The
Clairemont Times Serving Clairemont, Bay Park, Linda Vista & Kearny Mesa V10.E3
News of the Neighborhoods
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Upcoming Overnight Closures of I-5 This March, a series of temporary overnight closures will be in effect on Interstate 5 (I-5) for crews to remove falsework from the Mid-Coast Trolley overcrossing south of Nobel Drive. Closures on northbound and southbound I-5 lanes will begin on March 1. Additional lane closures may be scheduled and notice will be provided beforehand. Work may continue up to March 20. Motorists should plan to take alternate routes to avoid potential congestion, as delays are expected during this closure. The following closures will be in place: Beginning Sunday, March 1, through Thursday, March 5: • Full closure of northbound I-5 lanes from State Route 52 (SR 52) to La Jolla Village Drive. • Lane reductions may be in place on southbound I-5 from Interstate 5 (I-5)/Interstate 805 (I-805) Interchange to Gilman Drive/La Jolla Colony Drive. • Work and closure hours will be from 9:30 p.m. to 5 a.m. each night. Beginning Sunday, March 8, through Thursday, March 12: • Full closure of southbound I-5 lanes from I-5/I-805 Interchange to Gilman Drive/La Jolla Colony Drive. • Lane reductions may be in place on northbound I-5 from SR 52 to La Jolla Village Drive. • Work and closure hours will be from 9:30 p.m. to 5 a.m each night. Construction schedules are subject to change. For more information and updates visit: KeepSanDiegoMoving.com/MidCoast
Founded in 2011 MARCH 2020
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James Madison High School 6th Annual Car & Bike Show March 21, 2020 4833 Doliva Drive, 92117 9am -2pm in the Student Parking Lot Attention ALL James Madison Warhawks Alumni, Neighbors and Car & Motorcycle Enthusiasts This year The Show is expecting 100 participants. Just like in years past, there will be a band, a food truck, snack bar and raffles. In addition, trophies will be awarded that the students made! For the first time ever, this show will also include motorcycles. See the auto shop and meet the students. Come out and support James Madison High School and the Foundation of the James Madison High School Auto Club See page 8 for more details and how to register your car or motorcycle.
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Major Infrastructure Project Planned In Tecolote Canyon by Chris O’Connell
Last month at the Clairemont Community Planning Group (CCPG) Project Review Subcommittee (PRS) officials from the City of San Diego presented a project which involves “the replacement and rehabilitation of approximately 4.7 miles of the 6.5-mile-long trunk sewer and water main” named the Tecolote Canyon Trunk Sewer (TCTS). The project is to rehabilitate 7,551 Linear Feet (LF) of 15-inch pipe; upsize 7,350 LF of 15-inch to 18-inch; upsize 790 LF of 18-inch to 21-inch; upsize 5,230 LF of 21-inch to 24-inch; upsize 2,060 LF of 21, 24-inch to 27-inch and upsize 1,990 LF of 24-inch to 30-inch. In addition, there would be manholes removed/added, stream crossings, improvements for vehicle access/path widening, branches of lines (pipes) added into the trunk, small retaining walls constructed, as well as new vegetation planted. An aerial map of the entire TCTS with a few notations was provided as a handout but questions about the finer details such as what happens to manhole covers, where are the retaining walls, what will the finish project look like, what are the working hours, how wide is the path/road etc. Some of those questions were not answered and it was requested the
City return to the group with much more details and specifics. Where is the Project Picture, the start of the project, yourself just in the canyon at Genesee Avenue in between Balboa Ave and Clairemont Mesa Blvd specifically at Chateau Dr. The project would start in the canyon in that area and meander south and west travelling under Balboa Ave, continuing south in the canyon almost parallel with Clairemont Dr., continuing towards Mt Acadia Blvd/Tecolote Golf Course, still continuing south then head westerly behind and below essentially USD past the Tecolote Nature and ending at Tecolote Rd & West Morena Blvd. A Google map of course makes this visual a lot easier to follow. Basically, the length of Tecolote Canyon. Construction is scheduled to begin in the Summer of 2021 and be completed Winter of 2024. The planning, design and construction budget is “about $35 Million”. There are of course asterisks where dates and dollars are subject to change. Why is this Project Happening According to the City the TCTS was built in the 1950’s of vitrified clay and is roughly 18” in diameter. In 2012 according to the Fact Sheet the pipe was assessed and it was SEE Infrastructure, page 3
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2 • The Clairemont Times • March 2020
Letter from Publisher by Chris O’Connell
Happy Merry Month of March! Remember, March 8th Daylight Savings Time starts clocks are turned forward 1 hour. This is a very random call to action, and more details will follow in the future, however, if you have ever wanted a custom bicycle and have 80 hours to spare, (two full weeks) and would like to build your own custom bike, let me know. I am toying with the idea of gathering 8-10 people for a Build Your Own Bike class. I have a bike builder who has worked in the industry for 30 years and loves to teach. If interested email me Chris@ClairemontTimes.com with BIKE BUILD in the subject line. On to this edition, well it seems like more projects are coming to Clairemont. There is the Mid-Coast Trolley, potentially Pure Water, of course the former Crime Lab and now last month the City presented a project in Tecolote Canyon. Things are happening or will be happening in Clairemont!!!!! Big thank you to Michael Dwyer, who submitted a great deal of information on Census 2020 (p4). He really covered a lot, and hopefully answered some questions you may have. The Census is
very important so hopefully everyone participates. There is a theme on page 5 hopefully everyone will be able to figure it out. It was by design. Bill Swank (p6) takes us down a hilarious road with his crime report column from way back in the day in small town America. (Bonus crimes are also included in his digital column this month see link at the end of his column) For you fans of Cabrillo National Monument the folks out there have an ask and are seeking input from the public. Speaking of great views, the California Tower at the SD Museum of Man is open and now on my list to visit. Somehow a theme developed in February while I was out snapping pictures of switchbacks and stairs. I must have Italy on the brain (see the back page) I hope you enjoy this edition. Thank you to all who had a hand in making it happen and thank you for reading, please pass it on and please recycle! BS GET WELL!!!!!
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WordCamp San Diego 2020 WordCamp San Diego 2020 is May 2-3 and we expect it to be filled with a lineup of super-speakers. WCSD is a two day event held at The Scottish Rite Center
in the Mission Valley. 1895 Camino del Rio S San Diego, CA 92108 For more information visit: 2020.sandiego.wordcamp.org/
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The Clairemont Times • March 2020 • 3
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Infrastructure Continued from page 1
determined the pipe needs improvements and is reaching capacity. The City acknowledged this was their first public presentation on the project and they are hoping to spread the word and provide the community with more information and gain feedback. With that being said members of the PRS were not too thrilled with the lack of details or visuals presented for such a major and lengthy project. Having attended numerous PRS meetings this is par for the course for this board. When new projects come before them, they question the presenters with specifics and are finely detailed answers. It is not uncommon for a project to come before PRS multiple times to flush out the details. Private project or City project you are best served to come before this board prepared. This was an action item on the agenda and the PRS voted to continue the project asking the City to come back with more details, and more visuals. There was talk about the project coming back to the next PRS meeting (which would be 3/11 at 6pm at North Clairemont Rec Center on Bannock Ave) however, this is pure speculation as the agenda for the meeting is not posted until 72 hours before the meeting. If you are interested in hearing this presentation, asking questions and learning about the entire project from the City and before the PRS, the CCPG has a Facebook Page “Clairemont Community Planning Group” where they post the agendas. In addition, I post agendas on our social media pages and website.
Last year I joined a special club within the O’Connell family, I was finally prescribed a dosage of medication to monitor and lower high blood pressure. When I took a picture of the pill bottle and texted it to my siblings, I sarcastically stated, “I’m in the club!”
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It should be noted, some know this and some do not, the CCPG as a whole is advisory only to the City of San Diego. They are not decision makers. The CCPG members are your neighbors, local business owners or both and volunteer their time in helping to shape the future of Clairemont. March CCPG Meetings 3/10 Clairemont Plan Update Meeting, Alcott Elementary 6pm 3/11 Project Review, North Clairemont Rec Center 6pm 3/17 CCPG Full Board Meeting, Alcott Elementary (Special time 6:30 pm) Here’s a little food for thought on this massive project and another potential massive project. A great deal of Clairemont human waste will make its way gravity fed through pipes ending at West Morena Blvd it will then tee off and eventually head a half mile south to around Sherman St. This is the future starting area of the Pure Water San Diego project. (Pure Water was in the news in late February as the project has swelled from $3 Billion to a reported $5 Billion and is currently caught up in a labor agreement lawsuit). Pure Water will be an 11-mile pipeline beginning at Sherman St and pumping human waste up under Morena Blvd, Clairemont Dr, Clairemont Mesa Blvd, Genesee Ave, to Nobel Dr, Towne Center Dr to just east of the 805. Two major pipeline projects in Clairemont potentially being constructed at the same time on surface streets and in the canyon. Email: Chris@ClairemontTimes.com
Getting Healthy by Chris O’Connell
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Being the smart arse, he is, one brother replied, “Welcome, what took you so long?” Funny guy. I can joke about this; however, it is no joking matter. I have no desire to be married to a pill every day. I researched some family history, requested and had
some additional tests performed. The doctor advised me this medicine can either be “something you take every day for the rest of your life or it can be a dosage that we have to increase or you can get off the pills.” I’ll be working towards the last option. I received the same simple advice I have heard for years, eat better, exercise more, avoid toxic/stressful people and situations. Only now as I age, I am really listening. So far so good, I am following the
orders of my doctor and then I realized I personally and professionally was missing one more piece to the getting healthier puzzle. Slow waaaay down on social media. All the noise, the lobbyists and the minutia of BS infiltrating some of these platforms, good grief, what a cesspool of jackals. Scroll less for your health. This is all a work in progress, and for once in my life I am looking forward to my next checkup. Email: chris@clairemonttimes.com
For more news and information visit: www.clairemonttimes.com
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4 • The Clairemont Times • March 2020
Census 2020 Another Civic Duty by Michael Dwyer
Now that the March California Presidential Primary election is over (you voted, didn’t you?), there is yet another civic duty in March that you need to participate in. I recently went to a briefing for seniors on the Census 2020. The presenter, desiring to engage the audience, asked the question, “When was the first census?” One astute senior replied, “during biblical times.” This was not the answer he was expecting. He intended to ask, “When was the first US census?” and the answer, “1790.” What is the census? Every resident
questionnaire. It is marked “informational copy” because it doesn’t have the web address, phone number or mailing address to submit your responses. They will be added closer to Census Day. But all the questions are there. (You only need to complete one page for each resident in your household, so don’t be dismayed at the length of the document.) https://2020census.gov/content/dam/2 020census/materials/partners/2019-08/20 20-informational-questionnaire.pdf Note that there is one question about home ownership or renting. This helps the Census produce statistics about home ownership and renting. The rates of home ownership serve as one indicator of the
Here is the 2020 Census Timeline: March 12-20 March 26-Apr 3 APRIL 1 April 8-16 April 20-27 May-July
Invitations to complete the 2020 Census questionnaire online will be mailed to households. Reminder letters and postcards mailed CENSUS DAY Second reminder and paper questionnaire mailed Final reminder letter or postcard Census Bureau will visit remaining households which have not responded
needs to be counted every decade. Why? Isn’t this another invasion of privacy by the government? No – here’s why: Article 1, Section 2 of the United States Constitution requires an accurate enumeration or count of all residents every decennial or 10 years, originally to determine representation in the House of Representatives. Today this count is performed by the Census Bureau, an agency of the Commerce Department. The 2020 Census will count everyone who lives in the US as of April 1, 2020 (Census Day). Census statistics are used to determine the number of seats each state holds in the U.S. House of Representatives. As well, elected officials use the data to allocate billions of dollars in federal funds to states annually over the next 10 years, including several hundred millions to California for community services which support our families. City, county and state and even school district boundaries are also re-drawn according to shifts in population. The survey will be performed a little differently this year. Households will receive a postcard inviting them to complete the questionnaire securely online for everyone in the household. If this is not convenient, they can mail in the responses, or contact the Bureau by phone. If no response is received, a final reminder letter will be sent and then an “enumerator” will visit the household in person. Here is the link to a sample
nation’s economy. They also help with administering housing programs, planning, and decision-making. And while you are required by law to participate, the Census Bureau is also required by law to protect your answers. Your responses are aggregated to produce statistics. The Census Bureau does not disclose any personal information to any agency of the government. In fact, Census employees take a non-disclosure oath. Even courts cannot order subpoenas for the census responses. You’ll soon be seeing TV and digital ads which will show that responding to the census is easy, safe and important. They are part of a public education and outreach campaign that is designed to increase response to the census. The Census Bureau will continue to conduct other surveys, like the American Community Survey, during 2020. If you are contacted about another survey, it is very important to participate. But you will still be required to respond to the 2020 Census even if you participate in another survey. If you’re interested in how more than $650B in FY2015 funds were allocated based on Census data, go to: https://2020census.gov/content/dam/2 020census/materials/partners/2020-01/Use s-of-Census-Bureau-Data-in-Federal-Fund s-Distribution.pdf For even more information on Census 2020 visit: 2020census.gov
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How Can You Verify That Someone Is a Census Worker? Census takers may visit homes in April to conduct quality check interviews, and then in mid-May to help collect responses. If someone visits your home to collect information for the 2020 Census, check to make sure that they have a valid ID badge, with their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark, and an expiration date. Census workers may also carry Census Bureau bags and other equipment, such as cell phones, with the Census Bureau logo. It is important to know that the Census Bureau will not send emails to request your participation in the 2020 Census. Further, during the 2020 Census,
the Census Bureau will never ask for: • Your Social Security number. • Your bank account or credit card numbers. • Money or donations. In addition, the Census Bureau will not contact you on behalf of a political party. Likewise, a political party should not be contacting you on behalf of the Census Bureau. If you still have questions about their identity, you can contact the Regional Census Center in Los Angeles at 213-314-6500 to speak with a Census Bureau representative.
GET IN SHAPE IN 2020!
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10th Annual Women in Blue Luncheon Since 2011, the San Diego Police Foundation has presented Women in Blue, an initiative that calls attention to the remarkable women who have pursued careers in law enforcement. These leaders don’t all wear blue uniforms, nor do they do the same job or work for the same organization, but they all have one not-so-surprising characteristic in common: nerves of steel. This luncheon is your chance to join other San Diegans in celebrating a decade of recognizing and honoring heroic women.
Thursday, March 19th 2020 11:30am Hilton San Diego Bayfront 1 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101 For more information about sponsorships, please call Nickie Behdin at (619) 232-2130 ext 111. and/or visit: SDPoliceFoundation.org
For more news and information visit: www.clairemonttimes.com
Clairemont Woman’s Club by Marge Weber
It’s been a long wait, but here comes Spring, Daylight Saving Time, St. Paddy’s Day... and of course our meeting on Wednesday, March 4 and our annual fundraiser on Saturday, March 28 for the Warrior Foundation - Freedom Station which was founded right here in San Diego. They serve military heroes in transition to civilian life at a village here in San Diego and also offer support services and sponsor a wheelchair basketball team, that has done quite well. The event will be held at the Comedy Palace. There will be 3 comedians to entertain us, a buffet, and raffles, including our famous restaurant basket. There will be a no-host bar starting at 11:30 a.m. Lunch and festivities will be from noon to 3 p.m. Mark this on your calendar as a worthwhile activity. Tickets are only $45. Contact Bea at (858) 272-1821 for tickets. Come on out, bring your friends and family for a pleasant afternoon. See flyer to the left for more details. In February we enjoyed a delicious cake to celebrate 66 years of service to the community. Dolores Juditz, a longtime member of CWC, brought to mind many of the projects our club started such as the Senior Citizen’s Center and hearing tests for newborns to mention a few. The Daytime Gourmet group enjoyed lunch at
the 94th Aero Squadron. The Book Group discussed Isabel Allende’s “In the Midst of Winter”, how 3 people meet because of a snowstorm in Brooklyn. We learn about their past lives in the USA, Chile and Guatemala. Please join us Wednesday, March 4th at the Balboa Community Church (directions below). Our speaker, Ann Hoiberg, will give a presentation on the topic “19th Amendment: Women’s Right to Vote.” Ann was inducted into the San Diego County Women’s Hall of Fame in 2012. She is a free-lance writer and speaker on such topics as the history of the Women’s Rights Movement, human trafficking, violence against women, world peace, the United Nations, and women’s political participation. We hope to have a good turnout for this speaker of many talents. Refreshments will be served. P.S. Since our April meeting and the delivery of the The Clairemont Times both occur on Wed. April 1st, please mark your calendar to come and join us. For more information about CWC, visit our website at www.ClairemontWomansClub.com or “like” us on Facebook. You may also call Jackie at (858) 273-7664. Directions: Balboa Community Church at 6555 Balboa Ave. 92111. Please park around the corner in the church parking lot off Mt. Albertine. Entrance to our meeting is under the stairwell.
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6 • The Clairemont Times • March 2020
Squaremont By Bill Swank
Pictured: Bill Swank outside the Buena Vista Garden Apartments on Cowley Way in 1955, with East Clairemont off in the distance.
Crime in Farmington by Bill Swank
The local Police Blotter can be found in every edition of The Clairemont Times. Criminal activity in large cities is a serious matter. Residents want to feel safe and secure in their homes and neighborhoods. Crime reporting in small town newspapers is also taken very seriously, but can be trivial and often hilarious. In the early 1950s, I grew up in Farmington, Minnesota. Getting one’s name in the paper was a special event, unless it appeared in the police report. I continued my subscription to The Dakota County Tribune into the 1970s, primarily to read the weekly “police report.” Farmington Police Chief Jake Klotzbeacher was my hero. When he retired on December 31, 1972, following a 25-year career as Farmington’s top law enforcement officer, Jake recalled that the department did not have a squad car when he first started as a patrolman. When Jake was needed, the telephone operator would turn on a light outside Hagen’s Coast-to-Coast hardware store at the corner of Third and Oak. The light would never be confused with the “Bat-Signal” projected into the skies over Gotham City. It was just a light. Jake would find a phone to call the operator for details and catch a ride or walk to investigate the situation. Needless to say, this created problems. Once he became chief, Klotzbeacher helped streamline the force which grew to five officers and a clerk. He often said that during his tenure, there were no pedestrian or cyclist deaths on the streets patrolled by his men and there were no armed robberies or murders in the town. Jake was a good and decent man. After retirement, he drove a school bus and helped deliver mail. The following articles and excerpts from “police reports” provide insight about 50-year-old crimes in a small, midwestern town where churches still far outnumber the bars Police Chief, Breaking Up Fight, Hit In Face “Farmington Police Chief Jake Klotzbeacher suffered a cut lower lip, broken glasses and a twisted hip, as he was struck attempting to break up a fight and wild party in the rear apartment at the northeast corner of Fifth and Main
In December 1972, Chief Jake Klotzbeacher retired after 25 years of service with the Farmington Police Department (Dakota County Tribune)
streets in Farmington on Saturday at 6 p.m. Klotzbeacher was hit in the mouth, and this knocked off his glasses, which he stepped on, in the fracas. He suffered the twisted hip as he tripped over a flower pot while chasing his assailant on foot. The chief then lost the man and girl companion in an auto chase from Farmington over back roads to an intersection north of Rosemount. Within a short time after his call for help, Lakeville Officer Charles Lohman heard the call and came to assist. Red Staats, another Farmington policeman off duty at the time, donned a gun belt over his overalls, and arrived to give aid. ‘In 20 years of policing, this is the worst,’ Klotzbeacher said, his mouth bleeding over the front of his shirt. ‘It’s the first time I’ve really been hit,’ he said. The chief said he will file charges of assaulting an officer, and disturbing the peace, against Dennis Keith, 20, originally from Lakeville, and also wanted by Lakeville police for a careless driving tag the previous night.” Police Chief Receives Gun Shot Wound “Farmington Police Chief Jake Klotzbeacher received minor injuries to his index and middle finger on his right hand, when his gun accidentally
went off on Monday about 4:30 p.m. As he took hold of the bottom portion of the holster, the gun discharged. The .45 caliber bullet went between his index and middle fingers. He said he can’t understand what happened because the gun has five safety devices and it’s one of the safest guns made. He added that he is currently having the gun
checked.” New Squad Car, Local Auto, Damaged in Collision Here “‘Red’ Staats sustained a bump on the head when the new Plymouth squad car collided with a car driven by Don Davison at Elm and Third streets.” (The cause of the accident was not addressed, so it was probably Red’s fault.) Roadrunner Eludes New Squad Car In Chase “The ‘Roadrunner’ cartoons may be funny to the movie-going audience, but the automotive industries Roadrunner contained no humor to Farmington
Police. They’re still looking for the red Plymouth Roadrunner which ‘cut up’ the town and endangered other motorists along Highway 3, starting at 12:30 Wednesday morning of last week. The Farmington squad car was doing 127 miles per hour on Highway 3 south of Farmington and the hopped-up Roadrunner ‘just walked away’ according to Dean Sharp, the officer giving chase. Apparently, the driver pulled aside in the Waterford Meat Market driveway and doubled back after the Farmington car went past. The chase started when the Roadrunner whipped up and down Third Street, went out to Highway 3 and headed south. Sharp said Farmington’s new squad car is ‘broken in’ a bit better now and warned that “dangerous games with people’s lives at stake will not be dealt with lightly.” Youths Lock Boy in Dryer, Then Turn It On “According to Police Chief Jake Klotzbeacher, two Farmington boys put another youth inside one of the dryers at the Farmington Laundromat on Sunday and put in a dime to start the machine. After the youth had been spinning around for some time, they let him out. His only injury was a bump on his head. Then they broke into the pop machine. Klotzbeacher says the boys will be turned over to juvenile authorities for further action.” Lightning “If someone would have told Farmington Police Chief Jake Klotzbeacher that lighting would strike his house in the middle of January, he never would have believed it. But it happened. It was the second time his house has been struck by lightning and lightning is not supposed to strike the same place twice.” Church Sign Attacked The photo caption reads, “No one knows just when this is done, but for someone to take time to vandalize a church sign is in a class by itself. The sign is located on the east edge of town in full view of hundreds of daily motorists who visit this village.” In an accompanying article, Police Chief Jake Klotzbeacher was conducting a thorough investigation to bring the culprit or culprits to justice. He cautioned against jumping to the conclusion that the crime was perpetrated by somebody in the Farmington High School Class of 1967. Jake reasoned, “The vandalism may have been done by somebody in the Class of ‘68 or the Class of ‘66 just to throw off the investigation.” Just the facts… nothing but the facts, for reporting crime in a small town.
“No one knows just when this was done, but for someone to take the time to vandalize a church sign is in a class by itself.” (Dakota County Tribune)
To read a series of hilarious vignettes verbatim from the weekly “Police Report” as a continuation of this column visit: clairemonttimes.com/category/squaremont/
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The Clairemont Times • March 2020 • 7
Clairemont Community Planning Group (CCPG) Elections Elections for the ten (10) open positions for the Clairemont Community Planning Group (CCPG) Board Membership will be held as follows: Date: Tuesday, March 17th, 2020 Time: 9 am to 6:00 pm Place: North Clairemont Rec Center: 4421 Bannock Avenue, San Diego, CA 92117. Room 2 Who Can Vote? Voters must be 18 years old or older and must establish themselves as an eligible member of the community as follows: a) a property owner, who is an individual identified as the sole or partial owner of record, or their designee, of a real property (either developed or undeveloped), within the community planning area, or b) resident, who is an individual whose primary address of residence is an address in the community planning area, or c) local business person, who is a local business owner, operator, or their designee at a non-residential real property address in the community planning area.
Voters must demonstrate themselves qualified with suitable documents to prove their eligibility category. Suitable documents include but are not limited to a California driver’s license, California identification card, utility bill, rental receipt or mortgage payment coupon. Election results: Election results will be reported by the Elections Subcommittee chairperson to the CCPG as a special item on the March agenda. The March CCPG meeting will be held on March 17th, 2020, starting at 6:30 PM at Alcott Elementary School: 4680 Hidalgo Ave, San Diego, CA 92117. Challenge Period: After election results are reported, the elections subcommittee chairperson will announce the beginning of a 24 hour period in which election challenges must be received by the elections subcommittee to be considered. If no challenge is received, the results will become final and will be certified by the CCPG chair and forwarded to the City.
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Sundays: Bible Classes 9:00 am Worship 10:00 am Wednesdays: 6:00 pm Dinner 6:30 pm Bible study (all ages)
4292 Balboa Ave., San Diego CA 92117 • (858) 273-5140 www.canyonview.org • www.facebook.com/canyonviewchurch
Clairemont Lutheran Church www.clairemontlc.org 4271 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, San Diego, CA 92117 Sunday Worship Times 8:30, 10:00 (English) & 11:30 am (Spanish) Sunday School for kids 9:45am Holy Cross Lutheran Church 3450 Clairemont Drive, San Diego, CA 92117 Church (858) 273-2886 Visit our website www.holycrossword.org for additional worship times and special events. Sunday Worship 9:00 am Word and Sacrament Wednesday 7:00pm Northminster Presbyterian Church Sunday Worship Time 10:00a.m. 4324 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. San Diego, CA 92117 www.northminstersandiego.com 858 490-3995 Northminster Preschool 858 270-3760
St. Catherine Labouré Catholic Church www.stcatherinelaboure.net 4124 Mt. Abraham Ave., San Diego, CA 92111 Phone (858) 277-3133 Weekend Mass Times Saturday 5:30pm Sunday 8:00, 9:30, 11:00am, 1pm/Spanish St. David’s Episcopal Church & Preschool www.saintdavidschurch.com 5050 Milton Street, San Diego CA 92110 Sunday Worship Times: 8:00am Holy Communion Rite I (Traditional) 10:30am Holy Communion Rite II (Contemporary) Weekday Worship: 12 p.m. Tues: Holy Eucharist: Rite II (Public Service of Healing) Last Sat of the month at 6:00 p.m. Alive at St. David’s: Non-Traditional, Contemporary Worship Experience St. Mark’s United Methodist Church www.stmarksumcsd.org 3502 Clairemont Drive, San Diego, CA 92117 Phone: (858) 273-1480 Sunday worship: 9:30 a.m.
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8 • The Clairemont Times • March 2020
A Padres Column by Major Garrett
Say It Ain’t... by Major Garrett
Remember this. Spring training is two parts performance and ten parts injury avoidance. The only score that matters after each game is number of players injured. The closer the Padres stay to zero the better. The other iron rule of Spring Training is what happens before the games — the pick-off moves, the bunting drills, the fluidity of situational infield movements, the refinements of angles outfielders take to fly balls in the gaps — matters more than all box scores combined. Other than injury tallies, game statistics are rubbish. This is a time of anticipation, anxiety and hope — for all fans, not just us; we do have much more experience with anxiety than most, some experience with hope and almost none with anticipation. It is therefore time to ponder deeper issues with the great game of baseball. It is suffering its greatest crisis since the Black Sox Scandal of 1919. It’s hard to make sense of history when you’re living it. Trust me, the time I am spending now in Washington will be recorded in books for decades to come. I drown daily in history’s deluge, unable to catalog or comprehend it all. Baseball is changing before our very eyes. A World Series Trophy is worth less than a garbage can lid; lawsuits allege career-altering cheating; Mike Fiers, the courageous whistle-blower, fears in-game retaliation or worse; the commissioner’s office keeps revising its account of unearthing the unholy mess. Spring is not supposed to smell. This season dawns in stench. Conspiracy. Cowardice. Deceit. The Astros lead the league in all three. Listen to the game’s best players - Mike Trout, Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger - and you know it’s not over. Before apologists cloud the issue, the question is not whether stealing signs made the Astros World Champions. The question is what defect made the Astros so contemptuous of baseball, its fans, its history and their own honor to systematically defraud all of them and then cynically celebrate as deserving innocents? Say it ain’t so. While we are on that topic, let’s clear
up another matter. “Say it ain’t so, Joe” never happened. It was never said. It is a part of baseball lore, a poignant and poetic refrain too good to ignore and therefore too good to correct. Just like “Nice guys finish last.” That wasn’t said either. Baseball fans know them as well as lyrics from a favorite song or a Bible verse. What we know isn’t always true. What we knew about the 2017 World Series wasn’t either. What we know about the 2018 World Series might not be either, hear that, Boston Red Sox? Unspooling both of these myths might help us put some of today’s history in context. That is my effort here. Back to “Say it ain’t so.” In his lovely book, Nice Guys Finish Seventh, Ralph Keyes dissects the artful deception that gave us “Say it ain’t so” and “Nice Guys Finish Last.” Quick review of the first. The Chicago White Sox were accused of throwing the 1919 World Series in exchange for payoffs from gamblers. There was a trial in 1920 in Chicago. As Keyes writes: “The baseball players’ sin cast a pall over America’s secular religion. Not just baseball but the American sense of self was on trial.” As the story goes, Joe Jackson, known widely as “Shoeless Joe,” exited the courthouse after testifying before a grand jury. There was a crowd. Jackson pushed through. Sportswriter Hugh Fullerton filed this account of Jackson: “He did not swagger. He slunk along between the guardians, and the kids, with wide eyes and tightening throats watched, and one, bolder than the others, pressed forward and said: ‘It ain’t so, Joe, is it?’ ‘Yes, kid. I’m afraid it is.’ And the world of faith crashed around the heads of the kids. Their idol lay in dust, their faith destroyed.” Over the years, “It ain’t so, Joe, is it?” morphed into “Say it ain’t so, Joe.” Keyes also notes Jackson forever denied saying anything to anyone other than a deputy sheriff who escorted him through the throng. But the legend and the fallacy persist. Same with “Nice Guys Finish Last.” This supposed bit of baseball wisdom has transcended the sport to become a cautionary warning about playing by the rules, living decently and falling steadily behind — inevitably and as if by some writ of Darwinian justice. It was never said. It was barely implied. In July of 1946 Brooklyn Dodgers manager Leo Durocher, as cussed a skipper as there was in the game, was running down the crosstown rival New York Giants. The Dodgers’ radio announcer, Red Barber, leaned on Durocher to ease up. “Why don’t you be a nice guy for a change?” As Keyes writes: “Durocher leaped to his feet. ‘A nice guy?’ he shouted. ‘I been around in baseball for a long time and I’ve known a lot of nice guys. But I never saw a nice guy who was any good when you needed
him. Go up to one of those nice guys some time when you need a hundred to get you out of a jam and he’ll always give you that, ‘Sorry, pal. I’d like to help you but things are not going so good at the ranch.’ That’s what they’ll give you, those nice guys. I’ll take the guys who ain’t nice. The guys who would put you in a cement mixer if they felt like it. But you get in a jam and you don’t have to go to them. They’ll come looking for you and say ‘How much do you need?’ Durocher pointed at the Giants’ dugout, saying ‘Nice guys! Look over there. Do you know a nicer guy than (Giants manager) Mel Ott? Or any of the other Giants? Why they’re the nicest guys in the world! And where are they? In seventh place!’” The point wasn’t that being a nice guy made you a loser. Durocher said his experience with “nice guys” taught him they were phonies who never came through in tough times. But gritty guys who knew hardship, who scrapped and clawed and got mean doing it, did. Nice wasn’t about losing. It was about hypocrisy. In the Shoeless Joe Jackson story, if it
is to be believed, a question was asked of the fallen hero that tried to get to the heart of the entire mess: “It ain’t so, Joe, is it” is not asking Joe to deny something already believed that is crushing; rather it is asking the player at the center of the storm if this terrible thing is as real and genuinely terrible as it sounds? “Yes, kid, I’m afraid it is.” Durocher did not say being nice made you a loser. He said being undependable, weak and two-faced did. In this modern crisis wrought by the Astros and possibly others, it’s time to remember the importance of that question to Jackson and Durocher’s denunciation of two-bit phonies. Baseball will be saved by players and front offices who remember these stories — the accurate versions — for what they say about scandal, hypocrisy and lying first to yourself and then the world. Major Garrett was born and raised in Clairemont, is Chief White House Correspondent for CBS News, host of “The Takeout” podcast and author of the book “Mr. Trump’s Wild Ride: The Thrills, Chills, Screams and Occasional Blackouts of His Extraordinary First Year in Office.”
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The Clairemont Times • March 2020 • 9
Building Tiny Houses in Mexico Can Be a Model For San Diego’s Homeless Commentary by Louis Rodolico
Should tax increases be the solution for everything? In San Diego taxpayers all too often get the first call when government decides to act on something like homelessness. There is the current Measure C that can fund homeless programs through a combination of the Transient Occupancy Tax and property taxes. If Measure C fails, there will likely be a ballot measure this fall asking voters to approve a $900
million dollar bond issue funded by property taxes. The question with homeless support is; “Does every government action need to put the region further into debt or are there other options to consider?” Developers have exacerbated the problem by lobbying for low In-Lieu fees which allows them to remove low cost housing from their projects. San Diego County has a population of 3.34 million with 8,500 homeless which is one in every 400 residents. There are 327 million Americans with 552,830 being homeless or about one in every 600 Americans. San Diego draws additional homeless because of its warmer climate. The threat of the citizen question on the census has drawn undocumented workers to blue states like California putting additional pressure on low cost housing. Government is trying to step up, but has a history of wasteful spending when it comes to capital projects. I believe there are ways that government can be a productive partner without burdening taxpayers. The depth, resources and authority of government can support the resolution of many issues, but are dollars the only way to resolve everything? San Diego government owns substantial tracts of land which could be leased to groups looking
for sites to support the homeless. Every year we go down to Mexico to build houses. The money for materials is paid for by; corporations, religious and charitable organizations. We supply the labor and pay for our own food, transportation and lodgings. In two days 20 of us can build a 16 x 20 foot house with two small bedrooms, wiring, lighting but no plumbing. See attached photo. You can see on the left what this family was living in before we built a new home for them. We can do the same here in San Diego and there is collaboration to find: 1)
Government land for lease, 2) Corporate and other donors, 3) Non-Profit Manager, 4) A mechanism to bring in San Diegan volunteers to build the homes. There would be communities of several dozen homes and a community center with; offices, eating facility and common bathrooms. The homeless will receive; drug intervention, employment placement and a roof over their head. The goal is a mostly transitional community for those who need a helping hand. Projects like this have been operated in cities like Seattle and there have been some setbacks. We can learn from others. It should not stop us from considering supportive transient facilities built by citizens. On a personal note if you want to surround yourself with selfless people there is no better environment than a group of people doing something noble to support a family or individual in need. Louis Rodolico has lived in University since 2001 and is a candidate for City Council District 1 louisrodolico.com Links: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homelessness_in _the_United_States#/media/File:US_yearly_tim eline_of_people_experiencing_homelessness.g if https://www.10news.com/news/local-news/sandiego-homeless-count-2019-data-shows-over-8 -000-living-on-county-streets-or-in-shelters
Height Limits Raised for Miramar Landfill Opinion: Louis Rodolico
City planning approved raising the height of the Miramar dump another 25 feet, or 84 feet above the Marine airstrip. See: https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/fil es/600213_-_addendum_date_8-19-19.pdf All dumps produce putrid gases. Sulfur’s atomic mass is 32 which greater than; oxygen (16) and nitrogen (14). Heavier sulfur compounds flow down much like water in a stream. When the dump was low these and other heavy gases would tend flow out of the landfill and down the 52 corridor heading west during
a Santa Ana. Raising the dump sends more gas towards East UC. So the locals are not imagining a higher level of stink. Methane is a simple asphyxiate displacing oxygen in the lungs, in high amounts it can affect those on medical Oxygen. Engineers are being asked to sharpen their pencils and support a higher dump elevation. Historical disasters often begin with political pressure on engineering. The original dump was not intended to be so high. A liquefaction collapse could overrun Route 52. A disinterested third party should review the Miramar dump engineering.
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10 • The Clairemont Times • March 2020
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Community Meetings Open to the Public (Locations & Times Subject to Change)
Clairemont Town Council 3/5/20 (1st Thursday) 6:30pm Clairemont High School 4150 Ute Dr. 92117 Clairemont Community Planning Group 3/17/20 (3rd Tuesday) 6:30pm Alcott Elementary 4680 Hidalgo Ave. 92117 Linda Vista Town Council 3/19/20 (3rd Thursday) 6:00pm Linda Vista Library 2160 Ulric St, San Diego 92111 Linda Vista Planning Group 3/23/20 (4th Monday) 5:30pm Linda Vista Library 2160 Ulric St. 92111
Advertising Sales Person(s) Wanted If you or someone you know is looking for a p/t or f/t job we are looking to hire ad sales reps. The ideal candidate is someone who is outgoing and ambitious and looking to supplement their income. The hours are very flexible. Sales experience is preferred. Please feel free to call or email Chris O’Connell at (858) 752-9779 or Chris@ClairemontTimes.com. This is a heavy commission sales position.
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The Clairemont Times • March 2020 • 11
ADVANCED PODIATRY WITH A PERSONAL TOUCH Walter Jolley, D.P.M 5222 Balboa Avenue, Suite 41 San Diego, CA 92117 858-560-0390 • Board Certified Foot and Ankle Surgery • Serving Clairemont for 30 Years • Treating all Painful Foot Conditions • Toenails to Major Deformities
Easy to Grow Groundcovers: Goldenrods by Susan Lewitt
moderately up to 3’ tall and only needs once monthly summer water once Inspiring yellow flowers attracting many established. It tolerates a variety of soils wonderful native pollinators; that is the with a neutral to slightly acid soil and is Goldenrod. There are winter deciduous. It 20 species found in does well with many California, four in other native plants. San Diego. They Both Goldenrods are include Western used as ground cover Golden Top, also and for pollinator known as Western gardens attracting bees Goldenrod (Euthamia and butterflies occidentalis), including Southern Goldenrod approximately 39 (Solidago confinis) different species. The and two that are very Northern Checkerspot, easy to grow: the Field Crescent, the California Goldenrod Photo courtesy of Calscape Wavy-Lined Emerald (Solidago velutina ssp. and Ornate Moth are californica) and Threenerve Goldenrod among the visiting butterflies and moths. (Solidago velutina). According to the Chestnut School of California Goldenrod, a spreading Herbal Medicines, Goldenrod has many evergreen perennial herb, quickly attains a uses. Its flowers make a beautiful yellow height of up to 5’. It grows in full sun to dye for cotton, wool and silk. It has been full shade with low moisture and summer used in recipes such as Goldenrod watering 3 times a month once established. Cornbread. It infuses a wonderful flavor Slower growth will occur in clay soil with into honey and tea. Goldenrod teas have less water. It blooms in summer and fall. been used to treat urinary tract infections, Grow it with complimentary flower colors allergies, colds and flus. It can also be such as Sages, Wild Rose, Common infused into oil for sprains, strains and Yarrow, and Penstemon species. aches. Such a marvelous plant would The Threenerve Goldenrod grows proudly enhance one’s landscape.
Cabrillo National Monument News NPS Seeks Public Involvement on Ballast View Rest Area Rehabilitation Project The National Park Service (NPS), at Cabrillo National Monument (Monument), plans to improve the Ballast View Rest Area (Rest Area), a site near the Visitor Center. Cabrillo National Monument is located at the southern tip of the Point Loma Peninsula, in San Diego, California. The Rest Area provides views of Ballast Point, where Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo’s expedition dropped anchor in 1542, becoming the first European expedition to sail to what is now California. This project will provide expanded accessibility for all people to the Rest Area
and create an enhanced space for interpretive programs and demonstrations. The project will rehabilitate the Rest Area located behind the Cabrillo National Monument Visitor Center auditorium to improve accessibility for visitors with mobility impairments and create a space for universal access and experience. This project has a unique opportunity to provide expanded accessibility for all people to the Monument through historic interpretive programs, educational demonstrations, and presentations. Physical improvements include accessible routes to and from the parking lot to the Rest Area and the Visitor Center, introducing tiered group seating and a pergola style wood shade structure over the viewing area. Programmatic improvements include improving and
Tecolote Nature Center
5180 Tecolote Road San Diego, CA 92110 • 858-581-9944 Park Ranger Office 858-581-9961 Monday – Closed, Tuesday –Saturday 9:00-4:00, Sunday 9:00-2:00
Wednesdays, March 4 and 25 9:00 -11:00 Canyon Compadres Meet likeminded people while helping to keep our canyons clean. Locations vary throughout Tecolote, Marian Bear Park and Rose Canyon Email Ranger Cameron for locations and to be added to our volunteer email list. csengelhart@sandiego.gov Wednesday, March 18 1:30-3:00 Art & Activities for Kids- Free! Year of the Rat and other rodents that call Tecolote home. Learn a little, create a lot! Saturday, March 21 9:00-11:00 a.m. Weed Warriors Help is needed in the restoration and revegetation areas. Wear long pants and sturdy shoes. No flip flops please. Bring sun protection and a refillable water bottle. * Arrive early to get a good parking spot. Saturday, March 28 8:00 a.m. Audubon Society Birding Walk All skill levels welcome! Audubon volunteers on hand to guide you. * Inclement weather may cancel activities Many volunteer opportunities available! Sign up at www.sandiego.gov/volunteer-program Like us on Facebook/Friends of Tecolote Canyon www.friendsoftecolotecanyon.org
expanding the park’s interpretive programs and demonstrations by providing a formal outdoor seating area for park visitors. Designs include retaining historic Mission 66 landscape features of this area in tandem with the Visitor Center features. Information on these facility improvements is available on the park website http://parkplanning.nps.gov/cabrballast. The public may comment on this proposal during a 30-day comment period
ending March 21, 2020. Comments may be submitted online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/cabrballast, or mailed to the park at the following address: Office of the Superintendent Cabrillo National Monument 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Drive ATTN: Ballast View Improvements Comments submitted to the website or by mail are welcome at any time; however, they should be received no later than March 21, 2020. www.nps.gov
Potholes in your Neighborhood? Report the Street & Cross Street to City of San Diego Streets & Potholes Division
619 527 7500
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12 • The Clairemont Times • March 2020
The Perils of Being a Co-Signer
The Clairemont Times PO Box 17671 San Diego, CA 92177 (858) 752-9779 Founding Publisher: Chris O’Connell Advertising (858) 752-9779 Graphic Designer: Elaine Hall Contributors: Michael Dwyer Allura Garis Major Garrett Susan Lewitt Owen Megura Lauren & Josh Rains Louis Rodolico Robert Ross Tanya Sawhney Bill Swank Marge Weber Intern: Owen Megura The Clairemont Times is a free publication published each month and circulated throughout the neighborhoods of Clairemont, Linda Vista, Bay Park & Kearny Mesa. Story ideas, advertising & editorial questions can be sent to The Clairemont Times P.O. Box 17671, San Diego, CA 92177 or chris@clairemonttimes.com Copyright ©2011-20 The Clairemont Times/McSierra Publishing. Reuse of material from this edition or past editions is strictly prohibited without permission from the publisher. The opinions in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of The Clairemont Times/McSierra Publishing but instead, of each individual author/contributor. The Clairemont Times is proud to partner and contribute with:
by Dick McEntyre and Chris von der Lieth, Attorneys at Law
Co-signing is when you sign loan documents with another person in order to obtain a loan, usually made to enable the purchase of property, such as a house or car. Co-signing makes you jointly and severably (individually) liable on the debt with the other person. The most common co-signing situation arises when one of our children requests our help. Regardless, however, for whom we co-sign on behalf of, we should be aware of the following possible negative
consequences: 1. Lenders usually require that the co-signer not only sign the note in favor of the lender, but be on title to the asset serving as security for the loan. It follows then, that if the co-signer is on title to such property, he or she (or if he or she be deceased, his or her estate) can be liable for death, damage, or other injury caused by such property. 2. Of course, the co-signer is also liable for payments not made under the loan. In a financed vehicle situation, where the vehicle is repossessed for missed payments, demand will be made upon the co-signer to pay the entire indebtedness. 3. The co-signer’s credit record could be adversely affected by payments not timely made under the loan. Now if you as a co-signer are using or otherwise benefiting from the property as well as the primary debtor, you probably will willingly undertake the above risks. Regardless, however, of whether or not you are benefiting from such property, you
Skilled Negotiations Save Taxpayers’ Money by City Attorney Mara W. Elliott
As your City Attorney, I advise the City Council, defend the City in litigation, civilly and criminally prosecute violations of the law, and protect taxpayer dollars so that the money can be used to advance the interests of our communities. When it comes to litigation, you might picture lawyers waging a dramatic battle in a courtroom trial. However, a skilled negotiator can often find a way to avoid a costly trial by working out a settlement that is acceptable to both sides, thereby saving a tremendous amount of time and money – your money. Deputy City Attorneys are trained to assess liability and obtain fair outcomes for taxpayers when the City is at fault. I’d like to recognize some of those attorneys, and to highlight the positive outcomes they reached on behalf of our citizens. • In 2018, a man filed a lawsuit to halt the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon because of noise associated with the event. Deputy City Attorney Dana Fairchild successfully defended the City by persuading the judge to deny the requested injunction. Last year, the same citizen threatened to bring another lawsuit. With help from the City’s Special Events Department, Dana worked with the resident to address his concerns. The diplomatic efforts paid off – the parties created a plan to abate the noise, the popular event went forward as planned, and the City avoided a new lawsuit. • Last year, Deputy City Attorney Lynn Beekman negotiated the dismissal of a lawsuit over the City’s denial of a
homeowner’s application to get title to the City’s unused public rights-of-way that ran in front of, and behind, his home. The view out his front window of a “dying” tree on the City’s right-of-way proved to be the issue that concerned him most. The City’s arborist determined that the tree was struggling, but did not need to be replaced. The homeowner disagreed. He argued his case, without a lawyer, with great passion and intensity. After much discussion about possible alternatives to litigation, the parties resolved the case. The resident agreed to waive the costs and replace the tree at no cost to the City. • In 2017, nine homeless people filed a federal class-action lawsuit alleging the City violated their constitutional rights through enforcement of its Encroachment Ordinance, which prohibits persons from obstructing the public right-of-way with their belongings. The City argued that the belongings impede the City’s ability to keep the streets safe and clean for all; however, the homeless individuals said they had nowhere else to store their belongings. The judge suggested the parties to the litigation attend a ride-a-long with the City’s Homeless Outreach Team (also
should be sure it is insured for fire, peril and liability loss purposes. Let’s say that, after you have co-signed, you wish to be removed from the loan. Easier said than done! The lender will typically require either full pay-off of the loan or its formal assumption by the primary borrower. Usually, however, the primary borrower is not “credit-worthy” enough to qualify to obtain a new loan, or to assume the loan, so neither of these options is normally viable. So, be cautious before you co-sign any obligation. The above statements are not to be taken as legal advice for the reader’s particular situation. Richard F. McEntyre practices law in the area of estate planning and administration, having served the San Diego community as a lawyer for over 40 years. Chris von der Lieth is Dick’s associate lawyer, having worked with Dick for over 6 years. Affordable rates. Highest quality services. House calls available. Our office is conveniently located at 2615 Camino Del Rio South, Suite 101 (Telephone (619) 221-0279); www.richardfmcentyre.com.
known as the HOT Team). The judge and lawyers spent a summer morning in the East Village with the HOT Team, and toured the Alpha Project Bridge Shelter to see how many storage facilities the City provides to homeless individuals. This field trip was an essential step in finding common ground. Deputy City Attorneys Marni von Wilpert and Dave Abad worked with the plaintiffs to craft an agreement requiring the City to open a third transitional storage facility for the homeless. In addition, police who are in contact with a homeless individual who has violated the ordinance must offer services, including offering a bed or storage bin, before an arrest can be made. While the City paid reasonable attorney’s fees to the plaintiff’s lawyer, no other monetary damages were awarded, putting an end to a complicated and expensive case. These are just some examples of how your Deputy City Attorneys are working hard every day, often behind the scenes, to resolve conflicts and reach solutions that save taxpayers’ money. City Attorney Contact Information: 1200 Third Ave., Suite 1620 San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: 619-236-6220 cityattorney@sandiego.gov
Berg Taxes Serving the Greater Clairemont Area Since 1992
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LIBRARY EVENTS ALL SAN DIEGO PUBLIC LIBRARY BRANCHES CLOSED: TUESDAY, MARCH 31ST FOR CÉSAR CHÁVEZ DAY NORTH CLAIREMONT BRANCH 4616 CLAIREMONT DR. 92117 (858) 581-9931
Dr. Seuss’s Birthday Party March 4th 5-6pm Join our celebration with fun projects and cupcake decorating Tuesday Night Music Concert: Trio Arpavioluta 3/10 6:30pm A virtuoso ensemble comprised of Cathy Blickenstaff-flute, Päivikki Nykter-violin & viola, and Laura Vaughan-harp will appear for a free concert. Meditation Class 3/11 1:30pm Reduce stress during an hour-long guided imagery class and then every 2nd Wednesday in the months to come. Paper Quilling 3/12 1pm Come learn the beautiful but deceptively complex looking art of Paper Quilling. Please sign up online (call us if you need help). Zentangle Workshop: Duo Tangles Project 3/19 1pm The always popular Zentangle workshop returns with a fun and relaxing project. No experience necessary and all supplies are provided. Please sign up online (call us if you need help). Spring Time Family Crafts 3/20 4-5pm Children and their grownups will enjoy learning about Persian New Year, Norooz Arts & Crafts with Cindy 3/12 & 3/26 4-5pm Join us for a creative exploration with Cindy Beginning Chess Club Tuesdays 3:30pm (ages 7 years-adult) Practice your chess skills or learn to play the game Book Chat - Third Tuesday at 1pm Social Scrabble for Grown Ups Tuesdays 5pm & Thursdays 1pm Please check front desk for exact dates) The Friends of the Library Book Sale 3/14 9:30-1 Find affordable books, movies and music for all ages. Proceeds support library programs and facilities. If you have ever considered joining the Friends, all it takes is a small payment of $5 or $10 for annual membership dues. Also, you are welcome to attend the Friends meeting scheduled for Wednesday, March 18 at 1 p.m. Thank you! Children’s Programs Include Sign Language Story Time (recommended for ages 0-5 years) – Mondays at 10:00 a.m. Story Time (recommended for ages 2-6 years) – Mondays at 11:00 a.m. Pajama Story Time (recommended for ages 0-6 years) – Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. Beginning Chess Club (ages 7 years-adult) - Tuesdays 3:30 p.m. Lego Builders’ Club (ages 3-8 years) -
Saturdays 11 a.m-3 p.m. Love on a Leash (ages 3-8 years) – Second Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. Do Your Homework at the Library (grades 3-8) Mondays - Thursdays beginning at 3 p.m. BALBOA BRANCH 4255 MT. ABERNATHY AVE, 92117 (858) 573-1390
Special Programs Family Concert - Swing Into Spring! 3/7 1pm Join us for great music at the library with the talented Dean Ratzman! Guaranteed to have you singing and dancing! Irish Step Dance Performance by The Rose-Ritchie Academy of Irish Dance 3/16 3:30pm Irish dance involves intricate footwork, fascinating rhythms, and music that comes from the heart. Come and see these Irish dancers at your library! All invited. Spring Into STEAM – Go Wild! Under the Rainforest Canopy 3/21 1pm Join us for “D.I.Y. Rainforest Terrariums” with ToshWerkS to learn the importance of this diverse Biome, and create your very own miniature Rainforest! We’ll GO WILD with this hands-on workshop that’s fun, educational, and not to be missed! [Ages 9 12] Free Workshop. ONLINE REGISTRATION REQUIRED! Ongoing 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten! A Literacy Program for Pre-readers! Yes, this is possible to accomplish by reading one book a day to be finished in 3 years! Keep a log and earn rewards! Contact library staff for more information. Children’s and Teen’s Programs Lego Club Mondays, except 3/16, 4-5pm Build your LEGO masterpiece. We supply the LEGO’s and you supply the imagination! (Pre-K – 6th grade) Homework Help Wednesdays, 2-4pm New hours continue! Bring your homework questions and our volunteer can assist you. (K – 8th grade) Great Read-Alouds Wednesdays 6pm Enjoy listening to entertaining stories while practicing listening skills and celebrating the love of reading. (K – 2nd grade) Preschool Storytime and Craft 3/5 & 19 10am Listen to terrific stories and then create a story-based craft geared toward preparing preschoolers for Kindergarten success. Offered on the first and third Thursdays. (Preschool – 5 yrs.) Wee Reads for Baby & Toddler 3/6 & 20 10:30am Enjoy stories, rhymes, music, and playtime. (Birth – 5 yrs.) Paws to Read 3/10 6pm Children are invited to read stories to adorable Love on a Leash therapy dogs.
They love listening to stories - read by You! (Pre-K – 4th grade) Signing Storytime With Miss Jennifer 3/12 & 3/26 10am Miss Jennifer uses sign language to enhance the reading of beloved children’s picture books. Includes sing-a-longs and bubble time too! (Birth – 5 yrs.) Drop in and Play 3/13 & 27 10:30am Enjoy playtime with babies and toddlers in a relaxed atmosphere while getting to know other families in the community. (Birth – 5 yrs.) Kids’ Krafternoon 3/14 & 28 1-2pm Create your own fun craft at the library to take home and enjoy. (K – 4th grade) Pajama Signing Storytime with Miss Jennifer 3/17 & 24 6pm Visit the library in your comfy pajamas while Miss Jennifer uses and teaches sign language to enhance the reading of beloved children’s picture books. Includes bubble time too! (Birth – 5 yrs.) Make a Project @ the Library w/ Miss Parween: Design a Kaleidoscope 3/18 3:30-4:30 Create a special project at the library to take home and enjoy. All supplies provided. Sign up required. (3rd – 5th grade) Youth Book Discussion RESCHEDULED to 4/3 3:45–4:45pm Read “Strange the Dreamer” by Laini Taylor and then join us for a lively book discussion. Copies available for checkout. Sign up required. (7th – 9th grade) Children’s Book Discussion RESCHEDULED to 4/17 3:45–4:45pm Read “Almost Home” by Joan Bauer and then join us for a lively book discussion. Copies available for checkout. Sign up required. (3rd – 6th grade) Adults’ Programs Healthy & Fit Adults 3/2 & 3/9 11:15am-Noon Join us for this educational and relaxing fitness program presented by Lois Schenker. Stitching Circle 3/3 & 10 2-3:30pm Bring your knitting, crocheting, and other stitching projects to the library. Instruction may be included. Balboa Book Discussion Club 3/17 11:45-12:45 Read “Galileo’s Daughter: A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith, and Love” by Dava Sobel and then join us for a lively and thought-provoking book discussion. Copies available for checkout. Adult Craft with Remi: Beach Canvas Art 3/18 6pm Create a textured 3-D beach-themed canvas art in this step-by-step tutorial using real San Diego beach sand & seashells. All supplies provided. Sign-up required. ESL - Adult Beginning English Wednesdays, except 3/4, 12-2:00pm English as a Second Language assistance geared toward newcomers learning English. Tech Tutoring Saturdays, 12:30-2:30pm One-on-One appointments for tech assistance now available every Saturday. Bring your own device. Sign-up required –
call or come in. CLAIREMONT BRANCH 2920 BURGENER BLVD, 92110 (858) 581-9935
Little Ones Preschool Storytime Tuesdays 11:30am & Fridays 10:30am Fun preschool stories &with Miss Joyce with simple craft afterwards. Fridays at 10:30am. Join us for songs, games, and stories. Children and their chaperones are invited to stay and play after story time! Sunset Storytime Wednesdays 3/4, 3/11 & 3/18 6:30pm Join us for Sunset Storytime! Bring a blanket and settle into the evening with songs, games, and stories. All families are encouraged to attend! Sign Language Storytime Thursdays 3/5 & 3/19 10:30 Children and their caregivers can learn ASL sign language while hearing great stories! Presented by Jennifer Duncan. Baby & Toddler Storytime with Stay & Play 3/12 & 3/26 10:30am Miss Joyce leads a fun story time with stories, songs and play! Kids & Teens Paws to Read 3/7 11am Children are invited to read to certified therapy dogs to build reading confidence. Slime Making Craft 3/21 10:30am Learn how to make your own slime! All materials will be provided. For ages 0 -17. Arts & Crafts with Ms. Cindy Wednesdays 2 pm Join Ms. Cindy to make a new craft each week. All materials will be provided. Game Time Thursdays 3pm Break out the board games for a little tabletop fun! Children’s Arts & Crafts Thursdays 4pm Join us each week to make a new craft. All materials will be provided. Adults Literary Book Club 3/4 6pm The Book Club will be discussing, “Song of Solomon” by Toni Morrison. Make Your Own Book 3/24 6pm Now is your chance to learn simple binding techniques and make a book of your own. Make one for yourself or create a unique gift for someone else! Space is limited so contact the library to reserve your place. Friends Free Concert Series: Pink Trio 3/25 6pm The Friends of the Clairemont Library present a monthly free concert featuring talented local musicians. Tech Friday 3/27 3pm Need help setting up that new tablet? Got stuck on borrowing an eBook? Bring your questions and devices to the Clairemont Library. Help provided for laptops, smartphones, and tablets.
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14 • The Clairemont Times • March 2020
The California Tower at the San Diego Museum of Man is Now Open Following the Completion of the Seismic Retrofit Upon reopening–and in celebration of the 5-year anniversary of the California Tower first opening to the public in January 2015–California Tower tours will now feature a brand-new tour experience that highlights the histories of many of San Diego’s diverse communities, while still culminating with the spectacular 360-degree views of San Diego from the eighth-floor viewing deck. “Since 2015, our Tower tours have provided over 130,000 visitors from around the world the opportunity to experience the Museum of Man and San
many years to come.” The seismic retrofit of the California Tower was funded by the City of San Diego and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and project construction was managed by the City of San Diego. The improvements upgraded the Tower’s seismic capabilities based on the latest seismic building codes, which will help fortify the Tower against potential earthquake damage, preserving the iconic San Diego landmark and enhancing the safety of museum visitors, staff, and the public. The Museum is open daily from 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. California Tower tours are offered ten times
Diego in a fun and dynamic way, and we are so pleased to once again be offering these tours to the public,” said Micah Parzen, Chief Executive Officer of the San Diego Museum of Man. “We thank the City of San Diego for their partnership and investment in preserving the California Tower–one of the City’s most iconic cultural landmarks. We look forward to welcoming countless more visitors to experience these one-of-a-kind tours for
daily during the Museum’s regular hours of operation and twelve guests can be accommodated on each tour. Tower tour tickets are $23 for regular adult admissions, with discounts available for Museum members, seniors, military, students and youths. Tickets for California Tower tours are now available for purchase onsite at the Museum, and online tickets will be made available soon at CaliforniaTower.org.
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POLICE BLOTTER Vehicle Break-In 4600 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. 5100 Santa Fe St. 3300 Cowley Way 6400 Beadnell Way 4800 Shawline St. 5600 Balboa Ave. 5400 Genesee Ave. 4400 Gila Ave. 3500 Jemez Dr. 5000 Shawline St. 4700 Berwick Dr. 5500 Genesee Ct. 4800 Longford St. 3400 Cowley Way 3900 Mount Aladin Ave. 3100 Idelwild Way 5200 Mount Alifan Dr. 5500 Balboa Arms Dr.
4600 De Soto St. 3000 Idlewild Way 3900 Mount Abraham Ave. 3700 Mount Ainsworth Ave. 5600 Camber Ct. 4800 Barstow St. 3800 Mount Abraham Ave. 3200 Geronimo Ave. 4800 Shawline St. Vehicle Theft 4200 Cannington Dr. 3700 Boyd Ave. 4900 Clairemont Dr. 4100 Mount Alifan Pl. 7000 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. 5500 Balboa Ave. 3800 Genesee Ave. Vandalism 2900 Clairemont Dr. 6600 Beadnell Way 4200 Moraga Ave. 6300 Beadnell Way
Residential Burglary 3900 Mount Everest Blvd. 3500 Mount Laurence Dr. 4400 Clairemont Dr. 4500 Pocahontas Ave. Battery 4500 Clairemont Dr. 4800 Clairemont Dr. 5900 Balboa Ave. Commercial Burglary 5200 Genesee Ave. 3000 Clairemont Dr. 5500 Balboa Ave. Fraud 4900 Mount Casas Dr. 3900 Mount Abraham Ave. 2800 Cowley Way “If you do not report it or call us, in our mind it did not happen” San Diego Police Officer Call 911 to report an emergency Non Emergency 24 hours (619)-531-2000 www.sandiego.gov/police Compiled from info at www.CrimeMapping.com
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The Clairemont Times • March 2020 • 15
BUSINESS/SERVICE DIRECTORY COMPUTER AND PHONE REPAIR
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16 • The Clairemont Times • March 2020
These Stairs by Chris O’Connell
These stairs take a good look at them, I don’t think they will have a long shelf life. This is a photo I took recently; I was standing on the sidewalk on the east side of Morena Blvd. The stairs lead directly up to the southern side of Clairemont Dr. The stairs have been a bone of contention for a while now, basically a what is the future of this access point. At a recent Clairemont Community Planning Group meeting I interpreted an official from SANDAG stating they are no longer their responsibility. Protea the developer redeveloping the lot for a future mixed project use have stated they are
not their stairs either. The stairs were closed and off limits for a number of months when SANDAG started using the property as a lay down yard for Mid Coast Trolley construction activities. After subtle pressure from the community in early 2020 SANDAG poured a concrete slab and opened the stairs back up to the public. Protea has said on the record they will try and maybe see if they can budget in a switchback of sorts in their future redevelopment plans in the same general area, although they did not fully commit. In the eyes of the developer if people are getting off at the Clairemont Drive Trolley Station and heading over to Mission Bay Protea would like to funnel people through their property and shop at their proposed stores. An ugly set of existing stairs is not quite a gateway or very appealing to their project. As always, stay tuned, and in the meantime, if you are seeking buns of steel free Stairmaster workout. Email: chris@clairemonttimes.com
Balboa Ave Switchback by Chris O’Connell
Sant’Agnello Sorrento, Italy Switchback
by Chris O’Connell
Now that is a switchback!!!!!! All this switchback and stair chatter got me thinking back to the trip of a lifetime Renee & I took to the Amalfi Coast back in September of 2018. My first true vacation. On this day we left our AirBnB and headed for the beach club/marina, well it was a concrete beach club and a chair rental, nonetheless it was bliss. Did we
walk that switchback? Heck No! Just out of the frame of the picture there was an elevator shaft in a cave and for $0.50 up and down. Fun Fact: I ate so much and walked so much in Italy I actually returned home thinner by a couple pounds. Fun Fact: #2 Renee is currently pursuing mountains of paperwork to obtain her Italian citizenship. #RetirementGoals
It was a beautiful Sunday morning in February and I noticed some new structure being built on the north side of
Blvd. Say you were walking from Pacific Beach or maybe you were coming from the north end of Morena Blvd and heading to the trolley station this will be an access point where you would then be walking/biking over Balboa Ave to
Balboa Ave at the future site of the Mid Coast Trolley Balboa Station. You can tell from this picture it was an early Sunday morning simply because there was no traffic and I could stand in the median getting a clear picture looking northwest. This future switchback is on the north side of Balboa Ave. at Morena
the trolley station. It should be noted it appears there will be access on the south side of Balboa to access the station up above as well. Sunday mornings are ideal for a ride down Santa Fe St, or up through UTC to see other views of the project taking shape.