La Jolla hosts three pit stops for Bike-to-Work Day More than 6,000 bicyclists will hit the streets on May 18 for San Diego Association of Government’s Bike to Work Day. For this year’s ride, cyclists can stop by any of the 85 pit stops along routes throughout San Diego County for free refreshments, energizing snacks, and complimentary “Bike to Work Day” T-shirts. Most stops will be open from 6 to 9 a.m., although some will open as early as 5:30 a.m. or will reopen later in the afternoon for cyclists returning home. Some of the pit stops will host hot breakfasts, massages, bike tune-ups or other special gifts for cyclists’ participation. La Jolla pit stops include Riviera Euro-Comfort Footwear, located at 7777 Girard Ave, UCSD’s Parking Lot 406, located at 9500 Gilman Drive, and Whole Foods Market, located at 8825 Villa La Jolla Drive. For a full list of pit stops or more information about Bike to Work Day, visit www.sandag.org or call (619) 699-6939. Rec Center hours reinstated Hours of operation at all of San Diego’s recreation centers have been reinstated five hours per week, announced Mayor Jerry Sanders on May 10. Due to past financial woes, recreation center and library hours were cut by several hours per week in an effort to recoup funding for the city’s devastated budget. In February, however, Sanders announced that a projected $16.5 million budget surplus would allow the city to restore hours at all 55 recreation centers and 35 branch libraries. The surplus was a result of better-than-expected revenues as well as city-instated economic reforms, such as the launch of managed competition, the streamlining of nearly all city departments and IT outsourcing, Sanders said. The city anticipates a projected additional $119 million budget surplus over the next five years. “For many San Diegans, our recreation centers provide not only a place for exercise, but also for community involvement,” he said. “As we’ve faced tough financial challenges, both our local residents who use our centers and our city employees who work there have felt the brunt of cutbacks. Keeping our recreation centers open longer represents another step toward fiscal recovery.” The city’s library hours are expected to be restored starting June 4. Seal rope comes down The advisory rope barrier intended to separate humans from seals at the Children’s Pool beach during pupping season was removed May 15, marking the end of the six-month period when seals typically give birth to and wean their pups. Despite the City Council’s approval of a year-round rope barrier in the spring of 2010, Mayor Jerry Sanders instated the six-month rope barrier instead for the purposes of warning humans not to come in close contact to pregnant seals and heir young on the beach during pupping season. The California Coastal Commission will again take up the issue whether the area warrants a six-month or year-round rope barrier at its July meeting. Paraglider dies in accident at La Jolla cliffs Pamela Hargett of South Carolina, an experienced paraglider, died in a paragliding accident along the Torrey Pines cliffs just after 1 p.m. on May 12. According to the San Diego Medical Examiner’s report, Hargett, 52, apparently lost control and crashed into the side of the cliffs near Black’s Beach. Emergency personnel responded to a 911 call placed by Hargett’s boyfriend, who witnessed the incident, and rescuers initiated advanced cardiac life support. Hargett was pronounced dead at the scene. San Diego Fire Helicopter 2 and a team of nearly 20 rescuers assisted with the recovery, transporting her to Scripps La Jolla Hospital for examination following her death.