PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID SAN DIEGO, CA PERMIT NO. 1980
Vol. 102, Issue 21 • May 22, 2014
INSIDE
Memorial Day
Monday, May 26 Two public events in honor of veterans, A3
ENLIGHTENING LA JOLLA SINCE 1913
ONLINE DAILY AT lajollalight.com
Planned cell tower at Cliffridge Park draws parents’ ire By Ashley MAckin Parents of students at Torrey Pines Elementary School turned out en masse to the May 14 La Jolla Shores Association (LJSA) meeting to state their opposition to an AT&T cell tower proposed for Cliffridge Park. Because the school administration scheduled an additional meeting to discuss the tower, no further action was taken on the issue. AT&T Acquisition Consultant Debra DePratti Gardner was at the meeting to explain that the communications company proposes to build a 30-foot faux eucalyptus tree (to disguise the tower) at the far end of the park’s baseball field beyond the yellow foul line pole. The “tree” will have 12 antennas and a 240-square-foot equipment enclosure on the ice-plant area
below the field. “Fifteen years ago, people used their cell phones just for phone calls. Now people use their phones to watch television, so cell phone companies are scrambling trying to get additional bandwidth to (meet) their user’s needs,” she said. “Presently AT&T has a gigantic hole (in coverage) all along Torrey Pines Road and east of Cliffridge Park,” necessitating the additional cell tower, said DeParatti Gardner noting that each antenna would operate at approximately 30 watts and house a separate technology, such as voice data and LTE wireless capability. Still, parents in attendance expressed concerns
see cell Tower, A19
AT&T Acquisition consultant Debra DePratti Gardner presents details of the proposed cell tower at cliffridge Park at a recent shores Association meeting. Ashley MAckin
Population growth forces changes at Cove lookout 34-year preschool educator gets ready to retire, A6
Cartoonist jumps from editorial pages to humor book, B1
La JoLLa
By Ashley MAckin f you consider our population over the last 20 years, it has doubled, in terms of beach-goers,” said San Diego Lifeguard Captain Nick Lerma. “Citywide, there were approximately 11 million people going to the beach 15 years ago, and last year it was around 23 or 24 million. That changes community expectation of what a lifeguard is and what a lifeguard does.” When San Diego established a lifeguard service in 1918, there were few lifeguards, and the ones that were there typically served on a seasonal basis. However, with more people at the beach, more lifeguards were needed and when lifeguard towers were being built across the county, La Jolla Cove got one. “A lot of things can happen and they happen very quickly in La Jolla, particularly at the Cove … you have a huge array of things going on and things you are watching,” Lerma said.
“I
La Jolla’s
Lifeguard Towers Part 2 of 3 n A series chronicling the history
of the towers at Children’s Pool, The Cove and The Shores
see lifeGuArD Tower, A15
Light An Edition of
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la Jolla cove lifeguard tower circa 1968, with Tony Alkire manning it courtesy nick lerMA
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Sardine shortage cause of sea lion deaths By Ashley MAckin The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released preliminary findings as to the cause of the unusual sea lion pup mortality event that began in January 2013 — a scarcity of sardines. During the event, a higher than usual number of California sea lion pups were found emaciated, dehydrated and/or underweight for their age and in need of rescue and rehabilitation. The event is still under investigation. Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Coordinator Sarah Wilkin reported: “A likely contributor to the large number of stranded, malnourished pups was a change in the availability of sea lion prey or forage — especially sardines, a high value food source for nursing mothers.” see seA lion DeAThs, A19
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