🌱 Spring Forward To Do's + Water Reservoirs 128% Higher + Backlot SD

Hello, everyone! Bettyann Pernice here with your Tuesday edition of the San Diego Patch newsletter. Sip your coffee/tea, crunch that French pastry, and follow along to learn what's happening in our town today:

• Now that you've "sprung forward," things you need to do.
• Rain increased water levels at reservoirs.
• Did you know these movies were filmed in San Diego?

But first, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy.☁️ High: 64, Low: 54.

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

1. With daylight saving time, you've lost an hour of sleep, but you’ve gained one hour of daylight every day! So, what should be on your to-do list now? Firefighters remind us to check our smoke alarms and change batteries as needed. It’s also a good time to reset timers on outdoor lights and lawn sprinkler systems. The Automobile Club of Southern California cautions drivers to watch for pedestrians in the morning darkness. Once done, you are free to enjoy the beaches, stroll through Balboa Park, enjoy an al fresco dinner in Little Italy, or just relax and enjoy the extra hour of sunshine. (Patch)
2. After three consecutive years of drought, the current rains are a welcome change in San Diego. Reservoir levels are up 128 percent, and the additional water will help San Diego become more water-independent. Meanwhile, San Diegans dropped their water usage by 20 percent in December last year, and 7.4 percent in January this year. (FOX 5 San Diego)
3. Sure, you knew that "Top Gun" was filmed in San Diego, but did you know that more than 700 other films were filmed here? Since 1898, San Diego has been the backlot for filming such films as "Citizen Kane," "Titanic" and "Some Like It Hot." More recently, "Avatar: The Way of Water" and "Pirates of the Caribbean" were filmed here. Film companies particularly enjoy shooting films at waterside locations here. Today, San Diego is considered an easy alternative to the Los Angeles area. (FOX 5 San Diego)
4. Now is the time to make reservations for your St. Patrick’s Day dinner and festivities. Not Irish? Not to worry! They say that everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, so get out an enjoy the celebration! With corned beef and cabbage and Irish stout, many local restaurants are serving up a meal to remember. So, make your reservations now and enjoy!

Today in San Diego:

• AARP Tax Preparation — College Rolando Branch Library (11:30 AM)
• Music and Motion — MountainView/Beckwourth Branch Library (11:30 AM)
• Mind-Body Fitness for Older Adults — Riford/La Jolla Branch Library (11:30 AM)
• Toddler Storytime — Riford/La Jolla Branch Library (12:00 PM)
• Adult Social Scrabble — North Clairemont Branch Library (1:00 PM)
• Kamishibai StoryBox Theatre — Scripps Miramar Ranch Library Center (3:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Find out about Smart Streetlights: Weren’t able to attend the community meetings for Smart Streetlights this week? You can re-watch one of the community presentations, provide your feedback and read all of the supporting materials online at sandiego.gov/police.

• Ignite your love of reading: "Are you having trouble deciding what to read next? Let an SDPL librarian help you ignite your love of reading! 💛📗 All you have to do is fill out a quick form, and you will receive a personalized list of author and title recommendations." (San Diego Central Library via Facebook)
• Rehoming: "Facing the decision to give up your pet isn’t easy. At San Diego Humane Society, we understand there are many unexpected circumstances that may prevent loving pet owners from being able to keep their companions. Through our partner rehoming sites, community members who need to give up their pets can connect directly with those looking to adopt, allowing current owners to personally select the new home that will be the best fit for their animal (like Goldie here!) If you or someone you know needs to rehome a pet, visit sdhumane.org/rehome to learn more." (San Diego Humane Society via Facebook)

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You're all caught up for today. See you all tomorrow morning for another update!

— Bettyann Pernice

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