La Jolla News Nuggets: George’s remodel, EV chargers, medical news, pottery tour, more

George’s at the Cove kicks off Ocean Terrace remodel

George’s at the Cove restaurant in La Jolla commenced the next phase of its remodeling Nov. 10 as the rooftop Ocean Terrace closed for upgrades.

George’s, at 1250 Prospect St., earlier had closed its Level2 dining area and bar for renovations in April.

The Ocean Terrace project includes a new floor, tabletops, glass wall and umbrella plan. The last time the Terrace closed for a notable stretch of time — to make way for an elevated bar area — was in 2016.

The new construction is expected to be completed by the middle of January.

Level2 will remain open for lunch and dinner service.

EV chargers coming to S.D. libraries and rec centers, but not La Jolla yet

The city of San Diego is launching a network of electric vehicle charging stations in public parking lots at beaches, library branches and recreation centers. But La Jolla is not on the list yet, according to city representative Leslie Wolf Branscomb.

The plan prioritizes locations that have parking lots on city property, Branscomb said. The La Jolla/Riford Library has a small parking lot, but the city is assessing the feasibility of adding the chargers “in relation to the impact on library staff and patron access.”

Other local sites, such as in La Jolla Shores, could get chargers in the future, but no concrete plans are available.

The goals of the charger rollout are twofold: to help encourage San Diegans to buy or lease electric vehicles with confidence that they can charge them even if they don’t have charging options at home, and help fight socioeconomic and geographic trends that show that most EVs are registered to people in wealthier neighborhoods.

The network is planned to span every neighborhood in the city and target areas with high concentrations of apartments and condominiums, since EV owners there are most likely to need public charging.

City officials are completing permitting and logistical details with San Diego Gas & Electric to install 750 to 800 charging portals at 59 locations — 20 library branches and 39 pools or recreation centers.

Officials estimate ground could be broken on the first wave of chargers early next year. The work follows recently completed updates and repairs to 58 existing charging ports at 12 city locations.

Residents can share their EV charging priorities in a public survey at survey3.medallia.com/?cosd-ev-chargers-live.

UCSD first in U.S. to offer blood test for testicular cancer

Following a decade of research, a new blood test for testicular cancer has been made available by UC San Diego Health, making it the first health system in the country to do so.

The test fills a diagnostic gap, allowing physicians to better evaluate and create treatment plans for patients. As a result, they can better avoid under- or over-treating the disease.

The blood test can predict the presence of cancer cells with 90% accuracy and will expand to accept samples from other medical centers across the world next year, according to UCSD Health. It can be used for pre-surgery confirmation, treatment guidance, early-recurrence detection and as a surveillance alternative.

Testicular cancer is seen primarily in men ages 18 to 45 and affects an estimated 10,000 people per year.

Annual San Diego Pottery Tour to land in two La Jolla spots

Clay, community and creativity will be on display in La Jolla on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 6-7, during the 18th annual San Diego Pottery Tour.

La Jolla’s Lisa Maher Ceramics and Threefoot Clay Studio will be open for the festivities from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Seven artists’ work will be on display — Maher, Izzy Elizondo, Katie Francis, Hiromi Minemura, Patti Rague, Amy Threefoot Valeiras and Lynn Zimmer.

A total of 50 artists will showcase their work across 17 locations. See the full list of participating studios and additional details at sdpotterytour.com.

New study shows promise for regenerative medicine treatment

Scientists have had difficulty developing regenerative medicine or generating a proper supply of therapeutic cells as they combat degenerative muscle diseases.

But a new study from La Jolla’s Sanford Burnham Prebys, released Oct. 30 in Stem Cell Reports, indicates a new method can result in twice as many therapeutic cells than previous attempts.

The study’s target was skeletal muscle progenitor cells, which descend from stem cells and eventually develop into specialized muscle cells that can repair tissue from damage or normal wear and tear.

“The overall objective is to develop a regenerative medicine treatment with healthy, fully functional stem cells so that you are able to replace the diseased tissue with healthy tissue, completely correcting the disease,” said Alessandra Sacco, dean of Sanford Burnham Prebys’ Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and a professor in the Center for Cardiovascular and Muscular Diseases.

Researchers say more work is needed to make regenerative medicine safe and effective for deployment.

Application filed to subdivide Village lot

An application has been filed with the city of San Diego to demolish a 4,196-square-foot two-story house with a detached garage and subdivide the property into four parcels, collectively located at 1424 Olivet Lane in La Jolla’s Village.

Plans are to build four separate two-story houses of approximately 6,800 square feet each.

Each home is to be built over a subterranean basement and include an attached garage.

The project is undergoing environmental review, and a decision to approve or deny it will be made at a public hearing that has not yet been scheduled.

‘I Blew My Diet!’ author starts La Jolla walking group

Connie Bennett, author of “I Blew My Diet! Now What?: The Easy, Proven, 21-Day Plan to Drop Pounds & Bounce Back Boldly,” is taking her healthy lifestyle to the sidewalk with the creation of a walking group.

Bennett recently formed the La Jolla Active Walkers Group, which takes brisk walks two or three times a week at different locations and times of day. The free group enables participants to meet “fun, friendly and enthusiastic new friends and exercise buddies” while nourishing their bodies, minds and spirits, Bennett says.

The first walk took place Nov. 8 in Bird Rock. Details of future walks are available on the Meetup website at meetup.com/la-jolla-active-walkers.

Scripps Oceanography sends reps to Brazil for UN conference

A group of students and leaders from UC San Diego in La Jolla is attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference known as COP30 in Brazil, which began Nov. 10 and continues through Friday, Nov. 21. The representatives will share updates about climate science.

UCSD’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography is continuing to co-organize the Ocean Pavilion at COP, which aims to champion the ocean’s role in climate action and serve as a hub for negotiators and guests to exchange ideas on how to address climate change through marine science and ocean-based solutions, according to SIO.

— San Diego Union-Tribune staff writer David Garrick contributed to this report.