When the sun goes down in San Diego, the curtain goes up. You may not know it, but our town is a theater mecca. Folks in New York know …. but here, not so much. Theatermakers love to come to San Diego to try out new work — or just to work. We have two Tony Award-winning regional theaters (the Old Globe and La Jolla Playhouse). We send more shows to Broadway than almost any other city in the U.S. We also have nearly 100 other local theater companies, large and small, including an impressive array of college and university training programs with a high profile on the national theater map. Theater reviewer Pat Launer tells you more in the March issue of SD METRO and online at sandiegometro.com. (Photo: Cast of “Little Miss Sunshine” that runs through March 27 at the La Jolla Playhouse.)
South Bay Power Plant’s Days Are Numbered
South Bay Power Plant
The last days of the South Bay Power Plant in Chula Vista are at hand. The Port of San Diego and the city of Chula Vista have begun expediting the removal of the plant from the city’s bayfront. Port District staff and city staff have met to discuss a joint demolition and
planning process to remove the plant’s physical structure from the site it occupies at 990 Bay Boulevard. A presentation on the joint planning effort was given at Tuesday’s Board of Port Commissioners meeging. “The joint cooperative arrangement is very forward-looking,” said Chula Vista Mayor Cheryl Cox. “Our interest is having the power plant come down quickly, but in a way that is safe and reliable. When it’s gone, it will bring more opportunities to the port and the city.”
San Diego Gas & Electric was the first operator of the plant when it began generating power in 1960. It was acquired by the Port District in 1999 to pave the way for its removal. It has been operated over the subsequent years by Duke Energy, LS Power and Dynegy.
Redistricting Meetings Set
Supervisorial Districts
The county’s redistricting advisory committee has scheduled a series of public meetings during April and May to give the public an opportunity to participate in the redistricting process. State law requires the Board of Supervisors to adjust the boundaries of the county’s five supervisorial districts every 10 years to balance their populations, based on the federal census. Meetings will be held in each of the five supervisorial districts. A schedule can be found on the redistricting Website: sdcounty.ca.gov/redistricting. In June, the committee will prepare a report to the board that will include up to three proposed redistricting plans. The board will hold its own public hearing, followed by introduction and adoption of a redistricting plan that will take effect in early September.
Panel to Study Embarcadero Plan
The Port District‘s Citizens Advisory Committee will hold the first of a series of meetings on the North Embarcadero Plan on March 16 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in the Embarcadero Planning Center, 585 Harbor Lane. The committee will focus on the North Embarcadero master plan amendment and a draft environmental report. Meetings will be held over the next six months. The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for March 30 when Port staff will present a planning background and framework for the validation and update of the 2005 North Embarcadero Visionary Plan schematic design and potential new alignments for Harbor Drive.
Seminar Addresses Product Launches
Life science and high-tech company executives looking for more efficient ways to launch new products onto the market are invited to a free business breakfast March 30 sponsored by Switzerland Trade and Investment Promotion with partners Mass Device, Resources Global and KPMG. It will be held from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Marriott Del Mar, 11966 El Camino Real, in San Diego. The seminar discusses how firms are effectively engaging the differing regulatory bodies in the U.S. and Europe. Registration and information is available by e-mail: elizabeth.tesolin@idglobalpartners.com.
Grossmont College President to speak in India
Grossmont College President Sunny Cooke has been selected as a keynote speaker at a community college symposium to be held this month in New Delhi, India. The symposium is part of a U.S. State Department program designed to facilitate binational dialogue and to assist in the development of the community college and technical education systems in India. The March 14-15 conference in India, titled the “National Symposium on 21st Century Community Colleges: Strengthening Workforce Development in India for the Global Economy,” is expected to draw U.S. and Indian leaders from higher education, industry and government. Cooke’s speech, titled “The Role of Community Colleges in Workforce and Economic Development: Realities, Possibilities and Future Considerations,” will cover macroeconomic issues, lessons learned and sustainable best practices in workforce training and education. Other topics to be discussed at the conference include the purpose and mission of community colleges, curriculum development and business partnerships.
Attorney Joins Goodwin Procter’s San Diego Office
Deborah L. Schrier-Rape has joined Goodwin Procter’s San Diego law office in its business law department. Her practice will focus on bankruptcy, insolvency, out-of-court restructurings and creditors’ rights. She joined the firm from her own firm in Dallas, where she practiced since 2002. Schrier-Rape previously was a partner at Andrews & Kurth in Dallas. She holds a bachelor’s degree from DePauw University and her law degree from Stanford Law School.
Small Business Workshops:
• March 11 – Financial Statements: What They Mean, How to Use Them – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $29, $39 at the door).
• March 12 – QuickBooks Basic – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).
• March 12 – Internet Marketing 101: Use the Internet to Successfully Market Your Business – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).
• March 14 – Business Basics 101 – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; No charge – please preregister).
• March 15 – Hiring and Managing Employees – 9 a.m. to noon at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).
• March 17 – California Sales and Use Tax Basics – 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $29, $39 at the door).
• March 18 – Women’s Networking Breakfast & Exhibits – 8 to 11 a.m. at Morgan Run Resort & Club (5690 Cancha de Golf, Rancho Santa Fe 92091; Attendees: $30 by March 15, $40 thereafter; Exhibitors: $80 by March 15, $90 thereafter).
• March 19 – Introduction to Starting Your Own Business – 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).
• March 19 – Business Plan 201: How to Write a Winning Business Plan – 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $99, $109 at the door).
The Daily Business Report is produced by REP Publishing Inc., publisher of SD METRO, the North Park News, Kensington News and the West Coast Craftsman. (619) 906-4104.
