La Jolla News Nuggets: LaCava again council president, streetscape updates, medical news, more

La Jolla’s Joe LaCava tapped for second term as S.D. council president

La Jolla resident Joe LaCava will serve a second consecutive year in the pivotal role of San Diego City Council president following a unanimous vote of the council Dec. 8.

LaCava’s colleagues praised him for steady leadership during the city’s budget problems and fierce debates about a new trash fee and backyard apartments, also known as accessory dwelling units.

“This may be the easiest vote we take all year,” Councilman Stephen Whitburn said.

The council president’s responsibilities include setting the nine-member council’s agenda, determining key assignments to powerful committees and leading the council in its efforts to govern the city in concert with Mayor Todd Gloria.

“I’m very honored,” LaCava said, though he acknowledged that ongoing budget woes mean “probably another challenging year ahead of us.”

“But we’ll get the work done,” he added.

LaCava, who lives in Bird Rock, is the third La Jolla resident to serve as council president, following Sherri Lightner in 2015-16 and Scott Peters in 2006-08.

Construction documents submitted for review in Village streetscape project

Construction documents for the La Jolla Community Foundation’s Village streetscape project have been submitted to the city of San Diego and are under review.

The $7.43 million project, designed to revitalize Girard Avenue, is expected to enter the public bidding phase in early 2026. A timeline for construction was not immediately available.

According to the Community Foundation, the project team is “coordinating closely with the city of San Diego to sequence construction in phases that minimize disruptions to local businesses while maintaining safe public access throughout.”

Phase 1 of the plan would renovate Girard between Prospect and Wall streets with improved lighting and seating and more street trees and traffic-calming measures. The project would add 63 new benches, 49 new trees, 51 lights and 9,100 square feet of public space.

Phase 2 would renovate Girard between Wall and Silverado streets with the same features.

UC San Diego Health appoints new chief innovation officer

Dr. Alexander Khalessi is UC San Diego Health’s newest chief innovation officer and interim assistant vice chancellor for health sciences innovation, according to an announcement last week.

Khalessi is a professor of neurological surgery, radiology and neurosciences in the UCSD School of Medicine and an inductee in the American Academy of Neurological Surgery.

According to UCSD Health, Khalessi will help shape innovation strategy and lead the integration of new technologies, including artificial intelligence.

In his position as interim assistant vice chancellor for health sciences innovation, his goals include aligning academic discovery with clinical application and commercialization.

Sanford Burnham Prebys explores treatment for fragility as we age

Low muscle mass in senior citizens — known as sarcopenia — is considered a major concern for maintaining quality of life in an aging population. Patients with sarcopenia are prone to falls and fractures, which can precipitate swift and steep health declines.

A research team at La Jolla-based Sanford Burnham Prebys recently published findings indicating how the volume and presence of a protein in the jelly-like substance between muscle cells promotes a thriving community of functional muscle stem cells needed for efficient muscle regeneration.

The scientists also showed that the protein decreases with age, leading to a decline in muscle stem cells and muscle repair.

Because it is a large intracellular protein that isn’t suited to delivery by pill or injection, more research is needed to develop an effective way to get the protein where it is needed in the muscles, according to the researchers.

UC San Diego researchers uncover ‘surprising’ immune cell function

UC San Diego School of Medicine researchers say they’ve found a “surprising” new function for immune cells — preventing excessive weight loss.

The findings, reported in the scientific journal Nature, are that a type of white blood cell called neutrophils releases signals that slow fat breakdown when the body is introduced to stressors such as low temperatures.

This mechanism enabled early humans to store energy at times when food was hard to find or cold weather was prolonged, the researchers believe.

Mice and human genetic data were analyzed in the study. The report demonstrates “the immune system is crucial not only for fighting infection but also for maintaining energy balance,” according to the School of Medicine.

Bird Rock Community Council president steps down

Bird Rock Community Council President Joe Terry told the La Jolla Light that he has stepped down from that role, citing personal reasons.

Joe Parker, the group’s vice president, takes over as interim president. No other details were immediately available.

The French Gourmet nears closing date

The French Gourmet restaurant and bakery near the border of La Jolla and Pacific Beach and at the proposed site of a controversial 22-story high-rise development is nearing its closing date.

The establishment is set to cease operations Sunday, Jan. 4, according to Michel Malecót, who opened it at 960 Turquoise St. in north Pacific Beach in 1989, 10 years after launching The French Gourmet on Pearl Street in La Jolla. Malecót operated both until about 1998.

Malecót, 73, said he hadn’t been looking to sell his Pacific Beach business, but when he was approached a few years ago by developer Kalonymus LLC about purchasing the French Gourmet property and an adjoining parcel Malecót owned, the deal was too good to pass up, he said. The amount offered covered both the property and the business, he said.

Malecót didn’t reveal the price, but according to the San Diego County recorder’s office, his two Turquoise Street parcels sold for $7 million.

Malecót said he was aware the developer had a housing project in mind but he assumed it would be of moderate size and that he had no idea the plan was for a 22-story residential-commercial building that has drawn the ire of the surrounding community.

Malecót said he signed his sales agreement in early 2023 before word was out that a residential tower was planned for Turquoise Street. The project is under review by the city of San Diego.

Since then, he said, business hasn’t been great due to local backlash related to the sale and the expectation that the restaurant would close at the beginning of the new year.

Application filed to redevelop property with larger house

An application has been filed with the city of San Diego to demolish a one-story, 2,046-square-foot house with an attached 593-square-foot garage at 2349 Rue Adriane and build a two-story, 3,749-square-foot house over a basement with a three-car garage and associated site improvements, including retaining walls.

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.

Two La Jollans named ‘Outstanding Philanthropists’

The San Diego chapter of the Association for Fundraising Professionals celebrated National Philanthropy Day on Nov. 21 by honoring six people and two organizations for their community contributions.

Among the honorees are La Jolla’s Dan and Phyllis Epstein, who were recognized as the association’s “Outstanding Philanthropists” of 2025.

According to the association, the Epsteins made gifts that established the Epstein Family Alzheimer’s Research Collaboration at USC and UC San Diego and the UC San Diego Epstein Family Amphitheater.

They also recently made a gift to the University of San Diego in support of the Epstein Family Foundation Military-Connected Center for Excellence. Additionally, they are supporters of RAND Corp., KPBS/NPR, Sanford Burnham Prebys, VAPA Foundation, San Diego Symphony, Jewish Federation of San Diego County and Father Joe’s Villages.

Fundraising effort for Fire Station 16 renovation nears $100K

A local fundraising effort to renovate a 43-year-old fire station on La Jolla’s Mount Soledad is close to hitting the $100,000 mark, and organizers say they hope they’ll make it by the end of this month.

The city of San Diego has approved a Phase 1 renovation plan shepherded by the La Jolla Sunrise Rotary Club to replace walls and doors in the sleeping areas at Fire Station 16 at 2110 Via Casa Alta, along with other improvements. If the Rotarians come up with the money and materials, the city will provide the labor.

The San Diego Fire-Rescue Foundation and the Rotary Club of La Jolla are joining in the effort.

Rotarian Cindy Goodman said the fundraising has brought in roughly $93,000, with more expected. Though the ultimate goal is $175,000, Goodman said exceeding $100,000 would allow the city “to at least begin construction early next year.”

Monopoly’s San Diego edition features several La Jolla spots

A new San Diego edition of the Monopoly board game is now available, with a handful of La Jolla destinations among its 30 landmarks.

Top Trumps USA, a game maker that has a licensing agreement with Hasbro, developed this version and has rolled out other municipal versions, including Santa Barbara, Portland, Ore., Detroit, Baltimore and Queens, N.Y.

Kennifer Tripsea, who works on client partnerships for Top Trumps USA and oversaw the San Diego version’s development, said the company received “over a couple thousand suggestions” for the board’s properties.

Included in the final product are La Jolla Shores, Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, UC San Diego, UCSD’s ArtsConnect and Birch Aquarium at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The board also features a few long-standing businesses, including Geppetto’s Toys at 7850 Girard Ave.

Monopoly San Diego is available for $39.99 at local stores and attractions, as well as online at us.toptrumps.com/products/san-diego-ca-monopoly-board-game.

— San Diego Union-Tribune staff writers David Garrick, Lori Weisberg and Roxana Popescu contributed to this report.