💡 The why

🦺 The how — by the numbers

• The wetlands will include 64 acres of tidal salt marsh, 15 acres of brackish wetlands (saltwater and freshwater), and the enhancement of five acres of riparian habitat
• To make room, a total of 1.1 million cubic yards of soil will be removed — the equivalent of 333 Olympic-sized swimming pools
• The $87 million project is funded by the SANDAG TransNet Environmental Mitigation Program and federal funding
• As of October 2023, SANDAG tells SDtoday that grading activities are 75% complete; crews are continuing to excavate the saltwater basins and grade for the new trail system
• The project is on track to be completed in fall 2024

• California Clean Air Day | Wednesday, Oct. 4 | All day | San Diego County | Free | Join SANDAG and take the pledge to improve air quality in SD by commuting via carpool, public transit, biking, or walking today.
• Community Health & Resource Fair | Wednesday, Oct. 4 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | 151 YMCA Way, San Diego | Free | This monthly community gathering includes free resources like cholesterol and blood pressure screenings, plus food distribution and COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.
• Sting | Wednesday, Oct. 4 | 8 p.m. | Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, 5500 Canyon Crest Dr., San Diego | $150+ | The icon brings his “My Songs 2023" tour to the SDSU venue with special guest Joe Sumner.

• Art & Beer Night Market SD | Thursday, Oct. 5 | 5-10 p.m. | AleSmith Brewing Company, 9990 AleSmith Court, San Diego | Free | Shop small by supporting 50+ artists and vendors while sipping beer and grabbing food at food trucks.
• The Scream Zone | Through Tuesday, Oct. 31 | 7-11 p.m. | Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd. | $33-$48 | It’s opening night at this spooky attraction featuring three bone-chilling haunts and the new Midway Madness Halloween-themed carnival.
• LGBTQ + Allies Mojo Dojo Casa House Party | Thursday, Oct. 5 | 8:30 p.m. | Side Bar, 536 Market St., San Diego | $60-$65 | Immerse yourself in Dreamland with DJs and a drag show to benefit local LGBTQ+ organizations — your ticket includes an open bar and light bites.

• OB Oktoberfest 2023 | Friday, Oct. 6 + Saturday, Oct. 7 | 4-11:30 p.m. + 12-11:30 p.m. | OB Pier Parking Lot, 5099 Newport Ave., San Diego | $10-$49 | The Ocean Beach tradition is back with beer gardens, food, music, contests, and more.
• Chocolat et Vin at the Bay | Friday, Oct. 6 | 5-6 p.m. | Mission Bay Beach Club, 2688 E. Mission Bay Dr., San Diego | $35 | Sip and sample your way through four wine tastings from Amrita Cellars paired with four truffles from Nibble Chocolatier.
• Opening Reception: “People Who Look Like Art” | Friday, Oct. 6 | 6-8 p.m. | Mandell Weiss Gallery, Dorothea Laub Dance Place (B175), 2650 Truxtun Rd., San Diego | Free | It’s opening night for this exhibition of photographs by Lorraine Triolo — and this shindig includes a fashion show and San Diego Ballet performance.
• Becky G | Friday, Oct. 6 | 8 p.m. | Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., San Diego | $147+ | The Latin pop singer and actress makes herself at home in SD with her “Mi Casa, Tu Casa” US tour.

• Local leaders have broken ground on Sweetwater Park, part of the ongoing Chula Vista Bayfront redevelopment project that will also add the Gaylord Pacific Resort and Convention Center. The 21-acre park will be designed to give locals prime access to the natural beauty of San Diego Bay. (City News Service via ABC 10)

• The Comic-Con Museum reopens today with “POPnology,” a new headline exhibit that explores the connection between pop culture and real world technology — think driverless cars, robots, and drones. Also new on the exhibit floor: “Colleen Doran Illustrates Neil Gaiman” and “From Big Dots to the Digital Universe.”

• The festive Rady Children’s Ice Rink will return to Liberty Station this holiday season — Thursday, Nov. 16-Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. Proceeds from the rink will benefit the Thriving After Cancer program at Rady Children’s Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.

• Today is Clean Air Day and Free Ride Day across SD’s public transit system. You can take free rides all day on the Trolley, Coaster, or Sprinter as part of the pledge to commute for clean air — not a bad alternative considering local gas prices have surged above $6.

• As part of the Bayshore Bikeway project, SANDAG crews are working on traffic signal improvements at intersections along Harbor Drive in Barrio Logan, so drivers will experience delays. Expect temporary four-way stops at Sampson Street today and along 28th Street on Monday, Oct. 9, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

• FEMA plans to test its Emergency Alert system today at around 11:20 a.m. This means your phone will receive a message from the federal agency around that time frame. Remember: This is a test.

• San Diego’s future MLS team will unveil its name, crest, and colors at its Brand Reveal Festival on Friday, Oct. 20, at 6 p.m., at Snapdragon Stadium’s Thrive Lot South. Priority access to free tickets will be given to fans who have made an $18 deposit toward the club.

• National Taco Day. Now, despite what some rankings might claim, San Diegans know our city is No. 1 when it comes to incredible tacos. Let’s taco ‘bout it — share your favorite neighborhoods for tacos and favorite shops with us.

• How are you feeling? Tomorrow is San Diego County’s Check Your Mood Day, a chance for locals to monitor and assess their emotional well-being. The county is offering free online screenings for depression and offering community resources to raise awareness about the importance of mental health.

• “Do you like scary(ish) movies?” The Rooftop Cinema Club Embarcadero has released its October schedule of spooky flicks. We spy “Scream,” “Halloween,” “Friday the 13th,” and “The Addams Family” among the 70+ screenings. The venue will also host a Halloween party on Tuesday, Oct. 31 — complete with a costume contest.

• Regal Cinema at Parkway Plaza will host a fun fan shindig on Friday, Oct. 13, 6-8 p.m., to celebrate the opening night of Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” movie. Wear your best “Eras” outfit, make and trade friendship bracelets with fellow Swifties, and enjoy fun photo ops and live music.

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