News and Happenings From Around Ocean Beach

Rumors of Sale of Voltaire Cottages Not True

The OB Rag had heard rumors that the set of cottages on the south side of the lower 5000 block of Voltaire Street had been sold. We had also heard the rumor that Tony Hawk – the famous skateboarder – was involved in the purchase.  The cottages abut the dirt lot at the end of the block, a lot that will soon have two 2-story houses. We tracked down the manager of the cottages, Kevin Miller, and he emphatically explained that no, the cottages were not recently sold – they sold in February – they’re not even on the market, and no, Tony Hawk is not involved.

Update on Katie Connor: Father’s Plea and Pizza Port Fundraiser

Here’s an update on Katie Connor, the young woman who suffered a serious head trauma by a hit and run truck on October 12th in O.B.  Her father, Michael Connor, is asking for the public’s help in finding the driver. San Diego police in the meantime are looking for a white pickup truck with a camper shell with yellow or brown on it.  Michael Connor told the press:

“We are very lucky that Katie is alive.”

“What happened was wrong. It needs to be corrected, and I’m not the guy to do that. I can’t say it enough. If you know something, call the police and tell them. Even if you don’t think it’s really that important. I don’t know, the smallest little detail could help the police in this matter.”

He also stated:

“We weren’t really prepared for what we saw when we walked in there. I mean, I knew she was in an intensive care unit, and I knew she wasn’t going to be sitting up in bed waiting for dad. But I wasn’t prepared for what I saw when I walked in there. She looked horrific.”

Katie’s parents had flown in from her home town of Baltimore. She had recently graduated with a communications degree from Salisbury University and had moved to OB with college roommates at the beginning of the summer.

Meanwhile, OB’s Pizza Port – where Katie worked – is planning a fundraiser for  her on Saturday, Nov. 1, from 11 am to closing time. 20% of all sales during that period will go to Katie and help her parents pay her medical bills. South Coast Surf Shop and other Ocean Beach businesses are teaming up to raffle off items. Pizza Port is asking other businesses to donate gift certificates or other items that could be auctioned.

Rosie McGinley-Kace, co-worker and friend of Katie, also turned to the media for help; she pleaded:

“I don’t know how that person can sleep at night knowing that they put this young, beautiful, charismatic girl in the hospital.”

It’s also possible, McGinley-Kace said, that because she closed Pizza Port that night, she may have been the last person who knew who see her before the incident  – as she had seen Connor ride by n her new red bike as she closed up:

“I didn’t even stop her to talk to her which drives you nuts because if I could hold her off for five minutes maybe that would change timing.”

Since Sunday, Katie’s friends have set up the Facebook page Praying for You, Katie Leigh. 7NBCSanDiego   760am – CBS8

New California Law Cracks Down on Fraud at Farmers Markets

After some LA media caught farmers who bought produce wholesale and then resold it at farmers markets as their own organic products, Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law a bill that would provide additional funds for more inspectors to investigate complaints and monitor the states growing fad of having urban farmers markets.

The new law – which goes into effect January 1 – will require vendors to pay $2 fee to the state every time they sell products at a farmers market. Hillcrest Farmers Market co-founder Mark Larson told the media:

“San Diego County already does an excellent job of making sure San Diego farmers grow everything they say the grow. They do inspect farms regularly, and the farmers also police themselves. If they know of anybody that’s selling what they don’t grow, they report it.”

“That can be over $250 a year of additional cost, so it’s just going to drive up the cost of farmers market produce for customers, and it’s an additional regulatory burden on the farmers.”

The NBC affiliate in LA found vendors also made false claims their produce was pesticide-free when in reality, the fruits tested with high levels of pesticide.  NBCSanDiego

 Annual OB Holiday Parade Applications Now Open – “35 Years of Peace, Love, and OB” 

The OB Town Council  has announced that it is now accepting applications for entry into the 35th Annual Ocean Beach Holiday Parade.  The 2014 theme is “35 Years of Peace, Love, and OB” and the parade will take place on Saturday, December 6th at 5:05pm. The event usually is a smashing success with thousands of people lining the streets. Applications must be received by the Ocean Beach Town Council no later than November 15, 2014. For applications received after November 15, the mandatory entry fee increases from $50.00 to $100.00 and will only be considered if space is still available. There are only 100 parade entries available, so it’s best to get your application in early. The online application is available 

Mayor Faulconer’s Push back on Reports of His Use of Too Much Water

7SanDiego  The Center for Investigative Reporting says Faulconer’s water usage at his home was 20 percent higher than the state average in 2013. Mayor Faulconer just came out calling on San Diegans to conserve 20% of water, compared to the year before. Now, the mayor’s office said the data was from the time before conservation limits were imposed by the state.  His office stated that in the first six months of this year, Faulconer and his family reduced their water usage by more than 18 percent.  Faulconer was the former City Councilman for OB and District 2.

 Ocean Beach Friends of the Library to Meet Oct. 21 – and Flex Financial Muscle

The Friends of the OB Library are having their monthly meeting today, Tuesday Oct. 21, from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm, at the OB Library. The Friends will be flexing their newly-found financial muscle – as they reaped over $500 at their most recent book sale, and they were granted $500 from the OB Town Council to purchase a bench for the front of the library. The group is holding an evening meeting in the hope that some members who have been unable to join the daytime meetings will be able to attend.

 OB Town Council to Introduce New Leadership at Meeting on Wed., Oct. 22

At their final meeting of 2014 on October 22nd, the OBTC will introduce the leadership elected to their 2014-2015 Board of Directors, review the OBie Award winners, and hear from the OB Community Development Corporation (OBCDC) on their kick-off fundraising event for the Veterans Plaza Redevelopment Project on 11/11/14.  The Town Council meets from 7:00-9:00pm, at the Masonic Center, 1711 Sunset Cliffs Blvd.

Annual OBMA Awards Dinner: Thursday, Oct. 23rd 

Members of the OB Mainstreet Association will join together as the group celebrates the efforts of their members throughout the community, on Thursday, October 23rd from 6-8pm. Each of the committees of the Association will recognize businesses and community partners that have excelled at something over the last year.  Dinner and drinks are donated by local business owners, there will be entertainment, a slideshow and more.

 Green Store Favorite Villain Halloween Fundraiser – Sat. Oct 25

OB’s favorite center of green resources, the Green Store and Center – is staging a monstrous pre-Halloween party fundraiser. The ask folks to come as their fave historical figure for the cause or political villain. And there will be prizes for best costume. It goes from 1 – 7 pm, at 4843 B Voltaire Street.

Surfrider Volunteers to Amp-up Cigarette Butt Litter Efforts in Ocean Beach

On October 26, 2014 from 8:30am-12:30pm, the Surfrider Foundation San Diego County will launch an ambitious Ashcan Revitalization Project to reduce cigarette butt litter in Ocean Beach.  Teams of volunteers  will be deployed in the Voltaire and Newport business areas with specific duties to combat cigarette butt litter. Surfrider sandals-on-the-ground teams will clean-up cigarette butt litter throughout the area, refurbish 50 existing ashcans with new stickers, and install 30 brand-new ashcans along Voltaire and Newport and adjoining streets.

The new ashcan “Butts In Here” stickers will include the logos of partners, the Ocean Beach Main Street Association and the Ocean Beach Town Council’s “Respect OB” slogan.  A press conference will be held at Te Mana Café, 4956 Voltaire Street, at 9am to kick-off the event. Volunteers will meet at 8:30am at Te Mana Café to check-in and gear-up for their assignments right after the press conference. There will also be an after-party for all volunteers at the same location immediately following the event.

 Internet Addiction Disorder Discovered in Point Loma

The U-T San Diego broke a story about the first -ever report detailing a problematic use of the Google Glass, a wearable piece of technology that allows users to quickly access the Internet.  This all came down when a  31-year-old, local Navy man checked himself into a Point Loma rehab last summer. He thought he was an alcoholic – but after the docs realized he had a weird tic, they looked at his Google Glass. What resulted partially was an article, featured in the journal Addictive Behaviors, that gave legitimacy to a hotly debated disorder in the psychiatric community — Internet Addiction Disorder.

Point Loma Dems Meet Oct. 26 – Panel Will Haggle Over Election Issues

The Pt Loma Democratic Club will have their monthly meeting on  October 26, and on their agenda are the hot topics of “Propositions, Judges and Endorsements”. Jeanne Brown, from the League of Women Voters, will provide an overview of the propositions. And there will be a panel discussion featuring Jeanne Brown, LVW and Common Cause; Anne Hoiberg, President of the Women’s Museum of California; Steve Rivera, California Democratic Party Region 20 Director; Howard Wayne, SDCDP Vice Chair, Central Area and former Assemblymember. The meeting will be held from 4:00 – 5:30 pm, and is at the Point Loma Assembly, 3035 Talbot St, San Diego, CA 92106. For additional info call (619) 800-5098.

OB Halloween Carnival and March – Sat., Oct. 25th

There’s of course the annual OB Halloween Carnival and March, this Saturday, Oct. 25, from 2 to 5 pm. It will have Food, Carnival Style Games, Costume Contests, Astro Jumps, and a whole lot of Spooky Fun! $2.00 wristbands are good for all the games and activities. For more info : 619-531-1527

 Editor’s Note: It takes our staff hours to compile and edit this summary of important news and events from in and around OB. Please take a sec, give us a “like” at the end of the post, add a comment or two, show some love for all this work. Remember, we’re not getting paid.