Coronado 365 - October 2022

Animal Rx

Do you own a pet? If you do, then you’re in good company. Seventy percent of U.S. households have at least one pet, according to the American Pet Products Association’s 2021-2022 National Pet Owners Survey.

Those of us with pets know the obvious benefits: watching the pure joy on a dog’s face when chasing after a ball or snuggling on the sofa with a purring cat. But there are real mental and physical advantages. There’s evidence that having a pet reduces the likelihood of depression and lowers blood pressure. It has also been linked to slower cognitive decline in older adults.

In other words, pets are good for you, and this month we celebrate our four-legged friends. It’s a special relationship when a different species puts their trust in you. Naked Roger, who is on the cover, has an exceptional bond with his human Brooke Cruz. Cruz did her homework before adopting Roger, a Sphynx cat, and they seem a perfect match.

Unfortunately, not every pet-human relationship has a happy ending. That’s where the animal welfare organization PAWS of Coronado steps in. PAWS has been taking in a record number of animals this year. We take a look at the challenges the organization faces running the city’s animal shelter and the lives it has changed for the better.

Animals are also the focus of our featured artist Jack Medved. His love for all species has led him to a creative resume that includes murals, T-shirts and a coloring book.

So take a moment and pet your favorite animal. Or grab a leash and go for a walk now that fall is here. It’s the perfect time to get out side, catch a sunset or go on a hike. If you’re out by the Ferry Landing, you might even run into Naked Roger.

Cheers, Leslie & Martina

IN BLOOM THIS MONTH: Hibiscus

Contents

OCTOBER 2022

COVER STORY

4 CAT TALES

Fun, fashionable and furless, Sphynx cat Naked Roger wins hearts in person and online.

FEATURES

12 RESCUE MISSION

PAWS of Coronado’s goal is to have every abandoned pet find a new home.

30 FINDING COMMON GROUND

One Town, One Team campaign focuses on community and cooperation

DEPARTMENTS

20 DID YOU KNOW?

A railroad came through town until 1970.

22 MADE IN CORONADO Artist Jack Medved finds inspiration in animals.

32 LOOKING BACK

This month in Coronado history.

30

34 FROM THE GROUND UP

Time to rethink the garden and plan for spring.

ON THE COVER Sphynx cat Roger.

2 Coronado365.com PHOTO COURTESY OF BROOKE CRUZ

42 RECIPE OF THE MONTH Bikini martini.

44 BEACHCOMBER

California black sea hare.

46 BEACH AND BAY

Gathering to explore ideas for climate resilience.

WHAT EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUTCORONADO 365

PUBLISHER

Now and Then Publishing LLC

EDITOR Leslie Crawford

CREATIVE DIRECTOR/MANAGING EDITOR

Martina Schimitschek

COPY EDITOR

Rose Wojnar

CONTRIBUTORS

Catherine Gaugh, Nicole Sours Larson, Amy Steward, @coronadobeachcomber

Visit us online at Coronado365.com

OCTOBER 2022 » VOLUME 1 » ISSUE 10

CONTACT editor@coronado365.com or (619) 435-0334

ADVERTISING

To advertise, contact Leslie Crawford at leslie@Coronado365.com or advertising@Coronado365.com

CORONADO 365 is a division of Now and Then Publishing LLC, 830 Orange Ave., Suite B, Coronado, CA 92118

Copyright ©2022 Now and Then Publishing LLC

All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

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Furlessphenom

Sphynx cat Naked Roger charms family, friends and Instagram followers

By NICOLE SOURS LARSON

He’s cuddly, adventurous, fearless and so deeply at tached he’s described as “doglike” in his devotion to his humans.

Happy to walk on a leash, he welcomes regular baths (complete with rubber duckies), revels in his extensive ward robe of custom coats, sweaters and costumes – and truly doesn’t mind being dressed up as a hot dog, Grinch, prisoner, reindeer or bumblebee. His “clawset” is filled with glam clothes and costumes for every holiday, most custom-tailored in his preferred single hole-style design available through the Instagram site @SphynxSwag.

Meet Roger, aka Naked Roger, an engaging Sphynx who went viral on Instagram as @nakedroger soon after joining the so cial media site. He has more than 12,000 followers, without any promotional efforts.

« Three-year-old Roger is a Sphynx, a hairless breed that first emerged in the 1960s from kittens with a hairless mutation.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BROOKE CRUZ

The 3-year-old pampered charmer lives near the Ferry Landing with his adoring humans, Brooke Cruz, and Cruz’s boy friend, Chris (who prefers to keep his last name private).

He’s not your typical cat, but he is a typ ical Sphynx, which was first bred in the 1960s and ’70s from kittens with a natu rally occurring hairless mutation. Roger is wrinkly, nearly hairless and whis ker-less. He does have light peach-fuzz on his face, ears and rat-like tail along with a traditionally feline velvety nose.

He’s extremely social, outgoing and energetic and enjoys exploring the world in his stroller, ever delighted to accept pets from his fans and feline-friendly strangers.

Common among Sphynx, he has a quirky name, befitting the breed’s unusual character and his personality. He’s named for the alien Roger from the TV show “American Dad.”

“He’s our own little alien,” Cruz said, laughing.

But like your typical cat, he calls the shots in his household, can be a finicky eater, loves watching birds and chasing string and ribbon toys plus his favorite red laser dot. Of course, he appropriates every box coming into the house.

Roger,withhisoutfitsandantics,quick lygainedanInstagramfollowing,and Cruznowpostsonhisaccountfiveorsix timesaweek.Heistheonlyfamilymem berwhohasanysocialmediaaccounts.

“I started his account because I fell so in love with him and his personality. He has always been so full of life, photogenic

“He has always been so full of life, photogenic and a true character.”

BROOKE CRUZ

Brooke Cruz and Roger have formed a close bond, much like a human-dog relationship.

Because Sphynx cats don’t have fur, they need to be bathed regularly. Roger gets a monthly bath to remove oil and sweat the accumulates without fur to absorb them.

and a true character,” Cruz explained.

Roger debuted on Instagram in De cember 2019, a few months after joining the family. Within the tightly knit Sphynx community, Roger’s account quickly attracted a few hundred followers and ex ploded to a few thousand within the first year. It just kept growing as Roger attract ed new friends and followers and kept connecting with other accounts, many of which led to Sphynx-appropriate services and products, including his favorite cloth ing and accessory designers.

His fans have also posted their own artistic interpretations of his image, which

appears on the site under the tab “Roger art.”

Cruz, 26, a native of Orlando, Florida, who’s a manager in a medical practice, moved to San Diego about three years ago from Santa Monica with her boyfriend, with the understanding that she could get a cat.

Although previously a dog person, she realized that keeping a dog in a small apartment was not a good idea. The cou ple work long hours and couldn’t be home to walk a dog. Moreover, Cruz had be come obsessed with Sphynx cats because of their doglike characteristics, especially

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BROOKE CRUZ

BROOKE CRUZ

their strong attachment to their people, affectionate, easy-going personalities and unique appearance.

Like other cats, they can be left alone longer than dogs and will sleep through the day without ill effect. Cruz and other Sphynx parents report their cats are invariably waiting at the door when they return from work, meowing in protest at their unjust abandonment.

“I started falling in love with the breed. They’re so ugly and look like rats, but they’re so cute,” she said.

Initially Chris was not enthusiastic, but came round as she shared YouTube videos and photos of potential kitten fami ly members. He soon understood their appeal.

Now Chris is definitely on board, said Cruz’s sister Courtney Cruz. She was an other initial skeptic whom Roger quickly won over and she now identifies as Roger’s aunt.

“Brooke is so bonded with Roger, but Roger loves Chris, too. And Chris puts up with it,” said Courtney Cruz, who often spends her vacations in Coronado, hang ing out with Roger.

Cruz tried hard to adopt from a rescue, but Sphynxes rarely show up at rescues or shelters, unlike other purebred cats and

dogs.

Her choice came down to buying from a breeder or not having a Sphynx, so Cruz researched reputable breeders. She screened catteries carefully and learned the importance of avoiding kitten mills or backyard breeders offering probably unhealthy cats at bargain prices. She identified the website sphynxlair.com as a reliable source for exchanging Sphynx information.

Like several other breeds, the Sphynx is prone to the fatal genetic cardiac disorder hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), but the breeder she ultimately select ed, Lil Nudist Cattery (lilnudists.com), pre-screened Roger’s parents, producing negative test results. The breeder also pro vided a lifetime guarantee against HCM. The cattery has six home-based locations across the country, including one in Southern California.

“As soon as I saw Roger’s baby picture I was sold,” Cruz said. They picked him up at about 14 weeks, when the cattery can confirm kittens have achieved their essential health milestones.

The couple picked up Roger within a week of arriving in San Diego and moving into their first downtown apartment. That same week Cruz developed appendicitis,

“They’re so ugly and look like rats, but they’re so cute.”

From cool to cute — and even naked — Roger is always ready to pose for the camera. He enjoys outings, but prefers a stroller over his backback carrier.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BROOKE CRUZ

Cruz got Roger when he was about 14 weeks old. “As soon as I saw Roger’s baby picture, I was sold,” Cruz said

which revealed Roger’s natural nurturing character and nursing skills.

“Through the whole healing process, he wouldn’t leave my side,” Cruz said.

“He knows when we’re sick. He sat on our chests when we got COVID recently.”

Roger is a burrower, snuggling into his blankets and custom sherpa snuggle-sack, and always sleeps close in bed, sharing his humans’ warmth. Because he’s hairless he gets cold easily, which is why Cruz dresses him in sweaters or coats.

Roger, she said, is generally “pretty chill and relaxed,” not overly territorial with visiting dogs and neighbors’ cats, but he isn’t perfect.

“He can be a bit of a jerk. That’s why I love him more. He knows how to push buttons. He doesn’t scratch the couch when he’s home alone. He has to have eye contact before he does it, but soon after he’s ready to snuggle,” she said.

Sphynx cats are not for everyone. Because they lack hair, they require more specialized care than traditional cats,

whose fur absorbs skin oils and sweat. They can become sweaty or oily, although that can be controlled by feeding high er-quality food with less fat. They require regular baths, ranging from weekly to monthly, depending on the individual cat. Bedding and clothing also need to be washed frequently.

Roger, Cruz said, isn’t oily and requires only a monthly bath, although she also cleans his skin regularly with baby wipes. And she applies special feline sunscreen whenever he’s exposed to the sun.

Again, because of its lack of ear hair, a Sphynx tends to have more ear wax buildup, necessitating regular attention, while its eye area, lacking protective hair, needs to be wiped carefully. Toes also need con sistent cleaning.

“Our cats have body wipes, ear wipes and eye wipes. They also receive an annual heart scan because they’re susceptible to cardiac problems” said Crystal Paul of Bankers Hill. She has two Sphynx cats, Beaux and Aero.

Paul first met Roger and Cruz at a Sphynx meet-up she organized pre-pan demic. She described Roger as “a typical Sphynx, affectionate and silly. They love to be loved. They don’t have the typical cat temperament.”

Cruz is delighted they adopted Roger, whom she considers her son and herself his “momager.”

“My bond with Roger is stronger than with any dog I’ve had. He’s my soul mate. He’s everything I’d want in a pet.” ■

Nicole Sours Larson is a freelance writer.

COURTESY OF BROOKE CRUZ

Clockwise from top left: Rocky, a 20-year-old male, who loves to be petted; 2-year-old Presley, who’ll need to be the only pet in the house; Toast, a young English spot rabbit; and Ruby, a 2-year-old Chocolate lab mix who is new to many things, such as leash walking. They are all ready for adoption.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF PAWS

PAWS for thought

Animal shelter running at capacity as number of rescues increase

By MARTINA SCHIMITSCHEK

The Coronado Animal Care Facility has been taking in a record-breaking number of animals this year, with an average of 30 abandoned pets each month.

The shelter, at 1395 First St., is brimming with dogs, cats and even rabbits. The facility, which opened in 2010, was designed to have room for about nine dogs and 15 cats. With 61 animals under the shelter’s care at press time, a care crisis has been avoided only through residents willing to foster the continuing stream of dogs and cats found on city streets.

The no-kill facility is run by PAWS of Corona do, a nonprofit animal welfare organization that has overseen shelter operations since 2014 under a city contract. The organization also provides additional services beyond the basic shelter needs. Included are extra medical costs for animals, lifetime treatments for certain conditions even after

animals have been adopted and education for the community.

“We’re very committed to what we do. It’s been a challenging time,” said Teresa Leighty, who has been board president of PAWS for the past four years “I’m really proud of our staff and grateful to all the volunteers.” PAWS, short for Pacific An imal Welfare Society, has more than 200 volunteers, who pet cats, walk dogs, staff the front desk and foster animals.

But with more people traveling this

summer, there were fewer volunteers available for fostering and fewer people interested in adopting, Leighty said.

Compounding the crowding problem is the lack of a surgical suite at the facility. Every animal at the shelter needs to be spayed or neutered, procedures that must be contracted out to nearby veterinarians, who all have full schedules. The long wait times result in longer stays, which now average 34 days.

Many of the pets found in Coronado have come from other areas including Mexico. Plus, the transient nature of the military contributes to relinquished pets.

“The numbers have been increasing for a couple of years, but this is the most we’ve ever seen,” Leighty said. Last year, the shel ter took in 250 animals and adopted out a total of 255 (147 cats, 103 dogs and five guinea pigs and rabbits). If the number of intakes continues on its current course, the shelter will accept about 360 animals this year.

“We believe that people bring their pets to Coronado because they perceive that we can afford to take care of them,” Leighty said. “Partly it has to do with geography. They are going to be found faster here.”

Leighty also noted that the types of animals received have shifted over the years. Far more dogs than cats are being abandoned mainly large breeds such as pit bulls, German shepherds and huskies. Ninety percent of the animals coming into

Behavioral trainer Chancel Siebuhr, who specializes in shelter dogs, works on leash walking.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF PAWS

» PAWS medical staff check up on a newborn puppy after an emergency C-section was performed on the mother earlier this year.

the shelter need to be spayed or neutered and more than two-thirds have additional behavioral or medical needs.

That’s when PAWS steps in.

Terry, an 8-year-old, 54-pound mixedbreed dog, who is part pit bull, is a prime example of the care PAWS gives in making sure animals have their best chance for

adoption. He was found earlier this year with a broken leg, missing teeth and a partially paralyzed face. Emergency sur gery for the fractured femur, which had been healing improperly and was infected, required removing his back right leg. The paralysis had affected his left eye, which eventually also had to be removed.

PAWS staff members (from left) Jennifer Stein, Breanne Sneddon and Chancel Siebuhr with Terry, a pitbull mix who has become a shelter favorite. Terry, who had his back right leg removed, has just been outfitted with a rear wheelchair.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF PAWS

“We provide funds for medical and be havioral attention above and beyond what the shelter can do,” Leighty said.

With his effervescent personality, Terry has become a shelter favorite, and PAWS recently raised funds to outfit him with a custom rear wheelchair so he can better enjoy his walks.

“You see these success stories,” said Jen nifer Stein, PAWS’ senior manager of fund development. “We are able to give these

» Higgins was the winner of this year’s biennial canine mayor contest, which is a big fundraiser for PAWS.

animals a new, awesome life.”

The facility also has a behavioral trainer on site who specializes in shelter dogs. The specialist, Chancel Siebuhr, will continue to work with families to help with be havioral issues once a dog is adopted, if necessary.

Having someone work on dog behavior has “been a huge game changer,” Leighty said.

PAWS has a structured protocol for adoptions, which includes a Zoom home check before applicants meet any animal. And pets don’t go home after the first meeting, so the family can think it over and get ready for the new member.

“We do our due diligence,” Stein said. “We want it to be a good fit. We want it to work for the animal and for the family and their lifestyle. We don’t have a lot of pets being re turned.” While the goal is to empty the shelter, the reality is that more space is needed.

TERESA LEIGHTY, PAWS BOARD PRESIDENT

“It’s not sustainable as is,” Leighty said of the facility.

PAWS has had plans drawn up to restructure the facility to increase capacity and include a surgical suite. The next step is approval and funding from the city, which owns the building.

The city’s contracted fee paid to PAWS for running the shelter covers about 60 percent of the overhead, Leighty said. The increase in animals has put a strain on the nonprofit’s budget. Funds are gener ated through grants, donors and business sponsors. Stein came on board this year to help with fundraising.

The biennial canine mayor contest, won this year by Higgins, is a big moneymak er, raising more than $45,000. The event, which started in 2010, is now augmented by the campaign for feline city manager, which started last year. New this year was a 5K Ruff Run at Coronado Cays Park, which took place Sept. 18.

Remodeling the building will require even more funds. Also on the wish list is a new transport van.

In the meantime, staff and volunteers will find a way to house and care for any stray pet in need. ■

“We’re very committed to what we do. It’s been a challenging time.

I’m really proud of our staff and grateful to all the volunteers.”

Did you know?

For more than 80 years, Coronado had trains coming through town at least once a week. The railroad started in 1888 with daily passenger service from downtown San Diego through National City, Chula Vista and up the Silver Strand. While regular passenger service only lasted until 1896, special excursion trains catered to visitors throughout the early 1900s, and freight trains operated until 1970 delivering supplies once or twice weekly to the Naval Amphibious Base and North Island. Started by the Coronado Beach Co. and called the Coronado Belt Line, the railway ran up Pomona Avenue toward San Diego Bay. The line was extended down First Avenue to North Island in 1918 as the military started constructing permanent buildings there. By that time, the railroad had changed hands numerous times and was owned by San Diego and Arizona Railway Co., which would become the San Diego & Arizona Eastern Railway Co., a subsidiary of Southern Pacific. On March 24, 1971, a small ceremony marked the end of rail service to Coronado with the removal of a spike near the old Hotel Del Coronado boathouse, which at the time was a Chart House and now is the Bluewater Grill. The tracks were removed a few weeks later, and today there is little evidence of the railroad that ran through Coronado. ■

TOMMY LARK / CORONADO HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION

Driven passionby

Artist with autism advocates for animals, environmental concerns in his works

By CATHERINE GAUGH

Jack Medved is an artist who specializes in his favorite subjects: animals and environmental advocacy.

As a toddler, Jack Medved was diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder. Autistic spectrum disorder refers to a range of developmental disabilities, and it affects everyone differently. Medved lost his fine motor skills. After years of therapy, concentration and practice, the 25-year-old Coronado resident is now an accomplished artist.

His achievements include a residency and collabora tions with local artists through the Revision Creative Arts Program. His work was part of the first Radical Inclusion Traveling Art Exhibition, a project started in

« The mural of colorful animals on the side of a structure at Whispering Winds Catholic camp in the Cuyamaca Mountains is one of two whole-wall artworks Jack Medved has painted in San Diego County. PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARIA NAGY

KEL CASEY

Medved works on a mural at Whispering Winds camp near Julian.

COURTESY OF MARIA NAGY

2019 by writer Andrea Moriarty, who has a son with autism. It’s an effort by several galleries and studios to spotlight emerg ing artists.

Medved has painted whole-wall murals at Whispering Winds camp near Julian and Ride Above Disability Therapeutic Riding Center in Poway. He has pro duced stickers, pins, specialty T-shirts and an endangered animals coloring book (a second edition is coming soon). All are for sale at Revision (revisionsand iego.com/shop).

“It all began many memories ago,” Medved said of his interest in art. “I was always good at trying stuff. But one day, I had a problem: I was not as good as I thought. It took a lot of time and practice to build up my confidence.

“Sometimes I draw things from a picture in my head. When I am looking at something, I draw the design exactly right.”

With help from his parents Maria Nagy and Marko Medved, he appears in and narrates videos of a wide range of animals at the San Diego Zoo. He shares fun facts about the creatures and their habitats. The videos, which appear on an

Instagram channel, are fun to watch, as Medved’s commentary is both interesting and humorous. (instagram.com/jacksan imalfunfacts)

“The videos are a big hit around here,” Medved said. “I have a great sense of humor.”

For example, he quips that you can tell alpacas from others in the llama family by “their cute hairdos.” Watching the tree- and post-swinging antics of the siamang gibbon, Medved says, “Now that’s what I call a jungle gym!”

“I am the greatest animal expert …. in my family,” he added with a smile.

Nagy, an advocate for the special needs community, said, “Jack is an artist who experiences autism.” That allows him to see the world in a unique way. Med ved studies topics of interest with great intensity and depth, and he can retain the information, she said.

His work includes several mixed media

“Sometimes I draw things from a picture in my head. When I am looking at something, I draw the design exactly right.”

JACK MEDVED

“Jack’s Endangered Animals Coloring Book” (top) will soon have a second edition. Medved was commissioned to paint a piece (above) for the cover of the book “Beyond Awareness.”

projects, such as the “Harmony Ferry,” a kind of updated Noah’s Ark with pairs of animals and Medved as the lookout in front. He’s also painted a scene of the rainforest in Africa’s Congo Basin, “the second largest rainforest in the world,” he explained. “Have a Heart for the Earth” is a global view of the planet with the continents and oceans made from a hundred-plus paper hearts. And a fanciful illustration of “Humphrey, the Lost Whale,” is based on a true story about a juvenile humpback whale that swam into San Francisco Bay, the Sacramento River and other California coastal areas for short visits in 1985 and 1990.

Some of Medved’s works are the results of collaborations with local artists including Hanna Gundrum and Amanda Saint Claire.

During COVID-19 shutdowns, Med ved did sidewalk chalk drawings to lift not only his own spirits, but also those of his neighbors. One message: “Every thing will be okay.”

He is always learning, whether it be about animals, art or anything he finds interesting.

The artist plans to design new T-shirts and newborn clothing with his animal drawings as well as make longer videos for a YouTube channel and pod casts about wildlife conservation. He hopes to soon have a gallery showing of his work. Medved also is looking to design more murals in the area; his mother mentioned the possibility of painting on city utility boxes.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARIA NAGY

Painting images on big public spaces is challenging, he said. In his previous efforts at the camp and horse stables, he first painstak ingly drew outlines of the animals he wanted to show.

“Then it gets a little harder,” Med ved said. “It takes a lot of concen tration. That’s the key to getting it right. It takes a while to fill everything in [with paint]. It is a messy job.”

Outdoor murals offer the greatest opportunity to educate people about the most important message he advocates.

“The murals are all about taking care

of the environment: conservation, recycling and protecting animal habitats,” Medved said. “You can say I am an an imal lover. There are so many amazing animals in countries all over the world. They really need protection, especially of their habitats.”

“We all share the same world. We should take care of it. Humans and ani mals are all earthlings.” ■

Catherine Gaugh is a freelance writer.

Spirit of cooperation

Initiative designed to bring community together

By LESLIE CRAWFORD

It has been a rough couple of years with the pandemic and the country’s divi siveness spilling down to the local level. Many residents are tired of the neg ativity and want to find a place of com mon ground and positive action. A new initiative, One Town, One Team, is aiming to help that happen. And it’s catching on around town. You may have seen a flag or a T-shirt bearing the phrase.

No one owns the concept, so anyone can be part of One Town, One Team. That includes schools, nonprofits and clubs — and even families and individuals.

“One Town, One Team really hit home with me. Everything in Coronado is so interrelated, and I really love how this simple statement reminds us to step back and look at the big picture and recognize how exceptional our town is,” said Rena Clancy, executive director of the Corona

do Chamber of Commerce.

Maria Simon, public information officer for the Coronado Unified School District, has taken on the role of being the point of contact for One Town, One Team.

“Coming out of the pandemic, I feel like there has been what feels like a collective sigh,” Simon said. “People are ready to feel connected to each other and their com munity. You can feel it at gatherings like Concerts in the Park; you can definitely feel it in our schools.”

The One Town, One Team concept didn’t originate in Coronado. It’s been used across the country and has been pop ular with sports teams nationwide. Several local entities considered ways to bring the community together and this idea took hold in July. It gives people a place to meet in the middle and work collaboratively toward the greater good.

“I have had the privilege of sitting down and sharing the One Town, One Team logos with community leaders, individ uals and businesspeople,” Simon said. “The best part of those conversations was watching and listening to every one’s reaction. People really connect with the visual right away, it’s often an emotional response.”

The One Town, One Team website (onetownoneteam92118.com), which the Coronado Schools Foundation volun teered to host, includes the branding kit for One Town, One Team. Anyone can use it to create T-shirts, stickers or other personalized items. Local merchants are creating products for purchase with the phrase. Those businesses are listed on the website, too.

Coronado is “a place where there is much to celebrate. We are one of the most philanthropic, lively and livable commu nities in the state. One Town, One Team embodies the sentiment that represents our unified community. Whether you live in Coronado or come here to work, learn or play… we are all Islanders when we are in the 92118,” Simon said, referring to the Coronado High School mascot.

A small slogan is ready to make a big impact.

■

THIS MONTH IN CORONADO HISTORY

Oct. 1, 1935

President Franklin Roosevelt stayed at the Hotel del Coronado during his visit to the California Pacific International Exposition in Balboa Park and Naval Air Station North Island. During his stay, the presidential flag flew over The Del, which made the hotel the official White House for the time he was in residence. Roosevelt had two sons who lived in Coronado during World War II: one on J Avenue, the other on A Avenue, so he and his wife, Eleanor, were frequent visitors to Coronado and the Hotel Del during those years.

Oct. 4, 1956

It was reported that Coronado’s shoe burglar was “caught in the act” by an alert newspaper boy. The newspaper boy left a paper at the door of 714 F Ave. about 5 p.m. As he continued past the house, he saw a man jump from a downstairs window and run down the street. Police said four pairs of women’s shoes, wrapped in a brown skirt, were found just inside the window used by the burglar. The sus pect was described as a white male, with light brown hair cut in a butch, 25 to 30 years old, wearing blue jeans and a dungaree shirt. Police said the

President Franklin Roosevelt departs Coronado, crossing San Diego Bay by ferry on Oct. 2, 1935. Gov. Frank Merriam is seated next to him in the rear of the car.

CORONADO PUBLIC LIBRARY

“Great Shoe Mystery” investigation had dwindled until the new descrip tion came in.

Oct. 7, 1934

New, furnished two-bedroom, oceanor bay-front cottages at Tent City were advertised for $37.50 a month includ ing electric refrigeration, light, water and a garage.

Oct. 9, 1995

The final Coronado High School football game was played on Cutler Field, which is now home to Coronado Middle School and its playing field. Cutler Field covered an entire block from 5th to 6th streets between F and G avenues. Deeded to Coronado High School in 1925, the field hosted over 500 football games and yearly high school graduations, as well as many other sports and community activities over the years.

Oct. 10, 1924

The USS Shenandoah (ZR-1), the Navy’s first rigid airship — or dirigible — landed at North Island’s Rockwell Field on its first visit to the West Coast.

Oct. 18, 1945

The Gen. Henry D. Styer Post No. 2422 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars was presented with a deed to six lots, valued at $12,000, by Elizabeth Styer, widow of the general for whom the post was named. Styer donated the property at 6th Street and Orange Avenue as a memorial, so a clubhouse could be built in tribute to her late husband. Plans called for large meet ing rooms, smaller conference rooms, dining rooms, a bar, cocktail lounge, reading rooms, a large, terraced patio and “all the appurtenances” of an upto-date clubhouse.

Oct. 21, 1960

President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the first president to land on North Island, was greeted by Mayor Robin Good enough, who read a proclamation declaring “Ike Day” in Coronado. More than 7,000 people greeted Eisenhow er at North Island and the children from Coronado public and private schools assembled at the First Street gate to see the president.

Oct. 25, 1956

The dirigible USS Shenandoah

The San Diego County Department of Public Health announced two polio cases from Coronado. One young women was suffering from some paralysis and was on a respira tor. The other had much less severe symptoms. The two were part of an upsurge in polio cases during the last week in October, according to the county health director.

■

When starting with an empty flower bed, a shovel is the best tool for properly turning the earth and mixing in nutrients before planting.

DREAMSTIME PHOTO

Digging fall

It’s time to start pruning, prepping and planting for a great garden next year

By LESLIE CRAWFORD

Fall marks the beginning of the garden year in Southern California. October is when I get into high gear in my garden. It’s a big month for trim ming plants, cleaning up the yard, prepping the soil and then planting.

By this time of year, most greenery is starting to look tired. It’s time to clean up and clear out. Plants are ready to be trimmed back heavily. Be sure to clean up underneath plants, removing old leaves and other detritus to help pre vent garden pests and diseases.

Whether you have a large or small garden, soil preparation is going to make a big difference in how well your plants will thrive. Soil works hard throughout the year, so it becomes nutrient-deficient and compacts over time.

It’s best to water the day before you start working your soil, so you aren’t handling the soil when it is too dry or too wet.

First, you need to turn or rough up the existing soil. If you are starting with an empty flower bed, dig down and turn the earth with a spade. I have a small garden with

October is an ideal time to plant bushes so they will be well established by spring. At right, one of the rewards of trimming and cleaning out the garden in fall is adding decorations at the end.

established plants, so I work a bit more delicately using a pronged cultivator, a hand tool that looks like a claw. It does a good job of roughing up the soil without disturbing existing plants.

Once soil has been worked, put down a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer. (Worm Gold is an organic product of worm castings that does a great job, too.) Cover the fertilizer with about two inches of compost. Once you have added the amendments, turn the two layers with the roughed-up soil so everything is mixed into in a cohesive layer. Water when you are done.

In our Mediterranean climate, we can plant almost anytime during the year. For best results though, fall is the optimal time to put plants in the ground. Planting in the fall allows vegetation to take advantage of the hopefully cooler and wetter months. Plants will put down substantial roots and be fully established by springtime, when, with some fertilizer, they can grow even bigger and stronger before the heat of summer.

If your garden is established, take stock of what is growing well and what needs to be replaced. Look for bare spots that need to be filled in. This is the time to do a little

MIRIAM DOERR

LESLIE CRAWFORD

October is a big month for generously trimming back plants, which are looking tired after a summer of heat. Be sure to clean underneath after trimming.

redecorating.

I prefer shopping for plants at locally owned nurseries rather than the big box stores. Local nurseries carry plants grown for our climate, and plants are stocked when the season is appropriate. Plus, the staff is much more knowledgeable when you need help.

Be sure to factor water usage into your purchasing plan by choosing plants that aren’t too thirsty. As a bonus, many drought-tolerant plants attract pollina tors so your garden can give back to the ecosystem.

Also consider these questions when planning and buying plants: Do you want to grow annuals or perennials, or maybe vegetables? What would you like to see or try in your garden? Do you know the

difference between drought-tolerant and native plants?

If you don’t see certain plants for sale, it might not be the right time of year for them to be planted. Ask for help at the nursery if you are unsure or overwhelmed by the choices.

Don’t overthink the process and don’t get discouraged. If some of your plants don’t grow well, that’s OK. It happens to the best and most experienced gardeners. Gardening is a constant learning process.

I always look forward to this time of year. Planning for next year’s garden is a hopeful time. It’s a fresh start and an opportunity to try new things.

And remember, you don’t have to be good at gardening for gardening to be good for you. ■

DREAMSTIME PHOTO

Bikini martini

CHEF KATHRYN DEW THE ISLANDER

INGREDIENTS

2½ ounces vodka. At The Islander, we use Platinum 7x, but use your favorite.

1 ounce pineapple juice

½ ounce Carpano Antica sweet vermouth

1 ounce Demerara simple (1:1 water and Demerara sugar)

RECIPE

1. Shake and strain ingredients into your favorite martini or coupe glass.

2. Garnish with sugar rim and pineapple wedge.

3. Enjoy!

COURTESY OF BLUE BRIDGE HOSPITALITY

APLYSIA VACCARIA, commonly known as a California black sea hare, is a species of large sea slugs. They are mollusks without the hard exterior shell but do have a small interior shell. The body of the California black sea hare is firm and can survive exposure to air for periods of time. The black sea hare, which has a lifespan of one year, can grow to more than 3 feet long and weigh as much as 30 pounds. They are simultaneous hermaphrodites, meaning they have male and female sex organs so any two individuals can reproduce with each other.

A diet of brown algae gives the herbivores their dark coloration. They have three stomachs, two with rasping teeth for chewing. Unlike other sea hares, black sea hares do not produce ink to de fend themselves. The brown algae they eat produce a toxin called acetoxycrenulide, which is extracted during digestion and accumu lates in the tissue, providing a natural defense. Their large size also discourages natural predators.

The habitat of the black sea hare ranges from coastal Northern California to Baja California. As juveniles, they live in deeper waters moving to tidal and subtidal zones as they mature. There, they are more protected from rough ocean conditions and food is plentiful. ■

Class: Gastropoda

Order: Anaspidea

Family: Aplysiidae

Genus: Aplysia

Species: A. vaccaria

California black sea hare

CORONADOBEACHCOMBER

Coronado’s shoreline changes with the weather, tides and time of year. Coronadobeachcomber explores our shores daily on the beach or at the bay, paying attention to the interesting animals, shells and sea life. Follow @coronadobeachcomber on Instagram.

Group effort

Community leaders will gather to address solutions for reducing climate change impacts

By AMY STEWARD

The weather has been dominating headlines for months — from the heat wave last month to devas tating wildfires across California and the Southwest and flash floods that washed out a section of Interstate 10 near Blythe in August.

And weather experts are forecasting that California could endure massive flood ing caused by an atmospheric river with the potential to dump inches of rain on drought-hardened and concrete-covered land in the next few decades.

Climate change is here.

“The record heat, droughts and fires of the summer of 2022 have shown the dire consequences of climate change that impact lives both near and far,” said Abby Berk, a board member of the local envi ronmental nonprofit Emerald Keepers.

“The latest research shows we still have time to act to prevent the worst outcomes.

“Everyone in our Coronado community can take action to be part of the climate solution.”

Scientists, the United Nations, world leaders, business leaders and environmen tal organizations believe it will take efforts by every city around the globe to reduce carbon and other greenhouse gas emis sions — the cause of climate change.

U.S. energy and environmental re searchers have determined the country needs a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the target scientists say is required to avoid the worst effects of climate change.

Emerald Keepers wants Coronado to join this effort and is organizing a gather ing of local leaders and thinkers on Oct. 14 to discuss environmental concerns and mitigation in Coronado. The select group will listen to environmental experts and then explore solutions to increase climate resilience and promote sustainable prac tices locally.

The all-day event is designed to identify key Coronado assets and environmental hazards that threaten those assets. Ex

The king tide in December 2021, which brought the water level to the base of the old Hotel Del Coronado boathouse (now the Bluewater Grill), is an example of what could happen in Coronado as sea levels rise.

pert guest speakers will explain climate impacts and share case studies where solutions are being implemented. The goal is to find ways to prevent further damage to Coronado’s sea, air and land through personal and collective action.

The assembly, organized by Emerald Keepers, “offers an incredible opportunity to bring our community together to col laborate on actionable solutions to many of the environmental issues impacting Coronado both now and in the future,” Berk said.

The invitation-only gathering will include a cross section of community members. Representatives from the city, Naval Base Coronado, the Coronado Unified School District, Sharp Coronado

Hospital, service clubs, faith organizations and yacht clubs as well as local businesses and nonprofits have been invited.

Noted anthropologist Margaret Mead is quoted as saying: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

That’s the objective of the upcoming brainstorming session and the idea that inspired Emerald Keepers.

If you would like to volunteer to help, have expertise in climate change mitigation or want to be placed on a waitlist to at tend, email emeraldkeepers@gmail.com.

Amy Steward is president of Emerald Keepers.

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LESLIE CRAWFORD

WHAT EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT

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