THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2009
San Diego Community Newspaper Group
www.SDNEWS.com Volume 14, Number 20
Water monitoring fizzles out at coast County supervisors don’t want to ‘set precedent’ by funding tests BY ADRIANE TILLMAN | VILLAGE NEWS
Surfers and swimmers will now enter the water at their own risk since the state cut funding to the county’s decade-old water monitoring program to test bacteria levels in coastal waters. State officials say the state can’t sell bonds for the coastal water monitoring in this economic climate, and county Supervisor Pam Slater-Price said the county is not about to pick up the slack. Slater-Price said the county cannot withdraw money from its general fund — which is $3.58 billion for fiscal year 2009-10 — to pay for the water monitoring. Moreover, she said the board doesn’t want to set a precedent by paying for a program that might encour-
age the state to permanently drop the program in the county’s lap. “It’s an aberration of duty on the part of the state to let the program go,” Slater-Price said. “It’s so inexpensive and yet it does so [much] good. The state let it lapse because they can’t get their act together.” Slater-Price said the board of supervisors is meeting with other counties, as well as environmental groups, to discuss the dilemma. Supervisor Greg Cox said the board of supervisors is “continuing to search for a short-term, and permanent, long-term funding source for beach water testing in San Diego.” Cox traveled to Sacramento in mid-March to urge the State Water SEE FIZZLES, Page 4
Country Day band visits the cradle of jazz, New Orleans
COWS COME HOME Children check out the Crow Cow at the front door of the old Hard Rock Cafe, 909 Prospect St. A whole herd of artistically rendered, lifesize fiberglass cows has popped up around the Village, where they’ll remain on view for about a month. The CowParade cows will then be sold to raise funds for Rady’s Children’s Hospital and the San VILLAGE NEWS | PAUL HANSEN Diego Zoo. For a map to the cows, visit www.cowparadelajolla.com.
SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW
Sluggers look to make ’09 season a hit BY DAVE THOMAS | VILLAGE NEWS
BY DAVE THOMAS | VILLAGE NEWS
Students from La Jolla Country Day (LJCD) School’s Upper School Jazz Band recently made the trek to the Big Easy as part of New Orleans JAMFEST’09. LJCD students and others from across the country got to walk in the footsteps of the giants of jazz while discovering New Orleans, the city of its birth. The goal was to provide the optimum experience for all performers and directors through cultural immersion and the wonder of learning through cooperation with Loyola Jazz Ensemble Festival, which is in its 39th year. The festival was open to big bands or jazz combos from elementary through junior college level. LJCD’s Upper School Jazz Band, La Jolla Country Day School Upper which is under the direction of Wil School Jazz Band member Nate enjoys Reed, includes Brianna Alexander, the Second-Line parade during the band’s recent trip to New Orleans.
SEE JAZZ, Page 3
Another season of action on the baseball diamond is under way for several local scholastic teams. At La Jolla Country Day School, head coach John Edman fields a team that went 18-16 a season ago, finishing 5-3 in the Coastal League for second place. The 2009 edition will look to the likes of Ben Sweeney (hit .407 last season), Derek Hatfield (hit .311 and scored 32 runs as a lead-off hitter last season) and JT Kelley (strong defensive first baseman) to lead the way. Despite graduating eight players from last year’s roster, Edman expects several newcomers to make an impact, including Anthony Torres (catcher, shortstop, pitcher), Mac Anderson (pitcher) and Jason Gilberg (pitcher/center fielder). “While we graduated eight solid ballplayers who will be dif-
We’ve got a great group of guys, and they’re working very hard ... COACH GARY FRANK LA JOLLA HIGH
ficult to replace, we have had some strong junior varsity teams over the last few years with players poised to fill the shoes of our graduated seniors,” Edman commented. “This year’s team loves to play the game and will play hard day in and day out. We are a scrappy bunch with a bright baseball future that will hopefully begin this year. Our season will hinge on the development of our deep pitching staff
that will include eight different players who will see innings on the mound. Our greatest strength will be a very solid defense.” At La Jolla High School, head coach Gary Frank and the Vikings finished 20-10-1 (8-4 in the Western League for second place) last spring. La Jolla fell in the CIF quarterfinals to El Capitan. Key players this season look to be 2008 Western League Pitcher of the Year Patrick Christensen (17-6, 2.10 ERA over the last two years), Robbie Beathard (.370 batting average, .495 on-base average, 13 stolen bases) Dustin Ouellette (third base/pitcher), Kyle Zimmer (first base) and Aaron Steigerwalt (catcher). “We have a talented but inexperienced team following our second consecutive 20-win season in 2008,” Frank remarked. SEE SLUGGERS, Page 4