Embraceable Summer
by Krista Lombardi, president, Mission Hills BID | Realtor, Lombardi Team at Scott and Quinn Real Estate
A very special tradition in Italy is the preparation of nocino liqueur from unripe walnuts and eating snails in celebration of the Summer Solstice and the night of St. John, on June 24. Bonfires are lit and music, street theater and dancing on stilts abound.
I love the Italian traditions and fondly remember them as I embrace summer days and evenings in Mission Hills. Schools are on break. Travel plans are sprinkled on our calendars. Out-of-town guests will soon be arriving.
Even though we are all in summer mode, June is an active month for the Mission Hills BID. After many months of public hearings, which included discussing expectations for a Reynard Way Parking and Transportation Modalities Study, the Mission Hills Parking Advisory Committee’s Request For Proposals (RFP) for the study was legally posted in May. As we go to press, responses are being reviewed and recommendations and a vote to enter into a consulting contract are being scheduled for consideration in June.
Speaking of Reynard Way, Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) Bus Route 83 which travels from downtown to uptown on Reynard Way, providing much needed public transportation to and from Mission Hills, is being considered for elimination. The Mission Hills BID has taken a formal position in favor of keeping Bus Route 83. If you also wish this route to remain please contact the San Diego delegates to the MTS board of directors, County Supervisor Ron Roberts, City Councilmembers David Alvarez, Myrtle Cole, Georgette Gomez and Lori Zapf to voice your opinion.
On Sunday, June 4, the Rock n Roll Half Marathon route will again traverse our Mission Hills neighborhood streets. I am excited to be participating in honor of the Emilio Nares Foundation, led by neighbors on West Lewis Street, Diane and Richard Nares. They lost their young son to cancer and dedicate the foundation’s work to ensuring no child misses a cancer treatment. Please look for road closure information on the BID’s website at MissionHillsBID.com.
At 3 p.m., Wednesday, June 21, at its board of directors meeting, the BID will be welcoming Alissa Gabriel from the City of San Diego’s Economic Development Department. She will be sharing information about the City’s Storefront Improvement Program, which revitalizes building facades viewable to customers, neighboring merchants and residents. The City of San Diego provides design assistance and financial incentives to small business owners who wish to make a creative change to their storefronts. Please join us and learn more about this program.
As a Mission Hills business owner, I continue to be a Concerts in the Park sponsor. I believe it is important for businesses to support our residential community’s activities. The summer of 2017 Concerts in the Park, produced by the Mission Hills Town Council resident’s organization, run from June 30 through August 18 and provide a wonderful opportunity for our neighborhood of businesses and residents to support one another.
Another opportunity for partnering between businesses and residents is the Father’s Day celebration. Whether your family traditions call for gathering around a home prepared feast, a picnic, or enjoying taking-out or dining-out at a restaurant, please remember to first consider our lovely Mission Hills shops and restaurants. Our local small business owners have a year-round commitment to Mission Hills. They add to the attractiveness and value of our neighborhood. Let’s express our appreciation through our patronage.
As we welcome the warmer weather let’s also embrace the helpful summer time home safety tips shared by the San Diego Police Department and our Mission Hills Neighborhood Watch Program, including:
• Be aware of what’s happening in the neighborhood. Stay informed by talking to your neighbors and participating in online neighborhood clubs and block watch groups.
• Lock your doors, including the garage door. Unlocked doors are open invitations to intruders.
• Secure a trusted individual to keep a watchful eye on your home and have your mail held at the post office while you are on vacation.
• Place timers on indoor and outdoor lighting to give the impression someone is home.
• Wait to post your vacation on social media until after you return.
If you are enjoying reading this column, you are likely to be someone who lives, works and enjoys spending time in Mission Hills. The Mission Hills BID welcomes your volunteer participation in the work we do to support our businesses all year long. Our BID meetings include committee work in the areas of promotions, economic development, design and parking.
If you are interested in supporting the BID through volunteerism, please contact us at MissionHillsBID@gmail.com to learn the many ways you may become more involved.
Please join with me in embracing Mission Hills this summer and all year long.
Category: Business, Local News
