Mission Beach hopes to light the way By Sebastian Ruiz Mission Beach Town Council will discuss plans to test run a solar-powered lantern along Mission Beach boardwalk this summer with hopes to eventually replace all the light fixtures. The board will consider the type and placement of the lantern at its meeting on May 13 at 7 p.m. in the community room next to the gym at Belmont Park. Mission Beach Town Council member Bob Craig, active in the community on beautification projects, said he wants to use funds set aside by the Mission Beach Women’s Club to purchase a single lantern and install it along the boardwalk for one year. “Right now we have these ugly metal poles with speed signs,” Craig said. Our goal is to replace those with lanterns and the signs.” Craig said a new lantern system would save energy, provide additional lighting and make the area look nicer. The town council plans to work with a private company named Core Energy Concepts to install the first lantern. “If it works, we’ll proceed from there.” Craig said. The cost to install one solar-powered lamp ranges from $4,000 to $6,000, according to Kate Reifers, a representative of Core Energy Concepts. The Mission Beach Women’s Club has set aside approximately $5,000 to fix lighting along Mission Beach and around the bay. The women’s club, however, hasn’t decided which model to purchase. “The money is available but we haven’t agreed yet on what additional lighting we would release it for,” said Mary Wilmont, co-chair of the Mission Beach Women’s Club’s giving committee. Discover PB hosts bocce ball tournament Discover Pacific Beach launches its first annual bocce ball tournament on Saturday, May 9 from noon to 5 p.m. at Kate Sessions Park on Lamont St. Proceeds from the event will fund improvement projects like street cleaning and trash cans. Players of all competitive levels are welcomed. Entry for a team of four costs $150 that includes lunch and raffle prizes. Discover PB is also seeking sponsors and in-kind donations. Visit www.pacificbeach.org for entry forms, call (858) 273-3303 or email [email protected]. Karl Strauss brews festival Karl Strauss Brewing Company will hold its sixth annual Beach to Brewery festival on May 9 from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Pacific Beach Brewery, 5985 Santa Fe Street. Guests can sample 20 different beers for 20 years, including special anniversary brews, along with a different cask that will be tapped every hour. Tours will be given of the recent brewery expansion that has enabled the company to bottle its beer in-house. Playing at the festival will be musical groups Tapes ‘N Tapes, Delta Spirit, Get Back Loretta and Stranger. The event will benefit the Surfrider Foundation, as well as celebrate the brewery’s 20th anniversary. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Parking is limited, and free shuttles will run from the Pacific Beach Library and DustyRhodes Park in Ocean Beach throughout the day. Visitors are also encouraged to ride their bicycles. For more information or to purchase tickets visit www.karlstrauss.com. PB Concert sees green County Supervisor Pam Slater-Price will help keep Pacific Beach’s Concerts on the Green alive through a $3,000 grant to the Pacific Beach Community Foundation that hosts the event. Five concerts are planned for July 19 and 26 and Aug. 2, 9 and 16 at Kate Sessions Park. Bay flushed with cash Mission Bay Park will net approximately $30 million this year, not including rent from the Mission Bay RV Resort that will net approximately $1 million this year, reported Asset Manager Gary Jones for the city’s Real Estate Assets. So far, the city has collected $21 million. Free smoke alarms for seniors The Burn Institute is offering to install smoke alarms at the homes of seniors, 55 and older, for free through April and May. Operable smoke alarms increase the chances of victims surviving a house fire by 50 percent. Eligible seniors must reside in the county, own their home and not own a working smoke alarm. To make an appointment call (858) 541-21277 or email [email protected]. Dirtbags hosts “Rock to Riches” book party These difficult economic times call for a hard drink, er, think, advises Lee Silber. The music store Dirtbags in Pacific Beach will pull together the genres in its book release party for “Rock to Riches: Business Lessons Learned From Rock Stars.” Free and open to the public, the evening kicks off at 7 p.m. at 1135 Garnet Ave. The night features music, a rock fashion show and stories about well-loved rock bands. For more information visit www.dirtbag.com Postal workers collect food for the hungry San Diego residents can leave out sturdy bags of non-perishable food for postal workers to collect while they deliver the mail on May 9. Visit www.helpstamphunger.com for more information.