La JoLLa Light
Enlightening La Jolla Since 1913
■ Bully beware:
Issue gains official attention Page A12
■ Susan Polis Schutz
Vol. 99 Issue 15 • April 14, 2011
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID SAN DIEGO, CA PERMIT NO. 1980
Fireworks funding starts as ruling nears BY DAVE SCHWAB daves@lajollalight.com The show can — and likely will — go on again this year for the annual Independence Day Fireworks display at La Jolla Cove. One major impediment
imperiling the show, put on for the past two years by the nonprofit La Jolla Community Fireworks Foundation, may have been cleared by a recent revision of a tentative order from the San Diego Water Quality Control Board.
Even as they await the final decision, the foundation on Friday began tackling another obstacle — raising the funds to put the show on. Deborah Marengo, who heads the group, said all systems are go to launch another
Running Time
hosts documentary premiere at MCASD Page B1
communitywide drive to pay for the event again this year. But she added this year’s display will be scaled back. “Last year it cost about $40,000 but we had a bigger event with the Marine Corps Band and all the staging and
Volunteers hand out water to runners at last year’s event.
year on Sunday, April 17. On that day, 6,500 runners will launch in two separate “waves” starting at 7:30 a.m. At least an hour and a half later, they’ll arrive to thunderous applause from wellwishers thronging the Cove
SEE FIREWORKS, A9
mittee in an effort to get her attention focused on La Jolla’s potholes. “The situation has become intolerable,” he said late Monday, noting that he was taking up the Light’s call for someone to step up and see what can be done about the endless number of holes impeding drivers on local streets. He said idea is for the Town Council “to get a
SEE POTHOlES, A14
Will Parson
Volunteers key to LJ Half Marathon’s success BY DAVE SCHWAB daves@lajollalight.com The annual 13.1-mile La Jolla Half Marathon from Del Mar Racetrack to La Jolla Cove is more than a race: It’s an experience. And what goes into creating that experience year in and year out is a never-ending process. “We have north of 500 volunteers and it’s pretty much year-round,” noted Doug Bradley, who, along with Robin Cahill, Bill Uncapher and Barbara Baisch, spearheads organizing and coordinating the home-grown event, which will celebrate its 30th anniversary this
lighting and audio that went along with it,” she said, noting this year’s more-manageable event will likely cost about $25,000. “That’s what we need to
Town Council ready to tackle potholes BY KATHY DAY kday@lajollalight.com La Jolla Town Council trustees are poised to jump into the pothole mess when they meet tonight at 5 p.m. at the Rec Center. Since Councilwoman Sherri Lightner is scheduled to speak at 5:10 p.m., President Rick Wildman said he moved his president’s report to the slot just after her presentation and will propose establishing a Pothole Relief Com-
■ Buzz builds
around youth baseball Page A22
Online Daily at www.lajollalight.com
Residential Customer La Jolla, CA 92037 ECRWSS
Local basketball coach named in sports-bribery federal indictment
cheering on finishers funneled into “cattle chutes” to receive medals and refreshments. Meanwhile, a 5K starts at the same time at La Jolla Shores and also finishes at the Cove. Starting out as a weekend fundraiser sponsored by La Jolla Town Council, the event has grown over the years in size and magnitude. It now raises six figures in revenue, which the service club doles out to youth, senior and community causes throughout each year. “We’ve broken the race down into parts,” said Bradley,
BY PHIl DAIlEY phildailey@lajollalight.com Thaddeus Brown, who is better known as TJ to La Jollans, was one of 10 defendants named in a federal indictment unsealed Monday in connection with an alleged ring that offered bribes to college basketball players to fix games. Federal prosecutors in San Diego said the organizers conspired to bribe players to alter the outcome of games so the defendants could profit by betting on games in Las Vegas. The indictment accuses the group, but not Brown or the USD players, of running an illegal sports bookmaking operation and distributing marijuana. Former University of San Diego players Brandon Johnson and Brandon Dowdy were also named in the indictment.
SEE MARATHON, A8
SEE BASKETBAll, A10
LOCAL PROPERTIES · GLOBAL CONNECTIONS Engel & Volkers co-hosts benefit for the Challenged Athletes Foundation.
858-324-9001
1025 PROSPECT STREET, SUITE 150 I LA JOLLA, CA WWW.ENGELVOLKERSLAJOLLA.COM