SOHO TO HOST HISTORIC HOME TOUR WEEKEND
On March 17 and 18, Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO) presents its Annual Historic Home Tour Weekend. This year features the early 20th-century homes of Bankers Hill. On March 17, attendees can select from their choice of walking tours and new lectures. The main feature, the annual Home Tour, will be held on March 18. Both grand and modest works of master architects will be highlighted on the 90-minute walking tour of Bankers Hill as tour guides reveal little known facts and new information on the architectural history of the area. Times and ticket information vary by event and whether participants are a SOHO member. For more information, visit SOHOsandiego.org or call (619) 297-9327.

UPTOWN PLANNERS TO HAVE BOARD ELECTION
Seven seats on the Uptown Planners Board of Directors are up for election on March 6 for a four-year term, which will begin in April. To vote, an individual must present identification proving residency, property ownership or business ownership in Uptown. Ballots will then be provided to eligible voters. As a courtesy, it is suggested that before completing the ballot, voters first listen to the three-minute statements each candidate will make regarding their qualifications and reasons they would like to serve, or continue to serve, on the Board. A voter may vote for up to seven candidates.

SAN DIEGO HISTORY CENTER HOSTING ‘TASTE OF SAN DIEGO CRAFT BREWS’
San Diego History Center (SDHC) is hosting its third annual “Taste of San Diego Craft Brews” fundraiser on Feb. 18, from 6-10 p.m. This event honors the people and the award-winning beers that have made history and earned San Diego the title of “America’s Craft Brew Capital.” Through ticket sales, auction items and donations, the event raised over $14,000 last year. Proceeds support SDHC’s continuing K-12 educational outreach efforts. Tickets for this event start at $39 per person, and will be held at San Diego History Center in Balboa Park, 1649 El Prado Suite 3. For more information, visit sandiegohistory.org.

COUNCILMEMBER GLORIA CONTRIBUTES $34,000 TO COMMUNITY PROJECTS
San Diego City Councilmember Todd Gloria announced on Feb. 2 a contribution of over $34,000 in Community Projects, Programs and Services (CPPS) funds for three projects in District Three. The funding will allow the Park and Recreation Department to provide hourly staffing for the restoration of 30 additional hours of operation per month at the Balboa Park Activity Center through June 30. The Activity Center, which had been closed on Sundays, will now be open seven days a week. A new marquee will be purchased and installed at the Adams Avenue Recreation Center. The third project will repair and resurface the basketball and volleyball courts at the Golden Hill Recreation Center. The marquee and court improvements will be complete by the end of June. Councilmember Gloria previously announced $45,000 of CPPS received funds from seven council offices, including $10,000 from District Three, to keep open a storage facility for homeless people’s belongings through June 30.

CHUCK YEAGER TO SPEAK AT SPIRIT OF ’45 AWARDS
Chuck Yeager, the first human to break the sound barrier and Jerry Coleman, the “Voice of the San Diego Padres” will attend The Spirit of ’45 Awards and Celebration Dinner on Feb. 18 at the San Diego Air & Space Museum. The event is part of the 2012 Spirit of ’45 National Leader’s Conference being held Feb. 17-19. For more information call (619) 234-8291 or visit sandiegoairandspace.org.

HIS HOLINESS THE XIV DALAI LAMA TO VISIT SAN DIEGO
Tickets go on sale Feb. 22 at 10 a.m. via ticketmaster.com and at the Viejas Arena Box Office for the first San Diego visit of His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama, whose trip includes an April 19 public appearance at San Diego State University (SDSU). The University appearance will be part of the Compassion Without Borders symposium, which also features presentations at the University of California at San Diego and the University of San Diego. Dates and topics include: Panel Discussion – The Global Impact of Climate Change, Balance through Universal Responsibility, Compassion and Human Consciousness on April 18 at UC San Diego; Public Talk – Cultivating Peace and Justice on April 18 at USD; Public Talk – Upholding Universal Ethics and Compassion in Challenging Times on April 19 at SDSU.

DUMANIS ANNOUNCES MURDER CONVICTION IN 2007 KILLING
San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis announced a first-degree murder conviction on Feb. 3 against a defendant charged with killing 14-year-old Ahlyja Pinson in 2007 and leaving her body in a vacant house in Golden Hill. After one day of deliberation, Antero Cruz, 24, was found guilty of first-degree murder, assault with deadly force causing great bodily injury and hit and run causing injury. He faces 33 years-to-life in prison. On Dec. 31, 2007, Ahlyja’s body was found by a homeless man in the basement of a Golden Hill home. Cruz will be sentenced on March 23 by Superior Court Judge Robert F. O’Neill.

OLD GLOBE ELECTS NEW BOARD
The Old Globe’s Annual Meeting was held Jan. 30 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. After a reception in the Ottenstein Lobby, Old Globe Board Chair Harold W. Fuson Jr. welcomed the Board of Directors and guests and announced the newly elected Board members. Fuson announced that the current members of the Board of Directors Executive Committee will continue their terms in 2012. The committee consists of Chair Fuson, Immediate Past Chair Donald L. Cohn, Vice Chair of Finance Anthony S. Thornley, Nominating Vice Chair Elaine Bennett Darwin, Secretary Harvey P. White, Peter J. Cooper, Kathryn Hattox and Conrad Prebys. Joining the Executive Committee are Mary Beth Adderley and Paula Powers. Fuson also announced that the following candidates identified by the Globe’s Nominating Committee were formally elected to serve three-year terms on the Board of Directors: Nicole Clay, Silvija Devine, Karen Fox, Ramin Pourteymour, Paula Powers, Jim Wening, Lynne Wheeler and Karin Winner. Current Board members Elizabeth Altman, Pamela Cesak, Valerie S. Cooper, Sandra Redman, Daniel L. Sullivan, Ph.D., Julie H. Sullivan, Ph.D., Evelyn Mack Truitt and Debra Turner will be begin new consecutive three-year terms in 2012.

NORTH PARK RESIDENT NAMED CEO OF JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE
Jewish Family Service has named North Park resident Michael Hopkins as the organization’s new Chief Executive Officer. Hopkins assumed leadership of Jewish?Family Service on Jan. 24, following the retirement of Jill Borg?Spitzer, who has held the Jewish Family Service leadership position for the past 26 years. Hopkins has devoted more than 30 years to building and strengthening the Jewish community, with a majority of his professional career directing and?growing Jewish Community Centers across the country. Prior to joining Jewish?Family Service San Diego, Hopkins served as Executive Director of Nehirim, a?national Jewish LGBT organization.

MCKINLEY PIZZA NIGHT OFFERS OPPORTUNITY TO DONATE TO SCHOOLS
“McKinley Pizza Nights” are a collaboration of North Park’s McKinley Elementary School’s Parent Teacher Club and local North and South Park pizzerias including DeLuca’s Pizza, Lefty’s Chicago Pizzeria, Paesanos, Mazara Trattoria, Pizzeria Luigi’s and Sicilian Thing. 20 percent of the proceeds will go to support its extra art, music and Spanish programs. A flyer must be presented and is available online at McKinleyPTC.com/events/mckinley-pizza-nights. For the entire month of February, Paesano’s Italian Food on 30th Street is donating 10 percent back to McKinley Elementary on Take Out Orders only when customers mention “McKinley” upon ordering.

JURY CONVICTS DEFENDANT IN 2010 NORTH PARK STABBING
A jury returned a guilty verdict against Jennifer Trayers, 43, in the stabbing death of her husband, a U.S. Navy physician, as announced Feb. 8. Trayers was convicted of second-degree murder and personal use of a deadly and dangerous weapon, a knife, and faces 16 years-to-life in state prison. Lt. Cmdr. Frederick Trayers III, 41, was stabbed to death in December 2010. Frederick Trayers’s body was found in the couple’s North Park condominium. He had been stabbed eleven times: twice in the chest, eight times in the back, and once on the back of his head. Trayers will be sentenced in front of Superior Court Judge Joan Weber on March 9.

GLIMPSE GALLERY OPENS EARTH AND SKY EXHIBIT
In The Glimpse Gallery’s latest exhibit: “Elemental Contrast: Layers of Earth & Vastness of Sky,” artists Robin Przybysz and Nancy Torn represent the contrasting richness of earth with the openness of the sky. Przybysz blends gourds, willows, fibers and different types of metal, creating textural art that beckons to be touched. By loosely layering acrylic paints sealing each layer with iridescent-like glazes, Torn’s paintings bring to mind the vastness of the open sky. Her signature deckled edge adds the final textural elements in her paintings. The exhibit will run Feb. 18 – March 14 at the Glimpse Gallery, located at 3813 Ray St., in North Park.

HUMAN DIGNITY FOUNDATION TO HOST LGBT SENIOR FUNDRAISER
The San Diego Human Dignity Foundation will host a fundraiser for their Aging with Dignity Initiative on Feb. 22 from 6 to 8 p.m. Hosted by the Mingei Museum, located at 1439 El Prado, the fundraiser will include wine, hors d’oeuvres and art. Donations of $100 are suggested. All proceeds will benefit the Aging with Dignity Initiative. The Initiative provides financial support and leadership as our community addresses the complex array of challenges that impact the quality of life for LGBT seniors in San Diego. For more information or to RSVP, call (619) 291 – 3383.

TWIN TOWNS LOOKING FOR SAN DIEGO FAMILIES
A new show titled ‘Twin Towns’ is looking for San Diego families to swap lives with a family in Edinburgh, Scotland. They are looking for families from San Diego who will get an all-expenses paid trip to the United Kingdom where they will spend a week living in Edinburgh. The chosen family will act as ambassadors for San Diego and will get to see how the other half live by living the life of the British family they swap with including swapping houses, jobs and the children will go the local schools or colleges. They are looking for families who would be available for a week between April 16 and June 31 and would be interested in being on television. Scouts will be in San Diego starting Feb. 27. Interested families should email [email protected]