VILLAGE NEWS
Scott Appleby & Kerry ApplebyPayne
LA JOLLA
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THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012
San Diego Community Newspaper Group
From
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www.SDNEWS.com Volume 17, Number 40
La Jolla Community Center focuses on rebranding to increase enrollment
to Arctic dwellers experience what few from their home have ever seen BY KENDRA HARTMANN | VILLAGE NEWS hen La Jolla Shores resident Eleanor Mosca got an email from Syla Pijamini that Syla and her sister were hoping to visit San Diego, Mosca was delighted. She hadn’t seen Syla for years, since she took a cruise to the Nunavut territory in 2007. Syla had worked in a hotel that took care of cruise passengers’ activities while on land, and, by chance, she was also the daughter of Abraham Pijamini, who was the guide for a dogsled trip Mosca had taken decades ago. Mosca replied she would be happy to host Syla and her sister in California. She was a bit surprised, however, when the emailed response she received was, “Okay, our plane arrives at 12:30 p.m.” “I didn’t know what day — if it was Syla (right) and Iga Pijamini grew up in the northernmost Inuit settlement of that day, or the next day, or the next Grise Fiord (photo by Kendra Hartmann). The hamlet lies 720 miles north of the Arcweek,” Mosca said, laughing. “Plus, I tic circle on Ellesmere Island. Their father, Abraham Pijamini (inset) works didn’t know if by 12:30 p.m. she meant on a sled, a common form of transporting goods across the sea ice that remains frozen for most of the year (photo courtesy of Eleanor Mosca). noon or midnight.” Mosca immediately imagined how “I knew they wouldn’t plan for multiple terminals Syla and sister Iga, Inuits who were born and raised in the remote Nunavut, would react to the big interna- and such,” Mosca said. “I just imagined them wandertional airport — a far cry from the one-room building ing around this big airport, and I didn’t even know and tiny strip of runway they were used to up in the when they’d be arriving.” Arctic. SEE INUIT, Page 7
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San Diego Unified rescinds layoffs; 2012-13 school year back on track BY PATRICIA WALSH | VILLAGE NEWS The San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) has reached an agreement with the San Diego Education Association (SDEA) that puts the 2012-13 school year back on track by recalling pink slips for nearly 1,400 teachers, nurses and counselors — including 85 teachers and staff in the La Jolla and Mission Bay area schools. “Everybody’s happy that the teachers’ union is talking to the district again — that’s always a step in the right direction,” said Sharon Jones, a parent
involved in the La Jolla cluster of schools. “We’re very happy that it’s been resolved, but funding issues still remain. California’s got to figure out a better way to fund education.” Educators voted from June 24-26 on the tentative agreement that was forged between negotiators from the teachers’ union and the SDUSD. The results of the vote were tallied and released June 27. The terms of the agreement include: • Teachers will defer raises promised to them in previous negotiations. • Teachers will work five unpaid fur-
lough days. An additional 14 furlough days are possible if a November taxinitiative ballot measure fails. • A $25,000 retirement incentive will be offered to the first 300 SDEA members who are older than 55 and have more than 25 years of experience. Teachers are now expected to be recalled as early as the end of June. The SDEA elections committee reported that more than 4,500 members cast votes, of which 67 percent voted “yes” on the agreement and 33 percent voted “no.” In the Mission Bay Cluster, 32 teach-
Formerly known as the Riford Center, the La Jolla Community Center is in the process of transforming into a social and educational center for adults of all ages in the community. MARIKO LAMB | Village News
BY DAVE SCHWAB | VILLAGE NEWS
under a city lease since its establishment in 2007, said the center The La Jolla Community Center has always sought constant (LJCC) is appealing to the commu- improvement, with the latest round nity to help in the storied institu- of upgrades focusing on efforts to tion’s continuing transformation expand services, enticing more into a comprehensive adult facility. community members to take “It takes a community to make a advantage of the center community center,” said Sherry “Our thought was if we made the Ahern, board memnice, com“We’re constantly look- place ber of LJCC, forfortable, accessimerly known as ing for ways to make ble and attractive, the Riford Center. this place work and that people will LJCC board CEO come,” he said. serve the community.” Ruth Yansick agreed “We’re constantGLEN RASMUSSEN — pointing out just ly looking for Board president, Friends of the how much of the ways to make community is Riford Center this place work already involved. and serve the “There’s positive things happen- community.” ing here,” she said. “We’re moving Located at 6811 La Jolla Blvd., ahead and growing with 500 the 5,000-square-foot LJCC promembers and more than 4,000 vides a number of valuable social emails.” and recreational services. Glen Rasmussen, attorney and A membership club geared board president of the nonprofit toward adults, LJCC provides Friends of the Riford Center, which has been managing the facility SEE LJCC, Page 7
Students rallied to save their teachers from pink slips at La Jolla High School on May 14. From June 24-26, educators voted to adopt an agreement between the teachers’ union and SDUSD that will save pink-slipped teachers. MARIKO LAMB | Village News
ers and staff at six schools received lay- 25 teachers. off notices this year. In the La Jolla In March, the SDEA released a list of Cluster, 53 teachers and staff member layoff notices, based on information it at five schools received layoff notices. received from SDUSD. Here’s a breakFor La Jolla Elementary School, the laySEE SCHOOLS, Page 5 offs would have slashed 13 in a staff of