PLA?Peninsula Community Conversation on April 17 A PLA Peninsula Community Conversation will take place 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 17, at UPSES Portuguese Hall. It’s like NextDoor but without the typing. Meet, face to face, in person… and talk. So it’s more like getting coffee. But instead of coffee, there will be free food and a bar.
Leaders from Peninsula, Ocean Beach and Midway planning boards, Ocean Beach Town Council, Ocean Beach MainStreet Association and the Point Loma Association will discuss things that affect all residents. Find out what each group does. Discover how they work together, sharing concerns, collaborating on solutions, learning from one another and speaking with a unified voice to advocate for neighborhoods.  Support Cabrillo National Monument with vote The Cabrillo National Monument needs the community’s help in obtaining a financial grant. They have been accepted into the running for the All-in 4 Change grants offered by Harrah’s Southern California. Awarding of the grants will be determined by votes by residents. The voting started and runs through 5 p.m. on April 23. Vote at harrahssocal.com/all-in-4-change. Taste of Liberty Station Foodies can pacify their palates at the second annual Taste of Liberty Station Wednesday, April 18, from 5 to 9 p.m. The event will be all-encompassing featuring the best Liberty Station has to offer, everything from music, art and culture to drinks and food. Attendees can stroll through Liberty Station sampling a wide variety of fare from eateries, while listening to live music and checking out artisan goods and artwork on exhibit from local galleries.
Participating businesses will include Roma Express, Solare, Pisco Rotisserie & Cevicheria, Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens, Fitness Together Point Loma and Lauren LeVieux Artist Studio.
Guests age 21 and up can also experience the Bubbly Garden featuring three tastings of sparkling wine in the Central Promenade. The live entertainment and art exhibits in the corridors and plaza are free and open to the public.
 Child care will also be available with parents encouraged to drop off their children at Kid Ventures, an indoor-outdoor children’s play facility at Liberty Station. For information, visit libertystation.com. Point Loma Republican Women luncheon
Point Loma Republican Women Federated monthly luncheon meeting will take place 10 a.m. April 19 at Point Loma Cafe, 4865 Harbor Drive. Program: Eric Golub, a Republican commentator and comedian will speak. A no host lunch follows. Guests welcome. Call Marilyn at 619-222-9532 for additional information. Day at the Docks
The Port of San Diego’s 39th annual Day at the Docks is a celebration of sportfishing that will take place on Sunday, April 15 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
The festival marks the official start of San Diego’s spring saltwater fishing season. The event is held at Harbor Drive and Scott Street. 
The festival provides the opportunity to discover new adventures, explore the latest in fishing tackle and techniques, walk aboard and tour boats in the fleet, talk with the captains and crews, take a ride on a boat and partake in the many activities planned for the day. 
Free parking is available on Shelter Island and free round trip shuttle service to and from the festival is offered from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For complete information on Day at the Docks activities and schedules, visit sportfishing.org. Point Loma woman named San Diego’s ARCS Light for 2018
Doris Ellsworth has been named the San Diego Chapter’s ARCS Light for 2018. This honor is awarded to one member every year who has contributed outstanding service to the organization. Academic Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) awards approximately $500,000 annually to local scholars from UCSD, SDSU, TSRI, and USD. Ellsworth joined the charitable organization in 1987 and has contributed in many ways to promote its mission of recognizing outstanding young scientists with scholarships. Membership committee chair of events, strategic planning committee chapter researcher, and director of field trips are a few of the duties she has performed.
Ellsworth has been active in numerous civic and nonprofit organizations including San Diego Diplomacy Council (president), San Diego Bar Auxiliary, PEO president, Children’s Hospital, and The Wednesday Club, Town and Gown, and Peninsula Singers. She co-founded the San Diego Courthouse Tour Program for elementary and high school students, receiving national recognition from the Freedoms Foundation. When her husband, Pete, took on the challenge of building Sharp Healthcare — merging seven hospitals and three medical groups — Ellsworth hosted and organized efforts supporting the massive effort. Women’s Museum sets #METOO art exhibit 
Just as the #metoo movement has commanded a place in the mainstream public debate, so does it seek to inspire the private forces that fuel its fight against sexual abuse. From April 6 to April 29 at noon, that inspiration takes the form of #METOO, a Latin American Art Festival exhibit at the Women’s Museum of California, 2730 Historic Decatur Road on the Naval Training Center campus.   
“#METOO,” the festival says,” is not a fight born of anger; it is not a declaration of war against men, and it is not a witch-hunt. #METOO is a strong, unified, voice that seeks to put an end to silencing those who have been hurt and to say out loud, “No more!”
The ten female artists include Nuria Bac, known for her deadpan, square-featured female characters, and San Diego’s Haydee Laborin, whose art embraces oils, acrylics and mixed media in creation of the figurative and conceptual.
“It is time to put an end,” Mexican author Aracell Martinez Rose said in a festival statement, “to suffering in silence, to avoiding the reality of abuse and to hiding in pain. Now is the time to yell the truth, because truth becomes beauty, freedom, dignity and equality for all of humanity.”
Tickets are $3 and $5. For more, see womensmuseumca.org or call (858) 233-7963. Barons Market launches community-intensive website
Barons Market, an independent, family-owned grocery that numbers a Point Loma location among its seven Southern California stores, has announced the launch of its new website, featuring interactive elements designed to reflect the communities it serves.
The site features community events calendars; recipe sections; announcements on weekly price deals; and photos, videos and a social media feed that showcase daily activity at the stores.
“We want to create memorable experiences that go beyond a transaction,” marketing vice president Rachel Shemirani said. “This launch is a testament to our love of community and the personal touch points that come with being infused into the community.”
The Point Loma Barons, noted for its specialty, organic and natural foods, is located at 4001 W. Point Loma Blvd. The group also has a North Park franchise and five other outlets from Alpine to Murietta. The site address is baronsmarket.com. Battle of San Diego fete set at Naval Base Point Loma
On Saturday, April 14, history will repeat itself for the 214th time at the Battle of San Diego Anniversary Celebration, which commemorates the only Pacific Coast ship-to-shore battle between an American vessel and a Spanish fort.
The event, hosted by Balboa Park’s House of Spain in conjunction with Naval Base Point Loma, will run from noon to 4 p.m. at Naval Base Point Loma, at the end of Rosecrans Street.
A flag-raising ceremony and the American and Spanish national anthems will open the program. Capt. Brien Dickinson, Naval Base Point Loma commanding officer, will welcome the attendees and Javier Vallaure, Los Angeles consul general of Spain. 
Keynote speaker is California State University San Marcos archaeology Prof. Adolfo Muñiz, who will speak about the battle’s history and its artifacts. 
On March 17, 1803, Capts. William Shaler and Richard Cleveland sailed into San Diego Bay on the American brig Lelia Byrd to buy sea otter pelts, although such trading was forbidden by governing Spain. Five days later, Spanish soldiers captured members of the ship’s crew, fueling a gun and canon battle at Fort Guijarros, today’s Naval Base Point Loma. 
A hat was eventually waved, and both parties ceased firing. No injuries were reported.
The Fort Guijarros site was designated as California Registered Historical Landmark No. 69 in 1982.
A Spanish dance performance by Doña Juanita Franco’s Classical Dance Academy will be performed following the ceremony, which will include a variety of historical, cultural and maritime displays, historical costumes, children’s craft activities and food and beverages,  including paella, chorizo, beer, sodas and Sangria.
Reservations are required to enter Naval Base Point Loma and must be made no later than March 30. They may be made through e-mailing a list of attendees to [email protected]. Reservations for children under age 18 accompanied by an adult are not required if accompanied by an adult. Literacy council fundraiser to serve food for thought at ninth Eat.Drink.Read.
More than 20 chefs representing local restaurants including Point Loma’s Solare Lounge will create a culinary journey inspired by the chefs’ favorite books and literary characters at the San Diego Council on Literacy’s ninth annual “Eat.Drink.Read. A Culinary Event for Literacy,” set for Thursday, May 17 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Balboa Park’s San Diego Air & Space Museum.
San Diego brewers, distillers and winemakers will also bring their products to the event, which will feature live music and a battle between the chefs, with awards for best dish, best dessert, best display and people’s choice.
Past works of inspiration have yielded creations from Dr. Seuss’ “Green Eggs and Ham” and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby.”
The event raises funds to support the nonprofit council’s 27 literacy programs, campaigns and referrals that serve 180,000 residents a year at no cost.
More than 520,000 adults in San Diego have difficulty reading – and most of them are native English speakers. Many of these are parents, and their children are said to be adversely affected by low-level literacy skills in the household.
Tickets go on sale March 26, with the early bird price of $60 available through April 12. Tickets increase to $75 beginning April 13.
The museum is located at 2001 Pan American Plaza. For more, see literacysandiego.org or call (619) 574-1641 ext. 103. Vanessa Davis named general manager at Broadway/San Diego
Vanessa Davis, former president of the San Diego chapter of Executive Women International and a member of National Broadway Leagues’ group sales ticket committee, has been named general manager of Broadway/San Diego, Nederlander Organization executive vice president Nick Scandalios announced.
Davis, who currently oversees Broadway/San Diego’s President’s Club, group sales and patron services, will also assume the duties of current vice president Joe Kobryner, who announced his retirement in January after 22 years with the Nederlander Organization local office. Kobryner will remain with Nederlander through July 13.
Nederlander, established in Detroit in 1912, has produced dozens of live Broadway shows and has presented hundreds of top entertainment headliners in San Diego and elsewhere. 
Of Davis’ appointment, Scandalios said, “I have been impressed by Vanessa’s work in all capacities over the years, and nothing makes me happier than to promote her to our executive team.”
Kobryner added, “I have worked with Vanessa for over 20 years,” Kobryner added, “and am thrilled that she will succeed me in overseeing the important San Diego market. Over the years, she has demonstrated a tremendous ability to learn and excel at everything in which she is involved,” he stated.
Davis remarked that “It will be a privilege to serve as general manager in our vibrant San Diego arts community, and I look forward to leading the incredibly talented team at Broadway/San Diego into the next chapter.”
For more on Broadway/San Diego, see broadwaysd.com.