See UPDATE page 17

See PRESCRIPTION page 21

See NEIGHBORS page 10

See DANCE page 2

The city’s Parks and Recreation department has weighed in

on the subject of Mission Trails Regional Park.

Sort of.What follows here is the text of

an article written by Jay Wilson of the park foundation, in consul-tation with Chris Zirkle, the city’s deputy director for Open Space. It clarifies, to a degree, the city’s position in the ongoing Multiple Species Conservation Program, and the Mission Trails Regional Park plan update.

That update is what brought about the letters from federal and state fish and wildlife officials that sparked the controversy.

“Recently there has been con-siderable discussion resulting from a letter written by the US and CA Fish and Wildlife Services to the City of San Diego regard-ing the Mission Trails Regional Park master plan update and natural resource management

THE NICE, THE STRANGE, AND THE TRULY WEIRD

Use by kids rising

By Doug CurleeEditor

Prescription drug use a growing problem

NEIGHBORS SUE CITY OVER HUGE ‘LUXURY’ HOUSING PROJECT

Mission Trails Update

By Doug CurleeEditor

By Jeremy Ogul

Dancing from Africa, coffee over sex, and teeth made of urine

Mission Times Courier

The city of San Diego illegally approved a large student

dormitory project and shut the community out of the pro-cess, according to a group of residents calling themselves Rolandans for Quality Infill Development.

The residents,

who live near the project site on El Cajon Boulevard and 63rd Street in Rolando Village, claim in a lawsuit that the city ignored its own laws requiring extensive public review and approval of a new permit to build the complex.

They also claim developer Carmel Partners deliberately

misled the com-munity

about

whether the project would serve as a student dormitory or luxury family apartments.

The new apartment commu-nity, now under construction and being marketed as BLVD63, will have 332 residential units and 4,000 square feet of retail space across four four-story buildings on the property. The residen-tial units include a total of 915

I t is a relatively little-known martial art from Brazil with graceful, dance-like moves.

And it is being taught to 3- and 4-year-olds at a preschool in the San Diego community of San Carlos.

“It’s a non-aggressive, playful martial art that incorporates

By David OgulMission Times Courier

dance, acrobat, music and it originated in Africa at the time of slavery,” said Nina Gerstz, the recently hired director at Silverman Preschool, housed at

Tifereth Israel Synagogue, on Cowles Mountain Boulevard. “The kids love it. It’s the most

Health and law enforce-ment officials in our area are seeing a major

rise in the illegal use of prescription drugs, and in the problems that creates.

A recent report from the county’s Prescription Drug Abuse Task Force details the rise in drug use among virtually all segments of society, with particular attention to the rise in use among kids.

“The increasing number of juvenile arrestees who report misusing prescription drugs is very troubling” said Sheriff Bill Gore. “The percentage is 15 points higher than five years ago, and that is worrisome.”

The rise Gore cites is 25 per

cent to 40 per cent among juve-niles, a staggering hike.

Many of those young people are students in local high schools, and more unfortunately, in middle schools.

It’s a temptation that’s hard to resist, since the drugs are read-ily available in many, if not most, home medicine cabinets these days. Emergency room visits due

to overdoses of prescription pain-killers is up fully 61 per cent over the past five years, and sources say a significant number of those visits are kids.

School officials are very aware of the possibility there may be drugs on campus. The San Diego Unified School District, like most

Who’s driving the bus here?

COMMENTARY

December 2013 On the Internet at www.MIssIOnTIMesCOurIer.com Volume XIX – number 12

Dance, from page 1

natural thing for them.”

C a p o e i r a grew from the Portuguese colony of Brazil when slaves combined dance steps, singing, somersaults and air kicks to create a martial art that otherwise would have been banned.

After slavery was abolished, various war-lords began hiring Capoeristas as

b o d y -guards, leading

authorities to ban the art and hunt down its practi-tioners. It was revived as a

sport in 1937.Said Gerstz, who has been

practicing the art for more than a decade: “A typical session is comprised of capoeira fundamen-tals associating the moves with fun and exciting games. The basic step, called `ginga,’ looks like a dance step: One-foot steps back alternately as the opposite arm swings alternately from side to front of face. Cartwheels and handstands are part of the essen-tial capoeira moves. Legwork, acrobatics, and rolls are taught a step at a time to children as young as 3 years old.”

In other words, it’s a blast for a preschooler. Add music and singing to the mix, and you have an activity that has grown in popularity since Gerstz intro-duced capoeira to the Silverman campus just a few months ago.

Now on to some meatier news...

A new study by an interna-tional hotel chain has found that its guests prefer coffee to sex as the ideal wakeup call.

In fact, more than half of the respondents from around the world who were surveyed by Le Meridien Hotels, which is owned by the Starwood Hotels & Resorts group, said they would prefer coffee to sex – at least in the morning. It further found that nearly 8 of 10 respondents

would rather give up alcohol, social media or sex with their spouse rather than forfeit their caffeine fix for a year.

Left unsaid, of course, is whom the respondents are having sex with.

Le Meridien said it surveyed frequent travelers in the United States, China, the United Arab Emirates and three other coun-

tries. One in four people said they fell less creative

without caffeine, and 22 percent said they couldn’t even get out of bed unless it was for a good cup of coffee.

…Meanwhile, over in China, sci-entists are giving new meaning to the term `potty mouth,’ claim-ing they’ve succeeded in growing teeth from urine.

I’m not making this

stuff up.According to a recent study

published in Cell Regeneration Journal, researchers said they were able to grow new teeth using stem cells derived from human urine. Scientists are hoping the finding could lead people to replace lost or damaged teeth.

The scientists said they har-vested cells normally passed through the body and were able

to turn them into stem cells. The new cells

were mixed with other material from a mouse. A few weeks later, s o m e t h i n g resembling a tooth had been

formed. “The tooth-like

structure contained dental pulp, dentin,

enamel space and enamel organ,” wrote the researchers. The teeth, however, were not as solid as natural teeth.

Worry not, my friends. The teeth can’t be as bad as some of the other garbage coming out of China.

…And finally, from the How-Low-Can-You-Go Department, coaches at a high school football power in the town of Destrehan, La., have been busted for break-

ing into an opponent’s computer account that housed its playbook.

The St. Charles School District, which oversees Destrehan, issued a statement condemning the team’s actions: “As soon as the concerns were brought to our attention, and internal investiga-tion was conducted… Any actions that jeopardize the integrity of the school system or Destrehan High School will not be tolerated.”

South Lafourche High, the victims of the unsportsman-like conduct, distributed a news release that read: “The alleged violations involve improper and unauthorized access by certain Destrehan coaches to practice video of the South Lafourche team during the week of practice prior to the game.” The viewing, the school said, “gave Destrehan an unfair competitive advantage and was a violation of sports-manship, ethics and fair play, and potentially exposed South Lafourche High School players to an increased risk of injury.”

Said Kenny Henderson, exec-utive director of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association: “We’ve never dealt with anything like this before.”

2 MISSIONTIMESCOURIER.COM — DECEMBER 2013LOCAL News

Paid advertising courtesy of Dan Smith Re/Max Lic. 01346593

Kim O’ Hara knows exactly how many wheelchairs can cram into her two-bedroom Allied Gardens apartment. She knows which Mission Bay fire pit has firm dirt that wheelchairs won’t get caught in, and what it’s like to lead a group of 20 kids in wheelchairs single file through Lindbergh Field.

An accountant and local resi-dent, O’Hara has spent the past 14 years dedicating her life to chil-dren with physical disabilities.

What began as a simple vol-unteering opportunity coaching wheelchair sports with the San Diego Adaptive Sports Recreation Association has evolved into a new lifestyle for O’Hara revolving around the children she serves.

“Watching them and hearing them changes you and puts your life completely in a different per-spective,” O’Hara said. “Kids in wheelchairs don’t think about their disability, its just life for them and they have such posi-tive spirits.”

O’Hara credits the children’s optimistic attitudes and perse-verance through their personal struggles for inspiring her to help others.

“These kids have had anywhere from 10 to 50 surgeries in their life and they’re just children,” O’Hara continued. “If I can just do one little thing to help them, I will, because they do a lot more for me.

O’Hara coaches wheelchair soccer, rugby and basketball and according to Debbie Augustine a mother whose son plays on one of O’Hara’s teams, O’Hara’s actions as a coach outlive what anyone would ever expect.

“Most people wouldn’t do what Kim does,” Augustine said, “She goes beyond the coaching and the

kids are like her own. She loves them, cares for them and becomes a part of their lives.”

Off the courts, O’Hara is driving kids to hospital appoint-ments, leading socials, planning trips, and even offering her own apartment for movie nights and cooking lessons.

“If I can count on them and show them that they matter, give them love and attention to ease anything they go through day-to day, I will go by leaps and bounds to do it.”

Modestly, O’Hara emphasized

that it isn’t her actions that are of grave importance but rather what the kids do for her.

“What these kids do for me, is 10 times more than I could ever dream of ever doing for them. O’Hara said. “These kids spirits are so amazing and they are my life – we’ve all become a family. “

For more information on how to volunteer visit http://www.adap-tivesportsandrec.org/

Contact David Rozul at drozul@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter @DavidRozul.

By David RozulVolunteer

Kids Inspire Wheelchair Sports Coach

“What these kids do for me, is 10 times more than I could ever dream of ever doing for them.”

Top photo: The San Diego junior varsity wheelchair basketball teamBottom photo: Kim O’Hara (center) volunteering at La Mesa’s Octoberfest with two of her “kids”

-Kim O’Hara

MISSIONTIMESCOURIER.COM — DECEMBER 2013 3LOCAL News

Although most people are aware of the seriousness of a dog bite, many do not know that cat bites can be even more harmful. The risk of infection from a feline bite is much higher than that of a canine. Between 28% - 80% of cat bites become infected and a severe infection can occur within 4-8 hours of the incident. Those most at risk are children, the elderly, and people with immuno-compromised conditions. Due to the sharpness of the feline teeth, they can actually penetrate way beyond the skin into the tendons, joints, muscles and even bone injecting pathogens that cause infection. Infected bites that involve knuckles of the hands, finger joints or feet can be par-ticularly serious, often requiring surgery and hospitalization. It is estimated that anywhere between 400,000 – 750,000 people present to medical facilities each year with bites from a cat and 13% of those require hospitalization.

The reason these bites are so harmful is that the bacteria can spread to the surrounding tissues causing cellulitis or through the blood to other areas of the body.

Cat bites that bleed freely are often the least serious as the blood will often filter out the pathogens. It is the puncture wounds with little bleeding that leave only a small spot on the surface of the skin that are the most dangerous.

If you are bitten by a cat, careful handling of the wound is essential. First, control the bleeding, then wash the wound thoroughly with an anti-bacterial soap and warm water and apply a bandage. If the wound is a puncture wound or you are medically compromised, you should seek medical attention right away. If you do not feel it is a wound requiring immediate medical attention, watch for the signs of infection which include: redness, swelling or pus at the wound site, swelling of the lymph nodes, sudden fatigue, fever or

pain. If any of these symptoms develop, get medical help.

The best remedy is to avoid get-ting bitten in the first place. Never try to handle a stray or feral cat. Most domestic cats will only bite if they feel trapped, cornered, startled or restrained. They will also sometimes bite when they are over-stimulated. Cats are hunters. Often when we are playing with them, our hand movements can represent prey to them and their natural instinct is to attack. When interacting with your kitty, use toys that allow you to keep your hands away. Recognize a cat’s body language when he is getting ready to attack. Generally, the cat will get in a crouch position, its ears will lie back on its head, and its tail will curl inwards. If you see this behavior, back off. When pilling your cat, putting it in a car-rier, or otherwise causing it stress, try wrapping it in a heavy towel and keep your hands away from its mouth.

Remember, even though your kitty loves you, he can and will bite if the circumstances are right. Practice safety and stay vigilant.

Sari Reis is a Certified Humane Education Specialist and the Owner of Mission Valley Pet Sitting Services. For more infor-mation please contact her at 760-644-0289 or www.missionv-valleypetsitting.com.

For those of us who remember Sycuan’s gaming operation as a bingo game in a temporary structure, and I do, seeing what the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation has accomplished is more than a little amazing.

Sycuan is throwing a major party November 23rd, and invites everyone to come enjoy the day and evening. The fun starts at 10 a.m., and continues through the day and evening.

Sycuan Bird singers and danc-

ers will serenade and entertain the guests at 6 p.m., demonstrat-ing an important part of the Kumeyaay culture.

Major hourly cash giveaways and 300 thousand dollars in “must go” Bingo payouts will entertain those who want to gamble, and those payouts include two brand new BMWs.

It’s going to be a very good party for a tribe that has a lot to celebrate

From a band struggling to support and feed its people, the people of Sycuan have created not only a major, state of the art gaming facility, but have become a major factor in the charitable efforts of the entire area.

Sycuan has created a fire department that not only protects its East County reservation, but is an integral part of the common firefighting and protection plan for the entire area.

Its medical and dental center handles the needs of the tribe and employees, as well as other East County residents.

The list of charitable organi-zations and causes Sycuan helps support is far too long to go into here, but rest assured it’s a long list.

Sycuan is proud of what the past 30 years have brought.

They have every right to be.

Learn everyday Spanish withour Conversational approach.> Private or small groups> Children, teens, adults> Day or evening classes> Unique Visual & Interactive Methods

MISSION VALLEY (619) 284-8636www.spanishlanguagecenter.com

Feline Fangs Can Be DangerousBy Sari ReisOwner of Mission Valley Pet Sitting

www.missionvalleypetsitting.com

SYCUAN MARKS 30 YEARS OF SUCCESSDaylong celebration kicks off November 23rdBy Doug CurleeEditor

4 MISSIONTIMESCOURIER.COM — DECEMBER 2013PeTs

By Dave SchwabMission Times Courier

By Judy McCartyPublic Relations

Navajo Planning Group

Public safety was the order of the day at Navajo Community Planners, Inc.’s (NCPI’s) October meeting as community advis-ers favored an all-way stop at Wandermere Drive and Green Gables.

The advisory group makes land-use recommendations to the city for the 14-square-mile Navajo community which includes Allied Gardens, Del Cerro, San Carlos and Grantville.

The planning area is located north of Interstate 8, northwest of La Mesa, west of El Cajon and Santee and southeast of the San Diego River.

There was a large audience turnout for the group’s Oct. 21 meeting, as school officials and neighbors expressed concern that there are significant traffic hazards – and blind spots – in and around roads near Green Elementary School at 7030 Wandermere Drive and Benchley-Weinberger Elementary at 6269 Twin Lake Drive.

Ryley Webb of District 7 Councilman Scott Sherman’s office reported that a city engi-neering evaluation of a proposed all-way stop at Wandermere Drive and Green Gables came up short of the amount needed to automatically trigger initiation of a stop sign there.

“The amount of points are based on the number of traffic accidents and the volume of cars coming through that intersection from main and secondary streets,” Webb said. “The intersection got 17 points, and it needed 20 points to automatically qualify.”

Dr. Bruce Ferguson, Green Elementary principal, said the actual number of accidents at that intersection doesn’t paint a true picture of how dangerous it is.

“We’ve had numerous near misses there,” Ferguson said adding, “It is an unsafe environment.”

An excerpt from a letter sent by Ferguson to the NCPI board stated, “There is no stop sign on Wandermere at the intersection of Green Gables. This intersec-tion is where most of our families cross the street. The paint and

additional signage is just not enough. Cars continue to zoom by as families and students are rushing to get to Patrick Henry High School, our parents are rushing to get their own students to school ...Even if families are in the middle of the street, cars will continue to rush by, so close to the pedestrians, they can reach out and touch the car. … We don’t want a student or family member being hit in or around this crosswalk for the importance of a 4-way stop to be validated.”

NCPI chair Matt Adams said he’d witnessed a near miss at the Wandermere Drive – Green Gables intersection.

NCPI board member Michael McSweeney questioned whether an all-way stop was necessary noting, “We don’t want to use a sledgehammer to kill a mouse,” asking, “Does the city have the abillity to put in a flashing signal telling people to slow down there?”

“We don’t have the law enforce-ment personnel to sit there and control the traffic,” replied NCPI board member Richard Burg of San Carlos.

“The overall safety factor there warrants a four-way stop,” said NCPI board member Terry Cordes.

The advisory group voted unan-imously in favor of supporting an all-way stop at Wandermere Drive and Green Gables.

NCPI meets every third Monday of the month at 7 p.m at Zion Avenue Community Church, 4880 Zion Ave.

For more information visit www.navajoplanners.org.

Our streets need a lot of work

Marjie Siekerka will be installed as President of Navajo Canyon Republican Women, Fed., for the year 2014 at the NCRWF annual Holiday Christmas Party to be held Tuesday, December 10, at 11 am in the home of member Ginny Wisely. Marjie has previ-ously served as President and is our long-time newsletter editor. All Republican women are invited to attend this informal gathering. Please RSVP to NCRWF99@gmail.com or call 619-697-2235. Please bring a toy for a military child and a dish to share.

Elected to serve a second term are Irene Hancock, 1st VP, Programs; Susie Cates, 2nd VP, Membership; Diane Randolph, 3rd VP, Ways and Means; Eileen Rugg, Recording Secretary; and Carol Sebastian, Corresponding Secretary. Kathie Riesgo is the newly elected Treasurer. Waskah Whelan will become Immediate Past President and will also move on to serve as President of San Diego County Republican Women, Fed.

The club will return to its regu-lar meeting schedule of luncheon meetings on the second Tuesday of most months at The Brigantine restaurant in La Mesa. Check-in time for the January 14 meeting is 10:30 am for the 11 am meeting; luncheon is served at noon with the speaker to follow. Cost is $20 and reservations are required. Please RSVP to NCRWF99@gmail.com or call 619-697-2235.

* * * Our satellite club, Downtown

Republican Women, will cel-ebrate the holidays Thursday, December 19, at 5:30 pm at The Athens Market, at First and F streets downtown. Cost is $15. The restaurant’s regular hors d’oeuvres buffet will be served, and there will be a no-host bar. RSVP to dmcrsd@gmail.com. Downtown Republican Women meet every third Thursday of the month and all Republicans are welcome.

NAVAJOCANYONREPUBLICANWOMENNEW OFFICERS TO BE INSTALLEDPARTY DECEMBER 10

Marjie Siekerka, President of NCRWF

Location of the Wandermere Drive and Green Gables intersection

MISSIONTIMESCOURIER.COM — DECEMBER 2013 5LOCAL News

The church across from Patrick Henry High School6556 Park Ridge Blvd.San Diego, CA 92120619-460-6442www.stdunstans.org

Celebrate Christmas

Join us for worship

Everyone Welcome. Come & See!

AdventDecember 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd

8 a.m. & 10 a.m

Christmas Eve December 24th

4 p.m.Family Service with Pageant & Candlelight Communion 6 p.m.Candlelight Eucharist 10:30 p.m.Christmas Carol Sing11 p.m.Chorale Eucharist Candlelight Service

Christmas DayDecember 25th 10 a.m.

Kids are welcome at all services. Nursery for ages 0 – 3 is available at all Advent services, and on 12/24 at 4 and 6 p.m.

Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. —Isaiah 60:1

Mission Trails Church Presents

Sunday, December 22

Mission Trails Regional Park Amphitheater5:30pm & 7:30pm

MISSIONTRAILSCHURCH.COM (619) 303-3069

GIRL SCOUTS EARN TOP HONORSBy Josie BalkowskiOwner/InstructorSan Diego Scribblers

Mission Trails Girl Scouts have done it again! Won awards that is!

Each year, San Diego Imperial Girl Scouts earn top honors for their outstanding service and leadership to the community. This year, two of our local Cadette troops were recognized for their achievements.

Over the past year, four mem-bers of Girl Scout Cadette Troop 3841 created a website to help San Diego Girl Scouts find vol-unteer opportunities in the area. Kaylianne Chaffee, Rylee Olson, Jewelean Pimentel, and Amanda Ridgway created the San Diego Volunteer Opportunity Database as part of the requirements to receive the Girl Scout Silver Award.

The website features a search-able database of community service opportunities in and around the San Diego area. Girls and troop leaders can search the database by their area of inter-est as well as the volunteers’ grade level. The database can be accessed at https://sites.google.com/site/sdvodgs/home, and the public can submit information about additional opportunities by email to sdvod.gs@gmail.com.

Two other Cadette scouts from Troop 3282, Rhiannon Hill and

Julia McCauley, worked together to earn their Silver Award by creating a sun safety awareness program. This program serviced day campers at local recreation parks and the general public at

local beaches. The girls used pamphlets, pictures, games, and displays to provide information about sun protection and sun-related health risks including skin cancer, premature aging, and eye damage. They even pro-vided free sunscreen!

Service is one of the core values of Girl Scouting, and it is good to see it alive and well in Mission Trails. Both of these Cadette troops will be honored at a special ceremony later this fall.

Are you interested in join-ing the Mission Trails Scouting community? For registration information, send an email to serviceunitregistrar@gmail.com.

6 MISSIONTIMESCOURIER.COM — DECEMBER 2013LOCAL News

THE NIGHT MAGIC OF LAKE MURRAYFRIENDS OF LAKE MURRAY

People ask why we run or walk at Lake Murray when it is dark. There are several reasons. First, I know it is safe in the early mornings. Some people find it more convenient when they go to work early. They are too tired in the afternoon to exercise. In darkness, we see meteors race across the sky. We comment on the moon changes, from when it is full to when it has a sarcastic smile.

When it is dark at the lake, we hear the sounds of nature. We hear the fish slapping the water, coots making high-pitched sounds, rabbits and rodents scurrying out of our way, geese honking and the “whoosh” sounds of great horned owls that are very quiet.

We know that the foxes, coy-otes, owls are hunting and raccoons are scavenging, and we hope that we will see them. When it is dark there are fewer people to interrupt their breakfast and they are less likely to hide when we go near them.

Later we see incredible sun-rises and more people with cameras come out. It is when the “grapevine” is in full force. We learn what is happening with each other; who went on vaca-tions, who is not well, whose birthday is coming up and how old they will be.

Then there are those of us that go out in the dark because it is easier to think, write lists in our heads and find answers to prob-lems. When we go home, we know it will be a good day because we are relaxed and happy.

There is a sad day soon when “Baby Girl” aka Corinne moves away. Baby Girl is one of the “Sassy Girls.” Sassy girls are a little sarcastic, funny, are kind and always have something to say when we pass each other. Dana Dugan AKA “Dana Banana” rides her bike without hands on the handlebars and sings…loudly. C’mon, you know her.

Carolyn aka “Sassy Hussy” says that she is going to spank

me then tells me that she loves me. Kathy Collins aka “Beautiful Girl” looks like an angel but can give a witty comeback, Fran aka “Flora” has snappy retorts like all of the “Sassies.” I am probably missing some but I care for them all and will miss “Baby Girl” when she leaves.

Lori Ciprian gave me permis-sion to tell about a recent incident that should enlighten us all. Lori parked her car next to the juni-per trees on Baltimore Drive. Yes, she left her purse in her car. When she got through with her walk, she saw her car window was broken. This is not a new phenomenon.

However, a couple of weeks later Lori got a call from a police detective who told her that her credit cards and drivers license was found in a car on Ocean View and 40th St. Two officers in the area saw two males who were acting strangely and followed them. When they got to their car, the officers wanted to see some identification and looked in the male’s car. Voila. They not only found Lori’s cards and license but also another woman’s cards and purse.

Lori had replaced her driver’s license and credit cards but her purse was gone. The officers found some paperwork from the San Diego jail. One car burglar was released that day. He had a his-tory of breaking into cars and both males were taken to jail. Maybe this takes care of many of the car break-ins that we have had at the lake, Mission Trails Regional Park and elsewhere. Good work, officers.

The State Fish and Wildlife stocks fish periodically at Lake Murray and other city lakes. I looked on-line to see when the next stocking would be taking place. The web site said November 10th, meaning that trout could be in the lake at that time or weeks later depending on circumstances.

There is no “sure” date. I tried to find how many pounds of trout that they will drop off but State Fish and Game does not put amounts online...Why? Bass catches are OK according to the Reservoir Keeper, Gayle Havens. Gayle also said that paddleboats are now available to rent on weekends. There is even a six-person paddleboat ready for use.

There is no December Friends of Lake Murray meeting. Our next meeting will be January 16, 2014. Our speaker will be Dr. Anne Sturz who will talk about the climate.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Happy Ramadan and good wishes to all religions that celebrate their faith around that time.

By Barbara Cleves

ColumnistAnderson

MISSIONTIMESCOURIER.COM — DECEMBER 2013 7LOCAL News

Photographers on display

Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation Arbor Day, Holiday Gifts, Art, Music, and Children’s Classes at Mission TrailsPlant a Tree

The annual Arbor Day in Mission Trails Regional Park (MTRP) is being celebrated at the Equestrian Staging area on Saturday, December 7, 2013, at 9:00 a.m. The public is invited to take part in the donation and/or planting of oak trees. Volunteers may help with the planting, or act as cheerleaders. Volunteers are also needed to pull weeds and help with general landscape maintenance of the area. Some shovels will be available, but it would be helpful if you could bring your own. Gloves and com-fortable shoes are recommended.

In order to ensure that trees are available for all donors to plant, please contact the MTRP Foundation office at 619.668.3281 or email mtrp@mtrp.org. Arbor Day in Mission Trails is sponsored by City of San Diego Councilmember Scott Sherman, City of San Diego Park & Recreation Department, Mission Trails Regional Park Citizens’ Advisory Committee, and Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation.

Holiday Gifts Patty O’Reilly, the MTRP Gift

Shop Manager, has stocked the Visitor Center Gift Shop with a variety of new and delightful gifts. We highlight the birds, animals, trails, and natural

resources in our park, focusing on local and historic matters. But every now and then it is fun and instructive to take a look at things that are new and unusual. This is especially true of THE BIRDS OF WINTER, birds that have been traditionally associ-ated with wintertime and the holidays. Do you know what they look like or what they sound like? This year we will introduce you to the Cardinal, the Trumpeter Swan, the French Hen, the Turtle Dove, the Snow Goose, and the ever-popular Partridge…without its Pear Tree!

They come from AUDUBON’S BIRDS and are lovely little plush creatures. If you squeeze their tummies you will hear a true-to-life recording of the various birds’ calls. They are sized nicely to be held and played with by small hands or to be tied to a Christmas

tree. None of these birds actually live in Southern California, but you can see them while they are visiting our Gift Shop.

The Mission Trails Gift Shop also has a nice selection of stock-ing stuffers for the holiday, so some are toys, but most have some educational or utilitarian value as well:

Solar System Rulers with interesting data on the back

Magnifying Glasses from Italy with tweezers

Magnifying Bug Boxes for backyard adventuring

Plastic Recorders with instructions and cleaning tool

Cotton Bandanas printed with outdoor games

Old Mission Dam jigsaw puzzles

Balls for tossing both indoors and outdoors

Kaleidoscopes

In addition we have some charming children’s books and, of course, our very special Folkmanis puppets. Remember us when it is time to shop!

“Elements: Three Perspectives on Nature”

This exceptional photographic exhibition, featuring three award-winning photographers, will be on display in the Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor Center Art Gallery November 16 – December 13, 2013. You are cordially invited to a reception hosted by the artists on Sunday, November 24, 2013 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. This is a good opportunity to meet the artists and learn more about their art.

Music for the Holidays

On Sunday, December 8, the San Diego Native American Flute Players will perform from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Amphitheater (in the Theater if inclement weather). Then on Sunday, December 15, the Many Strings Duet will perform in the Theater. Jamie Burns is an accomplished ham-mered dulcimer musician and Chris Burns accompanies her on the acoustic guitar. They will perform a delightful mix of American, Celtic, and classi-cal melodies, holiday favorites, winter-themed instrumentals, and beautiful Christmas classics.Children’s Classes

Nora’s Children’s Art classes continue on December 7, 14, 21, and 28 from 10 to 11:30 a.m., and 1 to 2:30 p.m. Each class is 90 minutes and each week is a different topic. Linda Hawley’s Nature Adventures will meet on Tuesday, December 3, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. “Reindeer?, No, Mule Deer Here!” is the topic for December. For more informa-tion and registration forms, go to mtrp.org and click on the proper subject under “More News.”

Like us on facebook, and Happy Holidays from the MTRP Foundation! mtrp.org

Volunteer and plant a tree! Music for the holidays

8 MISSIONTIMESCOURIER.COM — DECEMBER 2013MIssION TRAILs ReGIONAL PARK

Wednesday, from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. You’ll start from the park’s Visitor and Interpretive Center, One Father Junipero Serra Trail, San Carlos. The walk begin-ning from the Kumeyaay Lake Campground Entry Station, Two Father Junipero Serra Trail, at the San Carlos-Santee border, gives a different perspective of the park and its diverse habitats. These walks are offered from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month, and take in historic Old Mission Dam.

Wildlife Tracking reveals the secret lives of animals and brings insight into their survival techniques and habits. Tracking

December’s gift of nature at Mission Trails Regional ParkBy Audrey F. BakerTrail Guide

A typical December in San Diego includes 73% sunny days. Mission Trails Regional Park invites you to enjoy California living refreshed and invigorated. Take time from the holiday hustle to cross paths with a wintering Monarch butterfly or take in a scenic overlook. Perhaps you’ll espy a mottled coyote gorging on Holly-leaf Cherry, or pause below the mistletoe crocheted among Western Sycamore branches.

What better holiday gift to present to family and friends than an adventure in nature’s wonderland?

In all seasons, our MTRP Trail Guide walks are an oppor-tunity to learn more about natural Southern California, with

its unique landscapes, h a b i t a t s , local history, plant and animal life. The walks are free, interest-ing, fact-filled,

and geared to all ages and inter-ests. Grab sturdy shoes, that comfortable hat, water bottle and sunscreen and hit the trail!

Morning walks are offered every Saturday, Sunday and

Team members assist in identify-ing and interpreting tracks, scat and habitats. Join us at 8:30 a.m., Saturday, December 7 in front of the Visitor Center, One Father

Junipero Serra Trail, San Carlos, for a two-hour tracking adventure.

Star Party is an invitation for solar exploration with MTRP’s resident star gazer George Varga. On Saturday, December 7 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. he’ll scope the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) and com-panion M32, the Double Cluster in P e r s e u s , P l e i a d e s ( S e v e n Sisters) and open clusters scattered across the sky! Meet at the far end of the Kumeyaay Day Use Parking Lot, Mission Trails Regional Park, Two Father Junipero Serra Trail, Santee.

December Discovery Table: Lizards of MTRP is a hands-on sci-ence presentation by MTRP Trail Guides. You’ll learn facts about various lizards found at MTRP and test your skill at matching each lizard with its identity clues. See you Saturday, December 14 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Visitor Center, Mission Trails Regional Park, One Father Junipero Serra Trail, San Carlos.

Murray Walk and Talk offers an informative 90-minute walk conducted by your MTRP Trail Guide focusing on the history of the dam and lake, with its scenic shores and thriving environment. See you Tuesday, December 17, at 9:00. We meet at the boat docks, Lake Murray, 5540 Kiowa Drive, San Carlos.

Winter Solstice Hike is an unparalleled opportunity to visit a Kumeyaay spiritual site to observe the phenomenon of rising sun rays visually split in half by the distant Lyon’s Peak boulders. Bundle up for this pre-dawn walk up Cowles Mountain with your Mission Trails guide. On Friday, December 20, or Sunday, December 22, we meet at 6:00-8:00 a.m., Cowles Mountain staging area at Golfcrest Drive and Navajo Road, San Carlos.

Bird Lake Murray and search along with MTRP Birding Guide Jeanne Raimond for resident and migratory water and land-lubber sage and chaparral species. Keep an eye out for the Tri-colored B l a c k b i r d found year-round only in California. Jeanne rec-o m m e n d s binoculars and bird book. We meet on Saturday, December 21, 8:00 a.m. at the parking lot off Kiowa Drive, Lake Murray (east side), San Carlos for a two-hour expedition.

Meanwhile, come on out and enjoy the park!

Visit www.mtrp.org for more information and our events cal-endar, or call (619) 668-3281. Special walks can be arranged for any club, group, business or school by contacting Ranger Heidi Gutknecht at (619) 668-3279 or at hgutknecht@mtrp.org.

MISSIONTIMESCOURIER.COM — DECEMBER 2013 9MIssION TRAILs ReGIONAL PARK

LOCAL Newsbedrooms.

The site has been a vacant dirt lot since the mid-2000s, when Douglas Wilson Cos. demolished a small shopping center and won city approval for a large, mixed-use housing development with 312 residential units. The plan was abandoned when financing fell through.

City staff apparently approved the new Carmel Partners project through a ministerial process because of its similarity to the original Douglas Wilson project, but the Rolandans for Quality Infill Development argue that the new project, also known as CentrePoint, is so different from the original that is approval should require more public review.

The project has “zoning prob-lems, land use problems, general plan problems, Subdivision Map Act problems, and [California Environmental Quality Act] problems,” said Craig Sherman, the attorney representing the resident group. “There are mul-tiple issues that would thrust this into further discretionary review, study and disclosures.”

The way the project was por-trayed helped the developer avoid a more arduous public review, Sherman said.

“They billed this out as luxury family apartments because they knew that a student hous-ing project was going to require higher levels of review and that the impact [on the surrounding neighborhood] was going to be obnoxious,” Sherman said.

Craig Benedetto, a spokesper-son for Carmel Partners, rejected those claims.

“There was no misrepresen-tation,” Benedetto said. “It was billed exactly as it will be built.”

Property owners have no legal right to control whether or not the tenants are students, Benedetto said. It is illegal to discriminate and Carmel Partners has no intention of discriminating, he said.

Nearby residents say that what makes it a megadorm is not the leasing practices but the design of the apartments. There are 146 four-bedroom units, and many of the bedrooms are large enough for two beds.

“You’d think anybody with any sense could see what this was,” said Jan Hintzman, member and former president of the Rolando Community Council. “These are not units that anybody would believe are units available or designed for the general public, for the apartment market.”

There is no doubt students are a target demographic for the leas-ing team. The BLVD63 leasing office is located directly across from San Diego State University, just off the footbridge over College Avenue, and marketing materials tout the “low key luxe” theme of the complex, describing the atmosphere as “high on life, with maxed out style.”

But a leasing agent there said that while many students have expressed interest in leasing an apartment at BLVD63, the com-plex has also received substantial interest from working profession-als and families.

“This is not a megadorm,” said Benedetto, the Carmel Partners

spokesperson. “It’s a luxury apartment community.”

BLVD63 will provide “unbe-lievable” amenities and features for its residents, Benedetto said, including free WiFi throughout the complex, two resort-style pools and spa with private cabanas, a 7,000 square-foot fitness center, outdoor fire pits and grills, an aquarium and a clubhouse with a game room, media center and technology center. Each residen-tial unit has its own washer and dryer, quartz countertops, stain-less steel appliances, simulated wood grain cabinets and laminate flooring. The residences come fully furnished.

Those luxury amenities should make the property a cash cow for the developer.

An accounting consultant hired by Carmel Partners wrote in a May 13 letter that the company expects rental revenues of $12.2 million per year from apartment tenants and $300,000 per year from retail tenants once the proj-ect is completed. The consultant estimated the total project cost of approximately $102.8 million, including land.

But regardless of the features, the sheer density of the project makes it inappropriate for the neighborhood, Hintzman said.

“There’s no reason to put it here except that somebody wants to make a fistful of money, and that’s frustrating,” she said. “If we’d gone through the process and this was our outcome, I guess we’d say ‘we’ve tried,’ but we never had a chance.”

In fact, Carmel Partners did reach out to the community by attending multiple Rolando Community Council meetings even though there was no city requirement to do so, Benedetto said.

Hintzman acknowledged this but said their presentations were too vague to be useful.

“They really weren’t interested in talking to us or hearing from us,” she said. “They said, ‘You guys have no role in this — we’re going to build by right and this isn’t a necessary conversation; go away.’”

Residents claim the project is 770 spaces short on parking, but with 1,091 parking stalls and 34 motorcycle spaces, BLVD63 actu-ally has far more parking than the 787 spaces required by city code, Benedetto said.

The features are not enough to satisfy area property owners, said Rhea Kuhlman, president of the nearby College Area Community Council.

“It’s not something that I think anyone in the College Area is going to be very happy about,” Kuhlman said. “Trying to pack people in like sardines, which is what this project has done — it’s going to lead to quick deterio-ration… These are the kind of buildings that turn into slums in 20 years.”

The idea that this project will hurt the neighborhood is wrong, Benedetto said.

“This is not going to be a detri-ment to Rolando,” he said. “It’s going to be a point of pride for their community. People always get concerned about change. We certainly appreciate that and understand it, but at the end of the day that fear will dissipate when the property is open.”

The future impact remains to be seen, but what it boils down to for Hinztman and others is that a profit-hungry corporation swooped in to exploit the neigh-borhood and the city did nothing to stop it.

Neighbors, from page 1

Rolando Village neighbors say the 362-unit apartment complex does not fit in the neighborhood, but construction work is progressing quickly. Developer Carmel Partners hopes to open the complex by next summer.

10 MISSIONTIMESCOURIER.COM — DECEMBER 2013

San Carlos Friends of the LibraryBy Sue HotzPublicity Chair

LOCAL News

January 9, 2014 marks our 40th Anniversary-- a banner year for the San Carlos Branch Library. Join us in “Honoring the Past, Building for the Future.” We’ve planned a year of fun activities for the whole family. It starts January 8 @ 3:00pm with a YARN WRAPPING (A.K.A. “bombing”) of the library. “Bombing” is a type of street art—decorating outside areas with yarn. Join in the fun. Use up bits and pieces of yarn. Example pictures and instruc-tions are on the website. Sign up at the library for your “wrapping” area preference. Displays will stay up as long as they last.

We will be honoring our SCFOL Life Members and FSDPL Honored SCFOL Volunteers. A perpetual plaque naming Life Members will be placed in the Library. December is the last month to purchase Life Memberships for ½ price ($250). December & January are SCFOL new & renewal Membership months. Memberships start at $5/year and will help us underwrite the cost of the 2014 Anniversary activities. Additional sponsors are needed. Go to 40th Anniversary Sponsors on the website to see how you can help. Our biggest event will be a parking lot FAMILY-FUN DAY

in late August with music, games and food.

Support LIBRARY FUND-RAISERS: Watch for these throughout the year. From November 30-December 7, buy a book at the Grossmont Center Barnes & Noble Book Fair. Dine at the Fletcher Pkwy Souplantation on February 13. Both events require VOUCHERS/COUPONS. Details are available at the library and on the website where you can now signup to receive library updates.

PROGRAMS: NOTE Holiday hour changes/closures between December 24 & January 1. YOUTH: 4th, 8th, & 10th Graders: Essay Contest deadline is December 20. You could win a laptop computer.

ADULTS: December’s Artists are Beverly Sanchez and quilter Audrey Potterton—gorgeous! The Book Club is reading The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce and for January, The Alchemist by Pau Coelho. Become a BOOK GIVER on WORLD BOOK NIGHT—sign up before January 5th-see web-site for details. 2014 promises a great line-up of artists, classes, speakers, musicians, OASIS and special programs while we continue in “Honoring the Past, Building for the Future.” HAPPY HOLIDAYS! See you in 2014!

Log onto www.sancarlosfriend-softhelibrary.org for program details. All are FREE and open to the public. Our next Monthly USED BOOK SALE is December 7. Your support is awesome and makes the difference to the quality and quantity of our programs.

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LOCAL News

School ZoneDailard Elementary Happenings

November has lived up to its promise to be another fun filled month at Dailard Elementary! We started out the month with a Dia de Los Muertos Family Dance where about 200 people joined in on the festivities. We had face painting, traditional foods and decorations and a great time was had by all. The following week was our annual Paper Airplane Night put on by our DADS group. This is always a favorite night and the kids really love to see whose airplane is most likely to soar.

December is looking to be just as festive and lively as we once again turn the Teacher’s Lounge into a winter wonderland in order to house our yearly Holiday Bazaar. This is a student favorite! Each year we pair up a parent volunteer with a student to help them make gift choices and keep on budget. It’s a great opportunity for kids to feel the joy of giving to others during the holiday season.

Speaking of giving to others, we have a wonderful group of families who are spending a day bringing much needed supplies to an orphanage in Tijuana in early December. They will spend the day singing songs, making crafts, playing games and giving the kids living in the orphan-age lots of extra love. We wish them all safe travels during this amazing experience.

San Diego needs to do more to be truly prepared for a manmade or natural disaster, according to the leaders of the local chapter of the American Red Cross.

According to the traditional model, it is the government’s job to plan for and respond to disas-ters, but the San Diego region can only be truly prepared when individuals, businesses and other partners take concrete steps together to prepare for the worst, said Tony Young, president of the San Diego and Imperial Counties chapter of the American Red Cross, in a September presenta-tion before the City Council.

“We’re talking about a cultural shift,” Young said.

The local Red Cross’s past efforts to engage the public toward preparedness were useful but too limited, Young said.

Between 2008 and 2012, the organization’s message reached 600,000 people in the region, but the result was only seven percent of households reported having a comprehensive plan for a disaster, according to the orga-nization’s research.

“We all recognize that disaster

can strike at any time, and gener-ally we’re not prepared,” said City Councilmember Marti Emerald. “When we do have these opportu-nities to think ahead and make a plan, often we say, ‘Well, it won’t happen to us.’ But here in San Diego we know that disaster can strike, and it can strike anytime, and it can strike anyone.”

As part of the Prepare San Diego initiative, the Red Cross seeks to incite one million people in the San Diego region to take a concrete step toward emergency preparedness over the next four

years. That could include any-thing from getting trained in CPR to creating an evacuation plan for your home or refreshing your emergency supply kit.

Beyond individual prepared-ness, the initiative also seeks to ensure that the community is prepared to provide shelter for 25,000 people in case of an emer-gency, serve 200,000 meals per day and quickly mobilize 4,000 event volunteers.

“We don’t believe that we’re there yet,” Young said. “We

By Jeremy OgulMission Times Courier

SAN DIEGO IS NOT PREPARED12 MISSIONTIMESCOURIER.COM — DECEMBER 2013

LOCAL News

For a few local dads, the most highly anticipated sporting event of the year was not in February or June. It was not even televised on ESPN 8, The Ocho. But it was a game that would determine the honor, pride and bragging rights for not only the winning team but for an entire school.

This, is dodgeball dad-style.Inside the walls of San Carlos

Rec Center, in front of 300 fans and sporting short-shorts, headbands and mustaches, the Gecko Dads Corp (GDC) from Green Elementary convincingly beat the Dads Assisting Dailard Students (DADS) from Dailard Elementary in the first annual dodge ball tournament between the schools. The GDC won four games to two in a best-of-seven tournament. And no one made them bleed their own blood.

Josh “Paparazzo” Billauer and Mark “Taco Meat” Naiman of GDC, and Eric “Brez” Bresnick of DADS organized the event to build a sense of commu-nity between the schools. The groups exist to create cama-

raderie among the dads while they do school improvement projects or events such as this. “This gives parents the ability to attend and enjoy school-based

activities that fall out-side of normal school

hours,” Mark Naiman said, “It fosters good school spirit by allowing other positive role models—like

grandparents and extended

family—to get

involved.” Sportsmanship was also impor-

tant at this event. “Both teams shook hands at mid-court, then did the appreciation yell of the opposing team’s name, just like the kids do in their soccer games. This was cool as it reinforced what the kids are learning on their own sports teams.”

The roar of the crowd was so loud that people who live near the rec center showed up to see what was happening—they had never seen or heard so much commo-tion coming from the gym before. Eric Bresnick said, “The atmo-

sphere was electric and my ears were still ringing hours after the match as a result of the incredibly loud school spirit on display from each side.”

Dr. Bruce Ferguson of Green and Beverly Fitzpatrick of Dailard, the schools’ principals, acted as coaches and while ref-eree was former SDSU women’s soccer coach Chuck Clegg.

In the end, there could be only one winner of the prestigious trophy, while the losers must man the barbeque at the winners’ annual school campout. “Green was victorious and the floating

Dailard dads green with envy Lindsay GadsbyWriter

trophy resides in Green’s foyer display case,” Dr. Ferguson said. “Students, parents and players had a wonderful time and we all look forward to the next event—and Green intends to retain the trophy in our display case!”

Mark Naiman said, “The kids were talking about [the game] days later, and the friendly com-petition really raised the optics of families that had not been involved in the past—it really drove many dads to ask, ‘when is the next game?’”

The next event challenge is kickball which will take place after the new year. It will be fol-lowed by a picnic for the schools’ families.

Please contact event organizers for more information about how to join Gecko Dad Corp or Dads Assisting Dailard Students.

The lowdown on the showdown:First annual dodgeball game

between Green Elementary’s Gecko Dads Corp vs Dailard Elementary’s Dads Assisting Dailard Students

GDC brought home the trophy for Green while Dailard DADS must man Green’s end-of-the-school-year campout

There were no (major) injuries!Player nicknames included:

Lightspeed, Brooklyn Dodger, Name Withheld, Genius, Flame Thrower and The Therapist.

Eric Bresnick (blue) and Josh Billauer (green) prepare to dodge, duck, dip, dive and... dodge!

MISSIONTIMESCOURIER.COM — DECEMBER 2013 13

LOCAL NEWS

San Carlos Area Council News

See SAN CARLOS page 18

By Mickey ZeichickPresident

The next San Carlos Area Council (SCAC) meeting will be Wednesday, January 8, 2014 at 6 PM at the San Carlos Branch Library, 7265 Jackson Dr. Please note due to Wednesday, January 1st being a National Holiday our meeting will be on the following week. Our speaker will be Doug Curlee, the Editor of the Mission Times Courier and former KUSI Newsman. Mr. Curlee has a lot of interesting and provocative stories to share with us from his work as a Broadcast Journalist and a Newspaper Journalist.

San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector, Dan McAllister spoke before a packed house at our November 6th meeting, on the following:

The needed increase in taxes.//The easier and faster e-payment plan.

Seeking property taxpay-ers and others who may have done business with any County department in the past four years to review the Unclaimed Monies list at: www.sdtreastax.com. Otherwise, the remaining unclaimed funds will convey to the County’s General Fund.

Tax default properties up for bid in County auction.

Governor signs AB 182 into law. This is the much-anticipated School Bond Reform legislative measure; it will go into effect on January 1, 2014.

California State Assembly Member Brian Maienschein spoke briefly about his background leading up to his becoming a two-term San Diego City Council Member. (A Council person has a two-term limit.)

In 2012 Mr. Maienschein was elected to the State Assembly; he serves as vice chair of the Human Services Committee and serves on the following committees: Business, Professions and Consumer Protection; Health; Housing and Community Development; and Judiciary

Assembly Member . Maienschein introduced AB 186 which seeks to authorize military spouses, who have moved here on active duty orders and who have a valid professional license in another state, to receive an 18-month provisional license in the same profession for which

they are applying for licensure.He sponsored AB 465, which

allows youth sports groups to require background checks on coaches and other volunteers. The bill becomes effective January 1, 2014.//He is serious about looking out for others; a strong proponent of helping the homeless become proactively engaged in improving their own lives.

He has worked to help them find shelter, get educated, get employed, become productive citizens; thus reducing the tax burden.

Kimberly Ricci from Mayor Todd Gloria’s office gave us a brief update on the positive strides that have recently been made by Mayor Gloria. One of the improvements is to reorganize San Diego City Operations to reduce the work-load of the chief operating officer, whohas been tasked with over-seeing all city operations wit the help of one assistant. The flaw causes kinds of problems. Under this plan three deputy COOs will be hired to oversee neighborhood services, internal operations and infrastructure and public works.

You can sign up for their e-news at http://www.sandiego.gov/cd3

California State Senator Marty Block’s office made a presenta-tion at our meeting. The Senator had 10 bills signed by the Governor and several important policy reforms that he and his colleagues championed, including major actions for the state budget and increased funding for edu-cation. Senator Block welcomes your ideas on how to improve a matter – don’t just do coffee talk and complain be part of the solution. www.MARTYBLOCK.com

Council Member Scott Sherman spoke about how SCAC and his office work closely on day-to-day and l o n g - r a n g e issues involving our San Carlos area. The fol-lowing are a few matters that SCAC and the Councilmember’s office have achieved: Our “Welcome to San Carlos” sign is done. Navajo Road is repaved!

KimberlyRicci

MartyBlock

ScottSherman

BrianMaienschein

14 MISSIONTIMESCOURIER.COM — DECEMBER 2013COUNCIL News

College Area Community Council and Planning Board

The College Area Council and Community Planning Board is considering a proposal to fund special patrol bicycles for the Eastern Division of the San Diego Police Department. Eastern Division’s C Squad spends a good deal of its time patrolling the College Area, and has learned from experience that patrolling on bicycles is an excellent way to keep tabs on activities that can’t easily be seen from cars. Those small alleys, alcoves, and hidden places are areas where illegal activity often occurs. The bikes give police officers speed, mobility, and flexibility in spot-ting these otherwise elusive law breakers.

Unfortunately, the City has no budget for SDPD bicycles, so all bikes must be donated by pri-vate parties. In the past, C Squad has been able to borrow bicycles from other divisions for short periods of time, but must return them when needed by the other divisions. Now is a perfect time to remedy this deficit, and give Eastern Division police officers the tools they need to do their jobs well. Five bikes are needed for this endeavor. The bikes must be specially equipped, so each bike costs around $1,500. They would be maintained primarily by the police officers using them, but the City also has a bike maintenance contract for major repairs, and that cost is carried by the City.

The College Area Community Council lacks sufficient funds to donate all five bikes, and is encouraging all residents served by Eastern Division to consider this worthy cause when design-ing your year-end contributions. Donations can be made to the San Diego Police Foundation and designated for patrol bikes for Eastern Division. Information about the Foundation can be obtained at www.sdpolicefoun-dation.org .

In other College Area news, Timothy Quinnan, Associate

Vice President for Campus Life at San Diego State University, will be giving us an update in November on the new SDSU Aztec Student Union Center, which is anticipated to be com-pleted in late December, with grand opening ceremonies sched-uled for January, 2014. Anyone traveling on College Avenue in the past year couldn’t help but notice the impressive new struc-ture going up at a rapid pace near south side the Interstate 8 freeway exit. This new Student Union will have greatly expanded capacities compared to

By Rhea KuhlmanPresident

Del Cerro Action CouncilBy Jay WilsonPresident

Community cleanups have been very productive in Del

Cerro over the past several weeks. The final clean-up of the first section of the Del Cerro Median, east of Madra Avenue, was com-pleted thanks to Councilmember Sherman and his truck, plus a big truck provided by DCAC Treasurer Michael McSweeney. The remaining debris collected from the first cleanup in October was transported to the Jacaranda Bowl where it helped completely fill a 40-cubic-yard dumpster donated by Republic Services, Inc.

Over a three-week period, the Jacaranda Bowl at Waring Road and Adobe Falls Road ( the very western boundary of Del Cerro) was completely cleaned up. Don Teemsma, president of Ideal Plumbing, Heating, Air &

Electrical, assembled two teams of volunteers from the Allied Gardens Mormon Church. They completely filled two 40-cubic-yard dumpsters. To help complete the renovation of the Jacaranda Bowl, Don has volunteered to pro-vide the labor and expertise from his firm to replace the irrigation system in the Jacaranda Bowl.

On Saturday, November 9, Cathy and Dan Northcutt con-ducted another quarterly cleanup of the Pasatiempo Open Space Park, the five acres on the west side of Pasatiempo at the top of Del Cerro. Their firm, Team Northcutt Realtors, has adopted the park through the city’s Open Space Park Division. Over a ton of debris has been removed since they adopted the park last year.

All of this cleanup activity has fostered a renewed interest in developing some type of pro-gram that would help maintain the medians in Del Cerro.

Thursday, October 24, was the quarterly meeting of the Del Cerro Action Council. Adam McElroy, our Police Community Relations Officer from Eastern Division, updated us on the crime statistics for Del Cerro and the surrounding area. Fortunately, the crime rate in Del Cerro is very low and the watchful eyes of “Neighborhood Watches”

neighborhoods goes a long way in helping to keep the crime level down in our area. Officer McElroy did bring up several issues including the fact that com-mercial burglaries are up. The criminals are going after the mom and pop stores in local neighbor-hoods because they tend to not have the best security systems. He further commented that, although overall crime is low, car prowls were up again. There were seven car prowls in our area during the month of October alone. This is a good reminder to not leave anything of value out in plain view. Unfortunatel, people continue to leave valuables in plain site in their vehicles. Even loose change in the change cup in your car is tempting.

Neighborhood Watch works. If you are interested in estab-lishing a Neighborhood Watch, please contact Officer McElroy. His email address is AMcelroy@pd.sandiego.gov.

Jason Foster, with the Public Affairs office of the San Diego County Water Authority, pro-vided an update on the options to increase water flow from the S a c r a m e n t o San Joaquin Bay Delta to San Diego County. There are several options that are still being evaluated. The County Water Authority is seeking the right-sized, cost-effective plan that will provide the greatest amount of water for the least amount of investment.

Ryley Webb, the Council Representative from Scott Sherman’s office gave an update on the Del Cerro Median cleanup. Ryley, joined us to help for the entire cleanup event. If you need to each Ryley regarding a city related issue his email address is RWebb@sandi-ego.gov. You may also reach him by phone at 619.236.6677.

Jon Harding from Congresswoman Susan Davis office also gave an update on the Congresswoman’s activities in the district. Jon works out of the San Diego office. His phone number is 619.280.5353.

The best way to keep up-to-date on the activities and concerns of Del Cerro is to sign up on the DCAC webpage at delcerroac-tioncouncil.org.

See COLLEGE AREA page 18

Jason Foster

RyleyWebb

Timothy Quinnan

MISSIONTIMESCOURIER.COM — DECEMBER 2013 15COUNCIL News

Prepare, from page 12

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Pet/Housesitting Services. Est. 1983, Bonded. Pet-tenders offers feeding, walking, plant care, housesitting-and above all...spoiling...in your own home! www.pet-tenders.com 619-298-3033. (04/14)

Locksmith - Discount Deadbolts & Rekeying - security door viewers, patio door locks, simulated alarms, magnetic door stops. Cliff Henderson 619-840-3327 - Lic #LCO4353 - Bonded - Never a trip charge! (04/14)

Quality exterior carpentry. Decks, Fences, Patio Covers and Termite Repair. Lic365241. www.aactionbuildersofsandiego.com. Bob 619-275-1493 (4/14)

Budget Painting. “Quality Painting for Less” Interior/Exterior. Earth friendly products. Pressure Wash. Many references. Clean-Friendly-Efficient. Free Estimates. Call James 619-417-0162 LIC#955395 (04/14)

Roofing, licensed, bonded, second generation Allied Gardens roofer. Over 100 homes in Allied Gardens roofed. Repairs, all types of roofing. Free estimates. Call 619-287-7149. (03/14)

Linda’s Puppy Love, licensed, insured pet sitting service offers daily walks, cat care, overnight stays-your home. Lots of Love. 619-857-3674. mellinsmith@cox.net. www.lindaspuppylove.com (01/14)

Stronger, Safer Seniors wants to be your workout partner. Let us help you be stronger, more energetic and have better balance. We offer fun, personalized workouts in your home. Call Pam Melody, certified personal trainer, at 619-962-7144 for a free consultation. (01/14)

Sing! Sing! Sing! New Kearny Mesa location. Take voice lessons with Susan Simmons. NATS. Masters in Voice. Call 858-349-8490 for appointment. (01/14)

German Setter Tile and Marble. Professional marble/tile setter with 28 years experience. European craftsmanship. Punctual & dependable. License# 872804. Contact Jens Sedemund: 619-415-6789 or jens@germansetter.com (12/13)

Professional Flute/Piano Instruction. 32 years experience. Beginner to advanced. Music Education. B.A. Degree. Reasonable rates. Teaching in your home or mine. Rick, 619-286-8012. (12/13)

Dan Patterson Handyman/Carpentry: Repair and replacement of plumbing, electrical repair, installation of water heaters, doors, windows, cabinets, flooring, fencing. Pressure washing of driveways, all phases of home repair. And remodel including kitchen and bathroom remodel. No job too small, free estimates. Raised in Allied Gardens, 17 years in construction. Dan Paterson 619-481-9978. (12/13)

Bathtubs and Sinks refinished like new without removal. 25 years under same ownership. Lic 560438. Cory Tatz Bathtubs & Sinks Refinishing 619-464-5141 (12/13)

Hauling, construction and yard clean-up. Demos, light maintenance. Call Carlos 858 4950548, cellular 619 813-9988, E-mail chiripas1@aol.com (11/13)

Need more time? Are you a business owner who wants to spend less time doing administrative tasks and more time doing what you do best? I can help! Call 619-928.2295 today! ckproof@gmail.com (12/13)

Gardening Services: Many steps in plant care can be done in the fall and will make your landscape thrive come spring. It’s a good time to call Mr. Eli, who owns and operates a licensed and insured company and offers complete gardening services to meet your needs.(619)284-4551 (12/13).

WantedSunrider Super Food Sale! Learn, eat, feel good. Take Advantage! Discounted! All inventory must go. 619-795-6556 Robin (12/13)

believe we have a lot of work to do to provide sheltering for that many people.”

Meeting the feeding goals will be a real challenge, Young said.

“At this point in time we esti-mate that we can serve about 95,000 meals a day.”

To help ensure the Red Cross can mobilize 4,000 trained event volunteers, Young suggested the city allow staff members to take time from work to get training in disaster response.

The Red Cross is working with the city of San Diego to develop an

agreement that would ensure city facilities are available in case of emergencies. Neighborhood rec-reation centers, such as those in Allied Gardens and San Carlos, should support disaster response, Emerald said.

“The last thing we need is locked rec centers when people are being evacuated out of their neighborhoods,” Emerald said.

The Red Cross and the city have an existing memorandum of understanding, but it was signed 30 years ago.

It’s not difficult to see how critical this kind of prepared-

ness is in a time of need, City Councilmember Kevin Faulconer said.

“We saw how much the com-munity was needed particularly when we all were there at Qualcomm so many years ago, to have people that were ready, willing and able,”

In the first year of the four-year effort, Prepare San Diego will have a “laser focus” on specific communities within the region, including City Heights, University Heights and Broadway Heights.

16 MISSIONTIMESCOURIER.COM — DECEMBER 2013LOCAL News

(619) 286-0009

• Remodel & Replaster • New Pool & Spa Construction• Commercial & Residential• Decking• Tile

• Custom Pool Finishes• Pebble, Hydrazzo, Color Quartz, Quartz Scape, Plaster Finish• Pool & Spa Renovation/Remodeling• Coping

Update, from page 1

AREA WORSHIP DIRECTORY

St. Andrew’s Lutheran 8350 Lake Murray Blvd, La Mesa, CA 91941 Sun: 8am, 9:30am, 11am; Sat: 5pm (619) 464-4211 Andy Taylor

St. Dunstan’s Episcopal 6556 Park Ridge Blvd, San Diego, CA 92120 Sun: 8am, 10am; Wed: 10am, Thurs: 7am (619) 460-6442 Kevin Warner

San Carlos United Methodist 6554 Cowles Mountain Blvd, San Diego, CA 92119 Sun: 8:15am, 10am (619) 464-4331 Sue Farley

Community Church of San Diego 7811 Mission Gorge Rd, San Diego, CA 9210 Sun: 9:30am. 1st Sun is Communion at 9:30am (619) 583-8200 John C. Clements

Mission Valley Christian Fellowship 6536 Estrella Ave, San Diego, CA 92120 Sun: 7:45am, 9:30am, 11:15am (619) 683-7729 Leo Giovinetti

Tabernacle Church & Kingdom House of Prayer 5310 Prosperity Ln, San Diego, CA 92115 Sun: 6:30pm; Wed: 12pm worship at SDSU (619) 788-3934 Darren Hall

Blessed Sacrament Church 4540 El Cerrito Dr, San Diego, CA 92115 Sun: 8am, 10am, 6pm; Sat: 5pm (619) 582-5722 Bruce Orsborn

All Peoples Church 4345 54th St, San Diego, CA 92115 Sun: 9am and 11am (619) 286-3251 Robert Herber

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 6767 51st Street, San Diego, CA 92120 (619) 287-3970

Wesley United Methodist 5380 El Cajon Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92115 Sun: Youth worship 11am; Sat: YAY at 7:30pm (619) 326-7202 Dr. Cuong Nguyen

Mission Church of the Nazarene 4750 Mission Gorge Pl, San Diego, CA 92120 Sun: 9am and 10:30am (619) 287-3211 Dr. David Runion

Salvation Army Kroc Center Church 6611 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92115 Sundays

at 10:30am (619) 287-5762 Bryan Cook

Prince of Peace Lutheran 6801 Easton Court, San Diego, CA 92120 Sundays at 9am (619) 583-1436 Paul L. Willweber

Zion Avenue Baptist 4880 Zion Ave, San Diego, CA 92120 (619) 582-2033

St. Therese Catholic Church 6016 Camino Rico, San Diego, CA 92120 Sun: 7am, 10am, 11am; Mon: 6:20am, 7:30am; Sat: 5pm (619) 286-4605 William P. Stevenson

Masjid al-Rribat 7173 Saranac St., San Diego (619) 589-6200 Imam Mohamed Gebaly

Temple Emanu-El 6299 Capri Dr., San Diego 92120 Fridays 6:00 p.m., Saturdays 10:30 a.m. (619) 286-2555 Rabbi Devorah Marcus

Holy Spirit Anglican Church 6116 Arosta St., San Diego 92115 Sunday, 9:30 a.m. (619) 324-9171 Father David Montzingo

Palisades Presbyterian Church 6301 Birchwood St., San Diego 92120 Sunday 9:30 a.m. (619) 582-0852 Rev. Dr. Steve Davis

Ascension Lutheran Church 5106 Zion Ave., San Diego 92120 Sundays 9:15 a.m. (619) 582-2636 Pastor Richard Zuber

Mission Trails Church-Allied Gardens 6550 51st St., San Diego (Foster Elementary School) Sundays 9:00 a.m. Pastor Kyle Walters

Mission Trails Church-San Carlos 6460 Boulder Lake Ave., San Diego (Springall Academy) Sundays 10:30 a.m. Pastor Kyle Walters

The Grove Church 4562 Alvarado Cyn. Rd., San Diego 92120 Sundays 9:30 a.m. Pastor John Hoffman

Tifereth Israel Synagogue 6660 Cowles Mountain Blvd., San Diego 92119 (619) 697-1102 Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal

Have additions or corrections to our list? Is there a house of worship you would like listed? Please email our editor at doug@missionpublishinggroup.com

plan. A main point emphasized in the letter related to unau-thorized trails that have been constructed north of State Route 52, commonly referred to as the East Elliot Area.

Chris Zirkle, Deputy Director of the City of San Diego’s Open Space Division, provided some background to help clarify the matter. We are not closing trails since the city has never officially opened and/or authorized the trails. Initially, Park Rangers will be restoring unauthorized trails that were constructed since 2010. Additional restora-tion efforts are pending.

The unpermitted destruction of plants in parks has been illegal in the City of San Diego for over 20 years and the use of illegally cleared areas has been illegal for over 17 years. In some open space areas like East Elliott, this protection became even more heightened with adoption of the Multiple Species Conservation Program in the mid-1990s, which identified the East Elliott area as a “Core Biological Area” within the City’s Wildlife Preserve.

Charter Section 55 makes the City Council responsible for enacting park rules and makes the Mayor responsible for managing parks and enforc-ing the Council’s rules. As with any other acts of vandalism in parks, the response is to restore the damaged assets. In this case, restoration requires the re-establishment of native veg-etation, which in turn requires

See UPDATE page 23

Next Publication Date: Dec. 27 Display Ad Space Reservation: Dec. 10 Article Deadline: Dec. 14 Classified Deadline: Dec. 20

MISSIONTIMESCOURIER.COM — DECEMBER 2013 17LOCAL News

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the old one, and that’s good news for students and College Area res-idents alike. A number of student events that have heretofore been scattered around outlying areas of the campus will be moved to the Student Union, starting in 2014. These events have had unfortunate noise impacts on the surrounding community, but in their new location in the center of the campus, most of these prob-lems should be eliminated. The new Student Union will feature bowling lanes and an Oggie’s

Pizza, among other amenities. A series of Grand Opening events are scheduled throughout the first three months of 2014. For a schedule of events, go to http://as.sdsu.edu/aztec-student-union/grand_opening.php .

The College Area Community Council and Community Planning Board will not meet in December. Our next meeting will be Wednesday, January 8, 2014 at 7 p.m. in the Community Room of the College-Rolando Library, 6600 Montezuma Road.

For information about the College Area Community Council or the College Area Community Planning Board, please visit our website, www.collegearea.org . We wish all of you the happiest of holidays.

Allied Gardens Community Council

San Carlos, from page 14

Parking in Allied Gardens

College Area, from page 15

By Anthony WagnerPresident

Parking challenges in Allied Gardens and Grantville com-munity continue. In response to neighborhood and community frustration the Allied Gardens Community Council, spearheaded by 50 year residents, Ralph and Shirley Richardson, have been working with the City of San Diego and Kaiser Hospital to resolve and promote a better and

safer community on the streets surrounding Kaiser Hospital.

The November 26th Allied Gardens Community Council Town Hall Meeting was devoted to an open dialogue regarding those parking challenges. In advance of this meeting, special flyers were printed and distributed to over 200 residents in an effort to encourage residents to attend the Town Hall Meeting and express their opin-ions on a potential Residential Permit Parking District. City Staff was present to help facilitate and answer questions and obtain input from residents present.

City Staff described the process for approving permit parking dis-tricts as taking up to one year. Input from the November meet-

ing will determine if the city goes forward with a traffic study and extended steps to approve parking permit districts.

We need to think of what’s best for the greater community. What are your thoughts? (Article researched adapted from the writings of Ralph and Shirley Richardson.)

I’m Anthony Wagner, president of Allied Gardens Community Council. We represent the com-munity interests of Allied Gardens and Grantville. Check out our new website atAllied-Gardens.org. Feel free to call me at (619) 253-4989 or write me a note at AnthonyJohnWagner@gmail.com or tweet @AnthonyWagnerSD.

One of the areas that continue to perplex SCAC is the way we treat our neighbors, especially those living around our won-derful Cowles Mountain. We remind the hikers, walkers and bikers who use the Mission Trails Regional Park (which Cowles Mountain is a part of) to be mindful that in the houses, apartments, condos surrounding the park are people living. There are babies, school-aged kids, adults and the older-adults that are trying to enjoy the peace and tranquility, which is everyone’s right to have, in their own home. Please be respectful, put trash in the proper receptacles, park in designated areas, be mindful of ingress/egress needs of drive-ways, obey traffic laws, and no loud music or loud voices. The “Golden Rule” certainly applies here. NCPI voted “No” on put-ting parking spaces along Navajo Road east and west of Golfcrest, so we have to do the best we can.

Check out the Community Garden at the Southeast corner of the Spring All Academy campus. You may be as amazed as I was the first time I went into the “garden”. The amphitheater is complete and wonderful, they have stone-lined walkways, serenity areas where you can sit a spell and relax, and of course the “plots”. SCAC has plot C-1 and currently we are planting “winter” vegetables.

Under Public Comment Terri Wyatt, made a 3 minute presen-tation under Public Comment about why she is running for office of District Attorney. In January Robert Brewer will also make a 3 minute presentation on why he is running for the office

of District Attorney. We will invite District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis to speak under Public Comment for a 3 minute presen-tation on why she is running for re-election.

On January 9, 2014, the San Carlos Branch Library will be 40 years old! Marking the occa-sion will be a year filled with special events and celebrations. We are starting off the year with a mega “yarn wrapping” on January 9, and continuing the week with a Gala Event on January 12, honoring SCFOL Life-Members. (SCFOL=San Carlos Friends of the Library)

Happy Thanksgiving. Happy Hanukkah.

If you have an issue you wish us to consider or just have a ques-tion about the community, or for information about speakers, meet-

ing reminders, agendas and other local news, please contact me. My contact information is: 619-461-6032 and e-mail is: mrzeichick@gmail.com and I will get back with you. If you wish to be part of our Interested Persons List, let John Pilch and me know. John’s email address is: jfpilch@hotmail.com. Your privacy is respected and your email address will not be used for any purpose other than stated above.

18 MISSIONTIMESCOURIER.COM — DECEMBER 2013COUNCIL News

Real Estate is Bluming…

For more information call:

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Smoke Tree2 bedroom, 2 bath

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Divided council passes“Jobs Killing Tax”By Scott ShermanCity CouncilmemberDistrict 7

On November 4, 2013, the City Council voted 5-4 to raise “link-age fees” in San Diego. I was strongly opposed to this proposal and voted against what I consider to be a “jobs killing tax” because it will put San Diego at a serious disadvantage, as we are the only city in the County that charges this fee.

In addition, this fee is a mis-guided policy that will cost San Diego thousands of jobs annu-ally. Originally established in 1990, the linkage fee is a tax on new commercial development projects and is intended to sub-sidize affordable housing. The linkage fee has historically been an ineffective funding source for affordable housing, and the tax severely stifles economic growth.

According to a report by the city’s Independent Budget Analyst, the Council’s action

will result in fee hikes anywhere from 377 percent on developers of industrial and manufacturing projects to 744 percent for those who want to build warehouse or storage facilities.

As a small business owner myself, I can relate to the dilemma we will be creating for companies. As an employer, my number one priority is making sure that I provided for my employees. However, if I were forced to move the location of my business or lay off employees just so that I could afford to expand in San Diego, I would make the decision to move my business to a more friendly business city that’s just a few miles away.

It is common sense that we should be doing everything we can as a City to keep jobs and businesses in San Diego, but instead we did the exact opposite. My fear now is that businesses who are looking to expand in San Diego will be inclined to move to a neighboring city that does not charge this tax.

MISSIONTIMESCOURIER.COM — DECEMBER 2013 19LOCAL News

JazzWednesdays – Gilbert Castellanos Jazz Jam at Seven Grand. Free. 9 p.m. SevenGrandBars.com.

Wednesdays – Jazz with Kice Simko and Friends at Riviera Supper Club. Free. 9 p.m. www.RivieraSupperClub.com.

Fridays – Sam Johnson Jazz Group at Cosmos Coffee Cafe. Free. 3 to 5p.m. CosmosCoffeeCafe.com.

Nov. 30 – Coast Bop at 98 Bottles. $10 adv/$12 day of show. 8 p.m. www.98BottlesSD.com

Dec. 7 – Mercury Street Blues at San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room. Free. 7 p.m. www.SanPasqualWinery.com

Dec. 13 – Sure Fire Soul Ensemble at Riviera Supper Club. Free. 9 p.m. www.RivieraSupperClub.com

Classical Dec. 6 – 8 – Beethoven’s Ninth at Copley Symphony Hall. $25 - $101. Fri. & Sat. 8 p.m. Sun. 2 p.m. www.SanDiegoSymphony.org

Dec. 13 – 15 – Bronfman Plays Beethoven at Copley Symphony Hall. $20 - $96. Fri. & Sat. 8 p.m. Sun. 2 p.m. www.SanDiegoSymphony.org

Dec. 15 – “Many Strings” with Chris and Jamie Burns at Mission Trails Regional Park Visitors Center. Donations welcome. 3 p.m. www.mtrp.org

Dec. 16-17 – Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker at Copley Symphony Hall. $30 – $90. 7:30 p.m. www.SanDiegoSymphony.org

Dec. 20 - 22 – Holiday Pops: An Americana Christmas at Copley Symphony Hall. $20 – $85. Fri. 8 p.m. Sat. 2 p.m. & 8 p.m. Sun. 7:30 p.m. www.SanDiegoSymphony.org

AlternativeNov. 27 – Hanging From The Rafters CD Release Show with Tiger Milk Imports and Void Lake at Tin Can Alehouse. $5. 9 p.m. thetin-can1.wordpress.com

Dec. 12. – The Mowgli’s, Blondfire, and The Lucky Lonely at The Griffin. $15. 9 p.m. www.TheGriffinSD.com

Dec. 6 – Soft Lions, Idyll Wild, and Spaceships at Soda Bar. $5. 8:30 p.m. www.SodaBarMusic.com

Dec. 7 – Dead Winter Carpenters and Jesse LaMonaca and the Dime Novels at The Griffin. $10. 9 p.m. www.TheGriffinSD.com

Dec. 28 – Get Back Loretta The Heavy Guilt, and Chess Wars at The Casbah. Price $10 adv/$12 day of show. 9:30 p.m. www.CasbahMusic.com

PopTuesdays – Suzanne Shea at Bistro Sixty. Free. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. www.SanDiegoDesserts.net

Thursdays – Greg Shibley at The Westgate Hotel. Free. 6:30pm – 9:30pm. www.west-gatehotel.com

Fridays – Nathan Welden at Bistro Sixty. Free. 6:30 p.m. www.SanDiegoDesserts.net

Nov. 23 – Get Groovin’ at Pal Joey’s. Free. www.paljo-eysonline.com

Nov. 27 – Ryan Cabrera at The Griffin. $18. 9 p.m. www.TheGriffinSD.com

Nov. 30 & Dec. 28 – People of Earth at San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room. Free. 7 p.m. www.SanPasqualWinery.com

Bands, venues, and music-lovers: Please submit listings for this calendar by emailing Jen@ScoopSanDiego.com.

20 MISSIONTIMESCOURIER.COM — DECEMBER 2013ARTs & eNTeRTAINMeNT

“Happy Holidays from our family to yours” Our years of service have given us a great respect for people and

meeting their needs whether it is for local burial, cremation,pre-needs or transfers to a faraway place.

If you have questions concerning your family needsplease call us. We will do everything we can to help you.

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Wallace FeatheringillOwner/Manager

Teri FeatheringillGeneral Manager(619) 583-9511

COLLEGE CENTER CHAPEL6322 El Cajon Blvd. San Diego, CA 92115

License# FD1083

Prescription, from page 1

other districts, has a stiff zero tolerance policy regarding drugs and alcohol in the schools.

“There are clear measures in the zero tolerance policy” says school district spokesman Jack Brandais.

“It can and does go all the way up to expulsion from school, and

the involvement of school district police.”

The policy reads in part: “If a student is found to be selling, fur-nishing or possessing an amount determined to be for more than personal use of controlled or prohibited substances, the stu-dent will be recommended for expulsion on a first offense. For possession or use, the student will be recommended for expul-sion on the third offense, except for tobacco offenses. If a student is found in possession of tobacco, the student will be recommended for expulsion on the fourth offense. In addition discipline, if the student is found to have vio-lated the law, the student may be arrested and taken to a juvenile detention facility.”

Many people think the school police are just armed security guards, but they are not. They are fully sworn and trained peace officers, just as are San Diego police.

Just getting off-campus doesn’t leave kids free to do what they want, either. If they are caught going to a school-sponsored func-tion off-campus, the same rules apply.

Nick Macchione , Director of the county’s Health and Human Services Agency, says people need to pay attention. “we all play a role in preventing prescription drug abuse. Talk to your children friends and neighbors about the dan-gers of abusing prescription drugs.”

Macchione also points out another, even more frightening statistic.

People entering treatment for heroin addiction has noticeably risen.

“What we believe is happening is that prescription drug abusers are turning to heroin when pain-killers become harder to find or pay for. Heroin is easier to get and cheaper, too.”

Nick Macchione

The Grantville-Allied Gardens Kiwanis Club Christmas tree sales lot will open for business on November 30 and has a great selection of freshly cut trees from the green forests of Oregon. This will be our 26th year of selling Christmas trees as a fundraiser for our many community and youth services projects. As always, all proceeds from sales are returned to the commu-nity---GAG Kiwanis members volunteer their time and energy.

The lot is located on Zion Avenue, one block west of Waring Road, next to the Benjamin Library in Allied Gardens. Whether you are looking for a ten foot Noble Fir or a Table Top, we have your tree. There are Nobles, Douglas Firs, Grand Firs, Plantations, and Nordmans to choose from. All trees are displayed on stands for your inspection and are kept in water to keep them fresh. We also offer home delivery for a donation. This year we will carry wreaths, table centerpieces and mistle-toe to round out your holiday decorating needs! The Kiwanis Christmas tree lot is open every day from 8 to 8.

Christmas tree sales fund GAG Kiwanis projects and events such as scholarships for Patrick Henry and SDSU students, sponsor-ship of Patrick Henry Key Club, SDSU Circle K, Lewis Middle School Builders Club and K-Kids at Hearst Elementary, Holiday

Kiwanis Christmas Tree Lot Opens in Allied Gardens

Festival at Lewis Middle School, Junior Wheelchair Sports Camp,

Breakfast with Santa for disad-vantaged children, Flag display on Waring Road on patriotic holidays, Community flag pole at the Waring/Zion triangle, sup-port for Miracle Mile of Quarters, Student of the Month, a Toy Box for Cancer Kids at Kaiser Hospital, sponsor of Cub Pack 928, support of SpringFest, and sponsoring a bed at New Entra Casa, a faith based program for female ex-offenders.

We will have a toy barrel on site to receive donations of toys for one of our most gratifying projects. For over 20 years we have provided toys for the Toy Box in the Oncology unit at Kaiser Hospital. It is called the Kaiser Cancer Kids Toy Box and has a large Key which is given to all of the children who have undergone a medical procedure at the hospital to open the Toy Box and choose any toy that they want. This help turn a dif-ficult situation into something pleasant for these brave young patients.

Come to the Kiwanis tree lot and pick out your Christmas tree. There is probably one with your name on it!! Bring a camera and take a picture of the kiddies play-ing in the Christmas tree forest. And remember ALL proceeds are returned to the community.John Peterson

MISSIONTIMESCOURIER.COM — DECEMBER 2013 21LOCAL News

Pal Joey’s

5147 Waring Rd. in Allied Gardens

FREEWI-FI

Friday and Saturday Live Local Music 9pm(check paljoeysonline.com for details)

CheCk our webSite For daily entertainment SChedule www.PalJoeysOnline.com

$3.75 mini bud PitCherS eVeryday

DEC 16 AT 5:30 Pm - CusTOmEr APPrECiATiOn ChrisTmAs PArTy – CAsinO niGhT!!!!

DECEMBER 2013 EVENTS

No CoVeR!

31ST – ALLIED GARDENS BEST NEW YEARS EVE PARTY!!!

LIVE MuSIC fRoM RANDoM oRDER, fooD, PARTY fAVoRS, ChAMPAGNE ToAST AT MIDNIGhT!

CALL To RESERVE A TABLE!!!

Football SundayS

Bloody Mary Bar

8 Big Screen T.V.’s!

tueSdayS Live jam Tuesday 5, and 19Dj Tuesday 12 and 26

DEC 12 AT 5:30 Pm - JErsEy GivE AwAy – ThursDAy niGhT ChArGErs AT BrOnCOs

DEC 1 AT 7:00 Pm - mEET uP KArAOKE – EAsT COunTy sinGlEs

Deanna MeierDirector of Sales & Marketing

Benjamin Branch Friends of the Library

ESSAY CONTESTThe 17th Annual Writing for Literacy citywide essay contest sponsored by the Friends of the San Diego

Public Library (FSDPL) is now in progress. Schools and teachers have been advised of topics, rules and dates; students are busy writing. The deadline for essays is 3:00 PM on December 20th at Benjamin Branch. Essays will be evaluated and the winners from local schools will be notified in January. A local celebration will take place, and citywide winners notified in the spring.

On May 1, 2014, prizes (cash awards and a laptop computer) will be awarded to the top 12 city-wide winners. A grand prize of $500, given in memory of Jack and Carolyn Winer, will be presented to the Best Overall Winner!BOOK SALE

The last book sale of the year will be held on Saturday, December 7 from 9:30 to 1:00. Gently used books for all ages, as well as DVDs, etc. will be out for your leisurely perusal. Beautiful last minute book gifts are available at bargain prices! Perhaps some of your “what to get difficult to but for Aunt Tillie” ques-tions will be answered. Proceeds from your purchases help support Allied Gardens activities and events.NEWS TO USE

New Oasis classes will be offered in 2014 Our FOL President, Joan Curry, is president-elest of FSDPL Usually, the FOL monthly meeting is the fourth Wednesday, but due to holidays, the November

meeting will be on the 20th. All are welcome! There will be no December meeting.We wish everyone the BEST of holidays and a Happy 2014!

That time flies is a concept realized throughout the ages. From today until the new year, a number of holidays will be anticipated and then celebrated; however, despite all the festivi-ties, there is work to be done. The members of the Benjamin Branch Friends of the Library (FOL) chapter are actively help-ing support the many events at our library.

By Anne LeePresident

22 MISSIONTIMESCOURIER.COM — DECEMBER 2013LOCAL News

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the cessation of impacts caused by repeated use.

There is a process in place to create legitimate trails and that process is underway via an update to the Mission Trails Regional Park Plan. This update would incorporate the East Elliott area into Mission Trails Regional Park and revise the entire Trails Plan for the park.”

What all that does not clarify, or even mention, is what role the federal and state fish and wildlife services play in all this.

In a sense, it doesn’t tell us who’s driving the bus here. If a question comes up that the city and the wildlife agencies cannot agree on, who wins that battle? Who’s really in charge here?

Chris Zirkle, for whatever reason, immediately kicked the ball to the Interim Mayor’s office.

So far,there has been no information coming from that quarter.

Update, from page 17

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Single-Speed Furnaces have improved greatly over the years, however they are still louder and have temperature swings more than other models.

Two-Speed or Two-Stage Furnaces allow for more gentle heating and longer cycles to even out heat and allow your home to heat up gradually. Besides the air getting warmer, the walls and furniture will also heat up so you feel more cozy in your environment.

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The cooler weather has many of us running to our thermostats to turn up the heat. If you want lasting comfort, a properly installed and sized central heating system is what you need to keep you cozy this winter.

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THE IDEAL CONNECTION24 MISSIONTIMESCOURIER.COM — DECEMBER 2013