Around the Peninsula – Mid-September

29th Annual Coastal Cleanup Day- September 21

After you’ve had your fill of pancakes at our Pier Pancake Breakfast, be sure to help out at the annual San Diego Coastal Clean-Up. The event takes place on Saturday, Sept. 21st from 9am-12pm.  Jane Donley from Dog Beach Dog Wash is leading our local event at Dog Beach.

San Diego City Council Committee Pushes for Ban on Plastic Bags

Local markets throughout Ocean Beach, Point Loma and elsewhere across San Diego wil be effected if this ban on plastic bags ultimately passes the San Diego City Council A key committee of the Council came out today in strong support for a ban of plastic bags. The Rules and Economic Development Committee took a unanimous vote in directing staff to construct an ordinance that would ban plastic bags at city grocery stores and other retail sites within the city.

The proposal at this stage of its process would ban plastic bags in supermarkets, and other retail sites that include large stores that sell food, drug stores, convenience, hardware and clothing stores. It also has a requirement that stores charge 10 cents a paper bag, but exempting restaurants, nonprofits, food stamp recipients, and produce and meat products. For more, go here.

Western Division Police Captain to Become Eureka Police Chief

Capt.  Andrew Mills – or just “Andy” – , the current commander of the SDPD’s Western Division,has just been chosen to be the police chief for the city of Eureka, up in northern California. Mills is expected to start his new job on November 4, and will earn a salary comparable to his current pay of $142,500 per year, he has said.

It was just this past April, that Mills – a 30 year veteran of the SDPD – was introduced to the communities of the Western Division – including Ocean Beach, Point Loma, and Midway – as the new top guy at the Western Division. Some may recall the big splash Capt Mills initially made when he received a media-high-lighted tour of the alleys, streets and ocean front of Ocean Beach along with his officers from members  of the Mainstreet association and Town Council.

We’re sorry to see Any go – as he seemed a very reasonable, educated and even humble commander of the Western Division, which goes from the Peninsula to Linda Vista and Hillcrest, Mission Hills, Old Town and University Heights. Here is the U-T article on Capt Mills.

 Fresh & Easy Stores Bought By LA Billionaire – Future of Pt Loma Store Not Known

It’s now not known what will happen to the Point Loma store of Fresh & Easy [UPDATE: it will remain open], but the billionaire Ron Burkle and his Yucaipa Cos. has purchased the chain – a subsidiary of the British retail giant Tesco. Yucaipa – based in Los Angeles – will take on more than 150 of the 200 stores now maintained by Fresh & Easy, saving 4,000 jobs. The 50 to be closed will be shuttered over the next few months – including at least 3 in San Diego County.

It will take about 3 months to complete the deal, and until then, more stores will be open for business as usual. The deal will be completed within three months, Fresh & Easy said, and in the meantime, it will be business as usual for most stores.

The company has confirmed that stores in El Cajon, Santee and Escondido will beclosed. A spokesman stated that there will be more closures in the San Diego area, but that the majority will remain open.  The media was told that “sales will begin Wednesday in most of the stores slated for closure with most merchandise marked down 25 percent.”  For more.

OB Historical Society Presents: The Incredible and Mysterious Hidden Past of San Diego County –  Sept 19th

Featuring Richard Carrico, the  OBHS presents their monthly event for Thurs., Sept 19th at 7PM at P.L. United Methodist Church, 1984 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., O.B.  Noted anthropologist and historian Richard L. Carrico will present a lecture on the hidden past and mysteries of ancient San Diego County. Through the use of an exciting narrative and PowerPoint, Mr. Carrico will take the audience back thousands of years to explore a people and a land that few know about.

Carrico, a retired lawyer, will delve into possible meanings of prehistoric rock paintings (pictographs) and carvings (petroglyphs) that dot our landscape, he will discuss Kumeyaay knowledge of our vast universe, explore Kumeyaay pharmacology as shown through native plant use, detail the ancient roots of Indian gaming in the region, and explain how at least one local Kumeyaay holy man got the best of the Christian devil.

  Congressman Scott Peters at OB Town Council Meeting – September 25

The OB Town Council’s September public meeting will have Congressman Scott Peters speaking. The OBTC hosts public meetings on the 4th Wednesday every month except November and December. Regular speakers include local leaders, political, business and law enforcement representatives, as well as members from all corners of the Ocean Beach community. This is  September 25 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm at the Masonic Center at 1711 Sunset Cliffs Blvd.