About town • LJTC President Rick Wildman announced an opening on the board, for which Trustee Nancy Gardner introduced Charles Hartford, secretary of the La Jolla Rotary, as an interested candidate. Gardner said the retired colonel, a board member of the San Diego Police Foundation, has served five tours of duty between Iraq and Afghanistan, “plays well with others,” and is a “great leader.” “Like many of you, I consider it a great privilege to consider La Jolla home and to have the opportunity to work in La Jolla,” Hartford said. “I think La Jolla has phenomenal potential, and I’d like to see that come to fruition in the near future.” • The LJTC board honored Kathy Day, who is stepping down as executive editor of the La Jolla Light. “We can’t say enough for all Kathy has done for the community,” said Wildman. “The La Jolla Light has really taken a big step in helping the Town Council and the community. She’s just been fantastic to work with.” The paper’s former lifestyles editor, Susan DeMaggio, will succeed Day. Day said she will continue working with the paper as a freelance writer. • San Diego Park and Recreation has again filed for a year-round rope barrier at the Children’s Pool, said La Jolla Parks and Beaches member Marie Hunricks. Hunricks also said that a new ranger has been “suddenly appointed,” videotape evidence of the “satisfactory joint use of the pool” was deemed a Marine Mammal Protection Act violation at a recent California Coastal Commission meeting and the street-to-beach ramp that provides access for handicapped persons, ambulances and cleaning units has been closed with a welded shroud over the padlock. “Every letter counts,” she said, urging concerned community members to write to the Coastal Commission. “If passed, this permit will lead to illegal beach closure, establishment of a marine mammal park — essentially a zoo — on residential Coast Boulevard, an increase in present human conflicts, [and it will] permanently allow vendor tables and signs, continuous overcrowding that blocks the pedestrian right-of-way, intensified traffic and increased trash.” The California Coastal Commission will accept letters until Dec. 30 • Second vice president John Weinstein introduced Derrick Williams, owner of DW Printworks, as the LJTC’s newest Gold Member. Williams has worked with the Town Council on its newest “Shop Local, Shop La Jolla” program, printing membership cards, fliers and agendas for the campaign. “Derrick has just really been an incredible partner, and he cares about the community,” said Weinstein. Williams said the shop is dedicated to personalized service. “My hands are on everything that gets printed there and created. We do everything from business cards to fliers to Christmas cards this time of year,” he said. “If you have cards, or if you need anything custom-made, that is what we create, that is what we specialize in. We have very creative graphic designers. I am one of them. I enjoy working with people one-on-one and creating anything they have in their mind.” • LJTC members can now pick up their “Shop Local, Shop La Jolla” membership cards and begin reaping the benefits of discounts and promotions at participating businesses throughout La Jolla. “I really think this is going to be the boom for new members, both business and residential members,” said Weinstein. “With this card, participating merchants can offer any kind of discount they want to our members, and with one card, you can use it all over La Jolla, so you don’t have to carry a million different, separate cards and coupons.” The promotional discount campaign is free for members of the Town Council. To become a Town Council member and receive a “Shop Local, Shop La Jolla” discount card, visit www.lajollatowncouncil.org or call (858) 454-1444. Membership to the Town Council is $50 per year for residents and $100 per year for businesses. The card offers discounts to places like A Better Deal Tuxedo, Girard Gourmet, Barfly and The Ascot Shop, among others. • LJTC treasurer Cindy Greatrex announced Independent La Jolla has been invited to speak for the League of California Cities and will be featured in the Pioneer Institute’s Change Management project. City, county and school news • Portland Bates announced county Supervisor Ron Roberts has launched an “It’s Up To Us” campaign to raise awareness and provide access to local resources to inspire wellness, release the stigma of all mental illness and reduce the instances of suicide in the county. “In these tough times there are many people out there who are having trouble coping — whether it’s the loss of a job [or] loss of a loved one,” said Bates. “What this campaign is designed to do is to empower San Diegans to talk openly about mental illness, recognize the symptoms and utilize local resources to seek help.” For more information, visit www.up2us.org or call the San Diego crisis hotline at (800) 479-3339. • Bates announced another program launched by the county — a discount prescription drug program, Coast 2 Coast Rx, to save up to 75 percent off prescription medicine. “There’s no fee to join and anyone is eligible,” Bates said. “This is for people who are underinsured or may not have insurance at all, so if you do have insurance, you’ll probably get a better deal with your insurance carrier.” For more information, or to fill out a membership form, visit www.coast2coastrx.com. • Sterling McHale announced Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher’s upcoming holiday open house, including a kid’s craft station and holiday card-writing to soldiers overseas. The open house will take place on Dec. 14 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the assemblyman’s office, located at 9909 Mira Mesa Blvd. • On Dec. 15, the final projections of the state’s finances will determine whether or not certain automatic trigger cuts on the district’s education, social services and other services will take effect. “There’s going to be two reports. The Legislative Analysts Office, which is a nonpartisan portion of the state, will be putting out one report, and the governor’s office — the Department of Finance within the governor’s office — will also be publishing a second report,” McHale said. “I’m taking those two reports, and I’m essentially deciding which one looks better, and taking that to have the official projections, and that will determine the level of instantaneous cuts that would be moving forward.” • Anu Delouri, representative for UCSD’s Physical and Community Planning Office, announced the opening of the UCSD Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine building, which held its ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 29. Bird Rock roundup • Bird Rock Community Council (BRCC) president Joe Parker praised the La Jolla Christmas Parade committee for their excellent production of yet another great La Jolla Christmas Parade this year. “For someone who grew up in La Jolla, this is a must-attend event for myself and my family. I look forward to it every year,” he said. “Thank you so much for putting on this great event every year. I know it’s tough through thin times and thick times, and I just appreciate the fact that the council concentrates their efforts on a fantastic La Jolla event that brings everyone together.” The BRCC’s float won “best overall” float at the La Jolla Christmas Parade again this year. • Parker also announced the annual Tour of Bird Rock Homes will take place on Jan. 28 to raise money for Bird Rock Elementary School. • The BRCC held elections and welcomed one new member, local financial advisor Andrew Ward, to its board. • Bird Rock Elementary’s “Sponsor a Classroom” — a program started several years ago — gives individuals the opportunity to sponsor specific teachers in local schools. “That money goes directly to the teachers, so the teacher can decide exactly how to use that money, and it’s $250,” Parker said. “The program has been wildly successful. This program runs itself. We have a mad rush of parents every year who look forward to sponsoring the teacher that is responsible for their child, and it gets so popular that people are sponsoring the custodian, the nurse and I’m really pleased. I’ll be presenting a check to [Bird Rock Elementary] for $13,000, and that’s all locally grown interest in the school.” He said the initiative takes on a life of its own. “It doesn’t take much energy,” he said. “It drives itself and raises a lot of money.” • Bird Rock’s median-lighting project, initiated by the late George Sutton, is finally coming into fruition, said Parker. “[Sutton’s] legacy was this project among many other things,” he said. “It’s a very personal project to the community. It’s one that we intend to honor George with and we’re looking forward to that project getting underway next year.” • Parker reminded neighbors to watch out for thieves intercepting holiday packages dropped off by delivery trucks at their neighbors’ homes.