San Diego Community Newspaper Group
THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2009
www.SDNEWS.com Volume 14, Number 51
Schools prepare for Sept. 8 start BY ANTHONY GENTILE | VILLAGE NEWS
On Sept. 8, school bells across San Diego will signify the unofficial end of summer for kids and young adults. As the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) readies for its 20092010 school year, a few things will be different. For starters, 39 district schools will begin the school year with a new principal. In La Jolla, former district chief elementary school officer Carol Barry will be the new principal at Bird Rock Elementary. “It’s always fun when there’s a new principal,” said SDUSD spokesman Jack Brandais. As part of Proposition S, which voters passed last November, students will begin
to see effects of the i-21 Initiative in the fall, an initiative designed to bring new technology to classrooms. According to Brandais, the first phase of i-21 is the installation of Promethean boards in classrooms around the district. “They’re interactive light boards. They’re like a computer touch screen that’s the size of a school classroom chalkboard,” Brandais said. “Teachers can pull up Websites right away if they have their content for their lessons online, or if they have a PowerPoint on their computer they can teach directly on there.” Brandais said 1,600 classrooms have the boards already SEE SCHOOLS, Page 4
VILLAGE NEWS | DON BALCH
CALL OF THE SEA A Polynesian dancer (above) blows a conch shell signaling the start of the festive luau at the Aug. 23 UCSD Cancer Center Luau & Longboard Invitational at the beach near Scripps Pier. Hawaiian big wave-riding champion Reno Abellira (left) enjoys a little hula with a Polynesian dancer on the beach. See photos of the surf contest on page 12.
FA L L S P O R T S P R E V I E W
Composers bring music fest to thrilling climax in concert BY CHARLENE BALDRIDGE | VILLAGE NEWS
The last and certainly most thrilling of this season’s personal SummerFest experiences took place Friday, Aug. 21, at Sherwood Auditorium. Historically, the annual “World Premieres: SummerFest Commissions” program attracts a younger audience as well as devotees of contemporary music. There were no vacant seats. and the works
written by resident SummerFest composers George Tsontakis, Paul Schoenfield and Steward Copeland, all born between 1947 and 1952, were exceptionally accessible and well received by vociferous attendees. In a concert prelude, Schoenfield, the eldest and a former pianist, said he likes to hear the whole piece in his head before writing a new SEE COMPOSERS, Page 8
Torreys, Knights gird for gridiron BY DAVE THOMAS | VILLAGE NEWS
One thing that is just about a given every year is that La Jolla Country Day (LJCD) School is going to put a very formidable football team on the field. Head coach Jeff Hutzler’s squad went 8-4 a season ago, going 3-1 in Pacific League play (second to Army Navy Academy), while losing to ANA in the second round of the CIFs. Key players this fall look to be senior quarterback/defensive back
Surf Report SATURDAY
Hi: 8 a.m. 6:02 p.m. Low: 12:49 a.m. 11:59 p.m. Size: 3-5 ft. Wind: 12-14 mph
SUNDAY
Hi: 8:22 a.m. 6:51 p.m. Low: 1:32 a.m. 12:52 p.m. Size: 2-4 ft. Wind: 8-14 mph
Derek Hatfield (league offensive player of the year in 2007 and first-team all-league QB in 2007 and ’08); senior fullback-linebacker Montell Allen (defensive player of the year last season, first-team safety in 2006 and first-team linebacker in 2007 and ’08); junior tackle Fiaalii Togiaso (firstteam all-league in 2008); senior wide receiver-linebacker Connor Gerhart; junior tight end-linebacker Mike Bailey; junior tailbackdefensive back Frankie Brown; senior guard-defensive end Indi
Lavarious and senior guarddefensive end Blake Mohseni. “This is the largest team in school history with 62 players out (junior varsity and varsity combined),” Hutzler noted. “So far they have been a terrific group, hard-working, with solid captain and senior leadership.” Hutzler said that as it is every year and with every team, it is the team’s goal to instill the qualities of discipline, perseverance, loyalSEE GRIDIRON, Page 14
Fall sport preview
Capital Limas
Football and girls volleyball teams hard at practice as fall sports gear up. 5
The lowly beans are not only healthful but delicious whipped into a hummus. 11
In SummerFest tradition, musicians take the stage to collaborate on PHOTO BY KEN JACQUES exciting and beautiful music.
Staying afloat Our final August installment of San Diego H2O takes a look at the floating world of kayaking. 11