Mount Soledad fire thought to be arson Three Mount Soledad residents awoke early Sunday morning to flames inside a two-story home adjacent to Kate Sessions Park, causing rescuers to rush one person to the hospital and leaving the others seeking another residence, said San Diego Fire Rescue Department officials. At about 2:30 a.m. Oct. 26, officials at SDFRD sent four engines, one truck and two battalion chiefs to battle the fire engulfing a two-story home at 2181 Harbour Heights Road, said an SDFRD dispatcher. “And about 11 minutes later, one battalion chief required another engine and another truck,” the dispatcher said. The Mount Soledad fire caused about $800,000 damage to the structure and about $75,000 in property loss, the dispatcher said. Although fire investigators are searching for exactly what caused the blaze, according to the dispatcher, the official cause was listed as “incendiary.” Shores loses power twice in one week The San Diego Police Department advised citizens to use alternate traffic routes last Thursday morning when a 90-minute power outage caused major congestion on La Jolla’s roadways. At about 6:30 a.m. Oct. 23, more than 1,700 San Diego Gas & Electric customers lost power in La Jolla Shores and Soledad Mountain, causing traffic congestion when lights along Torrey Pines Road and La Jolla Shores Drive blacked out, police said. This blackout occurred on the heels of a previous power outage the week before, which left about 1,600 La Jolla Shores customers powerless. At 8:45 a.m. Oct. 17, approximately 1,600 La Jolla Shores customers lost power, said SDG&E spokeswoman Sabra Moallem. “That was just a fault in a piece of underground equipment,” Moallem said. About 60 percent of the power company’s customers’ power was restored within the hour, Moallem said. The last of the SDG&E customers’ power was restored by 2:48 p.m. that afternoon, she said. The blackout one week later was caused when a rat got into underground cable lines right outside the La Jolla Shores area. Power was lost for 90 minutes during Thursday morning’s commute, Moallem said. “Everyone was restored at 7:18. Within an hour, everyone was back online,” Moallem said. La Jolla worker, LJCD grad dies in car crash A 21-year-old La Jolla hostess died last Thursday after driving her car into a tree, according to police. Jennifer Laurie Brainerd, 21, lived with her parents in Scripps Ranch, according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office. At about 1:19 a.m. Oct. 23, Brainerd – a hostess at La Jolla’s Rock Bottom Brewery restaurant – was driving a 2001 Volkswagen in the 10100 block of Pomerado Road when she lost control, ran off the road and struck a tree, the ME’s office reported. Brainerd was alone in the car, from which she was ejected when it broke into pieces, the ME’s office said. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries. Brainerd was a graduate of La Jolla Country Day School. Man falls to his death at Black’s Beach A 43-year-old Chula Vista man died Wednesday, Oct. 22, when he tumbled off the cliffs at Torrey Pines State Beach, according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s office. Visitors at La Jolla’s Black’s Beach noticed that Nestor Revilla Hernandez lost his footing along the high bluffs, the ME’s office reported. Hernandez stumbled and fell off the cliffs. Witnesses notified rescuers, who came to the man’s aid, the ME’s office said. Lifeguards and medics drove Hernandez to the hospital, trying to resuscitate him, but he died from the fall, officials said. Hillel hearing next week Next Thursday, Nov. 6, the San Diego Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to consider an application for a site development permit, easement acquisition and public right-of-way vacation for the Hillel of San Diego Student Center. The center is proposed for the triangular-shaped parcel at La Jolla Scenic Drive North, between Torrey Pines Road and La Jolla Scenic Way. Hillel is asking to continue the use of an exisiting single-family home and garage for religious offices as part of Phase I of the project. Phase II will include a religious student center main floor over a subterranean parking garage that would accommodate 68 vehicles. The Planning Comission will recommend approval, conditional approval or denial to the City Council. The hearing begins at 9 a.m. in the council chambers, 202 C St., 12th floor. For more information call development project manager Daniel Stricker, (619) 446-5251. Curie, Muirlands schools hold events The 30th annual Holiday Craft Fair will take place Saturday, Nov. 1 at Marie Curie Elementary School, 4080 Governor Drive. The fair will feature 120 booths of handmade art and craft items, a children’s area with carnival games and entertainment, plus a bake sale, opportunity drawing and silent auction. The Holiday Craft Fair runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is sponsored by the school’s PTA; call (858) 643-9720. Next Thursday, Nov. 6, Muirlands Middle School will hold a Holiday Luncheon Boutique at La Jolla Country Club, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Twenty percent of purchases from unique vendors will be donated to the Muirlands Foundation. Tickets ($40) are available at the school’s office. Kellogg Park Playground deadline approaches The Friends of Kellogg Park and the La Jolla Shores Association have raised $115,000 so far toward the replacement of playground equipment at Kellogg Park. The groups need $35,000 by Nov. 4 to fund the project in order to keep control of the timeline, layout and vendor selection. Those who donate $250 or more will have their names inscribed on a plaque. For information, visit www.KPplayground.com, or call Tory Gulley, (858) 459-3084, Greg Salmon, (858) 663-2277 or Mary Coakley, (619) 840-0250. Tax-deductible donations may made out to La Jolla Town Council Foundation (please write “KP Playground” on memo line) and sent to Friends of Kellogg Park Playground, Attn: Tory Gulley, P.O. Box 1232, La Jolla, CA 92038. LJCPA seeks trustee candidates The La Jolla Community Planning Association (LJCPA) is looking for candidates to fill the remaining term of one trustee seat. A special election will be held Dec. 4 for the seat, which expires in March 2009. The successful candidate would be able to run again in the March 2009 election for a regular three-year term. Statements of interest must be submitted by the close of the regular LJCPA meeting on Thursday, Nov. 6. Those eligible must be LJCPA members in good standing who have attended a minimum of three meetings during the past 12 months. Letters should be e-mailed to [email protected]. A Candidate Forum will take place during the Nov. 6 meeting, 6 p.m. at La Jolla Recreation Center, 615 Prospect St. For information, contact LJCPA President Joe LaCava at the e-mail above or call (858) 456-7900.