News and Notices from Ocean Beach and Point Loma: Mid-November 2017

OB Town Council Presents Holiday 2017 Artwork Design

The OB Town Council is pleased to present the 2017 Holiday Artwork from local designer Ashley Lewis! This awesome design perfectly captures the theme of this year’s holiday event, “California Dreamin’ in the Season of Love,” which commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the 1967 Summer of Love. Volunteer today to get your limited edition OB Holidays T-Shirt!

James Gang Opens for Business on Newport

One of OB’s long-term local businesses, the James Gang, has opened on Newport Avenue. They were still moving equipment and other supplies from their former location when I dropped by the other day and they were hoping to finish the move by this upcoming weekend. Nobody knew what was going to go in at their old store, a building owned by property-owner John Small.  Machinery was still being set up in the new 3300 square foot space – right across Newport from the Antique Center.

Apparently, James Gang owners just couldn’t keep up with the yearly rent increases of 10% they kept getting at the old place. LeAnn told me they’re planning a “soft opening” on November 25th and a “hard opening” on the day of the Holiday Parade, December 2nd.

Fitness Center to Open

Synergy, a fitness center, is also opening soon at 4861 Newport Ave. Sofia Laasiri and Tim Whitfield, co-founders, hope to  have their grand opening real soon. We wish them the best. Newport Ave is not an easy place to survive and thrive. It’s one of the mean streets of OB.

Creations Throws Wide Its Doors

It was Grand Opening day at Creations, on lower Newport, the day I dropped by. And they had a 15% discount – probably just for that day. They are still looking for salespeople.

Why OB Surf Was Rotten This Summer and September

The worst of the bunch were C Street, El Porto, Swamis, and Ocean Beach (San Diego), all failing to count even a single day regularly over the 4’ mark. While the latter aren’t summer stalwarts by any capacity, at least seeing a couple days over the shoulder high mark can ease the pain. September was the worst of the worst across Southern California. …  C Street, El Porto, Swamis, and Ocean Beach (San Diego) kept their abysmal streak going, while Malibu, 56th Street, Salt Creek, and Oceanside joined in being shutout. The primary culprit through the summer into the first month of the fall was a totally shutdown southwestern Pacific.Read more at Surfline

Froude Project Hole

Workers at the Froude project we’ve been watching have dug the foundation hole. One guy told me the project will probably be completed by the end of Summer 2018.

No Target in OB Organizing Meeting – Wednesday, November 15th

OBceans are invited to a “No Target in OB” organizing meeting at 7:00 p.m. , at the new James Gang location – 4851 Newport Avenue. Agenda Items to date:  Social Media 101; Organizing a Presence at the City Level; Local Independent Business Outreach; and more!

OB Las Vegas Hero Honored by City Council

The City Council proclaimed it “Las Vegas Unsung Heroes Recognition Day” in San Diego Monday in honor of area residents who assisted victims in the Las Vegas mass shooting that left 58 concert-goers dead and hundreds of others wounded. Councilwoman Lorie Zapf called the Oct. 1 shooting at the Route 91 Harvest festival on the Vegas strip “one of the most horrific events in American history” and praised Ocean Beach resident Taylor Winston and others…. She said Winston — an ex-Marine living in Ocean Beach — and Lewis, his girlfriend, found a truck with its keys in the ignition and used the vehicle to rush about two dozen shooting victims to a hospital. CBS8

OB Muralist Celeste Byers Finds Hope in Mexico City’s Rescue Dog

In Mexico City, maintaining hope and a sense of normalcy can feel daunting after a devastating earthquake took the lives of more than 300 people on Sept. 19. Relief efforts came in many forms to the area, including hundreds of thousands of dollars raised by donation organizations. But Ocean Beach artist Celeste Byers chose another way to shed light in these dark times: by painting a mural of the rescue dog Frida. Frida, a member of the Mexican Navy’s canine unit, has found more than 52 people in natural disasters. Amidst the rubble, Frida and her team sniff out survivors under collapsed buildings. Images of her in her dog-tailored boots and rescue goggles flew across social media and brought a spark of optimism in the wake of a natural disaster. Byers, a 28-year-old native of OB, collaborated with her friends at Maia Gallery in Mexico City to create a mural of the beloved rescue dog.  San Diego Community News Group –

Local Writer Tracks Down History of “Feigley House” – at 4921 Voltaire Street

Local writer Tony de Garate has written an excellent piece in the San Diego Reader about the history of the “Feigley House” – the boarded up old craftsman at 4921 Voltaire Street – soon to be demolished. (Tony has also written for the OB Rag.) The OB Rag has been following this project for a while – even offering to help arrange a free house if it was timely removed. Tony writes:

Once upon a time in Ocean Beach, a fellow who bought a vacant lot at 4921 Voltaire Street may well have been flipping through a Sears, Roebuck and Co. catalog to get inspiration for his future house. Not for the furnishings, but for every piece necessary to build the structure itself — which, by some estimates, would have included 30,000 or so parts weighing some 25 tons, arriving to the lot by rail boxcar and truck.

William Feigley, a recent arrival from Kansas, didn’t want to build here for the now-famous O.B. vibe. This was the mid-1920s, many decades before the area would attain its status as a free-wheeling beach community. Most likely, according to a research report, Feigley was looking to build quickly, find a buyer, and cash out. …

The one-story Craftsman-style cottage has been vacant for years. It may literally be a shell of its former self — the building was gutted of its bedrooms in the 1980s when it was converted to a doctor’s office. Records of its occupancy since the medical practice left in 1989 are spotty. Complaints about squatters, trash, vandalism, and weeds have been rampant.

De Garate also recounted how the new owner’s plans to demolish the old house and build a 2-story mix-use building were almost derailed:

At the October 27, 2016, hearing of the city’s Historic Resources Board, staff recommended designating the Feigley House as a historic resource, which would have all but prevented its destruction. … When it came time to vote, only three boardmembers supported historic designation — far short of the required six.

Liberty Station’s Public Market Has Fans

On a Sunday afternoon, the bustling corridors and foot-traffic on the concrete floor of Liberty Station’s Public Market are reminiscent of the location’s historical origins. From 1923 to 1997, Liberty Station served San Diego as a Naval Training Center. Nowadays, Liberty Station has taken on a new life, serving as an outlet and reflection of Point Loma’s artists, entrepreneurs and historians.

The Public Market is not your average food court. It’s a lazy foodie’s dream because the options are condensed into an intersection of fine cuisine. People of all ages shuffle through the 22,000-square-foot building as they scope out potential lunch destinations. While there are a total of 32 dining options ranging from soul food to seafood, here are five shops that illustrate the large range of choices in Liberty Public Market. Liberty Public Market was opened in March 2016 and features a variety of restaurants, shops and outdoor “Live Music Sundays.” Loma Beat

Surfrider Volunteers Encourage San Diegans to Hold On To Their Butts – Sunset Cliffs – Nov. 11th

On November 11th  from 9am-11am, the Surfrider Foundation San Diego County Chapter’s Hold On To Your Butt (HOTYB) Committee will hold its 15th Annual HOTYB Awareness Day.  Surfrider Foundation volunteers will meet at Sunset Cliffs Beach near the parking lot at Ladera Street and Sunset Cliffs Blvd. The purpose of this annual event is to educate smokers on responsible ways to dispose of cigarette butts and raise awareness about the negative impacts of cigarette litter on the environment. “Cigarette butts and other tobacco product waste are the items that are most commonly picked up during urban and beach cleanups worldwide,” according to San Diego State University Public Health. They accounting for approximately 40% of the items collected during Surfrider Foundation’s monthly public beach cleanups.

HOTYB Awareness Day will consist of volunteer activists gathering near Sunset Cliffs alongside a San Diego Coastkeeper hosted beach cleanup. Surfrider volunteers will hold signs, pass out pocket ashtrays and stickers to graphically demonstrate the impact that cigarette butts have on our beaches and ocean.  Motorists and beach goers will be encouraged to dispose of cigarettes safely and reminded that cigarette butts thrown on the ground can eventually end up in the ocean and affect marine life, including surfers and swimmers. More information about the Surfrider Foundation San Diego County Chapter and the Hold On To Your Butt program can be found at https://sandiego.surfrider. org/hotyb/. Please direct any questions about HOTYB Awareness Day to HOTYB@surfridersd.org.

Unofficially dubbed “Point Loma’s brewery”, Bay City Brewing Does Hand-Painted Bottles

On November 9, craft beer lovers will rejoice as Bay City Brewing Co. releases beer in bottles for the first time. The chosen beer comes from the brewery’s new Ctrl+Shift+Del series — a series of barrel-aged beers that age in former wine barrels. The series will debut its first beer, Bear Coltridge, in a limited supply of 750-milliliter bottles. … As if the barrel-aged beers needed more character, Bay City Brewing Co. teamed up with local artist Richard Paul Kunz to create custom, hand-painted labels for each beer. Kunz initially showcased his artistic talents at the brewery’s Community Art Show where he featured a wide array of artwork. Shortly thereafter, the brewery asked him to design special labels to use for the barrel-aged brews. The Ctrl+Shift+Del series launch party begins at 5 p.m. on Thursday, November 9, featuring live music and tasty bites to celebrate this milestone for Bay City Brewing Co. Brewbound

Annual Jim Krause Memorial Charity Bicycle Ride on Nov. 11

The Point Loma Rotary Club invites San Diegans to “ride the hidden, unridden, and forbidden Point Loma” in the fifth annual Jim Krause Memorial Charity Bicycle Ride on Nov. 11 to support pancreatic cancer research. The ride begins and ends at Oggi’s Liberty Station and traverses exclusive scenic bike paths and routes around San Diego. This is an all-volunteer event and participation is limited to the first 600 registrants to ensure a boutique cycling experience. The event will also include a special “Salute to Veterans” in honor of Veterans Day. SDNews.com

OB Getting Attention in International Stories About West Coast Homelessness

A photo of a homeless person sleeping near the OB Pier accompanies an article about West Coast homelessness that has gone international. Here is a sample:

“A homeless crisis of unprecedented proportions is rocking the West Coast, and its victims are being left behind by the very things that mark the region’s success: soaring housing costs, rock-bottom vacancy rates and a roaring economy that waits for no one. All along the coast, elected officials are scrambling for solutions.”

Lifeguard Reports Are Eye-Opening

Daniel Powell’s accounts of San Diego lifeguard daily reports are a real kick. Published in San Diego Reader, Powell shares tid-bits that we never see in the media. Here are some excerpts from occurrences in and near Ocean Beach:

Oct 27

 06:15 – Boating: Boat fire east bay across from De Anza mobile home park. Lifeguards respond. No vessel fire; large bonfire on Fiesta Island.

12:40 – Other: Dog locked in vehicle at dog beach in Ocean Beach. Lifeguards and emergency respond. Dog is freed from the vehicle and all units clear.

13:30 – Boating: Vessel dead in the water 18 miles off Mission Bay channel. Lifeguards and USCG respond. USCG handles and lifeguards stand down as it appeared to be a suspicious vessel.

13:53 – Boating: Vessel in distress at Ocean Beach Pier with 3 persons on board. Lifeguards including Jet Ski and boat units respond. Lifeguard boat unit takes the vessel under tow from a Good Samaritan and vessel assist tows vessel to Dana Landing from the turning basin.

14:08 Medical: 30 year-old male back injury and fall at Ocean Beach near the pier. Lifeguard and medical units respond. Lifeguards clear, fire to handle.

Oct 26

21:15 – Boating: Lifeguard boat unit takes over tow from USCG Cutter at request of USCG at mouth of channel. Vessel safely anchored in Mariner’s Basin.

Oct 24

17:35 – Enforcement: Lifeguard boat unit responds to complaint of 35’ cabin cruiser speeding near SeaWorld Marina. Boat intercepted at Ventura Bridge obeying law. Warning issued.

18:32 – Other: Lifeguard and SDPD units respond to PD request in locating “check the welfare” female on rock at Bermuda Beach. Helicopter unit responds to help search. Unable to locate. PD calls clear.

Oct 23

11:30 – Other: Lifeguard boat unit reports a 4 ½ foot, 200 lb. deceased sea turtle off Campland. National Marine Fisheries contacted. National Marine Fisheries requested the carcass be left on the shore at Campland.

15:50 Boating: Lifeguard requests emergency unit response for a 30 year-old male suffering from neck pain after being struck by kayak. Patient is transported to Scripps La Jolla.

17:03 – Medical: Ocean Beach lifeguards request emergency response for a 40 year-old male struck in the face in a surfing accident. Patient is transported to UCSD.

Andrea Temple Matray Passes

Andrea Temple Matray Passes, 36, of San Diego, California, passed away peacefully Friday, October 27, 2017 at her home near Ocean Beach surrounded by her family, close friends and ever faithful dogs Moesly and Petri. The Republic