Thousands walk in People’s Climate March
Thousand of San Diegans participated in the People’s Climate March on April 29, calling on local leaders to “support a just and rapid transition to 100 percent clean energy and to oppose the Trump administration’s rollback of climate policies the protect the planet,” according to a news release by climate change action group San Diego 350.
The local event began with a rally at Waterfront Park in front of the historic County Administration Building. Marchers walked through Downtown to gather outside City Hall.
The local march was organized by a coalition of environmental, social justice, labor and faith organizations, and took place in solidarity with the People’s Climate Mobilization on the same day in Washington, D.C. Hundreds of other sister marches were held around the U.S. and the world.
Organizers said the administration’s failure to take climate change seriously denies San Diegans — and their children and grandchildren — the nation’s enshrined freedom to pursue the American dream. Coming on the 100th day of the Trump administration, they said, this march was a rejection of the policies that threaten our freedom, future, health and communities: policies that reject climate science and strip protections based on gender, race, immigration status, religion, sexual orientation and disabilities.
“The federal government is out of step with the needs of our families, our communities and the planet,” said Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez-Fletcher, one of the rally speakers.
“The progress we’ve made in California on workers rights, immigration rights, and reducing carbon pollution is too important to let them stop us. Californians are resisting rollbacks and are fighting for 100 percent clean energy, access to transit, protection for immigrants and healthy communities — and by demanding a more democratic and accountable structure for San Diego’s transportation agency.”
Follow 350.org to support the climate change and climate injustice movement.
Culinary fundraiser benefits literacy
At the San Diego Council on Literacy’s eighth annual “Eat.Drink.Read. A Culinary Event for Literacy,” foodies will savor imaginative bites and brews prepared by the region’s finest chefs on Thursday, May 18 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the San Diego Air & Space Museum in Balboa Park.
The popular event features original dishes created by celebrated local chefs — with each bite inspired by the chefs’ favorite books. This year’s theme will include cuisine created in homage to “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,” “Babbling Beth, the Story Chef” and “Have You Filled a Bucket Today?”
Beer and spirits from local breweries and distilleries will accompany the cuisine, allowing samplings from a wide variety of craftsmen.
New this year: Celebrity judges, including food writer and Food Network host Troy Johnson, will dole out awards to chefs in the following categories: Best Dish (non-dessert), Best Dessert, Best Table Display and Best Pairing of Book with Dish Concept.
“Eat.Drink.Read.” raises money needed to support the organization’s 29 affiliated programs that provide free literacy assistance annually to more than 170,000 children, families and adults throughout San Diego County.
“One in five adults in San Diego possess below-basic literacy skills,” council CEO Jose Cruz said in a news release. “Many of these adults are also parents, and their children become adversely affected by low-level reading skills at home. We work to address this problem through our literacy programs which are funded, in part, through Eat.Drink.Read.”
Tickets are $75 at bit.ly/2nPiftx.
Reading Cinemas called best movie value
San Diego movie lovers can enjoy the latest Hollywood blockbusters, while saving money at the box office and concession stand, thanks to super savings available at Reading Cinemas Grossmont in La Mesa and Town Square in Clairemont.
Starting Friday, May 5, Reading Cinemas is introducing new, lower ticket pricing of $8.50 for most movies along with concession discounts including endless popcorn all day, every day.
Tickets will cost $10 to see movies filmed in Titan XC, a new, premium motion picture experience featuring state-of-the-art digital projection on one of San Diego’s biggest movie screens, and immersive multi-channel Dolby Atmos sound. This is currently exclusive to Reading Cinemas Grossmont, located at 5500 Grossmont Center Drive in La Mesa, directly off the 8 and 125 freeways.
Guests who purchase an extra-large popcorn for only $6 will receive free refills to share with friends and family all day long.
For advance tickets and show times, visit ReadingCinemasUS.com.
Free mammograms at Petco Park
The San Diego Padres and Padres Foundation are partnering with Susan G. Komen San Diego to provide qualified people with access to free mammograms on Saturday, May 13 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Petco Park.
Go to Park at the Park. Enter via the East Village Gate on 10th Avenue at K Street.
For more than a decade, Major League Baseball (MLB), with the support of all 30 teams, has dedicated Mother’s Day to raising breast cancer awareness. Major League Baseball goes to bat against breast cancer, raising money by auctioning commemorative pink baseball items and memorabilia.
The May 13 event at Petco Park will provide free mammograms and clinical breast exams for people in San Diego County who do not have health insurance or who are under-insured. Those who are eligible for a free screening at this event include women who are over 40 years of age and had their last mammogram at least one full year ago (365 days ago or longer), or those who are under 40 years of age and are experiencing symptoms.
If it hasn’t been a full year since your last mammogram and you need assistance, please dial 211 to speak to a Komen San Diego breast health specialist who can direct you appropriately. All participants will also receive a primary medical placement and be linked to a medical home, which is important for following up each year. Additional breast health information will also be available.
Free parking is available on a first-come, first-serve basis in the Lexus Premier Lot, located on the corner of Park Boulevard and Imperial Avenue.
To pre-register and to inquire about qualifying, call 858-573-2760 x 103.
VFW honors Atkins
The Veterans of Foreign Wars “Legislator of the Year” award is given every year to members of the California state Legislature who have provided leadership on veterans issues. This year at their Legislative Day and Reception, held April 19 in Sacramento, the award was given to Sen. Toni G. Atkins, who represents San Diego, and Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin of Thousand Oaks.
“We are proud to recognize these two outstanding legislators,” said Steve Milano, the VFW’s Dept. of California state adjutant and quartermaster. “Senator Atkins and Assemblywoman Irwin have been instrumental in advancing veterans’ programs in California and we are pleased to recognize their hard work and achievements on behalf of the veterans of our state.”
Atkins has long been a supporter and champion of veterans. She has always made their issues among her top priorities and remained actively involved in efforts to secure affordable housing and other well-earned benefits for all veterans and their families, including LGBT veterans.
A bill Atkins co-authored, which led to Proposition 41, has so far awarded $180 million in contracts for affordable housing for 1,600 veterans, with more on the way. Atkins has also pushed for increased funding for support personnel positions at veterans claims offices to help veterans track down overdue and current payments and benefits. In addition, she is an avid supporter of “Stand Down,” the annual weekend event that connects homeless veterans to vital services, and launched the “Socks for Stand Down” program several years ago that brings hundreds of socks every year for attending veterans.
“It’s truly an honor to have my efforts on behalf of veterans recognized by an effective advocacy organization like the VFW,” Atkins said. “Not only are veterans an important and venerable component of San Diego’s population and history; military service is also a major part of my DNA, with numerous members of my family having served in the armed forces. For me, taking care of veterans is both personal and a public-policy imperative.”
For more information about Atkins, visit senate.ca.gov/Atkins.