WIND ADVISORY ISSUED: FOG, FROST , SNOW ALSO POSSIBLE IN MUCH OF REGION
December 25, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – A wind advisory has been issued by the National Weather Service for mountains and deserts in East County from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, December 26. Gusts up to 50 mph may occur near ridge tops. Winds may make driving difficult, also producing blowing sand in desert areas. A hazardous weather outlook has also been issued for southwestern California. Wednesday through Monday, a cold low-pressure system will bring light to moderate rain, with snow down to 4500 feet in mountain areas, along with strong winds. Frost is possible in valleys and upper deserts Wednesday and Thursday nights. Along coastal areas, a winds may create hazardous conditions for small crafts.When driving in mountain areas, be sure to carry warm clothing, food, water, and tire chains for higher elevations.
LAWYERS CLUB OF SAN DIEGO AWARDS $16,000 IN GRANTS, 3 SCHOLARSHIPS AT ANNUAL HOLIDAY LUNCHEON
December 27, 2012 (San Diego)–Lawyers Club of San Diego presented grants totaling $16,000 to three local nonprofit organizations and awarded three law student scholarships at its annual holiday luncheon December 13, 2012. Lawyers Club, through its Fund for Justice, awarded grants to Voices for Children in support of its Infant and Toddler program, to Casa Cornelia Law Center in support of its programs helping provide pro bono legal services to indigent immigrants in the San Diego community, and to the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program in support of its domestic violence clinic and the annual Women’s Resource Fair. Lawyers Club also collected more than $10,000 in donations at the holiday luncheon to support future grants awarded by the Fund for Justice. The Fund for Justice was established in 1999 and awards grants to provide education, research, funding and programming to address social issues and specific problems relating to women and children in San Diego County. It is a donor-directed fund at The San Diego Foundation (Fund #6137). The Fund for Justice awarded its first grant in March 2000 and since then has provided 59 grants to 22 different organizations. More than $239,000 has been donated to the Lawyers Club Fund for Justice through contributions by individuals and through the support of past Lawyers Club events. The next fundraising event,“Red, White and Brew,” a wine and beer tasting, will be held January 31, 2013 at the San Diego Wine & Culinary Center. Lawyers Club also presented scholarships to students from each of the three area law schools at the holiday luncheon, recognizing students who embody the mission of Lawyers Club. Scholarship winners included Darlene Rabina, a third-year student at the University of San Diego School of Law; Melissa Mack, a second-year student at California Western School of Law; and Amy Loutit, a second-year student at Thomas Jefferson School of Law. Rabina, a second-generation Filipina-American, grew up helping run her family’s elderly care home. During law school, she helped co-found the California Chapter of the nonprofit organization Bagong-Kulturang Pilipino, Inc., which opens mini-libraries in impoverished areas of the Philippines and has donated more than 20,000 in books since inception. In her first year with the organization, Rabina helped collect more than 5,000 books and went to the Philippines to supervise the creation of three libraries. Rabina received the Lawyers Club of San Diego Honorable Lynn Schenk Scholarship, which was established to honor past Lawyers Club president, USD School of Law alumna and former U.S. Congresswoman Lynn Schenk, and to provide financial support to a student member of Lawyers Club. Mack, who received the Lawyers Club of San Diego Janeen Kerper Scholarship, has worked extensively in the area of family violence intervention and prevention. She hopes to pursue a legal career focused on those who have been victimized based on their gender, and specifically, to engage in this work on an international level to change cultural beliefs and laws that continue to treat women unequally. The Lawyers Club of San Diego Janeen Kerper Scholarship was established to provide financial support to a student enrolled at California Western School of Law who demonstrates support of the mission of Lawyers Club and is academically among the top 50 percent of his or her law school class. Loutit dedicates her time to working with homeless adolescent women, advocating for fair treatment under the law regardless of residency or economic status, and working for change where minors’ access to reproductive healthcare continues to build barriers to success. Her goal is to pursue a career with the California State Department of Education in order to consult with schools about how to better enforce civil rights laws in their school districts. Loutit received the Lawyers Club Women and the Law Project Scholarship, which is awarded to a Thomas Jefferson School of Law student who demonstrates support of the mission of Lawyers Club, is academically among the top 50 percent of her or his law school class and has completed one year of law school. More than 300 Lawyers Club members and friends attended the holiday luncheon, held at The Westin San Diego hotel. Lawyers Club, founded in 1972 with the mission “to advance the status of women in the law and society,” now has more than 1000 members and celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2012.
HOUSE PASSES REP. SUSAN DAVIS’ BILL TO NAME NEW COURTHOUSE
December 27, 2012 (San Diego) – Congresswoman Susan Davis moved to put the finishing touches on the new federal courthouse downtown when her bill to name the building passed the House of Representatives. After extensive input from the San Diego legal community, Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) introduced legislation to have Judges James M. Carter and Judith N. Keep on San Diego’s new federal courthouse. “Displaying true dedication to public service, both Judge Carter and Judge Keep worked tirelessly on and off the bench to better the San Diego community,” said Davis. “The new San Diego Courthouse will be a fitting testament to their careers and inspire others in the community to continue to follow their path.” As the representative for the 53rd Congressional District that includes downtown, Davis put the question to San Diego’s legal community. After extensive discussion, the names of two trailblazing jurists emerged. Judge James M. Carter was instrumental in establishing the Southern District of California and was its first Chief Judge. Judge Judith N. Keep was the first female Chief Judge of the Southern District. The San Diego County Bar Association endorsed Davis’s legislation. In a letter of support, SDBCA President Marvin E. Mizell wrote: “Judge Carter and Judge Keep served the public with distinction and truly reflected the San Diego legal community’s shared values of excellence and integrity.” The San Diego City Council unanimously approved a resolution in favor of Davis’s bill. With passage in the House, the bill heads to the Senate for consideration.
TAKE TROLLEY EARLY IF YOU’RE GOING TO HOLIDAY BOWL PARADE AND GAME DEC. 27
MTS urges fans to be on board the Trolley at least 3 hours before game and 2 hours before Parade December 26, 2012 (San Diego) –The Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) will expand Trolley service on December 27 to accommodate the increased ridership to the Port of San Diego Big Bay Balloon Parade and Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl game at Qualcomm Stadium. Even with the extra service, fans will need to begin their trip to these special events extra-early given the huge crowds going to the Parade in the morning and the game in the afternoon. Expanded Green Line for Parade: Parade-goers boarding Green Line stations west of Qualcomm will enjoy extra service to downtown between 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Destination stations for parade viewing are America Plaza (Blue & Orange) or Santa Fe Depot (Orange & Green). There will also be extra service returning to Mission Valley after the Parade between 11:45 am through 12:45 p.m. Holiday Bowl Pre Game Service: Starting at 1:55 p.m., enhanced Green Line service begins from the 12th & Imperial Transit Center and continues until 6:10 p.m. MTS Trolley urges all fans to board Trolleys bound for Qualcomm between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. in order to be in their seats to see the pregame ceremonies at 6:15 p.m. and the 6:45 p.m. kick-off between Baylor University and UCLA. Fans can park for free at many MTS park-and-rides to avoid traffic and save money while enjoying the events, but lots near the Stadium such as Grantville, Hazard Center (Lower Level only), Morena/Linda Vista, Old Town, 70th Street, and Grossmont are expected to fill up by 5:00 p.m. or before, while park-and-ride lots at stations further out like El Cajon Transit Center, Gillespie Field and Santee Town Center, or on the Orange and Blue Lines are not expected to fill to capacity. Fans that start their trip on a Blue or Orange Line can transfer to the Green Line in downtown San Diego either at 12th & Imperial Transit Center or Santa Fe Depot. Fans boarding in East County can transfer from the Orange Line to the Green Line at the Grossmont Center Station. Every rider age 6 and older must have a valid Trolley one-way ticket or Day Pass. Commemorative Day Passes are on sale now at the Transit Store. On game day Commemorative Day Passes will be available at select Trolley stations kiosks and accept only cash. A regular Day Pass on Compass Card can be purchased at all stations ticket vending machines using cash, credit or debit card for $7. Once you have a Compass Card, the cost of a 1-Day Pass is $5. Coaster riders who purchase the $12 RegionPlus Day Pass can transfer to any Trolley at Old Town. Coaster riders who purchase an online Coaster round-trip ticket must also purchase a Trolley Day Pass at Old Town before boarding the Trolley. Expanded Green Line – Post Green Line Service MTS expects to provide almost 20,000 fans a ride to and from Qualcomm Stadium and urges fans to be patient and expect at least a 60-minute wait at the Qualcomm Stadium station after the game. Enhanced Green Line service will begin as soon as the game ends, with departures approximately every 5 to 7 minutes. Expanded service will continue until the station is cleared. Coaster riders should allow plenty of travel time after the game to return to Old Town to catch their return train. The last east-bound trolley departure from Qualcomm to Santee will be at 11:37 p.m. The last west-bound Trolley to Old Town and downtown will be at 12:30 a.m. Bowl Game Travel Tips: Avoid rush hour congestion, travel 2 to 3 hours early, to allow plenty of time to get to the stadium and pre-game festivities. Enjoy post-game presentations and avoid the crowds leaving the stadium immediately after the game. Purchase a Day Pass before boarding to expedite your post-game trip. Fans staying in downtown or Mission Valley hotels are encouraged to walk to the closest Trolley station. Park-and-ride lots closer to Qualcomm Stadium fill up first. Plan to arrive early; since the game is on a weekday, many park-and-ride lots will already be full with regular commuters. (Cars parked in unauthorized lots could be towed.) The locations of all Trolley Station park-and-rides are posted on: http://www.sdmts.com/Trolley/holidayBowl.asp. MTS Bus and Rail Routes Serve Popular Visitor Destinations Visitors in town for the game can also take MTS Bus and Trolley routes to most of the region’s popular visitor attractions such as Balboa Park (Route 3, 7 and 120), the San Diego Zoo (Route 7), area beach communities (Routes 8 and 9 to Mission Beach and Pacific Beach; Route 30 to Pacific Beach and La Jolla; Route 901 to Coronado, Silver Strand, and Imperial Beach); Old Town State Historic Park (Green Line and Routes 8, 9, 10, 28, 30, 35, 44, 88, 105, 150) and SeaWorld (Route 9). Day Passes provide unlimited rides on all San Diego Trolley routes and most MTS buses. One-day passes are sold on MTS Buses. One, two, three and four-day Day Passes on Compass Cards are sold at all Trolley ticket vending machines and at The Transit Store at 102 Broadway in downtown San Diego. Purchase price will include a $2 fee for the first Compass Card. To purchase an “empty card” to start your trip on an MTS bus go to any Albertsons Grocery Store or The Transit Store. With a Compass Card, it’s only $5 to reload a 1-Day Pass on the Bus or at a Trolley Station. With proper care, a Compass Card can last up to $5 years. For route and schedule information for all San Diego’s public transit bus and rail routes: Visit www.sdmts.com Call 511; TTY/TDD at (619) 685-4900 Call InfoExpress (automated information system) at (619) 685-6283 You can text to get arrival times for the next MTS Bus or Trolley route. Using your cell phone, simply text the bus stop’s or trolley station’s unique ID number (posted on bus route