Sign up for our eNewsletterBy Christopher Gomez | Little Italy News… [more]
By William E. Kelly | Guest Editorial
The inadequacy of social safety nets intended to protect a burgeoning population of older adults is a political, cultural and moral hot potato. Advancements in medical science, means a rapidly expanding number of us will be living longer. Read More
Golden Hill Farmers Market
Stop by the open community space to pick up California Certified Organic Produce from local farmers. 9:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. at B Street between 27th and 28th streets, Golden Hill.
bit.ly/2DHRZrg. Read More
By SDCNN staff
Downtown artists celebrated in new photography book
We’ve all seen how projects like the popular blog and book “Humans of New York” connect people through photography. Real people are seen through a new lens as they share their life experiences. Snapshots and text serve as a means to share universal truth through unique images. Read More
High-butterfat decadence has descended on the Gaslamp Quarter with the recent arrival of Cali Cream, a walk-up ice cream shop featuring nearly 70 flavors every day. The business is owned by Ken Schulenburg (aka Scoop Dogg) and Juliana Ortiz, both of whom worked in the retail industry and call themselves “foodies by nature.” Read More
By Delle Willett | Art on the Land
Shift, the 21-story mixed-use residential tower harmonizes East Village’s style
When asked to describe Downtown San Diego’s East Village, John Avila of Urban Arena put it this way. Read More
By Sandee Wilhoit | Gaslamp Landmarks
On March 27, 1871, Alonzo Horton sold Lot D, Block 61 to Miss Henrietta Nesmith for the exorbitant sum of $1,900 in U.S. gold coin. Read More
By Jess Winans
Broadway nonpareil takes over Downtown
Tony Award-winning Broadway production “Les Misérables” graced Downtown with its 2018 tour at the San Diego Civic Theater. Read More
By Andy Cohen | Congressional Watch
On June 5, Californians will head to the voting booth — if they haven’t already mailed in their ballots — and choose, among other things, which candidates will move on to the general election in November. Read More
By Lana Harrison | Downtown Partnership News
Homeless outreach coordinators take to the streets
Nearly 800 people experiencing homelessness have reconnected with their support systems since June 2017, thanks to the tireless efforts of the Clean & Safe Homeless Outreach Coordinators and support from the San Diego Housing Commission, SHARP HealthCare, Travelers Aid, and so many others. Read More
By Robert Carr | East Village Biz News
Sustainable business practices help businesses save
It’s no longer a secret that going green saves you green. The East Village Association (EVA) knows this and have started promoting sustainable strategies and best practices that can help businesses use less energy, water, and produce less waste in their operations. Read More
By Toni G. Atkins | Notes from Toni
San Diego is home to an array of talented, hard-working, conscientious people who are dedicated to growing our economy, improving our quality of life and helping others in need. And throughout June, I’ll have the privilege of honoring some of our residents, organizations and businesses for their contributions. Read More
By Diana Cavagnaro | Fashion Files
San Diego Mesa College Fashion Program presented the 37th annual Golden Scissors Fashion Show & Awards at the Sheraton San Diego Harbor Island Hotel & Marina on May 11. The event began with a VIP reception along with entertainment by Matias de Hoyos and Joshua Jones. Guests were able to shop at a fun silent auction while they enjoyed the reception. Read More
By Summer Stephan | District Attorney News
New cards being issued to 525,000 San Diego residents
As your District Attorney, I’m committed to increasing communication and accessibility between the DA’s Office and you, the community. One way I hope to do that is through this monthly column, where I will provide information and tips on how you can stay safe. Read More
By Tom Cesarini
The Convivio Now and Again Series comprises oral histories from Italian community members. In this excerpt from an interview with Jim Bregante, local historian and Convivio docent, Jim discusses the close-knit neighborhood from his childhood that he remembers so fondly. Read More
By SDCNN staff
Hawaiian-themed gala raises money for fostering youth
If Downtown felt a little like Hawaii on May 4, it wasn’t your imagination. You may have smelled the fresh lei or heard the drumbeat from the luau dancers at Angels Foster Family Network annual gala Fostering Futures: Hanai Ohana at the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel.
With 300 attendees, the gala and auction raised more than $350,000 to support Angels Foster Family Network, a nonprofit serving families who foster infants and toddlers.
“We are so honored that Angels has such a strong community support, including our anchor sponsors FSAMarket.com and Silvergate Bank,” said Misty Connelly, event chair and longtime member of the Angels Board of Directors.
Former Foster Parent, Eric Barnabe and his two children, Ava and James. (Photo by Fred Greaves)
Angels Foster Family Network recruits and supports a diverse core of individuals, couples and families who open their hearts and homes to one infant or toddler (or sibling set) for his or her entire stay in foster care.
“Our goal is to provide children with high-quality, focused care, and the chance to deeply connect with loving adults,” said Executive Director Jeff Wiemann. “It is absolutely critical that young children learn to attach in a healthy way, especially after traumatic events.”
Wiemann said research consistently shows that children who establish nurturing bonds with caregivers have more positive outcomes in all areas of life. They are physically and emotionally healthier, more economically productive, and generally happier. They are less likely to drop out of school, engage in violence, or need public assistance.
While Wiemann sees tremendous benefit from focusing on one child or sibling set for as long as he or she is in the foster care system, he says identifying families to foster can be a challenge.
“It is thoroughly agonizing to receive phone calls from the County of San Diego asking if we have families available to care for infants and toddlers coming into foster care,” Wiemann said. “Sadly, our answer most often is no, and this greatly troubles me.”
Wiemann asks, “Why is it in a community of over 1 million households, we struggle to find a few hundred more families to open their hearts and homes to a child in need?” According to Wiemann, the two-part answer is simple, but the solution is not easy. First, people are not aware of the dire need for foster families in San Diego. Second, there are so many misconceptions about fostering that it can seem impossible to take on.
Currently there are 2,500 children in foster care in San Diego; 40 percent of them are 5 years old and younger.
“We have to turn away half of these infants and toddlers because we don’t have enough foster families to meet the demand.” As a former foster parent himself, Wiemann continued. “Fostering is hard work, but it has made me a better person, father, husband, friend, and leader,” he says. “The education and training, and ongoing support, foster parents get from Angels makes the experience that much better.”
The funds raised at the Downtown gala will go a long way in helping to raise awareness about the dire need for families to foster. It is also a wonderful opportunity for the community of current and past foster parents, and those who support Angels in other important ways, to reconnect and get updates on the state of the agency.
“My favorite part of the evening is seeing the thriving, happy, healthy children who were once placed with Angels families,” said Connelly. “The goal, always, is to reunify the children with their biological families and we are absolutely cheering for parents who are working to get their lives back on track. That is the goal, though sometimes it’s not possible and adoption is the outcome. When that is the case, it is a joy to see the children grow and flourish in their ‘forever homes.'”
-To learn more about fostering or supporting Angels by donating funds or child care supplies, visit angelsfoster.org
By Maryan Marino
Carpenter rides inspired bike in 2018 Tour of California
Inspired by graffiti art, San Diego resident and Rally Cycling team member Robin Carpenter rode one of the six custom-designed, hand-painted Diamondback Podium bikes, that the Rally Cycling team rode at the 2018 Amgen Tour of California. The art for each of the six one-of-a-kind pro-cycling bikes were inspired by the imagination of UHCCF grant recipients who shared with the Rally Cycling design team some of their favorite things and future aspirations.
Tatiana, a UHCCF grant recipient living in Las Vegas, Nevada, inspired the bike “Hip-Hop Dance.” The bike celebrates the fun and freedom of hip-hop culture and was ridden by Carpenter. Tatiana loves the art form as dancing makes her feel like she can do anything. The hip-hop design is actually a technical achievement. It calls for seven layers of stencils and paint. A royal blue base coat is decorated with a kaleidoscope of shapes and textures inspired by graffiti art.
Robin Carpenter’s bike “Hip-Hop Dance” inspired by 10-year-old Tatiana, who received a UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation grant. (Courtesy of Rally Cycling)
“I feel privileged to be able to contribute in even a small way to help raise funds for children and families in need,” said Carpenter. “I hope that I can do something exciting on my hip-hop-inspired bike that will not only help UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation grant recipients like Tatiana get through hardship, but also raise money by adding value and interest to this custom-painted bike.”
The bikes, donated by Rally Cycling, were auctioned online during the tour with all proceeds benefiting UHCCF. The goal of the riding fundraiser was to raise more than $75,000 to support funding of UHCCF medical grants, which are given to families who need financial assistance to help pay for their children’s health care treatments, services or equipment not covered, or not fully covered, by their commercial health insurance plans.
“These beautifully designed bikes are truly inspiring and represent the important work of the UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation to help children access medical care to improve their health,” said UHCCF President Matt Peterson. “We are honored to partner with Rally Cycling to raise greater awareness about our child medical grant program so more families apply and receive grants.”
Since 2007, UHCCF has awarded more than 15,000 grants valued at over $40 million to children and their families across the United States for treatments associated with medical conditions such as cancer, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, diabetes, hearing loss, autism, cystic fibrosis, Down syndrome, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and cerebral palsy. Qualifying UHCCF families can receive up to $5,000 per grant with a lifetime maximum of $10,000 per child to help pay for medical services and equipment such as physical, occupational and speech therapy, counseling services, surgeries, prescriptions, wheelchairs, orthotics, eyeglasses and hearing aids.
The bike will be auctioned online May 7-19 to fund medical grants that help children gain access to health-related services. (Courtesy of Rally Cycling)
The 2018 edition of the Amgen Tour of California was the 10th time the team has competed in the event and its third under the banner of title sponsor Rally Health, a digital health company that develops online and mobile solutions that make it easy for people to take charge of their health. Rally’s products encourage simple activities that can help people improve and maintain their health, find care, shop for benefits, choose the right doctor at the right price, and improve their overall well-being.
The 2018 edition of the Amgen Tour of California started in Long Beach on May 13 and headed north through the Golden State ending in front of the state Capitol in Sacramento on May 19. The seven-day stage race included two mountaintop finishes, a time trial, and flat and rolling stages to ensure a tough and exciting event.
For more information on UHCCF or to apply for a grant, visit UHCCF.org.
About Rally Health, Inc.
Rally Health, Inc. is a consumer-centric digital health company that makes it easy for individuals to take charge of their health and collaborates with health plans, care providers, and employers to engage consumers. For more information, please visit RallyHealth.com.
Albert H. Fulcher | Editor
National Conflict Resolution Center’s 30th anniversary Peacemaker Awards
At its 30th annual Peacemaker Awards Dinner on April 7 at the San Diego Marriot Marquis & Marina in Downtown, the National Conflict Resolution Center (NCRC) raised $724,000 — the largest total NCRC has raised at an individual fundraising event on record. But that is not all. Read More
By William E. Kelly
Senior crisis, budget and health access key issues Read More
By Dora McCann Guerreiro | East Village Biz News
Duck Foot Brewing Company — established June 2015 in Miramar — is expanding to East Village and currently in construction at 550 Park Blvd., in the space formerly occupied by The Parlour. In Duck Foot’s last 2.5 years of operation they’ve grown rapidly, distributing to taps and shelves throughout San Diego county. Owners Matt Del Vecchio, Brett Goldstock and Suzy Pesutti are all New York transplants looking forward to re-joining the busy city environment of East Village. Read More
By Dave Fidlin
Circulate San Diego, city officials focus on ‘fatal 15’ intersections amid Vision Zero campaign
San Diego’s 3-year-old Vision Zero campaign gained traction this past month as city officials pledged funding and a series of renewed efforts to improve dangerous intersections in highly trafficked areas, the majority located Downtown. Read More
By David Dixon
Events tied into the San Diego International Film Festival are helping to bring more attention to the annual celebration of cinema in the city. During the next few months, the Film Insider Series will present an eclectic selection of entertainment for both the big and small screen. Read More
Downtown’s new Courthouse Trolley Station now in operation
Metropolitan Transit System passengers have access to a new Trolley station — the Courthouse Station in Downtown San Diego. Officials dedicated the new station at a ceremony on April 28. The Courthouse Station is the new downtown terminus for the Orange Line, which runs from El Cajon to downtown San Diego and serves approximately nine million passengers annually. Read More
By Christopher Gomez | Little Italy News
Calling all weekenders who spend their Saturdays strolling through the Little Italy Mercato — the largest farmers’ market in San Diego is moving back to Date Street! Read More
By Jean Lowerison | Theater Review
The idea of going to Bali Ha’i sounds pretty good to me right now. Alas, I’m a little short of cash and time. Read More
By Frank Sabatini Jr.
The mother of all bake sales is taking place from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., May 6, at Herb and Eatery in Little Italy. The annual event, presented by local food writer Erin Jackson, will bring together more than a dozen top pastry chefs from San Diego restaurants selling their upscale creations for $5 apiece. Read More
