www.SDNEWS.com Volume 14, Number 18
THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2009
San Diego Community Newspaper Group
Military: Dec. jet crash in UC ‘clearly avoidable’ Four officers relieved of command BY ALYSSA RAMOS | VILLAGE NEWS
Military officials released findings Tuesday, March 3 from an ongoing probe into the Dec. 8 crash of an F/A-18 jet that killed four members of a family of five in University City. “The tragedy that occurred was clearly avoidable,” said Maj. Gen. Randolph Alles, assistant wing commander, 3d Marine Aircraft Wing, during Tuesday’s briefing. Alles said the pilot should have landed at NAS North Island, confirming speculation among many locals and retired military personnel.
“If he landed at North Island, this would have been prevented,” Alles said. Alles and four military brass sat on a panel that included Col. Christopher O’Connor, commanding officer at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS), Miramar; Col. John Rupp, operations officer, 3d Marine Aircraft Wing; and Col. Anthony Prato, investigating officer, I Marine Expeditionary Force. Officials blamed a series of mishaps that began when maintenance logs showed the plane was at risk last July. Military officials SEE CRASH, Page 3
Faulconer again pushes for oversize vehicle pilot program BY ADRIANE TILLMAN | VILLAGE NEWS
The effort to move along those parked oversize vehicles is getting another push from District 2 City Councilman Kevin Faulconer. The City Council delayed its vote to create an oversize-vehicle ordinance in October because most council members felt the $2 million proposed cost, mainly to enforce the ordinance, was too high. Faulconer was one of those council members. He wanted the council to find a more cost-effective system.
Now is the time to revisit the subject, urged Faulconer, whose district includes some of the more oversize-vehicle problem areas: Ocean Beach, Point Loma, Shelter Island, Pacific Beach, Mission Beach and Mission Bay. The Unified Port of San Diego’s board of commissioners passed its own oversize-vehicle ordinance Feb. 3 to stop people from storing RVs and from parking overnight along the San Diego Bay. Faulconer is concerned the displaced vehicles SEE OVERSIZE , Page 4
Bishop's Gabby Stone reaches for a Coronado shot on goal during the Feb. 28 CIF Division II championship at La VILLAGE NEWS | DON BALCH Jolla High’s Coggan Pool.
Islanders sinks Bishop’s for girls polo crown BY DAVE THOMAS | VILLAGE NEWS
It is getting to be the norm to see The Bishop’s School and Coronado High match up for the CIF girls water polo crown. This year proved no different. In a thrilling match last Saturday at La Jolla High’s Coggan Pool, Coronado captured its second straight Division II crown with a 12-11 double overtime win over Bishop’s. It was the fifth consecutive time the two squads met for the CIF gold. Down four goals at one point in regulation, Bishop’s rallied
As the two teams entered the final period with Coronado holding a 6-4 lead, Bishop’s struck first on a goal from junior Katy Feaver to pull within 6-5. Sardo tied things up at 6-6, followed by a Lady Knights goal from senior Katie Vaughan, giving Bishop’s a 7-6 lead. After Coronado tied the contest, Sardo thought she put Bishop’s DOUG PEABODY ahead once again at 8-7, but the BISHOP’S COACH officials decided to wave off the goal, giving Bishop’s a player behind the stellar efforts of USC- advantage on an ejection foul. bound Dominique Sardo, who SEE POLO, Page 3 began to assert herself.
I could not be prouder of the girls as they ... played their hearts out all night.
Beauteous bovines get set for LJ CowParade BY ALYSSA RAMOS | VILLAGE NEWS
CowParade debuts March 15 in La Jolla, exhibiting about 40 originally painted life-size fiberglass cow sculptures that will be auctioned off in an effort to raise funds for Rady’s Children’s Hospital and the San Diego Zoo. The parade attracted a few La Jolla artists, including Perry The CowParade’s Matador Cow is sponsored by Union Bank of La Jolla.
Vasquez, former University of California, San Diego and current University of San Diego art instructor, who says his neon pink cow design was inspired by various world religious viewpoints regarding the bovine species. Preparation for this month’s event took place in the organization’s artist lab at Point Loma’s Liberty Station, which was filled with myriad cows, from an icow to a matador bull whose eye gleam reflects the matador nemesis he
recently defeated. Each cow has a corporate or individual sponsor, CowParade’s Katie McLaughlin said. Last May, local artists submitted designs to CowParade officials. Sponsors chose a design and an artist to paint their cow. In turn, the nonprofit CowParade organization asks local artists to paint life-size fiberglass cows, donating proceeds to charity. “Following the public exhibit, the SEE COWPARADE, Page 4