
Ashley Mackin Solomon
Ashley Mackin-Solomon is a reporter for the La Jolla Light, covering everything from community planning, sports, science, the arts, personalities and more. She has been with La Jolla Light since 2012. Prior to that, she was the editor of San Diego Uptown News; an intern with a New York-based publishing company, contributing to parenting magazines; and a reporter for the Eureka Reporter newspaper. She earned her journalism degree from Humboldt State University, now Cal Poly Humboldt. Outside of work, she enjoys being outdoors, yoga, cooking and stand-up comedy.
All Stories

‘Significantly larger’ La Jolla Shores home development gets hearing officer’s approval
A plan to replace a 1,900-square-foot house with a 6,600-square-foot house with an ADU at 7356 Rue Michael drew opposition from neighbors

La Jolla students reach World Finals in problem-solving challenge
A seven-member team of 11-year-olds from The Children's School wins the Odyssey of the Mind state tournament and advances to Michigan for the global competition

La Jolla scientists aid in repatriation of World War II fliers’ remains
Researchers from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography helped find and identify crew on a B-24 bomber shot down in 1944 in Papua New Guinea

Emergency bluff repair expected soon in Bird Rock
A proposal would extend an erodible concrete seawall on a coastal bluff at Calumet Avenue that the applicant says might be nearing failure

La Jolla board seeks ideas and more money for Scripps Park grass replacement
Parks & Beaches group will explore ways to keep new grass alive, as well as other planting options, plus additional funding for the targeted sites

La Jolla News Nuggets: Natural reserve events, cityhood signatures, Villa Musica camp, more
News and events in brief

La Jolla crime and public safety news: Police blotter
Crime and public safety

La Jolla author launches nonprofit to help neighbors connect
Inspired by her debut novel last year, Barbara Burton (also known as Barbara Graf) began Neighbors as Family, an online platform that showcases people providing help or in need of...

La Jolla Cove access group leans toward options of deterring sea lions and combining shared use with behavior education
The group is looking at ways to maintain public access to The Cove amid conflicts between people and pinnipeds

Mount Soledad ceremony honors women of the military
Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Evelyn Jean Wright, 95, gets a plaque at the National Veterans Memorial in La Jolla

Two La Jolla women among Assembly honorees for ‘breaking glass ceilings’
Dr. Rebecca Rakow-Penner of UC San Diego is named 77th District Woman of the Year and environmental advocate Jennifer Phelps wins the Women of Impact activism award

Appeal of planned La Jolla church expansion is denied
San Diego council upholds a city determination that the project at Sea Change Church — formerly La Jolla Christian Fellowship — is exempt from California Environmental Quality Act review

Bishop’s student is named Coca-Cola Scholar, ing a community of ‘change agents’
Anna Krolik, part of a Scripps Research team and robotics captain at her school, wins a $20,000 college scholarship and a trip to Scholars Weekend

Intersex, homeless and now author: Ex-La Jolla resident shares her uncommon journey in new book
Seana Smith will return to The Village for a launch party April 5 at the Recreation Center

La Jolla News Nuggets: New aquarium exhibit, $4.5M gift for Salk, garden tour tickets, more
News and events in brief

‘A prompt and clear reaction seems warranted’: Local leaders react to merchants group not investigating executive director
Three former board presidents and others had accused Jodi Rudick of various forms of misconduct — allegations that she vigorously denied

La Jolla crime and public safety news: Vandalism at veterans memorial; blotter
Crime and public safety

Appeal of Foxhill home development project in La Jolla is withdrawn
The appeal, filed last year, had hoped to slow the plan to build five three-story homes ranging from 8,493 to 13,544 square feet on the storied hilltop property

La Jolla cityhood advocates must go back to signature gathering after falling short of requirement
The county registrar of voters said the group was 1,027 short of the number needed because of signatures determined to be invalid. It has until the end of the month...

Plans for new hotel taking shape in ‘special cultural area’ of La Jolla
The team behind the Orli Hotel now proposes to convert a 16,683-square-foot property at 484 Prospect St. into a 20-room inn

La Jollan Julie Dubick named one of San Diego’s ‘Cool Women’
The Girl Scouts honor the former Scout and current Conrad Prebys Foundation chief of staff for contributions to the development of girls and women

La Jolla organizations get share of $80K in San Diego funds
Nine groups, nearly all of them connected to the arts, receive Community Projects, Programs and Services grants through City Council President Joe LaCava

Coastal Commission deadline for hearing on Scripps reserve closure is extended
Commission staff makes the new permit hearing deadline June 30 to give staff and UC San Diego more time to discuss the application

Meet the La Jolla researcher who helped discover new muscular dystrophy drug
People in Your Neighborhood: Dr. Pier Lorenzo Puri of Sanford Burnham Prebys says he was 'obsessed with doing something' to help


La Jolla crime and public safety news: Police blotter
Crime and public safety

La Jolla planners vote to allow online meetings
The bylaws change authorizes the Community Planning Association and its committees to hold meetings online should they consider it necessary

$20K sought to help repair playground equipment in La Jolla Shores
The project at Kellogg Park would fix rusted structures and cracked and damaged side s on some of the equipment

‘I’m thrilled for La Jolla’: Ribbon is cut on new ‘welcome’ sign
The project at Torrey Pines Road and La Jolla Shores Drive was led by the Rotary Club of La Jolla and local architect Trace Wilson

La Jolla scientists work to create prediction model for atmospheric rivers
Given that the weather phenomenon can override others such as El Niño and La Niña, researchers at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography aim to help water managers know what to...

Fire and cell tower concerns lead discussion at La Jolla town hall meeting
San Diego City Council President Joe LaCava addresses and takes questions from constituents at the La Jolla Recreation Center

Making the case: Three La Jolla schools place high in county mock trial competition
Country Day took the top spot and will proceed to the state finals March 14. La Jolla High and Bishop’s were third and fourth, respectively.

La Jolla seniors take their worries for a walk to protest Trump policies
The march by dozens of Casa de Mañana residents was in response to a variety of decisions by the president and his istration

70 years of standing out: La Jolla Symphony & Chorus celebrates decades of ‘diverse works’
The group for student and other amateur musicians presents new works by contemporary composers along with the classics

La Jolla News Nuggets: Playhouse awards, Shores home hearing, plant donations, more
News and events in brief

La Jolla crime and public safety news: Fight near La Jolla Cove, blotter
Crime and public safety

La Jolla’s ‘People & Places’ tours kick off with a look at Anna Held’s Green Dragon Colony
Held founded the famed artists colony in late 1894 and lived where Eddie V’s restaurant is now

La Jolla Shores spec house designated as historic
The Spanish Colonial Revival-style house at 7964 Roseland Drive was built in 1929

‘An incredible honor’: La Jolla youths nominated to military service academies
U.S. Rep. Scott Peters (D-La Jolla) issues his nominations to attend the U.S. Military, Merchant Marine, Naval and Air Force academies

La Jolla recreation group looking at grants and partnerships to raise money
The advisory board for the Rec Center is seeking to replace damaged playground equipment and meet other needs

Children’s book about death and love has ‘profound connection’ to La Jolla
'Walking Each Other Home' author John Masiulionis makes local scenes 'a central part of the book'

New La Jolla Cove access group eyes ‘collaborative approach’ to the area’s use
The working group, formed in September, has its inaugural meeting in an effort to come up with a way to balance recreational access with marine animal protection

La Jolla teenage author releases book about changes that come with growing up
'Via LaVie and the Secret Key' is 14-year-old Liv Blu Kyle’s second book featuring her young protagonist

Proposed new signs would tell the story of La Jolla Park Coastal Historic District
Parks & Beaches board member Chas. Dye proposes forming a working group to develop a project with informational signs, QR codes and maps

Athlete of the Week: Bishop’s School water polo player Sydney Hagan embraces hard work as a tool for success
The senior has been a leader on the Knights' newly crowned CIF San Diego Section Open Division girls championship team

La Jolla News Nuggets: Home project appeal; restaurant site work; sinkhole repaired; more
News and events in brief

La Jolla crime and public safety news: Fireworks on the beach, blotter
Crime and public safety

Who’s responsible for what in brush management to prevent wildfires?
An audit called the city of San Diego's methods poorly coordinated, not comprehensive enough and too fragmented among different departments. Those and other complications often leave La Jolla volunteers cleaning...

Bird Rock condo residents worry about fire risk from rooftop HVAC units
A fire at Seahaus occurred in December, and two experts have cited hazards, but the homeowners association says an inspector it hired in January refuted those claims

Concerns raised about accuracy of collection times at La Jolla post office
A resident claims mail routinely isn't picked up until 5 p.m., but the U.S. Postal Service says otherwise

Cell tower plan for La Jolla Bike Path is withdrawn, to the relief of local residents
AT&T's application to install wireless equipment in a 30-foot tower along with nine antennas on six smaller mounts had drawn heavy opposition

La Jolla merchants board won’t investigate claims against executive director
According to the official record of its closed session this week, the board decided the accusations of conflict of interest, bullying and other misconduct against Jodi Rudick do not have...

Former La Jollan offers ‘reflections on aging’ in latest book
Louise Stanger says she seeks to challenge conventional wisdom about what is possible as we age

After closed session, La Jolla merchants group is mostly mum about any actions regarding allegations against executive director
The Village Merchants Association board says it will issue a statement soon as Jodi Rudick, who has been accused of conflict of interest, bullying and other misconduct, gets from...

La Jolla gets a new Think Tank for Children
The learning center for kids ages 6-11 run by local resident and retired educator Mary Sue Lindsay offers daily challenges and longer-term projects

La Jolla News Nuggets: Appeal postponed; 50 years at Salk; Prozac study; Gillispie blood drive; more
News and events in brief

La Jolla crime and public safety news: Police blotter
Crime and public safety

Negotiations would decide how much ‘alimony’ a city of La Jolla would need to pay in a breakup with San Diego
Feasibility study 'does not estimate annual mitigation payments' for the impact of lost revenue

La Jolla library and special events face likely impacts from proposed San Diego fee hikes
Changes could increase fees by an average of 20%

Additional accusations brought against La Jolla merchants director
New allegations about the Village Merchants Association's Jodi Rudick include a contract violation and mistreatment of interns

Persian New Year celebration returning to La Jolla
The second 'Views of Nowruz' festival will be held Wednesday, March 19, organized by La Jolla Village Merchants Association board member Elnaz Iraj

La Jolla development reviewers give thumbs down to revised Wrelton Drive home plan
The proposed remodeling of a fire-damaged house still draws local concerns, as does absence of some information requested by the DPR Committee

Plans for home development on vacant La Jolla lot get S.D. hearing officer’s approval
The proposal calls for a 4,792-square-foot two-story house with an attached garage at the southwest end of Romero Drive

La Jolla News Nuggets: Medal of Honor plaque; help for L.A.; Foxhill appeal; more
News and events in brief


‘Breaking Up With Dairy’: La Jollan’s book looks to provide new approaches to cooking
Private chef Bailey Ruskus says she wants 'to show people you can have all the delicious things that are made from dairy but in a dairy-free way'

10 candidates eye six seats on La Jolla Community Planning Association board
Nine candidates attend a forum in preparation for the election March 6

La Jolla planners briefed on UC San Diego housing plans
Two projects on campus are intended to provide beds for 8,400 students

Allegations of bullying and conflict of interest against executive director roil La Jolla merchants group
Two former board presidents criticize Jodi Rudick regarding her drafting of proposed bylaw amendments, conduct toward merchants and financial client-adviser relationship with the current president

La Jolla’s Scripps Oceanography welcomes Black in Marine Science Week participants
Activities aim to inspire people of color to pursue careers in marine science and help them stay in it

How would a city of La Jolla work and how much would it cost? Feasibility study weighs in
Report prepared for the Association for the City of La Jolla's application for cityhood projects a $74.8 million budget and an $8 million surplus in the first year. It also...

Princeton singing troupe coming to La Jolla, marking a homecoming for Bishop’s grad
The Tigertones, including Raphael Delgado, will visit The Bishop’s School and possibly St. James by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in March

Pedal to the metal: La Jolla Concours d’Elegance to feature hot rods, legendary designs and a ‘Ford vs. Ferrari’ display
The classic car show will return to The Village on April 25-27

Decades on the diamond: La Jolla Youth Baseball families reflect on multiple generations of players
The league, which dates to 1952, is preparing to open its new season Feb. 22


La Jolla crime and public safety news: Commercial fire, blotter
Crime and public safety

Se instala el cartel “Bienvenidos a La Jolla”, con planes para iluminación y plantas
El cartel, que dice “Bienvenidos a La Jolla, California”, culmina tres años de trabajo.

Is La Jolla ready for a wildfire? A look at evacuation routes and safety measures just in case
Taking preemptive steps to protect your home and plan your exit can reduce danger and help firefighters do their jobs, first responders say

Villa La Jolla Drive repair causes worry about ongoing traffic impacts
A project to repair a sinkhole and a collapsed storm drain is expected to be finished by the end of May, the city of San Diego says

La junta de parques de La Jolla escucha más preocupaciones sobre la torre de celular planeada en el sendero para bicicletas
La propuesta en curso tiene como objetivo instalar equipo inalámbrico de AT&T

La Jolla cityhood advocates submit application to detach from San Diego
The Association for the City of La Jolla says it raised $132,000 to cover an application deposit and LAFCO legal fees

La Jolla parks board hears more concerns about planned cell tower on bike path
Ongoing proposal aims to install AT&T wireless equipment in a 30-foot-tall monument tower, along with nine antennas on six smaller mounts along the path

Incidents on Silverado Street cause temporary road closure
A possible medical aid call leads to an argument involving a motorist driving through the scene, drawing responses from fire and police personnel

‘Welcome to La Jolla’ sign is installed, with plans for plants and lighting
Any leftover money from the Rotary Club of La Jolla's funding of the project might be used to start an endowment for ongoing maintenance and repairs

S.D. council upholds Planning Commission approval of Adelante Townhomes in La Jolla
An appeal of the 13-unit townhouse building with ground-floor retail proposed for Bird Rock had challenged density bonuses and waivers for the project and sought for it to be redesigned...

La Jolla News Nuggets: Black Film Festival, home development, cancer research grant, more
News and events in brief

‘The Life Guide for Teens’: Book by La Jolla author looks to empower young people from within
Dr. Ran Anbar features more than 100 steps teenagers can take to address many common problems

What makes the biological clock tick? La Jolla scientists link two theories on aging
UCSD researchers work to pave the way for new therapies to slow or reverse the process

Water work: La Jolla High athlete gets MVP award for persistence and power in the pool
Liam Flanagan worked and waited until halfway through his junior year to make the varsity water polo team, then became a star

El laboratorio de La Jolla hace un nuevo descubrimiento en la búsqueda de una vacuna contra el VIH
"Es una reacción única en la que los anticuerpos se unen a otros anticuerpos, lo cual es raro"

Conciertos Bodhi Tree resaltarán lo que es ser ‘intrínsecamente mexicano’ antes del estreno mundial de ópera
“Parte de la razón por la que estamos haciendo estos conciertos y ‘Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote’

La Jolla lab makes new discovery in search for HIV vaccine
A unique reaction in which antibodies bind to other antibodies may help scientists at Scripps Research better understand how to design a vaccine

Photo gallery: Evacuation orders are lifted after fire in La Jolla
About 175 firefighters responded and kept the fire to three acres, San Diego authorities say

Bodhi Tree Concerts to highlight what is ‘intrinsically Mexican’ ahead of opera world premiere
Three concerts in La Jolla and a music festival in City Heights will precede next January's opening of 'Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote'

La Jolla News Nuggets: Jewish Film Festival; home plan gets ‘no’ vote; cancer studies; more
News and events in brief

La Jolla architect Trip Bennett retires after 50 years
After getting into architecture at random, he now 'can’t imagine doing anything else'

La Jolla crime and public safety news: Parking ticket scam, blotter
Crime and public safety

La Jolla streetscape plan progressing with project manager and fundraising
The La Jolla Community Foundation says it has raised $4.3 million so far for the Girard Avenue renovation project

S.D. hearing officer OKs Bird Rock home development, despite fears that it will be a short-term rental
The project would tear down a house on Calumet Avenue and replace it with one more than twice the size
