Dec. 11, 2012
Duty-Free Store Opens at Lindbergh Field
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Monday officially opening the first duty free store at San Diego International Airport. Operated by Duty Free Americas, the store reflects significant growth in international service at the airport, which now connects San Diego nonstop to Asia, Europe, Canada and Mexico. Located post-security in Terminal 2 East, near international gates 21 and 22, the 1,249-square-foot store sells chocolate, perfumes and colognes, purses, liquor, tobacco, and other common duty free products. The Airport Authority said that the level of international enplanements now supports a duty free store because of new service to Tokyo, which began on Dec. 2, in addition to current international service to London, Mexico and Canada.
Freedom Station USA Purchases
Facility for Injured Veterans
San Diego-based Freedom Station USA, a nonprofit organization, has purchased a 12-unit housing facility and recovery support center for injured former armed services members. The local offices of HFF (Holliday Fenoglio Fowler) donated commercial real estate services to assist in the acquisition of the facility, which provides a transitional environment for the injured veterans as they return to life outside of the military. Freedom Station originally leased and opened the 12-unit housing complex, also named Freedom Station, in May 2010. The facility is located near Naval Medical Center San Diego. To finance the purchase, HFF secured a loan with a local bank on behalf of Freedom Station USA.
Mission Valley Hotel Sells for $85 Million
Carey Watermark Investors has purchased the Courtyard San Diego Mission Valley/Hotel Circle, a 317-room hotel in Mission Valley, for $85 million. The transaction was arranged by Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels. The property underwent a major renovation in 2008 as part of its conversion to a Courtyard Marriott.
Kalemkiarian Appointed to Water Quality Control Board
Sharon Kalemkiarian, 56, of San Diego, has been appointed to the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board by Gov. Brown. Kalemkiarian is a partner at the law firm of Ashworth Blanchet Christenson and Kalemkiarian, where she has worked since 2000. She was director of Project Heartbeat at the San Diego County Bar Association from 1996 until 2000 and supervising attorney of the child advocacy clinic at the University of San Diego School of Law from 1993 until 1996. Kalemkiarian was a clerk for Gordon Thompson, chief judge of the Southern District of California, from 1989 until 1991. She earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of San Diego School of Law. The position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Kalemkiarian is a Democrat.
NRC to Discuss Restart Plan for San Onofre Plant
Nuclear Regulatory Commission authorities will meet with Southern California Edison officials next week to discuss a restart plan for the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, City News Service reports. The plant has been shut down since a leak was discovered in one of two nuclear reactors at the end of January. The other reactor was off-line for planned maintenance — and neither has operated since. According to the NRC, the Dec. 18 meeting will focus on SCE’s October response to a list of actions the agency requires before a restart would be considered. The utility is the majority owner and operator of the plant. San Diego Gas & Electric owns a 20 percent share and receives 20 percent of the power it creates.
Arthur and Molli Wagner Donate $2.2 Million
to Student Production Fund at UC San Diego
Arthur Wagner, founding chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance at UC San Diego, and his wife, Molli, are gifting $2.2 million to endow the Division of Arts and Humanities Student Production Fund at the university. The couple announced the gift, saying they are concerned that professional training opportunities are vanishing because of shrinking budgets. As a result of budgetary cuts at the University of California, funds for student productions have all but dried up. “It is time to launch a fundraising effort that will sustain the future quality of theater at UC San Diego, one of the top programs in the nation,” said Wagner, professor emeritus. “We need to ensure that the show goes on for students. Thanks to their experience in student productions and the training they receive, our alumni make significant contributions in film, television, Broadway, off-Broadway and at major regional theaters.” The Wagners agreed to be co-chairs of a Student Production Fund initiative that seeks to generate a $7 million endowment in support for student performances.
Higgs Fletcher & Mack Hires its 70th Attorney
Geoffrey Thorne has been hired as an associate of the San Diego-based law firm Higgs Fletcher & Mack, bringing its attorney staffing level to 70. Thorne started at Higgs as a law clerk in August 2012 and upon passing the State Bar exam last month was promoted to an associate. His practice will concentrate in the areas of business litigation, tort and insurance defense as well as personal injury. While earning his law degree at UC Berkeley School of Law, Thorne served as a judicial extern to Judge Jeffrey B. Barton at the San Diego Superior Court and as a clinical intern at the East Bay Community Law Center.
Attorneys Win State Bar Award for Pro Bono
Legal Services to Casa Cornelia Law Center
Attorneys Marlene Stanger and Teodora Purcell of Fragomen, an immigration law firm, have received the State Bar of California’s Wiley W. Manual Award for Pro Bono Legal Services. They were honored at an event organized by San Diego’s Casa Cornelia Law Center on Dec. 4 in Del Mar. The award, given to legal professionals who contribute at least 50 hours of pro bono legal services, came from the work they performed with Casa Cornelia. There, they provide pro bono services for the preparation of Violence Against Women Act immigrant petitions for the spouses and/or children of U.S. citizens or residents who are the victims of domestic violence.Stanger, a former newspaper and magazine journalist and freelance writer/ghostwriter, has been practicing immigration law for over 13 years. Purcell handles numerous employment and family-based immigration cases, as well as removal defense, naturalization and other special immigrant cases.
San Diego Self Storage Sponsors
14th Annual Holiday Toy Drive
San Diego Self Storage is sponsoring its 14th annual holiday toy drive benefiting Toys for Tots by collecting toys at each of its 18 locations throughout the greater San Diego region. During the toy drive, all San Diego Self Storage facilities will also be conducting raffles for a $100 credit toward a tenant’s storage rental. Individuals may enter the raffle by signing up when dropping off a new, unwrapped toy. The collection ends at 6 p.m. on Dec. 18 with final toy delivery on Dec. 19 and the drawings will be held at each location on December 20. The drive will continue with a collection at the San Diego Charger home game scheduled for Dec. 16 at Qualcomm stadium. San Diego Self Storage facilities are located in Carlsbad; Carmel Valley; Eastlake; Encinitas; Golden Triangle; Jamacha Point; La Jolla; Mira Mesa; National City; Escondido; Olivenhain; Otay Crossing; Otay Mesa; Poway; Solana Beach; Sorrento Mesa; Temecula and Sorrento Valley. For addresses,visit www.sandiegoselfstorage.com.
The Daily Business Report is produced by SD METRO. Contact: Manny Cruz (619) 287-1865. manny@sandiegometro.com.
