San Diego Community Newspaper Group
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2008
www.SDNEWS.com Volume 14, Number 7
MONEY TO BURN Anonymous donor pledges $259K to save fire pits from wrecking ball BY SEBASTIAN RUIZ | VILLAGE NEWS
An anonymous donor has stepped forward to help preserve the city’s beach fire pits, saving the San Diego tradition of sitting around a warm fire in the sand but also leaving questions about how to pay for other city services on the chopping block. City crews started removing the concrete fire pits Wednesday, Dec. 10, before an anonymous donor pledged about $259,500 through the San Diego Foundation to pay for the maintenance of 186 rings through the next year. Despite the stormy weather,
INDOOR FLURRIES Kids defend one area of a battle zone during a wild and crazy “snowball” fight using recycled paper snowballs at the Dec. 7 Christmas Family Festival at the University City United Church, 2877 Governor Drive. The snowballs get reused for the annual event, and once the kids have moved on to other activities, the adults reportedly enjoy getting VILLAGE NEWS | DON BALCH their turn at burning off a little holiday pressure.
Lancers spike Knights for CIF gridiron crown BY DAVE THOMAS | VILLAGE NEWS
They battled all season and worked their way into the CIF Division V football championship last Saturday night at Southwestern College. But when all was said and done, a Bishop’s School football squad just didn’t have enough answers to stop Francis Parker High, which captured the crown with a 51-22 victory over the Knights. Francis Parker (12-1) QB Deon Randall (163 yards rushing, 132 yards passing) proved a thorn in the side of the Bishop’s (7-7) defense, rushing for three scores
22 unanswered points to make a game of it before Francis Parker pulled away in the second half. “We are very proud of our team,” Bishop’s head coach Mike David said afterward. “To go through the CIF playoffs and defeat two teams (Horizon, Christian) that had previously beat us is a credit to the great character MIKE DAVID of these players.” BISHOP’S COACH While Bishop’s finished the season with a loss, the Knights put up some big numbers during the and passing for four, en route to a fall. On offense, Bishop’s rushed for night of nearly 300 yards total 3,262 yards on the season behind offense just on his own. Down 30-0 at one point in the SEE CROWN, Page 4 second quarter, Bishop’s scored
... we are looking forward to seeing these players come back next season.
Playouse ‘Xanadu’ so mellow, so adorably mindless sion is good for the soul, they say, and I must admit I’m one of the few people on the planet that When the cares of the world— likes the awful 1980 Universal terrorism, financial market colfilm that starred Australian pop lapse and personal fears and singer Olivia Newton John as the tragedies—weigh one down, the Greek muse Clio and hoofer Gene best antidote is a musical! Two Kelly in his last screen appearsuch medicines, spoonfuls of ance as real estate tycoon Danny sugar, if you will, are currently Maguire. available, San Diego Repertory Director Christopher Ashley Theatre’s “The Princess and the Black-Eyed Pea” through Dec. 21, cast those two roles brilliantly at the Playhouse. Fans remember and La Jolla Playhouse’s Elizabeth Stanley, who played the “Xanadu” through Dec. 31. ingénue role in “Cry-Baby” earliRegarding “Xanadu”: ConfesBY CHARLENE BALDRIDGE | VILLAGE NEWS
er this year. Her role in “Xanadu,” performed mostly on roller skates and with a charming, ludicrous Aussie accent, truly is the better vehicle for her comedic and vocal talents. She literally lights up the stage. In the Kelly role as Clio’s longSEE ‘XANADU,’ Page 13 PHOTO BY CAROL ROSEGG
Elizabeth Stanley (Kira) and Max von Essen (Sonny) in La Jolla Playhouse’s “Xanadu,” through Dec. 31.
Mayor Jerry Sanders made the announcement about the donation Dec. 15 at the lifeguard station at the foot of Grand Avenue in Pacific Beach. If economic conditions improve, funding to maintain the fire pits could return, he said. The city has about a year to match the donation to keep the pits operating past 18 months, he said. The donation saves two city staff positions selected for elimination in the face of a $43 million budget gap the city is working to close. “It’s still our city employees out SEE FIRE PITS, Page 4
UC reflects on perfect day that turned tragic BY SANDY LIPPE | VILLAGE NEWS
Monday, Dec. 8, was a Chamber of Commerce weather day for those who moved here from faraway places like Kansas or Korea, where December meant cold, snow and more cold. However, University City enjoyed unseasonal warmth from the sun that particular Monday. Weren’t locals lucky to live here? At 11:58 a.m., U.C.’s luck ran out when a hobbled Marine FA18 flew way too low and crashed into the home of a sweet young family named Yoon, a family with roots in Korea. The silence and sunshine were shattered, and so was the heart of University City. A huge black
cloud rose above Cather and Huggins streets. Below a young mother, darling baby girls ages 2 months and 15 months and their grandmother visiting from Korea were gone, victims of the jet crash. A young lieutenant ejected from the FA-18 and landed safely below the neighborhood homes. One eyewitness thought it must have been a stunt; it couldn’t possibly be real. Dong (Don) Yoon lost his whole family and his newly occupied rental home. “Why?” remains unanswered in spite of inches of news in the press and a couple of public forums where the Marine commandant, Col. Chris O’Connor, SEE TRAGIC, Page 4