News Scrapbook 1982-1984

LEMON GROVE REVIEW JUN 9 1983

LA JOLLA UGt-rr JUN 9 1983 Un ver ity of an Diego - "lma@'e of Black and White," an exhibition of photographs by James Levett, 11 be on display at the WI 0 . University of San iego Founders Gallery from June 21 through Aug. 19 · 291-6480.

Program May Reduce Court Cases Mediation Center Discussed At Senior Forum

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Tree-of-Life Display Through .June 15 'The Ce- r11mics of Metep(•< ·, a study of the Mexican Tree-of-Life is showing at the Founders Gall· ery, Founders Hali, of the USD campus. Hot:rs are from noon to 5 p.m. 011 weekdays with no admissit•n charge.

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By John Lamb Courier Staff Writer

they never talked to each other," Hallstrom said. "But they were willing to talk with a mediator present." Neither party was allowed to interrupt the other, she said, and they eventually reached a mutually satisfying agreement. "But think about living next to another person for nine years and never saying a word to him," Hallstrom commented. "We don't know our neighbors like we used oo in this country." One member of the audience asked the attorney who these mediators are. Hallstrom said they are "people just like you." "We have no lawyers - we certainly have no judges - or social workers," she added. "We decided to take people who could listen and take the time to listen very carefully." Currently, 16 community volunteers of varying cultural backgrounds are serving as mediators at the Golden Hills center, having undergone 20 hours of training with a mediating pro. The idea is not new. Hailstrom said there are "well over 100" of these so-called "neighborhood justice programs" scattered throughout the country. She said, however, that there are some cases the mediation center won't take: those in- volving serious criminal activity or potentially high money damages, or those involving "people who are not in control of themselves psychologically or because of drug abuse." This is not therapy nor a counseling service," Hallstrom explained. "Our challenge is to help people come oo understand that there is an alternative for solving conflicts." The county Board of Supervisors recently granted the San Diego Law Center $70,000 to set up another mediation center in the county. Hallstrom is presently searching for another community, but she says the likelihood of La Mesa being the choice is somewhere between slim and none. She suggested, though, that because Supervisor Paul Fordem voted in favor of the grant, he .vould be a logical contact to drum up support for an East , County center. Fordem's district includes La Mesa. Herb Scott, Senior Forum president, took the opportunity to recommend that citizens "send a · postcard or call him (Fordem) to tell him we want 1..his program." Carol Fasching, crime prevention specialist for the La Mesa Police Department, doesn't believe the program would be "too viable" in this community. "From the people I've talked oo, I don't think there are too many disputes in the neigh- borhoods," she said Monday. "At least I can't think of too many.'' She said, in fact, that one of the Neighborhood Watch programs was established in a La Mesa area because of a certain resident who threw loud parties. "These neighbors banded together and even filed a complaint at one point," Fasching said. "They didn't have the problem after that." The specialist did find merit in the program for other areas, though. "It's a good idea, solving problems in the neighborhood rather than going through civil courts," Fasching said. "I just haven't seen too much in-house squabbting going on in La Mesa,"

settle

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alternative way disputes," she added.

Such problems can run the gamut, from a group of children playing football in a neighbor's flower bed oo a too loud stereo in the middle of the night to an equally noisy dog. The center sets up two op• posing neighbors with a neutral third party. who is also a member of the community. The mediation is confidential and free of charge (for nowl. is scheduled usually within two weeks of referral, and takes place in the neighborhood. The mediators are trained to listen to both sides - while not determining who is right or wrong - and help the neighbors come oo an agrecabie settlement. No lawyers, no courts, no muss, no fuss. The agreement is then put in writing and signed by both parties, a symbol of commitment to the resolution. And it works, Hallstrom said. "Where it's really helped is when people have lost the ability to talk to one another," she said. The attorney gave an example of two neighbors who hadn't spoken to one another in nine years, because one parked two cars in their alley and thereby decreased his neighbor's yard space. "He got angrier and angrier and finally called the police. This angered the other neighbor, and

The American it would seem, are doing their best to clog up an already backlogged U.S. justice system. In the United States, there exist, for example, more lawyers who get involved in more lawsuits than in any other country in the world. So many, in fact, that one out of every 10 people in the United States sues or is sued every year. Confronted with these figures, Carol Hallstrom thinks she has found a way to lessen the load - and the burden - placed on today's courts. Hallstrom, an attorney. came to t'lwn las Friday to let La Mesa kno about the Golden Hill Mediation Center, which opened its doors last month oo people who want to settle disputes withou• becoming another "~log" in the court sy tern. The attorney spoke before a modera~e crowd during the June Senior Forum at the Adult Recreation Center in La Mesa. "In Japan, the people there don't feel they have to go to court to settle everything," explained Hallstrom, who was hired by the San Diego Law Center, which represents the mediation center's sponsors - the University of San Diego School of Law and the San Diego County Bar Association. "We want oo provide an people,

READER

1983

JUN 9

"Arbol de la Vida: The Ceramics of Metepec:' an exhibit ,,f works on the Mexican Tree-of-Life theme, will remain on view through June 10, Founder Gallery, USD. 291-6480. -~-----

volutinary new use of I computers in the I daily sessions from 9 a.m. until noon. Two I hoursoptional. addi- tional laboratory time is free in USD' s computer room. classroom.'·Hands-on computer experience is emphasized in the

formation and regis- tration cal\ 293-4585. According to Con tinuing Education Director falachi Rafferty, "The I workshops are de- signed to introduce the student to the use of microcom- puters and prepare them for the re- I \

bmitcd to thirty stu- dents per session for sponsoredbyUSD's Continuing Educ a- tion .Tuitionforeach 5-day e sion i and ~100 per person fortwoormore participant. from the same family. Form- 125 thework hop

''C omputer Workshops," a series of three five-day computerworkshops foryouth aged l0to 14 years, will be held at the niversityof 'an Diego June 13-17, June20•24, and June 27-July l. Enrollment is

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Computer workshops

for kids

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SAN DIEGO UNION

JON J 2 198}

DAILY CALIFORNIAN

LOS ANGELES TIMES

JUN 1 O1981 COMPUTERS/ "How can My C uter be Used for More Effective . B~~ess Decisions?" is the_topi~ of ar5::ies of courses offered by the Umvers1ty o Diego for managers, small busmess own.Jrs or ,_,pie who use computers for person r-The ix-hour course will be offered four ~:~s during June from 6:30 to 9:30 p.rn. beginning Monday Tuition is $165. Group rates are available. Fo~ information on registration and class times, call 293-4585.

Colleges Focmders Gallery: Arbol De La V1d "The Ceramics of Metepec.~ Through Wednesday. University of San Diego. Week- days, noon to p.m.; Wednesdays to 9 p.m. .

JUN l ii 1983

FOUNDERS' GALLERY (Umversity of San Dlegoh The ceramics of Metepee, an evolutionary study of the Mexican tree of hie, will be on di.splay through Wednesday. Gallery hours are noon to 5 p.m. weekdays, except Wednesday, when it iS open until 9 p.m.

BLADE TRIBUNE JUN 1 2 1983 University)> of Third Age set at USO SAN DIEGO - The University of San Diego's program for senior citizens, the University of the Third Age, will begin its summer session July 12 and continue each Monday through Thursday morning through Aug. 11. The five-week program especially for folks 55 and over will include a wide range of subjects, including politics, medi- cal care, equality, patient's rights, annuities, tax planning, literature, depression, addiction and stained .glass. In addition to the social and cultural sessions, the program has a physical fitness component that features exercises and activ- ities designed to fit the capabili- ties of older people. The program aims to stimulate participants mentally, emotionally and physi- cally - to return that zest for livmg - and it has been re- markably successful in years past. There is a $50 for the program and students must be able to provide their own transportation to the USD campus in Alcala Park. For more information, call 293-4585.

DAILY TRANSCRI PT JUN 1 7 1983 •. . . Selected images from Camera Work magazine, through July 23 at the Photography Gallery, 7468 Girard Ave... "Images of Black and White," photographs by James Levett, opening reception from 7 p.m. June 20 at Founders Gallery, USD.

SAN DIEGO UNION JUN 1 2 1981

EDUCATION: The Uni· v<>rsity of the Third Age, a special program for adults over 55 sponsored by_ the University of San Diego, will begm its session July 12 _ The program includes a lecture series and physical fitness sessions that will meet Mondays through Thu days from 8.30 am. to noon until Aug. 11. The f~e for the educational month 1s $50 For more information or for re •ervations call 2~3- 45ss, USD's office of Contm- uin Educat.!.:, 10'.!.:n:.. . ~~--·

SAN DIEGO UNION

JUN l 9 1983

Foonden Gallery: "Images of Black and White," photographs by James Levett. Tuesday through Aug. 19. University of San Diego. Weekdays, noon to p.m.; Wednesdays to 9 p.m.

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SAN DIEGO UNION JUN l B 1983 The University of the Third Age, a special pr~ gram for adults over 55 and sponsored by the University of San Diego, will begin its session July 12.

ft The pro~am includes a lecture series and physical I ness sessions ~ondays through Thursdays from 8· ~:t~o-:oo$~ ;til Aug. ~l. The fee for the educatio~al I . or more mformation or for reservations call 293-4585. the USD Office of Continuin Educaf -