OB Flashes – News, Calendar and Discussion Board: October 9 – 15, 2009

photo: Jim Grant

OCEAN BEACH, CA.

This is the latest version of OB Flashes – the OB Rag’s news, calendar and discussion board for the week of October 9th through 15th, 2009.   What follows are the latest newsy bits, calendar, and discussion of issues in the comments section – of interest to OBceans everywhere:

UPDATE: Airport could get a new track – public hearings to be held on High-Speed Rail line

SDNN/ October 10, 2009.

San Diego residents will have the chance to weigh in on the three proposed routes for the California High-Speed Rail line that is expected to run from Los Angeles to San Diego by 2019.

The state is planning to construct a high-speed train that will ultimately run from San Francisco and Sacramento to San Diego and perhaps include a stop at Lindbergh Field. The railroad line is being planned in eight segments by the California High-Speed Rail Authority with input from regional planning groups.

Three meetings will be held, on Oct. 13, 14 and 15, for the public to comment on the three proposed routes that will stop in University City and then continue Downtown. The meetings will feature various information booths — rather than a lecture presentation —to discuss environmental issues, stations, the process and so on.

OB Elementary calling on alumni for Holiday Parade

The elementary school of Ocean Beach is celebrating its centennial next year.  To honor that occasion, the school is calling on all its alumni to join them in this years Holiday Parade.  The goal is to have a Birthday Cake Float, and if need be, have our younger alumni pushing any older alumni in any mode possible. OB Elementary will also have a booth set up in the Funzone selling all Logowear, etc.  The Chair of the event is Jeff Fagan.

Should this tree be cut down?

The Union-Tribune’s “Just Fix-it” column reported that the City of San Diego has determined that this Monterey  Cypress on Del Mar Ave is dying and is ready to be cut down. Do you agree? Local residents are fearful that if the tree falls, it will damage local cars – as a similar tree did across the street earlier this year.  Go check it out. Here is the link to the U-T article on signonsandiego.com.

Hodad’s staging benefit to honor OB Elementary’s Centennial

Hodad’s, probably OB’s most famous restaurant, is having a benefit for OB Elementary School on Thursday, October 22nd.  In honor of the school’s centennial, from 11 am to 9 pm, Hodad’s will donate 25% of its sales to the school.  The restaurant is also asking customers and other members of the community to drop off items that can be donated to the school. Items such as gift certificates, retail items, dinners, free or discounted treatments and tickets can be dropped off at Hodad’s, located at 5010 Newport Avenue.

OB Rag to receive ‘special award’ from OB Mainstreet Association

At its next Annual Awards dinner the OB Mainstreet Association will be giving the OB Rag a “Special Award”.  Members of this website will graciously accept and do a live blog session during the actual award ceremony. This will be the first formal award that this website has received since our inception two years ago.

Anti-graffiti progress seen along cliffs but not at local market

One of OB’s local anti-graffiti activists, Ed Baier, reported that on Wednesday, October 7th, three days had gone by with no graffiti seen along Sunset Cliffs from Pt. Loma Ave to the OB Pier at Niagara.  Hopefully, none has appeared more recently.  Our community has Ed and other such activists to thank for their diligence in keeping our cliffs graffiti-free.

However, on another front, a local market still has not addressed graffiti on its walls and roof.  Another anti-graffiti activist has informed us of the following:

I wanted to let you and everyone else know that Apple Tree market is still not doing anything about the numerous large tags all over their building.  The mural on the north side has been tagged for months now, and if you stand over near Pirates Cove coffee cart, you can see a variety of very large tags all over the roof area.  I have asked someone to do something about it, but apparently there is a lag in their caring about this issue. Go in and let them know or … in the alternative, take a moment to fill out the city’s complaint form here:

It only takes a second and they only ask for your name and phone (phone not required). Apple Tree’s address is 4949 Santa Monica Ave.  If they get enough complaints, they will have to start maintaining their building.  It’s a total mess right now.

Above Sunset Cliffs by Ken Goldman.

Sale of Sunset Cliffs seascape to benefit Cliffs Natural Park Council

Local artist Ken Goldman has completed a spectacular painting of Sunset Cliffs. Copies of the painting are being sold to benefit the Sunset Cliffs Natural Park Council by having a portion of the purchase price donated to the Council to used for the implementation of the Sunset Cliffs Natural Park Master Plan. There are various sizes  available for purchase . Please contact Ken for more details.

OB Rag to you: please support our sponsors

If you have noticed of late, our right sidebar has new logos and ads of our sponsors. Please support those who support us. And tell them they you saw their logo on the OB Rag. It will impress them. And us.

Jump in the OB Elementary PTA’s recycling program

OB Elementary PTA is running a recycling program to assist them in raising funds for the school this year.  Please look through the list of everything that they can accept, and bring in your donations to OBE or they will pick up locally on the peninsula!

OB Elementary recycles:

Cell Phones, GPS Devices, iPods, DVDs, PDAs, Inkjet cartridges, Laser cartridges, Video Games, Digital Cameras, and Laptops. The Cartridges for Kids program is not only good for our environment, it is good for our children. www.cartridgesforkids.com

OB Peoples Food to hold “Healthy Halloween for The Children”

On Halloween, Peoples will have a great event for kids at the store. The “Healthy Halloween” will be from 3 to 5:30 pm. For more info, call 619-224-1387.

Don’t forget Halloween clean-up by OB Town Council and Dog Wash

On October 31st, the OBTC, Dog Beach Dog Wash, and the City’s Environmental Services are sponsoring a community clean-up and recycling day.  Get rid of those old appliances, old electronics and that other junk that you’ve been storing in the garage or back yard.  Check out this pdf document to what’s recyclable and what’s not, plus other details, like where to take your junk.

The OBTC meets next on Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. at the Masonic Center, 1711 Sunset Cliffs Blvd.