GOODWILL IN POINT LOMA COMPLETES STORE RENOVATION
Goodwill Industries store at 3663 Rosecrans St. has completed an extensive renovation and will re-open 9:30 a.m. April 23. The store will be fully stocked with products. The staff is excited about the store’s new appearance and will be eager to assist customers. The renovation includes an additional 1,520-square-feet of retail space for a new furniture showroom where shoppers can find tables, couches, and more. The store boasts an enhanced shopping experience with a new cash wrap, new floors, fixtures, window art, point-of-sale slat wall, and production area. Goodwill Industries uses the revenue generated from the sale of donated goods at its retail stores and after-market facilities to provide employment and training opportunities to people with disabilities and other barriers to employment. MINGEI GIFT SHOP AND CAFE? AT LIBERTY STATION The Mingei International Museum doors are closed in Balboa Park for a transformational renovation, but it has not disappeared from sight. In addition to various exhibitions and community programs, Mingei’s temporary home is at Arts District Liberty Station, which includes a gift shop, Shop Mingei, a coffee shop called Cafe? Mingei at Dick Laub NTC Command Center, Building 200, 2640 Historic Decatur Road. “We couldn’t think of a better place to be while our building is being upgraded,” explained Rob Sidner, Mingei executive director. “As the largest collection of arts organizations outside of Balboa Park, the Arts District is a natural choice for our temporary home.” With the major transformation of its facility in Balboa Park, Mingei International will increase accessibility to its collection, exhibition and educational programs for all ages. Mingei presents “Art of the People” and this significant renovation will allow the museum to share that art with the people – as many as possible, regardless of income, experience or ability. The Mingei staff moved into office space in Building 202, at 2820 Roosevelt Road, currently home to the Expressive Arts Institute and Martha Pace Swift Gallery, Solare Ristorante, Pinot’s Palette, Pachis Arts Studio for Kids and the NTC Foundation. OB KIWANIS KITE FESTIVAL
The 71st annual Ocean Beach Kiwanis Kite Festival will be held on Saturday, May 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Robb Field, 2525 Bacon St. There will be kite building and decorating, prizes, professional kite fliers and amazing kite demonstrations and games, crafters, community organizations, gourmet food, carnival activities and live music from Beer Feat. Free event and free parking. For further information, e-mail [email protected].  POINT LOMA GARDEN CLUB HOSTS PLANT SALE
The Point Loma Garden Club will host a plant sale on Saturday, April 27 from 9 a.m. to noon at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 3598 Talbot St. Items for sale include container plants, Tillandsias, native vegetables and herbs, succulent wreaths, gardener’s attire, decorator pots, garden art and homemade treats. Visit place.org for more information.  TASTE OF LIBERTY STATION IS APRIL 24
The third annual Taste of Liberty Station is Wednesday, April 24, from 5 to 9 p.m. For $30 until 24 hours prior to the event, $40 that day, ticketholders can enjoy food samples from signature restaurants, live entertainment in the promenades and art from a variety of galleries and artists. Attendees will have a Liberty Pass map listing and granting access to all the participating businesses and their special offerings. There will be live music taking place throughout the station. For more information about Taste of Liberty Station, visit libertystation.com.
“We are looking forward to hosting Taste of Liberty Station in our community this spring for the third year in a row,” said Laurie Albrecht, community coordinator of the Liberty Station Community Association. “It’s a great opportunity for San Diegans to come and discover every element that Liberty Station has to offer – the amazing eateries, beautiful art and wide variety of businesses that call Liberty Station home.” POINT LOMA DEMOCRATS DISCUSSION ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM
Join the Point Loma/Ocean Beach Democrats on Sunday, April 21 for a discussion on criminal justice reform efforts in San Diego. The featured speaker is Tasha Williamson, co-founder of The Compassion Project, a small group of community activists who support families when they lose a loved one to violence. She was named “Voice of the Year” for 2018 by Voice of San Diego and recently announced her campaign for mayor at the San Diego Women’s March.
Social time begins at 3:30 p.m. Meeting begins at 4 p.m. Held at the Point Loma Assembly, 3035 Talbot St. For more information, visit pointlomadem.org. REPUBLICAN WOMEN OF POINT LOMA LUNCHEON
Republican Women of California-Point Loma is hosting its monthly luncheon meeting Wednesday, April 17, 10 a.m. at Point Loma Cafe, 4865 Harbor Drive. The program will feature Mike Harrison, representative for Duncan Hunter of 50th District. A no-host lunch following. Guests are welcome. For more information, call Marilyn at 619-222-9532. POINT LOMA RESIDENTS NAMED ‘SUPER LAWYER’
Ranked among the top percentage of San Diego attorneys, Noonan Lance Boyer & Banach LLP partners James Lance and David Noonan have been recognized as “Top 50 San Diego Attorneys” in the 2019 edition of San Diego Super Lawyers. Additionally, Noonan was ranked among the “Top 10 San Diego Attorneys” and firm partners Ethan Boyer and Micaela Banach also are listed in Super Lawyers, a leading annual legal services directory for consumers.
The firm’s founding partners Noonan and Lance have been listed for 13 and 10 years respectively. Both attorneys have decades of experience with leadership positions in high profile entities such as the San Diego County Bar Association, the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program and the American Board of Trial Advocates. For more information, visit noonanlance.com. OB HISTORICAL SOCIETY PRESENTATION
On Thursday, April 18, at 7 p.m., the Ocean Beach Historical Society Ocean Beach Historical Society will present “WWII Letters from San Diegans” by Veronica Murphy and Walter Ritter, of Write Out Loud, at Water’s Edge Faith Community, 1984 Sunset Cliffs Blvd.
Hear history as it happened. Poignant World War II letters written by young San Diegans serving in the military will be the focus of the program. Guest speakers Murphy and Ritter will read from a treasure trove of 5,000 letters housed at San Diego State University’s Special Collections and University Archives. Murphy and Ritter are co-founders of San Diego’s Write Out Loud, a theatrical company that brings together experienced actors to do staged readings of literature to a live audience. Both have extensive backgrounds in local theater. EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE AT CABRILLO MONUMENT
The Kiwanis Club of Point Loma will present an ecumenical Easter Sunrise Service at the Cabrillo National Monument. The services will be held in the lower parking lot, giving those who attend a great early morning panoramic view of San Diego Harbor and the city behind it. This year’s will mark the 70th consecutive year that the Kiwanis Club of Point Loma has provided this popular community service for the people of San Diego.
Easter is April 21 this year and the gates to Cabrillo National Monument will open at 6 a.m. with the non-denominational service beginning at 6:30 a.m. There is seating for approximately 700 attendees and the public is encouraged to arrive early. The visitor and parking fees imposed by the National Park Service for visiting the Cabrillo National Monument are not in effect for the Easter Sunrise Services, but you will be asked to leave prior to the 9 a.m. park opening.  The speakers this year are Captain Brien Dickson, Commanding Officer Naval Base Point Loma, Tim Cunning, Governor Elect Kiwanis Cal-Nev-Ha District and Joanna DaCosta, President, Point Loma Kiwanis Club. Chaplain Michael Williams, Fleet Chaplain, THIRD Fleet will conduct the service. This year our soloist will be Jojo Cadwell and she will be accompanied by Danny Green. Mark Fisher will provide the musical prelude to the service. The Marine Color Guard from MCRD will open the ceremony. COUNTY BOARD HOLDS WORKSHOP ON COMMUNITY CHOICE ENERGY
Energy experts from across the state spoke before the County Board of Supervisors during a workshop Tuesday that may help determine whether the County buys and sells electricity. The supervisors heard from utility experts, consumer groups and representatives from cities and counties that offer community choice energy.
The board voted in February to study whether community choice energy, also known as community choice aggregation, should be offered to residents of the County’s unincorporated areas. These programs allow cities and counties to buy, and/or generate, and sell electricity to residents and businesses as alternatives to public utilities like San Diego Gas & Electric.
The County buys electricity and natural gas for its own facilities on the open market instead of directly from SDG&E. During the last three years, the direct access program has saved the County an average of about $3 million a year. BIKES, BOARDS AND BEWS FESTIVAL DATE ANNOUNCED
Bikes, Boards and Brews will be held 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 20 at Crown Point Park. This event features PB restaurants paired with local breweries to celebrate Pacific Beach surf, bike and skate culture and take in the views on Mission Bay.  
Participating restaurants: PB Fish Shop, Board and Brew, Bareback Grill, PB Local, SD Taproom, Tavern at the Beach, Maverick’s Beach Club, Sandbar, Cerveza Jack’s and Moonshine Beach
Participating breweries: Amplified Ale Works, Thorn Brewing Co., Firestone Walker Brewing Co., Coronado Brewing Co., Mike Hess Brewing, Owl Drug Co., 10 Barrel Brewing, Little Miss Brewing, Green Flash, St. Archer Brewing, White Claw Hard Seltzer.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit pacificbeach.org/event/bikes-boards-and-brews/. SAFE FUNDRAISING PARTY AT KARL STRAUSS
The San Diego Advertising Fund for Emergencies party will take place Thursday, April 18 at the Karl Strauss Tasting Room and Beer Garden in Pacific Beach from 5 to 8 p.m., enjoy beats from Z90’s DJ INDO, craft beer, tacos, and games, raffle prizes and more. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online or at the door for $5 more. The first 150 attendees will receive a souvenir Safe & Sound pint glass, and every attendee will receive one drink ticket and raffle ticket. Can’t make it to the party? You can still donate to help the cause by visiting safesandiego.org/donate. CABRILLO UNDER THE STARS IN MAY
In cooperation with the Cabrillo National Park, on Saturday May 18 from 6:30 to 10 p.m. the Cabrillo National Monument Foundation will celebrate its fifth annual “Cabrillo Under the Stars.” Attendees will enjoy local fare from popular restaurants (Little Lion, Ketch, 3rd Corner, etc.), craft beer and wines provided by local brewers and vintners and auction items. And of course, the ability to enjoy the park “after hours” with its spectacular sunsets and night-time views. The money raised by this event is used to support the park’s historical, educational, scientific and interpretive programs. SAN DIEGO CENTER FOR CHILDREN HOSTS ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION 
The San Diego Center for Children’s 132nd Anniversary Celebration, Cherishing the Joys of Childhood, will take place on Saturday, May 11 at Humphreys by the Bay on Shelter Island. Funds raised from this event will support the Center’s programs: providing services to children, teens and families struggling with mental, emotional and behavioral health challenges.
The power of expression and music will be woven throughout the night with a special recognition to longtime music director, Sundiata Kata, who is celebrating his 50th year at the center. Sundiata will be honored as the recipient of the Center’s 2019 PATH Award. The event starts at 6 p.m. and RSVPs are requested by May 1. For more information about the event, including tickets, sponsorships and advertising, visit centerforchildren.org/celebration. YELP NAMES SAN DIEGO NO. 5 CITY FOR FOOD LOVERS
San Diego has been ranked fifth in Yelp’s list of the “Top U.S. Destination for Food Lovers.” According to Yelp, the ranking was determined by comparing cities’ new restaurants, ratings, and reviews as well as cuisine diversity and the percentage of food photos. 
Some of the dishes to note – according to Yelp – included  Pork Belly Benedict at Werewolf in downtown San Diego, the Kimchi Dumpling Hot Soup at TastyPot in Kearny Mesa, and the Hot Chicken at Common Stock in Hillcrest.
 San Francisco took the number one spot, followed by St. Louis and Honolulu.