OB Flashes – Community News and Discussion Board: Sept 15-21st

OCEAN BEACH, CA.  News and views, community events, thoughts, musings – it’s all here.

This is OB Flashes – the OB Rag’s weekly Community Bulletin and Discussion Board.  Discuss anything that is bugging you, or exciting you, or of interest. Or just something you want to share with the rest of us. Do it in the comments section.

Not only that, if you or your buds are having a meeting or event you would like to inform the rest of us about, do so here. If you want to get rid of something, like an old working TV, do it here.

Open Thread for Discussion Right Here (in the comments)

Here is where you can say it – and say the way you would say it to your friends.

Extra Special Concert at Winston’s – The Radiators

Live Acoustic Friday Night Music at OB People’s Food Co-op Deli

Fridays 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. The Co-op’s Deli Cafe presents the finest in folk, jazz, blues, and bluegrass performed by local musicians.

Last Weekend Beach Clean-up a Success With Stefan Lessard of the Dave Matthew’s Band

Last Friday 9/11/09 event was quite successful. More than 150 volunteers showed up and picked up more than 150lbs of trash off our shore line (mostly cigarette butts and wrappers). There was a local radio station raffling off tickets to the Dave Matthews Band concert. So thanks to all who showed up and donated their time to a good cause. Our reporter Jon says: “I’ve never seen the cliffs and our beach so clean!”

Volunteers Needed for Coastal Dune Habitat Restoration Project

Volunteers invited to care for this rare and endangered area at Dog Beach. Activities include invasive plant removal, native plant rescue, trail maintenance, litter removal. Tools, supplies provided. Dress in clothes that can get dirty, wear closed shoes. RSVP: 619-297-7380.  West Point Loma Boulevard and Voltaire Street – Saturday, Sept. 19 – 9 a.m. – Admission: Free.

OB Historical Society Presents Author Richard Carrico on the Presidio de San Diego – Sept 17th

“Abu Ghrib, Guantanamo Bay or Citadel of Civilization?” Author Richard Carrico will give his presentation at the general meeting of the OB Historical Society on Thur. September 17th, at 7:00 p.m., at the PL United Methodist Church, 1984 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., OB. (See last week’s OB Flashes for more details.)

OB Centric Holds Grand Opening Sept 18th

Sitting on quiet but busy Santa Monica Ave, an OB business is having its grand opening this Friday, the 18th. OBCentric – a storefront at 4878 Santa Monica – says it supports “art and culture in Ocean Beach”. Mike and Lynette Saffran are inviting the community in – for live music by John Tafolla Trio and live art by other local artists, and champagne and fingerfoods from OB Noodle.  This is all happening from 7 to 10pm.  Come help them celebrate!

Point Loma Resident: Foul Smell Came From Naval Base

Originally posted September 10, 2009 / Channel 10 News

SAN DIEGO — There is more mystery concerning a foul smell reported last week in the Ocean Beach and Point Loma areas, 10News reported. The smell was reported last Thursday (Sept 3, 2009) afternoon, with many residents in Ocean Beach saying it smelled like natural gas. San Diego Gas and Electric received more than 500 phone calls and sent 25 technicians to check for

gas leaks. However, crews said they didn’t find any leaks, and the smell vanished after about 30 minutes. The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department also investigated and concluded the smell came from the San Diego River. They said low tides exposed decaying organic material, and that’s what people smelled.

Dr. John Ahlering, a 26-year Point Loma resident, disagreed and said he has smelled the river at low tide many times. “That’s sort of a distinct rotting vegetation smell, and this smelled like

natural gas,” he told 10News. Dr. Ahlering thinks the smell came from fuel storage tanks at Naval Base Point Loma, which are clearly visible from his house. He and his neighbors received a letter from the Navy saying it was starting demolition of the tanks. Ahlering said a tank was opened the day of the bad smell. “When they opened it, whatever residual fuel may have been in there probably dried out and vaporized, and gave us the smell,” said Ahlering. The letter from the Navy said the demolition of the tanks would result in air quality within the levels of their environmental assessment.

http://www.10news.com/news/20842406/detail.html

25th Anniversary of California Coastal Cleanup Day

It will be Saturday, September 19th, 2009 – 9am to 12noon. With less than two weeks until Coastal Cleanup Day, be one of the thousands of San Diegans to register for this countywide cleanup event, happening on Saturday September 19th. With nearly 80 cleanup sites from Oceanside to Tijuana and Ocean Beach to El Cajon, it’s easy to find a cleanup site in your community. Volunteers of all ages are encouraged to form volunteer teams, or just come alone for what is slated to be the largest volunteer event in California.

While the primary goal of Coastal Cleanup Day is to remove litter and prevent marine debris from taking a toll on underwater environments, there are many other great reasons to get involved in this single-day cleanup event. Each volunteer at Coastal Cleanup Day this year will get a free Belmont Park roller coaster ride pass, or a discounted ticket for unlimited rides all day! Scout troops who participate in the cleanup get colorful cleanup patches to add to their sash or vest. To add to the festivities, each cleanup site will have contests and raffles for great prizes, including SeaWorld, Hornblower, Birch Aquarium and SeaLife Aquarium passes.

Coastal Cleanup Day each year is coordinated locally by San Diego Coastkeeper and I Love A Clean San Diego. Here are your big-name sponsors: the San Diego County Board of Supervisors via Supervisor Greg Cox and Supervisor Pam Slater-Price, Think Blue, and City of San Diego Storm Water Department. Statewide support for the effort is provided by the California Coastal Commission and Whole Foods Market, with local assistance from the Sempra Energy Foundation, Allied Waste and many others.  There’s mo’ but ya got to look ’em up.

Please click here to register for a site near you. If you have any questions, first consult our FAQs page or contact Inland Site Coordinator Morgan Justice-Black of I Love a Clean San Diego, at (619) 291-0103 ext. 3003. Your Coastal Site Coordinator, Alicia Glassco of San Diego Coastkeeper, is at (619) 758-7743 ext. 125. With your support, we can ensure a clean, safe, and healthy coastline for all.

OB Kiwanis Club to hold Fishing Derby Off OB Pier Sat September 19th

The Kiwanis Club of Ocean Beach is holding its Fishing Derby on Saturday,  September 19th, from 8am to 11 am. And of course it will be on the OB Pier! Where else?