The poor water quality of La Jolla Cove, a haven for sea lions, has prompted the Challenged Athletes Foundation to change a leg of its annual triathlon fundraiser. To avoid putting entrants, about 200 of whom have physical disabilities, in harm’s way, the group is shifting its 1-mile swim to La Jolla Shores, reports CEO Ken Wheatley.

The county Department of Environmental Health posted an advisory warning about contaminated water at La Jolla Cove on Sept. 1 and since has included the cove on its online watch list. The La Jolla Children’s Pool, the cove’s neighbor to the south, has been under a “chronic” advisory warning for years.

When high bacterial levels pose a threat, county health officials urge beach goers to avoid water contact.

The foundation’s signature Aspen Medical Products San Diego Triathlon Challenge has been staged at the cove for 22 years. Because of the pollution, this year the swim portion will take place a day earlier — at 7:30 a.m. Oct. 22, followed by the 44-mile bike race, 10-mile run and other activities on Oct. 23.


Late comedian Robin Williams, an avid cyclist, shakes the hand of his teammate Rudy Garcia-Tolson at the San Diego-based Challenged Athletes Foundation, in which they participated together for 11 years. (Courtesy of Challenged Athletes Foundation/Rick Cruse )

Robin remembered: For 11 years, Robin Williams was a riding force in the triathlon, infusing it with his humor and passion for athletes with disabilities. He teamed up with paralympic champion swimmer Rudy Garcia-Tolson, whom he remained in touch with throughout the years, and Ironman champion Scott Tinley to complete the three events as Team Braveheart.

Now, the late comedian’s children are carrying on his legacy by donating the bulk of his huge bicycle collection for online auction — Paddle8.com/RobinWilliams — through Oct. 25 to benefit the Challenged Athletes Foundation and Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.

The 87 bikes, all owned and ridden by Williams, have estimated values ranging from $300 to $15,000 (a Colnago and La Carrera Master Pista Frame, Futura and Trek Madone Discovery Channel Limited Edition 7 Diamonds). The collection also includes an electric bike, Velotron training bike, unicycle and an electric scooter.


Williams’ three children — Zackary, Zelda and Cody — will be at the Oct. 23 triathlon to make presentations from the endowment created in their dad’s name to three challenged athletes: a rugby wheelchair to Patrick Ivison, 22, a running leg to Emma Bennett, 10, and a basketball chair to Danny Smuts, 15. Williams’ second wife, Marsha Garces, also is expected to attend.

So, while the late comedian can’t be present next weekend, he surely will be here in spirit.

Mike Madigan, left, shown in 2002 as the city’s consultant on the ballpark and East Village redevelopment, won an Alonzo Award on Oct. 13, 2016 for his commitment to downtown redevelopment. (Earnie Grafton/SDUT )

Alonzo Awards: Mike Madigan and Sherman Harmer, Jr. were singled out, along with several companies, by the Downtown San Diego Partnership this year for their roles in making downtown a better place to live.


Madigan was named “Volunteer of the Year” for his team-building approach to solving center city issues . Harmer, who spent 45 years in the home-building business, was given the Alonzo “Founders Award” for his career-long visionary leadership in revitalizing the city’s urban core.

“It was a big challenge for us to come downtown and start building 19 years ago,” Harmer admitted.

As the awards concluded, Kris Michell, Downtown Partnership president and CEO, turned to her Executive Committee Chairman, Frank Urtasun, and commented, “The energy here is electric.” “You bet,” agreed Urtasun, whose day job is SDG&E vice president.

A 1986 file photo of actors Tom Cruise (lleft) and Kelly McGillis with producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer (right) on the set of the movie Top Gun. (Paramount Pictures/LAT )


‘Top Gun’ remembered: Actor Tom Cruise wasn’t here, but the filming of “Top Gun,” which has scenes shot in Oceanside, downtown San Diego, Mission Beach and on Navy aircraft carrier Enterprise, was recalled by decorated Vietnam fighter pilot and Top Gun instructor Pete Pettigrew and Vice Adm. Walter J. Davis, who captained the USS Enterprise. Both were advisers on the movie when it premiered 30 years ago.

Joining them at the La Costa Film Festival Friday was Barry Sandrew, who founded locally based Legend 3D. He orchestrated “Top Gun’s” conversion to 3D format in 2013.

“It was the most difficult conversion I’ve ever done,” said Sandrew, noting that the movie didn’t employ visual special effects but relied totally on live action. “You had to have everything perfect,” he said, down to the individual flyaway hairs on girlfriend Kelly “Charlie” McGillis’ head.

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, shown here at a February news conference, took part in the fall,2016 season of ABC TV’s “Dancing With the Stars.” (AP Photo/Eric Gay )


Stepping up: When former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, a frequent San Diego summer visitor, was competing on ABC TV’s “Dancing with the Stars” this season, he noted that his (short-lived) time as a contestant was good practice for the upcoming wedding of his daughter, Sydney.

She was living in San Diego and dating then-Navy SEAL Brett Harrison, based in Coronado, when Perry was vying for the GOP presidential nomination four years ago. The couple’s wedding is Oct. 15 in Texas, so perhaps he’ll get to repeat his cha-cha-cha to “God Blessed Texas.”

diane.bell@sduniontribune.com

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