All the news about Downtown promotions and events.

COASTER Holiday Express tickets to go on sale.

Tickets for the holiday-themed COASTER Holiday Express train ride go on sale Nov. 14 and will feature Santa and his friends to entertain riders on this popular holiday event. Families will have two opportunities to hop aboard the Dec. 7 holiday train, the first leaving Oceanside Transit Center at 10 a.m., and the second at 12:30 p.m. The fun-filled 90-minute experience will take riders on a non-stop, round-trip ride to Sorrento Valley and back. Santa and his friends will be on board to pose for pictures. This trip sells out, so buying tickets early is recommended. Tickets are $6 for all passengers and available at GoNCTD.com/eticket or 760-966-6500.

 Gold Shield Gala supports San Diego Police

The San Diego Police Foundation will hold its Gold Shield Gala fundraiser at the Fairbanks Ranch Country Club in Rancho Santa Fe on Nov. 9. Guests are encouraged to dress in their best ‘60s cocktail attire—or secret agent sleek—in keeping with the event’s “Get Smart” TV show party theme. The San Diego Police Foundation exists to raise funds for the San Diego Police Department. Due to budget cuts, donations are needed now more than ever. Funds raised will go towards the purchase of protective vests, technology and software upgrades, and additional police service dogs. The Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing support for efforts that enhance police/community relations, crime prevention, and public safety. This event is one of three fundraisers conducted each year to raise funds for the SDPD. This event’s focus will be on a K9 Campaign, which will raisie money to replace retiring K9 crime fighters.  Over the next two years, over 15 new dogs are needed by the SDPD. For tickets or more information, visit sdpolicefoundation.org.

 Chef wins top honors

Chef Sutti Sripolpa, executive chef at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, was named the 2013 Port of San Diego, Top Green Chef. Sripolpa won the timed competition among some of the best chefs in San Diego, who each used sustainable ingredients to prepare innovative dishes in a state-of-the-art, energy-efficient test kitchen.?Approximately 75 people attended the event, many of them representing the Green Business Network of restaurants. The competition among chefs from Green Business Network member restaurants showcased energy-efficient commercial cooking equipment and encouraged waterfront businesses to network and share their best practices for reducing utility costs. “I was very happy to see the enthusiasm in how this event was greeted by all, and that the Green Business Network is being supported in such a popular way,” said Port Commissioner Rafael Castellanos. The chefs were required to use a “mystery basket” of seasonal and local ingredients unveiled moments before the competition. Chef Sripolpa won based on cumulative scores from both rounds. He created an appetizer comprised of cold sea urchin salad mixed with avocado and persimmon, tossed with soy-lime vinaigrette. His entrée featured a strong Italian influence with pan-fried mahi mahi, tomato, basil, and olive oil pasta with grated Asian pear garnish, plus a side of seasoned Brussels sprouts.

Scott Chadwick confirmed as new Chief Operating Officer

Effective on Oct. 31, 2013, current Assistant Chief Operating Officer Scott Chadwick will succeed Walk Ekard in overseeing the daily operations of 10,000 city employees. Scott Chadwick’s mastery of City issues and operations, his calm leadership style, his positive working relationship with and respect for City employees, and his ongoing dedication to delivering high quality service to San Diegans make him the right choice for Chief Operating Officer,” Interim Mayor Todd Gloria said in a press release announcing the confirmation. Along with Chadwick’s appointment comes a newly approved plan to restructure much of the city’s internal operations: creating three new executive management positions, creating the Department of Planning, Neighborhoods and Economic Development, and adopting “an aggressive approach to training talented employees though an annual series of leadership and management strategies.”Previous positions within the city held by Chadwick include Labor Relations Officer, Labor Relations Director and Human Resources Director. At the same meeting as Chadwick’s appointment, the city council also proclaimed Oct. 29 to be “Walter Francis Ekard Day” in the city of San Diego.

San Diegans rappel the Manchester Grand Hyatt for brain cancer

This weekend, 50 volunteers will take part in Over the Edge for Brain Cancer, which is a two-day event where “edgers” commit to a fundraising minimum in exchange for the opportunity to rappel down the Manchester Grand Hyatt, which at 497 feet is the San Diego skyline’s tallest building. High-profile rappellers include American Idol’s David Cook, UC San Diego Chief of Neurosurgery Dr. Bob Carter, and brain cancer survivors Monica Allen and BethAnn Telford. Brain cancer is the leading cause of tumor cancer deaths among children and young adults. It’s estimated that another 66,000 new tumor diagnoses are expected to be added to the already 600,000 people living with brain cancer in the U.S. today. The event is being organized by Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure, a venture philanthropy nonprofit organization that drives cutting-edge research and treatments for brain tumors. For more information visit www.otesandiego.org.

City Council passes infrastructure project prioritization changes

Council Policy 800-14, “Prioritizing of CIP Projects,” was passed by city council on Monday, Oct. 28, to prioritize projects that have more severe impacts on public safety, the environment and the budget. The Center for Policy Initiative states this policy change could expedite the construction of bike lanes and much-needed fire stations. “The new policy is an important first step in speeding up such long-delayed projects,” CPI’s press release states. “ Finding sufficient funding for everything older neighborhoods need is a continuing challenge.” Councilmember and mayoral candidate David Alvarez also touted the successfully passed policy, calling it “long overdue.” “Most importantly, these changes help us prioritize projects in communities that have been neglected far too long,” Alvarez stated in the press release. “Having that priority set in this policy is critical as we move forward to putting people to work on important community projects and rebuilding our neighborhoods.”