Campland dog park opens Dogs will now have a place to run free at Campland on the Bay since the campsite gated a wooded area and turned it into an official dog park complete with doggie bags. The public can have access to the dog park, along with all the other campsite amenities, for a $10 per person fee. On July 9, Campland on the Bay will also open a small skateboard park. “This is an opportunity for them to have their own little place,” said Sally Romoser, spokesperson for the campsite. “We have a lot of campers who bring their pets.” Faulconer’s staff agrees to pay cut District 2 Council Member Kevin Faulconer’s staff has agreed to take a six percent pay cut to help close the city’s estimated $60 million budget shortfall for fiscal year 2010. City Council had voted unanimously to slash the salaries of employees belonging to the city’s five unions by six percent on April 14. Faulconer will not take the six percent pay reduction himself because he has already opted out of the city’s pension plan, and does not take a car allowance nor mileage reimbursements, according to Faulconer’s spokesperson Tony Manolatos. The city saves $19,477 yearly by not paying into Faulconer’s pension. City council members under 55 must serve four years before they are eligible for a pension and must wait until age 55 to begin collecting their pension. City Council members that do pay into a pension must contribute eight percent of their $75,386 salary annually. The mayor, city council members and the city attorney are the only city employees who are allowed to opt out of the pension plan; the pension is mandatory for the rest of the city employees. Faulconer stopped accepting the city’s $9,600 annual car allowance in April 2008. Faucloner also does not take mileage reimbursements that would amount to approximately $150 monthly. New City Sinfonia performs on bay The 40-member community chamber orchestra New City Sinfonia will perform its season finale on Sunday, June 7 at 2:00 p.m. at the Church of Mary Magdalene, which overlooks Mission Bay at 1945 Illion St. The First Unitarian Church Choir will also perform. The concert is free. The concert will feature Antonin DvoÍák’s lyrical Symphony No. 8, Johannes Brahms’ dramatic “Schicksalslied” (Song of Destiny) and Mozart’s Overture to “The Magic Flute,” as well as selections for the film score to “Lord of the Rings.” Symphony seeks budding musicians If you’re between the ages of 7 and 25 and are one of the most talented classical musicians in the universe, you just may have a chance to prove a thing or two this summer. But first, you have to make the team – and you’re invited to give it a try on June 11, 13 and 14, when the San Diego Youth Symphony (SDYS) is holding auditions for orchestral, wind and small ensemble players. SDYS programs feature three full symphony orchestras and a chamber orchestra at the advanced level and four large ensembles for students at the intermediate and introductory levels. Registration packets, which are due June 1, are available at sdys.org; rehearsals will be held every Saturday at 2 p.m. at the SDYS conservatory in Balboa Park. Founded in 1945, SDYS is the sixth oldest continuously operating youth orchestra in the United States. The San Diego Youth Symphony and Conservatory is located at 1650 El Prado. For more information, visit sdys.org or call (619) 233-3232, ext. 111. MB foundation honored for helping brain trauma victims In 1984, 23-year old Renee Willenberg hung upside down, her car suspended by a guardrail, after a driver ran a stop sign and hit her car near the Coronado bridge. Renee suffered brain damage and doctors told her she would not be able to function. Renee didn’t have insurance and her family was faced with a $25,000 cost to continue her rehabilitation. Friends rallied around her brother, Ray Willenberg, who has lived in South Mission Beach since 1980, and they began playing golf to raise money for Renee’s treatment. Renee entered the Sharp Brain Injury Re-Entry Program that helped her regain some of her function. Willenberg realized that many other victims of brain trauma faced the same situation: insurance fizzles and the families are unable to pay for further rehabilitation. Willenberg ran with his golfing idea and started the Survivors Rehabilitation Foundation to raise money for those injured like his sister. Along with his daughter-in-law, Willenberg runs the foundation out of a former house in Mission Beach. Since 1985, the foundation has awarded 130 scholarships and donated more than $1 million to survivors of traumatic brain injury. Sharp Healthcare Foundation will honor the Survivors Rehabilitation Foundation at its 2009 Victories of Spirit event that celebrates the power of the human spirit on June 5 at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront. On June 8, the foundation will hold a golf tournament at the Loma Santa Fe Country Club to raise money for the foundation. The entry fee is $300 per person, which includes lunch and dinner. For information call (858) 229 2198 or visit www.sdsrf.com. PB chorus plans cheery concert at USD The Pacificaires chorus aims to lift spirits during these difficult economic times through American ballads, folk songs, show tunes, spirituals, and patriotic rousers that reflect the joys and laments of American life. A staple of Pacific Beach for 17 years, The Pacificaires will leave their beach home base for the first time to perform June 14 at 2 p.m. at The Shiley Theatre at the University of San Diego. The two-hour concert includes classical numbers by Mendelssohn and Brahms. The concert is free and open to the public. The 100-member chorus ranges in age from below 40 years old to over 90 years old and will continue to practice Christ Evangelical Lutheran Chuch in Pacific Beach on Thursday mornings. For more information email Eunice at [email protected], or visit http://sites.google.com/site/achoruslife. Board of supervisors seeks new sheriff The County board of supervisors is seeking candidates interested in replacing Sheriff William Kolender, who plans to retire on July 2 after 14 years of service. The board will appoint an interim county sheriff to carry out the rest of Kolender’s term through January of 2011. Candidates must submit an application from May 13 through June 10 at 5 p.m. in person at the office of the Clerk of the Board, located at the County Administration Building, 1600 Pacific Highway, Room 402. The County Board of Supervisors is expected to review the qualifications for all applicants at a hearing on June 16 and will select no more than five finalists. On June 23, the board will review and select an interim sheriff. The sheriff oversees 4,000 employees. Candidates must fulfill specific requirements, including a certain level of experience and education, listed at sdcounty.ca.gov/cob/sheriffvacancy. Wave House hosts FlowRider classes The Wave House at Belmont Park will host classes to teach students how to ride the FlowRider – a mechanical wave that combines elements of surfing, snowboarding, wakeboarding and skateboarding. Class will be held every Friday from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Wave House, 3146 Mission Blvd. Class costs $40. For more information visit www.wavehousesandiego.com/flow-school Friends of Rose Creek launches grant challenge Friends of Rose Creek needs to raise $10,000 each year for the next three years in order to meet a grant challenge offered by Aaron Contorer and the Contorer Family Foundation to match the fundraising. Friends of Rose Creek are asking individuals to pledge $10 or $25 per year for the next three years. Friends of Rose Creek hopes to hire another staff person to further its cleanup efforts along the creek. Email Eric at [email protected] to make the three-year pledge. Visit saverosecreek.org for more information. PBTC seeks goods and services for benefit Pacific Beach Town Council (PBTC) is seeking donations of goods and services for its eighth annual Wine Tasting and Silent Auction that benefits the community and youth. The event will be held June 14, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Lotsa Pasta Restaurant, 1762 Garnet Ave. For more information call PBTC at (858) 483-6666 or email [email protected].