June 13, 2014
On the Internet at www.MissionValleyNews.com
Volume VIII – Number 6
Bean artisans roast to perfection in Grantville Jeremy
Ogul
Editor, Mission Valley News
I
n a retail landscape flooded with cookiecutter 7-Eleven and Starbucks stores, signs of a craft coffee culture in San Diego can be hard to spot. Demand for high-quality specialty coffee is growing, though, fed by the slow rise of micro-
roasters like The WestBean Coffee Roasters, based out of a Grantville warehouse. In contrast to the burnt, bitter, massproduced black coffee served at ubiquitous international retail chains, the coffee sold by WestBean is roasted with an attention to detail designed to maximize the flavor potential of each cup, said James Rauh, one of WestBean’s founders. “One of the number one quotes we get See COFFEE page 6
Kidney donor J.R. Raines (left) and recipient Chuck Rodriguez (right).
How the pitcher’s mound molded the valley Elisse
Miller Mission Valley News
W
ith temperate weather all year round, one of the true signs of summer in San Diego is the sound of cheering baseball fans that emanates from the ballpark. Today that
ballpark is downtown, but Andy Strasberg’s latest book recounts the many years during which Mission Valley was home base for the Padres. In “Fantography: San Diego Baseball,” Strasberg seeks to tell “the unpublished, hidden story of baseball through the snapshots fans have taken of their baseball experience.” Strasberg first embarked on the Fantography project in 1997 and
has collected more than 25,000 photos since. In order to be a Fantography photo, it must follow two rules: first, it must be a non-professional photo of anything related to baseball; and second, the photo cannot contain live gameplay. Strasberg is baseball incarnate. In the book’s introduction, he recounts how his mother would tell him as a young boy that he would be unable to turn his obsession with a sport into a living. The subsequent 126 pages prove her wrong. See FANTOGRAPHY page 8
Living kidney donors recognized Jeremy
Ogul
Editor, Mission Valley News
C
huck Rodriguez considers himself lucky. Yes, his kidneys failed. Yes, he had to go on dialysis. And yes, a related cardiac arrest nearly killed him. But unlike the estimated 100,000 Americans who wait years for a kidney transplant, Rodriguez, 58, received a new
See KIDNEY page 13
WALKING GUIDE: San Diego River Trail’s east end Tom
Leech
Outdoor Adventure Group
T
Qualcomm Way. It happens to be as pretty and pleasant as the more popular western sections. Here’s how to get there to enjoy it. A good starting spot is on the south side of the river, where Camino de la Reina meets Camino del Este (Staples is at the corner of this intersection). If driving, you can often find on-street parking south and east of this corner. On the street’s east side, walk north a short distance and see the well-marked entry to the
he San Diego River’s paved pathways are a popular place for a pleasant afterwork stroll or weekend walk, especially after the city recently opened an extension of the path under state Route 163 toward Fashion Valley mall. One segment of the river’s trails that seems to get the least attention, however, is the furthest east section, ending at See PATHWAYS page 2
2
LOCAL NEWS
MISSIONVALLEYNEWS.COM — JUNE 13, 2014
One of San Diego’s most successful homeless programs is out of money Liam
Dillon Voice of San Diego
T
he math is supposed to be simple. Thirty-four of the most frequent homeless users of San Diego’s emergency services cost taxpayers and hospitals $4.3 million in responses to 911 calls and other public safety needs in 2010. Take those same people, put them in a house, give them preventative medical care and access to round-the-clock case workers, and the costs drop to $2.2 million in 2013. That’s a savings to the public of more than $2 million last year. This was the promise of Project 25, a much-heralded, threeyear pilot program funded by the local chapter of the United Way to help some of the most chronic users of San Diego’s emergency services. The idea was that if you take these people off the streets, you can give them a better life and save a lot of money in the process. Project 25’s data show that the program worked. But now its three years of United Way funding are up, and Project 25’s leaders haven’t found anyone willing
Marc Stevenson leads Project 25, a program that has saved the public millions in caring for the homeless.
If you take the homeless off the streets, you can give them a better life and save a lot of money in the process. to pay to extend it. Most of the program’s employees are moving to other jobs and the money will officially run out in June. Marc Stevenson, the head of Project 25, said it would be a shame if the program went away. Local emergency medical
Style has a home. And now you do too. Modern award-winning architecture. Urban details with multi-story window walls. The latest trends in sustainability. Electric cars on hand. Civita is the perfect blend of urban chic and village charm, right in the heart of Mission Valley. With its eclectic mix of neighborhoods—and more coming this year—Civita is the cure for bland. Visit us on Civita Blvd.— two blocks north of Friars Rd., off Mission Center Rd. FRAME & FOCUS by Shea Homes • From the high $400s • 866.696.7432 ORIGEN by Shea Homes • From the low $500s • 866.696.7432 ALTANA by TRI Pointe Homes • From the mid $600s • 888.619.3500 LUCENT by Shea Homes • From the high $500s to the mid $700s • 866.696.7432 CIRCA 37 by Sudberry Properties • Luxury apartment rentals • 619.378.3037
civitalife.com Civita is a master plan development of Quarry Falls, LLC. All information is accurate as of date of publication, but information and pricing is subject to change at any time.
officials have identified another 25 mega-users of the health care system who would benefit from the same approach. They won’t get the help they need, and the community won’t get the savings, unless Stevenson can find the roughly $930,000 it costs to run the program each year. (Project 25’s savings numbers include this up-front cost.) Given the numbers, Stevenson didn’t expect that finding more funding would be so difficult. I spoke with Stevenson, a social worker who works for St. Vincent de Paul Village, about what the program did and whether it has a future.
What’s been the biggest surprise that you’ve had? That it worked. (Laughs) The biggest surprise was over $2 million in savings and this was after the cost of what it took to provide the service. Watching these folks stay in housing and watching them stay connected to supportive services that we offer them, which basically is a fine blend of clinical and nonclinical approaches. There’s a lot of nonclinical things that go on in their lives that are really important to address when you want somebody to stay in housing. Their house has to feel like a home.
What do you mean by that? If you take somebody off the street and you put them in a house and they came in with nothing and they still have nothing in the home, they don’t feel much different than when they were on the street. I mean it’s nice to have a toilet and a shower, but basically what we witnessed in the beginning of the program is that some of our folks had a tendency to kind of all of a sudden set up their homeless camp right there in the living room. United Way provided us with enough to make sure they’re comfortable in their homes. We’re talking a bed, kitchen table, chairs, that kind of thing. Can you give me a concrete example of someone who was helped through this program? I have a guy that we engaged. He used to sit on the corner of 10th and B. He sat there wrapped in a blanket. We started providing health services. The doctor used to go visit him right there. It took us four months to really engage with him and get him on board with what we were trying to do. We finally got him to agree to go into housing. Once See HOMELESS page 12
LOCAL NEWS
MISSIONVALLEYNEWS.COM — JUNE 13, 2014
Developers begin fresh start on Riverwalk Golf Club plan Jeremy
Ogul
Editor, Mission Valley News
D
evelopers are brainstorming a new plan for the future of the Riverwalk Golf Club, the Mission Valley Planning Group learned at its June 4 meeting. Representatives from the Irvine-based developer Related California said they eventually A golfer swings at Riverwalk Golf Club, a 200-acre property that may want to build a “mixed-use project eventually be redeveloped into a mixed-use housing and commercial project. with a significant residential component” on the 200-acre site. “This is the first minute of the ment and review process to de- ning through it.” first quarter of a very long game,” velop the site. At this point, however, these said Matthew Witte, principal The new plan will likely have are all just ideas. with the firm. “I have to say that it could go a a much higher percentage of resiThe city in 1987 approved a dential uses and generate much number of different ways,” Witte development plan known as the less traffic than the original plan, said. Levi-Cushman Specific Plan, Witte said. Development on the Related California and archiwhich included a mix of hotel, site will probably start with the tectural firm Carrier Johnson are office, commercial, residential northeast corner of the golf course looking for feedback and suggesand recreational uses on the golf property, adjacent to the condo- tions from the community at this course property. In 1988 they ap- miniums to the west on Friars point in the process, their repreproved a development agreement Road, and gradually move east sentatives said. with Chevron Land for a project toward Fashion Valley Road. The Mission Valley Planning Group that would include 1300 condos proposal will likely be oriented board member Deborah Bossand 2 million square feet of of- more toward pedestrians than meyer said many residents would fices, according to the San Diego cars, and it may include the con- be losing an amenity if the golf Reader. Following protests from struction of a transit stop, he said. course were to be eliminated. professional golfers and river ad“It is a jewel to the people that “We would like to take advanvocacy groups, the project was tage of one of the most unique love golf in Mission Valley,” she never built. aspects of this property with its said. “It tugs at me emotionally to The original development scale,” Witte said. “It’s really un- see that thing go eventually.” agreement expired in 2008, mean- precedented to find a 200-acre Bossmeyer said she would like ing the property owners will now parcel in coastal California that to see a “very generous” park have to complete a new entitle- has both light rail and a river run- space included in the project to
make up for the loss of open space. Planning Group board member Perry Dealy said he is “anxious and hopeful” to see the new Related California come up with a new master plan for the property. “They have a phenomenal track record,” Dealy said. Board member Josh Weiselberg asked the developer to consider how the redevelopment of the golf course would affect hotel clientele in the valley. Witte said that if the golf course is completely eliminated from the site, it would not be until the last phase of the project, likely 10 to 15 years from now. It is also possible that the project would include a smaller 18-hole or 9-hole golf course. Asked about who the target market for the residential part of the development would be, Witte said it would be open to all but would probably attract a younger population. “That’s one of the great attractions of this being an urban infill site 10 minutes from downtown,” Witte said. “As you probably know, there is a certain attraction of the younger demographic to being in an urban setting.” While Related California is very excited about the project, Witte said, everything is open to discussion at this point. “This is really more just to say we’re getting started,” he said.
3
4
LOCAL NEWS
MISSIONVALLEYNEWS.COM — JUNE 13, 2014
How to deal with door-to-door solicitors Mission Valley News
T
hey claim to be selling candy bars to raise money for school. They ask you to subscribe to magazines to support a charity. They tell you they’re selling home security systems or upgrading utility lines. Door-to-door solicitors are common in San Diego’s residential neighborhoods, but rarely do they abide the law, according to San Diego Police Officer Matt Tortorella. In a message posted to the social networking website Nextdoor, Tortorella explained how to determine whether the stranger at your door is legitimate. The following tips are based on the information Tortorella provided. Put up a “no soliciting” sign If you’re certain that you never want to entertain a solicitor at your front door, you can put up a “no soliciting” sign. It is against city law for solicitors to knock or ring the doorbell if this sign is posted. Acknowledge visitors and let them know you are home You don’t have to open the door, but you should ask for the purpose of their visit and try to get a look at them through the peephole. Police often hear reports of burglars who attempt to enter a residence after hearing no response to a knock or doorbell.
Ask them to show their cityissued registration card San Diego city law requires all solicitors to register with the police department. After running a background check, the police department issues an ID card that legitimate solicitors must display whenever they go door to door. The card is white, has a photo of the solicitor, the solicitor’s name, tracking number and an official city seal. The registration cards are not issued to anyone younger than 14, and the cards are only issued to minors who have a valid work permit from their school.
Report suspicious activity to police Police have found a direct correlation between unauthorized soliciting and subsequent property crime, such as burglary, according to Tortorella. Many people posing as solicitors are actually gathering information for criminal purposes. They use a solicitor ruse to determine whether the home is vacant, whether it has an alarm system or surveillance cameras and whether there are valuable items in the home. If a solicitor comes to your door without the proper identification card or arrives after 8 p.m., call the police non-emergency line at (619) 531-2000 or (858) 484-3154. If an unwanted visitor refuses to leave or tries to open your door while you are home, call 9-1-1.
Pathways, from page 1 trail on the south side of the river. Walk east along the path with large condo complexes to your right and nature to the left. You can get some good views of the river (better than the western pathways), have a picnic or rest at several good tables, hear birds chirping in the foliage along the river (with the sweet sounds interrupted when the San Diego Trolley passes overhead). You’ll see few signs of homeless activity in this section. Only a few blocks along, the trail ends at busy Qualcomm Way. Walk left and over the river to the north side entry, turn left and you’re heading west along the river, with environment similar to the south side. Just a few steps along are some steps heading up to the Rio Vista Trolley Stop, right next to a large office and commercial complex. Here is a charming fountain and several businesses — cafes, a grocery store, and at the far end, Milano Coffee, a popular spot to plop down and contemplate what a good life you’re living today. Revitalized, head back down to the river and amble west a short distance to Camino del Este. (This is a good entry point to the north side pathways.) Cross left over the river to your starting place, making this about a mile long, easy hike. Or for a bit more strenuous workout, keep
heading west (cross at the corner traffic lights), and make your way past Mission Center Road to the new path under 163 over to Fashion Valley. At the first traffic light, head left (on the sidewalk, not the street) about 200 feet to Camino de la Reina. Walk left under 163 and back up onto river’s south side pathway. Keep strolling east (again cross at the street lights) and you’ll find yourself back at your starting place, right beside Staples. Tom Leech is a frequent contributor to Mission Valley News. He is also author of the recentlyreleased second edition of Say it like Shakespeare: the Bard’s Timeless Tips for Communication Success.
BUSINESS NEWS
MISSIONVALLEYNEWS.COM — JUNE 13, 2014
Movers & Shakers
5
Movement in San Diego’s Business Community
Bekker’s Catering wins business award
Bekker’s Catering was named the top family-owned business in San Diego by the San Diego Business Journal at its annual award ceremony in April. Bekker’s, which has been in business on Mission Gorge Road for nearly 60 years, beat 70 other finalists to win the award. Olga Worm, the company’s CEO, and her husband Oscar, also known as the company’s chef emeritus, received the award at the ceremony. Joining them was their son, Scott Worm, who is the current executive chef, and his wife, Jennifer. The company’s family history goes back to the 1950s, when Dale and Betty Worm purchased land on Mission Gorge Road to open a restaurant. At the time, the road was unpaved and the area was undeveloped, so Worm organized the neighborhood to petition for an extension of the sewer system to the restaurant property, earning himself the nickname of “The Mayor of Grantville” in the process. Olga Worm Worm’s restaurant, Roadside Bar-B-Q, opened in 1958. In 1978 it became CEO Bekker’s BBQ Restaurant, and in 1996 the restaurant closed and became Bekker’s Bekker’s Catering Catering.
Faulconer appointed to national homeless initiative First Lady Michelle Obama announced June 4 that San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer would join the national Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness, an initiative of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The goal of the federal initiative is to end veteran homelessness in American cities by 2015 by bringing together the resources of HUD, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness and the National League of Cities. “Over the years, I’ve worked locally with many San Diegans to help homeless veterans create a better life,” Faulconer said in a written statement. “I’m proud to take this issue head-on and join the national initiative to find more ways to get our nation’s heroes of city streets and back into a decent home.” Other California mayors participating in the challenge include Ashley Swearengin Kevin Faulconer of Fresno, John Marchand of Livermore, Jean Quan of Oakland and John D’Amico of Mayor, City of San Diego West Hollywood.
Do you know someone who should be featured on our Movers and Shakers page? We’re looking for anyone who’s doing something big, from a newly hired executive at a local organization to the small business owner who just opened a new restaurant or office, or even a local student who has won a major scholarship or fellowship. Please send your submissions with a photo and a few paragraphs to the editor at Jeremy@missionpublishinggroup.com.
Mission Trails campground now accepting reservations
July 14-18 • 9 am - 12 pm Age 4 - finished 5th grade early bird through june 30: $25/child for the week july 1-13: $30/child • walk-ins: $40/child pre/aftercare: 8-9 am &12-5:30 pm, $15/child/day
www.fumcsd.org/vbs FIRST CHURCH
Mission Valley News
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH of SAN DIEGO
T
he Kumeyaay Lake Campground at Mission Trails Regional Park is once again accepting reservations for campsites. Budget cuts have kept the campground closed to overnight campers since 2011, though the area has remained open for day use. Funding for a park ranger to manage the campground was restored in the recent mid-year budget update, and ongoing funding is included in the city’s 2014-2015 budget currently under review by the city council. The online reservation system opened May 23. Campsites can be reserved for $20 a night on Friday or Saturday nights only, beginning June 13. The campground includes 46 basic tent sites and a restroom facility with showers. The campsites are steps away from over 54 miles of trails that snake throughout the park.
where Jesus’ love is one-ofa-kind vacation Bible school
2111 Camino del Rio South, Mission Valley • 619-297-4366 • FirstChurchSD.org
“We’re very grateful to Councilmember Scott Sherman for working together with his council colleagues to bring overnight camping back to the Kumeyaay Lake Campground,” said Jay Wilson, executive director of Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation, in a written statement. “Camping here is a great way for San Diegans to experience the wonders of our park at night and during the day, all while staying
within the city of San Diego.” Other activities complement the opportunity to camp at the facility, including star parties hosted by the San Diego Astronomy Association on the second Friday of every month. Volunteer trail guides lead morning nature walks from the campground on the second and fourth Saturday of every month. To reserve a campsite, visit http:// activenet.active.com/sdparkandrec.
6
DINING & DRINK
MISSIONVALLEYNEWS.COM — JUNE 13, 2014
Coffee, from page 1 [from customers] is, ‘This is the first cup of black coffee I’ve been able to drink without cream and sugar. It’s just smooth,’” Rauh said. “We’ve tried to create something that tastes as good as coffee smells. That’s the goal.” According to Andrew Karr, WestBean’s operations manager, the problem with Starbucks and other mass producers is that in order to achieve a consistent product that can replicated in thousands of stores across the globe, you have to roast the beans darker. That scorches all the individuality and flavor out of the bean. “The darker you roast coffee, the less it matters what the bean is or where it came from,” Karr said. “Burnt tastes like burnt.” Karr’s goal at WestBean is to unleash a coffee bean’s potential to be sweet, fruity, floral, earthy, tangy, nutty, chocolately, syrupy or any of the other myriad flavors and aromas unique to each coffee crop. The roasters at WestBean start by sourcing their raw, green coffee beans directly from small, fair trade farms in Brazil, Malawi, Costa Rica, Papua New Guinea, Guatemala, Rwanda, El Salvador, Honduras and other countries. The altitude, climate and soil characteristics of the farm contribute to the quality of the finished cup. Karr’s job then is to determine the exact specifications — chamber temperature, bean temperature, air flow, roasting time — that draw out the best attributes of a particular coffee variety. One of the biggest challenges for WestBean and San Diego’s other specialty coffee roasters, however, is educating largely uninformed consumers about how coffee can and should taste, said Jessica Percifield, who leads the San Diego Coffee Network. Consumers need to be able to experience the numerous possibilities before they make up their mind about coffee, she said. “I think of coffee as the new wine,” Percifield said. “Just because you don’t like Pinot doesn’t mean you won’t like a Syrah. The
same room in the palate needs to be made for coffee.” The San Diego Coffee Network is working to cultivate a stronger coffee culture in San Diego by organizing barista competitions, tasting events, mail-order coffee subscription services and in-person lessons on the many methods of brewing coffee at home. “Once you’ve had a really good cup of coffee or latte, you’ll never go back,” said Matt Barahura, event coordinator for the San Diego Coffee Network. Though San Diego is not generally considered one of the great coffee cities, like Seattle or Portland or San Francisco, Percifield and Barahura believe it could be. They have counted 15 specialty roasters running an active business, and many more who are tinkering in their backyards. That’s how WestBean got its start in 2009, when Paul Reizen and James Rauh built a custom home roaster out of a metal drum and started experimenting with green coffee beans the backyard of Reizen’s Kensington home. It was not long before friends and neighbors started requesting the coffee, so Reizen and Rauh bought bigger equipment and started selling roasted coffee beans wholesale to the Farm House Café restaurant on Adams Avenue in 2010. You can now find their coffee at
a number of coffee shops and restaurants, including the Kensington Café, Broke Girls Coffee Bar in Normal Heights, Alchemy restaurant in South Park, Bailiwick in the Gaslamp Quarter, Lofty Coffee in Encinitas and Americana restaurant in Del Mar, among others. Tami Ratliffe, proprietor of a French bistro in Downtown’s East Village called Café Chloe, was one of the first restaurateurs to start serving WestBean coffee. After deciding to switch from a corporate coffee supplier to a local roaster, she sampled coffee from all of the specialty roasters in San Diego. “They never ever hit it right,” Ratliffe said. “Nobody ever hit the mark the way I wanted it.” Then, a friend introduced her to the guys at WestBean, who were able to produce a blend that perfectly captured the nutty chocolate flavor profile she was looking for. She hasn’t looked back since. Café Chloe’s customers liked it so much they began to ask if they could buy some beans to take home for themselves, Ratliffe said. Eventually she had to raise the price because the restaurant was going through so much coffee. WestBean’s passion for coffee shows in the consistency of the product, Ratliffe said. “I still can’t believe how week to week it is exactly the same as the week before,” Ratliffe said. “They know how to make adjustments on their end. They must have the most amazing noses and taste buds.” Indeed, the roasters at WestBean closely monitor each batch of coffee as they roast it, picking out beans to test their smell and appearance. The equipment also allows them to fine-tune the roast to accommodate changes in the bean from season to season. Within the next year, WestBean’s owners plan to open a retail storefront. Until then, their whole bean coffee can be ordered online for delivery or pickup.
Choose the right summer bubbly Karen
Irizarry Certified Sommelier
T
here’s a special feel that sparkling wines add to any occasion. Nothing says, “celebrate” quite like a good bottle of bubbly! Whether you are looking for a Champagne or sparkling wine to toast a summer wedding or enjoy a casual weekend brunch, there are plenty of options at just as many price points. Champagnes are beautifully elegant and easily the most famous of sparkling wines. However, they are also typically the most expensive and come exclusively from the Champagne region in France. A great alternative at a great price is Graham Beck Brut NV from Robertson, South Africa. With the arrival of hot summer days comes a craving for lighter, refreshing wines. Sparkling wines are crisp, chilled and make you feel revitalized and less dehydrated than red wines. Graham Beck Brut NV is a beautiful sparkling with the right mix of yeasty notes and zesty citrus, offering balanced fruit and rich textures. This Brut is a perfect pick bubbly for a summer celebration and beyond. There are four main methods of sparkling wine production. The traditional method or méthode champenoise is a labor intensive and costly process through which the wine undergoes a secondary fermentation inside the bottle, creating bubbles. All Champagne and most highquality sparkling wine are made by this process. Graham Beck Brut NV is no exception. It is a blend of two of the three Champagne varietals, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The Chardonnay adds fruit and elegance while Pinot Noir adds complexity and length of flavor and they are blended to a perfect balance with a lovely copper/pink hue. The varietals are not the only things that contribute to this Brut’s sophistication. It is bottle aged with less contact for 15 to 18 months to develop flavors and form the fine mousse that gives its freshness and finesse. This Graham Beck Brut sparkling wine is technically non-vintage (NV) meaning it is a blend
of grapes from multiple vintages. This ensures a consistent style that consumers can expect that does not alter too radically depending on the quality of the vintage. This regal non-vintage wine is creamy and rich, with layers of lime, apple, and white peach with undertones of brioche. This particular blend is inspiring on its own, an all around crowd pleaser, and extremely versatile when paired with food. Oysters are the classic pairing with sparkling wines but the bright fruit flavors of this South African import are also enjoyed with salty summer favorites. Try it with a bag of salty potato chips or buttered popcorn. Talk about versatility. Most dry sparkling wines, such as Brut sparkling, actually have a faint touch of sweetness. That makes them extra- refreshing when served with salty foods. Graham Beck Brut NV is one of the most versatile wines for pairing with food and beautifully showcases sparkling wine’s adaptability from appetizers, entrees and desserts. There are lots of fun summer pairings from deviled eggs to fish tacos to shellfish to grilled chicken. A really fun pairing combo to try is sparkling wine with shortbread cookies as the acidity in the wine cuts through the butter of the cookie. For only $16 a bottle, you’ll find that every meal and occasion is worthy of some bubbly.
GINA’S VALLEY VIEWS
MISSIONVALLEYNEWS.COM — JUNE 13, 2014
GINA’S
VALLEY VIEWS By Gina Cord, founder of Mission Valley News
There are many changes in businesses and properties in Mission Valley, Old Town and the Linda Vista area, so we might as well start here with the bad news and the shut cases. Randy Jones All-American Grill closes Restaurateur Mark Oliver left his partners at George’s On The Cove in La Jolla and moved into Mission Valley to renovate Trophy’s in Hazard Center almost five years ago, and he did a fantastic job when he opened the All-American Grill. Then, the recession hit in full force, and he brought in as his partner Randy Jones, who was a former San Diego Padres pitcher. Randy also owns a BBQ sports bar in Poway and three BBQ locations at Petco Park. Now both gentlemen have decided that the competition of the new BJ’s in Hazard Center is too much for them. Randy will continue with his operations already established in other parts of town. When I asked Mark what his plans are, he said, “I’m working with some partners who want to build a restaurant from the ground up, but I am not ready to reveal that, as yet.” Mark is an elegant and handsome man who really knows the restaurant
business, and I’m hoping that he builds a truly upscale restaurant and greets his clientele in a black tuxedo. Of course there would be white tablecloths and flowers on the tables. We’ll have to wait a while for that to take place, as Mark said, “It will take about a week yet from the closing (May 31) to liquidate all the equipment, but I am certainly working on other arrangements for my career. My total career has been in the restaurant business.” We will be waiting to hear from you, Mark. Ricky’s Café closes Another restaurant that just closed after 36 years of continuous operations is Ricky’s Café at 8120 Hotel Circle S. Primarily known for their breakfast menu and good service, few people knew that it was the one place in Mission Valley where, if you had a cold, you immediately stopped into Ricky’s Café as they served the best chicken noodle soup in town and you were sure to get rid of your cold overnight.
Ricky’s, on Hotel Circle South, is one of several restaurants that have opened or closed recently in Mission Valley.
It appears that the restaurant will be torn down and replaced by more hotel rooms on the property. Kelly’s moves house Kelly’s Steak House at the Town & Country Hotel closed a few months ago, but the menu, staff and the piano player were moved over to the Trellises Restaurant, so there wasn’t any loss there. We can continue to order the open-faced beef sandwich, which was my favorite at Kelly’s, and the music goes on every evening.
Now for some happier news in the valley, we will turn to the businesses that are open cases. Olive Ristorante A very nice renovation has taken place at Olive Ristorante at 6110 Friars Rd. in the small shopping plaza at the corner of Friars Road and Via Las Cumbres. The location used to
be the NY Pizza Department but the full interior has been very tastefully redone. The pizzas are the greatest, but the restaurant also has a large menu of Italian and Greek foods, an unlikely combination of dishes, but that’s what the owner likes. I believe it is the only restaurant in the valley serving Greek food. They have a full bar and wine and beer service, but the pizzas are unequaled. Place your order at (619) 296-0911 and they will deliver for you. Christopher’s on Congress In Old Town, I have discovered with the help of a friend, a really outstanding location called Christopher’s on Congress located at 2539 Congress St. just a little south of the trolley station. The owner, Christopher Tatalovich, used to work for Ruth’s Chris Steak House but decided to check out bistros in Europe before returning to open his place on Congress Street. He has created a truly unique European bistro atmosphere with a full bar and a huge menu of wines.
7
The restaurant is open from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily and from 3 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. It’s closed on Mondays. Happy Hour is from 3 to 6 p.m. daily, and the charming atmosphere offers a fire pit in the patio and booths enclosed in draperies for quiet elegance. Christopher’s on Congress is a perfect place to enjoy a cheese board and glass of wine after a hard day’s work. Check it out yourself, or for reservations call (619) 450-4154. They love to cater to groups and I am sure you will enjoy a totally different type of menu and hospitality of Christopher and his staff. Mission Bay Automotive Life isn’t only just about dining and drinking so I want to share with you a great place on Morena Boulevard for automotive work. I discovered Mission Bay Automotive some time ago. The owner, Troy Archer, and his staff are exceptionally knowledgeable about car repair and I wouldn’t go any other place. The company has just moved down the street to 1735 Morena Blvd. in a brand new, roomier location and they do everything possible to please their clients. The bright, clean blue and white location has a waiting room with magazines and TV while you wait for your car. With all the open and closed cases, there is one establishment that was closed that is now open: The San Diego Opera with their new artistic adviser, William Mason. We welcome “What’s News” and “Who’s News” for this column. Contact Gina Cord at (619) 6822434 or cordgina@gmail.com.
8
LOCAL NEWS
MISSIONVALLEYNEWS.COM — JUNE 13, 2014
The Canine Good Citizen Award; What is it and why is it important? Sari
Reis
Owner of Mission Valley Pet Sitting Services
www.missionvalleypetsitting.com
I
n 1989, The American Kennel Club (AKC) created the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Program. The program was designed to reward dogs who have good manners both at home and in the community at large. The training teaches the dog to be polite and well-behaved in a variety of circumstances and stresses the importance of responsible pet ownership and canine good manners.
To obtain the certificate, the dog must successfully complete 10 tests that are assessed by an approved CGC evaluator. The 10 tests involved in the evaluation are as follows: Accepting a friendly stranger – A stranger is able to approach and greet the dog’s owner with no negative reaction from the dog.
Sitting politely for petting – The dog sits politely while a stranger gently pets it. Appearance and Grooming – The dog is inspected to ensure it is clean and well-groomed, healthy and an appropriate weight. He behaves while being combed, having his ears and paws checked. Out for a walk – The dog walks on a loose leash demonstrating the owner is in control. The owner performs several turns and the dog complies.
Walking through a crowd – The dog demonstrates that he can politely move about in pedestrian traffic and is under control in public places. Sit, down, and stay on command – The dog demonstrates that he will listen and obey the owner’s commands to sit, down and stay when asked. He must remain in the position until the owner releases him.
Coming when called – The dog’s owner walks away about 10 feet and turns and calls the dog. The dog must come on command.
Reaction to other dogs – The dog demonstrates he can react politely in the presence of other dogs that pass by him. Reaction to distraction – The evaluator will present two distractions, ( i.e.: knock over a chair), and the dog must demonstrate he is confident and under control. Supervised separation – The dog demonstrates he can remain calm when he is left with a trusted person and his owner disappears for three minutes.
The CGC program is open to all purebred as well as mixed breed dogs. As recently as January 1, 2013, the AKC approved the CGC designation as an official title that will appear with the dog’s name when he is registered with the AKC. Besides the pleasure of having a well-mannered dog, why is the CGC training important? The successful completion of this program is often requested by a landlord as a condition to renting a house or an apartment, particularly with large dogs such as German shepherd dogs, pit bulls, Rottweilers, etc. It is also often a pre-requisite for other training programs such as sporting and performance event training. And, if you aspire to train your canine as a service or therapy dog, the CGC designation is compulsory. If you wish to pursue this valuable training, there are numerous individual trainers who offer it as well as Petco and the San Diego Humane Society. Contact www.sdhumane.org for more information. Sari Reis is a Certified Humane Education Specialist and the owner of Mission Valley Pet Sitting Services. For more information, you can reach her at 760-644-0289 or www.missionvalleypetsitting.com.
Fantography, from page 1 Strasberg worked for the Padres as a part of its marketing team for 22 years, leaving in 1996. In 2012, Strasberg released his first Fantography book, “Baseball Fantography: A celebration in snapshots and stories from the fans,” which focused on baseball in the United States in general. Strasberg knew that for his second book, he wanted to narrow his focus in order to tell an even more relatable narrative. His close working relationship with the Padres made San Diego an easy choice. The book alternates between short essays written by Strasberg in first person to a collection of fan photos and the specific fan’s story behind each. In his first essay, Strasberg reminisces about his lifelong idol, the late Jerry Coleman. The moments Strasberg shared with Coleman paint him as the genuine, generous announcer that stole the hearts of San Diegans. This piece was especially compelling, and created the appropriate theme for the rest of the book—baseball is a sport equally driven by skill and fan support. “A major league team is a badge of honor to a city’s sports fans,” Strasberg said in an interview. The history lessons imparted by the book aren’t chronological. Instead, Strasberg illustrates the
impact of the Padres by highlighting facets of the team’s history such as its broadcasters and on-air personalities, “camera day” events, mascots, the “Madres” booster organization and more. Despite it all being amateur photography, the photos in this collection are captivating and accurately depict the Padres through the decades. The photos tell a better story than any amount of text could. Photos range from hopeful fans in the stands to former players participating in golf tournaments. All together, they prove this is a book “about the fans, for the fans, and from the fans.” “Fantography” touches on the significance of the Mission Valley area to the Padres. When the Padres became a Major League Baseball team in 1969, they chose San Diego Stadium as home because of its central location in San Diego County. Strasberg writes: “The best thing the 1969 Padres had going for them was the fact other National League teams would be playing in Mission Valley. San Diego baseball fans who wanted to enjoy major-league baseball no longer had to travel to Anaheim to catch the Angels or Los Angeles to watch the Dodgers.” The Padres developed a stronger base of their own fans as the team improved, but even on their worst
days, they still played in one of the finest settings in the league. “When I started in 1975, you could sit behind home plate on any level and you could look out into Mission Valley, which, in the summer, was a beautiful sight,” Strasberg said in an interview. “There was nothing better than on a July or August evening to sit in the ballpark and watch major league baseball.” This book is great to tuck into a summer beach bag. It’s approximately 50 percent text and 50 percent photos, making it a light read best for those who want a quick history lesson on one of the most beloved elements of San Diego. “Fantography” is not without its faults. The switch between points of view can be confusing, and in some parts the book reads more like Strasberg’s personal diary than an account of the Padres, though both elements of the book convey the emotional and spiritual power of baseball and sports in general. “San Diego,” Strasberg says, “has an incredible amount to offer baseball fans who are students of the game, devout historians, or casual observers.” That’s exactly who this book is for. Be sure to catch Strasberg’s Fantography-based lecture and presentation at the San Diego Central Library on June 14 from 12:30 to 2 p.m.
HEALTH & FITNESS
MISSIONVALLEYNEWS.COM — JUNE 13, 2014
Embrace an active summer
9
Kelly
Ostrem
ACSM-HFS, CHES Fitness Expert
F
or most of us, summer no longer means a vacation from the daily grind. Summer used to mean fun, sun and freedom from homework. Wouldn’t it be nice to break from our daily schedules to recapture some of that magic? In the spirit of summer, here are five things you can do this month to embrace your inner summer-loving youth and enjoy the fun and energy of an active summer. Explore your neighborhood. Take the family out and enjoy a walk with the scenery. Step out of your front door and see what’s on your street. Meander to a coffee shop or neighborhood restaurant for lunch. Walk around and really look at storefronts and houses. Take notice of all the things you’re normally too rushed to see. Do you live outside of “walking distance?” Go to a neighborhood you love or haven’t been to in a while to walk around and explore. You might see something that has changed since the last time you were there.
Nothing says summer like jumping in a pool or taking a dip in the ocean. Go swimming. Nothing says summer like jumping in a pool or taking a dip in the ocean. Splashing around is the perfect way to cool off on a hot day and spend time with friends. Don’t know how to swim? Make this the summer you change that! Toby Wells Y, along with many locations throughout the world, will be hosting the World’s Largest Swim Lesson at 8 a.m. on June 20. Not only will you learn something, you could be part of breaking a Guinness World Record.
Try something new. We often get stuck in ruts doing the same things over and over. It’s good to have a hobby you love, but spend one day trying something different. If working out for you consists of jogging or a spin class, try standup paddle boarding or paddling a kayak. You’re going to work your muscles in a whole new way, and you’ll probably have a good time doing it.
Go for a hike. We’re surrounded by so many trails and parks; it’s time to explore! On a cool day, revisit a favorite path or blaze a trail you’ve never tried before. Bring a friend, sturdy shoes, lots of water, and sunscreen, and go see everything nature has to offer. Looking for a hiking buddy? The Mission Valley Y has a free hiking club. They’re led by an experienced hiker and hit a new trail each month.
Channel your inner child. Play on the swings at a neighborhood park. Go to the beach and build a sandcastle. Chase your children around in a game of tag. Go to an amusement park, batting cage or play mini-golf. Do something you did when you were a kid or try something you always wanted to do. Be active, have fun and embrace every minute of these long summer days.
10
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Jazz
CLASSICAL
Wednesdays – Gilbert Castellanos Jazz Jam at Seven Grand. Free. 9 p.m. SevenGrandBars.com - 3054 University Ave. (92104)
June 27 – Elvis: A Tribute to The King at the Embarcadero Marina Park South. $25$55. 7:30 p.m. www. SanDiegoSymphony.org - 1 Marina Park Way (92101)
Fridays – Sam Johnson Jazz Group at Cosmos Coffee Cafe. Free. 3 to 5p.m. CosmosCoffeeCafe.com 8278 La Mesa Blvd. (91942) Saturdays – Jazz with George and Alan at Bistro Sixty. Free. 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. www.BistroSixtySD.com 5987 El Cajon Blvd. (92115) Saturdays – Douglas Kvandal with the LiveJazz! Quartet at the Amigo Spot a the Kings Inn. Free. 7 p.m. www.kingsinnsandiego.com 1333 Hotel Circle S. (92108) June 15 & 17 – “All That Jazz” featuring the Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra at Cohen Social Hall. $20. Sunday – 3 p.m., Tuesday – 7:30 p.m.www.tiferethIsrael. com/tico - 6660 Cowles Mountain Blvd. (92119)
July 4 – 6 – Star Spangled Pops with Bill Conti at the Embarcadero Marina Park South. $22-$79. 7:30 p.m. www.SanDiegoSymphony. org - 1 Marina Park Way (92101) July 18 – 19 – Summer Pops: The Music of Abba at the Embarcadero Marina Park South. $27-84. 7:30 p.m. www.SanDiegoSymphony. org - 1 Marina Park Way (92101)
Pop Tuesdays – Suzanne Shea and Bob Wade at Bistro Sixty. Free. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. www.BistroSixtySD.com 5987 El Cajon Blvd. (92115) Call and hold your table (619) 287-8186
June 21 – Stage IV Jazz at San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room. Free. 7 p.m. www. SanPasqualWinery.com 8364 La Mesa Blvd. (91942)
Wednesdays – Westside Inflection at Riviera Supper Club. Free. 8 p.m. www. RivieraSupperClub.com 7777 University Ave. (91941)
ALTERNATIVE
Fridays – Nathan Welden at Bistro Sixty. Free. 6:30 p.m. www.BistroSixtySD.com 5987 El Cajon Blvd. (92115)
June 13 – Dead Feather Moon, Strange Vine, and Chess Wars at Casbah. $10. 9 p.m. www.CasbahMusic.com - 2501 Kettner Blvd. (92101) June 14 – The Burning of Rome and The New Kinetics at The Ché Café Collective. $10. 7 p.m. TheCheCafe. blogspot.com - 1000 Scholars Dr. (92093) June 28 – Of Shows and Burritos Presents Teenage Exorcists and Grand Tarantula at Ken Club. Free. 9 p.m. https:// www.facebook.com/ events/642391692512943 4079 Adams Ave. (92116)
June 14 – OysterFest at the Marina Embarcadero North featuring Matt & Kim, Boombos, He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister, and more. 11 a.m. $27.50 - $65. www. OysterFestSD.com - 849 W. Harbor D. (92101) June 21 – Tiffany Jane and The Kicks CD Release at the Worldbeat Cultural Center – Price TBD. 8 p.m. - www. worldbeatcenter.org/ – 2100 Park Blvd. (92101)
Bands, venues, and music-lovers: Please submit listings for this calendar by emailing Jen@ScoopSanDiego.com.
MISSIONVALLEYNEWS.COM — JUNE 13, 2014
The Hurwitz Singularity by Jonty Huwitzh
New exhibit invites visitors to explore science of illusions Jen
Van Tieghem Mission Valley News
L
ike many other children, I was obsessed with magic when I was young. My dad even performed a magic show for one of my birthdays and I, of course, got to be the lucky audience member to assist with his tricks. When I saw that the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center was premiering a traveling exhibit called “Illusion: Nothing Is As It Seems,” my tummy filled with the same butterflies it did when my dad pulled a rabbit from a hat I had just confirmed was empty. Of course the “tricks” on display in “Illusion” are much more complex than sleight-of-hand deception. The various installments and displays incorporate optical and auditory illusions as well as technology that leave the viewer in wonderment over what they have just experienced. With over twenty pieces in all, the various items are artistic in layout while using science to challenge your senses and perception of reality. Some are meant to only be experienced visually while others invite you to touch and manipulate what you see. Many installments, such as “The Hurwitz Singularity” invite the viewer to move around and observe from different angles. Shifting in perspective, and thus in interpretation, makes this a unique exhibit to behold. “You. Here. Now.” is a particularly intriguing installment. A large screen is flooded with tiny photos collected from selected news websites. As an individual stands in front of the screen the images organize themselves to mimic your appearance. Patterns on your shirt, an outstretched hand, your mohawk — they all appear in this mirrored image of sorts. After awhile the picture becomes clear and you can even snap a photo, what curators of the exhibit call “the ultimate selfie.”
Delicate Boundaries by Chris Sugrue
You. Here. Now. by Ian Willcock
Another favorite, “Bottle Magic,” reminded me of the tricks of my youth. Various sized vessels contain everyday objects from playing cards to a tennis shoe, which, by all appearance, could not have fit through the neck of the bottle or jar. The placard with this piece ensures visitors
that the items were indeed placed there without any disruption to the container and the items are still fully functional. This hands-on section of the exhibit gets a lot of attention and puzzled looks. Clearly I’m not the only kid who liked magic. Elementary to middle schoolaged students on field trips have an absolute blast while partaking in “Illusion.” Questions are rapidly being shot at chaperones and museum employees. The latter of which are well versed in the exhibits and quick to fling questions back at the curious minds. It is a melding of fun and learning, art and science that is so refreshing to see. “Illusion: Nothing Is As It Seems” will be on display through January of next year. For more information visit www.rhfleet. org/exhibitions/illusion.
LINDA VISTA NEWS
MISSIONVALLEYNEWS.COM — JUNE 13, 2014
11
Police chief answers questions at Linda Vista town hall Jeremy
Ogul
Editor, Mission Valley News
A
common thread emerged in a recent conversation between San Diego’s new police chief and local residents: police can only respond to problems they know about, and police in many cases will not know where the problem is unless residents speak up. Chief Shelley Zimmerman returned to that point repeatedly as residents posed questions and raised complaints during a “Meet the Chief” public safety town hall event at the Bayside Community Center in Linda Vista on May 27. Residents in City Council District 7, which includes the communities of Mission Valley and Linda Vista, were invited to anonymously write their questions and comments on index cards at the event, which was cohosted by City Councilmember Scott Sherman. One area of concern among several residents was the lack of street lights along Kelly Street between Comstock and Tait streets, where Kelly Park is located. They said they felt unsafe walking in this area at night. Another audience member asked what people could do about the drug dealers in their neighborhood. Zimmerman said anyone with information about drug activ-
San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman (center) speaks to residents with City Councilmember Scott Sherman (right) at the Bayside Community Center in Linda Vista. Jorge Riquelme (left), the center’s executive director, translated questions from Spanish.
ity could report that information anonymously through the San Diego Crimestoppers hotline. If the reporting party would like to be more involved in the investigation process, they can call the police department’s non-emergency line to make a report. One individual said that while she and her daughter have had nothing but positive interactions with police, her son, who has a darker skin complexion, has been stopped multiple times by police while simply walking down the street. “As a mother, I am concerned that my son will be the subject of police brutality,” she said.
Another person asked, “How many citizens must die before we acknowledge racial profiling and police brutality?” Zimmerman responded: “Our police department does not tolerate racial profiling. If someone has a complaint about racial profiling or excessive force, you have many ways to report it.” The police department needs the public to report any suspicions or complaints about individual police officers so they can be properly investigated by the appropriate unit within the department, Zimmerman said. “There is not a code of silence in our police department,” Zim-
merman said. “There have been many cases where an officer has come forth,” with complaints or information that reflects negatively on a fellow officer. The body-worn cameras that police are currently testing will make a significant difference in helping police investigate situations in which citizens allege racial profiling or excessive force, she said. One person asked what happens when a complaint is filed with the department’s Internal Affairs Unit. “I listen to every single one of those calls that come into the hotline,” Zimmerman said. “We thoroughly investigate everything that we possibly can.” The event in Linda Vista was just the latest in a series of “Meet the Chief” events Zimmerman has been conducting around the city since Mayor Kevin Faulconer appointed her to the post following Chief Bill Lansdowne’s resignation. Zimmerman told the audience on May 27 that traffic concerns were among the top complaints she has heard at the other community meetings she has held. Indeed, the audience noted two areas where traffic was a problem. One was at the intersection of Linda Vista Road and Comstock Street. “When crossing the street many times I have to run not to get hit,” said one resident. The other problematic traffic
area is the intersection of Osler Street and Ulric Street, near Linda Vista Elementary School. Drivers often do not stop at the stop sign in the mornings and afternoons while dropping off and picking up children from the school, a resident said. Traffic officers will increase their patrols in these areas, Zimmerman said. Another person questioned the chief about the department’s policy on what to do when they hear reports of child abuse on school campuses. Though the school district has its own police department, a group of parents and residents claims the schools and their police have been negligent in reporting and following up on suspected child abuse. “We’ve already had discussions with or dispatchers about asking additional questions regarding child abuse allegations on school campuses,” Zimmerman said. In addition to responding directly to comments from the audience, Zimmerman also outlined some of the structural challenges the department is facing. Approximately half of the department’s working patrol officers are eligible to retire in the next four years. At the same time, approximately half of the working patrol officers have been with the department for six or fewer years, and in some units that number is closer to 70 percent, she said.
Library friends push for park over parking in Linda Vista Jeremy
Ogul
Editor, Mission Valley News
I
n a community that for years has yearned for more park space, a quirky little public plaza has suddenly appeared, and not everyone likes it. With the help of the city’s Civic Innovation Lab, the Friends of the Linda Vista Library transformed eight parking spaces in front of the library into a public plaza. They’re calling it Linda Placita. So far, Linda Placita looks rather feeble — a few potted trees and a park bench cordoned off by cones and caution tape. The whole thing is an ongoing experiment, conducted in an emerging urban planning style known as tactical urbanism. “What we want to do is a lighter, faster, cheaper design exercise that actually puts something on the ground and tests it, rather than the conventional way, which is build it and hope they come,” said Howard Blackson, a planner with the Civic Innovation Lab. New public parks are usually born after a long, expensive gestation period of design, review and construction, and there is no guarantee the community will accept the infant park once it is built. “We can’t take the risk of build-
Eight parking spaces were closed to create Linda Placita, an experimental plaza still under construction next to the Linda Vista library branch.
ing a park the conventional way,” Blackson said. “We have to test it. We have to see what works. We have be very judicious in how we spend our money.” It was relatively easy to start the test in this case because the city owns the parking lot, and the Civic Innovation Lab is a city department. It was essentially just a matter of getting the fire department’s permission to close off an entrance to the parking lot, which they granted because there is another driveway just a few feet away. Village Nursery donated trees, the Friends of the Linda Vista Library group delivered a bench and City Councilmember Scott Sherman’s office donated $5,000
for the purchase of more trees, planter boxes, trash cans, chairs and tables. Linda Placita’s supporters would like to add more features and experiment with the configuration. Maybe they’ll rearrange the benches and the trees. Maybe they’ll paint the asphalt green, or maybe they can put grass in its place. Maybe they can coordinate some programming with the weekly farmer’s market to bring more people to the little plaza. “Once it looks more like a finished product we’ll be able to judge better how it’s being used,” said Jeffrey Davis, head librarian in Linda Vista. “The hope is that it will be kind of an outdoor extension of the library, so when
we’re not open, folks can get out there and sit down. Kids can run around a little bit. We sort of think folks will find their own ways to use it.” Members of the Linda Vista Planning Group board, however, are skeptical. A motion requesting a letter of support from the group failed to garner any votes at the group’s May 19 meeting. Board member Dottie Perez said she was concerned that the benches and trees are not secure overnight and could easily be stolen. Blackson, who gave a presentation on the concept at the meeting, replied that the focus should be on flexibility and providing the best possible experience to park users. “We design so often for the midnight drunk, and then everybody loses,” Blackson said. Board member John Pinzini questioned whether giving up those parking spaces was a good idea. Blackson replied that this experiment is a chance to see whether that parking is really necessary in the first place. “Losing parking is an issue, but what do you gain? What do you get in return?” Blackson said. “If you’re angry all the time and you can’t find parking, just say no [to the project at the end of the experiment].” Board member Margarita Castro said she opposes the idea of
building something new without having the money to take care of it. Too often, someone starts something and then leaves the community to figure out how to take care of it, she said. “There’s a lot of things in this library that need to be tended to,” Castro said. “Who’s going to take care of the cleaning [of the park] if they don’t take care of the cleaning of the library?” Blackson said the library’s landscape maintenance crew would take care of any additional landscaping in the new plaza, and the Friends of the Linda Vista Library would be responsible for upkeep on any of the furniture and other property that becomes part of it. They won’t have the help of the Civic Innovation Lab. Mayor Kevin Faulconer cut the department from the city’s 2014-2015 budget, and the City Council ratified that decision when they passed the budget earlier this month. Thus, the Civic Innovation Lab will close its doors at the end of June, just a year after it opened. It won’t be able to provide any financial or professional support to Linda Placita, but Blackson hopes the plaza experiment will continue through May of 2015, at which point the community could decide whether to try to make it permanent or just scrap the whole thing in favor of a different kind of park somewhere else.
12
LOCAL NEWS
MISSIONVALLEYNEWS.COM — JUNE 13, 2014
Homeless, from page 2 we got him into housing, it didn’t go well for him. He actually kind of freaked out, the four walls were getting into him and he ended up exiting that housing. But we stuck with him on the streets. We got him to go along with getting back into housing. The issues that came up once we got him in housing is, what was going to prevent him from staying in housing? If he were to become over-intoxicated in the same matter he might have on the streets, that could present problems. Does he have anything to sustain himself? He had no income, or anything at all. Did he take proper care of his hygiene so that he wouldn’t get complaints from other neighbors? Does he know how to be a good tenant and a good neighbor? All of these things were the things we started working on once he was in housing. We used to take him to his doctor’s appointment and instead of anticipating a crisis, we set up a weekly appointment in the clinic with him since he had a lot of health stuff going on. We would take him to that appointment, we would show up at his door. We knew that he wouldn’t go if we just gave him the appointment card. Now he’s created a relationship with the doctor and now he goes to the doctor on his own. To watch that growth over time, and this took almost every bit of that three years to get to that point. In that story there seems to have been a lot of hands-on, dayto-day work. Did you think it was going to be that way at the outset? These are crisis-oriented folks. If you aren’t set up to address crisis, then you’re probably not going to make a big impact on folks like this. You told me a story of someone who this has helped. Do you have a story of someone this hasn’t helped? It depends on how you look at it. I’ve got some clients that haven’t changed a whole bunch from when I first got them in the project. They’re difficult to engage. They really value being able to do things on their own and therefore their recycle route
Here’s a look at how Project 25 cut the number of arrests, ambulance rides and other uses of emergency services of its 34 participants in 2010 compared with last year. is more important than meeting with us. We have to chase them around sometimes. And they still basically act in some ways like a homeless person yet they come home to their apartment at night. Somebody from the outside may come in and look at that and say, “Well you haven’t done much with these folks.” In some ways, you may be right. But you know what, these folks haven’t hit the hospital in I don’t know how long. They’ve been maintaining housing for going on three years right now and nobody has been able to engage them before this. What’s the current funding situation? It’s been really interesting. With the data that we have on what we’ve been able to accomplish with this group, I think all of us thought that this is going to be no problem. We had raw, exact data. Not just client reports or surveys or something. Since the savings were incredible, we thought this was going to be a slam dunk. When we started approaching the hospitals, they were very, very interested in what we were
doing. But when it came down to funding, there’s a lot of fears around funding a social service agency in the community. One of those fears may be that other social service agencies will come and feel like the hospitals are responsible for that too. There’s a little bit of politics around those approaches. We did have a commitment from one of the hospitals to provide a portion. One of our ideas was that if the other hospitals were on board, and those equal portions were put in then we can continue to serve another 25 of these folks that are costing so much money. We have a lot of irons in the fire. We’ve presented about this project across the community. Anybody that’s ever heard about it has expressed huge interest in the outcomes and what it was that we’re doing. I know that over the last year two years, there has been a lot of discussion at the city about permanent or year-round funding for the shelters and the tents and things like that. But Project 25 hasn’t really been as much of a part of that discussion. Why? We have approached the city. We have approached the county.
They’re well aware of Project 25 and what it is that we do here. I think there’s been some conversations about potentially accessing county funding to provide a housing-first approach. But these conversations don’t seem to get to where they need to be. Either they’re not falling on the right ears or their focus seems to be turned toward other things that are happening in the community. If this saves money for everyone involved, why does it seem to be so hard to find people to fund it? It’s hard to say. I think right now the biggest problem is not that people aren’t willing to fund this. It’s that a single agency is probably nervous about being the one to fund the whole thing. Our idea is if we can get the major hospitals together to provide a piece of it, the health plans together to provide a piece of it, that collaboratively it wouldn’t be a big impact on what they were spending, but we could still make a huge impact on what these costs are happening with these megausers of the emergency services. Trying to get everybody on the same page and at the same table
has been difficult for us. We’re definitely open to ways and support in being able to make that happen. What happens to the people currently in the program? Ethically, we are responsible for the well-being of the people that we serve. There’s no way that our agency would try to let these folks fall back onto the streets. St. Vincent de Paul Village will do whatever it can to make sure that continued services are provided to these folks. We don’t have any funding to take any more people. This is not a cheap project, but this is not a cheap group. They take an excessive amount of attention, an excessive amount of work. So we’ll have a whole (other) set of 25 people out here that will never experience that and another over $2 million that’s just going to get spent because the lights go out. Liam Dillon is senior reporter and assistant editor for Voice of San Diego. Please contact him directly at liam.dillon@voiceofsandiego.org or (619) 550-5663.
LOCAL NEWS
MISSIONVALLEYNEWS.COM — JUNE 13, 2014
News from the Mayor’s Office Kevin
Faulconer
Mayor, City of San Diego
P
otholes. Potholes. Potholes. It’s the Number One complaint I hear from San Diegans on a daily basis. It doesn’t matter whether you live in Mission Valley, Scripps Ranch or San Ysidro, the condition of our city streets leaves much to be desired. That’s why one of the top priorities of my first 100 days as your Mayor has been to address this problem head-on. As we all know, we have a huge backlog of street repairs and neighborhood projects to address. There is no greater challenge to this City. Over the past decade, we couldn’t afford to pay for these important projects. Our streets crumbled. Streetlights flickered. And, yes, potholes grew. Our City’s infrastructure fell further and further behind. It’s no surprise that our City was recently ranked sixth in the country for potholes. But now, we’ve turned a corner. That’s thanks to the financial reforms enacted by San Diego voters and the fiscal discipline in my proposed budget. Now my job is to rebuild San Diego for the future. And I mean that in the most literal way. I vowed to make infrastructure a top priority for the City. That’s exactly what I’ve done in my “One San Diego” budget plan and filling more potholes is a big part of that. But throwing money at the problem isn’t the only solution. We’re also being smarter about
how we fill potholes. One example is the Pothole Repair Crews, one of several programs that will be enhanced in my “One San Diego” budget. The City used to take a scattershot approach to fixing potholes. A complaint would come in and a crew would go out and fix it. Then they would go to the next complaint, even if it was halfway across the city. We’re not doing that anymore. We still collect all those complaints, but we dispatch a crew to a specific neighborhood for the day. The crew then stays there until all the potholes in that neighborhood are filled – even if they haven’t been reported. It’s a common-sense change that has led to a quantum leap forward in how we fix the pothole problem. The program is working so well I recently announced that we’re adding 16 full-time positions to tackle potholes big and small. This staffing increase is projected to double the amount of asphalt repair citywide each year. We’re going to turn 200,000 square feet of potholes into smooth roads for all San Diegans. The bottom line is we are moving forward to aggressively rebuild San Diego. And the projects are spread across the City so every neighborhood will benefit from the spending increases. That’s how we create “One San Diego.” As your Mayor, I promise to keep my focus squarely on infrastructure until every neighborhood has smooth streets and bright streetlights. San Diegans deserve no less.
Kidney, from page 1 kidney just months after his kidneys stopped functioning. That was because his friend of 20 years, J.R. Raines, donated his own healthy kidney. Raines, 52, was one of 24 people who donated a kidney through Sharp Memorial Hospital’s live kidney donor program in 2013. The hospital, which had more live kidney donors than any other hospital in San Diego last year, held an event in Mission Valley on June 5 to recognize its donors. Though initial tests showed Raines and Rodriguez were a perfect match for a direct transplant, subsequent blood transfusions changed the composition of Rodriguez’s blood, increasing the chance that his immune system would reject Raines’ kidney. The mismatch turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The National Kidney Registry found another compatible recipient in need of Raines’ kidney. They also found another compatible living donor for Rodriguez. The exchange worked out as a “chain reaction” that enabled three patients in three different states to receive a kidney from a live donor, including Rodriguez. “We’ve been doing a fair amount of transplants like that over the past five years,” said Dr. Barry Browne, medical director of Sharp Memorial Hospital’s abdominal transplantation program. Most kidney transplants come from recently deceased donors, but a kidney transplanted from a healthy living donor has a better chance of being accepted by the recipient’s body, Browne said. Researchers so far have been unable to determine the exact reasons why, but one possible explanation is that transplants from deceased donors are usually made suddenly. The recipient usually has little time to prepare, and the organ they receive was sometimes recently involved in a traumatic accident. A transplant from a living donor, on the other hand, gives both the donor and the recipient
Dr. Barry Browne, director of abdominal transplant at Sharp Memorial Hospital, speaks with living donor Diane Brockington.
time to prepare both mentally and physically, he said. The challenge now is to get more healthy people to donate a kidney. “For everyone who has a kidney, there’s somebody out there who needs a kidney transplant,” Browne said. Longer lifespans have increased the need for living donors, because the kidneys coming from deceased donors are older, on average, than they used to be. Recipients are better off with a kidney from a middleaged person than an elderly person, but more than half of deceased kidney donors were older than 55 years at their time of death, Browne said. The gap between supply and demand has only grown in recent decades. In 1990, when Sharp Memorial Hospital’s transplant program began, the wait for a kidney transplant was about one year, said Dr. Steven M. Steinberg, medical director for Sharp Memorial’s kidney and pancreas transplant program. Now, with more obesity, hypertension and diabetes, the U.S. has more patients on dialysis than ever: 400,000. “My statistic now is that if you’re of a certain blood type and
Sudoku
Maze Escape 1. Start in the center of the maze. 2. Get to the exit on the left as fast as possible. 3. If you make it to the exit on your first try, congratulations!
ANSWERS ON PAGE 16
13
you’re in San Diego, you’re going to be waiting five to seven years,” Steinberg said. “Living donors allow us to transplant people faster and take the people who don’t have a donor and move them up the list.” While about 100,000 people are waiting for a kidney transplant in the U.S., only about 14,000 kidney transplants were performed last year, according to the National Kidney Foundation. “I almost felt guilty going through this procedure,” said Rodriguez, a retired corrections officer who lives in La Mesa. “There are so many people out there who have been going through this for years.” That includes Rodriguez’s twin sister, who has been receiving dialysis treatments for eight years. They both suffer from polycystic kidney disease, a genetic disorder that often leads to kidney failure. Rodriguez hopes to find his sister a transplant as soon as possible. In the meantime, Rodriguez enjoys life free of dialysis, and Raines has not experienced any residual effects from his operation. “I think if more people knew what an impact this can have on the recipient, and how little effect it has on the donor, more people would donate,” Raines said.
Math Squares
A sudoku puzzle is a grid of nine by nine squares or cells, that has been subdivided into nine subgrids or “regions” of three by three cells.
Try to fill in the missing numbers.
The objective of sudoku is to enter a digit from 1 through 9
1. Each number is only used once.
in each cell, in such a way that:
2. Each row is a math equation. Each column is a math equation.
1. 2. 3.
Each horizontal row contains each digit exactly once Each vertical column contains each digit exactly once Each subgrid or region contains each digit exactly once
ANSWERS ON PAGE 16
Use the numbers 1 through 16 to complete the equations.
3. Remember that multiplication and division are performed before addition and subtraction.
ANSWERS ON PAGE 16
14
LOCAL NEWS
MISSIONVALLEYNEWS.COM — JUNE 13, 2014
Family-owned restaurants celebrate milestone Jeremy
Ogul
Mission Valley News
T
his June is a month of milestone anniversaries for several dining establishments in the Mission Valley area: Sombrero Mexican Food is celebrating its 30th anniversary, Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza is celebrating its 25th anniversary and Benchmark Brewing Company is celebrating its first anniversary. We talked with the owners of these establishment about why they chose to open in Mission Valley and what has kept them open for so long.
Sombrero Mexican Food
Thirty years ago Javier Correa, Sr. opened the first Sombrero Mexican Food restaurant in the Golden Hill area. He opened additional Sombrero restaurants in more than a dozen other locations before opening the Sombrero Mexican Food in Mission Valley in 1996. Sombrero was one of the original tenants of the Rio Vista Shopping Center on Rio San Diego Drive. Though the center has gone through many changes — such as the departure of the original anchor store, K-Mart, as well as significant population growth in the valley — Sombrero has endured, feeding the hungry lunchtime masses that pour in every day from the numerous nearby office buildings. In fact, the Mission Valley Sombrero stands out among the company’s 18 locations because of its high volume of sales during the lunch hour, said Javier Correa, Jr., Sombrero’s vice president and general manager. “We sometimes literally get a line out the door at lunch time,” Correa said. Most of those customers order the carne asada burrito, California burrito, rolled tacos or carne asada fries, which are the top-selling items on the menu, Correa said.
An old photo of Sami Ladeki standing in front of the original Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza in La Jolla. “Those are kind of the San Diego staples when it comes to Mexican food,” he said. But Sombrero has a large menu, some of which gets less attention that it deserves. For customers interested in branching out from the usual, Correa recommends the chile verde burrito, filled with slow-cooked pork slathered in a homemade green sauce. “It’s a real, authentic chile verde. It’s kind of unique to even find at a quick-serve restaurant,” Correa said. The Sombrero restaurant in Grantville opened around the same time as the one in Mission Valley, and the Grantville store has a similar profile with heavy mid-day traffic coming from the nearby hospitals and businesses along the Mission Gorge Road corridor. In celebration of 30 years as a family-owned San Diego business, Sombero restaurants will offer an anniversary special on Saturday, June 14 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The promotion will include discounts, giveaways, raffles and a contest to win a vacation for two to Cabo San Lucas.
Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza
Mission Valley’s central location and “perfect mix” of residences and businesses drew Sami Ladeki to open a Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza at the Park Valley Center shopping center when it was built in 1997. Just a few steps from the Mission Valley Center trolley stop, the shopping center on Camino de la Reina had a particular appeal, and the restaurant space Sammy’s now occupies there had an unusual shape with appealing architectural features, Ladeki said. The history of the Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza chain goes back 25 years to 1989, when Ladeki opened the first restaurant in La Jolla. The restaurant now has 19 locations in Southern California and Nevada and another opening soon in the Sacramento area. Though pizza is featured prominently in the restaurant’s name and on its menu, Sammy’s actually sells more salads than anything else, Ladeki said. Staying current has always been a key to the restaurant’s success. These days, local craft beers are among the
The art on the walls of Benchmark Brewing Company’s tasting room will be auctioned off to support the San Diego River Park Foundation later this month. most frequently-ordered alcoholic beverages, Ladeki said, and the food menu is full of options for guests on organic, gluten-free and vegan diets. One item on the menu that deserves more attention, according to Ladeki, is the “Yummy Honey Cheese” pizza, which combines mild sheep’s milk cheese, orange blossom honey and organic oregano on a thin, crispy crust.
Benchmark Brewing
It’s been a year since professional brewer Matt Akin opened Benchmark Brewing Co. out of a Grantville warehouse. Benchmark has carved out a niche in the burgeoning San Diego craft beer market with a focus on producing session beers, which have a relatively low alcohol by volume but retain the full flavor of beers with higher alcohol content. Benchmark stuffed its June calendar with events to celebrate the occasion. On June 15, the brewery will host a Sunday brunch to benefit PAWS San Diego, a non-profit organization that provides free pet food to low-
income families. The brunch will feature pastries, prepared by the nearby Donut Panic shop, paired with Benchmark’s Wee Heavy beer. Doggy Beer bones, a company that makes pet treats out of spent brewing grain, will sell their treats and offer a percentage of the day’s sales to PAWS San Diego. On June 22, the brewery will host another Sunday brunch, this time to benefit the San Diego River Park Foundation. The menu that day will include food prepared by Dog Go Gus, paired with the release of Benchmark’s San Diego 71 Imperial IPA. Proceeds from a silent auction of artworks from the September Wren art show currently hanging on the walls of Benchmark’s tasting room will be donated to the San Diego River Park Foundation along with a portion of sales from the day’s brunch. The brewery is also hosting viewing parties for the World Cup games throughout the months of June and July. Check the calendar at www.benchmarkbrewing.com for tasting room hours on World Cup game days.
The fires could have been so much worse The lessons of the 2003 and 2007 firestorms saved homes and lives. Doug
Curlee
Mission Valley News
F
ire and emergency officials in San Diego County, and across the state, are breathing huge sighs of relief in the wake of the fires that hit the county earlier this month. The lessons learned from the 2003 and 2007 firestorms, and the mechanisms put in place in the wake of those disasters, stood us in good stead when this wave of fires hit. Fire officials were able to call upon resources that were only dreamed of in 2003, and were only partly available in 2007. The final numbers of the three fires tell the story convincingly.
In 2003, the Cedar and Paradise fires consumed just over 400,000 acres, more than 2,400 homes, and most tragically, 17 lives. 2007 brought the Witch Creek and Harris fires, which cost us over 337,000 acres, almost 1,500 homes, and 10 human lives. May 2014 cost us 27,000 acres, most of it aboard Camp Pendleton, about two dozen structures, and only one death - apparently a transient man caught up when a known homeless encampment burned. Conditions last month were much the same as they were in both 2003 and 2007 - howling Santa Ana winds and drought-dried brush eager to burn. Why did we escape comparatively easily? There were a number of reasons, all equally important. If we heard that phrase once in all the interviews and news conferences, we heard it a hundred times, and deservedly so. “Within the past decade, we have an incredible mix of defensible space and building code improvements that have saved many of those homes we might have lost See WILDFIRES page 16
LIBRARY EVENTS
MISSIONVALLEYNEWS.COM — JUNE 13, 2014
Assemblymember Weber’s Mobile Office Monday, June 16, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Connect with Assemblymember Weber’s staff here in your community, and get help with any problems you are having with public agencies, ask questions about legislation, and learn about state and local services. Issues that staff can assist with include renter’s and homeowner’s assistance programs, property tax issues, consumer complaints, and unemployment and disability insurance. No need to make an appointment, just stop in! Summer Reading Program: Pig’s Eye Puppets Thursday, June 19, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m Our Summer Reading Program kicks off with a performance by Pig’s Eye Puppets, one of the most entertaining, original, and beautiful puppet shows in California. This puppet show is appropriate for all ages. Film Forum: Grand Piano Wednesday, June 25, 6:00 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. Pulse-pounding potboiler from Spanish director Eugenio Mira. A former piano prodigy (Elijah Wood), returning to public performance after a meltdown, finds a string of menacing messages from an unseen assassin (John Cusack). One wrong note . . . and so begins a devilish game of cat-and-mouse. 90 minutes, discussion to follow. Summer Reading Program: Bayou Brothers Thursday, June 26, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. A Summer Reading Program special appearance by San Diego’s favorite zydeco band. This performance is LOUD, but appropriate for all ages. Bring your dancing shoes! “Ask the Lawyer” Free Legal Clinic Tuesday, July 1, 6 to 7 p.m. Join attorney Mark Miller the first Tuesday of every month to talk about your legal issues, and learn your options. No appointment is necessary, just show up with your questions. Paws for Reading Second and fourth Mondays 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. New readers can get some valuable practice time with a very non-judgmental certified therapy dog, courtesy of the non-profit Love on a Leash. Try out those longer words – dogs don’t care if you get them wrong, they just want to hear you read!
Linda Vista Planning Group General Meeting Monday, June 23, 5:30 p.m. This is an open meeting of the Linda Vista Planning Group. The public is encouraged to attend. Election of Officers will be held at the meeting for those seeking a leadership role on the Planning Group board. Chinese Storytime with Kaili Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Come enjoy exciting stories told in Chinese!
15
invited to join us for stories, rhymes, and songs. Storytime with Mr. Luan Fridays, 10:30 to 11:10 a.m. Please join us for an energetic storytime that’s both fun, interactive, and educational! The session will include singing and maybe a little dancing! Storytime with Andie Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Stretch your imagination! Enjoy a story told energetically!
Homework Help Wednesdays, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Kids: need help getting your homework done? Our tutors will assist you! They specialize in English, Math, Science, and History. First come, first served.
Toddler Yoga Storytime First Thursday of the month, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Toddlers will enjoy the calming, meditative effects of yoga while interacting with their parents and the other children participating.
Hopscotch Tiny Tots Storytime Tuesdays, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Join Miss Kim for a great time with music, stories and crafts for babies and toddlers.
Vietnamese Storytime with Vy Friday, June 27 and Sunday, July 27, 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. Come enjoy exciting stories told in Vietnamese!
Morning Storytime with Kathie Mondays, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Children and their families are
Linda Vista Branch Library is located at 2160 Ulric St., San Diego. Visit lindavistalibrary.org or facebook.com/lvlibrary. The library is open Monday 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday 12:30 to 8 p.m.; Thursday and Friday 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; closed Sunday.
Baby Signs Storytime: First and third Tuesdays, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m Parents often wonder, “What is my baby thinking?” There is a way to find out: teaching your baby some basic signs using American Sign Language will fill the gap. Communication is said to be the foundation of a solid relationship; learning to sign with your baby will build that bond early and provide you a bridge from infancy to childhood. Toddler Storytime Fridays, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Storytime designed for toddlers, featuring songs, rhymes, and fingerplays. Yoga for Adults and Teens Tuesdays, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Are you looking for a workout program that’s easy to learn, requires little or no equipment, and soothes your soul while toning your body? If strengthening your cardiovascular system, toning and stretching your muscles, and improving your mental fitness are on your to-do list, than yoga is for you! Yoga for Kids First and third Mondays, 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Kids will learn how to calm and quiet themselves , develop strong & healthy bodies, and set a foundation for life-long well-being in a relaxed and fun environment. Zumba Basic Mondays, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Join the Zumba craze! Find out what makes this fun workout such a hit. A towel and bottled water are recommended for our Zumba sessions. Zumba Gold Fridays, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Zumba Gold is a lower impact version of our Zumba Basic class on Mondays, but just as fun!
GET INVOLVED!
Mission VALLEY NEWS publishers of
Mission Times Courier La Mesa Courier
MissionValleyNews.com 6549 Mission Gorge Road #199 San Diego, CA 92120 • 619.291.0200
EDITOR
ADVERTISING MANAGER
Becky Suffridge, ext. 140 Becky@ScoopSanDiego.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Jeremy Ogul, ext. 127 Jeremy@MissionPublishingGroup.com
PUBLISHER
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
MUSIC WRITER
Mission Publishing Group, LLC Jim Madaffer Jim@MissionValleyNews.com
Todd Kammer, ext. 144 Graphics@MissionPublishingGroup.com
Kelly Ostrem • Gina Cord
Jen Van Tieghem, ext. 141 Jen@ScoopSanDiego.com
OUR NEXT ISSUE The next issue of the Mission Valley News comes out Friday, July 11. The advertising deadline is Saturday, June 28. Circulation: 15,000. Published 12 times in 2013 and delivered throughout our circulation area of Mission Valley, San Diego, California by Mission Publishing Group, LLC. Classified ads and articles must be submitted by mail, e-mail or dropped off at our business address, 6549 Mission Gorge Road #199, San Diego 92120. Publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertisements or material submitted which are deemed to be objectionable. Publisher’s liability for errors: Mission Valley News assumes no financial liability for errors nor for omission of copy and upon request will furnish a letter of correction to the advertiser. The Publisher, Mission Publishing Group, LLC., shall not be liable for any error in published advertising unless an advertiser proof is requested in writing 12 days prior to publication date and clearly marked for corrections. If the error is not corrected by the Publisher, the liability, if any, shall not exceed the space occupied for the error. Further, the Publisher shall not be liable for any omission of an advertisement ordered to be published. On written request, Publisher shall reschedule and run the omitted advertisement at the advertiser’s cost. All claims for adjustment must be made in writing within 30 days of the date of publication. In no case shall the Publisher be liable for any
general, special or consequential damages. Equal Housing Opportunity: Real estate advertising in Mission Valley News is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.” Mission Valley News will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate that is in violation of the law. This is to notify Mission Valley News readers that all dwellings advertised in Mission Valley News are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination call HUD at 1-800-669-9777 or TTY at 1-800-927-9275. News and information printed in Mission Valley News is obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but accuracy on information sent to the paper cannot be guaranteed. Articles and opinions of writers or letters to the editor that are submitted for publication to the Mission Valley News are the views of the writers and should not be considered the views of the publisher. Content of paid advertisements is solely the responsibility of the advertiser. © 2007–2013, all rights reserved.
16
LOCAL News
MISSIONVALLEYNEWS.COM — JUNE 13, 2014
Wildfires, from page 14 before,” says CalFire Assistant Chief Thom Porter. I was almost constantly on the fire lines in both 2003 and 2007, and there was one thing all of us out there saw and reported on constantly. That was the fact that homes burned by the hundreds because highly flammable vegetation had been allowed to grow up right along property lines. In Scripps Ranch and Rancho Bernardo, developments were built essentially in forests of eucalyptus trees. Eucalyptus trees not only burn easily, but they explode as well. Their sap boils and expands. I saw exploding trees throw burning embers more than a hundred feet onto roofs and eaves. Changes in state law now mandate 100-foot cleared zones around property, instead of the old 30 feet, and that was a major factor everywhere this time around. Those changes also outlawed shake shingle wooden roofs, and that was another major saving grace.
SEND IN THE MARINES
It was a little slow getting started, but once the formal emergency declarations cleared the way, the 3rd Marine Air Wing fired up its MH-46 helicopters, and a couple of the gigantic HH-53s, and started attacking the flames in conjunction with the sheriff’s choppers, the city’s fire helicopters, and the CalFire fixed-wing bombers. Marine air crews flew almost 300 hours over civilian fires, as well as fighting their own fires aboard Camp Pendleton. Without them, things might not have worked out so well.
FINALLY - WE GOT LUCKY
Photo Credit: Nick Morris, The Image Group Photography
COMMUNICATIONS One of the enduring images in my mind from the 2003 firestorms was a scene at a gas station at state Route 52 and Convoy Street. We were drinking water and talking to a federal firefighting crew that had been sent to help out the city firefighters. They were suited up, equipped, and ready to work. They had absolutely no idea SUDOKU ANSWERS FROM P. 13
MATH ANSWERS FROM P. 13
MAZE ANSWER FROM P. 13
where to go, and absolutely no way to contact anyone for orders. Cell phones were hit or miss - mostly miss - and they had no common radio frequency with anyone.
The ability to communicate now is light years ahead of even 2007, because officials and politicians who appropriate money saw that seamless communications ability can make all the
difference in jumping on fires before they have a chance to really get roaring, and to dispatch ground and air elements on the flames much faster and more accurately. Much of the battle was waged from the county’s Emergency Operations Center in Kearny Mesa, and it worked well. Unlike previous firestorms, just about every agency involved in the battle was present and participating, and that kept everyone on the same page in the playbook. There were no jurisdictional fights, no mixed messages. That had been a problem in earlier fires.
We did not expect California’s fire season to start in May, but it did. In 2003 and 2007, we were more or less on our own, because those happened in the regular fire season in the late summer and fall. This time, we had the only major fires in the whole state, and that freed up firefighters and fire rigs from all over the state to roll south to help us. We saw rigs from not only our adjacent counties, but from as far away as the Central Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area. More than 5,000 firefighters were on the lines. We may not be so lucky the next time - and, with the ongoing drought only getting worse, fire experts tell us there will be a next time this year. There may be more than one.