Fire stations host food drive
As part of their first annual Firehouse Food Drive, San Diego firefighters are accepting donations of nonperishable food items at all 45 fire stations in San Diego through July 30.
The drive was started in July to help those in need throughout the entire year rather than just during the holiday season. The food will be collected and distributed by the San Diego Food Bank.
In the La Jolla and University City areas, donations can be dropped of at:
“¢ Fire Station 9, 7870 Ardath Lane
“¢ Fire Station 13, 809 Nautilus St.
“¢ Fire Station 16, 210 Via Casa Alta
“¢ Fire Station 35, 4285 Eastgate Mall
“¢ Fire Station 41, 4914 Carroll Canyon Road
For more information, visit www.sandiegofoodbank.org.

LJCPA to hear Children’s Pool rope, tower plans
The La Jolla Community Planning Association will hear a proposal Thursday, Aug. 2, for a coastal permit to allow a permanent rope barrier during pupping season and a revised proposal for a new lifeguard station at the Children’s Pool Beach.
City Council voted in December of last year for a temporary rope barrier to be erected 15 days earlier and taken down 15 days later than usual because harbor seal pupping season was slightly longer.
Because that vote was temporary, the city is now asking the applicant to obtain a permanent permit for the rope during those months, which are typically December through March.
Those asking for the early rope barrier installation include members from San Diego Marine Wildlife Sanctuary Association, San Diego Animal Advocates and San Diego Coastkeeper.
Some residents who believe the beach should be available solely to swimmers and other recreation oppose the barrier and the request that people stay off the beach.
Many residents are also hesitant about plans for a new lifeguard station, which were presented at June’s LJCPA meeting by the city’s project manager and architects assigned to design the new building.
The current station is a 40-year-old structure that is deteriorating under age and weather, according to lifeguard Lt. John Greenhalgh, who spoke at June’s meeting. The proposal from city officials and the architect was met with opposition from residents, who said the design was too modern and bulky.
The city’s Parks and Beaches committee and a La Jolla Town Council subcommittee were assigned to helping generate input for the station’s design and the new proposal presented at next month’s meeting should reflect those comments, according to Tim Golba, LJCPA president.
The LJCPA meets the first Thursday of every month at 6 p.m. at the La Jolla Recreation Center, 615 Prospect St. For more information, visit www.lajollacpa.org or send e-mail to [email protected].

County offers beach water-quality podcast
Checking the water quality at all of San Diego’s beaches is now only a few clicks away.
The County of San Diego now posts a daily beach water quality podcast on its Web site. The 30-second audio track announces any closures, sewage spills and advisories.
Of all of San Diego’s beaches, only Children’s Pool has the dubious honor of having an ongoing advisory for high bacteria levels.
The podcast also announces quarantines, such as the recent advisory against eating any mussels collected in California’s coastal waters due to domoic acid poisoning.
Listeners are also advised to avoid contact with runoff and to swim at least 75 feet from storm drains. To listen to current beach water quality podcast, visit sdcounty.ca.gov/deh/multimedia/podcast/podcast.html.

Muirlands turf campaign sets goal for August
A capital campaign to raise $1.2 million for a new artificial turf at Muirlands Middle School has rounded up a little more than $50,000 since its launch in May and is looking to meet its goal before the start of the 2007-’08 school year.
The field, which is used by both middle and high school extracurricular sports teams and physical education classes, is in poor condition and was the cause of more than a dozen student injuries over the past school year, according to Howard Frank, campaign chairman.
“What’s unique about this project is that all five of the schools in the La Jolla cluster have embraced the project; they are all for it,” Frank said. “Everyone recognizes this is a project for the betterment of the community. Every one of these kids are going to take PE on this field for three years and it’s a real hazard.”
The campaign committee, made up of parents and administrators predominantly from La Jolla High School and Muirlands Middle School, has contacted members of the parent/teacher associations and athletic teams at all five public La Jolla schools to ask for support, according to Frank.
Because school fund-raising is often slow during summer months, the committee will kick its campaign up several notches during the first few months after students return to school if the financial goal is not met by August, Frank said.
Project construction is expected to take between five and six weeks, and the next available time period that would not significantly interfere with classes and practices would be the beginning of Thanksgiving break through the end of Christmas break, according to Frank.
The students would only lose two weeks of field time instead of five if that plan was implemented, he added.
“We are still exploring donor possibilities and we will continue to do that,” Frank said. “The committee will still meet once a week, and in a perfect world we would get it done this summer.”
For more information about making a donation, contact Frank, (619) 574-1888.

Mayor will stop for coffee with La Jollans
Mayor Jerry Sanders invites La Jolla residents and business owners to meet him and talk about issues they feel are important during a Community Coffee this Saturday, July 28, at the Living Room Coffeehouse, 1010 Prospect St. The mayor will be at the site from 9 to 10 a.m.
Attendees are welcome to discuss either specific community concerns or city-wide issues.
To RSVP, or for more information, call (619) 236-7174. RSVPs are not necesary, however.

Vikings class of ’87 holds reunion
Members of La Jolla High School’s class of 1987 will celebrate their 20-year reunion this Saturday, July 28, at La Jolla Country Club.
The event, from 6 to 11 p.m., will feature a buffet dinner and live music by the Reaganomics. A “Reunion Recovery” beach party will be held the next day, July 29, at Windansea. Some tickets will be available at the door for $125.
For information, call or e-mail LJ Woodard, (858) 405-8270 or [email protected], or call the alumni office, (858) 551-9871.

Artist’s widow to meet collectors
Natasha Smirnov, widow of the Russian artist Sergey Smirnov who died suddenly last November, will greet collectors and share stories on Saturday, July 28, 7 to 9 p.m., at Fingerhut Gallery, 1205 Prospect St.
For information, call (858) 456-9900.