RESIDENT SPOTLIGHT: JIMMY LYDON
BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS: C H U L A V I S TA - B O N I TA
CITY OF CHULA VISTA'S CLEAN BUSINESS PROGRAM PATTY RUIZ, FARMERS INSURANCE
Summer IN THE CITY
CONTENTS/
16
Summer
THE CITY
AUGUST 2015
EDITOR'S LETTER
04 BRAVO
“Summer is a sailor in a rowboat and ice-cream on your dress when you're four years old. Summer is a man with his coat off, wet sand between your toes, the smell of a garden an hour before moonrise. Oh, summer is silk itself, a giant geranium and music from a flute far away!” -Michael Brown
Announcements
Summer is a special time of year. The sun burns brightly, and evenings linger. The aura of summer vacation exists in adults long after they started working year-round. The sun calls to people, asking them to turn their face and bask in the light. Just because school is back in session doesn’t mean summer has set. August has a full menu of options for you and your family, from HarborFest and an orange crate derby to summer movies and weekend concerts. Hiking, biking and swimming are good options for sweating off calories and then cooling off in the water. If you need an airconditioned room on the hottest days, the public library offers countless adventures for every interest in the pages of a book. Restaurants dish up cool treats, and soon shops will offer end-of-summer sales. Plenty of summer blockbusters are in theatres, but why not rent a movie featuring this month’s resident spotlight, Jimmy Lydon? His career in film is inspiring and entertaining. May you appreciate your summer, take the vacation you need and immerse yourself with your favorite people and greatest interests. Enjoy Chula Vista’s summertime offerings!
06 NEWS On your Doorstep
15 SCHOOL Music Education Continues its Comeback in Chula Vista
16 FEATURE Summer in the City
20 ON TOPIC Mount San Miguel Closed
22 CALENDAR Out & About
24 BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT Chula Vista's CLEAN Business Program Patty Ruiz, Farmers Insurance
26 RESIDENT SPOTLIGHT Jimmy Lydon
—AMBER WEBER, editor OU R H OM E TOW N MAG. CO M 3
BRAVO
great things happening in our community
Girl Scout Troop 6057 & 6058 welcome delegates to South County Host Town.
Rotary Club of Chula Vista Sunset helped Learning Tools for Global Schools.
› To DR. KAREN JANNEY, the Sweetwater
Dr. Karen Janney
› To GIRL SCOUT TROOP 6057 AND GIRL SCOUT TROOP 6058 for writing 108 personal letter to 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games delegates arriving from Puerto Rico and Argentina. The Girl Scouts wrote letters in both English and Spanish to warmly welcome delegates to the South County Host Town. Delegates arrived on July 22 to tour Chula Vista, National City and Coronado.
4 O U R H OMETOWN • AUG US T 2 0 15
Union High School District (SUHSD)’s new superintendent. In a unanimous decision, the SUHSD Board of Trustees selected Dr. Janney in a closed session on June 9; they approved her threeyear contract on June 22. Dr. Janney is a former assistant superintendent and principal in the Sweetwater District. In 2004 she was named an Administrator of the Year by the Association of California School Administrators. She most recently served as an executive coach for the National Center for Urban School Transformation and as a lecturer and supervisor in the San Diego State University Educational Leadership Department. With over 37 years of secondary teaching and administrative experience,
SEND US YOUR GOOD NEWS! Email editor@ourhometownmag.com
PUBLISHED BY:
prior to the 5th of the month and we will do our best to put the good news in an upcoming issue.
Dr. Janney brings a demonstrated record for creating and sustaining dynamic organizational capacity and educational equity. Welcome, Dr. Janney!
MICHAEL MONACO, Publisher
AMBER WEBER, Editor
› To members of the ROTARY CLUB
OF CHULA VISTA SUNSET who helped local charity Learning Tools for Global Schools provide kits of teacher supplies for a new school in Tijuana, Mexico. The project was assisted greatly by local company Essential Support Services, which sponsored 15 of the kits. Chula Vista Sunset members also bought boxes for the kits, took them home and filled them with supplies. In all, 45 teacher kits were provided for the Primero Calmecac school in Tijuana, where teachers were in great need of classroom necessities. Learning Tools for Global Schools is an organization that directly supplies impoverished schools worldwide with basic school supplies such as pencils, erasers, paper clips, staplers, scissors and rulers.
Chantal Branscomb, Miss Bonita & Caitlin Lange, Miss Sweetwater Valley MELISSA MONROY, Design
› To CHANTAL BRANSCOMB and CAITLIN LANGE, who were crowned 2015-2016 Miss Bonita and Miss Sweetwater Valley, respectively. The young women were crowned by their fathers at the Bonita Chili Cook-Off in May. Chantal graduated from Bonita Vista High School in June, and Caitlin is a current student there. According to Caitlin, the two will engage in their community by supporting education and animal welfare. Chantal said, “We as young people need to speak up when we have something to say and we must use our talents to make a positive difference in the community. What we do or say might forever change the life of an animal, a child or a group of people in our hometown or elsewhere in the world.” Congratulations, girls!
› To Chula Vista’s three, new Rotary Club presidents. DAVID HOFFMAN of Chula Vista Rotary, LOURDES VALDEZ of Chula Vista Rotary Sunset, and DAVE ROSSI of Chula Vista Rotary Sunrise all began their 2015-2016 presidencies on July 1. With the motto “Service Above Self,” Rotary clubs around the word raise money to better their community through such projects as college scholarships, repairing homes for the less fortunate and feeding the homeless. Rotary also provides international humanitarian support like clean water, education and eradicating polio throughout the world.
ASHLYN O'HARA, Intern
ALEXIS HERNANDEZ, Intern
Send advertising inquiries to Michael Monaco at Sales@OurHometownMag.com. Send editorial contributions to Amber Weber at Editor@OurHometownMag.com. Visit us online at www.OurHometownMag.com. Copyright 2015. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form, in whole or part, without written permission is prohibited. OHTM Inc. is not responsible for the views of contributing writers and assumes no responsibility for errors appearing within. Opinions expressed are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the Publisher or advertisers. OHTM Inc has the right to refuse advertising. Contact OHTM Inc. at (619) 840−7722.
OU R H OM E TOW NMAG. CO M 5
NEWS
/ On your Doorstep
Arch Academy Students
Swim the English Channel in 13 Hours
T
he Zombies, the swim team of San Diego’s Arch Academy, is a group of students with special challenges who are defying expectations and transcending limitations. On June 25, a group of 13 Arch Academy students swam the English Channel in just over 13 hours. Out of nine international teams, two Arch Academy teams placed 1st and 2nd. One of the Zombies is 16-year old Lauren Weinreb, a Chula Vista resident. With autism, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, learning disabilities, behavioral problems, ADHD, drug or alcohol issues, students who are viewed by most people as having limited potential are being challenged by swimming, and their achievements are astonishing. Academically, all Arch Academy students are on a college prep track. With every success, each student's bar gets raised. The same is true for athletics. Swimming started in the pool; then summer swims in the Pacific Ocean were added. When this became routine, the Zombie Patrol— named because waking up between 4 and 4:30 a.m. made the students feel like “zombies”—was spawned. A group of high school students, each with one or more of the challenges listed above, chose to join Arch Academy director Cheryl Zak for 6 a.m. ocean swims three days a week throughout the year, often in cold and rough conditions.
6 O U R H O M ETOWN • AUG UST 2 0 15
The Zombies have endured seasickness, 10-foot swells, jellyfish stings, anxiety, swimming for miles at night in the pitch black ocean, and have acclimated to hour-long swims in 58-degree water temperatures without wetsuits or fins. As a team and as individuals, the Zombies are justifiably very proud of what they have accomplished.
Their goal was to do something spectacular: participate in the Alcatraz Sharkfest Swim. All Zombies accomplished the swim from Alcatraz Island to San Francisco, CA on June 7, 2014. The Zombies added nighttime swims and trained five times a week for the Catalina Channel Relay. On September 5, 2014, the Zombies left the Catalina Island shore just before midnight and swam to Palos Verdes, CA, finishing the 21-mile relay in just under 12 hours. Then they set their sights on the English Channel. The Zombies have endured seasickness, 10-foot swells, jellyfish stings, anxiety, swimming for miles at night in the pitch black ocean, and have acclimated to hour-long swims in 58-degree water temperatures without wetsuits or fins. As a team and as individuals, the Zombies are justifiably very proud of what they have accomplished. Zombie leader Cheryl Zak, who has multiple sclerosis, is teaching by example that limitations can be transcended. She and her students hope to change how society views all children with similar disabilities and challenges by showing the world what is possible.
Visit the Zombie's YouTube channel by searching for “Arch Academy Zombie” at youtube.com.
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OU R H OM E TOW NMAG. CO M 7
On your Doorstep
Living Coast Discovery Center to Host
Annual Farm to Bay Event
T
he Living Coast Discovery Center, a nonprofit zoo and aquarium on the southern edge of San Diego Bay in Chula Vista, will host Farm to Bay, its sixth annual culinary celebration, on Saturday, Aug. 8 from 4 to 7:30 p.m. The unique tasting event brings together some of San Diego’s finest restaurants, breweries, farms and more to support the center’s coastal wildlife, education and sustainability programs in its largest fundraiser of the year. This year, Nicolas Bour, executive chef at Loews Coronado Bay Resort, has joined the Farm to Bay event as culinary chair. He was born to a French father and American mother and was raised on a working organic farm in Canada. He learned the concept of farm-to-table dining from an early age and sharpened his professional skills working alongside Michelin-star chefs in some of the country’s best restaurants. With a passion for fresh, local, organic ingredients, Bour creates ambitious and memorable dishes that have been enjoyed by numerous celebrities and dignitaries, including two U.S. presidents. In keeping with the Living Coast’s commitment to the environment and sustainability, the Farm to Bay event committee, led by master composters from the City of Chula Vista, have taken the necessary steps towards producing a zero-waste event.
8 OU R H OMETOWN • AUG US T 2 0 15
On your Doorstep
› August 8 @ 4 to 7:30 p.m.
Local Talent Presents
Panel at San Diego Comic-Con
In 2014, 77 percent (or 516 pounds) of event waste was recycled or composted and diverted from landfills. This represented a 46 percent reduction in waste from the previous year.
This year, the team will continue to build on this success by utilizing more earthfriendly materials and processes. In addition to 30 to 40 hand-selected food and drink samplings, the event will include musical performances on multiple stages, live and silent auctions and up-close animal encounters with the Living Coast Discovery Center’s beloved animal residents. Tickets for the event are on sale for $80 at www.thelivingcoast.org. In 2014, the sold-out crowd of 500 helped the Living Coast achieve its highest net proceeds in the event’s history, raising $85,000 through sponsorships, ticket sales, auction proceeds and Raise the Paddle donations.
D
r. Marie Zhivago, professional cartoonist and children's book author, led a panel discussion about the importance of arts education at Comic-Con on July 12. Titled “Dr. Zhivago’s Innovation in Education: Basic Cartoon and Animation Combine Drawing and Vector Graphic Tools in the Schools,” the panel included Chula Vista school principals Dr. Eric Banatao, Lalaine Perez and Rick Dominguez, plus Jennifer Rodriguez and Sole Leano. The panelists explained how students learn basic cartoon animation using a vector-based app and software on iPads and computers. Kids learn early how to use current technological tools to help stimulate and develop a creative imagination. "My aim is to bring the S.T.E.M. and arts together as a combined force, working as a teaching consultant to help the school district bring digital art instruction into the school day curriculum,” said Dr. Zhivago. Her vector graphic cartoon design program was launched in 2011 as an after-school program and then integrated into two Chula Vista Elementary School District schools.
"Now we are expanding the program and watching it grow as the arts [make] a comeback in [the] Chula Vista Elementary School District," stated Dr. Zhivago. As part of Salt Creek Elementary School's G.A.T.E. program, art collaboration classes in traditional cartoon drawing began in January. Principal Lani Perez is adding a new, after-school class in vector graphics this year. And Eastlake Elementary principal Dr. Eric Banatao has students from kindergarten through grade six in art collaboration classrooms with Dr. Zhivago’s program. "Vector graphics is normally taught in my classes in high school as an Adobe Illustrator program," said Rick Dominguez, VAPA teacher at Olympian High School. "If I get Dr. Zhivago's students from her program, they will know the basics in vector design," Dominguez added. The mixing of traditional art and technological art education with the use of iPads is underway in Chula Vista schools, and Comic-Con is just one place where people are talking about it. OU R H OM E TOW NMAG. CO M 9
On your Doorstep
Turning Heartbreak to Hope:
How one Eastlake Family’s Loss will Help Local Families
C
ristian Acosta-Flores grew up in Eastlake, played football with the Eastlake Panthers, attended Eastlake middle and high schools, and graduated in 2013 from Olympian High School. After graduation, Cristian attended San Jose State University and planned to become a teacher. While visiting his Eastlake home for his birthday, Cristian’s life was tragically cut short. On September 1, 2014, Cristian passed away from complications due to an undiagnosed, enlarged heart. His mother, Tanya Cruz-Flores, explains, “It was ironic because I always said that Cristian had a big heart; he was so full of life and love.” News of Cristian’s passing spread quickly throughout the community, and family, friends and neighbors showered the Flores family with their sympathy and generosity. Cristian’s father, William Flores, remembers being overwhelmed. “It was unbelievable. Not just family and friends but old neighbors, our former real estate clients, everyone blew us away with their love and support.” In fact, the community response was so great that the family created the Cristian Acosta-Flores Scholarship Fund, and within weeks nearly $10,000 was raised to fund two scholarships in Cristian’s memory. Earlier this summer two outstanding local students, Karina Garcia from Eastlake High and Diego Varagnolo from Olympian High were awarded the Cristian Acosta-Flores Memorial Scholarships. Selected for their academic success, athletic accomplishments and community service, both Karina and Diego will use the scholarships to attend San Jose State University this fall. “The scholarships were very important to us,” Tanya explained. “Cristian’s dream was to go to college, and we are so proud that we could honor his memory and help these two students reach their educational goals.”
10 O U R HOMETOWN • AUGUST 2 0 15
With love and support from their community, the Flores family has grieved their loss and tried to come to terms with losing a child unexpectedly. To mark the anniversary of Cristian’s passing, Cristian’s Big Heart 5K will be on Sunday,
On your Doorstep
August 30 at Montevalle Park in Eastlake. This fun, family event will be a chance to celebrate Cristian’s life and continue his legacy as all proceeds will support Screen Your Teen, a local heart-screening program for teenagers in San Diego. “There’s no way to get back my Cristian,” Tanya explains, “but hopefully with this race we can help other kids with heart problems get detected before it is too late.”
Celebrate one life and save another at the inaugural Cristian's Big Heart 5K. For more info, go to www.cristiansmyname.org.
Students in the Chula Vista Elementary School District experience a rigorous 21st century learning environment that is rooted in effective teaching practices and high-quality instruction. We nurture every child’s imagination, intellect, and sense of inquiry. Working with stakeholders, we harness the potential of a collective intelligence rich with the imagination and creativity necessary for students to become difference makers.
www.cvesd.org (619) 425-9600 ext. 1570 Each child is an individual of GrEat Worth OU R H OM E TOW N MAG. CO M 11
On your Doorstep
Chula Vista Charitable Foundation Awards
$40k in Grants to the Community
T
he Chula Vista Charitable Foundation (CVCF) has partnered with the San Diego Padres and AT&T to host the 2015 Chula Vista Community Series, a major annual fundraiser benefitting the Chula Vista community. As part of the series, discounted game tickets will be available for one game each month throughout the season, and a portion of each ticket sold will benefit worthy causes in Chula Vista. To purchase tickets to the August 8 or September 5 games, go to www. padres.com/ChulaVista. The Community Series’ signature event was the Chula Vista Community Day at Petco Park on Sunday, June 14. As part of the event, a lucky fan had the opportunity to meet Adrian Gonzalez prior to the game.
In conjunction with the series, CVCF presented its 2015-2016 grantees with their checks during a special pre-game ceremony at the June 14 game. CVCF awarded over $40,000 to the Chula Vista Public Library, Living Coast Discovery Center and San Diego Audubon Society for making a positive, lasting impact in Chula Vista. The public library’s $20,000 grant will create a corridor through the Chula Vista Public Library’s Civic Center Branch parking lot that will increase safety for library visitors and create a natural gathering space for the community to enjoy. The corridor will provide permanent space for meeting, walking and increased access to pedestrians. “It is appropriate to rethink our parking lot and make better use of it. We hope that
moms with strollers and those in wheel chairs will feel more confident as they cross our parking lot, which currently requires automobiles and pedestrians to share the same driveways, “says Stephanie Loney, Library Public Services Manager. The $16,025 grant to the Living Coast Discovery Center will support ten beautification and trail restoration projects throughout Chula Vista. In partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Living Coast Discovery Center will enlist hundreds of volunteers to help with the work over a 12-month period that will also include an educational component to promote environmental stewardship among local residents. Finally, a grant of $5,350 to the San Diego Audubon Society will support an after-school enrichment program for up to 400 students that introduces elementary and middle school students to natural spaces in local communities and inspires them to develop a stewardship ethic for their neighborhood’s natural environment.
CVCF was founded in 2008 with a mission to improve the quality of life within Chula Vista by promoting and increasing responsible and effective philanthropy. Since its inception, CVCF has grown to over 100 members and built a community endowment of $300,000. For more information about the Chula Vista Community Series, visit www.padres.com/ChulaVista or visit the Chula Vista Charitable Foundation at facebook.com/ChulaVistaCF.
12 OU R HOMETOWN • AUGUST 2 0 15
On your Doorstep
OU R H OM E TOW N M AG. CO M 13
On your Doorstep
Districting Commission Releases Recommended Districting Plan The Chula Vista City Council unanimously approved the Chula Vista Districting Commission’s Recommended Districting Plan at the July 14 council meeting. The plan was developed pursuant to a charter amendment approved by city voters in 2012, which mandates that the city be divided into four electoral districts, with one city councilmember elected to represent each district, starting with districts 3 and 4 in 2016. Residents can view the map with the proposed council district boundaries and numbers at www.chulavistaca.gov/districting. After more than three months of public outreach and input, the Districting Commission met June 8 and 11 to finalize the Recommended Districting Plan. Nearly 300 comments were received during the outreach process to develop a Draft Districting Plan and finalize the Recommended Districting Plan to propose four council districts of approximately 60,000 residents each. “The Districting Commission thanks the residents and stakeholders who have provided input and feedback that have contributed to the Recommended Districting Plan,” said Jerome Torres, chair of the Chula Vista Districting Commission. The commission was seated in August 2014 and is also composed of Vice Chair Dr. Reynaldo Monzon, Rita BuencaminoAndrews, Cheryl Goddard, Dr. John Korey, William Richter and Bernardo Vasquez. In 2012, Chula Vista voters elected to create four geographic electoral districts within the City of Chula Vista. Future elections will be divided by these districts, with one candidate from each district being elected to represent that district on the City Council. For example, beginning in 2016, the councilmember serving District 4 will reside in District 4 and be elected only by voters who reside in District 4. The mayor and city attorney will continue to be elected at-large by all voters in the city.
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Olympian HS Varsity Softball Makes School History with CIF Division 3 Championship Win
Congratulations to Olympian High School’s varsity softball team for winning the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) San Diego Section 2015 Girls Softball Division III championship. It is the school’s first softball championship.
The regular season brought many firsts to Olympian. Olympian beat Eastlake and Otay Ranch for the first time in school history. They also beat Valhalla, which was ranked 8th in the County. They won the most games in one season and earned the #1 seed for the first time.
In the eight years of Olympian’s softball program, six different head coaches have led the Eagles. The team had made the playoffs only twice and struggled to build continuity. Last October, the school hired Michael Gross, a long-time South Bay resident and recreational/ travel ball coach. Coach Gross promised the girls that he would be there for the long haul, got them to buy into a new culture and believe not only in themselves, but also in each other. He brought fun back into playing softball, and he encouraged and developed relationships with past players. Little things like buying visors for the girls made a huge impact in their “teamfirst” attitude. Players understood their roles and embraced them. Being in the same neighborhood with established programs at Bonita Vista, Eastlake and Mater Dei, the girls knew that the community support would be challenging to build, but they brought a winning attitude to every game.
In the playoff run, Olympian beat Central and Serra, and then met up with Vista in the semifinals. Vista beat Olympian in the semi-final game 5-1. But the team rallied through the consolation bracket and beat Grossmont 7-3 to earn a rematch against Vista. In the final game on May 30, Olympian jumped out to an early lead with a 2-RBI double by Isabella Leon. Behind strong pitching by freshman Sydney Sandez and outstanding defense, the Eagles held on for a wellearned victory. The team’s motto this year was “Work Hard, Dream Big, Soar High.” The girls adopted the message and battled all year to earn the championship banner.
The team was led by senior captains Aryn Perez, Julie Lozada, and Kristina Silva; juniors Madison Nafarrete, Lily Mendoza, Justine Federe, Isabella Leon, Cassandra Greene; sophomores Renee Navarro, Breana Barnes and Vanessa Hernandez; and freshmen Sydney Sandez, Mecca Godinez, Jasmine Archer, Breeanna Simmons and Sarah Gross.
SCHOOL Music Education
Continues its Comeback in Chula Vista
S
tudent Bruno Bello recalls how difficult it was to find something that was both challenging and enjoyable. He wasn’t into sports, and he wasn’t into school. The year was 2010, and he was despondent about the divorce of his parents. Then, he discovered music. It changed his life, he says, in ways he could not have imagined.
campuses. The work has been boosted by a partnership with VH1 Save The Music Foundation, which provides District schools with $30,000 each in musical instruments—with the stipulation that they employ a fulltime music instructor to provide music education as part of the school day.
Bruno was in the first group of Chula Vista Elementary School District (CVESD) students who began learning classical music after school through the Community Opus Project, an arts partnership between CVESD and the San Diego Youth Symphony and Conservatory (SDYS).
In addition, students with no musical background from across the District have the opportunity to learn an instrument after school with SDYS. Information about the program is available at www.sdys.org/opus/2015-16.
“Before I had music, I was having trouble. I didn’t see the point of doing homework or paying attention at school,” Bruno recalled.
His budding career in the arts began when he was in fourth grade at Lauderbach Elementary. Now in middle school in the Sweetwater Union High School District, Bruno is taking honors classes and earning “A’s” on his report card. “It can change your life a lot. It can give you hope, to know that if you really want something, you can make it,” Bruno said about music education. His story helps inspire today’s generation of Opus students, the ones new to an instrument much like Bruno had been.
His story was featured in a YouTube video, courtesy of the NAMM Foundation, which was aired for the CVESD Board of Education recently as part of the youth symphony’s annual update about Opus. Students from the District’s after-school band and orchestra performed prior to the Board’s May 6 meeting. “Music is a unifying medium that solidifies knowledge, and the quest for knowledge,” said Superintendent Francisco Escobedo, Ed.D. “Music is a way for students to open up their understanding of math in a conceptual way, as well as enhance their natural creativity. They learn not only to play an instrument, but also to work as a team. Kids create intense relationships with one another as they practice and perform together.” Initially, the Community Opus Project began at two elementary schools but soon grew to six campuses in the District. Because of the success of the after-school program, the District worked on adding music instruction to the school day with the help of the youth symphony. In-school music instruction now takes place for 3,000 students at the initial
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The partnership has attracted the attention of school districts, arts enthusiasts and music educators from across the country. Opus is hailed as a model for introducing low-income youth to music and restoring music education in schools following years of cuts to the arts. This summer, the Yale School of Music honored CVESD and SDYS with the Yale Distinguished Music Educator Award and invited a representative of each organization to participate in its fifth Symposium on Music in Schools on the Yale campus. And in June, the Board of Education set aside $5 million to employ additional teachers starting in the 2015-16 school year with a focus on visual and performing arts, which in turn will provide classroom teachers with release time for collaboration. Now even more students can join Bruno to experience music.
OU R H OM E TOW N MAG. CO M 1 5
S
Summer IN THE CITY
Summer IN THE CITY
School may be back in session, but summer is in full swing. The month of August holds many activities for your family to enjoy.
ďƒ? OU R H OM E TOW N M AG. CO M 17
Summer IN THE CITY
summer movies in the park comes to Chula Vista on Saturday, August 15. Join in the fun with the Chula Vista Recreation Department and sponsors for a free, summer movie in the park. Enjoy watching the movie Home (rated PG) with your friends and family while relaxing and enjoying a safe and special night under the stars. The movie will start at dusk, approximately 15 minutes after sunset, at Heritage Park, 1381 E. Palomar Street in Chula Vista. Arrive early to get a good seat! Visit www.summermoviesinthepark.com for a complete schedule. For more info, call 619-409-5979 or visit www.chulavistaca.gov/rec.
HarborFest is a free, family-friendly celebration that never ceases to excite and energize the community. Scheduled for Saturday, August 22 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Bayside Park at the Chula Vista Marina, HarborFest welcomes everyone to enjoy a classic summer festival in our beautiful city. The Tacos & Spirits Revolution will feed your tummy and your competitive spirit in a battle of the Best of the Fest. Bring your expert taste buds and vote for your favorite tastes and toasts. To quench your thirst, the wine, craft spirits, and craft beer tasting options will give you samples of sips from our Baja neighbors, who are gaining enormous popularity worldwide.
The Discovery Zone will be filled with shows, interactive activities, arts and crafts, fishing off the pier and more. Cool off and splash in the water with some free kayaking and paddle board lessons. Thrill seekers will enjoy the daring BMX spectacle show, and kids’ imaginations will run wild with a world of bubbles and bubble wands. Learn to fly while attached to a bungee cord, and practice your best pirate accent with Rad Hatter Pirates. Try the zip line or laser tag, then walk on water or get launched from a parachute rocket. There is never a dull moment in the Discovery Zone! Tour historic ships, check out a classic and exotic automobile showcase, and stroll through the exhilarating art exhibition, all with breathtaking ocean views as a backdrop. Or, get your groove on and dance in front of three stages: Latin Beats Stage, HarborFest Main Stage and Chula Vista Community Stage. for more info, call 619-2335008, email HarborFest@ mcfarlanepromotions.com or visit www.cvharborfest.com,
friday night concert series at the Bonita Golf Course (BGC) hosts live entertainment from 7 to 10 p.m. Established in 1956 and originally located where Plaza Bonita is today, BGC happily re-located to its current back-of-the-valley locale off Sweetwater Road over 35 years ago. It’s a rare bird these days being a “daily fee” public golf course that is privately owned and operated. Perhaps that’s where some of the charm comes from. “I would classify BGC as more of a local gathering place than just a golf course,” says regular George Banuelos. 18 O U R HOMETOWN • AUGUST 2 0 15
“Whether it’s a wedding reception, tournament fundraiser, Quinceanera Expo, band night or happy hour, there’s always something going on.” “Our goal is not all about the bottom line. We know if we serve our community, our staff and our customers, we’ll be here for years to come,” says BGC’s general manager, Clayton Crawford. A key part of BGC is its classic Bar & Grill. It has a Cheers atmosphere with friendly people enjoying life.
Upcoming concerts:
R' Tyme Funk, R&B and hits that will make you dance!
Local Attraction 80/90's, classic rock and crowd pleasers.
Stone Soldiers Great tunes you used to hear on KGB 101.5.
Wild$ide R&B, current hits and dance music.
"We've been doing our Summer Series for six or seven years now," says Bar Manager Paul Marley. "Locals love the fact that you can rock up and get free live music so close to home."
the Orange Crate Derby is a great way to close out August and support Chula Vista’s youngsters. With customized cars made to look like packing crates, kids will race down Rancho Del Rey Parkway in vehicles with names such as Blue Lightning, Speedy Bear or Slo Poke. Orange crate race cars are made of wood and roll downhill to pick up speed, with some racers clocking in at 30 mph. “We encourage kids to make a car with dad or mom and come out and race in the Orange Crate Derby,” said Carole Eklund, one of the race organizers from the Chula Vista Sunrise Rotary. Organizers also hold Build-A-Car Clinics. The next clinic is scheduled for August 8 in the parking lot of the South Bay Family YMCA Goodrich Teen Center at 820 Paseo Ranchero in Chula Vista. “We have old cars available for sale if you are just getting into the race or don't have the time and tools to make your own right now. These cars can be painted by the kids and named,” Carole added. Chula Vista Sunrise Rotary and Chula Vista Sunset Rotary are partnering to organize volunteers and sponsorship of the race, which has been a Chula Vista summer staple for over 35 years. Additional partners include the South Bay Ambassador Program. If you’re interested in participating, email race organizers Carole Eklund and Trish Rogers at cvarchfan@gmail.com. Race applications are due on August 22. Car inspection is first thing on Practice Day, August 29. Visit www. orangecratederby.com for more info, including how to build a car.
ON TOPIC
/ Community / Written by Ashlyn O'Hara
Mount San Miguel Closes to Public If you are one of the many people who frequently enjoys the unbeatable view from Mount San Miguel’s peak, you are probably also one of those affected by the mountain’s close to the public. The City of Chula Vista is restricting access to Mount San Miguel, which has been, often unknowingly, off limits to the public since the early 2000s. Although signs have been in place before, warning people to stay off of the mountain, time has given way, and repeated weathering and dilapidation have made the signs almost invisible to most trail-goers. Hikers, pedestrians and bikers have trod on fragile shrubbery, muddled terrain and left behind excessive amounts
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CHECK OUT THESE Hiking alternatives in the Eastlake community: Lower Otay Lake area • Otay Lakes County Park (adjacent to the Olympic Training Center) • Mountain Hawk Park
of garbage. This includes plastic water bottles, Styrofoam and pet waste, all of which are not only a blemish on the beauty of the mountain, but also harmful to the environment. Although the area is a crowd favorite among Chula Vista residents, it is not an established trailhead, with no designated paths anywhere on the mountain. The region is actually part of the Rolling Hills Ranch Open Space Preserve and is home to endangered species, including the Otay tarplant and the Quino checkerspot butterfly. Additionally, Mount San Miguel is not always safe to hike due to the
prevalence of hazards like unstable footholds, precipitous inclines and rattlesnakes. In response to the failure of past attempts to keep people off of the mountain, the City of Chula Vista will lodge additional signs that cite trespassing laws in California and install fences in the area surrounding Mount San Miguel. By impeding entry to the mountain, it is expected that the wildlife dwelling within, free of human interference, will thrive. Hope is not lost, however, for Mount San Miguel regulars, as there are many hiking alternatives in the Eastlake community alone.
• Montevalle Recreation Center
These include trails in the Lower Otay Lake area, the Otay Lakes County Park adjacent to the Olympic Training Center and Mountain Hawk Park, which are designated and safe for use. Places like the Montevalle Recreation Center, which not only features hiking trails, but also two dog parks, are open daily. The loss of one hiking outlet doesn’t have to come with the loss of a favorite activity. If the community can work together to spread awareness about the mountain’s restrictions, it can also ensure the preservation of its beauty.
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OUT & ABOUT 02
LEMON FESTIVAL @
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. @ Third Avenue from E to G Street in Chula Vista. Live bands, hundreds of vendor booths, kids’ activities and everything lemon. www. thirdavenuevillage.com.
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August 24
CHULA VISTA EASTLAKE CHAMBER BUSINESS EDUCATIONAL TRADESHOW & MIXER @ 5:30 – FOUNDATION GOLF 7:30 p.m. Hosted by Bonita Golf Club, TOURNAMENT @ 11:30 a.m. 5540 Sweetwater Road in Bonita. A great opportunity for members to display their goods and services. www.chulavistachamber.org.
SUMMER SERIES FRIDAY NIGHT CONCERT @ 7 – 10 p.m. @ Bonita
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Golf Course, 5540 Sweetwater Road in Bonita. A free event featuring entertainment guest Our Tyme.
Golf Course, 5540 Sweetwater Road in Bonita. A free event featuring entertainment guest Local Attraction.
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BUILD A (DERBY) CAR CLINIC @ 11
a.m. – 3 p.m. @ South Bay Family YMCA Goodrich Teen Center, 820 Paseo Ranchero in Chula Vista. Come and make a car with your family! For more info, visit www. orangecratederby.com.
6TH ANNUAL FARM TO BAY @ 4 – 7:30 p.m. @ Living Coast Discovery Center, 1000 Gunpowder Point Drive in Chula Vista. Guests sample fine culinary delights from the hottest restaurants, breweries and wineries in the area. Experience up-close animal encounters, live music and live and silent auctions.
TIP OF THE HAT: 50 YEARS OF THE COWBOY ARTISTS OF AMERICA Opening reception @ 5 – 7:30 p.m. @ Bonita Museum & Cultural Center, 4755 Bonita Road in Bonita. Reception includes tours, a cowboy balladeer, live auction and the best BBQ in town! Exhibit runs through Sept. 12. Tickets are $40 each or $70 for two. To purchase tickets & for additional showtimes, visit bonitahistoricalsociety.org. 22 O U R HOMETOWN • AUGUS T 2 0 15
SUMMER SERIES FRIDAY NIGHT CONCERT @ 7 – 10 p.m. @ Bonita
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SUMMER MOVIES IN THE PARK @ dusk @
Heritage Park, 1381 E. Palomar Street in Chula Vista. Arrive early and enjoy the movie Home, rated PG, with your friends and family.
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SUMMER SERIES FRIDAY NIGHT CONCERT @ 7 – 10 p.m.@ Bonita Golf Course, 5540 Sweetwater Road in Bonita. A free event featuring entertainment guest Stone Soldiers.
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CHULA VISTA BALLET PRESENTS SLEEPING BEAUTY @ 2 and 6 p.m. @ Ruth Chapman Theatre, Eastlake High School, 1120 Eastlake Parkway in Chula Vista. General admission is $20. Purchase tickets online at www.tututix.com/ChulaVistaBallet.
HARBORFEST @ 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. @ Bayside Park in Chula Vista. Enjoy the SeafoodFest, Baja Wine & Spirits Pavilion, Craft Beer Garden, Youth Zone, live music, Maritime Museum vessels, cars, exhibits and more. This event is free. www. cvharborfest.com.
@ EastLake Country Club, 375 Clubhouse Drive in Chula Vista. Promote your business on the golf course to local leaders, business owners and educators. Hole sponsorships start at $200. Call 619997-6470 or email Nicole@eefkids. org to register your team. www. eefkids.org.
SEPT SAVE THE DATE(S)
12 | RED, WHITE & BLUE 5K @ 8 a.m. – noon @ Salt Creek Golf Club, 525 Hunte Parkway in Chula Vista. Produced by Together As 3 Point One. Join the South Bay Ambassador Program for a 5k, wellness vendor expo, games, inflatables, photo booth, face painting and more.
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SUMMER SERIES FRIDAY NIGHT CONCERT @ 7 – 10 p.m.@ Bonita Golf Course, 5540 Sweetwater Road in Bonita. A free event featuring entertainment guest Wildside.
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CRISTIAN’S BIG HEART 5K @ 8 a.m. @
Montevalle Community Center, 840 Duncan Ranch Road in Chula Vista. The finish line area will have games, inflatables, a photo booth, face painting and more. Produced by Together As 3 Point One, proceeds benefit the Eric Paredes Save A Life Foundation. Register online at www. cristiansmyname.org.
35TH ORANGE CRATE DERBY @ 7:30 a.m. @ Rancho Del Rey Parkway between Terra Nova Drive and Del Rey Boulevard in Chula Vista. Chula Vista Sunrise and Chula Vista Sunset Rotary Clubs invite you join this wonderful family event. Entry form and $20 fee are due by August 22. Practice run is on August 29 @ 9 – 10:30 a.m. at race location. For more info, visit www. orangecratederby.com.
PLEASE NOTE EVENTS AND TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
EASTLAKE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION every Monday @ Eastlake Tavern & Bowl, Eastlake; 11:30 a.m.1 p.m.; www.eastlakebusiness.org. FARMER’S MARKET Thursdays @ Third Avenue Village Association (Third Ave. & Center St.); 3-7 p.m.
KIDS READY TO READ Interactive storytime program Thursdays @ Otay Ranch Branch Library; 11:15 a.m.; chulavistalibrary.com.
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OU R H OM E TOW N MAG. CO M 23
BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS
PATRICIA RUIZ, FARMERS INSURANCE
Patty Ruiz joined Farmers Insurance in 1990 as an administrative assistant and obtained her insurance license in 1991. She worked as a customer service representative while pursuing her Bachelor of Science degree in finance from San Diego State University, graduating in 1996. She soon decided to pursue a career with Farmers Insurance as an insurance agent and was approved by the company. Patty established her agency in February 2000 and naturally excels at providing great customer service to her clients. As a working mother, Patty understands the value of time. She manages her time between her family and her busy schedule at work. Patty is able to manage working around her clients’ busy schedules, too, providing quotes, doing annual reviews of policies and making sure her clients understand their coverages. Her dedication and focus have earned Patty recognition in qualifying for Toppers Club with Farmers Insurance for the last five consecutive years. Her professionalism, customer service and commitment deserved her this honor. Patty Ruiz Agency is a full-service agency holding property and casualty, life and both Series 6 and Series 63 security licenses to sell Farmers Financial Services, LLC products. Patty’s agency has a combined insurance experience of 55 years; both staff members are licensed in property and casualty, and one has her life license. Her office is bilingual in Spanish and English. Stop by Patty Ruiz Agency, located at 2568 Waterline Way in the Venture Commerce Center in Eastlake, to review your current insurance programs.
CITY OF CHULA VISTA'S CLEAN BUSINESS PROGRAM
Chula Vista’s CLEAN Business Program is aimed at providing assistance to businesses that wish to become environmental stewards and improve their bottom line. You may have seen Martie Solomon, Recycling Specialist, and Barbara Locci, Conservation Specialist, at local events promoting sustainability programs and educating the community. You may have also seen them walking through business facilities, dumpster diving and looking at light fixtures. The “dynamic duo,” as they refer to themselves, is responsible for the implementation of the Chula Vista CLEAN Business Program, which has been in place since 2008. The program is voluntary and caters to businesses that want to improve their profitability and ongoing operations, network with fellow businesses and be recognized in the community as socially and environmentally responsible. Barbara points out, “Our focus is to raise awareness about all the programs that can improve a business’ bottom line and protect the environment at the same time. Chula Vista is very supportive of businesses, and by adding the sustainability twist it has become one of the most progressive cities in San Diego County.” The City promotes CLEAN businesses in local publications and social media. The City also provides workshops and networking events. Currently, they are working on a new website and an online platform for businesses to access and track their CLEAN scores. When Martie was asked why she is so zealous about her role, she replied, “I am passionate about the environment and sustainability. When I reach out to businesses and help them on their journey to sustainability I feel that I have done my job as a public servant.” Check out the CLEAN Business Program on the City’s website, www.chulavistaca.gov/clean. Remember it’s your community, your environment and your choice to do the right thing for your business’ bottom line and Chula Vista!
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Family services
Personalized, one-on-one speech therapy services in the comfort of your own home. research-based bilingual therapy for children and adults. Private pay only. letitia a. stanton-aicher ms, ccc-slP
(855) 619-6191 www.LSABT.com
OU R H OM E TOW N MAG. CO M 25
RESIDENT SPOTLIGHT Jimmy Lydon
If you ask Jimmy Lydon the secret to his success, he would simply answer, “Luck.” That may have been true when he first auditioned for a play in New York in 1936. But what followed was a series of divine intervention, hard work and a can-do attitude. Only two years later in 1938, Jim, as he prefers to be addressed, starred in his first leading role as the young Frankie in Back Door to Heaven, released in 1939. This was a lot of pressure for a 14-year old boy who was the sole income provider for a family of eleven during the Great Depression. “I was scared out of my mind,” Jim said as he reflected on those days. “If it wasn’t for the kindness of fellow actors and the guidance of my mentor, employer and friend William K. Howard, I would have never made it,” Jim continued. If you were around in those days you may remember some other movies he starred in. A few that may bring back memories were Tom Brown’s School Days and The Aldrich Family series. One landmark performance was giving Elizabeth Taylor her first on-screen kiss at age 15 in Cynthia. 26 O U R HOMETOWN • AUG US T 2 0 15
He also fondly remembers playing Murray in Island in the Sky with John Wayne. Jim’s acting career lasted 25 years when he made the leap to producer. “That’s when I hit my stride,” he remembered. While still acting he spent much of his free time wandering the studios, learning from the best and understanding the back bone of the movie and TV industry. This was not luck. This was skillful observation and respect of the art. If you’re a baby boomer, then you grew up watching a number of TV shows on which Jim worked as Associate Producer. Sometimes he took credit, and sometimes he allowed others to shine. You may remember 77 Sunset Strip (20 episodes) and Mr. Roberts (30 episodes). When he wasn’t behind the screen, he found regular roles in numerous TV series like Gunsmoke, Adam-12, Six Million Dollar Man, Police Story, Lou Grant, Simon & Simon, St. Elsewhere and Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color. Jim’s talent went beyond stage and screen. He served as 2nd Vice President of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) from 1958 to1959 while Ronald Reagan was President of SAG. Jim and his wife of 63 years, Betty Lou Nedell, live in Bonita. Jim volunteers one day a week with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Patrol and still enjoys traveling to Mexico, New Mexico and England to visit his daughters and granddaughters. Truly, Jim is a man of many talents.