Home Start, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to child abuse prevention and providing evidence-based family strengthening services, celebrated its annual Blue Ribbon Gala on April 27, at The US Grant Hotel. The event raised more than $120,000 for funding its crucial programs and assistance services. “On behalf of all of us at Home Start, I am incredibly grateful for the many individuals and businesses who supported our most important fundraiser of the year. This funding helps transform the future of vulnerable local children, families, and individuals. As dedicated advocates, we express ..read more

The City of Chula Vista is seeking input from residents on infrastructure funding priorities, through a new survey available in both English and Spanish. To continue upgrading and maintaining streets, sidewalks, underground storm drains, as well as improve parks, recreation facilities and other local infrastructure, the City Council is considering placing a measure on the November 2024 ballot to renew the Measure P half-cent sales tax for an additional 10 years at the current rate. As the City evaluates options for continuing to protect services and keep the community well-maintained, resident ..read more

There is no doubt students throughout the region—the nation, actually—in the coming days will experience the sort of relief that comes with a unloading a heavy burden that’s been carried for months. School is out of session. Summer break has arrived and for the time being most of their worries will be focussed on how to fill the empty, unstructured days. But there are children, and parents, who will face a different sort of anxiety that accompanies school break. Hunger. Many students rely on programs that provide free or subsidized meals while school is in session, but once the classrooms go d ..read more

The Chula Vista Police Department announced that Captain Dan Peak filled the position of Assistant Chief Phil Collum passed away after a short battle with cancer on April 12. In a step to move forward, Chief Roxana Kennedy announced the promotion of assistant chief of police on May 23. Peak, like his predecessor, will help oversee the department’s overall operations and community engagement strategies. “We must also find the strength to carry on – for Phil, for each other, for the organization, and for the community we serve,” stated Kennedy in the press release. Assistant Chief Peak began his ..read more

I am delighted to connect with you and share some of the wonderful achievements and opportunities at Southwestern College. We are truly honored and grateful to serve the South San Diego County community, and this year, our commitment to excellence is evident in the remarkable accomplishments of our students and the exceptional quality of our programs. Dr. Mark Sanchez For the 2023 – 2024 academic calendar, I am thrilled to announce that Southwestern awarded an impressive 2,886 degrees and certificates. This achievement underscores the dedication and hard work of our students, faculty, and staf ..read more

Chula Vista City Council approved its 2024-25 budget on May 21. The $595.2 million budget expands homeless services, increases Park and Recreation programming, enhances public safety by adding fire personnel for a new Bayfront fire station, additional staff to support community engagement, engineering for infrastructure projects, and funding to open and operate Casa Casillas, a community space dedicated to art. “The city has positioned itself to continue providing quality services and making widespread improvements,” said City Manager Maria V. Kachadoorian in a press release. “We have made gre ..read more

The Metro Conference has served up its share of softball dynasties in the past, Mater Dei Catholic and Bonita Vista being prolific ones to remember. Mater Dei Catholic posted San Diego Section Division IV championships from 2010 to 2013 following a runner-up finish in the division in 2002 (as Marian Catholic). The Lady Crusaders graduated to the Division II level, winning the title in 2014, and continued to move up to the Open Division while winning championships in 2019 and 2021. The level of excellence has since continued with a Division I championship in 2022 and runner-up finish in 2023. B ..read more

Gemini, Charming, Humorous, Curious June, the wedding month (two becoming one) belongs to Gemini, sign of the twins (think in twos – two minds, two eyes, two hands, two legs and arms). Gemini, the first air sign, is versatile, communicative, witty, adaptable, intelligent, youthful, lively, illustrating and exhibiting duality everywhere. Gemini can also be tense, excitable, nervous, inconsistent (on the way to a dinner party with everyone expecting them, they find something more interesting to do), curious yet uncomfortable with depth psychology. Gemini, the third sign (after Aries and Taurus ..read more

The Nancy Jamison Fund for Social Justice honored six individuals for their impact of social justice work in their communities. The Nancy Jamison Fund for Social Justice awards $50,000 in unrestricted funding to two local leaders advancing racial equity and social justice in San Diego County. The fund opened nominations in October 2023 and closed them December 30, 2023. More than 200 nominations were received. Six finalists met with the entire Grants Committee for in-depth conversations, and from there, two recipients were chosen. In addition to the two recipients, the four finalists each rece ..read more

My hope for the young men and women transitioning out of high school and college classrooms and into the messy and challenging world outside academia is that they enthusiastically and unapologetically become our new greatest generation. Greater greatests, if you will. In 1998 journalist Tom Brokaw’s book “The Greatest Generation” was published and met with adulation as he chronicled the lives of the men and women who came of age during the years preceding and including World War II. “The Greatest Generation was formed first by the Great Depression. They shared everything— meals, jobs, clothing ..read more