Coronado Common Sense

Teddy Bears For Rady Hospital Collected At Law Enforcement Night

 

 
Coronado Police Commander Mike Lawton, Chopper the Biker Dog and Coronado Councilwoman Barbara Denny at Law Enforcement Night on Tuesday, August 30th.

 

Last night was the Law Enforcement Night at the Chick-fil-A  restaurant on Sports Arena Boulevard in Point Loma. The community was invited to attend the event by all five Chick-fil-A restaurants in San Diego. This was the second year that the restaurants partnered with San Diego Regional Law Enforcement agencies to collect teddy bears for Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego. Attendees who brought new teddy bears to the event were rewarded with a free Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich meal or a Chick-fil-A Nuggets meal.

 

The Teddy Bear Drive was started by Coronado Police Officer Brian Hardy in December 1990. This year's San Diego Regional Law Enforcement Teddy Bear Drive will be held on December 13th, beginning at the USS Midway and ending at Rady Children's Hospital.

 

Law Enforcement Night included family-friendly activities and appearances by law enforcement personnel and police vehicles and equipment. Children also had the opportunity to take pictures with the Chick-fil-A “Eat Mor Chikin” Cows.

 

Councilwoman Barbara Denny, Coronado Police Officer Jason Hurley and Commander Mike Lawton at Law Enforcement Night.

 

Here's an entertaining video—showing some of the tactics utilized by the San Diego Police Department S.W.A.T. (Special Weapons and Tactics) Team—that you might enjoy.

 

 

 

San Diego Boy Throwing Rocks Pierced By Arrow

SAN DIEGO—August 30, 2011— San Diego police say a 16-year-old boy throwing rocks at a sport utility vehicle was struck by a crossbow arrow fired by a passenger.

Police say the shirtless boy and a friend were throwing rocks at a black Toyota RAV4 in the Linda Vista neighborhood Monday afternoon when a passenger fired a crossbow out the window.

The boy was shot in the right side and was taken to a hospital. The San Diego Union-Tribune says his injuries are not life-threatening.

His name wasn't released.

Nobody has been arrested.

Source: The Associated Press

 

EDITOR'S NOTE: Moral of the story: Don't throw rocks at people holding crossbows.

U.S. Border Patrol Agents Seize $567K Of Narcotics At Two San Diego County Checkpoints

 

SAN DIEGO — August 25, 2011—U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to San Diego Border Patrol checkpoints foiled two drug smuggling attempts yesterday resulting in the seizure of $419,000 worth of heroin and $148,000 of methamphetamine.

 

At approximately 1 p.m., agents encountered two Mexican nationals, a 40-year-old male and 37-year-old female, as they arrived at the Interstate 8 checkpoint near Pine Valley, in a gray 2006 Ford F-350 pickup.  During inspection, agents became suspicious of the occupants’ nervous demeanor and referred them for a secondary inspection.

 

A Border Patrol K-9 team performed a cursory inspection of the vehicle resulting in a positive alert to the undercarriage.  Agents searched the truck and discovered 15 bundles of heroin hidden in the front differential and transfer case.  The heroin had a total weight of 34.94 pounds and an estimated street value of $419,000.      

 

Border Patrol agents stopped another drug smuggling attempt earlier in the day at about noon at the State Route 94 checkpoint near Jamul.  Agents seized 7.4 pounds of methamphetamine after a Border Patrol K-9 team alerted to the rear of a white 1996 Ford Mustang driven by a 19-year-old male United States citizen.   Agents searched the vehicle and found 14 bundles of methamphetamine hidden in the rear spoiler.  The total estimated street value of the narcotics is $148,000.    

 

The three suspected smugglers and drugs were taken into custody and subsequently turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for further investigation.  The Ford F-350 and Mustang were seized by the U.S. Border Patrol.

 

To prevent illicit smuggling of humans, drugs, and other contraband, the U.S. Border Patrol maintains a high level of vigilance on major corridors of egress away from our nation’s borders.  Since October 1, 2010, San Diego Sector Border Patrol agents have seized more than 66,350 pounds of marijuana, 1,729 pounds of cocaine, and 393 pounds of methamphetamine.

 

- CBP -

 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry.  CBP is charged with keeping dangerous people and capabilities out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

New Commodore Takes Command of Helicopter Sea Combat Wing Pacific

 

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (August 26, 2011) – Capt. Shoshana Chatfield assumed command of Helicopter Sea Combat Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet (HSCWP) today, relieving Capt. Michael D. Horan during a Change of Command Ceremony at Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island.

HSCWP oversees two fleet replacement squadrons, one weapons school, and ten operational anti-submarine and sea combat squadrons located at NAS North Island, Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan, and Andersen Air Force Base, Guam.  The wing staff, comprised of 75 military and civilian personnel, manages the administrative, operational and training requirements of more than 3,400 military personnel and 131 helicopters.  

Chatfield, a 1983 graduate of Pacifica High School in Garden Grove, Calif., previously served as the wing’s deputy commander. 

The ceremony also marked the retirement of Horan after 25 years of naval service.

Horan, son of Thomas and Mary Horan of Mountain View, Calif., is a 1986 graduate of the University of California. Commissioned via Aviation Officer Candidate School, he was designated a Naval Aviator in October 1987.                            

Throughout his career, Horan has flown more than 4,000 flight hours with more than 3,400 hours in the H-60F/H “Seahawk” helicopter.  He previously commanded Helicopter Anti Submarine Squadron Two and supported tsunami relief operations in Sumatra, Indonesia in 2004.

 

In December 2005, he served on an Individual Augmentation assignment in Afghanistan where he commanded Joint Provincial Reconstruction Team – Farah from February 2006 to April 2007 in support of NATO’s International Security Assistance Forces and Operation Enduring Freedom. 

Horan is married to the former Terri A. Lee of Saratoga, Calif. They have two teenagers: Sean and Maria.

 

-USN-

 

News Release from Public Affairs / Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet

Mother Gives Birth In Pool At Sea World

 

SeaWorld on Friday announced the birth of an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin in San Diego. After a 12-month gestation period, the calf was born to a 31-year-old mother in a pool behind the scenes at the marine-themed park on Mission Bay.

 

Read "New dolphin joins the crowd at SeaWorld", written by Mike Lee in the San Diego Union-Tribune, for the rest of the story.

NEXCOM To Present Bingham Award To NASNI Navy Exchange And Commanding Officer

Naval Air Station North Island, Calif. - The Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) will present the 2010 Bingham Award to the Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI) Navy Exchange and Naval Base Coronado Commanding Officer during a ceremony here, August 31 at 8:30 a.m.

The award recognizes facilities within the Navy Exchange system that successfully reach or surpass sales goals and demonstrate superior customer service. There are five categories for the Bingham Awards, based on the size of the facility, with the smallest category starting at $97,000 in annual sales and the largest category capping at $85+ million. The NASNI NEX took the number one spot in 2010 in the Sales Category 2 with sales approaching $72 million, a 13 percent increase over last year.

Proceeds from the Navy Exchange System benefit service members through Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) quality-of-life programs. In 2010, the Navy Exchange System provided more than $840,000 in dividends to MWR.

The store's 171 employees, who work in areas from cash registers to selling food in the food court, met or exceeded all of the criteria for receiving the coveted award.

The award marks the 7th Bingham Award the NASNI exchange has received since 2000.

The Bingham Award is named after Capt. W. H. Bingham. In 1945, Bingham was appointed by the Secretary of the Navy to lead an advisory board for the establishment of the Navy Exchange system. Bingham was a chief executive of the R. H. Macy Company, the owner of the Macy's Department Stores. In 1979, the Bingham Award program was established to recognize outstanding performance in customer service and exchange operations worldwide.

- USN -

 

Source: Naval Base Coronado Public Affairs Office

County Agriculture Grows Despite Ailing Economy

 

The 2010 Crop Statistics and Annual Report released by the San Diego County Department of Agriculture, Weights & Measures (AWM) shows the value of agriculture increased 7 percent over 2009 figures. By contrast, 2009 figures were down slightly from the year before. While many local industries are struggling to stay afloat during these hard times, agriculture remains not only a steadying force in the economy but a growing one as well.

 

 

 

 

Source: County of San Diego

Sing, Talk And Share Books With Your Children

 

Children start learning to read the day they're born, and every experience establishes new brain connections. If your child grows up in a stimulating nurturing environment, it increases the childs ability to learn by 25%. That's why a child's early years are especially important. To raise a reader, take time each day to sing, talk or share a book with your child.

 

 

 

Toddler Storytime is:  

 

• A time for you and your toddler to participate and interact  

 

• Books, stories, rhymes, music and movement  

 

• 20 minutes of fun!

 

 

Here are some perfect books for toddlers:

 

Big Fat Hen - Keith Baker

 

Brown Bear Brown Bear - Bill Martin

 

Down By the Station - Jennifer Vetter

 

Eyes Nose Fingers and Toes - Judy Hidley

 

I Love Bugs - Emma Dodd

 

I Love Trucks - Philemon Sturges

 

I Went Walking - Sue Williams

 

If You're Hoppy - April Sayre

 

Little Quack - Lauren Thompson

 

Maisy Goes on Vacation - Lucy Cousins

 

Miranda's Beach Day - Holly Keller

 

The Very Hungry Caterpillar - Eric Carle

 

We've All Got Bellybuttons - David Martin

 

 

 

Ellenjoy Weber, Coronado Public Library

Letter to the Editor: New Helicopter Squadrons

 

There are 4 new helicopter squadrons coming to NAS North Island with about 50 additional helos, according to a recent Union Tribune article. The Navy says it will have NO environmental impact here in Coronado.    DUH! 

 
There is already an impact with the helos flying down the beach or along ocean breakers near the beach to qualify as "flying over the ocean ", when it is against the flight rules for both of these procedures under "visual conditions" (VFR), unless practicing an instrument approach to NAS. There are RULES that are not being adhered to and the NAS Tower is not exercising their authority to properly control the aircraft in the local area. I have spent time at the Shores apartments and the helos fly down the beach and along the ocean breakers there as well to the end of runway 29. Their standard approach is not to the end of runway 29, but to intersection of runway 29 and 18 at angle of about 30 degrees to the beach from over the ocean, and then to their hangar. If the helos made a straight route from their practice field at Imperial Beach to runway 29/18 intersection, instead of down the beach, they would be well over the ocean all the way.

 
It is also dangerous to fly over beachgoers at low altitude when they sometimes number in the hundreds should an engine or tail rotor fail, which does happen.

 
People living along the beach have a right to complain to the NAS Commanding Officer, if they find the "unauthorized helo flight procedures" interfering with their home environment . . . unnecessary noise!

 
Earle Callahan, CDR USN(Ret), x-naval aviator at NASNI

225 Orange Avenue Townhomes Become Affordable Housing

 

225 Orange Avenue in Coronado, California recently was mentioned in San Diego Architectural Foundation's "Orchids & Onions". The SDAF wrote:

 

"225 Orange Avenue, Coronado, California This residential building was built in 1963 in Coronado, California. During this time, replication of prototypical residential buildings was common. As a result, neighborhood character or livability issues were not considered. The windowless building façade and stark appearance was uncharacteristic of this traditional neighborhood. The City of Coronado acquired these six townhomes as affordable housing but soon realized the design shortcomings and the eyesore they had become. It was imperative to restore the neighborhood and develop strategies for the renewing the building. San Diego Interfaith Housing Foundation, a non-profit developer, along with Rodriguez Associates Architects & Planners were chosen for the renovation and restoration. The first step was to redesign street and alley facades with new windows, porches, balconies and front doors. It was important that the building restored a presence along Orange Avenue with new windows and doors. A wood picket fence greets the visitor and establishes the first point of transition. A townhome front door was relocated to face the street. A large porch was added to the front yard serving as a second transition. Side yard entries are linked to the front yard with a brick walk and archway. Similar design concepts activate the alley with a new pedestrian walk, balcony and windows. Human connections to the community were essential. The renovation recalls a Craftsman style, which is very prominent in Coronado. This architecture compliments established homes and is reminiscent of the city’s history. The townhomes were renovated with smart growth and Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design principals. New green materials and communication technologies were installed. The emphasis on new doors, windows, balconies and porches create natural surveillance and promote ownership of outdoor spaces, improving neighborhood security. Overall, the project has restored a lost part of city to the citizens of Coronado and enhanced the street scene along Orange Avenue."

 

The Project Owner/ Developer was listed as  San Diego Interfaith Housing Foundation. The owner being Jonathan Taylor and the Project Architect/ Designer was Carlos Rodriguez.

 

Coronado Common Sense would like to share the before & after photos with you so you'll know what you're looking for next time you drive by!

 

225 Orange Avenue "before" photo of front elevation

 

"After" view

 

Street view

 

Rear elevation "before"

 

New view from alley

 

Interior view

 

Kitchen view

 

Comments written on the Orchids & Onions site are all anonymous so it's difficult to know if it's really a cross-section of the community. A couple of the commenters made the observation that a "Craftsman" without history is not a good idea, though others loved it.