USA Federal Credit Union Festival for Rady Children’s Hospital

Please join us on Friday, May 15, 2009 for an afternoon of food, fun, and fund raising for our community!

Our friends at USA Federal Credit Union are hosting a Neighborhood Festival to raise money for the Rady Children’s Hospital. This event will be open to the public, and will feature local businesses helping to generate money for the Children’s Miracle Network from the parking lot surrounding USA Federal Credit Union located on Black Mountain Road just off of Mira Mesa Blvd. The festival will take place on Friday, May 15th from 10-2 pm. Please help us to spread the word, and give your support to this very worthy cause.

If your business would like to participate in this event, please contact Neva Buckhanon via email, stop by the Mira Mesa branch office at 10865 Black Mountain Rd. San Diego, CA 92126 or call (800) 220-1872.

The Latest Flash for April 27-May 3, 2009

Swine Flu Confirmation causes Christ the Corner Stone Academy to temporarily close in Mira Mesa.
Here are some facts and tips about the Swine Flu:

The disease’s symptoms resemble those of seasonal flu – fever, sore throat, cough, congestion, chills, headache, body aches and fatigue. Some patients also report diarrhea and vomiting.

Swine flu can lead to pneumonia or respiratory failure and worsen chronic health problems. If you have symptoms, stay home and see your doctor only if you have a serious case.
Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds or use alcohol-based cleansers.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and then discard the tissue. Or use your upper sleeve – not your hands.

For more details, call San Diego County’s Swine Influenza Information Line at (858) 715-2250 or go to cdc.gov/flu/swine. For information in Spanish, visit mienlace.com.

Edward Jones is hosting an Outlook & Opportunities seminar Wednesday, April 29 at 6:30 p.m. at the Karl Strauss Brewery Garden in Sorrento Valley. For more information, contact the offices at Edward Jones at (858) 695-1001. Karl Strauss is located at 9675 Scranton Road.

Meet State Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher for a Community Coffee Saturday, May 2 from Noon – 2:00 p.m. at the Standley Recreation Center. 3585 Governor Drive, San Diego, 92122. To RSVP, contact Barbara Aker at (858) 689-6290.

Free Job Interview Success Workshop at the Mira Mesa Library Presented by Appreciating U

Date: May 2, May 9, and May 30, 2009
Time: 12:45 pm to 2:15 pm
Location: Mira Mesa Library 8450 Mira Mesa Blvd. San Diego, CA 92126
Description: Come and learn the skills needed to interview successfully in our interactive workshop! For additional information please visit: www.appreciatingu.net

Race for Literacy
San Diego’s Favorite Race, The Race for Literacy is an 8K race which starts near the Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park, runs down scenic Highway 163 (closed, of course) and finishes at Pantoja Park on G Street in downtown San Diego. The race starts at 8:00 a.m. and over 4,000 people of all ages, with strollers, striders and even people who run really fast participate. For more information, visit the website.

Also, mark your calendar for the The Mira Mesa Womens Club’s Annual Chalk The Walk event on May 9, from 9a.m. – 4p.m. at the Mira Mesa Recreation Center. For more information, visit the Mira Mesa Women’s Club website, or email them at: mmchalkthewalk@yahoo.com.

This is also a reminder that Mother’s Day is approaching on May 10. Take your mother out to eat at her favorite restaurant, or start the day off with breakfast in bed. Make sure you check next week’s top 10 list of Mother’s Day ideas to show your love and appreciation for your Mom. They deserve it.

Top 10 Best Birthday Presents

My son is turning 6 this weekend, and we are off to Pump It Up for his birthday party. This got me thinking about the different theme parties we had, and all the cool presents that we wished for. I am in my early 40’s, so that should give you some kind of clue as to the difference between “Cool Presents” from my day, and the cool presents my son wants for his birthday.

There are some similarities, and some not so common ground. Here is my list of the Top 10 Best Birthday Presents for children (from a 40 year old man-child):

1. Big Wheel. This was every young boy’s dream gift. Sure, everyone had a bike, and we even used our wagon as a means of transportation. But the Big Wheel was like a new Ferrari to a young boy.

2. Legos. I must admit, I still love legos. We could spend hours creating cities, space ships, or whatever we wanted with a huge pile of legos. Now, the kits come with specialized pieces and instructions to make them perfect every time. Legos have definitely stood the test of time.

3. Nerf toys. I was around when the nerf ball was an actual invention. Then came the nerf hoop for indoor basketball. Then the nerf football, nerf baseball, and my favorite the nerf rocket. I think that the nerf ball was created as a compromise for letting kids play ball in the house without actually worrying about them breaking stuff.

4. Models. Model cars, planes, motorcycles, etc. Sure, you have to follow the age suggestions on the side of the box, and you should always go inexpensive first with the snap together models before moving on to the glue models. I just remember the huge aisle of models at Toys-R-Us that would captivate me for hours. Maybe it was minutes, but it seemed like hours.

5. Play-dough. I loved play-dough. I loved the way it smelled right out of the container. I was a little perfectionist, and would never think of combining two different colors. Still, the different shapes you could make just amazed me. Now there are even better accessories for our kids to enjoy this generations-old tradition.

6. Army men. I don’t think kids play army men like we used to. Today, they play “Star Wars” which is essentially the same thing, but good luck finding a whole container full of both sides of combatants for $10. You can’t even get a miniature Yoda figurine for that in today’s market.

7. Electric Football. This toy just goes to prove that if you can create the desire for a product, kids will want it even though the game itself sucks. As a kid I played street football and watched it on television on Sundays. If someone could explain to me how plugging in a vibrating metal field and watching the players bump into each other is similar to real football, I would love to hear the explanation. Still, the little white felt footballs were cool to try to kick field goals with.

8. Games. My personal favorites were Monopoly, Life, Battleship, Clue, Backgammon, and Candy Land. For the large part, they still are my favorite games. A lot of my friends liked to play Risk, but I never had enough time or energy to invest in learning it. Also, I never wanted to take over the world, so it didn’t really interest me.

9. Creative toys like etch-a-sketch, lite-brite, and spyro-graph. I had 3 siblings to share with, so I never got enough game time in on any of them to be considered a pro at them. Still, they were fun when I had them.

10. Cap guns. As kids, we didn’t know that playing with cap guns would lead us to violent acts. We just liked to point them (never at someone’s face was the rule) and grimace as the hammer fell on the cap which just was a cool effect. We would then take the roll of caps, and either use a coin or a long finger nail to POP the cap. Even better, you could use a magnifying glass to burn the cap into exploding. The super best thing would be to crush a whole roll of caps at one time with a brick, but that was just wasteful.

What are your childhood memories of your favorite toys? Please share with the rest of the class by entering your comments at the bottom of this post. By the way, Happy Birthday Michael. Daddy loves you.

Casino Night A Blast for our 4th of July Fireworks

Casino Night was a blast! I personally want to thank Sandy Smith and her team of loyal volunteers that put forth a great effort to raise money to support the Mira Mesa/Scripps Ranch Fireworks this year. We had two Texas Hold ‘Em tables that were full all night. There were our own Celebrity Black Jack Dealers: Tommie Mooney from Being Fit Fitness Centers, John Malo, Ted Brengel, Joe Frichtel, and others were dealing the cards and paying out to the winners. Of course Elvis was In The House (courtesy of John Daley).

There were even craps and roulette tables that had some action going well into the evening. The night was peppered with live auctions, courtesy raffles, and silent auction items. Our crown jewel for the live auction was a beautiful watch donated by the Collins Family Jewelers which went to the highest bidder – Scott Chambless from Red Carpet Realty. Scott really knows how to give back to his community, as he was the highest bidder on a handful of silent auction items and a few live auction items as well without any complaints from his wife Brooke. Wait until she finds out how much he spent!

Even though I was the M.C. of the auctions, I tried to sneak in a few bids for some of the items only to be out bid by some more deserving participants. All the money raised went to a good cause, so I didn’t feel too bad about being out bid. District 5 Councilman Carl DeMaio donated his VIP Skybox seats to the Sunday Padres Game to the auction, and he even offered up a Lunch with Carl DeMaio package that went to Brandon Stapper from 858 Graphics. Many thanks to each of the local businesses that donated gift baskets, food, and money necessary to hold this event. It was a lot of hard work, but it truly paid off.

Even though the Casino Night has come and gone, we still need the community support to make sure we will have fireworks again this year. You can make donations, hold community fundraisers, do car washes, or anything you can think of to raise money for the 4th of July Fireworks. Use this link to make your donations, or contact Sandy Smith for more information.

Christ the Cornerstone Academy Back Open

UPDATE: Christ the Cornerstone has been given the OK to open back up. The staff members who have been tested have all shown negative results; therefore they have received verbal approval that the school can be open on Wednesday 29th. For complete details, please visit their website.

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The Swine Flu Virus detected in Mira Mesa is a cause for concern, but we all must proceed with caution. I heard on the news that one student from Christ the Cornerstone Academy tested positive for swine flu, then six teachers became ill causing San Diego County Health Officials to close the school for up to 7 days. Many parents from the school have been responding with outrage that they were not informed right away, while others understand the steps necessary to inform without spreading panic needs to proceed with caution and gathering all the facts before rushing to judgment.

You can go to the Channel 8 News website and read some of the blog comments to see how varied the comments are. Some are pointing the finger at Mexico as the source of the outbreak here in California. These people would lead you to believe that by blaming the whole country, we will somehow eliminate future risks for this type of disease. They don’t focus on a solution to the problem, just pointing a finger and issuing blame.

Imagine what would happen if your child comes home with a cold. Would you just assume that it is the swine flu? Colds pass from child to child on a daily basis without any type of panic. Let’s not overreact to this. The school reacted once they found out the confirmation of the virus, and contacted the proper authorities. They sent out pamphlets to the parents, and residents surrounding the school. They are cooperating with the Health Officials to ensure the safety and well being of their students, faculty, and neighbors.

Temporarily closing the school is a precautionary measure while tests are conducted on the sick teachers to see if any of them actually contracted the disease. At this moment, there are only a total of 5 confirmed cases of swine flu in San Diego County. All 5 of those cases have recovered while none of them required hospitalization. It is recommended that if you feel sick, you should stay home from work or school. Just in case there is an outbreak of swine flu, there are enough doses of anti-viral medication for 50,000 people ordered for the San Diego region alone.

The best advice is to proceed with caution, not panic. This disease is passed from person to person, and most of the swine flu cases in California are mild. If you are showing symptoms, stay home from work or school. Parents don’t send your sick kids to school, this only increases the risk of others becoming infected. Keep informed, talk to other parents and school authorities, and watch the news for up to date information. Don’t look for someone to blame, look for a solution to the problem and pray for a cure. We will get through this as a community, and we will grow stronger together.

(For the more up-to-date information, you should visit the school’s website here.)

San Diego Food Bank Distribution Center in Mira Mesa

Do you find it hard to make ends meet during these troubling times? There are some community organizations offering help to those in need.

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP) distributes USDA food packages every month to more than 40,000 Individuals, low income families, young kids and seniors, in more than 90 distribution sites. If you do not exceed the income requirements posted below you may be eligible to receive an EFAP food package once a month.

Low Income Guidelines

Household Size     Monthly HH Income     Annual HH Income
1                                         $ 1,300                           $ 15,600
2                                         $ 1,750                           $ 21,000
3                                         $ 2,200                           $ 26,400
4                                         $ 2,650                           $ 31,800
5                                         $ 3,100                           $ 37,200
6                                         $ 3,550                           $ 42,600
7                                         $ 4,000                           $ 48,000
8                                         $ 4,450                           $ 53,400

Each additional member add:    $450 Monthly HH Income     $5,400 Annual HH Income

Distribution Site for people residing in zip codes: 92121, 92126, 92129, 92130, 92131,
92145

Holy Hands Church of Christ
4th Thursday Each Month 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
9380 Activity Road (by Camino Ruiz), San Diego, CA 92126

Sponsored by the San Diego Food Bank http://www.sandiegofoodbank.org

For more information, or to see if you qualify for food assistance, call the San Diego Food Bank toll free at 1-866-350-3663.

Mira Mesa Planning Group I-15 DAR Project Update

I went to the Mira Mesa Community Planning Group’s monthly meeting expecting to hear from the representatives from Caltrans, SANDAG, and the construction companies that will be taking part in the construction of the Direct Access Ramp (DAR) project scheduled to be located at the east end of Hillery Drive and the 15 freeway. We also heard from many Mira Mesa residents, Walker Elementary Principal Rochelle Dawes, and our own Mira Mesa Town Council President Jeff Stevens voice their concerns about the project.

The meeting began with the election of the new Chairperson for the Planning Group, Linda Geldner, who took the reigns from Ted Brengel after his 10 year run as chairman was forced to step down due to term limitations. John Horst was also elected as the new Secretary of the Planning Group. Linda wasted no time taking over and leading the meeting which featured a presentation from Andrew Rice, the project manager from Caltrans.

This is a very complex project, which will feature a new Mira Mesa Transit Station, parking structure, and access to the HOV lanes on the adjacent 15 freeway. Access will only be from the Mira Mesa side of the 15, while Scripps Ranch residents will have to venture into Mira Mesa to use the new ramp. This 75 million dollar project will begin a series of studies prior to construction, which is slated for 2012. The ramp structure will be similar to the recently completed one located in Rancho Bernardo and the 15 freeway.

The benefits of the project are to reduce traffic, promote carpooling through the use of the HOV lanes, and establish a new Transit Station for bus use. Although affecting the immediate surrounding areas on Hillery Drive and Walker Elementary, the long term function of the ramp is supposed to alleviate congestion to the major on/off ramps at Mira Mesa Blvd and Carroll Canyon Road. The key word used during the presentation was “Traffic Calming” suggesting the addition of the ramp would direct some of the traffic through this alternate route rather than having all of the traffic using Mira Mesa Blvd. as the only way to the freeway.

There was a study suggesting either Hillery Drive, Galvin Drive, or a No-Build plan, to determine the projected traffic issues in the next 20 years. The determination of the report was that the Hillery Drive location was the preferred option.

As you would imagine, this report was met with a lot of opposition. Long time Hillery Residents believe that creating this Transit Station and Parking Structure will greatly present risks to the children attending Walker Elementary, and the traffic volume will become intolerable. Many suggested the surrounding streets already pose a public safety issue. Others brought up the need for an exit strategy in the event of a major fire or other catastrophe.

The largest complaint from residents in the area was their lack of notification about the DAR report itself. There didn’t seem to be any direct mailing to notify the residents about prior meetings to gather their opinions and concerns. Caltrans placed ads in the newspaper and reported the results from the groups that showed up to these meetings.
The request from the Board of the Planning Group is for the community to get involved and attend future meetings. Chairperson Geldner requested that Caltrans research the questions asked at this meeting and provide more detailed answers at the next meeting.

You can learn more about this project by visiting the Caltrans website at www.keepsandiegomoving.com

If you would like to contact Project Manager Andrew Rice, you may email him at: Andrew.Rice@dot.ca.gov

You can access the 500+ page DAR report by clicking this link.

Please attend the next Mira Mesa Planning Group meeting. Use this link to find out the time, date, and location of the next meeting, usually the 3rd Monday each month at the Mira Mesa Library. Venue may change depending on the projected attendance.

We want to know your opinion of the I-15 DAR project. Do you support the Hillery Drive location, or do you have a better suggestion? Why do you oppose this project, and what questions would you like answered by Caltrans at the next meeting? This is a great way to have your voice heard. Share your thoughts with the community. Use the comments box below to voice your opinion.

Mira Mesa Farmers Market Grand Opening

The Mira Mesa Farmers Market is now Open for Business! We had a great turn out for the opening day of the farmers market, which will be held in front of Mira Mesa High School every Tuesday from 3-7 PM. The variety of vendors at the farmers market was fantastic, and it will only get better.

You could find everything from; custom glassware, jewelry, fresh fish, certified organic produce, and a variety of tasty food served up hot and fresh. The curry brats were awesome, and I plan on trying the crepes and mini donuts at the next one. The vendors were as excited to be here as we were to load up on their unique products.

The Mira Mesa High Marching Band provided the entertainment during a beautiful sunny day, and I was proud to introduce the people responsible for bringing the Farmers Market to Mira Mesa during the Opening Ceremony. This would not have happened without the combined efforts of: Brian Wissinger-resident and Treasurer of the Mira Mesa Chamber of Commerce, Scott Giusti-Principal of Mira Mesa High School, Kathy Madsen-President of the Mira Mesa High School Foundation, Jennifer Kvalvik-Mira Mesa High Employer Outreach Specialist , and Ron LaChance who is the manager of the Mira Mesa Farmers Market.

The success of the Mira Mesa Farmers Market relies upon the community supporting this each week. Spread the word, and tell your friends about our newest addition to the Mira Mesa Community. This is one of the most exciting things to happen to Mira Mesa recently, and the response has been overwhelming. Look for the street signs each Tuesday to remind you to stop by on your way home, or carpool with the members of your office and get some great fresh produce at very reasonable prices. It is fun for the whole family, so make plans to attend the Mira Mesa Farmers Market next Tuesday.

To find out more about the Farmers Market, visit the website at www.miramesafarmersmarket.com

Mira Mesa High School Senior Exhibition Panel Needed

Business Community, we need your help! Every senior is required to participate in a Senior Exhibition in order to graduate.  This is an opportunity for seniors to highlight their knowledge, skills, interests and experience at Mira Mesa High School and to show how their high school experience fits into their future goals.  The seniors will present before a panel made up of a teacher, business or community member and a parent.  We will also have junior students sitting on various panels as well to familiarize them with the process for the following year.

We are asking for a few hours of your time to participate on a Senior Exhibition Panel.  Senior Exhibitions will be held June 2, 2009 from approximately 12:45 to 3:50 PM. We assure you a pleasant afternoon.  Lunch will be provided prior to the start of the exhibitions.  If you are able to assist, please fill out the form below and return to Jennifer Kvalvik, Employer Outreach Specialist in the counseling center or call 566-2262 ext. 2161.  Thanks for your continued support.  Additional information will be provided in mid May.

Thank You

Jennifer Kvalvik
Employer Outreach Specialist
Please return the bottom portion

Mira Mesa High School
SENIOR EXHIBITIONS
Yes, I would be happy to serve on a Senior Exhibition Panel on June 2, 2009

Your Name___________________________________________________________

Business Name________________________________________________________

E-Mail Address ___________________________________________

Address             _____________________________

City and Zip       _____________________________

Phone Number: _____________________________

Fax confirmation to: 858-549-9541

Please return to:

Mira Mesa High School

10510 Reagan Rd

San Diego, Ca 92126

Attention Jennifer Kvalvik

CalTrans to attend Mira Mesa Planning Group Meeting April 20th

The Mira Mesa Community Planning Group Meeting  will be held at Challenger Middle School, April 20 at 7P.M. to discuss the planned Direct Access Ramp to I-15 from Hillery Drive.

Caltrans has released a “Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment with Finding of No Significant Impact” for its proposed direct access ramp from Hillery Drive to the new I-15 Managed Lanes currently under construction.  The purpose of the proposed ramp is to provide direct vehicular access to the I-15 Managed Lanes facility for buses, HOVs and FasTrak users, from Hillery Drive; this will allow buses, HOVs, and FasTrak users to bypass the existing congested freeway interchange at Mira Mesa Blvd.

The proposed Hillery Drive overcrossing would be located in the center of Hillery Drive, approximately 170 m (558 ft) east of the Hillery Drive/Westview Parkway intersection (behind the Home Depot), and would cross an existing access road and parking area of the Legacy Apartment complex to I-15.

At the next Mira Mesa Community Planning Group meeting, Caltrans will present their Environmental Impact Report, showing that they believe that the Hillery Drive ramp “will have no significant impact on the human environment.”  All interested parties should be in attendance to hear the presentation and ask questions. For a copy of the Environmental Impact Report, click on this link.

Mira Mesa Community Planning Group
Monthly Meeting
Monday, April 20, 2009 – 7 PM
Challenger Middle School
10810 Parkdale Avenue

This Meeting Will Be Open To The Public.

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