Mission Valley News, Vol. 13, Issue 2 by Lgbtqsdnews

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VOLUME 13 ISSUE 2 Feb. 15 – March 14, 2019

sdcnn.com Mission Valley

Linda Vista

Old Town

Morena District

Get up to date on local events! Page 16

Serra Mesa

INSIDE

M IS SION VA LLEY

NEWS BRIEFS

THIS ISSUE

Faulconer calls for bipartisan support on longstanding issues

B FEATURE

International hoop dreams

Mesa College alum ﬁnds pro career in unlikely place. Page 3

Artist rendering of the SDSU West project looking south from the proposed Aztec Stadium to the SDSU Innovation District (Graphic by Carrier Johnson + Culture)

SDSU Mission Valley campus plan takes public input

B FOOD & DRINK

Addictive

Jeﬀ Clemetson Editor

The process to build the SDSU West project on the site currently occupied by SDCCU Stadium is officially underway. Representatives from San New sandwich shop is habit forming. Page 11

Diego State University held a series of scoping meetings on Jan. 29, 30 and Feb. 7 to gather public input on the proposed project. At the Jan. 30 meeting held at the Mission Valley Marriott, SDSU Director of Planning Laura Shinn said the meeting

was the first step in a yearlong process in creating a plan for the project with the goal of having it approved by the California State University Board of Trustees by January 2020. See SDSU CAMPUS page 4

Community plan update revised Compromise reached on Via Las Cumbres

B TRAVEL

Heading to St. Louis?

Jeﬀ Clemetson Editor

Discover what the Gateway to the West has to oﬀer. Page 15

B ALSO INSIDE

Opinion Politics Community Library Classifieds Business

6 7 8 12 13 14

Editorial / Letters (619) 961-1969 jeﬀ@sdcnn.com

On Feb. 6, the city released a revised working draft of the environmental impact report (EIR) for the Mission Valley community plan update (CPU). City planner and Mission Valley CPU project manager Nancy Graham presented the plan’s changes at the Mission Valley Planning Group meeting that day. The most substantial change to the CPU was a compromise reached on the controversial Via Las Cumbres road extension. The original plan was to expand Via Las Cumbres over the trolley tracks, through the proposed Riverwalk development and over the San Diego

The revised community plan update for Mission Valley moved a north-south connector from Via Las Cumbres east to a new "Street J." (Courtesy City of San Diego)

River, eventually linking up with Hotel Circle North and Interstate 8. At previous meetings, planning group members, representatives of Riverwalk

developers Hines, and Mission Valley residents opposed the road extension citing a variety See CPU UPDATE page 4

San Diego Community News Network

See NEWS BRIEFS page 2 San Diego campus 2020 Camino Del Rio North Suite 900 San Diego, CA 92108

Advertising (619) 961-1958 mike@sdcnn.com www.sdcnn.com

In his 2019 State of the City address, Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer stressed the importance of rising beyond political division to solve problems that have long been cumulating in the San Diego region. “Our national landscape has become one that seeks to divide us. But let us never allow our differences to blind us to the common humanity we all share. We cannot achieve the goal of inclusion using the tools of division,” Mayor Faulconer stated in a press release. “We are stronger than the national political division. We are smarter than the partisan rhetoric. And we are better together than we are apart. The state of our city is strong, and united, we will make it even stronger.” The mayor touched on key issues including homelessness, climate change, and city infrastructure. He also touted some of the programs he has helped institute such as the Clean SD program which has removed more than 2,700 tons of trash from the San Diego River and the city’s urban canyons. He outlined several projects with the intention of protecting the region’s energy, water, and natural resources. These included the creation of a new power division to supply renewable energy to residents and businesses, connecting the public trolley system to the airport, and constructing an immense water-recycling facility with the goal of delivering one-third of the city’s water by 2035. Faulconer has invited other regional public and

Learn more www.redlands.edu/sandiego 619-284-9292

Gain the 21st century business skills you need to create your own success story.

NEWS

Mission Valley News | Feb. 15 – March 14, 2019

uuNews briefs, from page 1 business leaders to join him in planning and executing many of these goals.

Bill responds to county’s handling of hep. A outbreak

Following a state audit which found the City of San Diego’s response to the recent hepatitis A outbreak inadequate, Assemblymember Todd Gloria of the 78th district announced he had drafted new legislation targeting future potential outbreaks. “The recent state audit confirmed many of our worst fears: people fell ill and died that didn’t have to. We want

to make sure an outbreak like this never happens again,” said the assemblymember. “The public should feel confident that its officials know what to do and how to handle public health emergencies. That’s why I introduced AB 262 – legislation that makes very clear the responsibility of local government and public health officers to protect the public against future communicable disease outbreaks.” The new bill, titled AB 262, would establish specified duties for local governments in the event of outbreak of a communicable disease. It would require public health officials to inform cities in their jurisdiction about outbreaks, as well as make relevant information about outbreaks

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available within affected jurisdictions. The state audit revealed multiple areas lacking in county’s response following the declaration of a public health emergency in August 2017. County officials failed to communicate location date concerning the concentration of outbreak cases to the city. As well, state auditors found that despite talks between the county and city taking place in August, sanitary measures were not implemented until later in September. By April of 2018, the county had reported a total of 587 related cases, with 402 hospitalizations and 20 deaths caused by the outbreak. AB 262 was joint-authored by local assemblymembers

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Lorena Gonzalez and Tasha Boeren-Hovath. The bill is pending its referral to the state assembly committee for review.

United Way and 2-1-1 to offer free tax prep

United Way of San Diego County and 2-1-1 San Diego are partnering to leverage funds granted by the California Department of Community Services Development (CSD), to promote the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) and expand free tax preparation services. The two nonprofits are partnering with several other nonprofit organizations to help low- and moderate-income families prepare and file their 2018 taxes for free, and potentially add thousands of dollars to their refunds. The two nonprofit organizations say their aim is to raise awareness and usage of the more than 60 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites countywide, as well as increase overall claims for state and federal EITCs that are available to eligible workers. In 2018 (tax year 2017), United Way of San Diego County, 2-1-1 San Diego and many other San Diego County Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Coalition partners, supported and provided the public with access to 630 volunteers who provided free tax assistance to 31,092 residents and brought more than $40 million in federal and state refunds back to working families in San Diego communities – largely due to Earned Income Tax Credits. “Each year, too many hard-working San Diegans are missing out on hundreds or even thousands of dollars in tax refunds that they’ve earned,” said United Way President and CEO Nancy Sasaki. “These grants will help us connect with more local residents and share vital information about one of the nation’s most successful anti-poverty measures – the Earned Income Tax Credit.” To make an appointment for free tax preparation services, eligible families can call 2-1-1 or visit myfreetaxes.org.

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On Feb. 6, Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer announced that the city of San Diego has been ranked among the top 20 large cities to live and work as a moviemaker according to MovieMaker Magazine, the nation’s leading resource on the art and business of making movies and the world’s most widely read independent film magazine. “San Diego’s film industry is in the middle of a renaissance,” Faulconer said. “We’re welcoming more and more filmmakers here to tell their stories and capture the vibrant and diverse cultures and geographic landmarks that make San Diego such a special place.” The city’s film office has been able to put San Diego on the filmmaking map through a streamlined permitting

process, online directories of local crews, national and international advertising campaigns and participation in industry events. As a top film-friendly city in the nation, San Diego continues to draw moviemakers to the region. In 2018, the city welcomed the local production for the “Top Gun” sequel, “Top Gun: Maverick,” and major studios and networks like Paramount Pictures, VICE, E! Network, Comedy Central, HBO and National Geographic all spent time filming in San Diego. In 2018, 1,600 filming dates were permitted on city public property. “With Mayor Faulconer’s support, we have been able to attract local, national and international filmmakers to San Diego,” said Brandy Shimabukuro, the city’s film liaison. “Film productions such as the ‘Top Gun’ sequel and others have bolstered our civic pride and positively impacted our local economy.” To rank each city, MovieMaker Magazine looked at film activity, infrastructure, population and geographic size, state and local tax incentive programs and ease of movement and traffic. San Diego was included in the Big City division which included top U.S. and Canadian cities.

SDCCU retains naming rights for stadium

SDCCU Stadium will remain SDCCU Stadium following a vote by City Council on Feb. 5 that extends naming rights for the property to San Diego County Credit Union. The naming rights agreement for SDCCU Stadium, which was made between the City of San Diego and Fox Sports College Properties, extends through December 2020. “As one of the most recognizable brands in San Diego, there’s no question that SDCCU understands the importance of being an influential and responsible corporate citizen within the communities where they do business. SDCCU has been a valuable partner and we are ecstatic to continue to work with them,” said Duke Little, vice president and general manager of Fox Sports College Properties in a press release. “SDCCU is incredibly proud to be the naming rights partner for SDCCU Stadium and we are thrilled that Fox Sports College Properties and the City of San Diego have elected to extend the partnership for another two years,” said SDCCU President and CEO Teresa Campbell. “As an engaged community partner, we look forward to continuing to help position SDCCU Stadium as a premier events venue to host all types of events, including the SDCCU Super Shred Event and the SDCCU Holiday Bowl.” The SDCCU Super Shred Event and SDCCU Holiday Bowl are just two of many major events planned for SDCCU Stadium. The stadium serves as the home stadium for San Diego State University Aztecs

See NEWS BRIEFS page 8

FEATURE Mesa College alum finds hoop dreams in Jordan

Mission Valley News | Feb. 15 – March 14, 2019

sdcnn.com

Noah Perkins Sam Daghles still remembers the weekend trips to Lindbergh Park, off Balboa Avenue, as a middle-schooler in the early 1990s: the concrete court, the anticipation, the knobby elbows and grown men playing for contact. Some things you don’t forget. “Friday, Saturday, Sunday — it was the best (basketball) run in San Diego,” Daghles, a Madison High School and San Diego Mesa College alum, said. “Older men would come from 8 in the morning until 3 in the afternoon. I’d sit on the sidelines, hoping to get in — it only happened if they had nine and I made 10.” As a lanky high-schooler, Daghles took his pickup game on the road, going from gym to gym throughout the city in search of the perfect run. “We used to go from rec [center] to rec [center],” he said. “Whatever gym was known for having the best runs that day, we’d be there.” The “hoop jones” often led Daghles to Balboa Park and the famed Municipal Gymnasium, where local legend Kendrick Johnson — a high-flying Point Loma Nazarene guard, and later pro all over Europe — held court. “Playing with actual men made me develop so much faster,” Daghles said. “It was battle after battle. Nowadays, kids play so much controlled-environment basketball, it doesn’t allow them to have that competitive edge we had back then. We hated losing. It was bragging rights.” Those lessons learned on cracked concrete and beaten hardwood stayed with Daghles, 39, as he traveled the world as a professional ballplayer, then coach, and, now, basketball academy operator in his native Jordan. “We were so battle-tested. I carried that with me in high school, college and professionally,” Daghles said. Daghles first love as a kid in Amman, Jordan was soccer. “Every kid in Jordan plays soccer,” he remembered. “Soccer is a street sport. I hated basketball.” After immigrating with his family as a 9-year-old on Christmas Eve, 1988, to Michigan, and shortly after to Clairemont, Daghles found himself enamored with the

schoolyard hype surrounding Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers. “The Lake Show’ and Magic, I remember that,” Daghles said. “There was so much hype around basketball the day after games, my attention shifted from soccer to basketball.” Despite no organized background in the sport, Daghles showed enough aptitude to make the freshman team at Madison. Midway through the season, standing over 6-feet tall, and playing point guard, he was called up to the varsity — where he remained for the next three-and-a-half years. “To this day, I’m thankful to the coaches for giving me that shot,” Daghles said. “I’m a testament of player development and hard work. I’m coming in as this skinny little kid. ‘Who is he – this Middle Eastern kid?’ I loved being at Madison High School, we didn’t have big names but [then] coach John Anella kept us together as one unit.” The highlight of Daghles’s tenure at Madison came his junior year, when the overlooked Warhawks advanced all the way to the 1996, Division III, CIF championship game, before falling to the Walton brothers and University of San Diego High School. “Nobody expected us to go that far,” Daghles remembered. “We were underdogs and I was an underdog. We weren’t big, but we were smart. Playing in a conference where we had to go to Lincoln High School, and other tough places, it made us who we are. In the championship game, we faced a loaded team. We didn’t have a chance, but that experience, playing varsity taught me about life — communicating with different people and toughness.” Despite the deep playoff run, Daghles garnered little interest from Division 1 schools — with Holy Cross in Massachusetts being his only offer. “Nobody thought that I could play college ball,” Daghles said. “I think they thought I was too skinny to play at the next level.” Following graduation, a car accident further sidetracked Daghles’ basketball career. The accident resulted in a broken a hip for his father, limiting his ability to walk for a year. While Daghles rehabbed his own injuries, he had to take up work in a family-owned grocery store to help provide.

Daghles on the court for the Jordan national team. (Photos courtesy Noah Perkins)

The following year, Daghles enrolled at San Diego Mesa College. Over the next two seasons, playing under the constraints of junior college basketball — limited resources and roster shortages by way of academic ineligibility and injury — Daghles thrived as a 6-foot-6-inch point guard who scored, passed, rebounded and defended. “He was a true leader,” Ed Helscher, Daghles’s coach at San Diego Mesa College, remembered. “His attitude was great; he worked hard on his game. He held the team together sophomore year.” “I had the freedom and the greenlight to be me,” Daghles added. “I could make mistakes and learn.” According to Daghles, San Diego State expressed interest in him as a redshirt walk on, but instead chose to spend his final two years of college at Division 2 Midwestern State. “I went from the third best player on my high school team to the only player from that team to play college ball and then the only player to play pro ball,” Daghles said. The dream for Daghles was always the NBA. Playing pickup games with overseas pros at San Diego State and University of San Diego in the summer after graduating from Midwestern State, widened the scope of that dream. But going back to Jordan? “I had no ties and no intention of playing professionally in Jordan,” Daghles said. “I didn’t think they had pro basketball, all I knew is they play soccer.” Daghles hadn’t been to Jordan since coming to San Diego, some 15 years earlier. As it turned out, at least one person back home had been following his basketball career — the president of a newly formed team, Fastlink, which was sponsored by a telecom company and played in the first division of Jordanian pro ball. “The president shows up in San Diego and takes me out for coffee,” Daghles remembered. “I left that meeting and told my agent ‘Forget about it, I’m not interested.’ He kept calling my agent day-in-day-out, until he convinced him to convince me.” In Amman, Daghles found a league characterized by low salaries, a heavy reliance on foreign import players, and every team sharing the same gym in front of sparse crowds. “Amateurish” is how Daghles described his first impressions. In his first season, Daghles won the Most Valuable Player award and led Fastlink to an undefeated season and a championship. “When Sam came to Jordan, he showed us the real meaning of working hard and being professional,” Zaid Abbas, a longtime Jordanian pro basketball player and member of the national team, said. “I saw the difference in the level between him and other players in Jordan — he pushed me and other young players to be better.” “I think I helped make the league more professional,” added Daghles. “Players weren’t

making a lot of money. I came in wanting a certain salary. I backed it up and created a buzz, other players started wanting more. I helped raise the bar and raise player salaries.” From 2003 through 2015, Daghles bounced between the top leagues of Jordan, China, Iran, Sam Daghles takes a shot for Mesa College. and the Philippines with brief stints in the NBA inside track to qualify for the D-League and NBA Summer World Cup, Daghles resigned League. from his coaching position. “Back then [2006], the “Unfortunately, coaching in D-League was brutal,” Daghles this country is very difficult,” said. “The flights, the bus rides, Daghles said. “There are three bad hotels — it just wasn’t com- different federations, each one fortable, especially coming from was an obstacle. They didn’t overseas where you were taken want me coaching. They didn’t care of.” want to follow my guidelines. It Daghles also spent sevwas a fight — one step forward, eral years competing for the 10 backwards. It was draining.” Jordanian national team, leadDaghles’ current focus is ing the country to its only ever working in player development, appearance in the World Cup, with Jordanians as young as 4, in 2010. and up to the professional levAfter concluding his playel, at a basketball academy he ing career in 2015, Daghles founded 18 months ago. was named the head coach of “On this side of the world, the national team — a team dreaming is sometimes scary,” beset by declining play and Daghles said. “Basketball-wise, complaints from previous head they doubt themselves a lot. coach Rajko Toroman about a What I try to impart is to put lack of money and sponsorship. in the hard work. There is no “We were on such a low, cheating the process.” there was only one way to go Looking back at the past 25 and it’s up,” Daghles said. “I years in basketball, Daghles know the culture, I know evsaid it’s his own hard work that erybody in this region, I know he’s most proud of. the players in Jordan and what “I was lucky enough to buttons to hit. I thought if we compete against former NBA do this the right way, I can help guys. I played against Stephon bring Jordan back to its peak.” Marbury and Tracy McGrady In 2019 World Cup qualand these big names,” Daghles ifying matches, Daghles led said. “A kid that grew up in Jordan to a 5-3 record. San Diego, that not too ma“As a coach, he fought for ny people thought could play players’ rights and worked hard college ball that played proto teach fundamentals and fessionally, that traveled the make us better as individuals world and made a living — it’s and as a team,” Abbas said. “As beyond me.” a leader he was unselfish, trying to help players outside the —Noah Perkins is a staff court as a big brother.” writer for a Japanese magazine In October, after two-and-aHoop Japan and freelances for half years, with Jordan on the several American newspapers.■

Mission Valley Newsâ&#x20AC;&#x201A; |â&#x20AC;&#x201A; Feb. 15 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; March 14, 2019

uuSDSU campus, from page 1 â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are excited by the opportunity we have to purchase the SDCCU Stadium in Mission Valley and to take the next step in developing our vision to meet the needs of our growing campus,â&#x20AC;? Shinn said, adding that the current 288-acre campus is inadequate for the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s faculty, staff and more than 30,000 students. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now is the right time for us to grow and build a campus that will carry us into the next 100 years.â&#x20AC;? Shinn pointed out that the vision for SDSU West extends beyond the needs of the school and is being developed with benefits for the entire San Diego region in mind. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is one of the last really undeveloped sites, one of the good opportunities to do some development and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right in the heart of San Diego, so thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really important and we take that charge very seriously,â&#x20AC;? she said. The project, as it is presented now, will have 83 acres of open space â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 34 of which will be a river park built and maintained by SDSU, but owned by the City of San Diego.

A 35,000-seat stadium for the SDSU Aztec football program will also be available for community events, concerts, professional soccer matches and more. The campus portion of the project will offer 1.6 million square feet of capacity. The project envisions this as a combination of research and development labs and office space for faculty and staff, as well as industry partners. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have a lot of faculty and staff across all of our colleges that are partnering now with industries to do research and development and we want to be able to create more opportunity for that,â&#x20AC;? Shinn said, adding that building new research spaces is easier than trying to fit them into existing buildings. The project also allows for 4,600 units of residential housing. Shinn said this is an opportunity because SDSU currently has no on-campus housing for faculty and staff, but added that the housing will also be available to community members who do not work at or attend the college. Ten percent of the units will be designated as affordable housing. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This will be a mix of market rate housing and

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SDSU's Mission Valley campus is envisioned with a bike and pedestrian path circling the property. (Courtesy SDSU)

housing that is marketed towards our students,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean it canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be rented by others, but there is clearly going to be an interest from developers that build houses specifically for students.â&#x20AC;? In addition to residential housing, the plan calls for 400 hotel rooms between two hotels â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a limited-service hotel and full-service hotel complete with restaurants and a large conference space. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That conference space will be important for our campus and industry partners so they can hold things like symposium meetings,â&#x20AC;? Shinn said, adding that it will also be utilized for events like alumni fundraisers and celebrations.

uuCPU update, from page 1

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of concerns including traffic, environmental and aesthetic issues. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have been working with the Hines team and the Riverwalk owners to come up with a compromise about Via Los Cumbres and we have reached one that both parties are agreeing to,â&#x20AC;? Graham said. The compromise reached involves connecting Friars Road to Hotel Circle North with a new road, currently dubbed â&#x20AC;&#x153;Street J.â&#x20AC;? Street J will run east of Via Las Cumbres and instead of the four-lane connector envisioned previously. It will be a two-lane, grade-separated street with a painted median that will go under the trolley tracks instead of over them. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So Via Las Cumbres as you know will come down the hill and it will still dead end into the tracks,â&#x20AC;? Graham said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;One block to the east, Street J becomes a more direct connection down to I-8.â&#x20AC;? Street J will also have bike facilities going in both directions â&#x20AC;&#x153;so in an emergency evacuation, you could still use emergency vehicles and repurpose those lanes because it would sufficient for emergency access, though it would only be a two-lane major [thoroughfare] during regular operations,â&#x20AC;? Graham added. Access for emergency vehicles was the main reason the city cited for the need for a north-south road connector on the west side of Mission Valley.

The 95,000 square feet of retail space in the proposal is intended to be â&#x20AC;&#x153;neighborhood-servingâ&#x20AC;? outlets like restaurants and a grocery store for people who live in the area. Although there are no more scoping meetings scheduled, comments on the initial plan will be accepted through Feb. 19. Mail hard copy comments to: Laura Shinn, Director of Planning San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, California 92182-1624. Email comments to: mvcomments@sdsu.edu. Comments on the project will be looked at and considered as the projectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s draft environmental impact report (EIR) is being prepared. The draft EIR is slated to be completed by this

summer and will include comments from the scoping, a fuller description of project, description and analysis of alternatives to the project, an analysis of the projects impacts and proposed mitigation for the impacts. There will be a 60-day comment period for further input on the project before the final EIR is released and sent to the California State University Board or Trustees for a vote in early 2020. That meeting will be open to the public for additional comment. For more information about the SDSU West plan and to view the presentation, visit sdsu.edu/missionvalley.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a compromise where the Planning Department feels like we got the connectivity that we were seeking in order to provide for emergency access and things we were concerned about. But it also makes the project itself less impactful being able to go under the tracks instead of above the tracks,â&#x20AC;? Graham said. The Street J connector would still cross the San Diego River as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;high-water crossingâ&#x20AC;? that would not be subject to flooding and would connect to a future Interstate 8 interchange along Hotel Circle North designed by CalTrans, Graham said. The compromise plan was mostly met with support as an improvement over the impactful Via Las Cumbres extension. But planning group members raised concerns with the overall CPU. Perry Dealy criticized the CPU for not capturing the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;new philosophy of housing firstâ&#x20AC;? and pointed to the plan not allowing properties south of Interstate 8 to add housing and mixed-use development. Alan Grant took issue with the Street J compromise because it would still â&#x20AC;&#x153;pinch the riverâ&#x20AC;? by building a bridge over it that will impact water flows. He described the plan as â&#x20AC;&#x153;a disappointment.â&#x20AC;? Marco Sessa asked why the CPUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s EIR doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t include a section on developer impact fees. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You will have all the information that will indicate what a fee will be, with projects lists and cost estimates,â&#x20AC;? Graham

replied. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That will be available in a draft form when this plan goes to City Council. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re shooting for this summer. It will not be a packaged document because we allow Council to make changes on the fly, so we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t finish that document.â&#x20AC;? Sessa asked how the planning group was supposed to evaluate projects without understanding the cost implications to the impact fees and used the Street J project as an example. Because Street J is listed as a long-term project, it implies that Hines would not contribute money to building it as they develop Riverwalk, he said. Graham said that Hines funding for the Street J project was â&#x20AC;&#x153;still under negotiation.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I guess the question for me is, if it is going to end up raising everybodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fees by $10,000, potentially making projects unfeasible, is that an appropriate tradeoff for the bridge or not?â&#x20AC;? Sessa asked. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re asking us to comment on an environmental document without the economic information that would traditionally go along with something like this.â&#x20AC;? Graham said that the city has not released impact fee studies in its recent community update plans because of their complexity. The working draft EIR for the Mission Valley CPU is available to read at bit.ly/2DCj4OC. Comments of the plan will be taken through the end of March.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Reach Jeff Clemetson at jeff@sdcnn.com.â&#x2013;

| FEATURE 5 Navy SEAL on a mission for pediatric cancer patients Mission Valley News

sdcnn.com

Adam Kaye When Parker Cornell runs along the rugged terrain at Mission Trails Regional Park, his thoughts often turn to his 9-year-old buddy with a brain tumor. The boy is fighting for his life. Cornell visits him and his little brother and does what he can to boost their spirits. In April, he will run the Boston Marathon to raise money for the young cancer patient and his family. Cornell, a Navy SEAL and volunteer with One Summit, a SEAL-founded charity for pediatric cancer patients, sees himself as a motivator. But that motivation works both ways. Cornell is transitioning out of the SEALs after a head injury and subsequent diagnoses of multiple sclerosis and Lyme disease. But he refuses to feel sorry for himself. “I can’t feel too badly for myself when I look at a 9-year-old whose outlook is bleak and his 6-year-old little brother who’s losing his idol,” Cornell said. Cornell, 26 and married and now residing in Mission Valley, has come a long way since his mischievous-but-honor-student days at Carlsbad High School, where he wrestled and swam competitively.

While swimming those laps, he pictured himself swimming bombs up to enemy ships. In fact, joining the SEALs had been a “missile-lock” goal of Cornell’s since the fourth grade, he said. In 2014, Cornell enlisted in the Navy as a sailor and soon shipped out to Naval Station Great Lakes for basic training. During his time at the sprawling installation in Michigan, Cornell met the standards and physical requirements to secure a special warfare operator contact and ticket back to San Diego to begin basic underwater demolition training at Naval Base Coronado. In November 2016, became a Navy SEAL. He was assigned to SEAL Team 5. And the training, of course, continued. During one exercise, at around sunset on a November afternoon in 2017, Cornell was laden with gear as he climbed into a helicopter. The Sikorsky Seahawk was hovering at about 20 feet. Cornell somehow became caught on the wire ladder. A buddy reached for his hand. Cornell’s hand slipped. Down he went. He landed on his head. A teammate fast-roped down from the airship and found Cornell was unconscious. The injured SEAL was rushed to a hospital.

Parker Cornell at a One Summit event (Photo courtesy The Harbaugh Foundation)

Feb. 15 – March 14, 2019

The initial diagnosis was traumatic brain injury and his symptoms — tinnitus, forgetfulness, fatigue, trouble concentrating — seemed to back it up. Doctor visits continued. Brain scans revealed lesions and a spinal tap later confirmed a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Months later, further analysis uncovered a second neurological condition: Lyme disease. “I had no idea,” Navy SEAL Parker Cornell was recently named Harbaugh Fellow for 2019. (Photo by Steven Cornell said. Freeman) Today, Cornell remains on active duty as he awaits a formal determiHe attended thanks to Eckert, a runner of 200-mile nation from a medical review support from a grant-making races, fitness instructor and board. That should happen in organization that saw his great skydiver who had his own expeMarch. In all likelihood, he potential as a champion for perience with a medical discharge will be forced to retire from the diatric cancer patients. from the military. SEALs. The Harbaugh Foundation “Keith motivated me to redeMeanwhile, there’s that — which supports military fine the disease,” Cornell said. marathon to train for and next causes, pediatric cancer re“Nothing’s impossible. You can steps to consider. He also has search, open space preserkeep pushing. Always.” accomplishments to reflect vation and other pursuits — Cornell has pushed himproudly upon during the past works closely with The Honor self during eight previous year. Foundation. fundraising events for One Cornell recently completed “Supporting Parker with Summit. Based in a Boston, the transition program at The a scholarship, that was a One Summit is on a mission Honor Foundation, an institute no-brainer,” said Joe Balla, to build resilience in pediatthat provides professional dedirector of The Harbaugh ric cancer patients by pairing velopment for Navy SEALs as Foundation. “We were proud them with Navy SEALs like they prepare to enter civilian to name Parker Cornell as the Cornell, who mentor and molife. Harbaugh Fellow for 2019.” tivate the kids to complete the In that role, Cornell rep“Climb for Courage” on an inresented The Harbaugh door rock-climbing wall. That Foundation in January as challenge, and the bonds they an official ambassador at the build with their SEAL buddies, Patriots’ Outpost, a VIP pavilgoes a long way toward helping ion for military personnel at the children conquer the adverthe Farmers Insurance Open sity they face. golf tournament. He appeared When Cornell runs the in television interviews and Boston Marathon, the kids he promoted the Patriots’ Outpost mentors will be right on the as a special place where freesidelines. dom fighters get a front-row “I’ll show these kids that seat and the appreciation they nothing can keep you down,” he deserve. said. During the tournament, Where is all of this leading Cornell greeted dignitaries and a Navy SEAL who is facing big smiled for the camera with a changes of his own? fresh face and easy charm that “I’m keeping my ears and gave no hint of his having been eyes open,” Cornell said. “I trained to fight at the highest want to be in a selfless role level for the United States that positively impacts the government. lives of others in any way I Today, Cornell’s training incan.” volves lacing up those running Visit Cornell’s fundraisshoes and logging some miles. ing page at crowdrise.com/ “As many as I can whenever parkercornell. I can,” he said. That and lifting weights. —Adam Kaye writes on One of the driving forces behalf of The Harbaugh behind his regimen is Keith Foundation.■

Sudoku & Crossword puzzle answers from page 13

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OPPORTUNITY? We are seeking experienced, motivated advertising sales consultants for our six community newspapers. Must be knowledgeable of these areas and have a minimum of one year advertising sales experience. The ideal candidate is an energetic team player who is bright, positive, creative and personable who relates to small business owners and can assess their advertising needs. Fulltime, base plus commission. For more information about our community newspapers, visit us at sdcnn.com.

Resume to David Mannis at David@sdcnn.com (619)961-1951

Mission Valley News

Feb. 15 – March 14, 2019

OPINION Letters The single largest

Re: “Riverwalk plan comes more into focus” [Volume 12, Issue 2 or bit.ly/2RPjqGD] Our city is beautiful because we have been consistent and have sustained a proper balance between growth and quality of life that is unmatched in the planet. If the Riverwalk Development Plan is approved in its present form, it will be the single largest high-density development west of the Mississippi. Do we want this in San Diego? —Roman M. Maes III, Mission Valley.■

Guest editorial

Advice on empowering women in business Anne McClure An aspiring young lady recently asked me for advice as she strives to reach executive status in her career. The question initially struck me as odd, as it’s not like I can recommend reading a specific book or listening to a selfhelp podcast. Nonetheless, there are certainly a number of things young women can do to be successful and work toward moving up the corporate ladder. Need I state the obvious? Work hard. Do you need to put in more than eight hours per day? Maybe. But working long hours isn’t necessarily the key to being promoted. On the other hand, being a clock-watcher will certainly get noticed … just not in a good way. Volunteer for extra responsibilities. Do your research when working on a project, investing the necessary time to produce a quality result. Do something you love. It is a lot easier to work hard when you love what you do. We invest far too many hours in the workplace to be involved in a career or a role that we do not find rewarding. If you don’t love it, do some soul searching and put yourself on the right path. Your job doesn’t have to be perfect, but finding the overall feeling rewarding and enjoyable will allow you to achieve greater success, and more importantly, overall happiness. Use your voice. There is a balance between being too vocal and being a fly on the wall. If you wish to move up the corporate ladder, you need to be heard. During meetings, be engaged. Don’t just listen and pay attention; more importantly, contribute. Share your ideas. Know the topic so that you can give intelligent input, don’t talk just to hear yourself speak. Volunteer to perform the necessary research for the task at hand. Have an opinion derived from intellectual thought and share it.

Surround yourself with people who support you. Hopefully you work in an environment where people believe in you and are encouraging your growth. If you don’t, it may be time to re-evaluate your path. Remain positive. Looking through a lens of positivity is a lot healthier than constantly seeing the glass half-empty. While you may have an outlet at home for venting about work issues, most of your time at home, and definitely at work, should be spent spreading good news. Negativity breeds negativity and it can consume your thoughts, your actions, and your physical well-being. There is no room for “woe is me” in the executive wing. Focus on your blessings, the successes you’ve achieved, the things that went right. Make sure the majority of your mental energy is spreading good news, not your worries or your complaints. Avoid negative people. The biggest part of remaining positive is who you surround yourself with. Both at home and at work, remove yourself from negative environments. Some people choose to be negative. Everything they do includes complaining, blaming others, feeling persecuted — it’s a miracle they’ve lived past their teenage years. While these people may be humorous, or you may believe you can “fix” them, ultimately they drain your energy and can cause you to see things through their same jaded glasses. Learn how to cut those conversations short. Don’t contribute to negative discussions, and certainly do not bad-mouth others in the workplace. The grapevine is alive and well and you do not want your name attached to anything that can negatively impact your reputation. Envision what you want. Allow that to be your driving force. Believe it and make it happen. While this may be a picture of yourself in a

role, try to focus on certain behaviors or attributes you believe are important for you to have in order to attain the role. For example, if you’re working on your confidence, envision yourself as the confident individual you want to be. If you wish you were more positive, see yourself as spreading positivity through the workplace. Wake up every day and write it down. Spend time contemplating the words as you compose them. This five-minute daily exercise can set your mood for the day. It will inspire you into positive action. Be aware that you are always making an impression. Remember that and keep that in focus (this is a great parenting tactic too). The relationships you build today, while they may seem small, can lead to incredibly significant results — often unknowingly. The actions, and reactions, you provide is ultimately crucial to opportunities in the future. Be confident. Present yourself confidently and capitalize on your strengths. There is a balance between confidence and over-confidence. Finding it is important. Presenting yourself with poise and knowledge helps ensure others see self-assurance but not self-righteousness. If you believe in yourself, others will too. The more confidence you exude, the more confidently you are viewed. Foster collaboration. Recognize that, while you may be confident, others have a voice. Encourage others to speak and be respectful of ideas. People want to be part of an organization in which they themselves are valued. While you may be working on your own career path, be cognizant that others are doing the same. As such, encouraging the exchange of ideas, respecting contributions by others, and giving credit to people within the workplace helps create an organization built on respect.

Get to know everyone. Whether your workplace has 10 employees or 10,000 employees, staff members at all levels are contributing to the success and growth of the organization. Recognizing employees’ individual strengths and/or circumstances, helps create an environment built on respect. While an entry-level employee may not be responsible for the next biggest negotiated contract, she may be a factor in your company’s next five-star Yelp review. Everyone has a contribution to the organization. Celebrating individuals by simply getting to know them will help others to promote you, both vocally and emotionally. Follow through. Remember what you have committed to doing, and follow through. Ensure others in the organization know they can rely on you. Whether you promise a frontline employee you will get someone to look into their slow PC, or you commit to calling a colleague for a reference, make sure you do as you say. Follow-through can also be taken to the next level, simply remembering an earlier conversation with a co-worker. Asking about the vacation they mentioned, or their spouse’s surgery; these small gestures reflect your human side and allows staff to see you with more depth. There isn’t a formula for rising on a career path. Nonetheless, it is within your control. Focusing on what you can do versus your obstacles will ultimately put you in the driver’s seat and provide you with self-satisfaction and overall happiness. Remember your more natural traits as a female. Are you compassionate? Sensitive? Intuitive? Build on your strengths. Don’t try to hide them or be something you’re not. Be the best version of you. —Anne McClure is CEO of Cabrillo Credit Union San Diego.■

444 Camino Del Rio South, Suite 102 San Diego, CA 92108 (619) 519-7775 MissionValleyNews.com Twitter: @MissionVllyNews EDITOR Jeff Clemetson (619) 961-1969 jeff@sdcnn.com CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Sara Butler, x118 Albert Fulcher, x110 COPY EDITOR Dustin Lothspeich WEB & SOCIAL MEDIA Sara Butler Cassidy Klein web@sdcnn.com CONTRIBUTORS Sen. Toni Atkins Blake Beckom Gwen Beckom Steve Doster Mara W. Elliott Adam Kaye Sunny Lee Jean Lowerison Anne McClure Kathy McSherry Noah Perkins Karen Reilly Sari Reis Frank Sabatini Jr. Scott Sherman Ron Stern Noli Zosa

EDITORIAL INTERN Jules Shane SALES ASSISTANTS Erik Guerrero Eric Diaz SALES INTERNS Ryan Deeb Meah Mapp Kiara Zapanta ACCOUNTING Priscilla Umel-Martinez (619) 961-1962 accounting@sdcnn.com SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR Mike Rosensteel (619) 961-1958 mike@sdcnn.com MARKETING MANAGER Francisco Tamayo (619) 272- 2179 ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Heather Fine, x107 PUBLISHER David Mannis (619) 961-1951 david@sdcnn.com PUBLISHER EMERITUS Jim Madaﬀer

OPINIONS/LETTERS: Mission Valley News encourages letters to the editor and guest editorials. Please email submissions to editor@sdcnn.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 editor@sdcnn.com. For breaking news and investigative story ideas contact the editor by phone or email. DISTRIBUTION: Mission Valley News is distributed free the third Friday of every month. © 2019. All rights reserved.

POLITICS Strong ﬁscal and community stance with new governor

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Notes from Toni Toni G. Atkins Governor Gavin Newsom got off to an active start as he began his tenure as California’s 40th governor, proposing several ambitious policy changes and releasing a draft state budget in his first few days in office. On day one, the governor announced new health care policy proposals, including making all residents up to age 26 eligible to obtain health insurance through the Medi-Cal program, helping middle-class Californians afford health insurance, and lowering the cost of prescription drugs through increased bulk purchasing power. On day two, he announced proposals to strengthen California’s ability to prevent, fight and recover from devastating wildfires, including $305 million in additional funding to improve the health of our forests and enhance emergency response. On day four, the governor released his proposed $209 billion budget for the fiscal year that begins on July 1. Drawing from a $21.4 billion surplus thanks to a strong economy, his budget keeps California on a positive path that balances the need for fiscal responsibility with our goal of strengthening programs that support our residents and provide opportunity.

Newsom’s budget recommendation adds another $1.8 billion to our rainy-day fund, bringing it to $15.3 billion, and increasing the safety net reserve that we created last year from $200 million to $900 million, which will protect vital services for vulnerable Californians and working families. Other prudent ideas include a one-time payment of $4.4 billion to eliminate past debts and one-time funds of $5.3 billion to pay down public employee retirement liabilities. In addition to the health care and wildfire proposals, his budget increases grants Gov. Gavin Newsom and Sen. Toni Atkins (Courtesy Sen. Atkins) to local governments to build affordable housing and creates new incentives to help meet program out of deep poverty and local housing goals. It proposes send an additional $500 million to yet another record investment in communities across the state to adpublic schools and free tuition for dress homelessness. the second year of community colI enjoy an excellent working relege, increases Cal Grants to make lationship with Newsom and look higher education accessible to more forward to working with him on this students, and adds funding for the year’s budget. His proposals will be UC and CSU systems. vetted thoroughly in an extensive seAlthough our economy is strong ries of Senate and Assembly Budget and our budget is in the best shape Committee hearings this spring, and in a generation, many individuals I am confident that, working togethand families are still struggling. er, we will craft a budget that once That’s why Newsom would like to again will reflect California’s values double the impact of California’s and move California forward. earned income tax credit — it would be the program’s third ex—Toni G. Atkins represents pansion in three years. He also the 39th District in the California wants to increase CalWORKS Senate. Follow her on Twitter grants to lift most children in the @SenToniAtkins.■

Halting the ivory trade protects elephants City Attorney News Mara W. Elliott Known for their keen intelligence, immense strength, and devotion to their young, elephants are unique and fascinating animals. Like other keystone species, they play a significant role in sustaining the ecosystems in which they live. They are also important cultural symbols and magnets for tourism, which make them crucial economic assets in developing nations. A century ago, there were as many as 5 million elephants across Africa. Now, there are fewer than 500,000. They are largely found in national parks and preserves, yet poachers still hunt and kill 96 elephants each day for their ivory tusks. At this rate, we have 10 years left to save them, or they’ll be gone forever. San Diego may be continents away from the brutality of ivory poaching, but we are working locally to halt the ivory demand that drives the senseless killing of these majestic creatures. With a few narrow exceptions, the sale of ivory products in California is illegal. It’s a serious law with serious consequences. In November 2018, my office filed criminal charges against the Carlton Gallery in La Jolla, its owner, and an employee for trafficking ivory in defiance

Mission Valley News

of California law. This prosecution follows the largest seizure of ivory products by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife since a state law, authored by state Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins of San Diego, banning their sale took effect in 2016. The investigation into Carlton Gallery began when officers from the Fish and Wildlife’s Trafficking Unit observed two art-deco sculptures that appeared to be made of ivory in the gallery’s Prospect Street display window. They returned and observed additional items that appeared to contain ivory. Through an undercover sting operation, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife seized more than 300 pieces of ivory, and items containing ivory, from the gallery and its warehouse. While we know the black-market value of the confiscated ivory is more than $1.3 million, we may never know how many animals were slaughtered to make these objects. Whatever the number, ivory trafficking is a reprehensible business. We are fortunate in San Diego to have the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, where we see these noble creatures for ourselves, and teach our children the gentle side of these towering figures — how they show empathy and affection, protect their families, and grieve their dead.

I hope this prosecution helps to educate San Diegans about the laws to protect elephants and other endangered animals that have ivory tusks and teeth. I also hope it sends a strong message to anyone who sells, or is thinking about selling, ivory on the black market in San Diego: We will find you, and we will prosecute you. If it weren’t for the sharp eyes of the undercover wildlife officers who spotted a potential ivory sculpture, Carlton Gallery could have continued to profit undetected from the slaughter of elephants. That’s why we need your help. If you suspect a business or individual is involved with illegal ivory trafficking in San Diego, please contact our Nuisance Abatement Unit, which oversees environmental and wildlife protection cases. Contact NAU at 619-5335500, cityattorney@sandiego. gov, or bit.ly/2MuHNIP. —Mara W. Elliott was elected City Attorney of San Diego in 2016 after serving as the chief deputy attorney for the Ofﬁce’s Public Services Section and legal adviser to the city’s Independent Audit Committee and Environment Committee. Elliott and the lawyers in her section held polluters accountable, reformed city contracting, cut administrative red tape, and strengthened the city’s living wage and non-discrimination in contracting ordinances.■

Feb. 15 – March 14, 2019

Corrupt Filner-era settlement ﬁnally amended District 7 Dispatch Scott

Sherman In a unanimous 8-0 vote, the San Diego City Council voted to amend a settlement between former disgraced Mayor Bob Filner and the CentrePoint apartment complex, now named Blvd63 Apartments located in Rolando. In 2013, Filner halted ongoing construction of the CentrePoint apartment buildings, a development that was already approved for construction and had all necessary permits. Filner stopped construction at the Centrepoint project by instructing the city’s Development Services staff to stop conducting inspections on completed phases, which kept the builders from moving to the next steps. Filner used the power of the mayor’s office to strong-arm the developer into paying $150,000 for neighborhood improvements and agreeing to rental restrictions in what former City

Attorney Jan Goldsmith deemed illegal. This action by Filner was the first of the many controversies that eventually forced him to resign from office. While it is unfortunate that the city continues to clean up Filner’s mess, the City Council’s recent action restored property rights to the owner and puts the corrupt practices of the Filner era behind us. I applaud my council colleagues for correcting these mistakes of the past and moving forward from Filner’s blatant misuse of power. This is a good reminder that big problems happen when elected officials abuse the power of their office. I hope everyone in elected office, local, state or federal will keep this in mind as they continue serving taxpayers. —San Diego City Councilmember Scott Sherman represents the District 7 neighborhoods of Mission Valley, Grantville, Allied Gardens, Del Cerro and San Carlos.■

8 Mission Valley News | Feb. 15 – March 14, 2019 San Diego to commemorate 250 years of history OLD TOWN TID-BITS Sunny Lee 1769 marks the year the first settlement of Alta California was established, which included a mission and presidio. The city of San Diego and Old Town Chamber of Commerce along with other community organizations have begun planning the 250th commemoration of the birth of San Diego to take place in 2019. This commemoration will include a year of events marking various significant moments throughout the history of San Diego. A main calendar of events will be hosted on the site oldtownsandiego.org/250th.

Keep an eye open for monthly lectures and historical activities throughout the year. Be sure to visit Old Town San Diego Sept. 14 and 15 to experience the Founders’ Day Festival and engage in family-friendly activities that commemorate the history of San Diego. If you are interested in participating in the festival or would like to sponsor the event, please contact the Old Town Chamber of Commerce at 619-291-4903 or email info@oldtownsandiego.org. —Sunny Lee is executive director of the Old Town Chamber of Commerce. Reach him at sunny@oldtownsandiego.org.■

A historic drawing of San Diego’s Old Town (Courtesy CA.gov)

COMMUNITY / NEWS Cannabis production facility approved in Linda Vista LINDA VISTA VIEWPOINTS Noli Zosa The Linda Vista Planning Group endorsed a third marijuana production facility located at 963 Buenos Ave. The 4,500-square-foot warehouse will be used for the production of marijuana products and not for any retail sale of marijuana. The vote was 12-1 in favor of the project. Thrive Charter School in Linda Vista, which just opened its doors in August 2018, are struggling to keep their doors open ever since the San Diego Unified School Board denied the renewal of their charter in a 4-0 vote of the board’s trustees. The trustees cited low test scores amongst its students. As for the school’s declining state test scores, Nicole Assisi, Thrive founder and CEO, has attributed them to the large numbers of new students Thrive has brought in every year, many of whom Assisi said came to Thrive because their former schools were not effective or are special-needs students. Thrive has grown from 45 students in 2014 and now number close to 1,000 students at the Linda Vista campus. In mid-March, the State Board of Education will vote to renew the charter.

uuNews briefs, from page 2 football home games and the San Diego Fleet, one of eight teams playing in the all new Alliance of American Football league. For a complete list of events, visit sandiego.gov/ stadium. SDCCU Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium. With a seating capacity of 70,561, SDCCU Stadium is located in the heart of Mission Valley. The stadium has hosted three Super Bowl games and has also hosted the 1978 and 1992 Major League Baseball All-Star Games, the 1996 and 1998 National League Division Series, the 1984 and 1998 National League Championship Series, and the 1984 and 1998 World Series. It is the only stadium ever to host both the Super Bowl and the World Series in the same year (1998).

Franciscan School relocates to USD

The University of San Diego (USD) and the Franciscan School of Theology (FST) announced today that the FST campus, currently located on the grounds at Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside, CA, will be relocating to the USD campus in San Diego in the summer of 2019. FST is the only freestanding, graduate-level school of Franciscan theology in the English-speaking world transmitting the rich heritage of

Chelsea Clinton speaking at USD about her new book, “She Persisted Around the World: 13 Women Who Changed History.” (Courtesy Noli Zosa)

The University of San Diego (USD) welcomed Chelsea Clinton to campus. She spoke about her book “She Persisted Around the World: 13 Women Who Changed History.” Her new children's picture book introduces 13 incredible women who have shaped history all across the globe. Her book has been praised by Publishers Weekly as a “lovely, moving work of children’s literature and a polished introduction to a diverse and accomplished group of women.” This is the second in her picture book series, following the 2017 No. 1 New York Times bestseller, “She Persisted:

13 American Women Who Changed the World.” The USD men’s basketball team continues to have a successful season with a current record of 16-9 with key victories over tough rivalry WCC Conference schools Loyola Marymount University and University of San Francisco. This week, USD hosts Brigham Young University and the biggest game of the season against No. 4 ranked Gonzaga on Saturday, Feb. 16 at Jenny Craig Pavilion. Limited tickets are available at usdtoreros.com.

Catholic theology flowing from the spiritual, social and ethical teachings of St. Francis of Assisi and developed by Franciscan theologians such as St. Bonaventure and Blessed John Duns Scotus. In 2013, USD and FST entered into an affiliation agreement to expand USD and FST graduate student opportunities across the breadth of their respective graduate curricular offerings and advance their respective missions in the Catholic intellectual tradition. Through the affiliation, FST graduate students can enroll in selected and approved USD graduate courses offered through the School of Leadership and Education Sciences, the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, the School of Business MBA program, and in certain undergraduate courses in the USD department of philosophy. These courses enhance the capabilities of FST graduate students to serve in stewardship roles in the Catholic Church and other mission-oriented institutions. Likewise, USD students may complement their graduate education with select coursework in theological studies through FST. With FST’s Oceanside campus moving to the USD campus, FST and USD graduate students will have more convenient access to both USD and FST courses that complement graduate degree programs. The affiliation and integrated location also provides new opportunities for

USD and FST faculty and students to collaborate in service, research and other scholarly activities. “Our move to the USD campus builds upon our relationship with USD and provides FST an opportunity to explore new ways of expressing and sharing our faith and service,” said Father Michael Higgins, TOR, president of the Franciscan School of Theology. “We are excited about bringing together the spiritual, theological and social riches of the Franciscan tradition and USD’s excellence in contemporary sciences, non-profit management, public service, peace work and more. USD’s strong dedication to its Catholic heritage and its vibrant Catholic community create a supportive environment for graduate studies in theology in the Franciscan intellectual tradition.” FST temporary facilities at USD will be located adjacent to the St. Francis Center for Priestly Formation. “The affiliation between the University of San Diego and the Franciscan School of Theology offers opportunities for special academic and program collaborations that will benefit the faculties, students, and communities of both USD and FST," said University of San Diego President James T. Harris. “As an anchor institution for the region, we look forward to warmly welcoming FST faculty and graduate students to the USD campus community in the coming months.”■

—Noli Zosa is chair of the Linda Vista Planning Group. Reach him at lvpgchair@gmail.com.■

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A ' Fami l iar' tal e

Theater Review Jean Lowerison Tradition vs. change, adaptation vs. assimilation and good old generational clashes are all pretty familiar topics to most of us, perhaps even more so to foreign transplants to the U.S. and their offspring. And family squabbles are common to most people. Iowa-born playwright/actor Danai Gurira, daughter

‘Familiar’ Runs through March 3 The Old Globe’s Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage 1363 Old Globe Way Balboa Park Tuesday and Wednesday at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m. Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m. Sunday at 2 and 7 p.m. Tickets: 619-234-5623 or theoldglobe.org

of Zimbabweans, dives into these topics in her latest play, “Familiar,” at the Old Globe through March 3. Gurira was recently on the big screen in the film “Black Panther” (recently nominated for seven Academy Awards), and was Tony-nominated for her earlier play “Eclipsed.” Zimbabwean immigrants Donald (Danny Johnson) and Marvelous Chinyaramwira (Cherene Snow) live in a charming two-story house in a Minneapolis suburb, complete with a chandelier, art on the walls and a shelf with Africanlook pots (credit set designer Walt Spangler). Above the fireplace a map of Zimbabwe is placed over a black-and-white art piece. Donald is an attorney; Marvelous a scientist. A wedding is in the offing for eldest daughter Tendikayi (Tendi). Tendi (Zakiya Young), an attorney like her dad, is marrying paleface American Chris (Lucas Hall), who works for a nonprofit human rights organization. The extended family is gathering for the rehearsal dinner. endi’s Aunt Margaret (Maggie) is on hand, resplendent in a colorful and fashionable dress and heels. Marvelous’

THEATER youngest sister is played with charm by Ramona Keller. Marvelous has decided the wedding will be “classy, civilized and modern.” As the family matriarch, she can be hard-nosed in approach, but means well. She has made the executive decision to assimilate into American life. Aunt Annie (Marvelous’ oldest sister), who still lives in Zimbabwe, is the exception. When she shows up, resplendent in African garb, tribal attitudes and an imperious manner, sparks fly. Bridegroom Chris is earnest and relatively clueless but adorably in love. He and Tendi want to include some elements of her African (Shona) culture in the proceedings. So they have agreed to a Roora (brideprice ceremony), which Annie will conduct. This will require Chris to bring a go-between — the prospective bridegroom is not allowed to negotiate for himself — so he brings his cousin Brad (Anthony Comis) along. Brad is, shall we say, quintessentially American, funny and absolutely wonderful. Donald and Marvi’s youngest daughter Nyasha (Olivia Washington), a songwriter, has just returned from a trip to Africa and is filled with musical inspiration. Unlike others in the family, Nyasha wants to embrace her African heritage.

Mission Valley News

Washington plays her with great energy and style. She also gets an absolutely hilarious scene. You have to see it to believe it. The second act gets much darker — unnecessarily so, it seems, but Edward Torres’ fine direction and this sparkling

Feb. 15 – March 14, 2019 cast carry you along, and Nyasha leaves the audience with a lovely ending. —Jean Lowerison is a long-standing member of the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle and can be reached at infodame@cox.net.■

Zakiya Young as Tendikayi (left) and Wandachristine as Anne (center) with Chris

(l to r) Danny Johnson as Donald Chinyaramwira and Lucas Hall as Chris (Photos by J.T. MacMillan)

‘Familiar’ runs through March 3 at The Old Globe Theatre.

10 Mission Valley News | Feb. 15 – March 14, 2019 Frank

Sabatini Jr. The newly remodeled Doubletree Hotel Circle and its rebranded restaurant, Seaglass, has brought on Rachel Jacobs as executive chef. The Ocean Beach resident previously held culinary positions at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club, Anthem in North Park, and the Hard Rock Cafe in the Gaslamp Quarter. Seaglass revamped a majority of the menu, with many dishes steering clear of gluten. In addition, about 20 percent of the options are vegetarian or vegan. One of her standout items includes a burger fashioned in the spirit of a California burrito. It’s topped with avocado, pico de gallo and French fries. The hotel also hired pastry chef Mirsonia Jimenez from

Puerto Rico. Her creations include Puerto Rican panna cotta known as coconut tembleque, and cheesecake swans made with cream cheese and caramel flan. 1515 Hotel Circle South, 619-881-6900, doubletreehotelcircle.com.

Panda Express in Mission Valley’s Park Village Center has closed and will make way for an eighth San Diego location of Breakfast Republic at 1570 Camino de la Reina. Owned by the locally-based Rise & Shine Restaurant Group, the transformation is due for completion in May. In the meantime, the company is introducing walk-up

windows to its Breakfast Republic properties in Pacific Beach (4465 Mission Blvd.) and the East Village (707 G St.). Named Eggies, they will operate from shipping containers and sell coffee drinks, English muffin sandwiches, and noshes such as firttatas and French toast served in small Mason jars. Both are slated to open in mid- to late spring. breakfastrepublic.com.

Chef Rachel Jacobs is raising the culinary bar in a remodeled Hotel Circle property. (Photo by Shauna Aguirre)

A third location of Farmer’s Table has emerged — this time in Little Italy. Conceived by Sicilian-born restaurateurs Alberto Morreale and his cousin, Vincenzo LoVerso, their latest opening precedes those in La Mesa and Bay Park. All three restaurants offer whimsical farmhouse décor, including red tractors in the dining rooms and AmericanMediterranean cuisine constructed largely with locally sourced ingredients. Their menu includes Neapolitan-style pizzas, duck gnocchi, artichoke ravioli and more. Breakfast and lunch are also served daily. 550 W. Date St., 619-255-0958, myfarmerstable.com.

A farm-inspired restaurant run by two Italian cousins has opened on Date Street. (Courtesy of Alternative Strategies)

After a six-week shutdown, the Point Loma location of Phil’s BBQ has reopened. The restaurant had temporarily closed for a remodel, which resulted in a fresh paint job, expanded dining and bar areas, and the addition of television screens. A spokesperson for the Phil’s BBQ in Point Loma has received a fresh recompany said the model. (Courtesy of Brown Marketing Strategies Inc.) modernized look is more in line with most of the seven other locawere no changes to the menu. tions throughout San Diego 3750 Sports Arena Blvd., 619County, adding that there 226-6333, philsbbq.net.

San Diego gourmand Mary Kay Waters recently released a cookbook of recipes from her culinary ventures. (Photo courtesy of Waters Fine Foods & Catering)

Mission Hills has seen the much-anticipated arrival of Fort Oak, a restaurant specializing in wood-fired cooking by Trust Restaurant Group, which includes executive chef Brad Wise and genMission Hills is abuzz with the recent opening of Fort eral manager Oak. (Photo by Jim Sullivan) Steve Schwob. The 3,400-square-foot venture dealership facade and into opened Jan. 16 to a menu an inviting bar and four disfeaturing seafood towers, tinct dining areas. The bar rabbit sausage, aged rib-eye, opens daily at 3 p.m., followed local duck and hearth-grilled by dinner service starting branzino. at 5 p.m., and brunch is ofAnchored in Jonathan fered from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Segal’s new mixed-use buildSaturdays and Sundays. 1011 ing, The Fort, customers Fort Stockton Drive, 619-722enter through an old Ford 3398, fortoaksd.com.

Businesses and event organizers throughout San Diego that have employed Waters Fine Foods & Catering for their special events now have access to many of the recipes that owner Mary Kay Waters has used over the 30 years she’s been in business. Her new 240-page hardcover cookbook, “Waters Fine Foods — Stories and Recipes from our Kitchen,” is hot off the press and available for $28 at various outlets: Specialty Produce (1929 Hancock St.), Warwick’s (7912 Girard Ave.), and Waters Fine Catering Cafe (1125 W. Morena Blvd.) Replete with color photography, the book features chapters on breakfast, salads, soups, sandwiches, entrees, desserts and more. It is also available on the website at waterscatering.com.

Joining a collective of 30-plus culinary tenants at Liberty Public Market is the upcoming Hold Fast, a fast-casual concept featuring sashimi and hand rolls by Chef Rob Ruiz, who also owns The Land & Water Company in Carlsbad. Committed to ocean conservation, Ruiz is slated to becoming the first chef/ restaurateur in San Diego to be officially certified by the James Beard Foundation for sustainable seafood practices. Hold Fast will use locally sourced seafood, California-grown organic rice, and organic produce from area farmers. The venture is due to open in February. 2820 Historic Decatur Road, 619-487-9346, bluebridgehospitality.com. Sustainable sashimi and hand rolls are coming to Liberty Public Market. (Photo by Sam Wells)

—Frank Sabatini Jr. can be reached at fsabatini@san.rr.com.■

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FOOD & DRINK

Under a `wich’ spell New Mission Valley eatery raises the bar on sandwiches

Restaurant Review Frank Sabatini Jr. Food historians say the modern sandwich emerged during the mid-1700s in England, when John Montague, the fourth Earl of Sandwich, demanded that plates of bread, cheese and meat be brought to him while he gambled over card games. In order to keep one hand free, he would clasp the ingredients with his bread and continue playing. Other players caught on to the maneuver. And eventually so did the rest of the world, thus giving “sandwich” its name. Montague today would need two hands and a few extra napkins to consume the loaded creations at Wich Addiction, a gourmet sandwich shop that launched in Sorrento Valley nearly seven years ago to the tune of house-roasted meats and crafty scratch-made condiments.

The ‘three little pigs’ sandwich

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The eatery recently branched into Friars Mission Center in Mission Valley, ironically in direct eyeshot of Subway within that plaza’s food court. But chef and co-owner Dyann Manning isn’t concerned. She knows, like everyone else, that when biting into a sandwich of processed turkey at Subway, for example,

Southwest chicken salad

the flavor and quality hardly compares to turkey breasts that are baked and sliced onsite at Wich Addiction. Those same stark differences apply to all

Shrimp po’boy

Mission Valley News

Feb. 15 – March 14, 2019

Wich Addiction 5664 Mission Center Road (Mission Valley) 619-269-7269 wichaddiction.com Prices: Salads, $7.85 to $13.85 French fries and potato chips, $1.50 to $4 Sandwiches, $7.95 to $11.95 of the proteins used at the two eateries. Manning is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. She runs Wich Addiction with her husband, Mark. The couple originally founded Devilicous, a food truck that earned them national publicity in 2011 when they became contestants on Food Network’s “The Great Food Truck Race.” Despite being eliminated in the competition, sales spiked, and they soon sold the business to open Wich Addiction in Sorrento Valley. One of the carryovers from the early Devilicious days is the shrimp po’boy, which Manning calls “our $200,000 sandwich because it has sold like crazy over the past eight years.” And rightfully so. Within the sandwich are tempura-battered

Chimichurri steak sandwich (Photos by Frank Sabatini Jr.)

shrimp of decent size, arranged snugly with garlicky pickles, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and Sriracha aioli. The toasted French roll is discernibly buttered, as are the rolls and breads used for all other Wich Addiction’s sandwiches. After being struck with indecision at the imposing wall menu listing nearly 20 sandwich choices, the two of us ended up also chomping into roasted turkey with jalapeno aioli and provolone cheese; steak with chimichurri; and the “three little pigs” featuring layers of applewood bacon, Virginia smoked ham, seared pork loin, and provolone. For that, the proteins were thoughtfully accented with lemon aioli, which cuts through the fatty essence of the fillings and practically refreshed our palates after every bite. While encroaching on the turkey breast sandwich with its bravely spicy aioli and finely grilled sourdough, a couple of house-made lemonades rose to the occasion. One was flavored with pureed strawberries and the other was spiked judiciously with cucumbers and mint. You don’t need a hot, muggy day to gulp them down. Manning pairs house-made chimichurri sauce to medium-rare hanger steak, resulting in an Argentinian tango of deep and zesty flavors. She cuts the lean meat into clean slices, which gives it a lush texture similar to filet mignon. I typically avoid steak sandwiches in restaurants because of those inevitable chewy spots. Yet right

to the end, this had no gnarly roadblocks. Two recent additions to the menu are a Southwest chicken salad, and a hot pastrami sandwich using a half-pound of the meat. We kicked off our visit with the former, which yielded a generous amount of faintly seasoned breast meat. The feisty chipotle ranch dressing served on the side gave rise to the corn, black beans, red peppers and cherry tomatoes contained within the salad. Other noteworthy dressings include an oil-free concoction of lime, coconut, cilantro and fish sauce. It’s used on the Thai chicken salad. There is also a preserved lemon vinaigrette that takes Manning three months to make. Used normally on the spinach salad with seared salmon, we asked for a side portion to drizzle onto our turkey sandwich. We loved every drop. Subsequent visits are in order for trying a host of other sandwiches that include hand-breaded fried chicken; seared salmon with maple Sriracha; pork belly banh mi; and shaved leg of lamb with raita and tomato chutney, which for its sheer uniqueness, is definitely next on my list. —Frank Sabatini Jr. is the author of ‘Secret San Diego’ (ECW Press) and began his local writing career more than two decades ago as a staffer for the former San Diego Tribune. You can reach him at fsabatini@san.rr.com.■

12 Mission Valley News | Feb. 15 – March 14, 2019 Pet overpopulation Sari Reis February is Spay/Neuter Awareness Month so I thought it would be appropriate to address the issue of pet overpopulation and what we can do about it. Some clarification for those of you who may not know what these terms mean. Spaying is the surgical removal of a female animal’s reproductive organs including the ovaries and uterus, so she cannot become pregnant. Neutering is the surgical removal of a male animal’s testicles so he cannot impregnate a female. Dogs and cats that have undergone these procedures are often referred to as “fixed” or “altered.” Before 1973, upwards of 13 million animals were taken in by animal shelters each year across this country. Without enough resources to sustain them or enough people offering to adopt them, millions of these healthy animals were euthanized. In 1973, spaying and neutering became standard procedures by most veterinarians across the country and shelters were doing mandatory spay and neutering before a dog was adopted out of the shelter. As a result of this, the numbers of dogs and cats presenting to shelters and being euthanized have been dramatically reduced.

Although statistics vary, the current number of dogs and cats entering shelters is between 6 and 8 million and the number being euthanized has been lowered exponentially. This of course is great news but still much more needs to be done. Best Friends Animal Society, located in Kanab, Utah, is a nonprofit organization that is advocating for no-kill shelters and rescues across this country. What this means is that no healthy or treatable companion animal will be killed, even if the shelter is full. Euthanization will be reserved for terminally ill animals or those considered dangerous to public safety. I am happy to announce that San Diego County shelters are all no-kill. In a no-kill society, it is imperative that pet population growth is managed. Most veterinarians, rescue organizations and animal advocates are in favor of sterilization. Why? Because it works. The current dilemma is whether spaying and neutering are the best solutions for rendering our dogs and cats sterile. Many holistic veterinarians, including the well-renowned Dr. Karen Becker, feel that the complete removal of the ovaries and uterus of a female animal and the testicles of a male animal can cause a major hormonal imbalance leading to

LIFESTYLE / LIBRARY Cardio options when your treadmill is taken

various health issues such as higher rates of obesity, incontinence, hip dysplasia, CCL rupture, behavior problems and diabetes to name a few. The benefits of the complete removal of sex organs (gonadectomy) include reduced types of cancer, mammary and testicular, hernias, cysts, etc. It appears the outcome of the surgery can depend on the animal’s breed, size, and most importantly their age at the time of the surgery. There are now several alternatives being suggested and utilized to sterilize without creating the hormonal imbalance. These include vasectomies for male dogs or the injection of a sperm-necrotizing agent into the testicles (Zeuterin). For female dogs, tubal ligation and hysterectomies that leave the ovaries intact are being investigated and researched. Since there are advantages and disadvantages to all of these methods, the responsible pet parent should do their due diligence before selecting the best method of sterilization for their individual dog or cat. Whatever decision you make will affect your pet for its lifetime. —Sari Reis is a certiﬁed humane education specialist and the owner of Mission Valley Pet Sitting Services. For more information, you can contact her at 760-644-0289 or missionvalleypetsitting.com.■

Taxes. Just the word makes you shiver, doesn’t it? Not necessarily paying them — after all, your taxes support your local library (and thank you for that). But the act of preparing taxes is a daunting prospect for many people. Where do you find the forms? Who will help you do it properly? Are there mystery tax credits that could save you money — and you’re missing them? As with so many things, the library is here for you. The Mission Valley Branch Library is hosting a weekly tax clinic on Tuesdays through April 9 from 1-7 p.m., with tax preparers from the nonprofit Home Start, Inc. This clinic is for people who earned $54,000 or less last year, and is by appointment only. To make an appointment, call 619-283-3624 and leave a message, or go to myfreetaxes.org. This website can also connect you with other free tax clinics. There are also walk-in tax clinics at several other library locations until Tax Day: ● Allied Gardens Library: Mondays, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Fridays 12:30 to 4 p.m., 619-533-3970 ● College-Rolando Library: Wednesdays 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Thursdays 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 619-533-3902 ● North University Community Library: Thursdays 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., 858-581-9637

● Pacific Beach/Taylor Library: Mondays 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., 858-581-9934 ● Point Loma/Hervey Library: Tuesdays and Fridays, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 619-531-1539 ● Serra Mesa-Kearny Mesa; Fridays 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., 858-573-1396 Some words to the wise: Call before you go, because at almost every library there is one week when, for whatever reason, they do not have a clinic. Also, go early. Clinics fill up, and many volunteer tax preparers stop accepting signups at 3:30 p.m. But in some cases, if they run out of space, they will allow you to sign up for a priority slot on a future date. And bring your documents with you, or the volunteers won’t be able to help you. This includes a picture ID, a copy of last year’s tax returns, your W-2s and 1099s, and day care expense documentation and other receipts if you are itemizing. Also, spouses filing jointly both need to be there. If none of these clinics work for you, don’t lose hope, there is a tax clinic locator on the IRS website at irs.treasury.gov/ freetaxprep/, or you can call the AARP tax aide locator at 1-888-227-7669. Ready to do your taxes yourself? Good for you! The library can help with that, too. You may have noticed that the IRS and the California Franchise Tax Board distribute fewer and fewer tax forms and booklets each year. Some of our libraries still get a limited selection

Many people have a favorite cardio machine that they use at the gym. So imagine when that machine is taken by someone else. Do you sit around and wait for it to become free? Do you go home? Next time this happens, consider finding a quiet spot to do some cardio moves without any equipment. There are several things you can do to help reduce fat and increase your heart rate without having to rely on a machine. A lot of these moves also incorporate some weight training, so you will get the benefit of doing cardio while also toning your muscles. Variety creates adaptation, so look at this as an opportunity to shock your bod. Move through your exercises quickly and take about a minute break in between to help you catch your breath. Once you do these, your beloved treadmill may not be your favorite way to workout anymore — and in reality, it shouldn’t be anyway.

Air jump rope

Pretend to jump rope without the actual rope. Jump up and down while making circular motions with your arms. Engage your core and glutes and keep your shoulders down. Continue for about two minutes before taking a quick break.

Libraries offer tax prep help Karen Reilly

Fitness Together Blake and Gwen Beckcom

Explosive star jump

Stand with your feet hip-distance apart and add some weight to your heels. Then squat down before pushing through your heels and toes to jump up, lifting your arms overhead and bringing your legs out to your sides. This should resemble a jumping jack. Land on your toes and return to your starting position. Repeat the jump 15 times.

(Graphic courtesy San Diego Library)

of forms: the Central Library and the North University Community Branch have federal 1040 forms and instructions and California 540 forms, and the following branches have a limited selection of California state tax forms: ● Carmel Mountain Ranch Library ● Carmel Valley Library ● Clairemont Library ● Kensington-Normal Heights Library ● Logan Heights Library ● Mountain View/ Beckwourth Library ● North Clairemont Library ● Oak Park Library ● Pacific Beach/Taylor Library ● Serra Mesa-Kearny Mesa Library ● Skyline Hills Library ● University Community Library If you need something else, you can find federal forms See TAXES page 14

Donkey kick

Starting in a standing position, place both of your hands on the floor in front of you. Tighten your core, slightly bend your knees and kick your left leg back toward the ceiling while keeping your right leg bent. Control your left leg as you return it to the ground. Complete this 10 times before repeating it on the other side.

Ice skater

Begin in a curtsy lunge by stepping your left foot back diagonally behind your right foot. Bring your left hand to the floor before exploding up and to the side while switching legs. Land softly with your right foot behind your left foot to complete your first rep. Quickly move from side to side for 20 reps.

Break dancer

Begin in a tabletop position with your knees on the ground. Lower your right leg under

your body while lifting your left hand off the ground. Touch your right knee to your left elbow before returning to your starting position. This exercise is often referred to as a bird dog, named after a pointing dog. These canines point and freeze to show the master where the quarry hides. If you can add a one- or two-count pause in your extended pose, you will gain more core work. Finish 20 reps and then switch to the other side.

Plank to squat

Begin in a high plank, keeping your shoulders stacked over wrists and your core engaged. Jump your feet to the outside of your hands and come down to a squat. Push up with your hands to bring your hips up and return to a plank position. Repeat this move 15 times.

Long jump

Stand up straight and separate your feet wider than your hips, with your toes pointed outward. Squat and bring your hands to the floor. Jump up with your heels and toes up and forward, lifting your arms overhead. After landing softly, try to jump up and one foot forward. Repeat the jump 20 times.

Frog hop

Similar to the long jump in the initial stance, but differing in the extension phase, is the frog hop. Keep your hips lower to the ground, and shorten the explosive move from the start point, leaving your hands at your side. Jump distance due to the shorter explosive phase is more in the 6- to 12-inch range, and hence a tad faster overall movement from start to stop. This is an absolute butt burner. Repeat the hop 20 times.

Mountain climber burpee

Begin in a plank position and bring your left knee to your right elbow before quickly switching to the other side. Do these four times so you have done a total of eight. Then, jump your feet to the outside of your hands while you sit into a squat. Jump up, reaching your arms over your head, and bend over returning your hands to the floor. Return to a plank position. Repeat the burpee 5 times. Completing this group of moves in a circuit will amp up your heart rate and get your body pumping. Based on fitness level, a round or a few rounds of this may be a workout for some. For others, it may be a good jumping off point for an even better overall workout. The key is to not let unavailability of a certain cardio piece you might like hamper your resolve to keep at it. Variety is what your body craves to change. —Blake and Gwen Beckcom run Fitness Together Mission Hills. Contact them at ﬁtnesstogether.com/missionhills or call 619-794-0014.■

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BUSINESS / LIBRARY 14 Mission Valley News | Feb. 15 – March 14, 2019 Home remodel tax write oﬀs? Rethink retirement communities ASK KATHY Kathy McSherry Hi Kathy: My husband and I have been thinking about remodeling our home instead of selling and moving to a newer home. We have many memories here and we feel that will it improve our home’s value and at the same time preserve our wonderful memories. As tax time approaches, can we write off the cost of the remodel? —John M. Hi John: What a great question as many of us are uncertain about this pause in the real estate market. Updating your home will typically always provide value, depending on what you do and/or how much you spend on your project. If you use your home primarily as a personal residence, tax laws do not allow you to deduct the cost of the home improvement. They would be considered nondeductible personal expenses.

u Taxes, from page 12 online at irs.gov/forms-pubs, or order them by calling 1-800829-3676; California state forms are available at ftb. ca.gov/forms/search, or by calling 1-800-852-5711. We can also print forms out for you here at the library, for $.20 a page (at this price, you really

What you need to do is keep track of all the expenses that you do for your home improvements while you are living there and when it is time to sell your home, you may be able to reduce your taxes in the year that your home sells. Remodeling breaks down into two categories for taxes: the cost of home improvements versus the cost of repairs. You will want to add the cost of your home improvements to your tax basis. Your tax basis is the amount that you subtract from your sales price to determine your profits. If your remodel adds value to your home, like a new roof, a new alarm system, new windows, a new addition, and certain energy-saving improvements, this amount will go into the sales price and now be an adjusted basis. If you make a profit, it is that gain that may be taxable. Generally, that gain can be up to $250,000 for a single tax filer or $500,000 for a couple filing jointly. The goal is to reduce or avoid paying taxes when you sell your home.

Also, if a portion of your home is used for business you may be able to write off a portion of your home as part of the adjusted basis through depreciation. In addition, the cost of repairs for that portion of the home may be currently deductible. Another thing to remember is if your area has gone way up or you have lived in your home for years and you have a great gain when you sell, you can reduce the taxable gain by including the improvements in the cost basis. Taxes can be confusing, but we all want to save money. I always recommend speaking with a professional tax consultant or CPA. I would also keep all my receipts in a folder under home improvements and note each item. Good record keeping, which can be annoying, can also potentially save you money in the end. Here’s to your new remodel!

won’t want to print out that instruction booklet, though). Keep in mind that we can’t help you decide what form to use. For that information, you need to go to one of our tax clinics. Finally, maybe it’s time to explore the brave new world of e-filing your taxes! Many taxpayers can file online for free directly with the IRS and

the California Franchise Tax Board. The IRS e-filing site can be found at irs.gov/filing/efile-options, and the California FTP site is at bit.ly/2BtpUWE. (A Google search for “California FTB e-filing” will also get you there).

—Kathy McSherry is a Realtor at Compass. Email your questions to Kathy. mcsherry@compass.com or call 702-328-9905.■

—Karen Reilly is managing librarian of the Mission Valley Library.■

Mission Valley Money Steve Doster Over the years, it seems that more and more people have opted to move out of their homes and into a retirement community. There is an outdated stereotype that retirement communities are meant for the old and sick. Today, retirement communities are full of independent, healthy and active retirees. A retirement community is for people who want to enjoy their retirement without the added burden of doing household chores, paying property taxes, and sometimes even cooking, all while celebrating their newfound freedom to engage in activities of their choice. A retirement community typically offers several levels of care: independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, and memory care. Independent living includes apartments, cottages or villas with full or half kitchens. A person in independent living is usually one who needs little or no assistance with their day-to-day living activities. Residents can cook, drive, and often bring their own cars onsite. They can participate in the full social and activities calendar offered by the community, and they also have access to a home maintenance service which includes housekeeping, home repairs, and landscaping. Residents in independent living have an active life and continue to live that life inside and outside the community. Assisted living is meant for people who do not necessarily require ongoing medical assistance but require assistance with activities of daily living. These activities can include bathing, grooming, dressing, or medication management. Several retirement communities offer assisted living help inside the comfort of your own onsite residence, while some communities require residents to move into a private or shared room. Residents can enjoy their meals in several onsite restaurants, participate in community social activities, and continue to live their life to the fullest knowing that their day-to-day needs are being cared for. Skilled nursing includes 24-hour nursing care and emergency response systems by qualified nurses. In order to have access to nursing care, one must move into a private or semi-private room in the onsite nursing facility. Individuals receive around-the-clock care in addition to help with activities of daily living, medication management, and hospice care if required. Physical, occupational and speech therapy may also be provided. Several places also offer short-term rehabilitation services to recoup after a surgery. Memory care provides a safe and home-like environment for a person with dementia, Alzheimer’s or any other memory impairing condition. Most communities offer a secure residence where individuals can live in their own

apartment with around-theclock care. They have access to meals in a family kitchen and other activities through a customized care plan meant to preserve their independence. A retirement community can have anywhere from one to all four levels of care. A facility with all four levels of care is called a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC). This progressive model is ideal for someone who moves in and expects to live there for the rest of their life. A CCRC typically expects a client to start at the independent living level and then move into upper levels of care as needed. The communities have strict health qualification standards and may in certain cases not accept a client based on pre-existing conditions. Because they are all-encompassing, these facilities can often be very expensive. Other communities may offer one or two of these levels of care and are open to taking an individual at any level of health. However, this will require a client to move into a separate community if additional levels of care are required. Although they will often receive assistance to select a new community, the onus ultimately lies on family members or friends to decide. There are several reasons people move into a retirement community, from health to financial to social. For some, they may want to offload the housekeeping and maintenance to someone else, while maintaining their independence. Residents may like having the option to cook in a kitchen but would prefer to eat freshly prepared meals in a restaurant. Others may not be able to make their monthly mortgage payments and pay the ever-increasing property taxes each year. Throw in HOA fees and living at your home could actually be more expensive than a retirement community. For some, paying a once-per-month, all-inclusive rental fee may be advantageous. Contact our firm if you would like our complimentary retirement community guide outlining the costs and payment plans of several retirement communities in San Diego. We created this report to help clients and families save time understanding the complexities of making an important decision like this. Take the time to learn about the latest innovations at retirement communities. They are thriving communities for seniors at all stages of health (just like any other population). Moving to a retirement community can eliminate the feeling of isolation in your home by providing a social circle and a feeling of bonding, all while keeping your independence intact. —Steve Doster, CFP is the financial planning manager at Rowling & Associates – a fee-only wealth management firm in Mission Valley helping individuals create a worry-free financial life. Rowling & Associates helps people with their taxes, investments, and retirement planning. Read more articles at rowling.com/blog.■

TRAVEL 8 reasons to love St. Louis

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Mission Valley News

Feb. 15 – March 14, 2019

Global Gumshoe Ron Stern No one could ever accuse St. Louis of being dull. With a championship baseball team, deliciously diverse cuisine, and a rich cultural heritage, this city has an iconic mix that locals adore and visitors enthusiastically embrace. Here is a small tasting menu of the best St. Louis has to offer.

The Gateway Arch

Looming over the city, the Gateway Arch is a marvel of engineering skill. The 630-foottall structure was built as a tribute to President Thomas Jefferson and is the tallest man-made monument in the United States. The impressive visitor’s center is where you will learn about the history of the arch and from where you will take a tram to the top for sweeping views of the St. Louis skyline. And don’t miss a unique perspective of the arch from a one-hour, narrated cruise of the Mississippi with Gateway Arch Riverboats.

Cardinals baseball

On game days, locals can be seen wearing red and white hats and jerseys all over town. And why not? The St. Louis Cardinals are the most successful National League team in the history of the sport, winning 11 World Series. Be sure to take in a game at Busch Stadium while you are here and capture the spirit.

Fabulous barbecue

There’s no doubt that the people of St. Louis love their barbecue. Famous for their signature rectangular cut, St. Louis spare ribs are known worldwide. Here, you will

The Missouri Botanical Gardens (Photos by Ron Stern)

‘Eros Bendato’ sculpted by Igor Mitoraj in Citygarden Park

find the best in smoked ribs, brisket, pork, and turkey both downtown and in the local neighborhoods. Restaurants like Sugarfire, Bogart’s, Pappy’s, and Salt + Smoke have loyal followings for their particular cooking methods and house-made sauces. Salt + Smoke was also recently awarded the 2018 Readers’ Choice Award for the No.1 macaroni and cheese in the city. You certainly won’t leave St. Louis hungry.

Benton Park neighborhood. This East Coast-style crab shack offers lobster rolls and boils with all the sides in a fast-casual atmosphere. All of their seafood is flown in daily but make your reservation early!

Cultural attractions

With more than 30 diverse museums as well as gardens, parks, and open spaces, St. Louis has a rich cultural landscape. Outdoor attractions include The St. Louis Zoo — voted The Nation’s Best Zoo by USA Today Readers’ Choice Awards — and the Missouri Botanical Gardens, among the top three botanical gardens in the world. There are also museums dedicated to history, art, children, photography, and science, and what’s even better is that most offer free admission. The National Blues Museum, which celebrates and preserves the history of this modern American art form, is here as

The Gateway Arch is the tallest man-made monument in the U.S.

well. According to the St. Louis Blues Society, there are more blues music artists here than anywhere else in the world.

Liquid refreshment

With more than 60 breweries (including Anheuser-Busch), craft beers and brewpubs, St Louis is one of the best places to satisfy your thirst. Even some top-notch non-alcoholic drinks are made here such as Fitz’s Premium Root Beer. At Fitz’s, they make a variety of craft sodas and 20 different floats like the humongous Mt. Everest — vanilla and chocolate ice cream stacked atop their signature root beer. Consider this the mother of all root beer floats!

Culinary bliss

Over the years, a blending of cultures has provided St. Louis with a tasty tapestry of restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and bistros. At Sidney Street Café, Chef Kevin Nashan, a James Beard Best Chef: Midwest award winner, infuses his creativity into every dish of his New American cuisine. Not uncommonly, many who move away from St. Louis return to their roots years later. Former Chef de Cuisine Michael Gallina (of the highly touted Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Tarrytown, NY) recently opened Vicia together with his wife Tara in a technology and innovation section of St. Louis known as Cortex. Using fresh ingredients from local farms, they serve vegetable-forward food in a daytime casual atmosphere with fine dining at night. With wait times as long as five hours, Peacemaker Lobster and Crab Co. has been a huge success since opening in the

Sweet and tempting

Some of the sweetest things in life are made right here in St. Louis. This includes Switzer’s cherry twists, the gourmet popcorn at Sweets & Treats of St. Louis and Mom’s Originals chocolate-covered pretzels. Then there are the St. Louis institutions such as the Chippewa neighborhood’s Ted Drewes. The usual lines of fans tell the story of this long-standing location that has been selling frozen custard in the form of malts, concretes, shakes, and sundaes for more than 80 years. Gooey Louie’s Butter Cake is another St. Louis favorite. What started out as a baking error turned into a local confection sensation featuring a creamy, moist cake that is sold all over the city. While you probably are familiar with microbreweries, how about a “microcreamery?” Picture handcrafted ice cream made in small batches with natural ingredients and a high butterfat content and you will get the idea. Fortunately, you can find such an establishment right here in trendy Lafayette Square at Clementine’s Naughty and Nice Creamery. Owner Tamara Keefe chucked a $75 million corporate career to pursue her real passion — making ice cream! Open since 2015, her shop uses hormone and rBST-free milk from local, grass-fed, pasture-raised cows, and all of the 100

Sugarﬁre Smokehouse serves up St. Louis’ famous barbeque.

Where to stay: Magnolia Hotel Centrally located, this historic hotel was made famous as the birthplace of the “chocolate on a pillow” custom started by Cary Grant who stayed here. percent natural ingredients are churned into a decadent 16-18 percent butterfat ice cream. In fact, Keefe says that she is the only certified, all natural, ice cream maker in Missouri. With flavors like Gooey Butter Cake and Strawberry Balsamic and boozy (the “naughty” part of the shop’s moniker) selections such as Maple Bourbon and Chocolate Cabernet, this is an ice cream worthy of poems.

Historical neighborhoods

The more than 80 local neighborhoods, many of which have been revitalized, are part of what makes St. Louis a remarkable, historic city. The downtown area, for example, includes the Gateway Arch, City Museum, National Blues Museum, and an abundance of restaurants, nightlife, and sports venues. If you are in the mood for a good calzone or tiramisu, head over to The Hill district, dubbed as Little Italy. At the Belmar Loop in University City, you can find that old classic record at Vintage Vinyl, take in a movie at the restored 1924 Tivoli Theater, or dine among nostalgic memorabilia at Blueberry Hill. The six-block area includes its own Walk of Fame featuring 140 brass stars lining the streets. St. Louis seems to quickly work its magic on travelers visiting the city for the first time. You can visit museums in the morning, take in a Cardinals game in the afternoon, dine on the best barbecue in the evening, and then top it off with some of the best ice cream in the country, all in just one day. Come experience the excitement for yourself and see why so many are in love with St. Louis. —Reach Ron Stern at travelwriter01@comcast.net or visit his blog at globalgumshoe.com. This was a sponsored visit; all of the meals, accommodations, transportation, and attractions were provided at no cost for this review. All opinions herein are the author’s.■

16 Mission Valley News | Feb. 15 – March 14, 2019

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Mission Valley News

COMMUNITY AND ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR FEATURED EVENTS

TUESDAY

SATURDAY Feb. Feb.

Justice touring his new fantasy novel “Black Leopard, Red Wolf.” Tickets are $32 for one or $42 for two. All ticket purchases include a signed copy of the book. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. 5998 Alcala Park. bit.ly/2SGzD5K

Feb.

‘The Leisure Seeker’

The Hemlock Society of San Diego is hosting a free fi lm night at the Mission Valley branch library. They will be showing the 2017 dramady “The Leisure Seeker” staring Helen Mirren and Donald Sutherland. 1:30–3:30 p.m. 2123 Fenton Parkway.

MONDAY

Feb.

The Harlem Globetrotters

Library Book Club

What's better than reading the latest literary fiction or nonfiction? Having a group of people reading the same thing and sharing their impressions! The read for February is 2018 One Book One San Diego selection “March, Book One” by Congressman John Lewis, writer Andrew Aydin and novelist Nate Powell. Copies of the book are available for checkout at the library. 6:30–8 p.m. in the library Community Room, 2123 Fenton Parkway.

Legendary basketball wizards, The Harlem Globetrotters, make their way to Pechanga Arena to play the Washington Generals and wow audiences with their fantastic feats of speed and skill. Tickets start at $24. Show starts at 7 p.m. 3500 Sports Arena Blvd. bit.ly/2SGF8kU

Feb.

Friends of the Library

Join members of the Friends of the Mission Valley Library and library staff to discuss ongoing projects, library goals, fundraising, and to learn how the organization helps support the city’s libraries. Meeting takes place in Seminar Room B. 6:30–7:30 p.m. 2123 Fenton Parkway.

Marine Technology Society

The Marine Technology Society San Diego — a nonprofit organization established to promote the exchange of information in ocean and marine engineering, science, and policy — will host its monthly meeting at Andrés Restaurant. Join members and speakers for an evening of dining and learn more about the ways the society supports local marine technology and sustainability. 1235 Morena Blvd. $20. To RSVP, email rsvp@mts-sandiego.org

SUNDAY

Feb.

WEDNESDAY

San Diego Strike Force and CrazyTown X

The San Diego Strike Force, the region’s newest indoor football team, will play its home opener against the Tucson Sugar Skulls at Pechanga Arena. CrazyTown X, the band best known for the 2000 hit single “Butterfly,” will perform at game. Tickets start at $15. Kickoff is at 5:05 p.m. 3500 Sports Arena Blvd. bit.ly/2MYZzUI

FRIDAY

March

World CBD Expo

The World CBD Expo will focus on vendors, presentations, seminars from experts and professionals, as well as personal testimonies from people that have experienced the benefits of CBD and want to spread their experiences. The Expo will attract buyers, entrepreneurs, professionals, and consumers from all over the world who are interested in the expanding market for CBD. Tickets $30. Located at the Town and Country resort, 500 Hotel Circle North. bit.ly/2SDhm9m

March

USD Wind Ensemble Presents: ‘Air’

Award-winning author Marlon James, author of “A Brief History of Seven Killings” will be at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and

The second concert in a threepart series, “Land, Air and Sea” features the Point Loma High School band at the Shiley Theatre. This program explores the vast above, starting with the history of manned flight in David Gillingham’s “Aerodynamics” before soaring toward Michael Daugherty’s “Star Trek” homage, “Vulcan.” Free. 5998 Alcala Park.

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THURSDAY

Black Leopard, Red Wolf

March

Latino Film Festival

The Media Arts Center San Diego invites residents to the 26th annual San Diego Latino Film Festival. For 11 nights the festival will present more than 160 films from Latin America, the United States and Spain. It also featured Opening Night and Closing Night Parties; the 4th annual Sabor Latino food, beer & wine festival; Q&A sessions with visiting filmmakers; free student screenings; and more. Audiences will have the opportunity to meet filmmakers and actors from all over the world. Passes start at $120. bit.ly/2SGmLMV

SATURDAY

Circus Vargas Finale

Join Circus Vargas for their fi nal performance at Westfield Mission Valley. The traveling big top circus journeys back to the golden era of circus with “The Greatest of Ease” in San Diego. Jampacked with aerial feats, acrobatics and clowning, not to mention a colorful cast of characters, world-class performers, singing, comedy and more, the show has plenty of treasures for the whole family to enjoy. Tickets $40. bit.ly/2Fk8crk

FRIDAY

March

Breast Cancer Management

THURSDAY

Feb.

Small Fry Drive-In

Rev your engines and get the popcorn! In this program at the Mission Valley Library, children will make their own “cars” from cardboard boxes. After the decorating is done, kids can sit in their new vehicles to watch a movie. Cardboard boxes are limited and registration is required for those who want to decorate a box, but all are welcome to enjoy the movie after. Free. 2123 Fenton Parkway. bit.ly/2SHo7a8

Join Armstrong Garden Center in Mission Valley as they help take the guesswork out of gardening in this free class. Learn gardening basics and gain the confidence to grow your favorite fruits, veggies, flowers and more. 9–10 a.m. 1364 Morena Blvd.

Feb.

SUNDAY

March

Gardening for Beginners

March

SATURDAY

WEDNESDAY

special guests SIXES and Gutter. Doors open at 8 p.m. with show at 8:30 p.m. 21-plus. Tickets are $12 advanced or $16 at the door. 1130 Buenos Ave. bit.ly/2SLWqNm

SATURDAY

Panic! At The Disco

SUNDAY

Feb.

FRIDAY

Feb.

Grammy nominated group Panic! At The Disco will perform at Pechanga Arena on the second part of their Pray for the Wicked tour. Tickets start at $100. Show begins at 7 p.m. 3500 Sports Arena Blvd. bit.ly/2MYF3DT

THURSDAY

‘House of Broken Angels’ Dinner Adventure

Conan at Brick by Brick

British doom metal trio Conan will perform with

Join acclaimed author Luis Alberto Urrea and Adventures by the Book for dinner at Café Coyote as they explore Urrea’s 2018 novel “The House of Broken Angels.” Event starts at 6:30 p.m. Tickets $40–$65. 2461 San Diego Ave. bit.ly/2SvZ2id

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missionvalleynews.com/mission-valley-news-calendar

Compassion Breast — a nonprofit organization that strives to educate and empower those with breast cancer — invites people to learn and ask question about breast cancer diagnosis, treatments, and what to expect. Located at the Mission Valley Library, 2123 Fenton Parkway. Free. Space is limited. Please register online at bit.ly/compassion0316.■

ONGOING EVENTS Wednesdays

Knit-a-Bit Looking to learn to knit or meet up and work with other knitting and crocheting enthusiasts? Check out Knit-aBit hosted by the Mission Valley Branch Library. A gathering of creative, crafty yarn workers who are happy to admire your accomplishments and assist you with your knottiest problems. Free. Noon–2 p.m. in the library’s community room. 2123 Fenton Pkwy.

Fridays

Civita Park Farmers Market San Diego Farm Bureau presents its weekly market in beautiful Civita Park each Friday from 3–7 p.m. Meet local farmers and small business owners and pick up high-quality florals, baked goods, and produce. Free. 7964 Civita Blvd.

Saturdays

Crafts for Kids Bring the kids to Lakeshore Learning at the Hazard Center every Saturday for free arts & crafts sessions from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Supplied and space provided. No reservations necessary. 7510 Hazard Center Drive. —Calendar compiled by Jules Shane.■