April Pools Day Kicks Off Drowning Prevention Month

Did you know you can get free swimming lessons on April 14?

The City of Chula Vista is kicking off Drowning Prevention Month with an April Pools Day event on Saturday, April 14 from noon to 3 p.m. at the Parkway Family Aquatic Center. The center is located at 385 Park Way in downtown Chula Vista. Children from 6 months to 16 years old will have an opportunity to participate in free swim lessons. Opportunities to swim with a Navy SEAL and to pre-tryout for the San Diego Lifeguard Services Junior Lifeguard Program are available for participants who already know how to swim. April Pools Day is a national campaign designed to spark awareness about drowning prevention efforts prior to the summer swim season.

Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death among children under the age of 14 years. In the past five years, 43 children under the age of 14 years old have fatally drowned in San Diego County. More than 400 children have been admitted to San Diego area hospitals for non-fatal drowning incidents since 2002.

“One of the most effective ways to prevent drowning is to teach your child how to swim, “said Manuel Gonzalez, Aquatic Supervisor III. “Our free April Pools Day lessons are designed to provide an introduction to the swim instruction that is offered through our Recreation Department. With more than 3,500 Americans drowning each year, this public health problem is a travesty since drowning is preventable but there has been little improvement in death rates over the past thirty years.”

Participants can pre-register by calling (619) 691-5088 or e-mailaquatics@chulavistaca.gov prior to Thursday April 12. Participants can also register the day of the event, if space is available. Classes will be held at noon, 12:35 p.m., 1:10 p.m., 1:35 p.m. and 2:20 p.m. Children under the age of 4 years old must have a parent in the water with them and wear a swim diaper. An adult must accompany all children.

The April Pools Day event is supported by the San Diego County Aquatic Council, the International Pool and Spa Service Association, Safe Kids San Diego, the Department of Environmental Health, and Rady Children's Hospital.

Read more: http://www.ci.chula-vista.ca.us/Whats_New/details.asp?NewsID=2101

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Missing 1.50 Carat Diamond Found and Returned to 86-year-old Woman

Absolutely amazing. How’s this for a feel good story?

On December 9th, 2011, Gloria DeMent finished her string of errands by visiting Leo Hamel Jewelry Buyers in Escondido, where she sold some unwanted valuables to the office's manager, Henry Chaplin. Later that day as she and her 88-year-old husband were getting ready to go to a community play, she noticed that the 1.50 carat center diamond from her wedding ring was missing. "We were married 65 years last May," she wrote. "My first set of rings wore out and after my mother died in 1983, we had a new ring made with her diamond." Although she was disappointed, at 86 years old, this was not her life's first misfortune-tragically, she and her husband had lost their 64-year-old son in August 2011. She continued in her letter, "I did treasure [the diamond], but compared to losing a son, it paled in significance." DeMent alerted Chaplin and the other businesses she'd visited earlier in the day that her diamond had disappeared, but nobody had seen it.

Three weeks later, something sparkly in the parking lot caught a stranger's eye. He picked it up, suspected it could be valuable, and seeing Leo Hamel Jewelry Buyers  just yards away, walked in to inquire about it. "I told him that this stone was indeed a valuable diamond," said Sara Mullert, a Leo Hamel employee. Mullert told him she hadn't heard of any missing diamond reports, but that it was most likely accidentally dropped by someone on their way in or out of the office. The man said that he'd rather just leave the stone with her, so "I thanked him profusely for his honesty, and told him that I would file a report right away," Mullert recounted. She immediately phoned her manager Chaplin, who remembered that DeMent had called him weeks ago reporting a lost diamond.

"After nearly two months, I'd given up hope that it would be found," recalled DeMent, until Chaplin called about the found diamond. She immediately drove to the Escondido Leo Hamel location to inspect it and was astonished when it fit perfectly into her diamond-less setting! A distinct and noticeable flaw in the gemstone confirmed that it was indeed the very diamond that she had lost three weeks earlier. "It is incredible that in all that time, people were parking, coming and going...there was lots of rain, weather, mud, etc. Finding a needle in the proverbial haystack would have been easier," said a still stunned DeMent. "[Sara] didn't pocket it, but turned it in to Henry, who remembered that one of his customers had lost her diamond."

As she, Chaplin, and Mullert weaved their parts of the story together, DeMent was sure she had witnessed something miraculous. "I have always believed in miracles and cannot help thinking that this whole bizarre circumstance has to be... for some purpose," she penned in a letter of gratitude to Leo Hamel. "It does build one's faith in humankind....[our] hearts have been warmed by your wonderful young people," she gushed, "...we [felt] blessed even before the diamond was found, but words cannot describe how touching, how unreal, how miraculous it all seems."

"The honesty of your employees is very impressive in this day and age of 'finders-keepers' or worse," DeMent wrapped up her letter. "I am so very, very grateful and want to attest to what a valued staff you have."

The Leo Hamel repair department set DeMent's diamond back in her ring free of charge. "We were just happy that we were able to reunite Mrs. DeMent with her cherished diamond," said Chaplin.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2012/03/15/prweb9282229.DTL#ixzz1pDSJZsFM

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San Diego Voted #9 in Trip Advisor’s Top U.S. Beach Destinations

Personally, I think San Diego should be a little higher in this list. What do you think?

If San Diego is known for one thing, it would be for our gorgeous beaches. And Trip Advisor agrees! San Diego was included in their list of top 10 Beach Destinations in the U.S. Sure enough, 70 miles of pristine coastline and legendary weather, you can enjoy the surf and sand almost any day of the year.


From expansive sandy beaches, rocky cliffs, reefs, tide pools and everything in between, the beaches in San Diego are as varied as the beach communities that were built around them. And there are so many kinds of beaches to discover: ones perfect for families and dogs; ones coveted by the world’s top surfers; even some that you can enjoy in the buff (although nude sunbathing is illegal!)


Whether digging your toes in the white mica sands of Coronado, roasting s’mores by the fire, playing an intense game of beach volleyball, exploring sea critters in tide pools, or simply relaxing as you’re lulled by the sounds of crashing waves, one thing’s for sure: On any given day at any beach in San Diego, you’ll find a front row seat to a magnificent display of the western sky as the sun descents into the Pacific.


So grab your beach towels, slather on the sunscreen, and get out to explore some of the finest beaches in the U.S.!


Tell us in the comments below, what’s your favorite beach in San Diego?

Read more at blog.sandiego.org.

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What’s New in San Diego Brews @ The San Diego Tourism Blog

Any beer lovers out there? Check out what's new on the brewing scene in town!

In case you haven’t heard, sampling craft brews from out many local breweries is a top reason to visit San Diego. Even the New York Times thinks so! With nearly 40 breweries around San Diego County, there is always something new and exciting happening in our craft beer scene:


Expanded Tasting Room at AleSmith Brewing Company


AleSmith recently expanded the tasting room at their North County-based brewery. Not only is the bar itself now longer, so are the bar’s hours, which have been extended to 2:00 – 8:00 pm on Fridays, 12:00 – 7:00  pm on Saturdays and 12:00 – 6:00 pm on Sundays. Head up their to try their My Bloody Valentine special release, available only on tap at selected bars for a limited time.


Green Flash Brewing Company Continues to Grow


After opening up their new location in Mira Mesa in 2011, Green Flash has expanded again with the addition of a second cellar. Plus, you can now take a behind-the-scenes look at the brewery, thanks to new brewery tour opportunities. Head over on a Saturday or Sunday, when $5 will get you a tour and guided tasting. Hops lovers, be sure to try their Palate Wrecker Double IPA while you’re there.


Keep an Eye on Karl Strauss Brewing Company


With 23 years of history in San Diego, Karl Strauss is a local legend, and a new tourable space at their main brewing facility in Pacific Beach will finally give visitors a chance to see the brewing action up close. The expansion, expected to be completed this May, will also include an outdoor pizza oven, lounge spaces, a tasting room and bar, beer-to-go, and even some new event and meeting space.

Read more: http://blog.sandiego.org/2012/02/whats-new-in-san-diego-brews/

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