Set to launch July 7 is The Border Connection, a radio program running from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, on KOOL-AM 1040 and hosted by Patrick Osio, San Diego Metropolitam’s longtime The Connection columnist. The program is produced by Osio and his partner with TransBorder Communications, Hector Molina. The live show will feature discussions with guests on issues that include tourism, medical services, Baja real estate, retirement and industrial and manufacturing. A pragmatic analyst, Osio will be at his best as the topics grow edgy and he uses facts and logic to right-size arguments made by extremists on all sides of border issues.

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Aimed at adventurers seeking to capture the moment is the Epic Action Sports Video Camera sold for $159-$199 by Oceanside-based Stealth Cam. Weighing less than 3 ounces, the camera comes with various mounting devices. Clipped to helmet, handlebars or clothing, the outdoor-use camera can store up to 200 minutes of video and take bursts of nine photos. More is at epicstealthcam.com.

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Linkabit progeny Mark Dankberg has landed the 2008 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Aerospace International Communications Award for his efforts as founder of ViaSat Inc.

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The median price of a resale condo Downtown was $555,000 for the 30-day period ended June 18, down $6,500 from last month, but up $5,000 from the same period in June 2007 ($550,000), reports Realtor Lew Breeze of sdcondo.com. The number of condos pending sale during the past 30 days was 63, compared to 35 from the same period last year. The average price per square foot of units pending sale was $462, compared to $547 from the same period last year. The number of condos closing sale during the 30 days prior to June 18 was 46, compared to 40 from the same period last year. The average price per square foot of units sold was $439, compared to $522 from the same period last year. Buyers could choose from 404 resale condos, down from 464 available in the same period last year.

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The He Nani O Polynesian Dancers are among the newest Seaport Village street performers who can be seen on rotating Saturdays and Sundays between noon and 4 p.m. in the West Plaza Fountain area.

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The 100 or so people who fly each day between San Diego and London now have a new choice, at least on Mondays and Fridays. Canada’s Zoom Airlines has launched twice-weekly direct flights. As of late June, round-trip economy fares in July were priced from about $925 to $1,200, depending on flight selection.

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San Diego designer Jean Young of Young + Co. Inc. earned top honors in the Design Excellence Awards from the San Diego chapter of The American Society of Interior Designers. Young was awarded first place in the Adaptive Reuse/Renovation category for her design of Balboa Naval Hospital, pictured above.

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As part of its efforts to lure wedding-minded gay couples to San Diego, ConVis has created a special Web page at sandiego.org and a contest under the headline “Here Comes the Pride” that seeks short stories on why the entrant should win the wedding vacation of their dreams. The prize includes air transportation for two and five nights at Hotel Solamar, plus dinners around town and a marriage license. Details are at sandiego.org/pridetobe.

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The San Diego Housing Commission went in-house to select the director of its rental assistance department. Jeff Davis was housing supervisor for the leasing and eligibility units but now will be responsible for managing the agency’s Section 8 program, which provides rental assistance to more than 13,000 low-income families, seniors and persons with disabilities.

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In a timely speech, Steve Koonin, chief scientist of energy giant BP, will deliver a free lecture on “Energy: Facts, Challenges and Responses” at 7 p.m. July 15 at the Birch Aquarium. No tickets or reservations are required and parking is free. (A major gift from late philanthropist Helen Edison is underwriting the event.) Koonin, who oversees $500 million a year in energy research, will discuss various dimensions of energy policy and technology, including large-scale carbon sequestration at fossil fuel plants, a new generation of nuclear power plants and advanced biofuels to power transportation.

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Newly opened in Pacific Beach is Elis’iance Spa Lounge, a 1,600-square- foot luxury private spa along Garnet Avenue. With a bubbling indoor, in-ground Jacuzzi tub, two treatment rooms, and 50-inch, flat-panel television, the spa will bring elements of exclusivity and rejuvenation to Pacific Beach, says Elise Johnson, its owner. “When you’re in Elis’iance Spa Lounge, the spa is all yours, Johnson says. ”You can share with your girlfriends, be by yourself, book a romantic night with your boyfriend, whatever your request. Our concept is to offer the spa for one person or one party at a time.” (elisiance.com)

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Two new Sky Warrior Block 0 unmanned aircraft made by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems are being used in Iraq to support U.S. Army ground forces. The new Sky Warriors have a more advanced electronics system than earlier Predator unmanned vehicles and can carry more missiles, among other improvements. ‘Sky Warrior is designed to be the Army’s most sophisticated and capable UAS,’ says Thomas Cassidy Jr., president of GA’s aircraft systems group. ‘We are confident that this early fielding will not only showcase the maturity of the technology being incorporated into this new aircraft line but also its ability to be a true force multiplier to soldiers in the field.’

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Having closed down their sailing school and small retail store on Shelter Island, Tom and Katie Curruther opened Point Loma Outfitting at Liberty Station. Specializing in high-performance sailing gear, the couple say the store is offering the largest selection of SLAM, an Italian sailing and lifestyle line, in the country, and the largest selection of Patagonia in San Diego. From July 17-20 this month, 10 percent of sales go to San Diego Coastkeeper.

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San Diego-based Viva Vision is partnering with the Sports Illustrated Group to produce the SI Swimsuit slideshow, an application featuring Sports Illustrated models wearing designer swimwear in exotic locales. Viva Vision — vivavision.com — says it will have access to images from this year’s issue, as well as the most popular models of the past. “Sports Illustrated is an iconic brand with a passionate audience that we know will be a huge success on mobile,” says Nick Montes.

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Randy Kay, a partner in the Downtown office of DLA Piper, is the only San Diego lawyer to make the “Top 50 Under 45” list presented by IP Law & Business, a publication of The American Lawyer. Cited among Kay’s accomplishments is his authorship of the book “Trade Secret Litigation and Protection in California.”

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Lisa Telman has opened Say Lula Salon in Barrio Logan, offering 35 types of hair extensions from Paris. Extensions are serious business, often costing $1,300 to $2,000. Telman says hers, which take six to eight hours to put on, are priced in the $600 to $900 range. (saylula.com)

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Leaning heavily on Sandag statistics and interviews with business leaders, a new fact-filled report commissioned by the EDC puts numbers to the obvious: despite today’s housing industry problems, San Diego has too few homes and the inevitable high prices will continue to make it hard to attract top workforce talent or keep the ones groomed by local educational institutions. The 38-page document — “Housing San Diego: Toward a Plentiful And Attainable Workforce Housing Supply” — notes that even with the 278,000 new homes to be built between 2005 and 2030, the average number of persons per unit will rise from 2.75 to 2.88. To maintain 2005 levels, an additional 65,267 homes are needed to maintain today’s ratio, an unlikely occurrence. The report suggests local government help do more to push housing into smart growth areas and develop programs to help middle-income residents become owners and that residents grow more tolerant of denser neighborhoods. It concludes by suggesting a 2010 ballot issue to address these issues. More on the report is at sandiegobusiness.org.

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The Corky McMillin Cos.’ The Shops at San Miguel Ranch in Chula Vista was recognized at the Pacific Coast Builders Conference with the Gold Nugget Award for Best Retail Project in the Western United States.