Uptown Planners special election 

Uptown Planners is holding a special election on September 2 and 5. Application for candidates is due by August 1 by 6 p.m.  

The Uptown Planners serve in an advisory role to the City of San Diego on land-use and development issues in Bankers Hill, Hillcrest, Medical Center Complex, Middletown, Mission Hills and University Heights. You should run if you care about land-use and development in Uptown, and you are a property owner, a resident, or a business owner within the borders of the Uptown District. Find everything you need to know at UptownPlannersSD.org. 

Street banners honor high school grads 

A galaxy of graduates will greet San Diegans traversing a popular business corridor in the heart of City Heights. From now until the end of August, the smiling faces of 34 cap-and gown-clad City Heights high school seniors will be showcased on colorful street banners displayed along Fairmont and University Avenues. The stellar lineup includes scholars, athletes, and community organizers whose legacy of civic leadership merited their selection as ambassadors of SAY San Diego’s Light Our Way 2023 campaign. 

Comic-Con Museum to open new exhibits ahead of namesake convention 

Whether your room has a poster or figure of Stan Lee, Ein, All Might, Gumby, PAC-MAN, or the Comic-Con Toucan, Museo Comic-Con has an exhibit for you this summer. In time for the museum’s namesake convention Comic-Con, the Museum will debut three new exhibits and features, along with hands-on programming, opening to the public on Tuesday, July 18, at 10 a.m.   

“We always want to pay tribute to creators, innovators, and legends in the popular arts world,” said Museum Executive Director Rita Vandergaw. “We do just that in an homage to Stan Lee’s 100th birthday and Cowboy Bebop’s 25th anniversary. Anime features have been one of the top requests from attendees, so we’re looking forward to celebrating the fandoms of ‘Cowboy Bebop’ and ‘My Hero Academia’ with Crunchyroll for current and future fans to discover.”   

Comic-Con Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the last entry at 4 p.m., and the Museum will be open on Monday, July 24 after Comic-Con. Tickets can be purchased in advance at comic-conmuseum.org o en la puerta.    

Survival Experience opens at The Fleet Science Center 

The Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park opened “The Worst-Case Scenario: Survival Experience” on  July 1. This exhibit, based on the internationally acclaimed “The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook” series, will transport visitors into a world of thrilling survival strategies and escape tactics. The exhibit is produced by Exhibits Development Group and developed by Geoffrey M. Curley + Associates in collaboration with Quirk Books. This exhibition is locally sponsored in part by the City of San Diego.   

Artifact restaurant inside Mingei earns Michelin Guide recognition 

Artifact at Mingei, the globally inspired restaurant that opened in the Mingei International Museum in Balboa Park 18 months ago, has joined the California Michelin Guide of restaurants. The Michelin Guide, which recognizes excellence in restaurants worldwide, added 10 California restaurants to its guide. Mingei’s Artifact is the only San Diego County entry. The rest are in Orange and Los Angeles counties. Besides being added to the Michelin Guide website as recommended spots to eat, the 10 restaurants are now eligible to be elevated to higher status this year with a Michelin Bib Gourmand or Michelin Star award. 

Kehinde Wiley major work at Timken Museum 

The Timken Museum of Art, located in San Diego’s Balboa Park, will present through May 2024 a distinguished, major work by artist Kehinde Wiley: “Equestrian Portrait of Prince Tommaso of Savoy-Carignan” (2015), a modern-day version of the famed 17th-century painting by Dutch master, Anthony van Dyck. Wiley’s version, a massive artwork measuring. 112 x 118 x 3 inches is an extension of his Rumors of War series, which takes the form of an historic equestrian portraiture. “Equestrian Portrait of Prince Tommaso of Savoy-Carignan” is currently on display at the Timken. 

Free summer concerts at Spreckels Organ Pavilion 

Spreckels Organ Society, a non-profit organization curating concerts and performances in the heart of Balboa Park, announce its 35th annual San Diego International Summer Organ Festival line-up. The Spreckels Organ Society brings these special 90-minute concerts to the Pavilion for free on Monday evenings at 7:30 p.m., through Sept. 4. The concerts are free and do not require tickets.  

Latin American Festival, Mata Ortiz Pottery Market in Old Town 

The vibrant spirit of Latin America will come alive at the Bazaar del Mundo in Old Town as artists from south of the border gather to showcase an extraordinary collection of authentic folk art at the Latin American Festival and Mata Ortiz Pottery Market from August 4-6.   

The festival features one of the largest displays of Mata Ortiz pottery, an ancient art form renowned for its intricate process and hand-painted geometric and ancestral symbols. Skilled potters will showcase their talents and their remarkable creations. 

This free event will take place August 4–6 and be open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. Free parking is available one block away from the Shops at the Caltrans parking lot after 5 p.m. on Friday and all day on Saturday and Sunday.   

Homestart’s backpack drive underway 

Home Start, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to child abuse prevention and providing evidence-based family-strengthening services, is collecting donations throughout the month of July for its annual Back-to-School Backpack Drive. The donated supplies will benefit children served by Home Start.  

The agency will be collecting a variety of supplies, including filled backpacks ready to distribute, pens, pencils, binders, reusable water bottles, and more.   

Donated backpacks and supplies can be dropped off at Home Start’s main location on Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. at 5005 Texas Street, Suite 203, San Diego, CA 92108 through Friday, July 28. The organization is also accepting school supply donations through its Amazon Wishlist. Shopping through the Wishlist allows the donations to be shipped directly to Home Start. 

Cal Bank & Trust celebrates 40 years with Hillcrest mural 

California Bank & Trust (CB&T), one of California’s leading banks, is celebrating nearly 40 years of service to the Hillcrest community and surrounding areas with a new mural installation at its local branch. Established in 1985, the CB&T Hillcrest Branch has contributed greatly to the growth and expansion of the neighborhood by providing custom financial services to hundreds of business owners and residents around the area. 

Central to the mural, which wraps the south and east walls of the building, is a representation of the Hillcrest sign that hangs just a few blocks away, above University Avenue. The mural also includes the historic Balboa Park Tower and Cabrillo Bridge, Harper’s Topiary Garden, gorgeous San Diego skyline and of course, the city’s famous San Diego Zoo. The mural concept was created by local artist Austin Gosswiller and installation began in June 2023.   

The gift of art is one element to cement the celebration of a complete renovation of the CB&T Hillcrest Branch building, located at 3737 Fifth Avenue. The makeover embodies a mid-century modern aesthetic to commemorate the original design, which was created by architect Richard George Wheeler in 1961, and complements surrounding buildings to integrate seamlessly into the urban neighborhood today. The building is also home to two current tenants, Alpha Project and CEOSD, Inc., with an additional retail space along Fifth Avenue that is currently being marked for lease.

County opens Cool Zone Program 

With summer here, the County of San Diego opened its annual Cool Zones program Thursday to give people free, safe, air-conditioned sanctuaries to escape extreme heat. The county created the Cool Zone Program two decades ago to give older adults, people with disabilities and those with health concerns that could be complicated by the effects of extreme heat. 

The program will run from June 1 through Oct. 31; sites include the County’s 33 branch libraries, community centers and other locations across the county. 

A complete list of Cool Zone sites, their hours and locations is located online. The site includes a map feature where people can type in their address to find locations near them. People can also call 2-1-1 to find a location, or, if they cannot get to a Cool Zone, ask for help with free transportation. 

World Trade Center San Diego honored with President’s E Award for export service 

World Trade Center San Diego has been honored with the President’s E Award for Export Service. Presented by Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., the E Award recognizes the Trade Center’s commitment to growth of exports and jobs, especially through MetroConnect and Export SBDC. This is the highest recognition a U.S. entity can receive for making a significant contribution to the expansion of U.S. exports. 

Dog attacks on postal carriers in San Diego among highest in U.S. 

Dog attacks on postal carriers in the San Diego area totaled 39 in 2022, putting the area fifth on a list of dog attacks in 36 cities across the country. Houston, Los Angeles, Dallas and Cleveland topped San Diego on the number of attacks. The United States Postal Service figures were released as part of its National Dog Bite Awareness Week campaign June 4-10. 

More than 5,300 Postal Service employees were attacked nationally last year. 

Prosecutor, victim advocate recognized for DUI homicide work 

San Diego County District Attorney verano stephan announced that two members of the DA’s Office were recognized by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) at the annual MADD San Diego Law Enforcement and Prosecutor Recognition Awards held Thursday, June 8 at the Balboa Park Recital Hall. Deputy District Attorney Hailey Williams was named Prosecutor of the Year for her work in the DA’s DUI Homicide Unit. Victim Advocate Shanda Torres was recognized with the MADD Outstanding Advocate Award for her work with victims of DUI cases.    

Nearly $17 million secured to address San Diego riverbed encampments 

 A county-led partnership has been awarded nearly $17 million in state funds to help people experiencing homelessness along the San Diego riverbed into more permanent housing and connect them with much-needed services.   

Late last year, the state made $240 million in Encampment Resolution Fund grants available to local jurisdictions to help resolve encampments and get people into housing and services.  

The county applied for that funding in collaboration with the City of San Diego, City of Santee and California Department of Transportation, and is getting $16,951,298.  

The money, awarded to the County’s Department of Homeless Solutions & Equitable Communities, will help an estimated 300 people experiencing homelessness living along the San Diego riverbed. 

County gets grant to connect more households to the internet 

The County of San Diego has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the Federal Communications Commission to fund outreach and enrollment efforts for the Federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and to update ongoing efforts to improve internet connectivity throughout the region. 

The ACP provides qualifying households on average of $30 a month toward their internet bill as well as up to $100 for the purchase of a device like a laptop to connect to the internet. 

An estimated 453,000 households are eligible for the ACP in San Diego.