THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2009
San Diego Community Newspaper Group
www.SDNEWS.com Volume 14, Number 33
Free summer concerts kick off Sunday BY ALYSSA RAMOS | VILLAGE NEWS
Beginning Sunday, June 28 through Sept. 6, locals can picnic each Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. at La Jolla Cove’s Scripps Park, enjoying free music and activities during 2009 La Jolla Concerts by the Sea. La Jolla Concerts by the Sea will present its 26th season of free concerts this summer with live, family-friendly music overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Entrance to the park and concert are free to the public, so the nonprofit organization funding the event sells concessions, including hot dogs, sodas, chips,
candy, popcorn, and ice cream to fund the event. The group also raffles prizes to support the summer series. Raffle prizes this year include gift certificates for area restaurants and activities. The Heroes kick off the summer concert series June 28, playing classic rock. The schedule includes: • July 5, Nitro Express plays classic country music • July 12, Big Time Operator plays Big Band/swing • July 19, The Legends will play rock ’n’ roll revue, including Motown and doo wop • July 26, Joe Rathburn’s Island plays high-energy island music,
described as a mix of rock, country, reggae, calypso, Cajun, Hawaiian, Afro-Cuban and folk • Aug. 2, Incendio plays Latin jazz fusion • Aug. 9, Delta Heat plays blues • Aug. 16, The Corvettes play doo wop/Motown • Aug. 23, Rockola will play rock and roll • Aug. 30, Mariachi Real de San Diego plays mariachi • Sept. 6, Benny Hollman’s Big Band Explosion For more information, to see a complete schedule and to read about the bands and organization, go to www.ljconcerts bythesea.org. ■
School district changes bell times BY ALYSSA RAMOS | VILLAGE NEWS
Despite San Diego City School District officials’ attempts to save money last year by altering area school bell times, board members voted June 2 to readjust next year’s bell times throughout the district. San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) Board of Education members announced June 5 that the group approved a motion during their June 2 meeting shifting school bell times forward 15 minutes beginning September 2009.
During last year’s budget cuts, school officials said moving bell times — including La Jolla High School’s — by 30 minutes or less saved about $1.5 million in transportation costs. But this year, bell times were adjusted 15 minutes districtwide, according to a June 5 board of education release. Parent groups and board members moved bell times in an effort to avoid starting any school before 7:30 a.m. “Some children who take the bus are being picked up at 6 a.m., which some board members – understandably – wanted to
avoid,” La Jolla Elementary School parent groups said in an email. “On the flip side, some children who are at late-start schools will be getting dropped off as late as 7 p.m. So either way, kids are in the dark – either at the beginning of the day or late in the day.” Starting this September, La Jolla Elementary School will start at 9:15 a.m. and end at 3:50 p.m. Torrey Pines and Bird Rock elementary schools will begin at 9:20 a.m., ending at 3:40 p.m. La Jolla’s Muirlands Middle
ROCKIN’ THE ARTS Nicola Rushford and Eric Grandin (above) look at whimsical clocks and furniture made by Nikolaie Erngren at the La Jolla Festival of the Arts. The 23rd annual event, held on UCSD’s East Campus June 20-21, featured almost 200 VILLAGE NEWS | PAUL HANSEN artists on display, including rock sculpture (below).
SEE BELL, Page 2
Wind ‘N Sea swimmers make big splash at meet BY DAVE THOMAS | VILLAGE NEWS
PHOTO BY ANN M. COLLINS
All Hallows Academy student Ciara Franke, 10, swims backstroke for the Wind ’N Sea Swim Team at the recent meet at LJHS’s Coggan Complex.
The Wind ’N Sea Swim Team (WSST) recently hosted a “C” allages swim meet at the Coggan Family Aquatic Complex (CFAC). More than 400 swimmers from around the county participated in the meet. WSST, which is based at the CFAC, had 35 swimmers competing, ranging in ages from 6 to 17 years old. “Our meet was a ‘C’ level meet, which means it was geared more
toward the beginning-level competitive swimmer,” WSST head coach Paton McClung remarked. “I thought it was an excellent opportunity for our newer swimmers to compete, and for many of them it was their first taste of real competition. We also had some of our veterans swimming, too, some who had just aged-up and some who just wanted to get in some races in events that are not their favorites.” SEE SPLASH, Page 4
Seal legislation passes Assembly committee BY ALYSSA RAMOS | VILLAGE NEWS
The State Assembly’s Natural Resources Committee on June 22 passed Sen. Christine Kehoe’s Senate Bill 428 (SB 428) that would allow the harbor seal colony living at La Jolla’s Children’s Pool continued use by
altering the wording of the state tidelands grant. The city continues battling attorneys in court regarding dredging the Children’s Pool. Deputy city attorney George Schaefer said he planned to ask the court to vacate an injunction SEE ASSEMBLY, Page 2