San Diego Uptown News, April 17th, 2020

VOLUME 12 ISSUE 7

April 17-May 1, 2020 Follow us on social media! sdnews.com

Pride parade, festival canceled P. 10

Old Town • Mission Hills • Bankers Hill

Hillcrest • University Heights • Normal Heights • North Park • South Park • Golden Hill • Kensington • Talmadge

Independent bookshops have new Assembly hopeful opportunity with Amazon lag

OPINION P. 4

KENDRA SITTON | Uptown News

With Amazon shifting its delivery priorities to household goods, the company that started as an online bookstore has Prime members waiting five days to a month for in-stock books to be delivered. Despite storefronts being closed, independent bookstores have a unique opportunity during the pandemic to reach new customers through book delivery.

The Book Catapult in Burlingame has managed to maintain its normal sales numbers and even increase them slightly by offering free delivery to many neighborhoods. Compared to March 2019, co-owner Seth Marko said their online sales increased by over 2,000% in March 2020.

“We always did do a little bit of business through our website, but nothing like this,” he said.

They have kept all employees working by shifting booksellers to new roles. Alexiss is picking up books each day than packaging them for USPS to ship. Meanwhile,

When your spouse is your new office mate

COMMUNITY VOICES P. 5

A disaster for small businesses

NEWS BRIEFS P. 6

Hillcrest Farmers Market reopens

PHOTO FEATURE P. 12 Co-owners Seth Marko and Jennifer Powell inside the Book Catapult (Courtesy photo)

see Bookshop, pg 7

Junior Theatre hopes this is intermission, not curtain call

California Tower reopened, briefly

KENDRA SITTON | Uptown News

Index Opinion

4

Classifieds

8

Puzzles

9

Contact us Editorial/Letters 858-270-3103 x 136 kendra@sdnews.com

Advertising

619-865-2220 miker@sdnews.com

www.sdnews.com San Diego Community Newspaper Group

San Diego Junior Theatre has laid off all but two if its staff members in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The children’s theater group is not alone in struggling financially: San Diego Civic Theatre and Balboa Theatre laid off nearly half their staff and Cygnet Theatre has focused on fundraising to keep its staff employed while instituting a 20% pay cut across the board.

A conf luence of problems at SDJT led to the decision to go on “intermission.” see Junior Theatre, pg 9

Director of operations Carla Corder closes a bag full of keys from former employees. (Photo by Kendra Sitton)

prepares to address pandemic aftermath

Chris Ward (Courtesy photo) KENDRA SITTON | Uptown News

Like many white-collar professionals, City Council District 3 representative Chris Ward has spent the last month quickly adapting to a significantly different way of working. He has had to improvise, including sitting in his toddler’s nursery for a Zoom meeting. While he sometimes goes into the office and press conferences, his staff are working at home for now.

“It's unprecedented for all of us, regardless of what our line of work is, because we're all adapting to try to be effective at our jobs in a very, very different environment,” Ward said in a phone interview.

Working from home with his husband also working at home and two kids has been a herculean effort of scheduling. Since both Ward and his husband have multiple meetings per day while still working full time, Ward said being working parents would not be possible without his parents being a part of their extended family unit and providing childcare.

"We just map out every day.

We try to make it as normal as possible for the kids and put on a positive face so that they are also having happy days under the circumstances,” Ward said. Ward gives credit to his kindergartener daughter for adapting to this new way of life even while she misses her classmates and going to the neighborhood park. They are working to maintain structure for her so she can expend energy and not fall behind on learning basic math and reading skills. see Chris Ward, pg 2

2

San Diego Uptown News April 17-May 1, 2020

FROM PAGE 1

CHRIS WARD The remote meetings also provided new opportunities for Ward to spend more time with his kids.

In the gaps between meetings, he has been able to play with his kids for 20 minutes because he is not out of the house for eight to 10 hours at a time.

Despite the city being in a state of emergency, Ward is not sure he is working more, just that the focus of that work has shifted. Instead of spending weeknights and weekends at community events — all of those have been canceled — Ward is primarily focused on the city's response to the pandemic. That is shifting now as some of those meetings are being moved online. He was part of a Q & A livestream hosted by the East Village Association on Wednesday, April 15 and will be a part of another session hosted by San Diego Pride on Monday, April 20.

Some of the shifts in his workflow were anticipated before the pandemic began and even welcomed. After the March 3 primary, Ward was planning on spending less time with his campaign for Assembly District 78. He made it through the primary with 55.62% of the vote, a healthy lead over fellow Democrat Sarah Davis who won 27.69% of the vote.

“January, February required me to put a lot of attention into

NEWS the campaign, obviously. I was very much looking forward to an election being over so I could better train my attention on those two priorities, my family and my job,” he said.

The current pandemic hasn’t changed Ward’s campaign priorities, only confirmed his belief that addressing climate change, homelessness, and housing affordability are essential. He is especially interested by how air pollution has improved while people are not driving to work.

“As we are rebuilding our economy and our jobs and our levels of employment, how do we do so in a way that maybe takes some positive lessons learned from distancing as we engage in the work environment so that maybe we can reduce trips? These are all good questions that will need to be addressed,” he said.

He has also prioritized housing while working at the city level, including working to pass the eviction moratorium.

“At least there would not be any immediate exercising of eviction, but rather some protections for people until we can figure out how to get our head back above water and how to move forward when this crisis is on the other side. The direct and indirect economic hits that we are going to have to our neighborhoods are not going to be anything short of devastating,” Ward said.

While the City Council, Mayor Faulconer and county officials

sdnews.com

have tried to partner together to address the crisis as much as possible, some conflicts have arisen.

Ward first learned from the media that Mayor Faulconer was immediately furloughing many city workers in order to make up for budget shortfalls. Ward thought the decision was alarming and that labor processes should be respected even while officials are making difficult decisions. The mayor eventually backed off the furlough, and hundreds of nonessential city workers have been converted into doing essential work.

Labor renegotiations were already ongoing ahead of contracts being up for many sectors on July 1, and Ward expects unions and other officials to all come back to the table to reevaluate what they will do going forward.

Another priority Ward hopes to address at the state-level once the pandemic is over is how the state can incentivize new job creation and help retrain workers for new careers.

“These are all lessons that I actually had a front seat leading on when I was working with the state legislature back in 2008,” Ward explained.

Before running for City Council, Ward worked extensively with Marty Block. After helping Block in his campaign, Ward was given “the opportunity of the lifetime” to serve as his chief-of-staff in the Assembly. The timing of Block being seated means Ward has first-hand knowledge about

how a legislature addresses a recession.

When Block transitioned to the State Senate, Ward took a position in San Diego so he could grow his family. While in San Diego, members of the LGBT community and other community groups approached Ward asking him to consider a run to replace Todd Gloria on the City Council. Ward ended up winning the seat outright in the primary (a voting system that no longer exists).

In addition to his work during the Great Recession, Ward is well suited in another way to address this public health emergency: his medical background. Although he is not a former virologist perfectly prepared for this crisis, Ward does have a Bachelor’s degree from Johns Hopkins University where he studied neuroscience with a pre-medical emphasis. He actually found San Diego while at a medical convention. He was drawn to the industries around UCSD as well as the LGBT community in Hillcrest. He put off medical school and eventually forewent it entirely after he moved to San Diego. Since he moved around often as a child because parents were in the Army, San Diego soon became his permanent home.

“I decided that I just didn't have the fire in the belly for [medical school], although I still think sciences are very interesting. What I was really excited for was engaging with my neighborhood and my home community and LGBT

services and something that was a little bit more social in nature,” Ward explained.

Ward began to spend his time helping candidates get elected, starting with Rep. Susan Davis’ election in 2000. Through that, he met Donna Fry, Todd Gloria and many other local political figures he knows to this day. In the middle of his foray into progressive politics, Ward decided he needed further education.

He went on to earn a Master’s in Public Policy and Urban Planning at Harvard’s Kennedy School. From there, he became an environmental planner for a private firm until Block offered him a job in local government. If Ward is elected, he will be back in Sacramento to assist the people in District 78, coming full circle from his first job in politics.

“It's been an honorable and thankful career so far. I thought really critically about [running for Assembly], especially with two young kids at home and a job that I liked a lot — being so directly close to communities and city services. At the time I made the decision, it really was because when I looked around knowing that this [seat] is central to directing a lot of San Diego regional resources and attention. I was really compelled internally to try to avail the most of my passion to be able to help the most people in San Diego,” Ward explained.

—Kendra Sitton can be reached at kendra@sdnews.com.

Focused on FRESH ROOTED IN Community Lazy Acres is still your source for all of your fresh grocery needs

We’ve added senior hours and are taking extra precautions to create the safest shopping experience

FOR YOU

Come in, shop, and boost your immunity with our fresh and healthy selections

ORGANIC PRODUCE WILD-CAUGHT SEAFOOD GRASS-FED MEATS AND SO MUCH MORE! 422 W. WASHINGTON ST. SAN DIEGO, CA 92103 619.272.4289 Visit WWW.LAZYACRES.COM to sign up for our emails, featuring exclusive NEW weekly value offers

COVID 19 agency SD Community.pdf

1

4/14/20

San Diego Uptown News April 17-May 1, 2020

11:53 AM

sdnews.com

An Open Letter from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and Your Water Providers

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

To the communities we serve,

There is plenty of water.

These are difficult times, carrying great uncertainty

Southern California has an extensive distribution,

and many challenges. However, the Metropolitan

storage and treatment system to ensure continued

Water District of Southern California and its 26

deliveries even during a disruption. And, our reservoirs

member public agencies continue to deliver safe,

are at some of the highest levels ever.

high-quality and reliable water supplies to homes and businesses, just as we have done for nearly a century.

Tap water is safe.

Water deliveries are reliable.

Agencies are taking steps to protect the health and safety of our workforce. Our laboratories, treatment

Our water agencies use state-of-the-art, advanced

plants and facilities continue to be staffed by skilled

treatment processes that remove and kill viruses,

and dedicated men and women who provide the vital

including coronaviruses, as well as bacteria and

services that keep our systems running.

other pathogens.

Metropolitan and your local water agencies are working together, combining our vast resources and talents, to maintain critical services to the communities we serve.

Sincerely,

mwdh2o.com Gloria D. Gray, Chairwoman

UPPER SAN GABRIEL VALLEY MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT

Joined Metropolitan March 27, 1963

3

4

San Diego Uptown News April 17-May 1, 2020

1621 Grand Ave. Suite C (858) 270-3103 Twitter: @SD_UptownNews Instagram: @SD_UptownNews EDITOR Kendra Sitton 858-270-3103 x 136 kendra@sdnews.com CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Jeff Clemetson x130 Tom Melville x131 Dave Schwab x132 WEB & SOCIAL MEDIA Kendra Sitton CONTRIBUTORS J. Aiello Susan J. Farese Dana McNeil Dave Schwab

ADVERTISING CONSULTANT Mike Rosensteel (619) 865-2220 miker@sdnews.com BUSINESS CONSULTANT David Mannis ACCOUNTING Heather Humble x120 accounting@sdnews.com PUBLISHER Julie Main x106 julie@sdnews.com

PRODUCTION MANAGER Chris Baker x107 chris@sdnews.com

OPINIONS/LETTERS: San Diego Uptown News encourages letters to the editor and guest editorials.

Please email submissions to kendra@sdnews.com and include your phone number and address for verification.

We reserve the right to edit letters for brevity and accuracy. Letters and guest editorials do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or staff.

SUBMISSIONS/NEWS TIPS: Send press releases, tips, photos or story ideas to kendra@sdnews.com For breaking news and investigative story ideas contact the editor by phone or email.

PAID SUBSCRIPTIONS: You may read all of our newspapers online for free at sdcnn.com.

You may sign up for our weekly newsletter for free at sdcnn.com where we will email you a link of our digital edition upon publication of our newspaper.

We also make our newspapers available in hundreds of locations throughout the communities we serve.

If you would like a hard copy of your community newspaper mailed to you first class by USPS you may pay by credit card or check. Subscription rates are $1.55 per copy. Mailed copies are mailed the day of publication by first-class mailed by USPS. 12 issues - $18.60 or 26 issues - $40.30 DISTRIBUTION: San Diego Uptown News is distributed free every other Friday. © 2020. All rights reserved.

To report problems with your delivery, call PacBlue logistics at 619-741-0014.

LA JOLLA

OPINION

sdnews.com

Now that your spouse is your office mate, here are the new rules DANA MCNEIL | The Relationship Place

Like many of my clients, you have somehow survived the last several weeks working from home through a haze of shock, worry, and interrupted routines.

This week you have decided that you want to have a plan in place as to how to best navigate what appears to be at least several months of working under the same roof and possibly even the same room as your partner.

You want to be able to do more than just keep the peace and be cordial with your unexpected office mate. You want to be able to actually feel productive while avoiding feeling resentful of your partner because of too much forced togetherness.

You have decided to that you need to set up a new set of rules as to how best to co-work without emotional distancing.

Here a set of guidelines I have been suggesting my clients put into place while waiting out the quarantine: Rule 1: Set healthy boundaries around your space and time. Where is your work area, and how is it designated? Do your partner and family know how they can best honor the time that you are dedicating to getting your job done?

It is necessary and mentally helpful for you to create a workspace area in your home that is respected by other members of the household. This means this desk, kitchen table, or corner of the room is to be off limits for others to borrow from, play at, or disorganize.

You also need to create an area that you feel is safe for you to think and feel productive in. Consider making the area represent things that are inspiration to you – a picture, a flower from the yard, a quote or inspirational phrase that helps you carve out a little section of your world that represents your passions and motivators.

Also, understand that carving out a space doesn’t mean that you won’t ever experience any interruptions. Just like you probably experienced at the office, there are going to be encroachment and distractions. Take a deep breath and treat your family with the patience you would like to experience if roles were reversed.

Setting healthy boundaries around your time also means noticing and actively seeking out time for self-care. Honor that you will need some down time from your family and partner. Schedule at least an hour a day where you can go off to a room or backyard area and sit down with a good book, meditate, journal, or do something that helps you reset and take a deep breath. There is a lot being asked of you right now both mentally and emotionally. It’s time to honor the need for self-care now more than ever.

Rule 2: Hold family meetings and daily check-ins. Even though the pace of life in the outside world has slowed down to a dull roar, there are still a lot of things to co-ordinate and give your attention to inside your home and family.

Consider creating a daily checklist about the needs and to-dos that need to be taken care of. Assign tasks and chores to each family member so that everyone is participating in keeping the house moving and in order. Talk about ideas like earmarking a certain time of the day when everyone spends an hour working on their chores. Consider having

Dana McNeil (Courtesy photo) a morning meeting or check-in where the family has discussions about what needs to get done or when tasks will happen so that priorities for the day are addressed.

This checklist should also include play time and the ability to build in some rituals of connection for the family to either continue doing, reinstate, or add as a new part of your time as a couple or family.

If you want to reinstate dinner at the dining room table at 5:00 every night and include a new habit of going around the table and talking about the biggest blessings you experienced for the day, then this is the time.

It will be much easier to make these habits a part of your daily routine during the quarantine than any time ever before in our hectic schedules.

Your family will also likely benefit from holding weekly state-of-our-union meetings to address how everyone is feeling and what may or may not be working in your current situation. If a family member or partner is feeling frustration, worried, unacknowledged, or concerned about how you are handling things as a family, this is a time that has been set aside to focus and hopefully find empathy and compromise about how to do things differently moving forward.

Rule 3: Be compassionate and help each other maintain a positive perspective. Your partner and your family don’t want to be in this situation any more than you do. If you are feeling frustrated and upset, it is likely your partner is too.

They are not acting and behaving the way they are in order to make you mad or push your buttons. They are having their own experience that is painful, and they are suffering too.

I tell my clients to accept an attitude of being curious versus furious with their partners. If you are noticing they are not acting like they normally would, you can check in with them about what is happening that is making them upset or what expectation they have about the situation that is not being met.

What is causing them to feel disconnected, worried, angry, or upset?

Checking in with your partner and finding something you can acknowledge for them does not mean you agree. It doesn’t even necessarily mean you are going to do anything differently.

What it does mean is that you are offering compassion, kindness, and care to a person that you love and admire who is in pain. This attitude is going to serve you well as you continue to manage confinement, close quarters, and the uncertainty

of our current situation.

Rule 4: Have a sense of humor and find something to laugh about each day.

Nothing beats stress up better than a good belly laugh. Looking for something to share, such as a funny story, something you see online, or a remembered memory that you know will bring a smile to the face of your partner or child, is a good investment of your time these days.

Finding the humor in the situation, being able to do something silly with your family, or planning a surprise will be contagious and will encourage the playfulness to be reciprocated.

Maybe you all put your pajamas on and watch a favorite Disney movie or comedy on the wall of your home in the back yard. Maybe you start your day retelling a story about a time your partner made you laugh or did something that you still think about and smile. This is good medicine during such serious times.

Rule 5: Use this time to strengthen your relationship and deal with some of the communication issues that haven’t been addressed. Many of my clients want this time in quarantine to have meant something and see this time as a catalyst to finding the energy and time to work on strengthening their commitment to their partner.

If you and your partner have had issues with communication, trust, or feeling emotionally disconnected, it is unlikely that this time will automatically fix things without doing some difficult work.

Acknowledging the areas of the relationship that need some attention and some repair is one way to utilize the time spent with our partner. All of us want to have loving relationships where we feel acknowledged, heard, seen, and comfortable being emotionally vulnerable with our partner. If you find yourself dreading having so much time alone with your partner, that can often be a sign that your relationship needs some healing or you as a couple need to learn new tools to strengthen the relationship.

Consider using this time to enter into couples therapy as a way to manage this difficult time and as a way to help build the skills you want to cultivate with your partner. Having this much time at home with a partner is a perfect practice ground for the tools you can learn on handling conflict better, managing uncomfortable feelings, and making repair attempts when you experience disagreements.

The rate of divorce in China rose exponentially during their home confinement, and they have now has seen a record number of divorce filings. This doesn’t have to be the fate of your relationship, and your marriage doesn’t have to be a casualty of the virus quarantine. Taking the time now to craft the skills needed and work on finding new ways to respond to your stressors in the relationship is a valuable use of your time and energy.

— Dana McNeil is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and is the founder of a group practice called The Relationship Place located in San Diego, California. Dana’s practice specializes in couples’ therapy and utilizes an evidence-based type of couples’ therapy which is known as the Gottman Method.

Dana is a certified Gottman Method therapist and Bringing Home Baby instructor.

sdnews.com

Haiku - "Protect, Secure, Shield" SUSAN J. FARESE

Have you thought of this? our health care teams are high risk for Covid-19 Please think about it for future medical needswe need them to thrive Their ethical pledge to save others at all costs disintegrated A tragic effect humanity’s protectors must be protected!

How can they be safe? provide them with PPEor they will be doomed!

How will this finish? how many will pass away due to negligence?

Their masks, gloves, and gowns are Covid-19 armor that must be secured First responders and nurses physicians, aides, housekeeping pharmacists, NP’s No time to waste now! shield from coronavirus and celebrate them!

Susan J. Farese, MSN, RN, a native of New Jersey, is the owner and president of SJF Communications, San Diego, CA.

COMMUNITY VOICES

San Diego Uptown News April 17-May 1, 2020

5

Covid-19: A small business disaster J. AIELLO | Joey’s Shoe Shine

Fourteen years ago, along with my wife Rhonda, I embarked on an amazing journey: we sta r t e d ou r ow n business. We opened our first shoeshine stand on the upper level of San Diego’s Westfield Horton Plaza Mall.

Several yea rs later, we moved our stand to the ground level. Over the years with the help and support of many people in San Diego, we were able to grow, opening additional stands in the Bayfront Hilton, Marriott Marquis, San Diego, Manchester Grand Hyatt and Emerald Plaza along with expanding into the trade show industry.

When Westfield sold Horton Plaza Mall last year, we relocated to the Westin Gaslamp Quarter which is our current location. Over the years, we worked hard to establish our business and developed a reputation for quality-service and workmanship. Just about everyone — politicians, corporate executives, judges, lawyers, movie stars and tourists — have sat in my chair. It has been the greatest experience of our lives to serve San Diego’s Downtown community.

At the beginning of March, we learned along with the rest

Joey at his shoeshine stand (Courtesy photo) of the country that Covid-19 was going to be a serious national health issue. By the middle of the month it was of f icially a pandemic. The State of California along with the City of San Diego declared a State of Emergency. Social distancing and the closure of all non-essential businesses was ordered.

For a small business such as ours that is a devastating event. We have never made a lot of money, but we have been able to support ourselves in a comfortable lifestyle and

save a little for slow periods.

However, to suddenly lose our sole income is frightening.

Our bills still must be paid we still have to eat and there is no longer any income to pay for that.

We have been able to cover our expenses for April.

Beyond the month of April, we are going to be in trouble.

On March 30th, we applied for the City of San Diego Small Business Relief Fund. On the same day we also applied for E conom ic Sma l l Bu si ne s s D i s a s t e r A s s i s t a nc e w it h

the SBA. Most recently we attempted to apply for the Paycheck Protection Program w it h Cit iba n k where ou r business checking account i s. Nobody ha s contact ed us regarding those actions and there is no one we can contact.

I am now in my 60’s and starting over is not an option. We will be fine for April.

Beyond that, everything we have worked for will be gone.

— J. Aiello is the owner of Joey’s Shoe Shine.

6

San Diego Uptown News April 17-May 1, 2020

Hillcrest Farmers Market reopens Sunday Classified by the State of California as an essential food service, the Hillcrest Farmers Market will be open utilizing new social distancing and safety protocols on Sunday, April 19 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The weekly Sunday market has been closed since March 15 out of an abundance of caution during the COVID-19 crisis.

As the full Hillcrest Farmers Market is one of the largest and most popular farmers markets in town, many Hillcrest residents and others rely on the market for essential fresh fruit and vegetables.

Since the market has been classified

by Governor Gavin Newsom as an essential food service, the Hillcrest Business Association (HBA) will reopen the market for fresh groceries and pre-packaged food only.

Staff and volunteers at the market will work to ensure that all customers and vendors are safe at the reopened market so there will be some important safety changes in place for the duration of the current public health emergency.

These changes include opening the market specifically for elderly customers between 9 am and 10 am, a maximum capacity of 100 customers, offering fresh produce and pre-packaged food only, and social distancing measures.

Customers are also encouraged to go on-line and pre-order their produce items ahead of time. Visit hillcrestfarmersmarket.com to find links to favorite Hillcrest Farmers Market vendors.

The Hillcrest Farmers Market is located on Normal Street between University Avenue and Lincoln Avenue (under the Hillcrest Pride Flag). Free parking will be available for farmers market customers in the Hillcrest DMV parking lot on the west side. After parking, please queue and enter the venue on the south side of the DMV building.

San Diego Museum of Art hosts virtual art alive event For the first time in the event’s 39-year history, Art Alive will be

NEWS completely hosted online. Follow the San Diego Museum of Art’s social channels every day at 3 p.m. for content featuring floral interpretations over the years, Art Alive fun facts, cocktail recipes and more. Museum visitors will also have the opportunity to submit their own photos and memories of Art Alive for a chance to be featured!

Virtual Art Alive Weekend (April 24th – April 26th, 2020) will feature a dance party, new online exhibition and Garden of Activities, including: • Dress up, make your favorite cocktail and join the live Bloom Bash party with a music set by DJ Gabe Vega on Friday, April 24th at 7 p.m. PST via Instagram Live.

• Keeping with the tradition of featuring exquisite interpretations of famous works of art, #VirtualArtAlive will feature an online exhibition of works interpreted by designers using items from home.

• End the weekend with a stepby-step tutorial for making crepe paper flowers at home on Sunday, April 26th.

Art Alive is the Museum’s annual fundraiser in support of education, outreach programs and special exhibitions. All events during Art Alive weekend, including Bloom Bash, are available to the public for free, but suggested donations will be accepted for those who wish to donate.

Follow #VirtualArtAlive on the Museum’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts.

San Diego County Fair postponed to 2021 Based on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s press conference on April 14, mass gatherings are not likely to be allowed for the foreseeable future. Therefore, it is the decision to postpone the San Diego County Fair to 2021. The postponement of the Fair was announced at the monthly 22nd District Agricultural Association board of directors meeting at the Del Mar Fairgrounds on April 14.

“The health and safety of our community take precedence during this unprecedented time

sdnews.com utilized for Emergency Operations Services at any time. “We’ve partnered with the San Diego Food Bank to serve as a food distribution site, have donated several hundred N95 masks to health care providers and will continue looking for ways to serve the community,” Fennell said.

Mama’s Kitchen hits sixth consecutive week of record meal deliveries

The midway at a recent San Diego County Fair. (Photo by Thomas Melville) of crisis,” said Tim Fennell, CEO/ general manager of the Del Mar Fairgrounds. “The San Diego County Fair is a beloved family tradition for more than 1.5 million San Diegans each year, as well as a source of livelihood for numerous individuals and businesses. Yet with the continued impacts of COVID-19, postponing this year’s fair is the right thing to do.”

This fair’s theme couldn’t be more relevant: Heroes, Unite!

“Now, more than ever, we’re acutely aware that some of our very greatest heroes walk among us. We are so thankful to the healthcare workers and first responders who are keeping our communities safe, the teachers who keep our children learning and the countless community heroes who are going to extraordinary efforts to help others during this great time of need,” Fennell said. “That’s why we’ll be proud to carry this theme through to next year’s fair – honoring the heroes who continue to emerge throughout our community.”

Making the decision to postpone this year’s fair was no easy feat. Yet, as the largest annual event in San Diego County and one of the top five fairs in North America, they are following the recommendations of public health officials to postpone mass gatherings until it is safe to host them again.

For now, the fairgrounds are currently on standby to be

Mama’s Kitchen volunteers fill food orders. (Courtesy photo) Mama’s Kitchen, a local nonprofit meal delivery service dedicated to women, men and children vulnerable to hunger due to HIV, cancer, and other critical illnesses, including congestive heart failure and Type 2 diabetes, is working around the clock to maintain operations during the “shelter-in-place” mandate.

For the past six weeks, each delivery day has been a record delivery day. On Friday, April 10, Mama’s Kitchen delivered 7,284 meals to 607 clients. This is already a 40% increase from just a few weeks ago before the mandate was issued.

Mama’s Kitchen projects its clientele and meals served will continue to increase over the next two months due to the crisis.

As the pandemic progresses in our region, the organization has seen an increase in demand for its services to provide home-delivered nutrition to critically ill individuals and families who are most at risk to the devastating complications from COVID-19 given their compromised immune systems and chronic illnesses.

During these challenging times when everyone is encouraged Open Wednesdays-Saturdays 3pm-7pm for Takeout and Delivery

Dine Local

Call for Takeout 619-795-1501 Find Us on GrubHub or UberEats for Delivery or order delivery online at www.parcbb.com

2760 5th avenue San Diego, CA 92103

to telecommute or stay home to avoid the virus, Mama’s Kitchen provides an opportunity to help those in need.

Mama’s Kitchen is still accepting referrals for new clients, and does not have a waiting list. As always, the organization’s goal is to never turn away a qualified individual.

The nonprofit is still accepting backup volunteer applications.

Those interested in supporting Mama’s Kitchen’s efforts can visit mamaskitchen.org/volunteer to learn more.

Mama’s Kitchen has also established an Emergency Response Fund to support increased expenses due to the response efforts.

With the distribution of stimulus checks coming down the pipeline, the organization invites the community to give back to nonprofit organizations in need so they can continue supporting our local community members in need.

San Diego libraries manufacturing protective gear for healthcare workers Continuing efforts to make City resources available in the fight against COVID-19, Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer today announced the San Diego Public Library is producing hundreds of protective face shields for local hospital workers to flatten the curve.

Faulconer was joined on April 9 by Chris Van Gorder, president and CEO of Scripps Health; Jane Finley, senior vice president and area manager for Kaiser Permanente; and Patrick Stewart, CEO of the San Diego Public Library Foundation.

“We’re going to use every tool we have to protect our hospital staff and first responders in the fight against COVID-19 and that requires thinking outside the box,” said Faulconer. “These machines, once used for class projects and entrepreneurs, are now exclusively used to produce face shields and save lives in our local hospitals. This is a great partnership between so many San Diegans to provide innovative solutions to combat this deadly disease.”

FROM PAGE 1

BOOKSHOP Matthew is fulfilling free delivery orders to several neighborhoods in Uptown in his car. Coowner Seth Marko has been inside the store on Juniper Street processing orders, ordering books, and receiving shipments while co-owner Jennifer Powell cares for their young children at home.

In addition to regulars, the Amazon’s delivery lag has brought new customers to The Book Catapult.

“I think people are realizing that ‘Oh, there is actually a bookstore that maybe actually has this in stock and can deliver it tomorrow for free. Hopefully people will remember that we are here when this is all over,” Marko said.

Unlike other bookstores that

San Diego Uptown News April 17-May 1, 2020

NEWS

sdnews.com have stopped receiving books from publishers during the crisis, The Book Catapult has kept its accounts with publishers to keep bringing in newly-released books, a lifesaver for authors of new books.

Many authors depend on book signings, speaking events and tours to sell their books.

While a few events have been moved online, this is a major loss of income for many.

Book signings are really about getting word out about the book and getting it on people’s radars, explained Little Italy Author Corey Lynn Fayman.

The tour for his mystery novel “Ballast Point Breakdown” was cut short because of the pandemic, which he believes could affect his bottom line.

Selling books without those events is the only way authors can recoup their incomes, at least partially.

The front window of Bluestocking Books (Photo courtesy Kris Nelson)

Books ready to be delivered for free in Uptown neighborhoods from the Book Catapult. (Photo by Seth Marko)

For some customers, supporting a local bookstore is also an ethical stance. While Amazon has been accused of not protecting its workers from COVID-19 despite its billions of dollars in profits, supporting a small business while so many are failing is another way to give back to the community.

Still, so many people losing their jobs is preventing some from purchasing books at all. Kris Nelson, owner of Bluestocking Books in Hillcrest, noticed an immediate plunge in sales as soon as the first wave of lay-offs hit. On April 1, she did not have enough money for rent or payroll despite a few customers transitioning to buying online. Many employees have kept working without pay because of their passion for books.

“We love books and the bookshop as a job and the bookshop tradition. [Working] gives our days meaning, and now especially a great place to weigh us down and give purpose,” explained Nelson.

Blue st o ck i ng i s s el l i ng gift cards and offering curbside pick-up as well as shipping books through the mail.

Bluestocking’s mix of used and new books were already showcased on their website and Abe Books.

“They were all things we already did but most people shopping here just hadn't used these services,” Nelson said.

In addition, Bluestocking Books recently joined bookshop. org, a new site for independent bookstores that has promised to give affiliates a larger portion of sales than Amazon. It is also more user friendly and has better incentives for publishers and authors to use it than indiebound.com, which always faltered at rivaling Amazon.

Even iconic independent bookstores that have pivoted to online sales have struggled with their brick-and-mortar stores shut down. Powell’s Books in Portland, Oregon, the world’s largest independent bookstore, had to put out a desperate plea for customers to buy books to stave off lay-offs. San Francisco’s City of Lights Bookstore had to

7

A display of books inside the Book Catapult (Courtesy photo) raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to stay in business.

Other bookstores have chosen different paths. Verbatim Books in North Park has furloughed staff and has not moved to sell books online.

“We are completely closed and are not selling books online. Verbatim Books aims to cultivate a browsing experience where people can browse and discover new books in a pleasant, art-filled environment and online sales are not conducive to this mission,” said Justine Epstein.

Epstein has applied for local and federal grants and is not worried about the survival of the bookstore at this time.

Even book buyers shopping online have lamented the loss of getting to shop at the brickand-mortar store. Marko is in the best financial position of the three bookstores in Uptown, but he has noticed this loss as well.

“Most people when they place an online order, they'll leave a note that says, ‘I can't wait to come back in and actually look at the books or touch the books.’ It's a strange

existence right now. I'm in here by myself in a space that we created so that we could have conversations with people about books all day long,” Marko said. He has been alone in the store listening to music for the last few weeks.

Marko estimates that each transaction is taking 10 times the work of a normal purchase.

He thinks they may actually be doing more work than normal and is trying not to overburden his booksellers, especially The Book Catapult’s bookseller Matthew who is spending all day in a car making deliveries— which is not the job he signed up for.

“I hope it doesn't go on forever because it's a terrible business model,” Marko said.

Nat iona l I ndependent Bookstore Day has been postponed from later this month in April to August. Bookstores are hoping to host events in their brick-and-mortars then, as long as they make it through this crisis.

— Kendra Sitton can be reached at kendra@sdnews.com.

SCIENCE • TECHNOLOGY • ART • MUSIC • SPORTS

St. Vincent de Paul School

Founded in 1949, St. Vincent de Paul School is a Catholic, co-educational school, with a family based community, 7BMJE UISPVHI

located in Mission Hills. Accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

accepting applications 8F BSF 01&/ GPS UBLF PVU

7BMJE UISPVHI

Preschool (2-5 year olds) – 8th Grade Education

live

•

love

•

learn

4061 Ibis Street • San Diego, California 92103 Preschool (619) 296-2261 • Elementary School (619) 296-2222 (Lic.#376700655)

W W W . S V S C A T H O L I C . O R G

8

San Diego Uptown News April 17-May 1, 2020

CLASSIFIEDS / BUSINESS & SERVICES

sdnews.com

SERVICE DIRECTORY ATTORNEY

AUTO DONATIONS

CLEANING

ENGRAVING

LANDSCAPE/GARDEN

PLUMBING

PAINTING

Power “When Quality Matters”

PERSONAL INJURY – ACCIDENTS

Auto | Cycle | Pedestrian Dog Bite | Slip and Fall Brain Injury | Wrongful Death – Free Consultation | No Recovery, No Fee –

Serving our community for over 30 years University Avenue

3180 University Ave. Suite 220 San Diego, CA 92104 (619) 682-5100

Poinsettia Village

7220 Avenida Encinas Suite 203 Carlsbad, CA 92011 (760) 931-2900

www.kdcinjurylaw.com A Professional Corporation

AUDIOLOGY

SANITIZE YOUR outdoor living space!

MARKING ENGRAVING & CUTTING

We specialize in complete interior & exterior projects

5636 LA JOLLA BLVD. (858) 373-9866 CONTACT@HDLASER.NET

Gutters Kitchen Concrete Bath Windows Moldings Waterprooing Baseboards Masonry Flooring Brickwork Painting Drywall Remodels and more!

Stucco Senior & Military Discounts Free Estimates from owner John Gregg

WWW.HDLASER.NET

619.665.0754

CUSTOMIZED MERCHANDISE PROMOTIONAL ITEMS CORPORATE GIFTS

Patios, seating areas, driveways, sidewalks, play areas, pool decks, your home or business!

FREE ESTIMATES

619-460-8177 sdklean.com

FLOORING

Cleaning Service

by Cecilia Sanchez

OLD WORLD O CRAFTSMAN A

Family owned & operated 15 years experience.

Office, residential & vacancy cleanings

Dr. Robert A. Faillace AuD Dr. Lucia Kearney AuD Comprehensive Hearing Test Hearing Aids Sales & Service

3590 Camino Del Rio North # 201 Located inside the Senta Clinic 619-810-1204

AUTOMOTIVE

Most Cars Under $5000

#1 vacation rental experts Free estimates & excellent references (619) 248-5238

Call us today

WINDOW CLEANING

Commercial & Residential Tracks Screens

or stop by

30 Day Rain Guarantee Licensed & Insureed • Free Estimates

619.252.1385

CARPET & TILE CLEANING

Bee Line

• BRAKES • • ALIGNMENT • • A/C SERVICE •

SINCE 1947

• 30/60/90K Maintenance •

10% OFF W/ THIS AD

(UP TO $50 MAX FOR DISCOUNT)

(excludes oil changes) May not be combined with any other offer.

Handyman with 30 years experience

Mirrors Skylights

7400 El Cajon Blvd, Suite 105

AUTO REPAIR

RENT-A-HUSBAND

$40 A VISIT MAINTENANCE WEEKLY • BI • MONTH SPRINKLER DOCTORS IN CLEAN-UPS•HAUL/DUMP SENIOR TO SENIOR 10% CA. ST. LIC. #0783646

WHERE YOU ARE TREATED LIKE ROYALTY!

Cleaning Carpet, Tile, Upholstery for over 28 years.

CARPET CLEANING SPECIAL

• Gardening Services • Lawns • Hedges • Weeding & Trimming We Do It ALL!

Hourly or Bid Prompt, Affordable, Professional Insured

• Weekly • Licensed • Free Estimates • Bi-Weekly • Monthly • Reliable

Ask for Bob 858-454-5922

Turner Landscape

HAULING

www.iluvjunk.com

10% Senior Discount

1333 Hotel Circle South San Diego, CA 92108

CONTRACTOR

INSURANCE

Kingsinnsandiego.com

$99

25% OFF Tile & Grout Cleaning 25% OFF restretching or carpet repairs Must mention ad. Some restrictions apply.

619-677-6523 Or visit our website at

619-933-4346

619.297.2231

MEDITATION

2938 GARNET AVE., PACIFIC BEACH

(858) 273-2411 www.beelinebrakes.com

STEVE

AUTO REPAIR CAR DOCTOR

Foreign & Domestic Timing Belts Smog • Brakes Tune Ups • Value Jobs

WE SPECIALIZE IN: • Design & Build Projects

• Kitchens, Baths & Garages Check out our portfolio online

M-F 8am-4:30pm • Sat. 8am-4:30pm

858-274-1195 1370 Garnet Ave Pacific Beach

BOAT SALES/SERVICE

INFLATABLE BOATS & OUTBOARD ENGINE DEALERSHIP Featuring: • Zodiac, AB & Achilles Inflatable Boats • Yamaha, Honda & Tohatsu Outboard Engines Sales + Service + Technicians

STARBOARD • REMODELS • TENANT IMPROVEMENTS • REPAIRS • EVALUATIONS • CONSULTING • BIG/SMALL JOBS • FREE ESTIMATES • FAIR PRICING

619-577-5847

Regular Deep Cleaning Move in/Out Services

INTERIOR DESIGN

619.702.9174

www.afairway.com + Residential\Interior Design + Custom Furnishings & Accesories + Space Planning + 3D Renderings & Scaled Drawings + E-design 619.408.9703

Lic.# 634838

ELECTRICIAN

LANDSCAPE/GARDEN

CROWN POINT CLIPPERS, INC.

TREE SERVICE

Fischbeck Electric

For all your electrical needs: Solar Systems Green Energy Ssavings Panel Upgrades and Changes Remodels Recessed Lighting, etc.

CA Lic. #900788 (10-12)

(619)749-7105 FischbeckElectric.com

Your health is your wealth -

MAKE IT COUNT! 858.531.818

Rgans24@hotmail.com

FREE ESTIMATES!

• FINE PRUNING & THINNING • ARTISTIC TREE LACING • TREE & STUMP REMOVAL

CROWNPOINTCLIPPERS@GMAIL.COM

(858)270-1742 Fully licensed and insured. Lic# 723867 SERVING THE LA JOLLA AREA FOR 40 YEARS

REALTOR

LA JOLLA COVE REALTY

Mercedes La Fond Residential & Investment Realtor 1150 Silverado St, La Jolla La Jolla Professional Bldg.

Bus: (858) 454-0157 Cell: (858) 232-5565 mercedes@lajollacoverealty.com

RECLAIMED WOOD

SAN DIEGO’S

Since 1948 Fumiga eneral Pest Contol | Termites | Ants | Roaches | Rodents | Spiders | Wasps | Bed Bugs

619-584-8155 www.harborpest.com

RECLAIMED WOOD doesn’t mean rustic!

Attention Designers, Contractors Architects or DYI home owners!

• Showroom located next to our lumber yard • Pre-made Mantels • Live-edge Slabs • Wall Displays, Furniture & more!

• Custom Projects • Open 7 Days reclaimedwoodsandiego.com

(619) 269-3036

3570 Hancock St, Sports Arena

REMODELING

REMODELING

PET SERVICES

DOG WALKING PET VISITS

• Bath & KItchen Remodeling • Plumbing Repairs & Installations •Heating and A/C Repair & Installations Kitchen & Bath Showroom

Since 2000

Free Estimates

619-463-1600

• Property Taxes • Custody • Debt Repayment

GENERAL CONTRACTOR

dinghydr.com • 619.384-2733 3302 Kurtz St.

FREE ESTIMATES (619)755-9651

ZZZ KDLVKDLQVXUDQFH FRP

Construction

Mention codeword “Community Newspaper” for 10% OFF MSRP

CLEANING

Divorce made less painful through mediation

• New Additions

hagbergsd.com 858-292-5009

BANKERS HILL

Loving Pet Care at Your Home

• New Home Construction • Major Remodels

HEALTH & MEDICAL

Call to Schedule Your Complementary In-Home Consultation

LODGING

www.service-kings.com

3 ROOMS

VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! 100 Generic Pills SPECIAL $99.00 FREE Shipping! 100% guaranteed.

24/7 CALL NOW! 888-445-5928 Hablamos Espanol

We bring the gym to you!

GansFitness

8348 Center Dr. La Mesa

Call Mark

AIRLINE MECHANIC TRAINING – Get FAA Technician certification. Approved for military benefits. Financial Aid if qualified. Job placement assistance. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance 866-453-6204

GENERIC VIAGRA and CIALIS! 100 Pills $99.00 FREE Shipping! 100% guaranteed. 24/7 CALL NOW! 888-889-5515

We cater to men, women and children of all ages and abilities.

CoastalSanDiego@GymGuyz.com www.gymguyz.com

CARS/TRUCKS WANTED!!! All Makes/Models 2002-2019! Any Condition. Running or Not. Top $$$ Paid! Free Towing! We're Nationwide! Call Now: 1-888-985-1806 Place in Education

HEALTH & FITNESS

LIC. 684628

Retro Hotel Centrally Located in Mission Valley Waffle Spot Locals Favorite Amigo Spot – Old Charm Mexican Cuisine

SAVE $45

858-454-4258

5771 LA JOLLA BLVD #5 ERLINGROHDEPLUMBING.COM

PERSONAL TRAINER

PEST CONTROL You Call-We Haul!

No Job Too Small!

Evictions, cleanouts, construction debris, tree trimming, etc.

San Diego’s Oldest Plumbing Company.

Offering quality service & repair for 110 years.

(619) 641-9740

Allied Garden Resident Since 1993 30 Years Experience Specializing in Local Communities

Many Skills

FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED

BY A VIETNAM VET

SPRING SPECIAL!

HANDYMAN

Ray & Roger’s

AUTOS WANTED 06 731 Lic.5

MAINTENANCE EXPERTS

tony@pointlomalandscape.com

Non-licensed

619-930-9300

POINT LOMA LANDSCAPE

(619) 523-4900

INVENTORY CHANGES DAILY Financing Availble

619-606-5954

Member BBB • Lic. #950146 • doublegpainters.com

Donate Your Car to Veterans Today! Help and Support our Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call 1-800- 245-0398

SENIOR CARE

(619) 295-6792

ATTENTION DIABETICS! Save money on your diabetic supplies! Convenient home shipping for monitors, test strips, insulin pumps, catheters and more! To learn more, call now!

844-698-4858

EDUCATION AIRLINES ARE HIRING - Get FAA approved hands on Aviation mechanic training. Financial Aid for qualified students - Career placement assistance. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance 888- 686-1704 COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM! Train at home to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Call CTI for details! 888-449-1713 (M-F 8am-6pm ET)

HELP WANTED AVON - FREE SIGNUP! REPS WANTED! Earn cash!

Receive 25% off CHI Haircare, The Face Shop cosmetics, Belif skincare. Visit www.sellbeautyusa.com House Cleaner needed $930 weekly. 4 days weekly. Time Schedule: 10AM – 4PM. Interested Applicant should Apply Via Email: cleanerjob1@outlook.com

MISCELLANEOUS DISH TV $59.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. 1-833-872-2545.

BECOME A PUBLISHED AUTHOR! We edit, print and distribute your work internationally. We do the work… You reap the Rewards! Call for a FREE Author’s Submission Kit: 866-951-7214 DIRECTV NOW. No Satellite Needed. $40/month.

65 Channels. Stream Breaking News, Live Events, Sports & On Demand Titles. No Annual Contract.

No Commitment. CALL 1-866-825-6523 Only the Highest quality CBD products from AceWellness! We guarantee highest quality, most competitive pricing on CBD products.

Softgels, Oils, Skincare, Vape & more. Coupon Code: PRINT20 1-855-681-3113 DISCOUNT AIR TRAVEL. Call Flight Services for best pricing on domestic & international flights inside and from the US. Serving United, Delta, American & Southwest airlines. Call for free quote now! Have travel dates ready!

855-638-3462

PADDLEBOARD

PHYSICAL THERAPY

The SUP Connection

Helping you achieve optimal health since 2000

5740 Lake Murray Blvd La Mesa

ARE YOU BEHIND $10k OR MORE ON YOUR TAXES? Stop wage & bank levies, liens & audits, unfiled tax returns, payroll issues, & resolve tax debt FAST. Call 888-626-3581

Call us today!

858-220-3213

SOLAR

see Classifieds, pg 10

Over 20 years in Pacific Beach!

Residential and Commercial Solar

provides San Diego with a first class on the water experience by providing:

• Paddle Board & Kayak Rentals • SUP Lessons • SUP Pups & more sandiegosuprentals.com

PAINTING

Chuckie’s

Painting Company

(619) 795-9429 www.chuckiespainting.co

chuckgjr@cox.net CA Lic. #925325

www.tasspt.com

PLUMBING

Bill Harper Plumbing.com Licenced Plumber with years of experience in residential homes Prompt, Professional and Affordable Phone Estimates, Cash Discounts

A Lifestyle of Choices

619-464-6801

Alex the Solar Guy Best deal GUARANTEED! CALL OR TEXT ALEX GROM FOR A FREE CUSTOMIZED BROCHURE

CALL BILL 619-224-0586 Lic #504044

908.578.1315 l

h

l

San Diego Uptown News April 17-May 1, 2020

PUZZLES/NEWS

sdnews.com

SERVICE DIRECTORY WATCHMAKERS

London Gate Watchmaker & Jeweler

Experts on Rolex, Patek Philippe, Cartier & all Fine Watches WE BUY GOLD Genuine Factory Parts Batteries Installed while you wait.

OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE

1451 Garnet Ave. Pacific Beach

858-270-6565

9

CONT.

Full-length stories Online updates Comments Event calendars and more!

sdnews.com

Fill in the blank cells using number 1 to 9. Each number can appear only once in each row column and 3x3 block. Use logic and process elimination to solve the puzzle.

SUDOKU PUZZLE

(Left to right) Junior Theatre director of operations Carla Corder, executive director Jimmy Saba and former artistic director Desha Crownover discuss Crownover’s healthcare options now that she is unemployed. (Photos by Kendra Sitton) FROM PAGE 1

JUNIOR THEATRE

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

CLUES ACROSS 1. Germanic mythological god 4. Cash machine 7. Improvement 12. What voters want 15. Sheepish 16. Placed at powerful level 18. Measure of illumination 19. Trent Reznor’s band 20. Commercial 21. Amounts of time 24. English broadcaster

27. Rolls of tobacco 30. Position 31. Expresses pleasure 33. Corporate exec (abbr.)

34. Body part 35. Bleated 37. Businessman 39. Beats per minute 41. Defunct Italian monetary unit 42. Broken branch 44. Put in advance 47. Arrest

48. Prefix indicating adjacent to 49. Artificial intelligence 50. Disfigure 52. The Fighting Irish (abbr.)

53. Not in any place 56. Predict 61. A system of getting stuff from one place to another 63. Philosophy of the principles of things 64. US gov’t office (abbr.)

65. Seaborgium’s former name (abbr.)

CLUES DOWN 1. Network connector 2. Primordial matter 3. Get up 4. Uncoordinated 5. Ill-fated cruise ship 6. Work hard 7. Drivers’ speed 8. Largest English dictionary (abbr.)

9. Healthcare pro 10. Egyptian Sun god 11. Expresses the negative 12. Some are three-legged 13. Clothing manufacturer

14. Close by 17. Tooth caregiver 22. Housing material 23. Flows through 24. Founder of Babism 25. Honorific title 26. A type of letter 28. Seize and hold firmly 29. Artery 32. Body fluids 36. Press against lightly 38. An island in the Pacific 40. A reminder of past events 43. Austrian spa town

44. Peter’s last name 45. Something a mob might do 46. Of the bones of the feet 51. “Amazing Stories” writer 54. Nazi-resistant youth group (abbr.)

55. Used to have (Scottish) 56. A way to cook 57. Japanese port city 58. Type of precipitation 59. Engrave 60. Female sibling 62. Expresses emotion

The Sa n D iego Ju n ior Theatre’s offices and program venues are inside Balboa Park.

Many of the museums, houses of hospitality and recreation centers were closed early in March. When too many people crowded the park just to use the walkways and lawns, access to the entire park and parking lots were blocked, including the offices of SDJT which contained all their scripts, props, and documents.

Initially, Executive Director Jimmy Saba thought he would only need to lay off customer service workers in charge of the box office and everyone else could work from home. He soon realized that although Balboa Park was only officially closed until April 6, the crisis would stretch longer than that, something the organization could not afford without revenue from ticket sales, classes and summer camps.

“We're a small arts organization [with] about $1.3 million in our budget annually. We do have some reserves, but without any income coming in those reserves, it would go down super quick. We've had to put down to put together some sort of reduced budget,” explained Saba.

The reduced budget with only Saba and director of operations Carla Corder on the payroll is projected to last until the end of their fiscal year, Sept. 30.

“Our staff is obviously disappointed. I don't blame them.

But I don't think there's anger at us for making that decision.

I think everyone understands that from the standpoint of, if we don't have kids [and] we don't have a space, we don't have a program. There's no day-to-day work to really make happen,” Saba said. He also views laying off the staff as the best decision for them financially so they can apply for unemployment benefits and enroll in Covered California

instead of being furloughed or having their pay and hours cut.

On Friday, March 27, Saba and Corder met with each of the laid off employees so they could turn in their keys and sign paperwork at Corder’s apartment complex. To maintain social distancing, it was impersonal and never the process they would have wanted to say goodbye.

A r t ist ic d i rector Desha Crownover’s job was eliminated in the cuts. She has been with Junior Theatre for much of the last 25 years, weathering financial downturns, swine flu, and challenges internal and external. When she turned in her key, she said she spent the week overwhelmed with questions about what will happen to the 30,000 kids Junior Theatre touches per year as well as how she will pay her electric bill.

“The thing that really makes me sad is whenever something like this that hits everybody, it affects the nonprofits the most.

It affects the artists the most. It affects the kids, the educators because so much of what we do is seen as extra or superfluous or not essential," Crownover said.

What is especially heartbreaking for her was that society was moving in a direction where arts are seen as necessary for survival both individually and as a community.

Unlike other organizations that have called this crisis unprecedented, SDJT went through

a similar crisis in its fourth year. In 1948, a polio outbreak in San Diego forced the theater to shutter in July, the height of their programming while children under 10 were banned from playgrounds, movie theaters, and other gatherings.

“That's probably the closest thing but we persevered through that and we were in our infancy at that time,” Saba said.

Even when social distancing ends, Saba doubts that many people will want to be in small classrooms or crowded theaters for a while which is why they are preparing for a protracted crisis. Once it is safe again, he predicts a resurgence in theater and other live performances because people will crave the feel of warm bodies in a room together.

“A lot of people don't give that credit. We say there's an energy in the audience even before the play starts. You're having a relationship not only with actors on stage, but with sharing the experience in a room,” he said.

Saba is determined that this closure is only an intermission and San Diego Junior Theatre will live on to celebrate its 73rd season. He has also applied for the federal Paycheck Protection Program in order to rehire his staff and pay them through the pandemic.

— Kendra Sitton can be reached at kendra@sdnews.com.

The keys and credit cards turned in by the nonprofit’s former employees

10

San Diego Uptown News April 17-May 1, 2020

EDUCATION / CLASSIFIEDS

sdnews.com

Positives and challenges as school district’s online learning plan begins DAVE SCHWAB | Uptown News

Now that all California schools have been closed for the remainder of the academic year due to COVID-19, San Diego Unified School District’s approximately 6,000 teachers and more than 121,000 students have been forced to more quickly adapt to online education.

SDUSD had a soft opening for its new online system involving numerous teaching platforms on April 6. The district is going completely online following completion of student and staff instruction on Monday, April 27.

“We’ve been transitioning into the virtual distance learning online platform making sure students have their devices (computers) up and ready to go,” said Ernie Remillard, Mission Bay High School principal. “Many teachers have used online learning to a degree in their classrooms, so it’s been more about enhancing the capabilities of teachers on my staff.

“We’re in the soft launch of distance learning. None of the work being done by kids right now is being graded. It will be starting the 29th.”

MBHS English and social sciences instructor John Keast, who teaches ninth and 12th grades, is one of many teachers getting enhanced instruction on the Canvas and other online

Roughly 30 different instructional classes have been offered daily to assist teachers in operating their new online classrooms, drilling down into programs including SeeSaw, Canvas, and Google Classroom. (Courtesy photo) learning systems. He claims it was an idea whose time was coming, even before now.

“Canvas is used in community colleges, state universities, the UC system, and nation- and worldwide,” said Keast.“I’ve actually been beating the drum on this for the last two years, putting all my work online as a practical matter.”

Keast added numerous of his students were taking week-long sports breaks from their studies, which necessitated his putting their assignments online “I told them, ‘It’s your job to check

NO MORE GUTTER CLEANING, OR YOUR MONEY BACK GUARANTEED! CALL US TODAY FOR

A FREE ESTIMATE

15

%

OFF

AND!

YOUR ENTIRE PURCHASE*

1-855-995-2490

10

%

OFF

+

SENIOR & MILITARY DISCOUNTS

Promo Number: 285

5

%

OFF

TO THE FIRST 50 CALLERS!**

Mon-Thurs: 8am-11pm, Fri-Sat: 8am-5pm, Sun: 2pm-8pm EST

*For those who qualify. One coupon per household. No obligation estimate valid for 1 year. ** Offer valid at estimate only. CSLB# 1035795 DOPL #107836585501 License# 7656 License# 50145 License# 41354 License# 99338 License# 128344 License# 218294 License# 603 233 977 License# 2102212986 License# 2106212946 License# 2705132153A License# LEAFFNW822JZ License# WV056912 License# WC-29998-H17 Nassau HIC License# H01067000 Registration# 176447 Registration# HIC.0649905 Registration# C127229 Registration# C127230 Registration# 366920918 Registration# PC6475 Registration# IR731804 Registration# 13VH09953900 Registration# PA069383 Suffolk HIC License# 52229-H

AIRLINE CAREERS Get FAA approved maintenance training at campuses coast to coast. Job placement assistance.

Financial Aid for qualifying students. Military friendly.

Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance

800-481-7894

Lung Cancer?

Asbestos exposure in industrial, construction, manufacturing jobs, or the military may be the cause. Family in the home were also exposed.

Call 1-866-795-3684 or email cancer@breakinginjurynews.com. $30 billion is set aside for asbestos victims with cancer. Valuable settlement monies may not require filing a lawsuit.

what you missed,’” he said.

The district’s online education soft launch has thus far focused on familiarizing teachers with online delivery for their lesson plans, and engaging students in a meaningful way before graded instruction resumes April 27. All classes are designed to help teachers navigate the wide range of online tools available.

Roughly 30 different instructional classes have been offered daily to assist teachers in operating their new online classrooms, drilling down into

FROM PAGE 8

CLASSIFIEDS Recently diagnosed with LUNG CANCER and 60+ years old? Call now! You and your family may be entitled to a SIGNIFICANT CASH AWARD. Call 877-648-6308 today. Free Consultation. No Risk.

Stay in your home longer with an American Standard Walk-In Bathtub. Receive up to $1,500 off, including a free toilet, and a lifetime warranty on the tub and installation! Call us at 1-855-5346198 SAVE BIG on HOME INSURANCE! Compare 20 A-rated insurances companies. Get a quote within minutes. Average savings of $444/year!

Call 866-695-8390! (M-F 8am-8pm Central) A PLACE FOR MOM has helped over a million families find senior living. Our trusted, local advisors help find solutions to your unique needs at no cost to you. Call 855-741-7459 AT&T Internet. Starting at $40/month w/12-mo agmt. Includes 1 TB of data per month. Get More For Your High-Speed Internet Thing. Ask us how to bundle and SAVE! Geo & svc restrictions apply.

Call us today 1-888-796-8850 Earthlink High Speed Internet. As Low As $14.95/month (for the first 3 months.) Reliable High Speed Fiber Optic Technology. Stream Videos, Music and More! Call Earthlink Today1-855-520-7938 Applying for Social Security Disability or Appealing a Denied Claim? Call Bill Gordon & Assoc., Social Security Disability Attorneys, 1-855498-6323! FREE Consultations. Local Attorneys Nationwide [Mail: 2420 N St NW, Washington DC. Office: Broward Co. FL (TX/NM Bar.)] Become a Published Author. We want to Read Your Book! Dorrance Publishing-Trusted by Authors Since 1920 Book manuscript submissions currently being reviewed. Comprehensive Services: Consultation, Production, Promotion and Distribution Call for Your Free Author’s Guide

programs including SeeSaw, Canvas, and Google Classroom.

Training in the various software allows a teacher to identify what program matches best with their classroom-teaching style, and with the needs of their students.

The district-wide effort is being led by resource teachers from the Instructional Technology Department, as well as 20 classroom teachers.

This “teachers-training-teachers” approach allows for efficient instruction and sharing of best practices in a more familiar setting.

A parent of two Mission Bay High students, a junior and a freshman, who did not want to be named, said the homeschooling experience “has been probably more hands-off than others.

One of my kids is on Zoom most mornings and some afternoons, and when he isn’t, he is pretty inundated with schoolwork, as he usually is.”

The parent said it hasn’t been too tough of a transition for her eldest boy, for whom, “Life has just continued from home instead of physically in the classroom.” But for her younger son, “It is a different story. He has had a bit of work from some teachers via the Canvas/Google classroom/Schoology apps and others. But he has had to supplement on his own due to nextto-no communication.

“It has been frustrating as there are days where he doesn’t

have much at all. Hopefully, that will change in the coming days as the teachers get up to speed. This is a new experience for all of us, and all and all, they seem to be happy and adapting.”

Keast pointed out distance learning has other pluses.

“Being self-paced, that’s an advantage because when you have class time, a lot of students get left behind, they just can’t keep up,” he said. “Another main advantage is that I can riddle my online assignments with hyperlinks to make sure they understand things. It’s a much more comprehensive way to address skill-building activities because nothing gets left out.”

Added Keast of online instruction: “Overall, having a database of online learning resources, which are subject-specific, is a way to increase the amount of teaching time – and decrease paperwork – that you do. Kids don’t have to hall around 60-pound backpacks full of books and binders. That’s unsustainable – and it’s over.”

The drawbacks of online education?

“Suddenly, there is a class divide with access to devices (computers),” said Keast, adding, “The district made a smart decision to make computers available to all our kids.”

1-877-626-2213

for asbestos victims with cancer. Valuable settlement monies may not require filing a lawsuit.

Portable Oxygen Concentrator May Be Covered

by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design and long-lasting battery of Inogen One. Free information kit! Call 888-609-2189 DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. NOT just a discount plan, REAL coverage for [350 ] procedures. Call 1-877308-2834 for details. www.dental50plus.com/ cadnet 6118-0219 Two great new offers from AT&T Wireless! Ask how to get the Next Generation Samsung Galaxy S10e FREE. FREE iPhone with AT&T's Buy one, Give One. While supplies last! CALL 1-866-5658452 or www.freephonesnow.com//cadnet !! OLD GUITARS WANTED!! GIBSON, FENDER, MARTIN, Etc. 1930’s to 1980’s. TOP DOLLAR PAID. CALL TOLL FREE 1-866-433-8277 Stay in your home longer with an American Standard Walk-In Bathtub. Receive up to $1,500 off, including a free toilet, and a lifetime warranty on the tub and installation! Call us at 1-855-4813969 or visit www.walkintubquote.com/national **STOP STRUGGLING ON THE STAIRS** Give your life a lift with an ACORN STAIRLIFT! Call now for $250 OFF your stairlift purchase and FREE DVD & brochure! 1-866-471-1334 HughesNet Satellite Internet - 25mbps starting at $49.99/mo! Get More Data FREE Off-Peak Data. FAST download speeds. WiFi built in!

FREE Standard Installation for lease customers!

Limited Time, Call 1-855-973-9254 Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today.

15% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855-402-0373 Lung Cancer? Asbestos exposure in industrial, construction, manufacturing jobs, or military may be the cause. Family in the home were also exposed. Call 1-866-795-3684 or email cancer@ breakinginjurynews.com. $30 billion is set aside

— Dave Schwab can be reached at reporter@sdnews.com.

Cross country Moving, Long distance Moving Company, out of state move $799 Long Distance Movers. Get Free quote on your Long distance move. 1-844-452-1706 Call Empire Today® to schedule a FREE in-home estimate on Carpeting & Flooring. Call Today!

1-855-404-2366 DIRECTV - Switch and Save! $39.99/month. Select All-Included Package. 155 Channels. 1000s of Shows/Movies On Demand. FREE Genie HD DVR Upgrade. Premium movie channels, FREE for 3 mos! Call 1-855-781-1565 DISH Network $59.99 For 190 Channels! Add High Speed Internet for ONLY $19.95/month.

Call Today for $100 Gift Card! Best Value & Technology. FREE Installation. Call 1-855-837-9146 (some restrictions apply)

WANTED TO BUY Wants to purchase minerals and other oil and gas interests. Send details to P.O. Box 13557 Denver, Co. 80201 Reader Advisory: The National Trade Association we belong to has purchased the above classifieds. Determining the value of their service or product is advised by this publication. In order to avoid misunderstandings, some advertisers do not offer employment but rather supply the readers with manuals, directories and other materials designed to help their clients establish mail order selling and other businesses at home. Under NO circumstance should you send any money in advance or give the client your checking, license ID, or credit card numbers. Also beware of ads that claim to guarantee loans regardless of credit and note that if a credit repair company does business only over the phone it is illegal to request any money before delivering its service. All funds are based in US dollars. Toll free numbers may or may not reach Canada.

San Diego Uptown News April 17-May 1, 2020

NEWS

sdnews.com

11

In-person Pride events canceled San Diego Pride announced Thursday that the board and staff decided to cancel all in-person Pride events scheduled for July. The annual San Diego Pride Parade is the largest single-day civic event in the region and is among the largest Prides in the United States, typically attracting over 250,000 people.

In addition to the parade, the LGBT community gathered for other events, including She Fest, the Pride Rally, a festival and the Pride 5k.

“This pandemic has impacted all of us. We have had to change how we live our lives and Pride is no

different,” said Sue Hartman, Board Co-Chair. “This was not an easy decision, but everyone’s health and safety are paramount. Rest assured, our community will find ways to celebrate Pride together again.”

For decades San Diego Pride has brought hundreds of thousands of people together to celebrate, mourn, and protest while raising millions of dollars to support the LGBTQ community locally, nationally, and globally. The commitment of San Diego Pride’s board, staff, volunteers, and community partners is to continue that legacy of work in

A look at the parade (Photo by Jules Shane)

ways that are virtual and safe until we can be together again. These additional adaptations to programming will be rolled out in the coming weeks and months.

“We recognize how deeply meaningful Pride is to our community.

Pride brings us together in times of protest and times of celebration.

Pride helps connect us to community and our found family. Pride gives us access to life-saving direct services and provides grant funding to our local and global LGBTQ community,” said Fernando Z. López, Executive Director. “In San

Diego, we are privileged to have a Pride organization that does that meaningful education, organizing, advocacy, and philanthropic work all year long, not just one weekend a year. Our programs have continued on in virtual space and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.”

“Pride is not canceled. In-person mass gatherings are canceled.

Nothing can strip away our pride.

Nothing can deny us the pride our community has built inside ourselves, our community, or the broader world. We will still find ways to raise our Pride flags, celebrate the

vibrancy of our community, and bring to light the issues that our movement still faces,” López added.

Many elected officials weighed in on the decision, including San Diego’s cohort of LGBT politicians.

While many described the decision as difficult, they said they fully supported San Diego Pride for putting the health and safety of the LGBT community first.

San Diego Pride already announced plans to take part in InterPride, a 24-hour virtual event for the global community happening on June 27.

The Stonewall mainstage (Photo courtesy San Diego Pride)

REAL ESTATE SHOWCASE

Call 858.270.3103 to get your property featured today!

COLEMAN

WELCOME TO

HARBORVIEW SENIOR ASSISTED LIVING

MOVING SYSTEMS INC.

Office/Residential | Free Wardrobe Use | Piano Moving Last Minute Moves | Packing/Unpacking Discount Packing Materials | Moving all over Southern CA.

HarborView Senior Assisted Living is a boutique assisted living home located next to downtown San Diego in the Uptown Banker’s Hills neighborhood. HarborView is dedicated to offering compassionate, individualized care and support services for residents living with Alzheimer’s or related dementia. We also promote the physical, social, and spiritual aspects of our residents’ lives. Our well-trained and considerate staff works around the clock in this charming Italian renaissance chateau.

7 DAYS A WEEK | FREE ESTIMATES FAMILY OWNED SINCE 1979

619.223.2255 STU AND MATT COLEMAN BBB MEMBER | INSURED LIC #CAL T-189466

619-233-8382 • 2360 Albatross St., San Diego, CA 92101

3957 Southview Drive, 92117 4 Bedroom • 2 1/2 Bath • 2,037 Est. SQ FT. Attached 2 Car Garage (6 total parking spaces) Welcome to this charming home located in a quiet cul-de-sac in the highly desired neighborhood of Bay Ho. Blue water Bay Views from living room, master bedroom and large balcony that wraps the front of the home. Refreshed throughout with new carpet, paint & ceiling fans. New roof and new fence as well. Spacious 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. Natural stone fireplace, shutters, ceiling fans. Large spacious kitchen leads you to the sparkling pool and spa perfect to enjoy with your family and friends. Easy access to all freeways, eateries, shopping, beach ,bay to the new trolley stop. All power lines and poles to be removed!

OFFERED BETWEEN: $1,075,000 - $1,100,000

Vicki Dutch-Jones REALTOR® DRE#01384539 Direct: 619-723-7010 Vicki@VickiDutchJones.com ©2020 Coldwell Banker West. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker West fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Operated by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker Logo are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC.

12

San Diego Uptown News April 17-May 1, 2020

FEATURE

California Tower tours restart, briefly

sdnews.com

KENDRA SITTON | Uptown News

For a few brief weeks, the California Tower was reopened.

Located inside the Museum of Man, it just underwent a seismic retrofit that finished in February after a year of work from the city of San Diego. Until the coronavirus pandemic prompted the closure of local museums, museum staff conducted 10 tours a day, taking a dozen people up 150 stairs to view Balboa Park from a new vantage point. Staff gave three to four tours a day so as to not be too worn out.

The tower is 198 feet tall but the final staircase leading to a small dome is closed permanently.

The tour goes up several regular staircases before going up an antiquated spiral staircase at the end. On each story after going up a staircase, the tour guide talked about people groups significant to San Diego’s history. The tour guide discussed San Diego’s Chinatown, which was destroyed to make way for Balboa Park, the Chicano movement that protested for Chicano Park, and the Kumeyaay Nation who once covered the whole region.

The chimes heard in the park are located inside the tower.

According to a museum tour guide, a musician comes in once a month to record new music to play on the 100-chime electric carillon. The musician records three songs, which are played at noon each day for that month.

While the Museum of Man and the California Tower are closed for now, here’s a peak at what a future visit would hold.

A viewing area at the end of the tour lets people look out at the adjacent California Building dome, which combines many style elements to look like a Spanish colonial cathedral. (Photos by Kendra Sitton)

Three members of a recent tour walk up to the next story.

The Museum of Man tour guide begins up the final flight of stairs.

Some of the ornate features of the tower.

The California Tower is an iconic San Diego site and is one of the most photographed places in the region. However, it is most often photographed from the outside.

These photos take you inside.

Donors had the opportunity to dedicate stairs inside the tower. Here, a family put their note in Elvish.

Looking down at the Old Globe from the tower.

Call Mike Today to Advertise!

Mike Rosensteel (619) 865-2220 miker@sdnews.com

MICHAEL KIMMEL Psychotherapist Author of "Life Beyond Therapy" in Gay San Diego 5100 Marlborough Drive San Diego CA 92116 (619)955-3311 www.LifeBeyondTherapy.com

A fresh look at the center of Balboa Park.

This section of stairs is permanently closed partially because it would be impossible for someone to be rescued while on them.