Two Bayside Staff Members Honored
Plus: Bulk Trash Drop-off, Ketch Brewing Review, Easter Egg Fun, LV Multi-Cultural Fair/Parade Announcement, Praise the Pecan Commentary, and LVTC Meeting Announcement
Two staff members of Linda Vista’s Bayside Community Center were recently recognized for their important contributions in support of community service endeavors.
First, on Friday April 5, Tomasa Velediaz was recognized at San Diego County’s 2024 Live Well San Diego 23rd Annual Public Health Champion Awards Ceremony. This event recognized extraordinary achievements in areas of public health service that protect and promote the health of the local population. The awardees achievements reflected the National Public Health Week’s theme of Protecting, Connecting, and Thriving: We Are All Public Health. The awards were created to honor the role of public/private collaborations that advance optimal health and wellness. Velediaz was one of 12 county residents honored.She was specifically honored for her many contributions made in support of Bayside’s Resident Leadership Academy (RLA). The ceremony began with opening remarks from Dr. Wilma Wooten, the Public Health Officer for our County’s Health and Human Services Agency.
As explained in previous Linda Vista Update articles, Bayside’s RLA program executes the mission of training local residents who want to learn how to improve their local communities. It requires participants to attend a 10-session (one day a week) training program. During these sessions participants focus on topics “such as community leadership, crime prevention and safety, land use and active transportation, and healthy food systems. Residents learn skills and best practices to address the issues that most affect their communities, and they work alongside their neighbors to help improve quality of life where they live. Upon graduation, attendees have new knowledge and access to a support network to help them lead community improvement projects.” Several graduates of the program go on to participate in Bayside’s Resident Leaders in Action program, which involves participants meeting once a month to organize and take action, and produce results.
During the ceremony, Tomasa was described as “A true community advocate and a shining example of commitment and service.” Her contributions were noted for “uplifting and empowering the community.”
Many of our newsletter readers also know that Tomasa Velediaz leads Bayside Community Center’s monthly community clean-up, which is held the first Sunday of every month. Volunteers meet at the Linda Vista Library parking lot to help pick up trash throughout the immediate Linda Vista area and help make our community a better place.
Second, Amy Zink, program director for Bayside’s Environmental Learning Center was recognized on March 19 at a City Council meeting as a Woman of Distinction by the City of San Diego. She was one of ten women nominated by their respective city council members and Mayor Todd Gloria for leadership, accomplishments and service to San Diego. Zink was nominated by Councilmember Raul Campillo (District 7) for her playing “a pivotal role in revitalizing the Linda Vista Community Garden, leveraging her expertise in program development, community engagement and urban farming practices. Her dedication has led to the establishment of the first community garden under the City of San Diego guidelines in Linda Vista Community Park, with a vision to expand such initiatives citywide to address food insecurity and foster community connection and empowerment.” The Linda Vista Community Garden is expected to open this Spring.
The Linda Vista Update first wrote about Amy Zink and Bayside’s Environmental Learning Center back in August 19, 2020. You can read that article here.
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We at the Linda Vista Update congratulate and thank both Tomasa and Amy for all the wonderful work they do for the community.
Upcoming Event this Weekend
Ketch Brewing Provides Great Food and Beer
We recently had dinner at Brigantine Seafood Restaurant in Point Loma. While there, Steve noticed that their beer comes from Ketch’s Brewery. He recalled seeing a sign for Ketch’s Brew Pub off Convoy Street, a short distance from Linda Vista, so we decided to check it out. We did a little research and found that Ketch’s brews beer in San Diego. For generations their family has created unforgettable experiences at their Brigantine and Miguels restaurants – this since 1969. In 2018 they brewed their first Ketch beer. With the hiring of their head brewer, Dr. Sam Billheimer, they knew they found their perfect match. You can read all about their process, their ingredients, their many awards and their passion for beer on their website.
The brew pub in Kearny Mesa has been open about 6 years. It is located at the back of the building that is the Brigantine Corporate Headquarters. In addition to brewing and serving beer, we were told the pub is a test kitchen for the Brigantine restaurants and their menu items often find their way to the Brigantine menus.
Since it is a brew pub and since it was no longer lunch time, Steve tried a South Island (New Zealand style pilsner) beer. And I had a small taste of Kamakura rice lager.
The special that day was an Ahi or Salmon sandwich on Brioche bun. Steve ordered the Salmon. He chose to have it blackened and thought it was outstanding. It came with home made chips. Although he didn’t offer me any of the salmon, I did manage to steal a chip or two and they were extremely good, very crispy. He said the salmon was cooked perfectly and the brioche bun excellent.
I ordered the seafood platter which consisted of Panko breaded giant shrimp, IPA breaded calamari strips and fish along with Sonoran-spiced fries. You can see from the picture how large the platter was. Everything was so good. The shrimp were especially tasty and meaty. Although I just recently became acquainted with calamari, I thought the strips were very good. Tender, nicely breaded, and not chewy. There were three sauces, jalapeno white sauce, tartar sauce and ketchup. The fries were a little spicy, but nothing I could not handle. I was nice enough to share the shrimp, calamari and fries with Steve. Not because I’m overly generous, but because it was too much for me to eat. Although I am not a drinker, I did enjoy the sip of the rice lager. It was very light and the coldness helped with the heat of the fries. Everything was delicious and we will go back there again.
Unfortunately, the Carnivore Sidekick was not available, but we have to believe the non-seafood items were equally good.
Their hours are Monday – Friday 11:00 AM to 7:30 PM, Saturday 11:30 AM to 5:00 PM. The address is 7889 Ostrow Street.
They have a very nice menu including many types of fish tacos, burgers, wings, pretzles, fish and chips, salmon, and more. And of course, the beer. There is interior and outside dining. The interior is very industrial looking with the brew tanks visible. The staff is very nice and accommodating and they also have merch for sale.
We recommend you try the brew pub the next time you want to venture out of Linda Vista.
Easter Egg Fun at Mission Heights Park
We are happy to report that kids and families in the Mission Heights neighborhood of Linda Vista recently enjoyed a fun event in celebration of Easter. They all enjoyed an Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by LV resident and local realtor Bree Partington. The Egg Hunt took place in beautiful Mission Heights Park.
As reported by Partington, “We had a great turn out and everyone was so happy!! Which makes me happy.”
We at the Linda Vista Update offer up our appreciation of Bree Partington for once again sponsoring a fun community event.
Upcoming Community Event
Commentary
In Praise of the Pecan
Okay, so no one gets the day off from work to celebrate National Pecan Day, which falls annually on April 14. There will never be a Charlie Brown TV special featuring Linus sitting in a pecan patch awaiting The Great Pecan. Elvis never recorded the sentimental ballad “I’ll be Home for Pecan Day.” And as far as I know, there is no NYC Macy’s Pecan Day Parade featuring pecan festooned floats rolling down the streets of Manhattan. And yet, I still think we need to pause for a moment or two and properly observe National Pecan Day. In my opinion, the pecan is truly worthy of some attention. After all, it’s a nut native to the United States. How patriotic is that? Furthermore, did you know this nut is one of four official California state nuts (along with pistachios, walnuts, and almonds)? The pecan is noted for helping reduce LDL cholesterol and increasing HDL cholesterol. And come to think of it, I have never heard anyone utter the words “I hate pecans.”
In anticipation of National Pecan Day, I recently went wandering around Linda Vista and adjacent neighborhoods to see if I could take note of the full extent of a pecan presence in our community and store up for April 14. In addition to generating even more appreciation for the pecan, this “nutty” quest allowed me to take a pleasant tour of our geographic area. I logged in quite a few miles trying to locate pecans in their best local light—in fact, I am now referring to this wandering trajectory as “The Path of Total Pecan-ality.”
I started this journey at the Rite-Aide in Linda Vista by buying a carton of Thrifty Butter Pecan ice cream. There are many people who believe Thrifty Ice Cream still delivers the best tasting ice cream for the money, and Butter Pecan is one of their most popular flavors (I read how one study rated Butter Pecan as the 3rd most popular flavor in the country). While there I recalled the days when a scoop of Thrifty Butter Pecan Ice Cream could be purchased for a nickel. Yeah, I know what you’re thinking…”Okay, Boomer.”
I then made my way down into the traffic of Mission Valley where I found and purchased a box of Pecan Pralines at Trader Joe’s. Pecan Pralines pay homage to the southern origins of pecans.
Later, I paid a visit to the Cheesecake Factory at the Fashion Valley Mall, where I luckily discovered Caramel Pecan Turtle Cheesecake. A slice is only 1100 calories! This might negatively compensate for any cholesterol benefits accorded to pecans.
Next, I went looking for what I thought would be an easy find…Pecan Pie. However, I encountered some bad timing at both Ralph’s and Food For Less. Neither grocery store had any pecan pies for sale. How can we celebrate the value of pecans without a slice of pecan pie? Fortunately, someone advised me that there is such a thing as Pecan Pie beer, and so I visited both BevMo and Total Wine at their Mission Valley venues. Unfortunately, I could find no such beer. My quest necessitated traveling all the way to the Midway District BevMo, where I finally found the ultimate manifestation of America’s love affair with the pecan—a can of Sugaree Maple Pecan Pie Speciality Ale.
I am now all set for April 14. If, in the meantime, you choose to celebrate National Pecan Day, I suggest you take my little pecan tour through the local area. If you missed out on spending lots of money to travel to one of the Northern Hemisphere’s spots on the eclipse’s Path of Totality this past week, don’t fret. Feel free to take a far less expensive journey (and definitely a much tastier one) by following my Path of Total Pecan-ality that I mapped out above for you. It’s delicious! And nutritious! And you don’t need special dark glasses to take it all in.
LVTC Meeting Next Wednesday
The Linda Vista Town Council will hold its next monthly general meeting on Wednesday April 17. The meeting will take place at the Baha’i Center, located at . 6545 Alcala Knolls Drive. Social time begins at 6:00 pm with the official program of events beginning at 6:30 pm. The public is invited to attend.
This month’s meeting guest speaker is Blake Hofstad, Director of Organizing for Parent Voices California. He will provide an overview of the California state budget - how it works, what it pays for, and how interested community members can get involved in state level budget advocacy.
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Where will the Linda Vista Town Council be ths evening?> ======
I really enjoyed hearing about the Ketch Brewing, need to make my way there. And my Mom's favorite ice cream was butter pecan, so I need to make my way to get some Thrifty Butter Pecan so I can celebrate, too. Keep up the great work on the Update, my husband and I read it faithfully every week.