LJTC preps for the holidays • La Jolla Christmas Parade and Holiday Festival chairwoman Ann Kerr-Bache urged trustees and members of the public to ramp up fundraising efforts to ensure the annual December celebration can go on as scheduled. “We are about $24,000 short,” she said. “We were not as able to get as much money from some of our other sources. Everybody is looking for money, as everybody knows. Nonetheless, we have a lot of response from the community.” Sponsors who donate $2,000 or more will get their name or business listed on the official poster for the event, as well as publicity on the parade program and website. “Really, by the 15th, if we don’t have the money that we need, it comes the time when we have to pay for the port-a-potties and all that stuff, and if we don’t have the money, we will have to cancel the parade, but I’m hopeful,” she said. The celebration, themed “Christmas in the Village,” will host a number of fun, family-friendly sights and activities, including more than 60 horses, eight live bands, a Wells Fargo stagecoach, a corral of antique tractors, arts and craft booths, and the annual flyover and parade. “It’s cheap advertising,” said Kerr-Bache. “If [businesses] want to have a banner carried down the parade, it’s only $500 and if they just want their name in the program it’s anywhere between $1 and $400.” To donate or to learn more about sponsorship opportunities, call (858) 922-4046 or email [email protected]. • San Diego Fire Capt. James Lang and his Fire Station 13 crew paid a visit to LJTC trustees with fire-safety tips for the holidays. “Typically, in November and December, we see an increased amount of kitchen fires,” he said. “Sometimes, people get over their comfort level, I think, with the holiday cooking, and people are more often indoors.” He urged residents who use unstable frying equipment to be cautious and recommended that someone always attend food that is still cooking. Town council news/events • New trustees Ruth Yansick, Ron Jones, Ramin Pourteymour and Tom Goodman were sworn in as new LJTC trustees. • The next LJTC SunSetter will take place at Beaumont’s, 5662 La Jolla Blvd., from 5 to 7 p.m. on Nov. 15. Entrance is $10 for nonmembers, $5 for members, and free for new members who sign up and pay dues at the door. Around the community • The Challenged Athletes Foundation was successful in raising $2.7 million during the nonprofit’s annual triathlon challenge at La Jolla Cove on Oct. 24. Funds raised from the event will fund adaptive sports equipment, training and competition expenses for individuals with physical challenges to live a full and active lifestyle. “That is really a fantastic fundraising event and a fantastic organization,” said LJTC trustee Egon Kafka. “Everybody had fun, this raised a lot of money for a great cause, and they are so thankful to our community for hosting this event.” • San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) recently held a stakeholder meeting to discuss the Mid-Coast Corridor Transit line project, which will provide light-rail transportation along the coast to University City, announced County Supervisor Ron Roberts’ representative Sterling McHale. “It is currently at about $1.7 to $2 billion in total cost. We have $1 billion secured, and we continue to lobby the federal government for that moving forward,” he said. SANDAG’s public comment period for the project will be announced as soon as dates are scheduled. • Streetscape Committee member Kafka announced some of the planters throughout the Village have been replaced to prevent die off. Also, holiday décor, including a “seasons greeting” sign at the entrance to the Village is in the works, pending funding for the projects. “With the parade being touch-and-go here, that’s where we really need to concentrate funding on, but somehow or other, we’ll get the seasons greeting sign on the pedestrian bridge,” he said. “I honestly don’t know what the resources will come for that, but we will do that and the next order of business, if we could, would be to put up décor coming up the line on Torrey Pines there, but, again, the parade needs to take first precedence.”