MISSION HILLS FARMERS’ MARKET ON HIATUS

Partially due to lagging attendance as well as a poor location, organizers of the Mission Hills Farmers’ Market have put the weekly market on temporary hiatus, with the final day Wednesday, Dec. 19. One of six markets run by Brian’s Farmers’ Markets, owner Brian Beevers began the Mission Hills market in June 2010. Representatives from Brian’s said they are currently looking for a new location. Trish Watlington, owner of The Red Door Restaurant and The Wellington Steak & Martini Lounge, hosted regular dinners using the market as both an educational tool and supplier of ingredients. “I’m extremely disappointed that the market wasn’t able to keep its current location,” Watlington said. “We are hopeful that discussion with other neighborhood partners might see the market reopen in a more trafficked and central spot. We will certainly do everything we can to support it when it does.” Watlington also serves on the Mission Hills Business Improvement District (BID). Gerrie Trussle, BID executive director, said she was sad to see the end of the market but was glad the neighborhood businesses are doing well, a sentiment Watlington shared. “In the interim, many of the products are available at other neighborhood locations, albeit without the festive atmosphere of the market,” she said. Watlington called Beevers a “fabulous partner,” saying, “I’m sure that with all of his efforts, we will see [the market] rebuilt in another Mission Hills location.”

REP. DAVIS MEETS WITH DIST 53 PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION WINNERS

Approximately 40 winners in Rep. Susan Davis’ lottery for tickets to attend the January inauguration of President Barack Obama met on Dec. 15. Davis was on hand for the meet and greet, which was held at Cosmos Coffee Café in La Mesa, Calif. The Congressmember held the ticket lottery for constituents in the 53rd District, with winners from several Uptown neighborhoods. “During inaugurations, Americans come together to celebrate our enduring democracy,” Davis said. “It’s always enjoyable to hear people’s thoughts and feeling about what this momentous occasion means to them.” A similar lottery was held for previous presidential inaugurations, and demand always exceeds supply, representatives from Davis’ office said. Deadline for the lottery was Dec. 2, and winners will pick up their tickets in Washington, D.C.

HBA VOTES TO NOT PRODUCE 2013 MARDI GRAS

Announced Dec. 12, the Hillcrest Business Association (HBA) board of directors voted to forgo production of the 2013 Hillcrest Mardi Gras street party and fair, previously scheduled for mid-February. The event has been co-produced by the HBA and the Greater San Diego Business Association Foundation for 12 years, and the two organizations jointly own the event. “Rather than continue to partner with an organization whose members are hostile to the business association and who contribute very little to the event, we have decided to step back and look at other options,” said Benjamin Nicholls, HBA executive director, in a press release. The release also said the HBA has taken on “the majority of the work” in producing the event in the last few years, with HBA members conducting “all major activities” for the production of the event. “If the [Foundation] is interested in producing the event on their own, we welcome it,” Nicholls said. “Obviously, if the event were produced, we would vigorously defend our ownership share.” As part fundraiser for LGBT youth scholarships, past Hillcrest Mardi Gras events have raised more than $160,000, and the HBA said they will be looking at options to make sure the 2013 donation is honored, including the potential to make a donation out of their private funds. Representatives from the Foundation were contacted before going to print.

MISSION HILLS RESIDENT WINS SUIT AGAINST CITY OVER TREE THAT CRUSHED HIS LEGS

A San Diego Superior Court jury decided the City is at fault for the “dangerous condition” of a tree that fell three years ago, striking Mission Hills resident Michael Burke. Burke was paralyzed Jan. 21, 2010 when a queen palm tree fell near his home on Lark Street in Mission Hills, crushing his legs. The lawsuit said the city was responsible because the tree was on the city’s right of way and had failed to keep up regular inspections and maintenance of trees due to a lack of funds. Two other trees fell in the same area after a four-day storm; one crushed Burke’s car two hours before the tree fell that hit Burke, who was removing items from his car’s trunk. The tree was approximately 60 feet tall and weighed 2,600 pounds. Because of the injury, Burke must use a wheelchair and may need to have his legs amputated. The jury’s verdict came Monday, Dec. 17 and the jury will now hear what damages Burke and his wife, Edith, will be awarded.

SEN. BOXER INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE SCHOOL SECURITY

U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer introduced new legislation that would provide state and local officials with new tools and resources to help secure campuses and protect students. In a press release, Boxer said congress should consider the legislation as part of a comprehensive response to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Boxer’s first bill, the School Safety Enhancement Act, expands on the existing Community Oriented Policing Services Secure Our Schools grants program. It is meant to provide schools with more resources to install tip lines, surveillance equipment, secured entrances and other important safety measures. This bill will allow the Justice Department to reduce local share match from 50 percent to 20 percent for schools with limited resources. It will also increase the Secure Our Schools authorization from $30 million to $50 million. The second bill, the Save Our Schools Act, is modeled after a successful National Guard program that will allow Governors to use the Guard to assist law enforcement agencies to ensure schools are safe. In the release, the National Guard was cited saying it is “particularly well suited for domestic law enforcement support missions” because it is “located in over 3,000 local communities throughout the nation, readily accessible, routinely exercised with local first responders, and experienced in supporting neighboring communities.” Boxer said, “we must have faith” that children are safe when they are attending school. “This legislation will help state and local officials protect our children by utilizing all of the law enforcement tools at our disposal.”

SAN DIEGO HOSPICE HONORS DONORS AT EVENING OF APPRECIATION

Nearly 200 donors and supporters attended the 2012 San Diego Hospice Evening of Appreciation, hosted by San Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine at the University Club. San Diego Hospice honored those who have supported the organization throughout its 35 years. Richard Woltman and Doris Howell, founder of the San Diego Hospice, awarded the Kaye Woltman Legacy Award to Daniel and Violet McKinney for their long-time support. “Volunteers and donors have made San Diego Hospice the ‘gold-standard’ in hospice and palliative care medicine in our region,” Traci Bruckner, San Diego Hospice Chief Development Officer said. “We sincerely value and respect our donors because without their generous and unwavering support, we couldn’t help the thousands of San Diegans that we do each year.” Hillcrest-based San Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine provides medical care to nearly 600 seriously ill adults and children each day throughout San Diego County. It is one of the largest community-owned, not-for-profit hospices in the country.

MALASHOCK DANCE AND NCT SELECT SCATENA DANIELS COMMUNICATIONS

Scatena Daniels Communications has been selected to provide leadership and implementation for media relations and social media outreach strategies for both Malashock Dance and the National Comedy Theatre (NCT), located in Mission Hills. “We are committed to nonprofits and socially responsible companies in San Diego County, and continue to help them achieve brand awareness, event attendance and financial donations as a result of our strategic outreach efforts,” Denise Scatena, founding partner of Scatena Daniels Communications, said in a press release. “Malashock Dance and National Comedy Theatre are a perfect alignment with our brand and expertise.” Artistic director John Malashock founded Malashock Dance in 1988. Their mission is to provide transformational experiences through the creation, performance and teaching of dance that celebrates the human spirit. As part of Malashock’s 25th anniversary season, the first project Scatena Daniels oversaw was the “Malashock/RAW3” in Oct. 2012. Other programs for the season include a Celebration Benefit Concert March 8 and 9, 2013 at the Birch North Park Theatre. NCT has been entertaining audiences for more than 20 years as the longest continuously running show in San Diego history. NCT also holds improv and teambuilding workshops, performs at events and helps high school and college students refine their performing skills. Scatena founded the company with Arika Daniels in 2009. For more information on Scatena Daniels, Malashock Dance and NCT visit scatenadaniels.com, malashockdance.org and nationalcomedy.com.