​🌱More Kids Eating Cannabis + San Diego Firefighters Rescue Snowbound

Hello and happy Saturday! I'm back in your inbox with today's San Diego Patch newsletter. Sip that coffee/tea, enjoy that warm banana and almond oatmeal, and read on to find out what's happening in our town today:

• More kids are being hospitalized after eating cannabis.
• San Diego firefighters rescue snowbound Californians.
• Nonprofits request $3 million for youth centers.

But first, today's weather:

Showers, mainly early.☔High: 63, Low: 55.

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Here are four of the top stories in San Diego today:

1. In San Diego, children as young as 2 years old are being hospitalized for cannabis ingestion. Edibles that look like gummy bears and taste delicious, cause serious illness, with kids having seizures, breathing issues and needing to be placed in intensive care. Kids find the edibles in their homes, in purses, in drawers and in bedside tables. Over 150 cases of cannabis ingestion were seen at Rady Children’s Hospital last year, and even more cases are expected in 2023. ( NBC San Diego)
2. Cal Fire San Diego sent 56 firefighters to rescue folks trapped in the San Bernardino County mountains. San Diego Fire-Rescue Department and the Chula Vista Fire Department also sent help. These rescuers will work to dig out residents in need and clear roads to get food and medical supplies through the snow. Cal Fire will send more crews up to help during the coming storm this weekend. (FOX 5 San Diego)
   
3. Crime and violence have been prevalent in the Ocean View and Stockton areas over the years. Now, local nonprofits in the neighborhood are asking the mayor and the City of San Diego to provide more resources to help keep kids away from violence. The groups requested $3 million to establish housing, training and mental health services for youths in the area. (NBC San Diego)
4. Mihir Konkapaka of the Poway Unified School District won back-to-back titles at the 53rd annual San Diego Union-Tribune Countywide Spelling Bee. Now, he will represent San Diego County at the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Konkapaka stood for eight rounds with his toughest competitor, Jedd Li of the Francis Parker School. Li will serve as an alternate at the national spelling bee. The winning word in the competition was “exsufflation,” which means breathing or blowing out. (City News Service)

Today in San Diego:

• San Diego Leprechaun Run — 5K & Kids Run 2023: Pacific Beach. (9:00 AM)
• St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival 2023 — 6th and Laurel in Balboa Park. (9:00 AM)
• TinyFest California: Tiny Home & Nomad Living Festival 2023 — Del Mar Fairgrounds. (10:00 AM)
• Tech Help - Skyline Hills Branch Library. (10:00 AM)
• PAWS to Read! - Logan Heights Branch Library. (10:00 AM)
• 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Party — College Rolando Branch Library. (10:30 AM)

From my notebook:

• Cherry Blossom Festival: "It's cherry blossom time! Don't miss the annual Cherry Blossom Festival at San Diego's Japanese Friendship Garden March 10-12 in Balboa Park. Enjoy the blooms in the beautiful gardens, cultural performances, children's entertainment, 25 food and merchant vend ors, plus a beer and sake garden for ages 21+. Get tickets online niwa.org and let's celebrate Spring!" (Cherry Blossom Festival via Facebook)
• Adoptable dogs: "Spring is in the air and with more sunshine headed our way, it's the perfect time to add a new bud to your family tree. No, we're not actually talking about flowers, but our adoptable dogs "wood" love to brighten your life! 🌺To help new relationships blossom, we're partnering with our pals at Purina to waive adoption fees for all adult dogs (7 months and older) through March 31."🌺 (San Diego Humane Society via Facebook)
• City to resurface 32 miles of roads: "The City is providing smooth streets and safer modes of transportation! Over the next few weeks, we will be resurfacing 32 miles of roadway in the communities of Serra Mesa, Linda Vista, Mira Mesa, Sabre Springs, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Peñasquitos, and Pacific Highlands Ranch." (City of San Diego via Facebook)
• Where our streets kill: "Unsafe street designs have life-and-death consequences. We're launching a campaign with @SDSafeStreets to hang posters at all of the places where cyclists and pedestrians were killed in @CityofSanDiego from 2014-2021. We need to see where our streets kill. The posters will link viewers to a page where they will be able to easily email @MayorToddGloria and @SDCityCouncilasking for more #VisionZero funding." (San Diego County Bicycle Coalition via Facebook)
• Medicinal plants in the garden: "SDBG Director of Medicinal Plants Research Ben Naman, Ph.D., recently had the opportunity to present as part of the La Jolla Community Center (@ljcommunitycenter) Distinguished Speaker Series. Covering historical and current aspects of plant-based medicines, Dr. Naman describes SDBG’s work to create a national medicinal plant collection and research consortium to catalyze drug discovery in San Diego and beyond. Listen to the full discussion at the link below and learn more.
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peeZWNmWH7M" (San Diego Botanic Garden via Facebook)
• About hornbills: "Good Bill Hunting Most hornbills are omnivorous, meaning they eat a combination of fruit, insects, and other small wildlife. Using the tip of their bill as finger, they pluck fruit from trees or animals off the ground. Featuring a male and female wrinkled hornbill and a southern ground hornbill." (San Diego Zoo via Instagram)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Saturday! I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow morning with a new update.

— Bettyann Pernice

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming San Diego Patch newsletter? Contact me at sandiego@patch.com