April 2011
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
On the Internet at www.MissionValleyNews.com
Volume V – Number 4
Aztecs Reflect Back On Memorable Season By Jeff Barnes
Region’s largest outdoor art festival returns to Little Italy. Page 9.
PROPOSED MISSION VALLEY ROADWAY CAUSES CONTROVERSY By Claire Trageser
It’s only about a quarter-mile long, but a proposed road in a new Mission Valley housing development is creating far lengthier disputes. The road would be part of Civita, a 230-acre development tucked between Friars Road and Interstate 805 that includes plans for 4,780 homes and 900,000 square feet of commercial space. Construction on the project began in December. The connector road would link Phyllis Place on the north side of the development to a new road attached to Quarry Falls Boulevard, making it easier for traffic from the new homes and businesses and Friars Road to reach the interstate. But that ease is what the neighborhood of Serra Mesa is worried about.
More than half a century after it was first envisioned, an estimated 20,000 people from all over the region gathered on recent Saturday morning to dedicate the final piece of State Route 52, connecting SR 125 with SR 67, completing the highway from Santee all the way to La Jolla. The new road creates a straight shot to the coast for many East County residents and travelers, offering easy access to job centers and recreational activities. It also will take as much as 20 percent of the traffic off Interstate 8, as well as relieve congestion on surface streets in Santee such as Mission Gorge Road, Mast Boulevard, and Prospect Avenue. “We’ve been working very hard for a very long time to see this day,” SANDAG First Vice Chair and Santee Councilmember Jack Dale said. “This project is not only of huge benefit to the City of Santee, it is a key element of our See SR 52, page 11
See Aztecs, page 4
Mid City Little League celebrates colorful 49-year tradition. On page 6.
Hundreds of bicyclists waited for the okay to ride on the new stretch of Highway 52 on the day it was dedicated.
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Creative SDSU fans, a.k.a. “The Show” NCAA tournament wins and advanced to the Sweet 16; the team finished with a 34-3 record, the best in program history (SDSU had 26 wins in 2008-09); the Aztecs were ranked in the Associated Press and Coaches polls for the first time and were ranked in the Top 10 of both polls for several weeks; SDSU finished the regular season as Mountain West Conference co-champions and won its second consecutive Mountain West Tournament championship; and Coach Steve Fisher was named a finalist for the Naismith Coach-of-the-Year Award. “As tough as it was to lose that game to UCONN, you couldn’t feel too bad after the great season that they had,” SDSU alum Shawn Turner said. “One thing that made it tough to swallow was the fact that we all knew they were talented enough to go the distance.” Following the loss to the Huskies, Coach Fisher reassured his team of what they’ve accomplished this season. He said “Give one another a hard hug and tell them how much you love them, and don’t be ashamed to cry. Don’t be ashamed to shed a tear. You’ve done so much for San Diego State, the community, and for yourselves that when we reflect back on it, all of us will know that, the legacy that you’ve established.” It’s a legacy that everyone wanted to be a part of; tickets have never been harder to come by. There were 13 sellouts at Viejas Arena this year. Prior to this season, the Aztecs sold out Viejas Arena just eight times in the venue’s 13-year history. “It was the best season of men’s basketball ever at SDSU,” Turner said. “There were some huge, huge wins this season, and we all enjoyed every minute of it.” The team is really thankful for the support of its fans. Thanks to Aztec Nation, neutral site games such as Anaheim felt
See Controversy, page 16
Old Town restaurant boasts menu chock full of seafood items. Page 8
Photo credit: Jeff Barnes
Studying the meaning of Good Friday at First United Methodist. See page 12.
The Aztecs men’s basketball 2010-11 season might have ended after the team advanced to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament, but the memories of what this season has meant to SDSU, fans, coaches, players and the community will last forever. “I could not be more proud of how we competed, how hard we played,” Coach Steve Fisher said following the seasonending 67-74 loss to University of Connecticut on Mar. 24. The team’s hard work has been demonstrated on so many record-breaking fronts: the Aztecs got their first Division I
THOUSANDS DEDICATE FINAL STRETCH OF STATE ROUTE 52 50 years after it was originally envisioned