The building that houses Bertrand at Mr. A’s is getting a makeover. Constructed in 1965, this is the first time the mid-rise tower at 2550 Fifth Ave. has been upgraded. “It’s been a long time in the planning,” says Bud Alessio, general partner at Alessio Investment Co., which owns the building, known as the Fifth Avenue Financial Center. “Now it’s fast tracked to catch up with the development around us.”

About $6 million is being spent. Upgrades of elevators and security systems and installation of backup generators are included. The exterior is being painted dark brown with beige highlights. Colorful banners depicting Balboa Park, San Diego Bay, Mexico and San Diego will hang from the parking structure’s lower levels. Storefronts are being redone and a glassed formal entrance complete with awning added. Marble from Egypt and Portugal and new light fixtures will spruce up the lobby. The chandelier will be cleaned and brought up to code, and the water fountain redone and landscaped. Look for a February completion.

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“I have been doing property management on the side for several years and will move into this role on a full-time basis,” says Marc Wolfsheimer, who’s leaving the Downtown Partnership. “A good portion of the work will be assisting my father (Lou) in the management of family owned properties. My new company name is Wolfsheimer Management Corp. I will also be doing some public affairs consulting for a small set of clients.” Metro Movers is on Page 68 and voluminously at sandiegometro.com.

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Mayor Murphy is looking for a city resident to take a $139,476-a-year job serving on the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority board. It’s only for four years, though. Aviation and large-project experience is helpful. You have until Oct. 18 to apply. Paola Avila, a Murphy deputy, can answer questions. She’s at (619) 236-7740.

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Jack In The Box, a company that thrives on being a bit different, will open this month what may be the first fast-food restaurant in a Craftsman-style building. Located at the corner of Market and 22nd streets, the uniquely designed Sherman Heights eatery is the company’s response to an activist Sherman Heights/Grant Hill Revitalization Team. ‘We challenged them to do something that would fit the historic district,’ says Louise Torio, a community historian. ‘We are really pleased to have a corporation like Jack in the Box see the wisdom of this. It actually is funny to see woodworkers and stoneworkers out there. They are not who you would traditionally hire to build a Jack in the Box.’ Above is the new Jack’s, below is the one across the street it is replacing.

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The first comprehensive study of San Diego County’s Jewish population begins this month and will be completed by July. Sponsored by the United Jewish Federation of San Diego County, the phone survey will be handled by International Communications Research. The Federation says San Diego is the largest North American community to lack such a review. Non-Jewish households reached in the random dialing will be asked to complete a one-minute interview for statistical reasons. Households where someone is identified as Jewish will be asked to participate in a 25-minute session.

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Interviews with Doug Oliver, Phil Blair, Neil Derrough and Jerome Katzin are featured this month on the “Heart of San Diego,” San Diego Metropolitan’s Fred Lewis-hosted television show that airs in prime time on ITV. The full schedule is on Page 73.

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Whether caused by shoddy construction, ambulance-chasing lawyers or both, construction defect litigation essentially shut down the state’s condominium construction industry when insurance became too expensive to obtain. Late last month, BIA officials were celebrating Gov. Davis’ signing of SB 800, which is expected to curb excessive litigation and instead encourage repairs. “Construction disputes will now be based on the performance of the home, not on perceived problems that may occur,” says Steve Grimes, who chaired the BIA Construction Dispute Resolution Task Force.

Unfortunately, it comes too late for the excited families in City Heights who were looking forward to buying one of the 116 townhomes being constructed by Price Charities. About 100 are residents who were waiting to buy the condos, using hourly work with nonprofits to help buy down the cost. When the insurance became unavailable, the project, due to open in March, was converted to rental. Residents will still be able to earn up to $385 in monthly credits by volunteering. The Wightman Street project may later convert to for-sale.

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Legacy Bank received regulatory approval to open for business in La Jolla, probably in December, says Chair Chris McKellar. Doug Sawyer will run the show. Directors also include Jim McKellar, Bill Miller, John Davies, Craig Andrews, Paul Peterson, Vince Benstead, Martin Dickinson and Dawn Kearney. About 12 staff positions should be filled by opening day.

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Having picked up $1.5 million more than the $8.5 million goal for initial capitalization, Security Business Bank closed its offering and opened for business with Paul Rodeno at the helm at 701 B Street, where Manufacturers and Imperial banks used to be. This is the first organization of a Downtown bank in about 20 years, and amazingly the only one owned by San Diegans in a market that was filled with locally owned banks and thrifts just 12 years ago.

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The imminent purchase of Bank of Coronado by John Eggemeyer’s First Community Bancorp, at a fraction of what BofC could have gotten in years past, likely will result in the closure of BofC’s year-old Downtown San Diego office, which is near First Community’s bigger First National Bank office. Bill McLaurin will leave.

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If all goes as planned Oct. 7-11, solo drivers can sleep in a few more minutes and still get to work on time. That is if Sandag’s Rideshare Week effort convinces enough people to walk, carpool, vanpool, take a bus, trolley or coaster. The planning agency will hold a party Oct. 11 for companies with the best in-house commuter programs. Call (619) 595-5382 or visit www.keepsandiegomoving.com.

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This month, Roel Construction expects to complete the performing arts center for the $87 million Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Community Center at 6845 University Ave. The center will include a 600-seat theater with an orchestra pit, a dance studio, band/orchestra and vocal/instrumental rooms and a co-generation plant.

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Qualcomm is participating in a government-sponsored intelligent transportation systems program designed to safeguard the hauling of munitions and other hazardous materials. Nearly 800,000 such shipments take place daily. The U.S. Department of Transportation project is being led by Batelle Memorial Institute of Columbus, Ohio. The two-year effort will include 100 trucks equipped with a variety of existing technologies. The project will test capabilities such as biometric driver verification, off-route vehicle alerts, stolen vehicle alerts, cargo tampering alerts and remote vehicle disabling.

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Candidates Kevin Faulconer and Michael Zucchet, who are vying for the District 2 City Council seat that represents most of Downtown, will face off Oct. 16 during a luncheon at the U.S. Grant sponsored by the Downtown San Diego Partnership. Cost is $35 for members; $45 for nonmembers. Call Terri Chenier, (619) 234-0201, for details.

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The Super Bowl Host Committee has established a speakers bureau for groups interested in getting involved in Super Bowl XXXVII set for Jan. 26 at Qualcomm Stadium. For information, call (619) 226-2003.

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The Center for Commercialization of Advanced Technology is accepting applications for its fifth solicitation from industry, academic research institutions and government laboratories for technologies that promote homeland defense or aid in crisis and consequence management. The deadline is Oct. 18. Examples of technologies the CCAT is looking for include those that enhance port and border security and also improve emergency response team coordination. Other examples are provided at www.ccatsandiego.org.

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As San Diego continues to experience large population increases and deal with problems caused by lack of land and affordable housing, hundreds of the state’s top planners and elected officials will discuss these topics and others when they converge Downtown on Oct. 6-9 for the state’s annual American Planning Association conference. The largest APA event of the year in California, the 2002 Statewide Conference is expected to draw more than 1,000 of the state’s leading planners, developers, architects and public officials. For details, click on www.plandiego.com.

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WiredRed, a San Diego-based provider of instant messaging and enterprise real-time communications software, has sold its e/pop secure instant message system to the FBI, the Bureau of Land Management, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Labor.

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The interior of an 84,000-square-foot research site for Syrrx Inc. has been completed in the Torrey Pines Science Center by McGraw/Baldwin Associates.

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Richard Gordon’s A Fair Way Mediation Center celebrates its seventh anniversary this month. The Downtown mediator says he can lop $18,000 from the average $20,000 divorce bill.

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Members and affiliates of more than 20 different local credit unions raised $8,500 for the San Diego Burn Institute during the 22nd annual Credit Union Over-The-Line Tournament on Fiesta Island.

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Russell A. Bennett, former director of international and multicultural services for Sharp HealthCare in San Diego, has joined PacifiCare Health Systems Inc. as v.p. of Latino Health Solutions, PacifiCare’s new initiative to increase health care access and service to the Latino community.

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A pair of San Diegans will be honored Oct. 5 at California Rural Legal Assistance’s annual tardeada. Activist Gracia Molina Pick and attorney Michael Aguirre have been selected, respectively, for the Jessie De la Cruz and Don Quixote Awards. The event will be hosted at the El Cajon home of Lorna and Thomas J. Saiz.

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About 300 people are expected to fill the Grossmont College Student Center ballroom Oct. 19 for a dinner celebrating the college’s 41st anniversary and to raise funds to benefit the school’s foundation.

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Traffic is building for Terracina, a new home community in Mission Hills that caters primarily to professional couples. More than 50 people a week are stopping by the sales center at the corner of Spruce and Ibis, including some families interested in the detached, single-family homes. Units are 1,019 to 1,557 square feet with prices starting in the $300,000s.

Terracina builder Greystone Homes also is showcasing its urban prowess with The Esplanade at Spectrum in Kearny Mesa. On the former General Dynamics property, the company is building homes of 1,246-1,635 square feet, with pricing starting in the low $300,000s.

For more on the projects, call (619) 296-3299 or visit www.GreystoneHomes.com/SanDiego.

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Hope Engineering has completed structural steel framing for the Library Information Center at CSU-San Marcos. The five-story, 200,000-square-foot building will house traditional library stacks, curriculum materials and periodicals, a media center, classrooms, research and food services. Carrier Johnson is the architect and Amoroso Construction is the general contractor.

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The Lions Club of San Diego will observe its 80th anniversary Nov. 9 at the U.S. Grant Hotel, where its first meeting was held, hence the Roaring ’20s theme for the Speakeasy Ball. Organized in 1921 and chartered with 52 members in 1922, the Lions of San Diego was the 441st club of Lions International. The Lions were famous after WWII for distributing the Banks Pocket Braille Writer developed by San Diego physician Alfred Banks. Later, the Lions helped build the meeting hall at the Blind Community Center and developed Lions Community Manor at Fourth Avenue and Market for low-income seniors. Completed in 1982, Lions Manor is still operated by the club. Teresa Higgins at (619) 282-3403 has more details on the Speakeasy Ball.

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“Families of Little Italy” is the theme for this year’s Little Italy Festa from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 20. Those gathering that day will enjoy live music, Italian foods, specialty crafts and “Chalk La Strada,” a street painting festival using chalk in a tradition dating to the 16th century. Co-sponsors are the Little Italy Association Business Improvement District and Precious Cheese. Two entertainment stages, an Alfa Romeo car show and bocce ball and stickball tournaments round out the festival, which should draw more than 60,000. For information, call (619) 233-3898.

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More treats than tricks will be the rule at a Trick or Treat Tea at The Westgate from 2 to 5 p.m. Oct. 31 in the hotel’s Grand Lobby. Guests will hear ghost stories and share tea, hot chocolate, pumpkin scones, petit fours and finger sandwiches. Children are encouraged to wear costumes. To make reservations at $19.95 for adults and $12.95 for children, call (619) 577-3655.

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The Bath & Kitchen Co. Inc., a division of the Peter Williams Co. Inc., has completed a project for the San Dieguito School District at Torrey Pines High School by converting five regular classrooms into special science classrooms. Subcontractors were Woodworks West, Dupont and San Diego Concrete Cutting. Architect for the $57,000 project was Roesling Nakamura, and project manager for Bath & Kitchen was Chuck Bojorquez.

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To inform the public regarding the wide scope of organizing services available, the week of Oct. 6 has been designated as “National Get Organized Week.” It is sponsored by the National Association of Professional Organizers. NAPO-San Diego will be participating by volunteering to organize the office of the Ronald Mc Donald House on the campus of Children’s Hospital. Mayor Murphy is proclaiming this “Simplify And Get Organized Week.” For information, contact Dana Korey, Away With Clutter, at (858) 481-9191 or info@awaywithclutter.com.

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Prospect Square, located at 1025 Prospect St. in La Jolla, has been purchased by Los Angeles-based 1025 Prospect Limited Partnership for $10.3 million. The seller was Prospect Square LLC. The project encompasses 32,950 square feet of retail, restaurant and office space with three levels of subterranean parking. Tenants include Wyland Galleries, Wentworth Gallery, Ultra Optique and Zao Sushi. Ramsey Real Estate Group represented the seller; Michael Schwartz of George Smith Partners Inc., the buyer.

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One-stop beauty shopping comes to San Diego with the opening of ULTA Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrances in La Jolla Village Square. The new store offers women more than 16,000 beauty, salon and well-being products, as well as in-store hair, nail and facial services. The ULTA private label line includes eye shadows, nail enamels and lipstick. The store also carries department store and popular-priced brands. Kiosks around the store offer beauty remedies and touch-ups for personal styles.

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Members of Pacific Beach’s 24-Hour Fitness on Garnet Avenue now can take advantage of improvements by Roel Construction Co. to 18,000 square feet of shower/locker room, exercise equipment and aerobic space, along with the nearly 6,300-square-foot sales office.

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Among the highest honors in court reporting is being named a Fellow of the Academy of Professional Reporters by the National Court Reporters Association. San Diegan Lana M. Fruke received that recognition during the organization’s annual convention in Orlando. A 40-year veteran of her profession, Fruke in 1992 became the first managing reporter for the San Diego Superior Court. Today she serves as a supervising reporter for the central division.

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Working Mother magazine has placed Morrison & Foerster and Household International, both with offices in San Diego, on its list of the nation’s “100 Best Companies for Working Mothers.” In this annual compilation of businesses that recognize the value and needs of working families, the magazine noted that Morrison & Foerster has a well-earned reputation as one of the country’s most family-friendly legal practices. Recent policies introduced by the firm include a prenatal and lactation program, expansion of backup emergency childcare and elder care programs, and a paid adoption leave benefit. Household International was recognized for its on-site childcare centers and Family Care Plus, a dependent-care, pre-tax spending account in which Household matches an employee’s investment at 50 cents on the dollar up to $1,667.

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The San Diego County Mental Health Association conveyed “It Takes A Community” awards to Darrell Steinberg and Laurie Black at a black-tie affair at the Wyndham Emerald Plaza. He’s the Democratic assemblyman who wrote AB 2034, which funded nearly $11 million over three years for transitional housing services, as a collaboration of the San Diego Housing Commission and city and county governments. “We’ve taken almost 300 people off the streets with those monies over about 18 months, and provided housing and services,” says Black, the consultant and former Downtown Partnership executive who shepherded the effort. And how is Black’s mental health these days? “It’s great,” she says. “I think it’s great. I don’t know. I had a long day. I almost ate my 16-year-old last night.” Sounds fine.