THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2009
San Diego Community Newspaper Group
www.SDNEWS.com Volume 14, Number 40
UC post office on national review list BY ANTHONY GENTILE | VILLAGE NEWS
Ten San Diego County post offices recently emerged on a national list of 677 facilities marked for possible closure or consolidation — including branches in University City, Point Loma and downtown. While early indicators are that the Point Loma facility will be spared, the downtown and University City locations are not out of the woods yet, according to postal officials. The list that was presented by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to the House of Representatives on July 30 included the facility at 2931 Cañon St. in Point Loma. Of those 677 facilities identified nationally, however, none will be subject to closure in the immediate future, according to postal officials. “It’s customary. This process we’ve had in place for many, many years,” said USPS spokesman Don Smeraldi. “Like any business, we’re always looking for ways if we have extra space.” The University City
branch at 3298 Governor Drive is on the review list. Smeraldi confirmed that this branch was still under review. “With the financial situation we’re in, it’s becoming more important than ever,” Smeraldi said. “From a national level, they said out of all the 3,000 post offices that are in urban centers and cities, are there any that we could possibly consolidate.” The downtown San Diego George Washington branch at 2692 C St. was on the review list. Smeraldi confirmed that this branch was still under review. Smeraldi confirmed that the Point Loma branch is on the original review list but that it is safe for the moment. “They’re not under review anymore,” Smeraldi said. “If we don’t get some legislative relief and the mail volume continues to climb the way it has been, we’ll revisit things as time goes on.” Smeraldi said the list is part of the Postal Service’s SEE LIST, Page 4
Golden swimmers stop in LJ BY ANTHONY GENTILE | VILLAGE NEWS
THE HEART OF ART
VILLAGE NEWS | PAUL HANSEN
Jade Schulz (kneeling) with the La Jolla Art Association helps artist Warren Stark affix his painting to a trash receptacle at the corner of Wall and Girard streets in front of the now defunct Jack's restaurant. LJAA members painted “live” on Prospect Street Aug. 8 as part of the new Art in the Heart of the Village.
Young swimmers will get the opportunity to hop in the pool with a trio of Olympic gold medalists when the Swim Champions Fitter and Faster Tour comes to La Jolla. The inaugural nationwide tour will make a stop at the Coggan Family Aquatic Complex on Saturday, Aug. 29. “When you look at young baseball players, basketball players and football players, they have a lot of opportunities to see the best players in the game by seeing professional athletes in a lot of venues. For swimming, that’s just not really that possible,” said Worth Archambault, the tour’s local project manager. “There’s such a small percentage of Olympians out there.” Olympians Ben WildmanTobriner, Ous Mellouli and Misty Hyman are scheduled to appear at the event. Wildman-Tobriner won gold in Beijing as part of the United States 4x100 relay team, Mellouli became the first African gold medalist in swimming in Beijing when he won the 1500m freestyle race swimming SEE SWIMMERS, Page 11
Surf rebel Hynson chronicles his wild ride BY DON BALCH | VILLAGE NEWS
Mike Hynson is a surfer who has experienced some major highs and lows in his 50-year surfing career — literally. In the mid-1960s, Hynson seemed to have everything. He was a handsome, blond-haired athlete with worldwide status gained as one of the co-stars of the iconic 1966 surfing-travel film “The Endless Summer.” He had notoriety as a fine surfboard craftsman with several notable innovations in surfboard design. He was married to Melinda Merryweather, a former Ford Agency model, and was hobnobbing with notable figures in and out of the surfing world. Hynson Famed surfer and shaper Mike Hynson has a new book out called “Mike Hyn- traveled the world and partied with famed figures like Jimi Hendrix, VILLAGE NEWS | DON BALCH son — Transcendental Memories of a Surf Rebel.”
Surf Report SATURDAY
Hi: 7:29 a.m. 5:17 p.m. Low: 12:16 a.m. 10:14 a.m. Size: 1-2 ft. Wind: 8-12 mph
SUNDAY
Hi: 8:01 a.m. 6:23 p.m. Low: 1:10 a.m. 11:58 a.m. Size: 2-3 ft. Wind: 8-12 mph
Timothy Leary and Andy Warhol. However, like many others growing up in that period of social upheaval and change, Hynson got heavily involved with recreational drug use and eventually crashed hard, landing in jail on numerous occasions. Now, his wild ride through life is chronicled in a new book, “Mike Hynson — Transcendental Memories of a Surf Rebel,” which gives a vivid, personal account of those equally innocent and wild and crazy days. The book is a heartfelt, insightful and emotionally honest recollection of a period of great cultural change in our country. In regard to surfing, it covers a major transitional period with many of the colorful char-
acters who are now considered iconic and legendary figures in the sport’s history. Surfing is only part of the book, however, as Hynson bares his soul when discussing his upbringing, love life, business ventures (both legal and illegal) and his involvement with far-Eastern spirituality. Chapters devoted to his involvement with drugs are candid and revealing while being a fascinating account of those heady times. Portions of the book take place in San Diego beach communities like Encinitas, La Jolla and Pacific Beach, where Hynson initially learned to surf as a young Navy brat. SEE HYNSON, Page 8
Building a case
Romantic sounds
Mammoth event
Associated General Contractors file lawsuit against SD Unified’s PLA apprentices plan. 3
SummerFest shows romance of later-day composers at series of sumptuous concerts. 7
Las Patronas go all out for latest Jewel Ball with Bollywood sets, including live elephant. 10