SOHO TO HOST HISTORIC HOME TOUR WEEKEND
On March 17 and 18, Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO) presents its Annual Historic Home Tour Weekend. This year features the early 20th-century homes of Bankers Hill. On March 17, attendees can select from their choice of walking tours and new lectures. The main feature, the annual Home Tour, will be held on March 18. Both grand and modest works of master architects will be highlighted on the 90-minute walking tour of Bankers Hill as tour guides reveal little known facts and new information on the architectural history of the area. Times and ticket information vary by event and whether participants are a SOHO member. For more information, visit SOHOsandiego.org or call (619) 297-9327.

PUBLIC COMMENT DEADLINE FOR BALBOA PARK ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT EXTENDED
The opportunity for public comment on the draft Environmental Impact Report for the Plaza de Panama project has been extended to March 22. Comments may be submitted in writing to the City via U.S. Mail and e-mail to the San Diego Development Services Center Environmental Planner. The mailing address is 1222 First Avenue, MS 501, San Diego, CA 92101. The e-mail address is [email protected]. The deadline for submitting comments is 5 p.m. Copies of the document are also available at the Downtown Central Library, located at 820 E St., and the North Park Branch Library located at 3795 31st St.

BROOKLYN GIRL AND MISSION HILLS TOWN COUNCIL TO HOST FUN-RAISER
The Brooklyn Girl Bar and Mission Hills Town Council will be hosting a “fun-raiser” to raise money to benefit the Mission Hills Concerts in the Park. On March 18 from 1 – 4 p.m., guests will be served appetizer portions of approximately 20 items from the Brooklyn Girl menu and enjoy complimentary cocktails, wine and beer. Tickets are $75 per person in advance and $85 per person at the door. Brooklyn Girl is located at 4033 Goldfinch St. For more information, e-mail Carin Canale-Theakston at [email protected].

COHN RESTAURANT GROUP ANNOUNCES NEWEST VENTURE
Cohn Restaurant Group, the group responsible for Balboa Park restaurants such as The Tea Pavilion and The Prado, along with several other restaurants across San Diego, has announced their newest concept, 100 Wines Hillcrest, set to open in early summer 2012. The restaurant will feature an array of wines ranging from local California to international selections. Wines will be sold by the glass and by the bottle through a unique program allowing guests to browse though selections priced in categories of $20, $30 and $40 plus per bottle. 100 Wines Hillcrest will be located at 1027 University Ave.

ASSEMBLYMEMBER BLOCK INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO TEMPORARILY MOVE TEACHER LAYOFF NOTIFICATION DEADLINE
Assemblymember Marty Block introduced legislation on Feb. 24 that would temporarily move the preliminary deadline for teacher layoffs in the San Diego Unified School District from March 15 to June 15 and the final layoff notification deadline from May 15 to Aug. 15, providing the District the benefit of analyzing the Governor’s May budget revision before making decisions on preliminary notices. The bill, titled AB 2417, would further provide the District the benefit of analyzing the final state budget before making decisions on layoffs. Last year, the San Diego Unified School District issued 1,374 layoff notices in order to receive budget approval from the San Diego County Office of Education. The District eventually rescinded more than 85 percent of those layoffs, once accurate budget data was available.

UPTOWN PLANNERS TO HAVE BOARD ELECTION
Seven seats on the Uptown Planners Board of Directors are up for election on March 6 for a four-year term, which will begin in April. To vote, an individual must present identification proving residency, property ownership or business ownership in Uptown. Ballots will then be provided to eligible voters. As a courtesy, it is suggested that before completing the ballot, voters first listen to the three-minute statements each candidate will make regarding their qualifications and reasons they would like to serve, or continue to serve, on the Board. A voter may vote for up to seven candidates.

BIRCH NORTH PARK THEATER TO HOST MUSIC OF AZERBAIJAN
The Birch North Park Theater, located at 2891 University Ave. in North Park, will host Music of Azerbaijan. On March 10 at 8 p.m., the Switzer-Highland Association will host the Azeri Folk Musicians for a night of music and literature reflective of North Park’s sister neighborhood of Baku in Azerbaijan. In October 2011, the Switzer-Highland neighborhood of North Park and the Nasimi District of Baku in Azerbaijan became sister neighborhoods. Azerbaijan officials from Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and Baku attended the ceremony in October, which included the official proclamation and a gift exchange between San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders and the mayor of the Nasimi District of Baku, Nasim Mahamaliyev. Tickets for this event start at $15 and are available at grossmontsymphony.org.

NEW PENALTIES APPROVED FOR DAMAGING HISTORIC STRUCTURES
The City Council recently approved new penalties for damaging historic structures without permits, which will help protect local buildings of importance. The ordinance, which was approved by a vote of six to two, makes two changes to the Municipal Code related to civil penalties for code violations impacting historic resources. One enables the director of the Neighborhood Code Compliance Department to assess penalties for unpermitted work to non-designated as well as designated historical structures. The second directs such penalties be deposited into the Historic Preservation Fund.

BALBOA PARK HOLDS FILM CONTEST FOR TEEN FILMMAKERS
The Balboa Park and Balboa Park Online Collective are presenting the “Park Shorts: Balboa Park Film Competition” for participants ages 13 to 17. The contest is open to submissions of videos one minute or less that outline the filmmaker’s favorite place in Balboa Park or the San Diego Zoo. Participants may submit videos from now until April 15. Official judging will take place April 16 – 30, and the winner announced on May 1. Visitors to balboapark.org may vote for their favorite video and may vote one time per day using a valid e-mail address. The video with the most valid votes will win. For more information and complete rules, visit balboapark.org/parkshorts

ALICE BIRNEY ARSONIST REWARD INCREASED TO $10,000
San Diego Crime Stoppers and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) have increased the reward for information leading to the arrest of the arsonist who set fire to Alice Birney Elementary School on Jan. 16. Previously, Crime Stoppers was offering $1,000 for information leading to an arrest. Now, the reward stands at $10,000. $5,000 of which is coming from ATF and the remaining $5,000 coming from Crime Stoppers. Officer James Johnson explained this is to further encourage the public to come forward with any information and to remind the public that this is an ongoing investigation.

GLIMPSE GALLERY OPENS EARTH AND SKY EXHIBIT
In The Glimpse Gallery’s latest exhibit: “Elemental Contrast: Layers of Earth & Vastness of Sky,” artists Robin Przybysz and Nancy Torn represent the contrasting richness of earth with the openness of the sky. Przybysz blends gourds, willows, fibers and different types of metal, creating textural art that beckons to be touched. By loosely layering acrylic paints sealing each layer with iridescent-like glazes, Torn’s paintings bring to mind the vastness of the open sky. Her signature deckled edge adds the final textural elements in her paintings. The exhibit will run Feb. 18 – March 14 at the Glimpse Gallery, located at 3813 Ray St., in North Park.

NORMAL HEIGHTS INTERSECTION RECONFIGURATION COMPLETED
The reconfigured intersection of Normal Heights that intersects the streets of Cherokee, Madison, East Mountain View and Ward was recently completed. With the intent of improving safety for pedestrians, the project includes new curbs and gutters, sidewalks, cross walks, pedestrian ramps, street paving, streetlights and landscaping. Additional purposes of the project are to calm traffic, upgrade curb ramps and provide safer conditions for pedestrians. Landscaping and mulch will be installed to cover the unpaved areas. The project was funded by federal, state and local funds.