Meetings to discuss trolley extensions The San Diego Association of Governments has initiated scoping for the Mid-Coast Corridor Transit project, in which county voters approved an 11-mile extension of the San Diego Trolley from the Old Town TransitCenter to University City, University Towne Centre and University of California, San Diego as part of the TransNet half-cent sales tax for transportation. Five meetings will be held throughout May to allow the public and agencies to learn about alternatives to address the corridor’s transit needs and provide input on areas of focus in the development of the draft environmental document. The first meeting took place May 5, and next will take place Tuesday, May 11 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Price Center East Ballroom on the UCSD Campus, 9500 Gilman Drive. Another meeting will convene the next day on Wednesday, May 12, from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center’s Garfield Theatre, 4126 Executive Drive. Candidates forum slated Three candidates running for the coastal seat on the San Diego Unified School District’s Board of Education will discuss their positions and qualifications at a forum on May 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the La Jolla High School auditorium at 750 Nautilus St. The coastal seat represents schools from Point Loma to La Jolla, labeled as Area C. Incumbent John de Beck is running again for the four-year position. Budget analyst Scott Barnett and school psychologist Michelle Crisci are also vying for the spot. The League of Women Voters will moderate the debate. Submit questions at lajollacluster.com. Sidewalk café approved A sidewalk café and restaurant is set to reinvigorate the corner of Prospect Street where Bistro 101 and the Hard Rock Café previously operated since city staff approved permits for the Aroma bakery and Barfly restaurant on April 29. The city’s Development Services Department approved the sidewalk café, despite the fact the outdoor tables and chairs will leave less than eight feet of clearance for pedestrians as mandated by the Village’s code for development, the planned district ordinance (PDO). Project Manager Tim Daly said city staff believed the reduced set-back was warranted. “Obviously, it’s the palm trees along the sidewalk that’s the impediment,” Daly said. “Only a small portion of the area would be less than eight feet.” The La Jolla Community Planning Association — the Village’s advisory board for development — had voted 12-3-1 to reject the project on April 1 because board members didn’t want to undermine the importance of the PDO. La Jolla cluster organizes rally trip The La Jolla Cluster Association is chartering a bus to carry parents, students and teachers to rally against state cuts to education on May 8 at Balboa Park on the corner of Sixth Avenue and Laurel Street. The bus will leave at 9 a.m. sharp from Muirlands Middle School at 1056 Nautilus St. Those interested in participating may reserve a seat at lajollacluster.com. SDJA and synagogues unite Jewish community On May 18, San Diego Jewish Academy and several local synagogues invite all San Diegans to attend a free event titled “Tikkun Leil Shavuot: An Evening of Learning.” The first of its kind resulting from the recently-initiated Synagogue-SDJA Compact, the event aims to unite the diverse Jewish community through discussion panels and study groups on the topic of pluralism. A core SDJA value, pluralism emphasizes tolerance and coexistence of multiple religious beliefs within one society. Participating synagogues include Congregation Beth Am, Beth El, Beth Israel, Temple Solel and Ohr Shalom. SDJA will host the event on its campus, 11860 Carmel Creek Road, and it will begin with candle lighting and prayer at 6 p.m. followed by an optional kosher dinner for $10, which must be purchased in advance. Keynote speaker, Rabbi Mordecai Finley, Ph.D., a former president of the Academy for Jewish Religion, will address guests at 7:15 p.m. In keeping with the Jewish tradition of Shavuot, study groups will continue late into the evening and a dairy dessert will be offered as well. For more information or to purchase dinner tickets, visit sandiegojewishcommunity.com or contact Rebecca Besquin at (858) 704-3861 or [email protected]. La Jollans trash local debris Last month, a group of 44 students and families from La Jolla Village Country Day School and Mission Bay Montessori Academy picked up 2,729 pieces of trash in just one hour. They joined San Diego Coastkeeper at Crown Point in Mission Bay Park to learn about the dangers of trash on beaches and streets for both animal and humans. Cleanups are held at least twice a month, with the next taking place on Saturday, May 8 at Powerhouse Park in Del Mar at 9 a.m. Coastkeeper challenges La Jolla residents to beat the 1,293 pieces of plastic trash, 457 pieces of paper, three marshmallows and other debris that April’s group kept out of the ocean. Visit sdcoastkeeper.org or surfriderSD.org for more information on cleanups.