(Mission Times Courier, San Diego, Ca) -  Summer is upon us and things are heating up in our Mission Times Courier neighborhoods.  As the final bells ring out the school year, volunteers are ready to roll up their sleeves on the DC-7 Task Force for new sports fields.  Our field rep., Chris Pearson has pulled together an impressive and motivated committee.  San Diego Architect Jeff Katz has offered to chair the effort.  He’s joined by Jerry Butkiewicz,  Arnie Veldkamp from Superior Ready Mix and David Reed. 

One sports field in San Carlos is getting some serious attention.  That’s the ball field at Patrick Henry High School, haunted by a plume of gasoline beneath it.  For years, students, parents and area residents have expressed concerns about the gasoline that leaked from a service station across the street from Patrick Henry.  A stretch of the field has been cordoned off and a small warning sign is posted.  But much more is needed.  Your 7^th District City Council staff is now pressing for a thorough study of the pollution and clean up of the site.  We will keep you posted.

The City will also be posting new speed limit signs in a quiet Allied Gardens neighborhood, where residents are worried about traffic safety.  Phil Moses emailed our 7^th District office about speeding and accidents where 51^st St. merges with Leicester and Fontaine.  Mr. Moses says residents have complained numerous times over the past few years about speeding on the street.  Well, we don’t need to be asked twice.  We got City engineers to run a traffic study.  They confirmed the problems and now plan to install speed signs and paint the street to help slow down cars and keep them where they belong.

Your 7^th District Council team is also working with the Urban Corp and City Storm Water Department to clean up Alvarado Creek in Grantville.  What a mess!  In recent weeks the young Urban Corp crew cleared out a mountain of trash. We are now working on permits to get heavy equipment into the storm drain to clear it out in time for San Diego’s rainy season, if it comes, to prevent flooding.

In case you haven’t heard, San Diego has some new rules to stretch our water supply through this time of Level Two drought.  The new rules went into effect June 1^st.  For details please visit our website:  www.sandiego.gov/citycouncil/cd7 or give us a call for a printed copy:  (619) 236-6677. 

Finally, everybody loves Farmers Markets with their fresh-picked produce, flowers and great food and crafts.  But not everybody wants or is able to drive across town to visit the Farmers Market.  So your 7^th District Council office is teaming up with volunteers to bring a Farmers Market to you in Allied Gardens!  Kaiser’s Diane Strum is footing the bill and Marilyn Reed with the Allied Gardens Community Council will find the perfect location.  Any ideas?  Let us know. 

We look forward to a great summer.  See you at Lake Murray Park July 4^th for Music Fest and Fireworks, and the Annual Summer Pops Concert on the Green at the Allied Gardens Community Park on July 19.