As the College Area got ready to shift from summer to fall, seasonal activities started to crop up.

The College Area Community Garden (CACG) hosted its Fall Seed Swap last month. Community members with seeds and seedlings to share, swapped many types of vegetables and herbs, including common ones like celery, radishes, parsley and dill, and somewhat uncommon types like purple long beans, orange tender sweet watermelon and Portuguese kale.

In addition to facilitating a seed swap among participants, the event was a great opportunity for both experienced and beginning gardeners to tour the CACG which was established in 2013 as an organic garden and urban farm.

Operating as a non-profit on privately owned land near San Diego State University, the organization is guided by a volunteer board of directors. Working in partnership with SDSU Associated Students, faculty and staff, the CACG is devoted to growing healthy food, teaching and conducting research on the principles of sustainable urban agriculture and fostering connections among local residents and with the University.

Members of the University Heights Garden Club, Lemon Grove Garden & Nature Club, Mission Hills Garden Club, Master Gardeners and Master Preservers of San Diego County assisted in the day by leading classes such as Seed Starting 101 and Top Ten Tips for Pest Management. Both provided valuable information to better ensure seed-swappers could successfully grow what they took home from the event and ultimately harvest healthy food for personal consumption.

“Ask a Master Gardener” was another great benefit for those attending the event. Many participants stopped by the help desk to ask questions about gardening needs and problems. Volunteers also worked with children at a Discovery Station with microscopes, magnifying glasses and coloring pages.

The CACG has an attractive network of raised bed garden plots which can be rented for personal use. An application is available on the website. According to Deanna Chandra, president of the CACG, there are many other ways to be involved at the garden. Volunteer Work Days take place on the fourth Saturday of each month. Free and low-cost classes are also routinely offered. Introduction to Garden Photography with Victor Santos, whose current projects include work for the Audubon Society and Master Gardener Photography Initiative, will be held at the garden from 10 a.m. to noon on Oct. 29. You can access more information about opportunities and sign-up for the organization’s email newsletter on the CACG website, at collegeareagarden.org.

Alvarado Estates

By KAREN AUSTIN

The AE History and Anniversary Committee produced a second celebration in recognition of the neighborhood’s 75th Anniversary.

It was a very-well attended event by some 80 residents, who enjoyed a spectacular home tour and garden party (pictured in main photo). On the driveway when they arrived was a 1956 Ford Fairlane Victoria from the same year the house was built for the Aminoff family. Many thanks to El Cerrito resident Bethany Heintz, who perfectly positioned her iconic turquoise and white vintage car named “Vicky,” for all to enjoy.

Residents toured the inside of the home, which includes a sunken living room with built-in seating, some original terrazzo floor tiles, and floor-to-ceiling glass doors with clerestory windows, which are a classic Mid-Century Modern (MCM) design element to connect inside and outside spaces. Then they continued out to the expansive garden where there were a number of seating areas, a classic kidney-shaped pool, a decorated bar and food service area, and, of course, tiki-torches all around.

History Committee members provided homemade foods typical of the Pacific Islands to match the party theme, which was inspired by architectural elements of the home. After some social time, the homeowner spoke with the group about how he and his wife found their lovely home and worked to sensitively remodel it to have contemporary conveniences while maintaining its MCM design.

Two special presenters also spoke to the group.

The first was James Wheeler who is the son of the late Richard George Wheeler, the architect who designed this featured home. The third of three generations of Wheeler architects, he shared about his father’s work to become a renowned San Diego architect in the 1950s through 70s and also about him as a father and family man. We were all grateful for his participation in the event and very touched by his remarks.

Keith York from Modern San Diego, one of the region’s foremost architectural historians, also took part. We greatly appreciated that he took time to share his knowledge of MCM architecture and design with us, and about the significant contributions Richard George Wheeler made to San Diego’s built modernist architectural history, including at least three homes he designed in Alvarado Estates. For more on San Diego MCM architecture go to modernsandiego.com.

Many thanks to our speakers and to our History Committee members for their ongoing efforts to organize and host this and other events in recognition of our 75th Anniversary.

Our next AE community-building event will be our annual Halloween party. Thanks to the AE Social Committee for planning this very fun and festive seasonal activity. Both children and adults living in the neighborhood love to dress up in Halloween costumes, take part in the highly anticipated cake walk, and play a variety of games to “win” candy and little surprises.

Baja Canyon

By SANDEE BASS

I have been a resident of the Baja Canyon neighborhood for the past 11 years and I am the new representative for our neighborhood on the CACC board.

I am a working artist, with an open studio that keeps me very busy. I have two grown daughters, two granddaughters and two elderly dogs.

I’ve always loved this neighborhood. I love the close distance to all the freeways, the hustle and bustle around the school, and all the restaurants and businesses, new and old. Of course, I was thrilled when they opened a brand-new Trader Joe’s and all the new restaurants at College and Montezuma.

I am a bit bothered about all the new ADU units popping up throughout the neighborhood and the current construction projects replacing sewers and water pipes. I appreciate the infrastructure improvements, but the disruption has been going on for almost two years and doesn’t seem to be ending anytime soon.

I’m excited to attend the College Area Community Council meetings, and to finding out more about the workings of the whole College Area and how I can help to represent the interest of residents living in the Baja Canyon area.

College View Estates

By JEAN HOEGER

Our annual Ice Cream Social, hosted by the folks in the Drover Drive cul-de-sac, was a big hit, as usual.

Older residents sat in chairs set out for them and neighbors sat down to visit with them. Many of the older teens who have been attending for years were there, as well as three native CVE siblings who come back every year to visit the people who knew them as kids and watched them grow up. They are now bringing their own children. CVE is all about family and it is evident in our activities.

El Cerrito

By LAURA RIEBAU

The El Cerrito Community Council’s September monthly meeting included a presentation by Diego Gutierrez, the interim principal at Crawford High School.

He informed us that Dr. Froylan Villanueva, well-respected and liked by the community, has left his position as principal and the school is getting a new principal soon. The school has several challenges, one being that over 60 languages are spoken by the students, as the school is where many immigrant and refugee children are placed. The school is also a low-performing school, though some students do excel and get scholarships to great colleges. After many years of construction on the sports fields and main building, the school recently had a reopening ceremony of the beautiful, updated campus. The sports fields are being used more than ever and the opening of the parking lot is great for team players and attendees.

The ribbon cutting and dedication for The Little Flower’s beautiful new storefront improvements and mural was held on Sept. 30.

Owners, Maria and Dale Grimm, received storefront improvement funding, supplemented by a donation from the College Area Community Council. The resulting mural is a pretty new look for the storefront and a great public art piece for the community. Jim Schneider, executive director of the College Area Business District, was instrumental in facilitating the mural installation, organizing the dedication event and arranging refreshments from local businesses, including Scrimshaw Coffee, Woodstock Pizza and Cravory Cookies. Our District 9 City Councilmember, Sean Elo-Rivera, presented certificates of appreciation to Maria and Dale and Isabel Halpern, the Mural Program Manager for ArtReach. ArtReach is dedicated to introducing San Diego students to their own artistic side by providing art programs in schools which have limited funding. The Mural Program allows groups and neighbors to get together to create something beautiful. More on ArtReach is available at: artreachsandiego.org.

Maria and Dale recently sold their business to Lauren Kimmons, who will be reopening a remodeled Little Flower mid-October. The address is 5547 El Cajon Blvd, at the southwest corner of the 56th Street intersection. In addition to all the beautiful arrangements and florist services, Lauren is adding bouquets and unique gifts and cards to the store’s selection, which is conveniently located next door to her other great business, Pop-Up Picnic Co. Stop by soon to see what’s new and say hello to Lauren and her family members as you shop at the stores.

A Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon/High Intensity Activated Crosswalk “HAWK” traffic signal for the 58th & El Cajon Blvd. intersection has been fully funded and construction should begin soon, with a completion date next year. The HAWK was first added as a Capital Improvement Project by Georgette Gomez with other HAWK crosswalk sites along El Cajon Blvd in District 9. The technology has improved during the wait time, so our signal will be better than when first imagined. The signal will allow pedestrians to more safely cross this intersection, without it being a full traffic signal. It will make the El Cerrito neighborhood more walkable.

You can find more information about this type of signal at: sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/legacy/tsw/pdf/pedestrianhybridbeacon.pdf as well on the project itself at: cipapp.sandiego.gov/CIPDetail.aspx?ID=B22000.

Mesa Colony

By SUSAN GRANT

Mesa Colony is sounding the alarm for residents who may not realize that California Senate Bill (SB) 10, the deeply flawed housing legislation, is still a threat!

Mesa Colony (MC) and other College Area residents who attended recent City hearings want community members to be aware that our City Council chose to not opt-in to SB10 for now, apparently shelving it for possible future re-evaluation and implementation. We must keep a close eye on any future actions which, if approved, could have a negative and irreversible impact on our community.

While we realize there is great need for more affordable housing in San Diego, we hope this can be achieved without destroying opportunities for home ownership in single-family neighborhoods. Mesa Colony supports adoption of the College Area Community Plan Update Committee’s comprehensive and inclusive community plan for thoughtful and environmentally responsible growth.

The MC community meeting on Sept. 25 brought together residents and even had representatives from Neighbors for a Better San Diego and Friends of the College-Rolando Library in attendance. Many of the those present have been actively engaged in various groups that support the College Area, including the CACC and Community Planning Board/Plan Update Committee. After a lengthy discussion with input from participants, we decided to do three things:

1) Monitor SB 10 and other housing proposals by the City and County which aim to implement extreme housing density quotas on the local level. Closely monitor the projections used for housing development goals, as well, as there are legal challenges being leveled against the State with respect to the manner and process by which these projections have been developed. Blueprint San Diego, as well as the City’s Housing Action Plan 2.0 goals are based on these questionable projections and are complicated by policy concepts such as Sustainable Development Areas (i.e., defined as a one-mile walking distance from transit or proposed transit centers), which are pushing for unbridled densification.

2) Actively engage with new candidates, not just incumbents, for City and County offices. Create opportunities for residents to hear from new candidates, especially about safeguarding single-family neighborhoods even while increasing housing density within College Area. Learn how candidates will meet our needs for adequate streetlights, smooth and continuous sidewalks, streets free of potholes, and safe parks and business corridors without homeless encampments and other risks to the full and safe use of our community.

3) Keep emphasizing investment in needed infrastructure before more large development projects are approved. Make sure new plans and upgrades are made to deal with traffic congestion, and meet community needs like adequate parking, power, water, sewer and trash hauling. We also need to make sure we receive our eligible parks & open spaces and a recreation center (based on current, let alone future population numbers). We need library access, day care centers, fire and police services and so much more before housing density is added to the College Area.