The Coronado News

12/20/2024

Coronado’s new mayor, John Duncan, and two new council members, Amy Steward and Mark Fleming, were sworn into office on Dec. 17 and the new council promptly made a decision to fill the remaining empty seat through appointment rather than a special election.

Once the new mayor and council members were sworn in, there was one issue remaining: an empty seat on the council created by Duncan’s election as mayor. The council will review applications for the new appointment at the Jan. 21 council meeting.

A majority of council members chose to make an appointment after setting up an application process with specific qualifications.

Read more with the link in our bio.

Story and photo by Madeline Yang.

12/19/2024

After months of campaigning and a nail-biting election, John Duncan, Mark Fleming and Amy Steward have been sworn in as Coronado’s newest mayor and council members. Their first task was to decide how to elect the last City Council seat.

Coronado’s new mayor, John Duncan, and two new council members, Amy Steward and Mark Fleming, were sworn into office on Dec. 17 and the new council promptly made a decision to fill the remaining empty seat through appointment rather than a special election. Once the new mayor and council members w...

12/17/2024

California Coastal Commission this month voted Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre, a South Bay leader addressing the Tijuana sewage crisis, the vice chair for 2025.

Commissioners unanimously elected Aguirre — the first Latina mayor of Imperial Beach — as vice chair for the upcoming year during this week’s monthly commission meeting in Newport Beach. She joins newly elected Chair Justin Cummings, the first African-American to serve on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, according to a release by Aguirre’s office.

The agency said Aguirre takes over as vice chair for Commissioner Linda Escalante following this month’s three-day meeting.

Read more with the link in our bio.

Story by Julieta Soto.

12/16/2024

California Coastal Commission this month voted Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre, a South Bay leader addressing the Tijuana sewage crisis, the vice chair for 2025.

Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre will serve as vice chair of the California Coastal Commission throughout 2025. Commissioners unanimously elected Aguirre — the first Latina mayor of Imperial Beach — as vice chair for the upcoming year during this week’s monthly commission meeting in Newport...

12/14/2024

Coronado Rotary Santa program returns for 95th year.

Run entirely by volunteers, the initiative delivers hundreds of gifts every Christmas Eve, reaching everyone from infants to seniors.

This year, the club plans on delivering over 375 gifts.

It’s a festive machine of goodwill, starting with presents dropped off at the Chase Bank on Orange Avenue and culminating on Christmas Eve at the Coronado Fire Station, where 15 “Santas,” 15 “reindeer” (drivers) and 15 “elves” suit up for their routes.

From 5 p.m. until 7 p.m., the volunteers fan out across Coronado Village, Coronado Cays the Amphibious Base on North Island.

Read more with the link in our bio.

Story by Katie Morris.

12/13/2024

Taking a step toward amending the Coronado Historical Preservation Program, the City Council certified an environmental report and directed staff to draft ordinances for formal adoption at its Dec. 3 meeting. Also during the Dec. 3 meeting, the council asked city staff to draft new ordinances regulating single-use plastic products in Coronado.

The environmental report evaluates how proposed updates to Coronado’s Historic Preservation Ordinance could impact historical and environmental resources. It does not affect properties already designated as historic but targets changes to how new ones are identified.

The proposed changes culminate years of work on the city’s preservation efforts, aimed at balancing historic protection with property owners’ rights.

Read more about preservation program and plastics ban with the link in our bio.

Story by Katie Morris.

12/11/2024

Coronado Chamber of Commerce, the City of Coronado and Discover Coronado brought to life the 49th annual Coronado Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting of a pine looming over 85-feet for thousands of spectators on Dec 6.

The Chamber of Commerce led the parade beginning at 6 p.m., followed by dozens of festive floats that traveled from the middle of Orange Avenue towards the Hotel del Coronado where it looped around back towards Spreckels Park.

Members from the Coronado Historical Association and the Rotary Club of Coronado, among the estimated 50 floats from local businesses and nonprofits, waved as they strolled along. Musicians and sports teams also interacted with spectators of all ages.

Read and see more photos of the night with the link in our bio.

Story and photo by Julieta Soto.

12/09/2024

Remembering the Day of Infamy: The story of a child survivor.

This past Dec. 7 marks the 83rd anniversary of the Day of Infamy, when the Japanese military launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, prompting the United States to enter WWII.

Joedy Cronin Adams was stationed with her family at Kaneohe Naval Air Station in Oahu, located on the Eastern side of the island. Both before and after the attack, Adams lived in Coronado.

Kaneohe was bombed and strafed in two waves, several minutes before Pearl Harbor was attacked, according to an archive from Hawaii Aviation.

Adams, now 95, is one of the few still alive who can give an eyewitness account of the day.

Read more with the link in our bio.

Story and photo by Sofie Fransen.

12/05/2024

With precision honed over 7,200 jumps, Mr. Claus carved candy cane stripes in the sky on Dec. 4.

High above the cobalt waters off Coronado Island, the “sleigh” hummed steadily at 4,000 feet. It wasn’t a reindeer-drawn marvel but a Cessna 206, its cabin carrying a single red-suited figure.  Ron Lee – Santa for a day and master skydiver for 42 years — took one last look at the horizon ...

12/04/2024

Mark Fleming and Amy Steward have won the City Council race.

Mark Fleming and Amy Steward have won the Coronado City Council race after Laura Wilkinson Sinton conceded on Dec. 3 after the final election results were released by the Registrar of Voters. Fleming leads the race with 22.57% of votes as of Dec. 3 and Amy Steward is in second at 19.81%. Wilkinson S...

11/28/2024

Mark your calendar for the season’s annual consecutive weekend boat spectacle. This traditional crowd favorite can be enjoyed from Coronado’s Ferry Landing.

Twinkling strings of light from dozens of 15- to 100-foot boats will illuminate the water in San Diego Bay this year celebrating the theme, “Peace On Earth.” The San Diego Bay Parade of Lights, in its 54th year, will return on Dec. 8 and Dec. 15 to showcase approximately 100 festive water vessel...

11/22/2024

A request to fund a Rosenbauer RTX electric fire engine was met with a unanimous “yes” from City Council on Nov. 19.

11/21/2024

Four plaintiffs' attorneys announced the complaint this week sharing they could represent school districts next.

A group of South Bay residents has filed suit against operators of the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant, blaming the company for sewage pollution that has shut down local beaches and endangered public health. James P. Frantz, CEO of Frantz Law Group, said the complaint, filed Nov.....

11/20/2024

Negotiations between the Coronado Unified School District and the Association of Coronado teachers have been ongoing since March. They reached an agreement on Nov. 18.

An eight-month-long process of contract negotiations between the Coronado Unified School District and the Association of Coronado Teachers came to a close after the two parties reached  agreement on a 4% salary increase for teachers.  The union’s initial demand for 10% more pay was rejected by t...

11/18/2024

The John D. Spreckels Center celebrates its Celebrating Seniors exhibit, curated by the Coronado Cultural Arts Commission. The exhibit features portraits of 21 loyal patrons by five local photographers as a tribute to Coronado’s senior residents.

The John D. Spreckels Center is abuzz with quiet pride and community admiration, hosting its Celebrating Seniors exhibit — a tribute to Coronado’s elder residents.  Curated under the leadership of the Coronado Cultural Arts Commission, Michelle Darnell, who leads Visual Arts Programs, said the ...

11/16/2024

Nicholas Dunn, a 2019 Coronado High grad, is currently training in Canada to compete for the nation’s skeleton team.

11/16/2024

Kailani Miante, a fifth-grader in Coronado, earned USA Triathlon All-American status in October.

On a windy afternoon, 10-year-old Kailani Miante pedals a blue road bike along Coronado’s Spreckels Park to the Bayshore Bikeway and then home, completing about a 6-mile ride with her nana.  The next day, Kailani chooses between swimming with her sister, running, or biking with her parents while ...

11/15/2024

After John Duncan's win as mayor of Coronado, his City Council seat now remains vacant. The process to fill this seat is a little cumbersome, so here are the possible outcomes.

The Coronado City Council has a vacancy thanks to John Duncan’s mayoral victory, with an empty seat to be filled either through a special election or by appointment from the new council and mayor.  To fill open seats in the past, the city has held special elections since at least 1973, according ...