Reward offered for hit-and-run information
San Diego Police Department’s Traffic Division is asking for the public’s help identifying the driver involved in a hit-and-run accident in Pacific Beach at Grand Avenue near Gresham Street on Saturday, Nov. 11, at approximately 10:45 p.m.
The 68-year-old victim was crossing Grand Avenue when the car struck him, suffering head injuries along with a broken pelvis, arm, wrist, leg and ankle.
Police believe the vehicle may have sustained damage to the front and left side.
Crime Stoppers is offering a $2,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspect.
Police are asking anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers’ anonymous tip line, (888) 580-8477.

Schools pitch in for stuffed animal drive
Four years ago, right before Christmas, CarolAnn Plain saw an organization collecting stuffed animals at a local supermarket and it made her smile.
When the company she works for suggested that employees become involved in a charity for the holidays, Plain asked the nurses she works with to gather up all the unused stuffed toys lying around their homes to donate to the San Diego Justice Center, an organization dedicated to assisting victims of family violence and their children.
Plain works for Healthways, a national telephone service that provides healthcare information, education and support,
The stuffed animal drive, now in its fourth year, has partnered this holiday season with Bird Rock Elementary School and La Jolla Preschool Academy to provide the Justice Center’s waiting room with stuffed animals that children can bring home.
Both schools collected recycled stuffed critters for a week earlier this month and then turned them over to Healthways to drop off at the center, according to Plain. La Jolla Preschool has participated in the drive for the past three years and Bird Rock Elementary recently got involved.
“We realize there is a great need for this and we are looking at doing it twice a year from now on,” Plain said, recalling that the last time she visited the center there were only a few toys left in the waiting room.
Healthways also hopes to get the word out to its other headquarters, which are scattered throughout the country, so that they can start making a difference in their communities.
“This is a good community project,” Plain said. “It recycles something. These stuffed animals might have ended up in the trash can otherwise, and instead they will bring some smiles to a place that they were really needed.”
For more information, call (800) 742-7115, ext. 4859.

LJ-based toy store chain gives back to schools
Brian Williams, a La Jolla resident and owner of the La Jolla-based Geppetto’s Toy Stores chain, has worked diligently over the last 14 years to expand the family-owned company, creating six additional locations throughout San Diego County.
This year alone, Williams opened stores at Otay Ranch Town Center in Chula Vista and 4-S Ranch in Rancho Bernardo, which has vaulted the chain to the largest regional specialty store in southern California.
With all the hype, it would be easy for Williams to forget about what’s going on locally ” but he hasn’t. In November, he gave back to his own community with a fund-raiser for Torrey Pines and Bird Rock elementary schools.
“Geppetto’s is fortunate to have a store within the La Jolla community and will always do its part to give back to the people and families that live in the area,” Williams said. “As an entrepreneur and resident of La Jolla, it is even more important for me to be involved in La Jolla’s public schools.”
The La Jolla store, 7850 Girard Ave., held two private, invitation-only events for community members in November, donating 15 percent of sales to the schools’ foundations and helping raise more than $1,000.
Geppetto’s carries many different toy brands, including educational learning resources, games and play kits for both girls and boys. For more information, visit www.geppettostoys.com.

Holiday shuttle service offered to military
Mossy Nissan is providing free holiday shuttle service to local airports, train stations and bus terminals for all active duty military personal with leave Monday through Friday, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., through Friday, Dec. 22.
The automotive dealer will also provide transportation from local military bases, including Naval Base San Diego, NAS North Island, NAB Coronado, NSB Point Loma and Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Center, to local malls, shopping centers, movie theaters and sporting events.
To arrange transportation, active duty personnel must make a reservation through their base’s Liberty Center, which also serves as the pickup and drop-off site. For information or to locate a base Liberty Center, visit www.mwrtoday.com.