Post image for Ocean Beach Cottage Among Winners in “People in Preservation” Program

SOHO Awards to Be Presented May 23rd at Point Loma Assembly

Every year the Save Our Heritage Organization (SOHO) runs their “People in Preservation” program to salute individuals and groups who have helped preserve important aspects of San Diego’s heritage, building by building, site by site.

This year the program winners include an Ocean Beach cottage built in 1922 and located at 1975 Bacon Street, and owned by the Wilson family who found an infestation of cockroaches, a falling wall and rotted flooring. Here is what SOHO says about the cottage and family:

The Wilson family is being honored for their sensitive and loving restoration of a cottage in Ocean Beach. Built in 1922, the cottage is one of four, originally identical homes built in a row.

The Wilsons repeatedly turned to these sister cottages for dimensions, materials and features, inside and out, as well as historic photographs during the restoration process. They researched the original exterior paint colors (yellow and green), wooden porch seat, trellis and garden plantings, all of which are back in place.

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Post image for UC Medical Center Strike Is On – Thousands of Hospital Workers Begin 2-Day Strike

Thousands of hospital workers at University of California medical centers up and down the state have begun a two-day strike starting today, Tuesday, May 21.

The strike definitely includes the UC Med Centers here in San Diego, at both Hillcrest and La Jolla, where more than 2,000 workers stayed home today or walked picket lines. The striking workers include vocational nurses, respiratory therapists, pharmacy technicians, bus drivers and custodians.

The strike follows almost a year of failed negotiations and eight months without a contract. The last one expired in September of 2012. Strikers are are motivated by demands that the UC Medical System stop prioritizing profit over quality patient care, as today’s strike is NOT just about higher pay, as is being reported in the mass media.

In addition, demands by UC medical center management that workers increase their contribution to pensions funds have been countered by the union’s complaints about soaring executive compensation in the UC system.

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When Children are Maltreated by Religious Groups

By Dave Rice

Child sexual abuse cases in the Catholic Church have repeatedly rocked the nation for more than a decade now, and in 2010 spread locally to reach the San Diego Diocese. The so-called “Satanic Panic” of the 1980s and early ‘90s brought the prospect of harm to children through mysterious and violent rituals to the forefront of the nation’s attention (though such focus turned out to be largely overblown), while periodically stories reach the news involving the tragic death of a child raised by a family of religious separatists. Incidents such as the aforementioned remind us that institutions of faith are capable of inspiring misplaced trust that can bring harm to the most vulnerable amongst us: our children.

These stories, however, just scratch the surface of a more widespread problem concerning the mistreatment of children in the name of religion, says Janet Heimlich, author of Breaking Their Will: Shedding Light on Religious Child Maltreatment.

It was “a chain of events” dating back to 2008 that sparked Heimlich’s research, she tells me by phone in mid-May. “It started by reading in a top-of-the-fold, front page New York Times article about an 11 year-old girl named Kara Neumann died of diabetes. She hadn’t been taken to the doctors since she was three, so her condition was never diagnosed. Her parents prayed over her, church members prayed over her, but she was never taken to the doctor . . . that story really gripped me.”

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Post image for Robert F Kennedy, Jr. On Obama and Nixon: A Historical Perspective

For once with good reason, the GOP is exorcised with the scandals involving the IRS targeting political groups and the FBI’s spying on A.P. reporters. The broader public is legitimately concerned. However, in its classic overblown breathlessness at all things Obama, the gleeful Republican leadership is already calling for impeachment and dragging out desperate comparisons to Nixon’s Watergate. This, despite caveats from its own sages not to overplay Republican good fortune. “We overreached in 1998,” Newt Gingrich admitted recently. He counseled restraint to the Tea Party jihadists he helped spawn. Gingrich recalled how the GOP’s scandal mongering against Clinton had only amplified Clinton’s popularity and cost Republicans the 1998 mid-terms and Gingrich his speakership. But this new generation of hysterical House members immune to that wisdom, are headed straight for the feinting couch in fits of anti-Obama hysteria.

In a characteristic spasm of partisan apoplexy, Iowa Congressman Steve King offered a shrill algorithm: “add Watergate and Iran Contra together and multiply by ten” to calculate the tyrannical evil of the Obama scandals.

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Post image for The Widder Got’s Her Dander Up! – Ralph’s New “Check-Out” Rack

Market’s New Methods Leaves The Widder In a ‘Boycott Ralph’s’ Mood

As the “mother” of this household – put the emphasis wherever you think it should be – I do all of the grocery shopping. My feet are not anchored in cement, and I shop at a variety of stores – CostCo, Barons, Stumps, Vons, Ralph’s, etc. I like various things at different stores. (I used to shop at Sprouts until they fired an employee I liked.)

My main shopping store is Ralph’s, for a variety of reasons: I use their pharmacy and all my prescriptions are on file there; the items that I purchase are lower there than at other stores; they have the variety of items that I frequently look for. I seldom buy my produce there because I think they are over-priced, under-ripe, and outdated. I shop there at least once a week; sometimes twice.

Today, when I did a relatively large shopping at Ralph’s, I noticed that the check-out area had a new configuration.An annoying one.

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The OB Frequency Film Festival Returns for Engagement Beginning May 23

May 21, 2013 by Staff
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The Frequency Film Festival has returned to the Ocean Beach Playhouse and is showing “Films From Around The World” in the upcoming couple of weeks, beginning Thursday, May 23rd.

Twenty-nine narrative and documentary feature films and 43 screenings will be shown over the following dates: May 23-25, 27, 30-31 and June 1, 4-8.

Screenings are $6.17 in advance and $10 at the door. An all-access film pass is $26.87 in advance. Also featured are 3 free documentary film screenings and a horror double feature, two films for the price of one.

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Changes at the Playing Fields of Dana Put On Hold by City Park and Rec

May 20, 2013 by Source
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Undetermined Meeting Will Decide on Big changes Proposed for Baseball field at Dana Middle School in Point Loma

by Melanie Nickel / Special to the OB Rag

There may be major changes coming to the baseball field at Dana Middle School, but it’s not a sure thing yet. There are a lot of unanswered questions, and the changes have not yet been approved by the City.

The impetus is a proposal from David Wells, Point Loma High School class of 1982. Wells is one of Point Loma High School’s best known graduates, having pitched a perfect game for the New York Yankees in 1998. (The Yankees’ only previous perfect game was also pitched by a PLHS graduate, Don Larsen, in the 1956 World Series.) Wells went to the World Series in 1992 as a relief pitcher for the victorious Toronto Blue Jays, after which he made a major donation to the athletic programs at PLHS.

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The Widder Curry Re-Visits the Point Loma Democratic Club

May 20, 2013 by Judi Curry
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A Brief Summary of May 19, 2013 Meeting of Peninsula Dems

It has been a long time since I attended a meeting of the Pt. Loma Democratic Club. My husband was an officer of the club, and when he passed away I decided that I no longer wanted to attend their meetings. The reason for that was many – I didn’t want to hear how much Bob was missed; I loved the President of the club – Nancy Witt – but didn’t know the other officers well and from what Bob had said I didn’t want to know many of them. The other thing that disturbed me was that the average age of the club was – well, let’s just say “old.” There were very few young people attending meetings, and although this is an intellectually sharp group, I wanted to be with younger people with younger ideas.

However, I heard that this might be a cantankerous meeting, and I wanted to attend. I also knew that if I did not renew my membership, I would not be allowed to speak or vote on issues that I thought were important, so I handed over my $20 and sat in on a meeting that was not cantankerous, but interesting.

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Mayor Filner to Speak at Press Conference Against Gag Order in Federal Medical Marijuana Case – Today – Monday May 20th

May 20, 2013 by Source

Press Conference with Mayor Bob Filner

When: 2:00PM – Monday, May 20, 2013 – Mayor’s Press Conference to Follow
Where: Dept. 5, on the 3rd Flr. of the San Diego Federal Courthouse,
940 Front St. at Broadway, San Diego, CA, 92101

By Americans For Safe Access – San Diego Chapter / ASA

Ronnie Chang is a state legal medical cannabis patient, an alleged former collective operator and victim of the 9/9/09 raids on cannabis collective in San Diego County. A widespread and brutal attack on legal cannabis patients, the raids were part of a joint effort by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and San Diego District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis to senselessly destroy the public safety collectives provide the community.

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Sex in San Diego: Marriage Is For Losers

May 17, 2013 by Source

marriage ringsBy Dr. Kelly Flanagan / UnTangled

You can be right, or you can be married; take your pick. I can’t remember who told me that, but I do remember that they were only half-joking. The other half, the serious half, is exceedingly important. This is why.

Many therapists aren’t crazy about doing marital therapy. It’s complicated and messy, and it often feels out of control. In the worst case scenario, the therapist has front row seats to a regularly-scheduled prize fight. But I love to do marital therapy.

Why? Maybe I enjoy the work because I keep one simple principle in mind: if marriage is going to work, it needs to become a contest to see which spouse is going to lose the most, and it needs to be a race that goes down to the wire.

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Point Loma Imbroglio Continues Over “Bogus” Stop Signs After Peninsula Planners’ Compromise

May 17, 2013 by Staff
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Point Loma Planners’ Recommendation That “Bogus” Signs Be Replaced and Official Signs Removed Continues to Split Local Community

CBS8 reports that the Peninsula Planning Committee’s decision last night – May 16th – to find a compromise on the “bogus” stop signs continues to divide and rile the local hilltop community in Point Loma.

The Committee voted 4 to 3 to send a recommendation to Councilmember Faulconer’s office that the controversial stop signs that appeared and installed by anonymous parties, outside of city regulations, will be replaced – there’s 2 of them – and that 3 official stop signs in the area be removed.

The reportedly “packed crowd” was disappointed with the final vote during the planners regular monthly meeting at the Point Loma Library, with neither side in the debate/ issue satisfied. Will Scott, a local neighbor who favored the new stop signs, was quoted:

“We’re neither [excited or upset]. This recommendation was clearly a compromise.”

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It’s a Sad Day in America When the Navy Launches a San Diego-Built Drone off a Carrier

May 17, 2013 by Frank Gormlie
Thumbnail image for It’s a Sad Day in America When the Navy Launches a San Diego-Built Drone off a Carrier

It’s a sad day in America. The US Navy launched the first carrier-based drone off its deck the other day, off the coast of Virginia. It’s an even sadder day for us in San Diego, as the drone was manufactured – in part, at least – by plants and engineers right here in our own city.

The launching of the drone off that deck demonstrates clearly that as drones become more and more integrated into becoming the armament of the nation’s military, they are becoming more and more accepted – here domestically, back in the good ol’ US of A.

And as drones become more and more prevalently utilized, not just by our armed forces overseas, but by law enforcement, border patrol, and local police departments here within our very own borders, American citizens are more and more subjected to a high-tech surveillance that is quite unlike anything we’ve known in the past – a surveillance that is becoming so pervasive, that it challenges our basic civil rights, freedoms and privacies.

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Discussion on PL Democrats Website: Is the ACLU “Subversive” Because They Oppose Cross at Mt Soledad?

May 17, 2013 by Judi Curry

The Widder Curry Weighs In

An interesting question appeared today on the Point Loma Democrats website in regards to an article announcing the 80 year celebration of the San Diego ACLU.

To say that I was nonplussed to read the question which can as a comment to the article, would be a minor revelation. At the risk of being censored – do you think that Democrats would do that to their own? – let me tell you something about it.

On June 7th, there will be a 80 year celebration of the San Diego ACLU. As the article read, this function is not a

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Health Care Reform – An Enlightening Discussion in OB Sponsored by League of Women Voters

May 17, 2013 by Judi Curry
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OB Rec Center Meeting Led by Jeanne Brown

By Judi Curry

I attended a most informative meeting at the OB Rec Center on May 16 on the subject of “Health Care Reform”. The focal point was on a “Single Payer Health Care” and a Healthcare Movie was shown to the audience.

The film revealed the true story of how the health care systems in Canada and the US evolved so differently when, at one, point, they were essential the same. Statistics are overwhelming –not just in comparing the Canadian health care system to ours, but in just looking at the stats overall.

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Pharmacist Kickbacks Put California Patient Health at Risk

May 17, 2013 by Source

PillsBy Hollaine Hopkins/California Progress Report

Health care cost containment is a critical issue facing every participant in the health care system. Efforts to contain costs, however, appear to have given rise to dangerous financial arrangements between health insurers and pharmacists that may be jeopardizing the health of California patients.

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Peninsula Planning Board to Decide Fate of “Illegal” Stop Signs in Point Loma

May 16, 2013 by Staff

Tonight, May 16th, the planning committee for Point Loma will have on its agenda the fate of two “illegal” stop signs that were anonymously installed up on top of the Peninsula.

The Peninsula Board meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Point Loma Library, 3701 Voltaire Street.

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Congressman Tears Into Attorney General Holder Over Marijuana: ‘This Is The Time To Remedy Prohibition’

May 16, 2013 by Source
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By Nicole Flatow / Think Progress / May 15, 2013

During a Wednesday – May 15 – House oversight hearing with Attorney General Eric Holder that overwhelmingly focused on the invasive government search of Associated Press phone logs and the IRS, one House member took the opportunity to grill Holder on another Department of Justice issue that has provoked criticism from the left.

Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) tore into Holder over his approach to marijuana, asking why his Justice Department is “continuing to put people in jail,” even as polling shows a majority of Americans believe the plant should not be illegal:

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Filner’s Letter Allowing Self-Made Bracelet and Necklace Sales in Ocean Beach Rankles Mainstreet Association

May 16, 2013 by Frank Gormlie
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A letter from Mayor Bob Filner allowing a man on disability to sell “home-made” hemp necklaces in Ocean Beach without a permit has rankled OB’s Mainstreet Association.

Earlier this Spring, David Millette, a resident of Chula Vista, began selling his self-made / home-make hemp necklaces, watch bands and other jewelry items on the Wall at the foot of Newport Avenue. After about a week, he was told by San Diego police that his sales were illegal and chased him away.

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The IRS, Benghazi, and the Republicans Who Cried Wolf

May 16, 2013 by Source
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Every week, New York Magazine writer-at-large Frank Rich talks with contributor Eric Benson about the biggest stories in politics and culture. This week: The GOP finds a new Watergate, the Justice Department bullies the AP, and Bloomberg News gets caught snooping on Bloomberg clients.

By Frank Rich / New York Magazine- RSN / May 16, 2013

RICH: Last week, conservatives called Benghazi Obama’s Watergate. Now they’re applying that label to a new scandal in which IRS officials admitted applying special scrutiny to tea-party-affiliated groups applying for tax-exempt status. President Obama has condemned the IRS’s actions. The FBI has opened an investigation. Do you see this having a major impact on the administration and its credibility?

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A Real Scandal: Activists in San Diego and Around the World to Protest Monsanto May 25th

May 16, 2013 by Doug Porter

Balboa Park March & Rally, Mission Bay Overpass Light Brigade Events Expected to Draw Thousands

By Doug Porter/ San Diego Free Press

While the oldstream media is obsessing on the current crop of Washington’s politi-dramas, an international protest movement is gathering steam. Activists in on six continents, in 36 countries, and in 47 U.S. states — totaling events in over 250 cities — are coordinating demonstrations to occur simultaneously at 11am Pacific time on Saturday May 25th under the general theme “March Against Monsanto”.

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School Board Okays Controversial Sale of Prime Mission Beach School Property – Despite Mayor Filner’s Plea

May 15, 2013 by Frank Gormlie
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On Tuesday, May 14th, the San Diego Unified School District board authorized the sale of the former Mission Beach Elementary School property to private developers – despite objections by Mayor Filner, residents and community activists.

The 4 to 1 vote by the Board was the culmination of the process to cement the controversial sale of 2.23 acres of prime public school land, a half block from the Pacific Ocean and mere yards from Mission Bay. Mayor Filner, community planners and civic activists, as well as residents pleaded with the Board to keep the land in the public arena, and work with either the City or developers on alternatives. The site was sold for $18.5 million to duo of developers, doing business as McKellar-Ashbrook LLC, registered in La Jolla.

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OB Citizens Watch Formed – Will Meet Monthly at OB Woman’s Club

May 15, 2013 by Source
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Editor: From the agenda and minutes of the OB Crime Watch meeting held Monday, May 13th, we offer the following as a report of the meeting. As background, the OB Crime Watch formed in early October 2012 after a series of sexual assaults against women in Ocean Beach and reports of a peeping tom.

With about 20 people in attendance at the OB Woman’s Club, Mercy Baron opened the meeting with introductions. It was announced that a name change of the group was in the offering, that people thought “OB Citizens Watch” was a better title for the group.

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Councilmember Lorie Zapf to Run for Termed-Out Faulconer’s District 2 Seat

May 15, 2013 by Frank Gormlie
Thumbnail image for Councilmember Lorie Zapf to Run for Termed-Out Faulconer’s District 2 Seat

About a week ago, San Diego City Councilmember Lorie Zapf filed her papers with the City Clerk to run for the District 2 seat – currently held by Kevin Faulconer, who is termed out. District 2, of course, covers Ocean Beach, the Peninsula and new areas of Clairemont.

San Diego City Co. district 2 newZapf, a conservative Republican, currently represents District 6, as she lives in Bay Ho. But new district boundaries approved 2 years ago by the Redistricting Commission now place her residence in District 2.

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Man Rescued After He Jumps Off Ocean Beach Pier Early Wednesday

May 15, 2013 by Staff
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A man who jumped off the OB Pier early Wednesday morning – May 15 – had to be rescued by San Diego lifeguards. His brother told a TV station that the two had been drinking alcohol on the Pier, when he jumped into the ocean – around 1:30 to 1:40 a.m.

Lifeguards struggled to get the rather large guy onto their rescue craft, but did finally manage to get him to shore. Once on land, he was evaluated by paramedics and taken to UCSD Medical Center for treatment.

Adding to the difficulty of the rescue besides the man’s size, was the rather rough surf, and some immediate staffing shortages with the lifeguards.

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Robert Reich to Graduates of 2013: Understand the Triumph of Progressivism

May 14, 2013 by Source
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The Triumph of Progressivism: Graduation 2013 and 1968

By Robert Reich / RobertReichBlog / May 13, 2013

Many of you soon-to-be college graduates are determined to make the world a better place. Some of you are choosing careers in public service or joining nonprofits or volunteering in your communities.

But many of you are cynical about politics. You see the system as inherently corrupt. You doubt real progress is possible. “What chance do we have against the Koch brothers and the other billionaires?” you’ve asked me.

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The Widder Curry Asks: When the toilet overflows, is it a “flood”?

May 14, 2013 by Judi Curry
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For the past few weeks, I have had an interesting situation at my house. At least once a night, maybe even twice, I hear a “phantom flush” in one of two bathrooms in the house. (I sometimes have wondered if my deceased husband has come to visit me!) It doesn’t freak me out, but it does wake me up, and since I have enough trouble sleeping as it is, the flushing of an “unmanned” toilet keeps me awake for the rest of the night.

I happened to mention the problem to a neighbor and he said I needed a new “flapper valve.” When I looked at him blankly he told me not to worry, he would take care of it for me, and sure enough the next day he was at my door with a pretty blue flapper valve. Within a few moments he had it installed and I looked forward to a quiet night sleep. The first night was wonderful. No phantom flush. The second night was just as great – no phantom flush.

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