La Jolla Village News, September 15th, 2011

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VILLAGE NEWS

Scott Appleby & Kerry ApplebyPayne

LA JOLLA

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San Diego Community Newspaper Group

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2011

The city

GOES DARK Long term effects of sewage spill may result in more than just beach closures BY MARIKO LAMB | VILLAGE NEWS

press time, and city officials reported that On Sept. 10, volunteers from San Diego beaches near the Los Peñasquitos outlet are Coastkeeper’s water quality monitoring pro- likely to remain closed throughout the week. Although some La Jolla beachgoers may be gram discovered record-breaking concentrapleased by the news of some reopenings, the tions of fecal indicator bacteria, ammonia, spill resulted in more than phosphorus and low concenjust beach closures. trations of oxygen in the Los According to Coastkeep“This is a general call to Peñasquitos Lagoon, the site of our regional agencies. They er’s study of the Los a 1.9 million-gallon raw Lagoon — typsewage spill caused by San should be doing the most Peñasquitos ically one of the top three Diego’s power outage on Sept. they can to make sure this healthiest watersheds in the 8. kind of thing doesn’t hap- county — bacterial concenThe spill at Pump Station trations were at least 600 pen again.” No. 64 — located at 10745 times higher than safe Roselle St. — was discovered Jen Kovecses thresholds allow. just before 6 p.m. on Sept. 8. Staff scientist, San Diego Coastkeeper “It was higher than our Beaches north of the test equipment can meaScripps Pier to Solana Beach were immediately closed due to suspected water sure,” said San Diego Coastkeeper lab coordinacontamination from the spill. On Sept. 13, how- tor Travis Pritchard. “It’s the worst water qualever, Scripps Pier and Black’s Beach reopened ity we’ve ever seen here.” Volunteers reported being struck by a punfollowing city field measurements indicating gent smell of sewage and noted a grey tint in those waters were safe for swimming. SEE SPILL, Page 3 Torrey Pines State Beach remained closed at

PAUL HANSEN | Village News

DRE#01197544 DRE#01071814

www.SDNEWS.com Volume 16, Number 51

On Sept. 8, an unprecedented region wide blackout threw communities from Orange County to northern Mexico and east to Yuma, Ariz. into darkness. La Jollans experienced long waits at blacked-out traffic lights, dinner by candlelight and dark beaches lit only by the glow of phosphorescent plankton. District 1 City Councilwoman Sherri Lightner used her Facebook page to alert residents to the boil water advisory, which affected La Jollans west of I-5 and north to La Jolla Parkway. Photographer Don Balch caught this shot, left, of Prospect Street as the Grande Colonial Hotel was illuminated only by an occasional passing car. The outage had another effect on the Jewel: closed beaches. The beach at Scripps Pier, below, Black’s Beach and Torrey Pines State Beach were all closed due to contamination from a 1.9 million-gallon sewage spill. The spill originated at Pump Station No. 64 as a result of the loss of power.

Teen aims to promote volunteerism

Russell Lyons helps children paint a ramp in front of The Lux Art Institute as part of his “Do Good Adventure” to promote teen volunteerism. PAUL HANSEN | Village News

BY MARIKO LAMB | VILLAGE NEWS On Sept. 5, 17-year-old Golden Triangle resident Russell Lyons embarked on his “Do Good Adventure” — a 10,000mile coast-to-coast road trip to promote teen volunteerism and meet other teens who are problem-solvers in their communities. During the next six months, Lyons will volunteer with more than 20 nonprofit organizations across the United States — from San Diego to New York — for three to five days at a time. Lyons launched his volunteer adventure tour right in his own backyard with Kids Korps — a national nonprofit organization based in San Diego where Lyons helped feed homeless families, mentor at-risk middle school students in City Heights and explored artistic ambitions with children at the Lux Art Institute. “We hope that by showcasing some of the incredible teens who volunteer and talking about the volunteer opportunities available to teens in different communities, Do Good Adventure will inspire other teens — and some adults — to do good,” he said. “Teens are four times more likely to volunteer if asked. So we’re asking.” To help encourage volunteer efforts by teens, Lyons is offering the chance for teens to explain their volunteer work on his website. One teen will be selected randomly each month to win $500 for the organization of his or her choice. Individuals must be 13 to 21 years old and all winning organizations must have held a 501(c)(3) status for a minimum of one year. “Teens who volunteer learn how to solve community problems and underSEE TEEN, Page 2


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