News Nuggets

Updates from day two of Cindy Greatrex hearing at lajollalight.com

Day two of testimony and cross examination in the preliminary hearing for “The People versus Cindy Greatrex,” scheduled for Nov. 29, was carried out beyond La Jolla Light deadline. The outcome of the hearing will appear online at lajollalight.com as soon as it is available.

The first day of deposition was Nov. 14, in which The People’s attorney Chandelle Konstanzer questioned her witnesses until court closed. The continuation of The People’s exhibits and testimony was tabled to Nov. 29, along with the start of the defense.

Greatrex is accused of making out company checks from La Jolla Park & Recreation, Inc. payable to herself or cash, and cashing them into her personal accounts. According to court documents, the total loss was $67,935.86. Greatrex claims the funds were used to reimburse herself for purchasing grant-writing fees that she paid “over a long period of time” on behalf of the Rec Center in her role as chair of the La Jolla Park & Recreation, Inc. board.

Town Councils coalition issues letter on short-term rentals

The Coalition of San Diego Town Councils has issued a letter to City Council representatives with recommendations about short-term vacation rental regulations (STVRs).

The Coalition is made up of representatives from La Jolla, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach and Clairemont and formed in response to “widespread community dissatisfaction that San Diego City Council regulations are not representing their interests.” Its first project was to look at the proposals that have come forward to regulate short-term rentals in San Diego, which the San Diego City Council is scheduled to vote on at a special meeting 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12.

In its letter to City Council, the Coalition stated agreement on several points. Among them: The existing proposals to regulate STVRs have been prepared without adequate community input and review of existing law; An approved ordinance should include a sunset clause to require periodic analysis assessing compatibility with community input, legal review, budgetary evaluation; All income from STVR permits and fines, along with a share of TOT, should be dedicated to STVR regulations enforcement.

The full text of the letter, along with discussions and documents will be posted at lajollatowncouncil.org

La Jolla Rec Center offers new yoga class

The La Jolla Recreation Center has introduced a free Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga class, 6-7:30 p.m. Thursdays and 9:30-11 a.m. Saturdays. Ashtanga Vinyasa is credited with building strength, flexibility, balance and endurance. All levels and walk-ins are welcome at 615 Prospect St. (858) 552-1658. bit.ly/ljreccenter

Barbarella restaurant is toy drive drop-off point

Barbarella, at 2171 Avenida de la Playa in La Jolla Shores, is hosting its “Christmukkah” Toy Drive with donations going to Promises2Kids. New toys and clothes for children of all ages will be accepted through Dec. ?? According to its mission statement: “Promises2Kids exists to better the lives of children who are in foster care as a result of abuse or neglect.”

La Jolla Parks & Beaches board seeks new members

La Jolla Parks & Beaches advisory group has two vacancies on its 20-member board and is looking for candidates to fill those seats. Prospective members must attend three meetings in a row to become eligible and be at least 18 years old, live, work or own property in The Village or represent a special interest community service or athletic group (e.g., swimmers at The Cove or Fay Avenue bicyclists).

“We need people with the time to devote to our increasingly long list of projects,” joked chair Ann Dynes. La Jolla Parks & Beaches meets 4 p.m. fourth Mondays (except for the month of December, which combines its November/December meetings) at La Jolla Rec Center, 615 Prospect St. The next meeting is 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4. lajollaparksandbeaches.org

ISA asks Para-Surfing inclusion in 2024 Paralympic games

The La Jolla-based International Surfing Association (ISA) has submitted a “declaration of intent” to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) for Para-Surfing to be included on the Paris 2024 Paralympic Sports Programme.

The IPC Governing Board will identify which International Federations fulfill the requirements and are considered eligible for Phase Two of the application process in February 2018. The IPC will then decide which sports meet the technical requirements for the Games in September 2018, before making a final decision on the Paris 2024 Paralympic Sports Programme in January 2019.

ISA president Fernando Aguerre of La Jolla said: “This is another historic moment for the ISA. We are committed to the development of Para Surfing and to see it included on the Sports Programme at Paris 2024 would be an incredible success. The growth of the sport in the last few years has been inspiring, and we are stoked to see where we can take it in the future. Adaptive Surfing is a vibrant sport, infused with youthful energy and high-performance qualities we think would add great value to the Paralympic Games.”

Young engineers will hold fundraiser Dec. 6 at yogurt shop

Looking for a way to support the next generation of engineers? Then stop by Froglanders Froyo Café, 915 Pearl St., 12:30-4 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6 and see the inventions of Team Waterworks in action. Team Waterworks, includes students from Muirlands Middle School, The Bishop’s School and The Children’s School, who will share their LEGO robots. Twenty-five percent of all sales with mention of Team Waterworks will go to funding these future engineers who won the 2017 North American Nationals. See more from Team Waterworks on YouTube.com and search “FLL Team Water Works” or fllwaterworks.weebly.com

Foundation grants $600K to Moores Cancer Center

A team of UC San Diego School of Medicine and Moores Cancer Center researchers studying new drugs designed to break resistance to cancer immunotherapy has been awarded a V Foundation for Cancer Research translational grant of $600,000 over three years.

Led by Judith A. Varner, Ph.D., professor in the departments of Pathology and Medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine, the team will build upon research published in the journal Nature in which they identified the enzyme PI-3 kinase gamma (PI3Ky) as a molecular switch controlling immune suppression. The researchers will conduct clinical trials to test a PI3Ky inhibitor, called IPI-549, alone and in combination with other drugs in head and neck cancers to boost the effectiveness of immunotherapy.

In mouse models, they found that PI3Ky signaling promotes immune suppression by inhibiting activation of anti-tumor T cells. Administering IPI-549 reversed immune suppression, stimulated response to checkpoint inhibitors and eliminated cancer in 50 to 100 percent of test animals.

The V Foundation grant will support a pair of phase I clinical trials that will begin enrolling patients in the next few months. The first will be a trial for patients with late stage head and neck cancers, followed by a second trial for patients in the early stage of this disease.

UC San Diego athletics moves to Big West Conference

UC San Diego Athletics has accepted an invitation to join the Big West Conference, paving the way for National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I reclassification. The move fulfills the wishes of the student body, which voted overwhelmingly last year to move UC San Diego Athletics to Division I.

“We are pleased and honored to accept the Big West Conference invitation to join its ranks,” said UCSD Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla. “We believe that this move will enhance the overall student experience at UC San Diego and heighten our sense of community and school pride. It also demonstrates our commitment to uncompromising excellence across the board.”

Added UCSD Director of Athletics Earl W. Edwards: “Elevation to NCAA Division I athletics is a reflection of UC San Diego’s culture of risk-taking, collaboration and innovation. Aligning with peer institutions and competing at the highest levels in all endeavors is one of the reasons for the transition to Division I.”

The Big West Conference, in its 49th year of operation, is comprised of nine institutions, including four other University of California campuses, and sponsors 18 sports. With 17 national team titles, Big West student-athletes have also succeeded on a worldwide stage in the Olympics, Pan-American Games and the World Cup.

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