BIKE MOB HITS THE STREETS

Upwards of 30 Uptown residents rode dockless bikes down El Cajon Boulevard on Saturday, March 31, for the Dock Your Bike Down The Boulevard-Bike Share Mob event, which was held by the El Cajon Boulevard Business Improvement Association (BIA).

“We had a bunch of riders, including some virgin riders, which was great,” Tootie Thomas, president of the BIA and owner of LIPS, said. “We put up a poll on our Facebook event page and saw a few people had never taken them [dockless bikes] [out] before.

“And that’s where we really saw the change happening,” Thomas continued. “Where someone like myself four years ago never rode a bike on the boulevard to go from business to business and realize that four blocks was easy to do, then six blocks. After that, I might buy my own bike and start going from business to business on the boulevard that way.”

Before the event, Thomas collected some LimeBikes and Ofo bikes anticipating some participants may show up bike-less. While they were all utilized, most riders met at the two meet-up spots with bikes in tow.

“Will we be doing it next year? Well, I think we will be doing it again next week,” he said. “We’re not gonna stop here, we’re really enthused by this.”

To read what riders thought about the event or view photos, visit theboulevard.org.

HILLCREST RESIDENT NAMED COOL WOMAN 2018

Dea Hurston — a local playwright, mentor, and artist — has been named a Cool Woman of 2018 by Girl Scouts of San Diego.

Hurston is joined by four other selected women who will be honored during the 18th annual Cool Women luncheon and ceremony at Coasterra on April 13 on Harbor Island at 11:15 a.m.

“Our organization provides girls with the world’s best girl leadership experience, in an inclusive, girl-led space that empowers them to take the lead,” Girl Scouts San Diego CEO Carol M. Dedrich said in a press release. “By shining a spotlight on these extraordinary Cool Women, we are inspiring today’s Girl Scouts to reach their own potential.”

Proceeds of the event will go toward programs to empower young girls.

For more information about Girl Scouts of San Diego or to purchase a ticket for the event, visit bit.ly/2q1BPVK.

WALK AROUND ADAMS AVENUE

The Kensington-Talmadge Business Association will host its annual Spring Walkabout on Saturday, April 14, from 2–5 p.m.

As part of the walkabout, businesses along Adams Avenue will open their doors to walkers, and home-based and off-Adams businesses will have tables in the park. The showcase will include 33 companies, located in both the Kensington and Talmadge neighborhoods.

Businesses include Ponce’s Mexican Restaurant, Homegrown Energy Solutions, Franklin Elementary STEAM Magnet, Pappalecco and Kensington Guest House. Many will offer special deals, complimentary goods, live entertainment and more.

Participation in the walkabout is free of charge. A full map of Adams Avenue and participating businesses can be found online at bit.ly/2uIQ3Qc.

EXPLORE MISSION HILLS HISTORY

Mission Hills Heritage (MHH) will host their Gems of South Mission Hills walking tour and seminar on Saturday, April 14, from 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Attendees will check in at Parker Lower School, located at 4201 Randolph St. and have access to an hour-long tour of different architectural styles in Mission Hills. Seminars will be held in the auditorium on topics such as additions and rehabilitations, early-20th-century doors and millwork, fireplaces, the Mills Act, and historical architecture. Complimentary cookies and lemonade, as well as access to two food trucks, will also be available.

For more information about the walking tour or to purchase a ticket, visit bit.ly/2pYsQEL.

TASTE A SLICE OF HILLCREST

More than 25 Hillcrest restaurants are participating is this year’s Taste of Hillcrest on Saturday, April 14, from noon to 4 p.m. Participating restaurants will give “foodies” a chance to sample some of their best signature dishes. From quaint cafes and French- and Italian-style bistros to five-star dining delights, this is the most anticipated self-guided culinary walking tour in San Diego.

This event has sold out in advance in the last couple of years, so early purchasing is encouraged. You must be 21 years of age or older to sample beers. Tickets are $30 presale and $35 on the day of the event. Free shuttles make frequent stops around the neighborhood, and as an added bonus this year, Rich’s Nightclub will serve as a refresher station to stop by and enjoy delicious cocktails and drinks.

For more information and tickets, visit bit.ly/2pzebzJ.

SEN. TONI ATKINS LEADS CALIFORNIA SENATE

In a ceremony at the state Capitol on March 21, Sen. Toni Atkins was sworn in as the 48th president pro tempore of the California Senate. Atkins praised predecessor Kevin de León’s commitment to expanding opportunity for all Californians.

Atkins is the first woman and the first open member of the LGBT community to lead the California Senate.

“It’s the first time. And it’s about time,” Toni Atkins said in a press release. Women and LGBT activists “weren’t waiting – they were working. Marching in streets. Battling in courtrooms. Speaking out. Stepping up. This ascension is their accomplishment, not mine.”

She’s also the first person to serve as speaker of the Assembly and president pro tem of the Senate in 146 years.

The new Senate leader referenced the culture of sexual harassment that has been allowed to fester in the Capitol community.

“To some extent, we bear the burden of past sins too often swept under the rug,” Atkins stated. “We can’t change the past. But we can and should be judged on how we shape the future,” Atkins said, adding that “we know that true culture change cannot be legislated or decreed. It doesn’t occur overnight. And it doesn’t get solved simply by electing women to leadership.”

There will be a San Diego swearing-in celebration on Friday, April 13, at the Jacobs Center Celebration Hall, 404 Euclid Ave. at 2 p.m., followed by a reception.

For more information about the event, visit bit.ly/2GfvShq.