Uptown Partnership • Hillcrest sign repainting • Movie on the Roof of Whole Foods

Sunday = funday for the 25th anniversary of the relighting of the Hillcrest sign

In August of 1984 after years of being broken and dark, the iconic sign strattling University Avenue just west of Fifth was taken down, rebuilt and relit by a united Hillcrest community that raised the funds.
Tomorrow the FREE 2009 CityFest street fair will take place from noon-9:30pm along Fifth Avenue in Hillcrest. The Grand Stage will be set up under this beloved beacon featuring ten hours of entertainment with local favorite Laura Jane emceeing the festivities.

This Sunday’s lineup includes:

Knives! 12-12:30pm (Big Beat, Thrash and Crunk)
China Clippers 12:45-1:15pm (Rock, Blues and Soul)
Royal Campaign 1:30-2:00pm (Rock)
F.U.Z.Z. 2:15-3:00pm (Rock, Punk and Metal from Guadalajara)
Team Abraham 3:15-4:15pm (Pop, from the South Bay)
Run Honey 4:35-5:35pm (All-girl Rock and Alternative)
Pauhana 5:55-6:55pm (Roots music, Hawaiian and Reggae)
Tighten Ups 7:15-8:15pm (Rock, Blues and Soul)
UBUV 8:30-9:30pm (Electronica, Breakbeat and Psychedelic)

— Ian Trowbridge re: the mysterious missing library foundation pledges

Here’s San Diego City Councilman Todd Gloria.

— Petco executive Jim Myers

— Lynn Jacobs who helped craft the simple water-reuse system

Saturday, August 8, 2009	Don’t miss it ;-) Sunday = funday for the 25th anniversary of the relighting of the Hillcrest sign In August of 1984 after years of being broken and dark, the iconic sign strattling University Avenue just west of Fifth was taken down, rebuilt and relit by a united Hillcrest community that raised the funds. Tomorrow the FREE 2009 CityFest street fair will take place from noon-9:30pm along Fifth Avenue in Hillcrest. The Grand Stage will be set up under this beloved beacon featuring ten hours of entertainment with local favorite Laura Jane emceeing the festivities. This Sunday’s lineup includes: Knives! 12-12:30pm (Big Beat, Thrash and Crunk) China Clippers 12:45-1:15pm (Rock, Blues and Soul) Royal Campaign 1:30-2:00pm (Rock) F.U.Z.Z. 2:15-3:00pm (Rock, Punk and Metal from Guadalajara) Team Abraham 3:15-4:15pm (Pop, from the South Bay) Run Honey 4:35-5:35pm (All-girl Rock and Alternative) Pauhana 5:55-6:55pm (Roots music, Hawaiian and Reggae) Tighten Ups 7:15-8:15pm (Rock, Blues and Soul) UBUV 8:30-9:30pm (Electronica, Breakbeat and Psychedelic)
Friday, August 7, 2009	Uptown Partnership delays vote to allocate meter money Thanks to longtime board member Bob Grinchuk (at left) and community concern (HillQuest poll showed over 77% chose “something else”) the Uptown Partnership postponed action to re-allocate $1 million to the proposed Mission Hills-Hillcrest library and the remaining $378K to specified projects until the soon-to-be-formed Hillcrest committee has an opportunity to weigh in and their three new board members are installed. Partnership board member Ron Baranov added, “why don’t we make sure we know what’s going on with (the AT&T lot) instead of just guessing.” (This property is for sale.) Last night’s meeting began with public comments from three Hillcrest residents led by Tim Gahagan thanking the directors for their service, who then proceeded to express his disappointment in the Partnership’s outreach to the community. Nancy Moors followed siting inconsistencies with the list of accomplishments on a flyer distributed by the Partnership. The hottest topics at Thursday meeting were the proposal to accept a report on a three phased $5.3M project in the Five Points area (where Washington Street meets I-5) and a discussion of budgeting $1M to public parking at the proposed Mission Hills-Hillcrest library. Jay Hill, library fundraiser, said “the priority is to provide free parking for those who want to use the library.” The board accepted the suggestions of Council Districts 2 and 3 to expand the nine member board by three new members. Council members will each appoint a representative, and any Uptown Planner may submit his/her resume by August 15 for consideration as the final member who will be chosen by the Upown Partnership board. The board also voted to impose term limits, which means that two current board members will be termed out next March. Their board also agreed to adopt the Memorandum of Understanding between the Hillcrest Business Association, the Uptown Partnership and the Hillcrest Town Council.
Thursday, August 6, 2009	“Put simply, this is not the way to conduct public business in San Diego especially given its current financial condition.” — Ian Trowbridge re: the mysterious missing library foundation pledges
Wednesday, August 5, 2009	Thanks to Whole Foods & the HHG Over 300 families, neighbors and friends enjoyed a beautiful evening (and a wonderful movie) on the upper parking lot of Whole Foods Market last night for Hillcrest’s annual summer “drive-in” event. This year’s Movie on the Roof was the animated Disney film Ratatouille. While waiting for dusk, the appreciative crowd munched on complimentary snacks, beverages and frozen treats under a rising full moon which added to a perfect Hillcrest evening under the stars. The community FUNraiser was sponsored by the Hillcrest History Guild. Their next event will be one week from today on Thursday, August 13 for the annual Toast to Hillcrest — a Spirits, Wine & Nibbles Tour (21 & over only).
Tuesday, August 4, 2009	Sign painted (sort of) The fog rolled in overnight and prevented completion of the re-painting of the Hillcrest sign — actually it’s kind of scary looking. Diversity Painting will finish the job Friday, so head’s up for University Avenue closure signs. Come out to CityFest this Sunday for the NEW lantern parade beginning at 8:30pm followed by the sign re-lighting at 9pm. In this photo, several members of the Hillcrest Business Association joined director Benjamin Nicholls (right) for a ride in the lift. Here’s San Diego City Councilman Todd Gloria.
Monday, August 3, 2009	“We continue to look at other ways to serve different communities that might be more difficult to access with a traditional-sized store. Hillcrest is a perfect example of a very pocketed community that has its own identity and would like to shop locally.” — Petco executive Jim Myers
Sunday, August 2, 2009	On Thursday the Uptown Partnership may allocate one million dollars for parking solutions. Would you like to see that money earmarked for the proposed Mission Hills-Hillcrest library on Washington at Front Street (with no known date for construction) or for another parking solution? Here’s an open letter from Hillcrest resident Tim Gahagan.
Saturday, August 1, 2009	“These new gray-water standards will be a big step toward reducing California’ water consumption by providing cost-effective guidelines that will be beneficial to every home throughout the state.” — Lynn Jacobs who helped craft the simple water-reuse system