VILLAGE NEWS
Scott Appleby & Kerry ApplebyPayne
LA JOLLA
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012
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QUICKHITS La Jolla man killed in L.A. shooting La Jollan Julio Manuel Alcantar, 23, was fatally shot in Los Angeles on Oct. 1, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office. The victim, his brother, Edgardo, and a friend were in the Hyde Park neighborhood around 9 p.m., when a suspect approached the men and opened fire on them, said Los Angeles police homicide investigator Refugio Garza. All three men were wounded, and Alcantar died from a chest wound about half an hour after reaching the hospital. The other two victims remain in serious condition. Investigators do not have a description of the shooter. While the neighborhood is known for street gangs, no information was provided as to whether any of the victims were associated with a gang, and no motive was given for the assault.
KPBS signal now loud and clear Local listeners of KPBS 89.5 FM will now receive a stronger, clearer radio signal, thanks to the relocation of its transmitter from Mt. San Miguel in East County to Mt. Soledad in La Jolla. The move, which has been in the works for nearly two decades, became official after several months of construction. “The Mt. Soledad location has always offered a way for KPBS to provide quality news and information programs to thousands more in our community,” said KPBS general manager Tom Karlo. “We’ve demonstrated that KPBS can deliver breaking and ongoing coverage of major events in this community — be it wildfire, earthquake or tragedy. Moving our transmitter to Mt. Soledad means that KPBS will have the ability to reach an even larger audience when it is needed most.” La Jolla listeners who previously tuned into 89.1 can now access the KPBS radio signal at 89.5 FM or online at www.kpbs.org. — Mariko Lamb
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www.SDNEWS.com Volume 18, Number 2
La Jolla: ‘We got gamed’ by UCSD’s MESOM planners
Art & Wine Fest brings culture, libations to Village BY KAI OLIVER-KURTIN | VILLAGE NEWS he fourth annual La Jolla Art & Wine Festival (LJAWF) is expected to draw more than 30,000 people to the Village on Oct. 13-14 for a weekend of artwork, entertainment, food, wine and beer. This year, for the first time, there will be no admission fee to the fundraiser that benefits local schools. Relocating closer to the heart of the Village on Girard Avenue between Prospect and Kline streets, LJAWF will be twice as big as years past, offering 300 booths, artwork from 165 artists, and a wine and beer garden holding upward of 700 people. There will also be a culinary section, family arts center for children, live entertainment and a silent auction. Also new this year, pets will be permitted at the festival. “We’ve had to turn away 100 artists this year because of the overwhelming response we received,” said Sherry Ahern, LJAWF founder and chairwoman. The addition of Wells Fargo as the festival’s 2012 title sponsor has afforded LJAWF the ability to ditch the entrance fee. Because of the success of the festival and close proximity to Village businesses, LJAWF has partnered with the La Jolla Village Merchants Association to make
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Above is a rendering showing the proposed MESOM laboratory, presented to the La Jolla Shores Association by project applicants. Below, Drew Razon of DuCharme Architecture overlayed photos of the project as it is being built atop photos of renderings presented during the planning stages. Photos courtesy of Drew Razon of DuCharme Architecture
BY MARIKO LAMB | VILLAGE NEWS
The 2012 installment of the two-day La Jolla Art & Wine Festival, which will feature something for the entire family during its two-day run on Oct. 13 and Oct. 14, is expected to draw an estimated 30,000 guests. Admission this year is free. Courtesy photos
SEE LJAWF, Page 2
During the planning stage of UCSD’s Marine Ecosystem Sensing, Observation and Modeling (MESOM) laboratory, community members were assured the nearly 40,000-square-foot research building would not block ocean views from La Jolla Shores Drive. The project’s environmental report stated: “The proposed project has been designed such that the topography of the site would conceal almost all of the building below the grade of the road. No significant ocean views are blocked, and no significant adverse effects to aesthetics would occur as a result of the proposed project.” According to community members, however, the building does,
in fact, impair a substantial portion of the ocean views. At the La Jolla Community Planning Association’s (LJCPA) Oct. 4 meeting, representatives of the MESOM project were blasted by trustees and members of the public who objected to the project currently under construction at the site, calling it an “eyesore,” “horrendous” and “misleading.” “I don’t think there’s anything more special than that drive down La Jolla Shores [Drive],” said resident Rob Whittemore, who regularly takes his dogs walking along the route adjacent to the university. “I find it just horrendous what’s happened and I wish there was something in the long run that could be done to fix it.”
SEE MESOM, Page 14
State of District address outlines broad vision for quality schools BY DAVE SCHWAB | VILLAGE NEWS Rolling out a dozen measures of quality schools, San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) board member John Lee Evans in his 2012 State of the District address unveiled “2020 Vision,” a longrange plan for raising the bar on student achievement, turning schools into neighborhood learning centers, engaging parents and volunteers more and building intra-district collaboration through local “clusters.” “We are a forward-moving district,” said Evans on Oct. 2 at an assembly at University City High School. Noting the district “still has a long way to go,” while adding, “This is a marathon not a sprint,” Evans promised the district
will prepare students properly to “soar like eagles.” SDUSD’s class of 2020, now in the fifth grade, was well represented throughout the event, both during video presentations and during live, on-stage performances. Introducing Evans, District Superintendent Bill Kowba noted the annual address was an opportunity to “celebrate and reflect on all the great things happening, all the positive programming that is preparing all students for successful futures.” Quantifiable measures of student success embodied in “2020 Vision” include: access to a broad and challenging curriculum, professional learning for all staff, parent/community engagement around student achievement, closing the achieve-
ment gap with high expectations for all, quality teaching, quality leadership, quality support staff integrated and focused on student achievement, valuing diversity in the service of students, high enrollment of neighborhood students, digital literacy, creation of neighborhood centers with services depending on neighborhood needs and creation of a supportive environment with safe and wellmaintained facilities. Though the State of the District address was decidedly upbeat, Evans nonetheless noted SDUSD officials have “kept our focus on the educational mission while facing unprecedented challenges.” Evans gave kudos to district staff at all levels, “including the superintendent himself,” for self sacrifice in arriving at a bud-
getary compromise this last summer by accepting concessions to “cut administrative and transportation costs to protect the classroom.” Without the agreed-upon cutbacks, Evans warned there would have been “huge classes in lower grades, increasing by as much as 50 percent.” He added the district would have been seriously short of counselors and nurses as well as losing skilled leaders in arts programs like instrumental music. “The list goes on and on,” he said. Evans noted the idea for “2020 Vision” came from a “constant state of budget crisis” prompted by continuing state budget cuts to education and the realization
SEE SCHOOLS, Page 6