PLNU among best values for private universities Kiplinger’s Personal Finance announced Oct. 25 its annual best values in private institutions, naming Point Loma Nazarene University as among the private universities and liberal arts colleges that combine outstanding quality with affordability. PLNU ranked No. 67 out of all private universities. Selected from a pool of more than 600 private institutions, the schools on the two lists were ranked according to academic quality and affordability, with quality accounting for the majority of the total. Criteria included admission and retention rates, student-faculty ratio and graduation rates, as well as data on cost and financial aid. Each year, Kiplinger’s assesses quality according to measurable standards, including the percentage of students who are admitted out of those who applied, the test scores of incoming freshmen, the ratio of students to faculty members and the four- and five-year graduation rates. This year, Kiplinger adjusted its criteria to better reflect the issues affecting families. Now, the rankings give more weight to the four-year graduation rate — a measure of the college’s ability to deliver academic support and of the overall cost to families — and to colleges that keep student debt down. To view the full Kiplinger list of universities, visit www.kiplinger.com/tools/privatecolleges. Historical society to eulogize beloved member
The Ocean Beach Historical Society will present “A Tribute to Ned Titlow — Tales of Ned!” in memory of a beloved local historian. The presentation takes place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 17 at the Point Loma United Methodist Church, 1984 Sunset Cliffs Blvd.???Titlow passed away on Oct. 29. He was the vice chair of the Ocean Beach Historical Society. His legendary stories and joy of growing up in Ocean Beach made him an integral part in teaching the history of Ocean Beach. For more information, visit www.obhistory.wordpress.com. Cook-off nets $126,000 for domestic violence help Center for Community Solutions (CCS), a nonprofit agency that offers a complete range of sexual assault and domestic-violence prevention and intervention services, announced the recent “Chef Showdown: Taking a Stand Against Domestic Violence” fundraiser at Liberty Station raised more than $126,000 to support the programs and services throughout San Diego. Held at the Legacy Plaza at the NTC Promenade in Point Loma, “Chef Showdown” attracted more than 600 guests who sampled tastings from some of San Diego’s most popular restaurants. A team of culinary titans from The Shores, Kensington Grill, Harney Sushi, Truluck’s, Kitchen 1540 and Sea Rocket Bistro faced off against colleagues from Sycuan Casino, El Vitral, Cups, Grove Steakhouse at Viejas, Sycuan Resort and Bali Hai. As the only rape crisis center in the city of San Diego and a major provider of sexual assault, domestic violence and elder abuse services throughout the county for more than 40 years, CCS helps more than 30,000 local residents each year. OB churches raise bar to feed hungry To meet the nutritional needs of Ocean Beach’s hungry patrons, the local ministries in charge of the daily food distribution are changing their menus to offer a healthier and fresher variety with on-site preparation at their nightly dinners. Shepherds of Second Chances OB — a nonprofit outreach group that has distributed food to the community for many years — has teamed up with the Episcopal Church Center on Sunset Cliffs Boulevard. The center is run by director Nancy Holland and has expanded to three on-site prepared meals a week, adding Thursday nights to their Saturday morning breakfasts and the existing Wednesday night dinners. Contributors to these meal servings are the Newbreak Christian Church and the OB One Baptist Church, offering funds and qualified volunteers to help in the Episcopal Center’s spacious, well-equipped kitchen facility. Tom Petersen, coordinator with The Way Church, oversees the dinner events and guides the 10 to 15 volunteers who participate. During the Thursday dinner offerings, organizers said the number of hungry guests nearly doubled — from 80 to 150 people per night. Gourmet items include cheese tortellini with fresh lobster, scallops and shrimp, Brazilian noodle bisque, three kinds of prepared chicken wings, legs and breasts and organic greens with fresh blackberries, strawberries and apples, nuts and cranberries. Two main distributors of these products are the San Diego Food Bank and Feeding America San Diego. They have been delivering foods to Second Chances OB, which has coordinated the meal distribution in OB for years. Distributions topped out at 4,000 pounds of food per week, totaling more than 150,000 per year for Ocean Beach alone. The dinners on Wednesdays and Thursdays begins at 5.30 p.m. Saturday breakfasts begin at 8 a.m. and also provide free legal aid and basic, professional medical service and referrals by doctors from the University of California, San Diego and UCSD nurses. — Bianca Koch