After six years on the job, Barbara Warden is resigning as president of the Downtown San Diego Partnership. “I’m going to go home, play some golf and mess around with my four grandsons,” says the newspaper publisher turned city councilwoman turned cable company executive turned urban leader. Warden’s version of “going home” is somewhat complicated in that her San Pasqual Valley house was destroyed by last fall’s wildfires. Construction begins this month and should take 10 months or so to complete. Warden says leaving at the end of December gives her a few months to oversee the final work on the Tuscan-style home. Donna Jones, the partnership’s chair, leads the search for a replacement.

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Scott Alevy is leaving the San Diego Chamber to become v.p. of Karen Hutchen’s public affairs firm. “Going to work with Karen is an intriguing and challenging new opportunity for me,” says the chamber’s v.p. of public policy and communication. “It’s a bit entrepreneurial but mostly a chance to work in a terrific organization with a bright future and a growing list of clients.” He starts the last week of the month.

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Sustainability truly is everywhere, including influencing the business practices of those who make our most beautiful things. Timothy Meier, who creates from Downtown’s San Diego Jewelry Exchange, uses fair trade gemstones and recycled precious metals to create his edgy custom jewelry. He counts rockers Dave Navarro and Sting among his clientele.

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Sustainability has become perhaps the leading buzzword in technology, so it’s no surprise CONNECT attracted 39 applicants for five finalist slots its Clean Technology Venture Roundtable. But the original date, May 7, highlighted on these pages last month, had to be changed to avoid a conflict with both a Goldman Sachs conference in New York and a National Venture Capital Association meeting in Santa Clara. Program director Dea Simon says few VCs in San Diego invest in Clean Tech so bringing in the VCs from around the state and nation was key. The invite-only event for accredited investors is now set for May 22, 1:30-5 p.m., at Heller Ehrman’s UTC offices.

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When the Padres and Rockies finished their marathon 22-inning game at 1:21 a.m. on April 18, both teams had games to play in other cities the next day. So both headed to Lindbergh Field, flying out at 3 a.m., the Padres bound for Arizona and the Rockies for Denver. Uh-oh. The curfew at Lindbergh says no takeoffs between 11:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. The chartered airlines that flew the teams likely will face fines of $2,000 to $6,000 when the Curfew Violation Review Panel meets June 4. Of the seven violations reviewed at the panel’s last meeting, three were fined $2,000, one $4,000 and three nothing with the violation determined to be maintenance. To learn more about noise violations, go to san.org and click on Airport Authority. Then click on Airport Noise and then Curfew Violation Review Panel.

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The median price of a resale condo downtown was $560,200 for the 30-day period ended April 23, down $2,300 from last month, but up $24,000 from the same period in April 2007 ($536,000), reports Realtor Lew Breeze of sdcondo.com. The number of condos pending sale during the past 30 days was 63, compared to 60 from the same 30-day period last month. The number of condos closing sale during the 30 days prior to April 23 was 41, compared to 29 from the same 30-day period last month.

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Just in time for the new state law banning hand-held cell phone usage while driving, Ken Wright has introduced an iPhone model of his AirDrives earphones. Audio technology in the $99 headphones allows users to hear what’s going on around them - like sirens - while driving. More is at airdrives.com.

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Borders unveils one of its new concept stores this month at the revamped Plaza Bonita. Along with traditional books, the store will feature digital books and music that can be downloaded to an MP3 player, videos to go with how-to books and a staff that can help customers publish their own books or research family history. As part of the grand opening, Col. Oliver North will be signing his new book, “American Heroes” on May 9 at 7 p.m.

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The slumping construction economy is beginning to benefit local government construction projects. In one example, San Diego Community College District trustees have approved bids on two bond construction projects that came in $4.5 million less than expected. Jaynes Corp. submitted the $6.78 million winning bid on renovating the P-Building, $500,000 less than projected. The Mesa College Allied Health Building project attracted winning bids from 21 contractors that came in at about $16 million, $4 million less than expected. “We are fortunate to have approximately $100 million in construction contracts to award during this competitive pricing environment,“ says Dave Umstot, vice chancellor for facilities management. “This should translate into significant savings that can be utilized elsewhere in our bond construction program.”

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Paul Brown

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, Poway’s Apricorn and company co-founder Paul Brown have come a long way. The first products Apricorn sold were a 16K memory board for the Apple II and a parallel printer interface for the Apple II and II+. Today, the 30-employee firm with projected 2008 revenue of $45 million offers storage products (hard drives) for computers with its mini laptop devices among its most successful. Among its most intriguing are a portable hard drive, starting at $159, that requires your fingerprint to work, and the DVR Xpander, also starting at $159, which provides extra storage space for those high definition programs threatening to max out the box from your cable company. Details are at Apricorn.com.

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Scripps Health has opened the 34,000-square-foot Scripps Clinical Research Center, consolidating its research activities under one roof. Located at 11025 North Torrey Pines Road, the center serves as a research hub for Scripps’ five hospital campuses and 13 outpatient locations.

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Mike Holmes has been elected a partner in the San Diego law office of Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis, effective July 1. Holmes’ practice focuses on business and real property litigation in state and federal courts.

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Randall Baker, a veteran casino executive who became the inaugural chair of SDSU’s Sycuan Institute on Tribal Gaming two years ago, is retiring July 31. Baker, 60, heads a search committee charged with finding his replacement, a task expected to be completed this month. Operating under SDSU’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, the institute was established two years ago with a $5.5 million contribution from the Sycuan Band of Kumeyaay Nation, operators of a casino in El Cajon.

Speaking of Sycuan, its Tribal Development Corp. has named Kevin Thorstenson as g.m. of the Sycuan Resort in El Cajon. Thorstenson, who has more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality sector, previously was executive v.p. and g.m. of the Hotel Park City Golf Resort and Spa. He already knows San Diego, having once served as g.m. of Mission Valley’s Handlery Hotel and Resort.

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HomeAid San Diego’s Taste of North County, a fundraiser for its program of building housing for temporarily homeless individuals and families, will be from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on May 15 at Pardee Homes’ Derby Hill model home community in Carmel Country Highlands. The event will feature cuisine and wines from North County restaurants. Tickets are $50. Call (858) 646-4752 or visit homeaidsd.org.

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Some of the world’s smartest commercial real estate minds will gather in San Diego next month when nearly 1,800 people attend Realcomm 2008 on June 9-11 at the San Diego Convention Center. The roster of speakers includes Mario Zambas, CIO of Dubai Sports City. The annual gathering provides a single place where real estate industry leaders can come together to discuss, analyze and debate the latest technologies and innovations that are impacting the commercial and corporate markets. More information is at realcomm.com/sandiego.htm.

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AT&T’s Mark Leslie and NCRC’s Betty McManus stand by as IRC Board of Overseers member Dr. Jennifer Brokaw accepts the AT&T National Peacemaker Award on behalf of the International Rescue Committee at the Marriott Hotel & Marina. IRC’s Bob Montgomery and IRC VP of Resettlement Robert Carey stand to the right.

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Another first takes place May 30 at the evolving and wonderful Liberty Station. At 7 p.m. two local community chorus groups — the Peninsula Singers and the Sun Harbor Chorus — will perform the first concert at the renovated and historic North Chapel. Admission is $7 for adults; $5 for others. More information is at northchapel.com.

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Legoland launches “Journey to the Lost Temple” on May 25, a 25-minute musical adventure comedy featuring characters from the park’s Land of Adventure. The show was written by Shawn Greiner, the park’s entertainment supervisor, specifically for children ages 2 to 12.