Bicyclist injured after Torrey Pines Rd. crash A bicyclist crashed and hit his head after losing control around noon Sunday, Feb. 8, around the 12600 block of North Torrey Pines Road. The 55-year-old bicyclist hit a concrete storm drain, lost control and crashed, according to San Diego Police Department Sgt. Jeff Fellows. “He may have had a flat tire or lost control and crashed, hitting a concrete storm drain,” San Diego Police Department Sgt. Ray Battrick said in a press release. “He suffered a head injury causing bleeding to the brain, but is expected to survive.” Rescuers drove the cyclist to Scripps Hospital, where he was treated for a head injury, police reported. Witnesses said no vehicles were involved in the crash, according to police. MTS plans meetings on mass-transit cutbacks Funding for public transportation in San Diego may get cut as much as $14 million this year as the state moves to reduce or eliminate its transit assistance. The Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) must battle once more with reducing services and increasing fares to handle the lack of state funds. The bus company is holding open houses throughout February to discuss proposals to restructure or eliminate routes and reduce frequency of service. The public is invited to submit comments for public hearing. For more information visit www.sdcommute.com. Hearings will be held at various locations throughout the city, including: • UTC Transit Center Wednesday, Feb. 18 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Westfield University Town Center 4545 La Jolla Village Drive, San Diego • America Plaza Station Thursday, Feb. 19 1 to 7 p.m. 1050 India St., San Diego (West C Street & Kettner Boulevard) • Euclid Transit Center Saturday, Feb. 21 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 450 Euclid Ave., San Diego • Old Town Transit Center Saturday, Feb. 21 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 4009 Taylor St., San Diego • Fashion Valley Transit Center Saturday, Feb.. 21 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 1205 Fashion Valley Road, San Diego (Friars Road & Fashion Valley Road) • Iris Avenue Station Sunday, Feb. 22 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 3120 Iris Ave., San Diego (Iris Avenue & 30th Street) Same-sex couples mark Freedom to Marry Day At marriage counters nationwide, same-sex couples will request marriage licenses on National Freedom to Marry Day, today, Feb. 12, to raise awareness of the negative effects these couples and their families experience through not being able to legally marry. Local couples in San Diego are participating as well by requesting marriage licenses at the County Clerk’s Office from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. The office is located within the San Diego County Administration Building complex at 1600 Pacific Highway. The event is co-sponsored by the Marriage Equality USA San Diego and the San Diego Equality Campaign. Marriage Equality USA chapters have been engaging in the annual Freedom to Marry Day since 2001, alleging discrimination by various state and national legislation banning same-sex marriage. A number of faith leaders will be present on the lawn of the County Administration Building on the morning of the event to marry couples. For a list of events across the United States, visit marriageequality.org. For more local information, go to sdequalitynow.com. Wildfowl art, decoys, carvings on exhibit More than 150 artists and carvers from the U.S., Canada and Japan will compete for awards and exhibit their work during the 2009 California Open Wildlife Art Festival’s Wildfowl and Fish Carvers Competition this weekend at Liberty Station. The event is the 36th annual festival and is sponsored by the Pacific Southwest Wildlife Arts (PSWA). The event takes place Saturday, Feb. 14, and Sunday, Feb. 15, at the NTC Promenade’s Corky McMillin Event Center, 2875 Dewey Road. The PSWA is a nonprofit organization founded to support and promote wildfowl art, particularly the carvings of traditional hunting decoys, considered a truly American art form. The event times are 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 on Sunday. Admission is $5; children under 12 are admitted free. For information, call (619) 588-7141 or e-mail [email protected]. Census office opens for 2010 population count Massive job recruitment is expected prior to the once-a-decade U.S. Census Bureau population count — and the bureau is marking the fuss with the opening of a census office in San Diego. Meanwhile, the bureau has launched an outreach campaign with local officials, community leaders and businesses to ensure an accurate count of the population. This new local office, one of 12 opening in San Diego, will be the hub of operations for the surrounding communities. During peak operations, the office will employ roughly 1,500 people from the surrounding areas. The office is located at 1370 India St. in San Diego. For information, call (619) 684-6100.
