Lake Murray Fireworks & Musicfest canceled

As local, state, and federal authorities make critical decisions intended to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, community groups are likewise making hard choices to protect our neighbors. As such, the Lake Murray Fireworks & MusicFest won’t be held this July 4, 2020.

“We’re sad not to be able to bring this fun family day to our community, but it’s in the best interest of everyone,” said event chair Tracy Dahlkamp. “We look forward to returning the food, music, patriotic fireworks, and family fun to Lake Murray Community Park in 2021.”

The decision to postpone the fireworks and music festival was made in accordance with California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order requiring 40 million California residents to stay at home, and the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency’s public health order restricting public gatherings.

The Lake Murray fireworks show is just one of many local summer events to be canceled or postponed amid the COVID-19 pandemic, including San Diego Comic-Con International, the San Diego County Fair, and San Diego Pride. All city parks have been closed until further notice.

While some bill payments and permit applications for the 2020 event had already been completed, Dahlkamp said she’s hopeful they will roll over to the 2021 event.

The neighborhood donation drive has been postponed until 2021. Funds raised through business sponsors and individual donations cover the expense of fireworks, city permits, insurance, emergency personnel, portable toilets and sinks, entertainment, and lighting and stage components. Stormberg Orthodontics had signed on to be the title sponsor.

The 2019 music festival drew a rotating crowd of an estimated 3,000 people, while the evening fireworks show could be seen by an estimated 100,000 people throughout La Mesa and San Diego’s Navajo neighborhoods of Grantville, Allied Gardens, Del Cerro, and San Carlos.

Feeding San Diego calls on lawyers to join ‘Food from the Bar’ campaign

Feeding San Diego is inviting San Diego’s legal community to combat hunger through its annual Food from the Bar campaign. This year’s effort is more imperative than ever given the increased need for hunger-relief services due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Participants engage in a friendly competition between legal professionals and firms to raise funds for Feeding San Diego and build awareness of hunger in San Diego County. Last year, 500 law professionals were engaged in Food from the Bar. Since the campaign began in 2012, Feeding San Diego and participating legal professionals have raised more than 1,062,000 meals for children and families in need.

“This campaign leads us into the start of summer when San Diego children struggling with hunger normally lose access to school-based nutrition programs. With the COVID-19 pandemic-related school closures in effect since mid-March, the increased need for food is even more staggering,” said Vince Hall, CEO of Feeding San Diego. “We are grateful to the San Diego legal community for coming together to help end hunger during this time of widespread hunger.”

Law firms, in-house counsel, and legal departments can register to compete by raising funds as a team through June 15. Current partners include: Johnson Fistel, LLP, Pettit Kohn Ingrassia Lutz & Dolin PC, San Diego Paralegal Association, San Diego County Public Defender Office, Larrabee Albi Coker LLP, Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP, Nicolaides Fink Thorpe Michaelides Sullivan LLP, Paul, Plevin, Sullivan & Connaughton LLP, Perkins Coie LLP, and the San Diego County Public Defender’s Office.

To join the campaign or make a donation, visit feedingsandiego.org/foodfromthebar.

To get involved, contact Charina Layman at [email protected] or 858-283-8999.

City Council approves extending permit applications

As San Diego began shutting down in early March due to the coronavirus epidemic, construction projects throughout San Diego were thrown into disarray. This uncertainty risked the cancellation of several important housing projects throughout the region, which continues facing a severe housing crisis.

To help with the uncertainty, the City Council today unanimously adopted an interim urgency ordinance extending expiration of development permit applications by 60 days, and building permit applications by 365 days.

“The uncertainty in the building industry is at an all-time high due to the coronavirus pandemic,” said Councilmember Scott Sherman. “The City must do all it can to provide relief in any way possible. At the beginning of this crisis the City was pro-active and took steps to provide relief. This action builds on that work and will offer real relief to the building industry during this time of uncertainty. I would like to thank the Mayor and our hard-working Development Services Department staff.”

The process of obtaining permits can sometimes be a costly and time-consuming affair. If permits were allowed to expire, builders would be forced to start the permitting process all over again, raising costs that are passed along to consumers.

“During these unprecedented times, it’s easy to forget that San Diego still faces a housing crisis. The cost of housing remains extremely high and will only get worse if building is stalled,” said Sherman. “I am thankful this common-sense solution received unanimous support at Council.”

Vacancies on college district’s citizens’ bond oversight committee

Two East County residents — a representative of a senior citizen group and an individual with expertise in finance or accounting — are needed to fill a pair of vacancies on the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District’s citizens’ bond oversight committee.

The CBOC is tasked with assuring accountability for funds connected to Proposition V, a $398 million construction bond measure approved by East County voters in 2012.

A total of four seats will be vacated with appointees completing their terms, but two are for a student representative and a member of a college advisory committee and will be filled internally.

An application form is posted online at propsrv.gcccd.edu and must be emailed by July 6 to [email protected].

CBOC membership involves at least a two-year term with members in good standing eligible for up to three consecutive two-year terms. The volunteer position requires residency within college district boundaries and attendance of four quarterly meetings and about a half-dozen subcommittee meetings annually.