Band champs

Congratulations to the La Costa Canyon High School Maverick Brigade, on its first-place win at the Mira Mesa Field Tournament and bringing home the coveted Sweepstakes award at the Vista Invitational Field Tournament, during this fall’s marching band tournament season.Math star

Shalomi Philip, a freshman at Santa Fe Christian Schools, was selected by the national math committee to participate in both the team and individual events for the World Math Team Championship to be held in Beijing, China in late November. A Filipino sixth-grader won the Beijing event, a three-day event. The U.S. sent three teams, each with six students to compete among students representing 10 nations.

New director

The San Diego County Medical Society Foundation has chosen Encinitas resident Nicole Hmielewski as the foundation’s new Resource Development Director. Hmielewski joins the association with 10 years of experience in non-profit fundraising and development, most specifically in the areas of corporate relations, grants and workplace giving. In her new role, she will focus on physician volunteer recruitment, corporate relations, individual donor relations and grant writing.

Space-age women

Young women members of the Better Education for Women in Science and Engineering program of the San Diego Science Alliance, from 15 San Diego high schools including Canyon Crest Academy; Carlsbad High School; Cathedral Catholic High School; Santa Fe Christian Schools and Torrey Pines High School, completed an experiment set to spend month aboard International Space Station after March liftoff on SpaceX. The flight will be the first commercial vehicle to dock with the station. The girls worked since September to conceive, design, engineer and program a micro-experiment to compare how crystals grow in microgravity environment.

Trees for troops

A free Christmas tree giveaway was held on base at the Rattlesnake Canyon Road parking lot as part of the Trees for Troops program, sponsored by the Christmas Spirit Foundation. The group delivered approximately 900 trees to troops and military families.

Realtor hits 100

Together with his team, Dan Conway of The Guiltinan Group’s Carmel Valley office, assisted clients with 100 transactions this year. The team consists of Dan’s wife Pattie Conway, Jason Fogelman, Bill Jones, Elaine Walker, Jyotsna Sharma, Melina Camey, Anne Jones, Jo Nestor, Chris Plato, and Taylor Tolpingrud. Visit DanConwaySOLD.com.

Tri-City to sponsor

The Downtown Encinitas MainStreet Association announced that Tri-City Medical Center will be the exclusive Gold Sponsor of its third annual Wellness Week, Jan. 19 at the Encinitas Branch of the San Diego County Library. Wellness Week is a week-long program of events and special offers that allows people to learn about and experience ways to improve their physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

Telescope unveiled

Hilton Carlsbad Oceanfront Resort, 1 Ponto Rd., Carlsbad, unveiled its new guest-friendly ocean-gazing telescope Dec.6. Funds generated by the coin-operated telescope will be collected and used by Boys & Girls Clubs of Carlsbad.

Sand for summer

As a final part of San Diego Association of Government regional beach sand project, approximately 200,000 cubic yards of sand is being deposited on the beaches in north Carlsbad. A large offshore pipe will remain in place for the duration of the project.

25 years of teaching

Tickets are available now for The Winston School’s 25th anniversary dinner at the Del Mar Fairgrounds April 20. All Winston students past and present, their families, teachers past and present, friends and supporters, are invited.

Since 1988, the school has educated students with mild to moderate learning challenges including autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, ADD, ADHD, specific learning disabilities or learning disorders, nonverbal learning disorders and slow maturation.

Softball stars

The first adult men’s and coed softball tournament concluded Nov. 17, at Poinsettia Park. Out of 12 teams participating, the champions were Señor Grubby’s in the men’s division and Kamikaze Tequila Worms in the coed division.

Volunteers needed

The Flower Fields in Carlsbad is again asking volunteers to conduct its walking children’s tours and/or adult tours. The guided tours cost the public $15. No experience is required. Training will be in January. For more information, contact Joni Miringoff, Group Sales/Special Events Director, at (760) 930-9123 ext. 118.