Scott Appleby & VOTE ONLINE LA JOLLA Kerry ApplebyPayne READERS A Family Tradition CHOICE of Real Estate Success AWARDS 858-775-2014 RETAIL/SERVICES VILLAGE NEWS 2011 LaJollaVillageNews.com LA JOLLA’S PREFERRED SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS DRE#01197544 DRE#01071814 San Diego Community Newspaper Group THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2011 www.SDNEWS.com Volume 16, Number 23 SeaWorld veterinarian Dr. Hendrik Nollens (left) and senior animal care specialist Steve Dunn (right) perform an exam on a young harbor seal pup rescued Feb. 17 from the Children’s Pool in La Jolla. The male pup, estimated to be less than a weak old, is suffering from an infec- tion and is being treated with antibiotics. Photo courtesy of SeaWorld Freedivers do it ‘au naturel’ Baby seal rescued Students in Mark Lozano’s Jan. 30 freediving course make their way into the water at La Jolla Shores to practice their technique of holding their breath and descending head first. Lozano teaches his students to always dive within reach of a partner, because loss of motor control and blackouts are always possible. DON BALCH | Village News from Children’s Pool BY KENDRA HARTMANN | VILLAGE NEWS BY LEE CORNELL | VILLAGE NEWS ark Lozano’s students all have dif- The SeaWorld Animal Rescue and Rehab Program rescued an ferent reasons for wanting to abandoned and sick harbor seal pup from the Children’s Pool in Mlearn how to freedive. Some of La Jolla on Feb. 17. them want a new hobby, some want to get “This animal had been on the beach and didn’t seem to have some exercise and some want to dive for mom anywhere around,” said Kelly Terry, a SeaWorld public lobsters. But all understand the importance relations manager. of safety, because Lozano makes it clear After keeping a close eye on the struggling pup, rescuers decid- that the only way to pass his course is to ed to go in and take the seal back to SeaWorld for testing. know the right way to do the sport. “He was in OK body condition but he was definitely dehydrat- “Freediving can be compared to driving ed and he hadn’t nursed in a while,” said Dr. Hendrik Nollens, a a car,” he said during a recent Level 1 train- SeaWorld staff veterinarian. “His initial blood work showed he ing course at La Jolla Shores. “If you get had a very acute infection. His parameters came back pretty into a car with absolutely no training, no degenerate.” practice and no license, it’s likely you’re This time of year marks the beginning of pupping season and going to get into an accident.” it’s not uncommon for baby seals to get separated from their Lozano has been teaching the sport, in Mark Lozano, far right, instructs his students at La Jolla Shores on Jan. 30. Freediv- which divers hold their breath and take ing, also called Apnea, requires holding one’s breath for up to four minutes while tak- SEE SEAL, Page 4 short dives without a tank, through his ing one-shot dives. The sport gained popularity after the 1988 movie “The Big Blue.” DON BALCH | Village News company, Lozano’s Freediving Instruc- tion, since 2009. He said the majority of A SUNSET PARTY instruction in his Level 1, 2 and 3 cours- By the numbers es is focused on the safest way to engage AIDA (Association Internationale pour le Développement de l’Apnée) in the sport. Popularized by the 1988 Luc is an international organization that sanctions freediving events around Besson movie “The Big Blue,” the sport has often garnered criticism because of the world. Here are some of the world records in freediving disciplines fatal accidents involving freedivers. Last as recorded by AIDA: October, San Diegan Luke Ausdemore • Deepest dive using only fins or a monofin: 406 feet died while freediving for lobster in Mis- sion Bay. Lozano said the only reason for • Longest distance covered using a fin or monofin: 869 feet such a tragic accident is not following the • Longest static breath hold: 11 minutes, 35 seconds No. 1 rule: always be within an arm’s reach of a diving partner. “Like with most things, freediving is 10 Freediving instructor Mark Lozano’s statistics: percent physical and 90 percent mental,” • Deepest dive: 150 feet he said. “You have to know the risks and Standing at the end of Bird Rock Avenue looking north on Feb. 12, local know how to deal with them. Blackouts • Longest static breath hold: 6 minutes photographer Sharon Hinckley caught a glimpse of a delightful summer- • Years freediving: like scene — well over 60 people gathered on the coast with music play- SEE DIVING, Page 3 12 ing and having a good time. THURSDAY · FEBRUARY 24, 2011 2 LA JOLLA VILLAGE NEWS PEOPLE First-place winners received leadership and vision will People an award of $1,500 each, ensure the Institute’s contin- in the news along with an opportunity to ued preeminence in biomedi- perform as a soloist with the cal research and graduate • Jessica Aszodi, LJS&C on a future concert education.” 24, of La Jolla season. Like the Scripps Research was the first- Second place in the instru- Institute as a whole, Marletta place winner in mental category went to clar- — a former recipient of the the vocal cate- inet player Curt Miller, 23, of prestigious MacArthur Fel- gory of the La Jolla. lowship — has focused his research on the intersection of Jessica Aszodi Jan. 29 La Jolla Sympho- • Renowned chemistry and biology. He is ny & Chorus (LJS&C) Young biochemist acknowledged as a pioneer in Artists Competition. The Michael A. discovering the role of nitric soprano is a graduate stu- Marletta, Ph.D, oxide, a critical player in com- dent of music at the Univer- was recently munication between cells. sity of California, San Diego named the and recent transplant from next president • Barbara Bry Michael A. of The Scripps of La Jolla has Melani Pheasant, a stylist at Haute Heads salon, prepared Australia, where she has Marletta, Ph.D Brandon Hales gets his last 10-inch-long locks Research Insti- been named a to trim the locks of fifth-grader Brandon Hales, who grew his performed as a soloist with hair for charity. CLAIRE HARLIN | Village News chopped off on Feb. 15. CLAIRE HARLIN | Village News the Melbourne Symphony tute. He will succeed Presi- 2011 Black Orchestra, Royal Melbourne dent Richard A. Lerner, M.D., History Month Philharmonic Orchestra who has led the institution for Local Hero by and Victorian Opera, among 25 years. KPBS as part Youngster chops hair for charity Barbara Bry others. Marletta has held many of its cultural “It is wonderful for me to titles: former chemistry diversity partnership program. BY CLAIRE HARLIN | VILLAGE NEWS Jay Jay, who said she was delighted when the have this opportunity to get department chair, co-director Bry is an entrepreneur who stylist had an opening at her La Jolla shop. involved with the La Jolla of the chemical biology grad- uses her passion and business Melani Pheasant, a hair stylist at Haute “It’s incredible,” said Pheasant of Hales’ per- Symphony, as it is my first uate program, Aldo DeBene- savvy to level the playing field Heads salon, located at 7760 Fay Ave Suite S, sistence in growing his hair longer than 10 connection to a musical orga- dictis Distinguished Professor for women and girls, especially had an unusual but heartwarming client expe- inches, the minimum donation length. “We nization beyond UCSD here in of Chemistry and professor of in conventionally male fields. rience on Feb. 15. Brandon Hales, a fifth-grad- should all be inspired.” the states,” said Aszodi. “I biochemistry in the molecular She is responsible for the foun- er at Dana Elementary School in Point Loma, think it’s really important to and cell biology department at dation of San Diego Athena, came to her to have his long, blonde locks cut off put down roots in the wider the University of California the leading organization for to be donated to Locks of Love, a nonprofit that community when one lives in (UC), Berkeley. He will join the local women in the technology provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged a place. It helps establish a Scripps Research faculty on and life sciences fields. She also children suffering from long-term medical hair feeling of home.” July 1 and take on the seat of supports her community by loss. Winners also include La Jolla president and CEO on Jan. 1. contributing to organizations Hales said he got teased and mistaken for a horn player Nicolee Kuester, “We are thrilled Michael is such as Voice of San Diego, girl for more than a year, so he happily parted 23, who was awarded first assuming this important CONNECT, Run Women Run, with his tresses, which Pheasant tied into braids place in the instrumental cate- role,” said Dick Gephardt, Planned Parenthood, San and snipped off to ship off to the organization. gory. Kuester is a graduate of president and CEO of Diego’s Jewish Women’s and “Some kids have cancer and other people may Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio Gephardt Government Affairs Community foundations, make fun of them because they don’t have any and lead trustee of the Scripps Rotary Club 33 and Women hair, so I want to help with that,” said Hales, Brandon Hales, a fifth-grader at Dana Elementary and now studies music at School in Point Loma, shares smiles with his mom, UCSD on a full-tuition gradu- Research Board of Trustees. Give San Diego.