Front Pages

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At the Car Wash

IMAGINE A TOP-QUALITY CAR WASH without a single drop of water. Sound improbable? Not at San Diego’s Ecopit, which has mastered the art of the environmentally friendly car wash. Call it dry-cleaning for your car.

Ecopit guarantees to make your car glisten without using the gallons of water or harsh chemicals typical of the standard car wash. The company opened shop at Fashion Valley this summer and plans to open two additional locations soon.

Customers drop off cars, and while they shop, Ecopit’s washers work their magic. The secret to the company’s twostep process: 3 to 5 ounces of the waterbased, biodegradable and nontoxic Eco-clean product is rubbed onto the car’s surface, using a 100 percent cotton cloth, followed by a buffing with a microfiber cloth for an instant sheen.

The company claims the Eco-clean product “moisturizes” auto paint with natural oils and, as a bonus, repels water, UV rays and dust.

“The most frequent question I am asked is ‘How can you clean the car without scratching the surface or spreading the dirt?’ ” says Ecopit manager Jimmy Lozowsky. “The Eco-clean solution is more slippery than water, so scratching is minimized.”

Ecopit operates Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Allow 20 to 40 minutes for the car wash, depending on the detail of the service. Prices start at $14.99. More info: 866-326-7485 or ecopit.com.

—RENÉE SOLARES

Tony Bennett’s Heart: No Bids

WE’RE FINALLY GETTING ONE UP on that other “city by the bay.” Scanning a list of recently completed auctions on eBay, it seems the disparity that used to exist between San Diego and San Francisco trinkets and baubles has reversed itself. San Francisco items used to fetch higher prices——but not anymore. Some examples:

Starbucks San Diego Skyline Series mug
18 bids $47.05

Starbucks San Francisco Skyline Series mug
2 bids $8.50

Guidebook, 1915 Panama-California International Exposition, San Diego
5 bids $11.50

Official guide, 1915 Panama Pacific Expo, San Francisco
1 bid $9.99

Monopoly, San Diego edition
9 bids $11.06

Monopoly, San Francisco edition
3 bids $7.99

Hard Rock Café San Diego guitar bottle opener magnet
5 bids $22.59

Hard Rock Café San Francisco guitar bottle opener magnet
1 bid $11.99

San Diego Masonic penny
2 bids $17.50

San Francisco Masonic penny
2 bids $10.50

San Diego Chargers neon clock
1 bid $39.99

San Francisco 49ers neon clock
0 bids

By the Numbers

210: The most people killed in one year in San Diego County in alcohol-related traffic collisions (1987).

75: The least number of people killed in one year in San Diego County in alcohol-related traffic collisions(1997).

Did you Know

San Diego’s famed Torrey pines take in most of their moisture not from groundwater or rain but from fog.

Seen

	Speaking Up Laura and Ethan Boyer chaired Voices for Children’s annual Starry, Starry Night gala, which netted more than $500,000 for programs benefiting local foster children. The gala was held at the La Jolla estate of Joan Waitt, who served as honorary chair, and featured gourmet fare by Jeffrey Strauss and entertainment by Pink Martini and the Dana Garret Jazz Trio. Robert Hughes (KPRI 102.1) and Rory Devine (NBC 7/39) emceed. BY JULIA BEESON POLLORENO

	Big Brothers Big Sisters Gourmet Dinner T. Boone and Madeleine Pickens were honored as persons of the year by Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County and LPL Financial at San Diego's premier fall charity gala. BY Steven Hyde

	Battle of the Chefs The Fifth Annual Chef Showdown was held at NTC Promenade in Point Loma. San Diego's culinary giants battled centerstage before a hungry crowd that enjoyed food prepared by local area restaurants. Showdown proceeds will be used to increase domestic violence awareness.

	Bubbly Time Ocean Discovery Institute, formerly Aquatic Adventures, raised $150,000 for youth programs that encourage nature and ocean exploration at its 10th annual “Bubble Up!” gala at the Birch Aquarium. Founder and executive director Shara Fisler unveiled the organization’s new name and Web site, oceandiscoveryinstitute.org. Bill Menish hosted the evening’s program. Attendees included Assemblymember Lori Saldaña, San Diego City Councilman Todd Gloria, San Diego Unified School Board president Sheila Jackson and vice president Richard Barrera, author Richard Louv and Olympic medalist Guenter Seidel. BY JULIA BEESON POLLORENO