It's not looking very promising for San Diego in 2009. Mayor Jerry Sanders is telling city residents to expect another year of scaled back city services – and mandatory water rationing as early as spring – in his fourth annual State of the City Address Wednesday night.

As reported by the San Diego Union-Tribune, Sanders' speech urged San Diegans to befriend neighbors and become volunteers to lessen the need for city services, something he's asking of everyone – from city workers to the general public.

“The cooperation we need to solve our financial problems must come from all of us, and perhaps from no single group as much as the public,” Sanders says.

The annual speech – the first since his re-election in June – is largely thematic in nature. It contains references to projects he will continue to push ahead on, but puts forth few new initiatives.

Read more about Mayor Sanders' State of the City speech.

When it comes to fine dining, San Diego has really come of age. There are so many new and exciting restaurants that have surfaced recently that the city (and especially the downtown area) has become a bonafide culinary center. Perhaps you've wanted to try some of these restaurants, but were a bit initmidated by the price or even the menu? Well, now is your chance to satisfy your curiosity and appetite with the annual San Diego Restaurant Week. Better than a food festival, this event lets you dine on a full, three-course meal for a very reasonable price.

For more info, read my profile of San Diego Restaurant Week right here.

He was arguably, besides Tony Gwynn, the most popular San Diego Padre ever. A hard-working, professional, standup guy and a leader among his teammates. But, as we always do in San Diego professional sports, we always seem to treat our sports icons with disrespect when they reach our twilight years. And Hoffman's decision to sign with the Milwaukee Brewers is yet another example of the bungling, mismanaged fire sale that is happening right now with the ballclub.

Insulted by the way the club tendered - then yanked off the table - an offer in November (he is a free agent), the 41-year-old Hoffman resigned himself to ending his career elsewhere, even though his desire was to end his stellar career with the Padres. And now the ballclub enters the 2009 season without any true superstars or fan favorites. And they wonder why the fan base is shrinking?

The major league's all-time saves leader, Hoffman's career with the Padres, which began in 1995, is synonymous with the team's greatest successs - divisional and league titles and World Series appearances. With his departure, all of those accomplishments and aspirations seem like a long way off.

It is the end of an era in San Diego sports, and Trevor Hoffman will be truly missed. It's gonna be a long season...

The economy might be tough these days, but someone is thanking heaven for 7-Eleven. Because state lottery officials announced on Jan. 3 that the winning ticket of the $46 MEGA millions jackpot was sold at a Pacific Beach 7-Eleven store on Cass Street. The jackpot was won by one ticket, although it wasn't yet known if that ticket is owned by a single winner or a group. Officials are still waiting for the ticket holder to come forward as of today. Ticket holders have 365 days to claim the prize.

Selling the winning ticket pays dividends as well. The owners of the store, located on Cass Street near Loring Street will receive a bonus of $230,000, or half of 1 percent of the jackpot. Owner Palvinder Hundal plans to split part of his winnings with the store's employees and put away a big chunk for college for his two sons, ages 10 and 14.