Orcas spotted on whale-watching trip For the second time this month, guests aboard the Hornblower Cruises & Events’ Whale and Dolphin Watching Adventure were treated to a rare sight as a pod of five orcas (killer whales) surfaced close to the vessel Dec. 17. According to cruise officials, the orcas swam up to the vessel and were close enough for passengers to feel the mist coming from the whale’s blowholes. It was the second such sighting of orcas about nine miles off the coast of Point Loma. Cruise officials said the most recent encounter included five adult orcas and a newborn calf thought to be just hours old. Hornblower passengers on an afternoon excursion the same day got a glimpse of two large California gray whales, a common sight between December and March when the whales undertake the longest migration by any mammal from the Arctic Sea to Baja California. For tickets and information, call (888) 467-6256, or visit www.hornblower.com. Beach-area sites will recycle Christmas trees The city has set up drop-off points across the city to recycle Christmas trees. Today’s trees that are alight and sparkling will become tomorrow’s mulch, wood chips and compost. San Diego residents who already recycle their yard waste curbside can leave their bare trees on the curbs for the city to pick up. The remainder of San Diego residents can recycle their trees from Dec. 26 to Jan. 23 at 16 locations. Trees sprayed with fake snow are accepted. Trees must be stripped of ornaments and lights. Recycling Christmas trees keeps them out of the Miramar landfill. “Green waste, such as yard clippings and other organic materials, including Christmas trees, have made up over 20 percent of the material buried in the landfill,” said Chris Gonaver, director of the Environmental Services Department. “By recycling their trees, residents help reduce the amount of material in the landfill and give holiday trees a second life as compost, mulch and wood chips.” San Diego residents can self-load wood chips, mulch and compost for free year-round at the Miramar landfill. The compost is windrowed for eight to 10 weeks but is not aged, so planting directly into the compost — like potting soil — is not recommended. However, gardeners can age the soil themselves by leaving it outside for 30 days if they wish to use the compost as potting soil. There are several beach-area recycling drop-off sites. • La Jolla: Kate Sessions Memorial Park, Soledad Road and Loring Street • University City: Swanson Pool, 3585 Governor Drive • Mission Bay: SeaWorld Drive at Pacific Highway • Ocean Beach: Robb Athletic Field Recreation Center, 2525 Bacon St. Commercial growers looking to get rid of unsold trees — or nonprofits left with trees from fund-raising projects — can drop them off at the Miramar Landfill & Greenery at Convoy Street, north of Highway 52. For more information, visit sandiego.gov/environmental-services or call (858) 694-7000. Chorus holds auditions The La Jolla Symphony Chorus has begun accepting sign-ups to audition for its 125-voice choir, which will perform Szymanowky’s “Stabat Mater” and Benjamin Britten’s “War Requiem” in 2010. Auditions will be held on Jan. 4. For an audition appointment, contact chorus manager Mea Daum via e-mail at [email protected] or visit lajollasymphony.com. The choir rehearses on Monday evenings at the Conrad Prebys Music Center at the University of California, San Diego.