MISSION HILLS TO CELEBRATE BASTILLE DAY
Hosted by the Mission Hills Business Improvement District, the Mission Hills Marche’ Bastille Day Celebration on Saturday, July 14 will feature works by local artists and special offers from area businesses. Held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Meshuggah Shack parking lot located at 4048 Goldfinch St., the French-inspired, open-air event will also feature live music throughout the day, including award-winning accordionist Lou Fanucchi at 10 a.m., Notre Temps String Quartet at 12 p.m. and Sacha Boutros et Le Parisien Jazz Hots at 2 p.m. Among the participating business owners are Beckie Webster of Upcycled Life and Bruce Thurston of Fine Wood Spoons. “We are vey happy to be able to share what we do,” Thurston said. “Each spoon [we produce] is different and this year we have new shapes and new woods to please every hand and eye. It’s always a good day to be out and meet our friends and neighbors with lots of laughs and hugs.”
COMMUNITY HOUSING WORKS AWARDED GRANT FROM WOMEN’S FOUNDATION
Community Housing Works, located in University Heights, was selected as one of five grantees at the San Diego Women’s Foundation Annual Grants Celebration on June 5. A total of $200,000 is being awarded to the five non-profit organizations, which will use the money to support their educational programs. “We are extremely pleased to award these funds to such an impressive list of committed and accomplished non-profit organizations,” said Teresa Jacques, Women’s Foundation board president, in a press release. “Our grantees truly embrace this year’s theme: ‘education can’t wait for someday.’ We have no doubt that these extraordinary organizations will help create a better San Diego through their educational programs.” Community Housing Works, located at 4305 University Ave., is a 30-year-old nonprofit developing affordable rental apartments in urban, rural and suburban communities across San Diego County. In addition to Community Housing works, other grantees selected were Bayside Community Center, Excellence and Justice in Education Academies, International Rescue Committee and Junior Achievement of San Diego and Imperial Counties.
STAND DOWN FOUNDER NAMED “VETERAN OF THE YEAR”
Assemblymember Toni Atkins announced Dr. Jon Nachison, founder and director of Stand Down, as the Veteran of the Year for the 76th Assembly District in a ceremony in Sacramento, Calif. Stand Down was founded 25 years ago as a three-day safe place for San Diego veterans, where they could receive medical, material and emotional support. Today, there are over 200 Stand Down events across the country. This year’s San Diego Stand Down event will be held July 14 and 15. “Dr. Nachison has played a leadership role in helping transitioning veterans return to civilian life in San Diego and across America,” Atkins said in press release. “He is a great example of how we can all do our part to help our returning service members.” Nachison, who also serves as chairperson for the VetFam Regional Forum, served during the Vietnam War era in Washington, D.C.
HIGH HEEL RACE FOR PRIDE FLAG DEEMED HUGE SUCCESS
This year’s Amazing High Heel Race was held June 16 at local businesses across Hillcrest, and called a “huge success” by the Hillcrest Business Association (HBA), who helped organize the event. The race serves as a fundraiser for the Hillcrest Pride Flag Monument, being constructed at the intersection of Normal Street and University Avenue. “We raided over $11,000, all of which goes directly into the Hillcrest Pride Flag,” said the HBA’s Lisa Weir. Weir also said there were over 22 business and 21 teams, along with additional sponsors and volunteers, that helped with this year’s event. This is the second year for the race, and the flag will be unveiled at the launch of San Diego Pride festivities on July 20 at 6:30 p.m., immediately before the first Pride of Hillcrest Block Party, a joint celebration organized by the HBA and San Diego LGBT Pride.
GLOBE HONORS WINNERS TO COMPETE AT HIGH SCHOOL THEATER AWARDS
The Old Globe announced June 28 the 2012 Globe Honors winner Nicolette Burton of Canyon Crest Academy was one of three leading actress finalists at the National High School Musical Theater Awards/The Jimmy Awards held June 25 in New York City. Globe Honors winner for Leading Actor in a High School Musical, Chase Fischer of Coronado School of the Arts, also competed in the competition. The pair won an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City for the competition, as well as a financial scholarship award. “We’re extremely proud of Nicolette and Chase for representing San Diego so skillfully at the national level,” Gold Globe Managing Director Michael Murphy said in a press release. “All of the competitors in this year’s Globe Honors impressed us with their talent and passion. I’m thrilled that the Globe is able to provide this incredible educational experience to San Diego Students.”
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION SUPPORTS HARVEY MILK NAVAL VESSEL
Announced by the GLBT Historic Task Force of San Diego County on Friday, June 22, the San Diego Human Relations Commission unanimously voted to give their official support to name a Navy vessel in the honor of Harvey Milk. Milk was a Navy LT stationed in San Diego in the 1950s. As part of the support, the commission will write a letter to Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta in support. At the commission meeting to present the vessel-naming plan was City Commissioner Nicole Murray Ramirez, current United States Marine Corps officer selection candidate Joseph Rocha and Task Force member Allan Spyere. Ramirez, who serves as chair of the International Advisory Council of the Harvey Milk Foundation, told the commission he appreciated their past support of the Harvey Milk U.S. Postage Stamp campaign, the Harvey Milk Street project and the Harvey Milk State Holiday bill. It was Rocha’s remarks about the importance of a Naval vessel being named in Milk’s honor to “help heal the deep wounds many GLBT veterans have suffered throughout the decades” that moved some members of the commission to tears, a press release from the task force said. In April, Rep. Bob Filner wrote a similar letter to Mabus and Panetta in conjunction with the task force.
HELEN REDDY LAUNCHES COMEBACK IN SAN DIEGO
On Thursday, July 12 the legendary Helen Reddy will perform in San Diego for the first time in almost 20 years. The one-hour show will be included in a three-course dinner package, offered at $55 at Croce’s Restaurant and Jazz Bar, located at the corner of 5el and J in the Gaslamp. Also performing is Gilbert Castenallanos, a world-renown trumpet player from San Diego. Dinner will be served from 5 – 6 p.m. with the performances starting at 6:30 p.m. There will be a $15 cover. For more information or to make a reservation for this show, visit special events under www.croces.com.
CITY LAUNCHES JOB-HIRING PROGRAM FOR TEENS, YOUNG ADULTS
The City of San Diego recently pledged $200,000 to help expand Hire-a-Youth program, to help combat poor statistics that show fewer than three in 10 teenagers now hold summer jobs, the lowest level since World War II.
Councilmembers are taking action in order to strengthen the economy and move San Diego forward, and Council President Tony Young is a strong supporter. “This program links our young people with opportunities to gain valuable work experience, and helps us grow our local economy and prepare our future skilled workforce,” Young said. “This is a great example of how the public and private business sector are coming together to create more jobs in all neighborhoods.” City Councilmember Sherri Lightner has pledged at least $25,000 from her office budget, alone, in support of the program. “This really is an investment in our future,” Lightner said. “We need to grow our Hire-A-Youth program so all of our teens and young adults have the job skills they need to be a productive part of our local workforce.”
