ON POINT - May 2008
Honor Your Loved One with A Rosebush Tribute
By May 7, 2008
Honor your loved one this Mother’s Day with a gift that recognizes unshakable love, commitment, trust and perseverance.
The NTC Foundation offers you a special opportunity to dedicate a beautiful Rosebush in the Sybil Stockdale Rose Garden at NTC Promenade in the heart of the new cultural district at Liberty Station…a new destination that itself is blooming into a San Diego landmark.
A commemorative plaque with your personal message will be implanted adjacent to your designated rosebush. This is a limited opportunity with only 110 tribute rosebushes available. Your donation $500 to the NTC Foundation will be used to help preserve the historic buildings at the former Naval Training Center and their new mission as a cultural center.
To assure your tribute is placed in this special garden, please go to www.ntcpromenade.org and click on “Donate” to purchase your rosebush and inscribe your recognition plaque. Contact Stacy Goodman at the NTC Foundation at 619-573-9307 with any questions or to schedule a tour of NTC Promenade and the Sybil Stockdale Rose Garden.
All orders must be submitted by May 7, 2008 in order to be installed by Mother’s Day.
Thank you!
In October 2007, the NTC Foundation launched The Liberty School, an exciting new program that provides at-risk San Diego school children with arts, culture and science classes.
At this time, the school offers enrichment classes to 7th grade students in the ALBA Program, children who have been expelled for violation of zero tolerance policies, and 3rd grade students from nearby Dewey Elementary School, where a majority of children live in military housing.
Classes are taught by NTC Promenade’s resident art, culture and science organizations, providing instruction in dance, art, music drama, language arts, karate, social studies and science to approximately 80 San Diego students each week. Curriculum is aligned with CA Dept. of Education mandated standards. Instruction is integrated across the curriculum, with unifying purpose and themes.
“Our students are beginning to see that school can be a place where they belong. One 
student was on probation and wore an ankle bracelet monitor when he came to ALBA last year after months in juvenile hall. He wouldn’t look an adult in the eye, and constantly acted out,” says Liz Larkin, ALBA Vice Principle. “He was completely disengaged from school. Can you imagine my delight to see him dancing in the Malashock class?”
The NTC Foundation received a $500,000 grant from San Diego National Bank (Community Reinvestment Act funds) to support this project, but these funds must stretch a very long way – and for at least three years. Sustaining the program will require aggressive fundraising from individuals, corporations, foundations, and government agencies. The cost per student is $1,500 per year. Our goal is for The Liberty School to be in session five days a week throughout the school year, and during school breaks and the summer to offer special camps.
To support this project please click here.
Luce Auditorium Study Nears Completion
The NTC Foundation’s study to determine the future use of the long-shuttered 1800-seat Luce Auditorium in the heart of NTC Promenade is expected to be completed by the end of June.
Thanks to community donations, the NTC Foundation engaged the professional services of AlpertHall & Associates (AHA) to develop a “Reuse Feasibility Study.” The objectives of the study are to:
- Define the most appropriate design(s) and operational goals for adaptive reuse of Luce Auditorium
- Assist in the determination of the best and highest use of the facility
- Determine if various operating scenarios could be financially sustainable
- Identify future uses that compliment current NTC Promenade resident groups and functions
- Determine the best methods to ensure broad community and user access
A draft report presented to the NTC Foundation has prompted more questions, for which we are engaging AHA to go further in answering over the next few weeks so that we may have a completed report and conclusions to help the Foundation move forward.
Once the final report is accepted by the NTC Foundation Board, it will be presented to the community and posted at www.ntcpromenade.org
A newly renovated Luce Auditorium in its highest and best use configuration is an important component to NTC Promenade, the growing 26-building Civic, Arts and Cultural District at Liberty Station.
About Luce Auditorium
Building 35, Luce Auditorium, is a one story rectangular structure at the former Naval Training Center, San Diego, designed in 1941 by the Navy Public Works Center and constructed by the C.L. Hoskins Company in a Spanish Colonial Revival style with Art Deco influences. Closed since 1997 it is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places because of its unique architecture and because of its unique place in San Diego history.
Its current seating capacity is 1800 – which is about 200 less the Copley Symphony Hall, and 400 more than the Spreckels or Balboa Theatres.
Luce Auditorium is where Navy Recruits saw training films during the day, and enjoyed – along with Point Loma residents - the latest Hollywood films on weekends. Bob Hope did radio broadcasts from its stage, and the distinguished roster of celebrities who performed at or broadcasted from Luce Auditorium include Kay Kyser and his Orchestra, Nat King Cole, Jack Benny, Tommy Dorsey, Edgar Bergan and Lawrence Welk.
Luce Auditorium is named in honor of Stephen Bleeker Luce. Luce joined the Navy as a 14-year-old midshipman in 1841 and sailed his first expedition to Japan. He saw combat duty numerous times, especially during the Civil War. But it is with Naval education that Luce is most remembered. He served three tours of duty at the Naval Academy and was instrumental in beginning organized athletics for midshipmen. He also established the Naval War College, the first of its kind in the world. He served the Navy for 69 years and lived until 1917, long enough to see the Navy in World War I. He died at age 90 on the bridge of a ship in the thick of battle.
Upcoming Events and Exhibitions at NTC Promenade |
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May 2nd – 31st |
San Diego Watercolor Society opens its “Merrie Month of May” exhibition. Gallery Hours: Wednesday - Sunday from 11am-5pm. Free Admission. Phone: 619-876-4550 |
Through May 26th |
Visions Art Quilt Gallery: Transformations 2007: Reverberations exhibition. Gallery Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 10am - 4 pm. Phone: 619-546-4872 |
Tuesday, May 13th |
“Behind the Scenes at NTC Promenade” Civic Community Forum |
Wednesday, May 14th |
San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau – Mixer Extraordinaire 4:30 – 8:00 pm. In honor of National Tourism Week – major tourism and meeting industry partners will showcase their products & services. For tickets and information, please connect to www.sandiego.org. |
Saturday, May 17th |
SAN DIEGO BALLET 'In Studio' Fundraiser – 6:00 – 9:00 pm San Diego Ballet's annual auction Fundraiser held in Dance Place San Diego. Enjoy great food, entertaining progressive performances, fabulous items at bargain prices in the auction. For more information phone 619-294-7311 or email: [email protected] |
Friday, May 30th |
Peninsula Singers & Sun Harbor Chorus – Concert at The North Chapel $7 general admission & $5 for Seniors & Children. www.penunsulasingerssandiego.org |
Saturday, May 31st |
Makua, Friends of Voices for Children – Annual Fundraiser. Location: NTC Promenade – McMillin Companies Event Center. For tickets & information: (858) 569-2096 or www.voices4children.com |
NTC Foundation - Mission Statement
To enrich the lives of San Diegans by renovating 26 historic buildings at the former Naval Training Center to create, facilitate and operate a broad-based complex focused on experiencing the arts, culture, science and technology of innovation, exploration and creativity that are the hallmark of the San Diego region.