Water main breaks in North Park

A water main broke at the intersection of Georgia Street and Florida Court in North Park shortly after 5 p.m. Monday, May 6. Water from the break ran down Florida Court to Florida Street, reaching several apartment complexes. In response, water was turned off in the area so repair and cleaning crews could work on the pipe and city streets. Council President Todd Gloria said water service was completely restored by 1 a.m. “I appreciate the tireless work our employees demonstrated on Monday night and in the following days to help return this neighborhood to normalcy,” Gloria said in an enewsletter. Initial reports said the six-inch-diameter pipe is approximately 50 years old. Claim reports for damaged property are available from the City’s Risk Management department: sandiego.gov/riskmanagment or 619-236-6670.

HBA to unveil Hillcrest Pride Monument designs

The Hillcrest Business Association will release preliminary draft designs for the Hillcrest Pride Monument at a community meeting Thursday, May 16 at 5:30 p.m. The monument will be installed at the base of the Hillcrest Pride Flag located at the intersection of Normal Street and University Avenue, and will tell the history of San Diego and Hillcrest’s LGBT culture in a series of panels, a press release stated. Research for the panels was complied by Lambda Archives of San Diego, a nonprofit that collects, preserves and teaches regional LGBT history. The panels will include quotes and images, and the monument will also display names of donors to the monument and flagpole. HBA volunteers are currently raising money for the monument’s installation. The May 16 meeting will be at The San Diego LGBT Community Center, located at 3909 Centre St.

LGBT & ally professional networking event scheduled for May 21

The first Career and Professional Networking Night for the LGBT community presented by Equality Professionals Network (EPN) is scheduled for May 21, where registered attendees will have access to human resource professionals, executives and recruiters from a variety of industries. The event is specific to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community as well as allies to support a safe, open and diverse work environment. “EPN’s Career event is a place where LGBT business professionals can come to network and job hunt, and feel safe that the companies participating in this event are inclusive and welcoming of LGBT employees,” said EPN chair Jaye Whittaker in a press release. EPN is a group of over 125 LGBT business and corporate professionals. Union Bank is sponsoring the event, which is being held from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. at The San Diego LGBT Community Center, 3909 Centre St. “Union Bank is a strong supporter of the LGBT community in San Diego,” said Ken Triemstra, co-chair of UB Proud, the bank’s resource group for LGBT employees. Representatives from over 30 organizations will be present, and Union Bank human resource professionals will present workshops on job hunting and writing resumes, among other skills. For more information and to register for the free event visit epncareers.eventbrite.com.

North Park water tower receives historic designation

The State Historical Resources Commission approved listing the iconic North Park water tower and all related building to the California Register of Historical Resources in a unanimous decision May 1. Located at 4326 Idaho St., the water tower and surrounding areas are officially called the University Heights Water Storage and Pumping Station Historic District. The North Park Community Association made an announcement on their website, and thanked Alex Bevil for donating “time and energy” to prepare the required documents for the designation. “From 1898 to 1967, the University Heights Water Storage and Pumping Station evolved from a small privately owned water reservoir into one of the City of San Diego’s major municipal water storage, filtration and distribution facilities,” NPCA representatives said, adding that the water tower’s design is the only known example of a 12-legged, full hemispherical bottom, elevated metal water storage tank in Southern California. The Commission also recommended that the site be placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Mayor Filner to present traffic plan at Bankers Hill Residents Group

At the regularly scheduled monthly meeting of the Bankers Hill Residents Group May 20, Mayor Bob Filner will discuss his plan for temporary traffic management in Balboa Park, including changes to the Plaza de Panama. The mayor’s proposal is to halt vehicle traffic on the Laurel Street bridge on weekends; remove all parking each day in the Plaza de Panama; and relocate handicapped and valet parking. The meeting will be from 6:30 – 8 p.m. at the top floor of Inn at the Park, located at 525 Spruce St. Representatives from the Residents Group said everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend. There will be a no-host bar at 6 p.m. For more information on the group visit bankershillresidents.org.

North Park Community Association seeks website manager

The North Park Community Association (NPCA) is seeking a website manager and editor to administer information on the group’s website, including uploading content, organizing a community calendar and being the contact person for news and events pertinent to the North Park community. Additionally, the volunteer position will oversee the nonprofit’s enewsletters, and will have direct contact with the board of directors. NPCA is asking for individuals with website experience and editing skills to contact board President Nikki Berdy directly at [email protected].

South Park art show features paintings by adults with disabilities

Rebecca’s Coffee House in South Park hosted more than 70 people April 26 for The Arc of San Diego’s Sulpizio Family Center Art Show. The organization is one of the largest nonprofit service providers for children and adults with disabilities in the region, and Sulpizio Family Center is one of five Arc locations in San Diego County. The spring-themed art show was to raise awareness and featured 18 paintings by adults with disabilities. All artwork was for sale, with proceeds benefiting program participants at the Sulpizio Family Center. “We couldn’t have asked for a better event,” said Melanie McCoy, Sulpizio Family Center area director, in a press release. “Our program participants are very talented and they truly brought this art show to life. Everyone at The Arc of San Diego is proud of them for their hard work and for showing the community that people with disabilities are capable of many things.” For more information on The Arc of San Diego or to volunteer, call 619-685-1175.

University Heights theater company announces cast for next production

Diversionary Theatre, located at 4545 Park Blvd. in University Heights, announced the complete cast for their production of Charles Busch’s “The Divine Sister,” which opens in previews May 23. The cast includes Maggie Carney as Mrs. Levinson, Yolanda Franklin as Sister Acacius, Lauren King as Agnes, Dangerfield G. Moore as Jeremy, Daren Scott as Mother Superior and Jacque Wilke as Sister Walburga. “The Divine Sister” tells the story of St. Veronica’s Mother Superior, who is determined to build a new school for her Pittsburgh convent, a press release stated. Creative team for the production includes Matt Scott, Luke Olson, Blair Nelson, Corey Johnston and David Medina. The show is directed by Glenn Paris of ion theatre and produced by Bret Young. John E. Alexander is the executive director of Diversionary Theatre, which was founded in 1986 to provide theater for and about the LGBT community. Following previews, “The Divine Sister” will open June 1 and run through June 30. Tickets are available at diversionary.org or by calling 619-220-0097.

Mission Hills artist donates $1,900 to Rady Children’s Hospital

Concetta Antico, a Mission Hills-based artist and instructor, donated $1,900 to Rady Children’s Hospital to help support their Healing Environments program. The donation, which was due in part to sales from Antico’s April 28 exhibition “Metamorphosis,” brings her donation level close to $4,000 for the fiscal year. Antico said she expects to pass the $5,000 donation level, which will make her a member of Rady’s Miracle Maker Council. “Supporting those that constantly improve children’s health and healing is something that is very important to me,” Antico said in a press release. “I am very thankful for the efforts and Healing Environments programs in place at Rady Children’s Hospital, and will support them through my donation of a portion of all original works sold and by donation of fine art materials.” Antico’s next exhibition will be Nov. 16 at Antico Fine Art Gallery, 1920 Fort Stockton Dr. Additionally, Antico is in discussion to create a mural-sized oil painting that would potentially be hung in the lobby of the hospital.

American Cancer Society seeks volunteers

Volunteers are being recruited to help plan the upcoming Relay for Life event July 7 – 8 at Alice Birney Elementary School in University Heights. The American Cancer Society is looking for individuals to organize teams, plan entertainment and fundraise, among other tasks. “There are dozens of different ways to get involved and help make this cancer’s last century,” organizers said in a press release. The July relay is a 24-hour event, where team members take turns walking or running around a designated path. The Society is asking for interested volunteers, as well as participants, to contact them at relayforlife.org or by calling 619-682-7423.

Rep. Scott Peters ‘sequesters’ his own paycheck

Congressmember Scott Peters announced he will implement a symbolic “across-the-board spending cut,” known as sequestration, to his own paycheck in an effort to raise awareness to the federal spending cuts implemented earlier this year. “While the idea for the sequester predates my time in Congress, we should all agree that it is terrible policy. None of us would run our business or household budget this way, and it is no way to run a country,” Peters said in a release. “Any rules Congress imposes on federal employees and all Americans ought to apply to us, too.” Peters will take eight percent of his monthly salary – a similar percentage of the currently implemented spending cuts – and donate it to the Senior Community Centers of San Diego in order to supplement meals for at-risk seniors. The Centers cut services to seniors due to lowered funding from the federal spending cuts. “Senior Community Centers has lost nearly $60,000 for our senior meal program due to sequestration,” said CEO and President Paul Downey in the release. The cuts equate to approximately 21,000 fewer meals available this year, he said. “Nearly 95 percent of the seniors we serve are at or below the poverty line, so these meals make a big difference to their health and their lives. We are grateful to Congressman Peters for his long-time interest and support of what we do,” Downey said.

Scripps purchases San Diego Hospice Hillcrest hospital, property

Scripps Health completed the purchase of the former San Diego Hospice hospital and eight-acre property in Hillcrest April 30 for $16.55 million. The medical company made the highest bid in a federal bankruptcy court auction, and announced they will use the facility for in-patient hospice care. Hospice San Diego filed bankruptcy in February. Scripps Health, which operates several medical buildings in Hillcrest, began hospice service in February previous to the bankruptcy filing. “We are very pleased to have this facility, which was designed and built specifically for hospice patience so that we can further expand our hospice program,” Scripps Health President and CEO Chris Van Gorder said in the announcement. “This unique facility and property are ideal for end-of-life care and will allow us the opportunity to serve our patient and the community for years to come.”

Susan Davis introduces bill to help veterans refinance homes

Announced Wednesday, May 8, Rep. Susan Davis introduced the Veterans Home Loan Refinance Opportunity Act, which would allow veterans in five states take advantage of low-interest home loan refinancing options. Veterans in Alaska, Oregon, California, Wisconsin and Texas can use lower interest-rate mortgage loans to purchase a primary residence, but are currently barred from refinancing. “Given the large number of foreclosures that have swept the nation, it makes sense to allow veterans the same opportunity to refinance into low-interest, affordable loans that so many Americans have been able to do,” Davis said in a press release. “Our veterans have fought and sacrificed to help keep the American Dream flourishing. It is only right that they should be allowed to take part in that dream.”

Undercover high school drug sting results in multiple charges

District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis announced felony drug charges Wednesday, May 1 against six adults arrested in connection with an undercover operation targeting four high schools. San Diego Sheriff deputies posed as high school seniors over the course of one year as part of “Operation A Team” in Poway, Abraxas, Mission Hills and Ramona high schools, all in North County. Mission Hills High School is located in San Marcos, Calif. The sting was, in part, an attempt to address a series of drug overdose deaths in the region, a press release stated. “Law enforcement identified schools where there were concerns over student deaths and illegal drug dealing,” Dumanis said in the release. “I’m proud of our office’s collaboration with the Sheriff’s Department on this undercover operation and prosecution. The six adults aged 18 to 45, each pleaded not guilty. There were also six juveniles arrested. The District Attorney’s Juvenile Division will review their cases.