Found pipe determined not to be an explosive Several agencies responded to reports of what appeared to be a pipe bomb discovered along North Harbor Drive near the Coast Guard Station around 12:30 p.m. on Nov. 23, according to San Diego Fire and Rescue Department spokesman Maurice Luque. The city’s bomb squad responded along with FBI officials and other agencies, but the object turned out to be “just a piece of roadside debris,” Luque said. A man jogging on North Harbor Drive noticed the object and reported it to authorities. Agencies responded by shutting down traffic along the road for about four hours to remove the object. “We don’t know what somebody may have built this thing for but it wasn’t to create a hoax bomb situation. It may have fallen off a truck or something,” Luque said. Initial news reports reported the object as a PVC pipe, capped at both ends with rope stemming from the ends. Officials with San Diego International Airport at Lindbergh Field said airport operations were unaffected by the discovery of the pipe. ARTS founder honored as community hero Matt D’Arrigo, executive director and founder of the Point Loma-based A Reason To Survive (ARTS), was recently honored with the Safeco Insurance Foundation 2008 Community Hero Award. The award recognizes and celebrates outstanding citizens who not only make a positive impact on their community, but who also empower others to do the same. D’Arrigo was nominated through the Safeco Agent Giving Program this year by Safeco independent agency partner Ed Johnson of Johnson & Wood Insurance Services, which is based in Carlsbad and provides insurance brokerage services to ARTS. Safeco Insurance provides property and casualty insurance nationwide, and its foundation acts to support and enrich inclusive communities through philanthropic giving to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations. Safeco receives more than 150 nominations from agents across the country for the Community Hero Awards and only 30 winners are selected each year. Winners receive $15,000 grants made in their honor to the nonprofit they work with. ARTS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to healing, inspiring and empowering children facing life challenges by providing free innovative arts-based programs, education and opportunities. ARTS provides visual, performing and literary arts programs to thousands of children annually at the Pat D’Arrigo ARTS Center, located at the NTC Promenade in Point Loma. The 7,000-square-foot creative space includes visual and ceramic arts studios, a dance studio, music room, digital media room and children’s art gallery. ARTS also provides Community Outreach Programs to children at various partner sites such as hospitals, residential treatment facilities, shelters, rehabilitation centers, community groups and schools. The programs and services are free to children, families, partner sites or service providers. For more information, visit www.AReasonToSurvive.org. HTH COO gets nod as president of CCSA Jed Wallace, chief operating officer of the High Tech High School cluster of charter schools — including Point Loma — has been named president and CEO of the California Charter Schools Association. Wallace will head the statewide organization boasting representation of about 750 schools and will assume his new role in February. He will take over from former Los Angeles school trustee Caprice Young. The California Charter Schools Association serves as an advocate for charter schools and works to establish rigorous academic standards for various campuses. Wallace has worked at High Tech High since 2004 and was instrumental in various high-profile projects, including a campaign to become the first public charter school system in California to certify its teachers. During his time with the High Tech High village of schools, the student population grew from 600 to 2,800 pupils and the number of teachers expanded from 50 to 300. City starts Christmas tree recycling program The City of San Diego’s Environmental Services Department has begun accepting Christmas trees at a number of drop-off locations around the city. Residents can drop off trees through Jan. 23, at the following coastal locations: • Kate Sessions Park, 5077 Soledad Road • Mission Bay, SeaWorld Drive at Pacific Highway • Ocean Beach, Robb Field, 2525 Bacon St. • University City, Swanson Pool, 3585 Governor Drive Tree stands, lights, ornaments and all decorations should be removed before dropping off. Trees sprayed with fake snow, known as flock trees, will also be accepted. The city is also reminding residents not to leave any other trash or items to be recycled at these locations because it will not be removed. Residents with curbside yard waste collection can also leave their trees by the curb for pickup. The city began the tree recycling program 35 years ago to help reduce the amount of organic material being dumped in the Miramar Landfill. Now the trees, along with other yard waste such as grass clippings, are either turned into compost, mulch or wood chippings used for a variety of programs. For additional information call (858) 694-7000 or visit www.sandiego.gov/environmentalservices. New Americans Museum launches new exhibit The Liberty Station-based New Americans Museum Annex has launched the opening of a unique exhibition created by the American Jewish Historical Society (AJHS). The exhibit, “From Haven to Home: 350 Years of Jewish Life in America,” chronicles the American Jewish experience in the United States. The exhibition presents an opportunity to trace the American Jewish journey from persecution to participation by the original 23 refugees who landed in 1654 and extends to today’s extraordinary and diverse Jewish community. The exhibit — which runs through March 1 — was created by the AJHS, located at the Center for Jewish History in New York and on the campus of Hebrew College in Newton, Mass. The New Americans Museum Annex is located at 2863 Historic Decatur Road. Admission is free and the facility is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. For more information, call (619) 255-8908 or visit www.newamericansmuseum.org. PLNU dedicates multipurpose Smee Hall Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) officials recently dedicated Smee Hall, home to PLNU’s School of Theology and Christian Ministry, Center for Pastoral Leadership and Wesleyan Center. The two-story, 8,500-square-foot Smee Hall provides office space, a large multi-media classroom and large common spaces to encourage interaction between students and faculty, according to university officials. Included in the building is a stained-glass window featuring a Cross. The window, which measures 20 feet by 21 feet, is the largest cathedral-style stained-glass window in San Diego, according to university officials. Smee Hall is named for two PLNU alumni, Dr. Roy Smee, a pastor and district superintendent, and Francis “Bud” Smee, a lay leader and trustee. Seaforth hosting boater education, training courses Seaforth Boat Rentals has opened The Boater Education Resource Center and is offering boating and training courses for sail, power and trailer boats. The classes are designed to meet boating training rules required by the California Department of Boating and Waterways. Courses are taught by U.S. Coast Guard licensed and insured captains. Seaforth Boat Rentals is located at 1641 Quivira Road in Mission Bay. For information call Daniell Williams at (619) 233-1681. E-waste recycling effort planned at Liberty Station The High Tech Middle Media Arts Parent Association will host an e-waste recycling drive on Saturday, Jan. 10 to help San Diegans reduce clutter and recycle sensitive materials in an eco-friendly manner. Organizers said that after the holidays and the switchover to digital TV, many electronic items could be destined for the curb and more landfill volume. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the High Tech High School campus, 2230 Truxtun Road. Acceptable items include computers, monitors, fax machines, cameras, keyboards, televisions, printers, copiers, toner cartridges, video game consoles, laptops, Internet devices, camcorders, mice, cell phones, stereo sytems and speakers and other items. For more information, call (310) 734-6700 or e-mail [email protected] or [email protected].