San Diego, CA
Lecture series returns to Birch Aquarium with an eco-positive spin
For more than two decades, Birch Aquarium in La Jolla has hosted a lecture series aiming to shed light on worldwide research conducted by scientists at its home, UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography. But this year’s version of the Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series is unique for two reasons.
First, it will align with a theme of eco-optimism. And it will be the first series held at the aquarium’s new exhibition “Living Seas.”
The Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series enables scientists to share their research with the public in distinct presentations.
Octavio Aburto, a marine ecologist and Scripps Oceanography professor, will kick off the series Monday, Sept. 8.
Then on Monday, Oct. 6, Scripps professor Brad Moore and his graduate student Natalie Grayson will discuss the institution’s Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine and its connections to society.
On Monday, Nov. 10, Scripps assistant professor of biological oceanography Colleen Petrik will talk about her research on computer-simulated ocean ecosystems, as well as sustainable commercial fisheries and ecosystems.
Aburto arrived at Scripps in 2003 and got a faculty position a decade later. The Mexico-born researcher has long conducted studies in the Gulf of California and will be appearing in the series for the third time.
In lectures more than a decade ago, he discussed sea mounts in the gulf and the formation of Cabo Pulmo National Park, a marine protected area.
This year, he will deliver a recap of 25 years of gulf research, discuss why long-term monitoring programs matter and explore how they can shift conversations about marine conservation.
Central to his lecture is the rebranding of marine protected areas — parts of the ocean dedicated to conservation purposes — to “marine prosperity areas,” combining conservation, economic growth, environmental responsibility and social policy.
“We are showing that not only in the Gulf of California but in many coastal areas, we need to start promoting prosperity, because not only do we need to restore ecosystems, we need to restore human well-being and start funding blue economies if we really want to change the planet.”
That notion ties into the larger theme of eco-optimism.
Series organizer Cheryl Peach said the aquarium recently constructed broad themes for the lecture series. This year’s talks — two of which are currently unannounced — range “from the development of new, economically grounded strategies for sustaining critical ecosystems and fisheries to innovative research at the intersection of oceanography and human health,” she said.
“Birch Aquarium is the public outreach center for the Scripps Institution of Oceanography,” Peach said. “Whenever possible, we endeavor to tie our ever-evolving exhibits at the aquarium to our speakers’ presentations.”
The reimagined “Living Seas” space marked the aquarium’s biggest capital improvement project since its current facility opened in 1992 at Scripps Oceanography. This year, it will serve as the site of the lecture series.
“The new gallery showcases the wide variety of marine ecosystems studied by Scripps scientists, including those featured in Octavio’s research, and illuminates humankind’s many connections to our living ocean,” Peach said.
Aburto said he’s excited to share his research with aquarium guests of varying ages and backgrounds.
“Every time Birch Aquarium presents a new exhibition, I think it’s part of our goal and our responsibility as an academic institution to inspire not only the community in San Diego but all the visitors that come from many places,” Aburto said.
Each lecture in the series is free for Birch Aquarium members and $12 for non-members. Registration is required. For more information, visit aquarium.ucsd.edu/events/lectures. ♦
San Diego, CA
Carlsbad considering changing e-bike minimum age limit
Right now, there’s not age limit for how old someone has to be to ride an e-bike, but Tuesday Carlsbad City leaders will meet here at the City Council Chambers to discuss the possibility to change that age limit to 12-years-old.
“These kids that are riding on the streets they’re taking up traffic, they should be subject to traffic laws,” Rastagar said.
Salomon owns an e-bike and rides his bike to work.
He said he often sees kids on e-bikes riding unsafely.
“When they change lanes, for example going from a bike lane, which is on the right side turning left, they usually swerve across two, three lanes of traffic without looking, for example, that says the judgement isn’t there,” Rastagar said.
Earlier this year AB2234 passed, allowing cities in unincorporated areas in San Diego County to establish a minimum age for riding e-bikes.
The new law applies to only the class of e-bikes that go 20 miles per hour.
As a result, Tuesday, the Carlsbad City Council will consider approving their traffic and safety mobility commission’s recommendation, that kids 12 and younger…not be allowed to ride e-bikes.
A move that gives residents like Thurza Heim some peace of mind.
“I understand why they love the e-bikes but they are often riding them without helmets, breaking traffic laws, a lot of them are so young they don’t understand the traffic laws,” Thurza Heim said.
Rastagar wishes the minimum age for riding e-bikes would be 16-years-old and teens were required a license before getting behind the handlebars.
He understands the dangers young kids and teens are exposed to on e-bikes because he’s treated patients who have been seriously injured by them.
“I do recall not too long ago a 16-year-old patient who I saw with the aftermath of a skull fracture, crashed on his e-bike,” Rastagar said. “Look at my helmet it’s a regular bike helmet, this thing will work in a 10, 15 mile per hour crash, sometimes these bikes, particularly these e-motorcycles, they’ll hit 30-40 miles an hour.”
Regina doesn’t allow her eleven-year-old daughter to ride an e-bike because she’s seen the dangers firsthand.
“I think it was two years ago, when a car hit a mom with a baby, maybe it was about 2-3 years ago. Unfortunately, mom passed away,” Kagramanyan said.
NBC 7 reached out to the City of Carlsbad for comment and is awaiting a response.
According to Carlsbad police, in the last three years, they’ve issued more than 180 e-bike citations and 230 warnings for violations that include running red lights, failing to stop signs, riding on sidewalks, and engaging in dangerous riding behaviors.
San Diego, CA
Business Roundup: La Jolla gets a string of new arrivals, from mattresses to bagels
November was a busy month for new business arrivals in La Jolla, with a couple of long-anticipated restaurants opening along with other establishments. Here’s a look.
Vispring
This new luxury mattress showroom is at 7464 Girard Ave., replacing Faded Awning, which opened in 2010 and closed in January this year.
Vispring officially ushered in the new business with a grand opening Nov. 4.
The location marks “a strategic expansion into one of Southern California’s most affluent markets,” according to the business’s website. It’s one of its many expansions this year, starting with Orange County in January and New York City and Dallas in June. Additional locations are set to open soon in Washington, D.C.
The company, which sells handmade European mattresses, is celebrating its 125th anniversary. To commemorate the La Jolla opening, Vispring is offering a free Heaven mattress topper with the purchase of a mattress until Thursday, Jan. 1.
Vispring is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Learn more at vispring.com.
Hummingbird Fine Jewelry & Piercing
After a year of planning and building, La Plaza La Jolla’s newest addition is here.
Hummingbird Fine Jewelry & Piercing, a sister location to Enigma Professional Piercing Studios, offers gold and implant-grade titanium jewelry for ear and body piercings. Its focus, co-owner Evan Spencer told the La Jolla Light, is offering “a safe, comfortable and high-end experience” with high-quality jewelry and aseptic technique.
Spencer is the lead piercer and store director, joined by co-owner Didier Suarez and piercer Jenna Bee.
Hummingbird opened Nov. 14 at 7863 Girard Ave. and is slated to host a grand-opening celebration from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6.
“We are extremely enthusiastic about the quality of our products, the level of our service and experience and the safety and care that goes into every service we offer,” Spencer said.
Hummingbird is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day but Wednesdays. Find out more at hummingbirdpiercing.com.
PopUp Bagels
Breakfast is back at 637 Pearl St., with New York chain PopUp Bagels making its local debut Nov. 21.
PopUp Bagels offers fresh-baked bagels and a rotating lineup of schmears ranging from plain cream cheese to spicy buffalo butter. Rather than offering traditional bagels cut in half with cream cheese in the middle, PopUp encourages customers to grip the bagel, rip off a piece and dip it in a cup of schmear.
PopUp Bagels replaces Breakfast Republic, which left the Pearl Street address in March as part of what a representative called a lease buyout from the property owner.
This is PopUp’s first brick-and-mortar location on the West Coast. Its expansion to San Diego was facilitated by San Diego State University graduates Griffin Thall and Paul Goodman, who secured a franchise deal with the corporate team in New York and are now planning 10 PopUp Bagels locations in San Diego County over the next five years.
PopUp Bagels is open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Find out more at popupbagels.com.
Dora Ristorante
This new southern Italian coastal cuisine restaurant opened Nov. 20 at 9165 S. Scholars Drive in the Theatre District Living and Learning Neighborhood at the southwest corner of UC San Diego’s campus, across the street from La Jolla Playhouse.
Dora Ristorante comes from chef Accursio Lota and his wife, Corinne Goria, of La Jolla, the owners of North Park’s popular Cori Trattoria Pastificio.
As part of the couple’s partnership with La Jolla Playhouse, the Dora team will design prix-fixe menus and cocktails themed to each playhouse production.
Hours are 4-9 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays and 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5-9 p.m. Fridays through Sundays. Reservations are available at doralajolla.com.
— San Diego Union-Tribune staff writer Pam Kragen contributed to this report.
La Jolla Business Roundup is published monthly by the La Jolla Light. Send your business news to staff writer Noah Lyons at noah.lyons@lajollalight.com. ♦
San Diego, CA
Regrouping Chargers take on the struggling Raiders
Khalil Mack couldn’t wait to watch and rewatch all that went haywire during the Chargers’ 35-6 loss Nov. 16 to the Jacksonville Jaguars. So, he said he began dissecting the video as the team’s bus departed the stadium for the airport and a cross-country flight home.
Mack didn’t have to do it at that moment, but he was eager to learn what he could from the Chargers’ widest margin of defeat in Jim Harbaugh’s two-season tenure as their coach. He could have waited until after the Chargers’ bye in Week 12 and used it as preparation for Week 13.
But he believed it was best to begin the process of fixing all that went wrong as soon as possible, the better to prepare to face the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday at SoFi Stadium and for the final five regular-season games to follow. Clearly, something was amiss in the game against the Jaguars.
There was no time to waste. So, Mack, a future Hall of Fame outside linebacker, went right to work.
It wasn’t pleasant. It wasn’t fun. It was work.
“I was on the bus, I watched it on the bus on the way to the plane, and some on the plane,” Mack said earlier this week of reviewing the Jacksonville horror show. “So, just to talk through a lot of stuff and correct a lot of stuff and, yeah, looking forward to this opportunity, the next opportunity.”
What did Mack learn from his video study? How can the Chargers improve after hitting rock-bottom during their loss to the Jaguars?
“Just the details, fine-tuning the details,” he said.
No question, it would be a start for a team with a 7-4 record that didn’t play like a team with a 7-4 record against Jacksonville. The Chargers must get back in sync if they are to defeat the Raiders, as expected, and enter the toughest part of their schedule. The Chargers are 9½-point favorites Sunday.
“Fine-tuning the details,” Mack said again and not for the last time.
It didn’t matter that the Chargers are favored to win by more than a touchdown or that their reeling opponent was 2-9 and fired offensive coordinator Chip Kelly after its latest defeat or that the first meeting between the teams was an easy Chargers victory. Mack believed they must get it right Sunday.
“This is no different than any other week, it’s a game we’ve got to win,” said Mack, a nine-time Pro Bowl selection over his 12 seasons in the NFL.
The Chargers’ stretch run gets more difficult after they face the Raiders. They end the regular season with games against the Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans and Denver Broncos, each opponent jockeying for better playoff position.
The Raiders were the Chargers’ sole focus this week, though, and they weren’t sure what they would see from a Las Vegas team that has lost five consecutive, including a 24-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 12. The Raiders’ only wins were over the New England Patriots in Week 1 and the Tennessee Titans in Week 6. The Chargers defeated the Raiders in Week 2.
A change in offensive coordinators, with Greg Olson taking over for Kelly, meant throwing out the game plan, according to Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. He said they would approach Sunday’s game like a Week 1 matchup, focusing more on themselves than on the opposition.
“We spent the majority of the bye week looking at ourselves and then the last part of the week we started on the Raiders,” Minter said. “Obviously, you want to be prepared for the things they like (to run). We need to know where the really good players are that they’re going to feature.”
In the final analysis, the Chargers lost the battle of the offensive and defensive lines in their loss to the Jaguars. They failed to protect quarterback Justin Herbert and didn’t apply sufficient pressure on Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence while also giving up far too much on the ground.
The Jaguars rushed for 192 yards and four touchdowns on 47 attempts.
Harbaugh said Jamaree Salyer would start at left tackle Sunday, the Chargers’ third different starter as Herbert’s blind-side protector after Rashawn Slater suffered a season-ending knee injury during training camp in August and Joe Alt sustained a season-ending ankle injury in Week 9.
The Chargers also could get a boost on their defensive line if Otito Ogbonnia is sound enough to play against the Raiders. He was listed Friday as questionable to play because of an elbow injury that sent him to injured reserve after a loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 7.
“Everybody cares, everybody wants to be good at their work, and that’s what I’ve seen throughout the season,” Harbaugh said of the Chargers’ mindset coming out of the bye week. “The guys came back Monday and I couldn’t have scripted it any better. Every guy was locked in.”
CHARGERS (7-4) vs. RAIDERS (2-9)
When: 1:25 p.m. Sunday
Where: SoFi Stadium
TV/Radio: Ch. 2; 640 AM/94.3 FM (Spanish)
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