New online activity for Community Plan Update
As part of the information-gathering process to develop the update to Mission Valley’s Community Plan, a new interactive survey activity is now online to get citizen feedback about potential parks.
The Mission Valley Community Plan Update subcommittee is seeking input on where future parks should be located; what recreation opportunities and facilities should be provided; and what trails should be developed.
The online survey includes questions on several possible park locations like a property owned by city of San Diego Water Department next to Dave & Buster’s, asking if it would be a good site for a park and asking for citizens to pick their top five uses for the space, such as dog park, skate park, amphitheater, soccer fields, etc.
To take part in the online activity, visit bit.ly/2bFV8A5.
The park survey is the second online information-gathering activity sponsored by the Community Plan update subcommittee. The first asked people to map where and what kinds of development they’d like to see in Mission Valley. People who took part put pins on a map where they thought commercial, office, residential and retail development should go.
A total of 316 people took part in the development activity and results were varied, although there was some consensus on keeping commercial and office development on the east side of Mission Valley, near Qualcomm Stadium. Several people did not pin the map at all and commented that they would like to see no new development in Mission Valley, arguing that traffic is bad as it is. Results of the map activity can be found at bit.ly/2cugAIl.
The development survey also asked questions about bike and pedestrian use in Mission Valley; what kinds of uses should be near the San Diego River; whether there should be a “main street” in Mission Valley and where that should be; how to make the area become more connected; and more.
To view the results of the development survey, visit bit.ly/2bMKCBe.
OASIS hosts Medicare education event
Baby boomers, Medicare beneficiaries, their families and caregivers in the San Diego area who are confused about Medicare will get a chance to be educated on the program at the Mission Valley OASIS. The education event is part of National Medicare Education Week held Sept. 15–21. This annual observance begins exactly one month before the start of the Medicare Open Enrollment Period which runs Oct. 15–Dec. 7.
At the educational event, local UnitedHealthcare representatives will address people’s top questions and will be available to speak one on one. Walgreens will also offer pneumonia and/or flu vaccinations at the events. Charges may apply. Walgreens will ask for your insurance card, or accept cash or check. Vaccines are subject to availability. State, age- and health-related restrictions also may apply. Attendees will also be able to participate in a fitness demonstration through the SilverSneakers program.
The event will be held on Thursday, Sept. 15 at 5 p.m. at Mission Valley OASIS, 1702 Camino Del Rio N, Macy’s, Third Floor, San Diego, CA, 92108.
To RSVP, please go to NMEW.com and click on Find an Event; or call 855-434-4941. There is no cost to attend but registration is requested.
For those unable to attend the events, UnitedHealthcare will host a Facebook Q&A session on Sept. 15 from noon–2 p.m. where beneficiaries and their loved ones can get their Medicare questions answered in real time. To join, participants should visit Medicare Made Clear’s Facebook page. To learn more about Medicare through online resources, visit MedicareMadeClear.com.
Mission Valley’s Orchids & Onions
The San Diego Architectural Foundation (SDAF) has released its 2016 list of Orchid & Onion Award nominees and let’s just say it stinks for Mission Valley.
The only two building projects to make this year’s list are up for Onion Awards — The Homewood Suites by Hilton Mission Valley located at 445 Camino del Rio South and the iFly San Diego indoor skydiving facility located at 2385 Camino del Rio North.
For those who agree, or disagree, with SDAF’s assessment that these buildings are less than easy on the eyes, there is a chance to vote on this year’s nominees for a People’s Choice Award.
The winners will be announced on Oct. 13 at the 2016 Orchid & Onion Award Ceremony held at Horton Plaza Park and Spreckels Theatre starting at 5 p.m.
This year’s award ceremony will mark 40 years of the Orchids & Onions awards and to mark the occasion, a special film produced by Breadtruck Films and sponsored by The Shiley Foundation a will premiere at the ceremony that will look back on the history of the event.
“This event will be a meeting of the past and present, remembering some past awardees and jury members, and a look toward where development in San Diego is going,” said SDAF Director and 2016 Orchids & Onions Program Co-Chair, Perriann Hodges, in a press statement.
SDAF is also offering a one-of-a-kind book documenting awardees from the past 40 years that can be purchased along with tickets to the ceremony at sdaf.wildapricot.org.
For more information about the event, voting and the buildings themselves, visit orchidsandonions.org.
University of San Diego professor receives national award
Clark’s research focuses on organometallic chemistry. One project focuses on the conversion of carbon dioxide to methanol, a fuel that can replace gasoline. Through the Dreyfus award, he will receive a $60,000 research grant.
“Research support at undergraduate institutions is very important,” said Mark J. Cardillo, executive director of The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation in a press statement. “Nearly half of the chemists who earn a doctorate degree receive their bachelor’s degree from an undergraduate institution and research is a fundamental part of chemistry education.”
Clark is himself a graduate of the University of San Diego, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. The research experiences he had as an undergraduate inspired him to pursue a career in chemistry. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of California, Irvine, before returning to teach at USD in 2011.
“Most students join my research group as sophomores and continue through graduation, including two full-time summer research experiences,” he said. “I have the opportunity to see the students mature tremendously over this period. It is a great pleasure to fill this role as a mentor.”
Clark typically mentors six to eight undergraduate students in his research group, in addition to high school students and teachers during the summer months. Through a supplemental grant from another award, the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, Clark is currently conducting collaborative research in Spain.