UH News Center
The most up-to-date news about events, issues, and happenings for a thriving, inclusive University Heights
The Latest News
Category
- All 130
- All Stories 1
- Around the Neighborhood 39
- Arts & Culture 10
- Business Spotlight 25
- Community News 30
- Community Safety 18
- Community Spotlight 1
- Faces of UH 24
- Food & Drink 13
- From the Archives / History 4
- Future of UH / Land Use 38
- Helping Hands 20
- Infrastructure 2
- Library & Books 19
- Native Plants 1
- Out & About 15
- Partners 1
- President's Corner 5
- Sports & Recreation 1
- Sustainable UH 17
- UH Issues 14
- UH Pets 28
- UHCA Updates 33
- Youth & Schools 18
2026 Great UH Bake Off Winning Recipes
View the three winners - chosen by the attendees! Brownies/Bars Category: Tahini Swirl Brownies with Sesame Brittle; Cakes/Pies Category: Key Lime Tart; and Cookies Category: Strawberry Pretzel Salad Cookies
A Magical Night of Movies and Goodies in the Park
On Sept. 26, an estimated 700 neighbors filled Trolley Barn Park for UHCA’s Movies in the Park, with concessions, face painting, glowing goodies, and a “Thriller” flash mob rehearsal. Co-hosted with the Birney Beekeeper Alliance, the evening raised more than $1,900. The Great UH Bake-Off crowned three winners, and their recipes are online.
La Prisa Is Your New Local Coffee Spot
La Prisa Specialty Café is now open at 4215 Park Blvd., serving coffee made with its small-batch, slow-brew method, “La Secuencia,” in a stylish, art-filled space. Look for Champurrado, Tres Leche, and Aztec Gold Lattes, artisan teas, and pastries from Bread & Cie. It’s open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Keeping Birney Safe During Campus Construction
Alice Birney Elementary’s Whole Site Modernization project, running through December 2029, means construction, congestion, and temporary changes around campus. The Birney Beekeepers Alliance asks everyone near Campus and Meade avenues to slow down and watch for pedestrians, and to report traffic safety concerns through Get It Done, including support for a marked student loading zone on Meade.
Uptown Community Planning Group
UHCA’s representative Julia Williams reports from the Uptown Community Planning Group: UC San Diego Health’s Hillcrest expansion, Public Power San Diego’s case for a municipal utility, and airport Terminal 1 upgrades. Plus the construction rules neighbors should know, and a crowd-sourced map of Complete Communities projects you can help fill in.
Pet of the Month: Junie
Meet Junie, a happy, curious, and slightly spoiled pup who’s almost a year old. After three homes in her first six months, she found her forever mom, a rescue volunteer who planned to rehome her and decided to adopt her instead. Training helped her beat separation anxiety, though behind the fence she still tests her boundaries.
Color, Creativity, and Community: The University Heights Open Air Gallery
The University Heights Open Air Gallery turns Park Boulevard between Adams and Monroe into a walkable gallery on Sunday, Nov. 8, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Expect dozens of local artists working in paint, ceramics, jewelry, wood, resin, glass, and wool, plus live demonstrations, pop-up galleries in neighborhood businesses, and a community raffle.
Guided Walking Tour Showcases UH’s Historic Bungalow Courts
The University Heights Historical Society will lead a guided walking tour of selected bungalow courts on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 11 a.m., starting at 4638-4648 North Ave. Tickets are $25. The tour celebrates the state’s May approval of the San Diego Bungalow Court Multiple Property Documentation, which makes National Register nominations easier and more affordable.
Partnership, Not Dominance: Rethinking How We Train
Professional dog trainer Lola Handzel makes the case for positive reinforcement over the “crank and yank” dominance methods she grew up with in the ’80s. Backed by the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, reward-based training builds safety, trust, and two-way communication. It takes patience, but it works better. A simple place to start: make play training, and training play.
From Farmers Markets to UH
Mon Chourie, a woman-owned Korean bakery known for its cream puffs and salt breads, has opened its first permanent retail location inside Kairoa Brewing Company at 4601 Park Blvd. Founder Kelly Kim built a following at farmers markets and pop-ups, then fell for University Heights while hosting a pop-up at Kairoa. Expect rotating seasonal flavors.
It Takes All of Us
Climate Week brought dozens of events to San Diego in October, including a chance to give input to the City’s Climate Advisory Board. Judith Annicchiarico asks whether the City’s shift to private trash haulers, which has doubled garbage truck trips in UH, has increased emissions. Plus: the San Diego Environmental Film Festival runs Nov. 20–22.
Plume Award: Roxanne Govari
This month’s Plume Award honors Roxanne Govari, owner of Pemberley Realty and UHCA board member emerita, for extraordinary service, generosity, and dedication to University Heights. She helped revitalize UHCA, and she and her team have donated countless hours distributing UH News while sponsoring virtually every major community event. University Heights is stronger because of her.
October Meeting and Zone Zero
At UHCA’s Oct. 1 meeting at Hsi Fang Temple, members re-elected all four officers by unanimous ballot. San Diego Fire-Rescue and Code Compliance then explained the coming Zone Zero rules for a five-foot ember-resistant zone around homes. Enforcement starts in 2027, with full compliance required by 2029, and home risk assessments are available for about $163.
After Niteharts, a Path to Quieter Nights
Bass from the Niteharts festival at Snapdragon Stadium, 2.1 miles away, shook University Heights for three nights in October. UHCA reached out to the City, SDSU, and Assemblymember Chris Ward, whose office pressed SDSU for change. Sunday’s show ended early at lower volume, and SDSU plans weather-based sound modeling. Here’s how to report it next time.
A Taste of Something Bigger at the UH Fall Festival
UHCA brought Taste of University Heights inside the Birney-run UH Fall Festival on Oct. 17, and the combined event drew an estimated 3,000-plus people, a record 58 vendors, and a dozen restaurants and bars. Taste ticket proceeds go to Save Our Sign, and festival sponsorships doubled, giving Birney Elementary a growing source of funding.
Drop ALPR: Shut the Door on AI Surveillance
In the second of two perspectives on automated license plate readers, UC San Diego professor Lilly Irani argues that ALPRs threaten neighbors’ safety. She cites stalking and wrongful-arrest cases, past improper data sharing by SDPD, third-party data access, and expanding AI features, and calls on San Diego to drop Flock in favor of community-designed safety.
Change- and What Doesn’t
Change is everywhere in University Heights, from new businesses on Park Boulevard to a growing UHCA board, business group, and relaunched UH Arts Association. UHCA President Marc Johnson reflects on what hasn’t changed: a real sense of community that keeps neighbors coming back. He invites everyone to volunteer or simply say hello at an upcoming event.
Lots of Big Changes Coming to the Park Blvd. Business District
University Heights’ commercial core is in the middle of major turnover. Bahn Thai nears reopening in a much larger space, Park & Rec is changing hands, Humili replaces Red House Pizza, and a new concept is coming to the former Madison on Park. Plus: Muzita adds lunch, and two Park Blvd. buildings hit the market.
The Sign Turns 30 in March – Let’s Get It Ready
The University Heights sign is glowing again after the City funded $24,000 in new neon, installed by YESCO on Sept. 9. Now comes Phase 2: a full $80,000 refurbishment before the sign’s 30th anniversary in March. A $35,000 matching challenge doubles every gift, and $17,640 more by Dec. 31 unlocks the full match.
The Volunteers Behind Everything You Notice
Every ask we make eventually finds the right person. UHCA President Marc Johnson welcomes new volunteer coordinator James Lew, thanks the board and team leads who keep University Heights running, and bids a fond farewell to Lauren Doucette as she moves to Normal Heights — opening a search for a new events leader.