North Park News - July 2014

Serving San Diego’s Premier Urban Communities for 22 Years Vol. 22 No. 7 July 2014

Vol. 22 No. 7 July 2014

A Chaldean American Success Story

BY MANNY CRUZ

Sabri Shamoun lives the American Dream Dianna Cowern works as an outreach coordinator at UC San Diego’s Center for Astrophysics and Space Sciences.

UC SAN DIEGO’S

Physics Girl

Dianna Cowern uses her upbeat personality to communicate physics to the public Videos featuring Rihanna, One Direction and Bruno Mars are, not surprisingly, among YouTube’s most viewed channels. Videos on physics? While some videos on physics have gained a cult-like following and hundreds of thousands of views, the subject that makes most peo-

NORTH PARK SCENE

ple’s eyes glaze over still can’t compete with entertainers like Katy Perry in the YouTube world.

That could change, however, thanks to an energetic young physicist who SEE PHYSICS, Page 18

Mother/Daughter Duo Author Jennifer Coburn and her daughter Katie strike a pose at a booksigning party last month at the Art Produce Gallery. Coburn is the author of “We’ll Always Have Paris: A Mother/Daughter Adventure,” which has just been released. The book chronicles Coburn and her daughter’s adventures in Europe. (Amazon: paperback, $11.51; Kindle, $9.99).

Speaker Atkins Honors Local Small Business Assembly Speaker Toni G. Atkins is honoring the Kensington Veterinary Hospital and its owners — Dr. Patricia Ungar and her husband, Phil Lissen —

Dr. Patricia Ungar with husband Philip Linssen and Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins.

Jennifer and Katie

SEE SCENE, Page 5

Sabri Shamoun is proud of his Chaldean Catholic heritage, his real estate work and his family.

Sabri Shamoun, a 74-year-old Chaldean American, grew the earnings from a small grocery store in Detroit into a profitable real estate venture in San Diego that has made him millions and secured the financial futures of his family and many others through his generosity.

Shamoun’s real estate holdings, assembled by him since moving here from Detroit in 1972, include commercial and residential properties around San Diego County, from Normal Heights to Chula Vista to El Cajon.

He is a gregarious man, but not one to boast about his earnings, though one can properly say that he is a self-made millionaire. Through a keen knowledge of real estate, he has been able to multiply the value of his holdings many times over, as in the case, for example, of property he purchased on Adams Avenue for $50,000 some years ago, which is now worth $700,000.

“I have connections with four or five good real estate people,” Shamoun said during an interview in the Downtown office of RJS LAW, a firm owned by Ron-

Selling Real Estate for over a Quarter Century!

son J. Shamoun, Ronson Shamoun, one of his sons, and where he serves as a consultant. “They know me very well. I am honest and straight. But I told them, ‘I just want a good deal. If it is not a good deal, don’t call me.’”

A devout Chaldean Catholic, Shamoun speaks forcefully about the things that matter most to him — family, his Christian heritage and the importance of education for immigrants like him who want to make a productive life SEE SABRI, Page 13

July 2014 | sdnorthparknews.com | 3

Ask Dr. Z Someone told me that if I took a couple of antihistamine tablets at bedtime, they would help me sleep. It works. Why would allergy pills do this?

It is not the antihistamine — there are many antihistamines that are nondrowsy. We are actually using a side effect to our advantage. Some antihistamines cause drowsiness by blocking the histamine receptors in the brain, like diphenhydramine, and that side effect is what they market in “sleep aids.”

It is mild, and its effects wane after about three days, so any effect after that is placebo. We feel confident we will sleep because we have taken the pill, and so we do. It does not alter the deep stages of sleep, so you will feel rested after the night. Taking any more than the recommended, however, can cause heart arrhythmias that are deadly, so follow directions closely.

Does soy cause breast cancer?

Be careful of added sweeteners like evaporated cane juice (sugar) and brown rice syrup — you might just be drinking pure sugar, which worsens cancer and diabetes risk. And avoid “frankensoy” — things that mimic other foods, like soy burgers, soy dogs, cheese slices, etc. If it looks like something else, then it is a highly processed food with added preservatives, chemicals, refined flour (basically sugar), and sugars, and has had all the nutrients, and therefore health benefits, stripped away from it.

Does “consumption” exists?

still

Yes, indeed! The illness called “consumption” hundreds of years ago is actually Tuberculosis. It is still alive and well, and is endemic in most countries other than the United States and perhaps Canada. For this reason, most countries except the U.S. offer a vaccine to all babies, called BCG, to protect them while they are young. By the time they are 30, most people in those countries have been exposed to the bacteria, and their TB tests are positive. We are one of the only countries left with such a low incidence of Tuberculosis that we still routinely test for exposure, rather than just give everyone a vaccine.

In a word, no. It can bind to the estrogen receptors, causing a mild estrogen effect on the body, but it is not estrogen and does not cause cancer. In fact it can reduce certain populations’ risk of breast cancer. Best sources are whole bean and fermented — Edamame, Tofu, Tempeh, Miso, and Natto. Be careful of Soy Milk — those Dr. Tara Zandvliet welcomes your made fresh are best, followed by those questions. Send them to questions@ made from the whole soy bean. Don’t southparkdoctor.com. She practices at buy highly processed brands, made 2991 Kalmia St. Phone: (619) 929-0032. from Soy Isolate, or Soy Protein, because they are not actually soy milk.

RANCHO BUENA VISTA REAL ESTATE & PACIFIC SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY The Schoeffel family expands and diversifies -- all the while providing the exceptional customer service and attention to detail their clients have come to expect.

First, Sally Schoeffel and Elizabeth Callaway, the mother/daughter team, continues to combine their decades of successful real estate experience. They are very proud to announce their new affiliation with Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty.

Sotheby’s Realty exhibits the same belief and value system when it comes to client care that the Schoeffel Family holds as priority number one. This dynamic mother/daughter team is excited about their expanded capabilities made possible through the new Sotheby's Realty relationship. In particular, Sotheby's Realty will allow Sally and Elizabeth to offer their existing clientele state-of-the-art marketing and the powerful Sotheby’s Realty international presence.

Second, the successful Schoeffel Family enterprise, Rancho Buena Vista Real Estate, will continue to serve key bank and institutional clients in the sales of bankowned properties, represented by broker associates, Brennand Schoeffel and Bond Schoeffel.

We thank you for your years of support and look forward to many more assisting our wonderful clients.

Rancho Buena Vista Real Estate BRE Broker License #00523223 2234 30th Street, San Diego, California 92104 619/624-2052 telephone 619/624-2055 facsimile www.RBVrealestate.com

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The Importance of Giving Back

BY BRENDAN MCNAMARA merely human, but it was then a modest step to address the issue. That service event. In the last four years, more afternoon with Mr. Cudal and my classE D I T O R’ S NOTE: Each year the Saints Alumni Association of St. Augustine High School sponsors an essay contest describing memorable experiences on campus during the writer’s career on campus. This year, Brendan McNamara’s essay was chosen. This is his winning text: Saints has provided many remarkable experiences over the last four years. I have been challenged intellectually and physically, made deep friendships, connected with insightful teachers, laughed much and celebrated personal and school successes on and off the field. But my most meaningful Saints experience occurred unexpectedly in my freshman year.

My freshman English teacher was Mr. Tom Cudal. I and my classmates spent the first quarter in absolute awe of him.

He could read minds, knew unknowable personal facts about each student, and convinced us he could levitate. He required prodigious amounts of reading and homework and was a merciless grader. Over time, I realized Mr. Cudal was

that he provided my most memorable experience.

One day late in our first semester, Mr. Cudal asked for volunteers to make meals for the homeless after school. That afternoon a small group of us made several dozen sandwiches and traveled in Mr. Cudal’s van to pass them out directly to homeless people in downtown San Diego. This simple exercise held much more meaning than I expected. In fact, it was profound. BRENDAN McNAMARA The contrast between my life and that of the homeless was stark. The sheer number of people living in the streets in dirty and dangerous situations left me dismayed; their appreciation for our help was heartwarming. During the drive back to Saints, we discussed the tragic reality faced by the homeless and need to reach out and help.

Afterwards, I did some research and learned that San Diego has between 8,500-10,000 homeless. I decided to take

January, with Mr. Cudal’s support and guidance, my sister (who was at OLP at the time) and I organized a service project to help the homeless. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 2011, we gathered more than 80 Saints and OLP students to make 200 simple meals, which we combined w i t h socks, blankets, soap and toothbrushes.

We then walked the streets and handed the packages directly to the homeless. As we walked through downtown, the effect of the giving was clear, and our efforts, though small, made a difference in the lives of the homeless. I also saw students grasp the plight of the homeless in personal, humbling and meaningful ways. Some were literally moved to tears.

As a result of the project’s success, we decided to make it an annual MLK Day

“I am proud of the MLK Day project. We have quietly provided assistance to the homeless. Perhaps more importantly, we gave a window to the student volunteers into the difficulties faced by the homeless.

And hopefully they became sensitized to the plight of the homeless — just as I did four years ago on that afternoon with Mr. Cudal and my classmates.”

In the last four years, more than 350 student volunteers have directly helped almost 1,200 homeless.

2015 Community Calendars to be Mailed Free to Residents Choose Local First Community Calendars is pleased to announce the expanded 2015 full-color edition of the highly successful calendars will be available to North Park residents as well as other surrounding communities of University Heights, Hillcrest, Normal Heights and Kensington for the first time at the end of this year.

The North Park Community Calendar is a large wall calendar that will be mailed as a free gift to community residents in December. The 2015 Calendar will be sent to virtually every household in North Park. Each area calendar, which is produced annually, contains

important area phone numbers, websites, community events, holiday listings, and more. The calendars will also feature local neighborhood photographs and artwork from North Park area photographers and artists.

These wall calendars have been produced for years in dozens of communities across the country and local residents in each neighborhood love getting their own community calendar in the mail. Local businesses sponsor the calendars and many offer coupons and special offers on the calendar throughout the year. A large focus of the calendars will be on promoting local busi-

nesses, and will encourage local resident stop shop and buy from local independent businesses.

In addition to receiving these free calendars in the mail, residents will find additional copies at several businesses and other venues throughout the neighborhood.

The community calendars are published by locally owned Discover Custom Media in cooperation with the nonprofit community support organization Choose Local First.

For more information, including business sponsorship opportunities, contact Brad at bforeo@gmail.com.

than 350 student volunteers have directly helped almost 1,200 homeless. Mr. Cudal and my family have taken time from their holiday each year to guide and work with us. This year we also involved Cathedral Catholic and Mater Dei, who coordinated their homeless outreach with us.

I am proud of the MLK Day project.

We have quietly provided assistance to the homeless. Perhaps more importantly, we gave a window to the student volunteers into the difficulties faced by the homeless. And hopefully they became sensitized to the plight of the homeless — just as I did four years ago on that

mates.

That afternoon outreach my freshman year was a catalyst event. It caused me to think more deeply and then act to help my community. This lesson was much more powerful than anything I learned inside the classroom. The fact that I had the opportunity to come face-to-face with homelessness — and then the support I received when I had an idea to help — is testament to the Saints community’s commitment to the less fortunate.

July 2014 | sdnorthparknews.com | 5

New Art Medium in Town Shaper Studios is located at 4225 30th St.

In addition to the art, food, and beer culture that is growing in the neighborhood, last year North Park also became home to a new art medium, surfboard shaping.

Shaper Studios, located at 4225 30th St., is taking back the original idea of a surf shop by creating space for people to custom design and shaper their own unique board.

Not only is the surfboard an original design, but it is also handmade by the customer, hence the logo “Where surfing is made.”

Chris Clark, president and CEO of Shaper Studios, and Derrik Kapalla, cofounder, believe the art of shaping is a way to bring the community together.

“Our whole company is built around community,” states Clark, who has hosted several charity events, art shows, and music concerts in the shop.

“It’s a way to get people in here to hang out, talk to one another, share in the culture, and share the art of shaping.”

Kapalla seconds that notion, and points out that Shaper Studios isn’t just a business for profit.

“We really wanted to make the space a venue to host events for things like cancer research, or to help the starving artist. The studio is used in any way that we can to do something that is not just benefiting ourselves, ” said Kapalla.

The shop has 13 shaping bays — small studio

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CONTINUED FROM Page 1

as the 78th Assembly District’s Small Business of the year. “I have known Dr. Ungar since I served on the San Diego City Council and represented the Kens- A vintage Buick is among the first to cross ington community.” said Atkins. “Both at the reopening of the deck on the Cabrillo Bridge in Balboa Park. (Photo/Christopher Maue/KPBS)

Kensington Veterinary Hospital

Ungar and her husband are permanent fixtures in the community. Kensington Veterinary Hospital is an asset to our community and our pets.”

Kensington Veterinary Hospital has been a neighborhood-based practice since 1990, offering a blend of conventional medicine and leading-edge integrative medicine including acupuncture, nutrition, and homeopathy. They also donate many services to animals and people in need.

Cabrillo Bridge Reopens After FiveMonth Shutdown The century-old Cabrillo Bridge in Balboa Park has reopened after a fivemonth shutdown for maintenance. The landmark overpass of state Route 163 had been closed to vehicles since the beginning of the year for a seismic retrofit project, The project by Caltrans to strengthen the bridge will continue through the

A shop for shaping surfboards

BY ANNA LEE FLEMING

rooms where the surfboards are made. Customers have access to tools, materials, and instruction to design their dream board.

From group lessons, to private lessons, Shaper Studios has everything to teach patrons how to shape, sand, and glass their own surfboard.

Since opening in November 2013, the founders have hosted several events and are happy with the North Park location. “We want surfers of all ability levels to feel welcome and inspired to create,” says Clark. "Shaper Studios is all about experiencing surfing in a hands-on way. We are thrilled to be in North Park where community and creativity is a such a large part of the culture.”

Working on a board.

The studio offers shaping instructions.

free at the DMV lot and get on the free ParkHillcrest Trolley to be shuttled within steps of the business they want to visit,” said Elizabeth Hannon, chief operating officer of the parking district.

“I Our state is home to many impressive members of the LGBT community, and to be included in such an impressive group is a proud moment for me,” said Gloria. “Serving San Diego is rewarding every day, so this recognition is a true bonus.”

Pride of Hillcrest Block Party Gloria was also among 24 individuals The third annual Pride of Hillcrest chosen for the Aspen Institute’s Rodel Block Party — the official kickoff for Fellowship Program for Public Leaderthe San Diego Pride weekend — will be staged July 18 from 7 to 11:30 p.m. Special performances will be made by Hip Hop sensation Booniez Dance Crew and GoGo dancers from San Diego and Los Angeles. Taryn Manning of “Orange is the New Black” will be closing out the night spinning beats and performing music from her latest album. General admission tickets are $25. For more information, call (619) 299 3330.

fall, but traffic is now allowed to cross the roadway and enter Balboa Park.

The bridge had been open only to pedestrians and bicyclists.

Workers are reinforcing the bridge’s seven pedestals with an integrated mesh of steel reinforcements that will make it more resilient during an earthquake.

The bridge was first built for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, the centennial of which will be commemorated next year.

Council President Gloria Honored by State Legislature DMV Allows Free After-Hours Parking Council President Todd Gloria was It took five years of negotiations, but honored as an LGBT Hero for Excelthe Uptown Community Parking Dis- lence in Public Service on the floor of trict has leased the DMV parking lot on the California State Assembly on June Normal Street for after-hours free pub- 23. He was one of 10 members of the lic parking. “DMV is delighted to con- LGBT community from throughout the tribute parking spaces from our DMV state honored in 2014 and was nomifield office that will be available after nated by Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins business hours and will benefit the and Assembly Speaker Emeritus John motoring public in the Hillcrest area,” Pérez. said DMV Director Jean Shiomoto.

The DMV parking lot, along with the 44 new spaces recently added by realigning portions of the streets in Hillcrest, has yielded 202 new car spaces. “Now it is easier than ever to find parking in Hillcrest. Drivers can simply park for

ship, recognizing him as one of the nation’s most promising young leaders in American government. In the last week, he was also honored with the Visionary Award from the San Diego North Chamber of Commerce and the Once in a Lifetime Award from the San Diego County Taxpayers Association.

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Farmers Markets Give Businesses a Boost Merchants forgo retail stores to sell their products Not all businesses boom with a brick- improved her business. Her pieces are and-mortar location. More and more handcrafted, often custom, jewelry businesses — from olive oil to handbags made from sterling silver, copper and — are getting their start at farmers mar- other materials. kets.

“After I became a permanent entity After noticing the trend that cork was at the market, my business truly flourbeing diverted from use for wine bot- ished,” said Dulay. “My regular custlestoppers, Taciana de Aguiar created tomers who shopped with me once a EcoCork, an eco-friendly company that year at the Jewelry Jamboree, now imports cork products shopped with me from her native Portuevery weekend. I gal, and designed an quickly became the go exclusive line of cork to girl for custom handbags, wallets, work, gifts, and iPhone cases and other repairs of all kinds. accessories.

The hard work had But, she doesn’t have finally begun to really a retail store — she pay off – one day at works a circuit of farmthe market could easers markets and streetily net one to three side festivals and events, weeks of pay, comand is finding lots of pared to my day job. success.

My dream of being “It’s an instantaneous my own boss was sale directly to the cusbecoming a reality.” tomer, and I can deter- Taciana de Aguiar Aguiar created Early this April, mine right away what EcoCork, an eco-friendly company Dulay joined the that imports cork products from products sell better than her native Portugal.

North Park Farmers others, what customers Market. “This market do and don’t like about was far enough from a particular product,” said de Aguiar. the other market that I could build a “Nothing beats being ‘in the field,’ chat- brand new clientele farther down in San ting with your buyers. And it’s fun — Diego,” explained Dulay, who is confiyou get to be outdoors on a beautiful dent that the additional market will help day, meeting and talking her business grow. to all kinds of people.”

“My presence at a EcoCork (www.Ecofarmers market has cork.us) is based out of not only given a face Dana Point, but it really to the business name, doesn’t matter where but I am also able to home base is, as the make a personal concork-made products — nection with my cusan incredibly versatile tomers,” said Dulay. material and somewhat “Nowadays, everyone unique to the United believes everything is States — can be found made overseas. I want at events and local farmpeople to know that ers’ markets throughout handmade artisan the county. creations still exist.

“My very first out“In doing farmers door market was in L.A. markets, it has solidiwhere an incognito fied the idea that my Leonardo di Caprio was creations are 100 perone of my first cus- Sammi Dulay cent handmade, and tomers,” said de Aguiar. people can take com“I then quickly realized that direct sales fort in the fact that they are dealing with was the way to go, so I expanded into a real artist — not just a salesman the San Diego area as well, where I have reselling someone else’s work. I do gotten an overwhelmingly positive believe that the farmers’ market, along response.” with street fairs and art shows in genAs a result of participation in farmers’ eral, are the best mode of distribution markets, EcoCork has secured several and sales for my business.” retail shops to carry its line after being But, it’s not just handbags and jewelseen at the market or a live event. ry. Food vendors are also working the “I get great feedback right from the farmers market circuit. The California buyer about the line, as well as incredi- Olive (www.TheCaliforniaOlive.com), ble networking opportunities,” said de which sells a variety of olive and avocaAguiar, who is passionate about educat- do oils, olives and balsamic vinegars, ing the public about cork and its many and Pub Cakes (www.PubCakes.com), uses. Cork is more than a wine closure, who makes local beer -nfused cupcakes, and can be made without harming the can both be found regularly at the trees or environment.

North Park Farmers Market as well, and De Aguiar’s not the only one whose this is where they do the bulk of their business model centers on farmers mar- business. kets.

Organizers of the North Park FarmAfter years of trying to get a regular ers Market also put on the Pacific Beach spot at the Vista Farmers’ Market, Farmers’ Market on Tuesdays from 2 to Sammi Dulay of Once Upon A String 7 p.m. on Bayard Street between Garnet (www.onceuponastring.com), was Avenue and Grand Avenue, and the Litoffered a permanent spot in the Satur- tle Italy Mercado on Saturdays from 8 day market, including an Artisan Jew- a.m. to 2 p.m. on Date Street between eler’s Showcase. The position greatly Kettner Boulevard and Front Street.

BY SARA E. WACKER

www.sdnorthparknews.com Serving San Diego’s Premier Bungalow Communities Chairman/CEO Bob Page BobPage@sandiegometro.com Publisher Rebeca Page RebecaPage@sandiegometro.com Editor Manny Cruz Manny@sandiegometro.com Art Director Chris Baker cbaker@sandiegometro.com -----------------------------Writers/Columnists Todd Gloria Bart Mendoza Delle Willett Anna Lee Fleming Sara Wacker

Taciana de Aguiar at the EcoCork table.

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.

Sammi Dulay, founder of Once Upon a String, joined the North Park Farmers Market in April.

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.

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, 2012, by REP Publishing, Inc. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without prior written consent.

All rights reserved.

Table display by Once Upon a String.

Additional details can be found at www.sandiegomarkets.com or (619) 233-3901.

Market planners offer Vendor 101 and Vendor 102 classes to help artisans find their place in the market, and take their start-up to the next level, with assistance in web design and logo development.

Located at 3139 University Ave., the North Park Farmers’ Market is every Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m. year-round, rain-or-shine. For more information, visit NorthParkFarmersMarket.com.

July 2014 | sdnorthparknews.com | 7

8 | sdnorthparknews.com | July 2014

M IND-BENDING

ILLUSIONS Exhibit brings us closer to understanding the magic of the mind The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center wants to deceive you.

Seriously, that’s what the current exhibition — “Illusion: Nothing Is As It Seems” — is attempting to do.

The exhibition, which runs through Jan. 11, 2015, is a mindbending exhibit that combines science and art to deceive the visitor through optical, perceptual and audio illusions.

It shows that what we perceive is often radically different from the reality of what we observe by playfully allowing visitors to experience concepts used by magicians and explored by neuroscientists.

“We are very excited to be able to bring the U.S. premiere of this remarkable exhibition here to San Diego,” said Steven Snyder, executive director of the center. “Illusion

will immerse our visitors in a world that will make them question their senses while exploring the workings of the human mind.”

“Illusion” was developed and first exhibited at Science Gallery at Trinity College Dublin. It was curated by psychologist, author and magician Richard Wiseman, and researched by deception artist Paul Gleeson.

The exhibition features 21 installations that will distort the senses and mystify logical thinking.

Typographic Organism is made from letters, but their movements suggest that they are actually small creatures, like bees trapped in a bottle. They start moving when people blow on them, and their hustle and bustle poetically mixes semantics of language and motion.

You. Here. Now. creates the visitor’s

portrait from smaller images captured by a system that constantly trawls local news websites. The visitor’s face will gradually emerge from several hundred tiny fragments that are in a continuous state of flux.

The Illusion Playground, a collection of the Fleet’s hands-on, interactive exhibits, will be located adjacent to “Illusion.”

“I have created an exhibit that will inspire and educate people of any age,” said Richard Wiseman, curator of “Illusion.” “Each piece in the show deceives the brain with either an optical, perceptual or audio illusion. Illusions give us a greater appreciation of how we view the world and this exhibition brings us closer to understanding the magic of the mind.”

See a three-dimensional figure appear amidst thin strands of fiber.

Paesano's Neighborhood Specials

You. Here. Now.

(Mon thru Fri. 11am-2pm) Lunch Special: Your Choice of Entree: Lasagna,Ravioli,Manicotti,or Spaghetti w/ meatballs. Served with salad and garlic bread. Only $4.99 SINCE1967

Dine in or Take Out Open 11-12/4:30-8:30 Sat 4:30 - 9:00 Sun 5:00 - 9:00

3647 30th St. 291-4090

+10% of ALL TO GO ORDERS will be donated to our neighborhood schools at St. Patricks (just tell us the school you would like to help when you pick up your order!)

Don't forget Tuesday Nights for live Italian music.

Wine Wednesday 20% off all our wines!

Visit our website: PaesanoOfNorthpark.com

Typographical Organism

July 2014 | sdnorthparknews.com | 9

Balboa Park Online Collaborative Names Executive Director Nik Honeysett, former head of the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, has taken the job of chief executive officer of the Balboa Park Online Collaborative, the nonprofit organization that provides support and technology services for the park’s institutions. Honesett replaces Vivian Kung Haga, who served as the executive director since May 2012 and has relocated to Japan. Major initiatives completed in her tenure include the implementation of substantial Wi-Fi access in Balboa Park and the launch of BalboaParkCommons.org, a digital hub offering access to images, journals and video from the collections of eight Balboa Park museums collections.

Honeysett has an extensive background in management, interactive, multimedia and information technology focused specifically on the cultural sector. During his time at the Getty Museum, Honeysett oversaw the museum’s operational and administrative services across the Getty’s

Counter

two sites in Brentwood and Malibu. Prior to this role, Honeysett also led the Getty’s Web Group where he was responsible for all aspects of their main website, intranets and web development initiatives.

Honeysett currently serves on the board of the American Alliance of Museums, having previously chaired the organization’s Media and Technology Standing Professional Committee. In addition, he is an adjunct faculty member at Johns Hopkins University, teaching a course on museum technology management as part of their Museum Studies Masters program.

“I look forward to partnering with Balboa Park’s cultural institutions to illuminate how technology can enrich their programs and content,” said Honeysett.

“Balboa Park is a cultural gem for the region and the nation at large and the proximity of its institutions allows for unique technology opportunities not possible elsewhere.”

Summer International Organ Festival Continues

‘Untitled’ by Greg Barsamian

Moire Matrix Hybrid Form: creating a paradoxical space where the relationship between front and back, near and far, is constantly switching.

The Hurwitz Singularity

The Spreckels Organ Society is presenting the 27th annual Summer International Organ Festival at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. All the concerts are at 7:30 p.m. and all are free of charge.

Here’s are the upcoming programs: • July 14 highlights Wyatt Smith, passionate rising star of the organ world and graduate student at the Yale Institute of Sacred Music.

• July 21 brings back San Diego favorite Robert Plimpton, San Diego Civic Organist emeritus and resident organist at the First United Methodist Church.

• July 28 brings Sven Ingvart Mikkelsen from his native Denmark, where he is the organist at Frederiksborg Castle Church in Hillerød. Joining Mikkelsen is Jens Romer, also from Denmark, who will perform on the bombarde.

• Aug. 4 has Stewart Wayne Foster,

director of music and organist of the Royal Poinciana Chapel in Palm Beach, Fla. • Aug. 11 features Kimberly Marshall, performer, scholar, and professor of music at Arizona State University where she oversees the graduate organ studio.

• Aug. 18 brings the always-popular Silent Movie Night featuring Scottish organist Donald McKenzie accompanying two silent film classics: “Chasing Choo Choos” with Monty Banks, a madcap, runaway train adventure, and “One Week,” a Buster Keaton comedy classic in which newly married Buster is given a build yourself house by his uncle...and one week to build it.

• Aug. 25 features the festival season finale, Come Dancing! with San Diego Civic Organist Carol Williams and special guests, the Moonlight Serenade Orchestra.

10 | sdnorthparknews.com | July 2014

Girl Scouts San Diego Honors ‘10 Cool Women of 2014’ ‘They make the world a better place’ Girl Scouts San Diego honored San Diego’s 10 Cool Women of 2014 and named its 2014 Cool Girl during a recent luncheon and ceremony aboard Holland America Line’s MS Amsterdam. Event proceeds will help keep Girl Scouting available and affordable for 30,000 local girls.

Honorees included Sister Ann Durst, founder of Bankers Hill-based Casa Cornelia Law Center; and two Bankers Hill residents — estate planning attorney Nancy Spector and wellness advocate Deborah Szekely.

“Like Girl Scouts, our 2014 Cool Women make the world a better place,” said Jo Dee C. Jacob, chief executive officer of Girl Scouts San Diego. “We are proud to honor them.”

Durst is a member of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus and an acclaimed human rights champion. After serving as president of Rosemont College in Pennsylvania, she graduated from Georgetown Law School. The former Girl Scout founded Casa Cornelia Law Center in 1992 to aid victims of human and civil rights violations, including torture, human trafficking, domestic violence and child abandonment. Since then, Casa Cornelia has represented more than 11,000 indigent clients from 35 countries.

Spector volunteers for many organizations, including Girl Scouts San Diego, Jewish Family Service, The Old Globe and the Alzheimer’s Association. Her contributions include helping renovate Balboa Park’s Sixth Avenue Playground.

She is a sole practitioner specializing in estate planning, trust and probate. Named among San Diego Magazine’s Top Lawyers in 2012-2014, the past Girl Scout co-chaired the San Diego County Bar Association’s Probate and Estate Planning Section, is active in the San Diego Women’s Foundation, and serves on the boards of the San Diego Foundation and San Diego Library Foundation.

Szekely, who created the world-famous Rancho La Puerta and The Golden Door spas, is regarded as the godmother of the mind-bodyspirit movement. Several U.S. presidents have sought her views on disease prevention, children’s nutrition and the environment. After running

Ten Cool Women: Back: Nancy Spector, June Shillman, Melissa d’Arabian, Pamela Mudd, Patricia McArdle and Madga Marquet. Front: Sister Ann Durst, Justice Judith McConnell, Cool Girl Ursula Hardianto, Deborah Szekely and Zoe Ghahremani

for Congress in 1982, she authored a reference manual for newly elected senators; it is still known as “the bible” on Capitol Hill. Szekely also designed a national system for training CEOs. Most recently, she launched a nonprofit organization called Wellness Warrior.

Others honored as San Diego’s 10 Cool Women of 2014 are: celebrity chef/author Melissa D’Arabian; writer/artist Zoe Ghahremani; Althea Technologies founder/co-chairman Magda Marquet, Ph.D.; author/environmentalist Patricia McArdle; Presiding Justice Judith McConnell, 4th District Court of Appeal; Music-

match co-founder/community volunteer Pamela Mudd; and San Diego-Yantai Friendship Society President June Shillman. Eleven-year-old pianist Ursula Hardianto, who has twice played at Carnegie Hall, was named Cool Girl of 2014.

The 2014 Cool Women were introduced by Cool Women from prior years. Sahra Abdi, founder and director of the United Women of East Africa Support Team, bestowed the award on Durst; Girl Scouts San Diego’s immediate past chair Katie Sullivan bestowed the award on Spector, and author Jeanne Jones introduced Szekely. Other presenters were Sandra Brue, Bar-

bara Bry, Dr. Joyce Gattas, Carol Lam, Carol LeBeau, Fran Styles, Gayle Tauber, and San Diego Opera resident conductor/Cool Woman Karen Keltner, who presented Cool Girl Ursula.

This is the 14th year Girl Scouts San Diego has honored Cool Women whose personal and professional achievements, leadership and service to the community make them consummate role models for girls. To see additional photos of the event, visit www.sdgirlscouts.org/cool-women.

Community and Board Meetings The North Park Main Street board meets at 7 a.m. the second Wednesday of the month at its storefront office, 3076 University Ave. North Park Main Street has more than 250 members, primarily businesses paying annual assessments in the city-authorized North Park BID. For information, call 294-2501.

cultural activities. For more information, visit Community Center, 4649 Hawley Blvd. For time, www.northparksd.org. place and more information, call (619) 282-7329 or visit adamsaveonline.com.

The North Park Historical Society meets from 6:30 to 8 p.m. the third Thursday of each month. The Kensington/Talmadge Planning Group The Historical Society conducts research and edu- meets at 6:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of the cational outreach in order to facilitate preserva- month at Kensington Community Church, 4773 tion of North Park's cultural and architectural Marlborough Drive. For information, call 287history. For more information, visit www.north- 3157. parkhistory.org.

The Lions Club of North Park meets for lunch The South Park Business Group every Wednesday from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the meets on the last Wednesday of each month at club, 3927 Utah St. Prospective members are wel8:30 a.m. at Alchemy Restaurant, 30th & Beech. come to enjoy their first lunch on the club. For The SPBG is comprised of business owners with information, call (619) 692-0540. storefronts and service businesses located in South Park. The organization produces the quar- Uptown Rotary welcomes prospective members terly South Park Walkabouts and the annual Old at its 7 a.m. Thursday breakfasts at Jimmy Carter’s House Fair. For more information, call (619) 233- Mexican Café, 3172 Fifth Ave. For more, call (619) 6679 or email PBG@lucyslist.net.

500-3229 or visit sdurotary.org.

The North Park Maintenance Assessment District Committee normally meets at 6 p.m. the second Monday of every other month at North Park CommuGreater Golden Hill Community Development nity Adult Center, 2719 Howard Ave. Corp. The CDC normally meets at 6:30 p.m. the third Thursday of the month at the Golden Hill Recreation Center, 2600 Golf Course Drive. The North Park Planning Committee meets meets at 6:30 p.m. the third Tuesday of the month Email: info@goldenhillcdc.org. at North Park Christian Fellowship, 2901 North Greater Golden Hill Planning Committee meets Park Way. The committee is an advisory group at 6:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month to the city on North Park land use, including the at the Balboa Golf Course clubhouse, 2600 Golf general plan, infrastructure and density. For inforThe University Heights Community Association Course Drive. For information, call (619) 533- mation, visit northparkplanning.org. meets at 7 p.m. the first Thursday of the month 5284.

The North Park Community Association meets in the auditorium of Birney Elementary School, The North Park Redevelopment Project Area from 6 to 8 p.m. the fourth Wednesday of each 4345 Campus Ave. For information, call 297Committee meets at 6 p.m. the second Tuesday month at the Lafayette Hotel, 2223 El Cajon Blvd. 3166. of the month at the Lafayette Hotel, 2223 El Cajon The Community Association provides a forum Blvd. Meetings focus on redevelopment projects for issues and concerns about public safety, edu- The Adams Avenue Business Association board in construction or planning. For information, cation, land use, public facilities and services, of directors normally meets at 7:30 a.m. the first commercial revitalization, community image and Tuesday of the month at the Normal Heights visit sandiego.gov/redevelopment-agency.

The North Park Recreation Council meets at 6 p.m. the fourth Monday of every other month at North Park Recreation Center, 4044 Idaho St. For information, call 235-1152.

July 2014 | sdnorthparknews.com | 11

A wall drawing at DZ Akin’s.

MOUTH-WATERING

ENTREES

& DESSERTS EXTRAORDINARY

D E L I - C I O U S DZ A K I N ’S C E L E B R AT E S 3 4 Y E A R S

BY DAVID ROTTENBERG

Triple decker

Customers were lined up three deep at the takeout counter at DZ Akin’s, waiting to pick up fish, chicken, brisket, matzo and other goodies essential for the Passover holiday. But no bread. Bread is not part of the Seder celebration.

In the adjacent dining room, diners were biting into delicious mile-high pastrami sandwiches, overflowing salad bowls, chicken soup with matzo balls, mouthwatering entrees, and extraordinary desserts. The bakery was pumping out huge bagels, full seeded rye breads and other wonderful products.

There are only a few “deli’s” in San Diego County, particularly ones that serve that kind of menu available at DZ Akin’s. This restaurant, located in the College area, is perhaps the oldest

Chocolate Eclair

deli and certainly one of the best.

Founded in 1980 in a small store in a strip shopping center, DZ Akin’s is about to celebrate 34 years of service to the community. The small shop has expanded over the years, absorbing adjacent stores to the point that it now occupies the entire building. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, operates a successful catering business and has a small gift shop on the premises selling specialty items that are appropriate for holidays like Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year and Passover, the holiday of redemption.

Throughout the year, racks of loaves of breads run along the back wall next to challeh, braided sacramental breads used on Sabbath and Jewish holidays.

Boxes of matzo, halavah and other packaged goods divide the arc of dis-

plays.

It started off as a family affair. Debbi Akin (the “D” of the restaurant’s name) operated the “front of the house,” sitting on a high stool like a queen to survey her servers helping diners. At the same time, her husband Zvika the “Z” of the restaurant’s name) worked the “back of the house,” making sure that all the dishes the left the small kitchen met their high standards of quality and appearance.

Debbi’s father, wearing lots of gold chains and a golden smile, roamed the restaurant, greeting guests and welcoming friends.

The word “delicatessen” comes from German and means “delicacies.” There are many types of “deli” — German, Polish and others. DZ Akin’s is a JewSEE AKIN'S, Page 12

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12 | sdnorthparknews.com | July 2014

AKIN'S

CONTINUED FROM Page 11

Cream Puff

ish deli and serves such delicacies as kugel, kishke and kreplach. If you’ve never tried this cuisine, you’re in for a treat.

The restaurant adheres to a simple success formula — give customers lots of delicious food. Prices may a a bit higher at the margins but customers always leave satisfied and never hungry. I can order a dinner entrée, eat my fill and still have enough left over for breakfast and maybe lunch (I love cold leftover dinner food for breakfast).

The success formula works! DZ Akin’s has a large following of devoted customers who delight in the casual ambiance, the speed of the service, and the consistency of good, tasty dishes. The menu is quite large, so there’s always something that will satisfy and breakfast is served all day. Who isn’t happy when ordering a Lox & Whitefish Platter that comes with large bagels, cream cheese, sliced tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, and Greek olives?

Now, the business is managed by Debbie and Zvika’s son, Elan, who left a promising career in television production in order to take over the family business. It is a family business, so you know that everything will be done right.

The recipes that have pleased so many and for so many years come from a number of sources. Some are old family recipes, some are “old world” dishes, some were created inhouse. The ingredients are always fresh (they sell so quickly that delivery trucks are always replenishing) and of highest quality. Meats are from the Midwest and nitrate free. Turkey is low sodium.

“Today’s customer has become very health conscious and we’ve oriented ourselves to providing good healthful cuisine,” Elan said proudly. And loyal customers know what to expect.

That’s why they come back.

Who doesn’t love a bargain? Check out the breakfast and early bird specials for pricing that will not only satisfy one’s appetite but one’s wallet as well.

DZ Akin’s Restaurant & Deli is located in the Alvarado area, just down the road from San Diego State and conveniently off Interstate 8. Parking is free. Prices are moderate.

Portions are memorable. Reservations are not taken. Be sure to check out the fabulous bakery and takeout offerings. The pastry tastes as good as it looks. The meats and fish taste as good at home.

DZ Akin’s is located at 6930 Alvarado Road, San Diego 92120. Call (619) 265-0218 for information and directions.

Corned Beef Sandwich

DZ Akin’s is located at 6930 Alvarado Road, just down from San Diego State.

July 2014 | sdnorthparknews.com | 13

Sabri Shamoun is a consultant in son Ronson Shamoun’s law firm, RJS LAW, in Downtown San Diego.

SABRI

CONTINUED FROM Page 1

for themselves in the United States, and to help others when they can.

“I saw freedom and a better way of living,” says Shamoun, who came to the United States — to Detroit — in 1961, like thousands of other Chaldeans who left Iraq for economic reasons or to escape religious persecution from the Muslim majority in the Middle East.

He would later be lured to San Diego, home to one of the largest Chaldean American communities in the United States. According to the U.S. State Department, Chaldeans have become the fastestgrowing refugee community in San Diego. Shamoun lives in El Cajon, a city with a sizeable Chaldean population.

Shamoun grew up in the town of Telkaif, one of several Christian towns in the northern Iraq province of Mosul, near the ruins of the ancient city of Nineveh.

According to the late historian Mary C. Sengstock, some of the earliest members of Detroit’s Chaldean American community recall hearing stories from their grandparents about the conversion of their town to Catholicism. This happened about 1830, when the town recognized the Pontiff as the head of the church.

“Chaldeans are from the Arab world, but they are not Arab,” Martin Manna, executive director of Detroit’s Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce, said in a 2011 interview. They are defined by their language, Aramaic, which is the language of Christ.

Shamoun says he finished his second year of high school in Telkaif and moved to Baghdad in 1955 to complete his high school education. He stayed for five years.

But like many other Chaldeans in Iraq, he desperately wanted to make a new life in a new country. He set his sights on Detroit, obtaining a student visa from the U.S. consulate and emigrating to Detroit in 1961 to live with an aunt and uncle.

He had $35 in his pocket. According to historian Sengstock, more than 95 percent of Chaldeans in Detroit can trace their origin to a single town — Telkaif, where Shamoun grew up.

In Detroit, Shamoun attended the Wolverine School of Automotive Repair.

“I stayed there for six months and learned

the basics of car repair, then went to college at Dearborn for a year,” he says. “But I couldn’t make it because I was poor in language and was not strong financially to pay tuition. And I had to work and help my parents in the old country, so I had to quit.”

Because selling is part of the heritage of Chaldeans — a heritage that goes back to ancient times — it is not surprising that many of the supermarkets in Detroit are owned by Chaldeans. It was not difficult for Shamoun to get work as a cashier and stock boy at a market, working 40 hours a week and getting paid $25 a week, a decent wage for a new worker at that time.

“After one month my boss gave me an

Sabri and baby daughter Larissa, years ago, in one of his stores. Larissa now works as a staff accountant at RJS LAW.

apartment above the store to watch the store, and he saw that I was a hard worker and honest,” says Shamoun. “And he said, ‘You can live upstairs and watch the store at night in case somebody breaks in.’ I told him, ‘OK,’ and so I lived there rent-free and I worked there for a little over a year and then I found another (grocery) job that gave me $55 a week.”

For the next few years, Shamoun traded up in the grocery store business to earn bigger paychecks — enough to be able to buy a car and new clothes.

His first business venture came soon after, when he was able to purchase SEE SABRI, Page 14

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One of Sabri Shamoun’s properties is the building at 3377 Adams Ave. in Normal Heights.

Sabri Shamoun with his daughter, Renae Arabo, and son, Ronsom Shamoun.

SABRI

CONTINUED FROM Page 13

a small store in Detroit — the Hot Spot Market — by taking a loan from his latest boss and making deals with merchandise suppliers. Shamoun said he ended up investing $16,000 in the business. He “cleaned it up and organized it,” resulting in a 30 percent to 40 percent increase in business and revenues of $50,000 at the end of the first year.

Shamoun’s business success gave him the opportunity to bring many of his family members to the U.S. from Iraq — first his mother and father, then his six siblings, then cousins — a total of about 70 relatives from both sides of the family.

He was, in a way, a one-man immigration

agency. He purchased a two-story, fivebedroom house in Detroit to house those that came over. “Each family lived in that house for one month, two months, three months, some up to six months, until they got established, sent their kids to school and the father started working,” says Shamoun. Then they would leave and others would follow.

Shamoun says the Immigration and Naturalization Service put a stop to all of that. “I received a letter from Immigration...they said, ‘Mr. Shamoun, you are so nice and generous and you have been having affidavits of support for so many people, but that’s it — no more. You cannot support more people. This is the last affidavit we’re going to accept.’ Then I stopped. After bringing over 70 people.”

The Detroit riots of 1967 put an end

to Shamoun’s business ventures there.

Although his store was not burned— it was protected by community members living above the store — it was badly looted and he found it difficult to continue.

He had come to San Diego on vacation earlier, and decided to relocate. “I saw San Diego, the nice weather, the freedom and I said, ‘That’s it, I’m going.’” Interestingly, the Detroit riots triggered a large increase in the number of Chaldean-owned grocery stores in the city. Many store owners left the area, increasing the opportunity for Chaldeans to open or acquire more stores.

In 1968, Shamoun wed his wife Mary, who is from the city of Kirkuk, Iraq and four years later settled in San Diego after selling his house and grocery store. He said he had assets of about $500,000 at that time, which was enough to get him started in the assembling of all the property that he now owns.

The first acquisition here was the Day & Night Market in Ocean Beach, purchased by Shamoun and his brother-inlaw. They worked at the store for five years and purchased another market until Shamoun got tired of the business’s toll on his family life (he and his wife have three children). That’s when he started investing in real estate.

Today, Shamoun’s real estate holdings include several residential rental properties and a number of commercial properties that are leased to a variety of small business tenants — restaurants, dry cleaners, hair salons — 15 properties in total.

“I got my education from real estate seminars, financial seminars, management seminars and the local newspaper— I never missed one. I picked up all of my education from those free seminars,” he says.

Shamoun is most proud of the fact that his success has allowed him to support his family in many financial ways and to help others in the community. He put his daughter, Renae Arabo, 45, and son Ronson, 38, through college, paying all of their tuition and fees at the University of San Diego, where they obtained degrees.

Renae is the chief marketing officer at RJS LAW and chairwoman of the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce.Another son, Robert Shamoun, 43, is the owner of the Quick Stop Market in Ocean Beach, courtesy of

Sabri and son Robert Shamoun behind the counter at OB Quik Stop.

his father.

“We did not have any debt out of college,” says Renae. “He put me through college and Ronnie through college and was a pillar of support and encouragement for my daughter (Larissa) who just graduated from the University of San Diego — all because of this man.” Larissa now works at RJS LAW as a staff accountant.

Shamoun’s seven other grandchildren, he says, also will be financially secure.

“Whatever they want, I promise them, Grandpa will take care of you, just be good and go to school.”

“I have four sisters and two brothers,” says Shamoun. “I helped all of them in school, marriage and business as much as I could.”

Beyond that, though, is Shamoun’s large role in the construction of the St. Peter Catholic Cathedral Church and the St. Peter Educational Center on five acres of land in El Cajon — his way of con-

tributing to the community.

The establishment of the church was done through a chapter of the Knights of Columbus that Shamoun and three other Chaldean Americans founded (Among them, former state Sen. Wadie Deddeh.)

The educational center, which came later, was built at a cost of $1 million. It has between 600 and 800 students and teaches the Catholic religion. Funding for the projects came from a combination of loans and donations. The money not only paid for the construction, but the cost of bringing in two priests and building a home for them. The church has since grown to 10 priests serving the community, with Shamoun himself having served on the Parish Council for the past 30 years.

Shamoun has a simple explanation for his generosity: “I am a Chaldean Catholic, a Christian. I am a good Catholic. I believe in God.”

July 2014 | sdnorthparknews.com | 15

CALENDAR OF EVENTS ural materials and rugged texture of wood shingles and clinker brick. The prominent gables and projecting rafter beams, like the rest of the main house and carriage house, retain their original integrity. The style is echoed by similar homes in the nearby Bluff Park Historic District. 2300 E. Ocean Blvd. (562) 439-2119.

Coronado Museum Of History And Art “Hotel del Coronado Tour”: The Coronado Museum of History and Art offers a one-hour, docent-led tour of the Hotel del Coroado and its history. It is the only tour to go inside the hotel. Make reservations through the Coronado Visitors Center by calling (619) 437-8788. The fee is $15. Tours run Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. and Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at Stanley Ranch Museum 2 p.m.

Ongoing, Garden Grove “Promenade Through the Past”: Departs from the lobby of A California bungalow built in 1916 is one focal point of this the Museum of History and Art, 1100 Orange Ave, Wednes- two-acre property, home to some of Garden Grove’s oldest days at 2 p.m. Learn about some of Coronado’s famous build- homes and business buildings. Phone the Garden Grove Hisings and architectural sites, including Tent City resort. Tour torical Society at (714) 530-8871. fee includes “Promenade through the Past – A Walking Tour Guidebook of Coronado” and covers admission into the Lummis Home Museum Museum of History and Art. $10. (619) 437-8788. Reserva- Ongoing, Highland Park tions Required.

Hebbard and Gill, with Gill as the lead designer, to design a large, boxy red brick house that broke with the English Arts and Crafts cottage style in favor of the more modern streamlined style of its neighbor, the Marston house. Mead and Requa designed a stripped-down, geometric home inspired

by Pueblo architecture for Lorenze and Miriam Barney in 1913. It stands next to the house Lorenze’s parents had commissioned two years earlier from Pacific Building Company, a San Diego design and construction firm staffed by Gill’s former draftsmen

The arroyo-stone home built by Charles Fletcher Lummis, founder of the Southwest Museum, is a state historic monument listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 200 E. Ave. 43. Friday-Sunday, noon-4 p.m. Free; donations accepted. For information, call (323) 222-0546.

Lanterman House Tour Ongoing, La Canada

Gamble House Ongoing, Pasadena The David B. Gamble House, constructed in 1908, is an internationally recognized masterpiece of the turn-of-the-century Arts & Crafts movement in America. It is the most complete and original example of the work of architects Charles and Henry Greene and a National Historic Landmark. One-hour guided tours Thursday-Sunday noon to 3 p.m. Closed national holidays. General admission: $8; Students/65+: $5; Children under 12 with an adult, free. Group tours available by reservation. For information call (626) 793-3334.

The Craftsman-style house, built in 1914 by Arthur Haley, was the region’s first concrete residence. Located at 4420 Encinas Dr., it is open Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the first and third Sundays of the month, from 1-4 p.m. Adults, $3; students, $1; under 12, free. For more information, call (818) 790-1421.

Homestead Museum Ongoing, City Of Industry Documenting a century of Southern California history, the six-acre museum features the Workman House, La Casa Nueva and El Campo Santo cemetery; 15415 E. Don Julian Road. Tuesday through Friday, 1 to 4 p.m. (626) 968-8492.

Museum Of Art Ongoing, Long Beach The museum home includes a splendid, imposing example of the Craftsman bungalow. Built in 1912 as the summer home of heiress Elizabeth Milbank Anderson, it has the nat-

L.A. Art Deco Tours Ongoing, Los Angeles Tours of downtown Los Angeles are led on Saturdays; $5 admission. For reservations, call (213) 623-CITY. SEE CRAFTSMAN, Page 16

16 | sdnorthparknews.com | July 2014

CALENDAR OF EVENTS CRAFTSMAN

ceilings with carved beams, massive stone walk-in fireplace, some original hardware and lighting. See permanent exhibit of early mansion photos and Judson Studios original blueprints, including an ink-on-linen drawOngoing, Los Angeles ing. Open all year, generally Monday through SatThe Judson Studios served as the turn-of-the-cen- urday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday varies. On 110 foresttury core of the Arroyo Craftsman movement, locat- ed acres with views of the Continental Divide and ed at 200 S. Ave. 66. For more information, call (800) the Colorado plains. Twenty minutes from Denver.

445-8376 or click on judsonstudios.com.

Free for touring. Call (303) 526-0855.

CONTINUED FROM Page 15

Heritage Village Tour Ongoing, Claremont The first Saturday of each month. The 1 3/4 hour walk begins at 10 a.m. in front of the Historic Claremont Metrolink Depot, 200 W. First St. (Walk is canceled if it’s raining at 8 a.m.) Call (909) 6218871.

Moss Mansion Ongoing, Billings, Mont.

Nearly unchanged since 1903, Moss Mansion, designed by Henry Janeway Hardenbergh, can be found on the National Register of Historical Places.

Visitors will find original furniture, Oriental carpets, handmade light fixtures, and a variety of design styles inside the mansion. Contact (406) 256-5100.

Van Briggle Pottery Ongoing, Colorado Springs Nearly unchanged since 1903, Moss Mansion, designed by Henry Janeway Hardenbergh, can be found on the National Register of Historical Places.

Visitors will find original furniture, Oriental carpets, handmade light fixtures, and a variety of design styles inside the mansion. Contact (406) Frank Lloyd Wright Home And Studio Ongoing, Oak Park, Ill. These 45-minute guided tours of the restored Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio are offered yearround at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 951 Chicago, Oak Park, IL 60302, (708) 848-1976.

community. Specialty tours by request. The cathedral was built between 1919-1927 using a purist idea of the Arts & Crafts Artisan Guild System. Some of the original guild shops are still in use and continue to house craftsmen. This building and its environment are unique among Arts & Crafts communities in that the religious beliefs of the Swedenborgian community were blended with the Arts & Crafts ideology.

Tours for individuals are free. Tours for large groups $2 per person. Contact the cathedral between the hours of 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at (215) 947-0266.

Gustav Stickley Exhibit Ongoing, Syracuse, N.Y. A small ongoing exhibit of Gustav Stickley and the Arts & Crafts era. Showing period examples of his work along with his peers. At the Everson Museum, corner of Harrison and State streets. Call (315) 4476064.

Unity Temple Ongoing, Oak Park, Ill. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the temple is open Kell House weekdays, 1-4 p.m., with weekend guided tours. Call Guggenheim Museum Ongoing, Wichita Falls, Texas Frank Kell built one of the most architecturally sig- (708) 383-8873. More Craftsman gems are evident Ongoing, New York Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the museum is nificant buildings in Wichita Falls, the red-brick neo- throughout Chicagoland neighborhoods open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday classic Kell House in 1909. It features distinctive and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Call (212) architecture, original family furnishings, textiles, dec- Johnson Wax Co. Building 423-3500 for more. orative arts and early-20th-century costumes. Exhi- Ongoing, Racine, Wis. bitions change in April and September. Ask for direc- Reservations are required for tours, held Fridays tions to the Southland and Floral Heights bungalow only, of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed building. neighborhoods when you visit. The Kell House is Call (262) 260-2000 for information.

Boettcher Mansion of Lookout Mountain open Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday from 2-4 p.m.

Ongoing, Golden, Colo.

Adults, $3; children 12 and under, $1. For informa- Bryn Athyn Cathedral Tour a 1917 Arts & Crafts mansion, a 10,000-square- tion, call (940) 723-2712.

Ongoing, Bryn Athyn, Pa. foot summer home built by Charles Boettcher, Guided tours of the center of the Swedenborgian famous Colorado entrepreneur. Dramatic cathedral Riordan Mansion Park Ongoing, Flagstaff, Ariz.

One of Arizona’s best examples of Craftsman architecture, the mansion was designed by Charles Whittlesey and built as a duplex. Original furnishings, including pieces by Ellis, Stickley and Tiffany Studios, are found at the house museum. Guided, handicapped-accessible tours are held daily. The house is located at 409 Riordan Road. Further details are available at (520) 779-4395.

Bryn Athyn Cathedral

Judson Studios

Frank Lloyd Wright Home And Studio

Homestead Museum

July 2014 | sdnorthparknews.com | 17

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PHYSICS CONTINUED FROM Page 1

works as an outreach coordinator at UC San Diego’s Center for Astrophysics and Space Sciences and who uses her upbeat and sometimes wacky personality to communicate physics to the public on YouTube with videos that are not only informative, but also fun and cool.

Dianna Cowern was awarded the top video prize in a national science communications competition by the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at SUNY Stonybrook for her entertaining YouTube production explaining the physics of color. The award, given annually for the past three years as part of a contest called the “Flame Challenge,” was presented to her at the World Science Festival in New York City by the actor himself.

“Alan Alda started this competition a couple of years ago because he wondered what a flame was when he was a kid, and he got the standard answer from his teachers that didn’t go into any real depth or explain it,” explained Cowern, adding that the “Flame Challenge” is different from other science communications contests because it’s specifically designed to reach an audience of 5th graders. “Every year, he’s posed a new question that kids have submitted to him for the contest.

Last year, the question was ‘What is Time?’ And this year, it was ‘What is Color?’”

Cowern’s prize-winning video, which was voted for by 27,000 students from around the world, is the most recent post to her YouTube channel called “Physics Girl,” which she started on her own two years ago because of her passion to get more girls interested in science.

As part of her day job, Cowern works with Adam Burgasser, an associate professor of physics, on developing “Beach Physics,” an innovative new program designed to get middle school and high school students interested in physics by teaching them about physics that happens at the beach (it’s a perfect fit for her, since she grew up near the beach on the island of Kauai). Cowern also sets up exhibits and demonstrations at science fairs and festivals, volunteers for UC San Diego’s Young Physicists Program and works at the Reuben H. Fleet Science

Center Center in Balboa Park doing science education outreach.

Cowern’s Physics Girl videos run the gamut from demonstrating the physics of standing waves with a rope and vibrating plates sprinkled with sand, to explaining the Hubble Space Telescope’s Deep Field Survey, to finding out on a stovetop whether dissolved solids in boiled water escape with steam (if you’re wondering, they sometimes do). Her high-energy productions, sometimes illustrated with her own drawings and set to background music and sound effects, are inspired by Bill Nye the Science Guy, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson and two of her high school science teachers on Kauai (at a school so small it had only 80 students).

“I had two teachers for physics who were so fantastic,” she recalls, pausing to add extra emphasis in her engaging and exuberant style of speech, one of the reasons that makes her videos so fun to watch.

“They were entertaining, but very educational and they answered every question.”

Cowern’s youth (she just celebrated her 25th birthday on what she calls “Star Wars Day” or “May the 4th be with you”), sometimes quirky humor and enthusiasm provide her with an obvious edge over most professors in connecting with younger audiences. But she’s no lightweight when it comes to science. She graduated from MIT with a degree in physics, participated in a research project there on dark matter (the invisible stuff that makes up most of the mass in the universe), did research on low-metallicity stars at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics after graduation, then spent time as a software engineer at General Electric in Foxboro, Mass, before making the move to San Diego to work with Burgasser, one of her former professors at MIT. Cowern started making the videos in her off hours while she was working at GE because she was interested in getting more girls into science and interested in science communication. “I didn’t have much time to work on the videos when I was at GE, and I didn’t think the first ones were very good,” she confesses. “But I’m definitely learning a lot, reading about new techniques and learning how to make the videos more visually appealing, as well as grabbing the audience’s

Cowern’s Physics Girl videos run the gamut from demonstrating the physics of standing waves with a rope and vibrating plates sprinkled with sand, to explaining the Hubble Space Telescope’s Deep Field Survey.

Cowern has an innate talent in communicating science, says Adam Burgasser, an associate professor of physics at UC San Diego.

attention with some type of video at the beginning instead of talking about physics for three minutes and then showing something cool.”

Burgasser, who received his undergraduate degree in physics at UC San Diego in 1996 and was lured back to here from MIT in 2009, saw her first videos two years ago and was impressed. That’s when he offered her the job here.

“It’s clear she has an innate talent in communicating science,” says Burgasser.

“Many physics videos online are either rigorous or entertaining, or more likely neither. Her videos are both. They’re also deeply researched. She has a dogged persistence for uncovering real facts and not just taking hand-waving arguments or ascribing something to physics principles or effects.”

“I got to see Dianna's intelligence and persistence very early on, since I taught her very first physics class at MIT,” he adds. “This is one of the hardest classes that MIT freshmen take, and she initially struggled up to the first quiz. But she came to my office hours and put in the study time, and by the end of the semester she was helping other students learn the concepts and work with the equations. That is true grit. That and the fact that she never doubts that she can do, or at least try, something new, were both strong personality traits that led me to her.”

Burgasser saw a notice about the Flame Challenge competition earlier this year and suggested Cowern enter. She Dianna Cowern was awarded the top video prize in a national science communications was hesitant at first because the notice was specifically looking for “scientists” to competition by the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at SUNY Stonybrook.

submit videos and “she didn’t think she was a scientist,” recalls Burgasser. “So I challenged her on that. Was she investigating physical phenomena? Yes! In a quantitative and qualitative way? Yes! And identifying research-validating methods of conveying scientific information? Yes! And, of course, she did have a physics degree from MIT and worked on dark matter searches. Once I convinced her that what she was doing was actually science, she went all in, but it definitely opened this little door of inquiry into who gets to ‘be’ a scientist.”

There were a few other obstacles. “I was in Ireland at the time and I had five days to do the video when I got back, so I spent the entire week working on it,” remembers Cowern. “But it paid off.”

In a Big Way. Not many researchers her age have been invited to lunch with Alan Alda or been feted by famous scientists at the World Science Festival. So how does she feel now about not continuing as a research scientist?

“Every once in a while I’ll kick myself for leaving physics and going into physics education,” she says. “And I always wonder whether I’ll go back because I really do love physics. But what I’m doing now is almost better because I get to learn about a lot of different topics instead of having to do research for 10 years on the same project.”

The project that she and Burgasser are focusing on right now, Beach Physics, stems from their love of the beach and their belief that it would be a cool way to get kids interested in physics without realizing they’re actually learning physics.

Burgasser grew up in Buffalo, NY, and during his first week as an undergraduate at UC San Diego, bought a surfboard and proceeded to teach himself to surf at nearby Black’s Beach. “Eventually, I also learned I needed a wetsuit,” remembers Burgasser, who still keeps a board in his third-floor office of the appropriately named SERF building (it actually stands for Science and Engineering Research Facility).

“If you ask the average middle school student or the average person on the street, they would probably only say they liked the beach and would either have no idea about physics or have fear about it,” Burgasser says about his Beach Physics project. “So how do we tackle fear? We tie it to something we enjoy. The beach is also a physics-rich environment with fluids, granular phenomena, waves, buoyancy, friction, radiation, heat, ballistic motion, states of matter, the night sky and the elements. These are literally laid out in front of you when you walk on the beach, so why not tap into that rich resource? So what I hope to achieve is that when a student or a parent or anyone walks on the beach they start to think about these physics ideas, and more importantly play with the idea a little.”

Burgasser, Cowern and their colleagues in the project had hoped to launch their online resource with videos and lessons that teachers can use, soon, but have been delayed because of lack of funding. Anyone interested in contributing to the project can contact Burgasser at aburgasser@ucsd.edu.

July 2014 | sdnorthparknews.com | 19

By Bart Mendoza

Melodic music in Idlehands Performing at the Soda Bar on July 30, Idlehands has just released a video for their song, “Mellow Christ,” and is touring ahead of the release of their debut album later this year. They’ve been described as “alternative rock” and even “progressive,” but while both of those descriptions do highlight notable elements of their music, they also leave out the melodic edge inherent in Idlehands’ music. Not to sell their experimental tendencies short, they have a great mix of rhythms and guitar textures, but it’s the vocal hooks and melody lines that put tunes like “Common Soul” in earworm category. .

Idlehands: Wednesday, July 30, at The Soda Bar, 3615 El Cajon Blvd. 8:30 p.m.

21 and up. $8. www.sodabarmusic.com

Normandie Wilson’s Lafayette Hotel Gig With her stylish circa 1962 hairdo, glittering gowns and Bacharach-inspired repertoire, pianist Normandie Wilson’s residency at The Lafayette Hotel may be just about the perfect match of artist and venue. Wilson will be playing every Wednesday and Thursday in the hotel’s lobby from 4 to 6 p.m. with a great mix of classics in her repertoire and even a few of her own gems that fit the same mold. Best of all, she has a wonderful stage presence and wit to match, making her performances more than just a fun listen. Fans of the late Red Fox room pianist Shirley Allen would approve.

Normandie Wilson: Every Wednesday and Thursday in July at The Lafayette Hotel, 2223 El Cajon Blvd. 4- 6 p.m.

All ages. No cover. www.lafayettehotelsd.com/events/hotel-events.htm

Dazzling Repertoire by Joe Marillo Java Joe’s has added jazz to its talent mix with a Sunday afternoon residency from legendary saxophonist Joe Marillo throughout July. Starting at 4 p.m., Marillo and his band will dazzle with a repertoire built on his 60 years of performing.

Affectionately known as “The Godfather of San Diego Jazz,” Marillo has mentored generations of musicians, but perhaps more importantly, is still known for his terrific top-flight playing.

With its early time slot and hip sounds, this gig is a great way to unwind before the hectic week about to start.

Joe Marillo: Sundays in July at Java Joes, 4976 Newport Ave. 4 p.m.

All Ages. www.javajoessd.com

Wednesday Night Jazz with Gilbert Castellanosr

Homecoming Show With Gregory Page

There are a lot of great jazz performers in San Diego, but none are quite as pivotal to the city’s arts and culture, as trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos. His own music would be enough to place him at the top of any list of the area’s performers, but he’s also one of the city’s biggest promoters of jazz, both the music itself, as well as his fellow musicians.

Castellanos is currently hosting a weekly Wednesday night jazz jam at Seven Grand, with a rotating cast of world-class players. If you are a fan of classic cool sounds, a chance to catch a free set from a musician of Castellanos’ caliber should not be passed up.

Already a household name in San Diego, in recent years troubadour Gregory Page has begun to make huge strides in Europe and Australia. Constantly on the road, Page’s local shows are becoming a rare event and will likely become even more so once his new major label release, “One Way Journey Home,” hits stores via V2 Records this September. Page has just returned from a tour of the Netherlands and will be playing a homecoming show on July 19 at Lestat’s. Page has been such a mainstay of the local music scene that it’s easy to take for granted what a huge talent he is. Anyone who hasn’t experienced his wit and wonderful acoustic music, based on sounds and songs that might have been popular circa 1920 to 1940, needs to catch a local Gregory Page show before it’s too late.

Gilbert Castellanos: Wednesdays at Seven Grand, 3054 University Ave. 9 p.m.

21 and up. www.sevengrandbars.com

Gregory Page: Saturday, July 19 at Lestats, 3343 Adams Ave. 9 p.m.

All ages. Cover TBD. www.Lestats.com

20 | sdnorthparknews.com | July 2014