New crosswalk completed on Torrey Pines Road
A new crosswalk was painted recently on La Jolla’s Torrey Pines Road at the 2800 block of Glenbrook Way after years of complaints from people who use the intersection to get to nearby Allen Field.
Before the crossing was painted, the area had a signal to indicate when pedestrians could cross, but many argued it was not enough. The intersection was featured in an NBC-TV/7 story last year in which resident Christina Bays said “It makes us feel nervous. … We have to be really careful and make sure … the cars won’t hit us.”
After months of correspondence between residents and the city of San Diego, City Council President Joe LaCava, whose District 1 includes La Jolla, said at a local town hall meeting March 4 that the new crosswalk would be painted in coming weeks.
The painting was completed in mid-March.
La Jolla cityhood backers to hold community meeting
The Association for the City of La Jolla will hold an informational meeting to provide an update on its efforts to have La Jolla detach from San Diego and become its own city.
The meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 6, at the La Jolla/Riford Library, 7555 Draper Ave.
La Jolla 101 to return April 2
The community information event known as La Jolla 101 will have its first edition of 2026 at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 2, continuing its biannual gatherings that bring together La Jolla residents, business leaders and nonprofit organizations.
The event will feature a program including networking, brief presentations from community leaders and food. This year, it also will introduce a new giving initiative, awarding three $1,000 donations to local charities to be selected live during the event.
Learn more or register at thelajolla101.com.
Muirlands named a California Distinguished School
Muirlands Middle School in La Jolla is among the 408 middle and high schools on the 2026 list of California Distinguished Schools, its second such recognition in recent years.
Muirlands also made the cut in 2024. Schools hold the honor for two years, as the list alternates between kindergarten and elementary schools and middle and high schools.
All the schools on the list will be celebrated at an event Friday, April 24, at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim.
Poetry contest coming to La Jolla
In honor of National Poetry Month in April, La Jolla-based Librarian on the Go is inviting children of all ages to submit a poem they write for a chance to win a retro quill and ink set.
One entry per person will be accepted. Entries must include the author’s name, age and school grade level.
To submit entries or for more information, email mskatia@librarianonthego.com by Thursday, April 16.
Salk scientists studying ‘megadrought’-resistant gene in plants
The American Southwest and Mexico have been undergoing what scientists call “a historic megadrought” since 2000 and facing agricultural, economic and social consequences because of it.
When conditions are poor and plants don’t grow, food supplies are disrupted, farming jobs are lost and some communities struggle to survive.
But new research from the La Jolla-based Salk Institute for Biological Studies has identified a gene that could explain how plants hold out without adequate water. The study, published March 19 in Nature Plants, provides a roadmap that could help engineer crop varieties that better maintain growth during drought, researchers say.
The findings also are expected to help researchers design crops that can better tolerate mild droughts, sparing farmers from low yields and economic losses.
San Diego signs new deal for lifeguard fleet
The familiar red-and-white Toyota lifeguard trucks that have been a mainstay on San Diego beaches for nearly 15 years soon will be replaced by Hyundai vehicles under a new corporate sponsorship deal.
City officials said the deal with Hyundai is superior to the expiring agreement with Toyota, including replacing vehicles more frequently to provide the city a newer and more reliable lifeguard fleet.
Red-and-white Toyota lifeguard trucks soon will be phased out in favor of Hyundai vehicles. (John Gibbins / U-T file)
The new deal, which covers five years with possible extensions to 15 years, requires Hyundai to handle all vehicle maintenance. Under the Toyota deal, the city handled maintenance.
City officials estimate the value of the agreement — the amount of money San Diego would have to spend buying and maintaining lifeguard vehicles — at $4 million over the five years.
The exact timing of the transition isn’t clear yet, but city officials said there won’t be a gap in service. Toyota’s agreement runs through April.
The number of vehicles will drop from 38 under Toyota to 32 under Hyundai. They will include two electric Hyundai Ioniqs and 30 vehicles with internal-combustion engines, including 18 Santa Cruz pickup trucks and 12 Palisade SUVs.
The electric vehicles are expected to be used by chiefs and captains, while beach lifeguards will use gas-powered vehicles since they could be partially submerged during rescues. ♦