Mission Valley News - February 2013

February 8, 2013 On the Internet at www.MissionValleyNews.com Volume VII – Number 2

See RiveR page 5

By Genevieve A. Suzuki

A nyone who’s lived in San Diego during the rainy season knows when it rains the San Diego River floods. And when it

floods, it floods.It’s a circumstance businesses situated along

the San Diego River know all too well. The river’s overflow affects most everyone, from big guys, such as Fashion Valley Mall, to smaller locally owned businesses, such as Mission Valley Pipe & Supply.

“It’s a really great location, but, man, when it floods, it’s just horrific,” said Randall Densley, a manager at Mission Valley Pipe & Supply, which has lost products to flooding and had to spend thousands of dollars over the years on manpower to clean up the aftermath.

“It’s ridiculous, but we’ve learned how to adapt,” said Densley.

Densley, who has worked for Mission Valley

Plaza de Panama Screeches to HaltBy Dave Schwab

T he Plaza de Panama project proposing to remove cars from

the heart of Balboa Park via a new Centennial Bridge and Road leading to an underground parking structure just hit a roadblock, one that imperils plans for the 2015 Centennial Celebration.

In a Feb. 4 San Diego Superior Court ruling on a challenge by SOHO (Save Our Heritage Organization) to the project’s eir (environmental impact report) and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to build the project, Judge Timothy Taylor found

the eir sufficient, but determined the project violates the city’s municipal code.

“The court perceives no CEQA violation here, and finds that the EIR was more than sufficient as an informational document. … But the court reaches the reluctant conclusion that the city violated section 126.0504(i)(3) of the Municipal Code, because there is no substantial evidence in the record as a whole supporting the determination that there is no reasonable beneficial use for the project area absent approval of the project. The City abused its discretion in making the finding of ‘no reasonable beneficial use of a property,’ and SOHO is entitled to a writ of mandamus directing the city to set aside this determination and set aside its approval of the (project’s) site development permit.”

“Not lost on the court is the very real possibility that this decision will cause abandonment of efforts to raise

By Dave Schwab

A fter first turning thumbs down to the proposed San Diego River Park Master Plan (SDRPMP),

questioning its impacts on present and future development, Mission Valley Planning Group (MVPG) retracted its position, opting instead to reconsider the issue at its February meeting to allow time for more input from the public.

The flip-flop vote came at the city advisory group’s Jan. 9 meeting following a slideshow presentation by a consultant on the river master plan.

A decade in the making, the Draft 2012 SDRPMP is a planning policy document that encompasses the length of the San Diego River from the Pacific Ocean through Mission Trails Regional Park ending at Santee. The policy document provides guidance for land-use decisions along the San Diego River for

property owners, elected officials and citizens engaged in the development of the river valley through establishment of a vision, principles,

See Plan page 5See Plaza page 13

Karen Irizarry asks, “White or red?”

Page 7

Fleet Science Center features

cosmic collisions.

5

“When It Rains...”

Planning Group Requires PublicInput on River Park Master Plan

Origen at Civita gets

the gold.Page 3

Photo by Miguel Rico

Photo by Miguel Rico

MissionValleyNews.com — February 8, 2013

Earlier this month Mayor Bob Filner began making good on his campaign promise to hold counsel with the citizens of San Diego at monthly Saturday meet-and-greets. Filner took up shop Feb. 2 in the lobby of City Hall to answer questions and listen to ideas, suggestions, problems and concerns from anyone who stopped by.

The line to talk to the mayor started forming

around 7 a.m. He spoke with more than 50 groups of people, totaling about 100 visitors, from 9:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. The mayor’s staff members greeted constituents as they arrived and sat in on the meetings, taking notes to follow up on the mayor’s discussions.

“It is very important to me to be available to the people I work for, to give them a voice about what is important to them. I’m

talking about real people with real issues and I want to help in any way I can. Connecting with San Diegans grounds me and gives me focus and purpose toward doing the right thing. Working together we can continue to make our city great,” said Filner.

This is the first Saturday session as promised by the mayor during his campaign. Filner will be available at City Hall on the first Saturday of every month from 9:30 a.m. to noon. ♦

Saturday with the Mayor

By Gina Cord, founder of Mission Valley News

Valley ViewsGINA’S

The excitement and glamour of Hollywood are coming to San Diego on Oscar night. Residents of San Diego can experience the thrills and surprises of the 85th Academy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 24, at San Diego’s premier Oscar Experience. Benefiting Community Campership Council Inc., the viewing party will be held in Celebration Hall at Market Creek Events & Venues, beginning at 5 p.m. More information about the event and the Community Campership Council can be found at www.kidstocamp.org. Tickets are now on sale.

The San Diego event is one of 46 parties

officially sanctioned

by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and

Sciences that will be held across the country on Oscar night. This is the

20th year that the Academy and ABC

have

cooperated with local charities to support official Oscar night viewing parties throughout the country and the third year that the Community Campership Council event has been designated as the only official Oscar Experience in San Diego. Oscar night parties last year raised more than $3.15 million in 49 cities and locally proceeds funded a camp experience for 107 San Diego children.

This year marks the 24th year the Community Campership Council has held an Academy Awards Viewing Party. The event audience will watch the Academy Awards telecast live courtesy of ABC-10News and Azteca San Diego 15 which broadcasts the Academy Awards presentation.

“Oscar Sunday is an event meant to be a shared with others. This network of fundraising parties across the nation is just that: a shared experience. These gatherings also represent the year-round philanthropic work the Academy does,” said Academy CEO Dawn Hudson. “This February we are thrilled to be able

to celebrate the movies with fans nationwide while supporting charities around the country.”

“Our guests will feel like they are on the A-list, as they walk down the red carpet through a throng of autograph seekers into Celebration Hall,” said co-chair Kathy Anderson. “They will be greeted with a glass of champagne, dine on a sumptuous meal, predict the winners, have a photo taken and bid on silent auction items. The same official program distributed to guests at the Oscar presentation at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood will be available at our event.”

“Oscar night generates excitement all over the world,” stated Judi Spuris, co-chair of the San Diego event. “We appreciate the opportunity provided to us by the Academy to utilize this event to raise money to fund nature based camp experiences that enrich the lives of culturally and economically diverse San Diego Youth.” ♦

For more information, contact Gina Cord at (619) 683-2434.

Oscar Experience to Benefit Community

By Denise PollardMission Valley News

asked around the community for the one gadget people couldn’t live without. Although cell phones were the No. 1 answer, there was at least one vote for a PlayStation Vita.

MISSION: What’s a gadget you can’t live without?

“My phone.”Nicholas BolinSan Diego

“PlayStation Vita.”Michael BernardSan Diego

“My cell phone… That’s pretty obvious.”Edgar ParafinaCollege Area

“iPhone 4S.”Steven FrancaSan Diego

“My phone.”Mindy SilvaOceanside


MOVERS & SHAKERS

Neil Dymott Shareholder Named “San Diego Defense Lawyer of the Year”

On Jan. 26, Clark R. Hudson, a shareholder at Neil, Dymott, Frank, McFall & Trexler APLC, was honored as “San Diego Defense Lawyer of the Year,” by the San Diego Defense Lawyers (SDDL) at the 29th Annual Installation Dinner in Balboa Park. This award is given to one outstanding defense attorney annually in San Diego, recognizing success and overall achievements in law.

Hudson, a senior trial lawyer, joined Neil Dymott in 1990 and has been a shareholder since 1997. He specializes in civil litigation with emphasis in medical malpractice, medical board action, professional and products liability, personal injury and employment law.

Hudson is a former board member and past president of the San Diego Defense Lawyers. He is a current vice-chair for Projects and Objectives for the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC). In 2009, he received the John Alan Appleman Award for his work as Trial Tactics Section Chair. The award honors the Chair of an FDCC Substantive Law Section who has made outstanding contributions to the advancement of FDCC’s education goals. Hudson is also on the membership committee of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel (ASCDC). From 1998 through 2000, he was chairman for the San Diego County Bar Association/Medical Professional Liaison Committee. Hudson also holds the rank of Advocate in the American Board of Trial Advocates. In 2010, Hudson was inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers. Fellowship in the College

is limited to the top one percent of the total lawyer population of any state or province.

Hudson served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps. He was on active duty from 1983 to 1986, and was called back to service in 1991 in support of Desert Storm.

Other Neil Dymott attorneys who have been honored to be named “San Diego Defense Lawyer of the Year” include shareholder Sheila S. Trexler in 2009.

Balboa Park Cultural Partnership Names New Executive Director

The Balboa Park Cultural Partnership (BPCP), a national model for arts and culture institution collaboration, has named Peter Comiskey, an experienced leader and organizer of multi-stakeholder cultural projects, as its new executive director. Coming at a landmark moment in Balboa Park’s history, with planning for the 2015 centennial celebrations underway, Comiskey will work collaboratively with park institution directors, city officials, business and community leaders, and funders to set the course for Balboa Park’s preservation and growth for the next 100 years.

“Peter is the right person to guide the Balboa Park Cultural Partnership to the next level of success. He brings the right mix of business experience, strategic vision, and leadership to this position,” said Deborah Klochko, the BPCP board president and director of the Museum of Photographic Arts.

An Australian native, Comiskey has a long track record of bringing together diverse stakeholders to launch and operate public cultural and

See Movers page 4

Shea Homes San Diego earned top honors in January for its contemporary new urban community, Origen at Civita in Mission Valley.

During ceremonies at The Nationals awards, the nation’s largest and most prestigious competition for sales and marketing professionals and communities, Origen took home the marquee award as Neighborhood of the Year. The category singles out an individual new home community for innovation, originality and marketing flair.

Other gold medal first place honors were presented to Origen for:

• Best Sales Center [Shea Homes San Diego and Design Line Interiors]

• Best Interior Merchandising of a Model Under 1,500 Square Feet for Origen socialGarden plan 1 [Shea Homes San Diego and CDC Interiors]

• Best Interior Merchandising of a Model from 1,500-2,000 Square Feet for Origen skyLoft plan 1 [Shea Homes San Diego and Design Line Interiors]

• Best Architectural Design of an Attached Home Plan for Origen socialGarden plan 1 [Shea Homes San Diego and Woodley Architectural Group]

“Origen represents a huge leap outside our comfort zone,” said Vanessa Linn, vice president of sales and marketing for Shea Homes San Diego. “This was our first foray into vertical architecture and urban infill, and we challenged our team of design professionals

to create something absolutely original in the marketplace. We’re grateful for their contributions to the success of Origen and to the ultimate customer satisfaction expressed by our new homeowners.”

The gold medals are the latest in a string of honors received by Shea Homes San Diego at Origen. Last fall, Origen was honored as the Best New Home Community in San Diego by the Building Industry Association (BIA) of San Diego, and as Community of the Year in attached housing by Its affiliated chapter, the BIA of Southern California.

Designed by Woodley Architectural Group with interior merchandising by Design Line Interiors, Origen offers 200 three- and four-story loft-style town homes in two distinct new neighborhoods: Origen socialGarden and Origen skyLoft. Both communities showcase the best in urban detailing with multi-story window walls, expansive outdoor decks, unique stone and brick surfaces,

open rail systems, open tread stairs, wrought iron railings, as well as angled doors, walls and floors. Buyers can personalize their space by adding or removing solid and glass walls for additional privacy or a greater sense of openness.

State-of-the-art in-home technology innovations include a two-gig wireless system to control security, lighting and heating from any Smartphone or tablet. Standard designer items include opaque glass sliding barn doors, Caesar stone quartz countertops, floating European cabinets, glass vessel sinks, tankless water heaters, and KitchenAid or Whirlpool Gold stainless-steel appliances. Each of the 10 floor plans includes a two-car garage, with an upgraded brushed aluminum door inset with opaque glass.

Homes at Origen skyLoft are priced from the high $400,000s and range from 1,452 to 1,760 square feet with two to three bedrooms, two to three baths, two-car

Shea Strikes Gold with Origen at Civita

See Civita page 12


Fashion Valley Mall welcomed one new store in fall and bid farewell to a longtime tenant in January.

C. Wonder, a clothing and home décor retailer, opened its doors in November. The store occupies the 5,000-square-foot space next to Henri Bendel once held by greeting card merchant Hallmark Gold Crown, which was unable to negotiate a satisfactory lease agreement with mall owner Simon Property Group.

C. Wonder bills itself online as “a shopping destination that transports women into a world of luxury and surprises.” The store offers clothing, accessories and home décor products amid a bright, colorful setting. The retailer is part of Burch Creative Capital, founded by New York entrepreneur J. Christopher Burch.

The Fashion Valley store is the only C. Wonder in San Diego and the brand’s eighth store in the nation.

Crate & Barrel Packs It Up

Fashion Valley’s Crate & Barrel, located on

the ground floor across Macy’s, closed Jan. 27. Signs around the upscale home store announced the closure several weeks before it occurred, but urged customers to visit the University Towne Center location, which will remain open.

A store associate who declined to be named said Crate & Barrel’s Fashion Valley employees were not transferring to the La Jolla Drive store. “We’re all going our separate ways,” she said.

Crate & Barrel appears to be tightening its operation around the country and shifting its focus on its larger locations. In 2011, the company began closing smaller stores around the country, such as Texas, Maryland, Massachusetts and other parts of California.

Crate & Barrel could not be reached for comment. ♦

IN FASHION

It doesn’t seem possible, but Comic-Con International 2013 badges will be up for grabs Feb. 16.

The badges go on sale at 9 a.m. The link to EPIC Open Online Registration will be sent to eligible participants with a valid and confirmed Comic-Con Member ID via email 48 hours prior to the start of badge sales. You may click the link, or copy-and-paste it into your browser. Comic-Con will NOT post this link on our website, Facebook, or

Twitter.If you purchased

a 4-Day badge with Preview Night during preregistration in August 2012 or you are a professional or guest of professional who has registered for a Comic-Con 2013 professional badge, you are not eligible to participate in Open Online Registration. You may not purchase a badge of any type on Feb. 16.

Comic-Con 2013 prices range from $175 adult for 4-days with Preview Night to Single Day Sunday for $24. Discounts are available for juniors 13 to 17, U.S. military and seniors 60 years or older. ♦

For more information, visit www.comic-con.org/cci/2013-badge-purchase.

Comic-Con’sBack!

science programs on two continents. Since 2008, he has served as the executive director of the Downtown Anaheim Association, a nonprofit group working with Anaheim city officials, Anaheim’s Redevelopment Agency, and multiple property owners to drive visitation of the city’s downtown precinct through developing and launching a number of major public events.

Upon moving to the United States in 1998, Comiskey assisted in the launch of Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana, and then led the U.S. operations of an international tourist attractions group in Baltimore. Returning to California in 2007, he became the founding executive director of Anaheim’s MUZEO Foundation, creating a unique model for regional cultural arts venues in the newly rejuvenated downtown Anaheim. Comiskey holds an MBA from the Anderson School of Management at the University of California, Los Angeles, and bachelor’s degrees in business and education from Australian universities.

“Leading the future

direction of the Balboa Park Cultural Partnership is a rare opportunity to support the continued growth of our community through culture, the arts and sciences on a grand scale,” said Comiskey. “One of the many exciting characteristics of Balboa Park is the involvement and support of passionate and committed individuals. I look forward to working with each of these groups to identify common interests, maximize our communication, and deliver exceptional experiences that will drive our collaborative success.”

KGI School of BioPharmacy Appoints Founding DeanKathy D. Webster, PharmD, PhD, has been appointed founding dean of the new KGI School of

BioPharmacy (SBP). The school, which is scheduled to admit its first class in fall 2014 pending accreditation, is being designed to meet and to anticipate future needs in the U.S. healthcare system and to take advantage of Keck Graduate Institute’s expertise in biotechnology education and its strong ties to industry.

“Graduates of this school will be very well equipped to meet the needs of a rapidly changing healthcare system in which pharmacists increasingly play a primary role in matching drugs and therapies to a particular patient or strain of illness,” Webster said. “Graduates of the KGI School of BioPharmacy will be equally well qualified to work in a traditional pharmacy setting, in regulatory affairs or in industry. The philosophy behind the development of the PharmD program at the KGI School of BioPharmacy is to provide the traditional PharmD curriculum in a more efficient manner through the integration of subjects and the extensive use of technology. This will allow us to foster innovation and to increase time spent on content and topics related to industry, including informatics,

See MoveRs page 11

Movers, from page 3

The San Diego BrazilCarnival turns 21 Feb. 9 at the San Diego Museum of Art Sculpture Court from 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. This spectacular Brazilian Mardi Gras ball will feature pul-sating samba beats, beau-tiful and sexy samba danc-ers, electrifying capoeira performances, and non-stop Brazilian music. There will be fun, feathers, fantasy and much, much more. For 21 and up only. For more information, visit www.brazilcarnival.com.

Carnival!


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recommendations, design guidelines, implementation strategies and a regulatory framework.

City staff and a consulting firm, Colorado-based Civitas, are presently making the rounds of planning and environmental groups along the river getting their recommendations on the master plan, which will ultimately be rejected or approved by the San Diego City Council.

The SDRPMP’s concept wasn’t the problem. With some reservations, the group consensus was that it was a wise, necessary and perhaps overdue process.

But those same community planners, several of whom are architects, expressed concern that much-needed detail, including the plan’s conceivable impacts on existing and future development as well as questions regarding how to ensure public safety should it be implemented, are absent from the master plan as presently crafted.

“Mission Valley is perhaps the one community in San Diego that is most influenced by the presence of the San Diego River, which runs through the middle of our community,” said Mission Valley Planning Group in a letter to city

project manager Robin Shifflet. “As such the planning group wants to be sure implementation of the SDRPMP is clearly focused on celebrating and engaging the river for both its habitat and wildlife values, and as an integral feature of the built environment that occurs on both the north and south sides of the river. Our intent is to provide for the long-term health and viability of the river in a manner that does not unduly constrain full and complete evaluation of land uses as part of the Community Plan update process.”

During his slideshow presentation, consultant Todd Mead of Civitas said the master plan at this early stage is largely conceptual, given the design elements of the plan have yet to be fleshed out. But he added the plan would provide a framework for integrating human, historical and natural elements within the San Diego River watershed for exploring “development in the river corridor over the next 75, 80 years.”

“One goal is that the river will be more accessible both for people

and wildlife, and include a 10-foot-wide, hard-surface path for cyclists and pedestrians,” said Mead, adding implementation of the master plan envisions creation of “vibrant retail areas with outdoor cafes and restaurants.”

Mead added the master plan has no plans for providing additional lighting within the river watershed, other than lighting currently provided by existing businesses. He added the plan is also not a comprehensive environmental document addressing multitudinous issues involved in protecting wildlife and their habitat within the San Diego River watershed.

One Mission Valley planner, noting there is a significant homeless presence as well as other crime-related issues along the river, pointed out there is little or no mention of such concerns in the river master plan.

“These are very present and real issues,” the planner said, adding he does not walk near the river at night because of safety concerns. “We can’t pretend like it’s not there,” he said.

“I’d like to see more

walkways and pathways leading out of the river path,” agreed planner Deborah Bossmeyer.

“It’s good to have a road map,” said planner Alex Plishner.

But Plishner wasn’t entirely pleased with the master plan, which he said mandates a percentage for “transparency,” windows and other architectural features designed to preserve public views through to the river.

“It’s a really bad idea because the building code already has percentages required in it, and that actually takes away from the design intent of residential projects stipulating that we add or remove windows,” Plishner said. “You should keep the language more broad and general.”

“What plans are there for access for emergency and fire vehicles,” asked planner Elizabeth Leventhal.

“There won’t be a fire lane but there will be access to buildings from the pedestrian path,” said Mead.

After lengthy debate, the planning group voted 12-to-4 to support the letter

drafted by the group to the city recommending denial of SDRPMP because of planning and safety considerations of the master plan, which the city advisory group still feels need to be addressed more adequately.

As the meeting wound down, an audience member objected to the public’s little opportunity and advance notice to weigh in on the river’s master plan due to the meeting having been delayed a week because of the year-end holiday.

The planning group then voted 16-to-0 to retract its “no” vote on the plan, deferring the matter to the group’s next meeting at which time public comment will be taken before a final group vote on the issue.

MVPG’s next meeting Feb. 6 did not occur in time to be included in this publication. Go to www.MissionValleyNews.com for the latest news on the master plan and the Mission Valley Planning Group. ♦

Plan, from page 1

River, from page 1

Pipe & Supply for eight years, was specifically assigned the task at work of addressing the flooding issue with the city and the community. He has numerous photos and videos on the river’s effect on the immediate area surrounding the business. “We just try to keep a library on it,” he said.

Densley is understandably frustrated. For the entire 30 years Mission Valley Pipe & Supply has been around, it has had problems with the river flooding. “It probably precedes us,” said Densley. “Anyone who has been here has dealt with it.”

Because San Diego is a desert climate, it doesn’t really take much to push the river over the edge in several locations, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Joe

Dandrea. The river only requires an inch of rain to flood both Avenida Del Rio and Camino Del Este. Fashion Valley Road requires around two inches of rain before it’s affected – and for Fashion Valley Mall, an overflowing river can be a particularly big inconvenience in the winter, which is when shoppers are on vacation, searching for Christmas presents or bargain hunting after the holidays.

But the river’s flooding in Mission Valley isn’t caused so much by heavy rainfall as San Diego experienced in December 2010 as it is by clogged channels and culverts that are redirecting the flow.

For instance, on Jan. 26, 2013, the river had risen so much Fashion Valley Road was closed off to shoppers. According to Dandrea, Fashion Valley Road requires around two

inches of rain for the river to flood. Instead, there had only been around an inch, which raised the river to just over four feet.

January’s flooding of Fashion Valley Road could have been due to a clogged culvert, said Dandrea.

So clean it up, right? Not so fast, said Densley. While it seems logical to unclog the problem, thus allowing the river to return to its usual flow, cleaning up the channels and drains require permits that apparently take years to be accepted.

Densley places much of the responsibility for the cleanup’s blockage in the hands of environmental activists who threaten litigation to protect the debris damming select areas along the river.

“There’s so much involved here. It’s been passed so many times by the City Council to

do something and the storm water people come up with great plans… But then the environmentalists shoot it down,” Densley said.

“It is completely the tail wagging the dog. Everyone’s afraid to be sued, everyone wants to be politically correct,” Densley said. “This is not a natural habitat. It is manmade, it’s not pristine. And environmentalists… It’s animals, vegetation first. People come second. There are people who would wipe out everything, bring it back to its natural state.”

As a result of environmental concerns, hundreds of thousands of dollars have been invested in research on the area. “Complete analysis paralysis,” said Densley.

There may be a light at the end of the tunnel. The City created the

Master Storm Water System Maintenance Program, which addresses various flooding issues. At this time, the Alvarado Canyon storm drain is at best second tier, which means the problem could be corrected in fiscal year 2015, but at least it’s more progress than has been made in more than three decades.

Nevertheless, with unpredictable weather and clogged culverts around town, San Diego could be setting itself up for a disaster that could have been avoided. Densley said he has videos of cars stuck in the flood. “Even though we put up signs that say, ‘Floods – Do Not Go Through,’ people drive right on in. Someday someone is going to die and it’s just going to be too bad,” said Densley. “There’s something that could have been done sooner.” ♦


High Tech Deliciousness

StackedStackedatat

By Genevieve A. SuzukiStacked at Fashion Valley

serves up high tech yum with style and finesse – all it takes is a credit card to get started and a few swipes of a designated iPad.

A restaurant that offers “Food Well Built,” Stacked is all about customization and really giving it to you your way. And if you have something bad to say about how the ingredients were put together, take a look in the mirror because the

person who built that dish was you.

Stacked opened at Fashion Valley Mall about a year ago in the space formerly occupied by Pizzeria Uno. My family and I watched its progress and thought it looked like just another pricey burger joint. We weren’t going to pay ten bucks for a burger we could get anywhere else for half the price.

Boy, am I glad we were wrong.

As our server Sandra seated us, she asked us if we had been there before. After we admitted we were newbies, she showed us how we could use the iPad at our table to build our meals. With one swipe of a credit card, my husband and I were happily in the Stacked system.

Surfing the menu, we were constantly surprised by the variety of choices. Take the salads, for instance. Starting with

lettuce, you have your choice of iceberg, romaine, romaine iceberg mix, spring lettuce, butter lettuce and Napa cabbage. You then have a wide selection of vegetables, proteins, cheeses, fruits, dressings, nuts and other fun items, such as croutons, tortilla strips, wonton strips, onion strings and black beans.

Stacked applies the same DIY concept to its pizzas, burgers and macaroni and cheese. Yes, sir, you read

that right – macaroni and cheese you build yourself.

I couldn’t say no to the chance to construct the mac ‘n’ cheese of my dreams so I decided to “stack” my mac.

I began with the basic macaroni and cheese and swiped Applewood smoked bacon and sundried tomatoes into the mix. The whole thing cost $8.91, which is actually quite reasonable for the amount that showed up to our table. Being a fan of milkshakes, I also swiped in the Hot Chocolate milkshake for an additional $5.95.

My husband selected Kung Fusion burger, which comprised certified Angus beef on a brioche bun with thinly sliced cucumber, pickled ginger slaw and sriracha mayo. For diners like my husband who don’t want to think when they go out to eat, Stacked offers pre-Stacked options to suit most anyone’s tastes. The burger, which sated Derek’s appetite for a quality burger, surprisingly cost $7.50. It was a much better burger than we expected and cost just a fraction more than Carl’s Jr., the fast food joint that’s always pushing its Six Dollar Burgers. Derek also ordered a mix of French fries and homemade potato chips with curry ketchup and creamy barbecue sauce.

When the food arrived, we were pleased to discover it wasn’t only just as we ordered, but tasted just as we hoped as well. It really was food well built and we were happy builders.

In the end, we paid around $30, which is pretty good for a nice meal out. Even better news is you can order ahead if you’re just picking up for a weekday lunch or in a rush for a quick business get-together. ♦

StackedFashion Valley

7007 Friars Road

San diego, ca 92108

(619) 225-7900

www.foodwellbuilt.com


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We Deliver!

Operacaffe, located at 835 Fourth Ave. in the Gaslamp, will serve up Italian arias and classic Neapolitan tunes along with its authentic Tuscan cuisine on Tuesday evening, Feb. 19. Combining the joy that Italians derive from delicious cuisine and musical artistry, the evenings headline Operacaffe’s La Vita Bella (The Beautiful Life) series, and are offered without added expense to restaurant patrons.

A celebration of chefs Roberto Bernardoni and Patrizia Branchi’s passion for opera and its capacity to inspire people of all ages and cultural backgrounds, the Feb. 19 Opera Tuesday performance will showcase the vocal talents of tenor Rosario Monetti, singing selections from beloved Italian operas,

accompanied Bryan Verhoye, one of San Diego’s most versatile keyboard artists. Internationally acclaimed accordionist Lou Fanucchi will lend his artistry to the evening’s musical line-up, showcasing a repertoire of Neapolitan favorites.

Write Out Loud – a nonprofit organization dedicated to reading great works of literature aloud to live audiences – will make a cameo appearance at the Valentine-themed Opera Tuesday performance. San Diego actors Walter Ritter and Veronica Murphy will treat guests to readings of love letters penned through the ages, offering insight into the universal themes of beauty, passion and desire that delineate the Language of Love.

“Since we opened in 2008, Patrizia and I have wanted to make live music

a regular Operacaffe feature,” said co-owner and chef Bernardoni. “Opera Tuesdays offers our guests the chance to immerse themselves in the music and cuisine of our beloved Florence.”

Musical performances begin at 6:30 p.m. and will continue throughout the evening, treating guests to the cream of Italian Opera, as well as classic Italian favorites. Operacaffe provides a unique setting for live opera performance; singers utilize its intimate dining room as their stage, affording patrons an up-close-and-personal connection to the beauty, passion and poignancy of

one of the world’s most enduring and inspiring art forms.

Tenor Monetti, who now resides in the San Diego region, grew up singing in his home town of Naples and was counted among the stars of the San Diego Sicilian Festival opera stage in May. Evoking a longing for the beauty and passion of his homeland, Monetti’s soaring vocals have captured the hearts of a loyal following among music lovers of all ages.

Opera Tuesdays guests are invited to order from a special pre fixe menu, offering an appetizer, entrée and dessert for $25.00. Seating at the Chefs’ Giving Table can

accommodate between 8-14 guests, who will be treated to an array of seasonal specialties – selected, prepared and presented by Chefs Roberto and Patrizia –paired with a wine flight of three signature wines, at a per-person cost of $75. Operacaffe will donate 20 percent of Chefs’ Giving Table revenue to a nonprofit organization selected by the host of the evening’s dinner party for a cause. ♦

Reservations for this signature evening of Italian music, cuisine and camaraderie can be made by contacting Operacaffe at (619) 234-6538 and [email protected].

Serves Passion and Romance

By Karen Irizarry,Certified Sommelier

How does one begin to articulate their love of wine? For years, I was like the masses and thought wine tasted, well, like wine. It wasn’t until I started learning about wine that it became something more to me. Sometimes you come across something that goes beyond the physical properties of wine and transcends into something profound and evokes a feeling, emotions, and memories.

One of the wines of which I am particularly fond is Riesling. Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay can be superb, but none have that magical element of Riesling. Riesling is a complex varietal and very expressive of its terroir. You can quite literally smell and taste the soil in

which it grew. Germany is considered

to be “The King of Riesling.” When one thinks of German wines they typically think sweet, unchallenging Rieslings, but the truth is German wines couldn’t be more diverse. Germany has 13 different wine regions with a wide range of soil types and microclimates, resulting in a multitude of different wine styles. Germany is recognized for more than just Riesling, with varietals ranging from Silvaner to Pinot Noir to Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Pfalz is one of the 13 wine regions of Germany and produces many of Germany’s finest Riesling and Pinot Noir. The Rieslings are among my favorites. Pfalz Rieslings are characterized as racy, mineral and opulent with

WhiteRedor

See Wine page 12


By Dave SchwabIf you haven’t been to a

Spike & Mike Festival of Animation now’s the time.

“This is just going to be an absolutely special, stellar, impeccable show: We put countless time and effort into securing the absolute best films from all over the world – bar none,” said Craig “Spike” Decker of his animation festival’s 30th anniversary extravaganza, which runs Feb. 9 through March 30 at the Sherwood Auditorium in the Museum of Contemporary Art, 700 Prospect St. in La Jolla.

Noting “we’re really proud of what we put together,” Decker added, “I’d buy a ticket to this thing myself.”

Among the festival’s highlights:

• A collection of the most award-winning and popular shorts in Spike & Mike’s 30-year history including more

than 10 Academy Award winners or nominees.

• David Silverman, director and producer of “The Simpsons” & “The Simpsons Movie” and a 2013 Oscar nominee in the Best Short Animation category, will be attending and signing autographs Feb. 9-10.

• Rich Moore, 2013 Oscar-nominated director of the Walt Disney Animation Studios blockbuster “Wreck-it Ralph,” will be attending the festival and signing autographs March 1-2.

Decker made a promise to patrons about his 30th

anniversary animation blow-out special.

“We’re trying to give people more than their money’s worth,” he said. “We’ve put together a show

that’s above and beyond, cherry-picking the best films over the last 30 years full of Academy Award-winners and nominees.”

Decker is a showman at heart. His annual Festival of Animation and Sick and Twisted shows drawing thousands annually began in Riverside, Calif. as the “garage band of animation.”

“We used to do these little carnivals in the backyard and promote them, and then we got into promoting a band and doing midnight animation films opening with classics like Max Fleisher, Betty Boop, Superman and Popeye cartoons,” Decker said. “Then we put together a show with all shorts at Riverside City College that just kept evolving.”

Decker said the early Riverside animation shows were frantic, “straight out of ‘Animal House,’ really crazy stuff.”

The secret, Decker and business partner Mike Gribble soon discovered, was animation shorts “could have a cool, adult application.”

“So we had to produce a lot of the films, which we did because nobody was making them except for a small group of animators in Vancouver, Canada,” Decker said, adding he had relatives in San Diego County and eventually “escaped” down here when

he found the perfect venue to showcase his festival of animation – La Jolla’s Museum of Contemporary Art.

The animation festival moved there in 1986 and remains 30 years later still

drawing the masses.Spike & Mike’s Festival of

Animation has been the breeding ground for a lot of the top names in film animation today.

“We introduced Wallace and Grommit and

the first films from Pixar,

‘The Incredibles’ and Tim Burton’s

(director of Edward Scissorhands) first film ‘Vincent,’ all these great films we showed at the museum,” said Decker.

Decker said the 30th anniversary festival will feature international animation short films from France, Germany, Holland and Italy.

The mix of films at the festival will be extraordinary.

“There’s always an emphasis on humor. That’s kind of what we aim for,” said Decker, who was quick to add, “but we have charming films like ‘The Big Snit’ and ‘Creature Comforts,’ so we’re well balanced with charm, intensity, technique.”

Decker noted the 4- to 5-minute short films in the animation festival’s repertoire are all masterpieces in their own right. Some, he said, take as long as three years time for

producers to make. Many of those being featured have won, or have been nominated for, Academy Awards.

“We’re really trying to cover a lot here with style and countries and awards, everything from the Sundance Film Festival to the Oscars,” said Decker.

Decker had one more promise to make to those turning out for his 30th Festival of Animation.

“If you have a sense of humor you’ll love it,” he said. “You’ll be incredibly entertained. It will be just a wonderful, unique, experience.”

“In a way, it’s almost a history retrospective of animation, going all the way back to ‘Bambi Meets Godzilla’ in 1969 to ‘Pixels’ (2011),” said Joseph Liebhardt, the festival of animation’s production manager.

Twenty years from now will there be a 50th Festival of Animation anniversary for Spike?

“Sure, why not?” replied Decker.

How much different will it be?

“[Animation shorts] will be in people’s teeth,” he said half-jokingly. “You’ll watch it on people’s foreheads, or the palms of their hands.”

Regardless of technical improvements, Decker concluded, good animation will always be about good storytelling.

“If you tell a good story with pen and ink, or with a computer – people will enjoy it,” he said. ♦

For more information about Spike & Mike’s Festival of Animation call (858) 459-8707 or visit www.spikeandmike.com.

three Decades of Spike & Mike’s Animation


JAzzFeb. 9, 16 & 23 – Jazz at the Cosmo featuring Bruce Cameron, Mark Augustin, and Ted Williams at the Cosmopolitan Restaurant and Hotel. $5. www.OldTownCosmopolitan.com

Feb. 13, 20, & 27 – Wednesday Jazz with Kice Simko and Friends at Riviera Supper Club. Free. RivieraSupperClub.com

Feb. 8, 15, & 22 – Sam Johnson Jazz Duo at Cosmos Coffee Cafe. Free. CosmosCoffeeCafe.com

Feb. 9, 16 & 23 – Saturday Jazz with George and Alan at San Diego Desserts. Free. www.SanDiegoDesserts.net

Feb. 13, 20, & 27 - Gilbert Castillanos Jazz Jam at Seven Grand. Free. SevenGrandBars.com

Feb. 28 – The Soulfires at Bar Pink. www.BarPink.com

CLASSICAL Feb. 8-10 – Scheherazade at Copley Symphony Hall. $20-$96. www.SanDiegoSymphony.orgFeb. 13 – Tchaikovsky’s Romeo & Juliet at Copley Symphony Hall. $20- $85. www.SanDiegoSymphony.org

Feb. 14 – Prokofiev’s Cinderella at Copley Symphony Hall. $20 - $85. www.SanDiegoSymphony.com

ALtERNAtIvEFeb. 13, 20, & 27 – Jeff Ouseley at Gingham. Free. www.Ginghameats.com

Feb. 8 – Old Tiger at Riviera Supper Club. Free. www.RivieraSupperClub.com

Feb. 9 – Gram Rabbit and Hills Like Elephants at the Casbah. $10. Www.CasbahMusic.com

Feb. 15 – Transfer, The Nervous Wreckords, Palace Ballroom and Boy King at the Casbah. $12 advance, $14 at door.

Feb. 22 – The High Rolling Loners at The Riviera Supper Club. Free. www.RivieraSupperClub.com

PoPFeb. 23 – The Styletones at Winston’s. $8. www.winstonsob.com Feb. 28 – G. Love and Special Sauce at House of Blues. $25-$35. www.houseofblues.com

Bands, venues, and music-lovers: Please submit listings for this calendar by emailing [email protected].

MUSIC NotESIN THE MOOD FOR MUSICAmerica’s premier 1940s big band musical revue, “In the Mood,” drops into Spreckles Theatre for two shows March 16.“In the Mood” takes a look at America’s Swing Era, the last time when everyone listened and danced to the same style of music. Swing music ranged from mellow intimate ballads to up-tempo big band rhythms, where the waltz and fox trot competed with the wild, acrobatic jitterbug and jive, and when boogie-woogie crazed hepcats crowded the dance floors.The show celebrates America’s Greatest Generation through the music of Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Harry James, Erskine Hawkins, The Andrews Sisters, Frank Sinatra and other idols of the 1940s. “In The Mood” recreates the era with sizzling choreography, sassy costumes and over 40 unforgettable songs

performed live on stage, like “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy (of Company B),” “In The Mood,” “Tuxedo Junction,” “Sing, Sing, Sing” and more.The National Archives in Washington, D.C. brought “In the Mood” to its audiences as part of its commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of WWII, and the response was extraordinary, with crowds lining up for hours before curtain time. Thousands attended an out-of-doors performance on Constitution Avenue, and many stayed to dance the night away. As a result, “In the Mood,” in affiliation

with the USO, began a series of tours which played to audiences across the United States during the 50th Commemoration of WWII. ♦For more information on the show, visit www.artbeatshows.org and www.inthemoodlive.com.“In the Mood” is at Spreckels Theatre, 121 Broadway, San Diego, March 16 at 3 p.m. matinee and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $65, $50, $40 and $35. The box office is open for walk-up sales Monday through Friday, noon to 6 p.m. Tickets are also available through Ticket Master by phone at 800-745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

San Diego Symphony Musicians Play Free at Central LibraryThree members of the San Diego Symphony – Mei-Ching Huang, violin; Chi-Yuan Chen, viola and Chia-Ling Chien, cello – will perform a music recital at the City of San Diego Public Library as part of the Symphony’s Education and Outreach Program. The free concert will be held Feb. 17 at 2:30 p.m. in the third floor auditorium of Central Library, 820 E St., in downtown San Diego. The recital will feature Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Duo for Violin and Viola in G Major, K. 423,” Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Duo for Cello and Viola ‘With Two Eyeglasses,’” and Ernst von Dohnányi’s “Trio for Violin, Viola and Cello in C Major, Op. 10.” Huang has played violin in the New York Philharmonic, the Orpheus Chamber

Orchestra and other distinguished ensembles. Among her many awards and honors is the first prize in the Marbury Violin Competition and top prize in the Yale Gordon Concerto Competition and Hellam Young Artists Competition. She holds a graduate diploma and a master’s degree from the Juilliard School. Viola player Chen was top-prize winner of the 2000 Fischoff Chamber Music Competition and the 2004 International Paris Viola Competition Ville d’Avray, Mr. Chen has established himself as one of the leading violists of his generation. He has toured internationally as a concert violist, performing in the White House in Washington, DC, Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Carnegie Hall in New York, National Concert Hall in Taipei, and Victoria Hall in Geneva.Chien has been the associate principal cellist with the San

Diego Symphony since 2009. She has a bachelor’s degree and master of music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music. She took first place in the National Taipei Youth Cello Competition, won the Cleveland Institute of Music Concerto Competition, and earned four years of first-prize wins in the Taipei Cello Competition and numerous other awards and honors. Free parking is available at the 5 Star Parking lot no. 12, which is adjacent to the Library at the southeast corner of Broadway and Eighth Avenue, is available for free parking. ♦For more information, call Central Library’s Art, Music and Recreation Section at (619) 236-5810 or visit the Library on the City’s website at www.sandiegolibrary.org.


Sometimes a dog is just so ugly he’s actually cute. At least that’s what some owners will be hoping with their pets at the Del Mar Kiwanis 18th Annual Ugly Dog Contest co-sponsored by the San Diego Coastal Chamber of Commerce. Witness the spectacle March 10 from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Bates Nut Farm, 15954 Woods Valley Road, Valley Center, CA 92082. For more information, go to http://2013uglydog-eorg.eventbrite.com/

Veronica Munguia is the proud owner of Oscar, a 12-year-old Maine Coon. Oscar was named by Munguia’s friend’s son, who didn’t realize “Oscar” was actually a female. “Despite her owner’s troubled past, Oscar has the best manners and when introduced to new elements, she is keen at figuring out her role in it,” said

Munguia. Oscar lives in Mission Valley next to Qualcomm Stadium in a third-floor condo. “My Oscar is very private, slightly paranoid, [has an] easily startled personality, but downright provides me serenity.” ♦Do you think your pet deserves top billing? Submit your photos and a brief description to [email protected].

By Sari ReisAlthough nothing could

be cuter than an adorable 5-pound puppy jumping up to greet you with doggy kisses and a wagging tail, it is no longer cute once that puppy is 75 pounds. It is downright dangerous, especially for young children and people who are elderly or frail. Teaching your dog not to jump on people is essential since jumping up on someone could potentially cause them injury both physically and emotionally.

The best time to teach your “furry kid” not to jump on people is when he is that adorable 5 pound puppy. Puppies are fairly easy to train using the appropriate rewards, positive and consistent encouragement and lots of patience. However, if your adult dog jumps up when greeting people, don’t despair. You can still teach an old dog new tricks and good manners! Training experts agree that the best way to eliminate an unwanted behavior, such as jumping on people, is to ignore it or teach an alternate behavior.

So why does the dog jump up in the first place? He wants attention. What happens when you push him down or tell him to get off? He is getting attention. You have just given him what he wanted and reinforced the undesirable behavior. He will continue to jump up because he is getting what he wants.

If the dog jumps up and you turn away and completely ignore him, however, he is not getting what he wants. There is no reinforcement for jumping up, so he eventually stops. It is not going to happen

immediately. Sometimes it can take as long as a few weeks, so patience and perseverance are important.

The key is consistency. If you do not ignore him every time he jumps, he will only get confused because half the time he is getting the desired attention and half the time he is not. Be sure to have everyone who associates with him on the same page. Tell people, “He is being trained not to jump. If he jumps, please turn away and ignore him.” People generally are happy to comply.

You can also teach your dog a replacement behavior for jumping such as sit-stay. Use a reward the dog loves, a delicious treat, and your dog will learn it is more rewarding to sit when greeting a new person than to jump for attention. This will also take practice and patience

but is well worth it.Be aware that when

you originally start to extinguish a behavior, you often get more of it. The dog continues to try to get the desired result, particularly when it has worked in the past. Be consistent and persevere. You can do it. Whenever your dog chooses to politely say hello without jumping, he should be rewarded with treats, praise or whatever he finds gratifying.

A well-behaved dog that greets people politely with all feet on the floor is a delight to be around and a pleasure to call your own. ♦

Sari Reis is a Certified Humane Education Specialist and the owner of Mission Valley Pet Sitting Services. For more information you can contact her at (760) 644-0289 or www.missionvalleypetsitting.com.

Jumping on People is Not OK

The San Diego Humane Society and SPCA is holding its third annual Valentine’s Day-themed animal adoption promotion, “Finding Love in February” to help raise awareness for pet adoption and to find homes for more animals. Several special adoption events and promotions are occurring now through Feb. 28, and there are puppies, dogs, kittens, cats, bunnies and guinea pigs available for adoption.

“This unique promotion will help to bring more awareness to the importance of animal adoption and ultimately help more animals find homes,” said Dr. Gary Weitzman, president and CEO of the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA. “Potential

adopters must still meet with our adoption counselors to find the best match for their family. If you’re looking for love, there’s no better place to find it this Valentine’s Day.”

To fall in love this Valentine’s Day and to take advantage of the San Diego Humane Society’s special adoption incentives, visit one of these Humane Society locations:

Central Campus: 5500 Gaines Street

in San DiegoNorth Campus:

572 Airport Road in Oceanside (for cats/small animals);

2905 San Luis Rey Road in

Oceanside (for dogs). Adoption Center

inside the El Cajon Petco store:

540 N. Second Street in El Cajon

Third Annual Animal Valentine’sAdoption Event Kicks Off

Pet of the Month 18th AnnualUgly Dog Contest

18th AnnualUgly Dog Contest


pharmacogenomics, operations management, clinical and regulatory affairs.”

A second-generation Californian, Webster has extensive experience helping to establish and working with new schools of pharmacy, including the University of Maryland Eastern Shore School of Pharmacy, where she recently served as professor and associate dean of academic affairs. Prior to that, she served as the assistant dean and chair of pharmaceutical sciences and a professor at Feik School of Pharmacy, University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. She held several positions at Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina, including director of science education outreach, director of the pharmaceutical analysis laboratory and associate and assistant professor of medicinal chemistry. Also, as head of the analytical section there, she helped found and develop the Campbell University Pharmaceutical Sciences Institute (CUPSI), which provides contract services to small local and regional pharmaceutical companies. She holds a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, and a PhD in medicinal chemistry from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.

“I was intrigued when I heard that KGI, the only graduate school in the country solely dedicated to bioscience education and research, intended to establish a School of BioPharmacy. I see it as an enormous opportunity to push the education of future pharmacists to a new level,” said Webster, who has been serving as the school’s interim dean since September 2012.

“Dean Webster has great leadership and management abilities and has played an integral role in the successful establishment of several new schools of pharmacy throughout the country. We are very happy to have someone of her caliber as the founding dean of the KGI School of BioPharmacy,” said KGI President Sheldon Schuster. “We are also very pleased to be able to contribute to the continued

development of the Inland Empire and Southern California as a site for scientific, technical and healthcare education.”

tHE oLD GLoBE ELECtS NEW BoARD MEMBERS FoR 2013 FISCAL YEAR

The Old Globe’s new board members were announced at its Jan. 28 annual meeting on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre.

Old Globe board chair Harold W. Fuson Jr. announced that the current members of the Board of Directors executive committee will continue their terms in 2013. The committee consists of Fuson (chair), Donald L. Cohn (immediate past chair), Anthony S. Thornley (vice chair, finance), Elaine Bennett Darwin (vice chair, nominating), Harvey P. White (secretary), Mary Beth Adderley, Peter J. Cooper, Kathryn Hattox, Paula Powers and Conrad Prebys.

Fuson also announced that the following candidates identified by the Globe’s nominating committee were formally elected to serve three-year terms on the board of directors: Joseph J. Cohen, Ann Davies, Sheila Lipinsky, Steven J. Stuckey, Rhona Thompson, Linda Van Vark, Jordine Von Wantoch, Pamela J. Wagner and Debbie Wilson. Current board members Jo Ann Kilty, Crystal Sargent and Stacey LeVasseur Vasquez will begin new consecutive three-year terms in 2013. The following board members, whose terms of service concluded at the end of 2012, were honored for their outstanding commitment to the Old Globe: Joseph Benoit, Jean-Marie Hamel, Elizabeth Helming, Viviana Ibañez, Reneé Schatz, Dean Thorp and Carolyn Yorston-Wellcome, who was named a director emerita.

The Old Globe’s board of directors also includes: Elizabeth Altman, Pamela Cesak, Nicole Clay, Valerie S. Cooper, Silvija Devine, Pamela A. Farr, Karen Fox, Victor P. Gálvez, Deni Jacobs, Daphne Jameson, Ramin Pourteymour, David Reagan, Sandra Redman, Jean Shekhter, Ann Steck, Daniel L. Sullivan, Ph.D., Julie H. Sullivan, Ph.D., Evelyn Mack Truitt, Debra Turner, Jim Wening, Lynne Wheeler, Karin Winner, June Yoder and Vicki L. Zeiger. ♦

Movers, from page 4

This Feb. 14, Andaz San Diego will offer the ultimate ladies’ night out as it partners with Energy 103.7 and the American Heart Association to present “Andaz Goes Red: Bachelor Auction to Benefit the American Heart Association.” This bachelor auction will give attendees the chance to bid on dates with San Diego’s most eligible bachelors, including Cosmopolitan Magazine Bachelor of the Year Christopher Lynch. All proceeds from the auction will benefit the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women campaign.

More than a dozen bachelors will take the stage, including Lynch, a San Diegan who was given Cosmopolitan’s Bachelor of the Year nod in 2011. Those participating will include a mixture of eligible men who are career-driven, ambitious, living in and around San Diego and over the age of 21. Participating bachelors may be viewed on Energy 103.7’s website at www.Energy1037.com.

“We’re thrilled to be teaming up with Energy

103.7 this Valentine’s Day to present San Diego’s most eligible bachelors through an exciting bachelor auction,” said Natalie Fitzsimmons, marketing manager at Andaz San Diego. “It was important to us to ensure that an event of this scale also benefits a worthy cause, and we’ve found that in The American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women campaign, which will receive all proceeds generated from our bachelor auction.”

All winning bidders will be provided a pre-coordinated, fully complimentary date with their bachelor to take place the evening of Feb. 21. Daters will be presented a wine tasting experience in the Andaz Wine Bar, dinner at barleymash and an option to extend their evening with a VIP experience at Ivy Nightclub at Andaz.

This event will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a bachelor meet and greet, a cocktail hour with drink specials, and complimentary appetizers in the Andaz Wine Bar. At 8 p.m. the

event will move downstairs to the Ivy Nightclub, where the bachelor auction will begin and run until approximately 9 p.m. Tim Virgin, Afternoon Personality, and Dorothy Tran from The AJ Show on Energy 103.7 will MC the lively event. All attendees are invited to enjoy complimentary admission into the after party at Ivy Nightclub beginning at 9 p.m. ♦

Andaz Goes Red is a 21-and-up event. For complimentary entry, RSVP to [email protected].

Bid for Valentine’s Day


If you received income during 2012, you may need to file a tax return in 2013. The amount of your income, your filing status, your age and the type of income you received will determine whether you’re required to file. Even if you are not required to file a tax return, you may still want to file. You may get a refund if you’ve had too much federal income tax withheld from your pay or qualify for certain tax credits.

You can find income tax filing requirements on IRS.gov. The instructions for Forms 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ also list filing requirements. The Interactive Tax Assistant tool, also available on the IRS website, is another helpful resource. The ITA tool answers many of your tax law questions including whether you need to file a return.

Even if you’ve determined that you don’t need to file a tax return this year, you may still want to file. Here are five reasons why:

1. Federal Income Tax Withheld. If your employer

withheld federal income tax from your pay, if you made estimated tax payments, or if you had a prior year overpayment applied to this year’s tax, you could be due a refund. File a return to claim any excess tax you paid during the year.

2. Earned Income Tax Credit. If you worked but earned less than $50,270 last year, you may qualify for EITC. EITC is a refundable tax credit; which means if you qualify you could receive EITC as a tax refund. Families with qualifying children may qualify to get up to $5,891 dollars. You can’t get the credit unless you file a return and claim it. Use the EITC Assistant to find out if you qualify.

3 Additional Child Tax Credit. If you have at least one qualifying child and you don’t get the full amount of the Child Tax Credit, you may qualify for this additional refundable credit. You must file and use new Schedule 8812, Child Tax Credit, to claim the credit.

4. American Opportunity Credit. If you or someone you support is a student,

you might be eligible for this credit. Students in their first four years of postsecondary education may qualify for as much as $2,500 through this partially refundable credit. Even those who owe no tax can get up to $1,000 of the credit as cash back for each eligible student. You must file Form 8863, Education Credits, and submit it with your tax return to claim the credit.

5. Health Coverage Tax Credit. If you’re receiving Trade Adjustment Assistance, Reemployment Trade Adjustment Assistance, Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance or pension benefit payments from the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, you may be eligible for a 2012 Health Coverage Tax Credit. Spouses and dependents may also be eligible. If you’re eligible, you can receive a 72.5 percent tax credit on payments you made for qualified health insurance premiums. ♦

Want more information about filing requirements and tax credits? Visit IRS.gov.

San Diego County Credit Union (SDCCU), San Diego’s largest locally-owned financial institution with a Mission Valley branch office at 2245 Fenton Parkway, Suite 107, in the Fenton Marketplace, just west of Qualcomm Stadium, has announced it has added live mobile chat services for its customers using iPhones and Android smartphones. SDCCU reports it is only one of two U.S.-based companies, the other being Cisco, currently offering live mobile chat capabilities for both iPhone and Android mobile devices.

SDCCU said it is providing the new customer benefit through a partnership with New York-based LivePerson, Inc., a

provider of intelligent engagement solutions driven by a cloud-based platform that enables businesses to proactively connect in real-time with customers.

“Our customers who carry the iPhone or Android smartphones can now connect in real-time through seamless integration with a live SDCCU customer service representative for an enhanced customer experience,” said Teresa Halleck, SDCCU president/CEO. “Our team of experienced and knowledgeable representatives are standing by, ready to support our customers and create meaningful, personalized connections across multiple secure online channels.” ♦

Who Should File a 2012 Tax Return? Credit union adds livemobile chat for smartphhones

a broad palate and bone dry, not sweet like the better-known style.

Wines tell many stories and I like to think, in truly great wines, you can taste the winemaker’s passion and hard work. A great example of this quality from the Pfalz is the 2010 Koehler-Ruprecht Kallstadter Saumagen Riesling Kabinett Trocken. The Pfalz had a difficult 2010. It was hit and miss throughout the region, but for some wineries, such as Koehler-Ruprecht, it turned out to be one of the most surprising and best vintages. The wine has a beautiful balance of elegance and richness. The limestone soil of the Saumagen Vineyard has a notable influence on the wine, which creates a mineral, full-bodied wine with bright citrus acidity. This wine is a great value at around $20 per bottle.

I actually had the good fortune to work at this small, yet prominent, winery, so I can assure you this is top quality wine. I learned firsthand the intricacies of these stunning wines with

astonishing longevity. And this wine is just a glimpse of the fabulous treats this winery and country have to offer.

The good news is you can enjoy a glass or bottle at local San Diego restaurants, such as Herringbone, Georges and Market Restaurant Bar and Grill.

The 2010 Koehler-Ruprecht Saumagen Riesling can age for 10 to 15 years, but if you plan to drink now it can come across a bit aggressive but some time in a decanter and it really opens up.

Pairs well with fish, poultry and pork dishes. A helpful pairing rule is “what grows together, goes together,” meaning food and wines have a sense of place. Traditional German dishes are designed to pair with traditional German wines. The richness of the Rieslings from the Pfalz go particularly well with a classic Snitzel. Guten appetite! ♦

Karen Irizarry is a certified sommelier who has worked vintages in Australia and Germany and is currently working vintage in New Zealand. Originally from New Jersey, Irizarry received her bachelor’s of architecture from Virginia Tech. After moving to California, she developed a passion for wine while working under advanced sommelier and wine director Brian Donegan at San Diego’s Market Restaurant and Bar. Irizarry’s passion for food and wine is reflected in her blog, whiteorred.blogspot.com.

Wine, from page 7

garages and multiple balconies. To date, Origen skyLoft has sold 39 of 73 homes.

Three- and four-story courtyard homes at Origen socialGarden are slightly larger, ranging from 1,390 to 2,050 square feet with two to three bedrooms, two to three baths, two-car garages and individual balconies. Prices now range from the mid $400,000s. Origen socialGarden has sold 59 of 127 homes.

Origen opened in December 2011 as the first new residential community within Civita, whose plans call for 4,780 residential homes and apartments, approximately 480,000 square feet for a lifestyle retail center and 420,000 square feet for an office/

business campus over the next 10-15 years. This 230-acre master planned community is being developed as a sustainable transit-oriented village by Sudberry Properties. Upon build-out, Origen homeowners will be able to walk to a large central park, gardens, shopping, dining and entertainment.

Origen is located at 7894 Civita Blvd. in San Diego. Situated just east of SR-163, Origen is convenient to employment centers, mass transit, several universities and San Diego’s highest concentration of upscale retail. With easy access to two major freeways, Origen is minutes from downtown San Diego as well as the beach areas. ♦

Civita, from page 3


money for this long-desired project in Balboa Park, and at a minimum render very difficult a centennial celebration along the lines hoped for by some,” noted the court’s tentative ruling, which was reaffirmed Feb. 4. “The court agrees the positives from the project seem to far outweigh the negatives. … SOHO’s opposition to the project seems short-sighted, as the project appears to offer many net benefits in terms of restoration of historic resources. But the law is the law, and the court is bound to follow it.”

Reacting to the judicial decision, Bruce Coons, the executive director of SOHO, the oldest continually operating historic preservation organization in California, released this statement:

“SOHO is extremely gratified by the court’s ruling. Balboa Park is a rare and extraordinary site, filled with history, culture, and beauty. It would have been nothing short of a travesty to lose this treasure to a remodel better suited for an industrial park. This is a victory not only for the people of San Diego who have venerated Balboa Park as the ‘People’s Park’ for generations, but also for the millions of visitors who come to San Diego just to see this international gem.”

In 2010, civic leaders, led by then-Mayor Jerry Sanders and Qualcomm co-founder Irwin Jacobs, launched an effort to reclaim the Plaza de Panama and

adjacent areas for pedestrian use in time for the 2015 Centennial celebration of the Panama-California Exposition. That is to be accomplished via a plan known as the Balboa Park Plaza de Panama, Circulation and Parking Structure Project.

Under this plan presented by Jacobs, cars entering the park from the west would be diverted, once they’ve crossed the Laurel Street Bridge, to an elevated roadway behind the Alcazar Garden leading to the Alcazar parking lot. There, visitors could drop off passengers, use valet parking or continue on to a two-story, paid parking structure.

Since making the proposal, Jacobs has been busy raising the $40 million cost of erecting the Centennial Bridge, which is planned to link up with an 800-space, underground paid-parking garage to be located behind Spreckels Organ Pavilion.

In 2010, Sanders, noting Plaza de Panama was built for the 1915 Exposition as a grand ceremonial plaza for the public contended, over time, that it has been transformed into a grand ceremonial parking lot for cars.

“We will reclaim that plaza for ourselves and posterity before the park’s centennial celebration in 2015,” he said.

According to Balboa Park’s website, the Plaza de Panama project seeks to transform the core of Balboa Park by removing cars from the heart of the park – the Plaza de Panama, Plaza de

California, West El Prado and Esplanade – restoring those areas to their historic use as pedestrian park spaces.

The website said the project would create 6.3 acres of new parks, plazas and promenades out of what are now roads and parking lots.

The Plaza de Panama project was scheduled to be complete in time for the 2015 Centennial Celebration, and would have provides spectacular venues for the year-long celebration planned in Balboa Park.

But detractors of the plan, environmentalists and historical preservationists including SOHO, contend the project as proposed “would have devastating impacts on the iconic architecture and cultural landscapes of national historic landmark Balboa Park.”

What Jacobs and the city should do, said SOHO’s Coons, is “have a truly independent environmental review of viable alternatives and pick the one that has the least impact on the park and the most benefit.”

Coons said SOHO has a list of alternatives to the Plaza de Panama project, and the rationale for them, on its website at www.sohosandiego.org.

Proponents of the Plaza de Panama plan could not be reached for comment.

Following the court’s Feb. 4 ruling, Coons criticized his opposition’s tact, calling it a “My Way or the Highway attitude.” “Despite dozens of public and several private meetings, there was never any genuine opportunity to find an agreeable compromise,” he said.

Asked if he thought the ruling could be a project-killer, Coons replied, “If you see the ruling … There’s no way to proceed.” ♦

Mission Valley library EventsAnansi Stories!Feb. 21, 10:30 a.m.Celebrate Black History Month with a special performance by musician & storyteller Kunama Mtendaji as he uses musical accompaniment, singing, and different voices to retell stories of Anansi the Spider! Enjoy such classic Anansi tales as “How Anansi Got a Narrow Waist,” “Anansi and the Moss Covered Rock,” and “Anansi and His Six Sons” told through music. Join us for this fun and interactive family event!Dark Secrets Film Series: “Laura” (1944)Feb. 27, 6 p.m.Lies and deceit abound in Otto Preminger’s chic whodunit. A hard-boiled NYC detective (Dana Andrews) begins to fall for a Manhattan smart-setter (Gene Tierney) whose murder he is investigating. With Clifton Webb and Vincent Price. Discussion with SDPL film expert Ralph DeLauro to follow the screening.Sumi-E Art ClassWednesdays, 3 to 5:30 p.m.Learn the classical Japanese style of ink and brush.tai Chi Classthursdays, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. This class is designed for adults 55+ and will teach students strategies for implementing physical exercise and relaxation techniques in addition to Tai Chi.Yogatuesdays , 6 to 7 p.m.For adults and teens. Learn yoga, an easy to learn workout program that requires little or no equipment and soothes your soul while toning your body.

GeT involveD!The Mission Valley Planning Group meets at the Mission Valley Library on the first Wednesday of every month at noon. This is a public forum and your chance to voice your opinion. No decisions get to the city council without going through the Mission Valley Planning Group first. The meeting is held in the community room and is accessed from the outside patio on the North side of the building.

Circulation: 15,000. Published 12 times in 2013 and delivered throughout our circula-tion area of Mission Valley, San Diego, California by Mission Publishing Group, LLC. Classified ads and articles must be submitted by mail, e-mail or dropped off at our busi-ness address, 6549 Mission Gorge Road #199, San Diego 92120.Publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertisements or material submitted which are deemed to be objectionable. Publisher’s liability for errors: Mission Valley News & Views assumes no financial liability for errors nor for omission of copy and upon request will furnish a letter of correction to the advertiser. The Publisher, Mission Publishing Group, LLC., shall not be liable for any error in published advertising unless an adver-tiser proof is requested in writing 12 days prior to publication date and clearly marked for corrections. If the error is not corrected by the Publisher, the liability, if any, shall not exceed the space occupied for the error. Further, the Publisher shall not be liable for any omission of an advertisement ordered to be published. On written request, Publisher shall reschedule and run the omitted advertisement at the advertiser’s cost. All claims for adjustment must be made in writing within 30 days of the date of publication. In no case shall the Publisher be liable for any general, special or consequential damages.

Equal Housing Opportunity: Real estate advertising in Mission Valley News is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimi-nation.” Mission Valley News & Views will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate that is in violation of the law. This is to notify Mission Valley News readers that all dwellings advertised in Mission Valley News are available on an equal oppor-tunity basis. To complain of discrimination call HUD at 1-800-669-9777 or TTY at 1-800-927-9275.News and information printed in Mission Valley News is obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but accuracy on information sent to the paper cannot be guaranteed. Articles and opinions of writers or letters to the editor that are submit-ted for publication to the Mission Valley News are the views of the writers and should not be considered the views of the publisher. Content of paid advertisements is solely the responsibility of the advertiser. © 2007–2013, all rights reserved.

EDITORGenevieve A. Suzuki, ext. [email protected]

PUBLISHERMission Publishing Group, LLCJim Madaffer, ext. [email protected]

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTSBecky Suffridge, ext. [email protected]

ART DIRECTOREdward Ramos, ext. [email protected]

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSJen Van Tieghem • Gina Cord • Susan Gibbons-Bullock

OUR NEXT ISSUE The next issue of the Mission Valley Newscomes out Friday, March 15. The advertisingdeadline is Thursday, Feb. 26

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Plaza, from page 1


National Comedy Theatre (NCT) will bring couples together one laugh at a time with a special “House of Cards” show in honor of Valentine’s Day for those who want to celebrate with their significant others in a creative and entertaining way. Tickets are now available for the annual “House of Cards” performance Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m at the theatre’s venue located at 3717 India St. in the Mission Hills neighborhood of San Diego.

Valentine’s Day activities can be challenging to coordinate and there is no better way to celebrate with the one you love most than by spending an evening laughing with the experts. The “House of Cards” production is set up in two parts. During the first part, the cast will interview a random, married couple from the audience. The cast will then play significant scenes from their life together, anything from their first meeting, first date, meeting the parents and even their

wedding day. The second half is set

aside for “Comedy Court.” Here couples will have opportunity to “sue” their spouses for pet peeves they may be struggling with. In past shows, an individual sued his girlfriend because she couldn’t make a sandwich correctly, and a girl sued her fiancé because he wanted to build all of their furniture instead of actually buying it. NCT cast members pull out all the stops for each part of the show with emotion and music, to ensure the authenticity of the couple’s significant milestones. Cast members also act as the lawyers, judge, bailiff and witnesses. The audience will act as the jury during Comedy Court. ♦

Tickets are $10 per person for the “House of Cards” performance. For more information or to purchase tickets online, please visit www.nationalcomedy.com or contact the NCT Box Office at (619) 295-4999.

California Ballet will host its annual Choreographer’s Concert, “Beyond the Barre,” at the Coronado High School Performing Arts Center Feb. 23 at 7 p.m.

Throughout its history California Ballet has bestowed on emerging and established choreographers, many from San Diego, an opportunity to create

and to develop their own personal dance statements. “Beyond the Barre” provides that opportunity for choreographers of all dance genres to show work or work-in-progress in a professional setting. The pieces will have a variety of movement covering multiple styles of dance, including ballet, contemporary, hip hop and aerial silks.

This year’s “Beyond the Barre” will begin with a retrospective honoring the nearly 50 choreographers who have contributed over 150 ballets during California Ballet’s 45 years. Excerpts will be performed from: Coppelia Act 2 by Maxine Mahon, Opus 55 by former associate director Charles Bennett, Clowns by former ballet master and resident choreographer Paul Koverman, Spanish Serenades by Judith Sharp, Dry Roses by Betzi Roe, Brandenburg Concerto by Kathy Auten and Trio by Wayne Davis.

The roster of choreographers includes company dancers Hugo

Carreon (new ballet – The Sorcerer’s Apprentice), Amanda Daly, Kyndall Foote and Becky Palmer (all with new contemporary ballets), and alumna Jennifer Curry (on Aerial Silks). Live music by San Diego Flamenco guitarists Malamaña will accompany Amanda Daly’s new work.

Malamaña will also provide preshow on stage entertainment. Malamaña’s music draws from many styles- rumba, rock, jazz, salsa, blues and flamenco and is the combination of the musical flavors and talents of John “Juanito” Tidwell and Fred “Fredi” Kunze who have played together as a guitar duo since the year 2000. The Malamaña sound was born and developed amid the fun and musical freedom of the tapas bar at Cafe Sevilla in San Diego. They play regularly at Andiamo’s Ristorante Italiano in Tierrasanta.

CBC will host two guests on the program using dancers from their own groups. Based in Tijuana since 2007, Péndulo Cero

incorporates cohesive, deep and conscientious teamwork using movement techniques like the Feldenkrais Method, contemporary dance, ballet and physical theater. Their investigative style and artistic achievements together with their philosophy of inclusion and risk, as well as their collective participation, have given the company community and national recognition. The Body Poets are an eclectic group of dancers who come together for the sole purpose of entertaining. This group of top notch street dancers consists of hip hop dancers, b-boys, poppers, and even a tap dancer. They have managed to harness the raw energy of street performance and dress it up for the stage with their signature spandex costumes and the use of lasers and LED lights. Their electrifying performances on America’s Got Talent stunned the judges.

“The arts are all about community. We are proud

to provide an outlet for local artistic expression, as well as a means for the community to experience a very important facet of our city’s cultural tapestry,” said Maxine Mahon, director of California Ballet Company. ♦

General admission to the event is $20. Advance sales recommended as seating is limited. For tickets, call the California Ballet box office at (858) 560-6741 or visit www.californiaballet.org.

California Ballet Goes “Beyond the Barre”

National Comedy Theatre Hosts Unique Night Out for Local Lovebirds


Show Your Love for San Diegans Affected by HIV/AIDS in February

Mama’s Pantry, a service of Mama’s Kitchen, provides a nutritional shopping opportunity at no cost for men, women and children of San Diego County affected by HIV/AIDS. The public’s help is needed in February to host food drives throughout the county to ensure the shelves are full with nutritious non-perishable food items. Mama’s Kitchen aims to collect 100 barrels of food for Mama’s Pantry.

“Hunger is a year-round issue and especially critical during the winter months, and why we look to the generosity of our community to collect much-needed food for San Diegans in need,” said Alberto Cortés, executive director, Mama’s Kitchen. “We’d like to involve local businesses, schools, and places of worship in sponsoring one or more

of our barrels. These donations will help us ensure that we can continue our mission of providing the basic necessity of life – nutritious food.”

Established in 2004, the Mama’s Pantry service is designed to meet the needs of low income clients with HIV/AIDS who can benefit from occasional nutritional support to maintain their health and stretch their food budget. Once a month, clients can visit Mama’s Pantry and select their own non-perishable items such as cereals, pastas, and canned goods from a wide inventory. Perishable items such as chicken, ground beef, eggs, cheese and milk are also offered in Mama’s Pantry.

It is easy to sponsor and

host a food drive for Mama’s Pantry. To schedule a barrel delivery to your location contact Bill Patten at [email protected]. Mama’s Kitchen will also make arrangements to pick up the barrels once the food drive has ended. A wish list of the non-perishable food items that you can customize will also be provided for your group to use for promotion.

Non-perishable food donation recommendations include the following: canned tuna or salmon, boxes of cereal, bottles of cooking oil, jars of peanut butter, jars of jelly, bags of rice, packages of dried beans, spaghetti sauce, canned goods (fruits, soups, vegetables, chili, pasta and beans) and small boxes of dry milk. ♦

Host a FoodDrive forMama’s Pantry

Step right up, step right up! Behold the Devil with Two Heads centipede, tremble before the Goliath Bird-Eating tarantula, and gaze upon the Glowing Terror scorpion! Dr. Entomo’s Palace of Exotic Wonders opens Feb. 22 at San Diego Natural History Museum, bringing with it the most peculiar and astonishing bugs on Earth.

Resembling an old-fashioned circus sideshow, this “bug zoo” exhibition explores the truth, myths and mysteries surrounding some of nature’s most curious insects, arachnids and other arthropods – many of them alive and on display. Those daring enough to enter will be captivated by the deceptive and treacherous techniques these creepy crawlies employ for their own survival.

Learn how the Vietnamese Centipede, otherwise known as the Devil with Two Heads, confounds predators with a tail that looks just like its head. Discover how the Giant African Millipede, though harmless-looking enough, can unleash a poisonous cyanide secretion.

See for yourself the unnatural neon glow of the Emperor Scorpion.

“Given the NAT’s expertise of southern California arthropod species, we’ve added a local facet that makes this traveling exhibition unique to San Diego,” said Dr. Michael Wall, Curator of Entomology and Vice President of

Research and Public Programs. “This gallery displays bugs San Diegans can encounter each day. Here you will learn how the horsehair worm turns the Jerusalem cricket into a zombie with an insatiable thirst, why the maternally macabre tarantula hawk spider wasp paralyzes tarantulas, and how an alien

invasion of Argentine ants is taking over California.”

In addition to the local insects theNAT brings to the exhibition, Dr. Entomo’s Palace of Exotic Wonders includes 18 baffling species of live critters, as well as mounted specimens.

“The new Dr. Entomo exhibition is all about entomology, as in, bugs. But this isn’t your usual museum pin-board display,” said Dr. Michael W. Hager, president and CEO of San Diego Natural History Museum. “Dr. Entomo’s is one part fun tiny circus, one part freak show and one part educational experience for the whole family,” he said. “But be forewarned! The stars of this exhibition are sure to delight the young, inquisitive minds in your family and some grownups might find the little creatures quite outrageous.” ♦

Dr. Entomo’s Palace of Exotic Wonders will be on display at theNAT until June 2. Entrance to the exhibition is included with general admission to the Museum and free for Museum members. For more information, please visit www.sdnhm.org/dr-entomo.

Bugging Out at the Natural History Museum

A spectacular immersive digital theater experience, “Cosmic Collisions,” narrated by award-winning actor, director and producer Robert Redford, crashed into the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center’s Eugene Heikoff and Marilyn Jacobs Heikoff Dome Theater Jan. 19. Featuring stunning images from space and breathtaking visualizations based on cutting-edge scientific data, the dazzling “Cosmic Collisions” reveals the unimaginable, explosive encounters that shaped our solar system, changed the course of life on Earth and continue to transform our galaxy and dynamic universe.

From subatomic particles to the largest galaxies, cosmic collisions are a universal force of nature. Creative and also destructive, dynamic and dazzling, collisions have resulted

in many things we take for granted: the luminescent moon, the sun’s warmth and light, our changing seasons and waves washing up on a sandy shore. They’ve ended the age of dinosaurs and changed the very map of the cosmos, reforming galaxies and giving birth to new stars and new worlds. “Cosmic Collisions” provides an unprecedented and extraordinary view of these events – both catastrophic and constructive – that have shaped our world and our universe.

“Cosmic Collisions” launches visitors on a thrilling trip through space and time – well beyond the calm face of the night sky – to explore cosmic collisions, hypersonic impacts that drive the dynamic and continuing evolution of the universe. Groundbreaking

Colliding into the Cosmos

See Cosmos page 16


Cosmos, from page 15

scientific simulations and visualizations based on cutting-edge research developed by American Museum of Natural History astrophysicists, scientists at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and other international colleagues explore the full range of space collisions, past, present and future.

Viewers witness the violent face of our sun, imaged by NASA satellites, that produces enormous ejections of material from our star toward our planet. The resulting subatomic clashes, as streams of charged particles from the sun strike Earth’s magnetic field, produce the eerie glow of the aurora borealis and the aurora australis. “Cosmic Collisions” also shows the creation of our moon some five billion years ago when a wandering planetoid struck Earth; the violent meeting of two

stars at the edge of the galaxy; and the future collision of our Milky Way galaxy with our closest neighbor, the Andromeda spiral galaxy, a cosmic crash that will produce a new giant elliptical galaxy billions of years from now.

Audiences feel the ground shake beneath them as they experience a thrilling recreation of the meteorite impact that hastened the end of the age of dinosaurs 65 million years ago and cleared the way for mammals like us to thrive. Another dramatic sequence highlights

a frightening future scenario where humanity desperately attempts to divert the path of an oncoming “doomsday” asteroid headed on a collision course with Earth.

“Cosmic Collisions” is running in an open-ended engagement. The Reuben H. Fleet Science

Center Heikoff Dome Theater is located

at 1875 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101. Giant Dome Screen Theater admission (one film plus

access to all exhibit galleries):

adults $15.75; children $12.75; seniors

$12.75. ♦The Fleet’s normal

hours are Monday to Thursday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For information on tickets and show times, call (619) 238-1233 or visit the Fleet’s website at www.rhfleet.org/site/imax/index.cfm.

Mayor Bob Filner fulfilled a campaign promise this month and officially ended the controversial Red Light Photo Enforcement Program, bringing San Diego Police Department officers back to red light violation patrol.

Standing with San Diego Police Chief William Lansdowne, the mayor made the announcement at what was the busiest red light camera intersection in the City, Grape Street and North Harbor Drive, just a mile from the San Diego International Airport.

The mayor and chief watched as city crews removed the enforcement warning signs at the intersection, where many visitors and residents drive through while leaving the airport for other destinations. The intersection produced more than 30 percent of all citations issued when the photo enforcement program was active.

Filner allowed the city’s

current contract to expire and chose not to renew or issue a new contract to continue the program.

“Until midnight last night this system used robotic technology to capture unsuspecting motorists in the San Diego version of a traffic trap,” said the mayor. “This is not the way to enforce the traffic laws or teach people about the traffic laws. The best deterrent is a police officer, writing citations and talking to citizens.”

“I have listened to residents who are angry and confused about the reliability of this system. I have heard from traffic engineers about accident statistics and changing traffic patterns on our roadways. And, I have listened carefully to Chief Lansdowne as he described the training, knowledge and discretion his officers bring to enforcing traffic laws,” Filner said. “These cameras are history on San Diego city streets.” ♦

Filner Ends Red LightPhoto Enforcement

Mission Valley News - February 2013

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