$120 mill infrastructure bond passed by City Council
On Tuesday, Jan. 14, the City Council unanimously approved the issuance of a $120 million deferred capital bond to go toward addressing the backlog of the city’s capital improvement projects, which in 2011 was estimated to be approximately $898 million. Many suspect that number is much larger today.
More than $43 million from the bond is earmarked for street resurfacing, and a significant amount of funding is dedicated to new capital projects, such as the San Ysidro Library and Fire Station 5 in Hillcrest.
“San Diegans deserve neighborhoods with smooth roads, sound facilities, and water and sewer pipes that don’t break,” Interim Mayor Todd Gloria stated in a press release. “This bond will help us achieve that goal.”
This lease-revenue bond is the largest of several issued throughout the last few years as part of a $500 million, five-year bonding program previously approved by the City Council.
“This type of funding is appropriate at this time while construction costs and interest rates are still competitive,” Councilmember and Infrastructure Committee Chair Mark Kersey stated in a press release. He said other funding options will have to be used in conjunction with the bond program in order to address the full scope of the city’s infrastructure funding needs.
Redwood Bridge Club announces art show winners
After its inaugural December art show, Balboa Park’s Redwood Bridge Club announced the art show’s democratically chosen winners, whose works received the most votes throughout their month on display. Lois Simmons, the Redwood Bridge Club’s president and contest organizer, won first place in the contest. Bella Hollingsworth and Mark Smith won second and third place, respectively. Each month, the Redwood Bridge Club features works of art from a member of the community in their lounge. January’s featured artist is Marian Zeldin. More information about the Redwood Bridge Club can be found at redwoodbridgeclub.blogspot.com.
The Salon of Art in Mission Hills hosts its 10th annual art show
The art school of Concetta Antico hosts its 10th annual art show on Jan. 25, showcasing the work of approximately 30 students. Said to be a medical marvel, Antico is a tetrachromat, which means she has a fourth color vision receptor in her eyes. She has received significant media attention for this, as it allows her to perceive 100 million different colors (100 times more than what is visible to the average human). While tetrachromacy is a recently discovered phenomenon in humans, it’s been estimated that two to three percent of women could be affected by it. Regardless of the condition’s prevalence, Antico attributes her insight into color theory to her “supervision.”
Antico has taught at her Mission Hills art studio for more than two decades, instructing more than 12,000 students to unlock their creativity through painting. The work of her current students will be on display from 6 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 25 at The Salon of Art, 1920 Fort Stockton Dr., Suite A in Mission Hills.
MAYBEBOP visits Albert Einstein Academies
On Tuesday, Jan. 21, award-winning German a cappella group MAYBEBOP will lead a workshop of 70 fifth graders at Albert Einstein Academies (AEA) to teach students about a cappella, and to share with them the diversity of Germany’s culture through two concerts. German TV station ZDF will also be on campus to film footage for its documentary on MAYBEBOP’s U.S. tour.
“This is the first time we are bringing this type of immersive, cultural experience to our students,” Birgit Schafer, AEA’s German programs coordinator, said in a press release. “We are honored to have MAYBEBOP join us and showcase the German language that our students are exposed to every day at school along with their passion for music and creative expression.”
While the MAYBEBOP’s first concert of the day will be open only to AEA students, its second performance at 5 p.m. will be open to parents and the public. Entrance is $10 per person. More information can be found aeacs.org.
Hillcrest Clean T.E.A.M. hits the streets
On Saturday, Jan. 18, the Hillcrest Clean T.E.A.M. (Together Everyone Achieves More) will host a Community Cleanup from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. to cleanup the Hillcrest neighborhood, and they invite all to volunteer an hour or two of their time to join in on the effort. Volunteers will receive a free, orange Hillcrest T.E.A.M. t-shirt. Refreshments will also be served. Volunteers should meet at 200 W. Arbor Drive at the main hospital entrance. For more information, contact Zach Schlagel or David Mier at 619-543-3665.
EarthFair 2014 date announced
The 24th annual EarthFair will take place on April 27, and is now open for exhibitor and volunteer registration. Billed as the world’s largest free annual environmental fair, EarthFair attracts approximately 60,000 visitors each year, and is centered around Earth Day on April 22. The organizers, San Diego EarthWorks, have already planned for the 25th annual EarthFair for April 19, 2015 coinciding with the year of Balboa Park’s Centennial. San Diego EarthWorks encourages anyone interested in volunteering or becoming a vendor to email [email protected] or call 858-272-7370.
Local health officials urge San Diegans to get flu vaccination
As of Dec. 28, 357 flu cases have been reported this flu season, which is 50 percent more than the number of cases reported this time last season, reported KPBS. Additionally, more than 80 percent of those cases were identified to be the H1N1 strain, or “swine flu,” which caused a worldwide pandemic in 2009. While there have been no deaths in San Diego County, 10 people over the age of 65 have been hospitalized and taken to intensive care. County health officials urge that everyone get vaccinated if they haven’t already, especially young adults, who are most susceptible to H1N1. Last year, 5,300 influenza cases were reported in San Diego County, as well as 65 fatalities, although H3N2 was the strain circulating then, which health officials say causes more servere infection than H1N1.
San Diego mayoral debates solidified
As the Feb. 11 runoff election date nears, councilmembers and mayoral hopefuls Kevin Faulconer and David Alvarez have agreed to participate in six debates from Jan. 15 to Jan. 31. Each will be broadcasted and moderated by a San Diego media outlet and will be cohosted by local community associations, although the organizations paired with the media outlets have yet to be finalized. The mayoral debate schedule is as follows: KUSI News (Channel 9, 51); Jan. 23, 6 p.m.: hosted by NBC 7 San Diego (Channel 7/39); Jan. 26, 9 p.m.: hosted by San Diego 6 the CW (Channel 6); Jan. 30, 11 a.m.: hosted by KFMB (760 AM and Channel 8); Jan. 31, 6 p.m.: hosted by Univision San Diego (Channel 17). The nine community associations in the process of partnering with a media host are Educate for the Future and the Cesar Chavez Service Clubs, Livable Streets Coalition, Mid-City Community Advocacy Network Youth Council, San Diego Center for the Blind, San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, San Diego Society of Professional Journalists, Senior Community Centers San Diego, and the Veterans Museum.
Rebranded Mardi Gras announces new location
The Hillcrest Business Association (HBA) and the GSDBA Charitable Foundation announced the Hillcrest Mardi Gras will take place on March 4 in its rebranded form as “Hillcrest Fat Tuesday.” The celebration will begin with a parade of floats beginning on Park Blvd., continuing down University Avenue and ending on Tenth Avenue, where the other festivities will take place. Originally created to raise money for college scholarships for LGBT students, this year the proceeds will be divided between HBA and the GSDBA Charitable Foundation, which will use the funds for LGBT scholarships that will be presented to students in conjunction with the HBA. For more info, visit hillcrestbia.org.