News and Goings On Around OB and the Peninsula

Mariscos Wagon Returns to OB

From the looks of it, the Mariscos Wagon truck has returned to OB, and was seen in the parking lot of the in-coming Apple Tree market on Newport Avenue (the former OB Surf & Skate, former Rock Paper Scissors, former Bank of America).  (hat tip to John Story)

Disturbing Story About Locals Vandalizing Visitors’ Cars

Local writer Dave Rice published a disturbing story recently in the San Diego Reader about a dispute between some visitors and some locals over parking spots around the 4900 block of Coronado Avenue on July 17th.  Entitled “Locals’ parking only?” Rice described how a red sedan full of alleged “locs” pulled up to the visitors’ cars after the visitors had gone down to a pocket beach and using baseball bats smashed them, created “heavy vandalism damages”. He wrote:

A horde of 15 police cruisers descended upon the 4900 block of Coronado Avenue shortly after 9 p.m….  neighbors were drawn from their homes by the sound of shattering glass and greeted with the sight of the occupants of the red car, who had returned with baseball bats and were smashing in the windows of the Civic and Corolla. …

Upon returning to the scene, the victims were assessing the damage when the occupants of the red sedan drove down the street again in an apparent attempt to survey their handiwork. Heated words were exchanged, and according to a Coronado resident, one or more of the red car’s occupants brandished a weapon — reports vary as to whether the assailants were armed with knives or guns.

… police got a radio call that the red car, whose license plate was captured by an observer, was reported leaving the beach area via I-8 headed toward I-5 South. About a dozen police cruisers took off in pursuit, leaving a half-dozen officers to continue the investigation.

According to one officer, more than 100 calls had been placed to police in recent hours concerning the actions of the red sedan’s occupants.

 OB Town Council to Award $6,000 in Grants – Meets Wednesday July 23

Come to the Wednesday night meeting of the Ocean Beach Town Council and witness the group handing out $6,000 in community grants to selected local organizations, groups, and persons that will promote the general betterment and beautification of Ocean Beach and the welfare of its residents. Also, the Council will be collecting a final round of signatures on the Petition to Support the OB Community Plan and preserve our small-scale character, and get everyone prepped for the City Council hearing on Tuesday, July 29th!

The meeting takes place on Wednesday, July 23rd at 7:00pm at the Masonic Center located at 1711 Sunset Cliffs Boulevard.

 Ed Decker Warns SeaWorld: Stop exploding fireworks over the animals

In his weekly piece in CityBeat, back in late June, OBcean Ed Decker took SeaWorld to task for exploding fireworks over their animals.  We have to share the slashing words of his concluding paragraphs:

 Just because there aren’t dead fish washing up on the shore doesn’t mean some seriously bad mojo isn’t happening. Also, no mention of studying trends in animal mortality, birthrate, disease, food supplies and habitat destruction? We know that marine animals rely on sound for orientation, socializing and predator detection. Hard to believe there arenít some creatures that aren’t adversely affected by the orgy of light and thunder pounding over their heads every summer night.

Not to jump to conclusions before all the science is in, but I’m having a difficult time believing that rocket fuel isn’t harmful to pretty much everything that isn’t a rocket. And, yes, that’s my unscientific opinion. But c’mon! If SeaWorld is truly committed to the habitat, it wouldn’t even mess with fireworks until it was given the all-clear by the science community.

Because, you see, SeaWorld has it hopelessly backwards. You don’t dump Pandora’s box of scary stuff over the water because there’s no proof that it’s harmful. You hold off from doing so until you get conclusive proof that it’s safe! That’s what “commitment” looks like. 

 Point Loma Democrats Sponsor “Rockin’ the Boat: The Women Activists Who Made it Happen”-  July 24th

Starting in the early 1960s, a small group of women took matters into their own hands to create laws and force a change in society as the Women’s Liberation Movement burst onto the American landscape–and the push for equality and women’s rights began. Come meet some of the women who did the hard work 50 years ago in San Diego and California. Sponsored by the Pt Loma Democratic Club, there will be a Panel Presentation and Discussion, plus refreshments. This is on Thursday, July 24, 2014 at 6:00PM at 2730 Historic Decatur Road, Suite 103, San Diego, CA 92106; Phone: (619) 233-7963; info@womensmuseumca.org – Bring your war stories! Wear your mini-skirt!

Mercy Baron Introduces San Diego to Steampunk

Local OBcean and writer Mercy Baron tells us all about steampunk in a front page cover story recently in the San Diego Reader; Mercy explains how San Diego  has actually become a “center” for the “makers” and shakers of the steampunk world.  It all started when

“over 40 people in steampunk garb … were turned away from the Westfield Plaza Mall in Carlsbad on February 9 — mall security told them to leave because they were breaking the mall’s “code of conduct.”

The incident went viral – so Mercy had to describe this world and its famous and not so famous characters to our sunny paradise. What is steampunk?

 To answer your question, steampunk is a sub genre of science fiction and fantasy that has its roots in a post-apocalyptic view of the 19th century (hence the steam). It includes social and technological aspects of the Victorian period expressed in dress and in the making of retro-futuristic accoutrements. That’s a good working definition. 

“Sound of Music” at Presbyterian Church in Point Loma

Continuing through July 27th,  “The Sound of Music,” is being hosted by Westminster Presbyterian Church at the corner of Talbot and Cañon Streets in Point Loma. The cast includes several individuals from the Ocean Beach, Point Loma communities and greater San Diego.   The cost is $17 for adults, $13 for seniors (over age 60) and for military and students, $10 for children 12 and under. Tickets are available for the planned productions of  July 24-27.  Curtain time is at 8 p.m. for Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances and 7 p.m. for Sunday.  Guests are welcome to use Westminster’s beautiful park for a picnic supper preceding the performance.

Set in the mountains of Austria in pre-World War II, this famous musical was the final collaboration between legendary screenwriters Rodgers and Hammerstein.  Contact the box office at (619) 224-6263 or visit www.Vanguardsd.org for more information.

San Diego Lifeguard Relay – July 29th

The San Diego Lifeguard Relay pits the four beach districts of the City of San Diego Lifeguard Service against one another in a 12-leg race which highlights the skills necessary to perform ocean rescues, such as running, swimming, and paddling.  The event takes place at the Mission Beach Lifeguard Tower, at 3141 Ocean Front Walk, on July 29, 2014, at 6:00 p.m.  Hawaiian attire encouraged Reception immediately following at the WaveHouse. This year’s relays will provide each district an opportunity to raise money for exceptional, local nonprofits:

• The Southern District, co-captained by Councilmember Emerald and Councilmember Kersey, will be supporting the OBCDC Veterans Plaza Memorial Project
• The Central District, co-captained by Councilmember Alvarez and Councilmember Cole, will be supporting the The Jackie Robinson YMCA
• The Northern District, co-captained by Councilmember Gloria and Councilmember Lightner, will be supporting the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation
• The Boating Safety Unit and Mission Bay, co-captained by Councilmember Sherman and Councilmember Zapf, will be supporting Rady Children’s Hospital

OB Town Council Looking for a Few Good Candidates

The 2014 OBTC Board of Directors election is coming up and the Town Council is putting out a call for candidates. There are 15 seats on the Ocean Beach Town Council Board of Directors and OBTC members elect Board Directors for two-year terms. Half of the Board stands for election every year. This year, 7 seats are up for election.

If you would like to be considered for candidacy, please submit your Letter of Intent stating your reasons for wanting to join the OBTC Board and describing any relevant experience or skills to info@obtowncouncil.org by Monday, August 25th. Please put “Letter of Intent” in the subject line of the email. Letters can be submitted by regular mail, as well, and must be received by Monday, August 25th, 2014. Mail your letter to OBTC Election Committee, P.O. Box 7225, San Diego, CA 92167.

Eligible candidates for the OBTC Board of Directors must be over 18 years of age, already be a paid-in-full OBTC member ($20 annual dues are current and paid), and either live, work, own property, or operate a business in the Ocean Beach 92107 zip code.

Directors are obligated to attend two meetings each month (second Tuesday and fourth Wednesdays), and should expect to participate on OBTC committees and work at the various events and activities of OBTC throughout the year, such as the Holiday Parade, Food and Toy Drive, Pier Pancake Breakfast, etc.

Voting for this election will take place from Friday, August 29th to Monday, September 8th. All candidates will be invited to the regularly scheduled open OBTC meeting to address the crowd and Board on August 27th, 2014. The term of office for newly elected Board Members will start at the Board Meeting on October.