THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2009
www.SDNEWS.com Volume 14, Number 11
New councilwoman tested on first day Lightner responds to jet crash by appointing civilian task force gling to contain rising emotion. “I’m sorry. I didn’t expect to Newly elected San Diego City get so emotional,” she said, Council District 1 representa- adding that she did not realize tive Sherri Lightner sat with La her response would be so overJolla Village News Jan. 8, after whelming. “Clearly that’s pent a sobering first month in office, up. At the time it was emotionin an effort to inform the public al.” At 11:58 a.m. Dec. 8, a pilot about her committee and staff appointments, including a new with Marine Fighter Attack civilian task force implemented Training Squadron 101, Unitto investigate the University ed States Marine Corps Air StaCity plane crash. She spoke tion, Miramar, lost control of an candidly about those first F/A 18 Hornet aircraft flying moments Dec. 8, when she training runs from the USS learned of the UC tragedy and Abraham Lincoln off San realized that her public office Diego’s coastline to the Marine b a s e . tenure had According to begun. military offiLightner’s cials, the term started plane expewhen a rienced security engine trout e a m ble, so the approached pilot ejected the soft-spofrom the airken councilcraft; the woman durp l a n e ing her SHERRI LIGHTNER crashed and inauguraDISTRICT 1 COUNCILWOMAN leveled one tion party UC home, Dec. 8, informing her that just minutes killing four family members, earlier, an F/A 18 military air- including a woman, her mothcraft had crashed inside her er-in-law and two small children. A neighboring home was district. “We had just come out of the also destroyed. “[The security team] very inauguration, and people were milling around and getting quietly just told me that there cake and everything. I didn’t had been a crash and they didexpect to have a security detail n’t know what was going on, come up to me with something but they wanted me to go to my so soon, and — they did,” LightSEE LIGHTNER, Page 4 ner said, pausing as if strugBY ALYSSA RAMOS | VILLAGE NEWS
CLASSICS TAKE WINGS A flowing golden girl adorns the front of a 1933 Cadillac V-16 convertible coupe, one of many antique beauties on display Jan. 11 at the La Jolla Motor Car Classic. The fifth annual showcase at the Cove saluted American sports cars and VILLAGE NEWS | DON BALCH GM on its 100th anniversary.
Lucky La Jollans head for historical event Residents win ‘lottery tickets’ to Obama inaugural BY ALYSSA RAMOS | VILLAGE NEWS
The Joint Congressional Committee on Inauguration Ceremonies in Washington, D.C., expects more than 250,000 people to line the Capitol next Tuesday, Jan. 20, to watch Barack Obama sworn in as the 44th president, according to Congresswoman Susan Davis’ office. And for the first time in recent history, ordinary people will have access to witness
the event as authorities open the National Mall. “Susan felt it was important that everyday people who helped elect Barack Obama have a chance to join in the celebration,” said Aaron Hunter, Davis’ press secretary. “Susan wanted to give everyday people a chance to witness history.” Although more than 1,000 constituents requested tickets, Davis randomly selected about 100 peo-
ple to whom she gave away her allotted 198 tickets, including three area residents from La Jolla, Ocean Beach and Pacific Beach. “I wish I could have given tickets to everyone. But we only had a limited number,” Davis said. “Many people who did not win official tickets are coming anyway, which is amazing.” Davis and other members of the House received 198 tickets, while senators received 393 tickets, SEE INAUGURAL, Page 3
... I didn’t expect to have a security detail come up to me with something so soon ...
Piano is key to Athenaeum’s winter jazz ’09 BY BETH WOOD | VILLAGE NEWS
If Jazz at the Athenaeum has a familiar sound to it, it’s because it’s been around since the summer of 1989 and is the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library’s flagship program. “This winter series is a milestone in the Athenaeum jazz history since it marks the 20th anniversary. We hope to be able to continue with the same enthusiasm and support for another 20 years and beyond,” said Erika Torri, the library’s executive director. “As the jazz program coordinator, Dan Atkinson has done a fabulous job selecting the performers and we
are most grateful to our Athenaeum members and generous donors for their continued support.“ But the familiar sound is in title only, because the jazz program highlights the music’s remarkably wide spectrum. The winter 2009 series asks this question: How many ways can you play a piano? Or, more to the point, how many ways can you hear a piano? The winter series highlights the diverse range of this versatile instrument. “I used to try to organize each Jazz at the Athenaeum series around a particular instrument or
theme, but I found that this was too limiting,” Atkinson said. “I will have to admit, though, that when I saw the potential of the piano theme emerging for this series, I was swayed a bit in that direction. “Another longstanding criterion for the choice of the artists in an Athenaeum series has been a spectrum of different styles of jazz, which is also true in the case of these four pianists. And of course, they are all great musicians!” The series launches Saturday with a solo concert by pianist Marilyn Crispell. A graduate of the New Pianist Marilyn Crispell will kick off the Athenaeum’s winter jazz series with a SEE JAZZ, Page 5 solo show Saturday, Jan. 17, at 1008 Wall St. PHOTO BY CLAIR STEFANI