Leaders in Action Work for Linda Vista
Plus: Become a Tree Steward, Rockies Frozen Yogurt, Fun Day at the Farmers Market, CiCi's Jewelry at the Farmers Market, Good News About Foster Kittens, Union -Tribune Opinion Essay Addresses Substack
The strength of a community can sometimes be measured by the activism of its residents. There are certainly times when a community benefits greatly from the city, state or federal government’s attention, especially when a community is lucky enough to be the recipient of long planned, well-funded projects. Such projects can do big things like ease the flow of traffic or improve a recreational facility. But the ability and willingness of local residents, working together at the grass roots level to improve the quality of life of their neighborhoods, can also make a significant difference. These grass roots organizations/groups revolve around the concepts of civic engagement, exercising initiative, and being resourceful. The Bayside Community Center in Linda Vista sponsors such a grass roots level group called the Linda Vista Leaders in Action. This small group of local residents is serious about bringing positive change to the Linda Vista community.
In a previous issue of the Linda Vista Update we wrote about Bayside’s Resident Leadership Academy (RLA), a multi-week program that helps train local residents to improve their communities by learning the best ways to address such topics as crime prevention, land use, transportation needs, and healthy food systems. Upon graduation from the program, these individuals have the “new knowledge and access to a support network to help them lead community improvement projects.”
Some graduates of the RLA program have gone on to join local civic organizations like the Linda Vista Planning Group and the Linda Vista Town Council. However, there are several graduates that continue to work with the Bayside Community Center as part of the organization’s Linda Vista Leaders in Action group. This ten to fifteen member group—all graduates of the RLA—meets once a month to organize and take action, and produce results.
At a recent meeting held at Bayside, the Leaders in Action met to continue their work on a project involving tree planting in Linda Vista. The group plans to plant ten trees near the corner of Osler Street and Genesee Avenue. The trees are being planted due to their ability to sequester carbon. Grant funding has already been approved to initially purchase the trees, and support from Tree San Diego (see next article below) has been sought to help with the planting. The group is working on finding a best course of action for maintaining the trees once they are planted. During the meeting, the group coordinated with guest speaker Nilmini Silva-Send, from the University of San Diego’s Energy Policies Initiative Center. She will continue to work with the Leaders group to plan and discuss the next steps for the project.
The Leaders in Action group also spent time during the meeting discussing their plans for coordinating today’s (July 27) Fun Day at the Love, Linda Vista Farmers Market, where the group will provide fun activities for kids while parents shop at vendor booths during the 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm timeframe.
As explained by Bayside Community Center Executive Director Kim Heinle and Associate Director of Development Kevin Renac, the Leaders in Action group has successfully worked on projects pertaining to LV street and park safety, the LV Farmers Market, collaborating on the use of the City’s Get It Done App, and the Linda Vista Community Garden.
There is no doubt that this group of residents is focused on taking action and seeking results.
If you are interested in learning more about the Linda Vista Leaders in Action group, or if you want to attend one of their monthly meetings (open to the public), please contact the Bayside Community Center at baysideinfo@baysidecc.org. You can also see some of these leaders taking action at today’s Fun Day happening at the Love, Linda Vista’s Farmers Market.
Become a Tree Steward
As part of the City’s Climate Action Plan, San Diego has assigned itself quite a a lofty goal of tree canopies covering 35% of our city by 2035. This plan requires the planting of about 100,000 more trees in the next twelve years. That’s a lot of trees!!
If you want to play an active role in San Diego addressing this goal, you may want to pay a visit to Tree San Diego’s web site and see how to become a Tree Steward.
Tree San Diego is a non-profit organization “dedicated to enhancing the quality, density, and sustainability of the region’s urban forests for the benefit of all communities and the environment.” This organization sponsors a program that allows volunteers to complete a Tree San Diego Tree Steward Certification Program conducted via a two-hour workshop held on Zoom.
The program is for anyone who wants to learn more about the benefits and care of trees and help educate one’s local community about San Diego's urban forest.
The workshop takes place bi-monthly the 3rd Saturday of the month. During the workshop, volunteers learn such things as how to plant, water, maintain, and monitor tree health, and how to identify native species and discuss proper care techniques.
Upon completion of the program, certified volunteers will be qualified to do such things as provide new tree care, especially watering, caring for new street trees in and around local communities, and monitor trees for pests and other damage.
If you are interested in becoming a Tree Steward volunteer, you can find out more information here. I recently completed this course and learned a lot about trees, their value and their care. I think you will find it rewarding.
Head to Rockies for a Refreshing Treat
By Olivia Teates (LV Update Summer Intern)
After a walk in the sun, a drive to the beach, or a bike around the neighborhood, there are few things as appetizing or satisfying as a frozen treat. Linda Vista is in luck because Rockies Frozen Yogurt (7612 Linda Vista Road, Suite 114, Mesa College Square) offers an extensive array of refreshing desserts that are sure to be the perfect summer treat on a blazing summer day.
My family and I recently ventured to the Mesa College Square to see if Rockies lives up to its 400 5-star reviews on Google. We went into Rockies hoping for a quick sugar buzz after enjoying a visit to the popular K’s Sandwiches (located in the same plaza), and Rockies’ array of treats did certainly that.
Before reviewing the selection of cold treats the shop has to offer, here is some more general information about Rockies. Rockies’ owner is Mark Calabrese and the shop has been in business since 1993. Not only can you order in-store, but you can now place online orders so your cold treat will be ready ahead of your arrival.
Despite its name, Rockies offers much more than just frozen yogurt. The menu at Rockies includes fruit smoothies, frozen yogurt, acai bowls, milkshakes, sundaes, yogurt pies, floats, chamango, ice blended drinks, coffee shakes, and more.
During our visit to the shop, my family tried a variety of treats to truly embrace the Rockies experience. I ordered Vanilla Cake Batter frozen yogurt and enjoyed the rich flavor and creamy texture. Instead of melting quickly and causing a mess, this frozen yogurt had a perfectly stiff consistency that makes it enjoyable to eat. Instead of just sprinkling the toppings on top of the yogurt like most frozen yogurt shops, the M&M’s and rainbow sprinkles were folded in, hidden between thick layers of delicious yogurt.
My mom tried a Mexican Mocha ice blended drink and here is what she had to say: “The drink had a rich coffee taste, creamy consistency, and reminded me of a frappuccino…but better!” Meanwhile, my dad decided upon a Heath Bar Crunch milkshake. He was enthusiastic in his review, “I definitely received a generous portion of milkshake. The drink had a nice, smooth texture. The Heath Bar seemed to be finely ground and tasted delicious.”
Rockies’ serving sizes are much larger than typical sizes at other shops, and they offer a wide selection of sizes; you can order frozen yogurt in seven different sizes, ranging from “Child” to “Family Size.”
Overall, our experience at Rockies Frozen Yogurt was enjoyable, with a variety of delectable frozen treats and a convenient location in Mesa College Square. If you are looking for a sweet snack after a K’s Sandwich or a refreshing drink after a day in the sun, Rockies Frozen Yogurt should definitely be on the top of your foodie bucket list.
Rockies Frozen Yogurt
Hours: 10 am - 10 pm Monday through Friday
12 pm - 10 pm Saturday and Sunday
Today is Fun Day at the Farmers Market
Linda Vista residents are encouraged to bring the entire family to today’s Love, Linda Farmers Market (July 27). From 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm, there will be several activities for kids—to include face painting, origami, and games. In addition, the Francis Parker School Pep Band will be playing from 5:00 to 5:30 pm. Of course, approximately 30 vendors will be selling their products—everything from fresh fruits and vegetables, to ethnic cuisine, to various arts and crafts—from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm in the parking lot of the Linda Vista Plaza Shopping Center.
CICI’S JEWELRY at Linda Vista Farmers Market
She’s back, she’s back. You could hear this refrain at the Thursday Love, Linda Vista Farmers Market. Who is back, you ask? Cici is back with her large display of beautiful Hawaiian jewelry. Where has she been? Cici, who has been with the Farmers Market from the beginning while quickly becoming one of the most popular vendors, suffered an accidental fall several months ago and could not work for a number of months. Each week many market goers would ask “Where is Cici?” or “When is Cici coming back?” We are very happy to say that Cici is now back and well on her way to recovery. I stopped by her booth last Thursday to talk and she was gracious enough to answer my questions.
Cici is Cici Zhang. She has been in the jewelry business over 18 years. As I stated above, she has been with Love, Linda Vista since the start in May, 2022. She also has booths at Kobey’s Swap meet and the Mira Mesa Farmers Market.
Cici has one of the most beautiful displays of jewelry you will ever see. Although most of her jewelry is jade, she also has silver, opal, and tungsten. She sources her jewelry from China, Korea, and Hawaii. She told me the jade is called Purma jade and it is known for it’s beautiful colors. Speaking of colors, they are spectacular. Not just greens of every shade, but beautiful purple and other colors. The rings are her most popular item and there are row after row of rings in different colors and styles, different widths and sizes, and you are sure to find something you love. The bracelets are very attractively shown and also encompass many different styles and colors. You will also see a large variety of necklaces, earrings, and pendants. I especially liked a purple jade elephant pendant.
Cici is very experienced in the jewelry business. She has done many large jewelry shows such as the ASD Market Week in Las Vegas where retail buyers shop the largest selection of wholesale fine and fashion jewelry and accessories available. It is held twice a year. She lived in Hawaii a number of years and had a store with several employees in Waikiki and sold wholesale to shops on other Hawaiian islands. She also worked wholesale in Dallas. We are so glad she decided to call San Diego home.
Cici’s prices are very reasonable. She told me that if you buy more, she is able to offer a discount. She has her regular customers who came to see her week after week. That is why we want those customers to know that Cici is back and that they should come to the market to say hello. She has a very friendly, bubbly personality and will help you make the best purchases for your money.
So come to Cici’s booth and welcome her back and get a head start on your Holiday shopping with a great selections of jewelry for both men and women. Although Cici said most of her customers are women, you will see many men at her booth either shopping for their loved ones or for themselves. If you have a special request, Cici will help you find it.
See you at the Market.
Foster Kitten Update
The last couple issues of the Linda Vista Update featured two foster kittens we had been fostering for the SD Humane Society. Once our foster assignment was completed, these two fun, energetic kittens were made available for adoption at the SD Humane Society’s adoption center over on Gaines Street.
We thought these two fantastic kittens deserved good homes, and so we tried our best to let people know about them.
We are now happy to report that both kittens were adopted by LV Update readers!
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The Humane Society just notified us that we have officially fostered 50 kittens, and we plan to foster many more, so you can be sure we will be seeking your help in the future with finding homes for more adorable kittens.
In fact, the SD Humane Society has a large number of cats and kittens available right now for adoption. You can go here to see all the animals that are ready to find their new homes.
Linda Vista Update Meets the SD Union-Tribune
For those of you who read the San Diego Union Tribune, you may have noticed a familiar name on the Opinion page of this past Saturday’s newspaper. The “Your Say” section of the Opinion page was devoted to the question….What social sites are San Diegans gravitating toward?
Well, Steve, our very own co-editor of the Linda Visit Update had his opinion on the matter published. You can read his essay here.
He opined on how the toxicity typical of much social media is not evident on the operating platform the Linda Vista Update is published—Substack. I think the opinion piece is very complimentary of the readers of the Linda Vista Update, who seem to appreciate the quality and the quantity of the writing. Check out the essay and let us know what you think. After all, there would be no Linda Visit Update without our many loyal subscribers and readers.
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