VOLUME 21 ISSUE 8
August 2020 Follow us on social media
Columbia • Core/Civic • Cortez Hill • East Village • Gaslamp/Horton Plaza • Little Italy • Marina
FASHION P. 4
20 years of Clean & Safe team Page 10
‘In it until the wheels fall off’
Adopt a Joshua Tree
Childcare providers discuss impact of coronavirus MAKENA HUEY | Downtown & Uptown News
One-of-a-kind bags
BUSINESS P. 5
Bob Craig during his fateful visit to Joshua Tree National Park. (Courtesy photo)
Local architect raising endangered Joshua Trees for gardens, landscaping Spa moves outside
KENDRA SITTON | Downtown & Uptown News
In Bob Craig’s Mission Beach house, small spiked succulents line his home, garden and porch. During his work as an architect each day, he leaves his computer to water and check on the tiny plants which he describes as “fragile” in the first year. Looking at the diminutive plants, it is difficult to imagine that in 60 years’ time, they
LITTLE ITALY P. 7
will be the towering trees that make Joshua Tree National Park’s landscape stunning and otherworldly. Craig’s journey into becoming the largest grower of Joshua trees outside of the park itself began when he and a friend took a trip to the national park to hike. “I came to appreciate the Joshua tree plants as unique and iconic. I looked into getting one for myself because I planned to
purchase one [for] my garden. I found out that I couldn’t find it anywhere,” Craig said. Craig turned to the internet after he discovered that nurseries do not carry the rare Joshua trees. He bought seeds off eBay and began to experiment with how to raise the plants – whether in sand, fertilizer, sun, etc. The plants now inside his SEE JOSHUA TREES, Page 15
A neighborhood’s resilience
Leadership change at Downtown’s American Indian Health Center
HISTORY P. 10
KENDRA SITTON | Downtown & Uptown News
Street name origins Part 4
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The San Diego American Indian Health Center brought on new members to its leadership team in July, including Del Cerro area resident Kevin LaChapelle as CEO and Downtown resident Martin Furey as program development director. Both men a re focused on continuing to provide SEE HEALTH CENTER, Page 9
When the pandemic began, Bibi Carpenter, center director of University City KinderCare, warned the teachers about its impact. “This is the new normal, this is what we’re going to have to start doing, there is a risk that you could potentially become exposed,” Carpenter said. Then, she asked each of them if they were still willing to continue working at the daycare. All of the teachers, including Jem Grey, said, “We’re in it until the wheels fall off.” From the newly implemented health precautions to the increased risk of exposure, the two childcare providers discuss the impact that coronavirus has had on their lives and the lives of the children for which they are responsible.
FOLLOWING GUIDELINES
Carpenter said the most significant change she has noticed since the pandemic began is an increased need to be knowledgeable about safety precautions. “You just have to be super flexible and stay calm because being in this industry — especially being a director — the parents and the staff look to you for the most up-to-date rules and regulations,” Carpenter said. The daycare center and early childhood education facility has 150,000 locations nationwide, and — unlike the 600 San Diego County facilities that immediately closed — the University City location has remained open during the duration of the pandemic. The
The exterior of the San Diego American Indian Health Center (Courtesy photo)
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SEE DAYCARES, Page 11