www.BeachandBayPress.com | Thursday, October 11, 2012
PACIFIC NISSAN
SHORT BOARD A youth trend that is gaining in popularity puts the thrill of skateboarding at your fingertips — quite literally. Page 5
“Highway 5 on Mission Bay Drive” www.PacificNissan.com
(858) 581-3200 • 4433 Mission Bay Drive, Pacific Beach
3-day fest to immerse PB in Polish culture BY MARIKO LAMB | BEACH & BAY PRESS
T
he pride of the Poles will descend on Pacific Beach from Oct. 12 to 14 for the 17th annual Polish Festival, a celebration of Polish culture and heritage at the St. Maximillian Kolbe Roman Catholic Polish Mission, located at 1735 Grand Ave. “The idea is to support the community and also share with San Diego people our Polish culture,” said Father Jerzy Frydrych. “Our Polish food is excellent, as well as the folk dances and performances, the music and the atmosphere of friendly Polish people living away from their home country.” Guests can enjoy performances by Polish folk dancers and musical entertainment by a variety of live bands and street musicians. As always, the mission will also host a mini-bazaar filled with traditional Polish souvenirs, jewelry, ornaments, apparel and art that will be on sale at the event. For those who come hungry, traditional fare like authentic pierogi, kielbasa or golabki will be available alongside a swig of Polish beer like Zywiec, Okocim or Warka. For visitors who hope to spend time in prayer or meditation, church leaders will also hold several guided tours with veneration of the relics, as well as Holy Mass during the festival. “Some people are coming from far away, so people will have an opportunity to see the church,” said Frydrych. “It’s nice to find out sometimes when people recall their roots.
QUICKHits Moped rider hurt in accident with unlicensed driver A 30-year-old woman, who police said was driving a 2005 Toyota SUV on a suspended license, injured the rider of a Moped on Oct. 8 at the intersection of Grand Avenue and Gresham Street. Traffic investigators said the accident happened shortly before 8 p.m. when the SUV driver turned left in the intersection in front of the 24-year-old female driver of the Moped, causing the SUV to crash into the Moped. The Moped rider suffered an open fracture to the leg and was transported to a local trauma center for treatment. The SUV driver, who was not immediately identified by police, was cited for driving on a suspended driver’s license. Traffic investigators said alcohol was not a factor in the collision.
Man who assaulted officers, threw dog, to be sentenced
Sometimes they bring their very old Polish mother or grandmother to share the atmosphere … Just come join us and have a good time.” The weekend festival will take place on Friday, Oct. 12 from 5 to 11 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 13 from noon to 10 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 14 from noon to 6 p.m. Admission to the event is $3 for those 16 years or older. While Friday evening is only open to those 21 years and older, the remainder of the festival is open to all ages. For more information, visit www.polishmission.org/festival.
Polish culture, music, food and dance will be center stage during the three-day 17th annual Polish Festival in Pacific Beach between Oct. 12 and 14. Courtesy photo
DEA: Prescription drug take-backs making an impact in county BY MARIKO LAMB | BEACH & BAY PRESS
Prescription drug misuse attributed to 267 unintentional deaths in San Diego County last year, higher than both motor-vehicle fatalities and illicit drug Courtesy photo by the Drug Enforcement Agency abuse.
Prescription drug misuse has now exceeded both motor-vehicle fatalities and illicit drug abuse as the leading cause of accidental death in San Diego County for the second year in a row, according to a report by the San Diego Medical Examiner’s Office. Last year, the coroner reported 267 such unintentional deaths, up from 228 the previous year. “One or two times a day, my firefighter paramedics respond to a narcotic overdose somewhere in the city. That’s about 500 times a year,” said James Dunford, medical director for the city of San Diego at a press conference at nearby Kellogg Park in La Jolla on Sept. 28. “Last year in San Diego, our emergency departments treated 2,931 people for prescription drug misuse.” He said about 2,500 teenagers use prescription drugs to get high for the first time each day in the United States, and 20 percent of 11th-grade students surveyed by San Diego County’s Methamphetamine Task Force admitted to using over-the-
A Pacific Beach man faces sentencing on Nov. 2 after a jury convicted him of assaulting police officers in a 2011 incident in which he threw his 47-pound dog at them when officers showed up to answer a noise complaint. Tyler Jordan Torres, 31, had been free on $100,000 bond until the jury’s verdict and San Diego Superior Court Judge Joan Weber remanded him into custody to await sentencing. One officer suffered a broken nose and the other a concussion on Dec. 15 after they knocked on Torres’ door. Torres had been drinking and earlier refused to turn the music down in his apartment on Ingraham Street near La Playa Avenue. Torres could receive four to five years in state prison, but he may also be eligible for probation if he doesn’t have any prior convictions. Torres was also convicted of battery on a police officer in an unrelated incident in 2011, which also occurred in Pacific Beach. On Dec. 15, A security guard testified neighbors complained the music was too loud from Torres’ apartment. The guard said he told Torres of the complaint and he shut the door quickly and refused to turn the music down. Police were then called. The dog he threw at officers was not injured. — Neal Putnam
Coastkeeper ‘Clean the Bay Day’ event set for Oct. 27
The Drug Enforcement Agency worked with local law enforcement, nonprofits, healthcare providers and other groups to collect drugs on Sept. 29 for Prescription Drug Courtesy photo by the Drug Enforcement Agency Take-Back Day.
counter recreational drugs. “It’s really important to underscore what spectrum of society we’re talking about here. We’re not
San Diego Coastkeeper and SeaWorld will team up to conduct “Mission Possible: Clean the Bay Day” on Oct. 27 from 8 to 11 a.m. The beach and water cleanup will take place at South Shores Park in Mission Bay, located just east of SeaWorld. Participants are encouraged to bring reusable containers for trash, work gloves, sunscreen and water, as well as boats, kayaks or paddleboards to help beautify the area both on the sand and in the bay. Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill will supply food SEE BRIEFS, Page 6
SEE TAKE-BACKS, Page 4