Pacific Beach/San Diego News: Youth Surf Challenge, Post-July 4th trash, single-use plastics ban, trash pick-up schedule, community bike racks
Time to sign-up for Youth Surf Challenge
Registration opens Aug. 17 for the fourth annual Ken Whalen Surf Challenge, a free event for beginning surfers, ages 5-16, including those with physical challenges who need adaptive surf equipment. Boards and instructors will be provided, along with food, music and games.
The event runs 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018 at San Fernando Court, Mission Beach . Registration is required online: kenwhalensurfchallenge.com
Multiple simultaneous heats allow for up to 250 total surfers to show off their skills. Participants take part in one 15-minute heat (no advancing). Experienced high school and college-aged surfers volunteer to assist participants in the water as needed. For family members observing the heats, great music and beach games make it fun.
The event honors Mission Beach surfer, Ken Whalen, who suffered a fatal stroke at age 48. Ken grew up surfing all the local beaches, and traveled the world to enjoy other amazing surf spots. Physically challenged athletes who participated alongside Ken in triathlons inspired him. This led to his involvement with Challenged Athletes Foundation, which now provides adaptive surf equipment for challenged surfers at this event.
“Ken had a gift for helping others take on and conquer new challenges and life experiences,” says Paula Whalen, his wife and event co-organizer. “He would love the joy and confidence these young surfers demonstrate when participating in the Surf Challenge.”
Surf rucksacks with T-shirts, hats and other goodies will be provided for all participants, along with awards and prizes. Merchandise proceeds benefit Challenged Athletes Foundation, challengedathletes.org
Surfrider volunteers tackle post-July 4th mess
Surfrider Foundation San Diego, I Love a Clean San Diego and San Diego Coastkeeper led a major cleanup effort from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday, July 5 at the Ocean Beach Pier, Fiesta Island, Crystal Pier and the Oceanside Pier.
Coordinator Caroline Canter said: “Without the collective volunteer effort, all this litter may have washed into the sea where it would add to the already critical pollution problem devastating the world’s oceans today.”
The Surfrider Foundation San Diego has a handful of programs working to fight plastic pollution in San Diego. The Rise Above Plastics program has been a key player in introducing and passing single-use plastic and polystyrene ordinances across the county. More details at sandiego.surfrider.org
Rules Committee calls for vote on single-use plastics ban
The City Council Rules Committee voted 3-2, July 11, in favor of a proposed ban on polystyrene foam and restrictions on single-use plastics, which now moves to a full City Council vote in September. Council members’ Chris Ward, Barbara Bry and Myrtle Cole voted in favor. Council members Chris Kersey and Chris Cate voted against.
The ordinance would restrict the sale and distribution of polystyrene foam products for use as food serviceware, fish and meat trays, egg cartons, and coolers in San Diego. Furthermore, the proposal would make single-use plastic foodware, such as straws and utensils, available only upon request.
Representatives from Surfrider Foundation, 5 Gyres Institute, SD350.org, Teamsters Local 911, California Grocers’ Association, and Business For Good spoke in support of the ordinance. Surfrider volunteers have successfully advocated for single-use plastic reduction ordinances in Solana Beach, Encinitas and Imperial Beach.
Said Surfrider’s Michael Torti: “We ask our volunteers and members to contact their city council member and declare their support for the proposed ordinance.”
City ups Mission Beach trash, street services
On July 14, the City of San Diego increased trash, recycling and street sweeping services in Mission Beach to address fly infestations that have been a perennial problem during the summer months. In April 2018, the City Council included $70,000 in the fiscal year 2019 budget to increase the number of trash and recycling pickups and street sweeping in the community this summer.
Black Refuse Bins: The City will collect residential trash twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays, with the second weekly collection continuing through Saturday, Sept. 29.
Blue Recycling Bins: Recycling collection services will begin weekly pickup through Tuesday, Sept. 25.
Street Sweeping: Street sweeping vehicles are cleaning alleyways Wednesdays through Wednesday, Sept. 26.
There are things Mission Beach residents can do to help prevent fly infestations:
• Place waste containers at the point of collection no later than 6 a.m. on collection days;
• Take in trash bins immediately on trash collection days;
• Park in legal spaces only (no alley parking) to allow room for trash and recycling collection and street sweeping vehicles;
• Use trash can and trash bin liners to prevent the need for washing bins;
• Replace broken containers and/or cracked lids and keep them closed so flies cannot access food sources to lay eggs;
• Provide a sufficient number of containers to fully contain waste;
• When cleaning trash cans/bins, direct wash water to landscaped areas only. Do not allow wash water to reach the sidewalk, street or storm drain;
• Spray the outside of the lid with bleach to deter flies from landing on those surfaces;
• Rinse recyclables to remove food remains prior to placing in the blue bin.
Questions? Contact the Transportation & Storm Water Department (street sweeping) at (619) 527-3482 and Environmental Services Department (trash/recycling) at (858) 694-7000.
City to install hundreds of community bike racks
In its continuing effort to improve bicycle infrastructure, a key strategy of the City’s Climate Action Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the City announced plans to install hundreds of bicycle racks in neighborhoods citywide. The City is seeking input via local Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) to provide community recommendations for these additional racks.
“These new bicycle racks will encourage more folks to get around on two wheels instead of four,” said Mayor Kevin Faulconer. “As we continue to improve transportation options citywide, it’s important to provide an orderly place for cyclists and casual riders to store their bikes so the public spaces in our neighborhoods are free from clutter.”
The new bike racks will complement the improved and developing bicycle infrastructure and offer more places to safely secure bicycles.
Cyclists interested in locating existing bike racks can use the City’s interactive online map at sandiego.gov/tsw/programs/bicycle
Auditions open for Master Chorale
The San Diego Master Chorale will hold auditions for its 2018-19 season, 6-9:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 9, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, at the First United Methodist Church, 2111 Camino del Rio S., Mission Valley. To sign up, visit sdmasterchorale.org and click on “auditions.” To request another audition time, e-mail SDMCappm@gmail.com
Highlights of the season include music from Brahms and Beethoven to the Beatles and other contemporary stars, plus the annual Messiah sing-a-long and Noel Noel Christmas special with the San Diego Symphony.
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E-mail details and attach a related photo, if possible, to PB Monthly editor Susan DeMaggio at editor@lajollalight.com or call (858) 875-5950