Zoo’s Rose Bowl Parade float wins award
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance participated in the 134th Rose Parade presented by Honda, with a float celebrating the San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s 50th anniversary. The float’s theme, “Celebrating 50 Years of Conservation,” depicted rhinos, giraffes and the Safari Park’s iconic Wildlife Safari experience, bringing to life the Safari Park’s ability to connect guests with wildlife and provide life-changing moments.
The Safari Park’s float won the Animation Award for most outstanding use of animation. The giraffes and rhinos on the float were animated, with the rhinos seemingly coming to life as they turned their heads and the giraffes moving their long necks and bending down for a cool drink of water from a flowing waterfall.
The riders were wildlife care specialists, veterinarians and conservation scientists from the Safari Park, who have dedicated their lives to caring for Neville, Msituni and hundreds of wildlife species in San Diego and around the globe. They were joined by the Safari Park’s executive director, Lisa Peterson, expert wildlife guides from the Safari Park and four young children representing the next generation of conservationists.
The floral array on the float illustrated that both the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and San Diego Zoo are accredited botanical gardens that feature over 2 million plants—and serve as a reminder of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s dedication to plant conservation through its many efforts, including the Wildlife Biodiversity Bank.
Free admission on Old Town Trolley tours
January means Locals Month and free admission to all residents of San Diego County at Old Town Trolley Tours, Ghosts and Gravestones Frightseeing Tour and the historic Whaley House Day Tour. The offer begins on Jan. 2 and runs through Jan. 31. Guests must show proof of San Diego County residency with a driver’s license, voter’s registration, utility bill or lease. This promotion is for individuals and families, no groups please.
“January is such a great time for locals to take advantage of what San Diego has to offer,” says David Thornton, General Manager. “The weather is amazing, but things settle down after the holidays, so it is a wonderful opportunity to get out and see why San Diego is America’s Finest City.”
For more information, please contact David Thornton at (619)298-8687 or visit our web site at historictours.com.
New reading challenge at city libraries
Start off 2023 with a new book and join the San Diego Public Library’s (SDPL) Winter Reading Challenge. This year’s theme is “All the Feels” to encourage readers of all ages to explore how reading affects their emotions.
“The new year is a great time to read something you enjoy, whether that’s discovering a new book or picking up an old favorite,” said Library Director Misty Jones. “We hope the Winter Reading Challenge encourages people to visit their local San Diego Public Library location or check out the online catalog to find something engaging and inspiring to start 2023.”
The Winter Reading Challenge runs from Jan. 1 to Jan. 31, 2023 and is open to readers of all ages.
Participants can earn prizes by completing a combination of five books, five hours of reading or literacy-based activities, like attending storytime at an SDPL location or sharing a favorite book with a friend. Upon completion, readers will be eligible for prizes including a “design your own” lunchbox or a cooler lunch bag.
Participants can register online and view a list of recommended books and activities by visiting sandiego.gov/WinterReading. Registration is also available in-person at any SDPL location and participants can visit the SDPL calendar to find storytimes and book discussions near them.
Balboa Park neighbors getting new, safer pedestrian and bicycle access
The California Conservation Corps (CCC) in partnership with Forever Balboa Park is finishing bike and walking trail improvements along 26th Street in Balboa Park. San Diegans, especially residents in the Golden Hill community, are days away from having increased direct, non-motorized, access to the park.
CCC Corpsmembers are taming the footpath that was naturally created by
bicyclists and pedestrians. The $380,000 project includes:
• New fencing to provide protection for trail users from 26th Street vehicular traffic.
• Clearing 10 feet of brush at the start of the trail
• Trail widening
• Trail stabilizing with decomposed granite
• Oak tree planting
Mama’s Kitchen delivers 11 millionth meal
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria helped Mama’s Kitchen deliver its 11 millionth meal to longtime client, Thomas W. On Friday, Dec. 16. Mama’s Kitchen CEO, Alberto Cortés, joined the mayor to deliver the commemorative meal to Thomas who has used the nonprofit’s services for 15 years.
Thomas moved to San Diego in 1993 from Pennsylvania for work. Today he lives on his own at Mercy Gardens in Hillcrest. In 2005, he became disabled due to being diagnosed HIV positive and living with a previous diagnosis of heart disease. Thomas works with Mama’s Kitchen’s registered dietitians who also help him manage his health and learn how to best prepare healthy meals.
In 2005, Thomas underwent heart surgery. During the surgery, doctors lost his pulse four times; as they were about to call his time of death, Thomas’ heart started beating again on its own. This second chance has inspired Thomas to take charge of his health to give back to others. Thomas now volunteers for sober living homes and has volunteered for six years. As a recovering drug addict, he is proud to volunteer with the facility that helped him get clean and sober.
In addition to receiving meals from Mama’s Kitchen, Thomas also gives back to the nonprofit during the holiday season by purchasing pies from Mama’s Kitchen’s Thanksgiving bake sale to give to the facility he volunteers with.
For over three decades, Mama’s Kitchen has prepared and delivered 11 million nutritious meals to those in need, and has never turned away an eligible client.
Established in 1990, Mama’s Kitchen started as a volunteer response to the AIDS epidemic, and now supports local residents with several different critical illnesses. And the need continues to grow. Mama’s Kitchen strives to provide nutritional support to San Diego residents at risk of malnutrition due to critical illnesses such as HIV, cancer, congestive heart failure, type 2 diabetes, and chronic kidney disease.
Together with hundreds of volunteers, businesses, and community supporters, Mama’s Kitchen strives to help our clients stay healthy, preserve their dignity, and keep their families together by providing, medically-tailored home-delivered meals, along with pantry services and nutrition education – all at no cost. Mama’s Kitchen is currently home-delivering more than 15,000 meals a week, all throughout San Diego County.
San Diego a Safe City for transgender, non-binary, and gender diverse youth
In response to the local and national escalation of violence and hateful rhetoric against the LGBTQ+ community— specifically the transgender community— the San Diego City Council approved Councilmember Marni von Wilpert and Stephen Whitburn’s resolution declaring San Diego a safe City for transgender, non-binary, and gender diverse youth on Dec. 12. The resolution was drafted with community partners TransFamily Support Services and Transgender Health and Wellness Center located here in San Diego, with support from The Center
This year has seen an unprecedented wave of bigotry and violence towards the LGBTQ+ community in the form of both hate crimes and hateful legislation. The Trevor Project in their most recent survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health reported that 37% of transgender, nonbinary, and gender diverse youth have been physically threatened or harmed due to their gender identity. 93% of transgender and nonbinary youth voiced concerns of being denied access to gender-affirming medical care due to state or local laws.
“At a time when Transgender, non-binary, and gender diverse youth are facing staggering levels of discrimination and violence, we must remind everyone that our city is committed to equal justice for all and supports a safe and inclusive environment free from discrimination,” said Council member Stephen Whitburn. “To those who continue to perpetuate hate and bigotry on our citizens, I want to be clear, you will not intimidate us, you will not scare us, and you will not defeat us. We will continue to be a City that welcomes everyone.”
Hillcrest Resident named VP at RICK Engineering
RICK Engineering Company (RICK), a multidisciplinary planning, design and engineering firm with 10 offices in the western United States, has added two vice presidents to its senior management team. Prominent human resources executive Alicia Wadsworth has joined the firm as vice president of human resources. Veteran finance executive Eric Samuelson has been appointed vice president of finance.
Wadsworth, who brings 20 years of experience in all aspects of HR, will oversee talent acquisition, benefits, compensation, employee relations and retention, staff development, and legal compliance. Previously, for ten years, she was the vice president of human resources for Plaza Home Mortgage, Inc., where her team was honored by the San Diego Human Resources Forum as the 2021 Human Resources Team of the Year/Medallion Winner. Earlier, she was vice president of human resources and risk management for Pristine Environments of San Diego.
Wadsworth earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business management with an emphasis in human resources management from the University of Phoenix, San Diego.
An accomplished HR executive, Wadsworth served on the board of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), and was recognized by the board for Workplace Excellence two years in a row in 2014-15. She has also served on the board of directors of the San Diego Human Resources Forum.
Rebecca Church appointed judge on the San Diego County Superior Court
Rebecca Church, 42, of San Diego County, has been appointed to serve as a judge in the San Diego County Superior Court by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Church has served as an assistant U.S. Attorney at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of California since 2015.
She was an associate at Duane Morris LLP from 2012 to 2014 and served as a law clerk for the Honorable Ruben B. Brooks at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of California from 2008 to 2010.
Church earned a juris doctor degree from the California Western School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Lorna A. Alksne. Church is registered without party preference.
California doubling the number of EV chargers with $3 billion investment
The California Energy Commission has approved a plan for nearly $3 billion in funding for 90,000 new electric vehicle chargers in the state, accelerating the state’s transition to clean transportation. That’s a 30x increase in funding from 2019 levels.
The funding will double the state’s charging network from 80,000 publicly available chargers to 170,000, keeping the state on track to achieve its goal of 250,000 chargers installed by 2025.
The funds support the deployment of thousands of zero-emission trucks, school buses and transit buses to deliver clean air benefits and good paying jobs to neighborhoods across the state, and especially to communities hit hardest by the impacts of pollution from trucks and buses. At least half of the funding will benefit low-income and historically disadvantaged communities on the front lines of the climate crisis.
City launches storefront improvement program for small businesses
Small business owners who are looking for a way to refresh their business might have a solution with the City of San Diego’s Storefront Improvement Program which offers free professional design and financial assistance to improve the curb appeal of local storefronts.
To qualify, businesses must be located in the City of San Diego and have a valid business tax certificate. Applicants also must be a commercial occupant of the property and have a street-level and street-facing property. The program is open to businesses that employ 25 or fewer people.
“The Storefront Improvement Program is one of the most effective and straightforward ways the City can help small businesses, by putting improvement dollars back in the hands of the owner,” said Christina Bibler, Director of the City’s Economic Development Department. “It was created specifically to help offset the cost of making businesses look nicer and has resulted in transformative results for over a hundred small businesses throughout the past decade.”
The program offers 10 hours of design time with a licensed professional and reimbursement of half the project cost up to $8,000. If businesses are located in the SD Promise Zone, a federally designated area, they could qualify for a 30% increase of $10,400 in project costs.
Applicants must identify what improvements they’d like to make, goals the improvements will achieve and how much they’d like to spend on the project. Each applicant must also include two high-resolution photos of the current look of the building with their completed applications.
To apply, business owners may visit sandiego.gov/economic-development/business/starting/improvement.
Military spending in San Diego grows by 4% to $19.3 billion
More than 115,000 active-duty service men and women now call San Diego home; they work alongside 3,000 military reservists, and 29,000 civilians directly employed in federal Defense jobs, according to the San Diego Military Advisory Council’s latest military economic report prepared by the Rady School of Management.
This year, Defense-related contract spending in San Diego grew by 4% to $19.3 billion, funding another 209,000 jobs. Significantly, all of these people generate additional economic activity as they live and spend within San Diego.
When the multiplier effect from this spending is considered, the total Defense contribution to the Gross Regional Product (GRP) grew by 1.8% to $56.2 billion and is responsible for 356,000 jobs. Because of the volatility in our economy through 2022, the best estimates of the San Diego’s GRP place it between 0-4 percent growth, which means that the Defense contribution remains a stabilizing 24.5 +/- 0.5 percent of total GRP. Strong, dependable, and resilient; the Defense economic sector is a vital component of our local economy.
