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THURSDAY, MAY 20, 2010
San Diego Community Newspaper Group
www.SDNEWS.com Volume 15, Number 36
Councilwoman Sherri Lightner, above left, makes a point at the May 17 City Council hearing in La Jolla. Members of the audience, above right, were asked to wave their hands instead of clapping so PAUL HANSEN | Village News as not to delay the meeting.
Saga of the seals proceeds City Council approves rope barrier, joint use, ranger BY JENNA FRAZIER | VILLAGE NEWS
cilman Tony Young dissenting. Lightner said she continues to support a In a decision that many perceive as joint-use policy, which she said is best an important step in the culmination of SEE POOL, Page 2 a decade-long conflict, the City Council voted in a packed May 17 meeting at the Museum of Contemporary Art to approve a management plan for the Children’s Pool at Casa Beach. Following four hours of public comBY JENNA FRAZIER | VILLAGE NEWS ment, District 6 Councilwoman Donna District 1 City Councilwoman Sherri Frye proposed a motion that would ask Lightner held a press conference May 14 Mayor Jerry Sanders to declare a in Scripps Park at La Jolla Cove to coastal emergency in order to reinstall announce that an anonymous donor has the rope barrier that was removed from agreed to fund the first year’s salary for a the area May 15 at the designated end park ranger who would enforce the curof seal-pupping season, in accordance rent joint-use policy that allows humans with a previous policy. and seals access to the Children’s Pool, as Frye’s motion also included a request well as train and supervise city-sanctioned for a permanent permit to keep the rope volunteer docents. barrier in place year-round and ban Lightner, who was joined by several people from the beach during seal-pupother community leaders, said the proping season from Dec. 15 to May 15. posal was the only one out of several preThe motion passed in a 6-2 vote, with sented to the City Council that addresses District 1 Councilwoman Sherri Lightner, the “people problem” at the pool, “which who represents La Jolla, and District 4 Coun-
Visitors interact with the seals after the rope barrier came down May 15, above. A police officer, below, had to intervene when aniJIM GRANT | Village News mal activists felt some visitors were disturbing the marine mammals on the sand.
Donor funds Children’s Pool ranger program includes the long history of conflict between the seal activists who want to protect the seals and citizens who want to access this public beach.” In reference to the other proposals, one of which includes keeping the rope barrier in place year-round and not just during seal-pupping season, Lightner said that conflict resolution “is something a rope barrier or beach closure cannot achieve.” Lightner also said the ranger would help conserve other city resources. “It would relieve the lifeguards and police of the need to respond to calls for SEE RANGER, Page 2
La Jolla Pet Parade and Festival returns May 23 BY NICOLE SOURS LARSON | VILLAGE NEWS
Carol Olten of the La Jolla Historical Society reassures her Samoyed, Beau, NICOLE SOURS LARSON | Village News before joining last year’s La Jolla Pet Parade.
The La Jolla Pet Parade and Festival, reintroduced last year after a 71-year gap, will return for its second modern stroll on Sunday, May 23 as La Jolla celebrates its love of animals in a surf-themed festival. This year’s parade, organized by the Spay & Neuter Action Project (SNAP) and a volunteer committee of La Jolla business people led by Nancy Warwick of Warwick’s and Janet McCulley of Muttropolis, will benefit SNAP’s Circle for Life. “There are three elements that save companion animals’ lives: humane education, affordable spay and neuter services, and rescuing animals out of public shelters that would otherwise be euthanized,” said La Jolla resident Candy Schumann, co-founder of SNAP and the organization’s volunteer executive director. Last year’s inaugural parade kicked off SNAP’s on-going $2 million fundraising campaign to build San Diego’s first high-volume, low-cost spay and neuter clinic designed to
address the region’s chronic pet overpopulation crisis, as well as provide subsidized veterinary services for low-income families. The festival will start with pet parade registrations, vendor booth sales and pet adoptions at 10 a.m. and continue with “Doga Yoga” from 10 to 10:30 a.m. The parade departs from the Festival Lot at the corner of Silverado and Herschel at 11:15 a.m. and winds through La Jolla streets before returning to its starting point. The full parade route is available online at www.lajollapetparade.com/route-info. Leading the parade will be Celebrity Grand Marshall Scott “Channy” Chandler, an internationally-ranked professional big wave surfer, who will bring his daughter, Tyler, and champion surf dog, Zoey, who together won last year’s Loew’s Surf Dog competition. Other Surf Dog winners will participate in the parade, including Dozer, the bulldog on the 2010 parade poster painted by Ronda Ahrens. Pet contests will begin about noon after the parade’s conclusion at the Festival Lot.
The “What’s That Mutt?” competition will challenge everyone to guess the origins of a well-mixed pooch. Six other contests will determine the cutest canine, most unique pet, dog who most looks like its owner, best dressed surfer dude doggy, best dressed surf diva dog and best pet trick. Vendor sales of pet products and services and adoptions will continue until festival wrap-up about 2 p.m. Parade participants are encouraged to pick up registration forms at Ark Antiques, Muttropolis, Warwick’s, La Jolla Brewhouse or La Jolla Village Lodge, or register online at the festival website www.lajollapetparade.com, which offers latest updates. A VIP (Very Important Pet) registration package, including a goodie bag and prime parade position, is $45, while a standard entry fee, including parade and contests entries, is $25 per pet. The parade is open to all well-behaved restrained pets, including ponies, cats, bunnies and small animals. All event proceeds benefit SNAP’s Circle for Life.