www.SDNEWS.com Volume 27, Number 2
THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2013
San Diego Community Newspaper Group
Wounded PLHS alum makes impressive strides in rehab
CURTAIN STILL WAITING TO RISE FOR HISTORIC LUCE AUDITORIUM
BY SCOTT HOPKINS | THE BEACON Organizers are putting the final touches on another fundraiser for shooting victim Will Barton as the 20-year-old continues to make strides in his recovery. Barton, a 2010 graduate of Point Loma High School, was shot three times in the head in the early hours of Oct. 29 as he walked to his father’s Mission Hills home after finishing a late shift working at a Hillcrest restaurant. The shooter, a wanted criminal, was killed by San Diego police during an Oct. 31 shootout in Barrio Will Barton, shown while recovering from gunshot wounds at Scripps Mercy Logan. Hospital in November, is now at an Barton’s fighting spirit has been Encinitas physical-rehabilitation facility. a major factor as he clung to life Courtesy photo for several weeks in a Scripps Mercy Hospital intensive-care unit All are invited to help Barton’s before being sent to a rehabilita- family with large medical bills on tion facility in Encinitas for intenSEE BARTON, Page 5 sive physical therapy.
Improvement comes with each waking day for Barton BY SCOTT HOPKINS | THE BEACON Plans to overhaul the historic Luce Auditorium at Liberty Station have hit a snag because of the political and fiscal landscape.
Courtesy photo
Political, fiscal developments derail plans for modernization BY MARTIN JONES WESTLIN
al District, with anywhere from 500 to 800 guests in attendance. usic-inspired paintThe festival is a good way for ings, a San Diego the businesses to strut their Watercolor Society stuff, of course — but to hear reception, a picture exhibit at NTC Foundation executive Pantaleoni Photography and director Alan Ziter tell it, Libergoodies from Point Loma Tea ty Station patronage would and Chi Chocolat colored the increase sevenfold except for Jan. 4 installment of Friday one crucial element that stunts Night Liberty, the monthly fes- its growth. If the historic Luce tival that celebrates the arts Auditorium were online for and artisans at Point Loma’s performance, he said, “We’d Liberty Station. have 500 to 800 people seven Around 20 venues ply their nights a week,” and their distrades at the free events, held coveries wouldn’t be limited to An artist’s vision of what the post-modern lobby of the Luce Auditorium might look like if the NTC Foundation is successful in moving for- every first Friday in the NTC SEE LUCE, Page 6 Courtesy photo Promenade’s Arts and Culturward with its planned modernization of the venue. THE BEACON
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With the dawn of every new day, Will Barton continues to amaze the medical staff and his family with advancements in his recovery. When paramedics rushed Barton to Scripps Mercy Hospital early on the morning of Oct. 29, they figured his life was over. Shot three times in the head and suffering from a massive loss of blood, the situation was dire. But Barton continues to prove the naysayers wrong. From the moment they first saw their son in the intensive-care unit of Scripps Mercy Hospital, father Will Barton and mother Marie Najera knew their son was a fighter. Milestones in Barton’s recovery, as taken from notes in a journal, kept mainly by Najera: • Nov. 4 (while in intensive care): “Will was responding to his family
by blinking his eyes on command, and has been able to move his head and exhibit some facial expressions.” • Nov. 7: “Doctors are planning on removing his ventilator today. His fever has broken.” • Nov. 10: “Will’s feeding tube has been removed from his mouth and relocated to his tummy.” • Nov. 11: “Doctors removed the ventilator machine last night as Will is breathing on his own now.” • Nov: 13: “Will has been moved to a room with a view on the tenth floor (no more ICU).” • Nov. 14: “(Will) did 15 minutes of physical therapy. He was wiped out after that.” • Nov. 19: “He moved his right foot and toes for me yesterday. This was a first, and an amazing start to his recovery.” SEE RECOVERY, Page 5
Bike advocate gears up for a new year of road-sharing efforts in Ocean Beach BY MARIKO LAMB | THE BEACON Those who have biked around any of San Diego’s stunning beach communities or climbed the hills in its distinct neighborhoods know the satisfaction of cruising around in the open air, viewing unobstructed sights and hearing the raw sounds of the city without the barrier of glass and steel that exists from within the confines of a motor vehicle. San Diego County Bicycle Coalition’s recent “Advocate of the Year,” Nicole Burgess, hopes to share that very experience with more San Diegans by lobbying for bike- and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure and inspiring a bike culture among San Diego’s youth to promote the next generation of cyclists within the city. Through her work with the San Diego Bicycle Coalition, Bike SD and SANDAG’s Bike/Ped Working Group, she ultimately hopes to help transform San Diego into a world-class bicycling city
that encourages everyday riding for all. “You can see everything on a bike,” said Burgess. “You get to just be out there in the fresh air, and it’s exciting and fun. I believe in living in your small communities. I think any community — where you live and go to school — should be a beautiful place to ride.” With that mantra in mind, the Ocean Beach resident began her grassroots bike-advocacy efforts from within the boundaries of her own community. Three years ago, for example, Burgess started a bike train for students to Dana Middle School, starting with just her eldest daughter and a few of her neighbors. Over time, that number has grown to around 15 students, accompanied by a couple other parent chaperones who have volunteered their time to ensure the children get to their respective schools safely. “I’m trying to advocate at the schools because the youth are my leaders,” Burgess said. “It’s their environment. It’s
their beautiful earth that they get to enjoy. These kids can be our advocates, and I’m hoping that they will.” By tailoring her message to today’s youth, she also hopes some teens will bypass investing in a car when they turn 16 because they have experienced the firsthand benefits of biking, particularly in light of the high death toll in adolescents and teens from motor vehicle accidents. “We have 35,000 deaths a year just from cars,” she said. “You can be in a car and be taken out by a semi every day, but we don’t avoid that car. We think it’s safe. It’s the same thing on a bike — I’m at risk out there. Any day could be my last, but the amount of accidents that happen in a car far exceed those on a bike, where you’re going at a much slower speed.” To ensure the safety of bikers and pedestrians on San Diego’s automobilecentric roadways, Burgess also helped found the San Diego City Council Dis-
Ocean Beach bicycle advocate Nicole Burgess started a daily bike train to local schools three years ago. Since its launch, the number of riders joining the train has increased to about 15 Courtesy photo students.
trict 2 Bicycle-Pedestrian Working more bicycle-friendly district. Group, which lobbies the city for infras“I believe San Diego has the potential tructure repairs and innovative solutions to be a No. 1 bicycle-friendly city and to transform communities spanning SEE ADVOCATE, Page 5 from downtown to Mission Bay into a