Since May, county fire stations have been designated as “Safely Surrendered Baby” sites, where a person can surrender a newborn baby without repercussions.
El Cajon firefighters surmised that a woman rushing her pregnant sister to Sharp Grossmont Hospital noticed the baby drawing on Fire Station 6 and thought it symbolized birthing services.
That wasn't quite the case, said Rosemary Mondragon, who was panicked that she wouldn't make it to the hospital in time.
Mondragon was right. Five minutes after she pulled into the fire station, young paramedic-firefighter Robert Laatsch delivered a healthy baby girl in the back seat of the car.
It was the second baby for Alicia Mondragon-Avila and the first delivery for Laatsch, who had just finished his initial year with the department.
Feathered friends
Rod Stewart petting a penguin? Yes, a photographer snapped a picture of the singer Thursday during a behind-the-scenes tour of SeaWorld.
More than one SeaWorld staffer commented that Stewart's “finger-in-the-light-socket” bleached hairstyle was very similar to the macaroni penguin's yellow “hair” spikes, which are actually feathers.
SeaWorld officials tell me that this penguin is named macaroni after the mid-18th century expression for very fashionably dressed men who often stuck flashy feathers in their hats.
The yachts are coming
A couple of mega yachts at the port's new mega-yacht basin on the Embarcadero have grabbed the attention of curiosity seekers.
Ice, a 295-foot luxury yacht flagged in the Cayman Islands, is ranked No. 21 of the 100 largest yachts in the world by Power & Motoryacht magazine. The ship, reportedly owned by Russian billionaire Suleiman Kerimov, is scheduled to stay in San Diego through the end of the month.
Utopia, 235 feet long and listed as 59th largest in the world, docked for a couple of days before moving Friday to Knight & Carver Yacht Center in National City for maintenance. The Holland-built Feadship, reportedly owned by Legg Mason Value Trust fund manager Bill Miller, is listed for charter at about $640,000 to $676,000 per week.
The 170-foot-long Tigre d' Or arrived Saturday and departs Sept. 20. The Glen Ellen, about 100 feet long, is due to leave today after one week, according to the San Diego Mooring Co.
Local yachting agent Mark Drewelow, who brokers fuel, hires crew and orders supplies for many of ships cruising the West Coast, expects San Diego's mega-yacht numbers to double next year. Drewelow said owners are seeking less-crowded ports and want to avoid pirate-infested waters off Somalia's Gulf of Eden.
San Diego Scene
San Marcos resident Craig Pollard stages his 15th annual Cancer for College Golf Classic on Friday with the help of actor Will Ferrell, who is Pollard's USC fraternity brother. Ferrell once again agreed to co-host the live auction at the Rancho Bernardo Inn. . . . Golden Globe nominee Jason Lee, star of TV's “My Name Is Earl,” was seen partying at the Ivy Hotel's rooftop lounge on a recent evening.
Cool comeback
It was a heart-breaking fourth-quarter loss for San Diego State Aztecs fans Sept. 6 in South Bend, Ind., but they managed to get in the last word. After the football game, Vince Reynolds, his wife, Sandy, and her brother, Frank Pekarek, were consoled by Notre Dame fans who said, “Tough luck, maybe next time.” Pekarek couldn't resist the rejoinder: “Yeah, now we're going back to San Diego. You guys have a nice winter.”
Diane Bell's column appears Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Fax items to (619) 260-5009; call (619) 293-1518; or e-mail to diane.bell@uniontrib.com.
