Old Town brings a Taste of the Past<\/p>\n
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park will host the California Department of Parks and Recreation event Taste of the Past from 12 \u2013 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 31. Co-sponsored by Fiesta de Reyes, the Taste of the Past is a culinary event focusing on the foods of early San Diego, a press release stated. In addition to historical food preparation demonstrations in the main plaza, a Dutch Oven Cook Off will be held in Seeley Yard behind The Cosmopolitan Hotel & Restaurant. A number of food purveyors will offer historically based food samples for the Taste of Old Town tour until 4 p.m. Participating restaurants include Barra Barra, Casa de Reyes, The Cosmopolitan, Cousin\u2019s Candy, El Patio, Hacienda De Las Rosas, Hot Licks, La Panderia, RUST General Store, The San Diego House and Viva El Caf\u00e9. While $15 tickets will be available on the day of the event at the Robinson-Rose Visitor Center, organizers recommend purchasing tickets in advance, and proceeds will benefit the restoration of cooking exhibits at the Machado Silvas Museum in the park. For more information visit parks.ca.gov\/oldtownsandiego\/ or call 619-220-5422. The park\u2019s main entrance is located at the intersection of San Diego Avenue and Twiggs Street.<\/p>\n
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Insurance veteran opens Mission Hills office<\/p>\n
State Farm Insurance Agent Vladan Trifunovic opened new offices in Mission Hills, located at 928 Fort Stockton Dr. Suite 201. Trifunovic has over 25 years experience with State Farm, and said one of his primary goals is to help educate clients on all aspects of available insurance. \u201cAuto, homeowners and life insurance will continue to represent our core business, but people are always surprised when they find out how much value we offer in other areas,\u201d Trifunovic said in a release. One of the agent\u2019s stated goals is to help his clients retire comfortably. \u201cMost of the people I\u2019ve met over the past 20 years had not taken the time to figure out what they need to do today in order to retire comfortable tomorrow,\u201d he said. For more information call 619-296-6502.<\/p>\n
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Albert Einstein Academies leadership grows<\/p>\n
Straddling South Park and Golden Hill at 3035 Ash St., Albert Einstein Academies (AEA) charter school welcomed two new assistant directors to start the school year, doubling the most recent leadership team, a press release stated. Greta Bouterse is the new assistant director of the elementary school and Barb Robinson is the new assistant director of the middle school, both located at the Uptown campus. Bouterse has worked for AEA as a third- and fourth-grade teacher for 10 years, as well as International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme Coordinator and Student Support Coordinator. In the release, Bouterse said she was eager to begin her new role at the school. New to AEA, Robinson has an extensive background in charter schools with an emphasis in curriculum and instruction. \u201cJoining the AEA team gives me an opportunity to be a part of an innovative and hard-working learning community that is doing great things for students,\u201d she said in the release. Additionally, AEA representatives announced the middle school would be expanding into Grant Hill for the 2014-15 school year, increasing open enrollment to approximately 300 additional students. For more information visit aeacms.org or aeaces.org.<\/p>\n
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Bill expanding abortion providers advances<\/p>\n
Written by Assembly Majority Leader Toni Atkins, Assembly Bill 154 passed the State Senate Monday, Aug. 26, marking the last significant legislative hurdle, a release from Atkins\u2019 office said. The bill increases the medical professionals who are authorized to perform early aspiration abortions to include nurse practitioners, physicians assistants and certified nurse midwives. The expansion helps to alleviate a shortage of abortion providers throughout the state, the release said. \u201cAll women should have timely access to reproductive health care regardless of whether they live in urban or rural areas and without excessive expense or travel,\u201d Atkins said in the release. \u201cOver half of California\u2019s counties lack an abortion provider.\u201d The California Women\u2019s Health Alliance \u2013 a coalition of advocacy groups including California Church IMPACT, California Latinas for Reproductive Justice and Black Women for Wellness \u2013 is sponsoring the bill, which will return to the Assembly before moving to Gov. Jerry Brown for his signature in the next few weeks.<\/p>\n
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North Park resident elected to United Way board<\/p>\n
Omar T. Passons, a North Park resident and community activist was elected to the board of United Way of San Diego County, along with five other new members: Ignacio De La Torre, Jacqueline L. Parks, Kian Saneii, Laurie Berman and Regina V. Evans. Passons is a public works construction, land use and civil litigation lawyer at Stutz Artiano Shinoff & Holtz APC, and currently serves on the North Park Community Association, North Park Planning Group and Lambda Archives San Diego, among others. Board members serve for three years, governing the \u201caffairs and activities\u201d of United Way San Diego County, a press release stated. Members may also serve on sub-committees, including workplace campaigns, finance, public policy and marketing. \u201cWe welcome these highly qualified board members to the team,\u201d said President and CEO Doug Sawyer in the announcement. \u201cEach brings a wealth of knowledge and unique perspective to our organization, as we build on our track record of solving education, income, health and homeless issues.\u201d For more information visit uwsd.org.<\/p>\n
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Amanda Baumgarten joins new Waypoint Public<\/p>\n
Set to open in the location formerly occupied by The Linkery in early October, Waypoint Public now has the backing of three culinary professional partners: John Pani, Brian Jensen and Amanda Baumgarten. Baumgarten, who left Herringbone in La Jolla, Calif. earlier this year, is the most recent addition to the North Park project, an Aug. 21 press release announced. She joins the group as partner and executive chef. A Southern California native, Baumgarten spent over a decade training and has worked in four different Michelin-starred restaurants, as well as participated in season seven of Bravo\u2019s \u201cTop Chef.\u201d She said she is excited to bring her vision to the North Park neighborhood. \u201cThere\u2019s something so compelling about being able to mix and match and pull from all of these amazing different cultures,\u201d she said in the announcement. The 5,000 square foot Waypoint Public will initially open for dinner service only, and the partners have plans to expand to weekend brunch and happy hour as well. Jensen is no stranger to North Park, opening his Bottlecraft beer shop in the area this year. Pani is a San Diego native and founder of the hospitality firm ELE Collective, and currently lives in Kensington. \u201cGrowing up in Ocean Beach, I\u2019ve been coming up to North Park pretty much since I could drive,\u201d Pani said in the announcement. \u201cNorth Park has all of the amazing qualities that a good urban hood should have.\u201d Waypoint Public will be located at 3794 30th St., at North Park Way.<\/p>\n
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Public input sought on bike sharing<\/p>\n
The City Council unanimously approved a bike-sharing initiative July 9, entering into a corporate partnership with DecoBike LLC of Miami, Fla. to provide the services. The program, which is expected to launch in early 2014, will consist of approximately 2,000 bikes, 200 stations and 3,500 bike docks. The website decobikesandiego.com was launched Aug. 16, and both the City and DecoBike are seeking input from residents regarding the placement of the pending network of bike stations. Community feedback is requested regarding bike station placement, which will then be matched with logistical criteria for final selection. Residents have 60 days from Aug. 16 to provide input on locations. Council President Todd Gloria, councilmembers Kevin Faulconer and David Alvarez, and representatives from Move San Diego and the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition announced the need for public input at a press conference Aug. 22. Aside from the website, the City will be using other methods to gather feedback, including community meetings and targeted emails. Several other major cities have bike-sharing programs, including Denver, Miami and Washington.<\/p>\n
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Lottery scam targets veterans, senior citizens<\/p>\n
In a press release Tuesday, Aug. 20, District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis warned the public about a lottery scam aimed at local veterans and senior citizens. The scam uses the official San Diego County seal, and named two victims \u2013 a retired San Diego couple \u2013 as losing more than $20,000 in total from their savings. The couple was told they won a $2.5-million lottery, and perpetrators demanded money for alleged taxes and money transfers, as well as private bank-account information. \u201cThese scammers are using the legitimacy of a government seal to prey on vulnerable seniors who served their country. They\u2019ve stolen at least one couple\u2019s hard-earned savings in a brazen example of financial elder abuse,\u201d Dumanis said in the release. The District Attorney said it may be embarrassing for victims to come forward, but is urging additional victims to speak up to help arrest the perpetrators. Individuals who think they have been scammed are asked to call 619-531-3245.<\/p>\n
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Broadway San Diego adds two shows<\/p>\n
Organizers of the 2013-14 season for Broadway San Diego \u2014 A Nederlander Presentation added two productions to the lineup: a live broadcast of \u201cA Prairie Home Companion\u201d and \u201cPotted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Experience.\u201d The shows will join \u201cDisney\u2019s Beauty and the Beast\u201d as \u201cextra season events,\u201d a press release stated. \u201cPotted Potter,\u201d an \u201centertaining and hilarious\u201d parody, will play November 6 \u2013 10, and \u201cA Prairie Home Companion\u201d will feature sketch comedy, music and Garrison Keillor\u2019s \u201cThe News from Lake Wobegon\u201d radio show on Jan. 4, 2014. The season opens Oct. 15 with \u201cPriscilla Queen of the Desert.\u201d Additionally, \u201cJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat\u201d will replace the previously announced \u201cThe Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber,\u201d which organizers said has been postponed for a subsequent season. For complete season dates visit broadwaysd.com.<\/p>\n
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The Center receives Human Dignity grant<\/p>\n
The San Diego Human Dignity Foundation awarded a second-year grant of $25,000 to The San Diego LGBT Community Center in support of the nonprofit\u2019s Senior Services, which is designed to improve the quality of life for LGBT seniors in San Diego. \u201cFocusing our community\u2019s philanthropy on our growing senior population is imperative,\u201d said Foundation President Drew Jack in a release. \u201cWith scarce resource available to fully fund the services needed to meet the unique demands of LGBT seniors, it is our responsibility to step up and provide the support.\u201d The Foundation is celebrating its 17th anniversary this year, and has granted close to $4 million to local LGBT groups. For more information visit myLGBTfoundation.org or call 619-291-3383. To learn more about The Center\u2019s Senior Services, including 50 and Better Together, visit thecentersd.org or call 619-692-2077.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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