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Everywhere you look there’s a sign proclaiming “Another Point Loma Association Project.”

It is no small task to get just one small project off the ground. In some cases, we must get permission from property owners or various agencies such as the state and the City of San Diego. We also consult with the Urban Forester, neighboring businesses and residents. For each new project there must be a source of water and irrigation - this is usually our greatest obstacle. Once the site is prepared, sturdy and hearty low maintenance plants are selected; then, a work party armed with planting mix, fertilizer, shovels, and smiles installs our plants. A recent example is the area at the top of the concrete wall on Nimitz Boulevard. Several families - children too - arrived at 9:00 on a Saturday morning and in two hours 60 plants were installed. It is our hope that we will soon see morning glories, trumpet vines, and acacia cascading down that unsightly concrete wall!

It takes money and sweat equity to create and maintain our projects. Money comes from member dues and from the Annual Dinner and Silent Auction. The Beautification Committee’s 2007-2008 budget is over $30,000, mostly allocated to tree trimming, fertilizing and irrigation. Sweat equity comes from the “Mean Green Team.” These hardy folks charge out the door every Friday to plant and weed and mulch and prune. You might want to give them a hand.

The Mean Green Team welcomes reinforcements. Many members of the Beautification Committee along with various service clubs, individuals, families, or businesses have accepted the responsibility to “oversee” one of the PLA projects. They tend the plants, do cleanup, and give the necessary TLC to keep each planting area in tip-top condition. This is a long-term commitment and an example of true community spirit! More Green Team

Mean Green Team December 2007 removing graffiti from a utility box scheduled for artist decoration

Here are a couple of examples of this kind of cooperation. On a sunny morning in August, 2004, more than 60 students donated youthful energy to a joint PLA-PLNU community service project at the Nimitz Triangle site. Members of PLA’s Mean Green Team provided guidance as student repaired irrigation basins around palm trees and spread mountains of mulch. The crew was part of the Point Loma Nazarene University “Lead Week” with nearly 300 university staff, faculty and students volunteering throughout San Diego County.

People for Trees provided big time support to the Nimitz Triangle project by lending us 25 shovels, 22 rakes, 3 hoes, a wheelbarrow, orange safety cones and a water cooler so that our volunteers could be optimally functional. We thank them for saving us the expense of renting or purchasing those items.

If you want to lend a hand to our Beatification team, please sign up through our Volunteer page. The more help we have, the more we can do.

Thanks to Karen Davis, Beautification Committee chairperson, for her dedication. Kudos to all who work together to make Point Loma beautiful: David Brown, Jodie Bruhn, Karen Davis, Angela Ecker, Robert Jackson, Dee Kettenburg, Klonie Kunzel, Jean Leighton, Bob Sherman, Ann Silliman, Bob Simpson, Ardetta Steiner, Hugh Story, Ed Streicher, Celeste Trepte, and Jess Walker. What a team!

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BUS BENCHES FOR THE VILLAGE

Point Loma Association has a new project in the works. Beginning in 2003, we announced our goal to replace all of the bus benches in the Village.

The brown plastic benches, installed citywide several years ago, provoked many complaints to PLA. We are raising money to replace them with a distinctive design to complement future landscaping improvements along Rosecrans and Scott streets. After looking at numerous designs, the PLA Board selected an attractive wooden and metal bench, made by the Plainwell Company in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

PLA has completed Phase One of the Bus Bench (and matching trashcan) Project in the village, thanks to generous donations from: Robert and Ginger Wallace, Peter Peckham Family, Bruce Cook, Martha Phillips, San Diego National Bank, Mack and Donis Lovett/Mike Sherwin, Wayne Raffesberger Family, and Con Pane. We extend special thanks to the County of San Diego, Supervisor Greg Cox, for designated grants totaling $26,000. Thanks also to The Corky McMillin Companies for helping to support the cost of installation. We have installed 17 benches and 11 trashcans on Rosecrans between Nimitz and Talbot. Total cost of the project was $30,059.

For the first time, Point Loma has its own signature benches. PLA also contacted The Corky McMillin Companies, and they agreed to install the same bench along Rosecrans fronting Liberty Station. Now, from Lytton/Barnett all the way to Talbot, every bench is the same style, a bench unique in the city. In Phase Two, we plan to install the same bench along Canon and Scott streets, creating a pedestrian-friendly ambience.

We continue to offer PLA members an opportunity to beautify the Village by sponsoring a bus bench or trash receptacle. Each will have a custom brass plaque indicating the donor’s name. You may also consider honoring someone else, perhaps a friend or family member. The cost is $1,500 for the bench and $750 for the trash receptacle. To donate a bus bench, or to request information, please call Wayne Raffesberger, 222-7369.

The benches are just the initial step in the PLA’s overall plan to enhance the Village, announced at the annual dinner meeting in 2001. Urban Planner and Landscape Architect Steve Estrada, of Estrada Land Planning, is advising the Association on the plan, which proposes new landscaped medians, new decorative pavers and tiles in medians, crosswalks and sidewalks, and “pop-out” curbs for a friendlier pedestrian environment.

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FLOWERS IN THE VILLAGE Nine basins filled with flowers brighten Rosecrans and Canon streets in front of Shelter Island Drug Store and San Diego National Bank. This project, planned by the Beautification Committee, was funded jointly by PLA, Celeste Trepte, San Diego National Bank, and Mike Martin. Mike's Occidental Landscaping constructed the basins and planted the flowers. Three original tree basins were installed in February, as a pilot project. The results had such eye-catching appeal that the project has been expanded. The flower basin concept originated with our vision person, Hugh Story. Celeste promoted the idea and moved it toward reality. Our thanks to Hugh, Celeste, Mike and Raymond Simas for contributions toward a more colorful Village. Additional flower basins will be created as funding permits. To sponsor a basin or to make a donation, please contact Karen Davis at 222-3055.

 

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BEAUTIFICATION AWARDS

In each season of the year, the PLA Beautification Committee honors our Point Loma neighbors for attractive landscaping. Homeowner and businesses alike are congratulated for extra effort to keep our community looking good. The Committee welcomes your recommendations and we will gladly visit a site that you suggest. Give your nominations to Ron Brooks,619-224-9912 or brooks1@cox.net
Download the Nomination Form

Some past Beautification awards are below:

John and Rachel Herman added unique, low maintenance, water-saving landscaping to the front of their home at 3444 Talbot Street. They incorporated existing trees into the attractive design with help from Brian Forward.

The entire corner property of Steven and Susie La Dow's home at 1010 Bangor Street is gracefully landscaped and beautifully maintained year round.

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Since 2005, the PLA has beautified Point Loma one box at a time with our Utility Box project. We work with local artists who paint their designs on boxes big and small.

We have also worked with other service organizations including the Point Loma Rotary Club and Urban Corps to prepare and clean the boxes.

It costs between $300-and $400 for each box. Costs include the special metal paint artists use, primer, painting supplies, and a small stipend for the artist.

We have painted over 40 boxes in the community. Do you have a suggestion for the next piece of public art? Let us know!