North Park bomb scare a hoax
The suspicious item originally believed to be a bomb that was discovered in North Park Sept. 25 was a hoax. At approximately 9:30 a.m., San Diego police received a call regarding a suspicious item on the corner of Robinson Avenue and Florida Street. The package turned out to be a metal thermos wrapped in electrical tape with batteries and wires attached to the outside. Police and fire department officials evacuated nearby homes and closed off the street for eight hours. Investigations are ongoing as to who orchestrated the hoax.

Bankers Hill resident one of ‘best lawyers in America’
Bankers Hill resident James Dawe was one of twelve lawyers selected by their peers for inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2012 publication. Based on a peer-review survey in which more than 41,000 attorneys
cast almost 3.9 million votes, Best Lawyers has been called “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.” He said of the award, “I am honored to have been voted by my peers as one of the best lawyers in America in the areas of real estate law and land use and zoning law.”

Mission Hills resident to be honored in Hispanic Heritage month
Mission Hills resident Richard Nares will be honored as a part of Hispanic Heritage Month. Sponsored by Union Bank and KPBS, the honor is designed to recognize those making a difference in their community and will feature the honorees as a part of the Cultural Diversity Partnership in KPBS’s programming.

Nares is the executive director of the Emilio Nares Foundation, which he founded with his wife Diane in 2003 after losing their son Emilio to leukemia. Nares turned his tragic experience into a foundation that assists children fighting cancer throughout Southern California. Under his direction, the Emilio Nares Foundation serves as a resource center providing various community services including transportation, healthy meals and financial assistance. The foundation also provides staffing for the Family Resource Center at Rady Children’s Hospital.

City Attorney seeking to shut down dispensaries
The San Diego City Attorney’s Office on Wednesday filed civil complaints in San Diego Superior Court to shut down 12 marijuana dispensaries operating within 600 feet of schools. Half of them are in Uptown neighborhoods.

“I’ve instructed my office to seek injunctions against these dispensaries that are flouting city zoning laws and doing so in a manner that puts our children at great risk by operating so close to schools,” San Diego City Attorney Jan Goldsmith said. “We are asking the court to shut them down now.”

In 2010, the City Council adopted an ordinance that created a legal zoning category for medical marijuana dispensaries. However, medical marijuana advocates said the ordinance was too restrictive and qualified a referendum for the ballot that sought to repeal the law. The Council then rescinded it.

With the rescission of the ordinance and no ongoing discussions with the City Council, the circumstances revert back to the previously applied standard that marijuana dispensaries are not allowed in any zone.

Pioneer Park makeover nearing completion
The Mission Hills Town Council parks subcommittee has started the final phase of a two-part project to improve the Pioneer Park playground and picnic area. The project is designed to update the play areas and make the park safer by offering separate structures for toddlers and older children.

The project was divided into two phases. Phase one, completed in July 2008, included the play area and picnic space north of it. Phase two, which began Sept. 26, includes the larger picnic space and the walkways next to it, and is scheduled for completion by the beginning of November. The area will be cordoned off and the existing tables will not be usable until the project is completed. Community members and County Supervisor Ron Roberts have donated over $130,000 for this project since 2008.

DMV discussion tabled until November
The discussion of the new Hillcrest DMV and mixed-use facility at the Uptown Planners Meeting has been postponed until Nov. 1 by the request of a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) representative. Though the meeting will still take place Oct. 4 at the Joyce Beers Center at 1230 Cleveland Ave, the DMV demolition and construction project will not be one of the items open to the public for discussion. The Nov. 1 meeting will have a representative available to answer questions, and a presentation is expected. DMV representatives are still working with the consultants to finalize details.

Bankers Hill business group established
The Bankers Hill Business Group (BHBG), the business association serving Upas Street south to Ash Street and Sixth Avenue west to First Avenue, has been established. Having held three meetings so far, the BHBG plans to start a newsletter and enlist local businesses. Over 1,700 businesses operate in the Bankers Hill district.

There is no official board yet, but volunteers are organizing community events to make their presence known to businesses and community members. They are using a $5,000 grant from the city to plan the events as well as to cover newsletter printing costs and website design.

AD Hoc committee of redevelopment put on hold
The California Supreme Court issued a suspension of all new work by the Ad Hoc Committee of Redevelopment due to the State’s current budget issues. Councilmember Todd Gloria said “The Committee has made great strides over the last several months contemplating myriad solutions to make redevelopment work better for all of our communities.” Gloria stated, “The Ad Hoc Committee is suspending its work on the proposed reorganization of the Redevelopment Agency while the Supreme Court’s amended order remains in effect. The Supreme Court’s final ruling is expected in early January 2012. If the Redevelopment Agency is permitted to conduct new business again, the Redevelopment Agency may consider extending the duration of the Ad Hoc Committee beyond its current expiration date of December 15, 2011.”

San Diego pet expo returns to the Del Mar Fairgrounds
Pet Lovers mark your calendars for the largest pet event in San Diego – The San Diego Pet Expo, Oct. 15 and 16, 2011 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Attendees may enter their dog in the Splash Dogs competition, a water event for all dogs, or spend some time at the Petting Zoo. Special guest star Victoria Stilwell, star of Animal Planet’s “It’s Me or the Dog” will be at the Pet Expo on Sunday, speaking and signing autographs. The Expo will be Oct. 15, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Oct. 16, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $9 for adults, $7 for Seniors over 65 and kids under 16 are free. Proceeds from the San Diego Pet Expo benefit San Diego animal shelters and rescues.

SDSU student wants Uptown participants for survey
Malia Campanella, a Master of City Planning student at San Diego State University, is conducting a brief survey about sense of place and community attachment. She is seeking 250 participants from Uptown communities. All survey participants will be entered into a drawing for a $50 Starbucks gift card. The link for the survey is https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/sop_survey_uptown.

Nationa Theater announces third season lineup
The National Theatre has announced show titles for the third season of National Theatre Live, an initiative to broadcast live performances from the National’s stages to cinemas worldwide. Since its first season,
which began in June 2009 with the production of Phédre starring Helen Mirren, over half a million people have now experienced the National’s acclaimed work on movie screens around the world.

David Sabel, the National Theatre’s Head of Digital Media, says: “It is thrilling to think that over half a million people worldwide have now seen a National Theatre Live broadcast. The program has grown significantly, giving an ever-widening audience an unprecedented opportunity to engage with our work.”

Season three titles include: One Man, Two Guvnors; The Kitchen; Collaborators; and The Comedy of Errors. The live performances will be captured in HD and continue to show at Reading Cinemas Gaslamp 15. Additional titles for 2012 will be announced soon.

Rape reported in Hillcrest
A woman reported being raped in a Hillcrest parking lot early Tuesday. Around 1 a.m., the woman called her parents who then called the police to report the attack. After finding her at a 7-Eleven store, police escorted her to a hospital. The suspect is described as Latino, approximately 40 years old, 5 feet 9 inches tall, 180 pounds and heavily tattooed. San Diego police are still pursuing the suspect.