Friendship Park, border wall march

Photo Credit: Maria Jose Duran

Construction is underway to replace the 18-foot border fence at Friendship Park—one of the few remaining places of connection and community along the increasingly militarized southern border, and the only one where U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) has allowed cross-border visits–with two parallel, 30-foot steel walls.

“Right now you can see the other side, the beach, [but with this construction] they are making it feel like a prison, not a park,” said Rev. John Fanestil of Friends of Friendship Park, an organization trying to preserve the site.

Overlooking the border wall as it dives into the Pacific Ocean, Friendship Park (El Parque de la Amistad) is a historical binational meeting place for people from the San Diego-Tijuana region.

“Friendship Park [is] a very special place where I met my grandparents for the first time after being brought here at the age of five, and the last place where I got to see them,” said Selene Gutierrez, a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) beneficiary. “In 2009 when my mother and sister were deported, that was the only place where I could meet them.”

The park can be freely accessed from Playas de Tijuana on the southern side, but the north side, located within the Border Field State Park, has been closed to the public since 2019 due to Covid.

Friendship Park, border

Photo Credit: Maria Jose Duran

“The park has been a place where I’ve been able to connect with my loved ones, and I represent thousands of others who are waiting for Friendship Park to open again,” added Gutierrez.

When the site reopens in Summer 2023, per CBP’s calculations, it will look nothing like the binational garden Gutierrez so fondly remembers. “The current primary fence is no longer structurally sound and is falling apart, which presents a safety risk to Border Patrol agents, community members, and migrants,” wrote CBP in an email.

Fanestil said Friends asked CBP about public safety at the site. “There hasn’t been a single instance of injury or harm ever recorded at Friendship Park. This is a very solvable problem,” he said. “We have teams of architects, planners who will be creating a solution to the Friendship Park project similar to the ones on the Canada border.”

On Sunday, May 21, Grammy-winners Fandango Fronterizo brought their music to the border for the annual Fandango at the Wall event, alongside 200 people in a march organized by Friends to try to stop the border replacement works.

“Me gusta la leche, me gusta el café/Pero no me gustan los muros de usted [I like milk, I like coffee, but I don’t like your walls],” members Fandango Fronterizo sang as they marched to the wall, playing their leonas, jaranas, tarimas, and quijadas–the traditional instruments of jarocho music from Veracruz, Mexico.

Fandango Fronterizo started 15 years ago at Friendship Park, where they found a place to share music with their friends on the other side of the border—a place they couldn’t legally cross.

Friendship Park, closure

Photo Credit: Maria Jose Duran

“There is only one land, one wind, one friendship, [and] one ocean. We don’t want divisions, we want to be part of the same place, people who come together once a year to celebrate,” said Jorge Francisco Castillo, retired librarian and Fandango at the Wall organizer.

Fandango Fronterizo musician Crystal González added, “It’s a risk to even be at Friendship Park and not have documentation status, but people would take that risk and felt like they could be safe here, and we want that safety back, we want people to be able to use the park to see each other.”

“I’m worried we won’t be able to continue with this tradition,” expressed Ernesto Orozco, who has been attending Fandango Fronterizo for 10 years. “I’m here to say no to the wall because we have created a friendship and a space without borders.”

After halting construction of the border wall on his first day in office, President Biden’s administration decided to continue with the 0.3-mile replacement of the border fence at Friendship Park. Amid public outcry, a public comment period opened September 2022. According to the report CBP produced of the process, of a total of 740 commenters, two people expressed support for the project. The rest were against it.

“The intent of the public comment period and other engagement with stakeholders was to solicit input on potential impacts […] not to solicit comments as to whether the project should proceed,” clarifies the report, which identifies impacts of construction on endangered species, historical and cultural preservation, the binational garden, and access to Friendship Park.

In the latter, U.S. Border Patrol San Diego Sector’s Border Community Liaison committed to “work closely with stakeholders and the community to identify opportunities to provide the public with access to the Park, when it is operationally safe to do so.”

Friendship Park, closure march

Photo Credit: Maria Jose Duran

“I think it’s tragic that immigration is already so unjust, and now people can’t even interact [at Friendship Park] anymore,” said Bethany Hiser, who attended the march with her two kids (three and five) in tow.

Upon completion of construction, Friendship Park will be open each Saturday and Sunday for four hours each day, for a maximum of 25 visitors, according to CBP.

As the march nears the border wall, the tone of the music changes from festive to lamentation. When it arrives at the border, activists meet with friends on the other side of the wall. On the U.S. side, marchers yell “parque sí [yes to the park],” and on the Mexican side they respond, “muro no [no to the wall].”

“Some things are legal but they are not moral,” said Dr. Stan Rodriguez, member of the Kumeyaay Santa Ysabel Band at the event. He added that the border wall divides the Kumeyaay people of California and Baja California and sits on sacred burial grounds. “You don’t see this on the Canadian border, why did they do it here?”

The post Border Militarization Threatens Binational Friendship Park appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Rendering: Fifth Avenue Promenade

Courtesy of The Gaslamp Quarter Association

For decades, plans have been in the works to close Fifth Avenue in the Gaslamp District to traffic. But when the pandemic struck, the idea got a real-life test run.

Soon after restaurants reopened for outdoor dining in 2020, the city of San Diego used a special events permit to allow restaurants and bars to operate from makeshift patios. That included closing Fifth Avenue to cars every Thursday through Sunday so tables and chairs could be set up on the street.

The special events permit ends June 30, but that doesn’t mean the street will be reopened. The city is working with organizations like Downtown San Diego Partnership and The Gaslamp Quarter Association to make the arrangement permanent.

The first step of that project is happening right now. The city is installing bollards—short, sturdy posts—at seven intersections from K Street down to Broadway. The bollards will create small plazas on Fifth Avenue and replace the temporary gates that are currently being used to block traffic.

The impact? Increased pedestrian safety, reports David Rolland, a spokesperson for San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria. He says that, weather permitting, all of the bollards should be in place by early May. The city is also working on an ordinance that will designate Fifth Avenue as a slow street, which will allow for the weekend closures that have been going on since Covid to continue longer-term.

But there is a vision for Fifth Avenue beyond just bollards. The Gaslamp Quarter Association and the Downtown San Diego Partnership are seeking grants and other funding from the state to roll out additional phases of the project, including public art, street furniture, shade trees, and repaved streets.

“Our goal is to hopefully drive more business to the merchants who operate in the Gaslamp and also to create more of a tourist destination,” said Michael Trimble, executive director of the Gaslamp Quarter Association. “We don’t have many of these types of open spaces, especially in the downtown area. And so by creating this temporary promenade 12 hours a day, it gives people the opportunity to experience the Gaslamp in a whole new light.”

The plan will not permanently close the street, but will shut it down to vehicles from 11 a.m. to midnight Monday through Sunday, from Broadway to K Street, according to Trimble. Fifth Avenue from L Street to K Street will always be open.

Rendering: Fifth Avenue Promenade

Courtesy of The Gaslamp Quarter Association

Trimble said the plan was originally to have streets shut down to 3 a.m., but it will be more like midnight because of police concerns.

“I think that the issue with having it at 3 a.m. is that it makes it harder for the police to make bar break happen safely,” he said. “So if it closes at 2 a.m., then people are lingering in the streets until 3 a.m., and then it doesn’t promote getting home safely. If the streets close and open to traffic at midnight, then they can bar break at 1:30 a.m., and everyone could be out of the Gaslamp by 2:30 a.m.. If you do it at 2 a.m., people will linger, and it potentially could be not as safe.”

For ridesharing, all cross-streets will stay open, and cross-street parking will be redesigned so there are more loading zones on each corner, making it easier for rideshare cars to drop off and pick up customers.

MTS will also reroute buses from K Street to Broadway. The change in routes that serve lower income communities raised controversy at recent MTS meetings, but officials say they have chosen alterations with minimal impact. Route 120 buses will turn one block earlier and Route 3 buses will be rerouted to Seventh Avenue until after Broadway.

For people who need to park, the Gaslamp Quarter Association says there will be parking along Fourth Avenue. There are also plans in the works to change some cross streets from parallel parking to diagonal parking, which increases the number of parking spaces. The association says there are also more than 3,700 parking spots in parking structures nearby.

And all ADA accessible parking spaces that are removed from Fifth Avenue will be replaced near the Gaslamp Promenade. All valet stands for hotels and restaurants will also be located on side streets, according to the association.

Rendering: Fifth Avenue Promenade

Courtesy of The Gaslamp Quarter Association

Trimble said he hasn’t heard any concerns from businesses about loss of parking or getting deliveries, both because the plan only reduces parking by 32 spaces and because businesses are already used to the routine from the Covid street closure.

“It’s pushed everyone to service the neighborhood quicker and more efficiently,” he said. “And so if there have been any growing pains, we’ve worked through that during this temporary closure.”

Trimble has a long term vision for the promenade that goes beyond the street closures, but said it’s dependent on cost. Originally, before Covid the plan would have cost $40 million, but now it’ll be closer to $60 million, he said. He would have loved for flattening the curbs in the area, but that may now be too expensive, he said.

“I would like to see something more than asphalt on Fifth Avenue. I’d like to see improvements of the sidewalks, new trees, new storm drain type systems that will be more environmentally friendly. I know that it’s important to the city to be environmentally conscious,” said Trimble. “It’s a very old street so updating those types of internal operations are very important to moving forward into the future.”

Rendering: Fifth Avenue Promenade

Courtesy of The Gaslamp Quarter Association

“Because of Covid, the original plan was to have the existing patios expanded onto the sidewalk and the sidewalk being pushed into the street. So instead of having parklets on the curb, you’d actually have an existing patio that’s twice as large because you’re moving the sidewalk farther into the street. And so giving more room for restaurants to operate without having the sidewalk street separation.”

Betsy Brennan, the president of the Downtown San Diego Partnership, said the city is also working on drawing more walkers to the Gaslamp just like they’ve done in other parts of downtown, including the Symphony Shell, the Waterfront Park, and areas around the Convention Center—all aspects of the larger, pedestrian-friendly puzzle of which the Promenade is a piece.

“We want to welcome all of San Diego back to downtown with the Promenade,” she said. “This is the heart of the city.” By the end of 2023, the city expects to have completed an initial study of what is possible on Fifth Avenue and open up the project to bids.

In a statement, Gloria said the project will make the Gaslamp Quarter “an even more enjoyable and vibrant place to stroll, dine, and hang out with friends,” adding that, “We know from attractions like the Piazza della Famiglia in Little Italy that people flock to outdoor pedestrian plazas lined with restaurants and shops, and we’re excited to create that kind of open, welcoming atmosphere [in] the Gaslamp Quarter,” he said.

The post Fifth Avenue Promenade One Step Closer to Becoming Reality appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

semaglutide-glp1-0323.jpg

Editor’s Note: This article is not an endorsement of semaglutide (GLP-1) injections (such as Ozempic or Wegovy) and should not be taken as medical advice. Consult your healthcare provider or primary care physician before considering treatment. This is a personal account from a writer doing her own research into the topic. The writer is not a medical professional. 

First Appointment | Background Info | Treatment | Stopping Use | Final Thoughts | Cost

I first heard about this new FDA-approved weight loss wonder drug while scrolling through my social channels last year. Ozempic, Wegovy, GLP-1s, semaglutide—these names and terms were everywhere.

Images of celebrities such as Kim and Khloe Kardashian, Chelsea Handler, Rosie O’Donnell, Mindy Kaling, Elon Musk, and others were showing off incredibly slim frames almost overnight. Some began referring to their new looks as “heroin chic,” recalling images of stick-thin ‘90s models.

In June of 2021, the FDA approved Wegovy and Ozempic, a drug that mimics a hormone called semaglutide (GLP-1) that helps regulate appetite and food intake, as a weight loss tool for chronic weight management. When paired with a healthy diet and regular exercise, some studies have shown that participants can lose around 10%-15% of their weight, with other studies showing that in those who were overweight or obese, 5.9% total body weight loss at three months and 10.9% at six months was achieved.

Of course, there were also plenty of articles warning of the negative effects of Ozempic and the complications of going off Wegovy. There are also philosophical conversations regarding pharmaceutical use for weight management that have continued over the years—anyone remember the Fen-Phen days of the ‘90s?

As someone who comes from a family that struggles with diagnosed obesity, it piqued my interest immediately, though I had a lot of reservations. But being a journalist, I needed to try it firsthand before recommending it as a potential weight loss tool for my family.

A quick Google search brought me to iThriveMD, a clinic offering these injections to patients in Mission Valley. After doing some initial research, I scheduled a visit to meet with Dr. Thomas Macsay, a naturopathic doctor and the VP of clinical operations.

Though losing weight was a goal (10 to 12 pounds ideally), what I wanted to find out was whether its side effects would be harmful or difficult to endure before I took this new tool to my family.

Inside the waiting room at iThriveMD where the clinic offers IV wellness therapies.

The First Appointment

Before the first injection, we chatted about my weight journey as well as my medical and social history (drinking, drugs, etc.) before drawing blood to send to the lab. This was to ensure that I met the medical requirements to take the semaglutide injections.

“Thyroid cancer and multiple endocrine neoplasia Type II are those Black Box warnings for semaglutide,” says Dr. Macsay. “If someone has a family history of it or history of thyroid cancer or those types of cancers, we will recommend against using semaglutide for weight loss, unless they’re working with an oncologist who clears them for therapy.”

As we spoke, he walked me through what happens in the body while taking these injections. Semaglutide (brand names Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus) is an antidiabetic medication which has was developed by Novo Nordisk in 2012. It is used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, as well as for long-term weight management for those struggling with obesity.

The injections are a natural-based peptide, a protein that occurs in our bodies, Dr. Macsay shared. It works by changing the way our bodies secrete insulin and glucagon—two hormones that work together to regulate blood sugar levels throughout the day.

“Insulin gets released when we put food in our body to drop all the nutrients and sugar into the body to store,” Macsay says. “So, what happens is it decreases insulin secretion, moderates nutrient absorption, and regulate storage of nutrients throughout the body. This is experienced as an overall slowing of the digestive system allowing for appetite suppression.”

Essentially, food moves out of our stomachs more slowly, making us feel full faster and stay full longer. It’ll also allow you to crave sugar less and break down our own internal sugar reserves first. “It’s pretty much … shifting our metabolism,” Dr. Macsay explains.

After a prick in my stomach, I was sent home with a second needle to inject myself the following week. I started off on a 0.25 mg dose for two weeks to get my body acclimated to the medicine.

Each syringe is filled with your designated dose and should be kept in the fridge until it’s ready to be used. Some patients choose to go in weekly to avoid having to prick themselves.

Background Info & Starting Weight

My baseline before going on the medication was “active but loves cheeseburgers.” I lift weight regularly, indoor rock-climb about once a week, and go on casual walks throughout the month. In the past, I’ve run marathons and kept up weekly mileage to stay fit.

But when it comes to nutrition, I crave all the bad-for-you foods, and because obesity runs in my family, I have to be careful about what I eat. The pounds come quickly and I have a propensity to overeat. Looking at me, though, no one would call me overweight or unhealthy, and I’m fully aware of that while writing this.

I’ve never desired to be model thin and being “healthy” can look different on every person—the scale and body measurements shouldn’t determine this.

During this experience, I chose not to workout (to eliminate another variable) and didn’t go on any type of diet. I ate what I wanted, for the most part, while still focusing on getting in some greens when I could. My starting weight was 142.4 pounds at 5’1”.

Injections can be done via your stomach, glutes, or thighs. I found that doing so on my thigh produced less gastrointestinal side effects than via my stomach.

What Happened While Taking Semaglutide

Weeks 1-4

On the first day, I felt okay, but over the course of the next two weeks, I experienced every side effect possible: fatigue, bloating, diarrhea, stomach pains, and a lack of appetite. Eating was rough; I ate little to nothing because of all the issues my body was experiencing.

I ate for calorie intake rather than to enjoy my meals. The fatigue was intense. I could barely keep my eyes open during the day. It wasn’t until Day 20 that I saw a steady four-pound weight loss (the scale previously shifted up and down a few pounds until then).

“I’m experiencing crazy fatigue and feel nauseated all day long. I’m hungry, but I don’t want to eat,” I wrote in my journal after one month of injections, the last being at 1.00 mg.

Unlike what I had heard and read, my sugar cravings remained the same and sugary foods didn’t taste awful to me. Some have reported that they no longer craved their favorite foods and that their taste buds changed, creating a bitter or unpleasant flavor when eating previously desired fare. This was never the case for me—for better or for worse.

Weeks 5-8

During this time, I stuck to the 1.0 mg dose and the pounds began to drop quickly—I lost about 1 to 2 pounds a week. Most side effects eventually went away, though the fatigue was still present.

Daily life became easier and I was starting to fit into clothes better, even regaining some energy. Honestly, it felt good.

Weeks 9-12

Toward the end, I felt pretty regulated and saw the most weight loss by going up to a 1.5 mg dose. Overall, the side effects were uncomfortable but expected. Meaning, any time you do a “magic” or “fast” dieting method, you can assume you won’t feel your best. It’s not natural.

In speaking with a friend who shared her own weight loss struggles, our conversation surrounded semaglutide injections as a way to kickstart a diet while learning how to make lifestyle changes.

iThriveMD offers dietary counseling online to help patients learn what may be triggering your need to overeat, what sensitives you may have that cause bloating, and how to eat more mindfully. This kind of understanding of your body and its needs is essential to maintaining long-term weight loss, no matter how you initially shed pounds.

Final results after 90 days. 

Stopping Injections

After stopping, I did eventually get my cravings back in full force, so without eating a balanced diet and incorporating some level of physical activity in my weeks, it could easily lead to weight gain. I’ve already gained back three pounds before enforcing healthier eating habits and hitting the weight room again.

Dr. Macsay’s patients never stop cold turkey. “Once someone has been on an elevated dose for a few months, we’re going to taper them down over a month to a low dose and then ideally keep them there for like a month or two,” he says.

He shares that, similar to going off a medication, tapering gives our bodies the time to readjust to stopping treatment. Additionally, your appetite will start to normalize in the days and weeks after. Slowing that quick return to your normal appetite is essential to keeping the weight off. This is similar to those following a calorie deficit diet before returning to a more moderate calorie intake.

By the time I finished my last injection over the course of three months, I was up to 1.50 mg (the highest approved by the FDA is 2.4 mgs). My final weight was 132.2. While my clothes fit better, not working out added to muscle loss along with fat (which wasn’t part of my goals).

Final Thoughts on Semaglutide Injections

In thinking about conversations with my family and friends about the drug, those dialogues will center around semaglutide injections as a tool to work toward a healthier lifestyle while outlining the sometimes-intense side effects. Its worth considering how far we’ve come from pharma trends of the past to now, and the steps we’ve made to help individuals manage weight.

I believe that nothing can ever really replace a balanced diet and physical activity. There’s also more involved in weight struggles, including past trauma, family history, access to healthy meals, medical issues, and more that need to be taken into account. It’s a complicated conversation, and for any weight loss questions, it’s best to do your research and speak with your physician about what’s best for your body and goals.

Paying for Semaglutide Injections

Without insurance, most semaglutide injections around the city will be generic brands manufactured in-house and not Ozempic or Wegovy, the brands tied to a supply shortage. Because, although there’s an industry for this drug to be used for weight management, we can’t forget that its primary function is to treat patients suffering with Type II diabetes.

“There isn’t a patent on the actual medications. So compounding pharmacies can buy all the ingredients and precursors from American-based FDA-registered companies and make it in a legit compounding pharmacy,” says Dr. Macsay. “And then all they have to do is mix it with, like with ours, we mix it with B12 because that makes it technically a new type of medication and the FDA doesn’t consider this as part of that semaglutide shortage.”

Currently, at iThriveMD, the cost of injections starts at $299 a month without insurance and increases at 1.5 mg. However, the clinic is working to stabilize the cost and offer the injections at the same price for all doses. Most are recommended 6-12 months of treatment to see results and your physician may suggest staying on a lower dose long-term to maintain weight loss.

The post I Tried Semaglutide Injections: Here’s What Happened appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

North Park

North Park

North Park

If anyone needed yet another sign that our city’s hipster central is indeed gentrified (up-and-comers need not apply), just note the advertised rents for its newest dwelling, The North Parker, designed by starchitect Jonathan Segal: $2,200/month for one of the new lofts at the corner of 30th and University.

Convoy

Working to launch its own Business Improvement District, the Kearny Mesa area is sponsoring a series of night markets that highlight the area’s best Asian food. Look for new neighborhood banners, more park space, and improved walkability around Convoy Street. Yes, we said green space around Convoy!

Golden Hill

The 25th Street Renaissance Street Enhancement is a $2.5 million project expected to give pedestrians better sidewalks and allow for more parking in the neighborhood. It’s also paving the way for more bike racks and beautification efforts, and more lighting throughout the area.

Normal Heights

Acoustic Music San Diego has left Normal Heights. The ongoing all-ages, booze-free concert series ended its residency at The Normal Heights United Methodist Church after a new pastor removed the church’s pews, eliminating seats for concertgoers. After the series threatened to permanently shut down, AMSD kicked off 2014 in its new location at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church on Euclid Avenue.

Del Mar

Del Mar

Del Mar

When in drought, head to the City of Del Mar. Its water usage is down about 25 percent over the last eight years, and levels continue to stay low. Good thing the Del Mar Racetrack is more dirt than turf!

Coronado

The island’s new smoking ban went into effect on January 1. Smokers are now prohibited from lighting up in public areas, including streets, sidewalks, alleys, and parking lots. (Smoking was already prohibited at parks and beaches.) Planning to smoke anyway? The city is cracking down with $100 fines for first-time offenders. Now that’s clearing some already pristine beach air—no ifs, ands, or butts!

City Heights

Parks are usually planned with kids in mind, but City Heights just welcomed a new one designed specifically for adults and seniors. Located next to a senior housing complex, the park has benches, chess boards, and art installations. Not a jungle gym in sight!

Scripps Ranch

Scripps Ranch

Scripps Ranch

Neighborhood group Save Our Scripps Ranch is rallying against the development of a plot of land at the intersection of the I-15 and Carroll Canyon Road. SOS Ranch fears a big box retailer such as Walmart may replace the eucalyptus trees and abandoned buildings that currently rest there.

Mira Mesa

The Scripps Proton Therapy Center is expected  to open this Spring, offering an alternative cancer treatment that involves the delivery of radiation via a precise beam, ensuring that healthy tissue remains unaffected. The center is the first to be built solely for “pencil beam” treatment.

South Park

The 28th Street Canyon and hiking trail is in danger of undergoing development, according to a public notice of a development application. Developers are planning five single-family homes on the property. South Park residents are concerned they will lose a peaceful, natural spot. A hearing on the proposed development will take place March 12 at 6:30 p.m.

South Park

South Park

Rancho Bernardo

If there’s one thing SoCal neighborhoods love, it’s their signs. And if there’s one thing Rancho Bernardo is ready for, it’s a new one. A signature sign was set for completion in January, but construction has been slated to begin later this fall. The original sign, built in the ’60s, was demolished when a vehicle crashed into it in 2009.

Spring Valley

The Relay for Life team is gearing up for its sixth year in Spring Valley and will join other cities walking to help fight cancer. On a smaller, but no less important, scale is a BBQ competition hosted by the Spring Valley Chamber of Commerce each year in October. Proceeds from the competition and street fair go to Spring Valley Youth Sports.

The post Neighborhood News appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

North Park

North Park

North Park

If anyone needed yet another sign that our city’s hipster central is indeed gentrified (up-and-comers need not apply), just note the advertised rents for its newest dwelling, The North Parker, designed by starchitect Jonathan Segal: $2,200/month for one of the new lofts at the corner of 30th and University.

Convoy

Working to launch its own Business Improvement District, the Kearny Mesa area is sponsoring a series of night markets that highlight the area’s best Asian food. Look for new neighborhood banners, more park space, and improved walkability around Convoy Street. Yes, we said green space around Convoy!

Golden Hill

The 25th Street Renaissance Street Enhancement is a $2.5 million project expected to give pedestrians better sidewalks and allow for more parking in the neighborhood. It’s also paving the way for more bike racks and beautification efforts, and more lighting throughout the area.

Normal Heights

Acoustic Music San Diego has left Normal Heights. The ongoing all-ages, booze-free concert series ended its residency at The Normal Heights United Methodist Church after a new pastor removed the church’s pews, eliminating seats for concertgoers. After the series threatened to permanently shut down, AMSD kicked off 2014 in its new location at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church on Euclid Avenue.

Del Mar

Del Mar

Del Mar

When in drought, head to the City of Del Mar. Its water usage is down about 25 percent over the last eight years, and levels continue to stay low. Good thing the Del Mar Racetrack is more dirt than turf!

Coronado

The island’s new smoking ban went into effect on January 1. Smokers are now prohibited from lighting up in public areas, including streets, sidewalks, alleys, and parking lots. (Smoking was already prohibited at parks and beaches.) Planning to smoke anyway? The city is cracking down with $100 fines for first-time offenders. Now that’s clearing some already pristine beach air—no ifs, ands, or butts!

City Heights

Parks are usually planned with kids in mind, but City Heights just welcomed a new one designed specifically for adults and seniors. Located next to a senior housing complex, the park has benches, chess boards, and art installations. Not a jungle gym in sight!

Scripps Ranch

Scripps Ranch

Scripps Ranch

Neighborhood group Save Our Scripps Ranch is rallying against the development of a plot of land at the intersection of the I-15 and Carroll Canyon Road. SOS Ranch fears a big box retailer such as Walmart may replace the eucalyptus trees and abandoned buildings that currently rest there.

Mira Mesa

The Scripps Proton Therapy Center is expected  to open this Spring, offering an alternative cancer treatment that involves the delivery of radiation via a precise beam, ensuring that healthy tissue remains unaffected. The center is the first to be built solely for “pencil beam” treatment.

South Park

The 28th Street Canyon and hiking trail is in danger of undergoing development, according to a public notice of a development application. Developers are planning five single-family homes on the property. South Park residents are concerned they will lose a peaceful, natural spot. A hearing on the proposed development will take place March 12 at 6:30 p.m.

South Park

South Park

Rancho Bernardo

If there’s one thing SoCal neighborhoods love, it’s their signs. And if there’s one thing Rancho Bernardo is ready for, it’s a new one. A signature sign was set for completion in January, but construction has been slated to begin later this fall. The original sign, built in the ’60s, was demolished when a vehicle crashed into it in 2009.

Spring Valley

The Relay for Life team is gearing up for its sixth year in Spring Valley and will join other cities walking to help fight cancer. On a smaller, but no less important, scale is a BBQ competition hosted by the Spring Valley Chamber of Commerce each year in October. Proceeds from the competition and street fair go to Spring Valley Youth Sports.

The post Neighborhood News appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Cherry waffle sammy from D Bar

Photo by Lynn Chyi

Ingrid Croce

Imperial Beach

The post San Diego Bits & Bites appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Sonoma Grape Camp

Darren Miller Photography

Big Sur Roadhouse

The post Travel News appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

bass taco

Kimpton chefs bring it! Enjoy sustainable Earth Week menus at Cusp Dining & Drinks, Saltbox, and Jsix.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure, San Diego announces its biggest grant ever ($1.4 million) for 10,000 mammograms and screenings.

harp

On another note, The Museum of Making Music is singing praises and “confronting stereotypes” about harps at The Harp: A Global Story of Man, Music and Medicine.

flowers

The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch debuts its first new color pattern in 15 years. Bring it on, 50 acres of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus.

Young kids gettin’ serious! San Diego Jewish Academy sophomore Zander Cowan is organizing the Second Annual Walk to End Genocide, April 7. Help him purchase supplies for refugees.

We’re counting San Diego’s 3 million trees because Cal Fire and Prop 84 gave us money.

Hillcrest parks! ParkHillcrest.com and its app give us real-time parking availability updates and shuttle map. But what about the other space-challenged ’hoods?

TheNAT premieres Dino Jaws on April 12. Finally we will know what dinosaurs ate. The mystery is over.

April showers? We’d rather not, but we’re below the long-term average for precipitation. Cue the reluctant rain dance.

The post The Excite-o-Meter appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Sirtaj Beverly Hills Hotel

RivaBella

Vespa

Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe

Vacation Home

Mountain Livin’… at the Ritz

Time to upgrade that log cabin. If you have an extra $1.25 to $4.5 million lying around, you could own one of 23 luxury penthouse condos recently opened as The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Lake Tahoe. The two-, three-, and four-bedroom residences come with an all-season pass, ski valet and concierge services, private entrance, and priority access to the hotel’s spa and restaurants. Three of the penthouses are custom homes designed by Jay Jeffers, in what he calls “California Mountain” style. Own 3,000 square feet at 7,000 square feet, at a ski-in, ski-out residence in a Forbes Four-Star and AAA Five-Diamond resort? Where do we sign?

Oia

Art

Travel… in Your Imagination

Following a two-month painting trip in the Mediterranean, local artist and native San Diegan Grant Pecoff will show his series of plein-air and studio paintings called Greece & Croatia: Mediterranean Summer at his Little Italy gallery. Receiving the signature Pecoff treatment were Greece’s blue-domed churches, valleys of olive trees, and views from monasteries and mountaintops. He also painted from the vantage point of Croatia’s medieval fortresses and while sailing through 400 islands. “When you open your heart to the environment and people around you, everything seems so much more vibrant and alive,” says Pecoff. Indeed. Artist’s reception is April 13; oil paintings on display through April. Pecoff Gallery, 1825 India Street, pecoff.com

golfer

Now Playing

Swingers in Vegas: See celebs swing golf clubs (last year, stars like Wayne Gretzky and Tom Welling competed) at the 12th Annual Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational in Las Vegas, April 4–7. Shadow Creek Golf Course at ARIA Resort & Casino. mjcigolf.com

382,376

Americans traveled to Mexico during Spring Break 2012

Source: mexicotoday.org

The post Travel News, Advice, and Suggestions appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Navy soldiers looking at the San Diego skyline

Women Give San Diego held its Annual Grants Celebration on Mar. 6 at the Women’s Museum of California at Liberty Station. Those receiving grants were: Southwestern College Microenterprise Family Childcare Program who will receive $40,000 over the next two years. This program creates economic self-sufficiency among socioeconomically disadvantaged Spanish-speaking women by providing no-cost certification courses on how to establish licensed childcare business in their homes. Casa Cornelia Law Center will receive $25,000 over two years which funds pro bono legal services to indigent immigrant victims of human and civil rights violations. Women’s Resource Center will receive $20,000 over two years to fund Transition House which provides a case-managed, supportive environment for victims of domestic violence. Women Give San Diego is dedicated to promoting the economic self-sufficiency and security of low-income women and girls across San Diego County.

The Alzheimer’s Association San Diego Chapter’s Memories in the Making Art Auction fundraiser is being held on Mar. 15. It will be held at The University of San Diego, Hahn Center and will feature artwork created by people with Alzheimer’s and artists who have taken inspiration from them. The Memories in the Making Art Auction will showcase over 100 pieces of artwork – 28 pieces by individuals with dementia paired with a complementary work by professional artists and will be auctioned as pairs at the event. www.alz.org/SanDiego.

STAR/PAL received several grants for SUPERHEROES for Youth! Zable Foundation donated $10,000; Municipal Employees Civic Responsibility Organization $10,000; Cubic $2,500 and The Cushman Family Foundation $2,500.

Doctor reading to a child

United Way of San Diego County is hosting its second annual Virtual Book Drive for local children to foster a love of reading and learning for long-term success. The Drive is being held on Mar. 18 to 30 with the goal of purchasing 48,000 summer reading books.

The San Diego Police Foundation is presenting Women in Blue on Mar. 13 at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront. This year’s honorees are Karen Goodman, Lori Luhnow and Donna Pence. Verizon is the title sponsor of the luncheon.  Proceeds will go to SDPF to help fund needs of the Police Department that are not provided for in their budget.

The American Cancer Society will be presenting the Celebration of Life Award to Mary Mickelson on June 2 at the San Diego Discovery Celebration Gala being held at the Grand Del Mar. The award is presented to a person who has survived their journey through cancer. Mickelson and her daughter-in-law Amy have both been treated for cancer recently.

Walk for Wishes is being presented by San Diego County Credit Union on Apr. 27 at the Embarcadero Marina Park South with a goal of raising $200,000. The 3.5 mile walk benefits the San Diego Make A Wish Foundation to raise funds to grant wishes to San Diego children battling life-threatening medical conditions.

The National Conflict Resolution Center is celebrating its 25^th annual Peacemaker Awards on Mar. 14. The event recognizes individuals and organizations for their creative and effective collaborations and solutions to crises and conflict. In honor of its anniversary, NCRC will recognize two organizations based in San Diego. The 2013 National Peacemaker Award recipient is the USNS Mercy and the Local Peacemaker Honoree is The Preuss School UCSD. Sponsors of the 2013 Peacemaker Awards include SDG&E and Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch.

Prada San Diego at Fashion Valley hosted an opening cocktail reception on Mar. 7. A percentage of proceeds from Mar. 7 to Mar. 17 will go to Voices for Children.

The San Diego Builders Owners & Managers Association (BOMA) is participating in the American Lung Association’s Fight for Air Climb on Mar. 23 at One America Plaza, San Diego’s tallest downtown building. Every dollar raised will enable the American Lung Association to continue its work to educate kids on how to manage their asthma and not use tobacco.

Joyce Glazer

Please send news items to Joyce Glazer at [email protected].

The post Monday Morning Good News: March 11 appeared first on San Diego Magazine.