Oct. 2012-Nov. 2012

The

A Publication of the Rolando Community Council

Volume 5, No. 5

Page 1 www.rolandocommunitycouncil.org

October & November RCC Meetings Conversation with Henry Clay Elementary School Principal — Tuesday, October 16

To Be Announced — Tuesday, November 20 Henry Clay Elementary School Auditorium – 6506 Solita

Social gathering at 6:30, Meetings start at 7:00 p.m.

BOO! ON EL CAJON BLVD.

Hallowe’en! Ghoulies and ghosties, long-leggedity beasties, and things that go bump in the night! Yikes! It’s the Boulevard BOO! Parade & Carnival, the city’s only Hallowe’en- themed parade! It’s coming, it’s coming, it’s coming (spooky music) Saturday, Oct. 27. The parade – floats, vintage cars, equestrian entries, costumed characters, bands and more -- starts at 10 a.m. at 59th St. and El Cajon, and lumbers up the Boule-vard to the heart of Rolando at Rolando Blvd. Look for this year’s RCC float en-try! It’s always one of the best! The Carnival begins at 11 a.m in Clay Park. This action packed carnival includes bone chilling kid's rides, games, and live entertainment. Great food, crafts and Mr. BOO!'s Pub & Grill. For all you ghosts and goblins get a jump-start on your trick-or-treating! Enjoy safe family treats, costumed characters, with the return of the fun and spooky Haunted Pumpkin Patch. Stroll through the fantastic Land of "BOO!" where kids enjoy free face painting and balloon art. There will be a kids costume contest, canine costume contest, great prizes, and give a-ways too. The College Area Business District produces the event. City and county governments, RCC and other local businesses and organizations sponsor it. Check out the website www.collegeareabid.com/boo/boo-halloween-carnival.htm for up-to-date information on events and street closures and scenes from past Halloweens. RCC will have a booth at the carnival. Walk on over after the parade, meet your neighbors and learn about the Ro-lando Community Council and the tricks and treats we have in store this year!

Oct. 2012-Nov. 2012, Page 2 www.rolandocommunitycouncil.org

Now it can be told. Rolando has a wizard! Fred Crone, artist of the outrageous, for months has been stirring ideas in his cauldron to cook up yet another fabulous float to represent the Rolando Community Council in this year’s BOO! Parade. Remember the fantastic moving and singing Pumpkin Heads, the prize-winning RCC float last year? Well, wizards don’t rest on their lau-rels or broomsticks. Even before the action hero and pink princess cos-tumes had been stored away in our closets, Fred and his magic pen started on another fiendishly complex design for this year’s RCC entry – the Curse of the Mummy! Crone, a long-time Rolando resident and art graduate of San Diego State University, always was interested in graphics and illustrations and always had a keen sense of humor. But not until he worked with the res-taurant corporation that included Carlos Murphy’s with its funny props on the walls did he fully realize the possibilities of combining the two. In 2005, when the parades began and RCC jumped in as a participant, he designed the first RCC float for the BOO! Since then, Fred, together with associate wizards Bob Jertberg, on whose big truck body the float rests, Doug Lister and Natalie Cohen, annually has produced ever more ingenious exhibitions of Rolando’s antic spirits. This year Daniel Anderson and other members of the Red Door church helped out with the painting. It’s a big job to assemble all the pieces, and Crone and RCC would be glad to have more hands in-volved. Probably not many people you know have a mural of four monkeys painted on the living room ceiling. Fred does, painted by himself, as you would suspect. “See no evil, hear no evil, do no evil,” three say. Truly wizard-like, the fourth says: “Think What You Want.” See if you can figure out who the mummy is!

ROLANDO’S WIZARD By Aimee Lee Cheek

Fred Crone poses with his creation!

www.rolandocommunitycouncil.org

If you left your heart with the easy ambiance and sophisticated bar fare available in the San Francisco Bay area, take heart! The aptly named Bridges – Bar, Grill, Bay (4800 Art Street in the 6400 block of El Cajon Boulevard) aspires to be Rolando and San Diego’s an-swer to the foggy beauty to the north. Owners Salvatore Palma and Dr. Nathan Ford have set October 6 for Bridges’ grand opening. “Our aim is to be the best overall value in town,” Sal says, “and to create a casual and quality dining experience.” Bridges is the first venture into the restaurant business for the two, whose close friend-ship stretches back to childhood in Monterey, rooming together at University of San Diego, and eventually settling here, Sal in business and as a realtor and Nate as a physician/surgeon. Their plans are large: chef-prepared dishes ranging from burgers and salads to Grilled Artichoke Clam Chowder and Crab Louie, wines from Monterey, Napa and Sonoma, an indoor/outdoor setting complete with three roll-up doors leading to an expansive patio with fire pit, 22 high-definition TVs set to show professional sports, moderate prices and happy hour plus a daily special. “Bridges” refers to the eight major spans connecting the northern, southern, eastern and western cities of the San Francisco Bay area. It is reflected in the architectural transformations of the space formerly occupied by Casa Machado from comfy to cool, incorporating primarily concrete and reclaimed wood surfaces with steel and reclaimed wood furniture and fixtures. Having encountered other transplants and admirers of “The Bay” over the years, Nate and Sal hope to “RE-connect” them in San Diego. Executive chef Miguel Deer has over 20 years of culinary experience beginning as a Sous Chef with the Cohn Restaurant Group and holding several executive chef positions at well regarded restaurants in San Diego. Manager Craig Cordes also boasts more than twenty years in the food and hotel industries. While it will “definitely be a place to come to enjoy a game,” Nate asserts, Bridges hopes to go beyond the “Sports Bar” label. Rather, “we are trying to take full advantage of the neighborhood’s incredible year-round climate and prove a very open and airy space.” Join other Rolandians to partake of the “Rolando Night Out” gathering at Bridges on October 25. See the Rolando Nights Out article (page 7) for details!

Oct. 2012-Nov. 2012, Page 3

BRIDGES ON ART STREET? By Aimee Lee Cheek

Have you walked past our park lately? Take a look at this. Keith Selby, area park manager, indicates that this

is one of two new signs. The other is at Colina Park. Thanks for all you do for our community Keith!

Oct. 2012-Nov. 2012, Page 4 www.rolandocommunitycouncil.org

ROLP UPDATE

Due to the discovery that several lamp posts are structurally unsound, the volunteer effort to restore Rolando Lamp Posts has been halted by the city. But there is a silver lining. Marti Emerald’s office has brokered an agreement that the city will step up to repair or replace the damaged poles and complete the painting project. City concerns centered around volunteer safety and city liability. Three cheers….. for the ROLP efforts, Marti’s office, and city govern-ment! The ROLP goal to restore the Rolando lamp-posts will be met. A Rolandian posted the following on the Restore Our Lamp Posts facebook site. We couldn’t put it better: Thank you SOOO much to everyone who worked so hard on this project. It just shows what fantastic neighbors we have here in Rolando and what everyone can do when working together. Hopefully the city will deliver on their promise. In the meantime, it sounds like we should focus our efforts on a new project in our community. Any ideas? Check out the ROLP website w w w . s i t e s . g o o g l e . c o m / s i t e /rolandovillagelamppostsproject/. Contact Rolando Community Council with your ideas at david-clarke1@cox.net.

www.rolandocommunitycouncil.org Oct. 2012-Nov. 2012, Page 5

Community building in Rolando involves many accomplishing much, as an organization and as individuals. The Rolando Community Council was formed many years ago to bring neighbors together to improve the quality of life in Rolando. Our events and activities are designed to build the neighborhood connections so important for safety and a sense of small-town community where neighbors know and care about each other. While many events — like the Summer Concert in the Park, Community BBQ and Holiday Party — are free to the public, activities like the street fair, book sales, newsletter advertisements, and membership fees also raise the funds that support our work to strengthen the community. This past year, RCC direct community enhancement grants ranged from capital improvements in the neighborhood — Restore our Lamp Posts (ROLP) and painting of utility boxes along University Avenue — to efforts to improve safety and promote Rolando to the wider neighborhood. Additionally, RCC designated $8,000 to support other non-profit entities that benefit our community and improve the lives of individual Rolandians. Grant recipients were Clay School, the Center for the Blind, Meals on Wheels, Rolando Little League, Chollas Summer Camp Scholarship Fund, Young Audiences of San Diego, Moxie Theatre, College Area Business Improvement District, and the BOO! Parade and Rolando Home Tour, both of which we co-sponsor. This outreach to groups that contribute to our strength and vitality is an RCC tradition of longstanding. Over the past 15 years, RCC has contributed a total of $79,000 to non-profit groups. But it’s individual Rolandians whom we recognize as the real building blocks of this community. It’s Ler-issa Patrick, who led the ROLP effort. It’s Fred Crone, the creative and construction talent behind our BOO! Parade float. It’s Jerry Calderone, who took the initiative to generate the utility box project. It’s Cheryl Ades, who masterminded the newsletter delivery effort. It’s Doug Lister, who organizes the book sale each month. It’s Sue Watson, who has taken leadership to bring her neighbors together to address safety concerns. And it’s so many others who support these and other efforts. It’s each of you, every time you reach out to build rela-tionships with your neighbors and lend a helping hand when needed. ROLANDO CARES! Join in our activities. Show your support by mailing in your membership. If you are not on our confidential e-mail list to get late-breaking neighborhood news, send your address to hintz-man@cox.net.

BUILDING COMMUNITY, HOUSEHOLD BY HOUSEHOLD By Jan Hintzman

November 6, 2012 is election day. Your vote counts. If you have not registered to vote and are a U.S. citizen, resident of California, and 18 years of age or older on November 6, 2012 you are eligible to vote. But you must register. If you have changed your name, moved to a new permanent residence or wish to change your political party choice, you need to re-register. To register or re-register with new information, your registration must be postmarked by October 22, 2012. You can register on-line at http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_vr.htm or pick up a voter registration form at a public library or U.S. Post Office.

www.rolandocommunitycouncil.org Oct. 2012-Nov. 2012, Page 6

Oct. 2012-Nov. 2012, Page 7 www.rolandocommunitycouncil.org

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 all night.

Live music 6:00 p.m. Tuesday–Sunday.

5987 El Cajon Boulevard

San Diego, CA 92115 619-287-8186

Check our website: sandiegodesserts.net

COMINGS AND GOINGS IN ROLANDO

Rolando Activities. The 2012 Summer Concert and Fall Fest Community BBQ in Clay Park are now his-tory. The many attendees heartily enjoyed themselves! Don’t miss the coming BOO! parade and carnival.

CentrePoint Site at 63rd and El Cajon Blvd. has a new developer. Carmel Partners presented their plans for the site at the September RCC meeting. The project includes retail space along El Cajon Blvd. and a 332 unit luxury apartment complex. Work on site preparation has already begun. Completion is expected in 2014.

Garden Fresh Grill and Smoothies (in the Von’s Shopping Center) has new owners. Brothers Waseem and Martin Isho are now operating the business. Stop by and say, “Hello!” We wish the former owner, Sammy Elasaad, the best and thank him for his support of Rolando.

Station 10 Firefighters invite you to their fire station open house “HAVE TWO WAYS OUT” on Wednes-day, October 10 at Fire Station 10 (4605 62nd Street behind the Vons shopping center) from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. There will be free stuff for the kids and important safety information for you, in addition to a tour of the fire station and equipment.

The Headquarters Café has opened at 58th and El Cajon Blvd. Are you up at 6 AM...or need nourish-ment before 2 AM? Headquarters offers a “living room-like” environment with fair trade teas and coffees, smoothies, and organic and locally-sourced food. Check their website www.headquarterscafe.com for more information.

The Rolando News apologizes for a typo in the last issue. The item on free solar lighting for low income residents had a typo in the phone number. We have subsequently learned that all available lights have already been installed and the offer is no longer available.

Rolando Nights Out are back by popular demand! We took a short break to enjoy the Summer Concert and the Fall BBQ and are now getting ready to taste two new restaurants. October. Our Night Out on October 25 will be at the new-est restaurant on the block, Bridges – Bar, Grill, Bay. You've probably seen the re-model happening and are curious...so are we! Bridges opened in September (see page 3) and we want to give them a warm welcome to the neighborhood! We'll be there from 6:00PM-9:00PM for drinks, appetizers, dinners, and great company. (4800 Art Street in the 6400 block of El Cajon Boulevard) November. We will meet on the fifth Thursday (Nov. 29th), as the fourth Thursday is Thanksgiving. Several neighbors have given great reviews of Haritna Mediterranean restaurant and we want to spread the word. Haritna has delicious appetizers and entrees as well as a wide selection of entertainment during the week. On Thursdays they have a live jazz band starting at 8:30PM. We will be meeting at 6:00PM-9:00PM at 7303 El Cajon Blvd. and you are more than welcome to stay later for the jazz! Come by, bring a neighbor and meet more of your Rolando neighbors!

Oct. 2012-Nov. 2012, Page 8 www.rolandocommunitycouncil.org

This community services column is designed to help connect Rolandians to others in Rolando offering ser-vices. Any Rolando Community Council members with small businesses are welcome to appear on this page free of charge. Email info to hintzman@cox.net. Look at all the talent we have close at hand!

Dee Patty — Giggling Heights Daycare. 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 david@davidclarkedesign.com 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 amapremier@hotmail.com or call (619) 500-6336. Amy Zink — Edible Garden Consultant/ Coach. Design solutions and education for a thriving and pro-ductive 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, exer-cise and daily activities to achieve fitness goals. (619) 865-3880. Aleah Cohen — Teen Babysitter. Energetic, responsible and fun. CPR and First Aid certified. Is avail-able to babysit for your children. (619) 246-7993. Sean LaPerruque — Music Teacher. Take violin, viola and/or piano from an experienced professional performer with teaching experience. seanthewig@gmail.com or (858) 722-5249.

ROLANDO COMMUNITY SERVICES