Coggan pool officially reopens

After a renovation and one postponed celebration, the Coggan Family Aquatic Complex is officially open again for lap swimming.

The pool, on the La Jolla High School campus at 800 Nautilus St., had been closed since May for the first of two phases of the complex’s renovation.

The first phase, funded by money raised by the La Jolla Aquatic Complex Foundation — its nonprofit owner-operator — replaced the concrete pool deck and the plaster inside the pool and installed a new hot tub.

Phase 2, which is expected in 2024 and is being funded by an undisclosed amount by an anonymous donor, will renovate the buildings, locker rooms and bathrooms. The pool will remain open during Phase 2.

The facility was scheduled to reopen Oct. 15, but construction and inspection delays pushed the date back.

The pool’s hours for lap swimming are 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. More details will be available soon.

People with active memberships can simply show up and check in, according to management.

Near-Earth asteroid may be chunk of the moon, UCSD researchers say

A near-Earth asteroid discovered less than a decade ago might be ejecta from the moon rather than a space rock that arose in the well-established asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, UC San Diego researchers say in the latest issue of the journal Communications Earth & Environment.

The scientists suspect a meteorite strike on the moon threw off a lot of material, including the asteroid, which researchers named Kamo’oalewa. The rock comes relatively close to Earth and the moon as it orbits the sun.

“Elements from this space body can give us information about the formation of the Earth’s moon and improve our knowledge of near-Earth asteroids,” UCSD researcher Aaron Rosengren told a campus publication. He is a senior author of the new paper.

China has said it will send a spacecraft to sample Kamo’oalewa in the next year or two. — The San Diego Union-Tribune

Salk Institute appoints first chief information officer

The Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla has appointed Jerry Sheehan as its first chief information officer, effective Dec. 4.

Sheehan served most recently as vice president and chief information officer at San Diego State University, where he led development and deployment of information technology infrastructure and services for research, instruction and administration.

“Jerry is a leader with a strategic vision that goes well beyond the traditional role of a CIO,” according to Salk President Gerald Joyce. “He has a history of enabling change through information technology innovation, leading cross-functional teams and developing academic and private sector partnerships.”

As Salk’s CIO, Sheehan will work closely with the president, chief science officer and other senior administrative and scientific leaders on technology efforts across the institute and to drive digital innovation.

San Diego accepting applications for arts funding

The city of San Diego is accepting applications for two funding opportunities aimed at supporting arts and culture activities and projects in the city.

The Operational Support Program (OSP) provides general operating support to nonprofit arts and culture organizations, while Creative Communities San Diego (CCSD) offers project support. Funding for both categories comes from the transient occupancy tax collected from overnight visitors in San Diego.

OSP supports activities intended to positively impact tourism while increasing opportunities in arts and culture. CCSD supports projects that engage diverse communities through creative efforts. OSP and CCSD activities and projects will take place between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025.

The application deadline for both funding opportunities is 8 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 28. Learn more at sandiego.gov/arts-culture.

— Compiled by La Jolla Light staff ◆