Another sunset on the pier. Photo by Jim Grant. Click on image for a larger version.
OB Bus Routes Detoured Due to Digging Ditches
MTS bus routes 35 and 923 are being detoured through Ocean Beach beginning October 6th. Due to ditch digging – the sewer mainline being replaced – these bus routes on Cable are now on Sunset Cliffs Blvd. The digging includes installing a line between West Pt Loma and Point Loma Ave. The route detours are expected to last until Memorial Day 2011.
OB Speaker Series Re-Scheduled to Oct 14th – Noah Tafolla
The October 14 portion of Word-Wide’s 2010 Guest Speaker Series features Noah Tafolla, local documentarian, speaking about his Wonderland Series on KPBS. Thursday, October 14, 2010, 10am – 12pm, 1811 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., 92107 – (rescheduled from Oct. 7). The Word-Wide ESL Institute and Language Tutoring Center has just recently moved to its new Sunset Cliffs location.
Pancakes on the Pier! – Sunday Oct. 17th
This Sunday, another OB annual tradition is the Pancakes on the Pier. Come early, -you will need tickets. Eating begins at 7:30am and goes to 11:00am
October 18th = Deadline to Register to Vote
Yup, Monday, October 18th, is the last day to register to vote for the General Election this November. Next Monday.
Planning Board Review Committee meets Wed, Oct. 20th
The Ocean Beach Project Review Committee meets on the Third Wednesday of every month at 6:30 at the Ocean Beach Recreation Center at 4726 Santa Monica Ave. That would be Wed, October 20th.
OB Historical Society: The Portuguese 100 – Plus Years of in San Diego -Oct. 21st
OBHS presents Lynn Izidoro Guidi, The Portuguese 100 —Plus Years of in San Diego on Oct. 21, 2010 at 7 PM. Lynn is a native San Diegan, born & raised in Point Loma, 1st generation American. parents immigrated from Portugal, the Island of Madeira in the early 1950’s. She has served on the United Portuguese SES Board as President and Director. Her program will include many wonderful historic pictures. Please join us at Oct. 21st at the PL Methodist Church, 1984 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., OB
OB Halloween goes to the dogs: Canine Carnival & Costume Contest, Oct. 24th
It’s the 5th Annual OB Canine Carnival on Sunday, October 24, 2010, at Dusty Rhodes Park – west side across from Robb Field- (Sunset Cliffs Blvd. at Nimitz Blvd.) 10:00am – 4:00pm. Go here for more info re contest etc. Sponsored by Kiwanis.
OB Rec Center Sponsors Halloween Carnival & Costume Contest
Do you think you have what it takes to compete with some of the craziest, most creative minds in OB? Then join us! Sponsored by OB Rec Center. On Sat, 10/30/2010 – 2:00pm – 5:00pm – OB Halloween Carnival and Costume Contest! 4700 block of Santa Monica Ave. (1 block south of Newport Ave.)
Strange clouds off Point Loma by Jim Grant.
OB lifeguard part of team honored for dangerous rescue
On Wednesday, October 13, four lifeguards were awarded the Medal of Valor for a dangerous rescue off Mission Bay last November 4th. The San Diego U-T reported:
Another honoree, Sgt. Jon Vipond, had reported early to the Ocean Beach station when he heard the call. He rushed to the scene and paddled to the victims on his rescue board.
Here is the article:
By Michael Stetz / San Diego U-T / October 13, 2010
… Wednesday, four San Diego city lifeguards were honored for their daring rescue of six boaters last November. It’s heartening: There seems to be no shortage of personal sacrifice even in these bruising times.
The lifeguards may be pros, but what they did was remarkable, given the circumstances. A boat had capsized in the Mission Bay channel because of stormy conditions. Swells were as high as 20 feet.
The six people onboard all ended up in the water or were clinging to the boat. Four would be plucked from the battering swells. Two made it to a nearby jetty, where lifeguards helped them to safety.
For the remainder of the article, please go here.
Sports Arena bought by San Pasqual Tribe & renamed “Valley View Casino Center”
Valley View has purchased the naming rights of the San Diego Sports Arena. Beginning November 1, the facility will be known as “Valley View Casino Center” (no casino will be on site). Run by the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians, Valley View operates 2,000 slot machines and 25 gaming tables. Here is more:
by Anny H. Ruth / San Diego Entertainer Magazine / October 13, 2010
Beginning November 1, 2010 the San Diego Sports Arena will become the Valley View Casino Center. The deal comes after a corporate naming rights deal was struck between the North County casino/hotel and the arena’s management group, AEG Entertainment.
No matter the name, the venue is a great spot for concerts, performances, Disney on Ice, the Harlem Globetrotters, and many more.
The San Diego City Council approved the deal today, which includes a multi-year contract with Valley View. It is reported that neither Valley View Casino nor AEG Global Partnerships officials will disclose the terms of the deal. It was reported by Channel 6 that the deal will bring the city about $157,000 over the next five years. Not bad in a struggling economy.
Bruce Howard, the general manager of Valley View Casino and Hotel has said, “We are thrilled to partner with the longstanding tradition of top-quality sports and entertainment that the San Diego Sports Arena has established throughout its legendary existence. We look forward to working closely with the city of San Diego, the Hahn family and AEG — the most recognizable name in the sports and entertainment industry — to grow both the Valley View Casino Center and Valley View Casino & Hotel brand.”
This will not be the only expansion for the Valley View Casino & Hotel. A new hotel addition is set to open on November 19. The new arena deal will allow casino guests to score premium tickets for events throughout the year.
The 44-year old area recently underwent a face lift and more could be on the way. To modernize the facility and to keep pace with the expanding demand, the arena recently underwent a multi-million dollar renovation which included a new VIP hospitality space and new lower-level seats. LCD TVs were added around the arena and arena entrances have been revamped.
As San Diegans may recall the Sports Arena was set to be renamed the iPayOne center back in 2005, but the residential real estate listing company went out of business shortly thereafter.
Pot Dispensaries On Edge
By Christopher Cadelago / San Diego U-T / October 12, 2010
OCEAN BEACH — As San Diego works to craft zoning laws for medical marijuana dispensaries, the prospect looms that some neighborhoods could lose out on the opportunity to host even one storefront collective.
Each of the city’s dispensaries has been deemed illegal because there are no areas in which they are allowed -? despite a statewide ballot initiative legalizing the use of medical marijuana.
The new ordinance is expected to permit collectives in some industrial and commercials zones. In the latest council committee discussion, some expressed a desire for medical marijuana collectives to be at least 1,000 feet from other dispensaries, parks, youth centers religious institutions, day care centers and schools.
In communities such as Ocean Beach, that leaves virtually nowhere for a collective, said Giovanni Ingolia, chairman of the Ocean Beach Planning Board.
Not that many people are complaining.
“Personally, I don’t see any concerns with that at this time,” Ingolia said.
McMillin reverses at Liberty Station: withdraws hotel and residential plans – and destruction of conference center
By Matthew T. Hall / San Diego U-T / October 12, 2010
The Corky McMillin Companies has dropped plans to build 350 hotel rooms and 30 new houses at the Liberty Station development in Point Loma.
The Watchdog ran a story last month about the company’s proposal and criticism from residents who viewed it as a broken promise. Last week, Scott and Mark McMillin, who run the company, told Liberty Station homeowners by letter that they would not pursue the plans that would have torn down an unoccupied former Navy fitness center and a conference center.
Planning documents stipulate that the conference center, a one-time Navy chapel, is to be available for community use at little or no cost at least half the time. Residents complain it’s underused because rates are high. McMillin executives say demand is just low.
For the remainder of the article, please go here.
New businesses in Ocean Beach:
New Sushi at the old Rags on Newport?
Jim Grant reports that he was strolling around OB on Sunday, Oct. 10, and noticed this on Newport…. Jim told us:
Finally a new sushi place. !!! I talked to the guys who were working in the building they told me they are hoping to be open in 2 months.
Jim sent in that photo ===>
Healthy and Horny Herb shop?
Is there really a new shop across from the OB Post Office with the name Happy Healthy High Horny Herb Shop? Would it be located at 4810 Santa Monica Ave? Are they really having their grand opening on Oct 22nd?
Food trucks in Los Angeles to have public health ratings
This should be of interest to OBceans as we love our food trucks!
By Rong-Gong Lin II / Los Angeles Times / October 13, 2010
Food trucks in Los Angeles County will soon be required to post letter grades from public health officials evaluating their food-handling practices, supervisors said Tuesday.
All five county supervisors voted for the new ordinance, which received preliminary approval Tuesday but must be ratified in another vote next week. The ordinance would go into effect 30 days after the final vote in unincorporated areas of the county; local city councils must ratify the new grading plan for it to be effective within city limits.
The plan will expand the popular program that gives brick-and-mortar restaurants an A, B or C grade on food-handling practices to rolling food establishments. In recent years, some entrepreneurs have turned the once-derided “roach coaches” into upscale, gourmet kitchens on wheels, offering exotic fused concoctions of kimchi tacos or fancy cupcakes.
For the remainder of the article, please go here.
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
Hooray for new sushi!
Also, in other flasher news: during the festivities on Saturday, I happened to catch a glimpse of a man ripping off his clothes and running into the ocean. No police or lifeguards were involved, but the man didn’t seem to be on any substances.
and in other news, the OBRagBlog Facebook page now has more than 700 fans. More news, more views and more OBRag on Facebook.
This just in: THE CASE AGAINST FLUORIDE – Paul Connett, author of the newly released book The Case Against Fluoride, will be speaking in San Diego from Oct. 14 – 16.
Connett will provide new, compelling science-based arguments against community water fluoridation. Following are the times and locations of his public presentations, as well as other planned events.
Date Time Location Address
Fri., 10/15 12/noon to 1:30 p.m. Mission Valley Branch Library 2123 Fenton Parkway
Sat., 10/16 noon Rally/Demonstration County Adm. Building
1600 Pacific Highway
Sat., 10/16 5 p.m. Ocean Beach Women’s Club 2160 Bacon St.
Heard him on T.V. last night. Wondered if he was going to be the spokesman against fluoride. If so, we don’t have to worry. I’ve been drinking water spiked with fluoride for years. So have my kids and their kids. They have super strong teeth; haven’t lost their minds yet – he said that fluoride causes memory loss – etc. Only thing he did say that I agreed with is that we should be able to decide what we put in our body, not the government. That’s why I don’t eat any “enhanced” food products knowingly. Just curious though – commentator said it was “the law” to add the fluoride. When was it passed into law? California only?
By the same legislature that said “no more mail slots?”
I believe San Diego received grant money to set up a fluoridation plant…not to run it, but to set it up. Since we took the money, we’ve got to do it or lose the grant.
Re: Pot Dispensaries On Edge
This bugs me.
Every other storefront in this community is a bar or liquor store, cigarettes are available everywhere and we have our local biker hangout(s). We tolerate pretty much ANYTHING in OB. We allow vacant buildings on our main street to be boarded up and allowed to fester in filth and become festooned with graffitti, spit and puke.
We love the drunks who litter the streets at night ’cause they bring $$. (side note: did you know that in Solana Beach business owners are required to police their vicinity and pick up trash at least once a day?)
We will tolerate all that but there can’t be a medical marijuana store in the ‘hood?
There’s something just fundamentally stupid going on.
Thanx Sarah, for showing some sanity.
It’s a backdoor attempt at continuing prohibition by those bent about MMJ and likely impending legalization. I see no logical reason MJ dispensaries should be treated any differently than liquor stores, which we have plenty of here in OB.
The chronically butthurt love to rage against “potheads” and how anyone who smokes apparently (in their minds) is some cartoonishly lazy doofus straight out of Half Baked. (“You ever see the back of a twenty dollar bill… on weed?”)
Really, there is little more to it than this.
Well, Sarah, people feel that taxing the m.j. is the wrong way to go. After all, if you legalize it it will be easier to get. What? Like it’s not easy to get now? Legalizing it will cause more car accidents. When was the last time that you heard that smoking M.J. was the cause of a car accident. Alcohol? All the time.
It’s exciting to do something illegal. Think of all the ways to do things without getting caught. If it is legal, some of the fun will be taken out of smoking a joint.
Damn!
Some day I’ll tell you about my grandson.
Sarah, I hear you, but please take solace in the fact that there are currently several dispensaries operating almost completely unregulated within OB. At least 80 business licenses were applied for in our neighborhood, in both commercial and residential areas. People have compared these dispensaries to liquor stores and pharmacies, which is fairly valid, but pretty sure those types of businesses are not allowed to operate out of your neighbor’s garage with no oversight.
As I see it, the conversation taking place now is about what level of regulation needs to be placed on them. As it pertains to OB, the zoning regulations about where they will and will not be allowed in the City of SD (without a variance) are probably the most pertinent (such as the distance requirements from schools, parks and churches, as well as other dispensaries). The OBPB may visit this again at our next general meeting, and you or anyone anyone should feel free to speak up and be heard.
Seth,
Why would I take solace in the fact that dispensaries, or any other businesses are operating in the neighborhood almost completely unregulated? I take no solace in that at all!
I could have taken solace in something had the representative of the OBPB expressed some sort of solidarity with the idea that to exclude medical pot outlets from this community by way of inane permitting is absurd. Instead we got this:
“Personally, I don’t see any concerns with that at this time,” Ingolia said.
I was simply making a philosophical statement about what sorts of things “we” fight for, what we “tolerate” and what we are “concerned” about.
Thanks for the invitation to attend the OBPB meetings.
Sarah
Sarah, all good. Apologies if my reply came across as snarky. Your points are quite valid.
As far as the quote in the article, I know from my own experience that the press doesn’t always convey your points in the context you were hoping them to. Perhaps that is the case here. It’s quite possible that the owners of these dispensaries, their supporters and their clients very much see a problem with some or most of these regulations. Beyond that, I would just say that there is not one person who speaks for that board, not one board that speaks for this neighborhood and not one neighborhood that speaks for the City at large. That’s just not democracy.
As I have said, many people have already weighed in on this issue, but the process is still ongoing. Everyone has busy lives, and these meetings can be a bit boring, but I truly encourage people to try to find a way to throw their two cents in on local issues that matter to them. Attend an OBPB meeting in which a topic of interest is visited, send an email or letter to your Councilperson, create a petition, form a protest, write an op-ed for this blog or the Beacon, whatever…
Pick two or three important points you want to make, articulate a solution or alternative to what is being proposed, and perhaps your voice will be one that helps to tip the scales. Sorry if this sounds like a lecture on things I’m sure you already know, but IMO, people that don’t speak will not be heard. That’s not good for this issue, not good for democracy and not good for OB.
It’s all good, Seth.
I had to smile at the end of this post because one of the things I’m known to say is that people who speak too much will not be heard.
Oh how I live the middle of the road!
Sarah
Yeah, that too. LOL.
Anyhow, right on.
Where can I get the Obama Tea Party shirts?
If you’re serious, I’ll ask our friend who sent in the pic. HEY JETTY BOY!
Yeah…I want one too.
Here’s the full top ten list of why we should all join the tea party:
1. Obama won’t teach my kids the earth is flat.
2. Obama doesn’t realize fire departments are Socialism.
3. Obama is right handed just like Hitler.
4. Obama wants the government to take over Social Security.
5. Obama doesn’t realize I need a fully automatic assault rifle to protect my family.
6. Obama won’t force Muslims to worship Jesus.
7. Obama wants to force our children into gay marriage.
8. Obama was born in the darkest depths of Mordor.
9. Obama won’t let me hunt the homeless for sport.
10. Obama wants to let gays vote.
Okay, Jon, where did ya get those?
Where everyone gets everything…google.
Nice! Laughed my ass at that. Then realized Google is where I got my house, my car, my dog, and the t-shirt I’m wearing. Kinda scary.
http://imvotingteaparty.com/
Re: sports arena
$157k over 5 years *is* bad. I know that arena doesn’t get the exposure of an nfl stadium, but surely the naming rights are worth more than 30k/year. Will that even cover the physical re-branding?
New Flashes: Through Oct. 23, The Point Loma High School Thespian Society presents “Coffeehouse!” — an annual show of talent. Show times are 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 22 and Saturday, Oct. 23. Tickets are $6 and can be purchased at the Larry Zeiger Performing Arts Center at Point Loma High (2335 Chatsworth Blvd.), or by calling (619) 223-3121, ext. 4509.
Sunday, Oct. 24, 7:30 p.m., Wild and Tame Comedy presents comedian Willy Wilson’s 40th Birthday Show with headliner Rocky Osborn. Other comics include Wilson, Rick Gene, Dave Sparking and Lindsay Palmer. The show is hostessed by Sindi Somers. Cover is $6 (which includes a birthday cupcake), with no drink minimum. Live preshow music by Chet Harrison. The show takes place at Dream Street, 2228 Bacon St. in Ocean Beach. Fore more information, call (619) 384-0761, or e-mail http://www.wildandtame@gmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
This just in from Gramma Holly: this is a little off the subject but my grandson does volunteer at a shelter in cambridge at harvard where he goes to school—–
and my question is : do any of you have a piano that he could practice on over christmas vacation. he is a wonderful young man and is an excellent jazz and classical pianist and i am just trying to find spots that wouldnt mind hearing a little practicing off hours—
thanks very much
gramma holly
hollys@whidbey.com
BALLOT: One judge voted against marriage equality
Our chance to set justice right:
Associate Justices of California State Supreme Court:
Ming W. Chin — NO
Voted AGAINST marriage equality
Carlos R. Moreno — YES
Voted IN FAVOR of marriage equality