La Jolla News Nuggets, September 15

Sept. 20 will be ‘Joe LaCava Day’ in SD

The City of San Diego plans to proclaim Tuesday, Sept. 20 as “Joe LaCava Day” in the City of San Diego in recognition of the La Jolla resident, community activist and one-time City Council candidate. The honor includes a proclamation at City Hall in Council Chambers at 10 a.m.

“As a person with a history of community activism, Council President Sherri Lightner is interested in honoring those that go above and beyond for their community,” explained director of communications Jennifer Kearns. “Also, because she’s terming out, she wanted to honor those that have helped her succeed in terms of getting projects done in the community. … Joe has done a lot for the community of Bird Rock before Bird Rock was being taken seriously at the City Council level.”

LaCava is a longtime La Jolla resident and has served on more than 20 local boards, and has participated on 12 boards where he was either appointed by the City or elected by his peers. Among them: State of California Environmental Health Specialist Registration Committee, City of San Diego Consolidated Plan Advisory Board, San Diego Climate Action Plan Implementation Working Group, La Jolla Community Planning Association La Jolla Traffic & Transportation Board, Save the La Jolla Post Office Task Force, Bird Rock Community Council, Muirlands Middle School School Site Council and Bird Rock Elementary School School Site Council.

Father Joe’s Villages has new housing plans

In order to address the needs of San Diego’s homeless population, Father Joe’s Villages announced four new scattered-site permanent housing programs. According to CEO Deacon Jim Vargas, Father Joe’s Villages will also re-focusing existing programs to maintain its most effective services to end homelessness and retain financial viability.

“A growing part of San Diego’s homeless crisis is the lack of permanent affordable housing – our city has a vacancy rate of nearly zero,” said Deacon Jim. “We’re leading the way by investing in nationwide best practices to solve homelessness while remaining committed to addressing each person’s unique barriers to achieving self-sufficiency.”

The new permanent housing programs run by Father Joe’s Villages include services to address the challenging needs of veterans, young adults, single men and women, and San Diego’s most chronically homeless individuals. To accomplish this increase in permanent housing, some of the beds that currently provide transitional housing are being repurposed. The organization will add permanent housing for single adults at its Commercial and 15th property and for young adults ages 18-24 at the Toussaint Center at 5th & Ash. Additional individuals will also be served in scattered-site housing throughout San Diego county. The agency will continue to serve teens at its St. Vincent de Paul Village campus in the East Village. These changes allow Father Joe’s Villages to prioritize solutions that meet the long-term needs of San Diego’s homeless individuals.

Father Joe’s Villages’ shifts in programming are part of a strategy to focus more on the most pressing needs of San Diego’s homeless. In total, the changes will provide permanent housing for 225 more people and convert 134 transitional housing beds, bringing the agency’s total offerings to 947 permanent housing units, 214 transitional housing beds and 488 interim housing beds. Visit neighbor.org for ways get involved and donate to help end homelessness.

Researchers on path to an AIDS vaccine

Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute and the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative recently published a series of studies that have the potential to lead to a vaccine that prevents HIV infection. The studies show that the immune system can be prompted to mimic and accelerate a rare natural process during which antibodies slowly evolve to become better and better at targeting the constantly mutating HIV virus. Researchers plan to test the vaccine in an upcoming human clinical trial.

iPhone and iPad class goes digital

Eva Dunlap, who teaches iPhone and iPad classes at La Jolla Community Center twice a week for those in their silvers who need a little technological help, has expanded her offerings to include a website.

“For the past few years, I have been working with adults and seniors over the age of 45 to help them manage their mobile devices and safely navigate the Web. I have taught several seminars, workshops, classes and one-on-one sessions to help this group become comfortable with their digital selves,” she explained.

The launch of her website, “Digital Citizen” makes these resources available to a broader audience. “The goal is for this to be something that a senior could use people to understand the mobile devices and be comfortable and confident,” she said. The website includes subscription opportunities, forums and more and is available at digitalcitizen.vhx.tv

“There are hundreds of videos cataloging the various apps and subjects I teach. The videos cover basic touches like scrolling and swiping to complex apps and concepts such as Uber and understanding iCloud. I want seniors to use their devices and use them well,” she said.

In working with the La Jolla Communtiy Center, Dunlap said she became familiar with the challenges seniors face in trying to use unfamiliar technology, but the importance for this group in particular in mastering it.

“Seniors can benefit more from using technology than almost any other group. With smart phones they can book rides for doctor’s appointments, manage their medications, remember where they put things, video chat with family and so much more. Proper execution of those tasks can reduce senior isolation and of course help them regain their independence and confidence. It is my goal to help as many people as I possibly can overcome the stress and anxiety that they feel when attempting to communicate via technology.”

Who will be ‘Financial Advisor of the Year’?

The La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology will host the San Diego Advisor of the Year event, 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27 at 9420 Athena Circle. The non-profit Advisor of the Year organization recognizes and celebrates those who provide extraordinary service and value to owners of middle market companies in their sale, expansion or recapitalization.

The nomination process is open at sdadvisoroftheyear.com, where tickets for the event can be purchased at $125. Those nominated must be based in San Diego County at the time of the deal. The deadline for entries is Sept. 30.

Senior citizens sought for volunteer patrol

The San Diego Police Department’s Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol (RSVP), Northern Division, seeks volunteers to serve La Jolla, University City, UTC, Pacific and Mission Beaches, Bay Park and Clairemont.

RSVP duties include patrolling neighborhoods as additional eyes and ears for the police department. Volunteers assist uniformed officers with directing traffic, making deliveries to various courts, searching for stolen vehicles using computer-driven license plate readers, and ticketing vehicles parked illegally in handicap spaces and Red Zones.

RSVP volunteers also visit elderly residents living alone to check on their safety and welfare, and check homes for residents on vacation. Volunteers must be at least age 50 and possess a California drivers license. There are flexible schedules, a minimum of three days per month service, and time out for vacations.

To learn more, contact SDPD’s Northern Division RSVP at (858) 552-1737 or e-mail sdpdNorthern@pd.sandiego.gov and request a ride along.

Torrey Pines Hilton Hotel manager retires

Patrick Duffy, general manager of the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines since 2004, has retired from his 44-year career with Hilton. Under his leadership, the landmark hotel famous for its views of the Pacific Ocean and the legendary Torrey Pines Golf Course, completed a multimillion-dollar phased renovation of all 394 guest rooms, its 30,000 square feet of meetings space, restaurant and lounge, pool and sundeck. Duffy was also past president of the San Diego Hotel Association, as well as a founding member of the San Diego Tourism Marketing District board of directors, and the Mayor’s Citizen Task Force on the San Diego Convention Center.

Volunteers needed to tutor young readers

Everyone a Reader program is looking for volunteer tutors to read with students at Kate Sessions Elementary School, 2150 Beryl St., in Pacific Beach. Training is provided. If interested, contact Pat Kreder, volunteer coordinator, at (619) 405-8172 or e-mail grandykreder@gmail.com Everyone a Reader is sponsored by the San Diego County Office of Education.

JFS has free rides to Jewish High Holy Days

The Jewish Family Service of San Diego is offering free rides to Jewish New Year (Oct. 3-4) and Yom Kippur (Oct. 12) holidays for adults, ages 60 or older, who are unable to attend religious services due to lack of transportation. Rides are provided door-to-door throughout San Diego via the On the Go program. The deadline to sign up for the service is Sept. 20 at jfssd.org/onthego or by calling (858) 637-3210.