News and Notices for Ocean Beach and the Peninsula

Mission Beach to Get New Lifeguard Station and Ocean Beach Doesn’t

South Mission Beach is about to get a new lifeguard station. And meanwhile, Ocean Beach continues with its own aging lifeguard tower and deteriorating restrooms. The Mission Beach Precise Planning Board was briefed on the new development at their meeting on Feb. 17.  City engineer Jihad Sleiman told the group:

“The lifeguard tower was constructed in 1974 as a temporary facility. It is deteriorated, small, old and no longer serves the needs of the city lifeguards and the beach going public on this mile-long section of beach.”

He explained that the new station will have a rescue vehicle facility to store rescue craft, trucks and first-aid kits, and will also have separate men’s and women’s restrooms and a main observation tower on the third level.  He called the new tower “an orientation landmark on the beach.”  The total lifeguard tower replacement cost: $4.9 million. Construction is expected to start within the next few weeks and be completed by summer 2016.

The main lifeguard tower in OB is from the 1980s but is in very bad condition. The restrooms are an embarrassment. Various groups have been lobbying for its replacement for a while now. Perhaps with a new city councilperson, the efforts can be rejoined.

Robb Field Skate Park Now Is 15 years Old

The OB Robb Field Skate Park turned 15 a week ago on Thursday, Feb. 19. On Feb. 19, 2000, the park opened with a celebration with more than $25,000 in prize giveaways.  And it was a dedicated group of volunteers who did the fundraising and development of the iconic skate park.They worked with then-Councilman Byron Wear and his staff. Some of the key volunteers were Julie Klein, Mike Ryan, Kanten Russell and Andy MacDonald.  For more information on the skate park, contact San Diego Parks and Recreation Department at (619) 531-1563.

Weed Use Rises at Pot Loma Nazarene

Nazarene University’s 2014 annual security report showed five cases of drug violations on-campus in 2013, seven cases in 2012 and five cases in 2011, all resulting in disciplinary referrals.  “The majority of drug cases on campus involve marijuana,” said Kaz Trypuc, supervisor of public safety at Point Loma Nazarene University. According to Point Loma’s student conduct policies, students requiring assistance in drug and alcohol dependency are encouraged to reach out to the university’s Wellness Center, which provides prevention, referral and supportive resources, including counseling and health services. Possession of marijuana on-campus at Point Loma may result in expulsion. Said Katie Powell, director of Student Care:

“It’s typically marijuana that we are dealing with. Just as it becomes more accessible and socially acceptable as it’s legalized in more states, and people having medical marijuana cards. Students have access to it more and more and don’t consider it in the same vein as using other illegal drugs, even though it’s still illegal in California.”

Charles Neville to Play at Winston’s Thursday

Charles Neville is one of the brothers of the Neville Brothers, one of New Orleans’ most gifted and celebrated musical families. They stopped playing but Charles will be in OB tonight, Thursday, Feb 26th, at Winston’s. There’s a $15 cover charge to hear him and Gent Treadly, the 21-year-old jam band Neville performs with.

3,000 Quiet Homes Celebrated in Airport Program

The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority will celebrate the renovation of the 3,000th residence in its Quieter Home Program, which offers new doors and windows in an effort to lessen noise under airplane flight paths.The 14-year-old Quieter Home Program, which offers the service for free, grew out of a test program that began in Point Loma in 1998. Residents of the neighborhood had complained about noise because their homes sit under the normal takeoff route from Lindbergh Field’s sole runway.  The program expanded to areas like Ocean Beach, Golden Hill and Bankers Hill, just north of downtown San Diego, where the milestone home is located. Golden Hill and Bankers Hill are under the landing pattern.

According to the airport, the Federal Aviation Administration determined that houses and condominiums within an area around the airport that receive at least 65 decibels of aircraft noise may be eligible for sound insulation treatments. The FAA set a goal of reducing interior noise levels for eligible residents by at least five decibels inside the home, providing a noticeable reduction in noise.  The program, which also offers ventilation systems, is the largest of its kind in the U.S.  Results may vary depending upon the existing construction of the home, according to the airport.

Victim in Fatal Bike Accident in Point Loma Identified

On Feb 19 a San Diego man was killed after he slammed into a sign post in Point Loma. According to the medical examiner, Chad Michael Vosskuhler, 47, was found unresponsive and without a pulse in the 3100 block of Nimitz Boulevard after his dirt bike apparently hit a curb, causing him to fly from the bike and hit a sign post.  Police said he suffered major trauma to his chest and abdomen.  Vosskuhler was given CPR by medics on the scene before being transported to the hospital for surgery in an attempt to save his life, the medical examiner said.espite resuscitation efforts, Vosskuhler was pronounced dead at the hospital.

UCSD, SDSU and SD Bicycle Club Host Inaugural Two-Day Race

The First Annual San Diego Omnium is a joint event between the cycling teams of UC San Diego, San Diego State University, and the San Diego Bicycle Club (SDBC) that will take place February 28 and March 1. The Omnium—a multi-race competition where each event counts towards a rider’s overall placing—as well as the individual races of which it is comprised, are open to cyclists of all ages and levels. A compelling goal of this event is to provide more racing opportunities for cyclists in San Diego County and to increase the participation of collegiate and women cyclists. Proceeds from the event will benefit each of the three clubs and are used to support initiatives to increase cycling participation and awareness.

The San Diego Omnium will begin with the Aztec Classic Criterium hosted by SDSU in Claremont on Saturday, February 28 at 7 a.m., continuing with SDBC’s Fiesta Island Time Trial (FITT) on Sunday, March 1 at 7 a.m., finishing with the Triton Grand Prix on UCSD’s campus near Moore’s Cancer
Center at 7 a.m. Spectators are encouraged to attend any of the race segments. Full details of the races, including registration for riders, can be found on the USA Cycling website .

Bikes & Beers San Diego Ride in March Routes Through Ocean Beach and Point Loma

The second annual Bikes & Beers SD will take riders through Balboa Park, Hillcrest, Mission Hills, Old Town, Presidio Park, Ocean Beach, Point Loma, downtown, and East Village on a 21-mile course Saturday, March 28.  Starting and ending at recently opened Quartyard in East Village, the cruise will also offer riders glimpses of the majestic natural scenery that Mission Bay, Sunset Cliffs and San Diego Bay have to offer.  Upon completion of the course riders will enjoy a couple pints from a selection of San Diego’s finest craft beers, sample food from local food trucks, check out booths filled with bicycle related gear from local vendors, and listen to live music.

The event route is predominantly flat with only a couple of hills – the steepest portion is crossing from Sunset Cliffs to Point Loma. Additionally, much of the event utilizes bike paths, like the Old Sea World Dr. bike path and trail, to expose participants to existing bicycle infrastructure of which they may not be aware.

Read & Romp at Liberty Station on Saturday

One of the most important things new parents can do, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, is read aloud to their young children, whether it’s a classic like “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” or a family recipe while cooking in the kitchen. “Children exposed to language are more likely to be reading proficiently by the third grade,” said Tara Milbrand, project director for Reach Out and Read San Diego, a program that trains pediatricians to promote early literacy.  So to inspire read-aloud time for kids ages 6 months to 5 years old, Reach Out and Read San Diego puts on an annual fundraiser at Point Loma’s Liberty Station called Read & Romp.  When: 9 a.m. to noon Saturday; Where: Liberty Station, McMillin Event Center, 2875 Dewey Road, Point Loma; Tickets: Online presale is $8 to $10 and $30 for family of four; tickets at the door are $12 per person, or $40 for a family of four at the door. Free for children age 2 and under.  Online:rorsd.org

Planning Board Elections Coming Up

The election for the OB Planning Board is March 10th at the OB Rec Center. For the Peninsula Community Planning Board, their election is March 20th at the Pt Loma Library.