2012 Aug-Sep - Rolando Community Council

Volume 5, No. 4
Aug. 2012-Sept. 2012
The
A Publication of the Rolando Community Council
RCC INVITES ALL TO CONCERT IN PARK!
By Aimee Lee Cheek
Gone Tomorrow is a-comin’ back soon!
The Rolando Community Council has arranged for
Rolando’s favorite bluegrass band to perform its third annual summer concert in Clay Park on Saturday, August
25, 5-7 p.m. The concert is free to all. It’s a chance for
neighbors to spread out lawn chairs and picnic baskets under
cooling shades, strum their fingers, tap their toes, and try out
those dancin’ feet.
“It’s our passion to play bluegrass at its best,” said Richard
Burkett, a 17-year-resident of Rolando and founder of the fiveLast year’s Rolando summer concert.
man group. Reflective of the band’s versatility, he promised,
“We’ll play two hours of classic and contemporary, bluegrass, Texas swing, country and original music.”
Since its inception in 2001, Gone Tomorrow has earned an enviable reputation for its musicianship, range,
humor and sheer enjoyableness. The band has performed all over Southern California, often opening for other well-known groups such as David Parmley & Continental Divide and the Southern Grass. Its local performances include the Rolando Street Fair, San Diego Roots Festival and three times at Summergrass, the premier bluegrass festival held each year in August at the Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum in Vista. It even
accompanied the San Diego Dance Theatre at the San Diego Museum of Art.
Gone Tomorrow members all boast broad experience. Burkett, who in his other life is a ceramics professor
in the San Diego State University art department, has played bluegrass for over 30 years, beginning in bands
in Indiana before moving to California. He plays mandolin “most of the time,” and sings high harmony and a
few leads.
Steve Dame , the only other remaining original member of the group, has played banjo and fiddle with a
wide variety of bluegrass bands and at major regional events. His “driving banjonic force” and strong vocals,
Burkett said, “are at the heart of the Gone Tomorrow sound.”
Fiddler Don Hickox, for several decades part of the San Diego bluegrass scene and a member of Burkett’s
1990’s band Rose Canyon, displays the influences of diverse musicians and styles from bluegrass master fiddler Kenny Baker to Irish fiddle tunes.
Dale Desmuke, a veteran who learned his chops in Texas honkytonks, is a rhythm guitarist with a big voice
and encyclopedic knowledge of songs.
Dwight Warden, bassist, besides also playing in other well-known local bands, is president of the San Diego
Bluegrass Society and a board member of the International Bluegrass Music Association.
“We’re inspired by a wide range of bands,” Burkett said. The spectrum extends from the contemporary
sound of Alison Krauss and Union Station to Bob Wills and the Texas playboys, and then from Bela Fleck and
the Flecktones to Bill Monroe, the father of bluegrass music.
RCC is honored to again host these distinguished musicians. Please join us as the sun fades into evening
shadows. The music is hot but the park is not (very).
RCC Coming Events
Summer Concert in Clay Park — Saturday, Aug. 25, 5:00-7:00PM
Next RCC Meeting — Tuesday, Sept. 18, 7:00PM — Henry Clay School Auditorium
“Plans for the Site at 63rd and El Cajon Blvd” w/ Carmel Partners, owner/developer
Fall Fest Community Barbeque in Clay Park — Saturday, Sept. 22, 3:00-6:00PM
www.rolandocommunitycouncil.org
Page 1
COME TO RCC: PRESENTATION OF CENTREPOINT PLAN
Mark your calendars for the Sept. 18, 2012 Rolando Community Council meeting at 7:00 p.m. Dan
Garabaldi, senior vice-president of Carmel Partners, will discuss the new proposed development on the former CentrePoint site at 63rd Street and El Cajon Boulevard.
Carmel Partners, current owner
of the site, will be moving forward
on the development of a luxury
apartment project. It will consist of
332 luxury apartments and 10,000
square feet of retail space along El
Cajon Blvd. (artist rendering adjacent).
The project will feature a fourstory wood construction with concrete parking garage. It will have
resort-style amenities for residents,
including a fitness center, barbeque
islands, pool and full-sized outdoor
decks. Construction is anticipated
to begin in early 2013 with completion in 2014.
Representatives of the Rolando Community Council, along with Chris Pearson from Councilmember Marti
Emerald’s office, met with representatives of Carmel Partners to discuss a plan to work together to achieve
enhancements to Clay Park and protect available street parking for the public who utilize the park.
Members of the Rolando Community Council will work with Councilmember Emerald’s office and Carmel
Partners over the next several months to explore these issues.
www.rolandocommunitycouncil.org
Aug. 2012-Sept. 2012, Page 2
NEW RCC OFFICERS
By Aimee Lee Cheek
Think of gardens verdant just now with summer squash, Japanese eggplant, tomatoes like glistening globes
or golden teardrops, blackberries, basil greening an entire yard. Think of Rolando as a garden and the need to
seed useful activity and weed harmful activity. Meet the three new members of the Rolando Community
Council board who along with the three continuing board members and our generous volunteers will tend our
garden during the coming year.
RCC members at the June meeting elected David Clarke, second vice president; Anne Schoeller,
secretary; and Rene Sheldon, director. They join Eric Crockett, first vice president; Daniel Anderson, treasurer; and Supi Bhullar, director. The president’s office remains to be filled.
To their positions, the new officers bring varied interests and community service backgrounds. David
Clarke, a 10-year-resident of Rolando and owner of a landscape design firm, is a founding member and mainstay of the lamppost restoration committee (ROLP), volunteers with the Street Fair, and attends the College
Area BID. He especially enjoys working to clear and restore native plant habitat in San Diego canyons with
the volunteer Canyon Crusaders, in cooperation with the Park and Recreation Department.
Anne Schoeller has lived in Rolando 29 years. When RCC calls, she is there: publicity-co chair for the
Street Fair for more than 10 years; Rolando representative to the Eastern Area Community Planning Committee for eight years, nearly half of them as recording secretary; book sales and newsletter distribution; attendee at the School of Architecture and Urban Design project on Rolando; and, let us not forget, stalwart of
community clean-ups.
A new and enthusiastic Rolando homeowner, Rene Sheldon wore many leadership “hats” in her three decades as an educator: teacher, middle school counselor, vice-principal at two different middle schools, principal of a public charter school, and board member of a start-up charter in North County. An activist in her various communities, she supported, in particular, Mama’s Kitchens, Big Sisters and Rolling Readers.
More good news: Belinda Romero and Jennifer Spearel have stepped up to co-manage the RCC newsletter distribution.
To all these hearty volunteers in the Rolando garden, hurrah, hooray!
RCC BARBEQUE IN SEPTEMBER!
Everyone is invited to
Clay Park on Saturday,
September 22, 3:006:00 p.m., for the firstever RCC barbeque picnic. There will be free hot
dogs for all and a kid’s station for decorating cookies. This event is free of
charge. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to
bring a pot-luck dish, and
to meet and mingle with fellow Rolandians.
The barbeque has been planned by the RCC community events team, which collaborates and helps organize
neighborhood social events throughout the year.
Among these are the popular Rolando Nights Out,
which draw neighbors to local restaurants on the fourth
Thursday evening of every month. If you would like to
help with any event, join the committee, or receive updates, please contact Daniel Anderson, chairman of the
team, at [email protected].
www.rolandocommunitycouncil.org
Aug. 2012-Sept. 2012, Page 3
THIRTY-FIVE DOWN – 75 TO GO!
The Rolando Project to Restore Our Lamp Posts (ROLP)
finished painting 12 more lamp
posts on July 14, bringing our project total to 35.
ROLP’s fundraising news is
even better: With checks from
William King/Lisa Capper and Jamie Etheridge, ROLP exceeded its
$1,500 goal. Thank you, Rolando!!
This will buy paint and supplies
to finish the rest of the lamp posts
in the Village. Any donations received after this will
fund a neighborhood party to celebrate the completion of the project and thank the many volunteers.
For up-to-the-minute ROLP information, visit:
w w w . s i t e s . g o o g l e . c o m / s i t e /
rolandovillagelamppostsproject/ or call George
Danko at (619) 286-3830 or check out facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/RestoreOurLampPosts
Preserving the New Finish
ROLP asks that you help keep the newly restored
lamp posts shiny and pretty by resisting the urge to
tape signs on them (for example, lost-pet and garage
sale signs) and take down any you find (or move
them to the nearest palm). If you have a lamp post
in front of your house, you can further help them
stay new-looking if you hose off or wipe down the
base once a week or so, to remove the dog urine that
eats into the finish. (And dog owners are asked to
encourage Fido to lift his leg somewhere else!)
The Proposed Schedule (NOTE: We have Red
Door Church volunteers helping August 13–18,
which are weekdays)
♦ Sector E (67th Street): August 10 – 12
♦ Sectors F and G (Amherst and Lenore): August
13 – 18
♦ Sector H (Valencia): September 7 – 9
♦ Sector I (Shannon): October 12 – 14
www.rolandocommunitycouncil.org
Aug. 2012-Sept. 2012, Page 4
PUBLIC ART ON UNIVERSITY AVENUE
By Jerry Calderon
Something is happening in Rolando on University Avenue. Are we
getting a new burger outlet? Or – oh, I wish — maybe a new movie
theater? Sadly, no, or at least not yet. With Rolando Community
Council’s financial assistance and some talented folk, we are bringing
some color and art to the avenue!
The green utility boxes are being transformed from nondescript
monoliths to original and wonderful works of art. You may have
seen such painted boxes in neighborhoods like Hillcrest, North Park,
and on El Cajon Boulevard. Recently, Redwood Village undertook a
similar program under the guidance of Anna Orzel-Anita, their community council president. It looks fantastic. I contacted Anna and
the team leader, Jennifer Bennett, associate professor of art at Gross- Artist Victor Zepeda finishing the box at University and Rolando.
mont College, whose art students had done the painting, about the
possibilities for a like project on University. Together, Professor
Bennett and I drew up a funding proposal to purchase needed supplies and grant small subsidies to the artists, which we submitted to the RCC board.
I’m happy to announce that the project was approved and is now underway. Professor Bennett’s students
from Grossmont are bringing color and amusement to University between College and 67th Streets. The response from the community is very positive.
“I was driving by University and Rolando, and the artist was still painting the utility box there,” said Rolandian Pat Coffey. She continued, “It is gorgeous and I told him so. It has ‘ROLANDO’ in big block lettering on
it. It is the most beautiful painted utility box I have seen.”
“Tropical” is the project theme. If you think you see a fish out of water on University, it’s only a transformed utility box!
www.rolandocommunitycouncil.org
Aug. 2012-Sept. 2012, Page 5
www.rolandocommunitycouncil.org
Aug. 2012-Sept. 2012, Page 6
COMINGS AND GOINGS IN ROLANDO
Good neighbor. This past winter, there were two broken water meter covers across from Clay park. Bob
Arthur hadn’t really noticed it until Sassy, his beautiful red Belgian-Bred dog, moved unexpectedly and he fell
in. That started him on a long series of conversations with the San Diego Water Department, who came out &
placed barricades but later claimed not to be able to locate the problem. Much later, new covers were placed
and the sidewalk is safe again, thanks to Bob and Sassy.
Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop is preparing to open as this newsletter goes to press. It is situated in the
former Cutter’s Point location near Smashburger. Capriotti’s is a chain Italian deli that originated on the East
Coast in 1976 and now has locations in 12 states, including one in Mission Valley.
More new housing on El Cajon Blvd? Developers came to an RCC meeting in 2010 to share their
plans for an affordable housing project across El Cajon Blvd. next to the Lamplighter Motel. The project is
identified as Mesa Commons. Tight money has slowed their efforts, but they are persisting. The City Council
(acting as the Housing Authority) will be considering a $5 million loan from Housing Commission funds. No
general fund money is involved. The developer hopes to secure additional financing in time for a spring 2013
starting date.
Light up the Neighborhood. Rebuilding Together San Diego, in partnership with the City of San Diego,
is sponsoring the installation of an exterior solar light fixture free of charge to low-income home owners. The
fixture needs no wiring and is operated by a solar battery. Lighting up dark streets, one house at a time, can
deter crime and improve the whole neighborhood. To determine your eligibility, contact Rebuilding Together
at www.rebuildingtogetherSD.org or (619) 321-7873.
Seniors...Have you visited the JFS Cyber Café? It’s one offering of the College Avenue Center Social and
Wellness Programs for Adults 60+, located at 4855 College Ave. on the campus of Congregation Beth Jacob.
Its many services and programs are an arm of Jewish Family Services (JFS). The College Avenue Center, one
of three such centers in San Diego, welcomes seniors of all faiths. Many programs are free, including their
Cyber Café: Open Lab. Here tutors assist you to develop the skills and confidence to use technology effectively. Open Lab hours are Tuesdays & Thursdays from 9:30–11:30 a.m. and Fridays from 1:00–3:00 p.m. Stop
in or call (858) 637-3270 for more information. For an overview of JFS programs, see www.jfssd.org/site/
PageServer?pagename=programs_older_main. Click on “College Avenue Center” link on the left side.
How about dinner?
Breakfast M-Sat 7AM-11AM
Lunch 11AM-2PM, Sunday Brunch 9AM-2PM,
Bistro Dinner 5PM-9PM
Visit our Wine Bar
Happy hour wine specials.
Live music 6:00 p.m. Tuesday–Sunday.
5987 El Cajon Boulevard
San Diego, CA 92115
619-287-8186
Check our website: sandiegodesserts.net
www.rolandocommunitycouncil.org
Aug. 2012-Sept. 2012, Page 7
ROLANDO COMMUNITY SERVICES
The Rolando Community Services Section is an effort to help connect neighbors who offer home-based services to interested parties. Any Rolando Community Council members with services to offer are welcome to
submit their information free of charge. Email info to [email protected]. Let’s do business in our neighborhood when we can!
Dee Patty is opening Giggling Heights Daycare soon in her Rolando home. GHDC provides loving care
and creative play year round for your little ones. (619) 990-6511.
Jeff Wilson — Wilson Woodscape. Full service landscape construction company specializing in decks,
fences and patio covers. License 945974. Contact Jeff Wilson (619) 838-1398.
David Clarke — Water-wise Landscape and Garden Design. Design of low water Mediterranean-type
residential landscapes (specializing in California native plants). Email [email protected] or call
(619) 582-3752.
Jolyne L. Harris — PhotOptions Photography. At your location within San Diego and portable studio
available. Visit www.facebook.com/PhotOptions Email [email protected] or call (619) 582-2606.
Amy Zink — Edible Garden Consultant/ Coach. Design solutions and education for a thriving and productive edible landscape. Visit www.greenpeagardens-sd.com or call (619) 300-0713.
Wenonah Wilcox — Board certified acupuncturist. Special discount for Rolando neighbors. Patients
seen in home office and available for house-calls. (619) 261-4570.
Brenda King, RN, CPT — Integrative Fitness Nursing. Licensed RN fitness expert offering effective
solutions to maximize fitness goals, reduce your waistline and restore health. Visit
www.integrativefitnessnursing.com or call (619) 200-1911.
Patty Delgadillo — Certified Trainer and Massage Therapist. Teaches lifestyle changes in diet, exercise and daily activities to achieve fitness goals. (619) 865-3880.
Aleah Cohen — Teen Babysitter. Energetic, responsible and fun. CPR and First Aid certified. Is available to babysit for your children. (619) 246-7993.
www.rolandocommunitycouncil.org
Aug. 2012-Sept. 2012, Page 8