Serving San Diego’s Premier Urban Communities for 20 Years sdnorthparknews.com
Vol. 20 No. 7 July 2012
Women’s Empowerment International Its microloans give entrepreneurial women a hand up BY DELLE WILLETT
Ken Gabbara (left) and Junior Najor, co-owners of Paras Newsstand.
North Park’s Funky Newstand The women in the village of Jobra needed $27 to pay for the bamboo they turned into furniture. When Bangladeshi economist Muhammed Yunus learned the women were being gouged by local money lenders, he agreed to lend them the money himself. And the new microcredit market was born, 1976. The Grameen Bank (literally, “Bank of the Villages,” in Bangla) is the outgrowth of Yunus’ ideas. The bank was immensely successful in subsequent years. By the beginning of 2005, it had loaned over $4.7 billion to the poor and by the end of 2008, $7.6 billion. By 2006, Grameen Bank had over 2,100 branches. In 2007, more than 100 million of the world’s poorest families SEE WOMEN, Page 5
No other San Diego retailer can rival Paras’ collection of newspapers, magazines, paperbacks and discriminating patrons BY DELLE WILLETT
Whether you want news from around the world or around the block, North Park’s Paras Newsstand is the go-to place. Owners Junior Najor, 28, and Ken Gabbara, 59, carry publications from all over the world. Paras Newsstand began as a tiny cigar store — a third the size it is today —opened by Christopher Paras in 1949 at the same location, 30th and University. The first publication it carried was the Daily Racing Form, for which people lined up out the door to get first dibs — that and the TV Guide. Seeing how well publications were doing, Paras started bringing in more publications, eventually turning the store into a newsstand. In 1987 the newsstand changed hands to Michael
and Rocky Atallah, and then in October 2008 to Gabbara and Najor, Atallahs’ cousin. Between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m., Najor and Gabarra are at the store or shopping for the store. While Najor is out purchasing merchandise, Gabbara is in at 5:30, putting newspapers on stands, and getting ready to open at 6 a.m., five to seven days a week. “It takes us being here ourselves to make this work,” says Najor. With over 4,000 unique publications, from American Girl to Z Magazine, Paras carries titles that only newsstands can get, and people drive from the four corners of the county to buy them — often on referral from a bookstore or other newsstand. Paras’ customers are even more fascinating than the publications they purchase. They’ve changed
Najor’s life and opened his mind. “I used to look at magazines and ask, ‘who would buy that magazine?’ and now I know.” There’s the Grossmont College history professor who stays up with current events, politics, travel, book reviews and history. He reads The Times Literary Supplement and the New York Review of Books in search of new and interesting books. He buys multiple copies of The New York Times for his students, hoping to pass his passion on to them. A comic book fan who knows all about movies is another customer. He can name the entire cast of every film. Another one knows all about aliens, and a SEE PARAS, Page10
NORTH PARK SCENE
Hillcrest Wind Ensemble Offers ‘Cabaret Pride’ The Hillcrest Wind Ensemble is offering an alternative to the regular Pride events. On Saturday, July 21, “Cabaret Pride” at the Mississippi Room of the Lafayette Hotel, will feature show tunes, Amer-
icana works, as well as music with LGBT overtones. A special “Sound Of Music” costume contest and sing-a-long will be featured. The group welcomes back vocalist Andrea Sperling, who will perform a classic Gershwin number as well as a special “Pride”
piece. Complimentary hors d’ouvres will be served 3875 Granada Ave., or at the door. Andrea Sperling at 6:30 with the concert beginning at 7 p.m. is a San Diego-based jazz singer and songwriter. Cabaret-style seating will take you back to the 1940s Café. Call (619) 282-7329 for more. in the newly renovated historic hotel. Admission is $15. and tickets are available at The Windsmith, SEE SCENE, Page 5
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July 2012 | sdnorthparknews.com | 3
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SCENE CONTINUED FROM Page 1
the renovation work under a project sponsored by Affirmed Housing Group. The project has a community room, onsite laundry and a large recreation courtyard with a tot lot and barbecues for residents. Multiple solar panels are on the roof. Below grade parking features special parking for those utilizing sustainable driving methods such as carpooling, biking and motorcycles. Woman’s Club Holds Beach Bingo Bash The San Diego Woman’s Club is hosting a Beach Bingo Bash fundraiser on Sunday, July 22 from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Bankers Hill neighborhood. The proceeds will benefit the Words Alive literacy program, which serves more than 1,000 atrisk, under served, low-income children, teens and adults. The charge is $20, which includes lunch and bingo.
Kensington Photographer Featured Art Expressions Gallery presents “Reflections of a Changing World – A Glimpse of Emerging Nations,” featuring more than 25 recent photographs of life in Myanmar (formerly Burma) and Cuba by San Diego photographers Steve McClelland of Kensington and Michael Orenich. The exhibition runs July 14 to Aug. 25, with an opening reception July 14 from 6 to 9 p.m. “These photos offer a exclusive glimpse into two countries that are transitioning into the modern world, while still maintaining their gentle, hospitable nature,” said Patty Smith, director of Art Expressions Gallery. “Both Cuba and Myanmar have been increasingly highlighted in the news, but remain utterly foreign to most Americans.” Art Expressions Gallery is located Mission Hills Gets Brooklyn Girl at 2645 Financial Court, Suite C, San Eatery Restaurateurs Michael and Victoria Diego, just off Morena Boulevard in Rose McGeath have signed a 10-year lease Canyon. valued at $1.6 million for a Brooklyn Girl Eatery at 1Mission in Mission Hills. . The full-service restaurant, bar and gourmet market serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and post-dinner treats featuring casual cuisine created with locallysourced ingredients. 1Mission is a mixed-use residential/retail enclave developed by CLB Partners. The proNew City Scene Apartments Fully ject is located at 845 Fort Stockton Drive. In 2010, the property was awardOccupied City Scene apartments at 4105 Geor- ed the Gold Nugget Award, which is the gia St., a redesigned 3- unit, affordable oldest and most prestigious national development featuring one-, two- and building design competition of its kind. three-bedroom apartments, has been Cassidy Turley San Diego handled the fully occupied. M.W. Steele performed lease transaction.
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WOMEN CONTINUED FROM Page 1
received a microloan, impacting the lives of an estimated 500 million family members. Its success has inspired similar projects in more than 40 countries around the world. One of these is San Diego’s Women’s Empowerment (WE) International, a nonprofit corporation that partners with nonprofit micro-finance lenders in San Diego, Mexico, Honduras and Ghana. Launched on Dec. 7, 2003, WE is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization, cofounded by San Diegans Leigh Fenly and Win Cox. As co-founders, they had the vision, tenacity and follow-through to grab hold of an idea, develop an original model and then convince hundreds of others of the value of helping entrepreneurial women both here in San Diego and in other parts of the world by providing them with small, collateral-free loans and business services. Through their dedication, enthusiasm and hard work they have built a highly functioning organization that has raised more than $500,000, which continues to grow, both from new donors and money from repaid loans, which then gets lent to new recipients. With no corporate backing, Fenly and Cox have built an organization that now has a seat at the table with other San Diego microfinance organizations.
North Park resident Mary Page sells hand-made art and fabrics with assistance she received from Women’s Empowerment International.
with so little money we truly can give a poor woman the opportunity to better her life, put food on the table and, for the first time, send her children to school. And that’s all these hardworking women Lifting Women Out of Poverty Microloans are made almost exclusive- want — opportunity, not charity.” ly to women, who are much more likely than men to invest in improving the lives Partnership in Mexico WE’s first partnership, with nonprofit of their children via schooling and improved health services. Women are also microfinance organization Grameen de la more likely to invest in their husbands Frontera in Sonora Mexico, supports than men are in their wives. This proven women entrepreneurs in rural villages. economic model lifts women out of The second partnership, with the Internapoverty and helps them develop their tional Rescue Committee (IRC) in San potential and strengthen their families. Diego, launched the WE STAR Center. Donors can specify that their gift go Since then, WE has formed additional directly into loans, grants and services for partnerships with the Adelante Foundathe poor. The repayment rate in all WE tion in Intibucá, Honduras, and with programs exceeds 95 percent, and repaid Women’s Trust in Ghana. “Many of our microfinance partners loans are offered to other women to start utilize the power of the group to make a new businesses. WE members are invited difference for individuals and communito work directly with the women WE ties,” says Fenly. “Groups of borrowers supports. In San Diego, WE volunteers pledge to guarantee each other’s loans mentor loan clients through programs at the WE Center for STAR (Support, Train- and support each other’s businesses. ing and Assistance to Refugee) Women. Because collateral is not necessary, credit During field trips to Ghana, Mexico and becomes available to those previously Honduras, WE emissaries visit with WE- blocked from formal financial services. funded entrepreneurs to offer encourage- While building local economies, these close-knit groups also foster personal ment and friendship. “The transformative power of growth and create community leaders microloans is that so little can do so across the globe.” The WE STAR Center provides technimuch,” says Cox. “even a $50 loan can start business after business, as that repaid cal support, business training and access loan is reissued. It’s extraordinary that to microcredit loans and grants to low-
Leigh Fenly and Win Cox, founders of Women’s Empowerment International.
income and refugee women in San Diego. Located in City Heights, the center reaches numerous refugee women and guides them to start or expand their own businesses, augment their families’ incomes, and reduce or completely eliminate dependence on public assistance. Among its assistance projects is the Somali Bantu Women’s Cooperative, a group of 16 refugees. The group’s artwork — intricately woven beadwork jewelry and embroidered linens — continues a 500-year-old African tradition. Helping these women market their handcrafts not only extends their cultural heritage, but helps ease the difficult transition to life in the United States. Other businesses the STAR Center has launched include dressmaking, licensed childcare, small retail businesses, ethnic breads, imported shoes, and many others. Success Stories Importing and Selling Hand-Made Art and Fabrics Wayua Nazi, whose Christian name is Mary, comes from the Mukamba tribe of Kenya. When she met and married her husband from Liberia, across the continent of Africa, she became Mary Page. With Liberia wracked with war, Mary and her eight children (two biological and six adopted) fled from Liberia to Kenya via Sierra Leone and the Ivory Coast, and
Ernesto and Luz Alvarez
was separated from her husband in the process. It would be 17 years before they found each other in 1999. The same year they moved to Minnesota, where her husband was diagnosed with liver cancer and died. While together in Liberia Mary and husband imported and sold food products, with 28 employees on their staff. This experience prepared Mary for her current business in San Diego, importing and selling hand-made art objects and fabrics from Kenya at farmers’ markets in Hillcrest, La Jolla, Chula Vista, Temecula and Rancho Bernardo. Making and Selling Tortas Ernesto and Luz Alvarez, originally from Toluca, Mexico, now live in City Heights with their children, Alvaro and Gaby. Together they own and run “Delicious” — a deli that makes and sells tor-
tas, Mexican sandwiches made with meats and cheeses. The Alvarez family runs their business every Saturday at the City Heights Farmers’ Market. They also do catering of their tortas for events. Ernesto and Luz come from a restaurant/food background, with both working in various restaurants over a 1-year period. What they like best about their business is watching their customers enjoy the flavors of their food, providing healthy food for their community at low prices, and that it is a family business. Plans and goals for the future: to grow and establish a restaurant and give back to their community by becoming a source of jobs for others. “Coming from Mexico, we wanted to bring a little bit of our traditional food that wasn’t as common. We wanted to bring a different dish to increase the variety that already exists in San Diego,” says Luz.
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Girl Scouts: Preparing Girls for the Future New directors help expand programs
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 kurisub@gmail.com Advertising Sales Ada Laura Duff (858) 442-7766 adaduff@gmail.com ------------------------------
1,500 Girl Scouts, volunteers, staff and family at the Cabrillo Bridge, celebrating the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouting and ‘bridging’ from one program level to the next.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to conclude that girls can become…well, rocket scientists. Girls can “reach for the stars” and become aerospace engineers, or whatever they want. They just need fuel for thought. That’s where Girl Scouts San Diego steps in. In tribute to the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts of the USA, the local council is boosting “learn-by-doing” opportunities designed to prepare girls for the future. Expanded areas of focus include STEM (science, engineering, technology and math fields) career programs, arts and culture, financial literacy, health and wellness and environmental/outdoor. Many of these “Girl Scout Leadership Experiences” take place through camp sessions and workshops at Girl Scouts San Diego’s Balboa Park headquarters. To further build on such programs, Girl Scouts San Diego recently hired Kathleen Stoughton as centennial arts director and Erin Miserlis to oversee fund development. Kathleen Stoughton: Bringing the Arts to Life A resident of Bankers Hill, Stoughton is launching, developing and delivering a vibrant new visual/performing arts program. Examples include the Girl Scouts San Diego Glee Chorus, in which Girl Scout Junior Hailee Wong of Mission Hills will participate. Stoughton also created an artist in residence program, enabling girls to learn first-hand about music, theater, photography and dance. An accomplished curator, educator and development specialist, Stoughton has worked at some of the country’s most noted institutions, including the J. Paul Getty Museum, the National Gallery of Art and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American Art. In addition, she has taught undergraduate art history and museum studies classes
Requa, the “A.H. Sweet House” is number 200 on the National Register of Historic Places, and was formerly owned by the San Diego Historical Society. The surrounding gardens were originally planted by San Diego legend Kate Sessions and renowned landscape designer Paul Thiene. Stoughton enjoys swimming, hiking, gardening and spending time with her three grown sons.
Kathleen Stoughton is implementing a vibrant new visual/performing arts initiative for Girl Scouts.
at UC San Diego, University of Southern California and San Diego Mesa College. For nearly 12 years, she directed the University Art Gallery at UCSD, where she developed a comprehensive K-12 arts outreach program. During her career, Stoughton has created numerous publications, curated more than 40 exhibitions and organized 180-plus arts events. A talented musician, she has played the viola for symphony orchestras and recorded albums. She earned a dual master’s degree with honors in art history and museum studies from USC, and a bachelor of arts degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and she holds a teaching credential in music. Stoughton has received the coveted Smithsonian Outstanding Achievement Award, the YWCA’s Tribute to Women in Industry Award and the San Diego Education Council’s Outstanding Educator Award. Stoughton and her husband, designer/builder Jeffrey Hillman, recently finished restoring their historic Bankers Hill home. Designed by famed local architects Frank Mead and Richard
Erin Miserlis: Funding Opportunities for Girls Development director Miserlis is working to expand Girl Scout Leadership Experience opportunities in San Diego. Miserlis oversees donor relations, grant writing, partnerships with sponsors such as AT&T, Qualcomm Inc., SDG&E and Sharp Health Plan, and other fundraising activities. She is also helping to plan Urban Campout 2012: A Space Odyssey, set for Friday evening, Sept. 14. At this popular, annual “fun-raiser for grownups,” revelers will play futuristic games, dine and
Erin Miserlis oversees fundraising for Girl Scouts San Diego, including helping plan Urban Campout 2012: A Space Odyssey. The annual ‘fun-raiser for grown-ups’ is set for the evening of Friday, Sept. 14.
dance under the constellations and bid for auction prizes. Guests will also have close encounters with Lost in Space TV star June Lockhart. This year’s theme salutes the next century of Girl Scouting, which includes a focus on “out-ofthis-world” career paths for girls in STEM fields and other areas. Event proceeds help keep the organization accessible to all girls, including those in the foster care system, shelters, detention centers and low-income neighborhoods. (For event information, go to sdgirlscouts.org.) Miserlis has over 16 years of experience in the local nonprofit fundraising sector, most recently with Kids’ Turn San Diego. Previously, Miserlis directed the first-ever development department at the Center for Community Solutions, for which she raised over $500,000 through sources such as the prestigious Oprah Winfrey Angel Network grant. Her CSS accomplishments also included funding a new transitional housing facility. In prior years, Miserlis held leadership positions with the Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA, the American Heart Association and Kintera, Inc. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from California State University, Chico and a master’s degree in human services from Springfield College. Erin resides in San Diego with her husband, Peter and their two young children. In her spare time she likes to run, practice yoga and write. She is the author of a book about infertility and pens a column about that topic for Examiner.com. .
Writers/Columnists Todd Gloria Ann Jarmusch Jennifer Kester Donna Marganella Bart Mendoza Katelyn O’Riordan Sandy Pasqua David Raines
Photography Manny Cruz Mike Shess 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. 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.
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Marish Castle as Alexi
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Summer of Love Style Walkabout Set for July 14 Get out your tie dye, hair picks and love beads! South Park’s merchants are celebrating the “Summer of Love” at the Walkabout throughout the evening of Saturday, July 14. Neighborhood businesses of South Park invite residents and visitors to recall the styles of 1967 as they explore the shops and eateries in this uniquely inviting corner of San Diego.
entertainment. The free trolley circulates from 6 to 10 p.m., and Urban Safaris’ walking tour (also free) departs at 6:30 p.m. from the South Park Info booth near The Grove at 30th and Juniper. On the trolley and at the Info table will be free “Walkabout Guides,” with storeby-store details, along with a map for walking South Park on your own (also available on the South Park website, www.southparkscene.com). Among the special festivities planned for July 14 are:
St. and Fern) features art by local tattoo artists; “For Immediate Release” by Morgan Manduley at Disclosed unLocation on 30th Street; “My Tricks” clay and mixed media by Johanna Hansen at
Garten Studio offers sample movement and music classes, plus giveaway gifts including love beads and peace signs. Organic lemonade stand near Absolute Skin supports lionstigersandbears.org animal rescue efforts. At The Grove, “love-bead” necklace-stringing for kids at The Bead Corner. At the new Captain Kirk’s Coffee in the market lot on Fern St., free kids coloring stations (color the pirate’s bird), along with music, garden seating, and cool beverages.
sunset movie and popcorn stand on the empty lot adjacent to their stores. More information on all the South Park Walkabout activities and participating businesses is available at www.southparkscene.com.
• Bastille Day Dinner – July 14 is Bastille Day as well, so Vagabond will offer French-inspired specials by Chef Paul Niles.
• Beech Street BBQ — Sidewalk dining specials from Alchemy, Hamilton’s and Grant’s Marketplace, featuring full plates at special prices. Grant’s $5 BBQ sandwich and baked beans feature locally-produced Hog Heaven BBQ Sauce.
• Pet Caricatures, Adoptions, and “19.67” Specials – South Park Dog Wash gets into the Summer of Love spirit with • Historic Streetcar Tours — Visit the specials and flashback discounts. restored streetcar, near its original route Local residents are also planning a Soul stop at The Station Tavern & Burgers, Train Danceabout. According to orgaon Ivy Street between 30th and Fern. nizers, “It’s exactly what it sounds like: dancing your way down the street to boost your calorie burn, have fun, and start a dance-walking revolution.” Led ‘I Can Wear a Scooter Skirt’ is among the clay by the Full Strength Funk Band, wearing and mixed media work by Johanna Hansen “funkified” ’60’s/’70’s attire, the group featured at The Next Door Gallery. The show will roam through South Park to enterThe Beech Street BBQ was so popular this opens at the July 14 Walkabout. spring that they’re doing it again on July 14. tain neighbors and visitors. Check out the tasty sidewalk specials from Hamilton’s, Grant’s and Alchemy. Photo by Adam Greenfield.
“Since we’re all independent merchants, we’re not limited by some kind of ‘big brother’ corporate-style promotion,” says Donna Walker, co-owner of South Bark Dog Wash. “When we have a party, we like to have a little extra fun, so we chose the Summer of Love theme, and we’re planning to really show our stuff. We love the vibe.” From Kalmia Street at the north end, along the 30th Street and Fern Street corridors, to Beech Street at the south end, the businesses of South Park will be staying open late, offering specials and
The Next Door Gallery on Beech Street; At Plum Pottery, student artwork including award-winners from the San Diego County Fair show. • Art Showcase at Graffiti Beach – Alex Chimilio’s hand-painted skateboards, longboards and prints, including a special series available this night only. Plus Feathers and leather were hallmarks of the Brandie Mata Trunk Show of colorful Summer of Love in 1967, and they’re included in this ceramic vase by Cia Barron at Plum designs on candles, trays and prints. Pottery.
• Kids’ Stuff — In the Historic Burlingame Garage building, Home ec. • Art Gallery Shows — “Opening studio hosts a “Kids’ Trunk Show” of Show” at Left Hand Black (near Grape their own handmade goodies, and Baby
• The fashionable merchants of Fern Hand-pointed long boards by Adam Chimilio Street — Junc Life & Style, Make Good, will be featured at Graffiti Beach during the Summer of Love Walkabout. and Bad Madge & Company — will be entertaining South Park visitors with a
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South Park, Home Industry Shine at 2012 Old House Fair The Old House Fair reflected both current “news” as well as a variety of the “old” at its 14th annual festival last month in South Park. This year exhibitors and vendors at the street fair that accompanies neighborhood tours (the Saturday before Father’s Day) reported improved sales and business conversations with visitors. “Maybe this reflects an improvement in the economy,” said one home restoration contractor. “I sure hope so. People were much more serious about discussing pro-
jects to renovate or improve their homes than they were a year ago.” Some 70 exhibits lined the intersection of 30th & Beech St. for the annual event, produced by the South Park Business Group and sponsored by neighborhood businesses. Along with live music on stage and festival food vendors, the streets were busy all day with visitors from as far away as Arizona. Approximately1,000 took part in the various tours offered throughout the day, including 800 who vis-
Exhibitors and vendors were busy all day at the Old House Fair. Photo courtesy HillQuest.
ited the expanded Historic Home Tour which ranged from 28th Street to Kalmia Place. Also popular were the guided Trolley Tours, walking tours by Urban Safaris, and visits to the restored Fire Station No. 9 building, constructed 100 years ago on 30th Street. Proceeds raised by the event help support the South Park Business Group’s neighborhood beautification and promotion efforts. Organizers have announced that the 15th annual
Booth by South Bark Dog Wash.
Old House Fair will be held on Saturday, June 15, next year. A complete guide to the event, including a copy of the useful “Resource Guide” for owners of older homes, is available on the website www.theoldhousefair.com.
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PARAS restaurant worker reads Parabola, about Buddhist philosophy and spirituality. There’s a funny and sarcastic doctor who buys magazines for his waiting room on subjects like tropical fish, backyard poultry and horror films just to create interesting conversations with his patients. The owner of an army-surplus store buys six copies of Military Vehicles, a publication similar to Auto Trader, for his store. There’s a guy with long red hair, a professional sword swallower who does
shows in Las Vegas. He likes to read Bizarre because he’s sometimes featured for his crazy talents. A girl drives from Oceanside for a copy of Huck, an international skateboarding and surfing magazine that covers the boarding lifestyle, latest in fashion and competition reviews. Regulars are seniors who like to challenge themselves mentally by purchasing and working crossword puzzles and brain-challenging books. There are customers who purchase magazines to send to their family/friends who are inmates in jail or prison. “We send the pubs directly to the inmates because certain facilities only accept pub-
Crash magazine.
Bizarre magazine
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lications from bookstores or publishers,” explained Gabbara. Other customers include the cruise ships that email ahead of arrival into San Diego to order several hundred newspapers for their passengers: U-T San Diego, The New York Times, USA Today and The Los Angeles Times. Finally, there’s Mercy Hospital patients, adults and kids, who want something to read. “We donate magazines to them, trying to help where we can,” said Gabbara. Ditto for the military. Not everyone comes in to buy magazines. Paras also carries drinks, snacks, baseball caps, cigarettes, cell phones and (winning) lottery tickets.
The customers give back as well. One comes in to buy Wise Traditions from a large selection of Eastern medicine publications. Without discussion, she knows when Najor needs some hands-on healing, touching his shoulder or hand to relieve a pain in his back. Others share their interests with Najor and Gabarra: aliens, high fashion, current events, energy flow, music, sports, flight simulators and more. Customers stop by to say “hi” all the time. The Paras philosophy is to develop a relationship, not just a sale. They have customers on a publication waiting list who get a call when their favorites come in.
Paras’ Arizona customer comes to the store during her routine visits to San Diego to pick up copies of Minerva magazine, which they hold just for her. “We want to be sure people are getting their publications,” said Najor. Others come in just to look around. “We have no problem with people in the store browsing and reading, even if they don’t buy anything. We like to see them reading,” Najor adds. Business has not died with the digital invasion. But is has changed. While the traditional print-reader is aging, new trends are attracting the younger digital generation to print. New magazines are SEE PARAS, Page 11
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PARAS CONTINUED FROM Page 10
popping up; every few weeks Paras gets a list of new pubs and emails from distributors announcing new titles. Popular topics like international fashion, computers, advances in science, music and hard-to-find literary reviews such as The Paris Review and N+1 are bringing in the younger crowd, especially fashion. “They not only want to read the magazines, they want to cut them up, create new things with them,” said Najor. An average magazine at Paras costs $5, and the higher end, international publications can range from $10 to $20. Magazines are 65 percent of the business and newspapers 35 percent. Paras has also benefited by the closing of other newsstands, especially 3rd Ave. News in Chula Vista and Cornet News in Oceanside. Najor sees lots of covers and headlines that get his attention and he tries to take the time to at least skim the magazines. Has he found new interests? “Absolutely. I’ve learned a lot not just from the publication but from the person buying the magazine. My customers have changed my life and opened my mind,” said Najor, who was raised in a strict Chaldean Catholic family. Will they expand? Probably not. Paras Newsstand is a unique store in a distinctive community, owned and operated by special people, all of which makes it what it is: one of a kind. Karma. The Paras Newsstand is located at 3911 30th St. in the heart of North Park. Phone number is (619) 296-2859.
Paras co-owner Junior Najor helps a customer.
A tatooed customer scans the magazine rack.
Co-owner Ken Gabbara rings up a lottery tickets sale.
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Community Corner Vol. III: Beautifying North Park Where you can help your neighbors spruce up the neighborhood
BY OMAR PASSONS Before I get started this week, I want to take a moment and do something we in the community sometimes forget to do — say thank you. Out of the blue, a North Parker named Mike Fish volunteered his band, Ska-volutionary, to perform a benefit concert to help support the North Park Community Association (NPCA). Like many musicians, Mike runs another business full time — Oh My Dog Photo — but still made time to try to help our group raise money. Fish’s band’s good deed was matched by Scot Blair, another North Parker who owns Hamilton’s Tavern in South Park, Small Bar in University Heights, Monkey Paw Pub Downtown and Eleven in City Heights. Blair, as he’s known to locals, volunteered Eleven as a place to hold the concert, free of charge. The giving spirit that Blair and Mike showed is one of the things I love about living in our community. That same community spirit actually brings me to this week’ s topic — Beautifying North Park. Community Projects There are many activities under way — and a few more that could really use your help. You may have noticed the work being done as you drive up Texas Street. The Greater North Park Planning Committee — and tireless work by people like Dionne Carlson from
our Between Heights neighborhood — has led to encouraging Sudberry (the company installing the sidewalk on the hill as you come up Texas from the valley) to place a nice community identification sign and decorative lights as you enter the community. This is the same spirit that has pushed Steve Codraro to work with the NPCA and North Park Main Street to spruce up the 805 northbound off-ramp. Steve has made it his mission to help encourage the city to enforce code and clean up a bit along University near the overpass. And he’s really put a ton of his own time into working with Main Street and the City Heights Business Association — with a grant from SDG&E — to install a nice sculpture as you come up the off-ramp at University Avenue to enter the neighborhood. Over the past seven months I’ve embraced Steve’s energy and have been working with several neighbors from Altadena up to Adams Avenue to make similar improvements to the entry points at North Park Way, El Cajon Boulevard and Adams Avenue. These things take time, and we are being careful to work with lots of community and government officials to be sure the improvements —primarily sustainable, drought-tolerant landscaping — are supported by as many people as possible. Stay tuned for more details on this project. And this brings us to the newest project — the one we can all participate in: Keeping an Eye on North Park. Local Business Facelifts Led by Board President Nikki Berdy, for the past year the NPCA has been working to encourage local small businesses to work with us to put a facelift on their properties. We’ve been focusing on a few of the more “aesthetically challenged” locations around the
Scot Blair
neighborhood — Happy Daze Liquor (the building in front of you when you exit 805 at University Avenue) and Kwik Stop (the blue market at the corner of 30th and Upas). We have offered to help each business navigate the Storefront Improvement Program (the city actually has money to cover design costs and some reimbursement for actual construction). Our network of contractors and others who have volunteered to help (if the businesses agree to participate) continues to grow, which will keep the cost to the business down. But we haven’t had much success yet encouraging these and other businesses to
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embrace this concept and work together to really brighten up the area. If any of you know these owners or shop in their stores and can encourage them to open the dialogue, it would be a huge help. I’m the first to respect their private property rights, so a gentle nudge is the best we can do — and a little neighborly encouragement. If you have a skill or a contact that can help us help our neighbors clean things up a bit, please reach out. Our North Park neighbors have a long history of looking out for one another, and this is another opportunity to help improve the community from within. And if a couple homes on your block could use a “facelift,” let me know, and perhaps we can pool our human and financial resources and really help some of our struggling
residential blocks turn the corner, too. We’ve got one of the most walkable communities in San Diego and the more we can do to make it safe and inviting for everyone, the better off everyone who lives here will be. I hope you’ll come out and enjoy one of the remaining Bird Park Summer Concerts and also look for small ways to help make our community an even better place to live. Omar Passons is a local attorney and volunteer who writes a periodic column about community issues. He advocates for greater civic attention and participation in all San Diego neighborhoods. Email him at opassons@gmail.com regarding issues in your neighborhood or follow him on Twitter @omarpassons.
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Painting Himself on Death’s Door Goya’s work one of the most arresting self-portraits in art history
Francisco de Goya’s ‘Self Portrait with Dr. Arrieta’
The second in the series of major loans to the Timken Museum of Art comes from the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Francisco de Goya’s “Self-Portrait with Dr. Arrieta” from 1820 is on display at the Timken through Sept. 9. The museum will display the painting alongside the Timken’s own revolutionary-era masterpiece, Jacques-Louis David’s landmark portrait of the Irish Republican sympathizer, Cooper Penrose, of 1802. Admission is free. As court painter for both Charles III and Charles IV of Spain, Goya achieved considerable renown as a portraitist. “Self-Portrait with Dr. Arrieta,” one of his masterpieces and the last of his many self-portraits, was created late in his life. Goya, who because of a previous mysterious illness was stone deaf, had fallen seriously ill again and his doctor Eugenio Garc’a Arrieta brought him back to health. On recovering, he presented Arrieta with the portrait that shows the physician caring for his patient. The artist’s inscription reads: “Goya gives thanks to his friend Arrieta for the expert care with which he saved his life from an acute and dangerous illness which he suffered at the close of the year 1819 when he was seventy-three years old. He painted it in 1820.” “One of the most arresting self-portraits in the history of art, Goya has painted himself on death’s door, collapsed onto Dr. Arrieta, who offers him a glass of red liquid,” said John Wilson, executive director of the Timken. “Small details create a compelling story: as Goya’s head lolls he grips the edge of the sheet and mysterious figures crowd the background in the rich darkness; Arrieta’s attentive concern contrasts with Goya’s unconsciousness.” A private dinner hosted by Lori and Bill Walton is planned for Aug. 9 to commemorate the showing. Each guest will wear a design inspired by either Goya’s Self Portrait or Jacques-Louis David’s Cooper Penrose. Cost is $5,000 per couple. Goya’s self-portrait is on loan to the Timken Museum of Art from the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, The Ethel Morrison Van Derlip Fund in exchange for the Timken’s loan of Rembrandt’s Saint Bartholomew, part of the exhibition Rembrandt in America on view at the MIA through Sept. 16.
Patrons of the Prado to Honor Peter Ellsworth Peter “Pete” K. Ellsworth, known as San Diego’s founding father of cultural leadership. will be honored July 14 by Patrons of the Prado, a philanthropic organization that supports arts and cultural institutions in the park. Ellsworth, president of the Legler Benbough Foundation, is credited with the expansion of Sharp Hospital into the Sharp Healthcare network of hospitals and clinics from the mid1980s to the mid-1990s. He was nominated by the Timken Museum of Art as one of 11 visionary “Patrons on the Prado Stars” for 2012 who serve the community by providing an enhanced Balboa Park experience. The awards program will be held at 6 p.m. on the Prado and also will feature tributes to the Beach Boys and Jersey Boys, entertainment by the Wayne Foster Orchestra, and cuisine by Jeffrey Strauss of Pamplemousse Grill. Ellsworth and 10 other honorees, who were nominated by gala beneficiary institutions, will be honored during the program. Ellen Zinn is chair of the event. Ellsworth and his wife Doris have been Friends of the Timken since 1998. His stewardship of the Legler Benbough Foundation has been instrumental in the evolution of the museum through conservation and acquisition of world class art. Major gifts from the foundation were also directly responsible for the development of a strategic plan and the hiring of its executive director, John Wilson, in 2008. Ellsworth serves on the Mayor’s 2015 Balboa Park Committee and Irwin Jacob’s Plaza de Panama Board.
Civic Youth Ballet to Perform Fairy Tales in the Park Aug. 18 The San Diego Civic Youth Ballet, the resident classical ballet school of Balboa Park, will present the fourth annual Fairy Tales in the Park on Saturday, Aug. 18, in the Casa del Prado Theatre. Shows will be at 1, 3 and 5 p.m. The show is a whimsical, interactive dance event that will introduce audiences to the art of ballet through familiar stories. This year’s event features excerpts from stories like “Little Red Riding Hood” and “Beauty & The Beast,” narrated by a professional storyteller and interpreted by student dancers and guest artists; as well as an “enchanted forest” boasting a wishing well and costumed characters where visitors can interact and delve deeper into the magic of Fairy Tales in the Park. Admission is $10. Proceeds will fund the organization’s scholarship program for the upcoming academic year.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING Art in the Evening Lecture and Reception Art in the Evening Lecture and Reception Thursday, July 19, at 5:30 p.m. Speaker: Clara Bargellini, professor, Instituto de Investigaciones Estéticas, National University in Mexico City. Exhibition Tours Tours are free of charge and may be half-hour to one-hour long. An instructor must accompany college classes and K-12 classes must include one chaperone per 10 students.
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‘GREEN’ JEWEL IN A CANYON Mission Hills single-family residence is first in San Diego to get LEED credentials
ocated in Mission Hills and built on a canyon lot that was considered by many as unsuitable for construction, the Shayan residence — designed and built by Nakhshab Development and Design — is the first LEED-certified Gold single-family home in the city of San Diego. The 5,679-squarefoot house, inspired by mid-20th century design, serves as home to three generation of the Nakhshab family.
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The two-level home features 21 roof-top photovoltaic solar panels that supply a 40 percent annual energy offset. The structure also was built to be 23.7 percent more energy efficient than required by California standards, accomplished through the use of numerous green building techniques and materials including:
hangs for shading, limited glazing on east and west facing walls, and a south facing flat roof area for maximized photovoltaic energy production. • Sustainable materials such as concrete flooring, concrete block walls, and 25 percent recycled content drywall. • Low VOC paint throughout the house.
• A highly efficient thermal envelope that includes state-ofthe-art formaldehyde-free insulation, a cool roof system, Low- • 91 percent Energy Star-rated lighting package along with E coated windows, concrete floors and walls, and a design that energy saving motion sensors in most rooms. easily allows for cross ventilation. • Energy Star-rated appliances and low flow toilets and faucets. • Careful study of site and building orientation for maximum • 100 percent drought-tolerant landscaping planted with native efficiency. Efficient design features include architectural over- species. SEE JEWEL, Page 16
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JEWEL CONTINUED FROM Page 15
• Zoned HVAC system that uses nonHCFC refrigerants for maximized efficiency • Tankless water heater and re-circulating plumbing system. The Shayan residence features a collection of custom amenities that highlight how green can also be luxurious and accentuate the home’s “classic modern” characteristics, including a large entertaining-and-living space walled by 13-foot high floor-to-ceiling windows, and a sleek eight-foot wide gas fireplace; a custom wood and steel staircase that allows ambient light to shine through to the lower level, thus creating an airy feeling downstairs; an open floor plan with concrete flooring throughout, and midcentury inspired light fixtures; a spacious kitchen with large walnut storage cabinets, an expansive island and a walk-in pantry that also houses (and thus hides from sight) all electronic and sound systems. Other unique features are a soundproof music room and home theater, and
a dramatic oversized walk-in shower in the master suite. Built in a canyon and accessed by a sloped driveway, the home was designed with a cohesive, open floor plan that provides all residents sufficient privacy. Shared living spaces — the kitchen, dining room and living room — are located upstairs, and offer panoramic views of Downtown San Diego through a dramatic wall of windows. The bedroom suites share the downstairs with the family room and music room. Each room has floor-to-ceiling windows as well as access to the outdoors, which makes the spaces very luminous and open. The spacious master bedroom is large enough to accommodate a private and cozy “retreat” for the family’s eldest generation. Although a spacious 5,000 square feet, the lot sat vacant for more than a decade since it was considered inaccessible unless a bridge was built to span from the street to the lot’s structure. Nakhshab Development and Design studied the terrain and overcame the challenge by creating two lots and engineering a sloped curved driveway for access to each. The Shayan residence was built in 11 months, from groundbreaking to final occupancy.
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San Diego’s Newest Community Garden Sprouts in Altadena Neighborhood also gets 50 new trees
BY COUNCILMAN TODD GLORIA San Diego has no shortage of impressive titles: We’re one of America’s best burger cities and one of America’s techiest cities; we’ve been honored for our fitness, and North Park’s 30th Street was nationally honored for its craft beer
options. The city of San Diego has also been ranked as the least expensive big city in California to do business and one of America’s “low cost” cities for business, according to a study by the Rose Institute of State and Local Government at Claremont McKenna College. The study evaluated business taxes and fees, economic incentives and other programs for 421 cities nationwide and assigns a cost rating for each city using a proprietary formula. While Los Angeles and the Bay Area remain among the most expensive areas in the state to do business, San Diego is the most affordable big city for business, and San Diego continues to lead California and the nation with the highest penetration of rooftop photovoltaic installations and overall solar generation. This status, combined with the City Council’s focus on job creation and the efforts of Mayor Sanders’ Economic
Growth Services Department, helped San Diego land two solar manufacturers since 2009, Kyocera and Soitec. While big businesses like those in the solar, defense, and bio-fuel industries generally create skilled manufacturing jobs and build our base of innovation, small and local businesses are of critical importance to our economy and our community character, as evidenced by the continued growth and success of North Park’s business corridor. San Diego has developed a good business climate by cutting red tape, streamlining the permit process, and initiating a wide array of programs to directly assist businesses large and small. From our popular Storefront Improvement Program to infrastructure investments, like the upcoming addition of a bike corral at 30th Street and North Park Way, we have made progress supporting neighborhood businesses. The direct support provided by business improvement districts like North
Park Main Street cannot be overlooked, and I am glad that the city has strengthened our relationship with BIDs and made it easier for the organizations to access their funds for service. Obviously, work remains to be done to ensure San Diego businesses, especially small ventures and those just getting started, are provided appropriate resources by the city, and are not bogged down by bureaucracy or unreasonable fees. I’m proud of the recognition the city has received for our efforts to strengthen our business climate, and remain focused on improving the quality of life throughout our communities. Information about San Diego’s economic incentives is available on the city’s website at sandiego.gov/economicdevelopment or by contacting Russ Gibbon, business development manager, at (619) 236-6350.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ‘Horrified’ by the Proposed Centennial Bridge
I am a native San Diegan. I have enjoyed the pleasure of growing up in a spectacular city. I am so proud not only of the Downtown we now have, but the ballpark, our new cleaned up riverwalk, the Gaslamp revival, and so many wonderful historical features our city offers its citizens and visitors. Our crowning jewel is Balboa Park. What vision our forefathers had. (and foremothers, of course ... we have some remarkable ladies in our history!) I marvel at the buildings, have photographed them many times, taken visitors to see the park. It is larger than New York’s central park, I hear, and yet it feels intimate and welcoming. Then I took a look at the rendering of the proposed “centennial bridge” and I was stunned ... horrified. It reminded me of some mutant with an unnatural arm. What could the architect who proposed this monstrosity possibly be thinking? Is this anyone who values posterity, history, culture? How could you put an appendage onto the Cabrillo Bridge? Are these people San Diegans? Then I listened and watched as the Commissioner of the Plaza de Panama seemed to fall all over himself in praise and awe of Dr. (Irwin) Jacobs and his money, while at the same time expressing his own reservations and distaste for the Todd Gloria and Sharon Tittle in the centennial bridge. It was disgusting. community garden. Those with the money should NOT have all the say in what we do with our precious Balboa Park! I attended an event at our Museum of Art just last week and thought, how wonderful that our current planners are proposing removal of cars in the Plaza. A great idea! It will be beautiful. Yet, the traffic plan is flawed. What would be so much more pleasing is either an underground parking below the Plaza, or parking in close sites with shuttle access and connected roads. Certainly Dr. Jacobs does not want his name forever vilified by San Diegans. Certainly he does not want to be associated with an “Onion” Award. Certainly he is a reasonable man and willing to compromise on this. Yet I have heard that there is one plan and one plan to be proposed to the City Council. Why not a working compromise? Mr. (William S.) Lewis’s plans seem very reasonable and well thought out. I suggest we take a little time to rethink this before setting a flawed plan in stone. What would be the difficulty in pushing this decision off for a month or two to come up with a better idea? San Diegans deserve it. Judy Hagar Schons San Diego
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By Bart Mendoza
A Rare Appearance by The Sloths Fans of ’60’s-era garage punk music won’t want to miss The Sloths at The Soda Bar on July 6, 8:30 p.m. Recently reunited after nearly 50 years, the Los Angeles-based band released a rare single, “Makin Love,” in 1965, copies of which today have sold for over $6,000. While the song never became a chart hit, the band’s legend has grown throughout the years, thanks in part to the championing of music aficionados such as Mike Stax, whose own band, The Loons, open up the proceedings. Though the Sloths never made it past the local hero stage in its heyday, the band’s recent spate of reunion shows confirm their lack of success at the time wasn’t due to a lack of great songs. This rare appearance should be at the top of the list for anyone who loves vintage rock ‘n’ roll. . The Sloths: Friday, July 6, at The Soda Bar, 3615 El Cajon Blvd. 8:30 p.m. 21 and up. $7. sodabarmusic.com.
Best Pop From Rin Tin Tiger San Francisco-based trio Rin Tin Tiger stops in at Eleven on July 31, 9 p.m. Led by Kevin Sullivan, they play a mix of folk, indie rock and pop. It’s the latter that sets the band apart from other such combos, with a sound that’s best described as sounding like a cross between Arlo Guthrie and Paul McCartney’s “White” album-era acoustic guitar work. Rin Tin Tiger has excellent tunes, such as the ballad “Far Away,” which follow the folk rock template closely, but they’re at their best when they rock out a bit on songs such as “Ghost Door,” which border on powerpop.. Rin Tin Tiger: Tuesday, July 31 at Eleven, 3519 El Cajon Blvd. 9 p.m. 21 and up. $5. elevensandiegomcom..
Rendering of the USO building.
Gypsy Jazz With Matilija
Elder Statesman for Country Music An original 1970’s-vintage country music “outlaw,” Ray Wylie Hubbard appears at AMSD Concerts on Friday, July 13, 7:30 p.m. Best known for co-penning the 1973 Jerry Jeff Walker hit, “Up Against The Wall, Redneck Mother,” Hubbard has released 16 albums of music since 1971, in the process becoming an elder statesman of the genre and Texas music in general. Although Hubbard is considered a country music artist, fans of the blues, folk and Americana will love every second of Hubbard’s set. . Ray Wylie Hubbard: Saturday, July 13 at AMSD Concerts, 4650 Mansfield St. 7: 30 p.m. All Ages. $20-$47. amsdconcerts.com..
Although the music of acoustic guitar trio Matilija might be described as gypsy jazz, anyone who enjoys great fretwork will love the combo of guitarists Ryan Dart and Bob Ryan. Inspired by the likes of Django Reinhardt, the pair are great to listen to as well as watch; their nimble guitar interplay being a definite highlight of their performances. The group has a batch of excellent original music, but a wide range of vintage cover tunes, such as Duke Ellington’s “It Don’t Mean A Thing,” are amongst the band’s biggest crowd pleasers. . Matilija Swing: Friday, July 20 at Claire de Lune, 2906 University Ave. 8 p.m. All ages. Free. clairedelune.com..
Fragile Vocals Mixed With Acoustic Guitar Work Singer songwriter Emily James Kanis performs at Lestats on July 28. Though still a relatively young performer, Kanis is a skilled guitarist and tunesmith, with an arsenal of original numbers and an eclectic batch of cover tunes that can range from Dolly Parton to The Yeah, Yeah, Yeah’s. Her plaintive, at time fragile vocals carry a lot of emotion and are perfectly matched to her acoustic guitar work, giving her moody tunes a compelling edge. . Emily James Kanis: Saturday, July 28 at Lestats, 3343 Adams Ave. 9 p.m. All Ages. Cover TBD. lestats.com.
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