La Jolla rabbi placed on three years probation

A La Jolla rabbi was placed on three years probation on June 10 and ordered to pay $15,000 in restitution in a scheme to defraud Qualcomm’s corporate matching program.“What I did was wrong,” said Yehuda Hadjadj, of La Jolla, to U.S. District Court Judge Cynthia Bashant.“I will not do it again,” said Hadjadj to the judge.Hadjadj, 47, is the former rabbi director of Chabad at the UC San Diego, and he directed donors who wanted a tax write-off for contributing to Chabad to make their donations to Friendship Circle.Friendship Circle was operated by another rabbi, Yisroel Goldstein, 58, who is serving 14 months in federal prison for a similar scheme involving his own temple in Poway.Hadjadj was named director of the Chabad House at UC San Diego in 2005 and the organization provided a variety of social, educational, and culture programming for Jewish students. He lost his job because of this case. He counseled and taught students.Goldstein attracted national attention in 2019 when a 19-year-old gunman shot four people including Goldstein, whose index finger was shot off. Lori Kaye, 60, was killed and two others were wounded. The gunman pleaded guilty and is serving a life term in prison without parole.The $15,000 will go to Qualcomm’s corporate division, which is a Fortune 500 telecommunications company based in San Diego. Three Qualcomm employees made checks out to Friendship Circle because Qualcomm excluded religious groups from its eligible donation recipients.Qualcomm contributed $15,000 to Friendship Circle, not realizing it was a sham donation. Then Hadjadj refunded the Qualcomm workers their money and they got to declare it on their taxes as a religious donation.Both the U.S. Attorney’s office and Eugene Iredale, Hadjadj’s attorney, recommended the sentence of three years probation. Hadjadj received credit for one day previously spent in jail following his arrest.Hadjadj is the 10th person prosecuted in the series of cases involving sham donations that were connected in some way to Goldstein, according to the U.S. Attorney.Hadjadj was a chaplain at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility, but he lost that position due to his felony conviction. He pleaded guilty in January to conspiracy to defraud Qualcomm.Hadjadj will go to work in Florida as some type of property manager, Iredale said. Hadjadj married in 1999 and he and his wife had nine children, two of whom are now adults, according to records.The rabbi has shared the story of his misconduct to seven classes that serve as “a cautionary tale” that helps to deter others who may be tempted to do the same thing, according to court documents.The post La Jolla rabbi placed on three years probation appeared first on SDNews.com.

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Meet Azulito! Birch Aquarium announces Little Blue Penguin’s name

Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego has officially named one of its Little Blue Penguins. After receiving nearly 2,500 votes, this charismatic penguin will be named Azulito, which translates to “little blue” in Spanish.The name reveal took place Friday, June 3 in the aquarium’s Giant Kelp Forest. Divers unfurled a banner underwater with the winning name surrounded by leopard sharks, moray eels, and swaying kelp fronds while some of the Little Blues looked on.“This is the first time we have invited the public to help name one of our animals. So, it was a special moment for aquarium fans as well as our staff. We hope this is the beginning of a long tradition of naming our penguins,” said Kayla Strate, lead penguin aquarist. “We want to thank everyone who submitted a name online. Azulito is the perfect fit for this tiny penguin and we love that it’s a nod to our binational region.”Voters were asked to choose between five names — each option with unique ties to San Diego, Scripps Oceanography, and UC San Diego — during a naming campaign that launched on World Penguin Day (April 25). Azulito won by a landslide with 924 votes. Diego trailed behind with 588 votes and Flip came in third with 438, followed by Triton and Torrey with 234 and 281 votes, respectively.Later this month, Azulito — along with Magic, Nero, Persimmon, Reka, Cornelius, and Katie — will move into their new home. Guests can meet Azulito and the rest of the colony starting July 12 when Beyster Family Little Blue Penguins opens.The 2,900 square foot exhibit follows the world’s smallest penguins on their journey from hatchlings to adults, highlighting the challenges they face in a changing climate while celebrating the features that make Little Blues so unique (and adorable).Penguin lovers will now be able to spend more time with the aquarium’s newest residents when the aquarium’s summer hours kick off on July 1. The aquarium will stay open until 7 p.m. daily, from July 1 to Sept. 5.Beyster Family Little Blue Penguins is included in the cost of general admission to Birch Aquarium, which is $24.95 for adults and $19.95 for children ages 3-17. Tickets for July are now available online. Advanced reservations are required for all guests, including members. Visit aquarium.ucsd.edu for more information or to make a reservation.The post Meet Azulito! Birch Aquarium announces Little Blue Penguin’s name appeared first on SDNews.com.

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La Jolla shows its Pride at First Friday Art Walk in June

Every variety of art from the most abstract to fine art wildlife photography was exhibited at participating art galleries with visiting artists at the June 3 First Friday La Jolla Art Walk.The art walks returned by popular demand to the Village of La Jolla in December 2021. Katey Kalanges, director at Lik Fine Art La Jolla, and a member of La Jolla Village Merchant Association’s board, chairs the monthly event.LGBTQ+ Pride was chosen as the theme for the event because June is Pride Month, which celebrates the worldwide influence of LGBTQ+ people. June was also the month when the Stonewall Riots took place in 1969, ushering in the start of the gay rights movement.“First Fridays are not just about art and artists, it is about partnerships and community,” said Jodi Rudick, LJVMA executive director. “First Friday Art Walk is a true collaboration. Not only are over 16 galleries taking part each month, but many galleries have also developed creative partnerships.”Rudick noted Village restaurants often sponsor gallery food and beverages at participating La Jolla art galleries, which have included Mermaids and Cowboys, Eddie V’s, Catania, Lobster West, and Cove House, even brand-new Java Earth.“Real estate agents and chiropractors have sponsored galleries by helping with costs, serving refreshments, and creating a friendly, welcoming atmosphere,” said Rudick. “We’re also thrilled to have developed an ongoing partnership with the San Diego Spirits Festival, which has been providing unique beverages and spirits to guests. All La Jolla businesses can partner with a gallery to lend a hand, and share costs while meeting new potential customers.”Rudick said upcoming art walk themes will be red, white, and blues for July. In August, the theme will involve Akuna Matata in partnership with Disney’s musical production of “The Lion King.”A tour of the June 3 First Friday Art Walk was memorable as guests dined on hors d’oeuvres, sipped wine, and mingled with gallery owners, artists, and their guests.Robert J. Leyh, San Diego Pride programs manager, was among six gay organizations represented at the art walk. He and others hosted a gay trivia game set up outside Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty at 1111 Prospect St.“We’re here because this is June and June is Pride Month,” said Leyh. “They (LJVMA) reached out to a couple of organizations and we said, ‘Yeah, let’s go up there, play a fun trivia game, give out some little prizes, and have some fun.’ It’s about being present in the community. We’re more than just Hillcrest. We’re all of San Diego.”Inside Pacific Sotheby’s, mom-daughter artistic team Geraldine Hummel and her daughter, Dr. Giselle Catalina, were being sponsored by the business. They unveiled their Scapes Collection.“I’ve been painting for 25 years and I just decided to sort of go full-time (in art) now,” said Hummel. Speaking of her inspiration and her artistic palette Hummel noted: “I’ve always lived along the coast and I like the ocean and the sky,” adding about her color scheme, “I like turquoise a lot. My colors, I like them to be brighter. I’m more of a contemporary artist, not fine art, so I want my paintings to be happy.”At Martin Lawrence Galleries around the corner at 1111 Prospect St., gallery director Brenda Klippel-Stores noted the paintings of artist Rene Lalonde will be here “till the end of the month” while adding that “everything else changes constantly. We’ve been here since 2007, but the company’s been in business for 40 years. We have modern masters and pop artists, as well as contemporary artists that we represent.” They treated guests to chocolates.Tammy Tillack of Artemis Fine Art Gallery at 1152 Prospect St. noted her gallery “supports professional artists and National Geographic photographers from around the world.” She added, “All our artists support conservation efforts for our planet. We also have painters, sculptors, and glass artists from all over.”Contemporary Fine Arts Gallery at 7946 Ivanhoe Ave. was featuring the sculpture work of Tom Marosz. “I do glass,” he said of his laminated sculptures reflecting light like a prism. “Part of what makes mine (sculptures) different from others is the coating on here that causes the colors to change. All the color comes from the coating that is put on it.” Marosz named one of his glass sculptures “Ella,” for the jazz musician he listens to while he works.Art consultant Nicole Eilemberg of Contemporary Fine Arts Gallery at 7946 Ivanhoe Ave. noted, “We were one of the first art galleries in La Jolla,” adding, “We get awards every year for just maintaining quality and (keeping) the artists that we’ve represented through the decades. You have to have a relationship with your artists.”Roree Mayhew of Legends Gallery Fine Art of La Jolla at 1205 Prospect St., Suite B, said that “about half the gallery is dedicated to Dr. Seuss and two other artists as well, (Snoopy) artist Tom Everhart, who does the Peanuts work here, and MacKenzie Thorpe, an artist from the UK who’s been showing internationally for about 30 years now.”The artwork exhibited at Modernist Cuisine Gallery at 1241 Prospect St. was really something to behold featuring Daliesque photos by Nathan Myhrvold of food and drink in motion: Beer sloshing into a mug, scoops of ice cream cascading into a cone.Guests were transfixed by the breathtakingly beautiful fine art photos at Images of Nature Gallery at 7916 Girard Ave. Those images were painstakingly captured by wildlife photographer Thomas Mangelsen, whose work has been featured on “60 Minutes.”Krista Schumacher Art Gallery at 1113 Wall St. featured the work of another mother-daughter artistic team, Kathy and Krista Schumacher (above). “Krista is a heavy texture oil palette knife painter,” said Kathy. “She (Kathy) taught me to oil paint when I was 16, and now we are both professional oil painters,” said gallery owner Krista, who added, “Every year we do one painting together on the same canvas.”This year that joint painting taking up nearly an entire wall was titled “Desert Oasis.” “We created it at the same time, both working side-by-side, and we just released it,” noted Krista adding “This is year number three,” referring to her artistic collaboration with her mom.PARTICIPATING LA JOLLA VILLAGE ART GALLERIESArtemis Fine Art Galleryartemisfineartgallery.comIg: @artemislajollaBe Boutiquebeboutiquesd.comIg: @beboutiquesdBFree Studiobfreestudio.netIg: @bfreestudioContemporary Fine Arts Gallerycontemporaryfineartsgallery.comIg: @contemporaryfineartsgalleryConrad Performing Arts Centerljms.orgIg: @ ljmusicsocietyCosmopolitan Fine Artcosmopolitanart.comIg: @cosmopolitanfinearts_galleryCove House La Jollacovehouselajolla.comIg: @covehouselajollaGreg Lawson Gallerygreglawsongalleries.comIg: @greglawsonimagesKrista Schumacher Art Gallerykristaschumacherart.comIg: @kristaschumacherartL&G Projectslandgprojects.comIg: @lg_projects/Legends Gallerylegendsgallerylajolla.comIg: @legendsgallerylajollaLik Fine Artlik.comIg: @peterlikMangelsen Images of Naturemangelsen.com/lajolla-californiaIg: @thomasdmangelsenMartin Lawrence Galleriesmartinlawrence.comIg: @martinlawrencegalleriesMichael Seewald Galleryseewald.comIg: @michael_seewald_99Modernist Cuisinemodernistcuisinegallery.comIg: @ModcuisinePacific Sotheby’s International Real Estatepacificsothebysrealty.comIg: @pacificsothebysrealtyShe’s Art And Soulshesartandsoul.comIg: @shesartandsoulThumbprint Gallerythumbprintgallery.comIg: @ ThumbprintArtGalleryYiddishland Californiayiddishlandcalifornia.orgIg: @yaaana__yiddishLGBTQ+ ORGANIZATIONS AT JUNE 3 FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK IN LA JOLLA VILLAGEGLSEN (Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network) @Modernist Cuisine Galleryglsn.orgPFLAG San Diego @Krista Schumacher Art Gallerypflag.orgPRIDE San Diego @Sotheby’s Plazasdpride.orgRainbow Spaces @Sotheby’s Plazarainbowspaces.orgTrans Family Support Services @BFree Studiotransfamilysos.orgThe post La Jolla shows its Pride at First Friday Art Walk in June appeared first on SDNews.com.

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