BALBOA PARK: Stonewall Service Patrol will have 20 volunteers with two-way radios working the San Diego Pride festival to assist celebrants around Balboa Park this weekend.
Volunteers on foot will work the gay pride festival site perimeter and will drive around in marked vehicles at night in Hillcrest, North Park and University Heights. They will wear safety vests and jerseys and carry phones, walkie-talkies and flashlights.
“We're trying to do our part to help out,” said Ben Gomez, logistics director for Stonewall. “We carry no weapons and we are hands-off. Last year, we handled some people who were intoxicated or who needed medical attention, or a ride home.”
The street patrol was organized last year in response to violent attacks on six festival-goers in 2006. One man was stabbed and another man was severely beaten by three men who were later arrested.
Gomez cautioned people to stay in well-lighted areas and not walk alone or respond to taunts.
Ron deHarte, executive director of San Diego Pride, also urged safety measures by those attending festivities.
“Any time you bring 200,000 people together, you want to remind them not to go down dark alleys or be in places they are not familiar with,” deHarte said. –P.R.
'July' gloom will make appearance along coast
Anyone nostalgic for a little June gloom should enjoy tonight and tomorrow morning.
Low clouds and fog are expected to invade the coast early this evening and probe the inland valleys later tonight. National Weather Service forecasters say the clouds will hang around at the coast through about noon tomorrow.
Highs today should be in the mid-70s at the beaches, but gray skies tomorrow morning should help keep temperatures a few degrees below normal west of the mountains. The coast should reach the low 70s, and the inland valleys should be in the low to mid-80s.
The low clouds should not be as heavy or reach as far inland tomorrow night and Sunday morning, according to the weather service. Highs Sunday are expected to climb a few degrees to about normal, both inland and at the coast.
Highs in the mountains should be in the upper 80s tomorrow, then drop to the low 80s Sunday as clouds and a slight chance of thunderstorms return. –R.K.
Estate auction planned
by county includes cars
KEARNY MESA: San Diego County plans to hold an auction tomorrow where items as diverse as cars, electronics and jewelry will be up for bid.
The auction begins at 8 a.m. at the County Operations Annex, 5201-A Ruffin Road.
The items available are from the estates of people who died with no will or without an appropriate administrator. The county then steps in to administer, with proceeds going back to the estate.
Estate auctions are held every other month. Items for bid can be viewed at papg.org. –C.G.
Residents, businesses can
recycle e-waste at events
LEMON GROVE: County residents and business owners are invited to recycle their old computers, TVs, printers, batteries, cell phones and other e-waste tomorrow in Lemon Grove.
People can take their e-waste to the parking lot near Lemon Grove City Hall, 3232 Main St., from 9 a.m. to noon. A second event is planned from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 26 at Recycle San Diego, 8222 Ronson Road, San Diego. Both events are free and open to the public, no matter where a person lives or where his or her business is located.
More information is available at recyclesd.com or (866) 525-6655. –L.N.
Free event to showcase
turtles and tortoises
The official state reptile – for those who don't know, that's the California desert tortoise – will be among dozens of turtles and tortoises roaming part of Balboa Park this weekend.
The San Diego Turtle & Tortoise Society is hosting its annual showcase tomorrow and Sunday in Room 101 of the Casa Del Prado. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
The free event features all kinds of chelonians – from tiny box turtles to the endangered California desert tortoise – and turtle-related foods and other supplies.
All proceeds benefit the nonprofit society. For more information, call (619) 593-2123. –J.M.
Staff writers Pauline Repard, Robert Krier, Craig Gustafson, Liz Neely and Jeff McDonald contributed to this report.
