Many hands make light work
Supervisor Ron Roberts (from left), District 1 Councilman Scott Peters and Village Garden Club of La Jolla members Connie Brown (on left of new tree), Pamela Ingersoll and Pat Miller help plant one of the jacaranda trees donated to beautify UC in the median near the Park & Ride at Governor Drive and I-805.
The Village Garden Club of LJ donated the trees to the University City Community Association’s jacaranda tree project, Roberts’ office awarded the UCCA a $3,000 grant for planting and the first year’s watering and feeding and Peters’ office coordinated with the city’s urban forester and Caltrans.
UCCA members prepared the ground for the trees, which are also being planted in medians near Stresemann Street, Standley Middle School and across from Carl’s Jr.

Forum will examine mini-dorm restrictions
City Councilmen Kevin Faulconer and Jim Madaffer, along with City Attorney Mike Aguirre, will hold a housing forum to discuss proposed city code changes to prevent mini-dorm conversions citywide this evening, May 10, 6 p.m., in council chambers, 202 C St.
The public will have the opportunity to ask questions and comment on the mini-dorm issue.
For information, call the Council District 2 office, (619) 236-6622.

SDPD beefs up beach patrols
As the beaches prepare for the busy summer months, they will have additional help from police. Officers are being pulled from other commands to staff beach teams, San Diego Police Department (SDPD) Lt. Brian Ahearn announced at the April 18 meeting of the Pacific Beach Town Council.
Starting this week, a daytime team of eight officers and one sergeant will monitor La Jolla, Pacific and Mission beaches and Mission Bay Park. A nighttime team of eight officers will also patrol the area until 2 a.m. The two shifts will overlap from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Ahearn said.
Capt. Boyd Long is committed to adding one to two officers to the beach teams, he added.
“We have a tremendous impact when we have additional resources,” Ahearn said, commenting on the success of increased enforcement in the beach communities over spring break.

Postal carriers to pick up food May 12
The community is encouraged to help “stamp out” hunger on May 12.
Help Stamp Out Hunger is part of a worldwide food drive that has collected more than three-quarters of a billion pounds of food since its inception 14 years ago.The Postal Service and the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) have partnered together on this campaign, making it the world’s largest single-day food drive.
Postal customers are asked leave their nonperishable food donations in a bag near the mailbox on Saturday, May 11, before their letter carrier arrives. Donations will be brought to the local post office and then delivered to the local food bank.

Smoking ban will cover more areas
The ban on smoking at all city beaches and parks was extended May 1 to include no smoking on all city-owned ocean fishing piers, on seawalls and on boardwalks next to all beaches following an 8-0 vote by the San Diego City Council.
The amendment to the existing ban on smoking at city beaches will go into effect in approximately 45 days. The City Council will have a second reading of the ordinance to make it official and it will become law about 30 days afterwards.
Deputy City Attorney Alex Sachs said the specified areas in the amendment have different land use designations and were not covered in the earlier ordinance passed by the City Council some months ago. The amendment also includes a ban on smoking on the Cabrillo Bridge in Balboa Park.
Violators will be given misdemeanor citations and not arrested unless there is another law broken. The maximum penalty for violators is six months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine if they are convicted.
District 4 Councilman Tony Young voted for the amendment, but said, “We’re getting real close to infringement” of smokers’ rights.
District 3 Councilwoman Toni Atkins said signs need to be posted as to the location of designated areas where smokers can legally light up.
There was only one public speaker on the subject and she urged the City Council to also ban smoking at all city lakes and reservoirs. The council could not act on that suggestion because it had not been published in legal notices.
No one addressed the council to oppose the amendment.

Baha’i Book Fair comes to Costa Verde
A Baha’i book fair will take place May 16 through 20, with several events scheduled at the Barnes & Noble/Bookstar in the Costa Verde mall, 8560 Genesee Ave.
On Wednesday, May 16, Pamela Brode, author of “The Power of Prayer: Make a Joyful Noise,” will kick off the event at 7 p.m.
Heather Cardin, author of “Partners in Spirit,” will appear at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 17. “Partners in Spirit” features interviews with 40 married couples talking about how they have strengthened their relationships.
On Friday, May 18, Richard Thomas and Gwendolyn Etter-Lewis will speak, also at 7 p.m. They are the editors of “Lights of the Spirit,” chronicling the role played by African-Americans in establishing the Baha’i faith in North America.
Weekend events continue at the Baha’i Center, 6545 Alcala Knolls.
For more information, call (858) 457-7561.

LJ Garden Club holds annual market for moms
The La Jolla Garden Club will hold its 30th annual gardener’s market Saturday, May 12, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Washington Mutual Bank patio, 7777 Girard Ave., giving residents a chance to pick out the perfect Mother’s Day bouquet.
“We have a huge turnout,” said Fran Sheinbein, La Jolla Garden Club member and event chairwoman. “Last year we sold out of all the plants and all the arrangements. It’s something that’s going on every year, and because everything looks so beautiful and is ready to be given, people don’t have to do a thing. It always is a great event.”
The market will feature various plants and floral arrangements supplied from members’ gardens, as well as bake sale goods.
Proceeds will benefit conservation and civic projects in La Jolla, such as supplying the La Jolla Library with weekly floral arrangements and funding landscaping projects for the La Jolla Historical Society and the La Jolla Recreation Center.
The Garden Club also provides funding for horticultural scholarships for students at four city colleges.
For more information, contact Fran Sheinbein, (858) 450-1769.