Art and Wine Festival rakes in the dough The third annual La Jolla Art and Wine Festival was successful in raising $40,000 for Torrey Pines, La Jolla and Bird Rock elementary schools during this year’s fundraising event. Sherry Ahern, chair of the event, said she is eager to make the event — including a juried art show, live music and 750-capacity wine and beer garden — even “bigger and better” next year. Holiday lighting sees the first signs of life The first phase of a five-year holiday lighting plan is 95 percent complete, said James Niebling, chair of the association’s holiday lighting program. The first phase includes roofline lighting on four blocks of Girard Avenue from Torrey Pines to Prospect Street, new street lamp décor at the gateway and maintenance of existing falling star ribbon décor throughout the village. The completed projects are one part of a bigger picture to light up the entire village over the years. “We’ve already gotten incredibly positive feedback from the community about how they look,” Niebling said. “It’s the beginning of a five-year plan, so where we haven’t touched parts of the village, we’re hoping to touch those as the years progress to really light up the whole village.” Niebling suggested merchants take on their own lighting efforts, noting the La Jolla Village Lodge’s “absolutely gorgeous” lights wrapped around palm trees. Additional phases of the plan include extending roofline lighting where possible, installing hanging lighting and décor that will traverse the street, and projecting images on the sides of buildings. Flowers to add to festive holiday atmosphere The LJVMA voted to approve up to $14,000 for the installation, miscellaneous repairs and maintenance of 120 hanging flower planters from Nov. 15 through February. La Jolla’s brand soon to be online Promotions Committee chairman Robert Lane announced that his committee has locked down a logo and branding identity for its new revamped website, which is slated to be finalized and unveiled within the next two months. The next meeting of the La Jolla Village Merchants Association will be on Dec. 14 at the Cuvier Club, 7776 Eads Ave. For more information, visit www.lajollabythesea.com.