Mission Valley News - August 2014

USA VS. IRAN:

Outside hitter Matt Anderson, right, of the USA Men’s National Volleyball team.

Volleyball showdown in town Lynn Walsh Mission Valley News

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an Diego is set to be the center stage for one of four historic men’s volleyball matches next week.

The United States Men’s National Volleyball team will face off against the Islamic Republic of Iran Aug. 15 at Viejas Arena on the San Diego State University campus.

This marks the first time the Iranian team is coming to America to play volleyball.

“Iran is a team that we really haven’t played that much against,” U.S. Team Captain Sean Rooney said. “It’s very important, as they are becoming a world class volleyball team, that we learn how to play against them and learn their system.”

See VOLLEYBALL page 13

Local artist recreates Father Serra’s baptismal font Historic recreation on display at Mission San Diego de Alcala

CASA volunteer Lisa Warren, left, and advocacy supervisor Kim Mettler.

Foster kids need advocates

Doug

Curlee

Contributing Editor

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s you walk into the church at Mission San Diego de Alcala on San Diego Mission Road in the Grantville area, you might glance to your left just inside the door. In a small alcove behind a stand of votive candles, you’ll see what looks like a small birdbath, covered with a copper-colored lid that looks old.

It’s so much more than a birdbath.

Catholics will recognize it as a baptismal font, where infants are brought into the faith of their ancestors. But there is more than just decoration here, more than just a font made to look as though it belongs there.

If you happened to be in the Iglesia de San Pedro in Petra, on the Spanish island of Mallorca, you’d see the original that the Mission de Alcala font was copied from. Millions of Catholics and others have seen that font, and even prayed at it, because it was in that

Jeremy Old Town artisan Pat Downing used historic coppersmith techniques.

Spanish baptismal font that the infant Junipero Serra was baptized in the year 1713.

Who knew back then that Father Junipero Serra would become the father of the California mission system, beginning with ours here in 1769?

The mission that stands today is actually the second one built in San Diego. The first, built along the San Diego River in 1775, was sacked and burned in a Native American uprising and eventually rebuilt where it stands now.

Fast forward to 2011.

Thanks to a generous donation from Marion Kelley, widow of longtime mission patron Hank Kelley, it was decided to recreate, as much as possible, the original Father Serra baptismal font.

See ARTIST page 7

Hillcrest celebrates 30 years of Cityfest Jeremy Ogul Editor, Mission Valley News

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Now a huge daylong street fair, Cityfest returns on Sunday, Aug. 10, extending its hours from noon to 11 p.m. The Hillcrest Business Association, which organizes the event, anticipates a crowd of more than 150,000 people to join the party this year.

“Hillcrest has all sorts of things that are great about urban life: food, culture, nightlife,” said Benjamin Nicholls, the

hirty years ago this summer, the weathered, wooden Hillcrest sign was taken down to be refurbished. When the neighborhood got together to celebrate the return of the sign — complete with new neon lights — Cityfest was born.

See CITYFEST page 11

Ogul

Editor, Mission Valley News

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ith more than 5,000 foster children in San Diego County’s juvenile court system at any given time, most people agree that the system is overburdened.

Attorneys and social workers juggle dozens of cases at a time.

Children who have already suffered some form of abuse or neglect are shuffled from attorney to social worker to therapist to temporary foster parent. The ultimate goal is to either reunify the family or place the child with a permanent adoptive family,

See VOLUNTEERS page 16

LOCAL NEWS Police warn of IRS telephone scam 2

Mission Valley News

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an Diego police have received numerous reports of residents who have been contacted by scammers impersonating the IRS, according to San Diego Police Officer Adam McElroy.

In this scam, the thief poses as the IRS and makes an unsolicited call to their target. The caller tells the victim they owe taxes to the IRS. They demand that the victim pay the money immediately with a pre-loaded debit card or wire transfer. The caller often threatens the victim with arrest, deportation or suspension of a business or driver’s license. In many cases, the caller becomes hostile and insulting.

“If someone unexpectedly calls claiming to be from the IRS and uses threatening language if you don’t pay immediately, that is a sign that it really isn’t the IRS calling,” said J. Russell George, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, in a recent press release.

As of March 20, the federal government had received reports of over 20,000 contacts related to the scam. Victims have paid over $1 million to fraudsters claiming to be from the IRS, according to the federal government. It is the biggest-ever scam of its kind, George said.

If you get a call from someone who claims to be with the IRS asking you to pay back taxes, here’s what you should do: If you owe, or think you might owe federal taxes, hang up and call the IRS at 800-829-1040.

August 2014

Thieves who run this scam often: Use common names and fake IRS badge numbers.

Know the last four digits of the victim’s Social Security Number.

Make caller ID appear as if the IRS is calling.

Send bogus IRS e-mails to support the bogus calls.

Call a second time claiming to be the police or department of motor vehicles. The caller ID again appears to support their claim.

IRS workers can help you with your payment questions.

If you don’t owe taxes, call and report the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 800-366-4484.

You can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at FTC. gov. Add “IRS Telephone Scam” to the comments in your complaint.

Here are a few warning signs so you can protect yourself and avoid becoming a victim of these crimes: Be wary of any unexpected phone or email communication allegedly from the IRS. Don’t fall for phone and phishing email scams that use the IRS as a lure. Thieves often pose as the IRS using a bogus refund or warnings to pay past-due taxes.

The IRS usually first contacts people by mail – not by phone – about unpaid taxes.

The IRS won’t ask for payment using a pre-paid debit card or wire transfer. The IRS also

He wants what you want.

A place where life is good, homes are tasty, trees are everywhere and walking is fun. So throw him a bone and check out the very cool park, dog run, and neighborhoods here at Civita.

Townhomes | Rowhomes | Single-Family Homes Luxury Apartments | Single-Level Condos Civita Boulevard off Mission Center Road

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.

City launches first ever Bicycle Advisory Board won’t ask for a credit card number over the phone.

The IRS doesn’t initiate contact with taxpayers by email to request personal or financial information. This includes any type of e-communication, such as text messages and social media channels.

The IRS doesn’t ask for PINs, passwords or similar confidential information for credit card, bank or other accounts.

The IRS urges you to be vigilant against the many different types of tax scams. Their common goal is to steal your money, and often to steal your identity.

Visit the genuine IRS website, IRS.gov, for more on what you should do to avoid becoming a victim.

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n March, the San Diego City Council unanimously approved a Bicycle Advisory Committee to oversee and provide guidance on all the burgeoning bicycle projects popping up all over the county. The committee will assist in making bicycling in San Diego safer, more accessible, implementing the new Bicycle Master Plan Update, and making San Diego a more bikeable city overall. Andy Hanshaw, currently executive director of the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition (SDBC), was appointed to the board, along with a total of seven other advising members from neighborhoods around the county, including Kyle Heiskala of Hillcrest; Kathleen Keehan of Rancho Bernardo; Michael Brennan of Hillcrest; Nicole

Burgess of Point Loma; Petr Krysl of University City; Randy Van Vleck of Golden Hill; and Samantha Ollinger of City Heights.

The board’s term will be two years, ending July 1, 2016. “The City has a lot of great bicycling initiatives coming to fruition and copious opportunities to become one of the most bike-friendly cities in the nation,” said Hanshaw in a press release. “I look forward to working with the committee members and elevating San Diego to be a premiere city for bicycling.” The SDBC protects and advocates for the rights of all people who ride bicycles. San Diego becomes one of numerous cities around the country with formally appointed bicycle advisory committees. For more information on SDBC visit sdbc.org.

LOCAL NEWS

Mission Valley News August 2014 sdcnn.com

I-8 goes under the microscope SANDAG leads study on improving busy transit corridor

Hutton

Marshall Contributing Editor

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ey agencies throughout the city recently teamed up to get a general sense of how to improve transportation along San Diego’s central interstate.

The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), a regional planning agency, teamed up with the City of San Diego, the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) and the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) to examine a 13.6-mile stretch of the Interstate 8, hoping to relieve some of the traffic congestion notorious in Southern California.

On July 25 and 29, the four organizations hosted their first round of community information meetings on the I-8 Corridor Study, which SANDAG plans to finish by Spring 2015. The meetings, held in Old Town and College Area, were an opportunity for the community to weigh in on specific areas along the portion of the I-8 in question — which stretches from College Area to the interstate’s end in Ocean Beach.

Residents weighed in on several specific issues, such as the Fairmount Drive entry onto I-8 just past the eastern edge of Kensington, as well as the jam-packed region of Mission Valley funneling into I-8 entryways.

The project’s manager, Scott Strelecki, an associate regional planner at SANDAG, said lane expansion of the actual interstate wasn’t on the table. Rather, he said the study hoped to identify potential transportation projects that

would compliment the I-8 corridor.

Overall, Strelecki said, the study is not indepth enough to see specific projects to fruition, but rather look for areas or projects with great potential for improvement.

“I think the important thing that — when we’re at a workshop like this — that’s often hard for the public to understand is that this is just the beginning of analyzing the corridor,” Strelecki said. “Once we have the final study done, there may be things that have strong potential to be built, and if there’s funding capabilities for it, then it’ll need more detailed analysis.”

Strelecki said the study will look at the I-8 Corridor within the context of SANDAG’s Regional Transportation Plan, which lays out long-term transportation planning as far ahead as 2050.

“Corridor studies are going to take things that already exist and say, we know this is already planned, let’s put in in there. Then they’re going to say, well let’s try to identify

things on top of that, that are issues that we can address,” Strelecki said. “It’s your opportunity to test some things and see if other things shake out.”

While Strelecki said other studies have analyzed the I-8’s span across the state, there hasn’t been a study done specifically on the I-8 through San Diego in recent memory.

On SANDAG’s website, it lists right-of-way constraints, freeway interchanges, “selected” local streets and intersections, and active transportation among other potential projects to be considered within the scope of the study.

The two July meetings were just the first round of public input to be gathered for the corridor study, said SANDAG spokesperson Tedi Jackson. SANDAG will now compile and publish the feedback it received. It will then analyze the corridor with the public input in mind before holding a more focused round of public input meetings at the end of 2014.

Visit sandag.org/I-8 for more information about the I-8 Corridor Study.

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Mission Valley News

August 2014

LOCAL NEWS

Mixed-use housing proposed on Camino de la Reina Jeremy

Ogul

Editor, Mission Valley News

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305-unit mixed-use housing development could be coming soon to the site of a boat dealership in Mission Valley.

The Mission Valley Planning Group voted Aug. 6 to recommend that the Planning Commission approve the development permits needed for the project.

The proposed site of the project at 730 Camino Del Rio N. is just east of State Route 163. The 5.37-acre parcel is bordered by the Witt Lincoln auto dealership to the west, Camino de la Reina to the north, Camino del Arroyo to the east and Camino del Rio North to the south.

The site is currently occupied by the Twin Anchor Boats & Yachts dealership and vehicle storage lots. It was once the site of a Bob Baker auto dealership.

The Dinerstein Cos. proposes to build a project with 35 studio apartment units, 135 one-bedroom units, 116 two-bedroom units, five townhome-style units and 14 live-work units, also known as “shopkeeper” units with commercial space on the ground floor and living space on the upper levels. The average size of the residential units is 844 square feet.

The project will include 581 parking spaces, which is 115

Developers want to turn the former site of a Bob Baker auto dealership into a dense, mixed-use housing development.

more parking stalls than the city’s minimum requirement for a project of this size, according to Josh Vasbinder, West Coast Partner at the Dinerstein Cos. Most of the parking for the project would be hidden in an interior parking structure with residential buildings wrapped around it.

The project is designed with sustainability in mind and will achieve at least a LEED Silver certification, if not LEED Gold, Vasbinder said. Among the sustainable features is a plan to include a 9-person shuttle that would take residents to nearby trolley stops and other destinations.

Some members of the planning group expressed concern about the project’s impact on the

already heavy traffic in the area, especially in the area of Mission Center Road and Camino de la Reina. Though traffic studies show the project will generate an additional 1,432 vehicle trips over a 24-hour period, the project will not generate a significant traffic impact on any one major intersection in the area, according to traffic engineer Justin Schlaefli.

The Planning Commission will likely consider the issue in October, according to Vasbinder.

Elsewhere in San Diego, the Dinerstein Cos. built the 260unit Sterling Collwood student housing project on Collwood Boulevard in the College Area in 2010 (the property has since been sold and renamed Fifty Twenty-

Five apartments). They also built the 320-unit Sterling Alvarado student housing project on Alvarado Road in 2012.

The developer has also built several projects in the Los Angeles area, including a 196-unit luxury apartment complex east of Marina del Rey that opened four months ago.

Hazard Center Auto Mart seeks alcohol license The Mission Valley Planning Group also voted 11 to 5 to recommend approval of a conditional use permit for a beer and wine license for the Hazard Center Auto Mart at 7698 Friars Rd.

The business owner, Travis Gilley, wants to add a 174 square-foot walk-in cooler and

“beer cave” to the food mart portion of the building. The market does not currently sell alcohol, but the previous owner had a license to sell beer and wine. That license lapsed when the business was sold to Gilley in 1995, said Bob Faudoa, a consultant representing the owner.

If the owner can get a license to sell beer and wine, he will be able to pursue upgrades to the interior of the business, including possibly removing one of the service bays and expanding the food mart portion of the business, Faudoa said.

Several members of the planning group expressed concern that bringing another alcohol license in the area would make the community less safe.

Increasing the availability of alcohol could exacerbate problems that homeowners have had with intoxicated and rowdy transients near the river, said planning group board member Elizabeth Leventhal. Other planning group board members said they were concerned about generating even more traffic at one of the most congested intersections in the valley at Frazee Road and Friars Road near the State Route 163 interchange.

The San Diego Police Department’s Vice Operations unit has no objections to the license, Faudoa said.

The final determination on the application will be made by a city hearing officer.

LOCAL NEWS

Mission Valley News August 2014 sdcnn.com

Airport’s $80 million parking project back on track McKenna

Aiello

Mission Valley News

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raveling through the San Diego International Airport might become a whole lot easier for globetrotters as the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority Board of Directors voted unanimously July 7 to revive construction of a three-story parking structure adjacent to Terminal 2.

The $80 million Parking Plaza is set take three years to complete and include approximately 3,000 parking spaces — downgraded from the original 2008 approved proposal for a five-story structure housing 5,000 spaces.

In a presentation directed by the Airport Authority’s vice president of administration Jeffrey Woodson, the economy’s swift downturn in 2008 was blamed for the halt in airport operation growth. This in turn forestalled implementing the 2008 Airport Master Plan (AMP), a blueprint for the airport’s future that included plans for the parking structure as well as other airport operation entities needed by 2015.

Outlined in the AMP, 10 new gates, more efficient curbside check-in options and a dual-level roadway were made a reality with last year’s Green Build — the largest improvement project the airport has seen in its history. Officials say a majority of the AMP’s projects are now underway and will be fully accessible through 2022.

The $900 million Green Build did not include new parking options though, and a 2013 airport passenger satisfaction survey cited only 51 percent parking satisfaction in comparison to a 79 percent overall satisfaction in the airport’s other features.

These shortcomings prompted airport staff to enlist LeighFisher Associates to aid in a study reflecting the need for said parking structure.

In the 2013 study, the consulting firm found a need for 7,000 total spaces by 2035 and an immediate need for at least 3,000 spaces for Terminal 2 travelers. Terminal 2 currently has 1,400 surfacelevel parking spaces, a 1,600 space deficiency that the study said is causing much of the traffic congestion on North Harbor Drive leading into the terminal.

Although the 2008 Final Environmental Impact Report stated a 5,000-space parking structure would hardly make a dent in regards to traffic flow, the LeighFisher Associates study found the current proposed structure would reduce traffic by 140 to 320 trips per day.

As of now, North Harbor Drive remains the main access point to the parking structure via an already constructed expanded roadway loop. At the center of the loop would be the parking structure, and vehicles approaching the terminal area would be directed to the structure or to passenger pick-up and drop-off.

Officials say this will mitigate the need for vehicles to pass through curbside drop-offs before entering the parking structure and incentivize

presents...

Various installations of the San Diego Airport’s $900 million Green Build, completed while the parking project was on hold. (Photos by Delle Willett)

airport customers to utilize the parking structures instead of relying on family or friends to pick and drop them off, thus cutting down the number of round trips going in and out of the terminal.

The Airport Authority is also examining the potential construction of an airport by-pass road that would eradicate all airport traffic from North Harbor Drive and the parking plaza, but for now any concrete plans for this project remain unseen until the structure opens.

The parking plaza will feature an aesthetically pleasing art component commissioned by local artists. It will also rely on “smart parking technology,” a feature that is said to reduce idle and circulating vehicles by enabling parkers to reserve and pay for spaces in advance.

Officials estimate that the cost of the structure will run somewhere between $80 to $88 million, and will present a net value ranging between $26.7 and $104.6 million depending if the structure will be financed through cash reserves or debts.

Although the plaza’s cost was included in the Board approved 2015 – 2019 Capital Program Budget, it was left without any substantial funding. But officials say the Airport Authority now has enough funds to pay for the initial phase of constructing the structure, with room to eventually expand the structure to include 2,000 more spaces.

As for visual impact of the parking structure, concerns raised by the Final Environmental Impact Report anticipated the structure would be visible from 23 scenic sites in the surrounding area including the Point Loma Peninsula, downtown skyline and Spanish Landing Park.

But the study found that obstruction of these views coming from either direction would enact

“low” to “medium” changes in visibility, with no significant impact on the view from Harbor Drive to the parking structure.

The June 2014 report also noted that construction of the plaza would not exceed National Ambient Air Quality Standards, but would exceed California Ambient Air Quality Standards for NOx, PM10 and PM2.5. According to the report, these violations are not of huge risk to the environment though, and an increase in these chemicals was already expected to occur with aircraft operations in the future.

Construction of the parking structure also plans to follow guidelines set by the Memorandum of Understanding, an initiative used by the Airport to set provisions for recycling construction waste, developing infrastructure to support alternative fuels and reducing water use.

The Authority has also partnered with Borrego Solar to build a 3.3 megawatt solar energy system on the rooftops of the Parking Plaza and Terminal 2 set to supply 10 to 13 percent of the energy needs for Terminal 1 and 2.

Spokespersons from the Port of San Diego and South County Economic Development Council both said the Airport Authority has gone to lengths to organize presentations to keep local entities appraised with the status of the project and ask for feedback.

Next on the agenda for Airport staff is the preparation of project designs, and obtaining a California coastal development permit.

Construction companies will then bid to take hold of the project, and building will commence.

For more information about the San Diego Airport Authority, visit san.org.

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Mission Valley News

August 2014

OPINION

COMMENTARY

More Pothole Repairs In District 7 Community Scott

Sherman

City Councilmember District 7

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hanks to increased street funding in Mayor Faulconer’s FY 2015 budget and reorganizations to pothole repair crews, more pothole repairs are happening in the District 7 community.

In the recently approved budget, 16 additional full-time city workers have been hired to focus solely on

pothole repairs. These new workers are expected to double the amount of asphalt repairs annually in the City.

In the past, road crews responded to pothole complaints as they came in. This means that a repair crew could fix a pothole in Mission Valley and drive across town to fix another pothole even if the next street over in Mission Valley needed repairs.

As a result of an Audit Committee recommendation, the old way has been changed to a more effective

and efficient way of fixing potholes.

Pothole repair crews now stay in one district the whole day fixing reported pothole problems in the district.

For this new measure to work effectively, it is important for District 7 residents to report potholes right away. To report potholes online, please visit the website here: apps. sandiego.gov/streetdiv/. Residents can also call and report a pothole at 619-527-7500. For a calendar of when repair crews will be in the district, please visit the link here:

www.sandiego.gov/street-div/pdf/ potholeschedule.pdf.

Of course residents can also contact my office to report a pothole or any other issue affecting their neighborhood. Please contact my office at 619-236-6677 or email me at ScottSherman@SanDiego.Gov. As many District 7 residents know, our roads and infrastructure have been neglected for far too long.

The new budget and street repair crew organization is a great start to getting our roads back on track.

Pesky problem: Take steps to prevent bed bugs Alan

Pentico

Mission Valley News

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t’s a topic that’s sure to make you squirm, but one that can’t be ignored: bed bugs.

Over the past several years, the United States has seen a dramatic resurgence of this pest problem, particularly in residences with high occupant turnover — and that means apartment complexes.

The 2013 Bugs Without Borders survey conducted by the National Pest Management Association shows that the bed bug epidemic that has frustrated the multifamily housing industry is far from waning, with 98 percent of pest-control professionals reporting that they treated for bed bugs in apartments in the past year.

The association said its survey results show the importance of educating residents and property managers to prevent and stop infestations.

Bed bugs are small, flat and brown, about the size of a ladybug. The fast-

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Percent of pestcontrol professionals report that they treated for bed bugs in apartments in the past year. moving insects bite humans and animals at night, usually while they sleep. The bugs hide in mattresses, box springs, and small crevices.

Signs of bed bug activity include dark spots on mattresses, or you may see the bugs themselves. Bed bugs make their way into homes on luggage, clothes, and used furniture.

Getting rid of bed bugs is a challenge, and insecticides are a must for

eliminating a full infestation.

There are several key steps that property managers — and their tenants — can take to protect themselves from these stubborn pests, starting with education.

Inform residents about bed bugs through newsletters, emails, or, for new residents, lease addendums.

Tell tenants what the bugs look like and, most importantly what they must do to keep them out of their residences. Lease addendums help residents understand all the rules and regulations that may apply to them, such as reporting any sightings immediately or complying with pestcontrol efforts.

Residents should know, too, that when they travel they are at risk for bringing home bed bugs. To ease any concerns after a trip, keep travel laundry bagged and separated until ready for the wash, and wipe down luggage — especially corners and crevices — with hot, soapy water.

Prevention measures include reducing clutter, sealing cracks and avoid taking used furniture

and other home furnishings from the street. Clothing bought at thrift stores or garage sales should be washed in hot water before they’re brought into the home. Movein and move-out inspections of apartments for evidence of bed bugs are also encouraged by pest-control professionals.

Finally, proper treatment from pest-control professionals is the most reliable and effective way to eliminate an infestation.

To learn more about bed bugs prevention and control, visit the County of San Diego’s Environmental Health website at sdcounty.ca.gov/deh/pests/bedbugs. html or Property Management Insider’s Action Plan at tiny.cc/ cj34jx. San Diego County Apartment Association members may access a wealth of information from the National Apartment Association via its Bed Bug Resource Center.

Alan Pentico is executive director of the San Diego County Apartment Association, which represents more than 2,400 members in the region.

LOCAL NEWS

Mission Valley News August 2014 sdcnn.com

GINA’S

VALLEY VIEWS

By Gina Cord, founder of Mission Valley News

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his time “Valley Views”covers the entire region.

Paola Avila with the Mexico Business Center of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce recently gave a most interesting presentation to the Kearny Mesa Rotary Club with facts that few people knew about.

For instance, the Chamber’s 4,000 members employ about 400,000 workers in the region with this mission statement: “The leading, most effective advocate and voice for business policy and connections in the San Diego-Baja California region.”

Avila, who is a longtime advocate for cross-border traded economies, is very enthusiastic about her new position, which allows her to do exactly what she has wanted to accomplish for a long time: increase the billions of dollars obtained from the importexport business.

“The expansion in trade spurred

by US free trade agreements support more than 5 million American jobs,” Avila said. “Much of this trade is in automobiles and automotive parts.”

Mexico is one of our top trading partners. In 2013, U.S. exports to Mexico were $226 billion while imports from Mexico totaled $280

billion.

Long time bi-national success stories include Hyundai, Toyota, Samsung, Cubic, Bose, Avery Dennison, Kyocera, Mattel, etc., all of whom have locations in San Diego as well as Baja California.

Some of these companies are forming bi-national internship programs to further future trade possibilities. On high priority also is the restoration of the crossborder railroad to ease freight shipping.

Mexico is the 14th largest economy in the world today, but a Goldman Sachs analysis states that Mexico will have the 7th largest economy in the world by 2020. A drastic note are the border delays, but Avila and her office are working on the problem not only with Sacramento but with Washington D. C. It sounds like a very big job, but with the backing of the Chamber’s president and CEO, former Mayor Jerry Sander, and a staff and membership all on the same track, I am sure you will see many changes in cross-border economic development in a short time.

We welcome “What’s News” and “Who’s News” for this column.

Please contact Gina Cord at 619-6832434 or cordgina@gmail.com.

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Artist, from page 1 Enter Pat Downing, one of the best-known traditional blacksmiths in America, who agreed to take a commission to recreate the copper cover for the font. (You can see Downing every Tuesday and Thursday at the blacksmith shop at Old Town State Park, working in steel and iron, and showing how it’s supposed to be done.) But almost immediately, there became something of a problem.

“I’m a blacksmith. I’m not a coppersmith,” Downing said. “I’d never really worked with many other metals before.”

Downing got pictures and sketches of the original Spanish font cover and went to work. He decided that it should be done using the same processes the original coppersmith had used centuries before, and it was a long, slow process.

Copper has to be annealed before being worked. That means it had to be heated to glowing, then allowed to cool to near room temperature before being carefully hammered into shape.

The techniques, such as repoussé and chasing the designs into the copper, are almost lost arts today.

“I’d guess a good estimate of the time it took would be around 100 hours, all done in my home workshop in what I used to think was spare time,” Downing said. “You can figure it took between eight and ten thousand careful hammer strikes before it was finally done.”

But the long hours and the care taken paid off. Today, the font and its copper cover are yet another memorial to the father of the California mission system. It’s not

The traditional coppersmith techniques Pat Downing used to recreate Father Serra’s baptismal font — including chasing and repoussé — require much more time and expertise than modern techniques, but they are more true to the way the original font cover was produced.

used for baptisms, since the basin is not lined with copper to hold water.

It stands as a display and a focal point for Catholics and historians.

It was a long trek for Pat Downing, and he still doesn’t consider himself a coppersmith. But he is someone

who reveres the old ways of doing things.

“Someone could have taken a 36inch square sheet of copper, put it in a press, and gotten this done in a few minutes,” says Downing. “But it just wouldn’t have been the same.”

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Mission Valley News

August 2014

NEWS BRIEFS

NEWS BRIEFS City restricts e-cigarettes The City of San Diego will soon begin treating electronic cigarettes like tobacco cigarettes under new ordinances approved by the City Council on July 28. The council voted unanimously to prohibit the use of e-cigarettes (also known as “vaping”) wherever cigarette smoking is currently prohibited, including public beaches, parks, sports facilities, sidewalk cafes and other enclosed public spaces, including restaurants. The council also unanimously agreed to regulate the retail sale of e-cigarettes the same way the City regulates the sale of tobacco products, by requiring retailers to obtain a police permit and banning e-cigarette vending machines. Much of the discussion from councilmembers focused on the perceived impacts of e-cigarettes on children. The ordinances were proposed and developed by Councilmember Mark Kersey, who represents the city’s northeastern neighborhoods in District 5.

Civita adds electric vehicle charging stations The master-planned Civita community in Mission Valley has installed six electric vehicle charging stations near the intersection of Westside Drive and Civita Boulevard.

Classified at Level 2, the NRG eVgo charging stations can provide 12 to 25 miles of charge per hour and can be used by car2Go vehicles as well as private vehicles. Civita also plans to install six Ready for Electric Vehicles charging stations at the West Park apartment community, which is currently under construction. Developer Sudberry Properties plans to add more charging stations as Civita grows in coming years. The charging stations complement Civita’s other sustainable measures, including a planned pedestrian bridge to ease access to trolley stations, LED streetlights and an agreement with SDG&E to implement “smart grid” renewable energy technologies such as solar arrays and fuel cells, said Marco Sessa, senior vice president at Sudberry Properties.

STD rates fluctuate in San Diego County A report released by the San Diego County Health and Human Services in late July showed a mixed bag among the prevalence of various sexually transmitted diseases last year.

While chlamydia cases dropped by 4 percent, the number of gonorrhea and syphilis cases continued to grow in the region.

Chlamydia cases, by far the most commonly reported among the three STDs, dropped by four percent from 16,538 cases in 2012 to 16,042 in 2013. Ghonorrhea cases, on the other hand, rose by 10 percent from 2,597 to 2,865. Primary and secondary syphilis cases increased by four percent, from

333 to 347 cases, most of which occurred in men.

The report also showed infection rates were highest among African Americans and women between the ages of 15 and 34.

To address these health concerns, the county has implemented “Don’t Think. Know.” This free home-testing program for gonorrhea and chlamydia is available to women under 26. Visit dontthinkknow.org or call 619-692-5669 for more information.

7th annual ‘Bike the Bay’ wheels across Coronado Bridge On Aug. 24, the annual “Bike the Bay” will, for the seventh year, attract thousands of cyclists to trek across the San DiegoCoronado Bay Bridge, this time utilizing the recently expanded Bayshore Bikeway.

The San Diego County Bicycle Coalition (SDCBC) expects over 3,500 people to participate in the 25-mile ride, which winds throughout Coronado, San Diego, National City, Imperial Beach and Chula Vista.

“This is a unique chance for bicyclists of every level to see San Diego County as they never have before,” SDCBC Executive Director Andy Hanshaw stated in a press release.

“There is no other opportunity to bike across the celebrated San Diego- Coronado Bay Bridge and take in the magnificent view from outside an automobile.”

The ride begins at 7 a.m. at Embarcadero Marina Park South on Harbor Drive. In addition to refreshments along the route, participants will receive a commemorative t-shirt and entry into the post-ride festival. The mostly flat course can be completed in 2-3 hours by the average rider.

Visit bikethebay.net or call 619-269-6873 for more information.

Festival of Sail returns From Aug. 29 – Sept. 1, the 2014 Festival of Sail will once again cruise into San Diego’s North Embarcadero, turning it into a nautical theme park for the weekend. Hosted by the Maritime Museum of San Diego, the three-day festival brings 20 “tall ships” and other unique vessels from around the globe to the city.

The weekend kicks off by parading the ships through San Diego Bay on 11 a.m. on Aug. 28, a spectacle viewable from the embarcadero, Harbor Island, Shelter Island and Coronado.

The ships will then dock at the Maritime Museum and open for visitation starting at 9 a.m. on Aug. 29.

Other happenings throughout the weekend include cannon battle reenactments (with on ship participation available for an additional fee), Napoleonic cannon firings, and a special display of Juan Rodriguez’s famous ship, San Salvador. A vendor area, a petting zoo and dozens of restaurant booths will also operate throughout the weekend.

Visit sdmaritime.org for tickets and further information.

Dine out for the cure Aug. 14 Almost everyone has heard of Race for the Cure, the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s annual charity marathon, but you don’t have to break a sweat if you want to help fight breast cancer — you just have to go out to eat.

As part of Komen San Diego’s second annual Dine Out for the Cure on Aug. 14, certain restaurants will donate 25 to 50 percent of that day’s profit to the charity.

Participating restaurants nearby include Croce’s Park West at 2760 Fifth Ave. in Bankers Hill; Broken Yolk Café at 1760 Camino del Rio North in Mission Valley; Redfield’s Sports Bar at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, Downtown; and Nothing Bundt Cake at 5624 Mission Center Rd. in Mission Valley.

After deducting overhead of 13 percent, Komen San Diego dedicates 75 percent of its revenue to local education, screening and treatment programs and 25 percent to international medical research. For details on other participating restaurants, visit komensandiego.org/DineOut.

Free smoke alarms for seniors Following the release of national safety statistics showing seniors to be especially vulnerable in home fires, the Burn Institute, a local non-profit health agency, will offer free smoke alarms and installation to seniors living in San Diego or Imperial Valley.

“One way seniors can improve the chances of escaping a home fire is by making sure their home is equipped with a working smoke alarm, and to maintain those alarms by changing the batteries at least once a year,” Burn Institute Executive Director Susan Day stated in a press release.

The study cited by the Burn Institute found that adults 65 and older are two times more likely to die in a home fire than any other segment of the U.S. population. Seniors 75 years and older are four times as likely to perish in a home fire.

Only homeowners 62 years or older without a working smoke alarm may qualify. To sign up for this program, contact the Burn Institute at 858-541-2277 ext. 18.

Sexual assault bill introduced to Congress On July 30, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Rep. Susan Davis (D-San Diego) introduced the Survivor Outreach and Support Campus Act (S.O.S. Campus Act), which would require colleges throughout the nation to an establish independent, oncampus advocate supporting sexual assault victims.

These advocates would be responsible for ensuring a victim has access to medical care, law enforcement guidance, forensic exams, counseling and information on their legal rights, regardless of whether the victim chooses to report the crime.

The bill follows widespread criticisms of universities for underreporting and under-scrutinizing sexual assault cases. “Survivors of sexual assault deserve an advocate who will fight for them every step of the way,” Boxer stated in a press release. “Our bill, which has been endorsed by the University of California, will help encourage more victims to come forward and report these heinous crimes.” The bill was introduced in both the Senate and the House of Representatives as an amendment to the Higher Education Act.

PETS

Mission Valley News August 2014 sdcnn.com

9

OF THE MONTH Kitty manicure, please PETLooking Sari

Reis

Owner of Mission Valley Pet Sitting

A

s a professional pet sitter, I look after a lot of cats. I particularly enjoy caring for those that are playful, outgoing and affectionate. However, when these same kitties have not had their nails trimmed for a very long time, there is reason for concern.

During some recent cat visits I did over the holiday weekend, I came across three cats from different households whose nails had obviously not been clipped for months. Not only did this present a risk to me, but it also created a potential hazard to the cats themselves.

When these cats were playing with their toys on the carpet, their long, curved nails got caught in the fabric. Unable to release their paws, they pulled and twisted to free themselves. This effort potentially could rip a claw, which would be very painful.

As they became more agitated, I tried to help them free t h e m -

selves. My attempts to assist them, however, were unfortunately often misinterpreted and the cats tried to bite my hand.

Not a good situation.

With two cats of my own, I know trimming a cat’s nails can be a challenge — but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it. If possible, you should start trimming your cat’s nails when he is a kitten. That way he will get used to it from a very young age. If you acquired your cat as an adult, you are going to have to begin slowly.

Here are some suggestions.

Start with a suitable, easy-to-use cat nail clipper. Have a styptic pencil or astringent powder on hand and a good light source. His favorite cat treats should be readily available.

Try to do the trimming when your cat is relaxed. Put him o n your lap facing away from you and talk soothingly.

Gently massage his paw to expose a nail. Don’t squeeze or pinch. If he is still calm, clip the sharp point of the nail in one smooth motion.

The pink center of the nail, called the quick, is where the blood supply and nerves exist. Be sure to stay away from it. It is painful and will bleed if you nick it.

The styptic pencil is used to stop the bleeding if you should accidently cut it.

for a home Missy

Breed: Domestic Short Hair/Mix Age: 4 years old Sex: Female Colors: Black and White Adoption Fee: $65.00

Give the kitty a treat after trimming the nail. If he is still calm and will let you do another nail, go ahead. Otherwise, continue the next day to do a nail or two, until all are trimmed. This should get easier over time.

A cat’s nails should be trimmed every few weeks. Giving your cat a safe, painless manicure takes practice, patience and perseverance. Never rush or push the kitty past his tolerance level. Always reward him for co-operating and never yell or scold him if he is unwilling. If necessary, there is always the groomer. And remember, declawing is not a viable option.

Sari Reis is a Certified Humane Education Specialist and the owner of Mission Valley Pet Sitting Services. If you want more information please contact her at 760-644-0289 or missionvalleypetsitting.com.

Missy has a relaxed personality and always welcomes her people with a pleasant greeting. She enjoys quiet time and her personality is such that she can be an only cat and entertain herself while she waits for you to come home. Although she’s low maintenance, she absolutely loves toys, especially feather toys. She loves nap time and gentle petting every so often.

She especially likes to lounge in her cat tree and watch the outside world around her.

Missy has a heart of gold and can’t wait to spend her evenings curled up by your side.

Missy will do best in a cat savvy home with older children or adults. She has a lot of love to give, so she’d prefer to be your only cat.

Her adoption fee includes her spay, current vaccinations, permanent microchip identification, a certificate for a free veterinary exam, a gift from Hill’s Science Diet, a license if residing in Oceanside or Vista, and limited veterinary medical coverage from VCA Hospitals up to $250.

S.D. Humane Society & SPCA 5500 Gaines St. (92110) 619-299-7012 | sdhumane.org

ADOPTION HOURS

Weekdays: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Weekends: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

10 Mission Valley News

Jazz Wednesdays - Gilbert Castellanos Jazz Jam at Seven Grand. Free. 9 p.m.

SevenGrandBars.com - 3054 University Ave., 92104 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.

BistroSixtySD.com - 5987 El Cajon Blvd., 92115 Saturdays – Douglas Kvandal with the LiveJazz!

Quartet at the Amigo Spot at the Kings Inn. Free. 7 p.m. kingsinnsandiego.com - 1333 Hotel Circle South, 92108 Aug. 16 – Stage IV Jazz at San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room. Free. 7 p.m.

SanPasqualWinery.com 8364 La Mesa Blvd., 91942

ALTERNATIVE Aug. 8 – The Sleepwalkers at Riviera Supper Club. Free. 9 p.m. RivieraSupperClub.com - - 7777 University Avenue, 91941 Aug. 9 – Kitten With A Whip at Tio Leo’s Lounge. Price TBD. 9 p.m. TioLeos.com – 5302 Napa St., 92110 Aug. 16 – The Creepy Creeps at Pal Joey’s. Free.

9 p.m. Paljoeysonline.com 5147 Waring Rd., 92120

CLASSICAL Aug. 8 & 9 – Broadway Tonight featuring the musical Chicago at the Embarcadero Marina Park South. $22-$79.

7:30 p.m. sandiegosymphony. org - 1 Marina Park Way, 92101 Aug. 15 & 16 – Cirque De La Symphonie at Embarcadero Marina Park South. $22-$79. 7:30 p.m. sandiegosymphony.org - 1 Marina Park Way, 92101

MUSIC

August 2014

Aug. 29 – 31 – 1812 Tchaikovsky Spectacular at the Embarcadero Marina Park South. $22-$75. 7:30 p.m. 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.

BistroSixtySD.com - 5987 El Cajon Blvd., 92115 - Call and hold your table 619-2878186 Wednesdays – Westside Inflection at Riviera Supper Club. Free. 8 p.m.

RivieraSupperClub.com 7777 University Ave., 91941 Fridays – Nathan Welden at Bistro Sixty. Free. 6:30 p.m.

BistroSixtySD.com - 5987 El Cajon Blvd., 92115 Aug. 24 – The Morgan Leigh Band and the Tolan Shaw Band at Civita’s temporary park. Free. 4 – 6 p.m.

Civitalife.com – Intersection of Civita Blvd. and Via Alta, 92108 Aug. 30- People of Earth at San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room. Free. 7 p.m.

SanPasqualWinery.com 8364 La Mesa Boulevard, 91942 Sept. 6 – The Morgan Leigh Band and Kyle Setter at Bricky by Brick. $10 advanced/$12 day of show. 8 p.m. doors open.

Brickbybrick.com

OTHER Thursdays--Musical Meditation (Kirtan) at Pilgrimage of the Heart Yoga Studio. Free. 8:15-9:15p.m.

Pilgrimageyoga.com - 3287 Adams Ave, 92116 Aug. 9 – Ria Carey and Don L Sing Broadway and Movie Tunes at Vision. $15. 7 p.m. visioncsl.com 6154 Mission Gorge Rd., Suite 100, 92120

Bands, venues, and music-lovers: Please submit listings for this calendar by emailing Jen@ScoopSanDiego.com.

Portugal. The Man. (Photos courtesy Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre)

Summer brings big name bands just down the road Jen

Van Tieghem Mission Valley News

L

ucky for locals, some bands treat San Diego like a second home. With several arena-sized venues within city limits, residents in and around Mission Valley don’t have to travel far to see some of the biggest names in live music today.

The alt-rock bands Grouplove and Portugal. The Man, both currently on the Honda Civic Tour, will share the stage on Aug. 17 at the Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre — the premier outdoor music venue just down the road from at San Diego State University.

This year the Honda Civic Tour celebrates its 13th annual series of shows. The lineups consistently represent what’s popular in rock, pop, and other genres. Grouplove and Portugal. The Man definitely fit the tour’s model.

Grouplove’s pop sensibility is reflected in their synth-laden songs and energetic live performances.

The band’s catchy tunes have appropriately found their way into commercials for everything from Apple to Coca-Cola. In a short time the band has garnered media praise and loyal fans. Their charisma and chemistry on stage will keep concertgoers enthralled.

Portugal. The Man has also been on the rise, getting their own push in the advertising world thanks to a Taco Bell commercial last year. The band has seen shifts in their lineup and style over the past decade landing now in a progressive pop vein. Adding to their appeal, in-demand talent Brian “Danger Mouse” Burton produced their latest album, Evil Friends. Check out the infectious single “Purple Yellow Red and Blue” for a solid example of their addictive quality.

Both bands on this bill walk the line between pop accessibility and inventive rock making for a standout lineup in the barrage of

Grouplove

upcoming shows.

The Honda Civic Tour, and this local date especially, epitomize what music lovers enjoy about summer concerts. The Open Air Theatre’s layout and capacity (just under 5,000) lends itself to the blending of a big concert experience while still providing an intimate atmosphere. The tiered seating gives ticket holders decent views from various points. Of course, those who want to be close will want to look into pit level seating. With these captivating acts — that prime vantage point might be worth paying for.

Sunday, August 17 Doors at 6 p.m.

Show at 7 p.m.

Tickets $29.50+ Visit www.as.sdsu.edu/ calcoast

OTHER OPEN AIR THEATRE SUMMER SHOWS Friday, August 8 – Rebelution with Iration and Guests Saturday, August 9 – Sara Bareilles Saturday, August 23 – John Legend Wednesday, August 27 – Panic! at the Disco with Walk the Moon and Youngblood Hawke Sunday, August 31 – David Gray

DINING & ENTERTAINMENT

Mission Valley News August 2014 sdcnn.com

Beyond omelets Broken Yolk spices up its menu Frank

Sabatini Jr. Mission Valley News

Broken Yolk Cafe

1760 Camino Del Rio North 619-574-9655 Prices: Breakfast items, $5.99 to $11.99; lunch fare, $3.99 to $10.99

O

ne of San Diego’s longestrunning operations for breakfast and lunch has jazzed up its menu with a slate of new dishes while maintaining a popular eating challenge that isn’t meant for the faint of stomach.

At 35 years old, Broken Yolk Café has spawned a dozen locations in San Diego County, with Pacific Beach marking its original kitchen and Mission Valley celebrating its first anniversary.

Company wide, the food still retains the essence of a mom-and-pop outfit; portions are fairly generous and things like hash browns, chili con carne, salsa and other meal components are scratch-made.

Joining a lengthy list of dishes that include plump four-egg omelets as well as decadent

takes on crepes, pancakes and French toast are several newcomers ranging from healthy to sinful.

The “wellness wrap” captures scrambled egg whites, spinach, peppers and feta cheese in a spinach tortilla.

Parfaits, which for some reason are difficult to find anymore, layer low-fat Greek yogurt with granola, almonds, bananas and honey.

Trendy kale has also landed on the menu in a vivid salad speckled with yellow bell peppers, carrots, dried cranberries and sliced almonds. Dressed in raspberry-walnut vinaigrette, it’s sweet enough to pass muster by those who eschew dark,

earthy greens.

Forget dieting on the day you opt for Broken Yolk’s new tiki toast. The plate features thick hunks of battered Hawaiian sweet bread crowned with caramel sauce, shredded coconut and fresh berries. I would have preferred thinner slices, although my companion welcomed their girth, saying that “it extends the sweetness throughout.”

In terms of volume, nothing rivals the 12-egg omelet facing those who dare partake in Broken Yolk’s existing “iron man challenge.”

Featured in an episode on Travel Channel’s Man v. Food, the spectacle is stuffed with mushrooms, onions and American cheese. Chili and more cheese go on top. Alongside is a piling of home fries and two biscuits.

Eat it in an hour or less and it’s free. Otherwise, you pay $26.99.

Offered at all locations, we’re told that only about two people a month complete

the feat and that a majority of them shovel it down in 15 minutes or less. Winners receive a T-shirt and their names go up on a wall in metal plaques.

We consumed our eggs in a more manageable fashion, in dishes that have been on the menu for a while. My companion’s “border Benedict” featured two poached eggs and diced carne asada set atop sweet corn cakes. The house-made poblano chili sauce on top was marvelous and so were the thin, flat home fries served alongside, which resembled German-style potatoes.

“This is a dish you’d expect in an upscale restaurant,” my companion commented while

11

Cityfest, from page 1

clearing a path for my fork.

I upped the protein intake with two fried eggs topping a half-pound cheeseburger. Intent on trying the new chorizoegg tacos or “Golden State Benedict” draped in spicy Hollandaise sauce, I slipped immediately into burger mode when picking up the charry scent wafting from the café’s flame grill — and with no regret. It was perfect to the last bite.

As with Reubens, Patty melts and turkey wraps, you can order lunch fare as early as 6 a.m., when the café opens. Conversely, breakfast dishes are available until closing at 3 p.m.

Menus are the same at all locations. Among the other standouts I’ve tried in past visits is chilaquiles, a glob of tortilla strips covered with melted cheese and red or green salsa.

They’re served with rice and garlic-kissed refried beans. The green sauce offers a better kick from hot peppers and tangy tomatillos. Ask for extra on the side because it can essentially be spooned over any savory dish sitting on the table.

The Nutella crepes are also winners given that the chocolate-hazelnut spread tastes a heck of a lot better when cooked directly into something rather than when it’s spread onto bread from the jar at room temperature.

Whether you’re visiting locations in Mission Valley, Pacific Beach, the Gaslamp District or North County outlets, prepare to face lines if arriving before noon. Yet with large seating capacities, including the bonus of an expansive rooftop deck in Pacific Beach, it usually takes less than 15 minutes to acquire a table. Or in fast-turnover breakfast speak, about eight-dozen eggs cracked from the time your name goes on the list.

Frank Sabatini Jr. is the author of “Secret San Diego” (ECW Press), and began his local writing career more than two decades ago as a staffer for the former San Diego Tribune. He has since covered the culinary scene and other subjects for various print and broadcast media outlets in the area. You can reach him at fsabatini@san.rr.com.

HBA’s interim executive director.

“Cityfest is a celebration of all those things.”

With its main stage at University and Fifth avenues, Cityfest covers six blocks. This year’s event features a water slide, a play zone for kids, carnival rides, a foster animal petting zoo, a spacious beer garden for the adults, a drag queen dunk tank, a food court and more than 250 arts and crafts vendors selling everything from decorative pillows to handmade soaps.

One special feature of this year’s event is a space for emerging artists to create their work in front of an audience. Also, in honor Cityfest’s 30th birthday, Babycakes will present a larger-than-life birthday cake, Nicholls said. A free cupcake will be given to the first 300 people who show up for the cake’s unveiling, which will take place at 8 p.m. at the main stage.

As one of the longest-running and largest street fairs in San Diego, Cityfest is the inspiration for most other street fairs in the city, Nicholls said. The size and scope of this year’s celebration is thanks in part to a large

sponsorship by Scripps Health.

The Merrow is sponsoring a stage that will feature musical performances by live bands and DJs throughout the afternoon and evening. The lineup includes bands playing reggae, ska, folk, world, ’80s covers, indie rock and electronic dance music. Beginning at 6 p.m., electronic dance DJs Will Z, John Joseph, Taj and Nikno will take over the stage for a big after-dark dance party.

More than just a party, Cityfest also helps raise funds to maintain the neighborhood. Organizers expect to raise about $40,000 for neighborhood cleanup and beautification projects, Nicholls said.

Free parking will be available at the Hillcrest DMV, which has 158 spaces, and the free Hillcrest Trolley will shuttle riders from paid parking lots around Hillcrest to the site of the event. For more information on parking, visit parkhillcrest. com. Secured bicycle parking and bike valet will also be available.

To learn more about Cityfest, visit hillcrestcityfest.com or call 619-299-3330.

WHAT IF CHURCH

CAME WITH A SIPPY CUP AND BIB?

F i rs t C h u r C h First united Methodist ChurCh

2111 Camino del Rio South, Mission Valley · 619-297-4366 · www.fumcsd.org

12 Mission Valley News

August 2014

LOCAL NEWS

Anti-bullying act attracts accolades Jeremy Ogul Editor, Mission Valley News

I

Free art festival promises something for collectors and beginners alike Jeremy Ogul Editor, Mission Valley News

M

ore than 175 artists and tens of thousands of art lovers will come together on the picturesque plazas of NTC at Liberty Station this month for the ninth annual ArtWalk San Diego on Aug. 16 and 17.

Previously known as ArtWalk on the Bay, 2014 marks the second year the event will be held at Liberty Station.

With free admission and plenty of free parking, this is one of the most accessible art events

in the San Diego region, said Sandi Cottrell, managing director of ArtWalk San Diego.

Seasoned collectors as well as those just beginning to discover an interest in collecting art will find something to interest them, with artwork in a wide range of mediums priced anywhere from $50 or less to the tens of thousands, Cottrell said.

“San Diego always has a reputation for not being a city that appreciates art as well as sports, but the artists sell very well at these events,” Cottrell said.

As a result, the demand among artists to be part of the event is so great that organizers end up only selecting about half the artists who apply to show their art.

“We sold out of space [for artists] many, many months ago,” Cottrell said. “We’ve turned away so many really excellent artists. The caliber of the art is just going to be fantastic this year.”

Ari Kate Ashton, a Mission Hills resident who teaches art in North Park, described ArtWalk San Diego as a “premier event” for artists.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for people to showcase their art and get a response from the public,” Ashton said. “A lot of times as artists we’re kind of invisible to the public, and when there’s an art fair like this, all the sudden we’re visible.”

Nearly a dozen of Ashton’s students will be show-

ing their work at the event, along with artists from the San Diego-Baja California region and across the country. The chance for an artist to hang eight different works of art and see that people are especially interested in one work in particular can be very valuable guidance to emerging artists in terms of what styles they might want to focus on, Ashton said.

It’s also a fun way for artists and those who are longing to be an artist to meet, network and connect with other artists and collectors, she said.

New to ArtWalk NTC this year is a beer and wine pavilion featuring wines from Francis Ford Coppola’s Diamond Collection and craft beers from Stone Brewing Company. The drinks will be complemented by food offerings from Porkyland Mexican Grill, Taste of Maine, Tarantino Gourmet Sausage, Chris’ Ono Grinds, San Diego Pizza Co., Ms. Patty Melt and Chop Sooey.

The beer and wine pavilion is conveniently located near the music stage, which will feature an eclectic blend of musicians such as Blue Eyed Son, Fantino, G Burns Jug Band, The Heavy Guilt acoustic Duo, The Midnight Pine, Robin Henkel, Sahara Grim Quartet, Teagan Taylor Band, Todo Mundo, Tolan Shaw and Triumph of the Wild Boy. This year’s event also features a number of hands-on art activities for children and adults, including the chance to paint artistic tiles for a mural at the new ARTS (A Reason To Survive) campus that will open in National City in October. Scripps Health and ArtReach will also sponsor a booth where adults and children can experiment with using vegetables as artistic tools.

The event will be held at Ingram Plaza at 2645 Historic Decatur Rd., near the corner of Roosevelt Road. For more information, visit www.artwalksandiego.org/ntc.

f the prevalence of bullying among young people today is any indication, the standard anti-bullying campaigns led by adults don’t seem to be making much difference.

Enter Theater of Peace.

The theater group led by Jacob Gardenswartz, 18, delivers a high-impact performance designed and presented by teens to motivate their peers to see bullying in a new light.

Gardenswartz, who just graduated from the Linda Vistabased Francis Parker School, recently won a Diller Teen Tikkun Olam scholarship worth $36,000 for his work with Theater of Peace. He was among ten students recognized by the Helen Diller Family Foundation for his commitment to the Jewish ideal of “tikkun olam,” or healing the world.

At school assemblies, Theater of Peace puts on an interactive show with seven to nine short skits that portray various bullying or abuse situations — name calling, domestic violence,

Jacob Gardenswartz

homophobia, etc. — and invite the audience to empathize with the victim of bullying and think about how they can interrupt and counteract the negative behavior.

The show is about more than just the victims and perpetrators of bullying.

“We’re trying to reach out to people who are in that third category, who see it and don’t really know what to do,” Gardenswartz said. “We call them bystanders. We want them to be upstanders.”

The performance assemblies complement a long-term curriculum developed by Interactions for Peace, the theater group’s partner organization. Theater of Peace has reached more than 4,000 students in San Diego County and is now working on expanding to reach an even broader audience.

“This is a pretty intense program, but we think it’s important to be that way, because the other ways aren’t working.

Writing a list of ways to stop bullying on a whiteboard hasn’t worked,” Gardenswartz said.

While bullying has existed as long as anyone can remember, the nature of bullying today is harder for adults to police because so much of it is online and anonymous, Gardenswartz said.

“We try and use cyberbullying and social media in our work a lot,” he said. “I think as students we’re able to relate a little better than a psychologist or police officer would. We know what Snapchat and Vine and all of those things are.”

See BULLYING page 15

HEALTH & FITNESS

Mission Valley News August 2014 sdcnn.com

Exercise on vacation Kelly

Ostrem

ACSM-HFS, CHES Fitness Expert

S

ummer is the perfect time to get away, and a vacation can do a lot for your mental health.

Taking a break from your daily routine can refresh you and improve your whole sense of wellbeing.

Unfortunately, while you’re doing all that relaxing, it’s easy to get carried away feasting on calorie-laden food and drinks.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be a real challenge when you’re away from home and your normal routine. That extra helping at lunch or decadent dessert after dinner can derail your wellness goals very quickly.

It’s possible to indulge in some vacation fun while still staying on track with your health. Before you take your next trip, here are a few tips you can try to stay healthy and happy.

PLAN TO WORK OUT Set aside some time to work out and stick to it. Spend 30 minutes in the morning breaking a sweat then enjoy the rest of your day feeling good. Find a local running route or do some bodyweight exercises in your hotel room. Some hotels have onsite gyms or partnerships with local fitness facilities. Your home gym may have locations where you are traveling; for example, members of the YMCA can participate in the A.W.A.Y. program (Always Welcome At YMCAs) and use another Y facility while traveling (call ahead to find out each Y’s specific policy).

MAINTAIN BALANCE WALK AROUND Instead of relying on a car, explore new locales on foot.

Walking between different points of interest allows you to see new places in an intimate way. Get a map from a concierge or find a local map online so you know just where to go.

SNACK FOR YOUR HEALTH Packing healthy snacks and drinks means you will always be prepared when hunger strikes.

You won’t have to find and eat unhealthy snacks and sugary drinks.

Pack healthy snacks that are easy to eat on the go like nuts, trail mix or granola bars. Bring a reusable water bottle so that you can have water with you wherever you are.

Vacations are a great time to enjoy local cuisine and drinks. You should enjoy the food, but do so in a smart way. If you’re planning to splurge on a nice meal, try to eat smaller, lighter meals for the rest of the day. Or when you do enjoy some of the nice local flavors, accompany them with a salad or other fruits and veggies to help balance out.

MAKE ACTIVITY PART OF THE VACATION Plan an active activity. Whether you’re visiting a big city or getting away from it all at a National Park, there are always ways to do something fun and get moving on vacation. Rent a bike, go rafting, or take a hike. Find something special about the place you are visiting and embrace it in an active way!

13

Volleyball, from page 1 The matchup is part of a fourmatch tournament called the men’s USA Volleyball Cup. The Cup is a showcase for both the U.S. men’s and women’s national teams, bringing some of the best competition in the world to the U.S. Along with promoting good relations between the countries, the matches will give both teams good practice for the upcoming World Championships in Poland where Iran and the U.S. will share the same preliminary group, said B.J. Hoeptner Evans, communication manager for USA Volleyball.

“The team didn’t want to bring in a team we could beat,” Evans said.

“We wanted a chance to get a good warm-up. Iran is an up-and-coming volleyball team that is getting much better.”

Last month, 28 of the world’s top teams competed in the FIVB World League Final in Florence, Italy. The U.S. came out on top, winning the tournament. Iran finished fourth, beating Brazil, the number one ranked team in the world along the way.

“The setter for Iran is an amazing player,” Rooney said. “He is one of my favorites to watch.”

Mir-Saeid Marouf Lakrani plays as setter for Iran. He was named Best Setter at both the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Qualification Tournaments.

Asking the Iranian team to come to the U.S. made sense due to the large Iranian and Persian communities in Southern California, Evans said.

According to the U.S. Census, half of the nation’s Iranians live in

the state of California, with more 6 p.m. Aug. 16 at Pauley Pavilion than 500,000 living around the Los at UCLA Angeles area.

Tickets for the Aug. 15 match at “It’s a great chance to see the Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl range men’s USA National Team in from $23 to $153. They can be action,” John Kolek, director of the purchased online from the arena arena, said. “This type of Olympic-action volleyball is a fun event to be a part of.”

He expects a crowd of between 2,000 to 4,000 people. The arena can hold more than 12,000 people.

If the event does well, Kolek said there is potential for future USA volleyball matches to be hosted in San Diego.

“There’s no guarantee,” he said. “A number of factors go into how they choose their sites. But there’s a possibility we could host an annual stop for USA Volleyball.”

The USA Volleyball cup began in 2013. In July, the U.S. women’s team defeated the number one ranked team in the world, Brazil, in four straight matches of the women’s USA Volleyball Cup. The three other The U.S. men’s team defeated No. 1-ranked matches of the men’s Brazil in July, winning gold for the second USA Volleyball Cup will time in the team’s history. take place in Southern California on the following days: website or Ticketmaster.com. Tickets 7 p.m. Aug. 9 at the Galen Center will also be available for purchase at on the campus of the University of the door.

Southern California Doors for open at 6 p.m. The 7 p.m. Aug. 13 at the Anaheim match begins at 7 p.m. Event parking Convention Center is $15.

14 Mission Valley News

LOCAL NEWS & PUZZLES

August 2014

Running Readers gives a boost to kids from working families Jeremy Ogul Editor, Mission Valley News

O

ne of the emerging truths in childhood education research is that children who do not learn to read proficiently by the end of third grade are more likely to drop out of school later in life.

That’s why nonprofit affordable housing provider Community HousingWorks started the Running Readers program in its communities nearly three years ago. The afterschool program is designed to build

excitement and enhance literacy skills for resident children from kindergarten through third grade at CHW rental communities throughout the county, including in North Park and City Heights.

“We knew that some of our third graders were struggling,” said Heather Laird, Learning Communities Director at CHW. “We wanted to make sure they had the opportunity while living in our complexes to meet some of their goals.”

After-school literacy programs are especially important in affordable

housing communities because lowincome working families often have limited education or limited time to spend helping their children learn to read. Many parents also have the mistaken belief that their child’s teacher will take care of everything the child needs to learn to be successful, Laird said.

“I think it’s important that parents understand that they are their child’s first teacher,” she said. “Our goal is to figure out how we can support that to make sure the parents feel successful and the kids feel successful.”

Parents of children in the

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program get a monthly tip sheet and suggestions for simple games that reinforce what the kids are doing.

Program organizers also give out free books and invite families to come together once a month for a fun family reading night.

As a nonprofit, Community HousingWorks would not have been able to start the Running Readers program without grant funding, Laird said.

That’s where the San Diego Women’s Foundation came in.

The Women’s Foundation made a $40,000 grant that — along with private donations and other grant funding — helped the program get off the ground and expand to more communities.

Elaine Kalin, the foundation’s treasurer and finance chair, was so inspired by the program that she decided to volunteer herself.

“The kids really like it. They want to be in the program,” Kalin said.

“Some of them were on a waiting list to be in the program because there weren’t enough volunteers.”

Kalin said she was impressed

by the amount of expertise and resources that were put into the program, as well as the results. The experience reinforced the decision to fund Running Readers, and it also reinforced the value and mission of the Women’s Foundation, she said.

“For what I put into it, I get back tenfold,” Kalin said. “The experience is so rewarding for me.”

Running Readers welcomes volunteers who can make a threemonth commitment of one to four hours a week between 3 to 6 p.m.

People who can’t make a longterm commitment are welcome to volunteer for just an hour as a guest reader at family night. For more information, contact Selene Miranda at smiranda@chworks.org or 760432-6878 ext. 5476.

The Women’s Foundation also welcomes new members who are willing to contribute $2,000 to the foundation (members under the age of 40 have the option of giving at the $1,000 level). For more information on the Women’s Foundation, call 619-235-2300.

Finding Senior Housing can be complex, but it doesn’t have to be.

“You can trust A Place for Mom to help you.”

– Joan Lunden

(800) 217-3942 A Place for Mom is the nation’s largest senior living referral information service. We do not own, operate, endorse or recommend any senior living community. We are paid by partner communities, so our services are completely free to families.

© 2014 Janric Enterprises Dist. by creators.com

LIBRARY EVENTS

Mission Valley News August 2014 sdcnn.com

“Ask the Lawyer” Free Legal Clinic Monday, Sept. 2, 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.

Assemblymember Weber Mobile Office Monday, Aug. 18, 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!

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.

Demystifying Mental Health: A Special Educational Seminar Aug. 16, 1 to 2 p.m.

One in four people in the US have a mental illness, yet only one in three gets treatment. A speaker from International Bipolar Foundation will discuss the myths and facts about mental health.

She will also share her own experiences living with Bipolar Disorder and will discuss how to reduce stigma and discrimination for those with mental illness.

Film Forum: Nowhere Boy Wednesday, Aug. 27, 6 p.m.

Imagine . . . John Lennon’s childhood. Liverpool 1955. A family full of secrets. Aunt Mimi clashes with prodigal mother Julia.

Conceptual-artist turned director, Sam Taylor-Wood’s stormy evocation of a manic rebel misfit’s departure for Hamburg with two other unknowns, Paul McCartney and George Harrison, for the siren lure of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Kristin Scott Thomas and Anne-Marie Duff. Discussion to follow.

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!

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 to 2 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, 4 p.m. to 5 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! The moves have been carefully designed to be easy to follow by participants of any size or age.

GET INVOLVED!

Linda Vista Planning Group General Meeting Monday, Aug. 25, 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.

The Anime/Manga Club Wednesdays, 5 to 6 p.m.

Discuss fantastic anime and manga new and old: their history, storylines, possible storyline revisions, and the latest news. Club members have a say into what anime and manga titles should be added to the Library collection! For teens only.

Crafts for Kids Mondays & Fridays 4 to 5 p.m.

Stretch your imagination and create fabulous crafts! Every week the craft is different!

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.

Bullying, from page 12 Despite its new forms, the causes of bullying haven’t changed much. There is, of course, the obvious desire to boost one’s social standing by putting others down, but that does not explain all bullying, Gardenswartz said.

“Lots of times people aren’t so aware of how impactful their words are,” he said. “Often it’s merely not having the foresight to see your words and actions can be as hurtful as they are.”

And of course, bullying often arises as kids imitate bad behavior from role models, especially family members who engage in behavior that might not be perceived as bullying at home.

The program has benefited from Gardenswartz’s extensive experience in theater, according to Sharla Mandere, the director of Theater of Peace.

“He knows theater inside and out,” Mandere said. “He’s incredibly talented.”

This fall Gardenswartz will attend the University of Pennsylvania, where he plans to major in political science or communication and minor in theater. He also hopes to develop Theater of Peace into a broader program in more cities around the country.

15

Morning Storytime with Kathie Mondays, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Children and their families are invited to join us for stories, rhymes, and songs.

Storytime with Andie Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Stretch your imagination!

Enjoy a story told energetically!

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.

Vietnamese Storytime with Nhi Saturdays, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

Come enjoy exciting stories told in Vietnamese!

Vietnamese Storytime with Vy Tuesdays 3:30 to 4:15 p.m.

Come enjoy exciting stories told in Vietnamese!

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.

16 Mission Valley News

August 2014

LOCAL NEWS

Volunteers, from page 1 but that process typically takes 18 months to complete.

That’s where the Court Appointed Special Advocates step in. Also known as CASAs, these volunteers commit to serve as the court’s eyes and ears as a consistent and stable adult presence in the life of a foster child as they make their way through the juvenile court system.

La Mesa resident Lisa Warren has spent the last year volunteering as a CASA for a six-year-old foster child. Warren spends a little bit of time with her CASA kid every week, taking her out for dinner, on hikes or to the pet store to look at the animals.

“She is this super bright, gregarious, wickedly funny little girl,” Warren said. “What’s been important to me is to make a connection with her that isn’t prodding or probing her for information but really just letting her be a kid.”

Warren, who was briefly a foster child herself before being placed with an adoptive family, had no experience with the law or child development, other than raising her own kids. She simply wanted to find a way to volunteer that would make as big an impact as possible. She was recruited and trained by Voices for Children, the nonprofit organization that manages the CASA volunteer program.

When the relatives who currently have custody of Warren’s CASA kid started having trouble getting to her therapy appointments, Warren volunteered to take the girl to her appointments.

That’s just one example of the way a CASA can contribute to the network of care for children in the juvenile court system.

“When that one volunteer is on the case the whole time, I’ve seen them advocate for consistent, focused, good quality therapy,” said Cailin Freeman, senior program manager at Voices for Children.

In another recent case, a 12-yearold foster child had an infant sibling she had never met who was placed in a separate foster home. For some reason, the social worker on the case did not think to try to unify the two siblings under one roof.

Thanks to the advocacy of the girl’s SUDOKU ANSWERS FROM P. 14

CROSSWORD ANSWERS FROM P. 14

CASA volunteer, the siblings were eventually introduced and placed together in the same foster home, Freeman said.

Mission Valley resident Alexandra Sanchez has been volunteering for just over a year on behalf of several

young children from one family.

Potential volunteers should not be intimidated by the job, she said.

“It’s not as intense as it sounds,” Sanchez said. “At first it could sound like it’s going to be very timeconsuming and emotionally taxing,

but it’s so much more rewarding.

What you get out of it and what you know you’re bringing to these kids’ lives is worth so much more than what you put into it.”

Voices for Children is now working to recruit more CASAs. Volunteers must be at least 21 years old and must be able to commit 10 to 15 hours a month to their duties for a period of 18 months. No previous experience in child care, education or law is required.

The organization puts all volunteers through a rigorous 35-hour training course and then provides them with the ongoing support of a paid professional advocacy supervisor.

Voices for Children trained

more than 1,200 CASA volunteers over the last fiscal year, and those volunteers served approximately 2,000 children.

But with so many children in need, the organization still has a long way to go to meet its final goal of serving 3,400 children by 2017. (A subset of the foster child population does not need a CASA because they are already in a stable situation and are just waiting for the legal process to run its course.)

“We’re closer to our goal than ever,” Freeman says.

Something like three-quarters of CASAs are women — a statistic the organization is hoping to change by encouraging more men to volunteer.

Many of the juveniles in need are boys who need a positive, consistent adult male figure in their life.

CASAs are not necessarily supposed to be mentors to the children, however, and Voices for Children wants potential volunteers to understand that their role is to identify gaps and problems in the foster child’s care that need to be addressed.

“You could be assigned to a kid who isn’t going to connect to you on a personal level, but you’re going to be able to help them get the resources that they need.”

Voices for Children invites anyone interested in volunteering to attend an information session in Kearny Mesa. The sessions will be held on the following dates: August 9 from 10 to 11:30 a.m.; August 13 from noon to 1:30 p.m. and Aug. 25 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.