Mission Hills starts planning Fourth of July bash
This Fourth of July will mark Mission Hills’ fifth annual Fourth of July celebration in Pioneer Park. The day will begin with a parade through the neighborhood leading up to a patriotic costume contest, BBQ contest, games for kids, free cake and live music provided by Mama Red, who will also be singing the national anthem.

The BBQ competition winner will receive a hand-crafted trophy by local architect Jim Gates, and will be judged by Phil Pace of Phil’s BBQ among others. Local Mission Hills business ForeverCali.com will provide all contestants with free embroidered aprons.

Mission Hills Town Council members will also receive free pulled pork sandwiches, and Town Council family memberships will be available for $20.

Mission Hills singer releases new album
Mission Hills resident and singer-songwriter Justin Henderson recently released an album with the national independent record label, Tate Music Group (TMG).

“Streetlight” is now available nationwide at the iTunes store, Amazon.com or at TateMusicGroup.com. Henderson’s eight track album shows off his eclectic musical inspirations, drawing from jazz, alternative and folk music.

New mini-park and street improvements for North park
Following the renovation of the Birch North Park Theatre, plans are underway to also develop a North Park mini-park in the area directly behind the theatre as well as an Associated Streetscape Improvement Project to connect the park to Jefferson Elementary and the business district along University Avenue.

The park is set to be half an acre between Granada Avenue and 29th Street along North Park Way. The park amenities will be decided based on community meetings, but the goal of the park is to function as a community gathering space, linking the residential areas behind the Birch North Park Theatre and the business district.

The Associated Streetscape Improvement Project is supposed to utilize streetscape improvements in the areas surrounding the park along Utah to Gunn streets along University Avenue, and along North Park Way from Utah to 29th Streets. These improvements will function as the last piece to tie the park, residential
areas, business and the Jefferson Elementary joint use improvements together.

The first public design charrette/community workshop will be on June 4 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Sunset Temple Grand Room at Claire de Lune Coffee House at 2906 University Ave. For more information, contact the city’s project manager, Todd Schmit at 533-4620 or [email protected].

SOHO celebrates historic preservation with people in Preservation Awards
Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO) held its 29th annual People in Preservation awards on May 23 at the Cosmopolitan Hotel & Restaurant and Cygnet Theatre in Old Town.

Held during National Preservation Month, the People in Preservation awards recognized 10 San Diegans for various preservation projects that included hotel restoration and adobe revitalization.

SOHO encourages preservation on both large and small scales and recognizes both private and public restorations, as well as historical sites and residential spaces.

For more information, visit: sohosandiego.org.

South Park shows off historic homes with old house fair
South Park is getting ready for its 13th annual Old House Fair on June 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The fair will be will include four homes around the fair area and a fifth one in Burlingame between Switzer Canyon and
Juniper Street.

The fair is free, with booths offering information about repairing, restoring, designing, decorating and landscaping older properties, as well as information about edible and organic gardening. There will also be entertainment at the Whistlestop Stage—featuring The Marcia Forman Band, Todo Mundo, and Gregory Page—and food and crafts for children.

The Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO) will host an “Ask the Experts” booth as a free resource guide, and artisans and contractors will be available to answer questions about replicating the styles and designs of the historic homes.

The historic home tour is $20, and tickets can be purchased online or in person at the fair. There will be a free shuttle service between the fair and the Burlingame home, as well as a $5 one-hour Trolley Tour of the neighborhoods, two guided tours by Urban Safaris at 1 and 3 p.m., and a free book and map for a self-guided South Park tour.

For more information, call 233-6679 or visit: theoldhousefair.com.