>>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS LOOK AT THE BEST ORIGINAL REPORTING FROM KB PS2'S THIS MORNING.

I AM JOHN CARROLL.

COMING UP, HEALING THE WOUNDS OF WAR.

A YOUNG MAN WHO LOST HIS LEG IN UKRAINE IS NOW IN SAN DIEGO REGAINING THE ABILITY TO WALK.

>>> A NEW GENERATION OF PROBLEM SOLVERS.

SEE THE STATE-OF-THE-ART BUILDING THAT IS NOW HOME TO FUTURE ENGINEERS ON THE UC SAN DIEGO CAMPUS.

>>> THE WORLD SAID GOODBYE TO QUEEN ELIZABETH THIS WEEK.

WE WILL HAVE A PERSONAL LOOK BACK AT HER VISIT TO ONE LOCAL CHURCH.

>>> WE BEGIN WITH TWO STORIES, BOTH ABOUT THE PUSH AND PULL WHEN IT COMES TO FINDING WAYS TO CARE FOR OUR HOMELESS POPULATION.

WE WILL CHECK IN ON OCEANSIDE, ONE OF THE CITIES GETTING MONEY FOR THE NEW SHELTER.

BUT FIRST HERE IS MATT HOFFMAN IN EL CAJON WHERE THE MAYOR IS NOT HAPPY ABOUT WHERE PEOPLE ARE ENDING UP.

>> THEY ARE INTIMIDATING PRIVATE BUSINESS OWNERS WHO VOLUNTARILY CHOOSE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM.

THEY ARE INTIMIDATING THE REST OF US AS WELL.

IT IS A REALLY UNFORTUNATE TIME.

>> Reporter: SUPERVISOR NATION FLETCHER SAID IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE FOR THE CITY OF EL CAJON TO TRY AND LIMIT THE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTIES HOTEL VOUCHER PROGRAM.

HE SAYS 30% OF THE HOMELESS RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN CONNECTED TO PERMANENT HOUSING.

HE IS CALLING OUT THE MAYOR, BILL WELLS DIRECTLY.

>> IF THIS GOES THROUGH THERE WILL BE HUNDREDS OF HOMELESS PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTY.

THAT IS A GREAT DISSERVICE TO EVERYONE.

>> Reporter: WELLS PUSHES BACK AGAINST THAT AND BELIEVES THE COUNTY IS SENDING TOO MANY PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE THE CITY TO THEIR HOTELS, WHICH HE SAYS THEN CREATES PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES.

>> I AM WORKING FOR THE PEOPLE OF EL CAJON.

THEY ELECTED ME BECAUSE THEY WANT ME TO PROTECT THEIR INTERESTS.

WE HEAR PEOPLE FROM THE EAST COUNTY AREA.

>> Reporter: THE COUNTY PROVIDED HARD NUMBERS AND THEY SAY 64% OF THE HOMELESS IN THE VOUCHER PROGRAM OR FROM EL CAJON WITH NEARLY 100% FROM THE EAST COUNTY AREA.

>> WE DID NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT OVER THE PAST YEAR.

THERE ARE PROGRAMS OVER A YEAR OLD.

BUT ONLY NOW DO THEY HAVE A PROBLEM.

>> Reporter: WELLS SAYS THEY ARE NOT KICKING ANYONE OUT DESPITE TELLING HOTELS TO PRODUCE CAPACITY AND ISSUED NOTICES WITH POTENTIAL FINES FOR ILLEGALLY OPERATING AS SHELTERS.

>> WE ARE WORKING WITH PEOPLE, I DO NOT THINK WE WILL FIND ANYBODY BUT THEY NEED TO COMPLY.

>> Reporter: AT LEAST ONE OF THE HOTELS WAS NEARLY COMPLETELY FULL AND WELLS JUST WANTS MORE COMMUNICATION ON WHAT IS HAPPENING.

PEOPLE USING THE VOUCHER SAY THEY ARE A LIFESAVER.

ESPECIALLY THOSE LIKE LOCAL RESIDENT, DON DISNEY WHO IS DIABETIC.

>> YOU HAVE TO KEEP YOUR INSULIN COLD.

SO I CAN'T BE OUTSIDE.

IT IS FRUSTRATING.

WHY WOULD YOU NOT WANT HOTELS TO BE HELPING HOMELESS PEOPLE?

>> Reporter: WELLS THINKS A COMPROMISE CAN BE FOUND.

COUNTY OFFICIALS HAVE ANOTHER MEETING TO DISCUSS THE PROGRAM LATER THIS WEEK.

MATT HOFFMAN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> A HANDFUL OF CITIES ARE GETTING MONEY FOR THEIR HOMELESS OUTREACH.

THE COUNTY SAYS THERE WERE MILLIONS UP FOR GRABS.

TANIA THORNE SHOWS WHAT OCEANSIDE IS DOING WITH SOME OF THAT CASH.

>> Reporter: EARLIER THIS YEAR THE COUNTY OFFERED $10 MILLION IN GRANTS TO CITIES FOR PROJECTS TACKLING HOMELESSNESS.

>> WHEN I INTRODUCE THIS I THOUGHT WE WOULD GET 30 OR $40 MILLION.

WE DIDN'T.

WE ONLY GOT REQUEST FOR HALF THE MONEY WE HAD AVAILABLE.

>> Reporter: NATHAN FLETCHER SAID ONLY THREE CITIES APPLIED.

>> I WANT TO APPLAUD THESE THREE CITIES.

BECAUSE TALKING ABOUT HOMELESSNESS AND COMPLAINING IS EASY.

BUT ACTUALLY STEPPING UP, TO FIND A LOCATION, FIND A FACILITY TO DO THE HARD AND DIFFICULT WORK TO GET PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS AND GET THEM HELP, THAT IS TO BE COMMENDED.

>> Reporter: HE AWARDED $3 MILLION TODAY TOWARDS OCEANSIDE'S FIRST HOMELESS SHELTER.

>> TO BE HERE TODAY AND CELEBRATE THEIR WILLINGNESS TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO DO.

OUR COUNTY WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH AND LEAD, WORK, AND MORE.

>> Reporter: THE 50 BED HOMELESS SHELTER IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

OCEANSIDE MAYOR, ESTHER SANCHEZ SAID RENT MONEY HAS HELPED PAY FOR THE SITE.

IT WAS ESTIMATED AT $3 MILLION IN IS NOW UP TO 6.7 MILLION.

>> IT IS HELPING US TO MAKE THIS DREAM.

WE ARE HOPING TO BE UP AND ADAM BY THE BEGINNING OF NEXT YEAR.

>> Reporter: -- IN SAN DIEGO ARE THE OTHER TWO CITIES THAT GOT GRANTS.

>> $65,000 WE ARE AWARDING TO THE CITY OF VISTA FOR THE PARKING LOT AND THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO FOR A SAFE PARKING PROGRAM THAT WILL OPERATE 60 VEHICLE SAFE PARKING PLOTS.

>> Reporter: HE IS INVITING OTHER CITIES TO STEP UP AND APPLY FOR THE 5 MILLION THAT IS STILL UP FOR GRABS.

>> THERE IS NOT ONE CITY IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY THAT IS NOT STRUGGLING WITH THIS.

YOU HAVE TO GET PAST THAT.

YOU HAVE TO GET FOCUSED ON HOW WE FIND A SOLUTION.

>> Reporter: THE GRANTS ARE INTENDED TO GET PROGRAM STARTED.

EACH CITY IS PITCHING IN ITS OWN FUNDS TO KEEP THE PROGRAMS GOING.

>>> OUR COVERAGE THIS WEEK INCLUDES INSIDE FROM THE TOP LOCAL REPORTERS COVERING HOMELESSNESS.

THAT IS THE FOCUS FOR THIS WEEK'S ROUNDTABLE PODCAST.

IT IS AVAILABLE ON ALL MAJOR PODCAST PLATFORMS AND AT KPBS.ORG.

>>> WITH GAS PRICES RISING AGAIN, STORIES ABOUT ALTERNATIVE ENERGY ARE GETTING A LOT OF ATTENDING.

SOME OF OUR MOST POPULAR THIS WEEK INCLUDE THE STATES POTENTIALLY PHASING OUT WATER HEATERS AND GAS FURNACES IN HOMES.

ALSO ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

THE DEMAND FOR MORE CHARGING STATIONS AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR OUR ELECTRICITY GRID.

AND THE STORY OF MEXICO SURFING HISTORY IS FINALLY BEING TOLD.

WE WILL HAVE THAT ONE FOR YOU A BIT LATER IN THIS NEWSCAST.

>>> OUR NEXT STORY INCLUDES THE FIRST STEPS FOR A UKRAINIAN TEENAGER WHO LOST HIS LEG TO WAR THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY.

KITTY ALVARADO SHOWS US THE WORK BEING DONE HERE IN SAN DIEGO TO HEAL HIS BODY AND MIND.

>> Reporter: THESE ARE 16-YEAR- OLD -- FIRST STEPS ON HIS NEW PROSTHETIC LEG.

HE IS TAKING THEM IN MIRA MESA WITH PETER HARSH.

BUT HIS HOME IS A WORLD AWAY IN UKRAINE.

HE LIVES WITH HIS MOTHER, TWO SISTERS, AND TWO BROTHERS.

ALMOST 6 MONTHS AGO HIS LIFE CHANGED FOREVER.

ABOUT A MONTH AFTER THE RUSSIAN INVASION HE, HIS MOTHER, AND STEPFATHER WERE RETURNING HOME FROM THE GROCERY STORE WHEN THE EVILS OF WAR STRUCK THEIR FAMILY.

>> Translator: AS THEY WERE RETURNING A COLUMN OF ENEMY RUSSIAN VEHICLES CAUGHT UP TO THEM, APPROACHED THEM.

ONE OF THE TANKS VEERED AWAY FROM THE COLUMN AND WENT DIRECTLY TOWARDS THEM.

AS THE TANK APPROACHED THE OTHER TWO WERE SHOVED AWAY.

IN THIS CASE THE TANK CAUGHT HIM UNDER THE TRACKS.

>> Reporter: YVONNE'S STEPFATHER DIED IN THE ATTACK.

BUT HE LEFT PART OF HIS LEG.

HE IS STILL SMILES.

>> Translator: I HAD A VERY POSITIVE ATTITUDE.

I THOUGHT I WANTED TO LIVE.

>> Reporter: UKRAINIAN EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON, DC, PARTNERED WITH THE SAN DIEGO BASED RIGHT TO WALK FOUNDATION TO BRING HIM TO THE U.S. A FAMILY FRIEND SAID HE WANTS TO BE MOBILE AGAIN TO PROVIDE FOR HIS FAMILY.

>> Translator: LIFE EVEN UP TO THIS POINT WAS NOT EASY FOR IVAN.

A LARGE FAMILY WITHOUT A FATHER.

HE IS NOT IN ANY WAY NEGATIVE OR SORRY FOR HIMSELF.

HE IS CHARGING FORWARD.

>> Reporter: CHARGING FORWARD HE IS.

>> GO GO GO.

KEEP PUSHING.

YEP.

YEP.

THERE YOU GO.

GET THOSE MUSCLES GOING.

>> Reporter: HARSH SAYS THIS JOURNEY WILL NOT BE EASY.

IVAN WILL BE HERE FOR THE NEXT THREE MONTHS.

THIS PLACES DIFFERENT.

THEY DON'T JUST WORK ON THE PHYSICAL.

>> ALSO THE EMOTIONAL STUFF.

AS THEY ARE SITTING HERE WAITING THINKING ABOUT THEIR FAMILY BACK HOME.

WE PICK THEM BACK UP SO THEY CAN GO BACK TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

ANYONE CAN MAKE IVAN WALK.

BUT CAN THEY TAKE THEM TO THE NEXT LEVEL?

THE LEVEL THEY NEED TO REALLY GO BACK?

THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO THINK ABOUT.

>> Reporter: HARSH IS IMPRESSED WITH HIS FIRST STEPS.

>> ARE YOU GOOD TO WALK?

ASK HIM.

WE WILL SEND HIM BACK TO HIS MOM AND TELL HER HE IS WALKING.

SECOND DAY.

>> Reporter: IVAN HAS BIG DREAMS.

>> TRANSLATOR:'S GO TO HOLLYWOOD.

BE AN ACTOR.

>> Reporter: WITH YOUR OPTIMISM AND COURAGE, I THINK YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT TO DO.

DREAM BIG.

HE STILL NEEDS A LOCAL HOST FAMILY TO HELP HIM THROUGH HIS RECOVERY.

SO HE CAN MAKE HIS DREAM A REALITY.

KITTY ALVARADO, KPBS NEWS.

>>> PROSTHETICS ARE JUST ONE OF THE MANY INVENTIONS THAT ARE PERFECTED BY THE SCIENCE OF ENGINEERING.

UC SAN DIEGO HAS A NEW STATE-OF- THE-ART HOME WHERE THE NEXT GREAT MINDS ARE GETTING THEIR START.

>> ALEX CHAI WAS A GRADUATE STUDENT AT UC SAN DIEGO WORKING ON HIS MASTERS DEGREE IN COMPUTER SCIENCE.

HE IS 100 MILES AWAY IN RIVERSIDE.

REMOTELY OPERATING A NEW ROBOT THAT IS IN DEVELOPMENT ON THE CAMPUS IN LA JOLLA.

>> WITH THIS ROBOT YOU CAN MOVE THE ROBOT AROUND LIKE SO.

YOU CAN GRAB STUFF WITH THE ARM AND THE GRIPPER.

BASICALLY INTERACT WITH YOUR CLASSMATES TO GET A MORE IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE OF SCHOOL WHILE YOU ARE AT HOME.

>> Reporter: HE IS ONE MEMBER OF UST GRADUATE STUDENTS EXPERIMENTING WITH THIS BIONIC SIMULATED PERSON.

IT COULD SOMEDAY SOON HELP CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

-- IS ALSO ON THE TEAM DOING RESEARCH FOR HER PHD DISSERTATION.

>> BEING ABLE TO USE THIS ROBOT TO PARTICIPATE IN SCHOOL -- >> Reporter: THIS IS HAPPENING ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE BRAND-NEW FRANKLIN ANTONIO HALL NAMED AFTER THE LATE QUALCOMM FOUNDER WHO WAS A UST GRADUATE.

HE DONATED 30 MILLION OF THE 180 MILLION A COST TO CONSTRUCT THE FOUR-STORY BUILDING.

DESIGNED BY ENGINEERS TO HOUSE THE NEXT GENERATIONS OF ENGINEERS.

>> WE ARE BURSTING AT THE SEAMS.

>> Reporter: ALBERT FASANO WAS A GOOD FRIEND OF FRANKLIN ANTONIO.

HE IS ALSO THE DEAN OF THE UC SAN DIEGO JACOBS SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING, WHICH HAS REACHED A RECORD ENROLLMENT OF ALMOST 10,000 STUDENTS.

THIS NEW BUILDING MAKES ROOM FOR GROWTH AND BRINGS STUDENTS, PROFESSORS, RESEARCHERS, AND INDUSTRY LEADERS TOGETHER UNDER ONE SOLAR POWERED ROOF.

>> WOULD YOU SIT IN THIS BUILDING YOUR SIMULTANEOUSLY MOTIVATED TO LOOK OUT AND WORK WITHIN.

TO COLLABORATE AND TO THINK THOUGHTS INDEPENDENTLY.

>> Reporter: THE BUILDING IS DIVIDED INTO MORE THAN A DOZEN LABORATORIES.

LABS WITH COLLABORATION GOING ON EVERYDAY ON EVERY FLOOR.

>> RIGHT NOW WE ARE WORKING ON A HOME ROBOT THAT CAN TAKE YOUR GROCERIES AND PUT THEM AWAY.

>> Reporter: CHRISTIANSEN IS DIRECTOR OF ROBOTICS.

HE MENTOR STUDENTS AND ALSO THOSE WHO WORK ON DEGREES IN COMPUTER SCIENCE, WHO DESIGN SOFTWARE TO MAKE THE MAGIC HAPPEN.

>> NOW I GET TO HAVE THEM ALL ON THE SAME SPACE.

THIS MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE TO TALK TO EACH OTHER AND REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAN COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER ON BUILDING PRODUCTS WE HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

>> Reporter: THIS IS NOT YOUR GRANDFATHER'S ENGINEER ANYMORE.

THEY HAVE LED THE JACOBS SCHOOL INTO THE TOP 10 ENGINEERING UNIVERSITIES IN THE COUNTRY.

HE SAYS THE NEW HOME THAT WAS BUILT ON WHAT USED TO BE A PARKING LOT WILL KEEP THE SCHOOL IN THE TOP 10 HOUSING RESEARCH IN AI, DEVELOPMENT OF POWERFUL LONG-LASTING BATTERIES FOR ELECTRIC CARS, AND THIS.

>> MAKING THIN FILM SENSORS EVEN LESS INTRUSIVE THAN A BAND- AID.

THAT CANNOT ONLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON WITH YOUR METABOLISM, BUT BE POWERED BY THE VERY SWEAT THAT YOUR SKIN EXUDES.

NO BATTERIES.

>> TRY AND MOVE THE ROBOT TOWARDS THE TARGET.

>> Reporter: THE LEARNING CURVE AND VIBE RUNNING THROUGH ANTONIO HALL IS JUST GETTING STARTED AS UNPACKING AND SETUP CONTINUES.

THERE IS NO SOCIAL DISTANCING HERE.

ENGINEERS ARE WORKING SIDE-BY- SIDE AND FACE-TO-FACE.

AS THE SAYING GOES, IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME.

AND THEY HAVE.

CEDRIC GIRARD IS A POST- DOCTORATE ENGINEER FROM LYON, FRANCE, WORKING ON A DEVICE THAT WILL MAKE COLONOSCOPIES MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE.

>> IT IS EASIER FOR DISCUSSIONS AND CREATES A DYNAMIC ENVIRONMENT.

>> Reporter: HE HAS THE WELCOME MAT OUT.

>> THE WORLD IS FILLED WITH ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED NOW.

A WORKABLE SOLUTION NOW IS BETTER THAN A PERFECT SOLUTION LATER.

>> Reporter: THE FUTURE IS NOW AND IT IS HAPPENING IN REAL TIME.

>>> KIDS IN EAST COUNTY ARE GETTING TO CLASS IN ZERO EMISSION BUSES.

THERE WAS ALSO A BRAND-NEW MAINTENANCE CHARGE TO PROTECT THAT INVESTMENT IN CLEAN ENERGY.

IT IS PART OF A LARGER STRATEGY TO RETHINK TRANSPORTATION AT OUR SCHOOLS.

>> Reporter: A RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY WAS HELD TO CELEBRATE -- NEW TRANSPORTATION SERVICE CENTER.

THE 32,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY INCLUDES NINE BUS MAINTENANCE PHASE, ADDRESSED THE BUS WASH, AND EXTENSIVE PARTS STORAGE.

MARY BETH KASTEN IS THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE DISTRICT.

>> THIS RELENTLESS COMMITMENT TO RESOURCE CONSERVATION ACROSS THE DISTRICT SAVES MORE THAN $2 MILLION IN ANNUAL ENERGY COSTS.

>> Reporter: THE $24 MILLION CENTER ALSO FEATURES CUTTING- EDGE AUTOMOTIVE MAINTENANCE AND SAFETY TECHNOLOGY, NEW TOOLS, TRAINING, BUS DISPATCH, AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT OFFICES.

AND ALL THAT MONEY BEING SAVED BY USING ELECTRIC BUSES, INSTEAD OF DIESEL ONES, IS GOING BACK TO THE STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT.

SOPHIA ROMEO IS PART OF THE ENGINEERING PATHWAY.

>> WE WORK WITH A LOT OF COMPUTER PROGRAM ROBOTS.

A LOT OF THOSE ARE SUPPLIED BY THE MONEY.

IF WE DON'T GET THE GRANT FOR IT OR THE MONEY, WE DON'T DO IT.

SO I AM HAPPY TO KNOW THAT NEXT YEAR THE STUDENTS ARE GOING TO BE IN MY PATHWAY GET TO EXPERIENCE A LOT OF THINGS THAT I COULD NOT EXPERIENCE BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY FOR IT.

>> Reporter: THE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES CENTER WILL RUN 17 ELECTRIC BUSES.

THAT IS THE FIRST PHASE OF THE PLAN.

THEY WILL REPLACE 67 DIESEL BUSES OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

BUCKLIN SAYS THE NEW CENTER IS INSPIRING HER PEERS TO PURSUE CAREERS IN RENEWABLE ENERGY.

>> RIGHT NOW WE HAVE MULTIPLE PROGRAMS AT MULTIPLE SCHOOLS THAT TEACH EVERYBODY ABOUT GREEN ENERGY AND ALL THE RENEWABLE SOURCES THAT WILL HELP BENEFIT US IN THE FUTURE AND STOP GREENHOUSE GASES.

>> Reporter: ONE MORE STEP TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY.

ROOFTOP SOLAR, AND HARNESSING RENEWABLE ENERGY.

THE DISTRICT WILL CHARGE ITS BUSES DURING SCHOOL HOURS, WHEN THERE WAS A STRONG SOLAR POWER GENERATION, AND OVERNIGHT AT OFF-PEAK TIMES FOR THE POWER GRID.

>>> QUITE A MOMENT LAST WEEKEND FOR WOMEN'S SPORTS, NOT JUST IN SAN DIEGO, BUT IN THE U.S.

THE SAN DIEGO WAVES SOLD OUT THE BRAND-NEW SNAPDRAGON STADIUM.

MORE THAN 32,000 FANS SET AN ATTENDANCE RECORD FOR THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S SOCCER LEAGUE.

THE WAVE WHEN THEIR MATCH THANKS TO A SAFER GOALKEEPER, KATELYN SHERIDAN, WHO WAS NAMED THE LEAGUE'S PLAYER OF THE WEEK.

>>> FOR THOSE CATCHING A WAVE IN BAJA, IT ALL STARTS IN ENSENADA.

THE BEACH TOWN IS THE BIRTHPLACE OF MEXICAN SURFING.

WE CAUGHT UP WITH THOSE WHO ARE WORKING TO PRESERVE AND SPREAD THAT HISTORY.

>> Reporter: THE BAJA COAST IS ALWAYS HAD AMAZING WAVES.

BUT WHEN IGNACIO FELIX WAS GROWING UP IN ENSENADA DURING THE 1960s, SURFBOARDS WERE A RARE COMMODITY.

HE WAS AMONG A GROUP OF CURIOUS CHILDREN WHO SPENT HOURS AT THE BEACH JUST SITTING THERE ON THE SAND WATCHING THE SURFERS CATCH WAVES.

WHEN HE GOT OLDER HIS CURIOSITY TURNED INTO A PASSION AND HE BECAME ONE OF THE ORIGINAL COFOUNDERS OF THE BAJA SURF CLUB, WHICH WAS THE FIRST OFFICIAL CLUB IN MEXICAN HISTORY.

HE REMEMBERS BEING TOTALLY STARSTRUCK WHEN SURFING LEGENDS HE HAD ONLY SEEN ON MAGAZINE PAGES CAME TO ENSENADA FOR A CONTEST THAT HE HELPED ORGANIZE.

BY THE TIME PETE TORRES PICKED UP A BOARD SURFING WAS BECOMING MORE POPULAR IN MEXICO IN THE 60s, BUT IT HAD A STIGMA.

HE SAID IT WAS ASSOCIATED WITH HIPPIES, DRUGS, AND LONG HAIR.

MEXICO HAS THOUSANDS OF MILES OF COASTLINE IN SEVERAL WORLD- CLASS SURF SPOTS.

IT ALSO HAS A RICH SURF HISTORY FULL OF ADVENTURE.

THEY ALSO FOUGHT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT DID NOT WANT THEM AROUND.

THAT RICH HISTORY IS NOT WELL KNOWN.

TORRES AND HAS SUE SALAZAR TRYING TO CHANGE THAT.

THEY STARTED DOCUMENTING THE ORIGINS OF MEXICAN SURFING TO PODCASTS AND INSTAGRAM PAGES.

>> THAT IS LIKE THE MAIN OBJECTIVE.

TO TALK ABOUT SURFING CULTURE, MEXICAN SURFING CULTURE AND TO START TO GIVE IT AN IDENTITY.

BECAUSE THERE IS NONE.

>> Reporter: THE PROJECT HAS TAKEN THEM TO MAZATLAN, OAXACA, AND -- THEY HAVE INTERVIEWED THE PIONEERS OF MEXICO'S SURFERS.

THEY SAY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MOMENTS IN MEXICAN SURF HISTORY HAPPENED IN 1970.

MEMBERS OF THE BAJA SURF CLUB PERFORMED WELL AT THE 1968 CHIPSET PUERTO RICO.

THEY PUT ON THE BID TO HOST IN 1970.

AGAINST ALL ODDS THEY WERE AWARDED THE BID AHEAD OF SURFING HEAVYWEIGHTS LIKE AUSTRALIA AND SOUTH AFRICA.

FELIX SAID NOBODY EXPECTED THEM TO ACTUALLY GET THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP.

THE GOVERNOR OF ENSENADA AND BAJA COULD NOT BELIEVE IT.

>> Reporter: THE EVENT WAS GOING TO PUT MEXICAN SURFING ON THE MAP.

THE CULTURAL UPHEAVAL OF THE LATE 1960s WAS IN FULL SWING.

WOODSTOCK HAS JUST MADE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES, THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT WAS NOT INTERESTED IN A SELF OF THE WORD VERSION OF THAT CHAOTIC SCENE.

SO THEY CANCELED THE CONTEST.

BUT THAT DECISION DERAILED THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMPETITIVE SURFING IN MEXICO.

MEXICAN SURFERS WOULD NOT GO TO ANOTHER WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP UNTIL 1988, THE YEAR TORRES WAS ON THE TEAM.

-- SAID IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THOSE WHO LIVED TO HISTORY TO TELL THEIR OWN STORIES.

>> AMERICANS HAVE COME AROUND AND THEY MAKE ALL KINDS OF STORIES ABOUT SURFING AND MEXICO UNTIL VERY LITTLE ABOUT MEXICANS.

WE FEEL IT IS IMPORTANT TO GET STORIES ABOUT MEXICANS OUT THERE.

>> Reporter: THEIR EFFORTS ARE STARTING TO PAY OFF.

SALAZAR AND TORRES HELPED RESEARCH AN ARTICLE ON UPON YOU SELF CULTURE.

THEY SEE THAT COLLABORATION WITH THE BIGGEST SURFING MAGAZINES IN THE WORLD IN RECOGNITION THEY ARE DOING.

>>> THE EVENTS SURROUNDING QUEEN ELIZABETH DEATH AND FUNERAL STIRRED MEMORIES FOR A FEW OF US HERE IN SAN DIEGO.

MEMORIES OF THE WEEKEND IN FEBRUARY OF 1983, WHEN SHE VISITED AMERICA'S FINEST CITY.

SHE ATTENDED MORNING SERVICE IS WHAT IS NOW ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CATHEDRAL.

I HAD THE HONOR AND PLEASURE OF BEING THERE.

HERE IS MY REMEMBRANCE OF THAT DAY.

THE VERY 27th 1983 WAS A DAY THAT FOLLOWED MONTHS OF PLANNING.

TICKETS THAT WENT PRIMARILY TO MEMBERS OF ST. PAUL'S WERE REQUIRED TO ATTEND THE SERVICE.

I WAS FORTUNATE.

I DO NOT NEED A TICKET BECAUSE MY FATHER, THE REVEREND JAMES CARROLL, WAS RECTOR OF ST. PAUL'S AT THAT TIME.

THE MONTHS OF ANTICIPATION CULMINATED THAT MORNING.

EVERYONE HAD GONE THROUGH A METAL DETECTOR AND WAS SEATED.

THE FIRST THING I HEARD WERE THE NEWS HELICOPTERS.

THIS WAS WHAT WAS HAPPENING OUTSIDE.

THE QUEEN AND PRINCE PHILIP, ALONG WITH SECRET SERVICE, AND LOTS OF STAFF PULLING UP TO THE CHURCH.

I CAN HONESTLY SAY THE MOOD WAS ELECTRIC.

BEFORE I KNEW IT MY DAD WAS ESCORTING THE QUEEN INTO THE CHURCH, NO CAMERAS WERE ALLOWED INSIDE.

IT WAS ALL OVER IN A FLASH.

DAD THEN ESCORTED THE QUEEN OUT WHERE A YOUNG MEMBER OF ST. PAUL'S GAVE HER A BOUQUET.

THEN SHE AND PHILIP GOT BACK IN THE LIMOUSINE.

THEY WAITED UNTIL SCOTTISH DANCERS FINISHED THEIR PERFORMANCE AND THEY WERE OFF.

>> WE WANTED THINGS TO GO RIGHT.

>> Reporter: THAT IS MY FATHER AFTER THE SERVICE.

I DESCRIBE HIM AS HAPPY AND DEEPLY RELIEVED.

AFTERWARDS CHANNELED 10 ASKED HIM IF HE HAD EVER THOUGHT HE WOULD PREACH A SERMON TO THE QUEEN.

>> I FANTASIZED ABOUT PREACHING AT ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL BUT THIS WAS BETTER.

>> Reporter: JOHN WILL IS SAINT PAUL'S ARCHIVIST.

HE HAS A DEDICATED AREA TO JUST THE QUEEN'S VISIT.

>> WE HAVE THE ACTUAL PRAYER SERVICE AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF PHOTOGRAPHS.

>> Reporter: THERE IS ANOTHER REMINDER OF THE QUEEN'S VISIT, IT IS FOUND INSIDE THE CHURCH.

WHERE THERE WERE ONCE PEWS THERE ARE NOW CHAIRS.

MY FAMILY AND I SAT IN THIS ROW ON THAT DAY.

ONE VERY SPECIAL PEW REMAINS, THIS ONE, IT PROBABLY GIVES YOU A CLUE OF WHAT IT IS.

SURE ENOUGH, HERE IS A PLAQUE THAT COMMEMORATES, THIS IS WHERE QUEEN ELIZABETH AND HER HUSBAND, PHILIP, SAT ON THAT DAY.

ANOTHER TANGIBLE REMINDER OUT SIDE.

>> Reporter: THIS SPACE WAS RENAMED IN HONOR OF THE QUEEN'S VISIT.

IT IS NOW THE QUEENS COURTYARD.

HERE IS THE PLAQUE COMMEMORATING HER VISIT.

IT IS NOT JUST AT ST. PAUL'S WERE MEMORIES OF THE QUEEN ARE STRONG, THEY ARE NEVER FAR OFF HERE IN MY FAMILY HOME.

PICTURES OF DATA IN THE QUEEN HAVE BEEN UP HERE IN THE HALLWAY FOR DECADES.

THERE WAS ONE MORE PICTURE I WANT TO SHOW YOU, IT IS IN THE LIVING ROOM.

WE GOT THIS A COUPLE MONTHS AFTER THE VISIT.

A PERSONALLY SIGNED PICTURE FROM PRINCE PHILIP AND THE QUEEN.

AN AMAZING WAY TO REMEMBER A TRULY AMAZING DAY.

>>> ALL THOSE YEARS AGO.

YOU CAN FIND THAT STORY AND OUR CONTENT ON THE TRANSFER YOU TO PAGE.

WE ALSO LIFESTREAM KPBS EVENING EDITION WEEKNIGHTS AT 5:00.

WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS LOOK AT KPBS THIS WEEK.

I AM JOHN CARROLL, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.