courtyard. His St. Francis Court, built in 1909, was the city’s first.

The Lacey House exhibits Marston hallmarks.

Barrel-vaulted ceilings were one of the architect’s favorite motifs. He favored the use of graceful arches, seen here in the ceiling beams crafted from Port Orford cedar (a favored material), mirrored also in the arched west window frame and the doorway leading to the billiard room.

Marston also used leaded glass and often incorporated a concentric circle design, present here in the built-in buffet and the bookcase. Finally, he embraced the Arts & Crafts ideal of blending interior and exterior space to support good ventilation. Here, numerous windows, a peaceful loggia, patio gardens, and the grand front porch support the enviable lifestyle of Southern California.

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MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP | NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015 |

NEW CAR REVIEW The 2016 Ford Mustang GT

Mustang GT interior

Black model Mustang GT.

BY ERIC PETERS

It is hard to argue with 435 hp — whether behind the wheel or in the next lane over.

The new Mustang GT may have the smallest V8 of the three pony cars (the other two being the Chevy Camaro SS and the Dodge Challenger R/T) but its 5 liter V8 actually makes more hp than either of them.

The Mustang is Ford’s perennial pony car — in continuous production since 1964. Unlike its two current rivals — the Chevy Camaro and the Dodge Challenger — both of which have been retired and resurrected like obsolete battleships.

The Mustang is also the only one of the three that’s truly a pony car. It is smaller and lighter than the hulking Camaro (and the even more hulking Challenger, which is nearly a foot longer overall and weighs 400 pounds more). Those two, especially the Challenger, are muscle cars.

When Ford updated the Mustang for the 2015 model year, it did so The 2016 Ford Mustang GT

with the world market in mind — not just the American market. This is why it is smaller, lighter and more export friendly (including an available turbocharged four-cylinder engine) than its Born to Run (and born to drink gas) American market-only competition.

And yet, it still has every quality that makes a Mustang an American car.

Base price is $23,895 for the V6 coupe; $29,395 for a coupe with the stronger (and more fuel-efficient) “EcoBoost” turbo four. A GT coupe with the 5 liter V8 and six-speed manual transmission stickers for $32,395 to start. The convertible GT with the optional six-speed automatic I test drove starts at $41,895.

What’s New For 2016

A bunch of packages, including California Special for the GT (black powder-coated 19-inch wheels, bigger trunk spoiler and different trim) and a Pony package (also with special 19-inch wheels) for Mustangs

with the mid-level turbo four-cylinder engine.

There’s also a new retro-inspired integration of the secondary turn signal indicator lights into the rearfacing hood vents —a feature last seen in classic Mustangs of the late ’60s and early ’70s. You can also order all but base V6 coupes with a contrast color black painted roof.

But the biggest update is the ditching (thank the Motor Gods) of the smash-it-with-a-ball-peen-hammer MyFord Touch LCD interface in favor of a redesigned and much easier-to-use Sync3 system.

What’s Good

More engine options than the competition. More engine than the competition. Less bulk (and weight) than the competition. Electric linelock (GT) and in-car 0-60 and quarter-mile timer (all trims, even base V6).

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What’s Not So Good

Pull-up emergency brake is on the wrong side of the center console and set up to be useless (not enough tension on the cable) for making 90-degree course corrections.

Performance Package (with more aggressive final gearing, firmer suspension settings, upgraded brakes and cooling system, plus extra gauges, not available with the base V6.

GT’s optional six-speed automatic does rev-matched downshifts, but doesn’t bark the tires on full-throttle upshifts. All muscle cars with automatics should do this.

Under The Hood

The Mustang is an unusual bird (er, horse?) in that it alone offers three available engine choices. Camaro and Challenger come with either of two engines — neither of them unexpected or unusual for cars of their kind.

Base Mustang coupes (and convertibles) come with what you’d expect: a biggish V6 (3.7 liters) that makes a pretty solid 300 hp.

You should re-read that.

The base Mustang’s V6 engine makes as much or more horsepower as most classicera Mustang V8s made, back in the day. For instance, a 1965 GT’s 289 (5 liter, roughly)

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“High Power” V8 made a rated 271 hp.

The turbo’d 2016 Mustang is a high-line street car, with AC, power windows, cruise and plenty of insulation. It’s also capable of 32 on the highway, and its city number (22 with the six-speed manual, 21 with the optional six-speed automatic) is better than the old SVT Cobra R’s highway number.

On The Road

The first thing you notice, from behind the wheel, is that you don’t feel as though you’re commanding a U boat and viewing the world from a periscope. In the Camaro, you do. You sit hunkered low, your eyebrows just barely parallel with the door tops, the claustrophobic feel enhanced by the Chevy’s “chopped” roofline. In the Mustang, you can rest your left elbow on top of the door sill with the window down.

Thanks to deep overdrive gearing, the Mustang is as relaxed at highway speeds as your spinster aunt’s Camry, and if you don’t indulge yourself too much, the car is capable of better than the EPA rated 15 city/25 highway (manual; automatics score 16/25).

Which is astounding, when you stop to think about it.

At The Curb

The designers did a top drawer job making a modern-looking car that’s also instant-

ly recognizable as a Mustang. Inside, too.

Check the dual breadbox dashpad; the retro font on the gauges. The chrome ball vents and metal-finish toggles. But what you really notice is that nothing looks cheap or cheesy.

This is a nice car, pony car or muscle car.

It’s also a well-packaged car. It has a decent-sized trunk (13.2 cubic feet vs.

Camaro’s 11.3) and significantly more legroom up front, for the driver (44.5 inches) than the Camaro’s got (42.4 inches). Even the back seat is more accommodating in the Ford, especially width-wise. It gives your passengers 52.2 inches of shoulder room back there vs. 50.4 in Camaro.

Bottom Line

There’s an old country song — about a different car — that could just as easily be sung about the Mustang: Long and lean, every young man’s dream... she turned every head in town!

Eric Peters is the author of “Automotive Atrocities” and “Road Hogs” and a former editorial writer/columnist for The Washington Times.

2016 Ford Mustang specifications: Base price: $23,895 as tested (GT convertible) $41,895.

Engine: 5 liter V8, 435 hp Transmission: six speed manual or six speed automatic.

Length: 188.3 inches Width: 75.4 inches Wheelbase: 107.1 inches Curb weight: 3,705 lbs.

Luggage capacity: 13.5 cubic feet EPA fuel economy: 15 city/25 highway Where assembled: Flat Rock, MI

FUN & GAMES

MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP | NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015 |

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ments in the Third World have encouraged a free economy and the infrastructure has improved dramatically. I now offer some four-star boutique hotels that are perfectly clean and comfortable. Travelers need decide whether they prefer the luxurious amenities of a five-star property, which in itself can be a highlight of the journey, or whether they want to focus on spending the majority of the day exploring and simply use the accommodation for rest. If using small boutique hotels, we can substantially reduce the cost of the holiday. For instance, a 16-day tour to Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, with private vehicle, private driver and guide, breakfast and lunch included is priced at $2,970 land cost per person.

That amounts to about $185 dollars a day — a rather phenomenal price for its quality. With a private driver and guide, you can choose to spend 30 minutes or three hours at the Taj Mahal, visit every shopkeeper or none at all, and return to the hotel when you choose. It makes a world of difference — it's time well spent and there are no delays waiting for a late arrival. Our clients have grown to love custom, privatized touring over group tours.

How has the internet affected the travel industry?

The Internet has made travelers

savvier about what is available, although it comes with some risk.

There are some remarkably attractive websites out there,particularly for Southeast Asia. Being familiar with what is being offered — at what appears to be a very attractive price point — I know to be impossible.

Something has to be compromised along the way. I would encourage travelers to read our blog entitled "Has Anyone Seen My Driver" to learn what one might consider when planning such a holiday.

TRAVEL

paper. He leaned to his left, and soon found that his toilet had yet to be bolted to the floor. The bowl actually slanted left and my client crashed down with it. Miraculously, he was not cut or injured. He then cleansed himself as best he could and stormed downstairs to the manager, who explained it to the guard. In a nutshell, since we had planned to leave early the next morning before breakfast time, I relinquished the funds owed me for the missed breakfast and handed them over to the security guard, allowing him to find a replacement for the toilet.

Tell me about some of the most In those days in China, this was a rather interesting or funny things that quite difficult task. have happened on First Cabin trips?

What is your personal most Most in the business could go on for favorite destination? familiar with what is being offered hours with these kinds of tales. During one early trip to China, we had traveled — at what appears to be a very attracup to Tibet. The Chinese in those days tive price point — I know to be imposwould heavily overbook their hotels, sible. Something has to be comproso upon arrival, I handed everyone mised along the way. I would their keys and told them to hold on to encourage travelers to read our blog them, and not return them to recep- entitled "Has Anyone Seen My Driver" tion. After settling everyone in, I went to learn what one might consider when planning such a holiday. to my room for a short while.

When I returned to the lobby, one of my clients and the security guard at Tell me about some of the most the hotel were nose-to-nose, screaming interesting or funny things that at each other — my client in English have happened on First Cabin and the security guard in Mandarin. trips?

Most in the business could go on for Obviously, neither understood the other, but neither was giving an inch. hours with these kinds of tales. During Long story short, my client had gone one early trip to China, we had traveled to his room and was seated on the toilet up to Tibet. The Chinese in those days when it came time to reach for the would heavily overbook their hotels,

so upon arrival, I handed everyone their keys and told them to hold on to them, and not return them to reception. After settling everyone in, I went to my room for a short while.

When I returned to the lobby, one of my clients and the security guard at the hotel were nose-to-nose, screaming at each other — my client in English and the security guard in Mandarin.

Obviously, neither understood the other, but neither was giving an inch.

Long story short, my client had gone to his room and was seated on the toilet when it came time to reach for the paper. He leaned to his left, and soon found that his toilet had yet to be bolted to the floor. The bowl actually slanted left and my client crashed down with it. Miraculously, he was not cut or injured. He then cleansed himself as best he could and stormed downstairs to the manager, who explained it to the guard. In a nutshell, since we had planned to leave early the next morning before breakfast time, I relinquished the funds owed me for the missed breakfast and handed them over to the security guard, allowing him to find a replacement for the toilet.

In those days in China, this was a rather quite difficult task.

there are some remarkably unique areas to visit, I am not convinced that it is worth the effort given what is available elsewhere.

Is there a destination that one simply must visit?

India is one country that should be near the top of your bucket list. It has been so hard to get Americans to visit there, however, to a person, everyone that I have ever taken or sent to India returned highly pleased with the journey. They might choose not to return, but they were enthralled by the experience.

Do you have a philosophy of travel that you would like to share?

I encourage travelers to choose a location where they have not been, where they have no ties and where the culture will be of first impression to them. And when traveling, bring along those intangibles that cannot be purchased. A smile upon your lips, warmth within your heart and a openness about your newfound experience. Most of all, be certain to listen; not to preach, to witness; not to judge; allowing the country to make a change in you, rather than you recommending how What is your personal most things should change for them. favorite destination?

I honestly have no favorite, although First Cabin Travel can be found at there are certainly places that I would www.firstcabin.com and not care to revisit. Western Africa is a Robert Kenyon reached at customhard destination to travel and although tours@firstcabin.com