Historic Project Moving Forward With Broad Community Support

(Mission Times Courier, San Diego, CA) - San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders joined a large crowd of library supporters, including State and City officials and three former City mayors on July 28th, to break ground on the new Central Library-a project in the planning for more than 30 years.

"We break ground on a project that was more than three decades in the making - a project that has inspired a truly unprecedented number of people to participate in the civic process," said Mayor Sanders. "We know it will continue to inspire our citizens for generations to come."

By Chris Axtmann

(Mission Times Courier, San Diego, CA) - Mission Trails Regional Park offers a series of walks throughout the summer, each led by a different naturalist. Learn about our wild and natural environment protected right here in your neighborhood. Trail Guides connect you to plants and creatures, have you observe scent and motion, identify habitats, and help you understand ecozones surviving the arid weather. Our walks are free, very interesting, and geared towards all ages and interests. Sturdy shoes, hat, water and sunscreen are recommended.

Federal Quarantine Triggered, Trapping Started to Determine Extent of Infestation

(Mission Times Courier, San Diego, CA) - Four adult Light Brown Apple Moths (LBAM), a pest that damages more than 2,000 types of plants and more than 250 types of crops, have been discovered in a trap set one mile east of San Diego’s Balboa Park, County officials said Tuesday. The discovery will trigger a state “interior” quarantine of 1.5 miles around the site as early as next week, and a subsequent federal quarantine that could cover the rest of the county. Quarantines generally mean that plant material cannot be moved until the quarantines end.

(Mission Times Courier, San Diego, CA) - For years he's had a presence at Lake Murray. We all know who he is. Reports from lake runners and walkers about his exposure have gone on for a long time. When police caught him, they said he was passive. That seems to be his normal demeanor. At least this is what most of us saw. His actions have escalated recently, and something had to be done. When he approached, women were afraid. We should be able to enjoy the outdoors without fear.

He needs help and hopefully will get it. He's a son, a brother and probably an uncle. It's a sad situation that should come to an end. What he has done is wrong and on some level, he must know that. There is tremendous relief that he is away from the lake. I'm sorry to write about this, but he is a lake story, and that is what I write about. Our thoughts are with his family.

Local Scouts in Boy Scout Troop 701 have been launched into a sea of new opportunities at the 2010 National Scout Jamboree. National Scout officials have been planning activities for the jamboree since 2007, and it’s apparent in all that it has to offer.

SDG&E: Smart Homes of the Future Will Save Energy

(Mission Times Courier, San Diego, CA) - Your home will soon be smarter. San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) is installing smart meters throughout the community this month to help customers track their daily energy usage online in order to save energy.

The 100-year-old technology of the spinning dial meter will be replaced with digital wireless technology that will allow customers to check their energy usage online and make immediate changes to conserve.

San Carlos Resident Accepts MLB Draft Pick
Teen Pitches Perfect Inning In First Professional Appearance
(Mission Times Courier, San Diego, CA) - Kevin Kleis, Jr. faced the decision of a lifetime - accept a Major League Baseball draft pick or return to school this fall to continue his college baseball career and hold out for a higher draft pick in the future.

The 18-year-old pitcher thought long and hard about the options and ultimately decided to accept the draft pick and play for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Gulf Coast League.

Fundraiser Planned To Benefit Mission Valley Village Residents

(Mission Times Courier, San Diego, CA) - More than three years after learning their mobile home park would be replaced by a 445-unit housing complex, residents of Mission Valley Village are still struggling to overcome a painful emotional and economic hardship while waiting for an offer to move out.
In April 2007, the senior residents learned their 119-space park was sold to a major developer and the park would be closed. In November 2008, the San Diego City Council approved construction of the new development along with a relocation agreement that would enable residents to obtain alternative housing.
Mobile home values immediately plummeted following news of the sale.

By Ryan Mortensen, National Jamboree Hometown News Correspondent

(Mission Times Courier, San Diego, CA) - On Sunday, July 25th passers by at San Diego Airport were taken by surprise as over 200 local Boy Scouts including 40 adults and Scouts from Troop 701 boarded planes and began an all night journey to the 100th Anniversary of Scouting at the 17th National Scout Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill Virginia.

Beginning with their arrival at Fort A.P. Hill, members of Troop 701 enthusiastically jumped into a series of activities designed to showcase all that Scouting has to offer with everything from archery to the trading of patches from different regions among scouts, to the Mysterium Compass an interactive activity designed to test a Scouts morality and teach valuable life lessons.