san diego north park news, january 2013

sdnorthparknews.com

Serving San Diego’s Premier Urban Communities for 21 Years

BY MANNY CRUZ

Christmas behind us — now is thetime for nearly half of all Americans to

begin focusing on their resolutions — how they plan tochange their lives for the better in the new year.

Losing weight ranks No. 1, and staying fit and healthyranks No. 5 — outranking resolutions to quit smoking andfall in love, according to a University of Scranton, Journal ofClinical Psychology report published in December.

While the concept of resolving to make positive changein life is good, statistics show that only about 8 percent ofthose made are kept.

So what makes a resolution stick — keeps members com-ing back to businesses in the fitness and wellness industry?For a couple of local businesses, Ginseng Yoga and Boule-vard Fitness, the common attraction seems kind of simple— the environment.

Ginseng Yoga, owned by Cindy and Brad Bennett andopen for more than a decade now, survived the economicdownturn and the stigma of being in the same location asa few failed businesses — the corner of 30th and Beech

Streets in South Park.“Everyone told us that this corner is jinxed . . . somehow

we saw through it all,” Cindy said.The community really responded well to having a yoga

studio in this neighborhood, she said. It’s a place for themto not only meet their fitness goals, but to relieve stress, andheal physically and emotionally. It’s a good thing she says,to hear their sighs of relief as they walk out the door.

The word “yoga” originates from Sanskrit, an ancientIndia language, meaning “union of body, mind and spirit.”The basics of yoga rest primarily on breathing technique,meditation and body extensions. Ginseng Yoga offers sev-eral styles of yoga classes in beginning to advanced levels.

Jean Rivaldi, who has been practicing yoga at GinsengYoga for about two years, credits yoga for helping her lose40 pounds in about a 10-month period and says the envi-ronment keeps her coming.

One of the reasons why people new to a gym may fail tokeep up the routine, Rivaldi said, is because the equipment

SEE GLORIA, Page 8

Ginseng Yoga instructor Laxmi DeLeo leads a class.

YMCA Recreation Facility ApprovedThe San Diego City Council has approved a per-mit for construction of the new Copley-PriceYMCA recreation facility on property bounded by

43rd Street, El Cajon Boulevard, Meade Avenueand Fairmount Avenue. The Copley-Price YMCAbuilding will feature 7,200 square feet of roof deckand balcony space, a 7,300 square foot enclosedpool, outdoor recreation space, and a 296-spaceparking structure. The first floor of the buildingwill include a gymnasium, four classroom areas,a day care area, 17 office spaces, storage areas,locker rooms for men and women, a communityroom, two kitchen areas, a lunch room, and a teen

center area with an open gathering space, a com-puter room, a tutoring room, and a homeworkroom. The second floor will consist of a large fit-ness equipment area, four group exercise room,five bathrooms, an office space, and a roof deck.Outside will be a pool, a splash pad, a soccer arena,a synthetic turf warm up area, a play yard, and apicnic area. Construction is to begin in spring2013.

It’s Big Band Dance TimeBy popular request, Pete Jacobs and his 16-

piece “Wartime Radio Revue Swing Orchestra”will be coming to San Diego for one show only onJan. 25 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the San diegoWomen’s Club, 2557 Third Ave. The band willprovide the music for an evening of Big-BandSwing Dancing. All ages are invited. as Pete andthe Wartime Radio Revue will be playing the clas-sic Big Band music of Benny Goodman, GlennMiller, Count Basie, Tommy Dorsey and Artie

Shaw. Jacobs’ female singers, dressed in khakiArmy costumes, will pay tribute to the AndrewsSisters. Dance admission is $20 at the door. PeteJacobs’ Wartime Radio Revue was formed in 1997.“We are very much a dance band,” says Jacobs. “Iwanted to re-create the music the way it wasplayed back when big-bands would play forpacked houses and dance halls.”

SEE SCENE, Page 6

Todd Gloria finds freshly paved streetssexy. Potholes, on the other hand, areugly blemishes that can be dangerous.“Because of potholes, traveling in NorthPark or any other District 3 communitycan be rough. Literally,” said Gloria. To Gloria, the new president of the SanDiego City Council, potholes are just oneelement in a whole host of other infras-tructure blemishes — crumbling side-walks, failing street lights, crummy roads,

delapidated public facilities — thatplague the city of San Diego. Fixingthem, according to one estimate, couldcost taxpayers $900,000, a figure whichmany consider to be overly conservative. Gloria, freshly re-elected to his secondterm, has made solving the city’s infras-tructure problems the centerpiece of hiscouncil presidency, obtaining a unani-mous council vote for the creation of astanding committee on infrastructure

that will catalog the work that needs to bedone and to develop a five-year construc-tion schedule.We’re calling Gloria the “Road Warrior”here, which is meant as descriptive of theattitude that he brings to all of the city’sinfrastructure problems. In a Q&A withthe North Park News, Gloria discussesthese and other city issues going forwardinto 2013:

NORTH PARK SCENE

A Q&A With the San Diego City Council President

Aerial View

Making New Year’s Resolutions StickLocal fitness studios can help clients lead a healthier 2013

SEE FITNESS, Page 5

Vol. 21 No. 1 January 2013

TODD GLORIAThe Road Warrior

Council President Todd Gloria champions the fixing of streets, roads and othercity infrastructure. Illustration by Jason Luper (www.starkwhitestudios.com).

Street View

BY CECILIA BUCKNER

2 | sdnorthparknews.com | January 2013

(619) 889-5420 | www.aftonmiller.com | [email protected]

AFTON SELL S SAN DIEGOSpecializing in North Park and Metro Area since 1986

SOLD - $649,000

4869 Marlborough | 3br 2ba*

SOLD - $546,000

3027 Granada | 3br 1ba

SOLD - $675,000

3161 1st St #2N | 2br 2ba *

SOLD - $799,000

2503 Bancroft St | 4br 2ba

SOLD - $845,000

3415 Villa Terrace | 3br 2ba

IN ESCROW - $649,000

3674-72 Texas | 2 units

SOLD - $449,000

4795 50th St | 2br 1ba

SOLD - $615,000

4806 Adams Ave | 2br + FR

AVAILABLE - $499-525K

4677 Winona | 3br 2ba

SOLD - $276,500

3681 Grim | 3br 2.5ba

SOLD SHORT SALE - $243,000

2173 Haller St | 3br 2.5ba


3774 33rd St #5 | 2br 2ba


4751 Jean | 3br 2ba

SOLD SHORT SALE - $595,000

4142 Lymer Dr | 3br 2ba

SOLD - $628,000

4607 Janet Pl | 4br 3.5ba

SOLD - $175,000

3690 Florida | 1br condo

SOLD - $562,000

2438 33rd St | 3br 2.5ba

SOLD - $489,900

3655 31st St | 2br 1ba

SOLD - $769,000

2428 33rd St | 3br 2.5ba

COMING SOON - $218,000

4549 33rd #4 | 2br 2ba

*BUYER


3788 Park #4 | work/live

SOLD - $640,000

3210-12 Felton St | 2br units

SOLD - $565,000

4365 Alder Dr | 3br 2ba

SOLD - $460,000

2515 30th St. | 2br 1ba

SOLD - $650,000

4558 Delaware St | 2br 2ba

IN ESCROW! $799,000 | 4165 Middlesex Drive

Stunning classic Kensington Spanish 3br 2ba 1,532 ESF. Beautifully updated! Newly refinished gleaming HW floors,fully remodeled kitchen and baths. Custom paint, arches, sculpted fireplace, wonderful floorplan with vintage char-acter intact. New roofing, electrical, furnace and AC. Double detached garage. Great location!

SOLD - $692,000

2914 Redwood St | 3br 3ba

SOLD - $428,000

3311 Juniper St | 2br 1ba

SOLD - $387,000

4502 Euclid Ave | 2br 1ba


2735 33rd St | 4br 4.5ba

SOLD - $375,000

3572 Marathon | 3br 2ba

SOLD! - $605,000

4632 Marlborough | 2br 1.5ba

IN ESCROW - $599-624K

4624 Lucille | 3br 2ba

SOLD - $530,000

4720 51st | 3br 2ba

A big THANKS to my staff Pam Curtis, Nancy Sleaford and Kyndl Spencleyand all of our clients for making 2012 a great year! I look forward to working with you in 2013, whether you're buying or selling a home!

Happy New Year!

January 2013 | sdnorthparknews.com | 3


Ask Dr. Z(Editor’s Note: South Park’s Dr. Tara Zandvliet -Dr. Z — answers common — andnot so common — health questions for our readers.)

Q. Are Fevers Dangerous? When Should I Worry?The thing to remember is that you are sick and your body needs a lot of energyto fight that off. Remembering that, it will be easy to understand the standard ruleswe doctors use for this kind of advice. You need rest and pampering. But you havea big game coming up? You don’t want to slide backward in your fitness andweight loss goals? Understandable and admirable! One way to look at it is that ifthe cold is all above the neck; do half — half the amount of time and half theamount of intensity. If it is below the neck — including any cough or wheeze —back off entirely. If you don’t, you will surely pay for it later with twice as muchtime off when it turns into something even worse, like bronchitis or pneumonia.A few days off now will save your workout days next week. Have a two-day racetournament? Pick half the events to enter, or only do one day. Your child has a biggame this weekend? Same rules. Stay home if he/she has a cough. Go ahead andplay if it’s all in the nose, but have them take a few days off all exercise afterwardto make up for it.

Q: Can taking two different medicines with acetaminophen hurt you?In a word, Yes! Acetaminophen, otherwise known as Tylenol, APAP, Paracetamol,“fever reducer” or “non-aspirin pain reliever,” uses the liver and there is a specif-ic amount that your body can handle, based on the amount of enzyme your liverhas to break it down. If you take more than your liver can handle, it can poisonthe liver and cause liver failure. This is how children or adults who overdose onTylenol can die, and it happens every year. Adults can only handle three grams aday (six extra strength Tylenol, or four doses of an acetaminophen containing coldmedicine). If you drink alcohol daily, or take acetaminophen daily (for arthritis,for example), then you can only take two grams a day. Children can only take 15milligrams per kilogram of body weight per dose, up to four times a day. For safe-ty’s sake, I recommend taking your medicines individually, not in combinationpreparations. If you want an antihistamine for congestion or allergies, take just that.If you have body aches or fever, just take acetaminophen. If you have a cough, justtake a cough syrup or cough drop. Try to avoid combination medicines so you canavoid accidental overdose. Your liver, and your doctor, will thank you.

Q: Why do some foods make me gassy or burpy?Your body needs to have certain enzymes in your stomach and intestines to breakdown food. If you do not have these enzymes, or eat too much of certain foods,you can’t break down the food and so you pass gas. Beans, lentils, dairy products,onions, garlic, scallions, leeks, radishes, sweet potatoes, cashews, Jerusalem arti-chokes, oats, wheat, and yeast in breads contain inulin, a sugar that is hard to digest.Bean-O or Epozote can help digest inulin, so you can take it whenever you eat thosefoods. Other times, we just lack the good bacteria that help us digest carbohydratesand sugars. If you take a probiotic, or eat yogurt, you can help get some more ofthose good bacteria. And sometimes, you lose the enzymes and bacteria that helpyou digest food, and you become intolerant — such as those people with lactoseor cane sugar intolerance.

Dr. Tara Zandvliet welcomes your questions. Send them to [email protected]. She practices at 2991 Kalmia St. Phone: (619) 929-0030.

can be intimidating. “Sometimes people are afraid to use

the machines in the gym. I never feltlike that at Ginseng Yoga,” she said. “I feltit was okay not to know. Practicingyoga’s totally different than going to thegym. Nobody’s competing. Nobody’slooking at you, caring if you’re doing itright or wrong.”

Evelyn Feliciano has an annual mem-bership at Boulevard Fitness and saysits environment sets it apart from thebig gym chains. She makes the drive toNorth Park from her Point Loma homeevery day. The gym has an intimate set-ting and everyone there is very friendly,she said. “I feel more comfortable. Yougo in, get it done and move on,” shesaid.

Feliciano thinks her regular workoutsat Boulevard Fitness, including workwith a physical trainer, helped her get

back on track after her husband diedfrom brain cancer in 2003 and has alsobenefited her in her struggle with breastcancer — she is now five years cancerfree.

“The trainers know what they’redoing there,” Rivaldi said. “They giveyou an all-around workout that worksout every aspect of your body.”

Boulevard Fitness, owned by AdrianDaSilva and managed by Chula Vistaresident Anthony Najera, opened itsdoors about two and a half years ago.

DaSilva’s drive to provide an outletfor the community to get healthier wasfueled in part by the fact that membersof his family members battled with can-cer.

DaSilva previously operated Power-house Gym and The Gym @ 734 in Hill-crest before moving on to the largerNorth Park location of Boulevard Fit-ness on El Cajon Boulevard.

Najera has a 16-year history in thefitness industry, including work as a


SEE FITNESS, Page 17

The Caregivers’ JourneyGo ahead — toot your horn

As a caregiver, having a big mouth isan asset. If you don’t already have one,you might want to develop one. Becauseopening your mouth – shouting untilsomeone hears what you’re saying – isone of the biggest parts of being a care-giver.

You are your parents’ advocate now.When they’re too ill to speak for them-

selves or can’t recall what they wanted tosay, you need to speak up.

That doesn’t mean you ignore theirwishes.

Understanding what they want is thefirst step in getting what they need.Unfortunately, too many people, includ-ing their own doctors, write off all olderfolks as being daffy.

When the world ignores your lovedones, you need to remind people thatolder folks need to be treated withrespect.

After years of talking to one of mymother’s doctors on the phone, I final-ly met him in person. He walked intothe office, shook my hand and lookedperplexed. “I thought you were muchtaller.”

Yes, I speak a lot louder than my 4-foot-11 stature.

As a dutiful daughter, it seemed I wasalways advocating for my aging parents.They weren’t even off the plane fromtheir home in Miami Beach to SanDiego, where I’d found them a retire-ment home, when I had to put on myadvocate’s hat.

After waiting more than an hour fortheir plane to pull up to the gate (thatwas before airport security was tight-ened), I asked someone what the delaywas. He said my parents’ plane couldn’tget in until another plane pulled out.

So I simply informed the gate agentthat there were two sick people on theinbound plane, that he would have totell the other plane pull back. He did.

When I climbed aboard to retrievemy parents, the captain asked if I’d hadanything to do with the arrangements— and thanked me.

When someone at mom’s healthinsurance company refused to talk tome on the phone about my mother’sbill, which I’d always paid, I hung upand redialed — and introduced myselfas my mother. I got what I needed.

I learned to work around a lot ofthings during the 12 years I was my par-ents’ dutiful daughter, their best friendand their liaison with a not-always-receptive world.

BY MARSHA KAY SEFF

FITNESSCONTINUED FROM Page 1

Some of the classes offered at Boulevard Fitness include Zumba, boxing and boot camp classes.

GFit is located across the street from Ginseng Yoga.Ginseng Yoga.

Sea Rocket Bistro PartyWomen’s Empowerment Interna-

tional invites you to “eat, drink and dosome good” at a Jan. 31 benefit party atSea Rocket Bistro, 3382 30th St. The 5-9 p.m. program will have appetizers,prizes and the sale of Women’s Empow-erment t-shirts and clutches. Cost is $20at the door. A portion of the proceedswill be used for Women’s Empower-ment, an organization that works inpartnership with nonprofit agencies tohelp the poor. Founded in 2003,Women’s International has engaged infive partnerships and is currently work-ing with Grameen de la Frontera inSonora, Mexico, Adelante Foundationin Intibuca, Honduras, and Women-sTrust in Ghana.

Girl Scout Cookies Sport New LookLocal Girl Scouts are gearing up to

debut new cookie boxes on Jan. 27.“Selling Girl Scout cookies has taughtme to stand up, speak out and look peo-ple in the eye!” says troop memberMaria Burritt, who lives in Kensington.Girl Scout cookie boxes have a freshdesign for the new year. The newlyrevamped boxes now include pictures ofGirl Scouts engaged in pursuits rang-ing from kayaking and dance to publicspeaking and community service, cap-

tioned with quotes from the girls. Therecognitions girls can earn, such as theFinancial Literacy badge and Girl ScoutGold Award, are also featured. “Troopsfund their service projects and activi-ties with cookie money,” says Girl ScoutsSan Diego CEO Jo Dee C. Jacob. “Andour council uses its share of the pro-ceeds to provide programs, camps, vol-unteer training and the financial assis-tance that keeps Girl Scouting availableand affordable for 31,000 local girls.”The fifth grade girls in Junior Troop3081 use their cookie proceeds to funda “Mom and Me” event every year. Theyhave also “adopted” a girl from thePhilippines, whose school supplies anduniform they pay for.

San Diego County Bicycle CoalitionAwards

The San Diego County Bicycle Coali-tion presented Golden Gear of Advoca-cy Awards for 2012 to local communityleaders during its annual Holiday Joyrideat Mission Brewery.

Award winners:• Bike Friendly Business Advocate of

the Year: Jeff Motch, owner of Blind Lady

AleHouse in Normal Heights andTiger!Tiger! on El Cajon Boulevard.

• Community Partner of the Year:Walk San Diego.

• Volunteers of the Year: HowardLaGrange and Pete Penseyres of Ocean-side.

• Advocate of the Year: Nicole Burgessof Ocean Beach.

• Public Partner of the Year: CityCouncilman Todd Gloria.

The coalition was formed to supportand help protect the rights of people whoride bicycles. “We’re putting San Diegoon the path to becoming one of the mostbike-friendly cities in the U.S., and wehope to continue this momentum tobreak more records in 2013,” said AndyHanshaw, the executive director.

www.sdnorthparknews.com

Serving San Diego’s Premier Bungalow Communities

Chairman/CEOBob Page

[email protected]

Publisher Rebeca Page

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EditorManny Cruz

[email protected]

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Advertising SalesAda Laura Duff(858) 442-7766

[email protected]

------------------------------

Writers/ColumnistsTodd Gloria

Ann JarmuschJennifer Kester

Donna MarganellaBart Mendoza

Katelyn O’RiordanSandy PasquaDavid RainesDelle Willett

PhotographyManny CruzSande Lollis

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SCENECONTINUED FROM Page 1

The Live Wire Act 20 years of music, beer and relationshipsThe first time they walked

through the doors of the dark,gutted, space on the corner of Alabama Street and ElCajon Boulevard in North Park, they could not imag-ine they would ever be in this position — lookingback at 20 years of business.

While the narrow pathway through Live Wireremains dimly-lit, nothing in the neighborhood divesays cold and empty. The infamous jukebox blaringindie rock and the awesome inventory of special andlocal beers on tap are just a couple reasons its owners,Sam Chammas and Joe Austin, say the bar has sur-vived.

“When we opened in ’92, the beers we loved weremicrobrewed — Sierra Nevada, Pete’s Wicked Ale,Sam Adams — we said, ‘lets just make this bar allabout these beers,’” Chammas said.

The bar’s jukebox — voted “Best Jukebox in a Bar”in City Beat for the past five years, often served as a cat-alyst for advertising for local bands who were able toget the okay from Chammas and Austin to play theirdemos.

“You hear it on a bar sound system that kind of

rocks, and you could see the reaction from the crowd. . . that’s part of our reputation that’s never wavered,”Austin said.

Aside from the great beer and music, relationshipsforged at the bar over the past two decades are also abig part of the bar’s success. “Sam and I have per-formed weddings of patrons. You don’t think aboutthat being an offset of a bar — it’s really amazing tolook back at,” Austin said.

Chammas and Austin met 25 years ago at KCR —The Live Wire radio station at San Diego State Univer-sity. Austin worked as a program director and Cham-mas in promotions.

After graduating from SDSU, the two went theirseparate ways — Austin bartending his way throughgrad school and Chammas working for a medicaldevice manufacturing company.

Looking for someone with the know-how to helpbring the old abandoned, boarded-up bar, The Eagle,back to life, Chammas located Austin by chance, andthe beginning of their 20-year partnership began.

They argued for months, while the liquor licensewas being processed, over the name of the bar. “It was

like naming a kid,” Austin said. Then, one day, walk-ing down El Cajon Boulevard, after too much discus-sion on the issue, they decided to focus on what theywanted the feeling to be like. “Sam was like, ‘It wouldbe rad if the space was built like the lobby at KCR butwith beer!’ We had been arguing for six months andthe name was right under our noses!” Austin said."All of this whole thing is driven by the lobby at KCR.”

The Live Wire is managed by long-time employeeThad Robles. Robles “does it all,” said Austin.

Chammas and Austin also share a couple otherbusinesses — the Riviera Supper Club in La Mesa andKrakatoa Coffee in Golden Hill. Chammas has twoadditional businesses on his own, The Whistle Stopand Station Tavern & Burgers in South Park.

Austin and Chammas are dedicated to making theLive Wire original — not following the normal taphandles of other San Diego bars. Their philosophy is,“If you hear it on commercial radio stations, you won’thear it here.”

The Live Wire is located at 2103 El Cajon Blvd. Formore information, visit livewirebar.com or call (619)291-7450.

The Live Wire began 20 years ago with $18,000 in savings from Sam Chammas’ employment with a medical device manufacturer.

Sam Chammas, left, takes a time out from a happy hour reunion with his former co-workersat Medtronics Joe Austin, right, and Thad Robles.

SEE SCENE, Page 7

Jeff Motch

BY CECILIA BUCKNER


SDSU Enjoys Record Undergrad Appli-cations

San Diego State University received arecord 74,458 undergraduate applica-tions for the fall 2013 semester, the mostapplications ever received by the uni-versity and an 8 percent increase fromlast year at this time. Among the fallundergraduate applications are 53,913freshmen, a seven percent increase overlast year, including Joey Bautista, cur-rently a senior at St. Augustine HighSchool. Bautista has a 4.09 GPA and a1350 SAT score and hopes to major inmechanical engineering. “SDSU is aname and an organization that is veryfamiliar to me. Both my mother andsister are Aztec alumni, and the pridethat they have in being part of SDSUleaves me a sort of legacy,” Bautista said.

Normal Heights Apartments Sold for$3.65 Million

Blue Corner Capital has purchased a20,758-square-foot, 32-unit apartmentcomplex at 3162 Monroe Ave. in Nor-mal Heights for $3.65 million. The sell-ers were Double RP Investments andAMB Capital. Blue Corner Capitalalready owned one-third of the proper-ty as a tenant- in-common. Blue Cornerpurchased the remaining ownershipinterest as part of a 1031 exchange. Thebuilding was built in 1972 by Ray Huff-man. It was designed as a two-storycourtyard style project that offers a mixof 26 one-bedroom/one bathroom unitsand six two-bedroom/one-bathroomunits. The sellers were represented byRita Lancaster-Hannah of ColliersInternational. The buyer was represent-ed by Lancaster-Hannah.

North Park Apartments Sold for $1.3Million

William and Anna Hicks have pur-chased a 5,554-square-foot apartmentbuilding at 4114 Swift Ave. in NorthPark for $1.3 million. The sellers werethe Carolyn A. Kutzke Trust, Karen AnnKapp Trust and Evanne D. Lill Trust.The seven unit, gated building is com-prised of one one-bedroom/one-bath-room, five two-bedroom/one-bath-room, and one three bedroom/onebathroom units. Building amenitiesinclude fireplaces in each unit, commonlaundry room, both open and coveredonsite parking. Units were at 100 occu-pancy at the time of sale. Brokers in thetransaction were Colliers Internationaland Achievers Realty.

Girl Scouts USA Forges Ties WithAfrican-American Sorority

Girl Scouts of the USA has joinedforces with Sigma Gamma Rho, one ofthe nation’s largest African-Americansororities, to help build awareness ofcareer possibilities in science, technolo-gy, and engineering among girls andparents in the African-American com-munity. Working with local Girl Scoutcouncils around the country, SigmaGamma Rho’s alumnae chapters havemade GSUSA’s Imagine Engineeringinitiative, funded by the National Sci-ence Foundation, a focus of the sorori-ty’s annual National Youth Symposium.“Girl Scouting and Sigma Gamma Rhohave the same goal: to build the nation’sfuture leaders by helping girls dreambig and accomplish much today,” saidGSUSA Chief Executive Officer AnnaMaria Chávez. “We are delighted to bepart of this partnership to help girls dogreat things in critical fields such as sci-ence, technology, engineering and

math.”“Response to Imagine Engineering

has been terrific,” said Sigma GammaRho National President Bonita Herring.“We surveyed 250 girls who took part inthe program, and more than two thirdsof them said they now understood how‘someone like me’ could become anengineer.”

For more information on GSUSA’sImagine Engineering initiative visitwww.girlscouts.org/imagineengineer-ing.

Safety and Effectiveness of Vitamins,Herbs and Minerals to be Explainedat Jan. 30 Program

Medical experts from Scripps Centerfor Integrative Medicine will offer SanDiegans the latest practical insightsabout the safety and effectiveness ofvitamins, herbs and minerals at the 10thannual Natural Supplements School,which will be held Jan. 30 from 1 to 5:30p.m. at the Hilton San Diego Resort onMission Bay. The event is open to thepublic, with a registration fee of $99.For more information or to register toattend, call Scripps Conference Servicesat (858) 652-5400 or visitscripps.org/conferenceservices. “Whenit comes to vitamins, herbs and miner-als, consumers need reliable and timelyinformation,” said Mimi Guarneri,founder of Scripps Center for Integra-tive Medicine and one of the event’s pre-senters. “This program is a great placefor people to do their homework andget answers.”

Filner Signs Ordinance CreatingRegistry of Foreclosed Homes

Mayor Bob Filner has signed into lawan ordinance creating a registry of fore-closed homes. The Property Value Pro-tection Ordinance is designed toprompt owners of homes going throughforeclosure to keep up their propertiesso they don’t become blighted. Titleholders of such properties will have toprovide contact information to codeenforecement officers. They also willhave to pay a fee to cover the expense ofcreating and maintaining the registra-tion system and the cost of monitoring,inspecting and investigating the proper-

ties. Councilwoman Marti Emeraldcalled it a proactive measure that will letcode enforcement officers know who tocontact when a property falls into blight.Filner said the ordinance was a signifi-cant step in implementing his campaigntheme of putting neighborhoods first.

Bicyclist-Counting Group to Work inSan Diego County

Cycling advocates in San DiegoCounty looking for accurate counts ofbicyclists so they can encourage the cre-ation of bike lanes and paths will getthe assistance of Bikes Count, the largestregional bicycle-counting project in thecountry. It is sponsored by the county ofSan Diego Health and Human ServicesAgency, in partnership with San DiegoState University and the San DiegoAssociation of Governments(SANDAG). There are 28 bicycle-counter locations in 14 cities through-out the county mostly in urban settings,with more counters to be installed.“This project moves us closer to inte-grating cycling into mainstream plan-ning, and transforming San DiegoCounty into a cycling region,” said Sher-ry Ryan, professor at San Diego StateUniversity’s School of Public Affairs, andBikes Count project principal investi-gator.

City Selects Miami-Based DecoBikeAs Partner for Bike-Share Program

Miami-based DecoBike has beenselected as the operating partner for thecity of San Diego’s new bike share pro-gram. The company currently operatesthe first and only privately funded,large-scale program in the nation andgenerates the most revenues per bike ofany U.S. program. The company oper-ates programs in Florida and New Yorkand is in the process of expanding intoother jurisdictions. Its plan calls for adeployment of 1,800 bicycles and 180stations throughout the city. Once acontract has been finalized and submit-ted to the City Council for approval, thecompany and the city will ask the com-munity for help in determining loca-tions for station sites.

THE BEST ofNORTH PARKCOMING SOON!Look for our ballot online and in the February issue.


Gloria with Bud Fischer, philanthropist, at the Gary and Mary West Senior Wellness Center during the renaming of the computer lab to ‘Budand Esther’s Cyber Café.’

Q. What are your five major pri-orities for the City Council, nowthat you are president?

As council president, I want to contin-ue the positive, bipartisan efforts the CityCouncil has made under Tony Young’sleadership. I’d like to further strengthenthe City Council as a legislative body; usemy experience as the Budget and FinanceCommittee chair to guide the council inmaking fiscally responsible decisions;work productively with Mayor Filner andthe two new councilmembers to ensurea smooth transition and ensure the needsof all San Diegans are met. By creatingthe new Council Infrastructure Commit-tee, we will see additional focus on devel-oping comprehensive solutions to a city-wide challenge.

Q. Your first major proposal was

to fix San Diego’s infrastructure.Can you be specific on how thecity would finance such a propos-al. And, besides streets, whatother work should be tackled?

A. The funding options and work listmust be considered as part of the publicdialog on the issue. Streets, sidewalks,streetlights, storm drains and public facil-ities could all be considered for invest-ment. Depending on the list of prioritiescommunity members identify, the city’sgeneral fund, general obligation bonds,revenue bonds, infrastructure financingdistricts, real estate transfer taxes, or othersources could be considered as fundingmechanisms.

Q. Mayor Filner wants to“study” the practice of open bid-ding for city contracts. What isyour position on this policy?

There is much work that needs to bedone to improve our city’s purchasing and

contracting process, from technologyupgrades to increasing transparency byposting contracts online. Anything thatimproves the process should be considered.

I would be mindful of any practicethat undermines any of our city’s poli-cies, including Equal Opportunity Con-tracting, Living Wage, Equal BenefitsOrdinance, and Managed Competition.Any new policy should work to strength-en and further our efforts in these areas.At the end of the day, taxpayers are alsomindful of quality, not only cost.

Q. For the last several years,you have spoken about the seri-ous homeless problem in SanDiego, noting that federal hous-ing officials have said San Diegohas the third highest homelesspopulation in the country. Whatconcrete steps can the city taketo reduce the homeless prob-lem? What are the financial

ramifications?The city has taken solid steps which

have made demonstrable progressaddressing homelessness. This month,the city’s new year-round homelessservices center, Connections Housing,will open. Coupled with other innova-tions like the Check-In Center, I cannow see a day when we have endedhomelessness in Downtown, where itis so prevalent. Obviously, centralDowntown has been the focus of our

efforts thus far. As we determine whatinvestments yield results, we must repli-cate them in communities that are alsoimpacted, like the Mid-City and Uptownneighborhoods.

Q. Redistricting has given youDowntown as a new constituen-cy, yet Mayor Filner campaignedon bringing more power to neigh-borhoods instead of Downtownspecial interests. Won’t that putyou into a head-to-head conflictwith the mayor almost immedi-ately?

There is no conflict; Downtown is aneighborhood, and residents there havethe same concerns as people in othercommunities. They want to feel safe, afinancially stable city, they want smoothstreets and an efficient transportationsystem, and they want access to their gov-ernment.

Former Mayor Sanders left officeregrettng that he could not getapproval for building a new CityHall. What is your position onthe subject?

Currently the city is spending millionsto repair and retrofit the City Adminis-tration Building. These actions areexpected to only briefly extend its usefullife. On top of that, we pay millions moreto lease additional space elsewherebecause our building does not accom-modate all of our current operations.This is not a fiscally responsible or finan-cially sustainable situation. I would sup-port a new civic building if a financingplan can be developed that is a goodbusiness decision for the city and savesmoney that would be used to rebuild ourneighborhoods.

Before and after you were elect-ed council president, you havebeen showered with praise foryour sharp mind, “self-effacingpersonality,” and great commu-nication skills. Not many peoplehave openly criticized you. Withall that applause, how do youkeep from getting a swelledhead?

There’s a reason why I ask folks to callme Todd and not councilmember. Inever lose sight of the fact that the title is

GLORIACONTINUED FROM Page 1

He just doesn’t like potholes.

SEE GLORIA, Page 9


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Sign outside of Gloria’s City Hall office.

only temporary. The praise you men-tioned is gratifying but it is also tempo-rary. I rely on my family and friends tokeep me grounded. No matter whatsomeone writes, my big brother willalways be there to remind me that he’solder.

A UT-San Diego writer said it ispossible that you could be Coun-cil president for the next fouryear? Is that possible? Is itsomething you would entertain?

The City Council selects the councilpresident annually. I am beyond flatteredthat I am serving in the role now andwill proudly serve as long as my leader-ship is right for San Diego.

Considering all of San Diego’sfiscal, infrastructure and home-lessproblems — among others —do you still think it is fair to keepthe slogan “America’s FinestCity”?

San Diego is indeed America’s FinestCity because of the amazingly dedicated,

kind, and generous people who call thishome.

What’s next for you after youare termed out of the City Coun-cil? A run for the Assembly,state Senate, Mayor of SanDiego?

I’m less than one month in to my sec-ond term serving the Third Council Dis-trict, and I’m happy to focus on that andmy council president responsibilities.

And on a personal level, what isyour New Year’s resolution — ifyou have one?

I would like to be more reflective. Weall get so busy living our lives that weforget to recognize and appreciate someof the little moments which should meanthe most. I’d like to spend some of mytime working on that in 2013.

GLORIACONTINUED FROM Page 8


‘Changing the way law firms dobusiness is all about looking at therole of a law firm through the eyes ofthe client,’ says William Simon, co-founder of San Diego Law Firm.

The San Diego Law Firm in NorthPark prides itself in being the first, ifnot the only, law practice in San Diegothat has gone paperless — storing all ofits documents electronically.

But the law firm also has another dis-tinction. It was awarded a 2012 TorchAward for Marketplace Ethics by theSan Diego Better Business Bureau,which recognizes a business’ commit-ment to ethical business practices. That’sboth in operations and in terms of beingethical, reliable and responsive to toemployees, vendors and customers, saidSheryl Bilbrey, president and chief exec-utive officer of the BBB.

“Changing the way law firms do busi-ness” is the slogan of the law firm, whichwas founded in August 1988 by attor-neys William Simon Jr. and TomParashos.

“Changing the way law firms do busi-ness is all about looking at the role of alaw firm through the eyes of the client,determining what the client wants, andthen building the firm to meet theclient’s demands,” said Simon. “This is arepetitive process and obviously a lawfirm cannot be built overnight. But ifyou consistently work at it you can

make gradual changes until one day youdon’t look anything like the law firmyou used to know. Instead, you lookvery much like the law firm your clientswant to see.”

San Diego Law Firm has establishedwhat it calls a “Personal Legal Repre-sentative” approach to its business,which means giving each client one rep-resentative — always one of its seasonedsenior partners — to manage and coor-dinate all of their legal affairs.

“A client’s Personal Legal Representa-tive will remain their primary contactand be intimately involved in makingsure they receive the legal counsel theyneed,” the founders said.

The firm looks at how other law firmsconduct business and then developsways to do it better. “Opportunities aresought for early resolution that willminimize costs and unnecessary delay,”according to the parners. “San DiegoLaw Firm is highly experienced in awide variety of litigation areas, includ-ing many difficult and complicatedissues. The staff is required to respondto clients within 24 hours, which hasincreased client satisfaction.”

The firm’s commitment to its clients

also extends to its employees. Employ-ees are offered a variety of extra benefitsafter working at the firm for more thanthree years and, after a probationaryperiod, they generally work under amulti-year employment contract. At thebeginning of 2012, the firm introduceda fixed-fee billing arrangement. Clientsare offered a fixed fee for every legalmatter, including lawsuits.

The firm was awarded a Director’sRecycling Award from the city of SanDiego’s Environmental Services Depart-ment for its waste reduction programsthat significantly contribute to divertingwaste from area landfills.

Since all documents are stored elec-tronically, it eliminates the need for filecabinets. Attorneys telecommute andhave clean, uncluttered work stations.The firm employs about five indepen-dent contractors who only have to trav-el to the University Avenue office anaverage of once every couple of months.

San Diego Law FirmReceives Torch AwardBetter Business Bureau honor cites the NorthPark law firm for high ethical business practices

William Simon, co-founder of San Diego Law Firm in North Park, is shown inone of the office’s work stations.


‘Cosmic Collisions’ Universal Force of Nature

Fleet Science Center show brings stunning images of spaceFrom subatomic particles to the

largest galaxies, cosmic collisions are auniversal force of nature, visualizationsthat will be presented beginning on Jan.19 at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Cen-ter’s Eugene Heikoff and Marilyn JacobsHeikoff Dome Theater. Narrated byactor, director and producer RobertRedford, the digital “Cosmic Collisions”show brings to audiences stunningimages from space and visualizationbased on scientific data that explain theexplosive encounters that shaped thesolar system, changed the course of life

on Earth and continue to transform thegalaxy and dynamic universe.

Collisions have resulted in manythings we take for granted — the lumi-nescent Moon, the Sun’s warmth andlight, our changing seasons and waveswashing up on a sandy shore. They’veended the age of dinosaurs and changedthe very map of the cosmos, reforminggalaxies and giving birth to new stars andnew worlds. “Cosmic Collisions” pro-vides an extraordinary view of theseevents—both catastrophic and construc-tive — that have shaped our world and

our universe.The show features scientific simula-

tions and visualizations based on cut-ting-edge research developed by Ameri-can Museum of Natural Historyastrophysicists, scientists at the NationalAeronautics and Space Administrationand other international colleaguesexploring the full range of space colli-sions, past, present and future.

Viewers will witness the violent face ofthe Sun, imaged by NASA satellites, thatproduces enormous ejections of materi-al from our star toward our planet. The

resulting subatomic clashes, as streamsof charged particles from the Sun strikethe Earth’s magnetic field, produce theeerie glow of the aurora borealis and theaurora australis. “Cosmic Collisions” alsoshows the creation of our Moon somefive billion years ago when a wanderingplanetoid struck Earth; the violent meet-ing of two stars at the edge of the galaxy;and the future collision of our Milky Waygalaxy with our closest neighbor, theAndromeda spiral galaxy, a cosmic crashthat will produce a new giant ellipticalgalaxy billions of years from now.

Audiences will be shown the meteoriteimpact that hastened the end of the age ofdinosaurs 65 million years ago andcleared the way for the human race.Another sequence highlights a frighteningfuture scenario where humanity desper-ately attempts to divert the path of anoncoming “doomsday” asteroid headedon a collision course with Earth.

The show focuses on the full range ofcollisions, from catastrophic planetaryimpacts and the merging of massivegalaxies to the continual explosions

Streams of charged particles from the fiery surface of the Sun race towardEarth at over a million miles an hour in this image taken by NASA satellites.

The surface of the sun. A dramatic re-creation of the meteorite impact that hastened the end of theAge of Dinosaurs 65 million years ago is a highlight of Cosmic Collisions.

A possible ‘doomsday’ asteroid heads for a collision with Earth. Pieces raining down on earth from collision believed to have caused thecreation of the moon.

Space debris passing through the earth’s magnetic field.

SEE COSMIC, Page 12


Maya: Heart of Sky, Heart of Earth

Our Milky Way galaxy and its closest neighbor, the Andromeda spiral galaxy, swirlheadlong into each other in an intergalactic collision predicted to occur billions ofyears in the future.

The ancient Maya left behind evidence ofa sophisticated and complex culture.Using cycles of the moon, sun, and plan-ets, they were able to develop accuratecalendar systems. More than a thousandyears ago, they used unique hieroglyph-ic writing to carve important dates,names of their rulers, and ceremonialevents on stone monuments in south-ern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Hon-duras, and El Salvador.The huge Maya monuments, or stelae,displayed in the Rotunda Gallery of theMuseum of Man, are casts of the originalmonuments in Quirigua, a site inGuatemala. The casts were made for the

1915 Panama-California Exposition andhave been on display since then, exceptduring World War II, when the Navyturned the museum into a hospital.Today these casts are studied byresearchers tracing the history of theMaya through their hieroglyphic writ-ing. The casts are in better condition thanthe original monuments, which have suf-fered some weathering and erosion sincethe casts were made.The current exhibition, which runsthrough July 2015, includes archaeolog-ical discoveries highlighting the creativi-ty and beliefs of the ancient Maya: masks,bowls, figurines, etc. Also on display is a

42-foot-wide mural of a rainforest set inthe time after the Maya Classic Period(250–900 CE), after which the great cer-emonial centers became overgrown bythe jungle. In the center of the mural isthe lofty ceiba tree, the sacred model forthe Maya cosmos. Brilliant birds and ani-mals such as quetzals and jaguars, arerepresented, as well as elements frommany Maya sites.A frequent misconception is that theMaya no longer exist. Not so—morethan 7 million descendants continue tocarry on many of the traditions and cul-tural traits of their ancestors throughweaving, woodcarving and ceramics.

occurring in the center of the Sun andthe incessant barrage of small ionizedparticles in the solar wind ricochetingoff Earth’s magnetic field, creatingother-worldly conditions called “spaceweather.”

“Cosmic Collisions” was developedby the American Museum of NaturalHistory, New York, in collaborationwith the Denver Museum of Nature &Science; GOTO Inc., Tokyo, Japan;and the Shanghai Science and Tech-nology Museum, China. It was creat-ed by the American Museum of Nat-ural History with the major supportand partnership of the HeliophysicsDivision of NASA’s Science MissionDirectorate and was made possiblewith the support of CIT.

Stephanie Abrams, award-win-ning writer and director of docu-mentaries for PBS and USA Net-works, and Emmy Award-winnerLouise A. Gikow, are the show’swriters, with music by Brazilianpianist and composer Marcelo Zar-vos and award-winning composerRobert Miller.

“Cosmic Collisions” opens Jan. 19and will run in an open-endedengagement. Admission: Adults$15.75; Children $12.75; Seniors$12.75. The Fleet’s normal hours areMonday-Thursday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.,Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.-7 p.m.and Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.. For infor-mation on tickets and show times, call(619) 238-1233.

COSMICCONTINUED FROM Page 11


“The Arts and Crafts Movement inMission Hills,” is the theme for the annu-al lecture series hosted by Mission HillsHeritage (MMH), Saturday, January 19from 1-4 p.m. at the Francis ParkerLower School.

Guest speaker is noted New Yorkarchitectural historian Leslie Frueden-heim, whose talk will focus on “The WestCoast as a Center for Arts & Crafts inthe U.S.A.”

Hosted by MMH, the programincludes three additional lectures.

Ron May, archaeological preservationand consultant, will explore “The Arts

and Crafts Homes of Mission Hills,” andTom Roetker, program events chair, willdiscuss “Emmor Brooke Weaver, a SanDiego Architect,” who designed manyof the homes in the community.

Molly McClain, author of an upcom-ing book on the Scripps sisters and theirinfluence in San Diego and the Women’scolony in La Jolla at the turn of the lastcentury.

Home restoration experts at table topdisplays will demonstrate techniques forrehabilitation of original window frames,light fixtures, fireplaces and woodwork inolder homes. The craftsmen will be

available to discuss problems and solu-tions throughout the event.

MMH is a nonprofit organizationdevoted to preserving the character,charm and historical resources of theMission Hills community.

Ticket sales are $10 for individuals and$15 for two and begin at 12:30 p.m. onthe day of the event at Francis ParkerLower School, 420l Randolph Street inMission Hills.

Refreshments courtesy of ChismBrothers Painting. For more informationvisit www.MissionHills Heritage.org orphone (619) 497-1193.

FOCUS ON THE ARTS & CRAFTS MOVEMENTMission Hills Heritage hosts Jan. 19 lecture series

The 1933 Craftsman home is at 3629 28th St. Wood shingle bungalow built by master builder Nathan Rigdon.Mission Hills.

This century-old Craftsman home is one of many that were built in San Diego neigh-borhoods during the early 1900s. Hosted by Mission HIlls Heritage, an annual lecturesseries will present ‘The Arts and Crafts Movement in Mission HIlls,’ Jan. 19 at the Fran-cis Parker Lower School.

Eyebrow bungalow built by master builderMartin Melhorn

A 1911 Craftsman with a detached art stu-dio/guest house in South Park.

The prominent flared columns with stonebases, combined with the sloped extendedeaves, punctuate the Craftsman character ofthis San Diego house.


Coronado Museum Of History And Art“Hotel del Coronado Tour”: The Coronado Museum of Histo-ry and Art offers a one-hour, docent-led tour of the Hotel delCoroado and its history. It is the only tour to go inside thehotel. Make reservations through the Coronado Visitors Cen-ter by calling (619) 437-8788. The fee is $15. Tours run Tuesdaysat 10:30 a.m. and Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m.

“Promenade Through the Past”: Departs from the lobby of theMuseum of History and Art, 1100 Orange Ave, Wednesdays at2 p.m. Learn about some of Coronado’s famous buildings andarchitectural sites, including Tent City resort. Tour fee includes“Promenade through the Past – A Walking Tour Guidebook ofCoronado” and covers admission into the Museum of Historyand Art. $10. (619) 437-8788. Reservations Required.

Hebbard and Gill, with Gill as the lead designer, to design a large,boxy red brick house that broke with the English Arts andCrafts cottage style in favor of the more modern streamlinedstyle of its neighbor, the Marston house. Mead and Requadesigned a stripped-down, geometric home inspired by Puebloarchitecture for Lorenze and Miriam Barney in 1913. It standsnext to the house Lorenze’s parents had commissioned twoyears earlier from Pacific Building Company, a San Diego designand construction firm staffed by Gill’s former draftsmen

Gamble HouseOngoing, PasadenaThe David B. Gamble House, constructed in 1908, is an inter-nationally recognized masterpiece of the turn-of-the-centuryArts & Crafts movement in America. It is the most complete andoriginal example of the work of architects Charles and HenryGreene and a National Historic Landmark. One-hour guidedtours Thursday-Sunday noon to 3 p.m. Closed national holi-days. General admission: $8; Students/65+: $5; Children under12 with an adult, free. Group tours available by reservation. Forinformation call (626) 793-3334.

MUSEUM OF ARTONGOING, LONG BEACHThe museum home includes a splendid, imposing example ofthe Craftsman bungalow. Built in 1912 as the summer home ofheiress Elizabeth Milbank Anderson, it has the natural materi-als and rugged texture of wood shingles and clinker brick. Theprominent gables and projecting rafter beams, like the rest of themain house and carriage house, retain their original integrity.The style is echoed by similar homes in the nearby Bluff ParkHistoric District. 2300 E. Ocean Blvd. (562) 439-2119.

Stanley Ranch MuseumOngoing, Garden GroveA California bungalow built in 1916 is one focal point of thistwo-acre property, home to some of Garden Grove’s oldesthomes and business buildings. Phone the Garden Grove Histor-ical Society at (714) 530-8871.

Lummis Home MuseumOngoing, Highland ParkThe arroyo-stone home built by Charles Fletcher Lummis,founder of the Southwest Museum, is a state historic monumentlisted on the National Register of Historic Places. 200 E. Ave. 43.Friday-Sunday, noon-4 p.m. Free; donations accepted. For infor-mation, call (323) 222-0546.

Lanterman House TourOngoing, La CanadaThe Craftsman-style house, built in 1914 by Arthur Haley, wasthe region’s first concrete residence. Located at 4420 Encinas Dr.,it is open Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the first and third Sun-days of the month, from 1-4 p.m. Adults, $3; students, $1; under12, free. For more information, call (818) 790-1421.

Homestead MuseumOngoing, City Of IndustryDocumenting a century of Southern California history, the six-acre museum features the Workman House, La Casa Nuevaand El Campo Santo cemetery; 15415 E. Don Julian Road.Tuesday through Friday, 1 to 4 p.m. (626) 968-8492.

L.A. Art Deco ToursOngoing, Los AngelesTours of downtown Los Angeles are led on Saturdays; $5 admission. For reservations,call (213) 623-CITY.

Judson Studios Ongoing, Los AngelesThe Judson Studios served as the turn-of-the-century core of the Arroyo Craftsmanmovement, located at 200 S. Ave. 66. For more information, call (800) 445-8376 orclick on judsonstudios.com.

Heritage Village TourOngoing, Claremont The first Saturday of each month. The 1 3/4 hour walk begins at 10 a.m. in front ofthe Historic Claremont Metrolink Depot, 200 W. First St. (Walk is canceled if it’s rain-ing at 8 a.m.) Call (909) 621-8871.

Riordan Mansion Park Ongoing, Flagstaff, Ariz.One of Arizona’s best examples of Craftsman architecture, the mansion was designedby Charles Whittlesey and built as a duplex. Original furnishings, including pieces byEllis, Stickley and Tiffany Studios, are found at the house museum. Guided, handi-capped-accessible tours are held daily. The house is located at 409 Riordan Road. Fur-ther details are available at (520) 779-4395.

Boettcher Mansion of Lookout Mountain Ongoing, Golden, Colo.Tour a 1917 Arts & Crafts mansion, a 10,000-square-foot summer home built byCharles Boettcher, famous Colorado entrepreneur. Dramatic cathedral ceilings withcarved beams, massive stone walk-in fireplace, some original hardware and lighting.See permanent exhibit of early mansion photos and original blueprints, including anink-on-linen drawing. Open all year, generally Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. to5 p.m.; Sunday varies. On 110 forested acres with views of the Continental Divide andthe Colorado plains. Twenty minutes from Denver. Free for touring. Call (303) 526-0855.

Moss Mansion Ongoing, Billings, Mont. Nearly unchanged since 1903, Moss Mansion, designed by Henry Janeway Harden-bergh, can be found on the National Register of Historical Places. Visitors will findoriginal furniture, Oriental carpets, handmade light fixtures, and a variety of designstyles inside the mansion. Contact (406) 256-5100.

Kell House Ongoing, Wichita Falls, TexasFrank Kell built one of the most architecturally significant buildings in Wichita Falls,the red-brick neoclassic Kell House in 1909. It features distinctive architecture, orig-inal family furnishings, textiles, decorative arts and early-20th-century costumes.Exhibitions change in April and September. Ask for directions to the Southland andFloral Heights bungalow neighborhoods when you visit. The Kell House is open Tues-day, Wednesday and Sunday from 2-4 p.m. Adults, $3; children 12 and under, $1. Forinformation, call (940) 723-2712.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS


Van Briggle Pottery Ongoing, Colorado SpringsNearly unchanged since 1903, Moss Mansion, designed by Henry Janeway Hardenbergh, can be found on the National Reg-ister of Historical Places. Visitors will find original furniture, Oriental carpets, handmade light fixtures, and a variety of designstyles inside the mansion. Contact (406)

Frank Lloyd Wright Home And StudioOngoing, Oak Park, Ill.These 45-minute guided tours of the restored Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio are offered year-round at 11 a.m., 1p.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 951 Chicago, Oak Park, IL 60302, (708)848-1976.

Unity Temple Ongoing, Oak Park, Ill.Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the temple is open weekdays, 1-4 p.m., with weekend guided tours. Call (708) 383-8873.More Craftsman gems are evident throughout Chicagoland neighborhoods

Johnson Wax Co. Building Ongoing, Racine, Wis. Reservations are required for tours, held Fridays only, of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed building. Call (262) 260-2000 forinformation.

Bryn Athyn Cathedral Ongoing, Bryn Athyn, Pa.Guided tours of the center of the Swedenborgian community. Specialty tours by request. The cathedral was built between1919-1927 using a purist idea of the Arts & Crafts Artisan Guild System. Some of the original guild shops are still in use andcontinue to house craftsmen. This building and its environment are unique among Arts & Crafts communities in that thereligious beliefs of the Swedenborgian community were blended with the Arts & Crafts ideology. Tours for individuals arefree. Tours for large groups $2 per person. Contact the cathedral between the hours of 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at (215) 947-0266.

Gustav Stickley ExhibitOngoing, Syracuse, N.Y.A small ongoing exhibit of Gustav Stickley and the Arts & Crafts era. Showing period examples of his work along with hispeers. At the Everson Museum, corner of Harrison and State streets. Call (315) 447-6064.

Guggenheim MuseumOngoing, New York Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the museum is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Fri-day and Saturday. Call (212) 423-3500 for more.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS


New Directions and Ongoing ProgressI am incredibly proud that my col-

leagues unanimously selected me toserve as the City Council president. Iam excited about the new position andresponsibilities, and know it will onlyhelp me better serve the people of Dis-trict 3.

It is my goal to further strengthen theCity Council as a legislative body; usemy experience as the Budget andFinance Committee chair to guide thecouncil in making fiscally responsibledecisions; and work productively withMayor Filner and the two new councilmembers to ensure a smooth transitionand ensure the needs of all San Diegansare met. So far, we are on the right path.

Headway is also going to be made ona critical issue: rebuilding our neigh-borhoods. Coordinating the ongoingefforts of community members, grass-roots organizations, members of thebusiness community, and the city’s workto streamline our process and projects,will be the work of the new standingCity Council Infrastructure Commit-tee, which I created.

We’ve successfully trimmed the fatand found efficiencies in our contract-ing and public works processes, whichare all reflected in our much improvedfinances and our smoother streets. Thefact remains that our existing resourcesare not sufficient to make every street a

sexy street. It is time put forward a plan for the

voters’ consideration that would dra-matically increase our investment inrepairing roads, sidewalks, streetlights,libraries and recreation centers. Mod-eled after successful efforts in other citieslike Phoenix and San Antonio, and sim-ilar to local initiatives like TransNet andProposition MM, I believe we can earnthe public’s support, create jobs, andend decades of neighborhood neglect.Now is the time to invest in the future ofour city.

In the coming year, I also look for-ward to greater progress addressinghomelessness in all of our neighbor-

hoods; moving forward with inventiveplans for Balboa Park’s Centennial,EDGE2015; and advancing our transitnetwork and active transportationoptions. My neighbors in North Parkhave been great partners in the last fouryears, and I depend on your continuedinput and participation to achieve morein 2013.

Councilman Todd Gloria can bereached at [email protected];(619) 236-6633; 202 C Street, MS 10A,San Diego, CA 92101; and on Facebookand Twitter. Visit his website atwww.sandiego.gov/cd3.

BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT TODD GLORIA

Next time you to decide to run out to thedesert, you know the real one which runs fromPalm Springs to La Quinta, book yourself intothe Miramonte Resort & Spa in Indian Wells.

If you close your eyes and let your imagina-tion roam, you could just as easily believe thatyou’ve tucked yourself into some romantichideaway in faraway Italy.

The Miramonte defines luxury, whetheryou’re just there to camp out in one of its beau-tifully appointed rooms or to spoil yourself inThe Well spa whose readers to Conde NastTraveler have voted it the No. 1 spa in NorthAmerica.

It gets our votes as well. How can you missthis.

Activities are endless, starting with golf atits two 18-hole championship courses, located

adjacent to the resort grounds at the IndianWells Golf Resort, home to the LG Skins game.

You’ll be swept away by romantic architec-ture, Italian fountains, fine crafted stonework,tranquil piazzas and impeccable service.

There are 215 rooms, suites and villas woveninto 11 expansive acres of olive trees, fragrantcitrus groves, roses and flower gardens. Thereare two pools, one that has been created foradult guests only.

The spa is designed as a Tuscan Villa, with 13treatment rooms, an impressive co-ed court-yard, four outdoor cabanas complete with openair showers, a Watsu pool and its signatureriver bench pool.

Unique services at the spa include Aqua Well,bagno vino (wine baths) and Vichy showersprovided on tables built from 100-year-old

Acacia cedar. M Distinctive river benches inthe saltwater pool allows you to relax in a shal-low stream of water while lounging on a chaisesculpted from stone.

The spa features Comfort Zone productsfrom a leading Italian-based skin company.Featured as well is Skinceuticals, an extensiveline of pharmaceutical grade skin care prod-ucts. The luxury brand Moroccanoil hair prod-ucts are utilized. Moroccanoil takes care ofunmanageable hair and restores shine and soft-ness to dull lifeless hair.

There is no need to venture beyond theresort’s signature restaurant, the Grove ArtisanKitchen for fine dining. It is known for its “farmto table” fresh, seasonal California cuisine . Themenu features organic produce, fresh herbs,local ranch raised meats and poultry, fresh

Pacific seafood, house-made pastas and inno-vative vegetarian dishes. For more informaland lighter fare, the resort offers the Vineyardlounge featuring an impressive wine selectionand an innovative cocktail and martini list.

The hotel’s concierges are extremely atten-tive, armed with incredible skills and ideas forfun and stuff outside of the resort for thoseinterested in venturing out.

There is hot air ballooning, desert Jeep toursand the very classy and sophisticated El Paseostreet shopping district in nearby Palm Desert.

If you’re venturing our to eat, dine wherethe locals go at The Nest, which is a hop skipand a jump away, or Castelli’s in Palm Desert.The Nest has improved its attractiveness witha recent major renovation, but the lively barscene remains unchanged.

D E S E R T PA R A D I S E Miramonte Resort & Spa defines luxury

BY BOB PAGE

The pool and surrounding suites and villas give the impression of aromantic hideaway in faraway Italy.

physical trainer, and a managementposition with 24-Hour Fitness, wherehe worked for 11 years.

Flexibility with your workout — norequired contracts and an intimate set-ting — are just a few of the qualitiesthat set Boulevard Fitness apart fromother gyms, said Najera. “We get toknow you and develop a relationshipwith you, as opposed to just the hustleand bustle of the corporate gym, whereyou have the in and out.”

Both businesses are offering NewYear’s savings to help potential mem-bers kick off resolutions. Boulevard Fit-ness’ “Jump Start New Year’s Resolu-tion” January special offers threepersonal trainer sessions for just $99 or$50 off a prepaid membership. GinsengYoga’s New Year’s Resolution New Stu-

dent Special offers 10 consecutive daysof unlimited yoga for $20 (you must bea San Diego resident and new to thestudio). The Bennetts have also openedup a new fitness studio adjacent to Gin-seng Yoga called GFit San Diego, whichoffers group-style physical trainingclasses.

For more information on BoulevardFitness, located at 2110 El Cajon Blvd.,call (619) 296-7878 or visit www.blvd-fit.com. For more information on Gin-seng Yoga, located at 2985 Beech St., call(619) 338-YOGA (9642) or visitwww.ginsengsandiego.com. More infor-mation on GFit San Diego, located at1504 30th St.: call 338-8030 or visitwww.gfitsandiego.com.


Amber PeOa, an employee of Boulevard Fitness, with manager Anthony Najera.Ginseng Yoga owners Cindy and Brad Bennett were happy to find the studio’s location inthe South Park community they live in.

Community Board MeetingsGreater Golden Hill Community Devel-opment Corp. The CDC normallymeets at 6:30 p.m. the third Thursday ofthe month at the SDYS Golden HillCenter, 2220 Broadway. For informa-tion, call (619) 696-9992.

Greater Golden Hill Planning Commit-tee meets at 6:30 p.m. the secondWednesday of the month at the BalboaGolf Course clubhouse, 2600 GolfCourse Drive. For information, call(619) 533-5284.

The North Park Redevelopment Pro-ject Area Committee meets at 6 p.m.the second Tuesday of the month at theLafayette Hotel, 2223 El Cajon Blvd.Meetings focus on redevelopment pro-jects in construction or planning. Forinformation, visit sandiego.gov/redevel-opment-agency.

The North Park Main Street boardmeets at 7 a.m. the second Wednesdayof the month at its storefront office,

3076 University Ave. North Park MainStreet has more than 250 members, pri-marily businesses paying annual assess-ments in the city-authorized North ParkBID. For information, call 294-2501.

The North Park Maintenance Assess-ment District Committee normallymeets at 6 p.m. the second Monday ofevery other month at North Park Com-munity Adult Center, 2719 Howard Ave.

The North Park Planning Committeemeets at 6:30 p.m. the third Tuesday ofthe month at North Park Christian Fel-lowship, 2901 North Park Way. Thecommittee is an advisory group to thecity on North Park land use, includingthe general plan, infrastructure and den-sity. For information, visit northpark-planning.org.

The North Park Community Associa-tion meets from 6 to 8 p.m. the fourthWednesday of each month at theLafayette Hotel, 2223 El Cajon Blvd. The

Community Association provides aforum for issues and concerns aboutpublic safety, education, land use, pub-lic facilities and services, commercialrevitalization, community image andcultural activities. For more informa-tion, visit www.northparksd.org.

The North Park Historical Societymeets from 6:30 to 8 p.m. the thirdThursday of each month. The HistoricalSociety conducts research and educa-tional outreach in order to facilitatepreservation of North Park's culturaland architectural history. For moreinformation, visit www.northparkhis-tory.org.

The South Park Business Groupmeets on the last Wednesday of eachmonth at 8:30 a.m. at Alchemy Restau-rant, 30th & Beech. The SPBG is com-prised of business owners with store-fronts and service businesses located inSouth Park. The organization producesthe quarterly South Park Walkabouts

and the annual Old House Fair. Formore information, call (619) 233-6679or email [email protected].

The University Heights CommunityAssociation meets at 7 p.m. the firstThursday of the month in the auditori-um of Birney Elementary School, 4345Campus Ave. For information, call 297-3166.

The Adams Avenue Business Associ-ation board of directors normallymeets at 7:30 a.m. the first Tuesday ofthe month at the Normal Heights Com-munity Center, 4649 Hawley Blvd. Fortime, place and more information, call(619) 282-7329 or visit adamsaveon-line.com.

The Kensington/Talmadge PlanningGroup meets at 6:30 p.m. the secondWednesday of the month at Kensing-ton Community Church, 4773 Marl-borough Drive. For information, call287-3157.

The Lions Club of North Park meets forlunch every Wednesday from noon to1:30 p.m. at the club, 3927 Utah St.Prospective members are welcome toenjoy their first lunch on the club. Forinformation, call (619) 692-0540.Uptown Rotary welcomes prospectivemembers at its 7 a.m. Thursday break-fasts at Jimmy Carter’s Mexican Café,3172 Fifth Ave. For more, call (619) 500-3229 or visit sdurotary.org.

The North Park Recreation Councilmeets at 6 p.m. the fourth Monday ofevery other month at North Park Recre-ation Center, 4044 Idaho St. For infor-mation, call 235-1152.

FITNESSCONTINUED FROM Page 5

Cindy Bennett, owner of Ginseng Yoga.

Although the Birch North Park Theatre hasbeen renovated from its 1928 beginnings, ithas a vintage feel that seems the perfect venuefor a stage play about the last day of AbrahamLincoln.

Canadian-born Hershey Felder — actor,playwright, composer, pianist and producer, isin the central role of Dr. Charles AugustusLeale, the 23-year-old Union Army medicwho was the first individual to reach the pres-idential box at Ford’s Theatre on the nightPresident Lincoln was shot. Mrs. Lincolnplaced Leale in charge to see the presidentthrough his last hours.

The production, “An American Story forActor and Orchestra,” opened Jan. 4 and willcontinue through Feb. 3 at the North ParkTheatre.

The production, set in New York City in1932, has the 90-year-old Leale tell his story as

he travels back in time and recounts the eventsthat, 67 years before, forever changed his life.

“An American Story” is based both onLeale’s account, “Lincoln’s Last Hours,” as wellas his original report of 1865, which was onlyrecently discovered in a box at the NationalArchives in Washington, D.C.

According to those reports, Leale was seat-ed in Ford’s Theatre when Lincoln and hiswife arrived. The stage play was interruptedwhen John Wilkes Booth jumped down fromthe presidential box to the stage. Leale, seeingthis, immediately rushed to the president’sbox. When he arrived, he found Lincolnslumped in his armchair supported by Mrs.Lincoln, who was weeping frantically. Lealereceived permission to take charge.

Leale discovered Lincoln comatose, para-lyzed and struggling to breathe. He laid thepresident down on the floor and initially

thinking that Lincoln had been stabbed in theshoulder, searched for wounds. Finding none,he later determined that the president hadbeen shot.

“An American Story” features an originalbook as well as score by Felder and is per-formed with live orchestra, with songs byAmerican composer Stephen Foster — “Beat-iful Dreamer,” “My Old Kentucky Home,” “OhSusanna.”

Felder’s past San Diego productions — atthe Old Globe Theatre — have been “GeorgeGershwin Alone,” “Monsieur Chopin,”“Beethoven as I Knew Him,” “Maestro:Leonard Bernstein” and “The Great AmericanSongbook Sing-Along.”

Felder is well acquainted with the historicFord’s Theatre, the site of the assassination,through his extended appearances there in“George Gershwin Alone” in 2003 and 2004.


Hershey Felder brings “An American Story” to the North Park Theatre

Abraham Lincoln’s Last Day

Hershey Felder as Dr. Charles Augustus Leale, the 23-year-old unknown UnionArmy medic.

Hershey Felder as Leonard Bernstein in ‘Maestro: Leonard Bernstein.’ (Cour-tesy ArtsEmerson)

Production Credits:Scenic Design: David Buess, Trevor HayScenic Construction: Matt MarsdenLighting Design: Chris RynneProjection Design: Greg Sowizdrzal, Andrew WilderSound Design: Erik CarstensenCostume Design: Abigail CaywoodProduction Management: Matt Marsden, Erik CarstensenGeneral Management: Samantha VoxakisStage Management: Don AdamsOriginal Direction: Joel ZwickAssociate Direction: Trevor HayDramaturgy: Cynthia Caywood

Tickets:All tickets are $58, on sale at the Birch North Park Theatre Box Office (619) 239-8836) or online atwww.birchnorthparktheatre.net.

Performance Schedule:Tuesdays through Fridays, 8 p.m.Saturdays, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.Sundays, 3 p.m.

Scene from ‘An American Story forActor and Orchestra.’


Rendering of the USO building.

By Bart Mendoza

Jessica Hull’s Tunes Carry the DaySinger-songwriter fans will want to check out Jessica Hull, who hosts a special birthday show at Lestat’son Jan. 16 at 9 p.m. Hull has put together a terrific bill that includes 22 Kings as well as the duo of Sea-holm and Macintosh, but it’s her tunes that will carry the day. Live, she’s a particularly strong per-former with a great, take-no-prisoners stage persona and a wonderful voice — it all adds up to a greatlistening experience. The evening will highlight songs from her recently released album, “SecondWind,” but Hull has lots of excellent material and a winning way with the occasional cover tunes thatpepper her sets.

Jessica Hull: Wednesday, Jan. 16 Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Ave. 9 p.m. All ages. Cover TBD. www.Lestats.com.

Surf, Punk and Rock with Spider HeartSan Francisco rock ‘n’ roll group Spider Heart performs at Eleven on Jan. 14, 9 p.m. The quartet, led by

guitarist and vocalist May Black, excels at atmospheric, dense and moody tunes, intense but withenough melody to keep things from leaning too far over into the metal genre. Spider Heart includeselements of surf, punk and rock in their music, but it’s a unique template they are following, where

feedback can provide sonic hooks and band energy can carry the day. If you’re looking for somethingnew to satisfy the need for loud, in -your-face rock tunes, look no further.

Spider Heart: Monday, Jan. 14 Eleven, 3519 El Cajon Blvd. 9 p.m.

21 and up. $4. www.elevensandiego.com.

Virtuoso With the UkuleleAgainst all odds, the ukulele continues to grow in popularity. Untilrecent years, the instrument was considered a toy, but today, virtu-osos can play just about anything, from metal to classical on thewooden wonder. Anyone wanting to hear and learn from one of thebest players on the club circuit today will want to check out Jumpin’Jim Beloff, appearing at New Expression Music on Jan. 30 at 7 p.m.A renowned teacher and composer, Beloff has also produced suchgenre classics as the “Legends of Ukulele” albums from RhinoRecords. A relatively easy instrument to play, in Beloff ’s hands evenwith only four strings, it’s got unlimited potential.

Jim Beloff: Wednesday Jan. 30 New Expression Music, 4434 30th St. 7 p.m. All ages. $35. www.sdoldtimemusic.com

Powerpop With Ken StringfellowWhat do such legendary combos as The Posies, Big Star andR.E.M. have in common? Easy. They all include multi-instru-mentalist Ken Stringfellow among their membership. One ofthe top musicians to emerge from the 1980s music scene,Stringfellow is currently touring in support of his latest soloalbum, “Danzing in the Moonlight,” with a stop at the SodaBar on Jan. 27 at 8:30 p.m. Look for Stringfellow to includea few choice covers among the originals, but no matter whathe plays, you can count on it being melodic, energetic andbeautifully arranged, all key elements to excellent power-pop. Opening the show will be Adam Gimbel’s band Rook-ie Card, making a rare appearance and giving music fans twosolid reasons not to miss this concert.

Ken Stringfellow: Sunday, Jan. 27 The Soda Bar, 3615 El Cajon Blvd. 8:30 p.m. 21 and up. $12. www.sodabarmusic.com.

’60s Tunesmith a Crowd PleaserPF Sloan may not be a household name, but his music certain-ly is. One of the most successful tunesmiths of the 1960s,Sloan is responsible for penning a slew of era-defining hits forothers, including such classics as “Eve of Destruction” (forBarry McGuire), “Can I Get To Know You Better” (The Tur-tles) and “Secret Agent Man” (Johnny Rivers). Appearing onJan. 17, 7:30 p.m. at AMSD Concerts, Sloan hasn’t released anew album since 2006, but with an arsenal of Top 40 hits inhis repertoire, this is one show that will have no shortage ofcrowd pleasers in the set.

PF Sloan: Saturday, Jan. 12 AMSD Concerts, 4650 Mansfield St. 7: 30 p.m. All ages. $20-$47. www.amsdconcerts.com.

san diego north park news, january 2013

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basics of yoga rest

teencenter area

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